The Escape

tree of life

2012-01-29T21:21:00.000+08:00

They came and they went with plastic bags full of red succulent desserts. Rambutans.

Just a few days ago, a gutter cleaner's suspicious behaviour outside my house drew the ire of my dogs. Apparently, he was attempting to pick the fruits from the tree whose branches and fruits had grown over the fence. I asked him to leave politely and he only did so after awhile.

Then came the surprise visit by my relatives from my grand-aunt's side. This happened last Saturday. Though they were my seniors, my uncles and aunties, we chatted and joked about everything from global warming, the private lives of media artistes to politics and the state of education today (well, of course!) The session ended with harvesting the rambutans off the tree in the front garden that had been in existence since I was a child - if my memory serves me right.

My direct uncle and aunty mentioned something I will never forget. Time and again, when the rambutans are in season, strangers will appear and troll on the fruits from the outskirts. They did nothing to stop them. Their main rationale - there are plenty to go around.

This reminded me of communal living in villages where people share the things they own with neighbours - the well, the fruits of the harvest and so on. What about the water hole where animals, both predators and prey, gather (at different timings of course) to drink. Nature provides and rewards everyone - not just those who had put in effort to maintain the rambutan tree. Even in biblical days, the poor were allowed to pick the remains of the harvest at the fringe of fields so that they will not go hungry. In fact, I believe that there is a law that permits them to do so.

I am truly humbled by this village experience. :)

bust

2012-01-13T10:43:00.003+08:00

Thanksgiving episode.

She makes my day - the one and only Ellen. Always ready to make light of events to brighten up our lives.

This is a bust of her mother made from pure whip potato among other crazy ideas on recycling Thanksgiving dinner leftovers.

Beginning each morning on Ellen just after the amLIVE morning show here just makes my day.

Contraband

2012-01-11T22:16:00.000+08:00

Some say a leopard never changes its spots.

For Chris Farraday (Mark Wahlberg), a former legendary smuggler, he had failed to ditch his connections despite having cleaned up his act.

His crack in the wall - a member from his own litter, a bored and reckless brother-in-law.

His panacea - back to his familiar hunting turf of smuggling counterfeit bills.

The non-stop action in CONTRABAND rolls 110 minutes altogether. There are neither the machine-gun dialogues like that in Sherlock Holmes nor the intriguing WHAT-THE-HELL-HAPPENED??? plot twists of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. As long as you suspend your disbelief, the all-too-coincidental action scenes will be a breeze.

A noteworthy mention is the credible performance by Sebastian (Ben Foster), who evokes great thespian depth as he wrestles between light and darkness over his friendship with Chris. If you are one of those who are numbed by incessant GTA scenes of gun and car action scenes, Foster is the gem that had saved the movie for me.

What about sexy Kate Beckinsale from the UNDERWORLD franchise? She may be eye-candy as kick-ass vampire killer in the previous, here as Chris' wife, her character is a mere blood-splattered wallpaper.

All in all, if you are looking for a brainless action-packed session, CONTRABAND is a fitting choice to unwind after a very stressful day at work. 3/5 stars from me.

Love Generation

2012-01-08T06:20:00.000+08:00

Gona bike later!

Reading

2012-01-05T17:41:00.001+08:00

They are contented just to lie around as long as I am nearby - that is, after their hyperactivity has settled.

free

2012-01-01T00:01:00.000+08:00

It feels good

to be free.

Money Making Ad on Facebook

2011-12-31T12:22:00.002+08:00

This really happened just minutes ago.

There's a ad on the right column tt says you can earn income by becoming an associate partner of Amazon (yes, the .com) by hosting a paid web (you pay a monthly fee!) to sell their goodies. Before I had even completed the form and credit details, I changed my mind because there were no sample websites I could inspect to check validity and reliability of the source. What happened next came as a rude shock.

Moments later, I got a PHONE CALL from some caucasian lady who claims that she is from USA. She had the genuine American accent to back. Very sincere at the beginning, she failed to explain how she got my contact details despite me having not click SENT or DONE button on that application form. I gave her some overseas airtime to explain her cause - free trial at USD1.95 to play around their platform for 5-6 days and thereafter, I am free to cancel the offer. Basically you get a commission for HIGHLY POPULAR products advertised on the web which you can host and design using their ready made templates. I requested for sample websites of folks who have signed up with them. She continued to repeat the offer and added that billions were given out to associates on the programme this year alone. After repeating my concerns again, she politely (as she has been all along) assured me that after I had paid the initial activation fee (USING THAT CREDIT CARD - mind you!), she would walk me through the setup process over the phone. What a nice gesture, I thought. Motherly, almost genuine and polite. I thanked her for the kind explanation. The greatest assurance would be sample sites for me to evaluate the offer. Until that happens, I would need time to think about this entire too-good-to-be-true money making scheme. She immediately thanked me (well, you have to give her credit for her consistent politeness) and hung up. ???!!??

Thoughts of what-if I could generate another great stream of income to free me up to pursue my passions in 2012 came to mind. The devil's advocate also came knocking. I could end up with a hefty credit card bill as the 2012 welcome gift by online scam artists. But ads on Facebook should be reliable right? Then again, what is real and what is not so on the internet? Who verifies them? Do you even take time to check the background of some claims made online?

A scam or a genuine offer by Amazon? You decide.

As for me, I guess it's better to err on caution than to slip foolishly down the dark rabbit hole in wonderland.

Spread this word around if you can.

2013

2011-12-29T06:31:00.000+08:00

Stanley Ho
I found out the cause of my death. What about you?
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Future-Book/351443748204703?sk=app_285852271465234
Future Gravestone Photos
· · Share · Yesterday at 6:11am via Future Gravestone
Angelia Chua Seok Peng Wa lau eh!!
Yesterday at 8:12am ·
Stanley Ho try it
Yesterday at 8:17am ·
Elaine Tan-Gay Siao lang!
Yesterday at 9:20am ·
Ryan Lry that's a *sad* way to die
Yesterday at 9:30am ·
Hui Ling Goh what?!
Yesterday at 3:13pm ·
Stanley Ho V random n poignant lol
Yesterday at 3:46pm ·

growing up

2011-12-29T05:00:00.000+08:00

Mi4

2011-12-28T22:16:00.000+08:00

I was all set to be entertained by brainless action.

JJ Abram's touches to character development and poignant moments are scattered all over the film. The element of humour also gave the action film the push it needed to soar towards greatness.

Tom Cruise looks surrealistically young for his age. The African American agent is kick-ass! And the bomb squad film guy is set to be the next Bond.

I love this high.

On a separate note, my own MI arrived when the polis across asked me for a bribe for a ridiculous traffic incident. Where's Ethan Hunt when you needed him???

2011-12-26T03:10:00.000+08:00

My THANKFUL 4 2011 List
(not in any order of preference)

#5
My weekly sweet escape across the causeway
- great food, cheaper shopping and the wide open spaces to unwind and just take things at one's own stride

#4
Carol, Mabel, Daphne, Xin Yuan, Angelia, Linda, Hui Ling, Jacintha, Gordon, Fahmi, Benedict, Nathan, Jason (and probably some more in the teaching fraternity I've left out!)
- You've been an incredible emotional support in our line of work this year. I would have totally lost it without your wise words at pertinent times. Sorry for bowing out of the race. Nonetheless, my utmost gratitude to you all.

#3
S4 grad classes, S3 classes, those great & funny Sesame Street company in and around C604, the stragglers and drop-bys to ogle at XBOX/MV breaks, ruggers, those who offered a lending hand along the corridors etc.
- will miss teaching so much because your infectious joy and shit truly make my life more colourful and meaningful

#2
Cambodia trip (June)
- the supernatural encounters when believers from different denominations came together and embraced spirituality like the crowd that was baptised by the Holy Spirit in Acts

#1
Granny's and grandaunt's passing in Jan and July respectively
during extremely trying periods in my life
- rediscovered clan/extended family members & new faces

(work in progress)

My THANKFUL 4 2011 List

2011-12-22T16:41:00.003+08:00

My THANKFUL 4 2011 List
#1

Granny's and grandaunt's passing in Jan and July respectivelyduring extremely trying periods in my life
- rediscovered clan/extended family members & new faces
(work in progress)

Nokia Lumia 800 Launch

2011-12-07T10:48:00.000+08:00

Out of comfort zone. New friends.

From Men To Boys

2011-11-23T19:00:00.000+08:00

What NERVEs of steel can do...

...to restless grownup men.

watching

2011-11-21T17:14:00.001+08:00

Carried away post 9-11.
Toa Payoh MRT entrance.

wet

2011-11-19T12:43:00.001+08:00

Whatever started out as a walk with my uncle yesterday to rid our excesses evolved into an exploration of a reservoir nearby and the only kampong left untact in Singapore. This shot is taken along the canal just off Lorong Buang Kok.

New York

2011-11-06T04:58:00.002+08:00

I was there once.

Smitten by the glorious space and surprise encounters with strangers on the streets, I decided that a return during the cold winter season of December will tide me through this season.

A Year in New York from Andrew Clancy on Vimeo.

light

2011-11-05T20:33:00.000+08:00

City Harvest Church,
The lights and sounds may dazzle.
But it's the life-changing divine presence and word that made me stick around since 2000?
Never looked back since.

Tower Heist

2011-11-03T13:01:00.000+08:00

Take Robin out of the forest and plant him with his arrow and bow in the modern concrete jungle of New York City.

Yes, that's him.

Make him ordinary Josh, the building manager of the most expensive private apartment, The Tower.

He runs his support staff in clinical clockwork fashion - much like the PAP government with their individual HDB estates in Singapore.

Sadly, there is no love interest like Maid Marion or any scandalous tryst among staff members.

Here is the twist - the humble but subservient tailored crew had actually committed their pensions to the furiously wealthy, Arthur Shaw (not related to the filthy rich folks of the local Shaw foundation) who lives in the penthouse of the same building (does this ring a bell? Say, the 15% Singaporeans are forced to put aside from their salaries and only to be withdrawn when they are made old and grumpy by the modern stresses of life?)

The financial fate of the crew is worse off, unfortunately. Mr Shaw had cheated them of their pensions aka the 2008 Wall Street investment fiasco that made lives miserable all the world over years ago and the rich even richer. Cornered and bewildered by how the lives around him are slowly falling apart because of the monetary losses, he breaks the shackles of his civil service trappings and plans an elaborate heist to take back what rightfully belong to the commoners.

The target? A prized item belonging to Mr Shaw that is made from solid gold and that which is A LOT BIGGER than the gold tap our former NKF CEO had rigged up in his office. *Standing ovation*

Keep in mind that one should suspend all judgement and just enjoy the quirky humour (fortunately not over the top this time) Ben Stiller movies are famed for. Or else the unrealistic elements will just be perpetual killjoys. Do not expect the slick and suave elements in Ocean's Eleven. Neither should one expect the authorities or PAP to step in and save the day with annual financial handouts. The modern Robin Hood of Josh does distribute the spoils (opps, did I warn you about spoilers in this review?) in parts of the machinery (opps again!) that are both ludicrous and amusing.

Watch it if you enjoy Ben Stiller stir-the-shit-and-try-to-save-the-situation moments. Or if you enjoy being surprised by new and old faces among the cast with their appearances in the movie.

3 out of 5 ESCAPES from me.

me time

2011-10-28T11:30:00.000+08:00

School's over. It's about time.

bobochacha

2011-10-26T22:04:00.000+08:00

desserts for the stressed

REAL STEEL

2011-10-25T23:39:00.000+08:00

Once in awhile, there comes a macho shit movie with the edgy poignant moments too. Real Steel is really the real deal. Of the once glorious and now insignificant Atom championing the underdogs - no film has made me weep like this in awhile now. 6/5 ESCAPES!

let go

2011-10-23T05:09:00.000+08:00

Take time to grieve over the death of a dream.

Is it?

2011-10-22T15:46:00.000+08:00

It is flooding in Thailand. Hope all is well within too.

symbiosis

2011-09-09T23:58:00.000+08:00

the waters is warm and inviting - it's like being suspended in symbiotic bliss once again.

drink

2011-08-20T09:28:00.001+08:00

Juice me up!
14 August, Bugis

2004

2011-08-08T18:02:00.000+08:00

Accidental run-in with my kids from 2004.

patch

2011-07-23T06:44:00.001+08:00

A patch of the KTM Rail that will soon go down in the history books in the name of development. I was drawn to the green blotches/patches left behind by the mould and fungus on the belly of this disused bridge until I saw the sleek looker of a creeper edging a supporting hand on one of its pillars.

2

2011-07-22T21:52:00.001+08:00

They sat there, last week, waving on a piece of history along the KTM tracks.

I sat here, a moment ago, giving it a 60s edit.

Change is imminent,

forever.

2011-07-21T08:51:00.000+08:00

Finish in style,
finish with a smile.

~ Mohanadas Kandiah, 50,
Former heavy smoker gears up for 129th marathon, who has raced on many continents,
insists that enjoyment is more important than timings.

2011-07-18T13:05:00.000+08:00

Patience can't be acquired overnight.

It is just like building up a muscle.

Every day you need to work on it.

~ Eknath Easwaran

backwards

2011-07-16T10:37:00.002+08:00

Every now and then, when I get the chance,

I'll drive into Johor Bahru across the border to run some errands - a car wash being one of them.

The attap structure of this small car wash business and that of the adjacent open-air food centre spells nostalgia big time. It is as if I get to travel backwards in time every time I drive away from modern bustling Singapore into moderately quiet JB.

rejoice

2011-07-14T10:22:00.006+08:00

on their mom's journey with cancer @ chc 9-10 July 2011

it is in the toughest time
that one must make the choice to rejoice and praise God.
it would be so easy otherwise.

~ Jayesslee

This pair of wonder twins came by church last weekend. Down and recovering from a searing sore throat, I stayed home and watched the service over the internet.

My challenges came swift and furious. The surprising sore throat invasion, the burgeoning issues I face at work with the challenging individuals in my classes and the new CCA, the Natalie laptop (I give a name to every PC/laptop around the house, yes) just couldn't power up on Tuesday morning when I tried to send work to the substitute teacher, the dilemmas of going to have dinner with a former student who had requested for the meet and attending my grandaunt's wake and funeral when I am on MC. Did I also mention that the other night, my heart sank a little when I notice that my less than three-month-old flat handphone not light up when I put it to charge - that was the night after I discovered a non-responding Natalie??? I had also just bought a new adaptor for her after the original one just breathed its last after my amazing Cambodia trip? The trend is clear - the walls around me are looming nearer and higher while some have collapsed.

Those words by Jayesslee came to mind often. Choose to rejoice in challenging circumstances. Given my melancholic disposition, these series of events gave me a breakthrough. I made that choice to rejoice.

And God came through.

The father of one challenging kid agreed to meet the school leaders yesterday, having been impossible to reach previously forever.

I took up the courage to strip down my netbook, Natalie, in a desperate attempt to remove the hardisk so as to salvage my work and personal data. In the process, I hit a road block and did not succeed in the extraction But I saw a loose screw at the corner where the chasis had broken off by a little pizza and where the problematic power button is. So I tightened it. If you know me well, I hate working on anything mechanic and electrical. I just think I suck at repairing things. I just pay people to do it. Correction. I pay cheap people to do a good job. :) But something told me to just try powering it up again. And the miracle came. Natalie came to life! I quickly did a backup of all my data which took almost the entire day. And now, guess whose keyboard I am tapping on to write this entry?

The sore throat worsened into the chronic cough I had feared. It gets triggered by cold air and dry or dusty conditions. And based on past experiences, when the cough steps in, I would cough for months. After my return to work on Mon, it also led to the harrowing experience of coughing til my head was throbbing. I had gone back because I had national oral exam duties on top of graduating and challenging S3 classes. I understand that MOE might not be too happy finding relief for me last Thursday and Friday when I was on MC. And I did not want my heads to get more rap from those folks up there in their lofty towers. I went against my conscience and came back to work when I had not recovered - to spread my goodness to all. So no Tuesday, I decided to revisited my favourtie and very sympathetic and effective doctor at Owen Road and she blessed me with a three-day MC to rest. Of course the bill came to a hefty $91! But the medication is effective. So I am getting my much needed rest from work, happening right now as I pen these thoughts.

As for the meetups? I decided to go ahead with the dinner appointment that was made weeks ago. We met at the not very crowded City Square for dinner. Another Mr Ho, he has been doing gaming animation for the past five years with George Lucas. Fancy that! The blessing? A nice catchup and finding out about the possibility of bringing my CCA kids to visit the Lucas office! AWESOME!

I also went ahead for my grandaunt's funeral and wake. She IS IMPORTANT to me. My conscience is clear. The MC somewhat gave me not just the time to rest but also the opportunity to attend her funeral yesterday during school hours. The added blessing - meeting my distant cousins again for the second time and establishing contacts with them. After the torrential period of doubts over familiar relationships and conflicts over my previous apartment, I made up my mind to treasure opportunities I have with family and friends. I will ignore the critics at work and move on with a clear conscience.

I chose to rejoice over my prevailing circumstances and God came through. :)

goodby

2011-07-13T06:30:00.002+08:00

Goodbye grandaunt. Thanks for your tremendous kindness showered in my early years.

allow

2011-07-12T07:07:00.000+08:00

I believe God allows me

to stumble over rocks along the way

so that when I pick myself up

I can emphathise with others

and help them up in future.

2011-07-11T13:57:00.000+08:00

They call themselves

IKEA Hackers

Totally cool...go check them out!

pray

2011-06-15T00:29:00.000+08:00

Cresyn

2011-06-14T21:50:00.000+08:00

my recent grab from the PC Show.

feed

2011-06-13T15:20:00.001+08:00

Feed my sheep
Cambodia slum kids

night lighting

2011-06-11T13:55:00.000+08:00

I see this in many decor magazines. Having had the chance to repack my "warehouse" (fondly termed by an uncle who popped by) of a room, I took out these table lights which I'd ripped off due-to-be-condemned desks in the staffroom at the old Geylang Bahru campus. The triangulation effects of the lighting - not bad eh?

darkness

2011-06-04T09:36:00.001+08:00

down the dark rabbit hole

where the only streams of light

are the dusty strays

there where no turf grows

many on the quest have wandered away

the contented set up squatters

the few who grope around still

wonder oft the hand they hold

is but a figment of the mind.

passion

2011-06-03T22:03:00.000+08:00

Furiously Fast & Favela-ous!

2011-06-01T04:55:00.003+08:00

I've been there.

Brazil and then again to on the ride of my life in Fast and Furious 5.

Here's my tribute to the colourful Rio de Janeiro and its people (and the film of course!)

the favela - the past

the present

Perhaps this could be the solution to solve Singapore's low fertility and elderly woes :

create sandich-packed separate single and elderly colonies which are just a feather blow away from each other?

her people

While roaming around the more touristy route (and safer), we did come across many sentry police groups. And yes, they were armed.

The Brazillians are as exuberant as their outfits.

The women, in general, are way way above fit for the runway types and LOUD too.

the brilliant artistry

The daily stunts

The thread-hanging suspense-filled moments

the wicked cars

I definitely could use one of these...

and of course - the A-list Team behind the heist

the bad-ass standoff

the spark in the team

Loving it!

That's how I remembered Rio, Brasil and F5 - loud, colourful and exciting!

Okay, in case you were wondering, the pictures are from all over the internet. I'm just too lazy to sort through my fabulous ones to post them here. :)

2011-05-24T20:48:00.000+08:00

1 May 2011

If you are on Facebook, please help support my PHOTO ENTRY to win an iPAD for use in teaching. It only takes 2 simple steps. Thanks!

clutter

2011-05-21T08:53:00.002+08:00

My operandus modi : clear only when you really need the space.

If you have a Facebook account, please drop in to vote for my picture entry to win an iPad for use in the classroom.

It takes only 2 simple steps to cast your vote. Thanks!

2011-05-18T22:45:00.002+08:00

It was RM$ 21.5 in November last year. :/

The wash overdue by 3 WEEKS! RM$8 only!

If you have a Facebook account, please drop in to vote for my picture entry to win an iPad for use in the classroom.
It takes only 2 simple steps to cast your vote. Thanks!

missing

2011-05-14T17:21:00.003+08:00

PASSION...
where the line between motion and emotion crosses each other;
when the rains blur the distinction between earth and sky.

Burning rubber, rapid rain

the field will soon go missing...

By Stanley Ho

PLEASE support and vote:

- Click here.
- LIKE www.facebook.com/backztage
- LIKE this photo entry

palette

2011-05-11T06:51:00.000+08:00

amor mio

2011-05-09T14:44:00.001+08:00

this dude CAN sing!

click

2011-05-05T16:57:00.001+08:00

reality?

2011-05-05T06:01:00.000+08:00

faces

2011-05-04T05:45:00.001+08:00

politicians

2011-05-03T23:22:00.000+08:00

Stanley Ho
don't wow me with your dramatics,
your speech,
your statistics,
your excuses;
you want my loyalty, my vote of confidence?
show me your commitment to promises made;
your follow-up actions;
your willingness to treasure relationships above the busyness;
else we might as well be some flash-bang politicians
blowing their trumpets
only to echo their shallow
5 hours ago · · ·
Marcus Yeo likes this.

roar

2011-05-03T22:37:00.000+08:00

biology

2011-05-03T05:51:00.000+08:00

Biology determines much of the way we live.

From the moment we were born, we know how to breathe and eat.

As we grow older, new instincts kick in.

We become territorial.

We learn to compete.

We seek shelter.

Most important of all, we reproduce.

Sometimes biology can turn on us though.

Biology sucks sometimes.

Biology says we are who we are from birth

that our DNA is sentenced to unchangeable.

Our DNA doesn't account for all of us.

We're human.

Life changes us.

We develop new traits,

become less territorial.

We learn from our mistakes.

We face our greatest fears.

For better or worse, we find ways

to become more than our biology.

The risk, of course, is that we can't change too much

to the point we don't recognise ourselves.

Finding our way back can be difficult.

There is no compass, no map.
We just have to close our eyes,

take a step,

and hope to God we'll get there.

Grey's Anatomy

Season 7, Episode 4

so dead

2011-05-02T12:26:00.002+08:00

So Osama is dead, says Obama (making sure I don't get the names wrong);
& some of us will be so TOO
if we don't meet our marking deadlines
or mug for coming exams
or discern the speeches at the rallies wisely
or pause and enjoy this holiday

or we could ust ignore all else and dance to bootilicious Beyonce's "Survivor"

still single

2011-05-02T09:54:00.001+08:00

change #1

2011-05-02T07:30:00.002+08:00

Did I wake up so early in the morning just to review speeches made during the rallies which I cannot attend?

NO. You think I'm mad ah.

Did the PAP with the existing coalition (note co-drivers!) of MPs do and is still doing a good job steering our nation to its successes today?

YES. I civil servant la, must give some face to the higher powers ma.

Are they getting too arrogant? Or at least some indivs appear to be of late?

DUH.

Are tigers to be kept as pets like the that expressed by some MP's wife?

NO, and I'm glad WP's Pritam Singh had slained her fictitious hallucinatory myths and brought her down to the reality of change.

So what did i take away from my research so far?

Change is inevitable - the only constant, the only wind that blows from the east to the west (da fond chui? blow what?). Old guards make good wise advisors. Old guards who fail to heed to pleas of certain groups in society and only roar to keep those beneath the hierachy of things in place (trust me, I've met so many at work in the past), or worse still, choose to live in the high society of their dens (which had prob undergone annual makeovers with more ponds lined with gold trimmings, more than who's that NKF individual because their annual GDP-feeds collected from their minions are obscene enough to feed an entire Amazon??) and then discriminate others by re-peeing territorial boundaries, to that I will borrow Pritam's funny-line, "Eh! Bodah!"

While we have checks in place in the system, recent developments have shown that we need to reinforce them with more passionate individuals to redefine what QUALITY OF LIVING in Singapore for ALL SINGAPOREANS truly should be.

Meow

(ROAR!)

change

2011-05-02T05:08:00.002+08:00

was listening to this on the drive home and it just struck me...

Waiting On The World To Change

me and all my friends
we're all misunderstood
they say we stand for nothing and
there's no way we ever could
now we see everything that's going wrong
with the world and those who lead it
we just feel like we don't have the means
to rise above and beat it

so we keep waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

it's hard to beat the system
when we're standing at a distance
so we keep waiting
waiting on the world to change
now if we had the power
to bring our neighbors home from war
they would have never missed a Christmas
no more ribbons on their door
and when you trust your television
what you get is what you got
cause when they own the information, oh
they can bend it all they want

that's why we're waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

it's not that we don't care,
we just know that the fight ain't fair
so we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

and we're still waiting
waiting on the world to change
we keep on waiting waiting on the world to change
one day our generation
is gonna rule the population
so we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

we keep on waiting
waiting on the world to change

I WILL EFFECT MY CHANGE WITH MY VOTE!!!

You cannot change the game until you are on the field.

~ Jason Mraz

stark

2011-05-01T20:15:00.001+08:00

election fever

square deal

2011-04-30T23:18:00.001+08:00

dessert for....

sizzle

2011-04-29T15:13:00.002+08:00

MOM! Who drowned the sun???

KINECT-ed

2011-04-27T09:56:00.002+08:00

dusty

2011-04-23T15:08:00.003+08:00

the smoked out bus coach windows

arriving at dusty El Salvador before our escapade to the dunes.

my backpack within saved from being ravaged by the sand

S USA

Dec 2009

diary

2011-04-22T17:56:00.001+08:00

Your Good Friday
What about others' in distant shores
We live in worlds parallel
and much closer than we dare admit

eyes

2011-04-20T08:11:00.000+08:00

colours to brighten up my world

twister

2011-04-19T08:18:00.002+08:00

Twist and shout!

overcast

2011-04-18T17:39:00.002+08:00

the unbearable solitude under overcast skies

ponder

2011-04-17T06:59:00.000+08:00

love the weekends
pause
ponder
pleasure

road

2011-04-16T09:56:00.001+08:00

Macritchie Reservoir

10 Apr 2011

do

2011-04-15T23:40:00.000+08:00

Stanley Ho
we don't do things for the sake of getting results
we don't do them even for apparent altruistic reasons
- for the interest of kids, animals
we do it for the positive values we wish to demonstrate to
and leave on recipients.
~ some educator
8 hours ago · · ·
DazzLing Chong and Jimmy Lee like this.
Jared Ho okay!! i gotta go mac to have breakfast wif family, and i enjoy that!!
6 hours ago ·
Jarell OwYong band ??
4 hours ago ·

lift

2011-04-14T15:39:00.000+08:00

Kukup

18-19 March 2011

smile

2011-04-12T15:39:00.001+08:00

chocolate creations

stripped

2011-04-11T22:31:00.001+08:00

Bought the shirt off the mannequin.
JB, 23 Dec 2010

Embracing the Glory

2011-04-10T21:35:00.000+08:00

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us ... And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

~ Nelson Mendela

scratchy

2011-04-10T13:42:00.001+08:00

itchy scratchy up my everywhere-ry

tree

2011-04-09T10:38:00.002+08:00

stark

men

2011-04-08T21:11:00.001+08:00

men at work

E.T.

2011-04-07T06:04:00.000+08:00

Kanye West rocks this average tune to meteoric hypnotic heights! Love the MV too.

pain

2011-04-06T19:47:00.002+08:00

‎"It's a healing pain. It's a victory pain."

~ Dr. Sheppard

to mom of boy who woke up
and went into a spasm of excruciating pain after surgery

spot

2011-04-05T20:54:00.002+08:00

someone forgot to turn off the lights in heaven.

preparing pizza

2011-04-04T23:11:00.000+08:00

Thanks to his very generous parents, one of my kids is preparing pizzas they had donated for a class party. We also celebrated his birthday today.

we ride

2011-04-03T23:14:00.002+08:00

biking breather from Kovan to East Coast

closed

2011-04-02T19:14:00.000+08:00

closed for renovations
Kukup, W Malaysia
19 March 2011

2nd

2011-03-26T20:19:00.000+08:00

Glen & Sarah,
Goodwood Hotel

shadows

2011-03-25T06:15:00.000+08:00

Stanley Ho
I don't need a friend who changes when I change
and who nods when I nod;
my shadow does that much better.

~ Plutarch

new day

2011-03-20T23:13:00.000+08:00

And they beat the odds!

2011-03-20T20:37:00.000+08:00

Stanley Ho
oh wow! With the recent public debate abt whether heads of charities should not be paid high salaries bcoz they should do it as a calling? How does this apply to our politicians?

Mar 17, 2011 2:44pm

Wow! She said it all! Go Sylvia! Tekan those minister's salaries!!

Length: ‎9:41

March 19 at 11:15pm · · · · Share

Kenneth Lee likes this.
- Brannigan Ong the stats she gave was..wow.
  March 19 at 11:38pm ·
- Stanley Ho after hearing her speech, even I feel guilty for shopping on super discounted stuff across the causeway today! SHE IS SO GOOD!
  March 19 at 11:41pm ·
- Brannigan Ong shopping across is just part of being thrifty i guess? but i seriously dont get the president pay raise.
  March 19 at 11:47pm ·
- Stanley Ho if they raise civil service pay across the board e.g. TEACHER'S TOO, I will just keep quiet, buy a lollipop and suck. BUt that just proves her point. lol
  March 19 at 11:48pm ·
- Angelia Chua Seok Peng Whoa! Can't wait for the elections to come. Will once again brave the crowds and go to rallies!!!
  March 19 at 11:49pm ·
- Stanley Ho eh eh ...let me know when u going. go w ple more fun.
  March 19 at 11:49pm ·
- Brannigan Ong she makes a lot of sense. but it's also true that ppl are judge by how much they earn nowadays...
  March 19 at 11:50pm ·
- Angelia Chua Seok Peng With the easing on rules of social media, we are in for lots of fun!! Even if we miss the rally, we will be able to catch the candidates speak on YouTUBE!!
  March 19 at 11:51pm ·
- Stanley Ho yes. her point abt the disparity of the politician's pay compared to their counterparts around the world and the consequences and implications that has on society IS ASTOUNDING!
  March 19 at 11:51pm · · 1 person
- Stanley Ho eh, i think we cannot play these videos in class huh? later ISD storm in and handcuff the guilty party lor
  March 19 at 11:52pm ·
- Angelia Chua Seok Peng LOLOL!!!
  March 20 at 7:42am ·
- Stanley Ho Hey u coming Bk shch anytime.soon? N the comments r back!
  March 20 at 9:16am ·

Ding, Dang & Dong

2011-03-16T09:58:00.000+08:00

These are supposedly names of 3 characters in a student's essay. :/

yu sang

2011-03-14T22:43:00.003+08:00

Chinese New Year comes once a year but to lou yu sang a few times in a span of 12 days can be quite a dread to the body. :P

assume

2011-03-08T19:09:00.002+08:00

2011-02-22T08:54:00.000+08:00

The drive along a very empty flyover along Upp Serangoon at 715am against grey skies was very calming.

Is the whole world still asleep?

Are they refusing to wake up like I had wrestled with sleep earlier?

'courage' under fire

2011-02-21T19:38:00.004+08:00

'Twas a nice break from all the...

...re-enforcements needed.

2011-02-20T20:56:00.002+08:00

the dread that creeps upon you as the clock ticks towards dusk til the dawn of another Mon (think the MV intro of Maddona's RAY OF LIGHT) and that which evolves into a sort of panic that you have so much work to catch up on for the week - experiencing my first again in a very long while.

Then this appeared on HOME page:

Kong Hee
Be bold! Be strong! The Lord your God is with you!
Sunday at 4:46pm · · ·
Stanley Ho I want my weekend IN TACT AND ALIVE!

boots work and worry out of my balcony
and hear them crash onto the my secret garden
Sunday at 4:47pm ·
Hui Ling Goh 吳惠玲 i know exactly how you feel, bro. one thing at a time. and Jesus walks with us.
Sunday at 10:38pm ·

2011-02-08T16:42:00.001+08:00

7 Feb 2011

Singapore Indoor Stadium

I felt like a teenager all over again.

2011-02-07T21:55:00.000+08:00

The problem with the civil service is their lack of efficiency and staff welfare. After calling up to check with the relevant authorities that my pay for Jan and Feb will indeed be credited as promised on the 12th, I was told that this might be delayed til 12 March. So I am expected to work without renumeration for almost THREE MONTHS???!!!

The next problem with some civil service is that they will only act if you call on higher powers. I went to see my boss about my problem. The very next day, I received a call stating that they will perform a special exception for me and expedite my pay by end of the month. And I was to keep mum about this. You mean to say that there are others like me, who have bills to pay, - victimised by organisational inefficiency?

2011-02-06T23:27:00.000+08:00

Udders

fashion

2011-02-05T07:41:00.000+08:00

2011-01-21T06:19:00.000+08:00

Sometimes we need to put a face to horror.

Jan 21, 2011

PHILADELPHIA'S

Abortion house of horrors

Doctor charged with killing babies; he made fortune from illegal ops

The Women's Medical Society in Philadelphia where Kermit Gosnell conducted his illegal abortions - mainly for minorities, immigrants and poor women. --PHOTO: ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHILADELPHIA: For over 30 years, Dr Kermit Gosnell made millions of dollars from performing illegal, late-term abortions, in several cases allegedly killing babies born alive by plunging a pair of scissors into their spinal cords.

Many of his patients were minorities, immigrants and poor women, who underwent illegal abortions in his 'house of horrors' clinic that was left in a filthy condition and staffed by untrained, unlicensed workers.

Few, if any, of them knew their babies were born alive and then killed, as they were heavily sedated. Many were first-time mothers who were told they were 24 weeks pregnant, even if they were further along.

Over the years, the clinic drew many complaints, but state regulators ignored them and stopped inspecting his clinic in 1993.

On Wednesday, the alleged horror made headlines after he was charged with eight counts of murder - for killing a patient and seven babies. Nine employees were also charged, including a teenage girl and his wife Pearl.

A 300-page grand jury report shocked listeners as the charges were read out. District Attorney Seth Williams said Gosnell, 69, induced labour and forced the live birth of babies in the sixth, seventh, eighth month of pregnancy. Some were reportedly seen breathing and moving after being delivered.

'Gosnell killed them by plunging scissors into their spinal cords,' the district attorney said. 'He taught his staff to do the same.'

Mothers were subjected to squalid conditions at his Women's Medical Society, where Gosnell performed dozens of abortions a day. He worked mostly overnight hours after his untrained staff administered drugs to induce labour during the day, they said.

Many patients suffered from perforated uteruses and he sometimes sewed up their injuries without telling them, prosecutors said.

One operation led to the death of Ms Karnamaya Mongar, a 41-year-old refugee from Nepal. She was said to have died of cardiac arrest because she was given too much painkiller.

Gosnell was not at the clinic at the time, but had directed his staff to administer the drug to keep the woman sedated until he arrived. Her death sparked a probe into the clinic early last year, with the authorities making a shocking discovery at his 'baby charnel house', as prosecutors put it.

Riddled with foetal remains and reeking of cat urine, the clinic had bags and bottles holding aborted foetuses scattered throughout the building. 'There were jars, lining shelves, with severed feet that he kept for no medical purpose,' said Mr Williams.

Furniture and blankets were stained with blood, and medical equipment was broken and supplies reused. None of the employees had medical training, and one, a high school student, performed intravenous anaesthesia with potentially lethal narcotics.

'The real business of the 'Women's Medical Society' was not health, it was profit,' said the grand jury report. The clinic, it said, drew women who could not get abortions elsewhere as their pregnancy was in an advanced stage.

Serving patients in a low-income neighbourhood, Gosnell charged US$325 (S$420) for first-trimester abortions and US$1,600 to US$3,000 for abortions up to 30 weeks. Abortions are legal up to 24 weeks gestation in Pennsylvania, although most doctors will not perform them after 20 weeks, prosecutors said.

'People knew...that if you needed a late-term abortion you could go see Dr Gosnell,' said Mr Williams.

Gosnell had a medical degree from a Philadelphia university and was certified in family practice, but had not finished a residency in obstetrics-gynaecology.

'He does not know how to do an abortion,' said assistant district attorney Joanne Pescatore. 'He saw dollar signs and did abortions that other people wouldn't do.'

AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, ASSOCIATED PRESS, NEW YORK TIMES

Gosnell's clinic had received many complaints over the years, but they were ignored by state regulators.

shadow

2011-01-15T16:00:00.005+08:00

Granny passed away 1.1.11

The Escape

tree of life

bust

Contraband

Love Generation

Reading

free

Money Making Ad on Facebook

2013

Stanley Ho

I found out the cause of my death. What about you?

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Future-Book/351443748204703?sk=app_285852271465234

growing up

Mi4

My THANKFUL 4 2011 List

Nokia Lumia 800 Launch

From Men To Boys

watching

wet

New York

light

Tower Heist

me time

bobochacha

REAL STEEL

let go

Is it?

symbiosis

drink

2004

patch

2

backwards

rejoice

goodby

allow

pray

Cresyn

feed

night lighting

darkness

passion

Furiously Fast & Favela-ous!

clutter

missing

palette

amor mio

click

reality?

faces

politicians

roar

biology

so dead

still single

change #1

change

stark

square deal

sizzle

KINECT-ed

dusty

diary

eyes

twister

overcast

ponder

road

do

Stanley Howe don't do things for the sake of getting resultswe don't do them even for apparent altruistic reasons- for the interest of kids, animalswe do it for the positive values we wish to demonstrate toand leave on recipients.~ some educator

lift

smile

stripped

Embracing the Glory

scratchy

tree

men

E.T.

pain

spot

Stanley Ho
we don't do things for the sake of getting results
we don't do them even for apparent altruistic reasons
- for the interest of kids, animals
we do it for the positive values we wish to demonstrate to
and leave on recipients.
~ some educator

Stanley Ho
I don't need a friend who changes when I change
and who nods when I nod;
my shadow does that much better.

~ Plutarch

Stanley Ho
oh wow! With the recent public debate abt whether heads of charities should not be paid high salaries bcoz they should do it as a calling? How does this apply to our politicians?

Kong Hee
Be bold! Be strong! The Lord your God is with you!