wonderdra

Are you happy? #3

2011-09-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

Live a happy life!

poster can be found here: http://shop.holstee.com/

Are you happy? #2

2011-09-28T04:51:00.001-07:00

2011-03-28T23:14:00.000-07:00

Before

After

Chris Glass needed a haircut. He saw that a hairdresser nearby needed a better sign. You can imagine the rest.

Chris's project taught us 2 things:

1. Chances are everywhere. It is up to you to spot them out.

2. Design can get you something, somewhere.

via swissmiss

Is your gmail account 98% full?

2011-03-08T20:07:00.000-08:00

With a whole lot of effort, I reduced my gmail inbox size from 100% full to 98% full. My friends were all amazed by my ability to use up the 7gb storage. To me that's just easy.

I do like to collect things for the sake of collecting things and I think I have a problem with letting go of things in general.

Is that even possible!?

2010-08-02T19:55:00.000-07:00

Hourly rate!!?!??!

Are you happy?

2010-06-23T02:43:00.000-07:00

via

The Art of the Elevator Pitch: 10 Great Tips

2010-05-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

The elevator door opens. And there stands your ideal investor. It's the chance of a lifetime. But that chance only lasts as long as the elevator ride - you have less than a minute to make an impression. Hopefully, you've got a well-crafted elevator pitch ready to give.

The elevator pitch is not the hurried presentation of a full-blown business plan. It's an introduction, an overview and a pitch - and a short one at that - meant to capture the attention of a potential investor. Of course, an elevator ride is a short one. Guides for elevator speeches that say you have one minute surely overestimate the amount of time it takes for an elevator to move from floor to floor. Of course, an elevator speech isn't restricted to elevators. Rather, it comes in handy for any occasion where a concise presentation is appropriate.

When crafting your pitch there are two key things to keep in mind: its content and its form. In other words, it's not just what you say but how you say it. Here are a 10 tips to keep in mind as you craft your elevator pitch.

1. Keep it short. Be succinct. According to Wikipedia, an adult's attention span is eight seconds, so be sure to give just enough information (and more importantly perhaps the right information) so that after only hearing a sentence or two, someone knows what you do - and if it's a pitch, what you need.

2. Have a hook. As Mel Pirchesky advises, "The objective of the first ten or fifteen seconds is to have your prospective investors want to listen to the next forty-five or fifty seconds differently, more intently than they would have otherwise."

3. Pitch yourself, not your ideas. As Chris Dixon writes, "The reality is ideas don't matter that much. First of all, in almost all startups, the idea changes - often dramatically - over time. Secondly, ideas are relatively abundant." Instead of talking about ideas, highlight what you've done - the concrete accomplishments or skills - rather than some intangible concept or a future goal.

4. Don't forget the pitch. It's easy to get so caught up in the details of who you are that you neglect to mention what you need. What amount of financing are you seeking, for example?

5. Don't overwhelm with technical or statistical terminology. While being able to tout one or two amazing and memorable phrases or figures can be useful, don't fill your elevator speech with numbers or jargon.

6. Practice. Rehearse your elevator pitch so that when the opportunity to give it comes, you can deliver it smoothly.

7. Use the same tactics for print. You can hone your elevator skills by practicing them in writing. Babak Nivi describes the email elevator pitch here.

8. Revise. As your startup moves through various stages, be sure to update and refresh your pitch.

9. Be involved in the startup community before you pitch. Business Insider suggests "Engaging in online discussions, writing insightful blog posts, and participating in the relatively small startup community can earn you a 'strong presence' that gets you noticed by potential investors." Building relationships with investors before pitching to them will help your success.

10. Listen. When seeking to build strong networks, remember it can be just as important to listen as it is to talk.

via platform via readwriteweb

One very good blog...

2010-05-07T00:15:00.000-07:00

Cute boys AND cupcakes!!!!!

http://cuteboyswithcupcakes.tumblr.com/

what more do you want???

Happy 2010!

2010-01-19T04:52:00.000-08:00

A little late I know... better late than never no!?

Think happy thoughts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

An example of what we do at WK platform

2009-12-02T08:52:00.001-08:00

dundundun-dundun-DUN!-dun.

This is how I spent my halloween

2009-11-02T03:04:00.000-08:00

Yes I really made LED lights blink and dim and ... ! Geeky huh.

Digital TLC

2009-10-27T08:16:00.000-07:00

Macmall seems to be giving me some extra attention these days...

Not that it helps with my situation...

so thanks but no thanks!

see previous

"New decor"

2009-09-12T13:12:00.000-07:00

Gone are the lists of firms/agencies and to-do post-its.

Before:

After:

Platform 09.09.09 launch!

2009-09-08T22:39:00.001-07:00

It is happening! Stop by if you are in town!

#12 Make a movie!

2009-07-15T04:16:00.000-07:00

So that's it! The first one to cross off on my 100 things to do list! (A list that is yet to complete!)

It was definitely the best experience for the longest time. From brainstorming to writing the script to making the most important decision (have myself act as my friends) and regretting it immediately after!

Though, all of this could not have happened without the help of the man behind this camera - the best amateur cinematographer, Exxxxx Ox. As I probably mentioned to him millions of times, I cannot thank him enough.

Also, I would like to thank all those who had inspired me. In the order of "appearance": Axxxxx Hxxxx, Exxxxxxxx Lxx, Sxxxxx Cxxx, Jxxx AxYxxxx, Jxxxxxxx Bxx-Txxxx, Nxx Hxxxx, Txxx Txxxx, Dxxx Txxxx, Hxxx Wxx and Kx Kxx Hx.

On my way back to reality...

2009-07-08T14:13:00.001-07:00

I highly recommend getting wine on plane as a reminder of returning to reality.

Life could be better. Work on it.

Afterwards...

2009-05-20T09:26:00.000-07:00

A very nice read upon arrival to the HK airport from the grant banquet in Cha-am.

Favor-alternatively...

2009-05-18T12:40:00.000-07:00

Instead of something thoughtful for the guests to take away with, this fan is something we found extremely useful at a black tie destination wedding in Cha-am, Thailand. I guess its function is almost equivalent to a half-bottle of red wine given out at another wedding party i attended. It serves its purpose - at the spot.

My hotel 'roommate' and I took it back home with us. I can't help but wonder, what is this fan going to mean to me a few years down the road? I guess it will become an artifact that reminded me of the experience I had in Cha-am.

The search continues...

2009-04-23T16:08:00.000-07:00

In a world full of uncertainties and surprises, a couple of things I recently found very stable and reliable, actually cannot be more certain:

1. Macmall email every night at around 1200am.

2. Amazon .co.uk email, one (at least) everyday at around noon.*

They almost never fail.

*Amazon US send me lots, too. But they are not as reliable as the UK one.

Yes, I know, I'll try to go out and get a life.

Twecipe!?

2009-03-31T15:09:00.000-07:00

I like this.

Sweets etc.

2009-03-13T12:14:00.000-07:00

I was told Harrods makes the best cheesecake in London. So I tried it. The cake was alright, like normal good New York cheesecake, but the crust was...... super!!!!

It was not a soggy crust made with digestive biscuits. It was crispy, like crushed cornflakes , soaked in espresso without taking away the crispy crunchy texture of course. It goes exceptionally well with the heavy new york cheesecake.

Best with a pot of Moroccan mint and gunpowder tea. (Nope they don't have it there.) It was a huge slice and the tea could serve well as a digestif.

Oh, the whole "cake eating and looking at fancy sundaes other people ordered in an art deco setting" experience actually reminded me of Klavon's Ice Cream in Strip District, Pittsburgh. A nice place we archis of 2003 used to hang out during the summer, the good old days!

On mending broken objects

2009-03-05T03:18:00.000-08:00

I find mending broken objects very therapeutic. It is brainless craft without having to worry about reason/concept/idea... and no matter how bad your crafting skill is, it would never be worse than its broken state. AND you get an object back, though you might not be able to use it for its original purpose.

Of course I won't break things intentionally just to mend. But the chance came, when my dear friend Boris sent me a glass (supposedly for the green tea leaves he bought me from China) with very bad packaging. The glass came broken.

Now this mended object has become a very useful tool holder for my workstation! Thank you Bor!

All I'm missing is a fortune cookie!!

2009-02-19T17:43:00.000-08:00

Watched the TED video of Jennifer 8. Lee via plasticity on American Chinese, I got a sudden craving for some "Real American Chinese" food. (Hmm... but how can something so fake be so real!?)

Above is my attempt of "Chicken Broccoli", I think it was a very popular Pittsburgh Moonlight(food truck on campus) dish, but what I'm really missing is the Sweet and Sour Shrimp (though chicken was a more popular choice) and the Vegetable Chow Fun (the "fun" was more like a big sheet of starch, which was kind of nice) from Royal Panda, Greenfield, Massachusetts. I would like to have it with virgin Pina Colada, please.

And unlimited fortune cookies. Yes I really like the cookies, not just the fortune.

hmm... I wonder if it is even possible to find an American Chinese Restaurant in London...

Living through 2009

2009-01-04T15:01:00.000-08:00

The goal is to create enough certainties.

I'm on my way!

Welcome 2009!

2009-01-01T13:10:00.001-08:00

2008 was not easy, but I feel I was lucky enough. Let's hope that my luck will stay with me and help me through 2009.

I am excited.

Peace.

2008-12-25T09:25:00.000-08:00

A very peaceful christmas eve at the St. Martin in the Fields.

seasons greetings!

2008-12-24T08:00:00.001-08:00

Merry christmas & happy 2009!

Theft!

2008-11-18T05:49:00.000-08:00

The influence of high heels in the year of 2008 has been... pretty bad so far. Let's not mention the past 10 months spent resting, not drinking and going to doctors. Now that my bag is stolen as I was slipping my foot into a heel, (yes, it happened in 2 seconds) I am seriously doubting if I should ever want to wear them again.

Fermented goodies

2008-11-10T06:33:00.001-08:00

Ham & sausages are definitely something new to me. Went to this nice neighborhood food and wine bar Fernandez & Wells over the weekend, had a glass of wine, some raclette, sausages and nice conversations. The whole experience of sitting under gigantic hams and watching people walking under the rain was actually quite lovely. The place reminded me of a very cosy Bar Jamon in Irving Place, New York I always passed by but never got a chance to try out (or no point trying back then...)

The right timing and its prerequisite

2008-10-27T03:48:00.000-07:00

As the outbreak of the worst economic crisis of the century happened shortly after I obtained my visa to the UK, I was asked -many times- why now!?

As some people are convinced that Obama's success was partly due to the luck of having George W. Bush to be the president now, I was thinking to myself, so that's a right timing to run for presidency for him... but hey, he also spent his whole life preparing for this right moment to come.

So to answer the question of "why now", I'd say "why not now" and not that I'm giving up a good job with a very stable income to go on an adventure. Let's just say, maybe I'm preparing for a moment to come!?

I'm not sure if I have caught the right timing for my adventure, but I definitely had received some warm blessings from my close friends... Thank you for your support.

It's in me for so long...

2008-09-15T10:29:00.000-07:00

I was a Cleanliness Warden back in secondary school.

Patrik!

2008-08-07T10:19:00.000-07:00

Welcome back!

While I was searching for a picture of this guy, I actually found out that a lot of people have written good things about this chair. And needless to say, I totally agree with them. There were negative comments like, oh it is a totally over priced ikea chair, or oh it copies blah blah big manufacturer.. or I don't know why people say this chair is comfortable, since I feel like I am stuffed in and ... well then, I guess this chair is designed for Asians and Europeans, or more so for Asians! (for the copy part, ha!)

This is the second Patrik I own, I was crazy enough to give it away when I was leaving Eindhoven, but I guess I showed my respect and loyalty when I waited for a month and a half (OUT OF STOCK!) for it to come back.

The Last Lecture

2008-07-26T03:30:00.000-07:00

Professor Randy Pausch, thank you for your passion and teachings. Rest in peace.

If/then/else...

2008-07-20T08:01:00.000-07:00

If one only wants what he needs...

or,

If one always knows how to differentiate between what he wants and what he needs...

Look closer...

2008-07-14T01:26:00.000-07:00

A view like this could be quite pleasant, surprisingly. There's a reflection of the sea in the red circle. What a bonus!

Dun Dan Dun Dan~~!~!

2008-06-24T23:34:00.000-07:00

Please reappear!!!

call it...

2008-05-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

hot pot / steam boat / chinese fondue / beano ... I call it - the best way to eat!

Here's my favourite formula:

2 x soupbase* + 3 x (dipping ingredients - egg) + (2 x greens + 1 x seafood + 2 x mushrooms + 1 x noodle)

*Ideally a clear soup base + a full flavor

A belated salute to Paul Arden

2008-05-04T19:20:00.000-07:00

Best trilogy ever.

CRASH!

2008-04-30T12:12:00.001-07:00

Millions of possibilities could happen when one crashes at a friend's place for an extended period of time, food jamming is one of them.

I always like to garnish my cooking with things like fresh herbs, pepper, rucola... etc. Living with a friend of mine for the past few weeks has enabled me to over-explore a forgotten but flavorful garnish - sesame!

Patray:

Thanks a lot.

With Sesame,

W. K. Y. (to your own interpretation apparently)

problem solved?!?!

2008-04-03T03:59:00.000-07:00

Just when I am question myself on how to define my scope of work, I think Amnesty International has done it for me by inviting me to participate in the Arts n Rights exhibition. Yes feel free to call me ~"artist"~!

Out of the Glue!

2008-03-20T12:58:00.001-07:00

To April

The idea of 'complete'

2008-02-18T12:18:00.000-08:00

It's a reunion!

2008-02-01T02:15:00.000-08:00

Finally, I managed to find this somewhere out of NYC - bottled rose jasmine tea. I'm lovin' it!

As a result

2008-01-18T13:54:00.000-08:00

"Ingredior, ergo sum"... at least for a while.

If you ever wish to be captured magnificently

2008-01-18T13:14:00.000-08:00

you have to have faith in her - Millie.

dietary supplement

2008-01-13T02:46:00.000-08:00

La Chouffe by the bottle in Hong Kong @ Frites for 165 HKD, I am glad. Yet to explore the rest of the bottled belgie bier selection!

Good fit!

2008-01-10T07:43:00.000-08:00

It feels good to have thoughts reassured and words put together by an articulate individual.

Made by "sew-maid"

2007-12-31T03:47:00.000-08:00

T(ea)gether

Designed and packaged with love,

"sew-maid"

just 2 weeks ago?

2007-12-28T03:47:00.000-08:00

feels like 2 months has passed since then !

rice'n cheese

2007-12-09T10:13:00.000-08:00

my comfort food...

luncheon @ rubensstraat 3

2007-12-04T05:49:00.000-08:00

Spaghetti with porcini mushroom and Parmigiano Reggiano.

*courtesy of davide dulcetti the chef.

project #7

2007-12-03T17:30:00.000-08:00

untitled 1

untitled 2

exhibition in hanzhou, China

2007-11-18T16:20:00.000-08:00

A "chinese community of the design academy eindhoven" exhibition. Thanks Min.

Rebel with a cause: hunger!

2007-11-15T21:50:00.000-08:00

It was about a month ago when I was told about my way of making risotto was not authentic. Of course the information has been bothering me. Since then I have been waiting for the chance to make the "right" risotto.

So tonight my desire once again ruled over, I have made myself some unauthentic risotto (due to insufficient ingredients to make an authentic one).

The result was inspirational: just like design, there is no right or wrong, only good or bad.

I'm not sure about design, but my risotto was definitely good!

Yet another architect talks about light and space...

2007-11-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

2 years of 150W makes a 75W intolerable.

12 years of sufficient personal space makes a matchbox ...

beyond imagination.

Proudly presents...

2007-11-03T07:45:00.000-07:00

A project of iridesco:

http://www.worldclockproject.org/

Welcoming contributions of clock images around the world.

Re: Take 2

2007-10-29T03:08:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been a while...

I hope the above picture answers the question of the previous post. Throughout the past couple of weeks I have been preparing forand showing my thesis at the DAE graduation show. What was shown in the previous picture was the preparation work in the workshop. Here it is, the actual exhibition shot.

Though totally against my design idea and concept of the toilet, the cute kids had lightened the space and I cannot resist but liking the photo.

Take 2

2007-10-15T13:23:00.000-07:00

In progress.

DAE x DDW

2007-10-02T15:48:00.000-07:00

... and there's typo as usual.

www.designacademy.nl

www.dutchdesignweek.nl

Mr. Barry Schwartz

2007-09-27T06:47:00.000-07:00

Now that I have found my old stamp buried in my pile of mess on my table (and it is right next to my computer!), I have a problem.

Which one should I use now? The one with smaller text or the one with larger text? Please help, friends. Vote for one! Attached please find the close-ups.

*Related posting: Traveller edition

The broken ones

2007-09-24T20:35:00.000-07:00

I have been breaking a lot of dishes and things lately, but this one...
I use it 18 hours per day. It is THE tool that makes living here in Eindhoven tolerable.

In response to that, I have finally started some serious packing, and I am going to pack a few hours everyday.

Meanwhile I suffer the bodem. (what a waste of my tea leaves...)

La Chouffe

2007-09-23T10:44:00.000-07:00

...I like!

HomeOffice

2007-09-18T02:39:00.000-07:00

Working at home requires:

self-discipline / planning / organizaton / distance between work desk and bed / focus ...

Traveller edition

2007-09-17T18:41:00.000-07:00

(For reference, the date stamped below was the one I used previously, significantly bigger.)

Throughout the past 2 years I have been filling my sketchbook with this little buddy, the date stamp, just so I can fulfill my obssession with maintaining order in a messy way. For some reason I thought I can stop thinking altogether with the completion of my thesis project - I packed the date stamp.

It was stupid of me to pack my think/sketch/design/organize buddy away. So here we are! A new date stamp, a traveller edition I thought I will give away. Maybe it will go well with my new"official" sketchbook.

Insalata Caprese? ... look closer

2007-09-17T18:31:00.000-07:00

Insalata Caprese??

Look closer...

and you probably won't see much... yes it looks exactly like insalata caprese, except that the white slice on top of the tomato is not mozarella, but tofu!
It is surprisingly good and all the more refreshing to make caprese with japanese tofu! Worth a try! Oh maybe it should be called insalata giopponese.

(found it a japanese tofu recipe book)

They call it Spaghetti del Marinaio

2007-09-15T12:00:00.000-07:00

The first time I had this dish, "homemade" black spaghetti with shrimps in spicy tomato sauce was at Max Restaurant, a very cozy little italian eatery in the alphabet city, NYC. It was delicious. And if I remember it correctly, the dish was served in a bowl, not as visually attractive, but definitely keeps the heat in better and in a very generous portion. A good dish to order when meeting friends with a lot to catch up on.

The photo above is a replica of it, "homemade" in Eindhoven except that the pasta is indeed "dutchmade" inkvis tagliatelle.

ISBN 978-905973-068-7

2007-09-14T18:41:00.000-07:00

The Shape of Justice: publication of a IM Masters project at the Design Academy Eindhoven and my 2 page - Staging power.

On overcoming fear

2007-09-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This is the machine that cut away a chunk of my flesh on one of my fingers 3 months ago. A band saw with blade for plastics.

Of course the cut is no longer there, new flesh grew, but it still hurts whenever I press onto something with that finger.

And here's what I did yesterday:

I used the machine again.

Thank you.

Dedicated to Anita Roddick

2007-09-12T12:33:00.001-07:00

Thank you.

I "heart" sanding?

2007-09-11T19:58:00.000-07:00

Just when I thought I can do without sanding anything for a while after a whole last year of sanding all those foam model toilets and ceramic toilet bowls, here we go! Another new material to sand away!

My sanding routine: 120/180 > 200/280 > 400/600 > 800 > 1000/1200 > 1500/1600

I was asked a year ago about my hobby, or what do I like to do in general, and my answer was sanding things. So folks, think twice before declaring anything as a hobby!

1st month anniversary!

2007-09-09T16:38:00.001-07:00

I would like to thank the following people:

Axx Txx for signing up for a blog with me.

Jxxxxx Kx for his advise on finding a blog name that means something to me a year ago (although I must have disappointed him) and being a frequent reader with response.

Axxxx Wxxx for she is the first supporter.

Hxxx Wxx for letting me find out that he secretly checks my blog on a regular basis.

Sxxxx Ixxxx whose stomach is uncontrollably supporting my food posting.

Last but not least all of yxx who bookmarked my site.

I am hearting blogging! (and let's see how long this is going to last...)

I collect trash

2007-09-09T07:45:00.000-07:00

And this is why I'm proud of it:
I miss you all!

If I were to call risotto differently...

2007-09-07T17:40:00.000-07:00

I think I will call it gabellino.

It was definitely during the gabellini days (nights indeed) while the whole office loved to order from Risotteria, NYC (bleecker, I think) except for myself did I trained myself from hating it to being ok with it and eventually loving it now.

But yeah, this one is 100% homemade - Mushroom Gabellino.

The Official Switch

2007-09-05T09:47:00.001-07:00

On September 5th, 2007 in Eindhoven, The Netherlands I have officially converted myself to Moleskine. Reasons are as follow:

-Paper quality of the China notebook has become increasingly unbearable
-Admitting the fact that horizontal lines on paper is limiting creativity
-Timing is right
-Discovery of a particular person's obssession of the China notebook

A magical combination

2007-08-23T03:34:00.000-07:00

I was never a big fan of ika (raw squid), I find the stickiness that lingers in your mouth a little awkward.

I like uni (sea urchin), but I am certainly not a uni regular. I am a social uni-eater I would say.

However, when they are served together, with leaves of shiso (japanese perilla) rolled in the shape of maki, it becomes unbelievably delicious!

I don't think it's possible for me to tell you how good it is here, as it has been too long since I even had good sushi, so let alone this particular favorite I encountered in restaurant Typhoon in St. Marks NYC, but it really is nothing new for the Japanese to make ika-uni dishes.

However I would like to mention the key element of this whole bonding here - Shiso. This tiny leave has brought out the true flavor of the whole dish, its texture and taste is completely refreshing and its pressence brings the combination of the heavy texture and taste of ika and uni back to balance. So make sure the leave of shiso is there the next time you order this dish!