Thursday, December 28, 2006

Where is the internet?

Geez...the rainy days got me quite sleepy and literally lock me inside my house. For that I dun mind coz as long as I am not stepping out of the house, I wun mind. It is not me who will get wet. Anyway, I like cold days more than hot days, coz i wouldnt get rashes..haha....
I get to display my winter gear too. Sweats and 小可爱!!! hehe....
But too much heavy rain result in flooding. Yeah u got it right, flooding in Singapore. That's a rare sight! Yeah..but poor people living in the area have to move house.
Right, dad is quite worried about grandmother who live near Segamat. Not to mention his cute friends living around the flooded river. So pray that they are well too.


Ok Enough of the weather... the main topic is internet.
Due to the earthquake in Tainan, Pindong , Taiwan area, the telecommunications virtually collapsed.
Why?
Coz initially the telecom people very clever mah.
Since water cover 70% of earth so place the cable under the waters lah.
so besides the coral and marine lives, u see cables on the sea bed.
Dun to the earthquake, the plates shake and move the cables being fixed on the floor got kanna as well.
Well wat does it has to do with me?
Well, I can access the US websites as well as the Taiwanese ones.
I want to do online shopping also cannot.
The downtime and uptime also slow down to halt.
Worse still, I tot my god-damn modem is down too.
Been fixing my modem so miss the NCIS.
Geez.....
Quite nice episode yesterday.
haiz.....
Anyway, here u go, bad weather, poor internet connection, i am practically stuck here.
wat to do????

Monday, December 25, 2006

Merry Christmas!!

Hehe...as you probably would have realise that I am clearing stock for my blog entries.hehe.....
so that I can step into the new year with grace.
hehe....
Well, MARRY XMAS!!!

OPPS typo, MERRY CHRISTMASS!!!!!!

And a happy new new year ahead!!!!

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

A never made known letter to Dr Shim

Dear Dr Shim,
I just found out that you are gone from the university. It is a pity that we never say our goodbyes to you.
You have been there for the 4 years of my entire university life.
Your lecture is one of the determining module that I used to gauge and decide which one is going to be my major.
Your depth of knowledge and the creativity teaching make the module very very exciting and full of challenges.
I remember having to labour through the group project on a foreign film that I have never seen before or know the language.
From there, I learn to appreciate the so called art house films which I never liked it and prefer the commercial counterparts. My life as a dog, Modern Times and Cinema Paradiso are good films but I only manage to get Modern Times in cd format.
From there, in the same class under the same project, I found another 2 good friends whom I still keep in contact even though we have graduated and move along in our lives. You divided us into groups so that's why we had the chance to meet and befriend each other. In one of the gatherings, one of them actually commented that it is a miracle that we still meet up regularly like twice a year. After all, we only did 1 project together.
You are very very kind when we went to consult on the lessons. You are very sharp at pointing out where I have diverted. I am still amazed at the depth of knowledge that you had and wonder how do you accumulate those knowledge. Your numerous articles speak volumes of that. I admired you for that.
I appreciated the fact that you bought us coffee for our lesson at 9am. You know it is very early for us.
I did not know that you wish for that kind of interaction between students and tutors. But as you have noted, teachers are revered in the class and seldom do we went to find them coz it means u are in trouble. Generation gap is another thing. It is quite hard to adjust from JC after we have inculcated for so many years. Nonetheless I still appreciate the creative elements in your teaching and find them refreshing and different from other classes.
Your classes are not the ones that I wish to sleep in.
Your notes and your explanations are very very clear. This is what I appreciate as well. It takes time to do so and I still remember the failed experiment of having TA making lecture slides for you.
I hope you have not left in disappointment and there are people who really appreciate your teaching.
You really make a great impact in my life and the interests that I had in the course.
Best wishes to you, where ever you are.

Warmest Regards,
Paige

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Men

Recently I met quite a few men.
Well let's not say met, but rather, hear or talk to them on MSN.
They are a group of unpredictable creatures.
I realli duno how to talk to them like I use to do it.
Group number 1 is Scary men
They will ask u for sex the moment they talk to u.
Worse still they like SM lor.
They will describe what they will do to u and u can gag over at the other end.

Group 2 is Hunks.
On yeah, they are very nice and gentle.
U think they are shallow. but sometimes they are not.
Some of them hold the dangerous job u can ever imagine.
They got the body that girls will scream and die for.
Geez.....
But sometimes they are thick headed.
Duno why dun ask me.

Group 3 is the narcissitic men.
This group can be old and young.
Geez...hell of a group.
They think they are very shuai which in fact is the quite the opposite.
They expect u to applaud them for their effort in flirting with u which make u want to do the opposite: Puke.
The old ones try to prove that their libido is still ever omnipotent.
while in fact i am sure declined with age to become monopotent.
geez....
cant imagine the mature sex where the old weathery leathery tree bark skin touches ur young and milky skin.
Sounds like incest......

Well well, so much for chatting experience online.
May be it is all in my imagination.
well, it certainly make me puke....

Thursday, November 23, 2006

废人 and failure

废人 and failure they rhyme well.
Just realise this when u are at the pit bottom of your life.
Cant do anything well, cant even get on with ur life.
Forever money not enough.
Dun have a job and dun have a place in society.
Everything just hang there.
Like it stops for you but u know the earth and world still revolves.
Things are not stagnant but you just cannot get out of it.
oh yeah, forever suck into the bottomless pit like the black hole

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

水清则无鱼?

最近真的是太无聊了,所以拼命去想一些奇怪的问题。连以前古人的名言也重新思考一番。或许是头脑空置太久了,得运动运动。
最近刚刚啃完一本关于双边警方如何运用孙子兵法来破案并提高效率。
看完后,感触良多。
琢磨着两个礼拜后,终于被雷击中,得出另一种体会。

古人总有句名言,“水清则无鱼。”
按照以前的意思是,不管那一个朝代,当时贪官污吏太多,清廉着便进言皇上,必须来个大扫荡,杀一儆百,如此一来,便没有贪赃枉法,徇私舞弊等罪案,堪称水清 (朝廷)则无鱼(罪案)。

但是,水清真的无鱼吗?

按照今时今日的社会,这大概是不可能吧。
或许你会认为我是 杞人忧天,但是我是防范于未然主义者。
我并不认为水清则无鱼。相反的我认为水清则有鱼。
为什么呢?
扫荡也只是一时之间警惕他人。日子久了,人的戒心也散了,恐惧也不再犹如于耳,当然还是会挺而走险以贪一己之私。
当然,当初提出扫荡者或许还认为杀一儆百仍然奏效,便变的安逸了,当然不会再留神。
我却认为污墙刷白了一次,并不代表其不受污垢,甚至黄斑的侵袭。之后,还是一道污墙。
所以,水清还是有鱼。
我还记得电脑系的教授曾说过,consistent maintainence is more important. 一味的做 renovation 是治标不治本的,而且花费之巨,足以令人咋舌。
所以,我加上了自己的5个字。对仗不工整还请海涵。

水清则无鱼,后续则安余。

我同妈妈说了,她倍感惊讶于我的观点。原因就是日前,某位议员曾发表过类似言论。
我发誓我不曾见过那篇报道,纯属个人的灵机一动,被雷劈到而已。
如有类同,纯属巧合。本人概不负责。哈哈。

Sunday, November 19, 2006

Penguin booksale

I was dragging myself to go to this booksale located at Expo.
Raining somemore.
Then luckily I got on the bus as soon as I arrived.
But at the third stop, I realised, shit I forgot my wallet. So I quickly get off the bus and called Val. Then I called Dad.
I had to walk back to the original bus stop to get it from dad.
haha....so lugi.
Anyway, I meet up with Val only to board a very crowded 858. Geez...we were standing all the way.
Finally when we reached the Expo, we found our paradise.
Why?
Becoz....
lotsa nora roberts!!!!!!
Haha.....so Heng, that I overspend.
Yeah Again!!
But I realised they dun accept the nets at counter. Luckily Val has extra cash.Otherwise the ATM incident (Read my previous blog entry) will occur again.
On the way back, we meet this ang moh on the shuttletrain
He was very polite and let us in the shuttletrain. He was standing opposite of us.
While on the train, we take our chance to check him out. Quite tall, very nice features.
Hehe.......
As you know, even though there are a lot of ang mohs in and out of Changi Airport every year, there are not much cool angmohs to watch.
Let alone so polite and gentlemanly one.
hehe...worth the trip..
Quote Mavis Freestone, This is totally MAG!!!

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Canteen canned

Arts canteen gonna demolished.

I get the news from ST. Geez..I feel so heartbroken.
It is a place that holds many memories for me.
I remember the first time I went there was during JC to attend a seminar.
It was as crowded as ever but I liked the atmosphere.
The second time I went in Shame.
I was a private candidate then and was visiting my ex-friend who got in at her first try.
I remember the awkwardness of not able to mix in and feel like an intruder to a sacred place that I never got in.
I sat at the "Hell"'s level, staring at the winding path leading to the Biz faculty. Practically I was in hell.
Then the 3rd time I went in as a freshman.
I finally got in.
From then on, countless of times were spent there at various parts of the day.
Morning classes I would head straight to the soybean milk store to get my 1st cup of lifesaver at 745am or 830am. Otherwise you would have found me in the coffee store with coffee takeaway.
When I am hot and thirsty, it is dessert store for Ching Teng or Strawberry juice.
Geez... It is a place where we chanced upon Lecturers and staff.
Right!
Ranging from the gangster political science lecturer with his ever present banana papaya milkshake, to Korean lecturers who will wave at you and tap u surprisely on ur shoulder. haha.....
Geez...it is also the place where u get to see the clicks of various groups of friends and your cohorts.
It is also a place to spot couples like my TA and his gf.
hehe....
lotsa memory....
The famous Japanese Curry from jap food stall,
the forever in demand bak chor mee,
the ever ready smile from the coffee uncle,
the forever mixed veggie stall uncle saying, u are 1.50 again,
the forever spicy and so ever full szechuan dan dan noodles,
the auntie at the hor fun stall who forgive me when I take away my fish hor fun without paying only to come back later and then told me I was expecting u to come back..
Geez.....
So many wonderful memories
and a place to meet and strengthen friendship over food.
the old old nostalgia that many generations of art student pass thru...
the old feeling of studious kids passing on....
haha......
quite a place.....
To have it canned and make way for the new just sucks.
it does....

Sunday, November 12, 2006

ditch ur whistle ladies!

No-Contact Jacket: Clothing as Weapon
Courtesy of Gizmodo

Now the lovely ladies can fend off those miscreants, or even their favorite misogynistic Gizmodo editor with the No-Contact Jacket, part of a line of clothing-as-weapons for women.
A mere 9-volt battery keeps those creeps at bay with 80,000 volts of Taser-like electricity. Hit the switch and teach that Neanderthal to keep his hands off the merchandise. There's an insulated rubber layer between you and the hot juice, but if you scratch your head while pushing the button, well, you'll be in for a shocking experience.
This is great stuff. Just the fact that such a jacket exists will fend off would-be attackers. Bravo. Maybe there will be one for guys, too. – Charlie White


Haha....this is a good way to ward of evil and to keep warm dun u think.
But those ladies who wish to flunk ur hair and make some suggestive moves with ur hair should be careful.
haha.....

Monday, November 06, 2006

Shit in the hands

Poop Soap
Courtesy of Gizmodo

Fun for both kids and the demented, this soap may be shaped like poo, but unlike real poo, it cleans your hands instead of dirtying them. It took me eight years of my life to learn this concept. And it wasn't even the first eight years!
"Nope It's Soap" is coffee scented and can even be used as a exfoliator. Each dookie is hand-made and unique, giving it that extra bit of realness. Great for your kids, or husband, who never seem to want to wash their hands. – Jason Chen


Haha...this seems like the perfect prank trick presents for ur friends, buddies or loved ones. Give them a scare and let them know that well shit can smell good too...as compare to the aroma of cuppucino..haha......

Saturday, November 04, 2006

colourful halos


Credit & Copyright: Gil Esquerdo (Whipple Observatory)
Explanation: As a bright November Moon lit up the night sky last week, Gil Esquerdo spotted this lovely Moon halo overhead at the Whipple Observatory on Mt. Hopkins, Arizona. In the foreground, the structure and individual component mirrors of Whipple's 10 meter gamma-ray telescope actually block direct light from the lunar disk, emphasizing the halo in this dramatic view. The halo was caused by ice crystals in the thin high clouds above the observatory - crystals that are hexagonal in shape and produce the characteristic ring of light with a 22 degree radius. In fact, the ice crystal shapes are much like the flat, hexagonal mirrors of the specialized telescope in the picture. Used together the mirrors can collect brief flashes of optical light caused by high-energy gamma-rays impacting Earth's atmosphere.

Courtesy of APOD, NASA

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Relaxation Heaven

Cosmo Hydromassage Whirlpool Bathtub With 8.5-inch LCD
Courtesy of Gizmodo

Although I've taken fewer baths than I have fingers, this Cosmo Hydromassage Whirlpool Bathtub may make me a believer in the benefits of lying down and splashing in my own filth.
The tub not only has adjustable air massage jets for the ladies (and men), there's also an 8.5-inch LCD with remote control. Besides the 7 jets, 9 bubble jets, and 6 massage jets, it has underwater lights, a super-bass connection, padded headrest, and cable inputs so you can watch DVDs, Cable, or your closed circuit feed to the nanny's bedroom.

Geez...this one certainly tempted me to buy.
Gosh...so posh and cool with the LCD and remote somemore. The massage jets looks cool and good for unisex....
too bad I dun have space to put leh...
any1 buying let me know..I will crash into ur house.hahaa...

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

A fog over California


Courtesy of APOD, NASA, Mila Zinkova

Sunday, October 29, 2006

Hanging babe

Babykeeper Holds Baby As You Poop
Courtesy of Gizmodo


Not a gadget in terms of being powered by electricity, this Babykeeper harness keeps your baby safe while you use the facilities at ball games, strip clubs, and crack houses. Hold on Tommy, daddy's gotta drop a deuce! Who's a good little boy, who's a good *uuuuuughn* little boy!
Presumably the baby faces inside the stall and not out, which would make for quite a strange greeting as fellow dump-ateers enter the facilities. Of course you could save a few bucks and just hang your baby from that coat-rack thing like John Biggs does, but his wife banned him from ever leaving the house again.

Bonus caption contest: tell us what each of those babies are thinking.

Geez..At first I tought this is a hanging device for kids to do erm..u know..that free falling off the bridge sort of things. I tot this is the safer version of it.
But upon closer look, geez...thye babes definitely look pathetic. Though it will help the adult when they are shopping alone with kids and needed the loo.
Hanging them on the wall of a toilet cubicle sort of make the babes look like mounted pieces of animals like those deer heads and tiger heads.
Geez....

Bet they are having this conversation with each other.

G: Hello, how come u are here? Did you do something wrong?

B: Hey! Nice to meet you! yoho!!! This is so fun!!! Who say I did something wrong?

G: Then how come you are doing detention with me?

B: Yippee!!!!! To-oin! Twang! Huh? Detention? I dun get it. I am doing sky diving now.

G: wah Lau! Detention also duno. See the way we got hang, my thighs and butt are numb. Not detention then wat is this called. That dumbass is still having fun, for god's sake! (Rolling her eyes)


Haha..................my own imagined scenario.haha........

Friday, October 27, 2006

Free newspapers

This morning I saw my father bring out the free copy of summarised news.
What are their intentions?

- Attract brand loyalty to the parent newspaper.

- Update the working population who has no time to read newspapers except when they are travelling to work?

- Compete with rival newspaper agencies to gain entrance to the publishing arena?

- try to bring about or cultivate the traditions of japanese where they would leave newspapers they have bought and read on the seats of public vehicles for others to pick up and read?
Does this work? Or amount to littering? People like dad still takes home or throw to dustbin after finished reading.

I did research on the aims of those papers from sph and mediacorp.

Here is the one from SPH on "Wo Bao"

MY PAPER aims to present up-to-date insights into urban life-trends, inspiration, entertainment, lifestyle, work trends, news and issues close to the heartbeat of the young and busy working adults in Singapore that is snappy and easy to read. Certain news snippets, terms and names may be in English. This caters to readers who are bilingual and allows them to stay in touch with the Chinese language in a relaxed and enjoyable way.
A paper for readers by readers, my paper's uniqueness lies in its capacity to encourage and embrace readers' involvement in shaping the product. Readers can participate in the creation of news content for a mainstream newspaper. Readers can contribute short articles, join reporters in conducting interviews, share their opinions and vote for their favourite stories every week. The paper's tagline "M Life, My Thoughts, My Say" encapsulates the editorial philosophy of reader empowerment and participation.
As part of the publication's commitment to encourage interactivity, readers are invited to correspond with the editorial team via the newspaper's website at
www.mypaper.sg. In this website, readers can also access the blogs of MY PAPER's editorial team, which is made up of a group of vibrant and dynamic journalists with an average age of 30 years.

(Courtesy of SPH website)

The daily circulation is 120,000. Quite significant for a small publishing material like this.

Another free newspapers "Today" which was released under Mediacorp.
It has an online edition as well as an weekend edition.

Here is an excerpt on what Mediacorp has to say on the newspapers.

MediaCorp Press, the publishing business unit of the MediaCorp Group, represents the Group's official foray into newspaper publishing. With this new venture, TODAY and Weekend TODAY hit the newsstand, reaching out to busy professionals constantly on the move with little time to plough through the papers.

TODAY is a compact newspaper with quality content that is distributed free in Singapore, Mondays to Saturdays. Launched in November 2000, TODAY has established a reputation for sharply angled news reports and thought-provoking analyses and commentaries, living up to its slogan "We set you thinking". The paper's news comment columns - written by staff and a wide range of contributors and covering both local and global issues - are a particular strength.

TODAY's daily readership is around 550,000, with more than half its readers being professionals, managers, executives, and business people. The paper is distributed to selected homes, and it is also available at MRT stations, bus interchanges, selected food and beverage outlets, shopping malls and other public areas.

Weekend TODAY, developed as a longer and leisurely read for the weekends, is distributed to more than 150,000 homes and available free-of-charge at the usual distribution outlets.

TODAY online TODAY online (www.todayonline.com) targets over 300,000 broadband and 500,000 dial-up users in Singapore for the latest news in Singapore and around the world.
(Courtesy of Mediacorp)

As it can be seen, the publishing world of newspapers, though it is the oldest media in Singapore, still incurs competition from various media players in a small country like us.
No matter how old the media may be, it is still one that is the most influential and widest circulation that's worthwhile fighting for.
They aim at the different needs of the same audience so formatting in both papers are significantly different.
I have seen commuters grabbing 2 newspapers at the same time. Seen like commuters are the ones who are benefitting from this tug-of-war.
May be the market is just nice for small scale war like this while the monopoly of mainstream newspapers still lies in the hands of SPH. This is a refreshing phenonmena for a change here.
As I recalled tabloid newspapers are also a hit with the people in other countries.
May be we may have enter a new age with this.

I had another angle of viewing this phenonmena. In the past, we used to hear how the rich to show off their wealth and philanthrophy, set up newspapers for their countrymen, informing and updating them of their hometowns. I wonder how this may have set in for both companies who gave out free newspapers.
A show of philanthrophy?
Closing the gap of rich and poor? Illiterate and literate?
OR encourage a act of sharing with others?
Hmm....worthwhile doing some research on how people feel about it though.
A possible research topic? Or done till death??
I am not sure.
Worthwhile taking a look.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

ADs in different countries

With the advent of technology, I am able to watch different TV channels from around the world. It is so AMazing and it is like a nice toy for me to play with.
Anyway, I like US channels and China ones coz I am more focused and did my research on these two countries.
It is amazing that u can actually see the culture and the lives of the people in that country through their TV productions and the types of ads they have.
Ads itself will show several things like the kind of culture they have, their humour level and type of humour, kind of appeal that the people over there appreciate and make them consume the products. It is so different from what we have here.
Let me do a simple comparison and show you wat I mean.

In the US, well, being the democratic and a consumerist society as it is, the ads colourfully reflected on those two aspects.

I have seen the elections ads for Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and his opponent Mr Angelini. They range from projecting and highlighting their good images to telling reasons why the other is unworthy of the post. Teachers, nurses and even policemen are shown coming forward to verify the shortcoming like the budget usage and so on. It is a colourful political life out there.

Other than that, the ads also lobbied for and against legislations like Proposition 86 and 87 which are affecting the tabacco companies and the renewable energy companies. But of course the affected companies' interests were indirectly projected through the ads by saying how the money obtained were not use for proper means and how renewable energy can save the earth.

The voices behind these ads are forceful and emphasis are given on every key words so as to sort of drill the message into the audience's heads. They are repeatedly done over the ads time.

Another thing unusual is the drugs ads. Drugs ranging from pills for cancer, asthma, impotency drugs and insomina to diabetes and cold pills. The common thing is that after stating how effective and done with putting the persuasive message, the voice over actually quicken their pace and list out all the side effects and the precautions.
Just like the ads for Mattel toys. The last thing u hear them say quickly is " Each sold separately. Batteries are not included."
I think there are regulations put up by FDA that ads must state all the side effects and precautions.
The scene and models used are like daily citizens around us doing either the things they can do after they consume the pill or in the middle of suffering symptoms. We do not have that in the drugs ads here.

There are of coz other ads like shopping sales from big boutiques like Macy and Bloomingdale and other more common ones like computer virus scans and stuff.
There is this particular ad that I liked. It is an ad on cellphone. On screen u saw the facial expression of the mother and daughter arguing over the cellphone but the dialogue is so lovey and endearing. It provides a sharp contrast to the expressions. That is so good and of coz hilarious.

China's ads are also very colourful. There are a lot of emphasis on the localness of the country. A lot of colours were involved and there werent a plain moment. Ads run from announcing the upcoming commercial events in the affecting the entire industry to drug ads.
I am surprise that ads are used to create awareness of the commercial events but nonetheless unique.

The drug ads range from internal applications to external applications with an emphasis on local companies. a lot of the drugs are locally produced. I seldom or do not see any foreign products. The ads has more variety than the US ones. They are more witty and humourous with things like play of words or sematics. There is a strong emphasis on the name of the drug manufacturer as the voiceover will emphasise at the end of the ad.
One thing in common is that the voiceover speak very fast. Geez..sometimes if you are not careful you may miss the details.

Singapore is different from them. It does not have the political ads. Strict regulations are placed there and there is hardly a need for it. But it has campaign ads to create awareness like quit gambling association or to motivate people to learn chinese. It seems quite successful though.
It has the store sales ads like John Little.
It has more of the food aspects like chocolate, ice-cream, package wantons and so on.
There are not much drugs ads.
More of the cosmetic ones like Loreal, Kanebo, Maybeline and hair product series like Pantene.
Ads there are more based on image creation and slow voiceover. So the atmosphere and image will stay in the minds of audiences.

Yup, these are some of the observations that I made so far.
I am not sure if all these ads are found in the peak period of the day, it is just a casual observation sharing my view that ads certainly suit the local culture and needs of the audience.
Lastly, I did not mean to single out the company names but it happens that they are the ones that linger in my memories so it means ur ads are successful.

Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Garbo and Roberts

Greta Garbo.



This is a familiar name in the heydays of MGM. (If you remember the roaring lion logo which was later bought over by Sony I think.)
If you have watched her films, you will be surprised by her onscreen prescence.
She was totally memesrising, powerfully enigmatic, sexy and alluring.
I saw her film "Queen Christina" in the musty old library of my school.
The movie "Queen Christina" poster.


One of the suave picture in the movie.

I dig that film out coz I had a free period.
I was so absorbed by her onscreen personality.
Her onscreen chemistry with the Spainish Ambassador, John Gilbert is utterly amazing, sizzling and hot.

The sizzling scene in Queen Christina.


Another movie casting both as lead actor and actress.


John Gilbert's individual shot.

It is hotter than any romantic scene in today's films.
Nevermind the fact that the box office did not do well back then, stating that Gilber's high-pitched voice is the cause.
Box office is never a genuine reflection of things. They are not in the past and they are not in the present or future.
His voice is alright in the show. Perfectly suitable. I might have attributed to the poor quality of the film used.
Geez..never have occured to me that I might have fell in love with black and white TV.
I used to detest that period, though I like Charlie Chaplin.

I put her aside for quite sometime.

Then I embarked on the novel "Genuine Lies" by Nora Roberts.
I was amazed by her vivid description of a movie star.
I am sure that there is such person in Hollywood.
It is just that I din know who.

One day while I went shopping, I came across Greta Garbo's "Queen Christina" again.
I got a gut hunch that something clicked.
I din know wat was wat but I do know it has to do with the things I have done recently.

Tonight, I tot I would research on the film and write a blog entry on it.
I went through the biography and snippets of news on Greta Garbo and her lover, John Gilbert.
Then it occured to me.
The female lead started almost the same way as Garbo.
Eve Benedict was strangely similiar to Greta Garbo.
If that is the case,
It make all the more logical to equate John Gilbert with Charlie Grey.
It also make sense to equate Julia Summers with Garbo's biographer Swanson who reflected her life with truth. (Of coz without the link that Swanson was Garbo's daughter. Garbo did not get married.)
Frankly speaking, I was very emotional and sad at the seemingly glamourous lives of actors and actresses.
The fate of them lie in the hands of the studios.
So tragic.
Read the novel and Garbo's biography.

Monday, October 23, 2006

Cock Speak, Duck Talk?

The topic of the day is a done to death topic. (And I think a sensitive topic online)

Multi-racial society.

It never fail to amaze me how well we can blend ourselves together unlike other countries where the distinctions are so visible.
Language is never an issue for us. Body language though non-verbal is good enuff to express ourselves.
Of course, the two parties must have the same patience and understanding.
That's what we learn in the old old theory of communication model.
To be able to communicate, we must have some shared values or elements.

Here is one example.

If you are in the affected area, you will know that at some point in October, there are a new kind of lava or mosquitoes (Not Aedes, thanks god!) that are manifesting in the neighbourhoods.
That kind of lava where lizards love the best.
(Best meals for them I hope.
They must have their fill, otherwise you wun see lizard droppings on the corridor)
But we humans are complaining. Though their bites are harmless, their presence is certainly irritating.
One nite, our doorbell rang.
Mum being the usual person to do PR, went to open the door.
Turn out to be the Indian neighbour from the other side of the block.
My dad was not at home so mum has to handle herself.
I was on my way out to help but halfway I stopped myself.
The neighbour was speaking in english, pointing out to the lavas and showing my mum.
Mum with her bad spoken english, managed to give a short reply.
I think mum can handle it so I went back to my room.

Later, I asked my mum, do you know what he said?

She gave me a positive reply in mandarin.
"Yeah, I know. He was telling me about the mosquitoes lah. He got a lot over at his side. He tried to call the town council but they din come. So he wants your father to call again to complain. he got very itchy and irritated by their bites."

I was baffled. I asked how she figure out and how she communicate with him.

She said," He was pointing at the lavas mah. Then I can understand but I duno how to speak enuff english to express myself. I used Hokkien and chinese lor together with body language. Point point here, point point there lah. I am surprise that I can communicate to him on my own."

She continued. "You know wat? I actually can understand his english which was lilted with Indian accent. There are some that I cant even figure out."

I would know why. I think that becoz of our society, we are exposed to the different kinds of people. Somewhat when we live together, the native accent that those immigrants brought with them changes as more cultural interactions take place here. The accents also changes so that everyone can understand each other.
That is the beauty of communication and shared elements.
Becoz we can understand each other.
Language is an important tool but not realli essential in communication.
At least in this case.

Saturday, October 21, 2006

Hurt Day

I am feeling numb these few days. Trying to immobilise my senses so that I wun mind if I am rich or not. Or that I am on the brink of bankruptcy.
It is like feel woozy thru'out the day that no one can help me.
Which happens to be true after all.
I feel so lost.
no where to go.
wat to do?
I actually feel embarrassed and restrictive.
I become very self-conscious.
The world just move ahead without me...as if I din matter...
But I myself know that I matters a lot. At least to me..
I am not happy that I am in this state.
Like a chinese saying, "龙困浅滩".
I feel so idiotic and worthless.
God's sake, I want to get out desperately.

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Clinic

A clinic, regardless of whether western one or TCM kind, is a small community.
One will see many different types of people.
So I make a loose classification of it.
haha....

Aunties --
Keywords: kiasus, always staring and listening to others talk
They are the main lot who go into the clinic. They find friends everywhere it seems.
Their topics range from child rearing, how good the doctor is, what they cannot eat, gossip about the other women in the clinic to cheapest things in town.
Sometimes, u dress differently, they will stare at you.
Even worse, when you are joking with mum and playing with her, they will stare and have jaw dropped like we are aliens from outerspace.
Hey, if u dun have such kind of relationship, it is understandable so dun make a fool out of urself by staring. So unsightly.
The worst case -- while u and mum are discussing something serious like massaging where and where, the aunties will pretend that they never hear u but u know the tell-tale signs when they start to massage where we talk just now. haha....geez...if you want to listen, do it directly. Do it in so seemingly discreet way is infuriating me.
You know how giraffe looked like?

Uncles --
keywords: lechers, big mouth, strange ones
Another big group found in the clinic. They can be men in shirts, looking so pompous and self-important; men in tee-shirts and pants with track shoes who looked like they are in the middle of delivering goods, came here to "eat snake" (in case those who duno, it is using office hour for own leisure.); men in tee-shirts, shorts, japanese ah-pek slippers and those worker's bermudas, no bags or wallets but they can get a waterbottle out of nowhere and drink.

They are typically loud, as if people next to them with a distance of 20cm cannot hear them.
They bragged to boost their male egos in all manners of things ranging from cars, jobs, children, spouses, maids, etc.

Within them, there are a small subgroup of lechers. They checks on ur body stats as u passed them.
AS if they got x-ray or thermal scans in their eyes.
While u are seated opposite of them, they check our ur t*ts. They seem to be able to weigh them with their eyes virtually instead of their hands.
No matter how old or young the ladies are.
Sometimes, the sight is too tempting like a silky smooth leg, big T*ts or butts, their adam's apple just bobbing up and down the throat.
Have u seen how starved wild dog drool when they saw food?
Holy cow, sometimes their wives are seated next to them lor.
well, there is a chinese saying which translated literally is that wild flowers are better than home-grown ones.
Heavens' sake, they cant keep their D**k to themselves.

There is another weird case of the father and son combo. The father brought the son to see doctor. They just registered at the counter. I found something was wrong with the boy. He definitely looked whiney to me. Then upon closer inspection, geez, he is grasping his crotch.
Then the father and son combo went to their car and came back with a.........
PAPER CUP.
Geez........
I got curious.......dun tell me........
They headed to the bathroom and minutes later, the father carried the cup to the car again.
I definitely hear sloshing sound as they walked.
I even caught the father saying, he (the son) dun like the toiler there, insisting on using the cup...
If you followed me so far, you will know wat the cup now contained..
I feel so yucky that the father carrying that thing around.
I wonder how's the boy's aiming skills, if not the rim of the cup will be full of that...and the father still carries it......
gross.....
Geez.....
For God's sake, train your son to be adaptable to different toilet bowls and dun over-protect till till they like the toilet bowl with seats and dun use those squating ones even though they are in emergency.
Guys, better watch out for that bladder of yours, and blood pressure.

fresh meat --
Keywords: wah so expensive. wah cant eat so many things
This is another subgroup found. You can spot them especially when they enter and exit the clinic.
How?
When they enter, they are so surprised that the TCM clinic looked like western ones. Then, after registering, realise in order not having to wait behind a long queue, they need to call in advance to book. You will hear them curse and complain at this time.
They are even more surprised when they heard that the receptionist will holler their names when their turn came.
They thought it is always the impersonal way listening to the screen beep ur number.
Very funny enuff, when they heard their names, instead of heading towards the consultation room, they head back to the reception area and ask, Why you call me ah?
The receptionist nearly went into fits when she got this expecially in busy times.
After they came out, they will exclaim to each other especially a couple in those scared-that-others-cant -hear-them voices, Geez..so many things cannot eat, then wat can we eat?
I nearly fainted. If you cant eat that type of food, eat something else lah. we are in food haven leh. Use your brain and think.
Moreover, it is just temporary that u cant eat that type of food wat, not as if permanent. In exchange, your illness will recover faster isnt it?

Finally, you know them as freshies after they collected their medicine. They will exclaim again,
Wah so expensive!
Geez..I faint again. You see western doctor also the same price what. Why must people have the misconception that TCM is going to be cheap just becoz they are not the mainstream medicine?
Mainstream of not, TCM is getting recognised. If you want cheap ones, you can go the those TCM hospitals for the poor. But you realise you need to good there more times. Sama sama.
Western mediccation is expensive because they are patented and hard to produce for some. Same for TCM where some herbs grew in the wild and are more expensive. So wat's the big deal about it?
It is not as if they cant pay when the suit the worn would have cover more than 3x the medicine cost.

Children --
Keywords: wild ones, chasing, destroy the toys from neighbouring shop, read books
They are not a small group there to be considered afterall they are vulnerable to disease and viruses. Geez...
But they are the noisest lot.
Runing around the void deck in circles, chasing each other. Making new friends there is a easy task for them.

OOh, the fight for sitting at the mechanised cars in various forms is certainly a regular scene there.
Wat a ugly fight!
Claws, wails, fists, parents' shouting, clicking of the pennies into the slots.

Then they are at times incorrigible. Their parents cant even control them.
There is this minimart next to the clinic and the owner apparently has too much security that he put his merchandise especially toys facing the clinic.
Naturally with kids you know wat happens.
They poke around at the toys, pretending to own that piece of toy.
Some are cleverer. They just tear away the corners so that the toys came out of the plastic wrapping. Then they can touch the real thing.
One girl did that. OOhh...thot that gals arent supposed to be that bad.
Anyway, she just did. Another boy was squatting beside her, watching, dumb-founded.
Wat about their parents?
Heck care.
The boy's mother sit near them with her back facing them, keep on yelling the boy's name.
Like broken record disc without any use. The boy wun budged.
The little girl, after playing with the real thing, suddenly ran off, leaving the boy there.
The boy's mum got tired of yelling and turn around, in time to see the boy touching the toy.
All hell broke loose by then.
The mum was scolding the boy so loudly saying things like, "Why do u do that? Why dun u listen to me?Why do u need to be so naughty?"
The mum just yell at the boy while the latter stared at her stoically.
Geez...I was thinking, u let loose a dog, of course things like that will happen. Moreover, it is not the boy who did that wat. So why yell at him b4 asking him wat happen?
Geez...
The boy's mum after yelling at him, pull him into the minimart to apologize. Lucky she din have to buy the toy.
So u may wonder wat i am doing? I may have stopped them. The problem is how? If I touch them or go near them, parents may say I bully them. Wat's the point?
Anyway, those devils should get some spanking.
Geez...that's not the way to pamper kids.
They ought to be taught some discipline.

When we have devils, often angels are nearby.
Geez...I like kids who can stay by themselves and take care of themselves. I saw this 5-6yrs old gal, reading a book while patiently waited for her turn.
Geez...so nice..
Another boy stick by his mother and ask her how she feeling now coz she is sick. He din create trouble.
so....nice...

Infants --
Keyword: Cute, hair or hairless, get strangled
Infants are often seen. Sometimes they get sick too or need to get more nourishment.
Geez...They are absolutely cute, unlike those in the advanced stages meaning like 4-10yrs old.
They are pesky.
OOh...just love their hair so smooth, so cubby...hehe.....so good to pinch..hehe....
of course some are hairless lah...but so cute...

But then, those who handle babies are not absolutely professional even though they may be grannies.
Geez...
I remember that once I saw this quite young granny. She was holding this very cute BB. hehe...The BB is very quiet but then sometimes she cries.
Know why she cries?
My guess is that the granny hold her in the wrong position.
You know how she holds the baby?
She put one hand around the bb's stomach and other hand (Actually her thumb and her index finger) around....his neck!
Geez...she thinks she holding chicken, checking if he is healthy?
The poor baby grasping for air. He cries to signal her. Hey dud, you are holding me the wrong way!
Anyway, the grannys went on to think that he is hungry and feed him with milk. Poor bb din even want milk, just suck a mouthful and reject it. The Granny tot he wants water, feed him some more. He rejected it.
She tot may be the bb did not burp so hit his back again.
Geez..She should have gently pat him at the shoulder area lor..not smack right in the middle of the backbone.
Worse still, she did not continue till she hear a burp sound. Geez....
Poor kiddo.

Young mens --
Keywords: very quiet, hip

It is very rare to see this group of people her. I tot most of them would visit the western doctors for fast and effective relief.
But they still came in.
Very fascinating group.
Haha...
Oh...most are very quiet and steady. Sitting there and stoned.
They can be a colourful group too.
I once saw this very cool and hip guy.
He got ear studs. Wear bright pink tee-shirt and 3-quarter pants. He even sport a big side carrier bag. Geez..
The way he speaks very gentle and high-pitched. My skin tingles.
Gu-niang sia!

Koreans--
Keywords: Traditional, well-mannered, rich, rich accent english
There are a few Korean families here. You can see that they are also richly influenced by the chinese culture.
They are mostly very closed group. They are also very traditional. They speak in Korean rather than English.
But you can see that they are very well-mannered.
Their kids are not as wild as we see in some local kids.
Their complexion is so good that I want to pinch their cheeks.
They respect their elders and they are well-breed.
Geez...love to have them as my god-children. How nice.
You can see that from their clothes, they are rich.
Rich yet well-mannered.
Geez...Yeah, you may think that I got under the spell of Korean wave.
Haha....but their english is a bit hard to understand with that accent. If you want to get to know them more, get gear to deal with their english or you learn korean.

Indians--
Keywords: Beautiful sari, small group, amazing.
Another rare group in the clinic. They are the colourful lot. Bright colours look nice on them.
Close-knitted family too.
Amazing that they would prefer TCM than thier ayurvedic medicine or the western one.

Sounds like I am doing human geography. Specifying the territorial boundaries for different groups of people.

Yeah for all u may think, I am the biggest evedropper of the clinic. Well, I dun like that, I'm forced to listen and capture all these.
Needless to say, this does not apply to my family. haha...I am sure we are fine coz we are the vics.
haha.....