Animal Night

The littering problem here is getting worse everyday. 

As our population and economy grow, this problem would only get worse, unless someone powerful enough to take drastic actions now. 

If he'd to ask me, I'd propose the 3E-Approach. 

E1=Educate = everyone from children to adults, citizens, residents to foreigners. 

Who provides the obedient training? 

E2-Enforcement has to be effective. And I don't believe the Volunteer Scheme would work, unless every volunteer looks like the man in this picture.  

E3-Exterminate those repeated offenders, revoke their work permits, rebates, benefits,...etc.

 

People won't learn without pain. It's no-pain, no-gain theory. When I was young, I had many falls, sweat, bruises & blood before I learned how to ride a bicycle.                                   People won't learn if there isn't enough pain.  

Some people cannot control themselves. Like littering, gambling, stealing or other addiction.

They know it's wrong to do it, but the urge & thrill overpowered them. It's a habit & also their weakness.

But everyone has weaknesses. Even mighty KING KONG has a weakness in this famous movie of The beauty & the beast.
For some, they paid a high price for their weaknesses.

Most people don't care about the environment or nature. They dump pollutants into the air, land or water. As a result, many living things are becoming extinct. Landscapes are changing.

While nature and beautiful landscapes are still standing, it's good to visit them before they are gone. It's my personal goal. That's why I'm working hard to keep in shape physically &  accumulate the financial means to do it. 

Sometimes, people are stuck in situation that they are unable to jump out of. Some lack the courage, some lack the means. Others, maybe due to fear, but some have no choice. Knowing the right moment and taking the first step is the key to change. 

"No one can persuade another to change. Each of us guards a gate of change that can only be opened from the inside."  American writer : Marilyn Ferguson

  

Disclaimer :

What you read & see here are just my thoughts & perceptions.

I'm aware that some may not agree with me. It's ok.

That's why we are all human. Just move on, my friend,...there is no need to sulk.

 

 

One Job, Many Stories

I did many part-time jobs after school.
But this is my first official job.

In this country, every normal & able male-citizen must serve in national service.

It's the law, the enlistment act,..woh.

No need for any job interview, nor negotiation in salary. They just examine you physically to make sure you are male, ask you some questions & then certify you fit to go in.

I remember my performance in the first 3 months of basic military training (BMT) was so...so, but at the end, they still sent me to OCS (Officer Cadet School).

When I was in OCS, the 9- months training was very tough.

So, I told my commanders that I was an artist. I told them I could create a wall mural on our dormitory building to be unique & different. As the icon for charlie company is a cougar, so I drew a BIG one. 

When my fellow-cadets went for trainings in the field, I was happy to stay back, taking my time to create this artwork. So far, it's my biggest project to-date.

When I was about to leave the army, the economy was in a deep recession & the job market was gloomy.

For once, I considered signing-up as a professional soldier as a career, like this person here who did.

Before my ROD (run-out-date=discharge from army), I took a week's solitude in the cameron-genting highlands, malaysia with 2 army buddies to reflect & to decide our future. There were so many distractions during this trip & we never really think about it.

After this trip, both my 2 army buddies signed-up. But I  did not.








For a few years, I worked as a product designer, industrial engineer, mechanical engineer.

I often need to produce technical drawings by hand, using the drawing board & T-Square. 

With the invention of computer-aided-design & drawing softwares, my technical drawing skills are now obsoleted.

It's technology that kills such skill......Sigh !

But I think, now most people cannot produce such drawings by hand. Who cares !

 

As an engineer, I was tasked to manage a quarter-millions machine.

I told the technican the machine needed to "rest" to maintain its performance.
So I asked him to go for a long-break.
I then loaded my prepared programme to cutout this aluminium 3D-puzzle.

 

"The eagle has landed",
is a stainless-steel cutout.
The inspiration came from the chinese paper-cutting but in metallic-form.

Those who saw it, including the technicians, asked me for a piece too.
But I told them to keep mum, especially the "boss".

When you are young, you tend to take risks !





These chinese characters were my next challenge.
The programming process took many hours, but the cutting was quick.
I made a few limited pieces & plated them in gold.
They make great momentos & a few bought them.






After a few years, I was bored, so I quit & became an industrial engineer.

But I did not design & make any thing except jigs & fixtures, talking & observing how others work in a factory. 

The most memorable experience was working with prisoners in a production facility set-up inside the prison in changi. 












On day, the quality manager quit.
So my boss asked me if I want to take up that position for a change.

I was a young man then, so I took up the challenge.
In later months, I realized that I was doing a manager's job for an engineer's pay. Sigh !  

When you are young, & if you are not careful, you could be conned. 








This is my friend, Maurice who is a veteran financial advisor.

At one time, I was retrenced.
So he asked me if I want to join him.

I find the title : "Insurance Agent" not attractive, and it would be tough to sell "papers" (insurance policies) to people who rarely see their benefits.

It's alot easier to sell COE (certificate of entitlement) that paper policies.










In this country, the cost of living is so high and rising that everyone needs to keep working till EOL (end of life) to support oneself & pay the bills. Provided you are still healthy and able. Still, it won't be anything easy as I can see that many foreigners are taking up many white-collar jobs here. And I do not know why.  
 

Getting OLD..... but not out ?

When one was young, one spend all the energy to make money & a name for oneself.  

When one grows old, one can use his name to make some more money......like this guy here. But when I was young, my parents & teachers never told me this.

Now that I'm getting older, I've no name & no money & no energy !            Sigh..........

When you are younger, you do "dirty" things.

People like it so much, they called you DIRTY HARRY, & salute you for getting things done your way. But when you are old, if you do "dirty-things", they'd call you dirty old-man, and if you are caught doing it, you may end up with a big name in jail. Then you are totally finished & "out".

When you are young, you can build-up your body to make money & a name for yourself.

When you get old, it's extremely, extremely rare that you can still use your old body to make any money. This is the reality.

If you have the interest & discipline, learn some kung-fu when you are young.

If you are extremely good in it, make a name for yourself. 

When you grow old, you can use your kung-fu to maintain your physical health, which is the most important asset to remain in the "game".    

 

When you are young, try to get creative, or mix with creative people.

This guy created something even with simple objects like a pair of boxing gloves. 

He made it so good, that they called him ROCKY, & The Eye of the tiger.  

Creativity gets you the money only if you know how to make use of it & you act on it....  

When we were younger, we had lots of energy, but no time & money.

Now that we get older, we have lots of time, some money, but no more energy.

So I think it's good to have some adventures when you still have the energy. I admire the adventures of Indiana Jones, who always visit exotic places in his movies.

We all get to grow old physically. But the mind can stay young & active.    
One must maintain one's cognitive capacity with constant mind exercises & quick thinking skills. From my observations, those who thinks faster than others, win. 

 

Happy Lunar New Year 2013

Disclaimer
What you see & read here, are purely my own views, opinions & perceptions about the topic.
I fully understand that others may not think or feel the same like I do. Never mind.
If you don't like what you read or see here, just ignore it & forget about this blog. Move on, buddy.

I consider Mr Bean as the best comical character ever been created, comparable to old master Q (lao-fuzi) in the 70s & 80s which I used to read a lot of the comics when the teacher was teaching in class.

For anyone who is teaching innovation and creativity, Mr Bean gives the best examples or case study.

Many artists have attempted to draw him, but so far, I haven't seen the best caricature yet. Perhaps, it's a challenge to draw him.
I had many tries before I gotten this one on print. Not so simple lah...... 

If you r stressed out, take time out & watch Mr Bean to relief your stress & frustrations. Have a laugh.  

Happy or not, stressed or not, life goes on,.....You choose, my friend.
Do you light-up others or the one being lighted-up ???

Wishing everyone a Happy Lunar New Year 2013 of the water-snake.