Words of Wisdom from "Les Miserables"
Take my hand
And lead me to salvation
Take my love
For love is everlasting
And remember
The truth that once was spoken
To love another person
Is to see the face of God
Don't be put off my the perceived religious overtones of the stanza that I've chosen from the Finale of Les Miserables. Never thought that God must refer to the Christian God anyway. I believe each and every person has an idea of who s/he believes is God, even if s/he is an aetheist or a free thinker.
However, I thought the idea of "to forgive is divine" is succinctly captured in the stanza.
I've always found it hard to forgive. Forgiveness is not something that the ordinary masses are capable of. It seems to be a quality or an attribute of the enlightened, the saints, and the gods. Mortal (wo)men do not forgiven easily.
To await amnesia is easier than to seek forgiveness. Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet died for a feud which neither family really remembered, I bet. (Though this is hypothetical, literature is still a reflection of real life.) Any doubters should just look at the Shi'as, the Sunnis and the Kurds to see current examples.
To await dystrophy is easier than to seek forgiveness. China never forgave Taiwan for breaking off; it wants Taiwan back. It won't let Taiwan gain any independence. If needed, it'll even resort to war and risk co-destruction. Perhaps it's more palatable to have two broken states than one renegade one. China is even threatening to cut off ties with any country that recognizes Taiwan.
To seek forgiveness is tantamount to a terrible loss of "face", which is unacceptable in Asian societies. Therefore, to die is easier than to seek forgiveness. How many Japanese have preferred to commit hara-kiri (suicide by cutting the stomach using a samurai sword) than to face the consequences of their actions and then seek forgiveness?
So, have I learnt to forgive? I am still learning. I'm no great sage or saint. But I have managed to tame the fury and accept apologies for wrongdoing. Forgiveness does not come that easily for me still. I still rely on amnesia to help me. I forget things more easily now. But for true forgiveness, I'm still some way off.
But I've got to start somewhere.
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
A little snippet on the Olympics
A little snippet on the Olympics
Cities that have hosted the Olympic Summer Games:
Athens 1896
Paris 1900
St. Louis 1904
London 1908
Stockholm 1912
Antwerp 1920
Paris 1924
Amsterdam 1928
Los Angeles 1932
Berlin 1936
World War 2 disrupted the Games in 1940 and 1944
London 1948
Helsinki 1952
Melbourne 1956
Rome 1960
Tokyo 1964
Mexico City 1968
Munich 1972
Montreal 1976
Moscow 1980
Los Angeles 1984
Seoul 1988
Barcelona 1992
Atlanta 1996
Sydney 2000
Athens 2004
(Beijing 2008)
Cities that have hosted the Olympic Summer Games:
Athens 1896
Paris 1900
St. Louis 1904
London 1908
Stockholm 1912
Antwerp 1920
Paris 1924
Amsterdam 1928
Los Angeles 1932
Berlin 1936
World War 2 disrupted the Games in 1940 and 1944
London 1948
Helsinki 1952
Melbourne 1956
Rome 1960
Tokyo 1964
Mexico City 1968
Munich 1972
Montreal 1976
Moscow 1980
Los Angeles 1984
Seoul 1988
Barcelona 1992
Atlanta 1996
Sydney 2000
Athens 2004
(Beijing 2008)
Bread making
Bread making
I really don't know how the experiment will turn out but in my bread maker now is the dough consisting of bread flour, wholemeal flour, water, butter, sugar, salt, yeast, sesame seeds, chopped walnuts, spaghetti bolognaise herbs, and sun dried tomatoes in extra virgin olive oil.
Don't ask me for the exact quantities - bread making is not like cake making. I usually only measure water so that your bread does not flow out of the bread tin and yeast - I normally throw in the whole pack of 11 g instead of using about 7 g.
I use 1/5 of a 250 g of butter; sometimes more, the rest of the stuff are ad lib. Really not unlike playing Chopin. How you want it, the way you want it. More bread flour gives a lighter but more chewy bread. More wholemeal flour makes it heavier but fluffier.
The initial mixture consisting of the first seven ingredients (wholemeal is optional) should just come off the sides of the bread tin cleanly as the machine is kneading the dough. If it sticks, add a little more bread flour. (Or if you prefer, add some oats! They taste great!). If you have a whole mess of flour at the bottom, you might do well to stop the machine, take out the entire tin and empty the excess and let the already formed ball knead. Don't try to add more water. This is instant recipe for disaster. Write so much like a pro, but simply don't have any facts to back up the brag.
I think I should measure my ingredients the next time. Then I can start a b-read-log. And Marlina can share some recipes. Is there a recipe for Reindeer Bread, hm?
The dough looks huge and brown now. I'm hopeful.
Anyway, the fellows at work will be eating the loaf tomorrow. I think I should get someone to bring some olive oil or cream cheese for dipping.
I really don't know how the experiment will turn out but in my bread maker now is the dough consisting of bread flour, wholemeal flour, water, butter, sugar, salt, yeast, sesame seeds, chopped walnuts, spaghetti bolognaise herbs, and sun dried tomatoes in extra virgin olive oil.
Don't ask me for the exact quantities - bread making is not like cake making. I usually only measure water so that your bread does not flow out of the bread tin and yeast - I normally throw in the whole pack of 11 g instead of using about 7 g.
I use 1/5 of a 250 g of butter; sometimes more, the rest of the stuff are ad lib. Really not unlike playing Chopin. How you want it, the way you want it. More bread flour gives a lighter but more chewy bread. More wholemeal flour makes it heavier but fluffier.
The initial mixture consisting of the first seven ingredients (wholemeal is optional) should just come off the sides of the bread tin cleanly as the machine is kneading the dough. If it sticks, add a little more bread flour. (Or if you prefer, add some oats! They taste great!). If you have a whole mess of flour at the bottom, you might do well to stop the machine, take out the entire tin and empty the excess and let the already formed ball knead. Don't try to add more water. This is instant recipe for disaster. Write so much like a pro, but simply don't have any facts to back up the brag.
I think I should measure my ingredients the next time. Then I can start a b-read-log. And Marlina can share some recipes. Is there a recipe for Reindeer Bread, hm?
The dough looks huge and brown now. I'm hopeful.
Anyway, the fellows at work will be eating the loaf tomorrow. I think I should get someone to bring some olive oil or cream cheese for dipping.
Cough cough cough...
Cough cough cough...
Lest Quinsy felt bad coughing her lungs out, I'm coughing my lungs out too.
I've been coughing and coughing and coughing for no good reason. It just comes and then I'll launch into a volley of coughs which finally ends when I run out of air and turn blue in the face. It's like the lungs are going to collapse.
I gasp for air and the coughing stops.
Then some idiot walks into the room and go, "Wah! Coughing ah? Better?"
"Yah" And then the coughing loop continues.
Sigh.
Lest Quinsy felt bad coughing her lungs out, I'm coughing my lungs out too.
I've been coughing and coughing and coughing for no good reason. It just comes and then I'll launch into a volley of coughs which finally ends when I run out of air and turn blue in the face. It's like the lungs are going to collapse.
I gasp for air and the coughing stops.
Then some idiot walks into the room and go, "Wah! Coughing ah? Better?"
"Yah" And then the coughing loop continues.
Sigh.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
Friday, June 17, 2005
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
1.8 cm by 0.6 cm
1.8 cm by 0.6 cm
That's the size of the sliver of scallop shell that pierced my tongue halfway through while I was eating the scallop from a Grilled Seafood Platter from Big Fish Restaurant in Siglap.
The broken shell was embedded in the soft area of the scallop, giving me no chance at all. As I bit in, I felt searing pain in my tongue. I felt something cut right into the tongue.
I spat everything out, analysed the spit and located the damning evidence.
Such lapses are UNACCEPTABLE at all times.
The swelling and the pain made me decide to visit the doctor although I had initially thought I could have forgone the trip.
The doctor was rather certain that there isn't any broken shell parts inside the tongue, though he was not that fully sure. Therefore, I was given a week's antibiotics to ward off any infection. If a hard growth develops in due time, he'll refer me to the dental surgeons for further investigation.
Saw the cut in the tongue just now - big enough, red enough, swollen enough. Small wonder the doctor was able to see it without even asking me where I was cut.
Sent the bill to the restaurant and the boss has reimbursed me.
Looks like the tongue, for all its destructive prowess, isn't indestructable.
That's the size of the sliver of scallop shell that pierced my tongue halfway through while I was eating the scallop from a Grilled Seafood Platter from Big Fish Restaurant in Siglap.
The broken shell was embedded in the soft area of the scallop, giving me no chance at all. As I bit in, I felt searing pain in my tongue. I felt something cut right into the tongue.
I spat everything out, analysed the spit and located the damning evidence.
Such lapses are UNACCEPTABLE at all times.
The swelling and the pain made me decide to visit the doctor although I had initially thought I could have forgone the trip.
The doctor was rather certain that there isn't any broken shell parts inside the tongue, though he was not that fully sure. Therefore, I was given a week's antibiotics to ward off any infection. If a hard growth develops in due time, he'll refer me to the dental surgeons for further investigation.
Saw the cut in the tongue just now - big enough, red enough, swollen enough. Small wonder the doctor was able to see it without even asking me where I was cut.
Sent the bill to the restaurant and the boss has reimbursed me.
Looks like the tongue, for all its destructive prowess, isn't indestructable.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Licensing Serial Killer
STOP Licensing Another Serial Killer
Nearly got killed by a learner driver taking his driving test today.
I was driving along a straight road on the left lane (of a two-lane road), behind another L-plater. Since the L-plater was so slow, I changed lane and the L-test candidate just executed his U-turn, without checking the road conditions, and cut right in front of me.
I had to brake sharply to evade the ass of his swaggering car.
Courtesy prevented me from tooting my horn at him - he's a driver taking his test. If I had tooted my horn, he would have failed on the spot.
But I seriously hope that the tester was alert enough to FAIL THAT BLOODY BUGGER.
We should not pass him and LICENSE YET ANOTHER SERIAL KILLER, let loose on the already congested and dangerous roads.
Nearly got killed by a learner driver taking his driving test today.
I was driving along a straight road on the left lane (of a two-lane road), behind another L-plater. Since the L-plater was so slow, I changed lane and the L-test candidate just executed his U-turn, without checking the road conditions, and cut right in front of me.
I had to brake sharply to evade the ass of his swaggering car.
Courtesy prevented me from tooting my horn at him - he's a driver taking his test. If I had tooted my horn, he would have failed on the spot.
But I seriously hope that the tester was alert enough to FAIL THAT BLOODY BUGGER.
We should not pass him and LICENSE YET ANOTHER SERIAL KILLER, let loose on the already congested and dangerous roads.
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
There is a time and place for everything
There Is A Time And Place For Everything
I think I should just quit my job and be a social commentator. I'm well-geared towards the job anyway. Anyhow, I may have bragged too much again. But I digress.
After 2 days of THE FLU, I finally decided to have something decent for a meal today. Have to work tomorrow, so a simple dinner out would be a welcome precursor to the shitty world out there tomorrow.
Brought a wad of discount coupons for the food outlets at the Singapore Expo and a $30 Crystal Jade cash voucher (courtesy of my brand allegiance to the petrol company who must have made thousands off me - that voucher took around $1 000 worth of petrol for redemption). Anyway, I digress again.
Companion wanted to eat at Expo. I'm ambivalent, though I did mention that I had the CJ voucher with me and he did mention that he had thought about eating at CJ on his way to pick me up. But distance got the better of him - he chose Expo because it is nearer to my place (and he had to send me back). Of course, I didn't want to raise a protest as I am just a passenger.
We arrived at the Expo and parked inside the seemingly large carpark (whose capacity is never enough during exhibitions). Walked around and tried to find some place to eat.
Ma Lan La Mian (Chinese handmade noodles) was closed. One down.
Orange Julius was closed. Dessert/after dinner drinks are goners. Two down.
Food court was open. But heck! All the way here to dine in a less than inviting food court?
Burger King was open. Again, why come here for BK? There's one nice outlet near my place!
Macau Express was open. God! Those prices are exorbitant. And there isn't a single soul in the restaurant.
There's a tandoori place but there isn't any discount for that shop. Also the shop has no diners in it.
Jazz Pub was not rocking. Out of the running too.
The Terrace is closed too. And even if they were open, I doubt they'd make the cut, not at least my cut.
So we surveyed the Thai Restaurant there. The prices are rather high, considering that there isn't a single person in the restaurant. But I thought since "my driver" wanted to eat rice and noodles, a Thai place would do the trick.
We sat some place near the service counter, rather deep into the restaurant. Despite the waitress' request to her fellow colleagues to turn on the air conditioner near our seats, it was not switched on. Never mind. More about that later.
After our orders, we had to wait for a long time for the food to arrive. Fine. That means the kitchen is preparing a fresh dish of each order for us.
Then the food came. And out came this proprietress who is anything but proper.
As we settled down to eat, she started asking if her waitresses had mopped the floor and why there are black spots on the ground. "If these black spots are not removed, then they'll become permanent after a while."
"Did anyone of you use the bleach for the floor or not?"
Silence.
"Tonight you all stay back and clean the floor, ok?"
Silence.
"Make sure you clean off all the black spots on the floor."
Silence.
(Walking to the main entrance) "Did anyone touch anything here?"
Silence.
"Did anyone move anything?"
Silence.
"Did you all move this (I think she was referring to the entrance dais)?"
Silence.
As she walked towards me, I asked her, "Could you turn on the aircon?"
"Huh?" She replied.
"Can you turn on the aircon?"
"Too cold is it?"
"No, it's too warm. Is it on?"
"It's on what!"
Walking back to pick up the remote control, she walked to the aircon unit and turned it on. Finally, I felt some cool air coming out.
"Thank you."
Silence. She walked away as though she was deaf.
Walking to another part of the restaurant, she started her housekeeping again.
"Can you move that table a little to your right?"
Silence.
"Too much! Too much! Just to your left."
Silence.
Three customers walked in. She showed them to their seat and blocked them and they had to walk around her carcass to get to their seats.
What low IQ and what lack of propriety.
By then, I've decided never to go back to this restaurant. I think I'll stick to my usual.
Why should I eat in a place where I am given the impression that it's so dirty. Everywhere, there are black spots. Everywhere, the staff is not cleaning. Everywhere, I don't even know what's everywhere even.
It was a disgusting and downright base experience. And I cannot wait for it to close down so I can get some better restaurant to replace it.
Plainly, there is a time and place for everything. If you need to tick your workers off to show who's boss, then do it discreetly. It does not augur well to make such moves in front of two customers, where the entire restaurant is so silent. I could feel myself stiffen when my fork and spoon grate on my plate. It was a pin-drop silence. And there isn't even ambient music to break the icy atmosphere.
For the first time, I didn't order dessert. I cannot imagine my sugared tapioca with coconut cream coming with black spots (which I know are commonly found on tapioca roots). I had had enough.
I think I should just quit my job and be a social commentator. I'm well-geared towards the job anyway. Anyhow, I may have bragged too much again. But I digress.
After 2 days of THE FLU, I finally decided to have something decent for a meal today. Have to work tomorrow, so a simple dinner out would be a welcome precursor to the shitty world out there tomorrow.
Brought a wad of discount coupons for the food outlets at the Singapore Expo and a $30 Crystal Jade cash voucher (courtesy of my brand allegiance to the petrol company who must have made thousands off me - that voucher took around $1 000 worth of petrol for redemption). Anyway, I digress again.
Companion wanted to eat at Expo. I'm ambivalent, though I did mention that I had the CJ voucher with me and he did mention that he had thought about eating at CJ on his way to pick me up. But distance got the better of him - he chose Expo because it is nearer to my place (and he had to send me back). Of course, I didn't want to raise a protest as I am just a passenger.
We arrived at the Expo and parked inside the seemingly large carpark (whose capacity is never enough during exhibitions). Walked around and tried to find some place to eat.
Ma Lan La Mian (Chinese handmade noodles) was closed. One down.
Orange Julius was closed. Dessert/after dinner drinks are goners. Two down.
Food court was open. But heck! All the way here to dine in a less than inviting food court?
Burger King was open. Again, why come here for BK? There's one nice outlet near my place!
Macau Express was open. God! Those prices are exorbitant. And there isn't a single soul in the restaurant.
There's a tandoori place but there isn't any discount for that shop. Also the shop has no diners in it.
Jazz Pub was not rocking. Out of the running too.
The Terrace is closed too. And even if they were open, I doubt they'd make the cut, not at least my cut.
So we surveyed the Thai Restaurant there. The prices are rather high, considering that there isn't a single person in the restaurant. But I thought since "my driver" wanted to eat rice and noodles, a Thai place would do the trick.
We sat some place near the service counter, rather deep into the restaurant. Despite the waitress' request to her fellow colleagues to turn on the air conditioner near our seats, it was not switched on. Never mind. More about that later.
After our orders, we had to wait for a long time for the food to arrive. Fine. That means the kitchen is preparing a fresh dish of each order for us.
Then the food came. And out came this proprietress who is anything but proper.
As we settled down to eat, she started asking if her waitresses had mopped the floor and why there are black spots on the ground. "If these black spots are not removed, then they'll become permanent after a while."
"Did anyone of you use the bleach for the floor or not?"
Silence.
"Tonight you all stay back and clean the floor, ok?"
Silence.
"Make sure you clean off all the black spots on the floor."
Silence.
(Walking to the main entrance) "Did anyone touch anything here?"
Silence.
"Did anyone move anything?"
Silence.
"Did you all move this (I think she was referring to the entrance dais)?"
Silence.
As she walked towards me, I asked her, "Could you turn on the aircon?"
"Huh?" She replied.
"Can you turn on the aircon?"
"Too cold is it?"
"No, it's too warm. Is it on?"
"It's on what!"
Walking back to pick up the remote control, she walked to the aircon unit and turned it on. Finally, I felt some cool air coming out.
"Thank you."
Silence. She walked away as though she was deaf.
Walking to another part of the restaurant, she started her housekeeping again.
"Can you move that table a little to your right?"
Silence.
"Too much! Too much! Just to your left."
Silence.
Three customers walked in. She showed them to their seat and blocked them and they had to walk around her carcass to get to their seats.
What low IQ and what lack of propriety.
By then, I've decided never to go back to this restaurant. I think I'll stick to my usual.
Why should I eat in a place where I am given the impression that it's so dirty. Everywhere, there are black spots. Everywhere, the staff is not cleaning. Everywhere, I don't even know what's everywhere even.
It was a disgusting and downright base experience. And I cannot wait for it to close down so I can get some better restaurant to replace it.
Plainly, there is a time and place for everything. If you need to tick your workers off to show who's boss, then do it discreetly. It does not augur well to make such moves in front of two customers, where the entire restaurant is so silent. I could feel myself stiffen when my fork and spoon grate on my plate. It was a pin-drop silence. And there isn't even ambient music to break the icy atmosphere.
For the first time, I didn't order dessert. I cannot imagine my sugared tapioca with coconut cream coming with black spots (which I know are commonly found on tapioca roots). I had had enough.
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