I think by now most of us had tried playing the Google Pac-Man and most probably did it while we were supposed to be working.
RescueTime did a basic calculation of how much money was wasted due to people playing Google Pac-Man, based on certain assumptions.
The cost?
$298,803,988
I, for one, think Google is pretty cool.
For the longest of time, the walls stood firm. After years of carefully laying the bricks, the walls were solid, and to him, indestructible.
There was no danger then when it happened. He had gone through it with others before, he was just providing a shoulder for others to cry on, a listening ear. He had gone through the same situation before, much worse actually, and he knew how it felt, how important it was to have someone there to provide a shoulder.
Before long, a strange unfamiliar feeling overcame him. Was it … happiness.. that he was feeling? It was something that felt so ancient, that he was not even sure what it was. He ignored it then, partly because for the first time in years, he actually felt good, and partly because he was in denial.
And one night, she said something that devastated him. He was puzzled and asked himself, why this feeling of hurt? Why this feeling of pain? He reached inside, and it finally dawned on him. Those walls that he had carefully built, were no longer there. She had demolished it without him even knowing it. His heart was lying there naked, and unprotected.
He struggled to rebuild the walls, to try to protect his heart. And even before the cement dried, she came and demolished the walls again. This time she just smashed through as if the walls were made of air.
He gave up. She was a demolisher of walls, his walls. There is no way that he can build walls to withstand her. She was just too devastating. He let her shoot a straight path to his heart. And awaits the results.
The results were something that he had more or less expected, though he was hoping that for once, he might have a story that had a happy ending. Each indifference, each rejection without a second thought, each silence, he knew then that he had to accept the harsh reality.
The first time in years that his heart feels something, was pain. The gut-wrenching feeling of having all his inner organs twisted and knotted, where death seems to be a much better option than this. Where the last thing he feels before he falls into sleep, and the first thing he feels when he wakes up, was pain. Pounding the treadmill, the pain was not from his lungs, or legs, but from his heart. Where the endorphins from the run, nor the wobbling feeling from bottles of alcohol, are enough to wipe out the pain she had inflicted on his heart.
He mumbles feebly, “Ah, fuck it.“, though inside he knows that it the heart is too far vulnerable to follow those words. He only hope for mercy, for her to be as gentle as possible as she dismembers his heart.
And when the heart finally recovers, if it was at all possible, he will build the walls again.
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Took a brief walking trip to Marina Bay Sands with my Canon S90. Next time I will be bringing my DSLR, this place has many breathtaking views!
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The rest of the photos can be found here.
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Woke up early on a Saturday morning. Pounded the treadmill. Weather was great. Felt really good.
If only everyday was like this.
The Washington Post conducted a social experiment in January 2007. They had the one of the world’s greatest musician playing one of the most intricate pieces every written on a 3.5 million violin at the DC Metro station for 45 minutes.
Hardly anyone stopped to listen during those 45 minutes. In the end, Joshua Bell collected $32 when just a few days ago, people paid an average of $100 just to sit and listen to him play in a concert.
It was a social experiment about perception, taste and people’s priorities. One conclusion from this experiment was quoted nicely :
If we can’t take the time out of our lives to stay a moment and listen to one of the best musicians on Earth play some of the best music ever written; if the surge of modern life so overpowers us that we are deaf and blind to something like that — then what else are we missing?
The article won a Pulitzer Prize. The article, aptly named ‘Pearls Before Breakfast’, can be found here.
Nando’s was introduced to me by someone when I was in Australia, and after tasting it, I made it a point to always have a meal whenever I am in a country which has Nando’s. I was really hoping then that one day it will come to Singapore.
So it was with great joy when I saw one day on Twitter that Nando’s was finally coming to Singapore. This was hot on the heels of Wendy’s and Chili’s re-establishing their presence here in Singapore again, another two great tasting places which I tasted overseas but were not in Singapore.
And as a way to promote Nando’s in Singapore, various contests were held on Twitter, which I had the fortunate to win one, earning myself a free meal for 4 before it was officially opened.
So I grabbed my friends to go for the free meal. When we arrived at the outlet in Bugis, we were informed that the South Africa High Commissioner was present in the restaurant. Considering that Nando’s is from South Africa, and one of the very few South African brands to have a presence worldwide, I guess the South Africa High Commissioner must be pleased to have Nando’s establishing themselves here in Singapore. We were also told that the dinner was a simulation exercise for them, to iron out all the kinks before the actual opening. We were then shown to our table and given our menus.
This was the first of the few kinks of the night. After we were given the menus, we were basically left alone without anyone offering to guide us through the menus. It took some time before we managed to get the attention of the waiter. The waiter who took our order was cheerful and his services were really quite good.
I took the 1/2 chicken with the 2 sides, choosing the coleslaw and the Mediterranean rice. Our food came promptly, and after getting our food, there were a few more kinks. My friend ordered the Peri-Peri chips with Peri Peri powder, but it came without the powder. This was rectified when we got the waiter to bring it back so that they can sprinkled the Peri Peri powder on the chips. We were joking that they had purposely messed up the chips in order to simulate the scenario of getting the order wrong.
My friend also find the corn too spicy and oily. She said the corn was literally soaking in oil. We later discovered that it is possible to ask for the less spicy version of the corn which was something that the waiter should have asked us. Another kink of the night.
The Peri Soup that was recommended by the waiter was really good. Not too watery nor chunky, it was really tasty, and my friends all agreed.
Next was what we came for, the chicken! And it was definitely worth the wait. The meat was really succulent, marinated just right with their famous sauce. It tasted as good as I remembered it to be!
The Mediterranean rice was a disappointment though. It was bland and ordinary. The other side my friend ordered, I believed was called Peri’s Cous Cous, was much, much better.
While we were enjoying our dinner, one of the staff came and check on us. We informed him about the disappointing Mediterranean rice and he said that the actual rice has not arrived in Singapore yet and the rice they used were not really meant for their cooking machines. We also mentioned about the corn, which he informed us that the waiter should have asked us how spicy we want the corn to be. He was quite chatty, and mentioned that they were actually quite surprised to have so many fans in Singapore even before they were opened, judging from the responses in Facebook and Twitter. He also mentioned that the next outlet will be Tanglin Mall, and they have aggressive plans to expand into the heartlands. That will be something to look forward to!
Besides the kinks mentioned, my friends also remarked that the smell from the kitchen was pretty strong. Even though we were sitting outside, we could smell it and we wondered how bad it will be to sit inside.
We were provided with Nando’s money in order to complete the whole simulation exercise. At the end of the dinner, we had some photos taken by their photographer and provided a goodie bag each before we left.
Overall, it was a good dining experience. I am pretty sure the kinks will be sorted to make it an even better experience. They, for sure, have a winner here. The chicken used is fresh, not frozen. There are no preservatives nor MSG used, and due to the way the chicken is being prepared, most of the fat are removed. It is a healthy and tasty meal, something everyone nowadays are very conscious of. Now, if only they will do delivery!
Big thanks to Nando’s Singapore for the dinner!
Nando’s Peri-Peri Chicken
200 Victoria Street
Bugis Junction, #01-85 to 87
http://www.nandos.com.sg
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We did it. We finally broke into the Top 4 and qualify for the Champions League next season by defeating Man City 0 -1. Highlights of the match can be found here.
After enduring years and years of people around me who have been supporting clubs that are in the Champions League, I can finally look forward seeing Spurs in the Champions League next season. Pure joy, pure happiness.
Harry performed a miracle by transforming a club that was at the bottom of the league a 4th position in just 18 months. His man management skills are legendary, he played players to their strengths, and even those that were thought as on the way out of the club became stronger under him. He won the Premier League Manager of the Year and he thoroughly deserved it!