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?

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…

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.  :)

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…

Install, Decode and Play – as simple as that.

- Courtesy of jcoalson @ www.hydrogenaudio.org

VERSUS

Oops you did it again…

VERSUS

I say, I say – Is this Loony Toony?

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…