Pending!!!

Years of school, university & intense AIESEC work have cultivated in me a habit of making a "list". My day goes by "unproductive" withou filling it with matters/agenda. I love the feeling of achievement when I tick off each item on the list!!!

Now with the greatest invention of the century, i.e. computer & e-mail, comes "Microsoft Outlook". It's got this nice little tool that can flag all your pending matters. So, obviously I flag all my incoming/outgoing e-mails that still requires attention... It's a great tool, with just one small problem. It annoys the hell out of me when there are matters pending... pending... pending... So I keep on clicking it... click it... click it... And it's always the last pending e-mail that drives me insane! It's like the little black spot on a perfect sheet of white!!!

OUT! Damn spot!

jule

Hottie of the Day!

I came across this on 5fm (SA's best radion station!) today. I'd just like to tell people who had previously told me that Asian guys are generally not good looking... You are WROMG!!!

Takeshi Kaneshiro is definitely one of Asia's hottest celebrities (if not the hottest!), he also happens to be my personal favourite!! :-P Don't blame me for favouritism or biased opinion, you'll feel the same once you check out his pic.

For more Hotties of the Day, click... HERE!

jule

Who to marry? (written by kids)

Some sweet and funny comments made by kids on who to marry!

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY? (written by kids)

(1) You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming. - Alan, age 10

(2) No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with. - Kristen, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

(1) Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. - Camille, age 10

(2) No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married. - Freddie, age 6

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?

(1) You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. - Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

(1) Both don't want any more kids. - Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE?

(1) Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough. - Lynnette, age 8

(2) On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that Usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. - Martin, age 10

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?

(1) I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns. -Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

(1) When they're rich. - Pam, age 7

(2) The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that. - Curt, age 7

(3 ) The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do. - Howard, age 8

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

(1 ) I don't know which is better, but I'll tell you one thing. I'm never going to have sex with my wife. I don't want to be all grossed out. - Theodore, age 8

(2 ) It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. - Anita, age 9

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?

(1 ) There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there? - Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favourite is........ HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?

(1 ) Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck. - Ricky, age 10

It's been 6 months

It only seemed like yesterday, but it's been 6 months already! I still have moments when I think back about how it used to be. Little things that reminds me of my life for the past 10 years. Little moments of flashbacks. Plus many times over of "In South Africa, we...".

I can't believe that it's been 6 months. I still remember waking up on that last morning, thinking: "this is it, I'm going home". I still remember driving down "my street", the street that tells the story of the last 10 years of my life. I still remember driving to the air port, the road that I've come to know so familiar, saying good-bye at the air port. All those years that I've always been the one seeing people off, yet it was my turn.

6 months, it's a long time but to me it went pass like a flash. 15th May 2006, the day that I set foot on my homeland. Finally... it's home. Home, it's an ironic word. Taiwan, for me it has become a place where I'll always call home. But it's also a place that I still don't quite understand. There've been moments of "I must be in a twilight zone", and there've been moments of "I am proud to be a Taiwanese". Taiwan, it's a country standing between 2 cross-roads. Old v.s. New, Oppression v.s. Freedom, Love v.s. Hate. Sometimes, I think how can there be so many difference of opinions. Sometimes, I look at the environment, the history, the conflicts, and I wonder in awe: "How can we all co-exist on this little island with so much that is going on?"

It's been 6 months, since I've been "home" while missing my other "home". From time to time I still get people asking me: "When are you coming back to South Africa?". From time to time I still get the comment: "South Africa? That is a strange country that you've been." At the end of the day, I still have trouble defining myself as a Taiwanese-South African.

It's been 6 months.

jule

The Five Factor Values Test

Your Values Profile

Loyalty: You value loyalty a fair amount. You're loyal to your friends... to a point. But if they cross you, you will reconsider your loyalties. Staying true to others is important to you, but you also stay true to yourself. Honesty: You don't really value honesty. You do value getting your way, no matter what. And if a little lying is required to do that, no problem. A few white lies never hurt anyone (at least, that's what you tell yourself!) Generosity: You don't really value generosity. Your needs always come first, no matter what. And you'll possibly help someone else out... But only if it helps you in return. Humility: You value humility highly. You have the self-confidence to be happy with who you are. And you don't need to seek praise to make yourself feel better. You're very modest, and you're keep the drama factor low. Tolerance: You value tolerance highly. Not only do you enjoy the company of those very different from you... You do all that you can to seek it out interesting and unique friends. You think there are many truths in life, and you're open to many of them.

The Five Factor Values Test

3 Question Personality Test

Your Personality Is

Idealist (NF) You are a passionate, caring, and unique person. You are good at expressing yourself and sharing your ideals. You are the most compassionate of all types and connect with others easily. Your heart tends to rule you. You can't make decisions without considering feelings. You seek out other empathetic people to befriend. Truth and authenticity matters in your friendships. In love, you give everything you have to relationships. You fall in love easily. At work, you crave personal expression and meaning in your career. With others, you communicate well. You can spend all night talking with someone. As far as your looks go, you've likely taken the time to develop your own personal style. On weekends, you like to be with others. Charity work is also a favorite pastime of yours.

The Three Question Personality Test

Opinion is an asshole... Everyone's got one!

Ever since I put the title on my MSN, I've got people asking and commenting on it. "Why do you sound so angry?", "What inspired you to say such thing?", etc.

So I said it (and still saying it), let it go people! Ok, I admit it's a rather "angry" statement. But I wasn't even angry when I said it. Obviously there is a reason behind such statement. I put that on my MSN after finding out that the First Lady of Taiwan has been prosecuted for the embezzlement allegations (unfortunately I cannot find a good article on this event). But the main reason for what I said is actually reflecting on the state of polical polarisation in Taiwan. In fact, this polarisation is so extreme that for almost everything one can only be either for or against - no middle ground. People have somehow lost the ability to view every piece of information objectively.

I also said it in commenting on the media environment in Taiwan currently. Although Taiwan's been ranked number 1 in press freedom recently. This high ranking does not necessarily equal to quality reporting. TC commented that we should be grateful that we enjoy press freedom, while many recently democratised African countries are not so privileged. For sure, we are more privileged than many countries in the world, being able to say what we want when we want. But after all there should be some level of balance between press freedom and accurate reporting.

In Taiwan, 90% of the news reporting are inflammatory, provoking, opinionated and politically motivated. Reporters/journalists are willing to exaggerate an incidence to make news. What you read on the newspaper / see on the news may only contain 30% of truth while the rest of the 70% are bolstered. Most of the public don't watch the news these days, because it's just the same old stuff. Incidentally, I've also cut down on watching the news. Because everytime I see what the politicians say on TV, just make my blood boil.

Another thing that is extremely popular over the lost decade or so, is the political talk shows. This is where they have a host, and guest are invited to discuss certain current issues. The guests range from political analyst to journalists, politicians to academics. These shows generally have their own political agendas, providing a platform for politicians and their ardent supporters to air their viewpoint. The public have also learnt which shows support the opposition party, while certain ones support the ruling party. The divide is actually VERY clear.

Anyways, I don't think this "situation" or environment will go away or improve in the near future. If it is the process to go through for a society to learn the lesson of responsible news reporting, then I suppose we still have a long way to go. We'll just have to bare with this "crazyness", even though it is really depressing at times to see our society falling to such level.

jule