Viral videos

Do you know Viral videos. They are videos that people post on YouTube or other video sharing sites (like Vimeo, Hulu, etc) that got so popular for whatever reasons. I got into this after reading Times articles today on the survivalist of YouTube under Google HQ.

There's also fascinating videos people made about kids reactions to these viral videos. Some of the viral ones:
Nyam Cat - completely repetitive strangely addictive miao.
Psycho Girl who can't sing.
Obama "All of You Know whom I am" - impressive recovery, Sir.
Double rainbow.
Don't argue with Ibex.
Chocolate rain...

Search at Youtube.

I am an Conceptualizer Director

http://www.bestfittype.com/intj.html

Tired

Long day today. I started my work at 9 with a classico and chocolate croissant - that I munched through lunch time. Had a kopi-C and a pork big pao at 4pm during tea chat.

Worked through 10pm, and stood up and realize I was the last one in the office. Well I guess my come-uppace for a nice dinner yesterday. Yes, we went to the Tastings Room at Marina Sq for the restaurant week meal. Very lovely meal - I selected truffle mushroom puree soup (the curried cauliflower soup was light and tasty), 2nd course is a default squid ink pasta with fresh calamari - with very exceptionally done al-dente pasta, as main course the Beef Cheek (so soft it melts in your mouth), and the apple Flan for dessert. Yumm.

They had a great review at hungrygowhere as well - check it out. Today my brother went for the Oktober at Dempsey.

World's Most Ethical Companies

I am proud and feel also vindicated that the company I work for made it to the list of WME.
http://ethisphere.com/wme/. I know, sometimes such a list need to be reviewed with pinch of salt. but I am proud of this one, because in more occassions that I said out loud, I am continously astounded by how ethical we are - we as in the org. In terms of the way we conduct the business, formulate the policies, how hard and strict we view each suspicion of wrongful business conduct.

I am proud of that. Of working for a company like this. Of spending my efforts, time, energy and potential to at least valuable and integrity.

The company is of course not perfect. Even day by day I wonder listlessly in terms of my long term goal. But this is a small exciting news that I want to share, and capture on this blog.

Wonderful dinner

Last week was an eventful week. One of colleague, my BG Lead in Singapore nominated me for a nice small award - for GEM (Going Extra mile). I like her, liked her passion, experience, and drive. She has two college-aged sons and a golf-loving husband. She hardly need to work and sell, really. But she continues to be motivated, to push the boundaries, and to continuously passionate about her cause and her role. I admire that spirit.

It is sad for me to know, that she became demotivated that people clawed back at her for pushing them hard. Just 2 weeks ago, we chatted in a morning at the corner of Olio. I am really saddened and want to really help her, support her. Fortunately in my role, I could play a small part.

She went to Europe holiday, and came back rather refreshed. And she recognizes support - how sweet and thoughtful.

Another thing is to hear that my BG Lead in Taiwan is promoted to lead Business Process function in BMO. She has been passionate but lonely, in her works. I met her when I was on Taiwan holiday and at that point in time, I enjoyed knowing her and her boy. I am so glad to hear that she would be moving on to something good, and be recognized for that. I now learn that although she had been underappreciated by a group of management, it doesn't, it rarely means that a talent is missed by others. So I am so happy very much so to hear the news.

Last exciting thing that happened last week is I ended my Friday with a nice dinner with a wonderful company. It took me a courage to do what I have never done before, left office and came back. I was glad I did it. I had good time and dinner and became unusually chatty. I had to be careful not to "lose myself in the moment" too much next time...

Ah, life is more meaningful on stuff that happens coincidentally, unplanned, and life becomes more interesting and valuable that way. In small moments.

Happy Chinese New Year 2012

Finally, my long awaited Dragon year comes! Year that promised to be with better luck and just better generally. My folks and I just came home from praying at famous Kwan-Im temple at Bugis. This year I decided to join my folks because it was raining heavily at chinese new year turning 12. Yes, my perverse rebellion self decided to probe my parents when they laized around coz of the rain, so I pushed.

And we are so lucky to get the first hio- on the temple. We arrived thru bus 51, walking in the rain, that gets drizzled then barely there just as we arrived. The situation was festive while people were huddled under umbrella and hawker centre. But we arrived the temple were still not so crowded. There's instruction to the securities over the makeshift speaker to "have supper while the crowd is still not here". .

While we were praying, with hio offering silent words over newly year wishes, the securities blocked the entrance and I saw throngs of people with the burning hios were waiting in the crowd. Then mom finishes last in her words of prayer, and Dad, Mom, and I capping our three hios.

I can see Mom and Dad are quite pleased with the turn of the events. I hope this year brings its bright and positive energies for us and the World.

Fave songs of the day

This song by Timbaland ft. Katy Perry - If We Ever meet again
So romantic ! Reminded me of my fave Sidney Sheldon novel.

Another one Katy Perry & Kanye West - ET
Sexy! Nice lyric youtube

In Flight movies

Movies enjoyed on sQ flight Jan2012 Taipei.

MoneyBall
Melancholy story about game-changing GM of Oakland A in American Baseball. Based on true story. Great performance by Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill. Rotten tomatoes rating: 95%

Archive: 2011 Accomplishments

• Do an education course - Chinese III at NUS Extension - Checked!
• Expand social circle and get out of my shell
• Retouch with old friends
• Volunteer and social work
• New Hobby - Checked!
• 12KM Run - Checked!
• Start something meaningful
• Lombok - Checked!

Lonely

Sometimes I wonder - what if.

The time flies and unfortunately couldn't be held back nor frozen by mortal hands.

While we while away precious time, in conquest of money, wealth, and that eventual happiness, what if we become wrinkled, crippled, weak, when the time comes for the harvest.

Simple.

Sometimes maybe just keep things simple, with low expectation. It is easy to try to have happiness but it is so elusive when the mind keeps on weighing the optimum efforts. Isn't it a waste of time to do this. Isn't it useless to attempt that. I do not enjoy this. Or I will do this next time.

Oh so easy to delay and procrastinate. Please motivate me.

Standard Chartered

I was motivated. Tired. Energized. Not trained. Lazy. Glutton. Pasta party. Strategy. Pace.

Well I didn't train at all this time. Got to say do better than even my expectation - which was very low. Was hoping it would rain, so I could skip the run. Woke up at 545 - warmed up. Watched the marathoner running on the road below my house. Then got ready with my bro - got banana, gu tri-berry, and some strategy. Keep my heart beat slow and steady.

The results: 1:21 not that bad, we got into the first wave. Based on net timing I was doing worse. But I am contended - I got what I deserve except slightly better coz of the pacing.

Olympic Sculpture Park at Seattle

Nostalgic Russian dinner

After a friend's post about Shaslik we went back for a nostalgic trip to this one place - fusion Russian Singaporean restaurant - that still has tables decorated with plastic pink flowers, at this age.

The meal started with the mandatory soft sweet bun, where eaten with the butter is heavenly soft. Then opened with the mandatory famous Borsch soup - which served with optional sour cream. I opted for Fillet Steak medium rare - and yes they serve the steak on hotplate with serving of mixed veggie (cubed carrot, kacang polong and all), and frizzy fries. We had fun watching the waitress preparing the Flambees or the Baked Alaska - cherry, but decided too full for desserts.

Shashlik Restaurant.
545 Orchard Rd #06-19
Far East Shopping Centre. Singapore 238882

Promontory meet up and MBS

Marina bay sands Photo outing.

For this clubSnap outing, I went to have my first Tripod. The guys at TK Photo Funan Mall are very friendly and knowledgable. They patiently explained the feature of 4 sections, ball head, the tripod setup, the long- and short- section, the low-ground setup, etc. I ended up purchasing Sirui K-1204 and G10x head from them, as a set for $349 as well as Kinko Pro-1 58mm lens filter and a lens hood from them. Here is a review from Clubsnap forum on the tripod and head combi. I will most probably write my own review then.

K-KI

My discovery at Ann Siang Hill. Just opposite my place, there is a famous small bakery called K-Ki (supposed to meant Cake in Jap katakana style). It shared a tiny space with a knick-knack shop. The whole place definitely has a definite charm to it. It has around 5 tables - wooden with the flimsy whimsical chairs pair next to it. When I was there majority of cakes were sold out or reserved.

So I chose this one: Cafe Dumo ~ chocolate mousse

For take away it came with a pretty box and small ice-pack glued to the side to keep the cake in good shape.

Yummmy. 

K-KI
7 Ann Siang Hill, 01-00

Captain America

Today had productive day. I went to mass, first time at the Church of St. Teresa - Kg Bahru Rd. I love the songs - the same set one from the Church of St Mary of the Angels. Oh how my heart signs with joy. The mass there at 1030 and another one at 12pm for now.

Then, went for quick lunch before catching the Captain America: the First Avenger. Chris Evans is so very cute and heart-meltingly sincere. It was an entertaining ride thru American patriotism, the WW II and the crazy warzone fighting. The scene I most enjoyed is the first part - with the frail little boy and his journey of discovering his fate. The rest felt right, but also predictable. You should not miss the clip after the ending credits - we almost left, luckily we didn't. I read somewhere that the hallmark of Marvel comic is the great character developments and plots. I have to agree on the way the director Joe Johnston portrayed the movie - from a pretty outdated settings at WW II to the modern day's patriotism and valor.

My most favourite song

In this lonely night, singing the song that is best for anyone looking for soulmate outthere.

Gotta Be Somebody by Nickelback.

Audit of my achievements

I went down for drinks then party yesterday. Woke up at 8am promptly without alarm - amazing.

Doing "audit" of my 2009 commitments - personal goal right now. As I am feeling empty, aimless, and lost. Perhaps I had been concentrating hard on certain aspects and neglecting others.

Audit results:
Scorecard metrics: 10 green (mostly exceeding by a mile), 1 yellow, 4 red (hmm not too shabby)
Red in love, well-being, social work and intellectual pursuit.

Thoughts:
I am perfectionist. I do things I focused on, and do them extremely well - depth, but overkill sometimes. Well I am overachiever. I guess the lesson is I have to focus on just a couple of things, and set high goals, coz I will exceed them :)

Focus and High Goal.

Farewell lunch and Birthday

Yesterday marked the departure of one of my closest collegue. I feel sad and missing something but I am glad and happy for her and the next opportunity awaiting her. I think she made the right decision so next step has been taken.

We went for a small team lunch at the Rocks Urban Grill+ Bar. The steaks, pizza, were good by natural consensus. A couple of tables were facing the bay and the natural settings are good. Some tables were grouped together on a simple white and black minimalist design, while a couple of smaller table outlined the tall bay windows.

The actual run