Changing a bad habit

If you want a man to change his bad habit or to stop consuming certain food, show him some official reports or scientific findings that it will cause him to be impotence. Same thing for a woman, but instead tell her it will cause her to grow a moustache and her breasts will shrink.

I am a farty big bad wolf!

After taking the medication for my indigestion, I feel like a farty big bad wolf. I’ll puff and I’ll fart and I’ll blow your house in!!!

Chief Seattle's Letter

"The President in Washington sends word that he wishes to buy our land. But how can you buy or sell the sky? the land? The idea is strange to us. If we do not own the freshness of the air and the sparkle of the water, how can you buy them?

Every part of the earth is sacred to my people. Every shining pine needle, every sandy shore, every mist in the dark woods, every meadow, every humming insect. All are holy in the memory and experience of my people.

We know the sap which courses through the trees as we know the blood that courses through our veins. We are part of the earth and it is part of us. The perfumed flowers are our sisters. The bear, the deer, the great eagle, these are our brothers. The rocky crests, the dew in the meadow, the body heat of the pony, and man all belong to the same family.

The shining water that moves in the streams and rivers is not just water, but the blood of our ancestors. If we sell you our land, you must remember that it is sacred. Each glossy reflection in the clear waters of the lakes tells of events and memories in the life of my people. The water's murmur is the voice of my father's father.

The rivers are our brothers. They quench our thirst. They carry our canoes and feed our children. So you must give the rivers the kindness that you would give any brother.

If we sell you our land, remember that the air is precious to us, that the air shares its spirit with all the life that it supports. The wind that gave our grandfather his first breath also received his last sigh. The wind also gives our children the spirit of life. So if we sell our land, you must keep it apart and sacred, as a place where man can go to taste the wind that is sweetened by the meadow flowers.

Will you teach your children what we have taught our children? That the earth is our mother? What befalls the earth befalls all the sons of the earth.

This we know: the earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the earth. All things are connected like the blood that unites us all. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself.

One thing we know: our God is also your God. The earth is precious to him and to harm the earth is to heap contempt on its creator.

Your destiny is a mystery to us. What will happen when the buffalo are all slaughtered? The wild horses tamed? What will happen when the secret corners of the forest are heavy with the scent of many men and the view of the ripe hills is blotted with talking wires? Where will the thicket be? Gone! Where will the eagle be? Gone! And what is to say goodbye to the swift pony and then hunt? The end of living and the beginning of survival.

When the last red man has vanished with this wilderness, and his memory is only the shadow of a cloud moving across the prairie, will these shores and forests still be here? Will there be any of the spirit of my people left?

We love this earth as a newborn loves its mother's heartbeat. So, if we sell you our land, love it as we have loved it. Care for it, as we have cared for it. Hold in your mind the memory of the land as it is when you receive it. Preserve the land for all children, and love it, as God loves us.

As we are part of the land, you too are part of the land. This earth is precious to us. It is also precious to you.

One thing we know - there is only one God. No man, be he Red man or White man, can be apart. We are all brothers after all."

Image taken from www.unitedearth.com.au

Psychological Test

I got this psychological test via email many years ago from one of my ex-colleagues. I don’t have the original test with me but it goes something like this – "You are in the middle of a jungle. You start off with the following five animals i.e. a monkey, a fox, a lion, a rabbit and a wolf. To escape the jungle you have to abandon them one by one along your journey. Please state, in order, starting from the first animal you decided to abandon and why."

Please don't look at the answer without taking the test.

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Have you taken the test?
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Are you sure?
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Okay I believe you. :)

The purpose of this test is to find out who will abandon the rabbit last and for what reason. And the reason I am looking for is you keep the rabbit as long as possible because you want to protect it from harm. (Since the rest of the animals are able to defend themselves better compare to the rabbit.)

For most people, including me, we start with the rabbit and maybe end with the lion or wolf for practical reason. It makes perfect sense - get rid of those that are useless and keep those that we think will be useful to us. Always ask what others can do for me. Who wants to carry extra burdens anyway? Thus the logical thing to do is keep the lion or the wolf to protect us and say bye bye to the rabbit first because it is simply, useless. And if it is unable to defend itself in the jungle, well just too bad, not my problem.

On a personal note, when I took this test many years ago I was so ashamed of myself. It was really a wake up call. And till this day I constantly remind myself – Remember the rabbit.

Can you fall?

“In other words,” he continued, “you can’t ride. That’s a drawback. I’ll have to teach you as we go along. If you can’t ride, can you fall?”

“I suppose anyone can fall,” said Shasta.

“I mean can you fall and get up again without crying and mount again and fall again and yet not be afraid of falling?”

“I – I’ll try,” said Shasta.

C. S. LEWIS, The Horse and His Boy

Ten Rules for a Happy Marriage

Never both be angry at the same time.

Never yell at each other unless the house is on fire.

If one of you has to win an argument, let it be your mate.

If you have it criticize, do it lovingly.

Never bring up mistakes of the past.

Neglect the whole world rather than each other.

Never go to sleep with an argument unsettled.

At least one everyday try to say one kind or complimentary thing to your life’s partner.

When you have done something wrong, be ready to admit it and ask for forgiveness.

It takes two to make a quarrel, and the one in the wrong is the one who does the must talking.

Who is our High Mouse?

“I have sometimes wondered, friend,” said Aslan, “whether you do not think too much about your honour.”

“Highest of all High Kings,” said Reepicheep, “permit me to remind you that a very small size has been bestowed on us Mice, and if we did not guard our dignity, some (who weigh worth by inches) would allow themselves very unsuitable pleasantries at our expense. That is why I have been at some pains to make it known that no one who does not wish to feel this sword as near his heart as I can reach talk in my presence about Traps or Toasted Cheese or Candles: no, sir – not the tallest fool in Narnia!” Here he glared very fiercely up at Wimbleweather, but the Giant, who was always a stage being everyone else, had not yet discovered what was being talked about down at his feet, and so missed the point.

“Why have your followers all drawn their swords, may I ask?” said Aslan.

“May it please your High Majesty,” said the second Mouse, whose name was Peepiceek, “we are all waiting to cut off our own tails if our Chief must go without his. We will not bear the shame of wearing an honour which is denied to the High Mouse.”

C. S. LEWIS, Prince Caspian

Happy Birthday Singapore

Suing and “the law” should be used as the court of the last resort, not the first. A litigious culture is unhealthy for the society, destroys trust, gives terrible modeling, and at best results in compromise.

STEPHEN R. COVEY, The 8th Habit From Effectiveness to Greatness

Pain, Pain, Go Away!

I was admitted to NUH for the past few days due to gastric infection, or something like that lah. Actually it started off even earlier i.e. more than a week ago with severe diarrhea followed by vomiting. After consulting two different doctors without any sign of improvement, my condition worsen a few days ago and I have to call an ambulance to get me to the hospital. The pain was killing me and I was just too weak to walk.

It was really an “unforgettable” experience although I know this isn’t going to be my last time. I have a history of gastric problem since young.

Anyway, all I want now is to be able to consume solid food again since for the past 2-3 days I have not eatean anything solid . Miss my char siew rice. :(

(The antibiotics given to me were really huge. May all the bad and good bacteria that were killed in this unfortunate event rest in peace.)

F for Friendster

I’ve recently joined Friendster as a member.

No I am not looking for old classmates or ex-colleagues although I might in the near future but my main mission is to look for people who write poems or are interested in poetry.

And you know what, I am pleasantly surprise to find so many of them just in Singapore alone. Although most of their poems are journal entries but that is a good start. The seed is buried nice and cozy waiting to bloom.

I am so excited and have been inviting a few of them to visit DPS (S). I really hope friendster won’t ban me for spamming. I am keeping my fingers crossed.