Whiteness

Sometimes colour would influence someone's emotion. I am very sensitive to colours. Whenever there is a cloudy day, I will feel extremely uneasy and moody. Lots of unpleasant things would happen to me on that day.

But if I see something that is white, such as the white flower above, I would feel happy, pure, and lighthearted. If lady is in this whiteness, I think I would be drown by her glowing colour and gradients.

No wonder all brides will wear white during her big day!

Sometimes, due to personal perception, we tend to neglect or dislike things around us. If we could open our eyes as well as mind, and look hard enough at things, we may see things in a different view, understand the world better than before.

Like or dislike is a state in mind, we could change it, if we choose to. Unfortunately, people tend to stick to their own opinion; and conflicts and fights begin.

Tonight, a beetle flew into my kitchen area. If on other days, I would not hesitate to use an insecticide to spray at it, and end its life. But tonight, a straight thought ran through my mind: Why can't I have a better look at it?

So I captured it with my compact camera and released it after that. Straight right?
May be I am insane, er?

If I tell you: We became the IKEA 2009 Cover Models, would you belief me?
The answer is in your own mind.

Ha ha.

By the way, this is a real cover, nothing to do with Photoshop techniques. Those friends in the cover would agree to this statement totally.

This is the moon photo that I have taken months ago, with my Canon 10D, 70-300mm IS USM lens with 1.2x tele-converter.
The outcome was very outstanding, I could not believe with such simple set up could capture the craters hundreds of miles from us.

这是一張我自拍的月球表面像片。自己实在不敢相信自己有如此本事，连月表的火山口也拍了下来。我用的只是佳能10D型相机。加上一组75-300mm, IS USM镜头而己。呵，忘了。还加上一个一点二倍的增距镜。效果竟如此令人咋舌！怕怕。

What Is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?

Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), also known as sudden cardiac death, is when the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating. When this occurs, blood stops flowing to the brain and other vital organs. SCA usually causes death if not treated in minutes.

The heart has an internal electrical system that controls the rhythm of the heartbeat. Problems with the electrical system can cause abnormal heart rhythms, called arrhythmias (ah-RITH-me-ahs). There are many types of arrhythmia. During an arrhythmia, the heart can beat too fast, too slow, or it can stop beating. SCA occurs when the heart develops an arrhythmia that causes it to stop beating.

SCA is not the same thing as a heart attack. A heart attack is a problem with blocked blood flow to a part of the heart muscle. In a heart attack, the heart usually does not suddenly stop beating. SCA, however, may happen during recovery from a heart attack.

People with heart disease have a higher chance of having SCA. But most SCAs happen in people who appear healthy and have no known heart disease or other risk factors for SCA.

Outlook

Ninety-five percent of people who have SCA die from it, most within minutes. Rapid treatment of SCA with a device that sends an electrical shock to the heart (called a defibrillator) can be lifesaving. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which are often found in public places like airports and office buildings, can be used to save the lives of people having SCAs.
(extracted from http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/scda/scda_whatis.html)

More and more people in Singapore has gone down with sudden cardiac arrest. They were the people at large, some were athletes, some professionals too. To understand this problem and to prevent it to happen to us, could help our love ones live more happily. It also help ourselves to have a better quality of life.

The following clip is taken from YouTube, with Dr Wu giving very detail discussion in this area. The clip is half an hour long, be patient while it is buffering, but it is worth to listen.

Canon 5D Mark 2

I waited very long for this model of camera to be released by Canon. Finally, today my son Kelvin message me that it is released in US. This could be the ideal camera for most of the serious photographers who would not spend too much of money for Canon 1D series. By reading its specifications, I noticed Canon has made lots of improvement to this model. By the way, it is using Canon's new gadget Digi 4 to process captured image.

Can't wait for it to be in Singapore and have a grip on it.

The only disappointment is: It does not have attached built-in flash. Which could be crumble-some to bring along an extra heavy flash in traveling. By the way, the body itself was listed as US 2599.00

Hooray, this is my dream camera!

Local Musical Talents

Today, 7th September 2008, I went to Fast East Shopping Centre to take my lunch. After my lunch, as I walked out from the eating house, I heard live music playing at the lobby of the centre. I took the escalator to the ground floor, and found a band playing beautiful music there. It was a free performance. I sat and read the given brochure, and I realised that it was a performance related to the International Guitar Festival.

The band playing is name 'Sham and Hassan'. They sang sentimental oldies in English, popular songs in Italian and Spanish. I was entertained for an hour of beautiful happy music with no cost!

Amazingly, I noticed this band really has standard, especially the male singer. His voice is on the high notes, but it was smooth and clear. The drumer played in a very light hearted but creative way. The other base guitarist is good in fast fingering techniques. Three man team could play such entertaining music is really fantastic. A big group of audience sat quietly and give their ears a feast of soothing notes at this lunch hour.

Exercise with your heart in mind

Today, when I was in the gym doing my routine workout, someone suddenly passed out during his exercise. Though he recovered later, but he could not continue his exercise, and needed to go home for rest.

To my knowledge, his condition could be one of the followings:
1. He might have a heart problem, where he does not know about it.
2. He might be a low blood pressure person.
3. He might lost too much of water from his body.
4. He might be short of oxygen in his body and caused the brain to shut off for awhile.

Anyway, one thing for sure, this person may not aware of his physical conditions; and do not really understand the exercise principles. He looks big in size and tall physically, but slightly on the plumb side.

Lots of people who go exercise very often do not take their heart condition into consideration. In fact, anyone who is over 40s, should get a specialist doctor to check his heart condition before carrying out any exercise, especially those involve in heavy physical movement activities.

The heart rate record below is my own on today's exercise. Look at the right hand corner you would see 4 peaks reaching 150 bits per minute. That was the time I did my deadlifts. Just imagine what if you have a weak heart and subject your heart to this rate of beating? By the way my maximum heart rate is 158, and my ideal exercise heart rate should not be more than 110, which is 70% of my maximum heart rate. As I know my own exercise condition, I usually working on 130 to 140 within an hour. Therefore, once a blue moon, I push it a bit harder. But one should also be aware that I do give recovery time for heart rate to be lower down before I go for next exercise.

Therefore, in my opinion, one should take your heart with you when you go for exercise. Building up muscle groups without take care of your heart, you may end up in a package! : )

The Purpose of doing Sport

Watching the progress of Olympic Games these days, one question always pops up in my mind, when I watched the athletes performing in their event there: Is this all about sport?

If I am not wrong, I remember the President of World Olympic Council did mentioned in his opening speech that he wished all the athletes would do their best with sporting spirit, under the concept of fairplay and most of all ENJOY the Games.

The key word is ENJOYMENT.

These days, people are targeting at achievement. As if achievement is everything in sport, so much as the original meaning of participating sport is distorted. No doubt, achievement does enhance the status of elite athletes. But please remember, the majority of people participating sports, they are NOT elite players.

Then, does a coach only focus on performance or achievement on his athletes? Where is the practical value of SPORTS FOR ALL?

What an achievement for Singapore table tennis (ladies) team! They already gotten the Silver Medal in their event at the Beijing Olympics 2008, if luck is to Singapore, they may even has the chance to get a Gold for Singapore.

Anyway, it has been a long long time for Singapore to get a medal from Olympics. We should be very proud of this group of ladies.

Viva Singapore!

The Peking Olympic 2008 Opening Ceremony

From the direct telecast, we witnessed a great country demonstrated her strength, wealth, most of all, the talents of her people.

I believed most of us who witnessed the events happening in front of the TVs, would be amazed by the efforts these people did for their nation.

The Opening Ceremony showed a mixture of art, music, culture, drama and the main essence of Olympic, that is Harmony (和). We saw how the art director transfered few thousands of Chinese achievements in less than a hour artistic performance. We witnessed the use of advance stage crafts in these performance. If the people there are 'Block minded', they would not have these performance. They showed creativity to the fullest in their capacity.

China has being waiting for this opportunity to organize the Games. She has made sure that this Opening Ceremony would have the world the greatest visual impact. She has done it! The world applauses her efforts.

The Light hearted side of Olympic Games

Peking Olympic Games is just round the corner; all sport enthusiastic would be watching the Games on the venue itself, or through TV channels all over the world. The Games are all for fair play and sporting spirits; at the same time to build friendships.

I found this mime act in the Web which is some degrees related to Olympic Games. This might be the light hearted side of the Games, if you take it as a joke.

Mr. Leong Yoon PinMr. Leong is one of the pioneer composer of Singapore Musical Arena.

Information from the Web stated: One of Singapore's best-known pioneering composers, Leong Yoon Pin completed his graduate and higher degree studies at the Guildhall School of Music and the University of Newcastle upon Tyne respectively. Leong has served as the Head of Music Dept of the Institute of Education, resident conductor of the Singapore National Orchestra and Chairman of the Singapore Composers' Circle. He is currently music arts advisor to the National Arts Council, artistic consultant to the Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, the Substation and the Practice Performing Arts School. In 1982 he was awarded the prestigious Cultural Medallion for outstanding achievements in and contribution to music in Singapore. Leong also holds the distinguished honour of being the Singapore Symphony Orchestra's first composer-in-residence.

Mr. Leong is 77 years old today, he is still very active in the musical scenes. I have the pleasure to meet up with him today, and have a long chat with our pioneer music maker. He is still very involved with his music creation, despite of some hearing difficulties.

He has written a song entitled 'Marine Parade' with my poem as lyric, some twenty over years ago. He managed to get my contact and told me that he would like to meet me in person and give me a copy of this piece of work. I was honored when I heard his request, and agreed without hesitation.

Meeting up with him really is an enjoyment in life. We talked about aging, about music, about culture. We had a peaceful but rewarding session, even though this is the first time we met.

Following is the piece of work 'Marine Parade' by Mr. Leong Yoon Pin. I have his permission to upload it here.

If you are an animal lover, you will be charmed by these people. Hope you will enjoy it.

2008 Singapore Flower Show

Every year I would not miss this golden opportunity, as I know I would be feasted with colours and shapes in this Show. This year, I went on the second day of the show. It still has it charm and attractiveness.

The following are some photos that I have taken with my handphone. The resolutions and sharpness could not compare with the digital SLR, kindly tolerate.

This is a theme for the 2008 Peking Olympics!

A old style kampong house set up.

Spectrum of colours.

I personally like this white orchid.

This is a shot at the exhibition hall. The crowd is not soon busy on Saturday night, strange!

Recently, especially these two years, I witnessed several public figures who were charged by misused of public funds or similar offenses. Before the case was blown opened to the public, these public figures were highly valued and respected by the public.

But once they are exposed, I believed the public would have quite a big shock in their beliefs.

Then, this leads to my next question: Who shall I trust????

Public figures done something not right, either morally or ethically, can openly deny responsibility. Public figures misused public funds and openly given statement to claim innocent. Why? How could they do this? Is our society ill?

Are we so materialistic and forgotten what is moral and values?

SAD. If we really have such a society. Hopefully, this is only my silly thought, not the actual facts.

What's the big deal?


Recently, some young friends suffered from this 'Boy Girl Relationship'. I could see them totally lost in their own life.

I have gone through this sort of emotional trauma, I believed most of the full grown matured adults did so. At that moment, we thought the world is fallen apart, everything seems to be doomed. Unfortunately, in our later life, as we looked back, we might laugh at what we were doing then.

In the animal kingdom, I think only human beings are tormented by this thing called 'Emotion'. The great writers have further illustrated it in their great works. Youngsters dream about it, fantasy about it, and finally destroy by it, if they do not handle their emotions carefully.

Love is like a sword, it could help you to fight the enemy, but it could also cut you if you are not careful enough.

To me, all feelings are in the state of mind. Nothing is real, nothing is permanent. To let something that is so vague and ruin you own life, that would be disastrous. Break up from a girl friend / boy friend is not the end of the world. You may get another person who walks into your life at a later stage, and provide you lots of joy and happiness. Brooding in all the negative moods and look at the world with all the greys in your eyes, may not make you any better. The wise way is walked away from it, let it fades gradually, and look forward for another exciting new day, and continue your path of life. This would be more meaningful in one's life. Right?

Would you like to be diamond in your second life?

According to the news on Lianhe ZaoBao (Please see above), a swiss company develop a technology that could convert the ash of human reminds to a piece of diamond. The whole cost would be around $8000 Singapore Dollars.

Come to think about it, in the present context, it is not a bad idea for us to consider this option, when we set our will. One main reason is to cut the maintaining cost on our grave / Urn. Secondly save the trouble for our younger generation the visiting time at Ching Ming Period. Third, it also provide certain monetary values for emergency use, to our offspring. : )

But are you willing to turn yourself into a piece of cold and hard stone / crystal? How would this piece of crystal makes people to recall your pass life?

Since we are so concerned of our planet, the best way for our next destiny is to be some bone meal, and fertilize Mother Earth! Our life could continue in the form of other organisms. Right?

Hort Park走进这个公園，你一定会心懭神怡。因为園艺家早已为你精心打造这个園林。上面这張美丽的蝴蝶，就是在那里拍摄的。一眼看到这隻花魂精灵，便被它的丽姿吸引着。在烈日下，苦苦追随，直到它歇下足，才趕紧按下快門。
自己十分喜爱这張朝着陽光灿笑的黄花，它们是那么的朝气澎勃，喜气洋洋。
路上还看到这朵千爪万手的花兒，一时就联想起寺廟中的白瓷千手观音。每一絲小蕊，都是另一个生命的始点。
这樹在万緑中，显得特别别緻。一樹細細的黄叶，不尽使人想起白光的一首歌：黄叶舞秋风。特别在斜陽晚風里，更有一番滋味在心头。
有人很喜欢这类的仙人掌，但对我来说，这该是一种人为的畸型植物。活生生的把一种仙人掌，插入另一类形的仙人掌，而将这种合成怪物，当着美卉欣賞。这是否太过殘忍与无知？
幼紫蕉成串的承现在翠緑的葉群中，要不惹人注目，可真的很难。
不知此果是何方神聖，但被它果实上的纹理深深吸引着。心想：难道上蒼真是个精明的数学家么？ 不然它怎么会有这么有条理安排的紋样？
每次站在高處远眺，心中总有一番豪情，无奈岁月无情，青春不再矣。罢了，罢了。
上下这两張像，正好詮繹一个真理：对错与黑白，都是人为的規劃，和自然規律，风马牛不相及。这两种植物都有多毛多刺的外形，但它们的颜色刚好对照，，但看上去却各有其美。好不羡人呵！

火蟻

很多时候，我们时常小看一些世间物。就如小小的一隻螞蟻，可不知如果你一不小心，惹怒了它，有时可是小事变大，所谓的惹蟻上身也。就像自己兒時一般，不知火蟻非一般黑蟻，一脚踩上蟻路，刹时间，全脚爬满火蟻，千口万牙的将我咬得痛入心肺。脚给咬得红腫了两个多星期。从此以後，一看到火蟻，便敬而远之。

将蟻比人，有些人也像火蟻一般，渺小且不惹人注目。可不要以为他不显眼而呼之则来，挥之則去的使喚人家，豪無節制的将人家视为奴才般使用，有朝一日，那人怒了，可能会像火蟻般，狠狠地咬你一口。更甚者，他还可能招集其他火蟻将你围攻，到时可真的是惹来一身螞蟻矣。

因而奉勸诸位有权有势之士，做事必要秉公遵法，勿惹蟻上身！