Carpe Diem - Seize the Day

How Bizarre can Singaporeans Get

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:53:00 +0000

I came across an interesting read from an author who wrote :

"44 years of economic and material success have spawned some very strange behaviors among Singaporeans. We spent so much to buy a house or flat, furnished it up like a palace, but spent our time outside, most of the time at work. And the maids are the ones enjoying the million dollar or multi million dollar assets.

Then we paid so much, the highest in the world, for a car only to park at home. Too expensive to drive, too many ERPs and car park charges to pay. And we are encouraged to park the car at home and take public transport, cheaper and more convenient.

And when Singaporeans travelled, instead of seeing the places, they went shopping. The best part is that they would head for the cheapest bargains, buying stuff that they could get in Chinatown or pasar malam, at even cheaper prices. And they are happy that they got a bargain.

And while the heartlanders are busy trying to make a life here, being told to bust off if they are not happy, which they could not, the rich and presumably very happy and contented citizens are buying up properties overseas just in case they need to make that escape from paradise.

While many Singaporeans are thinking of jumping ship, or preparing to jump ship, hoards of new immigrant are rushing in to take their place in this paradise and to top it all up, they keep complaining about the govt and all the policies that they found unpalatable, come every election, they will vote and return the govt to power." (sic)

Though I cannot comment much on the political domain and how much the PAP government had influenced the way Singaporeans behave locally and in other countries, I have to agree to a large extend to the observation that the writer wrote from a perspective of a third person.

It stings deep though to much reluctance that the observation made holds truth of how we Singaporeans see ourselves and behave in a challenged environment. We spent almost all of our monthly income to beautify our house only to leave it vacant for our maids to enjoy. We spent countless hours in office clocking extra hours to earn the overtime payment so that we could pay off our debts and for the holidays planned during the school holidays. Our pursuit of wealth has blinded us to the simplicity of life. We have been so engrossed in life that we have forgotten how to enjoy it.

We buy big cars not really needing it and end up parking it at the carpark and taking public transport complaining how expensive it was to drive our most treasured possession around. We hired maids to look after our children not wanting to send them to our parents to care for them, only to realise that our children know more about their maids but their own parents.

We always tell ourselves how wonderful life is overseas. How far away foreign lands of Australia or the States holds the true meaning of living without appreciation what we have here in Singapore. We always think that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence but a green grass does not necessarily assure good pasture. We neglect to realise that Singapore no matter how is far from perfect is still the best place to raise a family.

As we busily chase after the material success in life we failed to stop, pause and look around us and to appreciate our family, the safety of our environment, the peace and harmony that we have now taken for granted. Let us do that, let us just look around us and be thankful to what we have and not be a slave to material pursuit without even having the opportunity to fully enjoy it.

Family - Accepting the Imperfection in Life

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:58:00 +0000

There is an old adage that says "You can choose your friends, but you can never choose your family". This is a saying that I have always hold steadfast to. My family has always been an important aspect of my life that I hold dear to. Your friends can be with you in good times and at times when things get tough but it is your family that will be behind you all the way when you take the journey in life.

To me, the one important soul that I will never trade for all the luxury in the world in my mother. She is the one soul that had been a source of inspiration in my life. Sure we have our quarrels and fight but no matter how ugly the situation is, my mother will be the first to forgive and forget. To her, her happiness is secondary, but the happiness of her children is paramount.

She raised me up since young through hardship and happiness, she will always be there to share my sorrow and laughter, always ready to give motherly advice and insight in life. I have learnt over the years that nothing wrong will come out of listening to the advice of my dear mother.

I cannot imagine those people that would be willing to part with their parents and sent them away to old folks home just because they are too busy to look after them in the old age. How is it one wonders, that a mother can look after all their children and still have time for housework and time to spare listening to out problems but we the children cannot even look after them. Have we wonder, what if in our old age, our children were to treat us the way we treat our parents.

I have never been closed to my dad when he is still alive, most probably he is a disciplinarian as a person, but in his passing, I dread the lost time that I could have been closer to him. My earliest memory of my dad was when he brought me any my brother to the beach to spend family time. I remembered vaguely he watching over me and my brother as we both splashed ourselves in the water. My elder brother the bully he is, would occassionally dunk me into the water and it would be my father's stern gaze that would stop him in a beat. He need not have to raise his voice, just his piercing looks would stop my brother in a heartbeat.

It is the family environment that defines us as a person. It is the upbringing that builds our character. All the imperfection in live, in our family is of no consequences at all. It is those imperfection in life that you will miss.

Treasure the time left as nothing in life is permanent. We cannot say for certain when they will suddenly be gone and when that time comes, we will regret all those things that could be, we regret the conversation that we could have, the trips that we could take, the meals that we could have, the moments of laughter and fun.

Earth Hour - Has the Time Passed?

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:54:00 +0000

In March last year, the World Wildlife Fund in Australia teamed up with Leo Burnett, the multinational advertising agency that created the Marlboro Man, to come up with a new environmental campaign called Earth Hour. The idea was to get 2 million residents in Sydney to turn off all the lights in their homes for an hour. The campaign had generated wide publicity but far from all the hype and publicity behind it, the energy saved from the millions of dollars spent on advertisement and campagin was insignificantly small - the equivalent of only taking about five cars off the city's roads for a year. Mother's nature effort is cutting down power consumption would be more effective. A gale storm or the many occurance of typhoons would have caused thousands of drivers in the cities to be off the road for many hour and grounded many flights on the airport tarmac and that would have not cause Mother Nature a single cent.

However despite the dismayal result, Earth Hour expanded to dozens of cities around the globe world. The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, the Sears Tower in Chicago and the Empire State Building in New York were among the US landmarks that went dark. Many corporations signed on to burnish their green credentials. Cities around Asia and Europe answered to the cherion call and encouraged its citizens to participate. In countries where the public responds seems lukewarm, organisations and governments took the lead to shut off power for an hour. The result was yet another self declared success. Although the media had showed the shutting off of lights in their respective countries, the result have yet again failed to meet its objectives. But the organiser was quick to rebut this by stating that it is the awareness that counts. So what?

If everyone who had participated in Earth Hour had left their lights on and instead switched to mundane, high-efficiency compact fluorescent bulbs, simple calculations showed that it would have saved 1,368 times as much energy, because the bulbs would have saved energy all year. Such tension between substance and symbolism runs through the modern environmental movement.

After years of conflict between climate-change activitists and thhe carbon producing countries that had choosed to deny any direct correleation or calls to take drastic change fearing that it will hurt the economy, the movement has become a crusade that is partly moral statement and partly fashion statement. Earth Hour, Earth Day and the Miss Earth beauty pageant - "saving the planet, one pageant at a time" - generate lots of publicity, but they also tend to prompt people and companies to choose what looks good over what works. "There is a real problem in teaching people not to do something that appears to work, but that actually works

It is hard to persuade people to do things that yield the biggest energy savings, and not necessarily the biggest returns in self-satisfaction. It is very difficult to get people to invest in home insulation and energy efficiency, over aesthetic beauty

At the strike of eight when Earth Hour is supposed to commence in Singapore, I look out from my darkened room and saw my parents watching television is the lighted hall. My nephew in his room over the computer and the air-conditioning unit blowing over his head and the appliances in the kitchen being turned on when it is not even being used. Does that mean that my family is not aware of the Earth Hour movement, far from it. They have seen the adverts and news on it over many days leading to Earth Hour. They have even asked me what the campaign is all about and despite the endless conversation that I had, nothing change.

I looked out of my house and saw the many hundreds of units around me with their lights on. Kitchen lights left on when it is apparent that the stove is not smoking figuratively speaking. So I ask again, what Earth Hour?

People on the streets in Singapore city area was jubilant to see the lights from many skyscrapers being turned off, jubilant not because it is Earth Hour, but jubilant because they got to burn off candles and basked themselves in the shadows of the candle lights. The streets lights remains illuminated. Cars continued to ply down the streets in greater numbers as people instead of sitting in darkness decided to travel to the city to join the crowd. An hour later, as Earth Hour lapses, the jubilant again erupted this time in greater strength and intensity as the lights were turned on and people enjoyed the spectacles of the city being once again flooded by neon lights.

Noble an idea Earth Hour is, and pure the intent it is, the outcome far achieves the objectives. It is yet another forgetable event that people will only remember after yet another millions of dollars being soent to promote the event next year.

Change - The Only Constant Thing in Life

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 14:31:00 +0000

There is an old adage that says, the Only Constant Thing in Life is Change. I must say that I am not a big fan of change myself. I am one of those that gets comfortable with the status quo and live on conformity. When it comes to change, I will be the first one to react adversely to it.

But I have learned in life that the only constant thing is 'Change'. It is something inevitable and unavoidable. No matter how you hold dear to what you have now, and advocate the concept of remaining status quo, change will crepe its way in us unexpectedly.

My line of work and what I do, changes comes in such rapid that at times you do not even have any opportunity to sit back and catch a breath. By the time you open your eyelids everything have taken a new perspective.

I was transferred to a new department, with new working peers, new subordinates, new boss and new challenges. Though the job itself is not something new and nothing out of the ordinary it is the thought of working in a totally new environment from one that you are used to for the past one year that made me dread. I dread the thoughts of having to settle down all over again, having to form new relationship, having to get to know new peoplw, having to appreciate your subordinates strengths and weaknessess and most importantly having to figure out your BOSS work ethics.

But I supposed this is something which is just unavoidable. No matter how I hate changes, still it is something that will force its way into us no matter how much you resist. The force of change is just to strong for one to withstand.

But on the brighter side of things, it is through these changes in your life that you will know what you are capable of. It is the experimentation in life that you will know your strengths and weaknesses, what you are capable of doing and what you lack the expertise in. It is through these changes that will spur you on to greater heights in life, personally or in you career and if one would to ask me now if I have any regrets, my answer would be 'NO'.

I have expended my knowledge and my horizon. I have deepen my depth in life and along the way made new friends and less enemy I hope. When you sit back and think back in your life, it is the past friendship that have been formed that you would really treasure. All those moments of laughter and hardship that strengthen your resolute further and your outlook in life.

So the next time that change come knocking on my door, I will welcome it with an open arms and embrace it for all the opportunities that it will bring.

Are We Still a Nation of Giving ?

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:31:00 +0000

The current economic crisis has hit us most where it hurts, our pocket. When we go back home today, many of us who are not blessed with an iron rice bowl, worries if we were to receive the dreaded call in the morning from our bosses telling us not to come to work the following day and to take an extended no pay leave. We also wonder if we were to come to work the next day to find that the office doors leading to our office were suddenly locked unceremoniously with a just a piece of paper pasted on the door serving as a notice informing us that the company is closed till further notice. The only sign of activity is a security guard standing outside the locked door telling us to go back home. This may not be a possible occurrence a few years back but is now a definite possibility in the current economic downturn. Every industries are affected. From sales to manufacturing, from service to banking. All of us are not sheltered by possibility of retrenchment as company downsized or just seized to operate.

Singapore has enjoyed several years of stable growth since independence. Even during the 1997 economic crises which hits Asia and the SARS outbreak thereafter, Singapore has never truly been hit by an economic downturn which hit us at such a scale. As we all look towards our able government hoping that they will steer us clear from recession, I cannot help but wonder what of the poorest of poor that is amongst us. Let us faced it, Singapore maybe a 1st world country and a highly industrialised one, but we still have a small percentage living amongst us that scrapes through the day from the donation and alms of others. The only difference between Singapore and our neighbours is that our poor are not that visible.

When I travelled in our neighbouring countries, the poor are a highly visible lots, begging for the mercy of others on the streets, going from cars to cars and tables to tables asking for scraps of food or small change, in Singapore however, we can hardly see just activities here. But does that mean we are without any?

In spite of the blanket of gloom which has grown to enshroud the current economic climate, most of us are not doing that badly, despite the downturn. Many of us still have our jobs. Many still have our paychecks at the end of every month. Singaporeans are still going for holidays and spending during festive seasons, so it is not all bad news for us.

However do we start to stinge in giving? Singaporeans may be known to be snobbish lots and been accused of being inconsiderate to her neighbours in more than one occasions, but one thing that we are never known to be are 'stingy lots'. I made this observation when I was at the bus terminal waiting for my friend. An old Chinese auntie made her living by selling tissue papers to passerbys. A passerby, in long sleeve and pants approached her and bought her tissue papers which were sold at a dollar for five packers. The gentleman paid her $5 dollars, took a packet of tissue and walked off without even waiting for his change. A few minutes later, another lady came by gave her $2 dollars and walked off without even taking any tissue paper.

I supposed in this dire time, I am glad to know that Singaporeans are not tightening their purse when it comes to giving. We may cut back on our other expenses and enjoyment, but we still do not forget the needs of others who are worst off than us. For those of us who are in the able, the current hardship that we are facing is but a temporary situation that will be with us for a year or two hopefully, we still can afford all the simple luxury in life, but for those that are not, such as the tissue paper auntie, their hardship is with them long before us and will be with them long after.

I applaud those that are able to give up a few dollars for others who need it more than they do. And I hope more of us will not tighten our purse just because the economy is bleak.

Do It Yourself - The IKEA Way

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 07:26:00 +0000

I must say, that I am quite an avid supporter of IKEA's products. Almost all the furniture in my house will bear the IKEA logo one way or another. Though some of the furniture, unfortunately are not long lasting and up being expired early that I would have like it but the feeling of having the freedom to fix up your own furniture to make it a masterpiece that you can proudly say, "Hei I make that! " is priceless.

Some of my relatives would disagree with me though and assiciated IKEA products with the acroynms "Buy and Throw Away". But nevertheless, there are still some of the furniture which have been faithfully serving my needs for almost half a decade now.

But with the economy meltdown, all industries are looking at ways and means to diversify their products and to create a niche at the global market. They will need to be innovative in the way they run their business and market their products. Just recently IKEA has announced plans that they will be diversify their product lines not only to include furniture and households but ........... hold your breath........ automobile.

And to assure the public how easy it is to assemble your own car, they have the first 'Do-IT-Yourself" car already prepared and ready to be in the shelf at a IKEA warehouse near to you. You do not believe me.. see for yourself.

and to assure buyers out there that it is as easy as A-B-C the only tool that you will need to fix your own car is an instruction booklet to guide you which part goes where and a simple tool

I cannot wait to see the line up of cars available for purchase in the 2010 catalogue. Hopefully there is a convertible somewhere in there.

What Will I Defend?

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 16:53:00 +0000

What will I defend? That is a question that has been in the minds of many Singaporeans recently since the adverts were played on the mass media to commemorate our celebration of Singapore's Total Defence Day. I have not really gave it a serious thought actually, until I saw the speech of Admiral Teo Chee Hean on the Straits Times on 15 February. It makes me wonder then, if the question was posed to me what would be my answer then.

I agree with Admiral Teo that the question "What will you defend?" is a deeply personal one that can be answered only after some long reflection. The answers on the streets may differs from one individual to the other. Some may say that they will defend their family and friends, or their way of living. Others may say they will defend their beliefs or personal effects that they hold dear to. There are also others that holds importance to a place such as their home or structures or places where they had fond memories of. The answers may be poignant and personal, sweet and simple, spirited and spontaneous, or considered and conceptual. But whatever the answer, it is unique to the individual, and it may evolve as the person goes through life. There are no right or wrong answers as each answers reflects on the personal beliefs and upbringing and how the community that they live in has influences their life.

Who is to say that your answers is wrong and mine is right. When the advertisement was run, I supposed it was with the intention of the government to make Singaporeans think of how they will react when the bugle is sounded for Singapore's freedom and way of living to be defended. We have lived in a relatively peaceful environment since having gained independence. The last major war that we were in had left a deep scar in the life on many older generations, even after the Japanese occupation we see other conflicts such as the Indonesian Confrontation and the insurgence of communism but we have managed to pull through those tumultuous period by sheer luck and ingenuity and able leadership. But having said that, generation of mine and after have never experienced those periods and we cannot truly appreciate what our leaders and our forefathers have had to go through. We do not really appreciate the hardship of Japanese occupation and having to live in a period of constant air raids and under the mercy of Japanese army's bonnet. We never had to live in a period where the ugly heads of Communism and Communalism weaved through the community and threatened the very fabric of social cohesion.

We do not have to live in the days and nights where the constant threats of riots and strikes are ever present by those that held ideologies so different to ours. The only knowledge that I have of those eras long gone and so far away from the minds of many are from the video footage in the national archives and the books and memoirs of our leaders and elders that have actually lived through the periods. I am of the Generation X. I lived in a period where Singapore had gained independence for many years and our economy are fast growing. I lived in the era of Internet superhighway and globalisation where our national boundaries reaches to the limit of how far our jets could bring us. I have never heard the sound of mortars or explosion and the only time that I heard the air raids siren being sounded was once every month when the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) tested the air raids siren in the first day of every month at the strike of 12 noon. Even then, those sirens testing and the public announcements that we ought to listen to had gone unnoticed to me. We all lived in a pampered and protected environment where the thought of national sovereignty being threatened and jeopardise by governments thousands of miles away or elements from within, of individuals with questionable ideology have never really caused us to loose any sleep. Those are events that my generations and I sadly have never really considered.

We all have the thinking that our national defence mechanism will be responsible for protecting us should the threats really emerges. Sadly these are the thinking of many of people of my age. So what will I defend? Will I defend my family, my house, my friends, my way of living, my personal effects or my nation? That is a question that I cannot truly answer until I am confronted with the situation. I do not want to sound a hypocrite and announce to the world that I will protect my country when the call to arms is raised. But does that make me less nationalistic or patriotic? I do not think so.

There is no means testing or mathematical measurement to measure one's true affiliation and affection to the country. The feeling is intrinsic and unmeasurable. I supposed it is the feeling that I have whenever I am back in Singapore after being away. It is the feeling of how I always want to be known as a Singaporean and proud of it when I am at the streets of a another country and being asked by the streets vendors where I am from, at the risk of loosing a good bargain. But nevertheless it is the unexplained feeling that being a Singaporean is something that I am proud of. I supposed if you were to ask me what will I defend, then the answer that I could give with conviction is 'Being called a Singaporean'.

pictures from : Reuters Pictures, www.daylife.com/photo/04TH13A58baYU.

What's with the 'Mushiness' on Feb 14?

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 03:39:00 +0000

What is with Valentine's day, I still do not understand. My friends were asking me on the eve 0f Valentine's Day what my plans were for the 'V' Day. I just answered them, stay at home and catch up with my reading. They each either gave me a bemused look or gave me the impression that I am the most unromantic fellow ever to walk on the face of the earth. I am maybe one of those dying breed that do not and could not really appreciate the relevancy of significance of Valentines Day to even give it a damn. And seriously looking at all my other colleagues straight or otherwise that went heads over heels to plan and execute the most romantic Valentine's Day, I am left to ponder why even bother. Why do u really have to specifically plan something so special on one day of the year for that special ones of yours when you have 364 other days to do that?

To add insult to injury even my gay friends have plans for Valentine's day. A closeted gay friend of mine who I got to know of his sexual preference by chance confided with me that his boyfriend had planned for a romantic dinner in a restaurant at a hotel. And the only question that I had for him was "Dude, two guys in a romantic restaurant at a hotel during Valentine's Day, everyone will know that you guys are gays !!" For a moment he was dumbfounded by the directness of my remarks but the next thing that he did was to call his boyfriend and beg for the dinner to be cancelled. Well shoot me if I break Cupid's arrow but who cares.

I can only imagine the number of roses that had been cannibalised on 14 February only to end up in the dustbin, all withered and frail the following day. I can also only imagine the number of holes that were burnt 'mostly on the guys' and the new strands of grey hairs emerging to think and plan for that romantic night.

A girl friend of mine was telling me how she had hinted to her boyfriend how she loves to have a LV bag for Valentine's day. My only thought was "What a Bitch?' I am just glad she is not my girlfriend else I would have dumped her a long time ago. My heart goes to the poor soul that called himself her boyfriend.

I however could not helped it but to drag myself out of bed on Valentine's day and joined a friend of mine for dinner. Like me, he to does not celebrate Valentine's Day but his unlike me was not out of choice but more of circumstances as he had just broke out with his girlfriend of 5 years. My Valentine's Day, believe it or not end up to me a day of listening where I had to endure half a night of listening to his heart felt sorrow and stories. 'Yucks' how glad I am not to be in any relationship.

My friend was telling me how I could not really appreciate the true meaning and significance of Valentine's Day until I am in a relationship myself, but looking at all the emotional baggage and complication that comes with it, I think I would gladly passed it off in a heartbeat. Life as it is is already so complicated, why do you have to add to it?

As I walked around Clarke Quay making my way through crowds of couples, gays and straights, I could not helped but wonder, so what will tomorrow brings? Will their emotional ties and feelings be further strengthened after tonight when dawn breaks?

I think people who merely greet their loved ones with "I Love YOU"s the whole year through are more sincere than any chocolates or flowers or diamond rings can be. I guess I'm too unromantic to even bother about all these so I'm being sour grapes. Valentine's Day is over-commercialised these days and I think St Valentine himself is turning in his grave knowing what a mockery a celebration in his name has turned out to be.

Why Men Don't Have Advice Column

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 14:06:00 +0000

To Adrian 's Advice Column

Dear Adrian,

I hope you can help me here. The other day, I set off for work leaving my husband in the house watching the TV as usual. I hadn't driven more than a mile down the road when the engine conked out and the car shuddered to a halt. I walked back home to get my husband's help. When I got home I couldn't believe my eyes. He was in the bedroom with the neighbour's daughter. I am 32, my husband is 34, and the neighbour's daughter is 22. We have been married for 10 years.

When I confronted him, he broke down and admitted they had been having an affair for 6 months. I told him to stop or I would leave him. He was let go from his job six months ago and he says he has been feeling increasingly depressed & worthless. I love him very much, but ever since I gave him the ultimatum he has become increasingly distant. He won't go to counseling and I'm afraid I can't get through to him anymore. Can you please help?

Sincerely

Heather
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Dear Heather

A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of faults with the engine. Start by checking that there is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the vacuum pipes and hoses on the intake manifold and also check all grounding wires. If none of these approaches solve the problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the injectors.
I hope this helps,

Adrian

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I supposed that is the reason why man do not have any advice column of relationship. Ask men about anything other than relationship, how to fix a car and make your old beatles runs like a Subaru WRX, we will give you all kinds of tips on how to prep up your car and install all the latest gadgets that will make heads turn. Ask us about computer repair or the best way to fix your broken pipes. Ask us how to mend your roof or the best method to get your car shines and we will be able to give you thousands and one tips to get around it. You can ask us anything on how to fix things but relationship is never one of them.

The whimsical premise of Men Are From Mars is that many years ago, all men lived on Mars, and all women lived on Venus. Once they got together, they respected and enjoyed their differences--until one day when everybody woke up completely forgetting that they had once come from different planets. And ever since, men mistakenly expect women to think and communicate and react the way men do, and women expect men to think and communicate and react the way women do. These unrealistic expectations cause frustration. But when we understand the God-given differences between male and female, we have more realistic expectations of the other sex, and our frustration level drops. I never truly understand how the saying comes about but I am able to truly appreciate the vast difference that both the sexes have in terms of thinking.

I remembered having a discussion with a lady colleague of mine about a work related problem, for me I am more keen in getting the problem fix and move on, but for her, she would is more concern about how the problem affects morale and why it happen in the first place. I supposed it is this difference that makes our life more challenging and interesting.

The Tales of Two Neighbours.

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 16:09:00 +0000

We are living in an environment at least for 80 percent of us in Singapore, where my floor is another person's ceiling, that my ceiling is another person's floor and we all share a common wall. That is the wonder of living in a boxed up apartment blocks.

It is an unpleasant reality that though we have had almost more than 40 years of communal livings where your neighbours consists of families of different races and religion, sadly many Singaporeans are still unable to live with their immediate neighbours in common decency and respect.

We read on the newspaper on more than one occassions of neigbours dispute turned ugly. It just brings me to wonder why after so many years and many campaigns after, we still are not able to respect our neighbours and treat them with the utmost respect. At the end of the day, aren't they someone that we can turn to in times of needs or to get help from.

I have been living in a boxed-up apartment block for as long as I could remember and frankly I would never dream of ever wanting to give up that way of living for the comfort of isolation or a property all by itself on a piece of land. Evertime on my way to work or the journey back, I would travel down a piece of road where there are landed properties on both sides. Singaporeans are famously known of building fences around their property and those fences tends to outdo each other more than the house itself. If not for a government regulation that limits the height of a paremeter fencing I am most certain that we will not just stop at a 2.1 meteres parameter fencing but the fences would have met new heights never been achieved before.

I observed as I drove past how isolated their lives are, all within the confine of their fences. Not knowing who their neighbours are. But living in an apartment block gives you a new whole dimension of communal living. My parents know our neighbours two floors up and two floors down across the span of 12 units. That is how far an outreach our knowledge is. My mum being a housewive herself on many occassions cared for my neighbours children whenever their parents are away for the day, we shared our cookings and visits each other during the festive seasons. Why then are we unable to respect our neighbours?

Take the Everitt Road neighbourhood dispute for an example. It is a rather unusual community dispute, prolonged and convoluted, so much so it generated much media attention. As many as seven families in the Joo Chiat street were involved, with the police, lawyers, the courts and even an MP being drawn into the dispute. The whole dispute had turned into a media frenzy that draws public attention for the wrong reasons. There are reports that visitors from across the straits had even pay the once quiet street a visit all in the hope of catching a glimpse of the families in action, taunting each other.

How could a supposedly affluent Singaporeans behave like a lowly street punks and hooligans, resorting to mocking and act of mischief. And if we were to analyse the root of the problem one would be amazed that the cause of all the ruckus is becuase of a stupid acts of placing items along the road to reserve the parking spots. How incredibly stupid can one be?

And if you think that such behaviour is only restricted to those living in a house, you will be surprised that such juvenile acts are also seen in those living in apartments blocks and in an alarmingly increasing numers. Neighbours installed CCTV cameras to monitor every movement of their neighbours. Throwing of faeces and defacing onces property are just some of the common acts that some ugly Singaporeans are resorting to.

I am just so glad that none of my neighbours are as stupidly juvenile as some Singaporeans can be. But here again, their stupidity are a source of enjoyment for us to read and see i supposed. Let the circus continue.

Porn Industry Seeks Bailout, Yah Sure Way On

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 09:52:00 +0000

I supposed only in America can such things happen. I will be speechless if the American congress would actually put forth the motion in the halls of congress and grant the porn industry the bail out that they requested for.
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LOS ANGELES - TWO porn moguls including Hustler magazine founder Larry Flynt are seeking a US$5 billion (S$7.36 billion) bailout from Washington, arguing that the limp US economy has thrown cold water on the adult entertainment industry.

Flynt and 'Girls Gone Wild' video series creator Joe Francis asked the newly convened 111th Congress 'to rejuvenate the sexual appetite of America' in a bailout move similar to the one set aside for US auto manufacturers.

'Congress seems willing to help shore up our nation's most important businesses, (and) we feel we deserve the same consideration,' Francis said in a statement. 'In difficult economic times, Americans turn to entertainment for relief.

More and more, the kind of entertainment they turn to is adult entertainment.' The pair were quick to admit that 'the US$13 billion industry is in no fear of collapse, but why take chances?'

Francis, recently imprisoned for nearly a year on a prostitution-related charge after pleading no contest in a plea bargain, cited industry figures that show adult DVD sales and rentals decreasing 22 per cent in 2008, as people turn to the Internet for adult entertainment.

'With all this economic misery and people losing all that money, sex is the farthest thing from their mind,' Flynt said. 'It's time for Congress to rejuvenate the sexual appetite of America. The only way they can do this is by supporting the adult industry and doing it quickly.'

Flynt said people were 'too depressed to be sexually active.' 'This is very unhealthy as a nation. Americans can do without cars and such, but they cannot do without sex.' – AFP
____________________________________________________________________

It is the biggest joke at the turn of the new year, that is the only thing that I could think of. For the porn industry to ask for a bail out is shameless and unethical, but well what can you expect from a industry that has no moral standards whatsoever. I do have to admit that I am impressed that both the porn moguls have the audacity to actually ask for the bail out. What thing for certain it gives a whole new dimension to the term "STIMULUS' package.

Americans are too depressed to be sexually active ? To think about it, I think the economic depression could be the best thing for the environment. If people are too depressed to be sexually active then maybe, just maybe we can for control the population boom that has put a incurable strain on the earth's resources.

I would think that economic stimulus package bail out is to save an industry which would have an impact on thousands or millions of people or at least on a sizeable portion of the community and not to save the hides and asses of a few individuals who makes their millions and enjoy the wealth on the shameless exploitation of others. SHAME SHAME SHAME on the porn industry to even asked for a bail out and depriving that money from being used for something more meaningful. Just imagine what 5 billion could do to the education or pursuing the research on AIDS or even alternative energy sources.

If the American congress did actually grant the bail out, then I think there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

I have been to 3 continents in 4 hours !!!

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 09:38:00 +0000

It is one of those rare occasions that I have no plans and end up spending my whole day at home resting and lazing on my bed. I had completed my PC games, Star Wars Rebellion a strategy game which I had bought almost a year back and never gotten around to play it. Waking up early in the morning, I had a quick glass of milk and put on my running shorts and shoes and ran a quick 3 miles jog around my neighbourhood. Though the sun was covered by the thick clouds that suddenly appeared out of nowhere as is they know that I am going to run, the lack of sun was compensated by a cool strong breeze that blew endlessly.

A quick shower thereafter, I completed a stage in the game and was quickly bore by it from all the planning and strategies that is required. No matter what I do, I end up losing big time. All the cheats that I installed to make the game less painful does not seems to help me progress. I am resigned to the fate of losing and I realised that I 'sucks' big time in playing game.

I end my game prematurely not even bothering to save the game that I have played and turned on the cable television. Switching from one movie channels to the other, I watched in passing all the reruns of movies that were played. Sigh... the only day that I am at home without anything to do, there is not even a single good movie being played. HBO is playing a movie which was produced in the 70s, even before I was born. am certain that most of the actors are either dead or dying, that I am certain as I could not even recognised a single actors.

I turned the local TV and a drama sitcom was being played. Yet another cheap local drama production which has no entertainment value. As I was just about to turn off the television. I accidentally switched to Discovery Travel channel. The channel was showing a series about the best steak in America and I was brought from one state to another in America where supposedly the best steak exists. Hmmmm that is interesting. For a change something that I have never watched before. I have never been to the states but watching the show, I was exposed to across the states from the North to the West, from New York to LA to Texas.

As the show came to a conclusion, another travel show was aired where i was brought to the mysterious Mediterranean. Depicting Marrakesh, I was exposed to Mediterranean culture and cooking and watched as they host savour in Mediterranean cooking at its best. One hour after the other another travel show was aired and without realising it I spent a good portion of my afternoon infront of the television.

I have been to 3 continents in four countries all in the comfort of my bed. That is the power of cable vision. It is interesting how the advent of television has changed one perspective of the world. I supposed when the television was first invented, it was never with the intention of bringing the world to the viewer but now that is what it has been achieved. Next to electricity, I think television is best invention ever made that has a huge impact on our lives. Just imagine, the cultural and race that one can see, the countries and places that one experience without even having to leave their own country. Why even bother to line up for an air ticket and be subjected to the hassle of airport security and long flights just to experience another cultural, you can have all that just by a click of a button. You want a better view of the world, get a bigger television set. With my 42" LCD television I was able to immerse myself with different cultural.

Of course nothing beats having the real experience, sweating it out and drowning yourself with the smell and sight of the real thing, but I supposed if you are unable to travel, the television serves the same purpose.

I learnt where the best steak in America is being served, I have learnt how kebab is being prepared, I have learnt what the Haitians staple food is, I have learnt how my best Bryani rice is being cooked in India, I have learnt the history of the Moguls and the Shahs of India and I have also learnt why the Haitians placed high importance on body tattoo as a transaction to adulthood. All this was learnt not by me going over to each individual country but by sitting infront of the television set.

The advances in television technology wonders still surprise us and make us wanting more and more. Television has became so popular all over the world now and there is no country, region or village where people don't know what a TV is. Television is the main source of our information. Daily people listen and watch a short news sequence that provides us with the necessary information and keeps informed during the day. Also, no doubt, television is the way to entertain oneself, for it offers a variety of possibilities to have fun sitting on your couch and relaxing.

For me, I have found a new channel that is now safely said to be my favourite. I do not mind giving up my movie channels but I will never give up on my information channels. At least not for now. Till the day come where I can retire and travel the world. I will travel the world in the comfort of my own room.

The Beautiful tunes of Bagpipes

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:11:00 +0000

I have always been fascinated as a child by the sound that is produced from the pipes. The first time that I attended a pipe band assemble was many years ago when I attended a parade ceremony in UK where they have pipes bands from differents states performing under the baton of a single major. The tune that they played which I remembered till now was 'Highland Cathedral'

The melody composed for the bagpipes was written by German musicians Ulrich Roever and Michael Korb [1] in a Scottish style. It has been proposed as the Scottish national anthem to replace unofficial anthems Scotland the Brave and/or Flower of Scotland. It has subsequently undergone various orchestrations and had lyrics added in English and in Scottish Gaelic.

And who could ever forget another all time favourite tune, 'Amazing Grace' This tune has never failed to move me to tears whenever I hear it.

Abide with Me" is a Christian hymn written by Henry Francis Lyte in 1847 while he lay dying from tuberculosis; he survived only a further three weeks after its completion. The hymn is a prayer for God to remain present with the speaker throughout life, through trials, and through death. The first verse is probably the most well-known:

New Year... Old RESOLUTION ??

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 09:00:00 +0000

It is the time of the year again where everyone seems so intent to make a new resolution. Frankly speaking I do not understand the affiliation with new year's resolution at every turn of the new year. Every where I go everyone without fail will say either "So what is you new year's resolution?" or "My new year's resolution is...." New year resolution seems to be the topic of the day for the first few weeks of the new year. Everyone seems to be talking about it.

No matter how successful one has been in following the resolutions in previous year, one makes fresh resolutions for the coming year with full determination and will. The starting days of New Year are the most crucial in order to plan for the entire year. These are the days when most of the people sketch a graph for the whole year. To materialize the things thought of is somewhat difficult but still some people manage to do so.New Year resolutions provide a sort of direction to people to lead the coming year.

Some of the most popular New Year resolutions are – losing weight, earning a good amount of money, paying debts, starting a good exercise regime and resolving conflicts. Some people also think of giving money in charity in the coming year. But to me, I am still lost with our need to make a new year resolution every year. Why must we be so focused in making a new year resolution now and why must it be made every January. Why cant we make a resolution in the middle of the year. To me I would think that when you need to change something in your life u do not have to wait till the end of the year to make one. Do something about it now instead of waiting for the year to start a new.

I have to admit that I am one of those majority, I must say that was so into making new year's resolution. I always told myself that I want to take up learning how to play the flute when I was fifteen, but three years later, I have not even blown into the mouth piece of a single flute. I told myself that I wanted to take up fencing after watching the Olympics when I was eighteen, but a decade later, I have not even wield a single epee or sabre. And my all favourite, without fail my new year's resolution was to pamper myself and travel to at least one foreign country each year, but many years later I am still stuck in Singapore working my butts out.

For much of the world, January 1st marks the New Year. In many cultural be it you are an Asian, Hispanic,or western, it is only traditional to make a New Year resolution promising to accomplish something difficult in the year ahead. But to me I am resigned to the thinking that making a new year's resolution only serves to accomplish one thing and that is to remind oneself how we have flaws. If your resolution is to lose weight it just serves to remind you how fat you are or if your resolution is to exercise and keep fit, it just proves how unhealthy your life have been or if your resolution is to make more money it only proves that your job sucks.

Let’s face it — it’s pretty pointless waiting all year to decide on one or two things that you kinda, sorta want to stop doing, but that you know full well you’re not really committed to following through with anyway. If you want to change something in your life that you do not like or you want to do something that you have always yearned to do, why WAIT !!.

I came across an article that said why resolution doesn't work and there are basically four main points.

1. They’re all about what you think you should do.

All new year's resolution sounds good on the surface. Loose weight, stay healthy, more work life balance but typically a resolution is based on what you think you should be doing, rather than what you really want to be doing. Asked ourselves why do we even make a resolution. the answer is more than often we make resolutions after looking at other peoples expectations or by reading a magazine or looking at advert that tells you what you should achieve in life. Nonsense - forget about what you or other people think you ought to be doing and look at what you really want instead.

2. Resolutions are like goals.

Some resolutions are like goals in that they are about getting more of something out of nothing. The trouble is that goals - which have been imposed upon us rarely work. In work we have targets and goals to achieve, and more than often we do not achieve them, even if we do it is all about manipulation of data and figures and at the end of the financial year where the accounts are presented, it is all rosy and nice. But we all know that the facts are far from the figures.

The problem is that as soon as you set yourself a goal you are saying to yourself that you want more in your life than you have right now. The very nature of goals make you look forwards at what is next, never at what you have got right now. Goals have the tendency to make you feel less-than, because there’s something you don’t have now that you aspire to have in the future. Goals introduce a gap between where you are and where you did like to be, which instantly makes part of where you are right now a place you do not want to be - and this is how the very nature of having goals can hurt your self-confidence and self esteem.

Most people tend to think they need to set themselves goals and objectives to see things happen, but that is missing the point. Show me a goal-hungry person and I’ll show you someone who is always wanting something better to come along, someone who’s convinced - albeit perhaps not consciously - that reaching their goals will lead to their happiness. Even if that person reaches a goal it’s all too likely that it lacks meaning and personal relevance, and so the hunt for meaning, relevance and happiness goes on.

Once you reach a goal, so what is next? You must have another goal? Then another, then another. When do you get to stop and just enjoy life right where you are? The real gold and real value is in the experience, NOT in the end result.

3. There’s no motivation or commitment.

Many of our resolution do not even make it past January and many even are abandoned come March. The reason, simple there is No commitment. The problem is that you’re taking something that do not mean anything to you and trying to make it happen. Resolutions lack a foundation of meaning and personal relevance that makes sure they run out of steam.Sure, you might get an initial burst of motivation that gets you started, but that never lasts. Motivation is like the big rocket boosters on the space shuttle - it gives you an initial spurt of energy to get up and get moving, but it’s just not sustainable.

What you need is something more fundamental, more central and more important to you. What you need is something that comes from the inside, something that’s based on what’s important and what matters to you.
That’s the only way to get behind it, have confidence in it and keep the motivation and commitment going.

4. The timing’s all wrong.

Not only are you coming off the back of the holidays and getting back to the harsh realities of the world, but you see the whole of the year stretching ahead of you. It’s not exactly an inspiring picture, is it? And what kind of person waits all year to make a choice about something anyway? Why wait for one particular day to make a decision, when there are 364 other equally great decision-making days available to you?

So, the next time that anyone asked me what is my new year resolution, I will say, I do not have any. As in the wise words of Horace, Carpe Diem, Quam minimum credula postero, Seize the Day, trust as little as possible in tomorrow. If you have something that you think you ought to be doing, then for the love of god, DO IT NOW !! WHY PROCRASTINATE !!.

Embarassing Moments

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 12:55:00 +0000

A radio station in Australia ran a phone-in competition to find the Most embarrassing moment in listener's lives. The final four were:
4th Place
While in line at the bank one afternoon, my toddler decided to release some pent-up energy and started to run amuck. I was finally able to grab hold of her after receiving looks of disgust and annoyance from other patrons. I told her that if she didn't start behaving herself, right now, she would be punished. To my horror, she looked me in the eye and said in a voice just as threatening, 'If you don't let me go right now, I will tell Grandma I saw you kissing Daddy's willie last night.' After this enlightening exchange, the silence was deafening. Even the tellers stopped what they were doing. I mustered the last of my dignity and walked out of the bank, with my daughter in tow. The last thing I heard as the door closed behind me were screams of laughter.
3rd Place
It was the day before my 18th birthday. I was living at home, but my parents had gone out for the evening, so I invited my girlfriend over for a romantic night alone. As we lay in bed after making love, we heard the telephone ringing downstairs. I suggested to my girlfriend that I give her a piggyback ride down to the phone. Since we didn't want to miss the call, we didn't have time to get dressed. When we got to the bottom of the stairs, the lights suddenly came on as a whole crowd of people yelled 'SURPRISE'. My entire family parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles, cousins as well as my friends, were standing there. My girlfriend and I were frozen on the spot in a state of shock and embarrassment for what seemed like an eternity. Since then, no one in my family has planned any surprise parties.
2nd Place
A lady picked up several items at a discount store. When she finally Got up to the checkout, she learned that one of the items had no price tag. The checkout girl got on the public address system, which boomed out across the store for everyone to hear, 'Price check for Tampax supersize.' But it got worse. Someone at the rear of the store apparently misunderstood word 'Tampax' for 'Thumbtacks' , and replied in a business like tone, his voice booming over the same public address system: 'Do you want the kind you push in with your thumb or the kind one you belt in with a hammer.
1st Place.
And the winner is . . ..
This happened at a major Australian University, during a biology lecture. A professor was discussing the high glucose levels found in semen. A young woman raised her hand and asked, 'If I understand you correctly, you are saying there is as much glucose in male semen as in sugar?' The professor responded, yes, that's correct adding some statistical data. Raising her hand again, the girl asked, 'Then why doesn't it taste sweet?' After a stunned silence, the whole class burst out laughing. The poor girl turned bright red, and as she realised exactly what she had inadvertently said, she picked up her books, and without another word, walked out of the class. However, as she was heading for the door, the professor's reply was a classic. Totally straight faced, he answered her question. 'It doesn't taste sweet because the taste-buds for sweetness are on the tip of your tongue and not in the back of your throat'.

Remembering the Good Old Days

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:40:00 +0000

Photos by Rahimah.M

Express yourself instantly with MSN Messenger! MSN Messenger
I was looking through my emails and clearing off the old emails (something that I ought have done long time ago) when I came across this pictures of me any my Bruneians friends when we were chilling out at Arab Street. (in clockwise, Fahmy, Rahimah, Rena and myself) and Siti is behind the camera taking the shots. Well someone has to be taking the shots aint it. The camera doesn't function by itself.
Chilling out was an interesting affair back then especially when we took the opportunity of the precious weekends to escape from the confine of the training academy. Arab Street has been a favourite haunts for us as that was where we will meet to chill and puff our youths away, hahaha yeah you guess it, smoking Sheeha. It is an unhealthy habit but well it was an interesting way of passing time especially with friends. Armed with laptops on our right hands and the sheesha pipes on our left we will pass the time to the early hours of the morning.
Here, all of us were posing with my former car, sigh I miss this car of mine before calling it a night. And if you guys were wondering what car is that, it is my humble Mazda 3 sports edition which I have mocked up with an open hood for air intake, roof stabiliser, front lip and sports spoiler. Well it does turn people heads around whenever I drive it around as they cant figure it out whether they are seeing a Mazda 3 or a Subaru WRX.
Well, to my Bruneians friends, chilling out at Arab Street has never been the same without you guys. I will keep the seat warm for you guys till the next time that you guys come visiting Singapore.
Cheerios !!

Isn't the movies getting drearier?

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:55:00 +0000

Oh no, not another end of the world movie !. I was practically dragged to the cinema 'literally' at gunpoint..... well not really gunpoint per se but was dragged, begged and plead to follow my friends to the cinema to catch the movie "The Day the Earth Stood Still" starring Keanu Reeves. I supposed if it is not because of him I would not even give the movie a second consideration well maybe becuase of my friends persuasion also and the very fact that my presence there was free of charge and that I need not have to pay for my movie tickets.

As I sat through the movie, I was suddenly hit with the sudden realisation that the movies nowadays tends to be drearier and are about the end of the world. Hmmmmm now let me recapped, we have Armageddon (1998), Deep Impact (1998), The Day after Tomorrow (2004), War of the Worlds (2006) and I am Legend (2007) just to name a view. The genre of such movie seems to have caught the interest of many movie makers in Hollywood who had predicted the end of the world scenario in tandem with the scientific community predictions that the end of the world scenario may come sooner than many of us would thought it would be.

For those that have not watched the movie yet, The Day the Earth Stood Still is about yet another end of the world movie. For those that have not watched the movie yet and would not want to spoil the scene, I suggest that you stop reading now, but for if you want to save your money and spent it on something more worthwhile, then I suggest you carry reading and dont bother running to the cinema for it. Just wait for the release of the DVD and mind you do not even buy it, Just rent it so that after watching it in the comfort of your own home and time, you can return it back to the rental shop before the expiry of the rental period and swear to yourself never to rent such a movie again.

The movie is about how a group of aliens who had been on Earth for quite sometime now watching and observing us decided that humans are not worthwhile of continuing occupancy of Earth. Our continuing wars and constant parching of the earth made the aliens feel that it is time for the time of man to end and for earth to be cleansed. Fast forwading the movie an hour earlier nearing to the end, human civilisation was once agains spared, like any other disaster movie becaused of 'Love' where the aliend "Keanu Reeves' decided that human civilisation should be spared after falling in love with one of the heroin of the movie... so predictable. So as the story goes, human civilisation was yet again allowed to live on and flourished to do whaterver we are so good at doing. Things remain status quo.

The genre of this movie has a stark resemblance as with any other movies of its genre family. Earth is threatened, human civilisation was in the brink of extinction, human civilisation prevails and earth is spared and America emerges as the champions.... oops did I just say that. Though the storyline may be different however the movie is as predictable as the other movies that came before it.

And how has all the movies impacted us? Hmmmm I must say on a scale of 1 to 10 one being no implication and ten being an experience opener that changes our way of living, then I would say, that the scale is tipped closely to between 1 and 2. Apart from the entertainment value, I do not think that anyone that had caught the movie brought back anything meaningful from it. We still pollute the earth, we still go to war, we still scourge the earth in the name of industrialisation and modernisation. The only difference that the movies offers I would think that the scale of the disaster is getting worst thanks the computer animation.

If you felt utterly devastated after reading this, fret not as this year yet another move of the same genre will be in the cinema called 2010. The movie is again about the prediction of the end of the world based on the aryan's calendar. I cannot wait how the movie will turn out but one thing for certain it will revolve around the same plot, the same storyline and the same outcome. Earth will SURVIVE and human civilisation will prevail. Why Hollywood producers do not come out a movie where Earth is totally destroyed, human civilisation is wped out and the next prevailing species is monkey, i wonder. For god sake, get it done and over with. Least there is a closure.

Why are we so Infatuated with Facebook

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 18:06:00 +0000

My friend asked me casually last week whether I have a face book. For a moment I was dumbfounded. I thought he was referring to my face being a book worm. Being naive as I was, I thanked him and asked what does he mean by that? What makes him think I am a book worm? He then looked at me perplexed and confused. The smile on my face quickly changed from that of pure delight to that of 'Oops I have said something wrong" I looked around at my friends who were all looking at me waiting for an explanation of what I had just said earlier. They were as confused as I am.

Not wanting to look stupid, though for that moment in time, I felt like the biggest idiot alive, I burst into a self made laughter and blurted out loud I am kidding. My conversation with my friend for the next few minutes was skillfully designed to solicit information on what face book is all about till I know what he meant was an online profile website.

I am not ashamed to admit that when it comes to technology, I am the last person to actually jump into the bandwagon of technology and immerse myself in the hype and rhythm of things. The rest of the evening with my friends thankfully went on without ever discussing about face book. Most probably my promise that I will add them in the face book closed the chapter solidly.

The same evening that I got home, I sat behind my computer with a hot cup of cocoa and log myself in to the internet. Goggling as I do, I type 'face book" and instantly was transported to the website. I followed the painless step of registering myself and opening up an account. Five minutes and a few clicks of the mouse later, 'presto' I am a member of the face book community.

To my surprise, being a newbie in the online community, I am instantly flooded with several requests to add me into my friend's face book accounts. Less than 15 minutes later I was connected to friends now and then and some that I do not even remember that I was acquainted with. But nevertheless they are still my online friends now. It now explains why I have been receiving several emails from unidentified sender informing me that I have a friend request. Those emails are actually from face book.

Two weeks into the face book community, I have been frantically hooking up with friends. Some I must say was of characters that I won’t even spend a minute talking to but yet we are online friends nevertheless. It makes me wonder what our infatuation with face book is.

We spent countless of hours behind the computer talking to each other and commenting on each other's walls but when it comes to actual conversation we could not last any more than a few minutes. Why are we so comfortable talking to each other behind the computer screen but when being faced to face words seems the hardest thing to come out?

Though I do appreciate the merits of face book accounts, I do not share my friends' sentiments that it connects us on a different level. It makes us reacquainted with our long lost friends and to catch up with the old times. Whatever happened to the good old method of picking up the phone and arranging for a meet?

Call me a traditionalists or a sucker to the nostalgia, I have always preferred to meet and reacquainted rather than getting to know people online. To me the problem with online community is that you do not really know who the person that you called friends are? So what if you see their online profiles and pictures? But does that really make you closer to them?

We are so engrossed in having more friends’ counts in the face book but we do not really care much about them. Our pursuit is to seek out but never to hook up. So is that the measure of friendship. Is the face book account a measure of how popular you are and by the number of friends that you are connected to? Is that the measure of how well connected you are?

I would think that the true measure of friends would be the number of people that you are always in touch with, those friends that you call regularly and meet up for a cup of coffee or tea, the friends that you share your secrets, joys, sorrows and doubts.

However, as the adage says, the only constant thing in life is change, I supposed then that we have to live with the facts that as we become more and more globalised so are our friends and the only way to keep in touch with each other are through the screen of your computer monitors.

My First Adoption - A Cat Called Ronnie

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:26:00 +0000

I have always wanted to adopt a cat after my beloved one of 17 years my wife that never was passed away. The day that my late cat passed away was one of the saddest moment in my life. Out of the sudden I felt a sudden void in the middle of my heart. The realisation that my cat was no longer with me only sank in at night when I twist and turn on my bed only to find it empty without her spread beside me. I have always thought of getting another one to replace her but the mere thought of getting another just made me feel guilty, the feeling of me not being faithful to her. Call me sentimental, but when you are closed to a cat since she was a mere one week old kitten to a cat of a ripe old age of 17 years old, you will know what I mean. Hell my relationship with her is even older and more lasting than most of the marriages nowadays. I bet it is even lasting than 3/4 of the current hollywood marriages, least my relationship with my late cat is cheap by standard and is not cluttered with the tussle and untidiness of couple dispute.

Months since 'belang' the name of my late cat, roughly translated as 'stripes' in English passed away, I have been giving it a serious thoughts of getting a replacement. Call it my weak spot, but I have always have a weak spot for a cat or any feline creature. The sight of a cat makes me 'awe' and ogle.

The decision to adopt another came on one faithful day of 8 December 08. As I was lazing on my bed surfing my facebook account, I came across a message on the 'marketplace' by another facebook user asking for someone to adopt her cat. As luck has it, I fell in love with the cat, not the user mind you. Though faith as it, she happened to be from the same school as I was back then. One thing lef to another and less than 48 hours later, I am the proud new owner of a two years old, health 16 kg cat. She is damn fat for a cat her age. I couldn't wait to see how our relationship will evolve. So far we are still in our honeymoon period and the walk is on a bed of roses.

Oh yeah I forgot, his name is Ronnie. Don't ask me how he end up having that name. I am thinking of changing his name since he apparently did not respond at all to Ronnie. Either he is ignoring it or oblivious to the fact that his name is 'RONNIE'. Either way in months to come I am sure gonna make him bilingual as my mum has difficulties speaking to him in English. The first bilingual cat in Singapore. I am quite sure that qualifies in some book of records somewhere don't you think so.

Photo Fun Mania

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 12:17:00 +0000

I came across this wonderful website and had a hell of a time to playing around with the photo images. The website requires you to load your own face picture and select any of the image templates that is available on the website for you to choose and presto you are famous overnight. There are lot more that I want to try out at http://www.photofunia.com

If Opportunity Doesn't Knock at Your Door, You Go Knocking At It.

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:21:00 +0000

How true is the adage above, 'If Opportunity Doesn't Knock at Your Door, You Go Knocking At It". The above comic strip was forwarded to me from a friend of mine. It depicted how a doctor, obviously suffering from declining patients visit devices a way of increasing the number of visitor to his clinic by casting stones to the shape of a ball. The doctor subsequently distributed the stones after having painted it white resembling a ball all around the city and went back home exhausted after his night time escapade. The following day, beholds everyone sought treatment at his office for injured leg.

Opportunities are everywhere… opportunities to do and be anything and everything you ever wanted to be! In fact, Bill Gates is quoted as saying “there has never been a time like the present, with so many opportunities.” Its almost like the California gold rush, only it’s so much bigger, because of the global reach of the internet and other global technologies. The possibilities are endless!

Everybody is “looking” for opportunities, but very see it and even fewer exploit it. There’s the now famous story of the two men who visited India together. Upon their arrival in India one of the men was so struck and rather appalled by the abject poverty of the masses. His companion however, saw something else. He saw an opportunity, an opportunity to shoe millions of feet and make himself a fortune in the process. This man is said to have gone on and established a shoe company which produced millions of shoes and made him a very wealthy man.

There are thousands of other similar stories, of people who turned what seemed to be somebody’s problem into a fortune, including the story of South African born Hotel magnate Sol Kerzner. Kerzner turned an Island in the Bahamas which was considered only good enough to be used as a rubbish dump, into what is today known as the resort Island, Atlantis.

Opportunities come disguised in many forms and shapes. They may come disguised as hard work, hardships, difficulties and obstacles. When you see them as opportunities and take them, who knows where you may end up?

Consider this: You may say I’m not going to knock on that door, because I don’t like knocking on doors. The person opening that door may give you the big break you have been looking for, but you may just have missed it forever. After all how could you have guessed? That’s right! You couldn’t have.

Ever heard someone say, “It was a blessing in disguise?”

There are opportunities to make money, opportunities for happiness but there are also opportunities for personal growth. Opportunities to discover what you are capable of, to turn weaknesses into strengths. Opportunities to help others and help your self in the process. There are opportunities to bless and be blessed in return.

Do you see all these opportunities? And if you do, do you take them? Or are you like those people who are ONLY looking for that one BIG opportunity that will turn you into an instant millionaire. Sun Tzu puts it so eloquently when he says, “opportunities multiply as they are seized”

People who disregard all other opportunity, while waiting for that one big opportunity don’t know what they are missing. They may in fact be missing the Big Opportunity itself, because you never know where every opportunity may take you, if you embrace it. However there’s one thing I know, won’t get you anywhere. And that is sitting in your comfort chair, trying to figure out which is opportunity and which is not.

So, here is my advice, try everything and test everything. So what, if you failed or if things didn’t work out. You have would have learned at least one thing. That particular venture isn’t worthwhile or the method doesn’t work. Don’t allow your own cynicism or that of other people rob you of what may potentially be your Biggest and Best Opportunity.If you currently do not see any opportunities… then you need to change your focus and look at the world differently.

Madagascar "Escape to Africa"

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 14:43:00 +0000

I was at the cinema together with my friend looking through the monitor screen which were showing all the shows that were presently being screened. Debating with each other over what is good and what is not we finally decided to go for something in the middle. My mind was so set in watching a horror movie but my friend is not. The answer to our cinema choice was "Madagascar: Escape to Africa".

Not another animation movie I thought to myself. I dragged myself into the cinema seat down. My last animated movie, Kung Fu Panda, I must say has been a pleasant experience but animated movie has always have its ups and down. The movie surprisingly surpasses the quality of the first film made. Though the story is scattered as it tried to wedge several different narratives into a movie that is less than an hour and a half long, but thankfully the animated comedy genre where good joke-writing and cute characters compensated the plot deficiencies. The animation is sharp, and whenever things start to get confusing, a penguin or lemur comes onscreen and does something really funny distracting us from ever trying to figure out what was going on.

"Madagascar 2" begins where the last one left off, with the lion, giraffe, zebra and hippo from "Madagascar" leaving the titular country and heading back to their homes at the New York Zoo. These first 10 minutes of the movie are genius, with the mercenary-for-hire penguins from the first film piloting a restored plane that crashed into the jungle decades earlier. One character reads an old Life magazine with Joe DiMaggio on the cover, trying to ignore the skeletons scattered throughout the cockpit and the engine that's smoking outside the window.

The group detours to Africa, where Alex the Lion runs into his father, Zuba. From here, the story splinters into several directions - some boring and some inspired. Alex's father issues and the romantic subplot between the hippo and the giraffe are tired. Any scenes with penguins or the lemur are bound to generate a few laughs, even though the Julien-related volcano sacrifice subplot doesn't quite work.

Much of the humor in "Madagascar 2" is broad, but the script avoids flatulence jokes and broad slapstick, adding a sophisticated level of parody in several scenes. A subplot involving New Yorkers who get trapped in Africa goes in unexpected directions, which are mostly very amusing. Some monkeys show up to help build a new plane, and spend the majority of their time negotiating on behalf of their union.

However I must say that of all the characters in Madagascar, either the prequel or sequal, the penguins are the most adorable characters. They are the plot-movers and laugh-shakers of the movie, cobbling together a plane wreck and a giant slingshot in a bid to send Stiller's lion, Rock's zebra, Schwimmer's giraffe and Pinkett Smith's hippo from Madagascar back to Manhattan. Unfortunately, Air Penguin as it is known gets no further than mainland Africa before making an unexpected crash landing in a nature reserve. Undeterred, and with the help of enough monkeys only after the Union demands were made, to take a crack at Shakespeare, the penguins set about rebuilding the plane.

I have to say that the movie was worth the time spent. Least I do not have to spend too much time trying to figure out what was going on and where the how the plot was developing and unveiling itself. I just need to laugh as and when the crowd laugh out. I couldn't wait for the next movie to be released only that I hope it will be sooner, to quote Cohen's lemur king, "Hurry up, before we all come to our senses!"

Stomp - Citizen Journalism or Journalistic Outcry?

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 18:02:00 +0000

The Straits Times Stomp or more officially known as Straits Times Online Media Print integrates the content and activities in the three platforms of print, online and mobile into a single website. The website has gained much popularity in Singapore partly due to an increasing ownership of handphones which are capable of taking photographs and video clips and the high penetration of broadband usage in Singapore. This are the two crucial important development contributing to the popularity of the stomp website.

How Popular Has the Site Been?

Netizens have been logging in to the website to load photos and video clips of the daily seen, sights and happenings in Singapore. Known as the 'Singapore Seen' (sic) you will be able to find all forms of postings from accidents to public show of affections, fighting to pure strange behaviours amongst Singaporeans. The website has also been a placed where Singaporeans expresses their grunt and complaints and anything that they see out of the ordinary.

Singaporeans record the interesting happenings that they witness such as a quarrel on board a bus, inconsiderate driving and riding, indiscriminate parking to unsocial behaviours amongst other Singaporeans. But more and more, the website has become a place where petty complaints and comments were posted. I supposed it is easier to be a shadow person who posts such scene on the websites without revealing their true identity from the active participants correcting those act in the first place. It is much easier to snap a photo of students making out at the void deck without having to confront them, it is easier to express the disgust of a person enjoying a seat on a train or bus and ignoring an elderly or a pregnant woman standing without having to tell them to give up their seat.

Singaporeans are more comfortable in observing from afar and quick in logging on to the internet and loading up their observation at the very first opportunity that they are hook up to the internet but they are very slow in taking the proactive action of correcting those actions. We give our comments and complaints but never lift a finger to do anything about it. So what are we? A society of concerned people or a society of complaint masters. I would think that the latter would aptly describe us more than the former.

I couldn't help but expressed my astonishment at the type of complaints that could be read on the website. Singaporeans already known for being quick to complain but slow to react reaches a new level with the introduction of the website. Here, you will be able to see a sort of ranting and comments. The mocking that they received online hasn't stop the website to gain popularity.

Many would say that the advent of the website is a natural progress in the continuing interest in citizen journalism but to me it is more of an outlet where Singaporeans may express their views without doing anything about it. As the saying goes why make your hand dirty.

The Black Hole - Humanly Greed

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 08:08:00 +0000

This is an interesting clip that I came across whilst I was wasting my youth (what is remaining of it) behind the computer. Though humorous it succinctly and aptly describe how greedy man can be. It is genetically imbue on us since the beginning of time. Are human beings “naturally” greedy? Is greed so much a part of human biology that it will always shape human social life?

Girls Not Welcome Please

noreply@blogger.com (Hasrul) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 05:51:00 +0000

I met my friend a few days back and it happened that he is invited to a wedding dinner of our common friend. Casually he asked me, “Would you be bringing your partner along?” I thought he was daft. It was, after all, an invite to the wedding of a close friend of ours – an event that ideally should be filled with crude dirty jokes, unfettered laughter and mens' gossip and vigorous back slapping and butt kicking with more mates and buddies..

It’ll be just like old days, I thought. The missus werestaying home where they belong.

Time slips by before you even notice: It’s been several years since we laid eyes on each other or met to catch up. We’ve ORD-ed, finished university, changed jobs, changed yet another girlfriends, hairstyles or lack off or growing hairless, homes and a few – like my office mate – even taken the bold, uninsured step into the deep plough of marriage.

Expectations on my part were high. I was hoping for a guffaw-filled, booze-guzzling, heart-to-heart catching-up session with the rest where we exchange history and notes of our former friends and buddies. Male gossiping and jokes.

At the hotel, I swear I’ve never seen my once petite looking decent faced buddy turned-bridegroom dressed in his evening suit look better. I met a few of our common friends and this particularly guy which used to be closed to me. I greet him, he yells back an enthusiastic reply before pumping my hand for a full 30 seconds, mouthing the usual “What’ve you been up to?” spiel before i ushered him into the ballroom.

I find my seat and plonk myself down. A few vaguely familiar faces stare at me. We smile, then erupt into enthusiastic handshaking, and – yes – some backslapping and exchange of crude and friendly insult.

But two of my academy mates brought along their partners – one a wife, the other a girlfriend. The nitwits.

Suddenly, our conversation topics became awfully restricted. No reminiscing about the time an entire squad of 30 took five minutes to shower, towel off and get dressed again for the “water parade” just before bed. No more coarse jokes about how fat each of us had become. No more cussing. We had to behave.

It was so awkward we were actually feeling… shy. Imagine a bunch of guys who’ve seen each other butt naked before – guys who’ve crawled, dug, run, marched and slept in mosquito-infested forests wearing week-old fatigues – actually feeling reserved at the wedding of our best mate.

It was ridiculous.

God bless the squad joker: The gold chain, gold bracelet and gold earring-adorned bloke (who still possessed an idiotic sense of humour) cheered things up a little.

Then we got nostalgic. We spoke of our squad FI– a regular who was the archetype of the Devil in our BMT days – now badly in debt. We all took a solemn nod at a squad mate who died of asthma after completing his NS, who incidentally shared the same first name with the more popular platoon joker. We all thought the latter had kicked the bucket instead. (That drew a few more chuckles.)

All this while, the ladies rolled their eyes and tried their best not to look utterly bored. What else did you expect academy blokes to talk about other than well, our lives there?

Lesson learned: Meeting up is essential for the friends you want to keep – make time for that, because money can’t buy you true friends. We left the hotel with a final flurry of handshakes and promises to meet up. But the next time we are meeting, I will make them leave the women behind. They have no place in our gathering.