I haven't been writing much. Hmmm. Thinking too hard about my writing and not just spewing it out. That's why. The artificial rules about blogging. Some of you getting alerts about this odd paragraph going up will be peeved. No meat, just waiting-for-my-computer-to-start-up dribble. As Tracy Jordan said "Blah, blah, blah, you get the point".
Topic to cover next time - how good 30 Rock is.
Oh look, email's up.
Tuesday, 23 November 2010
Friday, 5 November 2010
Airplane Oxygen Mask Rule For Parenting
Most people I know hardly pay attention to the safety briefings that take place before an airplane takes off. There's usually a few lines in the live demo or video that go: "if cabin pressure drops, an oxygen mask may fall from the ceiling in front of you. Strap it over your face like so. Passengers with children should attend to themselves first before helping others."
That last line should be a lesson to all parents - take care of yourself before you help your kids.
I've seen many parents who don't have a plan. The kids come and they handle it, somehow. I bet most parents from my parents era didn't have a plan and getting by was the norm. They worked hard and hoped for the best - values that work even today. Except that life has got a lot more complicated.
In Singapore, many parents are both forced to work to make ends meet or fulfill their ambitions. Both guy and girl are generally well educated and would like to pursue a career. They want to upgrade from a HDB flat to a condominium apartment. They want to trade in their Toyota for a continental car. When the kid(s) come along, these wants may not change. In most cases, parents work even harder.
Here's one problem that creeps along - they forget about their health. They grow fat and lazy, and are unable to commit any time to exercise and keeping fit. What parents forget is that their health is what enables them to take care of their kids. Once their sick, it's hard to manage the house let alone little persons.
I'm not talking about maintaining butts of steel or Greek god abs. Just weight, tone and cardio. Compromise and make the half an hour three times a week to sweat it out. Be it TV or a shorter lunch. Put in a walk on the park or run up the apartment block staircase. Think small doses for the long term, not mad frantic exercise for the short term only to attempt repetition following another new year resolution party.
Health is just one thing. There are many other things that parents need to sort out and keep in mind before they unleash their hopes and dreams on their little ones.
'Good counselor friend' told me that kids learn about how to love from the way their parents express love to each other. How right is that? There was also a promo trailer I remember for a TV show called Parenthood that mentioned that "being a parent makes me want to be a better person". That's right too. Would you want your kid to copy your bad habits or learn to be a better human being?
The questions seem hard but seriously, parenting in the 21st century is hard. Worse still, it's clear that many of the ills we see in society today stem from the way parents teach their kids. The small details affect the big picture. Everything from the value of thrift to the way we treat domestic help will be passed down to our kids. So think before you act. Your kids are watching and learning.
That last line should be a lesson to all parents - take care of yourself before you help your kids.
I've seen many parents who don't have a plan. The kids come and they handle it, somehow. I bet most parents from my parents era didn't have a plan and getting by was the norm. They worked hard and hoped for the best - values that work even today. Except that life has got a lot more complicated.
In Singapore, many parents are both forced to work to make ends meet or fulfill their ambitions. Both guy and girl are generally well educated and would like to pursue a career. They want to upgrade from a HDB flat to a condominium apartment. They want to trade in their Toyota for a continental car. When the kid(s) come along, these wants may not change. In most cases, parents work even harder.
Here's one problem that creeps along - they forget about their health. They grow fat and lazy, and are unable to commit any time to exercise and keeping fit. What parents forget is that their health is what enables them to take care of their kids. Once their sick, it's hard to manage the house let alone little persons.
I'm not talking about maintaining butts of steel or Greek god abs. Just weight, tone and cardio. Compromise and make the half an hour three times a week to sweat it out. Be it TV or a shorter lunch. Put in a walk on the park or run up the apartment block staircase. Think small doses for the long term, not mad frantic exercise for the short term only to attempt repetition following another new year resolution party.
Health is just one thing. There are many other things that parents need to sort out and keep in mind before they unleash their hopes and dreams on their little ones.
'Good counselor friend' told me that kids learn about how to love from the way their parents express love to each other. How right is that? There was also a promo trailer I remember for a TV show called Parenthood that mentioned that "being a parent makes me want to be a better person". That's right too. Would you want your kid to copy your bad habits or learn to be a better human being?
The questions seem hard but seriously, parenting in the 21st century is hard. Worse still, it's clear that many of the ills we see in society today stem from the way parents teach their kids. The small details affect the big picture. Everything from the value of thrift to the way we treat domestic help will be passed down to our kids. So think before you act. Your kids are watching and learning.
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Paper Complaints
On Saturday there was a letter in the Straits Times forum page that listed out the woes of getting a taxi just outside the CBD. Apparently it took the writer 30 mins to flag one off the streets. Article here >>
In today's paper, there's someone berating AirAsia's ticket refund policy. He could get back 40% of his ticket price but only as credits for other flights on the airline within 6 months. Article here >>
Complaints are easy. One gets mad and writes in, hopes to get published and when it does happen, one feels like he/she has changed the world. Like having dropped an A bomb on Hiroshima or discovered cornflakes. Of course there's Facebook to tell everyone that your important complaint had made the press. Ah the charms of brief publicity.
Oh please.
Firstly, Mr Taxi dude sounds like a non-Singaporean, that he's been living elsewhere for a long time. And in that long time, the rest of us have exasperated countless attempts at addressing these taxi troubles, and have given up. The situation is not new. Taxi drivers are coddled into driving for us. The big companies that profit from the madness are keeping mum and the status quo. Nothing's changed.
And the issue is just bubbling under, waiting to blow up in some transport official's face because we're all just quite upset enough. Maybe a complaint from a tourist will do.
Secondly, Mr AirAsia is the typical complaining Singaporean who wants a good deal but fails in any effort to read the fine print. That's how budget airlines work buddy. They sell cheap non-cancelable, non-changeable, non-anything fares. That's why $20 to KL is so appealing, until you can't make the flight because Fifi the cat has a boo-boo. Then it'll cost you an arm and a leg and Fifi's tail to switch flights. Read the fine print and then you'll understand the hazards of flying budget. Nothing's for free man. Same thing with Tiger's recent spate of cancellations. They can do that with nary a hint of compensation.
So seriously, suck it dear consumer. Caveat emptor.
In today's paper, there's someone berating AirAsia's ticket refund policy. He could get back 40% of his ticket price but only as credits for other flights on the airline within 6 months. Article here >>
Complaints are easy. One gets mad and writes in, hopes to get published and when it does happen, one feels like he/she has changed the world. Like having dropped an A bomb on Hiroshima or discovered cornflakes. Of course there's Facebook to tell everyone that your important complaint had made the press. Ah the charms of brief publicity.
Oh please.
Firstly, Mr Taxi dude sounds like a non-Singaporean, that he's been living elsewhere for a long time. And in that long time, the rest of us have exasperated countless attempts at addressing these taxi troubles, and have given up. The situation is not new. Taxi drivers are coddled into driving for us. The big companies that profit from the madness are keeping mum and the status quo. Nothing's changed.
And the issue is just bubbling under, waiting to blow up in some transport official's face because we're all just quite upset enough. Maybe a complaint from a tourist will do.
Secondly, Mr AirAsia is the typical complaining Singaporean who wants a good deal but fails in any effort to read the fine print. That's how budget airlines work buddy. They sell cheap non-cancelable, non-changeable, non-anything fares. That's why $20 to KL is so appealing, until you can't make the flight because Fifi the cat has a boo-boo. Then it'll cost you an arm and a leg and Fifi's tail to switch flights. Read the fine print and then you'll understand the hazards of flying budget. Nothing's for free man. Same thing with Tiger's recent spate of cancellations. They can do that with nary a hint of compensation.
So seriously, suck it dear consumer. Caveat emptor.
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Late Lunch
So here I am at MOS Burger having a late lunch. It's 245pm. Had an Indian sweet and teh halia at 10am, well, not in one go but you get the idea. This after a 730am breakfast of a wheatbix, an Old Chang Kee curry puff, and half a Raffles Hotel champagne and truffle snowskin mooncake. And Milo. Too much? I tend to overboard on days I don't yoga. Is yoga a verb?
Wow, a cover of Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me. Sounds like recently jailed George Michael. Time to pause.
Bloody good song. Respect.
There's a poster for Hokkaido milk desserts at $2.95 a little canister staring back at me with wanton lust. No sweet-tooth I shall resist for you've had way too much sugar today. There's tomorrow. Damn the azuki looks good.
My eyes are feasting on walled imagery. My nose is bombarded by the scent of lemon scented floor wash being spread out in gentle swishes across the beige tiles. It goes stronger as the MOS Worker gets closer. Geddit? Burger, worker? Nevermind. Nauseating sensations threaten to erupt, my masticated fish and fries could find themselves on the counter instead of happily digesting in my tummy. Frenchman in the corner and too-much-makeup woman at the back have yet to succumb. I shall depart, gingerly over the wet surface.
Till we lunch again. There's so much to talk about.
It's Girl From Ipanema now. The last few bars...end. Go.
Wow, a cover of Bonnie Raitt's I Can't Make You Love Me. Sounds like recently jailed George Michael. Time to pause.
Bloody good song. Respect.
There's a poster for Hokkaido milk desserts at $2.95 a little canister staring back at me with wanton lust. No sweet-tooth I shall resist for you've had way too much sugar today. There's tomorrow. Damn the azuki looks good.
My eyes are feasting on walled imagery. My nose is bombarded by the scent of lemon scented floor wash being spread out in gentle swishes across the beige tiles. It goes stronger as the MOS Worker gets closer. Geddit? Burger, worker? Nevermind. Nauseating sensations threaten to erupt, my masticated fish and fries could find themselves on the counter instead of happily digesting in my tummy. Frenchman in the corner and too-much-makeup woman at the back have yet to succumb. I shall depart, gingerly over the wet surface.
Till we lunch again. There's so much to talk about.
It's Girl From Ipanema now. The last few bars...end. Go.
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