Little Nonya 3 Minutes Extra Footage -The Final Nail...

Ok, what was that? Heavily publicised for a no content whatsoever to speak of 3 minutes footage? They just wasted 3 precious minutes of my time...

Just yesterday and this morning, I was thinking Mediacorp finally know how to play the marketing game. I had thought they actually shot an alternate ending to feed audiences' dissatisfaction with the original one. Though it was not new tactic for TVB did it once for their drama - La Femme Desperado (女人唔易做), so little Nonya will have the ending that Yue Niang and Chen Xi finally get together in the end. Plus the Chinese News Paper speculated the writer actually had 5 version of the ending, I was so into the thought of an alternate ending!

Whatever happened to the producer’s comment when asked if there will be a sequel – 见好就收?

This is typical – 画蛇添足。 Not one somemore, but three feet*.

Hai~ should have ended at the peak, now it is officially crappy show. Wasted my effort to try rebutt those bad press earlier on.

Read also:

• So, What is really wrong with "Little Nonya"?
• More on the drama "Little Nonya"

*Additional Note - Looks like the snake will have 6 feet now... Not sure if it is true, but I just heard that they are going to repeat the 3 minutes footage tomorrow... LOL...

Recipes for Chinese New Year Goodies!

Chinese New Year is just around the corner! It is time again for Spring Cleaning, Food Hoarding, Bingeing and Gambling etc! Ahem~

Ok on a serious note, perhaps you can do something new this year like making your own Chinese New Year Goodies. Here are some of the recipes which I have posted.

New~ Almond Cream Cheese Cookies - 玉仁酥

Amidst every mouthful of cookies eludes subtle almond fragrance which complimentd very well with the unique cream cheese flavour. I especially like the crumbier texture which is almost like a saltier version of butter cookies! Recipe here.

Honey Cone - 蜜蜂窝

I love to make them for Chinese New Year – which reminds me that I should start work soon. Unlike those in the market, those which I made are modified new flavours. It is actually the fried version of love letters. Click here for recipe.

Cookies - 曲奇(pronouned in Cantonese)

Instead of buying them outside and not know what goes into them, you can bake cookies at home. They are quite easy to made and only requires M&M - measure and mix. Click here for the recipe.

Other Chinese New Year's Reads:

• New Year Eve
• Chinese New Year Dishes
• Khek's Suan Pan Zi (算盘子)

More Photosophize's Recipes can be found under My Kitchen label.

Personality Test 1 - Colourgenics Analysis - Analyse Colour Choice to Reveal Your Current Situation

This is super accurate... I was reading xtralicious blog entry on Colourgenics analysis by colour choice. I tried the test and the results are freakingly accurate. It described accurately of my current situation...

Anyway, I have been thinking and the root of all my problems - my weight. It hindered my life. Deep down, I have always been an ambitious person. I wanted the world and I know I can get whatever I wanted with my abilities. If not, I am prepared to fight for it and I may not lose out to others, but yet I am tied down because of my weight. This depressed me greatly...

Stuck in rut and I am not sure when will I be able to get rid of the extra weights. I am serious this time round to get myself back on track. I do not want face anymore of the discrimination. My body image is not giving myself justice…

My Personal Profile

You have exaggerated demands on life but you are cautious enough to try to hide these beliefs from the outside world. You are covert enough to try to impress other people around you with your achievements and at the same time able to put on an act of pretending to be 'humble' - being the same as everyone else. It would appear, however, that whatever you are doing seems to be working out O.K.

You are trying to improve your position and prestige - be it in your life or in your workplace. Things are, at this time, OK - but they could be better. You feel that it is essential that you break down any opposition that could possibly lurk in the shadows. You know that you are quite capable of achieving this set goal because you have to and because it is essential to your self esteem.Being emotionally inhibited you have no alternative at this time but to be a 'watcher' rather than a 'doer'. At this time you feel as if you are being forced to compromise and stand back. But this is not the true you. Deep down there is that warm 'open' you which is awaiting the moment to burst forth - maybe like the chrysalis which will soon become the butterfly.

Whatever has caused the situation, you just don't seem to be able to sustain or maintain relationships as you would wish to. What you really seek is to be able to develop a relationship with someone with whom you can truly share: Love, Serenity, Peace and Quiet. But you are a very demanding person and it is your nature that leads to disquiet and discord: you are like the tide, flotsam and jetsam... One minute you experience 'highs' and a few moments later 'lows'. This obviously will introduce discord into any relationship and with this demanding attitude - the ideal state you desire is unable to develop. Despite the urge to gratify your natural desires, you impose a considerable self-restraint on your instincts in the belief that this demonstrates your superiority and raises you above the common herd. You are extremely critical of everything that is presently going on around you and you find it difficult to listen to or to take advice from anyone. You enjoy the original, the ingenious and the subtle.

It is strange that the anxiety that you are experiencing at this time is of your own making simply because of your desire to be respected by your fellow man and with those whom you work with. You are not satisfied. The normal congenial 'you' is becoming quite introverted. This is becoming increasingly more obvious because you seem to shy away from participating in everyday activities. You are refusing to allow yourself to become involved or to participate with others and it is the reluctance to communicate that is the inherent cause of your problems.

Take the test here - http://www.paulgoldinresearch.com/cg/

Please support - Meowyabear's Spree blog

I do not own the above mentioned blog, but my friend – Jur’s. She is organising a Victoria Secret Spree currently and it is going to end in two days times in fact.

Ladies, if you have things to buy from Victoria Secret, please join her spree! Guys, you can visit the website and get your favourite lingerie to surprise her~ *Wink* ;)

Here is her spree blog link - http://cy-spree.blogspot.com/

*Nope, I do not earn any advertising fees from her by writing this entry. It is purely out of friendship. Batteries not included...

缘已尽

深夜思索
或缘已尽
即已决定
无谓再谈

伤心谁不
片面之词
没我之历
却定大局

虽称公正
实谋除异
为其形象
牺牲真相

如属其人
识之非我
无语面对
望过时日

或有私心
其念就无
堤防之语
已有私念

明显瑕疵
却顾其面
本应反省
末语无我

时日逝去
回顾已晚
以上真理
无其晓得

再次感叹
或缘已尽
进退两难
望逢机运

Ophiuchus - The 13th Zodiac Sign

I was watching History Channel just now and learnt some rather interesting information. The show was on Nostradamus’ Lost Book and yes the latest end of world deadline is now in 2012. Great...

Anyway, that is not the point I want discussed here. It is one of the points History Channel raised that there are actually 13 Zodiac signs instead of 12. The thirteenth sign was named Ophiuchus – translated to Serpent Man, snake holder or Serpentarius. The sign is represented by a man grabbing a large snake in both of his hands and was located between Scorpio and Sagittarius.

 

Image taken from: http://www.ianridpath.com/startales/ophiuchus.htm

A star chart of Ophiuchus. From Atlas Coelestis, John Flamsteed, London, 1753. The curved black and white line at the bottom of the drawing is the Ecliptic. Whilst the figure has a slightly different orientation - notably of the head - in comparison to Kepler's drawing, the star positions of the major limbs are very similar. This figure is very close to what the Ancient and Classical Greeks would have seen when they looked for Ophiuchus in the heavens.

According to Wiki, zodiac signs are actually zodiacal constellation which sun passes through them during the course of the year. Even though the sun passed though Ophiuchus, it is not counted as a proper zodiac sign. Some theories were that the number 13 was considered as unlucky in the western world, thus it was not added in. Other official explanation was that Ophiuchus was not in the natural southerly path of the 12 major constellations thus it is awkward to promote it as part of natural universal precession.

Anyway, if astronomers added Ophiuchus into the zodiac signs, the months which we associated with a zodiac sign changes. One might not even be the zodiac sign that he/she is known as. See the list below. The more interesting thing about Ophiuchus is that one in twenty people falls under this sign, but there is no proper explanation on what are their characters and personalities like compared to other signs...

Many people questioned the characters and personalities of Ophiuchusian online, but found no answer. Some suggested that perhaps they are cusp of Scorpio and Sagittarius, but I doubted so since current zodiac signs’ character differs very much from one and other even though they fall right after each other.

This finding somewhat sparkled off my curiosity. If you happened to stump upon this post on the same topic and knew about Ophiuchusian's personalities, do share with me.

Some Astronomers believed the following dates to be the real solar Zodiac Sun Signs instead:

ARIES = APRIL 19 - MAY 13

TAURUS = MAY 14 - JUNE 19

GEMINI = JUNE 20 - JULY 20

CANCER = JULY 21 - AUG 9

LEO = AUGUST 10 - SEPTEMBER 15

VIRGO = SEPTEMBER 16 - OCTOBER 30

LIBRA = OCTOBER 31 - NOVEMBER 22

SCORPIO = NOVEMBER 23 - NOVEMBER 29

OPHIUCHUS = NOVEMBER 30 - DECEMBER 17

SAGITTARIUS = DECEMBER 18 - JANUARY 18

CAPRICORN = JANUARY 19 - FEBRUARY 15

AQUARIUS = FEBRUARY 16 - MARCH 11

PISCES = MARCH 12 - APRIL 18

Nothing changed for my zodiac sign, still a Virgo... Hmmm...

Read also:

• Answering Comments on Ophichus or Serpentarius
• The Zodiac Signs Debate
• Other strange news at Strange Strange World
• Food Reviews
• Place of interest in Singapore

Count Down Party at Paulaner German Bar !

Not sure if it was hangover, but I did not manage to blog about the countdown party until today. I brought my camera along with me on New Year Eve day with the intention to photograph down the last moment of 2008. However, due to an unexpected change of plan, I did not manage to hit the street until about 6 pm on New Year’s Eve.

Guessing that it would be very crowded at Marina Bay and Esplanade’s area, we decided to forsake the fireworks and go countdown at somewhere else. Paulaners – The German Bar cum Restaurant at Millennia Walk opposite Suntec Convention Hall then came to our mind. One of Secondary Schoolmate introduced us to that place some years back and ever since then Paulaners becomes a special place for us.

We reached there at about 9 pm. It was already very crowded in the pub. The pub interior area is already full-house. We had wanted to give up and go somewhere else when one of the waitresses told us that a table was available inside. A good start for the New Year, it seems.

Look at the crowd in the pub - people are already in partying mood when we reached!

Paulaners being a German pub is of course famous for their beer. Though the selection is rather limited with only lager and strout to choose from, these beers are freshly brewed at the pub. I must say their lager tasted much better than Tiger beer if you know what I mean. Tiger beer is an acquired taste for first-timer as it is very dry and bitter, but Paulaner's lager is not as dry and in fact tasted quite smooth and has a rather delicate malt taste. Their stout on the other hand has a richer flavour with a fuller body compared to lager, but not as intensed Guinness Stout.

I am trying very hard to describe the taste here since I am not a big fan of beer. However, I find their beer taste acceptable for first-timer and ladies because they tasted much better (largely because of the smooth quality) than the commercial ones. Those who like me who don't really like beer can give it a try as well.

Well, if you really don't like beer, Paulaners of course served other alcholics drinks as well. Their selection is again not as wide as some pubs, but the drinks like cocktails came in rather larger-sized glass and tasted quite delicious! Drivers, their fruit juice cost $7 dollars.

Another main attraction of the pub is the live band performance. Noticed the large copper pot looking instrument in the background? It is their brewing instrument (not sure if it can be called an instrument). There is a small walk-way concrete platform surrounding it that makes an elevated narrow stage for performers. Not sure what is their name, but the songs they sings ranges from oldies to latest chart hits. You can make dedications if you have pen and paper.

I actually wrote a very long list for them that day and amazingly they covered quite a number of the songs. I did not manage to say to them then, but the performance was great and they sing very well! Thank you for the amazing performance!

Because it is New Year Eve, there are party pack too for each of the customers. There is mask, beeper and all sorts of sound making gadgets.


With so many materials on hand, Photosophize just had to show off how she decorated the plain black party hat! Taa Daa! Cool hor?

I must say their beer refreshing taste goes very well with the German pub food.

This time round, we ordered their sausage sampler plate (for 2 to 3 people) which had Spicy Chicken Sausage, Numberger Sausage (pork) and the Cheese Knuckles Sausage (pork). It is served on a bed of Sauerkraut.


This is the Spicy Chicken sausage. It is a rather lean sausage where one can still tasted the meat texture in it. Not really spicy on my opinion, but had a savoury taste.

Numberger sausage as seen above had been grilled till the casting burst. I had thought it would had a strong intense flavour compared to their two, but it is the mildest flavoured one among the three. I like the firm and "crispy" casting which snaps in every bite.

The last flavour - Cheese Knuckles happened to be my favourite among the three. I think it is very important for sausages to have a good casting as it can determine whether a sausage is good or not. Again, this one has a good casting. Most importantly for a cheese sausage, it was served still warm and you know that it is good when you can see the melted cheese squirt out when you sink the fork into it. Yummy!

I also love their sauerkraut. German traditionally served Sauerkraut (cabbage stewed with vinger)with rich food such as pork knuckles and sausages. The vingery taste of the sauerkraut cuts the oiliness in them. Though it is supposed to be sourish, but the taste is not too strong until it is stinging. In fact, the taste is rather mellow and nicely balanced.

Before the count down, we also witnessed an unexpected surprise. Someone proposed on stage. See pictures below. He got the band to invite them onto the stage on the pretext that they wanted to do a duet.

Then once up there, the guy suddenly went down on his knees...

It was quite interesting to witness a proposal. I have never seen one before. The crowd were cheering like mad for him. The sound was so deafening that we almost couldn't hear him pop the question. His girlfriend looked quite embarrassed, but I am guessing that she will never forget that day.

After kneeing for like half-a-day and asking the question once, the nervous guy realised that he forgot to take out his ring... Haha. Hmmm, I was wondering why the girlfriend did not smile... Haha.

Like in the movies, the girlfriend was so touched that she cried. She could not even mumbled out a yes and could only nob her head. So romantic... Congratulations to them and here's wishing them love and happiness always !!!

Soon after the romantic episode, it was time for countdown! The band sang the song - "Final Countdown" to usher in the New Year! Strangly, my friends and I copied what others did there - raising our beer mug and shouted "Yum Seng" in true Singapore style for blessing and good luck!

I hope it is not too late, but here's wishing everyone a Happy New Year and may you all have a joyful and lucky year ahead!!!

For more information on Paulaners, visit their website at :

http://www.paulaner.com.sg/

Last Moment of 2008

What came to your mind at the last moment of 2008? Excited that the new year is coming or sad that the year is slipping away into history? I hoped for a better year ahead!