Happy 45th, Singapore. Happy birthday, Singapore. You’ve done well for yourself thus far, and I sincerely hope that we can become even better for the next 45 years. Just like any other relationships, I do not think that you’re perfect. You have many aspects that I dislike, and even detest at times, however, you’ve also many fantastic qualities that played critical roles in my growing-up years. Thank you for the safe and stable environment, and sound infrastructure that you’ve provided. I hope that we can continue to improve and enhance our society to become a place where our citizens can all truly feel at home here. Since it’s our 45th birthday, I thought it might be fun to commemorate this special occasion by highlighting 45 10 things that are uniquely Singapore. (Alright, 45 is just too challenging for a lone task. Contributions anyone?) 1. Singlish Defined by Wiki as “Singlish, sometimes known in the academic community as Singapore Colloquial English, is an English-based creole language spoken in Singapore“. For those who want to mingle in with the local crowd, here’s a “useful” guide (just for laughs please): Singlish much? Image source: Post entitled “Fly lice, anyone? The love-hate relationship with Singlish” by NLB blog On a more serious note, the widespread use of Singlish has always been a topic of contention. Supporters take the usage of this self-made language with a pinch of salt, and highlight it as something that’s truly made in Singapore (as opposed to inheriting and localizing a tradition from other regions), while others feel that the use of Singlish is eroding the standard of English language locally. Personally, I’m more aligned to the former. As long as people still maintain their good command of language, and understand when and where it is appropriate to use the different types of languages, I don’t see why Singlish should be discriminated. At the very least, it helps to build a certain level of camaraderie among fellow countrymen, whether here or overseas. 2. Local delicacies, including Chili Crab, Char Kuey Teow, Laksa, Bakuteh Besides an obvious cultural mishmash, our multiracial population has also given rise to some very exciting mix of cuisine here – Chinese, Cantonese, Teochew, Indian, Japanese (you name it) etc. Some famous must-try local fare, that even local Singaporeans crave for when they go abroad for extended period, include cholesterol-laden Char Kuey Teow, which has juicy plump cockles (yum yum), Laksa (with the cockles again!), Chili Crab with small, deep fried man-tous, and aromatic Bakuteh (perfect after some hard partying). Personal favorite picks (imho): Char Kuey Teow: They say Old Airport Road’s hawker centre is good for this, but I’ve not tried it personally. Recommendations welcomed. Laksa: Queensway Shopping Centre – Cheap and good! Get the additional otah as well, perfect companion. Chili Crab (any sort of crabs actually!): Melban at Serangoon, Mister Crab at Ghim Moh Bakuteh: Opposite Central Shopping Centre (at Clarke Quay). Haven’t tried this one personally too, but it’s packing in the crowds, so ought to be good? Do let me know if you’ve other recommendations on the above, or if you’ll like to help me expand the list. 3. Almost-singular party Our MIW. ‘Nuff said. 4. National campaigns for everything from family planning to promoting good verbal skills In 1970s, we had “Stop at Two”, to “Clean & Green” and moving on to the more recent “Speak Good English”, we are definitely goal-oriented, and are highly focused and extremely structured in trying to achieve our objectives – for about anything. 5. Harmonious melting pot of different ethnic groups sporting multiple languages Walk along the street, whether in CBD, Orchard, Chinatown, Little India etc, and keep a keen ear out. You’ll probably pick up a myriad of languages and dialects from English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil to Hokkien, Cantonese, Hainanese etc. Where else do you get all of these on such a tiny island? 6. Enthusiastic pursuit of being world’s “first”s or “best”s in many aspects We also seem to have a fascination in breaking world records, or winning the world’s best [insert item here]. Changi Airport, “World’s best airport for [insert years here]“, has been one of our greatest pride and joy. Other records that Singapore has achieved include having the largest group participation of country line dancing, world’s fastest text messenger and making the largest mosaic from collected plastic bottles. Oh well. 7.Seemingly ridiculous housing prices Despite the recent BTO launches, it seems like HDB prices are still going through the roof (no pun intended). A quick check on PropertyGuru, Singapore’s leading property site (according to their website), a 2-bedroom HDB flat in Telok Blangah might set you back by more than SGD800K. It was also recently reported (26 July 2010) that HDB resale prices have set a record high in Singapore. Die lah, how to have a home next time? 8. Chewing gum ban We’re famous for this! Just Google it. 9. Love for shopping, food and technology (especially gadgets and electronics) Our shopping districts are world-famous, we have new malls popping up every other month (or so it seems), almost our entire Orchard Road is shadowed by tall shopping centers that flank both sides of the street. According to Uncyclopedia, there are 2.1 million shopping malls in Singapore, or nearly one for every two citizens. As for technology, it is pretty much self-explanatory – there are PC/electronic fairs held every quarter, and almost every show is packed to the brim with Singaporeans scouring to get the best deals for their laptops, smartphones, lcds, blu-ray player etc. 10. Queuing for Hello Kitty (A typical classic; old but good) Until now, I still can’t understand why there was such a craze over the mouth-less cat in the past. Why? *** Was giving this a little more thought – Right now, I’m pretty sure that one of the key issues that citizens are grappling with revolves around the issue of “foreign talents (FT)”. I think many are feeling a little displaced and unsure of what the future will be like, as the ratio of FTs:locals continues to spiral upwards. Taking this into consideration, perhaps it might have been more apt to select Kit Chan’s “Home” as our theme song to promote citizens’ sense of belonging to our home country, no? Or maybe, I’m just bias as “Home” remains one of my favorite National Day songs. To me, the song, especially the lyrics (in both English and Chinese versions) come across as heartfelt, sincere and not the least pretentious. For those of you that like it as much as I do, here you go again. Everything with Fries It’s been a long time since my last visit to Holland Village, and it seemed like plenty has changed. Looking for dinner, we chanced upon a new restaurant with a quirky name – Everything with Fries (EWF). The EWF menu looked simple and rather straightforward with starters, mains etc suitably categorized. Since it was our first visit, we went along with our server’s recommendations with their specialty, One Egg Soup, and Skinny Wings for starters. ANY CHARACTER HERE EWF Starter - One Egg Soup ANY CHARACTER HERE The One Egg Soup presented a deep-fried batter soaked in creamy soup. The batter, however, was not as crispy or fluffy as I would have expected, and the soup was only passable. Similarly, the Skinny Wings (below) didn’t impress me much either. Average starters overall. ANY CHARACTER HERE EWF Starter - Skinny Wings ANY CHARACTER HERE For mains and since I’m always on a constant quest to look for good beef/steak dishes, I went with the Char-Grilled Karubi. ANY CHARACTER HERE EWF Main - Char-Grilled Karubi ANY CHARACTER HERE While I was ordering, I have to admit that I wasn’t expecting too much… since EWF wasn’t exactly a steak place. I was, however, pleasantly surprised at how great the dish turned out. The karubi was handled well, and had a melt-in-your mouth texture. The accompanying shoe-string fries (salt & vinegar) and Caesar Salad were good compliments as well. Overall, the dinner came up to around $25-30 per pax (take note that the Char-Grilled Karubi is more pricey as compared to other mains). Ambiance/environment was minimalistic and clean. One thing that jumped out was that the good service – the server was enthusiastic and helpful. Although they could do with more prompt service, and granted that it was a busy evening, it was okay. Rating: 3/5 Everything with Fries can be found at: 40 Lorong Mambong Singapore 277695 Tel: 6463 3741 Painfully Famous We’ve seen a slew of celebrity-linked scandals recently, from Canto pop stars, famous international golfers, and well-known local acts. And it’s almost impossible to not hear about them, given that each such scandal hogged the media’s headlines for, at least, several days. I suspect they have also fueled many conversations in pantries, over water coolers, and at dinner tables. Amidst all the negative publicity, public outcry and some PR-driven explanations and apologies, it seems like there are rather divided views on whether these incidents should merit this much attention, and if uninvolved third parties, like the general public, should be passing their individual judgments openly on these issues. “Leave them alone” Some are of the view that people should just leave these scandal-tainted celebrities alone. They’re just humans who are prone to mistakes, and who are we to judge them? They shouldn’t need to ‘answer’ to the public about their private matters, and should have the freedom to overcome this issue privately, on their own terms, at their own time, exercising their personal discretion. “You have done us wrong” Others feel that as celebrities, they are responsible for their actions, even towards the public, including their fans, supporters and viewers. From the support their fans have shown them, they’ve enjoyed many privileges and benefits by riding on their fame. In turn, they have to live up to their projected image towards these groups of audience. Should they falter, it’s a mistake that they must apologize for, explain and rectify. Personally, I’m leaning towards the latter view, especially for celebrities who have been constantly pushing/selling more ‘family-oriented’ and ‘responsible’ types of images. I recognize that they’re no saints and hence, are susceptible to erroneous judgments, but while they have enjoyed the sweet endorsement deals that came along when brands wanted to associate themselves with their projected image, they should have also expected that they’ll need to pay more dearly when they fall from grace, no? Fame is a double-edged sword. How Man and Woman See Things, Differently Guy friend shares YouTube video link (below) with me, and our conversation that transpired after… All names have been removed to protect privacy. MAN: My friend sent this (ref: the YouTube video) to me. Cute hor? WOMAN / Me: : Loading! WOMAN / Me: I like their goth-y look, esp. those with short hair. MAN: Wah, so detailed. I just thought they looked yummy. WOMAN / Me: -_- WOMAN / Me: Haha. I like the way they filmed it too, esp. the wide shots – vv wide ones. MAN: U think what? Film critique class ah??? WOMAN / Me: ……. WOMAN / Me: No lah!!! But that’s what makes the video unique. MAN: It was just a matter of pretty or not. WOMAN / Me: …plus the colour filter they do!! wakakakakaka WOMAN / Me: MEN! MAN: That’s as much as I got out of the video. WOMAN / Me: The difference between man and woman, therein lies. WOMAN / Me: im so tempted to post this conversation anonymously jsut to highlight the differences in man vs woman. wakakakakaka. MAN: Oi, think i what WOMAN / Me: ANONYMOUSLY! MAN: Case study ah WOMAN / Me: HAHAAHAH MAN: I do sound stereotypically shallow. Can we do another round? WOMAN / Me: NO. hahaha, u only get one shot. Girls and alcohol Alright, the idea to create this post was sparked off by the hotly-reported, alleged ‘molest’ incident that occurred at the recent Sentosa New Year Countdown Party. Since it has been covered extensively by both online and mainstream media, I’m not going to detail the story here again. If you’re still in the dark, just Google it. Anyhow, this post is not to discuss about whether she was right/wrong, and what the public should/should not have done. This is about alcohol, and girls. Ideally (and most expectantly), many people would just say “Girls, just don’t drink, or don’t party, so you won’t get into these types of situations”. Bullshit. So how many people who preached this have heeded their own advice? Let’s get realistic and practical. Girls, if you like nightlife/partying, and even if you don’t, I’m sure there are possible socializing events that you would have to attend, here are some drinking tips from my personal experiences and friends (I’m no expert drinker, but I used to party…quite frequently). If you want to drink, build up SOME alcohol endurance. I’m not encouraging binge drinking habits, but it would be useful to be able to hold down 2-3 drinks comfortably. Know your drinks. Different types of drinks have varying levels of alcoholic content in them. You wouldn’t want to order a Graveyard or Long Island Tea if you can’t hold your drinks. Order accordingly. Even different types of hard liquor has different “expertise” levels, so to speak. Variety is not good. If you’re drinking beer/wines/cocktails, try to stick to one type throughout the night,. Mixing different types of drinks (e.g. beer+wine) is an extremely bad idea as the effects come back multiple folds (it will feel that way). Pace yourself, be prepared. Eat a proper meal before you start having drinks (having alcohol on an empty stomach means you would feel the effects double-quick, double impact). Pace? Slow and steady does it. And sip, not gulp. Avoid bottom-ups, unless you are sure you can handle it (still not advisable). Anticipating a wild night? Go with very trusted friends. Becoming slightly tipsy is still okay, dead-drunk is not. Try to stick to clubs that are more reputable. And don’t wear skimpy or flimsy clothes. Know your limits. Know when you need to stop. The kick from alcohol is usually delayed (depending on types of drinks – again, we go back to know point 2 “Know your drinks”), and you need to have a good gauge of when you should stop raising that glass. At your most tipsy stage, you should still be able to survey your environment, and get yourself home safely without the need for assistance. Girls, practise common sense please. You’re out to enjoy and have fun, not put yourself at risk. Resolutions 2010 Photo Creds: Francesco Marino / FreeDigitalPhotos.net It’s here. Twenty-ten. Unlike some, I remain a believer of setting new year resolutions as they make me think through some of the short-term goals that I want to work towards in the brand new year. So, for 2010, here are my resolutions: Do something new at least once every month – I’m a creature of habit, so much so that my colleagues/lunch kakis can even place orders for me at one of our favorite restaurants. In 2010, I think it would be good to make a conscientious effort to try something new on a regular basis – this can include trying out a new dish, a new recipe, exploring a new place or activity, meeting new friends…anything! As long as it’s new! Start learning about my personal finances – Current, I know shite about my personal finances. Zilch, nada, zero! This can’t do as all respectable adults (*ahem* me) should at least be a little aware and understand some basic personal financial knowledge right? Well, I hope it’s not too late to start learning the basics now. Tips, anyone? Read more and regularly – As a kid, I used to be an extremely avid reader. Two novels in a day? No problem. Granted that being a full-time, working adult in this crazy industry doesn’t leave me much free/personal time, especially during weekdays, I think I should make a bigger effort to find time to read more. Yes, I do miss reading. Write more – When I was crafting my previous post, I had a hard time trying to remember what transpired in the past year. Having regular blog entries used to help jog my memory, but since I’ve not written much last year, I had more difficulties pulling all the highlights together. And more importantly, writing has always provided me with much joy and encourages me to reflect about what’s happening. Start paying attention to some of those health issues, please! – For myself, and my parents. (continued from No. 5) Run a 10K marathon in 2010 - I know 10K is really no big feat for many of you, but this is the first time I’m planning to do this, so it would be milestone, albeit a small one. Am hoping to have enough discipline and determination to see this through! Career advancement – Enough said. Nurture relationships with loved ones – Family, partner and friends. I need to constantly remind myself that life’s more than work, and it’s important to make time and effort to be with people that I treasure in my life. Travel to new destinations, explore new sights Self-discovery, more - In your teens/early20s, other people defined what you want to be. In the latter half of 20s/or early 30s (for some), you start to discover who YOU are, or want to be. 10 resolutions for 2010. Let’s aim to live a fuller life for yourself, and your loved ones. farewell 2009 Photo Creds: Howden / FreeDigitalPhotos.net A grand total of 9 posts – that’s the final count of blog entries I did in 2009. So, the verdict is out. I’m guilty of having neglected this space for the past one year. As 2009 comes to a close, I feel that it’s paramount to recap what I’ve done in 2009, review how these have measured up against my resolutions for the year, and of course, set new goals and objectives for 2010 moving forward. Refreshing my memory, here are the 2009 resolutions in short (details from here) and the corresponding updates: Cut down on harmful habits (i.e. smoking) – Quit smoking, and haven’t gone back to it since November 2007! √ Check Explore activities that I’ve always wanted to try – Previously, I mentioned that I have embarked on a new hobby and that was baking. I’m happy to say that I’ve tried my hand at making different pastries and desserts, and most have turned out pretty well. And no, I didn’t burn down the kitchen, not even close. Yay! √ Check Nurture my relationship with my loved one to the next stage – It’s been pretty good this year, so… √ Check Make further progress on my career - I’m not too happy with whatever “progress” I’ve made by my standards, so I’m going to consider this NOT done. Adopt a more Zen mindset to handle whatever challenges life throws in my path, be it personal or work-related matters – Subjective, but I think I’m doing better at this, so √ Check Alright, 4/5! That’s not too bad. Other highlights in 2009 include… First visit to Cambodia, Siem Reap – This was a country that didn’t used to feature high in my “must-visit” list, but I am now in awe of the majestic Angkor Wat. An added bonus point: Beer’s cheaper than water there too! Really! First visit to Australia, Sydney – This was a solo work-trip, and also my virgin experience to the land down under. I wouldn’t call it enjoyable, but it was a self-discovery journey of sorts. I’m thankful for the experience, and also, to get to know my Ozzie colleagues better. Pink Dot 2009 - Participated in a social-cause event promoting freedom to love without discrimination. A worthwhile cause! I hope the event happens again, people here need to be constantly reminded to judge less and respect more. Geek-ing away - With prolong exposure substances termed “technology”, “social media platforms” and “gadgets”, I find myself increasingly attracted to these addictive elements. A most unexpected turn of events. Exploring new interests and activities – Baking (pies, muffins, cakes, cookies, scones…you name it), tennis (a failed first attempt – I think lessons are in order) Bad fall in office - One of the low-lights of 2009. Had a minor accident in office and sprained my neck and shoulder. Right before my holiday trip to Hong Kong too! Suey-ness. Rise of “flash-mobs” in Singapore – MJ’s death shocked the world, and to commemorate his work and music, several flash mobs (adapted from the global wave) were spotted in Singapore. These are amongst the firsts to gain quite some publicity here, I believe. Second visit to Hong Kong - My first visit was my grad trip, where I visit the bustling city with hall friends, in 2005. This time, I revisited this charming country with my partner – exploring new sights and revisiting familiar places that felt totally different. Ris Low with “BOOMZ” and “Shingz My Life” - Need I say more? She hogged the headlines of our mainstream papers and tabloids for quite some days. A low-light, I think…? That ought to cover most of my 2009. Enough of looking back, we’re less than 6 hours away in welcoming 2010, and I’m going to take this time to think about what I want to achieve in 2010. Goodbye 2009 – it’s hasn’t been an easy ride, but we’ve survived it together, thank you. Here’s to an awesome 2010! Celebrating the Spirit of Champions For many of you out there who fancy a cocktail or two sometimes, the brand name Smirnoff would be no stranger to you. Produced by Diageo, and touted as the world’s leading vodka, Smirnoff has tied up with the renowned Manchester United Football Club and to celebrate this partnership, Smirnoff thrown the Spirit of Champions party at one of the hottest nightspots in town now – St James Powerstation, PowerHouse. The party was well attended by bloggers and invited guests. Highlights of the night include trance spins by Guest DJ Sied van Riel and one of Smirnoff’s signature cocktail – Smirnoff Mule. Concocted using vodka, ginger beer and lime, I found the cocktail rather refreshing and, dare I say it, easy to drink. I never used to be a huge fan of vodka (I’m more of a whiskey girl, more than anything else), but this one sat fine with me. As the party started, and when you put a bunch of fun-party-goers bloggers and good drinks together, the fun factor was definitely high. What can I say, Smirnoff knows how to throw a party for sure! Just before I sign off, here’s a shout out to Kenny from Grayling, thanks for the invite. Don’t Push Us Away Although it seems like the recession is gradually lifting, it hasn’t taken away the impending sense of doom that I constantly experience as a young, working adult here. Endless reports on rising prices of public housing, so much so that they’re reaching ridiculous realms, seemingly weak analysis provided to justify these trends, weird statements made that appear to contradict the idea of democracy… And I’ve only cited a few examples here. Increasingly, these reads are diluting my passion, pushing me (or, perhaps, part of the younger generation as well) away from a place we thought is home. I can’t speak for everyone, but I do love this place. A true-blue, born and bred local, I recognize and applaud all past achievements made, but just like how couples need to maintain their relationships on an on-going basis, our love can’t be solely sustained by past glories and stories. Present actions and mapped plans ahead figure high in keeping this passion burning bright, but what I think I’ve seen so far… doesn’t look too encouraging, to say the least. We want to stay, don’t push us away, please. when silence is better than speech Overheard today, “Singapore women only date men who are graduates, earn more than they do, and drive a car. I’m sorry, although I do appreciate you sharing your “meaningful” insight, but something’s not right here. Let’s see. I’m Singaporean, and I’m a woman, but I certainly do not agree with that statement. So, who the hell made you my spokesperson? What’s worse – your key messages are absolutely wrong, entirely off the mark. WTH. P/S: I’m not interested in having a debate here. Yes, I recognize that there are certainly some Singaporean women who fit that bill, but it’s the generalization that I do not agree with. Protected: Our special moment This post is password protected. To view it please enter your password below: Password: Post-AWARE Saga I’m sure that, by this time, most of you would be aware that the no-confidence motion has been passed, with the Old Guards being restored as the ex-co of AWARE. Although I wasn’t able to be there in person at Suntec on Saturday, I followed the entire proceedings closely via Twitter. Watching post-event videos of the EOGM, I can only imagine the level of tension and emotions that run throughout the course of the meeting. Yes, the AWARE saga has come to an end and needless to say, I’m pleased with the outcome. 1 for equality, 0 for discrimination. However, the end of this saga is only the beginning of the ex-co’s work now. The brand new ex-co, led by Dana Lam, and the work that they do, would be scrutinized more closely than ever, especially after their enormous surge in membership in these past few weeks. I sincerely hope that they will live up to their promises to promote gender equality for all, creating an environment for women that is pro choice and inclusive. That aside, I think this AWARE saga is also a fantastic case study to examine the role and impact of the new media. Through virtual word-of-mouth,websites, blogs, Facebook and Twitter, the Old Guard had quickly made their side of the story heard by the online masses. By communicating and promoting awareness of their situation and challenges, they were able to garner the support of many within an extremely short period of time - such is power and dynamic nature of new media and its tools. This saga has showcased the might of virtual communication and online communities. As much as you and I might think that this is a good development, I’m sure there are those that are kept awake at night thinking how this could work for or against them, and what steps they can take to mitigate this risk. Wait and see. Save AWARE I’ve been back from Cambodia since the second week of March, but work and life, in general, as kept me away. Despite the busy schedule, I’ve kept up with news and happenings of the blogosphere. With much disgust, I’ve been closely following the developments that were unfolding in the AWARE saga thus far. I’ve read numerous articles on traditional media, dailies, blog posts and tweets. As a woman, here’s how I feel about this: Amazed, Disgust, Consoled I’m thoroughly amazed – amazed at the level of deceit that has played out in this entire saga, right from the planned and callously calculated takeover, amazed at the type of comments the new exco seemed to have expressed during their hastily called-for press conference and amazed that these people are actually respected and successful professionals in their respective fields. Next came disgust. I’m disgusted at how some people can proclaim God’s name to deploy such questionable tactics. Although I’m no formal Christian, but I have an enormous amount of respect and belief for the religion, being educated in mainly missionary schools throughout my schooling years. And I still do maintain my stand on this. The AWARE saga is not about religion, it’s about some selected group of people exercising their perceived sense of “self righteousness” to discriminate against a certain group of minorities. This is about discrimination. Amidst all the bullshit, I’ve found solace in one thing – that I’ve seen many speak up, voicing their thoughts, their views, their opinions with regards to this issue. Of course, to be honest, most of what I’ve seen go in favor of the old guards, of which I heartily agree (if it’s already not obvious to you now). I do, however, feel a tinge of regret: Why does it take such an incident to wake us up from our apathy? Don’t take it from us. Go, look at the information, look at what both parties (new exco and old guards) are saying, and make an informed decision about who you think best personifies what AWARE should stand for. Remember, AWARE was formed to protect women’s rights and equality. Save it, protect it, preserve it. For more information, please read: http://www.we-are-aware.sg/ You can make a difference. Make your choice at the EOGM on 2 May 2009. Refer to the above website for further details. Away in Cambodia Am currently away in Cambodia exploring ruins. Will be largely uncontactable, so please drop me a note or leave a comment. I will get back to you ASAP, promise! Obama inauguration Pregnant with anticipation, the world awaits with bated breath for the inauguration of Obama. The world’s history is being written now, as we witness it live from Washington. Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009 I know it’s two weeks into 2009 and while many have already did their 2008 year-in-review and 2009 resolutions, I thought it will be good for me to spend a little more time to think over what I truly want and am able to achieve in 2009. 2008 has been a most turbulent year, especially since September when the financial meltdown began in the States. Since then, not a single day passed without some form of bad news on the TV or radio. News concerning bad debts, rescue packages, restructuring and layoffs haunt our headlines without fail everyday. Although the last two quarters for 2008 have been pretty bad, many estimate that the worst will probably hit us in Asia Pacific in 2009. Personally, unlike the economic situation, 2008 hasn’t been all that bad for me. Certainly, it wasn’t a bed of roses, but I still am able to find several things that I’m thankful for. In 2008, I have… I’ve finally taken that step forward to make that first commitment and a second one again later in the year. And it’s only because that certain someone has showed me that it might be worthwhile to plunge and take that risk. I’ve finally been to the other side of the world – to Finland, no less! Although it was a business trip and alot of time was spent on work, it was definitely a more than memorable trip to me. The disgustingly long journey there and back, the cold, cold weather, the peculiar food and the people I’ve met or gotten to know better during this trip have made their imprints in me. I’ve visited Phuket with my loved one – it was a journey of 2 firsts – first time traveling with my partner, first visit to picturesque Phuket too! I’ve gone crazily shopping at Bangkok with some of my colleagues – a few whom I’ve actually grown very fond of and close to. I’ve also made slight process in my career path – it definitely feels good when your efforts are being recognized. I’ve also undergone my first operation, and an extremely painful one at that. Although the wound has healed, I’m still currently suffering from some side effects from the surgery. No fun, this one. Watched my first pop concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium – No doubt the Jay Chou concert was pretty enjoyable, but I wasn’t too taken with it. Given a choice, I would much prefer a musical or ballet performance. All in all, these experiences have definitely helped to stretch my mind, helping me gain a little more wisdom to deal with life moving forward. For 2009, here’s what I hope to achieve… Cut down on harmful habits – I’m currently in the process of quitting smoking (since November 2008 ) and I think I’ve done pretty well on this so far. Explore activities that I’ve always wanted to try, but never found time and energy to in the past – I’ve embarked on a new hobby since November/December 2008 and am still keeping it up. Hopefully, I’ll be able to improve my skills on this as I go along. Nurture my relationship with my loved one to the next stage. Although it hasn’t been extremely smooth sailing all the way, but I certainly think that we’ve done pretty well for ourselves. Make further progress on my career. Need I say more? Adopt a more Zen mindset to handle whatever challenges life throws in my path, be it personal or work-related matters. Although, I’m no Buddhist, Taoist, Christian or Catholic, I’m slowly becoming attuned to the idea that what’s important in life is how you’ve lived it, not what you had (material possessions) when you were living it. Sounds extremely simplistic, but how many of us can truly own that mindset? Some of my friends balk at the idea of making New Year resolutions, citing reasons such as they’ll only break them the very next day and hence, it is a futile exercise. However, I still think that resolutions can be good directives and help us establish what we want to achieve in the year ahead. Without them, don’t we look like ships sailing aimlessly in the wide ocean called life? On this note, I definitely hope that you’ve made yours as well, and would love to hear what they are, if you would share them with me. All the best to 2009. Ad Talk – Carlsberg To celebrate the upcoming festivities, Carlsberg has embarked on an ad campaign featuring celebrities such as Fiona Xie, Michelle Chia etc. After watching this particular ad, I was amused by two things: 1. Fiona Xie’s lousy command of Mandarin (FYI, it was an ad aired on channel eight) 2. Fiona Xie was the appointed HEALTH ambassador for Carlsberg. For goodness sake, this is a BEER ad. Beer and health DO NOT go together. If the purpose of doing this was to enhance the image of Carlsberg beer by associating it with health and/or a healthy lifestyle, this ad has done achieved exactly the opposite effect. When you remind viewers to take care of their health during a beer ad, wouldn’t this come to mind: “Yah, health’s important, better not drink so much.” As Cowboy might say… FACEPALM Singapore bank supports anti-gay efforts – possibly encouraging social discrimination? I’ve always known that homosexuality is a sensitive issue in Singapore, since a large majority of the general public still might subscribe and/or adhere to more conservative traits and perceptions. Fortunately, most of these people are also broad-minded enough to accept the possibility that people might be or can be different – hence, discrimination isn’t rampant – especially amongst the younger generation. However, I am extremely appalled and deeply disturbed to find that one of our Singapore bank seems to be supporting anti-gay efforts by a “supposedly charitable organization with religious links” to spread the Christmas cheer. Irony, i suppose, will be an understatement here. Find the full story HERE. Here are my questions after reading this: To the alleged Singapore bank Are you positioning yourself to be an enterprise that is associated with anti-gay sentiments? As a reputable organization, are you NOT prone to check and verify the status/reputation of other organizations that you associate yourself with? Are you aligning yourself to a particular religion and are you insulating that that particular religion holds certain perceptions with respect to sexual orientation? If there was any mis-communication involved, why are you not stepping forward to make clarifications? Do you think that quoting a un-named spokesperson is sufficient to clarify these issues? Do you recognize the fact that you can possibly be creating social discrimination on some level? Until this issue is clarified or resolved, I would definitely stop using the alleged bank’s services and would encourage other friends to do the same. Corporate responsibility – step up to it. Plurking In too much pain to blog properly, so I’ve given in to Plurking. I’m not too sure how it functions yet - trying to explore now, as much as I can manage in this state. I can be added here.        Plurking In too much pain to blog properly, so I’ve given in to Plurking. I’m not too sure how it functions yet – trying to explore now, as much as I can manage in this state. I can be added here. Surgery tomorrow To all concerned: I’m due for a surgical procedure, tonsillectomy, tomorrow at the Singapore General Hospital (SGH). For those who are curious what a tonsillectomy is, please refer below: From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia A tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure in which the tonsils are removed. Sometimes the adenoids are removed at the same time.” Admission is at 7AM in the morning, followed by the operation at 8AM (estimated timing). In my 25 years so far, I was fortunate to not have been admitted before. Truth to be told, I am quite scared at the thought of staying in the hospital (with so much hospital-related horror stories going around, who wouldn’t?). But, since this can’t be delayed any longer, I suppose I don’t have much of a choice anymore. Oh well. Barack Obama: Yes We Can! Although the election process isn’t complete yet, America has already chosen its next President Elect – Barack Obama. Obama - President Elect 2008 However, despite all the on-going festivities from his victory, his post-election speech at Grant Park as President Elect was a relatively sombre one highlighting that this win is akin to being given an opportunity for change to happen and outlining the future major challenges that have come to rest on his shoulders. I, for one, am glad that he has not become overly heady with his win and recognizes the enormous difficult tasks that lie ahead of him. God bless Obama, God bless America…and Singapore too! I wonder, when can we elect our very own President too? Faceoff: Obama versus McCain The clock’s ticking and as seconds slip by, American citizens are in the midst of voting for their next President. As a superpower, the outcome of this election isn’t purely America’s decision to bear, and will definitely have a global impact. This is especially so for the two highlighted issues that have been debated upon endlessly - America’s fight against terrorism and more pressingly, how the new President is going to enable America (and the rest of the world) to recover, or at least, minimize the negative impacts of the current financial crisis. After so much fanfare, to me, it comes down to this: McCain: Boasts prestigious past and wealth of experience. However, this “wealth of experience” can jolly well be his tripping stone. Will he be too steeped in the old way of doing things (being so closely linked to the previous Bush administration) to change? Clearly, the previous leader and his policies haven’t seemed to have worked that well, especially for the average American. Obama: Speaks of change and new ideals. Although we would have no way of knowing if these proposed new ideas will work, but surely, it’s better than sticking to old methods that are clearly not effective? A case of choosing between the lesser of two evils? Hmm, I ponder. However, his skin color might prove to be a deal breaker, for we have no way of measuring if racism has TRULY (not just on the surface) been eliminated. Is America ready for a black president? My choice? I’m in the Obama camp, for I believe in the importance of being forward looking - and the ability of having the courage to take the lead in embracing change. Change shouldn’t be undertaken just for the sake of it, but when the situation calls, it definitely takes a true leader to have the guts to make a calculated decision (for better or worse) and install the implementations correspondingly. How about you? What’s your choice? A scary, scary Halloween! Tis’ the season to be scary, falalalala lalalala. Opps. It’s Halloween, not Christmas yet! My scary Halloween certainly started bright and early today at SGH for my pre-admission procedure. Yep, I’m scheduled for surgery late next week. I do not like needles, and am growing to detest them more as I become older. Today’s hospital experience has just confirmed that fact. I could really feel that needle as it made its entry through my skin and seeked for its holy grail - my blood. Argh! Anyway, have a frightfully fun Halloween! I’ll be at my SVP’s house as she’s throwing a Halloween party, what about you? My Samsung mobile’s all looks but no substance Earlier this year in late February, after the demise of my Sony Ericsson (SE) 750i (it lasted me a good 2 years, at least), i shopped around for a new mobile phone. I had wanted to stay with SE, but as I was browsing in the telco retail store, Samsung’s U700 caught my eye. Its sophisticated and sleek design beckoned me to take a closer look. Although its specs were unimpressive, its clean lines presented such a sexy silhouette that captivated and mesmerized me. A sucker for aesthetics, I succumbed to its calling and bought the mobile boasting a rich purple hue. As it happens, it certainly didn’t take long for the disappointment to begin. The six touch key on the slider proved to be a great nuisance and a lagging OS certainly didn’t help matters. But still, i grinned and bore the pain, thinking that the fantastic design outweigh these inconveniences. The final straw came when the mobile died on me after barely eight months. The blackscreen of death occurred whenever I tried to operate the phone (as I slide the screen up). Mind you, the phone did not suffer any physical impact whatsoever. So there, my mobile bites the dust. And I’m mighty disappointed in Samsung mobiles - for all that great design, there’s really nothing solid underneath. So friends, as I am searching for a mobile replacement, please do let me know if you’ve any good recommendations. No Samsungs, please. MSN’s down Just a heads-up, my msn has gone crazy and i’m having problems logging in - so you definitely won’t see me online on the IM program for awhile. Meanwhile, as i’m trying to fix the problem, do email me at my gmail address if you need to contact me. cheerios!        Would You Rather? - Man Versus Woman Question of the week (from nadnut): Would You Rather?… 1) Be a man OR 2) Be a woman My Choice: Option 2 - Be a woman. Because I can be irritating - and blame it on PMS after! But, of course, this should only be used sparingly… and with the right target audience. heh. Of blogosphere’s scandals Not too long ago, the blogosphere has been buzzing with the likes of bitch-fights and scandals. In Singapore, we have two relatively well-known bloggers, Xiaxue and Dawn Yang, embroiled in a virtual spat which is threatening to spill over to a real-world slander lawsuit. Malaysia, not to be outdone, also boasts its own version of blogo-drama featuring an extremely femes blogger (Mister C), his girlfriend (Missus S) and another fellow blogger (Missus G). In a nutshell, the whole episode revolves around Mister C having an affair/or ONS with Missus G while away on a group holiday. While this was supposed to be kept as a hush-hush affair, the emotions seemed to have gotten better of Missus G who wrote about how she felt on her blog. Although fakes names were assumed, it didn’t take long before some blogger caught onto what was happening. After some dirt-digging, the whole story begin to unravel. If you haven’t realized (a blatant similarity that is right-in-your-face), these scandals all revolved around femes bloggers. They’ve enjoyed fame, freebies, and now, it seems like it has come full circle - the price of fame is demanding to be paid. With fame, these alleged femes bloggers has got to endure loads of criticism, flaming and what-nots. Few of these have retaliated - demanding that uninvolved third parties to, basically, not be a kaypoh and mind their own business since they do not know the “full, whole story”. Anyway, the point of this post wasn’t to spread more gossip; rather, I wanted to share some of my observations - they’ve left me largely amazed, and sometimes, amused. On the XX v DY incident This infamous spat originated online, but it wasn’t too long before it became fodder for the mainstream media, who once regarded blogs as inaccurate and unreliable sources of news. Irony has become an understatement here…and do I smell the the beginning of an information revolution? Are blogs increasingly becoming an accepted, recognized and credible form of media here in Singapore? New media, it’s your turn to shine! On the “sex scandal” I first read about this “online sex scandal” on Mister S.F’s blog. Writing about this scandal, in itself, was nothing new. It was how extensively he covered this news that left me in awe. Executive summaries, chronological timelines with corresponding blog entries by the respective parties involved, screenshots of inflammatory posts that were previously posted but removed… the information was so comprehensive and well-arranged that even a super blur person like me was able to grasp a good idea of what transpired in less than an hour. To sum it up, i was impressed. This Mister S.F. would probably make an outstanding investigative journalist if he so chooses this career prospect. Another thought that struck me was how blatant some of these “featured” blog entries were. Illicit details, accompanied by ruthless name-calling and soul-baring posts with pictures, painted such a comprehensive picture of the scandal for anyone who bothered to look. To top it off, most of these blatant posts were authored by the two women involved in the scandal whereas the only man involved (a.k.a. Mister C - the most well known blogger out of the 3) remained largely silent allowing the two girls to scratch their eyes out. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, indeed. I’m not here to judge these people, nor do I want to fuel these scandals any further than how they’ve developed so far. (Hence, there are no real names nor bloggers’ aliases mentioned here, and absolutely no links would be provided as well.) These scandals have, however, struck a chord in me - about fame especially. As my train of thought raged on, this came to mind: “For fame is like a tidal wave; Which you could ride on for all you’re worth. But you’ll never know when it will engulf you in its fluid embrace And bury you within the watery graves.” - JT, 2008 No, it isn’t some celebrity or famous person’s quote. It was just something that surfaced in my mind when I was thinking about the above issues. Right now, I’ll just keep my fingers crossed for the next scandal to rock the blogosphere yet again. Singapore in Olympics 2008 (Table Tennis) Against the world powerhouse of table tennis, they have fought with grit and perseverance. Granted that they may not be Singapore-born athletes, but they’ve done us proud with their skills and determination. Yes, we didn’t win the gold medal. But, what made me most proud is the fact that our team have put up a really good fight in the bid for it. We’ve just made China’s win a whole lot tougher. And that, in itself, is worthy. Would You Rather? - Love versus Lust From nadnut: Would you rather…. 1) Find true love and have mediocre sex? OR 2) Never find true love and have fantastic sex? My Choice: Option 1- Find true love and have mediocre sex. Because it’s so much more satisfying to achieve the first option. Anyway, who says the two (true love and fantastic sex) is mutually exclusive? It’s definitely possible to achieve both - a situation whereby you can have your cake, and eat it too!