why wy?

You have to visit the department of vague paranoia It tells you what to do in case of a terrorist attack, fire or zombie attack. (Answer: Run, run like hell.) Set up by a self-confessed British geek (is a geekier combination possible?), he's now even more famous after the government told him to shut the site down. They were afraid people would take it for a real site. And you would think zombie attacks and slagging Tony Blair on the start page would be a dead giveaway. Hmmm.

Speaking of Blair, he's morphed from being a cool, ,eloquent, with-it PM to an eloquent, receding hairline hand puppet. Kinda sad, he used to be one of my favourite politicians, a hard bunch to like. Here's the rest of the list, dead and alive: Mandela, Gandhi (may have been swayed by Ben Kingsley's performance), PM Goh, Clinton, Helen Clarke (she rappels and is better looking than Margaret Thatcher).

Had a super chilled-out weekend so far. We went to listen to dreamy, folky music at a pub. One of the bands was called Tamas Wells, which just so happens to be the lead singer's name as well. Very Coldplay, even more dreamy. Raided Monica's cd collection, she has some amazing french stuff. Like les negressess vertes and francoiz breut. And I played some music I got from pitchfork media which has tracks from up and coming bands. Bit of a mixed bag, but there are some nice ones. Ah.

Two signs that winter is ending soon:
1) The sun is setting half an hour later, at 6 instead of 530pm.
2) One of the big department stores sent out their spring catalogue. (Admittedly this is not a meteorological sign)

Unfortunately, someone forgot to tell the big guy upstairs. I came down to find my windscreen had completely iced over the other day. It was a good thing I didn't have access to hot water cos I would have just poured it over the glass, which is not a good thing because it would have cracked. I just used my fingers to scrape off the ice till I couldn't feel them. My fingers that is. Sometimes I get worried with the stuff I do with my hands - akido, rock climbing - and I really hope it won't affect my future career. Must start climbing as soon as it gets warmer.

 
It was open day at the museums (read free) yesterday, so we went to take a look. Not too sure about the state of modern art, but to me, badly taken photographs are not my idea of profound, life-changing art. I mean, there is artistic blur, like lomo, and just blur. Oh, and there was a lamp post and park bench as well. It was fresh when marcel did it in the 60's (i think) but it's not very original any more is it? The coolest exhibit (literally) was a suspended chandelier, encased in a ball of ice, kept frozen by a very quiet motor snaking up to meet it. The other was a series of delicately carved sardine cans, sprouting silver ferns, flowers and leaves.  Saw an interesting statue of circe the sorceress who turned men into pigs. The first thing I noticed was her posture, which was a classic swayback, ie her lower back was really curved and her shoulders were really far back. It's a little unsettling to be so clued in to the books. Definitely a nerd moment. 

Had lunch in a very French, very pre-war looking bakery. Turns out it's only been around for the last five years. You wouldn't be able to tell, it was really well done. Just as good as the old thing.

The same could be said of Segano's foot. Segano is this extremely high-level akido master who was in town to give a lesson on Saturday. He lost his foot to diabetes, so he wore shoes on the mat (a major no-no). Apart from a slight limp, you wouldn't even suspect it. So many instructors turned up for the lesson that, for a moment, they looked like whirling dervishes, just less colourful.

Today in dissection what we did would have made mortal kombat veterans proud. Yes, we ripped out the spinal cord. And we did it the old-fashioned way, with what looked like a wire cutter plier thingy, no electric saws.  It was all right, but the crunch crunch as we got rid of the bone was a little upsetting.

There was an article in the papers today, about a surgeon who was practising in intensive care even though he had lost most of his vision after heavy bleeding. He was legally blind, and admitted that he saw the world through a "heavy black curtain", although his sight did improve until it was a "fine, black curtain". I guess when they say they can perform operations with their eyes closed, they weren't kidding.

We had our blood sugar tested in the lab today and, funnily enough, Nicole and I had the lowest glucose levels despite having a full breakfast. We were actually supposed to fast before doing the tests. My reading was a measly 1.9, and the normal pre-meal level is around 4-8.  You should have seen the look the tutor gave me, it was a "good, god, why aren't you in a coma''' look. Funny stuff.

Then, I told him what I had for breakfast two hours before: Cup of tea, three slices of raisin toast and a pear. He just shook his head.
Nicole scored a low 2.3. Everyone else was in the 3-5 range, and these were the volunteers who hadn't eaten.

Then, we had to skull a sweet beverage. Mine tasted like honey water, only like honey that has fused with a plastic bottle for two years. Turned out to be fructose. Our sugar levels shot up when we tested 20 minutes later, but Nicole's chart really took off. Even the lecturer was amused. Apparently she's got a turbo-charged liver. My chart was like a roller-coaster, it started rising after a small dip.  Anyway we were all laughing after that class, not sure if it was just the effect of too much sugar. I felt sick later, like when you gorge yourself on chocolate cake. But I reckon it is better to feel sick after a good meal (decadent choc orange brandy cake for example) than a bad one, cos at least you would have enjoyed the meal.

We figured that it'll be more fun if we had brownies and hot chocolate instead of pee-coloured drinks. Then, the experiment would have real-life implications.

Still reeling from the ipod news. Best things about the fth gen: 1) 12 hour battery life 2) charging via USB, a godsend for those using PCs 3) more streamlined interface. Not sure if it is more user-friendly though. 
 
The other improvements are with the menu, and I could live without them.
 
Got a free book from the library, title: The Meaning of Meaning. Every now and then, the library gets rid of books, like obsolete software books, nursing manuals and generally books written in the 50s. But there are philosophy books sometimes, so I pick them up, in the hope that I will read them one day. Am assuming this book is about epistomology, which is, at best, fascinating and, at worst, a headache. It bought back not altogether unpleasant memories of Philosophy honours class, Heidegger's the being of Being.  That was definitely headache-inducing, but good to confuse friends with.

The new ipods are out. Why, oh why? They look nicer and reputedly have four hours more battery life. I want a new one..... and mine's not even a year old.  I was going to post more but am too depressed.

Just spotted 3 ipods in the last hour at school, which is amazing. My classmate's got a new one, someone else in the lecture was using it to record notes (belkin recorder and battery pack) and the third was just walking down the hall with the remote sticking out. I'm waiting to see if there will be an ipod backlash when it becomes too popular, like starbucks. Not that I'm a dissenter, no, I love my poddy. Especially when we moodsync and it plays a great playlist on random.

This is going to be a long and sporadic theme. In no particular order:
1) Ring tones that sound like engaged tones. If I was supreme ruler of the universe (one of my lesser-known ambitions) or even a lowly orderly at the UN, I would conspire to have a unified ringing tone system.
The phone is ringing: ring, ring.
The phone is enaged: toot, toot.
Simple. But noooooo. I've heard ringing tones that sound like another country's engaged tone, sort of like toot, toot, but with longer toots. It pisses me off, not knowing whether I'm waiting for someone to answer or just holding on like a desperate, psychotic ex.
 
2) People who think that Singaporeans don't speak English. After getting that all of first semester, I turn on the telly and there are these stars being interviewed. Surprised, that the audience understood the musical because it was in ENGLISH. You can make fun of us for other things (chewing gum, nepotism) but not knowing we speak English just makes YOU look dumb. It's time for Australia to move into the global village, instead of being in the global outback.  
If it happens to me one more time I'm going to teach the person to say good morning to your mother in Hokkien and tell him it's a polite greeting. 
 

Found this absolutely funny post, comparing windows to a streetwalker and mac to a lover. And don't forget linux, the psychotic ex-girlfriend. The Fishbowl: The Mac is a Harsh Mistress

My anatomy prof made this snipe the other day: He said he had a neckache but wasn't about to see a chiro. That's because ""I know how much you know''''.

I just had a beautiful morning.
 
Drove to St Andrew's market, which is far, far from the city. It had a nice hippie feel about it, with lots of stalls selling chai tea. And the sun's out, which is very nice because it's supposed to rain today and be miserably cold. Came home with chocolate soap (smells lovely) and a tray of organic eggs. The egg-seller said there might even be some double-yolked ones, so it'll be like getting the lottery. Don't remember ever getting a doubler yolker. Me and Nicole shared a raspberry muffin and a fruit tart thingie, and I tasted some turkish delight as well. Very nice.
 
Am overwhelmed by a sudden love for all things raspberry. Like the knitted beanie I bought, which is blue with a raspberry trim. By the way, I like making food colours, like wine, avocado and oatmeal instead of purple, green and beige. Need to finish the marmalade so that i can i) buy raspberry jam; ii) make my own orange marmalade.
 
Was up last night making creme caramel and a quiche, only because the eggs were expiring at midnight. It'll be the last time I try to make two things simultaneously.  
 

We passed the sleepy town of Robe, on the coast of South Australia. Robe is famous for being the landing spot of Chinese immigrants during the Gold Rush. At that time, Victoria charged a 20 pound toll on entry, (like airport tax) which was the same the immigrants paid to sail here anyway. So the Chinese landed in South Australia and walked the 400km or more to the gold fields to save money.

Cue the chorus: Wah lau, the Chinese are really kiam siap (stingy).

Let them inspire me in my quest to save money.


Animals that have taken a bite out of Nick
emu
snowy (giant dog)
rabbit
kangaroo (more like a punch)
assorted fish
squid (stung)

Animals that Nick wants to take a bite out of
kangaroo (done)
rabbit
possum
snowy (just kidding)
penguin
civet cat

There is a trend here... but unfortunately it will have to wait because Nick has decided to turn veggie. Not for any pangs of conscience but because he wants to lose weight.

adelaide and dandenong pictures here

it's back to school and waiting for the horrendous print queue. sigh.

Check this out. A softer world, it's a comic strip with photos. A bit too hip maybe, but fun nonetheless.

WARNING: DO NOT PAT  

David Bowie is human after all, for those conspiracy nuts who think he is actually the man who fell to earth. Showing his first signs of age, he had a stent inserted in his heart. I guess it will be a sign of things to come for all elder rockers - Rolling Stones, Simon and Garfunkel, The Eagles, Aerosmith. Have the paramedics on standby, direct the groupies to the opening band.

And a guy was attacked by a shark off Western Australia. Someone sent me a SMS about it. I don't know who it was, but thanks for the concern. I think I'm pretty safe - Perth is pretty far to swim to, and the sea is very cold this time of the year. Heated pool or nothing.

A man tried to pick me up today, while waiting to cross the road. White hair, coat, European, in his 50s.

Man: Where are you from? Thailand>
Me: Singapore. Where are you from? Italy?
Man: No, Romania. (Insert corny transavanian joke: we were actually 10m from House of Dracula, an Igor's-type place.) I've lived here for 20 years.

His name was Biwl (pronouced bill, don't ask me how it works) and after some small talk, he pops the question.

Biwl: I like Asian women. Do you have any friends to introduce for me to marry?
me: Er, all my friends are married.
Biwl: Are you here alone?
me: yes, my HUSBAND just went back to Singapore. But he is coming back SOON.

More small talk (What to do, it was a long walk through an area with no shops to duck into.)

Biwl: Can I have coffee with you sometime?
me: No, I don't think my HUSBAND would like it.
Biwl: But he's in Singapore.
me: Er, no.
internal voice: Hellow? Me, go out with you? Eeeeuuuwwww

We come to another traffic light and I run across the road to the sanctuary of 7-11, not before giving the fake, wellitwasnicetomeetchoo spiel.

I did think of egging Biwl on, asking him if he wanted to meet me and my HUSBAND for a threesome, but I was afraid he would say yes.

My hand, my hand!!! 

Went for a drive to the Dandedongs today, only because there was nothing good showing at the cinemas. Turned out to be pretty spectacular, or spectacularly pretty, with the sun wafting through very, very tall trees.

Alas, we left the trails for the shops, which were all different, but the same, you know? Very yuppie, very chic, very designer and all playing the same guitar muzak. The sort that is nice the first time you hear it but slowly drives you insane.

Will put up pictures when school starts, and I can use broadband.

Joe is gone. I didn't have time to cry for him at the airport, because I was cheap and refused to pay for parking. So we said our goodbyes on the kerb.

We traded music just before he left - it will keep us company when we're apart. I've got Jack Johnson, which he heard playing in a cafe in Cambodia, and I introduced him to Rosey, an Irish singer I heard at Belinda's place. They are fantastic, and I'm sure they are on Amazon and the like, so go get them.

We actually had scones the day after I posted about nutella crepes, completely unplanned. The world works in yummy ways.

Am having the first super-healthy breakie in months: Brown rice balls, steamed veggies and non-caffinated tea. It's normally cereal or oat porridge. Sometimes leftover soup. I get a kick out of making nutella crepes, because it reminds me of Paris, but that's a weekend/holiday only breakfast. Not a gobble-gobble-out-of-the-house breakfast, unless you are merely doing the eating. Freshly-baked scones is another luxury. The next step is to convince Nick to make crossiants??.

The latest twist on Big Brother is amazing. They threw this girl out, then said there was a miscount and she's now back in the house. So another person will be cast out this week. But wait, there's more. It's double eviction this weekend. At first, I was wondering if it was all planned, but it didn't look likely as the producers was featured in the news, saying it was a mistake. I'm just amazed how the show managed to roll with it and turn it into a marketing phenomenon.

1. Always have two sets of car keys. This is useful when one of you locks the car with the key in the ignition and the engine still running.

2. Wood fires may be bad for the environment but ooooo... they are toasty.

3. Farts travel faster than the speed the car is travelling at.

4. The secret to a good stir-fry is a big fire and a wok that doesn't get washed.

5. Only tourists have outdoor barbeques in winter.

6. On the topic, a shrimp on the barbie is actually a sausage.

7. iPod + iTrip = Happy driver

8. Snowy, Nick's uncle's dog, is like a werewolf crossed with a grizzly bear. He looks cute, unless you are male and not family. Apparently, he doesn't bite females but I didn't want to risk being the proof for a logical fallacy. Nick, who was bitten the last time he visited his uncle in December, got bitten again and two holes in his sleeve to show for it. It's tradition, he says.

9. They do not have cable in the Barossa valley. Lest this reflect badly on me, it was actually the guys and football.

10. Rum that had 52% alcohol. Yo ho ho!

Joe is leaving in three days. Sigh.

Er, that post was a week late. Have been to Adelaide and back. The car made it, and we only had to replace the window wipers, which stopped in midswing. We also now know that the car rattles at 120kmh.
Highlights of the trip:
Drinking in the Barossa valley
Drinking Nick's uncle's wines (which are out of the student budget)
Drinking in Coonawara
You get the picture.

On the way, we passed a couple of 20m-long towns, all claiming to be ''Victoria's tidiest town''. And don't forget the giant lobster and the giant rocking horse. (By the way, there's a whole tour of australia's big things, like the giant orange, the giant worm and the giant catfish.)

Going to Adelaide feels like going to JB, food and parking is much cheaper than in Melbourne, but at 800km away, it's a bit further than just across the border. We had the best greek yoghurt ever, but it doesn't have a branch here. :(

Getting distracted by dead ringers, BBC's version of SNL. Will put up pictures when I get around to it.