[dp] | The Muse

Review - 2010 Fiat Bravo 1.4 T-Jet 150hp | Italian Obsession

2011-01-20T00:44:00.000+08:00

Troy Kennedy Martin should have used Fiat Bravos for the four million dollar gold heist when he wrote The Italian Job because he wouldn’t have needed that many of the three Minis to fit in those bullion. But being British, he had to let the Minis in.

Bad mistake.

You can’t let an English flag mess around in Italy. They tried that with football and the English got glass bottles flying at them. It almost happens to any Brit who tries to be funny with them on their turf. It is even worse when you get Minis shoving their way out of the Italian traffic and frolicking around the Lingotto factory building in Turin where the Fiats were made. No wonder the Mafia’s annoyed.

Two Fiat Bravos would have made it through the streets undetected with all that gold but because it wasn’t even built in 1969 (back then when The Italian Job was filmed), the movie had a legitimate excuse to roll that climactic screen time of car chases with all that Minis and losing the loot in the end.

The thing is, the Italians are obsessed with Italian cars and they’ll give it a “thumbs-up-and-go” for nearly every car that is Italian. They are not Italians for nothing and they don’t make Italian cars for nothing. They did the same thing with the Ferraris and Alfas and you know instantly that it is an Italian trait.

And then they built a car with a 16-valve engine capacitating 1.4 litres, turbo-charged it so that it can produce 150 brake horsepower and accelerate split-seconds faster than a German Golf. They threw in a six-speed manual gearbox so that it is more entertaining than fidgeting with arcade shifts behind the steering wheel. They ensured that the 5-Star Euro NCAP safety ratings are met with their dual stage airbag system and included a Fire Prevention System (FPS) to obviate fuel contact with the engine in crash accidents, probably because they trust the car more than the drivers.

Traction control is provided by the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) and even adaptive fog lights are installed for your night cornering. These are ostensibly insufficient for them simply because the list does not end here. They just keep going on and on, tossing all their technologies at you to justify your money’s worth.

The 150bhp Fiat Bravo 1.4M T-Jet Dynamic is such an Italian.

Review - 2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI | Floor it

2011-01-20T00:39:00.000+08:00

Floor it.

This was the first voice which rang in my head when I eased into the driver’s seat of a Subaru. Turbo-charged.

The car came to life with a bellowing yawn, and my attention turned to the “STI” emblems on the meter cluster and the steering helm.

I do not have a very good impression of turbo-charged Subarus. My experiences were horrid because they tend to overtake you effortlessly with the drivers giving you a smug grin on their faces. They have a reason to be, because I was already trying to rock my car forward with my body weight. Alright, that was a desperate attempt.

Years later I upgraded to a Euro R boosting nearly 300hp. I managed to meet one unit on the road and thought revenge would be easy this time. There was no clear winner, but my understanding of the car deepened. Over thirty thousand dollars were spent on my car trying to prove one point. That the naturally-aspirated engine performs better than forced induction.

The problem here is, there is no clear comparison to that. Both are different set-ups and you really have to look at them separately. Enough of the bickering, turbo cars should keep to playing with turbo counterparts and the same goes for the naturally-aspirated. Which is why eventually, I’ve finally accepted that sitting in a Subaru Impreza WRX STI is nothing humiliating.

This is a compliant looking STI that has undeclared horsepower of well over 300 under its bonnet. The exhaust growls heavily because it is a Fujitsubo and it roars even louder with the TD06 attached to its heart. You can’t slouch because the seats are pulling at your back when you floor it. You can feel the velocity in your toes. You are keeping both your hands on the steering wheel because it is trying to tame you. It is faster, it is pushy, and you are capable of bullying someone else with this beast.

Review - 2007 Mazda 3 1.6 SP Auto | Chic Romanticism

2011-01-20T00:34:00.000+08:00

The Mazdas are getting prettier nowadays, thanks to Laurens van den Acker and his predecessor Moray Callum. The success of the black interiors and red-lighted instruments has been a contributory factor in the evolvement of modern day automotive blueprint. All of their designs are significantly bold and stylish.

Take a Mazda from any era and you will know what I mean. The themes are made to last and this is hugely the reason why you don’t see a Mazda make-over every year. This is particularly impressive because that’s when you know that the Mazda designers do not get sick of their own creation. Hardly the case for some other manufacturers though.

The 2007 Mazda 3 cuts across as chic and smart. It represents a clique of car-owners with an eye for sleek details and augments that with an air of sophistication. The clever design makes you feel like bathing the car yourself. How you would love to slide your fingers along those wet contours and projected frames!

A well-groomed Mazda 3 is brilliant. The two-toned paintwork intensifies the vibrance of grey and Corian shades of azure. The driving balance is typically Mazda and you feel a notion of romanticism when you get in there.

The interior gadgets and instruments are caressable. You know that you are not driving a Ferrari or a Lamborghini but it doesn’t matter. The condition is immaculate and you cosies up to it effortlessly.

A good sound entertainment system would be absolutely perfect.

Review - 2008 Honda Civic VTI 1.6 Auto | Making Logic and Cents

2011-01-20T00:27:00.000+08:00

It does make a lot of a difference in being logical with dollars and cents when it comes to buying a car of your choice. Before you spend that 30% of your monthly pay cheque, check again. What's in the car for you? Firstly, we make sure that we are able to afford it. Next, the possible costs that comes along after purchasing the car in the form of road taxes and getting a decent insurance coverage. And of course, paying the right price for what you need.

If you are looking for some good leg room and space for your passengers, the Honda Civic would make a reasonable choice. The interior room has a cooling effect on its driver and passengers. The lack of bright colors ensure that the cabin is kept cosy and comfortable, and at the same time it edges out the aging factor of most cars. It can be said that this car actually makes you look years younger.

Taking this car out for a short drive is easy. All the panels are in clear motion and as soon as you get yourself in the cockpit, you are both the driver and the navigator. For this particular unit, handling and overall control is impressive. It is stock, so you can ensure a hassle-free trip to the inspection centre. There's actually nothing much you can upgrade unless you are a budding street-racer. But if you were, you shouldn't be driving a single cam in the first place...

And so it boils down to this: You are not a boy-racer, and you are probably a grown-up who desires the traditional lines of the Civic. You just want good space without paying more for road tax and insurance, which is true if you agree with me that you should not be spending five to ten thousand dollars more for that additional 200cc. You don't need to tear your counterparts on the roads and you value a comfortable and quiet drive so this is probably what you should choose for reliability.

The 'H' bearers are becoming a classy act and I don't feel like getting out of the seat at all.

Hypnotic Complications

2010-11-23T03:48:00.001+08:00

It affects and modify cognitive and behavioral traits of a person. It is highly capable of creating criminal intent. We banned drugs isn't it? Why this now?

This is no longer one of those magic performances that has been practiced by illusionists all over the world. "Hypnos" comes across as something Greek, referring to "sleep". Hypnotherapy was popularized in the mid-1900s as a form of psychological treatment. It has the ability of altering our mental capacity and reaching beyond, into our subconscious minds and tweaking us out.

Forget about the therapeutic lexicons. I am talking about someone knocking you out (not literally) and starts a conversation with the other half of your mind. You are on the verge of losing control, and you respond to whatever questions that are posed to you. If you are a smoker, you are likely to be told that smoking smells big time. You will regain conscious and would probably not smoke again.

It was recently reported that such therapies are becoming a trend in Singapore. Practitioners say that it helps the young to cope with their studies and aids in stress management. In psychological healings, it extracts undesirable memories and reflashes those collection with new and healthy ones.

Of course, a salubrious remedy is good news after all. But that is not all.

There are however, psychotic implications amidst hypnotic complications. Messages which are inadvertently suggested might stay with you months after you regain awareness. The uncertainties in the professionalism of the therapists remain a question. Any deficiency in training or knowledge would conspicuously impair the judgement and aptitude on the part of the therapist. How would that sound if you were the patient?

Have you tried looking up the various applications of hallucinogen and nootropics? One of the distinctive difference between drugs and hypnosis is that you are fed through your mouth with the former and latter goes into your head.

A psychiatrist would be able to tell you more about hypnotic conditioning and its criminal ramifications. You could either use it to quit your smoking habits, satisfy your logic for petty crimes or seek solace for your child pornographic acts.

Morally speaking, I'll rather leave it to the imagination of the individual reader.

The Interview

2010-11-20T18:49:00.000+08:00

I received an email from Citroen regarding a job application which I had sent out to them recently:

"Hi David

We refer to your job application for the position of Sales Consultant - Citroen.

Thank you for taking the time to attend the interview at our premise. After due consideration, we regret to inform that your credentials do not best match with our requirements.

We appreciate your keen interest in pursuing a career with ......"

From the looks of it nothing seemed to be incorrect, unless I realised that I did not attend any interview session with them at all. Most people might think different of it, but I saw an issue with it and replied to that particular department on this matter.

The issue was not because I was rejected, but due to the reason behind it. There is a great difference between your application being rejected via static examination of your resume submitted, and the company rejecting you after they have had a fruitful conversation with you.

The typical CV offers an overview of your previous job experiences and your probable potential. It renders a brief background about yourself to the would-be employers. On the contrary, an interview session is interactive. It visualizes your potential beyond words. It impresses dramatically. It is what you make out of it. It is a performance. It can be anything.

Now the interesting thing is, I was not given the opportunity to speak for myself. No one interviewed me. Thus, I am of the opinion that the company did not talk to me and therefore turned away my application based on what they had perceived on paper. This was the wrong fact which they stated in their reply to me. They claimed to have interviewed me and claimed my credentials, not up to their requirements.

I followed that up with an email reply regarding this matter and attempted to correct this aspect. I told them that I am not dismissing any future possibilities of working with them and therefore I would prefer a more truthful and appropriate account of this job application. They have to state that they rejected my application without even talking to me, or giving me a chance to speak.

Imagine the scenario where some guy from the management reaches for your file, reads it and go,"Oh, our guy has shortlisted him, spoken to him personally and found him unsuitable for the job." That would seriously murder any chances of you getting that job again in that department again, at least for a good few years.

Job-seekers should understand that regardless of all those perfect pictures about corporate interviewers or guru-fed instructions on how to capture that great job you have always wanted, it is not flawless.

Similarly, there are interviewers who don't take you seriously enough. They don't bother to reply, and adopt the "Treat your application as unsuccessfully if you don't receive our reply" policy just to ease off their morning workload of email maintenance. Some make you wait for half an hour before asking you irrelevant questions that have no significance on the job that you are applying for.

In all fairness, efforts were invested in our resume and we should ask for a fair deal.

Mutiny or Harmony?

2010-11-19T01:18:00.002+08:00

Mutiny Or Harmony? (August 14, 2010)

A friend of mine spoke of how the ritual and wake of the unfortunate demise of his grandmother were handled by foreign talents. His question was that lack of locals willing to take up these admirable jobs of taking care of the departed.

These are the effects of so-called society recognition and cultural education that has been propagated by present-day Singapore. Even much of our younger generation cringes in reply over this topic.

With the influx of foreign talents, Singaporeans need not have to do the work themselves. It's much more feasible to pay someone else cheaper salaries and free yourself up for other commitments.

This is an unhealthy sight that our country created when we diverted our responsibilities to surge forward globally.

We became professionals who are in command of a vast number of workers whose allegiance lies not with us, but to their own homelands. Just as how human created the computer decades ago and are now slaves to it, let's see where present Singapore would bring us.

Mutiny or Harmony?

The sad truth is nobody bothers about it.

Way Of Physics

2010-11-19T01:13:00.001+08:00

Way Of Physics (August 2, 2010)

On a weighing scale, a person of 70kg weighs the same as 70kg of $1,000 notes. But you may not be able to buy the person with these 70kg notes.

This theory works differently from the steel and the feather version. We are often taught during science lessons that steel and feather do fall from their heights at the same velocity. In the early days, some of us might have answered differently to this question. We might have replied with innocence that the feather would still be floating in mid-air by the time the cold hard steel have landed on the ground with a thud.

It is with this innocence that the younger us do observe both the substances as steel and feather. A feather does weigh lighter than steel. This is because we simply recognize the soft and fluffy nature of a feather, and accepted the rigid source of steel. In a way, we apply the same logic to human beings. That even if both possesses similar weight, it is not the same!

On the contrary, there are the majority. The so-called smart ones that the teachers have praised, who agreed with the way of the physics that both are the same. They are not stupid of course. But not the same can be said about how some grew up and effected the way of physics on their fellow people and money kind.

To them, money kind IS mankind. This is equality incepted into their educational system.

I have found something short of being especially nice with my words by calling them moronic. I have met numerous of them and trust me, they are nothing short of what I have described with just that one holistic word.

They have wasted no effort in glorifying the word "moron" and they took the honor of passing it down to their latter generations. Now we see kids behaving like that on the streets.

Boy : How much is that doggie in the window?

Dad: A thousand bucks? I'll buy that for you on your birthday, sonny.

I bet you can get a pretty homeless dog for nothing, and he'll spend the rest of his life with you like any other paid dogs do.

Ah, every breed counts. Isn't it?

But then, I've not had any fantastic education to speak of. When I was younger, I was never taught the value of being proud. Thus, I could not understand the worth of pride.

How much is pride worth? I would be more concerned if I could exchange that for some raise in my bank account. At least that's what I was usually told by my peers. I was more enchanted by the smell of money. The lure of these paper weights that seemed heavier than it's logical definition.

A note of $1,000 weighing less than a gram could get you huge kilograms of rice. It can even buy you some pride, I've seen. How much pride? I have no idea.

We assume again that you have 70 kilograms of hard cash. Try buying someone the same weight. Presuming that the variables are constant in terms of culture, society and personal preferences, you might be able to succeed in balancing the equation.

That,

70KG of money = 70Kg of a human.

I'm not surprised that this equation has been a tradition that has been passed down for centuries. I didn't appreciate human beings the same way that I appreciate money. That is a question mark to me as well. But there is some similarities that I've spotted though, for some exceptionally common people.

A person has a face and a back to show. Either side becomes a cover-up for the other. The dollar sign is written on the faces of some. It does have a number to differentiate. A note has a set of numbers that we humans often use as our contact numbers.

Both are dressed in comfortable looking pieces, usually designed to suit the status of each. Some can be folded like origami, as long as you are in control of it. People need more of it in their pursuit for power and status. They are often problem-solvers, and can even be in control of your feelings and mood.

Presuming that you now know what I'm talking about, you might be having mixed feelings about this.

Precisely.

I've experienced how a gram of these paper could make someone calculate the value of his pride. For these people, pride and money does come together.

It's confusing isn't it? Or am I the one who's confused?

Or is there anyone who doesn't understand what I'm trying to insinuate?

My point is, people do mess things up when they try to put pride alongside money. And when you try to use money as a paper weight on human beings, we lose our sense of direction and we are no longer clear about logic and sense.

I don't understand why some people do that. And when I try to move in and understand these people and try to write about them in my blog, I get a little bit confused just like you when you are trying to understand the mess that I'm writing.

Apparently you'll think that I'm penning some.... Rubbish.

PRECISELY.

Stirred, Not Shaken

2010-11-19T01:10:00.000+08:00

Stirred, Not Shaken (July 19, 2010)

Someone told me a story once.

A young man with a promising career path went to the seaside for a short breather in between one of his hectic schedule over the week. He met a man in his late 30s sitting at the end of the breakwater. This man was clothed in a simple T-shirt and khaki shorts. He noticed that the man was doing his fishing and everything that he was doing seemed to be in slow motion.

After observing for some time, the young man walked up to the older one and asked, " How could you keep fishing like that without a care in the world? Don't you need to work?"

With a lazy shrug of his shoulders, the senior replied, "Why not?"

The reply irritated the enterprising young man. He could not accept seeing a man nearing his end-30s lazing at the seaside doing nothing but plain fishing. He felt that a man should put his career first and on top of his priorities, strive high and out for success. He proceeded to tell the senior about his dream of owning an office building towering over the business district and overlooking the coast.

The young man complained about having no time to waste even though he's only in his mid-20s, and the senior should not waste his life away when he's almost 40. The young man was getting irritated as he felt that he was wasting his breath on a hopeless breed.

"Do something worthwhile with your life!" said the young one.

Senior looked up slowly at the young man and with a nonchalant tone, answered "Why? Whatever for?"

"So that when you are finally at the top, you can retire and let your bank account grow by itself with your multi-million businesses and have thousands of people working their guts out for you. Your money would grow every minute, and you wouldn't have to worry for the rest of your life!" retorted the young man.

Senior questioned, "Yeah, and what happens after that?"

This was too much in an afternoon for the young man. He finally raised his tone and voiced, " So that when you have done all and nothing else, you can relax at the seaside without a worry in the world and do your bloody fishing!"

"... ... ..."

"Isn't that what I'm doing now?" replied the middle-aged man, with his eyebrows raised.

Well I do not know where's the person who told me this story years ago. But what I do know is, I've wasted nearly a decade of my life searching for that elusive excellence in life which certain people termed as success.

I must admit that the story motivated me in my carving for success in my early career and I was driven to purchase my own property by the age of 22 and my own business by 24. During these tough times I was constantly being hounded by the fear of failure.

Yes. Hounded. And pressurized that I was unable to get a good night's sleep. Countless, in fact.

And I realized that this story was just some sales motivation/morale cum ego boosting/money-hungry/career crazy/workaholic/with nothing else in life but success/don't waste my time and life away kinda bullish grandpa stories you find in those bestsellers at your popular bookstore.

It may sound logical to push yourself really hard when you are young so that you'll be protected well in money terms when you are old and feeble.

Slog your youth away just to enjoy in your old age?

I've spent the first half of my life panting after the footsteps of many successful seniors to understand the sacrifices that one has to make.

And I'm no longer prepared to spend my young 30s lusting after a big bank account. I used to own a showroom full of new and pre-owned cars that were the dreams of many others but I've given all that up.

Instead, I own a cafe now with my lovely wife and I spend every moment of my life with her, sipping my favorite Koko drink and blogging to all of you who are reading this. And my family would drop by occasionally for my concocted beverages. I am going into property business to help people find their dream homes. The returns might not be extensively high but it does help to pay for my bills though.

Live enough to work happily, and work enough to live happily. Don't work for life and don't live for work.

I am very much happier now.

I prefer my Koko shaken, not stirred.

Temptation of a Chocolate Bar

2010-11-19T01:05:00.000+08:00

Temptation Of A Chocolate Bar (May 8, 2010)

A child was made to sit in a room with a chocolate bar placed in front of him. He was told that he would be allowed to have that chocolate as a reward if he could keep his hands off it for 30 minutes.

After just 10 minutes the child gave up and ate the chocolate bar.

This shows that a child lacks Self-Control. Ironically, Adults behave in that manner too.

Adults are thought to be able to curb this aspect as they grow up. However, I have seen adults who behave like the child who couldn't resist the temptation and ate the chocolate bar.

And so there are adults who behave like 3-year-old kids.

However, if you placed a million dollars in front of an adult and offer it as a reward for that same amount of time, the adult would be able to practice self-control. But if we understand the logic that a young child would not be able to differentiate the value between a chocolate bar and a million dollars, we may realise a crucial point.

That that child should be spanked on his buttocks for not having self-control, and should be educated morally.

And how about the adult who practises self-control for a million dollars?

Of course, an innocent child knows that that a chocolate bar can be eaten and be satisfied with it instead of having a million dollars.

Most people are missing that point.

(I had interpreted his story from one of my long-time friend.)

The Kingdom of the Blind

2010-11-19T00:59:00.002+08:00

The Kingdom Of The Blind (May 8, 2010)

I was reminded that breaking away from language conformity could be a taboo.

What's the point of using any English words that we thought we wanted it to be the way we meant but others don't understand what we are trying to say?

Language does not have to be the way it used to be. The ex-beauty queen was never wrong when she spoke in her own lingo which perhaps was what she and her friends understood about herself. Does anyone think it really matter for the others to understand her?

I don't expect anyone to understand what I'm talking about. That is not important. It could be a form of fate. Those who understand what I'm talking about, needs no introduction. You will know whether if you understand what I'm talking about, isn't it?

I am not sure if the sun is really rising from the east or setting in the west. I am not sure if a car is also an automobile or a four-wheeler or a drag-machine. Can a Go-kart be considered a car since it is powered by a motor-engine?

We see people making a spectacle of themselves. When there's two, it's called a pair, and a pair of spectacles can be called glasses as well. But some glasses might not be made of glass. You can use glasses to hold your drinks. Drinks can be a glass of lemon tea, liquor or coke. But the police say,"When you drink, don't drive." Do you know that you can go to jail for possession of coke? So which is which?

Whoever said the people who started the English language was right? It's all the work of human, followed by the blind.

I've heard that in the Kingdom of the Blind, The Man with the Sight is King.

Greatness

2010-11-18T23:48:00.002+08:00

Greatness (March 24, 2010)

Greatness is to conquer oneself and not the whole world.

Greatness is to be yourself and not what the world expects you to be.

Greatness is to share knowledge with others and not to teach them.

Greatness is to do what I need to do and not what I want to do.

Greatness is what I see in myself and not what I want others to see in me.

Greatness is taking away expectations, and replacing it with contentment knowing that you have done what you need to do.

Greatness is to conquer oneself and not the whole world.

Greatness is to be yourself and not what the world expects you to be.

Greatness is to share knowledge with others and not to teach them.

Greatness is to do what I need to do and not what I want to do.

Greatness is what I see in myself and not what I want others to see in me.

Greatness is taking away expectations, and replacing it with contentment knowing that you have done what you need to do.

The Spirit Of Entrepreneurship

2010-11-18T20:07:00.002+08:00

The Spirit Of Entrepreneurship (March 27, 2010)

Thinking of where to put your money in?

My desk is always full of seemingly fantastic business proposals and marketing plans. People have told me often that they have one of the best plans in the world. Well at least that's the best that they have related to me on.

For the record, I'm not a firm believer of investing in stocks and commodities. Not about the lucrative part but, the world is about living things isn't it?

The Entrepreneurial Thinking aims at diversifying your investments in profit-making businesses. These "investments" are not the typical investments that are in abundance. The investments refer to venturing in people development and the businesses that it generates.

The supposed organization believes in People Development and the enormous potential that it brings to the evolution of a corporation. Investing in stocks and commodities are a thing of the past. The gist of progression lies in the human beings that designed the products. How a business thrives depends on the people that are the driving force behind it. Technology stems from the ideas that individuals innovate.

Likewise, the organization belief is that of investing in people and their inspirations. The funds should be channelled by an able manager into the many business sectors of the organization. The staff and personnel should be sufficiently trained to carry our these profitable businesses with the key interest of revenue in mind.

Imagine investing your funds in a competent real estate agent with top sales record in the region. His career growth which ultimately transforms into a pot of wealth for the organization means that revenue is sure and secured.

Why invest directly in products when you can venture into the people and the companies that made these happen? And the effects could be as vast as having your funds ventured amongst real estate agents, insurance agents, car sales agents, cafes and restaurants, website designers and service providers!

All you need to do is take a back seat and await your passive revenue while their (the people) career takes off. The organization will never cease to fashion new areas of profitable businesses for advancement.

Similarly, I'll rather pay an individual a monthly salary of five thousand if he or she can make double that venture for me, and I don't care how it is done or what business it is as long as it's legal.

Better than investing in some non-living things?

Excuse Me, Are You A Writer?

2010-11-18T19:53:00.002+08:00

Excuse Me, Are You A Writer?

Am I a writer?

Are all bloggers?

A writer only relates in writing. They write about anything under sun. Fiction or non-fiction. Mythical or life stories. And what is a writer, actually?

Simply a person who writes. That person may not be smart. He or she can be a fool as well. In fact, everybody writes!

But it's the content that makes people read their works. And content varies internationally and periodically. I have an exceptionally autistic ego that makes me avoid fiction. Why bother reading something untrue? However, there are individuals who love the untrue.

For the untrue may deliver hopes and dreams to the unimaginative, and the truth could drive chilling stakes up their spines.

But the truth provides sanity for me. I think, and I believe, and I witness with my own eyes, and I write it all down. Every despicable details that I can think of, the injustice and the framed. I leave no stones unturned when I tell someone that he is stupid and I genuinely meant it when I told him that he was just a little darn smarter than I was.

I was this truthful to the people around me. Family and friends. I've never enjoyed the idea of patronizing relationships. There are people I don't speak to when I see them. And relatives that I don't greet during the traditional new year. Do I really have to address them as a sign of courtesy?

What are you, if you have to forgo your true self for the sake of courtesy?

What can you be, if you can give up your beliefs just to write an article that pleases the people and perhaps even the government?

And of what form may you be, if you are writing for money?

I know that sometimes, my replies have made some people felt stupid for once in their smarter lives. My straight-edged speech have pushed people away because they couldn't take my honesty.

But what to do? I am what I am.

No. I am not a writer.

I like philosophy and I'm not writing for anyone but for the benefit of the honest (not smart)people. And no, I can't be a writer.

If I'm a writer, I'll end up pissing off the smarter people.

The Dogs and the Sluts

2010-11-18T19:49:00.000+08:00

The Dogs And The Sluts (March 12, 2010)

Alas!

The act is out. A renowned media personality gets stick for whatever he has done. Condemned and crucified in utter shame.

But why?

"Why" as in not why he did it, but "why" for the infamous coverage and attention that he is getting. Why should he be giving the rare minutes of speech? Why should his wife be subjected to the countless shutters in the background?

It is a fairly simple context. They simply couldn't take it anymore. It is within their own private doors. It is their own family business. Be it a wrongful result of temptation, it is stil their own private business. Why put them to the sword? Why does the media lavish attention on them at all?

My point is still a repeat of "It's their own business!"

The poor couple took up the responsibility of facing up to whoever's interested, with the sole agenda of asking the media-eager parties to stop blowing up on them. To stop pestering their lives and to leave them and their family alone.

Mind you, they have kids and all. Relatives and everything to care for in their lives. And even if he did engage in affairs, that's his own family business!

What's new about affairs? That's old news. We see it everyway. If he wants to have an affair, so be it. If his wife forgives him, so be it. Haven't we seen affairs on television, amongst our peers or within the family?

It irks me to see their family being harassed. If you had watched the coverage of the media interview, you might have saw how some people persisted in shuttering their mediascopes and cluttering the path of a man whose poor wife broke down and almost fainted out of sheer mental fatigue. The man was trying to help his estranged wife out of the parade. Come on! Someone is fainting and we have individuals more concerned about blocking their way and taking snapshots after snapshots instead of giving way for the couple to seek medical attention!

This is more shameful than what that man did, honestly.

And this is also a rare occasion where I stared in absolute disbelief at the actions of some other women.

For once, I simply do not understand how on earth can a woman tell the whole world that she has been sleeping with the husband of another woman. Not just one, but more.

Is it an honor?

Wow.

I thought the woman and the man involved would usually keep quiet about an affair. They could not be sluts isn't it? So some papers wrote that the man could be a jerk. But it's still a worrying factor that some women are so open nowadays.

And YES. Now we all know you slept with another woman's husband. And your family, your friends, relatives, people unknown to you and possibly your next squeeze all knows about it. Kudos to you!

And of course, Anyone can sleep with Anyone and that's certainly none of your business. The news-mongers and the mistresses who open up and speak are more shameful than anything else.

Those Little Lies

2010-11-18T19:45:00.000+08:00

Those Little Lies (March 6, 2010)

A lot of people are superficial.

And we have to make ourselves appealing to the general mass of superficial people. I could not be stereotyping this time, am I?

People DO judge a book by its cover. I think I still make a lot of sense in this statement.

Everywhere. I see them all the time. From all walks of life. All kinds of places that I could possibly imagine. Are they just innocent little people who just looks straight and thinks straight?

A little lie would do me good. By telling people that I'm Not superficial. I don't judge a book by its cover. I try my utmost efforts to understand individuals in depth. What each and every human beings are.

I look at a beggar and genuinely feel for him and sympathize with his fate.

I look at an educator and respects him in every aspect for the good that he has done for local education.

I look at politicians in awe of the sacrifices that they have laid down for the country.

I look at scientists and marvel at their fascinating inventions for the benefit of mankind.

Lies?

Or the truth?

Oh yeah. Humans are so great because like me, they look at every living species as an individual. Humans empathize and offer help to one another. Humans don't kill one another for territory gains. Humans go to places of worship because they love their Gods and not because they want to pass their examinations with flying colors or reach out for a career boosting promotion.

Humans sign up for years of service with the government because they want to do good with their skills and dreams of protecting their homeland and not for the monthly salary. Humans get married because they want to spend the rest of their lives with the one they love and not merely to obtain housing options and raise some bunch of kids that may or may not be a menace to the society.

And as I'm babbling, some of these kids are undergoing sacred and rigorous trainings that will one day prepare them for honorable missions like bombing their own countrymen or unleashing rounds of gun powder on other man's homeland.

Yes. And people have to put up with these little lies.

The Smarter People

2010-11-18T19:27:00.002+08:00

The Smart People (February 2, 2009)

What is "smart"?

Smart in this context stretches to a degree of being amusingly clever. Clever would be a form of mental quickness, by not being stupid.

I believe I wouldn't be smart even if I read a lot. That's knowledge. And to know things, it becomes a collection of know-hows and reasoning for everything in the world that could be explained through words and writings. Generally people who are slow in mental physics could read too. It equates to a learning process too.

So who are the smart people? It's a waste of time trying to find out. Finding out the smarties doesn't make you smart. Instead, you waste a lot of time on people who might seem to be smart but you realised that they are actually, just knowledgeable. And you lose precious time which you could bank on to make yourself smarter, or less stupid.

So who are the smart people again? It's really none of my business. I hope I'm smart and I want to be smart and I don't care whether if anyone is smarter than me or less stupid because that really doesn't make me any smarter too.

Think about it. Does standing next to an intelligent person makes you stupid?

The answer is a 'No'. Smarter people don't make you stupid. You just don't have to think so much when you are with them.

Which brings us to the next thing. Does standing next to a dumbass makes you smarter?

Think again.

It doesn't make you smarter too. In theory, you are just, ahem...

Not as stupid as a dumbass.

So quit comparing and start to get smarter soon.

Love Is

2010-11-18T19:24:00.002+08:00

Love Is (February 3, 2009)

Love is... Giving that person happiness, even when you know you are going to be hurt in the end.

Love is... Allowing that person to hurt you, so that she will never be the one to get hurt first.

Love is... Preparing yourself for the worst, so that the worst will only come to you and not her.

Love is... Sharing your happiness with her and keeping your sorrows silent.

Love is... Not doing what the others have done to make her cry or be unhappy.

Love is... Keeping your teardrops away from her sight so that she'll always think that you are happy, and be happy too.

Love is... To walk away when she wants you to.

Love is... Not to give her The World, but to give her Your World.

Love is... To give her one smile and make her smile back ten times.

Love is... To jump into a well without a rope, and into the ocean without a float.

Love is... Waiting for her call even if you don't know whether if it's going to come.

Love is... Smiling at her every single day even with a heart so wounded.

Love is... Wanting her asleep in your arms every night.

Love is... Just Love.

Mediation and Exercise

2010-11-18T19:18:00.002+08:00

Mediation And Exercise (January 25, 2009)

I was asked one fine day, on the difference between Yoga and Pilates.

Well I'm actually no big fan of either interest but I do know that Pilates originated from a German named Joseph Pilates who believed in muscle control and his creation was used to help in the rehabilitation of wartime soldiers returning from World War I.

Pilates strives on the physical state of the body; whereas Yoga is spiritual.

While Pilates focuses on the stretching, flexibility and the potential physical powerness of our human body, Yoga stems well into the factoring of mind over body, with religious roots galore.

It could be said that Yoga belongs to the East, and Pilates the West.

Yoga simplified as Meditation, Pilates as an Exercise of the body.

Let's not read too deep into it and confuse ourselves.

Silky Batik Shawls

2010-11-18T18:00:00.002+08:00

Silky Batik Shawls (February 27, 2009)

There used to be only one American Idol. And now I've lost count of them.

There used to be only one Singapore Idol. Taufik and..... I forgot.

And there's this superstar contest thing involving people from all walks of life and juveniles from your neighboring school. I hardly remember them at all, except for a few odd ones.

Seriously, people should consider changing the title to perhaps "The Wannabes", or "The Dream". Even "The People Somewhere There" could be more appropriate. So we may have a few successful cases who made it regionally but what happened to the rest? Although it's none of my business whether some people made it or not, but some facts remain and I can't help addressing this issue on my own because I'm simply so teased by it.

I don't think many of us forgot what Michael Jackson brought to the world. He became a household name. My mum who could barely understand 1% of the Singlish dictionary, could recognize him on television almost instantly. King Elvis? His songs are still playing on car stereos, numerous covers done throughout the years.

The Beatles set a really good example on how to sing, play and write music that lives on. Bruce Lee became an icon even though he doesn't sing, Madonna was slightly off-key sometimes but she was a great performer of whatever she wanted to do except acting.

I enjoyed the hours of entertainment from these celebrities. But it was a suicidal attempt when I got through the first half hour of a local show.

It's murderous to just pick people out from the streets and put them in a contest with promises of super stardom when you have part of the decisions coming from the people whom you didn't pick.

Let's face it. There are people who make decisions based on sympathy, compassion, empathy and generosity. But there's hardly anyone who would pick up the phone and cash in their vote and support to ensure that justice is done.

This could explain partially why some concert tickets could go for rocket-high prices on eBay for certain celebrities. Because if you label some people as superstars, then Jay Chou should be Oh-My-God-Super-Duper-Mega-Power-Star.

My point is, it may not be ethically wrong to be posting items up for auction/bids. What is the difference between posting a limited edition mobile phone ( which I bought for a thousand bucks) for a thousand five dollars and posting some concert tickets for three times the original price?

The notable difference is that people want those concert tickets more than that mobile phone. And there are some people who are more than willing to pay for such tickets. Nobody gives a damn about that phone. But people are more than ready to blast individuals who expects more value for his pair of concert tickets, claiming that these individuals are mindlessly exploiting profits for these tickets.

Just check this particular link out :

http://ainanda.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html

Yes I must admit that I do give a damn about Jay Chou and not a dime about any other superstar in my own definition and that explains my personal valuation on certain things.

It also offers an explanation as to why some names don't even get a mention on eBay, except for silky batik shawls.

Imperfect Driver

2010-11-18T17:58:00.002+08:00

Imperfect Driver (March 1, 2009)

I think I know a lousy driver when I see one.

I saw, and I took his vehicle number plate down when I saw how poor his parallel parking was. A grey-colored Altis with a poor driver. I was expecting him to bump into the stationary car in front of him with his dismal display of angular control. I think I could park a Benz into that lot but having such problems with an Altis is questionable. Was that his car in the first place? Or was it his dad's?

Wrong choice of car. As I was taking my note on the car plate, S-G-K-5-5-7-.... That awkward crack. The driver had done his duty for the day. As I was expecting him to at least alight from his car and see what damage his horrendous and unimaginative driving skill had done to another man's car, he drove off!

I felt so wasted why he didn't bump my car instead. I would have gotten a new kit and 5k on his insurance liability. I would have smiled at him and thanked him, and this post would be dedicated to his generosity.

I think local car distributors should make it a point to include questionaires and assessments on the driving capabilities of their buyers. The government should start the ball rolling, by including certain criterion in their licensing give-outs. If bikes have their 2Bs and As, the cars should have it too.

Class 3 for 1300cc and below

Class 3A for under 1600cc

Class 3B for 2000cc

Class 3I for over 2000cc sports categories

Class 3S for super cars.

Yes, I think that should be the way. Cars should also be classified by their dimensions. It's disturbing to have people of that guy's calibre driving something bigger than an Altis. People should take sometime off to brush up on their driving techniques. I have seen Mercedes and BMWs with their bloody asshead drivers messing up the roads right in front of me. My experiences with these aliens on the road have trained me in stringing mighty expletives together and unleashing numerous mega-combos.

In a perfect world, Class 3A drivers should not even be allowed to touch the steering wheel of a Ferrari. You will never see doting husbands buying a Z4 for their incompetent wives, or a GTR for their wretched sons.

But we all know the imperfections in this world. Nothing is fair and most of the time assholes get away with everything.

People just need to be more careful on the road and be safe. Young drivers should be contented with their skills and not attempt a Takumi. Not-so-good drivers should just keep to the left, rude and arrogant drivers should just queue up and keep their fingers to their girlfriends.

Oh I'm so apologetic that I have to be so rude and blatant about certain facts in life but I'm not sorry for it.

And that driver may consider owning up because I think that poor owner's paycheck is only half of his.

Dog's Poo

2010-11-18T17:56:00.000+08:00

Dog's Poo (March 13, 2009)

It is said that a picture paints a thousand words. Which is why I haven't posted any graphical content for a long time. Posting an incorrect photo may be deemed to be whoreful. It sets tongues wagging and sometimes invite malicious comments aimed at generating unwanted interest which may be none of somebody's business.

I suspect brewing up storms may be the only forte of some ill-willed people. These people are unscupulously corrupted and I think they have absolutely nothing constructive enough to do after work. Or some may simply be taking advantage of their corporation's kind salary gesture and man-hours to re-create another holocaust, a mindless assault on another man's privacy.

The corporation's sympathetic approach have definitely encouraged an increase in these activities.

Pictures are meant to portray a story; a collection of memorable events or chronicles. History. Facts and Truth.

But the regrettable part is, fabricated scrolls have been made. Lies and gossips meant to humiliate are being set upon the victims. Wrong stories have been told. Facts have been distorted. And these maggots just could not keep their edged mouths shut. Tagging individuals after individuals, victims are often misunderstood and maligned.

The more educated ones end up landing jobs like reporters and journalists. Some become tabloid writers, or should I say fabricators. The less-privileged ones who can't get any better jobs, remains in the crowd. They could be standing next to you.

They could be your friends. Or your colleagues.

I say we ignore them. For they are so underprivileged that they haven't got a real life, hence the lack of stories on their own. Their incompetence of generating a hype around their lives mean that they really need to talk about other people in order to attract attention to themselves. This is miserable.

There's no sympathy for them. I'm faced with disgust and discomfort with them. Perhaps the only other time I felt these two emotions were when I first stepped on dog's poo. I have since gotten used to it. I feel that it's a way of life. It is the world, and we can't expect the world to be perfect.

I understand that dogs need to poo from their ass. Some poo from their mouth.

Obituary: Common Sense

2010-11-18T17:54:00.000+08:00

Obituary: Common Sense (June 13, 2009)

Today we mourn the passing of an old friend by the name of Common Sense.

Common Sense lived a long life but died from heart failure at the brink of the millennium. No one really knows how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He selflessly devoted his life to service in schools, hospitals, homes, factories and offices, helping folks get jobs done without fanfare and foolishness.

For decades, petty rules, silly laws and frivolous lawsuits held no power over Common Sense. He was credited with cultivating such valued lessons as to know when to come in out of the rain, the early bird gets the worm, and life isn't always fair.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn), reliable parenting strategies (the adults are in charge, not the kids), and it's okay to come in second.

A veteran of the Industrial Revolution, the Great Depression, and the Technological Revolution, Common Sense survived cultural and educational trends including feminism, body piercing, whole language and "new math."

But his health declined when he became infected with the "If-it-only-helps-one-person-it's-worth-it" virus. In recent decades his waning strength proved no match for the ravages of overbearing federal regulation.

He watched in pain as good people became ruled by self-seeking lawyers and enlightened auditors. His health rapidly deteriorated when schools endlessly implemented zero tolerance policies, reports of six-year-old boys charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate, a teen suspended for taking a swig of mouthwash after lunch, and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student. It declined even further when schools had to get parental consent to administer aspirin to a student but cannot inform the parent when the female student is pregnant or wants an abortion.

Finally, Common Sense lost his will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband, churches became businesses, criminals received better treatment than victims, and federal judges stuck their noses in everything from Boy Scouts to professional sports.

As the end neared, Common Sense drifted in and out of logic but was kept informed of developments, regarding questionable regulations for asbestos, low flow toilets, "smart" guns, the nurturing of Prohibition Laws and mandatory air bags.

Finally when told that the homeowners association restricted exterior furniture only to that which enhanced property values, he breathed his last.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by three stepbrothers: Rights, Tolerance and Whiner.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

(This was sent to me via email and is credited to George Carlin.)

Ugly Singaporeans

2010-11-18T17:50:00.002+08:00

Ugly Singaporeans (November 15, 2009)

Here's something about Singapore, finally.

As I was googling on possible write-ups about how ugly Singaporeans could be, the first hits weren't really about the average auntie ranting expletives in the street market or the yuppie executive who didn't give up his seat to an elderly on local transport. Instead, the one that caught my attention was presumably an ex-Singaporean who had blogged about his unhappiness while he was a Singaporean.

As I read on, his stories included his experiences with the Minister Mentor and related how he was ousted into solitary victimization and possibly made to leave Singapore for the States. He claims to have been "harassed and persecuted" by MM Lee for his political beliefs and giving up his CPF entitlements in order to justify his principles. He further states that he has become an American Citizen 5 years back.

I am in no position to comment on the stories of this particular individual. My only concern are those of my own views and perspective. Hurray, for we have one less ugly Singaporean. Although it's a sad thing that the gentleman did not stay long enough to persist in his belief and great vision for Singapore. In the end he chose the other way out, in forsaking the country for another.

I believe he's not the only one. Throughout decades there has been fellow countrymen who gave up and left their homeland, complaining about similar issues and such. Not forgetting an earlier batch who broke their government bonds and hopped into another land's service.

However, there are also numerous individuals staying put on this island of miraculous development and growth. These are people who did not forsake their homeland despite the massive challenges ahead. Yes, these people may be complaining all day long. But the effects are genuine and sincere. Their hopes and wish for change and advancement does not end here.

So who are the uglier ones? The ones who are still here, or those who left?

If you don't have what it takes to stand strong in Singapore, if you don't have the sustaining power to hold on, then leave by all means. The homeland does not need losers, and losers don't build the country's economy.

I'm all for the growth of our island. Thirty years in Singapore's not long. But I've known history enough to differentiate between trouble-makers and home-makers. Years spent on creating a home on an island should be applauded, instead of complaining about every little damn issue.

My words are, if you are really that damn good, you wouldn't be hiding behind your table complaining. If you are really that righteously great, more people would be listening to you.

You would have a good job, promotions and advancement opportunities galore, and you will be able to pay your bills and fines. And the best part, you wouldn't mind paying a bit of tax per year to help your poorer countrymen enjoy better public transport and cleaner public services. And you will be smart enough to earn back your taxes from your countrymen by doing businesses and services.

It all runs in a circle, and that's what makes the world go round.

Go round the system. Help the system. Beat the system. Change the system. Outsmart the system. But don't forsake the system that propelled an island from nothing in a short 44 years.

Waxing lyrical about democratic options to improve the country are just wasteful resources that fails to leave a landmark on local shores, unless they have concrete and brilliant plans that no one can fault.

Ranting options does not save the country. A successful solution does.

(This article was blasted online by some readers as an lame excuse for blaming the quitters. I reiterate my views again. If some people choose to leave Singapore, just leave and shut up. My views have no reference on politics.)

A Tribute To Morons

2010-11-18T17:46:00.002+08:00

A Tribute To Morons (December 15, 2008)

I know why I haven't been writing these few days! The voodoo of brainless assholes do seem to keep my mind off blogging. I've endured nearly two weeks of idiotic capitalism that I have almost been made a moron myself by these social retards.

These imbeciles suck up our hard-earned money like leeches on flesh. I can't explain how in awe I am of their profound mental deficiencies. They don a beautiful mask that unveils to a boundless realm of nonsensical charm that will certainly find no rival.

These failures copulate in tandem to time. These screwballs are spotted in all parts of the world every minute. Their bio-physical parameters of intelligence are hugely, un-numbered. But they tag their selfish nature to almost every human being they encounter, and the world's infested with a whole lot of them.

I'm nearly in chains and laughing to myself in despair. The desperation of my suffering could be felt with a finger. I tingle with brain-shifts when they strike. I must have left my cells at the back of my head whenever they attack. Oh, it makes it harder for the scumbags to see. They only charge from the front. They don't see things in whole. Only on face-level and they judge whatever they could derive from their unimaginative sight. Haven't you heard? These kukus defacate from their mouths, drool from the eyes and talk from their asses.

In the meantime, I'm trying to distance myself.

The moronic adventures continue.

Action-packed Diplomats

2010-11-18T17:43:00.001+08:00

Action-packed Diplomats

The way I see it, it's in human nature to eliminate certain species that they deem as possible obstacles or hazards.

The strange part is, the penetrators do not even know their victims. This is hardly the work of high-intelligent people. Which means are really isn't much left around in this pathetic world, where lives are lost in a bid for some "purposeful" ambitions and dreams.

Who was the idiot who came up with that phrase "Action speaks louder than words"?

In 1692, a man by the name of Gersham Bulkeley wrote a book titled "Will and Doom" which phrased "Actions are more significant than words". This gentleman might be the one who started things off. He forgot, that not many are well-endowed up there.

Actions speak louder only when words no longer make sense. It's never logical when lives are lost to make way for changes. We could change this world together without having to lose anyone precious. They are another man's child, a family's only son, a husband's newly-wedded wife, a father of five kids with a ailing parent. The next one could be someone close to you.

Mindless killings, endless bodies. The problem-solving equation is all wrong.

Is there a better word for terrorists?

COE Tales

2010-11-18T17:39:00.001+08:00

COE Tales (November 22, 2008)

Recent market survey and research has shown a high decrease in the retail prices of brand new motor vehicles in Singapore. This is due to the historic decline in the recent COE (Certificate Of Entitlement). The Category A stands at just $2 while Categories B and E stands at $4,889 and $6,889 respectively. How does this event affect the current course?

I found that almost an estimated 90 percent of the market has slashed their selling prices by an astonishing $8,000 by average! Is that an indication of the right time to buy your desired ride?

Well my answer is a "Yes", and a "No". Let us look at the reasons:

"NO"

1. Just 2 weeks back, cars were selling with estimated COEs ranging between $9,000 to $8,000. The COE was $10,499 for Category A then. Think about it. If the dealers had slashed their prices by $8,000, for example. Meaning if you buy your car now, wouldn't your dealer be entering your bid at less than $2,499? HOW would you expect to get your car then, with market talk now rife that the next bid would escalate beyond $8,000?

2. The cheaper you buy, the cheaper you sell. Imagine buying your car dirt cheap and selling it off 2 years later for the price of an Off-Peak Car! Your car would be worth half the value it was when you buy it.

3. Time-wasting. Some dealers who waste your time with those cheap low bidding figures. Do you seriously think that COE bidding at $2,000 would get you the car? With COEs so low, we expect more than 3,000 potential owners fighting for a meagre 1800 slots for Category A. You think it'll still stay at $2? Don't waste your time on it.

4. The Rise of The Yen. That makes cars in Singapore cost more in taxes and duties. And ironically, dealers are selling cheaper. Can you believe it?

5. Loss in Value. A number of customers have voiced their utter displeasure at their loss of value. They purchased their cars at a guaranteed $9,000 bidding, some at $11,000, and lost that value excluding that significant $2. What if you purchased at a $6,000 bidding and the next one is ermm, $50?

"YES"

1. We're not stupid to put our deposits and hard-earned money on these. Let's just say we have a smarter way to buy.

- Buy accessories at Cheap rates.

- Bid for the COE based on a dollar for a dollar.

- Base your car at stock and cost.

And when you add all these costs together, what you are really getting is a cost-to-cost purchase. You are not charged any extras. What you see is what you get.

And from this current hungry market, its hard to find transparent ways to buy a decent car. Everyone's trying to gimmick one another.

Just be careful who you buy from.

(The COEs as of 4th Quarter 2010 are hovering at the height of over $40,000.)

The Only Light

2010-11-18T17:35:00.002+08:00

The Only Light (September 24, 2008)

The moody blogger speaks, and all that he could think of was the keyboard right in front of him. With his fingers running swiftly through the tabs, dry palms resting on shore. Tweaking his fingers, he unleashes his linguistic might through the Qwerty and the world no longer seem important. In his cyberspace, the world is nothing. He is left standing as the only one who could change the course of his destiny.

In this destiny, the Sun does not rise from the east or set in the west. The Sun is in his hands. The force comes from within, and he awaits to drive the Sun out of his fingers.

And he will be the only light you shall see. Through this light you shall see the way your life is going to be lived.

You will soon be in control of your own destiny. You will no longer need to rely on the Sun.

You are your own light.

www.Cuil.com

2010-11-18T17:16:00.003+08:00

www.Cuil.com (July 29, 2008)

Check out the latest search engine this web world has to offer.

www.cuil.com - Pronounced as "Cool", they claimed to be three times more powerful than the leading Google. News has it that the founders of Cuil included three former employees of Google, two of them Anna Patterson and Russell Power.

The inviting front page of http://www.cuil.com/ is a refreshing blue and grey set on a black base, breaking away traditional "the background should be white" chants. Very clean look minus the web-ads.

I keyed "integra" into the search bar and was greeted with the results under just 2 seconds. This time, the search bar was elevated to the top. There is a click on "Preferences" for you to turn the SafeSearch and Suggested Typing features on and off. Wait, The grey menu bar pre-eases your search into related links as well.

Three-columned results rested on a white background instead of the usual straight-liners. And if it's too messy for you, click on "2-Columns" on the bottom right. It's cool how they managed to put a picture to every search result on the page. Cuil offers a scroll-down bar to categorize any other optional search the surfer may be interested in. In short, they encyclopedialized the entire search engine.

However, the Cuil-factor wears off as we'll soon notice that they are missing the genre-bar which the Google has been providing for. You can't choose to search solely for image files or books unlike the Google. This is controlled-minus-options services. Not giving me an option means inflexibility.

http://www.google.com/ offers their texts in different languages according to your country code. The Cuil gives me the impression that I'm reading into an open book for my science project. Google beats that by offering straight to the point nursery clicks.

But for the moment, I just want to search for my bloody integra links in ultra-super speed mode and get on with my work.

The verdict?

Cuil did 16,143,357 results for integra in under 2 seconds.

About 30,600,000 results for that same word in 0.07 seconds.

Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooogle.

(www.Cuil.com was inevitably shut down in the morning of September 17, 2010.)

The Purpose

2010-11-18T17:08:00.005+08:00

The Purpose (August, 2005)

There is always a purpose in each of our lives. For a certain period of time, I remembered how I was taught to live my life the way everybody was living. I was being educated in exactly the same manner which everyone had been subjected to. I see people living like every other all the time. In fact, I had more than thirty of them in class during my secondary school days. I have to admit that I was in the crowd then. Young and ignorant of the raison d'être behind my existence, I wasted a whole lot of time missing the due purpose in my life. I squandered my intelligence by competing grades with fellow classmates, being taught by a notable number of incapable educators which, to date, I havent felt any sense of gratitude towards anyone of them.

I realized that I had to live my life all over again, the way I thought it should be. And that is the purpose in each of our living time, equating to making our own choices and having the sole freedom to do whatever we deemed fit with our lives. There was just so much more I could have done with my own life. Highly important matters like pursuing my aspirations, maximizing my potential and perhaps having people to write about me one day. So it eventually came to my mind that I had to write something about myself, at least. Something to leave behind for someone, or even anyone, to make sure that my life wasnt just about throwing my time away. With all the time I spent in my thoughts each day, I found it a waste not to publicize it. These are, evidence of me finding my own purposes in life.

"Have you even tried?"

And eventually it came to a point whereby my senses came to life. Through understanding myself, I had discovered some of the most amazing things I could do with myself. Everything could be controlled if you put your mind to it. Take dreams for example.

While people cringed at falling through heights of buildings in their dreams, I was defying the freefall. In my dreams, gravity was in my hands. Falling from heights was never a dreaded thought because I could practically lift myself out of it. I could seemingly open my eyes in my dreams, reaching out to my sub-consciousness mind and gaining control over my own dreams.

This would not be a norm, I suppose. I reckoned that if I could do a sub-conscious act, I could plan way ahead of schedule, devise my routes in seconds. This would mean saying 'Hi' to someone and already knowing where I'll be landing myself in an hour's time. Not that I haven't tried. I have. Always an issue.

I've always had this problem with associating with normality. Most of the people I talked to on this discovery, found me abnormal. But anyway.

Normal was never a word I've used to describe myself. Not the word special either. Being different was much more of a reality I've grown to correlate my living self with. The fact that I took pride in my own uniqueness made me lofty at times. This was the self-importance I felt in discovering my own values which other people could not possibly duplicate. And in this truth, I found that most people in general, never really took pride in their own self in searching for their own identity. Their only form of identity lies in the names they obtain from birth, underlining another fact that those were given names. And these people live on to pursue their livelihood using a given name without their own identity, but claims otherwise because everyones doing the same thing.

Such are the effects of human evolution, that the state of self-distinctiveness has been misplaced.

Such are the effects of grown civilization, that people in general are now contented with being stereotyped and addressed in common names.

And of course, what's your purpose in life? Earn lots of money? Condo, car and a big bank account? Just like any other?

Try telling me about it.

Blabber Rhymes

2010-11-18T17:05:00.000+08:00

Blabber Rhymes (December 22, 2008)

the tapping of the fingers on the cold table top

unrelated music playing on an unattended laptop

facial muscles twitching at numerous thoughts

the mind is as tweaked as those malicious lot

clothed as though the people might have sought

naked as long as the memories could blog

simple tunes singing to the enlightened goth

could they shrine the living dead of the sons of god

hungry people waiting for the hands of god

to stop and turn the keys to lock

That CL7 with An "R"

2010-11-18T01:50:00.000+08:00

Having tested several 2.0 litre sedans locally, I have nothing but praise for the Honda Accord Euro R. Being Honda, it is not necessary for me to harp on the 220hp powered engine. I have driven this car for barely 6 months and I was absolutely satisfied with the range of performance that offers excellent driveability and comfort.

The exterior attempts to fool you with a subtle appearance, very similar to the entry-level automatic geared Accord sedans that we see on the roads. But with a drop of the 2nd shift, you know it's an "R".

What endears me to the Euro R is that it seats five adults comfortably, is much spacious than the average 320, and drives faster than a turbo-charged A4. This particular unit that I was driving, had great potential.

My habitual cornering was assisted by a set of Toda Fightex coilovers and Cusco bars. Resting under the Spoon CF hood included the high sounding GruppeM air intake, Feel's 2-layered radiator and Spoon throttle body. The cams were swopped for Toda A3s and a preferred Spoon 5.1 final drive together with other numerous enhancements.

The entire setup was tuned with Hondata and the result was tasty. 265 horses and the 100km/h mark before you could count to 6. This was a pleasing factor for me because I've never really liked the idea of forced induction. With this ride, it is capable of bullying the turbo Subarus and Mitsubishis. It does a good run and leaves most other cars trailing!

At 250km/h, the audio surround system remains crystal clear with extensive sound-proofing. The exhilarating drive preoccupies you with keeping your eyes on the road rather than the 90km/h speed limit. Eventually I became addicted to the 200km/h mark and that itself is a tremendous achievement coming from a four-door sedan.

Never mind that it is not a "Conti". Who cares? Swop the badges with a Proton and I'll end up choosing it.

Unarmed Communications

2010-11-17T04:39:00.000+08:00

: : Introduction

This assignment sheds light on the basic understanding of a certain form of communication known as the “Unarmed Communication”, and how it is used in the modern world of survival and progress. It may also be an influential mode of transmitting knowledge and information in today’s context.

: : Straight-forward

I have heard of the word “communication” so many times in my life that I do not need see an immediate cause to engage myself in a discussion on what communication is all about or how to effect basic communication between one another. There are probably a few more topics on communication skills being deliberated by other sources and researchers as I am conjuring up a few points of my own.

While it might be generally safe to derive the fundamentals of both basic and advanced communication directly from the text, there are certain aspects of it that remains hidden from the elementary scope that requires years of experience and self-reflection just to piece the huge jig-saw puzzle into comprehension.

One particular element of communication that got me interested happens to relate intensively on the human mind. The human mind that is the pioneer of its own ideas and creativity, the individual that sets out to construct an environment of his own intent and warps the entire storyline in a bid to convey the intended message across to the recipient without any hint of apprehension. I will elaborate on this area of communication which I refer to as the “Unarmed Communication”.

: : Twisted Art

The twisted art of communication takes form in diversifying ways. It is an art that I love and loathe at the same time. The expression of Unarmed Communication lies in being defenseless. The gist of it sits in the absence of modern weaponry and sophisticated relay tools. In weaponry I refer to the paper we write on, and the pen that we write with. With relay tools I meant the virtual world of online messengers and the short messaging services that we use so often that it became part of our lives.

We are probably more comfortable with expressing ourselves on these common technologies that we put little emphasis on the importance of having an unarmed interaction. The modern world dwells strongly on the networking prowess of the computers and micro-chips. Organizations use intranet to disseminate company directives and regulations. The internet involves massive usage of advertisement space even on both corporate and personal websites and for some sectors, online blogs are considered an alternative to opinionated propositions. We acquire information from the local news from both the television and radio media stations and manage a greater deal of knowledge from our fingertips with the internet, the worldwide web without limits. To a certain extent, people can virtually communicate without the gift of touch or the beauty of sight. The understanding of this genre is based purely on a person’s individual imagination to visualize a copy of his or her own perception with the sender’s version of texting. In a way, that has been the core of what we were taught in school on communication. The sender and the receiver, isn’t it?

But defenseless does not lie in the mode of transmission. The Unarmed Communication heaps heavily on the content and the party disseminating the information. There is little use of techno-inclined tools. In this context, both the sender and the receiver are unarmed. It can arise from the most innocent environment with two or more unsuspecting individuals. The dexterity stems from how the sender sets up a deceptive wall around him and entices the receiver to believe that source is good natured and it is thus safe to proceed further. The complexity is evident as the sender has to constantly prepare himself to be worthy of trust and logic, without the use of any other instrumental medium. When the plan works out, the recipient naturally lets down his guard and the propaganda commences.

However, this method of presentation can be either deliberate or non-intentional. It varies for different cultures and individuals. There are people who practice this for educational purposes and some of them who do it unknowingly due to the normality of it. Most people do not even realize that they have been using this approach of communicating.

: : An Associate of Machiavellianism?

Niccolo Machiavelli (1469 – 1527)

“Niccolo di Bernardo dei Machiavelli, one of the founders of modern political science” (Philosophers and religious leaders – The Oryx Press,1999), remembered for his political piece The Prince, written in 1513.

“Since the sixteen century, generations of politicians remained attracted and repelled by its neutral acceptance of the immorality of powerful men, described especially in The Prince but also in his other works. Whatever his personal intentions, which are still debated today, his surname yielded the term “Machiavellian” – an adjective describing a willingness to trick others immorally in order to achieve one’s aim.” (Wikipedia 2010). In the book, Machiavelli spoke of the option of a “new prince” as compared to a prince of traditional legacy. The immorality refers to the measures deployed with the aim of staying in power amid political struggles.

During the years while I was actively applying the logic of Unarmed Communications in my social and working life, I was never in encounter with the work of Machiavelli. It is during the course of writing this piece that I read up and took notice of the gentleman. The direction of Machiavelli was somewhat political and often termed as immoral and cunning by some. It could be fine-tuned for the right reasons and educational values. In modern society, countless practices of such are taking place in many appearances. Machiavellianism was named after the namesake probably because he was the prominent person who brought up the issue in that era. My point is while Machiavelli could have been more relevant at that time, the modern society springs new individuals who surge for an upgraded style of his thinking.

: : The Coin-Effect Example

A distant memory of mine reminded me one fine day of a certain incident which gave added value to this example:

Some time ago, I was sitting at a coffee house at a main district of sunny Singapore. It was to be a breezy day while I was alone sipping coffee amid the strolling afternoon crowd. Almost everyone, clad in fashionable outfits waiting to impress, were the limelight of the town. A bright young boy was enjoying his walk with his middle-aged mother, hand-in-hand. The young boy stopped in his tracks and bent down suddenly. He had found something on the floor. The young boy pointed out that object to his mother, and proceeded to extend his tiny hand out to reach for it. With a swift slap of the hand, his mother managed to disarm her son's innocent attempt, in the typical Singaporean dialogue.

"Naughty ah you! So dirty, how many times must I tell you not to touch dirty things on the floor huh? So dirty, wait you touch you fall sick how!" said the mother dauntingly, with hands on her hips.

The boy started crying and the usual kid-stomping antics showed. He had insisted that he wanted it, and that he wasn't wrong in wanting just to ease his curiosity. Well then the mother was curious too. She lowered her towering stance to take a closer look at that object. I could almost spot her near instantaneous change of facial muscles, that expression she had on her face the brief moment she saw that item her young son was trying to touch. With a drop of her shoulders, she moved to the side of her son and rested a comforting pat on her son’s head before she picked up the item on the behalf of her son.

"Ohhh, so clever boy! You help mummy to find money ah?", remarked the mother as she began her series of well-done pats on her son's back.

It was a coin which the mother had picked up. It was dirty, but his doting mother had disregarded this fact in complete contrast to her earlier outburst to wipe the dirt off that coin, and into her own purse.

I discovered two valuable lessons that day. Firstly, the appeal of money holds valuable proportion even if it’s covered in dirt. Secondly, as long as it's money, there are people who do not mind dipping their hands in dirt. I often refer to this as the Coin Effect.

The two lessons were instances displaying an excellent channel of message transmitting through body language and facial expression. The voice was pitched and articulated in its own accentuation, and the significance of the proceedings was informative and distinctive to me even when I was merely a bystander. With my personal perception and imagination I had extended the incident into a panorama of moral values. Clearly the scene and dialogue was not meant for me, an outsider amongst the weekend crowd. But under those circumstances I had become a receiver to the message unknowingly.

Now the knowledge that we are trying to acquire is how we derive at these two perceived impressions. This value gives high emphasis on the cultural and educational communication from the mother to her young child. Having experienced her own style of life and set of disciplines, the mother creates a role model of herself so that she could guide her son in his growing up phase. Her gait and presentation are telling signs of an authoritative maternal figure. Her forceful speech and actions served as a form of communication to her son to comply with her instructions through her perception of certain subjects, which is the question of the coin in this situation.

We can assume that the young son is an unsuspecting party. He knows that the mother is trying to relay a message to him. His innocent frame of mind discloses nothing but purely that of the dirt-stained coin. The notion spaced out to the child was that he should not lay his hands on dirt. As a result, the poor kid was reprimanded for that. The continuing second part came when the mother picked up the coin herself the moment she realized that it was indeed of monetary value, and away she went with the praise for the son. This contradiction of proximity by the mother sends out a signal to the boy that reads the first two dispatches in a clear-cut approach, and diffuses another significant message of moral value to the boy indirectly, that could encompass an important impact on his life.

Would the young boy develop an inclination to embrace these two values of moral magnitude later in his own life, or will he cultivate his own conception with the realization of morality and money? Will he generate fresh principles in life, or encircle his beliefs with these early inputs by his mother? The mother had unwittingly transferred her style of belief to her son in unorthodox fashion. This is not direct communication.

Be it an effect on the child or not, it’s definitely interesting to note how this genre of communication can bring about changes in the life of an individual through parental upbringing. This adds another dimension to communication studies with a hidden agenda.

: : The Initial Approach

The people knew their points. They knew the stories. And they knew their facts. Naivety is an option to mindless rattling. But if we understand the gist of it, we may accept that communication is a twisted form of art. Having experienced various levels of twisting facts, I grew to realize that there are many different ways of getting your message across with careful planning and an eloquent speech. This is evident in many areas, politically and commercially. We can choose not to be an extremist. We can even use the gentle approach or any other manner.

During my seven years in the public service, I witnessed numerous conflicts between the work team and the higher management. The most common of it all, were the fresh regulations and procedures passed down by the top rung. Of course, the first announcement had proved to be greatly unpopular with the staff. Words of dissent were traded between the fellow employees behind closed doors. A general meeting for that particular organization was held soon after word of the unhappiness spread to the top level. At certain positional ranking, we do not have the right to disagree. It was thus left to the superiors to convince the subordinates to accept their policies with weakened resistance.

During the meeting, the leading departmental heads came forward to express their concerns regarding the new guidelines planned out for the good of the organization. The crux came when it was revealed that the decision was made after much thorough deliberation and consensus of the middle management, and that dubious honor of easing the unwanted sentiments of the employees went to my fellow supervisors and me. I was part of the middle management, and I had to pacify my subordinates together with my colleagues even when we were accused of initializing the fresh changes.

It was an uphill task. And that's when the use of Unarmed Communication comes in.

: : The Source

Notably, we have to be clear on the foundation of the message that we are going to convey to the receiver. The point was that we had to convince our subordinates that we were the good guys. Apparently we all were taken for a ride by the top management and we are the only persons that they could trust. This involved careful planning and you could launch your first signal of grievance with an discernably irritated groan by saying, “I don’t understand how all these could have happened when I had objected it together with the rest of our supervisors. You guys know me, yeah?” This was the first round of communication you have with your team and you have to ensure that it worked wonders.

: : The Channel

There were no phone calls. No writing and no emails that you will need to deploy for this technique. It was based solely on the impression that your team-mates have of you, the image that you built up and how much they trust you. Entrust selected team-mates with your secrets as well, in exchange. The “secrets” that you need to reveal to them could be verbal minutes of the discussion between the department heads and the supervisors with selected omission of incriminating details. This was the most honest approach that would reach out to them with a slight touch of innocence. Remind them not to divulge the information to anyone and just keep it within themselves. And naturally they were reminded not to disclose it to people close to the management if they want prefer a trouble-free work environment.

: : The Deciphering

Expect some other supervisors to be discussing the same topic with the subordinates and thus make full use of the situation to create a concealed confusion to your advantage. With confusion, the receivers need little skill to understand the message that you are trying to get across. And there has got to be this cooling off period whereby you have to avoid absolutely any direct form of communication with any subordinate. Instead, hint to them that you could not possibly reveal anything when certain supervisors were around. This tactic simply triggers the curiosity of your receivers even further and they will be coming to you for short and private blathers in no time.

: : The Response

The response that I'm talking about was basically support for your future projects in the team. Conjure one to smooth out the loose ends of the new policies and develop an upgrade of the procedures in your title. The task would be much easier this time and inevitably I presume the project would receive swift support and approval from both levels, provided you put in your effort. Very soon, your equals will be riding on your successes in future initiatives because of you holding the upper hand in success rates with a team of people backing you up unanimously. Your are now in a better position to negotiate for improved terms with your department heads for your team.

: : In Defense

After practicing the twisted form of communication for over a decade, I have built up a certain degree of awareness in response to unarmed communications. I have friends who brushed this off as some public relations thing. Some remarked that I was some crafty office manipulator. The reality is I have applied the same methodology in civil service, my own businesses and even my personal life.

Unarmed Communication - The twisted art of communicating flawed signals in exchange for your desired motives to unsuspecting folks. Skew it to perfection.

List of References:

Philosophers and religious leaders, The Oryx Press,1999

Machiavellianism, Wikipedia (2010)

Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince (1513)

Big Clean Up.

2010-11-16T20:57:00.001+08:00

This Blog is undergoing a massive clean-up. Please hold out and stay tuned.