The Bancroft Strategy went on sale yesterday
I wonder how it is...
When Todd Belknap-a legendary field agent for Consular Operations-is cut loose from the agency after an operation goes wrong, his best friend and fellow agent is abducted in Lebanon by a militia group with a vicious reputation. When the government refuses to either rescue him or negotiate for his release, Belknap decides to take matters into his own hands. Meanwhile, hedge fund analyst Andrea Bancroft gets a surprising call—she is to receive an unexpected bequest of six million dollars from a cousin she never met. With one condition—she must agree to sit on the board of the Bancroft family foundation, a charitable organization that is run by the family patriarch, Paul Bancroft. Having never been involved with, or even met, the family—her mother was briefly married to a Bancroft and cut off all contact many years ago—Andrea is intrigued. But the foundation, which is dedicated to doing strategic good deeds, appears less and less benign the more deeply involved she gets. What exactly is their involvement with the "Genesis"—a mysterious group working to destabilize the geopolitical balance at the risk of millions of lives? As events escalate, Todd Belknap and Andrea Bancroft come together and must form an uneasy alliance if they are to uncover the truth behind "Genesis"-before it is too late.
Currently I am on the Chancellor Manuscript...
Labels: book review
Music: Diano and the K dynamics
I jumped at YW's K lunch invite...unfortunately there were just 5 of us...I did just one song...the one I had always wanted to. But the duet got the pitch wrong and I had to redo it solo. The second time was much better...SL said that it sounds so close to the original...hahaha. I need more practice...I will do better!!Here is the hot favourite right now:
Kiss Goodbye - Wang Lee Hom - 王力宏 - Click here for the lyrics.
Lee Hom is an amazing performer...on most of his shows he plays violin, piano, drums and guitar...and may be more?!! Wow!
I just bought his concert dvd.
Take a peek at what his concert looks like - Click Here
Thanks to the Fit Fit team. They have made my life easier by romanising popular songs.
Next on the list are the following songs:
Olia - David Tao - 陶喆 - Click here for the lyrics.
Tai Mei Li - David Tao - 陶喆 太美麗 - Click here for the lyrics.
Jin Tian Ni Yao Jia Gei Wo - David Tao & Jolin Tsai - 陶喆&蔡依林-今天你要嫁给我 - Click here for the lyrics.
You've got my temperature rising like El-Nin-Yo!!
I finally gave up on my Nikon S1 and went for a pricey baby. It cost me HK$5980 (wow, I have to go without food for 2 months to make up for the damages)...Isn't she a beauty?
Yeah, I finally settled for Panasonic LUMIX DMC FZ50.
I bought her on Sept 22...but I didn't have the time to take it out and play with it until I was on my second business trip to Sydney this year.Click here to read the Digital Photography review.
...Yeah on Sept 24 I flew out to Australia...Spring has begun in Australia...and yet it was quite chilly...with a windbreaker, it was quite ok...but my eyes used to water every morning on my rush to office...just a block away.
I need a hug in this cold weather
This was one of the most stressful projects for many people and many were quite scared. Somehow, the factors did not compare to the India project I did earlier this year...However, we did have our scary moments...but it was a good time down there...
A Jar of pickled vegetables @ Mosaic restaurant (Westin Hotel)
It was easily more than 12-13 hours every day and running on to 15 on one. All the waking moments were spent in office...however, we did get half a day off on a sunday...and that's when I sneaked out my cam.
An Aussie plays Indian music - I almost did the snake dance there, mate!!
Dussehra came and went...I didn't even have time to myself. "-( It's been ages since I have celebrated a festival with my family and relatives. My friends are my family now :-)) with an X-box for a little brother...just kidding...I am not homesick!! Though I need to call up Moms tonight!!
The moon shines down on a bright sunny afternoon on the five elements tree in China Town - Fire , Earth, Water, Wood and Air
China Town is a great place...One of the reasons why its a favourite spot in Sydney is that all restaurants are open until late....real late...unlike other parts where everything is done and dusted by 10pm!!! Chi sin!!
Everything is a cheap bargain at Paddy's markets
At the Paddy's market in Haymarket building, I picked up 9 tee-shirts!! Holy Molly!! All my shopping is done for next summer :-))
@ the IMAX again
The Ant Bully is a good movie to watch. Be sure to take your kids along. It has a nice message about thinking about others and team-work!! GO GO GO!!
A baby croc looks at the next Dr.S.I
The Sydney Aquarium is one of the top attractions. It is open until 10pm!! Can you beat that?
Watch Out, Mate!!
God bless his soul. :-)
The lovely fluorescent world under the sea
I wish I did not have to go snap snap snap...and at least taken the tripod out and taken a few shots...taken my own sweet time, I mean...but with everything to do in one evening...I did not have that luxury.
This sea-horse thinks it is a plant
Life under the sea is so beautiful!!
Ray of life
I watched the Al Gore flick on global warming on the flight back home...Save Save Save the planet, boys and gals!! The Inconvenient Truth is a good movie to counter-balance Michael Crichton's State of Fear...Visit Climate Crisis website to learn how to save planet Earth.
A golden sunrise
Most of my photography was done from my bedroom...literally!! I had a fantastic view from room 2404 (Intercontinental Hotel).
The clouds have a great day in the sun
All those colours...
And that is not a wall...its the sea :-)
This is one of my favourite pics this year!!
I held my breath while taking this picture. Notice the clouds in the sky?
And finally the Sydney Opera house...
Opera by the bay
More pics can be found here...
I flew back on mid-autumn festival night on 06 Oct and spent the evening at K's place with all the sisters and their families. Poor Dai Gau and Yu Dan were hiding behind the shelf until everybody had left. Dao Dan had a great time playing with everybody. I will introduce them on another blog :-)
Until then...meow!
It's more baby time. Right Here! Right Now!!
These last 2-3 weeks have seen a baby boom boom!! :0))Zany's got his second daughter. She was born on the same day and time as her elder sister (after 3 years) - 28 Sept!! Pics are awaited!
Suswar's got a baby girl too. I am still waiting for the pics to flow in...Suswar, hurry up, man!
Sush's Rhea has finally arrived!! I had pleaded with her husband not to name the baby after me :-)) Hahahaha! Sush wasn't very pleased about the fact that the baby will be exactly like me - outrageously funny!! :-)) That's her parents in the background. Her mom used to teach us Hindi @ school. She gave me 50/100 in one paper. I thought I had done quite well in that one...but obviously it was not!!
Brendon does an AD face :-)) with proud mom - NL. Have you visited his babysite yet? - Click here to visit Brendon's baby pages...
Baby Arin is 2 years old now!!! And I had a chat with him on the phone on the day following his birthday...well...this time, he was just listening to my voice and smiling with his eyes closed...as informed by his mom. :-))
Labels: Babies
Sept 20 : Project Disneyland
So what's special about a Wednesday? It was 20 September 2006. And I was on leave from work. Wow! Me on leave? When was the last one I had taken one? Thanks to K's friend who gave us complimentary passes to join MM and his friends.The morning was quite tense - a hang over from the previous night. But we had a choice to enjoy. The heat was bad and so was the crowd. I saw an old lady using an old film camera - its pieces held together with cello-tape. I thought how poor she must be. But again, there are many people who do not own a camera even. And that day I was carrying a tripod. A gift from Rik who has gone ahead to buy a more sophisticated one.
Donald Duck welcomes you to HK Disney Land!!
This time, I had planned to click better pics. And capture the fireworks. But you know what? The battery died before the fireworks began...*SIGH*
Cutie bear
There were a few rides I had missed last time since I was afraid that Mom would not be able to handle them...One of them was Space Traders. It was more screaming than fun. I am still wondering how K's mom sat through that scary ride? I wouldn't do it again. And I have to give a very good reason for not doing so!
Not so funny!
The Golden Mickeys was playing at the Disney's Storybook Theatre. I really enjoyed this one. I wish I had brought Mom to watch it as well. The show involves announcing the awards in the Oscars style and actors playing parts of the stories. Quite a good presentation!
Stitch asks the computer to check your "Badness Level"
The new show called Stitch Encounter is not a show. It is more of an interactive game where Stitch has stolen a spaceship and is having the time of his life flirting with girls from the audience and poking fun at less unfortunate ones. Usually, one of the players ends up as an escaped convict from the galaxy prison and others are measured for "badness".
Donald Mouth - courtesy the world famous BB
We spent a good amount of time walking from one shelf to another inside the air-conditioned shops. That was one way of beating the heat. I wish I had loads of money to buy stuff from there...but I am a poor guy...:-(
Thank you for coming!!
The fireworks were spectacular as usual. One more good day in my life...
:-)
Yellowhead!
And just when you thought I was bullshitting you with cute pictures, here's one that will make your toes curl... Mid-way from red-brown to grey-blonde, my hair is bleached yellow! :-))
