Electric Maze

try it but be forewarned that it can be addictive and extremely frustrating!!

The IJ Song ( to be sung by IJ girls of course)

Tune By: Que Sera Sera’s Composer (brownie points for those who knows who) Doris Day
Lyrics by: A sleep-deprived Ego one
In The Tune Of: Que Sera Sera. Duh.

When I was just a P6 girl,
I asked my teacher, where should I be?
Should it be IJ?
Or snobbish RG?
This’ what she said, to me:

“dear whoever your name may be"
"It depends on your P S L E"
"To get into IJ is quite easy,"
"as long as you're from its primary” (affliated mah)

I shall stop this before people starts slapping me.

I need more sleep.

Pictures From Hong Kong

I am still experimenting with flickr, a pretty good software and site for uploading photos on the net. Didn't really have time to siev through the really badly taken ones, but just to whet the appetiti of thos who really want to know what I was up to in Hong Kong.

will be trying to edit and put everything in order once I get the hang of it..

Scary Movies

I guess I am someone who you can classify as a spontaneous person. I like spontaneity and I act on impulse. I sometimes do something for no apparent reason, simply because I feel like doing it and I don't want to spend the rest of my life wondering, 'why didn't I do that?'. But that also means I sometimes do certain things I end up regretting, like hopping on those silly thrill rides that really scares the shit out of me. But I was glad that I tried having the smelly toufu in Hong Kong. I can still remember the stench of the sewage pipes coming from the itchen when the dish was delivered to us. Look on face - priceless. Sad though I didn't have a picture to show it.

Anyway, today I shall talk about another bo liao topic. As you can see I am again procrastinating on my report for my Hong Kong trip, but then again whatever...

I don't like scary movies. I don't like scary movies because, well, they scare me. Even up till now, I still cannot comprehend why a reasonably logical person would want to spend good money just to get scared when the money could be better utilized on more worthy causes such as books, CDs, or even a sinfully good buffet. It would be really in a very insane state of mind would you see me in a movie theatre watching all those scary movies. In fact the last horror one which I was passively been dragged to watch was "What lies beneath" and I remember half of the time my face was hidden conveniently behind my haverpack and my mouth muttering prayers throughout. It was quite a traumatic and stressful 2 hours for me and the very fact that we went to watch a movie was to destress. Since then we watch shows like "Shrek", "Shrek 2" and "The incredibles"- Safe, and wholesome entertainment and with no resident spooks and apparitions.

Anyway the Japanese and the Koreans had really mastered the art of making really good and "horrorful" horror movies, from the previews I have seen but up till now I refused to get dragged along to various horror flicks such as The Eye, Dark Water, Shutter and Para Para Sakura over the past few years. The really good ones like "the ring" is still collecting dust on my TV console.

In fact as a third and neutral party, I feel that I would be able to provide people especially those who are scaredy cats like me to survive the ordeal. This is especially important if you don't want to come across as a pathetic, useless person who get cardiac arrest everytime a thing, a sound or a fart comes out..

Being the selfless and *cough*humble*cough* person that I am, I shall share all my tricks with you

The Art of Watching Horror Flicks Without Looking Like A Nervous Wreck. Guide To Surviving Horror Movies

1) Wear as little as possible to the movie.
So when you're shivering in fright and fear, you can conveniently blame it on the air-con instead. Remember that the aircrn are always dialed to the max especially in the cinema. Call it the 4D ( not the gambling stuff but the fourth dimension) A standard scary movie outfit for guys consist of nothing more than a singlet and a pair of sports shorts, Footwear: optional slippers or sandals. For the ladies, you might want to try your luck with a spaghetti or more daring bikini top, beware though you might end up giving the ah peks at Lido a heart attack or something.

2) Carry something
Bring a bag, haversack, or baby along. When you are busy with say, fiddling with the bag handles, straps or even baby pacifier, this can make it easy to pretend watching the movie but yet focussing on something else.

3) Buy lots of snacks into the movie theatre.
Inconclusive studies have shown that one's reception to scares is reduced when one is engaged in secondary activities, such as munching on nachos while irritating the hell out of your fellow movie goers. Try not to buy nuts though: I will not be responsible for any cases of choking.

4) Wear shades into the theatre.
That way, you can pretend to be watching the show even though your eyes are wide shut during then. If your date bugs you about it, just pretend to look cool and talk weird like those guys in the Matrix, and she'll probably leave you alone after a while.

5) Do not reach for your drink at the end of the show
Not even if your throat feels dry because you were scared shit-less. Because what appears to be the end of a scary movie is usually not the ending. They will probably trick you with what seems to be a happy ending and then shock you by getting the resident spook out to say bye-bye. It is not cool if you choke on your coke.

6) Limit your line of sight to the subtitles section.
Do not, I repeat, do NOT under all circumstances sneak even a peek at the main screen. Your cover will be blown once you start screaming after that bug-eyed apparition made its grand appearance. Since you're been reading the subs, you'll also be able to hold an intelligent conversation with your date after the show ends. But if there're no sub-titles, tough luck.

(Mr Ng had so far sworned off horror movies and the last he watched was "The Eye 10" on VCD. It was still pretty traumatic for him and since then he has been sleeping with his pillow on his face and blanket wrapped around him. He strongly cautions those who follows the instructions that it might work in principle but then he will not be held responsible for any unfortunate circumstances that might happen)

Sex Blog... Yah You hope....


I have just finished unpacking and of course been working for the past few hours cleaning up the house and doing laundry... I am damn tired now.

Been reading the blog happening s and realise that the things that had captured people imaginations is all those sex blog and of course nude blogs.

If I were to burst my site counter, I should considered putting artistically tasteful (read nude) pictures of myself.

The New Paper, Today and of course our one and only Strait Times will be screaming headlines like this: " Nude Teacher Blog! What happened to morality?!" or "Teacher of reputed Convent School posted nude pictures on the internet" habahabahaba... You know those stuff of crap. I will be most probably be going to the P office for a word or two over a cup of coffee and get ready to answer myself infront of the Superintendent of the Ministry to explain myself... Damn so much crap..

I think I got to work out first..

Let me tried to get back from the jet lag ( even if there is no time difference between HK and Singapore) and try to tidy up all my stuff...

Back from the Pearl of the Orient

Hi readers

I am back.. well not exactly.. I am now in the departure hall of Hong Kong International Airport waiting to hop on to my flight. Time is 7.02pm and I will be back in about say 4 hrs time.

Took about 300 plus pixs. Will try to post whatever I have found in Hong Kong

I need food and caffeine..

See Ya

Draw a pig and know yourself

I must be seriously bored but I guess this is one way to get be hyper again... I am flying off in like 600 minutes later to Hong Kong.. Will definitely be putting in great stuff if I can for the blog. *Cross my fingers*

Anyway check this out

Trying to draw with the mouse is quite difficult as you could see from my masterpig opps masterpiece...



Anyway, they will ask you a few questions about your pig after you drew it . And this is what I get :

you are a realist

you are direct, enjoy playing devil's advocate and neither fear nor avoid discussions.

You are emotional and naive, care little for details and are a risk-taker.

You are secure, stubborn, and stick to your ideals.

you are a good listener

You drew medium sized tail. ( I'm not posting what this mean cause it'll spoil the fun !)

Ok now, go and draw your own freaking PIG ! Let me know and post a trackback K??

Ultimate Boredom

For those who are so bored and have nothing to do

try this

Singaporeans - Lucky and Pampered

Somebody commented that I tends to complain a lot. Some people complain that I don't write too much about myself in the blog. Anyway some part of my life is too personal and sensitive to be put on a public blog. The rest of my life is pretty normal , I work , I teach, I mould lives and I do housework... Any way, many out there can blog about the above mentioned in a much more interesting and funny way than I do. Serious. But thank to all for making my site counter cross the 10000 mark. Please wait while I remove the smug look from my face...

Well which bring me to my boliao topic of the day - Pampered Singaporeans. It does not take a nuclear scientist to know that Singaporeans are a pampered lot. Branded stuff, walking in air conditional comfort and anywhere out of the 200m, must have transport ie wheels, travellator, escalators, or even a chivalrous gentleman to piggyback.

Singapore are well known for their picky attitude when it comes to services and of course even jobs. In a newspaper report, it was mentioned that

Singapore's unemployment rate rose to 3.9 percent in the first quarter, the government said Wednesday, as lower economic growth forced slower job creation. That's up from 3.7 percent in the previous quarter, the Ministry of Manpower said. Some 16,900 jobs were added in the first quarter - below the 32,700 jobs created in the fourth quarter.

In fact I have heard instances of people not accepting job offers because apparently it would be too much of a bother to travel from Ang Mo Kio to Bedok to work. And the alternate Saturday off was not really a turn on.

He rejected the job offer

Anyway a recent report which talked about Singaporeans' average standard of living ( Read this..) shows that even the poor and destitute can have their daily fix of class 95fm or even the latest channel 8 serials ( Have you watch the doofus Christopher Lee in the latest channel 8 serial.. but that not the point) It meant that we have almost everything , thanks to our gahmen. seriously how many of you have an emergency pack ready for emergencies like disaster or camping out for the Singapore Idol 2 audition. I can tell you people. Shockingly most of you wont.. Sign...

Well here come the best of the best when it come to utter "pamperedness"(Read this)

Jasmine Loo said, "On this type of journey we need more water than food. So I will get better prepared for that in future.

Added Peter Loo, "We have to stop here and maybe I have to go back and take my car and pick them up."

The Loo family was not the only one that came unprepared for the rough terrain and long walk.

Said Kelvin Wong, another hiker on the trail, "A lot of young parents have to bring the stroller to put the babies in. It would really help if we have more board walks, more concrete paths so that we can push the baby the larger part of the way, rather than carrying him or her plus the stroller."

Singaporeans, newsflash. You want to enjoy nature, and you want to have comfort, please go to the nearest park, and sit your ass on the nearest bench. There you can play frisbee or roller-blade or do whatever you do. You can even barbeque and even walk the dog.

Some places, you bring baby there also useless, they are too young to appreciate nature, no matter how much you think they will. Yes parents would cried in blasphemy and said all this about bonding with kids. Come mon. there is a time and definitedly a place for all this. Nature walks, canopy walks etc?? Half the time, they're sleeping, another half of the time, they get stung by mosquitoes and crying. Wait till they can walk, then bring them there.

Please, don't bring your baby stroller to the Nature Reserve, and complain that you cannot maneuver it in the reserve. Its a Nature Reserve,you fool, Not a shopping mall. And please don't even complain about the weather if it rain, there is no underground tunnel of mall or even ranger's transport to bring you and your baby back to civilisation.

If you are old, on a wheelchair, then the park is a wrong place for you. I'm sorry and I am definitely not trying to be rude of something but its Mother Nature, not a Bontanical Gardens. I don't mean it in a bad way, but its not the place for you.

So please don't make Nature bend over backwards to accomodate your demands. You cannot expect to open a nature reserve and expect to accomodate people of all ages. If you do that, you have to compromise on the experience. How about throwing in a travellator?

You want the tree-top walk to be accessible? Why not bulldoze a concrete path straight to the suspension bridge? Too much stairs to climb? Why not make level any incline, so that the road is flat ? Hell we can even make a lift if the gahmen approves it..

Why not build cafes/Mcdonalds every 100m so that they can sell you water, water that you stupidly did not bring for the trip? Why not think bigger? We can build a Glutton's Square right in the middle of the tropical forest, and sell over-priced regular hawker food.

At the same time, why not make a multi-storey carpark? Last time I checked, Singaporeans like linked walkways very much, why not build a linked walkway to the bridge, that way, you can enjoy nature in rain or shine. Good idea right? Also why not build a shopping mall, to take advantage of the traffic? So much trees, wasted space right? Think of the prime real estate.

The problem with people is that sometimes, Nature is too 'real' for them to appreciate. They need to have it dumbed down, made confortable. They want animal shows, dolphins playing with beach balls, or talking parrots. Faced with hot and stuffy Mother Nature, they complain.

So don't ruin the experience of others, so that you can enjoy what you think Nature is.

So Please , next time, just stay at home and suck thumb, watch National Geographic/Animal Planet or something, or go to the nearest heartland mall. Don't bother to go nature park lah.

(For the record, Mr Ng enjoyed nature waks and of course the occasional visit to Mount Faber where he act as a voyuer peeking young couples making out ... Other than that perverse behaviour he like to lounge in front of his 43 inch tv and watch the National Geographic and the Discovery Channel and the sweat he broke out is usually sweat from his palms from holding too long to the remote. Nonetheless, he also realise that there is a need to get his fat ass out from the sofa and start doing some exerise as the levis jeans is getting tighter by the day...:P)

Irrelevant Mutterings

I haven't blogged for weeks, but guesses I should write something before I fly off to Hong Kong in 2 days time.

I am having writer block, you know those stuff when your head is filled with stuff and it just can't translate to words which I can so expressed what I feel about things around me. perhaps I am just too busy, or just too lazy or maybe a combination of both. I have a couple of post still in draft forms but I just can seem to deliver it through.. Maybe I will get some inspiration from my trip to Hong Kong.

Realising that this 2 weeks I am been rather involved in pupil related stuff... anyway that what you would expect from a teacher. Sometimes I realise admire other teachers who can simply multitask and then still have these close relationships with students. I am kinda of an extreme, I can be close if I want to but I can be really cold at times, temperamental? Yes, PMSing? Maybe. But I guess this is kinda of like when you try to divided your attention all over the place, you tend to get nothing...

I was involved in Track and Field Camp and of course the RMUN conference and of course popping by for my form class BBQ. It has been a tiring week for me and I have not really get down to writing my Masters assignment. I am really in deep trouble, but I think it is just that there are so much thing to do and so much things to distract me away from doing it.. Long overdue DVD movies, TV programmes, Confederations Cup on cable and of course the internet. Which kinda leave me little time to blog..

Anyway, I was actually thinking of getting a tattoo done. My subconscious has been telling me that it is so cool but my rationality told me that I would be a laughing stock in the teaching community if I get one - What have become of teachers nowadays. Anyway I decided to do some research by popping by some shops in Heeren and Far East Plaza . After a while of window tattoo shopping, I was still in two minds whether to get it done at one of the shops. the tattooist( yes it got pass the stage of window shopping) pointed to a newspaper clipping on the wall of the tattoo shop saying 7 out of 10 Singaporean are tattooed. Cool . If we still have the notion of my mum’s generation, it will very well mean 7 out of 10 Singaporean are gangsters. But we know that’s not true right? For god sake I know a girl who tattooed the Astro Boy on her back, and of course a girl who tattoo a rose at where the sun don't shine. Heck i have seen girls who in a sudden enthusiasm to embrace their mother tongue tattoo their chinese names on the ankles and lower back. now how gangster can that be ? If she’s really a gangster , then she must be those act-cute gangster loh. I am still quite averse to the idea of tattooing something where it is really visible like the ankles or arms. I was actually quite attracted to the idea of tattooing something on my back, you know a dragon or something? Or soemthing to proclaim your love to someone - like my wife name... Hm worth a thought.

Anyway I walked out of the shop without doing anything, I watch a movie instead. Tattoo? Hm... maybe next time then...

Exclusivity

being exclusive is something that I strive to... I try to be different and difficult at times. Whether it is using IE ( I try to use firefox), whether it is using Singtel ( i was one of the few who move to the dark side when M1 was formed), whether it is using Nokia handphones ( i am proud to say that I never own a Nokia handphone... I used a motorola v3688, a motorola v70, sonyericsson T610 and now contemplating the motorola razr 3 or the K750i). I like to be "difficultly" different or "differently" difficult if these are newly coined terms.

guess how pissed I am when they tell me that the Manhattan credit card I am using is now so common that every tom dick and harriet is using it. damn i am going to terminate it.

The Blogger's Prayer

Our words, who art in notepad,
Blogging be thy Name.
Thy traffic come.
Thy ego will be done,
On wordpress as it is in xanga.
Give us this day our daily RSS feeds.
And forgive us our typos,
As we forgive those who flame against us.
And lead us not into blogwhoring,
But deliver us from self-importance.
For thine is the blogosphere,
and the hit counter,
and the sympathy vote,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

Effective Leadership Communication

Different types of bras

Political Bra: They make mountains out of molehills.

Dictator Bra: They suppress the masses.

Social Worker Bra: They uplift the fallen.

Shopping

I have a passion for that. I sweared that many women in Singapore would raised both hands and of course their flip flops or eight inch stilettos to declare it as an Olympic event. In case people think that men are goal oriented animals who zipped into a shopping mall and come out in 5 minutes flat with the desired item, I am I think a rarity. I enjoyed the long leisurely walk into crowded malls and looking at items and gizmos in display. In fact I was pleasantly surprised to read this on the paper a few days back. In fact i applause this move by retailers! What a great way to remake Singapore! MAke us the shopping paradise, make us the food paradise and make us the city of decadence.

In case you are thining that I am putting a negative spin on this, I am a true advocate of shopping. I find it really lacking when shop assistants who were giving people the 5 cents face if people strolled into the shop just 15 ( i repeat again 15 minutes) before it close, And it is just 9.45pm. I was given this rude treatment when my wife and I patronise this THIS FASHION shop at Suntec City at the time earlier stated. A nice top caught my wife's eyes and it was beckoning for her to try it on and buy it... And to cut the long story short, she took a couple more dresses and bottoms ( if that's what you call them) to try on, much to the disgusted looks of the shop assistants. I was waiting outside trying to make myself look busy. It must have been a sight seeing a man, with a handbag and browsing through the tube tops and mini skirts. But I would spare all of you the imagination. While I was "engrossed" with the windowshopping, the lights went off like some scary scene in a japanese horror movie and the shutters eased its way down, at that was 9.50 pm ( about 10 minutes BEFORE its closing time) In an attempt to add new shopping experience to the shoppers, the lights went psychedelic, flashing lights which goes in sync with the chinese techno song blasting through the stereos. And our shopping experience were totally marred and no surprise we bought nothing from the shop..

Anyway, backto the midnight shopping, I totally love the experience of shopping after 10pm ( not am) it is quieter and as Singaporeans are generally a late-sleeper nation, so it make plenty of sense to have extended shopping hours. I am really GLAD.

Anyway back to my shopping habits, I have this soft spot for music. Just a few days ago my wife was attending a chinese dinner and I waas wandering along City Hall to Suntec area, yes all alone and enjoying every minute of the 3 plus hours I had. Most of the time I was just wandering aimlessly, looking.... observing and of course deep in my own thoughts. I spend a grand total of 1.5 hrs at the music shops, and about 3/4 of an hour in the bookshop and I ended up about $100 poorer. Impulsive buyer I think so... Load of happiness... yes definitely

The therapeutic feeling of shopping and buying... D#$@.. I am becoming a woman.... :P

Anyway, these are the stuff I got.....

From Gramophone ( Capitol Building)

1) Corrine May "Fly Away"




A classic album in 2002 with little or no fanfare. The songs are great and the lyrics are meaningful especially the song "fly away"

When will you be home?"
she asks as we watch the planes take off
We both know we have no clear answer to where my dreams may lead
She's watched me as I crawled and stumbled
As a child, she was my world
And now to let me go, I know she bleeds and yet she says to me
You can fly so high
Keep your gaze upon the sky
I'll be praying every step along the way
Even though it breaks my heart to know we'll be so far apart
I love you too much to make you stay
Baby fly away

If you really want to be a bit cheapskate and sample ALL her songs before you trust my impeccable taste. Can click here and then look for the albums and lyrics. Don't complain if you got to fork out your allowance to get both of them.. Be warned...

2) Lisa Ekdahl sing Salvatore Poe




A swedish jazz singer with that breathless voice which is so .....indescribeable If yoiu love Lisa Ono, you should get this.. You want to know more about her, sure!

3) Madagascar OST




I like to move it.... move it..... you like to.... Need I say more..

At HMV (City LINK)

4) Black Eyed Peas Monkey Business




Cool and funky.. Always on my stereos.. Pump it.. Don't Plunk Phunk( correction made) with my heart.. What is Phunk anyway??

and last but not least....

At MPH

5) 1421 The Year China Discovered the World by Gavin Menzies




"...On the 8th of March, 1421, the largest fleet the world had ever seen sailed from its base in China. The ships, huge junks nearly five hundred feet long and built from the finest teak, were under the command of Emperor Zhu Di's loyal eunuch admirals. Their mission was 'to proceed all the way to the end of the earth to collect tribute from the barbarians beyond the seas' and unite the whole world in Confucian harmony. The journey would last over two years and circle the globe. When they returned Zhu Di lost control and China was beginning its long, self-imposed isolation from the world it had so recently embraced. The great ships rotted at their moorings and the records of their journeys were destroyed. Lost was the knowledge that Chinese ships had reached America seventy years before Columbus and circumnavigated the globe a century before Magellan. They had also discovered Antarctica, reached Australia three hundred and fifty years before Cook and solved the problem of longitude three hundred years before the Europeans..."

Cool... history from a sinocentric point of view..


If you would excuse me now... I got to get back to my purchases...

After a week hiatus, I am bad.. I mean back with more things to share.

Thanks for the concern, I have been really resting well. Did a lot of thinking which I would not bore you people with the question marks I had. Some of you have perhaps seen me in school , les than cheerful... I guess there are certain things that I need to think through.

I guess people reaching a milestone in life need to really evaluate the path before him. familiarity breeds contempt and of course breeds a fear for change. If things in life can be seen on a two-dimensional easel, moving along a straight predictable path, perhaps one might question, what is all about life?

I am not trying to be philosophical or anything, it is just a random thought which had been ebbing in my brain over and over again.