zhrent

What 'Day By Day' Really Means

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:44:00 +0000

Getting into the swing of work has been rather uneven given the nature of my employment.

It was during last Sunday's shift where I felt I learnt the most from my past few weeks of work. I learnt how us JC kids can be too headstrong in getting the task at hand done. I was told first hand how to take things slow and not to rush through everything. To put it nicely, I never truly understood the phrase 'Take it day by day' until then.

Being at work means you have to focus on the immediate task at hand and that nothing else really matters. For me the unusual thing was that I was no longer working towards a grade point or print in black and white. The effort I put in translated into the intangible. A satisfied guest. A smile on their face. Things I could hardly grasp just months back.

So it was then I knew how wrong I was about what it means to take things as they come. The people around me who worked there for a living taught me how to carry out every action with purpose and thought. There's no longer the need to rush in order to meet a deadline for an exam or test. The priority now being the safety of others. It was a simple lesson that I'm surprised I had only partially learned until I had this work experience.

Now I feel better knowing how the working world demands a change in mindset towards the now. You face a problem and you need the solution almost instantaneously. There's no time to punch a calculator. To phone a friend. To flip through a stack notes. You are the answer to your problem.

On top of all that, I've never had this much time to converse in office speak. By that I mean weaving through red tape and all with the tone and style of someone much senior then myself. I have to admit my age betrays me. And is the most likely reason why others would look down and not accede to my request. But I press on.

And in a few more days, I'll be dipping my toes back at the alma mater and making new friends all over. I'm oddly taken aback by how my plans for this interim break have changed so much but remained just as exciting. Here's to more adventure.

Lastly, here's some songs I'm in to right now for good measure.

1. Pink Champagne by Venus Hum
2. Vevet Pants by Propellerheads
3. Somebody That I Used To Know by Walk Off The Earth (Gotye Cover)
4. Call Your Girlfriend by Robyn
5. We Are Young by Fun Ft. Janelle Monae
6. Nightcall by Kavinsky (Drive OST)
7. And The Bells They Rang by Find The Others (Shit Girls Say)
8. Go Outside by Cults
9. Tongue Tied by Grouplove
10. Shuffle A Dream by Little Dragon
11. Punching In A Dream by The Naked & Famous
12. Feel It All Around by Washed Out

After Hours

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:30:00 +0000

This Just Made My Day

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:34:00 +0000

The Artist Needs to be in theatres everywhere now!

In other news, I've been busy at work, becoming a fan of Modern Family, reading, reading about SOPA & PIPA and watching movies made before I was born. You know, enjoying life.

It's Like There's A Balloon Up My Nose

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:28:00 +0000

I was scheduled for a biopsy today. It hurt.

The results of my CT scan were displayed on the doctor's screen in plain view for all to see. I had a left antrochoanal polyp that required a left endoscopic sinus surgery.

Basically I have a sensitive nose that over time became irritated due to the sneezing and exertion of the nose tissue membrane. In effect, mucus began to fill the cavity in my sinus which is supposed to be left empty. For about a year, or so the doctor predicts, I have been practically breathing through one nostril. Yet I have not felt any physical pain at all. Amazing to say the least.

After some question and answer with the doctor I discovered that nasal polyps account for 10-20 cases at CGH a year. With the majority of patients in my age group. I felt like a smart patient after learning from the likes of House, asking important questions and what not. All in all, I have nothing life-threatening in my nose and I will be fine.

The doctor performed a biopsy there and then. He placed a metal rod with a camera at the end down my left nostril and using another small caliper-like device, he tugged at the polyp causing it to burst. I felt a gush of liquid trickle down my upper lip as the nurse stepped in just in time with tissues. The doctor took out two tissue samples for further testing, just to ensure they are not malignant.

This is probably again the most I've ever used my biology vocabulary in real life. I'm scheduled for an op some time after enlistment. After which I hope this would never happen again.

This Is How We Lip Sync

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:10:00 +0000

Overcoming The Fear Of The Gym

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 05:30:00 +0000

While everyone else is busy getting their bodies ready for the army, I on the other hand have been avoiding any form of exercise like the next Rebecca Black single.

See that figure in the corner over there? Yes. That's me squatting at the corner of the room and rocking myself silently at the thought of having to exert more strength on my limbs beyond what I would normally do. I'm no gym rat. I tend to have an adverse reaction to any sort of physical activity. The last four years of my education was filled with moments of involuntary exercise and immeasurable discomfort.

I was so convinced that I would be too busy to even entertain the thought of stepping into a gym during this short break. That is until I finally decided to man up and give the gym an hour's chance to prove me wrong. That it's not a place for the seasoned gym rats to scoff at the newbies and say 'Look at how poor his form is on the treadmill. It's atrocious. What an embarrassment to the gym rat community.'

The morning crowd wasn't too bad. There was a smattering of Filipino helps, gym rats and other young people doing their thing. It being my first time in a gym, my mind drew a blank for gym etiquette and matters of that kind. A few awkward questions and asking for directions later, I was admitted into the gym. Stashing my bag in a locker by a side, I glanced over to see which torture device I should try first. The treadmill looked the least intimidating. And you only need to pretend-walk so it was good beginner level stuff to me. Funnily enough, I had no idea how to operate it and had to fumble my way through asking for the trainer to help me out.

So I'm on the treadmill working through the many buttons and functions. The small LCD screen countdowns the amount of time I have left till my torture is done. I slowly increase the speed to a slow jog, shifting my eyes sideways to see what other fellow treadmill people were doing just to blend in with them. A 15 minute run later, I was spent. I floated off the machine and glided back to my bag for water; my entire body floating ahead faster than my feet were moving. That was not too bad after all, I convinced myself.

I hopped on a stationary bicycle and cycled a good 15 minutes before taking a short water break. The last thing I did before I left was the try two metal contraptions that supposedly help train your arm muscles. Or at least that's what the labels said. One myth I had that was busted was this: No one really cares when you work out. They are probably too busy with their own routine to even take notice. I never knew the human body could be put through so much physical pain at the price of fitness. Before this I could never commit to working out but now that I have actually dipped my toes in the water, it feels good to get your physical state in order.

I left the gym swelling with pride. If anyone had asked me to go to the gym before, I would have thought they were playing a terrible prank on me. Now I know better. My body needs all the exercise it can get in case I ever need to run away from a tank pulling up in reverse.

Walking Into The Beginning Of Everything

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 05:33:00 +0000

You smile a smile so full of emotion.

You look down to your feet resting on the cold linoleum floor. An endless hallway rolls out in front of your eyes, with lockers lining both sides. Only overhanging fluorescent tubes light the path ahead. There is no window or clock to give any indication of time. It is quiet.

You walk down the hallway aimlessly and listlessly; the sound of your shoes hitting the hard floor fills the silence. As you put one foot in front of the other, you become acutely aware of your heart thumping against the fabric of your shirt. The rhythm matches every step you take, and each step progresses with a growing sense of purpose. You begin a journey you cannot turn back from. Sections of floor you have walked on become enveloped in grim darkness as the lights behind you grow dim. The pools of black follow you slowly but surely, gaining on you as if to latch onto your heel at any moment. The sound that follows each light going out is a low mechanical buzz that causes you to quicken your pace.

You find yourself producing beads of sweat that trickle down your forehead. You cannot remember when or how long ago you started walking. The hallway is a yawning expanse that begins to grow all the more unfamiliar to you as you press on walking forward. You hear the latch of a locker unhinge and swing open ahead in the distance. The slow creak of the metal door sends a shiver down you. A brilliant white light bursts from within the locker, casting a luminous glow all around. You approach it furtively and peer into the locker, only to see a fraction of a memory that was tucked neatly behind the detritus of your mind. The swirl of colours begin to take a definite form before your eyes and you smile as the recollection of that which is familiar and nostalgic grabs hold of you.

More latches unhinge as lockers in the distance ahead begin to open one after another. Light spills out of every crevice until the path ahead is nothing but a white expanse. In each and every locker you look into, a memory unfolds on playback. You see an incident that seemed insignificant at the time, memories you never wanted to see again and scenes from the past you forgot ever existed. You smile a smile so full of emotion. It is both happy and sad, angry and relieved, hopeful and fearful all the same. You feel content.

Further ahead, you see a large red door standing in the middle of the hallway. That oft-hated colour reminds you so of the failures you received like bad birthday presents within these walls. The sense of fear and trepidation overwhelms you as for some reason the door emanates a sense of great importance. Your right hand clasps the knob tightly and turns it. The door swings back to reveal a pedestal on which a piece of paper is perched atop of. Something urges you to reach for it. You hesitate a moment but a greater sense of calm washes over you. You fear nothing. You take control. The paper reads like your future. And excitement fills every pore of your being.

All The Places We Could Go

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 11:03:00 +0000

A new year full of promise.

My first week at work has been nothing short of fulfilling. I've got my uniform, have tried out various positions at the attraction and got to see fireworks at a big shot wedding. Having only 2 months of work remaining, I intend to make full use of my time at the park to get as much experience as I can. The people have been very forthcoming and the crew are starting to feel like family.

I had my CT scan on Thursday to discern the whereabouts of my nasal polyp. I was placed on a bed and shuffled back and forth through a huge disk scanner. And the scan was completed in seconds. Results will be out soon and I can only hope it will come with good news.

Optimus Prime watches with his steely gaze.

Going into the park to play with K was fun. I made it my mission to get photos with as many mascots as possible and am proud of the outcome. I managed to find new mascots like Optimus Prime and Jackals at Revenge of the Mummy too. Dinner at Mel's was extremely filling.

Today was the TJ Open House and it was great to see so many familiar faces return to support. Most of us sat around chatting with our teachers while they busily attended to parents. Coming in as a visitor was interesting and it was nice to catch up with everyone and how they were with their lives. Some teachers were kind enough to offer me some work as well. After which a few of us had lunch at the Soup Spoon. My first time there and I have to say the food is good. While they do make you feel guilty by printing the calories on each dish on the menu, the meal is worth every buck.

The first week of 2012 has been quite busy and entertaining. And I'm very sure this will all pass by in a flash and off to army I go.

Year In Review

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 03:51:00 +0000

Let's take a look at what shenanigans I've been up to the past 365 days.

This being senior year was a packed one with many events in the first half that eventually died down leading towards A Levels. About 11 months ago, I made a horror film to recruit people into the drama club. Nicole and myself hosted our last orientation together. My drama exco went nuts for our production this year. And in the first months of 2011 alone, signs of hysteria that was to come in our class were already set in motion.

I spent my last Go Green Day skipping. Dressed as an old man for Chinese New Year, I went about taking photos like this. Road Run was a weather-worn disaster this year; that's why I decided to eventually host my last Track & Field Meet in school. I rigged the vote in order to get a chance to visit Chek Jawa with other biology students. I also had a taste of what it's like to get your A Level results back. Our class managed to pull off a nosey prank on April Fool's. I then became really busy with production work, and stressed here and here.

The debut of the double bill drew near and I released a bumper that was played around in school. I had a less than spectacular, but just as meaningful birthday this year. Production came and went and it was time to pass the baton on to the next batch. I had the best Japanese food at a upscale food court. The girls and I went down to Universal Studios on Achievements Day. A day that provided us with good company, fun rides and even better weather. My last National Day in school saw our class winning top in the photo competition just by running along the track. We ruled. As with many other farewells that was to come, we said our Thank You's to our tutor and played games on Staff Day. I had a nice lunch on the of the Study Break. And many similar outings such as this were equally memorable.

I was mistaken for being a waiter at Manhattan Fish Market. And made it through the Borders Clearance Sale. I learnt how to drink coffee. My trips to Resorts World Sentosa went up a notch when celebrating a friend's birthday at Hard Rock.

We said our final goodbyes before ushering in a period of intense mugging. I had a lot to complain about public transport once, okay maybe twice. In the midst of exams, I had my popcorn fix, a little movie watching, and realized how messed up the entire system is. I shared about the music that kept me company through this trying period too.

My class finally let loose and smiled real smiles at our gathering. I had both a fun and excruciating time at Prom trying to look classy in the unbearable Singapore heat. I had a lot of me time. I mean a lot. I still have an ongoing nasal investigation. Had an enjoyable time at a Christmas play. I had tons of outings with K, and we found work at USS together. Christmas was mellow and reflective. I made a list of overrated things this year.

And finally, with all the little footage I took this year, there were some left on the cutting room floor. They were not usable elsewhere and I didn't have the heart to leave them discarded in the deepest recesses of my hard drive. So I stitched them together into another Memory Bank for 2011. Enjoy.

More on how I spent New Year's Eve in a bit.

Memories Stored In A Warehouse

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:28:00 +0000

I found new treasures and uncovered old ones too.

It was the official opening of the Page One Warehouse sale today. K and I met early and made it on time only to find a steady stream of shoppers milling about the neatly stacked books on rows upon rows of tables. Inside, there were shelves of well-stocked fiction and Chinese titles ready for the picking. We immediately scoured the area, K went into the fiction titles while I remained outside, contemplating over buying a box set of postcards.

Now amidst all the clamour and increasingly crowded space, I lost sense of the prices and the offers for various titles I had good mind to purchase. Was is 70% off? Or do you pay only 70% of the price? What does savings mean? Where is the label on this book?

Clockwise from top left: The check out line/hoard of people

going against the current, the queue outside just to get in,

all smiles and maybe even delirious after surviving the ordeal,

the yellow string that separated us survivors from the common folk.

Eventually I got hold of the books I wanted/needed, and as I walked into the main building to find K I noticed people gathering in a stand still. It took me a while to register what was going on and by the time I did, I quickly made my way into the longest queue that was snaking around the perimeter of the space before it got any longer. I had spent so much time deliberating on my purchases that I lost track of time and how a long queue was beginning to form. There were at least 2 other queues sprouting out from the main queue I was in and people were bewildered to say the least.

The lady boss finally got control of the situation with yellow raffia string to mark out the queue. We did not notice this until after we checked out, but the staff had started to make queues to enter the warehouse after the crowd ballooned to uncontrollable levels.

Amongst things I noticed, was that some aggressive shoppers would rip the plastic wrapping off books, thereby removing the discount label, just so they could rip through the pages to determine its value. People jostled and tripped over piles of books. Everywhere was a fire hazard. And the heat. Don't get me started on how the mass of shoppers in line spontaneously created a boiling hot sauna with temperatures cooling only because of a small standing fan at a corner.

So if you want my advice. Don't go for warehouse sales. Especially if it is for books. But if you do, here's a guide:

Go in only on the first day. At the very first minute it opens. Any later and the best goods would already have been taken from your reach. Your trip down would be fruitless from the point you step out of your house.

Don't be a prick and rip of packaging. It's there for a reason. So that cashiers won't hold up the queue any longer having to holler for staff to do a price check.

Go in with a game plan. Know the seller and what exactly you want. Go straight for it once you enter. I had the luxury of going in a day early and had a feel of the space and what was on sale. This gave me some idea what I wanted beforehand.

Make decisions fast. Check the condition, the price and if possible, the contents and commit quickly. You don't want to end up queueing for 2 hours at end to only make it to the front of the check out line. Which brings me to point...

Queue early. Have a friend stay in queue and take turns going around to find your purchases.

And to drivers. Park your car some place legal. The staff made public announcements pleading for drivers to get the cars out of the drive way.

Get a big bag if you see yourself getting more than your two hands can hold.

Consider climate conditions. If venue is air-conditioned, you are set to go in casuals. If venue is out in the open or in a highly confined space, you can dress however you like and no one would judge you. Even if you resort to a singlet and short combo.

That's most of my observations from the Page One and Borders closing sale. It's the bare minimum I think.

Other than that, just some small observations:

Left: Book cover. Right: Hidden money stash.

After adding two more books to my A Series Of Unfortunate Events collection from the sale, I found a surprise in my copy of the third book. I removed the book jacket to reveal an envelope taped to the cover. Inside was a neatly pressed $10 bill I had stashed away years ago. Probably back when I was in primary school. To think I knew nothing about saving. Past me deserves a pat on the back from Present me for being awesome smart. I could not have been more happy with this small surprise.

And I wonder if my generation remembers a time in the classroom where secret communication was done through folded foolscap paper. And the middle men being your classmates in the same row as the receiver. The success of the transfer being entirely in the hands of the middle men and whether they would rat you out to the teacher at any moment. Now we efficiently do that on our iPhones. Imagine that.

Let's Buffet Out This Place

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 09:28:00 +0000

The best affordable Japanese buffet I've ever had.

I neglected to divulge about my outing with CT yesterday. It was a blast. We had planned to have a buffet lunch but didn't discover the need to make reservations until we were told by the cashiers that they had a full house. After leaving our details behind and anxiously waiting for at least half and hour, we made it after the 7 others on the waiting list and hit the ground running.

Having done a but of research prior to this, Kiseki now occupies where Marche once used to be at the Heeren. The spread was good given the price. The rosti, sashimi and teppanyaki were my favourites. Now I know that Marche has their own version of the Rosti. But clearly it's just thin cut french fries mashed together in a pancake. The hype only lasts while it is served hot with a dollop of cream. I could tell that the place is mainly a hangout for families with children that find it completely acceptable to run about and into people carrying hot plates of Shabu Shabu. The staff were swift in cleaning used plates and I enjoyed plates of salmon sashimi one after another with a spacious table. I can only imagine what the dinner spread it like.

After being completely stuffed, we headed over to catch Sherlock Holmes. But the earliest time was fully booked so while we waited for the next timing, we dropped by A&F. Now walking through those huge black concrete doors got me excited because I wanted to understand what all the hype was about. Well in just 10 minutes, in and out like that, I understood clearly. The shirtless greeter near the entrance was probably overwhelmed by hoards of Aunties and the like swarming for a photo opportunity. I felt a little grossed out and concerned about hygiene. The place was dark. The music was loud. The strong musk of male cologne filled the air. I had to give it to them. The emphasis on atmosphere in branding really pays off. You can barely see where you're going save for lighted steps up to the top level, and the showcase lights centred only on the clothes like prized possessions. It was an interesting window shopping experience there. Very unique and special.

Now Sherlock Holmes 2 was great. Not a loose end in sight. I felt though that the movie could have been a victim of its own clever and concise writing. No camera shot was random and every plot twist linked up well in the end. The gypsie character barely spoke and I chuckled at the chemistry between Watson and Holmes. The exposition was fast-paced and I enjoyed the wit and mental prowess of Holmes conveyed on screen through flash forwards of his tactical defence moves. Guy Ritchie's style of editing and use of slow-motion gets me and I've been a fan way back. Way back since RocknRolla. I'm sure the next instalment will be just as incredible.

In Which I Publicly Embarrass Myself

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 03:30:00 +0000

I told myself that I was just early and people would soon stream in to get their bargain-hunting fix.

Today I went for a warehouse book sale that hadn't even begun. I was one day early to be exact.

I was told about Page One holding a clearance sale this week and this morning I decided to go down and check it out on impulse. I should have read the flyer more closely though. The warehouse was located in the middle of an industrial park somewhere in Eunos. I had to walk back past 2 bus stops to get into the area that had confusing blockages from a road construction site.

I circled the perimeter and closed in on the Page One sign right outside a tentage with huge trucks parked outside. Walking in I saw crate after crate of shrink wrapped books and people in plain clothes stacking and unpacking books. My first thought: Wow. It's already 10 like it said in the flyer and they're still not ready. Nevermind. I walked in past the other people who I presumed to be the staff and began surveying the literary wreckage. There was barely anything on display save for some recognizable fiction and design titles available. I went about the half empty shelves peering sideways to examine book titles and such, nary a care for the weird looks thrown at me from the staff.

I thought they were only curiously glancing over as they didn't expect such an early customer and were still unfinished with their packing. I was wrong. Eventually a lady with a shock of cropped hair with blond ends approached me from behind and asked plainly what I was doing here. I soon realized I had the dates wrong and awkwardly said a meek 'Okay' before slinking out of the premises hopefully unnoticed. It was awkward to say the least.

Lesson learnt: Read carefully.

I'm going to get it right tomorrow.

Disparity In Intelligence

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 06:12:00 +0000

Before anything else, read this now.

So a JC Student named Kwek Jian Qiang had submitted a post to the Voices column of TODAYonline. What followed was a barrage of comments that expressed the insult felt by many other students from ITEs, polys and colleges alike.

From what I've read, Kwek demands quality amenities and facilities for JC students, who he describes are the 'best and brightest'. As far as I can tell, his opinions were poorly phrased and choice of words were at best inappropriate. Now he has the entire Internet after him.

Here are the facts. Some Facebook updates revealed that Kwek hails from... you guessed it - TJC. He is a J1 student as of 2011, moving on to J2 next year. His Facebook profile has possibly been deactivated.

The lesson here is simple. Get your opinions straight. If you don't exactly have a clue what you are about to say, or are saying it in the heat of anger, don't do it. For some reason, the holiday season must have incited some anger in him with regard to the learning environments in tertiary institutions, prompting him to submit that post.

From my view as a recent graduate of TJC, this is truly embarrassing for the college name. We are only at the infancy stages of what might possible become headlines news. But one thing's for sure, Kwek better be ready to face the consequences. And maybe even repent.

The Most Overrated Of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 02:00:00 +0000

Taking a page from the great Kingsley of Youtube, here is my edition of events, things and people that were highy overrated in the year 2011, in Singapore.

This 2011, we were unfortunate enough to have been assaulted by flash floods, train faults, and even worse, Rebecca Black's Friday. But none can compare to the most overexposed in pop culture this year.

1. Superhero Films

Thor. Captain America. Green Lantern. These were but some of the ways movie corporations manipulated us into emptying our coin purses at the box office this year. We get it. Nick Fury comes out at the end and alludes to the Avengers. I would rather have a 3 minute compilation of all these scenes instead of 2 hour long commercials. Granted they were passable movies with likeable characters and interesting back story, the dearth of quality films including Drive was a great disappointment this year. But not to worry. We already have The Amazing Spiderman and The Avengers to keep us company next year.

2. Election Fever

Let's be real for a second here. Buzz words like 'new normal' and 'watershed' were so overused this year that they quickly lost their meaning. And don't get me started on how it was argued that this wasn't a 'Internet Election'. It was. The only good that came out of this was the laundry list of Tin Pei Ling sound bites and the many more holidays that came along with this. MPs using Facebook. Not cool. CNA's repetitive coverage. Not cool. Tony Tan's hair. Not cool. Campaign logos. Not cool. Yam Ah Mee. Cool. To the nth degree.

3. Night Events

I'm beyond bored of night events in Singapore. We are 'First' in many a thing, for all but 'Country With Most Unnecessary Firsts'. F1 never excited me. The first 3 minutes of the 2010 race was more than enough roaring engines and infinite laps I could take in one sitting. As for Halloween events. Night Safari's entire fiasco in the papers revealed how far removed it is from its customer base. If Halloween is not aligned with its corporate ideals, I guess all other holiday events should not have any significance either. Anyway, isn't the Night Safari a tourist spot for people that do hail from places that celebrate Halloween? I don't know, I guess getting scared isn't part of the Conservative Asian experience.

4. Campaign/Event Fails

Firstly, the HPB Stay Healthy Campaign. Bugis station has its staircases coloured in bright coloured strips. The television has been broadcasting its ads with the suspiciously catchy music likened to Feist's '1234'. We get that Singaporeans are getting fat. But when we hear about people being fat everywhere we go, it becomes a bit much.

Next on the docket, the opening of Abercrombie & Fitch. I'm speechless. Singaporeans really do not know how to have a little fun once in a while. Even then, the discriminatory practices of A&F as highlighted in the past should have definitely been the biggest point of contention in the media. And not some guy with low hung jeans.

Even more, SlutWalk. I was appalled by the media coverage which had entirely misconstrued the intent of the walk. It was a form of women empowerment the went downhill due to poor interpretation of the organizer's intent. To think we have become a First World Country with a First World Parliament.

Consolation prizes go to the now infamous Fun Pack Song at NDP. Now even the big guns can illegally change the lyrics to songs they have no rights to. And to Trinetta Chong's speech, for her gross misuse of a vulgarity that spun headlines on my generations' use of strong language. Trust me, there are many more words that are just as if not more insulting than the word-that-shall-not-be-said-in-public.

5. Public Utilities

2011 was the apocalypse for water utilities and rail transport. CEO heads were demanded to be served on a plate and negative public sentiment ballooned to catastrophic levels as the situation worsened with little reprieve. Many reasons were given and fingers were pointed. Global warming was singled out as a main culprit for one. Sadly, this has all been but a great reminder of how inefficient our efficient processes are. Let's stop using Standard Operating Procedues and use common sense for a change.

6. Public Proposals

The Big Walk at USS. The Singapore Flyer. Unless the spouse has a thing for letting the whole world know of their relationship, don't do it. It's rather overdone in the West as it is and not as personal as before.

7. QR Codes

All kinds of bus stop posters and publicity that use this are getting it wrong. No iPhone user in the right mind will go up to a small, square speck of black and white just so a trailer or website pops up on their screen. It had high potential initially but it just isn't cool any more guys.

8. KPop

Singapore's unhealthy fascination with this fad has got to stop before it reaches Contagion-like epidemic levels to the point of no return. Let's officially classify fan-girling and fan-boying as a mental condition that requires immediate rehabilitation.

9. The Twilight Saga

This global phenomena needs to be put to a global stop. It's bad enough these caricatures are one-dimensional, but to pay 2 tickets for the final installment? Count me out.

10. Top Ten Lists

You got me. I'm not even trying with this one here. Once every year, we are obliged to have our mail boxes (who still reads magazines anyway?), inboxes and social network feeds flooded with lists of Top 10s. It's a necessary evil. One, to remind us how fortunate we are to have avoided some crises in some other part of the world. And another, to provide evidence that browsing through Top 10 lists at year's end is a guarantee Forever Alone situation.

That's all there is I guess. In case you were wondering or highly misdirected, there's a lot of sarcasm going on in the above and please do take it with a pinch of salt. I have enough encounters with people who just do not get sarcasm as it is so I'm doing this for everyone's sake.

And A Merry Christmas To You

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 06:03:00 +0000

Some remaining photos from last night's gathering.

Christmas with the family this year was same ol' same ol'. The only difference is that we have all grown a year older and the young ones had ourselves a corner to listen in on the older one's divulge their relationship issues. It was interesting but slightly morose for the occasion. Still, it got us talking after having not seen each other since the last public holiday that we've met. Oh, and I came dressed like a reindeer.

Dolls my mother hand-knitted and

I wrapped them up nicely with tags I made.

Inedible Santa candy on the log cake.

The coolest cousin I have.

~~To be updated once presents are delivered and surprises can be spoilt over here.~~

Edit:

The making of my Secret Santa gift.

The finishing touches to the gift.

Cards for my cell. Cat Socrates style.

To Make A Christmas Card

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:34:00 +0000

The fruits of my labour.

The last week was spent gathering materials and creating rubber stamps to make cards, tags and envelopes for friends. This is the first Christmas in a long while that I've actually got the time to create cards so I decided to go big. I had a stack of magazines lying around waiting to be thrown away when I was inspired to cut out the nicer pictures from inside to use as inserts for envelopes and the front of postcards. These are the photo results of my work. Merry Christmas.

Christmas tree stamps and tags.

Bunting stamp test.

Equipment used.

Injury sustained on ink-stained fingers.

Designs for tags.

Postcards from magazine clip outs.

More postcards from magazine clip outs.

Balloon tags.

Bunting tags.

Christmas tree tags.

Envelope showcase.

These photos are copyright blah blah blah steal them and you'll get what's coming for you blah blah blah attribution blah blah blah.

Spent the entirety of yesterday enjoying non-work related pleasures. Watched MI4 with K and it was incredible. It really stuck true to the form of an impossible mission right until the very end. If they continue the franchise by hiring top directors in the field, I'm be lining up for the upcoming instalments for sure. I completed the first half of the ABC series Revenge which is just my kind of show; a cross between Desperate Housewives, Gossip Girl and the Real Housewives series. This is the life.

Theme Park Diseconomies Of Scale

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:59:00 +0000

The corporate culture and why it can work in your favour.

The past 4 days have been spent going through an induction programme at my new job with K. The train rides have been hell but were progressively better throughout the week. Distance aside, taking a behind the scenes tour of the place over just 4 days have taught me a lot. Before you go on, the moral of this story is - in any, I mean any job interview, always ask about the job scope as thoroughly as you can before committing. Even if it means coming across as being annoying. You are signing on your time and effort and of course you are in the position to know what that job entails and where your time is going to.

Anyhow, there were talks after talks. Then came yesterday which was the main attraction, so to speak. We were given a window of time to ride the attractions, allowing K and myself on the Transformer and Mummy ride. The Transformers ride was just amazing. It was very short but super all the same. It was a thrilling ride and I would gladly go on again if I have the chance. As for the training, I know now the nooks and crannies of the park, can give myself a private VIP tour of the place, have met different unique young people working there, have seen mascots up close and characters out of costume, am certified Work Ready by WDA and waiting for a very important call.

If this is how corporate culture is like, then I don't think it's for me. We had to travel from A to B then to C and back to A then B and eventually back to A again. Management diseconomies. But I have to clarify, the individual people I had to approach were thoroughly helpful and approachable. Some of them at least. Given the circumstances and the hectic nature, majority of the staff did what they could to help. All in all, the outcome at the moment is a positive one and by just following law, we managed to actually make progress.

Now for a slight reprieve from the early mornings and nights. I've got a week of television to catch up on.

Edit:
It was great to meet JM and JY near work as well in the coming week. It's always nice to see something familiar in a highly different environment. Working on a floating ship is way awesome too.

GPOYW

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:55:00 +0000

Fast Cars & Shooting Stars

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 16:15:00 +0000

How a little misadventure brought us around places with interesting sights.

K and I decided to pop by The Midnight Pop-Up Store at Dempsey Hill in search of stationary and trinkets. It turned out to be a huge disappointment when we arrived. It wasn't that much of a spread after all and, just maybe, we came too early before the real action started at midnight. Plus, there were a ton of stuff catered for the girly crowd. Even then, we made the best of it and had quite a time getting there on foot from Queenstown.

The train ride was horrendous. Even along the green line there were sudden announcements of delays which startled myself because I had always thought the green line would be immune to a sudden breakdown. Even then we found out about the lines starting only at 10am Sunday so I guess it's a thorough system check. The 1km walk past expensive looking cars in expensive looking houses was quite a hoot. After that stretch were a whole lot of creepy, abandoned houses ala Old Changi area. We finally made it when we spotted a Dempsey Hill sign at the entrance to what looked like an outlet mall. The entire place felt like a gated community off the island.

So after that, we had dinner at Food Republic, and it was a miracle we could get seats. The Japanese curry was very filling.

I'm pretty tired from all the walking and going out and about. But today is the first time I've been along the shopping belt at Orchard on a weekend in a long while. First observations: Too many tourists/foreigners with DSLRs at every spot taking every conceivable 'Facebook profile photo' shot. Too many weird fringe performers; there was line dancing, carolling and a man swinging huge-ass bead necklaces around his neck like hula-hoops all along the same stretch.

And to that end, our job seems to be getting more and more exciting as we uncover more details through our research. Seems like the attraction K and I are attached too opens New Year's Eve, and the next two weeks will sure to be packed. I can't wait.

Fake SMRT Fail Movie Posters

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 15:58:00 +0000

You know, just in case someone gets any ideas.

It's the tunnel parasites!

Opening death scene: In a train

Fire extinguisher action.

An outing perfect for the entire family.

Some certain CEO is quote 'sorry'.

A Christmas Play & So Much More

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 16:45:00 +0000

Confirm? Double confirm. Triple confirm lah!

I had such a fun night out with K watching Calvary's Christmas production, Hua Hi Kopitiam. Dwayne had scored me tickets after I had helped him out with a design. Due to major miscommunication it was not used but I was just happy to have helped in a small way.

The play exceeded my expectations on all levels. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and couldn't help finding myself smiling throughout. The audience interaction was highly funny given that the cast was generally made up of old and young characters. There were many loveable characters as well. Ah Pek and Shui Sou stood out for me and reading the programme booklet I found out why. They were characters brought back from a previous play and are now woven together with new stories.

There really is no way of categorizing the play. It's part musical, part satire, part family drama, part comedy. Basically all of the above. I was impressed with how on point some of the many short stories were and I felt that it was appropriate for such a play to be topical. It was a light-hearted and warm play perfect for the season. The Christmas elements really weren't all that important; the characterization really moved the plot forward here.

Some memorable scenes include the Speak Hokkien Class, escalating from small banter, to a rap and culminating in a full-on remix all in a matter of minutes. I loved how audience expectations were brought one way and the play took it to another. Another scene with the casino singers reminded me of those uber loud X-factor performances. The court room scene was visually captivating and reminded me how clever Dwayne is with set design. The make shift coffee shop was built with 4 large white steps that moved around to function as platforms for other scenes. The flamboyant judge, Ah Pek and filipino maid (who was played by the same person in Close Quarters) were also hilarious characters to watch.

Having had the privilege of watching Close Quarters earlier this year, I was floored after having watched this play. The entire team are really versatile and I admire the thought and detail put into both plays. I could recognize some players from before and seeing them play multiple roles deftly impressed me. Pretty excited to get the chance to see their next production. I'm sure it'll be even more exciting and impressive.

Aside from that, let's talk about MRT breakdowns. What can I say. There is only so many times a train can breakdown before we all eventually have to travel by foot as a last resort. I can't say much more in my capacity as an inane youth. So I shall use images instead.

So Christmas is coming. K and I will be inducted into our jobs the coming week. The start of the Apocalypse year is drawing near and I'm stoked about working. Hopefully I'll get be able to sneak a ride on the Transformers attraction in between.

I've Been Probed

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:56:00 +0000

Smile! You're on nasal camera! aka It's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's a nose tumour!

Yesterday was my check up at the ENT specialist to find out if there were any more remaining polyps in my nasal cavity. Turns out there is.

The waiting procedure went by rather quickly and I soon found myself sitting in the big chair in the doctor's office. After filling him in on the details and letting him press his fingers against my throat, he concluded it was time to scope it out. I soon understood what he meant when the nurse handed him a electronic device which I could not discern its head from its tail.

He first sprayed some sort of anaesthetic/alcohol substance up both my nostrils before powering up the camera gig. It was a handheld camera with the lens and a light bulb attached to a long flexible piece of plastic. The main body was black and striped in white, much like the legs of a dengue mosquito, or the tentacles of the Predator. He eased one end of the scope down my left nostril first and what felt like an insect crawling down the back of my nose got pretty uncomfortable very quickly. Only when the camera went down my right nostril did the doctor decide to let it down further. I could actually feel it in my throat. And to think it was all over after that. The doctor did a second scope of my left nostril which by that time felt nothing to me. It was such a weird yet interesting experience.

I've always imagined what kind of crazy out of this world illness anyone, including myself, could possibly have. Well this is my answer. The doctor found a growth of some sort in my left nasal cavity and has scheduled me for a scan on my next appointment. To be continued.

Postcards

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 14:58:00 +0000

And another one!

I spent the day making postcards from scrap magazines lying around the house. Pictures will be up soon.

5x5 Books

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:38:00 +0000

I'm on a roll.

Great Finds And Vines

noreply@blogger.com (zhrent) — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 08:00:00 +0000

I finally get to do the things I like, when I want.

And one to remember the night.