801号房. . .内心深处的心声

As designers in this 21st century epoch, we are incessantly in acquaintance with metaphor. It is by and large that we are engaged with it knowingly or sub-consciously. At its most simple echelon, metaphor explains and describes the use of body knowledge and language about one’s concept to understand or even to comment on a different or another concept. Metaphors in design are particularly a powerful when used to understand a concept that we are foreign to, or a concept that appears unapproachable to us. Metaphor is also the expression of an understanding of one concept in terms of another concept, where there is some similarity or correlation between the two. A very good example will be Alberti conceived of the city “. . . no more than a House . . .” [1] In which he suggest that readers should conceive the House as a “little City”. He in addition invites his readers to visualize one thing of something else. He requested them to shift their concentration and to think of the dwelling as a city, conurbation and vice versa. In other words, he asks his readers to employ an allegory so that they could understand or acquire a better understanding on the metaphor he employs. Most of us carry out metaphoric acts firstly, whenever we are attempting to transfer references from one subject to another. Secondly, when we are making an effort to “catch a glimpse of” a particular subject or object, as if these subjects or objects are of something else. Lastly, we transfer the focus of our scrutiny from one area of concentration or from one inquiry into another. This is done in anticipation that by balancing or from beginning to end by addition we possibly will clarify our scrutiny of a subject matter in an innovative way. The subject here refers to either the concept or the object that we wish to transfer, “see” and displacement of our focus.

Another classis example of metaphor not related to design. The use of metaphor is the attempt to understand death and dying: in religious belief aside, there is no definitive explanation of what will happen to a person’s consciousness after death has been established. In this case consciousness is been define as soul, karma. However on a direct level, the majority of the people have no clear idea or understanding of this milestone. However on the contrary, most people do have a personal concept of what will happen at death, and this concept is usually based on metaphor.

Be it in design usage, language or other applications, metaphor are often been perceived as a trope. A trope[2] is the figurative use of an expression. Figurative language is a departure from what speakers of a particular language apprehend to be the standard meaning of words, or the standard order of words, in order to achieve some special meaning or effect.

At its most complex level, metaphor is considered a type of figurative language, specifically a trope or “figure of thought”. Figurative language[3] is typically divided into two classes, tropes, in which words and phrases are used in a way that effects a conspicuous change in what we take to be their standard meaning, and schemes [as distinct from schemas, see below], in which the departure from standard usage is not, primarily, in the meaning but in the order of the words. In a simile, a comparison between two distinctly different things is indicated by the word “like” or “as”. In a metaphor, a word or expression which in literal usage denotes one kind of thing or action is applied to a distinctly different kind of thing or action, without asserting a comparison. In metonymy, the literal term for one thing is applied to another with which it has become closely associated. In synecdoche, a part of something is used to signify the whole, or more rarely the whole is used to signify the part[4].

Metaphor is a powerful tool for understand concept, social, political, geographical and programmatic context. A simple metaphor can evoke a broad array of elements that will affect our way of thinking. And it is with this we can accomplish this evocation of understanding metaphor with a slight hint. It is with this slight hint or the simplest element; we develop a better understanding on the concept of employing metaphor. Along with this conception, we can swell into a structure of elements and relationships.

Schemas and simile are powerful because they are ways of organizing characteristics, information, relationships, and things into recognizable and manipulate-able structures. Schemas help us apply meaning to concepts. Metaphors are powerful because they provide shortcuts to concepts — sometimes a single word can call to mind a broad and complicated topic — and provide ways to hash out meanings for less understood concepts. And this can only be approached through metaphor. Thus by doing so, we can use it on conceptual development. It is perhaps; the best substantiation on the strength of metaphor application, schema and simile is pretty straightforward and simple. To the same degree, we use it unconsciously for the most part of design concept development. As designers, we are constantly using metaphors, schemas and similes to generate a better understanding on the concept.

Metaphor, been a very powerful channel, it is more useful to the creator than to the users or critics. It is in reality; the best applied or employed metaphor and its practices cannot be revealed by users or critics. In these cases, metaphors are been classified as “little secrets[5]”. Again the power of metaphor can be consider as a core structure of imagination. This means that metaphoric channel can be very useful and beneficial to whoever uses it or created it. This procedure allows us a vast amount of opportunities to see a contemplated work in another perspective. This will compel us to probe for new sets of questions and come up with new interpretations. This will allow the mind to transit into a previously unknown aspect of territories. The use of such metaphoric acts can be universal. However, this does not mean that everybody finds it easy to understand, and let alone use it. For those who use it, they can be known as devotees of these metaphor applications. These people are often grateful to the vast horizons open up to them. Metaphor can be useful and helpful in achieving the “new” elements and concepts in points of building, designing and conceptual development. The overall organization can be seen as more expressive in terms of its contents. Through metaphor, especially when it is approached with the technique of displacement of concepts, (Schon 1963, 1967), one may apply the knowledge and interpretations already understood for the case of the named item of displacement[6]. This may be object, subject, a situation or another art.

Metaphor can be grouped into several categories. They can be grouped into Intangible, Tangible and Combined. In intangible metaphors, these are which the metaphoric departure for the creation is a concept, an idea, a human condition or particular qualities. Particular qualities can be listed as individuality, naturalness, community, tradition and culture. In tangible metaphors, these are the metaphoric departure stems strictly from some visual or material character. This can be a house as a castle, the roof of the temple as the sky. In combined metaphors, these are the conceptual and the visual overlap as the main ingredients of the point of departure and the visual is the excuse to detect the virtues, the qualities, and the fundamentals of the particular visual container. This can be the computer, the beehive, both being “boxes” of relevant proportions, yet having the qualities of discipline, organization and cooperation[7].

These categories of metaphors have been employed by architects and have experienced a varying extent of triumph. These examples can be found in the 20^th century. Some of the major movements in architecture of this century have been identified by the metaphors they employed. For example, “The machine was the metaphor of the Modern Movement; the ruin has been attributed as the metaphor[8]”. Other branches or schools also applied these metaphors as their basis for inspirational departures. Alvar Alto, one of the foremost Finnish architects of the century, whom based on the usage of insubstantial allegory, developed metaphoric acts based on the hypothesis of individuality, naturalness, community and so on. These actions allow us to produce buildings based on the insubstantial metaphor of humanity, which is perhaps the most greatest of all metaphors. Many of the developments envisage as metaphors often display problems of scale. This is maybe owing to the fact that metaphors have a tendency to produce aphoristic, utopian, universalized[9] results, in spite of the initial good intentions of the originators.

In Japan, the architects there are great devotees of metaphor applications. It was said that these architects have long favoured metaphor. Some of these recent best architects who have used or employ metaphors are, Arata Isozaki, Kazuhiro Ishii, Minoru Takeyama, Kazuo Shinohara and Kisho Kurokawa. These architects remedy metaphors as a source for inspirations. Take Arata Isozaki for instance, he is one of the most poetic and prolific architect and writer of theoretical essays. He was given the priority to metaphors as a connotation to architectural creations. Although many of his works became as a literal interpretation, in which one of it, a club house building which looks like a question mark. The departure of his creative quest is usually metaphoric. His critical sense of the architecture of his peers is also at its best when he uses metaphoric screening.

To most of us practicing design, architects or designers alike, may not out of necessity have to have all these metaphors in mind. Well, it is after all how we interpret them. It is us who uses these metaphoric interpretations for our own creative design purposes. We require further reading, study and contemplation to understand the suggested metaphors and to draw our own personal conclusions. We on our part should be receptive to the widely accepted metaphoric interpretations that have come to us in forms of history, tradition, culture, political, nature, geometric and geographical representations because only through their acceptance, then will we be able to build for and within the intellectual context of a particular community and its people.

In metaphor, design benefited from it. One of the famous town planning concepts, the Finger Plan for Copenhagen[10], was based on a metaphor. It was based in a metaphor of a great hand resting over that city[11]. In 1947, that great hand has guided Copenhagen[12] developments into a merchant harbour, after which the city was named. It sits in the palm of a guiding hand. The fingers pointed ways to new development. Power lines, telecom lines and mass rapid transit lines follow the bones, arteries, veins and the nerves of the fingers. Between those fingers, we found the green land of Demark, Holland. Copenhagen was made into a garden city but the hand itself, urban development was grey by itself. Geometrical metaphors have been playing an imperative responsibility in the city planning and regional improvement. Town or Urban Planners often seek to speak of the grid cities[13], radical cities and even organic cities. It is through these spatial patterns that these characteristics convert Copenhagen into a city with green heart. The lower part of Holland has been seen as a ring city. The corridors were seemed as haulage passageways as well as expansion poles. The benefit of these metaphors arises from the assistance they presented to the planners in thinking about huge and obscured issues. Dis-benefits are capable of take place when concerns are becoming over-simplified. A city should be so much more than a street pattern; surrounding countryside should be so much more than a “green’ belt. Road plans do not show the city structure: they show one of many structures.

Some interesting metaphors create more popular buildings. Le Corbusier’s chapel at Ronchamp can be perceived as a crab, a duck, a hand, a hat and much else. Utzon’s Sydney Opera House can be seen as shells, a flower, or sails. The soaring curves of Saarinen’s TWA terminal in New York symbolize flight. The Archigram building concepts of the 1960s were described as pods. There is something in common; these buildings were curvilinear in designs. Curves “carry’ ideas from the natural world. Rectilinear is a metaphor for intellectualism and the works of man. Geometric can be used as a metaphor too.

Kisho Kurokawa[14], born April 8, 1934 is a well-known Japanese architect and one of the founders of the Metabolist Movement. Born in Nagoya, Aichi, Kurokawa studied at Kyoto University, graduating with a bachelor’s degree from the Department of Architecture in 1957. He continued his studies at Tokyo University School of Architecture under the guidance of Tange Kenzo, achieving a master’s degree in 1959 and a doctoral degree in 1964. Together with some colleagues, he founded the Metabolist Movement in 1960; its members were known as Metabolists. It was a radical Japanese avant-garde movement pursuing the merging and recycling of architecture styles around an Asian philosophy. The movement was very successful, peaking when its members received praise for the Takara Beautillion at the Osaka World Expo 1970. The group broke up shortly thereafter. Kurokawa has a daughter from his first marriage, who works as a landscape architect. His second marriage is to Ayako Wakao, an actress with some notable films in the 1950s and 1960s. Kurokawa’s younger brother works in industrial design, but has also cooperated with Kurokawa on some architecture projects. Kurokawa is the founder and President of Kisho Kurokawa Architect & Associates, established on 8 April 1962. The company has its head office in Tokyo, and branch offices in Osaka, Nagoya, Astana, Kuala Lumpur and Beijing. The company is registered with the Japanese Government as a First Class Architects Office.

In 1960, at the age of 26, he made his debut into the world as one of the founders of the Metabolism Movement. Since then, he has been advocating the paradigm shift from the Age of Machine Principle to the Age of Life Principle. Concept he advocated such as Symbiosis, Metabolism, Information, Recycle, Ecology, Intermediate Space, Fractal, etc. are all important concept based on Life Principle. His publication includes “Urban Design”, “Homo Movens“, “Thesis on Architecture I and II”, “The Era of Nomad”, “Philosophy of Symbiosis”, “Hanasuki”, “Poems of Architecture”, “Kisho Kurokawa Note”, and “Revolution of City”[15]. “Philosophy of Symbiosis”, which was awarded the Japan Grand Prix of Literature, was first published in 1987 and was revised in 1991. The book “Philosophy of Symbiosis” was translated into English and was cited Excellence from the AIA in 1992. His major works in Japan are the National Ethnological Museum, the National Bunraku Theater, Nagoya City Art Museum, Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of Modern Art, Wakayama,1994 Ehime Prefecture Museum of General Science, Osaka International Convention Center (Grand Cube Osaka), Oita Stadium, Toyota Stadium; his major works abroad are the Japanese-German Centre of Berlin in Germany, the Chinese-Japanese Youth Center in Beijing, China, Melbourne Central in Australia, and Pacific Tower in Paris, France, Republic Plaza, Singapore, the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, and 1999 New Wing of the Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam. His recent works include: The Japanese Nursing Association Building, The National Art Center, Tokyo, which will open in 2006, the Zhengdong New City of 1.5million for the Zhengzhou City, China, New Kunming Airport City, China, International Financial Center, Chunking, China, Maggie’s Centre, England and Tea house and Japanese Garden of Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, U.S.A.

The School of Metabolist Architecture[16] was started in the late 1959, where a group of Japanese Architects and city planners came together and form the Metabolist Group. Their forethought for a city of the near forthcoming to be inhabited by mass civilization was to be characterised by a large scale, flexible and extendable structures that could enable an organic growth process. In their view the traditional laws of form and function were obsolete. They were strong believers on the laws of space and functional transformation that held the future for the city and culture.

Famous projects include the floating city in the sea (Unabara project)[17], K. Kikutake’s tower city, the wall city, the agricultural city and the ‘Helix City‘ by Kisho Kurokawa.

Kiyonori Kikutake

 Over the last 4 decades, Kisho Kurokawa had created architectures that have attempted to challenge the Machine Age and have moved towards the age of the Life. The key concepts of his principles are metabolism and symbiosis. These 2 words are chosen by him with intention. His works are constantly revolving around these concepts. He fiddles with the forms, styles and materials in his designs. This is done in accordance with the weather, program, cultural identity and the geographical of the given project. He felt that architecture is slowly moving away from the World of Machine and is opening up to the world with a dialogue[18].

Take his work on the Sony Tower in Osaka, Japan, 1973, was designed as a solid showroom for Sony Electronics. From the beginning, Sony Tower was planned to be a real-time, on-line “information tree”, connecting other Sony Towers in New York, London, Paris and other major cities by satellite. Along the outside of the central display space, the stairs, elevator, escalator, and toilet are capsulated. The capsules are the same size as those of the Nakagin Capsule Tower, but the exterior is made of stainless steel. To connect the basement to the public parking lot, the utility rooms are all placed on the roof. The utility pipes are exposed, also like those of the Nakagin Tower, to facilitate the maintenance and recycling of the pipes. The Sony Tower is another prototypical example of sustainable architecture.

Metamorphosis ’65 designed in the 1961, was a radius expansion of large cities that has reached the limit of structural growth. The linear structure of network city must be constructed to reform the radius pattern of urban structure with its single-cell type public and service centres located in the heart of the city. Shrinking stage of cities of matured countries need to reconstruct urban area, to make a compact linear network city. In the linear city, nature and urban life are in parallel, there is no city centre and there is considerable growth potential. Super high-rise building will be designed freely on fractal surface, along with land surface and land form.

Another example would be the Fukui Prefecture Museum of Dinosaurs, 2000. Japan’s first dinosaur museum and research centre is located in Katsuyama City, the largest excavation site of prehistoric remains in Japan. Visitors first enter the museum by taking an escalator from the ground floor, and are then guided through a display of fossils still embedded in rock, and then, quite suddenly, enter an enormous exhibition hall. Because the display path opens up into a gigantic space, one can understand their place in the museum. A series of egg shaped pavilions tantalise the imagination with images of a giant dinosaur egg. This understanding of place creates a space for the visitor to take part in the display, allowing it to be an interactive experience and was placed as though buried in the centre of the topography; the abstract rotated ellipse shape of the research section stands out.

Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art, 1989 was located on the top of Hijiyama Mountain, it is the first art museum built in Japan after the war. The circular space at the centre of the architecture is intentionally empty, the cut notch indicating the direction where the atomic bomb was dropped. The stones beneath the columns are those exposed to the bomb. The left side of the central circular space houses the museum’s permanent collection, and the right side hosts the special exhibitions. The many gabled roofs come together as an entity like that of a village, the symbiosis between part and whole.

In summary, the metaphoric conduit, to design and architectural creativity that analysis the buildings and concepts as if they were something else about what the designers or the architects should have a specific erudition and channel that is treated with an elementary and systematic manner. The metaphoric channel has been one of the largely fashionable during the contemporary years and has been well-received due to its theoretical handling at this juncture by radiating a precision in the definitions, categorisations and even right down to the weighing of the various factors of metaphoric practice for design purposes, addressing and discussing the use of metaphors by individual designers and architects. Lastly, attention is also required while focusing on the issue of factual vs. metaphoric fundamental, as this is crucial for its appropriate use of metaphor under any creative circumstances.

[1] As Aiberti observes “conceive of the City” (Poetics of Architecture: Theory of Design 1992 : 29)
[2] Lakoff, George. 1987. Women, fire, and dangerous things: What categories reveal about the mind. Chicago: University of Chicago.
[3] Johnson, Mark. 1981b. “Introduction: Metaphor in the philosophical tradition.” In Johnson 1981a 3–47.
[4] Johnson, Mark Ed. 1981a.Philosophical perspectives on metaphor. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota.
[5] As Anthony C. Antoniades A observes “little secrets” (Poetics of Architecture: Theory of Design 1992 : 30)
[6] Poetics of Architecture: Theory of Design 1992 : 30
[7] Poetics of Architecture: Theory of Design 1992 : 31, 32
[8] As Anthony C. Antoniades A observes “The machine was the metaphor of the Modern Movement” (Poetics of Architecture: Theory of Design 1992 : 30)
[9] As Anthony C. Antoniades A observes “a tendency to produce aphoristic, utopian, universalized . . .” (Poetics of Architecture: Theory of Design 1992 : 34)
[10] Extracted from http://www.copcap.com/composite-8109.htm
[11] Extracted from http://www.inro.tno.nl/transland/Copenhagen.html
[12] Reference from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Copenhagen
[13] As Aiberti observes “conceive of the City” (Poetics of Architecture: Theory of Design 1992 : 29)
[14] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kisho_Kurokawa
[15] Kisho Kurokawa Architects & Associates: The Philosophy of Symbiosis From the Age of the Machine to the Age of Life
[16] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metabolist_Movement
[17] http://www.kikutake.co.jp/e/top/top.html
[17] Kisho Kurokawa Architects & Associates: The Philosophy of Symbiosis From the Age of the Machine to the Age of Life

I was going through some websites from China. And something struck me. I recalled there was the recent China singing competition, a version of the American Idols. It took me quite a while to recall the title of the show. 超级女声 总决选, in my collective memories, Taiwan and Chinese media was reporting the craze generated by this phenomenon. Apparently, in China, if my memory have not failed me, the people in China were crazy about their idols. Well, one of them caught my attention. It is not the fact that she’s pretty. Yes I must agree that she is pretty. She’s sweet looking. She has that beauty that resembles those beauties from Ancient China.

She is none other than张靓颖. Well, it’s her voice that captivates me. I was wow! How someone could has such a sweet voice and a voice that projects beautifully and is able to project the voice of the late Taiwanese singer Teresa Teng. Wow! Amazing! Simply Amazing!

Though I’m still trying to find out more of her singing talent, I happen to chance upon her blog, which I guess, I should share with you.

China is really a huge nation, with vast amount of land, and let alone, talent. That is why the reason, people keep on saying, “Watch out! The sleeping dragon awaken!”. Hm…interesting . . .

 
Shots from her Album
Guess have to stop here now . . .still have to rush for a paper for submission. Writing 3000 words really kill me! Hahaha . . .

The 29 Healthiest Food Identify so far . . .

 The following is a “healthy food hot list” consisting of the 29 food that will give you the biggest nutritional bang for you caloric buck, as well as decrease your risk for deadly illnesses like cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Along with each description is a suggestion as to how to incorporate these power-foods into your diet.

APRICOTS
The Power:  Beta-carotene, which helps prevent free-radical damage and protect the eyes. The body also turns beta-carotene into vitamin A, which may help ward off some cancers, especially of the skin. One apricot has 17 calories, 0 fat, 1 gram of fiber. Snacks on them dried, or if you prefer fresh, buy when still firm; once they soften, they lose nutrients. 

AVOCADOS

The Power:  Oleic acid, an unsaturated fat that helps lower overall cholesterol and raise levels of HDL, plus a good dose of fiber. One slice has 81 calories, 8 grams of fat and 3 grams of fiber. Try a few slices instead of mayonnaise to dress up your next burger.

RASPBERRIES
The Power:  Ellagic acid, which helps stall cancer-cell growth. These berries are also packed with vitamin C and are high in fiber, which helps prevent high cholesterol and heart disease. A cup has only 60 calories, 1 gram of fat and 8 grams of fiber. Top plain low-fat yogurt or oatmeal (another high fiber food) with fresh berries.

MANGO
The Power:  A medium mango packs 57mg of vitamin C, almost your whole-recommended daily dose. This antioxidant helps prevent arthritis and boosts wound healing and your immune system. Mangoes also boast more than 8,000 IU of vitamin A (as beta-carotene). One mango has 135 calories, 1 gram of fat and 4 grams of fiber. Cut on up and serve it over leafy greens. Bonus: Your salad will taste like dessert!

CANTALOUPE
The Power:  Vitamin C (117mg in half a melon, almost twice the recommended daily dose) and beta-carotene – both powerful antioxidants that help protect cells from free-radical damage. Plus, half a melon has 853mg of potassium – almost twice as much as a banana, which helps lower blood pressure. Half a melon has 97 calories, 1 gram of fat and 2 grams of fiber. Cut into cubes and freeze, then blend into an icy smoothie.

CRANBERRY JUICE
The Power:  Helps fight bladder infections by preventing harmful bacteria from growing. A cup has 144 calories, 0 grams of fat and 0 fiber. Buy 100 percent juice concentrate and use it to spice up your daily H20 without adding sugar.

TOMATO
The Power:  Lycopene, one of the strongest carotenoids, acts as an antioxidant. Research shows that tomatoes may cut the risk of bladder, stomach and colon cancers in half if eaten daily. A tomato has 26 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Drizzle fresh slices with olive oil, because lycopene is best absorbed when eaten with a little fat.

RAISINS
The Power:  These little gems are a great source of iron, which helps the blood transport oxygen and which many women are short on. A half-cup has 218 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Sprinkle raisins on your morning oatmeal or bran cereal – women, consider this especially during your period.

FIGS
The Power:  A good source of potassium and fiber, figs also contain vitamin B6, which is responsible for producing mood-boosting serotonin, lowering cholesterol and preventing water retention. The Pill depletes B6, so if you use this method of birth control, make sure to get extra B6 in your diet. One fig has 37 to 48 calories, 0 fat and 2 grams of fiber. (Cookie lovers – fig bars have around 56 calories, 1 gram of fat and 1 gram of fiber per cookie). Fresh figs are delicious simmered alongside a pork tenderloin and the dried variety make a great portable gym snack.

LEMONS/LIMES
The Power:  Limonene, furocoumarins and vitamin C, all of which help prevent cancer. A wedge has 2 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Buy a few of each and squeeze over salads, fish, beans and vegetables for fat free flavor.

ONIONS
The Power:  Quercetin is one of the most powerful flavonoids (natural plant antioxidants). Studies show it helps protect against cancer. A cup (chopped) has 61 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Chop onions for the maximum phyto-nutrient boost, or if you hate to cry, roast them with a little olive oil and serve with rice or other vegetables.

ARTICHOKES
The Power:  These odd-looking vegetables contain silymarin, an antioxidant that helps prevent skin cancer, plus fiber to help control cholesterol. One medium artichoke has 60 calories, 0 fat and 7 grams of fiber. Steam over boiling water for 30 to 40 minutes. Squeeze lemon juice on top, then pluck the leaves off with your fingers and use your teeth to scrape off the rich-tasting skin. When you get to the heart, you have found the best part!

GINGER
The Power:  Gingerols may help reduce queasiness; other compounds may help ward off migraines and arthritis pain by blocking inflammation-causing prostaglandins. A teaspoon of fresh gingerroot has only 1 calorie, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Peel the tough brown skin and slice or grate into a stir-fry.

BROCCOLI
The Power:  Indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane, which help protect against breast cancer. Broccoli also has lots of vitamin C and beta-carotene. One cup (chopped) has 25 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Don’t overcook broccoli – instead, microwave or steam lightly to preserve phytonutrients. Squeeze fresh lemon on top for a zesty and taste, added nutrients and some vitamin C.

SPINACH
The Power:  Lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids that help fend off macular degeneration, a major cause of blindness in older people. Plus, studies show this green fountain of youth may help reverse some signs of aging. One cup has 7 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Add raw leaves to a salad or sauté with a little olive oil and garlic.

BOK CHOY (CHINESE CABBAGE)
The Power:  Brassinin, which some research suggests may help prevent breast tumors, plus indoles and isothiocyanates, which lower levels of estrogen, make this vegetable a double-barreled weapon against breast cancer. A cup will also give you 158mg of calcium (16 percent of your daily recommended requirement) to help beat osteoporosis. A cup (cooked) has 20 calories, 0 fat and 3 grams of fiber. Find it in your grocer’s produce section or an Asian market. Slice the greens and juicy white stalks, then sauté like spinach or toss into a stir-fry just before serving.

SQUASH (BUTTERNUT, PUMPKIN, ACORN)
The Power:  Winter squash has huge amounts of vitamin C and beta-carotene, which may help protect against endometrial cancer. One cup (cooked) has 80 calories, 1 gram of fat and 6 grams of fiber. Cut on in half, scoop out the seeds and bake or microwave until soft, then dust with cinnamon.

WATERCRESS AND ARUGULA
The Power:  Phenethyl isothiocyanate, which, along with beta-carotene and vitamins C and E, may help keep cancer cells at bay. One cup has around 4 calories, 0 fat and 1 gram of fiber. Do not cook these leafy greens; instead, use them to garnish a sandwich or add a pungent, peppery taste to salad.

GARLIC
The Power:  The sulfur compounds that give garlic its pungent flavor can also lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, lower blood pressure and even reduce your risk of stomach and colon cancer. A clove has 4 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber. Bake a whole head for 15 to 20 minutes, until soft and sweet and spread on bread instead of butter.

QUINOA
The Power:  A half cup of cooked quinoa has 5 grams of protein, more than any other grain, plus iron, riboflavin and magnesium. A half-cup has 318 calories, 5 grams of fat and 5 grams of fiber. Add to soup for a protein boost. Rinse first, or it will taste bitter.

WHEAT GERM
The Power:  A tablespoon gives you about 7 percent of your daily magnesium, which helps prevent muscle cramps; it is also a good source of vitamin E. One tablespoon has 27 calories, 1 gram of fat and 1 gram of fiber. Sprinkle some over yogurt, fruit or cereal.

LENTILS
The Power:  Isoflavones, which may inhibit estrogen-promoted breast cancers, plus fiber for heart health and an impressive 9 grams of protein per half cup. A half-cup (cooked) has 115 calories, 0 fat and 8 grams of fiber. Isoflavones hold up through processing, so buy lentils canned, dried or already in soup. Take them to work, and you will have a protein packed lunch.

PEANUTS
The Power:  Studies show that peanuts or other nuts (which contain mostly unsaturated “good” fat) can lower your heart-disease risk by over 20 percent. One ounce has 166 calories, 14 grams of fat and 2 grams of fiber. Keep a packet in your briefcase, gym bag or purse for a protein-packed post-workout nosh or an afternoon pick me up that will satisfy you until supper, or chop a few into a stir-fry for a Thai accent.

PINTO BEANS
The Power:  A half cup has more than 25 percent of your daily requirement of folate, which helps protect against heart disease and reduces the risk of birth defects. A half-cup (canned) has 103 calories, 1 gram of fat and 6 grams of fiber. Drain a can, rinse and toss into a pot of vegetarian chili.

LOW FAT YOGURT
The Power:  Bacteria in active-culture yogurt helps prevent yeast infections; calcium strengthens bones. A cup has 155 calories, 4 grams of fat, 0 grams of fiber. Get the plain kind and mix in your own fruit to keep calories and sugar down. If you are lactose intolerant, never fear – yogurt should not bother your tummy.

SKIM MILK
The Power:  Riboflavin (a.k.a. vitamin B2) is important for good vision and along with vitamin A might help improve eczema and allergies. Plus, you get calcium and vitamin D, too. One cup has 86 calories, 0 fat and 0 fiber. If you are used to high fat milk, don’t go cold turkey; instead, mix the two together at first. Trust this fact: In a week or two you won’t miss it!

SHELLFISH (CLAMS, MUSSELS)
The Power:  Vitamin B12 to support nerve and brain function, plus iron and hard-to-get minerals like magnesium and potassium. Three ounces has 126 to 146 calories, 2 to 4 grams of fat and 0 fiber. Try a bowl of tomato-based (and low fat) Manhattan clam chowder.

SALMON
The Power:  Cold-water fish like salmon, mackerel and tuna are the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce the risk of cardiac disease. A 3-ounce portion (cooked) has 127 calories, 4 grams of fat, 0 fiber. Brush fillets with ginger-soy marinade and grill or broil until fish flakes easily with a fork.

CRAB
The Power:  A great source of vitamin B12 and immunity-boosting zinc. A 3-ounce portion has 84 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0 fiber. The “crab” in sushi is usually made from fish; buy it canned instead and make your own crab cakes.

“Anyway, have been busy ever since I last blogged!!! Have tons of submission due in a week’s time… have lots to do!!! Gosh… thought it was a bloody 12 months course BUT it was NOT… it was only a 9 months course… damn!!!”

Extracted from raining day

Yeah, it’s that period of the month for me. No, please do not be mistaken. This once a month thingy is our formative assessment. Yeah, that’s me at 7am this morning! Bloody, with lots of stuffs to do and worst of all, some idiot is pushing or worst still denying whatever he mentioned to my class.  Sometimes, I wish that there’s only 1 module to kill and that is enough! Studio, yeah, studio is the one that is enough to kill. I don’t mind do up the other module provided, I’m given the royal creed from the emperor himself that I can stop going for Tuesday Morning lesson!
Look!! She’s so . . . HARDWORKING . . .! Makes me don’t’ want to slack anymore!! Hahaha…Impossible, I tell you. I bet Jo wish the same too,NO MORE TUESDAY MORNING CLASS!

On the night where it reaches pass 100 on the PSI. Finally! Yes! The hazy days are finally over! Sometimes, I really wonder why the local government of this nation or states, wouldn’t want to put in effort to derive a method to educate its people on the harm of clearing land by burning! Is it because of that land is too huge for one government to control? Or is the local government too corrupted?

Taken today @ 0725hrs

I can see parts of JB!!

Well, honestly speaking, the haze is killing me; I can’t breathe well, and keep on having dry throat. And now it’s finally over! I love rainy season, it reminds me of the falls and winter! Hehehe…I LOVE chilly weather!

Alright, I think that’s enough for now. Got to sit down and write my paper whilst preparing for appointment this evening.

See ya!

女儿情
词:杨洁
曲:许镜清
唱:吴静
鸳鸯双栖蝶双飞,
满园春色惹人醉.
悄悄问圣僧,
女儿美不美,女儿美不美.
说什么王权富贵,
怕什么戒律清规.
只愿天长地久,
与我意中人儿紧相随.
爱恋伊,爱恋伊,
愿今生常相随.
愿今生常相随,常相随.
___________________________________________________________________________
我无意中在游览网站时发现了这首歌曲<<女儿情>>。记忆中这首歌是1980年代剧情<<西游记>>的插曲。当时我还记得<<西游记>>这部电视剧由小说改编的神话故事，风靡一时。

<<西游记>> 中的<<女儿国>>中的剧情照

成为家喻户晓饭后必看得连续剧。而这首歌在我脑海里留下许多深刻的影响。这首歌德演唱者是来之中国的吴静。她那柔美情韵的歌声把这首歌所要表达的那份发自内心仰慕爱人的心情，可是被对方拒绝的那份伤感。

演唱者：吴静

吴静在中国内地的近照

好可惜，这部连续剧以好久没在本地上映了。我想就算真的上映了，现在的孩子们大多半是不会静静地坐下来去欣赏的。他们只求看得是偶像剧，而多半的偶像剧，我个人认为有些的故事内容好没意思，看了也是多半在浪费时间和精神。您说是吗？

I was browsing through the shelves and this book caught my eyes. Finally I found it! Justin Quek’s Passion & Inspiration. What a find on a public holiday!

Gosh, you can say that I’m hungry or what! The moment I flipped through this volume, I was already slobbering! Thank goodness, the book’s still clean! Save the book! It is just the right time! It is the time that Justin’s hard works are all paid off. Consider the entire long wait from his fans! Let me tell you, what a guy Justin is! Consider of the philosophy that Justin whip up with the rich visual content of his creations. Set aside the aroma and the heavenly taste of his cooking skills. These are just the perfect combination that I call it PERFECT!!!

Monday, October 23, 2006

lost and FOUND!

It’s a little after 10pm on Monday and I’m very, very happy to report that Alix has been found, picked up, showered and is happily snoozing away.

I’d like to send out huge thanks to all the people who posted very kind and sympathetic comments, who emailed me during the day, and all the bloggers who put up notices on their own sites. Your support was amazing and it really touched both S and me.

Even bigger thanks go to Andy, the ultimate kind samaritan. This very nice guy saw our crazy little gal trying to cross Siglap Road last night. He rescued her and gave her a safe place to spend the night. Andy, thank you so very much!

Isn’t it a piece of great news that Alix’s found? Thanks to the lad @ Siglap.

extracted from http://chubbyhubby.net/

Monday, October 23, 2006

Help. Our dog has gone missing!

I’m typing this from Perth, where my wife and I have been the last few days. Last night, we got some horrible news. Our younger dog Alix (pictured here) has gone missing. She was staying a friend’s house while we were away. During a walk near Telok Kurau Lorong M, she got spooked by a stupid little boy on a bicycle (who almost ran into her), got loose and ran off. She was last seen running towards the canal that runs adjacent to Lorong M.

PLEASE, please, if you have seen her or have any information on her, my wife and I would be eternally grateful. Alix is a 3 year old Golden Retriever. She’s very small (much smaller than normal) with a short coat. She doesn’t bark (ever) and is overly friendly. She’s wearing a yellow collar with an AVA tag on it. S and I are very willing to give a small reward to anyone who helps us find her.

Please email me at aun@chubbyhubby.net if you have seen her or have found her. Also, I would be very grateful if you could ask friends who live in the East to keep their eyes out for her. She means the world to us.

Hey guys, for those of you who have read this, please help S and her hubby look for their beloved Alix.

extracted from http://chubbyhubby.net/ 

阅读完BaeyYam的文章之后，让我回想起我在的圣保罗天主教堂旁边的公教中学旧址 求学时的回忆。我记得我是在1999年的莫一天踏进这所据有风味的建筑，是我在南洋艺术学院的求学时期。那古老的建筑是陪伴我度过我那漫长的南艺一年纪。我还记得，每当在那儿上课时，我都会觉得那温柔慈祥的建筑正在看护着我们这些生生学子。教导我们一名设计师与画家所要俱备的基本功夫。这公教中学旧址，也就成为了南艺的总校舍。我还记得很清楚，校长何家良博士每天都会定时间的来回校舍，与学生聊天，了解了我们的难题，并尽他所本能来帮我们解决难题。何家良先生，在我记忆力中很深刻。他还具备了1970年代的国会议员的风范。时时刻刻的与选民接触了解他们的难题。到现在，我还记得，在2000年，我国欢庆国家生日时，他为了不让我们饿坏肚子，特地卖了好多好多的面包和冷饮给我们充饥解渴。当时，又累又渴的我们好感动，十分感激他那份关怀。就这样，我们干得更加起劲，在热空下卖力的干活，一点怨言也没有。大夥儿干十分开心！

就在我就读南艺二年纪时，我渐渐的远离这久校舍。心中有好多的不舍。渐渐的给我就这样的度过了我在南艺的三年。到了英国深造主修设计荣誉学位。我在2003年，考取了二上的荣誉学位归国。就这样的慢慢的与那据有风味的公教中学建筑疏远了。

就在今年的六月，与我多年没联系的中学教师联络上了。她说我母校得知了我正在修读硕士学位，主修设计哲学，并在母校校长的邀请下，以一名校友的身份回归母校。我还记得，我在2001年2002年期间回到母校参与艺术与美术的教学。也并从2000至2002年期间担任了母校的庆典设计师。事隔了3年，现在我又回到了母校服务，报答老师的教育之恩。可想而知，文殊中学的校规是多么的提倡孝道。就读华校的我可说是对它的敬意有多深阿。可是在，母校建校24年校庆时，我反复回到了一个陌生的环境。一个让我探索这我那熟悉的回忆。唯一让我感到熟悉的是那池塘。离开了文殊中学已有8年的光阴了。它还是那么的迷人。它也让我想起了一首福建歌曲<<家后>>由台湾红歌手江惠演唱。里面的歌词正好叙述了我当时的心情。哈哈哈。。。大家请勿误会，小弟我今年只有27。还不算老。我在两个月后，再次邀请回母校演讲。当时，我好感动因为，在讲堂我看见了许多教导过我的老师前来听讲。我也借当时的机会一一向他们道谢。

我不晓得BaeyYam的这句华儿“是不是越年轻的国家,记忆越短?”是佛正确。我想是吧。

有时我会问自己：“回忆是佛保留原有的固体本身，还是把它以回忆的保存在脑海里似为就妥当的。。。” 我真怕这些回忆会永远的消失在我脑海里。。。

Saturday has never been that great honestly. Yeah, I know, it’s Deepavali, the Festival of Lights. However, it’s real tranquil today, in spite of the haze. Well, who cares about that! It’s holiday anyway! I need my sleep! Yeah I’d been sleeping for the entire daylight hours. I was so dog tired. You can imagine that!

Well, I suppose to have a day out with Jane. I promise her that I will go out and chill out with her. However, she’s down with a bad tummy day and a headache. Well, she stayed home and rest and I continued with my much needed day of sleep again! Yeah, you got me right.

Been real mentally tired out, roughing out and tiding up my research work. Consolidating all my field works into softcopy. Have loads of reading to do, papers to write and submitted for assessment. Have meetings and work to be scheduled. I can’t believe it, I got meetings almost everyday next week, spare my Tuesday. Wow! That was real tight.

I started to admire Christine and Joey, got a chance to breathe amidst our busy schedule.

Well, I just got a text from Pete’s brother. Pete’s discharge! Hooray! Hahaha . . . yeah that’s why I said that was a good news! And he’s now resting at home. Isn’t it good to be back at home and be with his wife and new-born son! Wow! Hehe…

Jane, rest well and sleep early tonight alright. No more oily food and rojak for you at least for these few days ya!

Oh yeah, I might be posting so often now, especially my exams are near. Should be posting it real soon in early week of November.

Happy holidays to you

Hahahaha… sorry for my laughter . . . This is just so cool! I found this link just a few moments ago . . .

http://english.tour2korea.com/hellohallyu/

This link is to one of my favourite Korean Tv series . . .hehehe… yeah thanks for my sisters and also my friends . . .many of whom are korean TV series lovers!

I suggest catch this series on DVD better, it cost roughly about 24 bucks if I’m didn’t see wrongly . . .

It’s being a wonderful night, or should I say a wonderful evening. I was at my Alma mater yesterday to celebrate their 24th years of establishment. Time really files, blink of an eye, here I am, 8 years, It has been 8 years since I graduated from my high school. Never have I thought that I would see all my teachers, teachers and my former Principal. They are all doing well and fine.

To be honest with you, I have not been back for the past 3 years due to career commitment. Kind of bad huh?

Well…I had witnessed lots of improvements…be it in terms of academic results…CCA achievements…

Well, of course, I’m proud to see that we finally had a new building in years to come. However, I had many fond memories of my old campus. I used to recall my days spent there for leadership training camps, after school sports…and of course punishments melted out by my former tutors.

And I received several announcements by my Alma mater. I will be their residence design consultant for years to come…their guest speaker for their design and art based seminars. Hm . . . I guess it is my time now to serve my Alma Mater.

Posted in July 22 2006, Friendster’s Blog

Looks like I’m not that kind of chap who’s been deem as the “Everything also know type”. Hahaha…why I said that? Simple, I’m been in and around this building industry for quite sometime now. I realized how much and how many things I really don’t know compare to those who seems to know everything. You ask them anything, they seem to know the answers to that equation.

Compare to these people, I seems to be in a world of dwarfs. A world which I called my own. My own world of ignorance. Hehe…I used to live in a world of my own and literally shut myself to the outside world. Living in my world of beliefs. Beliefs that I firmly stood my ground on. Beliefs that I foreseen will bring me to another new height.

Nope, I was proven wrong. Many times, recently. Countless, I seen and witnessed results and changes and even beliefs that are all far superior to mine. Something that really knocks me off my senses.

Sometimes I must admit that all these, just simply knock me off my stupidity and brought me back to reality. This is good, as many seniors and even my friends are offering to stand by me. Standing firm next to me, making sure my stupidity doesn’t knock me off again.

I indulged myself in deep thoughts today, early hour this morning. I was walking down the Downtown of Singapore. I looked at my watch. 0430hrs in the morning. At this hour, many Singaporeans are still sound asleep in their nest, dreaming and drooping over what’s going to happen next. And me? I’m here in city walking and thinking of my research. Tired and had only sleep 4 hours, I sat by the river bank overlooking Supreme Court. I slipped into deep thoughts. Thinking about my past actions…actions that made me regret for things that I should not be doing. Well, that was the past. Bad memories are there to kill and hurt, while good memories are there to be with us forever.

I told myself, to hell with those bad memories. I need to move on with life. I took a long long….sniff……………………Sniff…………fresh morning air of downtown Singapore. 0630hrs in the morning and Wow!!! I sat for almost 1hour!!! Haha…neh never mind, I still have about another hour and a half before I step into school and contiune with my research…damn…! I’m just too tired…I need my fresh tea to keep me going…!

Ok, got to poop now…got to go…time just not enough for me….24hours too short to do anything……

You never walk alone…Yes…I mean it.
I had seen a few but not a lot. Why I say that. I attended my first MPS last Wednesday. Though I’m a greenhorn but I handled 3 cases on my own. Am not I supposed to be an observer? Ha-ha…I was asked to sit in due to lack of manpower. Though it’s only 3 cases, but these were enough to keep me thinking for a while. Indeed, there are many people with monetary impenetrability, whom need our help. Still fresh in my thoughts, my last case for the night. An old lady, hm…about the age of maybe around late 70s. She speaks a good command of English. Her partner die earlier and she’s the only left. Childless. No means to support herself.

My comrades told me she’s a “regular” customer at the MPS. Hm…interesting. Well, let’s see what sort of help she needs. She had a special request that really put me back.

FIND ME AN OLD AGED HOME…LET ME STAY THERE….

I guess that’s her last resort, no means to support her. Living off on food vouchers, she’s on her end now….

Well, all I could do is after some serious discussion with my seniors; I decided to put it down on report. I recommended her to be put into the Old Aged Home via the help of MCD. There are in fact many others that were even needed much help. Jobless, bankrupt…many too many to pen it down.

However, it’s true that there are still many people out there who are willing to go that extra mile to help these people. Stay Together, Moving Ahead…..That’s what PM said at the rally. Yes I do agree, we must stay together as one and move on as one ahead. Moving towards the bright path that promises us a good and comfortable future ahead…braving through storms as a whole.

And yes…YOU NEVER WALK ALONE….

Posted in May 21, 2006 at Friendster’s Blog

Does that ever come across your mind? Or have it ever come it to your mind? Have you ever ask yourself…who are your MPs? Who is my Prime Minister? Who is Lee Kuan Yew?

NO? Then now sit down and ask yourself…Do you really pay attention to your surroundings? Do you really care for what’s going to happen to Singapore? 10 years, 20 years or even 50 years down the road?
Never? …Why? Why have you not thought of it? Because you need time to make more money? Babies? Or indulge yourselves in a world of branded products…cars?

Haha…My apologies here. I’m not here to make a political statement or something. I’m just stating the fact…Neither am I here to make a statement for the oppositions… It is true they are not to the mark…It is true…

Hmm…Sometimes I do wonder….where will I be further down the road? Where?

I got no idea…really no idea…Will I guess I will only know on the 15 April…Haha…Just can’t wait to attend my first rally! My first rally…it’s just like a dream come through! A dream that has been following me for years and now I can realize it…!

Perfect! Now I guess…I will have to learn from stretch…which I don’t mind really! Love learning from the basic…because this will suppress my ego…Hey everybody does have ego….So do I!

Well…Haha…I guess….I better shut up for now at least! Haha…So long lads…Happy Easter weekend!!!

Cheers!

Posted in April 14, 2006 at Friendster’s Blog

Every day you make progress and changes. It all begins with a single step. Each single step maybe fruitful. Yet there will be stretch out, even before us an ever-lengthening, ascending and an improving path. You would know that would never get to the end of the entire journey of this era. Thus, by so discouraging, it would only add to the joy and glory of the climb in our life.

Success usually comes to those who are to busy looking for it! Maybe that’s true! In this modern society, we are facing success everyday, every minutes of it.  Well, come to spare a thought for it. A single mindless act for that particular day, any day, would destroy everything you are working on.
Well, that’s quite true after-all. Sometimes, it does happen to us! Don’t ever deny it! No matter how careful we are, sometimes, a careless or a mindless act would cause a downfall on us even to the projects we are on. Scary huh? Yes it is. This, too are the changes we are facing, a change that comes in a different ways.

Well, I personally believe that success is the ability to go from one failure, learn from it, experience it and go through it, brave the storm! From here, proceed on to another step without any loss in enthusiasm, on what we are doing! And we should be admiring the virtues of our teachers instead of admiring his vices, which is what our famous teacher had to say to us, before we step out to the working and ever-changing world we are facing. We are just like new-born baby here!

Wow…! What wrong with you! Yeah, I understand this remark. Well, I had been through quite a lot of changes for the past couple of months. These changes made me think and wonder. Made me analysis what’s going on all around me and to me. Hm…I believe that these changes made me grow even more mature to my thinking and also to how I conduct myself….! I will always remember this phase….

“Forget your enemies, but never forget their names…Forgive them…but always remind yourselves not to follow their foot-steps…”

这问题问得好? 我…说不上口…我的看法是…我们的艺术社区是佛会太过商业化了呢?
您看…一所所的艺术学府都建立了自己的门户…开创了自己的信念…

而 新加坡的新一代的生生学子们都朝向设计与艺术教育方面求学…在这当中,有好些是我们所谓的“跟风一族“…也有些是我们所谓的“艺术爱好者“. 前者…咳…!!!!是一些对艺术,设计毫无见解毫无头绪的盲目者.休学设计与艺术只是纯粹跟他们所谓的“哥们“读那一课系…就跟着去…毫 无目标毫无意义….这就好像一个盲目者一样.

后者呢…有两种. 第一:”纯粹艺术爱好者“, 第二:”艺术爱好者:不过充实其他工作“. 有趣吧! 前者呢…哈哈….他们分成两种…前者是一个对设计与艺术很热爱的人, 后者呢…只是为了兴趣,或是为了能在未来大捞一笔….(这么说…会不会太过过分了一点呢?)

不知道…今几个月…我看到的是…一些打着设计与艺术的门户赚钱…甚至作出一些不符责任的行为…真令我看不下去…

那 现在又有了一所新的艺术学校…这是好的…因为生生学子又有了多一个选择…可是我同意…报读任何一所艺术学院的学生们因该抱有对艺术的一份 热爱与热诚….我可说这两种热诚好难找…可能是因为这几个月来…我碰到的艺术学生都不知道他们在干吗…?好悲哀噢…!!!

我真的好希望我们能看到这些学子们能加油往前冲…创造出自己的一片天空来….!!!!

有时侯…我会不时的问自己…到底自己要的是何物…我迷恋的世间红尘到底有多么深…
当然…我们都晓得世间一切万物都不是永恒的…世间一切众生都会体会到身老病死这苦恼的问题. 可是,我明明知道,明了这道理,为何我还会去迷恋着它呢?

我不知道…真的…!!!我只是知道….近日来,周围都发生了好多好多的事. 无论是在,事业上,感情上,人际关系上都有很大的变化…这些变化有时会让你感到很无阻…好想找个能依靠的支柱…平安的渡过…

….真的, 我们要放慢脚步…去找寻,找回自己吗???

这问题还是…流给你们自己去探讨吧…我只能做到的是…努力的去找寻迷失的自己….

Stay tune . . . while I blog of this newly setup blog page by our Post 65’s MPs. Be sure to check out their site. Interesting stuffs they wrote there.

The link below will allow you to have a preview on the types of investigations that we have done so far as a class . . .

Enjoy viewing!
http://transmaterialasia.wordpress.com/spatial-investigations/ 

What a forlorn night! No, it’s not that there isn’t any thing to do. How should I say? It all begins after I finished watching Liao Zhai; I was touched by the story line. I was touched by how lovers are willing to sacrifices for each other. What is true love? This phrase, I bet it was mentioned countless of times in this story. And I love this phrase: “It is hard to love someone and it is even harder to hate someone”

Why did I mention this? After watching the entire show, I did shed some emotional tears. Hey! Who say guys don’t cry! I do! OK! The storyline is so touching! Come-on! Unless you are a heartless creature, otherwise…you are won’t even have feelings for things around you. Yup, I think about my past relationship. I really hate myself for all this. Why should I do that in the past? Why? How can I neglect her? Why do I have to emphasis so much on my work and neglect her? Not just that relationship, but for the past 2 as well. Yes, Joey’s right. I never learn from my past mistakes.

“You never learn from your past mistakes huh?” I still remember this phrase. It is only last night; I realized what a bastard I am. How could I do such a thing to these girls? Maybe, if I never emphasis so much on my work, I would have been on the ladder to even tie the knot.

Yes, I know. Yes, I have learnt my mistakes well. I know it’s my fault. No matter how independent our other half maybe, they still need our love and still loving kindness. They need us to be with them when they need us. If you ask me have I done that? No. I have not really done that.

Haiz. . . I really regret now. Maybe I should have start afresh and look for a new relationship. Well, okie dokie . . .it’s time for me to knock it off and go back to my books again . . . I hope tonight . . .not a forlorn night anymore . . .

Imagine being a happy-go-lucky high school student and finding out one day that your commoner grandfather and the King of the country had made a pact that you would marry the Crown Prince. This is Chae-kyung’s predicament as she is quickly thrust into a royal marriage to a complete stranger. (Oh, and did I mention that Korea is a country that doesn’t even have a monarchy in the real world?). For some, it’s a true alternate reality Cinderella story, but for Chae-kyung, her Prince, named Shin, turns out to be mean and selfish with little intent of breaking up with his previous girlfriend and every intention of divorcing her in a couple years.

But the bubbly and good natured Chae-kyung finds solace in the Crown Prince’s cousin, Prince Yool. He is the true Prince Charming, a kind and understanding soul who quickly falls in love with her (his cousin-in-law). Complicating the situation is the fact that prince Yool used to be the Crown Prince and she was originally betrothed to him. And as it turns out, the parents of the Princes have a complicated past and love triangles all their own.

See for yourself in this 24 parts of Palace, the hit series. And the sound-tracks are simply good! Trust me you will love it.

http://www.imbc.com/broad/tv/drama/gung/royal/index.html

Hi guys, I had just updated some links in the Links Page.

And I should be compiling a new sets of links on food pretty soon. So I guess I would need your help here. Please do advise me on these new links that I’m compiling soon.

For the Ladies, my apologies, I will be compiling some new links pretty soon on the Desperate Husbands wordpress blog real soon. For this Desperate Husbands, I would like to invite female writes to comtribute for the Singapore segment and Ladies out of Singapore to contribute to our fashion segments. All these are for goodwill, as ladies been the most respected part of our civilization should entitle to such treatment.

As for the Design & Architecture, I will update it constantly when I came across any interesting sites that is useful to design students.

Cheers

I do agree that we are tearing down too many old things in Singapore and trying to build too many new things at the same time. What I’m afarid most is that will Singapore start to lose out its beauty its old and rich culture mapping content in the urban context of Singapore.

We have already lose Chinatown, Bukit Pasoh to the new urban planning. It has its own pros and cons, but are we still going to carry on with it? One of my recent visiting friend from UK mentioned that “Singapore is too fast coming with too many new architectures and stuffs. Are your govt going to do something of the old instead of tearing it down and replace it with new ones, lad?”

This struck me pardon me for saying this. I realised that we Singaporeans are too obessed with new things. On one of my many research trips to investigate the old and new architectures in Singapore. I’m surprised that we love to paint over a fresh new coat of paint to the old ones. Take for example the row of conservation shophouses at Tj Pagar. We should reveal it’s “true” skin which is its original coat of paint, instead of painting it  over to look new and fresh. Maybe this is the Singapore Identity. Shouldn’t we ask ourselves, are we really this tied up with this obssessed with new things and beautiful things? Just like the old condos in Chinatown and even the one in Orchard for instance, are we going to them down? Or are we going to put in extra efforts to preserve them?

I’m just wondering are there any more available old stuffs to show to our next generations . . . Sometimes, keeping the old memories intact in its physical form is better than in images.

Are we just the artificial city that Rem Koolhaas once mentioned?

Stay tune for more, as I will add somemore to this post  . . .

As designers in this 21^st century epoch, we are incessantly in contact in the company of Ontology, Epistemology, Logic, along with Phenomenology. These 4 aspects dole out as our foremost foundation towards artistic manifestation. It too serves as a platform to convey our design metaphors into a next pinnacle. Ontology in design enables us to illustrate our ideas into practical and functional designs that are advantageous to its civilizations and its population. This is an imperative gauge that would conclude if a specific intention is brought across the board effectively. Epistemology translates into design entails the knowledge that is required for a specific product to be created, that requires the understanding of various aspects. These aspects are the understanding of what the civilization, its people and the environment requires. Thus with such understanding, we are able to convert logical investigation into authenticity. In addition to this, we are able explain our commonsensical thoughts and further strengthen our structural thinking process. By doing so, we could let the civilization better comprehend what is happening around them, thus heighten their level of consciousness.

Moral principles, values and codes of conduct are the principal steering conditions to all design practitioners. These bounding principals serve as a moral conscious and checks that make sure we are doing the right thing. By observing these ethical values, we could reduce the level of immoral acts that could bring harm to the civilizations.

By observing the above criteria, designers should also process the aptitude of consciousness. This skill of understand the phenomenological aspect would allow us to understand the experience in a particular surroundings. This is because, for example, if a particular action or activities happen almost everyday in a specific setting, or something that don’t happen all the time, we tend to miss these minute features out. As a consequence, of such cause and actions, we tend to be negligent about what is happening around us. Henceforth, we should be able to understand, be conscious of the valuable encounter whenever we are in a new environment. This is vital, as it would facilitate design practitioners to generate design metaphors to those explicit proposals, and consequently, achieve good design products.

Last but not least, I believe as design practitioners, not only we must fabricate first-class and efficient design. We should in summary be able to decode our experience, metaphor, philosophy and channel it across the board and make it comprehensible to the mass. By means of it, we would be able to explore design into a deeper profundity and not just by skimming on the surface of it. This is very crucial towards the development of all design practitioners across the line.