Stephen King on Writing

On Writing
Stephen King in his book "On Writing", said:

"Writing isn't about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it's about enriching the lives of those who will read yoru work, and enriching your own life, as well."

He said, "I never set a single word down on paper with the thought of being paid for it....And if you can do it for joy, you can do it forever."

His simple advice: "Read a lot, write a lot".

Limerick

Limerick

A limerick is a kind of humorous verse of five lines, in which the first and second lines rhyme with the fifth line, and the shorter third line rhymes with the shorter fourth.

Examples:

There once was a pelican named Izzie.
Who ate fishes until she was dizzy.
But the fishes didn't mind,
To be treated so unkind.
They were just glad to keep her so busy.

There once was a speaker of note
To his talks his books he would tote
Oh how he’d try
To get people to buy
Without feeling they were being grabbed by the throat.

Doula

Words of the Day
Doula: means mother's helper in Greek. A woman who assists another woman during labor and provides support to her, the infant, and the family after childbirth.

Balk: To stop short and refuse to go on: The horse balked at the jump. She balked at the very idea of compromise.

Your Excellency

Quote of the Day
"And just because people call you 'Your Excellency' doesn't mean you are excellent." ~ Mr Bilaharai Kausikan

"Coffee is not my cup of tea." ~ Samuel Goldwyn

Come Alive

Quote of the Day
Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come
alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who
have come alive. - Gil Bailie

Antidote for Stupidity

Antidote for Stupidity
Hear ye, hear ye, all ye stupid people. Want to be smart? How?
The Hamburg Medical research Institute says that SEX makes you smart.
Regular sexual intercouse promotes intelligence.

Now you know why some smart Singapore university students are making out in their dorm.
They are good model citizens too by heeding the call of the govt to procreate.

"Oh but I don't think anybody wants me", says the fat ugly one.
"Don't you worry. When the lights are off, every body is the same"

Compliments

Compliments

Some of the best things in life are free...like a compliment. Here's one from my toastmasters friend.

Run Bin said: "...Just wanna say that I've been following your samchoo.com blog with great interest. Your entries are always meaningful and insightful. I think you're a skilled writer, Sam. Keep up the inspiration!..."

From Terence Tay on Sep 04:
"I admire your spirit for starting this writer circle, and I really hope that this circle can not only expand and excel, but solidify and bring writing and reading to a new height in Singapore and around our regions."

From Natalie Pang on Sep 04:

"Just want to say thanks for all the information on copyrights,

publishing, marketing, etc you have shared here.  I am working on a

series of short stories and I can't tell you how much those bits of

information mean to me....Thanks for the encouragements. :) 

I admire your stamina and perseverence

in keeping such an interest group going.  Bravo!"

Compliment make my day and bring a smile. Thanks, my friends.

Business Strategy

Business Strategies
If you can't beat your rivals, buy them over. That's one of the business strategies used to domain a market.

When Microsoft could not beat Borland on technology, they buy over its top employees. Do you know that C Sharp was created by the architect of Delphi?

Once upon a time, most of the coffee shops in Singapore were privately owned. Then you see a lot of 'S21' name in its place. Now only the name 'Kopitiam' is seem in just about every coffee shop in Singapore.

The Price is Right

A director was once asked his secrets to getting his lady actress to strip naked for his movie. He said, "simply offer to double her salary. If she refused, double that amount again...until she reach the point of agreement". How well he understand the psychology of human greed, and the threshold of temptation.

For example, I hate crockroaches. But if you point a pistol at my temple and threaten to blow my brain out, I will eat it. Or if you offer me $10,000 to eat croachroaches in a Fear Factor contest, I will eat it.

When the price is right, you can buy a person's soul.

What Schools Don't Teach You

Political Rhetorics and the Fear Factor

In today's TODAY newspaper, the unofficial leader of the Opposition, Mr Chiam See Tong said:

"...our people have been treated like children for the last 40 years. They can only act when somebody tells them to...The reason why I didn't join the PAP is because of their style. Even now, it is an elitist party. I think it was the 1984 election, during on of the rallies in Fullerton, when Lee Kuan Yew asked, 'Who is is this Chiam See Tong? We looked up his record and he has only 6 Cs in his school certificate.' This sums up the PAP thinking. Do you think I want to join a party that runs down people like that? I would never."

He expressed the sentiments of many people. As obedient citizens we don't want to say it loud. How can we bite the hands that feed us? There's is a fear factor. We have seem the fate of some who oppose and make a lot of noise. They are either sued for saying the wrong things, charged for not being total honest in their tax declaration, or scolded for crossing the boundaries like "if you want to comment on politics, join a political party", or terminate their PR status.

Honestly, I am scared too. What if they come knocking at my door, or send me a lawyer's letter, or terminate my job. From their recent episode on a certain pilot, they know what you do, whether you have sold your car or your house or where your children study and why they quit their schooling. You don't know what they know about you! That's scary. It's like big brother is watching you. That's why you observe that people in the opposition parties are not civil servants - instead they run their own business. That's why some websites that are critical of the govt are not never registered in Singapore.

Before they erase me out of existence, let me state that they are a benevolent authoritarian. Yes they are not perfect (who are?), but I think they are, in many respect better, than other countries. The transformation in such a short period is amazing. It takes people of gumption, who are not afraid to be wrong, to make unpopular decision, to be cruel in order to be kind. Like him or hate him, he's only human like you and me. For the impact he made, and the transformation of the country, you got to give him credit. For that, I salute him.

To me, he shows what one person can achieve, when you put all that you have into focus. He shows what power can do, to change the world around us.

When LKY said Mr Chiam only got 6 C, that's a political rhetoric. One of the strategies in a political campaign is to belittle your opponent's competence. Even Jesus Christ was not spared. A married religious leader once said, what do Jesus Christ know about marriage, parenting and family life? He is a single while I am a married family man. He implied he is the better man. The next time you stand for election, just fill in this template: "He/she is not a _____, what does he/she know about ___". (Engage me as your consultant, and I'll help you fill in the blank and write your speech as well)

What the School Doesn't Teach You

The question is: Does a better academic qualification makes a more competent leader? The PAP thinks so. That's why it is filled with scholars and elites, the cream of the crops. Most of us think so cos in school, if we don't do score, we can consider stupid. And how can stupid people qualified to run a country? Of course in school, no one tell you that there are 7 kinds of intelligence. No schools tell you what you cannot learn in school - like being streetsmart. If you are too creative, like challenging the assumptions, you get ostracised by the teacher. No school will tell you that academic excellence is not the only measure of competence. ...maybe I should write a book on "WHAT THE SCHOOL DOESN'T TEACH YOU", or "WHAT YOU WON'T LEARN IN SCHOOL".

Do you know there are many successful entrepreneurs who don't have the degree? Mr Sim of Creative Technology. Bill Gates of Microsoft. Thankfully, one local writer has written a book about "SO WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE A DEGREE". Every school dropout should read this book. When the results are announced, teachers should give every of these 'failure' a copy of this book. Maybe they can save one person from leaping off the high building.

The Story of an Average Student
When I was in Secondary Four, I only got 3 'O' level. Not bad enough to repeat the Sec-4 class, and not good enough to advance to Pre-U. Stuck in nobody-wants-you land. Felt like a reject, a failure, a nobody. By the grace of the Catholic Church, I was accepted into Our Lady of Lourdes (OLOL) English School. My mum complaint that my school expenses was too high. There was no subsidies for private students. There was no transport concession.

My mum complaint that our family isn't as smart as our cousins, that we don't own big houses or drive cars or have management appointments, or score top in schools...like our cousins. We paled in comparison. Even my grandma taunted me. "If you can pass you A level, I will change my name to your sir name", she challenged me.

For the next two years in OLOL, I set my life mission. If I pass my exam, she will change her sir name. If I fail, that will be the end of my career future, my pride and what worth as a person. Every day, it was school - library - home. No dating, no movies for 2 solid years. I will stay in the library every single day, without fail, until the library close at 10 pm.

The A level results was out. One of my classmates. She was a sweet happy-go-lucky girl. Like to go movies, shopping, play and fun outing with her classmates after school. I saw her alone by the staircase, sobbing. For all the years in school, what has she to show? --- nothing. I had already learnt that lesson in my O levels. I did not come to OLOL to play. I did come to OLOL to date girls and have fun. I did not come to OLOL school to fail my exam. I come to OLOL to pass my exam - at whatever price it cost - even my life. I was prepared to commit suicide if I fail, cos I didn't see any other alternative.

Finally, after two years of pain, tears and sweat..and bread for lunch...no dates....no movies..no restaurant....I passed the exam!!! My grandma's mouth was finally silenced. But without the second language, the local university was a closed door. Not rich enough to go overseas. The dream was dashed. But the fire remains....until 20 years later, I saved up enough money to complete my university education.

The moral of the story? We all have the potential to excel. Sometimes the opportunity is not given to us - what with stupid barriers like a second language requirement. Or only the rich can afford a university education. Or we are not taught the proper way to learn how to study and remember. Or we were taught wrongly that history is about facts and figures. Were you taught about lessons to be learnt in your history lesson?

Don't write anyone off. Stop putting a label on anyone. Everyone deserve a second chance in life.

An Unpublished Writer

Poem of the Day
"To see a World in a Grain of Sand,
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower,
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand,
And Eternity in an hour"
~ William Blake

An Unpublished Writer
The secret of happiness is freedom, and the secret of happiness is courage.
I talk about my dreams of publishing a book since last year. But till now, it is still not published. And there's no one I can turn to for help. And those who can help wants to charge $800 for a 3-day workshop, or $15,000 for a complete package.

While in the draft, the content was never good enough. The curse of imperfection. Keep polishing...and polishing...and polishing. Never satisfied, never good enough to be published. It is a scary thought to be exposed to the public world once a book is published.

Will I ever see the ideas comes to print? And will it be well received?

It's a Sad Day

A Sad Day
It's a sad day yesterday. A mother tied a string to the arms of her one-year and two-year old child and then jumped down 25 floor down to her death. The elder child was still breathing for a while. Two little, but precious and innocent lives perished.

My children, My Teacher

Every day when I reach home and hug my two precious daughters, and seeing their smile and innocent beauty, I thank God for the precious gift of a life.

Yesterday, my 4-year old daughter, for the first time in her life, said to me, "Dad, you never say to Mummy 'I love you'". So I went to her mummy and whispered, "I love you". She was satisfied.

My 3-year old daughter always remind me everyday with this question, "Dad, you love me?". Everytime she was reprimanded by mommy, she would respond: "I love you"

My children have become my teacher. I am humbled.

24 Things to Remember

24 Things to Always Remember and One Thing Never to Forget –
by -Author Unknown


1. Your presence is a present to the world.
2. You're unique and one of a kind.
3. Your life can be what you want it to be.
4. Take the days just one at a time.
5. Count your blessings, not your troubles.
6. You'll make it through whatever comes along.
7. Within you are so many answers.
8. Understand, have courage, be strong.
9. Don't put limits on yourself.
10. So many dreams are waiting to be realized.
11. Decisions are too important to leave to chance.
12. Reach for your peak, your goal, and your prize.
13. Nothing wastes more energy than worrying.
14. The longer one carries a problem, the heavier it gets.
15. Don't take things too seriously.
16. Live a life of serenity, not a life of regrets.
17. Remember that a little love goes a long way.
18. Remember that a lot . . . goes forever.
19. Remember that friendship is a wise investment.
20. Life's treasures are people . . . together.
21. Realize that it's never too late.
22. Do ordinary things in extraordinary ways.
23. Have health and hope and happiness.
24. Take the time to wish upon a star.

And don't ever forget ... For even a day . . . How very special you are.

Goal of Education

What's the Goal of Education?

Jean Piaget said, "The principle goal of education is to create men who are capable of doing new things, not simply of repeating what other generations have done - men who are creative, inventive and discoverers".

What it means is that we have to sacrifice sacred cows and bulls, break the rules, dismantle the box instead of thinking out of the box, and questions the assumptions. This is antithesis to our current school education system which goes for the safe and proven route.

Tagline

Tagline of the Day
A plumber came in with a T-shirt that said, "Your p!ss and sh!t is our bread and butter."

Art of the Day
Mouth-shaped urinals

Quote of the Day
"We have no cure for greed, but we do have a solution for ignorance"

Writing Your Own Life Story

Writing My Own Life Story
In Lois Daniel's book "How to Write Your Own Life Story", I'm reminded that my heritage is not just in events in my country and the world around. My heritage is also in the day-to-day lives of members of my own family who have gone before me. He reminds me that I am given this special privilege of providing a link to that heritage for future generations.

He said:
"Write about yesterday. Write about today, which will be history tomorrow. Continue to write about all of your todays until the very end of your life. Pt the words on paper which will prevent your life and the lieves of other membes of your family from sliping into oblivion, leaving yet another generation of with only a tenuous link to its heritage."

A Day at a Time

A Day at a Time.
Our lives are changed, a day at a time.
I was wondering how some writers could find the perfect words, and why some have a poetic ring to it.
Today I decide to subscribe to www.poemhunter.com for a daily dose of poetry. Poetry is food for the soul.
I also subscribed to a new word a day to increase my vocabulary, an inspiration quota a day to perk up emotion.
I also subscribed to 2 table topics a day so that when table topics sessions come around during toastmasters day, I wouldn't freeze up.
A hug a day for a loved one keeps the intimate relationship alive.

What we are is the result of an accumulation of the daily dose of learning and habits.
Just daily discipline, in small step. That's all to it. THat's the simple secret to making changes in your life.

You Got the Power!
If you are not happy with your life, rewrite your script. You are the director of your life. Don't ever give your power to other people. Don't let Simon Cowell's opinion of you define who you are. You have the power. Use it.

Bad Boy

Bad Boy, Bad Boy,
Singtel has been a bad boy lately and someone there ought to has his head examined or chop off.
Why? They use an opt-in phone service.
When asked to justify, they said that their competitor M1 set the precedent.
Therefore their philosophy must be: Two wrongs make a right.

Another excuse was that they notify their customers by SMS.
Therefore their philosophy must be: Mere notification by SMS gives them the right to charge consumers automatically.

What do you call this kind of behaviour?

Wealth of a Nation

The Weath of a Nation

How rich are Singaporeans? - financially, morally, intellectually, emotionally, spiritually.

Here are the signs:

1. Many do not have enough money in their Medisave account. Almost 1 in 5 Singaporeans have less than $1,000 in their account.

2. We have a suicide rate of 1 per day.

3. People are downgrading their houses from 5-room flats. 3-rooms flats are now in demand.

4. A casino is going to be built. Did someone say that as long as he is around, he will never allow a casino to be built?

5. The education system. The aim of our education system was never to educate a person, but to get a good ranking. When schools were ranked by academic excellence, some subjects such as literature became optional subjects cos it is hard
to score. Now MOE has wised up and abolished the ranking by academic excellence.

Label a Person

Label A Person
When we start to classify people by streaming them in school, we will damage them emotionally. Of course the intent is good. If you are a slow learner, you go to a C class, and if you are a genius, go to the A class. So in the end, more people can graduate, some faster, some slower.

I was streamed in Primary 6 into Class B. Naturally I thought that those students in Class A were academically smarter than me. As a student, academic excellence was the only measure of success of a person. So if you fail an exam, you are label a 'failure', a 'reject' of the school system. And that brings shame to the family. And some committed suicide cos of the shame.

No one is school told me that there are other kinds of intelligence as well. Until I learn as a working adult that EQ is important, if not more important than IQ. No wonder, there are educated idiots around. No wonder there are smart people who are capable of making stupid mistakes. Brilliantly stupid?

I may be in the 'B' class. But don't you ever call me stupid. I will kill you.

Best Local Site

Best Local Site of the Day

For a thought provoking perspective at local issues from a local, visit www.yawningbread.org
The articles are well-researched and written. I enjoy the refreshing perspective.

For those who think that there are only two sides of a truth - it's either right or wrong, moral or immoral.
the author introduce the word the 3rd word - amoral.

He told a religious leader that he is not asking him to say homosexuality is right. He is asking him not to say it is wrong.

He said that some religion are passive, asking people to accept their fate, while some religions promise/advocate social justice. Interesting ways to take the same problems. Interesting to observe how some religious countries fare in the way they tackle their social problems based on their religious philsophy.

Food for thought.

Words From Survivors

Words of the Day
There's a lot of new words today from the article on Survivor - All Stars written by Brill Bundy.
The meanings are from www.dictionary.com

"Rob M. and Amber are canoodling for the sake of the game or because they're feeling frisky? "

Canoodle - To engage in caressing, petting, or lovemaking.
Frisky - Energetic, lively, and playful: a frisky kitten.

"Kathy returns from frolicking with the enemy."

"When the Mogo Mogos do straggle back to camp,.."
Straggle - To proceed or spread out in a scattered or irregular group.

"In case you fear that the love of a vapid woman will turn Rob M. soft .."
Vapid - 1. Lacking liveliness, animation, or interest; dull: vapid conversation.
2. Lacking taste, zest, or flavor; flat: vapid beer.

The more I learn new words, the more I realise how little I know. That's scary to know what you don't know. At least it's better than not knowing what you don't know. Every subject brings with it a whole range of words belonging to its domain. Reading what writers write about Survival - All Stars isn't all that bad eh.

It's great to have www.dictionary.com handy at the computer while reading. Most of the time we could guess what a new word means, but we seldom never use it.

Election Strategy and Polital Rhetorics

Election in Malaysia is in the air. It is interesting to observe the political rhetoric at play.

The basic strategy in a political speech is to convey 3 main points:
1. I am competent to do the job - look at my qualification
2. Trust me to deliver the promise - look at my past contribution. Dress like them. Speak in their dialect.
3. Here's the goodies for you when you vote for me.

The basic strategy to attack your political opponents in a campaign speech is a reverse of the 3 points:
1. Show the opponent is not competent to do the job. E.g what does a single knows about family problems? What does a military knows about running a corporation? An actor only act from a given script. Should an actor runs a country? What qualification do they have? blab bla bla.

2. Show that the opponent did not deliver the promise. E.g quote some promises made in the past and examine the outcome. Amplify some of the discontent and grouses of the people. Corruption is a pet topic.

3. Show how economic life has got worse and how some sectors of the population were neglected. We'll know that in any policy, there were alway be negative side-effects. Highlight them.

Another tactics used by some govt in power is the division of the terrority. If an area is anti-govt in majority, divide that area to dilute the votes. Other underhand tactics are to bribe the opponent to withdraw, to sue the opponent (simplest way is to sue them for not declaring their income truefully), to threaten/harass their family, to dig out some family dark secrets (e.g. a love affairs, political bribery).

Now you know why people say, Politics is a dirty game. It brings out the worst in people. Politics is not for the saints. It's for the shrewd.

Slogan for Singapore

Slogan for Singapore
The Singapore Tourism Board's new tagline for promoting Singapore is "Uniquely Singapore". Well every one is unique too. So what's so unique about Singapore? Reminds me of this tagline: "You are unique. So is everyone".

How about "Garden City - Green and Clean"? Nope. We are not the only country in the world that's green and clean.

Nga Thio Hoe suggested this: "The Lion City that does not sleep". He said that "Singapore is a throbbing city-state that's constantly on the move, a place where the clock does not stop."

Yes, I second that. It is moving so fast that all the evidence of your childhood is physically demolished. My old village was demolished. In its place stands a concrete lifeless building. The National Library will be demolished too.

Get a Life

I am typing this from a windowless cubicle. Shine or rain, flood or traffic jam, I'm no idea of what's happening to the outside world. I hop onto the bus before the sun rise and I hop onto the bus when the sun set. When I bring the bus-stop, I told my bus driver, "It's another day". Life is between home - office - home - bed.

You have the Power

Inspiration of the Day
Do not allow other people's opinion of you to become your reality.
You have the power to create your destiny. Have absolute certainty and take action.
Yea, you don't know what's ahead. Yea you might hurt and fall. Yea you might fall. But just do it anyway.
Anything worth doing is worth the blood, sweat and tears.

The Secret to Success

The Secret to Success
Common beliefs say that motivation leads to action.
But someone says otherwise: "Action leads to motivation".
What it means is, do the things you should do, whether you feel like it or not. If we run our lives on feelings, nothing much could be accomplished. As William Hung once said, he struggled on everything he did. But if there's no struggle, there's no achievement .

Here's a peek into Anthony Robbin recipe for success. I quoted:
"What's the secret to success? Often we assume that it's genius or luck. Anthony Robbins believes that true genius is the ability to harness our most potent resources simply by putting ourselves in a state of absolute certainty".

1,000 Places to See Before You Die

1,000 Places to See Before You Die
Singaporeans are proud to know that they have two entries in the guidebook.
They are the Singapore's hawker centres and Raffles Hotel.

The author, Patricia Schultz said, "Food-crazed Singapore is probably the best place on earth for sampling the astonishing variety of Asia's many cuisines."

If any visitors to Singapore have never try the food at a hawker centre, then it is like visiting India without seeing the Taj Mahal, the US without the Grand Canyon, Egypt without the Pyramid, or England with the Lake District.

Wealth of a Nation

The Wealth of a Nation
How do you measure the wealth of a nation?
The answer: By the demand of real estate.
In good times, people want to upgrade their houses, there will be demand for 5-room flats and less for 3-room flats.

But now there are 10,000 excess 5-room units apartments and a greater demand for 3-room apartments.
People are downgrading.

Now you tell me, is this a sign of good time or bad time? Are the people prospering or are they getting poorer?

Speaking Corner

Casino in Singapore

Here's a quiz for you:
If you know that smoking is bad for health, and you are against smoking,
will you work for a tobacco company because the pay is good?
Will you endorse their advertisement and allow their sponsorship because the money comes in handy?

If you ask the Singapore government, they will probably say yes.
Why do I think so?

If you are a parent, would you want a casino in your neighbourhood?
Now the govt is planning to build a casino in Sentosa.
Why? They say, to attract the rich and their investment

What happen to all the moral reasons against it? Such as underground loan-shark, drug peddling, family breakdown, bankruptcy, etc?

Of course, the Government will assure you that they will "...ensure that people do not get into trouble where they borrow heavily and whittle away their life-long savings..." He suggested a stringent criteria for membership.

The Government will assure you that they will put in place measures to ensure that criminal activities and social ills do not infiltrate Singapore society.

Tell me truly, how can you really ensure?
From a Christian perspective, I personally think they have sold their soul for the money.

Citizenship for Children
In the past, children of Singaporean women married to foreign men are not automatically given Singapore citizenship. Now they have changed their mind.

What's the reason for the turnabout?
Did they say "Oh, we have finally recognise the equal rights of women"? No, they didn't say that.

They say, "the time has change". What it means, to me, is that, these families are migrating to other countries. Now with the shortage of babies and a brain drain, they are trying to reverse the flow.

So my friend, the reason is economic, not because they recognise the equal rights of women.
The next time, when sacred cows or scared bulls are slaughtered, ask why.

Speaking Corner
The Speaking Corner is a joke. So you people want the freedom to speak. Ok, you ask for it, you got it. Here's the cliff. You can stand on this remote corner and speak all you want - to the birds and the bees. Only God can hear you. My foot says, the Speaking Corner is our proud symbol of democracy.

I'm Frugal, Not Cheap

Website of the Day

Free marketing tips at www.frugalmarketing.com

A Parent's Life

A Parent's Life

Mr Brown said, "All we know is that we have children to love, promises to keep, and miles to go before we sleep, and miles to go before we sleep."

Play to Learn

Are you Game for Learning?

The best way to learn is through play. It's fun. It relaxes the mind and bring out the creativity in us. Games helps in team bonding. Get out of the lecture room and venture to the fields. Let the game begins.

As Confucius said:
"What I hear, I forget. What I see, I remember. But what I do, I understand".

Is Math Relevant?

Math - Is it Relevant?

I used to wonder if math is still relevant in this age of calculator and automation.
Until the Career Planning workshop.

The lecturer started with a formula for the right job.
It goes something like: Job = Motivation + values + skill + wants + interest - constraints.

The ideas lights up inside my head.
Why not use formula to teach a subject? It is easy to remember.
There is a formula for success, a formula for failure.
There is a formula to explain science.
A system is an addition of parts...

Just about anything is life can be reduced to a formula.

Age is Just a Number

Age is Just a Number Game
The other day, I was at the Career Planning workshop. I asked the lady next to me:
"What's stopping you from doing what you love"
"Age," she replied. "Once you past the age of 40, nobody wants to employ you".

What has age to do with job performance?

Age is just a number game.
Change your age.
A Hong Kong film star once said: "I'm 27 year old every year".
Consistency is never changing your mind about your age.
Like they say: "Always young at heart"

Babies Wanted

Babies Wanted

The govt complaints that we are not producing enough babies. I think I know why.

I remembered in Sec 3 when we were learning biography and there was a chapter on the human anatomy.
The teacher skipped that chapter. That goes my sex education. There's no sex education in my days. Pornography is censored. How are the people going to learn how to produce babies?

Or maybe they are not fcuking hard enough.

Do you know that out of every 4 babies born, one is aborted. We have one of the highest abortion rate in the world. Isn't it time to launch the 'Save the babies' campaign?

I got the impression that they want us to stop at 3. Cos they don't give the 4th child Edusave.
I got the impression that they only want smart babies, not stupid. How come the SDS and SDU only accept O level graduates and above?

What's the solution?
1. Let give away some goodies. Like free viagra. A year supply of viagra for those age 40 and above.
2. Married couples are not allowed to buy condom. Make it a control item. You can only it by doctor's prescription.
3. 9-month National Service for women.
4. Import foreign talent who can produce.

Well, you don't need a million dollar salary brain to generate these ideas. You can take it. Just send me some peanuts.

How to Get a Good Book Review

How to Get a Good Review for Your Book ?

Here's a secret that nobody wants to confess. Contact the readers via e-mail and offer to send them a book if they agree to write a positive review of it. Which bookworm does not want a book for free?

Celebrities and famous people are too busy to write a review. Simply write it on their behalf.
Do you think the CEO write his own speech? Do you think the President write his own speech. Do you think that most famous people write their own books. Of course not.

When I left my ex-company, I asked for a testimonial. She said, you write for me and I will just sign it.
I never knew I look so great in the testimonial. What how come they don't proposed a counter-offer to keep me?
Talent are aplenty. No one is indispensable.

Nothing is Everything

Nothing is Everything

A successful million dollar table (MRDT) insurance agent was asked what he wanted to be. He said "Nothing". What do you mean? No work. Just laze around. Walk by the beach with my kids. Do nothing.

For the Buddhist, nothing is everything. To empty your mind is the aim of life. No worries, no burden, no pain, no suffering. Nothing.

For Rich Hatch, the survivor champion, wearing nothing is something. It's a fashion statement. "I don't care a damn what the world think about me. I like the way I look".

If anyone can walk out of the house, travel around the world with nothing, there's something, man.

God creates everything out of nothing. Nothing is impossible.


Ask a teenager what he wants to do with his life. Probably he will say "Nothing". What are you doing? Nothing. What are you thinking? Nothing. What's bothering you? Nothing.

I want nothing. I don't want anything. I am nothing. I have nothing more to add.


Free Free Free

Chicken business has been bad lately cos of the Flu virus. Don't eat chicken. Better be safe than sorry.
An innovative chicken stall offered free chicken rice. Suddenly out of nowhere, there's a 3-hour queue for free food. Some went for second round.

What' the lesson here about the Singapore mentality:
1. That it's ok to take the risk if it is free
2. That its ok to waste 3 hours of your life for a $2 plate of chicken rice. Maybe their salary is worth less than 50 cents per hour.
3. That it's ok to go a second round. You eat even if you are not hungry.
Do you know that shoppers buy even if they don't need it. They buy cos it is cheap.

A Fraud Came a Knocking

Yesterday a 40-something man came knocking at my house. He told my wife that I ordered a computer and has come to collect a $1000. She said she will call me up. The fraud vanished suddenly.

Recently, a number of old ladies have been conned to part with their money with cheats. Some variation of the stories like "your son is in hospital and need money for operation...", "I lost my wallet and need some money to take a cab home...", etc. Some were promised they could make a fortune selling useless stuff like panadol and computer parts.

How to be a World Class Sports Nation

How to be a World Class Sports Nation

The buzz-word of the day is 'World Class", as in world class defence, world class career, world class salary for world class scholars. Lately our sportspeople are not doing too well in the international arena. Too busy studying or making a living. Where got time to take an afternoon off for practice?

So, our bright management brought in some foreign talents and won us some gold medals. You see some of these foreign imports in table tennis, badminton and soccer. Born in China, breed in Singapore. At one time, the CEO set the vision for our football team to reach the world's final by 20xx.

Since we are good at importing foreign talents, why not import the whole Brazil team and offer them a Singapore passport? One of them was given a Singapore citizen. He earned about half a million after less than 10 years, and was able to afford to buy 5 houses in Brazil. When his service was no longer required cos he is deemed too old for the sport, he decides to pack his bag and go home. Afterall, for half a milllion, you can't even buy a field big enough to kick a ball around, in Singapore. In Singapore, only the very rich can roll out of their bed and kiss God's sacred land. For the rest of the folks, you can kiss the marble floor, stacked somewhere in the concrete jungle.

Parable of the Zoo

How to Cut Cost - the Way of the Zoo

Times are bad and everyone is thinking of how to cut cost. I learnt from www.mrbrown.com that we can pick up a tip or two from the Zoo.

Why have so many animals of the same type when you can have one? Instead of having 5 elephants in the enclosure, just have one, since they all look the same. You have less shit to clean. With less animals, you can retrench some the shit cleaners.

Another way is to retire the senior chickens who have contribute hundreds of eggs in their lifetime, by culling them as part of the Chicken Flue contingency practice. These chickens are heroes of the Zoo, who sacrificed for the nation, so that the authorities can do a rehearsal on how to cull them properly. After culling 5,000 chickens, the great discovery was that the old workers are suffering from backache after carrying crates after crates of chickens stacked from the lorries.

To increase the revenue, a new Zoo ruling is that every animal must add value. Elephants must now provide rides for the visitors. 'Ah Meng' the orang utan has to eat breakfast with the visitors and posed for photo taking. The zoo has provided additional training to upgrade their skill. 'Ah Meng', our star performer is trained in modeling and photo-posing. The parrots are stationed at the entrance to usher the visitors in. Everytime a visitor enters, they would do a catcall and utter a word of welcome. After all, parrots are the only animals that can talk.

The zoo rent out snakes, who are word-class dancers, to entertainers, among them MJ and Jacky. I heard that MJ, after the success of the moon walk, is going to introduce his next revoluntary dance move. He might be drawing inspiration from the elegant moves of the snakes. Ages ago, Jacky has already mastered the snake strike fist movement from them. For generations, the Chinese must long master the art of 'eat snake'. So, you see, if the Zoo can market the snakes, and franchise their dance steps, the publicity will bring them big money.

Lions are expensive to maintain. They eat a lot, takes up a lot of space. To cut cost and add a dose of 'reality show', the zoo has decide to train a cat to roar like a lion. To add volume to its roar, it's getting the help of modern technology to amplify and digitise the voice. If William Hung, who cannot sing or dance, can be an American idol, any cat can roar like a lion.

If you want to learn how to run a family / organisation /country on a tight ship, take a leave from the zoo. Want to know more ? Pay a visit to "The Parable of the Zoo"

What's in a Name

What's in an Name

I was watching the 'Wheels of Fortune' on TV yesterday. One of the contestant's name was 'Miracle'.
One of my niece is called "Grace'. Some of us have names like 'Stupid'. My mother called my eldest sister "Crying Babe". That name sticked with her for 40 years. My grandfather called my 5-year old daughter 'potato head'. She thought it's a compliment.

Unemployment in Singapore

Unemployment in Singapore?

Mr Brown learnt that according to Manpower Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen, there are enough jobs for Singaporeans. Thank you sir, for the good news. 100,000 unemployed Singaporeans will be glad to hear that.

Career Planning

Career Planning
Today attended a 1-day course in career planning.
There's no such thing as career path. You have to create and lay your own path. If there's no path, you create your own future.
Worklife Pte Life gives the class a formula to derive your ideal job:

Ideal Job = Motivation + interest + value + skill - constraints.

There are 4 kinds of people : Fact, Future, Form, Feeling.

Abortion to Adoption

Abortion Rate

I heard from Parliament today that there are 13,000 abortion a year, of which 2/3 are from married couples?
Isn't it a cruel way of birth control? Or are they ignorant of birth control? Why isn't there a campaign to teach married couples how to do so?
Why is the silence so deafening? Can God hear the cries of the babies, silence within the wall? Can God feel the desperate kick of the baby within the womb? Can the mother feel the pain of the child inside her? Where' the justice?

There are 700 adoption a year, of which half are from foreign countries.

Tips for Writers

POD
Here's a place for self-publisher to print their book on demand (POD) --> http://www.pabd.com
The disadvantage of POD is the high cost. About US$10 per book, which is hard to sell.
The advantage: you can print in small quantity.

A local publishing company, Elisher Communications advised getting a company to sponsor your book publishing. For example, if I want to write a book about how to get out of debt, I could possibly get an insurance company to sponsor the cost of publishing. It would make a good book for the financial agents to give away to their customers.

Another writer suggests writing and sell it to the corporations such as non-profit organisations. Instead of selling to each customers painstakingly, sell thousands to just one big company. They could use the books to raise funds for their organisation.

An idea for writers. Observe what's the latest happening in current affairs and write a book on it. If it is terrorism, wwrite about the terrorists, what's their profile, their philosophies and how they operate. If a candidate is elected, write a profile of the candidate and his impact. Readers are looking for answers to the problems of today.

After reflecting on the way my Govt implements policies to solve national problems, and how we are known for our efficiency in running the administration, I am tempted to write a satire on "How to Run a Country the Singaporean Way". It always have a way to get what it wants. By legislation, by $, by campaign. E.g how to solve car overpopulation? - COE ($). How to control maids overpopulation? - maid levy. How to prevent Singaporeans jamming the causeway and loss of revenue cos of cheaper fuel ? - fined those who carry less than 2/3 (or 3/4?) fuel tank at the causeway. $$$ works wonder. Hit them where it hurts.

The other day, my big boss solved the problems of employees not contributing enough to meet the quota of three quality suggestions per year. His strategy - those who cannot meet the quota will not get their off-days. Hit them where it hurts.

Want to know how to raise fund? The big shot mentioned a figure. The CEO promised to deliver. Everyone is strongly encourage to 'volunteer' to have at least a certain portion of their leave deducted. If they do not want to volunteer, they have to see the boss to explain. What would dare to say no and risk the wrath of the management and risk getting blackmark for promotion?

I am also tempted to write something on "How to be Office Smart the KS way" in the style of Dilbert. e.g. How to look busy doing nothing, how to make an impression with your cubicle. The art of decorating your cubicle to impress your boss. How to carry your boss, etc.

Eloquent Ranting

Best Ranting
Here's a young lady, Alicia who received the Diarist Award for the best rant.

She's one of the most eloquent writer I have come across. If you want to know what eloquence is, read this:

Are they Heros?
About Alicia
Letter to her Grandma

Are you my Nanny?

Is the Government My Nanny?

I'm beginning to feel that the govt is behaving like a good old nanny. He tell you what you should or should not do, so much so that you don't have to think anymore.

A case in point. They came up with a new ruling on adoption - that only those who are about 30 year old with an annual family income of S$32,000 are eligible to adopt babies. Of course, it is logical that at this age, a family is more ready to take that responsibility and with that income to maintain the baby. Of course, it is for the good of everyone.

That implies that if you are below 30 years old and earn less than $32,000, you are not capable of bringing up the baby. "But I cannot bear children...but I am mature beyond my age and I am ready to be a mother....but I love children...but my simple lifestyle is enough...but...."

No exception to the rule. Our rules are transparent. Above board. No Mdm, you are not eligible.

It has a grading system for the hygiene of hawker stalls. And now it has one for cleanliness of toilets. Do we have to be told which stall is hygiene and which toilet is clean?

Now with 'Romancing Singapore' campaign, we are reminded to be romantic and have more babies.

Give me a break. I thought my mom and my wife's nagging is bad enough. Try standing at the MRT and you are reminded every few seconds to stand behind the yellow line, no eating and drinking... Now even a 3 year old kid can recite it like a national anthem. Oh yea, we are a nation of no-brain idiots and that's we need to be constant reminded day in and day out, on how to behave in the MRT.

Remember long ago, they say no to bar top dancing. Reason: what if they fall down and hurt themselves? Until some smart brain are enlightened to know that we are not stupid kids who cannot take care of themselves, that they need to be sheltered from every evil things.

It would be a new world if ever the Govt stop telling the people what to do and how to do and treat the people like idiot children who have not grown up. Or maybe we are still idiots...stop ranting and listen to your nanny.

How to Write Your Own Life Story

How to Write Your Own Life Story by Lois Daniel

I borrowed this book from the library. Great book. Break it down by subjects. With good samples. Must have for the non professional writer who wants to write his own life story.

I found an email course on Writing your Autobiography and Journal at u3aonline.org.au. It's the cheapest.

"Write something worth reading or live something worth writing." ~ Benjamin Franklin

Words of the Day
Today, I see the word 'naked truth' in a refreshing light, thanks to my new Mary Terzian:

"Writing about painful memories helps us heal. It did for me. I cried for weeks and months every time I touched upon painful subjects that I had tried hard to bury. I covered them up. It was past history It didn't work. Finally I bared it all and felt like sitting naked in a roomful of clad people. If it comes from the heart it has to be the "naked" truth". ~ Mary Terzian

"Creativity... oozing out from every one of my pores." ~ Mary Terzian

One of my favourite writer is Caroline. I like the way she express herself - Poetic, simple, and in a quiet manner, but somehow could moves me to tears.

Here's an extract from her memoir:

"We were on our way to bury our sister and I was scribbling notes about her as we drove to the church, about a half an hour's drive from my new home. It was a kind of trip down memory lane as we had decided to say our goodbyes in the neighborhood of our childhoods. On a loose sheet of paper I had written about our incredible loss, our devastation at the tragic and wasted life of someone so young and beautiful. There was no way we could reconcile the guardian angel of our family with the desperately ill young woman who ended her life by throwing herself from a bridge into the water below..."

"We lived in chaos. Our house was a bit like mum's mind - a mess. It was a clean kind of mess - the house that is, while mum's mind was more disordered than messy, and at times it made her irrational and unpredictable. It was easy to put the house in order, which she did from time to time. If only her mind could be fixed so simply; she may have avoided years of prescribed tranquilisers, electric shock and visits to "hospital".

Another favourite writer is Ruth. Here's what she wrote:

"I am 36 years old going on 17...I can't seem to stick with one interest and see it through to fruition. I resemble one of those fireworks that starts off brilliant and then fizzles at the climatic point. "

Why Work?

Why Work?
How do you define a slave?
Answer: doing something you hate, against your will
How do you define a corporate slave?
Answer: doing something you hate, but you have to, for the money. Selling your soul for the money

Why are we still corporate slave?
Answer: cos we do not know how to make a living.

A dad was out of job for so long and didn't know how to survive that he resort to hacking his children.
Here's the story.

People Power
Are you bitter about the situation? What do you do? Whine about it.

Here's a group of Israeli women who get fed up of their soldiers harassing the people at the checkpoints. If they were Singapoeans, they will probably write letters to the newspaper and complaining and hoping the Govt will do something about it

But these women didn't wait for some to do. They decide to take action and make a difference. And here's their story:

In Singapore, a big concert was cancelled and some customers were not given the refund. They don't know what to do. They don't know the ways of the law. Neither can they afford a lawyer to pursue the matter. But one of them, an ex trained lawyer, took action and sue the organiser for compensation. Organiser paid, but short of $15. She engaged the lawyer and got the organiser's bank account freezed.

What do I learn here? That big bullies victimise small people. Unless they start to stand up for their rights. Unless they are willling to pay $1,000 to recover $10. Unless they are willing to go through the hussle, the inconvenience, and the energy to pursue justice. Unless they rally other like-minded people, nothing gonna change.

What do I learn here? That small people has the power to change the equation, to make the difference. It's called People Power. It is the People Power that topple the Suharto Regime. But the price was the bloodshed of the students. It is the People Power that topple Marcos. But the price was the assassination of Aquino's husband and the persecution of the opposed. It is the ordinary people with extraordinary courage who are not afraid to testify and speak the truth.

What do I learn here? That each of us has the power to change our circumstances. We don't need to seek permission from anyone. When I wanted to have a toastmasters club in my community, I asked around if anyone is interested to set up one. Well, cannot find anyone to do it. So I just went ahead and start one. Easy? Hell no. Worth it? yes, every sweat of it.

If Mother Teresa can make a difference to the poor and dying , if Gandhi can make a difference to overthrow British colonism, if Martin Luther can challenge the establishment, if Martin Luther King can rally the blacks to stand for their rights, so can you and me.

The first thing that you and I can do, is to start to learn to make a living for yourself, to live your dreams, stop listening to the critics, silence the critic inside your head, erase the word 'Impossible' from your vocabulary, get out of your day dream and just do it. Igore the red lights in the road of your life. It's your life. You owned the road. Just go.

My Toy Girl

My Toy Girl

Feeling depressed? Try shopping therapy
That's what I did during one of my blue days.
I went to the Giant Yaohan Store at Plaza Singapura.
The mood was like Disneyland and it brought out the child in me.
The vast array of goodies, the temptation of the eyes, oh they are
irrestible.
I was so happily distracted from my obsession with my depression.
I was like a happy child again.

A pretty little 'girl' caught my attention.
She smiled and waved at me.
She's has long blonded hair and big round eyes.
What a beauty.
"You made my day". I smiled back.
"I have to have you"

And that's how I bought the first and only toy in my life.
She sat in front of my working desk and never fail to bring a smile to
me. I was in my 30s and single. She was the best alternative to a girl
friend..until I got married. It vanished. Forgotten.

One day my writing instructor, Angela Hoy asked the class to write about their toy.
Ah, now I remember.

Yesterday evening, I asked my DW where's my toy. She said she kept it
in the cupboard. I asked her why.

"It's dusty", she replied nonchalantly.
"Why keep it when it is meant to be displayed and enjoyed?". I was annoyed.
"I want to put it on my office desk". I insisted.
"Better not. What if someone steal it?". She ignored me.

Here's a photo of her with her boyfriend called "The Laughing Buddha"

Ort

Word of the Day

Ort (n) a small scrap or leaving of food after a meal is completed

This wonderfully useful word comes from a Middle English word, orte (food left by animals) and dictionary.com tells us this probably originated from Middle Dutch.

"Oh, Reginald. Who left that ort on the table?"

chutz·pah n.

Utter nerve; effrontery: “has the chutzpah to claim a lock on God and morality” (New York Times).

Nebulous

Words of the Day

neb·u·lous - Lacking definite form or limits; vague: nebulous assurances of future cooperation.
e.g Childhood. Very nebulous.

Pall - A covering that darkens or obscures: a pall of smoke over the city.

What's your occupation? Corporate slave. Civil servant.


Book Title
How's this title : "The Immigrant's Son". Memoirs of growing up in Singapore".

Where to Sell Your Travel Book

Travel Writing

Sell your travel ebook at http://hadami.com/ 50% commission.

Autobiography Writing Course

A free self-study Autobiography writing course by Susan J. Letham

Content:
Life Lore Introduction
Topic 1 - Naming the Baby
Topic 2 - Then and Now
Topic 3 - Family
Topic 4 - Parents & Siblings
Topic 5 - Schooldays
Topic 6 - Hometown Life
Topic 7 - Sweet Sixteen
Topic 8 - Young Adulthood
Topic 9 - Career or Calling
Topic 10 - Partnership
Topic 11 - Life Themes
Topic 12 - The Road Ahead

Great Writers

The Writer of the Day

The greatest American short story writer of her generation was Flannery O'Connor (1925-1964)

Meyer Berger is also another writer, worth studying.

Advice to writers: "Read a lot. Write a lot."

Word of the Day
Lamaza - preparation for child birth without drugs

The Art of Memoir

The Art of Memoir

"...In writing my memoir I’m returning to my past. I’m returning to the people and the places that existed long before I was born..."

The writer of the day: Christopher Mahon. I like his writing style. Similiar to mine. Short sentence. Poetic.

I bargained with Life

Poem of the Day

I bargained with life for a penny
And life would pay no more
However I begged at evening
When I counted my scanty store

For life is a just employer
He gives you what you ask
But once you have set the wages
Why, you must bear the task

I worked for a menial's hire
Only to learn dismayed
That any wage I had asked of life
Life would have willing paid.

JESSIE B. RITTENHOUSE
American poet and author
(1869 - 1948)

For more poems

Memories

Memories
My mother is aging. Yesterday at the family gathering for David's last dinner with us before his posting to Hong Kong, mom looked pale like a withered flower. One eye was half closed, while the other eye has the starry look of Michael Jackson. She complained of stomach 'blot', pain in her legs, a weak heart beat and discomfort. She could not sleep.

I consoled her. "It's old age symptom". I know in my heart that her days are numbered. And she will bring into her grave her history and her memories. She has given me the most precious gift of life. My name is aptly mean "precious birth". In return, the least I could do is to write her life story, to preserve her memory as a legacy.

My grandmother has died and her story of World World II was buried with her. How was her life like in China? Why did she married an opium smoker? How did she survive the Japanese Occupation? The answers to these questions were probably lost forever. I remember the day I spoke to her briefly in the hospital. She did not want to eat. I know that's the sign. I walk out of the hospital knowing that would be the last time I will ever see her again. I will never forget the day.

My eldest sister died suddenly at the age of 40. Her story was buried with her. She did not complete her primary education cos of family poverty. She could not read English. Yet she was able to open a hair salon and a beauty salon. She never understood the meaning of impossible in her dictionary. Once she was working as a part time real estate agent. She asked me to translate a form (which was written in English). She showed me that you don't need a degree to be successful in business. You need to be street smart, guts and and ignorance about impossibilities. She died in Beijing without a farewell dinner. What I learnt is "One day, tomorrow will never come".

My uncle is now in Johore Bahru. I was horrified when David showed me the picture of my uncle. Both his legs were amputated up to the knee. Oh the quality of life. I would rather die than live in this painful condition. He has to undergo his weekly kidney dialysis.

Today as I start the e-course on 'Remember, Write and Publish Your Life Story" by Angela Hoy, will I be able to write the story of the Greatest Woman in my life? Will I be able to capture the essence of this woman of substance?

Ideas for Writing

Ideas for Writing
Diana from Simple Living suggested that:

"...I think there should be a "Quit Whining About Your Life in America; You Could Be Living Here" post that we all have to read weekly, containing horrific examples of how people in other countries (men, women and children) have to live..."

Words

Words of the Day
"...end of my little lesson on a tiny aspect of Singapore history to my band of six bright young medical students, each of them cream of the crop, pride of their JCs, and scorers of numerous As and distinctions"

"...Junior college was supposed to be a passport to university, but Meridian (college) has proven to be my passport to life..."

Self Publishing in Singapore

Self Publishing in Singapore.

Here's a writing service based in Singapore => http://www.tepub.com/

Singapore writers can be found at www.writers.net