something to say

“We must cultivate our garden” – Voltaire

Moses Hng — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 09:04:46 +0000

"We must cultivate our garden" – Voltaire

Just realized this truth!

"We must cultivate our garden" – Voltaire

Luke wrote "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks", good heart speaks good things, bad heart speaks bad things.. and There is a "garden of the heart", so if the garden has nothing except weeds (in heart and in mind), what is there to give others? haha Weed?! Now i understand.. I haven't tend to my garden..

It takes effort to plant, and sow seeds, to make sure they grow.. but weeds, they are automatic..

Perhaps there's a reason why I have this interest in gardening lately. Awesome!

Moses Hng

We are really not that rational!

Moses Hng — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:20:42 +0000

We are really not that rational! - Mindfulness and Walking Zombies.

(From journal entry 16dec2011)

Some rights reserved by stilltheone1

After learning Psychology, and reading on Mindfulness, it is becoming clearer to me that human beings are really, not rationale creatures.

From the psychology, neurological, brain stuff point of view, we have theories and concept such as:

Conditioning,
Cognitive Inner working Models,
Cognitive Biases, Distortion
Priming, subliminal Stimuli
Advertising theories
Parenting + Attachment pattern,
From counselling / Psychodynamic (defense mechanisms + transference)
Norms and Group dynamics (Prejudice? Cultural Social?)
Brain functions – Limbic (emotions/reflex) over Prefrontal Cortex (rational thinking?)
Limited Attentions (Monkey business)
Beliefs / Delusions / Explanatory Model
Habits, Memory fallible
Mental Illness & Brain injury/diseases
Education / Exposure and individual experiences

more….

Any one of these concepts shows that, we are not entirely in control of our mind! We are not aware of WHY DO WE BEHAVE THE WAY WE BEHAVE!

In us, there are many Computer Programmes, or Brain Programmes. Stimulants around us, can triggers any of these programmes in us and we act like robots, auto-pilot. There seems to be a mind behind the mind in us. We think we are thinking.

Some rights reserved by William Christiansen

Look at the people commuting in the morning. MP3, ear phones, looking at their phone, all moving around.. i wonder how many of them are fully aware, conscious of their actions.. I bet most of their actions, movements are automatic, without given much thoughts.

People are living in that semi-asleep state consciousness. Sort of like the Web of One (in the previous entry), we are living in a bubble of awareness. We do not appreciate our reality. Our views are tinted.

Our appetites, motivations, actions, source of emotions and our habits are unchallenged, unexamined. If that is happening, then decisions we make are not really rational. It’s just automatic, reflexes learnt from the past (that is past but is screwing up our future).
Then imagine the whole group, in a team, department, company, community, country, society… all just following each other. How scary?

Then if majority of humans are unaware of this, and IF handful of others discover this… i wonder how easy it is to sway the behavior of the rest of human race. There you have a conspiracy and a blockbuster movie plot.

Moses Hng
PS: so, what is enabling me to write this?

TED Talk: What Google and Facebook are hiding.

Moses Hng — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:52:20 +0000

Beware online “filter bubbles”

http://www.ted.com/talks/eli_pariser_beware_online_filter_bubbles.html

Interesting idea, and important to keep that in mind, how “isolated” we are online in “the web of one.” We are becoming more blinded, and cut off from what is happening around the world.

No more personalised web, No more Single Identity on the internet. Internet is about Anonymity.. Identity should be OPT-IN.

Watch this 4Chan’s ‘Moot’ on Zuckerberg’s Single Identity Is ‘Totally Wrong’

Moses Hng

Say what you mean!

Moses Hng — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 12:43:36 +0000

Say what you mean!

Let your YES be Yes, and NO be NO. If you like something say you like something. If you don’t like something say you don’t like something.

I have heard people trying to sugarcoat their critisim and feedback by saying something like, “Oh, i like the way you … bla bla bla… BUT perhaps you could … bla bla bla.“.

That’s dumb. You are insincere.

After a while, no one will take what you say seriously. As soon as people hear your “I like the way you...” they will stop listening. EVEN if you mean it, no one trust you anymore.

Have some guts, stick by what you say, don’t have to sugarcoat your words! Say what you really think, make your words count. If you want to praise, just praise whole heartedly. If you wanna give critisim, feedback, then give it. Then people will value what you say.

Moses Hng

Home-Cook Food: 客家酿豆腐

Moses Hng — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:00:50 +0000

Check out her blog, ComeHomeToEat.

Cheers!

Moses Hng

See the full gallery on Posterous

Lesson 2: Start Saving. Accumulate Your Reserve

Moses Hng — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 06:10:10 +0000

Lesson 2: Start Saving. Accumulate your reserve

I know there are many people like me, who spends most of their salary, and survives from one month to the other. You are always paying forward, thinking that “next month salary can cover for this month purchases”, well, that’s not really a good practice.

You need to start saving!

According to some experts, at least half a year of salary to act as a buffer, an Emergency Fund. That Emergency Fund, or Reserve will give you confidence and a peace of mind, to weather the rainy days, to deal with emergencies and help achieve your goals.

Many people feel stuck with their jobs (that they hate), and have no freedom to do what they want, to pursue their dreams because they don’t have enough savings to give them the freedom.

How much to save?
The more the better. Some says 50%.
Have a goal, by X months, I must have $X as emergency fund. Whatever the amount you decide, set it aside in a different saving account and don’t touch it! Have some form of budgeting, allocate how much to save. Check out these and these or Google on personal finance advise.

Think of different ways to saves, for example, bringing your own meals to office (cheap and more nutrition, drop your loose changes into piggy banks and deposit them into saving, use Groupons, vouchers.

Start Today
I don’t have a large amount of reserve, but whatever I have now has already help me tie over some months when there are cash flows difficulties. So I’m glad I have that.

Let’s save!
Moses Hng

Lesson 1: CREDIT CARDS are First World Problem.

Moses Hng — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:59:04 +0000

Well, I am not exactly the role model to be sharing with you on the prudent spending and good habit of saving money. I’ve not studied economics before, just wanna share what I have learnt so far on managing my own finances.

by Andres Rueda

Lesson 1: CREDIT CARDS, a First World Problem.

I think the most important point anyone need to get their head around is that, you are using your future money. You are asking someone to pay for your purchases first, and you promise to repay them later.

The word ‘Credit’ means - “The ability to obtain goods or services before payment, based on the trust that payment will be made in the future.” In Chinese, credit is “信用” and that word represent trust (Based on the reputation as a person as being dependable, trustworthy).

When you owe others something, you make sure you repay. “有借有还再借不难” – roughly translate to be “Always return after you borrow,then you can always borrow.“

Carrying a credit card is just a form of convenience of not having to carry cash around, making online purchases and occasionally you get a little discounts, perks and rebates, but that’s all.
If you think that having many cards in your wallet is a way to “show off” your wealth and status in life then you are a person without any depth and have no real sense of reality of life.

Make sure you are able to repay your credit card bill (in full) end of the month before you make any purchases. And stop buying stuff you don’t need! If you are making a zero percent installment purchases, then you make sure you can repay those installments every month.

“Don’t use money that you don’t have”

Don’t spend money that’s not yours, Don’t buy things you can’t afford. To me, I thought that’s really basic common sense. However when I read about how many people in certain country are in credit card debts, it just makes me wonder, how many people are without common sense. At that same time, we see how how many people can queue up for nights buy latest phones, games, latest whatever (While there are wars, famine, floods, disasters, poverty around the world). How we are consuming and consuming..complaining and complaining about stuff that doesn’t matter and doing things that don’t matters to the rest of the world. I get angry. I feel that people are just unable to decide for themselves, to pause, and reflect anymore on what they really need.

Big thanks to those idiots who spend too much, get in debts, can’t pay up!!

If we can stop buying so much, perhaps we will not have to borrowed unnecessary so much in future, then we may prevent another of this this stupid economy crisis.

Moses Hng

How to blow your nose in public.

Moses Hng — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 03:57:06 +0000

How to blow your nose in public?

(Thanks tanjila)

NO YOU DON’T!

DON’T BE DISGUSTING!

GO TO THE WASHROOM!

Is it only in Singapore that we encounter such behavior? Do people have no more social etiquette now? I hear people blowing their nose in the train, in office as if they are playing beautiful music with their instrument. All the snort and horrible nose! I hate those who even DARE blow their nose in resturants, eating places while others are eating. They blow their nose into the tissue paper and left it on the table!

Oh, by the way.. If you have a flu.. and can’t help blowing your nose every like 10 sec.. F***ing STAY HOME!! DON’T SPREAD GERMS AROUND! OMG! You don’t have the least sense of social responsibilies!

A Rant!

Moses Hng

Abscond to Samui

Moses Hng — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 04:49:21 +0000

Sawadee Car!! Koh Samui (03-06 Nov 2011)

Group Photo at Samui Airport

Group Photo at Samui

Went up to Koh Samui, end of Cheweng Beach over the weekend with some of my colleagues.

Moses Hng

My Thoughts after watching Ekachai Uekrongtham’s BOXING BOYS.

Moses Hng — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 06:50:46 +0000

I watched Boxing Boys last night at the Esplanade Theater. I think it’s enjoyable, and I would recommend it to friends.

“The world’s first non-verbal Thai kickboxing stage performance premiered in Thailand at Ratchadalai theatre earlier this year and was praised by critics. The show is conceptualized, directed and cochoreographed by Ekachai who is also known for his 2003 movie “Beautiful Boxer” and the 1997 musical “Chang & Eng”. – Read more about the show at here.

What’s there not to like about the performance when you have ….well… dozens of half-naked, fit, cute thai boys all with sexy body fighting, dancing for you on the stage.. why not right?

See photos below from this website

See the full gallery on Posterous

Seriously, there are two thoughts I gathered from watching this performance. I may have overly intepretted the performance though.

(Click here for the music before you continue reading this)

The first thought comes at the ending scene of the performance. Wall of Bells as the backdrop in golden light symbolises, to me, Buddhism, countless Muay Thai fights across time, different lives and people from the ancient to today.

When the guys, now in in various uniforms representing various occupations. All of them doing the slow motion Wai-Khruu dance in respect to the Muay Thai Teacher, with Dovorak’s Symphony No. 9. in E Minor Largo playing in the background.

Although no more in the fighting rings, and the Teacher is now old. the age of Thailand ancient culture, the “aging of Muay Thai”…. all Thais are carrying that Muay Thai Spirit of resilience (how the founder overcame his enemies even till the end), in their daily lives.

At the end, all of them kneelled and pay respect to the Old Teacher.

Beautiful!

In view of the worse flood that is happening now in Thailand, the Thai people do need that spirit right now.

The second thought comes while i was thinking on the Muay Thai Spirits that lives on today, I wonder did the director purposely planned for this in the performance.

That is, when the play is said to be about Muay Thai, and the Spirit of resilience of it. I feel there is an another message, an unspoken image about Thailand portrait here…it’s thriving sex tourism image. Maybe the director is also portraying how sex sell in Thailand through this play? It’s so second nature now, its not even asked is that it.

Just a thought.

Moses Hng

Offical Boxing Boys Facebook page.

Offical Website

Note to self. Insights from work. The need to go in depth in term of therapy.

Moses Hng — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 10:22:14 +0000

This is my reflection, from work, and I speak from my own perspective.

Doing what I do, involved with helping patients with mental illness and their family members, involving various partners is a tiring job, to the heart and mind.

I find myself on the fire fighting mode most of the time, crisis and problems management most of the time…and after reaching case load of 40 patients, it can get pretty tiring.

I find myself losing that edge, losing focus on what I was doing with each patient, and I kind of losing empathy, wondering if I have helped them, does what I do matters…asking, What am I doing everyday??!

It's only through having supervision, from a external perspective, from someone out of the department, that I noticed that.. and become aware the fact that I am heading for a burn out, if I don't go in depth with patients.. i will not see progress and I will get tired of my job.

There is a whole new level I can go with my patients in term of therapy that I've yet to explore, and knowing that is exciting for me.. and already, giving me some fire, spark in my work.

Moses Hng

I Will Remember You Steve Jobs.

Moses Hng — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 12:59:00 +0000

Steve Jobs influenced not only the technology world, but also the tele-communication, product design, music, movie, publishing circle.

Whenever someone uses a Mac, iPhone, iPad, iPods they think of Apple, and immediately Steve’s face appear in the mind. He has put soul and emotions into cold, lifeless products. He has caused us to feel emotional about those products. Every Apple product is part of Steve.

He is a perfectionist, His standards are high. That is why Steve Jobs IS Steve Jobs.

Reading his biography, he has inspired me to never give up on my dreams, to take that leap of faith to trust my intuition, put 100% of myself in a vision. Never lukewarm with passion.

Steve Jobs knows what he is doing, what is to be done, and he did it.

Thinking Different,

Thank You Steve.

Moses Hng

Find a (Online) Personal Assistant. Personal Outsourcing

Moses Hng — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 11:21:28 +0000

Time does not equal to money. Time is MORE PRECIOUS then money.

With time you can make more money, but more money doesn't give you more time.. UNLESS…. you pay someone to do your stuff.

A friend was recently complaining that she is so busy, and wish she can have a personal assistant to help her run errands.

So I did a search, and read about this micro-trend of people outsourcing their errands by finding Online Concierge, Virtual Personal Assistants.

(Meryl Streep's PA Anne Hathaway in The Devil Wears Prada, 2006)

What is Personal Outsourcing / Virtual Personal Assistant

WSJ - Outsourcing Your Life - "Sending work offshore has transformed the U.S. economy. Now, some families are tapping the same approach for personal tasks, getting them done for a fraction of what they'd cost at home. Taking your to-do list global."

The Times – Microtrends: Personal outsourcing - "Corporations have been doing it for years; sending all their boring work to India and China where it can be done on the cheap. Now, with inexpensive international shipping and universal broadband, there’s no reason why you can’t do it yourself"

Singapore Based Company

Currently there is only ONE such service listed on Google, it's

Where Got Time - Where Got Time offers personal assistance to busy individuals and business people who are most eager to maximize quality time for career, family & productivity in life – Your Personal Assistant, Errand & Concierge Service.

List From Other Blogs

49 Decent Virtual Assistant & Personal Outsourcing Resources – Contain a list of places to hire Virtual Assistants

Community (You post your errands online, and someone bid to do it for you)

Task Rabbit - This is only limited to the States now. Someone need to recreate that in Singapore!

Do my Stuff – Another similar website

ODesk - Cool idea too

Other venues? I'll try CraigList.

Do you know of any other Websites, do share leave a comment.

Thanks!

Moses Hng

Report: Teaching My Parents To Use iPhone – Part 1

Moses Hng — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:38:05 +0000

This is a report of how my parents is picking up technology.
I have always wanted to teach my parents about going online, Email,
SMS, video conference, to be connected to the WORLD, but computer is
too complicated and intimidating for them.
My father is a 60+ years old, Chinese speaking man, can’t read or
write English who works in the construction site. He also don’t know
how to write Hanyu pinyin.
Personally I uses a HTC Desire HD, I love it. But its not for
bimbos… It has notification bars, various panels for apps, 4
buttons, and 5 home pages.. Not very easy for my parents to learn.
After much research, I decided to buy my dad an iPhone because of its
ease of use: one button, simple visual UI, allow chinese characters
hand writing input. It’s good enough for those who are not techy..
LAST NIGHT
After setting up the iPhone for him (I do all the techy part), I
taught him how to make phone calls and SMS.
THIS MORNING
It was raining heavily this morning, and i was worried that the one
day old iPhone might not survive my father rough handling, so I tried
texting him, and he replied me!

My observation and views on: Why people hate others who are more successful than them?

Moses Hng — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 13:05:00 +0000

My observation. Why do some people hate others who are more successful, more "Atas – higher class" than them? And immediately think that they are evil?

I have heard of those remarks, or felt that kind of attitude around me. I'm guilty of it myself.

So I have done my reflection.

For example, someone who drives a BMW, carries a branded bag, and good looking, or seems to be able to carry himself/herself well, talking with confidence… We say in our heart, "This guy sure knows how pretend and act"…"Must be sucking up to the boss"… "he must have a rich dad".. "ahh must be a spoilt brat la"..Another example, a doctor who is well dressed, come from a rich family, have everything, smart and talented… we think they are brats who are just lucky, and will not be able to be a connect with "common people" and touch lives.

How about, Ministers or Celebrities… who are earning millions of dollars… we said that it's unfair, and they are corrupted.

I have met people who said that they like to hang out only at Kopitiam (Coffee shops) because that's where common people, "real Singaporeans" hang out.. those who goes to Pubs at Clark Quay, or eat in a fine restaurants are "pretenders" (Not REAL).

There is this unconscious desire of wanting to "cut people down to size", and demonizing those who have attained more then us.

Some how, we think that, those who are like us, "common people" are the best.

I wonder where that idea came from. How can we know about the other person just by having this "impression"? It's a totally faulty cognition, thinking pattern… not logical at all.

So the followings are my explanation of why such things happened.

My Explanations.

1. We are envious of them.

We are insecure of ourselves and we are simply envious! Deep inside, we want to have what they have, but we don't have! But to admit that we want to be like them would means "losing face", so we turned it, to try to convince ourselves that we don't need those stuff, and those who have it are superficial and are not "REAL"… We think "REAL people like us, don't need all the material stuff".

2. Easier to externalized our Un-achievements, blame others.

Then we blame those who have it. Rather then blaming ourselves for not working harder, being smarter, we blame them! At least we don't feel so bad.

Instead of studying harder, working harder to be who we want to be, we use that energy in gossiping..

When we don't have it, we also don't want others to have it. So we try to destroy them..

3. We feel safer within our comfort zone.

Lastly, when we are around (underachieving) people like us.. we feel better.. cause everyone is the same. We don't feel threaten.

When we step out, we are exposed, that will challenge our beliefs.

Conclusion.

From today on wards, Don't ENVY, cut people down.. Understand our motivation.

Instead of gossip, and blaming others. Take charge of your life. Pursue what you want!

Don't have prejudice on people who are more successful then us (Unless after several interactions… then that's different).

Again, don't judge others on what they have. (Flip it around, look at the Poor.. do we also have preconceive judgement on how "they are usually like?")

Moses Hng