Seven Dwarfs

December is such a busy month..

So many social activities planned, so many invitations.
 

Tonight, I am off to watch Snow White, by Wild Rice!



Be prepared for something totally wicked this Christmas as W!LD RICE returns for the 5th edition of its highly popular musical pantomimes, with the staging of SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARFS.
 

Why USA has a Crisis?

I am Baba....

Siapa Baba? is a thoughtful and wonderfully produced multimedia musical extravaganza which is currently being staged at Republic Polytechnic.

The beauty of this production is that it had many different layers, appealing to people of different generations - the young, the old and the not so old. What was very exciting was that it had beautiful new songs written by Baba Alvin Oon which brought out the traditional strain of the Peranakan Repertoire whilst updating certain sounds, giving it a contemporary twist.

Peggy Ferroa , the director and script writter wrote a tight script which combined various elements in the peranakan tradition, providing the history in a beautifully packaged way, combining dance, multimedia, lights and music. The resources available to her was tightly woven into a script making the 2 hours show a quick trip through the decades.

The acting use of Gani as a narrator and the ultimate ancestor of the family in question allowed for a framework, setting the parameters such that the audience is quickly drawn into the story.

What was most impressive was the way history was presented - weaving in and out from stage to screen to real interviews...

Definitely a show not meant for the museum... truly a Peranakan Revival...

If you have some time today, do head down to Republic Poly....

tonight

So today, on  a Friday evening, I will be heading down to watch Siapa Baba,  a brand new show by the main wayang company...

a night of mambo...

*creak* that's the bones creaking...

But it was great fun! 
I heard Summer Rain! 
Woo Hoo..

Mambo next week! 

I am excited..

Today is my last day of work before I go on a 10 day break..
Woo Hoo! 

Win Tickets to The Office Party!

For more details, go to www.fifo.sg

Competition Details

The Theatre is for Porn...

On Saturday, I went to catch Avenue Q with princesspink12 , bubblensqueak , 2centslook  , Ken Ho, TK and  Wanyun.

I enjoyed myself and it was a fun show to watch. The enjoyment was derived from the script and the catchy lyrics. I was less than thrilled by certain elements of the production.

Unfortunately, the role of Gary Coleman was played by lady who was not African-American. That was a jarring cast choice which I simply could not get out of my system throughout the entire show. The accent was not correct and the poignant moments where race and colour was important completely fell flat.



Excerpts from Wikipedia on Gary Coleman..

Avenue Q

Gary Coleman is parodied in the hit 2003 Broadway musical, Avenue Q, which won the 2004 Tony Award for best musical. A character presented as Coleman works as the superintendent of the apartment complex where the musical takes place. In the song, "It Sucks to be Me", he laments his fate.

In the Broadway musical, he states:

I'm Gary Coleman from TV's Diff'rent Strokes
I made a lot of money that got stolen by my folks
Now I'm broke, and I'm the butt of everyone's jokes
But I'm here - The superintendent! - On Avenue Q!

In the London production, his lyrics are:

I was the cutest little Black kid on TV
I made a zillion dollars that my parents stole from me
My life was over when I hit puberty
But I'm here - Fixing the toilets! - On Avenue Q!

In both versions, the character continues:

Try having people stopping you to ask you "What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?"
It... gets ... old!!

On Broadway, the role was originally played by Natalie Venetia Belcon.

In 2005 Coleman announced his intention to sue the producers of Avenue Q for their depiction of him, although as of 2008 the lawsuit has not materialized. At the 2007 New York Comic Con, Coleman said, "I wish there was a lawyer on Earth that would sue them for me."^[5]

A letter to the Red States...

Dear Red States:

We've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren't aware, that includes California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois and all the Northeast. We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especially to the people of the new country of New California.

To sum up briefly: You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cell research and the best beaches. We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood. We get Intel and Microsoft. You get WorldCom. We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss. We get 85 percent of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs. You get Alabama.

We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states pay their fair share. Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than the Christian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunch of single moms.

Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they're apparently willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don't care if you don't show pictures of their children's caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq, and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we're not willing to spend our resources in Bush's Quagmire.

With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percent of the country's fresh water, more than 90 percent of the pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 95 percent of America's quality wines, 90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools plus Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT.

With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs), 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the tornadoes, 90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, Clemson and the University of Georgia. We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you. Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacred unless we're discussing the war, the death penalty or gun laws, 44 percent say that evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was involved in 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazy bastards believe you are people with higher morals than we lefties.
Finally, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirt weed they grow in Mexico.

Peace out,
Blue States

Oh no I did not....

The 13 inch Macbook is where I am typing from...

This Weekend..

I am watching Avenue Q with the gang...



“The Internet Is For Porn”, “I’m Not Wearing Underwear Today”, “It Sucks to Be Me”…. These are just some of the hilarious songs that make Avenue Q unlike anything you’ve ever seen before. Currently one of the hottest shows in the West End and on Broadway, Avenue Q is a fabulously furry and fun-filled romp featuring an ensemble of actors and some very adult-minded puppets.

The New President of the United States

As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.

And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.

And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces, to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand.

To those -- to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security: We support you. And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.
-Victory Address by Barrack Obama, Chicago, Grant Park-

I wish I was in Chitown... (Chicago, my town)

Darn.. I should have had the foresight to take leave and be in Chicago this week. Party @ Grant Park!



Even without the presence of the candidate, who won't be joining us for some hours yet, Grant Park is an extraordinary place this evening - a blazing bowl of light edged with towering skyscrapers. The lights in the window of one building facing the stage about a mile across the darkness of the park are spelling out the letters "USA". News of significant Obama advances, like the network projections he will take Pennsylvania are greeted with an earthquake of noise that would have frightened the Beatles offstage. - BBC











The Mood in Hyde Park (hey, that's where I am from!)

Over at Medici, a local coffee shop and bakery Obama used to frequent, I bought a coffee and a chocolate croissant; the cashiers were bustling around, and one said crossly to another: "I can't do that today; I'm going to vote." On the back of the cashiers' shirts it said: "OBAMA EATS HERE." I asked one when she'd last seen him.

I ate at Medici Too!

As election begins in the United States....

This author supports Barrack Obama



For the rest of the world who cannot vote, there is a website by which you can... Guess who is leading?

CLICK HERE TO VOTE - IF THE WORLD COULD VOTE




I am and still is a staunch Hillary Supporter (although I must confess, I am not American). I think Hillary should have won the primaries. However, this is all water under the bridge now. Hillary has been a strong advocate for Obama and well, as America prepares itself for the finale to the greatest reality show on the planet, I am now swinging my support for Obama.
I wish him the best of luck and hopefully, he can make history.

Soldiering On, Clinton Preserves Her Options

The bitterness of that long primary battle, however, is the last thing that Obama supporters brought up about Mrs. Clinton in Florida last weekend. Of 20 interviewed, all effusively praised her. All 20 said that if Mr. Obama won, they hoped that she would be his secretary of state or that she would shepherd his health care or energy bills through the Senate. All 20 said they hoped she would run for president again.

“I would have supported her this year if not for her vote for the Iraq war and the fact that she never said it was a mistake,” said Jocelyn Bartkevicius, a Democrat and writer and editor who attended the rally here. “But she has been so strong for Obama this fall, such a good sport. I wouldn’t hold a long-term grudge. I’d be with her next time.”

Somebody's gonna get hurt real bad...

from laughing non-stop for 2 straight hours....



Russell Peters was awesome...
So last night, after months of anticipation, Wanyun and I went to The Rock at Suntec City to watch Russell Peters, Live in Singapore.
It was everything I was looking for - politically incorrect, no holds barred stand up comedy.

The Singapore crowd was loving it.

The Americans, Germans, Indians, Chinese, British, Iranians in the audience were all mocked.

The crowd was hooting and cat calling. They were laughing at every juncture...

After the show, Wanyun remarked, "Singapore is truly a cosmopolitan city. The audience even had an Iranian."

I agree.

 

The Night I was an ERP Gantry with Jeremy Tan

A year ago, I mentioned to the girlfriend that we needed to attend a Halloween Party before we became too old for it. I was all prepared to go as some guy dressed in an Akido costume and be like Ryu or something from Street Fighter.

A few months ago, a brilliant idea (if i must say so myself) dawned on me. I decided that the best costume for the year was to go as an ERP gantry. Unfortunately, my darling gf thought it was not glamorous enough to go as an ERP gantry. I could not convincenstopwonderland  to go with me as the other side of the the ERP gantry. Fortunately, a month ago, Mr Jeremy Tan was crazy enough to buy into my costume idea and viola, I had a partner!

An innocent idea which TOTALLY rocked Zouk on Halloween!




The making of the ERP Gantry



Putting on the Finishing Touches (thanks to the whole crew who helped!)



FINAL EFFECT, WALKING INTO ZOUK....



At Zouk and with the whole gang who turned up for the party...



The most hilarious point of the night was this group of people dressed up as The Party and shouting "ERP" "ERP"


We got nominated for best dressed costume of the night. Unfortunately, we did not win anything. It was kind of a let down as we were pretty sure we could have won something. In any case, it was most gratifying walking out and people asking if we had won. When we said no, they all went, "Shucks! We thought the ERP totally deserved a win".

In any case, it was great fun! People were totally into taking pictures with us! 

A big thank you to all our friends who helped and patiently endured the line and the humidity to brave the Zouk Line. A huge thank you Jeremy Tan who made this possible and was crazy enough to do this with me...

A night for the memory vaults...

What sex is your brain...

A quizz on the BBC

its halloween....

Still in Jakarta but will be back for Halloween night tonight at Zouk...

See you all there and all dressed up....

In Jakarta

In Jakarta now. I never seem to sleep well in hotels...

The best laid plans...

Again, another last minute trip.
Next week, I am off to Jakarta again, this time, for the whole week.

Tired.. Will only be back on Friday evening.
I do hope i still get to go for Halloween @ Zouk...

 

Last Weekend of the Sun Festival

Awesome... There are some really good movies.




The  Singapore Sun Festival (17 - 26 Oct) returns this year for its second instalment. Touted as "a feast for the senses, a joy to experience, and a gift for the soul", the Singapore Sun festival brought Charlie Trotter and Geoffrey Rush to our sunny shores this year. 

Click here for more information @ FIFO

I love Family Guy....

Hilarious and Irreverent as usual, Stewie is in hot soup...





A Sunday night episode of the Fox animated series “Family Guy” stirred up trouble by suggesting­ rather directly that Nazi officers would have supported the McCain-Palin ticket. And it was another arm of the News Corp. conglomerate, Fox News Channel, that first reported on the episode.

Fox (the broadcast network) aired the episode in which Stewie, the obnoxious baby character at the center of the series, and Brian, a talking dog, traveled back in time to Poland during the 1939 German invasion. The characters ambush Nazi soldiers in an alley and steal their uniforms so they can travel without drawing attention. Putting on an overcoat, Stewie notices a McCain-Palin campaign button affixed to the lapel. “Huh, that’s weird,” Stewie remarks.

Setting of the Date

1 December 2008

After months of soul searching and discussions with plenty of advisors, I made a decision. So on 1 December 2008, I begin another phase of my career...

 

Arguably the most read article in the world right now...

Buy American. I Am.

Omaha

THE financial world is a mess, both in the United States and abroad. Its problems, moreover, have been leaking into the general economy, and the leaks are now turning into a gusher. In the near term, unemployment will rise, business activity will falter and headlines will continue to be scary.

So ... I’ve been buying American stocks. This is my personal account I’m talking about, in which I previously owned nothing but United States government bonds. (This description leaves aside my Berkshire Hathaway holdings, which are all committed to philanthropy.) If prices keep looking attractive, my non-Berkshire net worth will soon be 100 percent in United States equities.

Why?

A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. And most certainly, fear is now widespread, gripping even seasoned investors. To be sure, investors are right to be wary of highly leveraged entities or businesses in weak competitive positions. But fears regarding the long-term prosperity of the nation’s many sound companies make no sense. These businesses will indeed suffer earnings hiccups, as they always have. But most major companies will be setting new profit records 5, 10 and 20 years from now.

Let me be clear on one point: I can’t predict the short-term movements of the stock market. I haven’t the faintest idea as to whether stocks will be higher or lower a month — or a year — from now. What is likely, however, is that the market will move higher, perhaps substantially so, well before either sentiment or the economy turns up. So if you wait for the robins, spring will be over.

A little history here: During the Depression, the Dow hit its low, 41, on July 8, 1932. Economic conditions, though, kept deteriorating until Franklin D. Roosevelt took office in March 1933. By that time, the market had already advanced 30 percent. Or think back to the early days of World War II, when things were going badly for the United States in Europe and the Pacific. The market hit bottom in April 1942, well before Allied fortunes turned. Again, in the early 1980s, the time to buy stocks was when inflation raged and the economy was in the tank. In short, bad news is an investor’s best friend. It lets you buy a slice of America’s future at a marked-down price.

Over the long term, the stock market news will be good. In the 20th century, the United States endured two world wars and other traumatic and expensive military conflicts; the Depression; a dozen or so recessions and financial panics; oil shocks; a flu epidemic; and the resignation of a disgraced president. Yet the Dow rose from 66 to 11,497.

You might think it would have been impossible for an investor to lose money during a century marked by such an extraordinary gain. But some investors did. The hapless ones bought stocks only when they felt comfort in doing so and then proceeded to sell when the headlines made them queasy.

Today people who hold cash equivalents feel comfortable. They shouldn’t. They have opted for a terrible long-term asset, one that pays virtually nothing and is certain to depreciate in value. Indeed, the policies that government will follow in its efforts to alleviate the current crisis will probably prove inflationary and therefore accelerate declines in the real value of cash accounts.

Equities will almost certainly outperform cash over the next decade, probably by a substantial degree. Those investors who cling now to cash are betting they can efficiently time their move away from it later. In waiting for the comfort of good news, they are ignoring Wayne Gretzky’s advice: “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been.”

I don’t like to opine on the stock market, and again I emphasize that I have no idea what the market will do in the short term. Nevertheless, I’ll follow the lead of a restaurant that opened in an empty bank building and then advertised: “Put your mouth where your money was.” Today my money and my mouth both say equities.

The Curry Song for a Monday Morning

Very amusing...