2008台湾总统大选的竞选广告

我们家不常看本地新闻，但却常看台湾新闻台。我有时一转倒他们的新闻台也会被吸引住，一看就几小时。我很多的知识和观点都是从他们新闻台的资料收取而来的。当然，在看的时候要会分类，不能帐单全收，毕竟他们有些的新闻会比较戏剧化些。 我个人比较喜欢的一个节目是文茜小妹大- 世界周报。她所收集的新闻比新加坡的世界一周精彩多了，而且还更全面。

就最近刚结束的台湾总统大选，我有幸看到了他们的选广告，个个都拍得像MTV一般生动，很有裞服力。就连我妈也被他们的大选影响， 很关注的问马英九是否当选了。我在Youtube找到了一些广告， 请看：

咱的台湾 咱的家

台湾也有不同种族的， 原住民，本省（在地台湾人，多数说台语的），外省（祖籍大陆但落户台湾）， 客家和福州人等， 当然他们全都是台湾人。

你準備好了嗎？

注意- 他们也有用不同方言传达政见。



只找到这个谢长廷的广告 - “这里有录影存证”



向前行


放天灯



下水道



箭靶篇


一个大学生的故事

变幻的四季

像秋天般的落叶
我剪掉了一切
剪掉了烦恼
剪掉了过去
期待春天的降临

然而严冬先逼近
我却措手不及
来不及反应
来不及防备
静看气候的变迁

天要变就变
人间冷暖谁体验
风想吹就吹
落花满地有谁怜

无情雨说下就下
辛勤收成一朝毁
自古以来好天气
都是彩霞天上挺

看， 你看
几时才会有好天气？

Benny

I saw Benny yesterday. You know, that famous Benny ~!

Huh? No clue? Don't tell me you have not heard of Benny? The western food Benny which has a stall in Maxwell Hawker Centre? Well, they have branch in Toa Payoh and it is in a coffee shop somemore!

For the benefit of those who have never heard of Benny, let me do some explaination.

Well, I was at maxwell months ago and saw this western food stall with bright yellow sign board at Maxwell centre. I thought I have saw the same shop in Toa Payoh before. Their signboard was often decorated with lots of recommendation from the local press and even foreign magazines but somehow they (the Toa Payoh one) are quite deserted like no one buy from them like that.

I mean their food should be of some standard if there are that many recommendation and good review from the press. I decided to give the coffee shop stall a try and see if they are really that good.

Benny's signature bright yellow signboard lined with good reviews from the local press and foreign magazine.

Stall front is also littered with a lot of magazine cuttings, but there are not many customers, so what is wrong with them?

Messy signboard and menu

I stood in front of the stall for like 5 mins to figure out what they are selling. Ok, I am indecisive by nature, but this time round, it is not because I cannot make up my mind of what I want to eat. Their menu is messy. Small wordings and pictures arranged all over the place distracting people. The food categories arrangement is also weird. They arranged the spaghetti first, followed by soup and then by main courses and then side dishes and dessert.

Benny, if I may comment, eating at hawker centre is very different from restaurant. People want to get their food fast especially for lunch time rushes. If they do not know what you are selling within 1 minute, they will just walk away. I thought Benny should re-arranged the menu in a way that their star dishes are placed up-front which is their main course, followed by spaghetti. Also, their menu and signboard should focus on their food and not those good review articles. It is a bit absurd that customer can read lianhezaobao says the food is how nice and how nice, but not knowing what you are selling from first look.

Their lambshanks had not priced and customers had to asked about the price. It is not very advisable to put there market price because it define expensive. Usually, only crabs or seafood are stated market price in hawker centre and they are expensive.

So is that food nice?

I ordered, after much processing, their cheesy pork which cost $6.90 and a tiramisu $1.80 to go. Food is prepared much slower than usual hawker stall, but they packed everything meticulously. Went home and open up the plastic box, it still looked neatly arranged and smell nice.

Cheesy pork is pork cutlet with cheese and ham fillings. It was fried to crispy golden brown outside, topped with lots of mayonese sauce. When cut open, pipping hot melting cheese flow out of the cutlet like molten lava. Took a bite, the meat is surprisingly tender and juicy still. It is not too salty despite the cheese and ham filling. This is not a easy dish, because people tend to over-cooked the pork that it tasted dry when done. I have eaten it a few times from somewhere else and all of them failed.

Their mash potatoes side dish is also nice and very presentable. It is a mash potatoes shaped into a ball fried with bread crumbs till goldbrown. I am surprise that it was not too oily which mean that they fried it at a good temperature.

The only thing that I have with the food is that it is a tad too creamy/rich for me. The apple colestraw is also very creamy, but has a tangier taste unlike the sweeter version which we are used to. The next time I am going to ask them to put less of the mayo sauce.

The tiramisu is also another looks can be deceiving food. Honestly, it looked very plain like frozen cream cheese. I even regretted ordering it. However, when I had the first taste, it was heavenly! I can taste the nice coffee flavour with a slight bitter chocolate after-taste. There is also a small piece of chocolate cake in the middle soak with more coffee.

Verdict:

Definately go try their food, because it is nice.

However, Benny I think room for improvement on your menu presentation and signboard design. The yellow is eye-catching, but with a stall named Benny, it does not explained what you sell. Even when your main focus is western food, it doesn't meant that you can sell french food with itallian food. Good review can only take you that far and attract that many customers, eventually your food is what makes your customers patronise again and again. So, please use bigger fonts for your menu and not those reviews in fact get a proper designer to do it for you. It is very cluttered and divert customer's attention away from your good food!

Neither an A’level student, not yet a Graduate

I have been asking myself where Polytechnic graduates stand in Singapore.

Seriously we are neither here or there and in many ways, we have forgotten by many others and sometimes even we refuse to standup for ourselves. The main reason that we are so under-privileged is many of us took part-time degree courses and conveniently takes ourselves as graduates-to-be. Many just brush off woes that were once faced by they themselves. I don’t blame them because this is a pragmatic society. However the rest of us, who either do not have a degree yet or does not have plans to do so, will have to find ways to represent ourselves to be heard.

Then there are those people like to compare us with JC a’level student which baffles me. Strictly speaking, we can’t be compared. Aren’t we, Polytechnic students, termed as tertiary student (the same as University grads) therefore we are not entitled to cheaper bus concession fare? So in a way, we should be of higher hierarchy than them isn’t it? But yet, a lot of times, there are people who still considered A’Level students to be more prestige. I am not going to the JC vs Poly debate or the Elite vs Commoners of discussion here. I asked because I just don’t know where I stand anymore.

“Oh~… Poly Student …”

Week ago, we met one of the bosses during lunch time. As he was alone, my colleague asked him to join us. Trying to strike conversation and as he was not familiar with me, he asked

“So, how many years have you been with the company?”

“Almost 4 years after I graduated.”

I should have been clearer with him by adding “from Polytechnic”, but I was nervous and didn’t make myself clear but that was not on purpose.

Upon hearing this, my colleague immediately added:

“Poly Graduates, you know, seldom move around…” (Think she make eye to him…)

I know she is trying to alert the boss that I am a Poly Grad, not Uni Grad. However, from the look of the boss’ face, he looked like – “Oh ~ok ~, she is a poly grad…” Then there were brief moment of awkward silence and I was embarrassed slightly.

I can understand her wanting to let the boss know right away to prevent him from making unnecessary comments, but she could have put it across nicer and more subtlety instead hinting openly which embarrassed me. I feel that it was as though I have tried to hide my Poly Graduate status but I have no such intention at all.

Then in her own words, she claimed that she was trying to help me and the boss from embarrassment. Me thought, “Ok, so a small embarrassment is better than a big embarrassment…? As he can’t be embarrassed, so I can. ”

Who was saved?

I was still embarrassed isn’t it?

Hurts.

“Supervise them and ensure that they do a good job… “

Was so happy that I had what I considered as big break to work with people from different companies for a big event. Honestly, it was a good exposure and a valuable learning opportunity for me. As I represent my company, I had ensure that my company name was not ruined in terms of quality of work and thus put in efforts for every tasks.

However, the attitude of the organizing committee is just rude and disappointing. It left a bitter aftertaste for this experience. The unpleasant incident happened during the day of the event itself.

I regretted getting additional help to tag the seats as it was done half-heartedly with many labels pasted on untidily. Since there is still time, I reprinted the stickers, intended to re-paste the labels neatly. Just informed my group leader about it and the rep from the organizing committee immediately whined:

“We don’t have time for this now. Then what we do yesterday is wasted… " etc excuses that try to make me not to re-do them. She was one of the half-hearted helpers loh. She didn't realised that because of her, I have to re-do the work.

“It is morning now and event is in afternoon, Time is what we have most.” I replied. Also, my group leader didn’t object and in fact she said she will helped me even. I just ignored the rep and went in to start to re-label seats with my helper.

Just as the two of us started not long ago, another rep from the committee came in and started to boss around. He commented that labels must be pasted on neatly and ordered me to do it nicely. I was annoyed by his remarks as he doubted my work integrity. I was trying to salvage the situation and had pasted the labels on neatly, but he just went off ranting without getting the facts right. Funnily, it makes me wonder if they requested additional helpers so that they can boss people around.

Seeing that I wasn't reacting to him, he went and get the rep in my group and said to her loudly: “Supervise them, make sure they paste on the stickers neatly!!! “

This hit my nerve! First, they have doubted about my work integrity and now they are being rude to want to supervise me to do work!!! The fact that my group leader put me to be in-charge of the work (I was just being hands on) meant that she trusted me. What makes him think that I need supervision? If he is concerned about completing the work in time, he should have offered additional help which will be more practical.

A bunch of leeches! Do nothing and still dare to tell people how to do work. How dare they want to supervise me do work!!! How can they be so rude?!!!

I am not throwing my weight around. I understand where I am and have never purposely bully people more junior than me. I try to respect everyone as much, but sometimes people just too rude to deserve them. Still angry, but nothing could be done, rude people went off scotch-free.

See if people help you all next time!!! :P

I just can't smile without you...

"There was a fight between the two front teeth and often bloody. Was a poor student then when suddenly one day they decided they had enough. They seperated. I tried everything (maybe not hard enough) to get them united, but they refused to. I have no choice but to let the cold war continued. Over the years, they seperated further.

When I first started working, I did try resolve the difference. Dentist told me it was gum problem. He recommended to do gum treatment to see if the gum would heal. After some fortune spent, it did got better - no more blood, but dentist still want me to remove them. I decided I am not going to part with them, thus refused to go back to see him. "

"You know, you looked friendlier when you smile. You should smile more often..."

My ex-boss told me that, but I just can't smile. Not that I am not friendly, but if you have a relatively big gap between your teeth, will you smile that often?

Last December, think it was the strawberries seed stuck in the gum, there was infection with the gum again. I decided to resolve the problem soon, so I asked for recommendation letter to National Dental Centre to get them fixed. Funnily, they gave me an appointment but it was three months later which was last Friday.

Man, National Dental Centre is one big dental clinic! The whole building was dedicated to dentistry and even a whole floor for x-ray department. Silly me still thought perhaps after the check-up, I got time to go back for work. Little did I know that the dental check-up took about 1 and 1/2 hours.

My dentist was quite young and a lady somemore. First-time, I ever attended by female dentist. She did the routine check to see the condition. While checking, she called out numbers for her assistance to record it down. Somehow, I think those numbers bodes bad. Then as usual, x-rays so that she can see the bone structure. I was quite happy with the service and all until I met the radiographer.

Maybe it wasn't the right day, the radiographer was not in a good mood. He roughly placed the film in my mouth that it hurts. Worst, he didn't make me wear the steel jacket. I mean I have done x-rays a lot of time especially for the teeth. Almost all would make patient wear the jacket to prevent over radiated. I was afraid he might have missed out or something, thus asked him.

Me : "Sorry, are we suppose to wear the jacket?"

Him very fast:"Abothen"

(Think I heard something like abo-then) Me: "Huh?!"

Him:" No, are you pregnant?"

Me: " No~."

Him:"Then no need..."

I suspect him angry because it hurts a lot more when he placed the next flim in my mouth. By right it shouldn't hurt... Then he got irritated when taking 270 degree x-ray file because I didn't hear him telling me to place my hand on the handles. Worst, after that he ordered me to throw away the plastic cover myself... I mean what got into him. Have to be so fierce to me, your customer meh... :P

Took the film and went back to the dentist. She did second round of checkup - to see if the teeth is still alive. It was quite scary. She used an electrical probe (yes, electrical probe!) to send current to the nerve. I am suppose to feel something if my teeth is still alive. It was this metal looking rod, in which I am suppose to hold it between my fingers. It is suppose to be a little painful then I can just released it.

The first time she do it, we waited a long time, there was no reaction. I got worried.

She then said:"oh, the probe is not working... "

Me thinking:"Bloody...Make me nervous for nothing... "

Then second probe touches my teeth, I immediately shake off the probe. It is the same feeling you get when you have sensitive teeth. Of course, I was glad to know it was still alive.

She recommended the same thing which my previous dentist had done before - Root cleaning but the cost was so much cheaper. Then depending on the rate of healing, I might need a surgery and the cost is still cheap, but the word surgery is freaking me out. After that, they would check again the condition before recommending the braces. (That is not cheap...)

Sound like I got a lot to save up. I just can't smile without you - $$$.

:)

IT Fair 2008

I went to IT Fair 08 at Suntec City last Saturday. By the looks of the turn-out rate, it sure looked like Singapore has a really good economy last FY. Packed to the brim. I mean it is already Day 3 of the fair and human flow is still never ending. I have seen crowds at Citylink on weekends, but never that many before. Queues of people started forming after the MRT exit way at the escalator. See below.




Of course, I went there for a reason – to get a laptop. Finally, I can justify that I need a laptop for myself. I mean now there is no computer at home and if I really enrolled myself for part-time course, I will definitely need one. Well, then my mum isn’t convince at all… :(

Actually with the raising living costs and inflation rates, I do think we should spend on what we need and save whatever we can. Never born with sliver spoon in my mouth and always have limited funds to spend, I think and consider very carefully before buying anything.

In fact, I treated every purchase that I made as an investment. Buying a laptop is to me considered as a mid-term investment. I think that is reasonable. The laptop has to survive some years with me isn’t it? My philosophy is that it doesn’t have to be the cheapest, but it has to be worthwhile. Every penny spent on it must be worth spending.

So, I shortlisted a few models from newspaper and began my quest.

First stop – Toshiba.

My brother bought a Toshiba laptop last year. It was very cool looking. White and sleek with huge monitor screen as well as good graphics and sound. I was looking forward to their new Satellite series laptop would be as good. Most importantly, their gift bundle is very attractive – consumers can choose one of the free items like printer, camera, Microsoft office, extended warranty or gaming bundles.

I circled the booth, trying to take glimpse at my favourite model. Finally after some struggle, I managed to do so, but a bit disappointed as I don’t like the look and feel of it.

I thus looked around to see if anything catches my eye and within my budget.

Other bargains

I saw Singtel promo for broadband, 3mpbs for 45 dollars per month with free Xbox $360 throw in.

Also, Courts offer for Sony Bravia LCD Television cost only $899. Where to find huh? Was thinking to buy as my television broke down as well, but my brother don’t want it as it was not full-HD.

MacBook

See new MacBook. Usually it is white in colour, but they added the new one in Black. I have say I was also tempted to buy one. The finishes and everything looked so chic and sleek. I have nothing to complaint about, but worried if I will have hard time finding compatible software. Their basic model cost $1700 and above.

Finally…



At Fujitsu booth, I saw this laptop.

• Under $2000. Checked.
• 3 years warranty. Checked.
• Made in countries with good QC. Checked. (Very good in fact as it was one of the few which is made in Germany. I feel Germany’s stringent QC is slightly above Japan. )
• Good Graphics Card – Checked.
• At least 2 Gb Ram- Checked. It was upgraded to 3 Gb Ram.

Deal.

Fat again...

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080205/ap_on_fe_st/odd_no_serve_law

I stumped upon this news in U.S yahoo website that an U.S. state lawmaker is putting up a paper to stop restaurants to serve food to obese customers… He clarifies that he never expects his plan would become law eventually, but he is trying to get attention on the increasingly worrying biggest health problem in Mississippi.

Ok…You know what I am going to say… Discrimination!

Now obese people cannot eat out just because they are too fat? Also, what makes him think that it would be effective in reducing the numbers of obese people in Mississippi just by stopping restaurants from serving obese people? If the restaurant served unhealthy food and will make people fat, wouldn’t normal people or slim people get fat and even obese in long term if they continuingly eat at the restaurant? So why pick only on people who are obese and not the rest or even restaurant owners?

In fact, if restaurants have a strong part to play in preventing obesity, so why can’t they force restaurants to serve healthier food? See New York city has already managed to ban restaurants in using trans fats, so by all means ask them to reduce fats and sodium, or even banned supersized portion?

I am not saying that obese people don’t have a part to play in this, but they shouldn’t be blamed for something that was not entirely their fault. I believe it takes two hands to clap, so restaurants, food processing factories who cooked and produced food that are high in fat and sodium content have to take up some responsibilities as well in view of this epidemic.

Obese people can only blame ourselves for not able to stand against temptation and in a way we are stupid enough to be exploited by both restaurateurs and the governments. You pay more to eat more and when you got fat and eventually sick, you are left to fend for yourself. Worst, government tax you for being fat because they deem you are going to spend more of their money.

Mentioning of health cost, yes US government are considering to tax more on people who are obese since they are going to cost the government more on their insurance claims. Then today, there is this article on fat people and health cost.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest+News/Tech+%26+Science/STIStory_203689.html

Sadly or materialistically, there is this perception in which by preventing obesity, it would be able to save governments around the world millions of dollars. The article pointed out that since obese people and smokers would not live as long as someone who is thin and non smoker, it will somewhat cost less to treat them in the long run.

I can’t help but think that is also another form of discrimination. No doubt, we have a higher chance of getting more illnesses and would of course incur more health costs than normal people, but wouldn’t they get very sick or contracted serious long term diseases like diabetic and high blood pressure too? It is unfair to pick on obese people just because we are more prominent.

Makes me wonder, if we can do selective breeding for humans, fat people will be eliminated totally. All people in future will be slim and tall with long slender limbs. Sad.

I asked:

1. Why should we let that small group of beautiful people influencing us or tell us on what is beautiful?
2. Why can't the definition of beautiful be broader?
3. Why can’t people focus on the right thing about obesity?
4. Can’t people tell us to lose weight for our own sake and not due to economic factor, vanity reasons or just plain discrimination?

***

I have another blog named SupersizedMe. I wanted to share with people my experience, especially on how I transformed myself from a fat tomboy to a fat girl. Yes, I think fat people can look presentable too, but needed a bit more guidence. I mean, very few magazines would teach fat people how to make themselves look good and no one knows it better than another fat girl. I had originally written some articles in Chinese, but from now on, I will post all those "fat" related articles there in either Chinese or English.

I welcome all of you, regardless of size, to read SupersizedMe.

We don't ask for much. We only want you to respect us like how you would respect other people.

Happy Reading.

:)

" Should we pity men whose wives is over 90 kg? "

I read this discussion thread posted in STOMP with disgust. This is outright discrimination!!!

http://talkback.stomp.com.sg/forums/showthread.php?t=33779

That person said that he is concerned for his friend as he finds his friend's wife fat and ugly. He wonders if he should pity his friend and whether he will have any intimate satisfactory with his wife…

Honestly, being a fat girl myself, it hurts to read something like that. He is not even the husband, then he is there commenting how ugly and fat is somebody’s wife. Should someone like him , I do think he has malicious intention, be considered as a friend, guys? I know guys are visual animals and looks are very important to them, but never expect them, especially Singapore guys, to be so superficial.

I mean what are Singaporean guys expecting? All girlfriends and wives to have super models body or looked anorexic? Come on lah, if we do have this kind of looks, do you think we will stick with you, pea-brained superficial Singapore guys who don’t know how to respect others?

I acknowledged fat girls, especially if we are obese, do have a problem with our weight and it is best that we lost some weight to be healthier. Does he and many more people out there have to be so cruel to us by judging and hurting us with remarks like that?

Like I mentioned previously, a lot of things are not easy for us fat girls as we have a lot of stereotypes to fight. Among them, dating is the hardest. I thought about it before. It is not easy for us to find that special someone who can look beyond the physical appearance. Even if he does and he wants to be with you, he needs to pass the public acceptance test. That I feel is a killer and most guys just withdrawed because of public perception and peer pressure.

Ever wondered how it is like to be fat? People stared at you constantly when you are out because of your unusual size. Some polite ones might just stare, but most of them would point finger at you and even rudely pass some unkind remarks. Imagine, you are the guy having to hold the hands of this girl and walk around town … Can you take this kind of stress? Constantly having to be judge by people and some might even labelled you as strange. Can you take it?

Honestly, even for me as a fat girl, I don’t think I can take that kind of stress. I can easily ignore daily stares from people at me as I am already used to it, but I cannot stand people staring at me as a couple with a normal sized guy. I don’t think I can stand people’s stare and finger-pointing as if questioning the authenticity of the relationship. Thus, I wondered and questioned how many guys can take that kind of stress?

Of course, there are some guys who chose to be with the one he loves and ignored how others would view him. I admired (not that way) their guts and applause for them for being so courageous and love who they love and heck cares the rest. However, they are rare catch and minority out of the guys’ population.

Take a step back, I wonder if he is jealous that his friend and his wife beaming with happiness and can’t find a reason of their unison. I would advise him to go look for his own happiness and stop pitying others, for all you know, he pities you for being so superficial… (That is if you can read and understand what I am writing…: P)