Cotton-Pickin’ Days

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Not in China or other Chinese-speaking countries of course but for those of us naturalized Chinese-Americans who never bothered choosing an Anglo name, it might have been a mistake.

Applicants with Chinese names fared the worst, having only a one-in-five chance of getting asked in for interviews, compared to applicants with Anglo-Saxon names whose chances exceeded one-in-three.

Australian bosses racist: study | Foreign or indigenous names ‘decrease job chance’

In any case, I get all confused here in Singapore because of the way people order their names. This morning I was told that I should be writing my name as LastName FirstName because I only have a Chinese name and no Anglo name but I have always written my name FirstName LastName as would be the case in all English-speaking countries! I was going to go along with Singaporean convention of LastName FirstName but after reading this article, I’d rather not.

Bastardized English Names

Please do not use the bastardized English naming convention of LastName FirstName:

      Lee Mo Rong

so commonly found here in Singapore. It will only confuse everyone outside of Singapore.

Do you want to go global or do you want to sit in your well?

And let’s not even start with the hyphen in my name which Singapore has decided not to recognize. Really think I should have chosen an Anglo name years ago. How does Fifi sound?

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Part of a Bobbi Brown makeover I did a couple of weeks ago. Most of it is gobbledygook but it is surprisingly insightful in some areas.

Your Life Path is 31/4 

Though not an idealist, you are willing to work for a better world in a realistic way. However, you can be rigid in your ideas and sometimes too quick in judging your fellow man. You are loyal to those you love and work well with others. . It is important that while being part of a team you have your own responsibility and well- defined task, you perform better when your responsibilities are not overlapping with those of others. You have to be careful not to be bossy and rude. You possess rare discipline and perseverance and not everyone can keep up with you.

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Taken in front of the computer staring into the webcam.

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No baby yet so we’ve continued sightseeing. On Monday Wednesday (can’t keep the days straight these days), we were at Greenwich straddling the Meridian Line at longitude 0′ 00″.

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Photo oldified using this Japanese generator. The original photo taken in mid April is below the fold.

via Photojojo

continue reading

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Created using Spelling with Elements

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When I was taking Japanese classes, one of the first conversational questions we learned to ask and respond to was: “What are your hobbies?”

For several years, my answer has included:

1. Writing (blogging)
2. Reading
3. Needlework (cross stitch, crochet, sewing)

Now I’m wondering if I should scratch #3. According to Unclutterer, it may be time to say farewell to a hobby if I’ve spent less than 10 hours or less on it in the last 12 months. I have not sewn anything more complicated than a button since July 2007.

The thought of clearing any bit of my stash is depressing. I’ve got about three large packing boxes full of sewing supplies, books, and magazines sourced from all over the world. I’ve ordered old magazines from eBay and collected a marvelous load of goodies during the four-plus years we were in Japan. Most of my stash is irreplaceable and was already hard to find in the first place. It would be MADNESS to get rid of it, right?

I’m thinking that someday when the kids are old enough to leave my stuff alone, I’ll be able to set-up a stitching corner for myself. Right now, having needles and pretty colored thread laying about is too tempting and dangerous for little hands. And having only late nights to stitch isn’t great for my eyesight nor do I have the stamina for it anymore.

In any case, if the ultrasound was accurate and baby #2 is a girl, I’ve got plans to make a kimono-clad dolly for her from a kit I bought that was designed by a Japanese crafter. I hope it will turn out as half as cute as the dolls joybucket makes.

What are your hobbies?

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Thought it was time this 29-week pregnant cow got a makeover via Taaz. What do you think?

via TechCrunch

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