Let's Not Get Personal

Right, so the YOG has started and personally I echo Seinfeld's sentiment that any sport that brings nations together is a good thing.

Let's again make this clear. I am FOR having the YOG organized in Singapore and for all the inconvenience that it brings us for the 2 weeks, I'm actually pretty alright about everything. Then again, I usually take the MRT so I have not actually seen the YOG buses with their mobile "get-the fuck-outta-the-way" cams.

In a strange way, I'm even okay that we blew our budget and overshot by 3 times. It's fine. This is the first ever Youth Olympic Games and frankly if that is what it takes to put up a good show, I say go for it.

Now the ONE thing I have a bone to pick, is the ORGANIZATION of the event.
First up, I don't know when the preparation for the YOG started, but it sure as hell sounds like a lot of things are only done last minute.

Sure, there were a fair amount of hype a couple of years ago when we first got the YOG hosting. The committee asked for volunteers, got some things in place, then everything tapered off and it was all quiet for a couple of years.

What we see now, seems to be a hodge-podge of last minute efforts by people who's trying not to fuck up too badly under scrutiny.

Sure, it's the first ever Youth Olympics, and Mr. Murphy is always at play. But still, some things just should not happen. Really.

• The food is ridiculous.
• The athlete's village look like a concentration camp and is all the way over in NTU because somebody decided to comandeer the halls of residence.
• Last minute raises in budgets. Come on folks. If you have been planning and putting consistent effort into the whole organization, you'd see a consistently increase in the budget, not a last minute spike like this.
• The YOG cheer song by JJ Lin. I don't blame him actually. I blame the tone deaf midget who approved it.
• The whole marketing effort is slipshod and last minute, and frankly, simply BS.

I am concerned, that the best story that come out of the entire gig, was Low Wei Jie. If the National Sports Council had half a mind. Enlist this boy to be a national runner dammit! 15km in the rain, carrying a camera, in slippers, UNDER 2.5 hours? FUCK!
Now I'm proud of our boys and gals who are competing in the sports, whether they win the medals or not. I am proud that they trained, and lived the dream. Even for a while. I am proud of each and everyone who put in blood, sweat and tears who in one way or another contributed to the spirit of the Olympics.

What I am NOT proud of, is the way we screwed up the organization of such a historic event, the politics, the red tape, the bureaucracy and all the BS that led up to it.

PS. You think we can install the "get the fuck outta the way" cams onto ambulances, police cars and fire trucks once the YOG buses are done with them? It irritates the hell out of me that there are stupid drivers who would block the way of the REALLY important vehicles.

It's Not Me, It's You.

Let me make something clear.

This is not a rant about the state of the public transport system in Singapore. In fact, over Tao Huay with my buddy Ridz I actually defended the quality of the Singapore public transport.

For the record, I think the bus and MRT network in Singapore is pretty good. Not great. Not flawless, but pretty good all in all.No. This is a rant about the arrogance of the powers that be, and the way they talk down to the rest of us like we're either stupid, blind, ignorant, resigned or all of the above.

On a separate note, let me again state for the record, that I understand the necessity of privatization and a good working relationship between government watchdog bodies and privatized monopolies in Singapore. I do not condone the cronyism but that's another story for another time.Now why do I think the powers that be are arrogant bastards who, after lifetime of sitting on the laurels of that our forefathers have worked their asses off to put our country on the map, have become complacent, snobby and pretty much treat the rest of us as lambs for the fleecing? Let's review.

1. Over the last few months, we have been loaded with just how wonderful the new distance-based fare system is.

Suddenly, inconsistencies start surfacing. Expected really. Nobody implements a nation-wide public transport plan without glitches. In fact, the fact, that they can roll it out with so FEW is a feather they can put on their hats.

But COME ON GUYS, SMRT boasts that it moves 2 million people a day. You'd think someone would notice by now after about 80 million commuter trips that there's SOME discrepancy between actual price paid, and the ads that inundate us at every turn yes?

So when problems with pricing are brought up, ADDRESS IT. Don't shoot yourself in the foot and give bullshit reasons.

2. Just to add onto the questions abt public transport, why is it that if you get onto the same numbered bus right after getting off, it's immediately considered a new trip?

3. An informal poll among friends tell me that the 30 odd percent of people who pay more have their fares increased by at least ten cents. The maximum trip on buses have been raised from $1.30 to $1.90.

The ones whose fares are reduced dropped by five cents or under.

No change in cost. Simple math shows, (Ms Loi would be proud of me) Profit maintained or increased. The implications? Go figure.

But then again SBS, SMRT and TIBS are privatised organizations whose bottom line needs to be maintained.

4. In July, SMRT mentions that trains are already pushing optimal limits when the trains are running between 2 to 3 minutes.

Suddenly, during YOG, the optimal limits get revised, and we have 300 extra trips a day.

Makes one wonder just how much extra capacity SMRT actually has.
5. Weren't our bus and MRT fares revised upwards last year or the year before because oil prices rose? Somebody help me with this. Now that it's down by half, any difference in the fare price?

6. Originally, the intention of EZ link cards when it was first launched in 2002 WAS distance based fares. or rather that was what I remembered. The distance based fares took 8 years to implement. Well done.
Eventually, when it comes down to the crunch, Singaporeans will have to suck it up won't we? And the cost of every other option is way more expensive. So what can we do? Walk?

Still, all in all. There is a cost for living in Singapore, and this is it. As is always been my policy when it comes to all the BS that comes out of government or government related organizations. Live and let live.

If I want to stay here, there's nothing I can do, nor am I willing to go the distance to attempt to change the SYSTEM in Singapore. I don't expect the powers that be to do me any favours, neither am I gonna do them any. But seriously, you think it's possible for SMRT to at least consider using a tad of that $306 million profit to hire a new PR agency?

Inspiration To Cook

After watching "Julie and Julia", I'm inspired towards themed cooking.

Maybe something a little easier to start, and then carry on from there, and then blog all my progress...

So now the thoughts in my head.

1. Pick up a cookbook and cook my way through aka Julie and Julia.

2. Start something with a theme and then find recipes to fit: I'm thinking all the recipes that are easy but look impressive, and good for men who don't really know their way around the kitchen. "Foolproof Recipes for the Single Male on date night"

3. Find all the recipes that might be lost through time, learn them and write them down. Let's start with my mom's recipes, and then let it spread to all the others.

So which should I start with first, and which one sounds better?

Inspiration from Rocky Balboa

He gave us more than boxing, and the song "Eye of the Tiger"

Honour And Reputation

"I wouldn't have called it a lecture. Just a useful distinction, to clarify thought." He spread his hand, palm up, in a gesture of balance. "Reputation is what other people know about you. Honour is what you know about yourself."

"Hm"

"The friction tends to araise when the two are not the same..."

"... There is no more hollow feeling than to stand with your honour shattered at your feet while soaring public reputation wraps you in rewards. That's soul-destroying. The other way around is merely very, very irritating."

..."But if you're really asking for advice from my accumulated experience, I'm saying, Guard your honour. Let your reputation fall where it will. And outlive the bastards"

- A Civil Campaign, Lois McMaster Bujold

Who says you don't learn anything useful from Sci Fi?

I May Never Cross At A Traffic Light Again...

Being the second oldest guy at a Parkour workshop simply means that I'll just have to push a little harder than the rest of the boys.

It also means that I need to push my sadly out of shape body a little more.

Is the pain worth it? TOTALLY.


What have I learnt from 2 hours of learning how to vault, roll and jump from slightly insane positions and circumstances?

I might not be able to jump exactly like these bunch of jokers...



But I sure as HELL can fall damn prettily.

Now for the my next trick, actually surviving the urban freestyle run. ONWARDD!!

For those of you who are interested to find out more about parkour, look here.

And for those who are interested in the run, sign up here!

Epiphany of the Day

If everybody ate desserts for breakfast, the world would be healthier, and people will actually be HAPPY to wake up in the morning.

Consent

this is classic.

And This One Is Absolutely Classic

From the best Robin Hood movie ever made: Men in Tights

Classic. Fucking Classic

Wanna Dance?

Let's dance, mutherfucker

The Paradox Of Being There

I've been told that a boxer in a match probably would suffer less damage overall if he was to get hit by a knockout punch than if he was to go through ten rounds of the meat grinder.

And I started thinking about all the relationships that I have seen come and gone, especially the ones where the relationship was abusive, or just bullshit, and I have always stood by my friends.

Now, I'm wondering if I got it wrong. Whether because of the support, I've extended their pain and in the overall scheme of things, caused them more hurt than did any good for them. They come to me and rant and moan and bitch, and I make them feel better about themselves, and about their situation, and they go back and get themselves hurt worse.

And I ask myself what if I withdrew that support? What if, I walked away and let it all go to hell in a handbasket, then be there to pick up the pieces? Would it be better for the person in question then?

Right now, I'm not sure. Solutions to emotional problems are emotional in nature. It takes something dramatic for the person to want to change. If not, then the person will never change. If he lies, he'd do it again, and again, and again.

The next question is, would me walking away create the emotional impact deliver the knock out punch?

Questions to think about.

Believe in Little Lies

Sometimes lying is necessary.

----------------------------------------------------------------
Death: Humans need fantasy to *be* human. To be the place where the falling angel meets the rising ape.
Susan: With tooth fairies? Hogfathers?
Death: Yes. As practice, you have to start out learning to believe the little lies.
Susan: So we can believe the big ones?
Death: Yes. Justice, mercy, duty. That sort of thing.
Susan: They're not the same at all.
Death: You think so? Then take the universe and grind it down to the finest powder, and sieve it through the finest sieve, and then show me one atom of justice, one molecule of mercy. And yet, you try to act as if there is some ideal order in the world. As if there is some, some rightness in the universe, by which it may be judged.
Susan: But people have got to believe that, or what's the point?
Death: You need to believe in things that aren't true. How else can they become?

You've Lost That Loving Feeling

Don't make songs like this anymore....

On A Night Like This...

So let's give this power of positive thought thing a go...

My own apartment


A Balcony overlooks the city skyline

In A Storm


Having a whiskey


With the woman I love, who loves me back, in my arms

F1 Kicks a lot of Ass

I've never been a fan of Formula One. I think there's way too much hype about cars that sound like overgrown mosquitoes, and I personally don't see a point of going 61 laps around the same damn place. I mean seriously, don't you get bored?

So this year, nadnut tries to change my impression by inviting me to the Johnnie Walker Jet Black party. I tell you, folks. I was told to wear formal for the event. I did, and I was bloody overdressed, but it's worth it.

What makes a great party?

Copious amounts of alcohol, good food and even better company.

Great company... Hello Herbert, my new best friend in excessive drinking!

Nadnut tells me that she just realized how provocative she looked in her black top that night, and asked me why we didn't tell her she was so visually stimulating that evening. We were busy ogling, of course!

But seriously the party was wayyy cool.

Specialty cocktails...


World Class Bartenders making even more kickass martinis...


DJ Andrew T from Butter Spinning...

Mus came later to the party, and we had an AMAZING time.


At the end of it all, I had a POWER NAP and then headed back. Very buzzed and very Very VERY happy.

Thank you nadnut, Mus, DK, Herbert, and Isaac for making it such an amazing evening. Thank you Johnnie Walker for making it possible.

Oh about the F1? I still think they sound like overgrown mozzies. But they rock cos they give everyone else reason to organize kick ass parties. See ya Next year!

Spanish is HAWT

The way the syllables roll off the tongue. The almost coy, sideways look of passion held barely in check. The wail of santana in the background...

Still Funny

Must have watched this so many times. Still Good.

The Role of Friends

What, in the end, defines a friend?

One that'll tell you the truth, even when he knows it is not pleasant.

One who advises with your interest at heart, even though sometimes the advice is neither sought for nor listened to.

One who shares the moments in your life, no matter how trivial it seems to the other people.

One who tries every single way and means to keep you from the edge of the cliff, even if it means being irritating, getting into an argument or risking the friendship you hold dear.

And if you jump, and you crash, one who is still there to pick up the pieces.

Come to think of it, what defines friends, are not the good times, but the bad.

The Quiet Before The Storm

I am reminded today how much I love the time before a really big storm hits.

The electric potential in the air and the sense of stillness the slight coolness of the gently swirling wind promising so much, and yet now, just barely rustling the leaves.

I am strangely calm, and everything is in sharp contrast in the muggy air. The world is held in balance, between states. There is a silence that underlies all the sounds I hear, almost like a soundless note that is the counterpoint in the world's melody.

The note that calls to the storm like a void waiting to be filled.

Anticipation.

nahbeh

Button Pushing

Lessons for the day:

Keep probing limits, keep pushing buttons. Never ever stop, never get comfortable, and never lose yourself and forget what YOU want.

Question of the day, especially to the people that know me:

Am I too nice to the people I care about, especially the women in my life?

Dilemma

When faced with an impossible choice,

of holding on with an iron grip, and watch whatever you have slipping through your fingers slowly but surely,

and letting go, and risk whatever it is you value disappear in an instant,

how do you choose?

Of Channeling and Growing

Today, I had a conversation with my brother, a cop. He was telling me that the number of suicides and attempted suicides over the years have been on the rise.

The trend just serves to remind me, that every person needs an outlet. And if you keep it all repressed inside, at some time, some where, some how, it's gonna come out. And if you don't find some way to channel that to a constructive use, simply put, you're gonna explode, one way or another.

In a lot of the ways, the social media is mine. One huge ass aspect of me is an absolute extrovert, and sometimes, the real life (and my wallet) cannot keep up with my need to socialize. So I turn to the internet. Mentally, it takes up a lot of creative energy, sops up the excess time, and gives me an outlet for a lot of feelings and expression.

Parties, hanging out, boozing and doing stupid stuff are I guess part of my coping mechanism. A means by which I try to feel better, or at least keep things buried so while my body exhausts itself, my subconscious work out the issues at hand.

But at times, my closet introvert takes over. In the worst times in my life, I have taken to hiding and being alone with my thoughts. It's been a long time since I have had me time.

Recently however, another activity has come up. Exercise.

I don't gym, and I seriously hate swimming. Cold and wet, no like. Warm and wet, hmmmm.......... but I digress. Pushups, crunches, and from last Sunday, runs.

Pushing the edge of the envelop in physical self development is slowly becoming another avenue of channeling inner pain. After all, if it's gonna come out somewhere, might as well make it somewhere useful, right?

Time to get back the fitness of when I was doing martial arts, and dance.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Since we're on that particular topic, it's strange also that too many of our own lessons in life come only when we are dealing with pain. It seems like to we humans, pain is soul food.

When we're kept nicely insulated, it'll seem like all we're doing is stagnating.

So, now that I'm alone again, and with so much emotion to work through, the time for muscle ache and growth. If I sometimes seem morose and pensive (I just rediscovered this word today), I apologize in advance, construction in progress. Heh.

Pushing The Limit

The lesson that I learnt over the week was this,

that when we were children, we constantly pushed our limits, physical, mental, emotional, spiritual.

That's why we grow so fast. But over the years, we forgot that. That's why we stagnate.

Time to be kids again!

Random thought on Religion

Since the atheist believes that there is no God, and since it's never been proven one way or another, so atheism is ALSO an article of faith isn't it?

Defining Who We Are

One of the best phrases I have heard recently is, "We decide ourselves who we want to be. Subconsciously, or consciously, every decision and every action defines, reinforces and redefines who we choose to be."

This was initially addressed to a colleague of mine, but when I look around, I see it everywhere. As we get older, we move into certain comfort zones in thought, behaviour and character. After some time, these comfort zones get carved deeper and deeper into our psyche until it becomes they become channels of habit wherein our daily consciousness flows. With that, comes a limiting of the possibilities that we see open to us.

Change can happen. But at great cost. To our comfort zones, to our energy and spirit, even to our own identity of "self". Few are willing to go pay the price to redefine ourselves, and carve out new channels in the bedrock of life, unless something big acts on their lives to destabilize it.

Things of course, like death, debt and disease, that sometimes don't give us a choice BUT to redefine our lives so as to continue to exist. This redefinition, is seldom pleasant. For those of us not "fortunate" enough for things like that to happen to us, we can only hope that our own force of will and desire to strive and succeed is enough to overcome internal hurdles.

To those who have done it before, congratulations. Tell me your story so I can draw inspiration.

To those who are working towards change, keep at it. The road is long and tough. But you are not alone.

To those who are discontent with life, but have no desire to change, maybe you'll make the decision one day, maybe you won't. The anticipation of the bite is often worse than the bite itself. Whatever the case may be, I wish you well.

Is This For Real? (NSFW)

Okay folks, this link is seriously NSFW, so do NOT open when you're at work. Nevertheless, ladies especially, in the spirit of knowledge, self improvement and an attempt to end to the female frustration, I need to find out.

IS THIS FOR REAL?!!?

Cos if it is, I'm carrying my laptop with my middle and ring finger from now on.

And a quick rant. Why in the world is it so hard to find information on pleasuring women? Men, well... we men are easy, and we have the entire pron industry demonstrating in myriad videos.

But women, it's comparatively scant information on how you like to be pleasured! And to get an educational video? I googled for a LONGG time, and I found one. ONE! Come on, the majority of us men have no. frigging. idea what to do to make you come to a screaming orgasm. So please don't do that "you should know what, it's obvious isn't it?"

It's not. Now give.

What is Possible?

My brother recently made me read a book about violence in the real world. It is interesting because it goes beyond violence. It explore a lot of self defence, and mental states, and recovery from traumatic experiences.

This is a paragraph that I found really interesting.

"Permission and initiative combine to produce a force of nature. It is inhuman and hard to describe. You do what needs to be done without regard for whether it is possible, because nine-tenths of your 'impossibilities' are imaginary. Strange that a 110-pound girl believes that she can't hurt a 200 pound man, but an eight pound cat (especially if you dump a bucket of water on it) can and will do so without hesitation.

A small woman can punch hard enough to break ribs, and it is far less a matter of 'know-how' than it is of deciding to injure and then letting herself do it... in the end, the critical difference between me and them is that they have completely lost their allegiance to regular human suppositions about what is and isn't true, is and isn't possible.

They lose their sense of reality through chemicals, and sometimes I can give up mine and even the playing field"

- Meditations on Violence, Sgt. Rory Miller

Taking an extrapolation, what if it is not violence? What if this concept is applied to each and every aspect of our lives, our work and personal lives?

When we lose what our preconceived notions on what is possible, what can we achieve? Are we subconsciously limiting ourselves because we think that that'll make us fit in?

Thoughts to consider

Translation - 那就这样吧

Since a friend has asked me to translate the lyrics for her, I thought that maybe I should just cut and paste the lyrics here. For your reading enjoyment. This is of course, the literal translation. If you have any recommendations for changes, do let me know and I'll put it up.

Verse:
Don't cry anymore
I should be the one that's crying
You've already said you love him,
What else can i do

I have already agreed
After you have stated your point of view
Let's not drag this along
We'll start (on our seperate ways) tomorrow

Chorus:
That's all there is
However deep the love, it's come to an end
So let's break up
No point struggling anymore

Don't ask me again
How I can let just you go
Go forth,
When you get there, remember to give me a call

That's all there is,
However much we love, we'll still say sayonara
Let's hug again
And I'll kiss your long hair again

Don't cry anymore,
Wipe your tears
How about this?
Love me again, if we're really fated together

Bridge:
Quickly go and pack your stuff
It'll be dawn if we keep dragging
Keep the keys first
In case you have things
In case you have things that you forgot to take

Chorus X2

Well that's the song, and the translation. Enjoy!

那就这样吧

How appropriate the song. I knew there was a reason I like it so much.

Chawamushi recipe

Okay... since some of the good folk of the bar asked for it, here's the recipe for chawamushi, vandalin-style. It's simple. just bloody tedious. Actually since a lot of the effort goes into making the stock, it's easier to make for more people.

Ingredients (makes for 2):

Bonito Flavouring - 1 pack
Prawns - 2
Crabsticks - 2 pieces
Mushrooms - 2 pieces
Water about 500ml
salt - 1.5 teaspoons
Eggs - 2

How to do it:

Chawamushi making comes in 2 parts. Making the stock, then putting everything together and steaming the chawa

Making the stock:
Put water in saucepan, add salt and heat.
Deshell the prawns and chuck all the shells into the water.
Boil for about 30 minutes or until you think all the flavour of the prawn shells have come out. Fire should be high in the first ten minutes and then medium low afterwards.
In the last 5 minutes, add the bonito flavouring and stir well.

Remove prawn shells and cool to room temperature. (I usually use a few ice cubes)

Making the Chawa:
Mix eggs and stock in roughly about 2 parts egg:5 parts stock.

IMPT: it is fucking critical to stir gently when you mix the eggs and stock. As little air into the mixture as possible

Cut up prawn, crab stick and mushrooms and split them into 2 bowls

Divide up the egg mixture into the 2 bowls. The mushrooms will float for some reason. I can never ever make them stay at the bottom.

Cover the top of the bowls with aluminium foil and put into a steamer. If you're using a wok with water inside, make sure the bowl doesn't come into direct contact with the water.

Steam lightly for 20 min to half an hour. Lightly means the water is bubbling but lightly.

The chawamushi is ready when you see that the top is firm and if you poke the surface with a fork, the stock comes out clear.

ENJOY! Pictures akan datang.

Any Given Sunday

The inches we need in life. Al Pacino is still one of the best.

The Best Proclaimation of Faith I Have Read

"It isn't a matter of faith. It's a matter of logic."

"Of course it is! Either God exists, or He doesn't. Those are really the only two possibilities. If He does exist, as I believe all three of us believe He does, then ultimately, anything which promotes truth will only tend to demonstrate His existance. And even if that weren't true, if He exists, then whatever happens will be what He chooses to allow to happen - even if, for some reason beyond my comprehension, what He chooses is to have mankind turn against Him, at least for a time."

"If He doesn't, He doesn't. But if He doesn't, then none of it will matter anyway, will it?"

"I'm quite confident about which of those two possibilities apple. But as I believe I've already told you, men must have the right to refuse to believe before they truly can believe. And if it turns out I've been wrong all my life, what have really lost? I will have done my best to live as a good man, loving other men and women, servinv them as I might, and if there is no God, then at the end of my life I'll simply close my eyes and sleep. I there truly anything dreadful, anything to terrify any man, in that possibility? It isn't that I fear oblivion - it's simply that I hope for and believe in so much more."

- quoted from By Schism Rent Asunder, David Weber.

The Obsession With Thin

Okay. This is getting out of hand. Who the FUCK decided that the ideal woman should be one that's so frigging skinny that we can lift her and tuck her under the arm and walk off, and not have curves?

And who the FUCK decided to infect the women of the world with this. damn. lie?

I find that person, and he/she/it will take precedence over Mr Murphey in the list of "targets for grievous bodily injury with a blunt spoon."

Let's get some facts out in the open right now.

Ladies, unless you are a "little person", having a weight that starts with a 5 is NORMAL. If you are 170 and above, it is FINE to be over 60kg. Yes, heels are included. And especially when you are born homo sapians, and not homo measurus tapus.

And unless you're related to Wolverine and have metal for a skeleton, or if you are related birds, there is no such thing as heavy-boned or light-boned.

Muscles weigh more than fat. It's FINE to put on weight when you go and exercise. Just. Look. Good.

Smaller waistline, smaller boobs is NOT a good deal.

If you squeeze your belly, thigh, arm, cheek and assorted other body parts, your fingers will close a centimeter apart AT THE VERY LEAST. That, dear biology students, is SKIN. Not fat.

Hourglass good. Normal ladies watches bad.

The woman's worst critics are, in this order: Themselves, Other women, mothers (maybe). Men really don't care all that much.

And all in all, we men appreciate that you ladies dress up for us, but we really prefer you all dressing DOWN. Literally. At the end of the day, the lights are off and we have to go by touch anyway.

And truth of the matter is, that our approach to models are the same as how you women approach Johnny Depp, Brad Pitt, or Pierce Brosnan. Nice to have, but strictly optional. If we do end up with one, we probably won't know what to do anyway.

And no matter heavy you are, how much cellulite you have, or little crow's feet come out when you smile, it does not matter.

YOU are the ones we want.

And we will love you and accept you for all that you are, and all that you are not. So quit agonizing over what makes you hot, and focus on what makes you BEAUTIFUL. Like giving an absolutely amazing Blowjob, and swallowing. JUST JOKING!

So there.

Raising Shirlyn

Now as much as i believe that Singapore is a bloody talent desert, there are some little oases of talent.




Shirlyn Tan is one of those.


No, she's not featured on the President's Command Performance, because she don't play some classical instrument so well that the Ae-tess people will notice.


Neither does she sing some teeny bopper doe-y eye pop song, so that she is discovered by some Taiwan producer, and get fame overseas before getting recognized in the hometown.



She can't play table tennis either.



But nevertheless, in my books, she's Singaporean, and BLOODY HELL SHE ROCKS! And she has a whole bunch of SICK screaming fans as well!

See? (picture taken from jaywalk's blog)

Anyways, she's diversifying and going to the States to train to be a fully fledged Yoga instructor. And it is my duty to make sure she comes back to us after 9 weeks, so that Thursdays keep on being Thirst-days.

So Monday, at Blu Jazz Cafe. Make sure you're there, and make sure you go in and raise a glass in honour of OUR OWN Shirlyn Tan!

Date: 20th April 2009, Mon.
Time: 8-11pm
Place: Blu Jazz Cafe, (near Haji Lane)

More information available here!

Right now, enough reading, and get going tonight!

9 Months In

For those of you who are wondering, yes, I finally have a girlfriend and it has gone past the 9th month. And I'd like to say for the record that it IS different from being single, but I am enjoying all the differences.

And yes, while there is a really big age gap between me and my beloved, I'd like to say that for the record, I am quite proud to say that I am learning as time goes by. From being in a relationship, from being with HER, and from her as an individual.

Here are some of the lessons that I have learnt in 9 months:

There are some things in life that one just needs to take time to do. It's not good to rush. Chawamushi is one of them. Pasta is another.

Time management is not easy, and sometimes we all need to make sacrifices for the things that we want.

Communication is key. Under ALL circumstances. If you're not psychic, then make sure you say something out. And make sure the message is received by the other party is the same as the one you're trying to convey.

No matter how good at something you think you are, you can always get better. Yes, that includes any and all bedroom antics.

One should NEVER, EVER fake it.

My dress sense always needs improving.

There is a difference between the various kinds of brushes that women have for make up. Apparently there are 2 brushes for every contour on the face.

We are all human. If we need to, we can change.

We are always changing. Even our principles and how we express them. We do need, however to be focused and clear about what we are changing INTO.

In every relationship, there will always be give and take. There should never be a situation where it's one party that gives, and another that takes. If we sit down and do up a balance sheet, we'll never get to the end of it.

Never be conceited or complacent. The more you're praised, the more you serve to keep the balance and the arrogance in check.

Shopping is only limited by time and the amount of money in the wallet. There is no such thing as enough shoes, bags, accessories or clothes. 18 hair/headbands is NOT enough.

Some of these are lessons freshly learnt, some already known but have been hammered in over the last 9 months.

All in all, thank you, kitten, for being with me through these 9 months. I have learnt much over the last 9 months, and you've been wise and patient beyond your years, to a man who has too little time for you, and who lives literally across on the other side of Singapore.

I Raise A Toast To Haters

In a conversation with my friend nadnut, I am reminded of a particular commercial on TV, and I now raise a toast to haters.

People who got nothing better to do other than sit around behind the computer and bitch and moan and gripe about people, and have absolutely NOTHING constructive to say.

To Haters,

Thank you for testing our mettle.

Thank you, for giving us the inspiration to better ourselves in every way for nothing else than to prove you wrong.

Thank you, for showing us who our true friends are, and how much they value us and complete us.

Thank you, for making us take a long hard look at ourselves, and make us a better person for that scrutiny.

Now, that I have toasted. It is time to pull out a switchblade, kill 'em and discreetly dispose of their bodies.

Picture adapted from Sluggy.com

The SplotchMen

This is hilarious! Sluggy.com

Self Improvement

I'll be picking up Jeet Kun Do classes from next month onwards. Looking forward to it! And as a tribute, here's a flash video of the founder of JKD.

Learning Lessons The Hard Way

It sucks not to have the instant gratification of letting it rip when one is pissed off.

It sucks even more to have to suck it in, and watch, and not have the pleasure of fucking someone over, especially if he is unrepentant and is too arrogant to even KNOW that he's made a mistake.

I look forward to next week, and hope wait will make the next meeting much MORE satisfying.

Damn I need to work off the aggression. Looking at this gym to take JKD and MMA classes. Anyone?

And They Say We Have Issues

Growing up with music like this, who's the wild child now dad?



If you can't hear the lyrics, you can read it on the youtube page here.

Dating Violence Awareness Week 2009

From Jaywalk's Blog. This program will be running from the 7th to 14th February and the launch is this Saturday at Tampines Mall. So show some love aye



I don't like men who abuse women. No. Belay that. I fucking HATE men who abuse women. I, too have had friends who were abused to the point where they lost all self-esteem and were nothing but empty shells. I have had friends who had the courage to break away and find themselves again.

For those of you who want to find out more, go to http://www.chooselovenotabuse.com/

For those of you who are in an abusive relationship, walk away. There is help. You are brave, and you are worthy by yourself.

A call out to the rest of me friends, spread the word. You'll never know when someone near you may just need that helping hand out of the hell they're in.

And I Quote, On Anger

Again taken from the same book, White Night, by Jim Butcher.

"'Anger is just anger. It isn't good. It isn't bad. It just is. What you do with it is what matters. It's like anything else. You can use it to build or to destroy. You just have to make the choice.'

"'Constructive anger,' (she) said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"'Also known as passion,' (he) said quietly. 'Passion has overthrown tyrants, and freed prisoners and slaves. Passion has brought justice where there was savagery. Passion has created freedom where there was nothing but fear. Passion has helped souls rise from the ashes of their horrible lives and build something better, stronger, more beautiful.'

"'In point of fact," (he) said quietly. "that kind of thing really doesn't get done without passion. Anger is one of the things that can help build it - IF it's controlled."

"'If you really believed that," (she) said, 'you'd not be having any anger-control issues.'

"'Because I'm perfect?' (he) asked her, and snorted. 'A lot of men go a lifetime without ever figuring out how to control anger. I've been doing it longer than some, but I don't kid myself that I'm a saint.' I shruggged. 'A lot of things I see make me angry. It's one of the reasons I decided to spend my life doing something about it.'

"'Because you're so noble,' she purred, which dripped even more sacarsm...

"'Because I'd rather use that anger to smash the things that hurt people than let it use me,' (he) said. 'Talk at my subconscious all you want. But I'd be careful about trying to feed my inner Hulk, if I were you. You might end up making me that much better a person, once I beat it down. Who knows, you might make me into a saint. Or as close to one as I could get, anyway.'"

And I Quote... On Pain

Taken from White Night, by Jim Butcher

"What we hadn't known about, back then, was pain.

"Sure, we'd faced some things as children that a lot of kids, don't.... We still hadn't learned, though, that growing up is all about getting hurt. And then getting over it. You hurt. You recover. You move on. Odds are pretty good you're just going to get hurt again. But each time, you learn something.

"Each time, you come of it a little stronger, and at some point you realize that there are more flavours of pain than coffee. There's the little empty pain of leaving something behind - graduating, taking the next step forward, walking out of something familiar, and safe into the unknown.

"There's the big, whirling pain of life upending all your plans and expectations. There's the sharp little pains of failure, and the more obscure aches of successes that didn't give you what you thought they would. There are the vicious, stabbing pains of hopes being torn up. The sweet little pains of finding others, giving them your love, and taking joy in their life as they grow and learn. There's the steady pain of empathy that you shrug off so you can stand beside a wounded friend and help them bear their burdens.

"And if you're very, very lucky, there are a very few blazing hot little pains you feel when you realize that you are standing in a moment of utter perfection, an instant of triumph, or happiness, or mirth which at the same time cannot possibly last - and yet will remain with you for life.

"Everyone is down on pain, because they forget something important about it: Pain is for the living. Only the dead don't feel it.

"Pain is part of life. Sometimes it's a big part, and sometimes it isn't, but either way, it's part of the big puzzle, the deep music, the great game. Pain does two things:

It teaches you, tells you that you're alive. The it passes away, and leaves you changed.

"It leaves you wiser, sometimes. Sometimes it leaves you stronger. Either way, pain leaves its mark, and everything important that will ever happen to you in life is going to involve it in one degree or another."

This Happens So Often It's Scary...

A timely reminder for us to remove the log in our own eyes before we attempt to pluck the speck from our brother's.

And to always examine ourselves for double standards

If you cannot see the image, click here

All credit and copyright belongs to Questionablecontent.net

Understatement

The new understated catchphrase, "Want to touch water?"

It does not fully encapsulate the sheer mind numbing horror, the heart pounding, balls shrinking terror that is the bungee jump

Dirty Love

It was months ago when I heard this phrase from my pastor. (yes, assholes. I go to church. Live with it)

"Love is a dirty, stinky thing. It's not the lovely, sweet beautiful, clean thing that you see on movies and in books."

Now I was never a romantic. I don't ever believe in "happily ever after" but what he said gave another aspect to it.

He went on, it's because of love, that the mothers and fathers take care of their babies. Believe me, even the cutest baby's shit is not roses. It is heartbreaking, when you lecture and discipline your kid over and over again. It is humiliating when you stand next to him in front of the discipline master's office.

When you love your fellow man, you go out into the field, and serve, it is hot, sweaty, uncomfortable, irritating but you keep at it, because of love.

When you have a girlfriend or a wife, you get pissed off, there are days where you have flaming rows. but that night, if your significant other gets drunk, you'll clean the pee and the vomit off him or her, and tuck her into bed. It hurts, it is painful, it is smelly, it is irritating, and a whole host of unpleasant and downright disgusting sensations and feelings.

But we presevere because of love. In in that, is a new, sublime beauty more than that in the romance novels.

Definition: Nice Guy

Alright, this I need to understand. For the sake of MANkind, when women and girls say that they want a NICE guy, what EXACTLY are they looking for?

My English teacher has said that the word nice is an ambiguous word. Much like OK, or can lah or mai hiam. Nice, can mean everything from something short of the devil incarnate, to Mahadma Ghandi the Second.

And since nobody has ever asked this before, I'm gonna do it. Ladies and, well, girls,

DEFINE NICE GUY.

You now have your essay topic. Now fire away. You have the right to remain silent, and anything you say and use can and will be used in the court of the sexes.

I, as well as about half the human race, await your enlightening response.

Good advice from Bleach

Thanks B! Sometimes stories tell life better than life itself.

"Live well, age well, bald well, and die after me. and if possible, die laughing." - Father to son in Bleach.

Is this what all parents want of their kids?

Focus Women!

Is this really what's going on in women's heads? DAMN


Makeout Session - These bloopers are hilarious

A Gentle Reminder

Sometimes, we do need a reminder. A kick in the arse as it is. And therefore, from One of the Great Orators of Our Time:

"Never give in -- never, never, never,

never, in nothing great or small, large or petty,

never give in except to convictions

of honour and good sense.

Never yield to force;

never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."

Winston Churchill, the one we call the British Bulldog.

Other quotes can be found here.

Justifications, Reasons, and Why The Gahmen Needs A New Publicist

Keeping up with my usual reading of daily affairs via Jean's Blog, this thought occured to me.

Funny how come there is a justification for increasing prices, but there's also a justification for keeping employees' salaries at the same level. Now if both justifications are justified... where's does the money from this increase go to?

And that is why, all too often, I ask the question why in the world the powers-that-be, for all the extra money that they're getting, are not getting better publicists (read. story-tellers).

I mean come on, you'd think that for all the money in the world, you should be able to get some of the best spin doctors in the world to make people not only give you money, but do it willingly, unreservedly, and maybe even take their children's lunch money and hand it over reverently.

But then again, ,maybe we, the sheep-tizens of this nation, just ain't worth the trouble and the money and the time.

Sweet Love

Yeap. So I got a Significant Other.

Proof that Yours Truly does have a heart, and it's not just focused on alcohol, partying, and sex.

Oh wait...

Random Musing

If life deals you a bad hand, would you fold, or would you play on?

The Sweet Irony

You know how the gah-men has been pushing for clean and green Singapore.

You see how we try to reduce emissions by making it expensive for the average joe to drive.

You see ERP gantries going up to regulate traffic flow so that cars are clustered in other smaller roads less able to manage the flow and then those roads get blocked with gantries as well.

Yet taxes are reducing so it's "easier" to own a car, but harder to actually use it.

And here's an interesting point. Why the FUCK is it that for all the bloody clean and greenness, more environmentally friendly cars don't have a reduction in tax, but an INCREASE.

Something here doesn't fit. Can you see it?

Mad Talented Kid

More evidence that Life is not fair. But some times, the unfairness result in things of beauty.

Tagged By JasChocolate

What disappoints you the most?
Me

Where will you go if someone sponsors you a tour ticket?
South America

What’s your favorite thing to do?
Sex, Dance, Drink, Watching People and testing myself. In that order.

Do you think money can buy happiness?
Money facilitates happiness.

If you can have one dream to come true, what would it be?
That my Burmese friends are here in Singapore. It's a different junta, but at least this one works.

Do you believe you can survive without money?
Sure. Time to dig into my gold reserve.

What are you afraid to lose the most?
My mind and my heart.

If you win $1 million, what would you do?
1/4 to church. 1/4 to family. 1/4 to myself and 1/4 in reserve for investment.

What color represents you the most?
White

List out 3 good points of the person who tagged you?
Nice claws, innocent, I THINK she reads.

What makes you happy?
Lots of things. When in doubt, gimme money.

What type of person do you hate the most?
Stupid people, and idiots who can't drive.

Where do you see yourself 10 years down the road?
Retired, but working

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
Reading People's Minds.

What do you think is the most important thing in your life?
My Way

Any childhood memories you’ll like to re-live?
nope

What makes you cry?
selfless acts of beauty

What is your least favourite animal?
Mosquitoes, and stupid people

What is one thing your friends probably don’t know about you?
Whatever it is, it shall remain unknown.

Tagging: YOU. You read it, now you do it. And leave a comment afterwards so I have something to read.

The Last Word on The Vuestar Saga

Since there's no cure to stupidity, I have this to say.

WHEN GOOGLE PAYS, I PAY.

Thus endeth the lesson. Amen.

They're Fine...

The Cyclone didn't hit Yangon. My friends are fine. Whew.

Just got internet up, it seems.

HUGS Norah-Anne and Zarah Belle Soe. Be safe and come to Singapore NOW.

The 7 Meme

Tagged by Posh, and some more sms me to tell me must do.

7 RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME:

• I'm dangerous when bored
• I'll try practically everything. Twice
• I cannot drink coffee
• I am eager to learn, but application takes a while.
• I enjoy dancing.
• I like squeezing my zits
• I read. A lot.

7 THINGS THAT SCARE ME:

• Toe Socks are evil
• The putting in and taking off of earrings.
• Teletubbies are evil too
• Cradling babies in my hands
• The last 2 minutes before speaking in front of an audience
• Driving sleepy
• Not finishing work
  

7 RANDOM MUSIC AT THE MOMENT:

• Living on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
• 海阔天空 - Beyond
• Always be my baby - David Cook
• The Finale - Les Miserables
• Stupid for You - Marie Digby
• Paint me with your sunshine - Marie Digby
• Remember the Name - Fort Minor

7 THINGS I SAY THE MOST:

• Nahh Behhhh
• Mother F87ker!
• Wassssuuuuppp!!!
• Fuck (in all its various forms)
• So what's the story?
• HMMM....
• Bitch
  

7 THINGS I TREASURE THE MOST(in no ranking order):

• Knowledge
• Wisdom
• Honest advice given
• The ones who I love (even though I don't tell them enough)
• An amazing whiskey
• Time with friends
• The time alone after a day of productive work

7 “FIRST TIME” THINGS I EVER DID:

1. Manicure and Pedicure
2. Went for a boyzillian.
3. Backpacked Europe alone.
4. Ran 21km
5. Started a company
6. Drank glacier water from a beer glass at the bottom of a fjord
7. Went to Myanmar and made friends I hope is are alright now.

Tags: Jean, TH, Ridz, Alice, HB,

Now What Is It YOU Want?

This thought came to me when I was reading a thread at THE BAR.

You know, career advancement and better prospects are such vague terms.

What does it mean to you?

Different job scope?
Management-level duties?
More money?
Snazzy title?
A hot secretary that gives outstanding blowjobs?
Corner office?

What?

If you find it hard to leave because of the people, but want "better prospects", why not suggest to your boss a way to stay, but get a different scope of work?

Having been on both sides of the hiring desk, I guess I speak from experience that a good boss is as hard to find as a good employee.

Poetry for me??

horny vandalin

such a honestly shallow

need-to-be-laid man

Thanks RN. This is the first time someone has written a haiku for me. *sniff*

Tear Jerker

But in a somewhat positive way. Les Miserables was the first and best musical I have ever seen.

Even now, a decade after I last watched it when I was in JC 2. The finale still brings tears to my eyes.



I can't explain it. But then again, who can explain emotion?


*so it's really ok to fess up that you have fallen for me. *evil grin*

New Revelation

Note to Self: Do not get drunk with microphone in hand.

At a wedding.


As the MC.

Now where is the damn videographer. There's footage that needs to be censored...

Note To Self

No matter how good I think I am at something, I can still get better.


And I should keep getting better. Settling for something easier and being content are not options that should be entertained.

Oh and review past notes. They're useful.

Taking Care of Little Ones

I'm clumsy when it comes to children and small lifeforms. I mean, there's a reason why I took fucking Judo, martial art that teaches you how to fall.

At arm's length, babies are fine. But up close and personal, fuck. I. AM. Terrified. Even with my god daughter, I am STILL terrified.

So it's by a stroke of irony that I have to bring 3 abandoned kittens in. XT's taking care of them right now, but she has to head overseas. So like it or not, I'm stuck with them for a day.

Thank goodness they're still alive after one day of ignorant care. Thank you, Shelled for taking care of them. If they stayed any longer with me, they're probably gonna be screwed. You're brilliant.

I know NOTHING of taking care of them. Sorry, you 3, for being responsible for subjecting ya'll to cold and chills. Thank God they're mostly ok now. Or I really have no idea how I'm gonna live with myself.

In order from right to left. MostlyBlack, Half Without, and Half With.

A hand and 2 legs ful.

Alright. Enough of my topless pictures and the 3 pussies. Back to your regularly scheduled program.

God's Punishment To Mankind

The Flu.

Combined, the flu has caused more death, complications and misery than very possibly any other disease in the world.

And since there's never been any effective cure, we're screwed to suffer it one way or another till armaggedon.

Rest Well My Friend

I'm sorry I didn't know until yesterday. I'm sorry I didn't have a chance to say goodbye.

Thanks for the Hoegaardens that you always split with me the first thing I arrive at the bar every time.

Thank you, for sharing your dreams and excitement of being a dad for the first time.

Thank you, for the pranks you pulled on me, and we, on the other customers.

Thank you, for sharing with me what you wanted to do, so your family can have a better life.

Thank you, and I'll miss you Halid. There will be one more name to remember when the song plays.

HEELLLLOOO MARIE DIGBY

I is going to the Marie Digby showcase in SINGAPORE.

YEESSS!!! Ridz, your wish came true, but I got first dibs. w00t!!!


My first Marie Digby song.

So This Is Bali

Visited Bali for the first time. There are so many things to remember, and write about, that I shall give you JUST my milestones.

Had a taste of what it's like to stay in a villa. Fucking Awesome. And doing the cannonball into the pool. Doubly Awesome.

Having allegedly the BEST sup buntut in the world. It's a taste explosion, that's what it is. Not as addictive as what the guys make it out to be, but 3 bowls in 4 days. Well, absence makes the heart fonder does it not?

Had a manicure AND a pedicure at the same time. My fingers are shiny.... getting... hyp... no...tised.....

Got to ride a bike again. Man I missed it, even if it's just a 50CC scooter. Petrol in Bali is sold in fucking vodka bottles. Talk about high octane fuel.

Ku De Ta. Fuuuucking amazing view. I think, the view's actually better than the food. And the food was pretty damn good

Learnt how to counter exchange rate cheats. The HARD way. Lesson cost me 100k rups.

Bak Mee Goreng. Another taste explosion. How the hell do they make it taste so good?

Partying ain't all that great. Where the hell are the RnB clubs dammit!?

Getting a king sized bed all to myself. I still sleep on one corner of the bed with 2 of the 4 pillows. I don't think I'll ever get used to luxury. Maybe the extra space is used for other things. Hmmm...

Right. That's all for now. No pictures, at least this time round, and nothing more... adventurous. Or at least, I'm not telling. Heh heh heh.

Top Secret Access

There are 2 kinds of people with Top Secret access to even the most secure of all places in the world.

The person with coffee in his hands, and the one with the broom.

Never look down on anybody.

On that note, there are 2 kinds of people that wear anything they want in a high level corporate office. The boss and the sweeper. Chances are, you'll never quite figure out which is which.

Thought of the Day

I do not pick up women. I make new friends, dammit.

That's me, a friendly kinda guy.

Lesson of The Day

So I've been told that when it comes to negotiations, that I have a tendancy to be condescending.

What's being condescending? It's hard to put an exact finger on it, but it's almost like you're "talking down" to somebody. Professional maybe, but the same way that counter officer at certain government agencies are professional. Cold, mildly degoratory, and basically just looking down your nose at somebody.

I never knew I was like that. Quite a shock really. But looking back I realized that I am. Mildly condescending. And having been on the receiving end, I must say, it is a good lesson learnt and a valuable mirror held up against myself.

And today, I read this in my email,

"When people are aware of the good or bad opinions other people have about them, they want to live up to those opinions. This is why we act out the roles assigned to us. If we receive praise, we want to be worthy of that praise.

"I heard of a police officer who always seemed to be able to get even the toughest criminals to open up and tell him everything. His technique was to tell the criminal, "I know you have a reputation for being the tough guy who's been in a lot of trouble, but everyone tells me the one thing that stands out about you is that you never lie. They tell me that whatever you say, it's always the truth, no matter what."

"Honestly assess how you think you make others feel when they're around you. Do you make them feel small and unimportant, or do you inspire them to achieve more? Your actions towards others will tell them how you feel or think about them, which will in turn determine their behavior!"

"The German writer and poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once stated, "Treat a man as he appears to be and you make him worse. But treat a man as if he already were what he potentially could be, and you make him what he should be."

- Kurt W. Mortensen

What a wake up call.

(Mis)Adventures in KL

Got back to Singapore at 10am on Monday morning. 8 hours overdue. Sans bus tickets. and picked up a bump on my left temple and my partner a busted knee.

Anyways, this is what happened.

Was in KL for the investors and traders convention cos my partner wanted to check out the KL market and the potential over there.

It was a decent trip. And the dramatics started when we were coming back to Singapore.

Act 1, Scene 1 - The bus station at Pudu Raya, 9pm. Sunday Night.

My partner has bought 2 tickets on a delux coach back to Singapore from the Konsortium counter on Saturday afternooon. We wait, at Dock 12 for the bus to come. Among those waiting, are a few indians, a bunch of Secondary school students and a swedish couple.

Act 1, Scene 2 - The bus station at Pudu Raya, 9:15pm. Sunday Night.

A guy comes over and shouts, "Singapore" and a whole bunch of people stand up. Thinking our bus here, we follow the dude downstairs to the bus bay. Bus is not here, we wait for a bit. He then beckons us to follow him. I am completely uninitiated to KL.

My partner says that it's normal since sometimes the bus stops outside instead of coming in. We follow.

Act 1, Scene 3 - Outside the Bus Station, 930pm. Sunday Night.

The guy leads us for 10 minutes before sitting down and tells everyone to pass their tickets to him. He makes a show of checking, then puts everything in his bag. He then gets up and tells us to carry on walking.

Act 2, Scene 1 - Near the beat up bus, 9:30pm, Sunday Night.

We finally reach a shitty bus. A beat up 40 seater. He says that this is our bus that'll be going back to Singapore. My partner demands our tickets back. The guy attempts to walk away.

We chase after him, with all our luggage still in our arms, he threatens us with his walkie talkie, and walks again. We go after him and attempt to stop him. He swings his walkie talkie and my partner chokes him from the back. He takes another swing and I lock his arm.

We told him that we'll let him go if he gives us our tickets back. We let him go, and he takes a swipe at my partner, and breaks into a run. My partner kicks, misses, and falls. His luggage flies.

I run after him, pins him and takes a couple of swipes at him. "Give us our tickets back," he doesn't and whacks my head with his walkie talkie. Twice. I try to throw him to the ground and sit on him. He runs.

Contemplated running after him, but there are people around my partner, and I got worried. Went back and he busted his knee. I help him up and gathered all our luggage back.

Act 2, Scene 2. Near the beat up bus, 10:30pm, Sunday Night.

The bus driver refuses to move because apparently, dodgy muther-fucker was suppose to pay him, and he's not paying yet.

Another half hour, dodgy mutherfucker comes back with another load of people. They get up the bus, and there's still some space in the bus... but with me glaring at him, he must have decided that better get this group of people outta here.

He pays the bus driver and buggers off. Contemplated jumping off the bus to beat the fuck outta him before he heads off. Decides against it because dunno if I'll miss the bus after.

Act 3, Scene 1. 2 hours outside KL. Unknown Rest stop, 1am. Monday Morning

Dodgy bus breaks down, and can't start again. Everyone waits while the driver calls a replacement.

Act 3, Scene 2. 2 hours outside KL. Unknown Rest stop, 3am. Monday Morning.

We are still waiting. Some people have hitched rides on gas trailers and container trucks. We see an empty bus coming by, and Indian dudes approach to negotiate. I am in awe of his negotiation tactics. I take notes even though I am sleep deprived.

Act 3, Scene 3. In the hitched-a-ride bus. 4am. Monday Morning.

We finally get on our way. With us, are the 4 kids, one of the Indian dudes, and a whole bunch of other people, including this really young kid travelling on his own.

Act 4, Scene 1. Larkin Bus Interchange. 7am. Monday Morning.

Reached Larkin, courtesy of the Indian dude. Helped my partner down the steps and into a cab. We take the cab to a place where there's a Comfort cab waiting, in the basement carpark of Plaza Seni.

Apparently this taxi stand has Singapore cabs that can cross the border.

We pay an extra S$35. Worth it, because we were stuck one and a half hours on the Malaysia side of the Causeway, and another half hour on the Singapore side.

And the fare goes all the way to my partner's place. No idea which way the cab driver went, cos I pretty fucking much concussed on the cab.

Act 4, Scene 2. My partner's place. Singapore. 10am, Monday morning

Dropped my partner off, helped him up to his place before driving back. He will go to hospital later on in the day.

Headed home, bathed and went to work.

Lessons Learnt:
1. Only give the bloody ticket to the bloody conductor, AFTER you get on the bus and are seated. (Thanks Jean!)

2. Don't let the dodgy motherfucker go. Beat the SHIT outta him. Then take the money and the tix from him. He rips us off. We mug him. Turnabout's a bitch.

3. It's always good to be on the SAME side as an Indian in negotiation. If you are not, make sure you are.

4. Keep fit. You never know when you have to beat the shit outta somebody.

Age IS an Issue

Nowadays when someone tells me, "You're 30 and you're still hitting the clubs and dancing?"

I tell them yeah. "you young uns got a lot of catching up to do."

And I can still whoop your ass on the dance floor. Booya.

Singapore Boleh!

Another couple of up and coming designer/entrepreneurs.

When is the men's line coming out chuwen! I can do with at least ONE other shirt in my wardrobe that's not something I have worn 26452 times.

click on the picture, or click here. Your choice.

Style Damsel is by chuwen and dzigna and all the designs are their own. Not bad guys, not bad at all. Now where's the man's line???

The Magicians of Basketball

Now some of the younger ones may not have heard this name before. But the Harlem Globetrotters are so good, that they have taken basketball to an art.

Don't believe me? Take a look.



A bit of trivia. On February 27, 2006, the Globetrotters extended their overall record to exactly 22,000 wins.

Their most recent loss came on March 31, 2006 when they went down 87–83 to the NABC College All-Stars to bring their loss tally to just 345—still a winning percentage of 98.4%.

Maybe the Slingers will get someone from that team in next season? Oh and Jean, wanna try out some of the stunts there?

For Those Of You Who Hate Tele Marketers...

Alice, think about getting one of these.

got this from my Junior's website

For those of you who do not know. You can find out more about the switchblade-wielding, tele marketer-hating, rabbit here.

Changing The World, One Compliment At A Time

I was on the bus the other day, and saw an act of kindness.

The bus driver stopped gently, opened the doors and walked to an old man in the bus.

He then leaned closed and told the gentleman that it's his stop, and proceeded to help him down the bus, taking his time to guide the shaky old man with a walking stick down the steps and into the bus stop before driving off.

It got me thinking. We all know that positive reinforcement works better than negative right?

So why is it that we so are so slow to praise, quick to condemn and expect change fast? Come to think of it, when it comes to trying to get someone to change for the better, we almost NEVER praise.

So in this, I think I'll try a social experiment. I'll encourage things that I'd like to see more of, rather than condemn things I'd like to see less of.

I'll compliment and give praise to what I think is good, rather than hang, draw and quarter what I think is bad.

Let's see what changes. Thank you, driver of SBS 2674 T, for a timely reminder at 1pm on the 6th of March 2008 at the bus stop outside the church at Queen Street.

Kudoes to Another Singaporean Entrepreneur

Congrats XT, on starting your online clothing store!

She carries a really nice line for ladies. Nothing for the men, but hey, she's ALMOST SOLD OUT and it's only the second day. Gives you an idea of how nice her stuff is ya?

(click on the picture to go to the shop. If not, click ME)

No, Edmund will NOT model anything from the store. Yes, even if it's his birthday. We're helping XT, remember guys?

A lot of people talk about starting their own business, but hardly any actually take that step forward. So here's what little I can do, to make your store a success.

So cheers XT, make it happen and congratulations on taking a huge step forward.

PS. Apparently if you quote my blog, you gals can get 10% off. Hey, take the remainder and buy me teh tarik. I don't mind.

The Male Sixth Sense

It is often complained by the fairer sex that we men are insensitive. That we have the intuition of a large rock, and just about as much fashion sense.


And let's be fair. It's true, most of the time.


However, there's one tiny, little known "sixth sense" in the human male that gets conditionally triggered. This sex sense makes the male hyper sensitive to non-verbal cues.


This, what is coined by yours truly to be, the "someone's-pissing-in-my-territory" instinct, is present in all human beings and particularly apparent in the male because of the lack of sensitivity in nearly all other areas.


We men KNOW when another guy/gal/living thing is interested in our significant other. And when we do, the horns come out, the teeth are bared, and suddenly testosterone fills the air and we're ready to "defend our territory".
And like in women, there are men whose sixth sense is hyper-sensitive. The general rule is, the more insecure the man, the more sensitive that sixth sense. In certain cases, this is so extreme that anything male within a 50m radius triggers territorial instincts.


Wanna see the sex sense in action? Try going to a club any Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, and you can see it in action. Field trip anyone? Heh heh heh

Wanted, Dead or Alive

Actually I don't know about the dead or alive part. But I'm pretty sure that there probably won't be a lot of people weeping if he was roughed up a bit, or a lot.

This dude, is Mas Selamat Kastari, aged 45. Walks with a limp, and anyone with photoshop, come on folks, let's FINALLY put it to good use and make variations of this picture, rather than use it to turn Edmund into a Hansum boy.

So if you have seen this man,

Fess up and quietly call 999. Social Media BOLEH!

Mr. Murphy and Tai Sui are Both Mean Boys

When I find EITHER of them, I'll eviscerate him with a blunt spoon and strangle him on his own entrails.

Wedding Speech For A Friend

Was invited to a wedding and was asked to speak. I didn't make it up the stage, cos the wedding singer (not me this time) hogged the limelight.

I thought it summarizes a lot of things I learnt about love, and so I asked for her permission to put it here.

So here goes. And here it goes out to everyone whose wedding I have attended, and will attend. I applaud you and respect you for this amazing commitment that you have taken on yourselves. It'll be a LONG time before I join your ranks.

But in the mean time, well done you, all of you.

"A friend told me that 'the beginning of love is the end of logic.'

Logically, of course. I can understand why it is that these 2 lovely people have gotten together.

The groom's quite a man. Quite a LOT of man. Exactly how much, I think the bride knows better than any of us.

The bride, complements him, but loses none of her own individuality. Like the chilli padi she loves so much. She is a person in her own right, and brings forth the best in the man that she's with.

But we are not here to celebrate logic. We are here to celebrate love. There's no reason in the world, at the end of the day, for them to choose each other.

Among all the chilli padi, and among all the dishes in the world, they have chosen to commit to each other for the rest. of. their. lives.

So we celebrate this magical, crazy, illogical, senseless, wonderful thing, that has brought the 2 of them together.

We celebrate their love.

Now a word of advice, dear hearts. There will be no happily ever after. You will quarrel, irritate each other, and get pissed off in return. You will fight, and you will jump on one another. But through it all, you will still love each other, so remember to show it.

So to your new life together. May it not be perfect. But May you find beauty in that imperfection, and in the wonderful wonderful love, that you have together.

Cheers."

See dude, I actually HAVE a heart, dammit.