yola

Which Side Do You Use?

noreply@blogspirit.com (Yola LAU) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 17:10:55 +0200

Which Side Do You Use?

You responded as a right brained person to 12 questions, and you responded as a left brained person to 6questions. According to the Hemispheric Dominance test, you use your right brain the most. The summary briefly describes your dominance type. Remember, this only represents half of the picture. After you read the description, click on the link at the bottom of the page to find out how to use this information to improve your study strategies. Do not forget to print your results, if your instructor has requested you to do so.

Some of the traits associated with the right side of the brain are listed in the table. Not all of the traits will apply to you. Remember, we use both side of our brain, but your right sides gets the most exercise.

Type of Cognitive Processing

Brief Description
Holisitc Processing information from whole to part; sees the big picture first, not the details.
Random Processing information with out priority, jumps form one task to another.
Concrete Processes things that can be seen , or touched - real objects.
Intuitive Processes information based on whether or not it feels right know answer but not sure how it was derived.
Nonverbal Processes thought as illustrations.
Fantasy-Oriented Processes information with creativity; less focus on rules and regulations

http://www.web-us.com/brain/LRBrain.html

10 Ways to Find Time to Follow Your Dreams

noreply@blogspirit.com (Yola LAU) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 10:35:59 +0200

What would you do with an extra half-hour a day? Is there a “One Day Novel” in you (as in, “one day I’ll write a novel”)? Have you been thinking of learning a new skill but don’t know how to free up the time? Or would you just spend a few extra minutes with your family, really sharing?

No matter how busy we are, most of use can free up a half-hour a day. We may have to make sacrifices, but they’re not big sacrifices – a TV show, the freedom of driving your own car, the freshest possible food every night, stuff like that.

A half-hour doesn’t seem like much, but it adds up – even if we just count weekdays, that 250 half-hours a year, or 125 hours. That’d over five days of free time a year, straight through, or three-plus full-time working weeks. What could you get done if you could take three weeks off and work 8 hours a day on your own projects?

Here are ten ways to “rescue” a half-hour a day (at least). Not all of them will be feasible for everyone, or have the same return, but at least one of them should be what it takes to give yourself a little extra time.

1. Cut out a TV show every day.
Eliminate TV altogether if you can – I promise you won’t miss it – but I know some people need that bit of mindless entertainment at night, and it might be the only time you can get your kids to sit still with the rest of the family. Fair enough, but surely you can cut out at least one show. Whatever filler is on between your comedy and your crime procedural, for instance.

2. Ditch your car.
The average commute in the US is something like 25 minutes. If you carpool or take public transportation, you gain an average of 50 minutes each day (maybe every other day or two out of every three days if you have a driving turn in your carpool). You lose some time for “overhead” – finding a place on the bus, changing trains, exchanging pleasantries with your carpool partners – but you should be able to squeeze 15 minutes of productive time each way out of your commute. Get a PDA or smartphone and you can be writing, doing research, or filling out spreadsheets on the go.

(Personal note: I worked full-time all the way through graduate school, and wrote dozens of papers on a Palm Pilot hanging from a strap on the NYC subway. I deeply miss that hour-and-a-half of productive time now that I live too far out from town to make public transportation an option.)

3. Wake up earlier.
Getting up at 6 instead of 6:30 (or whenever) can give you a good half-hour of quiet time before your day gets going – perfect for writing or working on other personal projects. The idea here is not to sleep less, though – you’ll pay a cost in lost productivity as your lost sleep adds up, and be back where you started. Instead, cut the last half-hour of TV or whatever else you do at night and shift that time to the morning, when everyone’s still asleep, there’s nothing tempting on TV, and you can start the day with a half-hour well-spent behind you.

4. Batch chores.
Instead of responding to household clutter as it arises, let a little clutter build up and take care of it all in one fall swoop every few days or on the weekend. This will be especially painful if you’re a particularly committed neat freak, but the daily cleaning never gets done, and in the end, you’re not going to regret not picking up the kids toys nearly as much as you’ll regret not having written a few more pages or not having spent more time on your studies.

5. Go to your kids’ practices.
Instead of dropping the kids off at soccer, karate, or gymnastics, driving home, and driving back an hour later, find a nearby place (the bleachers, a coffee shop, even your car) to sit and work. Get a small laptop or PDA, or carry a notepad with you. You’ll save the drive time and the slack time in between where, let’s face it, you were just going to clean house or watch TV.

6. Cook in advance.
Just like you can batch housecleaning to save time throughout the week, you can batch your cooking and save 20 minutes or so of meal preparation each night. Cook large quantities of food on Sundays and freeze them, or cook food whose leftovers can provide several nights meals. For example, I make a big pot of chili that will last two nights and leave enough leftover for chili dogs the 3rd night.

7. Reclaim your lunch break.
Bring your own lunches to work, find a quiet place, and eat and work during your lunch break. Make it something with little preparation – a sandwich, chips, celery or carrot sticks, or similar foods are great. You’ll save the time of walking or driving somewhere, ordering, and walking back – and you’ll eat more nutritiously and save money to boot.

8. Have a YOYO night.
Another way to save time on food preparation is not to prepare food. This won’t gain you time every day, but can gain you an evening for yourself. Instead of cooking and sitting down for family dinner, make one night a week for “You’re On Your Own” (YOYO). Kids and spouses make their own dinner (using leftovers or food chosen in advance – obviously you need older kids for this to work) and entertain themselves while mom or dad gets to work undisturbed. Don’t do this every night, though, or your kids will forget who you are and will be frightened if they ever accidentally meet you in the hallway!

9. Use slack time.
Set yourself up to make use of those little scraps of time that come along when you’re not expecting them – standing in lines, waiting for a meeting to start, while on hold with your power company, whenever. It might only be 5 minutes here, 8 minutes there, but it adds up.

10. Shop with a list during non-peak times.
Grocery shopping after work can easily suck up an hour-and-a-half as you fight through crowded aisles and wait in interminable lines to check out. Make up a good, solid list that’s organized according to the aisles in your grocery store, and go early in the morning on the weekend or late at night when the store is empty. You’ll walk in, walk up and down empty aisles, hitting each aisle only once, and waltz through the checkout. I can do the same shopping trip on Sunday morning at 9 am in 45 minutes that takes me over 90 minutes on a weekday evening. And having a good list with everything you need for the week – make sure you plan out your menues! – minimizes those “short” trips to the store throughout the week to pick up a gallon of milk, an extra loaf of bread, or whatever else you ran out of. We all know that a “short” trip is at least a half-hour!

You’ll need a little bit of discipline to make any of these tips work, or the time you save will just get filled with something else. Just keep telling yourself that what you’re giving up isn’t nearly as important as what you’re gaining – the time to move yourself closer to the fulfillment of your dreams!

Boracay

noreply@blogspirit.com (Yola LAU) — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 03:34:03 +0200

From a frd's blog on our trip:

Jul 24, 2008

This is my third time to the Philippines and it yet again, marks another positive and happy experience (we recommend Boracay but not the airline we went for) for my trip to this country with 7,101 beautiful islands. This time we went in a party of 7 (quite a large group) for 5 days 3 nights. We left Hong Kong for Manila late at night last Friday, arrived at midnight, stayed at a local popular restuarant called Aristocrat (highly recommended) in Manila downtown from 1am to 3:30am and then went on our connecting domestic flight from Manila Domestic Airport to Caticlan. We went by Cebu Pacific (a no-frill airlines which had a really slow system, but really had the cheapest airfare). We arrived Caticlan at 6:10am, our porter from our resort (Escondido Resort in Station 1 Boracay, little off the 4km White Beach) greeted us at the airport and took us to the Boracay Island. We recommend this hotel to everyone who's looking for a budget resort with excellent service and an additional Filipino taste to the room decorations. We had two rooms of 4 girls and 3 guys. We left Boracay on Tuesday afternoon.

The island itself was awesome. Although the island attracted many foreign investors and added some kind of commercial influence to the island, the island still somewhat kept it's authenticity and peacefulness. Everyone (according to my personal experience in The Philippines) is nice and cheerful and as their airport banner suggests, they add "an extra smile" to everything and everyone they encounter.

We did several easy dives on the first 2 days in the morning. We recommend Friday's Rock if you want easy diving and lots of fishes and Yapak and Camia Wreck if you want to raise your bar in your diving skills. We recommend our diving operator, Lapu Lapu to all. We did some island hopping on the second last day and took some spectacular pictures of the different beaches. We also recommend taking a Paraw during sunset out from the White Beach to absorb some of the most beautiful views of the island and this is certainly ideal for couples. We then did some island shopping at D'Mall (they have lots of seashell products). If you would like Filipino authentic food, try Smoke in D'Mall. If you would like to have some Western style dining, try "Lemon Cafe" just in the D'Mall center Plaza. For grilled Pinoy food, please try Gastof (fresh grilled seafood but bit more expensive than the other restaurants, this restuarant is at the entrance of D'Mall). The D'Mall Palenke is full of locals buying fresh meat and vegetables off the small stalls alongside the road. If you want some late drinks along the beach at night, try "Bamboo lounge", it's between Station 1 and 2, facing the beach, they even have soft cushion seats and table placed on the sandy beach after 8pm.

I could just go on and on...but we thought it was the best experience we ever had in The Philippines. Despite the flight and ferry transits could be tiring, it's really worth the time and effort.

Would recommend a one-night stay in Manila if you've got time. Could visit some of the largest shopping mall in Asia. Try Asia Mall of SM (Shoe Mart). For regional local food, try "Mangan" (next to Fully Book Bookstore, and opposite to the Shoe Mart Department Store) inside the mall.

聰明人必做的10 件事

noreply@blogspirit.com (Yola LAU) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:16:58 +0200

聰明人必做的10 件事

(不錯的10個好觀念) 好文分享

一、儲蓄友誼
靠得住的友誼是今生最溫暖的一件外套。
它是靠你的人品和性情打造的，一定要好好地珍惜它，
如果到目前為止，還沒有幾筆，那麼，從現在用心去儲存還來得及。

二、學會放手
這個年齡已經不允許不成熟，當你無力把握命運中的某種愛、某種緣、
某種現實，就要學會放手。
給自己一個全新的開始，只要信心在，勇氣就在；努力在，成功就在。

三、播種善良
一定要極盡自己所能，讓那些比你苦、比你難過的人感受到這世上的
陽光和美麗。
這樣的善良常常是播種，在不經意間，就會開出最美麗的人性之花。

四、懂得音樂
一定要學 or 懂一種樂器，它會洗滌你的身心，打開你的記憶和想像，
更會帶來意想不到的寧靜。另外還有攝影、收藏，它們都能讓我們的
生活增添滋味。

五、避開兩種苦
塵世間有兩苦，一是得不到之苦，二是鍾情之苦。
前者在你付諸努力的前提下，就把一切當作一場賭，勝之坦然，敗之淡然，好在這年齡還有一定的資本得以捲土重來；
至於後者可說是世間最苦，如果把這時還有這樣的情愫，一定要像清除灰塵般，把它從心裡擦去。

六、學會承受
有些事情需要無聲無息地忘記，經過一次，就長一次智慧；
有些苦痛和煩惱得要默默地承受；歷鍊一次；就豐富一次。
這個年齡不該再像小時候那樣大喊大叫，痛哭流涕。

七、常懷感恩心
當我們參加完葬禮，總會湧起一些感慨；
當我們大病初癒，總會有萬般珍惜。
感恩的心一定要時時保留，它不僅讓你憐惜身邊事物，
還能平撫欲望和爭鬥，甚至幸福的感覺也往往源自於此。

八、熱愛工作
儘管它不像喝茶、聊天那般愜意，但它檢驗著我們的智慧和能力，
得以讓我們體現價值及獲得成就。
一定要全心熱愛工作，畢竟它讓你大半生有事做、有飯吃。

九、勤於學習
讀書和學習都是在和智慧聊天，每年至少要讀五十本書，它不僅保證
你的記憶力、感悟力，還能讓你維持個性魅力，這可是練瑜珈做美容所
不能達到的效果。

十、享受運動
善用時間運動、享受自然。
你的體重就不會因懶惰而上漲，你的容貌也不會因歲月而減少生動，

在某種程度上更能保存青春、快樂與健康

Wine of the World programme launches

noreply@blogspirit.com (Yola LAU) — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 03:53:12 +0200

Wine of the World programme launches

Hong Kong people have long enjoyed drinking wine though this pleasure is expected to become increasingly popular following the removal of wine duties earlier this year. Le Meridien Cyberport is capturing this opportunity by kicking off its Wine of the World Programme on July 1.

The two year worldwide initiative, developed by Le Meridien's parent group Starwood Asia Pacific Hotels, will be implemented across all of the Cyberport hotel's restaurant outlets including even in-room dining as part of an overall effort to promote the benefits and enjoyment of wine drinking.

From Chardonnay to Merlot, sparkling wines to champagnes, the programme allows guests to sample a diverse range of vintages and wine types and to participate in wine tastings which will feature a set of three 50 ml wines related to each other by grape variety, geographic region or style, complemented with the perfect take home notes.

The 170 room Le Meridien Cyberport offers five restaurants and bars. These are Prompt, an international café, trendy sushi bar Umami, the relaxing PSI bar, Podium, an upscale wine bar and Nam Fong, the mouthwatering Cantonese restaurant.

For further details about the Wine of the World Programme, please call us at 2980 7000.

See you at Le Meridien Cyberport!

Good post

noreply@blogspirit.com (Yola LAU) — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 04:45:00 +0200

伤、痛、疼、爱，是世间最大的矛盾──
打在儿身，痛在娘心。为了爱孩子，可能不得不打孩子。只是，伤孩子，也伤自己。
哪个疼，不因为伤？哪个生育的疼，不带血、不成伤？
哪个爱不是痛？不痛怎么疼爱？不爱怎么心疼？
轻轻的搔是痒，重重的搔是痛；轻轻的拍是安慰，重重的拍是处罚；轻轻的爱是温馨，重重的爱是情伤……
如果有一种机器，能够透视人心。每个光鲜亮丽的衣衫和丰腴壮阔的胸膛后面，一定都有颗伤痕累累的心。有刀痕、有鞭痕、有索炼的疤痕……。而且爱得愈多的人，伤得愈深，因为最重的伤害总来自最心爱的人。
情到深处总是伤！

from 刘墉

成功要靠奋斗，也要靠机遇。而机遇通常只会落入那些有准备的人之手。这个道理大多数人都知道，但如何准备，每个人的理解却大不相同。人的一生就像爬一座山，使用什么样的工具，选择哪一条路径，最后的结果是不一样的。世上没有人愿走弯路，但成功者身后留下的却往往是一条弯弯曲曲、起伏不平的路。这说明捷径是不存在的，靠一时的投机取巧似乎能取得某种“成功”，但如果手段不光明，迟早会受惩罚。这样的例子在当今太多，用不着一一列举。

这就是命运的“公平”和所谓“上帝之眼”。

如果这位年轻人一时用“银子”为自己铺出一条路，下一回呢，还得继续用“银子”铺路。没有真才实学，也许靠投机一时挣到了“银子”，但迟早会“断顿”，那时又怎样？

我在回信中告诉他，能够考入大学，并在学习期间担任那么多社团工作，说明他具备相当的能力，对这一点要有自信。此外，人生是个漫长的过程，不要短视。靠一时取巧通常不会持久。不怕吃亏，未必不是勇者。不羡慕别人的“小聪明”，坚定地遵从自己的信念，脚踏实地的努力，最终会获得人生的成功。

我在几年前曾经提出过一个口号“成功，健康，快乐”。快乐永远是重要的。但快乐的前提是心地的光明，没有阴影。有道德阴影的人通常不会快乐。

Things work out 守得云开见月明

By Edgar A. Guest 钟健鸣/译

Because it rains when we wish it wouldn't, 只因阴晴未必如我们所愿，

Because men do what they often should't, 只因人们未必都积德行善，

Because crops fail,and plans go wrong- 只因作物欠收，计划流产——

Some of us grumble all day long. 我们中的一些人就终日抱怨。

But sometimes,in spite of the care and doubt, 但即使经历忧虑与质疑，

It seems at last that things work out. 事情似乎终会好转。

Because we lose where we hoped to gain, 只因我们求胜之心落空，

Because we suffer a little pain, 只因我们受到少许痛楚，

Because we must work when we'd like to play- 只因我们必须工作而未能玩乐——

Some of us whimper along life's way. 我们中的一些人就一生嗟叹。

But somehow , as the day always follow the night 黑夜之后必是黎明，

Most of our troubles work out all right. 我们的困难大多能圆满解决。

Because we cannot forever smile, 只因我们无法永远微笑，

Because we must trudge in the dust awhile, 只因我们要在泥尘中跋涉，

Some of us whimper that life's all wrong. 我们中的一些人就哀诉生活多磨难。

But somehow,we live and our sky grows bright, 但我们挺过来了，守得云开见月明，

And ererything seems to work out all right. 一切事都终得顺利解决。

So bend to your trouble and meet your care, 所以，迎难而上，直面忧虑，

For the clouds must break,and the sky grows fair. 因为乌云终将散去，天空必定晴朗。

Let the rain come down,as it must and will, 让雨洒下，它必须如此，不可逆转。

But keep on working and hoping still. 但请继续努力并始终希冀。

For in spite of the grumblers who stand about, 尽管到处都有发牢骚的人，

Somehow,it seems,all things work out. 但无论如何，一切事情总会好转。

from柯云路

Skytrax Names HKIA the World's Best Airport for the Seventh Year

noreply@blogspirit.com (Yola LAU) — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:15:00 +0200

(HONG KONG, 14 July 2008) – Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) has been voted the world's best airport for the seventh time in eight years in the annual Skytrax survey, which polled more than 8.2 million travellers of over 97 nationalities. Skytrax is an independent air transport research organisation based in London.

Conducted from August 2007 to May 2008, the World Airport Survey rated more than 190 airports on some 40 product and service categories, including staff efficiency and courtesy, terminal cleanliness, airport accessibility, shopping and dining options, Internet services, as well as security processing and immigration waiting times.

Stanley Hui Hon-chung, Chief Executive Officer of Airport Authority Hong Kong, thanked travellers for their support. "It's a great honour to be repeatedly recognised as the world's finest airport. This accolade belongs to the numerous government departments, airlines, franchisees, contractors, shops and restaurants, travel and transport industry, airport security and the Airport Authority that make up the 60,000-strong Hong Kong's airport community. Their dedication and hard work plays such an important role in our success."

"To meet growing demand and maintain our high service standards, we have launched a HK$4.5 billion enhancement programme for Terminal 1 and the airfield. We are working hard to minimise the inconvenience to passengers during the improvements, which will be completed by 2011," added Mr Hui.

Congratulating HKIA on its notable achievement, Skytrax Chief Executive Officer, Edward Plaisted, said, "To retain the title of world's best airport among such strong competition is clear testament to an airport that is satisfying its customers at the highest level. Like any other business, an airport is striving to deliver world-class standards that will make a customer want to use it again, and achieving this level of loyalty requires the highest levels of quality consistency – something where Hong Kong was singled out again and again during the survey."

Asian airports took four of the top five places this year. Singapore Changi Airport ranked second, Seoul Incheon International Airport was third, Kuala Lumpur International Airport came fourth and Munich Airport placed fifth.

For more information about the Skytrax survey, please see:
http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards_2008/Airport2008.htm