Welcome to my Community (Part II) - The Mama Wars

Once again I find myself jogging around the streets of my neighbourhood. Exams are done and now I have to work off the extra load that came when I fell prey to binging. I shudder to think back at the times when I said, "Econs was horrible, I need some happy food". Besides, the Army is quick to collect it's due, and it won't be long before I stare at a different ceiling when I go to sleep.

So I've covered the roads, and Google Map is not leaving much surprises either. Hence I decided to venture in the areas that the eyes in the sky can't see - the void decks. There's a whole new world beneath the one that most of us live in. Just pretend to check your mail one day and find out for yourself. Be it the Chinese funeral or Malay wedding, the void deck has developed a culture of its own.

I'm no anthropologist, so I don't have the patience to find myself a corner and sit down to watch the people all day. But from what I can tell while breezing past the void decks, I've noticed an interesting trend. There are mama shops everywhere! Like, every other block! It's an invasion I tell you. They're like insects; let one nest thrive and the next thing you know there's an entire ecosystem crawling around. So much so that there's a joke running around. Why aren't the Indians allowed to take the corner kick? Because they would drag a table and set up a mama shop. No offense, there's a few versions of that joke, one of which involving mats. Let's leave that to another day.

Like in every affair, western interjection is imperative.The mama shop industry is no different. With the market thriving, the big American brands has to bear its ugly head. Up came 7-11. They used to have territories of their own, like some clandestine contract they made with the mama shop owners. Prime areas are for 7-11, and the void decks are for the mama shops. For a while, the agreement worked well, and we have become accustomed to it. Then the war started.

Not content with keeping to the highly frequented prime areas, 7-11 decided to break the truce. As I jogged pass one block the other day, there pasted at the bus stop were signs pointing to the new 7-11. It's not located along a series of shops, like the older ones. This one is located at a former mama shop, in one of those older estate bomb shelters. They are everywhere. First they planted themselves among the rows of shops. Then they took the city area. Now they are among us, living right under our noses. It's official - we are being invaded.


So support our local brethren. Even with their sprawled out placements and near-expired sundries. Let's show them that some corners are still ours.

The end of things

Randy Pausch was a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. He gave a lecture at the university titled 'Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams', for a lecture series on what a professor would deliver if it were his last lecture. Unfortunately for him, that lecture really was one of his last, as he was diagnosed with cancer two years earlier and passed away on 25 July 2008. In the lecture, he emphasized on living life to the fullest, setting an example himself by living a full healthy life right until the end, doing what he loved - teaching his favourite subject.

Here's the lecture on youtube, for those interested.


The lecture is truly touching and motivating. Especially the witty head fakes at the end. After watching it (just listening most of the time actually), it got me working on my own list of things to do in life.

There's this age old question; if you can go back in time, would you have done anything different? In a way, my living deja vu grants me that, and I can honestly say that there are many things that one would have kept constant. Of course, there would be the odd fixes and major turnarounds that one would make so that bad history won't repeat itself, but there are just some things worth living through again.

I'm probably saying that because I loved college life, and going back to do it again twice as hard is just a thought too thrilling to pass off. After all, like what Professor Bausch mentioned, life is only worthwhile when you're having fun living it. But all play and no work makes Jack an underachieving boy. There needs to be some form of direction so that at the end of the day, you don't look back and wonder why you did it all.

So in accordance to the Last Lecture, I've made my own list of things to do in life. Here's some of them that I want to share, in no particular order.

1. Write a published article
• I've always had an interest in journalism, but don't really have enough drive to make it my lifelong career. Maybe I'll do some freelance pieces for the local papers,  but more likely to write for some online I.T. editorials. Writing in an anonymous blog is fun, but nothing gives a writer more pride than having his work read by the masses.
2. Co-produce a movie/tv-series episode
• This is mostly because I think most local productions are downright bad. Where do all those quirky aspiring poly students go to after graduation? Are local studios really that bogged down by censorship to the extent of continually producing tasteless shows that are nonetheless amusing the locals? Seriously, I can do better.
3. Feature in a song
• Ok, I don't really have a talent for singing, just a shower songster. Probably should have joined that shower-oke event. But, you know, if I can just be the background supporting vocals or something, it'll be cool.
4. Write a fantasy fiction novel
• Ever since Dan Brown (whose work I've read when he first published, way before it got sensationalised), I've always wanted to write a fantasy novel based on local references. The country has lost some of its past magic due to the rapid urbanisation, but I recognise that there are colourful things in its past that many aren't aware of.
5. Organise a major fundraiser
• Schools usually force you to do some minor stint for the community, simply for the sake of getting the credit for CIP points or something similar. That is such a farce, and it kinda shreds whatever morsel of morality left in me. If I were to do anything for the community, I want it to be big, grand, and glamourous. Like those presidential fundraisers for the US presidential nominees. Why are they raising funds for the future-president anyway?
6. Volunteer for an overseas humanitarian effort
• Singaporeans are always accused of paying off everything, even in times of crisis. Out of sight, out of mind, they say. Instead, I want to one day face these disaster-stricken places to get a firsthand account of how it's really like to be in an underprivileged situation. 
7. Finish 1500m freestyle under 20 minutes
• I don't think my swimming days are over just yet, not until I get a decent timing for my pet event. Until then, I'm not throwing in the towel yet.
8. Go skydiving / scuba diving / bungee jumping / open-water kayaking
• There's something in me that just craves for adrenaline and adventure. Maybe it's from the stifling urban Singaporean environment. Somehow, I see myself waking up one weekend morning and decide to fly to Australia to jump off a bridge. Life really doesn't have to be boring.
9. Make love in the office / college / backseat / plane / hot tub
   
• Like I said, I have an adventurous spirit. And that applies to every aspect of my life. Besides, come on, admit it, it's kinky. Right, right?
10. Die by assassination
• At the end, I want to go off in a blast. Disease, euthanasia, in your sleep? Boring... Can't really think of anything more exciting that this. Maybe to kill off your assassin as you're going down.

Top ten reasons that make you a Singaporean student

A few years back I used to make these kinds of lists all the time. Mostly to mock what it refers to. Well, after a rather extended absence, I decided to bring the lists back. So here's one for your amusement.

Top ten reasons that make you a Singaporean student

10. You can ace subjects like Project Work with minimal effort (or overenthusiastic solo work), plagiarism and made up data.

9. The most important lessons you learnt are those after curricular time.

8. You don't believe 'impossible is nothing' when it comes to finishing revision for exams.

7. Your favourite radio show is 'Muttons Till Midnight'.

6. There's a silver lining. Student discount and transport concession is unparallelled. It even beats the Safra card.

5. You often hang out at MacDonalds, mostly to study the opposite gender.

4. You set off to school before the sun rises and returns after the sun sets.

3. There's a five day work week policy? You don't think so...

2. You measure charity and goodwill in CIP hours.

1. During school holidays, you will naturally have school or homework.

There you go. Hope you enjoy this short entry! Click the 'top ten' tag at the bottom to see other lists that I've managed to dig up from the archives.

Welcome to My Community

This blog was officially dead.

It really does reflect myself. For so long it has lost direction, purpose, and aim. Actually, this blog would have a lot more content if only iPhone has a Blogger client. Oh yeah, I have an iPhone!!! Woohoo! At least there's some cheer in my bleak life. Just so you know, there has been all sorts of clients on the iPhone - Twitter, Livejournal, even Facebook on the AppStore. But bloody Blogger doesn't seem to have one. Of course, I could always use the internet browser, but that's such a hastle and I'd have to bust my bill on GPRS charges. It's not so new anymore, been with me for a few months now, and kind to think of it, I bought it exactly when the April batch of recruits got their new botak look.

Where was I. Ah yes, I've been keeping a journal on my iPhone. Not really a journal, just an archive for my spontaneous thoughts and a logbook to keep track of physical developments. But somewhere in that pile of thoughts, there are still trickles of interesting ideas that I can write about.

So before I start the entry proper, let's just recap. As I'm typing this, it's only 2/3rd through prelims. Can't really be bothered with that, yet again. Another case of procrastination and poor preparation. I can't bring myself to go gungho when I know it's a losing fight. To the markers of my papers, you have my sincere pity and I truly admire your bravery for laying your eyes on such abominable work. CCA season is over again, and you can expect a tribute piece for the CCAs when I have the time (I'll try not to repeat stuff from last year). I'm feeling a little more sane now, though I cannot say for sure until the damn prelims are over.

***

What, you might ask, is the title of this entry referring to. See, I've been jogging every other day lately, ever since my doctor said I can. Those orthopaedic people are really paranoid. It's not enough that I'm jumping around and even representing my college in a swimming tournament, they want my X-ray to look like nothing ever happened. And that's kinda hard when they prodded implants and screws down my leg. Actually, I've been jogging just to show off my freshly toned swimmer body (OMG, I can't believe you just typed that, you vain piece of shit). Just kidding... All these food and exams are really bad for your body. And really, I'm just jogging to get my legs adjusted back to impact, since all I've been doing is just swimming.

Anyway, I realised jogging is a lot like long distance swimming. It lets your subconscious surface in your head, and let you reflect and explore your thoughts (if it's not telling you to stop running and your iPod isn't blasting too loud of course). Jogging has an added advantage though; you get to sightsee and meet all the weird folks of your neighbourhood. Even if you do long distance swimming out in open waters, all you get in Singapore is a very thick coat of oil and the odd piece of rubbish.

My thoughts while jogging inevitably strayed to politics. It always puzzled me how the members of parliament (MP, the politician, not the sort that people curse in NS) can represent the people if they don't truly understand the people they serve. I know there are those who heavily engage in grassroots activities and Meet the People sessions, but what of the elitist and act atas MPs? If any of you MPs are listening, here's a solution: go jogging at your constituency! Not only can you slim down your flabby couch potato bodies, you can see your people in action!

Personally, I think jogging around your neighbourhood is a good way to get to know it. After I moved into this ulu neighbourhood, I realised that there are many nooks and crannies that I never ventured. And boy, is Jurong West a huge neighbourhood to explore. Usually before jogging, I'd plan my route using Google Map. Yeah I know, what a geek. But that's what freely available technology is for; all your whims and fancies.

Every week, I choose a different route. Since I've started varying routes, I've uncovered a few hidden gems. Like the many pedestrian entries into NTU, a beautiful old japanese-style archway in a garden, the Infantry Training Institute / Jurong Camp 2 (like, wth, a military facility among residential estates?!), the quite westernmost private properties, a few measured running paths, and the many, many famous coffeeshops of Singapore. Kinda makes me feel like an urban adventurer. Who ever said Singapore is boring? I bet many people can't even count all the coffeeshops within walking distance from them. It has given me a newfound appreciation for the heartlands.

And I haven't even started talking about the people. We claim that the days of the kampung spirit closeness is long gone. I beg to differ. As I go around the neighbourhood, I can't help noticing the same faces who would give me a quick glance and flash that priceless smile. Though no words were exchanged, I can almost hear their "hello" and sense of warmth. Courteous and friendly people really do exist in modern Singapore, and not just an urban myth that only exist in propaganda videos for the National Day Rally. 

There are of course some characters that stand out among the others. There's ice-cream lady, who would appear at different blocks at my estate. Never really saw anyone actually buying an ice-cream, but she would always be surrounded by people who chats animatedly with her. Then there's square head dog walker, who goes around with a very large hound and a very small puppy (what a couple) and always wearing an Army tank top. Oh and the blank face minah, who I bump into on her way back home. Her expression is not just blank, but positively screaming "I don't know anything!", like I'm accusing her of something. And there's the random groups of Army joggers with their 4 by 2 (or is it 2 by 4?) haircut. Probably specialists from the nearby SISPEC or other camps. Ok, the Army tank top is undeniably sexy, but some people look downright horrible in it. Call me Army obsessed, but I tend to like going past the ITI, hoping to catch a glance of somebody I know. Let's talk about that obsession some other time.

The banglas (fine, Bangladeshi workers) get very irritating when I'm jogging. Even though I'm blatantly running straight into them, there are always buggers who refuse to move aside. Being stubborn, I would just run into a collision course, until the very last second when I decide they don't have the mental capacity to realise that collision could be painful, and chicken out with a quick side step. Other than these buggers, the heartlanders are generally pleasant, and even make jogging something I look forward to.

So there you have it, my community and the people in it. To quote Shakespeare's The Tempest, 'Oh Brave New World, with such people in it'. Amidst the National Day, Pervez Musharraf's resignation, Russia's new war and of course, prelims, I guess the Olympic spirit still prevails. After all, with Singapore's first medal after a 48 year drought, everybody can't help feeling sporty these days.

On companions

Let's face it. When you mature enough and start your life proper, everything moves just too damn fast for you to make really close friends. So I've come to treasure those that I've had the chance to make thus far.

Like what my previous post mentioned, some friends you make are just for personal benefits. But the others, the more sincere ones, are made just for the plain senseless reason of friendship. We're sometimes left wondering why we even stick to them as friends, but friends they still are nonetheless.

Another issue that I've come to realise is the concept of 'best friends'. This term has come to be taken very lightly, and sometimes just as a title. Through experiences, I might have placed this label on one or two people myself. And often not really knowing why.

To me, I've accepted the title 'best friend' as such. They're people that can steal, cheat, lie, and backstab me over and over again, but I will immediately forgive them at a whim. Sounds rather senseless, but for someone who is too paranoid to trust anyone, placing absolute trust in an individual is perhaps a way of making up for it. Of course, this is done with caution and an arsenal of failsafes. But one thing is for sure. I don't think that my decision to do so is something that I will come to regret. And who knows, maybe it might even pay off someday.

About me

Things I thought that I will never confess:

1. I probably know more about computers, security and forensics than I know is safe.
   
2. I'm very violent when not fully conscious. That's why I can never get drunk.
   
3. I'm still confused about my sexuality, but I will never be gay. Assholes are too disgusting.
   
4. I'm a male supremacist. There are generally a lot more better looking guys than girls, even though females outnumber males. That's a bit sad eh?
   
5. I pray just in case. I doubt God bothers if I eat one more species of cattle or get high.
6. I can essentially control all of my emotions. That's why I only look happy. Other emotions are too troublesome to portray.
7. For every insult or mockery thrown against me, I always have a good comeback. I just hold back because they are too harsh.
8. People generally feel good around me. It's not them, it's me.
9. I jack off when I'm bored. That's why I keep myself busy.
10. I don't really care about virginity or promiscuity. A fuck is a fuck, unless you make it to mean more. Just don't be Malay while doing it; have safe sex.

Forget you ever read this.

On New Beginnings

Here I am again, sitting at the balcony with my laptop.

Six months since this blog took on a darker new cover, and it has been in the dark ever since. Alas readers, I had lost the will to write.

Junior college life has curious effects on people. On the outside, everybody looks nothing but happy. New friends come in abundance. Hitting the 18 barrier opened new doors. The mix of school stress and parental pressure created a kind of lunacy that unlocked a new level of elation in us to cope with it.

But on the inside, it's a whole different story. With new joys came new pains. The stress came down like a solid hammer. It makes people do things that are unbecoming of them. 2007 was a great year to be a sophomore. Through all its madness some things got lost. Like my will to write it all down. My inspiration for great tales. My humanity...

Back when I used to write short stories and poems, it felt like I was spilling my heart out. True, they were never personal, but each of them was sowed from a fragment of my heart that bloomed out into a piece of literature. It was never me to be emotionally expressive, but to see a piece of work that you write is like having a daemon, or to wear your heart on the outside to be clearly read. For once, it felt truly human.

That was then. Everbody knows that it is futile to brood about the past. So I am picking up where I left and starting off again. As I sit here dropping advice to freshman junior college juniors, I am myself facing the uncertainty of enlistment. Out of the certainty of turmoil and into the turmoil of uncertainty, as how Khaled Hosseini would have put it.

After fighting the emotional numbness, I finally got myself to pick up the laptop and pen down some thoughts at the balcony again. Actually, much is also due to the books I've been reading. Kudos to Neil Humphreys and Khaled Hussaini for their inspiring work. Once again, I take up the oath to flesh out my thoughts, to hopefully regain the inspiration to spin wonderfully morbid tales and distorted poems.

I can't help to notice that my life and writing take turns being twisted and mundane. Only one way to find out.