From the New York Times:
Phys Ed: Why Doesn’t Exercise Lead to Weight Loss?
By Gretchen Reynolds
Sven Hagolani/Getty Images
For some time, researchers have been finding that people who exercise don’t necessarily lose weight. A study published online in September in The British Journal of Sports Medicine was the latest to report apparently disappointing slimming results. In the study, 58 obese people completed 12 weeks of supervised aerobic training without changing their diets. The group lost an average of a little more than seven pounds, and many lost barely half that.
How can that be? Exercise, it seems, should make you thin. Activity burns calories. No one doubts that.
Phys Ed
“Walking, even at a very easy pace, you’ll probably burn three or four calories a minute,” beyond what you would use quietly sitting in a chair, said Dan Carey, Ph.D., an assistant professor of exercise physiology at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, who studies exercise and metabolism.
But few people, an overwhelming body of research shows, achieve significant weight loss with exercise alone, not without changing their eating habits. A new study from scientists at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Denver offers some reasons why. For the study, the researchers recruited several groups of people. Some were lean endurance athletes; some sedentary and lean; some sedentary and obese. Each of the subjects agreed to spend, over the course of the experiment, several 24-hour periods in a special laboratory room (a walk-in calorimeter) that measures the number of calories a person burns. Using various calculations, the researchers could also tell whether the calories expended were in the form of fat or carbohydrates, the body’s two main fuel sources. Burning more fat than carbohydrates is obviously desirable for weight loss, since the fat being burned comes primarily from body fat stores, and we all, even the leanest among us, have plenty of those.
The Denver researchers were especially interested in how the athletes’ bodies would apportion and use calories. It has been well documented that regular endurance training increases the ability of the body to use fat as a fuel during exercise. They wondered, though, if the athletes — or any of the other subjects — would burn extra fat calories after exercising, a phenomenon that some exercisers (and even more diet and fitness books) call “afterburn.”
“Many people believe that you rev up” your metabolism after an exercise session “so that you burn additional body fat throughout the day,” said Edward Melanson, Ph.D., an associate professor in the division of endocrinology at the School of Medicine and the lead author of the study. If afterburn were found to exist, it would suggest that even if you replaced the calories you used during an exercise session, you should lose weight, without gaining weight — the proverbial free lunch.
Each of Melanson’s subjects spent 24 quiet hours in the calorimeter, followed later by another 24 hours that included an hourlong bout of stationary bicycling. The cycling was deliberately performed at a relatively easy intensity (about 55 percent of each person’s predetermined aerobic capacity). It is well known physiologically that, while high-intensity exercise demands mostly carbohydrate calories (since carbohydrates can quickly reach the bloodstream and, from there, laboring muscles), low-intensity exercise prompts the body to burn at least some stored fat. All of the subjects ate three meals a day.
To their surprise, the researchers found that none of the groups, including the athletes, experienced “afterburn.” They did not use additional body fat on the day when they exercised. In fact, most of the subjects burned slightly less fat over the 24-hour study period when they exercised than when they did not.
“The message of our work is really simple,” although not agreeable to hear, Melanson said. “It all comes down to energy balance,” or, as you might have guessed, calories in and calories out. People “are only burning 200 or 300 calories” in a typical 30-minute exercise session, Melanson points out. “You replace that with one bottle of Gatorade.”
This does not mean that exercise has no impact on body weight, or that you can’t calibrate your workouts to maximize the amount of body fat that you burn, if that’s your goal.
“If you work out at an easy intensity, you will burn a higher percentage of fat calories” than if you work out a higher intensity, Carey says, so you should draw down some of the padding you’ve accumulated on the hips or elsewhere — if you don’t replace all of the calories afterward. To help those hoping to reduce their body fat, he published formulas in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research last month that detailed the heart rates at which a person could maximize fat burning. “Heart rates of between 105 and 134” beats per minute, Carey said, represent the fat-burning zone. “It’s probably best to work out near the top of that zone,” he says, “so that you burn more calories over all” than at the extremely leisurely lower end.
Perhaps just as important, bear in mind that exercise has benefits beyond weight reduction. In the study of obese people who took up exercise, most became notably healthier, increasing their aerobic capacity, decreasing their blood pressure and resting heart rates, and, the authors write, achieving “an acute exercise-induced increase in positive mood,” leading the authors to conclude that, “significant and meaningful health benefits can be achieved even in the presence of lower than expected exercise-induced weight loss.”
Finally and thankfully, exercise seems to aid, physiologically, in the battle to keep off body fat once it has been, through resolute calorie reduction, chiseled away. In other work by Melanson’s group, published in September, laboratory rats that had been overfed and then slimmed through calorie reduction were able to “defend” their lower weight more effectively if they ran on a treadmill and ate at will than if they had no access to a treadmill. The exercise seemed to reset certain metabolic pathways within the rats, Melanson says, that blunted their body’s drive to replace the lost fat. Similar mechanisms, he adds, probably operate within the bodies of humans, providing scientific justification for signing up for that Thanksgiving Day 5K.
Sunday, November 08, 2009
Lovely Weekend...
2 hours of swimming, 2 hours of squash, and 2 hours of tennis... Throw in 5 1/2 hours of great wines, yummy food (think roast chicken dipped in chocolate sauce), & wonderful company and it sums up how my great weekend went...
If only it stopped here. I think I hurt my back. Super sharp excruciating pain! Can't walk properly. Haha. Age is catching up on me, no matter how much I try to deny it ;)
But it's ok. It was worth it!
If only it stopped here. I think I hurt my back. Super sharp excruciating pain! Can't walk properly. Haha. Age is catching up on me, no matter how much I try to deny it ;)
But it's ok. It was worth it!
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Fighting the Addiction...
If there's any addiction I really really really really (did I say REALLY) want to break this year, it's my addiction for IM, especially MSN Messenger. I have it on all day, all night, during work, when I'm home, and with my iPhone, ANYWHERE AND EVERYWHERE I go. Even though I don't want to talk to anyone in particular, I just keep on going back to the IM screen again and again, just checking who's on, who's off, and maintaining my linkage to reality.
It's more like "Reality", especially when I perceive it to be more real than the real world I am hanging out in. It simply doesn't make sense that I'm IM-ing online when I'm out with friends. There's a certain lack of respect for the company I'm with. I guess SMS is also not very good, but it's nowhere near as awful as IM-ing when there's company.
At work, IM impedes me from concentrating fully on the job at hand, so that every couple of minutes, I check who's online and send inane messages to people, disturbing them when THEY are trying to concentrate. I mean, it's ok if there's a purpose to the IM, but when I chat for the sake of chatting, it crosses an invisible line...
Ok, now it's November, and I realized it's one of the items on my 2009 New Year Action Plan. The past few days, I've been on leave, and I've staved away from MSN. I'm still on, invisible mostly, but I've at least succeeded in resisting the temptation to just message someone to say hi and nothing else. If there's a reason (genuine catch up after a long absence, asking colleague out for a snack, scheduling a gathering), it's ok, but not chatting for chat's sake.
And I'm going to cut down on MSN usage on weeknights as promised. In fact, it's like a drug; when going cold turkey, it's ultra painful and pointed. After a while, adaptation takes place, the lingering hunger disappears, and you realize the body doesn't need it anymore. Just like my addiction for KFC, I haven't touched it at all this year, and when I passed one today, I felt... nothing. It's incredible what the human mind can mandate the body to feel and react.
Wish me luck for the last two months, so that I can curb this addiction, instill a renewed discipline, and embrace fully the real, vibrant, analog, delicious world!
It's more like "Reality", especially when I perceive it to be more real than the real world I am hanging out in. It simply doesn't make sense that I'm IM-ing online when I'm out with friends. There's a certain lack of respect for the company I'm with. I guess SMS is also not very good, but it's nowhere near as awful as IM-ing when there's company.
At work, IM impedes me from concentrating fully on the job at hand, so that every couple of minutes, I check who's online and send inane messages to people, disturbing them when THEY are trying to concentrate. I mean, it's ok if there's a purpose to the IM, but when I chat for the sake of chatting, it crosses an invisible line...
Ok, now it's November, and I realized it's one of the items on my 2009 New Year Action Plan. The past few days, I've been on leave, and I've staved away from MSN. I'm still on, invisible mostly, but I've at least succeeded in resisting the temptation to just message someone to say hi and nothing else. If there's a reason (genuine catch up after a long absence, asking colleague out for a snack, scheduling a gathering), it's ok, but not chatting for chat's sake.
And I'm going to cut down on MSN usage on weeknights as promised. In fact, it's like a drug; when going cold turkey, it's ultra painful and pointed. After a while, adaptation takes place, the lingering hunger disappears, and you realize the body doesn't need it anymore. Just like my addiction for KFC, I haven't touched it at all this year, and when I passed one today, I felt... nothing. It's incredible what the human mind can mandate the body to feel and react.
Wish me luck for the last two months, so that I can curb this addiction, instill a renewed discipline, and embrace fully the real, vibrant, analog, delicious world!
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Great Living Through Gratefulness
Just read a book, Thanks: How Practicing Gratitude Can Make You Happier by Robert A Emmons. Though there's quite alot of religious overtures for a strictly theoretical discussion, it has a very interesting point: That being grateful can really increase the amount of happiness one has in life.
According to the book, people generally have a set point of happiness that's decided at birth. If you're a generally sad person, even when you win the lottery and marry the most wonderful person, pretty soon, you'll ADAPT and get back to your set point of happiness. Ditto for vice versa ;) But apparently, if you exercise gratitude, you adjust that set point of happiness higher, and STAY happier even with adaptation.
There have been many instances that instead of showing gratitude, I complain and nit-pick, "in the name of progress", so that things can be better. If somebody cooks for me, I comment on the food quality, instead of appreciating the effort spent on the food-making process. If someone provides me with assistance, I am thankful, but sometimes it's more procedural rather than sincere, and worse, I discount the effort and think that it's supposed to be part of their job.
Also, alot of people and cultures dislike practicing gratitude as it can be viewed as indebtitude. I can empathize with that concept; Some rather owe no one, and achieve independent living, than count on the favor of others. I have encountered so many people like that in the course of my life...
Anyway, I'm going to try to practice what I've read, and see how it will impact me. The best recommendation of the book is to start a gratitude journal, detailing daily of the things I'm grateful for. Going to be kinda private so won't be written here. ;)
Alrighty, I'm grateful to those who have spent the time reading my thoughts. Thanks!
According to the book, people generally have a set point of happiness that's decided at birth. If you're a generally sad person, even when you win the lottery and marry the most wonderful person, pretty soon, you'll ADAPT and get back to your set point of happiness. Ditto for vice versa ;) But apparently, if you exercise gratitude, you adjust that set point of happiness higher, and STAY happier even with adaptation.
There have been many instances that instead of showing gratitude, I complain and nit-pick, "in the name of progress", so that things can be better. If somebody cooks for me, I comment on the food quality, instead of appreciating the effort spent on the food-making process. If someone provides me with assistance, I am thankful, but sometimes it's more procedural rather than sincere, and worse, I discount the effort and think that it's supposed to be part of their job.
Also, alot of people and cultures dislike practicing gratitude as it can be viewed as indebtitude. I can empathize with that concept; Some rather owe no one, and achieve independent living, than count on the favor of others. I have encountered so many people like that in the course of my life...
Anyway, I'm going to try to practice what I've read, and see how it will impact me. The best recommendation of the book is to start a gratitude journal, detailing daily of the things I'm grateful for. Going to be kinda private so won't be written here. ;)
Alrighty, I'm grateful to those who have spent the time reading my thoughts. Thanks!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Windows 7 Update
So I managed to get a legitimate copy of Windows 7 Professional, but it's the Student's Upgrade Version. Things I have considered so far:
1) Windows 7 Installation
i) The digital download from digitalriver only has the Upgrade Version, which means that it will need to detect an existing version of Windows before allowing the installation. If you want to install Windows 7 on a new clean hard drive, it's going to be a problem.
ii) The 2.3gb digital download is NOT an iso file that you can just burn on a DVD and run. This has been reflected in many tech blogs like engadget where students who purchased win 7 via this method have been registering their malcontent.
iii) 32-bit versus 64-bit. The digital download only allows you to choose either the 32-bit or the 64-bit version of Win7, unlike the retail version where both DVDs are enclosed and you can choose. Based on several forums and my current PC capabilities, I am going with 32-bit, which only allows the computer to address 4 GB of ram, but enables most of my current applications and hardware to work. 64-bit is more future-proof, but is more likely to be more useful 2 years from now.
Solution:
Torrent the retail version of Win7 Professional, and get both 32-bit and 64-bit. Likely the license key I have should be valid for both versions, since it's the same situation for retail buyers. Digitalriver should have provided the .iso file upfront, instead of making users go through a whole host of methods just to get Win7. Probably the largest fail of Win7 so far, imo.
2) Reinstalling my applications
Running the Win7 Compatibility software helps me understand which applications I would need to look at after upgrading to Win7. Likely my Nero 7 application will not be supported, and some of my other minor applications. There's a web application called NiNite that basically installs up to 59 of the most popular applications (iTunes, Google Chrome, Firefox, Picasa, Flash Player, Dropbox, .Net, Skype, Google Earth) without you having to go and search, download, and wait for each installation to complete.
Next as I'm doing a XP to Windows 7 "clean" or "custom" installation (Marketing jargon), I need to be able to transfer my current iTunes settings, with all my iPhone applications, podcasts, and my Picasa facial recognition information over. I would need to perform a backup of everything, and then copy the Application Data information over to the new directory after setting it up. Should hopefully be pain-free. Same thing goes for all saved games.
Picasa Solution
http://picasa.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=164962
Also, since I've been playing with the Remote Desktop Connection on XP, I have to manually enable the feature on Win7 Professional. Home Premium doesn't have that feature...
More importantly, I'm making doubly sure all my documents and photos are well-backup. I suffered a catastrophic failure the other time when I reinstalled Windows XP on my C:, and it destroyed my C: / D: partition, resulting in ALL my stuff on D: (my documents and photos) to be eradicated. Lost a huge chunk of history there, and only managed to recover some of them through friends, old back-ups et al. Going to backup to 2 different hard drives now, and make sure that both are not on the same partition as where I'm going to install my Win7. Will likely keep my Win XP drive up for a few months before I remove it.
3) Upgrading of hardware
Perhaps it's finally time to upgrade some of my hardware. My current PC is 3 years old, and has been serving me very faithfully with minimum issues. I think I would probably purchase a 2GB DRAM DDR880 Dual Channel, from FuWell International at Sim Lim Square. Hardwarezone forum stated the cost at about $59. This upgrade will pump up my PC to 4GB, the maximum allowed under Win7 Professional.
Hopefully the extensive planning will result in a seamless installation. Think I will get all my stuff by this Sunday, and me up and running Win7 Pro by Sunday afternoon. Wish me luck!
1) Windows 7 Installation
i) The digital download from digitalriver only has the Upgrade Version, which means that it will need to detect an existing version of Windows before allowing the installation. If you want to install Windows 7 on a new clean hard drive, it's going to be a problem.
ii) The 2.3gb digital download is NOT an iso file that you can just burn on a DVD and run. This has been reflected in many tech blogs like engadget where students who purchased win 7 via this method have been registering their malcontent.
iii) 32-bit versus 64-bit. The digital download only allows you to choose either the 32-bit or the 64-bit version of Win7, unlike the retail version where both DVDs are enclosed and you can choose. Based on several forums and my current PC capabilities, I am going with 32-bit, which only allows the computer to address 4 GB of ram, but enables most of my current applications and hardware to work. 64-bit is more future-proof, but is more likely to be more useful 2 years from now.
Solution:
Torrent the retail version of Win7 Professional, and get both 32-bit and 64-bit. Likely the license key I have should be valid for both versions, since it's the same situation for retail buyers. Digitalriver should have provided the .iso file upfront, instead of making users go through a whole host of methods just to get Win7. Probably the largest fail of Win7 so far, imo.
2) Reinstalling my applications
Running the Win7 Compatibility software helps me understand which applications I would need to look at after upgrading to Win7. Likely my Nero 7 application will not be supported, and some of my other minor applications. There's a web application called NiNite that basically installs up to 59 of the most popular applications (iTunes, Google Chrome, Firefox, Picasa, Flash Player, Dropbox, .Net, Skype, Google Earth) without you having to go and search, download, and wait for each installation to complete.
Next as I'm doing a XP to Windows 7 "clean" or "custom" installation (Marketing jargon), I need to be able to transfer my current iTunes settings, with all my iPhone applications, podcasts, and my Picasa facial recognition information over. I would need to perform a backup of everything, and then copy the Application Data information over to the new directory after setting it up. Should hopefully be pain-free. Same thing goes for all saved games.
Picasa Solution
http://picasa.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=164962
Also, since I've been playing with the Remote Desktop Connection on XP, I have to manually enable the feature on Win7 Professional. Home Premium doesn't have that feature...
More importantly, I'm making doubly sure all my documents and photos are well-backup. I suffered a catastrophic failure the other time when I reinstalled Windows XP on my C:, and it destroyed my C: / D: partition, resulting in ALL my stuff on D: (my documents and photos) to be eradicated. Lost a huge chunk of history there, and only managed to recover some of them through friends, old back-ups et al. Going to backup to 2 different hard drives now, and make sure that both are not on the same partition as where I'm going to install my Win7. Will likely keep my Win XP drive up for a few months before I remove it.
3) Upgrading of hardware
Perhaps it's finally time to upgrade some of my hardware. My current PC is 3 years old, and has been serving me very faithfully with minimum issues. I think I would probably purchase a 2GB DRAM DDR880 Dual Channel, from FuWell International at Sim Lim Square. Hardwarezone forum stated the cost at about $59. This upgrade will pump up my PC to 4GB, the maximum allowed under Win7 Professional.
Hopefully the extensive planning will result in a seamless installation. Think I will get all my stuff by this Sunday, and me up and running Win7 Pro by Sunday afternoon. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Target: 85 kg / 5 hr 30 mins
Gunning for the 10 buffalo wings I bet with my colleague, that I can complete under 5 hr 30 mins... Like Poo from Kungfu Panda, food should be my motivation...
"There is no charge for awesomeness, nor attractiveness"
Haiee-yah!
"There is no charge for awesomeness, nor attractiveness"
Haiee-yah!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
In Anticipation of the Weekend Ahead
Just have to get through the next 5 days of courses before my looooong weekend starts!
First, will be heading to Redang this Friday, to try out my new mask, fins, and booties! Will test out how the fins affect my photo-taking, which is an area I have meaning to work and improve on. Should do some proper dive photo-taking tutorials and reflect on how I can improve my shots.
After coming back on Monday, I'll be whisked off Tuesday to Bali for my second holiday! A week long trip to rest, relax, and chill! It's probably my last major holiday this year, so I will take full advantage of it, and not think about work issues while I'm there. Going with my bro and his friend, so it'd be tremendous fun!
Somehow I feel better recently, with a light spirit and quick trot. I have done my best to remove my inner baggage, and live life freely. I shall now start on some of my deeply rooted habits that I've always wanted to change, knowing and believing that this time there's a real chance of success. As they say, it takes 21 days to form/break a habit, so I'll behoove myself to go on my best behaviour, and actively do the things I want to do, and avoid the things I want to avoid.
First, will be heading to Redang this Friday, to try out my new mask, fins, and booties! Will test out how the fins affect my photo-taking, which is an area I have meaning to work and improve on. Should do some proper dive photo-taking tutorials and reflect on how I can improve my shots.
After coming back on Monday, I'll be whisked off Tuesday to Bali for my second holiday! A week long trip to rest, relax, and chill! It's probably my last major holiday this year, so I will take full advantage of it, and not think about work issues while I'm there. Going with my bro and his friend, so it'd be tremendous fun!
Somehow I feel better recently, with a light spirit and quick trot. I have done my best to remove my inner baggage, and live life freely. I shall now start on some of my deeply rooted habits that I've always wanted to change, knowing and believing that this time there's a real chance of success. As they say, it takes 21 days to form/break a habit, so I'll behoove myself to go on my best behaviour, and actively do the things I want to do, and avoid the things I want to avoid.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
My Excuses...
1. I am too tired.
2. I have no time.
3. I am too old.
4. I have no money.
5. I am too fat.
6. I'm too used to my habits.
7. I am too lazy.
8. I am too smart/ dumb to be bothered.
9. My parents made me this way.
10. It's not my nature to do this.
11. I made a wrong decision last time, I'm stuck and I can't help it.
12. It's not my nature to do this.
13. I have failed so many times before.
14. Doing this won't help me.
15. I am afraid of failing.
16. I can't help that my memory/ hearing is bad.
17. The problem is too big for me.
18. I want to stay in my comfort zone.
It's time for me to embrace the boundaries I have created for myself, to break out, and be the person I am capable of.
:)
2. I have no time.
3. I am too old.
4. I have no money.
5. I am too fat.
6. I'm too used to my habits.
7. I am too lazy.
8. I am too smart/ dumb to be bothered.
9. My parents made me this way.
10. It's not my nature to do this.
11. I made a wrong decision last time, I'm stuck and I can't help it.
12. It's not my nature to do this.
13. I have failed so many times before.
14. Doing this won't help me.
15. I am afraid of failing.
16. I can't help that my memory/ hearing is bad.
17. The problem is too big for me.
18. I want to stay in my comfort zone.
It's time for me to embrace the boundaries I have created for myself, to break out, and be the person I am capable of.
:)
Wednesday, September 09, 2009
Living an Excuse-free Life!
Was in Genting over the weekend. I kinda considered it as a pilgrimage, you know, go up to top of mountain, rest, relax, reflect over the past half-year, re-align or set new goals, and recharge.
The previous time I went Genting, I came down the mountain and joined Fitness First! Since then, I have lost 7 kg, finally seeing some small results on something I have been trying for years without success. So it's sort of a pat-on-the-back, let's-see-what's-coming-up sort of trip / personal reflection journey.
I forgot to take my borrowed library books from reception, so didn't manage to read any of the finance books I was interested in. Only had this book "Excuses Begone!" by Dr Wayne W. Dyer, some self-help guru. I finished the book this morning on the daily commute, and I appreciate the thoughts and reflections I have had after reading.
The book talks about Mind over Matter, and to stop giving oneself excuses for not achieving one's potential. "I don't deserve it", "I don't have time", "I am too old" are quite frankly some of the common excuses I use to avoid a certain decision, to not do something, or to seek sympathy.
So I was reading the final chapter today, and it spoke about how to face the excuse of "I'm too tired". If you keep saying this phrase, you will believe it, your body will live it, and soon you'll be too tired to do anything ever. It seems like such a valid reason, when you are working late into the night, juggling work and studies and what-nots, and it continuously provides a comfort zone for people to not do something.
Instead, the book advises one to stop saying that phrase, and instead tell yourself that "you have sufficient time and energy to do the work tasks that you set out to", and the body would adapt to achieve that. Having slept at 1 - 3 am for the work week so far, I truly felt that I was too tired, and that I wouldn't be able to concentrate during class today. "I'm too tired" is almost my daily phrase, and it is usually accompanied by a big yawn.
So, I tried it out today. I actively refrained myself from saying "I'm too tired", and instead reminded myself that I had sufficient energy to last the day, and still be able to focus in class. It worked. I barely yawned, I was able to focus on the discussions today, and I still have the energy to complete some work after class.
Now I will reflect on my usual excuses, and how I can remove them as barriers to attain my goals... so that I can live an excuse-free, fulfilling life!
The previous time I went Genting, I came down the mountain and joined Fitness First! Since then, I have lost 7 kg, finally seeing some small results on something I have been trying for years without success. So it's sort of a pat-on-the-back, let's-see-what's-coming-up sort of trip / personal reflection journey.
I forgot to take my borrowed library books from reception, so didn't manage to read any of the finance books I was interested in. Only had this book "Excuses Begone!" by Dr Wayne W. Dyer, some self-help guru. I finished the book this morning on the daily commute, and I appreciate the thoughts and reflections I have had after reading.
The book talks about Mind over Matter, and to stop giving oneself excuses for not achieving one's potential. "I don't deserve it", "I don't have time", "I am too old" are quite frankly some of the common excuses I use to avoid a certain decision, to not do something, or to seek sympathy.
So I was reading the final chapter today, and it spoke about how to face the excuse of "I'm too tired". If you keep saying this phrase, you will believe it, your body will live it, and soon you'll be too tired to do anything ever. It seems like such a valid reason, when you are working late into the night, juggling work and studies and what-nots, and it continuously provides a comfort zone for people to not do something.
Instead, the book advises one to stop saying that phrase, and instead tell yourself that "you have sufficient time and energy to do the work tasks that you set out to", and the body would adapt to achieve that. Having slept at 1 - 3 am for the work week so far, I truly felt that I was too tired, and that I wouldn't be able to concentrate during class today. "I'm too tired" is almost my daily phrase, and it is usually accompanied by a big yawn.
So, I tried it out today. I actively refrained myself from saying "I'm too tired", and instead reminded myself that I had sufficient energy to last the day, and still be able to focus in class. It worked. I barely yawned, I was able to focus on the discussions today, and I still have the energy to complete some work after class.
Now I will reflect on my usual excuses, and how I can remove them as barriers to attain my goals... so that I can live an excuse-free, fulfilling life!
Windows 7 Redux
Have installed Windows 7 Enterprise on my computer and used it for a couple of days.
Installation was a complete breeze. I have never installed Windows on a computer with so very little effort before. My previous experiences usually involved installing Windows XP, which would format the hard drive into at most a 160GB block, since it couldn't recognise any hard drive bigger than that. This usually screws up the partition drive, and if you have done a previous partition, it would destroy information on the other hard drive.
After that, one needs to slowly install all my hardware drivers (e.g. Motherboard, soundcard, videocard, bluetooth keyboard set, etc), update the drivers, install SP1, SP2, SP3... Extremely tedious and slow process. After that, since I use WPA2 wireless authentication, I couldn't access my home wireless network without installing a XP hotfix that enabled the authentication. But to download the hotfix, I needed to get internet access. Then follows the tons and tons of security fixes. Usually it's like a full-day/ multi-day affair excluding the other applications...
Windows 7 worked like a breeze. I installed it, and when it started, I thought it wasn't working, but somehow the login page default to show on my secondary output (HDMI TV), instead of my normal screen. I actually restarted it a couple of times before I realised it.
Next, it recognised and installed ALL my hardware and my wireless worked, at least at that moment. I had a fully functional Operating System in about an half hour! That's a miracle, literally after almost 8 years of tedium. Application installations were mostly ok, although my copy of Modern Combat failed to work. I believe that most older applications might have compatibility issues. Although there's a XP-Compatibility mode, I'm not entirely sure how to activate it.
Another major issue was with my wireless. My joy with the wireless was short-lived, and my wireless connection kept dropping continuously after that! It annoyed the heck out of me. Even though it could detect my network (two bars out of five), it just couldn't connect. Previously with XP, usually the solution is to "Repair" the connection, where XP disables the wireless receiver and restarts it again. Usually it works.
But Windows 7 doesn't have that option to "Repair the Connection", instead I had to disconnect manually, and restart the network adapter again. NOT THAT IT WORKS. Years of trained XP behaviour dictates that I repeat that action almost daily, at least 5-10 times before I realise it wasn't working. And the trouble-shooting feature clearly wasn't helpful (It kept telling me that I needed to reset and restart my router, which I knew wasn't the answer, as my iPhone next to me kept a strong wireless connection. My final solution was to rotate my CPU, such that the network adapter faced the general direction of the router, thereby increasing the signal strength to 4 bars.) It works nows, but I'm not sure if it's a consistently, replicate-able solution. We shall see. Wireless connectivity is an issue that can make-or-break an OS.
I love the variable wallpaper feature, which changes the wallpaper every XX mins with any pictures. Have previously tried Vista before, so was already familiar with the Aero feature. One minor annoyance was that the CPU only outputs to 1 line-out jack and 1 headphone jack. Previously, my CPU connected to my legacy stereo system and my LCD TV, so I could watch movies on my computer screen and output sound on my stereo, or watch on my LCD TV and the accompanying sound system. I like options. But perhaps I need to update my Asus motherboard drivers to get back my full features, since I hadn't installed any drivers on my own yet.
Performance-wise, I was pleasantly surprised that even with Aero features on, Windows 7 actually works faster than XP! Shut-down, start-up also ran much faster than my previous XP installation. That's amazing, since I have heard that Vista drastically reduced performance, and was hoping that the drop-off would not be too marked. Perhaps the Vista failure was actually a marketing campaign for Windows 7! ;)
Overall, I'm quite happy about Windows 7. I'm impressed that Microsoft was open enough to allow a free 90-day trial of the Enterprise Edition. Good to be able to test it out first on all compatibility issues, and examine what exactly I am upgrading to. I'm unlikely to need the additional features of Enterprise vis-a-vis the Professional Edition (i.e. Bitlocker and something else).
Windows is no longer a joke. That's great for us long-running windows users. Windows 7 finally gives us a reason to have our heads held high when listening to the dribble of MacOS fanatics. Great!
Installation was a complete breeze. I have never installed Windows on a computer with so very little effort before. My previous experiences usually involved installing Windows XP, which would format the hard drive into at most a 160GB block, since it couldn't recognise any hard drive bigger than that. This usually screws up the partition drive, and if you have done a previous partition, it would destroy information on the other hard drive.
After that, one needs to slowly install all my hardware drivers (e.g. Motherboard, soundcard, videocard, bluetooth keyboard set, etc), update the drivers, install SP1, SP2, SP3... Extremely tedious and slow process. After that, since I use WPA2 wireless authentication, I couldn't access my home wireless network without installing a XP hotfix that enabled the authentication. But to download the hotfix, I needed to get internet access. Then follows the tons and tons of security fixes. Usually it's like a full-day/ multi-day affair excluding the other applications...
Windows 7 worked like a breeze. I installed it, and when it started, I thought it wasn't working, but somehow the login page default to show on my secondary output (HDMI TV), instead of my normal screen. I actually restarted it a couple of times before I realised it.
Next, it recognised and installed ALL my hardware and my wireless worked, at least at that moment. I had a fully functional Operating System in about an half hour! That's a miracle, literally after almost 8 years of tedium. Application installations were mostly ok, although my copy of Modern Combat failed to work. I believe that most older applications might have compatibility issues. Although there's a XP-Compatibility mode, I'm not entirely sure how to activate it.
Another major issue was with my wireless. My joy with the wireless was short-lived, and my wireless connection kept dropping continuously after that! It annoyed the heck out of me. Even though it could detect my network (two bars out of five), it just couldn't connect. Previously with XP, usually the solution is to "Repair" the connection, where XP disables the wireless receiver and restarts it again. Usually it works.
But Windows 7 doesn't have that option to "Repair the Connection", instead I had to disconnect manually, and restart the network adapter again. NOT THAT IT WORKS. Years of trained XP behaviour dictates that I repeat that action almost daily, at least 5-10 times before I realise it wasn't working. And the trouble-shooting feature clearly wasn't helpful (It kept telling me that I needed to reset and restart my router, which I knew wasn't the answer, as my iPhone next to me kept a strong wireless connection. My final solution was to rotate my CPU, such that the network adapter faced the general direction of the router, thereby increasing the signal strength to 4 bars.) It works nows, but I'm not sure if it's a consistently, replicate-able solution. We shall see. Wireless connectivity is an issue that can make-or-break an OS.
I love the variable wallpaper feature, which changes the wallpaper every XX mins with any pictures. Have previously tried Vista before, so was already familiar with the Aero feature. One minor annoyance was that the CPU only outputs to 1 line-out jack and 1 headphone jack. Previously, my CPU connected to my legacy stereo system and my LCD TV, so I could watch movies on my computer screen and output sound on my stereo, or watch on my LCD TV and the accompanying sound system. I like options. But perhaps I need to update my Asus motherboard drivers to get back my full features, since I hadn't installed any drivers on my own yet.
Performance-wise, I was pleasantly surprised that even with Aero features on, Windows 7 actually works faster than XP! Shut-down, start-up also ran much faster than my previous XP installation. That's amazing, since I have heard that Vista drastically reduced performance, and was hoping that the drop-off would not be too marked. Perhaps the Vista failure was actually a marketing campaign for Windows 7! ;)
Overall, I'm quite happy about Windows 7. I'm impressed that Microsoft was open enough to allow a free 90-day trial of the Enterprise Edition. Good to be able to test it out first on all compatibility issues, and examine what exactly I am upgrading to. I'm unlikely to need the additional features of Enterprise vis-a-vis the Professional Edition (i.e. Bitlocker and something else).
Windows is no longer a joke. That's great for us long-running windows users. Windows 7 finally gives us a reason to have our heads held high when listening to the dribble of MacOS fanatics. Great!
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Entrepreneurship
Attended a discussion that talked about entrepreneurship. One needs a PhD in order to do entrepreneurship...
P - Passion
h - hunger
D - Drive
A frank assessment of myself is that I probably have the passion in full capacity... Drive is about 50%, but I know, truly, that right now, I lack the hunger. My idea of entrepreneurship: Open a cafe while keeping my day job.
Am beginning to wonder if having the security of the day job keeps one from having a proper appetite to be an entrepreneur. But the lack of a job means that you'll have to survive on the business. Literally live/die by it! Am I ready for it, and will I ever be ready?
I have come to realise that I am a rather risk-adverse person. This would be so out of standard behaviour, and the urge to run back to the fold of safety would be tremendous.
When I was listening to the lecture, I busily wrote down all the potential funding avenues available from the Government, but one thing the entrepreneur mentioned really jolted my thinking. No one owes me a living. Stop expecting handouts. If you live by the Government direction, you can never be truly entrepreneurial.
I can feel the metamorphosis beginning. As a mentor mentioned, when a caterpillar goes into a cocoon, only after it experiences a complete breakdown on a physical level can it can truly become a butterfly...
The mental barriers, the personal restraints...
Am I ... breaking down?
P - Passion
h - hunger
D - Drive
A frank assessment of myself is that I probably have the passion in full capacity... Drive is about 50%, but I know, truly, that right now, I lack the hunger. My idea of entrepreneurship: Open a cafe while keeping my day job.
Am beginning to wonder if having the security of the day job keeps one from having a proper appetite to be an entrepreneur. But the lack of a job means that you'll have to survive on the business. Literally live/die by it! Am I ready for it, and will I ever be ready?
I have come to realise that I am a rather risk-adverse person. This would be so out of standard behaviour, and the urge to run back to the fold of safety would be tremendous.
When I was listening to the lecture, I busily wrote down all the potential funding avenues available from the Government, but one thing the entrepreneur mentioned really jolted my thinking. No one owes me a living. Stop expecting handouts. If you live by the Government direction, you can never be truly entrepreneurial.
I can feel the metamorphosis beginning. As a mentor mentioned, when a caterpillar goes into a cocoon, only after it experiences a complete breakdown on a physical level can it can truly become a butterfly...
The mental barriers, the personal restraints...
Am I ... breaking down?
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Windows 7 Enterprise Trial!
Just downloaded the trial version of Windows 7 Enterprise Edition! It will be a 90-day trial! Going to install it on my spare hard drive, and do a dual boot...
Actually can't wait to see how Windows 7 fares. It's supposed to be FASTER than Win XP even, and a lot more stable. Well, only trying it will we find out.
Taking the plunge!
Results in a while!
Actually can't wait to see how Windows 7 fares. It's supposed to be FASTER than Win XP even, and a lot more stable. Well, only trying it will we find out.
Taking the plunge!
Results in a while!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Thoughts
I have been reading quite a bit on social networking, and the latest trends in technology, such as Chris Anderson's Free, as well as dabbling a bit into wine appreciation, having seriously joined an amateur wine appreciation club (GO DGS!!!)
Somehow I have this notion that social networking and wine appreciation seems to be very "blue ocean", with very few applications available. The only one so far that I've seen is Average Joe Wine Reviews, which has an iPhone application (yes, i bought an iPhone! It's truly the greatest invention since sliced bread!) available for download for free.
However, the app isn't wonderful, is not the easiest thing in the world to use, with few wines in it, but the concept is good. Supposedly not everyone in the world is a connoisseur (I've googled the spelling of this until i'm blue in the face, so this must be correct!), but like everything on the web, it works best when there's plenty of people involved, and it just needs 1% of the people using the application to contribute for it to be wildly successful.
If I were to design an iPhone Wine Review application, I will adhere to the following principles:
1) The app needs to be free. This is completely necessary to break the barrier and achieve the critical mass needed for success. As written in Free, the greatest barrier lies between free and a penny. Even the payment of a single penny forces the psyche to re-assess the usefulness of such an application, and 99% of the population will just turn away.
Thus, the app has to be free.
2) Contributors must feel that they are doing it for themselves, and not for the "betterment of society". There is no such thing as altruism, and the best way for things to succeed is by the "invisible hand", where everyone, doing everything for their own benefit, achieves something greater than the best centrally controlled activity. Like Youtube, it succeeded not because contributors want to share their videos with the world. Rather, it is because the contributors are looking for a place to store their videos online. When the users' and the applications goals are aligned, it will have the best outcome.
Thus, the app must begin with the user as the focal point, that the purpose of the app is for the users to record down the wines he has tasted, so that he can keep for future reference when purchasing wines (as well as allowing others to review the wines he has contributed). There may or may not be a reputation system, depending on the quality of reviews provided.
3) It must be really for the average user. Average Joe Wine Review basically fails in this respect. So even if the wines were not assessed by greats like Robert Parker, they are still contributed by users who obviously are in the wine Community of Practice, with jargon that is quite frightening to obvious newbies. I feel that wine, even though it is increasing in acceptance worldwide, still remains a sort of hit-and-run effort by most, who wants to know more about the wines before they obviously drink it, but has no idea of the terms and technical phrases used by wine reviewers. This excerpt from ezinearticles.com says it all:
Wine is often viewed as a snobby hobby. This is often due to the nature of the terms used. When a person says the “aromatic balance” is serene, one can’t help but be a bit intimidated.
I trip over how the terms "bouquet" and "nose" are used, not to mention the myriad of terms I have completely forgotten.
I feel for Social Media and Wine Appreciation to mesh together, the fear / intimidation factor must be addressed. Wines must be brought down to the masses, and that means that costs must be lowered, one should not be worried whether he's appreciating the wine correctly or not, and that he should not feel that there is an enclosed community that he cannot enter.
Coming back to point 3, one cannot control how contributors review their wines, but one can use technology to aid the uninitiated.
Thus my app will have common wine jargon automatically hyperlinked to explanations. There should be sections describing grape varietals, and concepts such as Vintage, food pairings, et al.
4) Searching for wine reviews must be easy. That means being having a good search engine and suggested searches, and searching by categories. An even more powerful method would be to use the in-built camera, snap the label and search, thereby reducing entry time even more. I usually find myself wanting to know what the wine reviews say when i'm actually at the wine shop looking, rather than before. There are just too many wines to research BEFORE going to a wine shop. Much easier to hunt and review at the same time.
5) Push information. Wine tasters also want to be kept abreast of the latest news in wine. In every city, there's ALWAYS wine tastings and competitions and what-nots happening, and the usual methods of EDMs (Electronic Direct Marketing) can only reach so many people. Wine shops can use this iPhone to push wine information (sales, wine tastings) to users within the vicinity. Of course, too much information will just result in spam, so one needs to control the flow, perhaps by scarcity creation (i.e. only 1 push notification per day to the highest bidder).
6) Revenue generation. The toughest of the toughest. Without a proper income source, this application will quickly die off due to poor maintenance and quality. I will adopt the Freemium method, where there will be the free ad-supported basic feature application, as well as the paid premium version, clean of ads and with more features. Push information (i.e. advertising on a premium spot) will produce more revenue, but these ads need to be controlled lest it chases away users.
Another greater revenue generation will be analyzing users inputs, from their searches and reviews, to provide wine makers immediate access and contact with the people drinking their wines, and to give them an idea where the hotspots of demands for their wines are, so that they can distribute their wines accordingly. Just as Google earns from selling analysed user information, this will also form a large revenue stream that will continue to enable the application to be free.
The more I write, the more I am convinced that I want to develop a Facebook for Wine, i.e. WineBook! I want to set up a self-sustaining community focused on wines and sharing their love of wines to everyone.
Do you think it will work?
Somehow I have this notion that social networking and wine appreciation seems to be very "blue ocean", with very few applications available. The only one so far that I've seen is Average Joe Wine Reviews, which has an iPhone application (yes, i bought an iPhone! It's truly the greatest invention since sliced bread!) available for download for free.
However, the app isn't wonderful, is not the easiest thing in the world to use, with few wines in it, but the concept is good. Supposedly not everyone in the world is a connoisseur (I've googled the spelling of this until i'm blue in the face, so this must be correct!), but like everything on the web, it works best when there's plenty of people involved, and it just needs 1% of the people using the application to contribute for it to be wildly successful.
If I were to design an iPhone Wine Review application, I will adhere to the following principles:
1) The app needs to be free. This is completely necessary to break the barrier and achieve the critical mass needed for success. As written in Free, the greatest barrier lies between free and a penny. Even the payment of a single penny forces the psyche to re-assess the usefulness of such an application, and 99% of the population will just turn away.
Thus, the app has to be free.
2) Contributors must feel that they are doing it for themselves, and not for the "betterment of society". There is no such thing as altruism, and the best way for things to succeed is by the "invisible hand", where everyone, doing everything for their own benefit, achieves something greater than the best centrally controlled activity. Like Youtube, it succeeded not because contributors want to share their videos with the world. Rather, it is because the contributors are looking for a place to store their videos online. When the users' and the applications goals are aligned, it will have the best outcome.
Thus, the app must begin with the user as the focal point, that the purpose of the app is for the users to record down the wines he has tasted, so that he can keep for future reference when purchasing wines (as well as allowing others to review the wines he has contributed). There may or may not be a reputation system, depending on the quality of reviews provided.
3) It must be really for the average user. Average Joe Wine Review basically fails in this respect. So even if the wines were not assessed by greats like Robert Parker, they are still contributed by users who obviously are in the wine Community of Practice, with jargon that is quite frightening to obvious newbies. I feel that wine, even though it is increasing in acceptance worldwide, still remains a sort of hit-and-run effort by most, who wants to know more about the wines before they obviously drink it, but has no idea of the terms and technical phrases used by wine reviewers. This excerpt from ezinearticles.com says it all:
Wine is often viewed as a snobby hobby. This is often due to the nature of the terms used. When a person says the “aromatic balance” is serene, one can’t help but be a bit intimidated.
I trip over how the terms "bouquet" and "nose" are used, not to mention the myriad of terms I have completely forgotten.
I feel for Social Media and Wine Appreciation to mesh together, the fear / intimidation factor must be addressed. Wines must be brought down to the masses, and that means that costs must be lowered, one should not be worried whether he's appreciating the wine correctly or not, and that he should not feel that there is an enclosed community that he cannot enter.
Coming back to point 3, one cannot control how contributors review their wines, but one can use technology to aid the uninitiated.
Thus my app will have common wine jargon automatically hyperlinked to explanations. There should be sections describing grape varietals, and concepts such as Vintage, food pairings, et al.
4) Searching for wine reviews must be easy. That means being having a good search engine and suggested searches, and searching by categories. An even more powerful method would be to use the in-built camera, snap the label and search, thereby reducing entry time even more. I usually find myself wanting to know what the wine reviews say when i'm actually at the wine shop looking, rather than before. There are just too many wines to research BEFORE going to a wine shop. Much easier to hunt and review at the same time.
5) Push information. Wine tasters also want to be kept abreast of the latest news in wine. In every city, there's ALWAYS wine tastings and competitions and what-nots happening, and the usual methods of EDMs (Electronic Direct Marketing) can only reach so many people. Wine shops can use this iPhone to push wine information (sales, wine tastings) to users within the vicinity. Of course, too much information will just result in spam, so one needs to control the flow, perhaps by scarcity creation (i.e. only 1 push notification per day to the highest bidder).
6) Revenue generation. The toughest of the toughest. Without a proper income source, this application will quickly die off due to poor maintenance and quality. I will adopt the Freemium method, where there will be the free ad-supported basic feature application, as well as the paid premium version, clean of ads and with more features. Push information (i.e. advertising on a premium spot) will produce more revenue, but these ads need to be controlled lest it chases away users.
Another greater revenue generation will be analyzing users inputs, from their searches and reviews, to provide wine makers immediate access and contact with the people drinking their wines, and to give them an idea where the hotspots of demands for their wines are, so that they can distribute their wines accordingly. Just as Google earns from selling analysed user information, this will also form a large revenue stream that will continue to enable the application to be free.
The more I write, the more I am convinced that I want to develop a Facebook for Wine, i.e. WineBook! I want to set up a self-sustaining community focused on wines and sharing their love of wines to everyone.
Do you think it will work?
Monday, August 10, 2009
Ideas
Just a couple of ideas that popped into my head for business concepts.
i) 2nd Hand Sales in Singapore is just not so prevalent: I believe there should be an easy way to sell 2nd hand stuff in Singapore.
Industry Competitors:
1) Craigslist.org Singapore
2) Singapore.gumtree.sg
3) lelong.sg
4) hardwarezone forums
5) a333.com/garage-sale/second-hand-items
6) OLXSG.com
7) eBay.com.sg
8) Physical second-hand shops (http://www.liveworkexplore.com/singapore/residents/shopping/what-_and_-where-to-buy/second_hand-items)
Target Market Audience & Climate:
1) Singaporeans
2) Expats
3) Foreign Workers
4) Students
Assessment Criteria:
1) Accessibility & Ease of Use
2) Business Model
3) Reach
i) 2nd Hand Sales in Singapore is just not so prevalent: I believe there should be an easy way to sell 2nd hand stuff in Singapore.
Industry Competitors:
1) Craigslist.org Singapore
2) Singapore.gumtree.sg
3) lelong.sg
4) hardwarezone forums
5) a333.com/garage-sale/second-hand-items
6) OLXSG.com
7) eBay.com.sg
8) Physical second-hand shops (http://www.liveworkexplore.com/singapore/residents/shopping/what-_and_-where-to-buy/second_hand-items)
Target Market Audience & Climate:
1) Singaporeans
2) Expats
3) Foreign Workers
4) Students
Assessment Criteria:
1) Accessibility & Ease of Use
2) Business Model
3) Reach
Monday, August 03, 2009
My Dream
Everytime I try to write this, I'm always super duper exhausted. Sadly this is no different. I guess this has to be a series of continuing edits, and improvements, as I slowly sleep and think about my dream.
~~~~~
I always wanted to open my own little cafe bar, tucked away in a small corner of town. I want to live across my cafe, and be able to walk to my cafe from home as and when I feel like it.
This cafe would be the sum of my joys, the place where I go and have fun, where I go and find peace, the place of solace when I'm down and out, when I need to be alone, when I need to be with people, the place where I can share my passions, and sing my heart out, or talk about something I am interested in, a place where I meet new and old friends all the time...
Everything will be done with love and heart, making the coffee, making a recommendation, serving with a smile, chit-chatting with the customers, cleaning up the place, closing shop...
And I will not have customers; instead, I'll have potential new friends, and familiar faces. My term for them: "Friendstomers" The friendstomers philo will be: NO assholes need apply. Serving should be a pleasure, and not about satisfying the frustrating bunch who take it out on service staff when they're having a bad day. It would be collaborative partnership, between the person paying for my service and me providing it. I want my friendstomers to feel they are part of my life, part of my cafe, and for them to come back again and again, bringing new friends and new experiences. For my cafe, I am not just learning from my friendstomers, but hopefully I will have something to share with them as well...
~~~~~
I always wanted to open my own little cafe bar, tucked away in a small corner of town. I want to live across my cafe, and be able to walk to my cafe from home as and when I feel like it.
This cafe would be the sum of my joys, the place where I go and have fun, where I go and find peace, the place of solace when I'm down and out, when I need to be alone, when I need to be with people, the place where I can share my passions, and sing my heart out, or talk about something I am interested in, a place where I meet new and old friends all the time...
Everything will be done with love and heart, making the coffee, making a recommendation, serving with a smile, chit-chatting with the customers, cleaning up the place, closing shop...
And I will not have customers; instead, I'll have potential new friends, and familiar faces. My term for them: "Friendstomers" The friendstomers philo will be: NO assholes need apply. Serving should be a pleasure, and not about satisfying the frustrating bunch who take it out on service staff when they're having a bad day. It would be collaborative partnership, between the person paying for my service and me providing it. I want my friendstomers to feel they are part of my life, part of my cafe, and for them to come back again and again, bringing new friends and new experiences. For my cafe, I am not just learning from my friendstomers, but hopefully I will have something to share with them as well...
How to Write Business Plan
1) Executive Summary
2) Business Description
3) Business Environment Analysis
4) Industry Background
5) Competitive Analysis
6) Market Analysis
7) Marketing Plan
8) Operations Plan
9) Management Summary
10) Financial Plan
11) Milestones
2) Business Description
- History of Concept
- What Kind of Business is it?
- What Product / Service is it?
- Why people will use it?
- What the financial status is?
- Who manages the business?
- Structure of business?
- Where is it located?
3) Business Environment Analysis
- What is the industry?
- Who are the competitors in the industry
- What is the market?
- Who are the customers in the market?
4) Industry Background
- Range of products / services encompassed by this industry
- What is this industry production capacity, unit sales, overall profitability?
- Industry spread out geographically, or concentrated near source of raw materials?
- Trends
- What is the predicted growth rate?
- New patterns of growth?
- What factors might contribute to future growth?
- Industry fragmented?
- Major competitors controlling the industry?
- Quick to adopt technology, or tradition industry?
Barriers to Entry
- What resources, knowledge or skills does it take to enter this business?
- Regulations?
5) Competitive Analysis
- Who are the competitors, i.e. who solves the same problems?
- Major competitors products & services, strengths & weaknesses
- Market share? Marketing Strategies?
- Key success factors?
- What distinguishes products / business from rivals?
6) Market Analysis
- Define target market
- Who are the target customers?
- Characteristics?
- Articulate Value Proposition
- Why will they buy?
- Our solutions to their problems?
- What pains will it ease?
- Benefits? Differentiating factors?
7) Marketing Plan
- Concentrate on Opportunity - what the product / service is solving
- When is breakeven point?
- Customers' buying behaviour?
- What is each customer's value to business?
- 1-time service / annuity business?
- frequency of purchase?
- brand loyalty?
- How to sell the product?
- Product / Price / Place / Promotion (Word-of-mouth/sales promotion/ direct sales/ advertising
8) Operations Plan
- Breakeven point
- Key success factors
- Sourcing materials
- Technology innovation in manufacturing / distribution process
- Geographical location
- Labour
- Pricing Strategy
9) Management Summary
- Experience, accomplishments, reputation, skills /knowledge, commitment level, motivation
- Team's strengths
- Acknowledge & address team weaknesses
- Management portfolio
10) Financial Plan
- Breakeven Point
- Risk / Return Graph
2) Business Description
3) Business Environment Analysis
4) Industry Background
5) Competitive Analysis
6) Market Analysis
7) Marketing Plan
8) Operations Plan
9) Management Summary
10) Financial Plan
11) Milestones
2) Business Description
- History of Concept
- What Kind of Business is it?
- What Product / Service is it?
- Why people will use it?
- What the financial status is?
- Who manages the business?
- Structure of business?
- Where is it located?
3) Business Environment Analysis
- What is the industry?
- Who are the competitors in the industry
- What is the market?
- Who are the customers in the market?
4) Industry Background
- Range of products / services encompassed by this industry
- What is this industry production capacity, unit sales, overall profitability?
- Industry spread out geographically, or concentrated near source of raw materials?
- Trends
- What is the predicted growth rate?
- New patterns of growth?
- What factors might contribute to future growth?
- Industry fragmented?
- Major competitors controlling the industry?
- Quick to adopt technology, or tradition industry?
Barriers to Entry
- What resources, knowledge or skills does it take to enter this business?
- Regulations?
5) Competitive Analysis
- Who are the competitors, i.e. who solves the same problems?
- Major competitors products & services, strengths & weaknesses
- Market share? Marketing Strategies?
- Key success factors?
- What distinguishes products / business from rivals?
6) Market Analysis
- Define target market
- Who are the target customers?
- Characteristics?
- Articulate Value Proposition
- Why will they buy?
- Our solutions to their problems?
- What pains will it ease?
- Benefits? Differentiating factors?
7) Marketing Plan
- Concentrate on Opportunity - what the product / service is solving
- When is breakeven point?
- Customers' buying behaviour?
- What is each customer's value to business?
- 1-time service / annuity business?
- frequency of purchase?
- brand loyalty?
- How to sell the product?
- Product / Price / Place / Promotion (Word-of-mouth/sales promotion/ direct sales/ advertising
8) Operations Plan
- Breakeven point
- Key success factors
- Sourcing materials
- Technology innovation in manufacturing / distribution process
- Geographical location
- Labour
- Pricing Strategy
9) Management Summary
- Experience, accomplishments, reputation, skills /knowledge, commitment level, motivation
- Team's strengths
- Acknowledge & address team weaknesses
- Management portfolio
10) Financial Plan
- Breakeven Point
- Risk / Return Graph
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Classical Music 92.4!
Think I've reached some sort of plateau... Damn it! It's not going down! WTF!
Maybe I need to do something new. Any suggestions?
Maybe I need to do something new. Any suggestions?
Thursday, July 09, 2009
The Hardest Thing
The Hardest Thing to do is...
to stop yourself from eating one more bite of a yummy meal, when you are just no longer hungry, but far from stuffed...
Ommmmmmmm!
to stop yourself from eating one more bite of a yummy meal, when you are just no longer hungry, but far from stuffed...
Ommmmmmmm!
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Monday, July 06, 2009
93.3!!!
And I'm not referring to the Radio Station...
Then again, perhaps I am...
Next target, Gold 90.5 FM, Dongli 88.3 FM... what else after that?
Then again, perhaps I am...
Next target, Gold 90.5 FM, Dongli 88.3 FM... what else after that?
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Reso Redux
Just took a look at my resolutions... it's more than half way...
Weight loss = lost 2 kg so far, 15 more to go to reach 80
Lasik = i DID IT
Runs = I went for and completed sundown marathon
Exercising = Well, i AM exercising
Restrictions = I guess I broke the ice-cream one, and the beer one and the hard liquor one.... still haven't eaten kfc... anyway, just coz i broke it once / many many times, doesn't mean i should just give up, right? Will restart that
Volunteer Group = Done! Joined the Special Olympics swimming and it's part of my weekly saturday activities... Now all i need is to fit in an early morning run before that...
Personal Finance = Am adhering to recording my daily finances, so that's good so far, even if i'm breaking my budget monthly...
Dive trips = done one so far, but not to bali and LYLY. Hopefully i can get one trip in before the year ends.
Environmentally friendly = not as good as i want it to be.
Sleep by 11.30 = almost never
No MSN = will re-start that again
No new skills...
How do i rate myself so far... about 40% so far... not too bad... behind, but not too bad...
now it's time to work harder!
Weight loss = lost 2 kg so far, 15 more to go to reach 80
Lasik = i DID IT
Runs = I went for and completed sundown marathon
Exercising = Well, i AM exercising
Restrictions = I guess I broke the ice-cream one, and the beer one and the hard liquor one.... still haven't eaten kfc... anyway, just coz i broke it once / many many times, doesn't mean i should just give up, right? Will restart that
Volunteer Group = Done! Joined the Special Olympics swimming and it's part of my weekly saturday activities... Now all i need is to fit in an early morning run before that...
Personal Finance = Am adhering to recording my daily finances, so that's good so far, even if i'm breaking my budget monthly...
Dive trips = done one so far, but not to bali and LYLY. Hopefully i can get one trip in before the year ends.
Environmentally friendly = not as good as i want it to be.
Sleep by 11.30 = almost never
No MSN = will re-start that again
No new skills...
How do i rate myself so far... about 40% so far... not too bad... behind, but not too bad...
now it's time to work harder!
it was a dark and stormy night...
As I looked out the window, enjoying the sight of planes taking off and landing from Changi, the rain got heavier and heavier, drowning out the whirrs of the CPU fan.
Everything looks a blur, probably since I went under the 'knife' on Thursday. It's for the best, but i just ruined a beautiful weekend. Should have been jogging/blading/swimming/gymming/squashing/tennis-ing...
guess i do quite a bit of exercise. told myself i will lose weight until i'm 90kg before i get my iphone... even though i am wondering if i should still get it. there's been a lot of bad press lately, battery life still sucks, and it freaking overheats. and apple is such a terrible company, telling people it's due to the sun. omg, can any company have any LESS brains or really care about its consumers?
i still need a new phone though, wonder if i can live for another year with my current phone, it's real awful, and the most pressed button is not working... searching for alternatives has been working so far, but there's only so far alternatives can work. Should work on disciplining myself to control myself and not just spend spend spend on anything and everything that catches my interests...
life is about discipline... should stop now.
Everything looks a blur, probably since I went under the 'knife' on Thursday. It's for the best, but i just ruined a beautiful weekend. Should have been jogging/blading/swimming/gymming/squashing/tennis-ing...
guess i do quite a bit of exercise. told myself i will lose weight until i'm 90kg before i get my iphone... even though i am wondering if i should still get it. there's been a lot of bad press lately, battery life still sucks, and it freaking overheats. and apple is such a terrible company, telling people it's due to the sun. omg, can any company have any LESS brains or really care about its consumers?
i still need a new phone though, wonder if i can live for another year with my current phone, it's real awful, and the most pressed button is not working... searching for alternatives has been working so far, but there's only so far alternatives can work. Should work on disciplining myself to control myself and not just spend spend spend on anything and everything that catches my interests...
life is about discipline... should stop now.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Tales of Fat Boy Trying Weight-Loss, and Find a ZaBor...
Going to write serious nonsense from now on...
People tell me i need to eat 5 - 6 meals a day to lose weight leh.
Will try:
7am
10am
2pm
5pm
8pm
And obviously eat less la.
Next, going to take greater care of meself, skin put white white, gym gym alot, and be hot hot!
Wanna sign up for lasik ... let's see... Then next time no need grasses!
People tell me i need to eat 5 - 6 meals a day to lose weight leh.
Will try:
7am
10am
2pm
5pm
8pm
And obviously eat less la.
Next, going to take greater care of meself, skin put white white, gym gym alot, and be hot hot!
Wanna sign up for lasik ... let's see... Then next time no need grasses!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
7 Habits of High Effective People
#1: Be Pro-active
#2: Begin with the End in Mind
#3: Put First Things First
#4: Think Win-Win
#5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
#6: Synergize
#7: Sharpen the Saw
#2: Begin with the End in Mind
#3: Put First Things First
#4: Think Win-Win
#5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood
#6: Synergize
#7: Sharpen the Saw
Monday, March 16, 2009
Silly Joke Mentioned during a Meeting
While touring an Indian reservation in North Dakota filming a documentary, Barbara Walters was puzzled as to why the difference in the number of feathers in the headdresses. So, she asked a brave who only had one feather in his headdress. His reply was: "Only have one woman. One woman, one feather."
Feeling the first fellow was only joking she asked another brave. This brave had two feathers in his headdress. And he replied: "Me have two women. Two women, two feathers."
Still not convinced the feathers indicated the number of sexual partners involved, she decided to interview the Chief.
Now the Chief had a headdress full of feathers, which, needless to say, amused Ms.Walters. She asked the Chief, "Why do you have so many feathers in your headdress?"
The Chief proudly pounded his chest and said: "Me Chief, me sleep with 'em all. Big, small, fat and tall, me sleep with 'em all."
Horrified, Ms. Walters stated, "You ought to be hung." The Chief said: "You damn right, me hung, big like buffalo, long like snake"
Ms. Walters cried, "You don't have to be so hostile" The Chief replied: "Hoss-style, dog-style, wolf-style, any style.. ... me sleep with 'em all."
With tears in her eyes, Ms. Walters cried, "Oh dear."
The Chief said: "No deer.. Ass too high, run too fast."
Feeling the first fellow was only joking she asked another brave. This brave had two feathers in his headdress. And he replied: "Me have two women. Two women, two feathers."
Still not convinced the feathers indicated the number of sexual partners involved, she decided to interview the Chief.
Now the Chief had a headdress full of feathers, which, needless to say, amused Ms.Walters. She asked the Chief, "Why do you have so many feathers in your headdress?"
The Chief proudly pounded his chest and said: "Me Chief, me sleep with 'em all. Big, small, fat and tall, me sleep with 'em all."
Horrified, Ms. Walters stated, "You ought to be hung." The Chief said: "You damn right, me hung, big like buffalo, long like snake"
Ms. Walters cried, "You don't have to be so hostile" The Chief replied: "Hoss-style, dog-style, wolf-style, any style.. ... me sleep with 'em all."
With tears in her eyes, Ms. Walters cried, "Oh dear."
The Chief said: "No deer.. Ass too high, run too fast."
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Stone Cold...
Watched a real heart-warming show today about a dog and the trials and tribulations a couple goes through over the years. This is obviously not a movie review, but watched it with a good friend. Am reminded of a quality I look for in a girl: Cry during sad movies.
I guess that people either look for qualities that are either similar, or complementary. It's the latter. Have lost the ability to cry. Maybe I'm hardened, or more likely, deadened, by past experiences, pains and suffering. I'm actually find it difficult to recount the last time I truly cried. Probably it was the night when I became single again. Having held up during the break-up while she broke down, when I got home, the walls came tumbling down and all the emotions swelled up...
But it happened almost a decade ago. Since then, zero, kosong, nada. Nothing gets me now. I've built up this impregnable fortress that nothing can pass. And nothing hurts me that hard. Instead of sadness, either I am emotionless, or I channel my emotions into anger and revenge...
That's why when girls cry during movies, I can feel their vulnerability, their openness to release their emotions and feelings out there, putting their hearts on a platter. It's a side that they would usually hide underneath their tough exterior. Maybe I use it as a proxy that they are not cold, heartless b***ards that I am, and stand in for the emptiness within me. Maybe their vulnerability will reveal a side of me that has been hidden away for years...
Maybe I just like to bring a packet of Kleenex for movies...
I guess that people either look for qualities that are either similar, or complementary. It's the latter. Have lost the ability to cry. Maybe I'm hardened, or more likely, deadened, by past experiences, pains and suffering. I'm actually find it difficult to recount the last time I truly cried. Probably it was the night when I became single again. Having held up during the break-up while she broke down, when I got home, the walls came tumbling down and all the emotions swelled up...
But it happened almost a decade ago. Since then, zero, kosong, nada. Nothing gets me now. I've built up this impregnable fortress that nothing can pass. And nothing hurts me that hard. Instead of sadness, either I am emotionless, or I channel my emotions into anger and revenge...
That's why when girls cry during movies, I can feel their vulnerability, their openness to release their emotions and feelings out there, putting their hearts on a platter. It's a side that they would usually hide underneath their tough exterior. Maybe I use it as a proxy that they are not cold, heartless b***ards that I am, and stand in for the emptiness within me. Maybe their vulnerability will reveal a side of me that has been hidden away for years...
Maybe I just like to bring a packet of Kleenex for movies...
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Resting
Sit back and relax... Reflect upon your journey thus far, and the road ahead. Close your eyes and inhale.
Feels good.
It has been tough. Tough week. Broken promises, shattered dreams and hearts. What else is left?
Feels good, to retreat back into the cocoon: my room. Here I am protected, sheltered from all the pain and suffering. Here there is warmth, there is love, hope and serenity. I recover, I regroup, I assess what has happened so far.
I cut my losses, and re-examine my strategies. Maybe certain things are not meant to be. That's ok, I just need to know which are those things. Something about me over the years, I have learnt to cope with losses quickly and move on to the next thing. No more stopping and moping, it just isn't worth my time.
Going to spend the next couple of hours thinking what I really want to achieve in my life, and maybe record it down somewhere. Self-Assessment is good....
Feels good.
It has been tough. Tough week. Broken promises, shattered dreams and hearts. What else is left?
Feels good, to retreat back into the cocoon: my room. Here I am protected, sheltered from all the pain and suffering. Here there is warmth, there is love, hope and serenity. I recover, I regroup, I assess what has happened so far.
I cut my losses, and re-examine my strategies. Maybe certain things are not meant to be. That's ok, I just need to know which are those things. Something about me over the years, I have learnt to cope with losses quickly and move on to the next thing. No more stopping and moping, it just isn't worth my time.
Going to spend the next couple of hours thinking what I really want to achieve in my life, and maybe record it down somewhere. Self-Assessment is good....
Friday, February 20, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Another one bites the dust...
Another one bites the proverbial dust. Good to be clear, good to know, things just wouldn't have worked out.
Whereas other guys chalk up bedside 'kills', my list is wildly different. The women who didn't love me (and made it clear). I am just running about, trying to find the right girl for me, but so far, in my 28 years of existence, I have failed especially miserably. Why they have always decided that I wasn't the one?
I believe that it is just the differences in personalities, not that there's something fundamentally flawed about me. I have to believe it, else the obvious alternative is that there's something so wrong about me that everyone can see it a mile away, and they start running.
Belief is an especially wonderful thing, particularly when one uses it to escape certain facts or truths, to carry on living in an especially cruel and lonely world.
When I like someone, I try, probably too damn hard, something that I can't particularly resolve within myself. But isn't that what love is about? Wanting to be more, wanting to do more, going over the usual things one would do for friends and family? Should I instead close in further within, and mete out to them the same affections as I would to my pet fish?
Each failure just makes it even less enjoyable for the next girl, cause the list of things I would do, the issues I would accommodate, will drop even more. Maybe I should draw out a list and see what is still possible.
List of Nos
1) No, to being late. A person's who's habitually late has zero respect for the people they are late for.
2) No, to being couch potatoes. It's a clear indication of the personality they have.
3) No, to being drama viewers. They would rather live their lives over the tube, than go out and face reality.
4) No, to having the wrong life priorities. If you can't prioritise, or if your priorities are wrong, then you are not mature enough.
5) No, to those refusing new experiences. Life should be different, ever-changing, not boxed in and shut. Those who have barely left the country, or completely devoted to the Singaporean life without experiencing the taste of other countries, I cannot accept their lack of spirit, of adventure.
6) No, to the overly demanding. As a couple, one cannot hope to have everything to his/her favour; there will always be accommodations and compromises. I cannot give in and in and in, until I forget who I am anymore. Love me for me.
Obviously, this paints out the personality (through my dark-tinted glasses) of the last one that didn't work. But the unacceptable flaws of the last one adds to the growing concept of the painting that i'm going to draw. I now have the outline, the silhouette, and little by little, am more clearly defining the shape, the lines, the borders... the background is almost ready.
Time to start penciling in the subject...
Whereas other guys chalk up bedside 'kills', my list is wildly different. The women who didn't love me (and made it clear). I am just running about, trying to find the right girl for me, but so far, in my 28 years of existence, I have failed especially miserably. Why they have always decided that I wasn't the one?
I believe that it is just the differences in personalities, not that there's something fundamentally flawed about me. I have to believe it, else the obvious alternative is that there's something so wrong about me that everyone can see it a mile away, and they start running.
Belief is an especially wonderful thing, particularly when one uses it to escape certain facts or truths, to carry on living in an especially cruel and lonely world.
When I like someone, I try, probably too damn hard, something that I can't particularly resolve within myself. But isn't that what love is about? Wanting to be more, wanting to do more, going over the usual things one would do for friends and family? Should I instead close in further within, and mete out to them the same affections as I would to my pet fish?
Each failure just makes it even less enjoyable for the next girl, cause the list of things I would do, the issues I would accommodate, will drop even more. Maybe I should draw out a list and see what is still possible.
List of Nos
1) No, to being late. A person's who's habitually late has zero respect for the people they are late for.
2) No, to being couch potatoes. It's a clear indication of the personality they have.
3) No, to being drama viewers. They would rather live their lives over the tube, than go out and face reality.
4) No, to having the wrong life priorities. If you can't prioritise, or if your priorities are wrong, then you are not mature enough.
5) No, to those refusing new experiences. Life should be different, ever-changing, not boxed in and shut. Those who have barely left the country, or completely devoted to the Singaporean life without experiencing the taste of other countries, I cannot accept their lack of spirit, of adventure.
6) No, to the overly demanding. As a couple, one cannot hope to have everything to his/her favour; there will always be accommodations and compromises. I cannot give in and in and in, until I forget who I am anymore. Love me for me.
Obviously, this paints out the personality (through my dark-tinted glasses) of the last one that didn't work. But the unacceptable flaws of the last one adds to the growing concept of the painting that i'm going to draw. I now have the outline, the silhouette, and little by little, am more clearly defining the shape, the lines, the borders... the background is almost ready.
Time to start penciling in the subject...
Sunday, February 08, 2009
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Monday, January 05, 2009
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Friday, January 02, 2009
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Friday, December 19, 2008
The Running Damaged...
Distance : 7km
Time : 58min
Status : The injury has returned. The left knee is just crying out in pain with each step, saying "Please... stop.. You're shortening my life span. I'm going to give up on you any minute now if you continue"
Doesn't help when I don't have my double knee brace on. It's a definite reminder that I have to be fully prepared each time I run, and adequately recovering when I rest in between. That means glucosamine tablets, cream and enough stretching.
Though I went very slowly, I sorta remembered quite a few things. I used to run very slowly when I started, so that I wasn't out of breath, I could go super long distances in a relaxed and enjoyable fashion, and I recovered faster. If only I could keep my current heart-rate with a much better speed. That's the goal of runners, I guess.
One day, if it ever happens, when I can break 4 hours on the marathon, I'll look back and thank all the people who paved the way to my success. There were many... will write about it next time. A preparatory speech if you will...
Time : 58min
Status : The injury has returned. The left knee is just crying out in pain with each step, saying "Please... stop.. You're shortening my life span. I'm going to give up on you any minute now if you continue"
Doesn't help when I don't have my double knee brace on. It's a definite reminder that I have to be fully prepared each time I run, and adequately recovering when I rest in between. That means glucosamine tablets, cream and enough stretching.
Though I went very slowly, I sorta remembered quite a few things. I used to run very slowly when I started, so that I wasn't out of breath, I could go super long distances in a relaxed and enjoyable fashion, and I recovered faster. If only I could keep my current heart-rate with a much better speed. That's the goal of runners, I guess.
One day, if it ever happens, when I can break 4 hours on the marathon, I'll look back and thank all the people who paved the way to my success. There were many... will write about it next time. A preparatory speech if you will...
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Running (re)Start
Distance: 10km
Time: 70 mins (not inclusive of rest stops)
Area: Start at Fort Road, ECP, ran to the end, near the Marina Bay Golf Course, and turned around, to East Coast Hawker Centre, up to East Coast Road, and then home. Stopped at 7-Eleven's at The Playground@East Coast (aka Big Splash), bought two 250ml bottles of Sunkist Orange Juice. Very handy to run and carry the drink. Can do that next time.
Thoughts: Drinks definitely helped maintain my speed, which is still slow, about 7min per km. Used to be much faster, but believe that I am on the improving slope, and hopefully can bring speed up to about 6min/km for long distances. Heart rate is still too fast, reached >180 beats per minute. Need to bring down to ~120 if possible. It's good to begin running about 10 days after my half marathon. Last year, really left it too late to restart my runs, while still overeating non-stop. This year, I am slightly more disciplined, and have restarted my jogging. Hopefully I can get up to speed for the Adidas Sundown Marathon on the 30 May 2009. Wonder if I'll attempt an overseas marathon this year, as my friends have all been talking about it.
My dream is to compete and complete the Marathon du Medoc. The most fascinating marathon ever. Where you run along the vineyards of France, drink wine and eat steak WHILE racing in fancy dress! Heard they only open the run to 9,000 entrants, with only 20% of that allocated to foreigners. It would combine all my loves: Running, Wine-tasting, Eating! Haha, who else can ask for more? Maybe it will be my 10th run, as a celebration...
Time: 70 mins (not inclusive of rest stops)
Area: Start at Fort Road, ECP, ran to the end, near the Marina Bay Golf Course, and turned around, to East Coast Hawker Centre, up to East Coast Road, and then home. Stopped at 7-Eleven's at The Playground@East Coast (aka Big Splash), bought two 250ml bottles of Sunkist Orange Juice. Very handy to run and carry the drink. Can do that next time.
Thoughts: Drinks definitely helped maintain my speed, which is still slow, about 7min per km. Used to be much faster, but believe that I am on the improving slope, and hopefully can bring speed up to about 6min/km for long distances. Heart rate is still too fast, reached >180 beats per minute. Need to bring down to ~120 if possible. It's good to begin running about 10 days after my half marathon. Last year, really left it too late to restart my runs, while still overeating non-stop. This year, I am slightly more disciplined, and have restarted my jogging. Hopefully I can get up to speed for the Adidas Sundown Marathon on the 30 May 2009. Wonder if I'll attempt an overseas marathon this year, as my friends have all been talking about it.
My dream is to compete and complete the Marathon du Medoc. The most fascinating marathon ever. Where you run along the vineyards of France, drink wine and eat steak WHILE racing in fancy dress! Heard they only open the run to 9,000 entrants, with only 20% of that allocated to foreigners. It would combine all my loves: Running, Wine-tasting, Eating! Haha, who else can ask for more? Maybe it will be my 10th run, as a celebration...
Stanchart Singapore (Half) Marathon
Ran the Half Marathon in about 3 hours. Dreadfully slow, but my knees took it well. In fact, i wanted to run the next few days but i held back to conserve them for my diving trip.
It was really quite fun, and to be honest, maybe coz i was going very slowly, but the 21km mark seems kinda short nowadays. Was disappointed that i didn't persist and actually go for the full distance. Saw the new finisher tee and it looks fantastic, too bad i dun get to wear this one. Means that I still got at least 9 more marathons to go, but definitely the spirit, the thrill of the race, is back within me. It was gone last year, after I completed the full, and lost the appetite for it somewhat, and had to force myself to run.
Maybe it was the book that i've been reading (Haruki Murakami's What I talk about when I talk about running), maybe it's my knee recovering from my long-suffering pains, maybe it's the remembrance of the great times i had when i was running along Charles River in Boston, but i feel like i have been given a fresh lease of running life.
It's good, it's what I always wanted. While running, i had this realization... I run to become a better man, and that's a journey, not a destination, so I will continue to just run and run and run, and improve and improve and improve and improve, hopefully :)
i hope that one day, i can just keep running to work, and avoid all the nasty commuting crap, life will certainly be different. My future commuting companions: my Garmin watch, my Asics Keyanos, my Ipod Shuffle and Sennheisers CX500s, Cho-pat Knee Guards, running cap, Adidas running shorts and my Mizunos tee... That's plenty company :)
It was really quite fun, and to be honest, maybe coz i was going very slowly, but the 21km mark seems kinda short nowadays. Was disappointed that i didn't persist and actually go for the full distance. Saw the new finisher tee and it looks fantastic, too bad i dun get to wear this one. Means that I still got at least 9 more marathons to go, but definitely the spirit, the thrill of the race, is back within me. It was gone last year, after I completed the full, and lost the appetite for it somewhat, and had to force myself to run.
Maybe it was the book that i've been reading (Haruki Murakami's What I talk about when I talk about running), maybe it's my knee recovering from my long-suffering pains, maybe it's the remembrance of the great times i had when i was running along Charles River in Boston, but i feel like i have been given a fresh lease of running life.
It's good, it's what I always wanted. While running, i had this realization... I run to become a better man, and that's a journey, not a destination, so I will continue to just run and run and run, and improve and improve and improve and improve, hopefully :)
i hope that one day, i can just keep running to work, and avoid all the nasty commuting crap, life will certainly be different. My future commuting companions: my Garmin watch, my Asics Keyanos, my Ipod Shuffle and Sennheisers CX500s, Cho-pat Knee Guards, running cap, Adidas running shorts and my Mizunos tee... That's plenty company :)
Monday, December 01, 2008
Swim today
Laps: 35
Time: About 50 mins
Feeling: Not bad, weather was good today, think I was rather ok on timing, could do 30 laps under 40mins, so still can make it for the biathlon trials. Kinda disappointed about my knees, won't be doing the marathon this Sunday, but shall look and think long-term, i.e. the next 20-30 marathons, instead of just this one on Sunday...
Time: About 50 mins
Feeling: Not bad, weather was good today, think I was rather ok on timing, could do 30 laps under 40mins, so still can make it for the biathlon trials. Kinda disappointed about my knees, won't be doing the marathon this Sunday, but shall look and think long-term, i.e. the next 20-30 marathons, instead of just this one on Sunday...
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Tennis insights
Was playing on saturday with a friend, and realized something new, so am going to log it down so that i'll remember it easily...
Everytime i hit the ball with my forehand, and my backhand as well, realized that i tensed up too much, and hit the ball in an arc way above my natural swing. I started relaxing my arm, consciously lowering it each other just before i swing out, and it really works! the parabola is really smooth and the ball stays in, and i feel alot more natural hitting it again and again.
Must say my tennis really improved after this, next is to keep the consistency and work on the same concept with my backhand swing: to untense,to lower the arm, and to swing in a natural, slightly upward tilt.
Can't wait for my next tennis game...
:)
Everytime i hit the ball with my forehand, and my backhand as well, realized that i tensed up too much, and hit the ball in an arc way above my natural swing. I started relaxing my arm, consciously lowering it each other just before i swing out, and it really works! the parabola is really smooth and the ball stays in, and i feel alot more natural hitting it again and again.
Must say my tennis really improved after this, next is to keep the consistency and work on the same concept with my backhand swing: to untense,to lower the arm, and to swing in a natural, slightly upward tilt.
Can't wait for my next tennis game...
:)
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
I LOVE THIS SONG!!!!
I know it's sorta terrible and bad-ass, but i can't help it, i LOVE this song!
"It Wasn't Me"
(feat. Ricardo Ducent)
Youtube Video
(Yo', man) Yo'
(Open up, man) What do you want, man?
(My girl just caught me) You let her catch you?
(I don't know how I let this happen) With who?
(The girl next door, you know) Man
(I don't know what to do) Say it wasn't you
(Alright)
Honey came in and she caught me red-handed
Creeping with the girl next door
Picture this, we were both butt naked, banging on the bathroom floor
How could I forget that I had
Given her an extra key
All this time she was standing there
She never took her eyes off me
How you can grant the woman access to your villa
Trespasser and a witness while you cling to your pillow
You better watch your back before she turn into a killer
Best for you and the situation not to call the beaner
To be a true player you have to know how to play
If she say a night, convince her say a day
Never admit to a word when she say makes a claim
And you tell her baby no way
But she caught me on the counter (It wasn't me)
Saw me bangin' on the sofa (It wasn't me)
I even had her in the shower (It wasn't me)
She even caught me on camera (It wasn't me)
She saw the marks on my shoulder (It wasn't me)
Heard the words that I told her (It wasn't me)
Heard the scream get louder (It wasn't me)
She stayed until it was over
Honey came in and she caught me red-handed
Creeping with the girl next door
Picture this, we were both butt naked, banging on the bathroom floor
I had tried to keep her
From what she was about to see
Why should she believe me
When I told her it wasn't me
Make sure she knows it's not you and lead her on the right prefix
Whenever you should see her make the giggolo flex
As funny as it be by you, it not that complex
Seeing is believing so you better change your specs
You know she not gonna be worrying bout things from the past
Hardly recollecting and then she'll go to noontime mass
Wait for your answer: go over there
But if she pack a gun you know you better run fast
But she caught me on the counter (It wasn't me)
Saw me bangin' on the sofa (It wasn't me)
I even had her in the shower (It wasn't me)
She even caught me on camera (It wasn't me)
She saw the marks on my shoulder (It wasn't me)
Heard the words that I told her (It wasn't me)
Heard the scream get louder (It wasn't me)
She stayed until it was over
Honey came in and she caught me red-handed
Creeping with the girl next door
Picture this, we were both butt naked, banging on the bathroom floor
How could I forget that I had
Given her an extra key
All this time she was standing there
She never took her eyes off me
Gonna tell her that I'm sorry
For the pain that I've caused
I've been listening to your reasoning
It makes no sense at all
We should tell her that I'm sorry
For the pain that I've caused
You may think that you're a player
But you're completely lost
That's why I sing
Honey came in and she caught me red-handed
Creeping with the girl next door
Picture this, we were both butt naked, banging on the bathroom floor
How could I forget that I had
Given her an extra key
All this time she was standing there
She never took her eyes off me
"It Wasn't Me"
(feat. Ricardo Ducent)
Youtube Video
(Yo', man) Yo'
(Open up, man) What do you want, man?
(My girl just caught me) You let her catch you?
(I don't know how I let this happen) With who?
(The girl next door, you know) Man
(I don't know what to do) Say it wasn't you
(Alright)
Honey came in and she caught me red-handed
Creeping with the girl next door
Picture this, we were both butt naked, banging on the bathroom floor
How could I forget that I had
Given her an extra key
All this time she was standing there
She never took her eyes off me
How you can grant the woman access to your villa
Trespasser and a witness while you cling to your pillow
You better watch your back before she turn into a killer
Best for you and the situation not to call the beaner
To be a true player you have to know how to play
If she say a night, convince her say a day
Never admit to a word when she say makes a claim
And you tell her baby no way
But she caught me on the counter (It wasn't me)
Saw me bangin' on the sofa (It wasn't me)
I even had her in the shower (It wasn't me)
She even caught me on camera (It wasn't me)
She saw the marks on my shoulder (It wasn't me)
Heard the words that I told her (It wasn't me)
Heard the scream get louder (It wasn't me)
She stayed until it was over
Honey came in and she caught me red-handed
Creeping with the girl next door
Picture this, we were both butt naked, banging on the bathroom floor
I had tried to keep her
From what she was about to see
Why should she believe me
When I told her it wasn't me
Make sure she knows it's not you and lead her on the right prefix
Whenever you should see her make the giggolo flex
As funny as it be by you, it not that complex
Seeing is believing so you better change your specs
You know she not gonna be worrying bout things from the past
Hardly recollecting and then she'll go to noontime mass
Wait for your answer: go over there
But if she pack a gun you know you better run fast
But she caught me on the counter (It wasn't me)
Saw me bangin' on the sofa (It wasn't me)
I even had her in the shower (It wasn't me)
She even caught me on camera (It wasn't me)
She saw the marks on my shoulder (It wasn't me)
Heard the words that I told her (It wasn't me)
Heard the scream get louder (It wasn't me)
She stayed until it was over
Honey came in and she caught me red-handed
Creeping with the girl next door
Picture this, we were both butt naked, banging on the bathroom floor
How could I forget that I had
Given her an extra key
All this time she was standing there
She never took her eyes off me
Gonna tell her that I'm sorry
For the pain that I've caused
I've been listening to your reasoning
It makes no sense at all
We should tell her that I'm sorry
For the pain that I've caused
You may think that you're a player
But you're completely lost
That's why I sing
Honey came in and she caught me red-handed
Creeping with the girl next door
Picture this, we were both butt naked, banging on the bathroom floor
How could I forget that I had
Given her an extra key
All this time she was standing there
She never took her eyes off me
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Self-discipline...
Weaning off msn on weeknights...
They say it takes 21 days for a habit to form... I have to endure it for 3 weeks...
They say it takes 21 days for a habit to form... I have to endure it for 3 weeks...
Monday, October 20, 2008
Swimming...
Distance: 35 laps
Time: ~50 mins
Overall:
Great. Sun was quite light, and took the liberty to go for a slow and leisurely swim. Realised the trend that pool is usually empty at 12pm, which will then be populated by mostly guys at around 12.20 onwards. Nearly 12.50pm, the composition changes, with more ladies than men. In fact, when I left the pool, there was only 1 guy, as opposed to 5 gals. Will go and observe again soon to confirm hypothesis :P
Time: ~50 mins
Overall:
Great. Sun was quite light, and took the liberty to go for a slow and leisurely swim. Realised the trend that pool is usually empty at 12pm, which will then be populated by mostly guys at around 12.20 onwards. Nearly 12.50pm, the composition changes, with more ladies than men. In fact, when I left the pool, there was only 1 guy, as opposed to 5 gals. Will go and observe again soon to confirm hypothesis :P
Friday, October 10, 2008
Suntec to Vivo
Distance: 5.72km
Time: ~38 mins
Route: From Suntec to Vivocity
Overall: Very tiring. The knees were quite badly pounded by the track, running up and down. The terrain wasn't that great, and was running along the main road, filled with cars, trucks and alot of manure smell. Well, it was a new track, and after that felt good.
Oh ya, at the Vivocity 7-eleven, had tried to buy 100+ drinks using my ez-Link card, which the lady assured me that they accepted. So I got the drink, and as my friend was paying using her card, we started drinking...
Her card FAILED!!!! So nonchalently, I passed the counter lady (Jessie was her name) my own card to try, all the while convinced my friend's card was just an ordinary mishap.
Who knew? MY CARD FAILED AS WELL. All we brought from Suntec were our door passes and our ez-link cards to bus back to Suntec... So there we were, drinking drinks that we couldn't possibly pay. It was then that we realised this little-known fact: Apparently Ez-link cards with GIRO enablement are NOT able to be used to make retail purchases... I was blooming furious, while at the same time, exceedingly embarrassed!
And this Jessie was pressing us on how we were going to settle... Do you have ATM card? Do you have any friends here who could pay on your behalf...Oh manz, never felt so bad before! I even wondered if Jessie was going to call the police and arrest us for not paying for our stuff...
At our wits' end, a ray of hope emerged. Jessie offered this... She said, "Well, it wasn't so expensive the things you bought ($2.60), so why don't I pay for it first, and I take this $2.60 as the cost of making friends. When you next come back, (I recognise you anyway), just pay me back lor."
Such a nice person!! I guess kindness still exist. To actually offer to help strangers like that! I'm not sure that in the same situation, I would do the same for others...
Felt great after that... Good deeds make the recipients feel good, and also make the givers feel great as well... Perhaps it's time to start being kinder and gentler after all...
I must definitely go back soon to repay her ($-wise), but I also wonder if there's any way I could repay her (kindness).
Time: ~38 mins
Route: From Suntec to Vivocity
Overall: Very tiring. The knees were quite badly pounded by the track, running up and down. The terrain wasn't that great, and was running along the main road, filled with cars, trucks and alot of manure smell. Well, it was a new track, and after that felt good.
Oh ya, at the Vivocity 7-eleven, had tried to buy 100+ drinks using my ez-Link card, which the lady assured me that they accepted. So I got the drink, and as my friend was paying using her card, we started drinking...
Her card FAILED!!!! So nonchalently, I passed the counter lady (Jessie was her name) my own card to try, all the while convinced my friend's card was just an ordinary mishap.
Who knew? MY CARD FAILED AS WELL. All we brought from Suntec were our door passes and our ez-link cards to bus back to Suntec... So there we were, drinking drinks that we couldn't possibly pay. It was then that we realised this little-known fact: Apparently Ez-link cards with GIRO enablement are NOT able to be used to make retail purchases... I was blooming furious, while at the same time, exceedingly embarrassed!
And this Jessie was pressing us on how we were going to settle... Do you have ATM card? Do you have any friends here who could pay on your behalf...Oh manz, never felt so bad before! I even wondered if Jessie was going to call the police and arrest us for not paying for our stuff...
At our wits' end, a ray of hope emerged. Jessie offered this... She said, "Well, it wasn't so expensive the things you bought ($2.60), so why don't I pay for it first, and I take this $2.60 as the cost of making friends. When you next come back, (I recognise you anyway), just pay me back lor."
Such a nice person!! I guess kindness still exist. To actually offer to help strangers like that! I'm not sure that in the same situation, I would do the same for others...
Felt great after that... Good deeds make the recipients feel good, and also make the givers feel great as well... Perhaps it's time to start being kinder and gentler after all...
I must definitely go back soon to repay her ($-wise), but I also wonder if there's any way I could repay her (kindness).
Monday, October 06, 2008
Tired
Distance: ~5km
Time: ~ 36min
Rest: 45 min :P
Condition: Outdoors
Location: Running along East Coast Road
Overall:
Running outdoors is infinitely harder than running on the treadmill. There's alot more impact, alot of upslopes and downslopes, cars to avoid, intersections that hurts the momentum...
I'm just slower when I'm not dependent on a machine moving me... Gotta restart my outdoor running enough for Stanchart...
Time: ~ 36min
Rest: 45 min :P
Condition: Outdoors
Location: Running along East Coast Road
Overall:
Running outdoors is infinitely harder than running on the treadmill. There's alot more impact, alot of upslopes and downslopes, cars to avoid, intersections that hurts the momentum...
I'm just slower when I'm not dependent on a machine moving me... Gotta restart my outdoor running enough for Stanchart...
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Sunday morning jog.....
Distance: 10km
Time: 65min 40sec
Rest: 0 min
Feeling: Good!
Overall: Not out of breath. Breathing was controlled. Knees were ok, but a little cranky at the start and the end. Ankles were aching, the right one more than the left.
Hmmm, this is improving, not out of breath means that perhaps I can go a little faster, but don't want to aggravate the knees...
:)
Time: 65min 40sec
Rest: 0 min
Feeling: Good!
Overall: Not out of breath. Breathing was controlled. Knees were ok, but a little cranky at the start and the end. Ankles were aching, the right one more than the left.
Hmmm, this is improving, not out of breath means that perhaps I can go a little faster, but don't want to aggravate the knees...
:)
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Watch out....
People who are habitually late, or no-shows, please stay away.
I have grown tired of having 'friends' who keep showing up late, or keep missing appts, citing ridiculous reasons, like "I overslept", or "Sorry, last-min farewell drinks", or "My cat died", etc.
My time is precious too, as well as the resources I have invested into making the appt, sacrificing my opportunity costs, committing my friendship. And people just easily discard these things when they keep canceling/ being late on me. I would rather sit at home and watch my toenails grow, watch paint dry, then waste another second standing there waiting for you, or another beautiful sunday morning getting cancelled on and disrupting all my other plans.
I AM TIRED OF THIS.
If you cannot make it, say so in advance. Not wait till I check with you why you not around yet.
If you know you will be late, change the appt time EARLY enough to give me a chance to plan something else. Not when I'm down there waiting already for an half hour.
If you don't want to meet me, just say so. Not just push and push, or accept and cancel.
Either you value my friendship, or you don't. For those who obviously don't, please please screw off...
I have grown tired of having 'friends' who keep showing up late, or keep missing appts, citing ridiculous reasons, like "I overslept", or "Sorry, last-min farewell drinks", or "My cat died", etc.
My time is precious too, as well as the resources I have invested into making the appt, sacrificing my opportunity costs, committing my friendship. And people just easily discard these things when they keep canceling/ being late on me. I would rather sit at home and watch my toenails grow, watch paint dry, then waste another second standing there waiting for you, or another beautiful sunday morning getting cancelled on and disrupting all my other plans.
I AM TIRED OF THIS.
If you cannot make it, say so in advance. Not wait till I check with you why you not around yet.
If you know you will be late, change the appt time EARLY enough to give me a chance to plan something else. Not when I'm down there waiting already for an half hour.
If you don't want to meet me, just say so. Not just push and push, or accept and cancel.
Either you value my friendship, or you don't. For those who obviously don't, please please screw off...
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Singapore GP - 28 Sep 08
AMAZING RACE! All the thrills and spills! Just DAMN fantastic! It's certainly going to be the highlight of the Formula One championships from now onwards! Will post more later...
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Monday, September 22, 2008
Diet Resolutions
Don'ts:
1) No fried food
2) No oily food
3) No chocolates
4) No ice-cream
5) No durians
6) No soft drinks
7) No alcohol
8) No rice
9) No buffets
10) No KFC
Dos:
1) Eat fruits for lunch (esp. grapefruit)
2) Exercise in some form or other daily
3) Run 3 times a week
4) Sleep at least 7 hours daily
5) Green tea daily
6) Drink a lot more water
7) Eat multiple small meals, but no snacking
8) Eat at home and go out less
9) Even if not lunching, make sure to walk around lots during lunch-time
10) Eat more protein, like fish, or chicken, and less carbs
1) No fried food
2) No oily food
3) No chocolates
4) No ice-cream
5) No durians
6) No soft drinks
7) No alcohol
8) No rice
9) No buffets
10) No KFC
Dos:
1) Eat fruits for lunch (esp. grapefruit)
2) Exercise in some form or other daily
3) Run 3 times a week
4) Sleep at least 7 hours daily
5) Green tea daily
6) Drink a lot more water
7) Eat multiple small meals, but no snacking
8) Eat at home and go out less
9) Even if not lunching, make sure to walk around lots during lunch-time
10) Eat more protein, like fish, or chicken, and less carbs
Current Weight Wagers...
1) If I lost enough weight to fit into my pink clubbing shirt, J will get me a Zara work shirt
2) If I lost 5 kg, WY will get me a Zara shirt
3) If I lost 10kg, I will get myself an Oakley Radar Path Asian Fit Sunglasses
4) If I lost 10kg and maintain for a year, WL will cut off his tonkers
5) If I ran the marathon in sub 5h30m, S will buy me 10 chicken wings
Anyone else wants to make bets with me?
2) If I lost 5 kg, WY will get me a Zara shirt
3) If I lost 10kg, I will get myself an Oakley Radar Path Asian Fit Sunglasses
4) If I lost 10kg and maintain for a year, WL will cut off his tonkers
5) If I ran the marathon in sub 5h30m, S will buy me 10 chicken wings
Anyone else wants to make bets with me?
Monday, September 15, 2008
September 15th, fresh beginnings...
Shall start to record down the training sessions from today onwards.
Distance: 6.58km
Time: 44mins
Rest stop: 5mins
Distance: 6.58km
Time: 44mins
Rest stop: 5mins
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Surprise drop in retail sales
http://www.thomsonfxhub.com/fxhub/forex-news-detail.jsf?newsId=18091&title=Singapore%20retail%20sales%20expected%20to%20slow%20in%20February%20as%20car%20sales%20drag
Can't seem to find a free copy of the Straits Times Article online. But here's some version of it elsewhere...
First thoughts: Economists are morons... Think they are all just wildly creating estimates for growth... I sincerely doubt that an economist can predict the economy better than a PSLE-educated weatherman. In fact, a weatherman can probably do it more flamboyantly, whooshing his arms around excitedly as he predicts the drop/increase in growth of the retail sector.
If an economist can't do a good job predicting the future, but is only good at reasoning the past, what use is he? Seriously, attribution is so easy; anyone who understands causality and can find a link between his supposed reason and his past outcome can be an economist...
Let me take a stab: Today's Papers:
Nonsense Statistics Number 1:
Article 1 : Retail sales dipped in February 2008, citing poor car sales.
Article 2: Hand Foot Mouth Disease hits the highest in Singapore ever in March 2008 with 1,000 cases. Super virulent strain Enterovirus71 pervasive this year but doctors don't know why.
Hah, simple wat... means that people in Singapore buying less cars in Feb = more walking and over-crowding on the streets in Feb & March = more interaction between people = more interaction of the HFMD infected = more infections + incubation period...
Don't believe, just look at the statistics... less cars, more HFMD cases
QED...
How to profit from it?
Be a car salesman. Tout cars as the best cure against HFMD. Prove it. Go down to all the childcare centres and set up car showrooms. Hire doctors and statisticians who are willing to assert that your statistic is correct. Get them to sell the 'scientific correlation' between cars and HFMD. Talk to Health Insurers and get them to subsidise cost of cars as part of medical prevention expenditure. Make it easy to buy a car. Put out national campaigns that shame parents who don't buy cars as ignorance, unloving parents. Earn big bucks! Sell your car business, expose the scam.
Oh ya, by the way, FIRE ALL ECONOMISTS... they are good-for-nothing morons who live off everyone else and produces nothing of value to society. Save their salaries to hire road sweepers. A road-sweeper is infinitely more useful than an economist.
Get rich, die evil...
Can't seem to find a free copy of the Straits Times Article online. But here's some version of it elsewhere...
First thoughts: Economists are morons... Think they are all just wildly creating estimates for growth... I sincerely doubt that an economist can predict the economy better than a PSLE-educated weatherman. In fact, a weatherman can probably do it more flamboyantly, whooshing his arms around excitedly as he predicts the drop/increase in growth of the retail sector.
If an economist can't do a good job predicting the future, but is only good at reasoning the past, what use is he? Seriously, attribution is so easy; anyone who understands causality and can find a link between his supposed reason and his past outcome can be an economist...
Let me take a stab: Today's Papers:
Nonsense Statistics Number 1:
Article 1 : Retail sales dipped in February 2008, citing poor car sales.
Article 2: Hand Foot Mouth Disease hits the highest in Singapore ever in March 2008 with 1,000 cases. Super virulent strain Enterovirus71 pervasive this year but doctors don't know why.
Hah, simple wat... means that people in Singapore buying less cars in Feb = more walking and over-crowding on the streets in Feb & March = more interaction between people = more interaction of the HFMD infected = more infections + incubation period...
Don't believe, just look at the statistics... less cars, more HFMD cases
QED...
How to profit from it?
Be a car salesman. Tout cars as the best cure against HFMD. Prove it. Go down to all the childcare centres and set up car showrooms. Hire doctors and statisticians who are willing to assert that your statistic is correct. Get them to sell the 'scientific correlation' between cars and HFMD. Talk to Health Insurers and get them to subsidise cost of cars as part of medical prevention expenditure. Make it easy to buy a car. Put out national campaigns that shame parents who don't buy cars as ignorance, unloving parents. Earn big bucks! Sell your car business, expose the scam.
Oh ya, by the way, FIRE ALL ECONOMISTS... they are good-for-nothing morons who live off everyone else and produces nothing of value to society. Save their salaries to hire road sweepers. A road-sweeper is infinitely more useful than an economist.
Get rich, die evil...
It's time to think creatively...
Perhaps I'm rather dissatisfied with work because it doesn't provide much of an opportunity for creative thinking... Everything is "template this, template that", so that there is a consistency, a uniformity, a conformity...
Well, until I am no longer there, there must be an alternative outlet for me. I believe this is what is driving me to the brink of insanity. I need someplace to output my juices, be it creative or not... Else I stagnate, and my brain will fizzle out, and life will get emptier and emptier...
I shall try something. It will just be an objective and thinking exercise, without consideration of the political correctness of the statement. I will, on a regular basis, look at articles in the papers/online, and identify one of them, and examine how one can possibly profit from it, be it by scrupulous means or not... The ideas can be outlandish, evil even, but it's not a reflection of my character, but a training of the mind... Will appreciate your comments on them...
Well, until I am no longer there, there must be an alternative outlet for me. I believe this is what is driving me to the brink of insanity. I need someplace to output my juices, be it creative or not... Else I stagnate, and my brain will fizzle out, and life will get emptier and emptier...
I shall try something. It will just be an objective and thinking exercise, without consideration of the political correctness of the statement. I will, on a regular basis, look at articles in the papers/online, and identify one of them, and examine how one can possibly profit from it, be it by scrupulous means or not... The ideas can be outlandish, evil even, but it's not a reflection of my character, but a training of the mind... Will appreciate your comments on them...
Monday, March 03, 2008
Priorities
One needs a mirror to know where he is,
One needs a trail to know where he was,
One needs a compass to know where he is going...
Have gone too damn long without those. The result: Lost, a feeling of hopelessness, a sense of aimlessness... of drifting along the river, pulled by the current... of helplessness, that everything is beyond my control...
No longer.
In the next few days, I shall identify my mirror, my trail and my compass... small steps to living my life, the way i envision it to be...
a better man.
One needs a trail to know where he was,
One needs a compass to know where he is going...
Have gone too damn long without those. The result: Lost, a feeling of hopelessness, a sense of aimlessness... of drifting along the river, pulled by the current... of helplessness, that everything is beyond my control...
No longer.
In the next few days, I shall identify my mirror, my trail and my compass... small steps to living my life, the way i envision it to be...
a better man.
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Saturday, February 16, 2008
The Wall
There comes a point in every race, could be the 5th mile, could be the 25th, but eventually, you are going to hit what every runner calls "The Wall". And when you do, you won't be able to breathe, or think, or even move, and all you want to do ... is give up.
That's the difference between getting a girl, and keeping a girl...
I run marathons, haha!
Run, Fat Boy, RUN!
That's the difference between getting a girl, and keeping a girl...
I run marathons, haha!
Run, Fat Boy, RUN!
Wednesday, January 09, 2008
What do you think?
I called this guy up today, and asked him if he had any stock available for two board games that I wanted to buy...
He said he'll check, and call me back later...
...
Call back he did, and told me that there were only one each of the two board games I requested, and he told me to "Come by tomorrow" if I really wanted it...
So I did... Fearing that they will run out of stock if I didn't tarry, I came down immediately. Then he told me that he didn't have it in stock, and actually he meant "Come by TOMORROW", instead of "Come BY tomorrow". Coz he will get the single leftover stock in tomorrow from his warehouse; he didn't have it at the store currently...
Sheesh... over the phone, I couldn't tell the difference. I thought he meant the latter...
Would you have thought the same???
He said he'll check, and call me back later...
...
Call back he did, and told me that there were only one each of the two board games I requested, and he told me to "Come by tomorrow" if I really wanted it...
So I did... Fearing that they will run out of stock if I didn't tarry, I came down immediately. Then he told me that he didn't have it in stock, and actually he meant "Come by TOMORROW", instead of "Come BY tomorrow". Coz he will get the single leftover stock in tomorrow from his warehouse; he didn't have it at the store currently...
Sheesh... over the phone, I couldn't tell the difference. I thought he meant the latter...
Would you have thought the same???
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Just Chillin'
The boom of an approaching plane...
Peering out the window, I can't seem to make it out... Though I can't see it, I know it's there... and it makes me calm.
Sitting back, the radio playing light jazzy tunes, gotta admit, life's been pretty decent to me. I don't get everything I want in life, but, who does anyway?
Everything in life simply gets better when you are not hankering desperately after some object of desire. Perhaps this is middle-age thinking, when the rashness of youth is replaced by a jaded acceptance... or is it called a tacit understanding...
I lean back on my chair, eyes closed, hands behind my head, stephanie singing a slow, low ballad, the song interspersed with the drone of the fan. No cares in the world, just a little "me time" before I head to bed. A grin, shoulders down, as i think about how the bedsheet is warming up under my feet...my own style of "meditative pose"...
I am happy...
Peering out the window, I can't seem to make it out... Though I can't see it, I know it's there... and it makes me calm.
Sitting back, the radio playing light jazzy tunes, gotta admit, life's been pretty decent to me. I don't get everything I want in life, but, who does anyway?
Everything in life simply gets better when you are not hankering desperately after some object of desire. Perhaps this is middle-age thinking, when the rashness of youth is replaced by a jaded acceptance... or is it called a tacit understanding...
I lean back on my chair, eyes closed, hands behind my head, stephanie singing a slow, low ballad, the song interspersed with the drone of the fan. No cares in the world, just a little "me time" before I head to bed. A grin, shoulders down, as i think about how the bedsheet is warming up under my feet...my own style of "meditative pose"...
I am happy...
Monday, December 31, 2007
2008 New Year Things to Do
- Lose Weight
- Drop 15 kg (1.5 kg / month)
- No late night pig-out sessions (No food after 9 pm)
- Personal Finance
- Set out & follow budget (Save first)
- Consider financial portfolio
- Work on Faults
- Live up to promises
- Not to be overly-critical of others
- Pick up New Skills
- Learn Salsa
- Digital Photography
- Management Consultancy
- Improve on Existing Skills / Achieve Certification
- Tennis (Regular Coaching Sessions)
- Diving (Certification for Advanced Open Water, Deep Diver)
- Attend Wine Appreciation Classes
- Pass CFA I
- Set up business website
- Exercise / Training Schedule
- Running - Twice Weekly (Thursday, Sunday)
- Swimming - Twice Weekly (Tuesday, Saturday)
- Tennis - Twice Weekly (Wednesday, Saturday)
- Blading - Weekly (Sunday)
- Badminton - Fortnightly (Wednesday)
- Squash - Monthly
- Races
- Singapore Biathlon 2008 (1 March) - Target: 1 hr 40 mins
- Singapore Bay Run / Army Half Marathon (TBC) - Target: 2 hrs 15 mins
- JP Morgan Chase 5.6km Corporate Run - Target: 30 mins
- Fuji Xerox Open Water 3km (TBC) - Target: 1 hr 10 mins
- Singapore Marathon 2008 (7 December) - Target: 5 hrs 30 mins
- Special Events
- Formula One Singapore Inaugural Race (28 September)
- Two overseas trips (Laos, Cambodia)
So This Is Christmas
(by John Lennon)
So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young.
A very Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The road is so long
And so Happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight.
A very Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so Happy Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young.
A very Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
War is over!
If you want it
War is over!
War is over, Now!
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so this is Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young.
A very Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
And so this is Christmas
For weak and for strong
For rich and the poor ones
The road is so long
And so Happy Christmas
For black and for white
For yellow and red ones
Let's stop all the fight.
A very Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
So this is Christmas
And what have you done?
Another year over
And a new one just begun
And so Happy Christmas
I hope you have fun
The near and the dear one
The old and the young.
A very Merry Christmas
And a Happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one
Without any fear
War is over!
If you want it
War is over!
War is over, Now!
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Facing the Music...
It's time to face the facts, people.
When you're in it, you only accept the evidence that aids your case, and cheerfully ignore the growing pile of stuff that points otherwise...
You'd need someone else to shine the light for you, to tell you to accept the things that you have been unconsciously denying...
It's tough to accept... People can go through their entire existence pretending, living in webs of deceit... I've decided that I shan't be one of them...
When the facts pile up once or twice, it's a coincidence... three or four, it's a suspicious... five or six, it's a undeniable, inalienable truth...
It's ok, if I can do a marathon, I can accept this painful truth. I can move on. New year's coming, perfect time for a fresh start, new beginnings...
When you're in it, you only accept the evidence that aids your case, and cheerfully ignore the growing pile of stuff that points otherwise...
You'd need someone else to shine the light for you, to tell you to accept the things that you have been unconsciously denying...
It's tough to accept... People can go through their entire existence pretending, living in webs of deceit... I've decided that I shan't be one of them...
When the facts pile up once or twice, it's a coincidence... three or four, it's a suspicious... five or six, it's a undeniable, inalienable truth...
It's ok, if I can do a marathon, I can accept this painful truth. I can move on. New year's coming, perfect time for a fresh start, new beginnings...
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
I am a Food Reviewer!
Yesterday night had a wonderful evening out with a dear friend. The Belgian restaurant that we went to was called Oosters, and I liked it so much, I decided to review it! It's now available on HungryGoWhere! In fact, I'm the first reviewer of that particular restaurant, so I scored a "First"! Overall, scored it a 7.5! The link is here:
http://www.hungrygowhere.com/oosters_belgian_brasserie_suntec
After reading the review, would YOU go there?
Hmmm, wonder if I can ever earn a living doing food reviews. It's certainly a dream career!
=P~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.hungrygowhere.com/oosters_belgian_brasserie_suntec
After reading the review, would YOU go there?
Hmmm, wonder if I can ever earn a living doing food reviews. It's certainly a dream career!
=P~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thursday, November 29, 2007
You don't understand...
That making flippant remarks is very disparaging and insulting...
That without establishing facts, commenting on a person's behaviour is ill-advised...
That attempting to link a person's activity to a single (and incorrect) point is crudely diminishing his depth of character...
That is why I am pissed.
That without establishing facts, commenting on a person's behaviour is ill-advised...
That attempting to link a person's activity to a single (and incorrect) point is crudely diminishing his depth of character...
That is why I am pissed.
Monday, November 26, 2007
What's in a name?
Perceptive, Affable, Loquacious, EXciting!
Personable, Affirming, Logical, EXtroverted!
Who do you think it stands for?
Personable, Affirming, Logical, EXtroverted!
Who do you think it stands for?
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Laying Roots... Or Not
Realised I never wrote about one of my few guiding philosophies in life... Often expressed to close friends, in words and in actions. But I guess it is the (unwritten) rule that if it's not set down in ink, it counts not. My life decisions, no matter how innocuous, be often be quite easily traced to this philosophy. Anyway, this is how I live my life...
... Like Forrest's leaf, going where the wind blows...
I often attribute it to the side-effects of my overseas education. The first day I stepped into the cornfields of the Land of Lincoln, I was advised this "Good Trick": Don't think of staying here long-term; you're only passing through...
At first, it only represented the physical materials in life. Since I will be in the dorms the first year only, there's no real need to buy too much stuff, since I would have to shift / throw them the following year. The more nonsense I accumulate, the more baggage there is down the road. I kept that "Good Trick" very close to my heart; I purchased as little "necessities" as needed. Whatever I bought, I kept the packaging, in preparation that I will be reusing it to shift out someday.
Whenever I chanced across something I really wanted, I asked myself, is my need transient, cause the outcome of my decision might not be... With that, I denied myself many things, many times over. I could live without those material things, in the firm belief that there will be one day, when I settled down, when all these things will come.
... I've only just arrived, but I'm good to go...
After that first year in the dorm, I finally moved out to an apartment. People who have seen that apartment would remember the one unusual aspect of our living room. It was full of boxes, stacked all around the living room. The boxes accumulated from the first day we moved in, in preparation for our eventual departure.
The boxes stood there until the day we all went our separate ways two years later. Because, in our hearts, we knew that the apartment was transient, and that like in the dorms, there was no point "settling in" when we lived there knowing we would move out eventually. My philosophy strengthened and entrenched itself further.
Even more so, the original focus on only physical possessions evolved into emotional and romantic considerations as well. I no longer considered anywhere home. I was just passing through everywhere I went. Anything that would anchor me to a specific location, i.e. a lover, a permanent physical possession, a feeling of belonging, they were all taboo.
... Take only pictures, leave only footprints...
I became a "transient"; a person who is unwilling to lay his roots anywhere, and lived in the knowledge that my current situation is only "transitory". Unwillingness to lay down roots
anywhere, even when I returned to Singapore from my education. I don't think of where I live as home. It is a room where I stay after office hours. It is a place where I plot my next destination...
I don't believe in possessions here. Hence, I doubt I will ever decorate my room. They will become junk when I leave anyway. I doubt that I will ever buy a car. I can live without it. I doubt that I will ever buy an apartment. The 20-30 years stuck here paying off the housing loans is a complete deal-breaker for me.
Most importantly, I doubt I will ever fall in love here. Laying roots that lead to my heart would be the most difficult to shear off. If I believe that I will leave here someday, if I give my heart out to someone here, in the knowledge that I WILL leave here, I am just setting the stage for my eventual heartbreak.
... Where the heart is, I don't know ...
The point is that, I don't know where is home. Maybe the US, Europe, Middle-East, Antartica, the Mooon. Maybe it IS here. Until I know, until I reach there, physically and emotionally, I will abide by my philosophy. I won't allow myself a long-term commitment to a fixed location. I won't allow myself the luxury of being home. I won't allow myself to be exposed to love and heartbreak. Whatever hinders me from leaving is unacceptable.
...I am a transient...
That's only temporal.
... Like Forrest's leaf, going where the wind blows...
I often attribute it to the side-effects of my overseas education. The first day I stepped into the cornfields of the Land of Lincoln, I was advised this "Good Trick": Don't think of staying here long-term; you're only passing through...
At first, it only represented the physical materials in life. Since I will be in the dorms the first year only, there's no real need to buy too much stuff, since I would have to shift / throw them the following year. The more nonsense I accumulate, the more baggage there is down the road. I kept that "Good Trick" very close to my heart; I purchased as little "necessities" as needed. Whatever I bought, I kept the packaging, in preparation that I will be reusing it to shift out someday.
Whenever I chanced across something I really wanted, I asked myself, is my need transient, cause the outcome of my decision might not be... With that, I denied myself many things, many times over. I could live without those material things, in the firm belief that there will be one day, when I settled down, when all these things will come.
... I've only just arrived, but I'm good to go...
After that first year in the dorm, I finally moved out to an apartment. People who have seen that apartment would remember the one unusual aspect of our living room. It was full of boxes, stacked all around the living room. The boxes accumulated from the first day we moved in, in preparation for our eventual departure.
The boxes stood there until the day we all went our separate ways two years later. Because, in our hearts, we knew that the apartment was transient, and that like in the dorms, there was no point "settling in" when we lived there knowing we would move out eventually. My philosophy strengthened and entrenched itself further.
Even more so, the original focus on only physical possessions evolved into emotional and romantic considerations as well. I no longer considered anywhere home. I was just passing through everywhere I went. Anything that would anchor me to a specific location, i.e. a lover, a permanent physical possession, a feeling of belonging, they were all taboo.
... Take only pictures, leave only footprints...
I became a "transient"; a person who is unwilling to lay his roots anywhere, and lived in the knowledge that my current situation is only "transitory". Unwillingness to lay down roots
anywhere, even when I returned to Singapore from my education. I don't think of where I live as home. It is a room where I stay after office hours. It is a place where I plot my next destination...
I don't believe in possessions here. Hence, I doubt I will ever decorate my room. They will become junk when I leave anyway. I doubt that I will ever buy a car. I can live without it. I doubt that I will ever buy an apartment. The 20-30 years stuck here paying off the housing loans is a complete deal-breaker for me.
Most importantly, I doubt I will ever fall in love here. Laying roots that lead to my heart would be the most difficult to shear off. If I believe that I will leave here someday, if I give my heart out to someone here, in the knowledge that I WILL leave here, I am just setting the stage for my eventual heartbreak.
... Where the heart is, I don't know ...
The point is that, I don't know where is home. Maybe the US, Europe, Middle-East, Antartica, the Mooon. Maybe it IS here. Until I know, until I reach there, physically and emotionally, I will abide by my philosophy. I won't allow myself a long-term commitment to a fixed location. I won't allow myself the luxury of being home. I won't allow myself to be exposed to love and heartbreak. Whatever hinders me from leaving is unacceptable.
...I am a transient...
That's only temporal.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
For My Dear Senior...
This is for a friend.
She is a wonderful and lovely person, whom I've known for more than 10 years. Our friendship has evolved several times, from a bossy section leader whom I tried to bully back, to being the elder sister of one of my favourite juniors, to a friend whom I made sure to call on whenever I came back Singapore, to a near and dear senior whom we share moments of refreshing friendship and care...
Till today, have always referred to her affectionately as "My Dear Senior". Only 6 months older, but infinitely wiser than me. Perhaps her sharing the same birthday as my mum contributed to that perception. Like a slow 30s light jazz song, I always feel calm and relaxed in her presence.
She is kind and caring, frequently able to sense the emotions and thoughts of others, and knowing when to approach, and when to hold back. She's also sweet, saccharine even, like a gentle doe, softly grazing in the forest and leaving no marks wherever she may tread.
Yet she possesses a hidden steel of determination that glints bright for her passions. She inspires, and carries others along. Among others, her passion for scrabble, running, are more than just a passing interest, but a natural force of energy that draws in others in her wake.
Though she is as affected by worldly emotions as others, in moments of personal pain, she holds it in, revealing nothing but a stoic impasse. Her wall of control, she only allows entry to close ones. Can well imagine her saying, "Well, it's disappointing, but everything in its stride..." and start smiling.
I count myself lucky to know her, a person to share my thoughts with, a senior to look up to, and, as the years pass, a constant, consistent lighthouse to get my bearings in the choppy waves of life...
Happy Birthday, My Dear Senior
Here's wishing you many years of continued passion
and decades more of our friendship
She is a wonderful and lovely person, whom I've known for more than 10 years. Our friendship has evolved several times, from a bossy section leader whom I tried to bully back, to being the elder sister of one of my favourite juniors, to a friend whom I made sure to call on whenever I came back Singapore, to a near and dear senior whom we share moments of refreshing friendship and care...
Till today, have always referred to her affectionately as "My Dear Senior". Only 6 months older, but infinitely wiser than me. Perhaps her sharing the same birthday as my mum contributed to that perception. Like a slow 30s light jazz song, I always feel calm and relaxed in her presence.
She is kind and caring, frequently able to sense the emotions and thoughts of others, and knowing when to approach, and when to hold back. She's also sweet, saccharine even, like a gentle doe, softly grazing in the forest and leaving no marks wherever she may tread.
Yet she possesses a hidden steel of determination that glints bright for her passions. She inspires, and carries others along. Among others, her passion for scrabble, running, are more than just a passing interest, but a natural force of energy that draws in others in her wake.
Though she is as affected by worldly emotions as others, in moments of personal pain, she holds it in, revealing nothing but a stoic impasse. Her wall of control, she only allows entry to close ones. Can well imagine her saying, "Well, it's disappointing, but everything in its stride..." and start smiling.
I count myself lucky to know her, a person to share my thoughts with, a senior to look up to, and, as the years pass, a constant, consistent lighthouse to get my bearings in the choppy waves of life...
Happy Birthday, My Dear Senior
Here's wishing you many years of continued passion
and decades more of our friendship
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
What I Did Today, Was For Friendship...
This is me.
What is not me, is to fight hard for my friendships...
I'm doing so right now, because this one is worth it...
If it goes, it will not be because I was too scared to face up to the problems, like last time...
The next time, I will be stronger, braver and faster...
Life... it's a learning experience... we are all just learning as we go along...
What is not me, is to fight hard for my friendships...
I'm doing so right now, because this one is worth it...
If it goes, it will not be because I was too scared to face up to the problems, like last time...
The next time, I will be stronger, braver and faster...
Life... it's a learning experience... we are all just learning as we go along...
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Amidst all the pointless work in life...
I had a conversation with a colleague today. It's moments like this that you would remember for a long time, one of those incidents that, upon reflection decades later, you realise that it was a direction marker, one that would pretty much guide the next phase of my life...
He told me that many years ago, just after he came back from his university studies, as a scholar, he was asked one of those standard 'scholarly' questions, "What is your guiding philosophy in life?" He answered that it would be such that, every 2-3 years, when he asked himself what is his aim, it would be entirely different. This would indicate that there was a certain focal point in his life, and that he had accomplished what he set out to do, and move on to other things. He termed this his "chapters", that every 2-3 years, he would move on to a different chapter, a different part of life, as his goals change with his experiences.
That struck me. Hard. I mean, WOW! It's almost completely in opposition to the way I've been living... I think, in my entire life, I have always been focused on 1 or 2 main things, which never changed. It has always been vague targets, and each and every year, it was a variation of the same old, same old. To the point of obsession. Yet, sub-consciously, there was an inherent understanding that I would always have time later to achieve those targets, so I could afford to slacken off, and putter around...
Correctly or not, it had meant that my life was a one-chapter book, just detailing the endless circles and agonising efforts as I achieved (or not) my life purpose, a vague and ephemeral imagining... Thus, what if I never change direction, but never accomplished that overall life purposes? On my grave then, it would say "Here lies K-U, his only purpose in life was to serve as a warning for others"...
What he said, made absolute sense. To me. On a very fundamental level. When I look back, there are so few, so few, things that I can recall with fondness and pride. I have just been plodding along, content with being blown with the winds of current events. I tell myself, I have goals, but since they're so hard to accomplish anyway, lemme just concentrate on all the impotent ,daily, nonsensical, minute, meaningless chores that are nipping at my ankles.
Oh look, a year has passed. Nothing's changed. Again.
It's been like that the past 27 years for me. No better time than the present, to wake up and see what's been happening with my life. I have written one chapter in my life so far, 27 years in the making. It's time to outline new chapters, new goals, something to achieve in 3 years, accomplish that, and move on to something else.
I will do just that. This year, I will compete and complete the stanchart full marathon. Or die trying. That will be something I will look back fondly. After that, I will think of something else, not rest in the comfort of the knowledge of that (hopefully) accomplishment. 2nd December 2007 will end a chapter of my life, and start a new one.
My life story will be filled up with exciting and fulfilling chapters... That is my life purpose.
He told me that many years ago, just after he came back from his university studies, as a scholar, he was asked one of those standard 'scholarly' questions, "What is your guiding philosophy in life?" He answered that it would be such that, every 2-3 years, when he asked himself what is his aim, it would be entirely different. This would indicate that there was a certain focal point in his life, and that he had accomplished what he set out to do, and move on to other things. He termed this his "chapters", that every 2-3 years, he would move on to a different chapter, a different part of life, as his goals change with his experiences.
That struck me. Hard. I mean, WOW! It's almost completely in opposition to the way I've been living... I think, in my entire life, I have always been focused on 1 or 2 main things, which never changed. It has always been vague targets, and each and every year, it was a variation of the same old, same old. To the point of obsession. Yet, sub-consciously, there was an inherent understanding that I would always have time later to achieve those targets, so I could afford to slacken off, and putter around...
Correctly or not, it had meant that my life was a one-chapter book, just detailing the endless circles and agonising efforts as I achieved (or not) my life purpose, a vague and ephemeral imagining... Thus, what if I never change direction, but never accomplished that overall life purposes? On my grave then, it would say "Here lies K-U, his only purpose in life was to serve as a warning for others"...
What he said, made absolute sense. To me. On a very fundamental level. When I look back, there are so few, so few, things that I can recall with fondness and pride. I have just been plodding along, content with being blown with the winds of current events. I tell myself, I have goals, but since they're so hard to accomplish anyway, lemme just concentrate on all the impotent ,daily, nonsensical, minute, meaningless chores that are nipping at my ankles.
Oh look, a year has passed. Nothing's changed. Again.
It's been like that the past 27 years for me. No better time than the present, to wake up and see what's been happening with my life. I have written one chapter in my life so far, 27 years in the making. It's time to outline new chapters, new goals, something to achieve in 3 years, accomplish that, and move on to something else.
I will do just that. This year, I will compete and complete the stanchart full marathon. Or die trying. That will be something I will look back fondly. After that, I will think of something else, not rest in the comfort of the knowledge of that (hopefully) accomplishment. 2nd December 2007 will end a chapter of my life, and start a new one.
My life story will be filled up with exciting and fulfilling chapters... That is my life purpose.
Monday, September 03, 2007
My Horoscope for Today... Things will Change...
The Bottom Line
Your place among your friends is secure today, and you know just where you stand.
In Detail
By today, you have pushed through the most confusing part of your little emotional obstacle course -- and things are starting to look clearer and you are starting to feel much happier. Your place among your friends is secure, and you know just where you stand. Hold onto your rising optimism, because it will take you the rest of the way. The going is not going to be so rough anymore, and you are about to experience an extended period of peace, relaxation, and contentment.
Thoughts in the middle of the night...
Sometimes I can't sleep...
The body is tired and aching, but the mind is sharp and alert, filling it up with neverending thoughts... My day, my week, my life. Anxious, I looked at the alarm clock... 2.15am, just 4 hours before I have to awaken and face a brand new day. Can't help but wonder about the myriad of events that would occur in the next 24 hours, the joys, the heartbreaks, the expected and unexpected.
Just another day in paradise, my paradise, where I work without feeling, and I wander in search of a meaningful existence, displeased at my current state of affairs. The work is uninspiring, unchallenging, and every single day, it drags me down deeper and deeper into the grave of pointlessness. The more I work, the more useless I feel, the more I blend into the wallpaper, almost content to just while away as a Life Ordinary...
Wasn't I supposed to do much more? Accomplish more significant things than just end up making powerpoint slide and writing papers that lead to nothing, nothing at all? Did I really work so hard last time to just stagnate, my flesh rotting, and my mind growing in feebleness? Is there something out there waiting for me to fill the void and BE somebody?
Like one of my favourite movies' title, is this really "As Good As It Gets"?
If it is...
The body is tired and aching, but the mind is sharp and alert, filling it up with neverending thoughts... My day, my week, my life. Anxious, I looked at the alarm clock... 2.15am, just 4 hours before I have to awaken and face a brand new day. Can't help but wonder about the myriad of events that would occur in the next 24 hours, the joys, the heartbreaks, the expected and unexpected.
Just another day in paradise, my paradise, where I work without feeling, and I wander in search of a meaningful existence, displeased at my current state of affairs. The work is uninspiring, unchallenging, and every single day, it drags me down deeper and deeper into the grave of pointlessness. The more I work, the more useless I feel, the more I blend into the wallpaper, almost content to just while away as a Life Ordinary...
Wasn't I supposed to do much more? Accomplish more significant things than just end up making powerpoint slide and writing papers that lead to nothing, nothing at all? Did I really work so hard last time to just stagnate, my flesh rotting, and my mind growing in feebleness? Is there something out there waiting for me to fill the void and BE somebody?
Like one of my favourite movies' title, is this really "As Good As It Gets"?
If it is...
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Thoughts...
What do you say to a man,
who's afraid to see his own reflection?
it's like a man running away from his shadow.
always there, lurking in the background,
when you least expect it, dropping your guard,
it rears its ugly head...
the feeling of self-loathing is strong,
you hate yourself, dread, desperation
and ... pity.
you wonder how others can accept who you are,
when there is no acceptability within,
your appearance is not the image you project,
far from it...
you look deeper within,
and hope that there is an inner beauty,
hidden within,
to make up for the outward appearance...
the horrible realisation,
no consolation there,
if possible, it is even darker and more horrid,
an evil barely suppressed and covered...
What do you say to a man,
who hates his outside,
and hates his inside?
who's afraid to see his own reflection?
it's like a man running away from his shadow.
always there, lurking in the background,
when you least expect it, dropping your guard,
it rears its ugly head...
the feeling of self-loathing is strong,
you hate yourself, dread, desperation
and ... pity.
you wonder how others can accept who you are,
when there is no acceptability within,
your appearance is not the image you project,
far from it...
you look deeper within,
and hope that there is an inner beauty,
hidden within,
to make up for the outward appearance...
the horrible realisation,
no consolation there,
if possible, it is even darker and more horrid,
an evil barely suppressed and covered...
What do you say to a man,
who hates his outside,
and hates his inside?
Something Stupid...
Found this song... been putting it on repeat... the rhythm and the lyrics are just so enchanting...
just so right...
Hope u will like it too... :)
============================
Something Stupid
(Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman)
I know I stand in line
Until you think you have the time
To spend an evening with me
And if we go someplace to dance
I know that there's a chance
You won't be leaving with me
Then afterwards we drop into a quiet little place
And have a drink or two
And then I go and spoil it all
By saying something stupid
Like I love you
I can see it in your eyes
That you despise the same old lines
You heard the night before
And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
And never seemed so right before
I practice every day to find some clever
lines to say
To make the meaning come through
But then I think I'll wait until the evening
gets late
And I'm alone with you
The time is right
Your perfume fills my head
The stars get red
And oh the night's so blue
And then I go and spoil it all
By saying something stupid
Like I love you
I love you...
just so right...
Hope u will like it too... :)
============================
Something Stupid
(Robbie Williams & Nicole Kidman)
I know I stand in line
Until you think you have the time
To spend an evening with me
And if we go someplace to dance
I know that there's a chance
You won't be leaving with me
Then afterwards we drop into a quiet little place
And have a drink or two
And then I go and spoil it all
By saying something stupid
Like I love you
I can see it in your eyes
That you despise the same old lines
You heard the night before
And though it's just a line to you
For me it's true
And never seemed so right before
I practice every day to find some clever
lines to say
To make the meaning come through
But then I think I'll wait until the evening
gets late
And I'm alone with you
The time is right
Your perfume fills my head
The stars get red
And oh the night's so blue
And then I go and spoil it all
By saying something stupid
Like I love you
I love you...
Friday, August 24, 2007
Friday, August 10, 2007
Missed Directions
Someone asked me today what my goal in life was... I hesitated, not because I didn't have a goal already planned out, and not because I didn't want to share it out openly, but rather because... I forgot what it was.
I remembered stepping into my first day of work, convinced of the path I was going to take for at least the next 6 years of my life. The path was clear and promising: to achieve a balance of work, life, and health.
However, in the past year, my goals have been over-shadowed by events, good and bad. Sometimes work seems promising, and there's a glimmer of hope of its success, and all it needs is a little more time spent working, and less on friends and exercise. Then it starts to envelope me until i was consumed and obsessed, and forgot about my other priorities. When realisation sets in, i pull back, but by then, that balance has been broken.
That has repeated so often, eroding bit by bit my resolve to achieve that equilibrium... One year ahead, it has reached the point of near-oblivion in my mind, until that conversation today.
Work success is not everything. it should not consume the other aspects of my life. From now on, I will guard against this lapse diligently. I will work hard, but i will equally play hard as well. My work does not define me. Neither does my play. But rather, it's the mish-mash of dynamic equilibriums that shapes my life, molds my soul...
I remembered stepping into my first day of work, convinced of the path I was going to take for at least the next 6 years of my life. The path was clear and promising: to achieve a balance of work, life, and health.
However, in the past year, my goals have been over-shadowed by events, good and bad. Sometimes work seems promising, and there's a glimmer of hope of its success, and all it needs is a little more time spent working, and less on friends and exercise. Then it starts to envelope me until i was consumed and obsessed, and forgot about my other priorities. When realisation sets in, i pull back, but by then, that balance has been broken.
That has repeated so often, eroding bit by bit my resolve to achieve that equilibrium... One year ahead, it has reached the point of near-oblivion in my mind, until that conversation today.
Work success is not everything. it should not consume the other aspects of my life. From now on, I will guard against this lapse diligently. I will work hard, but i will equally play hard as well. My work does not define me. Neither does my play. But rather, it's the mish-mash of dynamic equilibriums that shapes my life, molds my soul...
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Somebody
i was feeling sian yesterday...
the last thing i wanted to do after a long and bad day, was to sit in front of my pc and do stuff. it just felt wrong. couldn't do it, not yesterday.
called up a friend, and we went down to the nearby drinking hole and shared conversations and thoughts over a nice cold dessert wine. chatted for over an hour, and felt so much better afterwards...
i guess that's all happiness is. being able to find someone to go out with, and chat about the long day, and hopes, dreams and aspirations, without worrying if the other party gets bored, weird, or angry.
we all go thru cyles of doom and gloom from time to time. hardly anyone can escape that. but what i call as happiness is, knowing that there's someone out there i can reach out to, to share my misery when i most need it. the knowledge of that existence of someone who cares for me, is the reason i can wake up every morning, and go to bed every night.
everybody needs somebody sometimes...
the last thing i wanted to do after a long and bad day, was to sit in front of my pc and do stuff. it just felt wrong. couldn't do it, not yesterday.
called up a friend, and we went down to the nearby drinking hole and shared conversations and thoughts over a nice cold dessert wine. chatted for over an hour, and felt so much better afterwards...
i guess that's all happiness is. being able to find someone to go out with, and chat about the long day, and hopes, dreams and aspirations, without worrying if the other party gets bored, weird, or angry.
we all go thru cyles of doom and gloom from time to time. hardly anyone can escape that. but what i call as happiness is, knowing that there's someone out there i can reach out to, to share my misery when i most need it. the knowledge of that existence of someone who cares for me, is the reason i can wake up every morning, and go to bed every night.
everybody needs somebody sometimes...
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