Thursday 1 November 2012

Dwarves of Meno



[I came across this pix (above) on the Internet and thought it was rather funny, how the seven dwarves were called Itchy, Bitchy, Sweaty, Sleepy. Bloated, Forgetful & Psycho - after the symptoms of what some women go thru when enduring menopause. So, here is my version of the classic Snow White and The Seven Dwarves tale based on that. It is part satire. Do enjoy. :-)]

Snow White sat at the table and cried. She could not understand why Dwarf Bitchy would call her "cunt" again. She had told him time and again that it was an unkind word and shouldn't be used, least of all in her presence. It triggered bad memories with her stepmother Queen, who was cruel and liked to call her names, especially when her dad King was not around to hear them uttered.

Stepmother Queen had often used the word "cunt" when talking to her wide-screen LED Mirror TV equipped with 64GB onboard memory, a front-facing 3MP camera, 4G LTE wireless and Google Voice. She would say things like this to Google:

"Mirror mirror TV on the wall,
Who is the fairest of them all?"

And Google Voice would reply. "Why, it's Snow White, of course!"

Each time Stepmother Queen heard that, she would fly into a rage and shout: "That cunt! Of course she is fair. She's stuck in the castle all day. Meanwhile, I am the one who has to go out to work. Who went and died and left me this financial mess? Snow White's father! Why I can't even mention that cunt's name without flying into a rage!"

Google Voice would always attempt to calm her down. "I sense that you are upset. Do you want to have some ice-cream? My location adviser tells me that there is a Wall's ice cream truck parked nearby. Do you want me to ping them?"

"No! I want you to get rid of Snow White for me!"

Google Voice would then cluelessly reply: "Sorry, that did not quite compute. What do you mean by 'get rid of her'? Do you want me to send Snow White a Google Chat message to ask her to let you be for an hour or two?"

This only made Stepmother Queen livid. "You-goddamn-good-for-nothing-Google-TV-screen! Go check your Wiki Dict for that meaning, you son of a bitch!"

With that, she would then slam the TV screen to 'standby' mode and storm away. Half a day later, she would return and ask the very same question again.

In time, Snow White figured out that it was her GPS coordinates that gave her away. But switching it off in her Samsung Galaxy III smart phone did not help. Neither was hiding in some far corner of the castle. She was still the "fairest of them all". At least in that remote corner, she wouldn't be able to hear her stepmother call her "cunt". But the Queen's rage still reverberated within the castle's walls afterwards.

Although that had happened many years ago, Snow White would still shudder each time she thought about her stepmother. That woman after all did try to posion her with an Apple one time. It was an iPad Mini with a poison-laced screen. One swipe was all it took to send Snow White into a coma. She was just trying to answer a conference call. Turns out, it was her Stepmother Queen calling to trick her into touching the iPad and to gloat. "Hahaha...now you die!" was what she said before disappearing in a GIF cloud of smoke.

Fortunately, Snow White did not die. A passing karung guni man, who was actually a prince in disguise looked in and kissed her thinking she was the air stewardess girlfriend he once loved. By the miracle of his poison-killing saliva, Snow White lived. But the prince was then whisked away by some A*Star agents and locked away, some say in the deep research dungeons of Biopolis Park, where the nefarious arts of virus infection, distribution and incubation were being practised. The agents were keen to find out how his saliva could kick poison powder butt so well. So potent it was.

The prince, afraid of being tortured, spilled everything out. He related how he was at a sex orgy party late one night at a car park in Hort Park. It was held in a CNB "Party More, Less Drugs" campaign bus. At the time, high on drink, he had given tongue to half a dozen women as well as oral sex to a senior official there. If the agents wanted answers, the prince told them they should round up those people and take swab samples.

The agents took down his statements but also laughed at his ridiculous suggestion. No CNB official (and a senior one at that) would risk his reputation and pension to do something so wanton and perverse, they said. Who would be so stupid? they asked.

But the prince then retorted and said "Well, your scholars have a history of being peeps and perverts!" With that he got smacked across the face and fainted. Some say the prince then fell back and knocked his head, causing him to go into a coma. The irony! one of the agents familiar with the case noted. But outside, no one was sure if the prince was really in a coma or dead. Either way, the agents involved could still test him for an anti-poison antidote. They just didn't have to put up with his potty mouth anymore that's all.

=======

Back at the Dwarf cottage-hole, Snow White was still an emotional mess. Ever since she turned 40, her hormones had been giving her hell. One moment she was feeling happy; the next, she would crash with grumpiness. Then there were the sneezes and bashfulness (hot flashes).

"Bitchy had every right to call me a cunt," Snow White said, to no one in particular. "I haven't been myself lately."

But there was more between Snow White and Bitchy. Bitchy, you see, was actually a dike in disguise. Snow White and her had been carrying on a lesbian relationship for many years. Apparently dwarf women don't get menopause; they have always been that grouchy since puberty. Unruly facial hair is the norm too, why dwarf women were sometimes mistaken as men and brought down to the mines as well.

Of course, it wasn't easy to carry on a relationship with someone on the quiet in a small cottage-hole of eight occupants - Snow White included. The only person to know anything about it was Forgetful, who would always soon forget what he saw or knew. But he would still nudge-nudge wink-wink at Snow White each time, not entirely sure why he was doing that. Habit likely, was what Forgetful concluded. Like all his other involuntary actions such as masturbating beside the well (an event which he would also soon forget afterwards to the chagrin of the others. The well was after all common property and provided water for everyone!).

Like Forgetful, the other dwarves were also busy with their own issues to want to bother with Snow White and Bitchy.

Take Itchy, for example. He's too irritated by his own skin allergies to care about any other thing else. Sleepy was the same, almost always half awake only. Bloated would be chased out of the house because of his condition. He farted and burped once too many times, even when food and drink was being served. Now, he stayed mostly on his own in the annex tool shed. Sweaty was always sweaty and liked spending his time outside the confines of the tiny cottage-hole in a nearby hot-spring. He claimed it helps to cleanse his body of perspiration and odours. To find a permanent cure, Sweaty even resorted to TCM. He purchased a popular wooden tub from China for this purpose, a kind of personal sauna that steamed herbs really. That left only Psycho. But Psycho all along had Bipolar Disorder, so no one really took him seriously. If he said something controversial, someone would always retort: "Siao eh, ah!" or "Kenna sai, always talking cock!"

=======

Feeling slightly better, Snow White decided to talk to The Huntsman. He always knew what to say and do. It was he in fact the one who had saved her in the very first place when Stepmother Queen made the unusual request for her heart one Halloween night. She had claimed she needed it to complete a costume for a party. At the time, Snow White was but a wee Snow Flake and The Huntsman had taken pity on her and set her free in the forest. "Fly, you fool," was what he commanded when she had simply stood there unsure of which way to go. And fly she did, tripping over brambles and wild boars making love in the thick of night in the unfamiliar and largely scary forest.

It was then that she ran into Bitchy, half naked and seemingly admiring her own adolescent breasts under moonlight in what looked like an Elven Spell Circle of leaves piled in the middle of a ring of trees. Snow Flake was at first shocked to see a man-boy with breasts, but she also had been taught to expect the unexpected by her grandma who once lived in these enchanted woods. It was a pity that she died so soon and in such cruel fashion too, being eaten alive by a talking wolf. The Huntsman had come too late to save her. Maybe that' s why The Huntsman saved her from Stepmother Queen: He needed to atone for not being able to save Grandma White from that deceitful wolf. Snow White (as Snow Flake) still remembers that fateful day well. The Huntsman half-naked and glistening in sweat when he came running and swinging an axe, looking a little flustered and out of breath.

Snow White remembers Grandma White as being a skilled lady who could bake and ride a horse. It was she who first taught Snow White how to ride her first pony. It was also she who gave her a riding hood made entirely of soft red felt that she had sewn together. Her nickname for Snow White then was 'Red Riding Hood' - something Snow White liked but not loved. A menstrual incident later while out riding with friends (boys!) also hardened her dislike for that nickname. And when Grandma White died, she decided to let the nickname die with her. 'Snow White' was fine except it did not sit well with Stepmother Queen. That bitch would rather call her "cunt".

Snow White picked up her skirt and hurried along the forest path. The Huntsman cottage was just ahead and she could see smoke coming out of the chimney, meaning that The Huntsman was at home.

========

Snow White knocked on The Huntsman's door. A handsome man in his late 40s answered it. He was in lederhosen pants and topless. The Huntsman was obviously still in good physical shape judging from his six-pack abs and tight muscles elsewhere. If they caused Snow White discomfort, she didn't show it.

From inside, Robin Hood in tight pants, mascara and lipstick emerged. He too was topless and seemed to be in a funk, eyes glassy. Snow White wondered if the men had been 'wrestling' again, as The Huntsman once explained when she found them locked in some strange, tight embrace. At the time, the Wrestling Regional Finals were indeed round the corner and so she didn't think too much about it. But now....

Snow White blinked away those thoughts and invited herself in. The Huntsman could, after all, help her with her dilemma. How to calm a butch like Bitchy and keep their beautiful same-sex relationship going.

The End - by TC Lai

Thursday 4 October 2012

U.S. First Presidential Debate
















This morning's debate was rather disappointing. I wonder why President Obama wasn't more aggressive. Does he want Romney to take his office?

If Obama cared a hoot, he should have taken Romney to task over his many recent gaffes. Instead, he let Romney off scott-free and even allowed him to tread his agenda. Format of the TV debate not withstanding.

I would have been more forgiving if Obama wasn't a trained as a lawyer, but he is.

And I can understand one has to be civil and polite and all that, but Obama's body language was too friendly in greeting Romney. Come on, here's a man who has been telling America that he has been a lousy president. Yet Obama receives him like a long-lost brother. Who is the office bearer here?

Obama has to demonstrate a few strong emotions.

1. That Romney's version of government is no different from Bush Jr and will continue to bankrupt America. In fact, Romney doesn't know what a government is. It has to govern in an inclusive manner, not one that's biased towards defence (GLCs?), big business, and the other "47 %", etc.

2. That greater military spending will seriously rob funds that could be allocated to government services and departments. Romney's approach doesn't come across as fiscal prudent bush still Bush Jr cowboy. They remind me of emperors vained by a large army and not afraid to use it. Very imperialistic.

Do the Americans know how to govern at all?

Look at the U.S.'s many bankrupt and near bankrupt states. And the poor condition of its many inner city schools. America cannot afford any more military adventurism now or in the near future. The country has to get its house right. Rebuild its coffers, get its kids better educated, show leadership in sci-tech again, etc. Military-wise, it already bristles with leading edge in many technologies. And respected. No need to go flexing its muscles around the world. Effective diplomacy is the way. For example, U.S. and secular democracy could have been advantaged by Arab Spring, but instead, the U.S. squandered the chance by engaging the ruling elements. This left the secular activists out in the cold. The result? Muslim radicals and their rectoric have taken their place.

3. Obama has countered point 2, but he has to use stronger language to demonstrate that he knows what government is all about. After all, he has had four years of experience. Romney has got none.

4. Defend his economic and jobs record. Come on, it is national TV. Remind the folks at home that economic times have changed. Know that and get on with it. Obama has to keep reminding Americans how to deal with that. Him failing to do so - without a clear agenda - makes folks think he is an ineffectual leader. When times are tough, folks like to hear from their leaders. They like someone to tell them there's light at the end of the tunnel - just like Churchill in WWII. Rouse the folks, implore them to dig in. Keep them focused on the healing/recovery path, even if it's not so smooth.

5. That he knows how to engage the world. Romney has no foreign policy. Obama should have skewered him on this. In fact, Romney's trip to Europe was so bad he came across more as a tourist than a statesman from a superpower. And Romney seems as intellectually dull as Bush Jr in matters concerning foreign policy and current affairs. When things get tough Bush Jr retreats his ranch to yahoo. What will Romney do? Seek solace in his investment portfolio?

6. Obama should have used the occasion to defend the dirt hat has been chucked his way up to this point in the campaign. In a national debate, gloves are off. Either come out fighting or not.

President Obama has to wake up or else he is going to squander whatever poll leads he has gained in the last few weeks.

The U.S., indeed the world, cannot have another clueless chap like Bush Jr. in the form of Mitt Romney. The GOP seems to keep offering candidates that are less and less worldly. Even less intellectual and educated in business of governance than the Democrats. At least that how it is appearing to folks like us in this region.

Friday 28 September 2012

Sex for Contracts Case 2

The continuing CPIB court saga of IT Manager Cecilia Sue and ex-CNB chief, Ng Boon Gay. If they only had a Dummies guide.



Thursday 27 September 2012

Sex for Contracts Case 1

In recent news: IT Manager testify against ex-CNB chief in 'Sex for Contracts' case.

What would you do if you were in Cecilia Sue Siew Nang's place? Before that, read a Dummies' book (unless you intend to be complicit).


Letter to Forum 3: Sg Conversation: Let's Make Pizza...



The original letter:

Dear Editor,

Rachel Chang's article "SG Conversation: Can't wait to get going" highlighted the difficult nature of this Conversation. There are plural groups and an equal number of differing views. It is Singles vs Married, Traditionalists vs Liberals. So, who shall prevail? If we agree to disagree, then what? Bearing in mind that this conversation is about "The Singapore We Want," but what do we really want and how shall we go about it? Friday's session sounded like a feedback session with its select group. Each had his/her own tale to tell. Answers from the office bearers were clip. I too want a conversation with the government. To tell it of my years of growing up, working and thinking about retirement. I also want to share my aspirations. I am old but not yet dying. Singapore now is very different from 40 yrs ago. We have good processes aided by seamless technology. We have institutions that are world-class. We can conduct a consensus with people in their 10s, 20s, 30s, 40s,....every decade and see the picture they paint, of the Singapore they want, had wanted and perhaps not gotten. That is just as important. But the basic question is: How is the Government going to carry out its wish-fulfillment so to speak? Asking it to do this-and-that afterwards is a tall order. Another way is to serve up what the customer orders. You want your pizza to have no anchovies? Sure. More pepperoni? No problem. Translated, that can mean many things. Study later? Sure. Just fix me a date. Want to start a family young? Let's see how we can start and get this going...

It's about both sides working hand-in-hand to achieve something that's less top-down or even bottom-up. It's all about getting something done. Period. In that sense, it does mean a change in how the civil service is handling matters. It's no longer Government-to-People, but Government-to-Person. Can this be done? Is Singapore a global city or a global village. As a citizen, Singapore to me is a village and so it should relate to me as a person. And when that happens I might just be reasonable about what I want and how I (we) might get it.

TC Lai

Monday 17 September 2012

Forum Letter 2: What doing away with banding means...














The original letter:


Dear Editor:

I welcome MOE's decision to do away with banding and encourage schools to find their niche areas. No doubt schools that already have their niche will be celebrating (like Chinese orchestra, choir, etc), but I hope they use this opportunity to expand beyond their comfort zone. Lest parents think academic results will slide, they should be glad that their kids will perhaps learn in a less drilled and robotic fashion. Hopefully, gone will be the days when kids come home with 50 problem sums to drill over (happened to my neighbour's kid). A child must learn and grade a pass, but let's hope they can now learn better AND enjoy a more eventful school life. Even academic societies in schools can get a boost (like the Math/Science club, etc). It's about moving away from "a field of daisies" to allow more sunflowers to sprout and stand tall!

Still, I wonder how many know how to leverage on such a momentous decision. When the sole focus on academic achievements go, schools, parents, communities and interest groups can now sit down and explore how to tap on each other's expertise and network. This has been the problem with our communities thus far, the oft-complaint that "we shut our doors and ignore our neighbours," rings true. If we have been ignoring our neighbours what more to say of our children needs in the community? For example, how does a Sembawang kid differ from one in Tiong Bahru? In the past, the distinction had been "ulu" vs "city". In the future, I hope kids, given more time to explore other areas, can claim to know his community/neighbourhood well. That he/she was acknowledged by his communal folks as someone who could write, photograph, cook, paint, etc. in the most prodigal manner. Or even grow up to be a brilliant soldier ("Oh yes, we all know him since young to be an excellent NCC cadet back in school!") Schools across a community can even work better together to showcase and share what they are trying to do instead of competing with one another. They can now be brother-in-arms. We have seen many instances of schools and kids in the U.S. prospering once communities get involved. Singapore is a microcosm by itself; we have no excuse for not doing better.

Voiding banding will liberate schools. It will liberate even more, and it is something we should discuss further in our National Conversation.

TC Lai

Friday 31 August 2012

Singapore Pledges

Note: These Singapore Pledges were created tongue-in-cheek before the run up to National Day on the 9th of August 2012.

1. Singapore Pledge for Foodies 2012
2. Singapore Pledge for Civil Servants 2012
3. Singapore Pledge for Govt Scholars 2012
‎4. Singapore Pledge for Sports Fans 2012
5. ‎Singapore Pledge for Govt Ministers 2012
6. Singapore Pledge for the Social Gambler 2012
7. Singapore Pledge for the Child-less 2012 
8. Singapore Pledge for School Children 2012
9. Singapore Pledge for Taxi Drivers 2012
10. Singapore Pledge for Maid Employers 2012
11. Singapore Pledge for Sg Sports Council 2012
12. Singapore Pledge for MOM 2012

1) Singapore Pledge for Foodies 2012

We the citizens of Singapore (burp!)
Pledge ourselves as one always-hungry people
Regardless of got hum/no hum; got chilli/no chilli
To order up a delicious storm
Based on what the old hawker uncle/aunty can dish up
So as to achieve lau nuah happiness, tummy-rubbing satisfaction, and
High BMI-index for our nation. (burp!)

2) Singapore Pledge for Civil Servants 2012 

We the civil servants of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one well-behaved people
Regardless if the girl was young or 18
Slim, got big boobs or not
Based on shape, size or lies
So as not to be conned into thinking
it's congress for the nation

3) Singapore Pledge for Govt Scholars 2012

We the scholars of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one anti-lewd lot
To stop touching or groping
kids of various age and nudity
Based on need to satisfy
Some paedophilic urge or fantasy
that again embarrass the nation

‎4) Singapore Pledge for Sports Fans 2012

We the sports fans of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one united people
Regardless of EPL club or telecom operator
To not continue be held ransom to ridiculous rates
Based on forever expanding TV rights monies
So as to enjoy a simple football match without
Starving half the people of the nation

5) ‎Singapore Pledge for Govt Ministers 2012

We the ministers of Singapore
Pledge not to throw foreign talent in yr face
Regardless of GDP growth, quarterly earnings or our bonus
To build a more inclusive society
Based on the over-40s, over-50s, and over-60s
So as to overcome myopia, disdain, distrust and
ignorance of the non-elites in our nation

6) Singapore Pledge for the Social Gambler 2012

We the social gamblers of Singapore
Pledge to continue our support for Singapore Pools
Regardless of fixed income, food-price rise or inflation 
To continue to play 4-D, Toto or visit the casino
Based on feeling, accident car plate numbers
So as not to deny the Community Chest charities
the monies and their duty to our nation

7) Singapore Pledge for the Child-less 2012 

We the child-less of Singapore
Pledge to pull down our pants a little more
Regardless of project deadlines or aged in the room
To build up lust and sordid passion
Based on mutual stimulation
So as to achieve titillation, orgasm and
more babies for our nation

8) Singapore Pledge for School Children 2012

We the school children of Singapore
Pledge ourselves a tuition-free existence
Regardless of grades, kiasu parents or other kaypohs
To build a stress-free, memorable childhood
Based on marbles, spider-catching and kite-flying
So as to achieve a less exam-smart mindset and
a better street-smart mentality for our nation

9) Singapore Pledge for Taxi Drivers 2012

We the taxi-drivers of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one less confusing lot
Regardless of peak hours, ERP, public holidays
To charge just one freaking fare
Based on destination, not surcharge bingeing
So as to achieve a pleasant, math-less and
cuss-less ride for all in the nation

10) Singapore Pledge for Maid Employers 2012 

We the maid employers of Singapore
Pledge to treat them as we would our daughters
Regardless of laziness, cluelessness and personal hygiene
To not make them clean windows, climb high places
Based on some anal need for clean windows
So people will not think us heartless, cruel and  
basically kiasi of a nation

11) Singapore Pledge for Sg Sports Council

We the lau-jiao of the SSC
Pledge ourselves to not use any more FTs
Regardless if our kids are getting fat, out-of-shape and iPad-totting
To build a sporting nation of incomparable records
Based on hot-dog eating, fishball swallowing and mass displays
So as to achieve pride as citizens, born and bred and
raised on recycled toilet waters of the nation

12) Singapore Pledge for MOM 2012

We the people at MOM Singapore
Pledge ourselves to celebrate our moms
Regardless of grad, A-level or O
To build a more mamographic society
Based on Manpower AND Womanpower
So as to achieve equality, parity and
sorority for our sistas across the nation

Forum Letter 1: Let Children Play















The full letter is here:


Dear Editor,

I welcome the Prime Minister's National Day Rally reminder that children be allowed to play and enjoy their childhood. We should rightly insulate our kids from the kind of "hot-housing" that happens in other industrialised cities like Japan and Korea that can only lead to more stress, student-suicides, bullying, and tension within the family.

Instead of spending our energies in getting kids prepped excessively for academic performance, we should instead use our time and resources to ensure that they develop in other areas. Character for one, group dynamics is another. Decency even, so that in future we remain a gracious, big-hearted and tolerant people as our Prime Minister so exhorted.

For instance, I like what the NTUC My First Skool is teaching our kindergarten kids now. It has something to do with the use of unkind words. What results are kids who understand that they can hurt others with careless speech. In a world dominated by new social media, I find this teaching to be extremely valuable. More than that, it plays a huge role in mitigating one potent act of bullying in school. I just hope primary schools reinforce this kind of training. A national consensus is indeed needed and the setting up of a stat-board is a necessary first step.

Besides unkind words, kids can also learn basic words in other languages. This will help cement our tradition of inter-racial harmony and interlocution. Manners can also be taught, like how kids should be refrained from using social media 24/7, to learn to make conversation, lest it becomes a lost art. We all see the signs of it happening in our teenagers but we are really not hapless in doing something about it. We can start with the next generation, our preschoolers. It's not a forgone conclusion. Pre-schools/primary schools can reinforce what we parents dearly want back - a time when conversations with our kids was itself an act of discovery and wonderment.

With more time to explore, parents can also transfer emphasis to develop their kid's blind spots. Every kid has one, whether it is their inability to do math, draw, speak in front of an audience, analyse, etc. Rather than willy-nilly follow The Joneses, parents can reaffirm, recalibrate and refresh how they are buying enrichment courses for their children. Course centres can then better participate in helping a child develop, not just push out content that's only geared towards academic excellence. It's more a mindset change than anything else. But an important one. And it is one that will truly help a child grow, improve, and excel.

TC Lai





Thursday 30 August 2012

Apple Vs Samsung - TVs and Cookers?

The external enabling function-buttons of the touch-screen smartphone is as simple as a TV or rice cooker. Is there any purpose in debating its 'copyrighted' design? And Samsung has actually built a better phone and smaller tablet: Lighter, speedier and with longer-lasting batts. It is good that judges elsewhere (outside of the US) recognise this. Call it the curse of the 'first-mover'? Hmm...




Ministry of Skyline Management (MSM)

Second new ministry announced. :-)


Ministry of National Duty

This was done in response to the Sg govt's announcement of three new ministries (and the revamp of incumbent ones) - 31 Jul 2012.


Time Magazine - Breastfeeding 5-yr-old

The cover of the May 21st 2012 issue of Time Magazine caused an uproar. Here is my take on it. Compare the  original and parodied ones (often with a Singaporean twist).

The Original:

















The Parodies: