Most Expensive Salt I've Known

I happen to read a magazine that advertised a rock salt. My eyes grew big seeing the price of the salt. It costs S$ 360 for about 3kg which is roughly S$ 120 per kilogram.

whew!!!

No wonder the magazine is circulated only for the elite groups, and you can't just find and buy it from the newsstand or bookstore.

Welcome Year 2008!!!

2008 is the year of the Rat!

Every country and every race have their own ways of welcoming the new year. Most often we used firecrackers or make noises to greet and celebrate the in-coming year. Countries have their versions of fireworks and light displays.

Media, newsprint and tv do their recap of the past year. Most often fortune tellers have different dates with the broadcast media to express their predictions. They tell people things to do, and not what to do. Things that may happen like disasters that no one may ever thought that might happen. They talk about economies, politics and personalities especially about politicians and celebrities.

Traditionally, every person has a new year's resolution. People always wish for prosperous and a better year.

But what exactly is the new year's resolution for?

Basically, people wish and dreams of things for the coming year. These will be guidelines or goals for individuals to achieve within a year. It's something that everybody has to look forward to.

Everybody wants to have some changes in life, often things that a person thinks that make his life better and improved than the past. Without these dreams, then I guess the person is already contented of what he already has and achieved.

Just thinking...

Breathless (Shayne Ward)

If our love was a fairy tale
I would charge in and rescue you
On a yacht baby we would sail
To an island where we'd say I do

And if we had babies they would look like you
It'd be so beautiful if that came true
You don't even know how very special you are

Chorus

You leave me breathless
You're everything good in my life
You leave me breathless
I still can't believe that you're mine
You just walked out of one of my dreams
So beautiful you're leaving me
Breathless

And if our love was a story book
We would meet on the very first page
The last chapter would be about
How I'm thankful for the life we've made

And if we had babies they would have your eyes
I would fall deeper watching you give life
You don't even know how very special you are

[Chorus]

You must have been sent from heaven to earth to change me
You're like an angel
The thing that I feel is stronger than love believe me
You're something special
I only hope that I'll one day deserve what you've given me
But all I can do is try
Every day of my life

[Chorus 2x]

Over You (Daughtry)

Now that it's all said and done,
I can't believe you were the one
To build me up and tear me down,
Like an old abandoned house.
What you said when you left
Just left me cold and out of breath.
I fell too far, was in way too deep.
Guess I let you get the best of me.

Well, I never saw it coming.
I should've started running
A long, long time ago.
And I never thought I'd doubt you,
I'm better off without you
More than you, more than you know.
I'm slowly getting closure.
I guess it's really over.
I'm finally getting better.
And now I'm picking up the pieces.
I'm spending all of these years
Putting my heart back together.
'Cause the day I thought I'd never get through,
I got over you.

You took a hammer to these walls,
Dragged the memories down the hall,
Packed your bags and walked away.
There was nothing I could say.
And when you slammed the front door shut,
A lot of others opened up,
So did my eyes so I could see
That you never were the best for me.

Well, I never saw it coming.
I should've started running
A long, long time ago.
And I never thought I'd doubt you,
I'm better off without you
More than you, more than you know.
I'm slowly getting closure.
I guess it's really over.
I'm finally getting better.
And now I'm picking up the pieces.
I'm spending all of these years
Putting my heart back together.
'Cause the day I thought I'd never get through,
I got over you.

Well, I never saw it coming.
I should've started running
A long, long time ago.
And I never thought I'd doubt you,
I'm better off without you
More than you, more than you know.

Well, I never saw it coming.
I should've started running
A long, long time ago.
And I never thought I'd doubt you,
I'm better off without you
More than you, more than you know.
I'm slowly getting closure.
I guess it's really over.
I'm finally getting better.
And now I'm picking up the pieces.
I'm spending all of these years
Putting my heart back together.
Well I'm putting my heart back together,
'Cause I got over you.
Well I got over you.
I got over you.
'Cause the day I thought I'd never get through,
I got over you.

Your Guardian Angel (The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus)

When I see your smile
Tears run down my face I can't replace
And now that I'm strong I have figured out
How this world turns cold and it breaks through my soul
And I know I'll find deep inside me I can be the one

I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven

It's okay. It's okay. It's okay.
Seasons are changing
And waves are crashing
And stars are falling all for us
Days grow longer and nights grow shorter
I can show you I'll be the one

I will never let you fall (let you fall)
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all (through it all)
Even if saving you sends me to heaven

Cuz you're my, you're my, my, my true love, my whole heart
Please don't throw that away
Cuz I'm here for you
Please don't walk away and
Please tell me you'll stay, stay

Use me as you will
Pull my strings just for a thrill
And I know I'll be okay
Though my skies are turning gray

I will never let you fall
I'll stand up with you forever
I'll be there for you through it all
Even if saving you sends me to heaven

Comfort Zone

Each one of us is looking for a comfort zone in life especially when we're getting older. But in this information age and very competitive, we need to upgrade ourselves to meet current and future challenges, otherwise we would left behind.

I happened to take up a project to modify/patch an application. User requirements need major overhaul of the system. After about four (4) weeks of labour, I was happy to hand-over my work. Of course to collect what I suppose to earn.

I discussed the changes casually with my client, how it's being implemented and limitations. I told them what the difficulties were in implementing the new requirements. That was the time I realized that the person supposedly doing the modification was not comfortable doing it.

He was already comfortable with all the codes modifying it from time to time. Discussing with him how the modification should be done, I heard all 101 reasons not to. So since they're my clients, then I have to circumvent and more diplomatic on discussing things like it.

Having the comfort zone, he became reluctant on implementing any modification that may affect the whole system. No wonder they engaged a third-party to make the changes.

Well, if they're not that reluctant then I couldn't make extra money.

GPs (General Practitioners)

I buy medicines over the counter or ask the pharmacist on-duty for medication such as colds and fever. Then I just rest at home to gain back my health.

I only see a doctor when I feel something is wrong with my body. Recently I went to see a doctor due to running nose. Of course, the doctor asked the obvious question, and I had to tell him what's wrong with me.

Usually doctors will measure the blood pressure, and use the stethoscope to hear the sound from our body.

What really annoyed me was the way the doctor used the stethoscope. To listen for a sound inside a body is for the scope to be stationed in one part of the body and listen carefully for a particular sound. But seems like GPs tend to keep the scope moving from one place to another. I thought that the scope didn't even stopped moving in a second. How can a GP diagnose properly if he didn't even hear any sound from your body?

I rarely see a doctor, so I wouldn't know if this is just for this particular doctor, or everybody is just doing this way. I'm not a doctor, but my logic tells me that in order to pick out the sound for symptoms you have to pause the scope in a particular place and ask the patient to do a deep breath. At least that's what I experienced when our school physicians did a physical checkup.

Well, I just hope that this type of GP is rare, and that others give a good professional service to their paying patients.

Fierce & Mean???

I got a call from one of our clients to discuss and understand some of their operations and system reports.

I noticed that she sounded nervous. I told her to calm down, and asked why she's so nervous. The answer was "coz you are fierce and mean"!!!

I was quite for few seconds weighing how to react and answer to her comment.

Eventually I decided not to react and say anything about the comment, instead tried to discuss and answer her queries about the system. In doing so, I may have avoided disaster and becoming meaner to her. Or I may have averted adding insult to injury.

Sometimes we may need to be fierce and mean for some reasons.

When we were in school and becoming/acting stupid, teachers/professors used different ways to get our attention and point out our stupidity. Their eyes grew bigger and wider. Words became harsher, and voice sounded more imposing than ever.

Well, I employed harsher words and made my voice more imposing. That's the best thing to do when talking to stupid people and can't even see them when you talk to them. It's a lot better to talk face-to-face so we can understand the visual cues.

You may wonder what made some people stupid!

In this context, the people asked the same question for a number of times, and somehow they can't grasp things being discussed. They have their own bosses that told them what to do, yet they call support hotline to understand what they're boss wanted them to accomplish!

Can't they ask their boss about their doubts? Aren't these acts stupidity?

Being fierce and mean sometimes are justifiable...

Opportunity

Everyone is always in a look out for opportunity. It could be a job, business or change of career path or anything that catches one's fancy. The goal for the opportunity is for one's success or advancement.

Often, the opportunity is within our reach, but ironically most people don't see it or simply just ignore it.

Not seeing the opportunity could be attributed to goals not exactly set. Put it simply, the person is still in doubt. He/she can only recognize it when goals or priorities for success becomes clearer. When it's recognized, sometimes it's a little too late.

Ignoring opportunity could have various reasons. The person maybe too comfortable of his current state, or could be reluctant to grab the opportunity for some reasons. Reluctance can be summarized in one word, fear! Whatever it is, it's the hurdle the person needs to overcome to grab a very good opportunity.

When we were kids, I remembered that when opportunist word is used, it's analogous to being a bad person. We're supposed to be fair and square to everyone.

In real world, I guess businessmen are opportunists!

Whenever and wherever there's a crisis, business-minded people take advantage of the situation. Their goal is to make money out of the situation. Unfortunately it becomes a norm and everyone just accept it.

Why won't we call these people opportunists instead of businessmen? Just thinking...

Pacman Fever

The first time I heard people talking about Pacman, I thought they're referring to the arcade game that gobble up everything on its way... sort of.

Wrong!

Pacman is a boxer that people talk about. He's so good that he knocked out his every opponent. I don't really follow things about him, but seems like everyone is talking about him.

Last Sunday, he had a fight in Las Vegas, and Philippines was reported to stand still with zero crime rate. Everyone was glued to their tv sets or some venues that people can watch him fight.

I was caught with the fever!!!

Not to be outdone, I checked the internet if I can watch the fight online. There's no pay-per-view channel in the country I'm in, at least none that I know of, so I resorted to internet.

Pacland is a known site dedicated to the boxer, and I checked it out. Once in a while it's inaccessible due to heavy traffic, and even redirected the traffic to a temporary server just to keep up and running.

Some people posted their YM addresses to let others watch the fight through webcam. hmmm... Sounds everyone was so desperate to watched the fight.

Some radio stations can't even account the fight blow-by-blow due to broadcast licensing.

Sopcast was to the rescue! I managed to watched the live fight through it. There were two channels broadcasting online, and streaming was very good.

The fight was good, however, the anticipation of so much "fireworks" was so high that the action so far didn't meet what was expected.

Satisfaction of watching the fight live is better, rather than depend on the news and some commentaries.

Into the Fire (13 Senses)

Come on, come on
Put your hands into the fire
Explain, explain
As I turn and meet the power
This time, This time
Turning white and senses dire
Pull up, pull up
From one extreme to another

From the summer to the spring
From the mountain to the air
From Samaritan to sin
And it’s waiting on the end

Come on, come on
Put your hands into the fire
Explain, explain
As I turn and meet the power
This time, This time
Turning white and sense dire
Pull up, pull up
From one extreme to another

From the summer to the spring
From the mountain to the air
From Samaritan to sin
And it’s waiting on the end

and now I’m alone I’m looking out
I’m looking in, way down
The lights are dim
and now I’m alone I’m looking out
I’m looking in, way down
The lights are dim

Ooooh

Come on, come on
Put your hands into the fire
Come on, come on

Somewhere Only We Know (Keane)

I walked across an empty land,
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand.
I felt the earth beneath my feet,
Sat by the river and it made me complete.
Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on.
So tell me when you're gonna let me in,
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin.

I came across a fallen tree,
I felt the branches; are they looking at me?
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?

Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on.
So tell me when you're gonna let me in,
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin.
SO if you have a minute why don't we go,
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything.
So why don't we go, somewhere only we know,
Somewhere only we know.

Oh, simple thing, where have you gone?
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on.
So, tell me when you gonna let me in,
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin.
SO if you have a minute why don't we go,
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything.
So why don't we go, so why don't we go,

Hmmm yeahh,

This could be the end of everything.
So why don't we go, somewhere only we know,
Somewhere only we know
Somewhere only we know.