Double agony..

Can't believe that I was so clumsy!!

Don't ask me how, but I managed to sprain BOTH my ankles yesterday afternoon, while crossing the street.. Now my ankles are swollen and they are so damn freaking painful. My right ankle hurts more, although both hurts equally bad, as it was the ankle I landed on.. I can't stand up without grimacing in pain, much less walk..and they are slowly turning blue-blackish.. :x :x

I had never been so clumsy in my whole life! But again, everything has its first time.. Maybe this is yet another sign my body is giving me, that I should have proper sleeping hours and exercise more.. Been cutting my sleep these few weeks due to the amount of translation jobs I received.. so mind and body not totally in sync lately..


I feel pretty useless and helpless now.. Can't move around at all.. every time I needed some things, I need to ask my sis to get it for me, or I have to slowly and painfully limp over to get it.. Every trip to the toilet is an agony.. And my vertigo spell still hasn't completely disappear either.. so now, a month before my birthday, I am both immobilized and dizzy.. not a good way to usher in my 3rd dozen years....

I so pray for a speedy recovery.. and no more "catastrophe"..

Tarot Readings.. V

Yet another 3 months has passed.. Ready for another tarot reading.. :) Using the same application that I did previously to "see" my fortune for the next 3 months. Note that all pictures of tarot cards are from http://phpbb-tw.net/phpbb/thoth/ and there is no intention of infringing any copyright.

又过了三个月。。又是塔罗占卜时间啦。。我还是利用以往相同的占卜程式为接下来的三个月的运程占卜一下了所有的塔罗图片都采自竹猫星球塔罗馆 （http://phpbb-tw.net/phpbb/thoth)，本部落并无意侵犯版权。

對 職場發展 進行占卜，結果為：
Pertaining your luck in: Job-hunting:

現狀 Current Situation: 戀人 [The Lovers]

目前你的求職方面，鎖定在你一直很有興趣，卻沒有相關學經歷的新領域，而你工作最大的目的，是為了學習、拓展眼界，是很有挑戰心的態度。
Currently, you are looking at jobs that you are interested in, those new areas which you do not possess relevant qualifications, and your main motivation is to learn and expand your horizons. All these are very challenging to you.

問題 Problem : 太陽 [The Sun]

已經有多次的經驗，是你覺得一切都很順利，但最後還是沒有錄取，而且你一直不知道問題在哪裡。容易交朋友的個性，讓人不會對你說重話，反而是一種阻礙。
It has happened way too often that you thought everything went well but yet you were not hired, and you have no idea what went wrong. Your friendliness has caused people to avoid saying bad things about you and this is hindering your search.

建議 Suggestion: 女皇 [The Sun]

多參加一些求職的講座、媒合活動，因為你本身的親和力，比你的資歷更能讓人留下好印象，所以要多多亮相開發人脈。
Attend more job recruitment talks and seminars. Your affinity is much more impressionable than your qualifications, so make use of it and expand your social network.



對 單身運勢 進行占卜，結果為：
Pertaining your luck in : Relationships (for Singles)

現狀 Current Situation: 教皇 [The Hierophant]

你的生活圈子較為狹小，生活步驟也都有一定的模式，所以比較難有新的邂逅，但你其實對迎接新感情，已經做好準備了。
Your circle of life is relatively small, and you have a fix routine too, thus it is difficult for you to meet new people, even though you are more than ready for a new relationship.

問題 Problem: 皇帝 [The Emperor]

可能因為你太過於獨立，習慣自己掌握主導權，如果有人對你示好，你通常是反應遲鈍的，有時趕跑了一些人還渾然不覺。
Maybe you are overly independent, and is used to being in control. Thus even if someone has professed their feelings for you, you are often slow to realize it and might even have chased away a few unknowingly.

建議 Suggestion: 死亡 [Death]

終結目前的生活吧！長此下去，你的機會會一年比一年減少，不如換個新的生活型態，給自己一些新的人生目標。
Put an end to your current lifestyle! If you go on like this, your chances will diminish year by year. Why don't you make a change and give yourself a set of new purposes.



對 財運 進行占卜，結果為：
Pertaining your luck in : Money Matters

現狀 Current Situation: 藝術 [Art]

你覺得不是很缺錢，因為一般需要用錢取得的東西，你都覺得有其他管道可以取得，所以雖然你覺得有錢也不錯，但其實還是很容易滿足。
You don't really think you are in need of money, because everything that requires money can be obtained via other non-monetary means. Thus even though you think that it is good to have money, you are in fact easily satisfied.

問題 Problem: 戀人 [The Lovers]

你對金錢一直是沒有什麼概念的，賺多花多，賺少花少，怎麼來怎麼去的都不知道，太過隨性的態度，倒致不管賺多少錢，都很難存下來。
You don't really have much concept about money. You spend as you earn and you don't really notice where it went. This type of attitude has resulted in you not being able to have any saving, no matter how much you earn.

建議 Suggestion: 塔 [The Tower]

你越小心翼翼算每一分錢，就越是有狀況要讓你失去；反正也留不住多少，你乾脆認養貧童或是定期捐款，讓錢去到真正該去的地方。
The more careful you are with every dollar that you have, the higher the chances that you will lose it. Since you can't save much, why don't you just adopt a needy kid or donate regularly, let the money go where it can make a big difference.



對 人際運勢 進行占卜，結果為：
Pertaining your luck in : Human Relationships
現狀 Current Situation: 死亡 [Death]

因為生活模式沒啥改變，但老朋友結婚的結婚、忙工作的忙工作，你又沒怎麼交新朋友，所以社交圈呈現荒涼的狀態。
As your lifestyle remains unchanged, but with all your friends being/getting married and everyone is busy with you, and you have yet to make new friends, your social life is stuck in decline.

問題 Problem: 倒吊人 [The Hanged Man]

你對於友情這樣的事，實在是太隨緣了，而且可以為了睡覺或下雨這種原因，懶得出門交際，這樣會變宅喔！
Your attitude towards friendship is too nonchalant. You would even shun going out to socialize just because of it was raining or you wanted to sleep in.

建議 Suggestion: 戀人 [The Lovers]

你跟身邊的朋友，屬性太接近了，所以你的優缺點他們也都有，比較難從朋友身上獲得建設性的建議，應該多參加不同屬性的活動，多交點其他類型的朋友。
You and your friends around are too similar, having all the same good and bad points, which makes it difficult for you to get any constructive advice from them. You should join different activities to vary the types of friends you have.

12 days later..

Here are some update that I promised in my earlier post..

After consuming the "super" juice for 12 days, all I have to say is, nothing.. cos I don't feel any different.. I still weight the same even after being very hungry and eating a lot for the first 6 days.. my appetite kinda returned to "normal" the past 2 days.. So there, the honest truth! I could actually lie and say that my this improved or my that felt better, etc, because no one is gonna tell on me since I am not meeting anyone who could call me a liar.. but I won't.. cos I won't "sell" my integrity for some quick bucks.. however, my mum and sis did notice some differences.. my mum felt more energetic and her eyes don't get tired anymore, while my sister's skin condition is much better and she doesn't have any more severe acne breakouts (which I can attest to)..

And I had only managed to convince ONE friend from SG to join/buy this product.. I always knew that I am not cut out to be a salesperson, because I tried to be ethical.. I can always push the money making aspect of this product, but I prefer to emphasize on the health aspect.. because I believe people should and would understand and accept it better.. but alas, I am wrong.. all they want is proof and guarantee (that the product is good which it is but they won't trust me unless I show them concrete proofs, yet they distrust the testimonies that I showed them, and refused to try it themselves). Most of them stayed away because this is MLM and it is "expensive"...

No business is going to last if the product that it is selling is not good. So why people are joining this MLM? Sure, the business plan is good, as it is very simple: maximum 2 legs/down-line per member, no breaking off, no flushing and INFINITY accumulation, thus as long as people in your down-line buys/recruits, you will get the benefits if you maintain a minimum purchase. In a sense, you can potentially earn up to USD$25,000 a week!! Of course, that is best case scenario.. If all this company talks about is its business plan, then you have a right to be wary, but the product is good (the main ingredient is Maqui berries, the world's highest anti-oxidant fruit)  and has helped many regain their health, as it boasts the following benefits:
- neutralizes free radicals
- anti-aging
- promotes weight loss
- beautify skin
- protects the heart
- detoxification & anti-inflammatory

I know and understand that MLM has a very bad rep, because it resembles pyramid-system.. but have they even consider the fact that some are indeed legit and long-lasting? Similar to Amway, Cosway? The main aim of joining MLM is making money, and the trick to make money in any MLM is by joining it as EARLY as possible, so that we can be the "pioneers. This product is less than 6 months' old in MY and SG.. It just went to Philippines early this month and already Filipino maids in SG and HK are joining en massed!! Just imagine, domestic maids are willing to take a chance in a product that "has yet to be proven and is expensive" (just to quote some of my friends' replies) why? cos it is "cheap" to join, if you consider the price in SGD (which is less than SGD$ 400 for 8 bottles of the juice!!) and the monetary returns is humongous!!

Then I realized something.. I am preaching to a bunch of "secured" and "high-earning" individuals.. they are more willing to spend money on the latest 3G products than to invest in a "possible" product that might help them (both in health and in money making)... they are more comfortable talking about investing in foreign exchange, funds or stocks and joining private clubs, than joining "shady" MLM schemes... they are, in a sense, being safe! just like their government want them to, just like what they joked about (but denies) being "kiasi" (Hokkien, literary meaning "afraid to die").. I can totally understand that, because I was one of them.. Also, I realized that most, if not all of my friends, aren't those who are willing to take up a second/third job to get more money!! They are comfortable in their (little) circle..

I am not condemning nor judging them. If I haven't gone through what I've been through the last one year, I would be one of them too, scoffing at the idea of making money via "non-conventional" methods.. I wouldn't be out of my comfort zone, so to speak.. We are all creatures of our environment. I can totally relate to their skepticism.. but sometimes, we need to take a leap of faith.. but it is easier said than done.. in this economic environment where $$ is of the utmost importance, it is hard to ask those who have lots to take a chance.. only those who don't have much are willing to "gamble"/risk some to get more.. No one wants to be the sucker to lose money in some "shaddy" schemes.. but the "beauty" about MLM is that whoever that joins the earliest make the most profit, meaning those who are willing to take a risk before the majority herd make the most money.. which is fair and simple..

Bottom line is, I don't depend on this super juice as my main income source. I only introduce it to those friends whom I thought would benefit from this, in terms of health (for their family members)...But make no mistake about it, this MLM is gonna make a lot of people rich or at the very least, give them a very substantial side income. The product is good, and the business plan is sound.  Those who are earning BIG right now are, ironically, those who were very sick/had many medical problems. They took the super juice and recovered/improved, and thus became the walking testimonials of the product. Most of their friends/relatives saw what the juice did to them and joined. My dad who joined early this month had already gotten back his initial investment of USD275, and has earned another USD$50 till date.. he didn't do much except to introduce 5 of his friends to join.. all he promised them is a chance for better health and an opportunity to make some money..

Anyway, I am very busy with my translation jobs to be "pushing" this super juice hard.. I won't beg or pester friends to get them to join/buy this MLM.. I will tell them about it and if they are interested to know more, I will tell them more, but that is it. I will continue to take this super juice myself and see if it will help me lose some extra pounds.. my skin is in good condition to begin with, so I don't expect any drastic improvements.. same with my health.. of course, I won't mind looking a couple more years younger! :) I won't mind being in my late thirties but looking like my late twenties in a few more years!! :p :p ;)

キミはともだち

Heard this song from a list of songs my sister dl recently.. I went to YouTube to search for the music video and found the video attached below.. very cute MV.. I've always liked Ken Hirai's voice.. and I like this song.. it is simple and nice.. just the way I would like my life to be.. or at least I pray that it is gonna be..

キミはともだち(朋友)
作词：平井坚　作曲：平井坚　
编曲：松浦晃久

君が笑った　仆もつられて笑った
映し镜みたいだ　君はぼくのともだち
君が怒った　仆も负けずに怒った
子供のけんかみたいだ　君はぼくのともだち
仆がさびしいときは　あとすこしつきあって
うまく话を闻いてくれないか
君の声だけが　こころを轻くする
ただあいづちを打ってくれるだけで
はなれていてもずっと
胸の中にいるよ

君が泣いてた　仆も泣きそうになった
だけどこらえて笑った　元气出せよと笑った
君がさびしいときは　いつだって飞んでくよ
うまくことばがみつからないけれど
仆の声が君のこころを愈すなら
だだあいづちを打つだけでもいいかい？

さびしいときは　あとすこしつきあって
うまく话を闻いてくれないか
君の声だけが　こころを轻くする
ただあいづちを打ってくれるだけで
君がいないと　仆は本当に困る
つまりそういうことだ　きみはぼくのともだち

A Chance

How much do you think your health is worth? what about your parents'? Or your siblings? Uncles or aunties'?
Will you be willing to wager USD280 for a 50% chance of improving your health and those of your loved ones?

I was recently introduced to a product by my uncle, which is a combination of Maqui Berries, Aloe Vera, Resveratrol, Ionic Sea Minerals and 6 other berries (in case you wanna know, they are strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, bilberries, raspberries and elderberries). Other than the obvious health benefit it brought him (shall talk about his conditions later), it is also a good business opportunity too.. how is it so? Let me break it down for you..

A) Health Benefits
Given, there is no miracle food in this world, else medical doctors will be out of job.. but there are food that is good for the human body, like this "super" juice. People have given testimonies on how this juice has helped them. Improvements from serious ailments like diabetic, arthritis, high blood pressure and high uric acid to simple things like better skin/complexion, weight lost, better bowel movement, etc.

You can just do a quick search in Google and it will give you all the links on Maqui Berries that you can read. Thus I won't repeat them here, cos I am sure you won't believe it because I don't too. That is the reason why I am trying the juice myself. Frankly, I don't expect drastic change, because I am fairly healthy to begin with (blood pressure normal, no high cholesterol, no high uric acid, etc. except for my mysterious vertigo episode recently). I just wanna have better skin, do some detoxing and lose some weight in the process.  :)

Back to my uncle. He is the only"real"testimonial that I can personally vouched for. My uncle suffered a massive heart-attack and had an open-heart bypass a few years ago, and currently he remains a heavy smoker. After taking the juice, he managed to put on some fresh on his thin frame, he is more energetic, his blood pressure stays in the normal range (instead of fluctuating from day to day), his fingers don't feel numb in the morning anymore and even his skin starts to look nicer! In short, he just looks so much healthier compared to what he was before. His well-being improved in general, after taking the juice (2oz 3 times a day) for less than 1 month.


B) Business Opportunity
Those who is doing or has done MLM before would know that the plan offered by this company is better and "fairer". Why is it so? Well, for one thing, this is a binary system, with no breaking off of any of your down-line and no cut-off leveling. Let me detail it further.

1. Binary system means that the immediate branch/legs that you can ever have is 2. No matter how good you are at recruiting, you can't have all of them linked directly to you, like a sun. Everyone can only have 2 immediate/direct members. You need to put new members under existing members. That means your up-line (those fellas on top of you in the so-called tree) will need to put people under you whenever they recruit more people. You will benefit more if you join earlier and perched yourself (higher) up the hierarchy.

2. No break-off of down-line. In some MLM system, your down-line will break off from you once it reaches a certain size or sales volumne. However, in this company, there is no breaking off. Your down-line shall remain yours FOREVER!

3. No cut-off of benefits. Unlike most MLM where you stop benefiting when your down-line grows too big, in this company, as long as someone in your down-line (no matter how far downward) buys or recruits, you will get the BV (business value) as long as you maintain minimum purchase of 2 or 4 bottles (each giving different percentage returns).

Thus all these mean that the earlier you join, the better chance you have of making big bucks. So be the first among your circle of friends to introduce them to this product. If the product helps make them healthier, they will thank you for it and at the same time you earn some cash!!


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

Okay, enough of "sales talk"..

Anyway, I just started taking the juice 2 days ago (1oz 3 times a day), so it is still too soon to tell if there is any improvement, except my appetite has been very (too?) good. I will keep you posted..

Of course, I won't deny that there are those who saw no benefits at all, as each person is a unique individual - what works for me, might not do anything for you. Frankly, even if in the end I don't gain any health benefits from this "super" juice, I will still think that it is not a total loss. At least I had tried to make my body healthier, but alas, I would need to work harder (diet control and exercise) to keep my body in shape and I can't take the easy short-cut (simply drinking the juice 3 times a day).

But does it mean that you shouldn't try? 

Simply put, this juice will either makes you feel better or it doesn't, it is that simple. I know you are thinking of the "what if" scenario. What if the juice don't work on you at all? Well, if that is the case, all you lose is USD280. But what if it improves your well-being?? Just imagine the intangible benefit you will reap with the betterment of your health (or those of your loved ones)!! Why would you want to wait or even miss out a chance to be healthier?? Don't let money be the stumbling block to better health!! Cos seriously, is money more important that health?? 

It is a 50-50 chance gamble - if you lose, you just lost USD280, but if you win, you will have the world under your feet!! So I think this is a shot well worth taking!

For those who are interested to know more about this product and company, drop me an email and I shall provide you with the relevant links.

11.11

“一分耕耘，一分收获”这道理大家都知道，但有时候“一动不如一静”，因为我们的“一举一动”、“一字一句”或多或少都会“一丝一毫”地留下痕迹。

岁月的印记“一点一滴”地累积而成，决不是“一朝一夕”可以抹去或遗忘的，即便是还未来得及许下“一生一世”承诺的那个人。曾是那么地熟悉的“一颦一笑”、“一言一行”，如今只能留给回忆收藏。
只因这份“一心一意”最终还是无疾而终了。。。

-----------------------------------------------------------------------
用了11个带有“一、一”的成语。。
也不知道为什么要写下这篇小品。。
也许是想在这一年一度的11月11日留下些什么吧。。

Mapling..

Was, and still am a big fan of MMORPG games.. and recently I got hooked on playing Maple Story.. :p

I know that I have thousand and one things to do, yet I can't help but "devote" at least 1 hour a day on this game.. And it all started because my sister wanted to play Maple Story.. it was one of her few entertainments while studying in Moscow.. and with her current hectic, or should I say crazily inhumane, work schedule, I won't deny her the pleasure of game-playing during her precious holidays.. Like her big sister (that's me), she likes to stay at home during her off-days, either watching Taiwanese or Korean dramas, or playing computer/online games.. these are the ways she relaxes..

I am currently playing in the Hercules (world) of Malaysian gateway.. A knight-in-training right now.. A level-22 Wind Breaker who uses a bow... I have always liked using ranged weapons.. me not a big fan of close combats, prefer to dispose of my enemies from afar.. :) My sis is also a Knight, but she is a Striker..

So anyone mapling?

True colors

You with the sad eyes
Don't be discouraged
Oh, I realize
It's hard to take courage
In a world full of people
You can lose sight of it all
And darkness still inside you
Make you feel so small

But I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors,
True colors, are beautiful,
Like a rainbow.

Show me a smile then,
Don't be unhappy,
Can't remember when I last saw you laughing
If this world makes you crazy
And you've taken all you can bear
You call me up
Because you know I'll be there

And I see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors,
True colors, are beautiful,
Like a rainbow

If this world makes you crazy
You've taken all you can bear
You call me up
Because you know I'll be there

And I'll see your true colors
Shining through
I see your true colors
And that's why I love you
So don't be afraid to let them show
Your true colors, true colors
True colors, are beautiful,
Like a rainbow

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

Love this song.. whether it is sung by Cyndi Lauper or the Glee cast members..

The Chinese Connection

I must first admit that this is not an academic nor a deeply researched article but one that I wrote based on my own deductions from all the recent happenings around the region.. it might not even be true.. again, just my hunch..

I believe that in 5 to 10 years time, China (inclusive of Hong Kong), Taiwan and Singapore will be the new power triangle (or quartet if you count Hong Kong separately from China) in Asia. Why do I say so?

Simply put: China has the muscle, Taiwan has the guts and Singapore has the brains..

Together with Hong Kong, China has the human resource and financial resource to make things happen.. And don't forget that it has the political muscles too, like the recent squabbles with Japan and Russia.. As one of the most populous country in the world, China can supply any number of workers required for any industry, be it manufacturing, R&D, service and even banking.. People in China are willing to work, both hard and long, sacrificing the "work-life" balance that is being touted in the West.. The Chinese are the new Japanese.. at least in terms of work ethics, although they have yet to reach that level of sophistication and civic-mindedness..

Taiwan is well-known for being entrepreneurial and gutsy in businesses. They are willing to take risks, but not recklessly.. they are adventurous and has business acumen - the so-called "killer instinct"... Taiwanese are friendly people, they can work their charm and use it strategically in business negotiations. They bring in the softer touch required in managing difficult situations. With the recent signing of ECFA with China, Taiwanese corporations could work more closely with their China counterparts and boast bilateral trades.

As for Singapore, this little red dot in Asia has established its brand of business-friendliness and corruption free government. Its foreign ministry has built good close rapport with almost every country in the world, maybe except Malaysia.. Everyone likes to do business with Singapore because of the reliability and credibility of its government.. Everything is nice and proper, no under-table dealings nor "tea money" needed to grease any hands..

China is perceived as having poor quality management, lack of business ethics and accountability issues; Taiwan is perceived as having shady business practices and insubordination issues and Singapore is perceived as being too inflexible and slow to response to changes. By working together, countries will be able to make up for their (perceived) weak points. They will be perceived as having the best of both the East (virtues like loyalty and work ethics) and the West (practices like fairness and meritocracy).

Possible "losers" in this future economy power struggle might be India, Korea and Japan. India has to improve on its infrastructure and legislation so that its people can move forward in a more collective manner without corruptions and nepotism. Korea would need to address its North Korea quagmire which will continue to haunt its stability and indirectly affects investors confidence. And lastly, Japan's new generation has to realize that it is no longer numero uno in Asia and start learning from other Asian countries. It also has to work through unresolved WW II issues with its neighbors, like what Germany did, before all countries affected can move on.

With the Chinese people currently "scattered" all over the world, working in every industry imaginable, there is no lacking in finding and recruiting the best talents and brains for any joint-venture endeavors.. So being proficient in English is a must while mastering Chinese will be a given in the future, IF you want to compete against millions of Chinese (either in China or outside of China) for a piece of tomorrow's economy pie.. ..

Out to play..

Not coming out to play,
the sun is too bright and my friends are not nice,
too much expectation, too little compassion,
winner takes all while losers get naught,
not risking my all with a frontal assault..

Not coming out to play,
the field is too scratchy and the rules too patchy,
too many armchair coaches, not enough fair judges,
bullies aplenty so are bigots and fanatics,
not a time to push new limits.


Not coming out to play,
my feet hurts and my arms ache,
my team is great but too much is at stake,
shall try my darnest but I won't break a leg,
willing to do without than putting up a facade..