I tutor 2 Seconday One boys - twins, who having accidentally found themselves relegated to the Normal Technical Stream,(which is the same as saying "Welcome to trade school"), are now trying to get back into an academic stream.
These boys are not dumb. I found that out in the first lesson. They have great lateral thinking skills, they are able to communicate ideas clearly, and have deciphering skills superior to some adults I know.
So I set about to find out why they were not doing well in school. A learning disorder, perhaps. Or maybe a weak foundation. It turns out the answer simpler than that.
They were suffering from the Running the Mouth Off Disorder. Ok, this is probably not the right term for it, but I have observed this in my twin cousins, and now again in these boys. These boys love each other so much, that they cannot bear the thought of one of them doing better and leaving the other, that they perpetually "dumb" each other down.
It can be something as innocuous as a snide remark when one makes a mistake. Or a sarcastic, "Wah, you so smart, ah you" when one gets an answer the other one doesn't. When one scores higher than the other for a test, almost immediately, I can see the higher scorer start slacking off or day dreaming, giving the other a chance to catch up, and to play down the poison darts being hurled by the other's tongue.
And all these, totally unconciously.
So finally I decided to call it to their attention. Mainly because that day particularly, it was going on for too long, and eating into our precious 11/2 hours. I explained to them that by constantly tearing each other down, they were contributing to their failure in their short term goals, and totally annihiliating their long term ones. I told about the "crab mentality" and how the power of life and death is in your tongue.
Finally I said I didn't want to have to hear it anymore. If you have postive, congratulatory things to say, go ahead and talk yourself blue. But ribbing, snide remarks and sarcasm will be punished by lines or something equally mundane.
And so it stopped. One thing about these boys, they really try hard. Once in a while I see one or the other have some smart remark on the tip of his tongue, which he swallows and looks at me beseechingly. I usually nod my encouragement. Acknowledging the effort is so much easier than having to constant check the wrong doing.
I don't know if they do it outside of tuition, or if are subject to it in school or at home, but every week for about 5 hours, they refrain and I hope that restraint teaches them something.
So often we tear people down by what we say. Parents, teachers, friends, no one is exempt. And we try and brush it off with a "Joking lah!" or "Why you so sensitive?", but truly, what you say can make or break a person.
A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue - Proverbs 11:12
It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. --Samuel Clemmens (Mark Twain)
Sunday, April 15
Friday, April 13
Pictures from International Friendship Day
Hanan and Otrie, waiting for their turn to go on
Adjusting the mic 
"Oh man, do I have to take pictures with (ewwww) girls??"
Hanging with the International set
Playing the crowd
An international cutie
And finally, the teachers that made it happen.Thursday, April 12
International Friendship Day
Today is International Friendship Day, celebrated by schoolchildren all over Singapore. Hanan’s school is celebrating it by inviting students of unusual ethnicity and nationality, and their parents, to share a little bit about their culture and customs. Hanan and Otrie are going to represent their African- American cultural roots by playing a jazz song, one of Otrie’s compositions. What’s unique about this song is that it also includes elements of Indian music like the tablas. To hear it, click here.
The celebration of such a day is indeed unique and a little forward looking. Unlike the interestingly named Racial Harmony Day, International Friendship Day actually recognizes and celebrates the differences. I suppose in tandem they are acceptable, but I wonder how much is actually being done to help students understand and live in a multi-ethnical society.
Actually, I think my main beef is with the term racial harmony. The concept of race is one that has grated on my nerves for a long time now, mainly because it boils down to “what colour is your skin?”, tossing aside all other influences of culture, heritage and tradition.
Case in point: When I tell people my husband is American, they immediately assume he is white. It never crosses their minds that “American” is a nationality, not a race. At the same time, the term African American is not very descriptive either. My husband has never been to any country in the African continent, neither does he have any known relatives there. (Note: He doesn't have a problem with the handle. I do.)
Similarly, when I tell my friends overseas that I am Singaporean, they assume I am of Chinese descent, until they meet me. They get even more confused when they see my name. But I can’t tell them I am Indian either, because, well, I am not. Indian is a nationality, not a race.
What is this obsession we have in Singapore with wanting to classify people into races? The idea of race, which stemmed from the deplorable concept of Eugenics should have died in the mid-20th Century, not followed us into the 21st! After the fall of Nazism, is there still a reason to say, he is different from me, so I have to protect who I am, but removing his ability to succeed or prosper?
Here is an interesting nugget from a website about a little known group of people, the Melungeons:
“Several years ago, the American Association of Anthropologists discounted the concept of “race,” feeling that it was an artificial concept devised to hold one groups superior to others in order to justify land theft and even genocide. The AAA prefers to discuss “ethnicity,” a broader measurement that includes not only genetics, but also culture, religion, language, etc.” – Wayne Winkler, 2004
I wonder when Singapore will reach the level of maturity and cultural acceptance as a nation to say, we are not interested in your race, but how you can contribute with your particular cultural heritage to our community.
Until then, people like Hanan Jimrai Barrett will have to try and fit himself into one of these 5 – Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasian or Others.
He is in good company though. I bet if Tiger Woods, Dewayne Johnson (The Rock), Ben Kingsley and Keanu Reeves lived in Singapore, they would be “Others” too.
References:
MixedFolks.com
Melungeon.org (thanks to Betty Warner, my source on all things wierd and wonderful from West Virginia!)
The ubiquitious Wikipedia
Ministry of Education website
The celebration of such a day is indeed unique and a little forward looking. Unlike the interestingly named Racial Harmony Day, International Friendship Day actually recognizes and celebrates the differences. I suppose in tandem they are acceptable, but I wonder how much is actually being done to help students understand and live in a multi-ethnical society.
Actually, I think my main beef is with the term racial harmony. The concept of race is one that has grated on my nerves for a long time now, mainly because it boils down to “what colour is your skin?”, tossing aside all other influences of culture, heritage and tradition.
Case in point: When I tell people my husband is American, they immediately assume he is white. It never crosses their minds that “American” is a nationality, not a race. At the same time, the term African American is not very descriptive either. My husband has never been to any country in the African continent, neither does he have any known relatives there. (Note: He doesn't have a problem with the handle. I do.)
Similarly, when I tell my friends overseas that I am Singaporean, they assume I am of Chinese descent, until they meet me. They get even more confused when they see my name. But I can’t tell them I am Indian either, because, well, I am not. Indian is a nationality, not a race.
What is this obsession we have in Singapore with wanting to classify people into races? The idea of race, which stemmed from the deplorable concept of Eugenics should have died in the mid-20th Century, not followed us into the 21st! After the fall of Nazism, is there still a reason to say, he is different from me, so I have to protect who I am, but removing his ability to succeed or prosper?
Here is an interesting nugget from a website about a little known group of people, the Melungeons:
“Several years ago, the American Association of Anthropologists discounted the concept of “race,” feeling that it was an artificial concept devised to hold one groups superior to others in order to justify land theft and even genocide. The AAA prefers to discuss “ethnicity,” a broader measurement that includes not only genetics, but also culture, religion, language, etc.” – Wayne Winkler, 2004
I wonder when Singapore will reach the level of maturity and cultural acceptance as a nation to say, we are not interested in your race, but how you can contribute with your particular cultural heritage to our community.
Until then, people like Hanan Jimrai Barrett will have to try and fit himself into one of these 5 – Chinese, Malay, Indian, Eurasian or Others.
He is in good company though. I bet if Tiger Woods, Dewayne Johnson (The Rock), Ben Kingsley and Keanu Reeves lived in Singapore, they would be “Others” too.
References:
MixedFolks.com
Melungeon.org (thanks to Betty Warner, my source on all things wierd and wonderful from West Virginia!)
The ubiquitious Wikipedia
Ministry of Education website
Tuesday, April 10
All the what ifs
It's quite interesting, preparing for the kind of trip I am going to take.
Not so much in terms of what I am going to bring to wear etc, but what to expect, and how far will be expectations exceed reality or vice versa.
I think about my one contact who is the only link to family (if that). How does he feel about this so called relative who is going to impose upon his time, his home and his family, to do something as innocuous as search for things he has known all his life?
I think about my friend, Hameed, who is producing this show, and the huge chance he has taken on my one link. If the link leads to a dead end, will we just make stuff up along the way? Will the "magic" of television be enough to fill in the gaps in my travel story?
My dad told me that my great grandfather gave up his comforts, his land and all that he knew to stow away on one of the merchant ships heading towards the Malayan Peninsula. This must have been circa 1880. A few questions have been in my head since then:-
1) Why did he leave? A sense of adventure? Some kind of trouble? Did he get some shy young temple dancer pregnant and had to run away from her father and his large machete? Or was it something more noble, like new business opportunities?
2) Indian merchant ships were going everywhere from England to South Africa back then. Why did he pick one headed to Malaya? I could have been a British or South African citizen now if he had picked a different boat.
3) What if, once landing, he decided to pick a local Malay girl as a bride? Indian girls must have been few and far between back then. I might have been Indian Muslim if he had made THAT choice.
4) What if he made his fortune and decided to move back to Sirkazhi instead of stay in Malaya? Would I have been a MSc from IIT instead of a BA from QUT? Or would I have given up education to marry a gentle Indian agricultural officer (farmer) and live out my days in quiet oblivion?
More questions than answers as this point. But it's humbling to think about how different my life would have been if not for my pioneering, adventurous great-grandfather.
Not so much in terms of what I am going to bring to wear etc, but what to expect, and how far will be expectations exceed reality or vice versa.
I think about my one contact who is the only link to family (if that). How does he feel about this so called relative who is going to impose upon his time, his home and his family, to do something as innocuous as search for things he has known all his life?
I think about my friend, Hameed, who is producing this show, and the huge chance he has taken on my one link. If the link leads to a dead end, will we just make stuff up along the way? Will the "magic" of television be enough to fill in the gaps in my travel story?
My dad told me that my great grandfather gave up his comforts, his land and all that he knew to stow away on one of the merchant ships heading towards the Malayan Peninsula. This must have been circa 1880. A few questions have been in my head since then:-
1) Why did he leave? A sense of adventure? Some kind of trouble? Did he get some shy young temple dancer pregnant and had to run away from her father and his large machete? Or was it something more noble, like new business opportunities?
2) Indian merchant ships were going everywhere from England to South Africa back then. Why did he pick one headed to Malaya? I could have been a British or South African citizen now if he had picked a different boat.
3) What if, once landing, he decided to pick a local Malay girl as a bride? Indian girls must have been few and far between back then. I might have been Indian Muslim if he had made THAT choice.
4) What if he made his fortune and decided to move back to Sirkazhi instead of stay in Malaya? Would I have been a MSc from IIT instead of a BA from QUT? Or would I have given up education to marry a gentle Indian agricultural officer (farmer) and live out my days in quiet oblivion?
More questions than answers as this point. But it's humbling to think about how different my life would have been if not for my pioneering, adventurous great-grandfather.
Sunday, April 8
He was, so I won't be.
At the cross,
He was made poor, stripped of all his clothing,
So that I will never be naked.
He was hungry and thirsty, with nothing but sour wine to drink,
So that I wil never know lack for food or drink.
He was beaten, lashed, lacerated beyond endurance,
so that my body will always be whole and healthy.
He was humiliated, mocked and scorned,
so that I can hold my head up high.
He wore a crown of thorns,
so my head will be free of worry.
His hands and legs were nailed into wood,
so that mine will be free to do His bidding.
He was cut off from His Father who turned His back on His Son,
so that my connection to God will never be lost.
He endured the fullness of God's wrath, like a fire from heaven,
so that God will never ever be angry with me again.
His side and heart were peirced,
so my heart will never be in pain.
Is this a Lamb, who made such a sacrifice?
Is this a man, who went beyond life to love someone?
Or is this God, who, desperate for his child, gave His all,
and shed His blood.
His name is Yeshua, Hebrew for "He saves"
And he is my Lord, my God and my All.
Resurrection Sunday Blessings to all!
About the picture: It is from a very cool site of Christian Art called The Light and Dark Series. Check it out here.
He was made poor, stripped of all his clothing,
So that I will never be naked.
He was hungry and thirsty, with nothing but sour wine to drink,
So that I wil never know lack for food or drink.
He was beaten, lashed, lacerated beyond endurance,
so that my body will always be whole and healthy.
He was humiliated, mocked and scorned,
so that I can hold my head up high.
He wore a crown of thorns,
so my head will be free of worry.
His hands and legs were nailed into wood,
so that mine will be free to do His bidding.
He was cut off from His Father who turned His back on His Son,
so that my connection to God will never be lost.
He endured the fullness of God's wrath, like a fire from heaven,
so that God will never ever be angry with me again.
His side and heart were peirced,
so my heart will never be in pain.
Is this a Lamb, who made such a sacrifice?
Is this a man, who went beyond life to love someone?
Or is this God, who, desperate for his child, gave His all,
and shed His blood.
His name is Yeshua, Hebrew for "He saves"
And he is my Lord, my God and my All.
Resurrection Sunday Blessings to all!
About the picture: It is from a very cool site of Christian Art called The Light and Dark Series. Check it out here.
Thursday, April 5
Random Things
I don't have alot of steady things to write about today, so I will just ramble on randomly and hopefully, it will be worth reading.
1) Happy Birthday Sangeeta!!
A big shout out to Sangeeta, who recently proved she is not only stunningly beautiful, but also uber smart, by getting a scholarship to do her masters in the Uni of Sweden!
Good on ya, girl! Go make us proud!
2) Congrats to Shalini!!
Yes, my little cousin (as in short) has kept the theatrical flame burning by bagging the role of Assistant Director in the production of Play, put up by the prestigiou Raffles Players. Ok, I dunno about prestigious, but she is excited much.
I will let you guys know when it opens, you ALL have to go watch it.
3) On a totally random note, Holland Village rocks man. I happen to be in the vicinity yesterday and was amazed by how much it has changed. Just the total wealth of new restaurants that have opened up is so spectacular. I decided to stick with an old favourite and had chimichangas at Cha Cha Cha, but man, the choices are mind boggling.
I was at Holland V, because I went to the Verite Production Studios for a photo shoot. They are doing this ultra cool opening sequence for Mudhal Payanangal (First Journeys), the show I will be in. It was fun pretending to be a model for a while. I tell you, it helps to have no shame whatsoever when you are doing these things. I cannot imagine how actors and celebs can say they are shy. Hello!! Don't bluff, can?
4) It's the day before Good Friday! Most people have no idea what the significance of this is, but Good Friday coincides with the Jewish Feast of Passover. Passover marks the day that God brought the Hebrew people out of Egypt (watch the Ten Commandments for details). On the night of the Passover, Hebrews were told to kill a lamb without blemish, and smear its blood on their doorpost. Whereever the blood is seen, Death would pass over that house.
And Jesus dying on the Feast of Passover signifies how he is the ultimate Passover Lamb. Christians beleive that once His blood is smeared on our doorposts (hearts), no evil will befall us.
Cool huh?
Ok, end of random post. Please resume regular life activities.
1) Happy Birthday Sangeeta!!
A big shout out to Sangeeta, who recently proved she is not only stunningly beautiful, but also uber smart, by getting a scholarship to do her masters in the Uni of Sweden!
Good on ya, girl! Go make us proud!
2) Congrats to Shalini!!
Yes, my little cousin (as in short) has kept the theatrical flame burning by bagging the role of Assistant Director in the production of Play, put up by the prestigiou Raffles Players. Ok, I dunno about prestigious, but she is excited much.
I will let you guys know when it opens, you ALL have to go watch it.
3) On a totally random note, Holland Village rocks man. I happen to be in the vicinity yesterday and was amazed by how much it has changed. Just the total wealth of new restaurants that have opened up is so spectacular. I decided to stick with an old favourite and had chimichangas at Cha Cha Cha, but man, the choices are mind boggling.
I was at Holland V, because I went to the Verite Production Studios for a photo shoot. They are doing this ultra cool opening sequence for Mudhal Payanangal (First Journeys), the show I will be in. It was fun pretending to be a model for a while. I tell you, it helps to have no shame whatsoever when you are doing these things. I cannot imagine how actors and celebs can say they are shy. Hello!! Don't bluff, can?
4) It's the day before Good Friday! Most people have no idea what the significance of this is, but Good Friday coincides with the Jewish Feast of Passover. Passover marks the day that God brought the Hebrew people out of Egypt (watch the Ten Commandments for details). On the night of the Passover, Hebrews were told to kill a lamb without blemish, and smear its blood on their doorpost. Whereever the blood is seen, Death would pass over that house.
And Jesus dying on the Feast of Passover signifies how he is the ultimate Passover Lamb. Christians beleive that once His blood is smeared on our doorposts (hearts), no evil will befall us.
Cool huh?
Ok, end of random post. Please resume regular life activities.
Tuesday, April 3
He is
He is
In Genesis, He’s the breath of life
In Exodus, the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He’s our High Priest
Numbers, The fire by night
Deuteronomy, He’s Moses’ voice
In Joshua, He is salvation’s choice
Judges, law giver
In Ruth, the kinsmen-redeemer
First and second Samuel, our trusted prophet
In Kings and Chronicles, He’s sovereign
Ezra, true and faithful scribe
Nehemiah, he’s the rebuilder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He’s Mordecai’s courage
In Job, the timeless redeemer
In Psalms, He is our morning song
In Proverbs, wisdom’s cry
Ecclesiastes, the time and season
In the Song of Solomon, He is the lover’s dream
He is, He is, He is
In Isaiah, He’s the Prince of Peace
Jeremiah, the weeping prophet
In Lamentations, the cry for Israel
Ezekiel, He’s the call from sin
In Daniel the stranger in the fire
In Hosea, He is forever faithful
In Joel, He’s the spirit’s power
In Amos, the arms that carry us
In Obadiah, He’s the Lord our Savior
In Jonah, He’s the great missionary
In Micah, the promise of peace
In Nahum, he is our strength and our shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He’s pleading for revival
In Haggai, He restores a lost heritage
In Zachariah, our fountain
In Malachi, he is the sun of righteousness rising with healing in His wings
He is, He is, He is
In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is God,
Man, Messiah
In the Book of Acts, He is fire from heaven
In Romans, He’s the grace of God
In Corinthians, the power of love
In Galatians, He is freedom from the curse of sin
Ephesians, our glorious treasure
Philippians, the servant’s heart
In Colossians, He’s the Godhead Trinity
Thessalonians, our coming King
In Timothy, Titus, Philemon, He’s our mediator and our faithful pastor
In Hebrews, the everlasting covenant
In James, the one who heals the sick
In First and Second Peter, He is our shepherd
In John and in Jude, He’s the lover coming for His bride
In the Revelation, He is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords
He is, He is, He is
The Prince of Peace
The Son of Man
The Lamb of God
The Great I am
He’s the Alpha and Omega
Our God and our Savior
He is Jesus Christ the Lord
And when time is no more
He is
He is
Author Unknown
***
My sister Betty Warner sent me this yesterday and it literally blew my socks off. I hope you enjoy it as much. And if anyone knows who the author is, please let me know.
In Genesis, He’s the breath of life
In Exodus, the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He’s our High Priest
Numbers, The fire by night
Deuteronomy, He’s Moses’ voice
In Joshua, He is salvation’s choice
Judges, law giver
In Ruth, the kinsmen-redeemer
First and second Samuel, our trusted prophet
In Kings and Chronicles, He’s sovereign
Ezra, true and faithful scribe
Nehemiah, he’s the rebuilder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He’s Mordecai’s courage
In Job, the timeless redeemer
In Psalms, He is our morning song
In Proverbs, wisdom’s cry
Ecclesiastes, the time and season
In the Song of Solomon, He is the lover’s dream
He is, He is, He is
In Isaiah, He’s the Prince of Peace
Jeremiah, the weeping prophet
In Lamentations, the cry for Israel
Ezekiel, He’s the call from sin
In Daniel the stranger in the fire
In Hosea, He is forever faithful
In Joel, He’s the spirit’s power
In Amos, the arms that carry us
In Obadiah, He’s the Lord our Savior
In Jonah, He’s the great missionary
In Micah, the promise of peace
In Nahum, he is our strength and our shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He’s pleading for revival
In Haggai, He restores a lost heritage
In Zachariah, our fountain
In Malachi, he is the sun of righteousness rising with healing in His wings
He is, He is, He is
In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is God,
Man, Messiah
In the Book of Acts, He is fire from heaven
In Romans, He’s the grace of God
In Corinthians, the power of love
In Galatians, He is freedom from the curse of sin
Ephesians, our glorious treasure
Philippians, the servant’s heart
In Colossians, He’s the Godhead Trinity
Thessalonians, our coming King
In Timothy, Titus, Philemon, He’s our mediator and our faithful pastor
In Hebrews, the everlasting covenant
In James, the one who heals the sick
In First and Second Peter, He is our shepherd
In John and in Jude, He’s the lover coming for His bride
In the Revelation, He is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords
He is, He is, He is
The Prince of Peace
The Son of Man
The Lamb of God
The Great I am
He’s the Alpha and Omega
Our God and our Savior
He is Jesus Christ the Lord
And when time is no more
He is
He is
Author Unknown
***
My sister Betty Warner sent me this yesterday and it literally blew my socks off. I hope you enjoy it as much. And if anyone knows who the author is, please let me know.
Monday, April 2
Mega Sunday
Yesterday was one of those Sundays where you cannot believe you squeeze so many things into one day.
After a long, long time, too long than I care to admit, we made it for Sunday Service yesterday. It felt a little strange making that familiar, yet long-lost trek down to Suntec and mingling with the ever-present crowds.
And of course no trip to Suntec is complete without a mind blowing lunch in one of the gazillion restaurants they have there. Our pick this week was Swensen’s, purveyor of fine ice creams and barely passable food. But this time, they really did a good job. Note Exhibit 1, the Mega Burger.
For a measly $12.90, you get a large tasty meat patty, bacon, ham, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, grilled veggies, all topped of with a fried egg! Otrie with his relatively large chompers could hardly get his lips around it. It was an amazing burger and super value for money, man!
Something weird about wait staff in this Swensen’s, though. Or maybe it’s just the insufficient training they received. The guy came over and asked us how our food was. Which was all well and good. So, we told him the burger was great, but the fries were stale, recooked and nasty. At which he SMILED and said “OK, THANK YOU!” and WALKED AWAY!!!
*looks outraged and incredulous*
If you were sincere about the question, why didn’t you do something about the fries?
If you didn’t care, why bother to ask?
If you didn’t understand what we were saying, why didn’t you ask again?
Please people, if the customer complains about something, try to fix it. Do the right thing! Be a man! (Ok, channeling a little Russell Peters there.) It’s customer service 101. It’s also common sense 101.
Fortunately my chicken salad was perfect, as was Hanan’s mini burger, so we left more satisfied then unhappy. By the way, check out the mega fork they gave me to eat my salad with.
After an amazing sermon by Pastor Lian, we went to pick Hanan up from Sunday School. He always looks as if he had been a participating in a triathlon after Sunday school. It must be the influx of the spiritual feeding. And the adrenalin rush of all those like minded 7 year olds tearing around. So while we are waiting for the bus the child is jumping all over the place. But the minute we get on the bus, and he finds a warm body to curl up to, the boy is out like a light.
It’s a good 45 min journey up north to where we live, so that’s a pretty good nap. Of course this also means that Otrie and I get home tired and Hanan is ready to start new, involved activities.
Last night, it was Monopoly. We just bought Monopoly- Star Wars Edition, and he was excited about playing it.
Ok lah, we all were.
And it was really fun too, because it somehow became a Star Wars Trivia cum role play session. And Hanan beat us both, man! He was collecting rent on starships (utilities), building hotels and what not. He played with the reckless abandon of a child and totally owned us.
And so ended Mega-Sunday. I hope we have another one next week. Have to break the finding-excuses-to-skip-church cycle.
After a long, long time, too long than I care to admit, we made it for Sunday Service yesterday. It felt a little strange making that familiar, yet long-lost trek down to Suntec and mingling with the ever-present crowds.
And of course no trip to Suntec is complete without a mind blowing lunch in one of the gazillion restaurants they have there. Our pick this week was Swensen’s, purveyor of fine ice creams and barely passable food. But this time, they really did a good job. Note Exhibit 1, the Mega Burger.
For a measly $12.90, you get a large tasty meat patty, bacon, ham, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, grilled veggies, all topped of with a fried egg! Otrie with his relatively large chompers could hardly get his lips around it. It was an amazing burger and super value for money, man!
Something weird about wait staff in this Swensen’s, though. Or maybe it’s just the insufficient training they received. The guy came over and asked us how our food was. Which was all well and good. So, we told him the burger was great, but the fries were stale, recooked and nasty. At which he SMILED and said “OK, THANK YOU!” and WALKED AWAY!!!
*looks outraged and incredulous*
If you were sincere about the question, why didn’t you do something about the fries?
If you didn’t care, why bother to ask?
If you didn’t understand what we were saying, why didn’t you ask again?
Please people, if the customer complains about something, try to fix it. Do the right thing! Be a man! (Ok, channeling a little Russell Peters there.) It’s customer service 101. It’s also common sense 101.
Fortunately my chicken salad was perfect, as was Hanan’s mini burger, so we left more satisfied then unhappy. By the way, check out the mega fork they gave me to eat my salad with.
After an amazing sermon by Pastor Lian, we went to pick Hanan up from Sunday School. He always looks as if he had been a participating in a triathlon after Sunday school. It must be the influx of the spiritual feeding. And the adrenalin rush of all those like minded 7 year olds tearing around. So while we are waiting for the bus the child is jumping all over the place. But the minute we get on the bus, and he finds a warm body to curl up to, the boy is out like a light.
It’s a good 45 min journey up north to where we live, so that’s a pretty good nap. Of course this also means that Otrie and I get home tired and Hanan is ready to start new, involved activities.
Last night, it was Monopoly. We just bought Monopoly- Star Wars Edition, and he was excited about playing it.
Ok lah, we all were.
And it was really fun too, because it somehow became a Star Wars Trivia cum role play session. And Hanan beat us both, man! He was collecting rent on starships (utilities), building hotels and what not. He played with the reckless abandon of a child and totally owned us.
And so ended Mega-Sunday. I hope we have another one next week. Have to break the finding-excuses-to-skip-church cycle.
Friday, March 30
I am going to India!!!
You may remember when I blogged about going to this audition for a "Roots" type TV show?
Well, guess what, folks. I got the gig!!! I, and about 13 others will be going on a all expenses paid trip to India to find out who our ancestors were and why they decided to make the long nauseating journey that ended in Singapore.
I am going in May, which means it will be stinking hot there, so if anyone wants to buy me one of those hand held electrical fans, now is a good time.
We are going to this little town calles Shirkali, which is in Tanjavur District, and hopefully I will find some homeboys who decided to stay put and breed like crazy.
It will also help if they have done some while outrageous thing, like build the town library or something. Of course, if they turn out to be the local mafia or something, that would be good too. I have always wanted to be famous.
So, if anyone has any advice for a girl on her first trip to that part of India, please let me know. Or and if you are from Shirkali, holla at me. Maybe we can hook up for a drink while I am there!
So exciting.
And Ah-neh, before you ask, yes, KLK has the exclusive scoop on the experience! :)
Well, guess what, folks. I got the gig!!! I, and about 13 others will be going on a all expenses paid trip to India to find out who our ancestors were and why they decided to make the long nauseating journey that ended in Singapore.
I am going in May, which means it will be stinking hot there, so if anyone wants to buy me one of those hand held electrical fans, now is a good time.
We are going to this little town calles Shirkali, which is in Tanjavur District, and hopefully I will find some homeboys who decided to stay put and breed like crazy. It will also help if they have done some while outrageous thing, like build the town library or something. Of course, if they turn out to be the local mafia or something, that would be good too. I have always wanted to be famous.
So, if anyone has any advice for a girl on her first trip to that part of India, please let me know. Or and if you are from Shirkali, holla at me. Maybe we can hook up for a drink while I am there!
So exciting.
And Ah-neh, before you ask, yes, KLK has the exclusive scoop on the experience! :)
Thursday, March 29
Give it to me
I am so addicted to this song, listening to it 4,5. 6 times a day.
I think its the beat, appeals to the Indian in me.
Anyway, enjoy. I will have more this weekend.
I think its the beat, appeals to the Indian in me.
Anyway, enjoy. I will have more this weekend.
Monday, March 26
Things my husband says that make me want to commit myself.
This is the sequel to the post about the things that make me go AAARRRGGHHH. And this time, the tables are turned and this is sampling of the things my husband says that drive me out of my mind.
1) And who is that?
By nature I am a friendly person. I make on average a new friend every week. And talk about him or her for days after.
Let’s say I made a friend. Let’s call her Pam. I talk about her incessantly for weeks. Pam this, Pam that, Pam said, Pam, Pam, Pam.
I only have to give it at most a 2 day break, and then I say something like, “Guess what Pam said?” And Otrie turns to me with this I-am-living-with-an-imbecile look and slowly says, “And who is Pam?”
Grrr. Rather than go through the hassle of reintroducing Pam into our lives, I just go “nevermind”, which may or may not lead to a discussion on how I am secretive and don’t share anything.
2) I am not the woman you are
Nalinee: Look, I bought new shoes! Aren’t they lovely?
Normal Man: *Grunt*
Sensitive New Age Man: Yah, they are nice. Go well with your nail polish.
Gay Man: OMG, they are FABULOUS! Can I borrow them?
My Husband: It’s not the pair I would have chosen, but I am not the woman that you are.
Nalinee: Wha…?
3) Just a second
Now, if you have heard of Indian Standard Time, where if a person says come at 4, you should show up around 5:30, this is even worse.
“Just a second” in Otrie-speak can lead into 5 mins, half hour, two hours later, or even a whole day. There might be longer ones, but I don’t remember. Love keeps no record of wrongdoing *tongue firmly in cheek.
“Just a second” is what Otrie uses when he either doesn’t have an answer or knows that I am not going to like the answer. It’s a time-buying tactic. But now that I recognize it for what it is, don’t think for a minute that I tolerate it. It still makes my blood boil. I want to break a clock over his head while yelling,” This will take just a second!”
4) I was watching that.
Picture this scenario. I walk into the house and the TV is on. Noone is in the living room. I call out. No answer. I peep around to the rooms. Noone peeps back. So I do what any good energy saving citizen would do – pick up the remote and turn off the TV.
“I WAS WATCHING THAT!” A bellow hits me a 90 mph, followed by a very irate husband bounding towards me. “I stepped away for just a second”, he says, indignation welling in his voice. As covered in Point 3, a second can be anything from 5 mins to 24 hours, so I have no way to tell how true this is.
Previously, I used to stand and fight. Now I just turn it back on and walk away. Saves me a lot of unnecessary bile in my throat that way.
I am sure you have similar experiences with your spousen. Share with me in the comments section and we will find solidarity together.
1) And who is that?
By nature I am a friendly person. I make on average a new friend every week. And talk about him or her for days after.
Let’s say I made a friend. Let’s call her Pam. I talk about her incessantly for weeks. Pam this, Pam that, Pam said, Pam, Pam, Pam.
I only have to give it at most a 2 day break, and then I say something like, “Guess what Pam said?” And Otrie turns to me with this I-am-living-with-an-imbecile look and slowly says, “And who is Pam?”
Grrr. Rather than go through the hassle of reintroducing Pam into our lives, I just go “nevermind”, which may or may not lead to a discussion on how I am secretive and don’t share anything.
2) I am not the woman you are
Nalinee: Look, I bought new shoes! Aren’t they lovely?
Normal Man: *Grunt*
Sensitive New Age Man: Yah, they are nice. Go well with your nail polish.
Gay Man: OMG, they are FABULOUS! Can I borrow them?
My Husband: It’s not the pair I would have chosen, but I am not the woman that you are.
Nalinee: Wha…?
3) Just a second
Now, if you have heard of Indian Standard Time, where if a person says come at 4, you should show up around 5:30, this is even worse.
“Just a second” in Otrie-speak can lead into 5 mins, half hour, two hours later, or even a whole day. There might be longer ones, but I don’t remember. Love keeps no record of wrongdoing *tongue firmly in cheek.
“Just a second” is what Otrie uses when he either doesn’t have an answer or knows that I am not going to like the answer. It’s a time-buying tactic. But now that I recognize it for what it is, don’t think for a minute that I tolerate it. It still makes my blood boil. I want to break a clock over his head while yelling,” This will take just a second!”
4) I was watching that.
Picture this scenario. I walk into the house and the TV is on. Noone is in the living room. I call out. No answer. I peep around to the rooms. Noone peeps back. So I do what any good energy saving citizen would do – pick up the remote and turn off the TV.
“I WAS WATCHING THAT!” A bellow hits me a 90 mph, followed by a very irate husband bounding towards me. “I stepped away for just a second”, he says, indignation welling in his voice. As covered in Point 3, a second can be anything from 5 mins to 24 hours, so I have no way to tell how true this is.
Previously, I used to stand and fight. Now I just turn it back on and walk away. Saves me a lot of unnecessary bile in my throat that way.
I am sure you have similar experiences with your spousen. Share with me in the comments section and we will find solidarity together.
Friday, March 23
Thursday, March 22
StyleWorks and other celebrity stuff
I have this really strange obsession, where if I am really into a movie and its actors, I research everything about them. Their family, their wife (or husband), their kids, where they went school etc. It's a form of online stalking, I guess, and since all the info is out there, I generally get my fill of trivia.
For instance, did you know that Jada Pinkett-Smith sings in a heavy metal band? Hmmm..
But that's not what I wanted to talk about. I want to talk about Malaak Compton-Rock, wife of comedian Chris Rock, whose new movie I Think I Love My Wife, promises to be a hoot.
Malaak Compton-Rock, an arts management graduate from Howard University, doesn't spend her husband's fortune on shopping at Tiffany's and embarassing herself in front of the papparazzi. Instead she founded and runs StyleWorks, a non-profit organisation that offers free comprehensive grooming services to women who are moving from the welfare system to work.
These women, usually single parents, unemployed, and in financial dire straits, don't have money to blow for haircuts and make up. They are too busy trying to feed children and find a safe place to live. And this is one of the factors that contribute to the poverty trap - where people have no self-esteem to get themselves out of the self-defeating system.
So what Malaak does is work with companies that manufacture hair care and make up, gathers pools of volunteer hairstylists and make-up artists and give these women a make over. And teaches them how to recreate it at home. That way, they hold their well-coiffed heads up high and get jobs they otherwise won't even have the confidence to try for.
Can you say, "Wow?"
I know external appearances are superficial and it's what's inside a person that counts, yadda yadda yadda... but anyone that has ever had to go a job interview with old shoes, a ripped stocking or even spinach caught in their teeth knows exactly what such a programme can do for your self-esteem.
The hairstylists and make up artists also act as mentors for these women and spend no less than 5 hours with them before they even start with the make over. Malaak works hand in hand with a job placement programme, so she really takes this whole thing the full cycle.
Kudos to her, and to Chris for supporting her work! I am proud just to know there are human beings like that. Makes all that "save the whales" malarkey sound so trite, doesn't it?
For instance, did you know that Jada Pinkett-Smith sings in a heavy metal band? Hmmm..
But that's not what I wanted to talk about. I want to talk about Malaak Compton-Rock, wife of comedian Chris Rock, whose new movie I Think I Love My Wife, promises to be a hoot.
Malaak Compton-Rock, an arts management graduate from Howard University, doesn't spend her husband's fortune on shopping at Tiffany's and embarassing herself in front of the papparazzi. Instead she founded and runs StyleWorks, a non-profit organisation that offers free comprehensive grooming services to women who are moving from the welfare system to work.
These women, usually single parents, unemployed, and in financial dire straits, don't have money to blow for haircuts and make up. They are too busy trying to feed children and find a safe place to live. And this is one of the factors that contribute to the poverty trap - where people have no self-esteem to get themselves out of the self-defeating system.
So what Malaak does is work with companies that manufacture hair care and make up, gathers pools of volunteer hairstylists and make-up artists and give these women a make over. And teaches them how to recreate it at home. That way, they hold their well-coiffed heads up high and get jobs they otherwise won't even have the confidence to try for.
Can you say, "Wow?"
I know external appearances are superficial and it's what's inside a person that counts, yadda yadda yadda... but anyone that has ever had to go a job interview with old shoes, a ripped stocking or even spinach caught in their teeth knows exactly what such a programme can do for your self-esteem.
The hairstylists and make up artists also act as mentors for these women and spend no less than 5 hours with them before they even start with the make over. Malaak works hand in hand with a job placement programme, so she really takes this whole thing the full cycle.
Kudos to her, and to Chris for supporting her work! I am proud just to know there are human beings like that. Makes all that "save the whales" malarkey sound so trite, doesn't it?
Wednesday, March 21
When food hurts you
I usually have a really strong stomach and can eat mostly any kind of junk made in all kinds of unsanitary conditions.
So, it's rather quite embarassing to be brought down by a lowly fried egg.
At least, that's what I think it was, the egg fried with "lap cheong" that I had for lunch, but it coulda been anything. It's strange how after a bout of food poisoning, you examine everything you ate or drank, and everything is suspect.
Was it my 4 month old mineral water bottle, that I have been reusing 3,4,5 times a day?
Was it the sad looking veggies that did not get digested at all?
Was it the fish fillet I had for breakfast, that, now that I think about it, tasted a little rubbery and undercooked?
The list goes on.
At the end of the day, what counts is that a little salmonella goes a looong way.
So, it's rather quite embarassing to be brought down by a lowly fried egg.
At least, that's what I think it was, the egg fried with "lap cheong" that I had for lunch, but it coulda been anything. It's strange how after a bout of food poisoning, you examine everything you ate or drank, and everything is suspect.
Was it my 4 month old mineral water bottle, that I have been reusing 3,4,5 times a day?
Was it the sad looking veggies that did not get digested at all?
Was it the fish fillet I had for breakfast, that, now that I think about it, tasted a little rubbery and undercooked?
The list goes on.
At the end of the day, what counts is that a little salmonella goes a looong way.
Eliminating the twats
Some people are twats. In a move to better control the entrance on twats into my life (and into my blogosphere), I am removing my tag board. Those of you who have access to my private blog can tag me there.
Twats!
Twats!
Monday, March 19
Guest Article - A little boy went to school
The writer of this post has graciously granted me permission to post this here. I was inspired by his perspective that the battles we fight are not against flesh and blood, or race and creed. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
***
We Americans are so blessed to be able to complain about something wrong with every one of our candidates running for the office of President. With speculation, suspicions, new spins, deliberate slips of the pen escorted by quick sanitized apologies, and more, who can run for office these days; certainly not the founding fathers of the nation. Some Christians have become the trifling equivalent of a character assassination Jihad when it comes to politics and religion.
It's true that America is a Muslim-shy nation for many reasons I will not cover here. There are as many types of Muslims nations as there are Christians nations, and as many types of Muslims as Christians. We live in a high security, fear driven world at war, where your every move is scrutinized, judged and categorized well. By just carrying a cell phone, your movements and lifestyle can be tracked anywhere. So it stands to form and criteria that every presidential candidate would be investigated well for job worthiness, because the people need to be safe and secure.
However, the current state of the art media feeding frenzies have turned American freedom of the press into a joke, and do a disservice to the nation in the name of freedom. The knee jerk reactions to Barack Obama's Muslim connections are unfair and ignorant of the ways other people think. It's as if being a child was Barack Obama's big penalty. Are we really saying, you can be 1000 things in America, but if you are a small boy whose parents toted you around to Muslim countries, like the many children of embassy, military or government agency employees, you're in jeopardy if you want to run for public office? I really hope America the Beautiful is not saying, "It's ok to be a Christian convert as long as you were not associated with Muslims before your run for the presidency". Is that America?
If Barack Obama's proximity to Islam is in Indonesia as has been reported, then it needs to be known that Asians think differently from Americans when it comes to family identity. They don't have all the freedoms of identity that western nations have. If your father is Muslim, then that is your legal designation in most Asian countries. If I am a Christian father, then my whole family is Christian, whether they know Jesus or not. In Singapore, if my wife is a Tamil and English speaking Christian Indian, my son's mother tongue designation is Tamil. Some may assume he is of the Hindu faith because his mother tongue is Tamil, but they would be wrong.
Racial and religious assumptions are very strong in Asian cultures. For example, I was coming home from a gig late one night hungry and I thought I might stop for some Bah Ku Teh, an herbed garlic pork rib delight in a tasty peppery broth served with rice. I told my taxi driver to go Balestier Road, the best spot in Singapore for this dish. On our way, somehow a debate arose about why I couldn't have Bah Ku Teh. My Chinese taxi driver kept on insisting that, "Muslims cannot have pork!" And of course, stirred a bit by his audacity, I said, "why not, what happens if they do?" He kept saying, "It's the law", and I said, "well I'm having some tonight anyway, because I'm very hungry, and not a Muslim, but a Christian". My taxi driver made the assumption that so many people make with regard to race and religion. In Asia, race and religion could be broken down like this.
Dark man = Muslim or Hindu
White man = Christian or Jew
Oriental = Buddhist
In America, do we make the assumption that because Barack Obama was a child in the proximity of Islam at one time, he is a threat? As Christians, our political posture is to pray for our leaders and trust in God. I'm thanking God for protecting America, the country I love no matter who's in the White House. My faith is in God's ability, not a political agenda, or issue. I'm certainly not ignorant of the dangers in this world. Yes it's a dangerous world, and I'm glad I know Jesus because our world's problems cannot be solved in carnal ways alone. There are spiritual battles that need to be addressed by a nation who humbles itself and prays.
I cried when President Clinton had his indiscretion, and cried when President Bush didn't find the weapons of mass destruction. I was hurt by Christians brothers and sister as they cheered when Marion Barry was caught on film smoking crack cocaine, and became even more enraged as they embraced President Reagan, a bigot in my book. Every time I see footage of 911, I want to re-enlist in the Army and sign up for covert operations. Yes, I believe there are dark forces rising! I'm passionate, but I know where my help really comes from, the real Hero we should be appealing to, who is above blunders, mistakes, insensitivities, anger, and darkness, our Lord Jesus. He's always steady.
It may be that Barack Obama would be a fine president for reasons that only God knows. Try our best, but we can't get it right as a people through politics and manipulation, we need to trust and abide in the Lord. We can never elect the right person. The right person is the Hero at the right hand of God, the correct Hero to worship, the real king, Jesus. God's grace is the sole reason why America is still great, and enjoys unequaled freedom in this world. To ignore or forget that as a nation would mark the beginning of the decay of our society. Whoever makes it to the White House, please don't stop praying for our great nation.
***
We Americans are so blessed to be able to complain about something wrong with every one of our candidates running for the office of President. With speculation, suspicions, new spins, deliberate slips of the pen escorted by quick sanitized apologies, and more, who can run for office these days; certainly not the founding fathers of the nation. Some Christians have become the trifling equivalent of a character assassination Jihad when it comes to politics and religion.
It's true that America is a Muslim-shy nation for many reasons I will not cover here. There are as many types of Muslims nations as there are Christians nations, and as many types of Muslims as Christians. We live in a high security, fear driven world at war, where your every move is scrutinized, judged and categorized well. By just carrying a cell phone, your movements and lifestyle can be tracked anywhere. So it stands to form and criteria that every presidential candidate would be investigated well for job worthiness, because the people need to be safe and secure.
However, the current state of the art media feeding frenzies have turned American freedom of the press into a joke, and do a disservice to the nation in the name of freedom. The knee jerk reactions to Barack Obama's Muslim connections are unfair and ignorant of the ways other people think. It's as if being a child was Barack Obama's big penalty. Are we really saying, you can be 1000 things in America, but if you are a small boy whose parents toted you around to Muslim countries, like the many children of embassy, military or government agency employees, you're in jeopardy if you want to run for public office? I really hope America the Beautiful is not saying, "It's ok to be a Christian convert as long as you were not associated with Muslims before your run for the presidency". Is that America?
If Barack Obama's proximity to Islam is in Indonesia as has been reported, then it needs to be known that Asians think differently from Americans when it comes to family identity. They don't have all the freedoms of identity that western nations have. If your father is Muslim, then that is your legal designation in most Asian countries. If I am a Christian father, then my whole family is Christian, whether they know Jesus or not. In Singapore, if my wife is a Tamil and English speaking Christian Indian, my son's mother tongue designation is Tamil. Some may assume he is of the Hindu faith because his mother tongue is Tamil, but they would be wrong.
Racial and religious assumptions are very strong in Asian cultures. For example, I was coming home from a gig late one night hungry and I thought I might stop for some Bah Ku Teh, an herbed garlic pork rib delight in a tasty peppery broth served with rice. I told my taxi driver to go Balestier Road, the best spot in Singapore for this dish. On our way, somehow a debate arose about why I couldn't have Bah Ku Teh. My Chinese taxi driver kept on insisting that, "Muslims cannot have pork!" And of course, stirred a bit by his audacity, I said, "why not, what happens if they do?" He kept saying, "It's the law", and I said, "well I'm having some tonight anyway, because I'm very hungry, and not a Muslim, but a Christian". My taxi driver made the assumption that so many people make with regard to race and religion. In Asia, race and religion could be broken down like this.
Dark man = Muslim or Hindu
White man = Christian or Jew
Oriental = Buddhist
In America, do we make the assumption that because Barack Obama was a child in the proximity of Islam at one time, he is a threat? As Christians, our political posture is to pray for our leaders and trust in God. I'm thanking God for protecting America, the country I love no matter who's in the White House. My faith is in God's ability, not a political agenda, or issue. I'm certainly not ignorant of the dangers in this world. Yes it's a dangerous world, and I'm glad I know Jesus because our world's problems cannot be solved in carnal ways alone. There are spiritual battles that need to be addressed by a nation who humbles itself and prays.
I cried when President Clinton had his indiscretion, and cried when President Bush didn't find the weapons of mass destruction. I was hurt by Christians brothers and sister as they cheered when Marion Barry was caught on film smoking crack cocaine, and became even more enraged as they embraced President Reagan, a bigot in my book. Every time I see footage of 911, I want to re-enlist in the Army and sign up for covert operations. Yes, I believe there are dark forces rising! I'm passionate, but I know where my help really comes from, the real Hero we should be appealing to, who is above blunders, mistakes, insensitivities, anger, and darkness, our Lord Jesus. He's always steady.
It may be that Barack Obama would be a fine president for reasons that only God knows. Try our best, but we can't get it right as a people through politics and manipulation, we need to trust and abide in the Lord. We can never elect the right person. The right person is the Hero at the right hand of God, the correct Hero to worship, the real king, Jesus. God's grace is the sole reason why America is still great, and enjoys unequaled freedom in this world. To ignore or forget that as a nation would mark the beginning of the decay of our society. Whoever makes it to the White House, please don't stop praying for our great nation.
Things that make you go AAARRRGGHHH
Put it down to the difference in age, gender, culture or just general hard-wiring, but there are some things that I say to my spousal partner that drive him either to find a tall building (to jump off of), or to commit murder in his heart.
Here is just a sampling, based on what I can remember right now.
1. “Boo, can I ask you something?”
I never thought there was anything wrong with this until I heard this uber-lian say it to the guy she was wrapped around. Then I realized, that question is the most meaningless one ever. Having asked it, do you then have to say “Can I ask another question?” It also makes the asker seems like she has the self-esteem of a hunchbacked Spartan and the askee a tyrant, who won’t entertain questions and might beat the asker up! No one wins.
2. “Why you never..?”
Of course, starting any sentence with this phrase sets you up for a “I’m right and you are dog poo-poo” conversation. Why you never is also grammatically wrong, because you don’t really mean “never”, but just that one time.
E.g. Eh, why you never come to church last Sunday?
It’s apparently a Singaporean thing to use “never” when we mean once. But it drives my American husband barking mad. Never means not ever. Not to be used in sentences like “Why you never say you love me?” especially in a hyper-whiny tone.
3. Actually
Here in Singapore, we use this word as a filler, even if we don’t mean it, actually (You see what I did there? I used it as filler.) We don’t actually use it to add emphasis or to indicate that something is actually happening now, which according to Mr Webster, the correct ways to use this word.
So, every time I say actually and Otrie can’t spot an emphasis, or see that I am meaning the opposite of what I am saying, he gets confused. And when people are confused for no reason, they get rather bellicose, and try to pick a fight to deflect their confusion.
We have had so many delightful quarrels over this now that, actually, it no longer bothers me.
4. what, used as a suffix.
I think the thing that bothers him most about this, is the fact that he can’t do it right. Its so much a part of our patois, then we don’t even think when we say things like
“You yell so much also no point, what.”
“Correct, what!”
But to foreign ears, it sounds, well, foreign. There are no rules on what to use when. Same with lah, lor, meh and hor. No rules, unless you have been imbued in this culture. So from Otrie, you get gems like:
“I know its correct, but, lah, this way also can meh. What?”
Translation” Correct, lah, but like that also can.”
Next post: things HE says that make me go aargh and want to commit myself.
Here is just a sampling, based on what I can remember right now.
1. “Boo, can I ask you something?”
I never thought there was anything wrong with this until I heard this uber-lian say it to the guy she was wrapped around. Then I realized, that question is the most meaningless one ever. Having asked it, do you then have to say “Can I ask another question?” It also makes the asker seems like she has the self-esteem of a hunchbacked Spartan and the askee a tyrant, who won’t entertain questions and might beat the asker up! No one wins.
2. “Why you never..?”
Of course, starting any sentence with this phrase sets you up for a “I’m right and you are dog poo-poo” conversation. Why you never is also grammatically wrong, because you don’t really mean “never”, but just that one time.
E.g. Eh, why you never come to church last Sunday?
It’s apparently a Singaporean thing to use “never” when we mean once. But it drives my American husband barking mad. Never means not ever. Not to be used in sentences like “Why you never say you love me?” especially in a hyper-whiny tone.
3. Actually
Here in Singapore, we use this word as a filler, even if we don’t mean it, actually (You see what I did there? I used it as filler.) We don’t actually use it to add emphasis or to indicate that something is actually happening now, which according to Mr Webster, the correct ways to use this word.
So, every time I say actually and Otrie can’t spot an emphasis, or see that I am meaning the opposite of what I am saying, he gets confused. And when people are confused for no reason, they get rather bellicose, and try to pick a fight to deflect their confusion.
We have had so many delightful quarrels over this now that, actually, it no longer bothers me.
4. what, used as a suffix.
I think the thing that bothers him most about this, is the fact that he can’t do it right. Its so much a part of our patois, then we don’t even think when we say things like
“You yell so much also no point, what.”
“Correct, what!”
But to foreign ears, it sounds, well, foreign. There are no rules on what to use when. Same with lah, lor, meh and hor. No rules, unless you have been imbued in this culture. So from Otrie, you get gems like:
“I know its correct, but, lah, this way also can meh. What?”
Translation” Correct, lah, but like that also can.”
Next post: things HE says that make me go aargh and want to commit myself.
Saturday, March 17
Fat Thursday
I took leave on Thursday to do about a million things. I think I accomplished about 3 of them fairly well, so those are the 3 I will write about here.
Snow City - I took Hanan and this little kid my aunt is tutoring called Hari to Snow City. Hanan and I had been wanting to do this for quite some time now and we finally got a chance. I was prepared mentally to not have a good time because I heard some really bad reviews of the place. But we actually had alot of fun. Sliding down the slope with your tush in the snow is quite a rush and watching Hanan and Hari's happy little faces gave me a real warm feeling inside, despite the -7 degrees temperature.
We bought one of those seriously expensive souvenir photos, which I will upload once I get a chance to scan it in.
Titoudao - after a quick lunch at Mac's, I rushed away to deposit the kids with Otrie while I continued my way down to the drama centre to watch a local play about the dying art of wayang. For a review, click here. We enjoyed it very much, even though half of it was in Hokkien, which is currently not my favourite dialect because of the copious amounts of it I have to listen to at work.
I have a new respect for Pamela Oei, after completely hating her in Dim Sum Dollies and it was a treat to watch Beatrice Chia play the overbearing mother-in-law. Karen Tan also deserves a special mention here, utterly beleivable both as the wayang actress and the lead character Ah Chiam's sister in law.
Anyway, the play ended and we spent a while photo whoring in the foyer, when Elgin ran into one of his friends who was in the cast. And she, beautiful soul that she is, literally ran around getting autographs of the entire cast for us. And that's how Elgin and I have copies of the programme ($5), autographed by the whole cast. One day, it may actually be worth $5.50.
Go watch Titoudao. They extended the run till 31st March, so you have plenty of time. I think every Singaporean should at least see this once, and see how differently we lived, not more than 50 years ago.
Till not satisfied with the entertainment for the day, we went to watch the 9:45 showing of Stomp the Yard, a classic college story with some great stepshow sequences, delicious-looking brothers and an amazing soundtrack.
Midnight saw me sharing a cab with the hunky NSman Kenneth, who regaled me with stories of his camp and mates while my mind wandered of rememberance mode.
It was a good day to have lived. And is it any wonder I had to take MC the next day?
Snow City - I took Hanan and this little kid my aunt is tutoring called Hari to Snow City. Hanan and I had been wanting to do this for quite some time now and we finally got a chance. I was prepared mentally to not have a good time because I heard some really bad reviews of the place. But we actually had alot of fun. Sliding down the slope with your tush in the snow is quite a rush and watching Hanan and Hari's happy little faces gave me a real warm feeling inside, despite the -7 degrees temperature.
We bought one of those seriously expensive souvenir photos, which I will upload once I get a chance to scan it in.
Titoudao - after a quick lunch at Mac's, I rushed away to deposit the kids with Otrie while I continued my way down to the drama centre to watch a local play about the dying art of wayang. For a review, click here. We enjoyed it very much, even though half of it was in Hokkien, which is currently not my favourite dialect because of the copious amounts of it I have to listen to at work.
I have a new respect for Pamela Oei, after completely hating her in Dim Sum Dollies and it was a treat to watch Beatrice Chia play the overbearing mother-in-law. Karen Tan also deserves a special mention here, utterly beleivable both as the wayang actress and the lead character Ah Chiam's sister in law.
Anyway, the play ended and we spent a while photo whoring in the foyer, when Elgin ran into one of his friends who was in the cast. And she, beautiful soul that she is, literally ran around getting autographs of the entire cast for us. And that's how Elgin and I have copies of the programme ($5), autographed by the whole cast. One day, it may actually be worth $5.50.
Go watch Titoudao. They extended the run till 31st March, so you have plenty of time. I think every Singaporean should at least see this once, and see how differently we lived, not more than 50 years ago.
Till not satisfied with the entertainment for the day, we went to watch the 9:45 showing of Stomp the Yard, a classic college story with some great stepshow sequences, delicious-looking brothers and an amazing soundtrack.
Midnight saw me sharing a cab with the hunky NSman Kenneth, who regaled me with stories of his camp and mates while my mind wandered of rememberance mode.
It was a good day to have lived. And is it any wonder I had to take MC the next day?
Monday, March 12
Movie Review - 300
I am not a war movie person. I don’t like the idea of wasted lives, gratuitous violence, hopelessness and it’s not my idea of a good time, which is funnily enough, the reason I go to the movies.
300 was none of those things. It was the glory of a battle, the battle of Thermopylae.
In the Battle of Thermopylae of 480 BC, an alliance of Greek city-states fought the invading Persian army at the pass of Thermopylae in central Greece. Vastly outnumbered, the Greeks held back the invader in one of history's most famous last stands. A small force led by King Leonidas of Sparta blocked the only road through which the massive army of Xerxes I could pass. After three days of battle, a local resident named Ephialtes betrayed the Greeks by revealing a mountain path that led behind the Greek lines. Dismissing the rest of the army, King Leonidas stayed behind with 300 Spartans and 700 Thespian volunteers.
Yes, there was a copious amount of blood, and yes, lives were lost. But unlike war movies that are all about raising anti-war, anti-Bush or anti-God sentiments, 300 accurately captures what war is about.
It’s about men.
You see modern men have bought so much into the Myths propogated by the Feminist Movement, that they are tyrants and barbarians, that they are no longer encouraged to have any sense of self. Suppressed of their natural born sense of commitment, honour, pride, resilience and loyalty, they have become weak and are held in contempt by women, other men, and tragically, themselves. As a friend of mine put it, “Men have been socially emasculated by the very beings that want heroes.”
300 takes you back to a place and a time when men were men. In the movie, everyone had abs, but the abs were just a physical reminder of what they actually had – guts.
They had the guts to stand up for what the believed in and follow their leader into a battle they knew they would lose.
They had the guts to laugh in the face of danger and make light of the huge army they were facing. In biblical words, they were as grasshoppers to them.
And they counted it for glory to get a chance to die for what they loved – their women, their children, their country. And if they had been a God- knowing people, they probably would have been equal to or surpassed David’s 30, who didn’t just defeat hundreds of Philistines but brought back the foreskins of the fallen to prove it!
And I really can’t talk about this movie without talking about Xerxes, the ultimate villain. What makes him really evil is his duality. It’s easy to spot and defeat a man who is pure evil, but with Xerxes, you didn’t know, especially if you lived outside a clear Judeo-Christian paradigm as the Greeks did. Was he really God? (Leonidas took care of that question when he chucked his spear and made his army see him bleed, like a man). Is he male or female? Is he cruel or kind? Ally or enemy?
You don’t know, and what you don’t know, if you are living in 600BC, you fear.
The cinematography is beautiful, with stop-motion camera and copper plate CGI set design giving a surreal element to every shot. Gerard Butler excelled as Leonidas, the commander, the king and the man.
If I had to pick a genre to put 300 in, war wouldn’t be it. I would think action- fantasy. For it’s in the fantasy realm that the men who should be in the world really are, full of character and vigour, taking bold steps to make their world a better place, against all odds.
Thursday, March 8
18 and Life
I am been here 18 months. In this time, I have gone from exuberantly thankful, excitedly employed, and raring at the bit to change the world, all the way down to morbidly depressed, completely unmotivated and why-God-why-am-I here.
I tried to analyse why the change and these are the reasons I have come up with.
1) I have completely outgrown the job I was hired for. Or the job had become too small for me. Once the initial excitement of setting up the processes and workflow is over, any monkey can do my job. Unfortunately I am that monkey now.
2) The people I enjoyed working with have all left. Eric, Glenn, Rita and now Joyce. There is no one left who is interested in pushing the envelope, pressing a few buttons or changing the world. And frankly I don't have the energy to motivate 30 lackadaisical employees or light a fire under their arse.
3) Marketing is getting boring. Or maybe I should say being a marketing excutive is getting boring. If I was the one exploring new markets, spearheading new initiatives, I would be more interested. But executing a marketing programme is about finding a formula that works, and repeating the formula numbly. Was it Einstein who said insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result?
4) I need the excitement of a more diverse work environment. Diverse people, with different backgrounds, education, ethnicity. Diverse interests that can generate conversations about the world, current affairs, anything. I am tired of hearing Hokkien everyday. I am tired of listening to 95.8 FM. I am tired of pretending to be interested in someone's choice of TOTO numbers and how close they came to winning. I am tired of the blanks stares and blur looks that greet my jokes, puns and anecdotes. No one speaks Nalinee here. I might as well be Latvian.
5) I want to do something that impacts my heart as well as my pocket. Sure, the money is nice, and some may say why leave a job where you are paid whether or not you think? But I can't, not anymore. I want to be able to make a difference to the people I work with and work for. I have no desire to sell computer supplies anymore. If people don't get toner number Q5949A, my heart won't break. Honest.
Just so youknow, I am looking. Just at some places that I may be interested to work in. Not aggressively. But if something comes, you will hear it here first.
I tried to analyse why the change and these are the reasons I have come up with.
1) I have completely outgrown the job I was hired for. Or the job had become too small for me. Once the initial excitement of setting up the processes and workflow is over, any monkey can do my job. Unfortunately I am that monkey now.
2) The people I enjoyed working with have all left. Eric, Glenn, Rita and now Joyce. There is no one left who is interested in pushing the envelope, pressing a few buttons or changing the world. And frankly I don't have the energy to motivate 30 lackadaisical employees or light a fire under their arse.
3) Marketing is getting boring. Or maybe I should say being a marketing excutive is getting boring. If I was the one exploring new markets, spearheading new initiatives, I would be more interested. But executing a marketing programme is about finding a formula that works, and repeating the formula numbly. Was it Einstein who said insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result?
4) I need the excitement of a more diverse work environment. Diverse people, with different backgrounds, education, ethnicity. Diverse interests that can generate conversations about the world, current affairs, anything. I am tired of hearing Hokkien everyday. I am tired of listening to 95.8 FM. I am tired of pretending to be interested in someone's choice of TOTO numbers and how close they came to winning. I am tired of the blanks stares and blur looks that greet my jokes, puns and anecdotes. No one speaks Nalinee here. I might as well be Latvian.
5) I want to do something that impacts my heart as well as my pocket. Sure, the money is nice, and some may say why leave a job where you are paid whether or not you think? But I can't, not anymore. I want to be able to make a difference to the people I work with and work for. I have no desire to sell computer supplies anymore. If people don't get toner number Q5949A, my heart won't break. Honest.
Just so youknow, I am looking. Just at some places that I may be interested to work in. Not aggressively. But if something comes, you will hear it here first.
Wednesday, March 7
Is English changing?
A frind sent this to me, and I don't know who authored it, but its really brillant.
And more likely than not, might be true too.
English in year 2020
It is the year 2020 and call centers are opening all over the West, as the new economic power India outsources work to the countries where many jobs originated. Millions of Americans, still struggling to adapt to a global economy, are willing to accept jobs that pay them in a new currency sweeping much of the world: URupees.
Some of them, eager to land one of the customer service jobs from India, are attending special training sessions in New York City, led by language specialist Dave Ramsey, who goes by a simpler name for his Indian clients: Devendra Ramaswaminathan.
On this warm afternoon, the professor is teaching three ambitious students how to communicate with Indian customers.
Professor: 'Okay, Gary, Randy and Jane, first we need to give you Indian names. Gary, from now on, you'll be known to your customers as Gaurav. Randy, you'll be Ranjit. And Jane, you'll be Jagadamba. Now imagine you just received a call from Delhi. What do you say?'
Gary: 'Name as tea ?'
Professor: 'I think you mean 'namaste.' Very good. But what do you say after that?'
Gary: 'How can I help you?'
Professor: 'You're on the right track. Anyone else?'
Jane: 'How can I be helping you?'
Professor: 'Good try! You're using the correct tense, but it's not quite right. Anyone else?'
Randy: 'How I can be helping you ?'
Professor: 'Wonderful! Word order is very important. Okay, let's try some small talk. Give me a comment that would help you make a connection with your Indian customers.'
Randy: 'It's really hot, isn't it?'
Professor: 'The heat is always a good topic, but you haven't phrased it correctly. Try again.'
Randy: 'It's deadly hot, isn't it?'
Professor: 'That's better. But your tag question can be greatly improved.'
Randy: 'It's deadly hot, no?'
Professor: 'Wonderful! You can put 'no?' at the end of almost any statement. You are understanding me, no?'
Jane: 'Yes, we are understanding you, no?'
Professor (smiles): 'We may need to review this later. But let's move on to other things. Have you ever heard Indians use the word 'yaar'?'
Randy: 'Yes, my Indian friends use it all the time. Just last night, one of them said to me, 'Randy, give me yaar password. I am needing it to fix yaar computer.'
Professor (laughs): 'That's a different 'yaar,' yaar. The 'yaar' that I'm talking about means friend or buddy. You can use it if you've developed a camaraderie with a customer. For example, you can say, 'Come on, yaar. I am offering you the best deal.' Do you understand, Jagadamba?'
Jane: 'Yaar, I do.'
Professor (smiles): 'Okay, let's talk about accents. If your client says 'I yam wery vorried about vat I bought for my vife,' how would you respond?'
Randy: 'Please don't be vorrying, yaar. She vill be wery happy and vill give you a vild time tonight.'
Professor: 'Vunderful! I mean, wonderful. You have a bright future, Ranjit. And so do you, Jagadamba. But Gaurav, you haven't said anything in a while. Do you have any questions about what we've just learned?'
Gary: 'Yes, Professor, I do have one question: Wouldn't it be simpler to learn to speak Hindi?'
UPDATE: Found the Author! http://www.melvindurai.com/indianenglish.htm His other stuff is hilarious too, go check it out!
And more likely than not, might be true too.
English in year 2020
It is the year 2020 and call centers are opening all over the West, as the new economic power India outsources work to the countries where many jobs originated. Millions of Americans, still struggling to adapt to a global economy, are willing to accept jobs that pay them in a new currency sweeping much of the world: URupees.
Some of them, eager to land one of the customer service jobs from India, are attending special training sessions in New York City, led by language specialist Dave Ramsey, who goes by a simpler name for his Indian clients: Devendra Ramaswaminathan.
On this warm afternoon, the professor is teaching three ambitious students how to communicate with Indian customers.
Professor: 'Okay, Gary, Randy and Jane, first we need to give you Indian names. Gary, from now on, you'll be known to your customers as Gaurav. Randy, you'll be Ranjit. And Jane, you'll be Jagadamba. Now imagine you just received a call from Delhi. What do you say?'
Gary: 'Name as tea ?'
Professor: 'I think you mean 'namaste.' Very good. But what do you say after that?'
Gary: 'How can I help you?'
Professor: 'You're on the right track. Anyone else?'
Jane: 'How can I be helping you?'
Professor: 'Good try! You're using the correct tense, but it's not quite right. Anyone else?'
Randy: 'How I can be helping you ?'
Professor: 'Wonderful! Word order is very important. Okay, let's try some small talk. Give me a comment that would help you make a connection with your Indian customers.'
Randy: 'It's really hot, isn't it?'
Professor: 'The heat is always a good topic, but you haven't phrased it correctly. Try again.'
Randy: 'It's deadly hot, isn't it?'
Professor: 'That's better. But your tag question can be greatly improved.'
Randy: 'It's deadly hot, no?'
Professor: 'Wonderful! You can put 'no?' at the end of almost any statement. You are understanding me, no?'
Jane: 'Yes, we are understanding you, no?'
Professor (smiles): 'We may need to review this later. But let's move on to other things. Have you ever heard Indians use the word 'yaar'?'
Randy: 'Yes, my Indian friends use it all the time. Just last night, one of them said to me, 'Randy, give me yaar password. I am needing it to fix yaar computer.'
Professor (laughs): 'That's a different 'yaar,' yaar. The 'yaar' that I'm talking about means friend or buddy. You can use it if you've developed a camaraderie with a customer. For example, you can say, 'Come on, yaar. I am offering you the best deal.' Do you understand, Jagadamba?'
Jane: 'Yaar, I do.'
Professor (smiles): 'Okay, let's talk about accents. If your client says 'I yam wery vorried about vat I bought for my vife,' how would you respond?'
Randy: 'Please don't be vorrying, yaar. She vill be wery happy and vill give you a vild time tonight.'
Professor: 'Vunderful! I mean, wonderful. You have a bright future, Ranjit. And so do you, Jagadamba. But Gaurav, you haven't said anything in a while. Do you have any questions about what we've just learned?'
Gary: 'Yes, Professor, I do have one question: Wouldn't it be simpler to learn to speak Hindi?'
UPDATE: Found the Author! http://www.melvindurai.com/indianenglish.htm His other stuff is hilarious too, go check it out!
What Superhero are you?
:
You are The Flash
Click here to take the "Which Superhero am I?" quiz...
Its sad that all the glamourous female superheroes are soooo far down the line. But I guess I rather be the Flash than Robin, who is obviously just someone's pederastic desires brought to life.
You are The Flash
| Fast, athletic and flirtatious. |
Click here to take the "Which Superhero am I?" quiz...
Its sad that all the glamourous female superheroes are soooo far down the line. But I guess I rather be the Flash than Robin, who is obviously just someone's pederastic desires brought to life.
Tuesday, March 6
Tremors
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES DIVISION, NEA
TREMOR IN SINGAPORE
INFORMATION ON SOURCE EARTHQUAKE
An earthquake was detected at 11:49am, 6 Mar 2007 in SOUTHERN SUMATRA, approximately 430km from Singapore. The magnitude of the earthquake is 6.6 on the Richter scale. The epicentre is located at latitude 0.4 South and longitude 100.4 East.
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES DIVISION, NEA
TREMOR IN SINGAPORE
INFORMATION ON SOURCE EARTHQUAKE
Serial No.: 4
An earthquake was detected at 1:49pm, 6 Mar 2007 in SOUTHERN SUMATRA, approximately 420km from Singapore. The magnitude of the earthquake is 6.6 on the Richter scale. The epicentre is located at latitude 0.3 South and longitude 100.4 East. .
Issued by Meteorological Services Division, NEA (Tel: 6542-5059/6542-2837) on 06 Mar 2007 at 2:06 PM (Singapore Time)
**************************************
So that's why I was feeling so crappy this mid-morning. I honestly thought I was falling sick or didn't have enough sleep. Almost took half day to go home and sleep! Turns out I was actually experiencing earth tremors and they were turning my stomach inside out, and mesing with the liquid in membranes. Ain't nature wonderful?
Poor Indonesia. Like can never recover, like that. If its not one thing, its another. I hope we will be able to help them out again. Its when tragedy follows tragedy like this that your friends get "asylum fatigue", and stop donating as much as they should.
Remember the Indonesians in your prayers tonight.
Noone in Singapore got hurt althought apparently people ran crying and screaming from their trembling buildings this afternoon. Or at least one chick did, but trust the media to distort things.
TREMOR IN SINGAPORE
INFORMATION ON SOURCE EARTHQUAKE
An earthquake was detected at 11:49am, 6 Mar 2007 in SOUTHERN SUMATRA, approximately 430km from Singapore. The magnitude of the earthquake is 6.6 on the Richter scale. The epicentre is located at latitude 0.4 South and longitude 100.4 East.
METEOROLOGICAL SERVICES DIVISION, NEA
TREMOR IN SINGAPORE
INFORMATION ON SOURCE EARTHQUAKE
Serial No.: 4
An earthquake was detected at 1:49pm, 6 Mar 2007 in SOUTHERN SUMATRA, approximately 420km from Singapore. The magnitude of the earthquake is 6.6 on the Richter scale. The epicentre is located at latitude 0.3 South and longitude 100.4 East. .
Issued by Meteorological Services Division, NEA (Tel: 6542-5059/6542-2837) on 06 Mar 2007 at 2:06 PM (Singapore Time)
**************************************
So that's why I was feeling so crappy this mid-morning. I honestly thought I was falling sick or didn't have enough sleep. Almost took half day to go home and sleep! Turns out I was actually experiencing earth tremors and they were turning my stomach inside out, and mesing with the liquid in membranes. Ain't nature wonderful?
Poor Indonesia. Like can never recover, like that. If its not one thing, its another. I hope we will be able to help them out again. Its when tragedy follows tragedy like this that your friends get "asylum fatigue", and stop donating as much as they should.
Remember the Indonesians in your prayers tonight.
Noone in Singapore got hurt althought apparently people ran crying and screaming from their trembling buildings this afternoon. Or at least one chick did, but trust the media to distort things.
Monday, March 5
Movie Review
I went to see 2 movies this weekend. Its been a long time since I have watched movies that did not have a G rating, because of the "What about Hanan?" factor.
But one of these movies he could go to, and the other one, he was almost asleep by the time I left, so I didn't feel guilty.
The Pursuit of Happyness
Qn: What does a man do when he comes to the end of the line?
Ans: He finds a new line and hangs on it for dear life, despite the fact that it looks like it looks like thread and like its gonna snap any minute.
That's the basic message I took away from The Pursuit of Happiness. That despite appearance and the evidence that's around you, you were made to succeed and that your life is based on choices you make and the will you enforce.
Speaking of Will, I was totally impressed by Will Smith's performance in this movie. ALthough the script had whitewashed over any character flaws that the real Chris Gardner may have had, Will brought him to life with all his insecurities, guilt and emotions, sometimes portrayed with as little as a look. And enough has been said about Jaden Smith, his co-star and real life son. The kid was cute, can act, and was born in the right family to do it. Kudos, Jaden baby.
The Pursuit of Happiness is for everyone to watch. We watched it with Hanan, and he got so much out of it. We all need to have what Barack Obama calls "The Audacity of Hope" and nothing has brought it to light like this film.
Dreamgirls
Some musicals are best left as musicals. I felt that way about Chicago, and now about Dreamgirls. What is contained with a box that is the stage becomes too big and in your face when watched on a silver screen.
Dreamgirls was big, and raw. Especially all the emotions that were portrayed by Jennifer Hudson just came out and consumed me. And I didn't have the option to back away.
It was a very glamourous movie though. All the familiar Motown sounds and clothes brought to life the characters. I like the insertion of the news flashes of political and cultural events of the time as well. It gave the film an authenticity that the stage may not have been able to capture.
And I was glad to see so many Black Americans working too. Danny Glover, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, Loretta Divine, Jaleel White (Steve Urkel) and a whole host more. And they were all fabulous in their own right.
Beyonce did alright, but honestly, she was just eye candy. I cared more for JHud's character (Effie), and her struggles and life more than that of Beyonce's (Deena). I even cared more for Anika and Eddie's on-screen relationship than I did for Deena. She claims she was told to downplay her voice, but she downplayed it to the point where u forget she has one.
Dreamgirls is the kind of movie you should watch if you are really into musicals or like Motown. Otherwise, you will probably not care enough to enjoy it.
But one of these movies he could go to, and the other one, he was almost asleep by the time I left, so I didn't feel guilty.
The Pursuit of Happyness
Qn: What does a man do when he comes to the end of the line?
Ans: He finds a new line and hangs on it for dear life, despite the fact that it looks like it looks like thread and like its gonna snap any minute.
That's the basic message I took away from The Pursuit of Happiness. That despite appearance and the evidence that's around you, you were made to succeed and that your life is based on choices you make and the will you enforce.
Speaking of Will, I was totally impressed by Will Smith's performance in this movie. ALthough the script had whitewashed over any character flaws that the real Chris Gardner may have had, Will brought him to life with all his insecurities, guilt and emotions, sometimes portrayed with as little as a look. And enough has been said about Jaden Smith, his co-star and real life son. The kid was cute, can act, and was born in the right family to do it. Kudos, Jaden baby.
The Pursuit of Happiness is for everyone to watch. We watched it with Hanan, and he got so much out of it. We all need to have what Barack Obama calls "The Audacity of Hope" and nothing has brought it to light like this film.
Dreamgirls
Some musicals are best left as musicals. I felt that way about Chicago, and now about Dreamgirls. What is contained with a box that is the stage becomes too big and in your face when watched on a silver screen.
Dreamgirls was big, and raw. Especially all the emotions that were portrayed by Jennifer Hudson just came out and consumed me. And I didn't have the option to back away.
It was a very glamourous movie though. All the familiar Motown sounds and clothes brought to life the characters. I like the insertion of the news flashes of political and cultural events of the time as well. It gave the film an authenticity that the stage may not have been able to capture.
And I was glad to see so many Black Americans working too. Danny Glover, Eddie Murphy, Jamie Foxx, Loretta Divine, Jaleel White (Steve Urkel) and a whole host more. And they were all fabulous in their own right.
Beyonce did alright, but honestly, she was just eye candy. I cared more for JHud's character (Effie), and her struggles and life more than that of Beyonce's (Deena). I even cared more for Anika and Eddie's on-screen relationship than I did for Deena. She claims she was told to downplay her voice, but she downplayed it to the point where u forget she has one.
Dreamgirls is the kind of movie you should watch if you are really into musicals or like Motown. Otherwise, you will probably not care enough to enjoy it.
Sunday, March 4
Blast from the past
Ok, how many people feel nostalgic now? I totally forgot about this song until I heard Hanan singing it.
Friday, March 2
Travel Blather
There are three buses that take me from the exciting industrial haven of Pandan Loop to the semi civilisation that is Jurong East.
Bus 51 - This is my favourite. It usually arrives almost empty, and is one of the newer double deckers (the kind with enough legroom, so I don't have to wedge in like a door stopper). Its a relatively short ride, and the bus drivers do this cool acceleration over this particularly steep slope on Jurong Town Hall, so that if you are on the top deck, you experience 0 G-forces for a split second. Very cool.
Only downside is - there is only one every 1/2 hour or so. So if u just missed one, you have to look for alternatives like...
... Bus 176 - an even shorter ride, but it is always packed to the gills. It must pass some other industrial area, because its always full of two kinds of pple - the manufacturing line workers, and the software engineer types. Its a bit more frequent though, so if I am in a hurry, I have to take it. And then of course, there is...
... Bus 143 - Very frequent. Usually empty. Gets you to Jurong East. Problem is, its route takes an extra 15 mins. Which is very valuable time when you are trying to get home to the cottage pie your husband made you. But, having just missed the bus 51 and looking at the sardine tins that passed for bus 176, I had little choice.
So a trip around Teban Gardens it was, admiring the lone trees in the middle of fields where there used to be blocks of flats and of course, the lovely Pandan reservoir. And how else to pass the time, but by taking glamour shots of oneself? I posted just one for your enjoyment, but I took about 12.
Vain? No.
Self absorbed? Temporarily.
Glad I did it? Yes.
Wednesday, February 28
People come, people go
Today is the last day of Joyce's career with 01 Computer. Joyce, as you all may remember, is my immediate boss, and now, also a friend and a confidante.
She is the mad woman who thinks that dressing up as Mickey Mouse to a formal Dinner and Dance is a good idea.
She is a crazy go getter who championed and saw to fruition many new projects and ideas that changed the way we do business.
She is the consummate working mother who feels guilty about leaving her two boys to the maid in one breath, and in the next is brainstorming ideas that will tie her even longer to the office desk.
She is the perfect boss, whose leadership and guidance are so gentle, that you walk away thinking it was your own idea.
She is the model employee, who thinks for the company, even when it means she takes the fall.
And she is the friend, whom you can trust with secrets, giggle with over lunch and cry to when needed.
Thanks Joyce, for being all those things. I am jealous of the people who will get you. And feel sorry for those who don't know what they lost.
She is the mad woman who thinks that dressing up as Mickey Mouse to a formal Dinner and Dance is a good idea.
She is a crazy go getter who championed and saw to fruition many new projects and ideas that changed the way we do business.
She is the consummate working mother who feels guilty about leaving her two boys to the maid in one breath, and in the next is brainstorming ideas that will tie her even longer to the office desk.
She is the perfect boss, whose leadership and guidance are so gentle, that you walk away thinking it was your own idea.
She is the model employee, who thinks for the company, even when it means she takes the fall.
And she is the friend, whom you can trust with secrets, giggle with over lunch and cry to when needed.
Thanks Joyce, for being all those things. I am jealous of the people who will get you. And feel sorry for those who don't know what they lost.
Tuesday, February 27
Pepper Lunch - Restaurant Review
For some reason, I keep being convinced to eat at restaurants that go again everything that I beleive a restaurant should be.
People go out to eat because 1) They want to enjoy the luxury of someone else cooking for them and 2) because they want to eat something they cannot reproduce themselves. Among other reasons.
So places whose "concept" is food that you cook yourself just does not compute. What is so thrilling about stirring around some raw meat on a hot plate, adding your own sauce and getting a facial steaming from the result of said stirring? All the things you tried to avoid my going out to eat!
Ok, enough of a rant, this post was supposed to be about Pepper Lunch, the newest range of cook it yourself places to come to Singapore. A Japanese franchise, Pepper Lunch is a small fast food concept where u order at the counter, they served u your dish, which you then proceed to cook through, season and eat.
Yawn. Been there, done that. It's nice that its steak, good steak at that, juicy and as rare or as cooked as you want it. And its nice that they have a few differentiators like their brown sauce (like Hp Sauce meets BBQ) and a garlic soya sauce which adds a nice kick.
What I really liked though was the ice cream. Yes, it was regular soft serve. But what made it extra special was thick molassy syrup that not only laced the top but thickly coated the bottom of the cup. This "gula melaka" like syrup was the perfect way to finish a meal, any meal, even one as mediocre as the ones at Pepper Lunch.
Go for the ice cream. It's good!
People go out to eat because 1) They want to enjoy the luxury of someone else cooking for them and 2) because they want to eat something they cannot reproduce themselves. Among other reasons.
So places whose "concept" is food that you cook yourself just does not compute. What is so thrilling about stirring around some raw meat on a hot plate, adding your own sauce and getting a facial steaming from the result of said stirring? All the things you tried to avoid my going out to eat!
Ok, enough of a rant, this post was supposed to be about Pepper Lunch, the newest range of cook it yourself places to come to Singapore. A Japanese franchise, Pepper Lunch is a small fast food concept where u order at the counter, they served u your dish, which you then proceed to cook through, season and eat.
Yawn. Been there, done that. It's nice that its steak, good steak at that, juicy and as rare or as cooked as you want it. And its nice that they have a few differentiators like their brown sauce (like Hp Sauce meets BBQ) and a garlic soya sauce which adds a nice kick.
What I really liked though was the ice cream. Yes, it was regular soft serve. But what made it extra special was thick molassy syrup that not only laced the top but thickly coated the bottom of the cup. This "gula melaka" like syrup was the perfect way to finish a meal, any meal, even one as mediocre as the ones at Pepper Lunch.
Go for the ice cream. It's good!
Monday, February 26
A rose by any other name
The ever enterprising and hardworking ah-neh is at it again, this time peddling sweet smelling fragrances to all his friends and enemies alike.
If some of you feel it's time to get the olfactory help that you so desperately need, please click on the above picture. He will hook you up.
Friday, February 23
Hair Dos
I finally found what what rebonding means.
It stands for rearranging the hair bond, cleverly shortened to rebond. The process involves using chemicals to loosen the way your hair is bonded (which is what gives it its natural texture) and giving it a new arrangement, ie a straightened bond.
The reason I know so much about this now, is because I finally succumbed to the temptation and had it done.
Xavier at the Jurong East branch of Kimage was an extremely well informed and professional hair stylist. He was quick to tell me about the pros AND cons of rebonding. Throughout the procedure (which took 3.5 hours!!!), he was telling me about how to take care of my new hairstyle and how it would change over time.
If you have to get your hair rebonded, I strongly recommend Xavier. After years of being treated like an imbecile by my previous hair stylist, its nice to be consulted and listened to. And to not be told to, "Just sit down and be quiet ok? I know what you need!" Ppfffft.
It stands for rearranging the hair bond, cleverly shortened to rebond. The process involves using chemicals to loosen the way your hair is bonded (which is what gives it its natural texture) and giving it a new arrangement, ie a straightened bond.
The reason I know so much about this now, is because I finally succumbed to the temptation and had it done.
Xavier at the Jurong East branch of Kimage was an extremely well informed and professional hair stylist. He was quick to tell me about the pros AND cons of rebonding. Throughout the procedure (which took 3.5 hours!!!), he was telling me about how to take care of my new hairstyle and how it would change over time.
If you have to get your hair rebonded, I strongly recommend Xavier. After years of being treated like an imbecile by my previous hair stylist, its nice to be consulted and listened to. And to not be told to, "Just sit down and be quiet ok? I know what you need!" Ppfffft.
Thursday, February 22
Sunday, February 18
Movie Review - Ghost Rider
Going out on Chinese New Year Eve is fanstastic. The streets are empty, and also many businessed are closed, many others like TCC and McDonalds are open. And of course the cinemas are open.
That's how Rhordan, Yeronn, Dalton and I ended up watching the 12:10 showing of 'Ghost Rider'. The other movie showing at that time was Notes on a Scandal, which neither of the children were keen on seeing. So Marvel mayhem it was.
If you are really into either Nicholas Cage, Eva Mendes, good computer graphics, or all three, then you may find this movie quite entertaining. Don't expect any deep social or moral lessons, a la Spiderman, or deep rooted character development.
The story is about stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze who gives up his soul to become a vigilante, to fight against power hungry Blackheart, the son of the devil himself. Blackheart and his gang of weird fallen angels provided for much enjoyed creepy fight scenes and great CG.
The stoy of course, is based on the comic character created by the inimitable Stan Lee, who is one of the executive producers of the movie. Nicholas Cage who got into serious shape for this role (we were wondering if his 6 pack was CGI-ed as well!), did justice to the character of Blaze, with his long expressive fingers pointing out villains. Even though half the time, he is portrayed as a blazing skull, fans of Nick wil still get to see enough of him.
The Eva Mendes character, however, was kept shallow and "damsel in distress". Playing Roxanne, Johnny's love interest, Eva was constantly dresed in tight fitting, boob revealing blouses that did great justice to her supple body, but not to her reputation as a skilled actress.
That's how Rhordan, Yeronn, Dalton and I ended up watching the 12:10 showing of 'Ghost Rider'. The other movie showing at that time was Notes on a Scandal, which neither of the children were keen on seeing. So Marvel mayhem it was.
If you are really into either Nicholas Cage, Eva Mendes, good computer graphics, or all three, then you may find this movie quite entertaining. Don't expect any deep social or moral lessons, a la Spiderman, or deep rooted character development.
The story is about stunt motorcyclist Johnny Blaze who gives up his soul to become a vigilante, to fight against power hungry Blackheart, the son of the devil himself. Blackheart and his gang of weird fallen angels provided for much enjoyed creepy fight scenes and great CG.
The stoy of course, is based on the comic character created by the inimitable Stan Lee, who is one of the executive producers of the movie. Nicholas Cage who got into serious shape for this role (we were wondering if his 6 pack was CGI-ed as well!), did justice to the character of Blaze, with his long expressive fingers pointing out villains. Even though half the time, he is portrayed as a blazing skull, fans of Nick wil still get to see enough of him.
The Eva Mendes character, however, was kept shallow and "damsel in distress". Playing Roxanne, Johnny's love interest, Eva was constantly dresed in tight fitting, boob revealing blouses that did great justice to her supple body, but not to her reputation as a skilled actress.
Friday, February 16
Restaurant Review - Zingdo
Everytime I walk through Jurong Entertainement Centre, I notice this fiery, hot corner that looked like it was on well, fire.
Yesterday, hanging around with Hui Min, we decided to check it out. Turns out it was Zingdo, a Korean fast food restaurant, managed by the same people who run Seoul Garden.
Basically I think any restuarant that requires you to cook your own food is a rip off. So usually steamboat and such is not on my food shortlist. But this place had other cooked options as well, like bimibap and noodles, so went in at sat down.
Their decor is strange. Orange floor. Orange ceiling. Orange walls.Orange chairs and tables. ALL in the same shade. My guess is, they got the paint free and lots of it. All in all, its like sitting in an oven. espcially with the wisps of steam rising from your meal.
The service, however, is exceptional and fast. Not only do they bring you your food within 10 mins of order, but they also give you detailed instructions on how to cook your meal on the hot plate. (I still think since they are the experts, they should have just done it for us in the kitchen, but again, that's just me.)
The food was - ok lah, as we say here. Nothing to write home about. Bulgogi chicken/ beef cooked in a mainly soya sauce marinade, served with veggies and short grained rice. They also had this thing called kimchi soup, which was basically soup with chilli oil floating on top and unidentfied cabbagy things at the bottom.
Was it good? No.
Was it edible? Yes.
Worth $8.90? No, I rather go to the Food Horizon food court and eat the Teppanyaki Black Pepper Chicken" for $4.50.
Go only if you are stuck in the area and will DIE if you don't have Korean food.
Yesterday, hanging around with Hui Min, we decided to check it out. Turns out it was Zingdo, a Korean fast food restaurant, managed by the same people who run Seoul Garden.
Basically I think any restuarant that requires you to cook your own food is a rip off. So usually steamboat and such is not on my food shortlist. But this place had other cooked options as well, like bimibap and noodles, so went in at sat down.
Their decor is strange. Orange floor. Orange ceiling. Orange walls.Orange chairs and tables. ALL in the same shade. My guess is, they got the paint free and lots of it. All in all, its like sitting in an oven. espcially with the wisps of steam rising from your meal. The service, however, is exceptional and fast. Not only do they bring you your food within 10 mins of order, but they also give you detailed instructions on how to cook your meal on the hot plate. (I still think since they are the experts, they should have just done it for us in the kitchen, but again, that's just me.)
The food was - ok lah, as we say here. Nothing to write home about. Bulgogi chicken/ beef cooked in a mainly soya sauce marinade, served with veggies and short grained rice. They also had this thing called kimchi soup, which was basically soup with chilli oil floating on top and unidentfied cabbagy things at the bottom.
Was it good? No.
Was it edible? Yes.
Worth $8.90? No, I rather go to the Food Horizon food court and eat the Teppanyaki Black Pepper Chicken" for $4.50.
Go only if you are stuck in the area and will DIE if you don't have Korean food.
Thursday, February 15
"What?", "Yes?" and "Yes, sir?"
My brother works as a project engineer. Recently he went to have a cup of coffee at a nearby coffeeshop with his Myanma site worker, Tun, and his German project consultant,Hans. Tun was the first one up.
Coffeeshop girl: What?
Tun: 1 coffee please.
Tun takes his coffee and moves aside. My brother is next.
Coffeeshop girl: Yes?
Brother: 1 coffee please.
Brother takes his coffee and stands aside.
Hans is next.
Coffeeshop girl: Yes, sir?
Hans: 1 coffee please.
Hans gets his coffee. My brother could not stand it.
Brother (points to each of them in turn): "What" "Yes" and "Yes, sir". Your coffee still 80 cents a cup.
Yes, colonial thought and prejudice is alive and well in our fair nation. At least, I hope it is prejudice and not bias.
Coffeeshop girl: What?
Tun: 1 coffee please.
Tun takes his coffee and moves aside. My brother is next.
Coffeeshop girl: Yes?
Brother: 1 coffee please.
Brother takes his coffee and stands aside.
Hans is next.
Coffeeshop girl: Yes, sir?
Hans: 1 coffee please.
Hans gets his coffee. My brother could not stand it.
Brother (points to each of them in turn): "What" "Yes" and "Yes, sir". Your coffee still 80 cents a cup.
Yes, colonial thought and prejudice is alive and well in our fair nation. At least, I hope it is prejudice and not bias.
Wednesday, February 14
The Power of Three
The ah-neh, he gave me flowers for Valentine's Day. Delivered them personally. Meaning took a cab to the end of the civilised world, where I work, encountered my ultra rude colleagues and left without even the gratification of seeing the look on my face.
I lau him. Happy Valentine's Day to you too, bro!
Sunday, February 11
Swimmingly
It was a busy and event filled weekend at the Barrett household. Hanan had his first ever swimming test - Survival (Bronze Award).
7 year old babies are expected to do the following:-
- swim 50 metres in pyjamas (obviously in case you are asleep on a cruise ship and it hits an iceberg.)
- Tread water for 4 minutes (because evidently your cruise ship goes down in a main shipping line and a ship passes ever so often)
- take off their pyjamas, throw the shirt onto a near-by beach (simulated by edge of pool) and make a floatation device out of their trousers, all while treading water.
- swim 400m, first executing the elegant Sophie's Dive, 'cos even when you are diving off a sinking ship, style mesti ada.
I am proud to say that my son, along with the rest of his cohort passed with flying colours. Despite being tested at 1 pm under the burning noonday tropical sun.
He is none the worse for wear, except for some red cheeks and two toned legs.
Getting last minutes instructions for swimming coach, Uncle Prakash. This man has coached at least 4 kids in my family, the oldest, Naga, is 21.
Hanan looking confidently out at the water.
Taking the first plunge (the little head in the water is Hanan)
The aftermath - Hanan's 2 toned legs
7 year old babies are expected to do the following:-
- swim 50 metres in pyjamas (obviously in case you are asleep on a cruise ship and it hits an iceberg.)
- Tread water for 4 minutes (because evidently your cruise ship goes down in a main shipping line and a ship passes ever so often)
- take off their pyjamas, throw the shirt onto a near-by beach (simulated by edge of pool) and make a floatation device out of their trousers, all while treading water.
- swim 400m, first executing the elegant Sophie's Dive, 'cos even when you are diving off a sinking ship, style mesti ada.
I am proud to say that my son, along with the rest of his cohort passed with flying colours. Despite being tested at 1 pm under the burning noonday tropical sun.
He is none the worse for wear, except for some red cheeks and two toned legs.
Getting last minutes instructions for swimming coach, Uncle Prakash. This man has coached at least 4 kids in my family, the oldest, Naga, is 21.
Hanan looking confidently out at the water.
Taking the first plunge (the little head in the water is Hanan)
The aftermath - Hanan's 2 toned legs
Thursday, February 8
Chinese New Year comes to 01 Computer
How do you know our partners love us? They send us these Chinese New Year hampers - towering, garish, orange and red monstrosities that cost no less than $388 a pop, although I dare say the ones here cost a darn sight more.
They are usually filled with things like canned abalone, shark's fin, bird's nest and other food types on the exotic (and endangered) list. There are also cheaper fillers like cookies, chocolates and the ubiquitous love letters. The topper (like the star on a Christmas Tree) is usually a cognac or brandy, XO and Otard being hot favourites.
We currently have 7 of these beauties, with hope of more, seeing there are 2 more weeks to CNY. Then, all these hampers are dismantled and the contents distributed to the staff, with the bosses keeping the hard liquor. Of course.
I want the Ferraro Rocher Chocolates. The rest are welcome to the other stuff.
Wednesday, February 7
Theatre Review - Multiple Personality Disorder
If you have not bought tickets for Hossan Leong's one man play, Multiple Personality Disorder, DO IT NOW.
Breaking ALL the rules about comedy in Singapore, this play took irreverence and taboo to a new comedic level.
Taking on subjects as sensitive as the water issue, foreign talent, rich Indonesians and *lowers voice* official contempt for gays, Hossan rips through all the pre-conceived barriers to take Singapore theatre further than our most remote foreign talent.
The show started right on time, which only happens with local acts. And played to a full house on a Tuesday night, which was extremely encouraging. He started with some small talk, stand up style, with very current issues, which shows this is not some dumb, "I just follow the script" comedian.
Basically the story is about this government servant of the (fictitious) newly formed Ministry for Attracting Foreign Talent (MAFT), who looks for ways to attract rich influential foreign talent to our fare shores. A large number of them happened to be celebrities who either have disappeared or are down and out. Like Kenny Rogers, Whitney Houston, Julio Inglesias and Joe Estrada. ALL played by Hossan Leong. To perfection.
Sure he made a few gaffs, missed a few cues, but which actor doesn't? And Hossan has this perfect little face that he makes when he is recovering, which is so comic, it lets you forgive him quite easily.
So yes, go watch it. It ain't no Forbidden City (thank God), but has so much more originality, creativity and just plain fun in it. And if you are Singaporean, it helps you realise that all the foreign talent that we need is right.here. After all, how many of us can trace back more than 3 generations in this country? That technically makes us all foreign talent, right?
And at the end, if the queue for autographs is not too long, Hossan just might smile sweetly for a picture with you. (even if you make him wait 2 mins while you teach you friend how to use your camera)
Tuesday, February 6
New Readers
My webstats showed that my reader ship has gone up by about 200% since this time last year,which is a fact that I am thrilled to bits about. So to all my readers, new and old, a big thank you. I only know maybe about 10 of you personally, so for the rest, this is quite a big thing for me.
What is not as thrilling of course, is that I don't really know you guys are there, unless I check my Statcounter account. I mean, no comments? no tags? Hello! Read the title of my tagboard, and you will see my desperation show.
So V for Vendetta, Shan, Rhys, Urban Bourbon Ninja, thanks for commenting/ tagging. The rest of you lot, u know what to do.
*******
Meanwhile, in my search for a good Klingonese cheatsheet (yeah I know *rolls eyes*), I came across this article. I thought it was pretty darn amazing.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/05/10/offbeat.klingon.interpreter/
What is not as thrilling of course, is that I don't really know you guys are there, unless I check my Statcounter account. I mean, no comments? no tags? Hello! Read the title of my tagboard, and you will see my desperation show.
So V for Vendetta, Shan, Rhys, Urban Bourbon Ninja, thanks for commenting/ tagging. The rest of you lot, u know what to do.
*******
Meanwhile, in my search for a good Klingonese cheatsheet (yeah I know *rolls eyes*), I came across this article. I thought it was pretty darn amazing.
http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/05/10/offbeat.klingon.interpreter/
Monday, February 5
An eye for an eye
Looks like the Neighbourhood Police Centre in Yishun needs some help with its "Engrish"
Eyeing - To look at something carefully
Keep an eye on - To keep them or it under observation.
Or maybe there are swimming pool perps who actually keep your bag under observation carefully.
A quick google search shows that alot of people commit this faux pas in grammar.
Thursday, February 1
My 7 year old wears size 6 shoes
Hanan has been bugging me to buy him these roller shoes for the longest time (since Christmas), so I finally tracked down a brand that I can afford and makes good quality ones. Forget Heely's, they are like $100 a pair, and you will soon see why I am not making that investment.
I invested in the cheaper Taiwanese brand e-rollers, which at a fraction of the cost, seemed like a much better make of shoes.
Because Hanan was not with me, I used the scientific method utilised by mothers everywhere - I used my hand to gauge his size. His feet are about one inch longer than my hand, wrist to tip of middle finger. So I figured Size 5 will be the best bet.
The shortfall of this method is, it does not account for width. There is no way to measure that. Or the thickness of the foot. I brought the shoes home, put them on a very excited boy and realised there is no way we are going to get these laced up. There was simply no room.
Back to the store (it was one of the kiosk vendor things at Jurong East, so I thank God they were still there). The lady kindly exchanges them for a pair of size 6 erollers, which fit the boy perfectly, with a little room for socks.
I think I better start researching where Shaquille O'Neal buys shoes. Gonna need that info before too long.
Still can't believe it.
I invested in the cheaper Taiwanese brand e-rollers, which at a fraction of the cost, seemed like a much better make of shoes.
Because Hanan was not with me, I used the scientific method utilised by mothers everywhere - I used my hand to gauge his size. His feet are about one inch longer than my hand, wrist to tip of middle finger. So I figured Size 5 will be the best bet.
The shortfall of this method is, it does not account for width. There is no way to measure that. Or the thickness of the foot. I brought the shoes home, put them on a very excited boy and realised there is no way we are going to get these laced up. There was simply no room.
Back to the store (it was one of the kiosk vendor things at Jurong East, so I thank God they were still there). The lady kindly exchanges them for a pair of size 6 erollers, which fit the boy perfectly, with a little room for socks.
I think I better start researching where Shaquille O'Neal buys shoes. Gonna need that info before too long.
Still can't believe it.
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