书籍分享 - 恐怖的食品添加物

不久前的中国毒奶风暴搞得大家对食品忧心重重，一个三聚氰胺（Melamine）就足以令人哗然-原来吃进肚子的东西这么“化学”！打铁要趁热，既然如此，且就顺势还原饮食世界里丑陋的一面。诚如此书作者安部司所言，没有人知道“食品”是如何做出来的。“要是你知道了，你就吃不下了。”这句话听起来是不是很熟悉呢？从事食品工业的员工都是这样说的吧。自己工厂的食品，相信没几个员工会吃。

眼不见为净、耳不听为妙，如果你还想享受现代高科技精细化学调制加工的精美速成食物，眼珠可别向下滑了，后果自负。但如果你还想让自己的身体少受一点来历不明的外来者侵略，别放弃对健康的执着，快往下看！

作为“食品添加物之神”，作者对食品的内幕及食品添加物的真相知至甚详，以此为主题的演讲在日本场场爆满，而2005年出版的这本书更造成非常大的回响。（因而才有幸被青睐翻译而让我们开开眼界）凡事皆有利弊，在崇拜速食所带给我们的方便、快速和似模似样的美味的同时，我们对其害处却似懂非懂，仿佛“没被证明不安全的”就等于安全。正因如此，作者著书揭发食品制成的“内幕”。

这本书流畅易读而引人深思，特意摘录以下几点供分享：

- 健康饮料是由虫子磨碎以后染色而成的。
- 黏懒的肉屑藉由三十种添加物而复活，成为肉丸子。
- 化腐朽为神奇的漂白剂让低档的咸鳕鱼子瞬间成为闪亮的高档货。
- 食品里的色素不过是添加物里的冰山一角，无色素的食品不过是五十步。
- 低盐食品比高盐食品反而多了几种控制咸度的“甜味料”。
- 一分钱，两分货。买廉价酱油、米酒、盐，多送你几种添加物。
- 合并标示到底混了N个添加物？
- 没有果子的果汁。
- 千篇一律的黄金三重奏：盐、化学调味剂及蛋白质水解物，能组成万种风味。

面对如此烦琐的细节，抱持“单纯的怀疑”是一起的开始。为什么鲜艳得那么恐怖？为什么新鲜可维持那么久？为什么。。。要做一个精明的消费者，还真是不容易呢。现代社会，无忧无虑的人恐怕早晚被无知所误。

可惜的是，随着社会发展步伐越来越快，即使再精明的人，是否能悠哉闲哉地“慢活”？当调味料成为主味料，当鲜菜蔬变成罐装品，当钢铁锅换成微波炉，谁有空闲去浸洗削切炖煮炒焖，谁有兴趣去了解搭配火候调味？如果要起步学习烹饪已是难事，那要去品味各种肉蔬的天然鲜甜和细尝之间的微妙差别就更是神话了。现代社会里没有神话，只有化学魔法，“民以速食为天”，失去的不止是自己煮食的满足、为人煮食的幸福，还有天赋的味觉。

【附】

http://ug99.blogspot.com/2008/06/blog-post_28.html

http://www.huf.org.tw/pu/pu21712.htm

- 1999年6月，比利时120人和法国802人在饮用可口可乐之后发生呕吐、头昏眼花及头痛，公司回收1千7百万瓶汽水。

- 2004年3月，可口可乐在英国销售的Dasani瓶装水的溴酸盐(bromate)含量远超过英国规定的饮用水标准。

- 2005年，辣椒粉中发现致癌染色剂“苏丹一号”，引发英国史上规模最大的食品紧急召回行动。

- 2007年，GSK 饮料在新西兰的利宾纳广告虚报维生素C含量。

- 2009年6月，Red Bull饮料在德国、台湾和香港被检出含有可卡因。

Au revoir

I haven't blogged in a long time, and I will only update occasionally. Things change. Life changes. And so do I.

Believe it or not, whatever things I do, I do it for multiple reasons but not single reason. I blogs because

- I talk to understand. I need to talk with my alter ego to understand my emotions. And now I'm satisfied with my current level of understanding. Repetition worths much less.

- I write to excel. As an impulsive writer, I just like the moment of expressing ideas out of inner need and the feeling of playing with words. But I feel I should read more now.

- I like to share. But now photos, simple notes...are much easier to be shared through FB.

- I blog to think. At this stage of life, everyone thinks uniquely. You just shouldn't be overloaded with another people's thoughts.

I still thinks a lot but I gotta spend more time on reading and doing something else more important in life. Being retrenched at 24 certainly bring changes in life.

My current life

Yeah, two is down, one more.

If you don't understand what I'm saying, let me explain it. Now I am working as shift trainee in the fab, which means I work 12 hours per day, 4 or 3 days per week alternatively. This week is short week so I need to work 3 days and got 4 days holiday. Yippee....but not until tomorrow night.

Working in fab is kind of busy, busy adapting, busy learning and busy building up good foundation. To have many colleagues with experience is good for learning and yet that means the mountain of expectation is higher to climb.

Frankly speaking, maybe it's not up to your expectation, I am still struggling with my work, especially fighting vigorously against the ZZ monster. It's just too hard to stay awake and focus for 12 hours without dozing off. I think I already earn my reputation for being dozy-fishy. Yalar, I can sleep earlier la...but sometimes come back late, sometimes need to cook for tomorrow, sometimes come back feel like talking to friend instead of just go to bed, so most of the times I only get 5 to 6 hours to sleep. I have to find another smart way to keep me awake in the fab, that thing definitely will not be coffee though.

I starts to feel that working life is real life because there are too many decisions to make, too many things to learn, too many aspects to be balanced and too many relationships to be taken care of. As a comparison, student's life, although is simple and nice, is just too phantom.

Rest, is meaningless without work.

Indicents + Accidents

Recently I received series of warnings.

On Sunday's outing to Strawberry reservoir, after passing the dirt road, our car's front right tyre gone flat.

On yesterday's visit to hospital, while I was driving on the freeway, all out of sudden a flying rock caused a little crack in the front windshield.

Then on the way back to hospital after dinner at night, I bent into a wrong lane, cut back into the right one wrongly without observing, and got a loud horn from car behind shamefully.

And it wasn't enough. I lost my way coming out of hospital and wandered around unfamiliar routes in SLC. I was finding my way out and turned into a two way road with one lane each way. It was so dark with few street lamps and no cars that I could hardly recognize the road conditions. Finally a bus passed on my left. I was on the right way.

And then two strong light circles emerged in front, not far away. Gosh! Within split second I pull my car over to the right and braked heavily. Just touching the front bush, mere escape. If what's on my right was a concrete divider then I would have been divided, without the chance even to wave goodbye.

I am glad that I am still here. I bought a heavy lesson without paying. How lucky!

复杂

骨子里我是个夜猫子，尽管我未必享受。寂静的黑夜里弥漫淡忧的气息，我在静谧谧的氛围中逐个捕捉慢条斯理的音符，伴随着一丝丝剪不断的冥想，游魂进自己忧愁的世界。

心事我其实有很多，但我都把它藏在异度空间，连白天的我也没法进去。只有在独自一个人的深夜，神秘的空间才自动显现，让我身上的不快乐因子活跃。悲愁，或许是重重面具下最内的几层之一；而怪异，是另外一层。我不去找人倾诉，却又在这抽象描述，不想让人知道又想让人知道，不是很奇怪么？正怪人，正怪门。门，是给有钥匙的人开的。

有些东西我怎么也看不懂，尤其是别人的行为和想法。世界，真的太复杂了，复杂在不可复制的性格。I didn't know that I could be so disturbed and felt beaten for inability to understand people's action that totally escape my understanding of the person. 怎么可以这样，怎么可以那样，怎么……

有些东西我怎么也学不来，因为这些必须从错中学习，而偏偏错在这些往往是致命的。Perhaps I will never get a chance to learn...

but I shall be fine. I hope.

倾斜

这几个星期连续出外，不是玩就是病，没空好好静下来。直至前晚舒舒服服地睡了一晚到早上十点多，有心情打电话回家，以为大马时间是八点多，不料等到彼端铃声响了很久，听到沙哑的声音后，才惊觉玩得连时差都算错了，那时正是午夜沉睡的零时十分。顿时晴天霹雳。

以为把生活平衡得很好，其实错漏百出，是很深的挫折；自以为是的优点，其实不外如是，是很大的失败。

来美一个月了，看到的学到的很多，逐渐适应了下来慢慢开始自我感觉良好，正好来个当头棒喝。坦白说，我没做好的事比我做好的事更多，凭什么感觉良好呢？真是……

二十四岁的起跑道
具体的路面风向
不由掌控
只剩飘渺的方向

是否我太执着于平衡
才会轻重不分
虚假的面面俱圆
没一个稳定的点

没有倾斜的人生
是否一定没有光彩
微烁的幸福
难道只在黑夜可贵

若生活是幅美画
就算我活得再出彩
也只是纯熟的工匠
而非飘逸的大师

适应

新丁受训，首先的挑战就是适应环境。现在已是工作训练的第二个星期，却还是有些不适应，尤其是密裹成粽子进洁净房。上星期训练第一次进去时，赶着穿连身衣险点扭到大腿。现在渐渐懂得怎么穿了，却还是嫌多了一层纱布顶在鼻子下面痒痒的。

接下来的挑战就是狂吞资讯，连番炮轰的XYZ实在让我疲于接受。工作+交通+家务+管理+计划差不多消耗了我大部分的时间和精力，但为了省钱和修行，我会尽力不在公司吃上一餐。好渴望有八小时睡眠的幸福，但身体也似乎慢慢适应了少睡两小时，只是偶尔会在公司钓钓鱼。幸好现在还是训练期，呼呼。（自我安慰：能辛勤耐劳的，才会享受悠闲）

但要有优质生活，需要照顾的不仅仅是自己的起居饮食，还要吸收无数的常识、过滤大量的言语和寻找提高效率的方法。有时候，实在是很累……幸好还可去慢跑和在这里发牢骚。

好了，加速适应和继续前进！

Travelling

A man travels the world over in search of what he needs...
and returns home to find it.
- George Moore

Living in Utah, US

Disclaimer: Please stop reading if your green monster starts overtaking you. (I'm joking, :D)

Initially I wanted to describe my living experience here as living experience in US, but slowly through daily conversations and observations I came to realize that living here at Utah is unique, as unique as living in any other state in United States perhaps, because US is just too vast to be stereotyped.

If you aren't NBA fan, you might not even have heard of Utah, which is definitely not like metropolis New York. Quietly surrounded by gorgeous mountains and beautiful lakes, it have everything exactly opposite to Singapore: big, large, hugeeeeeeee!

Utah Lake

For example, Walmart is huge. The first time we saw it, we were so excited to take photography there. That day was Thursday. And then Friday - Walmart again, Saturday - Walmart again, Sunday - Walmart again...I feel a bit embarrassed to say that we took picture with Walmart. They all look the same even though they are all at different places. (Non-tourist: What so big deal!) Paiseh, we are still tourists. :D


It's convenient to have so many Walmarts nearby, if and only if you drive. MI4 = find small groceries stores within walking distance. It's cool to drive here with opposite orientation, different rules and better cars!

Chrysler (I drive slightly less cool model, ^^)

And about my temporary fully-furnished house that's so comfortable to stay: Two cozy rooms with queen size beds, closet room, living room with soft couch, kitchen, landry room, garage.

Example of Oakwood housing (I can't show mine without camera)

I guess I better stop here before being hunted by green monsters, :D. Though I have my own worries, as everyone do. 'Til next time.

(FYI, time here is GMT -6. So the time difference with MY, SG which are at GMT +8 zone is 14 hours. Just know whether to +14 or -14, you will know time at both sides.)

煮食修行

很久很久没有下厨了，妈妈说我终于重出江湖，哈哈，没办法，在大学期间只能偶尔煮爽，缺厨具少时间没心思，久而久之就没意思。在这里可不同了，自己煮一餐大约一两块，在外吃至少四五块，如果要省钱四周游玩，只怕不会煮都要硬着头皮学煮了。除此之外，这里食材多元，厨具齐全，身边能偷师的人多得是，如果不在这段期间尽量学习和提升厨艺，那可真是浪费了。

我能煮，但已不说自己很会煮，毕竟煮的不过是家常菜，尤其因为我家特殊的背景，什么东西都一锅熟，很多时候不能拿出来献丑。唯一能说的就是，与同辈能煮的朋友比较，我自小受过的锻炼不会被比下去。（老爸语：“能够自己煮来吃，是生存的重要技能。”）

反正就是自煮自乐，有心就好。第二段修行，从现在开始。

Exciting arrival in US

I am finally settled down in this totally different place after two days of hassles. Life here has been really exciting with friendly peoples, beautiful landscapes and comfortable home asides from a series of unfortunate events.

Firstly a boring 18 hours long flight from Sg-Tokyo Narita-LA-Salt Lake turned everyone into a lazy and sleepy pig. And as expected, upon arrival in LA, I was detained to be registered specially for a reason. (You are making a wrong guess if you relates it to my look, ^^) Thanks Louis for his fine message and I did estimate at worst I would miss my flight.

It wasn't an unpleasant experience as you might think of but just paperworks, echoing the sigh from the young ABC officer. We even talked about which airlines' flight attendants look most beautiful (FYI, he give his vote to SG airlines). However, the process was much longer than normal because of the stupid fingerprint scanner or software or computer or whatsoever. It was a little bit frustrating to repeat "left hand first, right hand next, look at the cam" for about 20 times while you are catching the plane.

When it's done finally, all passengers were gone with me alone standing rooted to the alien ground. I have to admit I was directionless at that moment but forced to act calm to deal with weird attentions from other officers. Hey, I am not the culprit of making myself late, you think what? (Of course this is a monologue, so as below)

Miss flight? No no no... sure die. Connecting baggage? Hmm...Should I check in my luggage? Don't care la, give. Check info board. Where's my flight no? Ahh...go out. Streets? Damn. Go up. Where's my gate? Freak out. Ask. Oh, terminal five. Where? Go down and take shuttle. Go down. There's no sign board with number of 5!? Ask. Cut through streets and parking lots? Don't care liao, all out running. Terminal 5 arrival. Ok. Go in. Check info board. Gate 61 - Boarding. 15 minutes more. Security check. Can I bypass the crowd? I am afraid I am late. NO!!!? Grrr........ Fine. Take out laptop. Remove shoes. Hold boarding pass. Every second counts! Wear shoes. Take back laptop. Drop. Damn! Sigh. Run. 50, 51, 52, 53,... 60-69 turn right. Ok right turn and open door. What the hell? Why so long a corridor? Run. No one else. Pak pak pak pak. All my running sounds. I'm tired. Where's the end? Go out, escalate up. Run. 64, 63, ...finally...there's someone I recognize for the first time in 3o minutes. Last few minutes boarding. Finally, I've made it. Is it all scripted? Phew........................

(Although I've made it, I think I could done something better by telling Ramnik that I don't have my phones roaming, as different to most of us, so that they don't need to have extra worries for unable to reach me. Anyway, it's over.)

After the near miss of flight, luck was yet to shine on me, or, to my luggage. Both of them were still at LA, delayed. Good. It had been already 30 hours since I last bathed, and I would continue to suffer for an unknown period with uncertainties looming around. Furthermore, being the last to be dropped off because I live the furthest at south and to be late to the departmental welcome dinner weren't really big deal but weren't relieving either.

And so when I finally back to my home, it was already 1030pm. I waited for 10 minutes. There's no sign that my luggage were on the way and I had to call delta for information. Oh, both are found and will be delivered to your address by 230pm tomororw at the latest. What a fake voice! I couldn't spare much excitement for this voice recognition and generation programme but go on to check it online. Wait a minute! Why my address was wrong? Sigh, Debbi gave the wrong address at the airport's counter. I should have check it myself, instead of allowing them to give the information. But what to do if the service provider provide the wrong piece of information? Suddenly I felt like only myself is reliable. Sigh.

I called again to change the address and got the update that the delivery company would deliver it around 3 A.M. 3 A.M. then 3 A.M. la...I was exhausted. But it was so confusing whether they would deliver it or not, as different operators said incoherent things to me and another friend Pei Wen who also had one lugggage delayed. Luckily it still came at the midnight, right before the sun rose, at 530 A.M. So happily and refreshed that I went on to unpack nicely and planned my schedule, until to be picked up at 9 A.M.

So today I am extremely tired, not because of jet lag, but because of a mere sleep of less than 2 hours. I just found that my hp spoilt, and so my last option to take photo was gone too. Why must life be that exciting huh? Though it's unique experience anyway.

回到从前

很高兴能够在相隔如此久之后，再次找回从前那种熟悉的感觉：信赖、真朴、温馨。的确，那曾是大家最开心的回忆。当初一个错误的抉择，几乎毁了所有，我承认我实在不懂得如何面对，你也不懂得如何应付，大家都太嫩。幸好，我们都想要找回那种感觉和朋友间彼此的信赖，才会在经历重重波折之后，仍然回到原点。尽管仍有一点担忧，但我相信以后的我们，依然能够维系这种友好的关系。好朋友，谢谢了，让我们一起加油！

离去前夕

星期日终于搬去新的家，星期一终于上班，而今天再多等一会，就要启程去美国。一切接踵而来变化的太快，快得连感觉都难以捕捉，更别说细细品味。一如刚搬进去的家，才把肮脏粗糙的地板抹得干净顺滑，享受不到几天，就要告别。再如第一天上班，糊里糊涂就成了最迟抵达公司的新丁，以最“声明”的方式成了最出名的人。

而那天晚上的饯行餐，朋友们尽管忙碌都抽空出席，照理我应该成为主角和大家谈笑风生，但是上完班接受过量咨询后已是疲累，让朋友费事费心搞又有点不好意思，加上迅速变化中的激动、焦虑、离愁，我故意选择了角落的一旁来坐，为的就是可以在熟悉的声音围绕中静静地休息一会。尽管这样做让聚餐丧失了一部分意义，但想一想其实我本来就习惯了主办而不是参与，聆听而不是倾诉，所以还是让我在临走前趁此机会从旁重温朋友们惯常交谈的方式吧。反正，能来就是心意，我能感受到的。

在这样急速的运转中，感觉是喜忧参半的，尽管憧憬美好的未知，但离开熟悉的已知多少会有点不舍。

感谢所有朋友的祝福，也愿你们生活愉快!

Worries

Worries have been looming around for few weeks. It's not because I will start work soon, nor that because I will need to adapt to a new environment, but because of an unsolved question. At this starting moment of life, I can't avoid to search the answer or answers. Trying hard and yet failing for so many times in the past means that I need to try harder to fill this cordial hole, by inspecting every life aspects, setting life targets and planning life schedule.

Time, money, career, relations, health, needs, wants, responsibilities, knowledge, experience, exposure...I'm going to get overwhelmed but I will keep looking for a better answer, a better path.

Time to go for last morning jog in NTU.

老化

人一步一步长大
也一步一步老化
你懂老人常挂在嘴边的是什么？
老了，老了，全都看透了
老了，老了，不想伤脑筋
懒得思考

身体在五十岁左右开始老化
心灵却早在进社会那刻老化
周遭太多喧闹
只好掩耳盗活
烦忧铺天盖地
懒得思考

我们拼命找寻舒适圈
划地为营风雨不出
专心作圈里的青蛙
只求栖身之地
不忧明日风云
懒得思考

我们不停创造假想曲
闭耳自听深陷催眠
沉迷于虚构的完美
只要主观满足
不理现实矛盾
懒得思考

观察不为学习改良，反为应证假想
交谈不为交换想法，反为对牛弹琴
学习不为发现乐趣，反为加重负担

镜子可是天天照
照的却不是内心
粮食可是天天吃
吃的却不是精神

听到了谣言，传
看到了趋势，跟
碰到了甜头，吃

只会说不会做
只会弹不会赞
只会抄不会想

自由从天降
责任是空想
道义剩口讲

一切都是那么自然
如此日复一日
心能不老？

灰色

天堂飘着纯洁的白色，地狱滴着阴森的黑色，夹杂在白色与黑色之间的人间，充满着灰色。在这里，你找不到属于白色的真理，也误认了属于黑色的荒唐。没有了单纯的二元划分，无论人再渴望找寻真理或荒谬，终究也找不到。想向真理迈进，却永远到达不了真理，究竟是人的悲哀还是生存的意义所在？

执意捍卫真理和正义却从不自省的人，一是挂羊皮骗吃，二是想得太单纯，结果常常因为接受不了黑暗的存在而毅然放弃追寻光明。世间的光明，并非如昼日的阳光般遍照，而是如漆黑中的微光闪烁，需要不懈的思考和找寻。若左边的路径万里无光，右边的路径未必有光。如果向下是往地狱，反方向走自然可到天堂，只可惜这是人间的平地，错的反方向不一定是对，更别说错误在时间和空间上都不是绝对的。所以，不经思考而把人划分为正义或邪恶是可悲的，不经分析而把事看得太光明或太黑暗是可笑的。

人，永远成不了天使，也不该堕落成恶魔。上天赋予每个人不同的肤色，但灰色却是我们共同的心色，看你要油白一点或涂黑一点而已。

~~ (Updated)

Convo tmr! Too bad my camera is spoilt...have to savour that moment by heart.

Happy graduation to my friends and the class of 2008! Yeah~

(I hope I can update this post with some photos.... @.@)

(Thanks Chee How for this precious shot, by his camera and photography skill, :D)

* For more photos, please visit facebook.

Role change

Mum asked me about the meaning of a word, and I am glad that I know it. On another day, sis asked for my help to write a letter, and I was a little surprised. Few years ago I had my moment of astonishment when I saw clouds of alien words in her formal letter. I doubted my chance of survival but now the shoe is on the other foot. What a satisfaction! I know I am still inferior to many peoples but I understand where did I come from, and this pleasure will keep me going for greater pleasure. At least, I've changed my role.

回去

荆棘满布忧虑重重的工作生活，与上课念书下课玩乐的学生生活，让你选择，你选哪个？如果让你回到六年前重当学生，你会回去吗？

我不会。

“啊？为什么不呢？难道那时候的你过得不愉快？”

“呵呵，过得开心极了，可是过去了的就是过去了的，即使回去，也是活成那样，又不是不曾体验，为什么要回去呢？”

“因为回去更快乐啊！我还是比较喜欢以前的生活。”

从前生活忧虑少，是因为有庇护。生活的本质不是简单的；而生活的目的，也不是为了童年的无忧、少年的玩乐、成年的烦忧和老年的清静，而在于体验每一阶段来探索方向和发展自我。没有童年的人生是可悲的，但停留在童年的人生是残缺的。

活出每一阶段的精彩，才是完美的人生？呵呵，我也不懂我能否做到。

怡保

鸡饭：三块。
周末戏票：十块。
消费地点：不是吉隆坡，而是怡保。

以次讨论，我和朋友总结：怡保的消费水平并不低。但令我不解的是：怡保的工资低得可怜，譬如书记、会计等工作起薪低于一千；而一般卖熟食的档口净赚两三千。更甚的是，这里的工作机会少得更可怜，锡米早就被挖光、不是鱼米之乡亦非商业重镇、没什么旅游景点、大学又没一间、工厂大多是劳工密集型、房地产过剩，以致大多年轻人往外跑。如此这样居然还能支撑不低的消费水平？真是见鬼。

还有呢！第三间“得死狗”在建着、两间“得屎多”、一间“巨爱人”、一间“异龛神”，真的神了，怡保人的钱难道是天降的？还是又隐藏的金矿？

我定是少了某些资讯。

不止是我这样想的。

吃钱兽

什么是金钱
可让人丧心
是否古人造钱时
恶魔已混藏
潜伏等待
浮士德们

啊
籍着人面
恶魔已冥绕
它吸走了灵长人性
把剩余的爬虫冥性
扩散去所有细胞

贪婪猜忌妒嫉愤怒凶狠
多么完美的吃钱兽
通通都无情吃掉吧
金子银子车子房子父子
多么丰富的主食
博爱理智宽恕冷静仁慈
多么健康的营养

恐龙肆虐的易（异）时代
天使啊！你躲去那里
快去阻止吞噬啊
我已不忍睹
你会寄身降落的陨石
把他们全毁灭
还是化为仁慈的光芒
恢复他们人性

与恶魔的激战
就交给你吧 天使
如果你真的存在
我已厌倦恶心
不想让人性麻木
唯有带父母逃离
才能呼吸新鲜空气

但指南针有人有么
与金钱的纠缠
处处都是森林
处处都是妖魅
吃钱兽
守钱奴
吝啬怪
瘟穷鬼
我要怎么避开魔圈

看过那么强大的魔力
对人性能有几分信心
我连自己都怀疑

虎父是否真的无犬子
但成虎是否必落平阳
我连自己都迷惑

不能预测
到底会迷路几次
能否逃出生天
但我会尽力逃生
作为希望寄托的最后烛光

挫折

成长荆棘路上
再度遇到瓶颈
黑风吹走阳光
漆暗

连影子都没有
我走不出迷宫
所有七彩泡沫
幻灭

身心都在流浪
信心急冻骤降
无情放大弱点
严寒

原来我不过是
外强中干的小孩
怯于接棒的懦夫
大愚若智的无知

害怕承受不了
脱蛹的阵痛
害怕接受不了
飞翔的孤单

愧问
止谣的冷静去了哪
分析的智慧去了哪
改错的勇气去了哪
比较的自信去了哪
学习的毅力去了哪
生活的热情去了哪

是否只有哑口
才敢吃黄莲
是否只有麻木
才能盲向前

生活为何总是那么多虚象
人生为何总是那么多谜点
哎~
留下长长的叹息
无奈地耸了耸肩
继续前往未知
探索

狮城美食清单

究竟狮城是不是美食天堂？众说芸芸。我懒得去无谓地争辩，纯粹想在这分享。与马来西亚不同的是，在网上有很多美食资讯，要信哪里就看你收集、对比、分析的功力了，哈哈。

http://www.sbestfood.com/
http://ieatishootipost.sg/
http://eat.omy.sg/
http://www.hungrygowhere.com/
http://www.makansutra.com/index.php

剩下什么

有人专心埋头于研究
有人为主播理想奋斗
有人要攀登职场高峰
有人投身政治里争逐
有人肩负家庭的使命
有人成为别人的港湾
有人努力成为聚焦点
有人追寻各式的收藏
有人沉浸于纷繁享受
有人梦想要环游全球

为梦、为名、为权、为利、为人、为物
大家都找到了方向
而我
这样也不缺那样又不愁
不是假看透就是真不屑
剩下什么

不是我没有努力去找
但却总在过程中迷失
这问题
困了我十几年
N维的心底迷宫
是否真的有出路
究竟一切是假想
抑或我难以释怀
与众不同的方向
竟然是没有方向
梦想
我是否需要
平凡
我是否安于

生存的技能一个不少
生活的目的少于一个
不想沉溺于物质追求
却又没有崇高的精神
表面的风光
曾经的辉煌
现有的皮囊
除完剩下什么

我可否自豪地自称早熟
九岁为了安慰穷邻居
说那伪富家子定给纵坏
十二岁大胆劝爸爸戒烟
毫无理由被痛骂了一顿

我可否狂妄地自称好学
文理史哲科学语文
阅读写作运动烹饪
吃喝玩乐
都贪婪吸取

可什么叫小时了了
好学又为何事
责任以外
理智以外
剩下什么

观察是否为了学习
学习是否为了学习
生存是否为了生活
生活是否为了生活
我还在找寻
目的是否必要
过程又值几分
万事万物
是否都有宿命
我会找得什么

我是否少了信仰
所以这么迷惑
只是为了解惑而笃信
等我灵魂轮回再说
别叫我信佛祖
他也曾经迷惑过
别叫我信上帝
圣经是哲人的心血

或许人生
本来就是一个谜题
何必懂何来何去
开心时享受
忧愁时抒发
这样就好
何必介意
剩下什么

机

危机是机会，忧愁是契机。危机若好好处理，能化为难得的转机；忧愁若妥善剖析，能预防潜在的危险。因为，事出必有因。

雨中漫步

噼里啪啦
溅破四周宁静
胡乱拍打
激荡热量沸腾
避雨从未在脑中闪过

镜片满是水珠
耳听全是滴答
雨还停雨骤下
昂首加快脚步
越过慌忙避雨的人群

心无杂念协调呼吸
一二三四一紧一松
闭上双眼
假想气积丹田
而后张开
意导气运全身

跟着原始的MP3
跑出身体旋律
蒸出全部热量
让溅落的雨滴
仿如打在高速运转的机器
弹得老远

气畅全身
身心合一
酝酿着无比的力量
内敛不住
犹如雨中的雄火
烧出无限冲劲

平凡

近来心情都不错，直至刚刚。当忙完该忙的事，余下的心思如何停放？最近替人搬家总遇回同样的搬运大叔，大叔要颁我好人奖，可惜替人搬家好几回，我的家却在哪里？大叔说从我身上看到以前的他，而我听着大叔的故事，又何尝不是在对应着我的生活原则？

只是，看破究竟是逼不得已的妥协，还是源自内心的通透？

Cam-Viet Tour Photos

Ok...finally I've uploaded my 18-day tour photos onto web. I've separated it into 5 albums and uploaded to my facebook and friendster, or if you like to view all photos one shot in a slideshow, check out my picasa web album.

Why did I take such a long time? Because it required careful organizing and selection. Since there were 3 cameras taking photos, quite a lot of them are similar. Imagine there are 3000 photos with the size of about 5GB. If I don't classify the photos accordingly and delete those similar but redundant photos, it will remain as a mess inside hard disk, inhibit myself a pleasant recall of memories in the future.

Now I've deleted about 500 photos, and selected best 300 from the remaining photos. Finally a job done. Phew.

Mispronounced words

On few occasions friends like Kok Heng, Krix and my Prof Comm teacher had told me some words that are so commonly mispronounced until they seem to be the right one. I've this idea of compiling a list of mispronounced words for long and decided to do now. It's time to improve it by myself before I need to attend those expensive courses. Resources are from various forums and sites, (mainly from SG,MY,HK) for free. So powerful is Internet. Hurray!

From here, I've copied the reasons for mispronunciation.

SOME REASONS FOR WRONG PRONUNCIATION
1 Silent letters
2 Wrong stress
3 Foreign words
4 Poor articulation
5 Mother- tongue influence
6 Wrong syllable division

(If you have any mispronounced word that's not in the list, please share. :D)

Learning about wrong syllable stress is still a step too far for me, and poor articulation of pair like "n & l", "r & l" and others has too many cases, hence the list contains mispronunciation mainly caused by wrong assumption and silent letters.

You can check the correct pronunciation of any word from these sites:
1. Yourdictionary
2. Dictionary reference

There are many phonetics standards, and for my convenience, I use the one yourdictionary.com is using but not the standard used in say oxford dictionary that you may be more familiar with.

P/S: Those mispronunciations with *** in front sound very obvious.

First and foremost

*** pronunciation: pro noun′sē ā′shən (X) || prə nun′sē ā′shən (√) (sounds nan but not noun)

Can you get your pronunciation correct if you cant pronounce it correctly?
Joking :)

Second

*** their: thēə (X) || ther (√) (sounds exactly as there, not they-are!)

Those that should be pronounced as ‘ə’

correct: ko rekt′ (X) || kə rekt′ (√) (sounds kə but not ko)
#So as many words like collect, continue, compare and ec cetera. One of the obvious exception is colleague. See below.

#Also, words with co have so many different pronunciations that's worth more attention as how "company", "colleague", "committee", "cold" are pronounced differently.

broccoli: bräk′ä lē (X) || bräk′ə lē (√) (sounds kə but not ko)
introduce: in′tro doos′ (X) || in′trə doos′ (√) (sounds trə but not tro)
opportunity: äpôr too nə tē (X) || äp′ər too nə tē (√) (sounds pər but not por)
restaurant: res′tô rənt′ (X) || res′tə ränt′ (√) (no torrent please! It's te-ront/te-rənt)
*** lettuce: let′yooz (X) || let′əs (√) (sounds təs but not tyouz)

fatigue: fa tēg′ (X) || fə tēg′ (√) (sounds fə but not fae)
*** purchase: pʉr′chās (X) || pʉr′chəs (√) (don't chase please...)
perimeter: pe rim′ə tər (X) || pə rim′ə tər (√) (sounds pə but not pae)
parameter: pe rəm′ə tər (X) || pə ram′ə tər (√) (sounds pə but not pae)
spaghetti: spe get′ē (X) || spə get′ē (√) (sounds spə but not spare)

parliament: pär′li mənt (X) || pär′lə mənt (√) (sounds lə but not li)

industry: in′dus trē (X) || in′dəs trē (√) (sounds dəs but not dust)

Those that should not be pronounced as ‘ə’

archive: ə chēv′ (X) || är′kīv′ (√) (sounds r-kaif but not achieve)
colleague: kəl′ēg′ (X) || käl′ēg′ (√) (sounds ko but not kə)
entrepreneur: än′trə prə nər′ (X) || än′trə prə nʉr′ (√) (sounds nur but not ner)

Between ‘ə’ and ‘a/ae’

*** analysis: a nəl′ə sis (X) || ə nal′ə sis (√) (sounds er-nae but not ae-ner)
*** awry: äl'ri (X) || ə rī′ (√) (sounds e-rye but not a-ri)
*** baton: bā′ tən (X) || bə tän′ (√) (don't pronounce bae-ten because of bacon)
***calender: kəlen dər (X) || kal′ən dər (√) (sounds k-lən but not kə-land)
*** lavender: läv′en dər (X) || lav′ən dər (√) (same with calender)

Those that should be pronounced as ‘a/ae/e’

*** bury: bur′ē (X) || ber′ē (√) (Yes, sounds exactly like berry)
*** deluge: di′lärj (X) || del′yooj′ (√) (sounds dae-liuch but not di-large)
gamma gäm′ä (X) || gam′ə (√) (sounds gae-me but not gaa-maa)
sarcastic: sär käs′tik (X) || sär kas′tik (√) (sounds kaes but not kas)

presentation: prē zent tā′shən (X) || prez′ən tā′shən (√) (sounds prae-sənt but not pri-sent)
precedence: pris′i dəns (X) || pres′ə dəns (√) (sounds prae- but not pri)
preferable: prif′ər ə bəl (X) || pref′ər ə bəl (√) (sounds prae- but not pri)
irreparable: i ri per′ rə bəl (X) || i rep′ə rə bəl (√) (doesn't sounds as repair)

Those that should not be pronounced as ‘a/ae’

altar: al′ tär (X) || ôl′tər (√) (sounds all-ter but not L-tar)
chamber: cham′bər (X) || chām′bər (√) (sounds cheim but not chaem)

Those that should be pronounced as ‘i’

*** granite: grana′it (X) || gran′it (√) (sounds nit but not nait as in nite)
market: mär′ket (X) || mär′kit (√) (sounds kit but not keat)
*** spinach: spin′ach (X) || spin′ich (√) (yes, the 'a' sounds 'i' but not 'a')
women: woo' mən (X) || wim′in (√) (sounds wi but not woo, woo is for woman)
deviant: dē′vī ənt (X) || dē′vē ənt (√) (sounds ve-ian but not vai-ian)

Those that should be pronounced as ‘O/ä’

knowledge: nōl′ij (X) || näl′ij (√) (sounds kn-all but not know)

Confusion of "ao"

*** clause: klaoz (X) || klôz (√) (this one specially for Eddie, LOL)
drought: drôut (X) || drout (√) (sounds drao-t but not dro-t)
lounge: lônch (X) || lounj (√) (sounds laon but not lon)

Words of double vowels

*** liaise: lī əz′ (X) || lē āz′ (√) (sounds li-ace but not lie-es)
hierarchy: hī′rär′kē (X) || hī′ər är′kē (√) (sounds higher-archy but not high-archy)

coalition : kō′ lish′ən (X) || kō′ə lish′ən (√) (please don't skip 'a')
*** oasis: ō ä′sis (X) || ō ā′sis (√) (sounds ay but not a)

*** flour: flä (X) || flour (√) (sounds flao-er but not fla)
*** flower: flouwʉr (X) || flour (√) (same pronunciation as flour, no w sound)
*** zoology: zoo l′ə jē (X) || zō äl′ə jē (√) (just doesn't sound like zoo)

language: laŋ′gweich (X) || laŋ′gwij (√) (sounds gwi but not gwei)
tuition: tyoo sh′ən (X) || tyoo i sh′ən (√) (please don't skip 'i')
suite: soot (X) || swēt (√) (sounds sweet but not suit)

Alphabet d which sounds j

procedure: prō sē′dir (X) || prō sē′jər (√) (sounds jər but not deer)
schedule: ske′dyool (X) || ske′jool (√) (sounds jool but not dyool)
education: ed'yoo kā′shən (X) || ej′oo kā′shən (√) (sounds joo but not dyoo)

Poor articulation (f & th, s & z)

path: puf (X) || path (√) (sounds pae-f not paa-f)
pleasure: plesh′ər (X) || plezh′ər (√) (it's not s but z)
pressure: prezh'ər (X) || presh′ər (√) (it's not z but s, @.@)

Dropping of r sound in double r words

library: lībər′ē (X) || lī′brer′ē (√) (double r sounds)
February: feb′ər′ē (X) || feb′roo er′ē (√) (same)

Silent letters

debt: debt (X)|| det (√) (silent b)
doubt: doubt (X)|| dout (√) (silent b)
climb: klīmb (X)|| klīm (√) (silent b)

yatch: yätch (X)|| yät (√) (silent ch)

Wednesday: wenʉrs dā (X) || wenz′dā (√) (silent d, it's wence-day!)

evening: ēvəniŋ (X) || ēv′niŋ (√) (silent e)
vegetable: veji′tə bəl (X) || vej′tə bəl (√) (silent e)
avalanche: av′ə lanche′ (X) || av′ə lanch′ (√) (silent e)
lambaste: lam bāst′ə (X) || lam bāst′ (√) (silent e, sounds lambeist)

shepherd: shep h′ərd (X) || shep′ərd (√) (silent h)

mischievous: mis′chi vəs (X) || mis′chə vəs (√) (silent i)
medicine: med'isən (X) || med′ə sən; Brit med′sən (if i does sound, it sounds de but not di)

almond: ä′lmənd (X) || ä′mənd (√) (silent l)
salmon: salm′ən (X) || sam′ən (√) (silent l)


isle: īsle (X) || īl (√) (silent s)
debris: də brē′z (X) || də brē′ (silent s)

rapport: ra pôr′t (X) || ra pôr′ (√) (silent t)
listen: lis′tən (X) || lis′ən (√) (silent t)
often: ôf′ tən (X) || ôf′ən (√) (silent t)
soften: sôf′ tən (X) || sôf′ən (√) (silent t)
fasten: fas′tən (X) || fas′ən (√) (silent t)
hasten: hās′tən (X) || hās′ən (√) (silent t)

sword: swôrd (X) || sôrd (√) (silent w)
prowess: prou′wəs (X) || prou′is (√) (silent w)
coward: kou′wərd (X) || kou′ərd (√) (silent w)

Foreign words (I think so?)

cliché: klee shā′ (√) (sounds shay)
sachet: sa chet (X) || sa shā′ (√) (sounds shay but not chet)
grand prix: (it's a french word gron-pre, not grand-prix!)
lingirie: län′zhə rā′ (√) (not linger-ie!)
rendezvous : rän′dā voo (√) (not ren-de-vous!)
parque: pär kwə (X) || pär kā′ (√) (sounds kay)
plateau: pla too′ (X) || pla tō′ (√) (sounds to but not two)

Wrong syllable division

backache: bak′āk′ (sounds backeik, not back | eik)

When I browsed different forums, I often came across heated debates over why should we improve our pronunciation. I do not want to drag myself into this meaningless debate. Choice. If you need to improve it and you want to, do it. If you don't need to, don't bother about it. Life will be easier if we don't enforce our thoughts onto others without empathy.

I am afraid I can't rectify all mistakes too, and hence I put it here to serve as my future reference, and also for your reference.

I take it you already know
Of tough and bough and cough and dough.
Others may stumble but not you,
On hiccough, through, lough and thorough.
Well done! And now you wish, perhaps,
To learn of less familiar traps.

Beware of heard, a dreadful word
That looks like beard and sounds like bird,
And dead--it's said like bed, not bead.
For goodness's sake, don't call it deed!
Watch out for meat and great and threat:
They rhyme with suite and straight and debt.

A moth is not a moth in mother,
Nor both in bother, broth in brother,
And here is not a match for there,
Nor dear and fear for bear and pear,
And then there's dose and rose and lose -
Just look them up - and goose and choose,
And cork and work and card and ward,
And font and front and word and sword,
And do and go and thwart and cart.
Come, come, I've hardly made a start.

A dreadful language? Man alive,
I'd mastered it when I was five.

P/S: These sites may also be useful for you.
1. 100 most often mispronounced words - your dictionary.

2. Mind your language from - channelnews asia.

3. A compilation by Lafemmefatale - play park forum.

4. 双语桥 - RSI

5. Common mispronunciation - Putera

6. Importance of correct pronunciation - Cari

7. Got to pronounce these right - HKU

8. *pdf file - Glossary of words commonly mispronounced by HK students - HK VTC

晚霞

今天的夕阳晚霞很是壮美。

Top Gamer

I bet you have never seen such gamer in MRT. Incredible.

钊记面家-鸡饭

上次和甲霖经过时就想试一试，今天去人力部办手续后刚好是中午，又刚好路过，这一次绝不放过了。虽然知道是面家，不过吃饭比较饱，所以还是叫了碟鸡饭。

牛车水克罗士街上段
Chinatown Upper Cross St

鸡肉并不是我吃过的鸡饭里最嫩滑的，但是厚厚的肉配以浓重的酱汁，另有一番滋味，吃下去很满足。鸡汤也很香浓。比一般的鸡饭好吃，值得推荐。

店面有点像怡保旧街场那种旧店铺，而且店员大都讲粤语，让我仿佛有种回到故乡的感觉。既然自称面家，面应该也不差，下次再去尝！

Nice foods!

早上搬家后，来一块开胃的番茄印度煎饼(Tomoto Prata )挺不错。

地点：问霆辉。Nee Soon Camp 附近的Mamak。
Venue: Ask Teng Hooi. Mamak near Nee Soon Camp.

炎热下午走了五公里后，来碟绿茶雪花冰真冰凉！

地点：味香园 - 牛车水登婆街
Venue: Chinatown Temple Street's Wei Xiang Yuan Desserts

但总共走了十公里后，还要去到老远的勿洛吃美食，如果不好吃我就“费事”放上来了。因为是晚上的关系，用相机手机拍出来的效果不好，所以就不放食物的照片了。有兴趣的话，自己去尝一尝。呵呵。

地点：勿洛Block85，从勿洛地铁站出来搭222号巴士第五站下。

Venue: Bedok Block 85, take bus 222 outside MRT and alight at the 5th stop.

烧鱼！Sting ray!
地点/Venue: Chan BBQ, Stall #01-258

肉挫面！| Mee Ba Cok!
地点/Venue: Stall #01-07

烧鸡翅！| Chicken wing!
地点/Venue: Stall #01-53

Malaysian Passport Renewal in Singapore

Where: Malaysian High Commission @ 301 Jervois Road
When: 8am -1130am (Submission) || 2:30pm - 4:15pm (Collection)
How: Read caibin's comment at worm's perspective (Thanks Kap Lam for finding me this info before we went. :) )
Efficiency: High, one day

We went at Tuesday by taking the earliest 199 bus, reached there around late 7. I got the pass number of I-15, finished the application by 9am, came back to take at late 2, got it at 3 plus. So few additional hints are:

1. The electronic form of IM.42 can be obtained at this site.

2. Go there early, with 3 serving counters and efficiency of 5 minutes per application, the high commission can process about 100 application per day. That's the reason why the pass in guard house is limited.

3. Bring along PR/employment pass/student pass. We didn't know this but luckily we always bring along with us.

4. There's a photo taking and photocopy machine.

5. After submission, you can collect at another day.

Officers there are very friendly, one officer even started the conversation with me.

Officer: Emak kamu Chinese? (Are your mother Chinese?)
Me: Ya.
Officer: Bapa juga? (Your father also?)
Me: Ya.
Officer: Jadi mengapa rambut kamu kerinting? (Then why your hair is curly?)
... @.@ +.+ -_-
（FYI, curly hair is the dominant gene)

I finally understood why my US visa application needs longer time to process.

家庭与性格

家庭，是温暖的泉源。这是大家普遍接受的形象，但有两件事促使我去认真客观地去思考“家庭”这概念。第一件事，在香港中文大学上某堂社会学课时，其中一篇论文里有提到：“家庭，可以是天堂，可以是地狱”。第二件事，在南洋理工大学听李远哲的演讲，其中他提到小时候因为比年长的姐姐更聪慧所以招致姐姐的恶意妒忌。家庭，不完全是温暖的泉源，它带来更多复杂的影响。或许，在打破了所谓的形象后，你才会想到“家家有本难念的经”，包括自家。但是，有谁愿意破坏原本的形象去接受不完美呢？

不如意的家庭事件常在报纸里出现，但总是距离我们好遥远，因为我们并不缺乏父母的关爱。但能感受到爱和温暖并不代表他们所带来的影响就完全正确。一来人并不完美，因而不会带来完美的影响；二来每一种性格都有特有的强点和缺陷。

一个人的性格，究竟有多少源自于父母和家庭？诚然，性格也受学校和朋友的影响，但因为家庭从小影响至深，所以许多从小就培养起的性格，往往是与家庭有关。哪怕长大后许多行为有了改变，内心里潜藏的性格多由家庭塑造。

家庭的影响，不仅仅限于直接正面的（勤劳的父亲教出勤劳的儿子），抑或直接负面的（勤劳的父亲教出懒惰的儿子），而更多于间接无定的。在同一个家庭环境里，我倾向于相信很少会有同样性格的兄弟姐妹。但若从各自的兄弟姐妹观察，又总会发觉即便是不同的性格也与家庭影响有很深的联系。或许家庭环境就好似外在刺激，内在天性好似个别元素，同样的刺激会和不同元素产生不同的化学作用。

问题是，没有哪对父母可以针对子女不同的天性给予不同的影响，因为奔波劳碌赚钱养家都已经够他们头大了。因而，尽管难以接受，但我们不能逃避承认：每个人的性格都有缺陷。相较于别人的弱点，人更难认识自己的弱点，也更难去探索自己的性格与家庭环境有什么关系。

我很喜欢和母亲讨论究竟我的性格是怎么形成的，至今仍在摸索中。因为存在的不一定是合理的，从小养成的性格是外在刺激产生的化学作用，并不一定就是最好的。唯有通过自我的醒觉和探索，正确看待家庭给自己性格带来的影响，内化自己能接受的，排斥自己所厌恶的，才能算是做自己主人的。。。第一步。

注：大家别误会我为文的用意，我其实是对性格如何形成和受什么影响有极大的兴趣。

Charging voltage

I didn't know that there are different charging voltages for the cell phone charger since they have the same ports, if not for BK's reminder.

It would be dangerous to charge my 3.7V cell phone battery with say 5V charger, as it may result in explosion. Lesson learnt.

P/S: Btw, don't tell others that I graduated from NTU School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and my FYP project was DC-DC converter.

Rental cost

Let's apply a bit of mathematics in part and parcels of life: house renting.

Assuming 5 peoples want to rent a unit of house for $1800, 2 of them take the master room and pay $900 in total (which means $450 each); the rest take the common room and pay also $900 (which means $300 each). And the group of three ask:"Hey, it's unfair, by paying the same amount, we could have a master room!"

So you think "Aha, they got their point", that's another perspective looking into this matter. But if you think carefully, this argument is not sound. Because they do not only rent the room, but also rent the areas like living room and kitchen that are shared by all. Hence the cost cannot be calculated just based on room, but also based on head count.

It would be clearer with the following estimated cost break down:
Master room : $700
Common room: $600
Common areas: $500 ( = $100 per person for 5 persons)

If the group of three want to switch to master room, they have to pay $1000, but not $900. So now does the suggestion of switching still sound logical? :)

Compromise

There are millions of people and we are all still learning how to treat others and teaching others how to treat us. These matters could be complicated when it comes to living together, as everyone has their own habits and desires. Compromise is a must, but to reach compromise without straining the relationship, the easiest way is to possess both qualities: openness/frankness and kindness/forgiveness.

If it's a true friendship that's built on mutual trust, it can weather even the greatest storm.

Free or busy

Either you are free until mad, or you are busy until mad. It's quite lucky not getting either one. Thursday, I've just got an option to find accommodation now instead of finding it after coming back from US. Friday, I've just got my medical report from my company and hence can proceed to apply for employment pass. Saturday, I've just got decision from my father that my mum and my sis can stay one more night during my convocation.

And hence, next week, suddenly, I need to get all these things done:

1. Sourcing and getting a house unit.
2. Renew my passport.
3. Apply for employment pass.
4. Apply for international driving permit.
5. Discussion regarding relocation benefits.
6. Getting convocation suit and letter of invitation.
7. Sourcing and booking a hotel.
8. Adding one more day of travel itinerary.
9. Buying return tickets to hometown.

I am expecting a heavy consumption of money, time and energy, and of course, reduced possible staying period back hometown. I hope I can get these done well, at the expense of some of my personal works: contacting friends, blogging, photos arranging, data and info classification, last bit of entertainment and bla bla bla...

Holiday? Ha ha.