My Sesame Street favourite

I am so sad today to hear the death of the man who is essentially Count Von Count from Sesame Street, Jerry Nelson at 78. It is  always very strange feeling to hear an icon from your childhood passed on. I guess it gives a sense of awakening on age. That time passes. And that I am getting older and old. Until this news, I've not even considered death of puppets. So sad. I guess this must be what some people had been feeling about the Muppets characters.

Holiday and Expectation

I am back from holiday for almost 20 days in Europe. We hit 5 countries on the first 6 days. beyond statistics, as my number-driven travelling companions like to say, I love this vacation because it has no expectation. I had no expectation on myself, how I should spend my time, how I should behave on politeness , that I should keep in touch with the world through tv, internet, all and my thinking just roam and be free.

Post 20 days relaxing holiday, I hit the office this Tuesday so chilled'out. And dive into 12 hours workday with jetlag and little sleep. Oh boy. My mentor said "it's because you came back and realize how stressful this role actually is."

Master Your Workday Now!

Proven Strategies to Control Chaos, Create Outcomes, & Connect Your Work to Who You Really Are by Michael Linenberger

• Create Lists: Now Tasks:- review daily
• Critical Now = today
• Opportunity Now (over this/next week)
• Over the Horizon:- review weekly
• Move oppt now to here on lower priorities
• Defer to Do
• Defer to Review
•  Significant outcomes

Vision Goal = Aspirational
Target Goal = realistic and executable

Vision Goal + Target Goal = Now Goals.

A Project-Manager based approach over mastering Workday.

The Dark Knight Rises

Dark Knight Rises

The third-movie of the Dark Knight trilogy is intense, dark, but also realistic. I feel that most part of the movie is very fast-paced, sometimes felt rushed in terms of most of the scenes. So it's exciting but takes a while to digest all the things that are happening with multiple villains and frenemies. The themes however is very relevant to concerns today about the decaying moral of modern society, the have- and have-nots clashes, and various urges of the powerful characters whether to cleanse, defend, forgive, punish, or to trust.

I love Christian Bale's portrayal of Batman, he is egoless outside of the custome, and dark menacing inside the custome so you always feel such that his character is reigning in something immense. Anne Hathaway's Selina Kyle is alluring, cunning, and street-smart. She is lovely and unsettling as the feline character. I love Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman as the supporting Gentlemen of the Batman ensemble. Marion Coutillard is so lovely and fully composed as Miranda Tate. Joseph Gordon-Lewitt feels familiar (a number of characters from Christopher Nolan's Inception) as tough police-detective and finally Tom Hardy portrayal as Bane is evil and chillingly scary.

Go the Goodness and Hope!

Garden by the Bay and Morning Run

So Dad read out a book he borrowed from the library. It has healthy advices such as:
1. We should rest from 11-1 when the body processes and recuperates.
2. 1-3 is when the body recover from toxins processed
3. 3-5 when the body and lung functions are rejuvenating.
4. 5-7 is the best time to wake up and start slow as the body is ejecting its digestive by-product.
5. 7-730 the best time to have breakfast.

Today, the whole family awakens by 630 and we started off exploring the route to Marina Bay and the Garden by the Bay all the way to Marina Barrage.

What a beautiful dawn!

In-flight entertainment

8 hours flights each way Singapore - Brisbane

3 episodes of the Big Bag Theory
Hunger Games
Friends with Kids
Lorax
Act of Valor ***1/2
The Artist ****
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel ****1/2 (my favorite)

Zodiac' Today's Theme

Mine Taurus


A person who is a Taurus is born between the 21^st of April and the 21^st of May. The Bull is the symbol assigned to Taurus. The ruling planet for Taurus is Venus and their element is Earth. Fridays are said to be lucky days for Taurus people. Strengths of Taurus include being compassionate, dependable, loyal, reliable, and also being strong both physically and emotionally. Stubbornness, aggressiveness, sensitivity and a dislike when faced with change are all weaknesses associated with a Taurus.

The Bull symbolizes strong and silent, and this is exactly how a Taurus is said to be. Until you really get to know a Taurus you will probably not see his or her true self. Taurus are very stubborn individuals and once their minds are made up, swaying them even a little is next to impossible. If you do not try to push, Taurus folks will come across as being laid back and reserved. Take heed though because if you anger a Taurus, it is likely that you might find a violent temper. However, Taurus tempers generally will not flare until they are pushed.

Taurus make wonderful friends, and whenever you need them they will certainly be some of the first ones there. Taurus know exactly how to brighten the day of friends in need. Don't count on a Taurus ever calling on you to return the favor. They are very in tune with their emotions and rarely display them. Taurus are loyal and will stand beside a friend until the bitter end.

Sounds about right ;-)

Credit for Yahoo!

My weekend with good book : SEAL Team Six

Sometimes the most unexpected can turn out to be most rewarding.

I often hear, and believe in the phrase. But in my forgetfulness, in times when it happens the life turns out its most pleasant surprises in little things.

Like my weekend. After spending enjoyable drink with my colleagues, the three of us chatted on a table near fantastic view at L33 on MBFC. The weather was hot and humid, and the Singapore skyline turned out its lustrous heart-meltingly beautiful lights at dusk. Always my favorite time of the day.

I woke up with a slightly swollen right eye. Unsure why and only half prepared for a ruined weekend, I while away the Saturday, reading stuff like how to use egg cartons to dampen the noise and soundproof your room . In fact when I walked away to Yakun to pack takeaway breakfast, I eyed quietly at their egg and finally emit enough courage to ask. Also arrange a contractor to come down next Saturday for an exact quote of a double-glazed soundproof window. I then travelled to Bras Basah for a trip on library and shopping trip of my arts equipment finally getting a nice-setup for my painting project.

Almost accidentally, I walked past the wall that displayed library's newest books on my way out. I spotted the book by Howard Wasdin. I have been knowing the book since I got first my kindle. I read the trial but thought the story was so far removed from my live that it would be waste to purchase it. So fate brought the book to my hands this weekend.

The book, editing and content was very good. The action, details, and the drama - as well as the valor, courage and the sheer mental toughness of the soldiers so admirable. I woke up on Sunday, today with a heavily swollen eye. surely my night cap reading half of the 308-pages book.

Now a bit worried, I travelled to check which clinic opens on Sunday. If you ever need one (non A&E), Raffles Hospital has GP practicing from 8am-10pm. I took my time to travel there, inhaling the sweet fresh air of Sunday morning. Life is beautiful. Except for a swelling tearing right eye.

I had my check-up, a bout of antibiotics (Moxiclav), Sofranex eye-drop and anti-histamin. Then travelling to the art school, in vain, then the cinema. Headed home with JCO half-dozen donuts and some groceries. Cook a pigrib soup with cordyceps and ling zhi, settledown with some painting done on my tiny canvas, and proceeded to finish off the book.

Seal Team Six: Memoirs of an Elite Navy Seal Sniper by Howard E. Wasdin and Stephen Templin. Amazon rank #4,947 today.

The Painting I am trying to copy

Bridge at Villeneuve-la-Garenne. By Alfred Sisley (1839-1899)

Men In Black 3

Last week went to watch MIB 3. I didn't watch the second installment, and I didn't crave in excitement to see this one. But I am glad I did.

The movie is fantastical, but entertaining. Normally I didn't like action movie nor Will Smith, but this movie humanizes and touches. And it's cool to see all sort of gadgets that the movie dreamed about these days, time travel, memory swipe, violent aliens, plus the nostalgia of the wonder years of 1969 where dreams are purer, air freshers, and life tho ignorant, less complicated.

I like this review from TonyMacklin.net.

Lady gaga concert in Singapore

A couple of girls and I went to concert in Singapore. 3 nights sold-out, and we went for the first day. Standing ticket - so fun!

Amazing energy and showmanship. Also great personal touch and real showcase of dancing, energy, and also controversial message. Checkout her full tour schedule across Asia. This is still followed by 2 weeks in Auckland, New Zealand and every major cities in Australia.

It's amazing that the concert started at 830+ (after one-hour of waiting and bad organizing in the Singapore venue first day), and by 1030ish the audience energy is waning. While the singer is still so energetic, so its appaling that the encore shout is weak, and some people seen left the venue already! That's the reason the concert organizer decided to run both encores consecutively to end the day.

Vinegar drink

Japanese seems to like healthy and natural food. One of which that caught my attention is the 2 vinegar mixes (Honey or Berry) served at breakfast buffet. It came with instruction that the proper way of drinking it is to mix vinegar to fresh milk with 1:4 ratio.

The resulting drink is sour and sweet, not unlike yoghurt. Enchanted I had my eyes on any of these vinegar culture on sale outside. On my last day luckily, I chanced upon Food section at Mitsukoshi at Ginza at B2. There brand is VISS 1882 launched by Japanese famous vinegar specialist, Imazuya. I was lucky too as the store was apparently the only one in Tokyo, and I found it by chance ;-)

There's interesting mixes available. The most popular one is Apple-mix, followed by Grape then Passion fruit.

De Clutter

I fell ill badly after catching cold on Monday night. Today I am on medical leave. My body lethargic but my mind is restless and distracted by the cold.

I threw away the half-progressing beautiful Lily flowers that I was trying to dry. They were turning brown from the pure white it was. What a shame. The most beautiful flowers remain to be living ones, although no body can deny the pure romanticism of getting a bunch of flowers -oh..



I read the articles about decluttering and memories. Seems like there is symptoms or trends that are against Hoarders in USA. I just watched an episode of Dr. Oz talking about the ills of it (the same episode also talks about some bugs of the household pets).The guy who couldn't throw away stuff from childhood sounds like my brother. He would be agitated if mom throws away anything - those robots, toy cars, spidey soft toy, from his childhood. How cute. He is 30 this year and has a baby girl now.

The Avengers

I went to watch the Avengers with my collegue, last nigh pre-preview 4/30. Her brother's company is having movie night. I caught cold in mid term and had to rush back home immediately after the movie finished at midnight.

What a great show. I love how the new Director creates a logical story. The acting is strong and characters very compelling. Love it.

Also how wonderful that the interactions and dynamism between relationships of these superheroes - being playfully and quite realistically displayed. The only thing that I think is lacking is the feeling of watching a Movie than just a series. But maybe that's like reading an epic from the comic book.

Normally I have very good taste on what's good movie. Rotten tomatoes has it opening in USA on the 5th 96%.

My carbonara experiment

Carbonara is one of my favorite food. From research (through internet, so limited to popular folk lore mostly), it is a common pasta dish that derive its name from "Charcoal burner". Some speculated that it started as a dish to charcoal miner who was active in Italy at 16th-18th century.

So Carbonara is a common name for pasta (mostly commonly spaghetti or fettucine, but original Italian prefers penne) with white-cream based sauce made from cream/egg yolk, white wine, Parmesan cheese, and bacon.

My first carbonara experiment is rather successful. I got hold of the freshest ingredients from Cold Storage, which is $2+ 3 slices of bacon (Italy prefers to use pancetta - which is flavored and dried), cream, Parmesan cheese, and fresh eggs. I picked fettucine which is my favorite for heavy based cream to savor more of the goodness of the richness of the sauce than the lightness of angel-haired spaghetti. I also added frozen peas for colors and attempt at veggie-ing it. Today I used back bacon which is less fatty, because I went shopping at 740pm and today Cold Storage has 2 slices left from its Danish "streaky bacon".

I used my stock white wine which is Chardonnay 2008 from Chile, Alta Mira. The receipe recommended a dry wine, so you have to be careful not to use a more sweet-based wine like Moscato, as the cream and bacon tend to overwhelm the delicate note of wine.

I love Carbonara.

Melbourne 2012 Apr 31st Birthday

the beautiful former Melbourne Museum

So bored

I am feeling am wasting my weekends - week by week. time flies...

My Saturday, I learnt that English Premiership League football is just one of the League. The club/player starts at South/North, then National, Then L2, L1, and Finally Championship Liga before heading to the Premiership League. I learnt this from online game....

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.