Monday bluezzz...
Bad news day or maybe I'm just irritable cos it's Monday - bleeeh!
I heard from Peter that a rockclimber fell to her death yesterday. I didn't know her personally, but I knew who she was : young, fun, bubbly person.
Regretfully, I wished overall safety attitudes are better in Taiwan. It scares me still to know that they belay without a brake hand, or simulataneously belaying 2 climbers with 1 belay device? Last month, a dive boat left without it's full load of 8 divers - they drifted for 4 day until one of them swam all day for a nearby island. What was the boat driver thinking?
It is more than a matter of who's system is better. It is about ensuring one's life.
And HP's travel desk again rejected my travel expense claim forms. I hate them with a vengence. Perhaps they just hate the TDC-cNB team. You know what, so do I. Maybe I'm not the only one.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
I cracked and I squealed
Had you ever danced with the devil in the pale moon light?
I ate lunch with my boss' boss today and gave him the absolute low-down on what I felt was wrong with the office and my co-workers.
Yeah, I squealed on everyone.
The goal was peaceful - for a better office atmosphere with team spirit and cooperation. I know it is possible because it is de rigueur in the rest of HP!
Will I live to regret this moment? Perhaps. If I do, then I live and I learn.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Palo Alto, California
I forgot to bring my residence card while leaving Taiwan for US. Some difficulty at customs and I was almost tempted to go home. To be forced to spend 1 week with my yucky co-workers was not something I looked forward to anyways...
But being the responsible employee that I am.. I went nontheless. :(
But being the responsible employee that I am.. I went nontheless. :(
And I discovered I love California. It is so me! People here cycle to work on their racers - I drool at the bikes. We tried to walk to the nearby mall - Stanford Shopping Centre, the hotel folks said 10min walk. I am guessing Californians are very athletic people, it took us almost half an hour. Then again, we walked a little, whined about how tired we are, and how we only see trees and no buildings..
And I discovered I do get jetlagged. 1st time in my life. Slept at 1.30am, woke up 3.30am. Nothing I did helped get me into bed. Read newspapers, read Bible, read emails... GROAN! At 6am, I gave up and took brisk jog in the park across the hotel. (Brisk cos it is COLD in the mornings!) Many Caliornians up and about - cycling, jogging... I love it here!
Last night we had dinner at Santana Row. It was so cool.
Now, how do I get myself a job here in Cupertino or Palo Alto? Anybody?
On a similar vein, Steph got herself a job in Cupertino! You go gal! I will be visiting! She's finally making up for the fact that she refused to transfer over to Seoul 2 years ago. (Cos I love Korean food and I need free accomodation when I visit - hey, it's not always about you u know!).
And I discovered I do get jetlagged. 1st time in my life. Slept at 1.30am, woke up 3.30am. Nothing I did helped get me into bed. Read newspapers, read Bible, read emails... GROAN! At 6am, I gave up and took brisk jog in the park across the hotel. (Brisk cos it is COLD in the mornings!) Many Caliornians up and about - cycling, jogging... I love it here!
Last night we had dinner at Santana Row. It was so cool.
Now, how do I get myself a job here in Cupertino or Palo Alto? Anybody?
On a similar vein, Steph got herself a job in Cupertino! You go gal! I will be visiting! She's finally making up for the fact that she refused to transfer over to Seoul 2 years ago. (Cos I love Korean food and I need free accomodation when I visit - hey, it's not always about you u know!).
My ride to SF airport was a stretch limo.... Jesus loves me! (see left pix)My ride home from Taoyuan airport was a van... Sigh! (see right pix)
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Turbulence
Clear air turbulence weather (CAT), colloquially referred to as "air pockets", is the erratic movement of air masses in the absence of any visual cues, such as clouds. Clear-Air Turbulence is caused when bodies of air moving at widely different speeds meet; at high altitudes (7,000-12,000 metres/23,000-39,000 feet) this is frequently encountered around jet streams or sometimes near mountain ranges.
Turbulences can be compared to little irks in life that bugs you but what's worse, it causes you to takes your eyes off the more important things in life - that destination you were heading for. We need to keep our eye on the prize and not sweat the small things in life - the air pockets!
Turbulences can be compared to little irks in life that bugs you but what's worse, it causes you to takes your eyes off the more important things in life - that destination you were heading for. We need to keep our eye on the prize and not sweat the small things in life - the air pockets!
It's funny what you think about while flying... ok ok, the digital entertainment on Cathay Pacific sucks. And the fact that it took half a day to get across the Taiwan Straits is simply ridiculous. I hope President Ma gets direct flights between Taiwan and China going soon!
I'm in Shanghai for OOBE (out of box experience). And we rode Shanghai's Maglav trains from the airport into the city. So, for the 2nd time in so many days, I got to ride another high speed train. Unlike Taiwan's version, Shanghai's operate on magnetic levitation to float on rails instead of the conventional steel wheels. It hit top speed of 305km/h - and I just learned that it goes up to max of 400km/h in the day time (I landed at night). Guess I'm on the Maglev back to the airport instead of cabbing in.
I'm in Shanghai for OOBE (out of box experience). And we rode Shanghai's Maglav trains from the airport into the city. So, for the 2nd time in so many days, I got to ride another high speed train. Unlike Taiwan's version, Shanghai's operate on magnetic levitation to float on rails instead of the conventional steel wheels. It hit top speed of 305km/h - and I just learned that it goes up to max of 400km/h in the day time (I landed at night). Guess I'm on the Maglev back to the airport instead of cabbing in.
And my Hyatt on the Bund hotel room is really nice. Traveling within Asia is always so nice...
Of cos when in China, there's time for a massage every night. They have the best massage spas, at affordable prices and the best part, open til 2am every night. Sharon told me to go to the Dragonfly. That I went back 2 nights in a row speaks for itself.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Halo is cool!
Halo is HP's video conferencing facility, I experienced for the first time today. It allows up to 4 way conferencing and is simply awesome. No lag and it feels as if the various parties are in the same room.
www.hp.com/halo
This morning, the service guys did a teardown of a notebook. I got to see a notebook stripped down to the various components. Very interesting and educational. Essentially everything's mounted onto 3 parts, the LCD, the base pan top and bottom.
Learn something new each day - some days you wake up to a new world of learnings - literally.
www.hp.com/halo
This morning, the service guys did a teardown of a notebook. I got to see a notebook stripped down to the various components. Very interesting and educational. Essentially everything's mounted onto 3 parts, the LCD, the base pan top and bottom.
Learn something new each day - some days you wake up to a new world of learnings - literally.
Monday, May 05, 2008
There is only one way to put an end to evil, and that is to do good for evil - Leo Tolstoy
Ron Rolheiser's last week's column titled, Hatred and the Gospel was so profoundly written that it is reproduced here for your reading pleasure.
There is a popular theme within Christian apologetics that goes something like this: Christianity is the most hated of all religions and that is a certain proof of its truth. The logic works this way: If we are so unfairly hated, we must be doing something right. Truth and innocence draw hatred. Jesus was hated, and so are we!We need to be careful with that because, among other things, today, thanks to certain radical fundamentalists claiming to be Muslim, Islam is probably the most hated of all religions, and hated not because of what is true and best inside of it. Not only innocence and truth draw hatred. Being hated is not always a good sign or an indication that you (alone among the unfaithful) are holding to the real truth. It may be that you have made a vow of alienation rather than of love. Both eventually make you hated.Being hated is only a criterion of carrying the truth if you have made a vow of love. Jesus wasn�t trying to be divisive and unpopular, he was trying to speak his truth in ways that precisely didn�t alienate and didn�t provoke hatred. But that isn�t always possible. He was trying to love others, purely and in the truth, but it eventually made him an object of hatred.That isn�t surprising.There is a certain proclivity within human nature to hate innocence and goodness. We see this illustrated in many books and movies. Notice how in so many stories that depict the struggle between good and evil, invariably, the bad will eventually train its sights on and fixate on what is its opposite, innocence and goodness. In most every dramatic epic, eventually the guns of the bad guys will end up trained upon the most innocent and loving person in town. It�s the saint who invariably bears the brunt of wound and hurt inside of a community. It is the saint who eventually is the scapegoat. It happened to Jesus. It happens to all goodness; by its stripes we are healed.Why?Because such is the anatomy of hatred. Hatred is a perverse form of love, love�s grief. It�s what love becomes when, because of wound and circumstance, it cannot be warm and reciprocal. Rollo May once famously stated that hatred is not the opposite of love. Indifference is. Hatred might instead be described as cold, wounded, frustrated, and grieving love, love gone sour. You can�t conjure-up a powerful hatred for someone unless at some level you first love him or her. When love is wounded and frustrated, the tears it provokes can be warm and cleansing, but they can also be bitter and cold. Cold grief. Hatred with its children, jealousy, bitterness, murderous feelings. That�s part of the anatomy of love and that�s why love can so quickly turn into hatred and why most murders are domestic. When love breaks down what follows is rarely indifference (a parting in good friendship). What follows is often hatred, bitterness, coldness. Affairs mostly grow sour, not indifferent, and the same is, sadly, true of love in almost all its aspects.What�s to be learned from this?That hatred needs to be understood, whether it�s at a personal level or at the level of whole civilizations hating each other. Hatred is not the opposite of love. It is a perverse form of love, cold grief, bitter disaffection, that needs not to be met in kind, with a reciprocal form of coldness, but with warmth and forgiveness, tough as these are in the face of their opposite. One of the great moral struggles of our lives lies precisely in this. When people hate us what spontaneous feeling rise within us? Feelings of coldness and anger, along with the wish, secret and not-so-secret, that their lives will go badly and that, in the ensuing misery, they will be forced to see their error and have to swallow against their will the fact that they are wrong, particularly about us. Hatred wants the other to choke on his or her own error.But none of that will be productive for those who hate us, or for ourselves. Only if good things begin to happen in the lives of those who hate us, only if they feel the warmth of love and blessing, can their hearts let go of the bitterness, jealousy, and hatred that�s there. Hearts don�t thaw out inside of bitterness and jealousy. They break. It�s not when people are bitter that they admit the error of their ways and the unfairness of their hatred. Hearts begin to see how wrong their hatred is only when the very object of their jealousy and hatred is itself strong enough to not give back in kind, but instead to absorb the hatred for what it is, wounded love, love gone cold when it would want to be warm.Leo Tolstoy once said: "There is only one way to put an end to evil, and that is to do good for evil."
There is a popular theme within Christian apologetics that goes something like this: Christianity is the most hated of all religions and that is a certain proof of its truth. The logic works this way: If we are so unfairly hated, we must be doing something right. Truth and innocence draw hatred. Jesus was hated, and so are we!We need to be careful with that because, among other things, today, thanks to certain radical fundamentalists claiming to be Muslim, Islam is probably the most hated of all religions, and hated not because of what is true and best inside of it. Not only innocence and truth draw hatred. Being hated is not always a good sign or an indication that you (alone among the unfaithful) are holding to the real truth. It may be that you have made a vow of alienation rather than of love. Both eventually make you hated.Being hated is only a criterion of carrying the truth if you have made a vow of love. Jesus wasn�t trying to be divisive and unpopular, he was trying to speak his truth in ways that precisely didn�t alienate and didn�t provoke hatred. But that isn�t always possible. He was trying to love others, purely and in the truth, but it eventually made him an object of hatred.That isn�t surprising.There is a certain proclivity within human nature to hate innocence and goodness. We see this illustrated in many books and movies. Notice how in so many stories that depict the struggle between good and evil, invariably, the bad will eventually train its sights on and fixate on what is its opposite, innocence and goodness. In most every dramatic epic, eventually the guns of the bad guys will end up trained upon the most innocent and loving person in town. It�s the saint who invariably bears the brunt of wound and hurt inside of a community. It is the saint who eventually is the scapegoat. It happened to Jesus. It happens to all goodness; by its stripes we are healed.Why?Because such is the anatomy of hatred. Hatred is a perverse form of love, love�s grief. It�s what love becomes when, because of wound and circumstance, it cannot be warm and reciprocal. Rollo May once famously stated that hatred is not the opposite of love. Indifference is. Hatred might instead be described as cold, wounded, frustrated, and grieving love, love gone sour. You can�t conjure-up a powerful hatred for someone unless at some level you first love him or her. When love is wounded and frustrated, the tears it provokes can be warm and cleansing, but they can also be bitter and cold. Cold grief. Hatred with its children, jealousy, bitterness, murderous feelings. That�s part of the anatomy of love and that�s why love can so quickly turn into hatred and why most murders are domestic. When love breaks down what follows is rarely indifference (a parting in good friendship). What follows is often hatred, bitterness, coldness. Affairs mostly grow sour, not indifferent, and the same is, sadly, true of love in almost all its aspects.What�s to be learned from this?That hatred needs to be understood, whether it�s at a personal level or at the level of whole civilizations hating each other. Hatred is not the opposite of love. It is a perverse form of love, cold grief, bitter disaffection, that needs not to be met in kind, with a reciprocal form of coldness, but with warmth and forgiveness, tough as these are in the face of their opposite. One of the great moral struggles of our lives lies precisely in this. When people hate us what spontaneous feeling rise within us? Feelings of coldness and anger, along with the wish, secret and not-so-secret, that their lives will go badly and that, in the ensuing misery, they will be forced to see their error and have to swallow against their will the fact that they are wrong, particularly about us. Hatred wants the other to choke on his or her own error.But none of that will be productive for those who hate us, or for ourselves. Only if good things begin to happen in the lives of those who hate us, only if they feel the warmth of love and blessing, can their hearts let go of the bitterness, jealousy, and hatred that�s there. Hearts don�t thaw out inside of bitterness and jealousy. They break. It�s not when people are bitter that they admit the error of their ways and the unfairness of their hatred. Hearts begin to see how wrong their hatred is only when the very object of their jealousy and hatred is itself strong enough to not give back in kind, but instead to absorb the hatred for what it is, wounded love, love gone cold when it would want to be warm.Leo Tolstoy once said: "There is only one way to put an end to evil, and that is to do good for evil."
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Labour Day Long Wknd Getaway in Taichong & Sun Moon Lake
A few 1sts this weekend.
- finally rode the high speed rail! It is FAST!
- made it out beyond Hualien into Taichong
- visted the much talked about Sun Moon Lake
- scootering
Was pretty fun except Sun Moon Lake was er.. hohum boring. I suppose the heavy rain affected our experience, but I honestly didn't think it was all that it was made out to be. Anyways, the high point of Sun Moon Lake for us were the foot massage - I like all massage :) and scootering which scared me sh__.
I got lazy with picture taking this trip... The hotel rooms were pretty decent, esp the Sun Moon Lake accomodate - it was nice. I would recommend it to visitors. Here're my few pix -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157604879391371/ Kuansie took loads more pix - I'll try to add a link to her website if she parks them up.
Ran in this morning's Supau Cup - no championship tags and it was super crowded. Was warm too (which I suppose is way better than the 14degrees I did in January's Nike Run). Clocked a slow time - 1.01 same as Nike Run. I will work on this - my gym membership starts in June after my US trip.
- finally rode the high speed rail! It is FAST!
- made it out beyond Hualien into Taichong
- visted the much talked about Sun Moon Lake
- scootering
Was pretty fun except Sun Moon Lake was er.. hohum boring. I suppose the heavy rain affected our experience, but I honestly didn't think it was all that it was made out to be. Anyways, the high point of Sun Moon Lake for us were the foot massage - I like all massage :) and scootering which scared me sh__.
I got lazy with picture taking this trip... The hotel rooms were pretty decent, esp the Sun Moon Lake accomodate - it was nice. I would recommend it to visitors. Here're my few pix -
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8062670@N07/sets/72157604879391371/ Kuansie took loads more pix - I'll try to add a link to her website if she parks them up.
Ran in this morning's Supau Cup - no championship tags and it was super crowded. Was warm too (which I suppose is way better than the 14degrees I did in January's Nike Run). Clocked a slow time - 1.01 same as Nike Run. I will work on this - my gym membership starts in June after my US trip.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
I live for holidays!
The much talked about Taichung adventure finally. Garin & I been meaning to do this forever.
Itineary
Thu May 1
- high speed rail to Taichung, business class no less :)
- check into http://www.debaohotel.com.tw/en/mainpage.php.
- go race each other at go-karts http://www.taiwanfun.com/central/taichung/recreation/0307/0307wnROSSO.htm
- tour and party in Taichung rest of day
Fri May 2
- bus ourselves to Nantou, Sun Moon Lake
- check into http://www.lakebank.idv.tw/
- chill til Sat evening
Sat May 3
- take the evening train back to Taipei
Sun May 4
- early morning Sports Supau race, 9km
Really looking forward to the May Day long wknd :)
Itineary
Thu May 1
- high speed rail to Taichung, business class no less :)
- check into http://www.debaohotel.com.tw/en/mainpage.php.
- go race each other at go-karts http://www.taiwanfun.com/central/taichung/recreation/0307/0307wnROSSO.htm
- tour and party in Taichung rest of day
Fri May 2
- bus ourselves to Nantou, Sun Moon Lake
- check into http://www.lakebank.idv.tw/
- chill til Sat evening
Sat May 3
- take the evening train back to Taipei
Sun May 4
- early morning Sports Supau race, 9km
Really looking forward to the May Day long wknd :)
Monday, April 21, 2008
Taiwan's Pacific Coast
Went with Peter's church group to Jinshan's coast - Lion's head rock. It was a beautiful day out, cloudy so it wasn't warm and very very windy. Blew away the political frustrations I felt all week.
The highlight of Jinshan are the 2 islets called Twin Candlestick Islands. The Taiwanese said it's like a couple - 1's male and the other female.
Then we had seafood just outside Yeliu Geopark and another visit to Yeliu Geopark - went there in Jan with Garin. Seafood was barely passable - Woraphot (a coworker from long ago) is right - Singapore has the best seafood in the world. Ok, ok, so I am biased. But really nothing compares to Long Beach.
Was a great day.
Spent the rest of the weekend hanging out with Kuansie, Garin, Kaori and her puppy (we all love Twinkle) and Vincent. It was nice. We were relaxed, ate a lot, had a decent foot massage, ribbed one another alot.. Oh and Kuansie bought a tree - literally. For her new place. It fits in really nicely - her 3 bedroom is beautiful. God is so generous with her. Not fair!
The highlight of Jinshan are the 2 islets called Twin Candlestick Islands. The Taiwanese said it's like a couple - 1's male and the other female.
Then we had seafood just outside Yeliu Geopark and another visit to Yeliu Geopark - went there in Jan with Garin. Seafood was barely passable - Woraphot (a coworker from long ago) is right - Singapore has the best seafood in the world. Ok, ok, so I am biased. But really nothing compares to Long Beach.
Was a great day.
Spent the rest of the weekend hanging out with Kuansie, Garin, Kaori and her puppy (we all love Twinkle) and Vincent. It was nice. We were relaxed, ate a lot, had a decent foot massage, ribbed one another alot.. Oh and Kuansie bought a tree - literally. For her new place. It fits in really nicely - her 3 bedroom is beautiful. God is so generous with her. Not fair!
Friday, April 18, 2008
Defeated
Texan Rednecks 1 - Felicia 0I concede defeat.
My game plan is to last out this year and in December start going for job interviews.
Out of respect to Jessica, I will try to stay 2 years, or at least 18 months in this job.
Been complaining about the work environment, the Texans, the acidity enough. I'll stop from today - along with the decision not to continue with this team.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
In search of exercise
Should I join Action Life - the new Alexander gym (new owners who bought over the pack of thieves who almost cheated me out of 18kNT)? Or go with California Fitness?
Action Life is easy, on the way between home and work, too convenient. But expensive. 3800NT a month...
California, need to start price negotiations. But the nearest one is still a bus/train ride away...
Sigh, decisions decisions.
Action Life is easy, on the way between home and work, too convenient. But expensive. 3800NT a month...
California, need to start price negotiations. But the nearest one is still a bus/train ride away...
Sigh, decisions decisions.
Knifed - ouch...
Back to Taiwan.
As was the last time, I came home optimistic and cheerful.
The cheeriness lasted 3 days.
Mon-Wed I woke up internal body clock at 7.30am, walked to work, at my desk by 8.30am. Stayed positive.
Wed evening in my 1-on-1 with boss - she said that one of my teammates asked if I had gone back to Singapore for a job interview. Ouch!
I had informed my teammates that I was going to go home to settle my apartment matters. So the fact that someone had deliberately gone to ask boss to say something else shows one of 2
- they didn't believe me when I said I had to settle my apartment matters or,
- they were trying to do me in by creating an impression of a lack of loyalty to this team
In either case, ain't good. I'm screwed.
Reinforces how I always felt about this team - that one can only survive so long in an acidic environment without it eventually getting to you.
As was the last time, I came home optimistic and cheerful.
The cheeriness lasted 3 days.
Mon-Wed I woke up internal body clock at 7.30am, walked to work, at my desk by 8.30am. Stayed positive.
Wed evening in my 1-on-1 with boss - she said that one of my teammates asked if I had gone back to Singapore for a job interview. Ouch!
I had informed my teammates that I was going to go home to settle my apartment matters. So the fact that someone had deliberately gone to ask boss to say something else shows one of 2
- they didn't believe me when I said I had to settle my apartment matters or,
- they were trying to do me in by creating an impression of a lack of loyalty to this team
In either case, ain't good. I'm screwed.
Reinforces how I always felt about this team - that one can only survive so long in an acidic environment without it eventually getting to you.
Sunday, April 06, 2008
Home in sunny Singapore 2-13 April
I flew home to settle the legal matters for my apartment. I will own it for a couple of weeks before the transfer to the new owners. Sigh. So much for my 1st apartment in my lifetime, my dream apartment nestled in the rain forests.
I love Singapore, here...
- birds chirp everywhere here, it truly is what our Communications Minister said 'living in Singapore would be like living in a garden'.
- the air is fresh and warm
- people here WANT to eat lunch with me. I take appointments. Sigh...
- co-workers are professional, ok ok, they ain't texan rednecks. No need to draw at high-noon.
And you know what, I realise I've been in Taiwan too long when I caught myself
- missing & NEEDING a bubble tea fix BAD!
- after making payment for purchases, I stand and wait for the sweepstate receipt
- I miss the politeness of service folks - Singaporeans can be way way too brusque for our own good.
One more week of stuffing myself silly with local food and walking around sweating in the tropical heat...
I love Singapore, here...
- birds chirp everywhere here, it truly is what our Communications Minister said 'living in Singapore would be like living in a garden'.
- the air is fresh and warm
- people here WANT to eat lunch with me. I take appointments. Sigh...
- co-workers are professional, ok ok, they ain't texan rednecks. No need to draw at high-noon.
And you know what, I realise I've been in Taiwan too long when I caught myself
- missing & NEEDING a bubble tea fix BAD!
- after making payment for purchases, I stand and wait for the sweepstate receipt
- I miss the politeness of service folks - Singaporeans can be way way too brusque for our own good.
One more week of stuffing myself silly with local food and walking around sweating in the tropical heat...
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Guitar Lessons
After a mild hic-cup with Yamaha - they kept delaying the start of lessons. The 4th time in a row they pushed out the start, I asked for my $ back.
Went to Kawai - across the street from my place. Incidentally I first checked them out, but somehow assumed Yamaha would be more professional.
The good thing about Kawai, other than distance is that it's 1-on-1 coaching. Considering I'm a complete neophyte, perhaps it's a better thing. I had this mental picture of a sweet mild patient young lady teacher.
Instead this guy in a black leather jacket carrying a coffee - with a bad ass attitude to boot. Like a rocker! And he went on to waste most of the lessons impressing me with riffs from all genres. He likes bluegrass a lot - but I have this distaste for anything cowboy right now :(
He's pretty good and eventually we got to playing some. My rockclimber fingers - which I assumed would be strong, actually aren't! I can't stretch them out far apart enough. He also said I need to practise at least half to an hour daily. Gah!
It was interesting.
Went to Kawai - across the street from my place. Incidentally I first checked them out, but somehow assumed Yamaha would be more professional.
The good thing about Kawai, other than distance is that it's 1-on-1 coaching. Considering I'm a complete neophyte, perhaps it's a better thing. I had this mental picture of a sweet mild patient young lady teacher.
Instead this guy in a black leather jacket carrying a coffee - with a bad ass attitude to boot. Like a rocker! And he went on to waste most of the lessons impressing me with riffs from all genres. He likes bluegrass a lot - but I have this distaste for anything cowboy right now :(
He's pretty good and eventually we got to playing some. My rockclimber fingers - which I assumed would be strong, actually aren't! I can't stretch them out far apart enough. He also said I need to practise at least half to an hour daily. Gah!
It was interesting.
Monday, March 17, 2008
It's dark out...
Sometime ago, 2007, in Singapore HP office, end of work day
And I have 1 more friend in Taiwan now - Kuansie officially moved over this weekend. And... now I can gatecrash the Far East Shangrila's gym. My muscles are still sore from yesterday - legs and arms from exertion and stomach from overeating at the eat-all-you-can mala hotpot place with Kuansie.
Felicia - "oo, it's dark out, time to go home"
Singapore co-worker - "don't be ridiculous, turn your headlights on when you drive home"
Today, Mar 17 2008, Taiwan HP office, end of work day
Felicia - "oo, it's dark out, time to go home"
Taiwan co-worker - "don't be ridiculous, it's only 6pm"
As you can see, when it gets dark out, it doesn't necesarily mean time to go home.
Speaking of it being dark out, I was pretty bumped out last 2 weeks. Skipped all exercise, dinners out... stayed home and watched TV and pretty much convinced myself into depression.
Til Karine's realism... she is right - every job has it's ups and downs. And I realised how silly I was. I've forgotten to count my blessings.
Slowly snapped out of it this weekend. Went climbing and then to watch Taiwan's Bike Expo on Saturday (touched and felt all those super expensive racers).
Sunday morning I woke up earlier to watch the last stage of the Tour de Taiwan before going to 10.30mass at St John Bosco's. A deadly combination - speed, muscles and hunks :) I like!
And I have 1 more friend in Taiwan now - Kuansie officially moved over this weekend. And... now I can gatecrash the Far East Shangrila's gym. My muscles are still sore from yesterday - legs and arms from exertion and stomach from overeating at the eat-all-you-can mala hotpot place with Kuansie.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Yesterday's Responsorial Psalm 23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6 was a much needed balm. Oh when will Lent end?
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right pathsfor his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
You spread the table before mein the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;he refreshes my soul.
He guides me in right pathsfor his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage.
You spread the table before mein the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;my cup overflows.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Beware the Ides of March
I need a holiday...
The PH level in the office is getting to me... People here are way to acidic for me.
I wonder if it's because it's predominately a pre-merger Compaq organisation. A lot of folks here are long time Compaq employees, some have worked for Compaq all their lives. So this organisation is very very Compaq, with Compaq processes and with long serving Compaq employees. In fact, many still talk about Compaq like it's who they still work for. Truth is, HP bought Compaq - Compaq as a company should be defunct. But the Compaq culture remains strong. And its a very different culture from HP. It is more individualistic, aggressive work culture - almost bothering on hostility.
Or is it cos I am dealing with Texans. The cowboy 'fight-em-all', 'shoot-em-up', 'draw!' mentality is so ingrained that everything's a fight with them. There's verbals fights, there's email fights, there's conference call fights, there's face-to-face fights... At the end of a fight, when my colleagues sit back and say with pride and contentment - 'oh that was a good fight'...
This is way too unprofessional for me.
Or perhaps this is a personal Lenten challenge : remain positive, be a change catalyst.
Or, give up & find a new job, or perhaps return to cPC.
Beware the Ides of March, beware the devils within us all.
The PH level in the office is getting to me... People here are way to acidic for me.
I wonder if it's because it's predominately a pre-merger Compaq organisation. A lot of folks here are long time Compaq employees, some have worked for Compaq all their lives. So this organisation is very very Compaq, with Compaq processes and with long serving Compaq employees. In fact, many still talk about Compaq like it's who they still work for. Truth is, HP bought Compaq - Compaq as a company should be defunct. But the Compaq culture remains strong. And its a very different culture from HP. It is more individualistic, aggressive work culture - almost bothering on hostility.
Or is it cos I am dealing with Texans. The cowboy 'fight-em-all', 'shoot-em-up', 'draw!' mentality is so ingrained that everything's a fight with them. There's verbals fights, there's email fights, there's conference call fights, there's face-to-face fights... At the end of a fight, when my colleagues sit back and say with pride and contentment - 'oh that was a good fight'...
This is way too unprofessional for me.
Or perhaps this is a personal Lenten challenge : remain positive, be a change catalyst.
Or, give up & find a new job, or perhaps return to cPC.
Beware the Ides of March, beware the devils within us all.
Friday, March 07, 2008
Bjork in support of Tibet
The Associated Press
Friday, March 7, 2008
SHANGHAI, China: China will be stricter on foreign performers after Icelandic singer Bjork shouted "Tibet! Tibet!" at the end of her concert in Shanghai this week, the government said Friday.
A statement by China's Culture Ministry said Bjork's outburst "broke Chinese law and hurt Chinese people's feelings."
Bjork shouted "Tibet!" after a passionate performance of her song "Declare Independence" on Sunday. The outburst drew rare public attention inside China to Beijing's often harsh rule over the Himalayan region.
The statement, posted on the Culture Ministry's Web site, also said "there is no country that admits that Tibet is an 'independent country.'"
Bjork has performed the song to support other independence movements in the past. She dedicated the song to Kosovo while performing last month in Japan. The lyrics include the phrase "Raise your flag!"
China's 58-year rule over Tibet has drawn frequent condemnation from foreign governments and activists, often inciting a prickly nationalism among the Chinese government and ordinary people. Many Tibetans consider the exiled Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama as their rightful leader.
Copyright © 2008 The International Herald Tribune www.iht.com
Living in Taiwan which China views as a thorny renegade province, there're some parallels to Tibet. Except China has not invaded by force... yet...
Friday, March 7, 2008
SHANGHAI, China: China will be stricter on foreign performers after Icelandic singer Bjork shouted "Tibet! Tibet!" at the end of her concert in Shanghai this week, the government said Friday.
A statement by China's Culture Ministry said Bjork's outburst "broke Chinese law and hurt Chinese people's feelings."
Bjork shouted "Tibet!" after a passionate performance of her song "Declare Independence" on Sunday. The outburst drew rare public attention inside China to Beijing's often harsh rule over the Himalayan region.
The statement, posted on the Culture Ministry's Web site, also said "there is no country that admits that Tibet is an 'independent country.'"
Bjork has performed the song to support other independence movements in the past. She dedicated the song to Kosovo while performing last month in Japan. The lyrics include the phrase "Raise your flag!"
China's 58-year rule over Tibet has drawn frequent condemnation from foreign governments and activists, often inciting a prickly nationalism among the Chinese government and ordinary people. Many Tibetans consider the exiled Buddhist spiritual leader the Dalai Lama as their rightful leader.
Copyright © 2008 The International Herald Tribune www.iht.com
Living in Taiwan which China views as a thorny renegade province, there're some parallels to Tibet. Except China has not invaded by force... yet...
Thursday, March 06, 2008
The Lord's faithfulness
Yesterday's reading was so moving... esp the last 2 verses. I had to re-read a few more times.
Isaiah 49:8-15
Thus says the LORD:
In a time of favor I answer you,
on the day of salvation I help you;
and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people,
To restore the land
and allot the desolate heritages,
Saying to the prisoners: Come out!
To those in darkness: Show yourselves!
Along the ways they shall find pasture,
on every bare height shall their pastures be.
They shall not hunger or thirst,
nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them;
For he who pities them leads them
and guides them beside springs of water.
I will cut a road through all my mountains,
and make my highways level.
See, some shall come from afar,
others from the north and the west,
and some from the land of Syene.
Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth,
break forth into song, you mountains.
For the LORD comforts his people
and shows mercy to his afflicted.
But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me.”
Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.
Isaiah 49:8-15
Thus says the LORD:
In a time of favor I answer you,
on the day of salvation I help you;
and I have kept you and given you as a covenant to the people,
To restore the land
and allot the desolate heritages,
Saying to the prisoners: Come out!
To those in darkness: Show yourselves!
Along the ways they shall find pasture,
on every bare height shall their pastures be.
They shall not hunger or thirst,
nor shall the scorching wind or the sun strike them;
For he who pities them leads them
and guides them beside springs of water.
I will cut a road through all my mountains,
and make my highways level.
See, some shall come from afar,
others from the north and the west,
and some from the land of Syene.
Sing out, O heavens, and rejoice, O earth,
break forth into song, you mountains.
For the LORD comforts his people
and shows mercy to his afflicted.
But Zion said, “The LORD has forsaken me;
my Lord has forgotten me.”
Can a mother forget her infant,
be without tenderness for the child of her womb?
Even should she forget,
I will never forget you.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Best Asian expat city - Singapore
From the Taipei Times today, the best asian city according to expats is, Singapore!
And Taipei ranks no. 6 within Asian cities, no mention of what the rank is within global cities.
Majula Singapura!
And Taipei ranks no. 6 within Asian cities, no mention of what the rank is within global cities.
Majula Singapura!
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