Memorable quotes... VI

Some insightful quotes from Mark Twain..

It is better to deserve honors and not have them than to have them and not to deserve them.

Do something every day that you don't want to do;
this is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain.

The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them.

Don't go around saying the world owes you a living.
The world owes you nothing. It was here first.

If you tell the truth you don't have to remember anything.

The right word may be effective, but no word was ever as effective as a rightly timed pause.

It takes your enemy and your friend, working together, to hurt you:
the one to slander you, and the other to get the news to you.

It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

A lie can travel halfway around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.

Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.

Fourth day of CNY

In a flash, it is already the 4th day of the Lunar New Year..

CNY Eve..
Took the morning flight from Narita and reached KLIA around 6pm.. got my luggage and cleared custom in 30 min.. Reached my uncle's house in Puchong, for reunion dinner around 7:30pm.. Had my first Malaysian dinner.. :) There were many relatives at my uncle's house.. including my 3-month-old nephew... the newest addition to the Goh Family.. ;) Suddenly all of us are elevated one level to be "uncles" and "aunties", and not just "ke-ke" (brother) or "jie-jie" (sister) anymore.. We chatted and talked all night long.. until almost 1am..

1st day of CNY..
Woke up around 8am.. Did nothing except chatting and talking with my uncles, aunties and cousins.. :) Went to another uncle's new house at Sungai Buloh... What a BIG house it was... there is even a karaoke room, or rather mini-hall, with solid sound system and a karaoke system that has more than 10000 songs.. a game room, with a big TV, PS3 and Wii... There are almost 30 of us and yet the place felt sooooo spacious.. there was a room for everyone.. two spacious living rooms for watching tv and chatting.. Unbelievably, people lost interest in the karaoke!! Anyway, I managed to sing to my heart's content.. :p Then we went to a famous restaurant for dinner.. Yup! Yup! We got back and continued doing what we were doing before.. :p There were so many of us that there is not enough beds for all.. in the end, I volunteered to sleep on the sofa in the living room.. It was one of the most comfortable sofas I have ever sat/slept on..

2nd day of CNY..
Woke up pretty early.. again, back to chatting, eating and talking the whole day... Went up to the karaoke room and had a good workout.. a few of my uncles were doing some martial arts, while a few of my aunties were doing yoga.. it was fun.. a great place and way to interact and have fun.. In the evening, we went to another uncle's place at Damansara to have dinner.. again, there was nothing but praises for my auntie's cooking.. I always looked forward to all her dishes, especially her braised pork in dark soy sauce.. I haven't had second helping of rice for a long while, but this time, I HAD to have another bowl of rice.. :p After dinner, it was the "usual" entertainment, card games.. I played only 2 rounds and decided not to continue playing.. I never did had any luck in these games.. We left the place slightly before midnight..

3rd day of CNY..
Slept in till almost 10am.. Left my uncle's house after lunch to come back to Taiping.. It rained along the journey, but luckily the traffic was light and we got home around 6pm.. Did nothing except rest the remainder of the day..

4th day of CNY..
Did nothing specific during the day.. Went to get my bus ticket to Singapore.. Surf the Net.. started on a book..

Will be going to relatives' houses for visiting tomorrow...

Shall arrange my photos and post them up soon..

Gong Xi Fa Cai!!

At home now.. or rather at my uncle's place.. had a sumptuous dinner.. :) Now just chilling with my cousins.. talking and laughing together.. :)

To everyone, Happy New Year!

May the Year of Ox brings good health and good opportunities to you all!!

现象七十二变

词曲：罗大佑
　　
　　黄花岗有七十二个烈士　孔老夫子有七十二个弟子
　　孙悟空的魔法七十二变　我们又等到民国七十二年
　　岁岁年年风水都在改变　有多少沧海一夜变成桑田
　　在这个五千年的悠久历史里面　成功与失败多少都有一点
　　
　　清清楚楚写在你的脸上　你是个道道地地的聪明人
　　慌慌张张迈开你的脚步　你是个匆匆忙忙的现代人
　　有人默默耕耘默默从事　有人在过着他的太平日子
　　有人在大白天里彼此明争暗斗　有人在黑夜之中枪杀歌手
　　
　　随着都市现代化的程度　每个人多少追求一点幸福
　　是个什么样的心理因素　每年要吃掉一条高速公路
　　在西门町的天桥上面闲逛　有多少文明人在人行道上
　　就像我看到文明车辆横冲直撞　我不懂大家心中作何感想
　　
　　一年过了又是新的一年　每一年现代都在传统边缘
　　在每个新的一年三百六十五天　我们都每天进步一点点
　　
　　眼看着高楼盖得越来越高　我们的人情味却越来越薄
　　朋友之间越来越有礼貌　只因为大家见面越来越少
　　苹果价钱卖得没以前高　或许现在味道变得不好
　　就像彩色的电视变得更加花俏　能辨别黑白的人愈来愈少
　　
　　一年过了又是新的一年　每一年都曾经是新的一年
　　在每个新的一年三百六十五天　我们都每天进步一点点
　　
　　现实生活不能等待奇迹　这是个非常简单的道理
　　如果只要生存非常容易　只要你对人保持一点距离
　　但是生活不能像在演戏　你戴着面具如何面对自己
　　
　　或许你将会真的发现一些奇迹　只要你抛开一些面子问题
　　或许你将会发现人生还算美丽　只要你抛开一些面子问题

============================================
又是一首罗大佑的歌曲。。非常喜欢他的词，就好像散文一样。。虽然这是十几二十年前的歌曲，但所写的却是一直以来都不会改变的人生道理。。写的不是什么情情爱爱的缠绵，而是生活中确确实实的难题。。

Memorable quotes... V

Margaret Thatcher

If you want anything said, ask a man.
If you want something done, ask a woman.

Thomas Alva Edison

Being busy does not always mean real work.
The object of all work is production or accomplishment and to either of these ends there must be forethought, system, planning, intelligence, and honest purpose, as well as perspiration.
Seeming to do is not doing.

Bertrand Russell

One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one's work is terribly important.

很快的。。

很快的，我就。。

• 要回家了！ 再过两天。。就能和家人一起过年。。 :)
• 要面试了！ 去新加坡的时候。。希望可以重新回到旧公司。。 :)
• 要搬家了！ 再回来日本时。。将会和另外两位同乡同住在一个屋檐下。。 :)
• 要毕业了！ 再过半年。。实在是有点迫不及待，却也掺杂了些许不安。。 :) :)
• 要工作了！ 七月中或是八月初。。希望能顺顺利利地。。 :)

所以接下来的半年左右，我会。。

• 尽情享受学生生活。。晚睡迟起、通宵达旦、想干嘛就干嘛。。 ;)
• 尽情使用大学生的优待。。学生折扣、学生票等等， 不用白不用。。 :p
• 尽量借贷图书馆的书籍。。心理、文学、政治、哲学，只要有兴趣就借来看看。。 :)
• 尽量到日本各地走走看看。。九州、四国、北海道、东北地区都要去见识体验。。 :)
• 尽可能到邻近国家玩一玩。。台湾、香港及澳门都想去。。 :)
• 尽可能“复习”一下之前的专业科技知识。。不然单靠这两年半所学的“知识”根本没法谋生。。 :x :x :x

Oh No! :(

Yet more bad news from the land of the Rising Sun..

• Japan's Exports Tumble by Record 35%
• Sony to shut Japan TV plant, cut 2,000 jobs
• Japanese economy 'worsening rapidly'
• Japan Exports Plummet Record 35%, Signaling Job Cuts
• Japan Industrial Power Sales Down Record 13 Pct in Dec.
• The future of Japan, buffeted by the financial tsunami
• Japan Shipping Orders Plunged 91%

Maybe it is good that I have decided not to stay and work here.. else it will only get more depressing..

童年

词曲：罗大佑
　　
　　池塘边的榕树上　知了在声声叫着夏天
　　操场边的秋千上　只有蝴蝶停在上面
　　黑板上老师的粉笔　还在拼命叽叽喳喳写个不停
　　等待着下课　等待着放学　等待游戏的童年
　　
　　福利社里面什么都有　就是口袋里没有半毛钱
　　诸葛四郎和魔鬼党　到底谁抢到那支宝剑
　　隔壁班的那个女孩　怎么还没经过我的窗前
　　嘴里的零食　手里的漫画　心里初恋的童年
　　
　　总是要等到睡觉前　才知道功课只作了一点点
　　总是要等到考试以后　才知道该念的书都没有念
　　一寸光阴一寸金　老师说过寸金难买寸光阴
　　一天又一天　一年又一年　迷迷糊糊的童年
　　
　　没有人知道为什么　太阳总下到山的那一边
　　没有人能够告诉我　山里面有没有住着神仙
　　多少的日子里　总是一个人面对着天空发呆
　　就这么好奇　就这么幻想　这么孤单的童年
　　
　　阳光下蜻蜓飞过来　一片片绿油油的稻田
　　水彩蜡笔和万花筒　画不出天边那一条彩虹
　　什么时候才能像高年级的同学有张成熟与长大的脸
　　盼望着假期　盼望着明天　盼望长大的童年
　　一天又一天　一年又一年　盼望长大的童年

--------------------------------------------
罗大佑的这一首歌，不管在什么时候都能让我想起自己童年的一些点点滴滴。也许很多歌手曾经演唱过，但我还是偏爱张艾嘉诠释的版本。。你呢？

Settled..

Finally "cured" my headache of "where to stay till I graduate this Aug?"-problem..

Thanks to a fellow Malaysian whom I met at last year's Japan Open (Thanks Philip!), I found a guesthouse within walking distance from my University (less than 2km). Being a guesthouse, the bathroom, toilet and kitchen are all shared, but the room comes fully furnished with study table & chair, bed, small fridge and cupboards.. just like the good old days in Eusoff Hall, NUS.. :) The other tenant is another Malaysian lady, so I don't have to worry about rowdy noisy neighbors..

Since I have more or less decided to look for jobs outside of Japan, at 65,000yen a month with all utilities included, this place would suffice for the next 6-8 months.. Will be moving end of Feb when I get back from Malaysia.. Need time to do some spring cleaning and throw some things away..

Yes! Finally!! :)

Some good news, or at least not-depressing ones..

• Tsukiji market reopens tuna auctions to tourists
  Finally both the authority and the tourists learned to co-exist in harmony.. One had stop being so up-tight, while the other had started to behave themselves.. a win-win situation..
• Ronald Gang run down
  At last, the Malaysian police are doing what they are supposed to be doing.. maintaining law & order and giving the people a peace of mind..
• Cut in top govt pay
  Cabinet ministers and senior civil servants in Singapore are expected to take a 12%-20% cut in annual pay, with more changes if economy deteriorates... wow! unbelievable ! That is what I call "leading by examples" and "sharing the burden together", and not just paying lip services to ask the people to "change their lifestyles"..
• 30,000 jobs this year
  This is the number of new jobs created in Singapore.. even though jobs are cut in other sectors, like manufacturing, many are created in other sectors.. Not unbiasedly, I think I would want to work in Singapore than Japan.. :) Where the government knows what needs to be done and then do it!

What will the Year of the Earth Cow brings?

Here are some of the sites that provide "predictions" and forecast for the coming year of the Earth Cow.. Enjoy!

• 2009 Chinese Horoscopes for 12 Chinese Zodiac Signs In the Year of Ox
• 2009己丑牛年運程
• Year of the Earth Ox
• 十二生肖己丑年牛年（2009年）运程(牛年运势)预测
• 2009牛年生肖运势
• 十二生肖2009年运程牛年运程
• Chinese Horoscope 2009
• Year of the Ox

For those who were also born in the year of the Tiger, here are a few more sites..

• 肖虎 - 朱浩賢師傅
• 虎 2009
• 屬虎二零零九年運程
• 牛年運程 -- 屬虎人士
• 2009年十二生肖桃花,事業,健康運程~~~虎
• 二○○九己丑年肖虎運程
• 生肖虎2009牛年运程播报

Don't take everything written seriously.. read them with a pinch of salt, because after all, WE ARE WHAT WE CHOOSE TO BE... :)

What the..!! :o

More "interesting" news from the land of the Rising Sun...

• Killer stabbed Chuo University professor 15 times
  Scary... :x Just when the stabbing incident in Akihabara is starting to fade from people's mind.. :( I am bracing for other copycat stabbing incidents..
• Suicide rate in Japan up 8.4% in 2008 amid crisis
  When they are not getting stabbed or stabbing others, they are not that happy either..
• Japan turns to pet robots in time of crisis
  Interesting way to spend their free time, don't you think...
• Tamiflu ineffective against influenza strain spreading in Japan
  Mmmm... better stay away from crowds.. and classes.. :p

Memorable quotes... IV

Mark Twain

The worst loneliness is to not be comfortable with yourself.

William J. H. Boetcker

That you may retain your self-respect, it is better to displease the people by doing what you know is right, than to temporarily please them by doing what you know is wrong.

Michel De Montaigne

I care not so much what I am to others as what I am to myself. I will be rich by myself, and not by borrowing.

Oh No! :(

As much as I hate it, the first entry of the "Oh No! :(" series will be some (more) bad news from Japan.. the place I am staying right now, but hopefully won't be for too long.. :p

Even though the Nikkei rebounded today, I won't assume that everything will be nice and dandy so soon..

• Japan projected to see primary budget surplus in FY 2018+
• Over 15,000 major companies collapsed in Japan in 2008

Well, isn't all this a "great" confidence booster?? Just when I wanna start job hunting..

Oh No! and Yes finally!!!

Will be starting on another "series" in my blog, on top of all the poems and quotes.. Will try to highlight some good news around the world and some not-so-cheery news too.. thus the titles "Oh No! :( " and "Yes! Finally!! :) ".. and to "showcase" the incredibly dumb/weird/unbelievable/whatever stuff, there will also be a series called "What the..!! :o "

Hopefully in the end, there will be more entries for "Yes! Finally!! :)" than "Oh No! :( "..

Buzi, Buzy, Busy... IV

Yes, it is that time of the semester where there is yet another mad rush to complete tons of reports.. :( :( and not to mention, the need to study for exams too.. :( :( :( Going to have 4 exams from this Friday onwards.. :( :( :( :( :( :(

Not very productive lately.. felt like doing anything BUT things that are related to school.. maybe it is time to go back to work.. :x don't seem to have enough motivation to write my reports.. and I am not very satisfied with most of the reports that I have written so far.. to-date, I have almost completed one report and had just started on another..

Haven't been updating my blog too.. there were several things that I wanna blog about, but can't seemed to find the time and mood to do so.. maybe I will do some "catching-up" when I get back to Malaysia.. as if I would really do so then.. :p :p :p

Went to pay for my plane tickets today.. and got a pleasant surprise.. the fare dropped by almost 10,000yen due to the reduction in oil surcharge, making it 96,800yen instead of the original 105,600yen last Dec.. :)

Okay, shall try to sneak in to write some blog entries these few weeks.. :)

Winter Holidays 2008 - Part II

And thus ended my last winter holiday as a student in Japan. :( :(

What a blur it was.. there was plenty of "doing-nothing" within that period.. :P Didn't really complete all the things that I had to do, aka my homework and reports, but did a lot of stuff that I shouldn't.. ;)

Submitted one report yesterday, but still owe 2 reports (just started on one of them) and a couple of Japanese classes' homework.. Never quite had the mood to do anything remotely related to my homework during that 15-day holiday..

So what have been doing then? Well, not much.. unless you count the number of movies/tv dramas that I have watched within that period.. ;) Watched House MD from season 1 to season 4 episode 10 since then.. around 10 movies (English and other languages), read 2 books and lost about 1 kg.. ;) :P Almost got a job back in Singapore (still negotiating) and went through a "house-hunting nightmare" too.. my emotions went through a roller-coaster ride too.. shall write more about that soon..

From now onwards, I need to concentrate on my reports (2 more to go!!) and a couple more exams before I can go home and enjoy my CNY in Malaysia and Singapore.. can't wait!!! :)

一個人

作詞：李宗盛　作曲：李宗盛

一個人獨自在漆黑的夜裡奔跑
這樣的感覺、壓的我不知怎麼才好
一個人在愛人與被愛中苦惱
這樣的事情並不是每個人都碰的到

* 我並不知道我做的不好
　我並不在乎我做了多少．．．．．
　啊哼．．．．．啊哼

一個人在理想與現實中跌倒
這樣的創傷要多久才能醫的好
一個人在現在與傳統中尋找
怎樣的答案才能讓大家都覺得好

Repeat *

一個人獨自在漆黑的夜裡奔跑
這樣的感覺、壓的我不知怎麼才好
一個人在愛人與被愛中苦惱
這樣的事情並不是每個人都碰的到

一個人　一個人　一個人

Memorable quotes... III

Carl Jung

There are as many nights as days, and the one is just as long as the other in the year's course. Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word 'happy' would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness.

Anne Morrow Lindbergh

If one is estranged from oneself, then one is estranged from others too. If one is out of touch with oneself, then one cannot touch others.

Ramona L. Anderson

People spend a lifetime searching for happiness; looking for peace. They chase idle dreams, addictions, religions, even other people, hoping to fill the emptiness that plagues them. The irony is the only place they ever needed to search was within.

诗。。。（十一）

伤口
作者：寒烟

如果我有一个伤口
那肯定是世界从我这儿拿走了什么
那年冬天，我带着半颗心
走向大海
不是去寻找另外半颗
只想碎得更彻底，象一个末路狂徒
因此，大海的闪光才被我看成
一万把斧头的锋芒
一个伤口里有挥霍不完的黑夜
每个黑夜都是被眺望固定的尽头
大海泛滥我全身的血气
让我安静，让我着迷——
只有这更大的伤口才能把我安慰
只有这儿才有为伤口保鲜的盐

-------------------------------------------

Poems... XVIII

I Wouldn’t
Author: Rebecca D

Would you say that I’m confused?
I wouldn’t.
Would you consider me greedy?
I wouldn’t.
Can you accept me
For who I am?
Would you say that I’m unfaithful?
I wouldn’t.
I can be loyal and fall in love,
Just like everyone else.
Do I need your approval
To live my life?
I want you to understand,
And not to judge me.
Please don’t think any less of me
Just because of who I love.
Would you say that I’m a wonderful person?
I would.

They are Coming!! (III)

Another year, another new season for my favorite TV Series.. :) ;)

Here are some of them that I am sooooo looking forward to within these two months..

• 24 (returning 11 Jan)
• Lost (returning 21 Jan)
• Heroes (returning 2 Feb)
• Survivors: Tocantins (returning 12 Feb)
• The Amazing Race (returning 15 Feb)
• The L Word (returning 18 Jan)

I can't wait!!! :) :) :)

鏗鏘玫瑰

作詞：李宗盛　作曲：林憶蓮　編曲：楊長杰

那女孩早熟像一朵玫瑰　她從不依賴誰
一早就體會　愛的弔詭和尖銳　她承認後悔　絕口不提傷悲

她習慣睜著雙眼和黑夜　倔強無言相對
只是想知道內心和夜　哪個黑
別要她相信愛無悔　愛無悔　太絕對
她從不以為愛最美　她說　那全是虛偽

像曠野的玫瑰　用脆弱的花蕊
想迎接那旱季的雨水　所以溫暖卻曖昧　所以似是而非
讓那直覺自己發揮　她一直給　每一次給
有即興意味　心碎也無所謂　若一心給　卻意冷心灰　那多累

像躲在心裡的鬼　那頹廢如魑魅般跟隨
傷人的話總出自溫柔的嘴　很無謂
別要她相信愛無悔　愛無悔　太絕對
她從不以為愛最美　她說　那全是虛偽

像曠野的玫瑰　用脆弱的花蕊　想抗拒綻放後的枯萎
所以溫暖卻曖昧　所以似是而非　讓那直覺完全發揮
她一直給　每一次給　有即興意味　心碎也無所謂
你真心給　卻落得意冷心灰

像曠野的玫瑰　用驕傲的花蕊　想擺脫那四季的支配
所以溫暖卻曖昧　所以似是而非　讓那直覺自己發揮
每一次給　也讓人回味
那感覺久久不退　像一場宿醉　到黎明不退
想一想也對　她說　誰怕誰

-------------------------------------------
一直都很喜欢林忆莲，她的歌声，她的歌曲。。
听说这首歌是李宗盛特别为她量身编写的。。只有林忆莲才能够唱出这种温柔之中又带点倔强的味道。。。

Dropping, falling, shrinking..

Ushering in the new year is (still) a stream of not-so-good news.. Everything seems to be either shrinking, falling, cutting or dropping in Japan..

• Japan sees biggest population fall
• Japan starts 2009 with record low number of 20-year-olds
• Japanese economy to shrink 6.5%, Bank of America predicts
• Recession to stay until latter half of '09: experts
• Toyota forecasts its first operating loss in 70 years
• Japanese electronics giant Sharp to book extraordinary loss of $555 million new
• Condominium Prices in Tokyo Area May Fall 10% in 2009, NHK Says
• Japan’s Bonds May Post First Loss Since 2003 as Debt Sales Rise
• Tokyo stock prices end year 42 percent down from last year's closing index
• 85,000 non-regular employees to lose work during second half of fiscal 2008
• Japan's per-capita GDP in '07 lowest among G7 countries
• Domestic vehicle production dropped 20 percent in November
• Kawasaki set to pull out of World MotoGP
• Nomura Holdings pulls out as Olympic sponsor

Not quite a good start to a new year.. hopefully things will get better..

Memorable quotes.. II

Mohandas K. Gandhi

The Roots of Violence:
    Wealth without work,
    Pleasure without conscience,
    Knowledge without character,
    Commerce without morality,
    Science without humanity,
    Worship without sacrifice,
    Politics without principles.

Reinhold Niebuhr

Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime,
Therefore, we are saved by hope.
Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history;
Therefore, we are saved by faith.
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.
Therefore, we are saved by love.
No virtuous act is quite a virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own;
Therefore, we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.