I have been working in the semiconductor equipment supplier company as service manager for over 10 years, it has been a drastic changes of the quality of engineer from what we can see in the 80's-90's and 90's to now...
Though it is just clothing, but we can tell how serious that they are respecting their career, in the early days, we worn quite professionally than the people do now...Nowadays, I could see people wearing baggy jean and colourful sport shoe to meet their customer. Well, we should bear in mind we are representing the company... I recommend them to wear blue slacks, and a pair of black shoes. It looks great and be more elegant... Smart Causal does not means you can wearing anything. A clean tidy plain shirt would add colour to you! We can't be just superficial and skin deep judging at waht we are wearing, moreover, we have to be more proficient in our work, speaking, communicating and presentrig our idea, solving problems for customers can tell how good we are doing a job as a service engineers.
These are the basic reuqirement for a successful service engineer!
As a summary:
Discipline
Attendance
Professional image
Reportage Interpersonal skill, Courtesy and dress code
A Solid technological base
Technological competence is the bedrock of an engineering career
Our outcome allows us to continue to provide society/company with benefits
One important thing, we cannot only be problem solvers, but problem finders
A work ethic
It does not mean putting in more hours, but mean approaching our work systematically and
doing the necessary preliminary work to gain Understanding. At the same time we should not object to doing the last experiment first and working backwards which often provides dividends
We need to balance these two approaches - taking step-by-step and taking giant step.
Effectiveness and efficiency are both necessary
Development of the soft-skills
We need more than technology skills. We need to master individual and organizational skills Understand the role of engineering and business ethics.
Use technologies that meet business needs.
Tracking the technology-based aids.
Recognize the changing role of the engineering functions.
Global outlook
A global outlook defines our thinking processes.
It defines our breadth of knowledge and understanding the limitations of our narrowness
It opens up resources that we can build personal business, and technical alliances.
It will shorten our own work-effort and allow us to avoid reinventing the wheel and taking
advantage of what came before us.
Awareness of modern business practices
Participation in the industrial world requires that we recognize our role in sustaining business performance. There are no engineering success and product or business failure.
As we play a major role in implementing every new product and process; we have a responsibility not only of our own actions but of those with whom we work.
Communication skills
Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening
Communication skill are and always have been a necessary skill in promoting a concept or solution to a problem. It is basic to the innovation and invention process. A wise man thinks all that he says; a fool says all that he thinks. We have to think carefully before talking to customer
Team player
There is no doubt that as projects have become more interdisciplinary that engineers need to understand the requirements of other operating functions Resolution of conflicting requirements is essential to team work. We become team players by understanding the needs of
the business without sacrificing the technology standards that are essential for successful business performance
Aggressiveness
In this context means energetic, enterprising, proactive, dynamic, ambitious, industrious, innovative, and all the other words that imply focusing on accomplishment without destroying the fundamental values required to make progress. While the “I” must be recognized, the “I” must also recognize the support and the result of others
Manages own career destiny
As professionals we are responsible for our own professional development and career, and can not only depend on any organization to provide it. Organization can help, but the responsibility is ours.
Flexible and adaptable
Technology drives the economy
It is conceivable that in a lifetime engineers may make several moderate career shifts
Today, industry is expecting engineers were flexible and adaptable to a global competitive
economy and to recognize that being technologically competent, while being absolutely essential, is insufficient. We need to recognize the need to be flexible and adapt to changing working environments as well.
feverip
1 Sep 2008
All the blog content is just my personal opinion only.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Twisted Tongue
Title : Twisted Tongue
Gill had a twisted tongue since he was about 15 and that problem became more and more serious as he grew up. He thought that he could improve by practicing his way of speaking but in vain. He just graduated and was offered a job of salesman in GM retail shop for car promotion.
He went back to the University to meet his professor seeking for advice on his speech problem and he was told to see one of his medical practitioners, Dr. Smith, who is a famous surgery in town.
After a lot of tests and consultation, Doctor Smith told Gill that he found that the way he spoke was caused by a tense and stiff spine muscle. He also found that he has a giant sex organ that has an abnormal massive and heavy weight pulls the spine muscle and the muscle for his throat. Whenever he stand up and speak he could hardly speak normally. So the doctor suggested cutting off half the length of his penis and he can keep it in the fridge at a low temp., Smith has confidence this is a solution to his twisted tongue…
Gill was concerned that in future, he may have a compliant from his girl friend…then what can he do? Dr. Smith said with the latest technology, he can always put back the last portion of his sex organ in a simple operation! He offer a lower cost for such an operation fee.
Gill thought that he would come back in a couple of days and tell Dr. Smith to go ahead with the operation. With his new way of speaking, he worked better and talk to his client fluently and he did hit a car sales record in two months!
But on the other hand, he was complained by his girl friend that he hardly could fill up her physically in bed! She warned him of separation if he could not improve his sex performance!
He could not stand that any more and decided to come back to see Dr. Smith for asking help…not ruling out to put back 1/4 of the length back on him as an optimization between his sex life and job!
He came to Smith‘s clinic. And met him at the reception.
“ Good Morning Smith!” Gill said..
Smith answered “ Good goood mor morning! Gill Gill...What what can can can I I do...
30 Aug 2008
Gill had a twisted tongue since he was about 15 and that problem became more and more serious as he grew up. He thought that he could improve by practicing his way of speaking but in vain. He just graduated and was offered a job of salesman in GM retail shop for car promotion.
He went back to the University to meet his professor seeking for advice on his speech problem and he was told to see one of his medical practitioners, Dr. Smith, who is a famous surgery in town.
After a lot of tests and consultation, Doctor Smith told Gill that he found that the way he spoke was caused by a tense and stiff spine muscle. He also found that he has a giant sex organ that has an abnormal massive and heavy weight pulls the spine muscle and the muscle for his throat. Whenever he stand up and speak he could hardly speak normally. So the doctor suggested cutting off half the length of his penis and he can keep it in the fridge at a low temp., Smith has confidence this is a solution to his twisted tongue…
Gill was concerned that in future, he may have a compliant from his girl friend…then what can he do? Dr. Smith said with the latest technology, he can always put back the last portion of his sex organ in a simple operation! He offer a lower cost for such an operation fee.
Gill thought that he would come back in a couple of days and tell Dr. Smith to go ahead with the operation. With his new way of speaking, he worked better and talk to his client fluently and he did hit a car sales record in two months!
But on the other hand, he was complained by his girl friend that he hardly could fill up her physically in bed! She warned him of separation if he could not improve his sex performance!
He could not stand that any more and decided to come back to see Dr. Smith for asking help…not ruling out to put back 1/4 of the length back on him as an optimization between his sex life and job!
He came to Smith‘s clinic. And met him at the reception.
“ Good Morning Smith!” Gill said..
Smith answered “ Good goood mor morning! Gill Gill...What what can can can I I do...
30 Aug 2008
Friday, August 29, 2008
Raleigh 78 KM competition 2005
Total distance 78KMWe have ranked No. 5 in Hong Kong!
This is even more difficult than 100KM Trailwalker as we had to conquered steep hills at the last 25 km!
Go to Hell!
It was Bill Gates' turn at the gate of heaven.
"Well, Bill," said God, "I'm really confused on this
one. I'm not sure whether to send you to Heaven or
Hell! After all, you helped society enormously by
putting a computer in almost every home in the world
and yet you created that ghastly Windows. I'm going
to do something I've never done before. I'm going to
let you decide where you want to go!"
Mr. Gates replied, "Well, thanks, Lord. What's the
difference between the two?"
God said, "You can take a peek at both places
briefly if it will help you decide. Shall we look at
Hell first?"
"Sure!" said Bill. "Let's go!"
Bill was amazed! He saw a clean, white sandy beach
with clear waters. There were thousands of beautiful
women running around, playing in the water, laughing
and frolicking about. The sun was shining and the
temperature was just perfect!
Bill said, "This is great! If this is Hell, I can't
wait to see Heaven!"
To which God replied, "Let's go!" and off they went.
Bill saw puffy white clouds in a beautiful blue sky
with angels drifting about playing harps and
singing. It was nice, but surely not as enticing as
Hell. Mr. Gates thought for only a brief moment and
rendered his decision. "God, I do believe I would
like to go to Hell."
"As you desire," said God.
Two weeks later, God decided to check up on the late
billionaire to see how things were going. He found
Bill shackled to a wall, screaming among the hot
flames in a dark cave. He was being burned and
tortured by demons.
"How ya doin', Bill?" asked God.
Bill responded with anguish and despair. "This is
awful! This is not what I expected at all! What
happened to the beach and the beautiful women
playing in the water?"
"Oh, THAT!" said God. "That was the SCREEN SAVER!"
"Well, Bill," said God, "I'm really confused on this
one. I'm not sure whether to send you to Heaven or
Hell! After all, you helped society enormously by
putting a computer in almost every home in the world
and yet you created that ghastly Windows. I'm going
to do something I've never done before. I'm going to
let you decide where you want to go!"
Mr. Gates replied, "Well, thanks, Lord. What's the
difference between the two?"
God said, "You can take a peek at both places
briefly if it will help you decide. Shall we look at
Hell first?"
"Sure!" said Bill. "Let's go!"
Bill was amazed! He saw a clean, white sandy beach
with clear waters. There were thousands of beautiful
women running around, playing in the water, laughing
and frolicking about. The sun was shining and the
temperature was just perfect!
Bill said, "This is great! If this is Hell, I can't
wait to see Heaven!"
To which God replied, "Let's go!" and off they went.
Bill saw puffy white clouds in a beautiful blue sky
with angels drifting about playing harps and
singing. It was nice, but surely not as enticing as
Hell. Mr. Gates thought for only a brief moment and
rendered his decision. "God, I do believe I would
like to go to Hell."
"As you desire," said God.
Two weeks later, God decided to check up on the late
billionaire to see how things were going. He found
Bill shackled to a wall, screaming among the hot
flames in a dark cave. He was being burned and
tortured by demons.
"How ya doin', Bill?" asked God.
Bill responded with anguish and despair. "This is
awful! This is not what I expected at all! What
happened to the beach and the beautiful women
playing in the water?"
"Oh, THAT!" said God. "That was the SCREEN SAVER!"
Calligraphy using Vintage Fountain Pen
This was the own hand writing by me in 1992, I was using a Waterman's 1925 Ripple 54 fountain Pen. it took me hours to write that...
I am a collector of Fountain pen.
My 5 favourite pen are:
Eversharp Doric 1933 and Pencil set in Burma- USD2,000.00
Waterman Patrician 1930 in Turquoise- USD2,400.00
Waterman 1910-1912 Cardinal Red Filigree 452 pen- USD1,500.00
Sheaffer 1959 PFM The Pen For Man- USD400.00
Parker T1 1971 entire pen was made of Titanium, rare!- USD3,000.00
The price are estimated figure for mint condition.
Good friend of mine, TK Lee is the No. 1 Pen collector in HK, he is now settling in Singapore...
Other Pen collector Stephen Ho, Hung , Raymond Wong, Paul Wat ...still quite active ...
We used to have a pen club Hi tea at 1600-1800 at Pacific Place, you are welcome to join us as to share your pen and watches...experience, information exchange, it is Fun!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
My three favuorite Cantonese Restaurants
Hong Kong Prince Restaurant, located at 11th floor of No.1 Peking Road, provides you a place for magnificent harbour view and delicious Cantonese and fusion food. Multi-function VIP room is secret garden of your own. Different from traditional Chinese restaurants, Hong Kong Prince Restaurant provides not only Cantonese cuisines, but also Japanese sashimi and Western deserts. Delicacies created by chef leave unforgettable taste on your taste buds.Recommended dish:
Steam fish such Sam Du as shown, Lum Pong, Coral trout or humpback grouper or a piece of Lum Pong if you budget allows! The steam fish is probably the best in Hong Kong!
Clay-pot fried fish head is a well-known traditional course from GuangDong province to Hong Kong. Carefully selected and first-class fish head fried with slow fire, making the utmost of the heat-resistance and heat-conductivity of the clay-pot, the fish head smells fragrant and the taste is incredibly delicious. It is a very popular delicacies for dinner.
My favourite dish is Steam Ma Yau Salted fish with pork thews!! I rate it 5 stars!
My favourite dish is Steam Ma Yau Salted fish with pork thews!! I rate it 5 stars!
2nd and Third favourite
2nd Restaurant is Celestial Court Chinese Restaurant in Sheraton Hotel , Tsim Sha Tsui.
3nd is Dynasty in Renaissance Hotel, Tsim Sha Tsui.
Address of Prince Restaurant
11/F., One Peking, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kow Loon, H.K.
Reservation:
(+852)-2366 1308
Fax:
(+852) 2366 2992
Reservation is required
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Royal Ballet LP
The Royal Ballet has historically been the most highly sought after of the RCA Living Stereo releases. Recorded in Kingsway Hall by the legendary Kenneth Wilkinson, this title features selections from The Nutcracker Suite, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty among others. The performances are conducted by Ernest Ansermet directing the Royal Opera House Orchestra and the sonics are impeccable! This is probbaly the one of the first 500 pcs...First release first Pressing. And have not been played at all! I have been spending weeks to talk to the boss of a Hong Kong famous Audio Component shop for trade with me... Together with some of the Rare NEW LPs...I spent big bucks; USD1,800.00 on this.... But being a collector... what can I say!?
22 Aug 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Ten jokes
1.
Rowing boat
The Americans and the Japanese decided to engage in a competitive boat race.
Both teams practiced hard and long to reach their peak performance. On the big day the Japanese won by a mile.
The American team was discouraged by the loss. Morale sagged. Corporate management decided that the reason for the crushing defeat had to be found, so a consulting firm was hired to investigate the problem and recommend corrective action.
The consultant's finding: The Japanese team had eight people rowing and one person steering; the American team had one person rowing and eight people steering. After a year of study and millions spent analyzing the problem, the American team's management structure was completely reorganized. The new structure: four steering managers, three area steering managers, and a new performance review system for the person rowing the boat to provide work incentive.
The next year, the Japanese won by two miles!
Humiliated, the American corporation laid off the rower for poor performance and gave the managers a bonus for discovering the problem.
Innomyous
2. Hero
In New York park, a young boy was attacked by a savage dog.
A passer-by happened to see that and came to the rescue.
Having tackled the dog, he strangled it to death, and saved the young boy.A reporter for a newspaper watching all this and took snap shots for a front page picture in the next day's paper.
Approaching our hero he says: "Your heroic feat shall be published in tomorrow's paper under the headline: Brave New Yorker rescues boy".
"I"m not from New York" replied our brave hero.
The reporter said: "Oh in that case we'll change the headline to - Brave American rescues boy from savage dog".
"I'm not American either" replied our brave hero, "I am a Pakistani".
The next day, the headline on the front page of the paper said:
"Muslim Fundamentalist strangles an innocent American dog to death in New York Park.
The FBI are investigating possible link to the Al-Qaeda."
3.
Birthday Party
Why I fired my secretary ?
Two weeks ago was my 50th birthday, and I wasn't feeling too hot that morning anyway. I went to breakfast knowing my wife would be pleasant and say "Happy Birthday," and probably have a present for me.
She didn't even say "Good Morning," let alone any "Happy Birthday." I thought, "Well, that's wives for you, the children will remember."
Rowing boat
The Americans and the Japanese decided to engage in a competitive boat race.
Both teams practiced hard and long to reach their peak performance. On the big day the Japanese won by a mile.
The American team was discouraged by the loss. Morale sagged. Corporate management decided that the reason for the crushing defeat had to be found, so a consulting firm was hired to investigate the problem and recommend corrective action.
The consultant's finding: The Japanese team had eight people rowing and one person steering; the American team had one person rowing and eight people steering. After a year of study and millions spent analyzing the problem, the American team's management structure was completely reorganized. The new structure: four steering managers, three area steering managers, and a new performance review system for the person rowing the boat to provide work incentive.
The next year, the Japanese won by two miles!
Humiliated, the American corporation laid off the rower for poor performance and gave the managers a bonus for discovering the problem.
Innomyous
2. Hero
In New York park, a young boy was attacked by a savage dog.
A passer-by happened to see that and came to the rescue.
Having tackled the dog, he strangled it to death, and saved the young boy.A reporter for a newspaper watching all this and took snap shots for a front page picture in the next day's paper.
Approaching our hero he says: "Your heroic feat shall be published in tomorrow's paper under the headline: Brave New Yorker rescues boy".
"I"m not from New York" replied our brave hero.
The reporter said: "Oh in that case we'll change the headline to - Brave American rescues boy from savage dog".
"I'm not American either" replied our brave hero, "I am a Pakistani".
The next day, the headline on the front page of the paper said:
"Muslim Fundamentalist strangles an innocent American dog to death in New York Park.
The FBI are investigating possible link to the Al-Qaeda."
3.
Birthday Party
Why I fired my secretary ?
Two weeks ago was my 50th birthday, and I wasn't feeling too hot that morning anyway. I went to breakfast knowing my wife would be pleasant and say "Happy Birthday," and probably have a present for me.
She didn't even say "Good Morning," let alone any "Happy Birthday." I thought, "Well, that's wives for you, the children will remember."
The children came in to breakfast and didn't say a word. When I started to the office I was feeling pretty low and despondent. As I walked into my office, my secretary, Helen said, "Good morning, boss. Happy Birthday." And I felt a little better; someone had remembered. I worked until noon. Then, Helen knocked on my door and said "You know, it's such a beautiful day outside and it's your birthday; let's go to lunch, just you and me."
I said, "That's the greatest thing I've heard all day. Let's go." We went to lunch.We didn't go where we normally go; we went out to the country to a little private place. We had two drinks and enjoyed lunch tremendously.
On the way back to the office, she said, "You know, it's such a beautiful day. We don't need to go back to the office, do we?"
I said, "No, I guess not." She said, "Let's go to my place."
After arriving at her apartment she said, "Paul, if you don't mind, I think I'll go into the bedroom and slip into something more comfortable."
"Sure," I excitedly replied.
She went into the bedroom and, in about five minutes, she came out carrying a big birthday cake, followed by my wife, children, and dozens of our friends, all singing Happy Birthday.
And there I
sat... on the couch
.. Naked.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
100 Best LP
This is my 100 Best LP
In my LP collection, it is hard to classify which one is Best as they are of different types of music. Each type of LP has it own outstanding Player and musicians, somehow , this bunch of LP can be classified as some of the best!
1. Best Chinese Lyric and Singing technique Tsin Teng Sings the song from Yao Ming who died in 1967 at age of 53. He is possible one of the most famous Chinese Song writer, he left us 1,000 beatiful songs. This LP contains some of his best songs such as the Lover's tears, I love Cha Cha, Kiss of Spring... etc.
2. Best recording performance LP Arne Domnerus Antiphone Blues, 1975.
Can you still be shocked, Organ and saxophone, for example, would have been unwelcome combination in the 60's. But now that the wallshave crumbled, and we allow contemporary and ancient music to mingle freely. new sounds are emerging. Just thank for a moment of Duke's Scared conserts... Listen! And enjoy an experience totally unlike anything you've heard before.
Most beautiful and touching music is side A 6th music: Traeumerei of Robert Schumann. The Saxophone is so transparent and brilliant that you would be shocked how come the recording is so real. Besides, I really appreciate the music arrangement!
3. Charles K. Feldman's Casino Royale arranged and Conducted by Burt Bacharach
"Casino Royale Theme" played by Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass. and The hit " The Look Of Love" Sung by Dusty Springfield. This is a TAS listed LP and this is the first issue.
An Extraordinary Music and singing performance, the stereo reproduction was superb!
4. At the Piano ...Henry Mancini.
Henry Mancini is one of the best adored Light music composer. I have been collecting his LP for twenty years. You name it: Charade, Moon River, Peter Gunn, Breakfast in Tiffany...Henry is a multi-talented man, You may think of him first as a composer because of the multitude of his popular hits. Perhaps you're most impressed by his skill as an arange-conductor, for handling an orchestra in another well-known Mancini forte. Yet few realize that he is also an accomplished pianist. The proof is in the listening pleasure. Here is Henry Mancini with A Warm Shade of Ivory- His firts album as a piano soloist. TAS listed LP, RCA Victor printed in USA in 1969.
Side A 1, in the Wee small hours of the morning, Cycles, Moment to Moment, A day in the life of fool, watch that happens, by the time I get to Phoenix. Side B: Love Theme from Remeo and Juliet, The windmills of your mind, when I look in your eyes, mediation and Dream a little dream of me...
5. Eagles Live
This LP has changed my life and found my hobby of Hi Fi since I was studying in College, to be exergerated, When I was learning in Hong Kong Polytechnic, I used to go to Mongkok trying to listen to this music "Hotel California" for many times. As I could not imagine a Mckintosh C36 was selling at HKD5,000 which is approx. 3 month salary of a fresh graduate of University at that time could be one of the item I could afford. And I told myself, in one day, I will try to make myself a set of Decent Hi Fi stereo such that I can play as how many times as I can for this music. This is an important LP from Eagles. as it containes best of their music beside Hotel California, I can't tell you why, New Kid in Town, Desperado and take it easy...
If you have a loudspeaker like JBL 4350, 4343 or AR3a, or AR LST, driven by the Crown 300A, or the Phase Linear 700, Mclntosh 5002, or Marantz 510M, then somehow you can feel what I am trying to say.... there is nothing more or nothing less I can say from the songs of Eagles Live.
This was printed in USA by Asylum Records. 1980.
6. The LA4 Pavane Pour Une, Infante Defunte
This is one of the beloved LP from the LA4, likely the best amongst his Home Coming, Just Friends. I like the music Autumn leaves, whilst I am listening to this LP, I feel a kind of warmth sweetness coming up from my heart, It encourages me to move forward for another mysterious day. And by doing so, I could have anther chance to listen to the music once more the next day.
The music reproduction of this LP is no question the typical Jazz way, with new blended jazz with some of the most essential factor for a pop music to be popular. Forever, easy listening and warm music.
7. Teresa Teng Live at the Yakult Bowl Osaka 1977
You could not immgaine how easy for her to sing for the night April 22, 1977 in Osaka for hours. As she is talented for singing, borne to be s singer!And how sweet that could be for Teresa to interprete his thoughts in English, Japanese and Madanrin. The Audio Recording is vivid, powerful and unlimited in Dynamic. Try to listen this Green High Mountain in Mandarin you will agree with what I am trying to say. The Live Teresa Teng is the most expensive LP, this is confirmed by the High price tag of HKD40,000.00 at Sam's Audio at IFC Tower Central, HK.
8. Persuasive Percussion
This is so called the "Black Dot", the most popular demonstraive Lp for Stereo in 1959-1962.
It was my first time to contact Stereo beacause of this LP, as my father bought this and demonstrated with Expanation to me on his New Denon Stereo system in 1962. Since then My mother, father and me liked to spend time on this LP.. Last week I opened a NOS LP of this to show to my mother, we listened togther on this Whatever Lola wants, Misirlou, I surrender Dear, Tabu,The Breeze and I. I have never had such a good time with my mother... I knew waht she was thinking, my father that passed away in 1976.
If you have not listened to this LP, try to allow yourself to listen and sing with the Melody, and If you do not have a unused LP of this, Try to get one and play it... I am sure that you will love it.
9. Pink Floyd the Wall
This is a TAS listed LP with Japan pressing in 1979. The wall was a 21 Century movie, you could see most of the theme has been repeated been used thence after after this movie. The Songs was stunning, Impressive, impeccable and full of power, The Sturture of music arrangment and the recording is one of the example of Hi Fi demo.
10. Janos Starker The most beautiful Melodies
W.F.Bach: grave, Haydn: Divertimeno in D, Saint- Saens: The swan, Schubert: moment Musical, Schumann: Traeumerei...
11. Prokfiev Symphony No. 6 London Phiharmonic Orchestra by Walter Weller. Decca SXL6777. 1976.
Prokfiev started the sixth Symphony after 1945 Summer, he fell down some stairs and hurt his brian seriously. He could compose only 2 hours a day, until Feb, 1947. the Symphony was completed. The first Performance took place in Leningard on 11 Oct. 1947 with Eugene mravinsky conducting the Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra. The Critics' intial response was favourbale but on 10 Feb. 1948 the Central Committee of the Communist Party denounced Prokfiev and other prominent Russian composers- Stostakovich, Khachaturian and Miaskovsky among them- for supposed of anti-Soviet practices in ther music. There is a lot of melody in the 6th Symphony. Compared with the warmth and optimistic fifth, however, it is a predominantly dark work. "We are now rejoicing in our magnificent victory,' Prokfiev explained, 'but thousands of us have beenleft with wounds that cannot be healed- health ruined for life, dear ones gone forever. We must not forget this'. That attitude did not find official favour at the time, but fortunately the 1948 decree was withdrawn ten years later and the Sixth symphony is now recognished in Russia as elsewhere as one of Prokfiev's most important works!
This LP is TAS listed as "Best of the Best"!
To be Continued!
21 Aug 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Tai Mo Shan 17 Aug 2008
We had a tough Hiking on last Sunday 17 Aug. This is more or less a standard hiking trail for Hiking Club. Up The challenging Needle hill with approx 1,800 steps. Then a distance of 3 KM on Glassy Hill, down 250m to the Lead Mine Pass. To conquer the up trail to the highest point of HK, Tai Mo Shan which stands at a height of 965metres. The ran down a trail of 5 Km to the finishing point of MacLehose Stage 8. Total hiking distance is 13.8km. We spent 3 hours and 45 minutes to complete.The Temperature was the major obstacle as and there was not much breeze at all. My record was 2 hours 45 minutes we made with Jackey Chan some 4 years ago!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Marriage
Every man should get married some time; after all, happiness is not the only thing in life!! –Anonymous
An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have; the older she gets the more interested he is in her. --Agatha Christie
Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others. --Oscar Wilde
Don't marry for money; you can borrow it cheaper. --Scottish Proverb
I don't worry about terrorism. I was married for two years. --Sam Kinison
A psychiatrist is a person who will give you expensive answers that your wife will give you for free. --Anonymous
Bachelors know more about women than married men; if they didn't,they'd Be married too. --H. L. Mencken
Men have a better time than women; for one thing, they marry later, for another thing, they die earlier. --H. L. Mencken
Love is blind but marriage is an eye-opener.
When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: either the car is new or the wife.
We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.
My wife was in beauty saloon for two hours. That was only for the estimate. She got a mudpack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off.
A man placed some flowers on the grave of his dearly departed mother and started back toward his car when his attention was diverted to another man kneeling at a grave. The man seemed to be grieving with profound intensity and kept repeating, "Why did you have to die? Why did you have to die? "The first man approached him and said, "Sir, I don't wish to interfere with your private grief, but this demonstration of pain is more than I've ever seen before. For whom do you mourn so deeply? The mourner took a moment to collect himself, then replied, "My wife's first husband."
A couple came upon a wishing well. The husband leaned over, made a wish and threw in a penny. The wife decided to make a wish, too. But she leaned over too much, fell into the well, and drowned. The husband was stunned for a while but then smiled "It really works!"
Love is a trivial comedy made up of important tragedies- Fever
20 Aug 2008 23:55
An archaeologist is the best husband a woman can have; the older she gets the more interested he is in her. --Agatha Christie
Bachelors should be heavily taxed. It is not fair that some men should be happier than others. --Oscar Wilde
Don't marry for money; you can borrow it cheaper. --Scottish Proverb
I don't worry about terrorism. I was married for two years. --Sam Kinison
A psychiatrist is a person who will give you expensive answers that your wife will give you for free. --Anonymous
Bachelors know more about women than married men; if they didn't,they'd Be married too. --H. L. Mencken
Men have a better time than women; for one thing, they marry later, for another thing, they die earlier. --H. L. Mencken
Love is blind but marriage is an eye-opener.
When a man opens the door of his car for his wife, you can be sure of one thing: either the car is new or the wife.
We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.
My wife was in beauty saloon for two hours. That was only for the estimate. She got a mudpack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off.
A man placed some flowers on the grave of his dearly departed mother and started back toward his car when his attention was diverted to another man kneeling at a grave. The man seemed to be grieving with profound intensity and kept repeating, "Why did you have to die? Why did you have to die? "The first man approached him and said, "Sir, I don't wish to interfere with your private grief, but this demonstration of pain is more than I've ever seen before. For whom do you mourn so deeply? The mourner took a moment to collect himself, then replied, "My wife's first husband."
A couple came upon a wishing well. The husband leaned over, made a wish and threw in a penny. The wife decided to make a wish, too. But she leaned over too much, fell into the well, and drowned. The husband was stunned for a while but then smiled "It really works!"
Love is a trivial comedy made up of important tragedies- Fever
20 Aug 2008 23:55
Wilson's story
Wilson was a hard-charging sales executive. After three promotions in five years, he was working longer hours than ever before. He had to closer and closer to the top, and he could almost taste it now. Six-days workweeks with long hours were not enough, so he brought work home with him.
When he woke up in the recovery room after a triple bypass heart operation, he began to reassess. During three weeks of recovery, his family and best friends saw more of him than they had in decade, he cherish the time. Wilson's wife asked him if he really needed to work the schedule he had. Did they need more money? Did he rely need another promotions?
Wilson, challenged to actually think about his life- Something he never took the time to do when he was working- realized he had more than he needed and that the opportunity to reconnect with his family way the greatest gift he could be given.
Fever
18 Aug 2008 1010 a.m.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Traveller's Tips
Air Line Story
A classic story amongst British Airways cabin crews: is the story of a white South African woman who advised the cabin crew that she was unhappy sitting next to a black passenger. It appeared to the crew that the unhappy passenger was racist and the crews were eager to diffuse the situation. The stewardess returned sometime later to advise the lady that a solution to her discomfort had been devised. To diffuse the situation the air crew had offered the black guy a seat in first class…
As our cpmpany averages about 150 air trips a month, I thought it would be useful to provide a guide on the pitfalls encountered whilst travelling on business and ways to reduce the amount of stress that this causes on the individual.
Frequent Flyer Membership
If you are traveling frequently in Asia, we recommend that you buy Cathay Pacific Marco Polo membership (approx. USD25.00). Some of the benefits that membership offers includes Check in via Business Class line, priority entry onto aircraft and accumulation of air miles that allow you to be upgrade to Business class. Such benefits help you to avoid long queue times at check in and improve the travelling experience for all. .
Air Carrier
On the 12 August 1985,– Japanese Air Lines Flight 123, (a Boeing 747), crashed into Mount Osaka following a catastrophic failure of the tailplane severs all hydraulic lines and renders the aircraft uncontrollable. A total of 520 of 524 people on board are killed. It is the worst single-aircraft disaster in history. The survivors including one air stewardess located in the aft section of the plane aircraft. Although seats in the aft section are often less pleasant they have been statistically proven to be safer in the event of an air accident.
Air Line
Sometimes we are short on time to select a suitable flight for our journey. Even so it is always best to choose a flight from one of the larger more established airlines. Statistically speaking smaller airlines have the largest percentage of air accidents. The World fourth worst air accidents caused by Pan Am, JAL, Air India and Turkish Air on which 1,798 lives have been lost! In total 16,874 recorded accidents have resulted and casualties of 120,017 since 1914 to 2008. Somehow we have been selected the best airlines for our staff, however when we travel on our vacation, we should not just looking at the cost of the ticket but consider the Air Lines security too!
DVT
DVT Deep-vein thrombosis (also known as deep-venous thrombosis or DVT and colloquially as economy class syndrome) is caused by the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein. It commonly affects the leg veins, such as the femoral vein or the popliteal vein or the deep veins of the pelvis. It has the potential to cause a significant risk of blood clots within the lungs causing a pulmonary embolism.
DVT occurs in about 1 per 1000 persons and approximately 1-5% will die from the complications .There is clinical evidence to suggest that wearing compression socks or compression tights while travelling reduces the incidence of thrombosis in people on long haul flights.
Cleanliness on aircraft
The dirtiest area on the aircraft is your arm rest, entertainment control module and the table as they are not cleaned at all every haut. Try to carry Cleaning Alcohol prep and it does help to removed 99% of the bacteria on your seat.
Motion Sickness
Some passengers experience motion (air) sickness when flying. Symptoms include deep rapid breathing with cold sweats, yawning, salivation, pale skin, sudden drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting—none of which is very much fun.
Below are a few steps you can take to help minimize motion sickness:
• Avoid reading during the flight especially when there is insufficient lighting.
• Avoid alcohol 24 hours before the flight and while you're flying.
• Drink plenty of water and avoid sweet fruit juice drinks
• Keep your seat belt securely fastened while seated.
• Open the air vents to full and focus on the horizon or a fixed point a couple of feet away. Locate air-sickness bags in the seat pocket in front of you, so you can grab them quickly if you need them.
Health-Minded Packing
When you're packing for a trip, here are some suggested items you may wish to include:
•Copies of important medical records
•Medications—in their original pharmacy—labeled bottles to avoid problems with the customs.
•An extra pair of glasses or contact lenses along with enough cleaning supplies for the entire trip
•At least a week's supply of your medications-always in your carry-on luggage, rather than checked baggage
Traveler’s Tool
•A small LED torch in case of fire at night
•A reliable Travelling Alarm clock that will give you a morning call for a punctual departure
•An international power adaptor for your Note book and handphone
•A pair of slippers as hotel carpet floors may carry fungi and bacteria.
•Bring own Towel for better hygiene
Personnel Data carried on Electronic Hotel key
If possible don’t return the electronic door key to the hotel when you check out as it may contain your Name, VISA card number and your passport number (as is the case in some of the American hotels).. In my case I destroy the key or take it home as a souvenir of my trip.
Haunted hotel
There are lots of myths and rumours on some hotel rooms being haunted. I can name some in Thailand, in Germany, Hong Kong and Malaysia. If possible try to avoid staying in such rooms so that you can get a good nights sleep. If in doubt please ask me and I will tell you know the list of problematic rooms that I am aware of.
Hotel Security
If there is a safe in the hotel, try to use it to keep your valuables safe.
When in your room make sure all the latches are secure and when opening the door take care that the person or persons calling are known to you. Some of the big cities are no longer safe places to stay and you must be careful. In recent years tourists have been poisoned by spiked drinks, robbed and killed in a 5 star hotel at Shinjuku and Singapore.
Hotel Calls
Try not to use the hotel for overseas calls, it is usually 3 times more expensive than to use your hand phone for overseas call, buy a local network card is the cheapest way to call back home.
Emergency exit in Hotel
Most of the 5 star hotels are equipped with an emergency torch light and a Smoke mask in the case of a fire emergency. Some Japanese and Taiwanese have emergency fire escape ladders. Take time to understand the safety procedures in place at the hotel you are staying as it may save your life
Hong Kong frequent traveler card
Do you find yourself in long queues when you arrive in HK immigration controls. There is an official shortcut provided by the Hong Kong Airport Authority for the convenience of frequent travelers visiting Hong Kong.
If you have visited HK three times or more in the last 12 months, you can simply follow the application instruction at the Website of HKIA to obtain a “Frequent Visitor card”. It takes approx. three weeks to obtain a card that allows express immigration check in HK… so your co-flyers, your friends and other people will be envious of you! As they might have to wait for 35 minutes while you have already on your way to the City!
Tips on Avoiding Theft
Europe is generally safe when it comes to violent crime. However, it can be a very dangerous place from a petty purse-snatching, pick pocketing point of view.
Thieves thrive on confusion, crowds, and tourist traps. Here's some advice given to me by a thief who won the lotto.
Only travel about town with a day's spending money in your pocket.
Keep a low profile
•Never leave your handphone and or camera lying around where hotel workers and others can see it and be tempted.
•Keep it either around your neck or zipped safely out of sight. Luxurious luggage lures thieves.
•The thief chooses the most impressive suitcase in the pile — never mine!
•Things are much safer in your room than with you in a day bag on the streets. Hotels are a relative haven from thieves and a good resource for advice on personal safety.
On trains and at the station
On the train, be alert at stops, when thieves can dash on and off — with your bag. When sleeping on a train (or at an airport, or anywhere in public), clip or fasten your pack or suitcase to the seat, luggage rack, or yourself. Even the slight inconvenience of undoing a clip foils most thieves.
Crowding through big-city subway turnstiles is a popular way to rip off the unsuspecting tourist. Imaginative artful-dodger thief teams create a fight or commotion to distract their victims. Crowded flea markets and city buses that cover the tourist routes are prime target areas. Do not show your new powerful and expensive hand phone on the road, a thief will snap away from you as they pass by you in the street in a motorbike.
Don't use a waist pack as a money belt. Thieves assume this is where you keep your goodies.
Fasten your seat belt while you are travelling for long distance trip as you may fall asleep. That can be very dangerous if you are sleeping
Your rental car
The thieves target tourists' cars — especially at night. Don't leave anything even hinting of value in view in your parked car. Put anything worth stealing in the trunk or, better yet, in your hotel room. Leave your glove compartment open so the thief can look in without breaking in. Choose your parking place carefully. Your hotel receptionist knows what's safe and what precautions are necessary.
Make your car look local and where possible remove any reference to the rental-company. Don’t leave no tourist information lying around and place a local newspaper in the rear window. More than half of the work that European automobile glass shops do is repairing windows broken by thieves.
In Rome and Spain, the favorite pension is next to a large police station — a safe place to park.
Make yourself look local
Keep you valuable watch at home, do not show large rolls of cash in the crowded restaurant that may attract an attention of the thieves.
If you are Ripped Off...
Even the most careful traveler can get robbed or ripped off. If it happens to you, don't let it ruin your trip. Many trips start with a major rip-off, recover, and with the right attitude and very light bags, finish wonderfully.
Immediately after a theft, get a police report if you intend to make an insurance claim. Traveler's check thefts must be reported within 24 hours.
Before you set off on your trip make two sets of photocopies of your valuable documents and tickets. Pack a copy and leave a copy at home. It's easier to replace a lost or stolen plane ticket, passport, railpass, or car-rental voucher if you have a photocopy proving that you really owned what you lost. A couple of passport-type pictures you've brought from home can speed up the process of replacing a passport.
Have a safe trip back home
A classic story amongst British Airways cabin crews: is the story of a white South African woman who advised the cabin crew that she was unhappy sitting next to a black passenger. It appeared to the crew that the unhappy passenger was racist and the crews were eager to diffuse the situation. The stewardess returned sometime later to advise the lady that a solution to her discomfort had been devised. To diffuse the situation the air crew had offered the black guy a seat in first class…
As our cpmpany averages about 150 air trips a month, I thought it would be useful to provide a guide on the pitfalls encountered whilst travelling on business and ways to reduce the amount of stress that this causes on the individual.
Frequent Flyer Membership
If you are traveling frequently in Asia, we recommend that you buy Cathay Pacific Marco Polo membership (approx. USD25.00). Some of the benefits that membership offers includes Check in via Business Class line, priority entry onto aircraft and accumulation of air miles that allow you to be upgrade to Business class. Such benefits help you to avoid long queue times at check in and improve the travelling experience for all. .
Air Carrier
On the 12 August 1985,– Japanese Air Lines Flight 123, (a Boeing 747), crashed into Mount Osaka following a catastrophic failure of the tailplane severs all hydraulic lines and renders the aircraft uncontrollable. A total of 520 of 524 people on board are killed. It is the worst single-aircraft disaster in history. The survivors including one air stewardess located in the aft section of the plane aircraft. Although seats in the aft section are often less pleasant they have been statistically proven to be safer in the event of an air accident.
Air Line
Sometimes we are short on time to select a suitable flight for our journey. Even so it is always best to choose a flight from one of the larger more established airlines. Statistically speaking smaller airlines have the largest percentage of air accidents. The World fourth worst air accidents caused by Pan Am, JAL, Air India and Turkish Air on which 1,798 lives have been lost! In total 16,874 recorded accidents have resulted and casualties of 120,017 since 1914 to 2008. Somehow we have been selected the best airlines for our staff, however when we travel on our vacation, we should not just looking at the cost of the ticket but consider the Air Lines security too!
DVT
DVT Deep-vein thrombosis (also known as deep-venous thrombosis or DVT and colloquially as economy class syndrome) is caused by the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein. It commonly affects the leg veins, such as the femoral vein or the popliteal vein or the deep veins of the pelvis. It has the potential to cause a significant risk of blood clots within the lungs causing a pulmonary embolism.
DVT occurs in about 1 per 1000 persons and approximately 1-5% will die from the complications .There is clinical evidence to suggest that wearing compression socks or compression tights while travelling reduces the incidence of thrombosis in people on long haul flights.
Cleanliness on aircraft
The dirtiest area on the aircraft is your arm rest, entertainment control module and the table as they are not cleaned at all every haut. Try to carry Cleaning Alcohol prep and it does help to removed 99% of the bacteria on your seat.
Motion Sickness
Some passengers experience motion (air) sickness when flying. Symptoms include deep rapid breathing with cold sweats, yawning, salivation, pale skin, sudden drowsiness, nausea, and vomiting—none of which is very much fun.
Below are a few steps you can take to help minimize motion sickness:
• Avoid reading during the flight especially when there is insufficient lighting.
• Avoid alcohol 24 hours before the flight and while you're flying.
• Drink plenty of water and avoid sweet fruit juice drinks
• Keep your seat belt securely fastened while seated.
• Open the air vents to full and focus on the horizon or a fixed point a couple of feet away. Locate air-sickness bags in the seat pocket in front of you, so you can grab them quickly if you need them.
Health-Minded Packing
When you're packing for a trip, here are some suggested items you may wish to include:
•Copies of important medical records
•Medications—in their original pharmacy—labeled bottles to avoid problems with the customs.
•An extra pair of glasses or contact lenses along with enough cleaning supplies for the entire trip
•At least a week's supply of your medications-always in your carry-on luggage, rather than checked baggage
Traveler’s Tool
•A small LED torch in case of fire at night
•A reliable Travelling Alarm clock that will give you a morning call for a punctual departure
•An international power adaptor for your Note book and handphone
•A pair of slippers as hotel carpet floors may carry fungi and bacteria.
•Bring own Towel for better hygiene
Personnel Data carried on Electronic Hotel key
If possible don’t return the electronic door key to the hotel when you check out as it may contain your Name, VISA card number and your passport number (as is the case in some of the American hotels).. In my case I destroy the key or take it home as a souvenir of my trip.
Haunted hotel
There are lots of myths and rumours on some hotel rooms being haunted. I can name some in Thailand, in Germany, Hong Kong and Malaysia. If possible try to avoid staying in such rooms so that you can get a good nights sleep. If in doubt please ask me and I will tell you know the list of problematic rooms that I am aware of.
Hotel Security
If there is a safe in the hotel, try to use it to keep your valuables safe.
When in your room make sure all the latches are secure and when opening the door take care that the person or persons calling are known to you. Some of the big cities are no longer safe places to stay and you must be careful. In recent years tourists have been poisoned by spiked drinks, robbed and killed in a 5 star hotel at Shinjuku and Singapore.
Hotel Calls
Try not to use the hotel for overseas calls, it is usually 3 times more expensive than to use your hand phone for overseas call, buy a local network card is the cheapest way to call back home.
Emergency exit in Hotel
Most of the 5 star hotels are equipped with an emergency torch light and a Smoke mask in the case of a fire emergency. Some Japanese and Taiwanese have emergency fire escape ladders. Take time to understand the safety procedures in place at the hotel you are staying as it may save your life
Hong Kong frequent traveler card
Do you find yourself in long queues when you arrive in HK immigration controls. There is an official shortcut provided by the Hong Kong Airport Authority for the convenience of frequent travelers visiting Hong Kong.
If you have visited HK three times or more in the last 12 months, you can simply follow the application instruction at the Website of HKIA to obtain a “Frequent Visitor card”. It takes approx. three weeks to obtain a card that allows express immigration check in HK… so your co-flyers, your friends and other people will be envious of you! As they might have to wait for 35 minutes while you have already on your way to the City!
Tips on Avoiding Theft
Europe is generally safe when it comes to violent crime. However, it can be a very dangerous place from a petty purse-snatching, pick pocketing point of view.
Thieves thrive on confusion, crowds, and tourist traps. Here's some advice given to me by a thief who won the lotto.
Only travel about town with a day's spending money in your pocket.
Keep a low profile
•Never leave your handphone and or camera lying around where hotel workers and others can see it and be tempted.
•Keep it either around your neck or zipped safely out of sight. Luxurious luggage lures thieves.
•The thief chooses the most impressive suitcase in the pile — never mine!
•Things are much safer in your room than with you in a day bag on the streets. Hotels are a relative haven from thieves and a good resource for advice on personal safety.
On trains and at the station
On the train, be alert at stops, when thieves can dash on and off — with your bag. When sleeping on a train (or at an airport, or anywhere in public), clip or fasten your pack or suitcase to the seat, luggage rack, or yourself. Even the slight inconvenience of undoing a clip foils most thieves.
Crowding through big-city subway turnstiles is a popular way to rip off the unsuspecting tourist. Imaginative artful-dodger thief teams create a fight or commotion to distract their victims. Crowded flea markets and city buses that cover the tourist routes are prime target areas. Do not show your new powerful and expensive hand phone on the road, a thief will snap away from you as they pass by you in the street in a motorbike.
Don't use a waist pack as a money belt. Thieves assume this is where you keep your goodies.
Fasten your seat belt while you are travelling for long distance trip as you may fall asleep. That can be very dangerous if you are sleeping
Your rental car
The thieves target tourists' cars — especially at night. Don't leave anything even hinting of value in view in your parked car. Put anything worth stealing in the trunk or, better yet, in your hotel room. Leave your glove compartment open so the thief can look in without breaking in. Choose your parking place carefully. Your hotel receptionist knows what's safe and what precautions are necessary.
Make your car look local and where possible remove any reference to the rental-company. Don’t leave no tourist information lying around and place a local newspaper in the rear window. More than half of the work that European automobile glass shops do is repairing windows broken by thieves.
In Rome and Spain, the favorite pension is next to a large police station — a safe place to park.
Make yourself look local
Keep you valuable watch at home, do not show large rolls of cash in the crowded restaurant that may attract an attention of the thieves.
If you are Ripped Off...
Even the most careful traveler can get robbed or ripped off. If it happens to you, don't let it ruin your trip. Many trips start with a major rip-off, recover, and with the right attitude and very light bags, finish wonderfully.
Immediately after a theft, get a police report if you intend to make an insurance claim. Traveler's check thefts must be reported within 24 hours.
Before you set off on your trip make two sets of photocopies of your valuable documents and tickets. Pack a copy and leave a copy at home. It's easier to replace a lost or stolen plane ticket, passport, railpass, or car-rental voucher if you have a photocopy proving that you really owned what you lost. A couple of passport-type pictures you've brought from home can speed up the process of replacing a passport.
Have a safe trip back home
proof readed by Alf Progman
26 Aug 2008
26 Aug 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
Music for Life
Dentist surgery
Dr. Ng asked me what sort of music I would like to listen to prior to commencement of dental surgery at his clinic Hoi Ping Road some 22 years ago. He selected the music I requested and turned up the volume control on his Mark Levinson and it was then time to commence with the removal of my badly positioned growing wisdom teeth. He later told me that playing a piece of the patients favorite music during dental surgery was an effective way to reduce the pain and associated symptoms with the operation.
There have been extensive studies undertaken on how music can improve milk yields in dairy cattle; and possibly improve the quality of beef by broadcasting music in the cattle sheds. It has also been suggested that music can increase the size and quality of fruit crops.
So how can music affect the human body? According to research reported at the American Society of Hypertension meeting in New Orleans; listening to half hour of music each day may significantly lower your blood pressure.
Experiment
To test this hypothesis, a selected group of 48 adults aged between 45-70, who were taking medication to control mild hypertension, took part in the study. Of these, 28 listened to 30 minutes of “rhythmically homogenous” classical, Celtic or raga music daily while practicing slow, controlled breathing exercises, the remaining 20 participants, serving as the control group, made no changes to their daily routine.
Blood pressure readings taken after one and four weeks from the start of the study showed that systolic blood pressure- the top number in the blood pressure reading; had dropped significantly to those participants listen to music. In contrast, the control group exhibited only small, non-significant reduction in blood pressure.
There is no prejudice in the type of music chosen as different people have different taste in music appreciation.
An unconfirmed report states that the heavy metal and rock and roll music can actually kill a plantation; whereas music of the classical category can actually help to stimulate bigger and more beautiful flowers.
The Effects of Music
Even though the term music therapy is fairly new in modern society, the concept and practice of using music to assist the healing process can be traced back to antiquity. One particularly interesting example, from our earlier history has been written about the Russian Envoy Count Kayserling. The Count suffered with miserable insomnia and to help him with his problem, he asked Johann Goldberg, a local musician to play for him at night.
The Count had informed Bach about his terrible problems with sleeplessness and had asked Bach to compose some music that might help him relax and get to sleep. Goldberg seized his harpsichord and played the music composed for the Count by Johann Sebastian Bach..
Soon Goldberg was playing the music Bach had composed for the Count’s to help him with his insomnia. The Count arranged for Goldberg to have rooms nearby so that he could call on his services when required. The Count was so happy with the beneficial effects of this music that he rewarded Bach generously . Today this music is known as the Goldberg Variations.
Music and Mood
Think about any scary movie that you have ever seen i.e jaws! And consider the most frightening part of that movie. Try to imagine the same scene without music. What happens to the movie? Suddenly it becomes far less frightening. The dramatic music creates the mood of fear. Music creates the mood for many settings. People who create the “atmosphere” of a movie are very aware of the powerful effect of music.
Music also sets the tone for sporting events, parades, restaurants, shopping centers, television shows, advertisements, dances, sleeping and many other places and activities. Music selection is usually precise and purposeful and selected to help create the correct ambience for that particular setting, In many cases i.e. whilst out shopping at a major department store, you may not be aware of the music that is playing. However, but the music has usually been specially selected for shoppers to encourage them to spend more time enjoying their shopping experience. If you go to an all-you-can-eat restaurant, you will observe different music than if you went to a very nice restaurant. In the all-you-can-eat place, the music is usually louder and peppier because the owner wants you to hurry up, eat, and get out of there. In the nice restaurant, the music is generally soft and peaceful encouraging you to stay and order more food because you don’t pay for it until you are finished.
MacDonalds
MacDonalds have done their own research, which shows that we eat according to the speed of the music being played. Therefore, when a restaurant is busy, with a queue building up, McDonalds plays fast music, thus ensuring that the customers will eat quickly, and leave the restaurant sooner, freeing up more tables for incoming t customers.
Bed time music
Whilst sleeping I try to listen to some classical music at low volume levels. One of my favorites includes selections from “ Your hundred best tunes” which was compiled following a national audience poll on Alan Keiths BBC Radio 2 on Sunday nights. The top ten all time classics include: No.1 Sibelius: Finlandia, No. 2 Johann Strauss: Casanove- Nuns’ Chorus, No.3 Mascagni:cavalleria Rusticana- Intermezzo, No. 4. Zeller Der Obsersteiger- Don’t be cross, No. 5 Beethoven Symphony No.”6” Pastoral Shepherds’ Thanksgiving after the storm…
I dubbed these pieces onto cassette tapes and let it play continuously until I fall asleep as I believe it helps repair my brain cells while I am sleeping…and doing some defragmentation on my brain hard disk!
I feel very passionately about the power of music to affect us, our mood certainly, but also physiologically. The rhythm in music can affect our pulse and respiration, improve relaxation and improve our general state of “well-being”. By “Performing” music an individual can have a very effective means of expression. It’s also great for our self-esteem and confidence. One CEO in a USA MNC had also his own special way to reduce “stage fright “prior to giving a presentation on the company’s annual report to the media. He listened to his best favourite music loud in that morning and this had the effect of helping him deliver his presentation.
Music can be listened to, used as a means of expression, or performed.
You don’t have to be a “musician” to enjoy playing a musical instrument. We use percussion instruments from all over the world, and can improvise with many common house hold items i.e hammer handles make great claves, broom handles and dustbins (and lids), saucepans, small branches from a tree, plastic bottle filled with rice, hardboard as a “wobble board” – just a few examples! Sing! How many of us sing in the bath/shower – wonderfully uninhibited and expressive. From many media statistics and stress management studies it is generally agreed Classical music is one of the best forms of music to calm us, invigorate us and comfort us…
Recommendation
I would highly recommend that everybody should spend some time listening to great music whilst we are sleeping, dinning, or typing our weekly report, it helps to improve health, slow down our heart rate, reduce our blood pressure… and most of all, helps to prepare us a for another long day at works. Go for it!
Compiled by Fever, Edited by Alf Progman.
Dr. Ng asked me what sort of music I would like to listen to prior to commencement of dental surgery at his clinic Hoi Ping Road some 22 years ago. He selected the music I requested and turned up the volume control on his Mark Levinson and it was then time to commence with the removal of my badly positioned growing wisdom teeth. He later told me that playing a piece of the patients favorite music during dental surgery was an effective way to reduce the pain and associated symptoms with the operation.
There have been extensive studies undertaken on how music can improve milk yields in dairy cattle; and possibly improve the quality of beef by broadcasting music in the cattle sheds. It has also been suggested that music can increase the size and quality of fruit crops.
So how can music affect the human body? According to research reported at the American Society of Hypertension meeting in New Orleans; listening to half hour of music each day may significantly lower your blood pressure.
Experiment
To test this hypothesis, a selected group of 48 adults aged between 45-70, who were taking medication to control mild hypertension, took part in the study. Of these, 28 listened to 30 minutes of “rhythmically homogenous” classical, Celtic or raga music daily while practicing slow, controlled breathing exercises, the remaining 20 participants, serving as the control group, made no changes to their daily routine.
Blood pressure readings taken after one and four weeks from the start of the study showed that systolic blood pressure- the top number in the blood pressure reading; had dropped significantly to those participants listen to music. In contrast, the control group exhibited only small, non-significant reduction in blood pressure.
There is no prejudice in the type of music chosen as different people have different taste in music appreciation.
An unconfirmed report states that the heavy metal and rock and roll music can actually kill a plantation; whereas music of the classical category can actually help to stimulate bigger and more beautiful flowers.
The Effects of Music
Even though the term music therapy is fairly new in modern society, the concept and practice of using music to assist the healing process can be traced back to antiquity. One particularly interesting example, from our earlier history has been written about the Russian Envoy Count Kayserling. The Count suffered with miserable insomnia and to help him with his problem, he asked Johann Goldberg, a local musician to play for him at night.
The Count had informed Bach about his terrible problems with sleeplessness and had asked Bach to compose some music that might help him relax and get to sleep. Goldberg seized his harpsichord and played the music composed for the Count by Johann Sebastian Bach..
Soon Goldberg was playing the music Bach had composed for the Count’s to help him with his insomnia. The Count arranged for Goldberg to have rooms nearby so that he could call on his services when required. The Count was so happy with the beneficial effects of this music that he rewarded Bach generously . Today this music is known as the Goldberg Variations.
Music and Mood
Think about any scary movie that you have ever seen i.e jaws! And consider the most frightening part of that movie. Try to imagine the same scene without music. What happens to the movie? Suddenly it becomes far less frightening. The dramatic music creates the mood of fear. Music creates the mood for many settings. People who create the “atmosphere” of a movie are very aware of the powerful effect of music.
Music also sets the tone for sporting events, parades, restaurants, shopping centers, television shows, advertisements, dances, sleeping and many other places and activities. Music selection is usually precise and purposeful and selected to help create the correct ambience for that particular setting, In many cases i.e. whilst out shopping at a major department store, you may not be aware of the music that is playing. However, but the music has usually been specially selected for shoppers to encourage them to spend more time enjoying their shopping experience. If you go to an all-you-can-eat restaurant, you will observe different music than if you went to a very nice restaurant. In the all-you-can-eat place, the music is usually louder and peppier because the owner wants you to hurry up, eat, and get out of there. In the nice restaurant, the music is generally soft and peaceful encouraging you to stay and order more food because you don’t pay for it until you are finished.
MacDonalds
MacDonalds have done their own research, which shows that we eat according to the speed of the music being played. Therefore, when a restaurant is busy, with a queue building up, McDonalds plays fast music, thus ensuring that the customers will eat quickly, and leave the restaurant sooner, freeing up more tables for incoming t customers.
Bed time music
Whilst sleeping I try to listen to some classical music at low volume levels. One of my favorites includes selections from “ Your hundred best tunes” which was compiled following a national audience poll on Alan Keiths BBC Radio 2 on Sunday nights. The top ten all time classics include: No.1 Sibelius: Finlandia, No. 2 Johann Strauss: Casanove- Nuns’ Chorus, No.3 Mascagni:cavalleria Rusticana- Intermezzo, No. 4. Zeller Der Obsersteiger- Don’t be cross, No. 5 Beethoven Symphony No.”6” Pastoral Shepherds’ Thanksgiving after the storm…
I dubbed these pieces onto cassette tapes and let it play continuously until I fall asleep as I believe it helps repair my brain cells while I am sleeping…and doing some defragmentation on my brain hard disk!
I feel very passionately about the power of music to affect us, our mood certainly, but also physiologically. The rhythm in music can affect our pulse and respiration, improve relaxation and improve our general state of “well-being”. By “Performing” music an individual can have a very effective means of expression. It’s also great for our self-esteem and confidence. One CEO in a USA MNC had also his own special way to reduce “stage fright “prior to giving a presentation on the company’s annual report to the media. He listened to his best favourite music loud in that morning and this had the effect of helping him deliver his presentation.
Music can be listened to, used as a means of expression, or performed.
You don’t have to be a “musician” to enjoy playing a musical instrument. We use percussion instruments from all over the world, and can improvise with many common house hold items i.e hammer handles make great claves, broom handles and dustbins (and lids), saucepans, small branches from a tree, plastic bottle filled with rice, hardboard as a “wobble board” – just a few examples! Sing! How many of us sing in the bath/shower – wonderfully uninhibited and expressive. From many media statistics and stress management studies it is generally agreed Classical music is one of the best forms of music to calm us, invigorate us and comfort us…
Recommendation
I would highly recommend that everybody should spend some time listening to great music whilst we are sleeping, dinning, or typing our weekly report, it helps to improve health, slow down our heart rate, reduce our blood pressure… and most of all, helps to prepare us a for another long day at works. Go for it!
Compiled by Fever, Edited by Alf Progman.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Wines Talks
Times Magazine has nominated the best the Healthy food, guess what is the Top of the list? RED wine, 2nd is Salmon, third is ……So you may ask why the first one is red wine, as red wine has the following advantage,
It soften the vessel, it create some kind of good chorestol and reduce the chance of having cancer.
French Wine
Bordeaux and Burgundy wines are famous wine with typical taste from France.
They gain the appreciation of most of the wine lovers. Yet, not all the wines are from France.There are wines available in the market from Portugal, Spain, South Africa, Chile, Italy, Argentina, Australia, United States, and in the last ten years from China. These are so called the New World. France does bear the honour as the first wine producing country, In fact, Wine was originated in Italy, dating back to a long history to 753 B.C. During the Roman Empire.
Gem of wine
People keeps talking these names in the lips; Latour, Lafife, Margaux and Haut Brion these renown wine produces probably most of the best wine in the world. They belong to the First growth Category by Classification of 1855 in Bordeaux. Mouton , not until 1973, was classified as the first growth wine. These are great Chateaux, they bear the brand name because of they have a very high standard of quality control and many hundreds years if experience in winery, plus the philosophy and the wine producers. Sometime “less is more” is the major successful factors. They will choose the largest grapes and then amongst them choose the best one as for the preparation of their wine of reputation,
Wine age
An old Vintage wine usually sleeps a longer time in shedding its cloaks of tannin, and might be amiable when drink. It should not be misinterpreted as symbol if good wine.
All wine has its own” best Consumption date” or “ life”, old vintage wine consume well past their “ best Consumption Date” give disappointment more than Pleasure to the wine lovers.
Wine Rating
Robert Parker, American Wine connoisseurs of world respect and acceptance set a standard of
Wine quality. Taken into consideration of storing potentiality, fruit, bouquet, palate, aroma, colour, viscosity, acidity, changes of the wine over time, balance in sweetness, favour, and fragrance, drinking pleasure, and how long it stay in-between your teeth….Yet these people are human and they have their choice of own palate preference, and market to serve in their comment. We had to learn to respect these wine comment with an objective attitudes, use it as a quality standard and or guide., some how after year of teasing experience we find that our score rate is pretty close to Robert’s. Wine which carry an average of over 86 marks by Robert Parker are wines of good drinking quality. 100 marks is perfect wine….
Wine age
An old Vintage wine usually sleeps a longer time in shedding its cloaks of tannin, and might be amiable when drink. It should not be misinterpreted as symbol if good wine.
All wine has its own” best Consumption date” or “ life”, old vintage wine consume well past their “ best Consumption Date” give disappointment more than Pleasure to the wine lovers.
Wine Rating
Robert Parker, American Wine connoisseurs of world respect and acceptance set a standard of
Wine quality. Taken into consideration of storing potentiality, fruit, bouquet, palate, aroma, colour, viscosity, acidity, changes of the wine over time, balance in sweetness, favour, and fragrance, drinking pleasure, and how long it stay in-between your teeth….Yet these people are human and they have their choice of own palate preference, and market to serve in their comment. We had to learn to respect these wine comment with an objective attitudes, use it as a quality standard and or guide., some how after year of teasing experience we find that our score rate is pretty close to Robert’s. Wine which carry an average of over 86 marks by Robert Parker are wines of good drinking quality. 100 marks is perfect wine….
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