The Unspeakable Stress in Shanghai

I have never had a sound impression of the city of Shanghai, from my leisure 3-day get-away, or from a busy week of work-related schedules.

To me, this place always have an interesting blend with communism and capitalism; traditional and modern; classical and quirky. These stark contrasts, have constantly proved to be too much for me to handle. I was told the art of searching the right balance in these, holds the key to living there, or else one could end up having "Unspeakable Stress" and at the end, fail to survive in the metropolis.

I hereby site some examples of my own experience in my recent visit.

Unspeakable Cultural Stress
It was not difficult to find KFC, Starbucks and McDonalds throughout corners of the major streets, however, I still can't find rear seat belts in taxi or a civilized or safe pedestrian crossing anywhere.

Unspeakable Heritage Stress
Even though hundred year-old buildings have been swallowed up by multi-billion dollar architectural icons, you can still witness human powered bicycle carts carrying loads and loads of goods to market - in a city that runs a magnetic levitation train traveling at speeds that exceed 400 km/h.

Unspeakable Geographical Stress
Shanghai is growing so rapidly that each time I went, a part of the older sections of the city would be completely demolished, making way for modernization. In order to get around, my advice is not to rely on your old map used 6-months ago.

I fully support my sis's career move to Shanghai how ever much I dislike the city. I really hope it is the journey that enriches her life experience, more so than the destination itself.

Who Becomes A Torchbearer Really Matters

The Olympic torch relay is happening in Hong Kong today and it will show the rest of the world what the China's world city is like in the 11th year after its return to the motherland. The fact that Sportsmen represent only about one third of the 120 torchbearers in the first leg of the torch's trip back in China tells you something unique about Hong Kong.

There is an apparent reason for allowing the celebrities from the city's glamorous entertainment industry, businessmen, lawmakers and politicians to make up the majority of the torchbearer team here in Hong Kong as the local government is consciously trying to portray a positive image of our city.

With a result-oriented play - The city today will be guaranteed worldwide attention, non-stop broadcasts and positive images that consist of seas of crowds wearing red, and with overwhelming participation of fans and citizens waving as the torch relay unfolds today.



To the rest of the world, what they will see is nothing but support, unity, friendship, peace - that's what matters, who cares who holds the torch!

Mobile Phone Anti-theft Software

I came across some mobile phone anti-theft softwares and its quite amazing what can be done these days.



Virtual Mobile Security (VMS)

In a nutshell, it is a solution that protects all the information on the phone, including photos, videos, phonebook and SMS. It can retrieve all the numbers on your lost phone via an SMS and can track down the location of the lost phone & monitor the mobile phone call.

And to make things really uncomfortable for the mobile phone thief, here's the cool part of it, the VMS software also activates the loudspeaker when the phone ‘owner’ calls. Worse still, the owner of the phone can listen to all the calls made by him/her and have a record of all the calls made by the person.

All these come for a one-time fee, the article didn't say how much.

Lost Mobile Tracking Software (LMTS)

It notifies predefined numbers about the contact number and the GSM tower of the person holding your stolen phone as he/she changes the SIM card. The notification will be sent to a cellphone via a message and to 2 email addresses registered at the time of downloading this software. Pretty neat but again, this software comes for an annual fee.

The concept is just like the in-build mobile tracker in some of the Samsung mobile phones in the market, but only neater. It could only translate to some serious business potential there!

A Match That Lived Up To Its Billing

Not only it was a huge game for the Blues, and saw them draw level with Utd and behind only on goal difference, the game was filled with thrills throughout.

Unexpected Setting:

1. Plenty of seats for choice in C.C.C., at the start of the match
2. Caviar + Coffee + 46 inch LCD + Dad, not the best combination but, best I could get
   

Unexpected 1st half:

1. After those two Champions League stalemates, I witnessed an aggressive Chelsea
   
2. Ballack's plunging header, was dedicated to Lambard who's mourning his mother's dead (well done, German).
   

Unexpected 2nd half:

1. Utd came back, but the equalizer was a gift sent from the usually faultless Carvalho!
2. Drogba & Ballack argued over who should take a free-kick which drew attention to non-footballing matters more than anything
   
3. Ferguson took a huge risk by not starting C.Ronaldo at Stamford Bridge

Utd can't afford to lose no more, not against Barcelona, West Ham and Wigan and I certainly look forward to seeing more matches that live up to its billing.

Just For The Sound Of It

I went out to play my first round of the summer 9-hole yesterday (and really for only like the first time in about 2 years). I took a look at my aunt's driver and I'm like, holy shit, that thing makes Big Bertha look like Mini Bertha and my own set just looks so prehistoric!

So, my aunt allowed me to indulge and I gave it a few cracks. Not only is the driver gigantic, it's super-lite and incredibly balanced and forgiving at off-centre. I hit fairway on about 5 out of 8 drives and the "ting" sound from each of them was just too fantastic. Not only that, I'm pretty sure those were farther than I've ever hit a golf ball in my life and that felt soooooo good.

Man, how are these things legal, when sweet spot on mine is about the size of a dime! Don't you just love the technology and R&D in it?

Man Utd 2-1 Arsenal

It was an important and nervous match for both clubs at Old Trafford yesterday, which incented me to watch it live with my dad, also a fun way to spend his birthday too, I thought why not? However, my dinner ended at 1030pm, and we ordered a heavy supper at 11pm wasn't the ideal, really.

Man Utd didn't play well despite, I would say they won marginally by sheer luck as Arsenal had solid defence and saw some aggressive attacks from time to time. None from United!

Midfielder Owen Hargreaves' superb free-kick did bring the team alive, I was so glad it was Hargreaves who did it and not Ronaldo. Giggs could have joined the match earlier to put some formatting into the team, but instead he came in at 89 minutes for a spin on the right wing and that was it.

After yesterday's match at Old Trafford, Arsenal is now trailing 9 points behind the red devils, Man Utd 6 points clear of Chelsea. If Utd now win their next Premier League game at Blackburn then it raises the possibility that Sir Alex Ferg's side can wrap up the title when they travel to Stamford Bridge to play Chelsea on 26 April. However, for Wenger (and Debbie my friend) there is only a profound sense of loss after what had looked such a promising season for his young team all but fizzled out completely, especially given his side had been knocked out of the Champions League by Liverpool in midweek.

Debbie my friend, I think I can declare totally victory now, and don't cry!

Ask Me About London

People used to ask me where to dine, what to do, where to go in London as I was termed the "Brits Fanatic".

Well, not any more as I came to realise I have not visited the city for the last couple of years and things have changed.

Good to learn the change is for the better though.

My friend who just returned from the city last week, gave me these virtues:

"Wonderful weather throughout the week, my rain gear was quite an nuisance."

"The Underground and subways are so nice & clean, well maintained and no rats!"

"Far too many foreigners, I didn't come across no Queen's language at all."


I said, what?
Are you sure that's London you went?
Nonetheless, something has to remain intact.

"Nothing is non-expensive out there."

"English Food is crap apart from Fish & Chips, chocolate and Jacket potatoes."

"High Street shops still close by 5:30pm."

"It's the pubs, monuments, parks, museums, art galleries, musicals theatres and the historic remains which shape the attractions for London and make it unique."

Chop chop...let's go to London. Anyone wanna join me?

Felt

My first time to purchase a piece of cloth in my entire life and to be precise, it's a piece of felt.

Why would I want to do that? Definitely not for the obvious reason.

Here's a clue.

It's a green piece of felt - the 4th roll from the Left.

Proximity Communication

Proximity Communication - a technology developed by Sun Microsystems' Laboratories, which involves placing silicon parts close to each other and communicating WIRELESSLY.


If several chips can be taken and make them behave like one large chip from an electrical and signal timing perspective, what will happen is a whole different ball game. Because in the span of processor development history, speeds have improved up to 4,000% yet I/O speeds have only managed to improve by a factor of just 10 to 15.

Proximity communication is thought to be the solution to catapult I/O speeds into the stratosphere and can greatly improve the speed of applications requiring high-performance compute power, such as weather modeling, car-crash simulations or medical simulations. Such technological innovation is so ingeniously displayed, reducing the need for big on-chip caches, freeing up huge real estate.

I wonder if proximity communication can be applied to humanity as we mankind is not advancing in terms of face-to-face, day-to-day communications when you think about it.

Won't be long before human CPUs are captivated by computer processors. We gotta act fast before extinction.

Bus 11

Been taking Bus 11 home for 2 days.

1 Mile = 1.6km

4 Miles = 6.4km

4 Miles in 70Mins which works out 5.486km/h. Sure I can beat that.

Have You Got 4 Minutes?

Latest heat wave produced by Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake in just 4 minutes.

Cracking Da Vinci Code for Kindergartens

There’s no question that there’s a crushing demand and supply imbalance for the top-tier Kindergartens in town, entrée to which seemingly assures future success for junior and unrivaled cachet right now for the poor Mom and Dad.


My dear friends, if you aren't a doctor nor a lawyer, don't live in the posh areas such as The Peak or Repulse Bay, don't despair. Please take a deep breath now as you read. You will realize that many kindergartens, far from second choices, could provide a better experience for your kids. You’ll discover that you can be much more in control of the process than you’d believed possible.

In fact, I think the panic and excitement over kindergarten admissions is analogous to, say, half of Hong Kong trying to squeeze into the same hyper trendy nightclubs on a Saturday night. Sure, you want to go to DRAGON I or DROP and would love to brag to your friends about you standing next to a superstar, but really would you feel bad if you didn’t?

Wanna say good luck to you and I am certain you have done what's best you could for your child, so don't feel too bad if you have to resort to your second choice.

Btw, I presumed you already know that there's an aptitude test used by Kindergarten these days. I am truly amazed when I found out and that conveys you - I am not a mom.

A Nostalgic Trip to Stanley

Stanley - a town and a tourist attraction on a peninsula that sits on the southern part of home - a place which was once so familiar to me yet today I have played the role of a total stranger, touring and taking shots as I scrolled down the locality like I have never set foot on it.


My trip began with the elegantly European-style Murray House, the old pier and the adjoining seafront promenade. What a nostalgic reminder of the Colonial-style architecture and a big kudos to the heritage bureau.

I hereby announce Stanley Town as officially qualified to be what you expect a tourist attraction in Hong Kong should be.

Talking about the specialties of Stanley, I just can't neglect the Stanley market - a beehive of tiny shops selling all kinds of things. The last time I went, it was an open-air market, rain drops could easily drip through the derelict caravan canopy, with narrow and uneven pathways everywhere. What I witnessed today was packed as ever, but I am impressed it's now fully sheltered.

Mother and I ended the trip with a hasty afternoon tea at the oldest tea restaurant in Stanley. Being the last 2 customers allowed in, we waited for more than 20 minutes for the reputed French toast to arrive and got kicked out of the place sharp at 5. Needless to say, customer service was most appalling, nevertheless, the French toast was actually quite exceptional in terms of being the closing episode of this chapter to Stanley.

Making Up for Lost Time in Golf

I am prepared to summon my strength to start my golfing regime again but not so vigorously.

I always say, if one could turn back the clock and be teens again with one's existing body, it'd be perfect for golfing.


I still enjoy hitting balls, but if I really have to switch to be a left-hander golfer, it's a lot of work, a lot of sacrifice, a lot of living, breathing, eating this game double-digit hours a week. That's what you lose.

Am I really up for this, or should a lefty keep using her existing MacGregor till she has enough dough to buy PING?

A Pair of Palatable Hiking Shoes

I decided to go hiking in order to welcome the Spring season and the first thing this requires, is in search for suitable footwear for the pastime.

In the past 2 days, I have visited all the leading brands for weather-wear such as Timberland and Columbia and I found nothing to my likings.

I have great hesitation in investing a pair of hiking boots, as like all hiking boots, they are heavy, dull and very ugly. The fact that the pair can't be engaged in any other sports except hiking - is most imperative.

Here comes my final pick - The Bandolier II by Nike

A great priced, lightweight, hiking shoes (not boots). It claims to offer exceptional protection and support for outdoor activities and the waterproof and highly breathable GORE-TEX® XCR® lining provides comfort and protection, by keeping water out while allowing sweat vapor to easily escape.

All the things I wanted plus more. The Atom Red colour - goes with my golf wear too, what a bonus I thought.
Sounds just too good to be true isn't it.

Hiking shoes can be palatable afterall.

Hypothesis: Everyone Has A Hidden Agenda

Hidden agenda means true intentions that are kept secret, plans that are not revealed.

This could well be a Philosophic discussion that can dwell on for pages, but I am hypothetically assuming this is non-exclusive to every living individual on earth, and from that, deduce the fact that everyone has one's own agenda and secret ulterior motives of some sort, somewhere in time.

Would you tend to concur?

Jan's Talkshow

I have enjoyed every bit of the talkshow tonight, was laughing out loud and in tears most of the night.

Should there be criticisms, I would say he ought to make some of the songs shorter; show time longer and souvenir better.

And his hair style - well done - i much prefer glamour silver this year than the tatty gold last year.

The Kebab Economics

Haven't been cooking for a long while. All associated skills seem a bit rusted which included onion chopping, the tolerance of heat etc.

What really took me aback today, was the shopping experience in the supermarket for preparing the steak and lamb kebab.


It was then I realised the true inflation effect and how expensive things are nowadays.

Don't need rocket science to figure the "Why" when you rub in the persistently cold weather damaging crops in mainland China, the drought cutting back Australia's wheat production and flooding affected European harvests. Just to sprinkle salt on the wounds for us all, food inflation is ever more apparent propelled with the high oil price.

Next time when you think about the seemingly good domestic retail sales from the outset, think again what drove that. Cuz I think what really contributed to that mirage, was nothing but the hefty increases in food prices.

He Did It & He Quits

As Edison Chen put on the performance of his life today, hopefully this will end the month-long celebrity photo scandal case in town. I am quite sick of it.

Nevertheless, this clip from his press con is worth watching again and again, partly because he's super handsome, partly I considered this a dual delicacy of not only a flawless public speech but a capably-written & legally binding statement too.

"Be Happy Always Is To Be Forgetful Sometimes"

Legend Lydia Shum passed away this morning.

The significance of this piece of news to me is: No matter how hard one has battled and how many small victories won in these cancer battles; how much fame one owns and how wealthy one is, one can almost never win in the war of cancer! This is most unfortunate for our generation living on earth and how I wish we can alter this dreadful fact.

This news is currently flooding all forms of media in town, in memoir and grieving for Lydia.

She once said "In order to stay happy all the time, you need to be forgetful sometimes, so u can delete all the sorrows, leaving only the happiness".

One good thing about being a legend is - people will remember you. The positive attitude to life as well as the signature laughter in this case.

Nintendo Wii Zapper

Played Ghost Squad the other day at a friend's house with the Wii Zapper.

One can certainly play the game with the wiimote but to perfect it, it felt a lot better with the zapper and if you follow the way I shoot, kneeling down and shielding from behind the sofa, the action-packed motion can guarantee an aiming of a higher accuracy.

History Burnt

While digesting the aftermath of the Camden's blaze, here comes another fire that swept through the over 6-centuries old national treasure of Seoul.


These have been important landmarks in the different stages of my life.


In a word, I’m devastated.

God Explained In A Taxi Ride

Author Paul Arden was responsible for some of Britain's most successful advertising campaigns and now he writes really useful, well designed books.

This is precisely a comic book that you can just flip through in a ride, presented in Arden's trademark visual style, he investigates and examines our relationship to the divine.

In it he says something like, "we can't easily believe things that we cannot fathom" (which to me is a fair statement).

"Yet if we can, then that's not what you called Faith" which I totally agree as well.

He also says, the answer is like blowing in the wind, you can always feel the wind but you can never see or touch it - just like god and just like faith.

An intriging little read that made me scratch my head. The book performed magic - it shut me up and now I stop asking "why".

100 Simple Secrets of Successful People

You don't have to buy the book, US$12 not worthy enough as a reminder of common sense. I encourage you to discover the beauty of Amazon's online reader - you can read the entire book here for free.

This is the first 23 out of the list of 100 taken from the book.

Not that I agreed to all, but worth putting them down for future reference I guess.

1. Competence starts with feeling competent
2. It's not how hard you try
3. Creativity comes from within
4. Take small victories
5. You can't force yourself to like broccoli
6. Resist the urge to be average
7. There is plenty of time
8. It's never just 1 thing
9. Don't keep fighting your first battle
10. Change is possible, not easy
11. Seek inputs from your opposites
12. Write down the directions
13. Anticipate irrationality
14. The best defense is to listen
15. Winners are made, not born
16. Do things in order
17. Get experience any way you can
18. Self-motivation works once
19. Speak slowly
20. Where you stand depends on where you look
21. Use your own self-interest
22. Remember who you are and where you are
23. Negotiate with confidence, or don't

Sweeney Todd: Bloody Wonderful

It proves once again, when you are not expecting much, much can be expected.

Johnny Depp's Oscar-certain performance in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street - as the crazy barber who cuts people's throats while waiting to avenge himself on his enemies, is hopefully, gonna come back with a vengeance.



Bloody as it seems and not particularly thrilled with Depp's voice for musicals, he does have the intensity needed for the role. Added merit has to be his dazzling eyes - as always.

最爆笑新年賀辭

不死傳奇

睇完香港电台制作 "不死傳奇" 關於 家駒, Danny Chan, Leslie Cheung, Roman, Anita Mui, 更覺香港樂壇已死.

香港樂壇完了, 以前家駒 那些才是真正的音樂, Danny 才算是真的靚仔Leslie and Anita 才是真正 superstars...damn it...

What Deserves to Hit The Headline News?

What makes the editors of the local Chinese-newspapers think that the local leak of nude pictures posted online, purported to be of Hong Kong pop and movie stars, is to have more news value than the mainland's worst snowstorms in half a century?

While our nation is battling against its worst power crisis resulting in a crippled transport system, further fueling a higher inflation and possibly slowing growth - we as hongkonger are only concerned about a handful of celeb's own fame and reputation being damaged?

It took only a fortnight of unexpected snowstorms to lay bare the weaknesses of the mainland's economic juggernaut, but worst than that, it only took a few local headline news to reaffirm how naive we are locally.

Wen, Did You Forget Something?

"When the electricity network is back, then the trains can run, so it will not be long before you can all go back home to celebrate the New Year, " Premier Wen Jiabao told the travellers waiting at the Changsha railway station today.

Notice something irregular from the picture?

The stranded are happily taking photos of Wen, not as annoyed and frustrated as they should be.

May be that's all they could do at that moment, as when Wen made that speech, he seem to have forgotten to switch on the megaphone.

Golden Handcuffs

However bad a job may be and however much you dread Monday mornings, making the decision to leave the job, especially one you have held for some years, is never an easy process.

Even if your boss is an ogre, your pay raises haven't kept up with the cost of living and your skills haven't been relevant for the last 7 years, you know you can handle this job.

Part of your brain knows you're capable of more, but another part is fraught with self-doubt. Now what would you do?

Quit?
Continue enjoying the golden handcuffs?

Humour In the Midst of Stock Market Crash

Some of the most influential fund managers sounded a warning of more turmoil to come as global investors fled financial markets in mounting fears of an imminent American recession.

Stock markets around the world tumbled in the worst falls seen since the panic selling that took hold in the wake of 911 in 2001.

I am trying to find some humour to laugh about in the midst of this gloomy weather.

Alternatively, I can hum Lenny Kravitz's Motown song "It ain't over till it's over".

My Salute to The 2008 Beijing Olympics

To celebrate Converse All-Star's 100th anniversary as well as the 2008 Beijing Olympics, I got myself this pair of legendary Chuck Taylor All-Star as my new year present.

What a magnificent 2-fold excuse of purchase - One certainly needs a good justification especially after leaving 2 brand new Nike sneakers untouched.

Anyhow, I decided I will be wearing this pair of Hi Chuck throughout 2008 as me way of saluting to the 2 events this year. The rest can sit and wait quietly.

The Days of The Dead

Butterflies - people believe bear the spirits of the departed.

I pumped into 3 butterflies (similiar to this one on the right) in 3 differing times and locations this week. One near where I live, one near where I work, and another one today on my way out of the Probate Office.

All these butterflies were colourful, eye-catching and landed right in front of my footstep so that I couldn't have missed it.

How often do you see them in town these days? Not very often. Therefore, I have every reason to believe it is my best friend waving hello to me, trying to get my attention. My sister concurs this is their way of telling us that they are living well and it's a good sign.

Wherever you are out there, I hope you are well.

Life After Death

This area of doubt lingers on my mind since the death of my closest friend.

Is there life after death and can anyone that is alive verifies that?

I know exactly how the typical answer would sound coming from a Christian, so save that if you are one of them, thank you.

Perhaps I should rephrase the question to:

whether we are still relevant to the dead in their fresh existence/incarnation.

1. Can the dead see and hear what we do and say in the life that they left behind and from where they exist now?
2. If we're doing something that they did not agree with when they were alive, do you think we're somehow letting them down if we do it when they are dead now?

Anyhow, I probably am thinking too much as to why would the opinion of someone dead matters more than someone who is still alive (speaking conventionally).

Perhaps the thinking is all part of the healing process for the "closest-friend-departure" package that I am being thrown at.

Ergonomic Computer Chair Wanted

I have always wanted to replace my computer chair at home as I come to realise I spend a considerable amount of time working in front of my computer and hence that chair deserves to be the most comfortable seat in the house.

This is the chair I decided to go for.

It is a typical kneeling chair, with the seat on the left and support for legs on the right. Can't say it's the most comfy but supposedly my best bet for correcting posture and preventing back problems.

Can anyone point me to where I could possibly find one in Hong Kong?

Dozed Off Watching Golden Compass

First of all, I want to thank my sis for bringing me to a nice movie night-out on Christmas Day. I don't think I have been to cinemas for a couple of months and I have been missing quite a few good movies lately.

Here we go with true confession time. I have always struggled with the likings of fantasy movies such as The Lord of the Rings and even Star Wars (but the Harry Potter series is alright). therefore I wasn't anticipating much from Golden Compass. However, the movie is nonetheless an enjoyable one, albeit confusing diversion.

The most interesting has to be the setting of the story - in the early 1900s in Oxford, England (see pic above), each kid has their own “daemon,” that changes shape and species to reflect the always-changing moods of the child. A little girl named Lyra’s daemon starts out as a cat but at times during the movie reverts to being a ferret, then a mouse, and even a moth. Lyra is given an “alethiometer,” or the golden compass, which apparently only she can read and can then reveal the truth.

I dozed off watching some zeppelin-like contraption flying over London and the next I knew was some kids got kidnapped by a sinister group called the “Gobblers” and sent to a secret laboratory in the frozen north in order to be separated from their daemons. I awoke in time to catch two enormous ice bears in body armor going at it in mortal combat. Things really picked up at that point even though I do feel pieces of the story were a bit scattered.

I really enjoyed the spectacular battle scene at the end in which the bad guys evaporate into flames when they get zapped. Then it sort of left there stranded and invites you to wait for Golden Compass II.

Anyway, dazzling imaginery that constitutes to a good novel, but may be not so for a movie plot.

Silent Night

Time flies and I can't believe Christmas Day is tomorrow, which means tonight is Silent night.

Did you know that the original lyrics for the famous carol "Silent Night" is in German, "Stille Nacht", written by Joseph Mohr and melody composed by Franz X. Gruber?

I have picked this acoustic version of the song and I wish to dedicate this to my dear friend, Alda in Vancouver, and her beloved Ginny & Figaro. I chose this version for 1) the snoopy and woodstock attracted my attention 2) because the music to Silent Night was intended for a guitar to go with the simple score, made in time for the midnight mass then.

Simple is always the best I believe and I wish to take this opportunity to wish you a happy festive season and a fruitful year ahead!

6 Days to Christmas

Apologise to the folks out there expecting an xmas song from me. It has been discontinued for 2 days as I have ran out of nice ones to pick.

With less than a week to go, what's higher in my priority, is to complete my xmas shopping list, as underneath our family xmas tree is still pathetically empty.

Information Technology & Social Responsibility

Not often were you given a chance to go to a conference and get to meet with a full tank of thinkers.

I attended one today with academic scholars who came from MIT, Fudan, Tsinghua, Drake University, just to name a few and I must say, they possess great minds and perspectives, which really made me the least qualified to speak of the subject matter.

I sat there for a whole day, listened with anticipation on a close-door debate on information technology & social responsibility. The thinkers had their moments to present their research papers, issues were thrown at each other and thoughts were wrapped up by a roundtable discussion at the end of the day.

When I say thinkers - I am sure you could easily imagine and relate how they look like. They are practically - old. Put it this way, older than the norm if you like. To me, they are great thinkers no doubt, but they simply think too much.

Many thinkers appeared today don't use the internet often enough, do not understand what Web 2.0 entails and they definitely question about internet safety and have a sense of their privacy being breached. Those descriptives already posed a biased view from the start and I felt rather disappointed that the discussion just didn't get any further than where we started off with "Whose Responsibility?"

What I think these great minds should be doing, is to continue exercising their brains, but at the same time, engage in all of the followings:-

• go surf the web, upload and download something
• buy reference books from Amazon
• check out the auctions at eBay
• forget about queuing at the bank and transect in the cyberspace

Instead of nagging about the digital divide on how the poor can't access the internet, they should really be spending more time in investigating what's readily available for them from the internet. That would really help balance supply and demand (thus minimizing the digital divide).
I suggest they can own a blog for a start, make themselves heard by contributing articles online to encourage exchange of viewpoints.

Last but not least, the world is transforming and with change as the only constant, they should realise the old rules just doesn't fit the new ruler. In other words, there will always be risks walking on the streets, but does that prevent you from going out? Banks can go bankrupted but does that prevent you from putting money in the bank?

I am very tempted to say to these thinkers - go get a life! In Second Life!

Day 8: Miss You Most (At Christmas Time)

Are we too grownup to feel a thrill
As we light the Christmas tree?
Are we immune to cookies,
Christmas cards and Christmas glee?

Are we too adult to "Ooh" and "Aah"
At the Christmas candle's glow?
Are we blasé about our gifts;
Do we shun the mistletoe?

Are we too mature for carols,
For merry or for jolly?
Do the decorations leave us cold,
The ornaments and holly?

Fat chance! We'll never grow too old
To love the Christmas magic.
A year without a Christmas
Would be boring, even tragic.

So bring it on! The candy canes,
The feasting and good cheer;
O Christmas, lovely Christmas,
You're the highlight of the year!

Day 9: Last Christmas...

If Wham! is to Christmas of 84,
What is it to Last Christmas?

With Christmas just round the corner, I fancy a little rhyme:

I hope this Christmas enriches your life;
May each day be happy and bright,

Overflowing with pleasure and love;
May your Christmas be filled with delight.

Here comes my all time favourite from Wham!
Making this my countdown No.9.

Day 10 Countdown: Jingle Bell Rock

Now this is getting interesting and I am enjoying this daily xmas song dedication exercise - can't go to bed before this task is completed.

Today's inspiration came from a friend who loves the movie Home Alone. I bet you will come across this blockbuster on tv again running up to xmas.

Let's get ready to rock the Day 10 countdown with today's pick "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms - a truly delightful choice full of Christmas spirit.

Day 11: All I Want For Christmas Is You

I have enjoyed Mariah Carey's All I Want For Christmas Is You all along, but since 2003 when Olivia Olson sang the same song in the movie Love Actually, I have basically fell in love with this version.

Olivia has this gifted voice and her singing was so perfect that the movie director was afraid that the audience would not believe a ten-year-old kid could really sing the way she did.

Here's my Christmas song of the day for you, on the day 11 countdown to Christmas. Please enjoy!

12 Days Till Christmas Day

Took this shot downstairs in the office lobby on my way to work and wanted to blog it right away as my Day 1 pic of my 12 days countdown to Christmas Day.

Not sure about you, but I have been receiving more Christmas cards this year than the last 2 years' aggregate. The thoughts are definitely there, but my mood ain't there yet - kinda numb about the festive season.



Anyhow, being an amateur disc-jockey before, I decided a way to boost up the festive feeling for myself, is to dedicate a Christmas song to everyone, each day from now, which means I need to pick 12 songs from my list of favourites.

OK - here you go, the first has to be "Ding Dong! Merrily on high" - a secular dance tune that is upbeat and spiritual, I recall singing that song merrily in the school choir and the "Arhhh...." in the chorus seems to take forever.

Wait a sec, I found out one can only post videos and photos in blogger.com but not music, now that's a vast disappointment as a starter!

An Escape

Offered a brief bike ride at lunch today...thought no one would recognise me with the helmet on, yet I got spotted! The shocking green colour to be blamed.

Snapshots of Music

A friend declared "Help Needed" in finding music that represents each decade from the 30s to the present, for she is trying to make a slideshow for her boss's 75th birthday next week. How very sweet of her and I just couldn't resist to offer some opinions.

Here were my picks straight from my head...


30s - Bing Crosby (White Christmas)
40s - Patti Page (Tennessee Waltz)
50s - Elvis Presley (Blue Suede Shoes)
60s - The Beatles (Love me Do)
70s - The Carpenters (Top of The World)
80s - Madonna (Like a Virgin)
90s - The Spice Girls (Wannabe)
00s - Eminem, Gorillaz, Craig David, Avril Lavigne, Mika....

How about you? What would be your picks?

Facebook 40 Years Down The Road

Have a good laugh!

The Perfect Pic Buddy

I came across this product in the States earlier and love it ever since.

This innovative tripod secures digital cameras to just about anything and doesn't require an elevated flat surface and the flexible joints allow 360º bend and twist.



Look how it opens up a lot of new poses and angles for shots for you without the crazy acrobatics and precarious positions for your valuable digital camera.




For the serious photographers, the Gorillapod SLR-ZOOM is now available too. Its sturdy prehensile legs is designed to go hand in hand with any SLR and zoom lenses and can support a whopping 6 pounds!

Don't you just adore innovations?!

Casino War

My first time to play Casino War last night and it has to be the easiest and mindless table game I have ever played in casinos which requires no brain work, hence I thought it would not be a bad way to end my hectic work schedule. The game work’s as follows:

• One card is dealt to each player on the table and one to the dealer


• If your card is a higher value than the Dealer’s, you Win!


• If your card is the same value as the Dealer’s, you get the chance to ‘Go to War’ and try to beat the Dealer with a second card

OK I heard you ask - so where does the house edge lays in this game?

You are right, it is absolutely true that the probability of winning is 50%. Where the edge comes from is when there is a war you either win one unit or lose two.

In my case last night, I held up wars several times and 1 grand vanished in just a few minutes. Eventually, it was a bad decision to end the day feeling miserable like that.

Me & My Piano History

Yesterday, a friend of mine came out of the blue and asked me for a favour - to be the Pianist in her wedding ceremony. I was flattered that she approached me, but the keys are really starting to look a bit foreign to me, so I hesitated in responding.

I learned to play the pianoforte the way most people do: guided by the traditional approach that stemmed from the good old Royal Academy of Music, with Grade 1-8 to be attained in preferrably 8 years (12 for me). The traditional approach requires students be able to read music before they can actually play anything that sounds like music. Lessons were attached with a string of the world's most boring theory, scales and arpeggios (we need to brush up a bit of Italian as well). This traditional approach fails more often than it succeeds, and indeed, many youngsters scared the hell out of it and quit so soon after they began.

The only reason I didn’t become one of those statistics was because my mother forced me to stick with it throughout the 12 years of my childhood. It wasn’t much fun for me and it was certainly less fun for my mother. I’ve avoided touching the piano for years after I turned 18 even when I have nothing better to do.

Before I seriously think about turning down my friend, perhaps I should revisit my long forgotten sight reading skills and if, and only if my fingers aren't rusted yet, I might consider playing at the wedding. In that case, my friend would have my mother to thank for, not me.

Aunt Maida's Annual Letter

Our family can always expect either a letter or an email sent from Aunt Maida towards the year end, summarizing everything that happened in her and her family life during the past year. To be frank, I never pay much attention to every details of what she wrote but this year, I read every single word.

2 days ago, I received the annual letter from Aunt Maida, I then realised she has skipped the tradition of writing it in 2006, as according to her own words - "inconceivable to write last year, therefore here's a combined effort for 2006 + 2007". She really had a tragic time coming to terms as her husband left her quite suddenly with Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

The biggest and devastating discovery I had in 2007, has to be the fact that I found out Cancer is in general, incurable - as contrary to my belief that many cancers can be completely cured under modern day treatments. Doctors typically offer treatment only in the hope of prolonging cancer patients' life, not for the sake of curing the cancer itself.

No offense, but the medical world can't master the disease as yet, even for the most experienced cancer specialists. When asked about questions on life expectancy or, the most suited drugs to take, their partyline is almost always uncertain and very average than average. They will most probably respond by saying, every patient is a unique individual and will be affected differently by their illnesses...even two people of the same age, with the same type of cancer, which has spread to the same extent, can have very different effect on the same drugs...the most expensive drugs do not necessarily work better....etc.etc. Therefore, if you are ever faced with the same scenario - be prepared to get a vague answer, or at most a reluctant feedback with no substance.

So here's my one-liner for my year 2007:
We can fly people to the moon, but we can't cure Cancer on earth. How very ironic!

The Years Flow By

This lovely sunset was taken at my friend's place just then. She gets to see this spectacular 180 degree harbour view from where she stays yet she doesn't quite give a damn. Well, I can understand why but that's not the point I wanna make.

The thing is, an old song pops up as I write, which describes this photo and also matches my feelings in perfection. It is so right that I must jot this down to memorize this very moment in time.

望著海一片滿懷倦　無淚也無言
望著天一片　只感到情懷亂
我的心又似小木船
遠景不見　但仍向著前

誰在命裡主牢我　每天掙扎　人海裡面
心中感嘆　似水流年
不可以留住昨天

＊留下只有思念　一串串永遠纏
浩瀚煙波裡我懷念　懷念往年
外貌早改變　處境都變　情懷未變

Union with Pauline

After, gosh...how many years?