Hydromantis Christmas Tree

The praying mantis is best known for, well, its prayer stance. And, the following structure made of assembled PVC pipes bear some semblance to its front and hind legs. 

Inspired, I would say, "By associating prayer at Christmas for peace and goodwill towards our fellow homo sapiens, we could well imagine and make out a tree from the following art installation by Tina Verghis which has been aptly called the Hydromantis. It is an embodiment of an eco-friendly Christmas prayer and message to "Go Green" and sustain our planet for future generations."

HYDROMANTIS by Tina Verghis

Build Your Own Santa Set One LEGO-brick At A Time

Kok Mum Tan and Eugene Tan had created their own award-winning Santa set using LEGO bricks and I am not about to figure out how they did it with such ingenuity, patience and dexterity. 

Just enjoy and be refreshed by their creativity!

MOC (My Own Creation) Facebook Contest 1st Prize: Kok Mum Tan

MOC (My Own Creation) Facebook Contest 2nd Prize: Eugene Tan

Now, I had been wondering about the following two LEGO figurines built by their certified professionals and their seemingly out-of-place as 'decorative' sets for the Christmas season. 

Then, I caught it! Yes, come to think of it, the policeman and Ninjago were intentionally and strategically placed at the door as added security for the LEGO displays and merchandise . (No joke; read my pokerface.) And, I think that was ingenious marketing by LEGO!

Why Does 'Jingle Bell Rock' Rock?

Today is Christmas Day and I have no idea why this ditty 'Jingle Bell Rock' has been playing in my head over and over again. It is so bad, in a good way, that I find myself actually singing out the paltry portion of the lyrics which I could recall and consists of 'Jingle bell, jingle bell rock' repeated several times over.

Hitherto, I have not looked it up on YouTube, heard it at the malls or listened to it over the radio. My hunch is that I could have picked it up subconsciously amidst the din and merriment of a Christmas lunch on Wednesday with some Christmassy music in the background.

If that be the case, then the power of our subconscious mind is something that could be harnessed for good. We could, I surmise, think, imagine or even speak out good things concerning ourselves (to improve our self-image, for example) just before we hit the sack each night and let our subconscious mind store it. 

Likewise, we could contemplate on all the good things we wanna attract into our lives before we traverse to Dreamland. The possibilities are bountiful for us to tap into the power of our subconscious mind and program it with positive and good things in life which will, in turn, propel our body system towards the desired outcome.

O, by the way, if 'Jingle Bell Rock' has piqued your interest, then the following version with lyrics is for your refreshing:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owt1sqNGRnw

Phoneless For Christmas ... Almost!

I am surviving Christmas without nary a bite of log cake, turkey and honey-glazed ham, and just one gift exchange. Christmas -- where Jesus is the Star and Reason For The Season, lives on in my heart without my having to get all caught up with the trappings and commercialising of Christmas.

To digress, with due respect, in many parts of the world such as the USA or Europe where the Christmas season is a traditional festive and holiday season what with winter and all that, Christmas is truly a biggie and a time for family gatherings much like the Lunar New Year for the North East Asians and their diaspora. 

Well, whad'ya know, my Christmas coulda have been rattled by my mobile phone, if it goes missing. Just this evening I had dinner (fish and vegetables with rice; nothing Christmassy) at a coffee shop and as the table top was still wet after having been wiped clean by the kopi kia (coffee shop assistant), I decided to place it on my chair instead. There and then I had a premonition that I would forget to pick up the phone when going off after the meal.

After the dinner, I made my way home and only came round to the realisation after several minutes that my phone was not with me. My mind was racing and I hastened back to the shop, noticed that my phone was missing from the chair, and approached the drinks stall owner. I mentioned my plight and indicated to the chair where my phone was left behind. 

Nonchalantly, he retrieved a mobile from a shelve and just asked me dourly whether it was mine. "Yes," I replied, with relief and thanked him appreciatively. He revealed that a foreign domestic worker had found it and passed it to him. 

I had lost a Motorola in a taxi and a Samsung on an airplane before and I am sure many of us would have excruciating stories of missing or stolen phones to share. 

On any given day when our vital personal belongings such as wallet, keys or phones go missing, we would have more than just a bad hair day, so to speak. History serves us well when we learn from it.

My thanks go out to the kind soul who returned my phone anonymously on Christmas Eve 2015. Christmas is still Christmas without the turkey for me, but had my phone been stolen, it would have jolted my Christmas but not hijack it though. 

Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas!!

Master Watchmakers With Time On Their Hand

Master watchmakers are the stuff of legends if, like me, you have never been to Switzerland. At the renown Baselworld -- the biggest and most important trade fair for jewellery and watch industry, you actually get to meet these dedicated craftsmen.

If you are interested to peer into the workings of independent watchmakers such as Philippe Dufour and Antoine Preziuso, then the following YouTube clip would be a treat. You will be amazed to see how their work keeps them ticking with unrelenting excitement.

Masters of Time: The World of Swiss Complicated Watches

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtkcLjiNy_0  

Simplicity by Philippe Dufour (Photo credits: http://peter-chong.blogspot.sg/)

It is quite a lengthy clip but I find it refreshing and enriching. In it, you will gain insight into this rare breed of master watchmakers who design and make and/or assemble every part of their line of watches by hand. It's a labourious process from start to finish over several months, and you will be impressed by their well-honed skills, exacting standards, passion and dedication to produce complicated and refined timepieces for the select few who could afford them. 

Meteor by Antoine Preziuso (Photo credits. www.Antoine-Preziuso.com)

And, yes, the quintessential quality of these master watchmakers is: patience. You can't rush it especially when having to handle precious materials such as titanium, gold and diamonds, and having to peer through magnifying lenses repeatedly and assiduously to craft and/or assemble the minute components.

These are the masters of time who make the time to engineer timepieces which are also refined works of wearable art.

Surviving Christmas ... Almost Less Than 12 Days to Christmas

Christmas is in the air and you are enthused with the nudging baritone of Michael Buble's "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, everywhere you go ...".

At the onset, surviving Christmas seems like such a killjoy. But, it is not so considering that Christmas has grown and spawn in such a humongous and myriad celebration since its inception when baby Jesus was born a long, long time ago in Bethlehem.

Now, Christmas is a global event and season with a multiplicity of festivities and merriment, and practically every country will become infused with the spirit of Christmas -- joy, goodwill, giving, love, faith and hope. And, if you do not hold on to your surfboard, the tidal waves of consumerism, feasting and partying may leave you poorer in your pockets, health and well-being.

Here then is just a mish-mash of suggested Survival Tips for Christmas:

1. If you must buy gifts for a selected list of recipients, then plan your Christmas shopping early like 2 weeks before 25th December.

2. Keep within your budget so that you do not overspend unnecessarily; your gift is just a token of your love. And, you have many more opportunities on every other day to love them and in so many other ways.

3. There is a bit of competition when shopping for the gifts. But, the real test of nerves would be at the check-out counter and the gift-wrapping counter where the queues are notorious. So, you may wanna plan ahead on what kind of gifts you are going to look at, start early (take leave, even, to shop on a weekday), plan your route (which malls, shops, etc.) and logistics (whether you need an obliging assistance to help you lug everything home). Alternatively, you may wish to shop online from the comfort of home with Christmassy music piping from your computer to set you in the mood.

4. While spoilt for choice with Christmas goodies and tempted by their savouriness, stay discipline by eating and drinking in small portions. Go easy with red meats and dairies, and stay clear of processed food. And, opt for more of fresh vegetables, fruits and water. If your Body Mass Index (BMI) is already showing that you are over-weight for your age, then the health risks exposure is already telling. Stay disciplined all seasons, and choose a healthy lifestyle. The more health you put into your life, the more life you get out of your good health; it's a win-win for you!

5. Not all, but a loud minority of young people seem to like visiting pubs or discotheques or, at least, try it out for themselves. I don't know whether this is due to a lack of a better idea or they just wanna do what adults are supposed to do when chilling out. Rest assuredly, apart from entertaining business clients, the vast majority of adults do not drain money away at the bars or discos. Neither would they puff cigarettes or experiment with drugs, which are blatant health hazards, as with drinking booze. Nor do they sleep around, even with 'protection', because they are well-advised on the risk of contracting diseases from unsuspecting sex partners. 

6. That said, some plan to, inter alia, donate goodies to needy families, visit homes for the elderly, visit orphanages, meet with family and friends for meals, watch a movie or two, visit the shopping malls, enjoy the spectacular light-ups at popular locations, and attend the Midnight Mass Service on Christmas Eve or the Christmas Day Service. In all these, get enough shut-eyes in the day if you are running on past midnight so that you could alleviate the side-effects of sleep deprivation. And, be sure to catch up on your sleep after the late night(s) so as not to over-extend your body by allowing it enough time to reboot.

The season of Christmas will come and go. With proper planning and focus, there is a good possibility that it's celebration would be a piece of cake you could have and eat it in a state of good health. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!!

P/s: Jesus is now back in heaven, and He is planning a wedding banquet. Please check with your Christian friends on how to be invited for this banquet in heaven. "Merry Christmas!"

Preambles To Progress

"Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything." -- George Bernard Shaw

"Changes call for innovation, and innovation leads to progress." -- Li Keqiang

"We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive." -- C. S. Lewis

"If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress." -- Barack Obama

"Whenever an individual or a business decides that success has been attained, progress stops." -- Thomas J. Watson

One of the constant in life is change. As change happens, we have to respond and deal with it with an appropriate respond, often involving innovation. Otherwise, the new frontiers along the right path would sweep past us or our organisation, and we become sidelined and fizzle out in significance.

Hence, there are only preambles to progress. True and real progress is ongoing and never ending.

Teamwork - Two Are Better Than One

"Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.

For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up." -- Ecclesiastes 4:9,10 (NKJV)

The following snapshots on teamwork are sourced from images on a desktop calendar courtesy of RSM Chio Lim LLP to spur you on with team building and leveraging on your teamwork for successful and rewarding endeavours.

The Voice 2015 featuring Jordan Smith

There are many talented aspiring singers competing on The Voice and it is so magical to watch them on television in their elements pursuing their dream of being a singer.

Every now and then, there comes along a contestant or two who stand out from the competition. In The Voice 2015, Jordan Smith is one such standout with all the four voice coaches giving him a standing ovation a few times during the audition and ongoing rounds of performances. His voice has been described as "from another planet" and "signed by God". 

Jordan Smith (Photo courtesy of NBC.com)

Jordan Smith is a surprising and unassuming wonder the likes of whom I last experienced when watching Susan Boyle's first audition on Britain Got's Talent. 

Here are just a selection of his singing prowess for your inspiration:-

The Voice 2015 Blind Audition - Jordan Smith: “Chandelier"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHR4oOIcVZo

The Voice 2015 Knockout - Jordan Smith: "Set Fire to the Rain"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCzkD-vu84g

The Voice 2015 Battle - Jordan Smith vs. Regina Love: "Like I Can"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hcNvyQIzE6s

The Voice 2015 Jordan Smith - Live Playoffs: "Halo"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCCoWOTQ918 

Lunch is a Wrap

Bred on a staple diet of rice, I never imagined myself to come around and "Eat Fresh" as championed by the likes of Subway. You could say I am an accidental consumer of fresh vegetables and fruits.

Recently, while recovering from a bout of flu, I figured that my body needed the nutrients to heal itself while taking my prescribed medication. After all, the medicine will only alleviate the symptoms and it is the body itself which needed to fight off the ailments and recover.

Thus, I went for fresh juices such as ABC (apple, beetroot and carrot or celery) and Green Apple with sour plum. Also, that was when I started a-looking to make a lunch switchover to fresh vegetables. 

However, I found that a box of salad would be somewhat cumbersome to pick through. Can you imagine the number of times one would have to pick on the vegetables, literally, before are they cleaned off? I can and know that it gives me no pleasure (contrary to the preference of 'picky-loving' folks).

Also, it would be quite tricky, as well, on your shirt when the vegetables flick their dressing unwittingly when you crunch on them. Voila, the wrap!

A warp is able to, well, wrap all of your selected vegetables into a nifty roll in a compact manner and allow you to consume it all within a few bites and much less chewing than a similar 'naked' salad. If you ask me, I think this is a fuss-free and efficient way to eat fresh vegetables.      

Oh, by the way, snacking on fresh fruits and vegetables would be, hands down, healthier than processed food such as chips and sugar drinks.  

It's time to stock up our fridge with vegetables and fruits and choose a diet that feature more of them for a healthier body. They make great snacks, too!

Chic + Recyclable Plastic Shoes by MELISSA

As gleaned from its Singapore website http://melissasingapore.weebly.com/about-melissa-hearts.html , Melissa was founded in 1971 and originated from Sao Paolo, Brazil. Since then it has grown into one of the largest footwear manufacturer with an expanding global reach.

Additionally, these are some further insights gathered:

"Melissa stands for individuality, comfort, great style and eco-friendliness. Its hallmark jelly shoes are made of plastic that is 100% recyclable." 

"Melissa’s success is credited to its three-pronged business strategy that focuses on producing superior designs, engaging in sustainable development, and developing groundbreaking footwear technology."

On the surface Melissa shoes are bright, colourful and creating a lot of buzz what with celebrities taking them along the red carpet. But, I think, it is what goes behind Melissa such as: collaboration with fashion designers; use of eco-friendly materials; innovation of materials for better comfort, styling, durability, etc.; and non-exploitation of animal, that continue to grow this brand's consciousness among savvy consumers who are already spoiled for choice of footwear. 

Here are just some snapshots of Melissas in Singapore for your refreshing:

Michelle Paynes' Dream Came True: Winning Melbourne Cup 2015

Modern fairy-tales do not come by easily. But, when they do pop up once in a while it would be so refreshing as to prop us up from the humdrum of life.

Michelle Payne with Prince Of Penzance (Photo credits: Elleuk.com)

It has been Michelle Payne's dream as an Australian jockey to win the renown Melbourne Cup and, against formidable odds, she became the first female jockey to win it recently in what has been dubbed as a "race that stops a nation".

Her challenges are many such as: losing her mom due to a car accident when six months old; sustaining a series of injuries throughout her career; and dealing with chauvinism in a sports dominated by male jockeys.  

But, Michelle persevered and kept dreaming. Finally, at 30-years old, even when she is on the verge of retiring from the sports with a desire settle down and wind down, she steered Prince Of Penzance to a historical win.

In her post-race interview together with her brother Stevie, who works as her strapper notwithstanding his Down's Syndrome, she said that her father has been supportive of her desire to be a jockey. Apart from hard work and perseverance in pursuit of her dream, I would surmise that her family support has given her an added impetus to succeed.

Also, she is aware of the inner strength of her Prince Of Penzance and know how to tap into its strength. As she puts it, "... it's not all about (human) strength, there is so much more involved, getting the horse into a rhythm, getting the horse to try for you. It's being patient."

And, if you watch the race, you would see that she was patiently working with her Prince up the ranks before making the final dash to outstrip the all-male competition.

Click on the following to watch her post-race interview:

'I just couldn't believe we'd won the Melbourne Cup': Michelle Payne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERaQrLuQTMc

Click on the following to watch the pulsating race:

Melbourne Cup 2015

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8a04sTxItM0 

Click on the following for highlights of the race with salient commentaries and watch the jubilation of this group who called themselves "small fry investors" in Prince of Penzance:

Jockey Michelle Payne First female winner of the Melbourne Cup

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l-niS0NFqE

Melbourne Cup: Michelle Payne, Prince of Penzance welcomed home in Ballarat

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-06/melbourne-cup-michelle-payne-prince-of-penzance-in-ballarat/6919088

Gundam Plamodel Expo World Tour 2015

Gundam may not be as well known as Lego building blocks or Marvel Comics figurines such as Iron Man, but it is gaining traction and poised to win over more enthusiasts.

Recently, Gundam Plamodel Expo World Tour 2015 made a stopover in Singapore. Here are some some snapshots for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy and be refreshed!

If you are interested, please click on the following link to explore the world of Gundam http://en.gundam.info/index/white