Picture Perfect - Illumination

 

Picture Perfect 2008/#13

 Theme : Illumination

Camera : Canon IXUS I

Date Taken : 2007 Sep

 

Took this picture "Brighter Side of a wall" in one of the hotel rooms during one of my sleepless nights.

 

 

So far my life has always been of the darker side ...

However, I tell myself :

"Don't Worry, Never Give Up !

There's always the brighter side that I can look forward to,

and it is awaiting for me to have the courage to take a step forward and cross over ..."

 

May Yours Have Already and Always Been of the Brighter Side...

 

Join in the Fun =>> FotoFriday's Picture Perfect Friday

Help! I'm Surrounded by Idiots - A Workplace Survival Guide

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Nonfiction
Author:	Tom E. Jones

After reading this book, though it is a good guidance book, but idiots are always idiots and nothing can be changed.

For my case, I don't really required to work in a team, thus chapter 8 really applies to my case. That day I found out that I was not being "appreciated" for the job I had done which my boss, together with the big boss had promised me in the big boss room, I felt being "fooled" by them and I just got so frustrated that I sent him an email (as not in town) telling him that those promises that he and the big boss had told me inside the room were all BS.

Introduction Don’t Blame Me, I Just Work Here
Chapter 1 What Do They Want From You?
Chapter 2 When You Know It, You Won’t Blow It
Chapter 3 Putting Dirty Ernie’s Out Of Business
Chapter 4 If It’s Not Your Problem, Whose Is It?
Chapter 5 Teamwork – Some Assembly Required
Chapter 6 Tell Them What They Need To Hear
Chapter 7 Don’t Move My Cheese
Chapter 8 I Can’t Believe I’m Working For That Idiot

Extract the common conditions that promote idiot-like behaviors from the book:

Condition 1 – Unstable Relationships
Relationships are based on how well people get along with each other rather than on the unique skills and experiences each person brings to the job assignment. There is no appreciation for the need to create common goals that pull people together.

Condition 2 – Dispirited Workers
It is considered unacceptable behavior to challenge one’s co-workers or supervisors – even when it is obvious that they are acting inappropriately, could do the job better, might use fewer resources, or could avoid mistakes if made aware of their shortcomings.

Condition 3 – Information Hoarding
Fearful of bringing up potentially troublesome issues in front of their leaders, followers gather privately to complain about their jobs and to poke fun at those witless wonders who run the place

Condition 4 – Minimal Expectations
Problems that easily could be fixed when they occur are left to float to the top or sink to the bottom. No one seems to care if the job gets done right or if the customer is satisfied

Condition 5 – Unresponsive Cliques
Leaders have unrealistic expectations of what it takes to form people into the teams and soon discover that the modern work force rejects teamwork, preferring instead to join cliques.

Condition 6 – Unreliable Communications
Mistakes and misunderstandings, caused by a general inability to figure out what information is needed, where and how to transmit bad news to the higher-ups, create a major source of distrust.

Condition 7 – Change Resistance
People fear change. They are really afraid of it, not because they don’t agree with or see the need for it, but because they’re usually left in the dark until the change is made.

Condition 8 – Management Mistrust
Instead of providing inspirational, future-focused leadership, managers make self-serving, short-term decisions and order quick fixes that only confuse, frustrate, and discourage the troops.

小马哥当总统啦！

我今年今天的小小生日愿望终于实现了！！！

我十年前的期待，希望，终于落实了！！！

今天哪儿都不去，就是呆在家里观看了一些台湾局势讨论节目，追看选举结果。

小马哥（马英九先生）在今天2008年3月22日，(所获得总票：765万8724)，以将近221万3485票之差距，打败“谢”对手，获选为台湾第十二任总统 ！！！

马英九，1950年7月13日生于香港九龙，祖籍湖南衡山，其父马鹤凌曾担任国民党中央的高级官员，从小就向马英九灌输中国传统的“天下兴亡、匹夫有责”等爱国观念，因而马英九有着根深蒂固的爱国主义和一个中国的观念。

1981年7月，马英九从美国哈佛大学读完博士学位返台后，被国民党延揽为“总统府第一副局长”兼蒋经国的英文秘书。

1998年，马英九参选台北市市长，打败了当时的台北市市长陈水扁而当选。这时，两人就留下了不解的心结，2000年意外当选台湾“总统”后，陈水扁更是“逢马必反”。陈水扁上台后，为了报当年的一箭之仇，处处对台北市进行打击、掣肘。尽管如此，马英九却因脚踏实地、勤勤恳恳地为台北市民服务，而获得台北市选民的高度认同。

2002年连任台北市市长。

2005年7月，马英九击败党内对手王金平取得国民党主席职位。

与他相处几十年的人都知道他为人很节俭。他的一条裤带可以穿了二十多年了还不舍得换掉，用擦鞋黑膏把破洞白色部分涂黑再穿。手表是他的岳父几十年前送给他的，他至今一直还带着。他经常吃便当，而且吃得比谁都快，都干干净净。

 

马英九说要做“谦虚总统”，乐于听取人民声音，勇于认错改革永远保持谦虚，让政府永远为人民服务。

 

他强调，会做“全民总统”，超越党派，成为全民团结象征，而非分裂源，他要抚平社会创伤，化解族群对立，真正让台湾成为和谐社会。他说，自己虽不在台湾出生，但一生一世都是台湾人，未来也会葬在台湾，烧成灰都在台湾，“我会捍卫台湾利益，做新台湾的开创者”。
。。。

第一次见到他，是在十年前，1998那年，我在台北，当时马英九在参选台北市市长。给我的第一个印象分和蔼可亲，很诚恳，很正直。那年，他不负众望，把陈水扁打败，获选第二任台北市市长。好高兴。第二次，是国民党在中正纪念堂的露天广场举行的党周年庆祝活动晚会。那时，我就期待他能当选总统的一天。这一天终于到来了！就在今天，就在今天特别的日子！

马英九长期为慢跑鱼游泳爱好者（今天虽是投票日，但他早上还是依旧穿着短裤照常的去跑步），创造出青年健康形象，并积极筹办与参与运动，艺术活动，以及公益活动。

马英九还说，会做“廉洁总统”，以身作则，让所有公务员都不愿贪、不必贪、不能贪、不敢贪，打造阳光政府、干净政府。他说，未来台湾将有“活力经济、干净政府、和谐社会与和平两岸”。

。。。
 

马英九获选后感谢词摘要:

- 胜选虽然高兴，责任却更大。。。

 

- 选举是一时，人民是永久的。。。

 

- 照顾人民，不分党派，一视同仁的照顾。。。

 

- 最知道人民的苦。。。

- 这里没有荣华富贵，只有千斤重担。。。
 

他也提到需要向新加坡学习重政四十多年，从没忘记“清廉”两个字。

 

台湾终于有明天了！！！

Letters To Sam

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Literature & Fiction
Author:	Daniel Gottlieb

I bought this book in one of the afternoon and could not put it down and finished reading it on that very night.

A grandfather's lesson on Love, Loss, and the Gifts of Life. A simple, yet very thoughtful book. It is warm and spiritual uplifting, a guide for the soul, much more than just another book on autism. It teaches how to find appreciation and meaning in life no matter what the situation.

Daniel is truly a powerful wounded healer. When his grandson, Sam, was born, Daniel began to write a series of heartfelt letters that he hope Sam would read later in life.

The book also includes a section which lists out some of the resource links to various websites regarding Autism and coping with disability.

Royalty from the sales of this book are being donated to Cure Autism Now and other children’s charities.

This is a link to Dr Dan Gottlieb website

Quotes to share:

“Their job is to love you, protect you as best they can, try to understand you, and enjoy your laughter.”

“I hope they will give you both roots and wings. When they give you roots, you will feel safe, loved and secure, knowing they genuinely want to understand the person you are. When they give you wings, you will feel free to think whatever you want to think, free to explore the world of your heart and mind and the world outside.”

“Autism has the power to steal opportunities for contact, intimacy, and love.”

“… being different is not a problem. It’s just being different. But feeling different is a problem. When you feel different, the feeling can actually change the way you see the world.”

“I hope you will remember what your soul needs. Not wealth, prestige, and possessions, but the adult responsibility to love someone every day a little more than you did the day before.”

“The root of frustration is desire.”

“I want what I want when I want it.”

“We started this book by saying hello to a precious life, so we must end it by saying good-bye to one.”

“…death is not a problem. Not living is the problem. Sadness, joy, love, anguish, passion, and serenity are all pieces of life – the very texture of this gift called life.”

Life With Strings Attached

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Literature & Fiction
Author:	Minnie Lamberth

“What happens when the world we know is too small for our dreams?”

Winner of the Paraclete Fiction Award.

A novel that capture the simplicity and innocence of a child's perspective. A Joyful story about a seven-year-old little girl, Hannah Hayes, living in Evergreen Drive, Alabama, in 1972, who has two concerns:
(1) protecting her beagle, Pumpkin, from Ralph, a neighbor’s dog
(2) pursuing her dream becoming a preacher

Hannah knows she is called by the Lord, and "The work laid out for me couldn't be done by another." When going around the neighbourhood selling Girl Scout cookies, she also tries out her preaching skills but finds little encouragement.

When her beloved dog disappears, she learns much-including forgiveness that resonates with readers.

Quotes to share:

“It doesn’t come from my hands….It comes from my head and my heart. My hands follow their lead.”

“Each person has a call……You are created for a purpose. And if you’re created for a purpose, nothing else will satisfy you. When you’re called to serve the Lord, you can run but you can’t hide. The only thing in life that will truly satisfy you is to answer the call of God.”

"The work laid out for me couldn't be done by another."

“You have to be prepared to give up something- maybe a dream, or what you believe about yourself, or even a home- in order to get to the place you need to be.”

“We cry out for world peace, but do we notice the conflicts closer to home?”

“In my view, you have to be careful about stories you accept without question. People can tell you all sorts of things that could prove contrary to what is in your heart and your mind. Until you know what those things are, you can find yourself all in a dither trying to please someone simply because he’s the one speaking out.

A Spot Of Bother

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Literature & Fiction
Author:	Mark Haddon

Incident of the Dog in the Night-time”, you may be disappointed.

Probably that’s where the problem starts, preconceived notions and high expectation, thus find that the story a bit boring, nothing new, the usual mid-life crisis stuff, dealing with aging and retirement, marriage and relationship difficulties.

The characters are very ordinary, perhaps like you and me, or someone familiar to us all.

George, fifty-seven and comfortably retired, discovers a lesion on his hip and thinks he has cancer and gradually starts to have a breakdown. The rest of the family is too busy to notice.

Jean (George’s wife) is having an affair with David, an ex-colleague of George.

Katie (George’s daughter), a divorced mother of young Jacob and is engaged to Ray, whom she may not love but who treats her and Jacob well.

Jamie (George’s gay son), who is having problems with his boyfriend Tony.

There are couple of scenes which are quite funny and make you laugh out loud, but the last portion of the book sounds a bit heavy, uplifting and unrealistic.

Though this book is not bad, however, I still prefer to Mark’s previous prizing winning novel.

The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night Time

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Literature & Fiction
Author:	Mark Haddon

A book which I desire to start reading and finishing it within few hours.

Very unique and brilliant way of writing a novel.

The chapters are numbered according to prime numbers. The book is filled with drawings, illustrations, mathematical sums, maps, etc. which makes it very interesting and fun to read. I like the reasons given for disliking yellow and brown color in chapter 131.

The story is narrated by a fifteen-year-old autistic boy, Christopher Boone. The investigation of the death of his neighbor’s dog, Wellington, leads him down some unexpected paths and eventually reveals his parents’ broken marriage to him.

The Key

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Literature & Fiction
Author:	Jun'ichirō Tanizaki

English version translated by Howard Hibbett.

Very interesting. Once you start reading, you don’t feel like putting it down.

This is a story about a dying marriage and the issue of sexuality in old age.

Tanizaki's characters are often driven by obsessive erotic desires.

In the story, a middle aged man, who is deeply in love with his younger wife, loads her with all sorts of stimulants, from liquor to a young handsome man, and arranges for his wife to commit adultery in order to boost his own sagging sexual desires.

The wife:
“In the beginning I myself felt a passionate love for him. I can’t deny that “I accepted a man who was utterly wrong for me,” nor that “sometimes the very sight of him made me queasy.” But that doesn’t mean I didn’t love him.”

As years passed by, in spite of the love, they have grown physically apart, they have problems understanding each other, unsure each other's thoughts and desires, till the day when the wife discovers the key to her husband's diary, to his soul.

The husband:
“Even though I have several hiding places for the key to the locked drawer where I keep this book, such a woman may well have searched out all of them."

From that moment onwards, the two characters start to “communicate” through their diaries. Both implicitly agree to read each other's diaries, while outwardly pretending that they do not.

Love In The Present Tense

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Literature & Fiction
Author:	Catherine Ryan Hyde

How do you go on loving someone who isn't there? The answers are heartbreaking. It will surprise and move you.

The story is just as much about forgiveness, about people who must learn to pull through with their irreversible past, and make peace where love, family and commitment arrives in some of the most unexpected places.

Leonard, Pearl and Mitch, each has a story to tell and as their lives unfold, profound questions arise about the nature of love and family.

Leonard is a wise five-year-old boy with asthma, terrible vision problem, and the ability to captivate everyone he meets.

Pearl is Leonard's devoted teenage mother, a single mother who absolutely adores her young son, and desperately trying to hide a violent secret from her past.

Mitch is Leonard’s 25-year-old next-door neighbour, busy running his own company and having affair with the Mayor’s wife, Barbara.

Life has given Pearl every reason to mistrust people, but circumstances force her to trust her neighbour, Mitch. One day Pearl drops Leonard off with Mitch, and never returns.

The story switches backwards and forwards through the decades, recounting the lives of these three people. The best is reading how Mitch and Leonard grow up together, through the power and the magic of the human heart, ends up needing each other in special ways. Even as Mitch must eventually surrender Leonard to a two-parent home, their bond as parent and child shifts and endures, teaching Mitch the concept of “forever love.”, Leonard still views Mitch as his chief unofficial guardian, his dependable mentor and best friend.

For Leonard, certain things he remembers are permanently engraved in his psyche. He knows that Pearl will always be a part of him, and she constantly comes to him in all kinds of ways, through candle flames, rain and little birds. In the end Leonard is able to answer the questions about his mother’s death and his own background.

Quotes to share:

“He’s been trying to teach me about forever love since he was five years old. I’m a slow learner, and he’s patient.”

“Question: How many angels can dance in the flame of a lighted candle? Answer: Only one but that’s enough.”

“It’s when you love somebody so much that no matter what happens that’ll never change. Like even if you’re gone. It’s still the same. Even if you die. You die, but not the love. Not forever love.”

“If it takes you apart, that’s not love. Love puts you back together.”

“Voluntary blindness is never going to catch on.“

“Because you have a life, if you didn’t, you’d deal with that. But you do. So don’t waste it.”

Picture Perfect - Gobsmacked

 

 

Picture Perfect 2008/#12

Theme : Gobsmacked

Camera : Canon S5 IS

Date Taken : 2008 Mar

As I was passing by the entrance of the National Museum that day, suddenly, something shocking PINK and HUGE (that moment I could only see the lower part of the sculpture, so you can imagine~ LOL) I "gobsmacked".

WoW! Unbelievable! You can make a comparison with the "tiny" men standing there. I was astonished by the SIZE....Oops~ I mean the size of the whole figure. HeyHeyHey, I'm still one of those conservative types.

 

Surrounding David by Titarubi (Indonesia)

An architectural form that has come all the way from Greek Pantheon to Southeast Asia.

"The work investigates various dialectical relations between the imaginary perfect circular space and the sculptural object, through the figure of David. This replica of David, made of fibre-glass, 8.5 meter height, will be placed at the centre of the space, mimicking the typical European “piazza and its anchor statue”. Then another layer of force, in the form of textile ornaments usually used for kebaya, will cover the whole surface of the statue , thus figuratively obliterating the centrality of the figure/image."

- by National Museum of Singapore

Join in the Fun =>> FotoFriday's Picture Perfect Friday

What Time Of Day Are You?

Blogthings - "What Time Of Day Are You?" Quiz

***You Are Sunrise***

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life.

You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary.

You are a person of reflection and meditation.

You start and end every day by looking inward.

Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy.

You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts.

All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Planet Are You From?

 

Blogthings - "What Planet Are You From?" Quiz

 

 

***You Are From Neptune***

 

You are dreamy and mystical, with a natural psychic ability.

You love music, poetry, dance, and (most of all) the open sea.

Your soul is filled with possibilities, and your heart overflows with compassion.

You can be in a room full of friendly people and feel all alone.

If you don't get carried away with one idea, your spiritual nature will see you through anything.

The Easter Bunny Quiz

 

Blogthings - "The Easter Bunny" Quiz

 

How you eat a chocolate Easter Bunny says a lot you.  Find out what your half eaten chocolate bunny tells people.

I have chosen to eat the tail…

 

 

***Your Chocolate Easter Bunny Personality***

 

You are friendly, optimistic, and kind hearted.

You don't have a harsh word for anyone.

You cheerfully live your life with little complaining or suffering.

You are creative and artistic. You live in your own inner world.

You live your life freely, without guilt or restrictions.

And you would never feel bad about eating too much chocolate!

 

 

The Easter Egg Personality Test

Blogthings - "The Easter Egg Personality Test" Quiz

Pick a colorful Easter Egg, and learn a few things about who you are.
Quick and easy!

 

***What Your Easter Egg Says About You***

You are cheerful, friendly, and open minded.

You do your best to make sure everyone is happy, including yourself.

Empathy comes easily to you. You are very forgiving.

You don't hold grudges. You easily forget about any negativity in your life.

 

What's Your Personality Type?

 

Blogthings - "What's Your Personality Type?" Quiz

Here's the "nothing but the truth" result again after the long quiz:

 

***You Are An INFP***

 

The Idealist

 

You are creative with a great imagination, living in your own inner world.

 

Open minded and accepting, you strive for harmony in your important relationships.

 

It takes a long time for people to get to know you.

 

You are hesitant to let people get close.

 

But once you care for someone, you do everything you can to help them grow and develop.

 

In love, you tend to have high (and often unrealistic) standards.

 

You are very sensitive. You tend to have intense feelings.

 

At work, you need to do something that expresses your personal values.

 

You would make an excellent writer, psychologist, or artist.

 

How you see yourself: Unselfish, empathetic, and spiritual

 

When other people don't get you, they see you as: Unrealistic, naive, and weak

 

 

The Five Factor Values Test

 

Blogthings - "The Five Factor Values Test" Quiz

 

You may able toget to know more of the inner world of me with this fascinating and true test result:
 

 

 

 

***Your Values Profile***

Loyalty:

You value loyalty a fair amount.

You're loyal to your friends... to a point.

But if they cross you, you will reconsider your loyalties.

Staying true to others is important to you, but you also stay true to yourself.

 

Honesty:

You value honesty a fair amount.

You're honest when you can be, but you aren't a stickler for it.

If a little white lie will make a situation more comfortable, you'll go for it.

In the end, you mostly care about "situational integrity."

 

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.

 

What Color Is Your Mind?

 

Blogthings - "What Color Is Your Mind?" Quiz

Another amazing true result from the test :
 

***Your Mind is Blue***

Of all the mind types, yours is the most mellow.

You tend to be in a meditative state most of the time.

You don't try to think away your troubles.

Your thoughts are realistic, fresh, and honest.

You truly see things as how they are.

You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about your friends, your surroundings, and your life.

 

What's Your Travel Horoscope?

Blogthings - "What Your Travel Horoscope?" Quiz

It's true, that I have been dreaming to go to Kenya, South Africa, those regions long time ago.

  

***Travel Horoscope for Aries***


When you travel, you literally want to see a whole different world.

You want a vacation full of adventure, exotic sights, and tons of variety.

You should travel to:

India
Kenya
New Zealand
Brazil
Thailand

The Shamrock Personality Test

 

Blogthings - "The Shamrock Personality Test" Quiz

Just pick a shamrock from the quiz and you have your answers revealed:

***What Your Shamrock Says About You***

You have a logical mind, and you pay a lot of attention to details.

You are very organized.

Sometimes you find thinking creatively to be a challenge.

You prefer to deal with the facts at hand.

You don't really consider yourself a lucky person.

In your view, people create their own luck.

You are traditional, easy going, and appreciative of the simple things in life.

 

What Are the Colors of Your Heart?

 

 

Blogthings - "What Are the Colors of Your Heart?" Quiz

 

What colors does your heart radiate? What do they say about how you love?
Here's my result:

 

 

***Your Heart is Yellow and Green***

Your heart is caring and generous.

You are kind, understanding, and forgiving.

You bring objectivity and rationality to relationships.

You're good at giving your partner freedom and space.