New Moon

I usually read my favourite blogs through Google Reader and it allows me to keep track of new posts without actually having to go to the actual sites. So today I found a post called “New Moon Goodness” from Outside the Lines, a blog that I RSS. So without looking at the source of the post I opened a new tab to be read later.

Of course reading the post title I started to think it was from another blog that I follow called “Tua Lobang - Singapore” which is an excellent blog to follow if you are in Singapore as it posts about all the great deals, sales, free giveaways, etc in Singapore. So I envisioned this to be the subject of the post:

 

Yes New Moon Abalone and their range of canned Chinese products. But it was actually the latest New Moon Theatrical Trailer from the Twilight series, if you are interested in watching the trailer please follow the link above to.

Dunno why but it made me laugh quite hysterically when the realization of what it actually was set in.

M Tickled

They got Him or wait did they?

So all the conspiracy theories have gone straight out the door with the question that has begged everyone for 13 months! Where is Mas Selamat? When I heard the news that they caught him, I was honestly surprised because I believe we’d never find him as I believed he died in custody (another conspiracy theory) but he has been caught in Johor Baru (JB) for all places. I am sure the conspiracy theorists are working over time. But after my surprise left, I laughed out loud, for all the place we’d think we would say he was.

I just thought of summing up some of the funnier elements of this Molo’s “infamy”!

This was one of the first one’s to tickle us and as we got more creative this followed:

Then there was the movie:

Something for the Where’s Waldo fans:

From one success he was then casted to the next installment of Pirates of the Caribbean.

These were the Photochops but there were more funnies.

Top 5 Place Mas Selamat could be spotted at:

1. Mas Selamat was spotted at Beijing Olympics opening ceremony as one of Olympic torch runners
2. Mas Selamat was waving the checkered flag at the inaugural Singapore GP
3. Mas Selamat was working as a customs officer at Woodlands Checkpoint
4. Mas Selamat was hired as Chief Safety Officer at Singapore Flyer
5. Mas Selamat has replaced Shaggy Rogers

I can’t wait for the conspiracy theories as to why we was in JB, shouldn’t he have tried to go to Perak or something to stay further from Singapore. Let me start the ball rolling:

Top 5 reasons why Mas Selamat stayed in JB:

1. He went to work at his cousin’s Fake DVD shop in Holiday Plaza
2. Mee Goreng at Taman Sri Tebrau Hawker Centre is better than anywhere else in Malaysia
3. He took the giant “Selamat Datang” sign at JB, literally
4. Ramli Burger tastes better closer to Singapore
5. Still can listen to Class 95 FM.

M Laughing.

About Bob

Allow me to introduce “Bob” the new addition and member of the white good family at JK.

Launching Commemoration This is a great day for us: we are on the verge of a wonderful adventure. Today's launching comes at an appropriate time in history. For nearly 10 years Anusi has tireless toiled and now we have given her deserved rest. In these uncertain times, we need stability. I now introduce a new torch bearer to which the tall task has fallen to. Ladies and Gentlemen, Bob! (euphoric clapping erupts). As I stand humbled by the task afore you, and the trust that has been placed into you, I wish you be mindful of the sacrifices of ancestor. Despite the changing weather and circumstances, I say to you be that beacon of strength and stability. Be all that you can be. Be Bob!

This post will only make the sense if you read: Obituary : End of an Era

M Laughing

Majo Twit

Twitter I like.

Fashion Faux Pas Trois

I know it is not nice to make fun of people at their expense, but when I see stuff this funny I have to share it. Yesterday on our shopping spree at Far East, we walked into this particular shop. As the wife was trying on something, a tourist walked in dressed like so:

Somehow I wondered what was going through his mind as he donned on this “festive” gear.

M so bad!

Runaway!

Ever felt like running away? Just packing the stuff up, grabbing the wife and heading to someplace where no one can find you? Yes today is the day I feel this way. Just want to escape all the usual usuals.

Since blogging is a means of escape let me go on a mental trip, you are welcome to join. Hmmm where shall I go first?

M dreaming….

Picture from http://www.alltelleringet.com/

What’s going on at NTU?

If any of you have been reading the news, you may have read about the Indonesian student from NTU who stabbed his professor in the back, then slashed his wrists and then threw himself of the five storey building resulting in his death. Tragic, I thought at the time. The pressures of school can result in people flaring up.

But what you may not have seen was another death that happened at NTU. This one was severely downplayed. What happened here was a staff member was found to have hung himself in his NTU staff apartment. Do not let the word staff here throw you; essentially this fella was a 24 year old Chinese National who started working at NTU 5 days ago and to be exact the day of the previous incident. His age however, should point to the fact that he was up till very recent a student of NTU.

What is now happening is that people are drawing up parallel and conspiracy theories. Personally, I love a good conspiracy theory but in this case, there seems to be some cover up going on.

1. Both guys who died are both from School of EEE
   
2. Both guys were from the same laboratory
   
3. Both guys have had close contact with the professor who was stabbed
   
4. Both are suicides
   
5. Both are foreign students
   

On the other side of the fence, our beloved media is working overtime to direct the public towards a particular direction. First there was an article about how foreign students here are suffering loneliness and have no channels in which to direct their stress. As an ex-foreign student I know this can be an issue of course but we are normally so focused on studying and getting by with such limited funds this was never an issue. In any case, this was a way of saying this guy was a little unstable

Next article, which I seriously loathe was about people who spend excessive times playing computer games. They highlighted 3 cases of guys who have gone warped from excessive gaming. I loathe these sorts of conclusions, as there is very little evidence to point to the excessive gaming as the cause. When I was in Uni a cheap way to unwind after a long day in class or after finishing a tough assignment was to play computer games. I used to be on it for hours and sometimes I would be home the entire weekend play just stopping for meals and toilet breaks. But this never made me loco! I just find this argument weak, and yet another feeble attempt by our media as one of the 3 cases, highlighted was our dear Indonesian friend from NTU.

So in an attempt to steer people away for the real truth, there are many people out there who are screaming for a proper investigation. There is even talk of some sexual misconduct by the said professor, and more to the idea that the first guy was murdered. Basically the consensus is that both deaths are related and the coincidences are rather astounding.

SideNote: What does one TRILLION dollars look like?

http://www.pagetutor.com/trillion/index.html

Interesting article that puts things in perspective.

M

Anonymous Irony - The Addendum

Seems that when you do a search on M..... now, my previous Anonymous Irony post shows up as well (am slapping my forehead saying "aiyooo"). But due to this, I have finally figured out why the Christmas Miscalculation is showing in searches. It's because there is a mention of a Mr. D..... in that post and with this post there is mention of the name that shan't be mentioned any further on this blog; M.....

This is too cloak and dagger even for me. Self censorship is what I have been forced to do now, this is the reason why Singapore does not have free press because the journos self censor! I am such a Singaporean...haizzzz.

M Self Censoring

Anonymous Irony

Yes it is another irony post.


In an effort to make this blog more anonymous, I have made some subtle changes. I am just wondering if it is really worth it. I have always been an advocate of free speech although living in Singapore free speech in the broad sense of the word is restricted but you know what I mean. Just the basic freedom to say what you want when you want not hurting others..............significantly. *blush*


Problem is that the Internet has made things rather easy to find and sometimes I prefer if certain people do not stumble on this here personal site, people of the judgemental nature mainly. However, at the same time I would like people in general to stumble and leave a comment or two, in the great spirit of blogging. Schizophrenic, yes?


Why the sudden urge for anonymity, well mainly because the other day, in a fit of narcissism, I Googled "m%r*l $o#e!t" (editied to protect identity of blogger) and on the 2nd page of hits there it was Christmas Miscalculation post. How that get there? I did not do anything different, I did this the same way I do all my post but why is this post listed there? *stumped*


Oh well, so I have tried to make myself more anonymous, I hope my attempts are not really visible to my regular fans but at the same time not completely futile.


M in disguise

Self Inflicted Aggravation

Sometimes I laugh at myself…., ok ok, all the time lah; I start the day normally with many things that I need to take care off before the end of the day but then an idea pops into my mind of the lowest priority but with the highest interest level. Likelihood is that I will start to do that first.

So here a list of the low priority items, as they came into my mind;
1) Should I bring my 50D on my business trip to Pune
If I am I do not want to look like a tourist among my other colleagues with camera, laptop. So should I buy a laptop cum camera bag --- so off I went on the Net searching.

2) Hmmm… what shall I blog about today? --- off reading the newly suggested blog

3) Haizzz I have not updated 365 in a while --- falling behind arrgghh, so I started looking at my recent pics to at least earmark some

At this point, the rest of the higher priority items (more work related) not to mention those that I did not foresee beckon! Cool, calm, easy….now one at a time.

Monday, got to love it!

M still warming up

Inspire Me Please

Running on empty, well just need some new inspiration. Was on the look out for blogs that I can relate to and seem to be always stumbling into blogs written by ladies. Don't get me wrong I adore the blogs and look forward to the posts of my favourites, who are all of the fairer sex, but the question beckons me.....

Where have all the male bloggers gone to? Do they exist? Ok stupid question dah, look in the mirror. But seriously are there any male bloogers out there from whom some self edification and inspiration can flow into moi.

So if you seen some good blogs that I can relate to, please send them to me. Honestly the sex of blogger doesn't matter just need something good and regular like prune juice, you know what I mean....

M searching.

Photo taken from http://www.luminous-landscape.com/columns/Finding-Inspiration.shtml

Meaning to Life

As I completed the final appraisal for my team I was left wondering. The meaning of life that is. Being someone who is extremely close to my staff both at a professional and for some at a personal level, I was left wondering why is it so hard to find some sort of meaning and purpose to life.

OK, I too was confronted in my late 20s. I went through this as well; a search for a purpose and a sense of meaning to it all. I believe this is something everyone goes through. But why is it so hard? Shouldn't it be easier?

Is work and then procession home and the subsequent vegetation at home only to wake up to another day all we have to look forward to? I think not.

Personally I think we all should work hard to find what make you passionate about life. Don't let work busy you from looking for it. It has to be found by hook or by crook. You'd be missing out if you didn't take the time.

M purposeful

Things to do

So the wife is going out tomorrow night and so the question begs. What should I do?

1) should I stay at work and finish up the appraisals for my guys

2) head home for some Babylon 5 and "comfort food"

3) photograph the night

I think number 2) is nice but I have been doing too much of it so better strike it off. It's been a tough week work wise, 100 miles an hour from 12 till late so I guess I shall kill 1).

I guess that leaves me with some night photography. Hmmm time to get the batteries charged. Where should I go? Any suggestions?

M getting ready

Christmas Miscalculation

Last year we did things very last minute. Since there was no gatherings or parties to be had we sort of felt there was no reason to put up a Christmas tree. But as the 25th drew closer and all around were in the festive mood, something was missing. So at the absolute last minute we visited Island Landscape and got our tree (at a great discount) and with some simple decorations and lights from Concourse on the 23rd. All was well and tree did bring lots of good cheer.

This year we decided that we would do a last minute thing again but not to leave things till the absolute 11th hour but at least the weekend before the 25th, so as to also enjoy the discounted rates as we did last year. But much to our bitter disappointment and dismay all trees had been sold the previous day!

We were gutted, that is, whatever good cheer that was holding us up had been sucked away. With the fact that my folks were coming for lunch of the 25th, I was dreading this conversation with Mr. D Senior:

D Senior: Where is the tree?
D Junior: Oh this year decided not to have one lah (jokingly)
D Senior: (Looking perplexed) How can? It's Christmas and a tree is a must(getting disappointed).
D Jr: (Trying to downplay) No must lah, Christmas is about family getting together and spending time together.
D Senior: (Getting near angered) Yes together under the tree with presents. Where are the presents then? (looking around seeing the pile of presents in the corner) There? Dunno if those are for Christmas or someone’s birthday.
D Junior: OK. (Surrendered liaoz)

So instead of having this conversation I said. Ok let's do lunch at the parents. We cook and bring there (considering their tree was up in late Nov). No tree, no party! SK was getting increasingly guilty as she was the one who preferred to keep things so late, I initially wanted to go the previous week but decided to go this week as she suggested. She was almost in tears with the prospect if ruining Christmas as she knew what having a tree meant, considering my happiness last year. It's like Chinese New Year but no Ang Pows, none, notta, zip. How can right?

So dejected, we headed to Bar Chor Mee at Toa Payoh, for some divine inspiration. She started calling the usual contacts and before the bowls were served we got light of a place where trees were still being sold. Jelita Cold Store! So after French class will be another post in coming days, we headed there and got our tree; to be delivered today!!

It was a bit of emotional roller coaster to be honest, with the enthusiasm of getting a tree and then not getting one at all and then hopefully getting one then to actually getting one. I guess that is what makes the two of us, so different from the rest lah, always got drama one!!

M picking the tree later.

INFJ ENFP MBTI

Ok stop looking at the title and read lah. If you are not familiar with MBTI personalities this would be a doosy.

I recently, actually earlier today, took the MBTI and discovered something; my personality has changed well somewhat.

I used to be a INFJ which basically works out to being introvert, intuitive, feeling and judging (doesn't mean judgemental ah) persona. The first few times I took this test I found myself falling into this category.

But now several years down the road, ENFP I have become. This one is extrovert, N,F, perceiving persona. Why the shift? I guess it was something I sort of forced myself to become.

I to E - this has been the most dramatic transformation for me. The willingness to step out. This decision has resulted in me being where I am in my career and most importantly to have met my wife!

The day I told myself "Marcel, you have to put yourself out there and take hold of all that life has to offer rather than allowing it past me by". Basically to seize the day and live life to it's fullest!

J to P - this one was not intentional but I guess life forces us to become perceives if life is lived experientially. With a motto like "Live life to it's fullest" it can only be done experientially and to take advantage off that, living by perception than in a conclusive way is necessary thus explaining the shift.

Overall to me it's positive affirmation that I am growing and we all need to keep growing. Life's a journey, not a destination!

M livin

Money

Whoever said that money is the root of evil was surely a poor man. Yet it's something that drives each of us to wake up each day get to work.

Or is it the need for a sense of fulfilment or worse is it for greed and power? My initial years working were for power and the need to show everyone what I am made off. Truly, I admit it but now for me money is a means to live a comfortable life.

I do not love it nor do I care too much about it than I become bothered. I used to be but no longer. My God has blessed me beyond my expectations and He will continue to bless me in His usual way.

M blessed

Mumbai Maddness

As if the dramatics and conundrums were not enough this trip. Aside from the fact I was staying away from home 12 hours longer than planned was not perturbing enough, there was a real chance of me missing my flight.

The traffic was a key culprit but more so was the unexpected travel arrangements that were sprung on me. A detour was needed and this significantly compromised our exit strategy resulting us to be stuck in an impossible jam that only Mumbai could muster.

The so close yet so far away feeling was there and at times we felt we should just get out of the car and make a run for it. But some heroic driving towards the end managed us to get there before the checkin counters closed. Only just I must add!

M boarding - - Praise the Lord!