I was introduced to Facebook back in May. I didn't think my participation in this latest social network craze would last since I had in mind to focus on keeping the momentum going with this blog.
Six months later, I realized I had religiously checked Facebook and interacted with friends from various parts of my life experiences (regardless of which country they now live in) whenever I was able to get online. I have sensed a certain contentment in being able to stay "connected" with my friends, even if that meant sending a message, posting a note on The Wall, Super Poke stay top-of-mind, challenging yet another to a game of Scrabulous, or solving PuzzleBee.
Today, I asked myself the same question I had months ago - Why am I on Facebook? Why do I seem addicted to Facebook? After all, it is a virtual platform and impersonal when compared to catching up with a friend over coffee.
I remembered this video on my SuperWall. Remembered what and why it is that many are addicted to Facebook. I laughed and couldn't agree more with the quirkiness of human beings in this day an age ...
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Have you been Hairspray-ed?
My friend asked the girls, "Hey, would you all like to see Hairspray next week?"
I asked, "Who's starring in it?"
She said, "John Travolta."
"Oh, I don't like watching John Travolta!" I sighed ... chatter, chatter, chatter ...
I ended up going with the flow and there I was at the Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) in One Utama the week after. I wondered what the movie was about but didn't have time to find out.
The lead character Tracy Turnblad (played by newcomer Nikki Blonsky), a "plesantly plump" teenager comes on. She reminded me of the character from Ugly Betty - not as ugly but not the typical Hollywood beauty on the silverscreens either; although her bubbly personality and powerful voice made the movie come alive!
They used a lot of hairspray to create big hair and add extra inches to their height ... I guess that's why the movie was called Hairspray!
The 60s set reminded me of the musical film Grease, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, and Grease 2, starring Maxwell Caufield and Michelle Pfeiffer. Both Travolta and Pfeiffer starred in the musical film Hairspray. They were young adults back in the Grease old days, and now they played parental roles in Hairspray ... I was a teenager back then, and now ...!
Some five minutes into the show, I was trying to recall if I had had any conversation with my friends with regards to the movie, what it's about and who's starring in it. I remembered John Travolta and began looking out for him. I didn't seem to spot him all that easily.
A ginormous woman comes on the screen. Super-sized knockers ... did they say it was 45 DD or 54 EEE? I don't remember, but whatever that number was, I don't remember selling any of those bra sizes while I worked part-time at Victoria's Secret during my dancing days back in the early 90s.
As you probably already guessed, this plus-sized woman named Edna Turnblad (Tracy Turnblad's mother) was played by John Travolta. A surprisingly interesting choice of character for Travolta ... he was awesome in this role - so big, so sweet, so cute, and so obesely graceful!
In the midst of the movie, I also had one of those revelations; I suddenly understood why it had to be a guy like Travolta playing an oversized woman in this movie. I don't think the producers would have been able to cast a more talented actor/actress with such great height, width and depth for a musical role such as Edna Turnblad. I loved it!
Hairspray is without doubt one of the corniest movies I have seen. But I thoroughly enjoyed it and it certainly has topped my list of favorite movies. There's even a local TV show in the movie called "The CORNY Collins Show." You've just got to see this movie to believe how corny but tasteful a movie can get!
I asked, "Who's starring in it?"
She said, "John Travolta."
"Oh, I don't like watching John Travolta!" I sighed ... chatter, chatter, chatter ...
I ended up going with the flow and there I was at the Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) in One Utama the week after. I wondered what the movie was about but didn't have time to find out.
The lead character Tracy Turnblad (played by newcomer Nikki Blonsky), a "plesantly plump" teenager comes on. She reminded me of the character from Ugly Betty - not as ugly but not the typical Hollywood beauty on the silverscreens either; although her bubbly personality and powerful voice made the movie come alive!
They used a lot of hairspray to create big hair and add extra inches to their height ... I guess that's why the movie was called Hairspray!
The 60s set reminded me of the musical film Grease, starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton John, and Grease 2, starring Maxwell Caufield and Michelle Pfeiffer. Both Travolta and Pfeiffer starred in the musical film Hairspray. They were young adults back in the Grease old days, and now they played parental roles in Hairspray ... I was a teenager back then, and now ...!
Some five minutes into the show, I was trying to recall if I had had any conversation with my friends with regards to the movie, what it's about and who's starring in it. I remembered John Travolta and began looking out for him. I didn't seem to spot him all that easily.
A ginormous woman comes on the screen. Super-sized knockers ... did they say it was 45 DD or 54 EEE? I don't remember, but whatever that number was, I don't remember selling any of those bra sizes while I worked part-time at Victoria's Secret during my dancing days back in the early 90s.
As you probably already guessed, this plus-sized woman named Edna Turnblad (Tracy Turnblad's mother) was played by John Travolta. A surprisingly interesting choice of character for Travolta ... he was awesome in this role - so big, so sweet, so cute, and so obesely graceful!
In the midst of the movie, I also had one of those revelations; I suddenly understood why it had to be a guy like Travolta playing an oversized woman in this movie. I don't think the producers would have been able to cast a more talented actor/actress with such great height, width and depth for a musical role such as Edna Turnblad. I loved it!
Hairspray is without doubt one of the corniest movies I have seen. But I thoroughly enjoyed it and it certainly has topped my list of favorite movies. There's even a local TV show in the movie called "The CORNY Collins Show." You've just got to see this movie to believe how corny but tasteful a movie can get!
On a more serious note, the movie addressed racial segregation and how it takes a few gutsy folks like the Turnblads to make a difference. The other reason I enjoyed the movie was because I believe in a colorful world made up of different peoples and nations, each bringing to bear the talents that God has given them and using such gifts to bless all those around them.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you ever experienced a situation where you were looking so intently for "something," and you immediately zoomed into the smaller details in search of that "something," when all this while it's been starring right in your face.
It happened to me when I dove Manado last year. We went muck diving in Lembeh and suddenly, everyone dove towards this huge, yellow blob that looked like a sponge. My dive instructor seemed to wave his pointer around the area of a black spot within the yellow blob. I went closer towards the black dot and wondered what I was supposed to be looking at. Thank God I didn't go too close or dive into the yellow sponge-looking thing ... it turned out that the "something" we were supposed to be looking at was a giant yellow frog fish (very poisonous) and the black spot was its eye.
The moral of the story is for us to know what the big picture is before zooming into the details. Otherwise, you would completely miss the point in life and end up wondering why the day-to-day details are the way they are in the first place.
I was reminded of this experience while seeing Hairspray. Tracy Turnblad discovers her purpose by being who she naturally was - someone who embraced being different and seeking to do the right thing despite the difficulties that come along with being different. Her purpose - to be a catalyst to disintegrating segregation and integrating the different people groups. The bigger picture was about the need to recognize and respect the many peoples who exist, all of whom had unique things to offer.
If only we can accept people for who they are, respect and embrace them for all they are meant to be, the world would be a much nicer and peaceful place to live.
I must learn to be less judgmental and give others the benefit of doubt more often than not because ...
"People who are different, their time is coming ... to shake things up!"
It happened to me when I dove Manado last year. We went muck diving in Lembeh and suddenly, everyone dove towards this huge, yellow blob that looked like a sponge. My dive instructor seemed to wave his pointer around the area of a black spot within the yellow blob. I went closer towards the black dot and wondered what I was supposed to be looking at. Thank God I didn't go too close or dive into the yellow sponge-looking thing ... it turned out that the "something" we were supposed to be looking at was a giant yellow frog fish (very poisonous) and the black spot was its eye.
The moral of the story is for us to know what the big picture is before zooming into the details. Otherwise, you would completely miss the point in life and end up wondering why the day-to-day details are the way they are in the first place.
I was reminded of this experience while seeing Hairspray. Tracy Turnblad discovers her purpose by being who she naturally was - someone who embraced being different and seeking to do the right thing despite the difficulties that come along with being different. Her purpose - to be a catalyst to disintegrating segregation and integrating the different people groups. The bigger picture was about the need to recognize and respect the many peoples who exist, all of whom had unique things to offer.
If only we can accept people for who they are, respect and embrace them for all they are meant to be, the world would be a much nicer and peaceful place to live.
I must learn to be less judgmental and give others the benefit of doubt more often than not because ...
"People who are different, their time is coming ... to shake things up!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have you been Hairspray-ed?
Have you been Hairspray-ed?
If not, I highly recommend you go see it soon.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Winter Time Tests
Myers-Briggs Personality Types (Free Test)
Multiple Intelligences (Free Test)
In such wintery times, where life outside seems all cold and grey, introspective exercises can contribute to one's understanding of oneself, lead one towards new challenges, experiences and discoveries in life.
I, honestly, don't think anybody would be interested to read details about the personality type that I possess, but you just might if your Myers-Briggs personality is an ENTP - Extroverted iNtuitive Thinking Perceiving.
In a nutshell, I am an ENTP - The "Originator"
ENTPs are logical, innovative, curious and downright inventive. They see possibilities for improvement everywhere and possess the ability to understand complex concepts. ENTPs are introspective and carefree nonconformists. They often neglect the more common areas of life while pursuing new solutions. ENTPs can be good conversationalists and exciting company.
A comprehensive description of such a personality type can be found at this ENTP site ... so much details that it's rather boring. However, there was this blurb that I thought was quite good:
At midlife ENTP's can allow their tendency to experiment recklessly to get out of hand and may destroy or discard the work of half a lifetime, both in personal relationships and in careers. Energy spent in sorting out priorities and values may be a good investment at this time. Developing an increased awareness of emotional reactions and expanding the intensity and range of these through self-development work may be something ENTP's might want to consider at midlife. An increased repertoire of introverted-type activities; for example, gardening, painting, or reading may be a source of pleasure to ENTP's.
Ah ... perhaps this explains the internal turmoils that I have been experiencing ... and the increased appetite for chick lits - well, I don't quite understand how that contributes to self-development but it sure makes for good laughs.
And then, there was the multiple intelligences test that provides an indication of your learning style. This is what came out for me:
Bodily/Kinesthetic Intelligence
People with Kinesthetic intelligence love movement. They enjoy sports and/or dance. They are good at building things and like to stay active. They have good motor skills and are very aware of their bodies. They learn best through movement and experimentation.
Yes, perhaps I should seriously consider coming out of dance retirement and learn to move, experiment, and create once again ... I can already foresee my body retaliating, screaming in pain!
Intrapersonal Intelligence
People with intrapersonal intelligence are adept at looking inward and figuring out their own feelings, motivations and goals. They are introspective and seek understanding. They are intuitive and typically introverted. They learn best independently.
Oh no, that sounds like winter time for eternity :-P. Seriously, such quiet times are absolutely necessary to consider one's ways, see the vision, chart the course, before realizing the dream!
And of all self-evaluating instruments I have experienced today, I found this from facebook the most interesting. Why? Because it elicited an "uh huh" from me: I am a METAL PIG!
In your amorous quest, don't dash into the dark; let your tender feelings work on your beloved one--for when the fruit's ripe, it'll fall by itself! Don't disdain the small profits that pass within your reach--the one who doesn't bend down to pick-up a penny doesn't deserve to find a pound. Learn how to save. Dermatological care will be favored--avoid over-smoking or drinking too much alcohol, definitely go without delicatessen and canned foods.
General description of all pigs
"Its better to give than to receive" would probably be the Pig's motto. Pigs are more comfortable giving of their own time or attention than they are to ask others for it. They do not find asking for help an easy task and would rather carry the burden themselves. Pigs will do anything they can to maintain a sense of peace amongst family or friends. This can lead to a tendency to be taken advantage of, but Pigs basically forgive and forget everything. They are compassionate souls who simply want to keep the peace.
I beg to differ on the "forgive and forget everything" part. It's more likely they have too many things happening and too much of thinking going on that they forget easily. I've been known to be forgetful and absentminded ... and perhaps it really is age that is catching up!
Detailed description of the metal pig
Outspoken and confident, Metal Pigs give 110% for everything they do. They throw themselves into relationships with others completely, sometimes to a fault. These Pigs are headstrong and diligent in the workplace, honest and caring in a relationship and trustworthy with everyone he meets unless given reason not to be. Metal Pigs usually give people more credit than they deserve but when challenged can be a hard nut to crack.
Fellow wintertimer writes ...
Read your winter blog, and have written a little poem from a fellow wintertimer to remind us that spring inevitably follows winter, as He has promised in Gen 8:22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. Hallelujah!
In the cold midwinter
Our soul frozen lies
Reflecting back the gloom
Of the never lightening skies
The heart seems trapped
In this season’s icy grip
The rhythms of life wind down
Like the final funereal trip
Yet hope springs eternal
As the Son bids us awake
Arise from our morbid slumber
Burdens from us He shakes
Little did we understand
That beneath the engulfing snow
His faithfulness was preparing
Abundant fruit to grow
As we recall winter’s chill
The brokenness of our lot
Now fully overwhelmed by
The bounty He has bought
So stoop we on bended knee
To lift others trodden down
And bid them rise to share
The Saviour’s golden crown!
In the cold midwinter
Our soul frozen lies
Reflecting back the gloom
Of the never lightening skies
The heart seems trapped
In this season’s icy grip
The rhythms of life wind down
Like the final funereal trip
Yet hope springs eternal
As the Son bids us awake
Arise from our morbid slumber
Burdens from us He shakes
Little did we understand
That beneath the engulfing snow
His faithfulness was preparing
Abundant fruit to grow
As we recall winter’s chill
The brokenness of our lot
Now fully overwhelmed by
The bounty He has bought
So stoop we on bended knee
To lift others trodden down
And bid them rise to share
The Saviour’s golden crown!
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