shutterbugISm

I've been feeling down.... something is weighing heavy at the back of my mind but I don't know what exactly... which is kinda causing bouts of unscheduled mood swings, nagging headaches and mild depression... 

Labels: Sianzzz

Posted by ShutterBug at 00:53 | Permalink | Comments 5

Dear friends and couples who emailed me on your wedding enquires,

Labels: Army, Business, Sianzzz

Posted by ShutterBug at 22:22 | Permalink | Comments 1

I thought it would be funny to do it after reading it off LilSnooze's and FaerieImp's entries :D

Labels: Humor, Meme, Ranting, Sianzzz

Posted by ShutterBug at 01:31 | Permalink | Comments 3

a) Too much to do, too little time....

b) Yen is almost at a record high already... looks like it's going to break SGD$ 16.00 = 1000Y after so5 years of hovering around SGD14.00 = 1000Y... (darn bad news for us)

c) I'm still bluuudddy buried in the avalanche of jpegs I have to edit before I can fly off...

d) So many things concerning the renovation need attention...


SIGH.....

Labels: Ranting, Sianzzz

Posted by ShutterBug at 15:57 | Permalink | Comments 1

Here's something very interesting... Things you should eat/ shouldn't according to your blood type...

I'm blood type A and this list kinda threw me off track and into a serious 'depression'. I'm going to BOLD those food that I like and eat pretty often and you will see why I feel that I'm going to be pretty depressed coz I'm NOT SUPPOSED TO EAT THEM :( -

sources from here - http://angec.multiply.com/journal/item/19/Eating_Right_For_Your_Blood_Type

Blood Type A

People with Blood Type A evolved from the hunter/meat-eater to the agrarian, and were the farmers and grain gatherers. This blood type evolved between 25,000 and 15,000 bC. They have fragile digestive systems. These people cannot tolerate animal protein well, and should be the proverbial, classic "vegetarian" of the human species. They also are usually lactose intolerant, as well. Persons with Blood Type A should avoid animal protein and dairy products, and would do well with whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables. Tofu and Hawaiian Spirulina should become the Blood Type A person's best friends, as these foods contains high-quality vegetable protein! Persons with Blood Type A do not produce enough hydrochloric acid in their stomachs, and that is why they have a difficult time digesting animal protein well. This also gives them a predisposition toward getting stomach cancer, and should never eat smoked or cured meats due to the sodium nitrites in them. Animal protein and dairy products tend to rot and ferment in their digestive tracts, and the toxic bacteria backs up into their tissues and muscles, thereby causing digestive distress. A lack of sufficient hydrochloric acid in their stomachs is another reason that persons with Blood Type A do not absorb Vitamin B12 properly from the foods they eat. Vitamin B12 is normally found in red meat, although B12 is also found in superior vegetable protein foods such as Hawaiian Spirulina, soy products and sea kelp. This inability to absorb Vitamin B12 sufficiently from food tends to make the person with Blood Type A prone to pernicious anemia. Therefore, supplementing the diet with Vitamin B12 is critical. Also recommended is supplementation with digestive enzymes such as betaine, bromelain and papain. Bromelain is derived from pineapple, and assists with the digestion of animal protein. Betaine will help to increase the amount of hydrochloric acid in their stomachs. The best exercise for these persons is not the heavy, vigorous workouts, but more calming, centering exercises like Tai Chi, Hatha Yoga and golfing. These soothing types of exercises will relieve the Blood Type A person's stress in a more beneficial way.

Foods that encourage weight gain - Meat; dairy food; kidney beans; lima beans; wheat (in overabundance); and, of course, sugar and white flour.

Foods that encourage weight loss - Vegetables oils, such as olive and flaxseed; soy foods; spirulina; vegetables; pineapple.

Other foods to avoid

· Meat & Poultry: bacon, beef, ground beef, buffalo, duck, goose, ham, hart, lamb, liver, mutton, partridge, pheasant, pork, rabbit, veal, venison, quail.

· Seafood: anchovy, barracuda, beluga, bluefish, bluegill bass, catfish, caviar, clam, conch, crab, crayfish, eel, flounder, frog, gray sole, haddock, hake, halibut, herring (fresh & pickled), lobster, lox (smoked salmon), mussels, octopus, oysters, scallop, shad, shrimp, sole, squid (calamari), striped bass, tilefish, turtle.

· Cheese/Dairy: American, blue cheese, brie, butter, buttermilk, Camembert, casein, cheddar, colby, cottage, cream cheese, edam, Emmenthal, gouda, gruyere, ice cream, Jarlsberg, Monterey jack, Munster, Parmesan, provolone, Neufchatel, sherbet, skim or 2% milk, Swiss, whey, whole milk.

· Oils: corn, cottonseed oil, peanut, safflower, sesame.

· Nuts & Seeds: brazil, cashews, pistachios.

· Beans & Legumes: copper, garbanzo, kidney, lima, navy, red beans, tamarind beans.

· Cereals: cream of wheat, familia, farina, granola, grape nuts, wheat germ, seven grain, shredded wheat, wheat bran.

· Breads & Muffins: English muffins, high-protein bread, matzos wheat, multi-grain bread, pumpernickel, wheat bran muffins, whole wheat bread.

· Grains & Pastas: white & whole wheat flour, semolina & spinach pasta.

· Vegetables: cabbage (Chinese, red, white), eggplant, lima beans, mushroom (domestic), olives (black, Greek, Spanish), peppers (green, jalapeno, red, yellow), potatoes (sweet, red, white), tomatoes, yams.

· Fruits: bananas, coconuts, mangoes, melon (cantaloupe & honeydew), oranges, papayas, plantains, rhubarb, tangerines.

· Juices: orange, papaya, tomato.

· Spices: capers, plain gelatin, pepper (black, cayenne, peppercorns, red pepper flakes, white), vinegar (apple cider, balsamic, red wine, white), wintergreen.

· Condiments: ketchup, mayonnaise, pickles, pickle relish, Worcestershire sauce.

· Herbal Teas: catnip, cayenne, corn silk, red clover, rhubarb, yellow dock.
. Beverages: beer, distilled liquor, seltzer water, all sodas, black teas.

At least Golfing as my ideal kind of exercise is so true :D

Labels: Food, Ranting, Sianzzz

Posted by ShutterBug at 22:54 | Permalink | Comments 3

There's this meme that I have seen going around about the guy... so I decided to modify it a little and blog about my missus instead:

1. She's sitting in front of the TV, what is on the screen?
Channel News Asia - Japan Hour or Headline news.. if not. it's cantonese drama serials

2. You're out to eat; what kind of dressing does she get on her salad?
Thousand Island

3. What's one food she doesn't like?
Pork Liver

4. You go out to the bar. What does she order?
Red wine or beer

5. Where did she go to high school?
Zhong Zheng

6. What size shoe does she wear?
siZe 6

7. If she was to collect anything, what would it be?
Little miniatures of food

8. What is her favorite type of sandwich?
Toasted sesame bagel with smoked salmon and creme cheese

9. What would this person eat every day if she could?
Foie gras?

10. What is her favourite cereal?
She doesn't eat them... just the occasional Banana Nut Crunch from Post

11. What would she never wear?
A thong.... ^.^

12. What is her favourite sports team?
None... she doesn't touch sports

13. Who will she vote for?
The rational party of coz

14. Who is her best friend?
her anata desu = mua :)

15. What is something you do that she wishes you wouldn't do?
Nagging her to be more tidy and getting her to do housework

16. How many cities/countries has she lived in?
Longest time in Singapore, short time in Paris and Adelaide.

17. What is her heritage?
Hokkien and Cantonese.

18. You bake her a cake for her birthday; what kind of cake?
Chocolate Lava cake

19. Did she play sports in high school?
Nope.

20. What could she spend hours doing?
Snoozing, reading Japan-guide.com...

:D

Labels: Clover, Sianzzz, Us

Posted by ShutterBug at 01:14 | Permalink | Comments 6

Got really bored last night while editing so decided to have a little timeout fun with the web flash application called Yearbookyourself.com

I nearly died laughing@ 5am... :D

Labels: Humor, Sianzzz

Posted by ShutterBug at 13:21 | Permalink | Comments 9

I felt very pent up today... with what, I have no slightest idea... just felt that my mind got congested with lotsa things.. maybe it's stress, maybe it's the lack of sleep.. maybe it's everything and then again, it could just be nothing....

Wanted to hit the range today to vent it out but no mood, no time. Like one of those rare moments when you want to go out, got dressed and stepping out the door when you decided not to.

I need a venting space......................................................................................................

Labels: Sianzzz, Thoughts

Posted by ShutterBug at 22:12 | Permalink | Comments 4

experimenting with textures : )

Labels: BnW, Images, Inspirations, Local, Photography, RICOH GrD, Sianzzz

Posted by ShutterBug at 10:49 | Permalink | Comments 8

It sux being sick.

Down with a bad case of influenza and shivers...

Labels: Ranting, Sianzzz

Posted by ShutterBug at 16:22 | Permalink | Comments 4

Note to self: NEVER , EVER do any resource upgrading or apps cleaning when there's a chance that a phone call might come in, disrupt the process and kill the iPhone....



DAMN DAMN DAMN DAMN DAMN..........!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


edit: (11 Feb 2008, 0430am)

iPhone is back again on v1.1.3 and working fine.... phew!
but I lost those shots taken with the iPhone (for callerIDs) looks like have to go around and take photos again...

Labels: Sianzzz

Posted by ShutterBug at 00:01 | Permalink | Comments 4

Is it Friday already... darn... the last 3 days passed in a haze.

Labels: Ranting, Sianzzz, Thoughts

Posted by ShutterBug at 22:23 | Permalink | Comments 2

rearranging the current table for the new iMac setup is a chore... the cables from my existing setup are a chore (need to rearrange and re-cabletie some the wires) and not to mention the dust....

Maybe I should just throw out the current table and get a new one....


I need a bigger table...

Labels: Ranting, Sianzzz

Posted by ShutterBug at 11:50 | Permalink | Comments 8

after reading FaerieImp's post on the same heading:

I will be the pathetic one to make a New Year resolution @ the stroke of midnight on the 31st Dec 2007:


while actually trying to finish up all my backlogs, holing myself behind my workdesk and powerbook amidst the loud cheers of 'Happy New Year!' all around the neighbourhood, the endless buzzing of well-wishing SMSes and the kids around my block throwing poppers... I think I will just strap on a party hat and drink gallons of coffee instead of champagne...
*cue violin solo of Auld Lang Syne*

sigh... I need 48hours in a day...

Labels: Sianzzz, Thoughts

Posted by ShutterBug at 22:24 | Permalink | Comments 0

:p

Labels: Inspirations, Sianzzz

Posted by ShutterBug at 00:09 | Permalink | Comments 4

The news article is very hard-hitting.

With the rising transportation cost, meeting clients for appointments in town and other hard-to-reach areas is becoming strained. Sure it can be written off as company expenses but on the practical side, it's not viable for a long term solution.

As a wedding photographer, I have to travel by taxi on mornings of the Actual Day and by taxi when done (usually close to midnight). This price hike is really going to be hard-hitting on the clients in the end coz I will increase my service charges to match the principle output cost. I don't like to drive coz owning a car in Singapore is way-worst than having to rely on public transportation but with a near 50% increase in all areas if you choose to ride a cab to work, I think it's inevitable - either get a lower cc car or rise the charges.
This butterfly effect is beyond imagination.

The main reason for better transportation is the time saved to do other stuff. For example, if I were to travel from my place to town area, I have to give about 1.05 hour for traveling. With a taxi, I just need 27 mins. That extra 30mins can be seriously used in a more conducive manner.

It's just plain ridiculous for such a huge jump in taxi price hike. Gradual progression is acceptable but a huge arse increase will put people off.

This is also from a contributor on the AsiaOne forum on this topic:

Cafelatte says : "Raising the taxi fares only makes it more costly for the physically challenged/immobile to get to hospitals/clinics for their therapy or check ups.It will also greatly discourage and reduce their mobilities that we normal people have.They will bear the brunt of this increase the most as they are already paying for their medical treatment.The government ought to look at giving transport vouchers or travel subsidies for this group of people.

Reducing the rental costs for the taxi driver is the more practical solution.Taxi companies are just passing the buck and looking after their own bottom line."

Thanks Delgro.. you lost a customer.

Labels: Ranting, Sianzzz

Posted by ShutterBug at 17:31 | Permalink | Comments 7

linked from Pink Tentacle

Imagine answering nature's call while surrounded all round by an aquarium... I guess this is part of the quirkiness common to Japan and strangely, this toilet is only for female users.... dun ask me why but that lecher of a turtle is not complaining though....

Kinda makes me wonder who is being the aquarium attraction now...

Labels: Humor, Ranting, Sianzzz

Posted by ShutterBug at 02:49 | Permalink | Comments 0

I screwed up my processing.... my large res jpegs are missing 1/3 and I have already converted the copies to small res...

damn.. damn... damn.. damn....!!!!!!!!!

Have to redo the 1/3 from scratch again..... ~@$#%*@^%$!

Labels: Ranting, Sianzzz

Posted by ShutterBug at 13:44 | Permalink | Comments 1

sorry for the tardy updates, been really busy trying to get myself back to work and working my nights on clients' pictures... I like taking the time to look thru every picture to make sure that they reflect what they should reflect and not just on quantity. Quality is utmost to me nowsaday.

Aside from awaiting with much anticipation, the arrival of little Nat (Teh Peng and Lil Ms Snooze must be getting really excited already) which should be within these 3 days, we were finding ourselves in Starbucks more often than not. So much so that we carry around our thermal mugs in our bags when allowed or remember. Afterall, they have discount if you have your own mugs.

I'm a chronic coffee drinker, from Gloria Jean to Pacific Coffee, the once in a while Arab Coffee in Arab street and the constant 3 in 1s I stock up in my kitchen but I have finally managed to coerce my wife to the dark (and aromatic) side of coffee. Started when we were in Japan and the weather's really cold usually when the wind pick up speed and not to mention, the period when Typhoon No.20 passed Japan island, the cold rain made Starbucks joints a welcoming sight. Well, aside from the beautiful thermal mugs they have in Japan (I bought the one that represented Kyoto which is glinted with bits of washi and gold and depicting the cultural scenes of temples and castles), caffe mocha became the staple drink when we were wandering in Japan.

With the phenomenal growth of Starbucks in Singapore, they have finally opened an outlet in Civic Center and it's like having your very own convenient store right outside your place. So now, when I need a coffee pick-me-up, it's just a 3 minutes walk from my place. Ha! Bliss...

I wonder if they will open a Donut outlet in Woodlands anytime soon....

Labels: Ranting, Sianzzz, Thoughts

Posted by ShutterBug at 03:23 | Permalink | Comments 4

Had a game of golf with Char Siu Bao yesterday afternoon where the weather was cool, the pace of the game was great and the fellowship was awesome :)

Need to start training myself up again, I was terribly tired after dinner and decided to have an early night... Slept through the night till 5am this morning...

Now that I've been playing for the past 6 months, I have started to think about improving my game with a new set of clubs which I have been looking at for sometime already...


Really tempting especially when there's a golf exhibition sale going on in Harbourfront Center Lobby A...

anyway, here's a clip on why Tiger Woods still remains one of the most amazing golfers of this era:

Labels: Golf, Ranting, Sianzzz, Thoughts

Posted by ShutterBug at 09:09 | Permalink | Comments 0