Up Your Sir's Ass

I know, I know I'm sounding crude here. Sorry. I apologise.

My entry is based on this media report: Singapore can achieve superior service standards in 2 years. The statement was said by this American service guru called Ron Kaufman, who is also the author of 'Up Your Service'.

First of all, what the heck is a 'service guru'? Does coming from America make a person a 'guru' of sorts? So he knows alot about service? Does he know about different cultural types of 'service'? How about cross-cultural service, for example how an Asian might treat a gwai-loh?

And what is that sweeping statement all about? Define 'superior service standards'. It's not like your regular 'superior shark fin soup', mind you!

I don't think it takes a guru to rate anyone's service standards. If it's bad, it's bad. If it's worth the commendation, then service will be rewarded. And so he claims that Singapore can achieve superior service standards in 2 years.

Someone please take note of this for the Joke of the Week.

Also, the report mentioned a fine example of service quality in Lim Ah Buay, who visits patients even after they are discharged! You know why she got mentioned? Because she keeps asking people if they have drank enough!

"Lim Ah Buay?"
"Lim liao" or "Ah Buay Lim"

Okay... so that was a classic FOS moment. I just had to let it out.

Another thing irks me. Some civil servants actually have to go to the Up Your Service College to be certified.

If we're going to be Japanese standard in service, then it's gonna take more than 2 years. Trust me, coz I'm also a service guru. Really.

I'm back!

Alright folks!

I'm back! Actually I was 'released' about 2 weeks ago but I didn't have the time to update. Rest assured, I have many things to write about and I promise to insert my thoughts as we go along.

I'm gonna talk about the 3G Army transformation and how it has got a positive impact on me.

I'll also talk about some World Cup stuff.

Then there'll always be the transportation / trafficky stuff I'll bitch about as usual.

Stay tuned.

Uncle Lee Wants Me!

Yeap.... I'll be away from the blogosphere for a little while. I'll have very limited access to the internet while I'm away.

I'll be doing my country proud. I'll be protecting you.

I'll be away for reservist. In fact, I'm already in the midst of reservist.

Will be done on 23 June 2006.

I'll try to update my blog as I go along... but sorry, I cannot leak out secrets.

I'm only doing my duty as a responsible citizen of Singapore. I've come this far in realising that my country's defence is top notch and I'm not going to reveal any secrets in my blog to compromise the security of my country.

The Reason

I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
That's why I need you to hear

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new

and the reason is you
and the reason is you
and the reason is you
and the reason is you

I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you

- The Reason, Hoobastank

Grandiose hopes from the Manpower Ministry

What is the Manpower Minister thinking when he said that Singapore aims to be the world's best services workforce?

What is services workforce? What is world's best?

I'm sorry but Singapore services seriously lacks in COURTESY, PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE, and BASIC COMMONSENSE. Couple that with the severe lack of empowerment with regards to decision-making, his statement of aiming to be world's best is a tall order.

There are so many examples to choose from when it comes to lousy services compared with what other countries give. Mind you, being able to serve is usually in-built in a person's character. How to have such world's best services if we are so stiff and stifled?

Take for example if a diner finds out that there is something wrong with his food order. He tells the waiter. What would be the reaction of the waiter?

1. Act blur. Stand there like goblok and don't know what to do.
2. Call his supervisor, who will call his manager, who will call owner....
3. Automatically replace the offending order, no questions asked

How about those waiters at japanese restaurants who holler some japanese greeting everytime a diner enters the restaurant. Let me ask how many staff actually mean what they say WITH A SMILE?

Too many examples....

It's a tall order. The Manpower Ministry can keep dreaming. Please come up with something more down-to-earth and realistic. This seems to me like sweet talk.

Learning from migratory birds

I was in Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve last Saturday morning. Some people would know that Sungei Buloh is a refuelling stop for many migratory birds flying in from the north to escape the harsh winters.

These birds travel thousands and thousands of miles non-stop!

They are masters of fuelling and efficiency. There must be some sort of weight-to-food intake ratio for sustaining the endurance flight. We have also seen the V-shaped flight patterns of some bird species - supposedly drafting techniques to save on energy resources. Each bird taking turns to 'pull' the rest through the air stream, while the rest sucking in the vacuum of least air resistance. I'm sure there must also be the 'prefect' angle of deviation to achieve the best draft.

There's so much to learn from migratory birds that can be used in the science of triathlon.

Simply awe-inspiring and amazing!

Joe, Trish and Choonwei

Here's introducing 3 of the Singaporeans going for Ironman Canada!

Choonwei the Zoomway

Freelance web designer by day, strong cyclist by night.

Not only he bikes and runs much faster than most of us,

but he sure eats a lot!

Legend says he got a superworm in his system,

but that ain't gonna stop this single, eligible dude

from taking part in his first IM this August!

Tricia "Aqueous"

Don't let this little girl fool you either,

she'll beat you on the swim, bike, run and on the trails.

Her mental focus and determination will bring her to the finishing line.

With ease. Anytime.

Joe the Relac-wan-korner "Blow"

You'll hear him from miles away.

He'll walk faster than you can speed on your BMX.

His breaststroke will put a jetski company out of business

And he's only doing triathlons for fun!

Mapledreams: 5 S'poreans Help Others By Attempting Their Own Achievements

Come 27 August this year, 5 Singaporean youths will race in the Ironman Canada at Penticton, British Columbia. That is a gruelling 3.8km swim, 180km bike, followed by a full marathon run of 42.2km.

In a bid to realise their physical and mental abilities, Choonwei, Tricia, Joe, Sijie and Tommy are going to raise funds for charity as well. They have chosen Mercy Relief as their beneficiary. They will raise and race to achieve their own dreams while helping the underprivileged.

Now, Mercy Relief is in need of more funding since the recent devastating earthquake in Yogjakarta while the destruction of Mount Merapi volcano looms.

The five youths have designed a special dri-fit T-shirt for this fund-raising event. Each T-shirt costs S$30.00. 75% of the proceeds will go to Mercy Relief, while 25% will go into the Mapledream fund.

Anyone interested may contact Tricia at mapledreamers@gmail.com or call her at 9128 1817, or call Joe at 9112 9903.

The anti-littering rule applies to triathletes too!

Endurance athletes like marathon runners and triathletes rely alot on gels for quick replenishment of lost energy into our body systems.

The gels come in 'handy' packets with pre-determined 'shots' of contained carbo/protein/electrolyte mixes. Tear the top off and gulp the eecky gel into one's mouth and swallow with water. You squeeze 'em gels into the mouth and you throw the wrapper away while on the bike or run segments. Yep, we litter on the race course. I admit to doing that almost religiously in every race.



In long races, gels such as Powergel, E-gel, Carb-boom, Hammergel, etc. can be a life saver to keep a triathlete from bonking. There are usually no strategically-placed recepticles for a shagged out triathlete to throw the empty wrappers, unless we take the trouble to stuff the gooey wrapper into our bento boxes (if available) or stuff them into the teeny pockets of our tri-suit (if available). In other words, there aren't many choices to store 'em up for later disposal.

I just found out - by chance - that some races actually penalise triathletes who litter! If caught by the race anti-litter patrol, the offending triathlete can be penalised for up to 2 minutes. (this means an extra 2 minutes is added onto the final time taken to complete the race) 2 minutes can affect the overall standings!

Alright, I will make it a conscious effort to store my used gel wrappers for disposal at the finishing line. Not that the additional 2 minutes will matter much to me. I'm just going to try to be a civilised triathlete. Perhaps that is a greater challenge in itself eh?

Here's an article by Mountain Man, a writer for the Triathlete Magazine.

I quote him "Pick up after yourself; your mother doesn’t work here!"

Revealed: Da Munnchi's Code

I have to admit that I was very half-hearted in taking part in last weekend's Bintan Triathlon. I had a nagging headache which didn't give me much motivation to even attempt the gruelling course.

A recce of the bike route (by bus) and a glimpse of the run course didn't help either. The only inviting consolation were the clear blue and calm waters off Bintan.

So what was the oomph factor that spurred me to keep going and going like the energizer bunny on reserve fuel?

Words.

Words from my loved ones and friends, and timeless words from the Bible kept me on course to complete the race.

"For nothing is impossible with God." - Luke 1:37

"You can make things happen if you try hard." - Papa's birthday wish to me

"I have faith in you, and I pray that whatever you do & become will make a positive impact to your life, your loved ones & the community." - Mom's birthday wish to me

"If you haven't got fever or joint aches for the past 3 days, then go for it... but do it slow and enjoy the race" - Doc

"You eat (carbo-load) so much, I better see you at the starting line tomorrow! " - Choonwei the Zoomway

"Slow and steady wins the race" - Papa, as always

So here it is... I hope I've been an inspiration to all my 'fans' and critics out there. Cheers.

Getting to the bottom of the trashcan

The National Environment Agency (NEA) recently launched a new campaign for 'anti-littering' that focuses on hawker centers.

In the news report, the NEA 'hopes to find out why people are still leaving litter everywhere when there are bins nearby through a littering behaviour study'.

Singapore has come very far in its Keep-Singapore-Squeaky-Clean campaigns, but its overly-sanitized approach has resulted in a negative consequence which has got attitude to blame.

Think about it: Who does the cleaning of tables after we eat at the hawker centers? The ubiquitous banglahs.

Does the common singaporean appreciate the efforts made by the banglahs who clean up after them? HOW OFTEN DO YOU THANK THE PERSON CLEANING YOUR TABLE?

No. In fact, almost all if not all singaporeans EXPECT the banglahs to clean after them.

In effect, nobody 'litters'. They just leave their 'shit' around for someone else to clean after them. Littering is when you consciously throw your 'shit' everywhere. Leaving it on the table for the banglahs to clear is not considered 'littering'.

I just personally find the whole concept of getting a 'foreign worker' cleaning up after someone is rather racist, degrading and lack of respect for fellow human-being. What are we teaching our young ones?

So how now, NEA?

Solution is simple.

1. Hire less banglahs. In fact, stop the hiring. No more cleaning uncles and aunties.

2. Then launch a 'Clean up YOURSELF' campaign. This teaches one to be considerate to the next person using the table.

3. Provide napkins and tissue papers. Ever noticed Singapore has a severe shortage of such cleaningware? Either that, or our food vendors are ultra-stingy on such items. NEA should make it compulsory for the provision of tissue papers and napkins for cleaning hands/mouths and tables. NOT FOR RESERVATION OF SEATS, dammit.

Forget about the draconian anti-littering campaign. Who's going to enforce it?

Let's just educate and move on to a more gracious society. Leave our Singaporeans with no choice but to learn how to clean up after themselves.

0/100: I came, I saw, I conquered!

Yes I came out of the darkness
and into the sun
I took the risk.
I took the chance.
I brokeaway.

It was an awesome experience to conquer Bintan.
1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run.
Swam in the clear blue South China Sea,
Rode through the thunderstorm and long slopes,
Ran on the undulating golf course. Twice.
Three hours, thirty eight minutes.
First Olympic distance, longest endurance race thus far.
On my 31st birthday.

Small step for Munn, giant leap for Munn-kind.

Breakaway

"I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly
I'll do what it takes till I touch the sky
And I'll make a wish, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway...
Out of the darkness and into the sun
But I won't forget all the ones that I love
I'll take a risk, take a chance, make a change
And breakaway... "

- Kelly Clarkson

Deja vu! This happened more than 20 years ago in Maris Stella!

I picked up a copy to this morning's edition of Today and I laughed to myself when I came across this article entitled "Stabbed with a fork". The subheader read "Canteen scuffle turns nasty as schoolboy jabs a fork into his classmate's head".

I laughed because a similar incident happened when I was in primary school!

I was standing in line, together with perhaps 1/8th of the recess population, at the laksa noodle stall. Ahead of me was this fat boy and his skinny friend behind him. I wasn't sure what exactly prompted the whole incident, but I recall hearing the skinny boy endlessly taunting his friend and calling him "Fatty Fatty Bom Bom". If I recall correctly, I think there was a popular song during that era, hence the reference to all oversized people.

Well, Fatty reached his limit, couldn't take the taunting anymore, and he turned around with flimsy metal fork in hand and stabbed Scrawny on his forehead. The fork was clearly embedded on Scrawny's head because it stood right there like an arrow on a hit cowboy when Fatty released his hand.

Shocked, Fatty began to cry while a teacher came to the rescue and pried the offending weapon off the equally shocked but suddenly silent Scrawny.

The rest of us stood there in amazement. Some of the boys were laughing their heads off (no pun intended).

Scrawny was left with a visible '4-dots' on his forehead for a few days while it healed. He was aptly named 'Shaolin He Shang' after that incident. We didn't know what disciplinary measures were meted out on Fatty.

So... whatever happened in St Pat's in 2006 is nothing new. The Marists were there first. Waaay back.... ;)

80/20

That's right folks.

80/20 is the figure I'll probably NOT take part in the triathlon on Saturday. My constant headache is pissing me off big time. Thought I could swim it out during lunchtime... easy swim of half hour at the Concourse pool. Heart rate (HR) was alright at only 60% effort. In my head, I knew I could handle the heart rate, distance and time, at least for the swim portion of the race. Heck, I was even imagining swimming in the clear waters off Bintan amidst flailing arms and bobbing heads while I coolly take each participant on with easy fish-like glides. Then my mind drifted to the bike course.... well, if I could maintain at 70% base HR, then it shouldn't be an issue as well. Then I could also walk the friggin' course back to the finishing line!

But I haven't factored race day conditions and the mid afternoon heat yet. That'll surely pump my HR at least another 5-7% for the same indoor intensity.

Disappointment and frustration is an understatement for the amount of time and 'smart' training put into this. 'Smart' because I've trained using heart rate as an indicator and building up my endurance base by maintaining at up to 75% of maximum HR for progressive longer periods of time. Damn I even did the hill training runs at the golf course behind my home.

I was so looking forward to this memorable race: Longest distance attempted so far, and it's gonna be personally achieved on my 31st birthday.

Now, I have to reduce my chances of being at the starting line-up. The tension headache is quite disturbing. I'm not sure if it is due to sinus, wisdom teeth or something worse. Whatever it is, I want to enjoy my race if I were to take part in it. It has always been my principle to enjoy my races and complete them with a smile. I know I can complete it in comfortable time and pace, but the headache is preventing me from enjoying it.

It's one fact of life that I have to accept, albeit a tough one to swallow.

I haven't decided if I want to do OSIM, or should I just go ahead with the Port Dickson one?

The Big Three-One: Akan Datang

It's coming right up.

And I want to complete my first Olympic Distance Triathlon in Bintan this Saturday.

I've been training and I know I can complete it. But my body says 'relac bro! see thursday how you feel first.'

On MC today to rest. I hope I can recuperate and recover by then. It's rather depressing and indeed disappointing if I cannot do the race but I have to be wise.

Then we can all celebrate this coming-of-age together....... another feather in my cap!

What's with the MC?

I'm sick today. In fact, I've been feeling under the weather since yesterday (Monday). I think there's the flu bug going around the office. Anyway it's been the congested-head-aching-joints kind of feeling.

I decided to see the company doctor yesterday after lunch.

I just don't understand the concept (and hassle) of getting a medical certificate if one is feeling under the weather. I know what I have to do - REST. I need the rest after a whole week of training. My body is telling me to REST. REST means staying at home and recovering so that I am not susceptible to other people's germs. Hence I don't know what or how labour laws in Singapore are drawn up insisting that a 'sick' person has to make his/her way to the doctor's, stand in line for his/her turn at the clinic, and only to see the 'doctor' for 2-3 minutes, get the nod for a medical certificate, and then f*** off home to REST.

It doesn't make sense.

Are doctors just there to endorse a silly little slip of paper 'certifying' that one is unfit to sit in the office the whole day, while seemingly deemed 'fit' to make his/her way to the clinic, stand in line, and see the 'doctor' for 2-3 minutes?

Time is precious for REST. I want to REST. Time taken for the process of getting a slip of paper takes longer than if I have to just steal 40 winks in the office toilet cubicle for that much needed REST.

What makes it worse is this:
1. It's damn easy for doctors to make such money out of patients who genuinely need the REST and that slip of paper certifying it.
2. Sometimes doctors give you THAT kind of silly look 'you come here to get MC right?' I mean, come on, doc. I wish I could just go home and REST! I don't need a bloody Phd to tell me that I need that REST, coz it's my body that needs REST, not yours. I only need that stupid signature of yours on that stupid piece of paper because of the stupid labour law that requires me to take so much of my stupid time to make that stupid trip to see you, stupid!

This is what happened yesterday at the company doctor. Stupid doctor gave me half day mc for the sake of it. Dammit, time's up by the time I got home! What rest? I could have just rested in the toilet cubicle. And the diagnosis took a mere 3 minutes. It was even faster than speed dating. Shit...

Some doctors are quacks.

Nonetheless I had to seek more professional judgement on whether I needed that rest this morning. Another day of mc for that trouble. Fortunately I knew of better doctors around.

SPUI illustration

This was the previous configuration. It's called a 'diamond' interchange. Note the right-turn lanes coming off from the PIE exit. Vehicles had to go through 2 traffic lights. Congestion magnifies if traffic is not cleared in time along Eunos and Ubi.
The above is called a Single Point Urban Interchange, or simply a SPUI. The configuration is 'squeezed' together (perfect for land-scarce Singapore!) and the traffic junction is effectively made into one operational signal. Notice the concurrent right-turns are also possible with the SPUI design! The SPUI increases storage capacity, yet it decreases delay because there's only one set of traffic lights to maneuver!

Brilliant?

Well, screw the person who snitched my idea!

SPUI Phooey!

As a planner at Al-Tee-Aye, we were 'encouraged' to keep our eyes peeled to technological advancements in our career fields and try to find ways and means to inject 'brilliant' ideas into the Singapore transport scene. We were also 'encouraged' to observe our surroundings and think of how we could maintain Singapore's position as a 'world-class' transport system. Awareness and a keen eye in such totality was what spurred me to come up with several ideas, and I had the passion for it because I took them as noteworthy challenges in my career. Other co-workers felt that such 'involuntary creativity streaks' were just a pain in the ass. I suppose it's a very civil service kind of outlook in the work environment. It is also no wonder they are 'happily' stuck in the cogwheel of public sector, enjoying all the benefits and bonuses with minimal physical and mental work done.

A case in particular is the Eunos Flyover interchange, or rather the interchange beneath the Eunos Flyover just off the Pan Island Expressway (PIE). Just a few months before I left the [dis]organization in 2003, I put up a proposal to improve the traffic congestion along the said interchange.

Basically, the interchange consisted of 2 ramp intersections which required the operation of 2 traffic signals to control the ever-increasing traffic coming off the expressway. The proposal came with a suggestion to change these 2 intersections into a single point urban interchange. In traffic terms, it was called a SPUI (spoo-ee). I even drew out a schematic to illustrate the idea, which I remembered coming across in my senior year at Purdue.

To understand the benefits of the SPUI, see illustrations (drawn by me, of course).

Point to note is that the civil service (at least in the Al-Tee-Aye) has many layers of rank and file. As such, my 'idea' only went up one rung and it was gunned down like a prisoner condemned to the firing squad, citing cost issues and dig this: "Your US example will not work in Singapore! No need to bring US ideas here!". Period. Screw their myopic view on 'thinking out of the box' and other related shit. And so I left the [dis]organization without my plan coming into fruition.

Fast forward to present day May 2006. I travel along the PIE and get off the Eunos exit. Guess what? The SPUI is in place! I would love to think that my 'idea' and efforts were appreciated, but I doubt that would ever have happened. It is more likely that some *expletive that starts with A* cannibalised my 'idea' and is taking full credit for it.

I am so damn pissed everytime I use that intersection. That SPUI idea is meant to be mine! Ergghh!

I know sometimes workplaces are like this - people take full advantage of you, and sometimes they even take you down in that process. But I see it as more evident in the civil service where there is absolutely no sense of teamwork (there is, but it is 'forced upon') and integrity. It just irks me no end that there are so many ignorant and narrow-minded deadwood in the service.

It's like that in life sometimes too. This doesn't always happen at the workplace. Sometimes I just wonder is this an Asian trait? Kiasu-ism? Survival of the fittest?

Singapore could follow suit if it claims to be First Class

Article from the International Herald Tribune points towards many cities, including 'First Class' ones, accepting and recognising the bicycle as another mode of transport.

Some excerpts from the article:

1. "London, Paris, Chicago, Bogota and Seoul have embarked on major campaigns to incorporate the bicycle into traffic grids. The results have led to substantial shifts in fuel consumption, commuting times and even real estate values."

2. "Cycling has become a primary mode of transport for 5% of the population [of Bogota (pop. 7 million) ], up from 0.1% when he [Enrique Penalosa, mayor of Bogota from 1998 to 2000] started. The share using the car as primary mode, by contrast, has fallen to 13% of the population from 17%."

3. "If all citizens are equal, urban policy should be democratic and not everyone has access to a motor car."

4. "London may be the greatest success story in the new wave... ... a surprising side effect was a 28% surge in cycling in the first year [since congestion charging was introduced in 2003]. The city says overall cycling mileage has doubled in the last 5 years and it aims to achieve another doubling."

5. "In some cases, merchants who were initially nervous actually saw sales rise as the population of more fluid bus and cycle lanes fed them more customers."

6. "What has also been discovered worldwide is that accident rates have dropped wherever cycling has gained momentum, as cars are forced to slow down and as they become more accustomed to sharing the road."

7. "What planners generally have discovered is that a little money spent on cycling infrastructure can go a long way, even though it may take time to produce results and they are not often easy to track statistically."

8. "Bogota's investments in cycling infrastructure eventually produced savings roughly seven times greater."

9. "The standard formula is that one automobile parking space can hold 10 bicycles."

10. "When such [bicycle] facilities are coordinated with rail systems, the volumes become impressive. Nearly 30% of Dutch rail passengers cycle to the station, and 12% then get on cycles again to reach their final destination."

So here it is: Here's something that the First Class Singapore government can seriously consider if it wants to keep up with the Joneses of other First Class cities.

It's really simple because the government has always preached about a world-class seamless transport system. If only they could recognise the bicycle as another mode of transport.

Will my real MP please stand up?

Okay. The elections are over, but it didn't really matter to the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC because it was not contested. I belong to the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC. Specifically, I'm what the ruling party calls a "Thomsoner" because I stay in the Upper Thomson area.

Prior to the recent elections, my MP was Mr Leong Horn Kee. I heard he's no longer my member of parliament, which again, didn't really matter to me because I've never seen him in my 18 years living as a "Thomsoner". Sigh... he didn't even say bye to us. I'm sure we'll miss him dearly.

And then I heard there's a new member of parliament who has taken over the place of Mr Leong. I have no idea who he or she is. The new MP is a new face in PAP. My new MP just became an MP without proving if he or she is worthy of the job. I would have expected at least some form of introduction and/or a friendly 'hello' kind of newsletter to the "Thomsoners". I mean, I don't think the MPs were involved in the rallies, except for DPM Wong Kan Seng (who happens to be the 'leader' of the Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC). In this respect, I'm sure the new MPs had the time to at least make their rounds and say hi. Well, maybe they did but I'm pretty sure they did not make themselves known in my area.

Where is my MP? Is there a channel for disgruntled residents to complain against their MP if they feel their MP has not been up to standard? An MP's allowance (not salary) is very high, hence I should think that he or she owes us some form of formal introduction, at the very least.

Who is my MP? Will my real MP please stand up? I would like to make friends with you. After all, we're a friendly bunch you know? Don't worry, I don't bite.

So here's a hint: Let's get working without the need for dangling carrots when crunch time comes along.

The very 'Pantang' View on Progress

"Progress" has been loosely used in the recent general elections. One wonders what exactly is 'progress'?

The polling stations closed at 8pm last night. The night skies were somewhat red with subdued lightning and thunder followed almost a few seconds later. Even before the electoral results were out, it seemed to me that the PAP (synonymous with the lightning symbol) would not get the obvious oomph mandate that PM Lee was hoping to get. Then the even more subdued thunder pretty much signified that the Worker's Party (The Hammer) would just be a tiny voice in parliament, albeit a necessary one because we all know that lightning and thunder always occur together.

The PAP is returned into power with 66.6% of valid votes. "666" in hokkien is really good in terms of 'progress' - since it sounds like 'luck luck luck'. But '666' does not bode well in biblical terms. '666' is referred to as the number of the devil.

We've also seen the ubiquitous 68% victory margin by the PAP in several single ward constituencies and GRCs. '68' in chinese sounds like 'look fatt', which literally means 'prosperity in the road ahead'.

Aljunied GRC was a close fight between the PAP and WP, and the results show a trend away from PAP rule. It's a numbers game in the end. Potong Pasir and Hougang are the most uncorrupt residents on the island, unfazed by the 80 and 100 million dollar upgrading carrot.

It all means that the PAP has probably got to veer out of the 'complacency' mode and get more down to earth with the people, just because the Worker's Party is getting the formula right after all.

By the way, we will get our Progress Packages along the way, because PM Lee says so!

The local 'alternative' community must be so happy ...

... because today's local frontpage headlines reads:

" (PeeAm) Asks for Strong Man Date" - Straits Times

"All eyes on the measure of man date" - Weekend Today

"Singapore (PeeAm) asks voters for personal man date on eve of Polling Day" - channelnewasia

Premonition of a good fight?

The polling stations are going to open in a few minutes time.

It's early morning now.

And it's raining now. Thor is hammering the skies with thunder and lightning.

Looks like a foreboding premonition that it's gonna be a good fight between PAP and WP.

What a show!

Let me have my Saturday breakfast now.

All the best SL and BS!

The cool thing about Mission Impossible 3 is... ...

that Ethan Hunt works for the Department of Transport,
he analyzes traffic patterns,
and he goes for transport conferences!

And I never knew my job would be 'glamourized' in an action-packed movie!

Think I'll change my name to Tham Cruise.... where are my shades?

Flaw in Sports Participation Survey?

Some time ago, the Singapore Sports Council (SSC) reported their findings of the 2005 National Sports Participation Survey.

In brief, the report highlighted that there is a 10% increase in Singapore residents participating in any sports activity at least once a week. This translates to 48% of the population, up from 38% in year 2001. Out of this 48%, more than half of the participants exercise or participate in any sporting activity at least 3 times a week. Also, there is a wider range of sports activities, perhaps due to greater awareness and exposure to other types of sports. Another encouraging figure is the number of female participants from 32% in 2001 to 42% in 2005.

The report also noted that the top 3 activities were jogging, swimming and walking. In addition, it mentioned that yoga climbed up to 10th spot from 19th spot in 2001.

Personally, I seriously doubt the authenticity of the report. I’ve always pondered that since the civil service is the largest employer in Singapore, the findings should give quite a good representation of the top 3 activities being Archery, Taiji, and a tie between Shopping and Eating!

Paradigm Shift in Democracy

So here are the statistics:

There will be 1.22 million Singaporeans who are eligible to vote. This constitutes approximately 56.65% of eligible Singaporean voters. Well, I think that's pretty impressive by Singapore-style 'election' standards.

I can't vote because my GRC is a walk-over this time around (again!).

I want to exercise my rights.

But wait! Democracy is actually alive in this tiny nation of 4-point-something million people (and growing) - I actually CAN vote! And I can vote as a Singaporean regardless of race, language, religion, salary, and type of housing!

All I need is a telephone and a TV and I can VOTE for my favourite Singapore Idol, Superband, Superstar, or what-have-you.

At least I can pathetically exercise my rights. It's not so bad afterall.

Somehow.

First World Standard Gahmen?

There's a recent debate between PAP and WP over Singapore having a "First World Standard" opposition and ruling party.

MM Lee says that the opposition lacks First World Standard, while WP's Low Thia Khiang says that the PAP lacks a First World government. At least this is what I think they are saying lah.

It's all in the definition of the phrase "First World". What do they mean by First World? MM Lee equates it to the standards given by the World Bank and the World Economic Forum. But I think Low is coming from the grassroots level coz I think that Low is perhaps a better candidate in seeing things from ground level.

If we compare Singapore with all our neighboring countries, then Singapore is indeed First World with great urban planning initiatives and a generally hardworking and illustrious population. We don't experience massive traffic jams and overly irregular/infrequent public transport. We are a beautiful and 'green' city, and our streets are clean. Even the leaves of our roadside shrubbery does not have a layer of dirt on it! These are tangible results that will put a smile on a Singaporean's face when we look back and reflect (especially on National Days). And we realise that Singapore has come a long way - at times way ahead - of our neighbours.

What about the micro happenings within 'the system'? Can we say that the government is made up of First World people? Or is the government LED by a First World person with First World ideals? Definitely something to ponder.

However, I'd like to add that there are deadwood within 'the system' that is a hindrance to Singapore having First World standards. Most are mid-management public servants. It may be a very generic remark that I'm making but in light of this, we cannot call ourselves "First World".

Singapore cannot afford to be complacent and too arrogant about this. We are not First World. In fact, there's alot of room for improvement. We should learn more and STRIVE to be First World. There's only one way to strive forward and improve, and that is to KNOW that we are only Premium Business Class standard. Therefore I agree with both Low (that we don't have a First World government) and MM Lee (that we don't have a First World opposition). I'm sitting on the fence on this.

Weekend Me-Knee Update v3.0

Doc replied my email and said that my knee conditions are known as

1. Chondromalacia Patella of the left knee,
2. medial collateral ligament sprain, and
3. medial collateral capsule sprain

He also added the sweetest 2 words I've heard in recent times: NO SURGERY. I was so happy when I received his reply that I wanted to jump for joy (until I remembered that I better not jump for joy lest my knee becomes worst!)

I didn't run over the weekend but I biked on early Saturday morning from home to Lim Chu Kang via Mandai, Neo Tiew, Lim Chu Kang and then u-turn back to Sungei Buloh to meet dad in time for the launch of his art exhibition there. I've got to admit that I haven't ridden since the Duathlon and I've had spinning classes in between. My average speed has improved from 30kmph to about 34kmph over long distances. I'm quite happy with that. This despite the fact that I was wearing the knee sleeve to protect my knee cap (scientific n: patella).

There wasn't any pain or discomfort of the knee until when I woke up on Sunday morning. I wasn't too sure if it was due to the long distance biking or long duration of standing when Ros and I were preparing for the BBQ dinner the night before (Saturday).

Anyway I went swimming on Sunday afternoon as well and I didn't feel the discomfort.

The only times I felt discomfort were at night and when I just wake up. Is it rheumatism? Arthritis? Need to report to Doc when I meet him for a review tomorrow.

Till then... still no running.

Ass de Pee Clown does it again!

He never fails to entertain me, this Ass de Pee clown.

We all know that the General Elections are coming and that there would be opposition who would be contesting the ruling PAP party and wrestling them off their comfortable electoral seats.

I must say that the PAP is doing pretty well in waving all kinds of carrots in full view of the public. There are orange ones, white ones, long ones, short ones, carrot cake, chaitoukway, upgraded carrots (from beansprout to carrot), packaged carrots that progressively grow, extra carrots for military men, soft chewable carrots for your grandparents, etc. It is such a Bugs Bunny society! Oops, but I digress... Some other opposition parties are waving 'counter-carrots', proclaiming that 'our carrots are better than yours' kind of 'vote marketing'. I think it is all in the name of basic salesmanship to proclaim who has the best carrot for the voters. Whoever does a better marketing strategy will win, and this is the case of politics around the world. While real salesmen want your moola, the politicians want your votes. Whether the carrot is edible or not remains to be seen. During campaigning, just make sure the carrots are nicely polished without blame and blemish.

But this Ass de Pee clown, who keeps getting into trouble - Is he the court jester or what? I mean, what is the use of nitpicking and proclaiming that PAP's carrots are bad, when Ass de Pee cannot counter their statement with a 'better' carrot?

No use saying, "Oi! Your carrot is bad!" So? Tell us you have a better carrot lah! Or else just shut up or seriously join Barnum & Bailey's or Cirque du Soleil lah.

I maintain that sometimes we are treated like stupid Singaporeans. However, if there should be any opposition that wants to take on the ruling PAP party, then the opposition had better be credible. To make us look even more stupid is an insult. We seriously don't need this kind of opposition.

Show us what carrot you can give the people!

Overseas Singaporeans Gather To Rally for Rest-of-the-World GRC

Overseas singaporeans gather for a picture before the friendly march

Timbuktu - Overseas Singaporeans gathered by the throngs in this city in a bid to encourage the Singapore government to include the "Rest-of-the-World" GRC in the latest electoral boundary map. This came almost immediately after news that Singapore will be having her General Elections come 6 May, 2006. Political observers noted that since Singapore gained independence from colonial rule in 1965, the tiny island nation has progressed by leaps and bounds in the international political, economic and even in the arts scene. Some experts claim that it is due to the ruling party's (People's Action Party) strong presence in the global arena.

Ms Peh Ann Peh, strong supporter of the ruling party and first-time voter (hopefully)

"I flew 10 hours from New York to come to Timbuktu so that I can vote. I figured I have more voice as an overseas Singaporean. After all, we are a globalised country and we should have a Rest-of-The-World GRC. It makes sense, right" said Peh Ann Pey, a Manhattan resident for the past 6 years.

Overseas Singaporeans have a chance to have a go at the General Elections but many feel that they don't know their homeland well enough to vote for the 'right' candidate. Many don't even know who their respective members of parliament are.

"That is why we're seeking the Singapore Government to redraw the boundary and let us, overseas Singaporeans, have our own constituency or GRC or whatever they want to call it. We want somebody to represent us! That is why I'm holding on to my red passport in hopes that I can vote, because my friends in Singapore don't have many chances anyway." said Iyama Kwitter, a Singaporean residing in Mexico.

"That's right. I want to have my own MP and make my own decisions here. Otherwise I change my citizenship." added Yang Pang, who just turned 21 in January.

Mr Yang Pang, Singaporean in Iran

The Elections Department in Singapore cannot be reached for comment but sources say that the protest fell on deaf ears as Timbuktu does not have a Singapore consulate.

Spotted in a heartland chinese restaurant

Timely Reminder That I'm A Stupid Singaporean

Remember the previous blog when I mentioned about the delay in transport fare hike?

Well, at least someone up there has taken the liberty to explain that the delay is not an election move.

Wow... I mean... I'm so convinced. Really.

Me-Knee Update v2.0

I went for a mid-distance training swim last night. Swam a total of 1500 meters by doing 200m warm-up, 1200m pull buoy with hands only, and a remaining 100m cool-down segment. In brief, I hardly did any flutter-kicks so pressure on the knee was minimal. However I did manage to complete the course within my target time of 35 minutes.

I also did about 15 minutes worth of calisthenics, concentrating on the abs and lower back. I really need to focus on my personal G.A.W.K to achieve what I’ve always wanted to achieve since college days (read: since I got that beer belly, thanks to all the free beer Dave Ong and I got in exchange for buying the kegs for Kurt and the neighbors across from our apartment!). FYI, I’ve been religiously working on the G.A.W.K program for 2 weeks already. In fact, I’m also ensuring that my torso and core area is used when I swim with the pull buoy. I did notice a significant improvement in stroke-count, glide and overall tiredness when I employed my core area by using the torso to propel myself instead of using arms and legs. My program may be working after all! If only the abs appear! Why are they so shy? (here’s yet another mystery in a chubby guy’s life)

Left knee still hurts this morning from bending it inwards. I’m not sure if the anti-inflammatory pills are working.

I’m still wearing the knee wrap today.

I’ve emailed Dr Low on some questions regarding my injury. Should I – and can I – use Voltaren or any analgesic cream together with the anti-inflammatory pills? What physio exercises can I do to assist in recovery and repair of the knee joints? I’m waiting for his reply.

I may go for the moderate spin class in the evening instead of the rock-climbing session with Ser Ling and Ros. I figured that spinning is more natural in movement compared to the potential split-second knee-jerking reactions while climbing.

Me-Knee Update v1.0

So Dr Low says I should stave off running for at least a week, but I can swim and do some light spinning/biking.

I went for a double spinning class yesterday at the gym (that's how I discovered the missing showerheads). I didn't really follow the hard-thumping rhythm but I just spun at moderate heart rate of between 60% and 80%. I kept focusing on keeping my knees facing forward, in the attempt NOT to deviate the angle of the knee while peddling.

Knees didn't hurt at the end of class, so I guess I managed to achieve burning calories while not aggravating the knee injury.

Slight pain returned after I took out the knee wrap at night.

Today, I still find it difficult to cross my left leg over my right - even with the knee wrap.

I really hope I can heal fast so I can get on with training for the Bintan Tri come 27 May.

Gonna head on home now for a swim.

Grim Fact: I'm a Stupid Singaporean and So Are You!

Reporters can churn out the best stories and public agencies can cook up the best excuses.

But why can't they be straightforward about the damn thing and tell it straight to Singaporeans in the face?

The case in question is with regards to today's news that any public transport fare increases will only be effected in October instead of July. Then there's alot of blah blah blah reasons to justify the delay.

Okay, why can't they just admit that the LTA is incompetent? Either that, or just tell us - public transport users - that the General Election is coming and this would be a potential vote-losing measure?

So I'm stupid (and so are you) to believe all this crap. I'll just sit and wait for the approval of the fare hike 'to ensure that commuters' interests are safeguarded'. In this case, I better set aside my Progress Package carrot to tide this through. Hey, it pays to be prudent.

Showerhead Burgler on the Loose

I have absolutely no idea why some showerheads in the male changing room of the Bugis California Fitness gym are missing. Either some cleptomaniac has a knack for stealing showerheads or is fooling around with showerheads anyway. There are many weird people at the gym.

Well, I've heard of people stealing steel drain gratings in exchange for money (steel prices shot up some time ago). But showerheads?

I doubt that the showerheads were removed for maintenance either. I think showerheads are one of the world's least maintained household items (it's self-cleaning isn't it?).

So will someone enlighten me regarding the mystery of the missing showerheads at California Fitness? Because I do treasure the shiok shiok shower after a great spinning class, and a showerhead-less gush of water is not what I paid for in a club membership... and definitely irksome!

No more trying to remember what the heck ITB means!

I just got back from visiting Dr Low Wye Mun - a specialist in Sports Medicine - in hopes of determining what the problem is with my left knee.

For the longest time, I’ve been suspecting it was ITB. Perhaps it’s due to my limited knowledge in sports physiology and my meager education in Biology (only Sec 2 standard), I knew nothing else about the 1001 things I ought to know about the knee. The visit to Dr Low’s clinic proved otherwise – that it was not ITB. And this revelation was a relief for several reasons: I didn’t have to worry too much that it was the ITB irritating me to bits, and that I didn’t have to remember the pronunciation of ITB. I mean, try playing this silly tongue-twister game – Iliotibial Band Syndrome, Iliotibial Band Syndrome.

Note: The following account is what I understand from my little conversation with Dr Low. I may be wrong in interpreting the medical terms and all the knee jargon, but at least I got the picture (I hope) and I’m just recounting from an extremely layman point of view.

In brief, the pain on the outside of my left knee is due to the underside of the knee cap rubbing itself on a worn part of my knee joint. I experienced this when I ran the Kuala Lumpur Half Marathon and when I do my regular runs at Macritchie. The pains become more pronounced when I’m on the boardwalk sections. Of course my initial thoughts were ITB, but now Dr Low says it’s likely caused by my running gait, which shifts itself when I run on different surfaces. For now, I need to embark on a preventive measure so that the wear and tear does not get worse. Glucosamine is the answer and a daily dose of 1000mg should do some maintenance to the joints. Dr Low also mentioned that anything less than 1000mg is waste because there should be a minimum amount of Glucosamine that we should consume on a daily basis for effective absorption into our bodies. Otherwise, it’ll just pass out as ‘expensive pee’.

The pain on the inside of my left knee was caused by a sprain and the subsequent inflammation of my joints. Hence I’ve been feeling a discomfort on the inside of my knees whenever I cross my legs. Dr Low gave me some anti-inflammatory pills to reduce the swellings. He also gave me a knee guard to help keep the inflammation in place and so my joints do not slip and cause unnatural gait.

In the course of 'discovering the wonders' of my very own knee with professional help from Dr Low, I managed to quench my curiosity in how come I never could do that knee twitch thingy whenever someone tested my knee reflexes. He tested my reflexes and confirmed that I had very subdued reflexes, which is probably why I cannot perform well in my standing broad jumps even though - according to Dr Low - my thighs were well-developed.

Actually I’m not sure if surgery would be needed on my knee but I remember Dr Low saying that I’m still able to manage the injury at this stage. I can still work towards the Bintan Triathlon on my birthday.

Meanwhile I have to stop running for a week, but I can still swim and bike/spin. I’d have to come back for a review visit next Tuesday 25 April 2006.

Be Still or The Birds Will Fly Away

For all his artistic talents, patience in getting details right, and his undying love for nature, Sungei Buloh Wetlands Reserve is going to launch Dad’s stone painting exhibition this Saturday 22 April 2006 as part of the Earth Day celebrations.

The theme of his art exhibition is “Be Still or The Birds Will Fly Away”.

For the past few months, Dad has been challenging himself to paint on new medium. Previously he painted on different types of paper. As with his penchant for experimenting – and therefore expanding – in his hobby of painting, Dad took it upon himself to try painting on pebbles after a trip to New Zealand with Mom. What began as just a trial quickly turned into frantic searching for the right type of smooth pebbles in gardens as well as at shops that dealt with landscape architecture. Dad would handpick pebbles that gave enough flatness and a ‘large enough’ canvas for him to paint on. He would then spend his free time on his paintings in our humble kitchen.

His subjects were inspired by the flora and fauna of Sungei Buloh, which include the common and the rare sightings of permanent denizens and the occasional migrant visitor to the Reserve.

His hard work did not stop at painting on stones. He also devised ways and means to display his works, such as finding the strongest method of gluing stone to wood or plastic. He also managed the framing part and composed each caption that came with every stone painting. To say that he put his heart and soul to his masterpieces is an understatement.

Honestly, I feel a sense of pride for my Dad who has proven to me time and again that we can achieve something from sheer passion for a hobby. If I could put my finger to the meaning of Work Hard, Play Hard, I would credit it to my father who has shown me what it means by enjoying a balanced lifestyle.

(Having said that, I still need some ‘fine-tuning’ to lead a balanced lifestyle)

Sungei Buloh may be far-flung for most people, but I’m sure the exhibition, coupled with the natural beauty of the Reserve will leave one very educated of our surroundings. It will surely be a memorable visit. Haha.. just look at my Dad – all it took was one visit to Sungei Buloh and he’s totally hooked!

Dad's exhibition will be launched this Saturday 22 April 2006 Saturday at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve (have I mentioned this already?).

Hey, hey! There really IS a famous Munn

There's this dude called Charles Munn, and he's a famous environmentalist too! - a pioneer in South American ecotourism. Recently, Grist interviewed him. Here's the extract of the interview. I think he's a really interesting person, quite similar to my way of thinking. Perhaps coz great Munns think alike? ;p I think I should get to know him and then maybe he could bring me up to South America for nature photography!

Q. What work do you do?
A. I am chair of the board of Tropical Nature, a nonprofit conservation group specializing in conservation through ecotourism.

Q. What does your organization do?
A. We run the world's largest network of eco-lodges in tropical rainforest -- in Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Brazil. We also consult for rainforest and tropical ecotourism companies and for government tourism ministries in a number of countries of Central America and the Caribbean, as well as in China and Gabon. We use ecotourism as an effective conservation tool to add value to tropical rainforests and thus make them worth more standing than cut.
We think that most so-called ecotourism has little to do with anything truly eco, and that most tourism in tropical rainforests is a boring, hot, sometimes buggy disappointment. But it does not have to be that way -- and that is why we created Tropical Nature. We specialize in offering the finest wildlife viewing in rainforests.

Q. How do you get to work?
A. Half the time, I work out of a small office in my home in a forest near Baltimore, Md. The other half of the time, I am visiting one of our project sites, or possible new project sites, in the tropics.

Q. What long and winding road led you to your current position?
A. In the '80s I completed a master's in zoology at Oxford, and a Ph.D. in biology at Princeton. From there, I went immediately into field research on macaws in the rainforests of Peru, as a field biologist for the Wildlife Conservation Society.
From 1980 through today, I have tested and refined a series of techniques for making tropical forests come alive, through the electronic and print media, and through new models of ecotourism. Our ecotourism tests then became a conservation method, and we have expanded this successful method to create the network of tour lodges that we run today. By 2000, it was clear that applying our research findings about rare, attractive wildlife to create local jobs in ecotourism was a better conservation method than pure research alone. Research did not create enough jobs or alternatives for the local people, who often hunted rare wildlife and cut forest in national parks out of desperation rather than any malice. Tropical Nature was a direct response to our desire to create lots of high-quality, sustainable jobs in conservation-oriented nature tourism in tropical forests.

Q. Where were you born? Where do you live now?
A. Baltimore. After decades of living in Peru and Brazil, I am back to my roots, based in Baltimore again.

Q. What has been the worst moment in your professional life to date?
A. When a corrupt government minister in Peru tried to imprison me and destroy our conservation system to stop our team from organizing local forest peoples in the Peruvian Amazon to protect their forestlands from the minister's land grab.

Q. What's been the best?
A. When that minister went to prison, in 2001 -- he remains in prison to this day.
Also, when the Connecticut-sized Tambopata-Candamo Reserved Zone in Peru and the adjoining New Jersey-sized Madidi National Park in Bolivia were declared (in 1990 and 1995, respectively). We spearheaded the effort to create both parks, which seemed outrageously ambitious at the time we proposed them. But they happened! These twin parks are the most biologically diverse protected areas on Earth -- full stop.

Q. Who is your environmental hero?
A. Our Peruvian conservation executive, biologist Daniel Blanco, who ran our entire Peruvian system during the attacks on our conservation system by the corrupt minister. Daniel received frequent, telephoned death threats from the minister's goons. He stuck it out there and saved our system (through clever legal maneuvers) while I had to duck the direct attacks by leaving Peru for a year to keep from being imprisoned on trumped-up charges.

Q. What's your environmental vice?
A. My work requires me to fly a lot on jets, thus generating a significant carbon footprint. But I hope our creation of 12 million acres of tropical forest parks in Peru and Bolivia and the protection of a few million more acres of parks through our ecotourism work offsets my jetting around. We hope that the parks we have established become ever more powerful nature fortresses that protect themselves through well-designed ecotourism, thus ensuring that this carbon stays locked up forever.

Q. How do you spend your free time?
A. I go to see more national parks -- especially in Brazil, where they have such an amazing, and relatively poorly publicized system of parks.

Q. Read any good books lately?
A. I am enjoying Tom Friedman's The World Is Flat.

Q. What's your favorite meal?
A. Ceviche -- Peruvian-style raw fish marinated in lime juice with spices and hot peppers.

Q. Which stereotype about environmentalists most fits you?
A. The ancient, rusting, sticker-covered Volvo wagon -- 23 years old. A rolling billboard promoting nature conservation.

Q. What's your favorite place or ecosystem?
A. The luxuriant, forest-savannah mosaic known as the Pantanal, in central western Brazil. It is simply the biggest wildlife spectacle of Latin America. Harbors the world's largest jaguars, world's largest parrots (hyacinth macaw), world's largest snakes (anaconda), world's largest otter, and many other species of wildlife, often in incredibly high densities. What amazing clouds and sunsets there. No malaria or other nasty diseases. Closest thing to an East African photo safari in the New World.

Q. If you could institute one environmental reform, what would it be?
A. That eating vegan be promoted and become the accepted norm. Eating lower on the food chain would allow us to save an enormous amount of nature around the globe.

Q. Who was your favorite musical artist when you were 18? How about now?
A. Then: Dvorak. Now: Dvorak, Kjarkas.

Q. What's your favorite TV show?
A. Green Acres.

Q. Movie?
A. Motorcycle Diaries.

Q. Which actor would play you in the story of your life?
A. Hugh Grant.

Q. If you could have every InterActivist reader do one thing, what would it be?
A. Visit our websites -- Tropical Nature and Tropical Nature Travel -- and visit one of our South American lodges sometime.

My First Ethical Decision

Back in primary school days, didn't we all have to let our parents sign on our exercise books, spelling tests, and report books? Didn't most of us fear the wrath of our parents wielding canes (and other weapons of mass dermatological and psychological destruction) whenever we scored anything less than 80% in our tests? Didn't at least some of us have that scheming plan to forge our parents' signatures so as to escape facing the music at home and get back to school in one piece?

I remember.

I also remember that those were the times when I was put to the test in my ethical upbringing. I knew that forgery was a bad, bad thing. I was aware of the consequences of forgery. In primary school, I'm quite sure that - for most of us - this situation would have been one of the first tests of one's morals and ethics.

Most of us learn through adulthood of the seriousness of such dubious actions, and the criminal consequences that usually follow.

Unfortunately, some don't. And one day, they will face the music.

Wardrobe Environment Investigator Uncovers 'Lost' Civilisation of Clothes

Land of Cluttered Mayhem – A world-renowned Wardrobe Environment Investigator has recently discovered a lost city within the confines of the infamous Land of Cluttered Mayhem.

For centuries, the Land of Cluttered Mayhem has built upon itself as a unique urban jungle of sorts, comprising piles of used and new clothes, boxes and bags of knick-knacks and other sentimental ware, tons of photographic experimentation, and even hardcopies of old college project files.

The team leader of the expedition, who is also the Wardrobe Environment Investigator from the Ministry of Urban Nonchalant Nonsense, claims that the discovery could mean a whole new species of previously unclassified clutter. For the time being, it is temporarily referred to as ‘organized mess’.

“Classifying the entire stockpile of such unique organisms could take ages! We have to act fast before they (the organisms) start to reorganize themselves into another level of new subspecies. When that happens, a part of our science will be lost forever”, said the leader, who wishes to remain anonymous at this point in time.

When asked by reporters how the taxonomy of such delicate ecosystems should proceed, the Wardrobe Environment Investigator replied, “We will try our utmost best in maintaining a harmonious balance between man and environment. If we need to sieve out worn clothes and tattered old receipts, then so be it. But it will be on a case-by-case basis if there is any ambiguity. Species that are deemed useless to the ecosystem will be sent over to more deserving civilizations. I will reiterate that this will not be a simple task, but I’m very confident that the mystery will unfold itself in due time because of the natural scheme of things. Having said that, isn’t this my job to address the issue and to organize it?”

Meanwhile, news agencies understand that the Minister for Urban Nonchalant Nonsense could not be reached for comment as he is busy with uncovering other issues in the Land of Cluttered Mayhem.

Random Thought from the Kitchen

Here's another observation from the kitchen which led to a random thought:

I made Milo this morning and I evidently left the teaspoon in the kitchen sink.

It must have been pretty sweet because there was this troop of tiny ants that started to feast on the remnants of Milo nourishment. I'm sure they must've been really happy and enjoying themselves. They probably were regaling in this rare opportunity in discovering the marvellous difference that Milo makes. (Heck, even humans do too - sometimes enjoying the health drink almost daily!)

Well, you see ants in the sink and you'd probably wash them all away into the abysmal sinkhole, right? That's what I did.

And all the once-happy little partying ants - drunk on Milo - are suddenly thrown into a chaotic churn of rushing tap water, and then heading into infinite oblivion.

And I have this random thought about how humans were suddenly washed away by the 2004 tsunami.

Whether it was in sink-ant proportions or coast-human proportions, the thought was scary and so real.

November Rain (even though it's only April)

When I look into your eyes
I can see a love restrained
But darlin' when I hold you
Don't you know I feel the same
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
And we both know hearts can change
And it's hard to hold a candle
In the cold November rain

We've been through this such a long long time
Just tryin' to kill the pain
But lovers always come and lovers always go
And no one's really sure who's lettin' go today
Walking away
If we could take the time to lay it on the line
I could rest my head
Just knowin' that you were mine
All mine
So if you want to love me
then darlin' don't refrain
Or I'll just end up walkin'
In the cold November rain

Do you need some time...
on your own
Do you need some time...
all alone
Everybody needs some time...
on their own
Don't you know you need some time...
all alone

I know it's hard to keep an open heart
When even friends seem out to harm you
But if you could heal a broken heart
Wouldn't time be out to charm you

Sometimes I need some time...
on my own
Sometimes I need some time...
all alone
Everybody needs some time...
on their own
Don't you know you need some time...
all alone

And when your fears subside
And shadows still remain, ohhh yeahhh
I know that you can love me
When there's no one left to blame
So never mind the darkness
We still can find a way
'Cause nothin' lasts forever
Even cold November rain

Don't ya think that you need somebody
Don't ya think that you need someone
Everybody needs somebody
You're not the only one
You're not the only one

Cheats

There are cheats everywhere.

Some cheat your money.
Some cheat your honey.
Some cheat your glory.

Why do they cheat?

Coz there's an idiot in all of us.

Shanghai Shutterbug II

Falling Tears from the Weeping Willow
Hangzhou Untitled 2
Hangzhou Untitled 3
Hangzhou Untitled 4

Hangzhou Untitled 5

Shanghai Shutterbug

Here is a more serious take on my trip to Shanghai through my eyes and my trusty Nikon FM2.
Enjoy.

Dancing on the Shanghai Bund
The train to Hangzhou
Airport Architecture
See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil on the West Lake

(this was totally unposed and I don't even know the old folks!)

Hangzhou Untitled 1

Growing older with Singapore, politically

You know you're getting older with your birth country when you realise that your own comrades are getting into politics and are in the running to be potential leaders of the nation.

Growing up, we saw Uncle Lee's army of die-hard 'revolutionists' working so hard to establish Singapore's position in the global arena of economics, politics and military might. Now the scene has changed (naturally) to include the post-1965 generation to continue in the torch run in maintaining Singapore's integrity and position.

In the upcoming elections, the political parties are slowly introducing new faces to the people.

And I'm already familiar with at least 3 blokes - all of them who are buddies and we all sort of grew up some way or another (although I don't think all of them knew each other prior to the GE). One of them is even in Opposition! I mean, WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD OF HAVING A BUDDY IN OPPOSITION?!?!

It'll be so interesting to see my own friends campaigning and hopefully holding on to the leadership reins for the country.

Good luck to TSL, BS and CDS! You know my vote doesn't really matter since my GRC is a perennial walkover, right?

Shanglish II

Here's the second installment of Shanglish. You have to click on the pictures to have a clearer view.

Shanglish - Let 'em pictures tell the story of 5 days in Shanghai

Everybody

Everybody wants to win, but some want to win everything.

I've been following the bits and pieces of the things that politicians do in the run-up to the General Elections.

While it is perfectly alright to have the gusto to win in any challenge, I find it rather disturbing that some are blinded by the limelight and somewhat neglecting the actual issues on the ground.

Sometimes it is not about winning the seat/constituency/GRC. Rather, shouldn't it be winning the hearts of the people and ACTUALLY delivering the goods?

I mean, I'm sure the incumbent ruling party will still be in control of the government, but I - together with most 'educated' citizens - sincerely feel that it is unhealthy for our country if 'they' win it all.

Let the citizens decide who the best person for the job is.

What good is it for the nation as a whole if electoral boundaries are enlarged everytime there's an impending GE?

WHEN WILL I GET TO VOTE?!?!?!

Somebody

Here's an ode to the 30-something singles out there. It's so apt since most of us 30-somethings grew up listening to this song in our teens. We used to think this was THE song for our schoolday crushes and radio dedications to our secret admirees.

But it is perhaps now that some of us are in search of that someone in life - that particular somebody - when the crunch time comes to seriously consider what exactly we're looking for in life, that this song seems more appropriate.

To all who are searching for their Somebody.....

I want somebody to share
Share the rest of my life
Share my innermost thoughts
Know my intimate details
Someone who’ll stand by my side
And give me support
And in return
She’ll get my support
She will listen to me
When I want to speak
About the world we live in
And life in general
Though my views may be wrong
They may even be perverted
She’ll hear me out
And won’t easily be converted
To my way of thinking
In fact she’ll often disagree
But at the end of it all
She will understand me
Aaaahhhhh....

I want somebody who cares
For me passionately
With every thought and
With every breath
Someone who’ll help me see things
In a different light
All the things I detest
I will almost like
I don’t want to be tied
To anyone’s strings
I’m carefully trying to steer clear of
Those things
But when I’m asleep
I want somebody
Who will put their arms around me
And kiss me tenderly
Though things like this
Make me sick
In a case like this
I’ll get away with it
Aaaahhhhh....

Another one of those boring-bus-ride-kinda random thought

And so I'm on my daily TIBS 980 pilgrimage to the office and I have those out-of-the-blue random thoughts... (we all have them... right? or am I the only one with wild random thoughts?)

The bus was passing by the LTA Hampshire office and somehow my thoughts drifted to the Istana (nearby Farrer Park mah..). Then I thought of our country's Presidents.

Our only surviving president is the current head of state, President Nathan.

Then I think of the pronunciation of Nathan.

Is it Nathan as in "Nah-dern", or Nathan as in "Nay-thern".

So funny to call our head of state President "Nay-Thern".... sounds too angmo-fied.

Yet it's so damn UNIQUELY SINGAPOREAN to call him President "Nah-dern".

Must be culturally sensitive lah. "Nah-dern" is more authentic in this part of the world.

Then another random thought...

What if our current Prez is IT-savvy... what would his name be? Ever thought of that?

Too bad. Israel already coined that name liao.... for their own leader - Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Don't hit me. It's only my wild random thoughts.... ;)

Abridged Version of KLIM + Official Results

The weather conditions were awesome to run a marathon (or half mara in my case), except that the urban settings contributed to lots of gradual up-ramps and road banking (in the physics sense, not the finance bit). The middle part of the route had absolutely no shade at all since it was mostly highway. The last 2km was deceiving because we had to loop the finishing point (it gets quite demoralising when you have that almost-there-but-not-there-yet feeling). Road conditions probably contributed to my ITB acting up on my left leg. ITB is the pain one gets on the outer side of the knees when running. You'll know it's ITB when it's excruciating to do downhills or walk down stairs. It's not the bone or anything major. It's just a !@#$%% painful thing to have on a long distance run and it's very different from cramps.

It happened around the 10km mark and then I had to manage the pain by engaging on a run-stretch-walk strategy just to complete the run. Fortunately I had my Polar to monitor my speed and pace. When I was walking, I could maintain my pace at about 7.4kmph speed. When I felt like I could do a run, I'd compensate lost time and gain mileage by going beyond 10-12kmph. In all, my average speed was 8.4kmph, so by the law of averages, I was hovering at brisk walking speed for most of the time. Oops.. i meant hobbling and limping. There were times when I had to search for a lamppost just so that I could lean my body weight on it to stretch my ITB but it only gave temporary relief. At the aid stations, there were red crescent medics with muscle ointment. I knew it wouldn't help because the ITB is technically not a muscle (or is it?), I just needed temporary relief in whatever means available. I also made it a conscious effort to only allow my left hand to massage my ITB with the ointment while allowing my right hand for other duties like wiping sweat and taking water and gels. There were many times when I walked faster than some runners. hee hee....

Finally completed the run at self-timed 2hr 33min 54sec. My stanchart timing last Dec was 2hr 33min 36sec! (must buy some more 4D!)

Post race massage was the worst! I thought I could alleviate the ITB pain but I was screaming bloody murder at the poor masseuse when he massaged my left leg. Interestingly, I have absolutely no idea why I was screaming in bahasa melayu when it was so damn painful! "Adoi! Adoi!!!!" I mean, I could have just screamed OUCH or ARRGHHH!!! I just dunno why I could garner enough vocal energy to scream a foreign language which has 2 syllabi in a word that describes excruciating pain! I swore that the pain was so bad I would have preferred running another 21km if I had a choice.

Well, that was my somewhat brief report. The pain is NOT going to stop me from taking part in more endurance races. No pain, No gain. :)

But of course, in moderation, progression and within my sanity limits.

Overall Men's Half Marathon Result:
Gun Time - 2:35:30
Chip Time - 2:33:50
10km Time - 1:05:57
Category Position - 446/594
Overall Position - 862/1139

What if YOU were given the status of 'Internally Displaced Person'?

Kuala Lumpur International Marathon

Konsortium Bas Ekspres

Somehow you’d know that there would be some sort of kok up when the speling of a kompani is speled as konsortium bas ekspres. For the uninitiated, it is actually the bahasa melayu translation for the Consortium Bus Express. Anyway this blog entry is being written on CW’s mac laptop on the way home from KL because my ‘on-board personal entertainment system’ is not working and I’m nursing a very bad case of ITB (which I’ll talk about later)


Karbo-Loading & Race Kit Kollection

CW, SK, JP, RO and I arrived in Kuala Lumpur the day before the race. Yes, we took the Konsortium Bas Ekspres from Singapore to KL. They stayed at the Mandarin Oriental while I stayed with FT (who came on an earlier coach) at the Swiss Garden Hotel.

I slept about 80% of the way from Singapore to KL as I had very little sleep the night before leaving for Malaysia. I had intended to sleep the moment I checked into the hotel but went against the idea, as I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night if I had taken an extended afternoon nap.

Most of the Trifam contingent met up during the race kit collection at Wisma OCM. I think it’s meant to be an indoor sports hall with sparse seating and 3 or 4 badminton courts. Whatever it is, it was a huge contrast to what Singapore had in last year’s marathon expo. Race kit collection at the OCM reminded me of my secondary school days when we sat for our language aural examinations. Anyway I found out that the sgrunners had already collected my race bib and T-shirt (which wasn’t impressive). We later went out for a ‘carbo-loading’ dinner at the KLCC. I had a serving of fettucini carbonara, shared a fish & chips with CW, and a blended fruit juice as dessert.

I managed to sleep at midnight for a 0445hr wake-up call.

Dataran Merdeka + Urban Setting + Roadkill: The Race

FT and I were doing the half marathon (that’s 21.1km) so we got up at 0445 hrs to prep up. Breakfast was basically pastry from Breadtalk, tea, and lots of hydration between waiting for each other to use the toilet (read: shit). We walked to the race site at the Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square). It’s a beautiful and historic venue to hold any large-scale event. I must say that I was very intrigued with the architecture and the atmosphere of the place. Semangat. Spirit. Somehow I felt it…… until a booming voice came over the PA system, “Okay half marathon runners, you all must get ready in the holding area… blah blah blah” Basically it reminded me of (again) my secondary school morning assemblies.

I had my last minute pre-race bladder release routine and the race began at 0630hrs. With drums giving the upbeat rhythm of pace, the crowd of half marathons ran into the break of dawn.

Some parts of the course were very dark – no streetlights, but only traces of luminescence from runners’ reflective shoes and vests. The course had plenty of ascends up highway ramps and cambering at the banks of highway entrances and exits. As a traffic engineer, I must say that KL roads are designed to satisfactory standards (I say designed, not planned). Even the road tapers and side gradients are okay. You see, I’m quite lucky to be a traffic engineer who is able to appreciate such details of roads and streets. It really does take out the boredom of a long and arduous run. Then again, not many people actually run or enjoy the wonderful art of road design… J

I tried my best to keep to the asphalt instead of concreted roads so that impact is reduced on the knees. I also tried to keep to the top of slope so that the effects of cambering are minimal. But it’s really not too easy to do that in the case of KL highways, and I shan’t go into design details here.

It was mostly highway for about the first 15 km of the race. The remainder was on city streets – most were tarred but some stretches were flat-cobbled. We had to pass through some traffic junctions with errant drivers and impatient motorcyclists. Some didn’t take the traffic warden’s heed to yield to marathoners.

The final 2km was looping deceivingly around a portion of the city that was near to the Dataran (end-point). A peek of the end point teased the runners, as they had to loop around another 1.5km to finish the race. Along the loop, I counted 3 roadkills of rats. Eeks. And to think that there were crazy barefoot marathoners who were running in this race as well. Fresh roadkill, and I thought I saw a stretch of mature trees nearing the Dataran which had birdshit all over the road.

How to Overcome ITB Pains During a Race

At the 10km mark, I sensed the impending ITB problem on the outer side of my left knee. I slowed down and decided to engage the run-stretch-walk strategy to complete the race. 7kmph was the slowest I could afford to walk. Time was on my side as far as I was concerned. Overall I maintained an average of 8.4kmph from the run-walk combination.

The pains got worse as I moved on and I had to psyche myself that I could manage the ITB. I’ll share with you how I distracted myself:

1. I looked for targets to run to before alternating to the walking routine. I looked for wayfinding signages, posters, bus-stops, trees, etc,
2. I looked at my Polar 625X constantly to ensure I was maintaining minimum speed and pace, and
3. I tried VERY hard to remember what the heck ITB stands for! Illytobby Band, Italy Band, Illoytobias Band…… see, I still cannot remember the actual spelling and pronunciation for the ITB acronym. It irks me no end. I even thought of it as the Irritating & Terrible Bane, and Irksome, Trying & Bothersome.

With perserverence and pure grit, I ground my teeth and limped my way to the finishing line in an astonishing (unofficial) time of 2hrs 33min! It’s astonishing because this was exactly my same timing at last December’s Singapore Marathon!

When in Rome, Do What the Romans Do

At the finishing point, I was met by FT who came in about 15 minutes ahead of me. He suggested that I go for a post race massage.

I went to the tent that provided sports massage.

I was attended to by a male masseuse and he worked on my lower left limb first. 2 minutes into the massage and I was already screaming murder because of the excruciating pain on the left ITB. Only I screamed in bahasa “Adoi! Adoi!” I have no idea what took control of me but at emergency situations like these where reflexes usually take control of the being, I actually screamed in bahasa melayu!

If Malaysia boleh, Munnster lagi boleh!

It is quite daunting and somewhat demoralizing when cramps (like I experienced in last week’s duathlon) and ITB sets in. I fight with myself throughout the race and question my sanity. I ask myself if I should carry on. At times, I urge myself to give up. Sometimes I even console myself that the elites have DNFed just because they didn’t ‘feel’ the race accordingly. Alas, giving up has never been an option for me so far. As with life’s challenges and adversities, every one tells a unique story. Every single downside makes me understand myself better. Lessons can be learned from a simple thing such as managing pain or a cramp. There will be harder lessons to learn in life. Never give up – a simple but powerful mantra. The other mantra I live on is Luke 1:37 "Nothing is impossible with God".

Having said that, the only way I would give up a challenge is when the pain becomes life threatening. By this I mean physical threats (abnormal breathing difficulties) or even emotional threats (I would quit a race if a fellow athlete is in trouble - there will be emotional bearing if I don't assist a fallen comrade).

In summary, I will not give up a race if I can deal with it. Visions of quitting will not sway me unless conscience steps in. Race smart.

Adversity will give us another day to live. Overcoming adversity gives us another day to be proud of ourselves.