Identification Friend or Foe??

Its so easy in aviation to differentiate “Friend” and “Foe”. I’m talking about identifying them through the in-built IFF capabilities onboard aircrafts. For a certain code that the pilot choose to “punch” in, the interpretation will be done at the ground receiver’s end. This is also done very often by the Military, all over the world. Its a form of letting one know that the aircraft up there is your friend, or some intruder. That’s why the IFF codes are of the highest security. Imagine your enemy knowing your codes? The consequences will be unthinkable. Pardon me for being too military… Haha… I’m just trying to relate the IFF to human relations.

We do not have any particular set of codes to send to each other. But sometimes, the signals sent out by us to others are a form of IFF. Body languages are the utmost common “transmission” done between human beings. We cannot deny the fact that if we are in some company which are not of our own choice, we wun be too interested in them. There are the kind of people who will always wear a smile, but holds a dagger behind their back. How do we react when you turn your back to these people, only to realise you’ve been stabbed? Resigned to fate? Hmm… I despise these people! But let’s be honest here. No one will allow others to know oneself, like reading an open book. Would you reveal much to someone you are unsure about?  

I was reading a report on the VT massacre on Time magazine. Could anyone have prevented this tragedy? There were signs way before the killings took place. But jurisdication and policies doesn’t allow the authority to do anything. The killer weren’t doing anything harmful to anyone before. Not until he decides to pull the trigger on 32 helpless souls. so could anyone really have prevented it? I doubt so. Sometimes, we have to open our eyes, and our ears, to observe the people around us. There are sure to be tell-tale signs, but it may be too minor for most people to notice. So remember to keep a look-out for those people who were once happy and jovial, but suddenly turned quiet. Beware…

明枪易躲,暗箭难防…

Its always hard and tough to know who your enemies are, when they are always in the dark. Such despicable people are the worst kind ever! I just had my “out-going” interview this morning with my boss. He told me some stuffs which were rather shocking when I first heard. But I realised there are bound to be people “talking behind” other people’s back, happening ever so often everywhere. If everyone works peacefully and amicably, then there wouldn’t be any office politics liao.

But what amazed me really was that someone told my boss when he first came in, that I am someone who is always uncontactable, un-traceable, always skivving, etc. Hahahaha!! I’ve to admit that I’m not in the office always. But the reason I’m not at my desk is because I’ve got to run lotsa errands. And sometimes, these errands concerned the biggest boss. But mostly, its about my own work that I’ve to handle. But my boss said something which was very reliving. He told me he has not noticed such things happening on me since he got to this place. All I can say is that time and productivity will show itself. I dun have to argue with anyone, or challenge anybody that I’m doing my job. If I’ve done a bad job, I am sure my head will roll. But if my output is good, why should the boss question how I did it (even if I’m not in the office most of the time). Let’s see how well they cope without me. I’m not saying my predeccessor will not do a good job. I’m sure he can handle the people and the job scope. But it will take time to do so. I didn’t jump into this job and knew exactly how and what to do. I took awhile before I knew what can and cannot be done. Let’s just say I jumped into the pool and learned to swim my way around. I struggled abit in the beginning, almost quitting. But I perserved. Along the way, I got a life bouy. I’m blessed with kind souls, helping me get around my work. Now that I’ve completed my lap, its time to get out of the pool. I dunno if I’m diving into another pool straight away, but I guessed I’ve learned to survive on my own now…

Maggots!!

Cool shades!, originally uploaded by Lobinhoot.

Casper’s unwell. He has got maggots residing under his left eyelid! Can you imagine? Maggots?! I brought him to the groomer yesterday for his weekly basic grooming. I got a call shortly after I left him there and was shocked to hear from his groomer that they found an open wound under his left eyelid. Even more shocking was that there were maggots wriggling in the wound! Yucks!!!! Eeee-yewwww!!! It must have hurt alot! Those bloody, irritating maggots must have been sucking my poor boy’s flesh!! =(

I made an emergency appointment with Animal Recovery Centre at Greendale to remove the maggots. I got there and was having mixed feelings. On one hand, I was happy to see familiar faces. But on the other, I didn’t wanna bring Casper to the vet. Sigh… Dr Eugene got down to his stuffs and we had to sedate Casper cos he was struggling quite abit when Dr Eugene was trying to remove the maggots from his wound. And so, I’m glad now that those flesh-sucking maggots are gone. But the recovery process will take quite abit. He’s been rather moody after the minor op yesterday. But he’s still eating fine. =) That’s a relief.

I understood from Dr Eugene that it will take a couple of processes for maggots to hatch. Firstly, there must be an open wound to begin with. Next, flies have to lay eggs on the wound. Finally, that area has got to be a place where the pets couldn’t reached to lick it. So with all these chain events, the maggots will hatch, listen to this – within 24 hours after the eggs were layed. 24 hours!! So pet owners out there, beware! Keep your eyes open and take care of your pets!! Maybe I should bring Casper to pray. I think he really 流年不利,犯太岁…

过河拆桥…

What would you usually do when someone was kind to you? Will you reciprocate and be nice to the person? Or will you take it for granted and treat it that he was not being kind, but he had to be nice to you? 2 options, but definitely 2 very different actions. Or should I say inaction for the latter choice.

I’m sure we’ve all met such people during our life journey. Maybe I am lucky I met such people when I was much younger. That’s why I wasn’t really bothered by such people lately. I will just take a step back and observe. But usually, such people will come crawling back to you, should you be of some help to them. They will ignore their dignity (should they have any) just to win your trust again. But I will not trust them anymore. Once the mirror is broken, it can never be mended back. We’ve to be weary of their intentions from now on. We cannot be so naive anymore. Sometimes, mandarin is really a very amazing, let alone powerful, language. If you could, you should learn more about this wonderful language…

NS40 Exhibition@Civic Plaza 12 – 15 Apr 2007

40 NS Exhibition – 2007, originally uploaded by Lobinhoot.

It was a hectic past week. Juggling a number of work at one time ain’t easy, but I’ve learned to grapple with such “juggling” pretty well since a few years back. I’m sure my close friends will agree that I’m quite a multi-tasked capable guy. Hmm… Yeah, I am able to do a number of things simultaneously. Haha! It just takes practice. But I’ve got to know one superior who can REALLY do things simultaneously. He could typed the keyboard and talked to you at the same time, without any regard to the stuffs he was typing. And the best part of it is that he could still typed a perfect sentence. Which side of the brain was he using? Both, I guessed. Hats off to him man! =D

Was at Takashimaya the past few days, manning one of the booths at the 40NS Exhibition. 2007 marks the 4oth year of National Service in Singapore. After independence in 1965, the Army started compulsory National Service for all abled male citizens in 1967. The first enlistment was done at the CMPB, which was then situated at Kallang. And through the years, we’ve seen alot of transformation, not just in the SAF, but the Police and Civil Defence Force as well. The exhibition marks the commencement of the NS40 celebrations, which will culminate during the National Day in August. A series of events have been planned for. The Army Open House,  the opening of the Army Museum, just to name a few.

Looking back, it has been a vast improvement in terms of living conditions and training standards for the 5 services. “Luxury” during the older generations, were perhaps things like having a hot bun for supper, “coloured’ water (syrup drink) for lunch, or even extra dishes for our meals. I wouldn’t wanna put it as the soldiers are living in “luxury” in the 5 services now. But as compared to the “older” generations, I’m sure we will all agree that the word “luxury” has a whole new meaning. Do pop-by the Civic Plaza outside the Takashimaya Shopping Centre to catch a glimpse of the transformation of the National Service thru the years. Oh, it will be extended to the Heartlands in the following 2 weekends. First, beside the Jurong East MRT from 21-22 Apr 07. And finally, beside Tampines MRT from 28-29 Apr 07.

台湾龙卷风 – in hokkien

 

I got “hooked” on this Taiwanese serial for quite awhile since a few months back. It was already showing on SCV Channel 55 on weekends, for a period now. And it was in mandarin. So, hippo pestered me to try and get the serial from episode 1. And I actually succumbed to her pestering… And since I’ve got the first box, I am hooked on this series. Haha! The best part is that the VCD series is in hokkien, not mandarin. Its really the original conversation from the actors. Damn cool! And I’ve learned alot of interesting quotes and language of hokkien from this series. Hokkien in Taiwan is totally different from Singapore’s way of speaking. Back to my watching for now…

I’ve tried the DURIAN!! Yay or Yucks?!

Don and his Durian, originally uploaded by Lobinhoot.

It was Don’s last nite in Singapore he has to fly off back to Michigan, Detroit, USA. Xyn had a mission all planned out since the time the Rubberhearts came to town for Bornfire last year. Her mission was to film all the visitors to Singapore eating durians. And later interview them about their feeling and thoughts on eating durians. Wahahaha!! I’ve not been to the previous “durian expeditions”, but witnessing Don took his first bite of the King of Fruits was amazingly funny. Haha! Its probably like the time when I first tried eating an Ostrich’s egg for breakfast. I couldn’t finished the omelette. It was too huge! Halfway thru the ostrich omelette I was feeling very “jelat” already. *Puke* So, I could fully emphatise with Don when he spit whatever he chew from that very first bite of the durian. =P

After that, the gang head down to “PLAY” at Tg Pagar. I left for whampoa, as I’ve to wake up early the next day to go 扫墓. Its Qing Ming this coming Thursday, so usually most families in Singapore will go alittle early, ahead of the actual day. I was fully occupied the whole of today. Full schedule for me on a sunday. In fact, I had to omit soccer sunday for today. =( I really need to buck up on my fitness… Oh! Happy April’s Fool Day! Btw, nothing I just said was un-true.