davidliu14's Xanga

25-year Old Virgin

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:45:01 GMT

I am officially the 25 year old virgin

David

Westlife - What About Now?

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 11:31:08 GMT

Now before you correct me that I got the singer's name wrong, let me tell you, its true. Westlife is covering another song. But before you write them off completely, have a listen first. I thought that the vocals were real good, a more ballad-y feel to the song compared to Daughtry's. The song was originally written by Evanescence. I read that the rest of the materials on their new album - Where We Are - are totally original and some even written by the boys. Anticipating 30 Nov...

Westlife - What About Now?

Shadows fill an empty heart
As love is fading,
From all the things that we are
But are not saying.
Can we see beyond the scars
And make it to the dawn?

Change the colors of the sky.
And open up to
The ways you made me feel alive,
The ways I loved you.
For all the things that never died,
To make it through the night,
Love will find you.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late,
What about now?

The sun is breaking in your eyes
To start a new day.
This broken heart can still survive
With a touch of your grace.
Shadows fade into the light.
I am by your side,
Where love will find you.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love, it never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late,
What about now?

Now that we're here,
Now that we've come this far,
Just hold on.
There is nothing to fear,
For I am right beside you.
For all my life,
I am yours.

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?

What about now?
What about today?
What if you're making me all that I was meant to be?
What if our love never went away?
What if it's lost behind words we could never find?
Baby, before it's too late,
Baby, before it's too late,
Baby, before it's too late

David

Rob Thomas - Someday

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 12:49:32 GMT

Rob Thomas - Someday

You can go
You can start all over again
You can try to find a way to
make another day go by
You can hide
Hold all your feelings inside
You can try to carry on when all
you want to do is cry

[Chorus]
And maybe someday
We'll figure all this out
Try to put an end to all our doubt
Try to find a way to make
things better now and
Maybe someday we'll live
our lives out loud
We'll be better off somehow Someday

Now wait
And try to find another mistake
If you throw it all away
then maybe you can change your mind
You can run, oh
And when everything is over and done
You can shine a little light on
everything around you
Man it's good to be someone

[Chorus]

And I don't want to wait
I just want to know
I just want to hear you tell me so
Give it to me straight
Tell it to me slow

Cause maybe someday
We'll figure all this out
We'll put an end to all our doubt
Try to find a way to just
feel better now and
Maybe someday we'll live
our lives out loud
We'll be better off somehow, Someday

[x2]
Cause sometimes we don't really notice
Just how good it can get
So maybe we should start all over
Start all over again

David

My First Celebrity Autograph

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 13:28:21 GMT

Many things have changed over the past week so, have been distracted by work which is a good thing sometimes...I think principles are fundamental, you got to stand up for them otherwise we just sway with the wind. At work, in our dealings with clients, friends, loved ones, you just got to defend them. Even if that means making tough decisions, very difficult and complicated choices - only the grace of God enables us to carry on.

Random ramblings aside, I made a real random decision today to catch Jonny Love live in concert at the Juice Bar in Parnell. Jonny who you might ask? Jonny Love. And that is his real name. For those who have not heard of him, he is a Kiwi singer who I think has an amazing talent and voice. Think he will touch many with his music globally, if he makes the correct career choices and keep his head down. The first time I heard this song 'Not the First, Not the Last' on radio, I always wondered who the singer was. And when I heard 'My Sympathy' and 'The Last Day of June', I knew this guy is going to be huge someday.

Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtdglRIwkuk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bq9DGVjxpIo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ0e7n4sKGc&feature=related

So I texted a couple of mates, asking around if anyone was keen to tag along. The common reply: Who the heck or what is Jonny Love???! Lol. Nevertheless, I kept the faith and found TW to be my companion. When we reached there, as I expected we were the only two asians around. Got some funny looks, or at least that was what I thought. They could actually be admiring us two for being the brave ones for coming to support Kiwi music.

Anyway, the setting was pretty simple. Before the show, Jonny actually walked past us so many times I lost count. He was just hanging around in the bar like any other bloke. Good stuff keeping it humble. I think that is quite an important element for an artiste, to always remain like a 'person' and not have an egoistic persona. My verdict for the show: he is really really good live. Sounds even better than on radio, and that is not always true for other musicians. The only thing I disliked about the gig was the long wait before the show started, he only came on at around 10.30pm.

Well, the best thing was actually after the show, I went straight across the street to withdraw some cash. Why? So I could buy the album. It has been some time since I bought one so it must be pretty impressive for me to actually want to support this dude. And at that time, he was at the sales counter and I just walked up to him and told him his show was real awesome and asked him to autograph the CD. So, lying on my desk right now, a signed Jonny Love CD with the words, ' To David, love your work - Jonny Love -'. Don't ask me why he wrote those words, I do realize it is a bit random as well LOL but I'm not complaining. I do love my work too..

David

The Fray - Ungodly Hour

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 08:06:31 GMT

This song came to me and stuck right through, I sat in my car during my lunch break pondering how much we need God in every situation...

The Fray - Ungodly Hour

Don't talk, don't say a thing
Cause your eyes they tell me more than your words
Don't go, don't leave me now
Cause they say the best way out is through

And I am short on words knowing what's occurred
She begins to leave because of me

Her bag is now much heavier
I wish that I could carry her
But this is our ungodly hour

I know you're leaving now
Cause I held on to my way tightly
Stay still until you know
Tomorrow finds the best way out is through

And I am short on words knowing what's occurred
She begins to leave because of me

Her bag is now much heavier
I wish that I could carry her

David
But this is our ungodly hour

Dato' Chua's Powerful Testimony

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:24:40 GMT

I have heard many testimonies about how people encounter Christ in their own ways and can't stop but marvel at God's awesomeness in meeting them in different manners. I stumbled upon this super powerful testimony given by Dato' Chua in a church meeting in Malaysia a couple of years back and was truly inspired at the way God works.
Dato' Chua was the former Health Minister of Malaysia and recently joined PKR after a long tenure with BN. His life story on how he met Jesus is both profounding and Hollywood-like - from demons being cast away from his soul to the miracle that happened to his son who was kidnapped. Suspenseful and thrilling, have a listen and you will know what I mean...

http://sky-004.tripod.com/chua.htm

David

Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 11:53:58 GMT

One of the more emo songs recently, thanks to Jay for highlighting it.
How does one not feel the emotions within the song?
Its good to know I haven't lost that emo side, I am a sucker for emo with strings.

The Airborne Toxic Event - Sometime Around Midnight

And it starts, sometime around midnight.
Or at least that’s when you lose yourself
for a minute or two.
As you stand, under the bar lights.
And the band plays some song
about forgetting yourself for a while.
And the piano’s this melancholy soundtrack to her smile.
And that white dress she’s wearing
you haven’t seen her for a while.

But you know, that she’s watching.
She’s laughing, she’s turning.
She’s holding her tonic like a cross.
The room’s suddenly spinning.
She walks up and asks how you are.
So you can smell her perfume.
You can see her lying naked in your arms.

And so there’s a change, in your emotions.
And all these memories come rushing
like feral waves to your mind.
Of the curl of your bodies,
like two perfect circles entwined.
And you feel hopeless and homeless
and lost in the haze of the wine.

Then she leaves, with someone you don’t know.
But she makes sure you saw her.
She looks right at you and bolts.
As she walks out the door,
your blood boiling
your stomach in ropes.
Oh and when your friends say,
“What is it? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Then you walk, under the streetlights.
And you’re too drunk to notice,
that everyone is staring at you.
You just don’t care what you look like,
the world is falling around you.

You just have to see her.
You just have to see her.
You just have to see her.
You just have to see her.
You just have to see her.
You know that she’ll break you in two.

David

Update from the City of Sails

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:47:32 GMT

It has been almost 2 months that I have not written anything on this blog, sure feels longer than that.

Well, for starters, I managed to get an excellent deal from Malaysia Airlines to fly back at the end of the year -
28 November to be precise, a day before my dad's birthday, just in time just in time. I remember paying almost 2 grand from my last trip back but got it at about $1200 this time, what a blessing. Will be back till early Jan, so looking forward to spend some time with my family and to visit my little niece Audrey.

There is a new scheme that is available in most companies, employees are able to buy additional leave and instead of treated as 'unpaid leave', the leave is actually taken out of your gross salary. Hence, your entire gross salary will be reduced for the year and you pay less tax at the same time - fantastic idea I would say, especially with all the news about retrenchment and redundancies, this is a good way of reducing cost while at the same time maintaining the current employment levels. That is how I was able to take an extended leave in Malaysia - family time before money, that is what I think.

On a sadder note, Michael Jackson passed away on 26 June 2009. Although it didn't impact me as much as most people, I have to say it was quite a shocking event. I was working with my audit team when my manager told me all of a sudden about the breaking news - thought he was pulling my leg! My manager pulling a fast one on me? Turns out to be true, luckily I didn't say something stupid like 'Oh really, heard Celine Dion met him in his grave' (cos my manager hails from Canada). Good on you David for restricting your tongue.

Goes to show that life is short and unexpected, a good reminder to us all to live it to the fullest. I am sure MJ wanted to bounce back on his feet with the last 50 concerts he was supposed to commence next month, but death came a few weeks too early. What do we do with today is the question we should always ask ourselves. It is never too late to change a habit, or overcome a fear, or achieve our dreams or anything for that matter.

By the way, did you know that my name David was taken from David Copperfield when I was about 4/5 years old? True, and my brother's name Michael was in fact taken from Michael Jackson. Wonder how this has impacted him? Well, whatever it is, it is not where we got our names from that matters, its how we want people to remember our names that is more important.

Congrats to my housemate Jay for his engagement to Robyn, it is a wonderful thing to see two people in love taking the next step (and to cure the insatiable itch of the baby-making process - marriage is the right way to do it)

David

Demand for Accounting Staff Up?

Wed, 29 Apr 2009 09:11:56 GMT

Surprising news I read in the papers today, real surprising. I wonder if my employers are taking note.

From http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10569319

Recession makes it harder to find good staff

12:30PM Wednesday Apr 29, 2009

The global financial meltdown is having an unexpected effect on finance and accounting employers in New Zealand - it's making it more difficult to find skilled and qualified staff.

Despite widespread redundancies in countries such as the United States and United Kingdom, an international survey by global recruitment specialist Robert Half shows that in 10 countries, including New Zealand, companies now find it more difficult to hire good staff.

Last year, 28 per cent of New Zealand respondents said they were having difficulty finding skilled staff - this year that jumped to 42 per cent.

Employers in Canada, Dubai and several European countries - including the United Kingdom and Ireland - also reported it was now more difficult to find good finance and accounting staff.

But the proportion of American employers reporting difficulty has more than halved in the past year - just 32 per cent now compared with 72 per cent in 2008. The proportion of Australian employers reporting difficulty finding skilled staff remained steady at 54 per cent.

And the survey shows that New Zealand employers are having most difficulty finding suitable candidates for senior roles - with finance manager/head of finance/head of accounting vacancies the most difficult to fill.

Megan Alexander, senior manager with Robert Half, said the results were not that surprising to her team of consultants. Even though it was now common to get around 300 applications for each finance position advertised, only a handful of those applicants were suitable.

"This downturn has seen two types of redundancies in the finance and accounting sector," Alexander said. "Some companies that are closing down, moving roles offshore or making significant, company-wide redundancies do lose some star performers.

"But many other companies are simply tightening their belts, and targeting roles filled by less competent staff for any cutbacks."

Added to this, employers were under the impression that there was now a large pool of qualified candidates available, and so expected only to see top-notch candidates.

"While middle-of-the-road performers had no trouble finding a job when the finance and accounting skills shortage was acute, and many employers were prepared to accept them rather than leave positions vacant, employers now expect good candidates to be available and won't look at anyone with a less-than-perfect match," Alexander said.

Compounding this, skilled and qualified professionals were nervous about moving jobs because of the current environment, and so were staying put, rather than applying for advertised positions.

"There seems to be the feeling that it's safer to hunker down right now and wait for the upturn before thinking about changing jobs - but the reality is that if those highly skilled people started looking, they would be surprised by how many employers were interested in them."

Perhaps because of the difficulty employers were having attracting skilled senior staff, there was a more than 50 per cent increase in the proportion who said they were worried about losing top financial performers - 77 per cent this year compared with 51 per cent last year.

"Teams are leaner now, so if a star performer leaves, there is absolutely no capacity in the existing team to pick up some of that slack," Alexander said. "And because replacements are harder to find, employers know that losing a star performer now will hurt them even more than it would have last year."

The survey also showed that most of New Zealand's finance and accounting professionals did not believe the recession would end this year - just 26 per cent expected an upturn some time this year, 50 per cent expected it to come next year and 16 per cent believed it would not arrive until 2011. Four per cent did not believe we were experiencing a financial downturn.
* The Robert Half Global Financial Employment Monitor surveyed 4830 finance, human resource and senior management staff across 21 countries and was carried out in February and March this year.

Also, congrats to Auckland for coming 4th -
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10569061

Coldplay and Napier

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:49:18 GMT

Mum said I hardly update my blog anymore, so I was compelled to overcome my laziness + tiredness to share what has been happening in the last few months or so. Really can't believe it is already April, and I have been planted in my work so deep that it feels like I've been here for ages - but I have to say I am having a blast at work. I must say the laidback Kiwi-style has a positive effect on working attitudes; and when I put in the extra mile, it gives me the upper-edge as well. Anyway, what better way to tell a story than pictures:

Coldplay

Coldplay's Viva La Vida concert like I said was a real blast; definitely my highlight for March 09.

Playing 2 nights in Auckland, it totally sold out and justifiably so...the 100+ bucks was worth the experience

On the back of winning a couple of Grammy awards, Chris Martin shows why Coldplay is such a stellar performer and deserving of the awards.

The most awesome part of the show? These guys walked down from the stage towards the entry doors and I thought the show was over. But noooooooooooooooooooo...they walked up the stairs and HEADED STRAIGHT WHERE WE WERE SEATED......and performed at the terraces just next to ours. How awesome is that?

Needless to say, one great musical experience....some of their tunes, so simple yet breathtaking - check out Life in Technicolour, guaranteed satisfaction as your handphone-tune

Napier for the Easter Break

An ardous 6 hour drive from Auckland, Napier holds the key to a welcomed break from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Napier was an art deco city, with each building in town decorated with some form of art-inspired motive.
Even the banks looked pretty cool.

Well, not sure about this art, most probably inspired by Van de Toilette, VDT, the great artiste who drew with brown colours mostly

I absolutely love the Padini jacket from Malaysia, suits every occasion and still keeps me warm. I was so desperate to get it that I called Shen to find my size in Mid Valley to get it for me. You are awesome Shen - my colleagues are envious of it lol

Still love the romantic strolls down beaches, what more with a loved one :)

The 3 couples who went, minus one who had to take the picture for us...poor Hansen, maybe you will find Gretel soon...hmm, wait a minute, is that right?

A lovely picture just before the beautiful girl raged for sitting on bird poo

If only you can see the tiny object being held, it is actually the van we travelled in...quite a good ad for the rental company, shows how reliable the van can be bringing us all the way up Te Mata peak

Playing with the sun. Dragonball-style

See how Picolo holds the fireball? But Chun-Li is not impressed, that is why she made her own movie in Street Fighter

There, Chun-Li with her own Bu-kin

Ka-me-Ha-me.................

HAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Butts anonymous

Shadows anonymous

Rudolfs for dinner and finally...

Osama's chicks joined us on the way home...and we survived

David