Monthly Archives: February 2020

Lack of Social Intelligence or Just Plain Rude

I was told by a lady friend – a Japanese – who shops at the supermarket of Isetan at Westgate. She said she now avoids going there and if she had no choice but to go there, she would avoid … Continue reading

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The Meaning of Fear

Why are people freaking out? It’s scary because the unknown seems new and no one knows the cause. Some attribute it to the old-fashioned jinbu (strengthening the body) habits of the Chinese which they do by drinking tonics concocted by … Continue reading

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I Ain’t Fading Away

I have been receiving some messages intended for seniors, forwarded to me via WhatsApp and email. Some of these messages are in English and some are in Chinese. They are supposed to have been written by various famous people, and … Continue reading

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When Life gives you Melons, you are Dyslexic

There is a catchy and rather funny Hokkien song going around with the singer vocalizing what he would do if he had a million bucks. He’s thinks by accomplishing all those things he was unable to do prior to becoming … Continue reading

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Lee Kuan Yew on Getting the Best out of Life

The human being needs a challenge, and my advice to every person in Singapore and elsewhere: Keep yourself interested, have a challenge. If you’re not interested in the world and the world is not interested in you, the biggest punishment … Continue reading

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Chinese People Speaking English must be Singaporeans!

Came across this the other day; no idea who wrote it, but I think it’s brilliant; here’s my edited version: Questioner: You look Chinese. Singaporean: I am a Singaporean. Q: But you look Chinese. S: I am a Singaporean Chinese. … Continue reading

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A Pipe by Reiner Thilo Bindschädel

When I visited Berlin, Cologne and Munich last month, I picked up a number of collectible pipes, one of which is this one by Reiner Thilo Bindschädel. Reiner is a German master carpenter who makes pipes. He is one of … Continue reading

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Avoid Catching People “Screwing Up”

When I was a kid, about the only time I had with my father was at dinner and because in the day he worked and I was in school, dinner times were the primary times he could do his “fathering” … Continue reading

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Souvenir Pit Stop

The name Charlie reminds me of a scumbag I know and the coincidence that one of the most abhorred Cold War sites was the American-controlled crossing point in Berlin called Checkpoint Charlie is not lost on me. Here US troops … Continue reading

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Tear Down This Wall!

Bangalore’s best dosa – buttery-soft, warm, slightly spongy and delicious – is served at a small and very crowded nondescript-looking eatery deceptively called Hotel Mylari. It is no hotel however; eateries there just like to refer to themselves as “hotels.” … Continue reading

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