Dr. Ang Peng Tiam's column in Straits Times' Mind Your Body every thursday is always a nice and interesting read, with his anecdotes, experiences and his outlook of life. I liked this particular quote in today's column:
"If a patient beats cancer, I count myself as having succeeded as an oncologist. But if she then lives a life of fear and unnecessary worry, I would have failed abysmally as a doctor. A doctor knows that life is precious, but it also has to be lived to the fullest."
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Home
"Everything will feel better soon," he said, his voice choking on the words, "and you'll realise you're going home where you belong."
"Home? What are you talking about? Home is on Lookout Court with Bobo. Home is with my mother and friends." There were tears in her emerald eyes now. She brushed them away and tried to force a smile, but it came off a little crooked. Then she said, "And I was even beginning to think home might be with you.:
Between Tess Carroll and Charlie St. Cloud
Friday, September 3, 2010
That Girl
That Girl
Fried Rice Paradise
Performed by Sebastian Tan and Taufik Batisah
She's really not the perfect match
But now she seems like the perfect catch
She's not my type, and that's a fact
Well, as you know opposites attract
I go about my own routine
As if I'm in some kind of dream
And yet I'm glad
Somehow I can't forget someone I just met.
That's something odd about that girl
She's overtaken my whole world
She's not the kind that I would look at twice, but look at me now
Thinking so much about that girl
How did she come into my world?
And even more, I'm falling for that girl.
It's hard to say the way I feel
I can't explain but I know it's real
I've never felt this way before
But this sweet pain keeps me wanting more
What should I do? I'm so confused
She's not someone I can lose
How can it be
That it's still hard to see if she's into me?
There's something strange about that girl
She's overturned my very world
She's not the kind that I would call my type, so call me a fool
Cos I am mad about that girl
How did she come into my world?
I wanna shout, I'm all about that girl.
That's something odd about that girl
She's overtaken my whole world
She's not the kind that I would look at twice, but look at me now
Thinking so much about that girl
How did she come into my world?
And even more, I'm falling for that girl.
And even more, I'm falling for that girl.
------------------------------------------------
Love the bass and the groove. The retro feel.
Fried Rice Paradise
Performed by Sebastian Tan and Taufik Batisah
She's really not the perfect match
But now she seems like the perfect catch
She's not my type, and that's a fact
Well, as you know opposites attract
I go about my own routine
As if I'm in some kind of dream
And yet I'm glad
Somehow I can't forget someone I just met.
That's something odd about that girl
She's overtaken my whole world
She's not the kind that I would look at twice, but look at me now
Thinking so much about that girl
How did she come into my world?
And even more, I'm falling for that girl.
It's hard to say the way I feel
I can't explain but I know it's real
I've never felt this way before
But this sweet pain keeps me wanting more
What should I do? I'm so confused
She's not someone I can lose
How can it be
That it's still hard to see if she's into me?
There's something strange about that girl
She's overturned my very world
She's not the kind that I would call my type, so call me a fool
Cos I am mad about that girl
How did she come into my world?
I wanna shout, I'm all about that girl.
That's something odd about that girl
She's overtaken my whole world
She's not the kind that I would look at twice, but look at me now
Thinking so much about that girl
How did she come into my world?
And even more, I'm falling for that girl.
And even more, I'm falling for that girl.
------------------------------------------------
Love the bass and the groove. The retro feel.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Emmett
Emmett is a name for boys or a last name. It is pronounced as Em-it. It is name of English origin. It is also considered as the male version of Emma. Thus it also has Germanic roots. It means energetic, or powerful in Old German. In German it means all-pervading and universal. It is also the name of an ant according to Old English. It is very popular as both a first name and surname.
Emmett is also a term for an ant. It is an archaic name for ant. It is a social insect that reside in organized colonies. Females of this species do not have wings with the exception of the queen ant. It is the only fertile member among the females. The males of this species also have wings during the breeding season. The sterile female ants are the workers.
Hmm.
Emmett is also a term for an ant. It is an archaic name for ant. It is a social insect that reside in organized colonies. Females of this species do not have wings with the exception of the queen ant. It is the only fertile member among the females. The males of this species also have wings during the breeding season. The sterile female ants are the workers.
Hmm.
Monday, August 23, 2010
唐山大地震
And finally, I managed to catch the movie 唐山大地震 after such a long time, many thanks to 2 of my church buddies who are so nice to watch with me and not pangseh me because of my difficult schedule.
It wasn't as epic as I thought it'd be. Though i knew the movie wasn't entirely about the earthquake, the earthquake scene barely lasted 10-15 minutes. And nope, I didn't shed a tear, though at certain points in time I felt really moved. The one thing I probably took away from the movie, besides the themes of reconciliation and restoration of relationships, moving on with life, etc., is that one will never understand the agony and despair one experiences in the face of a disaster, be it natural (earthquakes, floods, etc. which all seem to be happening rather frequently now) or human (loss of a loved one, miscarriage, cancer, etc.) The feelings that are evoked in me when I watch the earthquake scene are probably a billionth of what real people feel when confronted with real catastrophes. I really wonder how much 'comfort' we actually bring to family members, relatives or friends who are suffering when we visit them at home or in hospital. I often can't find the right words to say. Maybe not saying too much is best. I can only thank God and count my blessings, and pray for them.
On a side note, 1st day in KKH was not bad. I performed my first-ever PAP Smear! and saw patients with a variety of problems. It seems that no matter what the presenting complaint is, anxiety, ranging from a tinge to 'to-the-max' level, is the common denominator. I guess patients should be feel blessed if they have a doctor who is good at allaying their fears, because not all doctors are equally 'proficient' at that, bearing in mind that doctors, too, are humans.
And Federer finally won a title after 7 months. 63rd career title. Tho I'd have appreciated it a lot more if he wrapped up the match in a much shorter time than the 2+ hours he took so that I could have slept earlier.
"没了，才知道啥叫没了" - 元妮，《唐山大地震》
It wasn't as epic as I thought it'd be. Though i knew the movie wasn't entirely about the earthquake, the earthquake scene barely lasted 10-15 minutes. And nope, I didn't shed a tear, though at certain points in time I felt really moved. The one thing I probably took away from the movie, besides the themes of reconciliation and restoration of relationships, moving on with life, etc., is that one will never understand the agony and despair one experiences in the face of a disaster, be it natural (earthquakes, floods, etc. which all seem to be happening rather frequently now) or human (loss of a loved one, miscarriage, cancer, etc.) The feelings that are evoked in me when I watch the earthquake scene are probably a billionth of what real people feel when confronted with real catastrophes. I really wonder how much 'comfort' we actually bring to family members, relatives or friends who are suffering when we visit them at home or in hospital. I often can't find the right words to say. Maybe not saying too much is best. I can only thank God and count my blessings, and pray for them.
On a side note, 1st day in KKH was not bad. I performed my first-ever PAP Smear! and saw patients with a variety of problems. It seems that no matter what the presenting complaint is, anxiety, ranging from a tinge to 'to-the-max' level, is the common denominator. I guess patients should be feel blessed if they have a doctor who is good at allaying their fears, because not all doctors are equally 'proficient' at that, bearing in mind that doctors, too, are humans.
And Federer finally won a title after 7 months. 63rd career title. Tho I'd have appreciated it a lot more if he wrapped up the match in a much shorter time than the 2+ hours he took so that I could have slept earlier.
"没了，才知道啥叫没了" - 元妮，《唐山大地震》
Monday, August 16, 2010
雨季
Good news to all my loyal blog-readers (if there are any) - I'm back to blog! E-med EOPT was just over last week, I would have blogged, as per tradition during EOPT periods, if I weren't busy playing StarCraft so I can be inspired to buy SC2.
And so, ENT, Pathology, and E-Med came to pass. Besides the World Cup-Paul the Octopus craze, the visit to the mortuary and watching autopsies, the ambulance runs and setting many IV lines, nothing really spectacular or especially memorable happened.
In a span of 15 days from 14th - 29th Aug, I would have caught:
1. 张信哲 －幸福决哲演唱会
2. 雨季 December Rains
3. Boeing Boeing
4. Fried Rice Paradise
5. Mendelssohn's Elijah
Not forgetting Blackbird in Sept and probably Cinderellah！ in December, many of my friends express awe and sometimes shock that I catch so many shows. It probably forms the bulk of my expenditure; the only other things I spend on are DVDs and CDs.
So why do I watch so many concerts and plays? I used to just think of it as mere entertainment and relaxation and enjoyment (I still do), but after watching the 张信哲's concert and 雨季, I realised something else, a conclusion which many people have already analysed and come to .
Perhaps concerts and theatre are a form of escapism, to me at least. For the 2.5 hours, I am plunged into a completely different world, and needn't think about work, problems and issues. Sometimes I enjoy a performance purely because of artistic and musical merit, I simply enjoy the music and dance, like in the musical Chicago.
At other times, I'm immersed in a world in which I'm almost omniscient, knowing and in turn, experiencing by proxy, the myriad of emotions the characters portray. In some instances, an emotion that you've never experienced before, or experienced rarely, is thrown at you and you engage and ponder upon that emotion. For example,
"Mr. Cellophane, Mr. Cellophane, shoulda been my name, Mr. Cellophane
'Cause you can look right through me, walk right by me,
And never know I'm there." - Chicago
"渺小的我，也想要轰轰烈烈地活
心中的话，也想要痛痛快快地说
渺小的我，习惯在全世界的背后沉默
如果有一天，我真消失了，究竟有没有人会偶尔想起我？" - 雨季
I'd say I don't really experience this emotion very often, if at all. But it's an interesting thought. But of course, when the character expresses this emotion, my heart goes out to him.
In other instances, theatre brings about a mix of reality and fantasy. Theatre allows one to identify with a character with his emotions, as if one could really step into his shoes. At the same time, theatre allows you to feel and imagine yourself as someone you know you would never be, or dare to be, in your life. The irony is that both could very well be portrayed in the same scene in the same song number by 2 different characters, and I would end up having a split personality and feeling for and like both characters. Example in 雨季:
男主角甲：
"身边人影 左右褪尽 所有声音 渐渐停息
天地之大 我的眼眸中只有她
在我彷徨时候 她的心就是我 世上最美的家
请你请你告诉她 我永远爱她
虽然大雨一直下 我有温暖胸膛 一生庇护着她
请你请你告诉她 我永远等她
沧海桑田都不怕 我愿付出代价 今生为她牵挂“
男主角乙：
"身边人影 左右褪尽 所有声音 渐渐停息
天地之大 我的眼眸中只有她
有没有人懂我 心中也有一朵 送不出去的花？
教我如何告诉她 我也爱着她
最好大雨一直下 让我无需面对 她那盼望脸庞
教我如何告诉她 我深爱着她
我想默默陪着她 哪怕付出代价 一生痛苦挣扎“
Not to mention, the female lead (Kit Chan, with her superb vocals) has a corresponding part in this song. What beauty! =)
There are times when you'd feel that nothing else could express your feelings more than the lyrics in a song, because you lack the 文笔 to express such, e.g.
"太想爱你是我压抑不了的念头
想要全面占领你的喜怒哀愁
你已征服了我 却还不属于我
教我如何不去猜测你在想什么
太想爱你是我压抑不了的折磨
能否请你不要不要选择闪躲
只想爱你的我 太想爱你的我
难道只能在迷雾中 猜你的轮廓？” - 〈太想爱你〉（张信哲）
Some may detract and say these poetic expressions are hardly realistic, and are nothing like that in reality. There lies the appeal in such expression - the escapism it provides to the receiver. Where the timid becomes courageous. Where something you never dared to say or do becomes expressed. Where the seemingly impossible becomes possible. Where something out of your grasp can be firmly in your hand. When one lives in reality most of the time, it isn't overly indulgent to escape for 2.5 hrs, is it? Until dreams become reality..
And so, ENT, Pathology, and E-Med came to pass. Besides the World Cup-Paul the Octopus craze, the visit to the mortuary and watching autopsies, the ambulance runs and setting many IV lines, nothing really spectacular or especially memorable happened.
In a span of 15 days from 14th - 29th Aug, I would have caught:
1. 张信哲 －幸福决哲演唱会
2. 雨季 December Rains
3. Boeing Boeing
4. Fried Rice Paradise
5. Mendelssohn's Elijah
Not forgetting Blackbird in Sept and probably Cinderellah！ in December, many of my friends express awe and sometimes shock that I catch so many shows. It probably forms the bulk of my expenditure; the only other things I spend on are DVDs and CDs.
So why do I watch so many concerts and plays? I used to just think of it as mere entertainment and relaxation and enjoyment (I still do), but after watching the 张信哲's concert and 雨季, I realised something else, a conclusion which many people have already analysed and come to .
Perhaps concerts and theatre are a form of escapism, to me at least. For the 2.5 hours, I am plunged into a completely different world, and needn't think about work, problems and issues. Sometimes I enjoy a performance purely because of artistic and musical merit, I simply enjoy the music and dance, like in the musical Chicago.
At other times, I'm immersed in a world in which I'm almost omniscient, knowing and in turn, experiencing by proxy, the myriad of emotions the characters portray. In some instances, an emotion that you've never experienced before, or experienced rarely, is thrown at you and you engage and ponder upon that emotion. For example,
"Mr. Cellophane, Mr. Cellophane, shoulda been my name, Mr. Cellophane
'Cause you can look right through me, walk right by me,
And never know I'm there." - Chicago
"渺小的我，也想要轰轰烈烈地活
心中的话，也想要痛痛快快地说
渺小的我，习惯在全世界的背后沉默
如果有一天，我真消失了，究竟有没有人会偶尔想起我？" - 雨季
I'd say I don't really experience this emotion very often, if at all. But it's an interesting thought. But of course, when the character expresses this emotion, my heart goes out to him.
In other instances, theatre brings about a mix of reality and fantasy. Theatre allows one to identify with a character with his emotions, as if one could really step into his shoes. At the same time, theatre allows you to feel and imagine yourself as someone you know you would never be, or dare to be, in your life. The irony is that both could very well be portrayed in the same scene in the same song number by 2 different characters, and I would end up having a split personality and feeling for and like both characters. Example in 雨季:
男主角甲：
"身边人影 左右褪尽 所有声音 渐渐停息
天地之大 我的眼眸中只有她
在我彷徨时候 她的心就是我 世上最美的家
请你请你告诉她 我永远爱她
虽然大雨一直下 我有温暖胸膛 一生庇护着她
请你请你告诉她 我永远等她
沧海桑田都不怕 我愿付出代价 今生为她牵挂“
男主角乙：
"身边人影 左右褪尽 所有声音 渐渐停息
天地之大 我的眼眸中只有她
有没有人懂我 心中也有一朵 送不出去的花？
教我如何告诉她 我也爱着她
最好大雨一直下 让我无需面对 她那盼望脸庞
教我如何告诉她 我深爱着她
我想默默陪着她 哪怕付出代价 一生痛苦挣扎“
Not to mention, the female lead (Kit Chan, with her superb vocals) has a corresponding part in this song. What beauty! =)
There are times when you'd feel that nothing else could express your feelings more than the lyrics in a song, because you lack the 文笔 to express such, e.g.
"太想爱你是我压抑不了的念头
想要全面占领你的喜怒哀愁
你已征服了我 却还不属于我
教我如何不去猜测你在想什么
太想爱你是我压抑不了的折磨
能否请你不要不要选择闪躲
只想爱你的我 太想爱你的我
难道只能在迷雾中 猜你的轮廓？” - 〈太想爱你〉（张信哲）
Some may detract and say these poetic expressions are hardly realistic, and are nothing like that in reality. There lies the appeal in such expression - the escapism it provides to the receiver. Where the timid becomes courageous. Where something you never dared to say or do becomes expressed. Where the seemingly impossible becomes possible. Where something out of your grasp can be firmly in your hand. When one lives in reality most of the time, it isn't overly indulgent to escape for 2.5 hrs, is it? Until dreams become reality..
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