Milestone, Poll Results and Some More

Hi Friends! It's the last day of January, and did you notice one month passing you by? No? Time flies huh? I thought we just celebrated the new year. Now, it's eleven months left.

Anyways, I want to thank all those who had visited and commented on my blog this month. Check this out (your contribution to this amazing milestone):

Not so long ago, I talked about the milestone of seeing the 1.2K mark. Now, it's exceeded... 1,272 page views!

For the first time ever, I am seeing the 1.4K mark.

And for the first time ever, more than 750 visits!

That's 3 quarters of A THOUSAND! Phew.... Things ARE getting hot around here huh? And what a start to the new year! Thanks to all my faithful bloggy friends, and all the other anonymous readers. And of course, I'm not surprised to see that my bloggy friends from the United States of America, contributing to 42% of all the visits and page views for this month, followed by my own countrymen/women at 23%, Aussies at 7%, Aliens at 5%, and Canadians at 4%.

And I promised to report on the poll results. There were only 8 people who voted. And 7 of them had similar thinking/opinion like I do on whether someone should respond to your comment on their blog. I think it is only polite and nice to at least acknowledge them, even if you have no idea what to say in response. Thanks again to all those who participated!

Have a fantastic weekend Friends!

Evil Big Fish!


Another update to the Pfizer-Wyeth saga... I don't know if you'd read the details of the news on this buyout... Apparently, Pfizer plans to finance this buyout in a 3-pronged approach:

$22.5 billion in cash

$22.5 billion in debt

$23.0 billion in equity

And the $22.5 billion in debt will be financed by 5 banks, of which 4 of the banks had been bailed out not so long ago by the US Government with the taxpayers' hard-earned dollars. The 5 banks are:

1. Bank of America/Merrill Lynch,

2. Barclays,

3. Citigroup,

4. Goldman Sachs and

5. J.P. Morgan/Chase.

Except for the British-owned Barclays, the rest received money from the Congressional bailout.

It's EVIL!!!

You might ask, WHY?

Because from now until the transaction goes through, they are going to lay off 26,000 employees! Employees who had been faithfully paying their taxes. Do you now see the cruelty? They are using the taxpayers' dollars to buy Wyeth, and then throw many of those taxpayers into the streets to starve. That's not all... they already cut 4,700 jobs in 2008. Those poor fellas who got retrenched... I feel for them and their families. I think you must have read about the guy who killed his entire family a few days ago. How tragic!!!

Good thing I'm going to have no part to play in this evil scheme. I don't know about you, but this is how I personally view this so-called "beneficial synergy". Do let me know what you think about this, ok?

Back to work (on the third day of Chinese New Year... sob...) Have a beautiful Wednesday, Friends! (And let's cook the evil fish for dinner)

Overwhelmed :)


Hi Friends! Before I give you the update to my previous post, I just want to thank Inge', Donna, Darrel and Ron so so much for the prayers, encouragement and kind words you had given to me. God is so good that in this time of uncertainty, He has surrounded me with caring friends :)

Inge', thank you for your prayers. Yes, you are right indeed. One just can't stop speculating and guessing what's gonna happen next! Thank you for reminding me that whatever happens, God has His best interest for me.

Donna, thank you for your prayers too! I do agree that God will see me through all challenges and everything happens because God knows best :)

Hi Darrel! Welcome to my blog :) I think I read some of your comments on Inge's and Small Footprints' blogs. I will be visiting your blog soon. Thank you for sharing with me about your personal experience with mergers/acquisitions. I sure hope your latter experience would happen to me too :)

Ron, thanks for the encouragement. And also thanks for sharing your experience with me from the perspective of the "bigger fish". I guess nothing's easy when these things happen. How I wish I could just cook the fish and eat it now...


Alright, let's get down to business, shall we? So what's gonna happen to me? My Nutrition Division? Apparently, the so-called "transaction" has not fully taken place yet. No money's been paid by Pfizer yet. And the shareholders have yet to vote until April. Based on my CEO, Mr Bernard Poussot's message, the transaction will take place sometime in the second half of 2009. Hahahahahahahahaha............ Sorry for bursting out in laughter... But those of you who had been following my blog faithfully and for so loyally, will know that, by then, I'll be GONE! Wooohoooooooo! I've got nothing to worry about. I mean, talk about how coincidental and how perfect is the timing! And that also means that, I will still have a job until I leave... LOL (make that the evil Dracula laughter...)

Isn't it amazing how God works sometimes? Well, ok... ALL times. Just that we fail to see how amazing it is most of the times.

Anyways, even if I did stay on (probability = 0%), it is said that Pfizer will retain the Nutrition Division, and probably retain my position too. But too bad. I'll be gone then. Ok, for people like Darrel who is new to my blog, after my wedding dinners in July, I'll be heading to the United States of America. Purpose? To go camping with Ron. No kidding. That's the only reason I am going to US for.

Ahaahaha! Gotcha! In actuality, (oh no, do I have to explain myself again here?) in actuality, I'm going there for multiple reasons, besides going camping with Ron. First, I want to do my MBA. Second, I hope to gain overseas working experience (yeah, I know some of you are probably rolling your eyes at this reason, since US is one of the last places on earth for an Asian to come searching for a job). And most importantly, to be with my lovely beloved wife (by then) a.k.a. baby, who is already doing her neurology posting in Columbia, MO more than half a year ago. And of course, to fulfil my dream of sleeping under the stars ;)

Oh well... thanks again, Friends. You don't know how much all that you had said and done means to me :) Have a great Wednesday!

BIG FISH EATS SMALL FISH

If you had been following the news on TV or paper, you'd know that Pfizer, the world's biggest pharmaceutical company has acquired my company, Wyeth earlier today! You can easily find news about this by just googling "Pfizer" and "Wyeth", or either one.

This is my company's new owner...

What a start to a new Chinese New Year, the first day of the Lunar New Year.

A zillion questions zoom in and out of my head relentlessly...

Will I be laid off? Retrenched?

Who's going to be retrenched?

How are my colleagues taking it?

Will I be offerred a position by Pfizer?

Will Pfizer retain the Nutrition Division, consisting of only 7.5% of the total Wyeth business?

If Pfizer mentioned in the press that they will retain Fort Dodge Animal Health Division, which is less than 5% of the total Wyeth business, won't they retain the Nutrition Division as well?

Am I going to get another new boss?

Should I make backup plans?

Is God asking me to go to US earlier?

If they retrench me, will they pay me compensation or retrenchment benefits?

How come I'm not worried?

Is this a joke?

Am I dreaming?

Why on the first day of the Chinese New Year?

Don't they have any life?

Oh well... there'll be a company-wide teleconference at 3 pm tomorrow, so I'll just wait and hear what will happen to me and the Nutrition Division in the next few days or weeks. Stay tuned!!!

Dear Mister/Miss WTF,

Although you might not know,

Although you might not visit my blog again,

You were very rude,

You typed "wtf" in my chatbox,

On the 6th of January, at 11:19:37 pm my local time,

Even if you do not like my blog,

You don't have to say vulgar things about it.

You think that I do not know who are you,

By not typing any name and remaining as "Guest",

But guess what?

I can find out who you are.

You are visitor number 5,780 to my blog,

Your IP Address is 78.150.143.#,

Your Internet Service Provider is Opal Telecom,

You are from the UK,

You are using Windows NT, so most probably you typed the vulgar message from your office,

Your office location is Lat/Long 54, -2,

Does this map look familiar to you?

Most offices use a fixed IP Address,

So I could trace which company you are from by checking with Opal Telecom,

Based on your IP Address and office location.

Although you might look down on me,

Although you might think that I am not good with computers,

But HEY, guess what, I do know certain things,

And I can make your life very miserable if I want to,

But I hope that next time you visit someone's blog,

Especially my bloggy friends' blogs,

BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR WORDS,

Because I am watching you.

God bless you,

Mister/Miss WTF.

Green Government


Hi Friends! This post is in reference to a comment I posted on Small Footprints' blog - Reduce Footprints. You should visit this great blog if you haven't done so, as you could find great tips and ideas on how to live healthily, how to leave less "footprints" on the earth, green ideas, green tips, and also regular featured bloggers who post great things on other topics too :)

Have you ever wondered if your green efforts are working? Or are at least contributing to a better environment? I just think that the government plays a very critical role in all these efforts. The government can impose rules and regulations, and can carry out mass projects in greenifying the earth. The impact the government has is tremendous. And I'm real glad that the new government, the new President of the United States, Barack Obama has green plans on his agendas. Let's get to know him better:

Early in his inaugural address on Tuesday, he stressed that, "... each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet."

He also pointed us to one of his plans by stating that, "We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories."

And he also mentioned in his first speech as President that, "With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the spectre of a warming planet."

And referring to making the world a better place for all mankind, he said, "To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it."

Of course, some critics and naysayers will say that all this is BIG TALK, NO ACTIONS. Sure, the man is talking, giving his first speech, but before you criticise him, before you condemn him, why don't you give him a chance to do his job? And I think that if something is important enough, that person will include that into his first speech as President. Don't you think so?

And if you had not read his blueprint for change, his plan for America, you may do so by downloading a PDF file HERE. In it, you'll find that he will invest in alternative fuels and renewable energy, including a plan to increase America’s energy efficiency and create 5 million new "green" jobs.

What can the leader of the 3rd most populous (2009 estimate = 305,683,000) country in the world do? A LOT. But OF COURSE, I am not discrediting the efforts of individuals, of each and every one of you who is making a conscious effort in greenifying the earth. Every single person is important, because the government would not exist if you had not voted it into power. And we should never underestimate the power of one.

I would like to encourage all of you not to give up, and to keep up your great works in making this world a better place to live in, if not for us, it will be for our future generations. And of course, in lobbying the government, in making sure that President Obama fulfills his promise.

Have a green weekend, Friends!

Time with the family :)


Hi Friends! I hope things are more than great for you at the moment. I had been spending a lot of time with my family, for the past two days.

Yesterday morning, early morning may I add (yeah, I'm supposed to sleep late, since I'm on vacation), I went jogging together with my dad. He's more than twice my age, so he didn't jog fully, if you know what I mean. Rather, he walked briskly, and jogged a little. It was fun! I remember when I was younger, as in MUCH younger, like minus 20 years from my age now, my dad used to take me and my sister to go jogging regularly after he came back from work. I could still remember him teaching us how to avoid vicious dogs from attacking us by just squatting down. To the dogs, it seemed like we are picking up stones to throw at them. AND IT WORKS ALL THE TIME! Ancient wisdom passed down for generations, no doubt. Will be going for breakfast together with him tomorrow morning - to eat my Sarawak laksa! Mmmmm...

And a few hours ago today, my younger brother asked me to go catch Cape No. 7, a Taiwanese romantic movie, the last day it is being shown here in Kuching. And then we adjourned to dinner - glorious Kuching food - tomato kueh tiao, kueh chap, matterhorn... no kolo mee, since I had already had 3 packs of it!!! LOL And of course, I accompanied him to play DOTA, since he's like looking forward to beat me since the last time we played 3 years ago. It was fun as well, as I didn't have the opportunity to spend that much time with him, ever since I went to study and work in Selangor more than 10 years ago, and also when he went to study in Toowoomba 2 years ago and only graduated like last year. Well, one thing I learnt - nope I did not ask him - is that he is still single! Or else why would he invite his older brother to watch a romantic movie together? LOL Ok, in case you are thinking about THAT, nope, he is not gay, or bi.

Next up are my mom and my younger sis. I'm surely looking forward to that :) Will update you when I have time. Have a nice Friday and a great weekend, Friends!

Finally ON BOARD


Hi Friends! I'm blogging from my birthplace, Kuching, Sarawak. Reached home about 6 something in the evening yesterday, due to the wonderful flight delay by AirAsia. Thanks guys, appreciate the amazing punctuality!

Anyways, before I post President Obama's swearing-in and inaugural speech, I'd like to remind those of you who had not answer the poll I posted on Monday, please take just a few seconds to do it. So far, only 7 people had voted. SEVEN??? There are more than 20 visitors to my blog every day, and only 7 responded? Hmmm... Here's the poll again, and thanks in advance for answering, and a special thank you to all the 7 who had already voted. I had no idea who voted, so I can't thank the 7 personally, but I'm guessing 4 of the 7 are Ron, Donna, Florence and Mys Lyke Meeh, since they commented on the post as well. The rest... you know who you are! Thank you again!

The poll...








And here is President Obama's swearing-in but before that, a picture that is representative of the whole of the United States of America turning up, tuning in to watch history being made...


More than a MILLION people braved cold temperatures in Washington to witness President Obama's inauguration as the 44th president of the United States.

Inaguration and Address

Option 1: WATCH IT

Option 2: READ IT (below)




My fellow citizens:

I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors. I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and co-operation he has shown throughout this transition.

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath. The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace. Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms.

At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we, the people, have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.

So it has been. So it must be with this generation of Americans.

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood. Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred. Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age. Homes have been lost; jobs shed; businesses shuttered. Our health care is too costly; our schools fail too many; and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics. Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land - a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time. But know this, America - they will be met.

On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.

We remain a young nation, but in the words of scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things. The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit; to choose our better history; to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given. It must be earned. Our journey has never been one of short-cuts or settling for less. It has not been the path for the faint-hearted - for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame. Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things - some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labour, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and travelled across oceans in search of a new life.

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and ploughed the hard earth.

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg; Normandy and Khe Sahn.

Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life. They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.

This is the journey we continue today. We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on earth. Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began. Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year. Our capacity remains undiminished. But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions - that time has surely passed. Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions - who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short. For they have forgotten what this country has already done; what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them - that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply.

The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works - whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day - because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill. Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control - that a nation cannot prosper long when it favours only the prosperous. The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity; on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart - not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.

As for our common defence, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our founding fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake. And so to all other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions. They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please. Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use; our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the spectre of a warming planet. We will not apologise for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defence, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace.

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect. To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West - know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds. And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it.

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains. They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages. We honour them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.

For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies. It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours. It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.

Our challenges may be new. The instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends - honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism - these things are old. These things are true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What is demanded then is a return to these truths.

What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility - a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.

This is the source of our confidence - the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed - why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have travelled. In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river. The capital was abandoned. The enemy was advancing. The snow was stained with blood. At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

"Let it be told to the future world... that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive... that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet [it]."

America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words. With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come. Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter; and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.






What a great speech! I don't care if it is better than this or that past speech, or not as good as this or that person's speech, HEY, let's stop all these non-essential comparisons and take his speech as it is. What I personally felt is - WITH HOPE AND VIRTUE, change is coming to America. Just as the sun will rise every day, hope WILL rise. And change WILL come.

President Obama's Inauguration





Hi Friends! I just got home from my National Sales Meeting. And yes, I know President Obama's inauguration is going to happen in an hour or so for those of you in Washington, D.C.



I wish I could follow the ceremony live, but thanks to the great connection speed offerred by Maxis, the live feed will appear broken and stunted. So I will have to catch it on Youtube much later or something like that. Sigh... but I'm so happy that after months and years... he is finally President! Yay! For those of you who had been following my blog ever so faithfully for the past 6 months or more will know that I had been campaigning for him as much as I can, against Hillary and McCain. Phew... a good battle won, and change is coming to America! A tough one though...



Do you know what is the oath that is traditionally taken by the new President of the United States?



"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God."



And I am indeed looking forward to know which Scripture will President Obama turn to, for his swearing-in. And also looking forward to hear his inaugural address :)

Congrats President Obama!

Strange


Just before I go to bed, before my company's National Sales Meeting in 9 hours' time, I just want to post something that I had in my mind for a long time.

I'm not sure about you, but I just find that those bloggers who had received the Blogs of Note award, apart from Traveling Chemist, they seem to be more disengaging and unsociable, as compared to those who had never got that award. Until today, they had never responded to any of my comments. And most probably, they had never read my blog, less to say follow it, since none had ever commented on any of my posts, apart from Traveling Chemist, of couse. And of course, I don't mean to say that just because I commented on their blogs, they should read my blog, or respond to my comments, but I just feel that it's only courteous to reply to someone's comment, rather than ignoring them. What do you think? Perhaps they have their reasons, like maybe their mommys are still telling them not to talk to strangers. Or perhaps they don't know why Elmo can't count. I don't know...

So I JUST might change my ritual of adding a new Blogs of Note winner every beginning of the month. I mean, I do enjoy reading their blogs, but to be treated like I never existed is not very nice. Could it be the somebody-nobody thingy? You know, they are somebody and I'm a nobody? Hmmm... regardless of who commented on my blog, even if I am a somebody, I will still make an effort to acknowledge their presence here on my blog, and of course, reply them. It's just not me to ignore someone's comment.

Could it be because they are getting more than 10 comments per post, and therefore, feel overwhelmed and not sure how to respond to all that? Or just have no time to respond to all that? Or perhaps they had no idea how to reply to a comment? Or how to post a comment?

I know... the best thing is to ask them myself, but I never liked confrontational questions. And what makes me think that they will reply me, since they had never responded to any of my comments?

Hmmm... why blog then? Isn't a blog a medium for you to share with the online community about your life, your knowledge, your experiences, your expertise? And if you are planning not to reply to your blog readers' comments, then, why leave the comment box open for commenting? For commentators to read other people's comments? Hmmm... weird.

Please feel free to complete the poll that I had created below, so that I can roughly gauge what do most people prefer when it comes to commenting on someone's blog :) And don't worry, your privacy is protected (no one will know who answered what, not even me), and I will share with you the full results once I close it.

LONG WAY to go


Hi Friends! After a day or two of good rest, I'm recharged and feel much better. Thanks for your wishes. Things look pretty easy for the next few weeks, as I will be attending my company's National Sales Meeting, which happens annually, where everyone from all the different states in Malaysia, plus Singapore and Vietnam comes together to listen for the new year's directions and targets set by the management, and also to see how we performed last year. That will be from Monday to Wednesday. I would have to be excused on Wednesday, since I had already bought my plane ticket back to my hometown, Kuching for Chinese New Year celebrations, long before the meeting dates were announced. The meeting was initially supposed to take place the previous Monday to Wednesday (previous week), but was postponed. By the way, Chinese New Year falls on the 26th and 27th of January. So if you still don't have any inkling by now, yes, I'm a Chinese :p

It will be a great time to catch up with my family, relatives, long lost friends, who, like me, are residing in places other than their birthplace. I will be looking forward to a high school reunion on the 24th, as I will get to meet classmates or schoolmates that I haven't seen for more than 13-15 years. It's not that I don't want to keep in touch with them, but we have our own family, our own set of new friends, so things changed. To say "friends forever" will be difficult, unless, of course, both party strive to keep the friendship going. Of course we are still friends, but you know there are many categories of friends - stranger, acquaintance, friend, buddy, best friend, partner. At best, these friends of mine are just friends, since we hardly meet up or talk other than once a year during Chinese New Year.

Now why did I go into all that? That wasn't what I planned to post up, if you refer to the title! LOL

I was planning to update you all on the progress that I'm making in my running and training. If you had been following my blog faithfully, you will know that I had been using a new and revised training plan for about a month now. So let's see...

3-mile Run
First achievement: 31:40
Current best achievement: 30:57.91
Target: 18 mins or less

If you are a runner, you will understand that 13 minutes to minus is a LONG WAY to go. Looks discouraging, but I have good news! The right knee pain is gone! And I just ran my fastest ever 15 rounds (roughly 6km) a couple of days ago - 39:19, as compared to the previous personal best of 40:07.96. And yes, that is indeed a great milestone, as it is the first time I ran below 40 minutes, and I felt that I could have run an even faster time, since I was not pushing very hard yet.


100 Sit-ups
First achievement: 4:41.03
Current best achievement: 4:25.44
Target: 2 mins or less

It's crazy!!! I mean, I am already pushing my hardest, and I've got more than double the target time to subtract from the current time. Phew... And by just doing 100 sit-ups is already quite an achievement by itself! But not to fret... I will get there, no matter what. So here's looking forward to the first milestone - to go below 4 minutes.


77 Push-ups
First achievement: 59 push-ups in 40 minutes
Current best achievement: 77 in 40:11
Target: 77 in 2 mins or less

Arrrrrrrgh!!! Ok, you may laugh now. Yes, for this, I am waaaaaaaaaaaay off the target. More than 38 minutes to minus! Well, I don't know how long it will take, but I have faith that one day, one fine day, I will get there. Hopefully, I will still be blogging then, and hopefully, you'll still be following my blog, so that we could both know when I achieve the goal.


Chin-ups
First achievement: 0
Current best achievement: 1
Target: 20

Ok, you may laugh again. I just don't get it. WHY can't I do it? Is it my technique? Or my muscles are just not strong enough? Or could it be my increasingly growing body mass, which makes it more and more difficult to lift myself up? Maybe it's not as bad as the push-ups, and I think they correlate. If I can do 77 push-ups in 2 mins or less, most probably I will be able to do more chin-ups. We'll see :)


Ah well, let's hope that I could get as fit as possible before my second half marathon in June :) Have a beautiful Sunday and a great week ahead Friends! God bless you!

M.I.A.


Hi Friends! I'm touched that some of you noticed that I had been missing in action for the past 2 days and inquired about it. Thanks and really appreciate your thoughtfulness!

Well, I had been squashed by a merciless mountain of work. And I just don't have that drive/push left to post something when I reached home sweet home but just helplessly and passively diffuse into dreamland out of extreme mental and physical exhaustation. And by the way, the previous post took me at least 8 hours to complete. No kidding!

I still don't have the time to post anything up, but so that you won't be disappointed by just reading the ramblings of a tired man, here's a "cut-and-paste" of my reply to a friend of mine who asked me which is healthier - margarine or butter? I'm sure you had also received the forwarded email from somebody, or maybe read about it somewhere, since this is one of the most circulated emails.


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


Hi NAME DELETED,


Happy New Year to you, and I want to wish you Gong Xi Fa Chai too, since it's almost CNY! I'm sure I'm the first right? Sorry for the delay in replying. You know lah, the amount of work I have...


Anyways, the answer to your question is a difficult one, because both have pros and cons. You have to decide yourself, but I will list down the points and counterpoints for margarine and butter.


The below-quoted compilation began circulating on the Internet in June 2003, often under the title "Butter vs. Margarine," and surprisingly enough there was a fair bit of truth to it, at least at the time (2003). According to the latest findings in the medical world in 2003, margarine could increase the risk of heart disease, depending upon the type of fat contained in the spread. Previously, the dietary "bad guy" in the development of coronary disease was presumed to be saturated fat , but new evidence points the finger at trans fat. Although butter has its own set of dietary shortcomings, it does not contain trans fat.


In 1994, Harvard University researchers reported that people who ate partially hydrogenated oils, which are high in trans fats, had nearly twice the risk of heart attacks as those who consumed much less of the substance. Several large studies in the United States and elsewhere, including the Nurses' Health Study conducted by researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, have also suggested a strong link between earlier death and consumption of foods high in trans fat.


The US FDA, the US National Academy, the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, and the American Heart Association all recommend consumers limit their intake of trans fat wherever possible. Moreover, the federal government passed regulations requiring that by 2006 all food labels disclose how much trans fat a product contains.


Because butter is an animal product, it contains cholesterol, amounting to 30 mg per tablespoon or 10% of the USDA RDA. Margarines, because they are non-animal products, do not.


Although a great deal of the information given in the e-mail is valid, one bit of intelligence is nothing more than hyperbole tossed in by the author in an effort to make his point more strongly. The claim that some comestible is but a "single molecule away" from being a decidedly inedible (or even toxic) substance has been applied to a variety of processed foods:

[Collected via e-mail, November 2005]
I was told that the difference between Cool Whip and Styrofoam is one molecule... is this true???

[Collected via e-mail, December 2006]
Is velveeta processed cheese food really one molecule different from plastic?

[Collected via e-mail, March 2007]
heard that Pam spray is 1 molecule away from plastic and is therefore dangerous??

[Collected via e-mail, January 2008]
I am tired of hearing my husband say that Cheez Whiz is only 2 ingredients different from garbage bags. Can you please help me set him straight?


These types of statements (even if they were true) are essentially MEANINGLESS because the substance (margarine) will not change to become "1 molecule less" under normal circumstances, or even exposure to extreme heat or UV light.


Contrary to the claim, margarine was not invented as a turkey fattener. It was formulated in 1869 by Hippolyte Mege-Mouries of France in response to Napoleon III's offering of a prize to whoever could succeed at producing a viable low-cost substitute for butter. Mege Mouries' concoction, which he dubbed oleomargarine, was achieved by adding salty water, milk, and margaric acid to softened beef fat. By the turn of the century, the beef fat in the original recipe had been replaced by vegetable oils. You can read more about that here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippolyte_M%C3%A8ge-Mouri%C3%A9s

So, what is the conclusion, you might ask? The healthier choice is margarine products that carries the word "NO TRANS FAT", and contains a lower saturated fat amount. Alternatively, butter with "NO CHOLESTEROL" and lower saturated fat is also ok.


I hope this is useful. Take care.



Regards,
John

>>> FRIEND'S NAME & EMAIL DELETED FOR PRIVACY PURPOSES > 7/29/2008 11:23 AM >>>



John,
Which is better? Need to ask expert, Plz help.



Margarine was originally manufactured to fatten turkeys.
When it killed the turkeys, people who had put all the money into the research wanted a payback so they put their heads together to figure out what to do with this product to get their money back. It was a white substance with no food appeal so they added the yellow coloring and sold it to people to use in place of butter. How do you like it? They have come out with some clever new flavorings.
DO YOU KNOW.. the difference between margarine and butter?
Read on to the end...gets very interesting!
Both have the same amount of calories.
Butter is slightly higher in saturated fats at 8 grams compared to 5 grams.
Eating margarine can increase heart disease in women by 53% over eating the same amount of butter, according to a recent Harvard Medical Study.
Eating butter increases the absorption of many other nutrients in other foods.
Butter has many nutritional benefits where margarinehas a few only because they are added!

Butter tastes much better than margarine and it can enhance the flavors of other foods. Butter has been around for centuries where margarine has been around for less than 100 years .
And now, for Margarine..
Very high in Trans fatty acids.
Triple risk of coronary heart disease .
Increases total cholesteroland LDL (this is the bad cholesterol) and lowers HDL cholesterol, (the good cholesterol)
Increases the risk of cancers up to five fold.
Lowers quality of breast milk.
Decreases immune response & insulin response.
And here's the most disturbing fact.... HERE IS THE PART THAT IS VERY INTERESTING!

Margarine is but ONE MOLECULE away from being PLASTIC..
This fact alone was enough to have me avoiding margarine for life and anything else that is hydrogenated (this means hydrogen is added, changing the molecular structure of the substance).
You can try this yourself:
Purchase a tub of margarine and leave it in your garage or shaded area. Within a couple of days you will note a couple of things:
* no flies, not even those pesky fruit flies will go near it (that should tell you something)
* it does not rot or smell differently because it has no nutritional value ; nothing will grow on it. Even those teeny weeny microorganisms will not find a home to grow. Why? Because it is nearly plastic . Would you melt your Tupperware and spread that on your toast?

The Answer ;)


Hi Friends! As promised, here's the answer to last week's question. I would like to thank all those who tried :) Some are very "creative", and too lateral thinking! LOL I'll let you know if you are correct at the end of this post *winks* But don't scroll all the way down to get the answer, else you'll miss out the fun :)

As I had mentioned, I'm the type that solve problems very well by drawing images. So, I'm going to show you how I came to the answer.


Step One: Draw out all the obvious clues

Step Two: Draw the assumptions and possibilities

Step Three: Link the clues to eliminate assumptions and possibilities


So the first thing I did is to identify all the WHOs, WHATs and WHEREs.

And it's easier to start with the NATIONALITY, plus their following accompanying clues.

So this is what we have when we look at clue #1, #2, #3, #9, #13 and #14:




Next, let's put in the other clues, starting with clue #4:

The green house is on the left of the white house.

The green house has to be on the left of the white one, so we have 2 Assumptions here, so, I'll write it in RED (first assumption) and BLUE (second assumption). It's either the 3rd and 4th or the 4th and 5th house counting from the left or from the right:



Then, we look at clue #5:

The green house owner drinks coffee.

At this point, we don't know which nationality stays in the green house, except the Brit who stays in the red house (clue #1). And it can't be the Norwegian, because he/she stays in the 1st house either from the right or 1st from the left (clue #9), and his/her house is on the left of the blue house (clue #14). AND it can't be the Dane, since he/she drinks tea (clue #3). So that leaves... the Swede or the German who could possibly stay in the green house, AND drinks coffee:



Next, let's look at clue #6:

The person who smokes Pall Mall rears birds.

At this juncture, we only know the German smokes Prince (clue #13) AND the Swede keeps dogs (clue #2). So that means, it could be the Brit, Dane or Norwegian that smokes Pall Mall AND rears birds.

Ok, so far so good? Now, let's look at clue #7:

The owner of the yellow house smokes Dunhill.

Now you get the way things work? I'm sure you had figured that it can't be the red house Brit (clue #1) and the Prince-smoking German (clue #13). So that means, it could be the Swede, Dane or the Norwegian. Right now, you should have this picture:



What about clue #8?

The man living in the house right in the centre drinks milk. And we know that clue #5 says green house = coffee. Therefore, we can eliminate the RED part in Assumption 1:



Let's move on then to clue #10:

The man who smokes Blend lives next to the one who keeps cats.

Who can possibly smoke Blend and live next to the one who keeps cats? We don't know who keeps cats, but we do know that the German smokes Prince for sure. So this guy/lady who smokes Blend AND lives next to the cat owner is either a Brit, Swede, Dane or Norwegian.

Clue #11:

The man who keeps horses lives next to the man who smokes Dunhill.

Who keeps horses and who smokes Dunhill? We don't know much yet. So we'll come back to this clue later.

Clue #12:

The owner who smokes Blue Master drinks beer.

Since Blue Master + beer comes together, it can't be the Dane (drinks tea) and the German (smokes Prince). So it's either the Brit, Swede or Norwegian that does the above:



AND, the last clue - clue #15:

The man who smokes Blend has a neighbour who drinks water.

Who can smoke Blend and who drinks water? Too many possibilities, so we'll come back to this clue later as well.

Alrighty... still looks pretty blank and clueless huh? Nevermind, let's fill in all the assumptions, starting with the house colours.

Brit's is confirmed red. That leaves the rest with yellow, blue, green and white. Remember the 2 Assumptions, whether the Norwegian's house is first from right or first from left? If you look back at that picture above, we know that clue #14 tells us that the Norwegian's house can't be blue, green or white. His/Her house has to be next to the blue house, while being first house in the row. That means, it is confirmed that the Norwegian lives in a yellow house! And that also means that he/she is the one who smokes Dunhill (clue #7). Is that all? Nope. Since it is confirmed that he/she smokes Dunhill, he/she can't have birds for pets (clue #6) and he/she doesn't drink beer (clue #12):





So that leaves the rest with blue, green and white house colours. Now, what does clue #5 says? Green = coffee. That means, the Dane can't have green house, since he/she drinks tea. So far, this is what we have:




Are we stuck? Nope, take a look at the house colours for Assumption 1... what colour is left? RED! The red house in the middle belongs to the Brit. Now, going along Assumption 1's path, we can tentatively confirm that the Brit drinks milk. Don't worry, if Assumption 1 is wrong, we can always double check the final answer with all the clues.

If the Brit drinks milk, that means he/she doesn't drink beer and smoke Blue Master (clue #12). That leaves the Swede with the possibility of this combination and therefore, the Swede drinks beer and smoke Blue Master.

If the Swede drinks beer and smoke Blue Master (we'll still adventuring along the lines of Assumption 1), then, he/she doesn't drink coffee and stay in a green house. This will make the Swede staying in a white house, the Dane staying in a blue house, and the German, the green house.

And since the Dane is staying in the blue house, he/she keeps horses, not birds. Therefore, he/she doesn't smoke Pall Mall, but Blend. And this makes the Brit owning birds and smoking Pall Mall.

The Dane smokes Blend! So if we look at clue #10 and #15, this makes the Norwegian keeping cats, and drinks water.

So who keeps the fish?



Yes, it's the German. And if you just test the answers with all the clues provided, it fits the picture. That confirms that Assumption 1 is correct, and that the Norwegian's house is first from the left. And even if you try out Assumption 2, you will find errors and get stuck.

BY THE WAY, is that the ACTUAL ANSWER?

AHA...

Now, tell me, politely,

and sensibly,

and wisely,

and patiently,

and gently...



Where in the clues given state that the 5th pet is a FISH?

The question asked is WHO KEEPS THE FISH? Why couldn't it be an elephant? Or a dove? Should not the answer be something like... THE CLUES DID NOT STATE WHETHER THE 5TH PET IS A FISH.

LOL (DARN IT!)

Einstein fooled us all! So for all those who had tried to answer, you are all CORRECT!!!

LOL

5 things that can make your computer work faster


Ok, you might call me a geek after this, but I had always been interested in the world of computers, besides tons of other interests... LOL Nevermind that, and anyways, I might be wrong in my judgments, so please forgive me and feel free to correct me if I am wrong:

1. Processor - A faster processor supports more efficient operations and applications performance.

LATEST: Intel® Core™ i7-965 Extreme - Level 2 (Factory O/C'd to 3.73GHz)

This is the highest performing desktop processor on the planet. With faster, intelligent multi-core technology that accelerates performance to match your workload, you'll multitask 25% faster and unleash incredible digital media creation with up to 79% faster video encoding and up to 46% faster image rendering, plus incredible performance for photo retouching and editing.

Is that fast or what? Phew... 3.73GHz. Remember the hype about having Pentium III, Pentium 4, Pentium M...? If you are still on this, then take a look at this, to see how far behind is yours:

Intel® Core™ i7 processor Extreme Edition --> Intel® Core™ i7 processor --> Intel® Core™2 Extreme processor --> Intel® Core™2 Quad processor --> Intel® Core™2 Duo processor --> Intel® Pentium® Processor.

And if you are those who have not even heard of the word Pentium, or your PC doesn't have this sticker on it, then, you must be another generation behind, probably a 486, or a 386, or even a 286 processor. If not, oh my God, I don't even know what's before a 286, or what could be slower than a 286!!!


2. Memory (RAM) - Helps improve multi-tasking, speed up your PC and take your PC's performance even higher!

LATEST: Patriot Extreme Performance Viper Series (Brand Name) or Corsair XMS3 Series (Brand Name) 6GB Tri-Channel DDR3 at 1600MHz (3x2GB) PC3-12800 Enhanced Latency DIMM Kit

We've all heard about those new 1GB memory cards, 2GB, 3 GB but 6GB??? Phew... and this is DDR3. Heard of DDR2? No? What about DDR? NO??? Then, perhaps, SDRAM? Not even SD??? Maybe DRAM??? We're talking about 6GB and 1600MHz now. And we have not even talked about Enhanced Latency and Low Latency. Don't ask me what that means, but the word "enhanced" surely means it's a better one, right?


3. Video card a.k.a. Graphics card - A higher-performance video card can speed up your whole PC and make viewing pictures, videos and games more enjoyable.

LATEST: ATI Radeon HD4870 X2 2048MB (2GB) GDDR5 Memory

Some might ask... WHAT? My computer has a video card? Yes it does. It SHOULD. Perhaps you have heard of SVGA or VGA? No??? Don't tell me EGA or CGA...!


4. Hard drive - Thought these things are for storing information? Think again.

LATEST: 300GB Western Digital VelociRaptor (Model code: WD3000HLFS) - SATA-II, 3GB/s, 10,000RPM, 16MB Cache

Take a look at the RPM. Yes, that's how fast it allows you to run programs. Besides, aren't ALL your programs, including your Operating System (e.g. Windows, Mac) are installed ON the hard drive? And a hard drive's RPM definitely makes a difference. Most hard drives have RPM of 7200 or 5400. Some even have a lower transfer rate of 1.5GB/s, and a lower cache of 8MB.


5. Software/Operating system (OS)

Yes, sometimes your computer is slow because of software problems, or your OS is too old. But the truth is, if you really want to experience a faster computer, then, by just replacing the former 4 hardwares could really do WONDERS!

But of course, you will see WONDERS on your bills or

receipts too, because THESE THINGS

AIN'T CHEAP!!!

Ah well, thanks for reading this anyways, and have a great week ahead, Friends!

Extinct beasts that could walk the Earth again


I was reading a science article just a moment ago and learnt that scientists are working hard on bring extinct animals back to life again.

Seriously??? Hmmm... what do you think about this? Well, I don't think I have any complaints, if they can successfully bring them back to life, and ensure that they can survive the current world climate and environment. Or else there is no point bringing them back to life again and then succumb to global warming and other man-made environment hazards. And also make sure that they don't become a threat to our safety.

What about moral or Christian values with relation to that? Hmmm... I don't find anything morally wrong or if it is against the Word of God with what they are doing. Sure, God creates, God gives life, but God gives man wisdom and knowledge as well. Or else how did these scientist have any idea how to resurrect these extinct beasts? Stolen knowledge? Satanically or black-magically acquired knowledge? Nah... let's not go there.

But the truth is, I really have no idea how they are going to do it. I mean, how are they going to get it going? And how are they going to create those intricate parts like the eye or the brain? And get them working? This is totally different from cloning. There're no life specimens to clone, since they are extinct (duh...).

Anyways, if they can successfully do it, well, here are the animals that you might see again, for the first time in your life, or your future generation's life:


1. Sabre-toothed tiger (Smilodon fatalis)

Extinct: ~10,000 years ago



Can I keep it as a pet? Nice kitty...


2. Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis)

Extinct: ~25,000 years ago



Ok, some might argue that isn't this a predecessor of Homo sapiens, the current man? Well, I beg to disagree with you. Unfortunately, I do not accept Darwin's theory of evolution. We don't evolve from apes. We came as it is, wholly human, created by God in the image of God. But why looking so much closely like the current man, some might ask? Do they have souls? Beats me. Something I'll only know when I get to heaven, because only God knows, since He created them too. So isn't it wrong to resurrect Neanderthals? Again, I don't know. I'm not sure if they are like us.


3. Short-faced bear (Arctodus simus)

Extinct: ~11,000 years ago



If they really succeeded to bring this bear back to life, it will become the largest land carnivore, beating the polar bear into a distant second place. Now, how about this for a teddy bear?


4. Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus)

Extinct: 1936



Those who lived before 1936 had the opportunity to see this tiger in real life. It's pretty sad... to know that they let the last one die, just like that, in 1936.


5. Glyptodon (Doedicurus clavicaudatus)

Extinct: ~11,000 years ago



Watch out for that spiky tail! You wouldn't want to get a smack with THAT!


6. Woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis)

Extinct: ~10,000 years ago



It must have been really cold last time, that rhinos needed the hairy insulation.


7. Dodo (Raphus cucullatus)

Extinct: ~1690



Another sad case. I mean, they just get "wiped out", like nobody cared.


8. Giant ground sloth (Megatherium americanum)

Extinct: ~8000 years ago



This sloth is HUMONGOUS - around 6 m tall and is estimated to have weighed a whopping 4 tonnes!


9. Moa (Dinornis robustus)

Extinct: ~1400



As you can see from the picture, this giant bird became extinct due to extensive hunting. There goes Big Bird.


10. Irish elk (Megaloceros giganteus)

Extinct: ~7700 years ago



Woah... even from the species name, you know that this elk is HUGE!


11. Giant beaver (Castoroides ohioensis)

Extinct: ~10,000 years ago



Ok, this is not Papa beaver and Baby beaver... the bigger one is the Giant beaver, while the smaller one is what we have today.


12. Gorilla (Gorilla gorilla)

Extinct: ALMOST (Conservation status: Critically endangered)



Can you believe this? Rather than trying to preserve and populate the remaining gorillas, they are working on bringing them back from extinction? How weird. Might as well put all the resources for this research into conservation activities. Save the gorillas! By the way, doesn't this picture reminds you of Planet of the Apes? :)


Hmmm... at least these scientists are sane enough not to consider bringing back to life DINOSAURS. Imagine a T-Rex! Then, we'll get to see Jurassic Park every day on TV!