Seasonal vs H1N1 Flu Shot

There have been so many conflicting reports on the merits of the H1N1 Flu Vaccine. The more I read about them, the more confused I am as some of “facts” are hard to verify. For instance, we have the article in Newseek in support of the Vaccine and another disturbing one by the controversial Dr Russell Blaylock who is against it.

I took my annual seasonal flu shot two weeks ago and had a chat with my family doctor on this. Whilst she gives herself and her family the seasonal flu shot she does not intend to do so with the H1N1 Vaccine. She told me the research and trial period for this Vaccine was too short. The production of the Vaccine was too rushed. She didn’t recommend that I take the H1N1 Vaccine. I believe she would advise against it but would still administer the shot if her patients insisted.

I will not be taking the H1N1 Vaccine and I guess I just have to be very careful and follow the general advices given, which are:

1. To wash one’s hands thoroughly especially after touching things like door knobs, railings or surfaces in public.

2. Not to touch your face, especially rub your nose, mouth or eye after touching public surfaces.

3. Boost one’s immunity by taking food or supplements rich in vitamins C, D and E.

4. Plenty of fluid.

5. Adequate sleep and rest.

6. Appropriate exercise.

Some Chinese Words of Wisdom

一山不能容二虎，除非一公和一母。

我和超人的唯一區別是：我把內褲穿在褲子裡面。

一個人並不孤單，想一個人時才孤單。

騎白馬的不一定是王子，可能是唐僧。

帶翅膀的不一定是天使，也可能是'鳥人'。

錢不是問題，問題是我沒有錢。

對流血一週仍然不死的動物千萬不能大意。

避孕的效果：不成功，便成人。

男人的謊言可以騙女人一夜，女人的謊言可以騙男人一生!

寧願相信世間有鬼，也不能相信男人的那張嘴!

生，容易。活，容易。生活不容易。

我不是隨便的人，但隨便起來就不是人。

流氓不可怕，就怕流氓有文化。

水能載舟，亦能煮粥！

聰明的女人對付男人，而笨女人對付女人。

Some Words of Wisdom

Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead.
Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow.
Do not walk beside me for the path is narrow.
In fact, just piss off and leave me alone.

Sex is like air. It's not that important unless you aren't getting any.

No one is listening until you fart.

Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else.

Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

If you think nobody cares whether you're alive or dead, try missing a couple of mortgage payments.

Before you criticise someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticise them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably well worth it.

Some days you are the bug; some days you are the windshield.

Don't worry; it only seems kinky the first time.

Good judgment comes from bad experience ... and most of that comes from bad judgment.

There are two excellent theories for arguing with women. Neither one works.

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

Your sole purpose in life may be to simply serve as a warning to others.

People will accept your idea more readily, if you tell them some famous people said it first.

Sometimes the majority only means that all the fools are on the same side.

Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.

Following the path of least resistance is what makes rivers and men crooked.

Never ask a barber if he thinks you need a haircut.

Life is 10% of what happens to you, and 90% of how you respond to it.

He who scratches his ass shouldn’t bite his fingernails.

People who live in glass houses should wear clothes.

You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.

Life is what happens to you when you’re making other plans.

Going to church does not make you a Christian anymore than going to McDonald’s makes you a hamburger.

If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.

The best angle from which to approach any problem is the try-angle.

The Amazing Cucumber

I received the following through email two weeks ago and have not verified or tried any of these claims.

1. Cucumbers contain most of the vitamins you need every day. Just one cucumber contains Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, Folic Acid, Vitamin C, Calcium, Iron, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Potassium and Zinc.

2. Feeling tired in the afternoon, put down the caffeinated soda and pick up a cucumber. Cucumbers are a good source of B Vitamins and Carbohydrates that can provide that quick pick-me-up that can last for hours.

3. Tired of your bathroom mirror fogging up after a shower? Try rubbing a cucumber slice along the mirror, it will eliminate the fog and provide a soothing, spa-like fragrance.

4. Are grubs and slugs ruining your planting beds? Place a few slices in a small pie tin and your garden will be free of pests all season long. The chemicals in the cucumber react with the aluminum to give off a scent undetectable to humans but drive garden pests crazy and make them flee the area.

5. Looking for a fast and easy way to remove cellulite before going out or to the pool? Try rubbing a slice or two of cucumbers along your problem area for a few minutes, the phytochemicals in the cucumber cause the collagen in your skin to tighten, firming up the outer layer and reducing the visibility of cellulite. Works great on wrinkles too!!

6. Want to avoid a hangover or terrible headache? Eat a few cucumber slices before going to bed and wake up refreshed and headache free. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish essential nutrients the body lost, keeping everything in equilibrium, avoiding both a hangover and headache!!

7. Looking to fight off that afternoon or evening snacking binge? Cucumbers have been used for centuries and often used by European trappers, traders and explores for quick meals to thwart off starvation.

8. Have an important meeting or job interview and you realise that you don't have enough time to polish your shoes? Rub a freshly cut cucumber over the shoe, its chemicals will provide a quick and durable shine that not only looks great but also repels water.

9. Out of WD 40 and need to fix a squeaky hinge? Take a cucumber slice and rub it along the problematic hinge, and voila, the squeak is gone!

10. Stressed out and don't have time for massage, facial or visit to the spa? Cut up an entire cucumber and place it in a boiling pot of water, the chemicals and nutrients from the cucumber with react with the boiling water and be released in the steam, creating a soothing, relaxing aroma that has been shown the reduce stress in new mothers and college students during final exams.

11. Just finish a business lunch and realise you don't have gum or mints? Take a slice of cucumber and press it to the roof of your mouth with your tongue for 30 seconds to eliminate bad breath, the phytochemcials will kill the bacteria in your mouth responsible for causing bad breath.

12. Looking for a 'green' way to clean your faucets, sinks or stainless steel? Take a slice of cucumber and rub it on the surface you want to clean, not only will it remove years of tarnish and bring back the shine, but is won't leave streaks and won't harm you fingers or fingernails while you clean.

13. Using a pen and made a mistake? Take the outside of the cucumber and slowly use it to erase the pen writing, also works great on crayons and markers that the kids have used to decorate the walls!!

may i feel said he by e e cummings

Was watching The Weakest Link this evening and one of the questions was what was the unique style of e e cummings' poems. And immediately I remember this brilliant piece which I want to share with you.

Well, if you read more of Edward Estlin Cummings’ (1894-1962) works, you will notice that he doesn't used capital letters, appropriate punctuation and syntax.

may i feel said he
(i'll squeal said she
just once said he)
it's fun said she

(may i touch said he
how much said she
a lot said he)
why not said she

(let's go said he
not too far said she
what's too far said he
where you are said she)

may i stay said he
(which way said she
like this said he
if you kiss said she

may i move said he
is it love said she)
if you're willing said he
(but you're killing said she

but it's life said he
but your wife said she
now said he)
ow said she

(tiptop said he
don't stop said she
oh no said he)
go slow said she

(cccome?said he
ummm said she)
you're divine!said he
(you are Mine said she)

This was the first piece of his works that I came across. At that time I thought the author’s surname was a joke; that someone just playfully conjured to go along with this erotic (in a beautiful and wholesome way) piece, until I read more of his works and knew that indeed there was this American poet, playwright and author.

Soap Creative – The People Behind Autobot Stronghold

Whilst I have said in my earlier post that I pay too much attention to details and facts of my posts and would like to “relax” a bit, I am glad I did as my post on how to Win, Clear 50 Waves & Score at Autobot Stronghold not only have been receiving a lot of hits from all over the world, it has also caught the attention of Soap Creative, the people whom LG engaged to design the Game.

Three persons from Soap Creative had emailed me to say they were amazed by the level of details and game strategy that I have provided in my post. I was told that they didn’t know about the Ultimate Cheat as it was unintentional and probably a bug. As a token of appreciation and encouragement, they gave me a USD50 Amazon voucher.

Autobot Stronghold is one of the finalists for the ADMA (Australian Direct Marketing Association) Awards 2009, which will be held in Sydney on 19 Nov 09. Two other works by Soap Creative, The Chicken Race and Lynx Primal Instinct, are also contending finalists.

Well they have also asked me what I thought of Autobot Stronghold Game and whether there was anything that I would like to change. Do you have anything? If you have any comments or suggestions on this Game, please leave your comments here.

Soap Creative is currently working on another tower defence game for Marvel and it should be pretty cool and out soon.

For a detail list of the games by Soap Creative and to play them, go here.

Why Blog? How Blog?

I have not posted anything for nearly four weeks now though there were so many things on my mind that I wanted to share.

This is what I was afraid of and one of the reasons why I didn’t started blogging earlier. It has to do with my character – in everything I do, that has a direct reflection of me, it has to be done to the best of my effort. So, as far as this Blog is concerned, it has to be written in a clear and concise way and all facts must be verified and elaborated upon before posting. Sometimes when I had written something and about to post it but a similar report appears in the newspaper first, I will delete it and not post it.

For instance I wanted to write about e-book reader, how a number of years back (not recently) I saw one lady having one and she looked so cool that I had coveted one, about how expensive it is and there are other better and cheaper alternatives coming up soon from Plastic Logic and Asus. But all these have appeared in our newspapers recently, except no one has mentioned anything yet about Asus coming up with a colour dual-panel e-book, which is supposed to be cheaper than the Kindle.

But that is journalism and not blogging.

I remembered one MP said that if he needs to think before writing anything on his blog, it wouldn’t be blogging and it would be too tedious to do so. Whilst I agree with him, I cannot bring myself to do that. And because of this, it took me some time to decide on the direction my Blog should go. (Under normal circumstances I would need to find out the name of this MP before posting even though the actual name is immaterial.)

This IS supposed to be MY cyber scrapebook, where I scribbler down notes of interest to MYSELF, and a lesser extent to others. I started this Blog with this concept and direction and thus I must remember this from now onwards.

Lost Generation by Jonathan Reed

Contestants were asked to create 2-minute video describing their vision of the future; what life would be like by the time they turned 50. This piece by Jonathan Reed from Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia won second prize in the AARP's U@50 video contest.

AARP is a "nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50+ have independence, choice and control in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them and society as a whole."



I am part of the Lost Generation
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world
I realise this may be a shock but
“Happiness comes from within”
is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy”
So in 30 years I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life.
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
but this will not be true in my era
this is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
30 years from now I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making
In the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm.
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.

And all of this will come true unless we choose to REVERSE it.

There is hope.
It is foolish to presume that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It will be evident that
My peers and I care about this earth
No longer can it be said that
Environmental destruction will be the norm.
In the future
I will live in a country of my own making
I do not concede that
30 years from now I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
Experts tell me
this is a quick fix society
but this will not be true in my era
Families stayed together
Once upon a time
I tell you this
family
is more important than
work
I have my priorities straight because
My employer will know that
they are not the most important thing in my life.
So in 30 years I will tell my children
“Money will make me happy”
is a lie, and
“Happiness comes from within”
I realise this may be a shock but
I can change the world
And I refuse to believe that
I am part of the Lost Generation.

Empire State Restaurant @ Iluma – An Update

Had lunch there on Wednesday, 30 Sep 09 at 12.45 pm.

There were more people dinning there compared to two moths’ ago when I was last there. (Please read my previous post on this Restaurant here.)

I had the Baked Salmon again and it was just as good as before. But the portion of salmon and mashed potato were about 10% less than previously. However this time round they throw in a free soup and I had the Mushroom Soup which was thick and filled with plenty of mushroom, which I enjoyed.

As the portion was quite large previously, reducing the portion and substituting it with a free soup is an excellent move, which will benefit both the diner and the restaurant.

Ice3 Café @ Upper Thomson Road

Was at the Ice Cube Cafe outlet at Upper Thomson Road on Sunday, 27 Sep 09 at around 4 pm with my mum, my cousin, my cousin’s husband, and their two children.

Besides us, there was a party of five persons there but left as we placed our oder. There was only two staff present though we could tell from the staff cards that they have more than ten staff. Apparently most people come late in the night since the Café is opened till 1 am to 2 am.

A picture of the interior of the Cafe.
For ice cream we had Chocolate Maximum (3 scopes of Mocha and Chocolate flavours - $12.90) and Very Berry Strawberry ($9.90) – both are good.

We also ordered Alcoholics Anonymous (which is a rum raisin ice cream on an Oreo crust). We could tell by the taste that the raisins were well soaked in rum. It was good too.

For finger food, we had the Seafood Platter (softshell crab, calamari rings, fish bites and prawn dippers served with tartar sauce - $14.90) and Cheesy Fries (crispy fries drenched in melted nacho cheese - $6.50).

The children had the Mango and Chocolate Smoothies ($5.50 each), which they seemed to enjoy.

A sign, which could be debatable, outside the Cafe.
Our order did take a long time to be served but the staff were very friendly and accommodating. They allowed the children to see how they prepare the smoothies and finger food. The children also kind of played hide and seek with the staff.

Initially we had wanted Onion Rings too but didn’t order that after agreeing to the staff recommendation of the Seafood Platter. However, the staff was kind enough to throw in three Onion Rings for the children.

Basically it was a good experience. A nice place to go if you like your mud pies and ice cream laced with alcoholics or if you happen to be around that area.

For my experience with their online order, please read previous post here.