tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:36:26 +0000Nelson's point of view of the world: useless banter on trival matters, photography, automobiles and wrist watcheshttp://www.nelsontan.com/blog/noreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)Blogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-4065894072350758800Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:33:00 +00002010-03-08T02:36:26.280+08:00lifeYoutube Just two days ago, American actress Sandra Bullock turned up at the Razzies Award to accept the "Worst Actress" prize for her role in All About Steve. In case you haven't heard, the Razzies Award is the spoof counterpart of the Oscars, and they're given to the worst performance in the movies. As an actress who's hotly tipped to win an Oscar for her role in The Blind Side the following day, http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2010/03/turning-negatives-into-positives.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-2808493588170943587Sun, 28 Feb 2010 17:10:00 +00002010-03-01T01:10:10.897+08:00I won't say much to give away the surprise, but this is one enlightening approach to go green! I'm so inspired that I'm gonna order 2 dozen 2-litre bottles of Coke right away!http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2010/03/enlightening-approach-to-go-green.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-7601141290927834228Mon, 11 Jan 2010 17:36:00 +00002010-01-12T01:41:47.326+08:00YoutubeCheck out this amazing video of a Lyre bird in Australia... the ability of the bird to mimic sounds it hears is AMAZING! Who's calling who a liar now? http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2010/01/lyre-lyre.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-5068829801279509894Sat, 02 Jan 2010 04:53:00 +00002010-01-02T12:53:44.653+08:00lifeYoutubeIt's the beginning of a great new year for 2010, and there's nothing better to start the year than with some inspiring stuff! For me, it is this talented speed-painter who can effortlessly transform a blank canvas in Photoshop to a photo-realistic painting of Indiana Jones. Damn... I've Photoshop too, but I can't draw for nuts! So my friends, work on cultivating your talents this year. We all http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2010/01/indiana-jones-and-raiders-of-lost-art.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-7291394049347602154Fri, 11 Dec 2009 09:19:00 +00002009-12-11T17:35:50.199+08:00lifecomedypresentationI read a book "The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs", and as you probably know, Steve Jobs is the CEO of Apple Computers and he's been rated as one of the best presenters in the world (yes... you're thinking "hey, if I had the chance to unveil the iPhone I'd be a great presenter too!). Anyway, one of the gems in the book was this - the presentation slides are your props in telling the story. http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/12/do-you-have-interesting-story-to-tell.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-4678214427712725408Mon, 07 Dec 2009 01:03:00 +00002009-12-14T20:24:06.349+08:00 If you're thinking of splurging on something to make yourself feel good this Christmas, stop. There're other ways of feeling good, such as helping others in need. I came across this blog while surfing, and I was floored to know that there's someone in need of our assistance. Charmaine is only four, and she has been diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Treatment is possible but costly, runninghttp://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/12/help-feisty-princess-charmaine-fight.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-2439960469726639910Sat, 05 Dec 2009 07:32:00 +00002009-12-05T15:32:20.790+08:00cars Alfa Romeo has just announced a new five-door compact based on the MiTo platform - the Alfa Romeo Giulietta. The new car will replace the aging Alfa 146, and this front-drive compact will debut with four engines - two 1.4-liter petrol engines (120 & 170 bhp) and two diesels (1.6-litre at 105bhp  & 2.0-litre at 170 bhp). The name Giulietta means "little Julia" in Italian and is pronounced http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/12/alfa-romeo-launches-giulietta.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-3599874081683961955Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:12:00 +00002009-12-03T19:12:10.520+08:00life A professor was talking to his class about the lessons in life, when he took out a dollar note from his pocket and asked if anybody wants it. The entire class put up their hands eagerly without a moment's hesitation. He folded it once and asked again, and as expected everyone raised their hands once more. The professor then folded the dollar note into a small square and asked, "does anyone http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/12/value-of-crushed-dollar-note.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-8809440984996564544Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:44:00 +00002009-11-29T00:44:25.237+08:00photographyI started a website and e-newsletter service called Photography Happenings back in 2000 when the internet was not what it is today. Electronic bulletin boards were popular, as well HTML websites with blinking text (it gives me a headache just thinking about them!). We were using modems with dial-up speeds of 28.8 kbps, and photography information were more readily available in printed magazine http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/11/welcome-back-to-photography-happenings.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-2165927461484175229Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:20:00 +00002009-11-25T01:20:57.840+08:00carsIf you think about continental cars, you'd think about luxury brands such as Mercedes, BMW, Audi or Volvo. If you're feeling rich, perhaps marques such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Zonda, Maserati, Bugatti or Aston Martin will interest you. If you're feeling mainstream, be sure to check out Volkswagen, Peugeot, Citroen or Renault. If your taste runs a little more niche, you might even want to look athttp://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/11/whats-saab-with-that.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-1110383275606986221Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:37:00 +00002009-11-18T19:37:18.452+08:00life"I didn't know it was impossible, so I went ahead and did it." Knowledge can pave the way for even greater progress, but sometimes knowledge can become a dogma (a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true). When you are told that the parameters of possibilities are limited, that knowledge inevitably directs your thinking and actions within the possible http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/11/when-ignorance-is-bliss.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-3954850329861724390Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:23:00 +00002009-11-17T23:23:35.452+08:00lifeI always believed that life works in strange ways, and I'm sure looking back at how your own life turned out, you'd agree as well. If we can see life as a linear journey starting with birth and ending with our death, the path we take reads like a decision-making chart with numerous forks along the way. Each decision we make has the potential to change our life in drastic ways. Looking back, http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/11/steve-jobs-commencement-speech-at.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-2503307370236620842Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:04:00 +00002009-11-15T19:04:01.378+08:00marketingMy friends know I love coffee... and Starbucks especially. It may seem sacrilegious to associate Starbucks with good coffee, since the coffee chain is seen as a mass consumption product rather than the typical romantic notion of a barista pulling perfect shots of espresso behind a bar counter in a Italian coffee joint. But I genuinely enjoy Starbucks - both as a coffee drink and a place to http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/11/running-business-with-your-heart.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-449551806519980583Fri, 13 Nov 2009 10:20:00 +00002009-11-13T18:20:54.337+08:00photographyNational Geographic has always been synonymous with great travel and wildlife photography, and this short video about the adventures of a wildlife photographer with National Geographic encompasses everything romantic about the life of the contributing photographers! "Adventures, excitement. A Jedi craves not these things." said Yoda. Obviously the National Geographic photographers are low in thehttp://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/11/amazing-wildlife-photos-and-experience.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-6195503563459345995Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:47:00 +00002009-11-10T20:03:35.512+08:00marketingThis is probably one of the most significant posts in my blog... announce the arrival of a new name in the marketing landscape... That's right... I've set up a marketing communications company.  What does Orange Cactus Project do? Well... companies provide goods/services to consumers, and while sales push the products to the consumers, marketing attracts consumers to consider buying the http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/11/new-name-in-marketing-landscape.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-1872181037015384395Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:28:00 +00002009-11-07T13:28:38.484+08:00life "The whole is greater than the sum of its parts" - Aristotle, Greek philosopher Michael Jackson was probably the best-known performer of all times. He was a singer, dancer, songwriter and performer all at once, and no other artiste can match his stature in the entertainment scene since. He possessed an incredible and distinctive voice, he could write his own songs, his dance moves were http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/11/multiply-your-strengths-to-become.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-1481288489517073210Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:24:00 +00002009-11-06T22:24:13.095+08:00watchesChristmas is coming... and so is your big fat bonus. Thinking of giving yourself a treat? Reward yourself with a IWC ceramic pilot watch. Made from high-tech production process, ceramic is the hardest substance on earth after diamond. So while these watches are real tough, avoid fighting with your wife while wearing them cuz she WILL win with that diamond you bought her. Let me know if any of http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/11/hey-watch-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-2500453859852844789Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:16:00 +00002009-11-06T11:19:18.219+08:00photographyHumans are funny… we try so hard to out-do ourselves and make things better. And with technological progress and the digital edge, everything seems so nice and perfect. And we start to bemoan “the loss of spirit” with digital audio CDs and digital cameras. Suddenly everything analogue becomes in vogue and cool again… vinyl records and film are “in” once more! Of course, if you wanna be with the http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/11/retro-never-really-went-away-fashion.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-1792203076376065740Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:08:00 +00002009-11-05T15:51:50.991+08:00YoutubeI've been busy lately with a couple of business ventures, but when a friend sent me this YouTube link, it had me in stitches. No kidding... I think every Singaporean will get the joke. But hey... if you're a prude or under-18, please do NOT click on the link and complain about this tasteless and crude pun. Remember... it's crude for the prude! http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/11/super-white.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-2668419942635404668Fri, 18 Sep 2009 03:53:00 +00002009-09-18T11:56:55.729+08:00lifeTwenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.- Mark Twainhttp://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/09/explore-dream-discover.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-1122432789911896446Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:58:00 +00002009-09-04T12:32:56.689+08:00worrieslife“Worrying is like a rocking chair. It gives you something to do, but it doesn’t get you anywhere.”I came across this phrase a couple of weeks ago, and I chuckled. It’s funny – many years ago my secondary school teacher taught us about unfounded fears and worry. He said that many people hold off doing certain stuff or making certain decision because of unfounded fear or worry. “What if…” precedes http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/09/worries-and-imaginary-fear.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-6139139793710404794Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:11:00 +00002009-09-01T21:27:48.754+08:00I think it’s mean to slam beauty queen contestants. Seriously, if someone came up to you and pointed a camera and mike in your face to ask you for comments, you might stutter and fumble in your answers. And quite frankly, it’s different when you’re in the limelight and everyone is waiting to pounce on you for the smallest error.HOWEVER, if you intend to represent Singapore, I think it’s http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/09/miss-singapore-give-singapore-miss.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-3702231916934425863Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:04:00 +00002009-08-21T20:28:41.377+08:00life“Retribution is the exclusive revenge for the powerless.”Let me first qualify - the following blog entry did not come about because I'm angry with anyone or anything. This is purely a philosophical self-discovery piece. I came up with the quote because I’m always fascinated when people talk about retribution and bad karma. And I realize retribution is a theme that always comes up in those http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/08/retribution-and-revenge_18.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-8283197662958497675Sat, 08 Aug 2009 14:20:00 +00002009-08-09T10:03:11.148+08:00lifemusicYoutubeI hate cheap bastardized cover versions of classical pieces. Playing a classical piece with electronic instruments to a faster beat does not make it modern – it makes the music sound like cheap crap. And please… don’t make it worse by mixing it with some Gregorian chat rubbish.But I was bowled over when I came across this video sometime ago on YouTube. The video featured a kid with baseball cap http://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/08/classical-music-can-be-fun-two.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6243041463296137893.post-391676230659648354Mon, 03 Aug 2009 15:28:00 +00002009-08-03T23:52:52.662+08:00carsSchumacherHamiltonFerrariYou know the cave drawings of cavemen hunting the T-Rex or any other dinosaurs? How about the imagery of the polar bears and penguins mucking around (in the Coke commercial)? People are funny… they like to juxtaposition stuff which never existed together naturally. The truth is that both scenarios never happened – they are divided by time and geography. Dinosaurs died out millions of years beforehttp://www.nelsontan.com/blog/2009/08/return-of-king.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Nelson Tan)0