There has been much hype for $ing Dollar with its aggressive marketing and its star studded cast.
While the first half was fast paced, it was too much of a mish-mash of scenes that it became quite a drag. It was like Selena Tan had too much to say that everything was thrown in like "rojak".
The second half however was much improved. The story was more coherent and each character became more clearly defined as the show progressed. The songs were also much better after the interval.
For those who have been following the Dim Sum Dollies, you will be disappointed at how deflated $ing Dollar is. This is also probably the poorest performance I've seen from the trio of Emma Yong, Pam Oei and Selena Tan. One of the show's few highlights is the highly charged Michael Jackson parody, which drew the loudest cheers from the audience.
Ultimately, the exact things which are appealing about $ing Dollar are the ones which let it down. A case of too many cooks and ingredients spoiling the broth.
Friday, July 24, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
it's all a matter of mindset
rather than talking about my bad back and my extended absence from work due to a malfunctioning immune system..i would like to recall an incident which kind of summarises the things that are still malfunctioning in the gahmen sector...
as my initial profile (see previous entry) was rejected for lacking focus and i fervently rejected the ideas to focus on my 1) poetry writing (because i have not written anything decent in years!) and 2) my knack of wanting things neat and tidy (honestly, it's like boring isn't it?), i settled finally on writing about my collection of over 2000 CDs. even though i was reluctant to write about it initially, i thought i did an ok job of it in the end. i submitted it and my colleague and supervisor liked it. then...
...my supervisor asked me why i was still collecting CDs. i was contemplating between 1) it was a (really bad) habit, 2) CDs come with pretty booklets (which makes my room look impressive..which it does by the way!), 3) i had too much spare cash (which is not true!) or 4) "you might as well ask any girl why does she buy so many pairs of shoes, more than half of which she probably does not wear and has no intention to wear anyway!" in the end i settled on the politically correct answer (or so i thought), which was that i preferred CDs to mp3s for its better sound quality. to which she replied...
..."in that case, why don't you collect records? you know the ones that can play on a gramophone?" i was like "oh my gosh! you dimwitted moron!" (being polite, i did not say it out loud of course..though i hope my facial expression conveyed it clearly enough!) firstly, i said "preferred" in comparison with mp3s (apparently, her english not that powerful for someone working in communications) and secondly, "simi era already, still gramophone, even my grandma watches her dramas on dee wee dee ar!"
well, if the gahmen sector wants to reach out to the new generation but continues to be headed by such "gramophone" thinkers, how do they expect to accomplish it? in my short 2 weeks, i have realised 2 things - the gahmen sector is still headed by lots of people who 1) just "do", don't think so much, just "do" because it is what they (their bosses) want (so they ask you to eat shit you eat shit la?) and 2) are promoted to heads of departments just because "they have been there for quite some time already". the gahmen constantly emphasises the importance of capturing and changing the mindset of the new generation..well i think that maybe the changing of mindset should start first and foremost from within.
as my initial profile (see previous entry) was rejected for lacking focus and i fervently rejected the ideas to focus on my 1) poetry writing (because i have not written anything decent in years!) and 2) my knack of wanting things neat and tidy (honestly, it's like boring isn't it?), i settled finally on writing about my collection of over 2000 CDs. even though i was reluctant to write about it initially, i thought i did an ok job of it in the end. i submitted it and my colleague and supervisor liked it. then...
...my supervisor asked me why i was still collecting CDs. i was contemplating between 1) it was a (really bad) habit, 2) CDs come with pretty booklets (which makes my room look impressive..which it does by the way!), 3) i had too much spare cash (which is not true!) or 4) "you might as well ask any girl why does she buy so many pairs of shoes, more than half of which she probably does not wear and has no intention to wear anyway!" in the end i settled on the politically correct answer (or so i thought), which was that i preferred CDs to mp3s for its better sound quality. to which she replied...
..."in that case, why don't you collect records? you know the ones that can play on a gramophone?" i was like "oh my gosh! you dimwitted moron!" (being polite, i did not say it out loud of course..though i hope my facial expression conveyed it clearly enough!) firstly, i said "preferred" in comparison with mp3s (apparently, her english not that powerful for someone working in communications) and secondly, "simi era already, still gramophone, even my grandma watches her dramas on dee wee dee ar!"
well, if the gahmen sector wants to reach out to the new generation but continues to be headed by such "gramophone" thinkers, how do they expect to accomplish it? in my short 2 weeks, i have realised 2 things - the gahmen sector is still headed by lots of people who 1) just "do", don't think so much, just "do" because it is what they (their bosses) want (so they ask you to eat shit you eat shit la?) and 2) are promoted to heads of departments just because "they have been there for quite some time already". the gahmen constantly emphasises the importance of capturing and changing the mindset of the new generation..well i think that maybe the changing of mindset should start first and foremost from within.
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
my profile
under the company's new initiatives, new staff are to write up a short profile of themselves. this profile will be posted on the intranet, as an introduction to the rest of the staff. so here is what i wrote for myself...
-----
If you happen to bump into Adrian, chances are you will find him a friendly and chirpy little fellow – always ready with a smile and a helping hand. And if you are lucky, (or unlucky, depending on your taste), you may just get to hear first hand a few of his infamous “really bad jokes”...like really bad!
What most people do not see however, is someone who enjoys his bit of quiet time. During this time, he does all the boring stuff imaginable and unimaginable by humankind – like reading (really bimbotic, himbotic or soapy love novels), arranging and re-arranging (and re-arranging again) his collection of over 2000 CDs, blogging and (when the inspiration comes) writing poems.
Adrian is rather philosophical and likens life experiences to a seriously complex mathematics problem sum, even though he thinks the primary school syllabus these days could possibly be more complex than life itself! Just like a problem sum, life has many “workings” and more than one “solution”. He believes that there is no absolute right or an absolute wrong, it is how one makes sense of it all.
Adrian’s favourite quote - “I may not be humble but at least I am honest” – has not won over many fans but has gotten him quite many friends. So do not ask him how your hair looks like on a bad hair day. But if he tells you that he thinks that he is rather adorable, you better believe it!
-----
apparently it lacks focus so i need to rewrite it..which i am quite upset about cuz i thought that the profile i wrote is just so "me". oh well, think i will now just make up some story about my collection of dresses or something..that should be focused and interesting enough!
-----
If you happen to bump into Adrian, chances are you will find him a friendly and chirpy little fellow – always ready with a smile and a helping hand. And if you are lucky, (or unlucky, depending on your taste), you may just get to hear first hand a few of his infamous “really bad jokes”...like really bad!
What most people do not see however, is someone who enjoys his bit of quiet time. During this time, he does all the boring stuff imaginable and unimaginable by humankind – like reading (really bimbotic, himbotic or soapy love novels), arranging and re-arranging (and re-arranging again) his collection of over 2000 CDs, blogging and (when the inspiration comes) writing poems.
Adrian is rather philosophical and likens life experiences to a seriously complex mathematics problem sum, even though he thinks the primary school syllabus these days could possibly be more complex than life itself! Just like a problem sum, life has many “workings” and more than one “solution”. He believes that there is no absolute right or an absolute wrong, it is how one makes sense of it all.
Adrian’s favourite quote - “I may not be humble but at least I am honest” – has not won over many fans but has gotten him quite many friends. So do not ask him how your hair looks like on a bad hair day. But if he tells you that he thinks that he is rather adorable, you better believe it!
-----
apparently it lacks focus so i need to rewrite it..which i am quite upset about cuz i thought that the profile i wrote is just so "me". oh well, think i will now just make up some story about my collection of dresses or something..that should be focused and interesting enough!
Monday, May 04, 2009
aaaww..
just received my parking fine today for an illegal parking. nothing amusing about that except that the letter does not have the word "fine" or "summon" or any words to that effect attached to that $70 fine i have to pay. rather, they make it sound like they are offering you a chance not to pay - "you are being offered an opportunity to have the offence(s) compounded for $70." (yep, effect completed with the underline too!) so don't say gahmen not fair, they give you chance wan k! so nice of them rite? but then if you don't pay, "a Notice to Attend Court may be issued to you in due course". not "will be issued to you" but "may" only..still giving you chance hor! so don't complain..you don't have to pay if you really really don't want to. if you don't compound the offense, at most just see judge only lor and they will compound you instead (your misery that is!).
ps: addy is taking it that he is making a really meaningful $70 contribution to his own year-end bonus.
ps: addy is taking it that he is making a really meaningful $70 contribution to his own year-end bonus.
Monday, April 20, 2009
of fate...and of God
i wanted to blog an entry about the turnaround of my life since one year ago (exact to the month) but i realise that i had already done that (click here)..well kind of anyway! so rather than telling you all about my lovely girlfriend and how God has changed my life, i thought i'd do a more "serious" entry - putting my thoughts about this thing called "fate" into words. before you 1) close this window or 2) surf on to another blog, thinking this is going to be a religion bashing and christian life promoting entry, let me assure you that it is neither.
so what is the difference between "fate" and "God's plan"?
dictionary.com defines "fate" as:
1) the supposed force, principle, or power that predetermines events,
2) the inevitable events predestined by this force,
3) a final result or consequence; an outcome and
4) unfavorable destiny; doom.
most definitions of "fate" inevitably contains this element of assumption - "supposed force", "presumably", "element of chance" etc. this also means that people who believe in "fate" are saying that their lives are already "predetermined" and "predestined" by this unknown element of chance and assumption. which, also means that we do not have a free will because we can run and we can hide or we can stand still but the same things will still happen because ultimately, everything is "fated" for us.
but that is not true is it? because life is not like that. life is not all "fated". it is just like if you just lost your job but within a few weeks of searching you landed a new job, that is not "fate". "fate" predetermines that the "new job" will happen to you regardless of situation or of circumstance. but if you lost your old job and just sat at home waiting for "fate" to happen, the only thing inevitable is that nothing will happen. so then, how can "fate" (the new job in this case) be predetermined and be inevitable?
therein lies the key difference between "fate" and "God's plan". you may say, but God's plan also predetermines the people you will meet and the things you will do. not so, God's plan always involves choices and a free will. that is, nothing is predetermined unless you make the choice to do it. you retain the right to live your life, even if it means you choose to walk away from God. for example, God may choose to use you to help someone in need, but you can choose not to do so, you are free to make that choice.
one story i always repeat to my friends is that of a person who is stuck in a flood. God can send a log, a boat or even a helicopter his way. but if he does not choose to use any of these, it is inevitable that he will drown. so is it God's plan that this person should drown? no. but it is because he withheld his own free will in those moments that he (pardon the pun) met his "fate".
i know that there will still be skeptics but just remember that "fate" cannot happen if there are choices to be made - simply because there is a different outcome between "choice 1", "choice 2", "choice 3" and doing nothing. and when life is all about choices, ultimately, the only "fate" is the one you (not God, not your parents, not your friends but you) choose for yourself!
so what is the difference between "fate" and "God's plan"?
dictionary.com defines "fate" as:
1) the supposed force, principle, or power that predetermines events,
2) the inevitable events predestined by this force,
3) a final result or consequence; an outcome and
4) unfavorable destiny; doom.
most definitions of "fate" inevitably contains this element of assumption - "supposed force", "presumably", "element of chance" etc. this also means that people who believe in "fate" are saying that their lives are already "predetermined" and "predestined" by this unknown element of chance and assumption. which, also means that we do not have a free will because we can run and we can hide or we can stand still but the same things will still happen because ultimately, everything is "fated" for us.
but that is not true is it? because life is not like that. life is not all "fated". it is just like if you just lost your job but within a few weeks of searching you landed a new job, that is not "fate". "fate" predetermines that the "new job" will happen to you regardless of situation or of circumstance. but if you lost your old job and just sat at home waiting for "fate" to happen, the only thing inevitable is that nothing will happen. so then, how can "fate" (the new job in this case) be predetermined and be inevitable?
therein lies the key difference between "fate" and "God's plan". you may say, but God's plan also predetermines the people you will meet and the things you will do. not so, God's plan always involves choices and a free will. that is, nothing is predetermined unless you make the choice to do it. you retain the right to live your life, even if it means you choose to walk away from God. for example, God may choose to use you to help someone in need, but you can choose not to do so, you are free to make that choice.
one story i always repeat to my friends is that of a person who is stuck in a flood. God can send a log, a boat or even a helicopter his way. but if he does not choose to use any of these, it is inevitable that he will drown. so is it God's plan that this person should drown? no. but it is because he withheld his own free will in those moments that he (pardon the pun) met his "fate".
i know that there will still be skeptics but just remember that "fate" cannot happen if there are choices to be made - simply because there is a different outcome between "choice 1", "choice 2", "choice 3" and doing nothing. and when life is all about choices, ultimately, the only "fate" is the one you (not God, not your parents, not your friends but you) choose for yourself!
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