International Flavors and Fragrances (IFF) has launched a blog, entitled A Taste of CulinEssence, intended as a platform from which the company’s chefs can share their culinary thoughts and news.
Executive chef Kevin McDermott said: “In addition to trends, news, links, and recipes, this blog gives us a place to talk about other interesting stories that happen at IFF that we think our customers would enjoy hearing about. We see it as a window into the culinary world at IFF.” Master chef Florian Webhofer added: “We are hoping that by inviting people into our world, they will come to better understand the passion that goes into all we do – from trend concepts to gold standard development to flavor creation.”
I just sent out reports to flavourists for the FIRST time ever!
My whole face, especially my ears are BURNING!!! gosh. I can't believe my natural bodily response is THAT high right now. And my manager just sent out an email to settle the administrative stuff, like to get approval blah blah blah. Says my title will be GCMS technician. HOW awful a name. LOL.
Anyways, so my supervisor is on leave today. She'll be coming back for just TWO more days before she goes on maternity leave for THREE months!!! So I'll be like working independently (with some assistance - like take a look at my reports before I send them out - from my HPLC sup who has relevant experience too) from next Monday onwards :S:S:S how SCARY.
Actually today's like the first high-level trial for me. (I've already had low-level difficulty trials previously when she went on leave and I had to run extractions, QC samples and send reports to QC.) But for today I sent reports to FLAVOURISTS! and in the emails I've to cc their managers and the head of our whole technical department (though he's probably too busy to read the emails anyways lol)
I was just writing a couple of Chinese characters (the name of a Korean brand for one of the samples I have at work) and I had this thought...
It has been so long since I last wrote a proper length of writing in Chinese! (like JC time?) Gosh. I should think of a topic some day and do some writing... Even though I suck at writing essays and always take extremely long to finish one, I still wish to do it... Its a nuturing process... With the thoughts that are put into it.
Maybe an essay. Or maybe just a 周记 entry. Yupss (:
While the disappearance of hunger is almost instantaneous after you start eating, the arrival of pleasant fullness takes some time. The less you eat during the time that it takes the stomach to notify your brain that it is full, the less you will overeat. The solution is obvious: slow down.
Pace-Eating: Half-by-5 and All-by-10 Schedules
When we eat, we tend to eat the entire portion. This kind of eating doesn’t factor in the delay between your stomach’s knowing you are full and your brain’s knowing you are full. As a result, we overeat (by eating beyond the point of pleasant fullness). The following are two pace-eating schedules based on the idea that the more you eat in the first sitting, the longer you should wait before you eat again. Half-by-5: divide the portion in half, eat the first half, and take a five minute break. If still not pleasantly full, eat the remainder of the food. All-by-10: eat all that’s in front of you. Wait ten minutes. If still not pleasantly full, have a second helping. For habit-modifying effect, apply the pace-eating schedule of your choice to the largest meal of the day.
Rest Your Hands Technique
Resting your hands between bites will help you slow down the pace of eating to give fullness time to emerge. Lay down the utensils, rest your hands on the table for 10-20 seconds. No need to keep track of time. Just a simple touch-down of your hands on the tablecloth.
Inverted Eating Race
When eating with a like-minded mindful-eating partner, try to outdo each other in how slowly you can finish the meal. Fill in the pauses with talk. The loser pays the bill. Instead of leaving room for dessert, leave some room for conversation.
The Admittedly Annoying Thorough Chewing Exercise
One of the commonly overlooked phases of digestion is chewing. Chewing takes time, and time facilitates fullness. Conscious chewing is a good way to slow down eating to give fullness time to emerge. Some writers recommend chewing for a certain number of reps; but that feels too much like exercise. I suggest you study chewing. What side of the mouth do you chew on? What’s your natural average number of chewing motions per bite? What’s it like to have food in the mouth and not chew, just letting it sit there for a moment. How do you decide when you have chewed enough and it’s time to swallow? Let’s chew on that for a couple of weeks.
Counting the Chips
How long does an average bag of chips last when you are vegging in front of TV? How long is it before your finger run into the disappointment of broken chip fragments at the bottom of the bag? Try something different: count the chips. First look at the bag of chips and make a prediction. Then count the chips as you eat them. If you are not going to finish the bag, jot down the number on the bag with a marker and continue counting when you come back to this bag of chips during your next “snack attack.” Compare the actual results with your prediction. Even if there were not as many chips as you thought there might be, I am sure that the experience of counting the chips would certainly help you slow down and would help you prevent a sense of disappointment. Apply this counting tactic to other finger-food snacks and sweets. For example, make a guess of how many raisins or almonds you’d find in your particular bag of trail mix. Count them up or risk inhaling countless calories without a sense of fulfillment.
Reminiscence Eating
Eating links people, places and things of our pasts, and as such, can be a great way of going down memory lane, on a journey of self-remembering. Reminiscent eating is an opportunity to turn a simple act of eating into an existentially meaningful experience with the added advantage of slowing down the process of eating (and thus giving fullness time to emerge). Next time you eat, look at the food in front of you and allow yourself to free-associate about the past. What does this dish, this smell, this taste remind you of? Give yourself a taste of the past and turn what could have been mechanical and meaningless into sentimental and mindful.
A Cooling Off Period
Think of the times you burnt your lips on a bowl of soup: isn’t it amazing that we are in such a rush to eat we are willing to burn ourselves?! Next time you have a bowl of soup in front of you give it a few moments to cool off. Stir it, mindfully, watching the vortex of colors swirl. Gently blow air on it, unlocking the aroma. Look around. Enjoy the wait, exhale the impatience, chill.
Pavel Somov, Ph.D, EATING THE MOMENT: 141 Mindful Practices to Overcome Overeating One Meal at a Time (New Harbinger, 2008)
1. Do something nice for someone. 2. Affirm that you are a wonderful, beautiful person. 3. Breathe in the invigorating scent of natural peppermint oil. 4. Brush and floss your teeth. 5. Chew your food well. 6. Choose comfortable shoes over heels that throw off your spinal alignment. Men: choose comfortable shoes over tight, blister-causing shoes. 7. Clean out that clutterthat’s been sapping your energy. 8. Clean your home with baking soda and vinegar instead of harmful commercial cleaners. 9. Cry when you feel like crying. 10. Add sprouts to a sandwich or wrap.
11. Drink a fresh vegetable juice. 12. Drink a large glass of water with fresh lemon squeezed into it. 13. Drink a smoothie made from almond milk, unsweetened green powder, and berries. 14. Eat a large green salad (without the chemical-, sugar-, and bad-fat-laden bottled dressing) 15. Eat an apple. 16. Eat dinner at the dinner table instead of in front of the TV or on the go. 17. Eat fresh or frozen berries (allow them to thaw first!) instead of sugary dessert. 18. Enjoy some sunlight. 19. Forgive yourself. 20. Get more sleep.
21. Get some fresh air. 22. Give a friend or family member a hug. 23. Give someone a sincere compliment. 24. Give yourself a facial with some natural products. 25. Give yourself flowers. 26. Go for a massage. 27. Go for a walk. 28. Have a family game night. 29. Have a hot bath with baking soda or Epsom salts. 30. Laugh.
31. Listen to some beautiful music that makes your soul sing. 32. Make half your next meal raw fruits and vegetables. 33. Pass along good news. 34. Plant a tree. 35. Prepare and enjoy a light, detoxifying dinner. 36. Reach for a natural remedy instead of a pharmaceutical drug (but don’t discontinue any medications that a doctor has prescribed for you). 37. Read a good book. 38. Reconnect with someone you care about but haven’t made time for. 39. Say “no” to a demandon your time that you really aren’t interested in anyway. 40. Skin brush with a dry natural bristled brush before showering to boost circulation and lymphatic drainage.
41. Smile. 42. Snack on somealmonds. 43. Soak your feet in a foot bath. 44. Stop and literally smell the flowers. 45. Stretch your body. 46. Take a few deep breaths. 47. Take a good quality multivitamin and mineral. 48. Take a nap. 49. Tell someone you love that you love them. 50. Throw out your non-stick cookware and choose cast iron and enameled cast iron instead (keep the new earth- and health-friendly non-stick cookware like Earth Chef and Paderno Pots for Eternity).
51. Use fresh herbs instead of salt to add flavor to your food. 52. Watch a funny or feel-good movie. 53. Wear a natural piece of clothing that allows your skin to breathe. 54. Write down 10 things you love about yourself. 55. Write down 10 things you’re grateful for.
By Erica Simonich, Jenna Verheyen and Greg Campion
Here's the scenario: Every week you get up, go to class, study on occasion, eat, party and sleep. This is the routine you've been caught in for weeks. You feel like you are accomplishing all the things you are supposed to while having fun at the same time. Yet, something is missing. Let's look at this scenario again. Our theoretical college student has his or her priorities straight. He is having fun while making the Dean's List and many good friends. Still he does not feel quite whole. What could be lacking? If you are like many students, you might be dumfounded as to what the problem is. The problem is that there are certain things in life that we overlook and therefore, underrate. These things give life a richer quality, but because they are so small, they are often missed and underappreciated. We just go through our days in an endless cycle of living and learning without taking time to experience the good things we should not take for granted. Small signs of affection do not cost a lot but they can be worth so much. Contrary to the media, even if you do not know the person, it is okay for you to be thoughtful to another human being. Smiles can brighten up the day for another person, and they are likely to pass the smile on. Kind words and a good conversation can turn almost any bad day around. Think hard. When was the last time you had a really good deep conversation, and no, how you clinched your final game of Beirut is NOT a meaningful conversation. Moving on to the overlooked good things that you can appreciate with those you know, how about a hug? They are often neglected when it comes down to it and we don't really know why. From the guy's perspective, of course manly men don't give hugs, but with the right girl (or girls, don't be afraid to experiment), hugs can be electric. When guys find the right girl that fits in the crook of their shoulder, they shouldn't let her go. Instead they should take her to a massage class. That's right, after a man learns to give a truly first-rate massage, he will, without a doubt, find a partner masseuse who will justify learning the best technique. That is one of the single best things you should definitely not overlook. Trust us. And for those of us without the comfort of a loving significant other, there are always your friends. Those are the people who know you better than anyone else (especially in the close proximity of a college dorm) and can always find a way to cheer you up if the stresses of life get to you. If we all love our friends as much as we say we do, we should probably begin to show it because we might receive in return. Small gestures again are a good way to show appreciation. Cards, phone calls and e-mails are all good ways of letting someone you care about know you are thinking of them.Another fulfilling and inspiring suggestion for those bored with the daily grind of college life is creating something. Whether you are interested in art, cooking, music or any other variety of things, any form of self-expression helps humans put their feelings into material objects and in general just keep your mind off of problems. We can personally attest to this as we are actually paid to write articles about our opinions on pretty much anything. Also, especially this time of year, we should take notice of nature and all its elements. Fall in New England is unlike anywhere else and I'm sure all of you have taken time to notice the beauty of the changing leaves. But have you also noticed the crisp smell of the fall air, or felt the nip of a cool wind across your rosy cheeks? Have you heard the geese's sometimes incessant, but always familiar, honking as the seasons change? We can take comfort in their constancy, but at the same time be alert to their unpredictability (mainly during blizzard season). Nature can help make you feel complete and for all you slackers out there, this one is especially good, because you don't even have to do anything, just relax and enjoy. Although these small things may be known comforts to many of you, it is nice to review them every once in a while. If you remember even one today, it may make a difference to you or someone around you. As the school year wears on, we want you to live up to your potential and spend each day to its fullest because, as they say, these are the best years of your life.
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~ John Fitzgerald Kennedy
I started off the morning feeling happy. Cos now all my friendships are in good shape i feel haha. What I mean is that I i feel that for all my old friends whom I had drifted apart from, now we are close again :) and I've new friends to hang out with too.
THEN. Around late morning, at work, I found out I broke sth that costs $200. :S my sup was still super nice tho didnt scold me again
12 March 2010 (Fri) 430pm
It suddenly dawned upon me that my sudden drastic increase in socialisation may not be a real change in me. It could have been just a passing period. I mean the real me is still the me who loves and needs me time to think a lot. Sigh. I don't really know for sure. But know that I have my complete silence to think, and that my heart is calm right now, I think that could be the case...
hahah. Re-reading through what I typed, it sounds confusing and even a circular argument perhaps. =/
hmm. I wonder if I've been socialising too much. cos right now with the rare complete silence in my office, I'm enjoying it so much. That I get the time to think for myself. And do the proper things I should be doing - my own work: copying my notes and making a proper list of all the projects so i can have a good reference to know which project to put new samples in to.
Jealousy is simply and clearly the fear that you do not have value. ...Put all the energy into building your personal and emotional security. Then you will be the one others envy, and you can remember the pain and reach out to them. Jennifer James
Jealousy lives upon doubts, it becomes madness or ceases entirely as soon as we pass from doubt to certainty. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld
Whoever envies another confesses his superiority. Dr Samuel Johnson
Envy can be a positive motivator. Let it inspire you to work harder for what you want. Robert Bringle
Jealousy is all the fun you think they had. Erica Jong
Jealousy is nothing more than a fear of abandonment. Unknown
This morning I cried so hard my eyes are feeling so tired now...and I had too little sleep - slept at 2 and woke at 6 (when my alarm was supposed to be at 640!!) so my back is aching now...this past week has been like a whirlwind, I could say. Social activities-wise, it has been really heavy.
Monday - treated mom and mf to out-of-the-pan at Raffles City and had discussion on our travel plans in Jeju Island with mf - got home around 1030pm Tuesday - had dinner with irene and ny band alumni - got home around the same time too? Wednesday - had dinner and cell with addy - got home around 11pm Thursday - had dinner and shopping and movie with mf and irene (OH i just realised I had night activities with them this week twice each! lol tho today's impromptu cos of other cancelled plans) - got home around 12midnight...
20 March 2010 (Sat) 626am
trying to finish up my half-halfs of blogposts now... Hmmm. I think my biological clock is seriously "in-tune" these days. I actually woke up naturally around 6 am... Too early to cycle (the sun's not up!!) so I shall blog in the meantime. After going to bed at 11+pm when I was so exhausted and could stay awake no more. In the past few weeks, I have slept at 2 or even 3 am on days I had no work and still woke up at around 7am before it was even near the time I had set for my alarm (on work days alarm's at 640am). Even though I could wake up so early, I did feel tired in the day but I always chose to go straight for cycling since it was already past day break. Wells. Today is in particular much earlier! I did try to go back to sleep - especially with my back feeling terribly aching..wells I failed. Last Sunday I was surprised I did manage to fall asleep again (though that Sat night I had slept at like 2?) and only wake up at 8+am. It was really surprising since for as much as I can remember, ever since IA started, I've never been able to sleep till later than 7+am on weekends regardless of whether I went to bed at 1 or 2 or 3am..whereas during the school term, I could practically sleep through my whole Sunday if I stayed at home and attempted doing homework...
Sooooo. Basically my analysis of my current sleep requirement is that I need just about 6 hours of sleep? haha. If I sleep 4 hours or less my body would need more or it cannot push on. With 5 hours I would still be able to survive but the life will be slowly drawn out of me.
HAHAHA. I feel like I'm blogging something REALLY ridiculous. LOL. Whatever.
Oh wells. 646am. I can start to get ready for cycling! :D :D :D and as usual I've gone off-track of what I had intended to blog about! haha...later...
and I've decided to stop saying (and of course stop doing) that I'm crapping 90%...sigh...how silly. crap for what. SO immature. seriously backslided SO much. sigh...
Apparently my current level of socialisation is over the manageable limit for me...I have changed from someone who thinks a lot before speaking (and sometimes so much that I speak way too little) to someone who speaks without properly thoughts especially of the drastic consequences what I said could cause, and even to the extent of blabbering, I could say..how sucky...and I just read on some website, "Don't talk just to talk". sigh...of course I knew that long ago...Yet, I have regressed...sigh now I feel so disappointed in myself...the changes in me have not been really positive at all...
A few days ago, I was just telling pam I'm currently like socialising SO much I seem to have lost control of myself. And she said I'm sliding along the spectrum of solitude and socialisation, before I stop at a spot comfortable for myself (at that moment I was so impressed by her such apt description and thought okay so I could just give myself time until i stop at the right spot for myself). Who knows I was actually so freaking right. lost control. sigh... One should never lose control of oneself...the consequences can be so bad you expect your friend to tell you "go and die".
First Child:perfectionist, reliable, conscientious, a list maker, well organized, hard driving, a natural leader, critical, serious, scholarly, logical, doesn’t like surprises, a techie.
Middle Child:mediator, compromising, diplomatic, avoids conflict, independent, loyal to peers, has many friends, a maverick, secretive, used to not having attention.
Only Child: little adult by age seven, very thorough, deliberate, high achiever, self-motivated, fearful, cautious, voracious reader, black-and-white thinker, talks in extremes, can’t bear to fail, has very high expectations for self, more comfortable with people who are older or younger.
Symrise has developed a highly concentrated umami flavour which it will market as a replacer for monosodium glutamate (MSG) in Europe, once approval is granted.
Umami is one of the five taste sensations detectable by humans, together with sweet, bitter, salty and sour. It is the taste quality associated with several amino acids, especially the amino acid L-glutamate.
Symrise already has some unami flavours in its portfolio, but Matthias Hille, category manager of the savoury business unit at Symriseexplained to FoodNavigator.com that none is as concentrated as the new ingredient. Whereas a standard umami flavour would be added at a level of around 0.12 per cent in a gravy, for instance, the new Symlife Umami can be used at 5 parts per million (ppm).
“The major advantage is that in its diluted format can be as a direct MSG replacer,” said Hille. Some consumers are inclined to avoid MSG, as they have a negative association of it.
Symlife Umami can be added to other flavourings sold by Symrise to give a boost to the umani perception, such as chicken flavour or other less concentrated umami ingredients. He explained that dosing the ingredient one gram at a time via pipette is not feasible for industry, which prefers to work with 25kg bags.
Aiming for positive list
Symrise’ R&D team spent three years working on Symlife Umani. While it is already being employed by some manufacturers of savoury products in Asia Pacific and has FEMA GRAS (generally recognised as safe) status in the US, it is not yet permitted in the EU.
Hille said it is on the evaluation list of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), with an opinion expected by the end of this year. “We don’t expect big challenges,” he said. Once the opinion is granted, the ingredient is expected to be added to positive list of permitted flavours under the new flavouring regulation.
The company is already communication about the development to customers, however, due to the long lead time for trying it out in their products.
The umani flavouring is produced by a symthetic process. It was developed after the R&D team identified a unique perception from raw material, and carried out structure performance tests to identify the molecules responsible for that perception. The scientists then worked together with the flavourists to recreate the quality.
Hille said they have been “able to prove this ingredient is also working directly on the receptor in our mouths”.
Umami market
While umami is closely associated with Asian cuisine, Hille predicts that the tide away from using MSG in products means Europe could be just as big a market for the new flavouring as Asia.
Symrise is not the only firm aiming at MSG replacement. Givaudan said last year that it has discovered molecules associated with umami as part of its TasteSolutions programme, by analysing “traditional fermentation processes, cooking techniques and artisanal ingredients”from around the world. This research, as well as its research into taste perception, forms the basis for its new clean label ingredients.
In 2007 US-based Wild Flavors, too, launched a new taste modification platform called SavorCrave that was claimed to allow manufacturers of savoury goods to add the distinct umami flavor and mouthfeel to soups, sauces, meat marinades, frozen entrees and seasonings.
Yeast extracts, too, have targeted the umami space, though Hille said Symrise’s new concentrated flavour could have cost advantages. It is still exploring this proposition, but depending on the kind of yeast extracts, the application and the dosage level Hille reckons the saving could be in the region of 15-20 per cent.
The pastor used this word during his sermon today. Ooo a cool word to use :D
–adjective
1.
(of language) native or indigenous (opposed to literaryorlearned).
2.
expressed or written in the native language of a place, as literary works: a vernacular poem.
3.
using such a language: a vernacular speaker.
4.
of or pertaining to such a language.
5.
using plain, everyday, ordinary language.
6.
of, pertaining to, or characteristic of architectural vernacular.
7.
noting or pertaining to the common name for a plant or animal.
8.
Obsolete. (of a disease) endemic.
–noun
9.
the native speech or language of a place.
10.
the language or vocabulary peculiar to a class or profession.
11.
a vernacular word or expression.
12.
the plain variety of language in everyday use by ordinary people.
13.
the common name of an animal or plant as distinguished from its Latin scientific name.
14.
a style of architecture exemplifying the commonest techniques, decorative features, and materials of a particular historical period, region, or group of people.
15.
any medium or mode of expression that reflects popular taste or indigenous styles.
5 Feb 10 1013am Suddenly I feel quite impressed with ourselves that we can communicately effectively in Singlish, English (hopefully proper enough =X) and Chinese. How so naturally we can slip into Singlish when we talk to our friends, and still be able to convert back to the proper languages. :D 1112am hmmm I've another thought. The feeling of an approaching festive period is SO much stronger at work than at school. At work you can already feel that CNY (or previously Xmas/ New Year) is coming like since the Wednesday that just passed! i.e. 1.5 weeks in advance! Cos I've been so free since then. Whereas at school, you are just as busy every day! and perhaps even more so on that day cos the lecturers give you MORE work for the "holiday" instead..
(forgot to post them from my gmail saved draft till now lol =X)
Today started off badly (I even called it the worst day of the year) but I'm glad things turned out well as the day passed.
First off, my Toshiba Portege R600 which I just bought last September failed to boot-up regardless of the number of tries I made. This happened at like 1145pm last night after I got home from Addy's cell group meeting and I thought okays maybe its just right now, later it'll be okay but even this morning, the problem was still there. How saddened I was.
Then, since it was Ky's birthday today, I sent her an sms early in the morning. And also mentioned about my bad luck. Her reply was that she had worse luck! "My right eye got cut or scratch by contacts"... OMG. This news made me even sadder!
And then. So I was still feeling sad over the above two events and wasn't as gentle as I should be in the lab... I shifted a roller chair too fast and too much that it hooked the draw-out thing under a desk (that's usually for putting the keyboard but my sup has used it for putting the liners - $200 each! - and other stuffs for changing liners etc including spanners)... So the whole thing dropped onto the floor and made such loud clanging noise that even though my lab is enclosed, my hplc sup and another colleague rushed in worriedly to ask if I was okay. Then my pregnant sup came in and I said like oh nos don't know if the liners are broken and she replied in the oh-don't-worry-about-it-mans tone that they shouldn't. I was relieved cos she mentioned a few times about how expensive the liners are and so she would wash and reuse them instead of disposal without reuse.
Hmmm my sups are SO nice. Even though they always make the effort to save cost, when it comes to making mistakes they never scold and always care more about my safety (:
But suddenly my hp screen went blank while I was replying mf who was jioing me to watch movie with her.
And later on after seeing an eye specialist Ky's "cut" turned out to be lack of oxygen to the eyes and would be recovering in a few days.
And my sup was nice and let me leave early (around 320pm when I had requested for 4) to send my laptop back to nus.
So with an enjoyable 3D movie (Alice in Wonderland) and some shopping with mf, my mood was lifted :) and just as we parted, mf said hope I don't emo anymore. Even though I casually replied I'm already okay, it felt nice that she remembered I was emoing.
And Addy was so nice welcoming all of us to her place for dinner before the musical next Friday.
Oscar Wilde, 19th century playwright, said: “I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read on the train.”
1. sharpens writing skills 2. can help heal emotional experiences 3. helps keep track of ideas 4. writing is relaxing and it relieves stress 5. journals have unconditional acceptance 6. keep a document record 7. learn to reflect about yourself 8. to feel in control 9. for a creative outlet 10. to document travel or an event
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