My Confession : Ben Stein

Someone recently send me an email about something Ben Stein wrote. I find it very correct & meanfully. Please read & consider.

The following was written by Ben Stein and recited by him on CBS Sunday Morning Commentary.
My confession:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees.It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a crèche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away. I don't like getting pushed around for being a Jew, and I don't think Christians like getting pushed around for being Christians. I think people who believe in God are sick and tired of getting pushed around, period. I have no idea where the concept came from that America is an explicitly atheist country. I can't find it in the Constitution and I don't like it being shoved down my throat.Or maybe I can put it another way: where did the idea come from that we should worship Nick and Jessica and we aren't allowed to worship God as we understand Him? I guess that's a sign that I'm getting old, too. But there are a lot of us who are wondering where Nick and Jessica came from and where the America we knew went to.In light of the many jokes we send to one another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not intended to be a joke; it's not funny, it's intended to get you thinking.Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something like this happen?" (regarding Katrina) Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful response.She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"In light of recent events...terrorists attack, school shootings, etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she was murdered, her body found recently) complained she didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said OK. Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school. The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and love your neighbor as yourself. And we said OK.Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our children when they misbehave because their little personalities would be warped and we might damage their self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said an expert should know what he's talking about. And we said OK.Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and themselves.Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP WHAT WE SOW." Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says. Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing. Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is suppressed in the school and workplace.Are you laughing?Funny how when you forward this message, you will not send it to many on your address list because you're not sure what they believe, or what they will think of you for sending it.Funny how we can be more worried about what other people think of us than what God thinks of us.Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it... no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought process, don't sit back and complain about what bad shape the world is in.
My Best Regards.
Honestly and respectfully,
Ben Stein

Facebook

Recently I signed up for facebook after much persuasion from my friends. Tried signing up from my office but failed. So finally, one fine day, I finally signed up at home. Hehehe
Then I tried signing in from my office computer and I can sign in!!! Huh.. Weird that I cannot sign up from my office yet I can sign in... Don't care... As long as I can use it in office I will not complain!! Heheheehehe
Boy do I understand why some company block facebook on their internet network. It is VERY addictive. Especially if you have friends that are always online. I was playing scissor paper stone with a friend and having water fights with others. At the same time, I was also biting, fighting with friends vampire, werewolfs, zombies and slayers. Hahahaha. Of course, there are also gifts to exchanges, notes to write & hugs, cuddles, poke to do to friends. So fun. But its a bit messy. So it take some getting use to the format of facebook.
Yeah well, so I have no idea whether I will continue updating blog during my office hour. Think I will be in facebook more often than not during office hour. Hahahahah
Byebye... Facebook here I come

Health

To all my friends, family, colleagues, etc :
Please take care of your health.

I went to visit a friend of mine at the hospital yesterday evening. She just went for an operation yesterday morning. Thank goodness everything went well & she will be discharge tomorrow to recover at home.

Another friend of mine also just went for a scan yesterday morning. Luckily for her, the report came back as healthy. Scare me only. Coz one just went for operation!! They have similar symptom but I dare not tell her. I don't want to give my friend additional worry.

Last words: Please go for yearly check up if you can afford it. (Claim from company would be the best Hahahaha)

Cats' Day Out

I went to stay overnight at my sister home yesterday as she needs to bring her two 'four legged monsters' to the vet today.
As I never went to the vet with them before, I do not know what kind of experience it will be. Would it be a hassle to trick them into their carrier & will they give us problem like when my sister bath them? (One of them will usually hide til she thought we have given up to bath her)

In the end, it turn out to be joke. My sister has three carrier. A big one where it can carry both cats, a bag that can carry the smaller cat & a medium size carrier. My sister decided that we are to use the bag as well as the medium size carrier as it will be easier for both of us. So she brought out the medium carrier, opened the door & left it in the living room. Then she bring the bag to the kitchen with the smaller cat, Soilei. She then uses cat treats to trick her into the bag. Very easy with minimum fuss. Except when she finishes her treat & realised that she cannot get out of the bag. Then she started meowing. Rather surprising as she is the quiet one.

After capturing Soilei, we went to the living room, with the intention of luring the bigger cat, Lune, to the carrier. Well, curiousity kills the cat. She saw the carrier opened & went to check out what it was. Hahahahahaha No fuss, no problem. My sister immediately close the door & kept her in the carrier. So funny. But she immediately started meowing when she saw the door being close. I can't stop laughing at that. Poor girl. At least her sister gotten treats.

Selamat Hari Raya

I forgot that today is Hari Raya. For those who are not familiar with Muslim culture, today is their new year.
One word to describe today - Food!! Hahahaha
I was woken up by my mom early this morning (I slept at 3+) to get ready to go a friend house. & because I slept real early this morning, I was going like... "Can I don't go?" & I got scolded. Blame my short term memory ok. I totally forgot that today was a public holiday. Must go back office & credit everyone with one day leave.
Anyway, mom & me met my sister, bro-in-law & baby niece to go together to a muslim friend house. Food.... Hehehehe She catered from a indian muslim caterer & the food was quite good. One special dish - bindi fry ( Fried ladyfinger)
This taste very very good. I don't eat ladys' finger. But I had to try this as everyone was saying that this is good. & I must say I don't regret trying it.

After that, we went to my malay grand auntie home for dinner. Hehehehe More food. Heeheheh
This time, it's home cooked food. I love going to my malay auntie home for meals. She & my grand uncle are very good cooks & they make very good rendang, archa, dahcha & the fried chicken (forgot the name) hehehehe Yummy.... There is also the cakes & biscuits.
& as per normal malay behaviour, we tabao some back Hahahaha. For tomorrow lunch perhaps

Rose Veranda ~ The One Hundred & One Tea of Shangri-La

Oh yeah... I'd applied for another half day leave today after yesterday. Still not happy about my boss. But... today was actually to go out with my sister for high tea for my birthday (On Tuesday) & after that, to fetch my mom at the airport. She's back today from her 4D3N Macau.

Anyway, today post will be about the Rose Veranda. Both of us love the service at Shangri-La. All the staff that we encounter are just so attentive & helpful. The place is also very.. hmmm.. I can't think of another word but classy & rich. Very taitai. Hahahaha. What do you expect? It's Shangri-La you know.

My sister & I were both very impress with one of the waiter there. Or was he the manager? Not too sure. Anyway, what happen was that my sister just finish feeding my niece & needed to wash the milk bottle. He noticed that my sister was holding on to the bottle & was looking for something (toilet). So he asked my sister & then volunteer to wash the bottle for my sister. Of course he probable took it to the kitchen for them to wash. But when he return us the bottle, it was washed & very warm. That means, it has probable been washed with hot water, thus sterilized. Hahaha. No need for us to wash with hot water again. Hehehehe I love hotel services.

Opps.... Too much on that. Anyway, on with Rose Veranda. The food there was alright. Not much selection but most of the food taste very good. The highlight of my whole experience there, the tea. Yes they really have 101 type of teas for you to try. But we manage to only try 6 different type of teas between the both of us. I must say, out of the 6, only 1 does not go well with me. Might be the tea that I had drank before that cup does not really go well with that.

In total, I tried the rooibos (??? forget spelling) tea, Mun da, Peach Blossom & I forgot the last tea I had. Hahahaha It was order by my sister & came in a pot so we shared that. We had a choice between a cup or a pot. We ordered all our tea in a cup so that we can try different flavors. The experience there was wonderful. The cost? I think it is about $40 per pax. My sister refuse to let me see the bill. But overall, I think that it is worth the experience.

What can I say... I wanna go there again!!

(Must look for a rich boyfriend/hunsband to support this habit Wahahahahaha)

Taking Leave

I'm so angry with my boss..........
Previously when I went for interview for my current job, I told my boss that I am still studying & that I will need to take leave for exams & studies.
Know what happen today? This morning, some last minute things came up & I cannot defer it to later or the weekend. Not a problem, I thought. I can apply for leave... So I sms my boss & another colleague telling them that I have something urgent that I need to attend to today & have to apply for a full day leave.
KNN... After 15 mins later, my boss reply my sms. Can you arrange your personal things on weekends. Try to come in in the afternoon. Cannot take full day leave. WTF!?!?!?! How do you expect me to go for my exams then?
Actually I have been arranging a lot of personal meetings during lunch hours or after office hours. And now he tells me to not take leave for personal things?!?! Going overboard boss.... You know that I am going for exams & now you tell me not to take full day leave?
Well, I have prepare my resignation letter. Just need the effective date. Good luck boss.

Birthday Bash

Yeah... My birthday is coming.. Hehehehe

Ya, we do celebrate birthday even at the ripe old age of ** (edited Wahahahaha)

Actually we have been celebrating a rash of birthdays. First my cousin, then my brother-in-law & now me. Next month is my mom's birthday.

My Cousin's Cake My Jie Fu's Cake

Anyway, my Mom will be cooking for me (Same for my cousin & bro-in-law) & tonight we had pesto pasta, potato salad, chicken mushroom brocoli soup, come kind of pork dish (Very yummy & good), baked mussels, chicken wings, salmon finger food & tomato finger food. Yummy.. I think I have gain a few kg today. Hahahaha
Oh.. I too have a cake. From my cousin (But I'm not too sure who paid for it. Heehehehe) But I have forgetten my camera. Sad.. Otherwise there will be more photos.

More food tomorrow with my poly friends. Oh dear..... I think I will gain at least a few kg this weekend alone.

Must go gym already

Movie ~ Part 2

Finally I went to watch Ratat..... The rat movie yesterday. I can't remember the spelling of the movie. Don't blame me. If I am not wrong, it is a name of a french dish. French!! How am I suppose to remember the spelling of anything French when my spelling is lousy? Furthermore it's French food.

Anyway, I went to watch with a friend from my previous company. We have been saying that we wanted to watch a movie together from past year (or is it before that) til I have left the company. Finally a movie that both of us wanted to watch. But, because the show is about finish its run, it's so difficult to find a convienent show time for both of us. Luckily for us, there is still Cathay. The AMK Hub has a show time at 7.15 yesterday. But it's at AMK... So far from my home. In the end, I bunked over at my sister home again! Thus, the shortage of appropriate office wear today. (I'm wearing JEANS (on a thursday!) & my sister blouse again. Heheehe)

Hmm... Out of topic again! Ok Ok.. Back to the movie.
Too bad it's finishing it's run. Its quite a good movie. It's a must watch if you like cartoons from Disney. It's quite funny. I love the part where the rats took over the kitchen. It is sooo funny. Oh! & the part where the rat & garbage boy is trying out the co-ordination to cook. And the part where he was trying to cook the mushroom with cheese but was strike by lightning. And the part where the cupboard figures of the 5star chef started talking. And, and, and I better stop here or I will be talking about the whole movie out of sequence instead. Heheheehe. That is how much I like the show :) But really, the last part was also quite humourous with a touch of irony. The food critic, Ego, opened a restuarant with the female cook & the rat! And the sign of the bistro is a rat wearing a chef hat. Hehehehe. The irony of that.. A rat cooking. Hehehehe Of course, a cartoon by Disney would have it's sentimental moments and the villians.
My last words? Ernest go buy the VCD so that I can watch when I'm over your place. Hehehehee

Chelsea ~ Tribute to Jose??

To all EPL fans, Chelsea fans & those who like to watch soccer as well:

I was on the way to work this morning listerning to class 95 when i heard this spoof of london bridge courtesy of Glenn Ong:
Stamford bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down
Stamford bridge is falling down withdown Mourinho.
Who the he** is Avram Grant, Avram Grant, Avram Grant
Who the **ll is Avram Grant, he looks like a couch potato

Hahahhahaha

Reminds me of the muttons spoof on Jose only. Hear it on podcast 987 21Sep07