Tuesday, November 30, 2004
You Are So Overrated

"You Are SOOOOO Overrated!!!"

These are the words that I wish I have the chance to say to some of people whom I have never met but have had the dubious privilege or reading on the news about or watching on the telly or big screen.Ok,who's kidding who?But most of the people I am talking about are entertainers and other assorted public figures.Of course,my opinions count for nuts but hey,I think I'd like to speak a piece of my mind to these people.If I could...

1) David Beckham

Anybody can train a right foot well enough to take freekicks well or to cross well.What you can't train is your natural football instinct and ability.Ronaldinho has plenty of both.As do Zinedine Zidane,Luis Figo,Theirry Henry,Shah Alam...the list is endless.Beckham has nothing to do with these talents.His fame has always lied on his clean-scrubbed good looks and a right foot that's marginally better than most other footballers.So he crosses the ball well?But according to statistics,he isn't even the footballer with the most assists (I hate this "Americanization".Call a pass a pass,a cross a cross,what assist?!).So he can score a mean freekick?But he does not even score consistently with them.And it is arguably that someone Robbie Savage takes as good a freekick as he does.

What's about Beckham that made him so popular?I think there are hosts of players who look AND play better than him.He probably put a hex on all the stadia that he had played in or something like that.That's no other reason why he should be popular.

2) Jackie Chan

Truth be told,I hate the man.He thinks he's cracked Hollywood and that he's the 大哥 or something like that.I think he's just a one-trick pony who got lucky for once in Hollywood...and because the ang mohs were bored of their own CGI and wanted a change for a while.So he caught that window of opportunity and made it big.Otherwise,what the hell is that?He behaves more like a lecherous 40-year-old monkey than anything else.Watch his movies.In essence,does his movies offer anything radically different from one another?It's just stunt,stunt and stunt,act stupid and act silly,slapstick-style martial arts and he recycles them 101 times a movie.The man can't even act.And he acts like he's king,a know-it-all.The bloody idiot even goes around impregnanting women and then making it out like he's the victim.Question:Who put dicky inside those women?Did they do it themselves or did it just wiggle its own way in?Did Mr Chan enjoy it while it lasted?Answers on a postcard please.

It's good that his star is waning.Around The World In 80 Days became the big turkey that it always deserved to be.I hope Rush Hour 3 flops...so this glorified lecher can be consigned the annals of history.

3) Fiona Xie

Miss Big Boobs has such a wimpsy voice,it's like fingernails scratching on a blackboard everytime she speaks.Excruciating.It's probably not her fault,it's a natural disabiloty after all.But Princess Fiona also takes every opportunity to flash and bare her assets out for the world to ogle.So much so that if you're still to somehow miss it,she'd probably bury your face into her twin peaks just to make sure she's got your attention.Ok.Actually that's not such a bad thought after all,as Robin Leong would readily attest to.But I wouldn't want to die suffocating in those massive love pillows.

Fiona dear,do TV audiences a favour.Either you just do porn because seriously you belong there (I think it's what you've been threatening to do for ages now,what with that Orchard Road bikini stunt and your recent appearance at the STAR awards where you looked like a milk cow ready to burst) or you should just disappear from local screens for good.Or you could marry me.That's a good option too.I need some love pillows.

4) Andy Lau

Can Andy seriously act?I think not.Sure,he may have won the HK 金像奖 Best Actor but the 金像奖 have something of a reputation for 分猪肉 (for those not in the know,that means that they distribute awards not on merit but by appearance at award shows).Something like our own 933 Music Awards where any Tom,Dick and Sally wins something if he/she turns up.Can you imagine him winning against Anthony Wong,Tony Leung and Francis Ng?They must have a serious acting off-day for him to even have a chance but they've all lost to him before.I guess the real yardstick should be the relatively neutral 金马奖 of which Andy's tally is a glorious ZERO.

And can Mr Lau stop being such a poser?Every movie he acts in,he likes to strike these poses on screen.When he walks,he struts like a peacock even when he's supposed to be down and out.Is he a poser or an actor?I think the answer is obvious.And oh,can he stop singing,his voice sounds like someone being smothered to death.He should sing Hokkien songs rather than Mandarin or Cnatonese songs.His voice is much more suited to that dialect.

5) Fann Wong

Fann is Mediacorp's crown jewel (Fans of Zoe,seriously,Zoe is old now and peddles canned mushrooms.I do like Zoe better but she hasn't acted in a Hollywood flick before...no matter how bad it is) only for the reason that she acted in Shanghai Knights.But was it a box office hit?NOOOO!But they still peddle her around like she's a Hollywood star when SK will likely be her ONE AND ONLY Western flick.Alterntaively,she could always star in a skin flick opposite Fiona Xie.

Actually,to be fair,I do think Fann can act a bit,but she should stop acting so precious like she's our biggest star.That on-off affair with Chris (Sean's boyfriend) Lee is tiring,I'd put an end to the rumours.They ARE together (That's from an insider source) so these two fakers can stop acting coy already.Can when did Miss Fann suddenly develope an ang moh accent ala James Lye?Did you guys see her slimming advert when she was with Kenix Kwok,Chris Lee and Kwok's unknown husband?She suddenly went all corn-fed American on us.Phuah,who thought her to speak like that,Jackie Chan???Get real.

6) Leon Lai

What does Leon Lai do well?Romance ladies?Smoke?Drink?That's about it.Because he sure as well cannot act.When he acts,it's always stony faced stoicism and coldness.He's good as an assassin or in a role where that person is clinically cold-blooded and unfeeling...like in 三更.Otherwise,he's crap everywhere else.Anyway,does acting stony faced require any acting skills?I sure can do that too.

Another question:Can Mr Lai stop pretending to sing?I don't know what he calls his tuneless and toneless crocking but it's not singing or music to my ears.And his songs are always those techno Beng songs which nobody listens to nowadays (VMP would be proud,they should sign him to their label),why can't he move with the times...you know,like stop singing?And did anyone see his latest "image"?He was wearing gaudy lemon yellow,platinum lime green and atomic bright pink.He could put a Christmas tree to shame with his get-up.

7) Keanu Reeves

Too much Chinese bashing,got to find an ang moh to trash and who better than Keanu,a big and easy target.Keanu's cinematic expressions consists of TWO looks:Confused and pissed.He exploitd this to full use in the matrix.Confused,confused,confused and then seriously pissed.In Speed,he was confused,pissed,confused and then seriously pissed.In the Bill and Ted movies,he's confused,confused,confused and then seriously confused.That's a pattern forming here...that's a reason why he's not in CSI.

Actually,fair play to Keanu,nobody actually rated him anyway.Girls love him for his exotic looks,not for his acting chops.For acting chops and great looks,one should look at Jude Law...who sometimes does have a tendency to pose as well.

8) Jolin Tsai

Arguably,nobody rates her for her singing so how can she can overrated.I just find it weird why she's so popular?Could be her pseudo-porn star image,I don't know.I mean under-18s in Taiwan can't watch Japanese porn right?So they go for the nearest alternative,a pseudo-Taiwanese porn clone...and mothers wouldn't complain because they think she's just a singer.Think again mothers.Look at those tattered pirate clothing (which pirate dresses like that?) and midriff baring "princess" dresses and tell me she's wholesome.

It's good that Jolin has Cyndi Wong to share her burden.While Jolin caters to male fantasies about pirates (?!),Cyndi caters to more generic cranal needs...the schoolgirl fetish.Cannonball,who just came back to civil service,likes girls in uniforms too...see how perverted civil servants can get?Like me.

9) Anna Kournikova

In a sport (tennis) that's played by muscular,butchy women,her blond hair and relatively pretty face of course stands out.But put her on the streets of Singapore and I think a lot of people wouldn't give her a second glance because girls here are so much prettier.They might stare at her because of her height,her blond tresses and erm,what is an ang moh doing here,standing around in tennis wear?She might want to stop considering herself as God's gift to men and being so stuck-up.God is not so mean to us to give such low-quality gifts.

Oh,and she can't play tennis to save her life...did I mention that Anna's a professional tennis player?

10) Tay Ping Hui

He's a all-it-all,I am too cool for you jerk.Or behaves like one.


Other honorary mentions:

Ronald Susilo

Sorry,Ronald.But beating Lin Dan was a fluke and you know it.I seriously don't think you are that good.How many major tournaments have you won anyway?But you are one lucky monkey,you married the golden goose.

Chen Shui Bian

A gunshot wound away from non-re-election.He talks more like a durian seller than a statesman.But then again,all Taiwanese politicians talk and behave like durian sellers.Oh sorry,I am but a citizen from a booger state...no right to talk lah...

Justin Timberlake

Is he really that good or does taking Britney's virginity offer instant celebrity status?I think it's the latter.

Khoo Swee Chiow

Does the guy actually work?I've heard so many stories baout the guy 私吞 sponsored money for himself.And get paid to climb Everest?Hell,I'd do it for free.Just sponsor me the air tickets,that's all.Everything else I pay.The guy is pulling all kinds of stunts to steal a living.Go across the antarctic,swim the Straits of Malacca,walk on water...I got one proposition,Swee Chiow,the mother of all stunts:Go find Osama and take a picture with him.

5566

Conceited,no talent,looks like fake Japanese gangsters,got a sense of humour only aliens understand (and I am not talking about illegal immigrants here).Why are they idols?Idols to whom?

Monday, November 29, 2004
Twenty Something

The weekend has been pretty interesting for me.Interesting does not equate good but it's interesting nonetheless.Well,first off,I finally have had it with Singtel and have decided that unless they can make some kind of compensation,I will sever my businesses with them...when my contract ends.Right now,I have two contracts with them.One is my broadband plan (and the well-documented troubles I had with them regarding this,which was the inspiration behind the post "World Class Companies) and my mobile plan (which I just signed in Oct).Naturally,Singtel elected to give me problems with my mobile plan,which is why I am prepared to pay the $250 fine and bring my business elsewhere (probably to M1).

I had signed for a corporate Singtel plan (or so I thought) at reduced rates during a roadshow conducted at my workplace by Planet Telecomms.Following the paper procedures as all my colleagues did,I thought that was the end of the episode and I had extended my corporate contract with the company.Lo and behold,when my bill for November came,I found that I wasn't under the corporate plan and had reverted to the full-priced Classic plan (ok,with loyalty discounts but they gave a measly $5 discount.Seriously,Singtel...F#$% off.Pardon my language for I am extremely pissed with them.And anyway,Jubilee managed to secure her corporate plan and I am sure the others did too) and was also being charged with autoroaming subscription charges... why in hell would I need autoroaming?

Anyway,calling the Singtel hotlines yielded the usual responses...billing cannot answer so divert to subscription who cannot answer so divert to corporate plan division...is there anyone in Singtel who actually have the knowledge and authority to answer anything?Or are they all a bunch of muppets who answer calls on autocue?Why not just use machines to answer the calls...they actually might be much more helpful than the Singtel operators I have encountered.

In the end,nobody could answer any of my questions...all they offered was "Please give us a fax number so we can fax ove rthe corporate plan form to you and you can sign up with us."To hell do I need that!Singtel is,of course,more eager to secure my business than to find out how boo-boos like this managed to occur so my queries about how I managed to sign an equipment plan instead of a corporate one (Despite having my staff pass photocopied and signing the exact same forms) fell on deaf ears...or stupid minds.All they could offer me in terms of an explanation was..."I don't know"...well,of course,you don't,but you should at least offer to find out,right?But no.Of course,they didn't care.All they went was...give me a fax number quick so I can trap you with our contarct and suck you dry...

Despite having a fine $250 looming ove rme for breaking the contract,I'd be more than happy to throw the money in Singtel's face and bring my business to some other corporation which might treat its customers with a bit more dignity and common sense.For me,the crux of the matter isn't that I missed the plan anymore but how such mistakes can occur over and over again without the company examining themselves.And how they never learn to say sorry to customers.I'd rather lose money than to be treated shabbily,which Singtel specialises in treating its customers.

I have gotten my 怨气 out of the way now...I was afraid I'd trun into The Grudge if I didn't get this out.So that's the bad thing out of the way.The good thing that happened over the weekend.Spurs won a league match for the first time in...say,a quarter of a year?!I don't know how long it has been but it was a long time...having lost the last six matches in a row.Knowing Spurs though,they'd go on to lose the next seven matches.Wouldn't surprise me one bit.One more surprising thing was Liverpool's victory (well-deserved at that too...even though Nell Mellor had no right to score with the last kick of the game from such a long distance) over Arsenal.The Gunners are in free fall now...good good good.My prediction at the beginning of the season about Jose Moan-rinho's team winning the league is looking to come fruition.The Portuguese moaner might not be a likeable fellow but hats off to him,he is a good coach...a big headed one too.Having said all these,it still does seem that Liverpool needs a striker desperately.They should sign Fernando Morientes while he's still interested.

Spurs coach,Martin Jol,said that he wanted to bring in a flair player ala Chris Waddle or David Ginola during the January transfer window.The prime candidate appears to be Nottm Forest's Eire International Andy Reid,a left-sided winger.Seriously,I don't think he'd be a good buy or that we need him.Swiss Under-18 International Reto Ziegler looks a very good player on the left already.Ok,he's not a natural winger but I have been impressed by him everytime he's played.Good dribbling abilities,a keen eye for a through pass,good crossing technique and very good passing skills...what more do you want?I think it's the right where Spurs do not have options.Rohan Ricketts came in and looked good on the right but I don't know if he's a permanent solution.Simon Davies simply looks too out of sorts right now.Who should Spurs buy?
I like the look of Ajax's Dutch International winger Wesley Sneijder but I am just not too sure if he operates on the right or left.

This post has nothing to do with Jamie Callum's jazz album so if anyone is looking for a review her,sorry to disappoint you.It's just another post about self-indulgent me.I never really thought about this post until I was on the bus today and well,just had a moment's reflection.Mainly because I am a twenty something...one nearing the end of my time as a twenty something and entering the phase of being a thirty something.Wow,one has no idea how time flies...

I remember that when I was in JC,I would always wonder how it feels like to be a twenty something.Supposedly the prime of your life when you are still considered young (before you enter middle-age-hood),developed your own earning power and is independent of you parents.I'd always be looking forward to entering this phase of my life with much anticipation.To know how all these feel like.The years before 20,it seems,is but a precursor but rolling good times.

Yet,when I entered my 20s.Things never seemed to change much.It must be a guy thing.When a guy enters the first year of his 20s,he's still in the army.Since we've already entered the army at 18/19 and is still enlisted in full-time NS,being 20 or even 21 makes no difference at all.You are still in the army.Who cares if you're 21?You are going through the exact same crap that all NS Men go through...that is,until,you ORD from the army.

Yet,what's next?The schools again.After a 2 1/2 haitus from textbooks,instead of working,we are brought back into the world of lectures and tutorials again.How grown up do you feel,carrying textbooks and doing tutorials?Sure,you're an twenty something now...but there's hardly any difference from that of being a JC student...besides the fact that you don't have to wear uniforms.You can play dress-up,play dress down or don't wear clothes and get arrested.You can have all the girlfriends you want and have all the wanton sex in the world without getting nicked for statutory rape.That's about it.You still don't earn your own keep (ok,some do actually.I do know some people who work night shifts while they were studying.So during daytime lecftures and tutorials,these are the same guys who are fast asleep in class.I do admire them for they do.Juggling work and studies is not easy) and your spending is still restricted to how much your parents give you.Seriously,I feel secretly asahmed of myself for still taking money from my parents despite being twenty something.In other countries,I'd have moved out and started supporting myself or even my own family.

NS and university practically occupied half of my twenty something decade.Institutions that don't necessarily make you feel grown up.By the time,I graduated,I was 24/25...it was only then that I started my work career...or whatever you call it.Worklife was something people in their youth looked immensely forward to...simply because it always seems to glamourous.Maybe it's the way TV and movies potrayed working life...but even wearing office clothes seemed pretty cool.It's like,you know,when you are working,you have arrived.You earn your own money.You can have your own credit cards.You are somebody.No.It's doesn't quite turn out that way.

Sure,you earn your own money.But now,you are forced to deal with crappy job scopes,horrible company culture,backstabbing colleagues,office politics and your pay might not even be all that good.Working life simply isn't all that we were looking forward to,it's nowhere as glam as it's cracked up to be.There are so many things about working life that nobody told us about.It wasn't supposed to be so bad.Yet it is.And you're spending the latter part of your twenty something life embarking on a journey atht'd continue to your fifities or sixties.

I'm 27 now.With three more years to go before I leave the twenty something phase and become a three-zero year-old man.My twenties seemed to have passed me by,faster than I thought it would.It started with a blur in the army,continued as a school life in the mids and have rolle don as working adult until now (and forevermore).I never feel like I have changed or indeed anything has changed.How did seven years go by like this?Isn't this supposed to be the goldern age?And I'm sitting down here typing a blog?Who'd have imagined that?Not me when I was in JC.You always have these grandiose dreams about your career,how successful you'd be by the time you hit 3-0.Where am I now?Nowhere near what I hoped I would be.

I feel amazed sometimes that I am 27 now...because I don't feel like it.But when I do,it's sometimes with a tinge of regret.Because so much time has passed me by.Sometimes when I go out with my friends,they'd say things like they wished if they could relive a certain part of their lifes,they'd do something different...pick up something they didn't,love someone they rejected,work harder where they failed...etc.I have never looked back and reminisced much.Because what has transpired,what has happened is over and cannot be brought back to the present.As Robbie Williams said...No regrets,they don't work.Leaving it all behind is a far better option than continually revisiting it.What lies ahead does not have to do (not necessarily anyway) with the past.

Weird,weird,weird.At the end of the day,I almost have no idea what I am trying to say.Is it the idea that time has passed me by faster than I thought...or that life is nowhere near past expectations?Could be both.Or might just be about nothing.

Thursday, November 25, 2004
Career Change

Sorry,allow me to indulge in this for a moment.I love this S.H.E song...

笑就歌颂 一皱眉头就心痛
我没空理会我 只感受你的感受
你要往哪走 把我灵魂也带走
它为你着了魔 留着有什么用

你是电 你是光 你是唯一的神话
我只爱你 You are my super star
你主宰 我崇拜 没有更好的办法
只能爱你 You are my super star

手不是手 是温柔的宇宙
我这颗小星球 就在你手中转动
请看见我 让我有梦可以作
我为你发了疯 你必须奖励我

你是电 你是光 你是唯一的神话
我只爱你 You are my super star
你主宰 我崇拜 没有更好的办法
只能爱你 You are my super star

你是意义 是天是地 是神的旨意
除了爱你 没有真理

火你是火 是我飞蛾的尽头
没想过要逃脱 为什么我要逃脱
谢谢你给我 一段快乐的梦游
如果我忘了我 请帮忙记得我

你是电 你是光 你是唯一的神话
我只爱你 You are my super star
你主宰 我崇拜 没有更好的办法
只能爱你 You are my super star

I really have no idea why I put these lyrics here...besides the fact that I like this song like crazy and can keep spinning it over again and again and again.I can't really envision myself being so enraptured by three bubblegum cuties (I don't normally) but I am...so well...

Yesterday,I went out for dinner with my three good pals from my university days.Bishop is,of course,one of them.He seems to be involved in every group that I go out with,except my JC group of friends.It's the unfortunate result of knowing someone for over 20 years and sharing many aspects of my life with this fellow.The other two,I will respectively name as Deadpool and Gambit.Deadpool is a section manager at Takashimaya while Gambit is a corporate banker from a Japanese bank.Ok,remember my NY resolutions post,it was borned after I went to Gambit's baptism ceremony with Bishop.Deadpool was also invited but since he's doing retail service,weekends are essentially workdays for him so he couldn't make it.Gambit is getting married mid next year and the three of us are probably going to be part of his bridegroom wreaking crew.Yup,that'd be nice.After all,we are also great friends with his girlfriend too.

Anyway,yesterday,the four of us went to Thai Express Esplanade to have our dinner and just have our monthly (it's a bit more like three weeks but let's not nit pick) catch-up session.I am not going to talk about all the things we talked about because hey,we stayed there for about four hours,you can imagine how long we talked but one of the topics we touched on was,of course,our present jobs.

Again,everytime I talk to people,it seems that people are not satisfied with their present posts and want a "new challenge" or to get out of "that sucky place" (if every place is sucky,name one place that is not...simple...it's the places where you are NOT working).Gambit told us that he's planning to quit his position real soon and take up an insurance agent post.Bishop has been talking about changing his job for a long time now but in his current circumstance,he does need a stable income so he can't really move.But one could say that with his experience,he's a real valuable commodity in his line of work right now.Deadpool?I don't know about him,he was strangely silent on this.And me?I have been talking about this since forever,right?

Truth be told,I was rather surprised by Gambit's confession that he is quitting soon.He had talked about it but never really in such concrete terms.It seems like he has made up his mind,more or less.But in a position where he's to get married mid next year,I asked him on the wisdom of planning such a move at such a point in time.But apparently,he had got his gf's consent on this so well,God bless him.There were various push factors which prompted him to move and those were valid (in a way) but I won't go in depth into them.

Anyway,the talk centred on how although we all wanted to move,it seems that three/four years in the same industry,doing the same job have all rendered us immovable objects to other industries.Mainly because it seemed that what we learnt,our skills,are entirely untransferable to other jobs.Gambit and me are basically marketing students.He went into finance because it was the first job opening to him.He always wanted a marketing job and would love to land one on his lap...but at this stage in his career,it'd mean he'd have to start from scratch again...something he admitted he was reluctant to do.

This is probably the same case for me as the things I do here,my so-called skills,are even more untransferable than his.I have always told a lot of people that unless I get a move into other job capacities,I will end up always doing work of a similar nature like this.I have to admit this was never really what I envisioned myself doing when I graduated.It still isn't.Is it my ideal job?I don't think so...the problem is that,through the years of dulling my senses here,I have even forgotten or lost direction on what my favourite job might be...or was.

How bad is this?I wonder.I recently looked through Saturday's calssifieds and could find almost nothing that I could use my present experience to leverage on...except for a post in Mindef.Mindef?!Think about that.Of all the things I looked through,the only thing I could suitable is another civil service job.Hahah.Once a civil servant,always a civil servant.What kind of a roundabout dead-end job is this?

Will I be able to go out there and do a good marketing or HR job?Will I be able to accept that my experience here could be as good as wasted (if I wanted to do something completely different)and start from ground zero in learning everything again?Including accepting a level of pay that I received three years ago...or even less?Questions questions questions.

Answers?

Answers?

Answers?

Wednesday, November 24, 2004
衰神

I am 衰神，衰中之衰,霉中之最 beyond anything you'd ever believe or heard of.Anyway,it's not that really I am perpetually unlucky but that recently,I think I am on some run of 霉运 or something.I can't really remember what are some of the stupid things that I did or ran into that really smacked of rotten luck but today was probably the ultimate.

Today,our department had a training event.Colossus,Jubilee,Shadowcat and me went down to attend the event.As we overestimated the punctuality of our fellow colleagues,we ended being among the first few people to be at the venue.No matter,so we plonked ourselves at the fourth row from the back where Nightcrawler suddenly teleported out of nowhere and joined us.Anyway,the organisers,in their customary practice,suddenly demanded that we move our stoic buttocks to the front rows.Well,we did move a little further forward but no they were satisfied and started becoming a little pushy.Anyway,just as we were moving a little slightly further,Colossus,Jubilee and I suddenly noticed that people were occupying the previous row that we were sitting in...but the organisers were not pushing them to move.

Colossus got a bit miffed at this and got out of the venue.Jubilee followed suit and being the slightly slow person that I am,it took a while before I realised what in the world was happening and I went after them.Meanwhile Shadowcat and Nightcrawler simply complied with their wishes and duly moved forward.

Back in the office,Colossus realised that it wasn't safe to be in the office since well,Rogue was around and if she sees us,she'd be asking us why we were here and not at the event downstairs.He suggested that we go to the library in the building instead at the next tower to hide there until the tea break.Then we can grab some makan and come back to the office legitimately.Well,the three of us agreed so we went.At that point actually,I had some 不祥的预感 that we'd meet someone we don't want to see along the way and we'd have to explain ourselves as to why we were not at the training event.You see,I had this bad luck streak going on for me recently.

Every morning when I go to work,I'd discover last minute that I forgot to do something or that I have a stomachache and have to go to the toilet.And I'd end up going out of the house late and miss the bus...although somehow I never quite arrive very late for work...that doesn't mean I am not late.Just that not that very late.Do you count 15 minutes as very late?I don't.Other than that,some pretty weird things would happen.

For instance,when I went to Suntec on Monday and I was ready to go home after doing some stuff,I lined up at a terrificably long taxi queue that was moving pretty fast as cabs were pouring in to take the passengers away...that was until I reached the front of the queue.Suddenly,when I was there,the taxis just didn't come and I had to wait for close to ten minutes for the next cab to come.What the?Do I have some voodoo or somethign that scares away cab drivers?Or do cab drivers hate me?Anyway,cab drivers shoudl take note of a fact.Very often when I pay a fare,I allow the cab driver to keep the change as I did on Monday.Now tell me again,am I your preferred local cab passenger or what?

Anyway,back to the incident of the training event,the three of us happily made our way to the connecting storey to the next tower and since we were expecting everyone to be at the training event,there should,by right,be nobody to spot us so far away from the training venue.When we reached the lift lobby,it was totally empty so we pressed our floor number and waited our turn.Meanwhile I had sneaked and went to open the doors of a function room as I was curious why it was so dark inside...usually it's brightly lit.When I turned around,that's when the fun started.

When I turned around,I saw the God of another department at the lifts.He was obviously going to meet to the Greatest God of all in this place.Then suddenly,out of nowhere,OUR God appeared behind him and walked towards us.Wait a minute,wasn't he supposed to be at the training event too?Why was he here?What in the world is happening?

At that moment when I saw him,I just stared at him open-mouthed...you know,like Joseph staring at the burning bush.I am Joseph,he's the bush.Colossus was simialrly gap-mouthed and was looking as surprised as I was.At least,Jubilee mustered up a smile and said hello to him.At that moment,I was just speechless,looking at God with big eyes and a gaping mouth,like a goldfish.Can you imagine?He must be thinking what a weirdo this guy is...or wait a second,what is he doing here?

Anyway,I think he saw my expression and looked at me,twitching his bushy moustache with a quizzical look.He then asked us where we were headed.I think Colossus and I wewre both too mummified to answer and it was left to Jubilee to tell him xth floor.The next lift came but hey,it was lucky,we didn't have to share the same lift as him...but still...

Why in the world did I give that spastic look?I was shocked out of my senses alright but that's no excuse.I had learnt how to "Think on my feetTM"...

And my goodness,Rogue suddenly just called me on a tasking that I had totally forgotten about and hence did not follow up.It was such a minor task after all but hey,it's still a tasking.When she mentioned it to me,I was like totally shocked out of my wits...ahhhh...sh*t luck.Now I have to hurry something to give to her...damn it damn it damn it.See?衰神 strikes again.

God (the real one),deliver me from myself...

How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb

Unos Dos Tres Catorce

With these Latin words, U2 announces their return after four years of meeting up with political leaders,liquidating third world debts,promoting world peace,selling iPod Minis...anything but make music,that is.Whether this is a triumphant return is a moot point."How..."is certainly a better,much better record than the half-arsed "All That You Can't Leave Behind".Do I like it?Yes.Is it anywhere near U2's best?It's certainly their best since Achtung Baby but that isn't saying a lot.Zooropa,Pop and All... are not exactly landmarks in their distinguished career.Indeed,they're probably some of the albums they'd most love to "leave it all behind".

We must have all heard "Vertigo" by now with that Apple iPod advert bombarding our screens almost on an hourly basis.The above "Unos..." phrase comes from this song.It's also the first song on the album...although it's not exactly an indicator of how the rest of the album will unfold."Vertigo" is helluva beast of a rocker though...and up till now,still my favourite on the LP.Catchy as hell and louder than the usual U2 fare,this sounds like something that'd find itself right at home nestled in the Achtung Baby.If only this was a template for the rest of the songs in this LP...

The next song "Miracle Drug" is a ballad that harks back to the "Joshua Tree" era.Not a bad move,considering that "Joshua Tree" was the album that broke them big.I still rather like the next song "Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own" much better though.Lead singer Bono wrote this song in memory of his recently deceased father (it was performed at the funeral),it is a heartfelt song about the relationship between his father and him.A mood of loss and regret prevades throughout its duration and its sincerity lifts it as a superior piece to some of the other tracks in this LP.Actually,I'd rather they can be earnest in personal songs like this than go bombastic about world peace on us...like they promptly did in the next track "Love and Peace Or Else". No need to get make it so obvious,Bono,we know it's your world peace anthem on THIS LP (sample Peace On Earth on All that... (their last LP) gee,U2 really must like to slam these grandiose song titles into people's faces)...and don't you just think the title sounds a little silly.

"City Of Blinding Lights" follows and this another song about love...and it's quite a lovely song as well.A touch of late 80s U2.And it's much better when they sing about love and relationships because Bono's lyrics are a little more incisive when he talks about this....rather his world peace anthems which can bore the pants out of people."City" is followed by two album fillers, the nondescript "All Because of You" and "A Man And A Woman".One wouldn't miss anything skipping these two tracks at all.

"Crumbs From Your Table" is a much better track.Similar to "City" in tracking their 80s root,it has a good chorus that's easy to like...and hum to.And it probably also the last decent song in the album for after that, the remaining three songs "One Step Closer","Original Of The Species" and "Yahweh" (a feature of old U2 was that they usually had one song detailing their religious struggles and thoughts..."Yahweh" is such a song.Throughout the 90s,I don't really remember U2 going back to this template besides "If God Will Send His Angels".) did not leave a deep inpression on me.

"How" is a further step in U2's bid to reconnect with their alienated fans who must have felt that their 90s experimentalism streak had gone a bit too far...and their image a bit too over-the-top and incomprehensible as well.It tries to re-adopt its 80s basic rock roots more comprehensively than did its predecessor "All" and is,probably,also a better album because of it.At least this time around,Edge's guitars is a more central part of ths soundscape than was previously and that is a relief.Synthesizers also do not overwhelm the rhythm session, which is arguably one of U2 greatest strengths since Adam Clayton and Larry Mullen Jnr are commonly adknowledged as one of the most accomplished rhythm sections in the world.Rockier and edgier than they've been in a decade,it's a welcome partial return to form of these old rock dinsoaurs.

However,the attempt to return to their roots cannot disguise the fact that this is a patchy album.It is only good in parts and is not consistent enough.U2 fans will want to forgive them quickly because they'd just be relieved that U2 have returned to doing what they do best...that is rock and not doing dance singles.At least now,they actually sound like a rock band and not a Un ambassador fronted dance/rock hybrid.Being a long time fan,I'm kind of glad too.But glad is not a particularly strong emotion,is it?

7/10

PS:The power of TV.I recently caught this TV advert about this Japanese newcomer who covered Joi Chua and Fish Leong's (梁静茹) songs, which were the highlighted songs in this particular campaign.The Leong song particularly caught my ear.I had always liked it,especially its melody but never knew who sang the song and what it's title was....good thing,the advert flashed the name of the original singer across the top left hand corner.Now I know it's 梁静茹's 不想睡.Great songby the way.I just downloaded it from the net...makes me feeling like buying her Greatest Hits compilation although I am not too sure if this song is on it...

Tuesday, November 23, 2004
Stuck In A Moment

I’m not afraid of anything in this world
There’s nothing you can throw at me that I haven’t already heard
I’m just trying to find a decent melody
A song that I can sing in my own company

You’ve got to get yourself together
You’ve got stuck in a moment
And now you can’t get out of it
Don’t say that later will be better
Now you’re stuck in a moment
And you can’t get out of it

I will not forsake the colours that you bring
The nights you filled with fireworks,they left you with nothing
I am still enchanted by the light you brought to me
I listen through your ears,through your eyes I can see

And you are such a fool
To worry like you do
I know it’s tough
And you can never get enough
Of what you don’t really need now,my,oh my

You’ve got to get yourself together
You’ve got stuck in a moment
And you can’t get out of it
Oh love,look at you now
You’ve got yourself stuck in a moment
And you can’t get out of it

I was unconscious,half asleep
The water is warm till you discover how deep
I wasn’t jumping,for me it was a fall
It’s a long way down to nothing at all

You’ve got to get yourself together
You’ve got stuck in a moment
And you can’t get out of it
Don’t say that later will be better
Now you’re stuck in a moment
And you can’t get out of it

And if the night runs over
And if the day won’t last
And if our way should falter
Along the stony pass
It’s just a moment
This time will pass


I'm still to get my hands on the latest U2 LP "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb" so I've had to contend with the unsatisfying "All That You Can't Leave Behind".As can be seen,I never really liked "All...",instead of the "return to Joshua Tree heyday" album that it was hyped up to be,I found it to be nothing but a watered-down version of past glories with sporadic Edge-like guitars thrown in to con hardcore fans.So in due dilligence,I never listened to most of the songs in detail.Which must be why I missed out on "Stuck In A Moment (You Can't Get Out Of)" because I found it to be too much of a wimpsy song.

I have no idea why I suddenly liked it now.But the lyrics just came out to me in new light last night as I was listening to it because everything seems to be stuck in a moment for me right now.A moment I can't get out of.And I can't say "later will be better" because everything runs in an infinite loop that goes round again and again and again.Later is just a re-occurrance of what happened a few days/weeks back.Like a broken record that wouldn't stop.Imagine listening to the same song over and over and over again.One day,you'd just like to cover up your ears and block it out...

This morning when I just got into the office and was settling down to switch on my computer,I heard Storm call out to Jubilee and said something how our department just disgraced ourselves again,showing our ineptitude in front of outsiders.But what's fresh?This seemed to me nothing but history repeating itself and I was pretty sure a whole session of griping would go on again.It was good that I have a CD to reacquaint myself with.

Let me first admit something.I am a griper myself.No doubt about that.I gripe about the world,the society,the state of the modern rock music,myself and the office.Actually I've stopped griping about the office in-depth for quite a while now.If one had noticed.Until now,that is.I had grown so damn tired of this office and all its problems and shortcomings.Until I elect to pluck up the courage to leave this place or somewhat change the conditions,I have to live with what's here.That's that.Griping wastes energy and offers no solutions,although it offers a vent of letting out frustration.Even if it's not a very satisfying one.

The problems,processes and other sh*te that exists here was I guess,more or less,in place before I joined this place.The defending of turfs,the way information doesn't really flow...etc.Things could have been better before God came in,I don't know,maybe they were.Maybe God just have a way of making things worse.Maybe things will get better when he leaves.I don't know.Maybe Rogue's incompetence is ruining our branch.Maybe it'd be better if she goes away.I don't know either.But I do know I am tired of discussing and hearing it.That I am certain of.

Sometimes I am surprised by my fellow X-Men and how they could continually get wind up by the system here.Maybe I'm just jaded.Or maybe because I think I'm just hearing the same things over and over again...because the root causes remain the same.It's like Groundhog Day.Where you live your life over the same day and the same things happen.In the movie,by the umpteen time Bill Murray encountered the same event,he reacted to the same events without much thought nor feeling before slowly taking the joy to repeatedly doing the same things.

Is it sad to deterioate to state where you can just go with the flow and grin and bear with it?Or is it sad to rant without chance of changing anything?What gives.

It's just a moment.
This time will pass.

Saturday, November 20, 2004
Life Of A Salesperson

Today is Saturday,one of only two days in the week when I can wake up late,go brush my teeth,have a sumptous breakfast and then go back and sleep again.Isn't that great or what?I have no idea why I need to catch up with so much sleep but it probably got to do with the fact that even on the weekends,I wake up at 8.That's not late,you say.But my usual waking time on a weekday is 6:30.So 8 is still late by comparison.I think my bio-clock doesn't adjust itself very well.

Anyway,I went for my brunch at the Hougang NTUC Mall at 11 and had a filling Sirloin Steak brunch before going downstairs to do some miscellaneous rubbish.For instance,I went to the library and got my hands on The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown.Yes,I am one of the rare swakus in the entire universe who has not read the book yet.I just got to see for myself what the whole fuss about this book is all about.Actually I don't think I might even end up finishing it.I quote Roger Ebert on his feelings about the book in his review of the new Jerry Bruckheimer flick "National Treasure":

"If you are one of the millions, like me, who plowed through The Da Vinci Code,you can be forgiven for thinking they've made it into a movie.And in a way, they have, but the movie is titled "National Treasure."This new Jerry Bruckheimer production is so similar in so many ways to the plot of the Dan Brown best seller that either (a)the filmmakers are the only citizens of the entertainment industry who have never heard of The Da Vinci Code,no,not even while countless people on the set must have been reading the book, or (b)they have ripped it off. My attorneys advise me that (a) is the prudent answer.

That I have read the book is not a cause for celebration.It is inelegant,pedestrian writing in service of a plot that sets up cliff-hangers like clockwork,resolves them with improbable escapes and leads us breathlessly to a disappointing anticlimax.I should read a potboiler like The Da Vinci Code every once in a while, just to remind myself that life is too short to read books like The Da Vinci Code..."

So yeah,Mr Ebert didn't like it much apparently.I am not one to always agree with critics,even a Pultizer Prize winner like Ebert.There have been times when I felt Ebert has been overtly harsh on certain movies and underrated others.He's after all,just another homosapien,so why should there be such a big deal about he thinks?We should all form our own opinions based on our own experiences.So I'd like to read for myself before coming to a conclusion.And if it sucks like Ebert said,I'd fall back on the half-read "1984" I have never felt inclined to finish or "Heart Of Darkness" for that matter.

Ok,so after I borrowed that book,I went to the ground level where Oto is having this health roadshow and out of the corner of my eye,I saw a saleslady holding some brochures and plugging some product to an old lady.No salesperson ventured near me so I gather that I am not part of their ideal demographic (specifically the nearing middle-age male group).Anyway,the old lady was obviously not interested.She was,kind of,rolling her eyes and looking all over the place but never at the salesperson herself who gamely went on and on.I have to say something.I admire such doggedness...even if I don't really want to be on the receiving end of it.But there's still plenty to admire in the persistence...and a lot of other things about sales personnel.

I could never do sales.Period.I do not have the drive,I give up too easily and I don't have the outgoing nature to go out to complete strangers and start plugging massage chairs or anti-hairloss cream.I know what I can do and what I can't.Sales being one of the things I'm ill-equipped to do.But I admire people who can do what I can't do...which is why I admire sales personnel.

Most sales personnel do not have a very high basic salary,that is,if they even have any.Usually a whole chunk of what they earn is based on commissions.So if you sell a lot,you earn a lot.If you don't,well,wake up your idea and start finding ways to do better because you'd be earning peanuts.I'd admit that I lack such drive and iniative.Must be a civil servant mentality eh?How much I earn has nothing to do with how much output I churn out.If it depended on output,I'd be earning $50 a month.So theoretically,I should be glad I am handsomely rewarded for what little I do.Well,I am in a way.And sometimes I justify that it should not be about the volume of work that I churn out but the quality of the products that I produce.One should spend good time gathering and analysing information rather than doing a cut-and-paste hackjob...those in the know,I think would smile at this statement...

I have a friend who's a insurance agent (I'd consider that a sales position since how many policies you seel determines the amount of income you get).He is constantly moving from place to place,meeting new people,trying to match each person's needs with the products he sells and preparing all the nitty gritty stuff all by himself.I am quite amazed at his drive and commitment.I doubt if I can be as driven as him but then again,thrust me in his situation and I might end up doing as much as him.

Also,consider how much pride one must put aside sometimes when pitching products to an uninterested potential customer.How thick skinned you must be.Remember that Oto girl I was talking about.That auntie she was talking to was looking left,right,up and down...anything but AT her.How demoralising is that?Imagine talking to someone who'd look past you,around you and through you but never at you.I don't think I have the stomach for that either.

And remember another basic thing about sales personnel.Most of them have to work on weekends when all their friends and family are at home and have mid-week off days when everyone else is away at work.So even when they are free,there is nobody around to accompany them.Geee,it's the complete opposite of how everybody else works.How are you ever going to meet up with anybody much?But then again,I guess when it comes to off-days,most of them would be glad to catch up with their sleep rather than go out.I think.

Oh well,another thing about them...although this may not be necessarily true with Singapore sales staff.They have to be polite and smiley with everyone even if their aprents both just passed away,their house just burnt down and their bf/gf just dumped them because they discovered they were gay/lesbian all along.Ok ok,I am exagerrating.You hardly get such exciting stuff happening to you in Singapore but hey,you never know....

But then again,one can never accuse Singapore sales personnel from being too polite.In fact,they're more likely to show you a black face even if they struck the jackpot in the Singapore Sweep.But then again,I'd be rude to everyone too if I tio Singapore Sweep.But hey,you get the drift.It's not like it's smiles always when you ask sales people about things.I think our service standards is that in an international poll on service excellence,we'd probably get 179th of 180 countries surveyed (In a way,taht is still ok,because we are still ahead of Malaysia which is guaranteed 180th position).And if you get smiles from a Singapore sales staff,it's usually because you are Fiona Xie in a lowcut blouse.So the smiles usually come with drool as well.

How did a post praising sales staff descended into a tirade against them???Wow,I amaze myself with the dexterity and flexibility of my writing.But it only goes to show that for all the admirable traits that sales staff must possess,the local species still lack that important "Ooomph" (Ohhh,sexy word.Ooomph...ooomph...ooomph...) factor which makes all sales staff stand out...

PS:Wow,I wrote the first half of this post...felt myself falling sick so went to drink some cough mixture.By the time I was next conscious,it was close to 4.That's some powerful sh*t my mum bought from the doctor's pharmacy downstairs.What in the world is it???Cough mixture for cows or something???

Thursday, November 18, 2004
The Amazing Race

The new season (season 6) of the Amazing Race finallycommenced last night in a 2-hour premiere.And it was certainly interesting to watch.I'm not a particular fervant fan of these series because I only really started taking note of this reality series last year.And it was already into its fifth season so I obviously missed out on a large chunk of the action.But from what I saw,I liked it a lot.There are a number of reasons for this.

First off,there is less (I say less because obviously people still played nasty from time to time) backstabbing going on in comparison with other reality series like Survivor.Secondly,it's actually interesting to see how dynamics between couples/best mates/siblings/parent-child work as they are forced to spend large amounts of time together,making decisions and performing difficult tasks together.People react differently under pressure and while some crack,others start bitching.Thirdly and most importantly,AR is essentially a backpacking travelogue reality show.I love travel and for an hour,you get to travel with the groups to at least one,if not more,locations.From the show,you can see how backpacking through particular locations should or can be done.Even the parts about booking air tickets and driving through the lone guidance of a map are pretty interesting in how they work.

For those who failed to watvh the premiere of this particular season but are keen to keep track of the progress.I'd just do a brief analysis of the teams and who I like and dislike.Ok,it might be unfair to form opinions after one episode but I think these are audlts competing here.How they behaved in one episode should be a good precursor of how they'd perform for the rest of the series.And possibly,how the teams will work as well.

The Good Guys:

Freddy from the "Engaged models" team seems like a very good guy and a pretty good catch.Good-looking and calm as well as accommodating and encouraging,he swallowed a whole load of crap from his fiancee,the ultra-competitive and bitchy Kendra and did not fight back.he always kept his cool in the face of consistent rubbish from Kendra and was the one to keep encouraging his otehr half that all was not lost when they fell behind in certain stages.Good guy.

Don of the "Grandparents" team seems like another good guy. I don't quite know why but I have already formed a dislike for his wif,the grand old dame,Mary Jean.MJ seemed unreasonably bitchy for her age AT times.I said AT times because she's not always so.But she's also ultra-competitive.Unlike Don,who seemed to be there for a good time and was more relaxed.I think that's 量力而为 because he obviously he's not going to be a match for the younger teams and just wants to enjoy himself while it lasted.Ok,that may seems counter to the objective of the competition.But I like someone who knows what he can do and what he can't.And there's no way his team will win the competition.

Hera,the daughter half of the "Parent/daughter" team seems like a very good daughter.She listened to her father,Gus's advice and never argued even though half the time,Gus's advice was totally crap.I don't know how she could have so much patience.If it was me,I'd told the guy to shut up long ago.

After these three,I probably have to name entire teams as good guys.These include Kris/Jon (Dating long distance),Lena/Kristy (Sisters),Meredith/Maria (Best friends) and Avi/Joe (High school buddies).I was a bit sorry to see Avi/Joe get eliminated because these two were good sports and never mouthed a single bad word to each other.Too bad,they chose the wrong detour task to do (anyone noticed that those who did "Ice search" all didn't finish in the upper half of the table?) and took the wrong route to the pitstop.

The Bad Guys:

Top of the heap is the abusive Jonathan of the "Married entrepreneurs" couple.He was abusing his wife,Victoria,right from the beginning,calling her stupid and all kinds of names and even threatening to divorce her because she was so "inept".He's so competitive,I think he must lack self-esteem or something...as if winning AR would prove somethign about himself.I think he should get a perspective.AR is but a competition,that is his WIFE he's abusing.Someone he may spend the rest of his life with.He ought to understand and manage her feelings better.If this is the kind of abuse a wife has to put up with constantly,maybe Victoria is better off getting a divorce.

Aaron of the "Dating actors" couple.He pulled a very cruel stunt on Meredith/Maria by misleading them early on such they nearly failed to recover.That they did is a credit to their doggedness.That Aaron's team is first is creditable.But beware of pulling a fast one so early on,you're only gaining a "reputation" for yourself.It could come back to haunt him later when he need the "Best friends"'s help.

Kendra is the bitchiest woman that this season had to offer.She is over competitive,a miserablist and really bitchy.How Freddy can stand her is a miracle.She could be a good shag,I don't know.Because that's the only positive thing I see about her right now.Mary Jean is another who could learn to be nicer and kinder.For someone her age,she seems a tad too immature for my liking.That's not saying that old dames have to be mature.But they should at least know certain things better.The least she could do is make life that little easier for her old mate,which I'd argue she doesn't.

Adam,of the "Formerly dating" couple.A jerk.That's all I'd say about him because I don't think he deserves more words than these.He thinks he's unqiue.Yeah,and so is Saddam Hussein.

The Lori/Bolo "Married pro wrestlers" team is one big joke masquerading as a team.They are constantly screaming at each other and Lori is one serious bitch...even worse than Kendra.That's a rarity.Problem is,she probably not even a good shag.She seems to think she's a very smart person,constantly abusing Bolo and calling him names.I am surprised Bolo didn't break her neck.Although I have to concede that'd be tough.Her neck is the size of my thighs.

The Sufferers:

First prize goes to Victoria.Don't know how she takes all that abuse.Quite amazing woman.Even more amazing is why she married that Jonathan jerk in the first place.What does she see in him?That he is an entrepreneur?And what does this show you?Marriage is a lifelong thing.Make a mistake,suffer for life.Victoria,take up your husband's offer.Get that divorce.

Rebecca,who's with Adam,endures a whole lot of crap as well.Although not as much as Victoria.I can see now why they're were formerly dating.Well,after the competition,Rebecca,stay your distance from Hellboy.He's going back to hell.

Freddy and Hera deserve honorary mentions here because they also suffer some degree of abuse.Good thing they have incredible patience to ride out the hard times and roll with the bad.As well as the constant whining and nagging that must accompany their ears.

Who Will Win:

I suspect it'd either be Hayden/Aaron,Kris/Jon or Freddy kendra because they are the most athletic groups.My personal favourite are the "Sisters" Lena and Kristy.Because they've really played nice (to each other and to others) so far and played fair as well.I like them.Both of them are quite cute eye-candy as well.Kristy especially looks cute.That's an additional bonus.But can an all-girl team win?I have my doubts.Hope you girls last!!!

Actually I think it'd be great if all couples can join AR because it is a good relationship testing ground and would seriously put their relationships to the test and see whether things can really work or not between them.Some things we can never find out about people until placed under duress.And AR provides such situations nicely.That angel you see and snuggle up to might just be a devil in disguise when things turn bad.Would you still want to be with someone who constantly abuses you when bad situations arise?Or do you stand through thick and thin through all that crap?Would you abuse your gf/bf when things get tough?Or put in a word of encouragement to keep spirits up?It's easy to say and write what you'd do in a post/blog.In an actual situation,actions might very well take a different turn.It's real test of people's character and their love and understanding of each other.

Oh dear,I should get a perspective...it's just a game show after all...

Wednesday, November 17, 2004
Early NY Resolutions

I had originally written another post on early Sunday morning (when I say early,it means 3 am in the morning) but decided to erase the post because there was no way,I figured I could complete that post.It was about a conversation I had with my good friend,Bishop (previously I mentioned him as Ike) and the various stuff we talked about (which were a great many).I had written about 1/4 of it in dialogue form and believe me,it was already very long,about the average length of a post here...and slightly longer.Mind you,it was only 1/4 of the whole thing.I don't know how long it'd have taken me to write down everything.Besides,I really couldn't remember eveything.

Why in the world did I mention something that I'm not going to talk in depth about?Because in a way,the converstaion influenced and made me think.Which was why I wanted to put down some new year resolutions.Ok,it's a bit early for it,eh?But hey,we all know that these resolutions usually mean nuts anyway so writing them down anytime,anywhere do not really make that much of a difference.Half the time,we don't even adhere to them.Right?

And since I had mentioned that conversation,I might as well mention the things we talked about.They include:Dragonboating,how come angmoh athletes are strangely superior to Asians,nosebleeding,impetuosity of some working adults,parental divorce and its dilemmas,treachery in the office,when parents should learn to let go,the merits of various Chelsea footballers (Robben,Cech...), travel and backpacking in Europe and/or US,finding that special someone...or missing the boat,marriage,the pitfalls of a steady lifetsyle,reasons for NOT going to church,differences between traditional and charismatics,going through the motions during service and that French girls are cute (Bishop reckoned he saw as many cute girls in France as he did in Italy and Switzerland when he was there.He spent 2 1/2 days in France...10 in Italy and 3 in Switzerland).

Sidetrack,Rogue sent to me a blinder of an email at about 3:30 pm yesterday asking me about the status of the projects I was undertaking.Ooops...status?What status?Did we even do anything?As Jubilee was in the same boat/team as me,I had to draft a reply that saved our butts while giving an impression that something was ACTUALLY being done.You have no idea how easy that was.但混水摸鱼的日子不好过啊！！！Anyway,Rogue's on MC today and she had left the office immediately after I sent her the email.I sure didn't know my emails can be so sickening to read.I ought to send her emails daily,you know.

Back to my resolutions...hey,look,for the first time,my post has justified alignment.Isn't that cool or what?Wait...heheh,I found that the sentence spacings get all weird when i do justified so now I don't even get small innovations until I get round to changing a new template for this site because I am getting bored of the design already.Ok,now...


First resolution:I will start exercising again.

By exercising,I mean anything from jogging to playing football to playing anything period.The only exercise I indulge in right now is channel-surfing although going to office,it's really strenuous walking up the slope to this wretched place.The real reason I want to start exercising again is because of my IPPT.It's almost the end of the window but I still haven't registered for the test yet...let alone gone for remedial training.And all my fellow army IPPT failure-mates have already taken their tests and undergone their RT.I'm the last one standing.I wouldn't want to be fined $50 for my next in-camp (that's what they do everytime you commit an offence.Fine you.Where do you think we get all the money to buy or build our tanks from?FROM NS-MEN themselves!).But RT is good for one reason,you go off really early from work for the training...say at about 4:45?But it lasts until 7...


Second resolution:I will buff up my bank account.

I have been stuck at the same X amount for the past 2 years now...no thanks to the travelling I had undertaken.At least I won't be going anywhere at the end of this year so that's the year-end bonus saved.But next year,I could potentially be going to Sydney AND France/Italy.The latter could be a biking tour (some kind of a mini Tour De France where we engage some of the stages at our own leisure) which could tire my arse off...and drain my bank account again...


Third resolution:I will travel proper in 2005.

True,I went to the States this year...but on a family visit.Spent the majority of my time watching TV on a couch.Damn.And who goes to Memphis anyway?The fact that I could wind up in Sydney or Paris/Rome or Vancouver (it's an alternative plan to go down from Canada down to the Rockies...no bikes) is exciting.I love to travel.Anything away from this miserable island.Please please please...get me out of here.


Fourth resolution:I promise to go back to a church.

Boy oh boy,says a lot about my faith for me to put it fourth.And I said a church so that gives me a lot of leeway as well.Saturday,when I went to a friend's baptism,was the first time I stepped into a church for over a year.Can you imagine?Some thing never change.I could still feel refreshed even though I could feel come of the regular church-goers around me going through the motions.I'd rather not go than do that...see,good excuse for my not attending.But I promise to step into a church...just remember,I NEVER said regularly.
PS:Bishop doesn't go to church as well...I have more slacker friends than I can count on my fingers.


Fifth resolution:I'd try to help others get hitched.

1977 is a weird year.Many men born in this year are either married/getting married or totally not attached.One extreme or the other.Weird.Or is it just the people I know.Seeing some of them and their lack of an emotional anchor,it feels a little sad.I'd like to push some of them to be more pro-active in looking for that special someone.A lot of them have settled into this phase where they are settled in their jobs,enjoy a good pay and the finer things in life and also have a supporting family.All they lack is that significant other half.The missing piece.If that's any way I can help,that'd be good.


Sixth resolution:I vow to get out of this office.

Three years here is a miracle.Four years is a humanitarian crisis.If I'm to endure a fourth,I seriously don't know what I'd become.Something close to a dishevelled madman I think.By the same time next year,I hope I'm not still here writing and bitching about Rogue and Banshee.Let that be somebody's else's problem.


Seventh resolution:I will forgive myself generously if none of this resolutions come to fruition.

Hey,you always got to write some kind of a disclaimer just in case you end up doing none of what you said you'd do.Which happnes often because that's what happens to all new year resolutions anyway.The only difference is that I spell it out from the outset that I'd forgive myself.


Eigth resoultion: ...

I'd leave this blank...just in case my puny civil servant brain left out something really important.

Friday, November 12, 2004
How Do Dolphins Sleep?

The past Deepavali holiday was an uneventful day for me...as usual.I just stayed at home and rotted.But that has nothing to do with the fact that I didn't want to go out.It's just the simple fact that I don't like to go out during nights when the next day is a working day.It'd mean that I cannot stay out late and that defeats the purpose of going out anyway.And hey,I don't like to be smashed the next day at work...like a zombie.Although that's exactly what I am right now but that has little to do with going out.Well,anyway,having decided not to line up anything for yesterday night,I've got something lined up for tonight.A drinking session with my drinking mates again.Possibly at One Fullerton...or around Boat Quay.And then,just as I typed this...one of my friends said he couldn't make it so I cancelled the whole thing.GOD!Deliver me out of my house!!!Anyway,tomorrow,I'd probably attend my good friend's baptism at Trinity Christian Centre.If I can get my lazy bones up and running...oh,Jubilee and Colossus invited Jean Grey and me to their Teban Gardens house on Saturday.I have to see if I can wake up.The crooked Jubilee tried to entice me to go by saying that her neighbour's sister (whom she wrote about sometime back on the Twoeggs blog) is pretty.Colossus just gave her a wide-eyed look.You don't fool me,Jubilee.Everybody knows the only babe living in Teban Gardens is Xiaxue.Ok ok ok,that's besides Jubilee...now keep your iron fist down,Colossus.I just haven't decided to blast you down yet...don't tempt me.

Well,I got to comment on some news of interest I either read in the papers or watched on the telly.First off,I'm finally going to pitch my two cents worth (in fact,it'd be my one and only one)on the Joo Chiat neighbourhood dispute rubbish that took another "new" development recently.It seems that one of the neighbours (the female "educator",teacher,whatever she is) pestered the ah pek's family by pasting herself to that family car's windows and shooting what went on inside.According ot her,she felt that as an "educator",she needed to expose the fact that the neighbour was not promoting child vehicular safety but not strapping on a seatbelt on the family's 5-year-old grandson.For her troubles,she got abused the grandson himself and got splashed with water by the ah pek's son.Hahah,really funny.Now cut it,you morons.

I have a very simple question for these two families:Do you seriously want to continue leading the rest of your puny little lifes like this?Because as far as I can see,you are a bunch of miserable boogers (I would like to thank the Taiwanese foreign minister for helping me to learn this word) who have no reason to be living or to be in existence.Your sole reason for existence seems to be trying to make life as miserable for the other party as possible.How sad can you get?Grace is obviously a word that doesn't appear in your dictionaries.Could someone,anyone actually have the dignity to move out and end this rubbish or at least offer a truce?Oh,come to think of it,dignity is another word you fellows have never seen of heard of before either.

Actually,I don't know what to make of these fellows.Either they really hate each other and yet can't bear to do without each other (what an oxyMORON) or they are singular-minded media-seeking attention junkies.Well,doesn't matter.I do wish that the day when they finally decide to just kill each others comes quickly.It'd put an end to all the nonsense these two families put on...and it's be one helluva entertaining climax.But they won't have the balls to do it.I also wish that our MM would come in soon and mediate the whole sorry affair.You know,by revoking their citizenship and banishing them out of these tranquil little island because they are "undesirable" citizens.Ryan kena that for an offence far less after all.And Joo Chiat will be a lot more peaceful.

Second piece of news.I think animal rights groups are getting a little way too pesky for my liking.Ok,I figure I might get hate mail from ACRES or PETA for this but hey,if you guys love animals,you gotta love me too!I'm a mammal you know...remember the ET in PETA stands for ethical treatment.Anyway,I think these groups are becoming as attention seeking as our Joo Chiat Quarrelling Club.And they act exactly like the Joo Chiat morons as well,without much grey matter.

First off,there the Sheep-man Noah Mark who "demonstrated" at the Aussie High Commission here dressed like Dolly.Funny and interesting but silly.Firstly,because he could have gotten himself shot and tranquilised.I am surprised that civic-minded Singaporeans didn't report immediately to the AVA when they saw a stray sheep walking around Napier Road.The following scenario could have unfolded:

AVA sharpshooter:"Stop moving,Dolly.How did you get to Singapore?" Shoots tranquiliser dart "You are going back with me to the zoo where we'd shave off all your wool and mate you with an elephant to produce the new hybrid attraction as our new world-class "Uniquely Singapore" attraction."

Mark:"Wait,ARGGGH...F$%^&*.I am Noah,not Dolly.You moron."

AVA sharpshooter:"Holy sh*t.When did they clone a second sheep?And a talking sheep at that.Now we've really got a world-class attraction.I really got to get this bugger."Shoots second tranquiliser dart.

Mark:"F$%^ing moron.Why did I come to Singapore to suffer this crap." Faints and rolls over.

See,Singapore is no Pleasantville so you foreign animal rights pests should stop coming in and making trouble here.Noah Mark got lucky,that's all.And in any case,even if our AVA sharpshooters are not around to take you out,our Cisco guards will.These guys will shoot at anything.Guys with fake guns.Guys with placards.You name it,they shoot it.And deadly accurately too.With no mercy.

Seriously though,Mr Mark is making the wrong moves.If he really wanted to attract attention in Singapore,dressing up as a sheep wouldn't get you into frontpage headlines.No sir.That will not do.We aren't interested in that at all.Who cares about a sheep in Napier Road if we can't eat it?What he should have done instead is don a pair of huge prosthetic boobs and wear a tight bikini and run down Orchard Road ala Fiona Xie.Now THAT'S frontpage news material and that's what we're interested in.YES SIRREEEEEEE.That's the way to go.

Oh another thing about animal rights activists.They've been going on about looking for some tiger in Bukit Timah and then some Malayan sun bear and distributing flyers and making a gigantic hoohah about how they will investigate whether the rumours are true or not and that a small enclosed space isn't good for a tiger.They're even offering a cash reward of a few grand for any information related to these animals.My my my,how kind-hearted these people are.Indeed,it brings me close to tears.

First off,let me qualify that a small enclosed space isn't just bad for a tiger,it's bad for old folks as well.So why don't these ACRES fellows break into all these old folks' home (where most of these old folks are practically confined to their beds) in Singapore and free all these folks?I think these folks will at least be more appreciative of their efforts."Thank you,young man,for freeing me.Now can lend me $1 to lim kopi?"Second thing,rear a tiger in a basement?I have one word for them:Hahahahahah.Who in the right mind keeps a tiger?How do you get one in?And for what if you can't show to anyone,can't pet it (unless you don't fancy having limbs) and it costs a bomb and a car space to keep it?Don't doubt the intelligence of Singaporeans.We never keep things we can't show to people.And that includes mistresses.

I have to say I believe this whole rumour must have come from a grave misunderstanding.A tiger in Bukit Timah?That's unbelievable.A Tiger in Bukit Timah.That's another thing though.I imagine something like the following statement could have spiralled into this whole sorry affair.

Ah Seng:"Ah Puay got Tiger in Bukit Timah.Damn shiok..."

Kumar:"Tiger?!"Gasps...runs off to report to police

Ah Seng:"Eh,where that mama run to?Aiya,heck care lah.Like I said,Ah Puay got a Tiger in Bukit Timah.Damn shiok siah.Direct import from Thailand.Cheaper than local version.And got damn smooth taste.Better than local one.I bring you to that Bukit Timah kopitiam sometime"

Nor:"Ok lah.Oh,Kumar come back already."

Kumar:Gasping for air"Tell me where did you see this tiger?"

Ah Seng:"What tiger?Anyway,not important lah.Let me talk to you about Sun Bear..."

Kumar:"Sun bear???!!!"Ups and runs to police station.

Ah Seng:"...brand peanuts...what's wrong with that mama?"

As one can tell,it's easy to misunderstand and spread rumours without seeing the true picture.But this time,I am pleased to tell the ACRES fellows that actually they ARE right.There is a tiger and a Malayan sun bear and I know which house they are kept in.I will give you the address but you will have to post the $3000 cheque to my house and address it to me.Just email me for my particulars.And the address in question is 80,Mandai Lake Road.I just can't quite remember which cage they are kept in though.

And just in case you ACRES people are also looking for a pig,there's one in my house.I'm looking to collect a reward for this as well.A $5k reward will in be order.And once I receive the cheque,I'd just go over to stay at any one of your houses...but preferably one that belongs to a pretty female ACRES member.Just remember to feed me well.And I also don't like to roll around in mud.I am not like most pigs.I like to roll with my mastress (I know there is no such word so don't knock me on my poor Singlish).Roll with me in bed,mastress.Just like a female Chinese ballet dancer.**Wink wink,round round** (For answers to this inside joke,please read Time magazine dated Oct 11)

Wow,that was a long load of rubbish and I'm still not into my main topic yet.Rogue is around today,damn.But half of the X-Men are not.And they happen to be my lunch clique:Jean Grey,Jubilee,Colossus...erm,Wolverine and Nightcrawler.Ok,not quite.Should that make or break my day?Neither.I'd just mind my own business and write my blog.Nobody disturbs me usually.Anyway,I am quite smashed today...because I watched the Hindi movie "Lagaan" late lats night until one something.Was it a long movie or what?I kept wondering when it was going to end.I don't remember doing that since Van Helsing.But having said that,it was a good movie though.I just couldn't understand the song and dance part.In fact,I really don't get it one bit.All of a sudden,for no apparent reason,the characters will suddenly start dancing and singing with voices that don't quite sound like theirs in the middle of nowhere.I know Bollywood is supposed to be the in-thing right now and all this dancing is supposed to be cool but it's still nonsensical.We never have that in Chinese movies.Imagine Chow Yun Fatt,in the middle of an intense gunfight with bullets flying all over,suddenly jumps out and starts singing and doing tap dancing,twirling his M-16s and moving in line with a bevy of SWAT team members.It's crazy.I talked to Dazzler this morning about Lagaan as well and she couldn't stand the dancing and singing either.

Finally to my main topic.I have always been slightly fascinated with marine life.I think this has something to do with my mum's intense interest in the topic as well and seeing her watch so many documentaries on TV,I would always join in once in a while.There seems to be an infinite amount of life in the oceans,so much man have not discovered.Life underwater seems so fascinating and mysterious.How did God put so much life there?And put so many varieties to boot.Wow,that's why I think I am so drawn in and attracted by all these lifeforms...well,besides the fact that they are delicious.

But anyhow,I was watching this programme on Channel i called Ranger Station yesterday and it talked about how in the Maldives,a group of conservationists (I think) put up artificial structures around the islands and use low direct current around these structures on these things to induce rapid coral growth so that these artificial coral reefs can be used to protect the islands from tidal changes and other environmental forces.Very interesting.And so blah blah blah blah blah and then the prgramme talked about eco-tourism and its importance to ths island.How people on the islands has had to adjust to this growing industry.One component of eco-tourism is,of course,dolphin-watching.Going out in a yacht and spotting dolphins.One particualr statement intrigued me,it went:"...and then the dolphins would move out to the deeper waters to sleep..."Sleep?Dolphins?Do you spot a weird thing here?

Dolphins,as we all know,are mammals.So they do not have gills and can't breathe in water.if they stay submerged,they die.That's how tuna-fishing nets kill them.So how can a dolphin sleep?Because if it did,wouldn't it stop swimming,sink to the bottom and drown?If it floats on the surface,wouldn't it be hit by boats or become easy prey to any predators?So do dolphins sleep?I had the good sense to go to the "howstuffworks" website to find out.

Well,I decided I didn't want to write in my own words so I'm just going to summarise what was written on the site...cut and paste style:

Whales and dolphins are mammals, so in a lot of ways, they are just like human beings.The biggest differences between these animals and human beings are related to our respective environments.Whales and dolphins have a unique respiratory system that lets them spend long periods of time (sometimes 30 minutes or longer) underwater,without taking in any oxygen.

On land, human beings and other mammals breathe involuntarily:If we don't make a decision to breathe or not to breathe,our body will take in air automatically.Because of their undersea environment, whales and dolphins must be conscious breathers: They have to actively decide when to breathe.Consequently, in order to breathe, they have to be conscious.This presents a problem, since mammalian brains need to enter an unconscious state from time to time in order to function correctly.

There's plenty of time for a dolphin to catch a catnap between trips to the ocean surface, of course, but this isn't a viable option. When you're a conscious breather, it's just not feasible to be completely unconscious -- what if you don't wake up in time? The solution for whales and dolphins is to let one half of the brain sleep at a time. In this way, the animal is never completely unconscious, but it still gets the rest it needs.

Scientists have studied this phenomenon in dolphins, using electroencephalography. In this process, electrodes hooked up to the head measure electricity levels in the brain. The resulting electroencephalograms (EEGs) of dolphin brains demonstrate that in the sleep cycle, half of the dolphin's brain does indeed "shut down" while the other half is still active. Researchers have observed that dolphins are in this state for approximately eight hours a day.

We can't really know what this rest state feels like, but we can make a good guess. It is probably something like the semi-conscious state we experience as we begin to fall asleep. We're pretty close to unconsciousness, but are aware enough of our surroundings to wake up completely if we need to.

So well,now you get the answer.Actually,I know exactly how dolphins feel when half their brain is asleep...because I spent the last 3 years doing exactly that in the office so I know exactly how these mammals feel.The pains they go through having to swim and swim and swim half-awake.These poor dolphins...but wait a second,they don't even have to contend with Rogue and Banshee...so what's so poor about them?Nonetheless,maybe,I should join ACRES since I understand animals so well.Anybody got a pet polar-bear in their toilet?Don't let me catch you...

I've really written/copied a very long blog today.I hope you guys won't get as smashed as me reading my load of hogwash.Anyway,I got a thing to advertise and sell here.I've got a 5 months-old Twinhead laptop to sell.It's very light (sub-3kg) and quite petite in size.It's still in pretty new condition so well,anyone interested,email me.Oh,the price is negotiable.But it's got to be above $1k at least.After all,the original price was $1950.

Ok ok ok.Soprry for turning my blog into an ST Classifieds advert and a sub-standard National Geographic commentry piece.But hope you enjoyed the information I dug out...if you are still awake.Wake up,boy boy,girl girl...don't die on me now...

Monday, November 08, 2004
Treasuring Someone

I have to admit something here.I desperately wanted to erase the post I wrote about Huang Na and pleading for her to come back home after the tragic news came about her death and well,I really didn't know what to say.But I decided to keep it in.Maybe in memory of her and that I cared about her.I don't know.One of the news that I have been desperately trying to avoid reading in the papers or watching on TV is the intense coverage that the media have put on this case.This is mainly because I didn't want to feel sad about her all over again (I get sad everytime I read about her).But over the weekend,I decided to read some reports about Huang Na and what she was like while she was alive.The picture that the media have put together of the girl was that she was a gregarious girl who was extremely independent,lovable,smart and also desperately needed love and attention.I was also somewhat touched yet sad by the great amount of sympathy and love that the general public have shown to this little posthumous.Because the key word here is posthumous.There was hardly any love given to her while she was alive.What's the use of showering someone with so much love when she's dead?Where was it when she needed it the most?This is not directed at all the people who never knew her personally besides through the news but to all the people who did but never showed love and attention to a child.

I think when the media reported in today's article that Huang Na was a lonely child who desperately needed love and attention,they missed out one crucial point.ALL children need love and attention.So Huang Na is by no means a special case.The only thing that set Huang Na apart was that she never got actually got too much love and attention while she was alive.And for a child,that's tragic.Imagine having to look high and low just for someone who'd spare some time to listen,talk to and understand you.I am a 27-year-old.For me,something like seeking love,understanding and companionship,I can do without it and easily live with it.It's no big deal.For a 9-year-old to have to deal with loneliness,it must have been extremely tough on her.No matter how independent she is.From the reports,I sometimes think that this child's gregarious,chatty and lovable manner is but an overt attempt to fight and mask her loneliness by being nice and friendly to everyone.How many kids you know talk to aunties they don't particualr know well in a friendly manner?

I am especially saddened by the way (this is what I perceived anyway) that this child was pushed around and ignored by all the adults around her.You can tell by the way that despite all the time that Huang Na spent playing (alone) around the Pasir Panjang Vegetable Wholesale Centre,all the vendors there actually never really knew her.All they can say in interviews is that she was a gregarious and independent kid who played on her own.Which makes a mockery of all the "intense" feelings" that they held for Took when he was brought back to the centre to re-enact the case.Apparently,they shouted words of hatred at him and one even thought about "hitting him".If only they had been as quick to act with love as they are with hatred.Certain things might not have happened then.

Another piece of news I read in today's paper was that Huang Na had called her godmother just before her birthday on Sept 28 and said she wanted to come to the house to play.But apparently the godmother was busy and said no to her.She obviously regrets now that she said no then.I think those are easy and empty words.Because,first,I could never imagine,saying no to a kid who is known to be a good kid and has never made many demands on you.How do you say no to a kid like that?Secondly,even if she was busy,she could still have easily told Huang Na on another day during the week to play.Why didn't she?I hope not all adults treat kids so carelessly.

What the Huang Na case teachs me is less that all children need attention (that's universally true,if you don't know it by now,you should) but that we should treasure the people in our lives while we still have them.Because when God calls time on their existence on this world,all the outpouring of grief and love does nothing to mask how you treated that person while he/she was alive.You can wail your heart out during that person's wake and bluff everyone else that you have and showed great love for that person while he/she was here.But that person knows...and you know.So why lie to yourself?To make yourself feel better?

I have become slightly gentler and kinder to some of my family members in recent days.Maybe it's that I find no reason to get angry at some of the things that do.Or just that I have chosen to swallow things down because anger only makes things worse.God knows only how long I can keep this up.But I hope I always do.I don't want to live with regrets that when people do pass away,the absence of my love had been far more prominent in their lives than its presence.

In a way,that should probably be the case with my friends too.I have always tried to distance myself from many people,only allowing a selected few to be really close,so that I get hurt by things they do or words they say.I have always tried to be as nice,kind,gentle and understanding as possible to those whom I allow to be close.It's those outside of the circle that maybe I need to to be kinder,gentle and more understanding towards.I wonder if that's an oxymoron.The reason why I shut them out is because either I don't know too much about them or there is something in them I inherently don't trust or like.There is nothing oxymoronic about the former but what about the latter?There might be a reason why we are not close in the first place.

There have been some people recently whom I have pushed away deliberately because of hurt.I have had second thoughts about what I've done.In a recent post,I had said that I don't need certain things and certain people in my life.Do I need them now?No,I still don't.But I don't want to hurt people either,intentionally or not.This has been my main fear.And also the fact that I might regret it later in life (which I had mentioned earlier).You never know when someone might be gone.If such a piece of news comes suddenly out of the blue,how much regret would I have?Especially knwoing that I might have deliberately shut that person out.

Whatever it is,the bottomline is that we should all,at least,treasure all the people around us whom we love or like.I don't know if that excludes a lot of people from our lifes.I could just have a small close social circle.Maybe we should probably strive to love all around us.That will not be easy at all.I have to admit that.But it'd reduce the amount of regret we might experience later in our lifes.If we have any.

Huang Na is gone now.A lovely child who never got much love while she was a alive.No number of Hello Kitty toys can compensate for this void in her heart.And I think,in heaven,what she craves most will not be Hello Kitty toys but a whole lot of love and attention.I hope she gets plenty of love and attention where she is now.Something she never got while she was here.

And something we might want to give freely while we are still here.

Saturday, November 06, 2004
Girls with Long Hair

I am feeling generous today, so generous that I am going to write an inexplicably long post and make everyone who reads this blog suffer with me.But anybody who reads my posts know that I always write extremely long posts anyway so they'd have had plenty of practice by now.Hah.Today was a weird day.It seemed that from the moment I woke up,there was an avalanche of news that greeted me both on my mobile,email and the net.Let's go through them one by one.

First,let me ask you guys:have you ever had the experience of an ATM machine,SAM machine or Ezilink top-up machine suddenly swallow up your ATM card and refuse to spit it out no matter what buttons you press?And then,of no apparent reason again,just when you have given up,it spits the card out in mockery of your panic.It happened to me tday at an Ezilink top-up machine.Ok,so I used a bent and clearly cracked ATM card,but that's no reason for the card to swallow my card and then stare in the face and demand,"Please insert your ATM card"when mine was already in the slot.Imagine my panic.I was staring at the machine and going "SH*******T"and pressing the "Cancel" key again,again and again to no avail.Finally,I decided to use my second ATM card to nudge my first card further into teh slot so the mechanism could spring the thing back out again.Fortunately it did.Or I'd look like a schmuck standing there staring at the machine.And fortunately,there was no one behind me too.But you understand the panic.What if there was a long queue behind you and the machine refuses to spit it out.And you got to stand there.Because your stupid card is there and if it gets spits out and you are not there,who knows if the guy standing next in line is the most sophisticated password hacker in the world who can hack your password within three attempts?So dangerous.And you can imagine my face.It was so ashen white when the card got stuck,Sammi Cheng would have been proud of my fairness.No need for SKII,just have your ATM card eaten by some malicious ATM machine and you get exactly the same effect.

Jacques Santini,the French poodle coaching my favourite team Tottenham Hotspur,quit last night in a sudden decision.Just great.Now we have no manager again.Whatever three year plan he said he envisioned for my club just got expressed-laned into a three month plan.I hope you had a great time while you were here,Jacques,because I sure didn't!As most know,I was never convinced of Monsieur Santini's tactics or his man-mangement skills...in fact,even if his English although I looked forward to his interviews because his French accent was fabulously awful.Good riddance in all truth.I was looking forward to perhaps another brand-name manager like Louis Van Gaal or old English dog Sir Bobby Robson but it seems assistant manager Martin Jol will get the job instead.English League Championship (that's the old Division 1),here we come!

Typically in Singapore,we have many campaigns like the Courtesy Week,Road Safety Week and Clean Toilet Bowl Week.I have now added a new week in this busy campaign calendar of ours.I dub the 1-7th November Resignation Week.This is in memory of Prof X who finally decided that all his talk about quitting was getting to us all and finally took action.This is also in memory of Jacques Santini who finally ended my three months of misery.Oh,it just so happens that another friend of mine,Ginola,who was working in my good friend,Ike's company also quit last week.This was in more acrimonious conditions though.Apparently,he left in a huff during lunch and didn't tell Ike about it (He was being mentored by Ike and was in his team.Ike is the team leader).The next day,he came in to hand in his letter.I don't know what the situation was but well,I just think Ginola didn't handle things too maturely.I mean,well,he has been working for three full years now,if not more.He should understand how the working world works.The amount of backstabbing,the deliberate taunting and the bullying that can take place.Seemingly,he couldn't take it down and left the place just like that.I don't know.Such impulsive actions only taints his character in the eyes of others,making him out to be a petulant individual when he's not.I wouldn't advise anyone to do this.If you are angry,count to 10 and try to cool down.If 10 is not enough,count to 100.The thing is,angry actions is not something one should display too often in a society that doesn't even seem to like assertiveness.But then coming from me,it sounds like the Hulk telling people not to get angry.

This morning,I happened to go into my mates' Twoeggs blog and I chanced upon a fabulously intoxicating and impressively intellectual comment left by one of my mates' mate.Actually,it took me two reads before I understood what the words mean.Wow!That's just like reading one of my statistics textbooks.I guess I am one of those dimwits who do not understand great insights.Or...maybe intellectual giants should stop acting pompus and talk in terms that the Average Joe can understand.After all,what's the point of writing in terms that only dicts (dictionaries) or dicks can understand?Great intellect is in the ability to communicate complex ideas in simple terms.Anybody can talk mambo jumbo.

Oh yes yes yes.I finally get into the most important issue of the day.Girls with long hair...and why guys like girls this way.Seriously,I have no clear idea why but if anybody want to sponsor and commission me to do a study on this,I'm more than willing.I think I did once talk about what guys look for in a girl but I never talked about why guys like long hair.And even though I have no clear idea on why guys like girls to have long hair,I can hazard a guess.After all, I am also a hot red-blooded male with a throbbing.....................................heart.

For starters,the social conditioning of long hair being associated with femininity (that's a handful to spell) is one major factor...of course.I won't even go into it too much even though I think this social conditioning thing is a bit silly.Or maybe girls like their hair long anyway.I don't know.

Well,I think guys like their girls to have long hair because we want our partners to look "different".Imagine,you with the short hair walking with another girl with short hair.Somehow the picture doesn't look too good.But what if you have a girl with a cascading waterfall of a hairstyle walking alongside you.Imagine when the wind blows.Woah,I tell you,one major Pantene moment.Guys love that...even though they might eat hair in the process if the wind direction is not "right".

Also I think guys like to run their hands through the hair of their girls.Or even to wash it for them.You know,just like one of those three lecherous brothers did for Julia Ormond in Legends Of The Fall.Ok,actually I am not too sure if that's such a scene but you get the idea right.Personally i'd like to run my hand through my girl's hair...to push it back for her,to caress it,to tie it into Sennheisser headphones-shaped buns just like Princess Leia.Cool.Guys love to play with hair(I hope that doesn't sound lewd?).Imagine,a guy is running his hand through his girl's hair and then it ends abruptly at her ears.Wah liao.Major anti-climax.No fun."What am I supposed to run my hand through now,dear???Your armpit hair???"

Girls always seem to take good care of their hair so that it's always shiny,silky,soft and erm,dyed.Wait a second,I suddenly realise most girls have dyed hair.I'd just like to ask what's wrong with black hair,girls?Is it boring?I don't think guys find black hair boring...why do you think so many guys find Jeon Ji-Hyun hot?Part of it got to do with her hair.Anyway,yeah...like I said,girls take good care of their hair...and well,since your hair is so well-taken care of,we like to apprecaite it in GREAT lengths.Too much of a godo thing is never bad.Unless you are talking about watering plants.And since the hair can be so soft,we love to lie on it or bury our heads in it.I could be confusing it with the bosom though.

It's almost thee nd of the day now.I better end this post before 12 midnight.Actually it's more because I've ran out of things to write.Mind you,I started this post from 12-something NOON and only completed it now.Intermittently,I was eating,drinking,sleeping,lazing,surfing the net,watching TV and finally,writing.What a weekend.What a pig.That's me,that's me.

Before I finally go,I can't resist posting these words here...dedicated to all self-important and/or attention seeking people(anyone comes to mind?):


You live upon a stage, and everyone's agreed
You're the brightest hope by far that anyone can see
So when you take the limelight you can guarantee
You're gaining fame and claiming credibility
Tell me baby are you gonna get high as a kite?
Tell me baby are you gonna let it happen every night?
How can you expect to be taken seriously?

You live within the law, and everyone assumes
You must find this a bore, and try something new
You're an intellectual giant, an authority
To preach and teach the whole world about ecology
Tell me baby are you gonna make any other claim?
Tell me baby are you gonna take any of the blame?
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
Seriously
Seriously

You live within the headlines, so everyone can see
You're supporting every new cause and meeting royalty
You're another major artist on a higher plane
Do you think they'll put you in the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame?
Tell me baby how you generate longevity?
Tell me baby how you really hate publicity?
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
Seriously
Seriously
Seriously, aah

Do you have a message for your fans?

How can you expect to be taken seriously?
How can you expect to be taken seriously?
Seriously
Seriously
Seriously
Seriously
Aah, seriously