Alice in Wonderland  - circa 1903

This film is the first movie adaptation of the Lewis Caroll's classic "Alice in Wonderland".  A silent film that is memorable for its use of special effects. A nostalgic movie it was

before inception... there is paprika

love this anime, and yes this is the inspiration of the movie inception.

My iphone4 is missing =(

My phone is Missing!!!!

I tried to locate it using the mobile find... but it seems the one who got it has already disabled the option.   sigh... anyway, think positive 

World Environment Day 2011

WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAYFORESTS: NATURE AT YOUR SERVICE | 05 JUNE

Above is my entry "forest spectrum" for this year's celebration of world environment day... in response to the theme, I have decided to relate color spectrum to a forest.  Like a spectrum, which shows array of color palette, forest provide us wide range of benefits that help us survive.  My work is an abstract representation of a forest, I want to have  a "tribal" feel on it, but my brushes are to big to create the intricate pattern I envision.   

Before and after...

Nothing is more rewarding that seeing the result of my hard work... it has been almost 8 months since I started my quest in loosing weight.  I must say it is constant battle on which determination is the key... I can almost see the end of the tunnel... almost there

Monstrous Discrepancies

Heart

36 Interesting Facts About . . .

The Human Heart

The average adult heart beats 72 times a minute; 100,000 times a day; 3,600,000 times a year; and 2.5 billion times during a lifetime. Though weighing only 11 ounces on average, a healthy heart pumps 2,000 gallons of blood through 60,000 miles of blood vessels each day. A kitchen faucet would need to be turned on all the way for at least 45 years to equal the amount of blood pumped by the heart in an average lifetime. The volume of blood pumped by the heart can vary over a wide range, from five to 30 liters per minute. Every day, the heart creates enough energy to drive a truck 20 miles. In a lifetime, that is equivalent to driving to the moon and back. Because the heart has its own electrical impulse, it can continue to beat even when separated from the body, as long as it has an adequate supply of oxygen. The fetal heart rate is approximately twice as fast as an adult’s, at about 150 beats per minute. By the time a fetus is 12 weeks old, its heart pumps an amazing 60 pints of blood a day. The heart pumps blood to almost all of the body’s 75 trillion cells. Only the corneas receive no blood supply. During an average lifetime, the heart will pump nearly 1.5 million gallons of blood—enough to fill 200 train tank cars. Five percent of blood supplies the heart, 15-20% goes to the brain and central nervous system, and 22% goes to the kidneys. The “thump-thump” of a heartbeat is the sound made by the four valves of the heart closing. The heart does the most physical work of any muscle during a lifetime. The power output of the heart ranges from 1-5 watts. While the quadriceps can produce 100 watts for a few minutes, an output of one watt for 80 years is equal to 2.5 gigajoules. The heart begins beating at four weeks after conception and does not stop until death. A newborn baby has about one cup of blood in circulation. An adult human has about four to five quarts which the heart pumps to all the tissues and to and from the lungs in about one minute while beating 75 times. The heart pumps oxygenated blood through the aorta (the largest artery) at about 1 mile (1.6 km) per hour. By the time blood reaches the capillaries, it is moving at around 43 inches (109 cm) per hour. Early Egyptians believed that the heart and other major organs had wills of their own and would move around inside the body. An anonymous contributor to the Hippocratic Collection (or Canon) believed vessel valves kept impurities out of the heart, since the intelligence of man was believed to lie in the left cavity. Plato theorized that reasoning originated with the brain, but that passions originated in the “fiery” heart. The term “heartfelt” originated from Aristotle’s philosophy that the heart collected sensory input from the peripheral organs through the blood vessels. It was from those perceptions that thought and emotions arose. Prolonged lack of sleep can cause irregular jumping heartbeats called premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Some heavy snorers may have a condition called obtrusive sleep apnea (OSA), which can negatively affect the heart. Cocaine affects the heart’s electrical activity and causes spasm of the arteries, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke, even in healthy people. Galen of Pergamum, a prominent surgeon to Roman gladiators, demonstrated that blood, not air, filled arteries, as Hippocrates had concluded. However, he also believed that the heart acted as a low-temperature oven to keep the blood warm and that blood trickled from one side of the heart to other through tiny holes in the heart. Galen agreed with Aristotle that the heart was the body’s source of heat, a type of “lamp” fueled by blood from the liver and fanned into spirituous flame by air from the lungs. The brain merely served to cool the blood. In 1929, German surgeon Werner Forssmann (1904-1979) examined the inside of his own heart by threading a catheter into his arm vein and pushed it 20 inches and into his heart, inventing cardiac catheterization, a now common procedure. On December 3, 1967, Dr. Christiaan Barnard (1922-2001) of South Africa transplanted a human heart into the body of Louis Washansky. Although the recipient lived only 18 days, it is considered the first successful heart transplant. “Atrium” is Latin for “entrance hall,” and “ventricle” is Latin for “little belly.” A woman’s heart typically beats faster than a man’s. The heart of an average man beats approximately 70 times a minute, whereas the average woman has a heart rate of 78 per minute. Blood is actually a tissue. When the body is at rest, it takes only six seconds for the blood to go from the heart to the lungs and back, only eight seconds for it to go the brain and back, and only 16 seconds for it to reach the toes and travel all the way back to the heart. French physician Rene Laennec (1781-1826) invented the stethoscope when he felt it was inappropriate to place his ear on his large-buxomed female patients' chests. Physician Erasistratus of Chios (304-250 B.C.) was the first to discover that the heart functioned as a natural pump. In his text De Humani Corporis Fabrica Libri Septem, the father of modern anatomy, Andreas Vesalius (1514-1564), argued that the blood seeped from one ventricle to another through mysterious pores. Galen argued that the heart constantly produced blood. However, William Harvey’s (1578-1657) discovery of the circulation system in 1616 revealed that there was a finite amount of blood in the body and that it circulated in one direction. The right atrium holds about 3.5 tablespoons of blood. The right ventricle holds slightly more than a quarter cup of blood. The left atrium holds the same amount of blood as the right, but its walls are three times thicker.g Grab a tennis ball and squeeze it tightly: that’s how hard the beating heart works to pump blood. In 1903, physiologist Willem Einthoven (1860-1927) invented the electrocardiograph, which measures electric current in the heart.

Spicy Pork Spare Ribs

As requested by Ivee, I am sharing my "Spicy Pork Spare Ribs" recipe

Ingredients:

1kg of pork ribs
a cup of Lee Kum Kee chili garlic sauce
a teaspon of Hoisin Sauce
bulb of garlic (I love garlic... )
2 pieces of onions
lemon juice
chili flakes
2 capsicum
salt and pepper to taste
Olive oil
Sesame oil


Procedures:

• Marinate the spareribs with lemon juice, chili garlic sauce, hoisin sauce, garlic and onion. Let it sit for at least 2 hours
• After marinating, place it in a pan, cover and let it simmer through low fire
• Mix it occasionally to ensure that the meat is cooked evenly
• Put the chili flakes, few drops of sesame oil...salt and pepper.  (depends on how spicy you want it)
• On a separate pan, sauteed the capsicum on olive oil (on high fire, to sealed in the moisture and crunchiness) 
• Then, place it on top of the spare ribs.. wolla! done...

Enjoy Eating!

81kg and still going down

My hard work is finally paying off... from 98 kg 4 months ago I am now 81...

Looking back, As I see my self... I realized something... why I didn't do it before?! Damn!, if only I'd push my self hard and had just a  little determination.

People are asking me, why I decided to loose weight? Am I getting married? Why ? Why?... I told them no!... I am doing this to my self and to my family, no other reasons.. how can I enjoy my life, if I have some health issues?  I'm not a hypocrite to say that I don't eat unhealthy food, I am ... but I am doing it in moderation.  Just enough to satisfy my taste buds.. =)

Loosing weight helps me a lot.... to my self esteem.  It is nice to hear people complementing you and asking you how I did it.

 I am currently half way on this journey towards my ideal weight (65kg). With sheer determination... I will do it!

Summer Wars

All I can say, this movie made me a hell of a cry baby...  I am still sobbing while writing this blog... maybe because I can relate how family is very important.  or maybe I am  just home sick...It somehow reminded me of my Aunt who passed away, she is the matriarch of our family... I really missed her a lot...  : (

Animation is great as usual... it is very detailed, there is a lot of funny moments... the phasing is fast... though there are some points that are somehow politically in correct.

For me as a person who valued family (though I don't show it a lot)... this movie touches my heart.

Intense work out

I wonder why heavier people lose weight faster... now I realized that the reason behind it is that heavier people exert more effort to move their body, therefore more calories are being burn... And after loosing significant weight I have now reached  period of plateau.... To lose weight further, I have I decided to intensify my work out.

Enough is enough with this garbage

Office politics, I HATED it..., Why we can just simply work and let other do their job? That's the problem with a Multi- Company it is so big that the owners is delegating it to ASSHOLES liars... if they just only knew, that they are loosing valuable employees... GRRRRRRRRRRR

Art for Mother Earth

" Many Species, One Planet, One Future"

Last July, I have joined are Company's Art contest... All of the artwork was shown in an exhibition, on which a private auction was held.  They have selected 12 winning piece that was featured on our 2011 calendar.

Though I didn't win, it's ok... making art somehow, ease my stress related to work, I am looking forward to join this year's contest

Cellphone before, now, tomorrow ?

 

Goodbyes...

All of us, hate saying goodbyes... We don't like to be on that situation, but we can't do anything to avoid it... It's inevitable, so what we can do is just move forward and remember all the lesson we have learn from the past.

I say "Time is not our enemy, but rather our companion to our journey in life"

Proud

 

I am currently hooked up with this song "Proud" by Heather Small - this is included on my jogtunes playlist

So what have you done to make you feel proud? We need a change so do it today...

Fist Fight

When I started blogging, I've noticed so many things that I've previously ignore... things that is worthwhile to share in this blog.


Tonight, during my jogging routine... I came across a hoopla, three men are fighting ( 2 vs 1)... I didn't know why the hell they are fighting, but it seem likes the 2 guys accidentally bump the person who's carrying the water jog.... then things became worst after that.... from one street to another.... it looks like the whole vacant lot is their fighting arena. But I am impressed with the other guy -  as he fighting 2 persons (logically they have the upper hand).   Luckily some other people showed  their concern and ended the commotions.

So I told my self... How can you win in a fist fight? Unless you are Sherlock Holmes who can analyze each and every situation easily.  Since everything is on the internet just google it... and below is the answer from Wikihow:


Always maintain an awareness of your surroundings. Know who is capable of assaulting you and how to exit the area quickly. This will help you see violence before it happens, and give you time to prepare a response should you need one. It will also make any adrenal reaction work in your favor, rather than causing you to freeze.

1. 
   

2

1. If you feel that you are in a situation where you might be attacked, leave as soon as possible. If you believe that a person or party is intent on attack by the time you decide to exit, attempt to do so without causing them alarm. Attackers are more likely to rush you if they think you are actively fleeing. Swallow your pride - mild altercations can quickly escalate into serious harm because both parties could not control their egos or did not know their limitations.

3

1. Be very careful when you hit someone in the face, you could very easily break the small bones in your hands, or even collapse your knuckles. Aim for their nose and lips to minimize that risk.

4

1. If the opponent is bigger and you know they are more skilled in fighting than you are, make it an extra effort not to get hit. If they are strong, chances are they can also punch very hard. It can take just one well-placed punch to take someone out. Dodging is the key. After dodging a punch, they will be off guard for a split second. This is the time to hit them. If you are completely overwhelmed fight dirty or bring some friends who won't run away, go for his private parts. Soft spots are extremely useful. The nose, face, Kidneys, Temples, and throat are all good places for a punch. This may temporarily incapacitate him (especially the throat, but it could collapse their windpipe).Kicks to the side of the femur are also effective- you can throw him off balance long enough to catch him in the jaw with a punch or kick.

5

1. If escape is not possible or viable, and you are confronted by an aggressive person, raise your hands up, palms out, at neck level, and angle your body away from the aggressor. This accomplishes three things - it controls the vital distance between you and the aggressor (acting as a "fence"), it covers your head and vital organs, and appears non-aggressive. Always stay moving somewhat, but never backwards.

6

1. From this "fence" you can use dissuading dialogue (e.g. "Calm down buddy." "Take it easy."). This has several positive effects; it may lower the aggressor's guard or cause them to underestimate you, it establishes your position on the fight, and it illicits a choice on the behalf of the aggressor which will buy you time.

7

1. Watch for the adrenal response in your aggressor, e.g. monosyllabic speech, excessive expletives, splaying the arms, furrowed eyebrows, dropping the chin, face goes white, baring the teeth... These will indicate that an attack is imminent. Most people will not back down from an attack once their adrenalin has surged, be prepared to be hit no matter what they seem to be doing.

8

1. If you feel the situation is about to become physical, maintain the distance with your fence. To strike you, the aggressor must get past your fence. (95%+ of the time, they will attempt a strike to the head, usually a right hook.) Use your fence as a tripwire - if he touches it once, line up for a pre-emptive strike (whilst maintaining the dissuading dialogue). Strike on the second touch. Do not wait for your opponent to correct themselves or escalate their attempts. If they even touch you once, brace yourself for counter attack the next time they attempt contact.

9

1. Your reactive pre-emptive strike should be aimed to the chin or jaw. Fist and hand techniques are the most viable option. Look at the jaw before you strike it. This not only gives you the chance to disable your opponent, but even a strong failed attempt can force an attacker to reconsider further efforts.

10

1. If your punching technique is strong enough and you have mentally disarmed the attacker via your dialogue and "fence", he will be knocked out or at very least disorientated. Use this time to escape if you can. If your strike did not have this effect, he will still be caught off-guard. Make good of any failure to act on their part. Continue forcing him back with strikes to the chin, jaw and neck, until they are unable or unwilling to fight.

11

If he falls over, kick or stomp at his legs and torso. A knee drop to the chest is also very effective - but realize that it places you in close proximity to any attacks of theirs. Do NOT kick to the head as it is easily fatal. Remember, this is NOT asocial violence.

Just a piece of advice always be cool and don't resort to physical violence unless you life is at stake 

Chicken Cordon Blue - Recipe

Cooking is my one of my passion,  like any other art, you need to pour oneself into it...

Chicken Cordon Blue is variation of Austrian dish called Schnitzel (an escalope coated in breadcrumbs and fried) There are so many variations of this dish on the internet and below is my mother's version that I've learned from her

Ingredients:

1kg  of chicken breast fillet
Cheddar cheese
1/4 kg of Ham (Pork or Turkey)
2 cans of Campbell's cream of chicken
I can of button mushroom
2 cups of milk
3 bulbs of garlic
1 white onion
Butter
Olive oil
pinch of nutmeg
pinch of sweet basil
pinch of smoked paprika
salt and pepper to taste
2 eggs
cup of flour
breadcrumbs


Procedure:

1. Slice the chicken breast in such a way that it spreads out like paper ( you can ask someone from the market to do it for you)
2. On the middle, put 2 to 3 slices of ham on it (till all area is covered)
3. Place the cheddar cheese (you can use shredded ones, but i prefer to the use the whole which is cut horizontally)
4. Put some salt and pepper and then roll it inside a foil
5. Put it in a steamer (pre-boiled) and let it cooked for 30 to 45 minutes. While waiting for it you can now prepare the sauce
6. On the pre-heated sauce pan, pour the olive then the butter... sautéed the garlic and onions
7. Then slowly add the milk (lower the heat), and mix it slowly (to prevent it from curdling)
8. Now pour the cream of chicken and the remaining ingredients (nutmeg, paprika, basil and button mushroom)
9. Bring it into a boil, then set is aside... now your sauce is ready you can to proceed in frying the escalope
10. For the crust, just mix the flour and the breadcrumbs
11. Slightly beat the eggs.... remove the foil, dip the escalope into eggs then into the breadcrumbs.
12. Deep fried it, once the crust becomes golden brown you can now remove it from the pan and let the excess oil  to drip for a while
13. For the presentation, you can slice it diagonally, then pour the sauce on top.

Once in a  while I'll share some of my recipes... enjoy eating :)

Infidelity and Goiter

While on  my way home today... I've unintentionally eavesdropped to a  conversation between  a guy and two girls... I didn't intent to,  but they're blocking my way so I had to walk slowly with them.  I am not a married person, nor in a relationship.. so I am not judging the guy for what he is doing and besides I have no right to...  The guy is telling that he already ended his illicit affair and they agreed to return whatever they owe each other (probably monetary?!).  What caught my attention is when he said " I have no regrets at all and besides she has goiter".... and the girls replied to him " Yes It is a good decision or else you'll probably be infected" What?! infected?!  I'm suddenly confused! goiter?! or probably he is talking about Gonorrhea?!



If I recalled it correctly... Goiter is primary caused by  iodine deficiency, some by autoimmune disease, from toxins, or from cancer... but it is not infectious and you'll not get it through sexual activities.   If the reason for their break up is due to her having  goiter that is a shallow justification. But, like what I've said  a while ago,  I have no right to judge them...

FACT:  You can have goiter from indigestion of raw foods that contains goitrogens, such as cassava, peanuts, strawberries, soybeans,  broccoli  (goitrogens are substances that suppresses the function of thyroid gland)




Note: I am a frustrated doctor, so I love to read topics about health and medicine.  I also like to watch medical series like House.

Losing Weight Formula

Losing Weight = Calories in < Calories out

Most of us envies those people who possesses high metabolism rate, meaning regardless how much and how often they eat, they are not getting fat!!!! Seriously...


A few days ago, while on the way home, I heard a news from the radio that Cameron Diaz is facing problem in gaining weight because of her high metabolism rate... She cannot cope up with the calories she is losing ever day... How ironic it is that majority of the people is having problem in losing weight and I am one of the statistics.


Half of my life I am struggling about my weight, until I decided to  do something about it three months ago.  And to solve it, I thought this is just simple math, we are getting fat because of the excess calories.   So the solution... burn the excess calories, yes it is easy to say but hard to do...It takes focus and determination, you must endure the pain... mind over matter.  And the result is great... from my initial weight of 98Kg now I am down to 84kg and still  decreasing.  


I'm not into crash diet, because I don't believe on that, why the hell you will starve yourself to death?!.  Rather, I ate the recommended daily calories intakes.   To burn the calories, everyday after work,  I took an hour of walking and jogging (average of 7km ).  The first week, I must say is the hardest part (your body is adjusting for the new routine).... this is the turning point, but my motivation keeps me going.  After that critical point, everything is fine.. After the workouts you feel happy (because of the endorphins).   You'll feel joy after seeing your weight is reducing, your pants becomes more loose, and people is starting to compliment you for the changes they are seeing.  These things make you more motivated to go on further.   Now I am into it, I told my self to keep it up, because I know how hard it is to lose weight.


Remember this, our bodies work differently... So not all weight loss plan will work you, but the simple truth is.... just follow the simple logic, the more calories your body metabolizes will equals to weight loss.  


"Life is more than diets and workouts"

Ophiuchus? Suspicious?

The 13th zodiac sign...  which caused a stir all over the social media sites, enough to make headlines on every news agency... and became one of the top ten most googled... So what is the commotion all about?Because of this new addition, the sign you've previously perceived is yours is not the case anymore - 


"At least one astronomer claims that individuals' astrological signs may be different than previously thought because of changes in the Earth's alignment"    

Here is the possible new chart, taking the changes into consideration:

Capricorn: Jan. 20 - Feb. 16
Aquarius: Feb. 16 - March 11
Pisces: March 11- April 18
Aries: April 18- May 13
Taurus: May 13- June 21
Gemini: June 21- July 20
Cancer: July 20- Aug. 10
Leo: Aug. 10- Sept. 16
Virgo: Sept. 16- Oct. 30
Libra: Oct. 30- Nov. 23
Scorpio: Nov. 23- Nov. 29
Ophiuchus: Nov. 29- Dec. 17
Sagittarius: Dec. 17- Jan. 20

I did a little research and I've found out that Ophiuchus is not totally new constellation, it

s been there for a long time... So who is Ophiuchus? According to the greek mythology, Ophiuchus is 

identified with the healer Asclepius, son of Apollo, who became so skilled that he brought the dead back to life. Then Hades became so angry that he convinced Zeus to kill Asclepius with a lightning bolt.  After his death, he was placed in the stars as a constellation - wikipedia

Irregardless whatever is your zodiac sign, ultimately you shouldn't rely from it... but rather use them as only guides, at the end of the day you have your "free will" after all

TAMPISAW

Video Editing is one thing I really loved to learn, and "Tampisaw" is one of projects I have done...
Honestly I have no experience in video editing, but thanks to the user friendly interface of iMovie somehow I've able to grasp it. =)


"Tampisaw" is tagalog word - meaning "playing in a puddle of water" ...and by "puddle of water" I mean "sea of water" =)


Basically I bought this underwater camera (max 10 meters deep) which I tested during our snorkelling session at Jumeriah open beach and using my swimming buddies (my office mates) as subject matter.  We are very lucky because the water is very clear during that day, which by the way, only occurs once in a while.

"time waits for no one"

I've recently watched Mamoru Hosoda's " The Girl Who Leapt Through Time"... It is an adaptation of a classic Japanese novel Toki o Kakeru Shojo.  From the title itself, the movie's plot, is about a girl (Makoto Konno)  who accidentally obtained the power to leapt through ti  me.


Makoto, is a care free, clumsy high school  student... who is always late, sleeps during classes, and always in detention.
When she accidentally acquired the ability to go back in time, she uses her power to her own advantage, like avoiding  being tardy and to get perfect grades on tests, and even relive a single karaoke session for several hours until she loses her voice.


As the cliche says "Great power comes with great responsibility"... Things begin to turn bad as she discovers how her actions can adversely affect others. Makoto ends up using up more of her leaps to recklessly prevent undesirable situations from happening, including an awkward confession of love from her best friend Chiaki Mamiya


Technically, the animation is exceptional... a combination of traditional and computer generated animation.  Dubbing and sounds are great too


After watching this movie, I realized how time is very important... that we should not just let it passed by and later regret it.  As the adage says in the movie that is written on the blackboard "time waits for no one" 

Now I am looking forward to watch his new animation, "Summer Wars"