tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16961800360771315612024-03-13T20:50:42.132+08:00Ted EarlTedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.comBlogger239125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-71370839398875272092012-12-27T14:01:00.000+08:002012-12-27T14:01:37.866+08:00December 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's been a very busy month, but that's to be expected, with all the festive preparations and holidays. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A brief respite from the busyness</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHRJUqLUEIQ/UNvhhOe532I/AAAAAAAABlg/0sXz9KJEjEw/s1600/HOLGA+KODAK+EKTA+PRO160-005C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WHRJUqLUEIQ/UNvhhOe532I/AAAAAAAABlg/0sXz9KJEjEw/s320/HOLGA+KODAK+EKTA+PRO160-005C.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still loving the Holga very much</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long exposure with the stars, maybe not long enough?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Light leaks at the top and bottom of the Holga, but have to get used to the fact that rotating the camera sideways has no effect on a 120 film</td></tr>
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Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-14801011891467212742012-11-14T15:32:00.004+08:002012-11-14T15:32:46.824+08:00Holga 120GN: A ReviewI've been thinking of going back to shooting 120 films for some time now. Regrettably I've sold off the Yashica Mat that I had earlier. So recently I bought the Holga 120GN from <a href="http://www.holgadirect.com/">Holgadirect</a>, took a couple of weeks and costed just RM127. Now you don't expect much from images taken from a holga, it's never going to be as sharp or technically accurate as the DSLRs, but that's the point. It's unpredictable, sometimes you get really good fun images and sometimes it's just mediocre. What I wasn't expecting when the package arrived was that it was cosmetically...well, mediocre.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tMIc5v_6IbY/UKNCHKO-rcI/AAAAAAAABj0/FdqQQhOhvN8/s1600/IMG_1639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tMIc5v_6IbY/UKNCHKO-rcI/AAAAAAAABj0/FdqQQhOhvN8/s320/IMG_1639.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I definitely got a used unit from <a href="http://holgadirect.com/">holgadirect.com</a>, the hot shoe had been scratched, there was dust all over indicating that it's probably a display unit, and the sticker on the film advance knob is almost brown and peeling off. A quick check online showed that my model is older than 2009, all new models have the tripod mount more central, mine is the one that's to the side. I'm a bit peeved by this, but after some discussion with Wee Siang, decided that it's not worth taking it up with holgadirect. I decided to give it a test and if the results are ok, then keep it. But here's a warning to those who are planning to get from them, if you are particular about these kind of things, make sure you get them to confirm they are sending you a new unit and not one that is used. They're cheap, but I'll definitely think twice before getting anything from them again.<br />
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Anyway on to the review of the camera...why I've decided to try 120 film is that sometimes I feel the 36 exposures from the 135 format is a bit too much. If I have a day out with the family, 12 exposures is just nice. I can limit myself to taking just 12 meaningful shots through the whole day instead of always having the feeling to burn through 36 just to get it developed.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8vmMX2aTadg/UKNCOSCdFMI/AAAAAAAABj8/2t4ya-3B69M/s1600/IMG_1642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8vmMX2aTadg/UKNCOSCdFMI/AAAAAAAABj8/2t4ya-3B69M/s320/IMG_1642.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've also added a mask to it, to get the jagged edges around the frames. All images are shot with the Fuji Pro 400H.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First shot I took, long exposure.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't really like zone focus cameras, but it's a good tool to learn how to estimate distances</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B8X-PfkGSZ4/UKNDXVFrx6I/AAAAAAAABkM/DX8RJZ7Whq0/s1600/HOLGN+FUJI400H004x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B8X-PfkGSZ4/UKNDXVFrx6I/AAAAAAAABkM/DX8RJZ7Whq0/s320/HOLGN+FUJI400H004x.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see the distortion from this shot, look at the staircase</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Again, the distortion, but I love this pic anyway</td></tr>
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I love shooting with this camera. It's so light! But that said, I was shooting with it yesterday and the whole back fell off exposing the film...I haven't finished that roll yet so I don't know how it will turn out. The latch at the sides must have slid off when it was in my bag. Light yes, flimsy yes, but results are great! The centre is sharp and the edges blurry.<br />
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Should you get this camera? Definitely. You have to be aware of the limitations though, with the fastest aperture at f/8 you are going to need a fast film indoors coupled with a flash. That's the reason I opted for a model with a hot shoe, the CFN model has a flash but it's not very powerful. With your own flash unit, you have more options, bounce flash, off camera flash and what not. This camera comes very highly recommended from me, and will be with me on my January trip to my friend's wedding.<br />
<br />Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-39510397200184980012012-11-02T13:01:00.001+08:002012-11-02T13:06:19.357+08:00Exercising The FED 5CIt's been a long while since I've shot anything with the <a href="http://tedearl.blogspot.com/2010/08/fed-5c-review-of-soviet-rangefinder.html">FED 5C</a> camera, which is a shame really. It's always given me nice <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/14709951@N03/sets/72157624680207643/">shots</a>. One of the main reason is it's size and weight. With a good aim and a strong throw you can use it to knock both the snatch thief and the rider in front of him off a motorbike. The other is that ever since my son has learned to walk, autofocus cameras are the preferred choice, man can he walk fast. But during the recent public holiday, I decided to put a roll of film through the FED 5C, kinda miss shooting with it. (All images shot with FED 5C and Kodak 400UC)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and the FED 5C</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor hairstylist had a bloody finger when he snipped his hand, never easy to get a baby to stay still</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One second before breaking something from the shelf...and we left quickly soon after -.-"</td></tr>
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I am reminded how much I love shooting with this camera when I look at the pics, even though it makes me look like a freaking tourist with the strap and the case I will make an effort to bring it out more often.Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-53676656865272111242012-06-22T12:40:00.001+08:002012-06-22T12:40:34.383+08:00Marco Polo: From Venice to XanaduI've just finished reading Laurence Bergreen's and was totally absorbed by it.<br />
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A couple of interesting things<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">- Pharmacists (and by nature the retail pharmacy setting) have always been competitive all the way back to Marco Polo's time</span><br />
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- Thought he only mentions the island of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socotra">Socotra</a> in passing, this piqued my interest to do more research about it. This is one of the places that I must visit before my time is up.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragon's Blood Trees, so called for the red sap they secrete, photo by Mark W. Moffett, National Geographic<br /><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-45045265214281138172012-05-03T13:05:00.000+08:002012-05-03T13:05:16.334+08:00Homemade Fruit Enzyme, Muffins And Oreo+Kit Kat Soy Ice Cream (With CUTE ANIMALS!)On Labour Day we took the holiday as a chance to do some experiments in our kitchen. I know what you're thinking - 'is this going to be another food post?' and 'is this blog becoming a food blog now?' Yes and no. I've been writing about food as of late, because that's what we've been doing a lot recently. Judging from the analytics of this blog, most people come here to check on camera related stuff (and sometimes for the Air Asia Call Centre) and this may not be your thing. It's okay, I do appreciate your presence and as proof of that please enjoy the following pictures.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks for dwopping by</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too cute!</td></tr>
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Alright then, on with the food.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FMulrhKRYmo/T6INaSTnDVI/AAAAAAAABfk/dLik2i_h_Xc/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FMulrhKRYmo/T6INaSTnDVI/AAAAAAAABfk/dLik2i_h_Xc/s320/1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grape and pear fruit enzymes, will have to wait 3 weeks before harvesting this.Check back later!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--bB0TDh_9kQ/T6INpkC4W9I/AAAAAAAABfs/g9bhkWkEn5c/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--bB0TDh_9kQ/T6INpkC4W9I/AAAAAAAABfs/g9bhkWkEn5c/s320/2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Mrs made banana muffins, half of them with red bean paste as filling</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--RavV606L9w/T6IOcSw1bjI/AAAAAAAABf0/ZsrgwHOid38/s1600/ice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--RavV606L9w/T6IOcSw1bjI/AAAAAAAABf0/ZsrgwHOid38/s320/ice.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Oreo+Kit Kat Soy Ice Cream</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I'm pleased that the ice cream turned out so well. It is not that difficult to make, and given that we eat quite a lot of ice cream, I think we'll be doing this more.<br />
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<b><u>Recipe List</u></b><br />
<b>1 Cup Cream</b><br />
<b>1 Cup Milk ( we used soy, that's all we had in the fridge)</b><br />
<b>3 egg yolks</b><br />
<b>1/4 cup sugar</b><br />
<b>Oreo, Kit kat or whatever you want the ice cream to taste like</b><br />
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Add the cream and milk together and bring it to boil.<br />
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Separate the yolks and beat them together with the sugar.<br />
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Remove the cream/milk mixture from the fire and pour in the yolks, a little bit at a time while stirring. Put this in the fridge to cool.<br />
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Get a big pot and fill it with ice and salt.<br />
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Put the pot with the ice cream to be inside the bigger pot and put in the freezer. Check on it every 20 - 30 mins and break up any ice crystals you find at the side. Do this 4-5 times. The purpose of doing this is to make the ice cream 'creamy' instead of having them turned out like popsicles.<br />
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Add whatever you want to the ice cream. We used oreo and kit kats here. If it's not sweet enough for your liking you can add honey or more sugar. After half a day, transfer it to a container for keeping and enjoy!Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-2430443260495597442012-04-23T11:52:00.000+08:002012-04-23T11:52:26.181+08:00Gone Bananas: Home Made YogurtIt was a very rainy Sunday yesterday and it didn't affect our plans to have a day in at all. I had a very interesting chat with <a href="http://wspang.blogspot.com/">Wee Siang</a> about his experiences in making yogurt and I was intrigued enough to give it a go!<br />
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<u>Making Yogurt</u><br />
The only thing that I needed to buy was milk and yogurt.<br />
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I poured the milk into a pot and heated it till it frothed and then left it to cool.<br />
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After it has cooled sufficiently, add in the yogurt and stir. I read that you're supposed to add it when it's around 110 ºF. I used a thermometer and added the yogurt it when it was around 40+ ºC.<br />
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Next, I covered it and left it for about 6-7 hours, giving time for it to ferment.<br />
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The result? Instead of a cup of yogurt I got a whole pot full of it.<br />
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Keep a small batch to re-use in future yogurt making sessions and keep it in the fridge. I used approximately 700+ml of milk and I got the above bounty. Not too bad I think.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--dgwOXx84Sw/T5TOLaTKfWI/AAAAAAAABeA/uztOhfEhfV0/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--dgwOXx84Sw/T5TOLaTKfWI/AAAAAAAABeA/uztOhfEhfV0/s320/6.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With honey and banana</td></tr>
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The taste is very plain and the texture surprisingly nice. You can add honey, sugar or anything to it as you like. It's very easy to do and we will definitely be doing more in the future. To top it off, we made banana cookies as well to go with the yogurt.<br />
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Next time we'll be using chocolate milk.Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-8603093464644556102012-04-14T12:31:00.002+08:002012-04-14T12:31:42.531+08:00Getting Six PacksI made it my <a href="http://tedearl.blogspot.com/2010/02/aiming-higher.html">aim</a> to get a six pack for 2010 and by October that year, I claimed partial <a href="http://tedearl.blogspot.com/2010/10/2010-new-year-resolutions-kao-tim.html">victory</a>. The problem was that the six pack showed up on a part time basis - that is, I have to stand in a certain position while flexing them and they tend to disappear after a heavy meal.<br />
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Throughout 2011, almost everything took a back seat as we prepared for the birth of my son. After CNY 2012, I've decided to overhaul my entire life, taking a look at what my priorities were and how I can change my life to fit that. There were many motivations, and one of the things that we started doing was focus on health and how we can eat better. That added with exercise and I'm pleased to say that I've finally offered my abs a full time position (with off days for long weekends and festivities).<br />
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I want to share a few pointers with all who are aspiring to get theirs as well.<br />
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<u><b>Abs are made in the kitchen.</b> </u><br />
I've been exercising pretty hard and all for 2 years but still the 6 packs weren't showing up. The biggest change I made was changing the food I consumed. We cut down on processed foods as much as we could and focused on eating wholesome foods. Instead of eating out we brought our lunch box to work. We allowed ourselves to eat out once or twice a week though. Foods that we ate more of included a variety of vegetables, lean meat (fish, chicken), sweet potatoes, etc.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eEwzBr9DOYM/T4j9XD1zhnI/AAAAAAAABcU/XdCxhOljugU/s1600/IMG_1088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eEwzBr9DOYM/T4j9XD1zhnI/AAAAAAAABcU/XdCxhOljugU/s320/IMG_1088.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salmon + Spinach + Cheese + Garlic Bread</td></tr>
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Interestingly, before we started out on this, my weight was hovering around 64-65 and now it's 62-63. I didn't lose much weight, which wasn't my goal in the first place, but lost just enough for the six pack to appear. Make time also to eat the sinful foods that you crave, don't totally cut it out but work around it. I've mentioned about <a href="http://tedearl.blogspot.com/2011/06/so-why-cant-i-resist-from-buying-that.html">ego depletion</a> before and forcing your body to an extreme may cause a backlash.<br />
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Another thing to note is don't eat too heavy a supper. The main meal should be dinner and then maybe a light snack an hour before bed, overeating at night is very bad for your abs.<br />
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As for workout routine. I do both cardio and strength training with every session with more emphasis on strength (30%-70%), but this depends a lot on the individual.<br />
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Honestly I don't think there's one magic thing you can do to get a six pack, but rather it's the combination of habits, diet and exercise. So just keep at it, don't give up and let me know how it goes for you.<br />
<br />Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-28113269010974497852012-02-24T13:37:00.001+08:002012-02-24T13:37:25.173+08:00The OCD Chef<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-91UjYY3KO8E/T0cfQbwrvFI/AAAAAAAABZo/HXkll_8PWfg/s1600/OCD1+(Medium).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-91UjYY3KO8E/T0cfQbwrvFI/AAAAAAAABZo/HXkll_8PWfg/s320/OCD1+(Medium).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look what the mailman brought yesterday!</td></tr>
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The OCD chef board is one of those 'instant buy' things for me. It also helped that I was looking to replace the old one which was rotting.<br />
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Food in our house has never looked so good!...or neat.<br />Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-11133755668211612742012-02-10T14:37:00.000+08:002012-02-10T14:37:29.459+08:00Why Does Time Go By Faster Every Year?I read something last night that I think makes a lot of sense.<br />
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<i><span style="color: blue;">'...<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michel_Siffre">Michel Siffre</a>, a French chronobiologist (he studies the relationship between time and living organisms) who conducted one of the most extraordinary acts of self-experimentation in the history of science. In 1962, Siffre spent two months living in total isolation in a subterranean cave, without access to clock, calender or sun. Sleeping and eating only when his body told him to, he sought to discover how the natural rhythms of human life would be affected by living "beyond time."</span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: blue;"><br /></span></i><br />
<i><span style="color: blue;">Very quickly Siffre's memory deteriorated. In the dreary darkness, his days melded into one another and became one continuous, indistinguishable blob. Since there was nobody to talk to, and not much to do, there was nothing novel to impress itself upon his memory. There were no chronological landmarks by which he could measure the passage of time. At some point he stopped being able to remember what happened even the day before...As time began to blur, he became effectively amnesic. Soon, his sleep patterns disintegrated. Some days he'd stay awake for 36 straight hours, other days for eight - without being able to tell the difference. When the support team on the surface finally called down to him on September 14, the day his experiment was scheduled to wrap up, it was only August 20 in his journal. He thought only a month had gone by. His experience of time's passage had compressed by a factor of two.'</span></i><br />
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Sounds familiar? The feeling that an event has sort of snuck up on you when in fact it's always been the same date every year? (What? Chinese New Year over already??? or that sort of thing) It is interesting how Siffre's results have implications for us. The above passage is an excerpt from Joshua Foer's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moonwalking-Einstein-Science-Remembering-Everything/dp/159420229X">'<i>Moonwalking with Einstein : The Art and Science of Remembering Everything.'</i></a> I first came across Joshua Foer's <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/02/20/magazine/mind-secrets.html">article</a> in the NY Times Magazine last year regarding his attempts at training his memory for competition. The book is a more in-depth account of that experience. He does a lot of research not just on the art of memorizing but on how the brain functions and this is one of those detours.<br />
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He goes on to say <i><span style="color: blue;">'Monotony collapses time; novelty unfold it...If you spend your life sitting in a cubicle and passing papers, one day is bound to blend unmemorably into the next - and disappear. That's why it's important to change routines regularly, and take vacations to exotic locales </span>(agreed!)<span style="color: blue;"> and have as many new experiences as possible. Creating new memories stretches out psychological time, and lengthens our perception of our lives.'</span></i><br />
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My wife has always laughed at my penchant for choosing the same option repeatedly - if I really like a certain dish (say curry chicken chop kon lau mee), I can eat the same dish everyday for 5 days in a week, 2 or 3 weeks in a row. She, on the other hand, will seek to add in as much variety to everyday choices. I remember before we got married, we would always eat out once a week on Sunday and what vexed me most at times was the rule that we must go to a new place every single week. I'll always suggest KFC, and say that we've tried all the restaurants in KK already and she will always suggest some obscure place I've never heard of. But she's right. She's on to something.<br />
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I've not thought of a resolution to aim for this year, but if anything, this will be it. To experience life from another perspective and as differently as I possibly can. To try anything and everything (within legal means) at least once.<br />
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Oh and to answer that question - <i><b>why does time go by faster every year?</b></i> <i>It doesn't. </i><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><i>'Life seems to speed up as we get older because life gets less memorable as we get older.'</i></span>Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-8359755464248702122012-01-17T13:16:00.006+08:002012-01-17T13:16:59.306+08:00SolidsBaby Cyrus has turned 6 months and started taking solid foods. We have fun experimenting with foods and seeing his reaction to them.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2FyXXyyisDw/TxUBxYZRDiI/AAAAAAAABYk/QYsqk7J6srQ/s1600/food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2FyXXyyisDw/TxUBxYZRDiI/AAAAAAAABYk/QYsqk7J6srQ/s320/food.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Today we're trying pumpkin porridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sh3bM1yMjDA/TxUCKHx2YTI/AAAAAAAABYs/ANNFNAnXAGU/s1600/wtf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sh3bM1yMjDA/TxUCKHx2YTI/AAAAAAAABYs/ANNFNAnXAGU/s320/wtf.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wat the....?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tC1eLnmtHvY/TxUCp-wiybI/AAAAAAAABY0/Vegj_va0aIQ/s1600/switch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tC1eLnmtHvY/TxUCp-wiybI/AAAAAAAABY0/Vegj_va0aIQ/s320/switch.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So we switched back to what he's familiar with...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S56TqML9_z0/TxUC9H4SPVI/AAAAAAAABY8/XrAx7lybQd8/s1600/add.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S56TqML9_z0/TxUC9H4SPVI/AAAAAAAABY8/XrAx7lybQd8/s320/add.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and added some of the pumpkin porridge</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kOy9Gc4twxE/TxUDMTeswXI/AAAAAAAABZE/5mB8TEcTeXk/s1600/funny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kOy9Gc4twxE/TxUDMTeswXI/AAAAAAAABZE/5mB8TEcTeXk/s320/funny.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But he found out...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L66uan8Hx2Y/TxUDXFtpWuI/AAAAAAAABZM/5v37S2HDi6w/s1600/refuse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L66uan8Hx2Y/TxUDXFtpWuI/AAAAAAAABZM/5v37S2HDi6w/s320/refuse.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and kept his mouth closed. Lol.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
He did finish the whole thing in the end. We've found out that he likes apple, bananas, grapes (with a very sourish face) and papayas. Sweet potatoes, potatoes...not so popular with him. We hope he will enjoy as wide a variety of food as we can give to him, with it being easier now at this age when he can't talk back or refuse to eat. </div>Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-11952524703014508982011-12-27T12:39:00.002+08:002011-12-27T12:40:04.046+08:00Season's GreetingsIt's been an unforgettable year for many reasons and we'll cherish the good ones and learn from the bad. Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2012!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5mXDdE8fScw/TvlL0qRHh_I/AAAAAAAABYc/pDfJaxG8Ad0/s1600/christmas800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5mXDdE8fScw/TvlL0qRHh_I/AAAAAAAABYc/pDfJaxG8Ad0/s320/christmas800.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-48598807778365284062011-12-03T11:59:00.001+08:002011-12-03T14:22:56.174+08:00An AltercationSomething interesting happened this morning. I was with a customer and suddenly there were these voices (a young man and an uncle) shouting at each other. I didn't see the incident before that but apparently a child was playing around while his parents were paying at the cashier and didn't see the uncle pushing a trolley in the adjacent lane and got his head knocked. A very minor incident, not even a bruise... but not for the father. His fists were raised and ready to strike the much older man down.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fKr02GJOWUI/TtmhE7AKTuI/AAAAAAAABX4/TR_70pLug80/s1600/A1+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fKr02GJOWUI/TtmhE7AKTuI/AAAAAAAABX4/TR_70pLug80/s320/A1+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The younger man ironically shouted that the uncle had no manners and didn't even apologize, and the uncle said back to him in this frame 'as if you should be talking about manners'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
To the uncle's credit, he tried to calm the younger man down saying that he didn't see the child running or turning, and the parents should have been more mindful of their child. The younger man got so pissed that it could have been his fault and started shouting at the uncle, that he should be more careful when there are children around.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WU5qgRg6Mnw/Ttmh_S_GmTI/AAAAAAAABYA/17ggbVNehuU/s1600/A2+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WU5qgRg6Mnw/Ttmh_S_GmTI/AAAAAAAABYA/17ggbVNehuU/s320/A2+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The 'triumphant' father who has defended his family's honor...or has he?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The whole thing is silly really, it's really no one's fault and accidents happen all the time. So has the young man really won? It would appear so. But then again, what the father is saying indirectly to his child is<br />
<br />
1) It doesn't matter if it's your fault, I will bring you their severed testicles on a plate for lunch.<br />
2) It's ok to be rude.<br />
3) It's ok to be disrespectful to strangers, especially the weak and elderly.<br />
<br />
Great parenting dad! Watch out for the little one during his rebellious teenage years... you won't be spared.Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-7785703665369319702011-11-23T13:43:00.001+08:002011-11-23T13:46:05.754+08:00Bugs and Beeps<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZUrZemAMaw/TsyIFA8Q3MI/AAAAAAAABXw/NlZAWIDpZKA/s1600/bug.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0ZUrZemAMaw/TsyIFA8Q3MI/AAAAAAAABXw/NlZAWIDpZKA/s320/bug.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 bugs and 2 dragon beeps (soft shutter release)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Yes I'm preparing for the <a href="http://tedearl.blogspot.com/2011/11/wishlist.html">X10</a>... hehehTedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-28862032803106187282011-11-18T13:19:00.001+08:002011-11-18T13:47:05.011+08:00Modified Nutella Cake In 90 seconds (+++)It definitely took way more than 90 seconds to make this. I actually got this recipe from <a href="http://www.pretenseofknowledge.com/2011/11/15/a-few-random-morning-links-145/">here</a> which linked to <a href="http://www.bforbel.com/2011/10/appearances-matter-90-second-nutella.html">here</a>, who got the recipe from <a href="http://backtoherroots.com/2011/08/04/90-second-nutella-chocolate-cake/">her</a><a href="http://backtoherroots.com/2011/08/04/90-second-nutella-chocolate-cake/">e</a> (... thank goodness for rebloggers I guess?). It looked simple enough so I had a go.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QTOwHscrmk/TsXs5G6s55I/AAAAAAAABXU/CcDyMMkR_UI/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--QTOwHscrmk/TsXs5G6s55I/AAAAAAAABXU/CcDyMMkR_UI/s320/1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I didn't have any cocoa powder at home, so I used the next best thing - Milo Fuze 3-in-1. This also eliminated the need to add any sugar, the instant pack milo is sweet enough.<br />
<br />
Ingredients<br />
1) 1 tablespoon (and a bit more) of Nutella<br />
2) 1 heaping tablespoon of flour<br />
3) half teaspoon baking powder<br />
4) 1 packet Milo Fuze 3-in-1<br />
5) 1egg (beaten)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1U2VMVnwefw/TsXt0gTG7sI/AAAAAAAABXc/Z_e5PNDlY2k/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1U2VMVnwefw/TsXt0gTG7sI/AAAAAAAABXc/Z_e5PNDlY2k/s320/2.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
Mix everything together and put the mixture into a microwaveable bowl or container. Set the microwave to 70% and set the timer for 40-60 seconds. I initially set 30 seconds but nothing happened. So I set another 20 seconds and saw the thing 'rise'. It's mostly trial and error, watch it closely to see it still retains that moistness.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bn9lUe4u8_k/TsXu5JT__XI/AAAAAAAABXk/SMtKGgGNTf8/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bn9lUe4u8_k/TsXu5JT__XI/AAAAAAAABXk/SMtKGgGNTf8/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Ta-da! Yes, it's as delicious as it looks. Seriously! Will add a scoop of ice cream next time I make this.Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-56535254808659401612011-11-09T15:52:00.000+08:002011-11-09T15:52:18.836+08:00WishlistFujifilm X10, I can't remember the last time I've been this tempted by a digital camera...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wd8RK9rtefo/TrovBXHTf4I/AAAAAAAABXE/NznOn-jhGEU/s1600/x10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wd8RK9rtefo/TrovBXHTf4I/AAAAAAAABXE/NznOn-jhGEU/s320/x10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.dpreview.com/previews/fujifilmx10/">X10</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Well to be fair, I was a bit tempted when it's elder brother, the X100, was launched but the price was a turn off. This one may be a stripped down version of the X100, but there are some things I like about it - Full HD video mode and zoom lens.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ltx5e7ClsE1qazg1ao1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://30.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ltx5e7ClsE1qazg1ao1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Image from <a href="http://mostexerent.tumblr.com/">Guido</a> ... I want that black and white ladybird on the X100 shutter button too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It seems I may have to clear out my dry cabinet to make a space for this fella...<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2btXS26jaUs/Trov6aFJzjI/AAAAAAAABXM/HVAxG9_qsZM/s1600/X102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2btXS26jaUs/Trov6aFJzjI/AAAAAAAABXM/HVAxG9_qsZM/s320/X102.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br />
<br />Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-74922439061595904242011-11-03T15:26:00.002+08:002011-11-03T15:28:08.900+08:00How Come I Didn't Notice This Before?A customer was returning some strips of blood pressure medications he had bought from me earlier because there wasn't a need for it anymore. He's one of the very few people who has managed to control his BP and come off the medications.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDhJcvdQAN4/TrJAyZEvTkI/AAAAAAAABW0/VNJzezyzAwo/s1600/NOR1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tDhJcvdQAN4/TrJAyZEvTkI/AAAAAAAABW0/VNJzezyzAwo/s320/NOR1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
So I was checking to see if the medications have already expired and I noticed something...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jl3p4RE6obI/TrJBZrRTS7I/AAAAAAAABW8/pPbVgwDVtMY/s1600/NOR2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jl3p4RE6obI/TrJBZrRTS7I/AAAAAAAABW8/pPbVgwDVtMY/s320/NOR2.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top to bottom : Spade, Heart, Square, Asterisk, Pentagon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
See those symbols next to the batch number? Has it always been there? Why didn't I notice this before? There are 2 sets of each symbol in a box of 10 strips. This is the first time I've seen something like this and I think it's quite cute. Anyone else noticed this?Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-38137508735057627412011-10-27T13:25:00.000+08:002011-10-27T13:25:20.885+08:00Some people handle situations...<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKjYaa9UYMU/TqjkNF5qPxI/AAAAAAAABWU/t6SP0TGGPK8/s1600/IMG_0962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jKjYaa9UYMU/TqjkNF5qPxI/AAAAAAAABWU/t6SP0TGGPK8/s320/IMG_0962.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...some situations handle people.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Recently my staff had a huge personal problem and took a few days off to settle it. Normally my stance towards issues like this is that work and personal issues are two separate entities and should never mix, but in real life that's not always possible. Days turned to weeks and to say that we weren't affected at all would be a lie. Yes, we were short-handed at the office, but more importantly concerned for her. We've all worked together for so long that we know each other quite well. To cut a long story short, she initially decided to 'settle' her problem by avoiding it and thought it will go away by itself, but we know that this can sometimes make it worse and it did. Thankfully she came to her senses much later on, put her foot down and with a couple of police reports lodged, things are heading in the right direction.<br />
<br />
You know what they say, that challenges can either make or break you, and I'm glad that it was not the latter. I got to talk to her after that and I can sense the determination and courage in her, qualities that were lacking before. A couple of things I learn from this -<br />
<br />
1) Never whine about what a deep mess you're in. Focus your energy instead of solving that mess. I won't go so far to say be thankful for challenges, but you'll definitely be better off one way or another after having gone through it.<br />
2) If something calls for urgent action, ignoring it won't do you any favors. You will still have to face it later on, together with all the additional problems caused by your inaction.<br />
3) It's important to have people you can count on for help and support. No man is a pulau.<br />
<br />
I hope I'll remember all this when I'm going through a rough patch.Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-77407776108264607132011-10-18T12:23:00.000+08:002011-10-18T12:23:52.450+08:00Hate Broccoli?I know I used to. These days I've made peace with it, eating it for its benefits rather than for its taste. But there's way to get around that bitterness and what you do is overcook the damn thing.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kOka0fFJsgc/Tpz2LbgjjYI/AAAAAAAABWI/J5vbg03pPog/s1600/SCV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kOka0fFJsgc/Tpz2LbgjjYI/AAAAAAAABWI/J5vbg03pPog/s320/SCV.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
There's this <a href="http://www.saveur.com/article/Techniques/The-Soft-Approach/1">article</a> that I enjoyed reading and I must admit I wouldn't have a clue what it was going on about if I'd read it 4 months earlier. After my son's delivery, the confinement lady (CL) prepared all our meals. We purposely went and bought a rice cooker (yes we didn't have one before that) that allowed for steaming. CL would cook the rice and to save time, (and tend to the baby and other chores) she set the rice to cook with the vegetables in the above compartment to steam. Many things have been said about not overcooking vegetables and the decreasing nutrient contents with prolonged cooking, but I guess that was the last thing on CL's mind.<br />
<br />
The results were surprising. The vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, snow peas) became soft, sweet and pleasantly disintegrated without much chewing. <i>Broccoli? Sweet?</i> You'd better believe it. So what happened here?<br />
<br />
<div style="color: blue;">
<i>"It's true that when vegetables, especially cruciferous vegetables, are
cooked, the damage to the plant's tissue brings about reactions between
compounds that are usually kept separate," he said—hence the sulfuric
aroma. But, he emphasized, if you continue to cook these foods, "at a
certain point the aroma will dissipate, and you'll end up with the
flavor compounds left in the plant, including its sugars—especially if
it's cooked and served in a way that the sugars aren't poured out with
the cooking water." -from 'The Soft Approach' article</i></div>
<br />
So here's a tip when cooking for picky eaters who hate greens, overcook it! It is a fact that the <a href="http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111011112501.htm">anti-cancer properties</a> of broccoli is highest when raw (yucks!) or lightly cooked, but I think it's a better compromise this way, eating diminished nutrients vs none at all.Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-61589473324397839842011-10-12T13:00:00.001+08:002011-10-12T13:01:09.587+08:00Nyan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
I would have preferred a propaganda sticker with a dog instead, but come on, <a href="http://www.obeythepurebreed.com/chairman_meow.html">Chairman Meow</a>? Genius!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SEeg6_mrj7s/TpUeOc-Af4I/AAAAAAAABWA/PAH3sM59RTo/s1600/meow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SEeg6_mrj7s/TpUeOc-Af4I/AAAAAAAABWA/PAH3sM59RTo/s320/meow.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-11199647465230525032011-10-05T13:07:00.001+08:002011-10-05T19:23:07.425+08:00Peek-a-boo!Somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd month of life, Cyrus started blabbering and using his voice to express a wide range of emotions. His first word wasn't mama or papa but Earl (highly disputed by my wife who claims he was saying uggh instead. I beg to differ...). The one event that made us drop everything and stare at him was when we realized he was laughing. Oh yes he'd smile before this, and try to laugh, but always without the accompanying audio.<br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/C11OqWupgDE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Why are babies amused by peek-a-boo? And we tried peek-a-boo-ing with two people hiding behind the blanket instead but he wasn't amused at all. Then we returned to just one peek-a-boo-er and he resumed laughing like normal. Remind me to check the rules regarding multiple peek-a-boo-ers/peek-a-boo-ees. Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-21083846539528720902011-09-28T12:03:00.000+08:002011-09-28T12:03:07.495+08:00NATO StrapsI must admit that I'm not a very careful person sometimes and because of this I seldom wear a watch with a metal bracelet anymore.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7eJ11CsANp4/ToKQzXchxuI/AAAAAAAABV0/p8WELVB-nJk/s1600/STRAP1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7eJ11CsANp4/ToKQzXchxuI/AAAAAAAABV0/p8WELVB-nJk/s320/STRAP1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's 14 years of wear and tear, I remember wearing it to play football too</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Recent watch purchases have seen me opting for leather or rubber straps instead. The above mentioned watch hasn't featured in my watch rotation for a couple of years now, making that odd appearance only for special occasions. It was a gift from my father and a watch which I like very much. I feel it's a bit of a waste if it just sits in my drawer. Then some random links led me to a forum where they were discussing the origins of the NATO strap and I knew I had to get one...or maybe two. <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MNEphcIEEss/ToKWNjSkdAI/AAAAAAAABV4/7uGRmmzTqn4/s1600/STRAP2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MNEphcIEEss/ToKWNjSkdAI/AAAAAAAABV4/7uGRmmzTqn4/s320/STRAP2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ok maybe more than two</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
What I like about the straps is that they can be changed according to what my outfit for the day is. And there's always a plain black NATO or leather for more formal occasions. The only thing I had to learn to do is remove the spring bar and the old strap, then it's plain sailing after that. I ordered both the NATO and the ZULU straps (with the rounder rings) but after trying out both, I still prefer the NATO ones. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-81nJHvLUy_g/ToKa4ZqVVfI/AAAAAAAABV8/SXcnumN2VPo/s1600/STRAP3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-81nJHvLUy_g/ToKa4ZqVVfI/AAAAAAAABV8/SXcnumN2VPo/s320/STRAP3.JPG" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favorite combo at the moment, Seiko 5 Military Sports</td></tr>
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I like the straps so much that I'm thinking of getting some more! Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-42036964609874900212011-09-09T12:33:00.002+08:002011-09-09T12:33:54.821+08:00A MilestoneBaby Cyrus has turned 2 months last weekend! He's grown at such a rapid pace that I use him for weight training now. <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_YtzL2_cW9w/TmmTgXdObWI/AAAAAAAABVo/VwhZ4nIZou8/s1600/HH1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_YtzL2_cW9w/TmmTgXdObWI/AAAAAAAABVo/VwhZ4nIZou8/s320/HH1.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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There was a bit of a worry when Cyrus produced this weird black pepper like stools 2 days after his 2 month vaccination. He didn't have any fever and was looking and acting his normal self. We were stumped, but decided to wait and see since it was a Sunday and the clinic was closed. We found out that the vaccination can cause diarrhea but it mentioned nothing of this. Thankfully it got less and less and disappeared totally the next evening.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XgQRzcBBNfA/TmmTpjQ8RmI/AAAAAAAABVs/d7LXwkrlTfM/s1600/HH2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XgQRzcBBNfA/TmmTpjQ8RmI/AAAAAAAABVs/d7LXwkrlTfM/s320/HH2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can see from the pattern, I caught the explosion 'mid-spray'</td></tr>
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I've not been able to do a lot of thing that I used to do (Develop film? Catch a movie? Get enough sleep? Forget about it!) All these have taken a back seat for the time being. This goes without saying, but having a baby changes everything.<br />
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I'm not complaining though. When he rewards us with such a smile, everything is worth it. In fact my wife was saying that he's growing so fast that she regrets that we can't spend more time with him because of work. That makes every second we spend with him that much more precious, even if it's watching him sleep. Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-72179531234006733092011-08-25T13:39:00.000+08:002011-08-25T13:39:18.111+08:00East vs WestSo how do you spot an East Malaysian at the KL LCCT Airport? Easy, go to the LCCT Emporium and check out the Gardenia buns section. He/she will most likely have a shopping basket full of buns.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L5oREVSxBUk/TlXT8UwffGI/AAAAAAAABVc/ZbIUjsIycgU/s1600/gardenia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-L5oREVSxBUk/TlXT8UwffGI/AAAAAAAABVc/ZbIUjsIycgU/s320/gardenia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Ok, maybe that was an over-generalization. That person could've been buying for an East Malaysian friend he/she was visiting. The first time I became aware that Gardenia don't sell their buns here was when my wife asked me to get her some Gardenia Ikan Bilis buns when I went over to KL. I also found out that the best place to get the freshest stocks is at LCCT, having spent quite some time looking around in various locations. The LCCT Emporium knows that they are catering to the East Malaysian market and makes quite a lot from this. Gardenia sells their plain bread here, but why not the others (I don't know if it's the same for Sarawak) ? Oddly enough, I've never had the ikan bilis bun till I moved over to Sabah from PJ so maybe Gardenia knows what they are doing...<br />
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There's another thing I've missed since moving here. The KFC stores in Sabah don't offer Thai Chili Sauce (TCS) to their customers, relying instead on ketchup and normal chili. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i3R1V7CI1-I/TlXZw-t7PrI/AAAAAAAABVg/C6y9SAEcWO0/s1600/thai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i3R1V7CI1-I/TlXZw-t7PrI/AAAAAAAABVg/C6y9SAEcWO0/s320/thai.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
The first few times eating KFC without TCS was terrible. I considered buying one bottle from the supermarket and bringing it with me everytime I go to KFC, but common sense told me to suck it up and deal with it. 4 years later, I can't remember how fried chicken tastes with TCS anymore... *making a mental note to eat KFC next time I go back to the peninsula*<br />
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And McD's...huh! No free refills! The first time I asked the cashier for a free refill was also my last time. I might as well have asked if her mom had a hairy chest because she would have given me the same look.<br />
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After 4 years here in Kota Kinabalu, I'm not so bothered by these minor differences in products and services offered by the big chain companies like I used to be. But hello <a href="http://www.facebook.com/KFCMalaysia">KFC</a>, I really really hope you will listen to what I'm saying. Ahem. Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-19002187949700663582011-08-08T12:02:00.001+08:002011-08-08T15:34:09.163+08:00Hacking The DX Coding On The Film Canisters<b><i>Mom: So is there anything you'd like me to bring over when I visit?</i></b><br />
<b><i>Me: Hmm, ya. Whatever happened to my old film camera?</i></b><br />
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So she searched around the house and found this.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rL_ZtGfZZqE/Tj9a-uxVwBI/AAAAAAAABTw/kLlKc6wZGfM/s1600/mju.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rL_ZtGfZZqE/Tj9a-uxVwBI/AAAAAAAABTw/kLlKc6wZGfM/s320/mju.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
My old Olympus Mju-II. This camera accompanied me through my college and uni years and to many places in Europe. It's a reliable old friend. There was one problem with it though, it automatically sets the ISO based on the DX coding on the film canister. That may be alright for normal photography but a massive inconvenience when shooting with redscale or black and white films.<br />
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So how to get around this?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DWUdPjNb_6M/Tj9cv6GeNBI/AAAAAAAABT0/m5JGn021Bmw/s1600/film+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DWUdPjNb_6M/Tj9cv6GeNBI/AAAAAAAABT0/m5JGn021Bmw/s320/film+%2528Medium%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Changing from 400 to 1600</td></tr>
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Fool the camera by changing the <a href="http://www.bythom.com/dxcodes.htm">DX coding</a>. The film at the bottom is at normal 400 speed and the film at the top has had its paint scratched so the camera reads it as a 1600 film instead. Probably the best thing about this is that the Olympus is such an easy camera to handle that I can be in the pictures more often.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WJYeBwtF8e8/Tj9fF2nClXI/AAAAAAAABT4/oeJx-BMcJe0/s1600/window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WJYeBwtF8e8/Tj9fF2nClXI/AAAAAAAABT4/oeJx-BMcJe0/s320/window.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With available window light and spot metering on the Mju-II</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1696180036077131561.post-36633564066448384032011-07-27T12:02:00.002+08:002011-07-28T14:58:39.438+08:00Darkroom FunFollowing up from my last post, I tried my hand at developing my own black and white film. The very first time, I had a few issues to iron out, like getting all the chemicals at the right temperature (20 deg c) before starting. I tried putting ice in a basin but it wasn't getting anywhere near that figure, so I just stuck them all in a freezer till it dropped. Thanks to the timer from the Massive Dev Chart App on the iPhone, once everything starts, it's pretty easy. I took a shot of my setup and here it is.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9r8IkuwBJ8c/Ti-KJ8L-0gI/AAAAAAAABTU/QXasNZFpBV8/s1600/darkroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9r8IkuwBJ8c/Ti-KJ8L-0gI/AAAAAAAABTU/QXasNZFpBV8/s400/darkroom.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I've done 3 rolls so far with 2 different type of films and the results vary quite a bit. I think I may have been a bit overenthusiastic in agitating the chemicals in one of the sessions but I'll know more after many more trials and errors.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ieHXuscDSvs/Ti-K3Lo3IsI/AAAAAAAABTY/QC6Capbcndo/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ieHXuscDSvs/Ti-K3Lo3IsI/AAAAAAAABTY/QC6Capbcndo/s320/2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eTE8PO6yUI4/Ti-K6lkRJYI/AAAAAAAABTc/ZjgPAIeahRA/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eTE8PO6yUI4/Ti-K6lkRJYI/AAAAAAAABTc/ZjgPAIeahRA/s320/3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P08UjyIA4m4/Ti-LAt2scSI/AAAAAAAABTg/FxwiB-UkgtM/s1600/mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-P08UjyIA4m4/Ti-LAt2scSI/AAAAAAAABTg/FxwiB-UkgtM/s320/mom.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He's wearing a 'I love mum' shirt... -.-</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LDQ71bn0WCk/Ti-LEYsVdWI/AAAAAAAABTk/ArDIy7wU3WI/s1600/000012+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LDQ71bn0WCk/Ti-LEYsVdWI/AAAAAAAABTk/ArDIy7wU3WI/s320/000012+%2528Medium%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This last film with Delta 3200 - oh the grain!</td></tr>
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Thankfully there are many things to shoot these days. Cyrus is growing really fast and looks different everyday.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-16nXlf4-yhY/Ti-LzqKCkXI/AAAAAAAABTo/3rexGhKIink/s1600/x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-16nXlf4-yhY/Ti-LzqKCkXI/AAAAAAAABTo/3rexGhKIink/s320/x.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Now there have been people who have been saying that Cyrus looks more like his mom and yes, if you look at the shots above, you can see the similarities with the nose and the chin. But if you look at him from another angle, you will see that he looks EXACTLY like me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L2e2UIicjVQ/Ti-McfHdC4I/AAAAAAAABTs/EfA3F6fKqn4/s1600/dad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L2e2UIicjVQ/Ti-McfHdC4I/AAAAAAAABTs/EfA3F6fKqn4/s320/dad.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huhuh! Thanks for such great hair dad!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Tedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08209249531340945850noreply@blogger.com0