whee another place to remind myself to eat at. BUT Yumei says it's very expensive (10 pax, 3 dishes = ~$540! normally crab beehoon for 2 is about $70 to $90) and have to wait very long BUT damn nice. Opens at 5 or 6 so if I go there then it should be okay. Anyways conclusion: ask my parents to treat some day! :D
Like yesterday (as in Friday), Kaiyun, Laura and I had dinner at House, Dempsey Hill. And just now, Addy, Jiayun and I attended a free quintet concert at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music. Both were nice :) Mostly chatting (of course not during the concert duh) excitedly :D it was fun that Laura has become pretty humorous/cheeky heh. Okays now I can't remember most of it but like the last thing was when Kaiyun and I were going to get of the train at Sembawang and Ky said bye before the train even properly arrived at the station and Laura replied that Ky doesn't want to see her is it then next time she'll just meet me. hahah so unlike the Laura even just last year? ohh and Laura's going to Australia (Melbourne) next May (it's an end-of-Year-4-look-for-your-own-stuff-to-do thing for Medical students) and she was asking us to go visit her cos it would be a boring month cos there wasn't anyone she could clique with going. But I think there would still be fun. Wheee so excited for her :)
Ohhs and Jy was telling me about her having fun clubbing which is so totally unlike the Jiayun before Uni. Of course it's not like the naughty stuffs kind, more like the getting-kind-of-high-with-friends kind.
There's this tinge of regret that I have left myself so out of my old friends' lives the previous 3 years. I wonder if I could say that it was my drop-out that contributed to this big dent. Or I think actually it was just me, my nature... Yea probably more of the latter. On Wed when I went shopping with Pam, I felt quite bad that I didn't know so many things about her and Jus. It was actually already quite evident whenever we could communicate, be it via msn, sms or face-to-face. Like one of them would tell me something about the other which I have no idea of. Sheeshh. Blogging about this makes me feel worse than I already am feeling. BUT. As I always want, to not let myself be regretful of anything since it is pointless to, I shall resist sinking deeper.
I'm really glad the work and travel experience has made me more fun-loving. Wanting to go out more with friends means more meet-ups with my old friends. Despite having had a big realisation about my negligence of close friendships in Dec '07, I failed to keep at meeting them up. But now I'm glad I have been trying hard quite consistently over the past seven weeks. (Oh yea, wow I've already been back from US for 8 weeks now.) Although it also means caring less about schoolwork, actually I now think it's alright. Five years down the road, why ever would it matter if I had spent more time doing my lab reports or revising my notes which I end up forgetting right after the exams when I chuck them aside? So what if I am not excelling academically? Oops. Actually it does matter =X I quite want to do honours =S But but. Five years down the road (and in fact all the rest of my life), what would matter more is whether I still have my old friends and especially as close friends.
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On a more emo note...
I thought I had already ... , but actually I haven't. Sighs.
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haiyo it's already 1plus...... and tomorrow is already the last day of recess week... out of 3 lab reports, 2 tutorial assignments, 1 pair-work project report, assigned work for 1 major project, 1 group-work field trip report, several sets of notes to copy, and 1 e-learning lesson......
I've only done the 2 tutorial assignments somewhat, copied a few sets of notes, and am halfway through 1 lab report. omg omg omg omg omg. Why do I still tell people I'm not that busy? Lol weird self-deception..
Successful food packaging should be attractive, transparent, safe, functional and environmentally friendly, according to German engineering company Kautex Maschinenbau.
In its review of the recipe for top packaging, the company highlights visual attractiveness as the most important factor in determining success. “Recent studies have shown that 74 % of people decide only on purchasing a product when they are already in the shop,” said a company statement.
“Packaging plays a key part in this decision. It must be able to attract the customer's attention within a matter of seconds, and this can only be achieved with an attractive and target-group specific design.”
To capture consumers’ attention, managers want packaging with the most conspicuous design possible incorporating special finishing or novel colour effects. “Reflecting packages are a particular favorite at present, for instance those with a mother-of-pearl effect," said Dieter Rothe, the company’s key account packaging manager.
Masterbatch technologies
“Thanks to advanced masterbatch technologies, we can draw on a virtually unlimited variety of colours so that even challenging effects can be achieved. This requires equipment and technologies that are optimized and fine-tuned for this purpose, “he added.
Transparency also plays a key role in re-assuring consumers about product quality. Transparent containers, which display their contents, provide buyers with a sense of safety.“Materials such as the Styrolux, which was only recently tested on Kautex equipment, or the transparent clarified PP are high on the list of favorites of the packaging manufacturers,” said the company.
Safety issues have become more important following debate about additives in packaging and their possible migration into contents. Markus Holbach, head of Kautex Technikum said: "It is no longer sufficient for a package to merely preserve the contents; consumers also expect it to protect them against any kind of permeation.
Blow molding
“An ideal solution in extrusion blow molding is offered by the coextrusion or multilayer process. This process is possible on nearly all Kautex machines and ensures a maximum of safety thanks to an ideal combination of materials.”
Functionality is also becoming more important to consumers. They want packages that are as light-weight as possible and yet offer maximum stability. Rothe said: "A maximum of resistance to dropping and compression at minimum material input is achieved by combining the right materials and at the same time ensuring an optimum wall thickness distribution."
Kautex Maschinenbau claims that its packaging experts can deliver the technical insight and machinery to deliver packaging equipment that meets 21 century consumers shopping preferences.
"We advise our customers in the material selection phase and assist them with the subsequent prototyping,” said Rothe. “In our Technikum, our technical center in Bonn, Kautex Maschinenbau machines are available to our customers to identify the optimum process engineering parameters.”
PET bottles greener than glass or aluminium - Study
By Rory Harrington, 21-Sep-2009
PET bottles are a greener alternative to glass or aluminium cans, according to a new study into the environmental impact of single use packaging.
The report by consultants Allied Development Corporation reached its conclusion after calculating the green credentials of each packing type by focussing on weight of materials, total energy consumption and total greenhouse gas release.
“A cradle-to-grave analysis was completed for each packaging scenario, including all materials, processing and transportation”, said the study authors.
Greenhouse gas emissions
The research, sponsored by Husky Injection Molding Systems, found PET production resulted in less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and used less energy than glass or aluminium cans.
The report said that PET had he lowest GHG emissions at 314.9lbs/1000 units. In contrast, aluminium cans racked up the highest GHG release of 570.9lbs/1000 units – some 81 per cent more than PET. Glass production, although given a greener rating than aluminium, resulted in 500.4lbs/1000.
“The chemical process associated with producing aluminium from bauxite releases a significant amount of GHG, which contributes to the high level of GHG for aluminium cans,” said the report.
PET bottles also registered the lowest energy consumption at 3,225MJ/1000 units. Glass had the highest energy consumption at 4,227MJ/1000 units – nearly a third more than PET. Aluminium cans used 21 per cent more energy than PET at 3,917MJ/1000 units.
“Compared to aluminium can and glass bottle, PET packaging for CSD applications within North America remains the best alternative from an environmental perspective”, the research concluded.
It added that boosting recycling rates and PCR (post-consumer recycled) content into new bottles would help reduce PET’s environmental footprint.
Methodology
The study defined ‘purchased materials’ as any used for the production of the primary package – including raw materials/packaging and pallet packing. Processing was taken to mean anything related to manufacture and filling of the primary and its components. The authors defined ‘transportation’ as anything related to the movement of the materials from one place to another.
All package types were considered to be best in class; The three types examined were: 23.9g PET bottle/355ml (2.3g HDPE closure); 200g glass bottle/355ml (2.1g metal closure) and 11.3g aluminium can/355ml (2.8g aluminium can end)
Assumptions
The study used a number of assumptions to reach its conclusions; Packing production and filing operations are found in the same facilities, thus minimising the impact of transport; It assumed the PCR content rates for packing and closure manufacture are: aluminium 46 per cent; glass bottle 39 per cent; PET bottle zero per cent.
A standard shipping distance of 800km to retail for all packing types was assumed. Only one way glass – instead of refillable glass - was considered as the authors said his was “typical” for the North American market.
Canadian outfit Husky produces PET bottles, closures and packing equipment. It said it hoped to use the results of the research in the company’s future product development strategy
“Husky is taking steps to support research to learn about the environmental footprint of beverage packaging,” said company marketing vice president Jeff MacDonald. “Our goal is to apply this knowledge to product development that will help improve sustainability.”
This has some overlaps with a previous post. Serves as a reminder?
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Reading tips from the Internet, I got this useful list where I personally follow some of it to help me sort of improve my day to day life. Read through it and just follow the things you want to believe. Remember, each person has his/her own needs/wants/beliefs.
Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
Buy a DVR and tape your late night shows and get more sleep.
When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, ‘My purpose is to __________ today.’
Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
Play more games and read more books than you did in 2007.
Make time to practice meditation, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
Dream more while you are awake.
Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.
Try to make at least three people smile each day.
Clear clutter from your house, your car, your desk and let new and flowing energy into your life.
Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, OR issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
Smile and laugh more. It will keep the negative blues away.
Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does. Next 20 after the jump.
You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
Frame every so-called disaster with these words: ‘In five years, will this matter?’
Forgive everyone for everything.
What other people think of you is none of your business.
Remember God heals everything.
However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
The best is yet to come.
No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
Do the right thing!
Call your family often.
Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for _______. Today I accomplished ____.
Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
Enjoy the ride. Remember this is not Disney World and you certainly don’t want a fast pass. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy the ride.
Laugh when you can, apologize when you should, and let go of what you can’t change.
Why do NO responses always seem to come faster than YES ones.
It's so very disheartening. Disappointing. Saddening. Whenever one tries to organise something for a big group, the first few responses are often NOs. I hate it. Yea it's easy to say no. I don't mind having few people turning up. But the saddest thing is when the whole thing gets cancelled.. Then nobody bothers to do anything. I shouldn't have bothered either. 自作自受。Fenella, stop caring about people who don't. They don't care, why should you? Then end up feeling hurt. So silly. Go focus on your studies! Nobody will care for your studies, it's only you.
Rah I've been slacking too much this first half of the sem already.
And WTF. My bro (actually I think it's my sister-in-law) uses my account to use msn without my knowledge and I found out only recently. And when I told him to create his own account he refused to. And I'm kind enough to log out on my laptop so that he can log on on the desktop PC when he questioned why he can't log on to msn and I told him again to create an account, he hurried me to let him use "just for awhile" but it's now been already 45 minutes.
Low-fat chocolate breakthrough could replace fat with water
By Stephen Daniells, 04-Sep-2009
Innovative emulsions containing up to 60 per cent water may reduce the fat content of chocolate and offer low-fat formulations, suggests new research from the UK.
Researchers from the University of Birmingham produced stable cocoa butter water-in-oil emulsions containing up to 60 per cent water by mass, which did not cream on storage.
Additionally, the cocoa butter in the emulsions was found to be in the form that“consumers find the most attractive, as it melts between 32 and 34 °C”, according to findings to be published in the November issue of the Journal of Food Engineering.
“Results [of our study] suggest low-fat chocolate formulations using this route may be feasible,” wrote the researchers, led by Dr Phil Cox.
In an email to FoodNavigator, Dr Cox stated: “We have just patented an extension to the preliminary work and are in discussion with companies.”
The issue of health is no longer a marginal topic for the food industry but wholly mainstream, and it finds confectioners, biscuit and cake makers seeking to juxtapose today's consumer desire for indulgence with their desire for foods with a healthy profile.
According to a recent study from the US, only 5 per cent of American children between 6 and 11 were overweight before 1980, but 25 years later this number had risen to 19 per cent. Similar increases have been reported in Europe, with the International Association for the Study of Obesity estimating in 2006 that the number of obese school age children in Europe increased by almost 50 per cents since the late 1990s.
“As chocolate is notoriously high in calories (a gram of fat contains approximately nine calories), it may be detrimental to maintaining a healthy weight,” explained the researchers. “There may thus be a gap in the market as low-fat chocolates with desirable taste and texture are currently not readily available.”
In order to fill this gap, the Birmingham-based researchers prepared water-in-oil emulsions, meaning a continuous phase of cocoa butter with a dispersed water phase. Dr Cox and his co-workers used polyglycerol polyricinoleate (PGPR, Kerry Bio-Science) and soy lecithin (Sigma) as emulsifiers, both of which are extensively used in current commercial chocolate manufacture.
Emulsifiers are used by food makers to reduce the surface tension between two immiscible phases at their interface - such as two liquids, a liquid and a gas, or a liquid and a solid - allowing them to mix.
Using a ‘margarine line’, which is a continuous process, or a high-shear mixer, the researchers prepared emulsions with droplets ranging from one to 10 micrometres in size.
“It is thought that the bench scale margarine line is a better method of creating a cocoa butter emulsion,” wrote the researchers. “It is likely to be more successful for creating an emulsion of the correct polymorphic form as temperature and shear can be controlled with more precision. […] It is also a better method for creating emulsions with a small droplet size.
“Furthermore, it is likely to be more appropriate for large-scale industrial production as it is a continuous process,” they added.
Source: Journal of Food Engineering
November 2009, Volume 95, Issue 1, Pages 172-178, doi: 10.1016/j.jfoodeng.2009.04.026 “Development and characterisation of tempered cocoa butter emulsions containing up to 60% water”
Authors: J.E. Norton, P.J. Fryer, J. Parkinson, P.W. Cox
The likes of vitamin A and vitamin C are a waste of money for most people and can even be detrimental to health, a UK-based nutrition professor has told the British Science Festival.
Professor Brian Ratcliffe, the program leader of nutrition and dietetics at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland, told the Festival many food supplements were ineffective for the majority of people and overuse of vitamin C for example, could lead to stomach problems.
Vitamin A was singled out as easily exceeding recommended levels if a consumer was to combine multivitamin use with a fish oil supplement. Potential side effects included headaches and nausea, osteoporosis, and eye and liver damage.
His statements have been picked up in the UK mainstream press in the past couple of days. Industry associations were unavailable for comment at the time of publication.
Professor Ratcliffe, who is an adviser to the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), was also unavailable for comment.
The National Association of Health Stores issued a statement backing supplement use, as a way of compensating for nutrient-poor diets: “Evidence amassed by the Food Standards Agency tells us that the concept of the healthy, balanced diet still eludes the overwhelming majority of the British public.”
“And, of course, if you are ill, smoke, drink alcohol or exposed to environmental toxins such as traffic fumes your body benefits from a higher intake of vitamins and minerals and of course, if you are eating less than a certain number of calories such as when you are dieting, it is more difficult to get the nutrients you need from food.”
Professor Ratcliffe notes taking food supplements can be dangerous for those who may be taking pharmaceuticals.
Ratcliffe’s comments
"People who take multivitamin supplements are probably just wasting their money and boosting the profits of vitamin companies,” Ratcliffe said at the annual Science Festival.
"It's a whole new area. We haven't had a significant proportion of the population taking all these supplements before. They should certainly speak to a doctor or dietician or nutritionist. I think they'd be better off investing time in trying to choose healthy items for their diet rather than thinking you can bolt on that safety margin by just taking a supplement."
A study published in the June edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutritionfound the cells of multivitamin users had a younger biological age than those who didn't use supplements.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
"Never let your schoolin' interfere with your education."
"There ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them."
All so true.
Albert Einstein
"A clever person solves a problem. A wise person avoids it."
"Put your hand on a hot stove for a minute, and it seems like an hour. Sit with a pretty girl for an hour, and it seems like a minute. That's relativity."
One must first research on what one wants - the exact items and their respective prices outside.
Cos it's so crowded it's kind of impossible for you to go from one seller to another and think here and there about what you want. You just check the prices from a few and see which offers the best deal and grab and go. Seems short but it takes much longer cos of the crowd!
Com ex 2009
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Oh yea I went for a free concert before that, at Esplanade, simply cos Mr Ho was conducting. The band wasn't that good, to be honest. Probably cos it was too big? But the trumpet soloist for Please Give Me Wings was so awesome I felt that solo could melt one's heart! The Phantom of the Opera was quite bad =X I think cos the assistant conductor wasn't experienced enough to manage such a long difficult piece. I liked the finale, American in Paris. So fun!
And various memories came back to me during the concert - of missing playing in NJ band, of Edo and Boyang conducting, of USA again... rah I'm sleepy...
Wheee I hope we can go to Everything with Fries for Justine's birthday. Learnt about it from URBAN. and there's another review here. heh making this post just in case Pam has lessons and we can't go (cos it's so far it would be best that we can go in the afternoon), then I'll have to remind myself to go there another time.
* Note - Top 10 Total figures includes Quest International for Years 2004-2006 and excludes sales of Frutarom for the same period, as 2007 was Frutarom's 1st year in the Top 10.
______ hohoho. My industrial attachment in the next semester is in a flavour & fragrance company. So I had to have some knowledge about the top companies of course. (anyways it's supposed to be part of an FST student's general knowledge!) and also the artificial sweetener stevia sounded very familiar - I realised that's because I saw it when I was reading up on that company at that point in time when I was preparing for the interview. shussh. Never will there be a day that passes without memories of USA flushing through. Just remembered the Metro in NYC and taking the wrong direction twice, and consequently both times being late to meet Y & Y. and Y being angry the first time and sort of 无奈 the second time. sigh.
There has been much excitement about the promise of stevia as a natural alternative to artificial zero-calorie sweeteners. FoodNavigator.com summarises the science so far.
Interest in the sweetener has been intense, particularly since the FDA issued its non-objection in December that the stevia-derived sweetener Reb A is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) as a food additive.
Differentiation must be made between rebaudiside A and steviol glycosides in general. Rebaudioside A, also known as Reb A and rebiana, is a high-intensity sweetener derived from the stevia leaf. It is said to be approximately 200 times sweeter than sugar.
Safety
The majority of the science around stevia and rebaudioside A are related to its safety. A significant body of research was published online in the peer-reviewed journal Food and Chemical Toxicology (July 2008, Vol. 46, Supplement 1, Pages S1-S92), which found that rebiana - a high-purity Rebaudioside A from stevia - is safe for use as a sweetener for foods and beverages.
An overview in the journal’s supplement by scientists from Coca-Cola, Cargill, and an independent toxicologist said that the studies found the ingredient met all current JEFCA (Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives) specifications for steviol glycosides.
“The due diligence of the rebiana scientific program reported in this Supplement reflects a commitment by industry partners to, at long last, fully address regulatory requirements for this naturally occurring sweetener by providing the scientific basis to conclude high purity rebaudioside A (rebiana), produced under current GMP to food-grade standards, is safe and appropriate for introduction into the global marketplace,” they concluded.
The FDA issued letters of no objection to GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status for stevia-based Reb A at 95 percent purity or above in December.
Flavour masking
Scientists have also been exploring ways to mask the liquorice or bitter flavours associated with the Reb A stevia extract. The problematic aftertaste has presented difficulties for companies wishing to use the sweetener, and flavour companies have been trying to find ways to mask it without detracting from the perceived benefits of its natural status.
Cargill recently announced a dual-layered approach, starting with its patented technology examining taste responses to Reb A “at a cellular level” and then developing flavour solutions based on these findings.
Comax Flavors released a natural masking flavour in March to mask the bitter aftertaste associated with stevia-derived sweetener Reb A.
A month earlier, Givaudan claimed that it had discovered the bitter taste receptors for stevia, allowing it to focus its flavour ingredients research on blocking the mechanism of these receptors.
The company has said that it is in the process of applying for patents related to the discovery.
Firmenich is also active in the area, having signed an exclusive global collaboration with Reb A supplier PureCircle to provide a formula for applications using the stevia-derived sweetener.
Firmenich said in January that it has developed innovative flavor systems for Reb A, which will be rolled out across food and beverage applications.
Patrick Firmenich, CEO of Firmenich, said: “Reducing sugar in food and beverage products, while maintaining consumer preference, is one of the biggest challenges in our business today.
"By combining PureCircle’s know-how in Reb A with Firmenich’s expertise in sweetness enhancement and flavor masking, I believe that we can fulfill consumer desires for great tasting, low sugar, low calorie foods and beverages.”
Photo-stability
In September a new study from Coca-Cola reported that its high purity stevia extract (rebaudioside A) does not degrade in beverages on exposure to light. Published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, this research was seen as important for establishing the stability of the Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni)-derived sweetener rebaudioside A.
The results also challenge an earlier study from the 1980s that reported significant degradation of rebaudioside A on exposure to sunlight, equivalent to one week of sunlight during the summer.
To read the article about the study, click here.
Health benefits
Stevia glycosides (SGs) have been reported to not only sweeten but also have some health benefits, including effects on blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Indeed, these observations formed the basis of a citizen’s petition filed by a Washington DC-based law firm called Coburn & Coffman PLLC.
The petition, filed in October, focused on § 301(ll) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), and was made on the grounds that SGs have been studied for therapeutic uses, thereby contending that SGs are drugs and therefore cannot be legally added to conventional foods.
In December, FDA concluded that it had no objection to rebiana, (Reb A) at 95 percent purity or above, having GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status as a general purpose sweetener for food and drink, not just as a supplement.
Other health benefits include a report from Indian researchers in 2007 that stevia may also be a rich source of antioxidants and may protect against DNA damage and cancer.
According to findings in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (2007, Vol. 55, pp 10962-10967), researchers led by Srijani Ghanta from the Indian Institute of Chemical Biology in Kolkata reported that an extract from Stevia rebaudiana leaves was found to contain an abundance of antioxidant polyphenols, including quercitrin, apigenin, and kaempferol.
Ghanta and his co-workers used methanol and ethyl acetate for the extraction, Subsequent tests showed that the extract could protect against DNA strand scission by hydroxide radicals.
Have Read
'04 year-end holidays (highest number of books read in a long time)
-The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom (gd read)
-Princess Diaries: Third Time Lucky by Meg Cabot (fun read)
-Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom (must read - inspirational)
-Slab Rat by Ted Heller (full of office politics and R21 stuff - not for kids)
-The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown (makes u want to finish it)
-A walk to remember by Nicholas Sparks (simple but meaningful)
-The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark (can identify with)
-The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (romantic love story with too much R21 stuff)
-Message in a Bottle by Nicholas Sparks (even more R21. ugh)
-The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery
-Unstrung Heroes by Franz Lidz (autobiography about his four uncles and father)
-The Rescue by Nicholas Sparks
-The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (very unique POV of an autistic boy)
-The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux (love the breadth of the plot, one of my favourites)
-Wild Orchids by Jude Deveraux (alternating between two first persons' view - unique, but don't like e plot)
-Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder (philosophy tb in a story; gets abit dry though plot saved)
-forgot what i read...-
-Working Wonders by Jenny Colgan (story of an urban planner)
-Angels and Demons by Dan Brown (impressive intelligence with bits of great humour)
-Just between Us by Cathy Kelly (thickest bk i've ever read-600+pg, too long for me but not bad)
ha, started a few bks but didn't enjoy them enough to read more.
'06
-Life of Pi by Yann Martel (novel based on true story; a lot to learn from the book - animals, religions,
survival, appreciation of simplicity; marvelous descriptions of both the tangible and the intangible,
such that I could feel their realness; bits of very enjoyable humour; a must read)
-The Complete Analects of Confucius, Volume 1 - Asiapac Comic Series (some good teachings.
didn't read everything though)
-The Parable of the Pipeline by Burke Hedges (lent to me by Shujun; like she said, its a short version
of Rich Dad Poor Dad - good financial tips)
-The Alchemist by Paul Coelho (simple story with deep meaning)
-Fish! A Remarkable Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results
(hai, doesn't seem to be working for me - cos im not applying..)
-haven't been updating from Jun'06 to Jul'07-
'07
-Take a Chance by Sarah Webb (very interesting twist towards the end)
'08
-A Child Called "It" by Dave Pelzer (very saddening. made me realise how significant family is in how a child behaves)
-Whatever You Think, Think the Opposite by Paul Arden (refreshing book with many pics)
-The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Rui Zafon (amazing how people can think of so much plot to pack into one book, wld b a gd tv series)
-The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (the story is interesting but i think the ending cld hv been better written)
-This Book Will Save Your Life by A.M. Homes (a bit thought-provoking on relationships but i didnt like e abrupt ending)
-Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt & Stephen J. Dubner (gd knowledge but partly qte repetitive)
-For One More Day by Mitch Albom
-The C Words by Mark Mason (made me keep wanting to read on. light & funny)
'09
-Return to Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux (another good read from Deveraux)
-The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (gosh such vivid descriptions! very well written book. i liked d theme of friendship and the realness of the story)
'10
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro (a must-read!! i love the expressed thoughts of the protagonist, esp those about friendships, and the writing style - it seems like she's telling me her story specifically to me)
How to Save Your Own Life by Michael Gates Gill (an inspiring read, for emotional liberation and greater joy in life)
Reading
on hold
The Omnivore's Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals by Michael Pollan
Waiting for chance to get hold of
The Little White Car by Danuta de Rhodes
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking
Le Scaphandre Et Le Papillon or The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
My Left Foot by Christy Brown
Gotai Fumanzoku or An Unsatisfactory Body (Translated into English as No One's Perfect) by Hirotada Otatake
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami
Other Recommended Readings by Marc
The Origin of Species by Charles Darwin – Few books have had as significant an impact on the way society views the natural world and the genesis of humankind.
The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell – Gladwell looks at how a small idea, or product concept, can spread like a virus and spark global sociological changes. Specifically, he analyzes “the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable.”
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens – This is a tale that lingers on the topic of attaining and maintaining a disciplined heart as it relates to one’s emotional and moral life. Dickens states that we must learn to go against “the first mistaken impulse of the undisciplined heart.”
Lolita – This is the kind of book that blows your mind wide open to conflicting feelings of life, love and corruption… and at times makes you deeply question your own perceptions of each. The story is as devious as it is beautiful.
Getting Things Done by David Allen – The quintessential guide to organizing your life and getting things done. Nuff said.
How To Cook Everything by Mark Bittman – 900 pages of simple instructions on how to cook everything you could ever dream of eating. Pretty much the greatest cookbook ever written. Get through a few recipes each week, and you’ll be a master chef by the time you’re 30.
Honeymoon with My Brother by Franz Wisner – Franz Wisner had it all… a great job and a beautiful fiancée. Life was good. But then his fiancée dumped him days before their wedding, and his boss basically fired him. So he dragged his younger brother to Costa Rica for his already-scheduled honeymoon and they never turned back… around the world they went for two full years. This is a fun, heartfelt adventure story about life, relationships, and self discovery.
Self-note: Tip for my future business =D
give employees reasonably high pay to keep them- otherwise they are unlikely to stay loyal.
treat employees not according to how well they treat me but how conscientious they are at work
(of course, musn't expect them to only do work throughout the entire working hours -
give some breathing space too, we are humans, not machines) Movies watched(listing started on 6jan08)
in cinema from VCD/DVD
1Sep07: "Hairspray" w TK, GH & SH
14Sep07: "Ratatouille" w mom & extended family
28Dec07: "The Pianist" w Jus & Pam (heartbreaking but good lessons; i recommend!)
2Jan08: "I Am Legend" w Sherm (scary! but good acting; thought provoking; i recommend!)
5-6Jan08: "A Good Year" alone (excellent show! i like the acting; funny; good lessons; touches my heart; i recommend!)
11Jan08: "Le Grand Chef" w WLing, JT & Irene (good! funny, very touching, :) nice; watch if like humour+meaning+food)
7Feb08 (CNY 初一): "Ah Long Pte Ltd" w parents (pretty hilarious - but u gotta understand dialects, some teary parts. wells typical of jack neo movies but with diff content)
11Mar08: "The Leap Year" w Sherm (so sweet! :) and apart from couple relationship it touches the theme of mother-daughter and best friends too)
6Jun08: "P.S. I Love You" w Sherm (don't know if its coz we watched it on laptop, coz it didn't impress me as much as it did for him in cinema)
8Jun08: "The Forbidden Kingdom" w Lisa, Karen & Sandy (ums..guess i'm really not into kungfu)
8Jun08: "What Happens in Vegas" w Lisa, Karen & Sandy (simple,relaxing show)
7Jul08: "我和狗狗的10个约定" w Sherm, his ma & sisters (very simple,touching but actually not my type of show)
10Jul08: "Before Sunrise" w Sherm (hmm maybe watchg on laptop really affects appreciatn of movies..)
30Sep08: "Vicky Cristina Barcelona" w Sherm (i didn't like it as much as i thought i wld when i saw the ads)
31Dec08: "Yes Man" w Mom (inspiring and funny)
11Feb08: "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" w Mom (not as impressive as i thought it wld be)
1Jul09: "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" w Yumei, YY & Matt (the best thing was the soundtrack. heh.)
14Aug09: "GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra" w Joyce (it was awesome! best action movie i've ever watched)
17Aug09: "Food, Inc." w SYL & RuiQ (learnt some stuff abt the American food industry but it was a bit boring and not worth the $10)
22Sep09: "The Time Traveller's Wife" w WB, VanD, WLing, CHL, Irene, VanQ, Mf, Pg (i liked it. having read the book really helps w udsg)
21Nov09: "Gokusen" w Mf, Eva, Tony, Sarah (funny inspirational movie)
24Dec09: "十月围城" w Tony, WLing, VanQ (action action and a bit funny? tony criticised the plot. my fav scene was the running n jumping through the crowd along the five-foot ways w/o cuts)
30Dec09: "Sherlock Holmes" w Irene, Tony, Sweetee (my favourite genre of books made into a movie - what else can be more cool? acting effects humour excitement suspense all in)
12Jan10: "Avatar 3D" w Mom (didn't appreciate the digital effects which everyone wowed about. content etc was so-so. cathay's 3D glasses were too heavy for me)
8Feb10: "The Truman Show" w Ky n sis n Yuhshin (a must-watch. very thought-provoking, funny. reminder to be spontaneous and create your life the way you want, instead of falling into a typical routine
14Feb10: "New York, I Love You" w Mom (I loved it! a good couple movie with meaningful pointers to keep it going. but i think some stories could be more developed)
16Feb10: rewatched "The Pianist" (still find it good, tho i still feel first viewings are the best)
17Feb10: "Valentine's Day" w CHL n WB (laughed throughout - a feel-good movie; liked the fact that the various stories binded tog so well with the little surprises here and there, vs NY ILU in which each story was separate)
20Feb10: "赤壁二" w Addy, Karen, Sharon, SJ (should have watched the first one first cos i ended up not knowing who's who and what's happening and had to keep asking :/ and couldn't pay attn.. if not i think it should be a pretty good movie..)
4Mar10: "Alice in Wonderland 3D" w Mf (i found the 3D effects of this @ CCK Shaw SO much better than Avatar @ The Cathay =/ and the movie was much more enjoyable too! - cheered a sad me up :)) favourite quote - the Mad Hatter: “You used to be much muchier before. ... You have lost your muchness.”)
18Mar10: "Nodame Cantabile" w Irene, Mf (i thoroughly enjoyed some of the orchestra pieces - SO impressive! the expressions of the actors were really amusing :D)
23Apr10: "Ice Kacang Puppy Love" w Mom (funny, touching and meaningful - about love between friends and family. i cried 3 tissues! cos some touching parts i could really understand the feelings of the characters involved)
Inception
Letters to God (very simple Christian movie)
22Nov10: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" w Ame, Irene (they loved it. pretty good, i guess the main problem i had was that im not familiar with HP :X)
13Dec10: "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader" w Sj (not bad, could follow the story unlike HP. like the meaningful teachings, too long - in a post)
2Mar11: "The King's Speech" w Ame (hilarious, inspirational, tho it doesn't impress me that much to understand why it's the Oscar winner)
Mar11: "10 Things I Hate About You" very funny. silly sweet high school romance. just right for having breaks in between doing homework
23May11: "Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides" w Wb Yl Ame Pg (pretty good - scenery, freakish parts, fighting scenes, dressing, humour, bits of Christianity like when the Spanish said "only God gives life")
6Jun11: "Xmen First Class" w Wb Ame Pg (i was very keen on watching it and it was really good! intellectual, makes sense, cool action, some humour)
9Jun11: "Legally Blonde 2" w Irene (seems like some dumb blonde movie but kind of meaningful too - speaking up for yourself and what you stand for)
17Jun11: "Something Borrowed" w Sandy Lisa (quite funny, somewhat meaningful wrt friendships. they didn't like the lack of sense for one part tho)
16Jul11: "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" w Irene, Sweetee, Kw (not bad. i didn't understand some parts again but the humour and effects were pretty good)
Aug11 "Horrible Bosses" w Ma (she fell asleep! gosh. the movie was very crude i must say but there was the humour)
25Oct11: "The Three Musketeers" w H (i would rate it 3.5 for humour/intellectual language and 4 for action. it's by the same producer or director as Sherlock! but a bit less awesome albeit a good chill out movie)
5Nov11: "Real Steel" w Hl (action packed but not too hardcore for me. i liked that there was the father and son element and how the father eventually softened his heart and especially the part when charlie was having trouble telling max sth and max was so understanding saying "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me." touching and demonstrates true fighting spirit)
12Dec11: "50/50" w L (adopting her words - a heavy topic put across in a lighthearted way, but not taking away d meaning. most of it was rather hollywood-ish trashiness but there were a couple of punch lines "u can't change ur parents, but u can change d way u respond to them.")
25Dec11: "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" w KY (ultimate action packed! super tense almost throughout the movie, and interesting Tom Cruise made it such that not everything happened smoothly - he would jump and misland and get all sorts of injuries..it's really the courage to jump without hesitation even though you are not sure you'll be alive after that. KY loved d movie and said she would watch it again!)
3Jan12: "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows" w KY (i love mystery (: and the witty sarcastic dialogues. good level of excitement with the action. didn't understand some parts as usual. i like Holmes and Watson they depict such a true pair of buddies ;D)
23Jan12: "You are the Apple of My Eye" w mom (now i understand why guys like this movie so much - the anxiety of chasing after a girl and the acts schoolboys do to get the girl's attention and hopefully affection. the initial fluttering and the subsequent quarrelling)
22Mar12: "The Iron Lady" w KY (really love Thatcher's sharp words. inspiring and thought-provoking, tho i was still left uncertain of what to do with my life, the movie is definitely an encouraging one)
29Mar12: "Barney's Version" w SJ (a funny movie of a screwed up life of a man who had 3 wives, smoked and drank but very heartwarming at the same time, the relationships with the dad and the 3th wife - quotable quotes!)
27Apr12: "The Hunger Games" w Mom
4May12" "Avengers" w MF n PS (funny, action-packed)
7Jul12: "The Amazing Spiderman"
21Jul12: "The Dark Knight Rises" (fantastic depth, loved the twists)
20Aug12: "ParaNorman" w Mom (simple funny animated movie, heartwarming support)
Performances watched (listing started on 25Apr10)
20Jan10: Patrick Marber's Closer by outoftheBLUE, NUS Science w Pam (
13Mar10: The Rain Came Down Like Pearls the Night I Died... The New Musical - Sing & Tell by Mark Chan w Addy & Jy
21Mar10: Quintessence by NUSCO w CHL