(In response to Mr. Brown and Mr. Miyagi's "I am Singaporean" meme)
I spend my early childhood running along the mud paths amongst the last kampongs in Hougang. Watching teochew wayangs and enjoy snacking the street hawkers' fare with my cousins. Always on the look out for the "atap chee" man.
I grew up in the shop houses in North Bridge Road before they covert them into Bugis Junction and enjoy the sights and sounds along the back lanes of Bugis Street. "Goo Bak Kway Teow Tng" (Beef Kway Teow soup), "Yeoaw Bak Tng' (Chinese Herbal Mutton Soup), "Heer Chok" (Fish Porridge), "Kway Cho" (Chicken Porridge) and especially "Fun Choy" freshly steam in those tin bowls and the suave move the uncle use to knock the steaming hot "Fun Choy" out of their bowl.
We used to only need to pack 4 people into the car to drive into CBD for FREE or need to just pay once for a CBD day coupon and display them on the windscreen to gain unlimited entry and exit.
I went to a JC instead of going to the Poly because back then you can't go to the university unless your are sure to be in the top 5 percent in the Polys.
I enjoyed the army days even though it was tough and many say I'm "siow". "Cheong swa cheong hai" without anytime to think about the right and wrong but it never fail to creep back into the conversation with your old NS mates. The OO then, was just another appointment holder to me in the unit. Never knew back then that we have the power to complain. But again I still enjoy the rough times in army, because it moulded me to be who i am today.
I embrace everything Singlish in my everyday life and I try to learn different dialects before they are forgotten in the tide of times, though I'm still quite "lau pok" in speaking them. I'm sadden that we are not encouraged to speak Singlish or have dialects spoken in the public media but I do try to write and speak proper English or Chinese at work.
I enjoy the greens of the reservoirs and hope that pulau ubin was still in its rural self I remembered 12 years ago. I'm saddened to see the old buildings torn down to make way for new ones in the name of urban planning and losing our cultural heritage and history forgotten to progress.
My name is Alex, Alex Tan. Like many others, I like to complain and may not provide constructive solutions. Despite all, Singapore is and will always be my home.
And I am Singaporean.
So say we all...
So say we all.
Technorati tag: iamsingaporean
Friday, July 07, 2006
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
WTF?!!
EMAS
3 years back...EMAS was turn off...because the cost of maintanence was too high.
3 years now...EMAS was turn on...because the information provided was beneficial to the motorist.
WTF??!!...3 years ago it was not beneficial??!!
Native Language
Singlish: Ai jiak lunch mai?
Perfekt Engrish: Shall we do lunch?
Singlish: SMS me to confirm later ok?
Perfekt Engrish: Text me later to confirm our appointment ok?
Singlish: Aiyo...why u so like dat?!
Perfekt Engrish: Oh dear me...what are you doing?
OMG...I wonder if the MOE had ever done a study on the native slangs or the colloquial language used by the english native speakers? Why are we stifling our own unique language culture? Hmmm...maybe we do not have a culture to speak of...*sigh* the sad truth of our life, Singaporeans are already losing our own roots...are you expecting all the uncles and aunties to speak perfect english in our daily lives? How many youngster speaks their native dialect now? I guess the only flourishing dialect is Hokkien. So often heard are such words like CB, KB and KNNBCCB!! Hmm..WTF?!!
Distortion of Truth
Hmmm...some smart woman from MICA wrote to the papers talking about distortion truth by the celebrity blogger mrbrown. Interestingly in the letter at least 2 points pointed out which (i believe) was also a distortion of truth.
Distortion 1 : Mr Brown is hiding behind a pseudonym.
WTF??! Which person in Singapore who read mrbrown.com doesn't know how he look like or that he is Mr. Lee KM himself? Doesn't she do her homework before writing her 'oh so sah kar' letter?! Wonder if she had ever surf the web to read the blog or was she meerely handed the article from TODAY and told to do a letter of rebuttal by her boss??!!
Distortion 2 :Electricity tarrifs and taxi fare revision is due to high oil price
WTF??! Singapore has been using natural gas for a large part of our electricity generation. Remembering the last major blackout islandwide, was it not due to some gas valve defect? So how had oil price actually greatly affect our cost of electricity generation? As for taxi fare, if high oil price cause the cost of operation for taxi to increase, how come the profit made by the "public" transport operator remain high and never a large dip in profit margin? So is the price revision exercise to "help" keep the profit margin high for the shareholders like those MIWs? WTF??!!
Hmmm...will I be implicated for merely doing my not so daily ramblings of the Singaporean's everyday life? WTF?!!
(Afternote: Pardon the use of my language in this post...just trying to destress after a hard day's work....Wah That's Fun!!!)
3 years back...EMAS was turn off...because the cost of maintanence was too high.
3 years now...EMAS was turn on...because the information provided was beneficial to the motorist.
WTF??!!...3 years ago it was not beneficial??!!
Native Language
Singlish: Ai jiak lunch mai?
Perfekt Engrish: Shall we do lunch?
Singlish: SMS me to confirm later ok?
Perfekt Engrish: Text me later to confirm our appointment ok?
Singlish: Aiyo...why u so like dat?!
Perfekt Engrish: Oh dear me...what are you doing?
OMG...I wonder if the MOE had ever done a study on the native slangs or the colloquial language used by the english native speakers? Why are we stifling our own unique language culture? Hmmm...maybe we do not have a culture to speak of...*sigh* the sad truth of our life, Singaporeans are already losing our own roots...are you expecting all the uncles and aunties to speak perfect english in our daily lives? How many youngster speaks their native dialect now? I guess the only flourishing dialect is Hokkien. So often heard are such words like CB, KB and KNNBCCB!! Hmm..WTF?!!
Distortion of Truth
Hmmm...some smart woman from MICA wrote to the papers talking about distortion truth by the celebrity blogger mrbrown. Interestingly in the letter at least 2 points pointed out which (i believe) was also a distortion of truth.
Distortion 1 : Mr Brown is hiding behind a pseudonym.
WTF??! Which person in Singapore who read mrbrown.com doesn't know how he look like or that he is Mr. Lee KM himself? Doesn't she do her homework before writing her 'oh so sah kar' letter?! Wonder if she had ever surf the web to read the blog or was she meerely handed the article from TODAY and told to do a letter of rebuttal by her boss??!!
Distortion 2 :Electricity tarrifs and taxi fare revision is due to high oil price
WTF??! Singapore has been using natural gas for a large part of our electricity generation. Remembering the last major blackout islandwide, was it not due to some gas valve defect? So how had oil price actually greatly affect our cost of electricity generation? As for taxi fare, if high oil price cause the cost of operation for taxi to increase, how come the profit made by the "public" transport operator remain high and never a large dip in profit margin? So is the price revision exercise to "help" keep the profit margin high for the shareholders like those MIWs? WTF??!!
Hmmm...will I be implicated for merely doing my not so daily ramblings of the Singaporean's everyday life? WTF?!!
(Afternote: Pardon the use of my language in this post...just trying to destress after a hard day's work....Wah That's Fun!!!)
Thursday, June 08, 2006
5 leSSons for the workplace
Story: 1
A young executive was leaving the office at 6 p.m. when he found CEO standing in front of a shredder with a piece of paper in his hand. "Listen," said the CEO, "this is a very sensitive and important document, and my secretary has left. Can you make this thing work?" Certainly," said the young executive. He turned the machine on, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button. "Excellent, excellent!" said the CEO. As his paper disappeared inside the machine. "I just need one copy."
Lesson I - Never, never assume that your BOSS knows everything
Story: 2
A crusty old man walks into a bank and says to the teller at the window: "I want to open a damn checking account." To which the astonished woman replies: "I beg your pardon, sir; I must have misunderstood you. What did you say?" "Listen up bitch! I said, I want to open a damn checking account right now!" "I'm very sorry sir, but we do not tolerate that kind of language in this bank." Having said this, the teller leaves the window and goes over to the bank manager to tell him about her problem customer.
They both return and the manager asks the old geezer: "What seems to be the problem here?" "There's no damn problem, sonny," the elderly man says. "I just won 50 million bucks in the damn lottery and I want to open a damn checking account in this damn bank!" "I see," says the manager thoughtfully. And you're saying that this bitch here is giving you a hard time?"
Lesson II - If you are RICH, you can get away with almost anything.
Story: 3
An American and a Japanese were sitting on the plane on the way to LA when the American turned to the Japanese and asked, "What kind of ese are you?" Confused, the Japanese replied, "Sorry but I don't understand what you mean." The American repeated, "What kind of -ese are you?" Again, the Japanese was confused over the question. The American, now irritated, then yelled, "What kind of -ese are you...Are you a Chinese, Japanese,Vietnamese!, etc......???" The Japanese then replied, "Oh, I am a Japanese." A while later the Japanese turned to the American and asked what kind of 'key' was he. The American, frustrated, yelled, "What do you mean what kind of '-key' am I?!" The Japanese said, "Are you a Yankee, donkey, or monkee?"
Lesson III - Never insult anyone.
Story: 4
There were these 4 guys, a Russian, a German, a British and a French, who found this small genie bottle. When they rubbed the bottle, a genie appeared. Thankful that the 4 guys had released him out of the bottle, he said, "Next to you all are 4 swimming pools, I will give each of you a wish. When you run towards the pool and jump, you shout what you want the pool of water to become, then your wish will come true."
The French wanted to start. He ran towards the pool, jumped and shouted "WINE". The pool immediately changed into a pool of wine. The Frenchman was so happy swimming and drinking from the pool. Next is the Russian's turn, he did the same andshouted," VODKA" and immersed himself into a pool of vodka. The German was next and he jumped and shouted, "BEER". He was so contented with his beer pool. The last is the British. He was running towards the pool when suddenly he steps on a banana peel. He slipped towards the pool and shouted, SHIT!!!!!!!........."
Lesson IV - Think twice before you say something, because sometimes what you say accidentally does happen.
Story: 5
A junior manager, a senior manager and their boss are on their way to a meeting. On their way through a park, they come across a wonder lamp. They rub the lamp and a ghost appears. The ghost says, "Normally, one is granted three wishes but as you are three, I will allow one wish each" So the eager senior manager shouts, I want the first wish. I want to be in the Bahamas, on a fast boat and have no worries for a month. "Pfufffff, and he is gone. Now the junior manager could not keep quiet and shouts, "I want to be in Florida with beautiful girls, plenty of food and cocktails for a month." "Pfufffff, and he is also gone. Then it's the boss's turn, and he says calmly, "I want these two idiots back in the office after lunch"
Lesson V- "Always allow the bosses to speak first".
A young executive was leaving the office at 6 p.m. when he found CEO standing in front of a shredder with a piece of paper in his hand. "Listen," said the CEO, "this is a very sensitive and important document, and my secretary has left. Can you make this thing work?" Certainly," said the young executive. He turned the machine on, inserted the paper, and pressed the start button. "Excellent, excellent!" said the CEO. As his paper disappeared inside the machine. "I just need one copy."
Lesson I - Never, never assume that your BOSS knows everything
Story: 2
A crusty old man walks into a bank and says to the teller at the window: "I want to open a damn checking account." To which the astonished woman replies: "I beg your pardon, sir; I must have misunderstood you. What did you say?" "Listen up bitch! I said, I want to open a damn checking account right now!" "I'm very sorry sir, but we do not tolerate that kind of language in this bank." Having said this, the teller leaves the window and goes over to the bank manager to tell him about her problem customer.
They both return and the manager asks the old geezer: "What seems to be the problem here?" "There's no damn problem, sonny," the elderly man says. "I just won 50 million bucks in the damn lottery and I want to open a damn checking account in this damn bank!" "I see," says the manager thoughtfully. And you're saying that this bitch here is giving you a hard time?"
Lesson II - If you are RICH, you can get away with almost anything.
Story: 3
An American and a Japanese were sitting on the plane on the way to LA when the American turned to the Japanese and asked, "What kind of ese are you?" Confused, the Japanese replied, "Sorry but I don't understand what you mean." The American repeated, "What kind of -ese are you?" Again, the Japanese was confused over the question. The American, now irritated, then yelled, "What kind of -ese are you...Are you a Chinese, Japanese,Vietnamese!, etc......???" The Japanese then replied, "Oh, I am a Japanese." A while later the Japanese turned to the American and asked what kind of 'key' was he. The American, frustrated, yelled, "What do you mean what kind of '-key' am I?!" The Japanese said, "Are you a Yankee, donkey, or monkee?"
Lesson III - Never insult anyone.
Story: 4
There were these 4 guys, a Russian, a German, a British and a French, who found this small genie bottle. When they rubbed the bottle, a genie appeared. Thankful that the 4 guys had released him out of the bottle, he said, "Next to you all are 4 swimming pools, I will give each of you a wish. When you run towards the pool and jump, you shout what you want the pool of water to become, then your wish will come true."
The French wanted to start. He ran towards the pool, jumped and shouted "WINE". The pool immediately changed into a pool of wine. The Frenchman was so happy swimming and drinking from the pool. Next is the Russian's turn, he did the same andshouted," VODKA" and immersed himself into a pool of vodka. The German was next and he jumped and shouted, "BEER". He was so contented with his beer pool. The last is the British. He was running towards the pool when suddenly he steps on a banana peel. He slipped towards the pool and shouted, SHIT!!!!!!!........."
Lesson IV - Think twice before you say something, because sometimes what you say accidentally does happen.
Story: 5
A junior manager, a senior manager and their boss are on their way to a meeting. On their way through a park, they come across a wonder lamp. They rub the lamp and a ghost appears. The ghost says, "Normally, one is granted three wishes but as you are three, I will allow one wish each" So the eager senior manager shouts, I want the first wish. I want to be in the Bahamas, on a fast boat and have no worries for a month. "Pfufffff, and he is gone. Now the junior manager could not keep quiet and shouts, "I want to be in Florida with beautiful girls, plenty of food and cocktails for a month." "Pfufffff, and he is also gone. Then it's the boss's turn, and he says calmly, "I want these two idiots back in the office after lunch"
Lesson V- "Always allow the bosses to speak first".
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Reality Check...So You Think You Can Dance?
Blake was voted out instead of Jermile who obviously was the weakest of the 3...very sad...obviously the judges were all shocked by the results
Maybe this is the reality of life...the weakest of the lot may not always be vote out...if you have strong backing miracles can happen....sounds so familiar...just like real life drama right in front of me through the goggle box...
Reality can be so unfair and cruel no matter how good or talented you are ...*sigh*
Maybe this is the reality of life...the weakest of the lot may not always be vote out...if you have strong backing miracles can happen....sounds so familiar...just like real life drama right in front of me through the goggle box...
Reality can be so unfair and cruel no matter how good or talented you are ...*sigh*
Saturday, May 27, 2006
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Musings of the Sword, the Mirror and the Hand
Sword
A sword double edged
It can cut someone
It can cut yourself
Mirror
A mirror reflects
It can reflect someone
It can reflect yourself
Hand
A hand slaps
It can slap someone
It can slap yourself
5 fingers
1 finger points at someone
4 fingers point at yourself
Musings
Always think before you comment
Look at yourself before you condemn
For your words can be a sword, a mirror and a hand
A sword double edged
It can cut someone
It can cut yourself
Mirror
A mirror reflects
It can reflect someone
It can reflect yourself
Hand
A hand slaps
It can slap someone
It can slap yourself
5 fingers
1 finger points at someone
4 fingers point at yourself
Musings
Always think before you comment
Look at yourself before you condemn
For your words can be a sword, a mirror and a hand
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Competition
Act I Scene I
Zen: People loves me...people love me not...people love me...people love me not.....
Act II Scene I
Zen Jr: People people of the world who is the fairest of us all?
People: I-P-O-D......
Zen Jr: Arrggghhh....
Act III Scene I
Vidz Zen:
It won't be easy, you'll think it strange
When I try to explain how I feel
That I still need your love after all that I've done
You won't believe me
All you will see is a MP3 PLAYER you once knew
Although she's dressed up to the nines
At sixes and sevens with you
I had to let it happen, I had to SUE
Couldn't stay all my life down at heel
Looking out of the window, staying out of the BOOKS
So I chose PATENT
Running around, trying everything new
But nothing impressed me at all
I never expected it to
Don't cry for me SINGAPURA
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
And as for LAWSUITS, and as for fame
I never invited them in
Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired
They are illusions
They're not the solutions they promise to be
The answer was here all the time
I love you and hope you love me
-- adapted from Don't Cry for Me Argentina (Evita)
Zen: People loves me...people love me not...people love me...people love me not.....
Act II Scene I
Zen Jr: People people of the world who is the fairest of us all?
People: I-P-O-D......
Zen Jr: Arrggghhh....
Act III Scene I
Vidz Zen:
It won't be easy, you'll think it strange
When I try to explain how I feel
That I still need your love after all that I've done
You won't believe me
All you will see is a MP3 PLAYER you once knew
Although she's dressed up to the nines
At sixes and sevens with you
I had to let it happen, I had to SUE
Couldn't stay all my life down at heel
Looking out of the window, staying out of the BOOKS
So I chose PATENT
Running around, trying everything new
But nothing impressed me at all
I never expected it to
Don't cry for me SINGAPURA
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance
And as for LAWSUITS, and as for fame
I never invited them in
Though it seemed to the world they were all I desired
They are illusions
They're not the solutions they promise to be
The answer was here all the time
I love you and hope you love me
-- adapted from Don't Cry for Me Argentina (Evita)
Friday, May 05, 2006
GE2006
Liar Liar...Pants on Fire
"Artists use lies to tell the truth, while politicians use them to cover the truth up" -- V for Vendetta
Someone was said to have put up a wayang and called a liar....hmmm...so is he telling a truth?
Someone said that the overall unemployment rate had dipped to 3.4% but he did not tell you that the unemployment rate for those > 40 had doubled....hmmm....so is he covering up the truth?
Thousand Apologies
Someone wrote a statement personally, vetted by his leader and made a public apology and is ready to move on.
Someone's press secretary wrote a statement and apologises through the press secretary and is ready to move on to fix them and buy more votes. (sorry...just couldn't resist...)
One Day More
Tomorrow we'll discover
What our God (Lightning? Hammer? Or with Rings?) in Heaven has in store!
One more dawn
One more day
One day more!
-- adapted from Les Miserables
"Artists use lies to tell the truth, while politicians use them to cover the truth up" -- V for Vendetta
Someone was said to have put up a wayang and called a liar....hmmm...so is he telling a truth?
Someone said that the overall unemployment rate had dipped to 3.4% but he did not tell you that the unemployment rate for those > 40 had doubled....hmmm....so is he covering up the truth?
Thousand Apologies
Someone wrote a statement personally, vetted by his leader and made a public apology and is ready to move on.
Someone's press secretary wrote a statement and apologises through the press secretary and is ready to move on to fix them and buy more votes. (sorry...just couldn't resist...)
One Day More
Tomorrow we'll discover
What our God (Lightning? Hammer? Or with Rings?) in Heaven has in store!
One more dawn
One more day
One day more!
-- adapted from Les Miserables
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Musings
The Form
26 April - The Form is Missing
27 April - The Form is Still Missing
28 April - Why is the Form Missing
29 April - Why is the Form Still Missing
30 April - Honey, The Form is Missing
01 May - Honey, The Form is Still Missing!
02 May - The Form Must Be Missing...
03 May - The Missing Form Man Must Go
Dis-Enchantment
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
-- Les Misérables
CCTV
In the Past Past
A: Help!! Someone jump onto the track!!
B: What happened? Any witnesses?
A: No. Maybe we can take a look at the CCTV to see what happened?
B: Erm...sorry there's no recording function for the CCTV
In the Recent Past
A: Excuse me, where's my form!!
B: Erm...You did not submit it
A: Yes I did!! Do you have witnesses?
B: No, you didn't!! And I have the CCTV recordings to prove it!!
26 April - The Form is Missing
27 April - The Form is Still Missing
28 April - Why is the Form Missing
29 April - Why is the Form Still Missing
30 April - Honey, The Form is Missing
01 May - Honey, The Form is Still Missing!
02 May - The Form Must Be Missing...
03 May - The Missing Form Man Must Go
Dis-Enchantment
Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men?
It is the music of a people
Who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drums
There is a life about to start
When tomorrow comes!
-- Les Misérables
CCTV
In the Past Past
A: Help!! Someone jump onto the track!!
B: What happened? Any witnesses?
A: No. Maybe we can take a look at the CCTV to see what happened?
B: Erm...sorry there's no recording function for the CCTV
In the Recent Past
A: Excuse me, where's my form!!
B: Erm...You did not submit it
A: Yes I did!! Do you have witnesses?
B: No, you didn't!! And I have the CCTV recordings to prove it!!
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Growing up under the umbrella
When will we ever be allowed to grow up?
Since young, we are so used to be living in a safety shelter, under the umbrella of what they call "care and concern". They always tell you: "It's all for your own good"
Parents tend to do it, even the MIW do it.
Are things in life always in definite Black and White but never exist in shades of Gray?
In school, whenever someone question things out of its known scope, this person will be term as a renegade and destruction of order. In the real world, whenever someone think out of the box and speaks their mind against the ideology, this person will be threat to peace and harmony.
When will it be time for us to have the freedom and trust to know what is right and wrong and have the capacity to differentiate between the truth and bullshit?
Maybe in time...people never really grow up...in Never never land....
Since young, we are so used to be living in a safety shelter, under the umbrella of what they call "care and concern". They always tell you: "It's all for your own good"
Parents tend to do it, even the MIW do it.
Are things in life always in definite Black and White but never exist in shades of Gray?
In school, whenever someone question things out of its known scope, this person will be term as a renegade and destruction of order. In the real world, whenever someone think out of the box and speaks their mind against the ideology, this person will be threat to peace and harmony.
When will it be time for us to have the freedom and trust to know what is right and wrong and have the capacity to differentiate between the truth and bullshit?
Maybe in time...people never really grow up...in Never never land....
Friday, April 14, 2006
A Note and Some Thoughts
Six Weeks
Neither long
Nor is it short
Over before we know
Different pursuits here after
A Thank You note
A heart warmed
A friendship formed
Stress
"Stress is self implemented" ... I'll learn to endure
Two Words
Two words so common
Two words so taken for granted
Two words to warm and touch a heart
Two words are all it takes
Thank You!!
Neither long
Nor is it short
Over before we know
Different pursuits here after
A Thank You note
A heart warmed
A friendship formed
Stress
"Stress is self implemented" ... I'll learn to endure
Two Words
Two words so common
Two words so taken for granted
Two words to warm and touch a heart
Two words are all it takes
Thank You!!
Sunday, April 09, 2006
The Value of History
"There is a matter of balancing historical values against the income that the site can earn if it were developed for other used"
-- Preservation of Monument Board
"No one knows whose responsibility this fort is. No one is going to come forward and be a hero"
-- President National Heritage Soceity
Lost was Bugis Street...what we have is Bugis Village
Lost was Satay Club...what we have is Satay Club @ Boon Tat
Lost was Lau Pat Sat...what we have is the New Lau Pat Sat
Lost was National Library...what we have is the National Library @ Bras Basah
......
Looks like another piece of history really going into history...Maybe Fort Tanjong Katong is not lost but merely buried in the aim to keep this history in tact from the effects of weather...how thoughtful...so the next generations still have a piece of history to hold on to discover...Or perhaps economical value currently outweighed our heritage...our history...our identity...
-- Preservation of Monument Board
"No one knows whose responsibility this fort is. No one is going to come forward and be a hero"
-- President National Heritage Soceity
Lost was Bugis Street...what we have is Bugis Village
Lost was Satay Club...what we have is Satay Club @ Boon Tat
Lost was Lau Pat Sat...what we have is the New Lau Pat Sat
Lost was National Library...what we have is the National Library @ Bras Basah
......
Looks like another piece of history really going into history...Maybe Fort Tanjong Katong is not lost but merely buried in the aim to keep this history in tact from the effects of weather...how thoughtful...so the next generations still have a piece of history to hold on to discover...Or perhaps economical value currently outweighed our heritage...our history...our identity...
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Random thoughts in a mixed up mind
Streats
Does anyone still remember Streats? My daily breakfast read till it's death sentence after the merger of the media. Somehow the word Streats had been forgotten like many things in History. Looking closely at Today today...the word Streats is gone forever...
Like Chained Elephants
Yeah...was reading Today during my breakfast in solitude @ Tanjong Pagar Market. "Working Like Chained Elephants" was it's title. Yeah...the elephants are back in the press...just that they are not white and disappearing this time round. Duh!! (okay okay lame joke)
Are we really working like Chained Elephants? Repeating our work tasks day after day chained to our desk? We have heard so much about SOHO, Teleworking since many years ago. But how many companies are actually practising it? I have yet to hear anyone I know working from home daily uless if they are the boss. But then again...they will still be popping by the office everyday to ensure no one is skiving.... I guess we are afterall not mature enough to handle such an 'advance' concept. Remember, we still require the Men In White to tell us what we can watch and cannot watch on TV or in the movies? We still require the MIW to tell us what creativity is all about and teach creativity as a subject in the schools? Hmm...humans afterall do not have faith or trust in one another. Hmmm...as long as you are not at your desk and the boss cannot see you, you must be skiving...
Work overtime and be Promoted
One must always know how to impress your bosses...like sending an email to your boss late after office hours...Oh yah...time to send out an important email to the boss....hahaha...
Does anyone still remember Streats? My daily breakfast read till it's death sentence after the merger of the media. Somehow the word Streats had been forgotten like many things in History. Looking closely at Today today...the word Streats is gone forever...
Like Chained Elephants
Yeah...was reading Today during my breakfast in solitude @ Tanjong Pagar Market. "Working Like Chained Elephants" was it's title. Yeah...the elephants are back in the press...just that they are not white and disappearing this time round. Duh!! (okay okay lame joke)
Are we really working like Chained Elephants? Repeating our work tasks day after day chained to our desk? We have heard so much about SOHO, Teleworking since many years ago. But how many companies are actually practising it? I have yet to hear anyone I know working from home daily uless if they are the boss. But then again...they will still be popping by the office everyday to ensure no one is skiving.... I guess we are afterall not mature enough to handle such an 'advance' concept. Remember, we still require the Men In White to tell us what we can watch and cannot watch on TV or in the movies? We still require the MIW to tell us what creativity is all about and teach creativity as a subject in the schools? Hmm...humans afterall do not have faith or trust in one another. Hmmm...as long as you are not at your desk and the boss cannot see you, you must be skiving...
Work overtime and be Promoted
One must always know how to impress your bosses...like sending an email to your boss late after office hours...Oh yah...time to send out an important email to the boss....hahaha...
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
U.C.V
C
The carrot in front of the horse to make it run faster...Hmm..a carrot in front of the man to make him work harder...
V
V for Vendetta...a thought provoking movie and definitely on my best movie list this year. An ingenious movie with clever and witty lines makes the show so impressionable...
"Who are you?"
"Who? Who is but the form following the function of what... and what I am is a man in a mask."
"I can see that."
"Of course you can. I'm not questioning your powers of observation, I'm merely remarking on the paradox of asking a masked man who he is."
"Behind the mask is a man, behind the man is an idea and ideas are bulletproof."
U
Upgrading, the Carrot before the Vote...what's new this time? Lifting the Whip? Let's see...
No vote no honey, people...I wonder if those in the alternative wards pay less tax...
=> V: People should not be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of their people. <=
The carrot in front of the horse to make it run faster...Hmm..a carrot in front of the man to make him work harder...
V
V for Vendetta...a thought provoking movie and definitely on my best movie list this year. An ingenious movie with clever and witty lines makes the show so impressionable...
"Who are you?"
"Who? Who is but the form following the function of what... and what I am is a man in a mask."
"I can see that."
"Of course you can. I'm not questioning your powers of observation, I'm merely remarking on the paradox of asking a masked man who he is."
"Behind the mask is a man, behind the man is an idea and ideas are bulletproof."
U
Upgrading, the Carrot before the Vote...what's new this time? Lifting the Whip? Let's see...
No vote no honey, people...I wonder if those in the alternative wards pay less tax...
=> V: People should not be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of their people. <=
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Everyone is dyslexic?
cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg.
The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at
Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in
a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the fri st and lsat
ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you
can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid
deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at
Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in
a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the fri st and lsat
ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you
can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid
deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe.
Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
Monday, March 06, 2006
Sunday, March 05, 2006
To forgive is to forget...
Hmm..maybe the title is a bit harsh but this is an issue that I have been grabbling with for a while. Do we have to forget before we can forgive? Or do we have to forgive before we can forget? So many things happened in the pass few months... some closer to my life...some revolving in the world around me.
Yet to find enlightenment.
Ommmm.......
以惡制暴？以德報怨？以和為貴？
Ommmm.......
Guilty until proven innocent? Innocent until proven guilty?
Hmmm....
Is it the primate nature of an animal for human to decide the life and death of another human? Or is it another of human's invention of justice just like the invention of monogamy or polygamy system? The self righteous justifications of jihad or a normal life?
Hmmm....
I think I'm a nut case....
Yet to find enlightenment.
Ommmm.......
以惡制暴？以德報怨？以和為貴？
Ommmm.......
Guilty until proven innocent? Innocent until proven guilty?
Hmmm....
Is it the primate nature of an animal for human to decide the life and death of another human? Or is it another of human's invention of justice just like the invention of monogamy or polygamy system? The self righteous justifications of jihad or a normal life?
Hmmm....
I think I'm a nut case....
Monday, February 06, 2006
A New Beginning....
Finally the Lunar New Year holidays come to an end and everything is back to clockwork.
Today also mark the first day of work at the new office. Hmm...feeling a little loss and intimidated. Kinda miss the old colleagues...kind of lonely with most of the new colleagues much older than me. When being introduced to them..they must all be wondering what is this young boy doing here...Haha..feel like I'm in an old folks home! Just kidding ;-) Guess I'm now in a different playing field in my working life. Now I'm suppose to be playing with the big boys...hahaha
Today also mark the first day of work at the new office. Hmm...feeling a little loss and intimidated. Kinda miss the old colleagues...kind of lonely with most of the new colleagues much older than me. When being introduced to them..they must all be wondering what is this young boy doing here...Haha..feel like I'm in an old folks home! Just kidding ;-) Guess I'm now in a different playing field in my working life. Now I'm suppose to be playing with the big boys...hahaha
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Importance...
I guess it is really true that one man's meat may be another's poison. What is important to you may not be important or even deem trivial to another...I guess to each his own. Maybe it's always me and my failure to communicate...
Well, today is 正月初七-人日. It's also 立春. Spring actually starts today.The NEW year finally arises...
Well, today is 正月初七-人日. It's also 立春. Spring actually starts today.The NEW year finally arises...
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)