Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Japanese Stewardess

On the way to Tokyo, we were served by a local stewardess and a Japanese Stewardess. Both stewardesses are attractive, both are polite and serve well. The Japanese stewardess speaks excellent English. I asked where she lived before and she told me in US. I complimented her excellent command of English. I felt she serves me with a little more attention and care and make eye contact before asking me if I needed anything. There is indeed an edge in terms of delivery of the service. She spend a couple more seconds and smile at my comments on the "rules". Rules that cabin crews have to enforce with the passengers e.g. my newspapers cannot be on the floor, my seat have to be upright before landing. I requested for two panadols after my nap. Napping cause headaches for me sometimes. I asked for coke to come with it. She brought a glass of ice cold coke and another glass of water. She advise me to drink more water to get rid of the headache(Sze Li, are you there?)

On disembarkation, she asked if my headache is ok. This is service. My Professor in NUS observes that cost is free. And the Customers feel good. Guess what, I agree.

Tuesday, February 27, 2007

PROGRESS!!

Finally, I have a little progress. The scale tip at 87.6kgs. It is rewarding to see payoff in the exercising and cutting down food. To think I was going to give up in the morning. Hmm! I will keep at it. Will report on my weight upon my return on Saturday. Japan, here I come!

NO Time to Read!

This is sacrilege. What kind of excuse is this! Reading is the joy of my life. Reading gives me knowledge and bring new perspectives. Number of books published every day - 3,500. Information overload? No kidding! Knowledge management, training and teaching is why I wish to do the rest of my life. Business is good too. Best is to have "autopilot" i.e. money flowing in continously. Rich Dad Poor Dad recommendation is start a business. Do not look for a job. A job mean we sell our time, our soul, our dignity in return for "security". There is really no such thing as a job security.

We have to all start a business and learn to live with variable income, no medical coverage, no social interaction with colleagues (i.e. coffee breaks, lunch) and selling your product or service all the time. The hunt is always on if you are a free agent or running your own business.

Good luck and good selling.

Working to Reduce Weight is not so easy

I was disappointed that I weighs 88.1 kgs last night. All the exercise, cutting down on food and drinking water have no immediate impact. This morning the scale reads 87.5. Only 6oo grams of liquid pass out of my body! I have to force myself to go for the walk-a-jog. This time, my enthusiam has dropped. I look at car longingly. How nice to go to the market now for teh halia.

The rain in the morning gave me a good reason to cut short my walk. Tomorrow, will be up in the air for 7 hours. Good food with loads of desserts, drinks and stewardess who keep offering more snacks. I need to have a resolution of steel. The food in Japan is good for my weight reduction program. Plenty of seafood I do not like.

Documenting in this blog has help motivate me to keep going. I will slim down. When I reach my desired weight, should I celebrate with the sumptious meal?

Monday, February 26, 2007

Bird by Bird

I like this book on writing. It paints a realistic picture of writing. Forget the romance or the excitement or the success. It is hard work. It is tough and will stay tough.

No More Teh Halia

At the urging and nagging (more nag than urge), I did not go for my regular teh halia. I did a walk-a-jog. More walk than jog:)

Fighting my creeping weight increase, I decided to burn calories rather than add. Today is the first day. Let's see if I do a lifestyle change. Tea is a habit I had since 18 years old. So I will be in for major war. I actually feel good to come home all sweaty, stinky and sticky. It is the sense of accomplishment. No endorphins yet. I made a promise in this blog just like the Americans who made a pact in the blog rather than their family members to get out of their debts. Most succeed eventually. Those who did not probably did not update their blogs anymore. My goal is 82kgs a 6 kgs drop from today, Feb 26, 2007.

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Blogger - simple and fast, Blogger2 - more features but...

Nowaday, my blog do not get updated right away unlike the old version. It usually takes overnight before showing up. I prefer the blogger original. Ya! blogger has less features but it is simple to use and fast. Now blogger2 has loads of features which I do not use since I am a technosaur. I have no pictures, no links, no music, no graphics, just words. Plain old words. The original allows me to read and correct any mistakes I made. Version two mean my bad grammar shows up for some time before corrections. Niece P will have a fit.

Weight Watching

Weight watching is what I do. In the morning when I first get up and at night before going to bed. It is easy to watch my weight. Bringing weight in control is the crux of my weighty issue. It crept up on me. From 84 kgs to 88 kgs today. From 34" to 38". Seems like it is a one-way ticket. Going on diet is not an option. My willpower is weaker than weak. I snacks when I am stressed, I snacks when I am bored, I drink high calorie teh halia to perk me up, I drink coke to quench thirst, and after all these, I have breakfast, lunch and dinner. Any wonder why weight is an issue.

Every time a male passes by heavier than me, I grin to myself(mentally of course). Up in my mind I console myself, I am not that fat. There are others who are worse than me. This is an escapist mindset. Expanding waistline and higher weight is going to be my perpetual fight. This is a marathon.

Saturday, February 24, 2007

Affluenza

I browse this title and there were 3 different books with the same title. Aha, I thought different printers or publishers. So I check the prices for the cheapest - always looking for a bargain. I flipped the pages and the content looks different. I check the author and all three have different authors. Hmmm! I thought. It is rare to see same title different authors.

I spent more time on the Australian version. I sat on the floor. It is a little embarassing as the books are in Sociology section which is in the main thoroughfare. Very busy and very visible, very "pai sei" to be seen sitting there. Anyway, the Australian version talk about busy and stressed trying to get more and more. Work hard to earn more. Get into more debts. Throw away more stuffs. Better schools for kids, etc, etc.

There are more and more Australian opting out of the affluence disease and saying NO to the advertisements that persuade buying more and more. It is a simple lifestyle that they are adopting to like walking to school and to work, eating out less, exercise more, work less, relax more, spending more time with their kids, and in general slowing down the pace of life.

I like the concept and idea. Right now, it is still a pipe dream. I like my material and creature comfort. It is nice to afford things that money can buy. However, I like to figure out how I can live a simple, low cost lifestyle and yet raise my boys to be independent and capable of fending for themselves when they grow up.

It is alternative lifestyle. Not the hippies of the sixties...

A Powerful Anecdote

The Pursuit of Happyness is a movie and a book on the true story of life of an African American. This guy is a medic in the US Army and after his miltary stint is working in a hospital in San Francisco.

The turning point for him is going to the car park in a bright afternoon he saw a bright and shiny Ferrari with the purr of 380 horses circling around the car park slowly like a crouched lion looking for an empty car park space. The driver dressed in a custom tailored suit made from expensive cloth. (In US, custom suit is outrageously expensive relative to Asia.) He signalled to the driver to let him know he will be leaving and that the driver can take his car park lot. However, there is a catch. He told the driver you can have my car park lot if you answer a couple of questions. Ah! there is a catch! The first question what do you do? Simple. The driver is a stockbroker. How do you become one? The driver replied and took the lot...

Read the book or watch the movie to get the answers.

Friday, February 23, 2007

Tasty Fishes

The tide is receding. The water is about 1 foot deep. Three foreign workers were fishing at the canal. One can speak English well. "Mayanmar?" I asked. "Yes" he replied cheerfully. Friendly guy. "Are you a contruction worker?" I probe a little. "No, I am a painter" he says and turn his back towards me to show me the name of the company on the t-shirt. "Nippon Paint" in bold, bright red letters. He was carrying a white pail that contains about 20 fishes. The sizes of the fish is quite small about 4 to 5 inches long. There is one reasonable size fish. Reasonable size is like those we can buy in the wet market. I will venture to guess the fish is about the size of a large promfret.

He seems to like the fish. "Taste good, very good" when I asked if they are really going to eat the fishes they caught. Cast net is the way they fish. The guy who cast is an expert. The net will spread out in a circle, land on the water and sink trapping any fish caught within the circumference. There are lot of fishes, the problem is it is too rocky and the fish escapes.

I may try fishing with a rod next time during high tide:)

Inconvenient Truth

Written by Al Gore, the democrat candidate who lost the presidential election to George Bush. I flipped through the pages of this book. It is a movie now. I hope it will be in DVD as I prefer to own rather than watch once. The book is full of colour photographs. It is very interesting. I read a lot of books about the earth shift and how life as we know it will change. One or two of the books will give drawing of how the face of the earth will change. Al Gore's book has colour pictures of before and after of how Florida will look like if the sea level rises. It has satellite photos of the earth that show the different spot where the different type of energy are used.
There is a picture of the nuclear submarine that break the ice from underneath. Nuclear submarine routinely patrol under the ice cap in the Arctic. He can even persuade the Navy to release confidential information of the ice thickness throughout the years.

I like what I have seen. I will wait for 20% or 30% discount before I buy this book. Yes, I am a cheapo.

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Shortcut to literature

I always find literature a chore. The novels are long and stories uninteresting. I wonder why they become classics and why all students have to read them. I confess I fail my literature in my GCE "O" level.

Last week at Borders, there was a "3 for 2" promotion i.e. buy 3 books and pay the price of 2 for Cliffs Notes. Slim volumes priced at S$8 per copy. Cliff Notes summarize the novel or poetry. It also gives the background of the author to give context to the story. Man, I wish I discover this 30 years ago. The story are all summarized with background, the gist of the story, the different characters, who they are and what they represent, the whole works! The book will take days if not weeks of full time reading can be completed in a couple of hours. Awesome! One can intelligently discuss the story and sound very competent in a few hours instead of toiling for days.

Frankly, I was aware of such notes when I was in school. The problem I had was ego. I view these notes to be shortcut and books should be read for pleasure. How naive and stupid I was! If I have invested in the notes, I would have at least pass my Literature exams. Hindsight is 20/20. I should have keep an open mind. No point crying over split milk now.

You can find out more about Cliff Notes at http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/

God of Fortune aka Chinese Obsession with Wealth

It is reported on the papers the super long queue for Toto and 4D in Yishun Blk 102 with a picture. I decided to go for breakfast there to see for myself. Hup Lee has very good fried beehoon and chicken and is just directly opposite. I was there about 10 am. And no kidding the queue was long and stayed long the whole time I was having my breakfast. No wonder it is a lucky store. With the volume of business, the wealth is going to Singapore Pool and the 7-eleven. Lottery is a numbers game. The more purchases, the higher the chance. I also believe the God of Fortune must be smiling at the store.

Living in Canada, the Toto there is called 649 i.e. 6 numbers out of 49. There many outlets there as well but I do not see the queue like in Singapore. It is like this is a Chinese trait. As MM Lee Kuan Yew said in an interview why he strongly objected to Casinos when he was the Prime Minister - Chinese are congenital gamblers. Given a chance to gamble, they will gamble their lives away.

Chinese are obsessed with wealth. Our greetings are "Good Luck", "Prosperity", "Great Wealth", etc. In Canada, the discussions are on what you do doing the weekend, sports and other leisure activities.

Chinese also have a saying, "Coming into this world empty handed, Taking nothing when you leave". Yet when we are in this world we seek wealth and material comfort.

It is easy to be philosophical about money. Unfortunately, to live in this world we need money. Maybe we are obsessed with money in Singapore because our social safety net is not as good as in Canada. In Canada, if you are jobless, there is UI(Unemployment Insurance), if you are sick, healthcare is free, if you are retired, you get a pension. In Singapore, you have to be a destitute and have no relatives before you can get some help from our government.

You know something... it is vastly better to be wealthy than to be poor.

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Itchy Feet?...here is the Remedy

The tide was high and I decided to see if it is good time to fish. So I took a stroll with my gear of course. I met an old gentleman who cycle there. I caught some fishes. This gentleman sat on the slope and dip his legs into the water. He notices my searching look and answer the question I have in my head (what the hell was he doing? the water is not the most pristine water with all the garbage...).

He says this is good for getting right of itch in his legs. Salt water is good. I know this remedy must have worked for him. However, I am wondering about the parasites or pollution and the possibility of getting other problems from soaking in seawater.

For my readers out there, this is good advice. However, I will suggest you go to a place where the water is cleaner e.g. Tioman, Redang Island, Kuala Trengannu, etc.

Bad Karma? Maybe Good!!

I was feeling guilty to wish ill to my neighbour. It seems like bad karma. However, on reflection, it may be good karma. I am wishing well for the other neighbours. So if my wish come true, one may be bad, the rest gain peace and serenity. The rest is 19. So I am actually gaining good karma because I am wishing for the benefits of 19 others.

I guess the issue is I wish ill to someone. This cause bad karma even though a bigger number of people benefited. I should wish for the whole group to have peace and quiet. Then it is good karma.

Will an inconsiderate person acquire bad karma? To this person, he or she did nothing wrong and therefore should not attract bad karma.

What do you think GOD's position will be for this issue?

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Inconsiderate, Self centred Clods

It is unpleasant and tough to have a neighbour who disturb peace and party loudly till wee hours of the morning when the whole neighbourhood is quiet and need to go to school or work the next day. This neighbour who use the visitor carpark lot as if it is her own to park her second car all the time such that genuine visitors are robbed of their rightful car park space.

It is close to half past 11 now and they are still screaming "HUAT AH!!" in unison. While they talking out loudly and laughing loudly and enjoying themselves, they making a huge nuisance of themselves. The best part is they think they are making the neighbourhood very "lau lat"(busy in Hokkien). It just take one rotten apple to spoil the whole barrel. My beautiful, gorgeous, wonderful castle has been marred by one lousy neighbour.

It was a peaceful period during bird flu and I wish to have peace and quiet in our neighbourhood again. I pray peace and quiet again. It may be bad karma, let's hope bird flu will strike again at the right spot.

To listen to CNY music, tune to....

FM100.30. Malaysian Radio channels play the new year songs. I have no idea why all the Chinese language radio channels in Singapore do not play them. Does Singaporean do not like the music or just our DJs refusing to celebrate Chinese New Year? The malls have the music and this add to the festive moods. It will be nice to get the festive songs in the car or at home through radio.

Is it because if the radio plays the CNY songs, the malls can broadcast them for free? If this is true, I feel sorry for the licence authority who spoil our moods. They should get a life instead of trying to squeeze more money from the public.

How to Get Love...

Reader's Digest has an article on love. How to find love and stay in love. It is a 12 steps way. First of find someone who look like you. I do not know if you notices this before. A lot of husbands and wives have similar looks. Research on looks finds that husband and wife with similar look are together much longer.

Beside similar look, look for similar interests. If you have similar interest, there will be plenty of opportunity to time spend together to do interesting stuff.

Another truism is women when advertising for dates if they admit they are older will get less replies. It is important to mention their looks(pleasant looking, attractive). Men on the other hand get more replies if they are older. They are very attractive if they use words like successful or wealthy. For the unattractive women or penniless men, do not lose heart, use the word warm. It is a universal attraction factor for both men or women.

To read complete article, get a copy of Reader's Digest February issue in Singapore.

Monday, February 19, 2007

Debts Blogs

New York Times has an article on people writing blogs on their debts. This seems to help them to get out of debts. It is easier to hold no bar in cyberspace than to tell your Mum or Dad. Most are in debt spending more than they earn. Many have student loans and started working with debts.

Asians do not get into debts usually as we live with parents and will work to pay off loans asap. In US/Canada, parents can expect their kids to pay rent once they reach sixteen. Still in school? Well, they have to take part time jobs. Usually, kids leave home for University with some parental support. They have to figure way to pay for their tuition, board and food. There are part time jobs, scholarships, student aids and student loans. The good thing about student loan is the interest does not kick in until you graduate.

We are luckier in this respect compared to Westerners. Our family values are slightly different and usually kids leave home when they get married unless they go oversea for study.

To read the article on debt blogging, go to http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/18/us/18debt.html?em&ex=1172034000&en=7e163815dffef62f&ei=5087%0A

Incoherent?

Niece "P" has high standards. She felt my blog was incoherent. She is right. It is incoherent. This is the reason I name my blog "K's Diary".

My first plan was to keep a blog on my thoughts and reflections, so the blog was name Kthinking. Then I write on books that I read and loved - Booklover was next evolution. It was difficult to keep up with the book reviews with my heavy workload. I needed to keep a promise to myself - a resolution to write everyday. It was easy to write on my day's events or anything that come to my mind. Hence, I now name my blog "Diary".

Sunday, February 18, 2007

Ma Ma! Happy New Year

All the grandchildren who were here for dinner have a chance to send an individual greeting to my mother who lives in Canada. We called her quite early her time, about 5 am and she was up. It should be very cold and dark right now. If it is summer time, the sun will be up and temperature at a comfortable level. I just checked and the temperature in Toronto right now is -11 degrees celcius. When we called earlier, it would have been even colder. The only way to experience this kind of temperature is to go to a frozen food warehouse and walk into their deep freezer.

My mum lives alone in Canada and I am very glad we called her and gave her a little new year cheer. I hope she come back to Singapore to escape the winters.

My Niece, My Feedback Loop

I hosted dinner for my sisters and my nephews and nieces today, day 1 of CNY. They brought the "gold" (mandarin oranges) and wish me prosperity, health, wealth, career success, and everything I wished for will come true. They really wants their gu-gu to be the richest guy on earth.

I am glad to know niece "P"(have to protect her identity) read my blogs. She has lots of feedback. It take her mum some coaxing before she warms up to giving me the feedback. She is fairly vocal and I welcome it. She first disarm me by giving me back the phrase "feedback is the breakfast of champions". Good start!

First, many grammatical errors. I mix past tense with present tense. It is not consistent. An article should be consistently in the past tense or present tense.
Next, after "to" it is always present tense. She notices I use past tense after to.
Then, she find my blog "boring". I do not have a specific topic or do not write on current hot topics.
At the same time, she find my blog funny. What an oxymoron! Her point is that for strangers it will be boring, since she know the author, she know what I am talking about.
I felt it is probably political incorrect to have link to blog on sexploits. Gu-Gu should not lead his nieces astray. She was nonchalant about it. She has heard all the stories and more. I checked with my eldest sister. Well, her best friend is a stewardess working for SQ. So Boh Tong's stories must be true!

All I hope is I can capture niece "P" interest and she continues to read and give her feedback to me, her uncle. As my writings improves, she may recommends my blog to her classmates in the University.

Will you? my dear Niece. Gu Gu needs your support.

Happy New Year - Gong Xi Fa Cai

A new day, a new year, a new beginning. It is quiet start to the new year, Chinese New Year. Soon the kids will be up. Wife will dress them up and get them ready to visit Grandparents for the traditional new year. Only their maternal Grandparents. My brother and sisters will drop in in the evening for dinner. We will have a family get-together. I have to remember to call my mum to wish her Gong Xi Fa Cai and Good Health this evening when everyone is in. It will be the morning of the first day for her. It will be great she get a chance to talk to all of us and her grandchildren in one call.

Yes, today will be a great day. I am looking forward to year of Pig, Golden Pig. So it will be a good year for peace and economic growth.

Saturday, February 17, 2007

Chinese New Year Traditions

I read the article CNY traditions are fast fading among young today at http://www.asia1.com/specials/cnyspecial/ by Philip Lee. He is lamenting that the young today have a digital lifestyle and cool to the tradition of new clothes, new haircuts, greetings like "kiong hee, kiong hee" in Hokkien means congratulations, and many other examples. Today, it is happy new year, daddy.

My wife is imbuing the old traditions to our three boys. She bought new clothes, bring them to the barber, telling stories about her experience when she is at their age. It is the oral transmission of traditional values from one generation to another. She is holding the torch in inculating the family traditions. Instructions were given to the maid to clean up the house and sweep and mop tonight so that no cleaning on New Year's day.

On the other hand, I fall into Philip Lee's category of "young who no longer observes the age-old traditions". I am cool to this kind of traditions since young. I remember meeting schoolmates once about 3 decades ago. They were shocked to see that I was in an old, worn out t-shirt and a short that is fit for use as a rag. "Are you not celebrating Chinese New Year?" their eyes were questioning when they greet "Hi!". "Oh! I just live not far and is going for a jog" I lied. "See you" and off they go. I felt cool that I am breaking the tradition. So much for teenage rebellion.

The author mentioned his mum would gather all the kids and they would go to the shoes store and tailor to get their new shoes and make new clothes for the new year. My wife is doing the same with my boys.

Maybe it is not the young that is losing the traditions, it may be Mars and Venus have different values. Venus (female) observes traditions and values family, Mars (male) loves freedom and independence.

24 Hours Shopping Everywhere...

Grocery shopping that is. Tonight is the night. Once a year, the wet markets, supermarket chain, NTUC and Giant is open for 24 hours. Tomorrow will be New Year's Eve. Most stalls will be closed for Chinese New Year except for fast food resturants, hotel cafe. Chinese New Year is the only time where malls and shopping are all closed. Obviously, the majority of the shops in Singapore are run by Chinese. In Malaysia, shopping malls are open for Chinese New Year as there are plentiful Malay and Indian workers.

At the NTUC, the queue at the checkout are long and everyone has lots of items. There is a festive air. It is interesting to shop in the middle of night and see huge crowd getting ready for the new year like us.

May the Year of Golden Boar bring good luck to my readers.

Thursday, February 15, 2007

Predatory Goldfishes

I take back my words on the goldfishes too slow to taste live seafood. I observes the fishes quietly. I am surprised by the docile goldfishes who waggles their tails and moving slowly are predatory. They have pack hunting instinct. The goldfishes will gather the fry together moving slowly. Then with an invisible signal they attack! coming from all directions. I saw a black colour goldfish gulping in a small fry. It seem very cruel to eat a baby. I felt sorry I put the fishes together thinking they will live in harmony. It is survival of the fastest and fittest. I worry if the goldfishes will eat them all up. So I feed them with the goldfish pellets. Hopefully, they prefer the easy meal rather than tasty live seafood.

Amazing Fishes

The fishes are still alive today. They must have adapted to the fresh water. I went to the river mouth again today to catch more fishes. This time I brought a pail in anticipation to catch more. It low tide and the water was receding. It is much harder to catch the fishes as the rocks make it difficult. We still manages to catch a fair amount of larger size fish this time. It is an achievement to bring home the fishes.

I also notices the smaller fishes seems to vibrates in the water. They do not have any vibration in the saltwater. After being in the pond for a short while, the vibrations start. I have no idea why. We also caught eggs. At least I think they are eggs. It is round balls of jelly. It is actually invisible in the water. The eggs only show up in the net.

Another observation is the goldfishes were trying to eat the tiny fries. However, they are too slow and the fries escapes all the time. It is interesting as this is the first time I saw goldfish lurching suddenly. I guess they must be wanting to taste live seafood.

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Fishing Spot

Beside fresh water lobster in Pierce Reservoir, there is another fishing spot for small baby fishes. There are millions of small fishes and larger one right at the river mouth. The water is clean enough for the fishes to come. I caught probably a few hundred fishes with a net. The fishes are fast, very fast. It is a challenge to catch bigger fish. However the fry are in thousands if not millions. I went with B2 and B3. We had a great time. When it come to fishing, it is great when you catch something. We manage to catch fishes with the big net. The small net netted nothing as the fishes are fast, too fast.

We brought back the fishes and put them in the outdoor pond. I hope they survived the freshwater environment. I just check on them. Many are still alive after 4 or 5 hours. So far so good.

Love and Valentine

Today is lover's day. What is love? Love is fondness and affection for another person. Valentine is for lovers of the opposite sex. A celebration you have one who love and adores you. Resturants will be busy. Resturants that serves western meals, that is. Valentine's Day is a concept of the Westerners. The west worships the physique, the beauty of the body and of ultimate love or rather lust, the physical communion of two.

Hotels are doing well tapping in the delightful lover's market with a package that includes candlelight dinner, wine and a room night - breakfast included. Price of roses will rise from 80cts a stalk to 10 dollars. Ok, it is not apple to apple comparison. 80cts stalk come wrapped in old newspapers, 10 dollar version will have a long, clear plastics box with gold ribbons and a tiny container of water at the end of the stalk to keep the rose fresh. Chocolates is an favourite during Valentine. I will advise men not to give chocolates if you want to get physical. My executive coach in Canada, Evelyn informed me the well-research fact that for a woman chocolate is a substitute for sex. Male readers out there, make a mental note on this advice.

Tuesday, February 13, 2007

Entreprenuerial Activity drops to 4.9% in Singapore

Entreprenuerial activity in Singapore is at 4.9% or 5 out of every 100 people were likely to join or initiate a start-up last year. Hmmm! Singapore is ranked 16th among the 22 members of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

A/Prof Wong of NUS Entrepreneurship Centre said the tentative evidence showed that buoyant economy with its record-high employment levels and strong GDP growth may have influenced the decline in " entrepreneurial propensity".

What a dilemma! Strong economic growth reduces entreprenuerial activity. Entreprenuership drives economic growth. The analogy I have is the entreprenuership is like a thermostat in the aircond. When the room temperature is cold (strong economy), the thermostat is off. When the room warms up(economy weakens), the thermostat will kick in to drive the temperature down. I guess the Golden Handcuffs theory is works too. If you have a job with good pay(handcuffs), then it is less likely for you to start-up your own business.

A lot of success stories we hear on business usually have a difficult period where the person is jobless or had to survived without a job. The few exceptions are Olivia Lum who strongly believe she can sell water treatment to big companies, YY Wong of WyWy chain who left the company because he want earn all the money he is making for the company he was working for.

Entrepreneurship is fuel by human instinct for survival.

Jobs getting less secure worldwide: UN

UN report that young people are increasingly unable to get a foothold in the global labour market. The rapidly ageing workforce is enjoying less and less job security - Straits Times Friday, 9 Feb 2007.

Free Agent Nation address this issue. The norm in future will be self-employed microbusiness with unstable income. The freedom and the creativity allowed will added colour to the new economy. Jobs will still be around as hospital will continue to need nurses, school will need teachers, airline will need our Singapore Girl, etc. Don't forget the Government, the largest employer will need workers aka iron rice bowl. Financial management will be important skill for the workforce of the future. It is important to manage finances when income is irregular or too much or too little. Financial consultant will be in demand.

"Stiff competition under increased globalisation has led to reduced job security, a reduction in job-related benefits and a diminished role for organised labour."

"Precarious working conditions are now the rule rather than the exceptions in many contexts."

So whether you are ready or not, whether you like it or not, you may have to become free agent. The world is going back to a circle. Before organised labour, this was how it were. You don't go and find a job. You go and work for a baker or iron smith or farmer. You become an apprentice. After you learn the skills, you leave to do your own business. When your business start to grow, you hire apprentices and teach your trade. Apprenticeship is not a job, it is school or on-the-job training.

The old world is fast becoming our Brave New World.

Hokkien Songs

I was killing time in Punggol Mall before reunion dinner. Stalls in the hall were selling the new year goodies. Hokkien songs were baring out loudly from the CD stall. Growing up in a right beside a wet market and hawker centre, it is nostalgia time. I like the songs. My wife, a refined Cantonese, dislike this kind of songs. She feels that they are crude or sad. I enjoyed listening to the "low class" music. First, I swear allegiance to my dialect group. Next, it reminds me of my childhood and growing up days. I admit some songs are melancholic. However, it is a sweeping judgement to conclude Hokkien songs are either sad or crude. We agree to disagree on this issue.

I spent lots of time at the stall listening and browsing. I hinted to The Wife that if I buy the CDS, I am afraid she may not like it. Silence. Finally I go off to the electrical cum plumbing store to buy hose to fix the shower. On the way back, I asks for permission again. Surprisingly, she says if you like it go ahead. The thrill was refreshing. My heart sings out Hokkien songs right away. Now I am listening to the songs as I write this blog. Mmm, this is great atmosphere.

Monday, February 12, 2007

Highlight of my day

Morning start out to be slow after sending the boys to school. I cleared my mails and did a couple of followups. I decided to go to Kinokuniya for lunch. I have with me a list of books and the store locator code. Some of the books were recommended by Daniel Pink's Free Agent Nation and some by Sunday Times. It is interesting to browse through specific books. Unfortunately some of the books are no longer in the shelf. I was disappointed not to locate the Organizational Psychology. However, I had a great time flipping through the pages as well going to the different shelves. I realise the books are in different location. One in the Poetry section, another in Business Communication, third located in Self-Help and last on Organization/Strategic Management.

It is a discovery of other interesting books on the shelf that make the hunting fun. I also realise my broad interest. I notice I rarely go to History, Politics or IT. I decided to buy the title Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. It is on Writing and Life. The introduction is light reading and engaging. I think I will like this book. It is an honest and down-to-earth instructions on becoming an author.

I had a productive lunch hour! After lunch, I had to work and work and work. Kinokuniya, the heaven for a booklover.

Clear and Bright Sky at Half Past Three in the Morning

It is a warm and uncomfortable night. The airconditioner decided to stop working last night. I woke up and have a hard time trying to fall back asleep. So, I decided to get up and take some medicine for my sore throat.

The air is nice and cool outside. The sky is cloudless and clear. Moon is at a quarter and very bright. The stars are visible. It is a night sky rarely seen in Singapore. We have a tropical climate and cloudy sky more common. I find it nice to be able to look up and see stars. Maybe the sky is clearer at night. It is rare for me to wake up in the middle of the night. The best part of living a less densely populated area is the surrounding has less unwanted light. Bright light make it difficult to see faint light of stars. I am very lucky to live in a place where I can see the sky easily. It is impossible to see the sky in the densely populated city as the buildings obstructed our views. Even the patch of sky is expensive real estate. While I live in a relatively cheap area, I have a million dollar view.

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Great Deal in Spinelli

I was visiting my brother-in-law in Tan Tock Seng. He was warded with a pain in the neck. Literally. I am not being facetious. Anyway, I had some time to kill and drop by the mall nearby, Novena Square.

I could not recognised anymore with all the extension and food court which was at ground floor has been moved to fourth of the extension. Spinelli is at the ground floor overlooking the main road. I like the coffee in Spinelli. I used to enjoy it very often at basement two of Takashimaya. They even have a frequent stamp system that they keep for regulars like me. 12 cups and get one free.

I drop by to Spinelli even though I am not thirsty, I like to just buy a designer coffee. It is an ego thing. I feel good to afford such an expensive coffee. There is a promotion by Reader's Digest. If you buy a Reader's Digest, you can get a medium coffee free. I have to checked with the barista to make sure I understand the deal. "What kind of coffee?" I asks, looking at the menu. I expect a promotion like this mean Americano coffee, the lowest price in the menu. The barista says "any medium expresso based coffee". I looked at the menu and medium caramel latte is $5.30 and the cost of Reader's Digest is $9.50. Not bad. RD at half price. I took the deal. I am in for another surprise. There is a thick Discovery channel ring binder notebook. This notebook should be worth more than five bucks.

Awesome deal!

Sunday Morning, Sunday Times

Interesting, engaging, relaxing and an excellent way to spend the morning. What am I talking about? Our local papers, Sunday Times.

The quality of the writers has reached "bestseller" standard. Janadas Devan on words. He will make an excellent GP or English Professor. Sumiko Tan, my first favorite, strikes again on her singlehood. Look like she is suffering from the curse of Position of Life Editor. Her precedessor, Richard Lim is single. (I emailed to her about my "theory on singlehood curse" which she did ot reply as usual) Book reviews, my must-read section on Harvard Leader Professor, John Kotter and how the book, Organization Psychology become the turning point for his career. Colin Goh, the talkingcock founder on Comfort Food.

It must be nice to earn a living by publishing an article a week. Hence I resolved to keep writing until I can get published. Then I can enjoy passive income. Publishing a book mean you can enjoy income as long as the book sells.

French Party

Our French neighbour, Stefan had a front porch party last night with at least 6 couples and some with their young children. Party ang-mo style has a different atmosphere. There is a candle lighted in the middle and surrounded big comfortable sofa seats. Plenty of beers and wine. Lot of conversations. My guest for our own dinner party observes the ang mo like it dark. She prefers bright and well lighted at night.

It may a cultural difference. Chinese do not like dark. We always like to turn night into day when the sun sets. Our ang mo neighbours house is always dark with a couple of low wattage warm light. I am sure if they want to light up the living room or any room for that matter, it would have be a matter of switching on the lights that were installed by the owners. Both units are owned by Chinese owners. So I am sure lights installed will be sufficient turn night into day.

In general, Chinese like to chase away the gloom of the night while ang mos like the romantic moods. This may explains the well researched fact that Ang Mos have higher sex drive than Chinese.

Saturday, February 10, 2007

Today is B2's Birthday

I was sending B2 to his tuition. He is excited about his birthday party and was chattering away. I inform him his eldest aunt called him to wish happy birthday yesterday. I was asking if his party was on the actual day and the retort was swift "DADDY!" he said severely, "you don't even REMEMBER your son's birthday." Well, my mind spinning furiously " I don't even remember my own birthday, son!" He seems pacified by my reply.

Then I used a technique my wife taught me. Distraction. I told him I remember he was born in the middle of the night. I recall calling his mummy past 12 midnight after I finished dinnner in Manila. I had the first flight back and when I landed at about noon, I called home and my mother-in-law told me he was born. I was disappointed that I did not get to see him coming to this world. I was there for his elder brother. I had to go Manila because my boss was giving me pressure. When I heard his secretary telling me that he commented that I am a poor planner to have my son born while out of town, I was ticked off. It was under his instruction that I was travelling. I will remember this episode forever.

Back to B2, he is exhausted by partying. His friends throughly enjoyed the badminton games, the opening of presents, swimming and best of all home-made birthday cake baked with love.

Friday, February 09, 2007

Singapore Girl

Chua Mui Hoong put up a strong case for Singapore Girl to change. It refreshing to get a female's perspective of the image. Mui Hoong is very articulate. More and more female business travellers who decide who to travel with. She rightly point out Singapore Girl is invented by man for men. She was indignant by the latest copy of the advertisement - 2 Singapore Girls serving a man. Nowaday, many females travel business class. They are getting younger and younger too. Why Singapore Airlines is so sexist? I noticed 90% of the time the crew chief is usually a man in his 50s. With such a huge population of female stewardess, why only men reach the top of the crew.

Singapore Airlines should do an analysis of its customer base. Female travellers must be growing faster and more profitable. I agree Singapore Girl should shed her image of nubile, sarong party girl and be more sophisticated, worldly and a globetrotter. She should still understand and deliver service well. Boh Tong's picture of the new Singapore Girl gives me the shudders. She looks too much like United Airlines stewardesses, old and matronly. More like grandmothers who tell you off if you dare require for a drink before their service run (and I have actual experience in US when I request for water to take with my medicine).

I still like younger crews be it male or female. With the strength of female customers increasing, I agree. The image of Singapore Girl need to be revamped. At the end of the day, money talks.

Thursday, February 08, 2007

Why I love reading and other thoughts

Reading was not my favorite activity growing up. I remember going to a PAP kindergarden in Strathmore Ave. The teacher was strict and belong to the old school. She use corporal punishment liberally. I was wacked many times for not doing homework, not able to read, not able to write properly, and many other good reasons to give me a whach with a 12" ruler. My first week at the primary school was horrible. Other kids were chatting away in English and worse of all many of the girls will run to the teacher and "teacher, teacher, so and so did this". Usually, the so and so is a boy. I feel inferior. I am clueless since I cannot speak English at all. I can only recite "A" for Apple, "B" for boy, "C" for cat... I wonder how come my classmate know how to speak to the teacher and I am so incapable and incompetent.

It was until I was in Primary 4 when my eldest sister brought me to Queenstown Library to get two library cards. The library card was a very nice light brown cardboard jacket. Every library book had a card. The date for returning the book will be stamped on the card and inserted into your library card and kept by the librarian. There is a piece of paper pasted on the first page of the book so that the due date of return for the book can be stamped there.

Books borrowed for free! What an awesome concept. I was hooked. I borrowed all kinds of books - fairy tales, science fair, famous scientists, aeromodelling, and many other my memory cannot recall. I was very very proud of the fact I have read Swiss Family Robinson unabridge version. It was a huge book. Please remember I was in Primary 4 then. The library was my place for entertainment. I love fairy and folk tales. The stories were enchanting to me.

My favourite author was Enid Blyton until I was in Secondary School. Enid Blyton today is considered suitable lower primary. Somehow school and library frown on stories by Enid Blyton. I have to buy them. 3 copies for a princely sum of $5. My mum was supportive of my reading habit. So money for books was no object. I read in the car, I read lying down on the bed, I read in the sunlight and I read in the dark. Guess what, at P5, my glasses was at 500 degrees. Extremely high say the optician.

During PE, my glasses will drop off my head due to the weight. Nonetheless, I enjoy the different worlds opening up to me. I became interested in anything that put into a book like Tao, Chuang Tze, UFOs, Occult, Space exploration, Science and classics like Sherlock Holmes. Reading became my life. I rather be reading than to do revision. Hence my school results are always on the average or below average. My thoughts was my general knowledge through all the books I have read will help me do a better job. How naive I was. Academic achievement and a degree is very important in Singapore. One of my classmate in Secondary 1 became a scholar and is now running a GLC with salary of more than a million a year. I am just a bum compared to him.

Hidden Cameras in the Showers

Front Page news. B2 who is in Primary 6, who is usually disinterested and half asleep when he go down to the car to wait for me was reading this news.

This houseman, a doctor just finished school and has to complete two years on the job training in a hospital has video recorders to tape nurses showering. He put in three tape recorders in the 3 level. Amazing guy. He is one of the nicest doctor and the nurses like him.

I am wondering what goes through the nurses' heads now they know. This guy seen them right through. Whatever, you are wearing, he knows - inside out! Poor guy for his voyeurism, he lost his job, career and profession.

As the saying goes... Never judge a book by its cover. Nice guy may not be nice. Nasty guy may not be nasty.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Title can be misleading...

I finished reading the book Saint Germain's Prophecy for the New Millenium by Elizabeth Clare Prophet. On the cover there is a button that declare "What to Expect through 2025" includes dramatic prophecies form Nostradamus, Edgar Cayce and Mother Mary. I was intrigue and devoured this book enthusiatically. I bought this book from Borders last Saturday and finished reading it today. I read it during breakfast, during lunch and in bed before I sleep. Eat, sleep and dream about this book. Why? I like to know what will happen from now through 2025.

There are a lot of discussions about the different prophets and their claims to fame. Examples are cited on the accuracy of the predictions that has passed and the debate by some on which incident correlate with the predictions. Many reminders that prediction can be change by the will of mankind. It is interesting reading. However, I can hardly find any firm predictions from now to 2025. I have no problem if the predictions do not come true. It seems to me the author is afraid to predict just in case the prediction get change as human will changes it.

I am a little disappointed. I love forecast and prediction. I know my sales forecast is 100% plus or minus 10%. To me, this is accurate enough. For forecast of world changing event, I can accept 60% to 70%. So I feel I did not get my time's worth for reading this book.

Decent job vs work

My trusty Merriam Webster define job as a piece of work. I am tired of meaningless work, fruitless work that get nowhere. Decent is fairly good but not excellent. Right now I do have a fairly good but not excellent piece of work.

Am I disillusioned? Am I negative? Or I am just complaining type? Maybe I am just unappreciative of what I have. It is like the weather topic - Everyone talks about it, no one does anything about it.

I love to work. My hobby is work. My pastime is work. Work give meaning to my life. I am somebody when I work and nobody when I am not working. Hence, I was surprised by the feedback I am not appreciative of my job. I have a way to send out impression such as this.

To the reader who left this feedback for me, Thank You! It is a gift. Feedback is the breakfast of Champion. I will learn and improve myself.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Work and Work and Work

Work in Merriam Webster dictionary is define as activity in which one exerts strengths or one's faculties to do perform something. Faculty is ability or power. So work is one's ability or power to perform something.

I have been working and working. It is not get fun as result or outcome with more work is less. Does not make sense. More work less result. Logically, more work mean more result. Now, work is like spinning a wheel. It is heavy and not going anywhere. The wheel turns faster but I stay at the same place. So why work?

Work always give me a sense of accomplishment. I enjoy working for work sake. W0rk is play and play is work. Therefore, work build self-esteem and reward me with an income to support myself.

Senseless work. Work is senseless when we get nowhere by working. We are very busy working and cannot tell what has been done or the results cannot be accounted for. In many large organisation, lot of senseless work are done because they need to be done. Senseless work whom nobody know why it needs to be done but not use. As large organization become complex, complexity build on itself and then become self sustaining. This is the same principle of atomic energy. The energy of the atoms build on itself until it is self sustaining. Balancing control is important, otherwise it will suffer meltdown.

How many large organisation will meltdown in the next few years? It will interesting to find the answers.

Monday, February 05, 2007

Wendy Lui

Wendy Lui is in town today. She called to talk. Unfortunately, she is very busy and we cannot meet as she need to do the necessary networking. She is a great gal trying to get pregnant and unsuccessful as she is hardly home. In the last three weeks, she was in California, Sydney, China and now Singapore. She is based in Hong Kong. She may fly as often as a Singapore Girl.

Talking about Singapore Girl, she has been in the news recently. She has to get rid of her colonial past, today she is a Global Girl, she should not be demure, she should be demure, it is hard. I think everyone is pulling her in different directions. I wonder what will have if Singapore Airlines adopt the same rules as Nordstrom. From Boh Tong, the uncle with all the interesting SQ girls stories, we know SQ has about a hundred and one rules including what the girls can eat. Poor girl, it is hard to be a Singapore Girl with all the feminine qualities, tight sarong kebaya to accentuate their physical attributes, perpetual smiles and thank yous and certainlys for all a monthly paycheck. It is still a glamorous job.

Maybe we should write to CEO Singapore Airlines - just one rule is needed for the Singapore Girl "Use your good judgement in all situations. There are no other rules."

Changing Weather

Weather is cool. We walking in Chinatown at noon has always been a torture. The hot, bright and burning sun bring sweat and sticky feel in seconds. Yet, today, it is very pleasant. Lot of drinks stalls that does a roaring trade in the past years does not seems to do so well today. Lim Chee Guan, the super long queue Bak Kwa store does not have a long queue as well. Maybe it is still early as CNY is two weeks away. We are very well stocked with all the goodies now. Melon seeds, dried mangoes, rainbow colour candies, Bak Kwa(from Tan Chee Guan instead of Lim), drinks,... yes, I am ready as ready can be. All I need now is frozen food and fresh food two days before New Year's Eve.

Festivals bring families together and transmit values through tradition. CNY, Christmas, Hari Raya, Deepavali and Thanksgiving is a time for visiting relatives and have food that is only made during this time. Memories will always be there. I remember as a kid, I used to make loveletters with my sisters. Today, it is so easy and convenient to buy from a store. Many brands with varying quality and price to suit any budget. My kids do not have a chance to experience. B1 thinks that everything can be solved with money. He does not realise time and efforts are required even if money is spent to get contractors in to do work.

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Miss My Friend Bloggers

I am quite sad to go to my friends' blogs every day and not getting seeing any updates. Somehow over time, I have grown to expect to read something from their blogs. I am feeling a little lonely. Although we have not meet in person, the cyber meetings grew on me to give a sense of friendship. I have not many visitors coming to my blog. My plan is to keep writing until I improve. It may take years. The comment from the winner of a "newcomer author" award was he has been writing for 10 years before becoming a newcomer. I guess I have nine more years to go if I continue to write and improve.

Goodies Galore

Toa Payoh is an old town. We used to live in Toa Payoh for two years near the central. It is nice to go back to visit. The place is transformed with side stalls overflowing with new year goodies. Festive moods, crowds thronging through the stalls and merchants are doing a roaring trade. We bought some love letters from Fu Hua and kueh bangkit Indonesia style from Bangawan Solo. Good to get into the mood... looks like the economy is doing well and retailers will do well.

I read the papers that piping in New Year music and songs need a licence and cost a few hundred dollars for a resturant that seat 30+ people. Kind of ridiculous to pay for two weeks of playing. This will definitely dampen the festive moods because if I am the owner of the coffee shop or resturant, I rather not pay. Wtihout the music, it will be like any other days:(

Rule #1 - Use Your Good Judgement in All Situations

Nordstrom, the legendary retailer known for its service has this rule printed in a 3 X 5 card for all its on-the-job employees. "There are no other rules" declare the card immediately after Rule #1. Hire the smile and we provide the skills, Nordstrom hiring practice. Sound very similar to my "Attitude and Aptitude" criteria for hiring and being part of the team.

Companies can be good with control and measures. To be great, hire the right employees and trust them to do their jobs. Jim Collins, author of Good to Great put it as get the right people on the bus and wrong ones off!

Saturday, February 03, 2007

Recharged after a good day

It is end of day 1 of the weekend. I am tired but satisfied. Early in the morning, my wife was patching up our backyard steps with concrete. I was getting ready to bring B3, 5 year old to market to buy some fishes for the pond as promised. The wife repeat a couple of times that she is not good with concrete. Finally, I got the hint. I delayed my weekend long promise to B3 and my daily dose of teh halia, and help my wife to apply concrete. I am a reluctant DIY person. I try to do the job quickly. As I apply, I think of the faceless low skilled foreign worker who did the concrete before. The job was quite well done. I know I will not be able to repeat the quality of his work. While the foreign worker are low skills and lowly paid, they can do work that Singapore can do at much lower pay.

I was happy that my wife gave me permission to go. B3 was happy to the aquarium fish store to pick up fishes. He gets to choose. We pick a pack of 20 goldfishes for S$2. These fishes were meant for fish food. I have no idea what kind of fish would eat a goldfish 4 to 6 cm long. It must be a big fish. I am happy to get the fish at a good price for my pond. After buying the fishes, I have my teh halia and papers. It was good. My wife suspects the teh halia may be spiked with something that make it so addictive.

After teh halia, time to head home to release the fishes and feed them with dry pellets. Then it was chauffering time sending B1 to school for his co-circular activities and B2 for his tuition. In the afternoon, we go to Borders. Borders has a 30% discount this weekend. I bought a book on predictions for the next 25 years. It look like a interesting read.

I adjourn to a cafe to read and have a cappucino and chicken pie while the rest of the family go window shopping in Takashimaya. It was 6pm we leave Wheelock Place and headed to Holland Village for dinner. Prices are high in Holland V coffee shop. A piece of chicken in curry with plain rice from Indian stall cost $3.50.

I met an old colleague, Don Ho who is on duty in Guardian Pharmacy. Don and I work together from 1986 to 1988. 20 years. It is amazing how time has passed. I introduce my sons to Don. Don is very interesting. He is still single. He has been to Arctic Circle and Antarctica as a tourist. He is now planning to go Manitoba in Canada to see polar bears. He calculated he has gone to 101 countries to date.

I had a long and satisfying day today. It is great to be with my family.

Up Early

In the last few mornings, I have woke up earlier than usual. I am thinking of the various reason why. The first time mid-week may be due to stomach upset from the dinner. Yester-morning? I woke up and started to pen my thoughts before sending my boys to school. Here I am again, me with the radio for company typing my thoughts out.

Waking up early is a sign of something troubling me. Thinking logically, I try to figure out why? Is it because I sleep early last night? I had a strong yin-yang(tea and coffee mixed with milk) at Ah Kun, my favorite franchise coffee shop at 9pm. The caffeine kick did nothing. I was in bed by 10:30 and went to dreamland shortly after. Am I worried about my team's performance? I am cynical about functional silos and keen control that stifles the employees' abilities to act on behalf of the business. So I worry not.

Did I wake up early because I slept early? After all, it is a total of 7 hours of shut eye. My usual bed time is between 11pm to 12am - closer to 12 and up by quarter to 7 to send my boys to school. Waking up by alarm and dragging myself out of the bed, my body is quite reluctant to get up usually.

How about the day itself? Yesterday was not routine. Reporting deadline with new reports requirements, new boss, different accountant, everyone running around like chickens with their head chopped. Adenaline was flowing freely in our organization. Maybe, mental exhaustion. This may account for sleeping early and not waking early.

Whatever it is, I have not figure out. All I am experiencing right now is the cool dark morning, peaceful, windy and distant barking of dogs. Family sleeping, computer and I interacting, radio speaking softly... sigh! peace on earth.

Friday, February 02, 2007

Friendly and easy

The new blogger is so easy to use now that I can drop a note quickly. This will encourage more postings with shorter messages. Blogging also seem to have a lifespan. BohTong is taking a break and Sze Li took a long break and is back finally. Disaster befallen on her. Her computer has broke down. I hope she will get a new one. I am thinking of getting another computer myself with the new sleek and slim models coming out. A laptop is a good option too. The HP home entertainment has wonderful features with built-in TV tuner, dvd capabilities, wide screen and battery life that last more than a movie(kind of important, huh! imagine the last exciting five minutes and the system shutdown).

The only problem with buying a new computer is it will be obsolete by the time you bring it home.

Busy work

I have lots of busy work. New boss, new system, new process, new reports, best of all new results. First time my result is below prior year. Terrible.

Healthy Again

I have regain my healthy self again. It is great to feel fit and strong. I did have a tummy upset after the dinner at Chijmes. My Australian colleague, has a bad bout of running stomach. So expensive food does not mean you will not get food poisoning. It may be the salad with load of raw vegetables, it may be the grilled fish or grilled meat. Who knows?! The taste of the food is good. Will I go again? If it is another company function, of course! If I have to pay - nay!

Boring Brother-in-law

I heard that my brother-in-law visited my blog and found it boring. No wonder readership has never gone up. Yes, I resolve my steely will to keep writing and writing until I can get more readers. Even if I do not get any readers, it is fine. In 1920s, Catherine Cox, a researcher studied the lives of luminaries such as Newton, Bach, Thomas Edison. One sign of genius, she noted and displayed not only by aspiring writers but also by genreals, statesmen, and scientists was a predilection for eloquently recording thoughts and feelings in diaries, poems and letters to friends and family.

Another researcher Dr. Win Wenger poses an interesting question: 'Why did these gifted men and women start keeping diaries? Was it because they knew in advance that they would be famous and wanted to leave behind a record for future historians? Was their writing simply an irrelevant by-product of a highly expressive mind - or a highly inflated eqo? Or was the scribling, in and of itself a mechanism by which people who were not born geniuses unconciously nurtured and activated a superior intellect?

Wenger favors the last interpretation and it is worth thinking about.

So even if I bore my brother-in-law, Tony, this may be the beginning of my journey to becoming a genius. Even if I did not attain genius status, my family and friends will have a legacy and diary to read.

Thursday, February 01, 2007

Screams at Komala Villa

I was enjoying my tea tarik in Komala with my colleagues from India. Komala is a vegetarian resturant. We were chatting and piercing screams were heard. The woman look like a Philippina. A man was threatening her and shouting vulgar words in hokkien at her. The man was wearing a black T-shirt. His hair was short and dyed like an ang mo. There were people everywhere who were watching. Meanwhile, Thaipusam procession was going on outside. Police was called and two policeman came in a short time. We decided to leave the resturant and as we walk out of our section to the main section an old Indian lady was lying on the floor in fits. A young woman was trying to help her out.

Little India is a very exciting place. My colleague says it is first time for him to get so many excitements in Singapore as he has visited here several times over the years.