This is a shocking documentary about the manufacturing process of billions of single use chopsticks. The video clip is in mandarin, but I’ve summarized the key points below after the video. What the clip doesn’t say is where these chopsticks end up – if it’s only for Chinese internal consumption then the damage can still [...]

The recording was done by camera (Think it was a Lumix?) The video quality is too good, HD video of a rather still image catching all the unsightly stage habits (including appearing too much like log). But the audio quality is really bad, yet unfortunately also capturing the worst in our music, e.g. not holding [...]

If you have been following my tweets, facebook, or is fortunate enough to receive a personal eDM from me, you would probably realise I’m helping put together one big conference in September called Accelerate which my team in SingTel (SiX) created after realizing that we need to also play our part in augmenting the innovation [...]

Just want to let everyone know that I’m alright, in case you don’t see me that often these days, it’s because of the super workload that I’m taking on these two months. I will try to keep to blogging once a week to stay sane (see tip no. 2) as well.
Here’s how I deal with [...]

Here’s a quick summary of the weekend of doing nothing.
1. Literature
From Baidu Baike
三十而立 (sān shí ér lì) 这是《论语-为政》中孔子对于自己在30岁时所达到人生状态的自我评价。原文是“吾十有五，而志于学。三十而立，四十而不惑，五十而知天命，六十而耳顺，七十而从心所欲。不逾矩”。虽然不是人人都能做孔圣人，但后人往往把孔子的这些自我评语作为人生不同阶段所应达到的生活理想状态。
对于“三十而立”这句评语，后人给出的解释有很多，比较受认同的说法是“30岁人应该能依靠自己的本领独立承担自己应承受的责任，并已经确定自己的人生目标与发展方向”。简单一句话，30岁，人应该能坦然地面对一切困难了。 　
孔子所说的”三十而立”中的”立”不是指成家立业,而是在对社会和自己都有比较明确的认识和理解的基础上的一种自觉的或者是有相对觉解的意识,一种自我人格独立的意识.人的”立”意识是一种普遍的精神现象,具有自觉性、独立性、阶段性、过程性、内在和外在统一性等特征.在对生命之”立”反思意识有所忽视和遗忘的今天,我们应清醒地认识到”立命”才能真正安身,承担崇高的人生使命、培养高尚的道德情操,投身于国家和社会的建设中,我们的人生才有意义。
Short translation: Confucius felt that one’s 30s will be characterized by his independence in taking on responsibility, and his clear life directions and developmental goals. Being self-aware, independent, systematic, and calm, one in his 30s will [...]

Come for The Philharmonic Wind’s 10th anniversary Gala Concert. No it’s not a gala concert like, with 10 course meal and getai. Just really picking deeper into the wind orchestra repertoire for rarely heard gems.
Learn more about the concert on philwinds’ website. Tickets are cheap, really (but I can’t afford another round of competition… [...]

Arts House. Play Den. Finally we get to try out a venue where the audience is literally next to the players, hearing directly from the horn’s bell, seeing water dripping from water keys, and being part of the music in the most intimate fashion. It almost reminds me of some 200 year old classical drawing [...]

Did another DISC profile test today at work. If I recall correctly this didn’t change since the last time I took the test, but I forgot to blog that down, so it is here this time:

Here’s a basic description:
ORGANIZER
Strong (D)ominant, followed by (I)nfluencing. Weak in (S)teady and less so (C)omplacent.
Outstanding Traits
You are aggressive, persuasive, active, [...]

You have read the news. Amidst the public backlash for not preserving a historical site is the need to solve a different public need – road widening – that I’m sure people who drive through that road knows very well (I pull my hair every time I am forced to use that road).
But are [...]

Thanks to the tip off from Clarence. Love this rendition of Rhapsody in Blue.
Some background reading while you listen to music:

About Marcus Roberts
About Seiji Ozawa

I always wonder, where does classical music meet jazz – if classical music, in its pre-scored, pre-planned beauty each individual musician is not allows to give their individual surprises, while [...]