Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Wishing All a Blessed Thanksgiving! (",)

A New Beginning

A new chapter in my life is about to begin, with corporate shake-up setting me free from the agony I've been suffering over the last few months.

I’m thankful to God for every change in my life—good or bad—especially with Thanksgiving Day drawing near.

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV)

Expensive Moon Cakes

Poney Jade Restaurant
Cart/Kiosk @ IMM Building
SGD29.95 for two pieces

The Original Ex-Crown Prince Flaky
Teochew ‘Oor Nee’ Mooncake
with Single Egg Yolk

Spider-Man Movie Update

This morning brings a slew of news from 'The Amazing Spider-Man,' including new images, intel on Peter Parker's web shooters, and some insight from Emma Stone and Mark Webb in video form.

Courtesy of Empire, check out a great interview package with Emma Stone, who dishes on Andrew Garfield's transformation into 17 year old Peter Parker, plus hear from producer Avi Arad and director Marc Webb:



Webb also spoke with the LA Times Hero Complex about the costume design and the decision to include Peter Parker's homemade web-shooters in the story. He explains that the web-shooters are device to 'dramatize Peter’s intellect,' adding:

“We paid attention to the question of ‘How would a kid make it?’ And obviously we took some license with it. We also wanted a design that would make the body longer and more lithe, more of an acrobat, someone incredibly agile, and the legs of the spider [symbol on the chest] were something we used to emphasize that. We made a bunch of different suits for different lighting conditions. I wanted something that worked in the night a little better. We paid attention to that and also made the webbing [on the costume] a little bit darker. With the costume and the web-shooters we wanted to emphasize that these are things that Peter Parker made and that he is special himself even if he feels like he’s an outsider.”

Read the full piece here.

Finally, Slashfilm debuted six high res images from the film, below. See a few great shots of the Spidey suit, plus Peter cozying up to Gwen, and some subway acrobatics:

When in a Hurry

Avoid walking behind three categories of people when you are in a hurry.

1) Those with prams (baby carriages) or kids.

2) Those on electronic gadgets such as iPhones, gaming devices and others.

3) Those of a particular culture known for being oblivion to surroundings and like to stand in the middle of nowhere, on pedestrian walk paths, in supermarts, near entrance or exit areas inside trains, near escalators, and remain immovable even after hearing you say 'excuse me' umpteen times.

Heeding this advice can help you reduce your blood pressure, and reach your destination faster.

Bad Toilet Manners

Yet again another encounter of bad toilet manners today. Here's a notice I've placed above the toilet bowl for the user.

Toilet Manners

This is a regular sight in the toilets of office building at level three of The Synergy, International Business Park (IBP) @ Jurong East.


Welcome to Singapore!

Here's where the civilized and the not so civilized stay together!

Could it be the user has forgotten to clear his stuff after doing business?

Unfortunately, this is not the worst of sights! There are days where the bowls are overflowing with waste spilling off.

Totally disgusting!

Pushy Bosses

Just when I thought switching from helpdesk support to corporate writing would eliminate the endless certification required in my career, my supervisor is now telling me to get certified for the same tests the helpdesk people are expected to take.

I have been in the information technology (IT) industry for more than 15 years with the first eight years in helpdesk technical support. As I grew sick of taking certification again and again, knowing there is no end to it, I decided to quit the line completely.

Now, although I am working in an IT corporation, I am merely a writer, and for the first five years, all was fine. With the recent transfer to write for HQ corporate marketing, however, my American supervisor based in Taiwan, with the backing of the fierce Taiwanese lady boss, is forcing me to get certified, constantly querying me on when I will sit for the test.

My supervisor made it clear that unless I get certified for several papers required by him, my year end assessment will be in jeopardy. My answer to his latest query is as follows …

Dear {supervisor}

In answer to your question, all I can say for now is [I'll take the test] when I am ready and prepared, if I get a chance to finish reading the wireless text, digest its content, commit it to memory, and put myself through some tests.

As of now, every time I get down to reading a chapter or two, I would be interrupted and tasked to do something else, so I can only get back to reading the text and jotting down some notes whenever time is available at hand.

Hope you can understand the difficulty.


Regards
{my name}

P.S. Writing takes time and requires extensive research, rethinking, redrafting and more.

Indonesian Fried Rice

Restaurant Baystreet 21
2 Jurong East Street 21
#02-30 IMM Building
Singapore 609601

Nasi Goreng Istimewa w/ Satay

Handling a Hot-Tempered Boss

If ... your boss [is the one throwing temper tantrum] and it happens often, you may want to look for a new job.

This is the advice given in an article on 'How to Deal with Adult's Temper Tantrum' by Ryn Gargulinsk at eHow.

Not too long ago, I wrote about facing my new lady boss who is hot-tempered, always breathing down the necks of her staff like fiery fire filled full with regular reprimands. If the tip and warning from the eHow article is the way to go, then it means I may have to look for a new job.

Thankfully, though, my boss has cooled down a little, especially after many staff resignations and with her now in the hospital for several weeks. That temporary cool-off temper of hers, however, is no guarantee.

Appended is the article at eHow in its entirety for your reading, just in case it gets archived at a later date.

How to Deal With an Adult's Temper Tantrum
by Ryn Gargulinski, eHow User

Adult's temper tantrums can be scary, worrisome ... or downright hilarious.

It's bad enough when a 3-year-old kicks and screams and turns red in the face when he doesn't get his way. It's even worse when this happens to an adult. An adult throwing a temper tantrum has to be one of the ugliest scenes you can witness, right behind roadkill. You can effectively deal with an adult's temper tantrum with a few steps-and a straight face.

Instructions (Difficulty: Moderate)

1. Refrain from laughing. No matter how idiotic, silly or downright hilarious a raging adult may appear, laughing will only make it worse.
2. Keep calm and keep your distance. Never interfere with a raging adult unless they are coming at you with a stick. Then block the stick.
3. Remove yourself from the situation. If you can physically walk away, go for it. If not, mentally envision yourself wafting high above their outburst and watching it unfold below.
4. Help pick up the pieces. This step only applies if the person is a coworker or friend of yours. Once the person has calmed down, soothe their nerves and, if you feel they are up to it, even joke about their garish display of emotion.

Tips and Warnings

• If this is a friend of yours and it happens often, you may want to suggest counseling.
• If this is your boss and it happens often, you may want to look for a new job.
• If this is a total stranger on the street and it happens often, you may want to walk down a different street.
• Don't get sucked into their anger pit or a yelling match.

A TV Ad I Dislike

An Irritating TV AD for Crying Out Loud ...


Dislike the song and the way the ad appears to insult the Chinese.

Wash Your Hands

An interesting sign at the washing
basin in a lavatory of KTP Hospital

TV Series: Primeval

Interesting Sci-Fi TV series on
Channel 5 every Thursday.
Synopsis
Professor Nick Cutter and his associates, a friend and colleague Stephen Hart, a student Connor Temple, a zookeeper Abby Maitland investigate the appearance of anomalies (called "earthquakes in time") that allow the passage to other times and places, and often-dangerous creatures from the distant past or future to threaten the lives of citizens.

The British government's Home Office, under the supervision of James Lester and Claudia Brown, becomes involved after a Gorgonopsid travels through one such anomaly and wreaks havoc in the Forest of Dean. Professor Cutter's wife, Helen Cutter, presumed dead for eight years, was revealed to have been traveling in time through the anomalies. Cutter was unable to convince her to help as she had changed much from the woman he had once known, and began to fall in love with another woman, Claudia.

Meanwhile Abby began to take care of a Coelurosauravus she named Rex after he was left behind in the present, and was attracted to Stephen, who didn't completely reciprocate her feelings, despite Connor's attempts to get with her.

Chinese Cuisine @ Mayim

Mayim Chinese Cuisine Restaurant
930 Yishun Ave 2 #02-01/05
Northpoint
Singapore 769098

Congee with barley and mashed carrot

Steamed dumpling teochew style

Crispy beancurd skin roll with prawn and
Deep fried prawn dumpling with mayonnaise sauce

Steamed barbequed chicken bun

Healthy brown rice with carrot, celery, black
bean, black fungus, yam, peanut and red bean

Shanghai 'xiao long bao'

Steamed glutinous rice with chicken in lotus leaf

Mango and pomelo sago

Mini red bean paste pan cake with banana

Upcoming Movies

Upcoming movies ...

• X-men: First Class


• Green Lantern


• Transformers: Dark of the Moon


• Captain America: The First Avenger


• Cowboy and Aliens

Note to a Dental Specialist

This note is just a feedback, so feel free to dispose of it after reading.

Not wanting to give this feedback in front of your colleagues or staff, here is just a heads up to let you know the inconvenience and agony your patients are going through.

I believe many of your patients, like me, face the same problem, but few would have enough courage to let you know the whole truth. My objective for this feedback is to enable you to understand your patients better, so please do not take this too hard or feel it is written to give offense.

You probably can understand the pain your patients are going through with minor slips such as sharp brace brackets and wire ends not snipped off. It costs much for patients like me to have to suffer excruciating pain with ulcers and not being able to eat well or even open mouth just to talk.

As you know, not all patients can immediately go back and see you to get the problem fixed right away and some may have to suffer the pain for days. Ad hoc visits to and from workplace can also cost much, and in my case, I have already spent an accumulated amount of more than a hundred dollars just paying for cab fares for non-scheduled visits. Such visits have also brought much inconvenience with too many excuses requesting for time off from work.

You will understand the frustration, pain and agony your patients are going through besides bearing unnecessary cost. As a standard practice and procedure in the future, therefore, can you without having to be reminded do the necessary checks and fix the necessary after each patient's visit?

Thank you for taking the time to read this note. Looking forward to making things better for the future, please accept my apologies should this feedback bring you any unhappiness or stress.

Happy Easter Day

Wishing All ...

God bless you! (",)

Thor

Synopsis
Paramount Pictures and Marvel Entertainment present the epic adventure, "Thor," which spans the Marvel Universe from present day Earth to the realm of Asgard. At the center of the story is the mighty Thor (Chris Hemsworth), a powerful but arrogant warrior whose reckless actions reignite an ancient war. Thor is cast down to Earth by his father Odin (Anthony Hopkins) and is forced to live among humans. A beautiful, young scientist, Jane Foster (Natalie Portman), has a profound effect on Thor, as she ultimately becomes his first love. It's while here on Earth that Thor learns what it takes to be a true hero when the most dangerous villain of his world sends the darkest forces of Asgard to invade Earth.

Official Site: thor.marvel.com
Singapore Release Date: 28th April 2011, Thursday
Running Time: 130 minutes
Ratings: G
Genre: Action | Adventure | Drama
Cast: Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Hopkins, Kat Dennings, Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman
Crew: Director (Kenneth Branagh), Producer (Kevin Feige), Writers (Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby), Screenplay (Ashley Edward Miller, Zack Stentz, Don PayneJ. Michael Straczynski, Mark Protosevich), Music (Patrick Doyle), Cinematography (Haris Zambarloukos) and Editing (Paul Rubell)

The Ultimate Winner

Synopsis
Since young, Shi Tian Cai (Li Nanxing) was known among his peers to be the junior gambling king thanks to his gambling addict of a father. Years later, Tian Cai gets married to Zhi Hui who is about to give birth. All this while Tian Cai have been supporting his family through gambling, but with a kid now on board, things just got tougher. Without hesitation Tian Cai dabbles with the high-stake circles and with his talent and reputation manages to make a huge windfall. Tian Cai’s much sought after talent in the gambling circle generates envy from Taiwanese tycoon Li Guan Jun, and each step that Tian Cai takes brings him closer to his nemesis.

Official Site: facebook.com/theultimatewinnermovie
Singapore Release Date: 14th April 2011, Thursday
Running Time: 100 minutes
Ratings: G
Genre: Drama
Cast: Phyllis Quek, Li Nanxing, Rebecca Lim, Dai Yang Tian
Crew: Director (Li Nanxing)

Academic Writing Services

As a writer in the business of providing writing services, I frequently get requests by people who are willing to pay me to write their academic theses and assignments for them, which I of course refused. The reason is obvious—it is not only ethically wrong to cheat, but also against my professional principles.

The fact that it took me years of hard work studying part-time before I received my degree makes me abhor anyone who cheats or take a shortcut to get his or her certificate, diploma or degree. The value and worth of achieving one's own by one's own effort and knowledge is paramount to any future success. I have learned much through serious study, not pay someone else to write for me. In the real world, there is no way for anyone to be useful to the society if that someone paves the way to success through dishonesty.

While my belief is never to take up any paid academic writing assignments requests, I recently found out there are those who do the exact opposite and seize this as an opportunity for earning money. In fact, some even advertise to encourage students to pay them to write their essays and theses! An example of this is EssayProvider.com.

I am appalled by such practices! Although writing academic assignments for requestors can earn much, it questions the integrity of the achiever. It is no wonder some potential employers doubt the credibility of potential employees when they read résumés that state academic achievement through part-time courses. Such a practice can cause significant damage to many who have really studied, of whom I was one of them.

If you are a student seeking help for assignment writing or an academic writing service provider, I pray that you would quit such unethical practices. Students who need help should seek friends or others, share information and come up with their own ideas, not pay someone else to write for them. Academic writing service providers should consider other writing services rather than just writing ‘on behalf’ of students.

May we all agree to join hands to walk the straight path in building our own integrity and credibility!

Spidey's Web Shooters

Web-Covered Trees

Webbings covering the trees! Is this the work of Spider-Man?

According to the news from wired.co.uk on March 30, 2011, the web covered trees is the result of spiders fleeing from the unprecedented flooding in Pakistan during the latter half of 2010 which disrupted the lives of 20 million people.

With more than a fifth of the country submerged, millions of spiders climbed into trees to escape the rising floodwater. As the water has taken so long to recede, the trees quickly became covered in a coocoon of spiderwebs. The result is an eerie, alien panorama, with any vegetation covered in a thick mass of webbing.

The unusual phenomenon, however, is a blessing in disguise. The UK's department for international development reports that areas where the spiders have scaled the trees have seen a far fewer malaria-spreading mosquitos than might be expected, given the prevalance of stagnant, standing water.

Read more ...

Spidey @ Edge of Time

Spider-Man: Edge of Time

Pasta and Pizza

Pastamania
930 Yishun Avenue 2 #03-01/02
Northpoint Shopping Centre
Singapore 769098

Chicken Bolognese
Waffle Potato with Drink
Pizza Supreme

New Laptop

Sony VAIO 'C' Series VPCCB15FQ
With the demise of my previous laptop, here's the new one in the works for readiness.

Onboard the Bus

The back of the shuttle bus was empty but the front was crowded. Stuck at the entrance, I had no choice but to relentlessly push my way to the back saying out loud "excuse me, excuse me."

The culprit was a guy with an oversized backpack probably housing a laptop and other stuff standing half way in the middle of bus at the exit door. A few passengers and I have to stare at him while I continue to say "excuse me" and added "I am going to the back" before the guy took down his bag to let the passengers move to the rear.

As a constant practitioner wishing to encourage and push people to put into practice acts of social etiquette, I sometimes find it really difficult to forbear such inconsiderate acts.

May all of us, especially those carrying backpacks, always remember we are not alone in our own world and pay attention to the needs of others!

Watching While Waiting

Watching this TVB series on DVD in the meantime
while waiting to get a new laptop which
went dead a few days ago

Signboard

Unless the advertiser is manufacturing living water, I don't think it knows what it is talking about.

Signboard above a closed wooden door
of a corporation at TradeHub 21,
20 Boon Lay Way #01-167

Coins or No Coins

I was rushing to catch a shuttle bus this morning. A woman behind me seem in a hurry, so I let her board the bus first as I was still trying to get my coins ready for the bus fare. On boarding the bus, the woman started digging for coins from her bag, leaving me no choice but to queue behind her as I could not drop my coins in the box with her blocking.

The driver signaled me to bypass the lady, so I got to the side to drop the coins, but because of the awkward position, dropped my coins on the floor. Both of us—the woman and I—ended up apologizing for the delay to all the people behind us who were waiting to board. I then picked up my coins and dropped them into the box while the woman continued to dig.

This is kind of people we encounter every day, people who cannot wait to be first and have no regard for the interest of others. But as for me, I live by a code of conduct following the biblical verse that states:

Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4 NAS)

Here’s a penny for your thoughts. When you are not ready, will you wait and not rush to get ahead of others?

Fabulous JP Western Lunch

Eatzi Gourmet
SAFRA Yishun Country Club (JP Pepperdine Group)
60 Yishun Ave 4 #01-V2 Singapore 769027

Eatzi Sampler Platter (for two)
Combination of Onion Rings, Spring Rolls, Calamari Rings,
Chicken Pockets and Chicken Drumlets/Wings

Grilled Fillet of Fish with Lemon Butter Sauce

Fresh Lobster Bisque

Dessert n Tea

Happy St Patrick's Day

Wishing All a Blessed and ...


Let's GO GREEN today!

World Invasion — Battle: Los Angeles

Release Date: March 17, 2011
Running Time: 116 minutes
Ratings: G
Genre: Action Sci-Fi Thriller
Cast: Bridget Moynahan, Ramon Rodriguez, Michelle Rodriguez, Michael Pena, Aaron Eckhart.
Crew: Director (Jonathan Liebesman), Producer (Jeffrey Chernov, Neal H. Moritz, Ori Marmur), Writers (Christopher Bertolini), Music (Brian Tyler), Cinematography (Lukas Ettli) and Editing (Christian Wagner)
Official Site: http://www.battlela.com

Synopsis: For years, there have been documented cases of UFO sightings around the world – Buenos Aires, Seoul, France, Germany, China. But in 2011, what were once just sightings will become a terrifying reality when Earth is attacked by unknown forces. As people everywhere watch the world’s great cities fall, Los Angeles becomes the last stand for mankind in a battle no one expected. It’s up to a Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and his new platoon to draw a line in the sand as they take on an enemy unlike any they’ve ever encountered before.

Road Accident

A road accident at junction of Sembawang Way and Admiralty Drive just minutes ago. I think an AC-bus is involved as well.

Cool Animation

My Sea Water Aquarium

Cool Animation from Sevenoak Art.

Hope you like it! (",)

Facing the Boss

I woke up this morning feeling a little depressed over my job situation. I have been having such moods frequently of late ever since the team I was working in was absorbed into another department headed by a lady boss using top-down management style.

The lady boss is a practitioner of every aspect of what we typically learned from management studies in using negative motivational tactics to get staff working in fear following a hierarchical structure. Her personality and disposition is generally fierce, and she constantly breathes down the necks of her staff every weekly department meeting. Words from her are like fire—hot and fiery, and like storm—cold and harsh, filled full with regular reprimands. The way her staff is handled is similar to the way elementary school teachers treat the kids. It is as if every of the staff owes her a living, and any difference in opinions finds trouble for oneself. Few are willing to put their jobs on the line to practice the freedom of speech.

Such is the depressive moods I faced these days, which similar feelings have once faded from my past many years ago. No such negative feelings existed when I began working in this corporation some six years ago. Things have been fairly well with everyone doing their part as a team, working with each other to resolve issues rather than being driven from top-down. When I woke up this morning, however, the first thing that came to mind was the urgent need to calm down and seek God. I knew in my heart there was a verse that express well how I felt and therefore desperately searched for the Bible verse to calm myself and cry out to God. I knew I was already late for work, but felt the need to read the verse I was seeking to express myself, and eventually found it.

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him For the help of His presence. (Psalm 42:5 NAS)

I then read the entire Psalm 42 and realized the cry in verse 5 ended with the same starting words in verse 11, but with a different ending.

Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. (Psalm 42:11)

In my desperation I cried out to God. Yes, I shall call upon the Lord and seek His face in my time of difficulty.