10 simple pleasures

I was tagged by Helen and here goes, not in any particular order of merit 1. Catching a movie in town with the family

2. Have a bowl of Ipoh prawn mee with siew yoke....

3. Knowing the fable of "Ugly Duckling" do exist, otherwise this is how my wife will look like...

4. YUM CHAR at Ipoh old town kopitiam, where my yong tau hu noodle and white coffee come with a retro ambience...

5. Seeing my catfish "Harlen" finally realised its dream of becoming a dog...it has even learned a few dog's tricks like fetching bola...

6. Still young at heart and have the ability to be thrilled by rock acts like Avril Lavigne, Eminem....

7. Have a cuppa on one hand and the morning newspapers on the others on a Sunday morning

8. Making new friends on the internet....pls meet my fren, cocka from JayBee

9. Getting the hang of Yoga...finally manage to do the fish pose (above) without feeling giddy and nausea

10. Having a meal with all or most of the family members around

X-Men 3 - love story on steroid

Beside the busy plot with so many characters and loud pyro-technic from its action scenes, “X-men, The Final Stand” striked me as a Love Story on steroid. Dr Jean Grey (Famke Janssen), the heroin in the first two installments has a split personality called “Phoenix”. Dr. Jean Grey, now Phoenix in this film is out to kill anyone who stands in her way and annihilate all life on earth. Wolverine (Jack Hughman) who ‘tan leun” (secretly in love with) Jean, have to kill Phoenix in order to save earth and release Jean from her evil twin sister. Jack Hughman, is fantastic here as a tortured soul with an unrequited love for a colleague, Jean. Of course, don’t ask me how Jack can hide his feeling from a colleague who can read mind! How I wish the love scene with Jean in the lab could be better developed. If you had followed Famke since her Goldeneyes’ days, you know what I mean. I missed Famke in her Goldeneyes’ days. Her death-lock love-making scene with James Bond (Pierre Brosnan) was tantalizing, to say the least. Famke’s “Xenia Zaragevna Onatopp’ was visually stunning and that impression had remained. X-men 3 is an accidental love movie that I like. Like Ali McGraw and Ryan O’Neal original Love Story in 1970, the tagline (Love means you don’t have to say “Sorry”) applies equally well here. In the final showdown, when Wolverine stabbed Phoenix and killing her, Jean schizoid twin, I could almost hear Jean telling Wolverine “love means you don’t have to say “Sorry”. Despite the loud and crowded actions in the final scene, i was surprised the message "Forgiveness and letting go…the greatest sacrifice of love" reached out and touches me.

I can’t believe this is the last installment. There is no closure and a lot of questions remained unanswered. Is Cyclop, the original love of Jean gone for good? How Jack is going to spend his loveless life since he had accomplished his two missions…the mutant school was already in the good hands of Storm and the world had rid itself of Magneto, what is next? Will there be an X-Men 4…I would not rule it out.

"Incense papers burning" tradition in urban living

Cannot burn incense papers, issit?

Then, why provide incense burner here?

In highly urbanised Singapore, it is difficult to maintain the tradition of incense burning without irritating residents whose flats' windows are facing the burners. Instead of punitive measures, isn't it better to have better designed burners that can eradicate the smoke and keep the ashes from flying around? Or have a designated area where the smoke and ashes will not be a nuisance. However, i learned from my lo ma chi that burning must be done as close to our apartment as possible, which usually means downstair, so whoever we are offering the incense to, know it is from us. Hello! the offerings are not for people like you and me. The so-called "they" are celestial beings who do not subscribe to the constraints of our physical world... so why do we need to confine our burning to any available space downstair and irritate the hell out of our neighbours living in the lower storey? Traditions steep in the Taoist belief are fine with me but can't we update it abit?

Maybe the Taoist mission (www.taoism.org.sg) can enlighten on the subject.

Is it true that burning must be close to the apartment of the burners?

If electric candles can be used, can we use electronic substitute for this tradition?

Tom Cruise & his Impossible Missions

If I were in Ipoh and crave the famous Ipoh Hor Fun, I would not be too please if the seller offers me a souped up version of their famous dish. Tom Yam Ipoh Hor Fun, anyone? No, thanks... just the Ipoh Hor Fun. This famous dish derives its fame from the rich soup base, smooth hor fun and the chicken breast meat topping. You don’t go for IHF to savour the taste of tom yam…absurd & ridiculous!! Of course if you just wanna fill a hungry stomach, it really doesn’t matter, does it?

Mission Impossible III is the type of gah yim gah cho (add salt add vinegar) Tom Yam Ipoh Hor Fun dished out by the commercial chef “Tom Yam” Cruise.

The original Mission Impossible TV series chronicled the adventures of the Impossible Mission Taskforce (IMF), a team of government spies and specialists who were assigned "impossible missions" by the unseen "Secretary". The team consists of the Team Leader, the Techno-Wizard, The Strongman, The Master of Disguise, and The Femme Fatale.

Its opening mission assignment (conducted by a pre-recorded tape), the theme composed by Lalo Schifrin, the leader's selection of mission agents from a dossier, the opening briefing, the intricate use of disguises and a typical "mask pulloff" scene near the end of most episodes….were the definition and character of any show that carries the MI logo.

MI3 is totally action and suffers from a severe lack of character. Director JJ Abrahm “interrogation” opening scene will never measured up to John Woo stylishly choreographed “self destruct in 5 second” exploding sunglasses and motor chase scene in Mi2. For his lack of idea, JJ filled the void in his Mi3 with a lot of firework that numb the senses after a while. Look like Tom has lost the plot and JJ was brought in to provide the pyrotechnic firework that made this Mi3 a very ordinary action film. There are too much adrenalin pumping scenes that do not fit into the MI mould. For me, the scene that really does justice to the MI franchise is the Vatican Ball plot to capture the baddy played by Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Planning, deception, disguise, high tech wizardry and masterful execution…they are all here. That’s MI pure and simple. Cruise’s pandering to a 1.2 billion Chinese market is so shameless and obvious. How can you hide an ang moh in China and of all places, in a river village? River villages are so backward; they had not been touched by development for the last 30 years. You can’t even hide a Shanghainese there without attracting a visit from the local police. I can tell you if Cruise were to produce the “The Last Supper” I would not be surprised if he cast a Chinese as one of Jesus disciples. Maggie Q is no ass kicker but a sad token wall flower. Q couldn't even deliver her cantonese lines fluently...i rest my case.

Instead of team work, we have too much of Tom Yam Cruise. Tom Yam rescued colleague, Tom Yam shot down drone plane, Tom Yam stole the rabbit claw, Tom Yam rescued wife….. Maybe because he takes a cut of the film revenue, he tried to do more. Slowly but steadily Tom is turning the Mission Impossible into “Tom & his Impossible Missions”.

The action maybe hot, but who is kidding who… this is one action movie that is ripping off the good will of the Mission Impossible legacy. Tom Yam is turning the MI into a bland popcorn franchise...niamah!! ACTION has not been this dreadful!

ACJC student vs Ministry of Foreign Affair

This interesting exchanges on the future challenges faced by Singapore between a 17 years old ACJC student, Gayle Goh and the 2nd Perm Sec of the Ministry of Foreign Affair was carried in the Straight Times today. http://i-speak.blogdrive.com/

Why i never celebrate Mother's Day

I never celebrate Mother's Day...and i never will. I don't believe in distilling my love for my lo ma chi to a single day. As i was ashmatic and physically very weak as a child, nothing in my childhood is more vivid than the memory of my lo ma chi taking care of me...waking up in the middle of the nite to comfort me when i had my attack, cooking special food for me to boost the body system (thanks to her effort, i had tried crocodile meat, dog meat, live rat litters, queen of ants etc) and carrying me piggy back to see a doctor when i could not walk on own. She had made my life less miserable when i was weak and feeble. Her manifestation of love for me was 24x7 and never only confined to Children Day. Now it is my turn. Lo ma chi is already 86 and can't walk too well. Thanks God, she is still sharp and in good health. Beside playing mahjong at home, watching TV and going for breakfast at the neighbourhood coffee shop, she is basically confined to the four walls of my apartment. It is a lonely and depressing existence, at least by my definition. As much as possible, we try to bring her out for makan when weekend comes. If buying dinner for lo ma chi is MD celebration, we are doing it nearly every weekend.

As for this year Mother Day, we spent it fulfilling one of lo ma chi's wishes. We were shopping around in Chinatown for a gift for my auntie 80th birthday at the end of the month. We initially wanted to give ang pau but lo ma chi insists we should get a gift. She wanted one of those "longetivity" character in gold and framed up in a glass box. We figured we could not get this type of traditional gift at Lee Wah or Soo Kee.

MD comes and goes. But lo ma chi is here with me every day. Well, i am lucky to still have my lo ma chi living with me. I can dote on her, Mother's Day or not.

When falling asleep is embarassing

I finally gave up my thursday tennis to take up YOGA class. YOGA is so relaxing, one can actually fall asleep doing it....which i did. I actually fell asleep during the relaxation exercise at the end of the class...and snored like a fire engine. Well, maybe this is my way of getting some attention in a nearly all female class....that you should not imitate...especially when your wife is in the same class.

the grasshopper pose...one of the many sadistic contortion i subjected my body and limbs to in what is supposedly a relaxing class...YOGA learning is NOT fun at all!!

SKY TFUCK

Spotted this truck at CTE near to the Moulmein exit. SKY TFuck....is it the recruitment for membership for the mile-high club?

A closer look... $#%%@$#$#%!

Lunch at Sauk (off Gerik)

Taiping has two places that are good for its fish. One is at Sepetang, a kelong restaurant and the other is at Sauk. On the last trip, i tried the Restoran Chan Kee at Sauk which is famous for its fresh water fish. Its fish are caught in the wild and does not have that earthy smell which deter a lot of us from enjoying the delight of fresh water fish. The restoran is about ten minutes drive from the North South Highway exit at Kuala Kangsar.

One of its signature dish is the steamed river whiskered catfish (pak soh kung). The light treatment of steaming using only soy sauce and ginger for garnishing allow the natural taste of the fish to come through...

Yue Lam is never my favourite fish dish cos of the fishy smell. Chan Kee's steam cooking using bean sauce somehow had my curiosity overcoming my prejudice. As the dish was moving fast, i grabbed one piece and just put in into my mouth. Wow! Good and Bad! I like it but too bad, that was the last piece. Verdict: The meat was thick but surprisingly smooth in texture. No fishy smell!

Malai (kampung) chicken steamed with XO, anyone? Not much oil and got that chicken aroma that i had not tasted since i was a kid staying in kampung... The only dish that was not steamed... fried intestine. Got slight pipi smell - only for the strong hearted and hardcore fans of spare parts! Steamed frog legs...not much meat and too bland in taste. Still prefer the spicy frog legs from Geylang Lorong 5.

Who is the campaign strategist for WP?

rock concert organised by WP at AMK yesterday (4 May 2006)

kapok this from the sammyboy forum... The Workers Party pacing and intensity of the campaign has been first rate so far. Did they hire Karl Rove Consultants for this assignment? Notice the subtle tactics: 1. One election rally site per day. So that there is perceived unity. Crowds and supporters are herded in one place and move to the Pied Piper as each day it moves from one site to another site. 2. Policy of not engaging with PAP in war of words on anything other than the issues 3. Policy of not communicating the real intent of their manifesto through the local mainstream media (because the know they would not get the coverage anyway) but directly to the citizens through the daily walk abouts, the volunteeers and of course through the rally. 4. Potrayal of the humble background of each candidate and their identity ...all of them are able to say that they had been part of the Masses and not part of the elitism class. (except maybe James Gomez..) 5. The placement of the Suicide 6 indeed is a clever move. Besides giving AMK GRC a chance to vote..it is also a national referendum on PM's approval ratings. In other words, through the proxy AMK GRC, it is hoped to extrapolate the margin of loss/win to be PM Lee's approval ratings on the job.

Inconvenience at Cantonment Police Complex

Cars can't stop at the lobby of the Cantonment Police Complex due to security purposes. So, cars double parked on South Bridge Road to do their business.

The man with the red umbrella ran all the way from the complex some 50 m away to take some forms from the driver of the first car. This is the de facto alighting and picking up point if you have business in the Cantonment Police Complex. Totally unsafe and illegal.

Aljunied GRC is red hot!!

1988 (65,351,voters)SDP Team consisting of Mohd Jufrie, Neo Choon Aik and Seow Chuan Hock managed to garner about 43.67% of the votes. 1997 (103,466,voters)SDP Team consisting of Aziz Ibrahim, Kwan Yue Keng, S. Kunalen, Tay Hoon and Wong Hong Toy managed to garner 32.98% of the votes.

From the above two results, there are at least 30% Hardcore Opposition voters. These voters are real hardcore who will even vote a Dog standing as an opposition candidate. However, the incumbent PAP team is strong and anchored by Foreign Minister George Yeo. The PAP is not resting on its laurel, it had strengthened its team by transferring Mrs Lim Hwee Hua, its Women Wing head (the highest ranking woman in the current government) from the “pau jiak” Marine Parade GRC. This maybe a direct response to Ms Sylvia Lim, the Chairman of the Workers Party who is leading the opposition GRC team in this ward.

My strong (read kiasu) feeling is the incumbent will win but election is never an absolute science… What are the factors that may tilt the balance? 1. The Sylvia Lim effect could sway the young women voters and more young male voters with her charm, eloquence and confidence 2. The James Gomez saga PAP sustained effort to discredit him may mobilise the sympathy vote to WP 3. Internet Young voters who are exposed to un-biased news reports and without the historical baggage may want an alternative voice in parliment 5. Stronger & Credible Opposition Workers Party has been consistent and organized in this election. WP fielded their A-Team and voters may want to give the WP a try 6. The Low Thia Kang Effect Mr Low sure knows how to work and connect with the ground. His rallies are unlike rock concert with standing room only and causes traffic jam 5 km away 7. Bread and Butter Issues People have short memories but not as short as to forget the recent price hikes and the high costs of living in Singapore 8. 30% Hard Core Opposition Supporters Compared to the national average of 20%, WP works from a higher base and theoretically an easier task to upsurp the incumbent 9. PAP's joke turned bad PAP branding of the WP as the "wayang party" in the Gomez's sage may backfired. People may just vote the WP in to provide some entertainment in the serious business of government

PM Lee Rally in Boat Quay

after lunch eat snake went to attend PM Lee rally at Boat Quay near UOB Plaza . It was a hot afternoon and the organiser was smart to organise it under the shade of the UOB Plaza lobby. I was late and there was already a big crowd when i reached...

the rally site was easy to find... but to my surprise the stage was obsecured and "low' in profile... fighting my way to the front to get a view of the great man... hei... this is no PM LEE? wrong rally! diu! why the police didn't stop her..ah! wasted my precious lunch time!

finally found the rally site... the camera tent... with stage and proper shade... hmm...where is PM Lee ah?

there he is...PM Lee!! and the Jalan Besar Members of Parliment... at 1.30 pm it was hot and sunny. someone had obviously forgot to put a shade over the stage. this is really one hot rally where our MPs got to really sweat it out! Not to mention the distraction and competition from the old lady who was holding her own mini rally a stone throw away...

a 3 hours rally under the hot sun, this is no joke... or issit intentional? PM Lee's way of putting his Jalan Besar's GRC team through the fire test, maybe and telling us he meant business?

1,000 came to hear PM Lee at YCK Stadium

PM drew a crowd of 1,000. small crowd indeed. maybe there is nothing new to hear, we know our PM & his vision well. or is it the rain? maybe as private citizens, we would like to keep our patriotism the same way too. this is intriguing....

from a local newspaper (adopted from electionpictures.com)....

Estimated 120,000 attended WP rally in Hougang

After reading Mother Superior 's entry on the general election 2006, i went over to yawning bread to check out the size of the Workers Party rally on the 30 April 2006. My God!! estimated number...120,000!! People really connect with Mr Low Thia Kiang, the incumbent opposition MP. YB also have pictures of rally by Senior Minister Goh in the same ward the night after. You have to go to YB to see it for yourself to see the unbelievable difference in the turnout!