You Can't Seem To Hear (Updated Updates)

Why Are You Doing This To Me, WhoEver You Are!
I cannot begin to blog about my deepest sadness today on the eve of a New Year.

Someone is trying to script my life, I think.

They may go on and on about something in their lives that dissatisfy them or that they are suffering from some termnal illness or something.

But the fact is I am NO BETTER THAN DEAD. I can'tself-actualise myself in teaching, my vocational calling. Or own a home or have reasonable good companionship. Good company and friends are hard to come by.

You won't find it at clubs, pubs, spas, chat rooms and the rest. And when you do, something terribly goes wrong.

All I get is a bunch of people stuck in a rut full of gripes. Different interests. No communication skills. No connection and I get sucked into their world.

Let It BeFall Them, They Deserve It
If you wanna let things befall someone, let it be those well-off , rich kids and EVEN THOSE who are NOT (keeping up with the Tans) who have it too good and blow their money on every material good they can.

Who aren't making use of the education opportunities their parents are bestowing on them.

SPLURGING ON EXPENSIVE FOOD AND GOODS AND EVERYTHING ELSE AT THEIR YOUNG AGE.

PARTYING, DRUNK-DRINKING, SLUTTING, SARONG PARTYING, DRAMAING, MONEYING FOR SEX, CABBING, DRUGGING, SEXING, TRAVELLING OR CYBERGAMING TILL THY KINGDOM COME!

This Is Me
For me I am just concerned about work, education, a home and a future beau and or kid. And I like nature and sports. Is that wrong?

To spend some chilling moments cafeing with real friends and so on. Is that a SIN too?

I am just concerned about me and my future beau/kid's lifestyle and well-being. I hope he shares my interests and ethos and I am remotely interested in what other people do.

That Is Him, Not Me!
I don't wanna be in Gerald's position, the current landlord of my place.

Divorced for wateva reasons with a toddler daughter. Stacks of probability gambling slips and invitations from an overseas casino.

After harassing me for the rental prepayment, now he wants a loan and advance for his "mom's operation" (Sounds more like gambling or loan debts to me).

And I don't trust his "brother" because he does not seem trustworthy.

In fact I am not even sure if he instigated his breakup because "his brother" is not on good terms with his own set of parents and puts up at Gerald's.

Or Gerald is relying on "his brother" for his next home as "his brother" is one year shy of age to qualify for a resale.

I am not interested in their lifestyle or intrigue.

Past And Present Familial Life
All I remember is that I was born into a kampong, grew up in a 2-room, then 3-room and finally 4-room flat. Never had many material things in my youth and never hankered for it.

This may be a culture shock to some. For me I live with culture shock every moment of my life. Small living quarters and very little material goods.

I was more concerned with my studies and work. But my family wasn't supportive and I am not sure if they were dragging me down as a result. On purpose or otherwise.

School, NS, Family Again And Then Work
Then in secondary school it got progressively unhappy and became worse in JC.

It didn't end there during National Service and continued through with all the family, female, regional and SME set-ups.

It is just a job but boy, the people around you have other ideas. From She-Ape, Black Widow and Shrill-Voice-Accident-In-Her-Face to the rest.

What about Daryl Chan the Eunuch? He sucks lollipops in school just like Chris did. In full view of the students. Defying one and all and coming late at times. And he is an "educator".

Career DeadBlock And No Home
I can't get the job I want. This is my vocational calling. When I thought I could have it at my fingertips, I lost it all and now I am like loboing.

Just When I Thought This Was It, Then It Got Taken Away
I can't get good companionship and just when I thought I did, I had to see the other side of him. Someone who is preoccupied, playful too, playing the field and just a tad too sociable.

He is decent, clean-living and well-brought up but his friends have to corrupt and destroy that for him. And he has his own foibles like stealing out his family car for rides (when he hasn't got a license) and wanting to buy a second-hand car in the future.

And it isn't out of necessity for work (like sales) or family, it is gonna be for transporting his "brothers" for clubs, outings and to school. They have a family car already so why add on another liability? To show off and the convenience of a private transport.

And he still cannot understand the precarious position of his turning familial fortunes. I hope he gets round to it.

Fuck his friends and the company he keeps! What he needs is people to anchor him to the ground. Otherwise the rest of the ding-dong gang will be his downfall.

These Are The Clubbers Who Get Drunk, Emotionally Manipulate Others, Emoting Drama Courtesy Of Soaps And Wants To Be Taken Care Of Like Being Sent Home, Etc (The Fucking Slimy Gay Community)
I have seen his "brother" (and I can guess the company he keeps) and I know who his "brother" is and I don't like HIM.

They will "jio" him out - clubs, drinks and so on. Get high, drunk and go into stupor and pitiance, expecting others to sent them home and emoting DRAMA like soap operas.

It is like dealing with my Chinese ex-roomie all over again and his "brother" and that dude who lived with me at AMK.

I have to share him with HIM. I think his "brother" is old enough to take better care of himself and his brother is just trying to snatch him away from me.

It Is Called "Tough Love" Especially On Excessive Addiction Matters Like AlcoHol, CyberGaming, Gambling And So On (Simple Truth Is I AM NOT A PARTY-GOER OR CLUBBER)
We have to say "NO" to this kinda emotional drama and script and PUT OUR FOOT DOWN.

They have to be responsible for themselves, know how to hold their drink and if THEY CAN'T, THEN THEY FACE THE CONSEQUENCES on their own.

Nobody is gonna clean up after them or bail them out if they REPEATEDLY DO IT.

Otherwise GO for REHAB!

If with a family full of sorrows myself, I discipline myself NOT TO GET INTO REBELLION back when I was their age, SO CAN THEY! They are just manipulating their family sob stories to gain sympathy and advantages!

Including SEX!

It Must Be The Gay Community Again (Like This Gay I Met Recently - Emoting, Drama And Wanting To Be Sent Home With A Script Full Of Sorrowful Family Dysfunction)
When I did, he was on the phone with so many other of his "brothers" who wanna send him home.

I just do not know what the whole point is? Was he like trying to feel loved or something? Or just making use of them? Or two, three, four or multi-timing to feel great? To stupidly wanna test their love?

I still don't see the point.....do you?

FUCK YOU ONCE AGAIN!
Someone is scripting this on purpose.

I know I am being monitored and they are trying to shove the "matured" people onto me whom I can't get along with, remotely interested in and disconnected (the FAKERS as I call them - the likes of FAT BLOKE, BULLDOG and Gerald's BROTHER NOW), then they are wrong.

You Still Don't Understand This?

I Just Want My Job, A Home, A Like-Minded Beau And A Higher Education. I don't wanna have to worry about my beau.

And It Is Not Age As Ben Would Have You Believe It Is . He Says The Young Are Emotionally Unstable . But there are young ones of any age (yes, even the secondary schoolers) well-brought up and share my ethics and ethos.

But I Think He Is The One - The Faker- And At Ben's Age, It Is A Crying Shame. He knows he is mouthing all the rubbish without even knowing what he is saying or having ever experienced it. All the cliches.

Yeah what about Vic, his beau? He is emotionally unstable too. He still hangs out at spas.

Yes and buying a new flat is fluke because it is by balloting (so you have no say who your neighbors are) while you have control over a resale flat - meaning the neighbours you live with - subject to the availability of flats at the point in time.

What Am I Clinging On For?
With no projects on hand, no jobs, no home, no nothing, I just don't know what I am clinging on for.

Fuck You! Mother Chao Chee Byes! Enough is enough! I just want to move on and live my life out. Can you understand this?

**This Is My Final Resolution

There will be no turning back. I am prepared to die for this. No return to any former industry or employer. THEY CAN GO TO HELL! It is only gonna be EDUCATION!

Please keep the education industry free of all the SHAM with the likes of "educators" like The Eunuch, She-Ape, He-Ape, Chris and all the rest.

Explained And Unexplained Mysteries Plus More Fucktards (Updated)

The Least And Minimum You Could Do

At least allow older singles like myself to buy new flats... That would be a reprieve and concession while the age limit remains for the rest for resale ones.

Resetting The Network

Perhaps resetting the network for internet tethering isn't that unusual.

Remember back in those days when we actually had to reboot our comps? Or even now, refreshing or reloading our web pages!

I suppose that is the same reasoning.

Explain This Mystery Of The Appearing And DisAppearing Prefix W3

Unfortunately I cannot fathom this.

As far as I understand it, the URL is that string of address we always see in the title bar preceded first by the protocol (which is kinda like FTP) and W3 is always the host server .

But excuse me if I still don't get it when an official website cannot be accessed when prefixed with W3 and can only be when it is prefixed by the protocol. Other websites can be either. So how do you explain that?

Someone Explain These Terminologies - Standby Time And Audio Playback

Can someone also explain what it means by standby time?

Coz some batteries are claiming hundreds of them but I don't see it yet on mine. And tens of hours of audio playback. Again, I don't see it.

I guess that counts out FM radio streaming then. No wonder my IPhone is constantly drained!

No Extraction! Faster Time! And Perhaps Self-Ligating Braces Would Have Helped?

And I was absolutely pissed with my dentist!

I think I didn't need braces for more than 2 years as my teeth was relatively straight forward. I just need that recessed tooth to be brought to the fore and perhaps 6 months to a year would suffice to straighten everything out!

And extractions were unnecessary! Because four of my teeth were, I had to wear braces with ties to close the gaps!

More time and money spent.

What Trauma, Stress, Disturbances And Dissonance Can Do To You (Plus.... Oh Yes....Shifting For The 15th Time)

Because of all the recent traumatic events, disturbances, noise and dissonance, I am stressed and when you are stressed, you don't think or listen very well. I find myself asking others to repeat themselves several times. I am beginning to be impaired like Chris was.

And I had to approach my SAVIOURESS and her compatriots a few times too for help with the computing. Once I am settled down, I could think and read the literature myself and figure how to do the computing stuff.

That is how it is!

Get This Once More To Your Head, Fuckers!

Gerald, the owner of this place, may claim whatever he wanna claim.

For sure, this place is jointly owned. He could be separated and awaiting custody and a divorce trial. Or this place isn't really his. His sister's? His "borther's"?

As it is, he spends nights away and according to his "brother" who lives here, he is at his sister's.

I have a deep feeling in my bones that the duo are just interested in some tips for financial investment. And really to harass me for the 1 month rental prepayment EVEN before I move in is really disturbing and a harassment!

I may find Gerald cute but it will end there and I am remotely interested in his "brother". And I just wanna know what is the agenda.....

Go fuck and drop dead pigs!

More Bimbs At My Ex-School

As it is, I have enough of my ex-classmates at Kaplan.

The ethnics. The fat gal. Sabby. The rest.

I keep running into some of them at school when I wanna settle down to my studies the last time and I know it was purposeful.

A big female chinese student of a new intake I ran into (and I knew this was planted and these people may even be working at Kaplan) suggested I volunteer for APEC or the UN and help out the foreign women.

Fuck you! They were the cause of all my current predicament and I haven't even solved my own problems yet.

And I promptly ran into her again the next day at a nearby Hotel. Coincidence!

And Wimps At Calif

The long-haired retard is trailing me. So is that Hindu Arab or wateva.

Go fly kites and drop fucking dead! Pigs!

If I don't like you means I don't like you, Brothers! That is such a misnomer!

Other Reasons For Ditching Alvin

And there are other reasons why I ditch Alvin. He was beginning to be like his mother or mine (and my brother), nitpicking on my eating style and habits and he was way too sensitive about himself.

I suppose these fucking people think I should sit at home, wait to be fed and served their kinda food they cook.

And smile and wait on them.

We Are On A Bronze Standard (If There Is Even One), Not Gold - That We All Know

We all know what kinda standards we are working on.

From working for He-Ape and the rest, I know this. Point is I am just happy to go on doing my work, especially when dealing with youths in an education setting, but the other people think otherwise.

Brags about their impeccable standards and worse, disturbing me and making me look like I am sub-standard while they are of "GOLD" standard.

Just shut your fucking mouth and let us all just do our part of the work.

Fuck You!

I Am Sick And Tired Of All The Drama And Fucking Shit

Number 15...What More?

If it isn't already clear the "drama" I have to face each day, let me put it across to you very lucidly.

I have moved! Yeah! This is number 15 and I am not sure if I have to count down to more in the near future.

Emotional Manipulator

Old Auntie probably wasn't happy about the utilities usage and she must have some "issues" like the generation of her era. Save electricity, save water, save everything except a life. TADA!

And we all know Ben is a reincarnation of her. He feels and behaves the same way. He is making use of her to talk to us because of her age. Like I was told this "across the causeway" woman emotionally manipulates the banks into giving her loans by using her old grandmother as a crutch and sob story.

Just as Ben uses Vic (his whoever...buddy, beau, ONS, etc) to do all the dirty work for him. Clean the house, dismantle the bed, look for tenants, teach at his "school" etc.

Every time I talk to Vic, he is like looking over his shoulder to see if Ben approves. Not that Vic needs very much prompting as he is already very careful with his words and way too guarded.

When I wanted to find out what kinda internet subscription they are on as the WIFI connection at their place was really good, Vic was even tight-lipped about this. What? Even a simple question like this? What harm can it do?

Drama King And Actors All

As I have lost all my contacts, I was recommended this house mover.

He was a drama king all right. First he came about 3 and a half hours late. When he did, there was this motley crew (mostly ethnics) who were dramatists and noise makers all rolled into one (empty vessels make the most noise). They sure were "professionals" all right, standing around, not knowing what to do and feeling their way to do the job.

Evening traffic was beginning to build up at that time because it was almost after-office hours. After loading my home stuff, he unloaded them again and two other trucks promptly came into sight. This guy was drama mama alright!

Shuffling to and fro and making a lot of noise! There was delay after delay and I was overcharged. Worse I sat right next to a driver and cargo-handler who were dramatists in their own right.

You deserve nominations for the Golden Globe awards, boys! That is as far as I will give you.

Neh Neh Ni Pooh Pooh (15x) (And sticking out tongue)

Another Divorcee With A Toddler Daughter - Is It Just Me Or Is Singapore Teeming With Cute Young Male Divorcees Who Have Had Enough Of Marriages And Their Spouses?

As if that wasn't enough, I had to move in with a 20ish cute young divorcee having custody of his toddler daughter over the weekend. I only like the room and the location wasn't too bad, being near to eating places and the MRT.

Though I couldn't stand the "table" he gave me which stink of cockroaches smell like Old Aunty's drapes at "home" (looks like a slaughter table or altar table to me) and it isn't very clean. Probably picked off some throwaways at a dumping ground.

Enough already!

Wei Zhao and Ashley I can handle. But a girl kid! Ewwwwwwwww! Just get outta my way and sight!

Pre-Purchase Of IPhone

Before the purchase of my IPhone, the demo sets at different shops were not homogenous and yes, sales people tell you different versions and know different things. For instance one may know about this feature while another knows another but not necessarily the other.

Post-Purchase Of IPhone (The Carrier Man Cannot....Apparently)

After getting it, there were other issues to contend with via call-up support, in person and over the website. That was because knowledge was imperfect or lacking and language proficiency wasn't there. Yeah call answerers were mostly ethnics again.

Yes, they don't know what they are saying because they don't understand the information and I was misled. Or they were trying to pull a fast one by circular expression.

PUK and SIM codes (get this right, the former is 8-digit while the latter is 4-digit). Choosing the right data plan (I might as well switch since price for price it is about the same). Everything.

Information Not Expressed Correctly And Imperfect Knowledge Again On The Part Of The Carrier Representatives

I have since learnt that the Bridge DataRoam is automatically deactivated at midnight and you might as well remember to call at that time to reactivate on a daily basis to utilise the benefits fully. Not the 24-hour thingy the operator will have you believe.

Just as I infer that "streaming" FM music over radio frequencies can't be chargeable.

And we have to distinguish between excess charges and pay-as-you-use charges and yes, subscription does not necessarily cover ancillary data usage charges.

And the way the information was expressed, it looks as if Mobile TV and live TV viewing were two different thingies when it should have been made clear that the 2-hour free viewing was given after the unlimited promotional period till March 2010.

IDD services are applicable. Not the normal v019 or 013 services though they apparently have value-added applicable v019 auxillary services.

One Consolation Though - I Love My IPhone - It Is Literally "Hot, Hot, Hot" Sitting As It Did In My Trouser's Pockets (I Hope I Don't Get "Infertility Syndrome")

It is so hot, battery life is short! Ha ha! So I need a backup and it doesn't seem to work as it claims thus far.

Users, Beware! The Carrier Man Cannot Again!

Yes, Internet Tethering service can appear and disappear like a magician's act! So you have to reset network settings every now and then.

And if you have no data plan or limited data coverage, make sure your GPRS network is disabled or you may just get a SHOCKING BILL at the end of your billing cycle because of unanticipated charges.

But I am glad! The IPhone is such a fun and useful gadget! And it looks really good too.

Hip Hip Hurray for Apple!

Language Proficiency And Circular Expression

That reminds me of how much it can be an issue of language proficiency. Sometimes of course it is the way the information is expressed. Because of muddled thinking, circular expression is the only route to take . That is because the person knows nuts about the knowledge.

Like Chris when he teaches "Conflict Management". He was really saying nothing when he taught that module or even "Ethics" because he doesn't know or understand it. Or in the case of "ethics" there wasn't any (mua ha ha ha ha). So it was circular expression.

Or my ex-classmates (ethnics again, like the police officer who kinda interrogated me eons ago). I could see them talking among themselves and sometimes asking what the lecturer was saying when the lecturer in question was crystal clear. They could even interpret the assignment topic differently and thus wrongly.

Particularly this ethnic woman who insists on referencing when we know for a fact that that is required only when it is a word-for-word direct quotation from any source.

Creating a big hoo-ha! Over nothing. If you are creating noise for something positive and good, why not?

Oh and my beloved Sabby. She failed her last module, asked me to email her my assignment and I know she isn't cut out for this kinda academic work and I never hear from her again!

There, transactional relationship!

Don't Come To Me, Get Lost And Fuck Off!

Please don't come to me with your woes and sob-stories! I have enough of my own! I didn't create this mess. Ask THEM!

I will only listen to those I wanna listen to.

Our Foreign Friends (Fiends)

So far I have had largely positive experiences with the Viets, the Thais, the Koreans, the Mynamese, some Taiwanese and yes the Indonesian Chinese to a large extent. I can't really speak for the Japs as I have far and few contact with them. Not so much for the others.

And here I refer to the menfolk.

My question is: Do we have to bring in the rest and we are also bringing in Malaysian Malays and Indians and Indonesian Malays.

Enough already!

Other Asides

If there is fear of a class divide, then let us all become egalitarian. Starting with the elites. Get off your high pedestal and live here among us.

Yes, my star sign is symbolled like Cartier's, Chanel or Celine. Therefore those luxury brands are my destinies.

TADA!

What Is Your Mission? Crime-Busting Right?

Remember that the mission of our crime-busters is simply this - to protect lives in cases of assault, theft, murder, rape and what have you and to prevent and track down criminals.

What is the point of being cooped up, keying in data into a burgeoning computer system filled with crime cases, filing reports, shuffling paper, sitting around and the mission statement is not met!

In the meantime, valuables are criminally misappropriated and stolen! And killers escape!

Another Consolation - An App-solutely Swell Guy!

I met this really swell guy.

Alvin, you know why I ditch you? You are not too bad but I find you cold, distant and uncaring at times. Yes a little selfish and self-absorbed even. I can't connect. Sorry.

Like all those money bois! Not just those rent-for-sex bois but the likes of Ben, Vic (his whoever), Old Aunty, the house movers, the rest. At least if you want money, give your patrons and customers what they deserve and not shortchange them! Money, money and more money!

But this guy is different! I see a lot of good things in him!

Enough Of Drama Shit!

Get this one more time into your thick head!

I will seriously jump off a building and kill myself if nothing pans out the next couple of months. I need that peace with a place to call my own. I will not live with anyone except my beau. And I am not staying with the low income, old folks, ethnics, women, wimps or whatever.

I have nothing in common with them. We don't speak the same language or have the same thinking. At best we are just friends.

As it is, I was estranged from my mom and I don't get along with my two sisters and elder brother.

Get this real right, YOU FUCKTARDS!

The Uninformed And The MisInformed Or MisLed Among Us (***Updated)

One Smart Card For EveryThing

The past two months after losing my laptop and my belongings, I realised how lax and lacking the security system is. Very little in place to prevent or track down theft.

I still think that there must be a way of tagging valuables so that they can be traced in cases of loss. Maybe like the RFID thingy as long as it can't be peeled off (assuming it is a sticker).

And a all-in-one smart card that becomes our identification card, bank card, transport card, travel card and with the options to add on new membership identities (like clubs or shops) all rolled-into-one

In the event of a loss, everthing gets terminated automatically and it renders it useless for thieves.

Can You Trust Them?

And I am not even sure I can trust the people I live with. Could they be monitoring my movements and know where I was hanging out?

Old Aunty for one, Ben another.

And was it linked to the gym? Because Ben seemed totally unperturbed by the loss of his house keys and security access card.

More Bungles

And our dudes can extract wrong reports and give out wrong information and so on.

Considerations For The Only Piece Of Contactable And Storage Device

The loss of my mobile proved to be the most challenging. As it was up for re-contract and I needed it to be contactable (especially during this "crucial" period), I had to get hold of a new phone (perhaps too quickly).

Then there was the slew of considerations to make as the next place I am shifting to has no INTERNET connection and Internet Tethering seems like a likely choice though I am not sure if this will disable all calling and browsing functions on my mobile which is acting as a modem.

And the speed and connection.

When Will These People Tell You The Right Thing And Even The Webby Is UnClear Or Outdated

Information is scanty and outdated both on the web and in person. And there is seriously that lack of language proficiency and understanding or knowledge which leads to the wrong information. Plus muddled thinking.

Usually I get misinformed and apart from this Filipina and local? operator, the mobile retailer and my Saviouress, the rest of them were mostly quacks or non-sense spewers.

Strangely I thought FM radio means just that....transmission over radio frequency, so should it be chargeable on a GPRS network?

Excuse me if the literature is not clear about the protocols, GPRS, 2G, 2.5G and 3G.

***Nah....Correction. The literature is clear. The missing link is GSM and I have since learnt that is what is responsible for the cellular network while GPRS is more data-oriented. I didn't seriously read it carefully enough.

Because that is how it is now with all the bundled data plan.

Most wireless is free. If it isn't it would be locked and secured with pass-codes in the first place.

You are making me hate you more each day! And that is because you are just adding to the confusion.

Never Entirely For Love

And nobody lives for love alone. We all have aspirations, ambition and needs.

For me, a career in higher education (where I deal with the individual and the individual alone) and I can make my biggest contribution here. And I live for my beau (and or adopted boy kid) and yes I need a place of my own in an appropriate location.

I can't be a vegetable staying at home, become a house-husband and grow fat each passing day staring at the four walls.

Get that into your thick head!

AnOther Game Plan And You Die! (**Updated Updates)

Proven Theory Going On To Become The "Law Of The UnHoly Trinity & The 2Fs"
If by now people cannot understand what my issues are with the UnHoly Trinity and the rest, let me repeat and relate my past experiences with them

The blimps are still stuck up there in their ways and thinking. And their past baggages. Remember Sim Mong Chai, He-Ape and you will know why.

The bimbs like Black Widow and fellow ex-colleagues have again proven this. And then there are wimps. The money bois (foreign and local), many of the gays I ran into like Daryl The Eunuch and oh, Chris (blimp and wimp).

Religious fanatics (She-Ape and some of my classmates) and foreigners (the employers I worked for and the people I stayed with) have again proven this theory very well.

Imagine on home ground and I have to constantly watch my back. Large numbers of foreign workers and our own people. Even manning our critical and security positions where money and our physical safety is concerned. From call centres dealing in telephony and banks to information technology.

And if our boys-in-blue can't do much, it does seem like a system is not in place to prevent and track down theft.

So what is the point again? Like the example of that cleaner at the pool?

Unless I see a change, this law is upheld.

First, All The "Incidents" At This Constituency (And I Can Only Guess Why)
Holy Mackerel! This is impossible!

I wrote about the various incidents at Tampines where the senior gym instructress kick-started a chain of bad events. Then there was my stolen pack of ciggies while showering at the gymnasium followed by the old Malay uncle who will always come in to clean up the showers at the Community club only when I step in.

This cleaner at the Community Club is almost like the old Malay uncle at the other public swimming pool who does that. And you just have a feeling he and the previous tatooed old Ah Beng cleaner before him was doing it on purpose. Anyway he just wets the floor, really. Just making it slippery and dangerous for users. Never really scrubbing it.

So what is the point?

While at the swim pool once, I left behind a pair of trunks and only when I got home I discovered the loss. The next day I found it on an ethnic swimmer and an argument with another ethnic lifeguard ensued who was his friend. So was this a collaboration?

Don't forget an Old Chinese uncle actually took my travel bag away when I left it on the arena steps and went for my jog. And I know my wallet was rummaged. He may have good intentions (or was it under the pretext of safe-keeping that he wanted to know its contents) but were they really?

UnBelievably! Beware! Jurong West Stadium Is A Danger Spot!
Guess what! And I could lose my travel bag right under my nose!

I have blogged before how Jurong West stadium and all its other facilities were left in disarray only after opening for not long.

And that is because the foreign cleaners I noticed at that time were making the store their home and seems to be pre-occupied with listening to their ethnic music and what-nots.

Unbelievably, There Could Be Thieves Like That In Broad Daylight - Beef Up Security If It Is A Known Danger Spot And ForeWarn All Users! And This Had To Happen On Home Turf!
Today, I lost my travel bag and all my valuables in it. You name it, I had it. Wallet, mobile phone, house keys, all forms of identification cards, security card, membership cards, my travel bag, polo, jeans, sunglasses, spectacles, cash, transport card (to name those I remember).

I had to borrow money to go home in a cab and again it poured like cats and dogs!

And when I got "home", I was locked out for several hours because Old Aunty wasn't in. She is home most of the time (providing guardianship to all of us older adults at our kinda ages, cooking meals for us to eat and preparing our hot baths - snigger - wait long long) and of all days, she had to be NOT at home!

In fact, she didn't prove any help at all when I lost my lappie last. And all she wanna know is where you eat, how much you spend, where you go and so on. I suppose if I happen to be at Jurong, I should travel all the way down to Ang Mo Kio and pay for a "delicious" meal of a $2.50 "longkang" wanton mee at a hawker centre!

I travelled all the way to Jurong today because a school called and I am not even sure if I got the job! And this had to happen! FUCK!

Insider! Can You Trust Them?
I have a funny feeling it is an inside job. First the whole place was empty. The moment I changed and got ready, there were a few others who joined in. And it was lunch-time, mind you!

An ethnic female "teacher" (according to the cleaner and I feel it in my bones she is a single mom as she claimed to be using her daughter's mobile), then someone in "army-sloganed" tanks and his friend and even the kindergarteners and families were passing by the area for whatever reasons.

And yes I have noticed the foreign workers milling around here. Sitting around, people-watching and at the playground. From the MRT, I already notice an ethnic who kept looking at me and where I went to smoke, he followed. And yes, foreign workers donning the exact same brand of clothes I did! How they got them I can't be sure! If it isn't theirs!

But of course it can be anybody! One of us, Chinese, male or female, young or old, local or foreign, about anyone!

Who Can You Believe?
In fact it seems that these people are more the culprits rather than the heroes they make themselves out to be. Inevitably they always seem to make it like the rest of us are the suspects. The so called "educators", the cleaners, the washers, the public transport staff, maybe even people meant to protect us? The counsellors?

Like this ethnic "teacher" who postulated that whoever it was, was probably eyeing and observing me. She IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT! FUCK ! Maybe she was too! And she was on her daughter's handset which she claimed she was listening to music. Maybe she was giving out instructions to the thieves? Just a postulate!

Even kids would hover around me when I hang a soft-toy on my satchel. Holy Shitty Tornado! And I could see his Mom in the distance breaking into a smile. Another one of your drama-mama scripts you are staging?

Cuss You Even More! Another Of Your GamePlan And Pranks!
If you think you wanna stage another drama like this and script my life further, YOU ARE FUCKING WRONG! There will be no change in my set direction. YOU CAN GO TO HELL AND DROP FUCKING DEAD! Get it?

The more you do this, the more I will hate you. The community (young or old, local or foreign, gay or otherwise, gender-based, ethnic, rich or poor, wateva), and the rest. GET this into your fucking head! Motherfuckers!

Thieving! And These Things Are Mine And They Won't Look Good On You!
This is the last straw. Theft! And whatever I own will not look nice on you! And they are not yours! My cusses remain! You are CUSSED forever....

"SomeWhere Over The RainBow" (Updated)

SomeWhere Over The Rainbow

More songs, what else!

Of so many versions sung by so many different people, I personally like the ones by Doris Day and Celine Dion and only because I didn't listen to the entire listing but sampled a few.

On hindsight, the ones by the originator "Judy Garland, "Celtic Woman" and American Idol Jason Castro were really good. And I got to see one of my favorite singers "Josh Groban" in a duet rendering the same song.

This song really kicks!

From Now On, It Is Gonna Be All Apple For Computing, Audioing And Cellularing

To keep my mind engaged even further, I am gonna spend at least the next 6 months studying the Mac OS X.

As it is, I am enjoying the quiet, solid and very stable UNIX system it runs on and many of Mac's unique and useful features.

I may actually migrate to its system eventually, ditching Windows for good?

And as a final tribute to all things Apple, I am gonna switch to an iPhone and Ipod very, very soon when my re-contract comes up. Among some of my wishlist would be that Iphone will feature screen-savers and messaging emoticons real soon !

Ode to Apple!

I Am (Wo)Man (Song By Helen Reddy), "Money, Money, Money" (Abba), "Material Girl" (Madonna) & "Thank You For Being A Friend" (Andrew Gold)

I Know I Promised To Blog On Friday
I will be blogging when I get home tonight.

In the meantime, bear with me and I leave you a song popularized by Helen Reddy. Just change the gender and it becomes "MAN", what else.

But Guess What? I Am Just Too Shagged Out And It Is Only Sunday Today!
But hey, today is already Sunday....and I am bloody shagged out by all the past events. From losses to losses. So I think I will pass on blogging and just leave you with the titles of the song.

Please look them up and sing to the lyrics. I think they do encapsulate some of our general feelings at times?

Oh yes, several new additions like "Money, Money, Money" by ABBA.......what else??? And don't forget to all the f(r)iends out there, "Thank You For Being A F(r)iend" by Andrew Gold written for the popular drama serial "Golden Girls".

Finally to round it all off, "Material Girl" (Madonna).

TADA!

Breaking Point - I Am Tired
Look, we all have our breaking point, man or woman, young or old, wateva.

I have reached mine. You had your fun. Now grant me my passageway......

Please! $ob $ob $ob?

More Emo-ing Over A Lost Lappie And Other Bad News- Boo Hoo! Boo Hoo! (New)

How Many People In This Fucking World Actually Lose Their Lappies? There You Are...It Is A Darn, Fucking, Stinking Predatory World And You Wanna Trust Humans?
You know what? I don't think I am over yet emo-ing over my lost lappie....

And I can only put my loss down to several factors:

1. eversince that new guy (let's call him LV dude) moved next to my room, I have been harassed by what was once his "sleeping" partner. This "sleeping partner" drives a Tourism Coach and he has been waylaying me at home like near my bedroom and outside the mansion. He will cover his face with papers and so on and pretend that he is buried in reading while waylaying and harassing me.

2. then the LV dude who is still staying here, is dirtying the toilet to get back at me because I wasn't smiling to him and I dont want to because we are too close in proximity and I need my space and privacy. And I am NOT AT ALL sexually interested in him.

3. another new guy has moved into Henry's (Henry is the other tenant who has since moved out and not to be confused with Henry my ex-lecturer) quarters and he and this LV dude seem to be "getting more than along".

Speaking of Henry, he looks a lot like Richard my ex-lecturer.

They also look like the same guy who was recommended me by a government agency when I was looking for premises to start a school.

My first impression was bad. He spoke of how traffic wardens and the traffic police are always out in full force when they need revenue (another gripe). Then I couldn't trust him because I asked if other schools will be allowed to start on their premises as well but he couldn't vouch for that.

And the place wasn't appropriate because it was stocking construction materials and it was also running their own programs and business programs happen to be one of them. I was afraid of being taken over. Guess what! My hunch was right! Today it has become a full-fledged academy and not the HQ of the construction industry as it was back then.

4. Someone told me he lost his electronic dictionary just days before this incident. It was a sob-story that rubbed on to me I guess. How else will you explain this ? Moral of the story is ....LAY OFF SOB STORIES because it may just befall me....

5. I seldom take out my notebook to public places these days and when I do, it is always in a travel bag. But that fateful day, I had to, because Ben has issued the ultimatum for me to vacate the place (and I suspect that this LV dude is Ben's friend and they were harassing me because Ben wants back his room) and I was trying to look for a new place online.

Or Ben has plans to lease it out to some foreign students like the Chinese students in my school because he has contact with my Chinese ex-roomie.

6. And I was hand carrying my lappie that day, something which I have never done before in my whole entire life.

7. Backpain, braces' tightness, vision strain, grogginess, a splitting headache from stresses, all my losses, etc SO I LET GO OF MY LAPPIE, what else.

8. Plus, not having the security of my home or an office or a home office (imagine if it RAINS) where I can properly do my work and stuff. Some quiet, ideal places out there have such BAD INTERNET CONNECTION.

People must be eyeing me when I was hand carrying my lappie.

I suspect it could even be from my school, the students.

The passengers like those off-duty, across-the-causeway bus captains aboard the bus speaking in accented Cantonese (and there are plenty of them around as mothers with kids in tow, home-makers, coffee-shop assistants and operators, etc, etc). Or even the kindly-looking shopkeeper where I boarded my buses.

So you see, I let down my guard and in a moment of weakness, BAD THINGS START TO HAPPEN!

Plus whoever is still holding on to my lappie is A STINKING FUCKING LOWDOWN criminal and thief who is MISAPPROPRIATING LOST PROPERTY. I am surprised this happens in Singapore but I can't be sure if that person is ONE OF US?

I suggest that RFID tags (which in this case should be a Serial Number, if not, what good is a SERIAL NUMBER for?) be made compulsory for all past and present valuable properties like lappies and luxury goods so that should they be misappropriated or stolen, they CAN BE TRACKED DOWN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!

Cuss You!
My cuss remains.

Whoever has done this to me will suffer something in return. What I don't know. Something debilitating, an accident, some misfortune, maybe even a horrible death.

Even if he/she lives long and suffers nothing (seemingly), at least on the surface, on the day of death and on her/his deathbed, all the demons will gather round and he/she will suffer great throes of sufferings, pain and anguish and his/her gut will gnaw at him/her before he/she dies.

That is the way it will be.

Was That Why I Didn't Fare As Well In School Back Then?
This also brings to mind how difficult it was to follow the business or school texts of old, which were usually overseas editions.

It is like foreign currencies and units of measure (imagine doing conversions for pence, penny, shilling, gallons, yards, foot and what have you). Language was usually stiff and rigid laced with many of that said country's cultural backdrop. The names of places, people, events and food items. And it wasn't very illustrative or user-friendly.

Very much like reading a Victorian piece of literature and for an ordinary, in the street folk, how many of us actually has contact with the kinda setting, backdrop, cultural habits and language of the said country?

Psycho Movies
Chris has been screening movies for his students again. So I learnt from an ex-classmate I ran into.

Of course we all know that movies have never made it to the Golden Psi List except for some television dramas (which is an award handed out for realistic portrayals of psychology). And worse, there is always that element of an "artistic licence". Therefore there is always that CAUTIONARY WARNING!

But seriously these three movies were not that bad.

They were "Patch Adams", "Doubt" (Oscar nominee) and "Girl Interuppted" (1999 Academy Award Winner for Best Supporting Actress and that honor goes to Angelina Jolie).

"Patch Adams" taught us the moral of the importance of laughter and positivism in promoting good health. That was the philosophy behind Patch Adams' institution and all those physically and mentally sick and crazy people actually needed friends to talk to and happiness in their lives.

"Doubt" also shows the austerity of the Roman Catholic orders especially among the nuns. When a priest tries to break that tradition in his pastoral role in school, he is regarded with suspicion by the nun principal and forced to resign. Undertones of homosexuality and its discrimination.

Finally "Girl Interrupted" was the funniest and the best. It showcased several "loonies" "incarcerated" in a mental institution and their intricate relationships and past histories. Angelina Jolie rightly deserves her winning role for her more than realistic portrayal of a sociopath.

Again the movie highlighted how we are actually all NORMAL people living in AN ABNORMAL world.

What Would You Say Is Your Most Significant Achievement In Life? And My Answer Would Be...........
And yeah we all know the hype about achievement and significant contribution in life.

So if ever anyone were to ask me what was my most significant achievement in life, I would reply:

"Having great sex?"

And as an afterthought....

"Loads of it......."

And a further afterthought......

"And oh yes.....owning luxury goods.......tonnes of it?"

Another AfterThought
And was my cataract a result of a past double eyelid surgery? Did it kinda disarm my eyelashes and eyelid from its protective function against the sun?

And I agree that like a Western notion of what constitute correct dress protocol when donning a business shirt with tie for formal office wear (as against a Mandarin collar), the Western concept of a double eyelid as beautiful (versus a natural Asian single eyelid) is also flawed.

My next question is : What will be the after-effects of skin laser...?????

There Are Other Bracing Systems Out There!
Remember what I have mentioned about an imperfect world in terms of knowledge. Well this illustrates my point succinctly.

I just found out there were comparable bracing systems out there in the world today.

One promised INSTANT braces with only 2 visits and no extractions and no relapses. Another promised a shorter time with fewer visits and better quality results.

Mine has taken me almost two years and I probably have half a year more to go. Plus another two years wearing retainers.

Prices were either cheaper or comparable. So why was information withheld for whatever reasons? Why wasn't I informed of what was available? Or was I just caught on the wrong side of the technology advance curve?

Sigh! Enough of bad news already and given my age, do they have to.......................? The young have better coping capacity but please, can you spare me...........?

"I Will Survive" (Gloria Gaynor) And 2009 Remix By Pussy Cat Dolls
Finally I leave you with this song .

It embodies what I think I will be enunciating for some time to come.............

What Else Before I Drop Dead?
My rice bowl has been broken by many people. I have lost money and my home. I can't move on to my higher education. My physical and mental health is poor. I am not sure what is gonna happen next....

I may just die from it all..............

The Way Forward (Newest)

Clarification : It Is Not To Be Taken Literally But Figuratively
I hope readers did not take it too literally when I wrote about the hearing and intellectually-impaired.

I am sure they understood that I meant those who did not hear or understand what I had said or written in my blogs.

The likes of people who love throwing their weight around and who obviously do not listen and always cut in when you talk to them.

People like that senior instructress at the gym (and I had a quite a few incidents at this constituency), the assistant manager at my school (effectively a sales consultant) and the rest.

Oh yeah! I actually ran into the Eunuch Daryl just today. He seems to be doing fine. The usual posturing, false accent, pompoity (so full of himself, that fucking wimpy prick) and nonsense. He is an "educator", mind you.

But one day he will get his just dessert. Nearer old age if he lives long enough or upon his death. It will not be peaceful I assure you. It will be a horrible death. He will be gnawed inside of him before he kicks the bucket.

Human (Song By "Human League")
No matter.

I am human after all, of flesh and blood I am made, born to make mistakes (TADA - lyrics of the song and yes Wang Lee Hom actually did a "TADA" pose when he debuted at ION Orchard's Grand Opening).

I do feel a whole range of emotions, feelings (nothing more than feelings - TADA again with lyrics from the the other song "Feelings") and frustrations from day to day, even hour on the hour. I do need to VENT "my feelings" and my blog seems like the WAY TO GO!

Feelings (Song By Morris Albert)
Like the pain I have been experiencing the last couple of weeks. The throbbing pain centred right between my browhead and a kinda cold searing sensation running down my back in addition to what else but more pain. Which includes pain from my knees.

At times I felt like passing out, feel disoriented (maybe my braces and vision played their part in making me feel even groggier), light-headed and dizzy especially among crowds and constant movement.

That explains my agitation and irritability when I am faced with harassment from groups I blogged about. And by the way any community, young or old, ethnic or otherwise, foreign or local must remember that if stereotypes are to be broken, they must prove themselves and earn the respect from the rest of us


And of course a fillthy toilet at "home" (whch attracts fruit flies sticking on to dental floss, hair, food scraps, urine and faecal stains) just adds up, doesn't it? I mean it is living quarters after all and don't we all wanna keep our abodes clean?

Which explains why I could actually lose my notebook! $%^#@@@.

An UnLucky Day (Hey! Sounds Like I Am Writing A Primary Fourer Essay All Over Again!)
That was the worst day of my life.

After almosting fainting from the grogginess and all the pain, I finally discovered I had misplaced my notebook. I frantically retraced my steps. A search at the showers, the booking office and the bus depot turned up nothing.

To add to all my woes, it poured and that delayed me from swinging into action fast. I was caught in the rain and my mobile shut down several times (despite having upgraded the software at a fee previously) while I was making all the necessary calls to the LOST AND FOUND hotlines.

I hadn't eaten the whole day and thought I could catch a quick bite at the Jap restaurant while waiting for the rain to stop but to place an order I had to literally walk round the restaurant windows and pick out little wooden sticks showing the food menu items I wanted.

IT WAS SUCH A HASSLE I decided to go hungry.

The cab I hailed to head down to the premium reseller was a NEW driver and GOD, I had to direct him in the sad emotional and physical state I was in.

I finally decided to go home, ate my late lunch at the nearby foodmall and slumped in my bed, dead to the world to sleep over the UNLUCKY DAY I have had. I really wanted to DIE that day, feeling weak and tired and mentally washed out.

I only managed to pick up my strength the following day, filed an online police report and the store supervisor of another authorised reseller I visited that day was really my SAVIOURESS!

As an afterthought, something should be done about the Serial Number of the product which will make it effectively the ID for its owner and no theft or criminal misappropriation is possible.

Like making it the de-facto log-in identification and anyone else using it will be caught red-handed?

Really Wonderfully Conceived Audio Products That Needs A Bit More Research And Refinement?
When I came across these two sets of capsule speakers engineered in Singapore but manufactured in China and Taiwan respectively, I was REALLY taken up with their conception.

I am not sure if they are one and the same company but the products were similar on many counts.

While one was doing fine, another wasn't. At least not the model I picked up. But its other model was working well. Does that explain why its webby was signed off as "a works in progress"and the products at another shop were "sold out" (or was it recalled or withdrawn)?

The retractable cables were a wonderful concept but it couldn't retract to its original position. The sticker logos (like my mobile the last time) came off easily and there was an accompanying bee-buzzing sound along with the volume. And yes, the white models stain very easily like mine did.

However, it has many things going for it. The volume tuner, the accordion-like bass resonator which with one twist opens up and the cool magnetic attachment of two capsules to make it ONE neat tower.

All it needs is further research and refinement. Perhaps even going wireless. I am sure there is a HUGE market demand for such an innovative and clever portable audio device.

Anyway international brands do have their faults too like two USB slots spaced too closely together to fit odd-sized USB devices (what with new and creative designs happening nowadays). But this is easily overlooked by using an extension USB port?

Sometimes even straps of internationally designed lappie bags meant to hold down the lappie don't velcro together at the right places to REALLY HOLD IT DOWN!

Not to mention a local edition of an internation fashion magazine could caption a luxury brand fashion wear wrongly. Guess it could mistake the uncanny resemblance of some of the brands' respective logos or is it? Think Chanel and Chloe. Is there a resemblance in the first place?

Therefore, what can I say if humans can make mistakes (if I make mistakes, it only has private consequences but hey.....these are public mistakes) but well done SINGAPORE!

Do We Wanna Regress Or Do We Wanna Move Forward?
We have gotten to where we are and it is either an inflexion point or a upward sloping gradient (mathematically speaking).

We can't regress.

Otherwise we will have to go back to building thatched-roof or mud houses and worse, reverting to THE BUCKET SYSTEM!

What can I say again? "Yucks" I guess?

And as a further afterthought, do we really wanna revert to the old ways of folklore, myths, superstition, traditional medicine (like drilling into human heads to treat psychopathologies back in the old days?) and the whole ding-dong thingy by bringing in large numbers of Third World new immigrants?

What Will Be The Solution To Capturing An Even Greater Market Share And Keeping It A Perpetually Captive Audience Especially For Innovative And Useful Products ? Comprehensive Product Knowledge (So That The Full Range Of Benefits Of The Products And Services Are Exploited) And Training Done Uniformly Across The Board?
Knowledge is imperfect. Hence, there are HUGE GAPING GAPS and LAPSES in product knowledge even among sales personnel working for THE SAME BRAND.

Not my saviouress. She kinked out my audio output problem by just enabling the correct audio device. A check with other sales staff and even on forums mistakenly attributes the fault to not installing the appropriate drivers or that we had to wait for such a technical update which wasn't available now.

I am so sorry. That was the reason why I made my SAVIOURESS do the software loading. I just wanna make sure everything works. I spoke too soon when I told her I trust the speakers worked. They didn't and I had to return to the store the next day to replace them.

And yes no "expert" knows everything.

"Seasons In The Sun - GoodBye To You My Trusted Friend" & "I Have A Dream" (Updated)

One More Stumping Question And The Sole Correct Answer Provided
Oh yes before I forget.

Another stumping question extracted from this assessment paper courtesy of our education publishing house.

Q: They ........... Lee as a mentor to them
Choices: look upon, look to.....
A: Look upon

To me, both are acceptable. If there is another choice like "look up to" (meaning respect), this would also figure favourably as an acceptable answer.

Poignant And Meaningful Lyrics, Beautiful Melody And It All Just Came Pouring Back
All of a sudden the lyrics of this song by Terry Jacks in the 70s sprang to my mind. This song was copied from a Belgian singer and Westlife revived it in 1999/2000. In fact Westlife also reprised another song made famous by the Swedish group ABBA, "I Have A Dream".

I have presented both songs' lyrics here.

Maybe because two hot gorgeous RI boys sat right across from me on the MRT just a couple of hours ago and that triggered the memory of this song.

One was fair and beautiful and he was clutching a silver trophy he had won for some sports competition while his sun-kissed muscled friend sitting next to him had won the gold.

I think they are good friends and I enjoyed watching both of them share a moment or two of a relational intimacy between themselves.

In part I dedicate this to Francis Wee, my ex-classmate who had died last month under mysterious circumstances. I can only guess at what had happened but I refuse to speculate other than it was un-natural death.

Though we were not extremely close (yes we climbed Mt Ophir together, had a common friend in a gay seminarian and Patrick Ee was another mutual gay friend) and I was annoyed Francis didn't really respond when I bumped into him agan while on a teaching assignment at Wicked StepMother's and Daryl Chan's, nonethless we did hang out for a while.

I didnt attend his funeral wake. I was too besotted with problems myself and tired out, I guess.

I thought I should share the lyrics with you and leave the interpretation open.

Seasons In The Sun Lyrics

Goodbye to you my trusted friend
We've known each other since we were nine or ten
Together we've climbed hills and trees
Learned of love and ABC's
Skinned our hearts and skinned our knees

Goodbye my friend it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that spring is in the air
Pretty girls are everywhere
Think of me and I'll be there
We had joy, we had fun we had seasons in the sun
But the hills that we climbed
Were just seasons out of time

Goodbye Papa please pray for me
I was the black sheep of the family
You tried to teach me right from wrong
Too much wine and too much song
Wonder how I got along

Goodbye Papa it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
Little children everywhere
When you see them, I'll be there
We had joy, we had fun We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons have all gone

We had joy, we had fun
We had seasons in the sun
But the wine and the song
Like the seasons have all gone

Goodbye Francis my little one
You gave me love and helped me find the sun
And every time that I was down
You would always come around
And get my feet back on the ground

Goodbye Francis it's hard to die
When all the birds are singing in the sky
Now that the spring is in the air
With the flowers everywhere
I wish that we could both be there

I Have A Dream

I have a dream, a song to sing

To help me cope with anything

If you see the wonder of a fairy tale

You can take the future even if you fail

I believe in angels

Something good in everything I see

I believe in angels

When I know the time is right for me

Ill cross the stream - I have a dream

I have a dream, a fantasy

To help me through reality

And my destination makes it worth the while

Pushing through the darkness still another mile

I believe in angels

Something good in everything I see

I believe in angels

When I know the time is right for me

Ill cross the stream - I have a dream

Ill cross the stream - I have a dream

Real Education For A Real World (Updated Updates)

Bonkity Bonkers
I am glad my recent shopping and window-shopping spree have not been in vain.

It is the only thing I have got, by the way, in lieu of all the recent traumatic events that had happened.

The financial crisis, all my losses, all the psychopathologies, living conditions, the various personalities I meet and the nonsensities they spout.

Chew On This
I mean what is the point of dwelling on psychopathologies and labelling someone as such. Is it gonna help him in any way?

That is the thing about friends (or is it fiends) too isn't it? Gay or otherwise. We sit together, eat, watch a movie or a soccer match, talk no end but what is that gonna lead?

Am I gonna recoup my financial losses? Get back my home? A job? Anything?

Positive Psychology - Love, Art (And Here It Can Mean Designer Or Luxury Brands), Beauty, Sports, Health, Food,The Works
I am kinda practising positive psychology now.

Appeciating beautiful objects like young Asian Chinese (here it embraces Koreans and Japanese)and Western men (and boys), art, luxury brand apparels and leathergoods and laying my hands on whatever new knowledge that I can .

To work off all those negativities, I am running and walking and boy, is it therapeutic and mind-engaging!

The Latest Cigarette/Cigar Lighter Technology
For one, cigarette/cigar lighter technology has advanced to the stage that there is no need for a flame and it is completely smokeless. Much like smokeless tobacco.

That means being environmentally friendly with none of the pollutant and contaminant that is soot. Designer brands seem to have gone miles ahead here while luxury brands are in a lull.

The new technology does put across a science concept of the bunsen burner more clearly than what my teachers have ever done in school.

And yes the Pickens Power Play Plan is certainly at work here. Gaseous fuels is always friendlier than liquid fuels and clean energy is the way to go forward.

What's more the bigger issue of the needless transfer of wealth especially to your nemeses. In fact this concept should be extended and studied more thoroughly and applied to other equally disturbing "transfer of wealth" issues. All countries please take note!

I am fully behind you Sir! May you be that old world force I need to get back on my feet like in the movie "Transformers - Revenge Of The Fallen"

Newest Pen Technology?
Again designer brands reign. It is amazing enough that they have an all-in-one pen. Rollerballs, ballpoints, fountain and mechanical pencils. Others claim to function as styluses, highlighters (I was told about this but wasn't shown any) and one luxury brand even has a USB device attached.

Now the consumer has to decide which is a more worthwhile proposition - a singular function pen or a multi-purpose one. Plus the fact that the price for each pen may just add up to equal the price of a all-rolled-into-one pen.

And if twist or click versus cap and uncap would help in cases of ink leakages.

You will be surprised that in both the above cases, the sales staff may not know any better and try to get away with it.

Where Have All The MensWear Gone? (Peter Seeger's Song "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?")
The women are having a ball here. What with multi, strictly Amiga only brands and multi-assorted new designs and colors.

Poor amigos like us are stuck with black, chocolate, grey or white (especially the underwear section) for color choices and the few deemed classic designs for men. Not to mention that menswear are MIA for some luxury brands here.

Liz Claiborne would be yet another example and all the while I thought it was strictly only womenswear.

Hijacking What Was Traditonally A Male Symbol NeckWear
The Romas have even hijacked our Boy Scouts' neckerchief and claim it as their very own fashion neckwear! Shame on you if that has left us empty-handed!


So What If I Turn A Sweater Wear Inside Out Or Upside Down Especially Here In The Tropics

And who cares if here in the tropics, I turn a sweater (at least to the Americans, that is what they call it just like a handkerchief is called a pocket square) into a daytime wear minus the apparel inside. Just as long as it isn't too knitted-looking or see-through or thick wooly woollen.

Finally A Little Male Fashion Wear Reprieve And Concession

Thank god, Mango has just recently started its Homini Emerito line at a local department store.

By "local" I mean sited here in Singapore and not of local origins - in fact, this store is Japanese.

Which brings me to my point of how we should reconcile the two, like a foreign domestic maid, oxymoronic as it sounds or should I then re-phrase it as a local foreign department store.

Are we poor Amico souls having a bad deal? Like we aren't already in other respects?

Who Says The Social Sciences Is An Inferior Science When Compared To The Hard Sciences Or Maths?
The social sciences especially languages or business is a dynamic discipline that cannot be like the Maths or the Sciences where it is neatly right or wrong.

Higher Maths like Calculus is highly abstract and probably good for building mental agility, speed and aspiring to lofty but purely academic mathematical pursuits.

But in the long run, the social sciences is more "application and hands-on" much like Information Technology, a hard science.

I just realised that about myself. The books I read are usually of this kind. Software application packages, psychology, financial investment, fashion, sports and gym-training.

A Condensed Comprehension Passage And Graphic-Stimulus Passage (Extracted From A Text Published By Our Local Foreign? Education Publishing House) For A Primary Fiver Just Boggles
Read these condensed materials, the questions asked about them , the sole model answer provided in each case and let me know what you think.

By the way the whole action happened underwater in a bayou for the comprehension passage.

Is A Scenario Like This Possible? Is There Only One Correct Answer Or Are There Other Possibilities?

".......... The rescuer got hold of a knife and tried to cut through the nylon strap but it was futile......the baby rescued was hanging like a limp blue doll.......rescuers tried resuscitation.....and just as the medical staff were about to give up......it was miraculously revived........"

Q: "Why do you think the rescuer couldn't cut through the nylon strap?"
A: "The knife was blunt"

Here Goes Other Possibilities
What about another possibility that the underwater pressure and current was just too overwhelming (*yes, quit staring at me again, this in fact employs science to answer the question).

Or that the rescuer was feeling tired, weak and effeminate at that point in time.

Or the nylon was just too tough or that the knife was too small or the rescuer was diminutive in size?

Another Stumping Question
Q; "Quote the phrase to show that the baby's revival was a miracle"
A: "Like a limp blue doll"

And Another Possible Answer?
How about "medical staff were about to give up"?

We know that since a phrase is needed, "miraculously" is most probably out.

Is This Testing English Language Proficiency In The First Place? Or Is It A General Knowledge/Geography Question And How Is "Region" Defined Anyway Especially In This Case - Asia Pacific Region?

".......Stand to win attractive prizes like a trip to the region........."

Q: "Where will prize-winners get to go away to?"
Choices: "Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Indonesia"
Answer: "Indonesia"

This Would Be The Purview Of The Education Ministry And The Educators
And please, don't give me that dirty look. I am not responsible. The educators are. The publishers are. The ministry is. They should have highlighted this, asked and debated on this and put things right.

A bigger question is: will such questions be set and if so, will the ministry accept other possibilities or JUST ONE "RIGHT" ANSWER or at least what they deem to be "RIGHT".

Should publishers screw our students even more with this kinda publication?

One Last Comment About My Program Of Study
My last module was taught by a certain Laurence. He wasn't too bad. The Egan's Model he espouses wasn't too bad either in that it provided a structure and framework for counsellors to work with.

Except that application is quite another thing. I deem the skills set too much of a questioning skills set, including asking miracle questions.

Apart from my blog about the materials, I do have some issues with the personalities of the lecturers and some of the things they said. Would I entrust my life and my mind to these people? I would think real hard I guess.

I would rate my lecturers from BEST to WORST thus:

*Karen, Reena, Laurence, Henry, Richard & finally the one who takes the cake.....Chris..TADA!*

At Whose Convenience? Yours Or Mine?
Our transport operators termed it a "convenience fee". I am referring to the CEPAS-linked Giro Reload EZ card which charges $0.25 for every auto top-up.

At whose convenience, I might like to know.

Is it convenient for us, the citizens? Who do we have for travelling companions? Foreign workers of all kinds and sometimes in their working clothes. Loud chatters. A babel of tongues. All kinds of habits.

What use is it to clean and spruce up, modernise and build some of our public amenities and housing to be spanking new architectural marvels? Who patronises them and what happens?

Do citizens get any better in terms of ridership privileges?

I Should Have Been Him And His Job Mine
I came across new Chinese citizens in our midst. They started schools in 2002. Why couldn't I? Because I didn't agree with the fire-safety rules. Then came the licensing agreement. After which a constituency surgery bungle ensued.

And what of Ben? He has been here since his primary school days and yet he is only a PR? Why isn't he committed? Seems like he is here only for the taking. To kill two birds with one stone? Or is he trying to escape NS liabilities, so an older age like 40 would be a better time when liabilities end.

Is this fair? Bigger question is has he made a BIG difference? I don't think so. I don't see it. If he has, it is only to be seen and a political move. No real impact. No real difference.

What he does is actually my job. He took it away from me. Plus he has the advantage of the patronage of his well-to-do father.

At whose convenience again, may I ask.

The Cathay Gallery, Exaggerated Devastation, Fund-Raising, Of Uomos And Hommes Particularly Asians & A Repeat To Remind The Hearing-Impaired (Newest)

The Cathay Gallery
Everyone should, if they can, take a peek inside the museum housed at The Cathay building.

It traces cinematography in general, its own filmographic rising in Asia, particularly SEA, while chronicling the life and times of Loke Yew, his fourth wife Lim Kim Cheng, his descendants especially the couple's only son Dato Loke Wan Tho.

The short clip of the tragic plane-crash in Taiwan which killed Dato Loke Wan Tho, his wife Mavis and his top management people in the movie industry must certainly ring a a heart-felt note of sadness and loss even among us who don't know him personally.

All I can gather is that Dato Loke Wan Tho was an adventurer, a traveler, an expeditionist, a naturalist, an intellectual cum academician, an entrepreneur, a sportsman, an arts, culture and movie buff whose myriad of interests brought him halfway around the globe.

Someone who built up international relations with whomever he meets. Among them, American luminaries like Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis, William Holden and mother of local celebrity, Anita Sarawak, Siput Sarawak.

From cinema seats and movie-screening equipment to admission tickets of old, this museum holds a place in our hearts for the benefit of posterity.

There were old movie clips of Malay folktales like "Pontianak", "Hang Tuah/Jebat", "Orang Minyak (Oily Man)" and the rest. Movies which I have watched when I was a kid.

Everyone should visit if not for a glimpse of cinematic history then perhaps a slice of genealogy and personal history of a GREAT MAN of his times.

3 Days In China But In Singapore, It Takes At Least Two Years Or More
The Chinese has a saying that it takes three days to build a house in their home country.

When I see pictures of the devastation wrought about by typhoons or quakes in the various regions recently, I could see the kinda simple structure and the low rises and the very low-rises they were made of and I am pretty sure they can be rebuilt doubly quick and cheaply too.

Not so in Singapore as we all know how our construction industry works, especially in the public housing sector, being high rises that they are.

Therefore I think there could be more exaggeration than there is fact in the various disaster reports.

Dear Gal, Why Don't You Sell Your LV HandBag Or Home Before Even Asking Another To Raise Funds For The Poor And The Disaster-Stricken Victims Overseas
As I sat eating at the Japanese foodmall, I couldn't help noticing different cliques of people dining at the other tables.

After they have finished and were dispersing, a young lady walked up to me and asked to sit down to chat with me.

It turns out she was soliciting funds for a NGO in Cambodia which coincidentally was affiliated to the orphanage I know.

Hey, what about soliciting funds for me? I have lost my everything and I am at my wit's end (because nothing is working out for me at the moment). Especially like how I am gonna claw back my losses, recoup them and get me my own home and higher education.

The young ladies were well-dressed. Just like the other girls and boys you see on the streets and in our education instituitions, some are even togged out in luxury-branded high-fashion and accessories (one was carrying a LV handbag).

How paradoxical!

Where Are The Hommes And Uomos For Some Of The Luxury Brands Here Like Fendi and Loewe?
Menswear sales is outstripping womenswear worldwide.

But why is it not happening here in Singapore? Especially the luxury brands?

And Fendi, Loewe, Versace, Bottega Veneta, Salvatore Ferragamo, Yves Saint Laurent, Bally Givenchy, Valentino (plus many more) do not have a a "homme" or "uomo" presence here be it ready-wear, bespoke, haute couture or accessories.

At best they feature a very limited range of their products. For example, accessories and some outer-wear but not the ready-to-wear in the case of Salvatore Ferragamo, Bally and Bottega Veneta.

Or a complete non-presence here at all especially apparels. Fendi and Loewe for instances.

Seasonal Changes In Tropical South East Asia?
And the four seasons compressed into a period of six months for F/W and S/S each just cannot apply here in tropical Singapore or for that matter South East Asia or anywhere else where the climate is ruled by the equator all year round.

The year's seasons should be divided into quarters with three of that set aside for spring/summer in this part of the world.

Boutique, Concept Stores & Certainly Location Especially In The Heart Of Orchard Road Is Important

And we appreciate and prefer more boutique or concept stores kinda thingy. Not department stores where just too many brands and apparels are lumped together, crying out for our attention.

Usually they don't get the full attention they deserve. Pierre Cardin & Balmain for example.

Or simply ONE brand carrying its everything in its OWN BOUTIQUE STORE! Custom-fits, ready-wears, eyewears, leathergoods, accessories, neckwears, fragrances, timepieces, whatever.

No point putting all those beautiful, masterful pieces of art in the far corner or a quiet end of Orchard Road where human traffic is S-L-O-W? Simply because it ain't happening at this end and there is NO sheltered or covered LINK from central Orchard to HERE, transportational or otherwise! Imagine if it rains.

So why are HOMBREs kinda missing out when the women are already having a ball here with the likes of Herve Leger, Chanel, Kate Spade, Chloe, BCBGMaxAzria, Miu Miu, Max Mara, Diane Von Furstenberg and the rest.....

These are strictly FEMME, ELLE and DONNAs' wear with none of their ROMO counterparts in sight.

Don't forget book-stores, fine dining cafes, flower-shops and confectioneries in the case of Armani and you get the picture how our retail scene here is getting boring and lifeless.

This certainly calls for a RADICAL and REVOLUTIONARY change in the way we think and map out the retail fashion, dining and lifestyle scene here.

And Asian-Sized Modifications
From spectacle frames to vertical hand-carry bags to fashion apparel.

In terms of nose-bridges, height, body built, foot-sizes and facial features, we need bodily modifications in some respects.

More Chinese Themes, Features And Designs For Casuals, FormalWear And In-Betweens, Priced Cheaper And Catering To A Mid-To-Younger Generation
I feel sad too that a Chinese luxury brand hasn't got more going for its line of casuals or formal wear or a off-shoot for a mid to younger generation or a cheaper second-line featuring more Chinese themes, designs and motifs.

Rebranded Brands
Add more rebranded brands now featuring at our local shopping gallery. For one, Prologue and UrbanWrite (aka as Popular)

Unfair Advantages In Education? Or Is It Cheating?

I hope that my school has better sense in ensuring that earlier intakes of students who have sat for the exams or done the assignments do not pass on this sensitive information to the people they introduce to the school in later batches.

My school can do this by consistently revising the assignment and exam questions so that no two intakes' papers look the same. The situation is made worse when batches come back-to-back with just a couple of months separating them. Not a year or more.

It does seem like many of the students have family, relatives and friends in the school and ethnic community ties sometimes do rule. Money speaks even louder I suppose. What more pally-pally relations with the administrators or academia.

This would constitute unfair advantages tantamount to cheating and in education that would make it a total sham.

Why Is It So Hard To Get Through To You? Are You Hard Of Hearing?
I feel I must repeat this ONCE MORE, for the benefit of the hearing-impaired and the fucktards.
I have very clear concrete goals and I know what I want. What I need for them to materialise is MONEY.....

These goals include, but are not limited to, working within the education industry and preferably higher education. And working with a majority of Asian Chinese youths. Not like the class for the program of study I undertook.

So please, do not plant BLIMPS, BIMBS and WIMPS everywhere I go. And stop putting all those ethnic, third world foreigners, the intellectually-impaired or old fucktards in my face or near me. Stop harassing me! Like the phone call I got from an ethnic just a day or two ago. JUST FUCK OFF!

And these same ethnic hooligans have earned enough on their sales commission on me during my various retail purchases recently. Invariably they were the ones who always snuggle up to me, smelling a potential buyer.

But I assure you they will need loads more in return in the future because SOMETHING IS GONNA BEFALL them.

I will not be a spokesman for any of them.

I will NOT BE signing up for ANY political party, the incumbent or otherwise. I will not be made the POSTER BOY for the opposition camp like the two we have for parliamentarians.

Putting me here among them is just gonna breed lots of resentment and hostility. It is best we keep our distance and just work or play together when we need to.

SINGAPOREANS are NEVER worth speaking up for and they are NEVER worth fighting for.

Get this into your THICK HEADS, motherfuckers!

You Send Us Away After You Take Our Money - That Is Really Cool (Newest)

Minty-Tasting Water - Is This Fluoride Or Is It Mint?
By the way, have you tasted the drinking water at the amenities centre of the MacRitchie Park?

It tastes minty, like toothpaste or the tap water I drank from at Guangzhou on my travel there once.

Which leads one to wonder if this is mint or is it fluoride? Does fluoride have a taste in the first place because we have all come to associate fluoride with mint. Or is it just me?

If it is fluoride, then the next question is if it is fluoridated too excessively, wouldn't that lead to dental or skeletal fluorosis?

Is Drinking Water Here Safe For Consumption?
At home, on several occasions, I had diarrhea for no apparent reason and I could only trace it to the boiled water I drank because it happened only immediately after I drank from it.

And I ate or drank nothing else that could precipitate this diarrheaic onset.

That leads me to ask another question if the drinking water supply at this old mansion I am living in is safe?

First Geylang, Then Selegie And Now Bukit Timah/MacKenzie Road
Have you ever turned up at Exit A (leading to the Bukit Timah/MacKenzie Road route) of the Little India MRT station on a Sunday evening at about 6pm?

The entire car-parking lot was mobilised by our darker-skinned foreign workers. I got off the exit this evening to make my way home and I was obstructed by the huge (this is an understatement considering that the entire open-air car parking lot was teeming and bursting at its seam) crowd that had gathered here.

When will it get worse?

When a fight breaks out? Or a fire alarm raised which can lead to a stampede perhaps? Some fire-safety issues and security concerns? Or the vehicles parked there get damaged?

It Is Like After Mother Has Cooked Dinner, She Sends Her Children Away To McDonald's For Their Evening Meal While Inviting The Neighbor's Children Home For Dinner
This is exactly how I feel.

My school starts a counselling program and we pay something like 5K in all for it. The next thing I know, employability remains a BIG ISSUE and they only recognise us on a case-by-case basis for the single major degree in psychology.

That honour of recognition goes to the Polytechnic diploma holders.

That means we have to go elsewhere for our degree program and we most likely have to do the double majors in psychology and marketing management with my school if we wanna pursue our higher education. On top of bridging modules they deem fit.

So the question is: why even start a counselling program when they are gonna selectively recognise it for the single major when most of us have to do the double majors? Isn't this like my headline above?

What's more, we have to pay a full 10K difference in course fees (that pinches on the pocket - OUCH - make that triple "OUCHes") and pursuing irrelevant modules like tourism and marketing. Plus a longer time to complete the program.

The modules may perhaps widen job prospects but who wanna pay 10K for them? If this isn't ridiculous, what is?

Who Plagiarises Who? You Or Me?
It is bad enough the program was dogged by all those issues I have blogged about.

What makes it worse, is that in an about face turn-around, while prohibiting plagiarism on the part of the students, the lecturers were plagiarising word-for-word from books in their study guides and power-point slides.

Books which in some cases were recommended reading texts for the program.

What is the BIG USE if both study guide and powerpoint slides contain ONE and the SAME material anyway?

It shows very little care and disregard for the program and my school has the benefit of 10 intakes so far. I am surprised they haven't cleaned up their act yet.

PsychoMetric Nothingness And Education Fraud
I paid 80 bucks for two psychometric tests after much hard-selling and touting in class by Henry and I was also curious. The tests turn out to be essentially a bundle of papers with some useless word sentencing without a contextual understanding.

When I flipped open the pages, I seethed with more anger at the kinda questions they were asking.

Mostly dichotomous ones that seek to find out what they sought to find in the first place. And the context of the questions asked was missing. For instance, "do children get on your nerves" depends whether we are handling our own one or few child/ren at home or a class or school of them in an education setting.

I didn't bother to submit my tests in the end. A pure waste of money and time. That kinda money could have bought me a nice branded Ralph Lauren Polo tee. And I would rather read a good book or go out shopping than attending classes, listening to nonsensities spouted from various "education" "gurus".

That would have been a more realistic education.

There Is A Stall Selling Whole Roasted Pigs At Ion Food Hall, Maybe You Should Visit And See Yourself There?
Some of the foreign worker pigs are getting lazier.

Take this young foreign punk at the MacRitchie Park. I am not sure what time he starts work but he will invariably come in to clean up the amenities centre only when kayakers and runners are around.

Even then the showers are never cleaned up properly and he dares glowers and kick the wash basin to express his displeasure. He expects us to keep the place clean for him when it is his JOB to and with the water trickling, the jet spray heads dismantled and flimsy toilet paper, it is small wonder the place is a mess.

But this is a PARK for heaven's sake! Mud, soil and grass in all. What was he expecting? Gemstones and crude oil?

Plus old uncles were carting pails to wash themselves and their other goodies and therefore hogging the shower facilities.

But he is young, healthy and strong (late teens or twenties?)! What is he paid to do anyway? Sit around and fuck spiders?

In fact given that the Park is such a HUGE place, it is surprising that all the foreign workers choose to congregate at this ONE and ONLY location to do their work.

THE BIGGEST SHOW ON EARTH!

Visit The Roasted Pig Stall At Ion FoodHall And See Yourself There, Pigs!
At Old Aunty's, I have just cleaned up the ceiling fan and the top of the wardrobe, tasks which needed a tall ladder and yes, they were coated with layered morphs of dustballs accumulated over the years of their lease-life. But the thick dusty drapes remain.

That shows further how mercenary but LAZY the foreign and local (whoever you are) pigs are.
And the common toilet just outside my bedroom is once again soiled with filth the moment the at first trioed and then coupled and finally single tenant had moved in.

The vagaries of human relations and sex for you.

And I know not to trust Old Aunty. I am just putting up with her and tolerating her lies. She will pretend not to know when she is in on it with the other tenants. In fact I have a feeling the new tenant is Ben's friend.

Just like Sabby. But in this case, I am still treating her as a friend and she will get her just desserts if she is conniving anything behind my back because when I passed the class once during breaktime for Henry's class, I could hear some of their peals of laughter.

They pretend to talk to me to gauge my opinion of the program and what I have to say about the lecturers which usually rates poorly.

I also do not trust the gays at the men's club because I have seen who is talking to who and who is connected to who. And one of them is linked to Raffy, the Filipino tenant here and another to Victor, Ben's agent and whatever.

That I am fully aware of.

My cusses rain on you and your loved ones. Be it debilitating or something else.

People Are People (Like Depeche Mode Martin Gore's Song Goes)
I asked to trade in my polo for a smaller size but I was told to "dryclean" it first as I was wearing it before the exchange. I was told this is personal hygiene.

What ridiculity when the piece I bought was a display one with GOD-KNOWS-HOW-MANY other sweaty, odorful and filthy customers have tried it on.

And mind you to dryclean it as if it is a business suit and when the shirt specifically forbids drycleaning.

This is like the new adult CEPAS GIRO-linked EZ link card being issued. It now extracts a 25 cents deduction with every automatic top-up. This has never happened before so what is the rationale for this NOW?

Or the towel woman at California Fitness still insisting that she wants the towel to be returned to the second-floor counter before 12pm even though it is soaking wet.

Imagine a soaking, dripping wet towel transported from the third storey to the second storey. Safety issues of the slippery surface kind. And it is soaking wet only because of the steam bathing and showering and of course the consequent wetting.

I guess people are just people and on the two former occasions, the service personnel bore the full brunt of my screams.

Once More, PigHeads, The UnHoly Trinity Is Out For Me
Once more pigs, the blimps, bimbs and wimps are on my "unwanted" list. I am having nothing to do with most of the girls or women in my class because I can perceive what the cultural differences are.

At best, we are friends. Like Sabby, my current best friend in class even though she is married with 3 girls, has a husband in the armed forces and owns a maid. And she is Sikh.

The class can connive whatever they want. If it is something evil, they get the retribution in return.

This Bears Repeating
I have to repeat myself once more I think. Only younger Asian Chinese/Koreans/Japs for that special beau. Selectively others (but I am mindful of cultural as well as lifestyle and habit differences) and maybe even younger white males. Keyword - younger and physically appealing.

My own abode and fast. And in appropriate places. No nosey neighbors. No older generation. No culturally different neighbors. My career choice within an education setting, preferably higher education sort.

Is this too hard to understand?

Remember, my curse remains true. Whatever you are doing now, it will go round and happen to you or the ones close to you. Just remember that.

The Bounty Is Plentiful And Cheap Too
The NEXT generation never had it so good. There is so much variety on the retail apparel and fashion scene these days and they don't cost a bomb.

Take for instance River Island, the British high-street fashion wear. It offers so many chic and genre casual footwear that go for under 100 bucks.

Kids can really deck themselves out fashionably and they don't have to bust their budget too. They have shops like the Japanese Uniqlo (which incidentally has Jil Sanders now heading its fashion design) or Cotton-On.

And the young people are cafeing and eating out at posh restaurants almost like an everyday affair. The pickings are good and some food are delicious. But you pay the price of course.

I really envy them. We never had such choices back in our days.

Luxury Brands Are Just Luxury Brands, Be They Be Made From Hemp, Cotton, Flax Or Acetate
So whatever it may be, we pay for the brand name and nothing else. That we are ALL fully aware of.

Plus it is made in the countries of origin, usually Italy or France and you can see the marked differences in the exquisite craftmanship in stitching and the very clean lines.

Luxury brands are particularly common among the girls and women in our midst who are in most cases showing off their travel-bags, usually a Louis Vuitton or Gucci, the BIG TWO rivals in the luxury market.

The distinguishing classic tartan design of the Burberry brand is fast appearing among the bag toting crowd here and on men's shirts, women's blouses and even jacket collars.

I guess we are a nation who relishes brandishing luxury goods for good measure.