Ashley being distubed by 怪叔叔

Apollo Jenga in office (01 Apr '09)

haha, put this in the office for the people to play for today XD

Introducing Ashley Koh (31 Mar '09)

Junhong and Yibing welcomed their bundle of joy yesterday afternoon. Just now took time off and went down to visit them at the hospital, thinking to beat the crowd. Haha, too bad, too many great minds think alike, so there was a small party at the room XD. Congratulations, Joony and "Koh yeo soh"!

A visit to the Hos (28 Mar '09)

Went to Panliang and Seren's place to celebrate the first-month party of their new baby girl, Arielle. Fun party, since a few of the young parents in the ofice also brough along thier babies. Good food, superb people and fantastic fellowship - great way to spend a Saturday afternoon! XD

Introducing Foret McBadie (27 Mar '09)

My friend brought me a unique souvenir from Down Under as my belated birthday gift. It is a metallic wine-bottle holder, in the shape of a Scottish bag-piper. It was kinda funny looking, without any bottle, so I went to buy a bottle of red wine from NTUC. Haha, I have decided to christen this as Foret McBadie :p. Can't follow the "-maru" appellation, since a Japanese name on a Scottish thingie is plain weird...

Thanks Marco, for bringing this all the way from Swan Valley!

Friday breakfast and lunch (20 Mar '09)

Today on leave, so decided to head down to Ikea at Alexandra to try the breakfast. Amazing, I was there 10 minutes after the opening, and already the restaurant was one-third filled with customers. Most were families bringing their children who were on school holidays.

Ordered the tuna croissant and the pancakes with hard-boiled egg. With refillable machine-grind-and-brewed coffee, came up to less than $6!! XD

after that, went town to meet friend for lunch. As i was still full from my wonderful breakfast, we just went to TCC@Circular Road. I just ordered wild garden salads with lychee jazz. simple but delicious~

Night's Out at Paragon's (19 Mar '09)

After dinner went downtown to meet friends for coffee and cake. One of the friends gonna go away for hols, if dun catche her, have to wait 3-4 months down the road liao. That super big glass of mocha latte in the pictures is moi, which explains why I'm still up posting photos...

Birthday Dinner at Sembawang (19 Mar '09)

Outta blue, mom wanna celebrate my ang mor birthday. Insisted on taking me to this "Zhi Char" place at Sembawang. The food is really good. Taking these pics for my sis to salivate, cos she can't join us on accounts of studying... bwahahahhahaha!!! :P

P.S. Truth is, we miss you, Jen. So much food! We go there again next time? :D

Lunch at Big Ben's (19 Mar '09)

Friends took me and another out to lunch at Big Ben's, to celebrate the March birthday babies. Waited one hour for the food to come, but it was worth it! XD Hunger makes the best sauce.

Breko@Holland Village

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Restaurants
Cuisine:	American
Location:	38 Lorong Mambong

Nice cozy place. Loved the 2 beers for $12 promotion. Cream of mushroom was really delicious, not so thick as if you're drinking oats; yet with enough body to make it filling. The King Kong burger is a challenge to eat. Come with two BIG FAT beef patties, bacon, veges and chips.


Official Site:
http://www.brekocafe.com/

Dinner at Breko's (18 Mar '09)

After a good game of badminton, we decided to go for a good meal. Went all the way down to Holland Village for a scrumptious meal of Burger, soup and beer. Loved the all-day long offer of 2 bottles of beer at $12. Loved the Asahi, but wasn't really a fan of Corona's. The King Kong Burger nearly defeated my friend and I, but in the end, we managed to finish them.

Blackboard Squash

Catchy tune! XD

Play Games at freeworldgroup

 

Hidemi Uematsu (上松秀実) - Dear My Friends

Catchy tune~ Enjoy

on turning the world upside down

Was reading a book on servant-leadership, came across the "paradoxical commandments of leadership". they are listed as follows:

1. People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway.
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
6. The biggest men with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men with the smallest minds. Think big anyway.
7. People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
9. People really need help but may attack you if you do help them. Help people anyway.
10. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth. Give the world the best you have anyway.

Given that this came out in the late 1960s, it was pretty revolutionary for its times.

I was reminded of a similar parallel from the Bible, when Jesus preached the Beatitudes:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 Blessed are those who mourn,
      for they will be comforted.
 Blessed are the meek,
      for they will inherit the earth.
 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
      for they will be filled.
 Blessed are the merciful,
      for they will be shown mercy.
 Blessed are the pure in heart,
      for they will see God.
 Blessed are the peacemakers,
      for they will be called sons of God.
 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
      for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

From Matthew 5:3-10 (NIV)

Watchmen (2009)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy

Hmmm, one of the movies where I heard two extreme camps. It's a "either you love it or you hate it" show. The plot is deep, the characters are complex. When the actions get going, it is great, and the special effects are not that bad. But the pacing is irregular, and way too much heav stuff i.e. politics. Given the story came out inthe 1980s, it was (and still is) a very good story.

Was torn between giving this a 3 or 4 star. Let's just put me down to 3.5~

Official Site:
http://watchmenmovie.warnerbros.com/

IMDB Entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0409459/

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

TGIF - Mad Chicken Friday

Nuff said

ラーメン3分クッキング / Ramen 3 Minute Cooking!

Pretty catchy

Office Birthday celebrations (11 Mar '09)

Heh heh, we did a celebrations for the March and April birthday "babies" after staff meeting today. There was supposed to be five, but due to unforeseen circumstances, only me and my friend Don were there to represent the whole group.

Kudos to Eddie for taking the pictures! ;D

Prayer of Joy - Joe Thompson

My friend asked me to help her do some research, and I came across the following song. Very nice and ministering. May it bless your day too!~

Prayer of Joy

I dreamed that I died and I went up to heaven.
St Peter was waiting at the top of the stairs .
He said "You were good-
You did much that you should,
But did you enjoy the gifts God left you there?"

Did you ever find joy in the laughter of children?
Did you ever find joy in the work that you do?
Did you ever find joy in the people you cherished?
Did they ever find joy in you?

Did you ever find joy in the change of the seasons,
The touch of a lover, the smile of a friend?
Did you ever find joy where you least did expect it?
And did the joy that you feel never end?

When I awoke, I tried hard to remember
All of the words to this sweet little prayer;
something for friends when the darkness descends,
just a blessing that I’d like to share.

May you always find joy in the laughter of children.
May you always find joy in the work that you do.
May you always joy in the people you cherished.
May they always find joy in you.

May you always find joy in the change of the seasons;
The touch of a lover, the smile of a friend
May you always find joy where you least do expect it
And may the joy that you feel never end.

And the Joy that you feel is a note in the music
Of the song that the angels sing in gods praise.
It’s a song that will echo through all of creation
From the start to the end of our days.

Repeat chorus

 

Please remember this song is ©2003 Joe Thompson

Taken from http://www.imaginesongs.com/joy.html

P.S. The actual webpage has streaming MP3, go have a listen to it!

on who is there like God

Got this old worshipful song stuck in my head this morning. May it bless your day too!~

Who Is There Like You

Who is there like You O God
You who created us in Your likeness
Who is there like You O God
It's am honor to stand and worship You

We lift our hands
to the great I Am
Who was and who is and is to come
We lift our hands
to the great I Am
Who can compare with you

Who is there like You O God
You who created us for Your pleasure
Who is there like You O God
You've appointed us to be Your very own

Push (2009)

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy

Eh, plot is super super thin, think Chinese New Year Spring roll wafer. But the filming method is pretty cool (even though my bro feels a bit nauseous from the grainy ala Blair Witch film effects). Special effects is so-so, but well integrated into the story. Dakota Fanning is jail-bait/Lolita femme personna. It's kinda weird, with her huge face and lanky body and big hair, kinda freaky if you ask me...


Official Site:
http://www.push-themovie.com/

IMDB Entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0465580/

Wiki Entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Push_(2009_film)

While waiting for my bro (09 Mar '09)

My bro suddenly jio me out to watch movie tonight. Said wanna watch either "Watchmen" or "Push" or not. Been a long while since we caught a film together, so decided to go and watch "Push". I came out of the house ahead of him, as I needed to go to the library to return some books. Found a couple of interesting titles. Sat down and had a light snack at Yat Kun~

おくりびと・okuribito・Departures

Nice and melancholic piece from the show. Enjoy!

おくりびと/ Okuribito/ Departures (2008)

Rating:	★★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Foreign

It's been a while since I last awarded a five-star review. Great story line, with the quirky start and good use of flashback. Cinematograpghy was just right, even though the scenes shown will be familiar to most Japanese-film watchers - the snowy road scene, sakura blossoms, taking a soak at the commons bath.

What is interesting is the way which the director deals with a taboo subject, death. Throughout the show, you get the sense of serenity and peace in which the encoffinment professional (納棺, nōkan) perform their trade. There is dignity in death, and I guess that's what differentiates us from all other creatures. Throughout the film, you see how various individuals deal with the departures of loved ones, even though they are all from different stratas. The cliche of the "death comes to us al" rings true, and the sensitivity with which the story deals with the commonality of death is immense. The soundtrack was also superbly chosen, the refrain just brings about this peaceful and calming effect.

I initially wanted to catch this show just to catch a glimpse of my old idol, Ryoko Hirosue. Sadly. she was being typecasted into eye-candy role. Oh, and her voice is still as squeakily high - grates on the ears after a while. But the main leads' acting and lines are superb.

Really, REALLY enjoyable and therapeutic.

Official Website (japanese):
http://www.okuribito.jp/

IMDB Entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1069238/

Wiki entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okuribito

Off site training (06 Mar '09)

Yesterday was able to make my way down for the last day of training, after finishing up with work, Went shutter-happy and clicked away on my camera. However, a lot of the pictures didn't turned out, cos I always forget to hold still and snap.

P.S> Last 2 group shots courtesy of my good friend Aaron Tan. The power of a "dua leng gong!*"


*DSLR XD

JULIAN SMITH - 25 Things I Hate About Facebook

on killling virtua bunnies...

After losing five hours of my life to this free online game...

I have all weapons, tricked out to their maximum upgrades

I have all 58 medals

Which can unlock all the unlocakbles

Best of all, I've attained the ranking of "Bunny Antichrist"

hahahaha, revenge on the descendents of the Killer rabbit from the Holy Grail!

 

 

Play this game at

http://www.newgrounds.com/portal/view/484812

Five loaves and two fishes - Corrine May

Two Sundays ago, Pastor K.K. show this clip in church. A familiar story, put to a refreshing song~

 

Yesterday,  we visited this episode again* during staff devotions. The facilitator was remarking on how we are not to be like Philip and Andrew, who didn't put their trust in Jesus to feed the multitudes. Now this is familiar ground, that has been covered a lot in sermons over the pulpit. Still, somehow I felt disturbed in my spirit. Not that the point conveyed was wrong, but more of the manner it was conveyed. It was akin to somebody wagging their fingers at me and say, "now now, look at Exhibit A & B (Philip and Andrew), look upon their behavior, tsk tsk, and do not do what they do."

Maybe I'm just over-reacting, but if you put me in the shoes of Philip and Andrew, I think I will probably give their kinda responses. That's the way sinful man is, always seeing things with eyes of flesh...

Then my mind wanders off again, and think, "Wah, how come in times such as this, then have all these messages pop up more frequently ah?"  I immediately squashed off that line of thought, because it was dripping, nay, overflowing with cynicism^. Well, man is not only short-sighted, but short-memory-ed**. Rather than think this is man's way of controlling the negative thoughts, better remember it as "wa eh Ti Bei's"*** way of reminding myself that He can and will make use of my meager offerings.

As my friend reminded me through his sms, "... not so much great faith in GOd as faith in a great God!"

*For those of you who wants to refresh your memory, go read Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9 and John 6.

^ which is just another form of unbelief. If one is cynical, one would tend to ask, "Are you sure? Sure or not? Can it really be...?"

** Is there such a word?!

*** "My Heavenly Father's", en hokkien, s'il vous plat 

P.S. Is it me, or does the bread in the picture above look like chappati?!

on typos abound...

...when one use T9 dictionary to text sms.

Last week wrote out the following verse:

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

Jesus replied, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, & with all your mind." This is the first & greatest commandment. & the second is like it" "Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39 Good reminder on who's our greatest loves are to be!  may this bless you

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

Nicely written, right? Except I was writing this too early in the morning, and didn't read the first version that went out. It came out as the following:

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

Jesus replied, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, & with all your mine." This is the first & greatest commandment. & the second is like it" "Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39 Good reminder on who's our greatest loves are to be!  may this bless you

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

2 of my friends replied back, pointing out my typo with a "hahaha!"* Another one said:

"' with all your mine' - unintended, but thought provoking!"

 

Morale of the story: Always, ALWAYS do spell check.

* Good la, shows that that got read, as well as they are not like me, half asleep when composing the sms :p

on "deo lao bei mair"*...

Was just about to come online to surf net after dinner, when my father asked me aside. Took out his handphone and asked me about an sms I sent him this morning:

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

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my way," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9

Will you go your way, or go Lim Peh's** way?

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

My dad asked me who is "Lim Peh". I stare at him for a while, and told him Lim Peh is "your Father" la. He exclaimed "'Wa lao'! That so rude!^ How can you call God "Lim Peh"? It should be "Siong Dei" or "Ti Bei" mah. "...

Haha, i think this kinda conversation can only happen in my family

 

 

*loosely translated as "being scolded by my dad" in Hokkien :p Sorli la, phonetics "bway zhun"*, my Hokkien not so powerful...

** "Your Father's" en hokkien, s'il vous plait

*not accurate

^ Irony upon irony... XD

 

P.S. A few of my friends sms me back after I sent them this verse:

1.

"I've never quite heard of God referred to like that before, but I guess it works, still  thanks for the verse, bro! It's a good reminder

2.

Ha ha.. Lim peh's way! LOL

To those who replied, thanks for your understanding :p To those who were offended, please note I am duly chastised by "wa lao bei"...  

Basic (2003)

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Drama

Nice film made for homevideo, enough twist and action to keep the plot going. Wondered if this was ever released for the big screen...

Official Site:
http://www.sonypictures.com/homevideo/basic/index.html

IMDB Entry:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264395/

Wiki Entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basic_(film)