Is the new media being overly self-righteous?

我 又錯了？

你 不语 我 不悟

我 不安 你 不理 

我 又做错了什么？

《生活与生存》

非常高兴自己没有错过这一出舞台剧，买票时是冲著(偶像)张艾嘉和王耀庆，而对郑元畅的舞台功力有一丝丝怀疑，但看了后真的为之一亮！ 唷，郑元畅还不赖喔！

《生活与生存》, 可说是这几年看的华语舞台剧里，一出演员实力都非常强的戏，所有的(13个)演员都非常的棒！但听说第一场演出 （30－01－09 星期五）有很多技术问题，演出还一度中断重演，3个小时的戏，拖了4个小时。很庆幸，昨天是如此的完美，一气呵成。

也许说《生》没有太多惊喜，但编剧却能把很多办公室的所见所闻一幕幕的展现出来。

序幕 －上班，电梯，大伙儿的无精打采，哈欠和有的没的 gossips，不就是上班的缩影？

开会 － 高层的勾心，尔虞我诈，低层在pantry的gossips。淇淇渴望能和高层开会，李想不知自己该做什么，还有斑斑被叫进会议室时的战战兢兢，以为自己出头了。 他人的羨煞，以为他被重视，结果只是被叫进去take lunch orders。虽然有点老掉牙，但都不经让我发笑。

梦 － 梦境的那一段舞蹈，演员的协调度很高，很精彩。唷，张艾嘉不止会导会演会编，还会跳舞喔！ 哈哈哈。

最后晚餐 － 演员的独白，说出了不论是高层或低层都有各自的不安。在这场戏里，演员的默契，整场戏的流动，简直是无间。道出了每个人物的内心最黑暗的世界。我们不也每天都有这样的独白？

张艾嘉 （张威），一直以来都很被她的声音吸引，演技温而不火，整出戏看得很舒服，。虽然不像Meryl Streep 在 The Devil Wears Prada 的那么 diva 但她的却是一条华丽的蛇，慢慢的把众人吞食。

王耀庆（大为），在《太阳花》里一人饰二角就被他的演技刮目了，这次也不例外。尤其最后跳楼那一幕的视觉震撼，总觉得如果不是王耀庆，就带不出那段精彩。

郑元畅 （李想），演技虽没有很大的惊喜，就是一個大男孩。但的确看得出他的努力，咬字清楚了许多，他的声音还蛮有磁力的。

杨淇 （淇淇），张艾嘉的另一爱徒。戏里没太大的发挥，但歌声还让人眼之一亮。童安格的《其实你不懂我的心》唱得很有味道。

另外在去年《现代水浒传》里百变的两位女演员，今年也参与了演出，谢盈萱（苏菲）和林钰玲（冬梅，夏荷，秋菊）在戏中也很亮眼。尤其林钰玲在戏中饰旁白和分饰三位性格各异的女秘书－ 吹熄了老板生日蜡烛的冬梅，带着法文名字豪放辞职的夏荷，颤抖茶杯的秋菊都带出了非常了不起娱乐效果。

资深的朱宏章（仲平），超级跑龙套的陈恭铭（快递，司机，吴副董），搞怪二宝彭浩秦（斑斑）和林英杰（浩浩），性感的吴天葳（嘉玲），规规矩矩的庄凯勋（沈凯），健硕的黄健玮（孙强），都是硬底子的舞台演员。 让这场演出完整又华丽的呈现。

《生》的舞台设计或许很单调不起眼，一景到底，只是一个楼梯状的3D空间，但却能变化成不同的场景，证明了舞台设计的用心。每一个梯级都好像代表了人，在生存中都得努力往上爬，直到最高的那一级。尤其演员出场时，张威和仲平大多都是从高处往下走，似乎象征了他们的权威，高高在上，俯视著下属。剧末，仲平也爬累了决定放弃所有，要求张威和他一起回到过去平淡的日子，也帶出了高处不胜寒的孤单。或许是我想太多了。哈哈哈。

很佩服编剧(张艾嘉，林奕华与王纪尧共同创作) 能让观众对所描述的  office culture and politics 简而易懂的得到共鸣。一开场，李想所说的“为什么人人都说黑色星期五，我看应该是黑色星期一才对！” ，不就说出了很多上班族的心声。当然有些  critics会说剧本没惊喜，角色太多又没有鲜明的人物发展。我虽不是什么professional critic, 但戏剧不就是要让大家都看得懂吗？也许我的文化素质不够深，所以会觉《生》不错看。：）

真的很高兴能看到这一场戏，灰色的幽默，office politics 太赞了。

剧中经典对白

• “李光耀的《新加坡故事》，从第三国到第一国，怎么会不在旅游区？”
  
• “我还没车开的时候，你就已经开上了BMW，等我好不容易买了二手的BMW，你已经开了Benz”
  
• “可不可以不要加班？我想回家陪我老婆。如果要加班也可以，加班费怎么算？”
  
• “你知道女人过了四十岁最怕的三件事情是什么吗？第一件事是过生日，第二件事是别人给她过生日，第三件是……惊喜！恭喜你们一次把这三件事都做到了……”
  

牛年 · 禁语

心想事成 ＝ 薪饷四成 （Pay cut to 40% of salary)

招财进宝 ＝ 遭裁禁饱  (Retrenched and cannot have a full meal)

财源滚滚 ＝ 裁员滚滚 (Retrenched and get lost)

哈哈，牛年幽默一下。新年快乐，身体健康，扭转乾坤！！

Another Year Older...

Well, 2009 came and it's already the end of January. Soon we''ll be ushering in the 牛 year...Hmm...overdose of the 牛 year greetings that I'm starting to feel irritated by it...so pardon me. No more moo year greetings from me.

Oh well, the year 2008, the year of Rat came and went so quickly that before I know it, it's coming to an end. And yes, been staying out for a year now...looking back on the times of getting the keys, reno and finally moving in before the Rat...it's soon the Ox...and still there are things a year ago that wasn't unpacked....haha...all the rubbish i carry with me...haha...I wonder when I'll ever get rid of the stuff....sentimental value or not...hahaha...Someone must be frowning and think..."Yah...karang guni man..." Haha

For the time being...Happy New Year lah!

Muffins Mania

Christmas 2008

My 1st Cheesecake

Senseless Persecution

Maybe I'm just totally ignorant politically or religiously, but the senseless persecution by the "Decaan Mujaheeden" is totally senseless, absurd and ridiculous to me. My heart goes out to the family of Ms. Lo. Not just because she is a Singaporean but more as she is a young person full of life and a future ahead ruined by this criminal style prosecution to be shot in the head and abdomen. The thoughts that went through her mind then...

Is this what they teach in whatever religious teachings? Exterminating the human race as their race and religion is superior than all other? Their "Almighty" told them that they are his loyal subjects of eternal life if they kill another person? May they crash and burn eternally.

May this serve as a reminder to us all that terrorism is closer to us than we think. Just because we always see the news about such events so far away and even though our hearts go to those affected by the senseless act, but this time it had killed a Singaporean. So terrorism is not in somebody's backyard anymore but it's really closer than we think...

Life...Dreams....

Waking up to see your loved one next to you...a simple smile, a peck on the cheek and a lazy "Good Morning". Enjoying a good cup of coffee and toasts while reading the morning papers leisurely on a weekday. Taking a deep breath of the cool morning air. Running a good run. Holding hands. Having late night supper despite knowing the evils of it.

Oops...I did a Britney again

Have not been blogging for quite a while. Guess I had become to lazy to go online nowadays...maybe age had been catching up and have kind of lost the energy after work to log on. Have become more a couch potato lately too...haiz...this is bad. Had not been going to gym as in the past...well I guess staying alone makes me just wanna stay home and laze around as compared to when staying with mum and pap (erm...not the men-in-whites...but some how grassrooted...haha)

Guess it's time to re-think, re-org and re-train...wah...sounds like the gahmen talking...haha...

Resolutions 2008, time for review soon but guess the report card is as bad as the current economic situation...first of all won't be doing the 21-k this Dec...Haiz...I did a Britney again....

It was an accident...an accident!

Just saw on the news that the some MIW interviewed during some event and said that we (reads the commoners) should not expect that all the food products that are imported to Singapore be fully tested of melamine as the process is tedious and there would bound to be an accident to have such food products (reads: commoners food) be released into the mass (commoner's) market. With regards to the 3 Singaporeans who contracted Dengue from tainted blood transfusion (who ask them to be so 'sway'), it was an accident as there is currently no quick reliable kit to test for dengue or chikunghunia. So too bad.

Hmmm...ever since the 'bai kah' horse ran away from its 'security tight' stable....it's a regrettable accident seems to be the best-est and easiest excuse nowadays.

I wonder if ever I get myself in some sort of trouble, if "It's was an accident!!" ever enough to cover my backside.

Hmmm....maybe I should wear all whites more often...haha

Disclaimer: It was a unforeseeable accident that this idle coffee shop rumble got uploaded onto this blog. It was an accident! Really!!

48年...终于赢了

有一个中国小朋友说，他看了刚才的比赛，一直都支持新加坡的球员，因为他们是中国人。

我不知应该高兴呢？ 还是感到困惑？言下之意似乎有著：“瞧！还是我们中国人的功劳！” 也许是我想太多了。


其实得赞韩国队的朴美英，给我们看到了一场好球赛。她的沉著和每一给反击，和每一给完美的飘球，真的是太精采了！



但我真的很为冯天薇开心，因为她的冷靜，沉著应战，让我们终于在48年后再夺得一面奖牌。反观李佳薇的冲动、沉不住气，白白失分。

我想人生就是要沉得住气吧！冯天薇，謝謝妳！

Losing Thoughts...

Why am I always more impatient to people close to me than to anyone walking down the streets?
Because you are so dear to me.

Why am I easily upset by people close to me than by the neighbour next door?
Because your every actions and words matters a lot to me.

Each day it's an internal battle within myself telling myself to take things easy and not to get irritable over mundane stuff. I try to be at peace myself and not get overly upset over the smallest and pettiest of stuff.

Each day I try but each day I fumble and each day I try a little bit harder...

L..O..S..E..R

As the year goes closer to the end, the more I fear
For fear the next year come sooner
The distance grows longer...

August - Tribute to Singapore I

Do not onto others what you do not want others to do onto you. Yeah so we always say. But are Singaporeans ready for the renaissance city? Oh, let's start to be a gracious city first.

It always amuses me what people do in public. Apart from the famous PDA (read: Public Display of Affection - yes those smoochy feely act that people do in public as if the whole world does not exist around them), I always wonder what went through their mind when they do what they do in public.

Just saw a woman munching on her burger sitting next to a sign board that says no food n beverages. It is really such great contradiction and a contrasting nice photo shot. Had wanted to snap this picture but oh well damn those non-camera phone at work rules.

Is it just ignorance or feigning ignorance? Or just simply defiant?

Am i amused by an ugly act or am i too law abiding that i forgot the fundamental rights of human? Oh well, maybe it is not just a Singaporean thingie but an imported habit? Don't the schools teach 好公民 anymore? Or maybe its the young monkey sees their old monkey do at home so it's okay to do it too.

Oops, did I just pointed my fingers unto others? My bad, my bad.

先还钱，才能让爱川流不息

《让爱川流不息》﹣ 要捐钱得先缴行政费-$0.214-包括7%消费税? 不是不想捐款，但为什么赈灾还得付GST? 新电信难道就不能吸收每通$0.20的费用？行善还不忘生意利益，赞！这么多sponsors，都是用来做什么？新传媒的制做费？

要以什么方式捐款，应该很清楚吧。

Master Plan 2008

Marine Parade is no longer the east coast of Singapore...it is now Central. :-)

All of Us TOgether Sure CAN - Thanks.Pardon.Ciao

Moving on again...today is my last day at work and will be taking 2 weeks hiatus from work. Well, am actually kind of glad to finally got out of the wretched company. But just 2 weeks ago...when Sichuan earthquake took away many lives and families, the company had an earthquake too...the ED, MD and the BD Director are all leaving by July this year...woah...lucky I made my move 2 months earlier huh? Hmmm but the MD had the same last day as me, which means he tendered earlier...serving his 6 months notice...hmmm...to believe he actually "try" to ask me if I would reconsider on a counter-offer or a job switch.

Oh well, wasn't really shocked about the news, rumours have it that the MD and the BD Director is leaving but was surprise that the ED is also ousted from her own company she started nearly 2 decades...office politics to the fullest...better than mediacorp drama!! Somehow these are all expected...it's only time.

Frankly I wouldn't really miss the people I'm working with...those foreign "talents" whom I've "grown" so fondly of and everyday I always ponder what are their talents? Skiving? Smoking out? Acting busy? Oh...the ever so difficult task of shaking their heads and not blinking a bit while they say things are tested and done!

Those I would miss are my customer and the users whom I've worked so closely with for the last 14 months. They, who see the worth in me and my contributions to the projects. They, who are ever so patient and understanding despite the problems due to the talents' incompetencies...and most importantly they, who encourage me to move on...haha...Well, I really wish them all the best. Thank you all!

Double Standards?!!

Everyday I ponder as I walked out of the door from the comfort of my sanctuary. Do I look like the world owe me a living? Or do I just look ultimately unfriendly? I'm vexed. I'm amused of the reaction that I get sometimes. I'm not sure.

I wonder are those "red haired" foreign talents - read ang mos - really more friendly than me or locals simply loved to suck up to them? Whenever I get out of home lately, I psyched myself to flash the best smile my facial muscle can flex after a night's rest to anyone I see but frankly more often than not, all I get were blank stares or even the "see through you" look. But amusingly, the ang mos who just shared the same lift as me walking behind, would get such a big "Good Morning!!" from the uncles sitting outside the lift lobby.

What the f**K was that?!! What did they do that I did not?!! Was their smiles more "colgatey" than mine?!!

Everyday I wonder do I not smile as "sunshinely" as them? Or maybe I should greet those uncles and aunties ever so loving-ly and loudly next time. I wonder "Did the ang mos recently gave them a treat of donuts and coffee or what?"

Recently a colleague of mine just mentioned that I always make her smile when she sees me in office and I joked "Do I have a funny face?" Her reply was that I had a cheerful personality. (Haha...how very wrong of her...maybe that's because I'm seldom in the office to begin with.) I was like "Yah..sure" Haha...then how come I don't get to see the uncles or aunties smile at me when I walk out of the lift lobby every morning?

Maybe it's time to practice those colgate moments more in the mirror or to admit that sucking up to ang mos - who are indeed more 'tua kee' than me - are the way of living in this Asian society...

Oh well...we see such double standards everywhere...starting from the time these ang mos boarded our national carrier...don't we?

Britain's Got Talents...Do We?

Have heard about Paul Potts for a while...so here's the clip which made my eyes wet everytime I watch it.

Though we do have all sorts of talent shows locally with the most recent one where 16 male and female contestants shows off their...erm..."talents" in acting cool, cute , slutty and whatever. But well to each his own...I'll reach for the remote everytime...

I wonder do we have gems like Paul Potts locally yet to be discovered and be polished to be a shining star...Just like what Simon Cowell sums up at the end of the clip..."...where somebody who isn't a professional and has a talent and isn't aware of it, has a normal job and you see something else..."