Friday, June 29, 2007

on my new love - Erdinger!


Just had one of this beauty over lunch during a colleague's celebration today. Din expect it to be so tall and big  - but it's verysh nicesh *hic*... :D Goes well with my lunch order of pork chops in wine sauce *hic hic* :D

on a busy wednesday evening this week...

As it's the last week of the month this week, have the "option" of not holding formal CG^, so decided to shift CG time to this Saturday for a time of shopping instead*. So made alternative plans. One of my friends sms-ed the whole CG on whos's ups for grabs for shooting pool. Was looking forward to that, but in the end no one replied my friend. :< So just met up for dinner at Paradiz.

As I went off slightly from the office the day before^^, had to "pay back" and stayed back in office on Wednesday till around 6.30pm. Most of my co-workers were outta the office by 6-ish, so. Oh, but one of my colleague came back to ask me help her take her frozen "bak  zhang" from the freezer. That's was a hilarious episode... :D She walked all the way out downstairs before she realised she had forgotten all about them. When I took them outta freezer, man, they were hard and cold enough to qualify as "WMDs". Teased my friend about it, and asked her who she wanna kill with those killers. :D

When I reached Dhoby Gaut, called my friend and he said give him 30mins more. So i went to wander around the arcade at Paradiz center instead. Halfway while my casual strolling, handphone rang, It was one of my ex-CG mate, asking me whether got CG tonight. I told her "no" and she went "Huh?!" Then it suddenly popped into my mind, think she mentioned about wanting to bring a friend to CG; but she never did say when... :p

Anyway, my friend came to fetch me in the end, and said have to go back with him to his mentor's office for a while, as he was involved in a deal negotiation. So I waited another 20 minutes more before we could go off together. We went to Paradiz centre to have the famous fried won-ton mee for dinner. Haha, sabo-ed my friend by refusing to eat the won-ton soup that he ordered for both of us to share. My excuse was that I was "putting on". He gave me the LOOK and finished the dish ALL by himself. As people around me often say," With friends like Jack, who needs enemies?" :D

Since we were stuffed with food, decided to walk off our extra load by walking to Plaza Singapura and do some "walk-walk". As we walked past the Cathay, realised they were organising the premiere gala for "Transformers". We walked past the queues and realised the people were all surrendering their mobile devices. No, it's not because they want to stop irritating ring-tones from ringing in the midst of the show; rather, it's to stop illegal footage-taking of the movie. Hmm, I wonder, is the Transformers' transformation CGI sequence that great? What's with all the hyped up security measures, man...

Went to Trumpet Praise and did my impulse shopping of the month, by buying the X2007 music album. Normally won't buy music CDs, and especially Christian-rock. But decided I need to buy something. Yes, it's inexplicable, and I shall not further on that...

On the way home, got an sms from one of my close friends. Said he needed to talk - marriage on the rocks. That came right out of the blue. He was one of the last person whom I could think that the marriage could be under threat. Had a short-and-to-the-point talk over the phone with him. Haha, I think he used  the phrase "in your  professional opinion...." in one of his sentences. I was just floored by that. :p Well, he recognised that I'm different from him, holding onto Christian values. But when it comes to matters of the heart, I'm seriously am not qualified to give advice. So I had to pray to God very hard and talked to my friend at the same time. Initially he wanted to drive over to talk; but I stopped him from doing that after finding out he was drinking beer.

After the talk ended around 11-plus pm, came out of the room and saw my sister sitting miserably at the sofa. She didn't have dinner on account of working late. But I was too lazy to cook maggi mee for her. So I dragged my tired body out to buy "roti prata" for her, my bro and me. Seriously, the girl^^^ needs to learn to take her meals regularly ah. If not, mom will nag all three of us...

Yesh, definitely a very "productive" evening...

--------------------------------------------

^ CG = Cell-group, Covenant group... "Poh-TAY-toh, Poh-TAH-toh"... :D

*eh, last day of the GSS (Great Singapore Sales) before the 7% GST (Goods and Services Tax) kick in. Better "血拼" on this day ah! :D

^^ that will be Tuesday, if you're not following the entry with all your "heart, mind and soul"... :D and the reason why I went off earlier is not to shoot pool; rather, is to collect some books I ordered from SKS bookstore.

** Weapons of Mass Destruction :p

^^^ who's 21 this year already... :D Still remember how I used to change her diapers when I was younger. And my brother's too! "Bo pian", that's the privilege of being the eldest, especially when I'm so much older than them.

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

On working moods of the week

My colleague sent another funny e-mail. Enjoy:

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IS THIS YOUR STATE WHEN YOU COME TO WORK ON DIFFERENT DAY..........

Monday

 

Tuesday

 

Wednesday

 

Thursday

 

Friday


Last one is ultimate....

Saturday & Sunday

Can sleep late

X2007 (2007)

Rating:★★★★
Category:Music
Genre: Rock
Artist:Various
Decided to pamper myself with a purchase last night. So went to Trumpet Praise at Plaza Singapura to buy the below album. It rocks, man! *do obscure rock handsign*

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1. Flights - Falling Up
2. Go - Newsboys
3. Is Forever Enough - Hawk Nelson
4. Awake - Seventh Day Slumber
5. Tonight - Jeremy Camp
6. Fly - Sanctus Real
7. Somewhere In The Sky - Kutless
8. Rebirthing - Skillet
9. Writing On The Walls - Underoath
10. Absolute - Thousand Foot Krutch
11. Blaze Of Glory - Audio Adrenaline
12. The Next Big Thing - FM Static
13. Do Not Move - David Crowder Band
14. Undying - Demon Hunter
15. Studying Politics - Emery
16. Who I Am Hates Who I've Been - Relient K
17. Role Remodeling - MXPX
18. Bonus Track: Become What You Believe - Last Tuesday
19. Bonus Track: Open Wide - Future Of Forestry
20. Bonus Track: Invisible Hook - House Of Heroes
21. Bonus Track: We've Only Just Begun - Run Kid Run
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Official Website:
http://www.xthealbum.com/

on culinary mad science in the office pantry...

Suddenly had craving for instant mee in the office this afternoon. So cooked up a packet of the Indo Mee, the dry kind. Then remembered I still have my 2 cryogenetically-frozen saussages* in the freezer section of the pantry fridge. Decided to use 1 of them to add some meat to the otherwise protein-less meal.

When I took the sausage out,it had a film of ice over it. So decided to defrost in the microwave oven. For some weird reason, the oven just won't allowed me to use the "express defrost" setting. So I "gei kiang" go and press the "Steam meat" preset button. It took 3 minutes to cook. The first 30 seconds were still ok, and I could smell the fragrance of cooked sausage meat.

But during the remaining 2 and 1/2 minutes, the epidermis of the sausage became filled with air, and expanded the slim cylindrical meat into a "power-puffed" version. I was seriously worried that the sausage would explode within the oven, thereby forcing me to do a messy cleaning up afterward. By His grace, that didn't happened. Still I ended up having a very tough and dried up sausage for my meat accompaniment.   

ah, the whole afternoon episode just felt surreal, like something out of Brainiacs... :D

* from 2 months ago, methinks. That's why required deep freeze mah.. .:D 

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

鼎泰豐

Rating:★★★
Category:Restaurants
Cuisine: Asian
Location:252 North Bridge Road #B1-08/09/10 Raffles City Shopping Centre Singapore 179103
Last night went out with friends to have some "dim sum" Went to the Raffles City branch as it was centralised location for all of us.

Tried 蟹粉小籠包, 蝦仁燒賣, 擔擔麵, 酢醬麵, 小菜 and 炸排骨. The skin of the 小籠包 never breaks! The 燒賣 is basically your 小籠包 topped with prawn meat, although it has less soup in it. The 擔擔麵 has lotsa garlic in it - great for garlic lovers.

No advance reservations, must go and queue one...

Tel: 65-6336-6369

Website:
http://www.dintaifung.com.tw/ch/index.asp

Towers to Eternity (1967)

Rating:★★★
Category:Books
Genre: Religion & Spirituality
Author:Dr. Paul E. Freed
As chronicled by TWR founder Dr. Paul E. Freed, Towers to Eternity is the story of Trans World Radio’s beginnings and how, through faith, it became known as one of the most powerful missionary radio networks in the world.

Read an excerpt:
I had never been a radio enthusiast. I knew a lot more about ten dozen other things than I did about radio. And it seemed rather strange that, with so many radio hams in the world, the Lord would put His finger on me for the broadcasting venture into Europe.

My mind and heart were gripped by the potential of the air waves. It seems that radio could move across all boundaries, over the walls, through the ‘curtains,’ like nothing else. I thought of the world’s masses of people as “one world,” with the same basic needs of the heart. I knew that every individual had the right to be reached. I was sure that in God’s perspective all people were beloved by Him, that with Him there were no barriers, no differences. The issue had emerged clearly. Our goal as believers comprising the Church of Jesus Christ was to reach people everywhere, without exception. Reaching them by radio was not just a theory either, for we knew that over there on the European continent there was the largest concentration of radio sets for the population anywhere in the world outside the Unites States.

Here was the force that could move across the mountains, into the valleys, through the hamlets and olive groves and vineyards. Here was the force that could slip into the minds and hearts of the shopkeepers, the matadors, the dockhands, the vendors, the artisans, the farmers. Here was the signal that could penetrate the lavish mansions of the nobility, and the earthen homes of the peasants and bring life to all who would take it.

My heart was aflame with a passion to tell all those people that Jesus Christ loved them, that He died for them, that He rose again and is alive today. All they had to do was believe. BUT, they must first hear.

© Towers to Eternity, 1994, Trans World Radio. All rights reserved.

(from http://www.twr.org/publications/books/towers_eternity )
---------------------------------
Finally got my hands on a copy! Although written by 开山祖师爷 40 years ago, the mission of our organisation still echos through the ages on these pages.

Monday, June 25, 2007

on adding inches to my girth...

Took a long hard look at myself in the mirror a few days ago. Realised I'm getting rounder and rounder. Well, I could say tongue in cheek that "The Lord has been good to me, He has been feeding me well." Eh, there's nothing wrong with that theologically, He DOES provide for all my needs. But the reason why I'm getting fatter is not because He is fattening me up for the slaughter. Rather, is a combination of below reasons:

1) Putting too much sugar in my daily dosages of coffee. I used to drink it a la cafe white style, but have started putting a couple of teaspoons of refined sugar in my cuppa. Compound it with the fact that I drink at least 3 cuppas a day, you can just imagine the amount of sugar that's going into my system.

2) Eating heavy breakfast - right now have developed the habit of having breakfast fellowship with my colleagues and becoming the "canteen boy" in office. Now dun get me wrong, one should have breakfast to start off the day. Just that we shouldn't have TWO breakfasts in a day :p

3) Slackening in my physical regime. Have not gone into constant exercises these past 3 weeks, on account of time management and poor discipline. Just need to get right back to my swimming and cycling.

Well, its' time to maintain the temple of the Lord. Or in my case, to rebuild ah, in following the church theme of this year... :P

 

Sunday, June 24, 2007

魂魄唔齐 Demi-Haunted (2006)

Rating:★★★
Category:Movies
Genre: Comedy
Haha, watched this over last saturday late into the night. Quite an interesting comedy, though it wasn't really that terrifying, so I can't see the horror element in it. It's funny to see Eason do 反串花旦* in Cantonese opera. And surprisingly, l actually enjoyed the opera-singing sections. Plus lotsa eye candy :p


Official Website:
http://demi-haunted.emg.com.hk/

Review:
http://www.wofox.com/movie,13094.html

*role-reversal, as in "guy play as female character".

YouTube - 遇見神MV


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b2f1YtoYAew&mode=related&search
Another nice Cantonese worship song.

YouTube - 回家


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8R8s8kmnbk&mode=related&search
Good song, even though I don't really understood Cantonese. Courtesy of my friend at work (thanks Nicole!)

KTWR-Guam


http://twrguam.org/
Ooooo, the guys got this website up! Look for the fantastic photos of the sunsets!

on spending the saturday in office...

Yeaps, yesterday spent the whole day in office, catching up with my work as well as transferring some stuff to my colleagues on Guam. It was a very productive day, as was able to concentrate just on doing my work and doing the transfer stuff. I like having the whole office to myself - can come into office wearing bermudas and sandals, and blasting the music aloud on my computer speakers. :p

Compared to my brothers on Guam, we have a much easier time. They not only have to dela with shift-work, but also natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes, as well like doing dangerous stuff* like climbing to the top of 200-foot radio antennae towers to do maintenance stuff. Don't envy them man...


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* well, we call it "dangerous" ; they view it as "fun". If i don't have fear of heights, would probably enjoy their kinda work as much as they do...

Dr Steel's Planet X


http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/385047
Ooooo, catchy tune and lotsa interesting pictures. Hahah, don't you just love geeky science conspiracies! :D

X marks the spot...

Saturday, June 23, 2007

YouTube - 200 Pounds Beauty OST - Kim Ah Joong - Beautiful Girl (MV)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgLYdH9QpyM
Catchy song, funny moments. Dun be grossed out by the ending though :D

미녀는 괴로워 200 Pounds Beauty (2006)

Rating:★★★★
Category:Movies
Genre: Comedy
hahaha, another no-brainer "Nutty Professor" meets "Cinderella" comedy. Can just laugh your way through, though it does raise some serious issues at times.

Official Website (Korean)
http://www.sline2006.com/

Wiki entry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/200_Pounds_Beauty

IMDB Entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0940642/

Friday, June 22, 2007

on a funny cartoon about praying and waiting...


haha, don't we wish sometimes God will answer our prayers instantly? But it doesn't really always happen that way. Sometimes God choose to let us wait a while; or He may have different plans from ours. Whatever the case is, don't stop praying just because He doesn't gives you instant attention to your supplication. Keep on praying and waiting!

I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. - Psalm 40:1 (KJV)

on getting little outta my first trade show...

Yesterday had the opportunity to go for CommunicAsia 2007- a regional event that attracts firms who deal with information-communication technology and what-nots to come and exhibit their latest wares and technologies. Was supposed to go down in the morning to meet up with some friends; in the end, went there about 1.30pm as needed to clear some urgent stuff at work. As it was the last day of the fair, initially thought there was gonna be a lot of people. Turns out this is not the case* - as most of the exhibitors are sitting around their booths looking exhausted.

Managed to meet my friends there, who made a clean sweep of the freebies and took lotsa pictures with the models that caught their eyes. Hmm, maybe next year should arrange to go with them right from the morning...

Lesson learnt: Do your homework before attending a trade fair.

* as with PC shows and computer trade-fairs.

YouTube - Takuya Kimura - GATSBY Moving Rubber Commercial


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMq_Qt35TbA
Hahahaha, very amused by this commercial. Can't decide if it's 木村's nonchalant mannerisms as he twirls around or it's the catchy music. Maybe a combination of both?

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Thank You Lord - Don Moen

 


Sang this song in worship segment for our conference this morning. Didn't know why I was belting it out at the top of my voice during the singing. Only now at the end of the day, then did I realise I was led by the Spirit to thank Jesus for all that He has done in carrying our event all the way. :D

Only just know this is one of Don Moen's song from his 2004 album of the same name.

-------------------------------------------------------------

I come before you today
And there's just one thing that I want to say
Thank you lord
Thank you lord
For all you've given to me
For all the blessings that I cannot see
Thank you lord
Thank you lord


**With a grateful heart
With a song of praise
With an outstretch arm
I will bless your name
Thank you lord
I just wanna thank you lord
Thank you lord
I just wanna thank you lord
Thank you lord

For all you've done in my life
You took my darkness and gave me your light
Thank you lord
Thank you lord
You took my sin and my shame
You took my sickness and healed all my pain
Thank you lord
Thank you lord

(Lyrics from http://www.allthelyrics.com/song/223408/)

Monday, June 18, 2007

on receiving corny messages in the morning...

This is what came in my office Inbox from colleagues. Totally made my day...

baby boy found in swamp area... the boy still alive....

Be happy ....


Ice Mountain spotted on MARS !!!!

on weird translations...

haha, my friend took these photos and sent it to me from China
 


Now I have no idea how they translate "Sakura" (樱) as Jack - must be something in the Chinese lexicon that I do not know yet... Wonder if I'll get a free meal there if I do go there in the future :P

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Hana to Arisu/ Hana and Alice (2004)

Rating:★★★
Category:Movies
Genre: Drama
Watched this show halfway on, so didn't catch much of the earlier plot. Yet this is a an interesting film. Maybe will go and borrow the DVD and write a fuller review.

IMDB entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407851/

Wiki Entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hana_and_Alice

Arts Central:
http://www.artscentral.sg/WhatShowing/Sunday/index.htm

crunchyroll.com - streaming asian videos for the masses!


http://www.crunchyroll.com/
Lotsa videos on this site!

on reflections coming from the Land of the Dragon

 


yea, was in 龙的传人的国度 almost 3 weeks ago. Spent an enjoyable 13 days there. I stayed mainly in western China, and moved about the city and the country side. Well, spent more time at the countryside than at the city. It was a good orientation trip for me, as I got to see firsthand how my colleagues are working on the ground.

City life there is really more advanced than ours here. You can buy more stuff at cheaper prices and a wider variety. But the income gap is also more pronounced bah. You have the hyper rich and the hyper poor. The income gap is really more obvious. The pursuit of material success and well-being is much more tangible.

In the countryside, the pace of life is slower. For me, I found it refreshing; for my colleague, she found it a bit too slow for her liking. But we share the same sentiments that the people are very much caught up in their past and traditions. Very difficult for the Message to be spread, because they view the good news as a "foreigners' stuff".

I made it a point to watch TV at all the places that I stayed. Well, besides the point I'm a TV junkie, I thought the TV is a pretty good gauge of what goes in the minds of the populace.* From what I see, it seems like there's a constant tension. Some channels would just keep showing programmes of the great glorious episodes in 人民的奋斗, like historic serials like "八路军". And you have modern shows depicting the good life, or follows western genres like CSI-like shows. And you have K-drama and Japanese anime. (No kidding!) And you even have shows debating about Chinese ancient literature. So I would say it has a rich sense of culture and heritage, and that the TV there is infinitely more interesting than our local shows. Oh, and the best part? Football channel is FREE there... 

Food deserves a posting on its own, so I'll do one on that later...

*Some would beg to differ of course. And I agree, you cannot believe EVERYTHING you see on the TV. Just as you cannot believe EVERYTHING on the Internet, or EVERYTHING you read in the books.

Yea, I'm a sceptical bastard... :P

 

on a simple dada's day celebration...

Came home early from church to wait upon the return of my parents*. The weather was conducive for sleeping so took a nap. By the time I woke up, my parents were already back, and my dad was having his noon siesta. So waited for him to wake up before heading out to the new kopi tiam for a simple dinner. Ordered his favourite dish - fishhead curry. But the curry was not that nicely done - for some weird reason, the cook thought that putting sugar in curry was a good idea. We didn't really enjoy the food - but what matters more is the company.

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*we go different churches. Apparently quite a lot of Christian families are like that, all go different churches one. New social dynamics?

Third Day - Tunnel

Just listened to this song on K-love. Great song!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Third Day - Tunnel

From the album Wherever You Are


I won't pretend to know what you're thinking
I can't begin to know what you're going through
I won't deny the pain that you're feeling
But I'm gonna try and give a little hope to you

Just remember what I've told you
There's so much you're living for

Chorus:
There's a light at the end of this tunnel
There's a light at the end of this tunnel
For you, for you
There's a light at the end of this tunnel
Shinin' bright at the end of this tunnel
For you, for you
So keep holdin' on

You've got your disappointments and sorrows
You ought to share the weight of that load with me
Then you will find that the light of tomorrow
Brings a new life for your eyes to see

So remember what I've told you
There's so much you're living for

Chorus:

So remember what I've told you
There's so much you're living for

Chorus:

You've got your disappointments and sorrows
But, I知 gonna try to give a little hope to you

Label: Essential Records

Lyrics may not be reproduced without permission from the publisher.


For more info:

http://thirdday.shop.musictoday.com/Product.aspx?cp=1096_5926&pc=3YCD02

Saturday, June 16, 2007

タイヨウのうた Taiyou no Uta (2006)

Rating:★★★
Category:Other
My friend passed me this series a few months back. Watched all the way until the last two episodes, and then stopped watching. Finally watched the last 2 episodes tonight.

Not a bad series, the usual twists and turns will keep you riveted. But if you watch it in one sitting, after a while, the song will grate on your ears...

Official Website:
http://www.tbs.co.jp/taiyounouta/

DramaWiki entry:
http://wiki.d-addicts.com/Taiyou_no_Uta

Friday, June 15, 2007

on slaying giants at Batam...

Last weekend went to Batam for a good time of retreat with 80+ brothers at Novatel. Funny, when people heard that a bunch of men are going to Batam of retreat, they will start all the eye-brows wraggling and snickering/sniggering. Ah well, we went with a clear conscience*. And it was a great time for me, since this was about two years back since I last went for this kind of retreat.

The theme for this BTW was "Facing the Giants". It was backed by 2 wonderful stories, one from the film "Facing the Giants"; the other, from the Good Book, of David facing Goliath at the battle of Socoh. Had a wonderful time resting and fellowshipping with God and His saints, and mulling over the theme.

For me, coming to this BTW was sorta a Giant in itself, cos' I was actually asked to facilitate a group. For those who know me well, you know "je deteste" leadership roles. I'll rather be a wall-flower or a clown in the background, rather than being put in the limelight and taking the charge in the fore-ground. But God has His purposes la, in the end, I was not only a "wounded minister" (i.e. helping those out because I've gone on ahead of them), I was ministered in my wounds by these young ones**.

Well, more thing to follow-up after this retreat. My prayer is that my brothers will continue to press on in facing the Giants, through facing our Abba!

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*or in some cases, unclean consciences and souls. That's why we need to go for Breakthrough weekend mah...

** I was asked to facilitate a group whose average age is 10 years younger than mine.