Lesbians

Chanced upon an article by Siva Choy in today's Straits Times (or was it Newpaper? argh.. such short term memory!)

Anyway, he was writing about the origins of the term 'lesbian' and most likely it was from a Greek island called Lesbos where there once upon a time existed a female poet named Sappho, who was probably misunderstood (dunno because no evidence to point her to be a lesbian nor evidence to say she's not, anyway...) and hence the birth of the term lesbians.

But the funny part was about how he talks about the female inhabitants of Lesbos island (who are now called Lesbians but probably not inclined that way...) was trying to correct the outsiders mindset. You know, they are refered to as Lesbians (because they are from Lesbos island) but they are not lesbians (dun prefer women to men). Anyway, read that article if you're interested. I think it was pretty funny, Mr Choy.

emotions

How often are we permitted to feel outwardly? Not to mention to even show our feelings. When we emote, are we signaling to others that we're weak? Is it ok to feel what we feel?

My lecturer said, "Emotion is energy in motion..." It is a physical reaction. We do actually feel something moving within our body. And I do subscribe to this idea. For example, when I feel angry, I can sense that there is a feeling of chemicals surging upwards to my head. Therefore, we ought to be aware of our own feelings. But having the control over it is another matter.

But, how often when we see someone else grieving over their loss and we tip-toed around them as though if we address this feeling, we're actually helping to destroy their safe haven? Yes, I do admit that we ourselves will feel uncomfortable when facing these situations but are we helping our friends in this case? But grieving is a process. The longer we ignore it,probably the longer we'll stay in its phases or we might not even reach the stage of accepting the loss and live our lives as we want to be.

What about anger? Is it ok to feel angry? Emotion in general are neutral of any moralities. It is when a person dwell on it and when it goes on to become hostile and aggressive that it is unacceptable.

Emotions are natural. Be aware of it, and deal with it.

gotham

Went to watch "Dark Knight" at Vivo today. GV Max and think there was an event for some other company there as well. Heh, mine was also a company outing.

Didn't like "Batman Begins" as I thought it was quite absurd to involve ninja's and what nots. However, "Dark Knight" redeemed itself. The pace was fast. Some unexpected moments (tho' some are too predictable.. like the *spoiler alert!* hostage situation in the building (social experiment scene <-- got so many martyrs? Are we willing to sacrifice ourselves to save others?)... Anyway, this movie got lots of explosions, loud audio and a lot of gore but not much blood. There were quite a lot of psychotic moments that kinda messes up your mind... or at least mine.... ha..haha hoho a..haha eh..uhuh haha...

Thought it was quite weird for Harvey Dent to be flipping coins.. didn't realize that he's suppose to be... ahaha hehe, you'll know what I mean if you've watched the movie. He was ok, didn't quite like him when he was the good guy. Kinda unbelievable that he loved Rachel that much.. didn't get that vibe from him...

Christian Bale did a commendable job. Lovelorn, misunderstood and in a position that no one ever wants to be in... well.. probably everyone wanna be Bruce Wayne but not Batman?

Joker... I find this portrayal eerily and chillingly real. Heath did give us a great last performance...


ps: Penny/Desmond, if you're reading this... yalar.. same night that we bumped into each other!

da boot

Today put forth to someone that they're not up to mark. And therefore, will have to either go on your own, or to be given the boot.

Yes, the truth, hurts. But its even worse when the receiving end doesn't really agree with you, or they're somewhat convinced that they're better than they really is...

Well, you may say, its a matter of perception. We see what we want to believe in and we believe what we see...

internship

Will be doing internship/attachment this term. Need to start looking for the agency to attach to. However, all quarters have warned that this is going to be an ardous task! Which I think is true.

If I'm the agency head, I'd be thinking, why in the world would I want to hire a trainee who has minimal/or even no exposure to the field and will be dealing with clients, in a closed door setting. And not to mention, need to assign someone to handhold/mentor this trainee. So ma fan right? Haha!

If that's the case, then there's really no hope! How to complete my 100 hours (minimum) requirement of face-to-face contact hours? Also, if I'm having my day job, what kind of hours can I spare for my future agency? Like after office hours? Got such organization or not? Or on weekend? I've asked my peers, they say usually only on 2 weekdays then the organization might be opening up till quite late, say 9pm. If that's the case, then in 1 week, at max. I can only fulfill up to 2 contact hours per week. Ha... that'll only adds up to 8 hours per week (provided your clients all turn up la...). So I'll need 13 weeks to do that, hmm... still possible hor? Haha, but having said that, competition is high. In Singapore, there's a limited number of organization that you can apply to. And not to mention, there're about 5-8 courses that produces the same needs (for attachment) at about the same time. 1 cohort let's say average is about 40 students. So 8 cohorts will be 320 students fighting for 1 or 2 places in the same organization!

suze orman

Had a chance to watch Oprah yesterday. Heh, on a two-day MC, so had the opportunity to stay home and do all sorts of things!

Anyway, she had a guest yesterday, Suze Orman. A compelling speaker. And she's into Finance. Something that most women, have problem with. Why compelling, well.. Suze Orman apparently was in USD$250,000 debt when she was younger (now she's 50+) but she managed to turn her life around. So, she reorganized her finances, wrote a couple of books, went on a few talk shows and voila, rebirth! But it should be a lot of hardwork on her part too. While she was on Oprah, she offered advise on mortages to women who are currently in difficult situation.

Suze obviously knows her country's financial system well, from the way she talks about how to get the best out of mortgages, what to do when you're in credit card debt, why you shouldn't be taking a loan out of the IR8 something something (probably equivalent to our CPF or something like that). The US have different mortgages loans for the house. In Singapore, its likely to be a fixed rate mortgage where the borrower will contract that he/she will pay xxx amount every month for 20/30 years with yyy interest rate. In the US, they have another way of paying in which, the financial institution offers the borrower a lower amount to pay (for example xxx amount divide by 2, instead of $1500 per month, borrower pays $750 but for longer term say, instead of 20 years, now it become 30 years) So according to Suze, most people who opted for that, usually didn't know that the amount that they will eventually pay, is higher and for a longer term. And, because of the US market problem recently, these mortgage rates for this kind of loan, will be revised, so that the borrower instead of paying $750, will now have to pay $1500. So if the borrower, could only afford $750 per month, they will now have to scramble to raise double the amount and sustain it for 20 years if they do not wish to lose the mortgage.

Her advise is quite common sense. Like, she'll say something like, trust no one but yourself when investing because no one cares about your money more than you do. She likened financial advisors as no more than a salesperson in suits. Which is true anyway. Then a lady says but those people are the experts. Suze says, these people can only advise but the final decision should lies with yourself and if you do not know what you're doing with your money, then do nothing is better than doing something that you're not sure. Hehe, sounds like good advise to me. Nowadays I'm doing something and those something are really making me poorer!


More of Suze.

nasty

Been having this nasty cough. Sick and tired of it. I don't mind cough, but this one.. boy.. its just horrible. Everytime you cough, the chest feels as though its been stabbed. Don't cough, you'll feel as though you gonna drown in a pool of phelgm. Lungs feels congested.

Don't know when its gonna end.

dum dee dum

Been getting the brains fried these few days. 38.9 degrees on the worse night. That temperature actually reminds me of how I felt after the appendix op. Exactly that kind of woozy feeling.

These few days are much better but still hovering at about 37.5. Guess, still something is not quite right yet. Sigh, old age.

somedays

Ever had a day, when you just feel that the world is against you?
Ever had a day, when you feel so down, its kinda hard to stand up?
Ever had a day, you smile but it felt more like a frown?

Sometimes, we have those days.. and mine happened to be today.

hugging buddha's legs

i'm supposed to write a paper on trauma... i think now i'm traumatized! arghhhh! that's why la.... last minute job.. ai si ah!

gan cheong liao la.... no time no time! die die die!

same sex marriage

It is now legal for same gender couples to be married in California (USA). Otherwise, it is also possible to be married in Netherlands, Belgium, Spain and Canada.

The most vocal protestors would be from religious point of view. However, in most society nowadays, it will become increasingly common to have individuals who has partners of the same sex.

of weddings and such

Went to a wedding dinner yesterday. Jonathan ('tho in office we call him by his Chinese name!) and Elizabeth, happily ever after. Enjoyable dinner, with ex-colleagues (alumni club!) and current ones.

With age catching up, I don't think I'll ever be married. Cynical? Yeah.. or probably realistic. I don't believe in marrying without love. Practical union? Urgh.. no thanks. Idealistic, yes.

So, probably all the investment that I'm embarking on, will be used to fund my stay in the old folks home later on. Better still, open one and stay for free!

tokyo stash

foodstuffs from japan (but it's for other people... i got the tokyo banana!)



royce... probably can find in singapore also



did i mention i love tokyo banana?



recommended to try! soft and fluffy!

when is dead.. means really dead?

Recently occurred, and once again, a man who had been pronounced dead... minutes or hours later, came back to life... miraculously. The man apparently had a heart attack, massive one, mind you. And after doctors couldn't resuscitate him, he was pronounced dead and were scheduled for organ transplant. Doctors WERE actually in the process of preparation for organ transplant! But I wonder what does the preparation process involved? Were they actually carving out the organs already or were they just preparing the apparatus to do the deed, or what?

Anyway, the moral of the story is... science need a better method to ensure that the human is really DEAD, when they're dead.

Read about it here.

You Are Bert

Extremely serious and a little eccentric, people find you lovable - even if you don't love them! You are usually feeling: Logical - you rarely let your emotions rule you You are famous for: Being smart, a total neat freak, and maybe just a little evil How you life your life: With passion, even if your odd passions (like bottle caps and pigeons) are baffling to others

The Sesame Street Personality Quiz

You Are 40% Boyish and 60% Girlish

You are pretty evenly split down the middle - a total eunuch. Okay, kidding about the eunuch part. But you do get along with both sexes. You reject traditional gender roles. However, you don't actively fight them. You're just you. You don't try to be what people expect you to be.

How Boyish or Girlish Are You?

Your Mind is Purple

Of all the mind types, yours is the most idealistic. You tend to think wild, amazing thoughts. Your dreams and fantasies are intense. Your thoughts are creative, inventive, and without boundaries. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking of fictional people and places - or a very different life for yourself.

What Color Is Your Mind?

Your Values Profile

Loyalty: You value loyalty highly. You're completely devoted to your friends and family. Even if they totally screw up, you're still there for them. Just make sure they're equally loyal to you! Honesty: You don't really value honesty. You do value getting your way, no matter what. And if a little lying is required to do that, no problem. A few white lies never hurt anyone (at least, that's what you tell yourself!) Generosity: You value generosity highly. So much so that you often put your own needs last. There's nothing wrong with having a caring heart... But you may want to rethink your "open wallet" policy. Humility: You value humility highly. You have the self-confidence to be happy with who you are. And you don't need to seek praise to make yourself feel better. You're very modest, and you're keep the drama factor low. Tolerance: You value tolerance highly. Not only do you enjoy the company of those very different from you... You do all that you can to seek it out interesting and unique friends. You think there are many truths in life, and you're open to many of them.

The Five Factor Values Test

stem cells research

Stem cells has the potential to revolutionarise treatment of diseases. It works on the premise of the self-renewal and its capacity to differentiate (transform into) specialized cell types. There're two types: Embryonic (can transform into any cell types) and Adult (specialized). In short, the most powerful stem cells, are the ones that can turn into any cell types. Imagine its usage, for example, cancerous cells destroyed by the mutation. Now plant some new cells into it and voila, healthier ones are now taking place of those diseased ones. Or, in damaged muscles, transplant some of those stem cells and you'll have new ones.

But, the controversy comes from the process of getting the embryonic stem cells. Ethical issues it is, as argued by the exponents, as it is moving towards human cloning which in turn might devalue human beings. Proponents views it as significant medical potential which might provide cure to currently devastating medical conditions.



Read more here.

goodies from Hokkaido



close up of packaging.. so cute hor?

handsome guy

Oooohh.. did I tell you that yesterday that one handsome guy came to the office? Muahahahhaha, he came to demo something (sales rep from headquarters) together with his Singapore counterpart. Hong Kong people's English has a certain accent to it that makes it distinctive (in a good way, I think..)

He was all dressed up in coat (like a business man), but alas, our small meeting room was a little too hot. So he took off his clothes (jacket lah...) Hahahaa!

Yeah, got a chance to shake hands with him. Not once, not twice but three times! Kakakaka!

meow~

Somehow, my neighbourhood got lots of cats. Few around my block, then some across the street etc. Fed by citizens, so they're everyone's pet. They're like in show biz, feed them, stroke them and they'll purr.... meow~


moving, so quite blur



i was thinking whether it'll jump and pounce on my phone

amusement

the clock ticks
the bones creak
wrinkles showed, even as u speak
growing old is automatic (some say traumatic!)
age encroach us at our peak