Yes I guess I still miss you here and there. But it's always good to try and move on especially when one is not too happy with the way things are going.
Youth brings a wealth of choice.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Why So Long?
I take so long to post because I edit my posts. And I think of what's good to talk about.
It's amazing how many people have read this blog, I'm finding out slowly, but that's fine, and I'm always surprised.
It's amazing how many people have read this blog, I'm finding out slowly, but that's fine, and I'm always surprised.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Who's Got Your Back?
They say that behind every great man is a great woman.
An obviously "straight" edition of a principle to pander to the masses, the principle itself is of utmost importance.
A partner, whom cannot understand your definition of success, and whom does not support you the best way possible, is not worth to be with at all.
Period.
An obviously "straight" edition of a principle to pander to the masses, the principle itself is of utmost importance.
A partner, whom cannot understand your definition of success, and whom does not support you the best way possible, is not worth to be with at all.
Period.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
All About the Balls
"If you have the balls to propose something repeatedly, be prepared for it to happen. And if you have the balls to do something, be prepared for the consequences that come with it."
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
I Wish You All the Best
7 February marked the start of singlehood again.
The reason? Differing expectations of behavior. All that needs to be said has already been said and I wish you the best of luck and a successful path ahead. I know I'll miss you sometimes but this is the best arrangement.
The record ended today at 28 weeks, cementing the status and perhaps will give both of us added strength to move on.
The reason? Differing expectations of behavior. All that needs to be said has already been said and I wish you the best of luck and a successful path ahead. I know I'll miss you sometimes but this is the best arrangement.
The record ended today at 28 weeks, cementing the status and perhaps will give both of us added strength to move on.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Haiti
Some are calling the Haiti quake the worst disaster of the century.
The UN says that it is facing unprecedented stress to cope with the disaster.
Pictures in the papers show corpses being flung around; men walking around the city - pointing rifles at civilians who don't seem to pay the gunman any attention; reports about how water distribution has got so dangerous because some people would kill for a cup of water; the Haitian government reporting that relief efforts are still largely uncoordinated; how looting is on the rise, including how some Haitians would remove corpses from coffins and steal the coffins.
Does disaster allow for this sort of opportunistic stealing? Civilians still alive in Haiti, are now in fear - not only of aftershocks that will further devastate a country already ruined, but also of the greed and ugliness of their own men.
The UN says that it is facing unprecedented stress to cope with the disaster.
Pictures in the papers show corpses being flung around; men walking around the city - pointing rifles at civilians who don't seem to pay the gunman any attention; reports about how water distribution has got so dangerous because some people would kill for a cup of water; the Haitian government reporting that relief efforts are still largely uncoordinated; how looting is on the rise, including how some Haitians would remove corpses from coffins and steal the coffins.
Does disaster allow for this sort of opportunistic stealing? Civilians still alive in Haiti, are now in fear - not only of aftershocks that will further devastate a country already ruined, but also of the greed and ugliness of their own men.
Friday, January 1, 2010
The Prada Wallet
I just celebrated my 24th birthday over seven crazy days and it was capped with this gorgeous red beauty courtesy of baby. Thanks dear. Talk to me to touch it! Heh.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
20 Weeks
Here's a toast to the big 20!! 20 weeks spent together everyday is no bed of roses but I had some of the happiest times this year, thanks to you!
More patience, freedom and independence, I will try to give to you so unnecessary quarrels will be less frequent.
Thanks for being here!
More patience, freedom and independence, I will try to give to you so unnecessary quarrels will be less frequent.
Thanks for being here!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tne New Hair
So the new hair ain't fresh anymore after being paraded around town and the clubs for three weeks or so.
The clean mullet is a refreshing change to the bangs of three years. It's a welcome change not worrying about whether the fringe is flowing properly, clumped together or whether any unsightly gaps are present. And of course it's nice again to see my features fully exposed.
Surprisingly I didn't use Ivan/ Jun to create the new style. Ivan is a great friend and I can't deny the bonus that he's a wonderful hairstylist and makeup artist. In creating the mullet, I went the way of the HDB stylist, but one that had already been proven by cutting my brother's hair to standard mullet that I was looking for.
Ivan still rules the roost when it comes to my hair. He helped turn the old into new again by sharpening my mullet just past midnight for the potential slut-fest that is Zouk Out. For some reason however, I miss my floppy fringe after three weeks and am now masterminding mating it with the mullet.
A few radical lines cut on either side would work nicely too. Everyone likes to play a porn star once in a while. And Ivan shall help me with it!
The clean mullet is a refreshing change to the bangs of three years. It's a welcome change not worrying about whether the fringe is flowing properly, clumped together or whether any unsightly gaps are present. And of course it's nice again to see my features fully exposed.
Surprisingly I didn't use Ivan/ Jun to create the new style. Ivan is a great friend and I can't deny the bonus that he's a wonderful hairstylist and makeup artist. In creating the mullet, I went the way of the HDB stylist, but one that had already been proven by cutting my brother's hair to standard mullet that I was looking for.
Ivan still rules the roost when it comes to my hair. He helped turn the old into new again by sharpening my mullet just past midnight for the potential slut-fest that is Zouk Out. For some reason however, I miss my floppy fringe after three weeks and am now masterminding mating it with the mullet.
A few radical lines cut on either side would work nicely too. Everyone likes to play a porn star once in a while. And Ivan shall help me with it!
For those who are following.....
So the drama didn't end at week 12. "If I can't make you happy, what's the use of having me around?" was the main principle underlying baby's sudden appearance just before midnight at the car park.
Many weeks have passed and the record now stands at 19 weeks - just a week more to the big 20.
It has been a really long time; weirdly it doesn't feel so. Neither is there tedium nor a factor of resentful burden in keeping the record going.
Quarrels are frequent - understandable with two explosive and wild characters; yet I mostly remember the good times...
Many weeks have passed and the record now stands at 19 weeks - just a week more to the big 20.
It has been a really long time; weirdly it doesn't feel so. Neither is there tedium nor a factor of resentful burden in keeping the record going.
Quarrels are frequent - understandable with two explosive and wild characters; yet I mostly remember the good times...
Monday, October 26, 2009
12 Weeks
It's really been a wonderful journey. 12 straight weeks of seeing each other everyday no matter how long or short the meetings were. This record is special to me and it's unlikely I will have anything like this ever again in the future. Thank you for all the effort and the awesome times together.
It is 10.52p.m. on October 26 as I am writing this. Just over an hour left before the record gets broken because we have not met this Monday.
After the record breaks, I hope the feelings stay the same....
It is 10.52p.m. on October 26 as I am writing this. Just over an hour left before the record gets broken because we have not met this Monday.
After the record breaks, I hope the feelings stay the same....
Thursday, July 30, 2009
The Lavender Powder
This is what you wrote:
ATBY;6 August;13 July;attention whore;PDA;white;purple;kissing;hearts;duplicity;sex;Timbre;smell;Zirca;roast duck
This is what I have to add:
Chanel;shy;chem;ION;Pasir Panjang;purple and green;red shorts;fish head soup;"drinking";21 July;fireflies;Lavender;Toyota Vios;humidifier;Circus;If you seek Amy;Love Story;2nd Floor;call me? ^^
ATBY;6 August;13 July;attention whore;PDA;white;purple;kissing;hearts;duplicity;sex;Timbre;smell;Zirca;roast duck
This is what I have to add:
Chanel;shy;chem;ION;Pasir Panjang;purple and green;red shorts;fish head soup;"drinking";21 July;fireflies;Lavender;Toyota Vios;humidifier;Circus;If you seek Amy;Love Story;2nd Floor;call me? ^^
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
A storm is coming
This is the juncture where once again, the decision between emptiness or chaos must be made.
"I am really thinking how long this will last.. I hope you had a good time,remember to tell me why 6 August is off...see you."
Tomorrow...
"I am really thinking how long this will last.. I hope you had a good time,remember to tell me why 6 August is off...see you."
Tomorrow...
Monday, July 20, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
So are we friends or what?
When you call somebody your good friend, does the person have to feel the same way about you?
I have been thinking about it, and I think not. As long as someone fulfills his/ her duty as my good friend, I will treat you as one, even though you might not feel the same way.
I have been thinking about it, and I think not. As long as someone fulfills his/ her duty as my good friend, I will treat you as one, even though you might not feel the same way.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Emptiness or Chaos?
It is better to understand yourself first and know what you want, before you drag someone else in. Would it be too late then, after I know what I want?
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Waffle Wars
I had a pretty harrowing experience today. It involved making a waffle on a cooker which wasn't greased properly.
The other waffle cooker beside this one had already fallen victim to some idiot who cooked the waffle for too long and it ended up burnt and irrevocably (till washed) stuck on the pan.
So the whole of Dobbs - my dining hall, had to share this single waffle maker. So as you can imagine there was long line for the doughy concoction.
I was third in line. The alarm on the waffle maker rang, signalling that the single waffle in the machine was cooked and ready for removal. The poor girl spent five minutes, scraping the waffle out of the cooker with a knife. By the time she was finished, the waffle looked like the shredded remains of some movie monster post-explosive-shoved-in-womb.
I heard sniggers behind which sort of terrified me and made me want to quit the waffle line. But I decided to wait, I mean, I was third in line and the other female in front of me was probably going to mess up too right? So it was ok for me to mess up.
The alarm rang again and this lady swung the pan open. Inside lay a pretty, perfectly formed waffle steaming happily away. Before I could peer over her shoulder to witness the waffle's destruction, she made two quick movements with some sort of knife and lo- the waffle was sitting in all its perfect entirety on her plate. She quickly whisked it away for drenching in some butter.
STRESS!!
Now it was time for my show.
I scooped the thick mixture out and spead it in the cooker - and realized I scooped too little and followed with another half-scoop. Then I proceeded with the 'master-chef' like motion of circling the waffle mixture around the pan to ensure it was evenly spread. Then I closed the lid and flipped the pan.
Whilst I was waiting, I was looking for the knife that the standard before me had used to surgically separate waffle from sticky pan. It was gone.
The alarm rang. I flipped the cooker back around and opened the lid. There my waffle was, a little bit ugly with a bit of excess dough by the sides which gave it sort of a penumbral aura but still pretty.
I picked up a pair of plastic tongs and steadied myself in plucking the waffle from pan. Tongs cut right through the waffle and the little side of the pretty thing tore as I tried to snatch it up from the pan. Shit, you can do this, I told myself.
There was silence behind me while I snitch and snatched at the waffle to free it from the pan. Still no success and I was close to a minute in. I started plucking at the bottom of the waffle to add to the right side which I had tore. Bottom tore too. Desperate, I switched to the left side and that went too. "This can't be!" I screamed mentally at myself.
Back to the left side, more snitching, lifting and tugging! And then miraculously, (no it was really due to the lifting of the right and bottom sides earlier), I grabbed hold of just enough waffle and was able to free it in one lift from the clutches of the cooker.
Ah, physics, the fulcrum and all its beauty.
I flipped the thing on my plate so the MU logo proudly faced the world. Well the waffle was 85% intact! A bit shredded and ripped at the sides but still, good looking enough and I spent two minutes only. I proceeded to lay a megaball of chocolate ice cream on it.
Whilst I was enjoying my hard-earned dessert, I heard the alarm ring once more and the girl (again) who had been behind me in the waffle line walked past me and I caught a glimpse of her mangled shredded waffle.
After I was done sniggering at her, I turned back to my waffle and it somehow, looked even prettier.
The other waffle cooker beside this one had already fallen victim to some idiot who cooked the waffle for too long and it ended up burnt and irrevocably (till washed) stuck on the pan.
So the whole of Dobbs - my dining hall, had to share this single waffle maker. So as you can imagine there was long line for the doughy concoction.
I was third in line. The alarm on the waffle maker rang, signalling that the single waffle in the machine was cooked and ready for removal. The poor girl spent five minutes, scraping the waffle out of the cooker with a knife. By the time she was finished, the waffle looked like the shredded remains of some movie monster post-explosive-shoved-in-womb.
I heard sniggers behind which sort of terrified me and made me want to quit the waffle line. But I decided to wait, I mean, I was third in line and the other female in front of me was probably going to mess up too right? So it was ok for me to mess up.
The alarm rang again and this lady swung the pan open. Inside lay a pretty, perfectly formed waffle steaming happily away. Before I could peer over her shoulder to witness the waffle's destruction, she made two quick movements with some sort of knife and lo- the waffle was sitting in all its perfect entirety on her plate. She quickly whisked it away for drenching in some butter.
STRESS!!
Now it was time for my show.
I scooped the thick mixture out and spead it in the cooker - and realized I scooped too little and followed with another half-scoop. Then I proceeded with the 'master-chef' like motion of circling the waffle mixture around the pan to ensure it was evenly spread. Then I closed the lid and flipped the pan.
Whilst I was waiting, I was looking for the knife that the standard before me had used to surgically separate waffle from sticky pan. It was gone.
The alarm rang. I flipped the cooker back around and opened the lid. There my waffle was, a little bit ugly with a bit of excess dough by the sides which gave it sort of a penumbral aura but still pretty.
I picked up a pair of plastic tongs and steadied myself in plucking the waffle from pan. Tongs cut right through the waffle and the little side of the pretty thing tore as I tried to snatch it up from the pan. Shit, you can do this, I told myself.
There was silence behind me while I snitch and snatched at the waffle to free it from the pan. Still no success and I was close to a minute in. I started plucking at the bottom of the waffle to add to the right side which I had tore. Bottom tore too. Desperate, I switched to the left side and that went too. "This can't be!" I screamed mentally at myself.
Back to the left side, more snitching, lifting and tugging! And then miraculously, (no it was really due to the lifting of the right and bottom sides earlier), I grabbed hold of just enough waffle and was able to free it in one lift from the clutches of the cooker.
Ah, physics, the fulcrum and all its beauty.
I flipped the thing on my plate so the MU logo proudly faced the world. Well the waffle was 85% intact! A bit shredded and ripped at the sides but still, good looking enough and I spent two minutes only. I proceeded to lay a megaball of chocolate ice cream on it.
Whilst I was enjoying my hard-earned dessert, I heard the alarm ring once more and the girl (again) who had been behind me in the waffle line walked past me and I caught a glimpse of her mangled shredded waffle.
After I was done sniggering at her, I turned back to my waffle and it somehow, looked even prettier.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Hunting Season!
The time is nigh, to start the search for people to work with in NYC!
I get to go around the city, meet people and get work I need done.
What's not to like? On the other hand, it's good to take a break sometimes and just chill - walking around aimlessly ain't such a bad idea.
As someone told me one beautiful San Francisco morning, I need to rest more and stop my mind constantly jumping from one task to another.
I get to go around the city, meet people and get work I need done.
What's not to like? On the other hand, it's good to take a break sometimes and just chill - walking around aimlessly ain't such a bad idea.
As someone told me one beautiful San Francisco morning, I need to rest more and stop my mind constantly jumping from one task to another.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Biting the hand that feeds you
Dabbling in politics and war is rare for me, but sometimes a situation arises where I'm left more than a little outraged.
Somali pirates have seized four vessels and 75 sailors off the coast of Somalia. This follows the slaying of three pirates in the rescue of American Richard Phillips.
The pirates will demand USD1 million for each of the four vessels. Enterprising yes but where does the loot go to? Well not to feed their starving families of course!
High on the shopping list are more AK-47s and grenades so that more ships may be attacked.
And what sort of ships are these idiots attacking? Well, trade ships and ships from the U.S. carrying humanitarian aid to Somalia that's what.
It's one thing to attack a ship and demand money. It's another thing to attack a ship sent to help people in your country because you people are too useless to do it yourself.
"We will seek out the Americans and if we capture them we will slaughter them," said a 25-year-old pirate based in the Somali port of Harardhere (AP, 2009).
With parasites like these plaguing Africa and hampering its efforts to build and succeed, I really think of little necessary other than their long-due extermination.
And of course ingrates do not just extend to Somali pirates. They are everywhere in our life - and "once bitten twice shy" is always the golden rule to apply.
Somali pirates have seized four vessels and 75 sailors off the coast of Somalia. This follows the slaying of three pirates in the rescue of American Richard Phillips.
The pirates will demand USD1 million for each of the four vessels. Enterprising yes but where does the loot go to? Well not to feed their starving families of course!
High on the shopping list are more AK-47s and grenades so that more ships may be attacked.
And what sort of ships are these idiots attacking? Well, trade ships and ships from the U.S. carrying humanitarian aid to Somalia that's what.
It's one thing to attack a ship and demand money. It's another thing to attack a ship sent to help people in your country because you people are too useless to do it yourself.
"We will seek out the Americans and if we capture them we will slaughter them," said a 25-year-old pirate based in the Somali port of Harardhere (AP, 2009).
With parasites like these plaguing Africa and hampering its efforts to build and succeed, I really think of little necessary other than their long-due extermination.
And of course ingrates do not just extend to Somali pirates. They are everywhere in our life - and "once bitten twice shy" is always the golden rule to apply.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
See More Here
Please credit the photographers.
William D Walsh, 2009 @ Executive Hotel Vintage Court, Los Angeles
Gary Xu, 2009 @ Diamond Bar, Los Angeles
Gary Xu, 2009 @ Diamond Bar, Los Angeles
Gary Xu, 2009 @ Santa Monica Beach, Los Angeles
anrkifoto, 2008, National Stadium, Singapore
Dios Vincoy Junior, 2008, Singapore
William D Walsh, 2009 @ Executive Hotel Vintage Court, Los Angeles
Gary Xu, 2009 @ Diamond Bar, Los Angeles
Gary Xu, 2009 @ Diamond Bar, Los Angeles
Gary Xu, 2009 @ Santa Monica Beach, Los Angeles
anrkifoto, 2008, National Stadium, Singapore
Dios Vincoy Junior, 2008, Singapore
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Rantings
The gym trip was awesome. I worked my arms with the tough-as-hell straight arms lifts. Tired, satisfied and with time to kill, I headed to the Tiger Grotto. The water was hot as were the wet sweaty bodies. I was covered with steam, boiling steam after I found a spot in the steam room. Flushed red, I waded into the whirlpool and swirled two rounds before getting out. I washed down with cool water, in a huge room for the handicapped. I made new contacts-destination party-zone next week.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
No more warm days?
For some reason, it has been a very cold day today. It makes me wonder when's the next time I'll feel warm. I'm freezing already in of all places, Singapore and I don't know how I am going to survive in -2 degree weather in Missouri.
Well guess what! -2 isn't that bad, it can drop to -13 in Midwest U.S.A! Wow, I am so "looking forward" to the cold. My resistance to chill hasn't been the same since I got wasted on my birthday in December 07 and again on November 08.
The past week has been crazy with at least two meet ups every day and of course the return of my darling!
Jane you're so sweet to plan that surprise for me. Luckily I managed to look very happy. Ok ok, I'm kidding, I was really happy that you came back to see me, thanks so much and I had a fantastic time club hopping with you over three days!
Jonathan, thanks bro for conspiring with my "really big present" to bluff me! Haha, I could use it immediately and yes I don't need a refund for the present, once broken considered sold and Jane is no virgin to me. Oops!
I'm serious about Bangkok alright! See whether you two are able to drop by just for a weekend in June or July.
I'm headed to the airport in 2 hours now and I seriously don't know what to expect from Missouri or the super long haul flight or the Missouri Journalism School but I have very good feedback from my seniors who were there.
Also, many friends are already in the U.S. and I take comfort that they are waiting for me there.
Updates and pictures in my new environment will flow, so catch me online when you want to see me! :P
Well guess what! -2 isn't that bad, it can drop to -13 in Midwest U.S.A! Wow, I am so "looking forward" to the cold. My resistance to chill hasn't been the same since I got wasted on my birthday in December 07 and again on November 08.
The past week has been crazy with at least two meet ups every day and of course the return of my darling!
Jane you're so sweet to plan that surprise for me. Luckily I managed to look very happy. Ok ok, I'm kidding, I was really happy that you came back to see me, thanks so much and I had a fantastic time club hopping with you over three days!
Jonathan, thanks bro for conspiring with my "really big present" to bluff me! Haha, I could use it immediately and yes I don't need a refund for the present, once broken considered sold and Jane is no virgin to me. Oops!
I'm serious about Bangkok alright! See whether you two are able to drop by just for a weekend in June or July.
I'm headed to the airport in 2 hours now and I seriously don't know what to expect from Missouri or the super long haul flight or the Missouri Journalism School but I have very good feedback from my seniors who were there.
Also, many friends are already in the U.S. and I take comfort that they are waiting for me there.
Updates and pictures in my new environment will flow, so catch me online when you want to see me! :P
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Things to take note of
Sometimes I do things that makes me want to slap myself.
Not only is unnecessary money wasted but also opportunity slips away.
Here are some things I'll be prudent about in the furture:
1: Check the acutual discount for a product. Don't assume. I lost 10% of a possible 20% discount because I assumed the owner would recognize my friend and settle it. Fat chance! Check next time and make sure the discount is what is deserved.
2: When people ask for help and these people have somthing to offer. Don't just pass them your own phone number. What's the use in that? Get their number!
3: When printing cards which have your picture on it and which you are going to hand out, get the high-resolution original to print! Don't settle for less.
Not only is unnecessary money wasted but also opportunity slips away.
Here are some things I'll be prudent about in the furture:
1: Check the acutual discount for a product. Don't assume. I lost 10% of a possible 20% discount because I assumed the owner would recognize my friend and settle it. Fat chance! Check next time and make sure the discount is what is deserved.
2: When people ask for help and these people have somthing to offer. Don't just pass them your own phone number. What's the use in that? Get their number!
3: When printing cards which have your picture on it and which you are going to hand out, get the high-resolution original to print! Don't settle for less.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Stay Home Saturday
Well, clubs and town aren't always saturday night staples.
Sometimes catch-up time with Channel 5 and simple cereal would be sweet.
And oh by the way, this pretty pie is called Isphahan.
Weird name but tastes great and looks good. What's not to like?
Get some at the Hyatt.
Sometimes catch-up time with Channel 5 and simple cereal would be sweet.
And oh by the way, this pretty pie is called Isphahan.
Weird name but tastes great and looks good. What's not to like?
Get some at the Hyatt.
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
What Goes Around Comes Around
When I left the team to pursue the minor, I cared more what people would think than how my teammates felt.
Those who treated me as a friend, those who trusted and helped me along the way, I'm sorry I made the decision without informing you first.
Perhaps it's fitting now, that I know how you felt, through an event in the minor.
One of my minor team-mates left the group. He made the decision on his own, and informed the rest only today.
I accepted his decision. When someone wants to go, it's pointless making them stay. Nobody would be happy and group dynamics would be affected.
As I pondered upon it however, I couldn't stop feeling sad. The team had always stuck together and gone through the challenges and the assignments in the minor.
The feeling is indescribable. It's the slightest form of anger, tinged with sadness, yet numbed.
We are responsible for our decisions, may these decisions be for the better.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Ads that Work and Those That Don't
Advertisments are expensive. Why waste money on something that sucks?
How many people are persuaded by a bad advertisment? Well, what is bad depends on perception.
These advertisments: straightforward to the point of being boring. Just images without the storyline.
Looked through the September(latest) issue of Men's Folio. Voila, 42 pages of advertisements before editor's foreword. Great job marketing.
Jil Sander
Minimalist ad, minimalist tailoring. Uncluttered and unconfused. Model's hot, that helps. But then? Who wants a red blazer?
And oh here is another hottie.
SHIRT
Is anyone attracted by this ad? Model is bad, ad layout is bad. Product is un-inspiring. The only saving grace? The shirt is white, my favourite colour.
2XIST
Model is hot till analysis down there. Simply, not big enough. And there goes underwear sales.
Levi's Time
This is best model you can get? Levi's please.... if you want to pick Asian studs, there are much hotter ones. Pictures with no expression are worthless.
How many people are persuaded by a bad advertisment? Well, what is bad depends on perception.
These advertisments: straightforward to the point of being boring. Just images without the storyline.
Looked through the September(latest) issue of Men's Folio. Voila, 42 pages of advertisements before editor's foreword. Great job marketing.
Jil Sander
Minimalist ad, minimalist tailoring. Uncluttered and unconfused. Model's hot, that helps. But then? Who wants a red blazer?
And oh here is another hottie.
SHIRT
Is anyone attracted by this ad? Model is bad, ad layout is bad. Product is un-inspiring. The only saving grace? The shirt is white, my favourite colour.
2XIST
Model is hot till analysis down there. Simply, not big enough. And there goes underwear sales.
Levi's Time
This is best model you can get? Levi's please.... if you want to pick Asian studs, there are much hotter ones. Pictures with no expression are worthless.
"cough cough" and Live in Concert
Thanks to Ralf and his hot caucasian. Received two tickets to Diana Krall's concert at Fort Canning last night.
Thank god it didn't rain, the evening was lovely, cool and slightly breezy. As an entrepreneur in training and future host of an outdoor event, coudn't help thinking what would happen say it rained? Re-imbursement? Cancellation? Wet weather contingency?
The field was too huge to have any tent and it was amazing to see seats filled all the way to Fort Canning Center.
The diva was having a cold, looked tired and coughed during the show. But as per her words "Who cares?" Her sultry deep, coarse crooning was matched by her deftness at the piano. Fingers were a blur as she sang and played and matched by the twang of the guitar, the discordant bass and the bullet-fire rate of the drums.
As a new mom of two twin boys, she missed them so. Out of 5 addresses to the crowd, 4 involved sons and family.
The songs moved from slow croons to contemporary rapid rhythms toward the end and she obliged with an encore performance of one song and promised to vist Singapore again.
Music wasn't all that mattered, enjoy the curtain collection, courtesty of the new golden phone.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Prize money OK, just be more Singaporean
Byline: AT
The huge payout for your silver medal is cool, but please, make us proud to call you “Singaporean.”
Citizens this reporter talked to share this sentiment for Li Jiawei, Feng Tianwei and Wang Yuegu, who won silver in the team category of women’s table tennis and ended the republic’s 48-year Olympic medal drought.
They received $750,000. A loss to China in the final deprived them of the $1 million payout for a gold medal.
While prize money wasn’t a problem, some Singaporeans wished the trio would help citizens embrace them as “true” Singaporeans.
Fashion designer Kovit Ang, 35, felt the sports stars should be careful when giving media interviews “I read the current issue of a local entertainment magazine, and it seemed to me that Li Jiawei is still unsure where her priorities lie.”
“I think her (Li’s) heart is not here,” said Mdm. Jovina Yeo, 47, a housewife, “I think she still misses China and they would all go back to China if they had the chance.”
Mdm. Yeo is apathetic about the win because she cannot see the trio as Singaporean. “They must marry a Singaporean man, settle down, have babies and send their kids to local schools. Then I will consider them one of us,” she offered.
There was little issue with the prize money. Media correspondent Boon Chan, 34, feels Singapore is right in courting overseas sporting talent. “If your population is too small to produce Olympians in-situ, at least you’re capable of attracting them from elsewhere,” he explained.
Businessman Ngiam Tee Woh, 39, said the money justified the effort put in and Singapore’s objective of getting a medal the “entrepreneurial way.”
Ms. Melissa Yeo, 23, a full-time model said that the huge prize carrot was not only necessary to draw attention but Singapore should also “provide more recognition and more incentives” to assure its athletes of a good future.
Singapore is the world number one in awarding Olympic prize money. The $1 million it pays for a gold medal dwarfs the United States offering of $36,700. Thus, all of swimming star’s Michael Phelps eight Olympic golds are worth about the same, in hard cash, to a silver medal payout after it has been split by three Singaporeans.
“We should grant Michael citizenship,” joked Mr. Ang, “after all, we need more medals, and it’s cheaper to get eight golds than one silver.”
The huge payout for your silver medal is cool, but please, make us proud to call you “Singaporean.”
Citizens this reporter talked to share this sentiment for Li Jiawei, Feng Tianwei and Wang Yuegu, who won silver in the team category of women’s table tennis and ended the republic’s 48-year Olympic medal drought.
They received $750,000. A loss to China in the final deprived them of the $1 million payout for a gold medal.
While prize money wasn’t a problem, some Singaporeans wished the trio would help citizens embrace them as “true” Singaporeans.
Fashion designer Kovit Ang, 35, felt the sports stars should be careful when giving media interviews “I read the current issue of a local entertainment magazine, and it seemed to me that Li Jiawei is still unsure where her priorities lie.”
“I think her (Li’s) heart is not here,” said Mdm. Jovina Yeo, 47, a housewife, “I think she still misses China and they would all go back to China if they had the chance.”
Mdm. Yeo is apathetic about the win because she cannot see the trio as Singaporean. “They must marry a Singaporean man, settle down, have babies and send their kids to local schools. Then I will consider them one of us,” she offered.
There was little issue with the prize money. Media correspondent Boon Chan, 34, feels Singapore is right in courting overseas sporting talent. “If your population is too small to produce Olympians in-situ, at least you’re capable of attracting them from elsewhere,” he explained.
Businessman Ngiam Tee Woh, 39, said the money justified the effort put in and Singapore’s objective of getting a medal the “entrepreneurial way.”
Ms. Melissa Yeo, 23, a full-time model said that the huge prize carrot was not only necessary to draw attention but Singapore should also “provide more recognition and more incentives” to assure its athletes of a good future.
Singapore is the world number one in awarding Olympic prize money. The $1 million it pays for a gold medal dwarfs the United States offering of $36,700. Thus, all of swimming star’s Michael Phelps eight Olympic golds are worth about the same, in hard cash, to a silver medal payout after it has been split by three Singaporeans.
“We should grant Michael citizenship,” joked Mr. Ang, “after all, we need more medals, and it’s cheaper to get eight golds than one silver.”
Friday, August 15, 2008
Beijing Fever
The world is feverently riding the Olympic wave. Singapore deserves a pat as well, having secured a silver medal (at least) in table tennis after a 48-year wait.
Drama has not just been confined to the stadiums however, newsrooms had a field day when an elderly CEO and relative of the U.S. volleyball team's coach was fatally stabbed while holidaying in Beijing.
Media coverage of the stabbing was swift and the world knew about it minutes after. So, how does real life compare to a thesis?
Here's a paper (excerpts only), written in April, in anticipation of the games, and the expected impact it would have, on China's traditionally closed media.
Tan, A., Liao, Y.Q., Ng, Z.M. (2008)
The Impact of the Beijing Olympics on China's Foreign Media Policy
Introduction
The Chinese capital of Beijing was chosen as the host city for the 2008 summer Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in July 2001. This represents China’s first opportunity at hosting an international event of such magnitude and also made up for its loss to Sydney to host the summer games in 2000.
China has largely been a closed state, subject to the dominating authority and visions of the ruling central government. In contrast, the Olympic spirit trumpets openness, fairness, peace, solidarity and friendship with no discrimination of any kind (International Olympic Committee (IOC), 2004). This spirit must not be disregarded by China given the worldwide participation, media saturation, and vast broadcast audience reach attendant with the Olympics. This is especially so during the summer games, which is the main stage where nations negotiate images of themselves and with each other (Polumbaum, 2003).
The Olympics represents a potent cultural resource with real implications for international relations and the domestic interests of nation-states. The study by Polumbaum (2003) added that the unequivocal solidarity and excitement shown by the Chinese people and the central government no doubt played a pivotal role in swinging the host bid in Beijing’s favour. In fact, the Chinese media readily embraced an upbeat story that pleased both the central government and the Chinese people, bridging politics and the marketplace with minimal contortion.
That said, the Olympics is uniquely revealing about host cultures, participant nations, media producers, immediate and dispersed audiences, transnational agents, and the character of human action and exchange particular to the locale and times.
China would face an impending increased in influx of foreign media organizations and journalists who are undoubtedly looking for more than just the drama occurring in the sporting arenas. Fresh revelations on issues that have troubled China will be a major motivation for breaking stories around the world.
In the Beijing Olympics, the foreign media promises the most candid and honest views at a country that has tried so hard to maintain control and power over its population of 1.4 billion. Subjects like democracy, human rights, labor policy and manufacturing standards for food and drugs will be thrown into the international spotlight. It will be imperative to analyze China’s policy towards the foreign media, as Beijing’s US$40 billion party could easily become a public relations disaster if Beijing fails to honor its obligations to media freedom.
China is well aware of this and in anticipation, has formulated a set of regulations stating its policy on foreign media coverage of the Beijing Olympics.
This paper will analyze the policies stated in the guide provided on the official website of the Beijing Olympics, and compare and contrast it with the characteristics of media coverage that has been prevalent in China. This paper would also present a critique of the main challenges faced by China’s central government in light of the arrival of the international community, as well as hypotheses on the chances for China, its people and the foreign media. Finally, the paper would postulate a negotiation between the challenges and chances presented, regarding the future of China’s foreign media policy.
Conclusion
China is playing host to the biggest global party of the year to the tune of US$40 billion. Like all parties, preparations must be made, promises must materialize and relations with guests kept cordial, to ensure all invited turn up for the celebrations.
China is facing unprecedented challenges, compounded because it never had an event close to the magnitude of the Olympics in addition to its long history as a closed state, an anomaly today where democracy is the norm.
And problems have already surfaced; China has been criticized over reports of accumulated databases on foreign organizations and journalists to screen out ‘troublemakers’ and its gloss-over of the Tibetan uprising among others. The Olympics will prove whether China honors the promises it has made towards freedom of media coverage, human rights, environmental policies and labor standards among others.
The potential showdown with foreign journalists and activists is worth noting. The boom in mobile technology and Internet literacy ensures all action is captured and broadcasted online.
However all is not gloom and doom. The Olympics represent an opportunity catalyst for everyone. Firstly, it allows the Chinese government to show off China’s capability and resources, a coming out party as the next global power. A party pulled off well will generate huge investments in China arising from greater consumer confidence. The new regulations permit greater penetration by foreign media on issues long dominated by the party line. This could be what Chinese citizens want and represents the official thawing of relations with foreign organizations and journalists even if just for the duration of the games. There will be new jobs and skills created for the Chinese. Also, while foreign publications are restricted to the hotels and airports, they would inevitably leak to the citizens as well.
All these bode well for the Chinese; unless a step forward is countered by two steps backward.
Drama has not just been confined to the stadiums however, newsrooms had a field day when an elderly CEO and relative of the U.S. volleyball team's coach was fatally stabbed while holidaying in Beijing.
Media coverage of the stabbing was swift and the world knew about it minutes after. So, how does real life compare to a thesis?
Here's a paper (excerpts only), written in April, in anticipation of the games, and the expected impact it would have, on China's traditionally closed media.
Tan, A., Liao, Y.Q., Ng, Z.M. (2008)
The Impact of the Beijing Olympics on China's Foreign Media Policy
Introduction
The Chinese capital of Beijing was chosen as the host city for the 2008 summer Olympic Games by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in July 2001. This represents China’s first opportunity at hosting an international event of such magnitude and also made up for its loss to Sydney to host the summer games in 2000.
China has largely been a closed state, subject to the dominating authority and visions of the ruling central government. In contrast, the Olympic spirit trumpets openness, fairness, peace, solidarity and friendship with no discrimination of any kind (International Olympic Committee (IOC), 2004). This spirit must not be disregarded by China given the worldwide participation, media saturation, and vast broadcast audience reach attendant with the Olympics. This is especially so during the summer games, which is the main stage where nations negotiate images of themselves and with each other (Polumbaum, 2003).
The Olympics represents a potent cultural resource with real implications for international relations and the domestic interests of nation-states. The study by Polumbaum (2003) added that the unequivocal solidarity and excitement shown by the Chinese people and the central government no doubt played a pivotal role in swinging the host bid in Beijing’s favour. In fact, the Chinese media readily embraced an upbeat story that pleased both the central government and the Chinese people, bridging politics and the marketplace with minimal contortion.
That said, the Olympics is uniquely revealing about host cultures, participant nations, media producers, immediate and dispersed audiences, transnational agents, and the character of human action and exchange particular to the locale and times.
China would face an impending increased in influx of foreign media organizations and journalists who are undoubtedly looking for more than just the drama occurring in the sporting arenas. Fresh revelations on issues that have troubled China will be a major motivation for breaking stories around the world.
In the Beijing Olympics, the foreign media promises the most candid and honest views at a country that has tried so hard to maintain control and power over its population of 1.4 billion. Subjects like democracy, human rights, labor policy and manufacturing standards for food and drugs will be thrown into the international spotlight. It will be imperative to analyze China’s policy towards the foreign media, as Beijing’s US$40 billion party could easily become a public relations disaster if Beijing fails to honor its obligations to media freedom.
China is well aware of this and in anticipation, has formulated a set of regulations stating its policy on foreign media coverage of the Beijing Olympics.
This paper will analyze the policies stated in the guide provided on the official website of the Beijing Olympics, and compare and contrast it with the characteristics of media coverage that has been prevalent in China. This paper would also present a critique of the main challenges faced by China’s central government in light of the arrival of the international community, as well as hypotheses on the chances for China, its people and the foreign media. Finally, the paper would postulate a negotiation between the challenges and chances presented, regarding the future of China’s foreign media policy.
Conclusion
China is playing host to the biggest global party of the year to the tune of US$40 billion. Like all parties, preparations must be made, promises must materialize and relations with guests kept cordial, to ensure all invited turn up for the celebrations.
China is facing unprecedented challenges, compounded because it never had an event close to the magnitude of the Olympics in addition to its long history as a closed state, an anomaly today where democracy is the norm.
And problems have already surfaced; China has been criticized over reports of accumulated databases on foreign organizations and journalists to screen out ‘troublemakers’ and its gloss-over of the Tibetan uprising among others. The Olympics will prove whether China honors the promises it has made towards freedom of media coverage, human rights, environmental policies and labor standards among others.
The potential showdown with foreign journalists and activists is worth noting. The boom in mobile technology and Internet literacy ensures all action is captured and broadcasted online.
However all is not gloom and doom. The Olympics represent an opportunity catalyst for everyone. Firstly, it allows the Chinese government to show off China’s capability and resources, a coming out party as the next global power. A party pulled off well will generate huge investments in China arising from greater consumer confidence. The new regulations permit greater penetration by foreign media on issues long dominated by the party line. This could be what Chinese citizens want and represents the official thawing of relations with foreign organizations and journalists even if just for the duration of the games. There will be new jobs and skills created for the Chinese. Also, while foreign publications are restricted to the hotels and airports, they would inevitably leak to the citizens as well.
All these bode well for the Chinese; unless a step forward is countered by two steps backward.
Friday, August 1, 2008
A Missing Part of Myself
When I go on Facebook and casually look through photos of friends just approved, I'm struck when I see them don something which I have tried so hard to get but failed three times.
I keep thinking to myself, why could they do it but I coudn't. Why is it given my background, I could still fail to achieve my main purpose. Why is it that even given extra help, even when I've tried my best, what I wanted still slipped out of my reach. There was always someone better, and I couldn't pull away.
I still remember the night before the first posting results were out. I was on the Superstar Virgo and was tossing and turning and had trouble sleeping. I was actually thinking, if I failed to get where I wanted tomorrow. Would I lose what I stood for in life and what I believed I was? Would everything have been a waste?
Well, I failed to get what I wanted that day. The feeling was indescribable. Lost, helpless, with an inferior complex and a huge blow to confidence. Imagine getting up every morning in the new place, feeling the worst, asking yourself why while having to perform well physically and operationally under regimental conditions.
And guess what, I achieved everything I wanted in that course, but I wasn't selected for the crossover. That word and the pictures of my friends at their grand dinners in pristine white still brings back painful memories.
I will never forgive the person who stopped me from getting to where I wanted based on his whim and fancy. Why did you choose to select him and not me? I could have had aced the interview.
I'll never don the epaulettes or function near where I want to be in the environment that has been feeding me since I was born till 21.
That's why I guess it impacted me so much. I had expectations to live up to. And I failed. I failed myself and I caused embarassment to those who believed in me. I did my best under physically and mentally tough conditions, got the results I wanted but didn't manage to get what mattered the most.
Now when I look upon photos of friends or realise what people have been when I talk to them, I'm filled with a kind of empty sadness and hurt. I know I'll never be what I set out so hard to get. And I'll never be complete.
I keep thinking to myself, why could they do it but I coudn't. Why is it given my background, I could still fail to achieve my main purpose. Why is it that even given extra help, even when I've tried my best, what I wanted still slipped out of my reach. There was always someone better, and I couldn't pull away.
I still remember the night before the first posting results were out. I was on the Superstar Virgo and was tossing and turning and had trouble sleeping. I was actually thinking, if I failed to get where I wanted tomorrow. Would I lose what I stood for in life and what I believed I was? Would everything have been a waste?
Well, I failed to get what I wanted that day. The feeling was indescribable. Lost, helpless, with an inferior complex and a huge blow to confidence. Imagine getting up every morning in the new place, feeling the worst, asking yourself why while having to perform well physically and operationally under regimental conditions.
And guess what, I achieved everything I wanted in that course, but I wasn't selected for the crossover. That word and the pictures of my friends at their grand dinners in pristine white still brings back painful memories.
I will never forgive the person who stopped me from getting to where I wanted based on his whim and fancy. Why did you choose to select him and not me? I could have had aced the interview.
I'll never don the epaulettes or function near where I want to be in the environment that has been feeding me since I was born till 21.
That's why I guess it impacted me so much. I had expectations to live up to. And I failed. I failed myself and I caused embarassment to those who believed in me. I did my best under physically and mentally tough conditions, got the results I wanted but didn't manage to get what mattered the most.
Now when I look upon photos of friends or realise what people have been when I talk to them, I'm filled with a kind of empty sadness and hurt. I know I'll never be what I set out so hard to get. And I'll never be complete.
Friday, July 4, 2008
A New Era
The possibilities are huge and many opportunities will present themselves.
There will be no more evening trainings on Monday and Wednesday. No more weekend trainings on Saturday and Sunday. No more cramming late at night after training or tolerating the mid-day sun and the ugly tanlines.
I have executed my final stroke and donned the NTU lifevest for the last time, for now. Will I go back again? It seems totally unlikely at this point but I hate to use 'never', in sports especially, it is always proven wrong.
I have made friends in my time when I donned the red singlet. I have witnessed the greatness of some, the desire for improvement, the commitment and the realization of the achievements after the labor. I have witnessed more good than sorry sights in the team.
I leave with the solid knowledge of what I can do and what I need to improve.
And best of all, I leave, with an abundance of choice.
There will be no more evening trainings on Monday and Wednesday. No more weekend trainings on Saturday and Sunday. No more cramming late at night after training or tolerating the mid-day sun and the ugly tanlines.
I have executed my final stroke and donned the NTU lifevest for the last time, for now. Will I go back again? It seems totally unlikely at this point but I hate to use 'never', in sports especially, it is always proven wrong.
I have made friends in my time when I donned the red singlet. I have witnessed the greatness of some, the desire for improvement, the commitment and the realization of the achievements after the labor. I have witnessed more good than sorry sights in the team.
I leave with the solid knowledge of what I can do and what I need to improve.
And best of all, I leave, with an abundance of choice.
Friday, May 23, 2008
That Tinting Shade
What do you do when you hear something about a fellow human being? Most people would assess the statement against their own perceptions of that person.
The argument here is not whether the statement is true or false or moderately true. That is the focus of slander. Here, what is more insidious is the tinting shade. The introduction of the possibility of the "what if", that makes subsequent dealings with the person, at least, more than a tad wary.
It is quite scary actually. People can be going around and saying all sorts of things that have an effect on someone's image and could subsequently affect how other people treat the person of concern. Behaviorial modification would be an appropriate term.
This is not to say that people information via word of mouth is not good. In some cases, early warning about a bad egg or being badmouthed by that bastard is more than welcome. But how much of it is actually true? Sometimes we have to be there to experience the information for ourselves which is highly unlikely. Most times, we do not hear directly what is "bad" about us. We hear it from others, indirectly, through whispers.
It works both ways. Influencing peoples' perception when you tell then something about someone and having your image affected, when someone tells another person about you.
The takeway? We can only arrive at our own conclusions and a balanced one at that by looking at the entire picture, and doing a critical assessment. And till this is done, we should suspend judgement.
Unfortunately, this skill is beyond most human beings.
The argument here is not whether the statement is true or false or moderately true. That is the focus of slander. Here, what is more insidious is the tinting shade. The introduction of the possibility of the "what if", that makes subsequent dealings with the person, at least, more than a tad wary.
It is quite scary actually. People can be going around and saying all sorts of things that have an effect on someone's image and could subsequently affect how other people treat the person of concern. Behaviorial modification would be an appropriate term.
This is not to say that people information via word of mouth is not good. In some cases, early warning about a bad egg or being badmouthed by that bastard is more than welcome. But how much of it is actually true? Sometimes we have to be there to experience the information for ourselves which is highly unlikely. Most times, we do not hear directly what is "bad" about us. We hear it from others, indirectly, through whispers.
It works both ways. Influencing peoples' perception when you tell then something about someone and having your image affected, when someone tells another person about you.
The takeway? We can only arrive at our own conclusions and a balanced one at that by looking at the entire picture, and doing a critical assessment. And till this is done, we should suspend judgement.
Unfortunately, this skill is beyond most human beings.
Monday, April 21, 2008
"Incredible" Sightings
You could also term incredible "what the fuck?!". These are the best, to have caught my attention and baffle me for a while, ok, for most I still don't understand. But then again, that's why they're so amazing.
Commando Cleaners
They seem like the elite forces on a high altitude mission to save some soul trapped within the School of Biological Sciences. But wait, there are red pails. These cleaners take de-mossification and de-staining of a building to a new high. With a task like this, who says being a cleaner isn't cool?
Slippery, Got Oil
Usually, when a sign warns for slippery surfaces, it is for water. This one focused on oil. Weird. And no it wasn't found in some engineering production facility or the numerous tech-friendly institutes in the Yunnan Garden campus. It was at a bus stop, just opposite Hall 6. Maybe someone was trying to make a mockery out of the school's bus services. Please, buses are so scarce already. I don't mind having an oil spill, if it means more buses. Or perhaps, the sign was meant to encourage the numerous runners along the route? After all, the sign advertises all the loss of oil cum fat that running potentially brings.
We line up, even for bed
And some people thought the military was tough. Well, at least sleeping in file wasn't an issue unlike these 4 red courtesans to the dragon. It's amazing how they slot themselves neatly into an empty space like they were physical files. The fish experts should look into the un-explored field of tank discipline.
"Si Mi" Style?!
Well this is truly an interesting phenomenon. They have "uncle" style and "youngster" style. Ten dollars only. I was so tempted to try on "uncle" style but thank god for my friend who pulled me away from the shop, where the pretty sign was hanging.
Seriously, this is the paragon of stereotyping. What? Is this salon churning out robots with identical hairsyles? Do they have a fixed template or something or mold for "uncle" style and "youngster" style? Gosh, this is unthinkable.
How about the girls? I didn't see any signs for them? Maybe it's in the making. "Auntie" style and "Barbie" style. "Tai tai" style would be in their upcoming Paragon Branch (provided they make enough from uncles and youngsters.
Me All Alone
This is what it means to be literally left on the shelf (or in this case, grill). The poor bun (yeah, I have grown up and now know, how to call a "pau" a bun instead of declaring it a "pau" which got me sniggers from that english tuition hag from long long ago). So lonely. I pray that this does not happen to me. I do not want to left, sweating and steaming on the shelf all alone. It's always, much more satisfying to play together with others.
Long Long Queue for Fuck?
I must first say, that I'm pleased, that Subway opened in school and broke McDonald's monopoly on the student population.
However, looking at this sort of queue, makes me wonder what sort of people I go to school with. Have these people no sense of logic? Heck, it was the week before exams. It led me to wonder whether my darling schoolmates had ever eaten Subway before or there was some sign, huge or inconspicuosly hidden, stating that "having Subway from NTU will make you score the grades of your life?" Nothing like that. It was just "eat fresh" like always, like the tens of dozens of other Subway outlets in Singapore. What's more, the price was just, just, slightly cheaper than those outside.
Looking at the queue, I could have taken the bloody 179 to Jurong Point, takeway a sandwich from that outlet and still arrive back in school faster than Mr Stripey Pink, as you see here, would take to mumble (from the pure lethargy, this queue is at least 1 hour) his order to the sandwich artists (or so they call them, sorry, arranging vegetables and meat on a giant phallus shaped bread doesn't count towards Picasso-hood)
Probably they just had a unexplainable craving for ham.
A Case of Mistaken Identity
Getting told to keep quiet only happens in the libraries, when being hunted by a killer or in the examination hall.
Definitely not at an open air coffee shop. Perhaps the owners or the management are trying to increase the scholarly appeal of the place; to make learning conducive for aunties or uncles who are continuing their education? Or is it to attract more youngsters there to study, in a bid to increase the hip and fresh quotient of the coffeeshop?
For all their effort to keep the peace, it's highly unlikely this coffeeshop will become the next national library.
My take? Stick with churning out the prata (which is the best I have tasted by the way) and keep making noise please, it's eating for goodness sake.
Commando Cleaners
They seem like the elite forces on a high altitude mission to save some soul trapped within the School of Biological Sciences. But wait, there are red pails. These cleaners take de-mossification and de-staining of a building to a new high. With a task like this, who says being a cleaner isn't cool?
Slippery, Got Oil
Usually, when a sign warns for slippery surfaces, it is for water. This one focused on oil. Weird. And no it wasn't found in some engineering production facility or the numerous tech-friendly institutes in the Yunnan Garden campus. It was at a bus stop, just opposite Hall 6. Maybe someone was trying to make a mockery out of the school's bus services. Please, buses are so scarce already. I don't mind having an oil spill, if it means more buses. Or perhaps, the sign was meant to encourage the numerous runners along the route? After all, the sign advertises all the loss of oil cum fat that running potentially brings.
We line up, even for bed
And some people thought the military was tough. Well, at least sleeping in file wasn't an issue unlike these 4 red courtesans to the dragon. It's amazing how they slot themselves neatly into an empty space like they were physical files. The fish experts should look into the un-explored field of tank discipline.
"Si Mi" Style?!
Well this is truly an interesting phenomenon. They have "uncle" style and "youngster" style. Ten dollars only. I was so tempted to try on "uncle" style but thank god for my friend who pulled me away from the shop, where the pretty sign was hanging.
Seriously, this is the paragon of stereotyping. What? Is this salon churning out robots with identical hairsyles? Do they have a fixed template or something or mold for "uncle" style and "youngster" style? Gosh, this is unthinkable.
How about the girls? I didn't see any signs for them? Maybe it's in the making. "Auntie" style and "Barbie" style. "Tai tai" style would be in their upcoming Paragon Branch (provided they make enough from uncles and youngsters.
Me All Alone
This is what it means to be literally left on the shelf (or in this case, grill). The poor bun (yeah, I have grown up and now know, how to call a "pau" a bun instead of declaring it a "pau" which got me sniggers from that english tuition hag from long long ago). So lonely. I pray that this does not happen to me. I do not want to left, sweating and steaming on the shelf all alone. It's always, much more satisfying to play together with others.
Long Long Queue for Fuck?
I must first say, that I'm pleased, that Subway opened in school and broke McDonald's monopoly on the student population.
However, looking at this sort of queue, makes me wonder what sort of people I go to school with. Have these people no sense of logic? Heck, it was the week before exams. It led me to wonder whether my darling schoolmates had ever eaten Subway before or there was some sign, huge or inconspicuosly hidden, stating that "having Subway from NTU will make you score the grades of your life?" Nothing like that. It was just "eat fresh" like always, like the tens of dozens of other Subway outlets in Singapore. What's more, the price was just, just, slightly cheaper than those outside.
Looking at the queue, I could have taken the bloody 179 to Jurong Point, takeway a sandwich from that outlet and still arrive back in school faster than Mr Stripey Pink, as you see here, would take to mumble (from the pure lethargy, this queue is at least 1 hour) his order to the sandwich artists (or so they call them, sorry, arranging vegetables and meat on a giant phallus shaped bread doesn't count towards Picasso-hood)
Probably they just had a unexplainable craving for ham.
A Case of Mistaken Identity
Getting told to keep quiet only happens in the libraries, when being hunted by a killer or in the examination hall.
Definitely not at an open air coffee shop. Perhaps the owners or the management are trying to increase the scholarly appeal of the place; to make learning conducive for aunties or uncles who are continuing their education? Or is it to attract more youngsters there to study, in a bid to increase the hip and fresh quotient of the coffeeshop?
For all their effort to keep the peace, it's highly unlikely this coffeeshop will become the next national library.
My take? Stick with churning out the prata (which is the best I have tasted by the way) and keep making noise please, it's eating for goodness sake.
Workout Routine
This is a shocker and yet something to prepare for after the exams. The next dragonboat evaluation is on 7th May.
The results would probably be used to classify the team into the PM cup and the Masters team. The best would go for the PM cup and this is perfectly correct. Go for gold for the good of the team.
People have been training hard, pushing themselves to the limit. It is only just that they are provided with teammates that are as good as or better than they are.
The results would probably be used to classify the team into the PM cup and the Masters team. The best would go for the PM cup and this is perfectly correct. Go for gold for the good of the team.
People have been training hard, pushing themselves to the limit. It is only just that they are provided with teammates that are as good as or better than they are.
Friday, April 18, 2008
The Purchase
Two weeks after the visit to SABF and the purchase of a whole host of assorted critters for water testing, a second visit was made to the famed farm.
After the ritual of seeking permission from the owner and getting past the dogs, we finally entered the main shed.
Since entry to the farm was so difficult, firstly, because of it's out-of-bound nature and secondly, because of its location in the middle of nowhere at Lim Chu Kang, we decided to browse the prized fishes one more time.
The baby arowanas were interesting. All had yolks attached to them which retract into the stomach as the fry ages. And they were all lying on their sides, slacking around on the tank floor till the time comes for them to swim till they drop.
After ooohing and ahhiiing at the same shiny friends, I walked up to the owner who was relaxing with a big white monster with blood shot eyes and told him I wanted the RTG he showed me from the previous visit.
I re-affirmed with Ah See that I would take the fish on the spot and he quoted me $260, "bao ci". Due to my "expertise" with the Chinese language from three years of not using it in the Poly (excuses, excuses), I thought he meant food included. I was happy, thinking that at least my new acquisition would have its favourite snacks in its new environment.
I was wrong. "Bao ci" meant that jabbing/ injection of identification microchip for the fish is included. This is essential for Asian arowanas as they are an endangered species and arowanas tagged with a chip show that they have been bred in captivity making it legal for purchase.
Ah See smiled, took a dirty red pail and walked over to the little space of water at the bottom rack. He fished the arowana out with a huge net and plopped it into the red pail.
He then carried the pail over to an un-assuming, plain looking weathered wooden stool, which he draped with a wet cloth. This stool, would serve as the operating table.
I looked into the red pail and got a shock. The arowana was belly up and floating listlessly in the water. I looked around in panic to call Ah See but Colin was there to put his 15 years of fish rearing experience to good use and provide an explanation for the horrifying sight.
"That is the anaesthetic", he said. Relieved, I looked around for the owner who emerged from his office carrying a micro gun and a container full of gold chips.
He showed the gold chip he was going to use, scanned it and it showed the number to me "5569". He then scooped the sleeping fish out of the water and laid it on the wet cloth of the stool. He was scooping handfuls of anathetic water and splashing it on the fish when his phone rang.
He then spent 5 minutes on the phone with a customer who coudn't get enough assurance that there would be arowanas for him to purchase when he next visited SABF. Ah See walked in and out of his office and seemed totally to have forgotten about my arowana which lay on the stool, with its mouth opening, closing, opening, closing, stuttering, then opening....
While still on the phone, he popped over the check on my little friend. He then, while still on the phone, scooped the listless fish and soaked it in the anaesthesia again before laying it once again on the stool and splashing numbing water on it.
He then walked into his office again and it was not until three minutes later that he emerged. "He keeps on waking up then need to be put to sleep again, wake up, sleep, wake up sleep" he chuckled in Mandarin. Then he fitted the chip into the micro gun and with a swift precise movement, injected the chip on the left side of the arowana close to its ridge.
He then picked up the dazed fish and brought it to a well aerated and clear tank of water and released it. The fish sank to the bottom and was twirled around in the current like a lifeless object. After watching the motioness fish do a couple more acrobatic flips in the water, the owner decided to show his special skill. He caught the arowana in his hand and said "Let's try to wake him up." He proceeded to place the arowana's face straight in the middle of air bubbles generated by the aeration pump. Laughing to himself and oblivious to my shocked face (or maybe he's used to it from customers), he then left the fish to twirl some more.
However soon enough, in the midst of the lifeless twirls there were jerks, the jerks became more sustained and became movements interspered with drifting, then drifting insterpersed with swimming and finally a groggy swimming product.
Ah See took two thick green bags, layered them and taking advantage of the arowana's grogginess, scooped it up into the bag. He then added a portion of brackish water from a fermenting pail and tied the entire package up.
The groggy arowana peered at us from inside the green bag which contained enough water to weigh about 7kg, and I proceeded to make the payment.
He offered us two packets of chrysanthemum tea at the settlement table, presumbably, drinks only for purchasing customers.
After filling out the invoices, what happened next was embarassing. The price of the fish with injection of the micro chip was $260. I handed the owner 5 $50 notes thinking that it was $300. I even made the act of counting the money. The owner counted the money twice and said in a finalized tone "hao le, suan le, suan le" which meant ok, it's done. I had achieved a $10 discount.This $10 was probably to "bao chi"/ encompass eating costs which I would purchase from Clememti (I am just making excuses for my mistake).
Anyway, here he is, my little friend, a week later after purchase and settled into his new tank with his four red courtesans and an albino snake.
And this, the little dragon after 4 weeks. Come on baby, bigger, bigger!
How beautiful will he grow? Time and health will tell.
After the ritual of seeking permission from the owner and getting past the dogs, we finally entered the main shed.
Since entry to the farm was so difficult, firstly, because of it's out-of-bound nature and secondly, because of its location in the middle of nowhere at Lim Chu Kang, we decided to browse the prized fishes one more time.
The baby arowanas were interesting. All had yolks attached to them which retract into the stomach as the fry ages. And they were all lying on their sides, slacking around on the tank floor till the time comes for them to swim till they drop.
After ooohing and ahhiiing at the same shiny friends, I walked up to the owner who was relaxing with a big white monster with blood shot eyes and told him I wanted the RTG he showed me from the previous visit.
I re-affirmed with Ah See that I would take the fish on the spot and he quoted me $260, "bao ci". Due to my "expertise" with the Chinese language from three years of not using it in the Poly (excuses, excuses), I thought he meant food included. I was happy, thinking that at least my new acquisition would have its favourite snacks in its new environment.
I was wrong. "Bao ci" meant that jabbing/ injection of identification microchip for the fish is included. This is essential for Asian arowanas as they are an endangered species and arowanas tagged with a chip show that they have been bred in captivity making it legal for purchase.
Ah See smiled, took a dirty red pail and walked over to the little space of water at the bottom rack. He fished the arowana out with a huge net and plopped it into the red pail.
He then carried the pail over to an un-assuming, plain looking weathered wooden stool, which he draped with a wet cloth. This stool, would serve as the operating table.
I looked into the red pail and got a shock. The arowana was belly up and floating listlessly in the water. I looked around in panic to call Ah See but Colin was there to put his 15 years of fish rearing experience to good use and provide an explanation for the horrifying sight.
"That is the anaesthetic", he said. Relieved, I looked around for the owner who emerged from his office carrying a micro gun and a container full of gold chips.
He showed the gold chip he was going to use, scanned it and it showed the number to me "5569". He then scooped the sleeping fish out of the water and laid it on the wet cloth of the stool. He was scooping handfuls of anathetic water and splashing it on the fish when his phone rang.
He then spent 5 minutes on the phone with a customer who coudn't get enough assurance that there would be arowanas for him to purchase when he next visited SABF. Ah See walked in and out of his office and seemed totally to have forgotten about my arowana which lay on the stool, with its mouth opening, closing, opening, closing, stuttering, then opening....
While still on the phone, he popped over the check on my little friend. He then, while still on the phone, scooped the listless fish and soaked it in the anaesthesia again before laying it once again on the stool and splashing numbing water on it.
He then walked into his office again and it was not until three minutes later that he emerged. "He keeps on waking up then need to be put to sleep again, wake up, sleep, wake up sleep" he chuckled in Mandarin. Then he fitted the chip into the micro gun and with a swift precise movement, injected the chip on the left side of the arowana close to its ridge.
He then picked up the dazed fish and brought it to a well aerated and clear tank of water and released it. The fish sank to the bottom and was twirled around in the current like a lifeless object. After watching the motioness fish do a couple more acrobatic flips in the water, the owner decided to show his special skill. He caught the arowana in his hand and said "Let's try to wake him up." He proceeded to place the arowana's face straight in the middle of air bubbles generated by the aeration pump. Laughing to himself and oblivious to my shocked face (or maybe he's used to it from customers), he then left the fish to twirl some more.
However soon enough, in the midst of the lifeless twirls there were jerks, the jerks became more sustained and became movements interspered with drifting, then drifting insterpersed with swimming and finally a groggy swimming product.
Ah See took two thick green bags, layered them and taking advantage of the arowana's grogginess, scooped it up into the bag. He then added a portion of brackish water from a fermenting pail and tied the entire package up.
The groggy arowana peered at us from inside the green bag which contained enough water to weigh about 7kg, and I proceeded to make the payment.
He offered us two packets of chrysanthemum tea at the settlement table, presumbably, drinks only for purchasing customers.
After filling out the invoices, what happened next was embarassing. The price of the fish with injection of the micro chip was $260. I handed the owner 5 $50 notes thinking that it was $300. I even made the act of counting the money. The owner counted the money twice and said in a finalized tone "hao le, suan le, suan le" which meant ok, it's done. I had achieved a $10 discount.This $10 was probably to "bao chi"/ encompass eating costs which I would purchase from Clememti (I am just making excuses for my mistake).
Anyway, here he is, my little friend, a week later after purchase and settled into his new tank with his four red courtesans and an albino snake.
And this, the little dragon after 4 weeks. Come on baby, bigger, bigger!
How beautiful will he grow? Time and health will tell.
Dragon Tales
I didn't know, at the time I blogged about Qian Hu, that there was an even better place to get the dragon fish.
This place unlike the aforementioned, is out of bounds to the public and open to only fans groups or a select bunch of people.
Fortunately, I belonged to the latter. Much thanks goes to Colin who took the trouble to bring the both of us for fish sightseeing after school.
Welcome to the Singapore Arowana Breeding Farm (SABF), where the first sign of "welcome" is the booming barks and snarls of three stomach height (for me at 1.8m +/- 1cm)killer dogs let loose in the compound sealed by a formidable looking gate.
"Oh dear" I thought to myself, upon exiting the red "sports" car on my first visit,"I woudn't stand a chance in a fight against these monsters." I also felt disappointed. The iron gate was pulled shut and it seemed that the farm was out of bounds to just about anyone.
Gigantic arowanas glided slowly in large, slightly greenish, unlighted tanks, lining the front of the shed behind the open compound where the dogs were now prowling.
I looked at my companion, disappointed. It looked like we had made a wasted trip. Suddenly, a plump man dressed in pink appeared out of the shed, perhaps attracted by the barks of the dogs. "This place is closed" he said in Mandarin, "it's not open to the public he added."
However, just as we were getting back into the car, another character stepped out of the shed. This man was much older, skinny, with spectacles and white hair. He stared at us for a while, then stepped forward across the compound to open the gate to let us in.
This was Ah See, the owner of SABF. I warily stepped through the gate and was immediately set upon the dogs who became very interested in smelling my pants and drooling over my legs (please, I still need to run for training). Ah See told us to look around the farm and simply ask him should we require assistance.
The arowanas at the shed were heads and shoulders above those seen in normal fish shops or even Qian Hu. They did not require lighting to look good. Their rainbow scales with red, gold or blue bases sparkled in the greenish water, while the structure and shape of their elegantly fleshed bodies were a sigh to behold.
We were led from the farm by the pink-clad man (Ah See's friend who took it upon himsef to give us a tour of the farm) to another shed roughly 50m away where yet more sparkly friends harboured in addition to blood suckers. We received countless mosquito bites in that shed which housed younger arowanas of the Red Grade 1 variety.
At the main shed, I told Ah See that I was interested in purchasing the red dragon. However, the selection he showed me, because of their substantial size and their premium pedigree, pushed me way off my measly budget. I told the owner I would continue to look around the farm.
"How about this?" he gestured in Mandarin. He was pointing to a small Red-Tail-Gold(RTG) arowana swimming in its brackish greenish water in its little space in the bottom row of tanks. I peered closer and the little critter peered at me with large eyes and its signature twin barbels before retreating shyly into the greenish depths.
Worth a thought I concluded. Suddenly, I realised why the farm was called a FARM. SABF did not just involve the two sheds and the assorted ponds in between. There was a humongous, space behind the main sheds, where instead of an expansive field of grass, there were at least eight gigantic ponds filled with water the colour of 'teh'. These ponds, I discovered, were the breeding ponds and each were filled with a different variety of arowana. There were even Arapaima Gigas as well although I didn't venture deep enough to the ponds at the end to catch a glimpse of them.
How were the fish in the mud like waters? Simply put, the chilli redness of their scales reflected the sun and shone through the murk like a spotlight at night. And they were huge as well. Quite the best dragon fish I had ever seen in my life. These are the types of arowanas, you see emblazoned on the label of super red, fish pellet bottles.
And there were so many of them in that single pond. "Red dragons" explained Ah See in Mandarin, popping out of nowhere with a half a jelly can of food in his hand. He reached in and threw a handful of capsule like pellets into the water.
Immediately, there were huge splashes and flashes of red and gold. The arowanas, swam up to the pellets quickly and greedily gulped them down. It was a marvellous spectacle and led me to understand why arowana fanatics call feeding time their favourite time.
Time passed so fast, eventually, it was time to leave, we still had a host of programs lined up after SABF. We thanked Ah See for his hospitality and were escorted out of the gate by the three giant dogs, but not before making the promise to return again.
This place unlike the aforementioned, is out of bounds to the public and open to only fans groups or a select bunch of people.
Fortunately, I belonged to the latter. Much thanks goes to Colin who took the trouble to bring the both of us for fish sightseeing after school.
Welcome to the Singapore Arowana Breeding Farm (SABF), where the first sign of "welcome" is the booming barks and snarls of three stomach height (for me at 1.8m +/- 1cm)killer dogs let loose in the compound sealed by a formidable looking gate.
"Oh dear" I thought to myself, upon exiting the red "sports" car on my first visit,"I woudn't stand a chance in a fight against these monsters." I also felt disappointed. The iron gate was pulled shut and it seemed that the farm was out of bounds to just about anyone.
Gigantic arowanas glided slowly in large, slightly greenish, unlighted tanks, lining the front of the shed behind the open compound where the dogs were now prowling.
I looked at my companion, disappointed. It looked like we had made a wasted trip. Suddenly, a plump man dressed in pink appeared out of the shed, perhaps attracted by the barks of the dogs. "This place is closed" he said in Mandarin, "it's not open to the public he added."
However, just as we were getting back into the car, another character stepped out of the shed. This man was much older, skinny, with spectacles and white hair. He stared at us for a while, then stepped forward across the compound to open the gate to let us in.
This was Ah See, the owner of SABF. I warily stepped through the gate and was immediately set upon the dogs who became very interested in smelling my pants and drooling over my legs (please, I still need to run for training). Ah See told us to look around the farm and simply ask him should we require assistance.
The arowanas at the shed were heads and shoulders above those seen in normal fish shops or even Qian Hu. They did not require lighting to look good. Their rainbow scales with red, gold or blue bases sparkled in the greenish water, while the structure and shape of their elegantly fleshed bodies were a sigh to behold.
We were led from the farm by the pink-clad man (Ah See's friend who took it upon himsef to give us a tour of the farm) to another shed roughly 50m away where yet more sparkly friends harboured in addition to blood suckers. We received countless mosquito bites in that shed which housed younger arowanas of the Red Grade 1 variety.
At the main shed, I told Ah See that I was interested in purchasing the red dragon. However, the selection he showed me, because of their substantial size and their premium pedigree, pushed me way off my measly budget. I told the owner I would continue to look around the farm.
"How about this?" he gestured in Mandarin. He was pointing to a small Red-Tail-Gold(RTG) arowana swimming in its brackish greenish water in its little space in the bottom row of tanks. I peered closer and the little critter peered at me with large eyes and its signature twin barbels before retreating shyly into the greenish depths.
Worth a thought I concluded. Suddenly, I realised why the farm was called a FARM. SABF did not just involve the two sheds and the assorted ponds in between. There was a humongous, space behind the main sheds, where instead of an expansive field of grass, there were at least eight gigantic ponds filled with water the colour of 'teh'. These ponds, I discovered, were the breeding ponds and each were filled with a different variety of arowana. There were even Arapaima Gigas as well although I didn't venture deep enough to the ponds at the end to catch a glimpse of them.
How were the fish in the mud like waters? Simply put, the chilli redness of their scales reflected the sun and shone through the murk like a spotlight at night. And they were huge as well. Quite the best dragon fish I had ever seen in my life. These are the types of arowanas, you see emblazoned on the label of super red, fish pellet bottles.
And there were so many of them in that single pond. "Red dragons" explained Ah See in Mandarin, popping out of nowhere with a half a jelly can of food in his hand. He reached in and threw a handful of capsule like pellets into the water.
Immediately, there were huge splashes and flashes of red and gold. The arowanas, swam up to the pellets quickly and greedily gulped them down. It was a marvellous spectacle and led me to understand why arowana fanatics call feeding time their favourite time.
Time passed so fast, eventually, it was time to leave, we still had a host of programs lined up after SABF. We thanked Ah See for his hospitality and were escorted out of the gate by the three giant dogs, but not before making the promise to return again.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Chinese Characteristics
For the Nanyang Chronicle....Just Kidding.
Students in Media in China were shocked when their final project presentation turned out to be heavily influenced by Chinese characteristics.
In a move reminiscent of the tight state control of China (modern, traditional and everything in between), the Professor decided to give students a taste of what they had been learning about all this while.
"Today, you will all deliver your group presentations smartly and proudly. This is expected because you have all been working so hard all this while" he smiled. The catch? He had summarized, everyone's slides (which had been handed up earlier) into a single master powerpoint boasting close to 130 slides.
That wasn't all. The professor was trying to squeeze 40 presentations into three hours. "I will control the speed of the presentation" he said. "I will skip to your report findings on changes, challenges and chances when I feel it is time. This is because, we do not want the class to overrun" he explained gently.
Well some students got less than they bargained for. Imagine getting up from the comfortable seat, marching smartly to the front of the room and setting your notes nicely so you can read from them (this is very bad and unprofessional by the way). The professor asks: "are you ready?". You smile and nod. Then the powerpoint flashes to the next slide and you see your conclusion slide. "Just tell the class about your conclusion" the Professor said sweetly to the dumbfounded boy who quickly did so in less than 2 minutes and then returned to his seat still looking dazed.
"Next!" called the Professor and this group (probably because they were a group and not an individual) were more lucky. they had three slides to present. However, the slides were all condensed and the parts they had meticulously prepared for themselves were all combined together. "Quick, quick" said the Dr., "just present what is on the slide".
After a bout of shoving and pushing among the group members involving "this is mine, that is yours, this is his, this not hers, this is not my part!" They finally scraped through their presentation.
Here's the thing. What the Professor did was right in my opinion. Why?
It saved alot of time. Some people, just don't know how to condense what is important and tell it like it is. Talking more does not = knowing more. In most cases, for alot of people, the two are inversely correlated.
Secondly, the Professor had given us a presentation experience which was a first. In the unlikely scenario I become a Professor myself, I would use his format for my students' presentations unless, they prove to me, that they only know what is important to say and how to say it.
Thirdly, have you sat through an english presentation by mainland Chinese students? Seriously. It was painful. The absorbtion rate was less than 2% for me. They might as well have been singing the hymms in a long forgotten language of the Himalayan mountains.
Fourth, at the rate he went, with the achivement of squeezing 40 presentations into three hours, in addition to his administration of tight top-down pressure, he showed that he is a patriot, with his country's spirit and way of doing things, burning brightly within him.
Students in Media in China were shocked when their final project presentation turned out to be heavily influenced by Chinese characteristics.
In a move reminiscent of the tight state control of China (modern, traditional and everything in between), the Professor decided to give students a taste of what they had been learning about all this while.
"Today, you will all deliver your group presentations smartly and proudly. This is expected because you have all been working so hard all this while" he smiled. The catch? He had summarized, everyone's slides (which had been handed up earlier) into a single master powerpoint boasting close to 130 slides.
That wasn't all. The professor was trying to squeeze 40 presentations into three hours. "I will control the speed of the presentation" he said. "I will skip to your report findings on changes, challenges and chances when I feel it is time. This is because, we do not want the class to overrun" he explained gently.
Well some students got less than they bargained for. Imagine getting up from the comfortable seat, marching smartly to the front of the room and setting your notes nicely so you can read from them (this is very bad and unprofessional by the way). The professor asks: "are you ready?". You smile and nod. Then the powerpoint flashes to the next slide and you see your conclusion slide. "Just tell the class about your conclusion" the Professor said sweetly to the dumbfounded boy who quickly did so in less than 2 minutes and then returned to his seat still looking dazed.
"Next!" called the Professor and this group (probably because they were a group and not an individual) were more lucky. they had three slides to present. However, the slides were all condensed and the parts they had meticulously prepared for themselves were all combined together. "Quick, quick" said the Dr., "just present what is on the slide".
After a bout of shoving and pushing among the group members involving "this is mine, that is yours, this is his, this not hers, this is not my part!" They finally scraped through their presentation.
Here's the thing. What the Professor did was right in my opinion. Why?
It saved alot of time. Some people, just don't know how to condense what is important and tell it like it is. Talking more does not = knowing more. In most cases, for alot of people, the two are inversely correlated.
Secondly, the Professor had given us a presentation experience which was a first. In the unlikely scenario I become a Professor myself, I would use his format for my students' presentations unless, they prove to me, that they only know what is important to say and how to say it.
Thirdly, have you sat through an english presentation by mainland Chinese students? Seriously. It was painful. The absorbtion rate was less than 2% for me. They might as well have been singing the hymms in a long forgotten language of the Himalayan mountains.
Fourth, at the rate he went, with the achivement of squeezing 40 presentations into three hours, in addition to his administration of tight top-down pressure, he showed that he is a patriot, with his country's spirit and way of doing things, burning brightly within him.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
A Treble of Style
"Denise Keller, Marcus and I, after the CK closing show at Singapore Fashion Festival 2008. A picture taken with a star this year, what about next year?"
Two Saturdays ago, I was between Heeren and Cathay Cineleisure staring up sadly at the Mastercard posters for its pet event of style: The Singapore Fashion Festival.
The poster whispered to my eyes that the catwalk would be officially de-virginized on the 28th of March. My eyes welled with tears upon realizing how close the festival was to my exams. There was no way I would have enough time to go bid/prey for tickets online as per the two previous years (I was oblivious to the change in ticketing this year)
There were alot of expectations for this year's festival after numerous complaints of inefficiency and the dumping of IMG Pico in favour of local organizers.
What makes life worth living (at least to me) are twists and surprises. This happened on Thursday no less. I had opened Messenger when I noticed a friend with the nickname: SFF 2008 rocks! I gazed for a while then nudged the notion from my mind.
Before I could open my burgeoning assignment folder however, an orange conversation tab flashed at the bottom of the screen. "Would you like to go with me to the fashion festival?" was the welcome when I opened the window. My friend (Thanks Marcus!) then proceeded to give me a list of dates that he had got tickets for. I chose the Saturday shows at 1520 and 1645 for GRI and Robinson's respectively.
Apparently, he, as an Indonesian, had received the festival tickets for free, as part of the Singapore Tourism Board's (STB) initiative to increase the participation of the non-chicken-rice-bred for local events.
Arrival at the white tent housing the event held more surprises. We were ushed in via the VIP entrance and given red wine. Then came the best part: we were seated in the first row, right in front of the glossy runway.
The prime position really paid off. The details were fantastic: whether the the cut of the clothes, swing of the dress or the bling-bling of the accessories accompanied by the click of the heels. The expression the models carried, provided comic relief when some obviously tried too hard.
And efforts at 'interactivity' were made as well.
For the Robinson's show, the models strutted to the end of the runway then dismounted and walked back alongside the space separating the first row from the catwalk. The skinny pack were so close, I could have tripped them as they sashayed by. However, reminded of the circular law of karma, I made sure my gold clad Mihara feet and Rock and Republic limbs were kept close to my seat.
While the shows were good, with the models, music, and champagne. Did I mention free Haagen Daz ice cream as well? There were some gripes I had.
Firstly what happened to the African model Antoinette and her famous hoity-toity pony strut? I had seen her in the festival for two years already and thought that she was a staple equivalent to the hawker center's pulut hitam.
Secondly, where are all the local models? Why is it that caucasians are used to carry clothes meant for sale to locals, the majority of whom have yellow or darker skin. Putting a singular African American model with afro hair and a truly unappealing Chinese dude on the catwalk just won't cut it.
This is hazardous. Some people might be misled, thinking they would actually look good in the model getup but end up severely disappointed when they realise durian ice cream simply does not look as good in a cone as its vanilla counterpart. The bottom line? Scrap the ang-mohs, bring on the locals. We have more than enough homegrown studs and beauties. Sheila Sim proved this point. She was effortlessly stylish , elegant and provocative on the runway with a strut second only to that of the African prancing horse.
All good experiences come with take-home freebies. For the GRI show, the only useful item in the goodie bag was the 250ml of mineral water. For Robinson's however, the bag was a treaure trove of scents, cosmetics and skin care products. Laniege, Dior, Dunhill, Kenzo, need I say more? Yes. I would not use the products sans the scents. For my face, the only brand allowed is Kiehl's from New York. Nothing more, nothing less. At the end of the world, I'll still have my trusty bottle of Kiehl's oatmeal milk facial cleansing formula.
I was so delighted with my host and the graciousness of his invitation that he had Ajisen on the house after the Robinson's show. The poor thing coudn't finish his food however, which meant more crunches for me before bed.
The Singapore Fashion Festival holds great potential for attracting more than just the bowl head cognoscenti, the tai-tai's and the erm... Tyra wannabes. Cult Singapore brands like New Urban Male, SportsMenAsia could sponsor more meat markets...oops...underwear shows with local talent.
How about brands like Fourskin, Leftfoot, ButtCheeks and To-A-Tee? These would open the festival to a wider demograhic of younger, hotter, people and should be of course, modelled by fresh local talent for added marketability and pride of the country.
For heaven's sake, this is Singapore, who would choose vanilla ice-cream when you have durian?
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Show Offs and Practical Concerns
The restaurant at The Central was called Shou-U.
Well Shou-U certainly showed me more than its fabled red and white interiors which scored features in design magazines and attracted the who's who of the design cognoscenti. The word spread to the food critics, some of whom gave a rating of 4-4.5/5. This sort of non-paid advertising from the arty-farty and the perpetually hungry increased the credibility and appeal of Shou-U to the extent that any bookings done less than a week in advance would probably be shown the door.
Credit goes to my friends, kind enough to invite me for their anniversary dinner. I wasn't expecting much, I had not heard of the restaurant till that evening.
We were seated in the best room, a mini circular elevated space not unlike an eskimo's pad with white sofas and fluffy walls. Soothing Japanese-like music played overhead. Gentle lights which turned pink, green, blue,yellow every two seconds materialized alongside the gentle flutter of the feathers on the walls.
It was so comfortable. I suppose I could have had my meal naked in that room. But then again that woudn't be right because the primal hunger was supposed to be directed to the food, not at me.
We removed our shoes and socks (for a start), stretched out on the sofas, and pressed the call button to summon the waitress who stepped past the wooden door sealing the white room from the black corridor leading to the main dining hall.
The food arrived 12 minutes after our orders were placed. Was it good?
My verdict: Absolutely Fabulous.
It wasn't pure Japanese fare per-se but rather a fusion of Japanese style cuisine with significant influence from Western ingredients.
The Japanese salad with fried lobster shavings was so fresh, crisp, tantalizing and tangy. "This is how you get kids to eat their vegetables!" I proclaimed gleefully to my hosts. The salad was dangerously addictive, it was so good I thought I'd swear off meat and turn vegetarian. That was till I had a taste of what arrived later.
The sashimi, made me realise the folly of a meat-less life. The vegetables, whet the appetite and open the stage for succulent cuts of salmon, tuna, swordfish and yellow tail. And the scallops, oh my, white and pale as they were, they tasted so much better than their closest lookalike, the "har kow". I got a thrill, feeling the fresh seafood cuts slide down my throat, lubricated by Japanese soya sauce mixed with wasabi.
The giant Agedashi tofu came next. It was crispy, aromatic, slightly salty and proved to be a good interlude between meals. At this point, I asked innocently whether the music could be changed to something more pleasant and soothing, to calm the raw hunger which was growing steadily within.
The older of my hosts smiled and pressed the call button. "Can you check whether we can have different music played here?" he said to the waitress who looked stunned at the request. "I'll help you to check it out Sir" she replied, bowed and went out. She came back two minutes later "sorry Sir, the music is controlled centrally across the shop, we cannot change it but we can lower the volume in your room". Now, how's that for a bit of accomodating service?
The lobster came in the silence of the room. This made the lip smacks and furious swallowing all the more pronounced. The lobsters were grilled to perfect tenderness and topped with a tangy cheese sauce for a winning fusion concoction.
What popped up after seemed like the normal Japanese maki dressed for an evening at the ball. These cubes of rice were so pretty that I regretted that I had to chew on them. Then again, the freshness of the ingredients meant not appreciating the pretty rice concoctions would be a sin.
The wagyu beef steak was grilled medium rare and topped with a mild sweet sauce. The sheer delectability from the combination of juicy meat and the sauce made me wonder how long it would take for me to be able to eat wagyu beef everyday. I laughed to myself like a crazy man and very quickly put the thought aside.
The desserts topped off a great great meal. They were quite interesting in their own way.
Chilli Strawberry Sherbet anyone? It tastes like strawberry ice but with the spicy aftertaste of chillies. Refreshing, interesting, then spicy, not unlike unravelling a good catch from a hot date. The cakes featured fresh Japanese cream and rich ingredients. However, they were surprisingly light on the palate and would probably satisfy weight-loss fanatics, provided, they ate the cakes blindfolded.
It was a great meal and definitely great company. All good things come with a price however, in this case, close to $400 for three people. So, still the fantastic Japanese salad from Shou-U everyday? Till the balance in my bank account shows seven figures and I buy the Shou-U chef to show all of you, I'd have to be contented with simple, $0.40 fresh cuts from the fruits stall at Canteen A.
Well Shou-U certainly showed me more than its fabled red and white interiors which scored features in design magazines and attracted the who's who of the design cognoscenti. The word spread to the food critics, some of whom gave a rating of 4-4.5/5. This sort of non-paid advertising from the arty-farty and the perpetually hungry increased the credibility and appeal of Shou-U to the extent that any bookings done less than a week in advance would probably be shown the door.
Credit goes to my friends, kind enough to invite me for their anniversary dinner. I wasn't expecting much, I had not heard of the restaurant till that evening.
We were seated in the best room, a mini circular elevated space not unlike an eskimo's pad with white sofas and fluffy walls. Soothing Japanese-like music played overhead. Gentle lights which turned pink, green, blue,yellow every two seconds materialized alongside the gentle flutter of the feathers on the walls.
It was so comfortable. I suppose I could have had my meal naked in that room. But then again that woudn't be right because the primal hunger was supposed to be directed to the food, not at me.
We removed our shoes and socks (for a start), stretched out on the sofas, and pressed the call button to summon the waitress who stepped past the wooden door sealing the white room from the black corridor leading to the main dining hall.
The food arrived 12 minutes after our orders were placed. Was it good?
My verdict: Absolutely Fabulous.
It wasn't pure Japanese fare per-se but rather a fusion of Japanese style cuisine with significant influence from Western ingredients.
The Japanese salad with fried lobster shavings was so fresh, crisp, tantalizing and tangy. "This is how you get kids to eat their vegetables!" I proclaimed gleefully to my hosts. The salad was dangerously addictive, it was so good I thought I'd swear off meat and turn vegetarian. That was till I had a taste of what arrived later.
The sashimi, made me realise the folly of a meat-less life. The vegetables, whet the appetite and open the stage for succulent cuts of salmon, tuna, swordfish and yellow tail. And the scallops, oh my, white and pale as they were, they tasted so much better than their closest lookalike, the "har kow". I got a thrill, feeling the fresh seafood cuts slide down my throat, lubricated by Japanese soya sauce mixed with wasabi.
The giant Agedashi tofu came next. It was crispy, aromatic, slightly salty and proved to be a good interlude between meals. At this point, I asked innocently whether the music could be changed to something more pleasant and soothing, to calm the raw hunger which was growing steadily within.
The older of my hosts smiled and pressed the call button. "Can you check whether we can have different music played here?" he said to the waitress who looked stunned at the request. "I'll help you to check it out Sir" she replied, bowed and went out. She came back two minutes later "sorry Sir, the music is controlled centrally across the shop, we cannot change it but we can lower the volume in your room". Now, how's that for a bit of accomodating service?
The lobster came in the silence of the room. This made the lip smacks and furious swallowing all the more pronounced. The lobsters were grilled to perfect tenderness and topped with a tangy cheese sauce for a winning fusion concoction.
What popped up after seemed like the normal Japanese maki dressed for an evening at the ball. These cubes of rice were so pretty that I regretted that I had to chew on them. Then again, the freshness of the ingredients meant not appreciating the pretty rice concoctions would be a sin.
The wagyu beef steak was grilled medium rare and topped with a mild sweet sauce. The sheer delectability from the combination of juicy meat and the sauce made me wonder how long it would take for me to be able to eat wagyu beef everyday. I laughed to myself like a crazy man and very quickly put the thought aside.
The desserts topped off a great great meal. They were quite interesting in their own way.
Chilli Strawberry Sherbet anyone? It tastes like strawberry ice but with the spicy aftertaste of chillies. Refreshing, interesting, then spicy, not unlike unravelling a good catch from a hot date. The cakes featured fresh Japanese cream and rich ingredients. However, they were surprisingly light on the palate and would probably satisfy weight-loss fanatics, provided, they ate the cakes blindfolded.
It was a great meal and definitely great company. All good things come with a price however, in this case, close to $400 for three people. So, still the fantastic Japanese salad from Shou-U everyday? Till the balance in my bank account shows seven figures and I buy the Shou-U chef to show all of you, I'd have to be contented with simple, $0.40 fresh cuts from the fruits stall at Canteen A.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
