The Electric Plant

Today Son No 3 asked me another profound question.

He had earlier learnt that electricity was carried to our house via electric cables and that the electricity came from electric plants which could be normally found in the mountains.

"Who make the electric plants?"

"Engineers."

"Then who make flowers?"

"God."

"Why God make flowers but not electric plants?"

"Hmm... flowers are natural, but electric plants are made by people...."

(Pause)

"How the engineers know how to make electric plants?"

"Engineers go to University and they learn how to build all types of things."

"But not flowers?"

"Not flowers..."

"But why don't GOD make the electric plants?"

"Err...."

=^=

As the conversation continued, it dawned on me why Son No 3 was confused and why he kept drawing a parallel between the electric plant and the flower.

Son No 3 thought that the electric plant was actually a REAL organic plant - you know, the type with green leaves and all! LOL!

A real plant that could produce electricity???

Hmm... something for our environmentalists to think about...!

25 Random Things About Me

I've been tagged!  Thanks, sweet niece.  

I've been dying to get tagged since reading many blogs written by those who were tagged.  So now I am supposed to write 25 random things about myself?  Well, here goes...

1  I love my family insanely.  Though sometimes I do wish I can love them less and love myself more... 

2  I'd always wish I have soft hair.  My hair is thick and stiff, and even bonding doesn't help to soften its texture, so styling is very limited.  Ah, for some blow-in-your-face type of wispy hair...

3  My 3 favourite ice-cream flavours are rum and raisin, mint chocolate chip and macadamia nut from Haagen Daz.

4  If I could do only one piece of plastic surgery, I would do a liposuction on my tummy.

5  My dream travel destination - the Silk Road/Tibet.

6  I am a thinker. And proud to be one.  

7  I am passionate about issues of the day.  It's like I've missed out on the revolutionary youth phase or something and am now making up for it.

8  I like to read... a lot...  novels, biographies, newspapers, blogs, and even textbooks.  Seriously.

9  I also like to write a lot.  My writing skills served me well when I was holding a paid job, and now I am writing for myself....which is nice.  And sometimes, I write to the press or on on-line forums to let off steam.

9   My favourite character from Grey's Anatomy is Dr Izzie Stevens.  I imagine if I were a doctor, I would be like her.

10  My good friends from varsity are surprisingly like me, a stay-at-home mom to a brood of kids.  One has 5 children, another has 4 children.  Hmm... in a world where two-kid families and working moms are the norm, we must have shared many common values, even in our younger days.  No wonder we clicked.

11  I am a good driver.  I practise driving on the road like 4-5 hours a day.

12  I can't imagine a life without responsibilities.  Kind of sad, isn't it? 

13  I love playing the piano.  Always have and always will.  What I play depends on my mood.  Remember Clair de Lune from Twilight?  The piece that Edward put on in his bedroom?  I can play that too :)  

14  I hate Malaysian politics.  Really, really hate it.

15  Sometimes, I wish I have a daughter. I love my sons, but to have a girl to balance the yang... that would have been so-awesome.  Well, sometimes the boys wish they have a sister too.... so I shouldn't feel bad about it.  Just natural instinct.

16  When I watch shows that portray the close mother-daughter bond, like in Joy Luck Club, my eyes would be filled with tears.  I am thinking of my own complex relationship with my mother.  No wonder Amy Tan is one of my favourite authors.  

17  Mosquitoes love me.

18  I am not a people-person. Most people think I am aloof, since young. Others are wary about the intensity of my emotions, especially on things that I feel strongly about.  I don't do small talk.

19  I am still using the handphone that I bought in 2003.  The last watch that I owned lasted me more than 15 years.  I generally do not discard things until they are non-functional.   

20  I still have the blouse that I wore for my Varsity interview, and that's like donkey years ago. 

21  I do not understand why God made us such that we need to exercise in order to be healthy.  The only exercise I do daily is walking up and down the stairs leading to my carpark and stretching my right arm when I need to pay toll using my Touch-And-Go card.

22  I have zilch cooking skills.  The other day, my second son paid me a compliment when he said that even when mummy cooked the steamed pork, it still tasted good.  

23  Hoop earrings in white gold are my signature accessories.  I have like 5 pairs of them now, in different sizes and thickness.

24  I love Andrew Lloyd Webber's musicals, though my all-time favourite is Les Miserables.

25  I just want everyone to be happy.  Why is it so difficult?

   

Don't Just Follow Law!

Singaporean drivers..... ah, they're a lovely lot.... really. They Just Follow Law.

I was amused to read the deluge of forum letters to the Straits Times recently, following a complaint by a lady driver that nobody gave way to her when she wanted to change lane during a Causeway jam. She claimed she got into the wrong lane and signalled her intention to change lane but all she got were dirty looks and a concerted effort by drivers on the next lane to inch their cars even closer so that she could not slot in. Some forumers accused her of trying to cut queue while others blamed a whole range of factors ranging from social ills to Mas Selamat.

Wa, what a big discussion on what is a daily occurrence here! Now, if they were driving in KL, they would know that, alamak, that was nothing-la. A skilful Malaysian driver will always manage to slot in, no matter what.

When Singaporean drivers come to KL, they are bent on observing the rules. Like me when I first returned here to live. (Pause) I soon learnt the hard way. Let me share some of my learnings:

1 When In Doubt, Always Do As The Locals Do

At Sri Hartamas, there is a one-way street in which everyone drives one-way... the other way. If you are new to the area and you want to follow the directional sign correctly, you will land yourself in trouble. At SS2, there is a traffic junction where you can turn left even when the traffic light is red. And everywhere, nobody follows lane markings. Of course, Singaporean drivers are not expected to know all these local norms. That's why the rule is: when in doubt, just follow what the locals do.

2 Don't Be Geh-Kiang (think you know best)

There was once I parked at a proper roadside parking lot and I wondered why so many cars shunned those lots and preferred to park further away. Two hours later, I found the answer. Unknown to me, that street at Subang Jaya had pasar malam that night. When I returned to collect my car, I found it surrounded by pasar malam stalls and there was no way that I could remove my car. I had to wait until 11pm.

Parking is one of the motorist's major woes (see picture below) - cars trying to pack like sardines.



3 Amber Light Means Please Accelerate

Do not slow down when you see the traffic light turning amber. This is because all the other cars behind you are actually accelerating to beat the red light. Heaven forbid if you should attempt to stop your car at amber light - your back may very well be kissed.

4 Red Light Does Not Always Mean Stop

Listen, when traffic is heavy and the average speed of cars is below 20 km/h, some traffic rules do not apply. For example, when the traffic light turns red, at least 3 cars can still go through. I promise you, that's the norm and you will not be fined. As for safety, remember what I said that this is only applicable when the traffic is slow...

5 Be STREETsmart

I know this is a tall order for some Singaporeans (can't resist the dig!) but I will offer some practical examples:

• Empty your bladder before you commence a journey, even if it is 5-minute drive - a traffic jam can strike anytime (see below). Guys, have those airline doggie bags handy for quick relief.


• Always give way to those really old cars - they have nothing to lose if they hit you.


• Remember the Motorcycle is the King of the Road here. Motorcyclists whizz and weave, tempting fate day in, day out. They are the most defiant of traffic rules too....

One bin too many...

Helmet is not enough... rubber tyre for extra protection

All in the family.. a common sight









Shifting house...local style

But don't be daunted. Amazingly, most Malaysian drivers are very seasoned (they spend a lot of time on the road) and will know how to keep safe. They may honk you but it's ok, you will learn.... as I did.

Photos courtesy of The Star On-Line.

Ah, the White House...

Yesterday, I wrote that Michelle wore a "mustard/yellow" outfit for the inauguration. I was wrong. Apparently, the Cuban designer of the dress has cleared the confusion among all of us as to the actual colour of the attire and called the colour "lemon grass". What an inspiration. I bet 99% of Americans have never heard of, lest, seen lemon grass.

And dear George Bush Jr tells us how he is going to spend his post-presidential days. He's going to be reading newspapers and books. A bit too late, don't ya think?

But y'know, poor Bush Jr. All he got was a 3 second thanks from Obama for "his service to the nation" and then a 20-minute thinly-veiled chastisement from Obama on how America has been mishandled - from the economy to the wars, from education and healthcare to the environment and the sciences. Obama never gave face-la.

Wonder why there wasn't a Farewell Concert for Bush Jr amidst all the merry-making? Tut,tut... somebody should have thought of organizing such a concert for the outgoing president. I would have invited the following pop stars to perform:

1 Lead Me On: Maxine Nightingale
2 Toxic: Britney Spears
3 Clumsy: Fergie
4 Take A Bow: Rihanna
5 Rehab: Amy Winehouse (Standby: Rihanna)
6 Desperado: The Eagles
7 The Hungry Years: Neil Sedaka
8 If I Never See Your Face Again: Maroon 5

As an interlude, I'd have Julian Lennon perform his father's song, "...War Is Over" on the cello. Julian is an accomplished cellist, though he is no Yo-Yo Ma. But then, Bush Jr is no Oba-Ma.

Bush Jr is also going to tell his side of the story by writing a memoir. This is after all the natural career path for US Presidents. Then the lecture circuit will begin.... followed by the setting up of a foundation or two. He should seek advice from the Clintons who have been there, done that.

I would suggest to the Clintons to try something new. What about selling the film rights of their life story to Hollywood? The female lead should be given to Emma Thompson - I always thought she and Hillary bear an uncanny resemblance.
And who but Hugh Grant should play Bill Clinton, someone who is handsome with a goofy appeal. Guaranteed to draw the crowds.

It would be great if the show is a musical. There is one scene that they must have in this movie - Hillary singing "Womaniser" to Bill, while prancing around the bedroom, like what Meryl Streep did in Mamma Mia.

Hmm... I can already form the mental images from the show. Taking the New York senatorship, she sings "I Am Woman". And towards the end, in the Presidential Inauguration, not hers, she moves around Capitol Hill, with the wind blowing against her face, singing "The Winner Takes It All".

US Presidential Inauguration

Well, I might as well add my 2 cents worth...
The newspapers, as some of us would have noticed, have gone into overdrive talking about the 44th US President Inaugural Ceremony. Ya, as an active citizen of the global community (ahem), I stayed up til 1 am and watched the inauguration speech live.

The whole thing was pretty interesting, not much different from watching the Academy Awards. They would announce the former US presidents who are still around and they would troop out with their wives, smiling and waving to the gallery... 4 pairs of them - Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter (they're still around - peanuts must be good for the health), Bush Sr and wife, Bill and Hillary Clinton and finally, Bush Jr and wife.

I must say, Hillary looked gorgeous - for a woman hitting 62 this year. But I wondered, as millions must have wondered too, what was she thinking behind that megawatt smile?

I have forgiven Barack Hussein Obama for winning the Democratic nomination since 1) he has given the Secretary Of State post to Hillary Clinton and 2) he is an intellectual - I always have a weakness for this rare male species. I realised how much this species is to be treasured since George Walker Bush mumbled, fumbled and bumbled his way over this past 8 years.

And then, they announced the Winner of Elections 2008. BO swaggered to the podium and I just couldn't take my eyes off ... his ears ... sorry.

Now, I don't follow the news of the latest pop stars as much as I follow the tabloid news surrounding the First Family. Mark my words, mustard/yellow will be the fashion colour of 2009 since Michelle wore it for the inauguration. And for guys, single button jackets with single-pleat pants, as worn by the President.

One thing struck me - all the recent US presidents have daughters only, no sons.
- Malia and Sasha Obama
- Barbara and Jenna Bush
- Chelsea Clinton

I tend to notice these things :)

What did I like most about the ceremony? Yo-yo Ma playing in a classical quartet with some of world's most gifted musicians. I thought that was a really nice touch.

American Idol in Washington

In case you haven't heard, this is the latest reality show to grip America. American Idol in Washington boasts the biggest prize of all - the power to rule the world, literally.

The preliminaries are over, we are down to the last pair of contestants. On one side, you have the Obama-Biden pair and on the other, the McCain-Palin pair. Both pairs are remarkably similar -marrying experience with star quality.

Obama and Palin compete neck and neck on style, glamour, looks and a compelling story to boot. Both tote their families like an honourable badge. In true American Idol tradition, the public has been feted with heartwarming images of their supportive families amidst a roaring home crowd.

Biden and McCain are the boring old horses. But somebody needs to be seen doing the work.

Simon Cowell's days are numbered. Instead of his scathing remarks, we now have members of the Associated Press to provide the independent analysis. But they are unlikely to sway opinions, anyway. The public will still vote with their hearts and starry-eyes. Idol is not looking for substance, it has always been about popular appeal.

Voting in in November. To reward the public for their long and undying support, voting is free! But no sms-please. You need to go to some registration booth. More details later.

One thing is for sure. In November, after the victory speech, the winners will join hands and sing a rousing "Times of our Lives" on national TV.

Don't forget to tune in for future episodes of American Idol in Washington. And good luck to the contestants!