生活物语 之 "Fun For U"

Weekends can be busy too... Usually, Sat is our sports day, but we postponed it as Chumani is not feeling well. She accompanied me for a neat haircut and I had my favourite veg rojak for lunch...thereafter we went for a movie @ Filmgarde. It was a day of several big events at LeisurePark, the open carpark was cordoned off for a car-racing event. In the mall, there's a dog competition going on.

We went for the movie, "The Forbidden Kingdom". Thought it was a nice teamwork between two legendary movie kung-fu masters, Jet Li and Jackie Chan. The plot is about the magical staff belonging to the famous Monkey King of Chinese classical novel "Journey to the West". It was another imaginative fiction movie about bringing a modern man back to the olden times where he held the last piece of the fairytale puzzle. Although the fantasy plot doesn't really make much sense, the actions and visual effects are good!

We stayed on @ LeisurePark, joined the crowd to cheer for the Dogs' competition. It's really an interesting scene to see so many dogs in the mall! I was amazed at how well some of the dogs are trained! There were a series of tests which the dog and the handler have to pass... walk-turn-stop-sit, obstacle crossing, items retrieval, snif-and-grab, etc. There's a playful pair which kept 'harrassing' each other for quite a while, you really need good stamina if you want to keep up with their games. Sometimes, you need to have strength to handle your dog, especially big ones. I saw one of the big dogs that pulled it's owner off her balance and she ended up in a 'sitting' position beside it... (Hmmm... wonder who's the owner).

On Sunday morning, we went to the new E!Hub for an official event which my boss requested me to attend as our division's representative. The Prime Minister along with the union leaders launched the new union logo which signifies three 'U's... small U, big U and the 'invisible' U. The small U refers to the individual, big U refers to the organisation, community, etc... the 'invisible' U refers to something abstract, it may take a while to see it, I suppose it is the bigger picture beyond the small and big Us. PM joined us for the U cheer... here's how it goes... small U "piak-piak-piak"... big U "piak-piak-piak"... NTUC for U! The new logo was launched with a big bang and a series of street performance carnival. We toured the new E!Hub after the exciting launch ceremony. There's a big indoor playground, ideal for families with kids.

We headed for the pet farm nearby to have a look as we are planning to own dogs in future. Although we know it's not going to be easy as my mum's always against the idea of having dogs. Anyway, we are just interested to know what are the breed to go for when the 'time is ripe'. I have a liking towards west highland terrier and golden retriever. Apparently, a goldie is good natured, very intelligent and easy to coach as compared to the playful westie. The pet farm's assistant explained the basics about owning a dog. He lives in a flat and has 3 goldies and a pug, I wonder how he can handle so many dogs in a flat! He told us that his mum has never stepped into his house because of the presence of three big dogs.

We are interested to have our dogs in time to come, but I m not as experienced as Chumani, need to be more prepared since having a dog is a life-long commitment (at least 10 years or more). Many people bought dogs for fun and discard them after a while. These poor animals ended up at SPCA... where they will be put to sleep within two weeks upon arrival. The assistant told us that it is unnecessary to donate to SPCA as they are well-funded. All it takes is S$1.20 to put down a dog... their setup is quite simple... like the gallows in prison.

Nowadays, I seldom recall dreams... cos I was either too tired or occupied with work. On a blue Monday, I dozed off while watching TV. I remembered dreaming of my younger brother coming home for a surprise visit to us! Of course... this was made possible with my Dad's collaboration. We were all at Grandma's place... he suddenly appeared with a friend (someone I remembered seeing at the airport) at the driveway in front main door. He happily hugged me and said those 'long-time no-see' words... then he went on and played with his friend on a make-shift vehicle toy at the courtyard. I hope he's doing well and making good use of this opportunity in the States to learn. We are longing for his return home soon, in a few months time! =)

"SHHHTRATEGY"

"Silence is Golden"

Sometimes, in order to be heard, you need to be silent.

I believe most of us have heard the phrase "Silence is Golden" in certain places or situations.

What it means to me is the 'art' of applying silence... "Shhhtrategy"

Art is an abstract term to describe the ability to demonstrate the true essence of a unique skill, through experiential knowledge with a sharp sense of judgement.

Although my immersion experience in corporate politics may not be long enough, but I observed that "silence" is indeed golden.

In most cases, you won't go wrong with silence when it comes to dealing with office politics...

Another dimension of understanding is probably your intuition...

Sometimes, it is just the way a person impresses you...

Sometimes, you may sense something's wrong with this person, but can't really pinpoint what exactly it is...

Sometimes, the person's body language and the things spoken during conversation just strikes those worried nerves beneath your skin...

Sometimes, on the surface, this person seemed normal and easy-going, but your intuition may tell you otherwise...

Sometimes, this person expressed all the points to guide you towards a certain direction, but you know it may not be that way as something's lacking...

Sometimes, you may think that you are being overly suspicious, but the fact is... your intuition may be right!

I Trust My Intuition.

生活物语 之 "Dark Horse"

A dark horse candidate is one who is nominated unexpectedly, without previously having been discussed or considered as a likely choice. Often a dark horse is selected as a compromise when other, more prominent candidates' factions cannot come to an agreement. This metaphoric expression originally alluded to an unknown horse winning a race.

This post is dedicated to my mum who's the 'dark horse' in today's debate! Read on...

The annual debate's qualifying round was held today (23 Apr 2008), the teams and topics as follows:

Round 1: <<佛教是厌世与出世的宗教吗?>>

高级班 （正）VS 初级班 （反）

Winner: 高级班

Round 2: <<佛教主张人性本善吗？>>

中级班 （正）VS 研修班 （反）

Winner: 中级班

For round 1, it is an expected outcome as the advanced class is definitely more experienced and knowledgeable than our beginner class. They are more prepared and organised than us. The advanced class's debaters are well-chosen and they 'shoot' fluently. The 3rd speaker is particularly interesting...cos he always looked so happy, expressive and 'emotionally charged'... At one point during the free debate slot, he got so worked up that he is snatching the mic and firing away non-stop. What a scene... On our side, our 3rd speaker also caught the same emotional fever...she stood up and down and the mic was mostly in her hands...but as she rattled away, she doesn't realised what she's talking about...at some point, even the judges are visibly 'stunned' by what she said. Towards the end, the advanced class ran out of time and we still have some time on hand...that's when she took the mic and happily throwing insults cos the advanced class is not allowed to respond. Anyway, that's really a good one from both sides. I was the final speaker and made the concluding remarks... Hmmm... I managed to finish my points ahead of time, but I've got nothing much to add... so I sat down gently (without a closing statement)... (heard laughters)... Humphhh!!!

For round 2, it was more interesting! My mum participated in the debate as a member from the intermediate class. Last week, I saw her working hard at home and library in preparation for the debate session. It was a pity that I missed my mum in action during the debate, since round 1 & 2 were conducted at the same time. According to the participants, she performed exceptionally well...especially during the 5-min free debating session, she acted like a machine gunner, firing non-stop when she noticed that her team mates kept silent when fired by the post-graduate class. Excellent fiery temper of hers put to good use finally. She's managed to solicit accolades from the other supporters in the session and her team emerged as the winner eventually. Congrats mum! Your efforts really paid off...that's how she should put her 'talents' to good use rather than nagging at us at home...

In the final round of debate, it will be the winning team of round 1 vs winning team of round 2. It would be interesting to see if my mum in action if she agrees to participate. For this debate session, she's actually the 'dark horse' cos she was called up last minute to join in since one of the debaters cannot make it on the day. We are looking forward to watch the final round... =) =)

生活物语 之 "Greenfingers Project"

Recently, I've started working on a 'Greenfingers Project'... In a nutshell, I want to learn how to make plants grow, starting with indoor plants. In the past, I tried but failed several times, even cactus died in my hands... Someone even nicknamed me 'Brownfingers'! *FAINT*

Perhaps it is the incorrect selection or positioning of plants in my workplace. Anyway, I will start afresh again... This time round, I have two similar pots of plants... One in my office and the other in my room. I will take good care of both plants and see how well they grow in the next few months... =) =)



Peperomia (or radiator plant) is one of the 2 large genera of the Piperaceae family, with more than 1,000 recorded species. Most of them are compact, small perennial epiphytes growing on rotten wood. More than 1,500 species have been recorded, occurring in all tropical and subtropical regions of the world, though concentrated to Central and Northern South America.

Though varying considerably in appearance, these species generally have thick, stout stems and fleshy leaves, sometimes with leaf windows. Peperomia flowers typically come under yellow to brown conical spikes.

These tropical perennials are commonly grown for decorative purposes. They are mostly natives of tropical America. They are compact and small and usually do not exceed 30 cm in height. They vary considerably in appearance. Some have threadlike, trailing stems and some have fleshy, stout stems. The leaves are smooth and fleshy and may be oval with the leafstalk at or near the center of the leaf blade, or they may be heart-shaped or lance-shaped; their size may vary from 2.5–10 cm long. They may be green or striped, marbled or bordered with pale green, red or gray and the petioles of some kinds are red. The tiny flowers are unnoticeable and they grow in the form of cordlike spikes.

Peperomias are grown for their ornamental foliage, and sometimes for their attractive flowers (Peperomia fraseri). Except the succulent species, they are generally easy to grow under greenhouse. Different species (e.g. Peperomia caperata) and cultivars are found in the trade. These plant are usually propagated by seeds. They are also commercially propagated by cuttage. Peperomia cuttings root easily.

These plants can be divided at potting time. They are removed and separated into smaller pieces that have a few roots attached. Leaf or stem cuttings can also be taken in the spring or summer. Remove the lower leaves of the shoots and make a cut below the bottom node (joint). Then lay them on a bench for an hour or two to allow a protective corky skin to form over the cuts. Insert the stem cuttings in a propagating case with a bottom heat of 70-75 degrees. Don’t close the top completely, since the plants are semi-succulent in nature they do not give off water very fast. When enough roots have formed they can be potted in 3-inch pots or in hanging baskets. Seeds may be sown.

生活物语 之 "Art of Debate"

For the past two weeks, some volunteers from our Buddhism study class are gearing up for the upcoming debate session. Through balloting, our beginner class is squaring up against the advanced class. Not sure if that's fair, but it's definitely a good interactive platform to learn from each other regardless of knowledge levels.

The topic is somewhat 'double-edged'...from the way it was structured, which is probably why it was chosen as the topic for debate...

<<佛教是厌世与出世的宗教吗?>>

We are the opposition. There are four speakers in each team and I was assigned as the final speaker. Although each member has a role to play, the first and last speaker holds critical responsibilites. First speaker defines our stand in the opening and last speaker summing up all critical points in closing respectively.

In the past, I used to enjoy watching students' debate sessions on TV. Not expecting myself to be participating in a real debate one day... cos I really hate bickering! Although it is somewhat interesting, the challenge lies in where to draw the boundaries correctly and follow the guidelines when responding to queries in a debate session. As a debater, one needs to be alert, responsive and 'professional' in either making a point or fend off an attack.

I remembered watching a video in class featuring how debate sessions are held among Tibetan monks. Student monks gathered each day at the courtyard and, in small groups, debate nuances of Buddhist thought. With a clap, the other party must respond to your question. It's spontaneous and lively!

Our debate strategy is inclined towards defensive, knowing that we are facing the advanced class, we limited the scope of the debate to simple down-to-earth principles and real-life experiences. Ideally, we should also refrain from leading our responses to create advantage for the competing team. We are all new to debate, now preparing scripts and aligning our strategies at the same time. It is meant for participation and not so much about winning the debate.

生活物语 之 "Office Signs"

It's another usual busy day at work today... Finally, we managed to conduct a meaningful technical committee session to sort out our development work and plans to move forward. This was my first session with the technical committee since the council meeting last year. Glad that all went well and we've set the targets for the next few weeks.

My workload is significantly heavy as several industrial projects are taking off simultaneously. Time is definitely not on our side and our team members are already overwhelmed by the piling workload. The other major headache is the administrative strings that are tied to our workflow. We hope there will be efficient streamlining processes to optimise resources and align our data reporting. Otherwise, we will be severely tied down by admin stuff and unable to handle the challenges ahead. I believe it is okay to have ambitious plans, but more importantly, as Sun Tzu says...

知彼知己，百戰不殆
If you know your enemies and know yourself, you will fight without danger in battles.

不知彼而知己，一勝一負
If you only know yourself, but not your opponent, you may win or may lose.

不知彼不知己，每戰必殆
If you know neither yourself nor your enemy, you will always endanger yourself.

The key to survival is perhaps to (1) uphold integrity and moral principles, (2) know your position, (3) understand your limits, (4) foster good teamwork spirit, (5) set achievable goals with priorities, (6) know how to make efficient use of available resources, (7) be highly creative in devising effective strategies and last but not least (8) prove oneself as a true leader that earned the respect from majority at all levels through practical exemplification.

Currently, I am still in the process of learning and at the same time working to the best of my ability with team members. So far so good... but need to put in more efforts and work more closely as a team.

Apart from work, weekends are mostly for rest and recreation... spending quality time with my loved ones and recover myself before the fast-paced corporate cycle starts again. Saturdays are scheduled as our workout day, we will do ball games, biking, swimming... Sundays are free & easy on our own... watching movies, home cooking, housekeeping, shopping, outing with family, or simply doing nothing.

These are some interesting "office signs" that I've created recently for my office desk as a flip album. On one side, it displays my office status. On the reverse side, it displays beautiful pictures of the places I like and selected pictures from my personal life. Do drop me an email if you are interested to have these "office signs" templates, cheers! =)

Noble Lie

A lie is a form of deception through an untruthful statement with the intention to deceive, often with the further agenda to maintain a secret or reputation, or to avoid punishment.

In some situations, a noble lie is a deceptive statement with a kind intention. A noble lie would normally cause discord if it were uncovered, but that offers some benefit to the liar and perhaps assist in an orderly society and thus potentially gives some benefit to others also. It is often told to maintain law, order and safety.

A fine boundary lies between truth and deceit... On the day of annual ancestral ritual, a 'story' was told to the matriarch of the family. This ‘noble lie’ was translated as a 'dream encounter' for several good reasons:

• To mark this annual occasion by sharing the 'dream' encounter with the matriarch at the sacred place where ancestral tablets rest
• To dispel the unduly worrisome thoughts in the mind of the matriarch that emotionally burdened everyone else in the family for the past few years
• To eliminate the unnecessary practices due to fear of the unknown about after-life
• To reassure the matriarch with good news about a respected ancestor’s well-being
• To encourage the matriarch to follow an enlightened pathway of practice through Buddhism teachings
• To restore peace and harmony among family members that worked hard to manage the grievances from the matriarch
• To ensure this dream encounter is consistent and convincing enough for the matriarch