Facebook = "no choice but to die"

My Taiwanese friend got a job that requires her to write marketing articles for the bookstore where she works. Among other places, those articles will be posted on the store's Facebook page. Suddenly, posting things on Facebook has become a serious piece of work that must be done responsibly. No more spur-of-the-moment posts. This is what pays her. No more frivolous stuff.

Her first piece of work was given an "ok" by her supervisor, but with a warning that she had to think seriously about what she was writing. Suddenly, writing became such a burden. So she wrote, "我非死不可 (Facebook) ..."

It took me a while to figure out what she was saying. Then it dawned on me! 非死不可 is a mangled Chinese pronunciation of the English word "Facebook". (Loosely translated "no choice but to die".) Of course, it was also a play on the words that she now has no choice but to die to her personal desire to write anything that comes to mind.

Brilliant play on words and translation! It also brings a sobering message that anything posted on social media can be used against you. Post responsibly. Post at your own risk. The whole world is watching. A thoughtless remark can go viral in minutes. It could even cost you your job (as has been in two cases in Singapore).

Writing conveys a message. Write well. Write wisely.

Have fun with words!

Celebrate cultural differences!

Whether you believe in the existence of heaven and hell or not, everyone around the world will generally agree that heaven is the ideal and hell is, well ... the opposite. This poster says a lot about our cultural characteristics.

British are known for being orderly and very good at maintaining law and order.
Italians cook the most delicious food.
Germans can make and fix things with superb precision.
French are the world's romantics.
Swiss keep things running like clockwork (yes, pun fully intended).

When each of these nationalities is in his element, everyone is happy and things run smoothly. Exactly the way heaven should be, or at least we think heaven is like that.

However, when the different nationalities try to do something they are not good at, oh my! All hell breaks loose! Chaos!

The best advice I have heard is to find what you are good at and do it well! Everyone will be happy! We will be in seventh heaven!

So what is your country known for? Make that your passion and bring heaven to earth!

Vive la cultural differences!