mARBLECAKE ALSO THE GAME

I lost The Game!

What is The Game?

Rule 1: Everybody is playing The Game. (You included)
Rule 2: Whenever you think of The Game, you lose.
Rule 3: When you lose, you must announce your loss.

Read the first letters of the top 21 most influential people on Time's list. As voted by internet users.

They spell "mARBLECAKE ALSO THE GAME".
It is not a coincidence.

Odd observable but unnoticed facts

Music ∝ 1/Volume
If the music is not found in your iPod, the volume at which it is played is inversely proportionate to its quality - invariably, music played from handphones are exceptionally loud. Quality does not refer to the bit rate ie. 128, 256, 320kbps.

Nose-diving Drivers
The top 2 activities drivers take part in while stopped at a traffic light: Nose-digging, closely followed by checking out if other drivers are digging their noses. I do both. Simultaneously. ftw.

Ecosystem
Although the salinity of the water will change, the "city reservoir" that was created from Marina Bay will not have observable environmental effects. This is because Singapore was not concerned about the ecosystem in the water before and will not be too bothered about it when the seawater in the bay becomes "fresh" water. There is no basis for comparison.

Human Traffic
The human traffic lane system employed at various MRT Stations eg. Outram, Somerset and Orchard will never reach its potent effectiveness in easing human congestion. Until a fine is imposed, enforced and the culprits shamed on The Straits Times, The New Paper, My Paper, Today, Berita Harian, Tamil Murasu, Lianhe Zao Bao and especially Shin Min Daily News (because the 4D results are published in this tabloid).

Danger, May Cause Drowsiness
Passengers who are old, handicapped, pregnant or a combination of any of these descriptors are special. They cause drowsiness in other passengers. Especially in a moving train or bus.

What I want to do with my one hour lunch

60 minutes in a lunch hour.
3 minutes from office to canteen.
no more than 7 minutes in the queue.
consume food in 10 minutes or less.
buy drink back to office.
back to office within 30 minutes of lunch hour.
spend next 30 minutes reading newspaper while sipping drink bought from canteen.

bliss.

but the need to maintain "harmonious relationships" with colleagues meant that i spend more time making mindless banter that leads nowhere and often repetitive.
sometimes the topics of conversation are interesting. but often it's boring.

i dread to think what the Scout's movement did to me in my formative years. i memorised this as a wee 9 year old boy. and it's stuck with me like a bad tattoo.

Scout Law (Singapore)
A Scout is to be trusted
A Scout is loyal
A Scout makes friends,establishes and maintains harmonious relationships
A Scout is disciplined and considerate
A Scout has courage in all difficulties

drive

The shadows criss-crossed, growing longer, shorter, disappearing and reappearing on the dashboard. It was rhythmic, as long as his speed stayed constant and he doesn't meander out of lane. The drone from his engines was almost drowned out by the stereo whose volume was turned up loud enough to only neuter the whir. Occasionally, he could hear syncopated voices and music from the speakers. Arrhythmic. Yet at times, momentarily; almost serendipitously, in sync with the passing shadows cast on the dashboard.
If he wound down the windows, he could feel the howling wind which he can only imagine. But he likes it this way. For now.

Woke up this morning

I woke up this morning and a minute after getting out of the bed, I received an sms from my immediate boss.
I don't work Saturdays.
Not typically so. Unless I am on duty.

I quickly made a reply.

While watching a travel programme on tv, the images triggered the memories of my visit to Vietnam 9 years ago.
There was a tour that I signed myself up for.
I remember myself snorkeling in and around the bays and islands that were found near the coastal town Nha Trang.

The tour guide fashioned a "floating bar" of some sort using big tyre and an aluminium tray, and offered watered down ice cold alcoholic drinks. What appeared to me some cordial with red wine.

Floating in middle of the sea after a suitable amount of the drink, listening to the Beatles and other radio classics from the 1960s and 1970s. There was a particular song that made me think about my life then.

As it does now.

Yesterday,
All my troubles seemed so far away,
Now it looks as though they're here to stay,
Oh, I believe in yesterday.

Suddenly,
I'm not half the man I used to be,
There's a shadow hanging over me,
Oh, yesterday came suddenly.

Boyle's Law - redux

Coolidge Hi Top

So the results for my shoe poll are in.

But like I said, I didn't say that I'd buy the pair that wins the poll.

In a way, I did. Cause I bought the winner but in a different colourway.

This is the shoe, as reviewed on hypebeast. Yes, I am ashamed that it's on that website.

Poll: Can you helpch me?

I promise you that this poll is more exciting than Singapore's Polling Day.
Because the outcome is more dynamic.
Helpch me decide on which pair of shoes to buy.
The winning pair of shoes in this poll may not be the actual pair that I will buy eventually.
See what I mean by saying that the outcome will be "dynamic"?
Tell your friends about this too can?

Onitsuka Tiger Coolidge Hi Top and Coolidge Lo

Converse Jack Purcell White and Black







Update: Results are in.

Valentine 2 : Carol Ann Duffy revisited

I posted about this once before.

Valentine

Not a red rose or a satin heart.

I give you an onion.
It is a moon wrapped in brown paper.
It promises light
like the careful undressing of love.

Here.
It will blind you with tears
like a lover.
It will make your reflection
a wobbling photo of grief.

I am trying to be truthful.

Not a cute card or kissogram.

I give you an onion.
Its fierce kiss will stay on your lips,
possessive and faithful
as we are,
for as long as we are.

Take it.
Its platinum loops shrink to a wedding ring,
if you like.
Lethal.
Its scent will cling to your fingers,
cling to your knife.

Carol Ann Duffy 1993

It's too good to stay covered.

Carol Ann Duffy is the freshly minted poet laureate.
First Scot to be chosen.
First woman to be chosen.
First openly gay to be chosen. (There might have been closeted ones)
First poet to be chosen in the 21st Century.

I think "moon" in the poem has taken a darker hue in terms of meaning for me. It is not what is promised. But how she intends to orbit around you, discrete in "brown paper", as you go about your daily musings......

Top 10 :: Cover Songs

1. Mad World - Gary Jules original by Tears For Fears
   
2. Let's Dance - M. Ward original by David Bowie
   
3. I Don't Like Mondays - Tori Amos original by The Boomtown Rats
   
4. Ship Building - Suede original by Elvis Costello
   
5. Landslide - Smashing Pumpkins original by Fleetwood Mac
   
6. Hurt - Johnny Cash original by Nine Inch Nails
   
7. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley original by Leonard Cohen
   
8. Heartbeats - José González
9. Wonderwall - Ryan Adam original Oasis
   
10. Such Great Heights - Iron And Wine original by The Postal Service
    

I know I had a list similar to this. But this list is updated and filtered.
And yes, it's probably better than yours.

Top 10 :: Trip Hop

1. Rabbit In Your Headlights - UNKLE featuring Thom Yorke
2. Stars - Dubstar
3. Roads - Portishead
4. Heaven's Gonna Burn Your Eyes Out - Thievery Corporation featuring Emilianna Torrini
5. Protection - Massive Attack featuring Tracey Thorn
6. Pumpkin - Tricky
7. 6 Underground - Sneaker Pimps
8. Trigger Hippie - Morcheeba
9. Cottonwool - Lamb
10. What Does Your Soul Look Like (Part 1) - DJ Shadow

It's ok if my list looks awesome. It's meant to be.
Oh and the fancy scroll box? It's just because.