Hooray for S'pore women!

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20090521-142853.html

AS DAWN broke over the Himalayas yesterday, three tired Singaporean women stepped on top of the world - and into the pages of Singapore's history books.

Natas Singapore Women's Everest Team members, pharmaceutical- product specialist Lee Li Hui, 27, copywriter Esther Tan, 26, and studentdevelopment officer Jane Lee, 25, were part of an international group which reached the top of Mount Everest between 3.45am and 4.53am yesterday, Nepal time (6am and 7.08am Singapore time).

The trio are the first Singapore women to reach the summit of the world's tallest peak, at 8,848m.

The three women who reached the summit are making their way down and are expected to reach Base Camp in two to three days. The team's initial push for the summit last week was foiled by bad weather.

The team then split into two so that they could have a higher chance of success.

Singaporeans my paper spoke to were proud about the women's achievement.

Over 10 posts on the team's Facebook page yesterday included comments like: "You are an inspiration to all of us" and "Well done for flying that flag for us!"

Youth worker Ian Wong, 32, told my paper: "It's a remarkable feat. Such displays of passion by Singaporeans are rare and worthy of celebration."

Lifestyle-programmes executive Gracie Ngoi, 26, who is also a friend of the team members, said: "It's very empowering for Singapore women. They show that we women are capable of achieving great things."

Fast Eaters GET FAT (dedicated to Jo)

(Taken from Reader's Digest Feb 2009 issue)

Eating slowly can help you slim down!

A study of more than 3000 Japanese adults published in the British Medical Journal found that those who ate their meals quickly were about twice as likely to be obese as their slow-munching counterparts.

People who ate quickly and who ate until they were full were three times more likely to be obese. The research supports previous evidence that people tend to consume more calories when they eat quickly, but also that eating quickly is linked to obesity regardless of how many calories are eaten.

Dr Elizabeth, an obesity expert from the University of New South Wales says research suggests people can lean to eat more slowly and recognise their internal cues for fullness.

Slowing your rate of eating allow your body to send fullness signals before you've overeaten.

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Kermit: It's true. When I was still in the university I had to feel that I'm FULL then I'll stop eating. That would mean I need a snack e.g. curry puff/ snack after my meal. Not surprising that I was at my heaviest during my university years.

Now I'm older and wiser. I just need to be QUITE FULL, I'll stop eating. As such I won't overeat & I can still nibble when I'm hungry. It's good practice because I won't feel SOOOOO sleepy after meal at work.

17 Again

Watched an interesting movie last week. I had thought it would be some brainless teen pop movie, but I was pleasantly surprised!

Kermit's Rating: 4 out of 5 stars!!! *Heartwarming & funny all at the same time!

Storyline: About a guy whose life didn't quite turn out how he wanted it to and wishes he could go back to high school and change it. He wakes up one day and is seventeen again and gets the chance to rewrite his life.

The movie got me thinking a little. Am I like that? Am surrounded by great people, family, friends. Fufilling job, wonderful relationships etc but still complaining.

I gotta see and appreciate more of the good things in my life than focus on that one teeny weeny discomfort!

Thanks be to God!

It's the only way I can get the kids to take notice!

OMG!!! This is so funny! :)

Then again, I really empathize with parents these days. With their children on "machines" e.g. PSP, computer, DS-lite, mobile phone etc etc... It's not easy to get their attention.

Children: Your parents wants to connect with you!!

Parents: Don't give up!!! Keep on engaging your kids! Look at the cartoon, that's the extent the guy took. All because he love his kids!!! When there is a will, there is a way!!!!

Storm Signals

Was reading something by Gordon MacDonald in "When Men Think Private Thoughts" & this portion I read was very meaningful & doesn't seem like something exclusive to guys so I'm going to share a little here. Hope it benefits you as it did me!

What Storm Signals Means (Alarm bells within self that signals trouble is brewing - do a check for yourself here)
1) Moods
- Watch out for bursts of anger, prolonged bouts of sadness & continuing feelings of irritation that goes beyond the normal.
- Are you overcome with intense sadness? Are you able to celebrate with someone in his success? Why do you see gloom & bleakness in every possibility?
- It would be good to reflect upon your changing moods & what they really mean. And it would have been the right moment for a courageous fren to step in & question you & your abnormal moods & behaviour.

2) Predominant thoughts
- Thoughts that are almost always out of control. Thoughts that emerge without warning.
- Why are these uninvited thoughts growing in frequency & variety? What is the underlying message?

3) A change in key relationships
- If I find myself jealous of other peoples whose fortunes have advanced beyond my own, if I begin to think of people competitively as better than or not as good as I am, etc etc, I am getting some fairly strong signals that something in my soul has gone sour...

4) Defensiveness
-We're dealing with storm signals when we react to difficult moments with defensiveness, complaining, or whining.
- I'm defensive when I resist any attempts to evaluate my work or my life - performance. I refuse to listen, to consider that anyone might offer a different outlook on what I'm doing or becoming. Thus, I become angry or make excuses or try to deflect the blame to someone else.
- Difficulty in listening to difficult news about self. You want to give one excuse after another. You spend more time trying to explain yourself than you do listening & asking where the point of truth might be. 5) Sleeplessness

- You're probably getting a storm signal when the body cries for sleep but the mind doesn't permit it to happen. It's time to ask why!

- If the quiet messages of the soul are resisted in the daytime hours, it is not unusual that the soul will speak more persistently in the night time.

Taking the time, the effort, the opening of the ear & eye to hear & watch the stomr signals that send their messages to us that something is wrong, that something needs correction, that something needs assistance. In so doing the hurricanes are tamed, & life goes on in greater fullness & maturity. ~ Gordon MacDonald

My latest toy

"The Samsung YP-S3 weighs under 2 ounces and measure 1.7 by 3.7 by 0.4 inches. The controls on the front of the player are backlit, touch-sensitive buttons that seem to disappear when not in use, an effect that Samsung has used before on some players but that's particularly cool here. The typical navigation arrows and Play/Pause/Enter button are complemented by a control that takes you back to the previous menu and the extra features button for various options, depending upon the menu you're navigating."

My big problem is I tend to tune the volume up to the "near max" sometimes. Not very healthy la.

It's coolz to have music to chill out now and then,. But I need to remind myself not to be a social recluse at the expense of enjoying music. In office, there are many times I didn't hear my colleagues calling me or saying goodbye as the phones are plugged in. Sorry, I'll remember to tune it down .....unless I'm really really REALLY STRESSED!!!! :)

Fooled by what we "see"!

Don't let the world define for you what is beauty. What you see to be real is really just a lie. "Fooled by what we "see"!

At the end of the day, be true to yourself. And not blindly follow what the world brainwashes you to believe. Else we'll end up just a sad final product of advertising lies.

Proverbs 31:30 (Contemporary English Version)
Charm can be deceiving, and beauty fades away, but a woman who honors the LORD deserves to be praised.

Merry & Blessed Christmas!

Merry & Blessed Christmas!

I sure miss you alot!

A whole new world

Prissy showed me this & I was really really wow by it! I'm really surprised at how wide a guy vocals can be stretched. My good fren ah fren jie also told me about this conductor that she saw in Penang who could hit various ranges!!!

Man....it's amazing! You gotta hear it to believe it! :)

I'm back!

Kermit is finally back!!!
Hetic days at work, a CCA camp, a church camp, a personal holiday!!!

I'm back to more writings!!! :)

I'm planning to start a book review blog soon perhaps. What ya think???

More than frens

Over two weekends I got to know a bunch of pplz better. Hey pplz, I actually enjoy spending time with u! :P But sometimes kinda caught up at work.... here's a post dedicated to u all!

Kermit is absolutely sure she wish to abide by cyber wellness practices.... so she's gonna apply some practical tips here.

Tip 1: Don't leave revealing info that allow others to track you

*See their eyes are hidden. Ahahhas

Tip 2: If you absolutely wish to upload pictures.... Use pictures without your frens in their school uniform

*See it's home clothes. And the picture is downsize so you cannot really really see their handsome & pretty faces well enough to track them. Ahahhas again

Back row from left: BubbleTeaMan, Joker, Gorgeous

Front row from left: FurList, EverSmart, LaLa, Kindheart

Tip 3: Use a neutral nickname that doesn't reveal your gender & age. Kermit had a fren with a really unique name that was tracked down by a pervert via Frenster simply by searching her name!!!! Horrors!

The back row nicknames were given by the "younger" pplz.

Tip 4: Downsize the picture!

Put it this way....No weirdo would want to transfer a small head unto a normal size naked body right! So it's a simple smart tip. Especially if you're gorgeous!!! :P

Thanks for the wonderful partnership & memories!

What Char Siew Rice taught me (Part 2)

Remember to scroll down & read from (Part 1) first!

Kermit: Simply translated-> Be bold to try & experiment, if you don't like, at least you walk away more experienced! Don't scared k!

What Char Siew Rice taught me (Part 1)

For you

*wink wink*

Don't mess with women

Reference from The Straits Time (online) 17 Oct 2008

LUCKNOW (India) - A WOMAN chopped the head off a man who allegedly tried to attack her and then paraded the head through a market in northern India, police said Friday.

Police arrested the woman late on Thursday after receiving calls from frightened witnesses who reported a blood-soaked woman holding a severed head was walking through the village.

The woman, 35, told police she had gone to a nearby forest to cut grass for fodder for her cattle when a man attacked her from behind.

'In a bid to save her dignity she beheaded him with a sickle,' Officer Bharose said, adding that the woman had bite marks on her neck and cheek.

The woman also told police that the man had been harassing and stalking her for three months and she had no regrets about killing him, he said, adding that she would probably be charged with culpable homicide.

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Kermit: Don't mess with women.... (On a serious note, she was desperate and did it out of self defence. Sigh....)

I'm NOT nose droppings!

(Picture taken with permission from historymaker. Check out his fabulous blog at www.historymaker20736.blogspot.com)

Caller : Hello, can I speak to Annie Wan (anyone)?
Operator : Yes, you can speak to me.
Caller : No, I want to speak to Annie Wan (anyone)!
Operator : You are talking to someone! Who is this?
Caller : I'm Sam Wan (Someone). And I need to talk to Annie Wan (anyone)! It's urgent.
Operator : I know you are someone and you want to talk to anyone! But what's this urgent matter about?
Caller : Well... just tell my sister Annie Wan (anyone) that our brother Noel Wan (no one)has involved in an accident. Noel Wan (no one)got injured and now Noel Wan (no one) is being sent to the hospital. Right now, Avery Wan (everyone) is on his way to the hospital.
Operator : Look if no one was injured and no one was sent to the hospital, then the accident isn't an urgent matter! You may find this hilarious but I don't have time for this!
Caller : You are so rude! Who are you?
Operator : I'm Saw Lee (Sorry).
Caller : Yes! You should be sorry. Now give me your name!!!======================================================
Choosing the right name is important!
Anne Chang => Dirty (Mandarin)
Anne Chin => Keep Quiet (Mandarin)
Faye Chen => Dusty (Mandarin)
Lucy Leow => You are dead (Hokkien)
Jane Tan => Frying eggs (Mandarin)
Suzie Leow => Lose till death (Hokkien)
Henry Mah => Hate your mum (Mandarin)
Corrine Tai => Poor fellow (Hokkien)
Paul Chan => Bankrupt (Mandarin)
Nelson Tan => Bird laying eggs (Mandarin)
Leslie Tong => Rubbish Bin (Mandarin)
Carmen Teng => Leg hair long (Hokkien)
Connie Mah => Call your mother (Cantonese)
Danny See => Squeeze you to death (Hokkien)
Rosie Teng => Screws and nails (Hokkien)
Pete Tsai => Nose droppings (Hokkien) [this is the one that tickled me most!!!!]
Macy Koh => Never die before (Cantonese)

**I think it's kinda funny! :) Do choose your kids names properly!
Btw Cynthia means "Reflector of Light"!!!

I am dying

I AM DYING.....

It's not too far to say that when you are hopeless, in despair, depressed.... Hopelessness Kills.


Quoting something which a wonderful friend smsed me:
"If we come to think or feel that we have nothing to hope for and can only expect things to get worse in the future, invevitably we grow depressed and to a certain degree, desperate... We may try to hide our condition, but the unfocused rage, fury and hatred of life that we feel, work like acid....dissolving all other feelings into purest bitterness.

Hopelessness is at the root of many of today's psychological disorders.... Our sense of self worth dissolves into self doubt, self-distrust and self-dislike; confidence is swallowed up in despair. (J.I.Packer)"

How scary. Hopelessness kills one softly... if you allow it. But I found a cure for it. H*O*P*E. Hope it perks you up again as it did me :)

What a Friend We Have In Jesus
What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear.
What a privilege to carry, everything to God in prayer.
Oh, what peace we often forfeit. Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry, Everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

When we come to the end of ourselves....perhaps that's truly when God can begin a NEW work in us.

John 12:24-26 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Date Rape (Part II)

After reading my post on date rape my wonderful malaysian joker (fren) shocked me with the update that there is worse drugs out there. They don't even spike your drink, just paste a celotape drug (think something like hansaplast) & you're GONE!!!!

Check out his original posting here. Or read my summarised version:

A friend and blogofluencer of mine recently blogged about some date rape drugs using a common drug family called Benzodiazepines, which are basically sedative drugs (KO drugs). Rohypnol is probably the most commonly used ones for spiking drinks.

But the latest news I've heard as an ex-raver and shuffler, is that there have been incidences of date rapes using this drug known as Scopolamine. Rohypnol is usually a small pill or powder or something foreign that's dumped into your drink.

So why is Scopolamine scary?

It's a drug in the form of a transdermal patch. Which means epidermical transfer. Which means the drug comes in the form of some small kinda celotape, they walk by you, brush your arm or something (whilst conveniently sticking the drug on your arm), and next thing you know, you wake up not knowing anything.

All date rape drugs induce anterograde amnesia, which is a cricitcal factor in date rapes because you wake up not having the foggiest idea of what happened. Scopolamine is scary because it's so hard to spot, usually a laced celotape or something. Rohypnol or other Benzo's are easier to spot because they come in pills or powders.

A friend of mine over msn just commented that the drug would take time to settle in. I agree. This makes Scopolamines all the more dangerous, because you would meet more people whilst waiting for the drug to settle in. Which means you'll be less likely to remember who your assailant was. o.O

So when you think clubbing or raving is cool and all that, make sure you know and understand and keep a look out for impending dangers. I've been in countless of situations where I've had to go and bail friends outta trouble because they were targets of psychos and perverts. One of the best things you can have is someone 113% reliable to count on. Especially in these cases.

But let me push this point further by saying abstain from clubbing. Save yourself the trouble (and others). Sure, an experience is an experience. But to be hooked onto the scene? You gotta be flogging me. There's so much I could say here, but the point is that... is it worth the danger you could possibly be getting into?

There's hundreds of scenarios. Fights, rapes, drugs, molest, filming, stalking, murder, robbery, etc. Even with the most reliable person on earth, you can still get into trouble. Especially when it comes hunting for you. Sure it's a big challenge, but only real people, with real fighting spirits will stand up for principles.

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Kermit: My contribution is really to HIGHLIGHT and WARN you innocent pplz out there that such drugs are around. So do be more more more and MORE careful when you're out! Don't assume that you're counscious and awake and can take care of yourself well. The pplz on the dark side is sometimes more sneaky, advanced, unscrupulous than we think.....

Who else know your panties colour?

I thought this is a wonderful post from EJ. Hey girls enough of me telling you all the time about short skirts and stuff....Hear it from a man himself!

A month ago, I had a rather traumatizing encounter while shopping at a shopping mall. This incident happened while I was traveling up on the escalator. Sited ahead of me, next to the step out point from the escalator, there was a shop brandished with perfumes and cosmetic products. What shocked me at that particular point was that one of the salesgirl, back facing the store entrance and wearing a mini flair skirt, was climbing up on a ladder and stocking up products in the cabinet. She was totally oblivious to the fact that in that position, she was going to almost let everyone around have a free upskirt show!

It didn't need to take supersonic senses for me to understand what was coming next if I were to continue staring for another 10 seconds. Instantaneously as this salesgirl started her climb up the ladder, I immediately turned my eyes away to look elsewhere. Phew! A huge sigh of relief.... (I will explain my point later in this post. Read on.)

Traumatized enough, I wasn't prepare to stay around to spot the "Ti-Ko-Pek"s whom may be drooling at this free view nor see if there were anyone whom would go and get this salesgirl down from the ladder. I zipped off to the next level and carried on with my shopping.

Gosh! What has happened to the dressing culture of the teenage girls of today? Aren't they worried of over (or indecent) exposure when they wear such short flair kind of skirts? Honestly, I have nothing against girls wearing skirt, but I just feel strongly that there's got to be a limit to how far this can go. There has been enough horror stories of molest cases and people using handphone cameras to capture upskirt pictures. I seriously think girls can go one step further to protect themselves by giving their mini-skirts a bit more cloth-lengthening.

To the Girls: Yes, you do have the free-will to wear anything you like. Yes, guys should learn to be more self-controlled and not have wandering eyes. But the truth is that you will do yourselves and the guys a huge favor by re-considering your approach the next time you want to wear those short skirts. You can take active measures to protect yourselves. Example: If you are wearing those mini-skirts, do use you handbags to block or get a friend to stand behind you while you travel up the escalators. and for goodness sake, girls please do not climb ladders when you are wearing skirts. I am sure there are plenty of gentlemen around whom can lend their muscles to help you. Honestly, we guys are all visually stimulated, that slight upskirt/buttline/over-fleshy exposure will trigger a lot of reaction through our mind.

Having said this, Girls, you do not need to wrap yourselves up like a dumpling. Either opt for longer length skirts or learn to take proper preventive measures. I am certain beauty and proper cover up can co-exist.

To the Guys: Now, be truthful and do not just bluntly shift all the blames to the girls. Let's also learn to exercise self-control and respect the ladies. Be alert at ALL times! And learn to turn your eyes away when you expect some of these exposure may come. If you have a girlfriend, learn to share this with your girlfriend and ask her to help give you warning signals! And sometimes if by accident you do catch a glimpse, just turn away and walk off. DO NOT allow yourself to be glued!

Some of you may say, "Wah.. but free show mah, why don't see? Anyway it's not harmful mah!" WRONG! Honestly, how is staring at upskirts of ladies different from watching pornography???? The end results and effects are the same - our values and moral standards towards sexuality becomes eroded! And some may end up becoming perverts whom take upskirt photos as their secret obsession!
So guys, be alert and stay clear!!!

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Kermit: Okies I shall come up with my gals version soon :)