Elevation For The Nation

I Remember ... 9/11

2011-09-11T07:58:00.000-07:00

(A stream of consciousness writing - forgive the rambling)

I remembered it was dinner time in our little island, and we were watching the news, and there was a ticker tape news alert that scrolled across the screen - screaming "a tower of the World Trade Center has been hit, by a plane!"
I thought - yeah, right ... was this a joke?
No, it wasn't - 'cos a few minutes later - we saw actual footage of a second plane plunging into the other tower, erupting into a fireball, slicing the pristine glass wall of the tower into two ...
My mouth gaped, I couldn't tear my eyes off the screen
Somebody wake me up - this isn't for real!!!!!!

I remember feeling aghast, numb, helpless, shocked beyond belief
Afraid for those who were in the area, in the buildings, dead, or dying. My memories of NYC, so vivid and one of the best cities I've had the fortune to visit, and now the twin towers, on whose viewing platform I had stood and watched the minuteness of Manhattan's boroughs, had gone ... crumpled in a heap of dust and destruction, burying the humanity - that had worked there, had visited as tourists - snuffed out as an American symbol of innovation, progress, and ideally, democracy.

I remember, trying to come to terms with my grief, trying to make sense of the chaos in my mind, my heart, and consoling friends who experienced the same turmoil.

Why was this allowed to happen? Who allowed this to happen? America, for all its faults, held an ideal - if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere (or was it New York?) - and the shattered dreams of millions around the world went to bed with the dust heap of the twin towers.

America reacted bravely, foolishly, blindly, unilaterally, and in their helplessness, isolated friends, broke off friendships, gambled with lions, slept with cheetahs, ran with hyenas, chased its own tail, and flailed - fleeing like a being gone berserk, hitting out at anything and everything, abandoning the voice of reason, of conscience - America!!!!! Where have you been? Where are you going????

I longed for the America of pre-9/11, no one knows where it's gone, or if it'll ever come back.
I longed for the Bohemia I experienced when I was traipsing around the Village, for instance, feeling like I belonged, at once an alien and a native, in the heart of NYC, a city with so much promise, potential, optimism, beauty, hope, spontaneity, camaraderie, a jazzed-up free-form quality I've grown to love, and imbibe, and partake, and proselyte.

I remember, going about in the days hence - stumbling about in a stupor, questioning, getting no real answers, clawing at the wrong doors, asking the wrong questions of the right people, getting the right answers from the wrong sources. Disbelief grown strong, disillusionment stronger.

But the human spirit is indomitable, unbreakable, resilient - we are cut down, and we come back up. Stand up - steadfast, unshakable, unmovable, unmoving, resolute. Stare down the oppressors of hope, and plant your flags deep - mark that spot for all to see. Let's renew our faith in humanity's ability to right the wrongs.

I remember I wanted to express my grief, of hopes dashed, stolen, appropriated - how dare you!!!!!! I wanted to write a song, but cynically, it was a cliche, and you know as well as I that the worst thing one could do to the memory of something beautiful was to render it a cliche - never!!! I swore! never write a cliche!

Ten years on, the song hasn't found it's way out, although it has taken root, and will feed and mature with time, and I shall resist temptation until it's time. I can only express my frustration with words, and even so, not even come close to articulating anguish, my anguish, as fresh as it was today as ten years ago. Maybe numbed with age.

I remember watching footage of the crater, a pockmark on the face Manhattan, and wondering how people would cope. But cope they did, and they moved on. Lives could never be the same, it's the new normal, as someone wryly said.

I will remember you - and I shall smile, in hope - hope that we must rebuild, and strengthen, our belief in humanity again.

Nike+ GPS watch

2011-09-09T09:11:00.000-07:00

I was so excited to finally buy one of these - did a pit stop in San Francisco's Niketown to pick this up for $199 ($217-something after taxes).

Went back to the hotel and downloaded the latest firmware onto the laptop, plugged in the watch's USB stick, and synchronised the watch to the Nike plus website.

The next day, I took it out for a run. Hit the 'yellow' button, and waited for the GPS (powered by Tom Tom) to work, but it was still linking after 5 minutes. I gave up and just started running - it took me another couple of hundreds of metres before the watch linked up with the satellites overhead, and started functioning.

After that, it was a breeze to track where I was heading, my pace, the calories I spent, and the time I took to run the distance. I loaded the information onto Nike plus when I got back to the hotel, and voila! everything was recorded and measured.

I must say this is a fun watch to have, and the GPS function is basically what I needed. The watch itself is black, with flourescent green trimmings, and the digital readout on the screen is large enough for anyone with average eyesight. A neat feature is the backlight - which is activated by a firm tap on the watch face itself. I thought it was cool to have that instead of fumbling around for the right button to press.

Verdict? A 9/10 for the watch - if the GPS had linked straightaway after I set it, it would have scored full marks. Still, it's highly recommended for runners who just require a GPS to track their distance and speed while outdoors.

What's going on?

2011-08-09T08:46:00.000-07:00

Riots happening across the world today - the Arab states, in London, and where else? Unrelated, but somehow wound together across a global tapestry of news and social disenfranchisement.

As Marvin Gaye once sang: "What's going on?" ...

While this could be the surfacing of political undertones in repressed regimes, the catalysts for the Arab Spring and London's burning are seemingly different, and differing.

Over in this country, we thankfully enjoy a greater deal of tranquility - nothing matches the bewildering acts of senseless violence in London.

However, because of this, some people are wont to wear their political leanings on their sleeves, or even worse, pronounce their blinkered world views to the public. There isn't a hint of irony when they pluck statements about law and order in other countries out of context, and apply their prejudices to their condemnation of e.g. London's troubles.

Is it because they have been brainwashed by the local political incumbent - as a prerequisite for joining their quasi-commercial entities? Or do like attract like? I don't know, but I am slightly alarmed at the navel gazing such people exercise, while proudly proclaiming it to all and sundry.

It's my hope that people will come to their senses, that peace will prevail, and that communities will cast aside their differences to better the lot of humanity. Is that too much to ask?

It's frustrating, but strangely rewarding as well

2011-04-19T08:24:00.000-07:00

I was referring to my recurring ankle injury that refuses to go away - it relapses ever so often, flaring up into a deep dark bruise around the eye of the ankle, and it is tender when I flex it.

Then it goes away - life resumes normalcy, and I could run again. It's damn frustrating!

Anyway, I completed a 10K competitive run around the Marina Promontory last week, and it felt good, even though I had to suffer through scorching 30 deg. heat at 8.30 a.m.! The newly opened Marina Bay promenade is quite a sight, with a tranquil waterfront flowing between downtown Marina and the integrated resort (or casino disguised as a resort - I couldn't quite figure out where the resort bits were). It straddles the new downtown skyline and the artsy parts of Marina Bay which just welcomed the newly opened Artscience museum, currently showcasing the Genghis Khan collection - haven't been in yet, so can't tell if it's any good.

Went for another short run tonight (5K) to work off stiff muscles and to build my ankle's resilience - using my Vibrams. It went pretty went - the sky was clear, and the moon almost full - all in, a refreshing run.

On the music front, we had a great gig out at the Esplanade waterfront last week (April 8), and it showcased what the band does best - the blues. Hopefully this would lead to more opportunities down the line.

I'm doing a wedding gig with Vic in May, playing indie pop. See how that goes.

Life is sort of becoming routine at work, which isn't a bad thing. People are starting to get used to having me in their faces, which is good sign (or maybe not). Anyway, I'm settling in, but still undecided if that's the right place to be at. Will ponder it further.

New year, new stuff

2011-01-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

Just changed jobs - and I'm still reeling from the info overload these past 2 weeks. But it's all good, as I'm learning a lot on the job, and enjoying my new role.

On the running front, picked up a book on marathon running by Jeff Galloway, and am relearning how to run using his method. Seems to be working well, and not too taxing on my legs, especially the knees. It's called 'Marathon - You can do it' available from Amazon.com.

Music-wise, I'm playing a couple of small gigs with Vicki, one at a shopping center in Feb, and the other a wedding in April. We're doing a gig at Blujaz cafe in March with the band, and I hope we get a slot at a blues fest in April at the Esplanade, but that's a long shot.

Anyway, hope I settle into the new job without much hassle, and that it doesn't intrude into my running, music or family life.

Morning runs

2010-12-23T06:58:00.000-08:00

I skipped the marathon this month as I just recovered from flu, and didn't really feel I could complete it.

The good thing is that I'm now training for another in 6 months, and have started going for short runs to build up towards that.

I'm on my year end vacation, and have made some effort to get out in the mornings to run. The weather's been very kind - a nice breezy and cool clime at 6-ish in the morning.

I hope that it stays this way as we head into the new year, and my knees hold up.

Well, here's wishing all a Merry X'mas and Happy New Year! Live to run.

Man, it feels long ... and surreal

2010-11-02T09:51:00.000-07:00

Went for a longer distance today, and ran/walked 14 km in almost 1:40 mins. That's an eternity in the running world, but still, it's a start to getting back to where I should be.

It felt strangely good, and I'm sure I'd be rueing the aches tomorrow.

It's been a surreal kind of week for me - various calls with various people for various things, but all leading away from where I am now. Let's see where the roads lead.

On the music front, just when I thought I'd found the killer combination of male/female singers, my male lead said he might not be able to extend his stay in this country unless he finds a full-time job. Sigh. I hope that he'll land a job so that we can execute to plan.

Good night.

Went running today

2010-10-10T08:05:00.000-07:00

...and it felt damn good! Realized that my breathlessness when I step up the pace was probably caused by the sinuses clogging up the airways, but it took a few kilometers before the lightbulb went off in my head.

Cool! Now I need to fix that too. The good news is that my knee seems to be in better shape than I had dared hope, and I hope this lasts till the big one in Dec (at least that's the first hurdle).

Skipping the 30K

2010-10-09T09:30:00.001-07:00

Sigh - my knee needs to be fixed before I can run long distance, so am skipping the 30K run this morning. Pity though, as it would have been fun.

Not sure what's causing the swell in my knee, but I know it'll be a long-term problem if I don't get it checked.

Alright - hopefully I'd be in shape, and in time, for the marathon in December.

What was I thinking?

2010-05-22T21:14:00.000-07:00

Did a 25KM race yesterday - my first mid-distance one for a while - and to be honest, it was one of the worst races I've ever run. A serious lack of preparation, heat and humidity, and cramping (non-fatal) all contributed to a dismal time of 2:58 hrs.

I'd be the first to admit that laziness, lethargy, and a whole host of excuses for not putting in sufficient mileage were the usual culprits.

Next up, a 30KM race in October, and I'll be more amenable to getting off my butt and doing some serious training before I embarrass myself further. Wish me luck!

On a side note, I wonder how good those Newton shoes are ....

The Spinal Tap Syndrome?

2010-01-26T06:02:00.000-08:00

As with Spinal Tap - the movie - which keeps losing their drummers, my band seems to have a problem with keeping our singers. I've had to replace 6 singers in 5 years, and I wonder if this is a sign for me to hang it up.

I'm getting tired of auditioning singers, only to see them leave because they have to pursue higher education, they got other bands and they can't commit to more than one, or they feel incompetent in the band. Sigh.

I'll give this another shot, and hope that the new singer will last longer than our current record for singers. Wish me luck!

And I ran ...

2009-10-03T08:46:00.001-07:00

...for the first time in months. I managed a 9 km run non-stop for an hour. I was elated - my body felt fine, and I ran. I was smiling from ear to ear.

I hope this lasts ... the 'healthy' bit, that is. It really felt good to be going , and going, and going; each step spurring me onto the next, each kilometer a sign of a achievement since the last time I actually ran without stopping, or struggling for breath. Wish me luck!

Barefootin' - part deux

2009-07-26T03:33:00.000-07:00

Okay - so last time I got blisters because I didn't use socks. NOW I do.
Anyway, you've got to get socks that are made that way too - five separate toe pockets - then magic happens.
Well, I decided that since I'm well padded, I'd go longer distances.
Today I did a 10K run. Beautiful day out, breezy, not too hot, not crowded, and pace-wise, very comfortable.
Best thing, no blisters!
Okay, now the after-effects: sore calves and ankles, recurring knee pain, and it hurts. So I'm limping around like the walking wounded.
Well, think my leg muscles are learning and adjusting, but I wonder if my knee can hold up for longer distances, or if I should just stop being obstinate and buy a proper pair of shoes.
Watch this space.

Barefootin'

2009-06-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

Bought a pair of Vibrams Five fingers today (model KSO), and went running. According to the makers, many experts believe the shoes we wear not only cast the foot in a protective form, but also weaken our foot and leg muscles, leaving them underdeveloped and more prone to injury.

And while there are many occasions where traditional footwear is essential for protection, safety, and security, it is equally important to stimulate and exercise the foot in a more natural state on a regular basis. Hence the creation of the Five fingers.

Anyway, it was a short run (5K), and I've got blisters! Guess it's part of the breaking-in process. The upside is that you can chuck your socks once you've toughened your skin.

So how does it feel? Well, it's like running barefoot, and you're readjusting to that feeling of being barefoot and running over different surfaces, adjusting to the un-eveness, hardness, and so on.

The leg muscles (especially the toes and calves) are also readjusting as you're mostly landing on your front feet, and not so much on your heels. I'll update this post when I've broken them in a little.

We've moved - hooray!

2009-03-28T19:19:00.000-07:00

Moving house, for the uninitiated, requires an effort approximating that of removing archaeological artifacts from a museum. Due care must be paid to boxing everything up - all bits and pieces accounted for, and then put in boxes that could break your back if you tried lifting them on your own.

And then there's the taping up of those same boxes, stacking them up, and making room for your manoeuvres around the dwindling floor space so that you can get at other unpacked items to stuff them into new boxes.

All that took at least two full days (for 10 years' worth of hoarding and junk), and we must have dumped at least a good one-third of that after packing.

And just when you thought 'that's it!', the movers collect and dump the same boxes in your new pad, and you have to reverse the process - unpack.

That would take much longer than the packing as you have to now decide what goes where, and how to fit all the stuff you brought into new, smaller spaces. And this is assuming that you're not completely drained of energy with the packing in the first place.

So after two days of frantic packing up, often late into the night, and another few days of unpacking, we're almost done (and knackered too).

Word of advice: if you ever want to move, spend a little extra and get the movers to pack and unpack your stuff - it's worth every cent, trust me.

Masters in hand

2008-12-24T19:08:00.000-08:00

Finally - it's over. The Masters is done, and I've gone through a 2.5 year program of almost mindless fluff from a local tertiary institution that's taught me nothing except that attendance in class and sitting for exams are valued over and above the primary purpose of being in a University - an open-minded education.

I'd gladly discourage any potential students from enrolling in this particular course, and argue that they'd get better value from a more established global program. Of course it'd cost more, but the returns could be well justified.

Anyway, this chapter's over, so moving on, perhaps a higher degree in the future? Maybe, but next time it'll have to be with a global educational campus - and no more exams, or marking of class attendance.

21K completed

2008-12-07T07:17:00.001-08:00

So it's the annual Stanchart Marathon, except this year I signed up for the 21K instead - and thank goodness I did as I had the same problem as last year - the ITB band acted up at the 12K mark.

I was hobbling along, and up pops old pal David who was on his way to the finish line for the full marathon (I estimated he'd finish about 3:15 or close to that) and inspired me to jog through the pain.

I finished at 2:35 (35 mins longer than I'd have liked, but given the circumstances, can't really complain - I was happy to finish without walking too much :-)).

Anyway, I've decided that I need to shed a few kilos to ease the weight on my knees, so I'll probably commence on a weekly run-routine (4x a week) come Jan'09. And watch my diet as well. Wish me luck.

Saved by a Guitar Trinity

2008-11-29T06:14:00.000-08:00

It finally happened - Axl Rose has ended the 'exile' of the vehicle he calls Guns N' Roses and released 'Chinese Democracy' after 17 long years - with a few starts and stops in between.

The 'masterpiece' we've been waiting for since 'Use Your Illusion I & II' has, on first listen, turned out to be hugely disappointing - it is saved only from drowning in its drollness by a triumvirate of guitarists who filled in Slash's/Izzy's shoes on this outing: Buckethead, Ron Thal and Robin Finck.

Powered by tasteful and powerful guitar runs, it's their imagination that rescues the album from sinking under its self-important musical direction and composition. The interplay among all three - each taking stabs at intros, outros and everything else in-between, holds up the songs which otherwise meander into self-indulgence, courtesy of Mr. Rose. The world has moved on, but it's seems to be stuck in the late 80s/early 90s for him.

I'll give this disc a few more spins to confirm my initial assessment, but for now, I'd say - thank goodness for the Guitar Trinity.

What does it takes ...

2008-11-23T02:47:00.001-08:00

to get me started up in the mornings? I find at least 2 cups of coffee are the minimum - and that's in the same hour. I wonder if it's just age, or something else?

Anyway, I've got to get cracking on my half-marathon training - it's only 2 weeks away (gulp!).

On the music front, it's been a case of getting a gig at the outdoor theatre, but a revolving cast of female singers. I hope the latest one will stick around until the gig, or else I'd really be pissed. Her voice's not too bad, but she's into the indie folk stuff, so might have to see how we can kick it up a notch, or two.

Hopefully I'll now have more time to practise my guitar :-)

Is it really over?

2008-11-23T02:42:00.001-08:00

Took my last paper on Friday Nov 21. Not sure if I made it - I'm hopeless at open book exams. Maybe I should state I'm hopeless at exams generally. But anyway, it's over (for now) and I won't worry about until they send us the results.

Maybe doing this stuff isn't as fun as I thought, but I guess it made me some new friends, made me realise how different a local education was to a foreign one, and made me appreciate my family for putting up with my twice-a-week absences over the last 2.5 years.

Well, looking ahead, I'm half-tempted to gun for a Philo doctorate program, or something with macro Econs, but guess that'll have to wait - I've more fun things to do with my time than chase after another piece of paper (and for no good reason).

Stay tuned.

Changes to the 'Red Fence'

2008-09-10T08:01:00.000-07:00

Simon & Garfunkel once sang "changes upon changes, we're more or less the same". Changes are taking place all over the tiny island we call home, and iconic landmarks are making way for spanking new complexes that purportedly draw in more dollars for the building owners.

Meanwhile, we're left holding onto yellowing and fading photos of our childhood environ, or in this age, digital memories of what used to be. Take Serangoon Gardens, aka the 'Red Fence' in dialect. One of its iconic landmarks, which used to house a movie theatre, and then was remade into a series of restaurants and banks, is now going to make way for a new shopping complex - this was a building that has been around since the 1970s (or even older).

Many memories were formed around the places we used to hang out at, and these will be gone in a flash - in the name of capitalism. The dreamy, village feel of the place will be replaced by the crass materialism of shoppers. The 'real' locals have to find another niche to call their own.

Here's a photo of the building - for old times' sake.

San Francisco revisited (pt.III)

2008-09-08T00:52:00.000-07:00

And some pics of the Chihuly exhibits at the De Young Museum in the Golden Gate Park. The last pic from the top of the De Young tower. Nice stuff.

San Francisco revisited (pt.II)

2008-09-08T00:32:00.001-07:00

Here're more pics from the trip - all sorts, randomly taken, from different spots in the city.

San Francisco revisited (pt.I)

2008-09-08T00:17:00.000-07:00

Took a sojourn to the west coast of the USA - Frisco - last week and came away with wonderful memories of the holiday.

The last time I saw SF was at least four years ago, and while it hasn't changed much (how much can you rebuild on 43 hills?), there are some new owners of buildings or shops from then. This time, I explored districts that were left off the agenda from previous visits, namely - the Castro, Mission, Japan town, Golden Gate Park, Nob Hill, and revisited North Beach for Cafe Triste (coffee to die for!) as well as Sushi on North Beach (an affordable and tasty Japanese joint, great sashimi!). Had a stroll around Haight Street too.

Of course, a jaunt around Union Square's shops was obligatory (the Apple store was a pilgrimage I had to make). Friends and relatives had to be accounted for where gifts were concerned.

Guess I still have a soft spot for Frisco after all these years.

The Wait

2008-07-24T00:08:00.000-07:00

If ever you needed work on your teeth, it might be worthwhile to consider DIY. A visit to the National Dental Centre today ate up two plus hours of waiting, another hour of actual dental work, and half an hour of post-work debrief. To add to your woes, the cost of this exercise ran up a princely sum (four-figure). So half a day of your life gone and a big hole in your wallet.

I'm not sure why dental centres make appointments for patients - the surety of that taking place at the appointed hour is as good as the odds of one striking the lottery within a ten-year period. Worse, there's hardly anything to occupy one's time, unless you count reading dog-eared magazines from a couple of years ago as fun.

To be fair, they had the telly on, but current affairs aren't exactly appropriate distractions. Maybe dentists are overworked, underpaid and under-appreciated, but they don't have to take it out on unwitting patients.

I wonder if an overhaul of the appointment system is overdue? What's the alternative, you ask? How about an RFID chip-triggered wrist band, linked into a Wi-Fi network, that notifies you when it's your turn to see the dentist, but leaves you free of the waiting room. All you need to do is to SMS the admin clerks that you've arrived, pick up your wristband, and wander off till it was time to see the dentist.

Another piece of advice - look after your teeth well, so you don't need this grief. Nothing is worth it.

Starbucks Art

2008-07-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

I've always liked a little kitschy pop-art, so I enjoy my visits to Starbucks, where they display the kind of posters that lend the place a certain cosiness, and envelop patrons in a warm, earth-toned welcome. Latte, anyone?

Wowie Zowie

2008-07-04T09:08:00.001-07:00

As seen at the Ford Motors showroom in Singapore. For more info, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_GT

Beer, wine and the rising cost of celebrations

2008-06-28T07:44:00.000-07:00

So we went - to a local beer pub to chill, dine and celebrate a friend's birthday (see pic of single slice of chocolate brownie, with a candle on top).

Nice atmosphere on a Friday evening, loads of people - young old, local, foreign, rich, middle-class, beer-guzzlers, liqueur-downers, and wine-sippers.

Not too many lower income groups were observed - with inflation rocketing, and basic commodity prices being sent through the roof, they probably found some other means of unwinding on a Friday night. People around here might start to feel the pinch, not yet, but soon.

Economic cycles will continue, some longer, some shorter - we'll just have to figure out how to deal with in - in our microcosm. Meanwhile, happy birthday to Mrs. Scully - it was a good night out.

Reality Bites

2008-06-15T08:09:00.000-07:00

Today is Father's Day - and I received a gift from my older kid. I could pick a CD of my choice, and he'd make Mum pay for it. So sweet of him. The deal was that he'd make up the difference if it cost over $20, but most CDs don't cost that much nowadays. But it was a nice gesture, and I got the CD I wanted for a while - The Last Shadow Puppets' The Age of The Understatement.

Might post a review of the album later, but let's see. Anyway, to the dads chancing across this blog, Happy Father's Day to you too :-)

Service Intermittently Atrophied

2008-03-16T19:50:00.000-07:00

A sign of when a company has become very established with its service is when you take them for granted, and then they deliver less than you expect.

On a recent flight back home from a neighbouring country on a reputable airline (known for its world-class service, among other things), my flight was delayed by an hour. Nothing out of the ordinary, except that the flimsy reason given was the plane was delivered late to the airport, and hence everything else was pushed back.

Never mind the wait (and waste of time). After I boarded, I asked for a copy of the papers as I had been starved of local news since I had been away for a couple of days. The stewardess brought me a copy all right, a two-day old copy. I was flabbergasted, and pointed this out. "Excuse me, but I'd would like today's," said I.

"Sorry sir", she said, and off she went to search for a current copy. She returned with a big smile on her face, and gave me a copy of Today, another local newspaper, but not what I wanted. "Hi," said I, "but do you have a copy of today's Straits Times?"

"Oh, sorry sir, I thought you wanted Today," she said, and off she went again. This time, I spied success as she came back. "Sorry sir, we ran out of today's papers, but here's a copy of the Business Times," smiling broadly to head off my rising displeasure. "Okay," said I, about to accept it, when again I spotted the date, and pointed out to her, "but this is dated two days back."

"Oh, oh, sorry sir," she look puzzled. My question: don't they check the publication date before handing the stuff over? Or were they too hasty to please?

Never mind that. Meal time came round, and I was all set up to receive mine. "Would you like the pork with rice, or the fish with pasta, sir?" she inquired. "Pork with rice, please," said I, relishing the thought of some nice hot food.

Rummaging through her cart for about a couple of minutes, she whispered to her co-server if they still had the pork with rice. "No" came the answer. Sheepishly, she turned to me: "Sorry sir, we ran out of the pork with rice. The fish with pasta is actually quite good! Or how about some beef with potatoes?" she offered.

"No thanks; how about a vegetarian main?" I asked. "Let me check," she replied. A minute later, I heard the words I kind of expected: "Sorry sir, we don't have any more vegetarian meals."

I resigned myself to having my meal without the main course, and asked if she could supply me with some biscuits instead. Job done, I quietly finished my meal and settled down to my book.

"Excuse sir," another voice whispered near my ear, "I managed to find some duck with noodles from the other classes. Would you want it?"

I turned to see another helpful, smiling stewardess hovering at my side, hoping to make amends. "No thanks," said I, having already had my fill of biscuits.

Surprisingly, I wasn't the only disgruntled customer. Earlier, another stewardess spilled the contents of a paper bag on someone across the aisle as she struggled to pack the cabins above him. Luckily, it was mostly tidbits that fell on his head.

And not too long after, yet another passenger was disgruntled to find that he had been given the beef with potatoes meal, even though he had indicated he didn't want the beef. "So sorry sir", came the trained response.

This experience has shown that with success comes a great responsibility to deliver what you promise, and that the standards one sets can only go up, not down. Unfortunately, when the lapses appear, the decline in service standard becomes glaring, and turns into a blemish.

Walk To The Finish

2007-12-02T07:28:00.000-08:00

I had much anticipation for this year's Marathon, and my personal goal was to shave off at 20 minutes from last year's timing.

However, it turned out anything but the way I wanted it. Rushing to the flag-off point, checking in baggage, and queueing up for the portable loo meant I was late to the starting line. That left me with little warm-up time, but I thought I'd do fine.

And I did - for the first 18 km, keeping to a respectable pace. Then disaster struck - my Iliotibial Band gave out, thanks to the lack of proper stretching, and I slowed down to make it to 21 km. That caused a host of problems, like a chain reaction, as I had to adjust my running gait to accommodate the pain. Which made it worse as my other leg bore the brunt of my weight, and cramps appeared elsewhere with the awkward running. In the end, I had to walk and hobble the rest of the distance back. I ended up taking at least 2 hours longer than I had planned or wanted, but with a valuable lesson in tow - stretch, stretch, stretch!!!

Guess there's always next year. Sigh.

Playground (of) Filth

2007-11-10T22:46:00.001-08:00

Brought the kids to a playground in the next block of flats, and was (un)surprised at the filthy surrounds. The side effects of public housing is the fact that some inhabitants treat the public space as a dump - the tubular structure in the photo had burnt plastic (from people extinguishing their cigarettes inside the tubes) and bunched up used tissue paper in the trunks. They also boasted graffiti from a wayward spray painter. Welcome to the heartland playground.

While I've consistently brushed off these side effects, the point hit home when my kid asked me what 'F**k' meant - thanks to the spray artist's ability to write legibly. I had to evade the issue. Now I'm reconsidering bringing them there again, and even contemplating writing to the local council to complain about the filth - both physical and verbal.

Video arcades re-interpreted

2007-09-24T18:00:00.000-07:00

Time was when kids visited video arcades to play their favourite Konami/Nintendo games - slotting in multiple 20-cent pieces to feed their addiction. Accused as a distraction that made bright-eyed bushy-tailed schoolboys wayward, kids in school uniforms were denied entry to these dim and noisy joints.
As technology made it cheaper and easier, these games have found their way into homes, and now thanks to highly configured consoles, kids can now hook them up to flashy flat screen TVs, which reproduce high-definition versions of those games so beloved by kids of yore. Now daddies and sons could enjoy the games and grow obese together.
In the photos were the scenes captured recently at the toy section of a shopping centre, where kids could 'try' before they 'bought', but I suspect, they 'tried' more than they 'bought'. Amazingly, I had a flashback of days gone by when schoolboys crowded a popular arcade game, providing running commentaries, friendly jibes, and generally rallying around a player who's about to get the crap beaten out of him by the villain in the game. The amusing thing was that there was a notice stuck under the console (see red 'Warning' label under the LCD screen) warning players that they would be escorted out if they wore school uniforms while playing with the controller. Some rules rarely change.
Viva Arcade Games!

An evening at Que Pasa and a nice bottle of Bellingham too

2007-09-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

Went to this popular watering hole on a Friday evening last week, and we tried the South Africa's Bellingham Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot (vintage 2004) - very nice. Reasonably affordable by local standards, and a good wine too. Subtle mix of fruits, full-bodied-ish, and easy on the palate. Nice aftertaste. The tapas weren't too bad either - served fresh off the pan.

The More I Learn, The Less I Know

2007-09-20T04:10:00.000-07:00

...at least that's what I realise after sitting through four to five weeks of classes. The topic of Comparative Global Media Systems looked straightforward enough, but turned out to be otherwise.
Am struggling to make sense of the theories, implications to society, and relate them back to the subject.
As if holding a fulltime job wasn't enough...

Cafe Along Purvis Street

2007-08-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

Revisited an old haunt - the Hock Lam Beef Noodle Stall along Purvis Street. Following that, we tried this cafe further along called Miss Clarity Cafe.
Well, actually, we tried the cake and coffee. Cake's called Twin Delight (one layer of thick chocolate on top of a layer of cheese cake, with a biscuit base) - we shared one slice, and it was enough. Trust me (it's been 3 hours since I ate it, and I still feel full).
The cafe latte was so-so, although they made an effort in presentation.
In case you wanna visit, the sign is in pink, and it's towards the end of Purvis, nearer the new National Library. Seems like a popular joint though, and reservations seems mandatory for dinner.

Potato Head Spoofs

2007-06-09T19:43:00.000-07:00

With the current rage surrounding movie blockbusters such as Spiderman 3 and Transformers, I was at the toy store the other day and spotted these. Made my day :-)

Cafe Iguana

2007-06-09T19:37:00.000-07:00

Went to this Cafe a couple of nights ago. The Margaritas are killer, and I'd recommend the Horny Toad. Here's what the place looks like. Oh yeah, visit during Happy Hours - it's really value for money.

Waving, Not Drowning

2007-06-07T06:00:00.000-07:00

So there I was, wondering if I had dived in too deep, wading back up to the surface. I don't know what it is I'm after, but its elusivity keeps me swimming ... hopefully in the right direction.

Anyway, just started this new role a couple of months back, but it feels like I've been there much longer. A sign that I'm fitting in, or just in over my head, I wonder?

Music-wise, the band's really recorded two great songs, and I couldn't believe we sounded so tight together. Unfortunately, that was the old line-up, and we've lost the keyboadist. A new guitarist has come into the fold, and we're starting to venture along the acoustic path. Will report on that development soon.

Academically, the semester past was really a mixed bag, and I did as well as I could given my lack of motivation, so I'm not really complaining. It's summer break now, and we'll get back into the second half of my four-semester course probably in a couple of months.

Hopefully, life will return to more normalcy post-June, and I'll be able to assess things better then, academically and otherwise.

New Chapter

2007-03-20T07:51:00.000-07:00

Will be moving into a new job come next week - after about 14 months in the present one. I've brought forward the start date, which is just as well as there are new challenges, in start-up mode, that'll keep me busy and focused ... hopefully, for the next 24 months or so. Looking forward to the challenges (and rewards too).

Am mid-way through my Masters, but the motivation is wearing thin. This semester's subjects are dry and un-engaging, as I lamented in the previous post. Hope to scrape through this with the minimal amount of points to proceed onto the next semester. Need to be more diligent about choosing my topics next time. Sigh.

Music-wise, the band completed a couple of gigs at the Esplanade in March, which were well-received. We will be laying down a couple of tracks for our demo this Saturday. Hope they turn out well.

Moving on ... again

2007-02-14T01:31:00.000-08:00

Someone once said a rolling stone gathers no moss, and while the gist is true, I'd like to argue that in my case, it IS better for me to roll on than gather any moss here.

So I'm off to another work opportunity, which kicks in early April, and I'm excited by the prospect that offers. The organisation is rather sizable, the culture seems benign and encouraging, and the work looks reasonably challenging.

Hopefully this will be a stop that I make for at least 24 months, if not longer. My contribution to the organisation will hopefully be seen and appreciated as adding value and pushing the organisational envelope a little further. And of course, on a personal and profession level, I glean and gain as much from there too.

That's about all's that exciting me on the work front, and I can't wait to cross over.

Outside work, the band is going great guns with two secured gigs in March, which features some big names from around the world. And we could do another one in April if all goes well.

My Masters programme is going well, but the units this semester are turning out to be a bore - my coursemates feel the same way. Hopefully that doesn't dampen our desire to do as well as we could this semester.

Meanwhile, I'm biding my time, and counting down the days to the switch. Stay tuned.

Boredom creeping in

2007-01-30T06:48:00.000-08:00

The danger with the 'comfort zone' is the boredom factor. I would rate 'boredom' on a scale of 1 to 10, 1 being least bored, and 10 very bored. Right now, I'm about a 7.5 on the scale, and it bothers me that I feel this way.

Why? Because I've only just switched over. And I already feel under-challenged.
I could list the reasons for this feeling, although I rather not.
Would it make my life any better?

Sigh. I wonder if the next stop I make will be any better - the perennial question of what I'm seeking always surfaces, but it is a hard one to answer, let alone contemplate during quieter moments. I don't know, and I doubt if I'd know the answer in the future.

So I did the next best thing today - I jacked in my headphones to my iPod, picked out a song I liked, and turned up the volume. That cheered me up considerably.

I wonder if I'll get out of this rut. Stay tuned.

Here's To The New Year

2006-12-31T07:12:00.000-08:00

At this point in time, I'm about 45 minutes away from 2007, and I'm sure some other countries are already knee-deep in their revelry and drunken parties. New Year's eve has always been a time of reflection, and wonder. It is no different this year, as 2006 comes to an end. The year whizzed by, and I could hardly recall most of what went by.

A key highlight has to be the marathon I ran, and I'm seriously thinking about doing another in 2007. Another happy highlight is the fact that the band seems to be taking off (again) as we've some performances lined up for 2007.

I'm glad to announce I've passed the exams to continue the Master course. Hopefully it'll still be a breeze through 2007.

Meanwhile, if you're reading this, here's a Happy New Year to you wherever you are! Peace!

Watson's Bay - Sydney

2006-12-22T19:25:00.000-08:00

Was in the eastern city of Australia for a friend's wedding, and decided to check out the sights beforehand. Ended up at Watson's Bay for lunch (at Doyle's, where else?!?) and took a short walk around the Southern Head tourist spot. Great summer hike.

I'm A Marathoner!

2006-12-03T02:23:00.000-08:00

That's right - I'm a marathon virgin no longer. Completed my first one today. Was at the starting line at 0545 hrs, sucking in the atmosphere of anticipation, nervousness, and others who were chomping at the bit, in the dawning darkness.
The run was flagged off at 0600 hrs, and it was a nice jaunt in the first 10 km. The powergel was taking effect, and I was cruising up to about 12 km. Then I had to slow down as my legs were protesting, and my blisters started to make thier presence felt.
Picked up the pace after I got used to the discomfort, and managed to slice off about 5 to 6 minutes off my previous half-marathon timing. The weather was nice and cool, which was surprising, and it helped as the morning was out of its slumber. Time check 0820 hrs. Headed onto a stretch on the beach, and saw some of my friends already on their way back. Dammit!
My thighs were now cramping up as I hit my 30 km mark, and I struggled to the nearest water station at 31 km to grab much needed hydration, and get my blisters fixed. Rubbed muscle-relief ointment on my thighs, and ploughed on.
Comng up to 35 km mark, and I had started to walk. Dammit - it's only 7-plus km more, but it felt like a thousand miles away. Forced myself to jog very lightly again, and focused my thoughts on the finish. I dedicated the last 6 km to my family; one for each member.
Finally crossed the finish line in a time that was respectable given my condition, and I felt relief and elation! I have completed my first marathon. Will I do another? I haven't quite decided. Ask me in a few months.

Masters of Introspection Pt.II

2006-11-20T03:34:00.000-08:00

Okay, so 13 or 14 weeks have zipped past, and life's a blur. I'm now in the exams period, which basically signals the end of my first semester. It's been ages since I last sat for an exam paper, and to be honest, I have no clue what it's like to do it again.
As for my preparation, it's as crappy as crap can be - I'm frantically reading everything that should have been read weeks ago. So that's the story of my Masters prep for now.

Am I enjoying it? Well, yes and no. Yes, because it takes time away from the mundaneness of work (we all know what that's like) and it allows you to daydream, chase a particular cause, do the stuff you like. No, because there's all the theoretical stuff which is mostly inapplicable for work, and the structuredness of the course which makes you realise why rote-learning still exists.
But the students are fun - young, and full of enthusiasm - except the likes of those who have been in corporate life for much too long. Our inner cynic cringe at the theoretical stuff most times.

Anyway, I hope to get away with a pass so that I can proceed to the next semester. 2 units done, 8 more to go. Wish me luck!

Motor Show Pt.5

2006-11-13T07:29:00.000-08:00

Here're two more to complete this post. And that's about all the interesting cars I saw. The Chrysler 300C is on top, and the Mitsuoka is below it.

Motor Show Pt.4

2006-11-13T07:27:00.000-08:00

And the elegant Lexus LF-A.

Motor Show Pt.3

2006-11-13T07:25:00.000-08:00

And the Lamboghini. Sleek machine.

Motor Show Pt.2

2006-11-13T07:20:00.000-08:00

Here're the Ferraris. My fave? The 599GTB, which is the second photo. Yummy.

Motor show Pt.1

2006-11-13T07:11:00.000-08:00

Went to a Motor Show over the weekend, and these were the only photos worth posting (first one of a few). The show has shrunk in popularity over the years, and the past few years has seen it suffer. The conspicuous absence of several European marques - BMW, Mercedes, Saab, Audi, VW to name but a few - certainly hasn't helped its profile. So what's left to oogle? Fast cars? The usual suspects are there - Ferraris, Lamboghinis, Merserattis - but not others. Will the show die a natural death? Not that quickly. Does it need rejuvenation? You bet. And having more 'race queens' drape themselves on the automotives won't help...that much.

Can't Find My Way Home

2006-11-06T23:22:00.000-08:00

This song has stuck in my head ever since I heard it some years back, with the haunting Steve Winwood overture and Eric Clapton's guitar fills adding to the desolation of the song.

The lyrics speak about possessing everything you'd want materially, but being bankrupt emotionally/spiritually. In other words, you can have a fat pay check, afford all sorts of stuff, and yet, get no satisfaction from that job. Life's one big fat routine.

There's this hollowness that rings through and through, and it challenges you to find your way back - to your own beliefs, your passion, your ideals. But materialsm keeps blindsiding you. And one does not beget the other.

There's a sense of urgency, and knowledge that life is short, and you need to do what you can, to recover your ideals and passion. And a hunch that you may go hungry again, but you're never found wanting in your calling.

Blue pill or red pill? Sigh.

Maggie & Me

2006-10-23T08:25:00.000-07:00

Mag_Clem
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Eat your heart out, Adrian Pang

Taking a shot

2006-10-23T08:24:00.000-07:00

Us3
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

and here's how...

Martini power!

2006-10-23T08:23:00.000-07:00

MF_gang2
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

We love 'em Martinis!

Self portrait II

2006-10-23T08:22:00.000-07:00

Mag_Boon
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Do we look silly? Really?

Can't talk

2006-10-23T08:21:00.000-07:00

Boon
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

...got an olive in my throat.

Let's all eat Maggie

2006-10-14T08:14:00.000-07:00

MF_Gang1
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

This is what happens after a few Martinis, downed really fast.

This hits a spot....

2006-10-14T08:12:00.000-07:00

Boon
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Boon's Dirty Martini doing its job.

Self-portraits

2006-10-14T08:11:00.000-07:00

Mag_Boon
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Hey, do we look silly or what?

Rediscovering Metal ... and Metallica

2006-10-11T23:05:00.000-07:00

I had a discussion with a fellow muso the other day about the sad state of Metallica's recent output, and we agreed that their music has generally gone to the dogs since the Black album was released. Anyone remember the albums that came after that? Thought so.

Anyway, I decided to revisit my Metallica CD collection, and started to rip all their albums I had onto my MP3 player. Boy, that brought back memories! From 'Kill 'Em All' to 'Ride The Lightning' to 'Master Of Puppets' to '...and Justice For All', and then the Black album, and the double CD pack of Garage Days, Metallica did deliver some of the most memorable riffs in metal's history.

The band's lack of focus, from 'Load' onwards, and with various members' substance addictions, sadly derailed one of the greatest metal bands to have emerged from the SF Bay area.

Still, there's no denying the relevance that their first 5 albums will hold for the next few generations of metalheads.

Inspired by Metallica revisited, I went and bought 'The Best of Sepultura' and 'The Best of Fear Factory', two more seminal late '80s/early '90s metal bands that were on the artist roster of one of my favourite metal labels, Roadrunner Records. As is evident, my trip down memory lane is an ongoing journey.

That's not to say that the current crop of metal bands are crap either. Check out Finland's Children of Bodom, for instance. Or Trivium, who hail from Florida, US. Two new exciting metal bands among a slew of others that also incorporate the meanest guitar shredding I've heard in a while.

Things are indeed looking bright for the metal scene since it fell into a creative slump towards the end of the last Century, and I'm pleased as punch.

Life As It Goes

2006-10-09T19:29:00.000-07:00

I've seen or heard of three deaths in the past six months, all in the same housing estate, all suicides.

Could it be the environment? The poor in their pigeonholes? Their diminished hopes? An incurable ailment?

Is there a link between an ageing housing estate and crumbling dreams; unhappy lives, and the leap off the parapet to self-destruction?

The most recent case (which took place barely a week ago) was someone in his or her thirties. What happened? What could have helped? I don't know; and I don't know if there'll be any simple answer.

People abandoning reason and crossing the chasm - was there ever any effort to pull back? Did someone try to pull them back? Did they know how?

Could something be done to lift sagging spirits, cheer up the downtrodden, infuse hope and ambition, turn meaningless chores into purposeful routines? Would it be too late to fight the onset of hopelessness?

I don't know. Could there be a better world than this?

Angie and Doris

2006-10-09T00:56:00.000-07:00

Angie and Doris
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Whacha staring at?!?

Power!

2006-10-09T00:55:00.000-07:00

Power gang
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

The ex-MF gang descended on Prego's yesterday for brunch and a catch up. Eveyone looked smashing - Maggie and Chris had just come back from a holiday; Doris is here for a couple of weeks since she became HK-based; Angie had just come back from Australia; Char, Boon and I didn't go anywhere. But it was fun, and we've got the obligatory group shot to prove it.

Maggie and Chris

2006-10-09T00:53:00.000-07:00

Maggie and Chris
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Maggie explaining why she shopped more than she should have. Chris' thought bubble says: "Uh-oh..."

Doris and Clem

2006-10-09T00:51:00.000-07:00

Doris and Clem
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Boy, do I look tired or what? Doris looks slightly better.

Pizza at Prego's

2006-10-09T00:50:00.000-07:00

Pizza at Prego's
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Doris took this shot. Later, Angie, Doris and I made sure it was well-spoken for. Yum.

Char and Boon

2006-10-09T00:49:00.000-07:00

Gosh! All this talking is making me thirsty...

Char and Boon
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Masters of introspection

2006-08-22T02:20:00.000-07:00

I've gone and done it. I'm now in week 3 of my first semester (there are 4 if I wish to complete it in two years) of my Masters in Mass Comms course at a local uni. Yikes! What was I thinking? Maybe I was (am?) bored at work, and needed to occupy my time. Of course the family's already factored in, but there's still room for other stuff.

Anyway, my classmates are spread among the young and the young-ish. There's a swath of civil servants, foreign students, exchange students, ex-journos, ex-this and that, and me (ok, I quaify for one of the aforementioned categories, but I thought I'd make myself the exception). More females than males, although this shouldn't be surprising. Already I'm involved in two project groups - one for each class. Oh yeah, part time students (that's me) are supposed to take 10 units (or classes) over 4 semesters to complete the course, in addition to sitting for an examination for each of the classes. So I'm thinking of doing a 2, 3, 3, 2 combi. Considering the load, it's not half as bad as the full timers.

And here I am, week 3 and counting, getting used to being a student again - wondering if I've bitten off more than I could chew. Oh well, I'll plough on and post my thoughts (and regrets, if any) soon.

On the band front, it's been a relatively quiet two months since Rock D'Fort ended (in June), but we've gone on and completed a demo of 3 tunes for some SAE students, and will be meeting another SAE final year student to discuss the prospects of making an EP (about 5 songs). Ambitious we are not. Besides, J's decided to fly the coop and do her MBA in the States, which means we're now looking for her replacement. She'll be out for a year, but as the song goes, 'who knows what tomorrow brings'? Anyway, I hope to see more activity on the music front in the coming months.

It felt good to know some things can only get better ...

2006-07-10T20:05:00.000-07:00

... and that was evident at last night's gig: Coldplay, a band that I saw five to six years ago, when they were on the cusp of international stardom with 'Parachutes', rocked my part of the world on their far-reaching X&Y tour - show number 144 and counting.

And what a show! Lights, lasers, a gigantic video screen, 'live' film footage of the band and the crowd juxtaposed amid glowing stage lights, and giant yellow balloons filled with glittering gold confetti, and even the venue, which has a notoriety for being a sound vacuum but behaved much better last night, all conspired to make it a memorable evening.

Not to mention that Chris Martin has evolved into a consumate showman - he who once hid behind his electric piano for the whole duration of his shows: dancing, flexing his wrists, waving to the crowds on both ends of the stage runways, jumping in the crowd much later, and even doing 'calls and responses' throughout the night. Has he been watching too many U2 video re-runs?

It was a very professional, emotional evening, with the crowd evidently at one with all of their songs, singing along to hits like 'Yellow', 'In my place', etc.

The band played for a full 2 hours, and came back for an encore of 4 songs, capping the night with 'Fix You' - another perennial crowd favourite, and every chorus was met with resounding voices, unwavering, lyrically accurate - band and crowd sung as one.

Coldplay as a rightful successor to U2? Why not? They can only get bigger.

One of the best gigs I've attended this year, and certainly one to talk about for years to come. Bliss!

The Incredible Shrinking Service

2006-06-04T01:04:00.000-07:00

A bunch of us popped down to Timbre the other night, to chill, catch up and watch the house band. It was the group's second time there, on the same night of the week as previously.

The first time we were there, we were let down by the service. Orders were mixed up, the food and drinks were late, and service staff had to be ambushed just to be brought to our table.

It was no different this time - and it really got our goat. We endured three rounds of mixed-up orders (service staff brought us the wrong orders thrice, and even enquired if we wanted it anyway!?!), the food was late (one of our finger food dishes arrived one hour late), and the general service attitude was completely negative and unapologetic.
To add to our chagrin, the house band started tuning up on stage, creating a din that made it impossible to have a decent conversation.

When we decided to call it a night, the final bill was (...you guessed it) wrong, and they had to revise it twice before we were satisfied. That will be the last time we'd ever hang at Timbre.

The group has chosen another venue for its gathering.

Lessons from a child

2006-06-01T07:27:00.000-07:00

My boy, who's six this year, and due to enrol in Primary One next year, taught me a lesson in acceptance. We decided, for the sake of convenience, to send him to a neighbourhood school that runs single morning sessions, instead of the one that most of his current kindergarten friends will enrol at, and which starts its Primary One classes in the afternoon.

Most kids his age would have protested and sulked for a long time, but my kid, after a long thoughtful period of silence (5 minutes), accepted our decision.
When our friends brought their kids over yesterday, I overheard my son telling them that he's enrolling in said school next year, and he even seemed quite happy about that.

What struck me about this is that he's made the most of our decision, accepted it, and he'll enjoy himself regardless. I'm humbled by this simple and charming attitude. Lesson learnt. Thanks, kiddo.

Zero productivity plus some upside

2006-05-29T22:25:00.000-07:00

Too much of a good thing can be bad, so the saying goes. I don't know if this is the issue in my case, but I'm bascially doing nothing much. Which some may say is a good thing. But if I'm doing nothing really much everyday, the point of it being a good thing goes away. I need challenges to feed my mind, and if I'm not getting it at work, I'm going to have to get it elsewhere.

Music-wise, we're progressing rapidly from a band with maybe about 5 originals to one that can boast 10 new ones. Now if only we can piece them together coherently and tighten them up before we take to the stage again - which is like another two weeks away.

Anyway, as things are, it's quite uneventful (and I like it that way), but minor irritations arise now and again. Hope to grab a vacation soon.

The ties that bind

2006-04-30T06:08:00.000-07:00

MF gang1.JPG
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Haven't seen the gang for a while, but everybody looked good. Menotti's new at Raffles City, no?
Boon and I were the only winos today, and we tossed back a half bottle of white and 2 glasses of Sav Blanc. The rest sipped their exotic coffees. Char and I shared the warm chocolate cake - yummy.

The ties that bind ... again

2006-04-30T06:00:00.000-07:00

MF gang2.JPG
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Here's another picture, all looking decidedly happy at Menotti. We're recovening for dinner some time in the next few weeks, probably at a posh restaurant like Blu in Shangri-la. Mag's buying me a drink (or two). Yay!

Listlessness

2006-03-16T01:33:00.000-08:00

I feel listless. I've not felt like this for a while. Maybe its the thought of death that's the cause. I don't know. And I don't want to introspect - there're too many synapses to fire up. And discard.
And what of death? Is it the end? Or the beginning?
End of what? Beginning of what?

Paraphrasing Dylan Thomas:
I refuse to go quiet into the night;
I refuse to go out like a light;
I will rail against the light;
I will rail with all my might

Sigh.

Human Again

2006-03-13T18:54:00.000-08:00

A friend died in Beijing last Sunday, March 12. I felt numb when I heard the news. In this age of virtual relationships, and where friends are separated by vast distances, I found it hard to connect again - human to human, emotion over electronics, compassion over cyber-passion.

I felt ambivalent - how should I have felt? How do I react? What's the right emotion? Has the virtual environment severed or numbed our human emotions? Do we ever feel anything anymore?

I don't know; maybe it's just me wondering why I've become so detached.
I hope that when I finally turn up at her wake, I will know what it is like to reconnect as a human being, to feel my deep loss, to mourn with her family, grief with my friends, and feel human all over again.

New beginning - hooray?

2006-01-30T05:41:00.000-08:00

Happy new year - a few weeks late. It's the thought that counts, I'd argue.
Well, I've changed jobs, just 6 months after I got into that one. This one looks more promising, although I wouldn't speak too soon. But the job's mine to define, and I'm excited at the prospect of doing that. I hope this'll last - my enthusiasm, that is.
On the music-front, nothing much's happening at the moment as we've taken a short breather. I hope this isn't the beginning of the end for the band, but if it is, I wouldn't be too sorry either. I'm still trying to determine what I want from this outfit, and maybe, letting it die a natural death might be the way to go - I might realise there's nothing I'd want to pursue afterall. We'll see.

American Standard Telecaster

2005-10-31T08:18:00.000-08:00

Decided to post this pic of my Tele. Lovely tones especially when you roll off the trebles - get the warm jazzy tones that Danny Gatton gets up to when he does the same to his Joe Bardens. Beautiful maple neck and fretbaord. When I'm in the mood, I'd do a Steve Cropper thang and turn up the funk a la James Brown. Sweet.

Looking Out

2005-07-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my 4th week into the new job, and I'm picking up the pace as quickly as I can. I was ambivalent about the role, but it looks like I might grow to enjoy it. Resistance is futile. Maybe I've spent too much time looking back instead of forwards, and I've not given myself the chance to really do that.
As they say, you ought to let go of the past - easier said than done. But seeing that I'm sinking deeper into this job, it might be a good idea to do that.
Meanwhile, everythng on the music-front looks fine: we're playing everywhere this month, every weekend. Still, the band lacks a little pizazz, more because of a lack of understanding on the musical plane than individually. Hope we'll work out our kinks soon.

The summer sojourn is ending

2005-06-22T04:59:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure if it's good or bad, or what I really want, but the month-long break is coming to an end, and I hit the corporate road come July. Back to proper attire, office hours, office etiquette etc. No more lazing around the house, the beach, hanging out at the CD store etc. May be welcoming, I guess, and the money helps. See how it goes. Just hope I'll adapt quickly and painlessly.

Gold Top Std

2005-06-13T07:30:00.000-07:00

Gold Top Std
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Ah, a special one. I've been meaning to write about this for a while, but didn't get the chance. It's a 2002 Gold Top standard, all stock, but pre-Burstbucker era. Sweet tones still, and can't go too far wrong when you crank it up for some sweet Southern rock or that jazz-tinged blues. Beautiful.

The Fender Strat American Std make-over

2005-06-13T07:28:00.000-07:00

Fender Strat
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

It's a 1991 Fender U.S. Strat - everything stock except for the pickups - I swapped them with Lindy Fralins Blues Specials. Now they hit the sweet overdriven tones without all the extra 60 Hz cyclical hum. Lovely.

Heritage 535

2005-06-13T07:26:00.000-07:00

Heritage 535
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Great tone, great texture - a true Heritage. A jazz lover's dream axe.

Idle hands

2005-06-08T02:34:00.000-07:00

Boy, being out of work sucks. Big time. Time drags, even though I thought having time drew the biggest appeal when I was in a job. Just spending my days surfing, reading, listening to music, strumming my guitar, talking to strangers. Need to get some exercise. Breathe in, breathe out. There, much better now.

Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

2005-05-20T01:55:00.000-07:00

Wow! That was so much better than episodes 1 and 2. I'm glad it's all wrapped up, and that Darth Vader has finally donned his costume. Will George Lucas make another Star Wars movie? I dunno. But I hope he goes easy on using CGI. Just concentrate on developing a solid plot and dialogue. And maybe recast Natalie Portman?

Pac-Man lives again...

2005-05-14T06:31:00.000-07:00

in a neat little console with 4 other games from the Atari/Namco era of the '80s. Emotional draw for a little nostalgia from times (mis)spent in the games arcade. Grabbed a set today - Pacman, Galaxia, Bosconian, Dig Dug and that little racer game whose name I can't recall, but I sure dumped enough coins into the damned machines back then to remember what the game was about. Cool stuff - great for wooing the Gen-Xers whose main claim to fame was in hitting top scores in those arcades of yore back into the TV games room, and making us chuck the PS and XBoxes aside for a while. There are others to collect (all '5 in ones' consoles), and it's a simple plug & play set up.

Questions and answers...

2005-05-07T05:36:00.000-07:00

Had a call today - a job offer. Sounds cool right now, but the T&C may not be what I was after. Need to think this through. Still unsure of the path to take. The Tears For Fears song, Everybody Wants To Rule the World, is slowly but surely becoming anthemic.

Questions, questions

2005-05-06T08:37:00.000-07:00

Had a weird situation. Got retrenched this week, and a few people have called to say they want me to join them. Need to think about it. It's so damn weird - I barely got over the shock and already I'm supposed to embrace a 'new' beginning. Can I simply just switch 'on' and 'off' like that? It's a weird feeling. Maybe I should be feeling great, but I feel sad. Is that weird?

London is the vibe V

2005-05-03T18:06:00.000-07:00

London Cabs
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

One of the sights on London's busy streets. Always had a soft spot for these cabs.

Lazy the Cat

2005-05-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

Lazy the Cat
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

The king of the heap, the laziest kitty in the household, and a dumb cat to boot. Eats and sleeps and chases his mate half the day. Loves to be stroked. Hates baths. Loves to laze in the sun. 7 years old and counting.

London is the vibe IV

2005-05-03T04:28:00.000-07:00

Swiss Re Building, London
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

As promised, here's the Swiss Re building (aka the Erotic Gherkin) in downtown London. Woody Allen made a movie and included this in a scene, Freudian overtones notwithstanding. Captured from the ground this time en route to Petticoat Lane.

London is the vibe III

2005-05-03T04:20:00.000-07:00

London Eye
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Finally got round to doing the photosets, and thought I'd share this with you. It's the London Eye (step right up folks, it's 12.50 Sterling Pounds per adult and takes up to about 30 minutes per cycle). Took a ride and saw much of central London - flattish with a few spires sticking out. Waved at the Swiss Re Building - coming up in the next post.

Transamerica Building

2005-05-03T04:14:00.000-07:00

Transamerica Building
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Cool piece of architecture. Love SF!

Gibson Les Paul Studio

2005-05-03T04:12:00.000-07:00

Gib_body
Originally uploaded by spaceboy46.

Had this Gibson Les Paul Studio since 1993, and it's still one of my faves. Use it for blues, jazz, & rock. Will be swapping out its stock pickups with Seymour Duncan Jazz (neck) and JB (bridge) soon. Wish me luck.

Springtime in San Francisco

2005-04-30T09:37:00.000-07:00

Was in SF for a few days last week, and it is still one of my fave cities in the world. The air was crisp, a touch of spring and a little bite in the air, but sunshine kept me company most of the time I was there. Popped by old haunts such as Sears Fine Foods for breakfast (da best bacon crisps to date), Guitar Center (reloacted to 1645 Van Ness Ave but stocks less than what they used to) and of course Virgin Megastore (picked up Rachel Yamagata's debut - raw, tense, angry, imploring, and she's cute to boot). Skipped Banana Republic this round (although I heard they had a sale going on).
What's new in SF? A lot of reconstruction going on - some buildings left hanging onto their proud past with only their facades standing - everything thing else was demolished. But it was good to be back in SF if only fleetingly. Spring and SF.

Loaded

2005-04-20T01:28:00.000-07:00

I'm the master of my destiny. I am what I eat. I am what I read. I am what I hear. I am what I say. And I'm so loaded. By food. Heavy lunches shouldn't be allowed during the work week. It saps energy. Help - I need to snooze. Can't. type. any. longer. Zzzzz.

Entry Restricted II

2005-04-19T09:01:00.000-07:00

Well, the anguish over the privileged amusement park isn't about to subside. People are still incensed, infuriated, and insulted. The city's officials aren't going to make any apologies for their Fascist act either. Will the downtrodden tear down the walls? Can they ever find the collective strength? Shall they move on? And let injustice fester like a cancer, imploding within their insolent bodies in the distant future?

Can fairness be ridden roughshod by the seeming gain in economic benefits? Has pragmatism denigrated common sense and individual rights? Must we let them?

Entry Restricted

2005-04-17T18:07:00.000-07:00

Imagine having a nice amusement park built in your very own city, with the latest and greatest rides, gizmos and attractions the city can ever offer. Now imagine that the park is opened exclusively for people who don't live in the city, but who are wealthy enough to pay the entry fee and for the rides.

The people in the city are shut out, and told that this is for their own good. There could be an addiction to rides, and the city's officials don't want anyone to get hooked and possibly waste their lifesavings on the rides.

Okay, they give in - people from the city can go, but they have to pay a hefty entry fee before they get in, much higher than what outsiders would pay. And the city's officials will post counsellors on site to spot would-be addicts, and haul them out of the park.

Gives me the jitters everytime I think about it - is there an affront to the freedom of choice and individual rights of the citizens? Strangely enough, there are people who live in the city who would happily choose to be shut out, for all kinds of reasons. But there are others who are insulted at the way they are treated.

What to do? Is there merit to discrimination, and should it be condoned in this case?

What are the benefits to the city's people if the park was a roaring success? What are the consequences should the park fail miserably?

Deep Purple revisited

2005-04-14T23:56:00.000-07:00

Am listening to the 1976 Deep Purple line-up: David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Tommy Bolin, Jon Lord, Ian Paice from their Come Taste the Band LP. Great stuff if you gave it a chance, post-Ian Gillan, Richie Blackmore and Roger Glover.
Bolin's guitar playing is superb, bluesy and soulful. Great use of the guitar effects and slide. Coverdale's voice is sublime. Check out 'Coming Home' to see what I mean.

Wonder what would have happened if Deep Purple hadn't broken up after that...