More Links
I fly this weekend ( YES! :)). Was down with the flu but recovered pretty quickly. What a relief.
Here're more good videos to tide you over till my next entry.
Michael Buble
Scroll down and check out the TV interview segment and the one with him singing For Once In My Life with Tony Bennett, Carrie Underwood and Josh Groban.
The Spiderman video is BEAUTIFUL!
This guy never fails to bring a big smile to my weather-beaten face. :)
Peter Cincotti
I've sampled one so far, but what a winner it is!
Click on his 'live' performance of After You've Gone, a whopping 6-minute showcase of musical genius. Sans assistance from the piano pedal. Crisp and flawless. He always astounds with ease.
Jason Mraz
This links directly to a 'live' performance of Absolutely Zero from his Java Joe's gig ( an excellent album recording not available in Singapore ). I personally prefer the version from his later Tonight Not Again CD, but considering the fact that this is one of his best compositions ( and that it consistently sounds better on-stage than in the studio ), it's a good intro for non-JM fans and a fun flashback for those of us who adore him.
And by the way, here's another cool one. Perfect for relaxing on a cool, rainy day ( like today ). :)
Last One
My new addiction: John Mayer ( woo, the new Blogger allows text colouring :))
Have already played his Try! John Mayer Trio CD countless times. This is heavy duty blues at its best!
Tracks worth mentioning:
Vultures -- one of my faves from his Continuum CD, this absolutely rips in a 'live' setting. Raw vocals make it more poignant. Love the guitar, as always.
Out Of My Mind -- the most appropriate word I can think of to describe this piece ( and mind you, it's the first word that popped into my head when I initially heard it ) is "foreplay". Haha. Shall let you ponder that a bit. ;)
I Got A Woman -- my favourite on this particular album, hands down. Jamie Foxx sampled it in his duet with Kanye West on Gold Digger, but the Ray Charles classic is so much better standing on its own. Mayer does it immense justice, hitting the falsettos admirably and driving all the women in the audience nuts ( you can hear them loud and clear ). Unbelievable stuff!
Vids-wise, check this page out.
That's it for now. More when I get back. Enjoy. :)
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Reprieve
A day of MC has done a world of good. ( Not that taking MC is good, mind you. Apologies to my colleagues who had to pick up the slack while I was away. )
But I knew it was coming, especially after a woozy episode midway through my morning shift yesterday. Hadn't rested since 1st March, and suffered an unprecedented string of HORRIBLE shifts for 7 straight days before my body and spirit gave out.
Burnout? You bet.
On the upside, I'm ready to jump right in again tomorrow. Saturday night, whoopee. :)
Anyway, I'm happy to report that my broadband account is finally set up -- no more dialup! ( I know of at least one person who'll be doing the dance of joy upon hearing this, haha. )
As a treat for my aching bones and exhausted brain, I'd like to share a link from YouTube.
This, dear readers, is the one that started it all for this blog, which is named in his honour ( though I tweaked the final product so it'll roll off the tongue more easily ).
He always has been, still is, and always will be my favourite actor. No matter what roles he takes, on stage or film ( or perhaps TV, who knows ).
Ladies and gentleman, I give you... the incomparable Kevin Spacey.
I first saw this interview eons ago ( 5 - 10 years, I reckon ). I was already a huge fan ( The Negotiator and Se7en were good intros, but The Usual Suspects sealed the deal, followed by Swimming With Sharks and American Beauty ), but seeing a playful side to such an accomplished ( and often deadly serious ) thespian only succeeded in winning more respect and admiration.
No other actor has ever claimed the top spot on my list of favourites ( I'm a film buff and do have a few faves but am pretty dodgy where #1 positions are concerned ), and no other has usurped his place ever since.
Just watch this and tell me you don't love him. Just a little. :)
Internet videos from home. Ahhh, I can see why you love broadband. :D
More links to come. Stay tuned.
A day of MC has done a world of good. ( Not that taking MC is good, mind you. Apologies to my colleagues who had to pick up the slack while I was away. )
But I knew it was coming, especially after a woozy episode midway through my morning shift yesterday. Hadn't rested since 1st March, and suffered an unprecedented string of HORRIBLE shifts for 7 straight days before my body and spirit gave out.
Burnout? You bet.
On the upside, I'm ready to jump right in again tomorrow. Saturday night, whoopee. :)
Anyway, I'm happy to report that my broadband account is finally set up -- no more dialup! ( I know of at least one person who'll be doing the dance of joy upon hearing this, haha. )
As a treat for my aching bones and exhausted brain, I'd like to share a link from YouTube.
This, dear readers, is the one that started it all for this blog, which is named in his honour ( though I tweaked the final product so it'll roll off the tongue more easily ).
He always has been, still is, and always will be my favourite actor. No matter what roles he takes, on stage or film ( or perhaps TV, who knows ).
Ladies and gentleman, I give you... the incomparable Kevin Spacey.
I first saw this interview eons ago ( 5 - 10 years, I reckon ). I was already a huge fan ( The Negotiator and Se7en were good intros, but The Usual Suspects sealed the deal, followed by Swimming With Sharks and American Beauty ), but seeing a playful side to such an accomplished ( and often deadly serious ) thespian only succeeded in winning more respect and admiration.
No other actor has ever claimed the top spot on my list of favourites ( I'm a film buff and do have a few faves but am pretty dodgy where #1 positions are concerned ), and no other has usurped his place ever since.
Just watch this and tell me you don't love him. Just a little. :)
Internet videos from home. Ahhh, I can see why you love broadband. :D
More links to come. Stay tuned.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
No-one knows how to R&R like a 10-year-old cat. :)
p.s. Am experiencing problems loading blog entries directly to the home page address. Click on the archives on the right ( March - April 2007 ) for an updated version if your screen doesn't have the March 9th entry.
Sian...
The past few days were HELL.
Apologies to friends who received my frustrated SMSs -- something about being exhausted and wanting to retire as a tai-tai.
The feeling has dissipated, thanks to a very inspiring episode of ER on cable last night.
Who needs antidepressants when you've got a great TV show to come home to? :)
And by the way, is it true RGS girls never become tai-tais? Quick, someone prove the speaker of this statement wrong! ( haha )
RJC-ians Unite
It never fails to amaze me how, 15 years after we first came together, we're still going strong, with 24 out of a class of 25 fully accounted for.
There we were on Sunday afternoon -- well, just 6 of us managed to show up this time -- chatting about politics, family, medicine, money and the like, as if nothing had changed at all.
We still look the same ( save for a few more wrinkles ); we're still trading similar playful insults; but most importantly, we know we have absolute faith and trust in one another.
Congrats to the newly minted Lieutenant-Colonel, fast on his way to Brigadier-General, no doubt.
Next major gathering: August, when a certain long-lost alumnus returns from the US. Venue: possibly my place, for lots of BBQ-charred carcasses, alcohol and politically incorrect ranting.
That should be fun. :)
AI6
Disappointing, to say the least.
Sure, the women are pretty good, but nobody really stands out this year, except maybe Chris Sligh the tall-big-curly-haired-bespectacled-dude-with-a-nice-personality-and-respectable-voice.
Let me make my prediction now: the winner of AI6 will be an African-American female; if a guy makes it to the top 3 at all, my bet will be on Chris Sligh, Chris Richardson or Sundance Head.
Please kick all the Caucasian girls out now because they suck.
Heroes
... continues to enthrall.
All the hype about Masi Oka finally justified itself in the latest episode, when his unrestrained gawking at flying-politician Nathan Petrelli at a diner joint had me laughing in spite of my fatigue.
By the way, my mom thinks Milo Ventimiglia -- who plays Nathan's flying brother, Peter -- is "very handsome". We both remember his Jesse days from "Gilmore Girls", and I much preferred his rebellious brainy character to Jared Padalecki's bland underachiever Dean. That series really knows how to pick their young actors ( blonde heart-throb Chad Michael Murray from "One Tree Hill" is another alumnus ).
Looking Forward To...
New albums from Michael Buble and Peter Cincotti, woohoo!
Due for release this spring, whenever that might be. Hopefully by end-April or May.
Best part about new releases: world tours! Michael has already been here twice, so you can bet he'll return again. I intend to bring my cousin's young niece along this time -- she may be 10, but she's almost as tall as I am, mature beyond her tender years, and knows how to appreciate jazz.
As for Peter, I'm confident I can find an opportunity to say hello in person if and when he does hold a concert here.
Did I mention that George Clooney listed both singers as his current faves in an interview for People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive 2006 issue? A pleasant surprise indeed.
Upcoming Trip
In 2 weeks.
My mother requests that I not divulge details till AFTER we're back. She worries, especially after someone told me how another blogger kena stalked by a crazy reader and had to shut his site down.
Please, I doubt I'm worth stalking.
Tiring, But Exciting
Methinks the worst is over, for now. Imagine waking up feeling like crap, then forcing yourself to drive down to work, get through the next 8 hours of torture, then come home and contend with more work.
At least the research side is settled. Crappy feeling is mostly gone -- majority hormone-related, I think. And I've got some leave coming up, yes!
Still, I had my share of fun this week, most notably in 2 cardiac cases who required synchronized cardioversion. I've done a couple before, but these 2 patients are really nice people, and it's funny how IV midazolam had a completely amnesic effect on both of them.
*ZAP! OWWW!*, followed by a loud snore. Upon waking, they had zero recollection of being fried by an electric current, and one even flashed a beatific smile when I tried to jog his memory.
"I never warn them it's coming," the cardio reg whispered to me. "Much easier that way."
Cool. :)
In other news, we had a GP who failed to refer a fast AF with a rate of 180 bpm ( guy had an ECG done at the clinic, but was later referred from OPS the next day ), and an OPS doc who didn't refer a patient with melena who was documented to be "pale". No FBC done, with a gastro referral given in May!?
Think CME activities should include tests and exams in appropriate A&E referrals. I can forgive the endless "chest discomfort" cases ( sent by anxious GPs and polyclinic MOs ) we get on a daily basis, but this sort of oversight is indefensible in a court of law should the patient collapse and die before being seen by the hospital.
Anyway...
Before I sign off, just want to say that the "Spider-Man 3" trailer is unbelievably, freaking good. I will be there opening day. :)
Plus, I absolutely LOVE my new laptop. Microsoft Vista rocks. :D
The past few days were HELL.
Apologies to friends who received my frustrated SMSs -- something about being exhausted and wanting to retire as a tai-tai.
The feeling has dissipated, thanks to a very inspiring episode of ER on cable last night.
Who needs antidepressants when you've got a great TV show to come home to? :)
And by the way, is it true RGS girls never become tai-tais? Quick, someone prove the speaker of this statement wrong! ( haha )
RJC-ians Unite
It never fails to amaze me how, 15 years after we first came together, we're still going strong, with 24 out of a class of 25 fully accounted for.
There we were on Sunday afternoon -- well, just 6 of us managed to show up this time -- chatting about politics, family, medicine, money and the like, as if nothing had changed at all.
We still look the same ( save for a few more wrinkles ); we're still trading similar playful insults; but most importantly, we know we have absolute faith and trust in one another.
Congrats to the newly minted Lieutenant-Colonel, fast on his way to Brigadier-General, no doubt.
Next major gathering: August, when a certain long-lost alumnus returns from the US. Venue: possibly my place, for lots of BBQ-charred carcasses, alcohol and politically incorrect ranting.
That should be fun. :)
AI6
Disappointing, to say the least.
Sure, the women are pretty good, but nobody really stands out this year, except maybe Chris Sligh the tall-big-curly-haired-bespectacled-dude-with-a-nice-personality-and-respectable-voice.
Let me make my prediction now: the winner of AI6 will be an African-American female; if a guy makes it to the top 3 at all, my bet will be on Chris Sligh, Chris Richardson or Sundance Head.
Please kick all the Caucasian girls out now because they suck.
Heroes
... continues to enthrall.
All the hype about Masi Oka finally justified itself in the latest episode, when his unrestrained gawking at flying-politician Nathan Petrelli at a diner joint had me laughing in spite of my fatigue.
By the way, my mom thinks Milo Ventimiglia -- who plays Nathan's flying brother, Peter -- is "very handsome". We both remember his Jesse days from "Gilmore Girls", and I much preferred his rebellious brainy character to Jared Padalecki's bland underachiever Dean. That series really knows how to pick their young actors ( blonde heart-throb Chad Michael Murray from "One Tree Hill" is another alumnus ).
Looking Forward To...
New albums from Michael Buble and Peter Cincotti, woohoo!
Due for release this spring, whenever that might be. Hopefully by end-April or May.
Best part about new releases: world tours! Michael has already been here twice, so you can bet he'll return again. I intend to bring my cousin's young niece along this time -- she may be 10, but she's almost as tall as I am, mature beyond her tender years, and knows how to appreciate jazz.
As for Peter, I'm confident I can find an opportunity to say hello in person if and when he does hold a concert here.
Did I mention that George Clooney listed both singers as his current faves in an interview for People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive 2006 issue? A pleasant surprise indeed.
Upcoming Trip
In 2 weeks.
My mother requests that I not divulge details till AFTER we're back. She worries, especially after someone told me how another blogger kena stalked by a crazy reader and had to shut his site down.
Please, I doubt I'm worth stalking.
Tiring, But Exciting
Methinks the worst is over, for now. Imagine waking up feeling like crap, then forcing yourself to drive down to work, get through the next 8 hours of torture, then come home and contend with more work.
At least the research side is settled. Crappy feeling is mostly gone -- majority hormone-related, I think. And I've got some leave coming up, yes!
Still, I had my share of fun this week, most notably in 2 cardiac cases who required synchronized cardioversion. I've done a couple before, but these 2 patients are really nice people, and it's funny how IV midazolam had a completely amnesic effect on both of them.
*ZAP! OWWW!*, followed by a loud snore. Upon waking, they had zero recollection of being fried by an electric current, and one even flashed a beatific smile when I tried to jog his memory.
"I never warn them it's coming," the cardio reg whispered to me. "Much easier that way."
Cool. :)
In other news, we had a GP who failed to refer a fast AF with a rate of 180 bpm ( guy had an ECG done at the clinic, but was later referred from OPS the next day ), and an OPS doc who didn't refer a patient with melena who was documented to be "pale". No FBC done, with a gastro referral given in May!?
Think CME activities should include tests and exams in appropriate A&E referrals. I can forgive the endless "chest discomfort" cases ( sent by anxious GPs and polyclinic MOs ) we get on a daily basis, but this sort of oversight is indefensible in a court of law should the patient collapse and die before being seen by the hospital.
Anyway...
Before I sign off, just want to say that the "Spider-Man 3" trailer is unbelievably, freaking good. I will be there opening day. :)
Plus, I absolutely LOVE my new laptop. Microsoft Vista rocks. :D
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Prepare Yourself
It's gonna be a long one.
So I've finally found some time to write after, let's see, 3 weeks (!).
Much has happened, as you can imagine. Here's a quick rundown.
The "pesky MO"
( Quoting someone else, not myself, mind you )
This incident was the first of a few recent disappointments.
First, his only defense was that the "animosity" is a purely personal one. Huh?
Second, he didn't offer any form of apology. But hey, I didn't expect one, knowing what I know about this person.
Third, his family background ( if sources are correct ) hasn't done much to inculcate good work ethics. Pity.
Anyway, we continue to work in close proximity, and I've made it clear that there's zero personal element involved, with a couple of highly placed seniors reinforcing his need to buck up.
Funny how a certain female magazine featured him in last year's 50 Most Eligible Bachelors spread ( I didn't read it, but my MOs told me about it ). My opinion of this publication has never been good, but it's definitely plunged to a new low following this incident.
It Never Pays To Speak Up
At least not when a certain patient's irate middle-aged male relative thinks it fit to yell at a young female doctor who just happened to be sitting nearby minding her own business ( i.e. me ).
He spent 5 minutes rudely berating one of our senior nurses, before turning to me and asking, "How can you, as a doctor, allow this to happen?" I proceeded to reinforce a statement made by the nurse, hoping to inject some objectivity into the situation, but instead got a huge earful about my "attitude", before he demanded my name and threatened to quote me to "the minister" ( whoever that may be ).
I felt baited, and he was clearly hoping I would snap and sabotage myself, but I just coolly replied that I was merely stating a fact and that any personal assumptions he made were purely his own decision.
Luckily, the doctor-in-charge of the patient ( an associate consultant ) came over to placate him. Yeesh, how the heck did I get into this mess?
But I'm definitely not sorry about defending our nurse, who's one of the best around. Patients and relatives are too pampered these days, barging into the ER with unreasonable expectations fuelled by the media and our eager-to-please administrators. As one character on the TV series "ER" once told a resident who got scolded the same way I did: Don't feel that you have to apologize. This is a hospital, not a restaurant.
When will they realize that we're working our asses off and doing the best we can? Try sweating it out for a week down here before you pass any judgement.
Books In Contrast
Excellent: John Berendt's The City Of Falling Angels, which I finally completed after 4 strenuous months. Not an easy read, but hugely satisfying. Berendt's last novel was Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil ( a top favourite ), and his 2nd novel in 10 long years has been worth the wait.
Combining a journalistic tone with insightful characterizations, this work of non-fiction based in Venice is superbly entertaining -- as long as you're patient and attentive to its intricate details.
Reviews often mention The Rat Man Of Treviso, who tailors poisons according to the regional tastes of his victims. But I much prefer the quirks of the eccentric Ralph Curtis of the filthy rich expatriate Curtis family which owns the grand Palazzo Barbaro. Just get a load of his phone's voice recording: "You have reached the Earth liaison station of the Democratic Republic of the Planet Mars", and his application form for houseguests ( which requires a print of the right big toe instead of a normal signature ). This kook has his own Starship Barbaro located within his apartment, complete with space suits, a life-size plastic female in a lacy black bikini, and a Moon Room where he conducts regular "liftoffs" while blasting cassettes of actual Apollo rocket missions from a boom box.
If this doesn't intrigue or amuse you, you're obviously not human.
Another highlight is his in-depth coverage of the internal political turmoil surrounding the Save Venice foundation, specifically between top dogs Larry Lovett and Bob Guthrie. This fascinating study into how even the strongest friendship can degenerate into a bitter feud is a valuable lesson for anyone who'd care to listen. And it is to Berendt's sole credit that a story which spans 40 pages in teeny-tiny font never loses steam, thanks to his ability to enthrall with beautiful, almost lyrical prose, transforming even the most routine conversation into a breath-taking work of art.
Will I be 40 when his next book is published? If nothing else, at least I'll have something to look forward to in my old age. Haha.
Shameful: Thomas Harris' Hannibal Rising. I may go so far as to label this the literary equivalent of Basic Instinct 2. It's that bad.
I've read all the other novels in the Hannibal series and found them quite enjoyable ( Hannibal being the best of the lot ). This prequel, however, really sucks. I agree with Life! reporter Ong Sor Fern, who lamented the travesty of attempting to psychoanalyze Dr. Lecter and provide a reason for his murderous nature. She's absolutely right -- Hannibal's inscrutability is key. Nobody knows why he kills, which makes him all the more terrifying. Breaking him down into little puzzle pieces destroys everything he's ever stood for ( something along the lines of "I kill because I LOVE IT ) and irritates severely.
Plus, the writing is ridiculously bad, with sentences like "In the water was Lady Murasaki. The Lady Murasaki was in the water." and "Hannibal looked at the lodge, and the lodge looked back." Was Thomas Harris high on something when he wrote this?
I didn't finish the book, and strongly advise against reading any of it.
Amazon Treasures
Every single item ordered has arrived ( within 2 weeks, woohoo! ). Here's a quick review of a few of them:
Taylor Hicks' self-titled album
Great stuff! Love his smoky voice, showcased well in a compilation of rock, blues, pop and soul. Tracks are mostly mid- to fast tempo, but he shines most on the slower pieces, like Wherever I Lay My Hat, Places I've Been and The Right Place. But if you crave some true-blue Taylor, you'll love Soul Thing, a self-penned composition which boasts high energy, fun lyrics and super vocals.
John Mayer's Inside Wants Out
Beautiful may be the best description for this 2000 acoustic release which features only 8 tracks, but more than makes up for it with Mayer's stripped-bare performances. Although subsequent chart toppers No Such Thing and Back To You are included, his best work lies in obscure pieces -- some of it never commercially released -- like Victoria, Comfortable, Quiet and Love Soon. Still, I love Neon the most, so that's my personal fave on this album. The guitar bits really rock!
John Mayer's Any Given Thursday
This 'live' concert was recorded in Birmingham, Alabama. Lots and lots and LOTS of cool jamming, including a wide repertoire ranging from Your Body Is A Wonderland to My Stupid Mouth to 3x5 to City Love.
Best of the lot: Covered In Rain -- a dreamy ballad; Message In A Bottle -- a cool cover of a Sting piece; Why Georgia -- rollicking bass; 83 Medley -- another fave of mine from his Room For Squares album, given a rich texture here, complete with some mischief ( note the inclusion of verses from '80s hits Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Let's Hear It For The Boy ); last but not least, Neon -- 10 minutes of pure heaven!
My Funny Valentine: Sting At The Movies
Trust the Japanese to come up with this ingenious idea to compile Sting's numerous soundtrack contributions into one comprehensive collection. To the uninitiated, many of his best recordings were never included in his commercial releases, so unless you intend to purchase every soundtrack he's ever appeared in, this is the next best thing.
A sampling: My Funny Valentine ( from "Ashura" ), The Windmills Of Your Mind ( "Thomas Crown Affair" ), Until... ( "Kate and Leopold" ), All For Love ( "The Three Musketeers" ), It's Probably Me ( "Lethal Weapon 3" ), Moonlight ( my personal favourite, from "Sabrina" ), and My One And Only Love ( "Leaving Las Vegas" ).
Notice the disproportionate number of jazz pieces. There are 18 songs in total, costing US$46. Worth every cent.
TV
American Idol 6 zoomed through Hollywood Week in 2 episodes, with 24 finalists due to perform in 4 days' time. Sundance Head failed to impress but was cleared for takeoff ( don't really understand how ). Chris Sligh is now my pick to win, though the girls may take the crown yet again ( they all look eerily alike, except Melinda Doolittle, the backup singer with a powerhouse voice ). Still, nothing to shout much about this year. Yawn.
Heroes
After a shaky pilot, episodes 2 and 3 have gained momentum, especially with the introduction of Sylar, a scary faceless anti-hero worthy of the Supernatural brothers' full attention. Favourite characters: Peter Petrelli ( Milo Ventimiglia from "Gilmore Girls ) and Niki the Internet stripper ( played by gorgeous Ali Larter ). Japanese fellow who keeps yelling "Hatta!" -- okay lah. Indian academic searching for his missing genetics professor dad -- cheesy. Other than that, I'm hooked. :)
Before I end off, a short summary of a few recent VCD rentals:
Scoop: Woody Allen is now officially the most annoying person ( not just actor ) I've ever encountered. Scarlett Johanson is more moronic than ditzy. Hugh Jackman, you have my sympathy.
The Black Dahlia: Disturbing. Pales in comparison to Brian de Palma's early masterpiece, "The Untouchables".
Miami Vice: Boring. Gong Li's accent is horrendous. Wonder if she's going to skewer Hannibal Rising.
Little Miss Sunshine: Why was Abigail nominated and Paul Dano ( who plays her tortured older brother ) overlooked?
Nacho Libre: I've always adored Jack Black. Now, I also adore short, fat little Mexican friars. :D
Have a prosperous Lunar New Year. Over and out.
It's gonna be a long one.
So I've finally found some time to write after, let's see, 3 weeks (!).
Much has happened, as you can imagine. Here's a quick rundown.
The "pesky MO"
( Quoting someone else, not myself, mind you )
This incident was the first of a few recent disappointments.
First, his only defense was that the "animosity" is a purely personal one. Huh?
Second, he didn't offer any form of apology. But hey, I didn't expect one, knowing what I know about this person.
Third, his family background ( if sources are correct ) hasn't done much to inculcate good work ethics. Pity.
Anyway, we continue to work in close proximity, and I've made it clear that there's zero personal element involved, with a couple of highly placed seniors reinforcing his need to buck up.
Funny how a certain female magazine featured him in last year's 50 Most Eligible Bachelors spread ( I didn't read it, but my MOs told me about it ). My opinion of this publication has never been good, but it's definitely plunged to a new low following this incident.
It Never Pays To Speak Up
At least not when a certain patient's irate middle-aged male relative thinks it fit to yell at a young female doctor who just happened to be sitting nearby minding her own business ( i.e. me ).
He spent 5 minutes rudely berating one of our senior nurses, before turning to me and asking, "How can you, as a doctor, allow this to happen?" I proceeded to reinforce a statement made by the nurse, hoping to inject some objectivity into the situation, but instead got a huge earful about my "attitude", before he demanded my name and threatened to quote me to "the minister" ( whoever that may be ).
I felt baited, and he was clearly hoping I would snap and sabotage myself, but I just coolly replied that I was merely stating a fact and that any personal assumptions he made were purely his own decision.
Luckily, the doctor-in-charge of the patient ( an associate consultant ) came over to placate him. Yeesh, how the heck did I get into this mess?
But I'm definitely not sorry about defending our nurse, who's one of the best around. Patients and relatives are too pampered these days, barging into the ER with unreasonable expectations fuelled by the media and our eager-to-please administrators. As one character on the TV series "ER" once told a resident who got scolded the same way I did: Don't feel that you have to apologize. This is a hospital, not a restaurant.
When will they realize that we're working our asses off and doing the best we can? Try sweating it out for a week down here before you pass any judgement.
Books In Contrast
Excellent: John Berendt's The City Of Falling Angels, which I finally completed after 4 strenuous months. Not an easy read, but hugely satisfying. Berendt's last novel was Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil ( a top favourite ), and his 2nd novel in 10 long years has been worth the wait.
Combining a journalistic tone with insightful characterizations, this work of non-fiction based in Venice is superbly entertaining -- as long as you're patient and attentive to its intricate details.
Reviews often mention The Rat Man Of Treviso, who tailors poisons according to the regional tastes of his victims. But I much prefer the quirks of the eccentric Ralph Curtis of the filthy rich expatriate Curtis family which owns the grand Palazzo Barbaro. Just get a load of his phone's voice recording: "You have reached the Earth liaison station of the Democratic Republic of the Planet Mars", and his application form for houseguests ( which requires a print of the right big toe instead of a normal signature ). This kook has his own Starship Barbaro located within his apartment, complete with space suits, a life-size plastic female in a lacy black bikini, and a Moon Room where he conducts regular "liftoffs" while blasting cassettes of actual Apollo rocket missions from a boom box.
If this doesn't intrigue or amuse you, you're obviously not human.
Another highlight is his in-depth coverage of the internal political turmoil surrounding the Save Venice foundation, specifically between top dogs Larry Lovett and Bob Guthrie. This fascinating study into how even the strongest friendship can degenerate into a bitter feud is a valuable lesson for anyone who'd care to listen. And it is to Berendt's sole credit that a story which spans 40 pages in teeny-tiny font never loses steam, thanks to his ability to enthrall with beautiful, almost lyrical prose, transforming even the most routine conversation into a breath-taking work of art.
Will I be 40 when his next book is published? If nothing else, at least I'll have something to look forward to in my old age. Haha.
Shameful: Thomas Harris' Hannibal Rising. I may go so far as to label this the literary equivalent of Basic Instinct 2. It's that bad.
I've read all the other novels in the Hannibal series and found them quite enjoyable ( Hannibal being the best of the lot ). This prequel, however, really sucks. I agree with Life! reporter Ong Sor Fern, who lamented the travesty of attempting to psychoanalyze Dr. Lecter and provide a reason for his murderous nature. She's absolutely right -- Hannibal's inscrutability is key. Nobody knows why he kills, which makes him all the more terrifying. Breaking him down into little puzzle pieces destroys everything he's ever stood for ( something along the lines of "I kill because I LOVE IT ) and irritates severely.
Plus, the writing is ridiculously bad, with sentences like "In the water was Lady Murasaki. The Lady Murasaki was in the water." and "Hannibal looked at the lodge, and the lodge looked back." Was Thomas Harris high on something when he wrote this?
I didn't finish the book, and strongly advise against reading any of it.
Amazon Treasures
Every single item ordered has arrived ( within 2 weeks, woohoo! ). Here's a quick review of a few of them:
Taylor Hicks' self-titled album
Great stuff! Love his smoky voice, showcased well in a compilation of rock, blues, pop and soul. Tracks are mostly mid- to fast tempo, but he shines most on the slower pieces, like Wherever I Lay My Hat, Places I've Been and The Right Place. But if you crave some true-blue Taylor, you'll love Soul Thing, a self-penned composition which boasts high energy, fun lyrics and super vocals.
John Mayer's Inside Wants Out
Beautiful may be the best description for this 2000 acoustic release which features only 8 tracks, but more than makes up for it with Mayer's stripped-bare performances. Although subsequent chart toppers No Such Thing and Back To You are included, his best work lies in obscure pieces -- some of it never commercially released -- like Victoria, Comfortable, Quiet and Love Soon. Still, I love Neon the most, so that's my personal fave on this album. The guitar bits really rock!
John Mayer's Any Given Thursday
This 'live' concert was recorded in Birmingham, Alabama. Lots and lots and LOTS of cool jamming, including a wide repertoire ranging from Your Body Is A Wonderland to My Stupid Mouth to 3x5 to City Love.
Best of the lot: Covered In Rain -- a dreamy ballad; Message In A Bottle -- a cool cover of a Sting piece; Why Georgia -- rollicking bass; 83 Medley -- another fave of mine from his Room For Squares album, given a rich texture here, complete with some mischief ( note the inclusion of verses from '80s hits Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Let's Hear It For The Boy ); last but not least, Neon -- 10 minutes of pure heaven!
My Funny Valentine: Sting At The Movies
Trust the Japanese to come up with this ingenious idea to compile Sting's numerous soundtrack contributions into one comprehensive collection. To the uninitiated, many of his best recordings were never included in his commercial releases, so unless you intend to purchase every soundtrack he's ever appeared in, this is the next best thing.
A sampling: My Funny Valentine ( from "Ashura" ), The Windmills Of Your Mind ( "Thomas Crown Affair" ), Until... ( "Kate and Leopold" ), All For Love ( "The Three Musketeers" ), It's Probably Me ( "Lethal Weapon 3" ), Moonlight ( my personal favourite, from "Sabrina" ), and My One And Only Love ( "Leaving Las Vegas" ).
Notice the disproportionate number of jazz pieces. There are 18 songs in total, costing US$46. Worth every cent.
TV
American Idol 6 zoomed through Hollywood Week in 2 episodes, with 24 finalists due to perform in 4 days' time. Sundance Head failed to impress but was cleared for takeoff ( don't really understand how ). Chris Sligh is now my pick to win, though the girls may take the crown yet again ( they all look eerily alike, except Melinda Doolittle, the backup singer with a powerhouse voice ). Still, nothing to shout much about this year. Yawn.
Heroes
After a shaky pilot, episodes 2 and 3 have gained momentum, especially with the introduction of Sylar, a scary faceless anti-hero worthy of the Supernatural brothers' full attention. Favourite characters: Peter Petrelli ( Milo Ventimiglia from "Gilmore Girls ) and Niki the Internet stripper ( played by gorgeous Ali Larter ). Japanese fellow who keeps yelling "Hatta!" -- okay lah. Indian academic searching for his missing genetics professor dad -- cheesy. Other than that, I'm hooked. :)
Before I end off, a short summary of a few recent VCD rentals:
Scoop: Woody Allen is now officially the most annoying person ( not just actor ) I've ever encountered. Scarlett Johanson is more moronic than ditzy. Hugh Jackman, you have my sympathy.
The Black Dahlia: Disturbing. Pales in comparison to Brian de Palma's early masterpiece, "The Untouchables".
Miami Vice: Boring. Gong Li's accent is horrendous. Wonder if she's going to skewer Hannibal Rising.
Little Miss Sunshine: Why was Abigail nominated and Paul Dano ( who plays her tortured older brother ) overlooked?
Nacho Libre: I've always adored Jack Black. Now, I also adore short, fat little Mexican friars. :D
Have a prosperous Lunar New Year. Over and out.
Saturday, January 27, 2007
The Volcano Erupteth
It's been -- let's see -- 4 years since my last major meltdown directed at a junior doctor. And boy, did this guy deserve it.
He'd already chalked up a significant degree of notoriety in a previous posting, and proved no different in our ER. The nurses and most of the MOs and seniors have been suffering in silence, with a counselling session thrown in a few months ago, but alas, to no avail.
So today was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, I suppose. Me being the camel, haha.
It wasn't pleasant for either of us, and I felt compelled to write a heated email to my fellow senior ER physicians. The last time I resorted to such tactics was during an internal med rotation, when a certain HO routinely switched his pager off ( day and night ), missed all the serial ECGs and cardiac enzymes, and ordered crazy ( not to mention dangerous ) treatments for our hapless, unsuspecting patients.
Fortunately, he bucked up big time after I submitted a formal written report and crucified him, prompting a whole string of consultants ( including the HOD ) to issue a stern warning and a failing grade should he persist.
However, I gave him the credit he deserved, even helping him clerk cases one busy night when I clearly saw how hard he was trying. We parted ways on amicable terms, and I hope he learnt a valuable lesson from the experience, even if he still curses me under his breath now and then.
THIS GUY, on the other hand, doesn't have youthful ignorance as a defense. Nor does he demonstrate any willingness to change for the better. Which is much, much worse.
We've got to clamp down on this nonsense RIGHT NOW, before something really bad happens. Too many sick patients on our hands...
Where's Taylor Hicks?
AI6 is into its 2nd week / 4th episode, and all I can say is: Taylor is one tough act to beat.
Clay Aiken will always be one of my all-time faves, but Taylor has such star quality he's likely to outlast the former ( at least at the rate things are going -- Clay, you need to record a good Christian song album instead of sticking to all those noisy rock/pop pieces ).
I recently caught Taylor on Larry King Live, looking super-lean and full of confidence, and found myself beaming from ear to ear. And Amazon just earned some money from me, since I still can't find Taylor's CD anywhere in Singapore.
But I digress. AI6's "cream of the crop" so far has been rather... disappointing. Sure, there were a few "hot" ones ( in Randy-speak ), but nobody truly stood out, or more importantly, gave me goosebumps.
Taylor did that the first time I saw his audition -- Las Vegas, singing A Change Is Gonna Come, followed by a Ray Charles number. Wow. I pictured him as the Idol winner right then and there. No such vision yet for AI6.
I am, however, watching Jason "Sundance" Head, son of the late Roy Head, who was also a singer ( though I don't know his music ). Sundance has a set of powerful pipes and a very unique look ( stocky, with a long beard and a rather Bohemian style of dressing ). Reminds me a lot of the lead singer from Rascal Flatts. And boy do I like him. :)
My New Fix
He looks like Peter Jackson, but has a Spanish accent. And his films are just WONDERFUL -- even though I've only seen 2 of them. ( Hey, you can tell a lot from just a little. Just look at Christopher Nolan. )
I'm talking about Guillermo del Toro, the 2 films being The Devil's Backbone and Hellboy. The former is a spine-chilling horror thriller ( in Spanish ), the second a superb adaptation of a cult comic series, featuring an unconventional protagonist which looks creepy but manages to earn the viewer's respect and empathy through some seriously nifty character development. Oh, and the action scenes rock! :)
I can't wait to get my hands on Pan's Labyrinth.
And speaking of labyrinth, I just bought Sting's latest release ( Songs from the Labyrinth ) and couldn't even get through the first half. Very tedious, very depressing. This, coming from a diehard Sting fan.
Never mind, am now placing an order for his ( darn expensive ) Sting At The Movies album. Amazon's terrific. :)
Splurge
Why do I always spend more on others than I do on myself when I celebrate? A posh dinner with my parents, a huge catered lunch for the department, perhaps more treats for selected friends and relatives...
Hence my biggest spree on Amazon since... well, ever. Getting pretty sick of the local music scene, which doesn't have what I want. Hip-hop nauseates me, rock gives me a headache, and pop is becoming pure drivel ( Paris Hilton cut a CD -- is this the world I live in? Shoot me now. ).
Will review my new buys in, say, a month. Takes 3 weeks for the package to arrive, but it's well worth the wait.
Enjoy the weekend.
It's been -- let's see -- 4 years since my last major meltdown directed at a junior doctor. And boy, did this guy deserve it.
He'd already chalked up a significant degree of notoriety in a previous posting, and proved no different in our ER. The nurses and most of the MOs and seniors have been suffering in silence, with a counselling session thrown in a few months ago, but alas, to no avail.
So today was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back, I suppose. Me being the camel, haha.
It wasn't pleasant for either of us, and I felt compelled to write a heated email to my fellow senior ER physicians. The last time I resorted to such tactics was during an internal med rotation, when a certain HO routinely switched his pager off ( day and night ), missed all the serial ECGs and cardiac enzymes, and ordered crazy ( not to mention dangerous ) treatments for our hapless, unsuspecting patients.
Fortunately, he bucked up big time after I submitted a formal written report and crucified him, prompting a whole string of consultants ( including the HOD ) to issue a stern warning and a failing grade should he persist.
However, I gave him the credit he deserved, even helping him clerk cases one busy night when I clearly saw how hard he was trying. We parted ways on amicable terms, and I hope he learnt a valuable lesson from the experience, even if he still curses me under his breath now and then.
THIS GUY, on the other hand, doesn't have youthful ignorance as a defense. Nor does he demonstrate any willingness to change for the better. Which is much, much worse.
We've got to clamp down on this nonsense RIGHT NOW, before something really bad happens. Too many sick patients on our hands...
Where's Taylor Hicks?
AI6 is into its 2nd week / 4th episode, and all I can say is: Taylor is one tough act to beat.
Clay Aiken will always be one of my all-time faves, but Taylor has such star quality he's likely to outlast the former ( at least at the rate things are going -- Clay, you need to record a good Christian song album instead of sticking to all those noisy rock/pop pieces ).
I recently caught Taylor on Larry King Live, looking super-lean and full of confidence, and found myself beaming from ear to ear. And Amazon just earned some money from me, since I still can't find Taylor's CD anywhere in Singapore.
But I digress. AI6's "cream of the crop" so far has been rather... disappointing. Sure, there were a few "hot" ones ( in Randy-speak ), but nobody truly stood out, or more importantly, gave me goosebumps.
Taylor did that the first time I saw his audition -- Las Vegas, singing A Change Is Gonna Come, followed by a Ray Charles number. Wow. I pictured him as the Idol winner right then and there. No such vision yet for AI6.
I am, however, watching Jason "Sundance" Head, son of the late Roy Head, who was also a singer ( though I don't know his music ). Sundance has a set of powerful pipes and a very unique look ( stocky, with a long beard and a rather Bohemian style of dressing ). Reminds me a lot of the lead singer from Rascal Flatts. And boy do I like him. :)
My New Fix
He looks like Peter Jackson, but has a Spanish accent. And his films are just WONDERFUL -- even though I've only seen 2 of them. ( Hey, you can tell a lot from just a little. Just look at Christopher Nolan. )
I'm talking about Guillermo del Toro, the 2 films being The Devil's Backbone and Hellboy. The former is a spine-chilling horror thriller ( in Spanish ), the second a superb adaptation of a cult comic series, featuring an unconventional protagonist which looks creepy but manages to earn the viewer's respect and empathy through some seriously nifty character development. Oh, and the action scenes rock! :)
I can't wait to get my hands on Pan's Labyrinth.
And speaking of labyrinth, I just bought Sting's latest release ( Songs from the Labyrinth ) and couldn't even get through the first half. Very tedious, very depressing. This, coming from a diehard Sting fan.
Never mind, am now placing an order for his ( darn expensive ) Sting At The Movies album. Amazon's terrific. :)
Splurge
Why do I always spend more on others than I do on myself when I celebrate? A posh dinner with my parents, a huge catered lunch for the department, perhaps more treats for selected friends and relatives...
Hence my biggest spree on Amazon since... well, ever. Getting pretty sick of the local music scene, which doesn't have what I want. Hip-hop nauseates me, rock gives me a headache, and pop is becoming pure drivel ( Paris Hilton cut a CD -- is this the world I live in? Shoot me now. ).
Will review my new buys in, say, a month. Takes 3 weeks for the package to arrive, but it's well worth the wait.
Enjoy the weekend.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
First Things First
I PASSED! Woohoo!
Now that THAT'S out of the way, it's back to reality. In hindsight, I suppose I could've / should've taken more leave, but I'm rather protective of my vacation time so am saving it for a proper holiday later this year.
I will say this though: I'm looking forward to a pay rise. :)
Additional Links
A warm welcome to new additions Avaris and Monash Medical Student. Great writing.
Review of 3Lbs
Pilot episode was terrific, IMHO. Not sure if any of you caught it, but my enjoyment stems mainly from noticing numerous similarities between lead character Doug Hanson and another senior surgeon I know personally.
A memorable line has a young, more sensitive colleague telling a patient, "He won't hold your hand - he doesn't know how." before stating that if it were HIS own daughter, he would trust Hanson with her life.
I can't tell you who the local surgeon is, of course. But he's brilliant, though not exactly a "people person". And just like Hanson, who showed a secret moment of kindness when he whispered words of consolation to a patient who couldn't hear him ( she had an iPod plugged in ), this surgeon did the same thing with one of his own cases, as related firsthand by his assistant in the OT.
Pity it's on indefinite hiatus. I think it's pretty good.
ER Quote
"I find myself searching for reasons not to hate my patients."
-- psychiatrist Div Cvetic, who went on to suffer depression and a mental breakdown, before abruptly quitting and moving to who knows where
There're times when I share this feeling, but it usually passes -- with the help of some vegging out in front of the TV, time spent with friends and family, a holiday, or perhaps, a pay rise ( haha ).
Still, there's nothing else in this world I'd rather be doing. So make sure you choose wisely when it's your turn.
Eric Clapton Rocks!
Unbeknownst to many, I attended the concert, despite it being 3 days away from my exit. I'm not a diehard fan, but went primarily to (1) see the legendary Slowhand in action, and (2) experience what truly great blues really sounds like.
Familiarity with John Mayer's music ( he's widely touted as Clapton's successor ) certainly helped, and I was completely blown away by what I saw and heard. He may be 61 years old, but he's still rocking hard, and gave an energetic performance from beginning to end.
Funny how a bespectacled, nondescript-looking Brit with a receding chin ( I kept wondering how difficult he'd be to intubate, yikes! ) can be hailed as a rock / blues legend. But the 10,000-strong crowd ( a significant portion comprising expats ) was also mostly middle-aged, and boy did they head-bang and gyrate along, especially during the faster numbers.
Pernnial favourites Layla and Wonderful Tonight were done flawlessly, though I prefer the latter and wish he'd opted for the acoustic version of the former instead of all that heavy electric guitar jamming.
Best bit? A short segment after the 1st 2-3 pieces, when he pulled up a stool, switched to an acoustic guitar and did a solo of a classic blues number ( let me know the title 'cos I don't recognize it ).
If only he'd talked a little more instead of zooming through the repertoire, which made everything seem extremely rushed.
Other than that little complaint, I think my money was definitely well-spent. :)
More writing to follow another day. Don't forget to catch American Idol 6 tonight!
I PASSED! Woohoo!
Now that THAT'S out of the way, it's back to reality. In hindsight, I suppose I could've / should've taken more leave, but I'm rather protective of my vacation time so am saving it for a proper holiday later this year.
I will say this though: I'm looking forward to a pay rise. :)
Additional Links
A warm welcome to new additions Avaris and Monash Medical Student. Great writing.
Review of 3Lbs
Pilot episode was terrific, IMHO. Not sure if any of you caught it, but my enjoyment stems mainly from noticing numerous similarities between lead character Doug Hanson and another senior surgeon I know personally.
A memorable line has a young, more sensitive colleague telling a patient, "He won't hold your hand - he doesn't know how." before stating that if it were HIS own daughter, he would trust Hanson with her life.
I can't tell you who the local surgeon is, of course. But he's brilliant, though not exactly a "people person". And just like Hanson, who showed a secret moment of kindness when he whispered words of consolation to a patient who couldn't hear him ( she had an iPod plugged in ), this surgeon did the same thing with one of his own cases, as related firsthand by his assistant in the OT.
Pity it's on indefinite hiatus. I think it's pretty good.
ER Quote
"I find myself searching for reasons not to hate my patients."
-- psychiatrist Div Cvetic, who went on to suffer depression and a mental breakdown, before abruptly quitting and moving to who knows where
There're times when I share this feeling, but it usually passes -- with the help of some vegging out in front of the TV, time spent with friends and family, a holiday, or perhaps, a pay rise ( haha ).
Still, there's nothing else in this world I'd rather be doing. So make sure you choose wisely when it's your turn.
Eric Clapton Rocks!
Unbeknownst to many, I attended the concert, despite it being 3 days away from my exit. I'm not a diehard fan, but went primarily to (1) see the legendary Slowhand in action, and (2) experience what truly great blues really sounds like.
Familiarity with John Mayer's music ( he's widely touted as Clapton's successor ) certainly helped, and I was completely blown away by what I saw and heard. He may be 61 years old, but he's still rocking hard, and gave an energetic performance from beginning to end.
Funny how a bespectacled, nondescript-looking Brit with a receding chin ( I kept wondering how difficult he'd be to intubate, yikes! ) can be hailed as a rock / blues legend. But the 10,000-strong crowd ( a significant portion comprising expats ) was also mostly middle-aged, and boy did they head-bang and gyrate along, especially during the faster numbers.
Pernnial favourites Layla and Wonderful Tonight were done flawlessly, though I prefer the latter and wish he'd opted for the acoustic version of the former instead of all that heavy electric guitar jamming.
Best bit? A short segment after the 1st 2-3 pieces, when he pulled up a stool, switched to an acoustic guitar and did a solo of a classic blues number ( let me know the title 'cos I don't recognize it ).
If only he'd talked a little more instead of zooming through the repertoire, which made everything seem extremely rushed.
Other than that little complaint, I think my money was definitely well-spent. :)
More writing to follow another day. Don't forget to catch American Idol 6 tonight!
Friday, January 05, 2007
TV Bonanza
5 days into my study leave, and finding it tough to resist temptation. :)
1) ER Re-runs!!!
Yes, believe it! Just started airing on 1st Jan 2007, all the way from the Season 1 pilot! Hallmark Channel 17, 8pm, DAILY.
Do I sound excited? :D
If you're wondering whether I became an ER physician because of this show, then you may be disappointed to learn that the answer is a big "No". I was dead set on O&G ( started from my JC days, but don't ask me why ), then made a big U-turn after discovering a massive distaste for amniotic fluid, placentas and PV exams. That, plus all the screaming ( and sometimes neurotic ) mothers, and a couple of ( this is true ) near-syncopal episodes when the smell and yelling became too potent for my usually strong stomach.
Oh yeah, and nothing quite beats seeing a straining mom defecate during childbirth. Natural, of course, but not something I want to see for the rest of my life. I'll stick to the glam versions on TV / the big screen / in my personal Fantasyland, thank you very much.
Anyway, back to the topic at hand. I was a faithful follower of ER back in my early med school days, though I understood little of the jargon and even less about the complex medical procedures and ACLS / ATLS protocols demonstrated.
Was thinking of renting the entire DVD set after my exam, but thanks to cable, I'm going to save a bundle, heh heh.
Watching it again 12 years later brings back great memories, but more importantly, also illustrates why the series won 22 Emmy Awards and stayed at the top of the TV ratings for eons before being toppled by CSI a few years ago.
The writing is excellent, the actors well-cast, and the resus simulations absolutely the best I've seen EVER. Armed with knowledge and skills from 7 years of clinical practice, I scrutinized the code scenes closely and could find no mistake. Not one! They defib only when its VF or pulseless VT, NOT during asystole or PEA! BRAVO, guys, BRAVO! :)
The only gripe I have thus far is how John Carter -- here a mere M3 -- gets tasked with breaking bad news to a dead boy's family. I don't know if this happens in the US, but it definitely doesn't occur here. Seemed a tad irresponsible on Peter Benton's part, no? But I suppose it does wonders for audience empathy and water cooler conversations.
Don't miss any more of this!
2) Kidnapped
Just aired the pilot on Tuesday, and although I think it's pretty good, it seems the network decided to pull the plug after what, 13 or 14 episodes?
I'm gonna stick with it anyway, mostly because I like Jeremy Sisto ( the dude who did such a fantastic job playing a sexy, albeit manic-depressive, dude on Six Feet Under ). Here, he's a bounty hunter-type character who shoots to kill without hesitation.
Script's intelligent and pacing tense. Tune in if you're interested. AXN Channel 19 at 10pm every Tuesday.
3) 3 Lbs
Starts Jan 15 -- Hallmark Channel 17 at 9pm.
Neurosurgeons take centrestage this time, with the ever-reliable Stanley Tucci in the lead role. You can expect some fireworks from this guy who's done everything from A Midsummer Night's Dream to Maid In Manhattan to Shall We Dance and most recently, The Devil Wears Prada ).
Sadly, I read on the Web that it's been put on indefinite hiatus after just 3 episodes. THREE! Apparently, weekly viewership was considered pathetic by conventional standards ( 8 million compared to the ideal 20 or 30 mill ). Fans are angry, and I'd love to find out why.
Give it a go and tell me what you think.
4) Heroes
Now this is a hot one. Read the site for more details. Due soon on cable's Starworld Channel 18.
5) Law & Order Re-runs
Boy, I'm really looking forward to this!
It's the orginal -- there're spinoffs for L&O: Criminal Intent and L&O: Special Victims Unit ( and I met an American doctor who consults on the shows from time to time, which was cool :)) -- and without a doubt my favourite of the 3. These are old episodes when Jerry Orbach was still alive ( he plays the craggy detective ) but I've always enjoyed the show because of one and only one fellow -- no, not Benjamin Bratt ( pfffft ), but Sam Waterston, who brings great passion and integrity to his prosecutor role.
I used to watch this religiously back in secondary school and JC. Extremely educational ( stories are based on actual cases ), but also one of the most objective and fair in terms of character and plot development.
Hallmark Channel 17 at 9pm every Tuesday, starting Jan 16.
6) Wire In The Blood
Have this recorded on tape, so a proper review will follow ( but not sure when ).
If you're a serial killer buff like me, you should enjoy this series. Be warned, however, that it's British. I.e. a bit slow, a bit dry, less flash.
My mom thinks it's quite good though. Lots of gore, apparently. Yay -- just kidding.
Hallmark Channel 17, Thursdays at 10pm.
7) American Idol 7
After Taylor Hicks' dazzling win and the best Top 10 contestants in AI history back in 2006, standards have been redefined and man, is the pressure cooker turned on full blast.
I'm just wondering why Taylor's album hasn't reached our shores a month after its US release. At this rate, I may have to resort to ordering through Amazon again. Hello? Arista Records distributor? Are you awake?
Being -- and Feeling -- Human
Everyone knows we see a lot -- sometimes too much -- in the ER. So it's no surprise that we do become numb after a while. Bloody RTA? Go through the motions of ATLS. 2 guys chopped each other with parangs the other night -- call the trauma team, do a FAST, send for CT, etc. Old lady with non-specific symptoms collapsed just as my MO was prepping for an ABG -- ACLS kicks into gear like a spinal reflex. ( We actually brought her back, woohoo! )
So it was rather unusual when I got a bad case of insomnia Christmas night / Boxing Day morning, after my MO and I attended to a horribly tragic case during our evening shift.
Some details were revealed in a recent Forum letter and follow-up article in the Straits Times -- about a Hainan opera performance at the Esplanade, a bad fall down a dark staircase, fatal head trauma.
She arrived in critical condition: GCS 3, pupils fixed and dilated, features of a severe base of skull fracture. Paramedics provided a short history, so after intubating and arranging an urgent CT, I left resus to speak to her family and friends.
The circumstances of her fall became clear during our conversation, and I certainly shared their pain. A large group of close friends and her sister were present at the same concert, and tears flowed unabated when I explained how dire the situation was.
Maybe the date itself played a significant role. Or perhaps it was her pre-morbid state -- a healthy 55, retired not too long ago, lots of good friends and close relatives, ready to enjoy the rest of her life -- which drove home the fact that life is indeed fragile and unpredictable.
But there was another detail -- about trying to give the ticket away, about the slimmest possibility that she might not have been there that night...
Fate can be cruel sometimes.
5 days into my study leave, and finding it tough to resist temptation. :)
1) ER Re-runs!!!
Yes, believe it! Just started airing on 1st Jan 2007, all the way from the Season 1 pilot! Hallmark Channel 17, 8pm, DAILY.
Do I sound excited? :D
If you're wondering whether I became an ER physician because of this show, then you may be disappointed to learn that the answer is a big "No". I was dead set on O&G ( started from my JC days, but don't ask me why ), then made a big U-turn after discovering a massive distaste for amniotic fluid, placentas and PV exams. That, plus all the screaming ( and sometimes neurotic ) mothers, and a couple of ( this is true ) near-syncopal episodes when the smell and yelling became too potent for my usually strong stomach.
Oh yeah, and nothing quite beats seeing a straining mom defecate during childbirth. Natural, of course, but not something I want to see for the rest of my life. I'll stick to the glam versions on TV / the big screen / in my personal Fantasyland, thank you very much.
Anyway, back to the topic at hand. I was a faithful follower of ER back in my early med school days, though I understood little of the jargon and even less about the complex medical procedures and ACLS / ATLS protocols demonstrated.
Was thinking of renting the entire DVD set after my exam, but thanks to cable, I'm going to save a bundle, heh heh.
Watching it again 12 years later brings back great memories, but more importantly, also illustrates why the series won 22 Emmy Awards and stayed at the top of the TV ratings for eons before being toppled by CSI a few years ago.
The writing is excellent, the actors well-cast, and the resus simulations absolutely the best I've seen EVER. Armed with knowledge and skills from 7 years of clinical practice, I scrutinized the code scenes closely and could find no mistake. Not one! They defib only when its VF or pulseless VT, NOT during asystole or PEA! BRAVO, guys, BRAVO! :)
The only gripe I have thus far is how John Carter -- here a mere M3 -- gets tasked with breaking bad news to a dead boy's family. I don't know if this happens in the US, but it definitely doesn't occur here. Seemed a tad irresponsible on Peter Benton's part, no? But I suppose it does wonders for audience empathy and water cooler conversations.
Don't miss any more of this!
2) Kidnapped
Just aired the pilot on Tuesday, and although I think it's pretty good, it seems the network decided to pull the plug after what, 13 or 14 episodes?
I'm gonna stick with it anyway, mostly because I like Jeremy Sisto ( the dude who did such a fantastic job playing a sexy, albeit manic-depressive, dude on Six Feet Under ). Here, he's a bounty hunter-type character who shoots to kill without hesitation.
Script's intelligent and pacing tense. Tune in if you're interested. AXN Channel 19 at 10pm every Tuesday.
3) 3 Lbs
Starts Jan 15 -- Hallmark Channel 17 at 9pm.
Neurosurgeons take centrestage this time, with the ever-reliable Stanley Tucci in the lead role. You can expect some fireworks from this guy who's done everything from A Midsummer Night's Dream to Maid In Manhattan to Shall We Dance and most recently, The Devil Wears Prada ).
Sadly, I read on the Web that it's been put on indefinite hiatus after just 3 episodes. THREE! Apparently, weekly viewership was considered pathetic by conventional standards ( 8 million compared to the ideal 20 or 30 mill ). Fans are angry, and I'd love to find out why.
Give it a go and tell me what you think.
4) Heroes
Now this is a hot one. Read the site for more details. Due soon on cable's Starworld Channel 18.
5) Law & Order Re-runs
Boy, I'm really looking forward to this!
It's the orginal -- there're spinoffs for L&O: Criminal Intent and L&O: Special Victims Unit ( and I met an American doctor who consults on the shows from time to time, which was cool :)) -- and without a doubt my favourite of the 3. These are old episodes when Jerry Orbach was still alive ( he plays the craggy detective ) but I've always enjoyed the show because of one and only one fellow -- no, not Benjamin Bratt ( pfffft ), but Sam Waterston, who brings great passion and integrity to his prosecutor role.
I used to watch this religiously back in secondary school and JC. Extremely educational ( stories are based on actual cases ), but also one of the most objective and fair in terms of character and plot development.
Hallmark Channel 17 at 9pm every Tuesday, starting Jan 16.
6) Wire In The Blood
Have this recorded on tape, so a proper review will follow ( but not sure when ).
If you're a serial killer buff like me, you should enjoy this series. Be warned, however, that it's British. I.e. a bit slow, a bit dry, less flash.
My mom thinks it's quite good though. Lots of gore, apparently. Yay -- just kidding.
Hallmark Channel 17, Thursdays at 10pm.
7) American Idol 7
After Taylor Hicks' dazzling win and the best Top 10 contestants in AI history back in 2006, standards have been redefined and man, is the pressure cooker turned on full blast.
I'm just wondering why Taylor's album hasn't reached our shores a month after its US release. At this rate, I may have to resort to ordering through Amazon again. Hello? Arista Records distributor? Are you awake?
Being -- and Feeling -- Human
Everyone knows we see a lot -- sometimes too much -- in the ER. So it's no surprise that we do become numb after a while. Bloody RTA? Go through the motions of ATLS. 2 guys chopped each other with parangs the other night -- call the trauma team, do a FAST, send for CT, etc. Old lady with non-specific symptoms collapsed just as my MO was prepping for an ABG -- ACLS kicks into gear like a spinal reflex. ( We actually brought her back, woohoo! )
So it was rather unusual when I got a bad case of insomnia Christmas night / Boxing Day morning, after my MO and I attended to a horribly tragic case during our evening shift.
Some details were revealed in a recent Forum letter and follow-up article in the Straits Times -- about a Hainan opera performance at the Esplanade, a bad fall down a dark staircase, fatal head trauma.
She arrived in critical condition: GCS 3, pupils fixed and dilated, features of a severe base of skull fracture. Paramedics provided a short history, so after intubating and arranging an urgent CT, I left resus to speak to her family and friends.
The circumstances of her fall became clear during our conversation, and I certainly shared their pain. A large group of close friends and her sister were present at the same concert, and tears flowed unabated when I explained how dire the situation was.
Maybe the date itself played a significant role. Or perhaps it was her pre-morbid state -- a healthy 55, retired not too long ago, lots of good friends and close relatives, ready to enjoy the rest of her life -- which drove home the fact that life is indeed fragile and unpredictable.
But there was another detail -- about trying to give the ticket away, about the slimmest possibility that she might not have been there that night...
Fate can be cruel sometimes.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
A Year In Review
As 2006 comes to a close, I realize it's been an exciting 12 months. Here's a brief rundown of my thoughts on an eventful period. :)
Great Memories
Two vacations within 4 months of each other made for quite a rush, but if you've never been to Bavaria or Tokyo, you're definitely missing out.
Met a bunch of great people -- natives and tourists -- ate way too much, and totally love the many different cultures I experienced.
Thank You Guys
To P, for an unforgettable stroll through Salzburg, filled with music, humour and harmless flirting ( haha ). You may say you're Spanish, but I'm still convinced you're 100% Italian. :)
To G, for a beautiful evening which exceeded even my highest expectations. You're quite the cook!
To K, for accomodating my requests every single time, just because you care.
To C, for your spontaneity and -- ahem -- admirable courage(!) during lunch in Hakone. But my parents like you, so no harm done. Hope you'll visit us in Singapore soon. :)
And finally, to M, who unknowingly and radically changed my perspective on so many levels, and who also provided a classic European moment by blowing me a kiss from beneath my room window one balmy evening. I wish you well, and who knows, if Fate permits, perhaps our paths will cross again someday.
Favourite Albums of 2006
1. New Vintage - Peter Grant
Hands down, no contest. I'm still blasting it in the car, and getting goosebumps every time. This guy is going to be a huge star. Just give him time.
2. Continuum - John Mayer
Completely blew me away with a sudden shift in musical direction. Bold, explosive, and sexy as hell. Come to Singapore quick!
3. Awake - Josh Groban
Another breakthrough recording which bodes well for this young man. Has taken a huge step forward and is guaranteed a long career ahead.
4. Mr. A-Z & Tonight Not Again - Jason Mraz
His latest is trademark JM, but the latter -- a 'live' concert album -- takes the cake. I dare you to listen to his stage rendition of Absolutely Zero and resist loving this guy.
5. Catching Tales - Jamie Cullum
A tour de force for Sinatra in sneakers. 7 Days To Change Your Life is astounding.
Best Concerts of 2006
1. Jason Mraz
Wah lau, without a doubt. The best I've EVER seen, actually. 2 hours of earth-shattering talent, wit, flawless vocals, with nothing more than a guitar and a few bongo drums for backup. Meeting him in person is now one of my missions in life.
2. Jamie Cullum
Superb jamming and an awesome medley of hip-hop hits. Put him in the Esplanade the next round.
3. Chris Botti
Another fellow who deserves to grace the Esplanade stage. Classy, gorgeous and works nothing less than magic on those trumpet keys.
4. Rockapella
A rousing debut, with many more concerts to follow, I'm sure. Word of advice -- don't waste your money on the Swingle Singers.
5. Robbie Williams
Well, the show got cancelled, but if he'd come here as planned, it would definitely be on this list, so this one's for you Robbie. :)
Favourite Films of 2006
1. The Lake House
Don't ask me why I love this so much. I just do.
2. The Devil Wears Prada
So excellent Meryl Streep is now my favourite actress of all time. ( Used to be Michelle Pfeiffer, but she's disappeared for a while. )
3. Brokeback Mountain
Surprisingly affecting despite the explicit scenes.
4. March Of The Penguins
An amazing piece of work.
Wish I had a #5, but I really didn't watch that many movies this year, and even fewer great ones.
Favourite TV Shows of 2006
1. Grey's Anatomy
I know what I wrote in my reviews in the you-know-what-publication, but comparing Season 2 of Grey's with that of House, there's no question who the victor is. The eclectic group at Seattle Grace Hospital ( which, interestingly, shares the same acronym as my workplace, hint hint ) may not be as quoteworthy as Dr. Gregory House, but they more than make up for it with sincerity, some really solid acting ( remember Katherine Heigl's heart-wrenching scene where she begged what's-his-name with heart failure to undergo a transplant? ) and - yum - Patrick Dempsey have turned the series into ratings gold, hitting the #1 spot when Season 3 debuted a few months ago.
Too bad TR Knight, who plays George O'Malley, is gay. But I still love him. :)
2. Numb3rs
Sorely underrated but one of the best shows I know of. Rob Morrow remains sexy 10 years post Northern Exposure ( rent it if you can ), while David Krumholtz melts my heart with his earnest smiles, soft brown eyes and (gah) honey-smooth voice. If only my Maths teachers were this cute.
3. Prison Break
Cheesy beyond cheesy, with giant loopholes everywhere. Yet immensely watchable, in no small part because of the enigmatic and delicious Wentworth Miller. If prison inmates were this good-looking, I wouldn't mind being their doctor either. :)
4. Supernatural
Another cheesy series, but again, extremely addictive because of the leads. Jared Padalecki is a perennial fave of mine ( being a Gilmore Girls alumnus and all ), while Jensen Ackles continues to grow on me during moments of pretty competent emoting. I also really like the guy who plays their dad ( but haven't learned his name yet ). This dude also had a recurring role on Grey's Anatomy, as the heart transplant patient Katherine Heigl's character falls for. He made me cry -- no small feat, I can tell you that!
5. Entourage
Ahhh, Jeremy Piven, you are the best reason to watch this show. From your speed-talking to your anxious tics to your head-spinning double / triple-crossing schemes, Ari Gold has become a legend in TV history. I hope you win another Emmy in 2007.
6. Nip/Tuck
After depressing me no end in Season 2, it has returned better than ever, with a serial killer on the loose, Sean's son suffering a mental breakdown after discovering his ex-lover was a transexual, Christian fighting a whole truckload of personal demons, and the addition of a Spanish colleague with bisexual tendencies to a troubled practice.
I like dark, twisted tales, and this is definitely top of the line. :)
Things I Look Forward To in 2007
1. Passing the exit
-- mostly so I don't have to &*^%$$# study anymore.
2. Visiting the US
-- intend to spend a mini-fortune on this trip, so let's make it a good one.
3. Charity work
-- has been in the pipeline for way too long, so I hope to make this a reality once and for all.
4. Partying a little
-- St. James Power Station and The Cannery look promising. But a return to the old watering holes would be good too.
5. Writing more
-- stay tuned...
So enjoy NYE, and here's wishing all readers a wonderful year ahead. :)
As 2006 comes to a close, I realize it's been an exciting 12 months. Here's a brief rundown of my thoughts on an eventful period. :)
Great Memories
Two vacations within 4 months of each other made for quite a rush, but if you've never been to Bavaria or Tokyo, you're definitely missing out.
Met a bunch of great people -- natives and tourists -- ate way too much, and totally love the many different cultures I experienced.
Thank You Guys
To P, for an unforgettable stroll through Salzburg, filled with music, humour and harmless flirting ( haha ). You may say you're Spanish, but I'm still convinced you're 100% Italian. :)
To G, for a beautiful evening which exceeded even my highest expectations. You're quite the cook!
To K, for accomodating my requests every single time, just because you care.
To C, for your spontaneity and -- ahem -- admirable courage(!) during lunch in Hakone. But my parents like you, so no harm done. Hope you'll visit us in Singapore soon. :)
And finally, to M, who unknowingly and radically changed my perspective on so many levels, and who also provided a classic European moment by blowing me a kiss from beneath my room window one balmy evening. I wish you well, and who knows, if Fate permits, perhaps our paths will cross again someday.
Favourite Albums of 2006
1. New Vintage - Peter Grant
Hands down, no contest. I'm still blasting it in the car, and getting goosebumps every time. This guy is going to be a huge star. Just give him time.
2. Continuum - John Mayer
Completely blew me away with a sudden shift in musical direction. Bold, explosive, and sexy as hell. Come to Singapore quick!
3. Awake - Josh Groban
Another breakthrough recording which bodes well for this young man. Has taken a huge step forward and is guaranteed a long career ahead.
4. Mr. A-Z & Tonight Not Again - Jason Mraz
His latest is trademark JM, but the latter -- a 'live' concert album -- takes the cake. I dare you to listen to his stage rendition of Absolutely Zero and resist loving this guy.
5. Catching Tales - Jamie Cullum
A tour de force for Sinatra in sneakers. 7 Days To Change Your Life is astounding.
Best Concerts of 2006
1. Jason Mraz
Wah lau, without a doubt. The best I've EVER seen, actually. 2 hours of earth-shattering talent, wit, flawless vocals, with nothing more than a guitar and a few bongo drums for backup. Meeting him in person is now one of my missions in life.
2. Jamie Cullum
Superb jamming and an awesome medley of hip-hop hits. Put him in the Esplanade the next round.
3. Chris Botti
Another fellow who deserves to grace the Esplanade stage. Classy, gorgeous and works nothing less than magic on those trumpet keys.
4. Rockapella
A rousing debut, with many more concerts to follow, I'm sure. Word of advice -- don't waste your money on the Swingle Singers.
5. Robbie Williams
Well, the show got cancelled, but if he'd come here as planned, it would definitely be on this list, so this one's for you Robbie. :)
Favourite Films of 2006
1. The Lake House
Don't ask me why I love this so much. I just do.
2. The Devil Wears Prada
So excellent Meryl Streep is now my favourite actress of all time. ( Used to be Michelle Pfeiffer, but she's disappeared for a while. )
3. Brokeback Mountain
Surprisingly affecting despite the explicit scenes.
4. March Of The Penguins
An amazing piece of work.
Wish I had a #5, but I really didn't watch that many movies this year, and even fewer great ones.
Favourite TV Shows of 2006
1. Grey's Anatomy
I know what I wrote in my reviews in the you-know-what-publication, but comparing Season 2 of Grey's with that of House, there's no question who the victor is. The eclectic group at Seattle Grace Hospital ( which, interestingly, shares the same acronym as my workplace, hint hint ) may not be as quoteworthy as Dr. Gregory House, but they more than make up for it with sincerity, some really solid acting ( remember Katherine Heigl's heart-wrenching scene where she begged what's-his-name with heart failure to undergo a transplant? ) and - yum - Patrick Dempsey have turned the series into ratings gold, hitting the #1 spot when Season 3 debuted a few months ago.
Too bad TR Knight, who plays George O'Malley, is gay. But I still love him. :)
2. Numb3rs
Sorely underrated but one of the best shows I know of. Rob Morrow remains sexy 10 years post Northern Exposure ( rent it if you can ), while David Krumholtz melts my heart with his earnest smiles, soft brown eyes and (gah) honey-smooth voice. If only my Maths teachers were this cute.
3. Prison Break
Cheesy beyond cheesy, with giant loopholes everywhere. Yet immensely watchable, in no small part because of the enigmatic and delicious Wentworth Miller. If prison inmates were this good-looking, I wouldn't mind being their doctor either. :)
4. Supernatural
Another cheesy series, but again, extremely addictive because of the leads. Jared Padalecki is a perennial fave of mine ( being a Gilmore Girls alumnus and all ), while Jensen Ackles continues to grow on me during moments of pretty competent emoting. I also really like the guy who plays their dad ( but haven't learned his name yet ). This dude also had a recurring role on Grey's Anatomy, as the heart transplant patient Katherine Heigl's character falls for. He made me cry -- no small feat, I can tell you that!
5. Entourage
Ahhh, Jeremy Piven, you are the best reason to watch this show. From your speed-talking to your anxious tics to your head-spinning double / triple-crossing schemes, Ari Gold has become a legend in TV history. I hope you win another Emmy in 2007.
6. Nip/Tuck
After depressing me no end in Season 2, it has returned better than ever, with a serial killer on the loose, Sean's son suffering a mental breakdown after discovering his ex-lover was a transexual, Christian fighting a whole truckload of personal demons, and the addition of a Spanish colleague with bisexual tendencies to a troubled practice.
I like dark, twisted tales, and this is definitely top of the line. :)
Things I Look Forward To in 2007
1. Passing the exit
-- mostly so I don't have to &*^%$$# study anymore.
2. Visiting the US
-- intend to spend a mini-fortune on this trip, so let's make it a good one.
3. Charity work
-- has been in the pipeline for way too long, so I hope to make this a reality once and for all.
4. Partying a little
-- St. James Power Station and The Cannery look promising. But a return to the old watering holes would be good too.
5. Writing more
-- stay tuned...
So enjoy NYE, and here's wishing all readers a wonderful year ahead. :)
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Season's Greetings!
I can't upload e-cards here, so click on this to sample a whole chunk of them and get your festive spirits up. :)
It's hard to believe that the year is ending yet again. Not as eventful as 2005 ( nothing can ever beat the whammy combo of Michael Buble, Peter Cincotti and Patrizio Buanne! ), but there were definite moments in 2006 ( Jamie Cullum, Westlife, 2 great holidays, a fistful of - ahem - interesting men, heh heh! ).
I'm always grateful for my parents who, apart from making so many sacrifices these past 3 decades, continue to earn my admiration and respect -- most recently for gamely navigating the Tokyo subways with me and actually loving it! They've sped down the Dart River in Queenstown, trudged through glacier territory, traced the paths of the LOTR cast and crew, walked miles and miles through numerous other countries yet kept pace with me with ease. Plus, no-one has ever successfully guessed their ages -- a huge compliment, IMHO.
Then there're my relatives and friends, some of whom have shared my deepest secrets and helped me through a few of the darkest moments of my life. What would I ever do without you all?
And of course, let's not forget the wonderful people at a certain ER, who work their butts off everyday but always find a moment or two ( usually when we congregate in the pantry ) to share jokes and bond through grouching. Ranks disappear and the chaos outside is forgotten, as we spend a few precious minutes relaxing and remembering that hey, we're bloody human too.
Last but not least, a special hug for my cat, who turned 9 just a few months ago. He remains my best pal, with an eerie knack for knowing when I need him most. We've been through so much together and he's never disappointed me once.
Find me a guy like that and I swear I'll marry him.
Haha.
Have a blessed X'mas, and as always, my sincere thanks for reading.
I can't upload e-cards here, so click on this to sample a whole chunk of them and get your festive spirits up. :)
It's hard to believe that the year is ending yet again. Not as eventful as 2005 ( nothing can ever beat the whammy combo of Michael Buble, Peter Cincotti and Patrizio Buanne! ), but there were definite moments in 2006 ( Jamie Cullum, Westlife, 2 great holidays, a fistful of - ahem - interesting men, heh heh! ).
I'm always grateful for my parents who, apart from making so many sacrifices these past 3 decades, continue to earn my admiration and respect -- most recently for gamely navigating the Tokyo subways with me and actually loving it! They've sped down the Dart River in Queenstown, trudged through glacier territory, traced the paths of the LOTR cast and crew, walked miles and miles through numerous other countries yet kept pace with me with ease. Plus, no-one has ever successfully guessed their ages -- a huge compliment, IMHO.
Then there're my relatives and friends, some of whom have shared my deepest secrets and helped me through a few of the darkest moments of my life. What would I ever do without you all?
And of course, let's not forget the wonderful people at a certain ER, who work their butts off everyday but always find a moment or two ( usually when we congregate in the pantry ) to share jokes and bond through grouching. Ranks disappear and the chaos outside is forgotten, as we spend a few precious minutes relaxing and remembering that hey, we're bloody human too.
Last but not least, a special hug for my cat, who turned 9 just a few months ago. He remains my best pal, with an eerie knack for knowing when I need him most. We've been through so much together and he's never disappointed me once.
Find me a guy like that and I swear I'll marry him.
Haha.
Have a blessed X'mas, and as always, my sincere thanks for reading.
Monday, December 18, 2006
More Photos
Before my laptop mouse goes insane again. Note to self: pass exit, get pay rise, buy new computer to replace ancient 6-year-old model.
Oh yeah, and I still use dialup. The way I see it, why spend unnecessarily when you've got easy access to broadband at work?
In the spirit of X'mas, I've decided to post a few festive pictures.
Picture #1: Ginza district
Due to weather conditions, it was cloudy so the colours are significantly muted. Still, small X'mas trees lined the pavements, and you can of course see the famed Mikimoto Pearl store sign in plain view.
Not as celebratory as our wonderful Orchard Road though.
Picture #2: Shibuya
My favourite! Packed to the brim with young and old alike, all rushing around like mad lemmings, especially at the crazy 6-way traffic junction. Lots of neon, lots of noise, and the shops are just mind-boggling. Ate at a superb restaurant somewhere -- we just walked randomly and stopped when our stomachs told us to. Served delectable yakitori ( the sauce! ), shabu-shabu cooked in a heavenly spicy soup ( ahhhh! ), and a hot plate of some omelette-vegetable concoction ( perfect! ). All for less than S$20 per head.
Pictures #3-#5: Tokyo Disneyland
You may see a resemblance to some pictures in a certain publication due for circulation in the near future. But you simply can't beat Disneyland when it comes to the festive period, especially X'mas.
I smiled so much my face hurt. And the single day we spent there was hardly sufficient to fully enjoy the whole place -- we gave Disneysea a miss as a result of time shortage.
Will most definitely return, but not sure when.
Believe the horror stories about the Hong Kong version, and just stick to Tokyo ( if you can't see the original parks in the US ). It was a lovely experience from beginning to end, even though the crowds were massive.
Addendum
CD recommendation for you, though brief.
Josh Groban's Awake is the latest album to spend time in my stereo, and having followed his career since his debut 4-5 years ago, this is by far his boldest -- and best -- work yet.
Besides mixing his usual Italian / Spanish fare with more mainstream English songs, fans will easily pick out a shift in tone -- lighter, more pop-friendly -- and a willingness to REALLY experiment -- collaborations with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Herbie Hancock, among others.
My fave tracks are all crammed into the last third of the disc, starting with #10 ( theme for Romeo & Juliet ), followed by the beautiful African-flavoured Lullaby and Weeping, a jazz/rock/bluesy Machine, and bonus songs Verita and Awake.
The title track has been repeated ad nauseum in my car, and I've yet to tire of it. An original piece by Josh, it is both tender and poignant. Terrific lyrics, a haunting chorus, supplemented by one of Josh's most nuanced performances ever. Just listen closely as he sings "So keep me awake / to memorize you / Give me more time / to feel this way / We can't stay like this forever / But I can have you next to me / today". Major goosebumps. :)
Lunch beckons.
Apologies to those I had to cancel on last weekend. Lousy flu kept me from consuming alcohol and gorging my brains out with friends. Looks like I'll be socially challenged till my exam is over next month. Not taking any chances.
But after that -- heh heh -- that's another story. :)
Before my laptop mouse goes insane again. Note to self: pass exit, get pay rise, buy new computer to replace ancient 6-year-old model.
Oh yeah, and I still use dialup. The way I see it, why spend unnecessarily when you've got easy access to broadband at work?
In the spirit of X'mas, I've decided to post a few festive pictures.
Picture #1: Ginza district
Due to weather conditions, it was cloudy so the colours are significantly muted. Still, small X'mas trees lined the pavements, and you can of course see the famed Mikimoto Pearl store sign in plain view.
Not as celebratory as our wonderful Orchard Road though.
Picture #2: Shibuya
My favourite! Packed to the brim with young and old alike, all rushing around like mad lemmings, especially at the crazy 6-way traffic junction. Lots of neon, lots of noise, and the shops are just mind-boggling. Ate at a superb restaurant somewhere -- we just walked randomly and stopped when our stomachs told us to. Served delectable yakitori ( the sauce! ), shabu-shabu cooked in a heavenly spicy soup ( ahhhh! ), and a hot plate of some omelette-vegetable concoction ( perfect! ). All for less than S$20 per head.
Pictures #3-#5: Tokyo Disneyland
You may see a resemblance to some pictures in a certain publication due for circulation in the near future. But you simply can't beat Disneyland when it comes to the festive period, especially X'mas.
I smiled so much my face hurt. And the single day we spent there was hardly sufficient to fully enjoy the whole place -- we gave Disneysea a miss as a result of time shortage.
Will most definitely return, but not sure when.
Believe the horror stories about the Hong Kong version, and just stick to Tokyo ( if you can't see the original parks in the US ). It was a lovely experience from beginning to end, even though the crowds were massive.
Addendum
CD recommendation for you, though brief.
Josh Groban's Awake is the latest album to spend time in my stereo, and having followed his career since his debut 4-5 years ago, this is by far his boldest -- and best -- work yet.
Besides mixing his usual Italian / Spanish fare with more mainstream English songs, fans will easily pick out a shift in tone -- lighter, more pop-friendly -- and a willingness to REALLY experiment -- collaborations with Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Herbie Hancock, among others.
My fave tracks are all crammed into the last third of the disc, starting with #10 ( theme for Romeo & Juliet ), followed by the beautiful African-flavoured Lullaby and Weeping, a jazz/rock/bluesy Machine, and bonus songs Verita and Awake.
The title track has been repeated ad nauseum in my car, and I've yet to tire of it. An original piece by Josh, it is both tender and poignant. Terrific lyrics, a haunting chorus, supplemented by one of Josh's most nuanced performances ever. Just listen closely as he sings "So keep me awake / to memorize you / Give me more time / to feel this way / We can't stay like this forever / But I can have you next to me / today". Major goosebumps. :)
Lunch beckons.
Apologies to those I had to cancel on last weekend. Lousy flu kept me from consuming alcohol and gorging my brains out with friends. Looks like I'll be socially challenged till my exam is over next month. Not taking any chances.
But after that -- heh heh -- that's another story. :)
Thursday, December 07, 2006
:)
Despite all the crazy shifts, the exhaustion, tension headaches, gastric pains and occasional doubts about whether my salary is worth all this pain and suffering, there're occasional moments when everything makes perfect sense.
Yesterday was one good example.
Conducted a 90-minute tutorial with a group of medical students currently rotating through our department, and surprise surprise, I actually had fun doing it. :)
Very animated bunch, enthusiastic and genuinely interested in emergency medicine. Attentive and knowledgeable, with quite a number of questions tossed my way ( even though I expected them to be half asleep since my session was preceded by a heavy ECG tutorial ).
When I asked how many are considering emergency medicine as a future career path, one guy answered, "Quite a lot actually". Some expressed disappointment that multiple appeals to the powers that be to extend the posting beyond its brief 3-week period have come to naught, but a few did appear interested in returning for electives. They even had queries about which Part I and II exams to take!
Following that fulfilling morning, I spent my night shift with 5 students who joined me from 9pm to 8am. Lots of energy, extremely helpful, keen to learn and very sensible. We even had a short tutorial at 3am on subarachnoid haemorrhage ( cold case from a few months back ). I tired out early -- major prawn parade, don't our elderly folk sleep anymore? -- but their high spirits never seemed to wane. Just wish we could've had a few major resuscitations for their benefit. But guess they should drop by on Mondays and weekends in order to experience ER madness in its purest form.
All I can say is: Thank you. I needed that little boost. :)
Another Thing
Shattered Glass, a film based on the true story about Stephen Glass ( a young reporter formerly at prominent political magazine The New Republic ) proved to be unexpectedly good. Produced by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner, it stars Hayden Christensen ( Anakin Skywalker dude ), who does a decent job portraying an eager-to-please personality with a dark side ( pun fully intended :)).
However, I prefer to highlight his co-star Peter Sarsgaard, who plays Stephen's editor, Charles Lane.
Previously seen in The Man In The Iron Mask ( John Malkovich's son Raoul ) and Boys Don't Cry, he's much more prominent in this film, and turns in a compelling, memorable performance, for which I understand he received quite a few critical accolades as well.
It's been 3 years ( Shattered Glass was released back in 2003 ) and Sarsgaard hasn't hit A-list status yet, but like John Cusack ( my 2nd fave actor after Kevin Spacey, another non-A-lister ), he'll have no problems securing great roles and building up his fanbase. I'm definitely a new Sarsgaard groupie. What a terrific actor.
Last But Not Least
It's time to really get down to studying. 6 weeks. Arrgh!
But a fellow registrar's festive mood is proving contagious, so next weekend's drinking session with department colleagues is in the pipeline. Followed by a long-awaited dinner with JC classmates the next day.
Oh yeah, maybe I'll finally meet Mr 747 and pass him that World Cup jersey I promised, heh.
Tokyo Part 1: Food, Glorious Food
Man, I GORGED MY BRAINS OUT.
Photo #1: Our first lunch, at a restaurant in the Ginza district. Everything's in Japanese ( including the eatery's name ), but I can tell you that if you walk along Ginza Street from the train station past Mikimoto Pearl and spot Harry Winston on the opposite side, just walk a little further and you may stumble upon this place on your left. It's got a cardboard sign out front, and leads down a flight of stairs to the main area below. You must remove your shoes, but they've got these beautiful lockers with individual keys. That's about as much detail as I can give you.
Anyhow, this feast offered EXCELLENT Udon, tempura that melts in your mouth, and the best sushi I've ever tasted ( the seaweed wrap is just the right consistency ).
Price of meal per person: S$10-15 ( in the Ginza area! )
Photo #2: A traditional hotpot Nabe set, with the freshest ingredients ever. The portion was huge, and it took us an hour just to cook everything in a stage-wise manner. The broth is a super-tasty miso soup, rich in flavour yet low in salt content ( none of us developed any thirst post-meal ).
Location: Jap restaurant in the executive tower of the Shinagawa Prince Hotel. No English name available, but there's a Nabe set display at the entrance so look for that.
Price: S$60 thereabouts. But bloody worth every penny. :)
Photo #3: Mouth-watering hot stone Mongolian-style cooking at a posh eatery near ( not within ) the Four Seasons Hotel. Went there as part of a guided city tour. The tour wasn't great, but the lunch more than made up for it!
Darn, I can't remember the name of the place. But the food was FABULOUS. Again, superb meat, cooked in a special sauce which is so fragrant my mouth began to water before I tasted anything. Just wish we could've had seconds, but no such luck.
Price: no idea -- included in tour fee.
Had many other delicious meals on a daily basis, but these are the ones that I snapped pictures of. I just ADORE Japanese cuisine.
Next post: images from my strolls through Ginza, Shibuya and Shinjuku. I kinda like the Tokyo subways too. :)
Despite all the crazy shifts, the exhaustion, tension headaches, gastric pains and occasional doubts about whether my salary is worth all this pain and suffering, there're occasional moments when everything makes perfect sense.
Yesterday was one good example.
Conducted a 90-minute tutorial with a group of medical students currently rotating through our department, and surprise surprise, I actually had fun doing it. :)
Very animated bunch, enthusiastic and genuinely interested in emergency medicine. Attentive and knowledgeable, with quite a number of questions tossed my way ( even though I expected them to be half asleep since my session was preceded by a heavy ECG tutorial ).
When I asked how many are considering emergency medicine as a future career path, one guy answered, "Quite a lot actually". Some expressed disappointment that multiple appeals to the powers that be to extend the posting beyond its brief 3-week period have come to naught, but a few did appear interested in returning for electives. They even had queries about which Part I and II exams to take!
Following that fulfilling morning, I spent my night shift with 5 students who joined me from 9pm to 8am. Lots of energy, extremely helpful, keen to learn and very sensible. We even had a short tutorial at 3am on subarachnoid haemorrhage ( cold case from a few months back ). I tired out early -- major prawn parade, don't our elderly folk sleep anymore? -- but their high spirits never seemed to wane. Just wish we could've had a few major resuscitations for their benefit. But guess they should drop by on Mondays and weekends in order to experience ER madness in its purest form.
All I can say is: Thank you. I needed that little boost. :)
Another Thing
Shattered Glass, a film based on the true story about Stephen Glass ( a young reporter formerly at prominent political magazine The New Republic ) proved to be unexpectedly good. Produced by Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner, it stars Hayden Christensen ( Anakin Skywalker dude ), who does a decent job portraying an eager-to-please personality with a dark side ( pun fully intended :)).
However, I prefer to highlight his co-star Peter Sarsgaard, who plays Stephen's editor, Charles Lane.
Previously seen in The Man In The Iron Mask ( John Malkovich's son Raoul ) and Boys Don't Cry, he's much more prominent in this film, and turns in a compelling, memorable performance, for which I understand he received quite a few critical accolades as well.
It's been 3 years ( Shattered Glass was released back in 2003 ) and Sarsgaard hasn't hit A-list status yet, but like John Cusack ( my 2nd fave actor after Kevin Spacey, another non-A-lister ), he'll have no problems securing great roles and building up his fanbase. I'm definitely a new Sarsgaard groupie. What a terrific actor.
Last But Not Least
It's time to really get down to studying. 6 weeks. Arrgh!
But a fellow registrar's festive mood is proving contagious, so next weekend's drinking session with department colleagues is in the pipeline. Followed by a long-awaited dinner with JC classmates the next day.
Oh yeah, maybe I'll finally meet Mr 747 and pass him that World Cup jersey I promised, heh.
Tokyo Part 1: Food, Glorious Food
Man, I GORGED MY BRAINS OUT.
Photo #1: Our first lunch, at a restaurant in the Ginza district. Everything's in Japanese ( including the eatery's name ), but I can tell you that if you walk along Ginza Street from the train station past Mikimoto Pearl and spot Harry Winston on the opposite side, just walk a little further and you may stumble upon this place on your left. It's got a cardboard sign out front, and leads down a flight of stairs to the main area below. You must remove your shoes, but they've got these beautiful lockers with individual keys. That's about as much detail as I can give you.
Anyhow, this feast offered EXCELLENT Udon, tempura that melts in your mouth, and the best sushi I've ever tasted ( the seaweed wrap is just the right consistency ).
Price of meal per person: S$10-15 ( in the Ginza area! )
Photo #2: A traditional hotpot Nabe set, with the freshest ingredients ever. The portion was huge, and it took us an hour just to cook everything in a stage-wise manner. The broth is a super-tasty miso soup, rich in flavour yet low in salt content ( none of us developed any thirst post-meal ).
Location: Jap restaurant in the executive tower of the Shinagawa Prince Hotel. No English name available, but there's a Nabe set display at the entrance so look for that.
Price: S$60 thereabouts. But bloody worth every penny. :)
Photo #3: Mouth-watering hot stone Mongolian-style cooking at a posh eatery near ( not within ) the Four Seasons Hotel. Went there as part of a guided city tour. The tour wasn't great, but the lunch more than made up for it!
Darn, I can't remember the name of the place. But the food was FABULOUS. Again, superb meat, cooked in a special sauce which is so fragrant my mouth began to water before I tasted anything. Just wish we could've had seconds, but no such luck.
Price: no idea -- included in tour fee.
Had many other delicious meals on a daily basis, but these are the ones that I snapped pictures of. I just ADORE Japanese cuisine.
Next post: images from my strolls through Ginza, Shibuya and Shinjuku. I kinda like the Tokyo subways too. :)
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