Quote of the Day

This is my new favourite quote.  The more you think about it, the more you realise this happens.

Think Outside the Box

You are driving down the road in your car on a wild, stormy night, when you pass a bus stop and you see three people waiting for the bus:

1. An old lady who looks as if she is about to die.

2. An old friend who once saved your life.

3. The perfect partner you have been dreaming about.

Which one would you choose to offer a ride to, knowing that there could only be one passenger in your car? Think, before you continue reading.
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This is a moral/ethical dilemma that was once actually used as part of a job application. You could pick up the old lady, because she is going to die, and thus you should save her first. Or you could take the old friend because he once saved your life, and this would be the perfect chance to pay him back. However, you may never be able to find your perfect mate again.

The candidate who was hired (out of 200 applicants) had no trouble coming up with his answer. She simply answered: "I would give the car keys to my old friend and let him take the lady to the hospital. I would stay behind and wait for the bus with the partner of my dreams."

Sometimes, we gain more if we are able to give up our stubborn thought limitations. Never forget to "Think Outside of the Box."

However, the correct answer is to run the old lady over and put her out of her misery, have sex with the perfect partner against the bus stop, then drive off with the old friend for some beers.

God, I just love happy endings.

Dream job

Over a month ago, I had my 1st neighbour catch up in our complex which I think I got the ball rolling but NEVER ended up organising for it to follow through.

Anyway, that is not the point.  The point is.....
During that gathering, we talked about whether we're happy with our jobs.
And being a true public servant, I said NO, but it pays the bills.

I was then asked "if you quit your job now to follow your dream, what would it be"??

Hmm...when I was growing up, I wanted to become a teacher.  I guess part of the reason is that I'm shy and being a teacher means you have to stand up in front of people and speak.  Well, turns out I don't like ANYTHING to do with studying, so there goes that career aspiration.

But it didn't take me long to think of my ultimate dream job.  (Helps when you take alcohol, you can speak your mind wayyyyyy quicker)

I have always liked interior design and real estate.
My dream would be able to build a house/apartment and then do the interior design, the complete package.  OK, maybe not build it myself literally....but developing the plans for the layout of the house is what I meant.  I never got a chance to follow through with that dream when I was little.

I wanted to take in primary school Graphics Design, which would've lead me down the path of interior design.  But noooooo, going to an all girls school, I was the only one interested in this subject hence it was cancelled and not offered at all.  Was told when I selected that subject "why would you want to do that?  That is such a boy's subject!?!?!"  I mean, WTF!!!!!  So that was my first hold back towards my dream.

Once I finished high school, I wanted to get a degree in Real Estate (still trying to realise my childhood dream) but it was a course offered in Gatton.  To be honest, I wanted this degree not because of the course content of land survey etc, but I wanted it for the network connections.  My parents said NO, you aren't leaving home for that.  So that was once again another set back.

Ever since those 2 incidents, I have never really got a chance to even go anywhere close to my dream.  I still remember as a kid, I use to draw a lot of houses, of what they would look like from the outside.  I think I knew since then, it would be my calling......but it was never meant to be.

For this dream to EVER come true, I would probably need to win the Lottery big time.  You definitely need loads of $$$ for this dream of mine to ever get a kick start.

So I'm thinking this is one thing I'll never get to complete....unless my lucky stars shine brightly on me and give me a BIG ASS LOTTERY WIN. (hint hint lucky stars)

Back to the starting point of this post, I would like to thank Dan & Kellie (Esp Dan for asking the question) cos I put this dream of mine at the back of my mind, buried so deep that I kinda forgot about it.  We all need to bring out our ultimate dreams once in awhile just to make us feel we have something to live for....even if it's a dream that you know there is no way on this planet earth it can be achieved. (I'm hinting at you again lucky stars....only you can help me!!)

Truly Professional

How Do Court Reporters Keep Straight Faces?

These are from a book called Disorder in the Courts and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and published by court reporters that had the torment of staying calm while the exchanges were taking place.  (I know I won't be able to keep a straight face with some of the response below)
_______________________________
ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?
WITNESS: He said, ‘Where am I, Cathy?’
ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?
WITNESS: My name is Susan!
_______________________________
ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?
WITNESS: No, I just lie there.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: What is your date of birth?
WITNESS: July 18th.
ATTORNEY: What year?
WITNESS: Every year.
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: How old is your son, the one living with you?
WITNESS: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can’t remember which.
ATTORNEY: How long has he lived with you?
WITNESS: Forty-five years.
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ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget..
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
___________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn’t it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn’t know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
____________________________________

ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the 20-year-old, how old is he?
WITNESS: He’s 20, much like your IQ.
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ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Are you shitting me?
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Getting laid
____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: She had three children , right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?
____________________________________________
 ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death..
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Take a guess.
___________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Unless the Circus was in town I’m going with male.
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Doctor , how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?
WITNESS: All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight.
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral…
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 PM
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: If not, he was by the time I finished.
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ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Are you qualified to ask that question?
______________________________________
And last:

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No..
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.

30 Challenges for 30 Days

It is been said that it takes about 30 days to form a habit. The ones that are good for you require cultivation and determination. The starting phase is the hardest, especially if you want to change an old habit into a new one. This is why giving yourself a challenge for a minimum of 30 days is a great way to improve all facets of your life. Yes, it is a gift. So, take a moment to think ‘Who do I want to be in 5 years?’ What kind of habits would you like to have? You better start now if you want your new habits to influence your lifestyle and consequently your life!

Now pick one or more challenges and stick with them! Keep a log, challenge your friends and stay inspired! Be cautioned, picking too many challenges at the same time can easily result in a failure of all of them.

(I have yet to decide on which of the following challenges to do yet.  Leaning towards #3 though)

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#1 Write a I-Like-This-About-You note/text/email each day for someone (Easy)

This is the perfect way to let someone else know you care. We are so often focused on the bad stuff that we forget to mention the good. You surely will make people’s day, 30 days in a row!

#2 Talk to one stranger each day (Hard)

This is a great one to cure approaching anxiety. Have you ever resisted the temptation to talk to someone because you were afraid and said to yourself that you actually don’t want to talk to her/him anyway? Not anymore! After 30 strangers you will understand people are just people and there’s nothing weird in speaking to someone you don’t know.

#3 Take one picture each day (Hard)

This one gets harder nearing the end of the challenge because at one point you will run out of the easy shots. This one is great to combine with other challenges, a great way to make a photo diary!

#4 Re-evaluate one long-held belief each day (Intermediate)

Questioning your own beliefs is a great way to rid yourself of bullshit while continually adapting to new knowledge you’ve taken on since putting old beliefs together.

#5 Take a 30 minute walk each day (Easy)

Walking is healthy, relaxing and inspiring. And it is both easy and free! A great exercise while walking is to observe other people and think about what the differences and similarities are between you and them. This will definitely increase your empathy and your observing skills! A great book on this subject is Manwatching.

#6 Take a moment each day to practice self compassion and self-love (Hard)

Do you love yourself? Do you beat yourself up after you make mistakes? You can test your own level of self compassion here. Chances are you don’t score very high. This is because our society sets standards that are almost impossible to achieve. And so we form a habit of thinking we are not good enough, not worthy enough. There is also a kind of stigma on self-love, it is often confused with either being arrogant or it being a weakness. Both are wrong. It is a skill that can be trained so you will develop the emotional skillset to accept parts of yourself which you might not like very much, you learn to stop fighting against frustration and start accepting it as an integral part of life itself. Self love and self acceptance are also crucial to loving and accepting others around you.

#7 Try a new recipe each day (Intermediate)

If you want to learn how to cook you need to practice, practice, practice. Forcing yourself to try a new recipe each day is a great way to learn of more techniques and ingredients. It also makes it easier to drop bad food habits you might have and turn them into healthy ones!

#8 Refrain from alcohol and other drugs for 30 days in a row! (Depends)

Do you have a social circle where there hasn’t been a sober night out for years? Can you try to have fun without ingesting chemicals to alter your doors of perception? This is a great challenge to learn how to stand up for yourself against peer pressure.
 

#9 Write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days (Hard)

Ever wanted to write a book? Do it. Do it in 30 days.

#10 Learn how to draw a human face in 30 days (Intermediate)

There are many ‘how to’ YouTube videos on drawing and if you ever wanted to learn how to draw, stop making excuses. Set yourself a challenge and be amazed what you can achieve in 30 days!

#11 Watch a documentary each day (Easy)

Always wanted to know everything about a certain topic? You are in luck, it’s the digital era! There are more documentaries online you can possible watch in a lifetime. YouTube, Google Video, TruthTheory.org and TopDocumentaryFilms.com are some of the great sources.

#12 Read a chapter each day (Easy)

We all know we should be reading more often but somehow we are glued to the same computer screen you are staring at right now. Clicking buttons. The solution is to take some time each day to read one chapter. Just one. Easy right? Do it somewhere cozy or outside. Grab a cup of coffee or tea, turn on some ambient music.

#13 Study a topic you’d like to master

Always wanted to know everything about Animal Behaviour? Psychology? Physics? Philosophy? Educate yourself without school! Pick a topic, plan at least a lecture or an assignment each day and become a genius on your passion!

#14 Walk/Drive/Run a new route to work/school each day (Easy)

This is a great challenge to keep alert, discover new places, get a better understanding of your city and to have more fun while doing one of the mundane daily tasks of life.

#15 Read a new article on HE each day (Easy)

A great way to keep inspired, to come up with new ideas and to motivate yourself to make the best out of life!

#16 Media-fast for 30 days (Intermediate)

Don’t watch any television and stop following the news. Limit yourself to reading a maximum of 5 blogs this whole month. Log out of Facebook, Twitter and StumbleUpon. Stop the information overload and try living simple. You'll be amazed how much free time you have left!

#17 Pick one bad habit you already have and ditch it for 30 days (Hard)

Are you a smoker? Do you like to see the negative side of things? Do you practice self-hate? Do you eat fast food? Do you play too many video games? Quit them for 30 days, and pick another challenge instead!

#18 Inspire yourself each day (Easy)

Studies have shown that people who are inspired are happier, nicer, productive and will not stray away from their chosen path if life gets difficult. So print a quote and tape it to the mirror. Have an inspirational video as your starting page. Use an inspirational mantra for meditation. Get a principle to live by. In short, get your dose of inspiration each day!

#19 Take a cold shower each day (Intermediate)

Cold showers are great for uplifting ones mood, cure stress related diseases, to strengthens ones immune system and to make your skin beautiful.

#20 Think of an accomplishment you’d like to achieve for each year of the next 30 years, a year each day. (Hard)

This is great existential shock therapy. You can’t answer these questions without facing your life as it is right now and how it is likely to unfold. This one also gets harder progressively. It’s a great way to reflect!

#21 Practice a random skill everyday (Easy)

There are many available How To’s on YouTube and other video sites. Pen tricks, hand stands, parkour, dances, cooking tricks. Broaden your arsenal!

#22 Take the stairs every chance you get (Easy)

Somehow escalators seem ridiculous to me, and in some cases elevators too. It always reminds me a bit of all the fat people in Wall-E. Too lazy to do anything. So take the stairs every chance you get for 30 days. It is healthy, it doesn't look silly and it will add up over a lifetime :)

#23 Wake up early each day (Intermediate)

It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth, and wisdom. – Aristotle

#24 Keep a journal (Intermediate)

Great for memory, reflection and especially awesome to look back to in the future and remember the good old times when you did these challenges!

#25 Don’t lie for 30 days (Hard)

This is quite the challenge. Stop deceiving yourself and others, speak from the heart. This one goes great with cultivating right intentions, because if you master that, there won’t be any need for lying!

#26 Combine challenges (Easy)

Take a photo of yourself reading a different book at a different location. Take 10,000 steps on a new route to meet a stranger and ask for a recipe to try out. Do all challenges, a different one each day. Wake up early to make time to meditate, practice self compassion and yoga. Finish it off with a cold shower!

#27 Doing something that scares you every day (Hard)

Fear is the one thing keeping you from being the best version of yourself. The only way to overcome your fears is to face them head on!

#28 Don’t complain for an entire day (Hard)

This one will likely take more than a few days to work up to achieving. Even if you’re a highly positive person, it’s difficult not to utter one negative sentence for a 24-hour span. Don’t be down on yourself if you can’t make it past an hour — as with everything this takes practice! This one is also great practice for becoming conscious of your thoughts.

#29 Meditate each day (Intermediate)

You should meditate, learn awesome variations on meditation. The best moments are just after waking up and just before sleep!

#30 Practice (at least) one completely selfless act each day (Easy)

Go out of your way to help someone else out who may or may not deserve your kindness. Take out your neighbor’s trash. Give a $5 to a homeless person. Do something that takes real effort on your part while brightening the day of the receiver.

22/06/14 - Thought of the Day

THOUGHT OF THE DAY

Hope & Fate

 

and that’s why you don’t go around fixing people

and that’s why you don’t give up pieces of yourself to make someone else whole

We do this more than we think. Sometimes we reject those who have helped us the most. 

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But sometimes........................

it may take time but there is someone waiting to hold your hand

For someone else to come along and love you for who you truly are.

Hang in there....there is something call "Hope" and "Fate"

One way crush

To be honest, I have found myself having a crush on someone lately. And trying very hard to keep it under wraps and not letting them find out, I am using every ounce of self control I have.

Reason for the self control and not wanting them to find out is that I don't want to lose a friend in that person.  Feelings are definitely getting stronger and stronger, I really don't know how much willpower I have left in me to control my feelings.

I find that I'm starting to act strange around them, and everything I do, I am doing it to please them.  I am actually driving myself crazy over this one.  I somehow hope this is just a crush phase and it'll be over soon....as I know the feelings will not be returned.

Silly, silly me.  Should've learnt from the past.

Girl Crush - Tainá Müller

This is my 100th post, and what better way to make my 100th post than writing about my ultimate girl crush!!
Also coinciding with this 100th post/Ultimate Girl Crush is also the fact it's actually her birthday today.  Talk about timing.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY ULTIMATE GIRL CRUSH AND GODDESS............ Tainá Müller.

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I have gotta say this......I've found it.  PERFECTION.
If I was to EVER look for a lady in my life.....this person would be the ultimate GODDESS.

And the lady who this honour goes to is: Tainá Müller, a Brazilian actress.

Tainá Müller

Born on June 1, 1982 in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Graduated in Journalism, she was an MTV reporter for 3 years.
Then, started a career as international model working in Milan, Hong Kong and Bangkok.
In 2005, she decided to move to São Paulo to study acting.
Married to director Henry Sauer during a shamanic ritual inside a submerged cave in the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico.

I have analysis why I'm so drawn to this lady
Her eyes....the sultry looks it shoots, if eyes do talking....it's these eyes and they definitely captivate you.
Those lips....OMG.  Her lips are the way they are cos she puts like 5 layers of moisturiser/lipstick on it.  (From a tutorial of hers I saw)
Her cheekbones, nose, face shape....Perfect
And once you have seen her smile.....gosh, you'll melt.  I am not joking either, so many times after seeing that smile I had to cool down.
Her whole face is just PERFECT.
And not only that, being a former model....she definitely have the body to show and be proud of.
I am mostly drawn to her by her eyes and smile.  It really soothes and relax me somehow just by looking at it.

She caught my attention when I was watching snippets of the Brazilian soap opera "Em Familia", playing the gorgeous character of Marina Meirelles, a photographer who is also a lesbian.  To be honest, I can't imagine another actress who can play that role better than Tainá.
Right from the word "go" she has caught my attention.  It's pretty hard to not focus on her when everything you define as "perfect facial features" and it's right there in one person.

Tainá.....you have won out for the title of "Ultimate Girl Crush" hands down.  
To top it off, she is a cat lover!!.
Girl, you have every box ticked in my books.

(And guess what?  I found out she have at least 2 tattoos.  One is a star on the back of her neck and the other is a diamond on her lower right ankle....guess what I'll be getting tattoo'd soon??)

Tainá Müller - Twitter 
Tainá Müller - Instagram