A New Planet Found Close to Earth

(An article dedicated to my small but long fascination in Astronomy! : P)

A new planet has been found outside our solar system by "Swiss, French and Portuguese astronomers using the European Southern Observatory's 3.6m telescope at La Silla in Chile".

This planet has not been named yet but it is the smallest planet to be found discovered our solar system and it could possibly have the right temperature and environment to support life! (Aliens!!!! 0_0??? hmm the idea of aliens existing in the universe....haha think I will need some time to take in this if it's true!)

It is 20.5 light years away from Earth and one year on the planet only lasts for 13 days (as it is 14 times closer to the Sun then the Earth). Well, by 2020, the telescopes should be advance enough for the astronomers to take a closer look at this planet!!!

(hmm 2020! ahah who knows! May be I'll have the money to do space travel!!! : P)


Source: It's 20 lightyears away - but still close to Earth

My First Man-Made Espresso at Work

Since I left my part-time uni work around 5 years ago (which was my first real job in the workplace!!!), where I worked at a world famous coffee shop, I have never used an espresso machine to steam milk again!!!

And I have to say....I miss making a cup of hot and freshly brewed coffee on the espresso machine..and miss the sound of steaming milk too!!!!!!!

Luckily the espresso machine at work has been revivied...so one day last month...I finally made my first cup of espresso coffee at work!!!! : P Here it goes!


hahah it's not the 'perfect' cup of coffee...with small amount of tiny bubbles on the side! eheh oh well...but I'm pretty proud of it after 5 years of break! hehe and I realise how much I miss making a cup of espresso, latte, cappucino, flat white, caramel macchiato!!! haah one day, just may be, one day.....when I earned enough money and retired.....I should open that coffee shop at the corner of the streets.....ehhe one day....!

FYI - One interesting page on different styles of pouring and decorating the top of an espresso:
How to make a good coffee?

Common Reason Results in Common Thinking...

Q: What can possibly get everyone in a company fired up on a Friday morning?

A: When a 'stupid' car has decided to park besides the entrance to the company's car park on a Friday morning (around 8am) and blocking everyone's way into the car park.


So basically anyone who arrived at work after 8am could not get into the car park simply because this 'car' was blocking part of the way into the entrance!!! It's was just fustrating to have to find parking along the side streets when you can see ALL THE EMPTY spaces in the company's car park!!! -.-"

So basically everyone got angry and annoy by this 'little' car that was blocking everyone's way!!! Fortunately, later on in the morning the HR assitance was able to ask the construction workers to move their gates to allow everyone into the car park through another route.

Moral of the story:
Well it was funny to learn there's at least one that that can make everyone (well a big majority) in a company to have the same feeling about....i.e. moaning and growling over that silly little car!!! But seriously...people were not happy (incl myself) to see such a silly thing happening and affecting a lot of people!

hehe I guess I now realise one thing...when there is a 'common reason' for a group of people, they will share 'common thinking'!!! i.e. the SILLY 'car' resulting in a group of 'annoyed workers'!!!

P.S. - Another importnat 'moral' is that....make sure you think about 'other people' in your action!!! In particular when you are parking esp outside 'my company's car park' (hehe! j/k : P) make sure you do not 'block' other peoples way of travelling!!! Because it could potentially 'affect' a lot of people!!! (this is specifically to the owner of that little car that blocked everyone's way!!!!)

Time to Renovate My House

hahah first of all I do not own a house at all (though I wish I do)! haha : P

But, I happen to see both of these things on (in the 'spare' time I had at work!) during the last couple of days....haha and boy.....don't I wish I have the cash and a big enough house to renovate with!!!! @.@###

1. 103-inch Panasonic Plasma
   LOL!!! Crazy!!! So Panasonic come up with a 103 inch Plasma TV! ahah I seriously wonder how big the lounge will need to be...not only to fit it but to be able to sit back 'far enough' just to watch it without strangling !!!! : P
   
   
   Refer: Gizmodo: 103inch Plasma , Gizmodo: Eight 103inch Plasmas with Kung Fu
   
   
2. A Bookshelf Door
   A must have for me!!! lol!!! This one is just SO AWESOME!!!! ahhah I really wish my bedroom door can be changed into this!!! haha this is just so funny and can be a very useful, multi-purpose door as well!!!! : P (lol imagine walking past my bedroom door, which is a bookshelf....haha and I open it to walk into my secret room)!!! Awesome!!! @.@####
   
   
   Refer: Gizmodo: Bookshelf Doors
   

My Visual DNA!!!

From my good "mate" blog...... introducing another test....

VisualDNA

After doing the test...you'll definitely feel your day has been brightened up!!! (just by looking at the various pics!) : P

Here's my VisualDNA:

Here's what your choices might mean about you

Starting with your style, turning heads is not a priority - you prefer classic comfort. You like objects to be useful and make life a little easier.

You get your kicks from living life at top speed - you've got heaps of energy and confidence that takes you in any direction. Your confidence is what others find sooo attractive!

Never one to sit in the slow lane, you live life at full pelt - sometimes racing to experience more.

You love the beat of the city and you love dates that match that fast pace. Be it dinner or dancing, you like to make the most of what the city nightlife has to offer.

Craving the trappings of a luxe lifestyle, you love stunning surroundings and a good dash of glamour. It's tough at the top!

So... you like to get close and cuddle up. You demand heaps of attention, but it's nice to give it back too.

When extra time appears, you want to gratify your curiosity - you are on a quest for more knowledge.

To impress, your date should come up with a kooky idea that will light up your mind. You love crazy ideas in action.

Making Hardwares Look Natural

One day at work again (back in the month of March), I happened to stumble upon the following article in New York times:

"How to Soften the Edges of Technology"

It was indeed an interesting article as it talks about companies out there that are trying to make our Home PC and IT peripherals looking more natural, less modern and less cube looking.

A computer hard case made of wood, include stand for monitor

haha I reckon it's definitely very innovative indeed...but I doubt I would want one as I love the modernised feel of our computers, just as it is! : P

Quote to Share: Ole Kirk Christiansen (Founder of Lego)

While I was researching about "Lego" for my last Toastmaster speech, I came across another good and truthful quote. As today is Hong Kong's Children's Day (4th April)......I thought it would be quite appropriate for me to commemorate the day by sharing this quote from the founder of the imaginative Lego toys:

Life is a gift, but it’s more than just that. Life is a challenge.

Ole Kirk Christiansen
(Ref: Toy Industry Hall of Fame)

Brief background:
Lego actually started off from a very humble beginning where Old Kirk Christiansen started up the Lego business after his carpentry business almost went bankrupt during the The Great Depression. The Lego company went through a lot of ups and downs with their toys sale. It was not until many years later when they finally developed the Lego brick and the concept of a 'toy set' did the Lego company finally began to lift off! It was Ole's dedication and perseverance with his ideas and beliefs that built the success of the Lego. Ole had a motto that "only the best is good enough". "His dedication to the simple principles is an inspiration to us all".

Related links:
The Making of ...a Lego (a good informative article about the Lego bricks as why it is our "Toy of the Century")
Amazing Venice in Lego (Images of Venice made in Lego!!!)

April Fools Day and Google

Yip...1st of April is April Fools Day!!! I remembered that I got 'fooled' by the same 'friend' (>o<" Rahhh) for the past couple of years now! But haha due my friend's lack of sleepness today I 'finally' was not fooled by her and I have even managed to break the cycle by 'fooling' her back on msn!!! (yes! Victory!!! : P) But I have to agree that my joke was pretty 'random' and 'cold'... -.-" I told her that I left a piece of important paper in her letterbox and she has been even as nice as to offer to go outside of her house (at night) to get it for me. (At that point of course I stopped the joke...because if she did go outside...I'll feel so guilty!!! ><").

eheh BUT I couldn't BELIEVE that I have been fooled by Google instead! ><" (still not breaking the cycle!). The thing is I didn't even realise I got fooled by 'Google Paper' until I read upon the article on Techcurch: Google Really Takes April 1 Seriously. Apparently:

"Google takes a lot of time with its April Fools jokes, and they generally center around new products. Last year we saw the launch of Google Romance. This year, they have two solid fake product launches: Google TiSP (free broadband service) and Google Paper (Prints out Gmail on paper and sends it to you)."

haha and after I finished reading the article......haah I was like Wow....Google you really did fooled me!!! I should really learn from Google first before creating my joke!!! : P And I hope my blog does help to warn those who really thought there's something called Google Paper and Google Tisp!!! (Good on you Google! ahhaha)

P.S. - Google Tisp is really funny! haha 'free' wireless broadband service! ahhaa