Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Elected Presidential
Read a very good commentary from Catherine Lim, the famous writer who once incurred the rile of the-then PM Goh who placed out-of-bound markers on political commentaries.
That dovetails with my take on the expectations of the people vs the constitution, though mine is much less elegant.
My version:
The people is looking for ah-gong (grandfather or influential elder), one who will take their father to task for being a harsh and uncaring disciplinarian, who seems to favor their business sibling but not them.
Unfortunately, what we are electing is a Jeeves (that all knowing butler) who will help to manage the household in the social upkeeping and morale-boosting, but he will never usurp his master, but only to guard the house and safe with fervor when the mistress drives away the master and bring with her a new lover.
That dovetails with my take on the expectations of the people vs the constitution, though mine is much less elegant.
My version:
The people is looking for ah-gong (grandfather or influential elder), one who will take their father to task for being a harsh and uncaring disciplinarian, who seems to favor their business sibling but not them.
Unfortunately, what we are electing is a Jeeves (that all knowing butler) who will help to manage the household in the social upkeeping and morale-boosting, but he will never usurp his master, but only to guard the house and safe with fervor when the mistress drives away the master and bring with her a new lover.
Labels: to Read Think
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
The John Edwards Saga
Or "How to Hurt Somebody Even More By Doing It Slowly and Repeatedly on a Stronger Degree Each Time"
Or "What not to do when trying to damage control"
Or "Lie Lie Lie: How not to confess"
............................................
So he cheated.
When his wife was battling breast cancer.
He confessed.
But only because he can no longer credibly deny or evade the issue.
He first told her that it was a one-night stand.
It must have Hurt.
Then it was a few times over a short period. He didn't love that woman. That it was over.
More Hurting, just when the initial hurts are beginning to feel less painful.
She stood by him.
Then it was a full-blown affair, and though wasn't really over "then", but it is really over "now".
Even more Hurting, twice betrayed just when trusts were being rebuilt on thin ice.
Chillingly, he even had the cheek to say that he didnt cheat when she was battling cancer, she was in "remission" as if that in some way made it "better".
Then that woman had a baby. A fall guy was appointed, and lies fabricated.
It wasn't his. The timing wasn't possible. Really unless you found some way to prove that it is that he couldnt deny.
They did.
He had to admit it was his.
The betrayed wife finally broke when the hurt and humiliation was too much to bear. How can she even stand to be in the same bed, room, house, country with him?
A separation. And she should have done so much much much earlier and saved herself from the multiple betrayals and public humiliation, each cutting deeper into the exact places where the earlier cuts went. Instead of believing him still the man she had first met and fell in love with; being the man she thought he was; or even being the mirage of the man he never really was.
With this, a cutting off and hope. The hope that there will be no fear of more hurt and humiliation to be borne.
I wish her Resilience especially in the face of accusations that she was in fact human and real.
p.s.
On the book Resilience: It was a darn good read if you have obstacles in your path or even in you, and youwant to need to have to some how have to continue.
Or "What not to do when trying to damage control"
Or "Lie Lie Lie: How not to confess"
............................................
So he cheated.
When his wife was battling breast cancer.
He confessed.
But only because he can no longer credibly deny or evade the issue.
He first told her that it was a one-night stand.
It must have Hurt.
Then it was a few times over a short period. He didn't love that woman. That it was over.
More Hurting, just when the initial hurts are beginning to feel less painful.
She stood by him.
Then it was a full-blown affair, and though wasn't really over "then", but it is really over "now".
Even more Hurting, twice betrayed just when trusts were being rebuilt on thin ice.
Chillingly, he even had the cheek to say that he didnt cheat when she was battling cancer, she was in "remission" as if that in some way made it "better".
Then that woman had a baby. A fall guy was appointed, and lies fabricated.
It wasn't his. The timing wasn't possible. Really unless you found some way to prove that it is that he couldnt deny.
They did.
He had to admit it was his.
The betrayed wife finally broke when the hurt and humiliation was too much to bear. How can she even stand to be in the same bed, room, house, country with him?
A separation. And she should have done so much much much earlier and saved herself from the multiple betrayals and public humiliation, each cutting deeper into the exact places where the earlier cuts went. Instead of believing him still the man she had first met and fell in love with; being the man she thought he was; or even being the mirage of the man he never really was.
With this, a cutting off and hope. The hope that there will be no fear of more hurt and humiliation to be borne.
I wish her Resilience especially in the face of accusations that she was in fact human and real.
p.s.
On the book Resilience: It was a darn good read if you have obstacles in your path or even in you, and you
Labels: to Comment, to Read Think
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Lucky
I have been posting quite little over the last several months due to braindeadness and chronic fatigue. Not to mention the fact that mommy / baby antics and such may not be much of a fun read for most people.
So it really isn't surprising that the return rate and hit rate for my blog has gone down to new lows (not that I was "really" counting) and for the 5 2 of you who are still reading my blog, this is for you. :)
I have started the blog Jun 2006 as an exercise on writing and keeping certain memories alive/ or a platform to speak about things close to my heart (to an empty arena not unlike Hong Lim Park).
The blog address was never listed it anywhere or mentioned it on my network/ forum profiles. I had only shared it with the closest and dearest of friends, and exchanged with a couple other friends/ bloggers.
As such, that I am being read and some of you keep coming back is a blessing. I am constantly surprised by the number of hits I get. The comments I received is cherry on a chocolate cake.
I am therefore LUCKY.
And I thank YOU .
.
.
.
end of touchy-feeling part of post.
So it annoyed me to no end that one blogger/ entrepreneur recently lamented that the business is doing so well that she has no time or inclination to blog, and a reader will therefore indeed be "lucky" to come by the blog to find that a new post had been put up....
DUH.
I promptly deleted my bookmark for that blog.
That type of lucky I dont need!
So it really isn't surprising that the return rate and hit rate for my blog has gone down to new lows (not that I was "really" counting) and for the
I have started the blog Jun 2006 as an exercise on writing and keeping certain memories alive/ or a platform to speak about things close to my heart (to an empty arena not unlike Hong Lim Park).
The blog address was never listed it anywhere or mentioned it on my network/ forum profiles. I had only shared it with the closest and dearest of friends, and exchanged with a couple other friends/ bloggers.
As such, that I am being read and some of you keep coming back is a blessing. I am constantly surprised by the number of hits I get. The comments I received is cherry on a chocolate cake.
I am therefore LUCKY.
And I thank YOU .
.
.
.
end of touchy-feeling part of post.
So it annoyed me to no end that one blogger/ entrepreneur recently lamented that the business is doing so well that she has no time or inclination to blog, and a reader will therefore indeed be "lucky" to come by the blog to find that a new post had been put up....
DUH.
I promptly deleted my bookmark for that blog.
That type of lucky I dont need!
Labels: to Read Think
Friday, November 13, 2009
Unitasking
The lack of post has been obvious and the reason equally so, thus nothing to add there. (that's about as much of an apology that any one's gonna get! :-p )
The current sad state of affairs plus the fact that I dont seem to possess the required sustained brain juice and any meaningful pockets of time required to do anything had me thinking...
Multi-tasking is NOT working.
I mean, I used to be able to have a number of mostly unrelated things going on simultaneously during any work hour:
- Working on at least 1 reports on my pc
- have ideas constructed/ organised in my head for at least another 1-2 reports
- 1 or 2 or 3 msn conversations
- an eye on the stock market
- music streaming
- an eye checking if anybody's approaching my desk (hehe)
- planning what to have for lunch
- sipping coffee/ tea
But now I just dont seem to be able to call up the processing power to do all these at the same time anymore.
Is it a case of diminished brain power through lack of sleep or dead brain cells?
Or is it simply because Multi-tasking is no longer worth it?
Ok, fine, multitasking is a misnomer. Because a person is unable to do several things that require similar cognitive power, he is simply switching from one task to another, while losing miliseconds for the connections to rewire everytime he switches. Imagine a task like counting beans, even if you are organised and have your beans painstakingly separated by 10s, 100s, and 1000s; everytime you have your attention diverted, you will need to reassess how many you've counted/ organised (nearest 10s/ 100s/1000s)before you can continue again.
Is the task switching thus counter-productive?
Is it possible for a person to be a uni-tasker?
I know there are those who say they see meaning of multitasking in the first place for those whom I've had this conversation with... you know who you are
But imagine:
- Driving without the radio on, and handphones off. You are driving.
- Talking on the phone, and stopping where you are. You are talking.
- Having a meal and not talking to your companion. You are eating.
etc etc
Not multitasking in these circumstances is just weird, because they are so ingrained in us.
Unfortunately, the discussion is moot for me.
I am just plain exhausted, uni or multi tasking.
The current sad state of affairs plus the fact that I dont seem to possess the required sustained brain juice and any meaningful pockets of time required to do anything had me thinking...
Multi-tasking is NOT working.
I mean, I used to be able to have a number of mostly unrelated things going on simultaneously during any work hour:
- Working on at least 1 reports on my pc
- have ideas constructed/ organised in my head for at least another 1-2 reports
- 1 or 2 or 3 msn conversations
- an eye on the stock market
- music streaming
- an eye checking if anybody's approaching my desk (hehe)
- planning what to have for lunch
- sipping coffee/ tea
But now I just dont seem to be able to call up the processing power to do all these at the same time anymore.
Is it a case of diminished brain power through lack of sleep or dead brain cells?
Or is it simply because Multi-tasking is no longer worth it?
Ok, fine, multitasking is a misnomer. Because a person is unable to do several things that require similar cognitive power, he is simply switching from one task to another, while losing miliseconds for the connections to rewire everytime he switches. Imagine a task like counting beans, even if you are organised and have your beans painstakingly separated by 10s, 100s, and 1000s; everytime you have your attention diverted, you will need to reassess how many you've counted/ organised (nearest 10s/ 100s/1000s)before you can continue again.
Is the task switching thus counter-productive?
Is it possible for a person to be a uni-tasker?
I know there are those who say they see meaning of multitasking in the first place for those whom I've had this conversation with... you know who you are
But imagine:
- Driving without the radio on, and handphones off. You are driving.
- Talking on the phone, and stopping where you are. You are talking.
- Having a meal and not talking to your companion. You are eating.
etc etc
Not multitasking in these circumstances is just weird, because they are so ingrained in us.
Unfortunately, the discussion is moot for me.
I am just plain exhausted, uni or multi tasking.
Labels: to Read Think
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Prayer
The year had fleeted pass along with potential and promises unfulfilled.
A prayer be said for the hurts and regrets of the old to be healed.
But dream we still must, and to pray for strength meet with challenges ahead.
And a prayer for a blessed New Year and good health for you.
(this was actually a very difficult post that i've made many different starts.
So many things and emotions, not least in light of the scare. So many things to think about. So much unknown and left unsaid.
Oh God keep my beloveds safe, grant me serenity and lay me down gently.)
A prayer be said for the hurts and regrets of the old to be healed.
But dream we still must, and to pray for strength meet with challenges ahead.
And a prayer for a blessed New Year and good health for you.
(this was actually a very difficult post that i've made many different starts.
So many things and emotions, not least in light of the scare. So many things to think about. So much unknown and left unsaid.
Oh God keep my beloveds safe, grant me serenity and lay me down gently.)
Labels: to Read Think
Friday, November 21, 2008
Ominous 2
What's going on?
The next book i picked up featured an experimental gay relationship and 2 deaths- one by fire and one by brain hemorrhage.
Both stories tempered with acceptance and moving on.
Seriously. What's going on?
Labels: to Read Think
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Visual Bookshelf - even better
A new tab called "Manage" stared at me when I was updating my Visual Bookshelf on Facebook today.
Huh?
OH MY GOODNESS.
A fast loading spreadsheet with
Title/ Author/ Status/ Rating/ Review/ Own
and no covers
Cooool!
that you can click to juggle and delete book, add/ change review, change status at a click.
Even filter by the different category very quickly.
WOW.
I can now sorta copy and paste the books i want to read (no, you cant filter by "want to read", i tried) to another application to print/ export to bring to the libraries/ book shop.
Now if they would only allow to filter by Status too... AND add that export function.
;)
Huh?
OH MY GOODNESS.
A fast loading spreadsheet with
Title/ Author/ Status/ Rating/ Review/ Own
and no covers
Cooool!
that you can click to juggle and delete book, add/ change review, change status at a click.
Even filter by the different category very quickly.
WOW.
I can now sorta copy and paste the books i want to read (no, you cant filter by "want to read", i tried) to another application to print/ export to bring to the libraries/ book shop.
Now if they would only allow to filter by Status too... AND add that export function.
;)
Labels: to Read Think
Thursday, May 15, 2008
好好活下去
Was watching news on the recent earthquake in China.
Premier Wen was in the disaster zone surveying the damage and visiting the victims.
He came to a girl who was trying to control her sobbing as he spoke to her,
"你有幸逃过灾难, 你活着."
"你要好好活下去."
Political saviness in front of camera or no, a poignant message.
For victims, for survivors, for everybody.
You are alive, go on living and live well.
Premier Wen was in the disaster zone surveying the damage and visiting the victims.
He came to a girl who was trying to control her sobbing as he spoke to her,
"你有幸逃过灾难, 你活着."
"你要好好活下去."
Political saviness in front of camera or no, a poignant message.
For victims, for survivors, for everybody.
You are alive, go on living and live well.
Labels: to Read Think
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Secret ingredient
I can't remember which trip was it or when or even where.
Mostly likely BKK since that is the place that I've most frequently traveled recently for work.
I was riding in a car and was looking out the window (or walking very quickly along a road, I can't remember which) and something caught my eye.
A street hawker seemed to be washing his wok with a bunch of plastic straws.
Strange, I'd thought that a bunch of bamboo straws will do much better in cleaning.
And what a lot of liquid that he is using to wash his wok, hmmm... was it oil?
Very strange indeed.
I had almost forgotten about the incident until I read this article.
crispy plastic fried bananas... wow.
Then we had chicken rice ordered in for lunch, with a side dish of super crispy onion with real crunch even though the dish is stone cold from being left in the open since morning.
Super crunchy crisp onions.
.
.
.
why is my stomach feel all queasy in a sudden?
Mostly likely BKK since that is the place that I've most frequently traveled recently for work.
I was riding in a car and was looking out the window (or walking very quickly along a road, I can't remember which) and something caught my eye.
A street hawker seemed to be washing his wok with a bunch of plastic straws.
Strange, I'd thought that a bunch of bamboo straws will do much better in cleaning.
And what a lot of liquid that he is using to wash his wok, hmmm... was it oil?
Very strange indeed.
I had almost forgotten about the incident until I read this article.
crispy plastic fried bananas... wow.
Then we had chicken rice ordered in for lunch, with a side dish of super crispy onion with real crunch even though the dish is stone cold from being left in the open since morning.
Super crunchy crisp onions.
.
.
.
why is my stomach feel all queasy in a sudden?
Labels: to Eat Drink Party, to Read Think
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Money
Am playing with 3 counters of 10 lots each at the moment.
As of today: S is up 12.5c, H is up 0.5c and F is down 6c, which means my portfolio had gained $600 today, overshooting my target which i reached last Friday.
Overall, this little shopping trip is up a total of about $1.7k. Scary, i don't even know how it happened. The tickers just went up and down and up and down and up and here i am.
Stillll holding out to see what happens.
- I've learned a good lesson in not selling the money spinner too early while holding out for the loser to regain its value, instead: SELL the loser and wait for the money spinner to gain more.
- The other lesson being: it is often easier for 10 lots to gain 1c than 1 lot to gain 10c, so spread your investment, and not all on the expensive blue chips.
But in the mean time, amidst the fun and games and anxious moments, I'm beginning to get that niggling feeling that this won't make me rich, as in RICH-rich, and I dont actually know if i'm having fun yet.
It is certainly no small change and this will let me buy some stuff (or a lot of cheap stuff), but to be frank, there isn't anything i NEED to buy, y'know?
Not a LV bag, a Feragamo shoes, Tiffany ring, or whatever. And besides, I'll be better off diverting the $ to more investment.
But at the end of it, money is just money, right?
i wonder what it all means? jaded or i need a (higher) goal?
As of today: S is up 12.5c, H is up 0.5c and F is down 6c, which means my portfolio had gained $600 today, overshooting my target which i reached last Friday.
Overall, this little shopping trip is up a total of about $1.7k. Scary, i don't even know how it happened. The tickers just went up and down and up and down and up and here i am.
Stillll holding out to see what happens.
- I've learned a good lesson in not selling the money spinner too early while holding out for the loser to regain its value, instead: SELL the loser and wait for the money spinner to gain more.
- The other lesson being: it is often easier for 10 lots to gain 1c than 1 lot to gain 10c, so spread your investment, and not all on the expensive blue chips.
But in the mean time, amidst the fun and games and anxious moments, I'm beginning to get that niggling feeling that this won't make me rich, as in RICH-rich, and I dont actually know if i'm having fun yet.
It is certainly no small change and this will let me buy some stuff (or a lot of cheap stuff), but to be frank, there isn't anything i NEED to buy, y'know?
Not a LV bag, a Feragamo shoes, Tiffany ring, or whatever. And besides, I'll be better off diverting the $ to more investment.
But at the end of it, money is just money, right?
i wonder what it all means? jaded or i need a (higher) goal?
Labels: to Invest, to Read Think
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
The evils of multi-tasking
Internet radio
POEMS stock page
internet Banking
Work mail replies
Budget Report
Hot Chinese Tea
Printing other report to read in awhile
MSN
Work phone
Multi-tasking = efficiency, right?
Then why does my brain seem so scrambled?
But I don't remember how to do 1 thing at a time anymore.
POEMS stock page
internet Banking
Work mail replies
Budget Report
Hot Chinese Tea
Printing other report to read in awhile
MSN
Work phone
Multi-tasking = efficiency, right?
Then why does my brain seem so scrambled?
But I don't remember how to do 1 thing at a time anymore.
Labels: to Despair, to Read Think
Monday, February 18, 2008
my "true self"
took a personality test today
and it surprised me
my true self is more sociable and less emphatic than what i feel myself to be...
hmmm...
and it surprised me
my true self is more sociable and less emphatic than what i feel myself to be...
hmmm...
Labels: to Read Think
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Homemaking vs Career
Had some very interesting conversations with several of my relatives over CNY.
An aunt and a cousin-in-law stayed home to look after their kids when they started or about to start schooling with very good results of well rounded kids with good values and close family ties.
A cousin who is a teacher expressed the same view and even to homeschooling her kids (if and when she has them) as she is disenchanted with the school system obsessed with KPI and principals' careful portfolios.
To be fair, there were also examples of stay-at-home moms with wayward kids, and working moms with amazing kids...
My sis is thinking about quitting work to devote her time to her kids too.
We both feel financially we can afford it if we are careful with our money, provided the hubbies' jobs are stable.
BUT.
Do i have what it takes to give up my work to stay home and be a homemaker without going bonkers?
"Poorer leisurely mad housewife whose sole focus in life is her kids" vs "Well-placed harassed but fulfilled careerist who is drained everyday".
What kind of kids will my children turn out with either choice?
What kind of marriage partnership will it be?
What kind of woman will I be when the kids are grown?
It can't be a black and white either/ or choice.
There must be a balanced place where a woman's career is on a steady (stable but no longer sky rocketing) course while being able and having time to communicate with the kids, giving them space to learn to be independent and thoughtful human beings.
The search continues.
An aunt and a cousin-in-law stayed home to look after their kids when they started or about to start schooling with very good results of well rounded kids with good values and close family ties.
A cousin who is a teacher expressed the same view and even to homeschooling her kids (if and when she has them) as she is disenchanted with the school system obsessed with KPI and principals' careful portfolios.
To be fair, there were also examples of stay-at-home moms with wayward kids, and working moms with amazing kids...
My sis is thinking about quitting work to devote her time to her kids too.
We both feel financially we can afford it if we are careful with our money, provided the hubbies' jobs are stable.
BUT.
Do i have what it takes to give up my work to stay home and be a homemaker without going bonkers?
"Poorer leisurely mad housewife whose sole focus in life is her kids" vs "Well-placed harassed but fulfilled careerist who is drained everyday".
What kind of kids will my children turn out with either choice?
What kind of marriage partnership will it be?
What kind of woman will I be when the kids are grown?
It can't be a black and white either/ or choice.
There must be a balanced place where a woman's career is on a steady (stable but no longer sky rocketing) course while being able and having time to communicate with the kids, giving them space to learn to be independent and thoughtful human beings.
The search continues.
Labels: to Invest, to Read Think
CNY traditions
the dreaded 大扫除 (spring cleaning) that must be completed before 初一 (1st day of lunar new year which was on 7 Feb 08) almost killed me. Mostly becos work was crazy, and I had to do most of it alone since E was out of town more than half of the time earlier this year.
But i doggedly went on with it, and slowly I saw the wisdom in 去旧迎新 (getting rid of the old, welcoming the new)
In the old days, the Chinese probably took the last few weeks before spring to shake out the lethargy of winter by making everything clean, repairing old and broken stuff, cleaning away unrepairable/ useless/ no longer suitable things that would have been merely in the way or even dangerous. They then decorated the house for the new year, and by doing it thoroughly, they could afford to spend less time in maintaining the house and more on the lucrative farm work that could not wait. By having new/ clean and well functioning items, the family could be healthier and more productive.
I found the clearing of nooks and cannies that had stuff stored over time therapeutic, not only in lifting an invisible (even if they were out of sight, your mind will know they are there) burden or a cleaning up very real and unsightly molehill of junk or dirt.
I bought and replaced
- new clothes and shoes for everybody at home
- new bedsheet sets
- toothbrushes
- bath towels
- cleaning supplies like mops, brushes and sponges
Threw away
- old bank/ credit card/ statements & bills,
- old and tatty clothes,
- wobbly shoes
- broken toys
- expired cosmetics products
- old pillows
- that last bit in skin care bottles that i never got around to use, etc
Recycled or gave away
- clothes that the kids outgrew,
- bags that were no longer in fashion,
- electrical cords for the appliances long since thrown away,
- 2 fans that weren't able to oscillate,
- a sofa bed
- faded bedsheet sets etc.
Unfortunately the exercise also winded me.
While it is wise to slow down and take stock, cleaning out the house/ body/ mind of unwanted and toxic things/ habits/ emotions;
it is also important to do so periodically, not just once a year,
Because modern city-dwellers like us have no winter breaks.
But i doggedly went on with it, and slowly I saw the wisdom in 去旧迎新 (getting rid of the old, welcoming the new)
In the old days, the Chinese probably took the last few weeks before spring to shake out the lethargy of winter by making everything clean, repairing old and broken stuff, cleaning away unrepairable/ useless/ no longer suitable things that would have been merely in the way or even dangerous. They then decorated the house for the new year, and by doing it thoroughly, they could afford to spend less time in maintaining the house and more on the lucrative farm work that could not wait. By having new/ clean and well functioning items, the family could be healthier and more productive.
I found the clearing of nooks and cannies that had stuff stored over time therapeutic, not only in lifting an invisible (even if they were out of sight, your mind will know they are there) burden or a cleaning up very real and unsightly molehill of junk or dirt.
I bought and replaced
- new clothes and shoes for everybody at home
- new bedsheet sets
- toothbrushes
- bath towels
- cleaning supplies like mops, brushes and sponges
Threw away
- old bank/ credit card/ statements & bills,
- old and tatty clothes,
- wobbly shoes
- broken toys
- expired cosmetics products
- old pillows
- that last bit in skin care bottles that i never got around to use, etc
Recycled or gave away
- clothes that the kids outgrew,
- bags that were no longer in fashion,
- electrical cords for the appliances long since thrown away,
- 2 fans that weren't able to oscillate,
- a sofa bed
- faded bedsheet sets etc.
Unfortunately the exercise also winded me.
While it is wise to slow down and take stock, cleaning out the house/ body/ mind of unwanted and toxic things/ habits/ emotions;
it is also important to do so periodically, not just once a year,
Because modern city-dwellers like us have no winter breaks.
Labels: to Read Think
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Facebook - Visual Bookshelf
i first blogged about the Visual Bookshelf in early Dec 07
and they've improved the application by leaps and bounds since
almost all the items in my (silent) wish list were granted:
- rating system to show both your rating and average rating from other users
- quick link to author
- quick link to review
- more user-friendly interface
my only grouse is that they've gone to page view of only 5 books per page when viewing bookshelf, instead of 10 books per page or (almost) unlimited scroll
and there are still no chinese books and locally published books
oops, thats 2 grouses
but i'm still a huge fan.
especially now that i'm ranked 1883 ampngst 33,361 users.
:D
so shallow
i know
and they've improved the application by leaps and bounds since
almost all the items in my (silent) wish list were granted:
- rating system to show both your rating and average rating from other users
- quick link to author
- quick link to review
- more user-friendly interface
my only grouse is that they've gone to page view of only 5 books per page when viewing bookshelf, instead of 10 books per page or (almost) unlimited scroll
and there are still no chinese books and locally published books
oops, thats 2 grouses
but i'm still a huge fan.
especially now that i'm ranked 1883 ampngst 33,361 users.
:D
so shallow
i know
Labels: to Read Think
Monday, January 07, 2008
Facebook - Unexpected Dilemmas of Superpokes
Dont really keep up with superpokes, though i must admit that there is a mindless motivation to superpoke xxx number of times in order to attain the next levels of new and more interesting superpokes
Even have a friend whom we superpoke bad stuff each other with just because the mean ones so much more wicked and funny (seriously, compare "roundhouse kick" and "hug", *rolleyes*), none of it with "real" malicious intent of course ;)
So there is an element of I'm skanking you "just for the fun" and for me to relieve stress.
And now the dilemma...
not of the keeping count "i've been superpoke x times, so i must superpoke BACK x times" or "mean beget mean" or "do i superpoke random people to get to the next level" or even "do i continue to superpoke friends who never superpoke me" varieties.
BUT
what if there is somebody i really want to use a mean superpoke on and i really mean it, so should I superpoke or not?
and if i've nice superpoke someone and i'm now regretting it, can i cancel it with a mean superpoke?
Even have a friend whom we superpoke bad stuff each other with just because the mean ones so much more wicked and funny (seriously, compare "roundhouse kick" and "hug", *rolleyes*), none of it with "real" malicious intent of course ;)
So there is an element of I'm skanking you "just for the fun" and for me to relieve stress.
And now the dilemma...
not of the keeping count "i've been superpoke x times, so i must superpoke BACK x times" or "mean beget mean" or "do i superpoke random people to get to the next level" or even "do i continue to superpoke friends who never superpoke me" varieties.
BUT
what if there is somebody i really want to use a mean superpoke on and i really mean it, so should I superpoke or not?
and if i've nice superpoke someone and i'm now regretting it, can i cancel it with a mean superpoke?
Labels: to Read Think
Thursday, December 06, 2007
Facebook - Bookshelf Application
The killer application for me in Facebook is the Bookshelf
what i've read, what i'm reading now, and what i want to read
what my friends have read, what they are reading now, and what they want to read
recommendations
reviews
i'm addicted and i've already added 150 books over the last 2 days.
and thats without even referring to the real books in my collection, which must number in the high hundreds.
and not to mention that i've read, like, what? 5000? 6000? English books at least?
if they'll only come up with a Chinese version.
what i've read, what i'm reading now, and what i want to read
what my friends have read, what they are reading now, and what they want to read
recommendations
reviews
i'm addicted and i've already added 150 books over the last 2 days.
and thats without even referring to the real books in my collection, which must number in the high hundreds.
and not to mention that i've read, like, what? 5000? 6000? English books at least?
if they'll only come up with a Chinese version.
Labels: to Read Think
Friday, November 16, 2007
Plant a Tree & FreeCycling
I am amazed i actually remembered and that i have time to track these down:
1. FreeCycling
Read about this on the newspapers sometime back.
I've always been a believer in reduce, reuse, recycle, and in that order.
While I cannot yet subscribe to the compact movement, I try baby steps for things that I can do.
So some of the things I've started practicing are:
- Using my own bags when shopping
- shopping and buying things that i need versus i want
- recyclying glass, drink cans, paper cartons, drink cartons, plastic
- selling newspaper and magazines to the garang guni man
- passing on toys and children's clothes to friends and family
Despite these, I still feel that it is a real waste to simply throw (even recycle or sell to the garang guni man) something that is merely old(er) but is no longer suitable for my needs.
So the freecycling is appealing as it is very different from:
- abstinence where you cannot enjoy new things or shop, i.e. No New Books, only borrow from librabry
- exchange where you get something by trading something you do not want,
- handing down, to whom specifically? Even second hand store dont want the old books, for nothing!
- recycling, where the item is trashed and and remade into something else from its demise, i.e. Nice book but not good enough to keep in my collection, recycle as paper waste.
This is purely giving something that you have no use for, to someone who has use for it. And an active local Singapore Group! (unlike those book exchange groups that trickle down to nothing when they come to Asia)
Joined as a member, gonna lurk around abit and see whatsup before giving away some stuff.
2. Plant a Tree programme
Caught a TV news report on plant-a-tree in Singapore and i thought what an excellent idea!
Living in the concrete jungle, we have no land or garden to speak of.
But to be able to plant a tree and be able to revisit it as it grows!
What a magnificient idea!
To commemerate an event, to honor your parents/ family, to teach your children!
Only $200 per tree, and $1500 for 10.
You are encouraged to be there to plant the tree, you will receive a photo and a certificate, and be able to return to the same spot to mark the growth of a tree. A living, breathing, growing TREE. Not just a house plant. wow.
I just might do it. A present for all my immediate family, for Singapore, for Earth.
what? it is the gahment's job? please...
1. FreeCycling
Read about this on the newspapers sometime back.
I've always been a believer in reduce, reuse, recycle, and in that order.
While I cannot yet subscribe to the compact movement, I try baby steps for things that I can do.
So some of the things I've started practicing are:
- Using my own bags when shopping
- shopping and buying things that i need versus i want
- recyclying glass, drink cans, paper cartons, drink cartons, plastic
- selling newspaper and magazines to the garang guni man
- passing on toys and children's clothes to friends and family
Despite these, I still feel that it is a real waste to simply throw (even recycle or sell to the garang guni man) something that is merely old(er) but is no longer suitable for my needs.
So the freecycling is appealing as it is very different from:
- abstinence where you cannot enjoy new things or shop, i.e. No New Books, only borrow from librabry
- exchange where you get something by trading something you do not want,
- handing down, to whom specifically? Even second hand store dont want the old books, for nothing!
- recycling, where the item is trashed and and remade into something else from its demise, i.e. Nice book but not good enough to keep in my collection, recycle as paper waste.
This is purely giving something that you have no use for, to someone who has use for it. And an active local Singapore Group! (unlike those book exchange groups that trickle down to nothing when they come to Asia)
Joined as a member, gonna lurk around abit and see whatsup before giving away some stuff.
2. Plant a Tree programme
Caught a TV news report on plant-a-tree in Singapore and i thought what an excellent idea!
Living in the concrete jungle, we have no land or garden to speak of.
But to be able to plant a tree and be able to revisit it as it grows!
What a magnificient idea!
To commemerate an event, to honor your parents/ family, to teach your children!
Only $200 per tree, and $1500 for 10.
You are encouraged to be there to plant the tree, you will receive a photo and a certificate, and be able to return to the same spot to mark the growth of a tree. A living, breathing, growing TREE. Not just a house plant. wow.
I just might do it. A present for all my immediate family, for Singapore, for Earth.
what? it is the gahment's job? please...
Labels: to Read Think, to Shop Buy
Friday, October 26, 2007
Succumbed
Have always resisted joining all those networking sites despite the invitations.
i mean, msn not enough meh? what can you do that you cant face to face, sms, msn or email?
throw sheep?
until Leng invited me.
my best friend.
ok lor.
i mean, msn not enough meh? what can you do that you cant face to face, sms, msn or email?
throw sheep?
until Leng invited me.
my best friend.
ok lor.
Labels: to Read Think
Friday, October 19, 2007
Heart Sutra
般若波罗蜜多心经
唐三藏法师玄奘译
观自在菩萨 行深般若波罗蜜多时
照见五蕴皆空 度一切苦厄
舍利子
色不异空 空不异色
色即是空 空即是色
受想行识 亦复如是
舍利子
是诸法空相 不生不灭
不垢不净 不增不减
是故空中无色 无受想行识
无眼耳鼻舌身意 无色声香味触法
无眼界 乃至无意识界
无无明 亦无无明尽
乃至无老死 亦无老死尽
无苦集灭道 无智亦无得 以无所得故
菩提萨陲 依般若波罗蜜多故
心无 碍 无 碍故 无有恐怖
远离颠倒梦想 究竟涅盘
三世诸佛 依般若波罗蜜多故
得阿耨多罗 三藐三菩提
故知般若波罗蜜多
是大神咒 是大明咒 是无上咒
是无等等咒 能除一切苦 真实不虚
故说般若波罗蜜多咒
即说咒曰 揭谛揭谛
波罗揭谛波罗僧揭谛 菩提娑婆诃
般若波罗密多心经
唐三藏法师玄奘译
观自在菩萨 行深般若波罗蜜多时
照见五蕴皆空 度一切苦厄
舍利子
色不异空 空不异色
色即是空 空即是色
受想行识 亦复如是
舍利子
是诸法空相 不生不灭
不垢不净 不增不减
是故空中无色 无受想行识
无眼耳鼻舌身意 无色声香味触法
无眼界 乃至无意识界
无无明 亦无无明尽
乃至无老死 亦无老死尽
无苦集灭道 无智亦无得 以无所得故
菩提萨陲 依般若波罗蜜多故
心无 碍 无 碍故 无有恐怖
远离颠倒梦想 究竟涅盘
三世诸佛 依般若波罗蜜多故
得阿耨多罗 三藐三菩提
故知般若波罗蜜多
是大神咒 是大明咒 是无上咒
是无等等咒 能除一切苦 真实不虚
故说般若波罗蜜多咒
即说咒曰 揭谛揭谛
波罗揭谛波罗僧揭谛 菩提娑婆诃
般若波罗密多心经
I first learnt of the 心 经 Heart Sutra from one of my favorite authors 蔡澜 he is my ideal of a modern renaissance man with interests (and learning) from food, drink, movie, calligraphy, sculpture, writing, travel, buddhism, language, culture, and dabbles in almost everything. I mean, he blogs too!
He has said that he meditates before sleep by writing caligraphy of the heart sutra from memory, and it is one of his favorite gifts to friends.
the SGI chant? nahhh....
Labels: to Read Think
