Acts I Would Pay For

1. Beyond - but then, they are officially retired
2. Blur - probably
3. U2 - but then, it will probably cost too much

Oops, that's a short list.

Great Book - Man And Boy by Tony Parsons

A thoroughly enjoyable read, on matching up to the old man, life priorities, and what true love is all about.

The protagonist finds that its not exactly ideal to lose a job, a wife, have a one night stand and become a single father when you turn 30 (not in that order). Find out how he tries to rebound from these setbacks - but will he, and by extension, the reader, ever learn?

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Of course, its just a novel - maybe I should stop living vicariously through books and DVDs!

Great Movie - Life Is Beautiful

Good morning, Princess!

It may be in Italian, but the movie speaks to the heart. Funny, charming and moving, it tells of how a Jew manages to sweep his love off her feet, riding off into the sunset (well, night) on a painted horse. But its not a simple love story - he will have to exercise all his ingenuity to keep his son afloat when the Nazis roll into town.

Yes, the movie is saying, Life CAN be Beautiful despite all the shit that happens to you, if you keep a smile on your face, think on your feet, and love your erm, loved ones, with all your heart.

Great Movie - Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

Just watched it on DVD.

My gosh, its a work of art, of genius.

No point gushing about it, go get a copy and watch it for yourself if you haven't already.

The point: Memories are all we have, the bitter and the sweet. Make memories. And no, that CANNOT be outsourced to China. Not yet, anyway.

12 Days To A Brand New Year

12 days left before 2005 bows out.

12 days to think about what you have done in these 12 months.

12 days to decide if these 365 days (ok, 353 days for the anal ones) have made a difference.

12 days to to resolve if the next 365 days will be better days.

12 days, baby.

A Pointless Struggle?

Should one learn about one's character, strengths and weaknesses etc, Know Thyself, and then accordingly look for the job that suits one best? Even if it means being a (in the eyes of society) lowly road-sweeper?

Or should one strive towards one's goal, say being of a wealthy investment banker, even if that would be clash with one's character and interest?

Would a life be better lived working with one's inborn abilities, or conquering/attempting to conquer one's inborn limitations?

One Cool Mag.. But...

I love(d) this mag when I first came across it in Borders 2 years ago.

I was disillusioned then with materialism and the whole consumer culture that still engulfs the world.

Just Do It. Take out your wallet and purchase this shoe made in Vietnam for a pittance. Pay us $199. And you too, can be cool.

It makes for provacative reading, the articles are well written and smart, and provide a welcome alternative point of view.

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But then, I have second thoughts now. Its all fine to oppose blind consumerism. But if all that Adbusters can offer is anti-this, anti-that, it leaves much to desire.

Its always easy to be anti something. Its much harder (but methinks, more worthwhile) to be for something.

And right now, the only sensible thing for me to do is to come up with my own beliefs.

Would It Then Be Legal To Ignore That Red Traffic Light?

If you are stuck at the traffic lights, and an ambulance or fire engine comes towards you from the back with sirens wailing, should you make way for it and drive to the front of the cars besides you? I.e. ignoring the "Stop" sign and driving past the marker for vehicles.

Would you be breaking the law? If you don't, wouldn't you be possibly commiting indirect murder of someone suffering a heart attack, or someone caught in a blaze?

Hmmm, lemme know if you do. If not, I guess I will just have to visit my friendly neighbourhood Constable Ah Cai and hope he does.

P.S. And why the heck are they called fire engines? Wouldn't anti-fire engines be more apt?

What Is It About Lists?

You know its the year end when magazines and the media in general come up with "... Of The Year" stories.

The Word Of The Year? - The New Oxford American Dictionary says that would be Podcasting.

The Sexiest Woman Of The Year? - Esquire is drooling over Jessica Biel (who 'dat?)

GQ launches its Woman Of The Year selection - its the very friendly Jennifer Aniston . (I think their website is Terminally Cool).

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Lists are always interesting - it makes for good debate as to whether the choice was justified.

Plus, its a good reason to publish pictures of near-naked women. Unless you are writing about the Word Of The Year of course.

But then, I doubt readers would mind too much.

His Final Hour

Its now 4:50am as I type -- in about an hour from now, by 6am Friday 2 Dec, a man would have killed another.

The sun will rise and the world will carry on, business as usual.

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What is running through Nguyen Tuong Van's mind as I type?

He has reportedly found peace in his newfound faith in Christianity. He holds his rosary beads tight -- clinging to his belief he is going to a better place.

He has seen his mother and twin brother Thursday for the very last time. Managed to hold the hand of the woman who brought him to this world. The Singapore Government gave special permission for physical contact, after an appeal from the Aussie PM.

The reason for not permitting physical contact for deathrow inmates? Such "encounters can be traumatic and can destabilise the prisoner and their family".

Can you imagine hugging the ones you love, knowing its for the very last time?

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What would you do in your final hour?