Tuesday, March 29, 2011

How to tell a person's true nature

MY PAPER MONDAY MARCH 28, 2011, PAGE A13, VIEWPOINTS,
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/cnd/fvxen/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2011-03-28
Source Website: http://news.asiaone.com/News/Mailbox/Story/A1Story20110328-270445.html
By Geoff Tan, my paper, Mon, Mar 28, 2011



PHOTO: So as it is written in all that is conveyed to script, love thy neighbor, do unto others as you would have them do unto you, good forward, good backward. (Posted: Tuesday, May 25, 2010)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY5i2MUSemB0YegqacGR_VcabqQ1U85KUng2cW2iIHNlollEo-YOZss7Xi3KeWjlrQyvV3X1uEJtgPWIv7tbNkSrBiTlGLr-WzOgidpS645fNxVy_sBPRSMNBzZK_CgUnsBkelE8pC89Eq/s1600/friendship+photo.bmp
http://messagedays.blogspot.com/



PHOTO: Geoff Tan
The writer is a senior vice-president of Singapore Press Holdings’ marketing division.
MY PAPER MONDAY MARCH 28, 2011, PAGE A13, VIEWPOINTS,


RECENTLY, I went on a six-day trip with a group of friends. It was the first time we were holidaying together.

During the trip, a member of our 20-strong group remarked that one can tell the character of a person by observing how he interacts with others in unfamiliar situations.

That reminded me of what my father once said: There is nothing like a round of golf to bring out the best or worst in a person. My aunt holds the same opinion but with regard to a totally different game - mahjong.

Whether it is playing 18 holes with someone new, or stacking and throwing tiles across a square table, it puts someone in a situation he is not accustomed to.

Organisational-behaviour consultant Robert Sutton said that "the best test of a person's character is how he or she treats those with less power".

Indeed, it is easy to see why someone would go the extra mile and put on a certain persona for a superior.

So, how someone interacts with those who are lower in status is most telling.

The self-centred ones may pretend to put others first if they stand to gain but, as soon as there is nothing of benefit to them, they treat others like dirt.

What else reveals a person's true nature? Some say a good test is to look at what a person finds funny or how he treats a waiter.



PHOTO: The Perils of a Catholic Upbringing Recalling my old pastor, Father Mike, who always admonished me to 'care for the sick, feed the hungry and clothe the naked,' I was moved by some powerful inner urge to reach out to this unfortunate person.
http://static.zooomr.com/images/6400196_e0d78852f0_o.jpg
http://morecoolpictures.blogspot.com/2008_11_01_archive.html


Then, there are some who say that the true test is seeing how a person behaves when he is pulled over by police while driving.

The funniest test I have heard is to look at how a person treats his parents or, better still, his in-laws.

Someone once told me that "you can tell a person's character by how often he uses the bcc function in work-related e-mail".

And how about this one which you have probably heard often - a person's true character is revealed by how he handles good fortune or unplanned wealth.

I make up my mind about a person's character in a few ways.

Firstly, I tend to want to check out who the person's friends are, and social-media networks like Facebook makes this easy.



PHOTO: The intension of mindfulness meditation is gain insight as to the true nature of reality and therefore also called insight.
http://s3.amazonaws.com/readers/2010/10/13/mindfulnessmeditationtorontobaystreetyoungwomanmeditating_2.jpg
http://healthmad.com/alternative/can-meditation-control-pain-yes-says-mindfulness-meditation/


Secondly, actions speak louder than words, so I observe what the person does, instead of just listening to what he says.

Lastly, I find that it is very helpful to look at a person's attitude to life.

For example, I would steer clear of a person who gravitates towards blaming the world, instead of taking responsibility for his actions, and are always pessimistic.
By Geoff Tan, my paper, Mon, Mar 28, 2011


HELPDESK
我的字典: Wǒ de zì diǎn

Character: 人品 - rén pǐn
Self-centered: 自私自利的 - zì sī zì lì de
Unplanned wealth: 横财 - hèng cái
Attitude: 态度 - tài du



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Saturday, March 26, 2011

Natural selection?

Weekend Today, March 26 - 27, 2011, Column, Page T2 (The Fairer Text)
From http://imcmsimages.mediacorp.sg/CMSFileserver/documents/006/PDF/20110326/2603COW002.pdf
Source Website: http://www.todayonline.com/Columns/Thefairertext/EDC110326-0000012/Natural-selection?
By Georgina Chang, georginac@mediacorp.com.sg, 04:46 AM Mar 26, 2011



PHOTO: When it comes to listening to women, men hear what they want to hear. Women generally don’t embrace selective listening. In fact, they have super hearing. Like a bat.
Artwork by YEN YOK, Copyright © MediaCorp Press Ltd
http://imcmsimages.mediacorp.sg/cmsfileserver/showimageCC.aspx?450&306&f=2261&img=2261_360476.jpg&h=450&w=306
Weekend Today, March 26 - 27, 2011, Column, Page T2 (The Fairer Text)




PHOTO: Georgina Chang
The writer is the senior creative director of 987FM and Lush 99.5.
Weekend Today, March 26 - 27, 2011, Column, Page T2 (The Fairer Text)


When it comes to listening to women, men hear what they want to hear.

Selective listening: Why do guys practice that?

I ask because it causes cold silences and bitter fights. Yes, there're genuine cases of deafness. For instance, it's an occupational hazard for a radio DJ. After years of wearing headphones with music blasting, I'm a little hard of hearing. But I would never practice selective listening. Really.

However, I suspect most men do.



PHOTO: Men have self-esteem issues too. ‘I’m not vain, but sometimes I need affirmations about my appearance. I always tell my girlfriend she’s beautiful, but she never returns the favor’. ‘I don’t need to hear ‘I love you’ more, but a ‘You look handsome’ would be great.”
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs272.snc4/39962_423222039731_301056024731_4581437_3034496_n.jpg
http://dailybymorin.com/category/love-relationships/relationships/page/3/


How else can you explain why they didn't hear you mention that it's your mother's birthday dinner tonight and arranged to have drinks with the boss instead. (And no, it can't be cancelled because well, promotions depend on it.) Or why they didn't hear you asking them to frame the new picture or fix the broken chair leg?

It's funny, because while watching football, they can hear their phone ring and hear the sexy next-door neighbour coming home. But they can't hear you calling for them to help with washing the dishes or doing the laundry. ("I thought it was a stray cat yowling!")




PHOTO: Men can hear their phone ring and hear the sexy next-door neighbour coming home.
http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs298.snc4/41248_425659464731_301056024731_4640645_76967_n.jpg
http://dailybymorin.com/category/love-relationships/relationships/page/3/


Women generally don't embrace selective listening. In fact, they have super hearing. Like a bat. Even if they're in another room far away with the door shut, they can immediately know when the kids are fighting or breaking something. They can hear their man sneaking into the house at 3am, and they can hear that bitchy colleague down the hall gossiping about them.

However, both genders are equally partial to selective telling. Now, I don't condone lying at all, but selectively omitting details sometimes makes a relationship smoother.



PHOTO: Have you ever wondered what does a man want to hear from a woman? As strange as it may seem, you can keep a man happy by complimenting him, because he has the same needs as you do, but he is not always so vocal about them. Still, they love to know that they are strong and handsome, smart and funny.
http://widbox.com/img/articles/2010/Mar/18//5-1-things-men-want-to-hear/5-1-things-men-want-to-hear-large.jpg
http://widbox.com/5-1-things-men-want-to-hear


Women will selectively tell their partners that they bought, "Only a small bag on sale" whilst the other seven big expensive bags are stuffed under the bed. And because a friend didn't like the style of these designer shoes she'd bought, she passed it to you (at purchase price). And how can you say "no" to a friend, right?

In the first flush of the relationship, women will selectively talk about their age. Selectively shaving off a few years is pretty common. And sometimes, this perception lasts for decades into the marriage.



PHOTO: “As long as you're with me, I don't need anyone else”. “I love you just the way you are”.
http://widbox.com/img/articles/2010/Mar/18/5-1-things-men-want-to-hear/relation.jpg
http://widbox.com/5-1-things-men-want-to-hear


We selectively talk about our past relationships to preserve his ego. We'll never tell him that we had 14 boyfriends before. It was only two. And we would never admit that we've been intimate with 20 men. That number is capped at five. Forever and always.

However, it doesn't apply with our girlfriends. No thing is too sacred or personal. Your size or lack thereof, your quirks and odd toilet habits are all open for discussion and analysis. We do this to get another perspective so that we can have a better understanding.



PHOTO: Men will never say that leggy girl from Marketing that you hate came along.
http://www.davidwygant.com/blog/wp-content/uploads//First-50-dates-50-first-dates-6864514-700-465.jpeg
http://www.davidwygant.com/blog/the-number-one-reason-why-you-cant-get-past-the-first-date/5054/


Meanwhile, men usually selectively mention how long they're going to be out. The "I'm going to grab a bite/have a beer with the guys" actually means "it's going to be seven beers, and the only reason why it didn't stretch to eight beers is because someone's angry wife called, which broke up the session".

They also selectively omit who was there too. He'll never say that leggy girl from Marketing that you hate came along. When pressed, he'll selectively mutter, "Maybe she came with a friend, I didn't notice." True, he didn't notice her friend. But he certainly noticed the short satin skirt she was wearing with those six-inch heels.



PHOTO: “I had an erotic dream and you were in it…” If he asks you to tell him about it, say that you will show him instead!
http://s3.hubimg.com/u/2118498_f260.jpg
http://hubpages.com/hub/What-do-Men-Want-to-Hear


Their storytelling about their prowess at work, or in fights with other guys can be very selective too. You won't hear about them getting punched to a pulp or getting embarrassed or losing face at the office. Those bits are carefully misplaced or lost in favour of the bits where they constantly have clever retorts that inspire awe to everyone at the office. Or how they singlehandedly intimidated the gang of 20 thugs who ran away screaming like girls.

The statement, "I've got a lot to do at the office today", usually means they actually want to do something else that doesn't involve you. It's usually not at the office and something you'll disapprove of. Like having eight beers with the guys and maybe that leggy girl from Marketing.



PHOTO: Men prefer to hear about their appearance and performance, while women want to be told they’re wonderful and beautiful.
http://www.dating360.info/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/sexx-300x199.jpg
http://www.dating360.info/what-do-men-like-to-hear-in-bed/


They will selectively talk only about the aunties and chubby girls at the office. But they will gloss over the hot girl at Accounts, their hot female friend, and your hot female friend. See, that avoids friction in the relationship.

And yes, like women, the smart men will selectively talk about ex-girlfriends. If current girl didn't have any inkling of his vast dating experience, there is no need to say anything.

See, it's all about maintaining the peace and harmony at home. And there's nothing wrong with that. Right?

By Georgina Chang, georginac@mediacorp.com.sg, 04:46 AM Mar 26, 2011
The writer is the senior creative director of 987FM and Lush 99.5.



PHOTO: The truth is that both women and men enjoy sex that feels heartening, sensual, connecting and that takes them out of their bodies and into the realm of “wow, did that just happen?”
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsKX9KwUvLWt3yctJvplZUa9juZePE4E9vq65nxDRGMuaCdJHiwUSoRQc3ODReZSC4TtQJbigDPEMKZrLGdE5Lpncc8H6KW7DyH1elrN2v3PrN-yhH9bZoYz3yMb82kgJiXST510Jzoua/s1600/iStock_000009995871XSmall.jpg
http://blogs.courier-journal.com/debbyherbenick/2010/04/26/sex-myth-women-can-have-sex-like-men/



PHOTO: Women must speak about their likes and dislikes in bed with their partners. Tell them exactly what arouses you or satisfies you in bed and men would be more than happy to offer you even more than that.



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Sunday, March 20, 2011

我家在哪里？- Where is my home?

MY PAPER WEDNESDAY MARCH 15, 2011, PAGE B15, NEWS
From http://epaper.mypaper.sg/cnd/fvxcn/fvxp/fvxpress.php?param=2011-03-15
By REUTERS


PHOTO: 我家在哪里？- Where is my home?
A woman in the destroyed city of Natori, in Miyagi Prefecture in northern Japan, could not contain her grief on Sunday and broke into tears.
MY PAPER WEDNESDAY MARCH 15, 2011, PAGE B15, NEWS





PHOTO: 我家在哪里？- Where is my home?
A woman in the destroyed city of Natori, in Miyagi Prefecture in northern Japan, could not contain her grief on Sunday and broke into tears.
MY PAPER WEDNESDAY MARCH 15, 2011, PAGE B15, NEWS


A woman in the destroyed city of Natori, in Miyagi Prefecture in northern Japan, could not contain her grief on Sunday and broke into tears. The massive earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on Friday are feared to have killed over 10,000 people.

Japan’s stricken Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant was hit by a second hydrogen explosion in three days yesterday, wounding 11 workers and stalling efforts to secure the facility. A similar explosion occurred on Saturday at the plant’s Unit 1, injuring four workers.

Officials said the container surrounding the plant’s Unit 3 was not breached in Monday’s blast and that there was no major rise in radiation levels. Shortly after the explosion, Tokyo Electric warned that it had lost the ability to cool Unit 2.

More than 180.000 people have evacuated the area in recent days, and up to 160 may have been exposed to radiation.
By REUTERS



PHOTO: 俺村非著名摄影师拍的俺家花园 - "My Village Garden" photographs, taken by an anonymous photographer
作者：网友 2010-12-24
http://img02.taobaocdn.com/tps/i2/T1bgNVXjpiXXXXXXXX.jpeg
http://life.taobao.com/detail/2010/12/23/430306/1.php



PHOTO: 俺村非著名摄影师拍的俺家花园 - "My Village Garden" photographs, taken by an anonymous photographer
作者：网友 2010-12-24
http://img03.taobaocdn.com/tps/i3/T1DNdVXnXbXXXXXXXX.jpeg
http://life.taobao.com/detail/2010/12/23/430306/4.php#DetailTop


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Saturday, March 19, 2011

What is the Difference Between a Front Loading and Top Loading Washing Machine?

Source Website: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-front-loading-and-top-loading-washing-machine.htm
By WiseGeek



PHOTO: Front loading washing machine
The range of choices for laundry includes custom programs quickly: Added the new “14 minutes” to 30 ° C to quickly wash small loads of laundry. There are two other programs fast: 44 minutes and 29 minutes for 3.5 kg to 2 kg.Finally, the program Mix & Wash, exclusive Candy Group, to wash all together heads of different fibers. E ‘A new shortest cycle at 40 ° C, lasting less than 2 hours. It becomes possible to always fill the washing machine, optimizing the use of water and electricity.
http://www.tamanroyal.com/wp-content/uploads/electrolux-sunny-washing-machine-1-520x393.jpg
http://dec0r.net/decorate/tag/decor-2/page/4/


PHOTO: WiseGeek
http://www.wisegeek.com/res/common/img/article-images/define-4.gif
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-front-loading-and-top-loading-washing-machine.htm


There are many differences between a front loading and top loading washing machine. Most people still have the traditional top loading machine. They are less expensive than front loading machines, though in the end, top loaders may cost you more money in energy and water costs. There are trade offs with each type of washing machine, and plenty of things to consider if you’re planning on purchasing a new machine.

A top loading washing machine is most familiar to people, though they may have seen front loading machines in laundromats or increasingly in appliance stores. These machines use an agitator which spins the soapy clothes to help get out dirt. The washer drains, adds more water to rinse and then spins the clothes to wring out excess water. Clothes are placed into the spinning basket via the top of the machine, and you can open the machine at any time to add something else.




PHOTO: Whirlpool - Whitemagic F65
This 6-kg top loading fully automatic washing machine with agitator wash has 8 preset programmes. It allows prewash (soak), hot water wash, heavy wash, normal wash, quick wash and delicate wash. Additional features are washload sensor, automatic drainage, auto restart and child lock. It has a stainwash programme with limited ability to remove stains. The stainless steel drum facilities hot wash by externally adding hot water. What's more, it sets optimum water and detergent levels according to the wash load and wash programme selected to give you the best wash performance.
http://compareindia.in.com/media/images/2007/jun/img_815_mar19_topload_whirlpool.jpg
http://compareindia.in.com/smart-shopping-specials/home-appliances-washing-machines/four-toploading-washing-machines/469/0


A front loading washing machine uses less energy and does not have an agitator. A front loading machine is a gentler method, because it uses gravity to spin the clothes, which helps save energy and may extend life of clothing. These machines use less water and detergent, which may be a great savings on water costs, and they can usually be filled with more clothes. You cannot open these machines while they are running, so your days of adding a forgotten sock to a batch being washed are over if you choose a front loading washing machine.



PHOTO: Xeros - The ‘one-cup water’ washing machine concept
Professor Stephen Burkinshaw has invented a washing machine, dubbed Xeros that will wash a full load of your clothes using just a single cup of water. This magical washing machine uses plastic chips to do the cleaning job. These plastic chips are 0.5 centimeter in size and around 44lb (20kilos) of these go into each load. When the washing cycle commences, the water gets heated up and dissolves the dirt, which is then absorbed by the plastic chips. The plastic chips are re-usable and can be used up to 100 times.
http://www.instablogsimages.com/images/2008/12/28/professor-burkinshaws-magical-washing-machine_o3gee_2263_jQkkP_11446.jpg
http://www.thedesignblog.org/entry/best-designs-of-the-year-2008/


Front loaders vary in size but many can take up less space than top loaders. It’s often possible to stack a dryer on top of a front loading machine, but you will usually only find this feature in top loaders that are very small and won’t accommodate large batches. A front loader may be a better choice if you need to save on space but still want a fairly good sized washing machine

There is nevertheless some advantage to the top loading washing machine if you have back, knee or neck problems. It can be awkward to bend down to load and unload clothes, but usually no more so than using front loading dryers. If you have to do lots of laundry, you may prefer a front loader to avoid frequent bending to get clothes in and out of a machine.



PHOTO: Not your standard washing machine, the iBasket "will automatically wash your clothes once enough clothes are tossed inside -- as per the weight."
http://media.techeblog.com/images/ibasket.jpg
http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/ibasket


You do give up greater efficiency, savings in energy and water costs, use of less water, and potentially longer life of clothing when you use a top loading washing machine. However you also may benefit in the short run because they are significantly less expensive. For people who can afford the front loader and who don’t have issues with the way clothes are loaded, this may be your best bet. In some states and countries you may even qualify for an energy rebate if you purchase a front loading machine.



PHOTO: "You can also control the frequency of wash cycles. The iBasket will also send you a message on your computer once the cleaning is completed." http://media.techeblog.com/elephant//ul/20397-450x-a_1.jpg http://www.techeblog.com/elephant/photo.phtml?post_key=151033&photo_key=20397



Discuss this Article
When you compare washing machine prices, also think about things like warranties from the company and service options from the place where you bought it. Some stores, both larger and even independent, can give you seemingly great prices but won't be able to help when things go wrong. When my parents bought new machines nearly ten years ago now, they went to the local appliance store, and for several years could get it fixed easily anytime it broke. The store is sadly now closed, which is unfortunate because it gave such great service.
- panda2006

As with most appliances, "cheap" washing machines will turn out to be just that- cheap. Top loaders are admittedly often larger, but that is their main advantage. However, either choice can be a poor one if you end up with a machine that will not last; while something cheap is tempting, reading reviews and looking at several different models would be a good idea to prevent the need to replace the machine after only a few years.
- watson42

Thanks! Better choice.
- anon80027



PHOTO: WiseGeek
http://www.wisegeek.com/res/common/img/article-images/define-4.gif
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-difference-between-a-front-loading-and-top-loading-washing-machine.htm


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