Falling down or Staying down?

"Failure is not the falling down, but the staying down."

Mary Pickford
(1892–1979)
Canadian actress

They may have fallen down, but they didn't stay down. Check out these examples of resourceful and resilient people refusing to give up:

Before his circus was "The Greatest Show On Earth", P.T. Barnum filed for bankruptcy due to unwise business investments, and even contemplated suicide. He chose instead to start his famous circus, which he then merged with competitor James A. Bailey's. The Barnum and Bailey Circus netted Barnum over $2 million during his lifetime.

Milton Hershey had only a 4th grade education and four failed candy businesses when he filed for bankruptcy. His fifth business attempt, the Hershey Foods Corporation (now The Hershey Company) is America's largest chocolate manufacturer.

Shares may well be cheap...but they may get a lot CHEAPER!!!

Is this a good time to buy back in to the market? I am sure at some point many will be asking this question.

With share prices crashing around our ears, there’s clearly no lack of doom and gloom around at the moment. But if you’re a bit of a contrarian thinker (means people go left, you go right), who likes selling when markets are frothy and sneaking back in when everyone else is dumping stock in panic, you might be thinking it's time to buy.

Shares have dropped such a long way, it’s very tempting to start thinking about finding some bargains. But WAIT!! Are you aware what is the next scary thing thats about to unfold?

Hedged funds!

Yeah right. What’s happening on the hedge fund front may mean it’s not quite that simple and easy for you to time an entry now to buy back … really.

Yes, stocks are cheap now, but they will get cheaper, a lot cheaper soon...heehaaa :)

"Claypot" Laksa?

I dined out at the Food Republic (Vivo City) last night, and had a really interesting encounter with this stall that sell one of our favourite local dish - LAKSA!

The signboard read: "Claypot Laksa: $6.90"

Wow! That's steep for a bowl of almighy but ubiquitous laksa, I thought.

Wait a minute, I just had one last week near Katong, for a mere $4.00. Served in a plastic bowl.

But wait another minute, I also just had a bowl of Laksa last last week near my good old neighbourhood coffeeshop, for... $3.00. Sadly, it was also served in plastic bowl.

So now I understand:

Between Laksa and "Katong" Laksa, the different is $1. (or the real different is actually just the word "Katong")

Okay, now between "claypot" laksa and "Katong" Laksa, the different is ... $2.90 !!! (or the real different is just the word "claypot")

Now it set me wondering:

1. Does laksa really taste better in claypot? I doubt so.
2. Does eating Laksa in Katong cost $1 or 2 more?
3. Will it be cheaper if it is Sengkang Laksa?
4. Must I pay more if my Laksa is prepared elsewhere, but sell and served in Katong?

I am sure by now you get what I am hitting :)

No no... is it really better if it is actually "COOKED" in a claypot?? I doubt so too.

So, those diners that paid $6.90 for that touted bowl of heavenly milk noodle is actually paying for the container (claypot) ... yeah ... just the vessel that hold the ordinary, everyhwere-available laksa. I find it laughable and pathetic.

Remember: Anything that is written "Claypot" is not really that "Claypot"... if you know what I mean.

Laksa in a claypot does little to enhance the flavour. It does enhance the bottomline for the laksa seller though...that I am very certain.

What a ripped-off!!!

Song: You Will Never Walk Alone

Along life's road, there will be sunshine and rain,
Roses and thorns,
Laughter and pain.
And cross the miles, you will face mountains so steep,
Deserts so long,
Valleys so deep.

Sometimes the journey's gentle,
Sometimes the cold winds blow.
But I want you to remember...
I want you to know...

Chorus:

You will never walk alone,
As long as you have faith,
Jesus will be right beside you all the way.
You may feel you're far from home,
But home is where He is,
And He'll be there down every road,
You will never walk alone.

The path will wind,
And you will find wonders and fears,
Labors of love,
And a few falling tears.
Across the years, there will be some twists and turns,
Mistakes to make, and
Lessons to learn.

Sometimes the journey's gentle,
Sometimes the cold winds blow.
But I want you to remember,
Wherever you may go...

Jesus knows your joy,
Jesus knows your need.
He will go the distance with you faithfully.

Written by Lowell Alexander
Copyright 2001
Word Music, Inc
ASCAP

Seasons of Love - From RENT Musical

Artist: RENT Musical
Song: Seasons Of Love

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Moments so Dear
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure - Measure A Year?

In Daylights - In Sunsets
In Midnights - In Cups Of Coffee
In Inches - In Miles
In Laughter - In Strife
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure
A Year In The Life

How About Love?
How About Love?
How About Love?
Measure In Love
Seasons Of Love
Seasons Of Love

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Journeys To Plan
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure The Life
Of A Woman Or A Man?

In Truths That She Learned
Or In Times That He Cried
In Bridges He Burned
Or The Way That She Died

It's Time Now - To Sing Out
Tho' The Story Never Ends
Let's Celebrate
Remember A Year In The Life Of Friends
Remember The Love
Remember The Love
Remember The Love
Measure In Love

Measure, Measure Your Life In Love
Seasons Of Love

归宿 - 刘德华

Happened to hear this song last night at a Karaoke pub.

歌曲：归宿
歌手：刘德华

不想看见你哭
找个人倾诉
毋用隐藏无助
爱伤人的栏目
泪水的温度刺骨
已无法复苏

是故意
是疏忽
也是对爱的一种侮辱
真心有苦
痴心有毒
该不该早一点结束
是坟墓
是归宿
不要走到最后才清楚
为爱而哭
不是错误
痛的领悟
总有人不会在乎

受伤的人别哭
就听我倾诉
你我逆地相处
太一样的感触
输了就心服口服
从不会忌妒

是故意
是疏忽
也是对爱的一种侮辱
真心有苦
痴心有毒
该不该早一点结束
是坟墓
是归宿
不要走到最后才清楚
为爱而哭
不是错误
痛的领悟
总有人不会在乎

Form & Focus on a Mental Picture

Formulate and stamp indelibly on your mind a mental picture of yourself as succeeding.
Hold this picture tenaciously and never permit it to fade.
Your mind will seek to develop this picture!

Dr. Norman Vincent Peale