Creative Caves

Support local. If we as Singaporeans ain't gonna support our fellow citizens, who else would?

This brings me to an incident a few years ago, when I wanted to get an mp3 player. I was temporarily torn by a toss up between a cumbersome Creative's Zen NX and a sleeker Apple's iPod. Nonetheless, fervant patriotism compelled me to get choose this.

Creative's Nomad Jukebox Zen NX (20GB)

It conveniently doubled up as a paper weight.

As opposed to this...

Apple's 4th Generation iPodOf course, my decision was partly swayed by the almost $200 price difference between both.

But unfortunately, after more than 3 years, the 3.5mm earphone jack gave way. And even Creative's service centre had deemed it too obsolete to repair it.

Thankfully, Sony Ericsson's Walkman Series of mobile phones more than made up for the loss.

Ssony Ericsson W810i

Of which... I left it on that fateful NUS bus on 1st February 2008. Permanently.
*observes a moment of silence*

A week later, the huge shoes of Sony Ericsson's w810i was filled by my favourite Nokia 6500 Slide.In fact, it ranks as one of my favourite phones to hate, of all times. *@^#*?!!

In the meanwhile, I also bought a Creative MuVo V100 (2GB) as my jogging companion, which conveniently doubled up as a memory thumbdrive.

Creative MuVo V100

Who the heck came up with "MuVo V100 as" a name anyway?

But I could no longer contend with listening to mp3 anymore. I wanted to watch my backlog of tv episodes and anime series, accumulating in my hard disk. I also needed to maximize my efficiency by doing word-processing or reading a variety of documents during those arduous travelling times.

It boiled down to getting an ultra-portable laptop such as the Asus Eee PC or HP Mini-Note.
or an integrated touchscreen phone such as HTC Touch Pro or Sony Ericsson's long overdued Xperia X1.

HTC Touch Pro

Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

But alas.
The integrated phones are not surprisingly overpriced and watching a movie on a laptop while balancing on a bus ain't exactly my cup of tea.

So...

...I succumbed to the inevitable.

My pro-Creative and anti-Apple stance had to cave in, this one time.

Tempted by a 10% discount, I had finally bought an
Apple iPod Touch, 16GB.

Even my mother was a little surprised when she saw the Apple logo.
"I thought you would buy a Creative one?"Nonetheless, I still count myself as an ardent Creative fan, albeit one who is very worried for its future. With continued battering of the global stock markets and lackluster performance by Creative, its stocks have fallen to a mere fraction of its heydays.

Out of pure curiousity, I downloaded its Annual Report for fiscal year 2008 to browse.

Whatever the intention of the "Chairman's Message" in the first couple of pages, I was convinced that the company is almost certainly doomed.

Here's an excerpt from the chairman and CEO of Creative Technology, Sim Wong Hoo.

Dear Shareholders,

Creative is a company that is known to thrive in adversity. The adversities we are now facing, both internally and externally, will serve to propel us forward, albeit more carefully.

We have a very clear vision of what we want to achieve. We just have to be a lot more focused. We are finally seeing the light ahead of us. The path ahead could undoubtedly still be thorny and challenging, but we have the technology and financial resources to clear the way...

....

(Last Paragraph)
Finally, I would like to thank all of you for your patience with Creative. We need this wide breathing space to prepare the company for the exciting opportunities ahead. I believe it will be something you will be very proud of. To Believe in the Impossible.

Wow.
Talk about being brutally honest.


Reference:
CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY LTD - ANNUAL REPORT 2008

Provincial URBAN

Today's entry post was supposed to be contemplative, pensive in nature, reflecting on another crossroads of my life. But all plans have been hijacked by URBAN, that weekly pull-out from Straits Times.

Yes, it's about the main article discussing about "modern guys do more than cleanse, tone and moisturise". (Of course, my personal bias against URBAN has been well-established ever since they claim that "idebenone is scientifically proven to be the most powerful oxidant" and erroneous information about using salicylic acid of 5-20%. But I digress...)

Back to the article, by the fourth paragraph, I was already cringing when writer, Karen Tee quoted advertising executive Chan Yuan Kuang using a facial wash "with antioxidants". (Sounds like washing $$ to the drain.)

Without getting too distracted, my main point of contention is "Face Saving Aids", a "handy chart to point you in the right direction", namely a list of recommended products.

Karen categorized the products by the type/use and the associated age group: Below 25, 25-45, Above 45.

Bad move. Dr Leslie Baumann, author of New York Times Bestseller "The Skin Type Solution" would advocate that it is the skin type that should determine the product and treatment choice. Ironically, just one page before, under the FAQ section, Karen already acknowledge that "it is more important to choose products suited to your skin type..."

Instead of letting age choose your product, it should only play as one of the numerous contributing factors in determining one's skin type. Put it in another way, if we followed the stipulated age group strictly, one would have to dump all his/her skin products upon reaching his/her 25th birthday. It is as if the skin metamorphosized into another form in less than 24hours of that fateful day.

Okay, rambling on...

So what about the products that she recommended? A quick research yielded this...

1. MenScience Acne Spot Repair, $55
Key Ingredients: Benzoyl Peroxide 10%, Allantoin, Green Tea, Vitamins A, E

Review: $55 for 10% benzoyl peroxide?! An utter ripoff. And that's not considering that 10% BP can be excessively irritating to the skin, and not neccessarily superior in terms of efficacy when compared to 2.5% BP. The inclusion of antioxidants is seriously extraneous. Allantoin is considered to be an anti-irritant though.


2. Kiehl’s Blue Herbal Spot Treatment, $38
Ingredients: Active: Salicylic Acid (1.5%), Other: Water, Alcohol Denat., Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Triethanolamine, Ammonium Polyacryloyldimethyl Taurate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylates Crosspolymer, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Zinc Gluconate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Poterium Officinale Root Extract, Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) Root Extract, Laminaria Saccharina Extract, Cinnamomum Cassia Bark Extract, Camphor, Propylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Menthol, Pentylene Glycol, Boswellia Serrata Extract, Hexylene Glycol

Review: LOL. Pay 38 bucks for less than 15ml of irritating ingredients such as alcohol, menthol, camphor, witch hazel, cinnamon, and ginger... Talk about naturally irritating.

3. SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic Combination Antioxidant Treatment, $159
Ingredients: Water, Ethoxydiglycol, L Ascorbic Acid, Propylene Glycol, Glycerin, Laureth 23, Alpha Tocopherol, Phenoxyethanol, Triethanolamine, Ferulic Acid, Panthenol, Sodium Hyaluronate

Review: Contains potent antioxidants L-ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and alpha tocopherol(Vitamin E) and ferulic acid. Theoretically efficacious but the packaging is the huge letdown. I personally never understand why do cosmetic companies like using a stupid dropper to suck out serum. Not only does the dropper in container packaging really 麻烦 (troublesome) to use, it lets in all the air and can render the expensive antioxidant packed serum oxidized! If it's trying to be pseudo scientific, they should consider using real pipettes.

4. 4VOO Dynamic Lift Treatment, $184
Ingredients: Aqua, Cyclomethicone, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Cetearyl Olivate (Olive Oil), Sorbitan Olivate (Olive Oil), Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7, Sodium Hyaluronate, Acacia Senegal Gum, Algae (Seaweed), Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria), Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit), Echinacea Purpurea (Coneflower), Lonicera Caprifolium (Honeysuckle), Malaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree), Serica Powder (Silk Powder), Vitis Vinifera (Grape Seed), Xanthan Gum, Niacinamide, Panthenol, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Polysorbate 20, Sclerotium Gum, Carbomer, Citric Acid, Parfum

Review: Wah lau eh. Got too much money to spend right? It does have quite a few antioxidants such as grape seed extract, green tea extracts; cell-communicating ingredient niacinamide; moisturizing agents such as olive oil and hyaluronic acid; and their star ingredients: Palmitoyl Oligopeptide and Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-7.

Though it's interesting to note from Nicki Zevola for FutureDerm.com

Palmitoyl oligopeptide is a sequence of peptides that reads valine-glycine-valine-alanine-proline-glycine combined with a palmitic acid in order to increase penetration through the epidermis. A 2007 study in Dermatologic Therapy suggests that palmitoyl oligopeptide significantly stimulates human skin collagen production in fibroblasts, which may slow the degradation of collagen over time. On the other hand, palmitoyl oligopeptide has been found to down-regulate elastin expression. From one point of view, this is not a bad thing - as stated in Cosmetic Dermatology, elastin expression naturally increases with age, but the elastin cross-fibers grow in a less organized pattern than in individuals at a younger age, so down-regulating unorganized elastin expression may be a good thing. On the other hand, products that stimulate elastin production have been found to increase the firmness of the skin, so down-regulating elastin expression may not be a good thing, either.

Excellent airless-pump packaging would preserve it better than SkinCeuticals' product.

...
...
...

I stand corrected, but none of the products recommended contain vitamin A derivatives (eg. retinol, tretinoin, retinyl palmitate) of substantial concentrations, or proven skin-lightening ingredients such as kojic acid or hydroquinone. Only two product contain alpha/beta hydroxy acids, MenScience Advanced Face Tonic toner and the laughable Kiehl's Blue Herbal Spot Treatment.

And more blatantly, is the lack of prominence given to aspirin or hydrocortisone-based skin relief treatments. This is unique for men's skin care products especially if one were to shave daily. I'm speculating this was missed out as the writer, Karen, is not a guy. Duh...

Of course, some of the products recommended seem to hold its weight despite its hefty price but on a whole, what I observe from the list is a mish-mash of stuff put together to cover as many brands as possible.

Not surprisingly, my prejudice against URBAN's review on skin products will continue unabated. If you want products with real scientific basis, you're better off researching on the net than relying on URBAN. But if you're feeling lazy, consult your friendly dermatologists but avoid the "beauty adviser at a counter of your choice" at all costs.

The last thing you would want is to be bombared by unqualified sale personnel more keen in closing a sale purchase.

Crossroads I: Job Application

Ah.

Listening to my free CD "Around the World with Señor Coconut and his Orchestra", courtesy of LUSH99.5, while sipping on New Zealand's Matua Valley Hawkes Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2007.

(Pseudo) Wine Notes from Kelvin:
A pale straw colour wine. Bouquet is grassy with green apple and citrusy notes. Zesty though bordering on being sharp in acidity. Overall an enjoyable wine for everyday drinking.

Fine, I've digressed from the original intent of this post.

Belying my true state, I have been disturbed.
My heart is burdened.
A conundrum without extrication, a puzzle with no solution.
The dreaded "Quarter Life Crisis", I have reached.

I've been thinking, pondering and contemplating a lot recently. I feel compelled in many ways to take a stab in life and make life-changing decisions. Procrastination and denial has led me nowhere. More than three years have past since I've entered NUS, and I ain't got a clue what the f*3k I'm gonna do when I graduate.

The time has come. At a major crossroad, I can no longer run away from the inevitable, unless unemployment is going to be a career option. If there's a time to make a decision, it's definitely gonna be now.

Yes, a big fat ugly black on hideous red background, NOW.
Of course, to some others, the options on what to do upon graduation couldn't be clearer. Just follow your interest and value system, they say, and the decision will come to light.

But hold your horses, Kelvin. A cursory reflection of my past 24 years hasn't exactly been useful.
If I could surmise my life in two words, it would be "Neutrally Neutral."

When it came to important decisions, I would always pick the safest options, simply eliminating those that seem the most incongruous with my beliefs and values... and somehow, I would manage to eliminate all except one.

So it's business as usual for me, at least for now.

Looking through all the various recruitment talks that have been and will be held in NUS...
Crossing out those that clearly have no connection or interest with me...
Sending one application at a time...
Drinking more wine...
Look at more websites...
Drink even more...
Look.
Drink.
Drink..
DRINK...

DAMN IT. I'm going to be an unemployed alcoholic if I can't make up my mind!


*hic*

Loving Lush

I'll probably be able to do a proper blog entry after this week. It's amazing and unbelievable how just two modules "BN3101: Biomedical Engineering Design" and "BN4101R: Final Year Project" feels heavier than 5 modules...

Maybe age is indeed catching up on me.

Anyway, I just had to thank Chris Ho many many times over. On 22nd September, I participated in a Lush 995 Cd giveaway contest. Days passed and I thought, "Ain't surprising since I've already won so many stuff from them..."

On 29th September, I tried my luck again but to no avail. Or at least that was what I initially thought.

Fast forward another week and guess what appeared in my mail box...

TWO CDS!!!

Random Rumination: J.B.Jeyaretnam

MR J.B. Jeyaretnam (JBJ) died from heart failure at 2.57am on 30th September 2008.

A couple of years ago, I saw him hawking the sale of his book, "The Hatchet Man of Singapore" outside CentrePoint. His gaunt and haggard looks convinced me that his days were somewhat numbered. So a couple of weeks later, I asked my SMU friend to purchase a copy of his book with his autograph for me. I rationalized that that the autographed book would indeed be worth a lot when his time is up.

Silly me, right?

Fast forward to 2008, he had been freshly discharged from bankruptcy and registered his new party, Reform Party. A potential political battle was brewing as sideliners speculated a showdown between him and Lee Kuan Yew for the next general election. And most recently, he intended to challenge the High Court over the decision not to conduct a by-election in Jurong GRC following the death of one of the MPs, Dr Ong Chit Chung.

But yesterday, he passed away.

All that political ambitions he harboured had seemed to gone to waste. (Unless his son, Philip Jeyaretnam decides to take up that formidable baton, that remains as pure speculation.)

Throughout his life, he has lived beyond his ideals could take him.

Representing the Workers' Party, he shattered parliamentary monopoly held by People's Action Party (PAP) in the landmark 1981 Anson by-election. Re-elected again in the 1984 General Election, his presence in parliament was indeed unwelcomed.

JBJ soon learnt that being a pioneer in opposition politics does not translate to a red-carpet treatment. In the next couple of years that follow, he was ousted and prevented from participating in the next election by not-so-inconspicuous political engineering. Even after managing to return to parliament as a non-constituency MP in the 1997 General Election, his stay was short-lived, thanks to the slew of defamation lawsuits which quickly bankrupted him.

While Chee Soon Juan would purposefully go against "unjust laws" in hope of revealing the purportedly biased nature of the judiciary system, it was my study on JBJ's cases that personally convinced me that the local judiciary isn't as impartial and independent.

The International Bar Association has summarized the inequities that JBJ had suffered in its July report on Singapore Judiciary System, pages 30 to 35. Presented in a very comprehensible manner, you can download the report from:http://www.ibanet.org/images/downloads/07_2008_July_Report_Singapore-Prosperity_versus_individual_rights.pdf

As I flipped to my autographed copy of "The Hatchet Man of Singapore", there lingers a tinge of regret. The opportunity to meet him on a personal level had slipped by...



For your conviction and commitment, tenacity and valour, principles and ideals, integrity and honour, I salute you, Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam.

A great inspiration for Singaporeans, who aspire to be that political giant you have been.

God Bless.