26/01/2007

This posting is a continuation of the previous posting titled " In 8 days time..... "

The event on 26th January, friday, was not what I have expected it to be. I have thought of it to be a turning point in my life, a change from what I have been doing for a long time already. Well, things have not been going according to my plans and expectations, so I think its back to the drawing board again.

A lot of things have happened that made me to think of alternatives to the current situation that I am in. You may be wondering what actually happened, as I did not make myself clear in whatever I have written so far in my blog. That is the purpose, to make everything unclear to people, except myself. Some might argue that the purpose of a blog is like a diary, except that it is no longer private and will be subjected to people's comments and criticisms. As for me, I think it is not necessary to let everyone know everything about yourself, and that it is best to keep some secrets. Maybe those that are really interested in knowing about the exact circumstances can drop me an e-mail, but only those whom I can trust will receive my reply.... . If you are one of those who did not receive a reply, I think you will know where you stand from my point of view... .

Okay, back to that event again. It does not fit into what I have been hoping, but it is still an alternative after all. There are a lot of ways in solving a problem, and when plan B fails, there are still a lot of plans waiting for me to come up with and to apply them. They say its trial and error, to keep on trying till you can come up with the most appropriate method to solve the problem.

I think you will agree with me that if you are doing a particular task for a long time, you will tend to lose some of the motivation or passion as time passes by. This is what I am feeling at the moment, the feeling of being stuck and unable to proceed further. Its like reaching the dead end of a road, being at the peak of a mountain or etc. Have I reached the peak or have achieved everything which I am supposed to do so at a tender age of 26? The answer is a definite NO. Maybe in terms of my current task which I am doing right now, I can say that I have reached the peak or have achieved whatever is required of me. I am also fully aware that life is a journey and that there are still a lot of challenges and obstacles waiting for me to conquer them. You are not considered the best if you have finished climbing one mountain, completing a race, winning a soccer match and so on. In order to be considered the best, you need to go beyond that. Climbing and reaching the peak of all the mountains in the world, completing in a lot of races which you can participate in, and winning in a lot of soccer matches which you can play in are the keys to a successful life. Challenges does not end in a single event, but is actually a continuous process which has to be tackled till one can fight no more. This is what I want in life, to take on challenges and obstacles till my last breath, to fight till I cannot do so..... .

I do not wish to be the frog in the well, being unable to see further unless I make an effort to jump out of it. It is indeed a terrifying prospect to be that frog in the well, as you are unable to see what the future lies ahead and slowly waiting for someone's rescue. Why depend on others for help?

Picture of myself taken before the event. This is my first appearance in my blog. =)

My office desk. I will soon be transferred to a new department in February. Really miss this place.

After some careful consideration, I have agreed to be transferred out of my current department and to a place where I will be given ample opportunities to grow, in terms of career prospects and job opportunities. I have to admit that it is a really hard decision to make, but I have to do so after all. I think its the right time for me to move ahead and to open a new chapter in my life... .

In roughly a few weeks time, I will be embarking on this new journey, taking on new challenges, being given a chance to upgrade and to make myself more marketable so as to remain competitive in the job market.

I will definitely treasure the fond memories of my current workplace, but life still has to go on. I have to move on, in search of what is best for me. I have to accomplish something in life, to attain some of the targets which I have set for myself.

I will be looking forward to this day......, and really hope that I will be able to do well in this new challenge.

* Have I given the secret away? I think its up to you to decipher this message.... .

Link: http://wilson1980.blogspot.com/2007/01/in-8-days-time.html

Music Album Review -- Koda Kumi (Black Cherry)

Koda Kumi latest album, Black Cherry is finally out in music stores!

This album comes in three editions; a CD only, a CD + DVD and a CD + 2DVDs version. The first DVD includes all of Koda Kumi's recent music videos (except for Futari de..., which does not feature in the album) and a special bonus making feature of the music videos. The second features a DVD only drama called Cherry Girl, featuring Koda Kumi in her first acting role as the main character. The rest of the cast includes Megumi, Itou Yuuko, Takeda Masaharu, Hoshino Mari and Hamada Mari. The theme song will be Koda Kumi's Cherry Girl. This drama was produced by the team who created the drama, Busu no Hitomi ni Koishiteru (the drama for which Koi no Tsubomi was the theme song for).

Koda Kumi's Black Cherry will consist of a total of 18 tracks (an introduction + 3 bonus tracks). This latest album of hers will contain her 2006 releases of Koi no Tsubomi, 4 hot wave, Yume no Uta, and new releases such as Cherry Girl/Unmei and Won't Be Long. It has also been announced that Koda's first personal composition track, Milk Tea will also be included.

The 3 bonus tracks will include: Twinkle (from the "Amazing Nuts!" single), Go way!! (theme song for the 2006 Crayon Shin-Chan anime movie) and Won't be long ~Red Cherry Version~" (a different version of Won't be long).

Koda Kumi's Black Cherry has claimed the number 1 spot in the Japanese Oricon sales chart since its release on 20th December 2006.

One of the three covers of Black Cherry: CD only

CD + 2 DVDs version, the second disc of the CD+2DVD Version will contain the TV drama series Cherry girl, which will star Koda Kumi. This is Koda Kumi's debut as an actress

CD + DVD version

Koda Kumi in her debut TV drama series, Cherry girl

Black Cherry:
1. Introduction
2. Get Up & Move
3. Ningyohime
4. Yume no Uta
5. Tsuki to Taiyou
6. Puppy
7. Koi no Tsubomi
8. Won't be Long ~Black Cherry Version~
9. Juicy
10. Candle Light
11. Cherry Girl
12. I'll be There
13. Unmei
14. With your Smile
15. Milk Tea
Bonus Tracks:
16. Twinkle ~English Version~
17. Go Way!!
18. Won't be Long ~Red Cherry Version~

Album Review:

4 stars out of 5

BMW Art Car -- Frank Stella

BMW art car by Frank Stella, 1976

BMW 3.0 CSL specifications:

6 cylinder in-line engine
Twin overhead camshafts
Displacement: 3210 cc
Power output: 750 bhp
Top speed: 341 km/h

About Frank Stella:

Frank Stella, an American minimalist artist, sculptor and printer, believed that art was stripping down of the image and object to its spare, uncluttered fundamental form. An avid racing fan, his design of the BMW Art Car utilised grid lines with the even precision of graph paper as a reflection of the exacting technology involved in designing the total machine. Stella's minimalist bearing dictated that pattern should be regarded only as agreeable decoration that always takes into account the form - in this case, the BMW 3.0 CSL itself.

BMW Art Car -- Ken Done

BMW art car by Ken Done, 1989

M3 group A racing version specifications:

4 cylinder in-line engine
Double overhead camshafts
Displacement: 2332 cc
Power output: 300 bhp
Top speed: 281 km/h

About Ken Done:

Originally an international graphic designer from Australia, the hugely popular painter Ken Done employs his lively colours and intuitive brush stroke to reflect the landmarks, animals and lifestyles of his home continent. He tried to reflect this Aussie sensibility in his version of the BMW art car, combining elements of design, illustration, graphics, concept and art in the business of communicating to a mass audience. He used Australian icons from nature - parrots and parrot fish - for his inspiration by uniting their beauty, vibrant colours and speed to mirror the qualities of the BMW M3.

BMW Art Car -- Andy Warhol

BMW art car by Andy Warhol, 1979

BMW M1 group 4 racing version specifications:

6 cylinder in-line engine
Twin overhead camshafts
Displacement: 3500 cc
Power output: 470 bhp
Top speed: 307 km/h

About Andy Warhol:

Another pioneer of the American Pop Art Movement, Andy Warhol: artist, avant-garde filmmaker and social icon, embraced consumerism and mass production as the sign of our times and reflected it in his art-making process. His famous high-colour-contrast silk-screened paintings of everyday consumer products or celebrity images in repeat constantly questioned the elitist nature of fine art, cheekily alternating between making art of mass produced items and mass producing art itself. Always a contradiction with his art as his lifestyle, with his BMW art car, Warhol was the first artist to depart from the method of previous art car designers who expressed their designs through a scaled-down model, and then were assisted by technicians for the final execution. With the BMW M1, he returned to an abstract expressionist mode, personally executing the art work, taking paint, brush and finger to the car itself in his effort to depict speed pictorially.

BMW Art Car -- Roy Lichtenstein

BMW art car by Roy Lichtenstein, 1977

BMW 320i group 5 racing version specifications:

4 cylinder in-line engine
Twin overhead camshafts
Displacement: 2000 cc
Power output: 300 bhp
Top speed: 257 km/h

About Roy Lichtenstein:

Roy Lichtenstein is one of the pioneers of the American Pop Art movement driven by themes and techniques drawn from mass contemporary culture. Lichtenstein searched for imagery that was as artificial as possible, using the popular image as well as advertising philosophies, modern printing techniques and comic book formats to reflect the world and times around him. For his BMW Art Car, Lichtenstein used thick black lines, bold flat colours and adorned it with his signature "Benday Dots" to depict speed, direction and the landscape - the journey the BMW would take even before it hit the road.

BMW Art Car Collection -- Intro

Attended the BMW art car collection exhibition held at Empress place yesterday and took some pictures. This exhibition features the works of world-class artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Ken Done and Frank Stella.

A detailed description of the individual artist and his specially designed car will be posted in this blog at a later time.... .

The BMW Pavilion located at Empress Place

BMW art car by Roy Lichtenstein

BMW art car by Andy Warhol

BMW art car by Ken Done

BMW art car by Frank Stella

* The BMW Art Car Collection is held at the BMW Pavilion, Empress Place from 24th Jan to 11 Feb 2007

Opening hours: 9am - 12pm, weekdays(schools) 12pm - 5pm, weekdays(public) 9am - 9pm, weekends(public)

Admission to this event is free.

Something Interesting =)

Wives of yesterday, today and the future...

Peugeot Car

A red Peugeot sports car on display at Suntec City... . Impressive, isn't it?

My Date With Jolin.....

I will be marking this date, 7th April 2007 on my calendar. This is the date where my idol, Jolin, will be having her concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium.

Jolin's 'Dancing Diva World Tour' will be stopping over in Singapore. Before the Singapore leg, Jolin has performed to sellout crowds in Hong Kong, Shanghai, America, Australia and Taiwan. Tickets have been snapped up just to see the dance queen in top form.

I just cannot miss the opportunity to catch this concert. Hope to see you there!


Jolin Tsai

My concert ticket..... . It costs me S$170.

Seating plan for the concert. I will be at the Premier section, PB-1 block, 12th row from the front. I really hope to get a good view of Jolin. If you happen to be near my seat, maybe you can say hello to me? =)

Will we get to see this at the upcoming Jolin's concert in Singapore?

Jolin doing a gymnastic performance. Will we get to see her doing the same thing at her concert in Singapore?

* Jolin Tsai's 'Dancing Diva Singapore Concert 2007' will be held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on the 7th April 2007 at 8pm. Tickets to this concert are currently available on sale at Sistic.

The ticketing prices are: S$168, S$148, S$128, S$98, S$78 (standard). Please add to above price, $2 Booking Fee for tickets above $20, and $1 Booking Fee for tickets below $20. Charges include GST where applicable.For more information, please click on this link: www.sistic.com.sg