Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Part of conversations among three smartly-dressed undergraduates during a KPMG cocktail reception/office tour
On meeting up near the MRT station
C: Where are you guys?
A: We are still eating fries here.
C: I didn't ask what you are having for lunch, where are you guys at?
A: Burger King.
On a decorative piece
A: That rabbit with a fishing rod on the cubicle looks cute.
B: Err, isn't that a cat ... I didn't see long-ish ears..
A: Rabbit, I'm sure!
C: It's a cat. Doesn't make sense for a rabbit to be fishing.
On the use of real-time communication tools
C: Hey you can use MSN Messenger on the office network here.
B: How do you know?
C: I just saw that middle-age plump guy close his message box as we walked past.
On buffet spread at cricket club
C: Yay I want some nacho chips.
A: What's the green dip?
C: Don't know, but it looks good, will get some.
On technically outstanding professional services
C: Really, they serve wines?
Audit partner geezer: Yea, lemme ask the waiter. (beckons waiter over) Do you have wines too?
Waiter: Erm, let me go check. (walks away to the bar counter)
Audit partner geezer: (points to waiter) He is definitely not a KPMG staff. Our people give you answers on the spot, we know our stuff well.
On friendship and loyalty
Audit partner geezer: So you guys want something to drink?
A: No thanks.
B: Me neither.
A and B: (points at C) She is the alcoholic among us.
Audit partner geezer: Oh i see, (to waiter) two white wines please.
On trying to sound intelligent
Audit partner geezer: I specialize in the industrials sector.
C: So how do you see the industry moving forward in the near future? Prospects?
Audit partner geezer: You tell me. What's on the front page of The Business Times today and yesterday? This whole week?
C: ...
On deceiving appearances and the cheapskate beneath
Classy manager lady: Don't be shy, feel free to go get some food. If you don't eat 'em, they'll prolly throw them away after anyway. Don't waste the good food.
A: Ok.
Classy manager lady: Actually, it's my first time here as well.
On meeting up near the MRT station
C: Where are you guys?
A: We are still eating fries here.
C: I didn't ask what you are having for lunch, where are you guys at?
A: Burger King.
On a decorative piece
A: That rabbit with a fishing rod on the cubicle looks cute.
B: Err, isn't that a cat ... I didn't see long-ish ears..
A: Rabbit, I'm sure!
C: It's a cat. Doesn't make sense for a rabbit to be fishing.
On the use of real-time communication tools
C: Hey you can use MSN Messenger on the office network here.
B: How do you know?
C: I just saw that middle-age plump guy close his message box as we walked past.
On buffet spread at cricket club
C: Yay I want some nacho chips.
A: What's the green dip?
C: Don't know, but it looks good, will get some.
On technically outstanding professional services
C: Really, they serve wines?
Audit partner geezer: Yea, lemme ask the waiter. (beckons waiter over) Do you have wines too?
Waiter: Erm, let me go check. (walks away to the bar counter)
Audit partner geezer: (points to waiter) He is definitely not a KPMG staff. Our people give you answers on the spot, we know our stuff well.
On friendship and loyalty
Audit partner geezer: So you guys want something to drink?
A: No thanks.
B: Me neither.
A and B: (points at C) She is the alcoholic among us.
Audit partner geezer: Oh i see, (to waiter) two white wines please.
On trying to sound intelligent
Audit partner geezer: I specialize in the industrials sector.
C: So how do you see the industry moving forward in the near future? Prospects?
Audit partner geezer: You tell me. What's on the front page of The Business Times today and yesterday? This whole week?
C: ...
On deceiving appearances and the cheapskate beneath
Classy manager lady: Don't be shy, feel free to go get some food. If you don't eat 'em, they'll prolly throw them away after anyway. Don't waste the good food.
A: Ok.
Classy manager lady: Actually, it's my first time here as well.
Monday, July 26, 2004
All views micro and macro
I am ashamed of those people I call family. Of their actions and ignorance. I now live with the consequences, it hurts frustrates suffocates. I wish I am the one instead, at the receiving end of this discrimination. Baseless and unfounded prejudice has fired its rounds and claimed its victims. This is the average Singaporean family's modest ceremonial offering in time for the upcoming National Day. As usual, celebrations are characterized by a politically-correct show of multi-ethnic unity accompanied by the artificial harmony of multi-language community songs. Hypocrites, we are. And we are reluctant to admit it. Our country has a problem, yet we don't try solving it; we just cover it up and hope it'll go away.
I am ashamed of those people I call family. Of their actions and ignorance. I now live with the consequences, it hurts frustrates suffocates. I wish I am the one instead, at the receiving end of this discrimination. Baseless and unfounded prejudice has fired its rounds and claimed its victims. This is the average Singaporean family's modest ceremonial offering in time for the upcoming National Day. As usual, celebrations are characterized by a politically-correct show of multi-ethnic unity accompanied by the artificial harmony of multi-language community songs. Hypocrites, we are. And we are reluctant to admit it. Our country has a problem, yet we don't try solving it; we just cover it up and hope it'll go away.
Friday, July 23, 2004
Nothing of late, not because days have been uneventful and I have naught to say but more because I don't have the luxury of reasonably functioning computers to support bloggable moods or was staying long enough at any one place. It was ironic how yesterday N was trying to contact me but to no avail and how tables turn today with unsuccessful attempts from my end. Hope tomorrow would be a better day, probably would if I can finish the position paper tonight before I leave for Singapore tomorrow morning.
Friday, July 16, 2004
Monday morning from a train, groggy-eyed
Thursday, July 15, 2004
Not until today have I realized how much my grandma has aged, or how frail she has become. She is as helpless as we are. I ought to be ashamed of myself, for wandering thoughts on lesser matters
if he thinks of me as much as I think of him, or if he thinks of me, at all
just the night before, below the dull whirr of fans.
if he thinks of me as much as I think of him, or if he thinks of me, at all
just the night before, below the dull whirr of fans.
From People's Daily Online:
The Singaporean side should take full responsibilities for results from the event, Zhang said. Lee, neglecting China's repeated solemn representations, insisted on heading for Taiwan for a so-called unofficial visit on July 10.
Zhang said the Taiwan issue is directly related to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the Chinese government firmly opposes official relations in any form between countries that have established diplomatic ties with China and the Taiwan authorities.
This piece of news made the front page on Malaysia's Nanyang Siang Pau a few days ago. It's reassuring to know that when we screw up, our neighbors make sure that it does not slip our minds, or theirs, for that matter. Then again, we have never exactly stood as one, in giving Lee the uninamous vote of confidence he needs for his upcoming role asCEO, Singapore Inc. Prime Minister, Republic of Singapore. Instead, most Singaporeans have long anticipated and have quietly accepted, true to their nature, this inevitable outcome since the day Lee was born.
The Singaporean side should take full responsibilities for results from the event, Zhang said. Lee, neglecting China's repeated solemn representations, insisted on heading for Taiwan for a so-called unofficial visit on July 10.
Zhang said the Taiwan issue is directly related to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity and the Chinese government firmly opposes official relations in any form between countries that have established diplomatic ties with China and the Taiwan authorities.
This piece of news made the front page on Malaysia's Nanyang Siang Pau a few days ago. It's reassuring to know that when we screw up, our neighbors make sure that it does not slip our minds, or theirs, for that matter. Then again, we have never exactly stood as one, in giving Lee the uninamous vote of confidence he needs for his upcoming role as
Tuesday, July 13, 2004
From New Straits Times - Malaysia News Online:
"In my opinion, a professional police officer must have the soul of a policeman, in-depth knowledge on the science of policing and the ability to appropriately analyse social problems in the community," Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.
"This means the officer must be involved with community projects and be able to act as the nerve centre in social services for the people." He said the Royal Commission on the Police Force was not meant to find fault with and errors made by the police, but to improve the well-being, training and quality of life for policemen nationwide.
With corruption eating at the core of the Malaysian Police Force for decades, conversations with my uncle are revealing what's behind the sugar-coated press releases. As much as can be credibly verified, Malaysian Chinese, to say the least, are cynical of any new initiative the government is introducing. Yet another failed attempt and life still goes on with every-other-day bribes in getting out of messy traffic bookings and inconvenience. Sweeping structural reforms, public attitude changes via smart public relations moves, improved remuneration schemes to better suit needs are perhaps probable starting points... the truth laid bare, Mr. Policeman on the street cares about community projects or science of policing as much as you are concerned about the social well-being of beggars on Alaskan streets.
"In my opinion, a professional police officer must have the soul of a policeman, in-depth knowledge on the science of policing and the ability to appropriately analyse social problems in the community," Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said.
"This means the officer must be involved with community projects and be able to act as the nerve centre in social services for the people." He said the Royal Commission on the Police Force was not meant to find fault with and errors made by the police, but to improve the well-being, training and quality of life for policemen nationwide.
With corruption eating at the core of the Malaysian Police Force for decades, conversations with my uncle are revealing what's behind the sugar-coated press releases. As much as can be credibly verified, Malaysian Chinese, to say the least, are cynical of any new initiative the government is introducing. Yet another failed attempt and life still goes on with every-other-day bribes in getting out of messy traffic bookings and inconvenience. Sweeping structural reforms, public attitude changes via smart public relations moves, improved remuneration schemes to better suit needs are perhaps probable starting points... the truth laid bare, Mr. Policeman on the street cares about community projects or science of policing as much as you are concerned about the social well-being of beggars on Alaskan streets.
Sunday, July 11, 2004
I'm due for a visit to grandma's up north tonight. Be back on Thursday/ Friday, I have yet to pack (déjà vu perhaps, not). This time there is no mobile autoroaming; wot are a couple of days when I've survived three long weeks? Heart-tugging moments revisit.
From Joseph Kosuth's "Art After Philosophy":
All art (after Duchamp) is conceptual (in nature) because art only exists conceptually.
Stuck in town yesterday for a dinner date I did not look forward to, wanting instead to go to another dinner date that didn't materialize in the end, I had no choice but to while the time away.
I didn't want to read I was tired I want to sit the laptop's weighing me down.
I ended up at the fine arts section, Books Kinokuniya reading. Time didn't pass all that quickly
I didn't want to read I was tired I only want to sit the laptop's weighing me down my neck aches.
but I got to understand a lil bit more in an aspect of art that I definitely want to further explore when I'm in better spirits.
All art (after Duchamp) is conceptual (in nature) because art only exists conceptually.
Stuck in town yesterday for a dinner date I did not look forward to, wanting instead to go to another dinner date that didn't materialize in the end, I had no choice but to while the time away.
I didn't want to read I was tired I want to sit the laptop's weighing me down.
I ended up at the fine arts section, Books Kinokuniya reading. Time didn't pass all that quickly
I didn't want to read I was tired I only want to sit the laptop's weighing me down my neck aches.
but I got to understand a lil bit more in an aspect of art that I definitely want to further explore when I'm in better spirits.
Yesterday, yet another hurried encounter, this time I am with eyes and noticed that I like his eyes. How, on the surface, he may appear to be a stranger (twice-met) but the flicker in his eyes affirms that he is indeed the one I have been talking to for so long. That, and his voice, too.
Thursday, July 08, 2004
They look so good, don't let me return them, unread.
I went to the neighborhood library today and emerged with the following books in hand:
James Mayall "World Politics - Progress and Its Limits"
Ahmed Rashid "Taliban - Islam, Oil and the New Great Game in Central Asia"
Catherine Atkinson, et al. "Oriental - Complete Cookery"
Octavio Paz "In Light of India"
John Follain and Rita Cristofari "Zoya's Story - An Afghan Woman's Struggle for Freedom"
John A Jacobsohn "An Introduction to Political Science"
Notwithstanding I have got the below titles lying about, as I've just realized, camouflaged in the mess I call my room.
AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada "Introduction to Bhagavad-gita"
Mark Bowden "Black Hawk Down"
Yisrael Gutman and Michael Berenbaum (ed.) "Anatomy of the Auschwitz Death Camp"
Henry Clarke Warren "The Life of the Buddha"
JRR Tolkien "The Lord of the Rings"
Michael Kahn, Ph.D. "Basic Freud"
John Campbell Oman "The Stories of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata"
Seymour Topping "The Peking Letter"
Joseph Heller "Catch-22"
I need time... to read all these, and do a whole lot of other things. Maybe indeed I've procrastinated too much and/ or have simply wasted my life away on one too many occasion of waking up at past noon. Perhaps, quite simply I just need to prioritize, like how I favor non-fictions over fictions. Then again, what's all this mad rush for? Why do we seem so busy yet in the end we turn out to be fussing over nothing?
I need time... to reflect on nothing, something and everything in general. Some (hopefully life-changing) revelations, post-India.
I went to the neighborhood library today and emerged with the following books in hand:
James Mayall "World Politics - Progress and Its Limits"
Ahmed Rashid "Taliban - Islam, Oil and the New Great Game in Central Asia"
Catherine Atkinson, et al. "Oriental - Complete Cookery"
Octavio Paz "In Light of India"
John Follain and Rita Cristofari "Zoya's Story - An Afghan Woman's Struggle for Freedom"
John A Jacobsohn "An Introduction to Political Science"
Notwithstanding I have got the below titles lying about, as I've just realized, camouflaged in the mess I call my room.
AC Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada "Introduction to Bhagavad-gita"
Mark Bowden "Black Hawk Down"
Yisrael Gutman and Michael Berenbaum (ed.) "Anatomy of the Auschwitz Death Camp"
Henry Clarke Warren "The Life of the Buddha"
JRR Tolkien "The Lord of the Rings"
Michael Kahn, Ph.D. "Basic Freud"
John Campbell Oman "The Stories of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata"
Seymour Topping "The Peking Letter"
Joseph Heller "Catch-22"
I need time... to read all these, and do a whole lot of other things. Maybe indeed I've procrastinated too much and/ or have simply wasted my life away on one too many occasion of waking up at past noon. Perhaps, quite simply I just need to prioritize, like how I favor non-fictions over fictions. Then again, what's all this mad rush for? Why do we seem so busy yet in the end we turn out to be fussing over nothing?
I need time... to reflect on nothing, something and everything in general. Some (hopefully life-changing) revelations, post-India.
Wednesday, July 07, 2004
The infamous...
Tuesday, July 06, 2004
Pure listening pleasure, what gems!
Hey here's some good stuff. Check out both Hindu Cow and Sakura. Way to go dude, ya on the right track.
Hey here's some good stuff. Check out both Hindu Cow and Sakura. Way to go dude, ya on the right track.
Monday, July 05, 2004
Those statues remind me of Cambodia, coinciding with the essence of this trip - a small start to more travelling and definitely to the temples of Angkor Wat one day.
Saturday, July 03, 2004
A glimpse of Sri Lanka for now, before I get the rest of my photos from E.
I cannot believe that Siem Reap and Wala are almost directly opposite each other. I still cannot believe how on that fateful night, we were just seconds away. A near miss nearer than I had ever expected. The kind of realization that takes your breath away, this is.
Friday, July 02, 2004
Masala-flavored anything, anyone?
The relative luxury of being able to converse with N, share thoughts, spout nonsense, laugh together at slightly more affordable local rates is probably worth those post-expedition withdrawal symptoms. All of it.
The relative luxury of being able to converse with N, share thoughts, spout nonsense, laugh together at slightly more affordable local rates is probably worth those post-expedition withdrawal symptoms. All of it.
