You Love It and Hate It

You have to love this country and hate it at the same time

After so many years, you still can't teach responsibility and instill pro-activeness with these people.

Sad for them and good for us, at least expatriates still have some value here.

I'm being punished by the lack of efficiency of others.

I love the Motherland...

F1 Weekend

Newsflash: Astronaut back on the blogs (sic) for F1 Weekend



After a long hiatus, Shanghai-based blogger Astronaut is back.

Back with a style and vengeance never before seen in this part of the blogging world.
An enforced absence, mainly caused by the relentless blockage of the Internet by the G(reat) F(irewall) of C(hina), has left the few followers of his blog with a degree of absence.

During the course of the 6 months away, Astronaut has experienced several life-changing moments. Turning 30 was a big personal milestone for him earlier this month. He also took delivery of an electric orange Ford Focus ST, which has since terrorised several drivers on the roads. Physically, he was sent to study the pandas of Chengdu, and returned with these comments:

Pandas aren't as stupid as they look. When in contact with humans, they only pretend to be stupid, so that we find them all the bamboo that they need. They even rely on humans to breed them, because sex for them is such a chore.

Otherwise, Astronaut is well. Sichuanese food and women has spiced him up a bit, but down right to the core, the heartlander in him is still very much alive. Watch out for him at the Singtel F1 Grand Prix. Somewhere at the Bay Grandstand, you will find him frustrated with the slow moving traffic that takes the time of 1 lap to descend the staircase in front of him, totally destroying his $250 view.

Watch this space!

Tri-partism

Some thoughts to B2's post..

To have a sustainable relationship, there needs to be a tri-partite (much-like social/political/economic) existence of:

1) Love
where it is unconditional and that kind of instinctive emotional feeling/rush where you are willing to sacrifice even your personal being for the one you 'love' - which is elaborated by the romance factor..

2) Sex
no heterosexual or homosexual relationship can do without sex at some stage of its existence. sex and humping is the animalistic instinct retained in our search for a partner in the traditional sense. it is now confused with pleasure, so men often have more than one relationship with women. the sex drive, i concur, is the single greatest drive and motivating factor in the male species. not so certain of its effect on females though. perhaps it is used as a bargaining tool or protective measure.. hmm

3) Friendship
lovers are often best friends in a way they look out for each other, be each other's soul mate. i think this is the most socially evolved or influenced component of relationships; as described by the attachment factor.

View is that at least 2 of these factors must be co-existing anytime during a relationship, and the intertwining evolves as couples age.

Lion Dancing

On this 15th Day of the Lunar New Year, I say my warm greetings: "恭喜发财!"


Some things I will try to remember this 牛 year, adding on already, to the burdens of resolutions!


1. No SMOKING [I am a competitive soul, B]

2. No GAMBLING [First time I lose consecutively from 1st day to 15th day]

3. Don't anyhow 'shoot arrow' [according to the 签 email sent by LH], i.e. don't open your mouth unnecessary. 凡是低调!

4. Don't be TOO nice [esp to girls]


That should keep me safe if I do intend to step out of the house at all..


On a side note, some interesting tidbits on 2 Lion Dance troupes up close and personal.

1.

Was at the office last week. Said troupe invited by the building management came to 采青. They went upstairs to sister company. Apparently they couldn't pick the greens successfully and had to switch several guys as the lion head. Finally after some stepping on thighs and up-heaval, they managed to get the greens after like 4 attempts. Damn Loser. When they came down, it was apparent why they were NOT 南仙 Lang Sai Troupe la.. some not as brilliant 南XXX troupe of motley crew of rotund uncles and scrawny young kids... not worth any $688 ang pow. We smart.. we hung the greens with a 10cm string at about 1.5m low height.. even a kid can 采the青lor.. din Huat on the 4D numbers they picked also.. Lousy!

2.

Walked past Amoy Street Food Centre on way to lunch today. There was more lion dancing. This time, I was surprised to see like 4 Melayu Lang Sai practictioners.. not a bad job la.. at least more agile than the earlier mentioned troupe. Damn steady to see them dressed like that. On the way back to office, bumped into their lorry. Steady lagi, all 8 were Melayu.. including driver, drummer, and care-lare-fare girl.. Nowadays Chinese damn lazy, even LION DANCE ALSO OUTSOURCE!



HAPPY NEW YEAR... HUAT AH!

Cow Theory

Tale for the Year of the Cow/Ox whatever

How AIG went bust...

You have two cows.

John Paulson borrows one cow so he can sell it for $100. He gives you $10 as collateral.

You buy your neighbors cow for $100, which you finance by taking out a $90 loan from the bank and use John's $10 to make up the rest.

You brag to everyone about your financial health. You have assets--two cows you own, plus one Paulson owes you--worth $300, and liabilities of just $100.

A third of the country goes vegetarian.

You thought your two cows were worth $200 and now they are worth $140.

You express confidence in your financial health. Your assets are now worth only $200--your two cows plus the one John owes you--but your liabilities are still only $100. If necessary, you could sell the assets at this distressed price and pay off all your loans.

You hold onto your cows because you are sure the market is "dislocated." Some day someone will want to eat beef again.

The rest of the country goes vegetarian. Your two cows are now worth $2 each to guys who want to make dog food.

John Paulson buys a cow in the market for $2 and he gives it to you as repayment of the loan. You now have three cows worth six bucks.

John wants his $10 back.

The bank calls. It wants its $90 back.

You call the Federal Reserve and ask for a bailout.

Lost And Found

Once was Lost and now am Found...

Not a good start to 2009...
baggage was lost in transit from HKG to SIN
Checked in 2 pieces of baggage and only got one back on the carousel.
Bag contained 2k SGD worth of shopping
as well as crucially, my work laptop and external hard drive

Acute depression swiftly followed..
24 hours passed without any news of the bag.
7 days on, I received a much welcomed call that the bag has been found.
I'm sure the bag had its fair share of travels around the world!

I am just relieved to get my things back.

In the course of this New Year, reflections rule over resolutions.
2008 has been kind and abundant of wealth, friendships and romance. It did bring along the usual baggage of disappointments and mis-expectations. In my diary of life, I'm sure I would have marked 2008 down in the category of 'Good Years'.

Most important lesson learnt was knowing a little bit better what I want for myself in several aspects of life. Whatever I have lost in 2008, I have found a lot of myself.

On the 2008 balance sheet would look something like:

ASSETS	LIABILITIES
Better Health	Losing Weight
Domestication	Less Social Events
Singlehood	Failed Romances
Returning to Shanghai	Leaving Singapore (again)

A well balanced year is a good year in my books.

Cheers to 2009 my friends!

下雨天

就让雨下吧
冲走心中的不愉快

最爱下雨天
能在家中静思

偏爱下雨天
沉默带来一种宁静的感觉

怀念下雨天
想到当年和你淋雨生病的一幕

期待下雨天
因为天晴之后会出现一道彩虹