Monday, June 29, 2009
The Paradox of Life
After Desiderata, another profound work that is popular is The Paradox of Life. There are two persons who could be the author but this could not be confirmed. However, this work is widely, and erroneously, said to be authored by George Carlin. Those who are familiar with Carlin’s work usually react with amazement that he could write something so beautiful and profound yet believe he is the author.
I have told a number of people that this is not written by George Carlin. An anthropology professor in an Australian university, who always verify her research sources, also attribute this erroneously to Carlin. When told Carlin is not the author, these people usually react the same way - there is a nagging instinct that Carlin wouldn’t have written something like this, yet because there are so many instances/websites that said he did, they accepted it. This perhaps is the danger of the Net. When a piece of information, accurate or not, is circulated enough times, it somehow becomes the truth. I believe Wikipedia only requires that a piece of information be cited twice before being accepted as reliable.
Whilst there is still no conclusive evidence who the original author is, it is certainly not George Carlin. Why? Because the man said so himself. (For those not familiar with George Carlin, please be warned that clicking on the link will bring you to his website which, characteristic to his work, is filled with vulgar obscene expletives.)
Anyway, let’s enjoy and reflect on this.
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, but less good judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much and spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We’ve added years to life not life to years.
We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.
We've conquered outer space but not inner space.
We’ve done larger things, but not better things.
We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice.
We write more, but learn less.
We plan more, but accomplish less.
We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait.
We have higher incomes, but lower morals.
We've more food, but less appeasement.
We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
We've become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.
These are the days of two incomes but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.
A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.
Remember to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it.
A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak!
And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
I have told a number of people that this is not written by George Carlin. An anthropology professor in an Australian university, who always verify her research sources, also attribute this erroneously to Carlin. When told Carlin is not the author, these people usually react the same way - there is a nagging instinct that Carlin wouldn’t have written something like this, yet because there are so many instances/websites that said he did, they accepted it. This perhaps is the danger of the Net. When a piece of information, accurate or not, is circulated enough times, it somehow becomes the truth. I believe Wikipedia only requires that a piece of information be cited twice before being accepted as reliable.
Whilst there is still no conclusive evidence who the original author is, it is certainly not George Carlin. Why? Because the man said so himself. (For those not familiar with George Carlin, please be warned that clicking on the link will bring you to his website which, characteristic to his work, is filled with vulgar obscene expletives.)
Anyway, let’s enjoy and reflect on this.
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge, but less good judgment; more experts, yet more problems; more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much and spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We’ve added years to life not life to years.
We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.
We've conquered outer space but not inner space.
We’ve done larger things, but not better things.
We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We’ve split the atom, but not our prejudice.
We write more, but learn less.
We plan more, but accomplish less.
We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait.
We have higher incomes, but lower morals.
We've more food, but less appeasement.
We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
We've become long on quantity, but short on quality.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.
These are the times of world peace, but domestic warfare; more leisure, but less fun; more kinds of food, but less nutrition.
These are the days of two incomes but more divorce; of fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw away morality, one-night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer to quiet to kill.
It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.
A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.
Remember to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it.
A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak!
And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
The Past Three Weeks
The past three weeks have been packed for me. It’s like I have been just flowing along with the current with no control and hence I have not posted anything here.
First there was a report I had to write. But I suffered from “writer’s block” – just don’t know how to write it. Normally I would have completed a report within a week. But this took about 2.5 weeks. Was surprised nobody seemed to notice that I took longer than usual. Perhaps one is “entitled” to a delay once in a while if that is not the norm. One fine evening at around 9.00 pm, I sat down in front of my computer and the words and thoughts just flow to me naturally. I managed to complete slightly more than half by 10.30 pm. Stopped, got ready for bed and continued and finished the report the following morning!
Beside this report, I was also quite busy with other areas of my work. It didn’t help when I applied several days of leave to spend time and play with my cousins’ kids as it was the school holidays.
A “day” with the kids typically starts from 10.00 am (when I start my journey) to after 8.00 pm. By the time I reached home and get settled down, it’s around 9.30 pm. Checked emails and maybe watched the news or other programmes to unwind and it’s time for bed.
My cousin‘s son introduced a computer flash game to me and I was hooked. That evening I played the game till 2.30 am before I reluctantly went to bed. I think if my mum had not knocked on my door and “ordered” me to go to bed I might had continued with the game. Yes, I have been playing this game frequently (each round can last about 45 minutes or so) and I even played this game at the office, though usually during my lunch break but it did encroached my working hours.
Because of the above, I was behind my TV watching schedule. I had to record quite a number of programmes (Eli Stone, Battlestar Galactica, Merlin, documentaries, Korean dramas, etc) and I didn’t get a chance to watch and clear one episode before the next one is on. But I found that I get better entertainment satisfaction watching two or more episodes at one go then watching one weekly.
I will be busy with work this coming week. But after that I should be able to take a breather.
First there was a report I had to write. But I suffered from “writer’s block” – just don’t know how to write it. Normally I would have completed a report within a week. But this took about 2.5 weeks. Was surprised nobody seemed to notice that I took longer than usual. Perhaps one is “entitled” to a delay once in a while if that is not the norm. One fine evening at around 9.00 pm, I sat down in front of my computer and the words and thoughts just flow to me naturally. I managed to complete slightly more than half by 10.30 pm. Stopped, got ready for bed and continued and finished the report the following morning!
Beside this report, I was also quite busy with other areas of my work. It didn’t help when I applied several days of leave to spend time and play with my cousins’ kids as it was the school holidays.
A “day” with the kids typically starts from 10.00 am (when I start my journey) to after 8.00 pm. By the time I reached home and get settled down, it’s around 9.30 pm. Checked emails and maybe watched the news or other programmes to unwind and it’s time for bed.
My cousin‘s son introduced a computer flash game to me and I was hooked. That evening I played the game till 2.30 am before I reluctantly went to bed. I think if my mum had not knocked on my door and “ordered” me to go to bed I might had continued with the game. Yes, I have been playing this game frequently (each round can last about 45 minutes or so) and I even played this game at the office, though usually during my lunch break but it did encroached my working hours.
Because of the above, I was behind my TV watching schedule. I had to record quite a number of programmes (Eli Stone, Battlestar Galactica, Merlin, documentaries, Korean dramas, etc) and I didn’t get a chance to watch and clear one episode before the next one is on. But I found that I get better entertainment satisfaction watching two or more episodes at one go then watching one weekly.
I will be busy with work this coming week. But after that I should be able to take a breather.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Prestat Fine Chocolates
Prestat was officially established in London in 1902. Its chocolates are the favourite of Royal Family, in particular The Queen Mother, HM Queen Elizabeth.
I have tried both the Prunes and Apricots in (60%) Dark Chocolate. Both are priced at $29 per box of 150 gm. The tastes of prunes and apricots overpowered that of the expected thin coat of chocolate. It would have been cheaper and more chocolaty had I bought the fruits and dark chocolate separately and eat them together. I don’t blame them. Fruit-dips are usually disappointing to me. I suppose when I eat chocolates, I expect chocolates to play the predominant role. However I enjoyed the dark chocolate coated orange peel sold by Canelé during the Chinese New Year period.
I find Prestat truffles and dark chocolate ranges nothing to scream about. Perhaps I am not used to “English” chocolates. Given its high price, $58 for 200 gm of truffles, it is over-rated. Worst when you are paying a premium when the prices in UK are so much cheaper. Yes, prices will be higher as compared to the place of origin because of airfreight and so on. But the price differentiate of Prestat chocolates is particularly higher compared to other brands. I do notice that for most non-local chocolates in Singapore, prices are generally more expensive here compared to Hong Kong and Taiwan.
I have tried both the Prunes and Apricots in (60%) Dark Chocolate. Both are priced at $29 per box of 150 gm. The tastes of prunes and apricots overpowered that of the expected thin coat of chocolate. It would have been cheaper and more chocolaty had I bought the fruits and dark chocolate separately and eat them together. I don’t blame them. Fruit-dips are usually disappointing to me. I suppose when I eat chocolates, I expect chocolates to play the predominant role. However I enjoyed the dark chocolate coated orange peel sold by Canelé during the Chinese New Year period.
I find Prestat truffles and dark chocolate ranges nothing to scream about. Perhaps I am not used to “English” chocolates. Given its high price, $58 for 200 gm of truffles, it is over-rated. Worst when you are paying a premium when the prices in UK are so much cheaper. Yes, prices will be higher as compared to the place of origin because of airfreight and so on. But the price differentiate of Prestat chocolates is particularly higher compared to other brands. I do notice that for most non-local chocolates in Singapore, prices are generally more expensive here compared to Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Chocz.
I couldn’t possibly eat chocolate just once a year. To get my fix, I do have to travel and make a special trip and I don’t normally travel just for one thing. So when I have the cravings and am too lazy to make a special trip, I get Chocz. as I happen to pass by it once a week.
Singapore brand Chocz., which started in 2001, specialises in Swiss chocolate. Their Swiss chocolates are made in Singapore whilst the Leonidas Chocolates from Belgium are airflown here once a week.
Amongst the Swiss range, I like the Dark Truffle, Cappuccino, Exquisite and Almond Rocher Dark. Their Mango Truffle does not taste like mango at all. However if you are not set on tasting mango, it is quite nice; the paste goes well with the white chocolate and it is not that sweet. Sadly, their Good Night (dark sesame paste in milk ganache) also does not have strong sesame flavour. The best dark sesame paste chocolate I feel is from Canelé.
If you have not noticed by now, I have a preference for Belgian and dark chocolates. Hence for Leonidas Chocolates, which has both a dark and milk chocolate variety for every flavours, I naturally go for the dark variety. Leonidas Chocolates do tend to have a nutty flavour. If it is a Leonidas, I will eat it!
Chocz. chocolates are priced at $19.80 per 100 gm. Currently there is a promotion where you will get 20% discount if you buy at least 200 gm of their Swiss range. For their Belgian range, you need only to buy at least 100 gm to get 20% discount. That’s only $15.84 per 100 gm of Leonidas! Load it up man!!
Singapore brand Chocz., which started in 2001, specialises in Swiss chocolate. Their Swiss chocolates are made in Singapore whilst the Leonidas Chocolates from Belgium are airflown here once a week.
Amongst the Swiss range, I like the Dark Truffle, Cappuccino, Exquisite and Almond Rocher Dark. Their Mango Truffle does not taste like mango at all. However if you are not set on tasting mango, it is quite nice; the paste goes well with the white chocolate and it is not that sweet. Sadly, their Good Night (dark sesame paste in milk ganache) also does not have strong sesame flavour. The best dark sesame paste chocolate I feel is from Canelé.
If you have not noticed by now, I have a preference for Belgian and dark chocolates. Hence for Leonidas Chocolates, which has both a dark and milk chocolate variety for every flavours, I naturally go for the dark variety. Leonidas Chocolates do tend to have a nutty flavour. If it is a Leonidas, I will eat it!
Chocz. chocolates are priced at $19.80 per 100 gm. Currently there is a promotion where you will get 20% discount if you buy at least 200 gm of their Swiss range. For their Belgian range, you need only to buy at least 100 gm to get 20% discount. That’s only $15.84 per 100 gm of Leonidas! Load it up man!!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Mizkan Creamy Golden Sesame Dressing
On my last trip to Tokyo I walked into a restaurant in Shinjuku and ordered lunch. I can’t remember the name of or where exactly the restaurant was as, unlike dinner, I usually would just eat at whatever place I happened to be and felt like eating. And anyway, that was supposed to be my last trip to Tokyo and since I didn’t plan on returning I didn’t bother to take note of the name or location of the restaurant.
On the table was a mini pounder and you placed the roasted sesame seeds into the pounder and grinded them into powder form. As you grind the seeds, the aroma from the roasted seeds would be released. You poured this powder onto your rice or whatever food you fancied. On the table there was quite a large and long bottle of sesame seed dressing. This was for the free-flow fresh cabbage salad. It was the best sesame seed dressing I came across. I refilled my salad twice and almost finished that bottle of dressing. I had actually wanted to ask where I could buy the dressing or whether they would sell the dressing. But since I couldn’t speak Japanese, I didn’t. I have searched for the dressing in Japan and Singapore but nothing resembled it. I suspect the dressing was made in-house.
I have tried several sesame seed dressings that are made in Japan. The one that I like most is Mizkan Kin Gomadare Baisen Arabiki (Mizkan Creamy Golden Sesame Dressing). It is made not from black or white, but golden sesame seed. Golden sesame seeds are high in protein, vitamin E, calcium, and other minerals. They contained large amount of sesamin, which is an antioxidant.
The consistency of this dressing is just nice – not too liquid nor too thick. As there is vinegar in it, there is just a slight sourly taste that goes well with any salad or cutlets. It is available at Cold Storage for $7.90 for a 250ml bottle.
Here is a suggestion. Buy half or one red cabbage from Australia and keep in the refrigerator. They stay fresh and last longer than lettuce. Whenever you feel like eating it, too lazy to stir fry vegetables or need an extra dish, simply cut the cabbage into strips, wash and drain them, pour and mix in generous amount of the dressings and serve - you will have a very appetizing and nutritious dish. If you find the texture of raw red cabbage a bit too chewy, boil them in hot water for a couple of minutes first, let it cool and then pour the dressing.
The purple color in red cabbage comes from a class of pigment molecules called anthocyanins which may provide cancer protection, improve brain function and promote heart health.
On the table was a mini pounder and you placed the roasted sesame seeds into the pounder and grinded them into powder form. As you grind the seeds, the aroma from the roasted seeds would be released. You poured this powder onto your rice or whatever food you fancied. On the table there was quite a large and long bottle of sesame seed dressing. This was for the free-flow fresh cabbage salad. It was the best sesame seed dressing I came across. I refilled my salad twice and almost finished that bottle of dressing. I had actually wanted to ask where I could buy the dressing or whether they would sell the dressing. But since I couldn’t speak Japanese, I didn’t. I have searched for the dressing in Japan and Singapore but nothing resembled it. I suspect the dressing was made in-house.
I have tried several sesame seed dressings that are made in Japan. The one that I like most is Mizkan Kin Gomadare Baisen Arabiki (Mizkan Creamy Golden Sesame Dressing). It is made not from black or white, but golden sesame seed. Golden sesame seeds are high in protein, vitamin E, calcium, and other minerals. They contained large amount of sesamin, which is an antioxidant.The consistency of this dressing is just nice – not too liquid nor too thick. As there is vinegar in it, there is just a slight sourly taste that goes well with any salad or cutlets. It is available at Cold Storage for $7.90 for a 250ml bottle.
Here is a suggestion. Buy half or one red cabbage from Australia and keep in the refrigerator. They stay fresh and last longer than lettuce. Whenever you feel like eating it, too lazy to stir fry vegetables or need an extra dish, simply cut the cabbage into strips, wash and drain them, pour and mix in generous amount of the dressings and serve - you will have a very appetizing and nutritious dish. If you find the texture of raw red cabbage a bit too chewy, boil them in hot water for a couple of minutes first, let it cool and then pour the dressing.
The purple color in red cabbage comes from a class of pigment molecules called anthocyanins which may provide cancer protection, improve brain function and promote heart health.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Lengthen Incoming Call Ringing Time
Yesterday, I went to Starhub Service Centre at Plaza Singapura to have my incoming call ringing time lengthened from the network default of 30 seconds. Was told it cannot be done. When I insisted that it could be done and it was only whether they wanted to do it that the guy came back with his supervisor with a piece of paper with the instruction code to do so. But it was still only 30 seconds.
Before I attempted to key in the code, I asked the supervisor whether doing so would corrupt my SIM Card and she assured me that it wouldn’t. But after I tried, my SIM Card was corrupted. But I didn’t realise this until I reached home when my phone kept indicating “insert sim card.”
So I had to go to their Service Centre again but this time I went to the one at Tampines Mall as it was nearer and told the service guy what happened. He and his supervisor(s) were also not aware that the ringing time could be lengthened and were surprised that instruction codes were available. Anyway my SIM Card was replaced but all the data was corrupted and could not be retrieved.
I had backup my SIM Card onto my computer hard drive which unfortunately crashed three weeks ago which meant I didn’t have a backup! I will have to ask some of my contacts to give me their contacts and have to key them in again.
As calling Starhub would be a frustrating thing to do, I decided to write in and let them sort out amongst themselves before coming back to me. But to get their email address I had to call the hotline as the email address wasn’t reflected on their website. The guy who picked up the call, Tino, who was situated in the Philippines, told me the email address was customerservice@starhub.com.sg. When I asked about the sg part, he replied that “since Starhub is in Singapore, there should be sg”. Of course he was wrong!
I had written them an email detailing the sequence of events and would wait for their response. Even within a small HDB flat, 30 seconds might not be sufficient for one to get to the phone in time if one is in another section of the flat. Why must Starhub insist on just 30 seconds? Customers should be allowed to decide how long they want their phone to ring before been diverted or stopped.
Before I attempted to key in the code, I asked the supervisor whether doing so would corrupt my SIM Card and she assured me that it wouldn’t. But after I tried, my SIM Card was corrupted. But I didn’t realise this until I reached home when my phone kept indicating “insert sim card.”
So I had to go to their Service Centre again but this time I went to the one at Tampines Mall as it was nearer and told the service guy what happened. He and his supervisor(s) were also not aware that the ringing time could be lengthened and were surprised that instruction codes were available. Anyway my SIM Card was replaced but all the data was corrupted and could not be retrieved.
I had backup my SIM Card onto my computer hard drive which unfortunately crashed three weeks ago which meant I didn’t have a backup! I will have to ask some of my contacts to give me their contacts and have to key them in again.
As calling Starhub would be a frustrating thing to do, I decided to write in and let them sort out amongst themselves before coming back to me. But to get their email address I had to call the hotline as the email address wasn’t reflected on their website. The guy who picked up the call, Tino, who was situated in the Philippines, told me the email address was customerservice@starhub.com.sg. When I asked about the sg part, he replied that “since Starhub is in Singapore, there should be sg”. Of course he was wrong!
I had written them an email detailing the sequence of events and would wait for their response. Even within a small HDB flat, 30 seconds might not be sufficient for one to get to the phone in time if one is in another section of the flat. Why must Starhub insist on just 30 seconds? Customers should be allowed to decide how long they want their phone to ring before been diverted or stopped.
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