Which Would be Worse?

If you're flying anywhere today, you might want to delete these from your mind

The Art of Conversation

In the book I have been reading it indicates that the art of conversation died about 40 years ago.  I am not sure that is true. Yes, I agree that it is dying, but I think the timing is more like 30 years, not 40. I have wonderful conversations with my children who are over 30, and under 40.  At least, I think they are wonderful. I know it can be done.

I know that I am capable of a real conversation with most people. However, those colleagues I work with under 30 are another story.  I tend to avoid that lot; they cannot string a sentence together to save their lives.  That makes me wonder how the heck they mentor others.  I recall going to dinner with a group of colleagues to a very nice Thai restaurant in JB.  One obese member of our group insisted on having two chairs. I thought it was reasonable considering her size.  However, the second chair she felt she needed was for her laptop, which she promptly turned on, and tuned into when we were seated.  The only time she spoke to anyone was when she placed her food order.  Other than that, she was face to face with the screen of her laptop, doing whatever she needed to do. Another spark of fun tuned into her iPhone. She managed to read text messages, send messages, and otherwise be focused on that little bit of plastic and her Facebook friends.  Probably the most fascinating two were the ones that sat at opposite ends of the table and sent text messages, never making eye contact, to each other throughout the entire meal.  Three of us tried to have a conversation, and tried to include the deadbeats, to no avail.  The only thing that bunch was good for was consuming mountains of food and paying a small portion of the bill.  They were clever enough to order some kind of rice dish or small, cheap entree, and then slurp back everything on the table. One did not pony up because she said she was not hungry. However her appetite was tweaked when the food arrived.  Gnawing her way through the spread, she did a good job but contributed nothing in a conversation.  We did not have to worry about 'one last' item on a central plate. That bunch had no shyness about taking the last item, or for that matter, most of the items on the platters.  I tried several times to engage them in a conversation, but all I was rewarded with was a grunt, a slur, or a muttering of, I think words, that made no sense.  To get an idea of what they sounded like, try to recall the speaking parts for In The Heat of The Night. You are going to get about the same sounds I heard; if any.

So, to support the idea that the art of conversation died, I agree to a degree.  Those under 30 seem to have grown up with the inability to actually talk to each other. They are like a bad joke - they do nothing but text in short messages with each other, while sitting beside each other.  I guess that way you can actually hear them, and maybe even decipher what the heck they said. I wonder if they have ever tested the voice part of their cell phones?  I wonder if that is how they mentor as well?

Guess what?  We don't dine with them any longer.  And sadly, two of the over 30s have left the project, so I am short two real people in my life.

As for my mentees, they have figured out over here, that text messaging is the way to go.  I have tried to communicate with them via e-mail, and they constantly plead they cannot get internet. I accept this; my own internet is less than reliable.  So, I text message them. Does not good, they do not respond anyway. And you can forget phone calls all together.  So, what the heck are my mentees texting during a professional development session, when they should be engaged?  Probably some drivel to the person seated next to them.

Weather Forecast for Johor

He's better than an alarm clock. Unfortunately, he woke me this morning, so I guess I know what to expect in the weather today.  Mr. Koel sings when he advising heavy rain.

What I have read online is that many people find him annoying. I don't.  I think his plaintiff cry is a nice way to waken. There are entire forums online discussing how to shoot them, poison them, and have them move on.  I wont do that. They can come and live in the jungle here and be safe.  Hope they can read.

Loading an Audio File Here

I often think I am very clever when it comes to technology. Clever, only because I discuss my skills with people of my own age who cannot set up a new e-mail account. In that regard I am far ahead of my peers. However, in the regular circle of users of the internet, I am in a dark spot.  My family in Canada sent me a voice clip of their rendition of Happy Birthday to me yesterday, but I cannot figure out how to upload it here.

You will just have to believe that they did. My message to all advising I was hold court all day worked. I got a lot of well wishes for the day in my account.

Now back to reality and off to work.

When One is Long in the Tooth....

I had a wonderful chat with Ry and discussed what I will be doing today.  I think he is very jealous of me because I am going to bird watch - or shall I say, bird listen.  I have developed a program for bird watching that requires very little energy.  I also shared some of my experiences of bird watching that I have already had today, with him.

I have lived in this house for almost two years, and thought I was wakened by a rooster every morning. Silly me. It is really a jungle fowl.  Here is what he sounds like. My Malaysian alarm clock  You can see why I thought he was a rooster. He looks just like a rooster, huh?

difference is that he crows all day long

Secondly, during my big day of bird watching (listening) I found the bloody bird that I have told everyone about.  I have a different description of this guy than the internet has dubbed for him. Some of you know what mine is.  After tons of searching I found the birdy on this site.  common koel - boys and girls singing  Something I learned in my search explained why he is absent sometimes. Seems he does this call just before the monsoon season. Drat. He has been singing his heart out lately. I guess I know what is coming.  Here is another one that demonstrates his song. somewhere in India - but the same song I hear here

So, you see, I have invented the new birdwatching format. When you get as old as me, you will appreciate this.  No need to leave the g & t on the patio, or for that matter; leave the patio at all.

Joke for the Day

DISNEYLAND

Two blondes were going to Disneyland .  They were driving on the Interstate when they saw the sign that said Disneyland LEFT.  They started crying and turned around and went home.

A Picture of Emma and Me

Well, not really accurate.  Emma is the one with the long dark hair, but she drinks beer. I, on the other hand, drink the martinis and of course have the out of control frizzy hair and always wear sunglasses.  But otherwise the picture is accurate. This is what we would have looked like tomorrow - celebrating my 40 something birthday if we would have been able to get together for the occasion.  Neither of us wants to drive that far, in the midst of all the locals driving home from vacation.  Besides, I had a top notch surprise party last year thanks to Emma.  So, feel free to send a birthday wish to me, if you feel like it.  I will be holding court the entire day.  (this is an idiom for those who don't understand).  Haven't  told any other colleagues about the day, so guess the court will be fairly empty, but peaceful.

Why 40 something? Well if you read the caption, and do the math, I guess that is what my age is this year. For those that know me, I would not be able to figure out exactly the number. I could probably have done it if said 60 was the new 30, but then, that is not what it said. Well, I guess I could, but why bother?

SMS and license plates here

I mentioned in an earlier post that all our license numbers for the group I work with begins with WUT.  All license plates are part of the vehicle, so the number goes with the car because it is also etched into the windows and part of the vehicle.  We stand out in our communities because we are WUT's which signifies we are from Kuala Lumpur.  Not really, but that is where our vehicles are based.  We found it amusing when we all left the resort on our first voyage all wondering WUT? was next.

I was stuck in traffic the other day and saw one of those funnies, so grabbed my phone and took a fast shot. Maybe this one above here would have been more appropriate considering the fact we had no idea of how to drive here or where the heck we were going.

I guess I should be happy I have a WUT and not this one.  But it does make me smile when I come across one.

Existence vs Essence

I have been pondering the statement in a book I have been reading about humans vs computers. The brilliant writer helps to visualize the difference between people and computers explaining what is existence/essence. 

Humans, it is believed are existence first and essence later.  We exist, and then we become ‘whatever’.  A computer is essence  first – being a thought of what is useful, and then it exists.  Much like a hammer.  A hammer is something that is needed for a job, and that is its purpose.  We don’t have hammers lying around waiting to be used until someone decides a hammer is a needed tool.  And then it is built. Computers are much more complex. They are not built for one exclusive purpose. Neither are humans. E.G. Chrysikou, a psychologist,  wrote an article on when shoes are hammers.  She was researching problem solving techniques, and used this analogy that we can use a shoe if there is no hammer when one is needed. Her research interests regard how do people use objects to achieve goals and solve problems. In that regard, I guess she was able to do something that a computer could not do. Maybe.  I don’t think a computer could figure out how to replace something known with a creative application of something else. 

The author then goes further and says that humans are supposedly existence first, and the makers of computers when a need arises for a problem or project. Let us say something simple like a calculator.  A calculator is just a mini computer, and all the information is fed into that little computer by a human, in order for the machine to be useful as a tool to calculate functions that are too complex for the average person to perform.  Once this is completed, the calculator is a wonderful tool that not only finds the answers to complex mathematical problems, but also replaces a human ability to even add, subtract, and multiply, because why bother to retain that when a little machine can do it for us. 

Is this really accurate?  Do we exist to become computer program designers and all else?  When one is born – the beginning of ones existence, do they know how to write a complex computer program?  I don’t think so.  A person can do that once they have been fed a great deal of information, just like a person feeds a computer a great deal of information.  So, are we really existence first? Or are we like a computer, being fed the information that we were built to perform?  Does an opera singer arrive through the birth canal singing a great aria?  Does a writer publish a number one seller on their first birthday?  I don’t think so. Maybe we are more like computers than we want to admit. 

Maybe one day there will be a computer that decides our essence.  Maybe it has already been built. Maybe I think too much.

Flowers from Friends

My friends next door left me a bouquet of flowers yesterday while I was madly dashing to JB between monsoons.  They left while I was gone, to visit family on the west coast.  Such a nice thing to come home to, but certainly not necessary.

Now it would be a good thing for me to get busy and clean the house before work begins again next week.  I really have enjoyed being lazy this past week.  But the house is an indication of what that looks like. Maybe I will also clean up the outer garden and snap a few pictures. Maybe not.

I Know How To Make Ginger Beef

When you can only find pieces of unrecognizable shards of meat in the shops, you figure out many things here.  I cannot bring myself to buy the 'local stuff. It is offered from a wooden block, covered with flies, and hacked off according to what you want.  I do not know a cow that is the shape of this thing offered, so when it is labelled beef, I am perplexed.  But Jusco has some import Auzzie stuff. I would never buy that kind in Canada. I have tasted it there, and it could be a product to resole one's shoes once they wear out.  But, when that is the most familiar object in a meat counter, that is wrapped in cellophane,  I buy it and see what I can do with it.  Today, I picked up three little shards of this Auzzie stuff when I dashed to the big city between monsoons, and brought it home to my ginger, lemongrass, garlic and fresh limes. I slivered it all into long strips, just like the stuff you get at a good restaurant, and marinated it in the fridge for a few hours with my 'recipe'.

Once it was thoroughly flavoured, I tossed the little bits in a bag of arrowroot flour, and heated coconut oil in my pan. What I produced was an exquisite feast of the best ginger beef I have eaten. It is amazing what one can create with a bit of imagination.  Now it is time to hack up the watermelon.


Bon Apetit Frannie.

I don't like gardening any longer

I have never claimed to be a gardener. Whenever I saw a worm in the soil I would toss everything and go back in the house. Here, I am getting tired of everything growing in spite of my attention. My outer garden looks like a jungle. The pots grow into each other - they are beautiful but I need to constantly deal with this. The patio garden grows out of control. I spent a few hours yesterday after going back to the plant place to get bigger pots, more soil, and more sand.  I have learned the ratio. You need 3 bags of sand to one bag of soil.  Finally figured that out when I watched plants thrive and then wilt into a slimy mess.  They need sand in order to survive all this humidity. I repotted four plants yesterday and already today they are growing into mini trees.  One wandering vine sort of thing has rooted itself into another pot that I repotted yesterday. Now I guess they have to live beside each other forever.

It is lovely to look at by wow I didn't know it would be such a lot of work. I needed a shower after doing that gardening.  So, that is what I am doing for my vacation this week.

Clearly, too much time on my hands

As I ponder my current book I am reading, my mind returns to Space Odyssey 2001, AI and everything these movies portrayed.  Space Odyssey left us with the result of our evolution of life destroying itself with the technology it developed for that evolution. As we travel through that movie or book, we discover that the technology that man created in order to evolve reaches a point to take over where we leave off.  As the movie ends, and man is faced with a final challenge - his own death. He seats himself and takes his last suppper, but drops and spills the glass at the table. The glass is broke, the wine is spilled, but both are still there. One broken, the other much alive save for the container that once held it. The allegoric meaning I see is that even in the technical age we maintain the belief of body and spirit. So, if we are body and spirit, we live on as a spirit once the body is broken. That being said, then we are also the masters of our own destiny, right?  I am guessing that when some of us pray, we are praying to the collective spirit of all, but we cannot have what we pray for unless we take action. Without sounding a bit off-kilter, I think we could pray to a door knob or a rainbow. We are simply focusing on ourselves, our spirit, so where we see this matters not. I think spirit is everywhere, so if the door knob gives you that focus, then go there and be sincere with your desire for change.

If we want courage, we will be given opportunities to display courage. If we want money, we will be given opportunities to amass money.  If we want trust, I am thinking we are given opportunities to gain, show, and take another chance with trust issues.  Drat, that one is the hardest. They are all hard. But then what is of value has a price.   Sure would be easier to just place an order and have it filled by someone else. But that is not how life works, is it?  Maybe this technical age was working toward someone or something in the sky to take the orders and fill them just like a drive through restaurant. I think many people who pray to God think that is how it is done. I don't think Hal and his cronies will ever get to that point, and I don't think God ever was. The price we pay for these desires is our own commitment to the object or objective we hope to reach.  Technology is a wonderful tool, but when we make it our god,  we have lost sight of its purpose.  Gandhi figured this out  - Be the change you want to see in the world - Gandhi

For me, I will continue to focus on my desire to change regarding trust.  It is a hard one to beat when it has been beaten out of a person. My biggest challenge was to realize that trust is not something I place in another. Trust is something you look inside yourself and tell yourself you are willing to trust your ability to trust something or someone. Ultimately, you need to come back to trusting yourself, as you did as a child when life was not complicated. And then get on with your life, knowing that the worst that can happen is just another lesson.  Nothing is impossible is it?

BTW  I decided to forego the trip to Singapore. When everyone raises their rates to an unreasonable amount I realize I don't need to travel.  I can go when the rates return to a reasonable amount, and I can spend my ringgits on something else.  For now I will indulge myself with manicures, pedicures, hair cuts and all else that indulges my senses and spend far less than a couple of days across the border. I trust that decision.

The Most Human Human and gibberish

Just found a real book to read. I am getting into it and enjoying the writing. All about AI and how people communicate these days and how communicators can get befuddled thinking they are talking to a human, but really talking with a computer.

Think that with all this reading I need to go for a massage. So, will go and see who will do the job.  Also found that Singapore has figured out how to pull more cashola out of travellers this week They seem to have figured out that many want to be there, so all the rates have at least doubled. Grrrr  I am sure I will find a good place at a good price.  I really need a western fix, so will have to figure out something.

Gun? with a Parasol

Well, we had our Pizza Hut feast, then had a taxi follow us home to my place. You cannot take a taxi here by calling one. They expect you to come to the taxi stand and then follow you home to pick you up.  I am sure this must be logical - but I am afraid I don't really get it. Anyway, we followed the rules, and then they picked up Jeff's luggage and off he went.

As we returned to my parked car, there was the Parasol lady beside the car. Jeff spoke to her and told her he was leaving Malaysia. She had no idea who he was and looked very confused. I approached and instantly she got the connection.  Asked if we could take a photo with her but she declined.  She remembered my name, and reminded me of her's "Gun".  She asked if we could be friends. Sure.

Anyway, as she slipped around a corner I quickly took a shot. We know who she is.The lady in the pink vest.

I am going to miss our regular tea party dates.  It was a good time to gossip, chat, laugh and remember the fun and funny times we had in Malaysia.  A new friend that got to know me better than many of my friends back home; and I, him simply because we only had each other in a foreign land in a community of strangers. 

Adios to a Buddy Today

Today Jeff, my colleague that came here at the same time I did, is leaving. Going back to Canada, apparently.  I promised I would meet him at the crazy food stall where we dined (exaggeration) when we first landed in Kota Tinggi.  I am not sure we can get to the place - there are food kiosks and marquees in every inch of downtown due to the fasting  occurring here. That means no where to park if you can even get close to the food stall, and maybe even no access to it once we get there.  We will attempt and see what we can manage. If all else fails, there is always Pizza Hut. That too brings him fond memories of my trying my first bite of Pizza Hut and taking it back to the hotel of sorts. I would toss the bits of stuff out the window to some skeletal doberman who lay in the blazing sun below my room.  We always have choices to find a place to recall past experiences here.  Wherever we go I am sure we will run into the woman who approached us daily at that beginning. She would arrive with her pink parasol and try to sell us something every day. Used lottery tickets, glasses (vision), hats, and whatever else she thought we needed to begin our lives here.  I will update our dining experience once I know.

On another note, I watched some fuzzy little critter scoot across my patio last night.  I have googled voles, moles, shrews et al but cannot find him.  This is a photo of something like him - maybe.  What is it? He was much blacker though.

Foreigners Unite

When you live in a foreign land it seems that other foreigners make a point of talking to you. Such is the case yesterday when I did my Hari Raya shopping at a local mall. I bought each of my schools two dictionaries for the mentees there to share with the students.  Then, for the Malay schools I added a food hamper, which seems to be the trend here.  Emerging with gigantic food hampers that took over my entire car, I was greeted by the security guard at the centre.  He helped me stuff these packages that were as big as passengers into the car, while asking me where you from?  He wanted to know where I was from and clearly wanted me to ask the same. When I did not, he asked me where I thought he was from.  No idea.  He looked a bit Asian, but I am not good at pigeon-holing people.  I was guessing various states in Malaysia when he said no, very far, very cold. He finally told me he was from Nepal.  Then he was asking me what I would do with all this food.  I explained who I was giving it to, and he thought that was a very nice thing to do.  I also had a huge sack of goodies for the mentees to share at our first TPD after the break. Reaching into those sacks, I pulled out one of everything there - chips, cookies, nuts, and dates, handed them to him. Hari Raya - a few days early, to my new friend as we acknowledged the greetings in our new home away from home.  He was tickled and took them happily.  He probably earns about the same amount of value that he received today - in a month.  I think I just did what I think the concept of Ramadan teaches. I know what it is like to be hungry; maybe not starving, but what I did was share; one solution regarding hunger. Now I have to shop again, somewhere else.

Dominos Malaysia Update

No, keep your shirt on;  there is no Dominos in Kota Tinggi just yet. But what the heck, sometimes things work over here like what you are familiar with from home, and when they do, they are worthy of noting.  I had recalled Dominos contacting me by phone late one Saturday evening after I had written an e-mail to them asking where the new Dominos location would be because I saw signage all over the place and no outlet.  They assured me that it would be open in July 2012.  Now, half way through August, I thought it was time to make contact again. Another e-mail after work yesterday produced another phone call last night from an unknown number.

The nice caller carefully explained to me that they are opening another location - not really sure where he told me it was. He was mentioning a jalan something or other, which means 'street'. I asked if he was talking about Kota Tinggi, he replied 'no'.  Some delay in the tenancy agreement for the Kota Tinggi location seems to be the cause of the stall here.  But what the heck.  This guy should be promoted to CEO. He read my e-mail, responded to me, and gave me information and above all - hope.  Maybe he is pulling my leg. Maybe Dominos K.T. will never happen.  But I doubt that. I think he actually hit a snag in rental space here and was making sure they do not lose a customer during that snag.  They have competition to be concerned about; there is already a Pizza Hut in town.  Now that is what I call customer service! Kudos to him. I know how difficult it is to talk to another in a foreign language, and adding the complication of a phone call, not face to face, he did a great job.

After all this attention I guess I better be sure to place an order for pizza once they do open their doors. My first taste of Dominos was in Malaysia.  With all the delightful options back home, they were too far down the list to give them a chance. But with options I have here, I think they are very near the top. I am sure they will prosper here. I see overflowing trash cans of Pizza Hut boxes on a weekly basis next door. I even gave her a gift of a package of trash bags because her unwrapped trash was tipped over regularly at night for a feast for the roving pack of dogs. If not me, at least one customer will keep Dominos in business.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri

The title here is the greeting one utters to muslims as Ramadan ends. The words Hari Raya translate to day of celebration. Aidilfitri  translate to the Arabic words Eid - festivity  and  Fitr to break the fast. The actual time is determined by the new moon at that time.  Breaking the fast and celebrating with family is the pattern here in Malaysia.  If you can liken it to the celebration time for families over a Christmas season, that is what you will find here regarding travelling home and spending time with family.  Favourite foods, reminiscence of past years, and being together is how they celebrate.  They open their doors to foreigners and welcome you to share in their good fortunes.  Oh yes, the fireworks. They have been blasting off for the past month. I must have acclimatized because I don't jump under the bed any longer when I hear the distinctive bang, bang, bang, as they set them off once darkness descends on the land. And now, for the next month, there will be bashing and crashing like no other.The Chinese new year celebration cannot hold a candle to this din.   I don't quite understand this, but who am I to question?  And just like home, there are people who are lonely, because for whatever reason they have no family to celebrate with,  Last year I took two such people out to lunch for the first day of Hari Raya. I guess I will find others again this year. Only rule that applies is 'my choice of restaurant'.

For myself, I intend to sit back and let the drivers get to their destinations and then head out on the roads to Singapore to find my own celebration of what I want to connect with. Western experiences - such as a big fat steak, a soaker bathtub, and maybe a concert if something appeals to me.

This time of celebration actually begins Friday (sometime determined by the new moon).  However, the government has decided that because everyone returns to balik kampungs (small villages), hence time is needed to make these journeys.  I am glad - it should stagger some of the rat race on the highways.  I hope.

For the next few days I will be taking gifts to the Head Masters/Head Mistresses much like the western world takes gifts to others at Christmas. You can find all sorts of prepackaged baskets of goodies at the shops. I have picked up some and now am heading on the roads to make my deliveries. Now you know what will be going on here for the next week and a half.

Help!

I am trying very hard to find a book to read, and with limited resources available to me, I am asking for help.  We fortunately do have a book store closely, but there is only a small section of English books.  They did manage to bring in that nasty 50 shades of drivel series, and I admit with shame, that I not only purchased them but also read them. I am far to stingy to buy and not read - at any cost.

Now, when I try to find what to read on best seller lists all I can find jamming up the top 3 on the lists is the 50 shades drivel,  and the Litigators (which I have already read).  I fear I might actually pick up a Danielle Steele book, just because I at least know what her writing will offer.  I did not make a good choice the last time I purchased books. Don't want the same to unfold.  If anyone has read something interesting and with some substance lately, please let me know.  Maybe I will just ferret out the John Grisham books of the past. They do entertain.

Hope someone can help.

The Blindside

Having pneumonia and staying home brought a great gift.  I picked up some dvd's that were jammed onto a disc and I lay on the sofa and watched several of the movies over a week of ailing.  I had not heard of most of the movies and many were extremely boring. But one I watched today was completely inspiring. I don’t tend to follow the Oscars or who's who's in Hollywood. I am not a good partner in a game of Trivial Pursuit, unless my teammates cover the movie category.  But this movie, which is a true story of an incredible athlete, was outstanding.

I can hardly wait to get to JB to see if the book is in stock. Not going to go today – it is pouring out. Just like the drivel of Fifty Shades of Grey; which I think was written by either some sex deviate, or a person with a very skewed view of relationships; it focuses on a man who is the offspring of a crack whore.  BUT, that is where the similarities end.

This book, The Blindside, is a true story of a young lad who was given opportunities that some wonderful people offered because they new he had value.  One person’s love and kind gesture changed this man’s life.  His good fortune was meeting this family that realizes every living person is worthy of the same. The good sense of Michael Lewis to write a book about it rekindles my faith in writers that can write something worthy of reading. I strongly recommend this book or movie to entertain and astound you, as it did me. 

Spend your money on a winner.  Pick up this book. I know it will be a good one.

Singapore's National Day Parade

I settled in to watch the parade when the Olympic coverage was preempted.  I was enjoying the 1500-meter and long jumps when Dr. Tony Tan (president of Singapore) took the reins of the airwaves and began the celebrations in Singapore to mark 47 years of Independence.  I figured I could watch an hour or so of floats, clowns, and various parade sights but was shocked when I realized I had been watching this show for five hours.  Parades in Singapore are not akin to parades in North America. With all the seriousness of Singapore and who they are, I witnessed the president inspect the troops. 

When finally I saw an actual parade, it brought a smile to my face. Still no floats, no clowns, no frivolity.  There were many groups all dressed in identical uniforms marching past the president while carrying flags of whom they represented. No little scooters keeping things in order. No horses.  Many corporations were represented in this area of the parade.  Unlike a parade back home, one pays for a ticket to watch and sits in a sort of Amphitheatre, in this case, on the marina bay area of Singapore.  Unsmiling faces march past with their flags and groups, taking their role very seriously.  Once completed, they march through the crowds and disappear into the stairways of the theatre.  I thought – well that was an interesting parade and was ready to tune back into the Olympic coverage.  Not so.

After about and hour or so of this inspection of the groups, the president then took a seat in the crowds and the show began.  Six parachuters were dropped overhead after some amazing fighter planes dodged each other in the sky.  The parachuters managed to drop one at a time in the front of the stage after they frolicked in the sky with a performance there. Hollywood and Disney could not outdo what I saw.  There were songs, which the audience joined, espousing their pride in country and inclusiveness, there were costumed dancers and singers representing the three main races of Singapore, all equally represented on stage.  Then, when I thought it must now be over, the afternoon sun set and darkness descended on the stage, giving the backdrop screen that was always present, more illumination so that we could see the constant shape of Singapore depicted in various themes being presented.  Fireworks and flashlights in the audience made the whole scene look like twinkling stars on land. 

Children then took their place under a filmy tarp on the stage rolling and stretching to music, and presented scenes of various times over the years. At times appearing to be massive waves on the ocean, monsoons and flooding, fires of historical periods, and whatever else they pulled from the history of Singapore. These children somehow stayed under the tarp and took their places there so that the tarp was in the shape of Singapore the entire time as a special effects presentation showed the various events over the years not only on a screen behind them, but also all around them like a hologram. It was breathtaking.  Once this segment completed, somehow, this enormous tarp measuring over 70 meters by 45 meters disappeared before your eyes, by shrinking down into a tiny spotlight on the stage.  I dont know how that happened. I dont know where the children went.

The final acts completed and then again, with pride, the Singaporeans stood and recited their pledge, national anthem, and song of Singapore. It was moving to watch the crowd sing – they sounded more like a choir than an audience at a gathering. My only disappointment was there was no offering of Saving Gaia, Singapore Style. save my world Singapore Style   I think all their rules has demonstrated they are doing their part in saving Gaia.  

I  began watching this telecast at 3:30 and turned the television off at 8:30.  Quite a parade huh? Congratulations Singapore - you did a fine job!

I Was Wrong Again - Good Thing I Have Kids

On a recent visit with Ryan we were discussing the fact that Singapore is a country on its own as well as a city.  We talked about the fact that it was formerly a part of Malaysia, and when Malaysia dropped out of the commonwealth of countries, Singapore also dropped out because it was only a member due to the fact that it was attached to Malaysia.  Ryan said it is still a commonwealth country. I disagreed.  I was wrong.  Being a kind teacher, Ryan let me prattle on with what I believed to be true. Sure is nice to be a parent. I get to learn history lessons that I didn't pay attention to when I was young.  I guess that is one of the best reasons to have children.

Singapore became a member of the Commomwealth of Nations in 1965.  I watched the celebrations of Singapore's Independence Day yesterday while they broadcast their National Day Parade to mark 47 years.  In 1963, Singapore joined Malaysia to form the new Federation of Malaysia, but by August 1965, Singapore was out of this union and became an independent republic, and as far as I can see, they never looked back.  Being probably the most prosperous country in this area, they have figured out the formula to prosper and stay on track in the world economy.  Some mock their civil obedience rules, but I question that. If it was so bad, why do they stay? More than 4 million people share that  small space of terra firma.  I think there has to be serious rules in place there in order to make things work.

An example of how serious they are about rules - you cannot purchase a packet of gum in Singapore. And God help you if you sneak in a pack and then try to dispose of it.  Good for them. Have you ever stepped and then slid on a 'spat out' gob of gum on the sidewalk in Canada? Not a pleasant experience. Forget about gum - what about goobers?  I have seen North Americans spit on the street and it makes my stomach turn.  What kind of upbringing have they had? I see it constantly where I live here now, and when I do I begin to gag and have been known to throw up on myself in the car unless I keep telling myself 'think pretty thought, think pretty thoughts'. What lives in that sputum?  How about TB, among other nasty diseases?

To get an idea of the size, Vancouver Island has a land mass of 32261 sq. km. and is home to far less than one million people. Singapore has a land mass of 710 sq. km. and is home to more than 4 million people.  Imagine the gum and goobers on the sidewalk there if it was allowed! It completely amazes me to see the green spaces, the cleanliness, the roadways and all infrastructure in place in Singapore and wonder where the heck all the people are.  When you do encounter people the will help you with directions, talk to you with interest, and welcome you to their homeland.

In case you too were in the dark about who Singapore is and their size and place in the world I hope I enlightened you.  I still love getting my western fix  by going to Singapore on a regular basis. I have not been there since the beginning of June. Too much time has passed. I am ready for a jaunt.