What Gen Y Really Wants

We named those new 20 something as Gen-Y. For these new20-something workers, the line between work and home doesn’t really exist. They just want to spend their time in meaningful and useful ways no matter where they are. Many Gen X workers (30-something) are opting out of long hours. More than half of Gen Y’s new graduates move back to their parents’ home after collecting their degrees, and that cushion of support gives them the time to pick the job they really want. Taking time off to travel is used to be a resume red flag: today it’s a learning experience. They grew up on the Internet and they know how to launch a viable online business. Facebook is another example of college dorm project. Friendship is a strong motivator for them that Gen Y workers will choose a job just to be with their friends.

Are you a Gen X or Gen Y?

Mao’s Burger

It’s so delicious! Finally taste it at APM citysuper food court.

I have heard that the most expensive hamburger in Hong Kong is in Inter-continental Hotel. It cost you HK$1,288! Who is going to treat me?

Tennis on Every Sunday

I am playing tennis at Wong Tai Sin on every Sunday 10:00am. It’s hot and sunny but it is good exercise for my mind and body. I am not a very good player, still learning! Would you like to join together? Drop me a call or email!

Obama’s Viral marketing campaign “Small Change for Big Change”


Small does matter! Internet does matter! Illinois Senator provided that small donors really matter. At least 9,500 supporters have launched personal fund-raising websites to solicit campaign donations from their family and friends. More than $10 million of Obama’s second quarter contributions were made online and 90% of them were in increments of $100 or less.

Obama held an online raffle in which those who gave at least $5 could win a chance to be part of a dinner for five with Obama. Not surprisingly other candidates are now beginning to focus more on small donors and new ways of reaching them. John Edward’s presidential operation has raised thousands by harvesting 13,000 cell-home numbers from people at campaign rallies.

Browse here for Obama's campaign page

Information Overload

One of my duty is to make our website more usable and more user-friendly. Usability is about how we interact with information in everyday, whether it's internet world or real daily life.

I shoot this photo in a fast food restaurant near my home. It remind me that more information may just means less information that people can digest and understand. Less and structured information is the key to communicate the message out.

Fashionweek 2007

Chairman Mao's Car

Enjoy the Ride

There may be times of storm and peace. The most important is to enjoy the ride, with full commitment and yet considerate, helpful and patient mind to go forward.

07-07-07

7 is the lucky number for gamblers, but also for believers. There were the seven days of creation in Bible, seven heavens and earths in Islam. Not to mention all the other big sevens, from Snow White's dwarfs to the hills of Rome. Here are some ways people do:

Nuptials
Wedding site www.Theknot.com says 31,000 US couples will marry, more than twice the average of a July Saturday.

Environment
Live Earth, Al Gore's global-awareness concert series, takes the stage for 24 hours of music in eight countries

Seven Wonders
Results has been announced for the global poll of what the seven wonders are.

Revival
Up to 100,000 people gathered for thew Call Nashville, a festival for prayers and fasting at the Tennessee Titians' football stadium

Pet Video

Selection from Youtube again, the world's most popular video sharing website. If you're a pet lover, you'll enjoy it.

Browse here

Best Notepad

I have been looking for a good note pad for a while. The note pad should be small enough with a pen holder for bring around to note down any ideas and thoughts. Recently I had purchased the "Zeitvektor" which is a compact one, featured with synthetic leather and colourful cover. It's price is modest. I am still not sure this is the one I settled. Let's use it to prove it.

Any good recommendation?

Browse here to see at the bottom

Sharing of the Top

I'd had a chance to join a dinner with the senior managers and directors. I remember a director's word very clearly. Everyone has weakness and short-comings. That's human and that doesn't mind. The key is to understand your weakness and work hard to improve it. The biggest enemy is not your weakness but your laziness. Just quote his case. He is not good at presentation and therefore he keeps practice before he goes out for a public presentation.

It's time to catch up my mandarin again!

Travel to Spain and Portugal (2007)

Click here for photo gallery

Where is Eugene?

I have been busy around. Yet finally I have taken my annual leave and have a relax holiday in Spain and Portugal. Now I am back to the real life. Will share with you photo shortly :-)

Queen of Cuisine (cont'd)

6. Believe you can succeed Anyone can have a positive outlook when things are going well. Being resilient and able to tough out hard times often makes you realise that you can make do with a lot less than you think and forces you to be creative with problem solving

7. Everything is a learning experience You could have the most well thought out plan in the world, but things beyond your control can toss the plan out. Don't give up. Remember that most overnight success take seven to 10 years.

8. Keep things in perspective When my family in New Orleans lost everything after Hurricane Katrina, I realised that a lots of things I though were major problem really weren't I keep a grounded perspective in business. You win some, you lose some.

9. Get a life All work and no play can lead to serious burnout. One of my clients once told me - if you need to take some time off, just say no. It is important to find time to recharge and relax.

10. Take the plunge No guts no glory. You have to stop dipping your toes in the water and jump in the pool. The scary thing about going into business for yourself is that you are taking a risk.

Queen of Cuisine

Lori Granito, who runs Go-Gourmet and Magnolia, proves that hardships can be overcome but rishs have to be taken. Ten Things to learn:

1. Take care of your staff People are your best asset. I wouldn't be anywhere without them. If you want them to look after your customers, you have to look after them first. Remember that they represent your company to the public at large. I try to hire people with enthusiasm, energy, and maturity, not necessarily people with the most experience.

2. Transform your clients from passive buyers to true believers Focus on going above and beyond all the time, creating an army of customer advocates. I treat every customer's events as though it were my own because I know that passionate customers can transform your business.Loyal customers are created through experiences with you, your product and your company.

3. Be genuine Don't try to force relationships with your clients and don't overwhelm them with too much information or too many offers. Try to find ways to engage them.

4. Don't compete with your competitors Know what your competitor is doing, but don't try to compete with them on price or item by item. Find out what your unique selling position is, focus on executing it to the best of your ability and seek ways to constantly improve on what you do. Your biggest competitor should be yourself.

5. Win the battle you're in While our company has several different revenue streams, we always keep an eye on our core business. Trying to take on too many new challenges can dilute your ability focus on the battle that's right in front of you.

to be continued...

Hong Kong Gifts and Premium Fair

Managing Stress

• Learn to breathe : Take a really deep breath and hold it for a moment before breathing out through your mouth. Exhale slowly as you count 10 or 15. Focus on relaxing your stomach and shoulder muscles as you breathe out.
• Take one-minute vacation: Pick a favourite mental image, such as holiday location or the face of a loved one. Practise brining this image to mind whenever you need to relax. Give yourself a full minute to enjoy the positive feelings associate with the image.
• Relax your muscles: Tense muscles stop your breathing deeply, so stretch regularly to allow your body and mind to loosen up.
• Expend some energy: An overstimulated brain is programmed to fight or flee - it wants activity. Give your body a chance to use this pent-up energy by walking around the office, as a short-term solution, and making regular exercise a part of your routine.
  

志蓮淨苑

Adobe Lightroom

Recently I discovered a new photo editing and management software called Adobe Lightroom. It is designed with Adobe photoshop CS3 technology, yet from a photographer workflow point of view. It is very user friendly, especially if you really went into darkroom before.

Browse Here

Hong Kong Electronic Fair (Spring Edition)

This April is the most busy month for us. While most people are enjoying the weekend, I am actually working during Saturday and Sunday at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Although my survey project is s small one compared to other team-mates, it still a demanding month where we work for many consecutive weekends without a rest. While most people may prefer a relax day by staying at office, I actually prefer to work at the trade fairs where I can directly interact with the operation colleagues and facing the customers. It is extremely important to get in touch with customer face to face to hear their comments and feedback!

Google Acquired DoubleClick

Google has purchased DoubleClick at US$3.1 billion to acquire DoublickClick's network of advertisers and web publishers.

You all know Google is good at Text Ad but not display / rich media - video / graphical advertising. This is a very good strategic and synergistic move for Google to expand their product service offerings.

The internet world changes so fast. DoubleClick, owned by private equity firm Hellman & Friedman and JMI Equity and management. Last year DoubleClick sell out it's newsletter engine to Epsilon and quickly acquired by Google this year. It so obvious the core assets of DoubleClick is not newsletter broadcast tool where you can pick up any competitors product around, it is their advertiser networks and products that counts.

"By working together, we're going to be able to offer a variety of tools for advertisers to do better Internet targeting," said Susan Wojcicki, a vice president of product management with Google, speaking on a conference call with reporters. "Advertisers will be able to spend more and be able to make rational decisions about how they are spending their ad dollars."

See Industry Comment

See Google Official Press Release

Best Ways to Manage from the Middle

Middle level manager always sustain higher pressure than others. I've tried to aggregate some management tips from what I've read so far:

• Get away from the desk and talk to employees at all levels
• Understand and train subordinates and help them to understand the bigger picture
• Understand the business, not just my own business or areas of work
  
• Do not forget personal prioritites
• Network with other fellow managers

Sotheby's Spring Auction

Just by chance visited the Sothebe's Spring Auction. My first time visited the Auction in person. It is an interesting and exciting experience to see a painting started with HK$2 million bided up to HK$4 million in 3 minutes. More importantly, there are many famous contemporary Chinese painting, it's worth a visit indeed.

Browse here

Thanks iPod!

This is an interesting story I read from the internet. Kevin Garrad was on a street patrol in Iraq and as he rounded the corner of a building an armed AK47 insurgent came from the other size. The two of them within just a few feed of each other when they opened fire. The insurgent was killed and Kevin was hit in the left chest where his iPod was in his pocket. . It slowed the bullet down enough that it did not completely penetrate his body armor. Fortunately, Kevin suffered no wound.
Kevin could send his iPod back to Apple for repairing. By the way, could solders listen to iPod when they're on duty?

Check out here

Otters Holding Hands

My friends always ask me whether there is interesting video clips in you tube. Here I recommend this - one of the top 10 in the last two weeks that attracted over 1.5 million clicks. It shoot in Vancover where two Otters holding their little hands together. Even though the water drive them apart, they get awake and grasp each other hands again. Otters are used to stick together to prevent sea wave driving them apart Yet, the video is so touching and adorable!

Browse here

Mobile Advertisement

Although it has been early 30 years since the first commercial cellular phone network was launched, advertisers have yet to figure out how to get their messages out to mobile phone users in a big way. There are 2.2 billion cell-phone subscribers worldwide, with 25% annual growth rate each year. yet spending on ads over cellular networks is just $1.5 billion worldwide, a fraction of the $424 billion global ad market.

Technical obstacles like handset technology, network bandwidth, screen sizes make the advertising campaign complicated. Even more, customers are hostile to their personal phones suddenly barraged with pictures and advertisement. Countries like US. Singapore, India and China are now considering regulating these commercials.

Imagine..korean teenagers send on average 66 text messages a day. They have higher emotional attachment to their mobile than to their mothers. Once the consumer are convinced with the benefits, the market is here!

尋找快樂2

快樂唔係賜予架，而係自己選擇返黎架。

你明唔明？可能會有好多人唔同意，可能會有好多人用好多好多好多例子去駁我，如果你會駁既，得罪講句，咁你唔明囉。呢個世界有太多可能，咩都可以發生。今日既你幾唔妥幾唔掂幾灰都好，冇所謂，最緊要你選擇相信一切都有可能，一切都會變得好既。

尋找快樂

1) 你會唔會做一份人工高，但係要你犧牲九成私人時間既工？
2) 一份工作裡面，最能夠俾到你滿足感既又係d乜？ 金錢？受人尊重？工作性質？抑或仲有其他？
3) 工作同事業，響你既人生裡面，佔幾重要既位置？
4) 你有冇試過覺得鬱鬱不得志？有既話，你又覺得問題同原因響邊度？

杯子與水的哲學

有一次，我們幾個分別了多年的同學相約去拜訪大學的老師。老師很高興，問我們生活得怎麼樣。

不料，一句話就勾出了大家的滿腹牢騷，大家紛紛訴說著生活的不如意：

工作壓力大呀，生活煩惱多呀，做生意的商戰失利呀，當官的仕途受阻呀…彷彿大家都成了時代的棄兒。

老師笑而不語，從廚房拿出一大堆杯子，擺在茶儿上。這些杯子各式各樣，形態各異，有瓷器的，有玻璃的，有塑膠的，有的杯子看起來豪華而高貴，有的則顯得普通而簡陋……

老師說：「大家都是我的學生，我就不把你們當客人看了。你們要是渴了，就自己倒水喝吧。」七咀八舌，大家說得口乾舌燥了，便紛紛拿了自己看中的杯子倒水喝。

等我們手都端了一杯水時，老師又發言了。他指著茶儿上剩下的杯子說：「你們有沒有發現，你們手上的杯子，是最好看，最別緻的杯子，而像這些塑膠杯沒有人選中它。」

當然，我們並不覺得奇怪，誰都希望自己拿著的是一隻好看的杯子。老師說:「這就是你們煩惱的根源」大家需要的是水，而非杯子，但我們有意無意地會去選擇漂亮的杯子。這就如我們的生活．．．如果生活是水的話，那麼，工作、金錢、地位，這些東西就是杯子，它們只是我們盛起生活之水的工具。

其實，杯子的好壞，並不影響水的品質。如果將心思花在杯子上，大家還有心情去品嘗水的苦甜，這不就是自尋煩惱嗎？

Photo Hunting

Just saw this CD album at the CD shop. Very nice collection packing. Did you notice anything go wrong?

Observe and Change

Learn from the meditation class tonight. We're always in the changing status. We are happy this moment but we will be unhappy the next moment.

We should be observe and aware of our feelings and emotions. By observing our emotion, we can decide how to react to things happening around us. We can decide to follow our behavioral habits but we always have the choice to change and use other ways to deal with. We may be buffed by some unreasonable words. We look at our angry feelings, we can decide to react with angry words or choose to listen, accept and accommodate.

Oscar on the Web

Last week YouTube organized the best online video voting campaign, allowing us to vote for :

• The best creative award
  
• The best inspiring award
  
• The best short movie award
  
• The best comedy award
• The best music award
  
• The best commentary award
  
• The best animals award
  

There is no traditional best actor, nor best actress nor best director awards. So have you casted your voted? Will the "Bus Uncle" get the best comedy awards?

The results have been announced. Check out here

我是最後知道的一個 CK思祺

曲詞：劉祖德 唱：CK思祺

沒有埋怨投訴太多
沒有埋怨動了肝火
事事亦為我好
或你對我實太傻
即使我做錯 亦當沒錯
總�|在維護我

* 無人像你這麼伴我
常為我多辛苦奔波
疲倦發呆 都�|來陪我 同哼愛歌
誰能料你根本弄錯
然後你終於明白在找甚麼
原來我是最後知道的一個

沒法離去 唯有再拖
或有情愫未計清楚
事實上待我好
就算錯愛又怎麼
即使你沒法 為我承諾
一世來維護我

知道今世不能沒你的是我
唯有接受這麼錯

Woo......
仍是往來 不間斷陪我 回憶更多
為何是一開始就錯
然後你終於明白在找 找甚麼
原來我是最後知道的一個

Last week I shopped by the CD shop, just picked up a CD cover that seems interesting - a local artist named CK , titled "Perfect Disorder" whom I didn't know and never heard of. I just bought it and surprisingly, it is a very high quality CD. Good music, good lyrics and good performance. This is her first CD. CK voice is mature and touching, with the street band sound touch. In particular I like this song.

Listen

Browse CK Official Web Site

Busy Busy Days

I just cannot recall when I started my busy life at TDC? Is it a month ago? half years ago? or the day when I first join TDC and I have never get an easy life?

I leave my office on tonight, the quiet Friday night. Do you know when the "Delifrance" at the lobby closed at night?

My Team


This is a snap shoot of my team. We have been working hard and playing hard. Indeed, I will probably die with tones of works and pressure, without the jokes and fun of my team-mates. Thanks so much!

Let's take a break, should we!


PS. Do you recognize my handwriting on the white board in the background? Do you know if there is any class to teach how to write in white board? I need some training to make my characters recognizable :-D

Entertainment Expo

As I film lovers, it is my first time to visit the Entertainment Expo - Filmart and Asian Film Forum. The film posters and the moody visual bring me out of the earth for a while.

I start to see the advertisement for the Hong Kong SAR Chief Executive Donald Tsang everywhere. It reads " I'll get the job done". I am always wondering about this statement. Isn't that something that we should do, whatever the job that we takes or the roles we perform? We don't need to spell it out as we should always be committed to our works and our lives? It should be something like "default" set, rather than a election slogan?

This should be the statement that we judge after 5 years later. Let's keep an eye on it.

Eugene, will you get your job done?

Photo Day

It was an wonderful experience to hang out with my photo gangs and shot the night scene of Hong Kong. Initially I was worried that it just keep raining in the early afternoon but then the rain actually clear up the moody and cloudy sky. The night of Hong Kong is so clear and tranquil. With such a group of passionate friends in such a magic night! What a night!

Visit to Hong Kong Observatory

Wow,I am so lucky to get the chance to visit Hong Kong Observatory organised by the TDC United. It is a warm and breezy day. It is an eye-opening exercise to understand more about HKO history and daily work and also the conserved natural environment surrounding the Observatory. Just can't imagine the little backyard forest in Tsim Shat Tsui, and more interesting tips. HKO Director just live by his office!

研究：咖啡不能提神 (明報) 03月 07日 星期三 05:10AM

不少人以為飲咖啡可提神，但英國布里斯托大學的最新醫學研究顯示，常飲咖啡的人，因晚上睡覺時沒有咖啡到肚，會出現「咖啡因戒斷徵狀」，而早上第一杯咖啡，能緩和上述徵狀，反映
廣 告

咖啡並無醒腦作用，只是將注意力拉回到正常水準，事實上沒有任何提神效用。

依賴咖啡因 起後不適

這份在英國營養基金會會議發表的研究報告指出，經常飲咖啡的人，有依賴咖啡因的情，而在一夜睡眠後，體內的咖啡因刺激素減少，出現包括頭痛、睏倦等「咖啡因戒斷徵狀」，起後喝下的第一杯咖啡不過是緩和這些不舒服的徵狀，故咖啡只是將人的注意力回升至正常水平，並無提神作用。

Usability Workshop

I am so lucky to get the chance to join the "Fundamental Guidelines for Web Usability" workshop by Jakob Nielsen, Hoa Loranger and Kara Pernice Coyne. Jakob is the usability guru and advocate. I am his fan for many years. It is an eye opening and amazing experience to see how the eye tracking research and video. It is also a good break from the busy life.

Browse here for more details

Introduction to Meditation


I have joined a 10 week course titled "Introduction to Meditation". Last Thursday is my first class. My original thought is: the coach will teach us some technique to focus and concentrate our mind. Instead, our coach teach us the relaxation technique borrowed from Yoga discipline to help us to relax ourselves. The meditation is actually the last few minutes after half hours body workout.

So never consider meditation is a mind-only exercise. It is the results of mind-and-body concentration and rest.

Welcome Comments

I just did not realize when transferring my blog to the new blogger, the comments section has been restored to default where users need to register with a gmail or blogger account in order to express comments.

Thanks Zoe for reading my blog and let me know. Feel free to drop me any comments, thoughts and feelings!

Sleeping with Fever

I've got a cold on Friday and keep sleeping this weekend. Hope to recharge to full speed quickly before going back to work on Monday again.

Welcome to the Mac World

Finally I have gone my Mac Notebook. It is the first time I own my own Mac. I really want to own a Mac notebook when I start my first job in Microsoft, but it was too expensive for me. It's the best gift to celebrate my two years stay at TDC. It is also a new learning and usability experience for me to use Max OS 10 Tiger.

愛將

伙計同愛將唔同。伙計響公司，主要係幫你做野。佢付出勞力，你付出金錢，大家彼此尊重，維持一個良好既關係，就算唔錯架啦。

愛將唔同。愛將會分擔你響公司之內遇到既事，工事上佢會share你個mind，你會俾佢感受你感受到既野。點解佢會成為你既愛將呢？就係因為佢不但可以感受到你感受既野，佢仲懂得base on你既感受，你既性格同你既處事方法，去幫你解決問題。處理每一個問題既時候，亦懂得去考慮你既立場同處境。佢地未必係好聰明既Staff，不過，佢地同你有一種特別既默契，所以佢幫你處理問題既時候，零舍合你心水。簡單講，即係夾。

不過現實係，即使愛將同你關係幾好幾密切，佢地都一樣有自己既路要行。佢地響事業上可能要有突破，可能要結婚生仔，總之，愛將，一樣會有同你「分手」既一日。情侶都唔係啤啤會天場地久，何況伙計？

Nam Sham Science Park

On the Scene

by Lu Ping (Taiwan's Cultural Ambassador to Hong Kong)

• Don't accept what people say at face value. Be curious, dig deeper and try to find out the truth yourself
• We learn about the experiences of different people from the media. They all reflect something about life and can help us see ourselves from new perspectives.
• Don't allow yourself to be typecast. We should dare to go againts others' expectations and to be ourselves.

將來

辭唔辭職係唔係因為經唔起考驗呢，有時好難有一個客觀標準既。一份工做得好長，亦唔代表你份人特別tough。只不過，或者你係時候檢討一下過去你辭職既理由係d咩，諗清楚你想搵一份點樣既工作。好多朋友不停轉工既其中一個理由係，佢地自己都冇諗清 楚自己想要一份點既工作同職業。每份工都有好多唔好既地方，唔好既同事。當你做緊一份工既時候，你一定會感受到果份工果d負面既野。唯一可以令你支持到落 去既，就係你「清楚知道」做緊果份工，係你想做既工作，係你想處身既行業，係你想處身既文化，當然，最重要既，係繼續留響度做，有你想要既將來囉。如果你未搞清呢d野，咁工作上既任何一個負面Factor，都可以逼到你辭職啦。

What do you like to do?

Recenty I am hiring a project assistant, I'd like to ask the job seekers during interview" What do you like to do?" It is a simple but tricky question. Some people may find it very difficult to answer. Especially when we worked for a couples of years, we have so many responsibilities and roles to play, our feelings and visions become blurred.

It is not difficult to answer it. All we need to do is to follow our hearts :

(1) If you like it, you want to do it. You will never feel tried. (The same principle apply to career, relationship building and personal interests.)
(2) If you like it, you would share with your friends, and keep telling your friends that what you are doing and what sort of interesting elements inside.
(3) The most important thing is you feel satisfied. You are not doing for anyone and you just feel satisified, happy and rewarding.

How much time we spent on each day to listen to our hearts?

200 meter races

After running for cycle, it is time to stop to think whether I should continue for the next race or not, whether it is a good playground for personal growth and achievement, whether there is something worth to explore.

愈怕愈可怕

我有一個徒弟，獨自在一間老房子裡禪修靜坐。

頭兩天晚上，他不論是打坐也好，睡覺也好，都會聽到天花板上有人在大力拖拉重物。可是，那間房子裡明明只有他一個人住，所以他心下便明白是怎麼一回事。剛開始，因為天花板很薄，他老是擔心那個怪物會掉下來。每次一聽到怪聲，因為心裡很害怕 ，就把電燈打開；說也奇怪，燈一亮就沒聲音了，燈一關就又會聽到。

幾番折騰後，他鼓起勇氣說：「嘿！我不怕你了！我只管打坐，你要怎麼樣都可以 ！如果你不想吵我，就做我的護法吧！」

結果話一說完，從此以後，他再也沒有聽見過任何怪聲，可以繼續安心的打坐了。

其實，人會有恐怖感，都是和自己的念頭有關係。你不怕的時候，那個境界就不見 了；你愈害怕，那個境界的考驗就愈多。

The Voice of Versatility - Soprano Katusha Tsui-Faser

Reading the interview of Katushar Tsui-Fraser, a concert artitst and teacher at SCMP has given me lots of thoughts and learnings.

Hitting the Right Notes:

• Be forgiving: hate is a waste of energy
• Have self- confidence and value yourself
• Life is a growing process; you never stop learning
• After decising on something, dedicate yourself to making it happen
• Patience, perseverance, courage and faith are keys to success
• Dare to dream, but know that you must work hard to achieve them
• Creativity and imagination are important in any walk of life
• Always set aside time to cultivate the inner self
• Live every day as if it were your last, so you can look back without regrets
  

Babel

Watched an excellent movie by Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu. It's a serious movie about human communication. Communication is never easy.

SYNOPSIS

Armed with a Winchester rifle, two Morrocan boys set out to look after their family's herd of goats. In the silent echoes of the desert, they decide to test the rifle… but the bullet goes farther than they thought it would.

In an instant, the lives of four separate groups of strangers on three different continents collide. Caught up in the rising tide of an accident that escalates beyond anyone's control are a vacationing American couple (Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett), a rebellious deaf Japanese teenager and her father, and a Mexican nanny who, without permission, takes two American children across the border. None of these strangers will ever meet; in spite of the sudden, unlikely connection between them, they will all remain isolated due to their own inability to communicate meaningfully with anyone around them.

From Alejandro González Iñárritu comes a film that is at once intimate and epic, shot in four countries, cast with actors and non-actors, and concludes his trilogy that started with Amores Perros and 21 Grams.

Brwose official website here

My Photo Gear

It's the first time I bring out all my photo equipment and shoot a family photo. Bits by bits, I have collected some many gears. To name some key items:

Nikon D70 - my first digital single lens reflex camera, has been with me for more than 3 years. It's fast, reliable and user friendly.

Contax S1 - my favourite rangfinder camera with 45mm and 28mm lens. I have brough it in ebay 4 years ago. It is an second hand item just like a new model. It had been with me in my UK trip.

Ricoh GR 1- my favourite snapshoot camera. Long before the coming of digital camera wave, it has been with me on my daily bag every day. I shoot at least 1 roll of traditional film (mostly in black and white) every week.

Long time no see

It has been a busy month at work with website testing. Finally can slow down a bit and take up my pen again.

Happy New Year 2007

傻人有傻福

Fairness

We all want to play in a fair world. We have our own guideline to define what is right and what is wrong. The most interesting point is not what is right or wrong, but how you draw the line.

• Some draw a straight line for themselves and a weak line for others.
  
• Some draw a weak line for themselves and a straight line for others.
• Some draw a straight line for others even out of their control scope.
• Some have a real "flexible" line. The line is always change in favour of his current environment.
  
• Some have a changing line. It always change and there is virtually no definition.
• Some claim that they never has the line but their God define it so they just follows.
  

So how would you draw your line? for yourself and people around us?

Busy Weekend

It's been busy these days and I have been working in office for full Saturday in the last two weeks. Hope I do not need to work in the coming weekend as it's the Christmas time. Christmas is about peace, wishes and happiness.

New York Times Surrender

Got this new from TechCrunch..

The New York Times has decided to let users post stories directly from their site to Digg, Facebook, and Newsvine. As of Monday, the paper will embed links to all three sites to most of their online stories.

The new link will not be embedded into stories used on the paper’s premium content site, TimesSelect, staff blogs or wire stories.

This seems like a begrudging move for The Times, a paper with an elitist reputation and a crossword puzzle that you need a PhD to solve. A social networking site like Facebook doesn’t seem the type of company that The Times would consort with but getting into social news sharing is just good business these days.

Christine Topalian, manager of strategic planning and business development at NYTimes.com, told The Seattle Post-Intelligencer that the paper had been “looking for ways to tap a tech-savvy audience that is accustomed to commenting on and sharing news stories.” Apparently, they started by contacting Digg and Newsvine directly, while Facebook was included because they had contacted The Times earlier this year with a news-feed service pitch.

Although you could always manually add The Times stories to news sharing sites such as Digg and Newsvine before, the capability to do it directly from the story means that The Times is paying attention to where its stories are shared, who reads them, and, more importantly, what they are saying about them. Currently, The Times offers limited ability to comment on its stories. The world of readers’ comments can be brutal (believe me, I know this first hand), and by dealing directly with the sites that facilitate this, The Times exposes itself to far more reader interaction than they have ever had before.

My Favourite Guitar Kodaira 145

This is my favourite guitar, Japan Kodaira 145 that I played almost everyday. I purchased at Mongkok Nelson Piano shop (a very old guitar shop) last year. I climbed up to the upstair, tried each classical and flemenco guitar one by one in the dark upstairs. Finally I pick this one. The colour furnish is a distorted, seems like a bread overcooked in oven. It cost me $4K something and I guess the original price should be $5K-$6K if its furnish is perfec. The warm and excellent sounds touch me and the outlook really doesn't matter. It featured with Solid Cedar Top, Indian Rosewood at the backsides and Rosewood with Fingerboard.

And I've realized there are many gifted guitar manufacturer in Japan. Kodaira is one of the famous and yet affordable one. Musician say Kodaira is the affordable Asturia (which I have seen it cose HK$100K in Toyko). Click here to see Kodaira website in Japanese.

Principles

Whenever we need to make a major decision on works or to solve big problems, I always asked myself the best decision crieria should be accroding to the best interests of :

• the company
• the customers
• the team

And this will be on priority descending order. There is no consideration on personal perspectives, whether I have more works to do, whether I will get better prospects or not.

Double Patience + Tripe Positive Mind + 720 degree perspectives

Need to focus on my mind and emotion feelings. Virtually I cannot take care of others if I did not take care of myself. I need double patience, triple positve mindset and all rounds perspectives to look at the world. Seems I am fighting lonely but yet I am never alone. Thank so much for all commited and devoted friends around!

Photo

A photo can tell a thousands of words. I love Nikon website so much, it demonstrates the impact of visual.

• When you're in the zone, capture the essence.
• Because you were there too.
• Dreams are meant to be realized
• One moment can make your day
• Those little things you want to treasure.

Hiking Finally...

Finally get the chance to walk along the country side. I've joined my high school friends to walk the "dragon back" in Shek O country park. It is sunny and cool weather. Everything is so nice and relax. I has been keep laughing the whole days along. So nice.

Annual Dinner

Those know me pretty well understand that I do not like to join annual dinner. Indeed, it is the first annual dinner that I have joined over the last five years.

We have a drama to play. So many people gave up their lunch hours and personal night time to attend the rehearsal. It is not for performance appraisal nor for pleasing the boss. We share and face the chanllenges, despite such short period of time and ongoing changing scripts. I really feel the spirit of teamwork here. It is also amazing to see that the prose and backdrop just built up overnight. There is indeed some in-depth value deeply rooted in this company.

IDE Talk