People with hidden agendas, is it the power? The fame? The money? Why can’t we just do for the greater good – wouldn’t that be grand… If only.
Rebranding the Kitsch Store
Yup, it may only be a year old but it’s time for a revamp and new ‘ole clothes.
Keep it hear for updates.
Mean time, here’s my wishlist 2010, never too late I say:
Books – amazon.com – search for my wishlist there, I want lots!
TOD’s media bag
PRADA iPod case
MONT Blanc Pen, anyone with the bird-shit on top
CDG Wallet in white polka dots, black
TIFFANY’s engagement, emeral cut ring, and I don’t care if I am engaged or not – I want that
VIVIENNE Westwood tartan handbag
I reserve the right to amend the above list according to my whim, as and when…
Just finding out how it feels like to be materialistic for once – eh what’s up doc?
Can Asians live life?
Really? Another year of boosting productivity? Another year of economic restructuring to increase productivity?
Training to increase productivity in Asia, well specifically in Singapore, I think is an utter waste of time. Because we don’t comprehend the meaning of it. Citizens simply sign up for classes, spend all day at work and all evening studying, and guess what you get for all that work – more work – and really you have no one else to blame but yourself, is it really?
Dr Amy Khor finally shed some light on this issue – or not. This was not the first time that we tried this – restructuring the Singapore’s economy. Just the fact that a ‘productivity’ campaign jingle from the 80′s was sung at our last parliament debate/talkie/overacting/underacting: ‘Good, better, best, never let it rest, till your good is better and your better is best’, the ‘P’ word has been around in Singapore for a long time, since her birth… so is it really?
In my short less-than-30 years of age 
I realised that the ‘P’ word, really, has never had a positive connotation in Asia. To most, it just means workers work harder, bosses get richer and work is neverending… is it really?
See that’s the state of ‘productivity’ in Singapore, or rather in Asia. It’s in our DNA, our genes, that we, Asians, are simply masochists when it comes to labour, I mean work (hmm come to think of it, sex may seem like work to some leading to pregnancy most likely then more work – I digress). Really.
We pushed our retirement age to 65 (apparently because, why again?), we gamble because we know it’ll be addictive and risky and may result in us working again and sending out emails at 3am in the morning means I’m a dedicated, hard-working worker – hard! Really.
“Labor productivity is typically measured as a ratio of output per labor-hour, an input.” Take it all in from Wiki then see if you can relate it at work – you can’t, can you – why not?
Confucious says: 先苦後甜, ok maybe it wasn’t him but some Asian persons certainly did and thence we have always believed that if we suffer now, we’ll enjoy later. Want success, you have to work hard for it, I agree, but what happens when you are successful in your own terms? What happens if you’re content now? When is later?
The ‘P’ word is taboo, sex is sexy and wanting to work smart and play hard is dirty. Can we really live life? Are we happy with our beliefs of productivity? I’m not.
My suggestion is that the ‘big boys’ on top should talk the walk and walk the talk.
Want workers to be more productive, why don’t you lead by example? Show us how, make a documentary, film how you live your work-life balance (my ex-boss said that means we work now enjoy life later, or something like that), publish a study, produce tv shows, whatever. Just show us.
Start from young – educate and philosophizes – though again, the teachers would need to take it easy too. But could we, with all the syllabi being rushed, books to read, competition to ‘stupidfy’ and projects to ‘learn’ from? Suffer now, get a degree and enjoy an over-paid job later. I contradict.
Elitism – Suffrage – ‘Productivity’: Can Asians be relieved of these shackles so that we can live life?
Start with the ‘man in the mirror, why don’t you! Be happy. I’ll try too…
We are the World
Even the pessimistic in me was moved and for more than 5 minutes, I believed that our pop-cultured, hedonistic society was capable of more. I hope and hang on to that belief as I trudge through the mundaness that must be my life for now and pray:
That the Haitians are able to appreciate their circumstances and through international aid, be more than apt to pull themselves together just like the benefactors in the Sichuan earthquake – after all the attention is gone.
That this will inspire people all over the world from Gaza to Darfur, from Sri Lanka to Rio De Janeiro that hope is everywhere, faith is prevalent and politics is just an excuse.
Maybe – hopefully – perhaps – I’m sure.
In any case, another gift brought to you by the ethereal Michael Jackson, we love you Micheal. :)
Watch it… again.
Movies I ‘re-watched’ to realise I was fooled but never again:
Die Another Day – The one and only time I thought Bond was too full of himself and just one lucky bastard – on behalf of the writers, I do apologise Sir Ian, pardon them for they had too much ego to drink and none the intellect to match it. “Oncologist, why that’s a mouthful.” Really! Brosnan was too old (only Mr Sean Connery can ever pull that off!), Halle was, well, too bronx, I’m sorry for being politically incorrect, but I’m sure the queens would agree with me when I say, have some class Berry! Geez, if it had to take slow-mo and waves to make you look even an inch like Madam Ryder then wo – I say blame the casting agent. The highest grossing Bond movie – oh the shame, the pain, the conspiracy!!
Craig was so much better. Credits to Ms Pike and Ms Madonna and Mr Stephens – The perfect fit.
The Hitchiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – All good! Watching it a third, fourth time – Thank you for the fish.
Funny Face – I want pink!
Breakfast at Tiffany’s – Despite not being as true to the book, still fabulous!
As you can read, a good thing needs only a sentence to love it.
More to come…
Converting .flac to .wav for play on iTunes
Download decoder FLAC Frontend, you can use this: http://downloads.sourceforge.net/flac/flac-1.1.4b.exe
Install, Decode and Play – as simple as that.
- Courtesy of jcoalson @ www.hydrogenaudio.org
State of the Union 2010
First Amendment you say, need to buy it you say, oh so I can use limitless amounts of cash to buy it you say – Ohh-Right!! I’m getting a boner right now…
What is Fair?
Is this fair, I say – I say, is this just?
VERSUS
Oops you did it again…
VERSUS
I say, I say – Is this Loony Toony?
The Haitian Tremors
January 12
The earthquake
January 13
Pledges from
1. Argentina
2. Australia
3. Belgium
4. Bermuda
5. Brazil
6. Canada
7. Chile
8. China
9. Colombia
10. Costa Rica
11. Cuba
12. Denmark
13. Dominican Republic
14. El Salvador
15. Estonia
16. EU
17. Finland
18. France
19. Germany
20. Greece
21. Iceland
22. Ireland
23. Israel
24. Italy
25. Japan
26. Mexico
27. Netherlands
28. New Zealand
29. Norway
30. Pakistan
31. Panama
32. Peru
33. Philipines
34. Portugal
35. Puerto Rico
36. Russia
37. Spain
38. Sweden
39. Switzerland
40. Trinidad & Tobago
41. Turkey
42. UK
43. USA – just to name a few,
of which:
1. Australia
2. Belgium
3. Canada
4. Denmark
5. Finland
6. France
7. Germany
8. Greece
9. Ireland
10. Italy
11. Japan
12. Netherlands
13. New Zealand
14. Norway
15. Portugal
16. Spain
17. Sweden
18. UK
19. USA
are Developed Assistance Committee Members
of which:
1. Argentina
2. Bermuda
3. Brazil
4. Chile
5. Colombia
6. Costa Rica
7. Cuba
8. Dominican Republic
9. El Salvador
10. Peru
11. Puerto Rico
12. USA
are the nearest in terms of geography.
of which:
1. USA
is the richest in terms of economy & resources
of which:
1. the UN HQ is located in
of which:
1. more than 150 employees are currently unaccounted for
of whom:
1. took care of more than 1,ooo,ooo Haitians in its capital, Port-au-Prince
of whom:
1. are sleeping on the streets and avoiding buildings for fear of further tremors
of whose:
1. plight is heavily covered by the international media
2. with accusations of delayed international aid
3. despite the millions and eventually billions of dollars worth of aid pledged
4. dissecting the country that was, is Haiti, playing the blame game
5. without considering that the Haitians are not the only ones affected by this natural disaster (conspiracy theorists would like to differ on whether it is really an act of mother nature)
6. focusing fully on the negativity of the situation and completely disregarding the camaraderie that this unfortunate incident has brought about
7. completely forgetting the human limitations in terms of searching, rescuing and aiding
8. thinking as if we have the technology and means of the Star Trek Enterprise or the advancements featured in Avatar
9. just because they are able to transmit live feed and news via satellites and airwaves, et al (if only we can coordinate and transport help that way)
10. with reporters an journalists on ground zero submitting their reports on the disastrous situation, the dire needs of homeless victims and yet, I wonder, where are they sleeping, what are they eating and who are they rescuing?
January 14
The reports continue to stream in and aid continues to be pledged with no substantial aid having reached the disaster zone and accusations that the UN care only for their own and neglecting the people that they were there to serve, working through nights and endless days, to begin with. After all, in an emergency landing, oxygen masks will be deployed – put the mask over your own nose and mouth before putting it on your dependants.
3 guesses on what I’m insinuating here 
January 15
The Haitian 2010 earthquake continues… I mean recovery…
In Dual Life
Living a double life is not a lie it’s just a matter of fact the truth of living the pleasure in wearing masks all glittery shiny and ascending unto the steps of the haven above only to find out that everything is masked and nothing is what it seems to be all that is everything left to feel is the end there is no beginning no ying and yang no opposites attract it just is and all that is is a lie
