dementia praecox

Nothing major, just want to update on the food we ate and my cute little niece and nephews. Kids are hard to capture on still when you have a injured main hand and your brother had a midget permanently attached to him.The nonya restaurant that gain popularity from Little Nonya's publicity. Mind the crowd and book before-hand if you hate waiting.
Rather famous 饼家 in Melaka itself. Loved for motto "先做现卖". It's next to the satay chelop store both Sheng and I love.Highly recommend their 鸡丝豆沙角。Address: Jing Yuan Biscuit And Bakery, No.45-D, Jalan Ong Kim Wee, 75300 Melaka. Hp no: 012-712 7905

Labels: Explore, Foodies, Generic Day

Crazy day, another day spent on the road. Or I should say wasted? The traffic in Melaka was horrible.It took another 3 hours to get from entering Melaka to my aunt's place. Note to self, try not to go there when it's public holiday. I mean, had no one ever thought that 99 seconds traffic red light an inefficient prop? Small road also 99 seconds, big road also 99 seconds, got car also 99 seconds, no car also 99 seconds. Small road turn big road or big road turn small road also 99 seconds... *sweat-dropped* This should be the govornment's priority for the developement in Melaka instead of land reclaimation. I mean we managed with such small piece of land and our traffic is not that bad... What's the use of all that land if you spoil the tourists appetite by giving them a lousy road experience? Learn automatic traffic controls, man...

Labels: Explore, News 5 Tonight, Rants

I am worried for my cousin. He is taking his Pri 6 exams this year and he cannot even converse in proper English. Wish I could've stayed longer to teach him some. Interactive studies by learning lyrics would be a good idea.

Hurt my hand bad. My father, being totally sarcastic, told me to write a compo about it titled 《城市少女乡下溜狗记》 bleh.I missed Cher Hao by a hair's breath in Selangor. When will we meet again? Heaven knows~ As I was writing, some dumb fuck driver (WRE 7[-2+1+1]) nearly cause us to crash. Learn to drive, idiot.

*edited with link on 02 June*

Labels: Explore, Rants, Sing Along

Couldn't believe we're stuck in the middle of the bridge after passing Singapore Customs. Shouldn't they open more gates since it is too predictable that there's going to be a jam? Public holiday, hello? 1 to 2 hours many could handle, but a freaking 3 hours!?! We queued from 10:50 to 13:45. Believe me, I kept count. How many bladders exploded that day, I wonder. Oh, Wei Sheng and I also have to thank friendly fellow Singaporeans who are so kind as to lend us their handphones to call our parents after we reappear from our road side make shift pee hole. Thank you!

Labels: News 5 Tonight

NaNo challenge? Hmm, 1 month, 50000 words... To write or not to write.... That's the question.

Labels: Being Geek-ish

Extracted (like you would extract a bad tooth) from "Fit to Post"

'Worst words to say at work' by Jeffrey Oon – May 4th, 2010 (Yes, I'm slow on 'news')

*Copy whole scale*
Re-published courtesy of Forbes.

By Linnda Durre.

Let’s look at some specific words and phrases that are used by some people to buy time, avoid giving answers and escape commitment. If you use these words and phrases yourself, take a scalpel and cut them out of your thinking, speaking and writing. Words like these only weaken you and make you sound noncommittal, undependable and untrustworthy.

“Try”
Try is a weasel word. “Well, I’ll try,” some people say. It’s a cop-out. They’re just giving you lip service when they probably have no real intention of doing what you ask. Remember what Yoda says to Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: “Do or do not–there is no try.” Take Yoda’s advice. Give it your all when you attempt something. And if it doesn’t work, start over.

Put passion into your work and give it your best effort, so you can know that you did all you could to make it happen. So if the outcome you were expecting didn’t come to fruition, it’s not because you didn’t do everything you could to make it happen. It just wasn’t the right time for it or it wasn’t meant to be.

“Whatever”
This word is a trusted favourite of people who want to dismiss you, diminish what you say or get rid of you quickly. “Whatever,” they will say as an all-purpose response to your earnest request. It’s an insult and a verbal slap in the face. It’s a way to respond to a person without actually responding. When you say whatever after another person has said his or her piece, you have essentially put up a wall between the two of you and halted any progress in communicating. It’s a word to avoid.

“Maybe” and “I don’t know”
People will sometimes avoid making a decision and hide behind words and phrases like “maybe” and “I don’t know.” There’s a difference between legitimately not knowing something and using words like these as excuses. Sometimes, during a confrontation, people will claim not to know something or offer the noncommittal response “maybe,” just to avoid being put on the spot. If that seems to be the case, ask, “When do you think you will know?” or “How can you find out?” Don’t let the person off the hook so easily.

“I’ll get back to you”
When people need to buy time or avoid revealing a project’s status, they will say, “I’ll get back to you,” and they usually never do. If people say they will get back to you, always clarify. Ask them when they will get back to you, and make sure they specify the day and time. If they don’t, then pin them down to a day and time and hold them to it. If they won’t give you a day or time, tell them you’ll call in a day or week and follow up. Make sure you call and get the information you need.

“If”
Projects depend on everyone doing his or her part. People who use if are usually playing the blame game and betting against themselves. They like to set conditions, rather than assuming a successful outcome. People who rely on conditional responses are fortifying themselves against potential failure. They will say, “If Bob finishes his part, then I can do my part.” They’re laying the groundwork for a “no fault” excuse and for not finishing their work.

There are always alternatives, other routes and ways to get the job done. Excuse makers usually have the energy of a slug, the vision of Mr. Magoo and the spine of a jellyfish. You don’t want them on your mountain climbing team up K-2 or Mount Everest.

“Yes, but …”
This is another excuse. You might give your team members suggestions or solutions and they come back to you with “Yes, but . . .” as a response. They don’t really want answers, help, or solutions. You need to call the “Yes, but . . .” people out on their avoidance tactic by saying something like: “You know, Jackie, every time I offer you a suggestion you say, ‘Yes, but . . . ,” which makes me think you don’t really want to solve this problem. That’s not going to work. If you want to play the victim, go right ahead, but I’m not going to allow you to keep this up and I may have to report you.” After a response like that, you can be assured that the next words you hear will not be, “Yes, but . . .”!

“I guess …”
This is usually said in a weak, soft-spoken, shoulder-shrugging manner. It’s another attempt to shirk responsibility–a phrase is only muttered when people half agree with you, but want to leave enough leeway to say, “Well, I didn’t really know. . . . I was only guessing.” If you use this phrase, cut it out of your vocabulary.

“We’ll see”
How many times did we hear our parents say this? We knew they were buying time, avoiding a fight or confrontation or really saying no. It’s better to be decisive and honest by saying, “I need more information. Please present your case or send me the data–both pro and con–so I can make an informed decision.” That way the interested parties will contribute to an in-depth, well-researched “verdict.”

This column is an excerpt of Surviving The Toxic Workplace (McGraw-Hill, 2010) by Linnda Durré, a psychotherapist, business consultant and columnist.

*Copy ends here*

What interest me, was not the content of this article, though I must admit I for one, do see things happening in the real life that are listed in this 'story'. What really interest me, was how the people replied to it.

It was interesting... to say the least. To read through all the comments, go to the link above. Here are some examples of how 'passionate' people feel about this topic ;)

Labels: News 5 Tonight