a sign?

I feel that THE time is fast approaching... been seeing some 'signs' pretty negative ones actually but somehow there seems to be this irritating voice inside that's against my thoughts...

Again... I find myself stranded at the crossroads, unsure of which path to take. Part of me really wanted to throw in the towel once and for all.. yet, I can't seem to find a really compelling reason to.

Often in the still of the darkness.. a regular thought creeps on me. Why believe in her?

Seriously, I'm not too sure myself. Maybe it's the way she made me feel.. maybe it's the way I feel being with her... so comfortable, being able to be just myself. Maybe it's her infectious laughter that brightens up the darkness of my life, maybe it's her eyes that speaks volume, maybe its her touch that melts me, maybe its her angelic voice that breaks into my silent world. Maybe it's just the uniqueness of 'her'.

Maybe I should listen to that voice... shouldn't I?

One thing I know for certain though... the decision is looming.

What shall I do ?

Watch Yourself...

Watch your thoughts; they become words.

Watch your words; they become actions.

Watch your actions ; they become habits.

Watch your habits; they become character.

Watch your character; it becomes your destiny

Tis the season for giving....

Dear Santa,

I know at this time every year you will get a serious migrane from cracking your grey matter.. thinking what kinda gifts are suitable for the 5 billion people on this little planet. So, I'll like to do my part to help.

Above is a really cool digital camera from Samsung.. the NV10.. It's a 10.1 megapixel monster in a little cage measuring just 18.5mm thick! With lens from famed large-format camera, Schneider.. and a 1000 ISO setting.... it's a killer!

At least now you got only 4,999,999,999 gifts left!

Hehee.... (Friends could help chip in though...)

Back once more...

Wow. Been ages since I was last here... guess no one's here anymore too.

Ok.. a little updates....

Well, pretty much been going on the past month but nothing blog-worthy really... Other than being crazily addicted to bowling recently, and finally sinking $175 bucks into my own ball, bag and shoes (ouch.. it hurts even now!)

Still been visiting my favourite sand spot in Sentosa.. whenever the ever elusive Mr. Sun decides to show himself... been a really wet wet wet month.. it's gonna get worse next month.. (shake head.. roll eyes....)

Work wise... as usual. Stale & monotomous. Was pretty exciting last week though. Maybe because we're actually busy (and I mean really busy) for once... My boss gave me a pretty Mission Impossible demand.. He wanted several posters, menu pages, emailer & table menu to be done, printed and displayed... in 5 days!!

God. I needed a miracle!! You see, its perfectly enough time on my side.. though abit tight.. getting the concept approve, design approve, ammendments done, finalise and get the artwork ready for print... all needed to fit around his super busy schedule.

On top of that, we're so shorthanded.. 1 designer gone on long leave.. leaving just me & 1 other... oh oh.. and that's not the end.. on top of the last minute crap... I still have 2 ads, 1 packaging, 2 flyers due on the same day.

But all that is still ok.. the tough part is actually persuading the 3 printers (vendors) to get all printed in 1 day. For those in the creative, printing industry will know this is 99.999999% no-way deal... esp when your prints involves die-cut and lamination.

Haha.. but thank God, I delivered!!!! Every single dateline has been met... I really got to thank my designer too... He's been working really hard.

Anyway.. 2 more weeks and it's my turn to go on my looooooong leave! Woohoo... HK & SZ, here I come!!

Heheh...

Oh, some really cool pics I got from Angie, thought I'll share with you...

(Ps. If you need this effect for your wedding shots.. Pls contact me..)

Ooh la laa...

Guess that caught your attention? It certainly caught mine when I was checking my emails... Sex still sells... no matter where nor what. Being in the advertising line, I've seen many provocative ads... most are just plain craps, degrading women to mere objects of attention, though some that were done tastefully are really good.

I don't blame them (the advertisers) actually... many a times, I've been tempted to use scantily-clad women images for my ad. Why? Because it simply sells! You don't need to brainstorm for hours for a good concept or take a risk whether your concept will be understood by the end-consumer... Let's face it... Sex is universal... and it grabs your attention. But of course in the end I couldn't use that as most of my ads are in countries that will stage a protest if you so much as show a bikini. baaargghh...

Anyway.. glad to see Singapore finally loosening up and more importantly, opening up. This Sexpo is already in the 2nd year. Though its attendence is not record-breaking, I heard it's a pretty decent turn-out last year.


Now, guess the only thing now is to get its citizens to 'Open up' as well.. no point opening up sex shops and holding sex exhibition if the common stigmatism of being labelled remains...

So, anyone planning on going?? Check it out here

Oh, and by the way... they have a really interesting game.. give it a shot if you're free.

Click here

Embrace Singlish !

Funny clip from a school play in Singapore...
Apparently , these two students are trying to mimick the 'native' Singapore English... Singlish!

enjoy!!

Quote of the moment..

"The evil that is in the world always comes of ignorance, and good intentions may do as much harm as malevolence, if they lack understanding. On the whole men are more good than bad; that, however, isn't the real point. But they are more or less ignorant, and it is this that we call vice or virtue; the most incorrigible vice being that of an ignorance which fancies it knows everything and therefore claims for itself the right to kill. There can be no true goodness, nor true love, without the utmost clear-sightedness."

Modernity vs Tradition

Was on my way to work this morning... taking the sardined-packed train, and as usual I was standing & trying to catch some 40 winks. i was just about to succeed when suddenly, a loud sound climbs through the already noisy chatter of the cabin. It goes like this... " youuuuu... muthafucker! youuu... muthafucker!!" I look around and realise it was someone's mobile ringtone. Hardly surprising.

But what surprised me was the user. After scanning through trying to find that 'muthafucker', I saw a middle-age muslim woman in traditional 'tudung' taking out her mobile sheepishly & quickly answered the call.

It got me thinking.. what's the point of wearing your tradition attire ritually everyday if your mindset & thinking are that of the modern generation? By obligation or by situation?

In any case, I just feel that's its damn contradicting.. kinda like one day u see the 'pope' in leather & spikes jumping to a 'Kiss' concert...

From then to now

Was strolling along Suntec mall as usual when someone called me.. took me a while to realise its actually one of my old friend from way back in my school days... in fact, we were a couple once... hhahaa..

Thinking back, those puppy love years.. although they hardly last and are hardly called love (Infatuation.. more likely), they are one of the purest & most enjoyable times in 'love.'

Untainted by finacial burdens, work pressure & social acceptance... its simply.. 'lovely'!

Almost 13 years had passed since then... time really flies. As we're slowly inching towards the BIG '3'.. Many school mates & class mates had already started a family, gotten married, giving birth, and a few actually started sending their kid to Primary 1!! OMG...

Just yesterday I received an sms from an old classmate of mine ( I used to copy her homework all the time.. especially Chinese.. hahaa), she had just given birth to a baby girl...

Every year my circle of friends who are still a swinging bachelor or bachelorette are shrinking at an alarming rate. I'm also getting poorer from all the weddings....!!

Which brings me back to a point. Have I taken the right route in life? Am I ready to start a family? As my birthday is less than 2 months away, I sure hope my wish for this passing year will come true. (nope, not going to tell.. heheh..)

Wonder when will my big day arrive... hmm.. .. ..

Cool Clip

1 word... WOW!!!

JobHop

Was reading an article in the papers about company loyalty.. & it kinda got me thinking...

Company loyalty, hardly applicable in today's society. As I've mentioned in my previous post, I hardly knew anyone who stayed in a job for more than 2 years.. scary huh?


Well, I believe the fault lies with the company as much as the employees... I mean, the reason most people hop is $$. They feel undervalued and over worked.

In my opinion, if my company fails to recognised my value & rewards me appropriately... it's not a place for me to sink my roots. It'll just be a stepping stone.

I simply hate companies who treats their employees like idiots but expect them to perform like genius. I really respect companies who put employees' welfare & benefit at the forefront... and I simply loathe companies who even tries to cheat their employees of a public holiday just because it falls on a sunday. Not to mentioned ZERO benefits other than the stipulated guidllines laid down by the government. Despicable!!


Oopss.. abit off topic..



Ok, company loyalty.. If you're an employer reading this..
pls take heed...
1) Respect your staff - they work for you not your slave!
2) Don't try to shortchange your staff - You didn't hire idiots, did you??
3) Pay them their worth & mayb abit more. - Your staff is your true asset, not your product or services!!!
4) Don't be an ass.... be nice! ( yes, you can be nice & firm at the same time...)
5) Listen. You may be the busiest man in the world but you'll be even busier if you have no staff left. Set aside maybe 1 afternoon a month, totally free from calls, meetings & appts... let your staff from any level know they could address their concerns or unhappiness directly with you.


Well, these 5 basic points.. if you follow them to the core.. I assure your turnover rate will reduce by at least 75% a year!!



Hmm.. boss, hope you're reading this.. =)

the chase..

Guess many of you would have come & left a weee... bit disappointed; and I apologised for neglecting my blog for some time. Been having quite a hectic week of chilling out, beaching and catching up on my beauty sleep.

Have also been thinking alot as well during the past week about certain affairs of the heart. Hmm... it feels like roller-coaster ride, the ups & downs, the anticipation, the thrills and lastly the sadness when the ride finally grinds to a halt.

If only there's a ride that goes on and on.... wouldn't that be nice?

Sometimes I feel damn lucky to have such doting and supportive parents, but sometimes I just wish that if only I could be born with a silver spoon. Not that I'm blaming them or anything, but being just a tad more finanically endowed can really alleviate some of the tremendous pressure I'm under.

The relentless pursuit of a better job, a fatter paycheck, a bigger office, a swankier apartment, a bigger car, a higher cert, a more prestigious credit card, and a kazillion more 'Mores'.

When will we ever slow down? Will it be too late when we finally do??

Many a times, I really felt like giving it all up and settle down in a farm raising cows and sheeps for a living. But I can't. Maybe I don't have the guts or maybe I can't leave everyone & everything behind.



Oh well, back to the pursuit of 'pressure'....




Enjoy this funny clip... courtesy of Angie
(For the benefit of my overseas friend, this is a clip taken in a lecture hall at NTU, one of Singapore's university.)

Laugh at your own risk

This is not for kids... So if you're below 2yrs old click here,

If not... enjoy!
(Warning... might cause severe tummy ache from prolonged 'Laughinghitis'



Part 1


Part 2

Wow.. it's been a week since my last post. Well, let's see what's been happening the past week...

I've been on MC most of the time due to severe ulcers at my tongue & lips... (my tongue alone got 8!!). Feeding time is a torture... For the 1st time, I actually hate to eat.

As you can guess, my meals for the past 3 days has been nothing but porridge. Freaking sick of it now!

Though the ulcers are healing now... my tooth still hurts. Damn, I missed gnarling those meat apart... grrrrr.....!

Other than that.. well, been going out with a friend, well.. sort of anyway. We share some memorable times but unfortunaletly, things got a little complicated... hope she makes up her mind soon though, the boat won't be waiting long...

Back at work now... still feeling kinda stoned. Maybe it because of the long periods of rest.. but gotta really tuned up for work soon.

Hope your week went better than mine!

I LOVE SUMSUNG

Check this out!!!!



NO! Not the girls!!
The stuff they're holding! It's a 10 megapixel mobile phone..... !!!!

Oh, it comes with manual focus, white balance and even a 3x optical zoom & 3x digital zoom!!

I'm falling in love... with Samsung.














Hmm.. Christmas is coming... anyone??

Servicing

As many of you might have noticed that my last entry was on Monday... well, this 'old vehicle' broke down and was in for a servicing the past 2 days.

Yep, I got myself a 2Day 1 Night stay at the National University Hospital. The package even includes all meals with a choice of Chinese, Malay or Western Cuisine! During my stay, I even won myself a whole packet of Phosphate drip and Seline injection... how nice of those folks!

For being the lucky 100000000000 visitor, I was given 2 brain scans, namely the EG Scan & the CT Scan!

Some pics of my 'vacation'....

My party band...

The leftover from my drip...

My Spacious 6-Bedded penthouse. (Nurse not included..)

My out of town visitor... he's abit eccentric though... funny hairstyle.

Me and my state-of-the-art fully electronic deluxe single size bed! Cool....

World Trade Centre - 911

It was a day no one will ever forget.





A day when terror dawns on man & humans got a glimpse of hell. Vividly I recall as I was watching the news when it was suddenly interrupted for a breaking news. The image of a burning building with a gaping hole sent shivers down my spine... and as the camera rolls, a plane came into view.. without warning, it crashes straight into the other tower.



An explosion of smoke, glass & debris erupted.. followed by raging fires.
To be watching it all live... something so unspeakable happening half way across the globe, I suddenly felt the mortal dangers of Terrorism.





Truly, no place is safe.






The scenes that really makes me cringe are those of people, normal innocent people at work.. forced to take that step to end their lives. It's simply horror, watching people jumping to their deaths to escape the raging fire.



Through all that terror, the goodness of men emerges... the bravery, courage, self-sacrifice and faith have shone through, like a beaming beacon.. it signifies hope yet for mankind.






(*** --- Warning, Spoiler Ahead ---***)


















5 years later, this movie emerges... maybe I shouldn't call it a movie at all. It should be a story, a documentary.



It about 2 Port Authority police officers who were among the 1st to respond to the crisis. They entered the burning buildings and were trapped when the buildings collapses. A moving story of how they overcame the odds & stayed alive long enough to be finally rescued.



This is not an exciting film, there are no jokes, no villians, no babes, no car chases... it is a story, a sombre & grim story reminding the world that terrorism is not some far-fetched political ploy but a real & horrific threat... and it could happen again, anytime.. anywhere.



This is a film about the power of the human spirit, where you can rise above unbelievable odds and truimph.



A good show, do catch it if you can... but please do watch it with respect. (There's this guy beside me who somehow seems amused & uttered; "hahaa.. hey, this guy not dead yet?")

Statues!

In view of the current influx of artistic pieces in Singapore.... I'd like to contribute some ideas to showcase Singapore as an 'Open & Inclusive' society...

Hehee..

What a week.

Friday, another week has wizzed past. Pretty much has happened in the past week which I'm not at a liberty to disclose here... (darn, even my own personal blog is so restricted..). Which is why I didn't blog much...

Whether it was good or bad... I'm still trying to figure it out. It just sort of caught me off guard & threw me off balance. Maybe because it's something I longed for... but didn't expect for it to happen... or maybe I just gave in to the deeper voice within... but whatever it is... I feel the answer won't be far away.

Life certainly has a tendency to throw surprises at you every now & then ya? Fast & furious-style!

Well, at least I know this weekend shouldn't have any more surprises... I'll be at the same place at the same time with the same people doing the same thing.

Hahaa...


Hope your weekend is more eventful than mine!

TGIW

Feeling very stoned today... though it's kinda busy at work. But time don't seems to pass as fast. It's mid week but seems to be such a looooong week. 2 more days... hang in there....!!

I need my Sun!!


Grrr...