Widespread Mayhem for REAL

Today felt so surreal. News about massive tsunamis attacking the coasts of neighbouring countries simply seemed so far-fetched. Figures were buzzing over the radio like a ticker-tape. Hollywood has indeed smudged the line between fiction & reality. While the newscaster was churning out the dishes of information, all i could picture in my head was a carousel of scenes from "Deep Impact"--massive seismic waves devouring humans & buildings. The thought of it though was chilling & frightening.

A few more kilometres down the expressway saw us getting caught in a jam. How eventful. After half an hour of turmoil, we got to glimpse the incident site. Though much of it had been cleaned up, it was pretty obvious that a serious road accident had occurred. What seemed to be like a motorcycle had been reduced to scraps with bits of shattered glass spilled across the road. There were also a few cars lined along the road shoulder; damaged. I didnt know if it was the long bumpy ride along the malaysia highway or the super oily keropoks or the crazy-ass events but i could almost taste puke.

Come to think about it, it was only yesterday that people all over the world were celebrating xmas happily. All it took was a rumble beneath the sea, a shake-up of massive waves and 4000 people perished. That is excluding the escalating numbers of missing & injured people. Life is so fragile & unpredicatable. Unprecedented events like these just reiterates how easily man can be wiped out. What is even more ludicruous is that somewhere in the other hemisphere, people are welding guns & bombs to annihilate one another. Yeah, perhaps the global population is increasing and we need a few more agents to check the population's growth. Just like how crows & cats are being culled. Oh yah, there's no higher physical life form on earth besides humans so we have to do it ourselves. DIY crudely.

Such madness. I still cant believe that such a freaky phenomenon can happen. 8.9 on the richter scale...That will definitely make it into the Guiness Book World of Record. Im still very puzzled as to why there were no warnings. Arent there geological stations to detect unusual seismic activites? Arent there meterological stations to warn about oncoming tsunamis?

As we passed through the customs across the causeway, i cant help but feel how safe Singapore is. No natural disasters. Though Singapore is small on the map, we are sheltered and safe. Vulnerability versus protection. The only vulnerability Singapore faces is man-made. We may not experience snow. No beautiful mountains, valleys & rivers. In exchange, we get a dull, boring but safe country that we always feel glad about whenever we come home from overseas.

We Have Been Warned!

A Snap Shot of The Devil; An Epitome of Greed.



"A Hole In The World" by Thursday

In this blackout inertia will hold our thoughts
And the exit sign offers no light to see by
Can we cast our shadows alone in the dark?
I can't see without you
When the world is crashing down
Part with it Start again
When the world is crashing down
These notes will fold themselves
Standing at the margin's edge to see where the daybreak ends
You can find compassion here
But the page turns too fast
We fell in this hole that opened up
Giving up on hope
Living without love
And we still type black lines
When the world comes crashing down
These notes will fold themselves
Adjust the aperture to focus on the negative
Like phosphors in the darkroom ignite
Like dodging faces in the corner of the print
Frame by frame this hole is opening up and we fall in
There is no such thing as whole
There is a hole in the world


"Autobiography Of A Nation" by Thursday

Write these words back down inside
We have burned their villages and all the people in them died
We adopt their customs and everything they say we steal
All the dreams they had we kill
Still we all sleep sound tonight
Is this what you wanted to hear?
We erased all their images and dance
And replaced them with borders and flags
At the top of this timeline you'll remember
This is the lipstick on the collar And in my own life
I've seen it in the mirror sometimes at the cost of others hopes
So write these words back down inside
That's where you need it the most and without conviction of heart
you will never feel it at all
Yeah, we all dance to the same beat when we we're marching
Yeah, the TV tells us everythign we need to know
And this scene is painting in all the fashions of the moment
And history is all the same
Everything you say you stole
Every dream you dream you bought

Like i said before music is everything. Music is a signature on your memories. A watermark on your thoughts. A written history. These are 2 songs that showcases Thursday's illustration of Karma

Lets Practise Karma Sutra!

Dont just stare at the heading. Zap that images of sweaty, tangled bodies in your mind. Nothing tantalizing here. Face it, we are constantly misinterpreting the GREAT Karma Sutra. Ok, theres no need for mind-boggling terms & intricate explanations. Everything is self-explanatory once you listen to Manic Street Preachers' "If you tolerate these, then your children will be next" or New Radicals' "You Get what you give".

The world is not at war but its us who are persistently fighting a war we started. Sounds familiar? Yeah, i guess everyone has an experience of personal struggles. But im not talking about that. Right, lets clean the slate. Dismiss the misconception. Karma sutra is not just about an individual's pleasure & well-being. It concerns everyone! Its on a macro scale. It may not be as dramatic & far fetched like the "butterfly effect". But its logical. Think about it. Remember that time when you stuck chewing gum on your not-so-favourite nursery playmate? Well, viola! Karma came back to haunt you cos your favourite chewing gum became banned. But cos you did some good and upon repentance, chewing gum is back. (hmm...) LOL. Trust me, karma works in unimaginable ways.

Remember the world a few years back? When everyone is happy with a job & you could travel around the world without a baby-sitter and still come back home with your head still attached to your neck? What about now? If you survive a trip to Thailand, you are considered lucky. If you came back from Iraq with your head still resting on your neck, its a miracle.

Yes, terrorism is a plight mankind brought to himself. Its a classical example of Karma. After all, what better way can nature deliver her lessons to ignorant humans than to send the message straight through televisions, radios, internet within a split second.

It happened very quickly and unexpectedly if you can recall. Then, i was still an ignorant M-16 bearing NS-boy doing his guard duty when all of a sudden news of the catastrophic Sept 11 attacks broke. The next thing i know, Ops-bacinet (patroling in public areas under threat) was implemented and I was so damn lucky to strike jackpot to be in the pioneer batch of combat support unit to perfom patroling duty at Changi Airport. It was then that i honed my artistry in play-acting: trying to act tough with a SAR21 & wireless intercom. And of cos, if you guys wonder how i can steal glimpses of pretty girls without getting caught? Haha, the credits go to MINDEF for providing the perfect training ground: right in the aisles of the trolley-pulling air-stewardess. But of course, how can i forget the honourable CO of my FAVOURITE battalion who made the award-winning move to volunteer me & my poor friends for Ops Bacinet. In order to avoid profanities, i decided not to describe the award title.

Ok, so whats my point? Simple. Who caused wide-spread terrorism? Of course, its us humans. We invented & built cities to make our lives comfortable but at the same time the disparity between developed & developing countries widened. While the rich consume & waste, the poor starve & suffer. Still not satisfied, the rich, out of greed, decided to steal the poor's resources and invaded their lands with ugly noses and guns. These are wolves who concealed their identities with names like "Heros" & "Saviours". Bunch of crap indeed.

Already frustrated with their not-so-comfortable lives, the poor rose against the rich. They could no longer tolerate the rich's ruthless and heartless demeanour. And they fought back hard where its least expected & right at the pulse of it all--the collaspe of WTC.

Yes, nature has served her messages to all of mankind. We have been too obsessed with building a life of comfort & destroying comfort given to us by nature. Resources like timber are explioted indiscriminately. Air & water is polluted. We not only neglected nature; we even neglected human kind living in the shadows of our comfort. The ones suffering. Karma being served to the world within a split second. And that called for a mark on history books.

Karma doesnt stop there. Outbreak of diseases and the imminent pandemic are just the works of humans. Antibiotics not only provides a temporary cure for a common flu, it also enables viruses to develop immunity against it. Soon, we are just making ourselves weaker. The greater the dosage, the stronger the enemy. The harder you bounce, the harder the ball comes back up. Karma. Cows were fed with un-natural feeds to boost growth to sell for more cash, in exchange for that, we get mad cow disease. And so are the likes of other poultry-related diseases. But nature has in store for us an even bigger prezzie (a sick xmas gift?)--pandemic. WHO has predicted that a mutated bird flu virus will be the cause of the imminent pandemic.

Yes its scary. But its real. Karma is intrinsic; fused and woven invisibly within the fabrics of our fragile lives. All it takes is a careless tear and the fabric will give way. Have we not woken up or are we just sinking deeper into the mud?

Deciphering Da Polar Code

No pun intented. Anyhow, when I entered the theatre and saw the numerous children fidgeting in their seats, I became skeptical about the movie. Was I too old for this cartoon? Sitting beside me was a popcorn-munching whinner. As the show started, I was treated to a slew of special sound effects. There were squeals, giggles and chatter coming from the little tarts as they struggle to keep their view clear of the seats in front of them. The enthusiastic whinner was equally cited up and you can hear it from the fierce munching sounds.

After a while, the kids settled down and finally everyone was watching the show properly. I was awed by the quality of the cartoon. The expressions on the characters were so rich and vivid that its hard to believe its all cartoon. While i was being drawn into the movie's storyline, i cant help but try to relate some of the scenes to our daily lives. Perhaps it was my mentality that the show was meant for all ages; adults included. So there was more to bite than just the story itself.

At the end of the show, all i could conclude was that faith is such a fragile thing. One moment you could be disbelieving and the next you could be risking your life for it. All it takes is a constant devotion and a determined mind.

Picture Perfect?

Influenza was a convenient reason for me to stay home & lay snugly in bed while the whole world engages in another episode of "Hectic Days of our Lives".

I've perfected & successfully modelled the lifestyle of a hermit. Yes, im the new-age hermit. Confined within the comforts of my home. Barred from the rest of the world. Armed with a laptop & a TV set. I was too boring for the TV though. Its strange how the lifeless thing is much more active than i was. Telling me stories of people travelling around continents, reporting the latest news and churning out countless dramas, MTVs and advertisements.

I simply couldnt keep up the challenge sitting on the sofa, surfing websites & chatting on MSN. The battle was downright one-sided. The lazy bug was chewing me from within. While i fought against all my decisions of going out, i found strength to end it all. The internal struggle was immense but it paid off. I got my bum off the sofa-already deformed by the shape of my butt and decided to cycle. LOL, how exciting. But it was better than nothing.

As usual, the ride down killed my ass terribly especially so with the constant bumping here n there whenever i went over mini potholes and walkway curbs. But it paid off as i feasted my eyes on the views of nature's creation. (*hint hint* I don't know why but roller blader babes these days are...woohoo...AHEM!)

Anyway, some of the VIEWS were really beautiful and so i decided to snap some shots since i had brought along a camera. I tried to act nonchalant while some anglers looked at me puzzledly so these photos are actually quite valuable since i exchanged it with a tint of Hollywood acting skills. But i wonder if acting bo-chap was a criteria to be the next Brad Pitt? Hmmm..

The ride back ached so much that i thought my ass would give way but nonetheless i survived the trip back. Thanks to muvo that got me concentrating on the music rather than the pain from my butt. And of course, being a hermit i had to settle dinner the new-age-hermit way: packet dinner from Old Airport Road to eat by myself at home. Its hard to feign tough when I'm alone battling out with the TV set again with a new-found weapon--wanton noodles & rojak. The combi weapon was short-lived and soon i was back with my laptop.

But of course, the "hero of the day" title goes to Mr Butt who endured the pains and rough patches of the most exciting day of my life.

From Bedok Jetty

A Shot from NSC

The atrocities of our time

Have u ever seen or heard something that really makes u think about how bizarre the world is? Bizarre, not in a funny way like America's Funniest Home video. Bizarre, in such a way that it makes you want to question about existence and the relevance of ur presence. Maybe i have too much time for myself that im no longer acting normal. Perhaps its my constant devotion to Armour for Sleep's "Wanderer's Guild". Never underestimate the power of music. I mean just recall the number of songs that you have attached memories to? If i were to have an autobiography, it will be based on a mammoth compilation of songs from nursey rhymes to emocore.

Recently, i saw this TV advertisement on this Gregorian music cd featuring pop/rock songs. It was so gross & ludicrous that even though i was not a christian or catholic, i felt that the compilation was sacrilegious. Commercialism has done so much damage to our environment. Even religion has been undermined for the sake of cashing in some miserable bucks.

Commercialism has also corrupted our minds. Endless preaching on body slimming, bust-enhancing, plastic surgery has drawn so much emphasis on our outer appearance that we have neglected to enrich of our souls.

We have been constantly warned of our despicable ways. How many livestock has suffered under the burning desire of greed for cash. Bovine diseases like the infamous mad cow disease had haunted us, and then pigs with Nipah Virus and poultry with Avian disease. Whats next? How many more reminders do we have to face before we stop this madness?

The endless war against terror is another annoying thing. Just how much education do we need to feed the minds of the world so as to bridge the jarring differences between cultures & religions? Infrastructure & internet have made our world smaller but only for certain parts of the world. In fact, it has divided the world and widen the invisible ridge between the backward and advanced countries. Perhaps globalisation is the real enemy.

With all these chaos, its amazing how we can still carry out our daily routines. What is existence? There seems to be no real reason why we exist. I think im too afflicted with boredom. Can i continue to let my self slip into oblivion and lead a mundane life? Education hasnt really sharpen minds but it has desensitised us.

Armour for Sleep-Wanderer's Guild

I can speak when I want toemploy my voice til it burns

Through the core of my own throat

speak until the demands gone

You should be downstairs with them

Your wasting your time again

Listen I'm fine now

I don't want to talk right now

Thank you for your concern

I can speak til the world ends

To make up for all that I left out

Register with the wanderer's guild

and be a nomad with a billion words

The day when ...

smiles were wore like badges on every beach-goers:

1. Fathers no longer have to run to fly kites for their children to see. Children no longer need to think that kite-flying is only Daddy's silly little lie. Kites do fly. At least they did today.
2. Bladers, cyclists & joggers had something to smile about too. Besides getting a nice tan at the end of the day, the breezy weather helped to keep the heat away as they sweat it out.
3. Surf addicts, on the verge of putting on their riot gears, were pacified by the breezy condition. No more wind-less days. They too put on smiles as they received their adrenaline fix.
   
   YES! The monsoon is back! Gusty winds & white caps--the cause for celebration!
   
   Today was the day when I've experienced the most number of spin-outs, the most number of gust-hits, the longest runs, the most exhilarating sensation of planing. It felt good to enjoy the speed on a shortboard. No more crazy knee jerky chops on the mistral. Instead, in response to the chops were breath-stopping air-time. But the best part must be the witnessing of sick gybes that the veterans delivered out at sea. I could only drool @ the sight of it and yearned for the day when i carved a slick gybe myself. I was too fed-up with falling each time i tried to gybe on the shortboard that i had to settle for tacks. Tacks were not as simple like on a mistral. The slim little shortboard required crazy-ass snap tacks. And yes, if i was lucky i escaped from the clutches of the waves. If not, i would be swimming.
   
   Anyhow, though i may be the only guy doing the tacks out at sea, i enjoyed myself nonetheless. I just like the way the board drives through the waves, cutting through the sheets of water, leaving a stream of white trail behind me. The howling of the wind and the whistling of the skeg sounded like "Thursday" playing their heart out. I like the view of the sail against the backdrop of the sea, sun and ships. Everytime i plane, it felt like i was really living a life. I felt existence. I was real again. Melodrama? Nope. Heartfelt words. The rushing of the board, the power on the sail, the magnificient view of others dashing out to sea on their rides dissolves all your worries and troubles away; washed out behind the white trails.
   
   Perhaps i have signed my life to this obsession. Whatever it is i hope this contract last a life time.
   Hail the MonSoon!!

Where art thou?

This season is the reason why speed-hungry surf addicts are seeking for emotional assistance. Hopes for high speed monsoon winds and wicked chops for jumps were just beginning to rise when all were thrashed and disintegrated.

After a long lull of dead wind, pale yellow skins and lack of adrenaline fix, it should have been time for nature to deliver its cure to the surf addicts. However, 2 consecutive storms had thwarted all plans for surfing. Nanmadol & Muifa not only brought disaster to Phillippines and Taiwan, it had also stirred up disturbances in the wind system; bringing chaos to the suffering addicts at ECP.

It was supposed to be blowing and ideal for free-styling but the only thing happening at sea were the line of boats & ships anchored lazily along the horizon. Even blader babes could not tame the nerves of the addicts. All hell broke loose.

It is amazing how we can sell our lives to do something we crave so much for. We can wait for the longest period of time in our lives just to be able to do that special something. For some it could be queuing up to buy tickets to a Jay Chou concert. For some it may be queing up to buy that weekly 4D. For some it could be waiting for that special person to come back from an overseas attachment. Regardless of what it is, in their own rights, this isnt a waste of time. Its worth the wait. Similarly, surf addicts have sold their lives to the sea but there is no time to waste. In fact, its a matter of luck when it comes to wind condition. So even if you wait out the whole day for that perfect wind condition, there is still no gurantee for it to happen.

Perhaps, the next time you meet a cranky man fishing beside you while you are tanning, try to understand his plight cos he may be the poor guy who has waited, in vain, the whole day for that perfect wind condition. Maybe its time we should build an indoor surfing arena where winds are blowing constantly by huge turbine fans. Imagine the number of happy people on ECP. No more cranky man while you tan. No more chaotic surf addicts. More fishes to catch without cranky fishermen.

(this is a cranky blog...Please understand)

Breaking Silence: A speech for people like me

I cannot imagine a world with no music, no sound. Its a neccesity for sanity checks. Music can sculpture an atmosphere for us to relax, vent out latent frustration and design moods for the right occasion. A bus ride to school can be such a painfully long journey but it is cut short with a muvo in hand. Cycling can be draining but it has become a breeze when the music's on. A horror flick may not be as horrifying without the screaming. A marriage proposal may not be heart-moving enough without serenading a sappy love song.

As a proud representative of the "Not-young-anymore-but-single-still" organisation, I would like to propose the idea that music is a very useful tool when it comes to healing that lonely feeling. Also, being the president of the "22 yrs of singlehood & on-going" club, on behalf of my members, I would like to share with you the various effective methods of music therapy.

1) Throw away your collection of CDs. Delete your MP3s. (Only applies if you are not an emo-listener)

2) Start understanding a thing or two about love. "Taking back Sunday" & "My Chemical Romance" are great starters.

Here are some acts of sacrifice for love:

"you could slit my throat And with my one last gasping breath I'd apologize for bleeding on your shirt"-- by TBS

"And I think I'll blow my brains against the ceiling. And as the fragments of my skull begin to fallFall on your tongue like pixie dust just think happy thoughts"-- by MCR

(Only applies if you are registered to "22 yrs of singlehood & on-going" club" cos love is a Bloody myth that will continue to puzzle us all)

3) Shut off your radio. Love songs are not meant to be commercialised.

4) When you are feeling real down after getting rejected the 1001th time, don't fret. Just recite the glorious anthem, "Girls are FXXX-ing Evil" courtesy of The Ataris.

5) Face the poster of your favourite pin-up girl, meditate and pray. Chant <23> by Jimmy Eat World. Do this 3 times a day after meals or you may experience certain side effects like lost of appetite.

6) When staring dumbly at the girl you like doesnt do any good, sing "Hands Down" by Dashboard Confessional. Date her out and act your own version of MTV for that song.

7) Cancel your subscription to self-help magazines and sign up to Kerrang! for live updates on newly discovered therapies & methods.

These are just some tips on how to remedy our pathetic and lonely lives. To be a patriot of the "22 yrs of singlehood & on-going" club or the "Not-young-anymore-but-single-still" organisation, simply register online @ http://www.nolovenolife.com . Group discussion and therapies will be conducted weekly. So make a difference and put an end to loneliness,

Register NOW!