Save energy! Win a car!

NEA has recently launched a campaign to save energy. If you cut household energy bills by 10%, you stand a chance to win a fuel efficient hybrid car in a lucky draw.

Anyone living in Singapore will tell you that May to Aug is probably the hottest period of the year. Which means more people use air conditioning. More people shower more often, and wash their sweaty clothes more often as well. Either NEA wants to make Singapore the city of sweat, or they don't want to part with their hybrid car.

Why can't they start the campaign in Oct to Feb period, when it is a lot cooler and people have no need to turn on air conditioning in the first place?

Olympic Flame Run

A letter from Mr Chiang Ging Seng, published in the Forum page of The Straits Times on 1 May 2008.

"A shame...Tell us why we're not part of the flame run

I AM very proud that Singapore has achieved much and were chosen to host the Youth Olympics. But sadly, Singaporeans must travel to Kuala Lumpur to welcome the Olympic torch.

What a shame. Can the Singapore National Olympic Council explain why the torch is travelling from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur and on to Indonesia, bypassing Singapore?"

And here is the reply from the Singapore National Olympic Council, published in the Forum page of The Straits Times on 2 May 2008.

"Why Singapore not on Olympic torch route

This is in reply to Mr Khoo Lih-Han's comment last Saturday, and Mr Chiang Ging Seng's yesterday, on the Olympic Games torch not stopping over in Singapore.

The Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay is a prelude to the Beijing Olympic Games 2008, and therefore all rights to the torch relay belong to the Beijing Organising Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad.

In planning the route for the torch relay, the committee decides on its theme, duration and distance, as well as the cities through which the torch will pass. The route was finalised and announced by the committee on April 26 last year.

It is understandable that Singaporeans would have liked to have the honour of having the torch relay pass through Singapore. We have long been strong supporters of the Olympic movement, its principles and values. However, we all know we must respect the integrity of the planning process and the decisions made by the Beijing Organising Committee."

Reading the reply, I wondered why the council even bothered to reply, since they are not saying anything at all. I mean, we all know that the route was selected by the Beijing council. So? What was the criteria that the Beijing council used? And why didn't we meet the selection criteria? Aren't these the things that we should find out, so that we increase our chances of being part of the flame run in future Olympics?

PSLE Seminar - A manifestation of kiasu

Those of you living in Singapore will know that PSLE (Primary School Leaving Examination) is taken at the end of primary education in Singapore. What surprised me was that they have seminars for parents, to prepare parents for PSLE, to help parents cope with the stress of having a kid who is taking PSLE. Hey, isn't the one taking the examinations the kid? What has parents got to do with this? Stress for parents? Huh? The one who should be feeling the heat should be the kid, not the parents.

I knew the rat race in Singapore is bad. And Singaporeans are kiasu (meaning they are afraid of losing out). Now, it is not just the adults involved, but they are afraid that their kids will lose out... must everything be compared in Singapore? Must we always be competing against others? Can't we compete against ourselves, challenge ourselves to do better than what we had previously done? I mean, being better than your neighbour doesn't mean you are realising your potential and being the best that you can be.

Are we so myopic that we are satisfied as long as we are better than our neighbours?

My niece

I became an uncle today!

My sister-in-law gave birth to a baby girl today. Weighing almost 3.5kg, she is a big baby, a few days overdue (originally due on 17 Apr).

Earth Day baby... looking forward to seeing her in Japan when I next go there.

My wife's blog entry on our niece

World of Warcraft

I tried out World of Warcraft yesterday, just to see what the hype is all about. It is a good thing that Blizzard is offering 10-day free trial for this game, just for people like me to see if they like the game, before they commit to paying a monthly subscription to play.

Now I know what is so addictive about this game, and why it is the success that it is. Compared to CRPGs like Neverwinter Nights, the learning curve for WoW is much easier, and survivability at the lower levels is not as challenging. And when players can survive, they find the game more interesting (yes, it is had to find a game interesting if you keep dying and have to role up new characters). Couple that with the various quests available in the game to keep new players occupied as they explore the world and learn along the way. Plus, having the option to talk to people and group up makes it a more social game, compared to those that log on to servers capable of handling only up to a certain number of concurrent players.

In a way, those who play MUDs (like Forgotten Kingdoms) will enjoy this, since it brings the elements of MUDs (combat and social aspects) and add in fancy graphics. You get to learn skills, level up and improve in stats, talk to people, kill monsters, loot and sell, make items, etc. The only downside of this game is the subscription. It is based on monthly subscription, rather than time spent online. Which is advantageous to the addict (who may be playing hours each day) but puts the casual gamer (who plays an hour or two every few days) at a disadvantage. Maybe Blizzard should look into offering two types of subscription plans, the monthly plan now, as well as a pay-as-you-play type of plan for the casual gamer.

WoWWiki, an excellent source of information

她以为她很美丽 by 黄舒骏

I was introduced to 黄舒骏 (Huang Shujun) by a friend of mine that I have known since secondary school. I got to know her through a micromouse competition, and she introduced me to 男女之间 by 黄舒骏, and I thought the song was witty but true. I got interested in 黄舒骏 and came upon some of his other songs, and this one is one of those witty ones.

她以为她很美丽 by 黄舒骏

禁不起一片寂寞飘落心底　
我实在没出息　
不可以，我一定要专心
为什么春天加上青春期　
我就克制不了自己　
不可以，真是罪大恶极
爸爸说考上大学后　
春天才会真的来临
到时候要交什么样的女孩子不可以
她以为她很美丽　
其实只有背影还可以　
我一点都不在意
她以为她很美丽　
其实只有头发还可以　
我理都不想理
人家说我们考上医学系的学生最得意　
蹲在家里　自然会有人来相亲
为什么我已念到六年级　
却没有一点动静　
看上我的只有病人和细菌
他们说将来开业赚大钱　
春天才会真的来临
到时候要娶什么样的女孩子不可以
自古都是英雄爱美女　
不是英雄也爱美女
但这年头的英雄和美女如何定义
是谁曾经这么告诉我　
内在美获得最后胜利
谁知道你在说的时候　
心里想的什么东西
路上车子价值越名贵　
里面女人就越美丽　
什么道理，我就没这个福气
今年过年我就参拾柒　
拥有事业和学历　
为什么，就是没有爱的讯息
究竟我还需要多少努力　
春天才会真的来临
到时候难道只要是女孩子就可以
她以为她很美丽　
其实只有眼睛还可以　
我理都不想理
她以为她很美丽　
其实只有衣服还可以　
我理都不想理

男女之间 by 黄舒骏 Huang Shujun

Another of those songs from the 90s that I used to listen to. This one is funny, it describes the love-hate relation between man and woman.

男女之间 by 黄舒骏

女人最怕男人是一堆沙猪
男人最怕女人脑袋像浆糊
女人通常都是感情的动物
男人大半都是生活的侏儒
女人可以爱到义无反顾 男人只能爱到相当程度
女人失恋容易另寻出路 男人失恋可就万劫不复

男女之间永远说不清楚 互相厌恶又互相追逐
彼此可以找出千万个错误 却是五十步笑百步

女人对爱要求需索无度 男人总是显得马马虎虎
女人好不容易决定开始 男人却好像刚要结束
女人的泪可以融化冰雪
男人的哭却是山崩地裂
女人的坚强是金石不如
男人的温柔是沧海一粟
女人的胸前是男人的家
男人的肩膀是女人的床
女人希望男人像一棵大树
男人渴望的是精神支柱

男女之间永远说不清楚 互相厌恶又互相追逐
彼此可以找出千万个错误 却是五十步笑百步

女人说谎保证是天衣无缝
男人说谎终究是百密一疏
女人懂得演戏是一种天赋
男人永远败在经验不足
WOO......
女人认为爱情是一种付出
男人总是把它当作一种征服
女人好不容易决定开始
男人却好像刚要结束

问 (Wen) by 陈淑桦 Chen Shuhua

Back in the 90s, I used to listen to the radio a lot. Mostly Chinese songs, though. Here is one of those songs that I liked.

问 by 陈淑桦

谁让你心动　谁让你心痛
谁会让你偶尔想要拥他在怀中
谁又在乎你的梦　谁说你的心事他会懂
谁为你感动

如果女人　总是等到夜深
无悔付出青春　他就会对你真
是否女人　永远不要多问
她最好永远天真　为她所爱的人

谁让你心动　谁让你心痛
谁会让你偶尔想要拥他在怀中
谁又在乎你的梦　谁说你的心事他会懂
谁为你感动

只是女人　容易一往情深
总是为情所困　终于越陷越深
可是女人　爱是她的灵魂
她可以奉献一生　为她所爱的人
只是女人　容易一往情深
总是为情所困　终于越陷越深
可是女人　爱是她的灵魂
她可以奉献一生　为她所爱的人
可是女人　爱是她的灵魂
她可以奉献一生　为她所爱的人

Pampered Singaporeans

I happened to come across this article when scanning through Today. It reminds me of how pampered we Singaporeans really are.

We complain when the MRT is crowded. But like what some will say, you haven't seen crowded until you take a train during Tokyo's peak hour. And if trains aren't frequent enough in Singapore, the Japanese town I stayed in had four trains per hour. The Japanese island I stayed on had one bus per hour. If you didn't want to wait for the bus, you walk to the ferry terminal.

We complain when traffic on the roads are bad. So what does the government do? They slap on some more ERP gantries, in response to our demands to improve traffic flow. And what do we do next? We complain about ERP. We obviously don't know about traffic conditions in Bangkok, or Los Angeles. And the world is full of roads that charge tolls for usage (eg. turnpikes in the US, major highways in Japan).

Maybe it is time to just wake up, to get out of our little well, and see the world for what it is, and realise for ourselves how fortunate we really are. We may not be the best place to live in (the world is large enough, and we all have our own different preferences) but we certainly is one of the more convenient places to live in. And sometimes, we just have to grow up and live with the fact that not everything in life can be what we want it to be.

It's a small world

Today, on my way to work, I saw my ex-tuition teacher in the carpark. What a surprise. Apparently, he has moved in the estate for about six months already. And I didn't realise that until today! All because I went to work a little later than usual (I usually like to arrive at work early.)

I have known him for 20 years. While he only taught me for six years, we have remained in contact, and he is one of those people who had a very strong hand in the forming of my character, in shaping who I am today. I really owe it to him a lot. Many years ago, I even went on a tour of the Silk Road with him.

It really is a small world, bumping into him like this on a day that I chose to leave slightly later for work.

Appeal to Singaporean drivers

Please don't slow down your car to look at accidents. Please don't slow down your car to look at the vehicles involved in the accident... especially to take down their registration numbers to buy 4D. Traffic is bad enough as it is, we don't need a slowdown in traffic because people are busy noting down numbers, instead of driving.

Keep your eyes on the road, not on the accident vehicles.

Time to change

We always like to talk about change, how change is the only constant, how we must change in order to adapt to the changing landscape.

Yet at the same time, we are so afraid of change.

Change requires time. And a tolerance as people need to get used to the new ways of doing things. Before efficiency picks up once again from habit, people need time to build up that habit. This means things get done at a slower pace than before.

But being result-oriented people, we tend to want the results now. So if we need to go back to old ways to get those results, chances are, people will revert back to the old ways.

So while change may be good in the long run, it requires a mature organisation to be able to pull it through. The organisation must be willing to suffer that slowdown in operations that will come about as people adapt to the new ways of doing things. But if it can clear that hurdle, it will find that efficiency in the long run will improve. But, you need to be able to live with the inefficiency in the short run.

Are you willing to be patient for change?

Navigator beer

Found this beer in the supermarket today... Dutch beer from Amsterdam. The Navigator Beer. Just what every sailor needs! At 8.4% alcohol content, this is stronger than your average beer.

Info on this beer at BeerTutor.com

Bewitched

Once upon a time, I used to watch this TV series known as "Bewitched". It is about a witch called Samantha, who is trying to lead a life married to a mortal Darrin. There is a lot of laughter, as she tries to fend off the many spells that her mother casts, in an attempt to make Darrin leave her. In a way, it is a show about marriage, about how couples need to work things out when trouble comes in between them.

"Bewitched" showed between 1964 to 1972... that is a long time ago. The reruns showed in Singapore during the 1980s, if I remember correctly. The earlier seasons (which I did not catch) were in black and white, while the later seasons were in colour. Sony has decided to release DVDs of the series, expected to be all out in 2009.

And a few years ago, Nicole Kidman took up the role of the witch, and starred in the movie by the same name, "Bewitched". The story is a little different, but it has the same elements. A witch falling in love with a mortal man, and her family who does not approve of the union. There were elements of the TV series, such as the house number 1164 (which was the same as the TV series), and the neighbours (the lady somehow always noticed weird things going on in the witch's house). The movie was shown on TV last night, which prompted me to write this post.
And TBS in Japan decided to make a Japanese drama series along the same lines. Called "奥さまは魔女" (Oku sama wa majo, which translates to "My wife is a witch"), it is a remake of the original series, in Japanese with a Japanese context.

Official site for the movie "Bewitched"
奥様は魔法少女, a anime based on "Bewitched"

The Leap Years

2008 is a leap year. And on 29 Feb 2008, a local production was released, known as "The Leap Years". It is a love story based on a novella called "Leap of Love" by local author Catherine Lim.

What is so touching about the story is that it is based on a simple promise, a promise to meet every four years on 29 Feb.

On the first 29 Feb, the couple met. But then, they had to part, and they made a promise to meet every 29 Feb.

On the second 29 Feb, after four years of waiting and silence, they met again. It was a confirmation of their feelings for each other. But they parted on bad terms, when she knew that he was married with a 3-year old daughter.

On the third 29 Feb, they met again, but this time, she broke his heart, by lying to him that she has married and has a 2-year old daughter.

On the fourth 29 Feb, she was really going to get married, they finally realised how deeply they felt for each other, and thus chose to end the "meet-once-every-four-years" tradition by getting married.

Before the seventh 29 Feb, he has gone into a coma, and may never wake up... on the seventh 29 Feb, she got a call from the hospital, rushed down... and he opened his eyes, coming out of his coma and keeping his promise to meet her every 29 Feb.

While the production may not have been the greatest, and the actors may not have been the best, I guess the story was really great. At least for me. I love romantic stories much like those in The Return of the Condor Heroes, which is why this story of meeting every four years (similar to Yang Guo waiting 16 years for his wife) draws me into the story.

By the way, this movie led me to discover the origins of the phrase "It is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all". It comes from Alfred Tennyson's poem, In Memoriam, 1850, line 27, stanza 4.

'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

The phrase "Theirs is not to reason why, theirs is but to do and die" also came from Lord Tennyson.

Catch the movie, or read the novella, and enjoy the story.