One More Credit
Yes, I have to thank my orthodontist for his skilful and masterful orthodontic craft in bringing up to the front a recessed tooth and other alignment and straightening works.
I have told him that I will be very happy as long as my teeth are able to grow as closely and tightly as possible into the spaces where my four upper and lower canines have been extracted, the lower crooked teeth straightened as much as possible, I get to sport a set of pearly whites, something done to the gaping gap between my two front teeth and I get to take off my braces as quickly as possibly.
Will that be too much to ask?
Can Stem Cell Technology Do The Job?
Well can't it grow a body part and substitute for an artificial implant or organ transplant for that matter?
It is afterall a more natural process, growing a part of you from you and not from somebody else's or worse, using a synthetic replacement?
UnVoiding Void Decks
There is legitimately the fear of noise pollution and congestion of both space and humans.
Personally I wouldn't want one right below my block. The next block a few blocks down the road is ok with me. As long as it is not my block.
I want that space to sit, enjoy the breeze and sight, have some quiet time to think or relax and maybe a puff or two.
Murals, NSmen IPPT training (Oo, hot guys, drool), selective green projects (that do not invite pests to make their home), lounge areas (and not just for the elderly) to sit around and read (mags, books and newspapers are certainly welcome) and maybe drink and eat (of the refreshment kind) are fine.
The rest will just not go down well with most residents.
Certainly not storage facilities (seems like most unwanted items could be sold) nor indoor parking lots (wouldn't this make it look like a showroom for cars?) or even a toddler's playground (too small a space and that noise, don't we already have student care services or nursery/kindergarten schools running at these places)which will make it three tads too congested .
Blood Season - Let The Blood Letting Begin
We all know we have been reading and observing many utterances made by some of our leaders and that they just don't make sense.
I guess some rebuttal is in order.
$2.50 + $1.00 (One Way Trip At That) = $3.50= Price Of Lontong Sold At Some Food Courts (Air-Conditioned Some More And Usually Savoury Too)
Yes, meals can be had at $2.50 at certain places. If you happen to live, work or play near those places, guess what? It is your "LUCKY, LUCKY, LUCKY" day!
But if you don't you are not gonna pay transportational expenses (which happen to be at an all-time high now) to travel all the way down and purportedly spend less on food.
How ridiculous is that?
And it speaks nothing of the quantity or even quality of the food.
"Longkang" food anyone?
Moi Has To Visit The Hospitals, So Moi Knows How Much Cab Fares Have Shot Up
Have you noticed how cab fares have increased dramatically? And there is now even talk of a fuel surcharge.
Moi has noticed that. Short distances now usually means at least 5 bucks or more. Longer distances now shoots beyond the $10 mark.
And this happens only during off-peak.
Peak hours, what with the metered fare running, 35% of that metered fare, CBD and ERP charges, will see you hitting the 20 dollars mark and more.
Poke For Poke
Who pokes who first?
Examine all your policies and do some soul-searching.
We all usually go about minding our own business untill provoked or things happen (usually the doing of you and the Unholy Trinity).
Like moi. I would just wanna go on living in my own world like the rest of Singapore but what did the pigheads make moi do?
They put me out here to see a world they call "civilised, first world and advanced".
Then they wanna play God, judge, punish and decide what our lives should be and how we should turn out when they know their lives are not much better or happier.
These are the very same people who blow simple things out of proportion and make life a web of intrigue and endless political games for all, garnished with paranoia (isn't that the case with fat bloke Raymond?).
Fuck You!
Green Eyes
Everyone by now should know how unindigenous the Malay, Indian and Chinese communities here have become.
You will be surprised many of them are not even hailing from their native lands but from just across the Causeway.
Moi gets the funny feeling that our neighboring Chinese who have chosen to settle here are more than jealous of the native Chinese who also choose to make their home here. Primarily they know it is hot competition, be it looks, appearance or daring, maybe even the smarts or the skills. They know they can't measure up in some instances.
I don't hate the Chinese at all. The guys are really hot. Well, most of them are. I can't say the same for the womenfolk nor of any womenfolk for that matter.
The same goes for the Third Worlders.
Too bad there is just that BIG cultural bridge to cross - be it language, habits, traits, character and the kinda education and civics and moral schooling we get here.
As a Chinese businessman said : "Another generation perhaps?"
I don't think I will live to see it. In fact if anything should happen to me in the immediate future, I shall just take my life.
That I have planned for myself.
I Am Not Gonna Be At Anyone's Mercy - Their Whimps And Fancies
If you think you are gonna throw some witches, bimbs, wimps or blimps down my way by making me less self-reliant, you are gonna be terribly sorry.
Life is about independence and self-reliance. Otherwise it isn't worth living anymore.
That is something all parents must remember. Their kids have to be independent and self-reliant one day. They must prepare their kids to that end.
And it starts from a young age.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
The People Behind MedicaL Advances Count Too
I have credited laser and ultrasound technology as the kinda medical science that have helped mankind.
In fact I will put down a couple more inventions like the computer and of course its respective operating systems, the Internet and electronic mails as other scientific and informational technological advances that have convenienced and helped mankind progress.
Now let me credit the men and women behind these technological advances, the men and women who possess the skills and know-how to execute these advances without whom these technological advances ultimately fails.
The likes of eye surgeons who give the gift of sight and dermatologists who give the gift of our natural skin all over again.
These are truly the miracle workers and healers who make our lives significantly better and more meaningful to live for!
Now let us hope that medical science will progress even further!
Stem cell technology that may perhaps one day grow our body parts naturally without resort to artificial implants that will add on healthy years to our lives.
That will certainly be the spirit of the Hippocratic oath!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Why I Think Lasers, UltraSounds And The Mac Will Endure The Test Of Time
How Medical Science Has Helped Mankind
Thank You Mr Ultrasound
If you aak moi what two great scientific inventions have contributed most to the benefit of mankind, moi would reply without the slightest hesistation : "Ultrasound and Laser" technology.
The former is already well-known for its diagnostic sonography usages. For the layman in the street, ultrasound means emitting sound waves way above audible human hearing and then focussing that into an amplified high energy for a special purpose.
That accountds for the prefix "ultra" which translates into "uber" or "super" or "hyper" that means "beyond" or far above.
In moi's most recent medical experience, ultrasound did the trick in phacoemulsifying moi's cataracted eye during cataract surgery.
Thank you, whoever the inventors are who discovered and developed "ultrasound" to a fine art that it is today.
Thank You Too, Mr Micro CO2 Laser
Next comes laser technology. Laser isn't a word per se but an acronym that actually became a word. Laser stands for "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation"
Laser technology is about passing a light of a specific wavelength through a medium, amplifying that so that it becomes a high energy and highly concentrated beam to be applied for a particular use.
It is used in excimers for Lasik and yes that optical drive in our PCs uses it to scan and read our disks.
How Is Skin Lasering Different From Industrial Lasering
It is the second time moi has gone for skin laser resurfacing.
This time, it is the all-new Micro CO2 Laser that delivers pinpoint laser beams to do its work. A different technoloical platform from its predecessors.
It is the same CO2 laser used in industry for welding and cutting except that it is at a safe temperature and in a controlled and skilful manner that only burns off the surface of the skin layer. Kinda like a 8th degree burn, not a first or second degree burn.
Picture this for industrial CO2 laser application : Dudes dressed in grimy and greasy overalls, stooped over and torching with an oxyacetylene flame and at most times, holding up a face shield.
And what would that make of moi's old-time favourite dermatologist? A highly trained and skilled medical cutter and welder?
The After-Effects Of Lasering
In fact I smelt exactly like that after the whole procedure was over.
Of that charred, burning smell like a piece of raw meat roasted over a fire or like that piece of meat I saw right before my eyes being seared through by a cautery set when moi was doing the sales and marketing rounds in the medical field.
My face looked like that too : sunburnt red and then turning a scabby dark brown tan before finally peeling off to reveal a pink raw new surface. It was a grid of dark pinpoints immediately after and I looked really old and wrinkled.
Women! Thy Name Is Pure Vanity
On the morning of the procedure, moi turned up at the skin centre and was promptly whisked off for a topical anaesthesc application after some small talk. I couldn't help noticing how imaginative and adept the nurses have become at cutting out a plastic face mask with two eyes and a mouth.
I lounged at the waiting area along with countless other women, mostly old aunties. I can't imagine how vain these women are. They have almost perfect skin complexion but are there for really minsucle touch-ups like a small faded sun blotch or just some perceived beauty flaws of their own imagination.
As I told quite a few of them, if I had half of what they have now, I wouldn't so much bother at all wth my complexion.
I realised now how the beauty, grooming and cosmetics industry for women must be really booming! They have developed almost every cure for any perceived physical and beauty flaws women may see in themselves.
The last I got wind of was some balm of cucumber extracts for panda eyes.
What next? Liposuction for thick fleshy lips?
Do We Age Differently - Asians And Caucasians?
I ran into one woman who is French-born while her hubby is Dutch and her kids are born in Singapore. We talked about the damaging effects of both the sun and the wintry colds and about her ever-changing migratory lifescape.
She made a keen observation on how Asians age very markedly different from Caucasians. Caucasians, it seems, age gradually and the process isn't very dramatic or pronounced at each stage as it is for Asians.
In other words, Asians look very young in their youth and then suddenly look very very old when they age.
Lasering It
When my favourite old-time dermatologist appeared in the procedure room (oops, have I repeated that already?) I knew it was time.
What follows was about 15 to 20 minutes of a hot burning sensation as the CO2 laser delivers its blistering heat that sears my skin to its bone. At the same time, a blower was blowing all over me face to cool things down.
I cringed, shivered and teared the whole time the oxy-acetylene flame equivalent was doing its job all over my face.
A cold face mask, a dab of soothing emolient and it was all over.
Prognosis: Vast improvement over the last treatment done by another laser machine. Highly unlikely I will return for another procedure a month down the road even though multiple sessions are usually recommended.
Why I Am Loving My Mac And The Future Of True PC Entertainment And InterAction
First it is its glossy white exterior that can change its appearance when fitted with different glassy looking hard shell casing like blue or green or red. Not unlike the iMacs of the heydays.
Remember that hemispherical cool sleek futuristic looking multi-colored variety iMacs that is seamlessly integrated with its CPUs?
And yes, that uniquely designed apple logo glows when the Mac is turned on.
From its highly-advanced magnetic lid catch to its magnetic power port and opto-magnetic-slot in disk drive, the Mac book is a powerhouse of sophisticated electronic wizardry and high aesthetic art.
Take its boot camp function for instance. It allows hard disk partitioning (and moi isn't sure if He Jian, a Chinese national ex-student of mine, had passed this secret on to the Apple manufacturers) that permits one the option of running the Mac on either one of two operating systems.
The Mac runs on a very stable Unix-based operating system. You can actually feel the sturdiness when you click and wait for the next function to power up.
Viewing documents on its "Finder" menu is no longer a limp, lifeless 2D experience. Cover Flow lets you preface your video files 3 dimensionally, showing you your photographic cover file.
Just like the 3 dimensional graphical icons that line the bar menu in the desktop that leaps to life once you place your cursor over them. Totally uncluttered and interactive.
I know my previous HP Pavillon Entertainment notebook is both a tablet and touch-screen. When you point at various menu icons, there is a wave-like rippling effect.
This is the kinda lively, interactive and 3D elements we wanna see more of on our desktops to make computing a truly entertaining experience! Like watching a movie, and a 3D movie at that.
More sounds, more life-like graphics, more motion and more dazzling colors please.
Thank You Mr Ultrasound
If you aak moi what two great scientific inventions have contributed most to the benefit of mankind, moi would reply without the slightest hesistation : "Ultrasound and Laser" technology.
The former is already well-known for its diagnostic sonography usages. For the layman in the street, ultrasound means emitting sound waves way above audible human hearing and then focussing that into an amplified high energy for a special purpose.
That accountds for the prefix "ultra" which translates into "uber" or "super" or "hyper" that means "beyond" or far above.
In moi's most recent medical experience, ultrasound did the trick in phacoemulsifying moi's cataracted eye during cataract surgery.
Thank you, whoever the inventors are who discovered and developed "ultrasound" to a fine art that it is today.
Thank You Too, Mr Micro CO2 Laser
Next comes laser technology. Laser isn't a word per se but an acronym that actually became a word. Laser stands for "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation"
Laser technology is about passing a light of a specific wavelength through a medium, amplifying that so that it becomes a high energy and highly concentrated beam to be applied for a particular use.
It is used in excimers for Lasik and yes that optical drive in our PCs uses it to scan and read our disks.
How Is Skin Lasering Different From Industrial Lasering
It is the second time moi has gone for skin laser resurfacing.
This time, it is the all-new Micro CO2 Laser that delivers pinpoint laser beams to do its work. A different technoloical platform from its predecessors.
It is the same CO2 laser used in industry for welding and cutting except that it is at a safe temperature and in a controlled and skilful manner that only burns off the surface of the skin layer. Kinda like a 8th degree burn, not a first or second degree burn.
Picture this for industrial CO2 laser application : Dudes dressed in grimy and greasy overalls, stooped over and torching with an oxyacetylene flame and at most times, holding up a face shield.
And what would that make of moi's old-time favourite dermatologist? A highly trained and skilled medical cutter and welder?
The After-Effects Of Lasering
In fact I smelt exactly like that after the whole procedure was over.
Of that charred, burning smell like a piece of raw meat roasted over a fire or like that piece of meat I saw right before my eyes being seared through by a cautery set when moi was doing the sales and marketing rounds in the medical field.
My face looked like that too : sunburnt red and then turning a scabby dark brown tan before finally peeling off to reveal a pink raw new surface. It was a grid of dark pinpoints immediately after and I looked really old and wrinkled.
Women! Thy Name Is Pure Vanity
On the morning of the procedure, moi turned up at the skin centre and was promptly whisked off for a topical anaesthesc application after some small talk. I couldn't help noticing how imaginative and adept the nurses have become at cutting out a plastic face mask with two eyes and a mouth.
I lounged at the waiting area along with countless other women, mostly old aunties. I can't imagine how vain these women are. They have almost perfect skin complexion but are there for really minsucle touch-ups like a small faded sun blotch or just some perceived beauty flaws of their own imagination.
As I told quite a few of them, if I had half of what they have now, I wouldn't so much bother at all wth my complexion.
I realised now how the beauty, grooming and cosmetics industry for women must be really booming! They have developed almost every cure for any perceived physical and beauty flaws women may see in themselves.
The last I got wind of was some balm of cucumber extracts for panda eyes.
What next? Liposuction for thick fleshy lips?
Do We Age Differently - Asians And Caucasians?
I ran into one woman who is French-born while her hubby is Dutch and her kids are born in Singapore. We talked about the damaging effects of both the sun and the wintry colds and about her ever-changing migratory lifescape.
She made a keen observation on how Asians age very markedly different from Caucasians. Caucasians, it seems, age gradually and the process isn't very dramatic or pronounced at each stage as it is for Asians.
In other words, Asians look very young in their youth and then suddenly look very very old when they age.
Lasering It
When my favourite old-time dermatologist appeared in the procedure room (oops, have I repeated that already?) I knew it was time.
What follows was about 15 to 20 minutes of a hot burning sensation as the CO2 laser delivers its blistering heat that sears my skin to its bone. At the same time, a blower was blowing all over me face to cool things down.
I cringed, shivered and teared the whole time the oxy-acetylene flame equivalent was doing its job all over my face.
A cold face mask, a dab of soothing emolient and it was all over.
Prognosis: Vast improvement over the last treatment done by another laser machine. Highly unlikely I will return for another procedure a month down the road even though multiple sessions are usually recommended.
Why I Am Loving My Mac And The Future Of True PC Entertainment And InterAction
First it is its glossy white exterior that can change its appearance when fitted with different glassy looking hard shell casing like blue or green or red. Not unlike the iMacs of the heydays.
Remember that hemispherical cool sleek futuristic looking multi-colored variety iMacs that is seamlessly integrated with its CPUs?
And yes, that uniquely designed apple logo glows when the Mac is turned on.
From its highly-advanced magnetic lid catch to its magnetic power port and opto-magnetic-slot in disk drive, the Mac book is a powerhouse of sophisticated electronic wizardry and high aesthetic art.
Take its boot camp function for instance. It allows hard disk partitioning (and moi isn't sure if He Jian, a Chinese national ex-student of mine, had passed this secret on to the Apple manufacturers) that permits one the option of running the Mac on either one of two operating systems.
The Mac runs on a very stable Unix-based operating system. You can actually feel the sturdiness when you click and wait for the next function to power up.
Viewing documents on its "Finder" menu is no longer a limp, lifeless 2D experience. Cover Flow lets you preface your video files 3 dimensionally, showing you your photographic cover file.
Just like the 3 dimensional graphical icons that line the bar menu in the desktop that leaps to life once you place your cursor over them. Totally uncluttered and interactive.
I know my previous HP Pavillon Entertainment notebook is both a tablet and touch-screen. When you point at various menu icons, there is a wave-like rippling effect.
This is the kinda lively, interactive and 3D elements we wanna see more of on our desktops to make computing a truly entertaining experience! Like watching a movie, and a 3D movie at that.
More sounds, more life-like graphics, more motion and more dazzling colors please.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Glistening Glint For A Cyborgic Eye
A Glisten In My Eye
I am not kidding.
There is now this shiny white glint in my op eye which I can see only at this mirror with all the lights aligned as they are at this particular shopping mall.
I have been staring into it for a long, long time eversince I discovered the glistening slit. Not that I am a Narcissist but because it just kinda make me wanna look at the white glower forever.
It is almost like the red glower in Master Tigress eyes in Kungfu Panda or that of the dragon warrior protege turned evil.
I am not kidding.
There is now this shiny white glint in my op eye which I can see only at this mirror with all the lights aligned as they are at this particular shopping mall.
I have been staring into it for a long, long time eversince I discovered the glistening slit. Not that I am a Narcissist but because it just kinda make me wanna look at the white glower forever.
It is almost like the red glower in Master Tigress eyes in Kungfu Panda or that of the dragon warrior protege turned evil.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
I Am Sold On A Mac But Maybe I Am Not Till I Am Shown Its Full Workings
Even Men's Magazine "August" Corroborates What I Said About Inflight Service Food
There. Even the June issue of the men's magazine "August" has its writer saying exactly the same thing I said about most in-flight service food. And I only bought the magazine yesterday, right after I blogged about it.
I do agree that Cathay Pacific had served up some nice dishes. If I remember correctly, it was some spicy stuff. The rest are just forgettable or just plain stomach-filling needs or we eat only because we paid for it.
And I do agree that it can get better.
Whoa, I Am Sold On A Mac's 3D InterActive Graphical Icons That Kinda Leap Out At You And Its Beautiful Design And Casing And Color
I was almost sold on a Mac when I saw the 3D interactive graphical icons that kinda leap out at you when you click on them.
Not the flat, 2D lifeless kind that still line themselves up on our Windows panel. Much like the 2D, flat, fake-looking and drawn-on kinda of brow (even though it is supposed to be some hair-weaving technology) you get served up with by our foreign talent in the hair-brow business.
Then it was the amazing interface even within a Word document and the endless toggling possibilities.
I went back a second time to double-check if it was as hot as it seems.
Foreign Talent Short-Selling What I Thought Was A Good Product
Well I was let down by the attending staff. Two foreign talents, it seems
First he and she tried to make me look like a complete idiot. But aren't the Mac experts (or so they think they are, though she claims to possess only a Secondary 2 education) suppose to try and not be so Mac-smart arrogant and assume a Windows user to be in the know?
Aren't they suppose to put it across clearly (and I know they don't have the English language ability too so the guy was being mono, duo or triple-syllabic) and try to convert us, the Windows user to the Mac user?
If they dont seem keen to explain (maybe they aren't so versed in product knowledge and by gosh, yes, this is the same company at our digital life computer hub which I once purchased some outmoded peripherals at inflated prices and got really lousy service in return) and he did show me that there is a tutorial on the Mac OS X online, golly, then what is the job of a sales-person anyway?
EveryOne Else Is Redundant, So Why Aren't They?
Isn't that kinda redundant? If a factory was staffed with redudant local employees, guess what? They get retrenched. Guess what again? At the kinda exchange rate, I get to see 5 China nationals working at a cafe and half the time that it is empty, they gather at the back, chattering loudly in their local dialects within customers' earshot. They don't get retrenched, do they?
Just too bad arh. Lou Ferrigno, the original Incredible Hulk actor, was actually redudant in this new movie remake. He made a very short appearance as a security officer. His role has been usurped by animation. Bill Bixby, as his mild-mannered alter-ego, is totally out of the picture.
So too are the days of the camera men numbered. Those cameramen who take photographs for tourists at touristy sites. These days, it is the camphone user who DIY.
I Just Wanted To See The Differences Between A Mac And A Windows Environment
She wasn't even listening when I asked if we could go on the MSN website and mistakenly thought I asked for MSN Messenger.
Ok so Mac has no version for the Internet Relay Chat, and there seems to be some commands and F menus to learn and navigate.
But the good news is that we can have both platforms on one cool-looking PC.
Another Foreign Talent Botch-Up
I just hope our foreign talent aren't trying to earn a quick buck by thinking they can con a job, bluff their way through, short sell, lay back or by thinking that they don't have to put in effort and I mean real effort in being product knowledge efficient, knowledge wise and linguistically abled to communicate plus that X-factor in whatever they do - that secret sauce, that skill, that technique, that magical scissorshand, that WOW factor in services rendered or just plain efficiency in accomplishing their tasks.
That will just sully our reputation further, if it isn't already, in the food and beverage industry, the hospitality services, domestic help services, the retail trade, the hair, beauty and grooming businesses.
There. Even the June issue of the men's magazine "August" has its writer saying exactly the same thing I said about most in-flight service food. And I only bought the magazine yesterday, right after I blogged about it.
I do agree that Cathay Pacific had served up some nice dishes. If I remember correctly, it was some spicy stuff. The rest are just forgettable or just plain stomach-filling needs or we eat only because we paid for it.
And I do agree that it can get better.
Whoa, I Am Sold On A Mac's 3D InterActive Graphical Icons That Kinda Leap Out At You And Its Beautiful Design And Casing And Color
I was almost sold on a Mac when I saw the 3D interactive graphical icons that kinda leap out at you when you click on them.
Not the flat, 2D lifeless kind that still line themselves up on our Windows panel. Much like the 2D, flat, fake-looking and drawn-on kinda of brow (even though it is supposed to be some hair-weaving technology) you get served up with by our foreign talent in the hair-brow business.
Then it was the amazing interface even within a Word document and the endless toggling possibilities.
I went back a second time to double-check if it was as hot as it seems.
Foreign Talent Short-Selling What I Thought Was A Good Product
Well I was let down by the attending staff. Two foreign talents, it seems
First he and she tried to make me look like a complete idiot. But aren't the Mac experts (or so they think they are, though she claims to possess only a Secondary 2 education) suppose to try and not be so Mac-smart arrogant and assume a Windows user to be in the know?
Aren't they suppose to put it across clearly (and I know they don't have the English language ability too so the guy was being mono, duo or triple-syllabic) and try to convert us, the Windows user to the Mac user?
If they dont seem keen to explain (maybe they aren't so versed in product knowledge and by gosh, yes, this is the same company at our digital life computer hub which I once purchased some outmoded peripherals at inflated prices and got really lousy service in return) and he did show me that there is a tutorial on the Mac OS X online, golly, then what is the job of a sales-person anyway?
EveryOne Else Is Redundant, So Why Aren't They?
Isn't that kinda redundant? If a factory was staffed with redudant local employees, guess what? They get retrenched. Guess what again? At the kinda exchange rate, I get to see 5 China nationals working at a cafe and half the time that it is empty, they gather at the back, chattering loudly in their local dialects within customers' earshot. They don't get retrenched, do they?
Just too bad arh. Lou Ferrigno, the original Incredible Hulk actor, was actually redudant in this new movie remake. He made a very short appearance as a security officer. His role has been usurped by animation. Bill Bixby, as his mild-mannered alter-ego, is totally out of the picture.
So too are the days of the camera men numbered. Those cameramen who take photographs for tourists at touristy sites. These days, it is the camphone user who DIY.
I Just Wanted To See The Differences Between A Mac And A Windows Environment
She wasn't even listening when I asked if we could go on the MSN website and mistakenly thought I asked for MSN Messenger.
Ok so Mac has no version for the Internet Relay Chat, and there seems to be some commands and F menus to learn and navigate.
But the good news is that we can have both platforms on one cool-looking PC.
Another Foreign Talent Botch-Up
I just hope our foreign talent aren't trying to earn a quick buck by thinking they can con a job, bluff their way through, short sell, lay back or by thinking that they don't have to put in effort and I mean real effort in being product knowledge efficient, knowledge wise and linguistically abled to communicate plus that X-factor in whatever they do - that secret sauce, that skill, that technique, that magical scissorshand, that WOW factor in services rendered or just plain efficiency in accomplishing their tasks.
That will just sully our reputation further, if it isn't already, in the food and beverage industry, the hospitality services, domestic help services, the retail trade, the hair, beauty and grooming businesses.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
InEquality Of The Sexes - Social Conditioning With Respect To Hair
Social Conditioning - The Hair Shows It
It all starts from a young age when we attend schools here.
We are told long hair is a strict No-Go here. The discipline master or mistress is always on hand and on the look-out and on the prowl to enforce this rule. Dudes with stray hair. Hair that strays from the slopy slopes on all sides of our profile that all uniformed dudes are supposed to follow.
Hair has to be short so we all look like boys. Long hair means messiness, untidiness, dirtiness and worse it means being feminine.
The ubiquitous Malay, Chinese or Indian barber is always ready on hand to tear out hair off and leave us bald. This also marks the initiation phase into the army that we should be shaven and kept clean.
So there you have it folks! Social conditioning at its worst!
Look at the Japanese! They wear their hair long but cut and styled in so many different ways. And the only feminine trait is their long hair (or so our culture here seems to say what hair tells about a person or reinforces the stereotypical image of what is masculine and what is feminine) but they are all men.
They behave like men and they fuck like men too.
It is the mindset that has to change.
Barbership is in business here only because the schools and the army are still at it. Once we dudes are out of school, some of us eventually migrate to the salons.
Commercial Hair Salons Compromises The Very Integrity And Health Of Our Hair
A very sad state of affairs unfortunately prevail at the salon.
A commercial culture of getting patrons to buy up hair products that usually do not work, go for unnecessary hair treatments and worse, mis-diagnosing your hair condition and then getting your hair in a fix.
Hopefully not damaging it too much.
But not a single shred of skill to cut a hair the style you look your best in or the style you want.
Meaningless To Drag Life On Like That, Better To Live A Full Life And Then Go Peacefully
To totter, to be wheel-chair bound and to be in a poor state of health. We have seen how some of our old people are like all around us. At the malls. Everywhere.
Life is simply not worth living anymore like that.
It all starts from a young age when we attend schools here.
We are told long hair is a strict No-Go here. The discipline master or mistress is always on hand and on the look-out and on the prowl to enforce this rule. Dudes with stray hair. Hair that strays from the slopy slopes on all sides of our profile that all uniformed dudes are supposed to follow.
Hair has to be short so we all look like boys. Long hair means messiness, untidiness, dirtiness and worse it means being feminine.
The ubiquitous Malay, Chinese or Indian barber is always ready on hand to tear out hair off and leave us bald. This also marks the initiation phase into the army that we should be shaven and kept clean.
So there you have it folks! Social conditioning at its worst!
Look at the Japanese! They wear their hair long but cut and styled in so many different ways. And the only feminine trait is their long hair (or so our culture here seems to say what hair tells about a person or reinforces the stereotypical image of what is masculine and what is feminine) but they are all men.
They behave like men and they fuck like men too.
It is the mindset that has to change.
Barbership is in business here only because the schools and the army are still at it. Once we dudes are out of school, some of us eventually migrate to the salons.
Commercial Hair Salons Compromises The Very Integrity And Health Of Our Hair
A very sad state of affairs unfortunately prevail at the salon.
A commercial culture of getting patrons to buy up hair products that usually do not work, go for unnecessary hair treatments and worse, mis-diagnosing your hair condition and then getting your hair in a fix.
Hopefully not damaging it too much.
But not a single shred of skill to cut a hair the style you look your best in or the style you want.
Meaningless To Drag Life On Like That, Better To Live A Full Life And Then Go Peacefully
To totter, to be wheel-chair bound and to be in a poor state of health. We have seen how some of our old people are like all around us. At the malls. Everywhere.
Life is simply not worth living anymore like that.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Of New Industry And Kungfu Panda
Authoritarian And Totalitarian Hubris
You can just do a wikipedia and read about the former glory days of the so-called four Asian tigers and dragons where their export-driven model of being cheap manufacturing bases is being eroded by even cheaper alternatives available in India, China, Latin America and South-East Asia.
It noted how the totalitarian state of those four Asian economies had helped them achieve their success but how that must now change if they were to survive and enudre the next phase of growth and development in the services, especially creative new services industries.
Wikipedia Corroborates What Moi Has Written About Korea
More importantly, like moi, it highlighted how Korea, which was the most badly battered in the 1997 financial crisis, had managed to pull itself together and today it is the 9th largest economy while Taiwan is at 16th.
Therefore what can one conclude?
All those new industries that moi wrote about the last few blogs must surely have helped Korea shot to its No 9 international fame.
And that includes the B-boys -Last For One. They started off during the financial crisis and today they have seen more than their fair share of international fame.
More Divergence, More Economic Pies For All Right?
While moi understands that being in a South-east Asian loop (and as if that doesn't happen too in an Asian or Eastern European loop) does benefit us in the way of tapping into their rich reservoir of natural resources, we must surely also extend ourselves in creative new industries especially since I don't seem to see any university here offering earth sciences like agriculture or mineral mining studies.
Is there some loophole here somewhere? Some lack of co-ordination? Some lack of vision?
Ikan Bilis For Ikan Bilis, Like For Like And Finally Unlike For Like?
I asked a Jap how he rates the Japanese food he finds here and this is what he has to say:
"Cooked Singapore style and yes, unheard of names back home in Japan is apparently making waves here and only here it seems" among his other observation that only a small community of about 20 000 Japs live here.
We all know how Sands casino is ranked back home in the States and how at one time, we weren't confident of hosting the inaugural Youth Olympics.
Are the Big Boys too exacting in their demands for high quality and standards that we aren't able to measure up or is this just our very own psychology and lack of confidence that make us reject the big brand names ?
The Creative Hair Industry
Let me write about some of my unhappy experiences with the hair salons here which seem to be dominated by our neighboring foreign talent.
First while I understand that hair-sytling products help in creating the hair style we want (yes, I have watched the Gatsby clips) but a specific haircut is needed before a specific hair style can emerge.
And if they can't snip the hair style we want, then hey...where is the skill? Or even cut a hair style that suits our face or head shape or current state of our hair.
Kungfu Panda
What makes this animation special is the very Asian nature of the show - the costumes, the backdrop of the mountains and palaces, the decor (think lanterns, scrolls and dragon motiffed archictecture).
Animation was really good - very life-like and the plot was quick with fast and furious kungfu action and special magical effects. It was also a bright dazzle of colours and extremely funny.
I look forward to another Asian-themed animation coming up based on Ho MinFong's novel "Sing To The Dawn".
You can just do a wikipedia and read about the former glory days of the so-called four Asian tigers and dragons where their export-driven model of being cheap manufacturing bases is being eroded by even cheaper alternatives available in India, China, Latin America and South-East Asia.
It noted how the totalitarian state of those four Asian economies had helped them achieve their success but how that must now change if they were to survive and enudre the next phase of growth and development in the services, especially creative new services industries.
Wikipedia Corroborates What Moi Has Written About Korea
More importantly, like moi, it highlighted how Korea, which was the most badly battered in the 1997 financial crisis, had managed to pull itself together and today it is the 9th largest economy while Taiwan is at 16th.
Therefore what can one conclude?
All those new industries that moi wrote about the last few blogs must surely have helped Korea shot to its No 9 international fame.
And that includes the B-boys -Last For One. They started off during the financial crisis and today they have seen more than their fair share of international fame.
More Divergence, More Economic Pies For All Right?
While moi understands that being in a South-east Asian loop (and as if that doesn't happen too in an Asian or Eastern European loop) does benefit us in the way of tapping into their rich reservoir of natural resources, we must surely also extend ourselves in creative new industries especially since I don't seem to see any university here offering earth sciences like agriculture or mineral mining studies.
Is there some loophole here somewhere? Some lack of co-ordination? Some lack of vision?
Ikan Bilis For Ikan Bilis, Like For Like And Finally Unlike For Like?
I asked a Jap how he rates the Japanese food he finds here and this is what he has to say:
"Cooked Singapore style and yes, unheard of names back home in Japan is apparently making waves here and only here it seems" among his other observation that only a small community of about 20 000 Japs live here.
We all know how Sands casino is ranked back home in the States and how at one time, we weren't confident of hosting the inaugural Youth Olympics.
Are the Big Boys too exacting in their demands for high quality and standards that we aren't able to measure up or is this just our very own psychology and lack of confidence that make us reject the big brand names ?
The Creative Hair Industry
Let me write about some of my unhappy experiences with the hair salons here which seem to be dominated by our neighboring foreign talent.
First while I understand that hair-sytling products help in creating the hair style we want (yes, I have watched the Gatsby clips) but a specific haircut is needed before a specific hair style can emerge.
And if they can't snip the hair style we want, then hey...where is the skill? Or even cut a hair style that suits our face or head shape or current state of our hair.
Kungfu Panda
What makes this animation special is the very Asian nature of the show - the costumes, the backdrop of the mountains and palaces, the decor (think lanterns, scrolls and dragon motiffed archictecture).
Animation was really good - very life-like and the plot was quick with fast and furious kungfu action and special magical effects. It was also a bright dazzle of colours and extremely funny.
I look forward to another Asian-themed animation coming up based on Ho MinFong's novel "Sing To The Dawn".
Monday, June 16, 2008
Night Life And Night Tourism
Elitism Even On Our National Flights?
Some time ago, a Sunday columnist wrote about her experiences onboard our national carrier. The timing of her article strangely coincided with the time I returned from my round trip through Asia.
Our national carrier has suspended economy flights to some destinations in the States. In its place are only first class and business class seatings.
In her article, the columnist wrote of "elitism" in the way of discriminating boarding for both economy and first/business class passengers.
See How Other Overseas Carriers Are Doing It Right
I like to report my experiences onboard Cathay Pacific, Eva Air, Air China and Thai Airways.
In all cases, boarding of flights was not based on economy or first/business class seatings. It was based on caring for the elderly, the physically disabled and familial passengers with children in tow. They got to board first, followed by two queues for economy and first/business class passengers.
Even if passengers were to mistakenly go on the wrong queue, they were politely told to enter the correct entrance for the respective classes.
Service was excellent, the attendants were polite, courteous and communicative and in flight food was average (isn't it always the same...we eat only because we have paid for it, don't we and to fill our hungry stomachs).
Cathay Pacific had a wide selection of channels on its seat-mounted TV screens and I could flick to one program after another if I ever tire of one.
Be Very Sure We Will Not Be Overtaken One Day Like We Are Not Already
I am not sure if our way is the way to go. To only insist on one kind of seating on some routes to the States may just one day force us out of business. Let us never be too sure that we will not be usurped of our No 1 status in our flight service.
Just look at Hongkong, Bangkok, Seoul, Beijing and even Kuala Lumpur. Their world class designed airports. Even Taiwan has now announced plans to overhaul and revamp its current run-down swampy international airport.
Night Tourism
I think the kinda long loopy routes over far too many housing estates our seven Night Rider Services are taking themselves through is just too ambitious and ridiculous.
Instead have more such services, maybe double or triple the number now, cut down on the number of housing estates they are traversing through for each but increase the coverage of the places of attractions (inlcude Tanjong Pagar, Chinatown, Clarke Quay, Marina and so on).
Reduce the number of stoppages along some roads. For example: the whole stretch of Orchard Road can see three strategic stops at the Orchard, Somerset and Dhoby Ghaut MRT stations. After all, they are within walking distance of each other.
Extend these services to Sundays, eves of public holidays, public holdiays and school holidays?
Open up more 24 hour retail and food and beverage outlets or at least extend the closing hours till past midnight.
Some time ago, a Sunday columnist wrote about her experiences onboard our national carrier. The timing of her article strangely coincided with the time I returned from my round trip through Asia.
Our national carrier has suspended economy flights to some destinations in the States. In its place are only first class and business class seatings.
In her article, the columnist wrote of "elitism" in the way of discriminating boarding for both economy and first/business class passengers.
See How Other Overseas Carriers Are Doing It Right
I like to report my experiences onboard Cathay Pacific, Eva Air, Air China and Thai Airways.
In all cases, boarding of flights was not based on economy or first/business class seatings. It was based on caring for the elderly, the physically disabled and familial passengers with children in tow. They got to board first, followed by two queues for economy and first/business class passengers.
Even if passengers were to mistakenly go on the wrong queue, they were politely told to enter the correct entrance for the respective classes.
Service was excellent, the attendants were polite, courteous and communicative and in flight food was average (isn't it always the same...we eat only because we have paid for it, don't we and to fill our hungry stomachs).
Cathay Pacific had a wide selection of channels on its seat-mounted TV screens and I could flick to one program after another if I ever tire of one.
Be Very Sure We Will Not Be Overtaken One Day Like We Are Not Already
I am not sure if our way is the way to go. To only insist on one kind of seating on some routes to the States may just one day force us out of business. Let us never be too sure that we will not be usurped of our No 1 status in our flight service.
Just look at Hongkong, Bangkok, Seoul, Beijing and even Kuala Lumpur. Their world class designed airports. Even Taiwan has now announced plans to overhaul and revamp its current run-down swampy international airport.
Night Tourism
I think the kinda long loopy routes over far too many housing estates our seven Night Rider Services are taking themselves through is just too ambitious and ridiculous.
Instead have more such services, maybe double or triple the number now, cut down on the number of housing estates they are traversing through for each but increase the coverage of the places of attractions (inlcude Tanjong Pagar, Chinatown, Clarke Quay, Marina and so on).
Reduce the number of stoppages along some roads. For example: the whole stretch of Orchard Road can see three strategic stops at the Orchard, Somerset and Dhoby Ghaut MRT stations. After all, they are within walking distance of each other.
Extend these services to Sundays, eves of public holidays, public holdiays and school holidays?
Open up more 24 hour retail and food and beverage outlets or at least extend the closing hours till past midnight.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
The Koreans Have Done It
Way To Go, SNEC
Once moi is more settled, moi is gonna write a complimentary email to the Singapore National Eye Centre, commending them on the excellent professional services they have served their patients, from the doctors right down to the nursing staff and the administrators.
Indeed it has done us proud in perhaps vying for a position as a medical hub.
I do notice however that a large proportion of the patronage are local. We the sons and daughters of Singapore.
Can We Assert Ourselves Here As Well
If A Simple Looked-Down Upon Breakdancing Culture Can Develop Into An International Fame, There is Hope For Us All
I got back late last night after the outing to watch the all Korean B-boys crew Last For One.
This morning I read their official website and I was amazed how these kids started off when they were like 15, pursuing their dreams of making it big in break-dancing despite abject poverty, sacrifices and rejection from their peers and families.
It astounds me how the Koreans have managed to catapult a much despised break-dancing culture and troop into international fame, capitalising on the talent, energy and verve of its very young proteges.
This is a lesson for us all.
The Koreans Have Surged Way Ahead Here
Our myopic focus on a very academic nature of education has blighted us to nurturing our own local talent in other areas like sports and the arts. And I mean local talents. In fact I have highlighted the hair, fashion and beauty industries as other developing sectors.
The Koreans have surged way ahead in developing their pop music, their film and now their break-dancing cultures internationally.
When I visited Seoul this February, I read about bunches of hair-dyed, breakdancing young Korean people hanging out at Itaewon, the mecca for its youth. I saw some on its metro but that was about it.
Where Do We Figure In All This?
So where are we? Why aren't we? Is it because we are mired in politics, money politics, mere talk and no action and precoccupied with foreign talent, overlooking our very own in the process?
There ought to be more soul-searching within ourselves if we want the answers and better co-ordination among the administrators if we are to kick off our creative arts industry.
No Longer An Asian Loop But A South-East Asian One - Decency And Morals But Hey, We Have Casinos, Gambling Dens, Topless Shows, Clubs And Brothels - So What Is The Difference?
Somehow it seems like we are no longer in the Asian loop but more in a SEA loop (remember the four tigers or four dragons moniker we used to be labelled with along with HongKong, Taiwan and Seoul?)
Does that mean we are losing touch with more developed or advanced technologies and know-how? In fact we aren't even in the league of fashion that the other three are in conjunction with Japan.
Like a Malaysian hair dresser commented the other time: :Why is Singapore so conservative (and I take it he doesn't mean loosening up on decency or morals when we already have casinos, bar-top dancing, topless shows, men's clubs and brothels galore) when it isn't even Moslem like we are?"
The Ball Is Now In Your Court, So Move It
Talking of which I remember a segment of last night's show where a Last For One B-Boy crew threw a baseball to a Caucasian in the audience. He looked a lot like a scientist or something. Maybe someone engaged in stem cell research?
It was symbolic in that it seemed to point to the fact that the ball is now in his court.
So move it!
Once moi is more settled, moi is gonna write a complimentary email to the Singapore National Eye Centre, commending them on the excellent professional services they have served their patients, from the doctors right down to the nursing staff and the administrators.
Indeed it has done us proud in perhaps vying for a position as a medical hub.
I do notice however that a large proportion of the patronage are local. We the sons and daughters of Singapore.
Can We Assert Ourselves Here As Well
If A Simple Looked-Down Upon Breakdancing Culture Can Develop Into An International Fame, There is Hope For Us All
I got back late last night after the outing to watch the all Korean B-boys crew Last For One.
This morning I read their official website and I was amazed how these kids started off when they were like 15, pursuing their dreams of making it big in break-dancing despite abject poverty, sacrifices and rejection from their peers and families.
It astounds me how the Koreans have managed to catapult a much despised break-dancing culture and troop into international fame, capitalising on the talent, energy and verve of its very young proteges.
This is a lesson for us all.
The Koreans Have Surged Way Ahead Here
Our myopic focus on a very academic nature of education has blighted us to nurturing our own local talent in other areas like sports and the arts. And I mean local talents. In fact I have highlighted the hair, fashion and beauty industries as other developing sectors.
The Koreans have surged way ahead in developing their pop music, their film and now their break-dancing cultures internationally.
When I visited Seoul this February, I read about bunches of hair-dyed, breakdancing young Korean people hanging out at Itaewon, the mecca for its youth. I saw some on its metro but that was about it.
Where Do We Figure In All This?
So where are we? Why aren't we? Is it because we are mired in politics, money politics, mere talk and no action and precoccupied with foreign talent, overlooking our very own in the process?
There ought to be more soul-searching within ourselves if we want the answers and better co-ordination among the administrators if we are to kick off our creative arts industry.
No Longer An Asian Loop But A South-East Asian One - Decency And Morals But Hey, We Have Casinos, Gambling Dens, Topless Shows, Clubs And Brothels - So What Is The Difference?
Somehow it seems like we are no longer in the Asian loop but more in a SEA loop (remember the four tigers or four dragons moniker we used to be labelled with along with HongKong, Taiwan and Seoul?)
Does that mean we are losing touch with more developed or advanced technologies and know-how? In fact we aren't even in the league of fashion that the other three are in conjunction with Japan.
Like a Malaysian hair dresser commented the other time: :Why is Singapore so conservative (and I take it he doesn't mean loosening up on decency or morals when we already have casinos, bar-top dancing, topless shows, men's clubs and brothels galore) when it isn't even Moslem like we are?"
The Ball Is Now In Your Court, So Move It
Talking of which I remember a segment of last night's show where a Last For One B-Boy crew threw a baseball to a Caucasian in the audience. He looked a lot like a scientist or something. Maybe someone engaged in stem cell research?
It was symbolic in that it seemed to point to the fact that the ball is now in his court.
So move it!
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Spin Odyssey - B Boys (Last For One)
Save My Neck And My Upper Back Please
I just wanted to kick myself real hard in the face. Except that I couldn't of course. With that implant sitting tightly right inside the pupil of my eye, I daren't. In fact I have been warned not to stoop or lift heavy weights for some weeks to come.
I haven't been stretching, running or gymming and I just feel so lousy. With a stiff aching neck and upper back, I don't feel hunky, just sulky. I really wanna get back to my usual exercise routine. But with what I have scheduled for next week, it is gonna be a couple more weeks.
The wait will be worth it, I hope.
How Do You Feel Knowing An Implant Is Inside You?
My once cataracted but now operated eye makes me vulnerable. With an eye shield worn over it immediately post-operatively, I signal to the world that I have an ailment, so keep away. No balloons in my face. No shoving and pushing. No horse plays. No nothing.
Without it, like I did the first day after the op, nobody is the wiser. I look as normal as the next guy except maybe for the initial stumble, occasional glancing down and some slow unsteady steps. Was it the vision (yes certainly) but it was also in part the confidence and the psychology.
How do you feel knowing that an implant is inside your eye?
I pray the vision is more the undercorrection (undercorrection is always better than overcorrection, no?) which can easily be remedied with a new pair of glasses or contacts.
Or does moi really have to get used to the newly acquired vision?
Gays Are A Happy Hedonistic Bunch Of People? LOL
Contrary to popular belief that gays (we are not gay as in the sense of the word of being happy) lead a hedonistic life, I beg to differ.
Speaking for myself, I don't party and sex all the time, do drugs, get high on chem or has absolute peace of mind and no worries.
That is a myth that some anti-gay quarters of society must have planted in the minds of people.
As a gay, I live a miserable life. Secluded and isolated from the mainstream, almost living in the cloak of darkness and stealth, while trying to send out feelers for similarly oriented individuals and in my case mostly in the wrong sectors and always ready to deny our sexual identities, we are shunned and not talked about.
Non-existent and hated even.
We suffer the same tragedies in life as anyone else does. We feel the same pain, the same discrimination, the same love and hate. The same everything everyone feels, so how can we be hedonistic if the rest aren't hedonistic too?
So please do not mislabel us.
What "Kick In Your Face" Thingy Are You Talking About?
Wait you ask. What was it about the first thing I mentioned about kicking myself in the face? I will get back to you on this real soon.
Well with all that has been going on in my life - the endless moves, the cataract, the op, the nightmares, Liz, the China doll, the fat bloke Raymond, Wei Zhao, hey what do you want? An Oscar nominee listing?- I at least had a short 150minutes of happiness tonight.
Short yes and happy too.
I got to watch this hunky crew of mostly gymnastically and acrobatically muscled young men and boys (well almost all are young or boys and almost all are hunky and muscled but hey how do you expect moi to separate the real men from the boys in the space of a few words?)
Ok ok ok. I confess. I skipped the June page of Singapore Calendar Guys 2008. Go on, call me a racist if you want. Why don't you hunt down the sexists and ageists too?
Wait I wear a kimono at home now. Does that make me a kimonist too? Or is that anti-kimonist?
See What An Internet Connection In The Comfort Of Home Can Do? I Get To Switch Universities And Hopefully Get To Gawk At Prettier Boys? Maybe?
There you see. With an Internet connection at home and in the comfort and quiet of home, my blogs shine and I can do my research which accounts for my deciding to switch university except that I am not too sure if this new university will throw up better looking guys than the former. I will have to draw lots on this.
Hot Local Dudes At A Hot Foreign Show
My eyes first trained themselves on this HOT dude wearing a tight green tee. I knew him from the gym and here he was looking fitter, slimmer and sweller.
Then a retinue of other cute hot local young dudes sauntered past the queue outside the Recital Studio and into the studio afterwards.
Spin Odyssey - B Boys (Last For One)
The opening of the show saw two young dudes dressed in black warming up the audience. One was a young man who was to be in drags later (and he looked sexy either as a man or a woman) that cracked me up so much I hadn't laughed for a long time.
Once the show started, I gathered that the odyssey was about Apollo rewarding a victorious troop in the Trojan War with a ball and this adventure took them to a journey through Earth.
The crew was mainly a young one, some hunky, some muscled, most toned and fit and athletic.
The producer has cleverly woven sports like soccer, basketball, baseball and karate (maybe tae-kwon-do, maybe judo, hey I don't know) into the plot which the troop encounters with Earthlings.
These sporty acrobatic and gymnastic moves fit the all-male crew just right.
What follows was a dazzling display of swirls, twirls, hip-hops, hand-stands and youthful energy, vitality and verve.
I thought a set of 3 looked like brothers and yese, they do look like Peng, the hot Chinese tenant at Raymond's. Or is it Peng looking like them? And a set of 2 similarly looked connected.
I can't imagine myself performing all those stunts and that is why I didn't sign up for the workshop. With my implanted ocular condition now, I probably made the right decision.
In fact at one stage a performer was throwing out apples to the audience which got me a little worried that it should hit moi somewhere in the audience.
Towards the end of the show, I was surprised the stars began to be interactive. They ran up to the audience and did high fives. This was when a hunky handsome young male lead slapped palms with moi and I could feel his sweat. Whoa, so close and personal, exhilirating!
And this was when I wanted to kick myself over and over again.
When the show ended and the audience streamed out, the crew had lined themselves outside the exit. I felt the urge to go up and kiss each and every single one of the performer. Hug, embrace and maybe hook up a date?
But I didn't.
Then when the taxi queue got too long, I went back inside again and they were there again! Having a photo-shoot!
I had another stab at chance but I didn't bite the bait.
Fuck you Philip!
I just wanted to kick myself real hard in the face. Except that I couldn't of course. With that implant sitting tightly right inside the pupil of my eye, I daren't. In fact I have been warned not to stoop or lift heavy weights for some weeks to come.
I haven't been stretching, running or gymming and I just feel so lousy. With a stiff aching neck and upper back, I don't feel hunky, just sulky. I really wanna get back to my usual exercise routine. But with what I have scheduled for next week, it is gonna be a couple more weeks.
The wait will be worth it, I hope.
How Do You Feel Knowing An Implant Is Inside You?
My once cataracted but now operated eye makes me vulnerable. With an eye shield worn over it immediately post-operatively, I signal to the world that I have an ailment, so keep away. No balloons in my face. No shoving and pushing. No horse plays. No nothing.
Without it, like I did the first day after the op, nobody is the wiser. I look as normal as the next guy except maybe for the initial stumble, occasional glancing down and some slow unsteady steps. Was it the vision (yes certainly) but it was also in part the confidence and the psychology.
How do you feel knowing that an implant is inside your eye?
I pray the vision is more the undercorrection (undercorrection is always better than overcorrection, no?) which can easily be remedied with a new pair of glasses or contacts.
Or does moi really have to get used to the newly acquired vision?
Gays Are A Happy Hedonistic Bunch Of People? LOL
Contrary to popular belief that gays (we are not gay as in the sense of the word of being happy) lead a hedonistic life, I beg to differ.
Speaking for myself, I don't party and sex all the time, do drugs, get high on chem or has absolute peace of mind and no worries.
That is a myth that some anti-gay quarters of society must have planted in the minds of people.
As a gay, I live a miserable life. Secluded and isolated from the mainstream, almost living in the cloak of darkness and stealth, while trying to send out feelers for similarly oriented individuals and in my case mostly in the wrong sectors and always ready to deny our sexual identities, we are shunned and not talked about.
Non-existent and hated even.
We suffer the same tragedies in life as anyone else does. We feel the same pain, the same discrimination, the same love and hate. The same everything everyone feels, so how can we be hedonistic if the rest aren't hedonistic too?
So please do not mislabel us.
What "Kick In Your Face" Thingy Are You Talking About?
Wait you ask. What was it about the first thing I mentioned about kicking myself in the face? I will get back to you on this real soon.
Well with all that has been going on in my life - the endless moves, the cataract, the op, the nightmares, Liz, the China doll, the fat bloke Raymond, Wei Zhao, hey what do you want? An Oscar nominee listing?- I at least had a short 150minutes of happiness tonight.
Short yes and happy too.
I got to watch this hunky crew of mostly gymnastically and acrobatically muscled young men and boys (well almost all are young or boys and almost all are hunky and muscled but hey how do you expect moi to separate the real men from the boys in the space of a few words?)
Ok ok ok. I confess. I skipped the June page of Singapore Calendar Guys 2008. Go on, call me a racist if you want. Why don't you hunt down the sexists and ageists too?
Wait I wear a kimono at home now. Does that make me a kimonist too? Or is that anti-kimonist?
See What An Internet Connection In The Comfort Of Home Can Do? I Get To Switch Universities And Hopefully Get To Gawk At Prettier Boys? Maybe?
There you see. With an Internet connection at home and in the comfort and quiet of home, my blogs shine and I can do my research which accounts for my deciding to switch university except that I am not too sure if this new university will throw up better looking guys than the former. I will have to draw lots on this.
Hot Local Dudes At A Hot Foreign Show
My eyes first trained themselves on this HOT dude wearing a tight green tee. I knew him from the gym and here he was looking fitter, slimmer and sweller.
Then a retinue of other cute hot local young dudes sauntered past the queue outside the Recital Studio and into the studio afterwards.
Spin Odyssey - B Boys (Last For One)
The opening of the show saw two young dudes dressed in black warming up the audience. One was a young man who was to be in drags later (and he looked sexy either as a man or a woman) that cracked me up so much I hadn't laughed for a long time.
Once the show started, I gathered that the odyssey was about Apollo rewarding a victorious troop in the Trojan War with a ball and this adventure took them to a journey through Earth.
The crew was mainly a young one, some hunky, some muscled, most toned and fit and athletic.
The producer has cleverly woven sports like soccer, basketball, baseball and karate (maybe tae-kwon-do, maybe judo, hey I don't know) into the plot which the troop encounters with Earthlings.
These sporty acrobatic and gymnastic moves fit the all-male crew just right.
What follows was a dazzling display of swirls, twirls, hip-hops, hand-stands and youthful energy, vitality and verve.
I thought a set of 3 looked like brothers and yese, they do look like Peng, the hot Chinese tenant at Raymond's. Or is it Peng looking like them? And a set of 2 similarly looked connected.
I can't imagine myself performing all those stunts and that is why I didn't sign up for the workshop. With my implanted ocular condition now, I probably made the right decision.
In fact at one stage a performer was throwing out apples to the audience which got me a little worried that it should hit moi somewhere in the audience.
Towards the end of the show, I was surprised the stars began to be interactive. They ran up to the audience and did high fives. This was when a hunky handsome young male lead slapped palms with moi and I could feel his sweat. Whoa, so close and personal, exhilirating!
And this was when I wanted to kick myself over and over again.
When the show ended and the audience streamed out, the crew had lined themselves outside the exit. I felt the urge to go up and kiss each and every single one of the performer. Hug, embrace and maybe hook up a date?
But I didn't.
Then when the taxi queue got too long, I went back inside again and they were there again! Having a photo-shoot!
I had another stab at chance but I didn't bite the bait.
Fuck you Philip!
More Of Your Ridiculities
Unto Thy Death Does My National Service Do I Part
As I said before, it isn't for the lack of stuff that I do not blog as often nowadays. In fact, every second and every minute there is an issue that crops up and I have just been bottling them up and keeping mom till I CAN'T SHUT MY MOUTH ANYMORE!
So here they are:
O, moi forgot National Service. And today, two of our own trainees have contributed their lives towards their National Service training for the nation.
Two young lives.
Landslide In Timbuktu, Charity Show In Singapore - You Fucking Nosey BusyBody
And yes, fund raising and the works. I say some overseas humanitarian work to help disaster victims is ok.
But to then start a charity show or fund here in Singapore (where the vast majority of us are just struggling by, going on bank loans, etc, etc) to elicit funds is just setting a precedent for every damn disaster that happens abroad that becomes Singapore's nosey business.
You are just spoiling the whole show. Let the business federations and the government who have strategic interests in these countries do the fund raising. It has nothing to do with the citizens.
Common Sense Dictates Less Strenuous And Shorter Field Training Hours During The Heatwave
In these days of the heatwave (and moi knows that the moment he steps out into the sun, he
feels the heat oppression so much, he just can't breathe as well), it makes better sense that physical training is shortened, suspended or made less exhausting.
So at the end of the day, what do Singaporeans get out of this? Nothing.
Let me illustrate:
A Matter Of Tuition Grant - Does This Favor Citizens Any Better Than Foreigners?
I think primary, secondary and junior college education still remain largely affordable unless these are the gifted, IP and IB programmed ones.
Not so for polytechnic and university education. Something more has to be done here to make them more affordable.
The tuition grant is open to both citizens and foreigners. So I don't see how citizens are treated better. Foreigners are tied down to some years of work here to work off this grant and that in fact means direct competition for jobs with our local graduates.
Do you see how wrong this is?
Who Looks After Moi's Dental HealthCare? You?
Moi's set of teeth has endured years of gum diseases, mouth ulceration, toothaches and extraction of the wisdom teeth with all its attendant pain that eats into my head sometimes and now leaves a wide-enough crack between my two front incisors.
Who Looks After My Eyes? You Again?
I am just so afraid of my operated eye now. Anything can go wrong. If it does, what happens?
Who Looks After My Back? You ? Or You?
What if my lumbar compression comes back to haunt moi? What happens then?
Skills?
The hairdressing, hair-brow and beauty/slimming businesses are dominated in a large part by our neighboring country.
I don't see a single shred of up-to-date skill (either the technology or tools are non-existent or it hasn't arrived here yet only because our "talents' aren't schooled in them) anywhere here.
A bunch of con-artists who just wanna offload their products which just in most cases do not do the job they claim to do at all. Like my hair revitalising gel or the face mask.
Food?
I think our food tourism is gonna suffer if that huge eatery of a place just across from the National Library is just serving up junk at bloated prices. It is a touristy place and tourists are gonna go away thinking Singapore food is like that.
There has to be more food control in terms of quality especially when food establishments are within touristy places.
Paying More For Better Nutrition, Products And Services
I don't see it. If the room I am leasing is a newly renovated fully furnished spacious one located within an upgraded precinct maybe. In most cases it is the same run-down places that have their prices jacked up.
Bush, let moi know what other nutritious products one is getting today that he isn't already getting yesterday. Your sperm protein?
Again, they are the same old products selling at inflated prices.
You Have Earned Enough Dudes - Pay Up
For all their worth our top leaders are feeding themselves off Singapore and living as multi-millionaires here in our midst.
It is only right that they who have suceeded through the system that they established in the first place that they should be giving back to society.
Not the rest of us.
Don't Live Life Too Old - Kill Yourself First
I have budgeted my life till 60 or 65. I have no wish to be living past 70, let alone 80 or 85.
Probably top corporate and political leaders would. After all, they are sought after and they are kept on their feet by the challenging, fulfilling and remuneratively lucrative jobs they have created for themselves.
Not so the lowly worker like menial laborers or a humble civil servant for example.
In any case, to totter around at that age, to be in bad health and not have anyone look at you anymore save another similar oldie (O God, who wants another fellow oldie or some sluts or cheapo gold-digger for christ sake) just isn't worth living anymore.
I will just kill myself.
Period.
Post Script : I See Them Almost EveryWhere I Go And The Kinda Side Look They Give Moi Or The Pretence Or The Act Of Innocence
If you think moi is dumb and blind, think three times. I know who your people are planted in my midst.
I can smell them out.
Period again.
I Am Not Benefitting Any From Suggestions To Improving Life Here
For all the improvements that I have blogged about seeing happen here in Singapore, I am not even a beneficiary. Not of the education system, not of owning my own place, not even of waterfront living.
But the rest of Singapore is.
As I said before, it isn't for the lack of stuff that I do not blog as often nowadays. In fact, every second and every minute there is an issue that crops up and I have just been bottling them up and keeping mom till I CAN'T SHUT MY MOUTH ANYMORE!
So here they are:
O, moi forgot National Service. And today, two of our own trainees have contributed their lives towards their National Service training for the nation.
Two young lives.
Landslide In Timbuktu, Charity Show In Singapore - You Fucking Nosey BusyBody
And yes, fund raising and the works. I say some overseas humanitarian work to help disaster victims is ok.
But to then start a charity show or fund here in Singapore (where the vast majority of us are just struggling by, going on bank loans, etc, etc) to elicit funds is just setting a precedent for every damn disaster that happens abroad that becomes Singapore's nosey business.
You are just spoiling the whole show. Let the business federations and the government who have strategic interests in these countries do the fund raising. It has nothing to do with the citizens.
Common Sense Dictates Less Strenuous And Shorter Field Training Hours During The Heatwave
In these days of the heatwave (and moi knows that the moment he steps out into the sun, he
feels the heat oppression so much, he just can't breathe as well), it makes better sense that physical training is shortened, suspended or made less exhausting.
So at the end of the day, what do Singaporeans get out of this? Nothing.
Let me illustrate:
A Matter Of Tuition Grant - Does This Favor Citizens Any Better Than Foreigners?
I think primary, secondary and junior college education still remain largely affordable unless these are the gifted, IP and IB programmed ones.
Not so for polytechnic and university education. Something more has to be done here to make them more affordable.
The tuition grant is open to both citizens and foreigners. So I don't see how citizens are treated better. Foreigners are tied down to some years of work here to work off this grant and that in fact means direct competition for jobs with our local graduates.
Do you see how wrong this is?
Who Looks After Moi's Dental HealthCare? You?
Moi's set of teeth has endured years of gum diseases, mouth ulceration, toothaches and extraction of the wisdom teeth with all its attendant pain that eats into my head sometimes and now leaves a wide-enough crack between my two front incisors.
Who Looks After My Eyes? You Again?
I am just so afraid of my operated eye now. Anything can go wrong. If it does, what happens?
Who Looks After My Back? You ? Or You?
What if my lumbar compression comes back to haunt moi? What happens then?
Skills?
The hairdressing, hair-brow and beauty/slimming businesses are dominated in a large part by our neighboring country.
I don't see a single shred of up-to-date skill (either the technology or tools are non-existent or it hasn't arrived here yet only because our "talents' aren't schooled in them) anywhere here.
A bunch of con-artists who just wanna offload their products which just in most cases do not do the job they claim to do at all. Like my hair revitalising gel or the face mask.
Food?
I think our food tourism is gonna suffer if that huge eatery of a place just across from the National Library is just serving up junk at bloated prices. It is a touristy place and tourists are gonna go away thinking Singapore food is like that.
There has to be more food control in terms of quality especially when food establishments are within touristy places.
Paying More For Better Nutrition, Products And Services
I don't see it. If the room I am leasing is a newly renovated fully furnished spacious one located within an upgraded precinct maybe. In most cases it is the same run-down places that have their prices jacked up.
Bush, let moi know what other nutritious products one is getting today that he isn't already getting yesterday. Your sperm protein?
Again, they are the same old products selling at inflated prices.
You Have Earned Enough Dudes - Pay Up
For all their worth our top leaders are feeding themselves off Singapore and living as multi-millionaires here in our midst.
It is only right that they who have suceeded through the system that they established in the first place that they should be giving back to society.
Not the rest of us.
Don't Live Life Too Old - Kill Yourself First
I have budgeted my life till 60 or 65. I have no wish to be living past 70, let alone 80 or 85.
Probably top corporate and political leaders would. After all, they are sought after and they are kept on their feet by the challenging, fulfilling and remuneratively lucrative jobs they have created for themselves.
Not so the lowly worker like menial laborers or a humble civil servant for example.
In any case, to totter around at that age, to be in bad health and not have anyone look at you anymore save another similar oldie (O God, who wants another fellow oldie or some sluts or cheapo gold-digger for christ sake) just isn't worth living anymore.
I will just kill myself.
Period.
Post Script : I See Them Almost EveryWhere I Go And The Kinda Side Look They Give Moi Or The Pretence Or The Act Of Innocence
If you think moi is dumb and blind, think three times. I know who your people are planted in my midst.
I can smell them out.
Period again.
I Am Not Benefitting Any From Suggestions To Improving Life Here
For all the improvements that I have blogged about seeing happen here in Singapore, I am not even a beneficiary. Not of the education system, not of owning my own place, not even of waterfront living.
But the rest of Singapore is.
These Are Just Some Examples Of Your Ridiculity And Slaps In Your Face
Board And Alight Only At Taxi-Stands Within The CBD But If No Taxis Drive Through, Then What? Wait For Eternity Or Place A Booking? If So, Then What Is A Taxi Stand For? What Preposterity?
Some months ago (and my research shows this is in December 2007), the transport authority announced measures that more taxi stands will be built in the CBD area so that cabbies will not pick up or alight passengers elsewhere other than at these designated spots.
In fact street hailing is strictly prohibited from 1st March onwards.
However the taxi-stand @Central is located in its basement within the car parking lot and hardly any cabbies wanna drive through that spiral down to a pick-up point. My last visit saw a sole lady passenger waiting at this stand and she had to book a cab anyway.
Booking of cabs at taxi-stands is usual on rainy days but if you have to do this on a normal day, then what is the point of a taxi-stand?
The taxi-stand behind Novena Square (yes, there is one at the front which is frquented), according to the security patrol, hardly sees any cabby driving through. So passengers normally have to hail from outside it.
What is the point again?
Every Singaporean Has Paid His/Her Dues - From Taxes To Bills To Donations To Contributions To Effort And To The Singapore Pool
Let our leaders get this straight into their heads.
Every Singaporean has paid his/her dues. From cradle to grave, nothing is free here. If not in the form of direct taxes, then in the way of indirect taxes like the GST.
If moi wanna asks for a refund of school fees from which moi is reserved a place in this university to transfer to another, the GST and administration fees are non-refundable. The GST works out to the tune of almost 400 bucks.
400 bucks just like that goes into the government coffers.
And every Singaporean has contributed to the building of Singapore.
Look at the kinda places that Singapore Pools have helped build over the years. The Esplanade, the Police Force and the Singapore Sports School.
Preachy Preachers - Scums Of The Earth
Like the Chinese Emperor who says the key to happiness is having less, only after he has everything and that includes a Hall of Mental Cultivation where he keeps a sizable wardrobe and collects other ornaments, it is simply bull.
You ask someone to live in a smaller space but you live in a bungalow. You ask someone to be resilient, but what resilience have you shown? You say to wait for natural evolution only after you have engineered so many others.
I say let us engage in a bout of muay thai and after you have withstood 10 blows without a flinch or a fend-off, hey, you live up to the name of "resilience".
Some months ago (and my research shows this is in December 2007), the transport authority announced measures that more taxi stands will be built in the CBD area so that cabbies will not pick up or alight passengers elsewhere other than at these designated spots.
In fact street hailing is strictly prohibited from 1st March onwards.
However the taxi-stand @Central is located in its basement within the car parking lot and hardly any cabbies wanna drive through that spiral down to a pick-up point. My last visit saw a sole lady passenger waiting at this stand and she had to book a cab anyway.
Booking of cabs at taxi-stands is usual on rainy days but if you have to do this on a normal day, then what is the point of a taxi-stand?
The taxi-stand behind Novena Square (yes, there is one at the front which is frquented), according to the security patrol, hardly sees any cabby driving through. So passengers normally have to hail from outside it.
What is the point again?
Every Singaporean Has Paid His/Her Dues - From Taxes To Bills To Donations To Contributions To Effort And To The Singapore Pool
Let our leaders get this straight into their heads.
Every Singaporean has paid his/her dues. From cradle to grave, nothing is free here. If not in the form of direct taxes, then in the way of indirect taxes like the GST.
If moi wanna asks for a refund of school fees from which moi is reserved a place in this university to transfer to another, the GST and administration fees are non-refundable. The GST works out to the tune of almost 400 bucks.
400 bucks just like that goes into the government coffers.
And every Singaporean has contributed to the building of Singapore.
Look at the kinda places that Singapore Pools have helped build over the years. The Esplanade, the Police Force and the Singapore Sports School.
Preachy Preachers - Scums Of The Earth
Like the Chinese Emperor who says the key to happiness is having less, only after he has everything and that includes a Hall of Mental Cultivation where he keeps a sizable wardrobe and collects other ornaments, it is simply bull.
You ask someone to live in a smaller space but you live in a bungalow. You ask someone to be resilient, but what resilience have you shown? You say to wait for natural evolution only after you have engineered so many others.
I say let us engage in a bout of muay thai and after you have withstood 10 blows without a flinch or a fend-off, hey, you live up to the name of "resilience".
Monday, June 09, 2008
Cataract Yesterday, Almost Perfect Eye Today
What The Heck Is PhacoEmulsification?
My cataract surgery has come and gone.
To be really precise and in exact medical lingo, it was a surgery termed phacoemulsification.
As far as I am concerned, an ultra-uber-advanced-minimally invasive technique of inserting an ultrasound probe, breaking up the opaqued lens and then aspirating it. A 10-15 minute, relatively painless (mild discomfort as the Singapore National Eye Centre's brochure touts it to be) procedure.
My cataract had worsened over a short 6-month period and I knew it had ripened and it was time.
In the days leading to the day of the op, I was agitated and nervous. I had taken to smoking again not because I haven't kicked the habit (it has been a full half a year now remember) but because I was bored, I had itchy fingers and I was under tremednous pressure (moving again after a living nightmare with an unhappy and intrigued family nucleus with the likes of Liz, fat bloke Raymond, his China doll and kid)
To ease my agitation, I shopped till I dropped. Mostly white or black trunky boxers painted in Calvin Klein and Renoma brand names.
Post PhacoEmulsification
It has been almost 10 days now since my surgery. The shading effect of a bright white hue in my good eye contrasted with a gloomy yellow in the cataracted eye on the first day after the op was very, very, very pronunced. This is because of the UV protective nature of the new intraocular implant which has a blue light filter.
This has now become a thing of the past while today, I have to cope with adjusting to what I perceive to be an imbalance between the two eyes which makes ocular orientation slightly skewed.
Two postulates here : (1) the new implant has been undercorrected a full 100 degrees maybe in anticipation of some future changes or for my presbyopian needs or (2) the artificial lens isn't doing its job as well as its former natural counterpart
Research Stem Cell Technology Here AssHoles!
I am beginning to feel like a cyborg and yes I will have to ask doc when I next consult her.
I am afraid ocular surgical techniques have advanced well ahead of intraocular implant technology. I am also fully aware of possible future ocular complications that can occur
In the meantime, lens implant technology has to do a quantum leap in researching better lenses like multifocals in enabling sharper and more focussed vision while all its attendant complications are minimised if not eliminated.
What I Have Learned From This!
You can't wait till your golden years to relish the freedom of economics or the freedom of time! You may not have the good health to enjoy it!
You have to do it today! While you are still young and you have the energy, the vitality and the youth to flaunt it!
I have suppressed myself enough the first half of my life. Due in part to my kinda upbringing! What a sheer waste really! Think: you have only one life, live well.
Live Today Because You May Not Be Able To Or Be Here Tomorrow!
Today, I told myself I have to look my best and youngest possible. That means personal grooming in fashion and looks like my hair. Yes, I am keeping it long forever. You can only do it once in your lifetime, so do it!
I am into Oakleys (and WOW, do they ever come in the most fashionable and best crafted frames and lenses with the right mix of color to boot), basketball jerseys and what have you to look my best!
Aspirations
I am gonna pursue that higher education if not to gawk at guys (sounds like it is gonna be an international pool so it better be good) or make firm friends then to frame and paste that meaningless piece of paper on the wall.
From what I read about its overseas university partner, it sits in very well with the kinda university I wanna be affiliated with (it offers sports science and a 26m pound sports building is coming up in 2010 - the kinda industry I hope to be in) and part of the country I wanna visit one day (castles galore, nature, beautiful sceneries and the biggest man-made lake in the world).
Yes I am gonna finally push for that gym bod! If it means steroids (hopefully it will have none of its purported side-effects) so be it!
And all those new places and parks coming up in Singapore! Those sports and adventure I wanna do and of course those countries I wanna visit!
Don't forget the kinda job I wanna pursue armed with a new found certification (silly and sad as that sounds as I believe education isn't about certification) because of the kinda industries I know I will soar in! Fashion, sports, product design, tourism, education/training and yes SEX and porn.
*Smiles and winks*
Right here and now and not tomorrow.
In the meantime, that elusive thing called love and a place of my own just seem unreachable!
Fuck you motherfuckers!
My cataract surgery has come and gone.
To be really precise and in exact medical lingo, it was a surgery termed phacoemulsification.
As far as I am concerned, an ultra-uber-advanced-minimally invasive technique of inserting an ultrasound probe, breaking up the opaqued lens and then aspirating it. A 10-15 minute, relatively painless (mild discomfort as the Singapore National Eye Centre's brochure touts it to be) procedure.
My cataract had worsened over a short 6-month period and I knew it had ripened and it was time.
In the days leading to the day of the op, I was agitated and nervous. I had taken to smoking again not because I haven't kicked the habit (it has been a full half a year now remember) but because I was bored, I had itchy fingers and I was under tremednous pressure (moving again after a living nightmare with an unhappy and intrigued family nucleus with the likes of Liz, fat bloke Raymond, his China doll and kid)
To ease my agitation, I shopped till I dropped. Mostly white or black trunky boxers painted in Calvin Klein and Renoma brand names.
Post PhacoEmulsification
It has been almost 10 days now since my surgery. The shading effect of a bright white hue in my good eye contrasted with a gloomy yellow in the cataracted eye on the first day after the op was very, very, very pronunced. This is because of the UV protective nature of the new intraocular implant which has a blue light filter.
This has now become a thing of the past while today, I have to cope with adjusting to what I perceive to be an imbalance between the two eyes which makes ocular orientation slightly skewed.
Two postulates here : (1) the new implant has been undercorrected a full 100 degrees maybe in anticipation of some future changes or for my presbyopian needs or (2) the artificial lens isn't doing its job as well as its former natural counterpart
Research Stem Cell Technology Here AssHoles!
I am beginning to feel like a cyborg and yes I will have to ask doc when I next consult her.
I am afraid ocular surgical techniques have advanced well ahead of intraocular implant technology. I am also fully aware of possible future ocular complications that can occur
In the meantime, lens implant technology has to do a quantum leap in researching better lenses like multifocals in enabling sharper and more focussed vision while all its attendant complications are minimised if not eliminated.
What I Have Learned From This!
You can't wait till your golden years to relish the freedom of economics or the freedom of time! You may not have the good health to enjoy it!
You have to do it today! While you are still young and you have the energy, the vitality and the youth to flaunt it!
I have suppressed myself enough the first half of my life. Due in part to my kinda upbringing! What a sheer waste really! Think: you have only one life, live well.
Live Today Because You May Not Be Able To Or Be Here Tomorrow!
Today, I told myself I have to look my best and youngest possible. That means personal grooming in fashion and looks like my hair. Yes, I am keeping it long forever. You can only do it once in your lifetime, so do it!
I am into Oakleys (and WOW, do they ever come in the most fashionable and best crafted frames and lenses with the right mix of color to boot), basketball jerseys and what have you to look my best!
Aspirations
I am gonna pursue that higher education if not to gawk at guys (sounds like it is gonna be an international pool so it better be good) or make firm friends then to frame and paste that meaningless piece of paper on the wall.
From what I read about its overseas university partner, it sits in very well with the kinda university I wanna be affiliated with (it offers sports science and a 26m pound sports building is coming up in 2010 - the kinda industry I hope to be in) and part of the country I wanna visit one day (castles galore, nature, beautiful sceneries and the biggest man-made lake in the world).
Yes I am gonna finally push for that gym bod! If it means steroids (hopefully it will have none of its purported side-effects) so be it!
And all those new places and parks coming up in Singapore! Those sports and adventure I wanna do and of course those countries I wanna visit!
Don't forget the kinda job I wanna pursue armed with a new found certification (silly and sad as that sounds as I believe education isn't about certification) because of the kinda industries I know I will soar in! Fashion, sports, product design, tourism, education/training and yes SEX and porn.
*Smiles and winks*
Right here and now and not tomorrow.
In the meantime, that elusive thing called love and a place of my own just seem unreachable!
Fuck you motherfuckers!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Sickie Household
Now let me tell you how it is like living with Third Worlders. By now you will know that I was living with a flat filled with them and that includes the local master of the house.
On the night I went out to Play, Liz, the maid pulled a long face. When I ritualised my facial treatment rountine, she pulled a face again. I was beginning to wonder if she is my mother or my wife! And she can't seem to accept that these are as normal as tattoos or even teen sex these days, especially since we are First Worlders (or at least pretend to be).
As a tenant, I have done my part in doing my own laundry and hanging them out to dry save for the few occasions she helps to bring them in. I flush and clean up after I use the loo and I bag and thrash my own litter and refuse. I switch off all lights and I don't cook.
Heck! I get to wash only on certain days when there is available space on the clothes racks and mostly at night when everyone is asleep. Wash till after midnight and sometimes I fall asleep myself.
Apparently this isn't enough and moi gets the feeling they want be to be looking after their child and teaching him as well!
Things have come to a head where she hoards the washer and shower with her panties and bra.
To hell with good observance of personal habits! I am not flushing, swithcing or cleaning up anymore! And I am out of the house!
On the night I went out to Play, Liz, the maid pulled a long face. When I ritualised my facial treatment rountine, she pulled a face again. I was beginning to wonder if she is my mother or my wife! And she can't seem to accept that these are as normal as tattoos or even teen sex these days, especially since we are First Worlders (or at least pretend to be).
As a tenant, I have done my part in doing my own laundry and hanging them out to dry save for the few occasions she helps to bring them in. I flush and clean up after I use the loo and I bag and thrash my own litter and refuse. I switch off all lights and I don't cook.
Heck! I get to wash only on certain days when there is available space on the clothes racks and mostly at night when everyone is asleep. Wash till after midnight and sometimes I fall asleep myself.
Apparently this isn't enough and moi gets the feeling they want be to be looking after their child and teaching him as well!
Things have come to a head where she hoards the washer and shower with her panties and bra.
To hell with good observance of personal habits! I am not flushing, swithcing or cleaning up anymore! And I am out of the house!
Saturday, May 10, 2008
It CAN oNLY gET wORSE
Leave Politicking Out Of The House
Look here, whoever you fucking bastards are out there! If you wanna create a thousand scenes, I will gladly oblige you. But make this happen at the workplace and outside. Keep the home out of it!
Home is where you live with your loved ones! You mutually support each other and exchange kind words. It is a sanctuary for peace and rest and refuge.
Women, Only You Can Do This
I cannot understand how putting Wei Zhao to sleep in the night can become such a drama and ordeal. It must only be women who can do this! And it gets worse these days with shouts, screams, beats and crying!
And Liz seems to have caught on to a Singaporean trait. Choping the shower facility with her clothes and lingerie even though she isn't exactly ready yet to take a shower. I have told her very nicely yesterday that if anyone happens to step in to bath, her stuff is gonna get wet.
But she is stubbornly adamant to stick to her old ways. So guess what, besides not being able to hang my towel on that sole rack, I also object to women's lingerie smack right in front of my face! I guess I have just got to keep getting used to wetting her barang barang!
The same goes for the washer! Clothes are inside but not yet washed so others cannot wash.
I understand that she is overwhelmed sometimes by household chores, looking after Wei Zhao and the China doll isn't helping very much. But hey she is paid to do the job and she can be free most of the time.
Raymond is out playing mahjong and god-knows-what-else-he-does, comes back after midnight, sleeps like a log throughout the day and he is off again later in the day!
Liz's ritual looks something like this: wakes up between 630am - 700am. Cleans, washes, cooks till about 9am or later. Then she is free till noon, puts Wei Zhao down for a nap (and she gets to snooze), free again till late afternoon where she cooks again and does some other chores. In between she sits in front of the TV with Wei Zhao.
So really it isn't that bad! She doesn't sweep or mop the floor everyday.
Whatever it is,I am just there to get my peace and rest and I have upped my budget to $500 to see if I can get that! I am not expecting very much because it is essentially the same kinda room but price has gone up.
Look here, whoever you fucking bastards are out there! If you wanna create a thousand scenes, I will gladly oblige you. But make this happen at the workplace and outside. Keep the home out of it!
Home is where you live with your loved ones! You mutually support each other and exchange kind words. It is a sanctuary for peace and rest and refuge.
Women, Only You Can Do This
I cannot understand how putting Wei Zhao to sleep in the night can become such a drama and ordeal. It must only be women who can do this! And it gets worse these days with shouts, screams, beats and crying!
And Liz seems to have caught on to a Singaporean trait. Choping the shower facility with her clothes and lingerie even though she isn't exactly ready yet to take a shower. I have told her very nicely yesterday that if anyone happens to step in to bath, her stuff is gonna get wet.
But she is stubbornly adamant to stick to her old ways. So guess what, besides not being able to hang my towel on that sole rack, I also object to women's lingerie smack right in front of my face! I guess I have just got to keep getting used to wetting her barang barang!
The same goes for the washer! Clothes are inside but not yet washed so others cannot wash.
I understand that she is overwhelmed sometimes by household chores, looking after Wei Zhao and the China doll isn't helping very much. But hey she is paid to do the job and she can be free most of the time.
Raymond is out playing mahjong and god-knows-what-else-he-does, comes back after midnight, sleeps like a log throughout the day and he is off again later in the day!
Liz's ritual looks something like this: wakes up between 630am - 700am. Cleans, washes, cooks till about 9am or later. Then she is free till noon, puts Wei Zhao down for a nap (and she gets to snooze), free again till late afternoon where she cooks again and does some other chores. In between she sits in front of the TV with Wei Zhao.
So really it isn't that bad! She doesn't sweep or mop the floor everyday.
Whatever it is,I am just there to get my peace and rest and I have upped my budget to $500 to see if I can get that! I am not expecting very much because it is essentially the same kinda room but price has gone up.
Thursday, May 08, 2008
Sir Elton John And His Band - The Rocket Man Tour
I didn't get wind of Sir Elton John's concert till I flipped the pages of the national newspapers one fine Sunday morning and there it was - tickets seemingly still available for some seats.
I was pleasantly surprised that premium seats that were to put moi diametrically opposite the BIG MAN himself, snugly plonked onto his keyboard seat, were still up for grabs.
Yesterday marked my first time attending a concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Mind you, the Indoor Stadium has existed since 1989 and it is only now, into the 21st century that I got to see what is inside. I had always wanted to poke my nose into what goes on behind that shining stainless steel armour of a pagoda rooftop and this concert presented me with that opportunity.
I arrived early, picked up my tickets and queues were already forming at the ticketing booths. As there was still time left, I went round the nearby Kallang Leisure Park to take a look. Quite nice but nothing spectacular and it helped kill the time I had.
I polished off a ciggy and showed my pass at the "Premium" entrance but was duly shooed off to the North entrance. These premium seats are the ones that face the stage squarely while moi's were the ones that lay by the sides.
The concert hall was filled almost to full capacity. It was nearly a full hour wait before Hamesh Brown and the Flying Dutchman got on stage to make some announcements and not long after, Sir Elton John made his GRAND ENTRANCE, dressed in a colorfully motifed black long coat tail, sporting a nice blondish brown mop of hair, a pair of red-rimmed glasses and a gleaming ear stud. And he is sixty-one.
And Sir Elton John and his band swung into immediate action. The first part of the concert featured songs that moi wasn't very familiar with. It didn't help that a performance like that made some songs sound quite different from that recorded in a studio.
I could, however, identify with songs like "Daniel", "Candle In The Wind", "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" and "Blue Eyes" and shook my head a little, stamped my feet or drummed my fingers as I soaked up the lyrics, the meaning and the rhythm of the songs.
The band, Elton's perfect mastery of the keyboard, his strong vocals, the music, the dazzling and flashing lights and the stage backdrop all added to the star-light and cosmic nature of the event. Some audience were clapping or pointing into the air or just simply dancing to the songs.
For moi, it was Sir Elton John's last bit of the concert where he belted out all his hit POP songs like "I Am Still Standing" that got me up on my feet and dancing. The last song came out so well with the background music that it ROCKED!
Oh God! It has been a two and a half hour's of super stardom that was well worth it!
I was pleasantly surprised that premium seats that were to put moi diametrically opposite the BIG MAN himself, snugly plonked onto his keyboard seat, were still up for grabs.
Yesterday marked my first time attending a concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Mind you, the Indoor Stadium has existed since 1989 and it is only now, into the 21st century that I got to see what is inside. I had always wanted to poke my nose into what goes on behind that shining stainless steel armour of a pagoda rooftop and this concert presented me with that opportunity.
I arrived early, picked up my tickets and queues were already forming at the ticketing booths. As there was still time left, I went round the nearby Kallang Leisure Park to take a look. Quite nice but nothing spectacular and it helped kill the time I had.
I polished off a ciggy and showed my pass at the "Premium" entrance but was duly shooed off to the North entrance. These premium seats are the ones that face the stage squarely while moi's were the ones that lay by the sides.
The concert hall was filled almost to full capacity. It was nearly a full hour wait before Hamesh Brown and the Flying Dutchman got on stage to make some announcements and not long after, Sir Elton John made his GRAND ENTRANCE, dressed in a colorfully motifed black long coat tail, sporting a nice blondish brown mop of hair, a pair of red-rimmed glasses and a gleaming ear stud. And he is sixty-one.
And Sir Elton John and his band swung into immediate action. The first part of the concert featured songs that moi wasn't very familiar with. It didn't help that a performance like that made some songs sound quite different from that recorded in a studio.
I could, however, identify with songs like "Daniel", "Candle In The Wind", "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" and "Blue Eyes" and shook my head a little, stamped my feet or drummed my fingers as I soaked up the lyrics, the meaning and the rhythm of the songs.
The band, Elton's perfect mastery of the keyboard, his strong vocals, the music, the dazzling and flashing lights and the stage backdrop all added to the star-light and cosmic nature of the event. Some audience were clapping or pointing into the air or just simply dancing to the songs.
For moi, it was Sir Elton John's last bit of the concert where he belted out all his hit POP songs like "I Am Still Standing" that got me up on my feet and dancing. The last song came out so well with the background music that it ROCKED!
Oh God! It has been a two and a half hour's of super stardom that was well worth it!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Oo! More Accusations Levied At Singaporeans
Singaporeans Are All That But Why And Are Foreigners Any Different?
I just realised a few things the other day.
First, Singaporeans have been accused of a multitude of sins. Sins like being selfish and having an attitude and the last one I read was a poster at Tampines Mall that screamed "Singaporeans do not complain, they whine".
I am not sure what they mean by "selfish". Perhaps they mean that by being selfless, we all need to engage in some barter. The kinda barter I mentioned. You rub my back, I scrub your balls. I suck your dick, you lick my pubic hair. In short, if you lent me $10 now, I leave some leftover food for you some time in the future.
Exactly the kinda barter that demeans what a "real" relationship is all about.
If the foreign guest workers based here do not have an attitude, then Emperor Qian Long isn't the emperor anymore. He is the empress. Muahahahahaha.
I have worked and lived with enough foreign bodies to know that.
Like Liz. The Queen Maid and Mother of the Tan Family right now. When she gets a scolding or is hastened to finish her work, she is all nice and demure as a front. When moi is around, she "whines" like a female hyena on heat asking the government of the day to fuck her.
Why do Singaporens whine and become what they are today?
Surely in part it is the environment that made them so. Do the leaders here do not realise that?
Don't you think your no handouts, no welfare state, pay-and-pay and the economy hailed as the KING and sole reason for any human being's existence have nothing to do with it?
Please search within your own souls.
I just realised a few things the other day.
First, Singaporeans have been accused of a multitude of sins. Sins like being selfish and having an attitude and the last one I read was a poster at Tampines Mall that screamed "Singaporeans do not complain, they whine".
I am not sure what they mean by "selfish". Perhaps they mean that by being selfless, we all need to engage in some barter. The kinda barter I mentioned. You rub my back, I scrub your balls. I suck your dick, you lick my pubic hair. In short, if you lent me $10 now, I leave some leftover food for you some time in the future.
Exactly the kinda barter that demeans what a "real" relationship is all about.
If the foreign guest workers based here do not have an attitude, then Emperor Qian Long isn't the emperor anymore. He is the empress. Muahahahahaha.
I have worked and lived with enough foreign bodies to know that.
Like Liz. The Queen Maid and Mother of the Tan Family right now. When she gets a scolding or is hastened to finish her work, she is all nice and demure as a front. When moi is around, she "whines" like a female hyena on heat asking the government of the day to fuck her.
Why do Singaporens whine and become what they are today?
Surely in part it is the environment that made them so. Do the leaders here do not realise that?
Don't you think your no handouts, no welfare state, pay-and-pay and the economy hailed as the KING and sole reason for any human being's existence have nothing to do with it?
Please search within your own souls.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Of Nothing Grandiose But Plain Simplicity
The First And Next Generation Of Third Worlders
Let me add this final line to who we are bringing in here.
The First Generation Third Worlders may already be a world apart from us when it comes to living and working together . Even the Next Generation Third Worlders (the younger set) are kinda different in their thinking, ways of life, habits, culture and so on. On top of language of course.
One example is that most of them still believing in a whack when it comes to disciplining their kids. That seems, to us, to be the last resort only after a whole lot of good reasoning and talking to.
Imagine tossing them in with us. What kinda clash would you expect?
Creating New Industries And We Are Not Even Talking About Grandiosity - Just Simple Enough Creative New Industries That Can Create New Jobs For Our Own People
We are not even thinking of such grandiose ideas like the biomedical sciences when it comes to creating and opening up new industries. In fact, this again sounds a lot like an industry created for a select few "elites".
What about simple industries for the masses in the the fashion/hair styling industry, tourism, food and creative film production (particularly sexually-explicit films and films on homosexuality that are not even political).
We have heard often enough how the hair industry here just doesn't seem to venture beyond their few snips and cuts here and there . Invariably there is that few styles most of our Singapore bois are accustomed to.
A customer could point out a hair style in a glossy Japanese or Korean hair mag but the final cut just doesn't come out like it should.
Maybe it is high time a middle or high-end tier in the hair industry is created EXCLUSIVELY for Singaporean hairstylists where they are trained abroad (hair fashion capitals of the world like Japan, Korea, London, New York, wateva) and to serve up cuts in these sectors at those sectorial price ranges.
The same applies to the food and beverage industry.
Let all the rest of them remain as where they are now - the lower end or the few middle and high-end spectrum.
We Are All Trained To First World Standards But Hey Are The Foreigners Similarly Educated?
While engaging with my sister in conversation today, I realised how ironical Singapore has become in fining its own people when it comes to littering, spitting or throwing away cigarette butts.
But what about the foreign guest workers or otherwise who dirty our public transport system dressed in their greasy, oily or muddied work overalls and boots?
We are exhorted to give up seats to the elderly and the needy but do all foreigners observe this?
Which is worse?
Final Plea
Please do not use the cover of authority or some other legal institutions (like marriage for one) to beat down gay-sex as a second-class, underground, deceitful , surreptitious, coercive and shameful act of intercourse on the sly between men and or boys.
Make it as legitimate as the rest of them which will make it a loving healthy relationship out in the open and there will be none of the wrongs that are being pepetrated now in the dark.
This Place Is Cool
I finally got the haircut I want. This is like after so many try-outs and payment for various treatments and hair products.
I think I will stick to this hair salon for a while.
The Hot Hot Hot Chinese
Yes the Chinese bois are really hot. Some of those students and the masseurs and those in the service industry.
I say bring them in. But after the looks, we all look for character and the heart and so on.
Let me add this final line to who we are bringing in here.
The First Generation Third Worlders may already be a world apart from us when it comes to living and working together . Even the Next Generation Third Worlders (the younger set) are kinda different in their thinking, ways of life, habits, culture and so on. On top of language of course.
One example is that most of them still believing in a whack when it comes to disciplining their kids. That seems, to us, to be the last resort only after a whole lot of good reasoning and talking to.
Imagine tossing them in with us. What kinda clash would you expect?
Creating New Industries And We Are Not Even Talking About Grandiosity - Just Simple Enough Creative New Industries That Can Create New Jobs For Our Own People
We are not even thinking of such grandiose ideas like the biomedical sciences when it comes to creating and opening up new industries. In fact, this again sounds a lot like an industry created for a select few "elites".
What about simple industries for the masses in the the fashion/hair styling industry, tourism, food and creative film production (particularly sexually-explicit films and films on homosexuality that are not even political).
We have heard often enough how the hair industry here just doesn't seem to venture beyond their few snips and cuts here and there . Invariably there is that few styles most of our Singapore bois are accustomed to.
A customer could point out a hair style in a glossy Japanese or Korean hair mag but the final cut just doesn't come out like it should.
Maybe it is high time a middle or high-end tier in the hair industry is created EXCLUSIVELY for Singaporean hairstylists where they are trained abroad (hair fashion capitals of the world like Japan, Korea, London, New York, wateva) and to serve up cuts in these sectors at those sectorial price ranges.
The same applies to the food and beverage industry.
Let all the rest of them remain as where they are now - the lower end or the few middle and high-end spectrum.
We Are All Trained To First World Standards But Hey Are The Foreigners Similarly Educated?
While engaging with my sister in conversation today, I realised how ironical Singapore has become in fining its own people when it comes to littering, spitting or throwing away cigarette butts.
But what about the foreign guest workers or otherwise who dirty our public transport system dressed in their greasy, oily or muddied work overalls and boots?
We are exhorted to give up seats to the elderly and the needy but do all foreigners observe this?
Which is worse?
Final Plea
Please do not use the cover of authority or some other legal institutions (like marriage for one) to beat down gay-sex as a second-class, underground, deceitful , surreptitious, coercive and shameful act of intercourse on the sly between men and or boys.
Make it as legitimate as the rest of them which will make it a loving healthy relationship out in the open and there will be none of the wrongs that are being pepetrated now in the dark.
This Place Is Cool
I finally got the haircut I want. This is like after so many try-outs and payment for various treatments and hair products.
I think I will stick to this hair salon for a while.
The Hot Hot Hot Chinese
Yes the Chinese bois are really hot. Some of those students and the masseurs and those in the service industry.
I say bring them in. But after the looks, we all look for character and the heart and so on.
Friday, April 18, 2008
O Please Don't Be A HypoCrite
Misery Of Miseries - Playing Cloak And Dagger
Let me put to you how miserably unprivate it is to lease a room to stay in, especially from a familial kinda setting with "wife", "husband" and "kid" in tow.
First I LOVE DURIANS. And since there may be a problem with the perceived stench of this beloved KING OF FRUITS, I have to take into account this sensibility and therefore BUY and EAT the fruit outside.
I tried doing that at Swensens and was all at once spotted and told not to consume this on their premises. So I have to pick another food joint to do that.
Then there is that other issue of privacy when I am on the INTERNET and because I AM GAY, therefore I visit quite a few GAY SITES and I have to always look over my shoulders to check who is peeping or noticing in public places where I surf.
Sometimes I just don't bother anymore and I don't know what the consequences are gonna be.
Just to name two of the many inconveniences. And since we are not an open society (contrary to our preposterous claims) therefore I just can't be really open with my orientation. I can only be selectively open.
Are You Seriously Doing The Right Thing?
Yes it is true because of the kinda population figure we are having trouble with here (but please your "STOP AT TWO" policy, the promotion of the equality of the sexes leading to a smaller family nucleus and the emigration of our own kind must have in some way contributed to this), immigration seems like the BEST WAY TO GO.
All of us have no problems with that except that we seem to be bringing in Third Worlders and they are purportedly generating for the country the NEXT GENERATION.
But question is: How do the "NEXT GENERATION" like myself then deal with this usually older, more traditional and less educated FIRST GENERATION THIRD WORLDERS. And isn't this just a lame excuse because we are gonna keep mouthing the same old line to "THE NEXT GENERATION" while bringing in the "FIRST GENERATION THIRD WORLDERS" without really addressing the root cause of the problem.
In other words, we are just treating the symptoms of a population decline simply by topping up through immigration. But what is the root cause of this decline?
Yes, I have mentioned three of them above.
The Next Generation Seems Like The Best Bet
I still think that the younger generation of foreign bodies that come here to school are our best bet for topping up our population figure. There is a better chance they can become more like us. The younger, the easier.
I am not too sure about the older and therefore more traditional group though. And especially the Third Worlders.
There is the issue of hygiene and health practices and standards and yes, what if they bring with them some kinda new viral bugs or something?
A Dumping Ground Good For Sheer Academic Learning
During the university application season and making my rounds of the four universities here, I couldn't help noticing a fairer than fair number of foreign bodies studying at these education institutions. Yes women too.
I am not sure if they are making up for the lost numbers (usually the better and abler) who have gone abroad to pursue their higher education or if they are making it here because of the sheer academic nature of our education.
Just rote-learning, memorisation and regurgitation which people like them do best.
These Are Your Foreign Immigrants You Are Bringing In
First The Burmese
I am not going on with the Burmese, ex-tenant of my current place, firstly because he is beginning to speak all those things our top leaders have been mouthing. Like eat at the coffee shop where it is supposedly to be cheaper.
But he has admitted that for him, he needs at least SGD700 a month for all living expenses here that include rent, food and transport.
See how indoctrinated he has become. And I don't believe for a moment that he is new here to Singapore. I don't believe for a moment that picture of the woman on his cell-phone is his girlfriend and he can LIE without a blink of an eye.
If he can lie about that, I can begin to wonder what kinda beneficial relationship he is engaging in with Raymond and I just have a feeling he has moved to somewhere nearby, a place where Raymond, his relative (like his mom or aunty) or friend are splitting among themselves.
He has also been secretly texting Liz the maid. He has also told stuff about me to her and Raymond. That I know. He seems to be more a spy for the household. Just like Liz. And Liz and Kent are correct in some sense that he isn't very clean.
I seem to get the feeling that there is a kinda conspiracy among the China doll, Raymond, Liz and the tenants when they circulate stories about themselves. Mostly a unified one but sometimes because of lapses, differing versions.
Then The Hot China Boy (God, He Is Cute But I Am Leaving Him Alone)
Peng has also lied about the private school he is studying in. Of all the names he chose, it was "Qian Long", the name of an ex-emperor of one of the Chinese dynasties.
We all know the track record of many of these private schools. Peng has consistently been skipping school and going to school at various odd hours in the morning and then in the afternoon.
I have taught in them before and I know for a fact, some aren't exactly there to study.
Finally Some Of The Hot China Masseurs And Malaysian Chinese Here
I recently ran into a Chinese masseur who studies in one and is part-timing as a gay masseur. He has every intention of brushing up his English and then jump from his current student pass to a work pass.
He is all about money and his intentions are not very clear.
It seems that a PR status is extended quite easily nowadays to Chinese foreigners. Some Malaysian Chinese recently on a room hunt to share a room with moi is studying in an arts school and apparently he was invited for a PR status before he is graduating.
He is even rowing the dragonboat for our army (how is that possible) and has a job waiting as a flight attendant with our local airlines.
There you have it. Tough competition for us all to find work and live here. And above all, we are not privileged citizens of our own country.
Then There Is "Raymond"
Don't forget his ad was for young tenants. Very young tenants. Tenants from their late teens to twenties.
And for heaven's sake, he is a married man, he is a gay-turned-bisexual. So what kinda things do you expect out of him?
You Disallow Legitimate Gay Couplings Out In The Open But Encourage Surreptitious And Deceitful Acts On The Sly Under Purportedly Legitimate Fronts Like Marriage And Schools?
You wanna disallow legitimate couplings of gays out in the open while encouraging surreptitious "married but having fun on the side" kinda lifestyle?
What kinda signal is that to a generation of younger gays.
Oo Are These Your GrassRoots People Again
Yeah I see these faces every time I visit some of these places.
Familiar faces I know from the past. The army for one. And people who hang out frequently at the same places moi hangs out for whatever reasons.
Or people who just appear from nowhere but have a million subliminal messages in the conversations they so loudly engage in within my ear-shot for my listening pleasure or displeasure.
Let me put to you how miserably unprivate it is to lease a room to stay in, especially from a familial kinda setting with "wife", "husband" and "kid" in tow.
First I LOVE DURIANS. And since there may be a problem with the perceived stench of this beloved KING OF FRUITS, I have to take into account this sensibility and therefore BUY and EAT the fruit outside.
I tried doing that at Swensens and was all at once spotted and told not to consume this on their premises. So I have to pick another food joint to do that.
Then there is that other issue of privacy when I am on the INTERNET and because I AM GAY, therefore I visit quite a few GAY SITES and I have to always look over my shoulders to check who is peeping or noticing in public places where I surf.
Sometimes I just don't bother anymore and I don't know what the consequences are gonna be.
Just to name two of the many inconveniences. And since we are not an open society (contrary to our preposterous claims) therefore I just can't be really open with my orientation. I can only be selectively open.
Are You Seriously Doing The Right Thing?
Yes it is true because of the kinda population figure we are having trouble with here (but please your "STOP AT TWO" policy, the promotion of the equality of the sexes leading to a smaller family nucleus and the emigration of our own kind must have in some way contributed to this), immigration seems like the BEST WAY TO GO.
All of us have no problems with that except that we seem to be bringing in Third Worlders and they are purportedly generating for the country the NEXT GENERATION.
But question is: How do the "NEXT GENERATION" like myself then deal with this usually older, more traditional and less educated FIRST GENERATION THIRD WORLDERS. And isn't this just a lame excuse because we are gonna keep mouthing the same old line to "THE NEXT GENERATION" while bringing in the "FIRST GENERATION THIRD WORLDERS" without really addressing the root cause of the problem.
In other words, we are just treating the symptoms of a population decline simply by topping up through immigration. But what is the root cause of this decline?
Yes, I have mentioned three of them above.
The Next Generation Seems Like The Best Bet
I still think that the younger generation of foreign bodies that come here to school are our best bet for topping up our population figure. There is a better chance they can become more like us. The younger, the easier.
I am not too sure about the older and therefore more traditional group though. And especially the Third Worlders.
There is the issue of hygiene and health practices and standards and yes, what if they bring with them some kinda new viral bugs or something?
A Dumping Ground Good For Sheer Academic Learning
During the university application season and making my rounds of the four universities here, I couldn't help noticing a fairer than fair number of foreign bodies studying at these education institutions. Yes women too.
I am not sure if they are making up for the lost numbers (usually the better and abler) who have gone abroad to pursue their higher education or if they are making it here because of the sheer academic nature of our education.
Just rote-learning, memorisation and regurgitation which people like them do best.
These Are Your Foreign Immigrants You Are Bringing In
First The Burmese
I am not going on with the Burmese, ex-tenant of my current place, firstly because he is beginning to speak all those things our top leaders have been mouthing. Like eat at the coffee shop where it is supposedly to be cheaper.
But he has admitted that for him, he needs at least SGD700 a month for all living expenses here that include rent, food and transport.
See how indoctrinated he has become. And I don't believe for a moment that he is new here to Singapore. I don't believe for a moment that picture of the woman on his cell-phone is his girlfriend and he can LIE without a blink of an eye.
If he can lie about that, I can begin to wonder what kinda beneficial relationship he is engaging in with Raymond and I just have a feeling he has moved to somewhere nearby, a place where Raymond, his relative (like his mom or aunty) or friend are splitting among themselves.
He has also been secretly texting Liz the maid. He has also told stuff about me to her and Raymond. That I know. He seems to be more a spy for the household. Just like Liz. And Liz and Kent are correct in some sense that he isn't very clean.
I seem to get the feeling that there is a kinda conspiracy among the China doll, Raymond, Liz and the tenants when they circulate stories about themselves. Mostly a unified one but sometimes because of lapses, differing versions.
Then The Hot China Boy (God, He Is Cute But I Am Leaving Him Alone)
Peng has also lied about the private school he is studying in. Of all the names he chose, it was "Qian Long", the name of an ex-emperor of one of the Chinese dynasties.
We all know the track record of many of these private schools. Peng has consistently been skipping school and going to school at various odd hours in the morning and then in the afternoon.
I have taught in them before and I know for a fact, some aren't exactly there to study.
Finally Some Of The Hot China Masseurs And Malaysian Chinese Here
I recently ran into a Chinese masseur who studies in one and is part-timing as a gay masseur. He has every intention of brushing up his English and then jump from his current student pass to a work pass.
He is all about money and his intentions are not very clear.
It seems that a PR status is extended quite easily nowadays to Chinese foreigners. Some Malaysian Chinese recently on a room hunt to share a room with moi is studying in an arts school and apparently he was invited for a PR status before he is graduating.
He is even rowing the dragonboat for our army (how is that possible) and has a job waiting as a flight attendant with our local airlines.
There you have it. Tough competition for us all to find work and live here. And above all, we are not privileged citizens of our own country.
Then There Is "Raymond"
Don't forget his ad was for young tenants. Very young tenants. Tenants from their late teens to twenties.
And for heaven's sake, he is a married man, he is a gay-turned-bisexual. So what kinda things do you expect out of him?
You Disallow Legitimate Gay Couplings Out In The Open But Encourage Surreptitious And Deceitful Acts On The Sly Under Purportedly Legitimate Fronts Like Marriage And Schools?
You wanna disallow legitimate couplings of gays out in the open while encouraging surreptitious "married but having fun on the side" kinda lifestyle?
What kinda signal is that to a generation of younger gays.
Oo Are These Your GrassRoots People Again
Yeah I see these faces every time I visit some of these places.
Familiar faces I know from the past. The army for one. And people who hang out frequently at the same places moi hangs out for whatever reasons.
Or people who just appear from nowhere but have a million subliminal messages in the conversations they so loudly engage in within my ear-shot for my listening pleasure or displeasure.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Let's See Where This All Ends
I Am Now You
First There Is Hair Care
Yes, I have undergone and am undergoing a complete transformation and hopefully an equally complete transfiguration.
It all started with my hair of course. The durian spikes that is so popular here just do not suit moi's wavy, fine and limp hair. And I can't sustain it well enough for it to be as cute and nice a hairdo as it does for most of our hot Singapore bois here anyway.
Instead moi has opted for a woman's swept up or across the brow kinda look. And yes, my hair, together with Liz, the maid, is adding to the clog-up of the drain-holes. But isn't it such a wonderful feeling that you are doing back to what a gall always does to you?
Now there is a haircut I would wanna try out but I think it will have to wait untill moi is successfully enrolled for university. And I still think we can do with more skills in slicing up more hairstyles here like in Japan or Korea.
It isn't untrue that with a daily routine of a shampoo and moisturiser wash that moi's hair is no longer the dull, dry, tangled and rough mess it used to be. There is a slight sheen to it. I have added a hair tonic to this rountine to try to rid meself of my fine and thinning hair.
Then There Is Facial Care
I only wanted to get a tube of a facial foam wash. But the sales assitant was very persistent and convincing and dragged me into a complete ritual of a foam wash, a mask, a toner and a moisturizer.
Apparently this is just the basics that every woman does for her face. And that does not include the whole array of make-up care that comes thereafter.
O Woman, so this is how you are. Now I really really really know. So please do not judge others first without taking a good in the mirror at yourself.
And one up for equality of the sexes. After all you have intruded and dominated over far too many male domains of work and family lives.
Finally There Is Body Care
And by body care I mean de-stressing viz-a-viz aromatherapy. And I have chosen a lemongrass oil cum water burner option over a candle stick in a tub kind. The latter doesn't permeate the room half as much.
I mean there is only my room that I can retreat to. There isn't a nice sofa set for moi to sit on to read or relax or snack or watch television or videos.
A refuge away from the world, away from this household and it is demeaning enough I have to spent my two years hopping from one fucking bloody place to another and have privy to all the family's secrets, feuds and sexual games.
Alone, Lonely And Miserable
I have never felt lonelier and more miserable than now. I have my sexual and emotional needs but they are not completely met in the two years I have become nomadic. People are just too busy to spend their time with each other and bond.
They have all their work and other stuff to fill their lives when it should really be about building up relationships and bonds. Real relationships and bonds. Not business contacts or money but about really sharing and knowing each other.
I realised that all those stuff I bought are just materialities that fill up all my voids in my life right now untill I can do those things I told myself I should be doing like having my place, living with my beau and my own terms of living my life.
The Quality Of Our Lives And Relationships Sucks - This Is Family?
And that is how I know the China doll must be feeling. Always alone and though married to Raymond, given the kinda time (if at all) they spent together and with poor, poor, poor Wei Zhao, she might as well be a divorcee or a widow.
The same goes for Wei Zhao and Liz, the maid. If none of us speaks with Liz, she only has Wei Zhao for company.
I suppose Kent and Peng, the other two tenants, feel the same too. Away from their homes and families.
This is no family structure if people spent their lives so separate and alone from each other. And if families are the ones who always invite troubles and miseries for you, why do we have families in the first place anyway?
Relationships are all about barter. You do A, I return favor B. I do C for you and you have to return D in kind.
Are relationships all about that?
Liz, The Devil Incarnate
It has been some time that I meant to tell Liz, the maid, off.
During the one month I came back from my overseas trip, she has been hassling moi with all her nonsense. I have boycotted speaking with her, partly because I discovered all those lies she has been telling and partly because I was sick and needed my rest.
She has been telling A to tenant B, then C to tenant D and in doing so, souring up all their relationships, driving wedges between them and pushing them into conflict with each other.
Among her hassles were : humming the "Mary had a little lamb" tune and we all know this came with the crime series starring Vincent Ng about a serial girl molester. As I found out from her, Peng is between 18-20 years old.
She likes to "wayang" a lot as does the whole household of the China doll and Raymond.
Then Liz mimicked a whack on Wei Zhao's hands with a towel to try to agitate moi. She has been insinuating "kaypohness" and "selfishness" on my part, for whatever reasons but please, examine your kind selves.
When I received the order for my mattress, she wanted to know the price. And why does she leave a wide crack in the door when she puts Wei Zhao to sleep in the cradle in the bedroom if not to "kaypoh" what goes on outside her purview.
Selfish? Oh boy what about the China doll and Raymond. Look at how Wei Zhao is left alone like that for long periods and when they are home, Wei Zhao is always put to sleep while they sleep on or go on the Net or pursue their own self-interests.
Liz has been rushing for the bath at various times to wash herself and Wei Zhao and I know she does this on purpose because her times are like when moi steps into the kitchen and then she will excuse herself to enter the bath immediately.
You will just know and feel it.
Not only that, she only has to observe one's routine to realise what one does at certain times and so she will exactly be at that spot beforehand. And she does. She is so "kaypoh".
A Good Telling Off
So last night, I told her that all of Raymond's familial miseries must have started with him. He shouldn't be dragging a China doll into this, have a child and then leave her all alone like that. She might as well be dead and as the house does not belong to her, I am sure she must be indignant to all the goings on but she can't do a thing and have to be accomplice to her "husband".
Then Raymond (even this isn't his real name) variously lie to get the tenants to lease his place and who knows what his intentions are? He has variously wanted to rent out to 2 to 3 persons to a room but now he hums a completely different tune. He doesn't want the house to be too crowded. I am totally confused by this.
He must have roped in Liz for his various gameplays and she has obliged and she is no better than the Devil Incarnate herself.
I told her that they can go on doing all the things they are doing and look at Raymond now. He isn't happy, has a litany of familial woes and the China doll isn't about to give in to his game.
They will get their just dessert. And the $50 rent increase will not last him a lifetime.
This morning, I could see the pain and anguish on her face as if she realised what she has been doing all this while.
First There Is Hair Care
Yes, I have undergone and am undergoing a complete transformation and hopefully an equally complete transfiguration.
It all started with my hair of course. The durian spikes that is so popular here just do not suit moi's wavy, fine and limp hair. And I can't sustain it well enough for it to be as cute and nice a hairdo as it does for most of our hot Singapore bois here anyway.
Instead moi has opted for a woman's swept up or across the brow kinda look. And yes, my hair, together with Liz, the maid, is adding to the clog-up of the drain-holes. But isn't it such a wonderful feeling that you are doing back to what a gall always does to you?
Now there is a haircut I would wanna try out but I think it will have to wait untill moi is successfully enrolled for university. And I still think we can do with more skills in slicing up more hairstyles here like in Japan or Korea.
It isn't untrue that with a daily routine of a shampoo and moisturiser wash that moi's hair is no longer the dull, dry, tangled and rough mess it used to be. There is a slight sheen to it. I have added a hair tonic to this rountine to try to rid meself of my fine and thinning hair.
Then There Is Facial Care
I only wanted to get a tube of a facial foam wash. But the sales assitant was very persistent and convincing and dragged me into a complete ritual of a foam wash, a mask, a toner and a moisturizer.
Apparently this is just the basics that every woman does for her face. And that does not include the whole array of make-up care that comes thereafter.
O Woman, so this is how you are. Now I really really really know. So please do not judge others first without taking a good in the mirror at yourself.
And one up for equality of the sexes. After all you have intruded and dominated over far too many male domains of work and family lives.
Finally There Is Body Care
And by body care I mean de-stressing viz-a-viz aromatherapy. And I have chosen a lemongrass oil cum water burner option over a candle stick in a tub kind. The latter doesn't permeate the room half as much.
I mean there is only my room that I can retreat to. There isn't a nice sofa set for moi to sit on to read or relax or snack or watch television or videos.
A refuge away from the world, away from this household and it is demeaning enough I have to spent my two years hopping from one fucking bloody place to another and have privy to all the family's secrets, feuds and sexual games.
Alone, Lonely And Miserable
I have never felt lonelier and more miserable than now. I have my sexual and emotional needs but they are not completely met in the two years I have become nomadic. People are just too busy to spend their time with each other and bond.
They have all their work and other stuff to fill their lives when it should really be about building up relationships and bonds. Real relationships and bonds. Not business contacts or money but about really sharing and knowing each other.
I realised that all those stuff I bought are just materialities that fill up all my voids in my life right now untill I can do those things I told myself I should be doing like having my place, living with my beau and my own terms of living my life.
The Quality Of Our Lives And Relationships Sucks - This Is Family?
And that is how I know the China doll must be feeling. Always alone and though married to Raymond, given the kinda time (if at all) they spent together and with poor, poor, poor Wei Zhao, she might as well be a divorcee or a widow.
The same goes for Wei Zhao and Liz, the maid. If none of us speaks with Liz, she only has Wei Zhao for company.
I suppose Kent and Peng, the other two tenants, feel the same too. Away from their homes and families.
This is no family structure if people spent their lives so separate and alone from each other. And if families are the ones who always invite troubles and miseries for you, why do we have families in the first place anyway?
Relationships are all about barter. You do A, I return favor B. I do C for you and you have to return D in kind.
Are relationships all about that?
Liz, The Devil Incarnate
It has been some time that I meant to tell Liz, the maid, off.
During the one month I came back from my overseas trip, she has been hassling moi with all her nonsense. I have boycotted speaking with her, partly because I discovered all those lies she has been telling and partly because I was sick and needed my rest.
She has been telling A to tenant B, then C to tenant D and in doing so, souring up all their relationships, driving wedges between them and pushing them into conflict with each other.
Among her hassles were : humming the "Mary had a little lamb" tune and we all know this came with the crime series starring Vincent Ng about a serial girl molester. As I found out from her, Peng is between 18-20 years old.
She likes to "wayang" a lot as does the whole household of the China doll and Raymond.
Then Liz mimicked a whack on Wei Zhao's hands with a towel to try to agitate moi. She has been insinuating "kaypohness" and "selfishness" on my part, for whatever reasons but please, examine your kind selves.
When I received the order for my mattress, she wanted to know the price. And why does she leave a wide crack in the door when she puts Wei Zhao to sleep in the cradle in the bedroom if not to "kaypoh" what goes on outside her purview.
Selfish? Oh boy what about the China doll and Raymond. Look at how Wei Zhao is left alone like that for long periods and when they are home, Wei Zhao is always put to sleep while they sleep on or go on the Net or pursue their own self-interests.
Liz has been rushing for the bath at various times to wash herself and Wei Zhao and I know she does this on purpose because her times are like when moi steps into the kitchen and then she will excuse herself to enter the bath immediately.
You will just know and feel it.
Not only that, she only has to observe one's routine to realise what one does at certain times and so she will exactly be at that spot beforehand. And she does. She is so "kaypoh".
A Good Telling Off
So last night, I told her that all of Raymond's familial miseries must have started with him. He shouldn't be dragging a China doll into this, have a child and then leave her all alone like that. She might as well be dead and as the house does not belong to her, I am sure she must be indignant to all the goings on but she can't do a thing and have to be accomplice to her "husband".
Then Raymond (even this isn't his real name) variously lie to get the tenants to lease his place and who knows what his intentions are? He has variously wanted to rent out to 2 to 3 persons to a room but now he hums a completely different tune. He doesn't want the house to be too crowded. I am totally confused by this.
He must have roped in Liz for his various gameplays and she has obliged and she is no better than the Devil Incarnate herself.
I told her that they can go on doing all the things they are doing and look at Raymond now. He isn't happy, has a litany of familial woes and the China doll isn't about to give in to his game.
They will get their just dessert. And the $50 rent increase will not last him a lifetime.
This morning, I could see the pain and anguish on her face as if she realised what she has been doing all this while.
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