Awww...

I attended the Lea Salonga concert with the wife last week.

Ok, I admit that I was dragged there by the wife. I mean, I like Lea Salonga, but I did not really think much of going. My living room couch was beckoning me towards itself irresistibly. But since I loved the Wife, I relented.

And I did not regret. What a lovely voice this lass has...and at a live performance too!

Here's one of our favourite songs. After she sang this song, you could hear half the concert hall blowing their noses with tissue. Ladies mostly, I think. It was dark, you see.

The title of the song is called 'Two Words'. It was written by 2 of her closest friends for her to sing to her husband at the altar. Watch the video of her sing to her husband and you would see him just melt in a helpless heap.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji3bEFoBYtA&feature=related


*Sob*

So sweet...how come my wife never sang to me like that???!!!!

All I want for X'mas....

Nice to have...but I guess it'll have to be put on hold for now =)

Thatcher the former Prime Minister or...?

Stories like that just make my day! LOL!

OTTAWA - 'THATCHER has died,' read the short text message that kicked off a brief diplomatic flurry among members of Canada's parliament and their advisers at a black tie dinner this week, said local media on Thursday.

Upon learning the 'news' via mobile or Blackberry at a soiree honouring Canadian military families on Tuesday, some 2,000 shocked Conservatives, said to revere the Iron Lady of British politics, and their advisers reportedly huddled to discuss a reaction.

The prime minister's office called Buckingham Palace and 10 Downing Street to confirm that Margaret Thatcher had indeed passed away - baffling British officials, CanWest News Service said.

It turned out the message was sent by Canadian Transport Minister John Baird from his home in Toronto to a person at the gala dinner to say his beloved 16-year-old grey tabby cat, named for Margaret Thatcher, 84, had died.

The recipient then forwarded it to others.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office was not immediately available for comment. -- AFP

Becoming civilized?

Here I am, at my father-in-law's laptop, in the Los Angeles suburb of Arcadia.

(punch in 'Arcadia, CA' at http://maps.google.com/ to see where I am at)

I had just returned from Las Vegas yesterday. The 'City of Sin' is just under an hour's plane ride away from Ontario airport in California. The Wife's parents had so kindly bought us a 3 day 2 night stay at the Venetian, and 2-way return air tickets there of course.

(http://www.venetian.com/)

I had been to Las Vegas when I was really young. Not much recollection of it. But this time, I sought to observe and try to discern between Hollywood glamour (that we see so often on TV shows like 'Las Vegas' and 'CSI: Las Vegas') and reality.

Not too long ago, when the Singapore government gave the go ahead to create not one, but two casinos (politically correct term is 'Integrated Resorts' or IR), many political observers applauded the government for being 'mature' and 'moving towards civility'. Singapore is known in the West as a 'nanny state' --- for banning the sale of chewing gum; for caning Michael Fay...the list goes on. So, having the creation of not one, but two casinos, shows that 'the government has faith in its people and recognizing that a civilized society allows a freedom of choice and expression' --- even when it comes to gambling.

What should we expect in Singapore when the IRs open? Entertainment? Fun? Vibrancy?

Or will it be crime? Sleaze? Addiction?

Personally, I sympathize with the government. It's not something they would have liked to have but in doing so, they are 'showing their hand' and 'throwing their trump card'. These opinions are mine alone, but it is quite clear if you read the signs in the wind. Anyway, this is for another blog entry altogether.

Back to Vegas.

Stepping into the lobby of the Venetian was simply 'meraviglia' --- astonishing. Of course, it is nothing like what I saw in St Peter's Basilica or at the cathedrals in Europe. But for modern day context, it was oozing with opulence in its interior finishing and intricacy in the ceiling paintings. Soft Baroque music played in the background. A certain fragrance filled the lobby --- The Wife thinks that it is toilet fragrance --- that is meant to uplift the senses.

I could go on about every detail at every hotel we explored --- the Mirage; Caesar's Palace; the Bellagio...Oh, The Bellagio...but it would take just too long. So let me instead briefly touch on some observations.

Gambling
There are slot machines everywhere --- the airport; on the sidewalks; in the pubs. Every hotel has the ubiquitous slot machines and most of them have gambling tables for Blackjack, Poker and Craps. High rollers are ushered to a different section for higher stakes. In these areas, the sound of 'ching-ching' is heard all the time to give people the impression that others are winning --- so you should persevere and wait for your turn to win! You will see that there are no clocks on the walls so that you do not keep track of time --- you got time, so play more lah! Restrooms signs are really hard to locate, so that you do not think about your bladder --- focus on winning!

Boobs
Let's be real --- where there is money, there is sex. Waitresses are outfitted in dresses --- low from the top and high from the bottom. Most are physically well endowed, save the 1 or 2 waitresses who are less endowed because of equal opportunity hiring regulations. Wynn Hotel has a nightclub called Trysts; The Mirage has a nightclub called Bare; The Venetian has a nightclub by the pool called Tao --- sounds innocuous enough eh? Until I found out that there are Asian dancers in the pool wearing nothing but flower petals in strategic spots. The streets are filled with dispensers giving free directories to massage services and topless dancers. Hispanic flyer pushers give out flyers on how you can hook up with a girl of your desire. Moving billboards on trucks drive by, beckoning you to book a topless show for tonight.

Money Talks
Tipping is rampant. To get a good seat in the nightclub, tip the greeter well. To make sure your bags come off the luggage holding area fast, tip well. When ordering a drink, you have to tip the bartender. To take a photo with the actor playing the accordion, tip him...err, well, the girls that did not tip him gave them a dirty look and continued playing his tune, albeit sourly. Tonnes of shopping can be done at all the hotel malls with brands that would make the seasoned Orchard Road shopper hyperventilate.

Entertainment
Lots of options. For the night, you've got world class concerts, musicals, stand up comedy shows, topless shows, cirque du soleil performances. Then there are free shows like the Treasure Island Hotel Pirate show and the Bellagio's water fountain show. I really could not find anything that kids could be occupied with. To be fair, I did not go beyond the busy part of the 'Las Vegas Strip'. But then again, I would really say that it is not a place that would excite kids. Other forms of entertainment would be like the Dolphin lagoon or seeing the White Tigers at the Mirage; sitting in a gondola in the Venetian's man made canal --- quite cool I must say; Madame Tussaud's wax museum; and gambling, but of course.


Well, well, well. Is Singapore going to be like that? I don't think so. Vegas is in a league by itself. But yes, we have to expect some of these things that will come our way. On the positive side, many jobs will be created, I mean, many. Business entertainment will be directed our way, so will conventions from MICE. We will be seeing world class roller coasters and amusement rides --- a long time coming for us, really. It will be an exciting time for us all. But yes, I am aware of the social ills that will fall our way.

Part of our package was a $50 credit for us to play with at the slot machines. The Wife and I thought, what the heck, let's try our hand at the slot machines. And so we did. Before you know it, we were winning money! I must say that it was actually quite exciting. We decided to cash in our winnings and we got a handsome sum of $39.95. How wonderful it was to win! Hang on...we started out with $50. Yeah, they were free credits. But actually, amid all the excitement of winning money, if we had forked out the $50 ourselves, we would have ended up with a 'deficit' of $10.95.

The House always wins.

'Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.'

1 Corinthians 10:12 (The Bible)

So here I was, lining up to buy my breakfast from the Holland Village Hawker Centre. I was meeting my friend C to catch up over a breakfast meal. C decided to buy 'economic bee hoon'. I decided that since I was going to have a buffet pig out at the Ritz Carlton later in the afternoon, I would take something 'lighter' on the tummy.

I went up to the Chicken Hor Fun store. In front of me was a strapping young chap, probably in his mid twenties. He was waiting for the store owner to whip up 2 plates of Dumpling Noodles. I noticed that he was wearing a fitted french cuffs shirt and tailored pants ( I glanced quickly at his pants, lest I be mistaken for...). Hair was nicely spiked up, portraying a spunky image of a yuppy. Whipping out his unmistakably branded pure leather money clip, he slid out a $10 note and then threw it onto the counter...flippantly.

Hmm.

That was a strange way to hand over money, I mused.

As if to reinforce my observations, the store owner --- a middle aged lady --- asked spunky yuppy if he had 50 cents. Spunky yuppy dug into his pants pocket and fished out some coins. After sifting out 50 cents in his palm, he threw the coins onto the counter once again, splaying the coins all over the counter.

I was highly intrigued --- what kind of character throws money onto the counter in such a flippant and 'bo chap' way? Store owner lady had to reach over from her end and individually pick up the coins. Interestingly, the throwing of the coin was not done in contempt --- it was done so naturally that if I had pointed it out to Spunky yuppy, he would not have noticed what he did.

As he carried his food away, my observations continued swimming in my mind. As I handed over the money to the store owner lady, I...Hey wait a second!

I handed the dollar note to the store owner!

I consciously froze that moment in time into my brain, and replayed that scene in my mind --- I handed the money over to the lady. I did not throw the money.

Human behaviour, to me, is worth examining. Now, I am not concluding that I am morally more in tune, just because I 'handed over' the money rather than throw the money onto the counter. For all you know, I could be a wife beater, child molestor...you get the drift (watch Criminal Minds and you know what I mean). However, my question is this - why couldn't Spunky yuppy just simply hand the money over to store lady? By splaying the money all over the counter, it was inconveniencing her. Not too nice.

And so I propose the following reasons why he did what he did:


a) Spunky yuppy is spoilt and treats hawkers with disdain.

b) Spunky yuppy does not like to physically handle money as dollar notes and coins contain billions of germs.

c) Spunky yuppy has a tick and instinctively throws money when his hand comes in contact with them.

d) Spunky yuppy was raised by a couple of wolves and does not know basic social manners.



That aside, I should really track him down to find out who his tailor is.

Just sitting here...feeling young all over again

Sitting in class after the lesson I've conducted (we facilitate classes for the whole day...quite a draining task, for me at least), I can't help but eavesdrop on the conversations my students are having.

Some are finding opportunities to bond by exchanging thoughts about common interests.

Some are discussing about their after school plans.

Another chap put the call from his girlfriend on speakerphone --- causing some laughter from the class because of her high pitched voice.

Then there are others who are diligently doing the assignment I gave to them.

Bright young minds, some people would say.

"Make a difference!"

That was the message drummed into our minds during the pre-semester briefing, which was capped by a 'moving' video on a teacher who gave a certain student a 2nd chance at learning.

To what extent are we a part of moulding and shaping these young minds (I take back the phrase 'young minds', as there are students here in their 30s, 40s and 50s)?

The Singapore government recently went on a hiring spree to target 3,000 people to join the teaching profession. Among the candidates, many are crossing over from the corporate sector, after being let go as a result of the ongoing economic downturn. Good move on the part of the government to hire those in need of a job.

The million dollar question though, is this: Are they all cut out to be teachers?

Indeed, after observing many teachers, some are really in it for the wrong reasons. Perhaps, some were misled and became disillusioned after doing their time. But then again, this happens across all sectors and industries.

However, in the process, will our children become collateral damage in exchange for the education of individuals seeking their calling in life?

Tough call.

CEOs and HR managers know that finding talent is one of the greatest challenges of the 21st Century. Enter Generation Y (post 1980s babies) and it throws another curve ball at corporate and government policy planners.

Too many questions, too few answers. But hey, that's life, isn't it? =)

"Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape."

(I know I am misquoting the owner of this quote, but I think fits, yah?)

I'll see you when I see you

Grand dad, in a picture taken on our final walk together.

My maternal grandfather passed away peacefully this morning at 9.30am in a Kuala Lumpur hospital. He was 89 years of age.

The last time we met, it was slightly under 3 weeks ago. The occasion was my grandmother's birthday and pretty much the whole clan travelled from all over the world to celebrate this momentous occasion. I remember joking with my mom that grand dad may have thought that with all of the relatives congregating at this time, he might have thought that they were preparing for his funeral by seeing him one last time.

Dramatic irony, quite.

Many in the family had decided that grand dad had lost his marbles due to his incoherent (sometimes) babbling and reminiscing of past events. Indeed, towards his final months, he had mild dementia and was disoriented at times. Sure, there was once he warned me that my wife was an unfaithful seductress and she should be cut off at all cost.

Hmm...any comment, darling?

However, over the past year as I visited him, and during moments when he was relatively alert, I could detect a twinkle in his eye that told me not to underestimate his memory and consciousness of events around him.

I remember the time when I met him for the first time since he became bed ridden. I was on a business trip to Malaysia. I was concerned for his mental state as during my initial conversations with him, I assessed them to be rational and legible. He was bed ridden for four months without ever an opportunity to see what it was like outside his room. Together with another cousin, we literally lifted his wheel chair out onto the lanes outside the house. And then he started singing.

A merry heart does good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.

He was so addicted to his new found freedom that he started to ask for more and wanted to be taken on a car ride. That was when he decided that he was going to be bedridden no more and started walking unaided from his wheel chair ---- a rather worrying period because he would get up onto his feet without anyone's knowledge and risked a nasty fall, which he did several months later.

I remember the last 2 times we met.

The first was at his home when he was sitting in his wheelchair, at the driveway. It was late morning and he was being fed.

"Paul," he exclaimed when he saw me, which took everyone else by surprise given his recently demented state.

I sought help to push him in his wheelchair, out into the neighbouring lanes as before. I managed to find my aunt's husband, slapped a cap onto grand dad's head and together we pushed him around in the lane at the back. It was getting hot as the sun reached into its mid day position. The fact the house was built on a slope did not help in our cause to push grand dad around. We took him on the flatest lane possible and headed back to the house.

"Just one more time," requested grand dad as we were nearing the house again.

My uncle and I looked at each other and agreed that one more time was possible. And so we brought him on another round.

We reached the house and wheeled grand dad in.

"Just one more time," grand dad looked at me with his bulging eyes.

My uncle had already gone into the house, a little fatigued from his effort. I was left in the driveway with grand dad.

I scanned the house for relatives to help. I looked at grand dad and replied that I could not do it alone as it would have been terribly dangerous for me to push him out onto the sloping lanes alone. It did not help that grand dad was not a light person.

"Just one more time," was his response.

I was torn between his request and the rational. The sun was now at its highest point in the noon day sky. I did not have the assistance of relatives.

As I heard chatter of relatives from the house, I put my hand on grand dad's and apologised that I was not able to grant his wish.

"Just one more time...please," he tried.

The best I could do was to wheel him around the driveway, which was pathetically restricted compared with what he had just experienced. I did that anyhow. All of us have wishes in life but sometimes, due to various circumstances, they unfortunately just cannot be fulfilled.

The last time I saw grand dad was at my grandmother's birthday banquet. It was towards the end of the banquet and people were bidding their farewells.

"Grand dad," I covered his hand with mine, " I will see you when I see you."

With a weary nod, he acknowledged me and as our hands firmly clasped each other's in final contact.

You are in a much better place now grand dad.

I will see you when I see you.

*Scratch*Scratch* I've got to learn a new language

I'm not kidding.

Previously, I thought that my command of English is quite good. You see, I have been excelling in English language exams not only locally, but also in countries with a strong Anglo-Saxon heritage. Perhaps, one of my most noteworthy moments was when I was studying at the University in the US and I topped the Advanced English Literature class....well, ok, so there were only two students in the class and the other student did not get a grade because he was mostly absent from class and exams.

I jest.

But well, I believe I have a decent command of the English language...so I thought. It's really humbling (but very much needed) for a teacher to go blank in front of a class when the kids start talking in their own slang, but using it with a very different meaning. And so, with much humility, it would be wise to go 'Huh?' and ask for the meaning of the alien jargon.

Ever since I started teaching at the polytechnic, my whole notion of 'English' has been turned upside down. Words that I thought had only one meaning now have multiple meanings. Then again, there are totally new words that are being created on a daily basis. Let me indulge you with a few examples:


Noob - A newbie. Oops, sorry baby boomers. Newbie also means someone who is new.
ie. He's a noob, just arrived from overseas.


Emo - Short form for emotional but it is not defined as 'emotional'. It describes someone who is deep in thought in a pensive manner. Usually, this person is alone in a corner putting on some earphones playing on his computer or reading a book.
ie. John is emo-ing again, I wonder what is on his mind.


Random - A term used to describe someone who changes topic or the line of convesation abruptly.
ie. He's random again. First he talks about his school work, then now he complains about the bus service.


Eff - Substiute for the word renown expletive f**k. Can also be used to emphasize and exaggerate a point.
ie. You are an effing genius!



I think I need to go back to English classes real soon.

Let me go emo in the corner...

Online business...what the heck, let's give it a shot!

So you see, I have been away from my blog for the longest time.

Those of you who ever so often popped by to see if I have updated anything, but in vain, I do extend my humblest apologies and profuse gratitude to my ever faithful fans...which amounts to about two of you, I think.

It was indeed quite puzzling to see the readership go from 50 hits a week to an all time low of 15 a week and then for some strange reason, over the past week, it went back up to 45 a week. In any case, this is my warm up banter before I share with you on my new baby supplies online business (together with some very visionary partners)!

Yes, in times like these, one needs to take some calculated risks, and so here we go!

The website is meant to fulfill three things:

a) It is Singapore's 1st Online Baby Registry

Question.

What is a baby registry?

Well, know what a bridal registry is? Pretty much the same. We get couples who are pregnant (yes guys, the correct term is that you and your wife are pregnant...don't ask me why!) and ask them to choose items from our list of products. They show this list to their friends who want to get them presents when the baby is born. That way, beaming parents will not be getting 10 boxes of chicken essence and 3 baby strollers. Nifty idea from my wife =)


b) We will try using various products ourselves before we sell them

Yes, poor kid of mine will be the lab rat for the benefit of every newborn out there. But really, we will try our best to test out various products on our kids and if we think it is fab, we will show you our stamp of approval!


c) Online resource

We have realised that many mothers-to-be yearn for information from experienced moms. While all advice should be taken with a pinch of salt, we would like to be known as a reliable source for really useful advice.


And oh, one more thing.....

I'll be blogging about fatherhood on the blog, where time permits!

It's not often you will have a dad do this. But think of it as sharing my fatherly love to the world. (On a more scrupulous note, it is a really good unique selling proposition)

Check it out at www.babywishes.com.sg

cheers!