Happy New Year 2016

Wishing All a Fruitful Year Ahead!

Merry Christmas 2015

Wishing All a Blessed and ...

Train Service Disruption

 

Caught in the train disruption between Yishun and Bishan earlier.

After leaving from Sembawang station to Yishun, I heard the announcement and decided to go back to Sembawang to take a cab rather than fight the crowd at Yishun.

Upon getting down from the escalator at Sembawang station, I heard an announcement update that the train service has been restored, so up the escalator again.

Very late for work today.

A Visit to New York

Pictures taken at Bear Mountain, New York, in October 2015

In the Holy Land

A view of Jerusalem from hotel room in December 2013

Others' Behavior

Watching the way some people behave can sometimes be disconcerting, but who are we to judge or comment?

Shock of the Day

[Photo is for illustration only]

Today is my day off and it began with a shock of my life when the cab I was in took a wrong turn and went against the traffic!

Instead of immediately turning back, the cab driver decided to drive on ahead till the next traffic junction before going back on the road of the right traffic direction.

Thankful to God when I finally reached my destination after long traffic jam due to an accident.

A Different Look at Singapore

Here's looking at Singapore from a different point of view ...

Corning in Steuben County

A place I visited before that I like a lot ... Corning in Steuben County, New York.

Taste of Canton

A good place to celebrate special occasions
@ Canton Paradise, The Star Vista, Singapore

BBQ Pork Noodles ~ 4 stars
Prawn wanton (dumplings) noodles ~ 4 stars
Ha Kao (prawn dumplings) ~ 4.5. stars
Prawn in beancurd skin ~ 3.5 stars
Steamed BBQ pork buns ~ 3 stars
Watercress honey drink ~ 4.5 stars

Book Review: Trials and Triumphs II

More trials than triumphs, albeit small triumphs. Living the faith is not all smooth sailing, and like everyone else, the authors of this book have gone through some extremely difficult times. The difference is, rather than dwell in despair, their relationship with God flourishes as a result.

My heart is deeply moved and stirred within me reading some of the testimonies in this book. The experiences shared in this book lets us know we are not alone in our pains and sufferings because God is always with us.

This book is a good read especially for those who have gone through or are going through difficult times and for those seeking to know God more deeply and how to help others in their pains.

Get a copy of the book @ Xulon Press or Amazon

Quit Smoking

Smoking is not just killing oneself but also others too!

Digital Device Relationship

A relationship that lasts begins with being present while together with the other, 
NOT miles away on our digital device

Squirrel in Action

Chanced upon a squirrel in action while crossing an overhead bridge on way to work ...

 

 

 

Nice and amazing! :)

The Avengers: Age of Ultron (May 2015)

Upcoming Movie ... The Avengers: Age of Ultron

 

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

Have a Blessed Christmas and Fruitful Year Ahead!

Daraemon Christmas Trees

This year, Christmas trees come in many forms ... the traditional and the comic characters!



Watch out for the upcoming movie Stand by Me, Daraemon.

Santas @ Metro

Halloween is just over, and it is that time of the year when we prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas once again.

Find out what Santa is doing at Metro Causeway Point.

Metro lights up your Christmas!

Expect the Worst

Sometimes we have to expect the worst so when

things turn out better, we might not

be disappointed.

Upcoming Movie: Left Behind

New 'Left Behind' movie will present the rapture with 'clarity;' new trailer released

Producer and writer Paul Lalonde said film will be 'bigger and better' than the last.

Published 06 August 2014 | Brownie Marie

A new trailer was released for the October 3 "Left Behind" film, the latest in a series of movies about the rapture.

This fall's film stars Nicolas Cage and Chad Michael Murray in a more blockbuster version of the popular Christian film series, The Blaze reports.

"A small group of survivors are left behind after millions of people suddenly vanish and the world is plunged into chaos and destruction," the film's synopsis reads on its IMDB page.

The sudden disappearance is the calling of Christians to heaven to be with the Lord, while those left behind face confusion and havoc.

Nicholas Cage plays a pilot, and Chad Michael Murray a journalist who must come to grips with life on Earth after the rapture. "Left Behind" also stars Lea Thompson, Nicky Whelan, Jordin Sparks, Quinton Aaron, and others.

The newest "Left Behind" installment is quite different from the original Kirk Cameron release 14 years ago.

"The reason to bring 'Left Behind' back is [two-fold]: one is to make it bigger and better, so that we can have a broader reach and a shot at a broader audience," producer and writer Paul Lalonde told The Blaze in April. "The first time we did it it was a straight to DVD production."

Religion films, and the rapture, are popular topics in the mainstream media as of late.

HBO series "The Leftovers" follows the lives of people in a fictional New York town who are left behind after their loved ones disappear. The cause for the disappearance is unknown, although the series' premise is similar to "Left Behind".

"The Leftovers" does not have a faith-based approach, however. Some children and pastors remain while other, more unsavory characters, have been taken in the "Sudden Departure".  Families are splintered and mankind becomes increasingly carnal.

Lalonde said the new "Left Behind" film will meet Christian audiences' approval, however.

"I think a lot of the core Christian audience, I think they're going to be surprised at the clarity with which we presented the rapture," he said. "I think people are expecting it to be completely buried and barely mentioned."

Watch the newly released extended trailer for "Left Behind" below.

Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

Before we are too quick to judge, know the other side of the story ...

Despite Ongoing Rocket Fire, Israel Transfers Aid to Gaza

Israel allows hundreds of trucks of food and supplies into Gaza to avert humanitarian crisis, as Hamas uses human shields.

By Yosef Berger
First Publish: 7/10/2014, 2:29 PM

Despite the ongoing rocket fire by Gaza terrorists, Israel has not halted the entry of trucks into Gaza – and on Thursday, some 200 trucks carrying food and “basic supplies” entered Gaza. The government said that the trucks were allowed to pass through for “humanitarian purposes,” and were inspected and found not to be carrying any items or equipment that could be used to attack Israel.

The trucks are said to be carrying a greater than normal supply of food, officials said. According to sources, the IDF and Defense Ministry officials urged the government's Coordinator of Government Activities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, Yoav Mordechai, to allow an increased amount of supplies into Gaza, so that residents would have enough to eat in case the IDF begins a ground assault against Hamas.

The trucks enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is often targeted by Gaza terrorists for missile attacks. The workers at the crossing are all Israeli, and have been given special safety instructions by the Home Front Command, officials said. It should be noted that one of the terror tunnels destroyed by the IDF several days ago was located right next to the Crossing.

With that, officials said, the IDF has pulled two “gestures” granted after the conclusion of Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012. Palestinian Arab farmers have been banned from tending to their fields which abut the security fence around Gaza, and cannot approach within more than a few hundred meters of the fence. In addition, fishing boats have been restricted to within three kilometers of the Gaza coast.

The IDF has also allowed 240 Palestinians with foreign citizenship to leave Gaza, at the request of their governments. Among them are citizens of the US, Sweden, Greece, Romania, and Serbia. They will be allowed to leave the country, or to travel to Palestinian Authority-controlled areas of Judea and Samaria.

It goes without saying that the IDF has not taken steps to cut off Gaza's electricity, which is supplied by Israel, as numerous ministers and MKs have demanded. IDF officials said that among the reasons for allowing the shipments to continue and the power to flow was to prevent Hamas from painting a picture of a “humanitarian crisis” in Gaza, in which people have no food, water, or power.

In contrast to the IDF's concern for the well-being of civilians in Gaza, Hamas, the Islamist group which controls the territory, has urged residents to act as human shields, placing them directly in harm's way - sometimes with tragic results.

On Wednesday night, Hamas spokesman took to Gaza-controlled TV to openly admit that the group is using civilians as human shields, and encouraged more Gazans to act as such.

Tainted

At this point of my life, anything that I write is likely to be tainted with some negativity because things haven't been going smoothly for me. So bear with me while I struggle to make ends meet.

Bouncing Back

At the age of 22, Oprah Winfrey was fired from her first television job as co-anchor for weekday news on one of Baltimore’s stations because she was deemed “unfit for TV” after the show received low ratings. Winfrey called it the “first and worst failure of her TV career.” But she rebounded and became the undisputed queen of television talk shows before amassing a media empire, according to articles at BusinessInsider.com.

Stories of failures to success fascinate many people, and we sometimes wish we are like the heroes of such stories. At the core of these stories, however, is the question all of us must answer, “Do we get back up stronger after we encounter setbacks?”

Not all of us are quick to recover from a setback. Some of us might find it too difficult to continue or call it quits. Of the many attributes rebounders are expected to have are the ability to accept failure, desire to take action, open mind for new ideas, ability to be comfortable with discomfort, and motivating passion, according to an article at USAToday.com.

Do we recover quickly after a setback or do we find it difficult to get back on our feet after a failure? Are we fearful of more setbacks awaiting us? Do we give up easily or do we shine taking up new challenges? Are we growing stronger and wiser learning from our past mistakes?

Failures and setbacks in life are lessons we learn and accept along our journey moving forward, so there’s no need for us to be surprised. With fervent passion, learn to buildup and grow our bouncebackability, so we might not quit easily. Find comfort amid discomfort and derive satisfaction within challenges. Open up to new ideas for action without confining to conventional ways or thoughts.

Voted Off

When the corporation I worked for failed to reach its targeted revenue for the year, it was announced the CEO would be leaving because of personal reasons, although everyone knew he was voted off the island.

As employees, many of us are also vulnerable to be voted off whenever a business or corporation restructures or fails to perform well. Sometimes we might be selected for layoff because of ‘personal reasons’ like our lack of exceptional performance, and at times because we outperformed our superiors or specially valued peers.

Are we upset or unhappy because we have been voted off the island? Are we feeling bitter or unjustified because of layoffs for the wrong reasons, such as outperforming or unwittingly crossing a person?

If we are, let’s not and let go. It’s not worth losing our head or heart over what’s gone. There’s no need for us to feel ashamed if we are asked to go for whatever the reason because with every closed door is another door waiting to be discovered. Stay upbeat for new challenges ahead.

Gossip Mill

Caitlin had always been happy at school with many friends. But when she was 9, Jenna, a classmate who was jealous of Caitlin's popularity, began waging a campaign to turn Caitlin's friends against her. Jenna took a girl’s purse and claimed Caitlin had stolen it. She falsely confided to another that Caitlin had been talking behind her back. Jenna convinced Caitlin's friends that Caitlin was a ‘loser’ because she was neither slim nor fashion-conscious. Consequently, they stopped inviting Caitlin to sleepovers.

The story of Caitlin was told by Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer in her article ‘Surviving the Rumor Mill’ at Scholastic.com. Hartley said it is important not to underestimate the havoc reported rumors or gossip could wreak, especially those in their tween years—however unlikely, untrue or trivial they may seem. Fortunately for Caitlin, she was able to make new and more reliable friends.

“Tweens are trying to make their mark, and there is often a constant undercurrent of competition as they attempt to be top dog,” Hartley wrote. “It's no secret that children can be mean, especially those whose own painful experiences make them more inclined to strike out at others.”

The statement made by Hartley, in actuality, applies to people of all ages. During times of uncertainty, the gossip mill turns faster than ever in environments beyond the schools and campuses to workplaces and businesses, often contributing to lower productivity and affecting relationships.

A good way to deal with the gossip or rumor mill is to stay away from it, and when falsely accused to keep silent if we are not ready or unable to make our defense. Badmouthing to position ourselves above others or to hide our own misgivings breaks trust and reaps bitterness. Spreading rumors and premeditating steps to another person’s fall are uncivil and unethical. Like Caitlin, we can make new and more reliable friends.

Are we falsely accused by others for something we did not do or are we among those who talk behind people’s back and spread rumors or gossips about others? Do we make attempts when falsely accused to find out why our accuser is doing it? Could our accuser’s past or painful experiences be an opening for us to understand and help? Are we the accused or the accuser?

Digital Detox

“Social media is great ... but there are times when social media can get in the way of the real world,” said the voiceover narrator. “That's why we develop the social media guard. It takes the social out of the media and puts it back into your life.”

A cone collar similar to Elizabethan collar or E-collar was next shown onscreen. With the guard worn around the necks, men and women were prevented from reading or viewing their electronic devices. Compelled to redirect their attention to the people around them, they made eye contact.

That was a video created by Coca-Cola for humor. In a sense, a cone collar guard might be a good way to help solve the problem of social media addiction and get people back to social interaction in the real world. However, for practical reasons, we wouldn’t wear such a guard just to disconnect to connect, unplug, and detox to avoid addiction or obsession. What we need is a solution that helps us break free from our dependency and regain control.

Too often, we have been guilty of spending too much time staying digitally connected, listening, reading, viewing, writing or updating  our various social network accounts. We woo people to like, follow, and join our social media pages, blogs and sites, and to add us as friends. We post videos, pictures and text to attract attention and to draw the crowd.

Spending time online is nothing wrong, but spending too much of our time online is. If we are neglecting or missing out the more important things in life because of time spent online, we need help. Whether we are using a computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone or another device to connect to the Internet, we need to stamp down addiction or obsession. A good practice and alternative solution to the collar guard is to regularly take time off to eschew digital activity and use that time for more meaningful social interaction with our loved ones, friends and others.

Are we finding ourselves hooked for extended hours online? Are we oblivious to our surroundings at times when connected to the digital world? Do we feel restless without our smartphone or digital device in hand? If our answer to these questions is affirmative, it means it is time for us to go on a digital detox.

Is this Us?

Social media is great, but sometimes ...

by Brian McFadden in The Nib

We need to disconnect ourselves from the digital world
and connect back to the real world!

Wi-Fi Trivial

My wife and I visited the Holy Land in December 2013. Among the first things we observed about the people in the group we were traveling with was whenever we arrived at the hotel, a number of them would immediately ask about the availability of Wi-Fi. Depending on the revelation, we would hear sighs of relief or disappointment. Thankfully, most of the hotels we stayed in had Wi-Fi. During the few days of snow storm, many of us depended on the Wi-Fi to help us pass the time. Not all the hotels we stayed in, however, had Wi-Fi in the rooms. When that happened, we would hear grumblings and on occasions observe some expressions of unhappiness. On a day when the Wi-Fi signal was weak, we would also hear conversations about the problem during dinnertime.

In an affluent society, we sometimes tend to take for granted what we have and complain about things that are trivial. We are unhappy when our laptop or computer hangs on us. We are unhappy when Wi-Fi is not available at a time we need it. We are unhappy when something we wish to purchase is sold out or taken off the shelf. We are unhappy to have to wait in line or for the traffic signal to turn green. We are unhappy our goals are taking longer to achieve than we expect. We are unhappy with many things and with people who keep us in check.

Some time ago, a charitable organization, Water is Life, featured in an ad campaign, Haitian children and adults reading the ‘complaints’ of first world problems.

“I hate when I tell them no pickles, and they still give me pickles,” said a boy standing among pigs and chickens.

“I hate it when my house is so big, I need two wireless routers,” said a man standing in front of a dilapidated house.

Nearing the end of the one-minute video entitled ‘First World Problems Anthem,’ a message in text was displayed: #FirstWorldProblems Are Not Problems.

Are we among those who grumble and complain about trivial problems, such as the inconveniences in life? Do we ever give some thought to the needs of the people around us or to those in the third world? Are we thankful and grateful for the things we have?

Decisions Determine Destination

Life is like taking a bus at the interchange ... 

the decision we make and the path we

take to reach our planned goals 

depend on our choices.

A Cure for Social Media Addiction?

Do you know social media can kill relationships?

Here's taking a look at how we can improve our relationships offline.

Final Trailer: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Upcoming Marvel Movies

Mar 27, 2014


May 1, 2014


May 23, 2014

At the Crossroads Again

Back to my nature walks waiting at the crossroads

of something familiar and endless possibilities.

Illustration n Thought

Ottawa is somewhere familiar to me, 

but what lies ahead is the challenge

of unknown possibilities like

the Bermuda Triangle

Happy Valentine's Day 2014

To All My Blog Friends and Fans ...

Lunar New Year 2014

Wishing All of You ...