Wednesday, December 29, 2004
give because you're able to
GIVE BECAUSE YOU'RE ABLE TO
Wednesday December 29, 2004
Count your blessings, then donate
WHAT were your first thoughts when news of Sunday's devastating earthquake and tsunami reached you, and when the magnitude of the destruction finally hit you?
Responses I've gathered from friends and readers were varied.
There were those who counted their blessings that they were not at the troublespots at the time of the disaster, and then there were those who wondered how well prepared Singapore is if such a disaster were to hit us.
There were those who worried about their planned trips in the next few days or weeks to places such as Phuket and Penang, and then there were those who fretted over chances of getting refunds from airlines and travel agencies.
One Today reader wrote in with this question: Is our seafood safe, since the fishes we eat come from the region and would be feeding on corpses?And another reader wrote to express his disgust at hearing a few teenagers joke about the tsunami on his way to work.
As I took in the devastation on TV and the Internet - the ruined lands,vulnerable people clutching on to barely- stable structures as water rushedrapidly underneath them, scores of casualties lying at the crowded and rundown hospitals, rows of corpses, many of them helpless toddlers and children, and the heart-wrenching cries of grieving parents and spouses - I could not help but marvel at how blessed Singapore really is.
We are so close to the epicentre of the earthquake and the shores the tidal waves crashed into. Yet by sheer chance of geography, we were spared from the disaster.
But the same cannot be said for our neighbours.
While we complain about being giddy from minor tremors, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Indonesia and Thailand are going about the hellishtask of retrieving the dead from the seas.
These are the same countries that rich Singaporeans flock to for holidays and the same we tap on for a constant supply of maids and construction workers.
In an article carried in yesterday's afternoon edition of Today, United Nations humanitarian chief Undersecretary-General Jan Egeland lashed outat rich countries for being stingy.
Also the head of emergency relief, he complained that none of the world's richest countries give 1 per cent of their gross national product to international assistance. Many give 0.1 per cent or 0.2 per cent.
"We were more generous when we were less rich. And it is beyond me why we are so stingy, really," he said. Should Singapore, as a nation, give more aid?
Should the individual Singaporean do more?
In this festive season, we must have spent - as a nation - millions on short and long getaways, generous Christmas gifts, lavish feasts and parties.
The refunds we're demanding may buy just about enough medical supplies to treat a badly-injured child in Sri Lanka.
You might have had to cancel your travel plans, but the woman from whose grip the waves stole her only child, the man whose family's three meals depend on his peddling of sarongs and pareos to sunbathing tourists, and that family whose house was flattened to the grounds - they have a life to rebuild.
Have you counted your blessings? If you haven't, do so. When you have, reach into your heart and think about those whose homes have been wrecked and livelihoods smashed.
If you're an employer of an anxious Indonesian maid or worried Indian construction workers, show some compassion and patience. If you have time to spare, offer your service to the various organisations that are coordinating relief and donation efforts.
If countries should give 1 per cent of GNP to international aid, perhaps companies here should also pledge a certain percentage of their annual turnover to help the quake victims.
And instead of that token $2 you fish out from your wallet to donate, perhaps you could think about a figure that really corresponds with how much you have.
Because we really can help so much more.
If you have a view on this, email news@newstoday.com.sg
Visit TODAYonline website at http://www.todayonline.com
you can do your part with DBS/POSB through iBanking or at any of the DBS/POSB ATM machines nationwide.
for Singtel users, you can call these numbers to make $10 or $50 donations.
Wednesday December 29, 2004
Count your blessings, then donate
WHAT were your first thoughts when news of Sunday's devastating earthquake and tsunami reached you, and when the magnitude of the destruction finally hit you?
Responses I've gathered from friends and readers were varied.
There were those who counted their blessings that they were not at the troublespots at the time of the disaster, and then there were those who wondered how well prepared Singapore is if such a disaster were to hit us.
There were those who worried about their planned trips in the next few days or weeks to places such as Phuket and Penang, and then there were those who fretted over chances of getting refunds from airlines and travel agencies.
One Today reader wrote in with this question: Is our seafood safe, since the fishes we eat come from the region and would be feeding on corpses?And another reader wrote to express his disgust at hearing a few teenagers joke about the tsunami on his way to work.
As I took in the devastation on TV and the Internet - the ruined lands,vulnerable people clutching on to barely- stable structures as water rushedrapidly underneath them, scores of casualties lying at the crowded and rundown hospitals, rows of corpses, many of them helpless toddlers and children, and the heart-wrenching cries of grieving parents and spouses - I could not help but marvel at how blessed Singapore really is.
We are so close to the epicentre of the earthquake and the shores the tidal waves crashed into. Yet by sheer chance of geography, we were spared from the disaster.
But the same cannot be said for our neighbours.
While we complain about being giddy from minor tremors, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India, Myanmar, Indonesia and Thailand are going about the hellishtask of retrieving the dead from the seas.
These are the same countries that rich Singaporeans flock to for holidays and the same we tap on for a constant supply of maids and construction workers.
In an article carried in yesterday's afternoon edition of Today, United Nations humanitarian chief Undersecretary-General Jan Egeland lashed outat rich countries for being stingy.
Also the head of emergency relief, he complained that none of the world's richest countries give 1 per cent of their gross national product to international assistance. Many give 0.1 per cent or 0.2 per cent.
"We were more generous when we were less rich. And it is beyond me why we are so stingy, really," he said. Should Singapore, as a nation, give more aid?
Should the individual Singaporean do more?
In this festive season, we must have spent - as a nation - millions on short and long getaways, generous Christmas gifts, lavish feasts and parties.
The refunds we're demanding may buy just about enough medical supplies to treat a badly-injured child in Sri Lanka.
You might have had to cancel your travel plans, but the woman from whose grip the waves stole her only child, the man whose family's three meals depend on his peddling of sarongs and pareos to sunbathing tourists, and that family whose house was flattened to the grounds - they have a life to rebuild.
Have you counted your blessings? If you haven't, do so. When you have, reach into your heart and think about those whose homes have been wrecked and livelihoods smashed.
If you're an employer of an anxious Indonesian maid or worried Indian construction workers, show some compassion and patience. If you have time to spare, offer your service to the various organisations that are coordinating relief and donation efforts.
If countries should give 1 per cent of GNP to international aid, perhaps companies here should also pledge a certain percentage of their annual turnover to help the quake victims.
And instead of that token $2 you fish out from your wallet to donate, perhaps you could think about a figure that really corresponds with how much you have.
Because we really can help so much more.
If you have a view on this, email news@newstoday.com.sg
Visit TODAYonline website at http://www.todayonline.com
you can do your part with DBS/POSB through iBanking or at any of the DBS/POSB ATM machines nationwide.
for Singtel users, you can call these numbers to make $10 or $50 donations.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
regret
here's my 2cents on filee's post about hoobastank's "the reason":
i believe that people do feel so sorry for what they have done that they, as the song goes, live with the regret for the rest of their lives.
ok, maybe "for the rest of their lives" is stretching it a bit far, perhaps when i've lived a bit longer and seen more of life i'll get back to you on this one.
but regretting the hurt you caused someone else for a long long time? hell, yeah i believe it. it all depends on whether you've realised your mistake and know that if given the opportunity once more, you wouldnt commit the same error. it's knowing how deeply you have cut the person, seeing the hurt on their faces, seeing their tears, knowing how you contributed in large part to their sleepless nights that wrings your heart into a ball of shame and makes you just want to fling yourself against the wall. how could you. just really, how could you.
and it's precisely because after the hurt is done and the damage cannot be undone that makes you feel even worse.
how does it take before you stop killing yourself over it? it depends on how long the individual takes to forgive him/herself. i personally have great difficulty with it. it's easy to forgive others, and i daresay that i truly have not hated anyone lasting longer than perhaps a couple of days. the energy expended is simply not worth it. besides, havent i often trespassed moral boundaries myself. what right do i have to judge someone else? but strangely i cant seem to apply the same concept on forgiving myself. (i can hear xy saying it now, "if even God has forgiven you, why cant you forgive yourself?") i dont know. would it help if the other party forgives me? even then, i dont think so. because i answer to myself. and that's just it. i cant forgive myself because i cant answer to my own conscience.
i hate the feeling of regret.
because regret reeks of helplessness.
and i fucking hate the feeling of helplessness even more.
just to set the record straight though, "the reason" is not my song of the year. it got grating after a while. and i totally dont get how the video has anything to do with the message of the song. maybe someone can enlighten me. or not. or whatever.
"i had it all. and i screwed it up for the memory of a feeling"
p/s - the writer is normally a happy, well-adjusted young adult who enjoys eating, shopping, and lampooning horrid music videos.
i believe that people do feel so sorry for what they have done that they, as the song goes, live with the regret for the rest of their lives.
ok, maybe "for the rest of their lives" is stretching it a bit far, perhaps when i've lived a bit longer and seen more of life i'll get back to you on this one.
but regretting the hurt you caused someone else for a long long time? hell, yeah i believe it. it all depends on whether you've realised your mistake and know that if given the opportunity once more, you wouldnt commit the same error. it's knowing how deeply you have cut the person, seeing the hurt on their faces, seeing their tears, knowing how you contributed in large part to their sleepless nights that wrings your heart into a ball of shame and makes you just want to fling yourself against the wall. how could you. just really, how could you.
and it's precisely because after the hurt is done and the damage cannot be undone that makes you feel even worse.
how does it take before you stop killing yourself over it? it depends on how long the individual takes to forgive him/herself. i personally have great difficulty with it. it's easy to forgive others, and i daresay that i truly have not hated anyone lasting longer than perhaps a couple of days. the energy expended is simply not worth it. besides, havent i often trespassed moral boundaries myself. what right do i have to judge someone else? but strangely i cant seem to apply the same concept on forgiving myself. (i can hear xy saying it now, "if even God has forgiven you, why cant you forgive yourself?") i dont know. would it help if the other party forgives me? even then, i dont think so. because i answer to myself. and that's just it. i cant forgive myself because i cant answer to my own conscience.
i hate the feeling of regret.
because regret reeks of helplessness.
and i fucking hate the feeling of helplessness even more.
just to set the record straight though, "the reason" is not my song of the year. it got grating after a while. and i totally dont get how the video has anything to do with the message of the song. maybe someone can enlighten me. or not. or whatever.
"i had it all. and i screwed it up for the memory of a feeling"
p/s - the writer is normally a happy, well-adjusted young adult who enjoys eating, shopping, and lampooning horrid music videos.
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Let your heart be light,
From now on,
Our troubles will be out of sight.
Have yourself a merry little Christmas,
Make the Yule-tide gay,
From now on,
Our troubles will be miles away.
Here we are as in olden days,
Happy golden days of yore,
Faithful friends who are dear to us,
Gather near to us once more.
Through the years,
We all will be together,
If the Fates allow,
Hang a shining star upon the highest bough,
And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.
Monday, December 20, 2004
the highlight of my day
so module registration sucked once again. what was i thinking of? did i seriously think that going all the way back to the Republic of Boon Lay was gonna help me get my ideal timetable? i must've had my head in the clouds when i hit upon the idea. what a joke.
anyhow, every cloud, even those with heads in 'em, has to have a silver lining right?
this woman sitting next to me on the crowded bus was yakking non-stop with her companion. no, not with, but to her companion. she rarely let her friend speak at all.
she had a loud low husky voice.
she really knows all about voice projection, i thought while trying to push her voice outta my foggy brain. blah blah blah. complain complain complain.
at the interchange, i stole a glance at her and -
OMG
beneath those huge shades, she's none other than Nora Samosir!
did i mention how much i loved her in The Vagina Monologues?
all my complaints about her instantly disappeared with the wind. i contemplated stopping her to tell her how much i loved her performance and that i thought she was easily the strongest actress in it, but then she was still talking with her friend. i think she saw me looking at her though... me with a bewildered deer-caught-in-the-headlights expression...
so this concludes it. nora samosir was the silver lining in my cloud of frustration today.
anyhow, every cloud, even those with heads in 'em, has to have a silver lining right?
this woman sitting next to me on the crowded bus was yakking non-stop with her companion. no, not with, but to her companion. she rarely let her friend speak at all.
she had a loud low husky voice.
she really knows all about voice projection, i thought while trying to push her voice outta my foggy brain. blah blah blah. complain complain complain.
at the interchange, i stole a glance at her and -
OMG
beneath those huge shades, she's none other than Nora Samosir!
did i mention how much i loved her in The Vagina Monologues?
all my complaints about her instantly disappeared with the wind. i contemplated stopping her to tell her how much i loved her performance and that i thought she was easily the strongest actress in it, but then she was still talking with her friend. i think she saw me looking at her though... me with a bewildered deer-caught-in-the-headlights expression...
so this concludes it. nora samosir was the silver lining in my cloud of frustration today.
Friday, December 17, 2004
all i want for christmas...
Dear Santa,
i've heard of this magnificent list that you make. the one that lists down the names of all the good kids and bad kids. i know i havent been entirely very good this year (depending on who you ask), but then i dont think you would wanna give me a lump of coal cos a lump of coal wouldnt be punishment as i can sell it off on ebay and make some money. i'd caption it like this:
"A Quality Product of Santa's Factory. It even has Santa's fingerprints on it!"
so you see, it's not a good idea to punish 'enterprising' (aka cunning) kids like me. i could suggest some things you could drop into my xmas stocking, but pls dont be mistaken; they wont make me happy. NOT AT ALL. because if i received any, or all (:D), of these things, i'd feel horribly guilty. in fact ill feel so horrible that it's actually a really effective form of punishment for all my badness this year.
and in a bid to be nice and make things easier for your execution, i've made a list, checked it twice and even categorised it.
that's all i have for the moment. i think they'll just about fit into my ultra-large stocking for the time being... until i get a bigger stocking. Thanks Santa-baby! muacks!!
Love,
Win
i've heard of this magnificent list that you make. the one that lists down the names of all the good kids and bad kids. i know i havent been entirely very good this year (depending on who you ask), but then i dont think you would wanna give me a lump of coal cos a lump of coal wouldnt be punishment as i can sell it off on ebay and make some money. i'd caption it like this:
"A Quality Product of Santa's Factory. It even has Santa's fingerprints on it!"
so you see, it's not a good idea to punish 'enterprising' (aka cunning) kids like me. i could suggest some things you could drop into my xmas stocking, but pls dont be mistaken; they wont make me happy. NOT AT ALL. because if i received any, or all (:D), of these things, i'd feel horribly guilty. in fact ill feel so horrible that it's actually a really effective form of punishment for all my badness this year.
and in a bid to be nice and make things easier for your execution, i've made a list, checked it twice and even categorised it.
- material things i want which i can afford
- material things i want which i cannot afford or would not pay for
- non-material things which i highly doubt i will receive in a xmas stocking
i wont go into detail with #1 because it's self-explanatory. #3 seems like the sort of wishlist that can swing both ways. something that is altruistic and in line with the xmas spirit like "love and forgiveness for all mankind" or the self-centered "i hope Brad Pitt divorces her and marry me". maybe some day i will make a #3 list but right now it seems like a long drawn out affair and is probably gonna make me either very sorrowful or disproportionately optimistic.
that leaves us with #2. someday when i can justify spending the money for these things, i will get them. until then...
it's the season for giving isn't it? spreading joy to all people and all that jazz? Santa you agree with me dont you?
Material Things I Want Which I Can't/Won't Buy
- a lifetime's worth of brazilian waxes
- the deed to my private island
- an mp3 player that is shock-proof so i can take it jogging and is so tiny that i can stuff it into the back of my jeans pocket. oh, and at least 5GB of space
- an iBook
- a cafeteria with leased tenants of MY choosing from hawker stalls to upscale restaurants. all my favourite foods under one roof!
- our old home
- my private library filled with the books i want to read
- a magic wand to match my angel's halo
- a proud kitty, frisky puppy and weird fishies
that's all i have for the moment. i think they'll just about fit into my ultra-large stocking for the time being... until i get a bigger stocking. Thanks Santa-baby! muacks!!
Love,
Win
Saturday, December 11, 2004
You Know You're Chinese When...
this is long, but it's kinda fun to see what the westerners think they know about us (apparently not much).
You Know You're Chinese When...
You unwrap Christmas gifts very carefully, so you can save and reuse the wrapping (and especially those bows) next year. no.
You only buy Christmas cards after Christmas, when they are 50% off. no.
When there is a sale on toilet paper, you buy 100 rolls and store them in your closet or in the bedroom of an adult child who has moved out. no. but i have heard of Americans who have done that when Oprah said there's was shortage of toilet paper...
You have a vinyl table cloth on your kitchen table. nope.
Your stove is covered with aluminum foil.You use the dishwasher as a dish rack. no, and i dont own a dishwasher at home.
You keep a Thermos of hot water available at all times. nope.
You eat all meals in the kitchen. nil.
You save grocery bags, tin foil, and tin containers. huh what for?
You use grocery bags to hold garbage. yes! woohoo one right!
You always leave your shoes at the door. yeah!
You have a piano in your living room. by golly, i do!
You twirl your pen around your fingers. nope, cos i cant. i would if i could! Even if you're totally full, if someone says they're going to throw away the leftovers on the table, you'll finish them. sometimes
You don't own any real Tupperware -- only a cupboard full of used but carefully rinsed margarine tubs, takeout containers, and jam jars. uh, some Tupperware maybe a few takeout containers. why would i keep margarine tubs? for growing taugay a la primary school science experiment?
You also use the jam jars as drinking glasses. who does this?!?
You've eaten a red bean Popsicle. yes!
You bring oranges (or other produce) with you as a gift when you visit people's homes. oranges only during Chinese New Year. other produce? like what? a duck? eggs?
You have a collection of miniature shampoo bottles that you take every time you stay in a hotel. i have a collection of miniature bathstuff for going to the pool... does it count?
The condiments in your fridge are either Price Club sized or come in plastic packets, which you save/steal every time you get take out or go to McDonald's. oh pleaseeee who needs McDonald's chilli when you have belachan at home *vicious eye-rolling* what's Price Club anyway?
Ditto for paper napkins. ditto the vicious eye-rolling
You never order room service. i do, but only if it's too late to go out or im too lazy
You carry a stash of your own food whenever you travel (and travel means any car ride longer than 15 minutes). no. and anyway, no one refers to a car ride as 'travel' when you can reach the other end of the country in half an hour.
These travel snacks are always dried. i dont bring any. even for real travel like on planes
As in not just dried plums, dried ginger, and beef/pork jerky, but dried cuttlefish (SQUID). see above. and HEY i love dried sotong ok. ill bring that over the other dried foodstuffs.
Your parents vehemently refuse the sack of gold coin oranges that their guests brought just to be courteous. yes, but they take it in the end. it's customary.
Your dad thinks he can fix everything himself. hmm... not everything, but sometimes he does try to fix stuff and they work!
You majored in something practical like engineering, medicine or law. i guess. i meant the 'practical' part.
When you go to a dance party, there are a wall of guys surrounding the dance floor trying to look cool. yeah!
You live with your parents and you are 30 years old (and they prefer it that way). this is probably gonna come true
Or if you're married and 30 years old, you live in the apartment next door to your parents, or at least in the same neighborhood. i dunno man
You don't use measuring cups. cos i dont cook.
You feel like you've gotten a good deal if you didn't pay tax. where do you not pay tax?
You beat eggs with chopsticks. sometimes
Your parents' house is always cold. cold?
You have a teacup with a cover on it. i do in hall!
You reuse teabags. nooooooo! pls, we Chinese are proud of our tea ok. tsk.
Your mom drives her Mercedes to the Price Club. we dont own a Merc and we dunno what a Price Club is.
You tip Chinese delivery guys / waiters more. no tipping in singapore!
You're a wok user. my mummy does
You like Chinese films in their original undubbed versions. yes! ... if i understand the language.
You have acquired a taste for bittermelon. bittergourd? i eat it
You like congee with thousand year old eggs. HAHAHA your eggs are like 10 times too old!
You prefer your shrimp with the heads and legs still attached -- it means they're fresh. is this not universal?
You never call your parents just to say hi. not likely as i live with them
You always cook too much. my mum does! way, waaay too much..
If you don't live at home, when your parents call, they ask if you've eaten rice, even if it's midnight. yup. well, they just ask if i've eaten... not necessarily rice...
Your parents tell you to boil herbs and stay inside when you get sick. yup
They also tell you not to eat fried foods or baked goods because they produce hot air. fried, yes. baked, no.
Your parents never go to the movies. they do, but seldom
Your parents send money to their relatives in China. no.
You use a face cloth. i thought this is universal too. but i dont. sometimes i dont even wash my face.
Your parents use a clothes line. no.
You eat every last grain of rice in your bowl, but don't eat the last piece of food on the table. the other way round more like
You starve yourself before going to all you can eat sushi. no... i never starve myself, whatever the circumstance... and anyway i dont need to resort to that in order to 'eat my money's worth'
You've joined a CD club at least once. huh what's a CD club?
You know someone who can get you a good deal on jewelry or electronics. no. but i wish i did.
You never discuss your love life with your parents. about right.
Your parents are never happy with your grades. mum is never happy, dad is never happier.
You keep most of your money in a savings account. er, as opposed to sleeping with it under my pillow, yes.
You've been on the Love Boat or know someone who has. no.
Your toothpaste tubes are all squeezed paper-thin. yes! no one wants to be the one to get the new tube until absolutely necessary :)
You love Chinese Martial Arts films. i do!
You have Tupperware in your fridge with three bites of rice or one leftover chicken wing. yes
Shao Lin and Wu Tang actually mean something to you. sorta
You love to go to $1.75 movies. i would if they have it here
You love to go to $1.50 movies even more. ditto
You never order sweet-n-sour pork, egg foo young, or chop suey at a Chinese restaurant. i do!
You hate to spend more than $5 for lunch. untrue. well, it depends on what im paying for i guess
Someone in your family drives a Honda... with custom rims. no Honda.
You have a Chinese knick-knack hanging from your rear-view mirror. no.
You like to eat chicken feet. no!
You suck on fish heads and fish fins. no!!
You turn bright red after drinking two tablespoons of beer. sorry, i've got poor blood circulation. i never flush/blush
You can get a buzz on Coors O'Douls or Miller Sharps. what?
You look like you are eighteen. i probably do.
You only buy used cars. no.
You have more than five remotes in your house. yeah i think so
You leave the plastic on the lampshade for ten years or more. huh no.
You can't bear to throw things away. yes.
Your dad washes his hair four times a day, or never at all. no!
Your unassisted vision is worse than 20/500. probably... make tht Yeah!
You've worn glasses at least since the fifth grade. yeah!
Your parents (or some other close relative) own a grocery store or restaurant. no.
You drive around looking for the cheapest gas. no. they're about the same
You add twice the amount of water recommended when making orange juice from concentrate. uh, fresh juice anyone?
You've never seen your parents hug. i have.
Your grandmother lives with you and your family. no.
You never order desserts at restaurants. i do.
You always have water when dining out. more often than not
You say "aiya!" and "wah!" frequently. yes!
You love Las Vegas, slot machines, and blackjack. not really.
You love to play mahjong. yeahhh!
You have to read all your parents' mail written in English. no.
You are constantly being set up with uninteresting (and usually ugly) people by your parents. no.
You hate eating cheese. untrue. love cheese.
You have a big aquarium filled with colorful fish somewhere in your house. no.
Your mother is strangely obsessed with plants. hell yeah!
White people look at you strangely if you tell them you are Buddhist.
no. im not Buddhist anyway.
You notice the main topic at family get-togethers is food. haha! probably. but tht's what you get when eating is a national obsession...
You seldom ever owned new clothes if you were a second child. no.
Your folks never speak under 10 decibels at family gatherings. how much is 10 decibels?.
You never made the school football or basketball team. actually i did! basketball team in primary school... and im a GIRL
You have two middle initials instead of one. ya
You grow your own bean sprouts in the kitchen. no but you just piqued my interest.
Your mother made you peel water chestnuts and snow peas. no.
You have an lonely unmarried relative who frequently drops by during dinner time. no.
You received little red envelopes containing money on special occasions.
yeayeayea!
You use the underside of a porcelain bowl to sharpen your knives. ?!? NO... ?!?!?
You cut your own hair... or had someone in your family do it. no.
Your grandmother has a lot of gold teeth... especially in front. no.
You keep fresh garlic and ginger in the kitchen at all times. i think so
You know what the term "lemon" or a "banana" means. if it's what i think it means... i only know what a banana means... what's a "lemon"?
You only have to shave every other day (maybe). no. asians grow hair slower?
You wash and reuse ziplock bags. no.
You know at least three people named Alan Wong. no.
You never drank milk after eating cherries. no. huh?
Your parents collect jade jewelry. no.
You always drink tea after a meal. no. but i drink chinese tea during lunch times on sundays!
Your dad owns at least one bird. HAHAHA! no.
Your parents grow vegetables in a garden. YES! my mum grows everything under the sun in the garden. fruits, vegs, herbs etc.
You use doilies to decorate your furniture. no.
Your grandmother rapped your knuckles with her chopsticks while reaching food with your fingers. no.
You're proud to be Chinese - and you pass these jokes on to all your Chinese friends! yes, and this is it!
You Know You're Chinese When...
You unwrap Christmas gifts very carefully, so you can save and reuse the wrapping (and especially those bows) next year. no.
You only buy Christmas cards after Christmas, when they are 50% off. no.
When there is a sale on toilet paper, you buy 100 rolls and store them in your closet or in the bedroom of an adult child who has moved out. no. but i have heard of Americans who have done that when Oprah said there's was shortage of toilet paper...
You have a vinyl table cloth on your kitchen table. nope.
Your stove is covered with aluminum foil.You use the dishwasher as a dish rack. no, and i dont own a dishwasher at home.
You keep a Thermos of hot water available at all times. nope.
You eat all meals in the kitchen. nil.
You save grocery bags, tin foil, and tin containers. huh what for?
You use grocery bags to hold garbage. yes! woohoo one right!
You always leave your shoes at the door. yeah!
You have a piano in your living room. by golly, i do!
You twirl your pen around your fingers. nope, cos i cant. i would if i could!
You don't own any real Tupperware -- only a cupboard full of used but carefully rinsed margarine tubs, takeout containers, and jam jars. uh, some Tupperware maybe a few takeout containers. why would i keep margarine tubs? for growing taugay a la primary school science experiment?
You also use the jam jars as drinking glasses. who does this?!?
You've eaten a red bean Popsicle. yes!
You bring oranges (or other produce) with you as a gift when you visit people's homes. oranges only during Chinese New Year. other produce? like what? a duck? eggs?
You have a collection of miniature shampoo bottles that you take every time you stay in a hotel. i have a collection of miniature bathstuff for going to the pool... does it count?
The condiments in your fridge are either Price Club sized or come in plastic packets, which you save/steal every time you get take out or go to McDonald's. oh pleaseeee who needs McDonald's chilli when you have belachan at home *vicious eye-rolling* what's Price Club anyway?
Ditto for paper napkins. ditto the vicious eye-rolling
You never order room service. i do, but only if it's too late to go out or im too lazy
You carry a stash of your own food whenever you travel (and travel means any car ride longer than 15 minutes). no. and anyway, no one refers to a car ride as 'travel' when you can reach the other end of the country in half an hour.
These travel snacks are always dried. i dont bring any. even for real travel like on planes
As in not just dried plums, dried ginger, and beef/pork jerky, but dried cuttlefish (SQUID). see above. and HEY i love dried sotong ok. ill bring that over the other dried foodstuffs.
Your parents vehemently refuse the sack of gold coin oranges that their guests brought just to be courteous. yes, but they take it in the end. it's customary.
Your dad thinks he can fix everything himself. hmm... not everything, but sometimes he does try to fix stuff and they work!
You majored in something practical like engineering, medicine or law. i guess. i meant the 'practical' part.
When you go to a dance party, there are a wall of guys surrounding the dance floor trying to look cool. yeah!
You live with your parents and you are 30 years old (and they prefer it that way). this is probably gonna come true
Or if you're married and 30 years old, you live in the apartment next door to your parents, or at least in the same neighborhood. i dunno man
You don't use measuring cups. cos i dont cook.
You feel like you've gotten a good deal if you didn't pay tax. where do you not pay tax?
You beat eggs with chopsticks. sometimes
Your parents' house is always cold. cold?
You have a teacup with a cover on it. i do in hall!
You reuse teabags. nooooooo! pls, we Chinese are proud of our tea ok. tsk.
Your mom drives her Mercedes to the Price Club. we dont own a Merc and we dunno what a Price Club is.
You tip Chinese delivery guys / waiters more. no tipping in singapore!
You're a wok user. my mummy does
You like Chinese films in their original undubbed versions. yes! ... if i understand the language.
You have acquired a taste for bittermelon. bittergourd? i eat it
You like congee with thousand year old eggs. HAHAHA your eggs are like 10 times too old!
You prefer your shrimp with the heads and legs still attached -- it means they're fresh. is this not universal?
You never call your parents just to say hi. not likely as i live with them
You always cook too much. my mum does! way, waaay too much..
If you don't live at home, when your parents call, they ask if you've eaten rice, even if it's midnight. yup. well, they just ask if i've eaten... not necessarily rice...
Your parents tell you to boil herbs and stay inside when you get sick. yup
They also tell you not to eat fried foods or baked goods because they produce hot air. fried, yes. baked, no.
Your parents never go to the movies. they do, but seldom
Your parents send money to their relatives in China. no.
You use a face cloth. i thought this is universal too. but i dont. sometimes i dont even wash my face.
Your parents use a clothes line. no.
You eat every last grain of rice in your bowl, but don't eat the last piece of food on the table. the other way round more like
You starve yourself before going to all you can eat sushi. no... i never starve myself, whatever the circumstance... and anyway i dont need to resort to that in order to 'eat my money's worth'
You've joined a CD club at least once. huh what's a CD club?
You know someone who can get you a good deal on jewelry or electronics. no. but i wish i did.
You never discuss your love life with your parents. about right.
Your parents are never happy with your grades. mum is never happy, dad is never happier.
You keep most of your money in a savings account. er, as opposed to sleeping with it under my pillow, yes.
You've been on the Love Boat or know someone who has. no.
Your toothpaste tubes are all squeezed paper-thin. yes! no one wants to be the one to get the new tube until absolutely necessary :)
You love Chinese Martial Arts films. i do!
You have Tupperware in your fridge with three bites of rice or one leftover chicken wing. yes
Shao Lin and Wu Tang actually mean something to you. sorta
You love to go to $1.75 movies. i would if they have it here
You love to go to $1.50 movies even more. ditto
You never order sweet-n-sour pork, egg foo young, or chop suey at a Chinese restaurant. i do!
You hate to spend more than $5 for lunch. untrue. well, it depends on what im paying for i guess
Someone in your family drives a Honda... with custom rims. no Honda.
You have a Chinese knick-knack hanging from your rear-view mirror. no.
You like to eat chicken feet. no!
You suck on fish heads and fish fins. no!!
You turn bright red after drinking two tablespoons of beer. sorry, i've got poor blood circulation. i never flush/blush
You can get a buzz on Coors O'Douls or Miller Sharps. what?
You look like you are eighteen. i probably do.
You only buy used cars. no.
You have more than five remotes in your house. yeah i think so
You leave the plastic on the lampshade for ten years or more. huh no.
You can't bear to throw things away. yes.
Your dad washes his hair four times a day, or never at all. no!
Your unassisted vision is worse than 20/500. probably... make tht Yeah!
You've worn glasses at least since the fifth grade. yeah!
Your parents (or some other close relative) own a grocery store or restaurant. no.
You drive around looking for the cheapest gas. no. they're about the same
You add twice the amount of water recommended when making orange juice from concentrate. uh, fresh juice anyone?
You've never seen your parents hug. i have.
Your grandmother lives with you and your family. no.
You never order desserts at restaurants. i do.
You always have water when dining out. more often than not
You say "aiya!" and "wah!" frequently. yes!
You love Las Vegas, slot machines, and blackjack. not really.
You love to play mahjong. yeahhh!
You have to read all your parents' mail written in English. no.
You are constantly being set up with uninteresting (and usually ugly) people by your parents. no.
You hate eating cheese. untrue. love cheese.
You have a big aquarium filled with colorful fish somewhere in your house. no.
Your mother is strangely obsessed with plants. hell yeah!
White people look at you strangely if you tell them you are Buddhist.
no. im not Buddhist anyway.
You notice the main topic at family get-togethers is food. haha! probably. but tht's what you get when eating is a national obsession...
You seldom ever owned new clothes if you were a second child. no.
Your folks never speak under 10 decibels at family gatherings. how much is 10 decibels?.
You never made the school football or basketball team. actually i did! basketball team in primary school... and im a GIRL
You have two middle initials instead of one. ya
You grow your own bean sprouts in the kitchen. no but you just piqued my interest.
Your mother made you peel water chestnuts and snow peas. no.
You have an lonely unmarried relative who frequently drops by during dinner time. no.
You received little red envelopes containing money on special occasions.
yeayeayea!
You use the underside of a porcelain bowl to sharpen your knives. ?!? NO... ?!?!?
You cut your own hair... or had someone in your family do it. no.
Your grandmother has a lot of gold teeth... especially in front. no.
You keep fresh garlic and ginger in the kitchen at all times. i think so
You know what the term "lemon" or a "banana" means. if it's what i think it means... i only know what a banana means... what's a "lemon"?
You only have to shave every other day (maybe). no. asians grow hair slower?
You wash and reuse ziplock bags. no.
You know at least three people named Alan Wong. no.
You never drank milk after eating cherries. no. huh?
Your parents collect jade jewelry. no.
You always drink tea after a meal. no. but i drink chinese tea during lunch times on sundays!
Your dad owns at least one bird. HAHAHA! no.
Your parents grow vegetables in a garden. YES! my mum grows everything under the sun in the garden. fruits, vegs, herbs etc.
You use doilies to decorate your furniture. no.
Your grandmother rapped your knuckles with her chopsticks while reaching food with your fingers. no.
You're proud to be Chinese - and you pass these jokes on to all your Chinese friends! yes, and this is it!
Friday, December 10, 2004
PsychoCheekopek
today my sis met a cheekopek at the swimming complex.
she was at the end of the pool resting when this 20-30ish man flashed his pearly whites at her and raised his eyebrows in a 'heyyyyy babyy' manner and proceeded to trap her into her corner by moving from her left to right to left.
i was at the other end of the pool massaging my sore arms and non-existant pectoral muscles and totally oblivious to her plight.
later, PsychoCheekopek hopped out of the pool and headed for the gents presumably for a pee.
no. definitely for a pee cos he was freaking holding on to his wee wee with his right hand while skipping to the loo!
less than 5 seconds in the gents, he skipped out again and flopped into the pool. apparently, no pee!
he did this routine 3 times.
PsychoCheekopek looks uncannily like William Hung.
and to add to the whole confounding picture, he didnt swim or even kick about in the water at all. his pool outing was entirely about soaking in the water and smiling at petrified young girls punctuated with frequent wee wee-holding pseudo loo breaks.
dont you just love wackos?
and on a completely different note, what is it with the need to pee like 5 min after a shower? it's just not right.
she was at the end of the pool resting when this 20-30ish man flashed his pearly whites at her and raised his eyebrows in a 'heyyyyy babyy' manner and proceeded to trap her into her corner by moving from her left to right to left.
i was at the other end of the pool massaging my sore arms and non-existant pectoral muscles and totally oblivious to her plight.
later, PsychoCheekopek hopped out of the pool and headed for the gents presumably for a pee.
no. definitely for a pee cos he was freaking holding on to his wee wee with his right hand while skipping to the loo!
less than 5 seconds in the gents, he skipped out again and flopped into the pool. apparently, no pee!
he did this routine 3 times.
PsychoCheekopek looks uncannily like William Hung.
and to add to the whole confounding picture, he didnt swim or even kick about in the water at all. his pool outing was entirely about soaking in the water and smiling at petrified young girls punctuated with frequent wee wee-holding pseudo loo breaks.
dont you just love wackos?
and on a completely different note, what is it with the need to pee like 5 min after a shower? it's just not right.
Thursday, December 09, 2004
the 4400
i am addicted to The 4400.
it's a mini-series about 4400 people who have gone missing throughout the century who suddenly turning up one night. these people have no recollections of where they were or how much time has passed since they'd been 'taken'. in fact to each of them, no time has passed at all when in fact they might have been missing for many decades and most of their families have already died. two detective are tasked with finding out what had happened to these people and how they acquired their respective supernatural powers.
it's kinda like the x-files eh?
it's a mini-series about 4400 people who have gone missing throughout the century who suddenly turning up one night. these people have no recollections of where they were or how much time has passed since they'd been 'taken'. in fact to each of them, no time has passed at all when in fact they might have been missing for many decades and most of their families have already died. two detective are tasked with finding out what had happened to these people and how they acquired their respective supernatural powers.
it's kinda like the x-files eh?
taipei blast
laziness has its rewards.
if we'd been on the ball and checked up on airfare and hotel packages a month ago, we'd be there now. we'd been staying at the hotel where it happened right next door. we might even have been casualties.
there was an explosion at the Taipei main train station today. im not too sure what exactly happened or if it was a bomb at all cos the news said something about lots of buckets of fuel and fire. and they mentioned a black box. i thought black boxes are only found in aircrafts? and black boxes are not even black (they're bright orange) as those tht were shown on tv were. maybe they dont mean a black box as in A Black Box, maybe it's just a black box... er. then what's the point? ok nvm.
anyway if we were there now, we'd be staying at the Cosmos Hotel which is next to the train station, or the Caesar Park Hotel which is across the road from it. chances are we wouldnt be taking the train but stilllll...
apparently the bomber guy sent a letter to a taiwan tv station stating that his first target is the train station and the second being taipei 101 that damn tall building. tallest in, what, taiwan? southeast asia? so now taipei 101 is being combed for bombs/fuel buckets and such. they're guessing he's either a religious extremist or a nuthead with a political agenda since the elections are in 2 days time.
guess we should've been even lazier and not booked anything at all. then we might get better deals now. bah.
if we'd been on the ball and checked up on airfare and hotel packages a month ago, we'd be there now. we'd been staying at the hotel where it happened right next door. we might even have been casualties.
there was an explosion at the Taipei main train station today. im not too sure what exactly happened or if it was a bomb at all cos the news said something about lots of buckets of fuel and fire. and they mentioned a black box. i thought black boxes are only found in aircrafts? and black boxes are not even black (they're bright orange) as those tht were shown on tv were. maybe they dont mean a black box as in A Black Box, maybe it's just a black box... er. then what's the point? ok nvm.
anyway if we were there now, we'd be staying at the Cosmos Hotel which is next to the train station, or the Caesar Park Hotel which is across the road from it. chances are we wouldnt be taking the train but stilllll...
apparently the bomber guy sent a letter to a taiwan tv station stating that his first target is the train station and the second being taipei 101 that damn tall building. tallest in, what, taiwan? southeast asia? so now taipei 101 is being combed for bombs/fuel buckets and such. they're guessing he's either a religious extremist or a nuthead with a political agenda since the elections are in 2 days time.
guess we should've been even lazier and not booked anything at all. then we might get better deals now. bah.