Mi is migrating....to WordPress

Mi is migrating to WordPress coz i hate being FORCED to sign up for a Google account.

The migration is still underway but here's the link to my new blog

On holidays

from fri onwards...tis is my 'out of office' for my blog...hehe

More fotos from Sibu

they haf tis huge bonfire on the beach every nite and the beach pub is happening too!

we had lotsa fun, laughter and hunger...hehe

and XM et moi got beli beli sunburnt!

Samsoon!

i saw tis foto and couldn't resist grabbing it.

so sweet...luv tis show...totally hilarious

Beautiful Sibu

some fotos of beautiful sibu i stole from ZY. mi been wanting to go back. despite no telephone, tv, broadband, the place is beautiful and i enjoyed the trip and the resort.

but tis time i'll definitely opt for hot water over aircon!!

Crochet & pending things to do

mi got so much stuff to update on my crochet blog....decided to switch to updating tat instead

and i tink i should sleep earlier, especially by wed or thurs so i m prepared for the wkend. looking forward to the short getaway...CNY will b almost upon us once we retn

still got some stuff to do by thurs ie. apply leathercare and armorall

the drizzle on sun left the car wif so many unsightly waterstains...tink i wana wipe the car proper tomolo as well...prob is, 20 cents gives mi too much water

and i need to go sata before my voucher expires on wed. wat a wk!

X'mas lights @ Orchard

i noe tis is super belated but better late den nbr.

Learning on the Job

September 16, 2006

Leaders can build on their skills, gain useful experience and make the most out of their jobs by taking on extra challenges.

People learn most at work when they are presented with new challenges or opportunities, and leaders are no exception to the rule.

Situations such as taking on a new division or overseeing an acquisition provide invaluable experience and are therefore guaranteed to offer a great chance for learning and personal development.

But we do not have to wait for a new job or a promotion to find opportunities to extend ourselves. That is because everyone should be able to identify many ways to acquire new skills and gain useful experience in the context of their current jobs.

The key is to look for developmental assignments. These are roles and activities which provide the chance to stretch oneself and, in doing so, to become a better leader.

They do not automatically entail a major job shift or a move to a different company.
Provided you adopt a practical strategy geared towards consistent self-improvement, you should have no trouble finding extra opportunities to learn. To get started, you can consider the following options:

Take on temporary assignments Look beyond your job description or outside the department for different projects. There may be task forces to join, one-time events to organise, or short-term activities for which you can volunteer.

Reshape what you do Explore whether you can assume new responsibilities or reshape your current job on a permanent or temporary basis. This demonstrates commitment, interest and willingness to take on more - all traits that are generally appreciated. See if it is possible to exchange certain responsibilities with a colleague or take charge of a project that is not being run by anyone. At the same time, re-examine your responsibilities and make sure that each of them is receiving sufficient attention.

Seek challenges outside the workplace There are many lessons to learn about leadership from personal experiences and challenges encountered outside the formal scope of your job. They can come through contacts with non-profit, religious, social or professional organisations, as well as from getting involved in school events, sports teams or even arranging family get-togethers.
Whatever you choose, it is important to have a plan in mind and to be clear about what you hope to learn. Otherwise any efforts towards self-development will lack direction and risk becoming haphazard and less than effective.

To have a personal development plan that works, start by addressing your own strengths and weaknesses. Take the initiative and prepare well by following these steps:

1) Think it through and write it down.
At the outset, it is important to define what you need to learn to build on strengths and eliminate or compensate for certain weaknesses. Take about 30 minutes to think things through. The aim is to recognise what you need to do better in your job and what is needed to cope with future assignments and bigger opportunities. Write these initial thoughts down, and refer back to them periodically.

2) Consider the opportunities.
Once it is clearer what you need to improve and learn, consider which route to take. There are likely to be several options, and each of them should be weighed up carefully. List all the possibilities which may be temporary or longer term, in the workplace or outside, in order to have a structured approach.

3) Set priorities.
Armed with the relevant information, review the options and decide on your priorities. In the short term, there might be an opportunity to attend an international sales conference in Singapore, for example, or to edit the company newsletter while a co-worker is on maternity leave. Take advantage of such openings, while remembering to have other goals that require longer-term application.
The priority will be to choose the assignment which has the most value. For example, if you know it is crucial to learn about managing change, choose an assignment that requires solving a specific problem or establishing a new policy.

4) Check again and get going.
After deciding which project to take on, ask yourself a few final questions. These are to clarify how you will measure progress, where you can find assistance if necessary, and what problems you should realistically anticipate. Then you just have to take the first step.
Planning is important but, ultimately, learning how to become a better leader depends on taking action.

To get the most out of a personal development plan, it is essential to look beyond the obvious. Never limit yourself to the easy options of the first ideas that come to mind. Instead, delve deeper and make use of the following guidelines:

Ask around.
Do not simply consider your own ideas. Talk to co-workers, employees and friends. Discuss your plan with them to get suggestions and different perspectives. Even if you do not agree with all the comments, take note of them. Some may not fit your short-term needs, but could be worth revisiting in the months or years ahead.

Get the boss involved.
Narrow down the list of potential assignments and discuss them with your boss. This is a good way of assessing which are the most practical and offer the best potential for learning. Some may have the additional benefit of helping the team or organisation in ways you had not foreseen. The boss may expect to know what is going on anyway, and could be instrumental in getting the assignment set up.

Plan thoroughly.
Some parts of your plan may fall into place quickly, while others will take more time and may require waiting for the right moment. Lay the groundwork so that you can take each opportunity as it arises.

To keep growing personally and professionally in a career, we need to keep seeking out new experiences which foster learning.

A new job usually forces us to develop new skills, but with a proactive approach to development, it is also possible to learn continuously in our current job.

It is largely a matter of taking the initiative, looking out for opportunities, and being prepared to accept the assignments which come along.

For 8th Year, Magazines Honor AmEx for Making Life Easier for Working Parents

Sept. 7, 2006

For the 8th consecutive year, AESC-Greensboro has been honored by Carolina Parenting magazines (Carolina Parent, Charlotte Parent, and Piedmont Parent) as one of the Top 40 North Carolina companies that excels in its commitment to family-friendly policies.

As Carolina Parenting states on its Web site, "This 'Family-Friendly 40' is always impressive because of the ways in which they help working parents achieve a balance between work and life."

The magazine editors describe the "Family-Friendly Top 40" list with these words: "As every working parent knows, balancing a successful work life with a positive home and family life can be a challenge.

"Children always wake up with ear infections on the same day as the big presentation before top management. Elderly parents frequently need care at exactly the same time as the championship soccer game. And the telephone call often comes from the boss as the car is being packed for a family weekend at the beach.

"But, for many fortunate employees, 40 companies in
North Carolina are making life easier with family-friendly policies that create a positive outcome for everyone. From major corporations with more than 50,000 employees to the corner shop with just three on the payroll, these employers are creating win-win situations. "Each year,

Carolina Parenting recognizes those companies statewide who are going the extra mile in providing family-friendly policies. To achieve this designation, a company must be nominated by an employee or employer. Applications are sent to the management department in the Belk College of Business at UNC-Charlotte, where a committee selects the winners based on a combination of compelling testimonials and overall family-friendly benefits. Annually, we are impressed with the quality of the companies and the personal testimonies given by dedicated employees. This year was no different."

As part of the nomination process to be considered for this recognition, Arne O'Brien, a project team leader in the Credit Risk Group, wrote a testimonial on how American Express' family-friendly benefits have helped him and his family balance work and life. The Carolina Parenting Web site includes the following information about Arne:

“Arne ... and his wife, Sharon, adopted a son, Devon , after a two-year adoption process. Throughout that time, the company allowed O'Brien to alter his work schedule to attend meetings with counselors, attorneys and prospective birth mothers. When Devon was born, O'Brien was allowed to take additional time off from work.

"American Express also offers adoption assistance grants, and the company awarded $2,000 to the O'Brien family.

The company also offers onsite child-care services during inclement weather. 'Without these types of work/life assistance from American Express and its leaders, our life as parents of a young boy would be completely different,' says O'Brien.

"Other benefits include health, dental and vision coverage; tuition reimbursement; scholarships for children; backup child care; school holiday child care; child-care resources; teen programs; elder care resources; flextime; part-time work; job sharing; paid maternity leave; an employee-assistance program; wellness program; mentoring program; and work/life issues task force."

Troubled HSBC Seeks Help From PR Agency

January 11, 2007

HSBC is preparing to hire a public relations agency to give it global strategic advice as it is struggles with a weak share price and difficulties in several parts of its empire.
The bank has spoken to several firms and is planning to choose one before the end of the month.
The move comes after an unusually troubled period for the UK's biggest bank. Once seen as one of the most high- quality banks in the world, it has recently come under attack from investors and analysts for its poor share price performance compared with other banks and over bad debts at its US sub-prime lender, Household.

HSBC confirmed it was talking to various PR firms. The appointment will be a significant shift for the bank. While HSBC has used PR agencies for certain projects, it has not previously taken wide-ranging strategic advice from external consultants.

The bank has been criticised for being unresponsive to the outside world. Its new chairman, Stephen Green, and chief executive, Michael Geoghegan, are trying to change that, people close to the bank said. After being promoted to chief executive last May, Mr Geoghegan visited 23 countries in August to meet staff. HSBC started speaking to PR agencies in November. This was before the publication of its third quarter earnings in December increased pressure on the bank by revealing rising bad debts in the US.

City sources said they believed that a recent spate of poor publicity has increased the urgency at the bank to seek external help.

HSBC has been under a cloud for some months. Some investors have questioned whether Mr Green was capable of stepping into the shoes of his powerful predecessor, Sir John Bond, who retired last May.

HSBC's shares have underperformed for several years and attempts to grow its investment banking business have failed to get off the ground, according to critics.

Supporters of the bank argue that just as Mr Green is under pressure now, there was similar discontent in 1998 when Sir John replaced Sir William Purves, widely believed to have been a visionary banker who created the modern HSBC.

There is a view in some quarters of the City that HSBC's tradition of promoting its chief executive to executive chairman should end with Mr Green.

Investors prefer chairmen to be non-executive and appointed from outside a company so they can be more independent.

Photo Resemblance again

a much clearer pict taken by HQ

YY's spelling

i didn't know tat YY took pictures of his writing practices for his spelling last week.

he managed to get 'mountains' rite though he told mi tat even if he write 2 million times, he still can't rem mountains.

Neopoints - 43,274,000 NP

Current Balance : 43,274,000 NP

This interest rate means that you will gain 14,820 NP per day

getting closer and closer to my goal...the stockmarket does wonders to my wealth

Petting-Zoo Precautions

Stroking the goat, feeling the lamb's wool, and ruffling the duckling's down is what a visit to the fair or petting zoo is all about.

But the thrill of the feel has a dark side, too. Animal hair, fur, and feathers may be contaminated with animal waste, which carries bacteria that can cause serious illness. Kids under 5 years are especially vulnerable, because their hands are everywhere and usually end up in their own mouth.

A good zoo will have hand-washing stations placed near every pen, with easy access for children. To play it safe, carry plenty of sanitizing gel or wipes for on-the-spot hand cleaning.

Outbreaks of Escherichia coli and Salmonella infections prompted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to issue recommendations for keeping kids healthy around farm animals. Follow the advice and your family will leave the petting zoo with nothing but happy memories.
•
Locate the hand-washing stations and use them after petting an animal or touching its pen, bedding, or straw. Wash hands again before eating or drinking.
•
If soap and water aren't available, use sanitizing hand gels or wipes.
•
Ditch the sippy cup and the pacifier while at the zoo. Kids shouldn't put anything in their mouths while interacting with animals.
•
Don't share food with animals.
•
Keep food and drinks out of animal enclosures.

YY the fotographer

both shots are taken by YY. the second shot had mi puzzled coz how in the world did YY take a foto of himself WITH the camera fone tat he's shooting wif??


den i realised he took a shot of himself IN THE MIRROR

Chinese writers barred from entering Hong Kong

Great Firewall of China ? how corny!



Monday February 5, 5:00 PM

Chinese authorities have warned off or barred more than 20 mainland writers from coming to Hong Kong for a major conference in its latest crackdown on dissent and the media, according to organisers.

International PEN, a writers' association, said banned members included renowned Chinese writer Zhang Yihe, whose "Past Stories of Peking Opera Stars" was one of eight books recently banned on the mainland.

PEN, which represents 800 members worldwide, including jailed writers and those in exile, said "more than one official" advised Zhang not to come to the former British colony although it declined to disclose their identities.

The conference, which ended Monday, was for writers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan to discuss topics including exiled and women authors, censorship, Internet publishing and copyright.

PEN said the actions by the Chinese government highlighted the issue of freedom of expression in the country.

"PEN has nine centres representing writers in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and abroad and has great respect for Chinese writers and Chinese literature," said PEN President Jiri Grusa.
"But we are very concerned by the restrictions on the writers in mainland China to write, travel and associate freely," he told reporters.

One writer, Qin Geng, had his permit rescinded and two others were denied permission to leave China despite obtaining permits in advance, PEN said.

The move came after the lifting on January 1 of some restrictions on foreign reporters, allowing them more freedom to travel ahead of next year's Beijing Olympic Games, as well as China's support for a United Nations resolution on the protection of journalists in war zones.

Yet almost at the same time, Chinese President Hu Jintao announced a new drive to control the Internet, while government censors said they were planning to step up monitoring of primetime TV.

Huang Liangtian, editor of a popular Chinese publication, "Baixing" or "Popular Masses," was fired last month after reporting widely on corruption, driving home the fact that new relaxed rules on foreign journalists do not apply to locals.

PEN's international secretary Joanne Leedom-Ackerman said China was sending out mixed messages, relaxing rules for foreign reporters yet at the same time maintaining a tight grip on local media.

Prominent Chinese journalist Gao Yu, who was jailed for seven years on the mainland for leaking state secrets, also slammed the differences in the treatment of foreign and mainland journalists.
"In this so-called harmonious society, the Chinese authorities are now trying to win understanding, help and sympathy from the international community because of the Olympics," said Gao, whose works are banned.

"Why do you prosecute reporters inside China? Why do you have such different politics and attitudes for foreign reporters and reporters in China?" she said, calling for greater press freedom in the country.

Experts say 30,000-40,000 Internet police are working on strengthening the so-called Great Firewall of China that keeps the free-flow of Internet information beyond the reach of the Chinese people.

Although Reporters Without Borders said there had been some improvements, it still ranks China 163rd out of 167 countries on its global press freedom index.

Neopoints

Current Balance : 43,031,000 NP

This interest rate means that you will gain 14,737 NP per day

i was updating my spreadsheet for calculating when i'll reach my goal of earning 15,000NP daily from interest when i realised tat i'm onli 769,000 NPs away from my target of 43,800,000NP.

my stock portfolio is worth more den 1 mil NP at the moment so i can actualli reach my goal anytime tat i wana!

wow! when i first started tis tracking back in sep 04, i had 18,549,500NP in the bank.

i m finally gonna attain my target tis yr!

i'll not sell my portfolio juz to reach tis goal sooner coz my principal is not to sell any stock worth less den 40NP per share.

Bathroom spring cleaning

started clearing my bathroom shelf at midnite and the operation took an hr.

can't believe how much toiletries i haf ! mum & bro came by and saw mi in action. mum commented tat almost all the toiletries belong to mi while bro said everyone uses communal toiletries eg. bath foam and shampoo but i always got something different

sigh! it's tough being a woman! i've got makeup remover, facial cleansing gel, scrub, mask and scores of other stuff each boasting of miraculous properties.

and i haf invaded my mum's dressing table completely wif my skincare and make up.

in keeping to my new yr resolution, i m trying to finish some of the stuff and stop buying more...abit hard when i go HK but i'll try to get onli make up.

i rem seeing a bookmark tat YY brought back from sch. it's from the ministry of trade & finance and it tells us to keep 2 wks worth of food supplies at home for emergency.

we haf plenty of food in stock eg. rice, noodles and some canned food.

but i tink we haf enuff toiletries to last 1 yr at least, excluding toilet rolls.

i tink cleaning is addictive coz i m so proud of my attempt at the bathroom tat i'm going to start on taking stock of my makeup and skincare now.

Wat makes mi happy

The kiddos....and my fav beancurd....keke

Soon, Plastic for the People

January 23, 2007

Banking Act changes give lower-income access to unregulated, limited credit

Some people have Gold, others have Platinum, and a few have Titanium. But the average- to lower-income Singaporean will soon have $500.

In credit access, that is.

There may not be a name for it yet, but cards granting up to $500 in credit could soon line the pockets of Singaporeans who do not qualify for existing credit cards.

The way was paved for this new kind of credit product when Parliament approved changes to the Banking Act yesterday.

The new laws exempt cards with small credit amounts from regulation, and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has set the ceiling at $500. Also exempt are cards of any credit value issued by individual vendors. For example, Isetan and Courts issue cards to their customers for purchases in a deferred payment scheme.

"This allows flexibility in payments for small-ticket items without raising substantial concerns about Singaporeans spending beyond their means," MAS deputy chairman Lim Hng Kiang told MPs.

However, the exemptions set off some alarm bells in the House yesterday.

MP Inderjit Singh (Ang Mo Kio GRC), one of two MPs to speak on the changes, was concerned that the regulations did not cover enough ground. Ready credit loans, for example, were not part of the scope of the amended Act. Mr Singh pointed to the debt cycle that many credit-card holders get into when they use one card to pay off the debts of another card.

When he heard of the changes, financial advisor Leong Sze Hian also thought the rules should be tighter. "Someone can go to one bank and get $500 in credit, go to another bank for another $500, and 10 banks later, it's not a small amount anymore. I should go and buy bank stocks tomorrow," he said.

Indeed, the banks are considering the prospects of a $500 credit card.

"We'll study the feasibility of this new market segment. We need more details first. For example, is there a minimum income requirement?" DBS spokesperson Jenny Lee told Today.

The product could thrive on volume, which means the more Singaporeans who use these cards, the better for the banks.

"Lower amounts mean less exposure for the creditor," said Mr Leong.

In response to Mr Singh's speech in Parliament, Mr Lim said the law needed to strike a balance, so that cash-strapped Singaporeans did not run to loan sharks for money - a point which Mr Singh conceded, although he told Today the situation needs to be monitored so that it does not go the way of the credit card debt spiral.

Otherwise, the changes to the regulation of credit were tightened under the Act to empower MAS to prohibit entities that have not been approved to issue credit cards here from soliciting or accepting card applications in Singapore. These include foreign credit card companies not based in Singapore, for example. Third parties cannot act on their behalf, either.

Under the new laws, MAS will be empowered to inspect the operations of approved card issuers for compliance with MAS' rules pertaining to credit card operations. "The wide-ranging prohibition on solicitation supports the Government's social policy objectives of discouraging individuals from spending beyond their means," said Mr Lim.

Peacock

peacock sighting at sentosa!

so beautiful!

Top 10 Valentine's Ideas from MyPoints

1) Spoil your sweetie with a luxurious spa treatment.

2) Plan the perfect date! Order your movie tickets online.

3) Find romantic music to set the mood this Valentine's Day.

4) Send a box of fine chocolate to satisfy your sweetheart's sweet tooth.

5) Make it an unforgettable Valentine's Day — plan a vacation for two!

6) Dazzle your special someone with the gift of jewelry.

7) Buy a book of poetry to show how you really feel.

8) Find the perfect keepsake and engrave it with your names.

9) Set a romantic mood by choosing a bottle of wine.

10) Snuggle with your honey under a warm blanket.

Photo Resemblance

HQ had a startling discovery....we gers had the same formation in the foto taken at ros' wedding as the foto taken on her birthday celebration at her parents' shop at Boon Tat Street taken in 2002. It's a group shot with all 8 guys and 6 of us gals.

and i framed up tis foto and it has pride of place on my desk.

In that shot on the front row, from left to right was Mun, Moi, HQ, Ros, YT, LK...
In this attached photo, we girls were exactly in the same arrangement with the female bear representing Ros.

We even have the same V shape formation and Ros, is like hiding behind HQ...so cute

Yummy Noodles

No lah, i didn't haf the noodles tdy.

tis was 2 wks back at ajisen when i met HQ to discuss our strategy for ros' wedding.

the noodles at 别府 is much spicer lor