Baa Baa Black Sheep
Right, I'm going to stick my neck out once again and write something risque.
So as promised, here's a watered down version of my experiences thus far.
Bear in mind, of course, that the definition of Black Sheep In Medicine doesn't just pertain to practical errors. On the contrary, it alludes more to the doctor's attitude and moral character. After all, I doubt any of us can claim to be 100% mishap-free ( myself included ).
I encourage readers to add to the following list via the comments box.
Gender terms are used at random so don't jump to any conclusions.
How To Spot Black Sheep In Medicine - Part I
1. It usually starts during housemanship.
If this person had a bad rep as a HO, chances are she'll continue to have one later in her career.
Whether it's a case of performing disappearing acts ( especially during night calls ), slacking off on changes, or backstabbing her colleagues ( even those who outrank her ), if the stories are widespread and disturbingly similar, they're most likely true.
If the seniors who appraise her are sharp enough to notice and give her the grade she deserves, then that's a fortunate thing, because I've worked in departments where the hardest workers get screwed with B's and C's, while the lazy buggers who know how to sweet-talk the consultants and supervisors get away with A's.
As such, I usually prefer to talk to my juniors whenever I encounter problematic HOs / MOs. It's the most accurate and objective feedback you'll get, and I trust it wholeheartedly.
2. They almost never admit guilt.
Because those who do are the ones who will change for the better.
Black Sheep, on the other hand, will argue till their faces turn purple, or just stand there and keep quiet, without showing any contrition or humility.
Or at most, they'll modify their behaviour temporarily to avoid incurring your wrath any further, before reverting to their old ways once they're out of your line of sight.
A willingness to change reflects some degree of insight, a quality I search hard for in everyone I work with. Even now, I sometimes overlook things which are then picked up by fellow colleagues. But it's important to show appreciation rather than stubborn pride, and I never consider it beneath anyone to apologize.
2 cases in point:
In my current batch of MOs, there're 2 who stand out -- one for positive reasons, the other for negative ones.
Some time ago, you may remember an angry rant on my blog about a junior doctor with really bad work ethics who got blasted by me. The MO accused me of having some personal vendetta behind my complaint, but thank goodness it was taken seriously by both the MO's supervisor as well as the HOD, and my fellow seniors backed me up, so this person ended up with the worst appraisal grade in the entire cohort.
Granted, we've noticed a few changes since that episode, but earlier this month, the bad habits returned yet again, when the MO went missing at midnight, as nurses and patients' relatives hunted high and low throughout the department. Even the handphone was switched off. Who knows when the MO finally returned, since I'd just finished my shift at the time and was too tired to hang around to find out. But the MO's supervisor was on call that night and made fully aware of what happened.
In contrast, the other MO has shown immense improvement in just 2 short months. He initially irked me with his bo chap attitude -- running to me for everything, even resus cases who were just wheeled in and needed oxygen and an IV line, or expecting me to read x-rays and make diagnoses for him because he just couldn't be bothered to think for himself.
I tried to point these out to him on a number of occasions -- sometimes snapping at him in the process when I was already busy attending to my own resus while he loitered beside me -- but the turning point came when he glaringly missed a DKA and didn't even bother to start antibiotics for a raging infection, which was then picked up by a ward MO who happens to be my friend.
I spoke to him very sternly following that incident, stating clearly that what he did ( or rather, didn't do ) was indefensible. He looked absolutely horrified and immediately apologized for the error. Since then, he's shown much more diligence in his work, and actually appears to be thinking before approaching any of the seniors for their advice.
No more complaints from upstairs -- always a good sign. :)
3. Beware of those who curry favour.
A surgical trainee I worked with during my MO days -- let's call him A -- related a story of a classmate of his -- let's call him B -- during their HO posting in Internal Medicine.
A and B belonged to different wards and thus worked under different consultants.
A's consultant ordered a knee aspiration for a patient, but specified that she wanted it done a certain way. However, A didn't think the method she described was correct, and informed her accordingly. She, on the other hand, insisted she was right, after which A refused to perform the procedure, fearing that it would cause massive bleeding.
B came to hear about the conflict, and went behind his friend's back to offer his services to A's consultant. After obtaining the latter's blessing, B carried out the aspiration according to her ( incorrect ) specifications, only to cause ( as A predicted ) significant bleeding.
A went on to become an orthopaedic registrar, while B is now in a medical specialty.
Am I the only one who sees the irony in this?
As for patient feedback, err, I choose not to rely on it. I'm sure some of the praise is warranted, but there's a legendary chap in my department who was often overheard soliciting for compliments, saying things like, "Wah! See how skilful I am? I got the plug into your vein on the very first try! Make sure to put this in your feedback form ok?"
So the clueless patients did as they were told and got this MO lots of service quality stars. Never mind how obnoxious and lazy he was. His resume sure looked good.
Most seniors don't really care, of course, especially if the kissing ass works in their favour. But an SGH gastroenterology professor's words about one such MO resonate to this day: "Spacefan, you're very quiet, but I know you work extremely hard. Unlike 'someone' who talks a lot and tries to impress us but doesn't back it up with his actions. Rest assured that I know who's the better doctor."
Wise words to live by, my friends. I will always consider this professor one of the nicest, most upstanding people I know.
4. An unwillingness to help is a red flag.
This is an excellent indicator of any doctor's work ethics ( and overall character ), and I can tell you straight off that a doctor who actively helps her colleagues is someone you should admire and respect.
Having gone through the entire spectrum of rotations from general / orthopaedic surgery, to eye and ENT, to cardiology, internal medicine and A&E ( including hell-on-earth KKH children's emergency ), I know that the most hardworking and helpful HOs/MOs are the ones with the best team spirit and greatest integrity.
I read somewhere that Integrity = doing the right thing... when nobody's watching.
These doctors go way beyond their designated duties to assist others in finishing changes, clerking cases and clearing clogged queues, often without the knowledge of the seniors ( and therefore without earning any brownie points for appraisal time ).
CGH General Surgery used to have a peer appraisal system, during which lazy MOs who tried to cover up their bad habits were exposed and hung out to dry by their disgruntled colleagues. Do they still have that now? If not, then all departments should implement it.
This is just for starters. More will follow at a later date. It's time for my lunch now. :)
Monday, June 25, 2007
The Hornet's Nest Stirreth
Recent reports of our local med school's discretionary admission policy apparently got some undergrads riled up, prompting one to call the SMA and launch into a diatribe about how letting poly students into this "most prestigious" course "cheapens" the whole profession.
The caller then emailed the SMA to elaborate, repeatedly using the term "respect" to drive home his/her point about the "cheapening" s/he claims the entire class s/he belongs to feels subjected to as a result of this "shocking change".
The gist of the letter is this: doctors in Singapore have always garnered high respect because we're considered the creme de la creme, despite having crappy hours and salaries. But we soldier on out of a sense of nobility and altruism, to help mankind, blah blah blah.
But in times of despair -- presumably when we all inevitably become frustrated with our lousy existences -- what gets us through is "RESPECT" ( caps lock included in the quote ).
And allowing poly grads to enter med school "takes away A LOT of respect from us".
This person then quotes a classmate who commented that "now I will feel
embarrassed telling my friends that I am in medicine", and laments that the course / profession will now elicit reactions along the lines of "Aiya, poly also can study one".
There's a lot more I didn't mention on this blog, but I think the above snippet sufficiently captures the essence of the letter, and I am most eager to garner as many comments on this as possible, so post away, dear readers.
If you're interested in my personal take on this, here it is:
1) The best grades in the world do NOT guarantee a good doctor.
2) Becoming a competent doctor isn't just about academic abilities. It involves careful honing of clinical skills, mastering the art of the bedside manner, maintaining a constant passion for self-improvement ( no easy feat as you grow older and more susceptible to fatigue ), among other things.
3) As for integrity, that's an entirely different kettle of fish, completely independent of educational qualifications and IQs.
4) If you think doctors in Singapore command a high level of respect, you're sadly mistaken.
5) If you think respect is the one thing which will help you stay afloat when you're sick and tired of your job, you're out of your mind.
6) Someone who claims to have noble and altruistic intentions does nothing to back up these proclamations by making severely elitist remarks.
7) If these poly students completed the entry requirements ( writing an essay, going through skills assessment , clearing the rigorous interview process ), then of course they've earned their places fair and square.
8) What of the affirmative action policy in the United States? Though not officially announced in Singapore, I'm sure some of us suspect it's happening here as well. Would the complainant consider this a travesty too?
I don't know this student personally, but his/her views ( allegedly shared by "many" of his/her classmates ) worries me terribly. Is this the future generation of doctors we're thrusting upon the population and the world at large?
As one senior SMA Council member sighed: "I feel saddened. Almost anguished."
Ditto on that sentiment.
Fire away, readers. I eagerly await your responses.
Recent reports of our local med school's discretionary admission policy apparently got some undergrads riled up, prompting one to call the SMA and launch into a diatribe about how letting poly students into this "most prestigious" course "cheapens" the whole profession.
The caller then emailed the SMA to elaborate, repeatedly using the term "respect" to drive home his/her point about the "cheapening" s/he claims the entire class s/he belongs to feels subjected to as a result of this "shocking change".
The gist of the letter is this: doctors in Singapore have always garnered high respect because we're considered the creme de la creme, despite having crappy hours and salaries. But we soldier on out of a sense of nobility and altruism, to help mankind, blah blah blah.
But in times of despair -- presumably when we all inevitably become frustrated with our lousy existences -- what gets us through is "RESPECT" ( caps lock included in the quote ).
And allowing poly grads to enter med school "takes away A LOT of respect from us".
This person then quotes a classmate who commented that "now I will feel
embarrassed telling my friends that I am in medicine", and laments that the course / profession will now elicit reactions along the lines of "Aiya, poly also can study one".
There's a lot more I didn't mention on this blog, but I think the above snippet sufficiently captures the essence of the letter, and I am most eager to garner as many comments on this as possible, so post away, dear readers.
If you're interested in my personal take on this, here it is:
1) The best grades in the world do NOT guarantee a good doctor.
2) Becoming a competent doctor isn't just about academic abilities. It involves careful honing of clinical skills, mastering the art of the bedside manner, maintaining a constant passion for self-improvement ( no easy feat as you grow older and more susceptible to fatigue ), among other things.
3) As for integrity, that's an entirely different kettle of fish, completely independent of educational qualifications and IQs.
4) If you think doctors in Singapore command a high level of respect, you're sadly mistaken.
5) If you think respect is the one thing which will help you stay afloat when you're sick and tired of your job, you're out of your mind.
6) Someone who claims to have noble and altruistic intentions does nothing to back up these proclamations by making severely elitist remarks.
7) If these poly students completed the entry requirements ( writing an essay, going through skills assessment , clearing the rigorous interview process ), then of course they've earned their places fair and square.
8) What of the affirmative action policy in the United States? Though not officially announced in Singapore, I'm sure some of us suspect it's happening here as well. Would the complainant consider this a travesty too?
I don't know this student personally, but his/her views ( allegedly shared by "many" of his/her classmates ) worries me terribly. Is this the future generation of doctors we're thrusting upon the population and the world at large?
As one senior SMA Council member sighed: "I feel saddened. Almost anguished."
Ditto on that sentiment.
Fire away, readers. I eagerly await your responses.
Monday, June 11, 2007
A Good Day
Accompanied a group of 12-year-olds to the Jurong Bird Park today.
It was my first visit to the attraction in almost 10 years, and whoa, has it been revamped!
Really well done, with the addition of a few world's firsts and world's largests. Love the interactive segments ( check out the Lory Loft, Waterfall Aviary and pelican enclosures for starters ), and even the bird show's undergone major alterations to great effect.
The kids were on their best behaviour, and we found out that quite a number of them have troubled personal histories. But they're actually very sweet and appreciative, and considering that I was closest to them in age among the adults in attendance, we interacted a fair bit today, with hilarious results.
Best Kodak moment? How one of the boys, who celebrates his birthday tomorrow, practically doubled over with laughter when a parrot squawked the Birthday Song to him during the bird show. Shortly after, I overheard him telling his friends he "couldn't possibly be any happier".
It was my day off, but it was worth it. :)
A Good Night
Whenever any of us turn Associate Consultant, we worry about doing solo night shifts. Not just because it's pretty nerve-wracking at times ( if it's a busy Monday or weekend or public holiday ), but also because you get your first feel about your "karma".
And it's absolutely true that we all have specific karmas. I'm telling you this from personal experience.
One AC was labelled "legendary" for his notoriously horrendous calls. I managed to escape most of them, doing only 1 night shift with him during the past 2 years in the department, and it literally almost killed me. None of us could sit down the entire night, and there were so many resuscitations it was utterly insane. By 5am, I couldn't take it anymore and had to take a toilet break, gulp down some water, and slump in a chair for 5 minutes before carrying on.
Into my 2nd solo call last Saturday, I was relieved to discover that my karma was turning out to be rather favourable. Despite a 4-hour computer system downtime during a crucial period, we received an atypically low number of cases, and had zero resuscitations from 3am to 8am, after which the morning shift team took over.
I'm hoping this trend continues for the rest of my career. Haha. :)
Album Reviews
It Won't Be Soon Before Long -- Maroon 5
Great follow-up release to Songs About Jane, even though they're essentially polar opposites of each other.
SAJ had an acoustic, melancholy undertone yet also produced catchy pop-rock classics like This Love ( covered wonderfully by Blake Lewis on this season's American Idol ).
IWBSBL, on the other hand, deviates drastically from this formula, blending a small amount of pop/rock with loads of dance and electronica, with a much harder, edgier sound.
Reviews from fans have been mixed, but I belong to the group that gives it a 5-star rating. So what if it isn't SAJ II? Every piece is a gem, from the rousing opening number ( If I Never See Your Face Again ), to their current hit Makes Me Wonder.
My personal favourites ( for now ) are Little Of Your Time ( a psychedelic mix of discordant guitar riffs and cool electronica ), Wake Up Call ( grand and anthemic ) and Won't Go Home Without You ( a tribute to 80s rockers, including Sting ).
Even mainstream pop enthusiasts have something to chew on, namely Back At Your Door, which is perfect for the likes of American Idol contestants.
I suggest sampling ( or better still, purchasing ) Songs About Jane, if you haven't already done so. Secret is absolutely amazing, and the entire album complements IWBSBL beautifully.
Just wish the sleeve notes weren't such a mess. Went cross-eyed after a minute.
The Evolution of Robin Thicke -- Robin Thicke
I bought this for only one reason -- Blake Lewis' covers of When I Get You Alone, featured on Thicke's earlier release A Beautiful World. ( That Blake has been influencing my CD collection lately, heh heh. )
Sadly, I'm not exactly delighted with this disc, though it has its moments ( an understated yet effective Lost Without U, an interesting mambo-inflected Everything I Can't Have, and the lovely I Need Love ).
The rest of the album isn't living up to expectations, but I'll give it another week before I issue a final verdict. Thicke has a mildly annoying habit of swapping numbers for words, like "4" instead of "for", and "2" instead of "to". His CD sleeve notes are painful to read.
Am still considering ordering A Beautiful World though. When I Get You Alone, Lazy Bones and Brand New Jones are certainly worth the price.
YouTube Treasures
Peter Cincotti's new single, Goodbye Philadelphia, departs from his hard-core jazz roots but works magic nonetheless. His long locks are back, yes! :)
Robin Thicke's Brand New Jones: dig those nice dance moves; very slick. Love this song.
Blake Lewis belting Thicke's When I Get You Alone -- THE highlight of season 6, IMHO.
Relive those So You Think You Can Dance Season 2 moments!
1) Super-talented cousins Benji and Heidi doing the mad mambo -- get a bucket of ice ready!
2) Ivan and Allison burning up the dance floor with the Argentine Tango -- yow!
Catch the reruns on Channel 5 everyday at 6pm.
And of course, Kevin Spacey in his element, on David Letterman. How I adore this man. ( KS, not Letterman. :))
Today's outing has put me in a good mood. Can't wait to see those patients, heh heh.
Accompanied a group of 12-year-olds to the Jurong Bird Park today.
It was my first visit to the attraction in almost 10 years, and whoa, has it been revamped!
Really well done, with the addition of a few world's firsts and world's largests. Love the interactive segments ( check out the Lory Loft, Waterfall Aviary and pelican enclosures for starters ), and even the bird show's undergone major alterations to great effect.
The kids were on their best behaviour, and we found out that quite a number of them have troubled personal histories. But they're actually very sweet and appreciative, and considering that I was closest to them in age among the adults in attendance, we interacted a fair bit today, with hilarious results.
Best Kodak moment? How one of the boys, who celebrates his birthday tomorrow, practically doubled over with laughter when a parrot squawked the Birthday Song to him during the bird show. Shortly after, I overheard him telling his friends he "couldn't possibly be any happier".
It was my day off, but it was worth it. :)
A Good Night
Whenever any of us turn Associate Consultant, we worry about doing solo night shifts. Not just because it's pretty nerve-wracking at times ( if it's a busy Monday or weekend or public holiday ), but also because you get your first feel about your "karma".
And it's absolutely true that we all have specific karmas. I'm telling you this from personal experience.
One AC was labelled "legendary" for his notoriously horrendous calls. I managed to escape most of them, doing only 1 night shift with him during the past 2 years in the department, and it literally almost killed me. None of us could sit down the entire night, and there were so many resuscitations it was utterly insane. By 5am, I couldn't take it anymore and had to take a toilet break, gulp down some water, and slump in a chair for 5 minutes before carrying on.
Into my 2nd solo call last Saturday, I was relieved to discover that my karma was turning out to be rather favourable. Despite a 4-hour computer system downtime during a crucial period, we received an atypically low number of cases, and had zero resuscitations from 3am to 8am, after which the morning shift team took over.
I'm hoping this trend continues for the rest of my career. Haha. :)
Album Reviews
It Won't Be Soon Before Long -- Maroon 5
Great follow-up release to Songs About Jane, even though they're essentially polar opposites of each other.
SAJ had an acoustic, melancholy undertone yet also produced catchy pop-rock classics like This Love ( covered wonderfully by Blake Lewis on this season's American Idol ).
IWBSBL, on the other hand, deviates drastically from this formula, blending a small amount of pop/rock with loads of dance and electronica, with a much harder, edgier sound.
Reviews from fans have been mixed, but I belong to the group that gives it a 5-star rating. So what if it isn't SAJ II? Every piece is a gem, from the rousing opening number ( If I Never See Your Face Again ), to their current hit Makes Me Wonder.
My personal favourites ( for now ) are Little Of Your Time ( a psychedelic mix of discordant guitar riffs and cool electronica ), Wake Up Call ( grand and anthemic ) and Won't Go Home Without You ( a tribute to 80s rockers, including Sting ).
Even mainstream pop enthusiasts have something to chew on, namely Back At Your Door, which is perfect for the likes of American Idol contestants.
I suggest sampling ( or better still, purchasing ) Songs About Jane, if you haven't already done so. Secret is absolutely amazing, and the entire album complements IWBSBL beautifully.
Just wish the sleeve notes weren't such a mess. Went cross-eyed after a minute.
The Evolution of Robin Thicke -- Robin Thicke
I bought this for only one reason -- Blake Lewis' covers of When I Get You Alone, featured on Thicke's earlier release A Beautiful World. ( That Blake has been influencing my CD collection lately, heh heh. )
Sadly, I'm not exactly delighted with this disc, though it has its moments ( an understated yet effective Lost Without U, an interesting mambo-inflected Everything I Can't Have, and the lovely I Need Love ).
The rest of the album isn't living up to expectations, but I'll give it another week before I issue a final verdict. Thicke has a mildly annoying habit of swapping numbers for words, like "4" instead of "for", and "2" instead of "to". His CD sleeve notes are painful to read.
Am still considering ordering A Beautiful World though. When I Get You Alone, Lazy Bones and Brand New Jones are certainly worth the price.
YouTube Treasures
Peter Cincotti's new single, Goodbye Philadelphia, departs from his hard-core jazz roots but works magic nonetheless. His long locks are back, yes! :)
Robin Thicke's Brand New Jones: dig those nice dance moves; very slick. Love this song.
Blake Lewis belting Thicke's When I Get You Alone -- THE highlight of season 6, IMHO.
Relive those So You Think You Can Dance Season 2 moments!
1) Super-talented cousins Benji and Heidi doing the mad mambo -- get a bucket of ice ready!
2) Ivan and Allison burning up the dance floor with the Argentine Tango -- yow!
Catch the reruns on Channel 5 everyday at 6pm.
And of course, Kevin Spacey in his element, on David Letterman. How I adore this man. ( KS, not Letterman. :))
Today's outing has put me in a good mood. Can't wait to see those patients, heh heh.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
On Hiatus... Sort Of
I've finally decided to take a break from this blog for a while. At least the medical writing bit.
I know being (mis)judged and getting flamed comes with the territory, and that most of my readers have been loyal and supportive.
But things are getting a little too close for comfort, and I honestly just need complete anonymity in order to salvage what's left of my sanity.
I will continue to post here from time to time, but the truly hard-core stuff is moving to a new home, the address of which will not be divulged to anyone, so please don't ask.
I greatly look forward to starting this new chapter. Who knows, we might meet again sometime in the future, though you obviously won't know it's me. :)
But for now, I recommend you get your hands on new albums by Maroon 5 and Russell Watson ( both are worth the money, but the former is clearly much better than the latter ) and give Robin Thicke a listen ( must buy his 2003 release from Amazon! )
Last but not least, those with queries about emergency medicine are always welcome to drop me a line.
Take care, be well, and see you around.
I've finally decided to take a break from this blog for a while. At least the medical writing bit.
I know being (mis)judged and getting flamed comes with the territory, and that most of my readers have been loyal and supportive.
But things are getting a little too close for comfort, and I honestly just need complete anonymity in order to salvage what's left of my sanity.
I will continue to post here from time to time, but the truly hard-core stuff is moving to a new home, the address of which will not be divulged to anyone, so please don't ask.
I greatly look forward to starting this new chapter. Who knows, we might meet again sometime in the future, though you obviously won't know it's me. :)
But for now, I recommend you get your hands on new albums by Maroon 5 and Russell Watson ( both are worth the money, but the former is clearly much better than the latter ) and give Robin Thicke a listen ( must buy his 2003 release from Amazon! )
Last but not least, those with queries about emergency medicine are always welcome to drop me a line.
Take care, be well, and see you around.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
American Idol #6
In the wake of Jordin's yawn-inducing victory, I found myself honestly disappointed.
Sure, she can sing, but did she win simply because Blake screwed up his one big chance at securing the title?
He chose the wrong song -- Maroon 5's She Will Be Loved, out of a repertoire of so many other great pieces ( e.g. Harder To Breathe, The Sun, Secret ); he went off-key too many times for comfort ( yikes ); he lost some of his infectious spunkiness ( ?stage nerves ). All of which contributed to a poor rendition of whatever-the-title-of-the-last-song-is, a mistake that hammered the nail into his coffin, so to speak.
Jordin's little voice-break at the end of that same number also helped garner votes, I'm sure. Nice touch there.
Well congratulations, Jordin. You've got talent, but it remains to be seen whether you're actually star material.
On The Lot
If you want to see what REAL STRESS is like -- at least in Reality TV Land -- this takes the cake.
In the pilot episode alone, 50 aspiring film-makers from around the world stay up for 3 straight days completing tough assignments running the gamut from making a pitch to cutting 2.5-minute shorts within a 24-hour period to writing mini-scripts and shooting a segment within an hour.
I think I missed a few of the follow-ups, thinking it's a weekly thing, so the latest episode had the group already whittled down to 18. Gah!
Being a huge TV and film buff, this is a show I enjoy immensely, for its breathless pacing, sharp editing and creative concepts.
There's this geeky guy named Zach who's a whiz at special effects and consistently wows the judges with his unbelievable set pieces. How does he do it?!
Stay tuned, and you won't regret it. :)
p.s. Looks like our sole Singaporean candidate has been eliminated. Darn.
[ Star Movies Channel 58 daily for alternating 1- or 2-hour snippets. ]
Work Related
My last post elicited quite a few comments -- thank you for that ( urgh included :)).
No time to write much at the moment, but I will be on leave for a few days next week, so hang in there, urgh!
In brief summary, things have settled down somewhat ( though the ambulance diversions haven't abated, I still get inundated by numerous patient reviews and can't fully depend on quite a few MOs just yet ). On the upside, we've identified a few A-grade contenders. On the downside... well, shall leave that to another day.
Time for lunch, then an afternoon shift awaits.
In the wake of Jordin's yawn-inducing victory, I found myself honestly disappointed.
Sure, she can sing, but did she win simply because Blake screwed up his one big chance at securing the title?
He chose the wrong song -- Maroon 5's She Will Be Loved, out of a repertoire of so many other great pieces ( e.g. Harder To Breathe, The Sun, Secret ); he went off-key too many times for comfort ( yikes ); he lost some of his infectious spunkiness ( ?stage nerves ). All of which contributed to a poor rendition of whatever-the-title-of-the-last-song-is, a mistake that hammered the nail into his coffin, so to speak.
Jordin's little voice-break at the end of that same number also helped garner votes, I'm sure. Nice touch there.
Well congratulations, Jordin. You've got talent, but it remains to be seen whether you're actually star material.
On The Lot
If you want to see what REAL STRESS is like -- at least in Reality TV Land -- this takes the cake.
In the pilot episode alone, 50 aspiring film-makers from around the world stay up for 3 straight days completing tough assignments running the gamut from making a pitch to cutting 2.5-minute shorts within a 24-hour period to writing mini-scripts and shooting a segment within an hour.
I think I missed a few of the follow-ups, thinking it's a weekly thing, so the latest episode had the group already whittled down to 18. Gah!
Being a huge TV and film buff, this is a show I enjoy immensely, for its breathless pacing, sharp editing and creative concepts.
There's this geeky guy named Zach who's a whiz at special effects and consistently wows the judges with his unbelievable set pieces. How does he do it?!
Stay tuned, and you won't regret it. :)
p.s. Looks like our sole Singaporean candidate has been eliminated. Darn.
[ Star Movies Channel 58 daily for alternating 1- or 2-hour snippets. ]
Work Related
My last post elicited quite a few comments -- thank you for that ( urgh included :)).
No time to write much at the moment, but I will be on leave for a few days next week, so hang in there, urgh!
In brief summary, things have settled down somewhat ( though the ambulance diversions haven't abated, I still get inundated by numerous patient reviews and can't fully depend on quite a few MOs just yet ). On the upside, we've identified a few A-grade contenders. On the downside... well, shall leave that to another day.
Time for lunch, then an afternoon shift awaits.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Sigh
Never a good way to start a blog entry. Especially after such a long hiatus.
Apologies in advance to those awaiting my comments on articles and such. Will get around to them in time.
For now, I just need to vent before I perforate a gastric ulcer. ( I'm sure it's already there, just that it's asymptomatic at the moment. )
I do, however, have bouts of chest pain nowadays. Like Cameron Diaz and her reflux symptoms in The Holiday ( which I just rented and really enjoyed -- short review to follow ). Or of a more pleuritic nature like the sharp pang I got during a resus early this morning.
Ode To Dante
The last fortnight has been pure torture. Here's a list of reasons ( not 100% comprehensive though ):
Circle #9: MOPEX changeover
Yes, we go through this painful process every 6 months, but the combination of a relatively weaker batch with multiple other factors has proven to be a major headache. I'm sure many colleagues agree that the last group made the transition to the A&E Department much more smoothly. The difference is most marked during night shifts, when manpower is skeletal and a single slow MO can hold up the entire queue.
Of course, we've had difficulties before, and understand the stress involved. Rest assured that we allow a reasonable period of adjustment and always try to believe the best of our junior doctors. Many who started out shaky later earned top appraisal grades and ran resus for us ( yes, even the 1st year rookies ), so we never write anyone off unless they're completely beyond redemption.
Circle #8: Blur MOs
Again, we try to be sympathetic, but certain lapses can still irritate. Running 5 different blood tests ( including the costly NT pro-BNP ) for a simple URTI or ordering 10 x-rays for every painful spot is just unacceptable. Not being able to read the x-rays you personally ordered kind of defeats the purpose. And scurrying out of resus to look for me to read an ECG for you ( while the patient sits there in pain and diaphoretic, with no IV line, SL GTN or oxygen ) -- well, this just makes me wonder what the heck you learned during housemanship ( which includes a rotation through internal medicine, which orders a lot of ECGs, no? )
Anyway, I'm hoping these MOs will learn fast, i.e. by the end of this month. Beyond that, my sharp tongue will take over.
Circle #7: Everybody lurves us
Including the other cluster's polyclinics and the private sector AND loads of GPs. We have patients who live on the other end of the island being shipped over, often at the doctor's discretion, sometimes at the patient's request. Nobody bothers to check which hospitals these people are on follow-up with ( or maybe they know and just don't care ), and the patients themselves don't say anything either. So we end up managing cases with long histories at other institutions, which is damn frustrating.
Oh yeah, and there's a strange trend where patients opt to be admitted at our hospital instead of being transferred back to their original parent institutions. May be a self-referral, AOR discharge to come over to us, or more commonly, they end up at our A&E during one of many ambulance diversions.
Circle #6: Questionable referrals
One short shift in the consultation area was more than enough for me earlier this month. Maybe the new OPS MOs are just being paranoid, but hey, we do get weird memos from doctors with very small MCR numbers, for "undisplaced fracture of the distal phalanx of the little toe, sustained 1 week ago", or "cough for 1 year", or "headache for 10 years".
I kid you not.
The day I spent in P3 was marred by an unpleasant experience with a DM foot patient's angry children ( both in their 20s ). Chronic leg ulcer on regular dressing at OPS, referred for "abscess and gangrene".
Turns out the teeny-tiny area of black pigmentation has been there for weeks, with no progression, and she only had mild cellulitis ( for which the OPS didn't even treat before referring ). Relatives were pissed, and so was I. Only problem was that I was PO-ed with the polyclinic doctor, and they were PO-ed with me. Spent 20 minutes explaining why she could be managed as an outpatient, that the referral was unwarranted, that they could always return to us if the infection got worse, and they thought I was brushing them off. Sensing a potential complaint, I gave them the last-resort option of admission -- which they declined.
Could've seen 3 other cases during that episode. Thanks a lot, Dr. ***** from **** OPS. >:-(
On the flip side, I've encountered cases who first consulted the OPS or GP clinic and were given appointments dated 3 months later, for complaints which actually require immediate admission. E.g. Classical anginal symptoms with recent escalation, and obvious ischemia on ECG; definite melena on PR ( given a gastro appointment in June, haha ), just to name a few.
Blame the doctor, or the educational system? You tell me.
Circle #5: Ambulance diversions
I KNOW it's sanctioned. I KNOW there's a set of criteria to follow. I KNOW it can get busy over there.
But we're seeing more than 400 cases daily ( 100 more than our usual off-peak day average ), and now hit almost 500 on Mondays and weekends. Our resus room is ALWAYS full ( as was the case for my extremely busy night shift yesterday -- my 1st solo call, woohoo! ), and considering the current bed crunch in the wards ( ICU and HD / ICA included ), we can't even clear resus fast enough to receive new patients.
We also have fewer MOs ( total, per shift and especially during nights ).
I'm just saying: maybe we should be allowed some respite as well. It's only fair, right?
Circle #4: Manja mama's and papa's
Have been getting a lot of those lately.
Usually teenagers or young adults. Female. Typical Ah Lian. Or fitting the low-pain-threshold profile ( ask any doctor if you're not clear ).
Often drunk. Hyperventilating and bawling their eyes out. Surrounded by 10 different guys vying for their attention -- also drunk, tattooed and verbally abusive to A&E staff ( but oh-so-sweet to the annoying attention seeker at the centre of it all ).
They always get seen first ( i.e. get to jump queue ) because they kick up the biggest fuss. I practically ordered a nurse to stick one of them in P3 the other day ( young woman sobbing because of an infected sebaceous cyst -- huh?? ) but alas, even the AC kena trumped because the nurse didn't want the big crowd in the waiting area to see the patient looking so "distressed".
So much for "emergency".
Circle #3: Lack of sympathy
Nobody cares how busy the department is. They just complain about the waiting time for consultation, investigations and beds. We keep explaining that we've got an overflowing resus room, that there're multiple ambulance diversions occurring, that there's a bed shortage, but they just... don't... care.
And just to side-track a bit: since when did patients start assuming we know everything about their medical / surgical conditions, absolving them of all personal responsibility? "Just check your records lah, it's in there what", even though their last admission was >10 years ago, hence the records are on microfilm in a warehouse and won't be retrieved for another week. Almost no-one knows the names of their medications, and everyone has a "heart problem" ( even if a recent treadmill / echo / Holter / stress MIBI +/- coronary angiogram were ALL NORMAL ).
YEESH!
Circle #2: The BMU mystery
Okay, I'm not allocating blame here, but can someone tell me why beds mysteriously become available at 3am in the night?
Circle #1: There are no beds!
Someone please build 3 more hospitals, 'cos Northern General isn't going to save us.
Read this quickly, because I expect a phone call from admin very soon, after which I will probably be "advised" to delete my rant -- warranted as it may be.
[ p.s. Would make things a lot easier if there wasn't a firewall for Blogger at work. How else can I comply if I'm stuck on shift and can't access the Internet till I get home? ]
Ahh, that felt good. :)
Good Luck, Blake!
I must admit I'm very surprised by the turn of events on American Idol 6. Melinda has always been tipped to win, but Blake has clawed his way through the all-female line-up to battle for the Idol crown with an equally talented Jordin Sparks.
Think Blake is quite the dark horse of the competition. Was pretty much under the radar most of the competition before emerging from his shell more recently -- most notably this week, with an absolutely perfect rendition of Maroon 5's This Love.
I enjoy Jordin's spirit and gorgeous voice ( much nicer than Melinda's rough tone ), but she's still too young, and faces the risk of sinking into oblivion ( remember Diana DeGarmo? ) if she doesn't play her post-Idol cards right.
Elliott Yamin sang his guts out during a guest performance today. Hate his hair, but gotta love that voice.
People magazine predicted early on that Blake would win -- just based on the number of Internet posts he's generating on Idol b-boards. Looks like they're going to be proven right. Go Blake! :)
Watch
The Closer -- an Erin Brockovich-styled cop TV series starring a very spunky Kyra Sedgwick. Pilot was hilarious and well-written. Airs Fridays on Starworld Channel 18.
The Greatest Game Ever Played -- will repeat on HBO later this month. Shia LeBeouf shines as a poor boy with a truly God-given talent for golf. Good script, tight direction and excellent acting make the film both compelling and inspiring.
The Holiday -- just rented the VCD and really enjoyed it. Admit the last third is pretty cheesy, but it teaches a lot of good lessons, one of my favourites of which is "In the world of love, cheating is unacceptable." I tell you this from personal experience, so perhaps that's why I love the show so much ( same way I can't get enough of Someone Like You ).
Jude Law is yummy. :)
Memoirs of a Geisha -- kinda liked this one too, but the ending was deeply unsatisfying and ( if I remember correctly ) different from the novel. Try to ignore the laughable accents ( most of which are non-Japanese ) and concentrate on the amazing cinematography and beautiful depiction of the nation's rich culture.
Japanese men are a very good-looking bunch, FYI. Asking for directions around Tokyo was fun. :)
So-so
The Queen -- my mother, who's practically a walking encyclopedia on British royalty, was unimpressed, as was I. Seemed very run-of-the-mill, almost like a made-for-TV movie. Should've given the Best Actress Oscar to Meryl Streep for The Devil Wears Prada, which was sooooo much better.
Next
Now that I've missed my chance to catch Spider-man 3, I've got my sights on Zodiac. David Fincher is a genius, and his latest effort received rave reviews in the US. Can only imagine how good it is. Will be on leave the week after it's released -- yes!
Thanks for reading. Wish me luck with the admin people. :)
Never a good way to start a blog entry. Especially after such a long hiatus.
Apologies in advance to those awaiting my comments on articles and such. Will get around to them in time.
For now, I just need to vent before I perforate a gastric ulcer. ( I'm sure it's already there, just that it's asymptomatic at the moment. )
I do, however, have bouts of chest pain nowadays. Like Cameron Diaz and her reflux symptoms in The Holiday ( which I just rented and really enjoyed -- short review to follow ). Or of a more pleuritic nature like the sharp pang I got during a resus early this morning.
Ode To Dante
The last fortnight has been pure torture. Here's a list of reasons ( not 100% comprehensive though ):
Circle #9: MOPEX changeover
Yes, we go through this painful process every 6 months, but the combination of a relatively weaker batch with multiple other factors has proven to be a major headache. I'm sure many colleagues agree that the last group made the transition to the A&E Department much more smoothly. The difference is most marked during night shifts, when manpower is skeletal and a single slow MO can hold up the entire queue.
Of course, we've had difficulties before, and understand the stress involved. Rest assured that we allow a reasonable period of adjustment and always try to believe the best of our junior doctors. Many who started out shaky later earned top appraisal grades and ran resus for us ( yes, even the 1st year rookies ), so we never write anyone off unless they're completely beyond redemption.
Circle #8: Blur MOs
Again, we try to be sympathetic, but certain lapses can still irritate. Running 5 different blood tests ( including the costly NT pro-BNP ) for a simple URTI or ordering 10 x-rays for every painful spot is just unacceptable. Not being able to read the x-rays you personally ordered kind of defeats the purpose. And scurrying out of resus to look for me to read an ECG for you ( while the patient sits there in pain and diaphoretic, with no IV line, SL GTN or oxygen ) -- well, this just makes me wonder what the heck you learned during housemanship ( which includes a rotation through internal medicine, which orders a lot of ECGs, no? )
Anyway, I'm hoping these MOs will learn fast, i.e. by the end of this month. Beyond that, my sharp tongue will take over.
Circle #7: Everybody lurves us
Including the other cluster's polyclinics and the private sector AND loads of GPs. We have patients who live on the other end of the island being shipped over, often at the doctor's discretion, sometimes at the patient's request. Nobody bothers to check which hospitals these people are on follow-up with ( or maybe they know and just don't care ), and the patients themselves don't say anything either. So we end up managing cases with long histories at other institutions, which is damn frustrating.
Oh yeah, and there's a strange trend where patients opt to be admitted at our hospital instead of being transferred back to their original parent institutions. May be a self-referral, AOR discharge to come over to us, or more commonly, they end up at our A&E during one of many ambulance diversions.
Circle #6: Questionable referrals
One short shift in the consultation area was more than enough for me earlier this month. Maybe the new OPS MOs are just being paranoid, but hey, we do get weird memos from doctors with very small MCR numbers, for "undisplaced fracture of the distal phalanx of the little toe, sustained 1 week ago", or "cough for 1 year", or "headache for 10 years".
I kid you not.
The day I spent in P3 was marred by an unpleasant experience with a DM foot patient's angry children ( both in their 20s ). Chronic leg ulcer on regular dressing at OPS, referred for "abscess and gangrene".
Turns out the teeny-tiny area of black pigmentation has been there for weeks, with no progression, and she only had mild cellulitis ( for which the OPS didn't even treat before referring ). Relatives were pissed, and so was I. Only problem was that I was PO-ed with the polyclinic doctor, and they were PO-ed with me. Spent 20 minutes explaining why she could be managed as an outpatient, that the referral was unwarranted, that they could always return to us if the infection got worse, and they thought I was brushing them off. Sensing a potential complaint, I gave them the last-resort option of admission -- which they declined.
Could've seen 3 other cases during that episode. Thanks a lot, Dr. ***** from **** OPS. >:-(
On the flip side, I've encountered cases who first consulted the OPS or GP clinic and were given appointments dated 3 months later, for complaints which actually require immediate admission. E.g. Classical anginal symptoms with recent escalation, and obvious ischemia on ECG; definite melena on PR ( given a gastro appointment in June, haha ), just to name a few.
Blame the doctor, or the educational system? You tell me.
Circle #5: Ambulance diversions
I KNOW it's sanctioned. I KNOW there's a set of criteria to follow. I KNOW it can get busy over there.
But we're seeing more than 400 cases daily ( 100 more than our usual off-peak day average ), and now hit almost 500 on Mondays and weekends. Our resus room is ALWAYS full ( as was the case for my extremely busy night shift yesterday -- my 1st solo call, woohoo! ), and considering the current bed crunch in the wards ( ICU and HD / ICA included ), we can't even clear resus fast enough to receive new patients.
We also have fewer MOs ( total, per shift and especially during nights ).
I'm just saying: maybe we should be allowed some respite as well. It's only fair, right?
Circle #4: Manja mama's and papa's
Have been getting a lot of those lately.
Usually teenagers or young adults. Female. Typical Ah Lian. Or fitting the low-pain-threshold profile ( ask any doctor if you're not clear ).
Often drunk. Hyperventilating and bawling their eyes out. Surrounded by 10 different guys vying for their attention -- also drunk, tattooed and verbally abusive to A&E staff ( but oh-so-sweet to the annoying attention seeker at the centre of it all ).
They always get seen first ( i.e. get to jump queue ) because they kick up the biggest fuss. I practically ordered a nurse to stick one of them in P3 the other day ( young woman sobbing because of an infected sebaceous cyst -- huh?? ) but alas, even the AC kena trumped because the nurse didn't want the big crowd in the waiting area to see the patient looking so "distressed".
So much for "emergency".
Circle #3: Lack of sympathy
Nobody cares how busy the department is. They just complain about the waiting time for consultation, investigations and beds. We keep explaining that we've got an overflowing resus room, that there're multiple ambulance diversions occurring, that there's a bed shortage, but they just... don't... care.
And just to side-track a bit: since when did patients start assuming we know everything about their medical / surgical conditions, absolving them of all personal responsibility? "Just check your records lah, it's in there what", even though their last admission was >10 years ago, hence the records are on microfilm in a warehouse and won't be retrieved for another week. Almost no-one knows the names of their medications, and everyone has a "heart problem" ( even if a recent treadmill / echo / Holter / stress MIBI +/- coronary angiogram were ALL NORMAL ).
YEESH!
Circle #2: The BMU mystery
Okay, I'm not allocating blame here, but can someone tell me why beds mysteriously become available at 3am in the night?
Circle #1: There are no beds!
Someone please build 3 more hospitals, 'cos Northern General isn't going to save us.
Read this quickly, because I expect a phone call from admin very soon, after which I will probably be "advised" to delete my rant -- warranted as it may be.
[ p.s. Would make things a lot easier if there wasn't a firewall for Blogger at work. How else can I comply if I'm stuck on shift and can't access the Internet till I get home? ]
Ahh, that felt good. :)
Good Luck, Blake!
I must admit I'm very surprised by the turn of events on American Idol 6. Melinda has always been tipped to win, but Blake has clawed his way through the all-female line-up to battle for the Idol crown with an equally talented Jordin Sparks.
Think Blake is quite the dark horse of the competition. Was pretty much under the radar most of the competition before emerging from his shell more recently -- most notably this week, with an absolutely perfect rendition of Maroon 5's This Love.
I enjoy Jordin's spirit and gorgeous voice ( much nicer than Melinda's rough tone ), but she's still too young, and faces the risk of sinking into oblivion ( remember Diana DeGarmo? ) if she doesn't play her post-Idol cards right.
Elliott Yamin sang his guts out during a guest performance today. Hate his hair, but gotta love that voice.
People magazine predicted early on that Blake would win -- just based on the number of Internet posts he's generating on Idol b-boards. Looks like they're going to be proven right. Go Blake! :)
Watch
The Closer -- an Erin Brockovich-styled cop TV series starring a very spunky Kyra Sedgwick. Pilot was hilarious and well-written. Airs Fridays on Starworld Channel 18.
The Greatest Game Ever Played -- will repeat on HBO later this month. Shia LeBeouf shines as a poor boy with a truly God-given talent for golf. Good script, tight direction and excellent acting make the film both compelling and inspiring.
The Holiday -- just rented the VCD and really enjoyed it. Admit the last third is pretty cheesy, but it teaches a lot of good lessons, one of my favourites of which is "In the world of love, cheating is unacceptable." I tell you this from personal experience, so perhaps that's why I love the show so much ( same way I can't get enough of Someone Like You ).
Jude Law is yummy. :)
Memoirs of a Geisha -- kinda liked this one too, but the ending was deeply unsatisfying and ( if I remember correctly ) different from the novel. Try to ignore the laughable accents ( most of which are non-Japanese ) and concentrate on the amazing cinematography and beautiful depiction of the nation's rich culture.
Japanese men are a very good-looking bunch, FYI. Asking for directions around Tokyo was fun. :)
So-so
The Queen -- my mother, who's practically a walking encyclopedia on British royalty, was unimpressed, as was I. Seemed very run-of-the-mill, almost like a made-for-TV movie. Should've given the Best Actress Oscar to Meryl Streep for The Devil Wears Prada, which was sooooo much better.
Next
Now that I've missed my chance to catch Spider-man 3, I've got my sights on Zodiac. David Fincher is a genius, and his latest effort received rave reviews in the US. Can only imagine how good it is. Will be on leave the week after it's released -- yes!
Thanks for reading. Wish me luck with the admin people. :)
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
He's Back!
If you're already a Michael Buble fan, I don't have to ask you to do this. But if you're an MB newbie, then please... buy this album.
His latest offering is interestingly named Call Me Irresponsible, and he performed the title track during a recent guest appearance on American Idol 6 ( jazz week ).
Funnily enough, despite its official May 1st worldwide release date, I managed to get my hands on it last Friday ( April 27th ) at a nearby Sembawang Music Shop outlet. They hid the disc behind the counter but displayed the promotional poster in the window. Made me feel like I was doing something illegal, haha. :)
On to the album review proper.
Overall opinion: always favourable, of course. Michael can sing anything and breathe new life into it, and his vocals remain strong and smooth as ever.
Still, I have to say that of all his 3 studio recordings so far, this is probably my least favourite. His personal best was It's Time ( 2005 ), on which he really stretched himself and produced beautifully rendered classics like Song For You, Quando Quando Quando, Try A Little Tenderness, Save The Last Dance For Me and ( the one I love most ) You And I.
His debut in 2003 was equally stunning, with smouldering covers of Fever, Moondance and The Way You Look Tonight.
Call Me Irresponsible, on the other hand, heads in a slightly different direction, which has its pros and cons. The good part is, he shows off his playful personality more, especially on tracks like I've Got The World On A String, That's Life and Everything. Still, much of the trademark MB style is retained, as he croons gorgeously on Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight ( redone as a Portuguese jazz ballad -- sounds very similar to The Way You Look Tonight ), Me And Mrs Jones, Always On My Mind and Dream.
The not-so-good part? He gives the impression that he's playing it safe, which is a huge pity considering his immense success with It's Time, where he pushed the limits in vocal delivery and contemporary arrangement.
The result: Album #3 pales in comparison to #1 and #2; though if this had been his debut, it probably would've launched his career anyway, 'cos there's no doubt it's good. Just that it isn't as good as its predecessors.
Right then, beating about the bush aside, here's a brief summary of the tracks:
What Works:
Wonderful Tonight -- Eric Clapton's slow rock ballad works amazingly well as a rumba. Credit goes to the exquisite arrangement ( lots of strings coupled with a sexy Latin beat ) and Michael's soothing performance. Ivan Lins, who duets with MB, does a competent job, but it's really his exotic accent that adds the icing on the cake. :)
Everything -- one of 2 original compositions MB co-wrote with his pianist / music director Alan Chang, this is an upbeat and infectiously happy pop piece, complete with cute lyrics like "You're the swimming pool / on an August day". My favourite line though, is "And I get to kiss you baby / just because I can", which he infuses with a combination of cheeky mischief and winsome longing. Very very nice indeed.
Dream -- this was written by Johnny Mercer, who also penned the legendary Moon River, Autumn Leaves, Summer Wind and One For My Baby ( And One More For The Road ), among others. Dream is a lovely little song not unlike Charlie Chaplin's inspiring and heartwarming Smile. As Michael whispers "Dream, when you're feeling blue / Dream, that's the thing to do / Just watch the smoke rings rise in the air / You'll find your share of memories there", I can feel my pulse rate drop and the world outside fade into oblivion. Highly recommended for drives home from work after a tough day. :)
Call Me Irresponsible -- This is vintage MB is all his glory. Naughty and irreverent to the core, with a superb swing orchestra backing, you'll be tapping your feet and snapping your fingers in no time.
L-O-V-E -- Another cutesy classic ( bonus track on the Singapore album ), given the MB workover. I adore it. :)
What Doesn't Really Work:
It Had Better Be Tonight -- comes across like a lounge act in a Latin nightclub, a la Barry Manilow's much maligned Copacabana. Didn't like it much.
Always On My Mind -- believe it or not, Willie Nelson's version ( nasal and simple as it may be ) conveys more angst. Somehow, Michael's crooning doesn't fit this particular love song. Go figure.
Comin' Home Baby -- Maybe I'm just disturbed by the fact that a Grammy Award-winning R&B group is now reduced to singing backup. It isn't that bad a performance, but let's face it, Michael doesn't NEED backup, and even if he did, it doesn't HAVE to be Boyz II Men providing it. I found it pretty lacklustre and routine.
I still recommend this to potential buyers. But if you have any doubts, just sample it at HMV or That CD Shop. The good outweighs the bad, I promise. :)
A music video for Everything can be accessed here. Keep checking his tour schedule, 'cos he always drops by Singapore months after a new album's released. I just hope he doesn't come down while I'm overseas. Will be away for 4 weeks later this year.
Another Album Review
I like tenors. Especially young, good-looking ones from Italy. :) But only if they have real talent of course. :)
Just picked up Vittorio Grigolo's debut CD, and man, can this guy sing. He can belt anthems and Broadway classics with aplomb, yet easily switches to serenade mode on the softer, more tender tracks.
Songs worthy of mention:
You Are My Miracle ( a duet with lead Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger )
-- make sure you plug in your earphones or play it in the car, because letting the sound dissipate will destroy the effect completely. Nicole is utterly mesmerizing ( eat your heart out, Sarah Brightman ), while Vittorio shines with his beautifully controlled delivery. Ahhhh. :)
There's a solo Italian version right at the end ( track 13 ) which is also breath-taking.
Bedshaped
-- a Keane anthem sung like an Italian aria! Once your head stops spinning, you'll love it. :)
Maria
-- woo, quite simply the best and my personal favourite. ( I happen to be a huge West Side Story fan since childhood. ) Vittorio soars effortlessly through this immensely challenging Broadway classic. And the closing note is pure heaven. Major goosebumps!
Which reminds me, I should place an order for a 7 Brides for 7 Brothers DVD on Amazon one of these days. My all-time favourite musical, surpassing even The Sound of Music.
Spider-Man 3
No, I haven't seen it.
No, I don't think I'll be able to catch it in theatres, considering how all the shows at the cinemas I frequent are almost sold out by now.
Got my May roster on 30th April, hence the delay.
Am working lots of morning shifts. Considering how I avoid the crowds, evening and weekend shows are out of the question.
Someone please tell me what you think of the film. I'll probably end up borrowing the DVD, arrgh.
Speaking of DVDs
Rented a few this past fortnight.
Casino Royale -- bloody fantastic. Fully agree that Daniel Craig's the best Bond ever. Not conventionally handsome, but possesses loads of charisma, and has one of the best swaggers I've ever seen ( other notable contenders include Matthew McConaughey, Jeff Goldblum, Michael Douglas and Robert Redford ).
Yes, I pay attention to how a guy walks. :)
Curse Of The Golden Flower -- wow, didn't think anything could be more tragic than Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge, but this almost takes the cake. Lots of melodrama, but doesn't have much of a kick. I can see why it wasn't nominated for a Foreign Film Oscar.
The Prestige -- didn't like it. Had high hopes, but it bored me despite my trying so hard to enjoy it.
The Departed -- the foul language ruined the experience. And there're loopholes. Especially near the finale. Best Picture? Nah...
Blood Diamond -- Couldn't tahan and only finished half of it. A perfect example of how good actors can't save a film which suffers from a dull script and poor pacing.
Better Shows Worth Watching
1. Anything with Peter Sarsgaard in it.
I first noticed him in Shattered Glass, where he plays a tortured editor to perfection. ( He won tonnes of well-deserved awards for this breakout role. )
However, he also played John Malkovich's son Raoul in The Man In The Iron Mask ( costarring Leonardo DiCaprio ).
Then, I caught him in Flightplan, a very stupid movie in which Jodie Foster acts like a raving lunatic. Fortunately, Sarsgaard holds his own and is the only reason I bothered to sit through this drivel.
Most recently, I saw him in Jarhead with Jake Gyllenhaal. It's a very underrated film but deeply affecting. Sarsgaard plays a sergeant who is so traumatized by his experience in the Gulf War he later sinks into depression and has a mental meltdown. Performances are excellent all around, and make sure to sit tight during the burning-oil-wells scene, as it literally rains black gold and drenches the entire Kuwaiti desert. Awesome. :)
By the way, Sarsgaard's girlfriend is Jake Gyllenhaal's older sister, Maggie, who's another quirky actress famous for playing very kooky characters ( e.g. an S&M-addicted assistant to James Spader's domineering boss in The Secretary ).
He's definitely among the top 3 on my Favourite Actors list, along with Kevin Spacey and John Cusack. Spacey and Cusack have already appeared together in Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil. Now if only ALL 3 would act in the same movie someday.
2. The latest episodes of CSI ( Season 7 )
Liev Schreiber joins the team as Gil Grissom ( William Petersen ) goes on extended hiatus.
Schreiber is another terrific actor ( on my Top 5 list ) who's done everything from comedy ( watch him cross-dress and tango with Steve Martin in Mixed Nuts ) to horror ( the Scream trilogy, The Omen, The Manchurian Candidate ) and romance ( The Painted Veil ).
Boyfriend to Naomi Watts ( King Kong remake gal ), with one of the best voices around ( voices are big with me :)). Rent his movies if you have time.
Avoid...
Prison Break. The plotholes finally got to me, and I bade it farewell 2 weeks ago.
Watch Out For...
Supernatural Season 2 - premieres May 29th on AXN.
On The Lot - mid-May on HBO.
Last But Not Least
For your reading pleasure:
An article on medical blogging, from the May 2007 issue of the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
Drs. Allen Roberts and Nicholas Genes were part of the writing team for The Lingual Nerve a couple of years back ( the team included myself and other medical personnel from the US, England and Australia ), and I'm thrilled to see them featured in the interviews. Very nice guys, both of them.
Addition to the SMA News editorial board:
With the recent reshuffle, we've managed to persuade one extremely talented writer to join us in stirring things up. Just need a formal meeting to finalize things then you'll be able to enjoy humourous pieces along the lines of the legendary Hobbit's column.
Be safe:
Couple of nights ago, 2 young fellows were hauled in by ambulance after being attacked by a parang-wielding man at a hawker centre. Yes, a bustling hawker centre. At dinner-time. One can only imagine the chaos at the scene, but the victims' conditions were absolutely horrific, with one chap's hand almost completely severed at the wrist, and the other... well, let's just say he was practically minced.
Both survived, but will no doubt require prolonged rehabilitation, with guarded prognoses where recovery is concerned.
Lesson to be learnt here: Singapore isn't safe anymore. Where the hell are the police?!
Posts on Vietnam to be postponed till next time.
If you're already a Michael Buble fan, I don't have to ask you to do this. But if you're an MB newbie, then please... buy this album.
His latest offering is interestingly named Call Me Irresponsible, and he performed the title track during a recent guest appearance on American Idol 6 ( jazz week ).
Funnily enough, despite its official May 1st worldwide release date, I managed to get my hands on it last Friday ( April 27th ) at a nearby Sembawang Music Shop outlet. They hid the disc behind the counter but displayed the promotional poster in the window. Made me feel like I was doing something illegal, haha. :)
On to the album review proper.
Overall opinion: always favourable, of course. Michael can sing anything and breathe new life into it, and his vocals remain strong and smooth as ever.
Still, I have to say that of all his 3 studio recordings so far, this is probably my least favourite. His personal best was It's Time ( 2005 ), on which he really stretched himself and produced beautifully rendered classics like Song For You, Quando Quando Quando, Try A Little Tenderness, Save The Last Dance For Me and ( the one I love most ) You And I.
His debut in 2003 was equally stunning, with smouldering covers of Fever, Moondance and The Way You Look Tonight.
Call Me Irresponsible, on the other hand, heads in a slightly different direction, which has its pros and cons. The good part is, he shows off his playful personality more, especially on tracks like I've Got The World On A String, That's Life and Everything. Still, much of the trademark MB style is retained, as he croons gorgeously on Eric Clapton's Wonderful Tonight ( redone as a Portuguese jazz ballad -- sounds very similar to The Way You Look Tonight ), Me And Mrs Jones, Always On My Mind and Dream.
The not-so-good part? He gives the impression that he's playing it safe, which is a huge pity considering his immense success with It's Time, where he pushed the limits in vocal delivery and contemporary arrangement.
The result: Album #3 pales in comparison to #1 and #2; though if this had been his debut, it probably would've launched his career anyway, 'cos there's no doubt it's good. Just that it isn't as good as its predecessors.
Right then, beating about the bush aside, here's a brief summary of the tracks:
What Works:
Wonderful Tonight -- Eric Clapton's slow rock ballad works amazingly well as a rumba. Credit goes to the exquisite arrangement ( lots of strings coupled with a sexy Latin beat ) and Michael's soothing performance. Ivan Lins, who duets with MB, does a competent job, but it's really his exotic accent that adds the icing on the cake. :)
Everything -- one of 2 original compositions MB co-wrote with his pianist / music director Alan Chang, this is an upbeat and infectiously happy pop piece, complete with cute lyrics like "You're the swimming pool / on an August day". My favourite line though, is "And I get to kiss you baby / just because I can", which he infuses with a combination of cheeky mischief and winsome longing. Very very nice indeed.
Dream -- this was written by Johnny Mercer, who also penned the legendary Moon River, Autumn Leaves, Summer Wind and One For My Baby ( And One More For The Road ), among others. Dream is a lovely little song not unlike Charlie Chaplin's inspiring and heartwarming Smile. As Michael whispers "Dream, when you're feeling blue / Dream, that's the thing to do / Just watch the smoke rings rise in the air / You'll find your share of memories there", I can feel my pulse rate drop and the world outside fade into oblivion. Highly recommended for drives home from work after a tough day. :)
Call Me Irresponsible -- This is vintage MB is all his glory. Naughty and irreverent to the core, with a superb swing orchestra backing, you'll be tapping your feet and snapping your fingers in no time.
L-O-V-E -- Another cutesy classic ( bonus track on the Singapore album ), given the MB workover. I adore it. :)
What Doesn't Really Work:
It Had Better Be Tonight -- comes across like a lounge act in a Latin nightclub, a la Barry Manilow's much maligned Copacabana. Didn't like it much.
Always On My Mind -- believe it or not, Willie Nelson's version ( nasal and simple as it may be ) conveys more angst. Somehow, Michael's crooning doesn't fit this particular love song. Go figure.
Comin' Home Baby -- Maybe I'm just disturbed by the fact that a Grammy Award-winning R&B group is now reduced to singing backup. It isn't that bad a performance, but let's face it, Michael doesn't NEED backup, and even if he did, it doesn't HAVE to be Boyz II Men providing it. I found it pretty lacklustre and routine.
I still recommend this to potential buyers. But if you have any doubts, just sample it at HMV or That CD Shop. The good outweighs the bad, I promise. :)
A music video for Everything can be accessed here. Keep checking his tour schedule, 'cos he always drops by Singapore months after a new album's released. I just hope he doesn't come down while I'm overseas. Will be away for 4 weeks later this year.
Another Album Review
I like tenors. Especially young, good-looking ones from Italy. :) But only if they have real talent of course. :)
Just picked up Vittorio Grigolo's debut CD, and man, can this guy sing. He can belt anthems and Broadway classics with aplomb, yet easily switches to serenade mode on the softer, more tender tracks.
Songs worthy of mention:
You Are My Miracle ( a duet with lead Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger )
-- make sure you plug in your earphones or play it in the car, because letting the sound dissipate will destroy the effect completely. Nicole is utterly mesmerizing ( eat your heart out, Sarah Brightman ), while Vittorio shines with his beautifully controlled delivery. Ahhhh. :)
There's a solo Italian version right at the end ( track 13 ) which is also breath-taking.
Bedshaped
-- a Keane anthem sung like an Italian aria! Once your head stops spinning, you'll love it. :)
Maria
-- woo, quite simply the best and my personal favourite. ( I happen to be a huge West Side Story fan since childhood. ) Vittorio soars effortlessly through this immensely challenging Broadway classic. And the closing note is pure heaven. Major goosebumps!
Which reminds me, I should place an order for a 7 Brides for 7 Brothers DVD on Amazon one of these days. My all-time favourite musical, surpassing even The Sound of Music.
Spider-Man 3
No, I haven't seen it.
No, I don't think I'll be able to catch it in theatres, considering how all the shows at the cinemas I frequent are almost sold out by now.
Got my May roster on 30th April, hence the delay.
Am working lots of morning shifts. Considering how I avoid the crowds, evening and weekend shows are out of the question.
Someone please tell me what you think of the film. I'll probably end up borrowing the DVD, arrgh.
Speaking of DVDs
Rented a few this past fortnight.
Casino Royale -- bloody fantastic. Fully agree that Daniel Craig's the best Bond ever. Not conventionally handsome, but possesses loads of charisma, and has one of the best swaggers I've ever seen ( other notable contenders include Matthew McConaughey, Jeff Goldblum, Michael Douglas and Robert Redford ).
Yes, I pay attention to how a guy walks. :)
Curse Of The Golden Flower -- wow, didn't think anything could be more tragic than Thomas Hardy's The Mayor of Casterbridge, but this almost takes the cake. Lots of melodrama, but doesn't have much of a kick. I can see why it wasn't nominated for a Foreign Film Oscar.
The Prestige -- didn't like it. Had high hopes, but it bored me despite my trying so hard to enjoy it.
The Departed -- the foul language ruined the experience. And there're loopholes. Especially near the finale. Best Picture? Nah...
Blood Diamond -- Couldn't tahan and only finished half of it. A perfect example of how good actors can't save a film which suffers from a dull script and poor pacing.
Better Shows Worth Watching
1. Anything with Peter Sarsgaard in it.
I first noticed him in Shattered Glass, where he plays a tortured editor to perfection. ( He won tonnes of well-deserved awards for this breakout role. )
However, he also played John Malkovich's son Raoul in The Man In The Iron Mask ( costarring Leonardo DiCaprio ).
Then, I caught him in Flightplan, a very stupid movie in which Jodie Foster acts like a raving lunatic. Fortunately, Sarsgaard holds his own and is the only reason I bothered to sit through this drivel.
Most recently, I saw him in Jarhead with Jake Gyllenhaal. It's a very underrated film but deeply affecting. Sarsgaard plays a sergeant who is so traumatized by his experience in the Gulf War he later sinks into depression and has a mental meltdown. Performances are excellent all around, and make sure to sit tight during the burning-oil-wells scene, as it literally rains black gold and drenches the entire Kuwaiti desert. Awesome. :)
By the way, Sarsgaard's girlfriend is Jake Gyllenhaal's older sister, Maggie, who's another quirky actress famous for playing very kooky characters ( e.g. an S&M-addicted assistant to James Spader's domineering boss in The Secretary ).
He's definitely among the top 3 on my Favourite Actors list, along with Kevin Spacey and John Cusack. Spacey and Cusack have already appeared together in Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil. Now if only ALL 3 would act in the same movie someday.
2. The latest episodes of CSI ( Season 7 )
Liev Schreiber joins the team as Gil Grissom ( William Petersen ) goes on extended hiatus.
Schreiber is another terrific actor ( on my Top 5 list ) who's done everything from comedy ( watch him cross-dress and tango with Steve Martin in Mixed Nuts ) to horror ( the Scream trilogy, The Omen, The Manchurian Candidate ) and romance ( The Painted Veil ).
Boyfriend to Naomi Watts ( King Kong remake gal ), with one of the best voices around ( voices are big with me :)). Rent his movies if you have time.
Avoid...
Prison Break. The plotholes finally got to me, and I bade it farewell 2 weeks ago.
Watch Out For...
Supernatural Season 2 - premieres May 29th on AXN.
On The Lot - mid-May on HBO.
Last But Not Least
For your reading pleasure:
An article on medical blogging, from the May 2007 issue of the Annals of Emergency Medicine.
Drs. Allen Roberts and Nicholas Genes were part of the writing team for The Lingual Nerve a couple of years back ( the team included myself and other medical personnel from the US, England and Australia ), and I'm thrilled to see them featured in the interviews. Very nice guys, both of them.
Addition to the SMA News editorial board:
With the recent reshuffle, we've managed to persuade one extremely talented writer to join us in stirring things up. Just need a formal meeting to finalize things then you'll be able to enjoy humourous pieces along the lines of the legendary Hobbit's column.
Be safe:
Couple of nights ago, 2 young fellows were hauled in by ambulance after being attacked by a parang-wielding man at a hawker centre. Yes, a bustling hawker centre. At dinner-time. One can only imagine the chaos at the scene, but the victims' conditions were absolutely horrific, with one chap's hand almost completely severed at the wrist, and the other... well, let's just say he was practically minced.
Both survived, but will no doubt require prolonged rehabilitation, with guarded prognoses where recovery is concerned.
Lesson to be learnt here: Singapore isn't safe anymore. Where the hell are the police?!
Posts on Vietnam to be postponed till next time.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Recruitment Drive
Here's a shot of the Dalat flower garden, which may be much smaller than our impressive Botanical Gardens, but easily rivals it in terms of flora.
It's supposed to herald good fortune, so all the better for us, heh heh! Won't be posting those here since they're quite precious. :)
I was duly impressed! :)
Ah, I'm very pleased with this picture, which was snapped hurriedly as we were leaving a resort hotel's restaurant after lunch.
This is just one of around 5 photos I took, from different angles, so the colours don't stand out as much with the sun in the way.
Nevertheless, if you ever come face to face with this breath-taking vision, I guarantee you will never forget it.
Calling all doctors with an interest in writing! SMA News has a couple of spots on its editorial board and would love to hear from you. If you have a passion for important medical issues, have no qualms about putting them down on paper, don't mind doing all this for nothing, and would like to find out once and for all who the Hobbit is, come join us now!
Okay, I'm kidding about the Hobbit part. At most, you can hope to be a Hobbit suspect and get asked "So are you the Hobbit?" at some point. I've already been posed this question a number of times, which is a great honour indeed. ( Alas, I am not The Great One. Not even close. )
We recruited one new member through this blog not too long ago, and hope to do so again. If you're not up to the task, then by all means spread the word and recommend potential candidates to me via email.
Thank you. :)
Vietnam Part 4: Beauty In Unlikely Places
[ click on the images to magnify further ]
This series of photos illustrates a little-known fact about the country -- that it possesses quite a treasure trove of loveliness, if you would only open your eyes and see it. Here're a few of my personal favourites.
Here's a shot of the Dalat flower garden, which may be much smaller than our impressive Botanical Gardens, but easily rivals it in terms of flora. From gigantic, plump orchids to yellow ponsiettas ( yes, yellow! ) to fascinating cabbage-like blooms and the elusive Keng Hua, the place is a dream come true for flower lovers everywhere.
Unlike the images you see from the Keng Hua link provided, we were treated to bright pink blossoms in their full glory. And around 10am in the morning too!
Unlike the images you see from the Keng Hua link provided, we were treated to bright pink blossoms in their full glory. And around 10am in the morning too!
It's supposed to herald good fortune, so all the better for us, heh heh! Won't be posting those here since they're quite precious. :)
On the right we have a view from the cable car en route to the Truc Lam Pagoda ( also within Dalat ). The weather was terrific, and the ride super-smooth. That's the Tuyen Lam Lake in the distance.
The pagoda itself is also surrounded by lush greenery and gorgeous blossoms, which include fat, healthy chrysanthemums, daisies and humongous roses similar in size to those in Europe.
The pagoda itself is also surrounded by lush greenery and gorgeous blossoms, which include fat, healthy chrysanthemums, daisies and humongous roses similar in size to those in Europe.
I was duly impressed! :)
Ah, I'm very pleased with this picture, which was snapped hurriedly as we were leaving a resort hotel's restaurant after lunch.
Just one of the many ( and I mean MANY ) modern tourist-friendly establishments located along the pristine Mui Ne beach, this particular day was absolutely perfect, with a pleasantly warm South China sea breeze and the bluest sky I've ever seen in my Asian travels.
Colourful sailboats floated close by, with jet skis playfully weaving in between. All I needed was a cocktail with a tiny umbrella sticking out of it and I would've been totally contented.
Unfortunately, that was the start of my GI upset spell. Darn.
Last but not least, my definite fave of the lot: a fishing village basking in the afternoon sun at Mui Ne.
Last but not least, my definite fave of the lot: a fishing village basking in the afternoon sun at Mui Ne.
This is just one of around 5 photos I took, from different angles, so the colours don't stand out as much with the sun in the way.
Nevertheless, if you ever come face to face with this breath-taking vision, I guarantee you will never forget it.
The real thing is a combination of bright reds and blues, multiplied by the hundreds. The vessels are all anchored and floating serenely on the water's surface, their owners nowhere to be seen. The entire scene is awesome, to say the least, and I wish I could've stood there on the beach for just a while longer.
Next entry: some good ( albeit quirky ) stuff we saw and did in Vietnam.
Cough's much better. I'm all set to party with our MOs before they leave the department! :)
Other aspects of my social life, however, will have to wait for now. So much work to do...
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Update
Lungs sound clear on self-auscultation though.
Sorry, man, I'm not putting down money for this. But if he cuts a pop / jazz album in the future, I'd love to add it to my collection.
3rd album's due for release May 1st ( click on the link above to see the track listing -- looking really good :)), and did you catch his recent appearance on the latest AI6 results show, performing Call Me Irresponsible?
*hack, cough*
I think I have bronchitis.
I've also developed pleuritic bilateral lower chest wall pain.
Lungs sound clear on self-auscultation though.
I'm whining. Sorry.
Can someone tell me why I can't access the Singapore Medical Council and Singapore Nursing Board websites from home? Never had this problem before. It's driving me crazy. Need to submit CME and CNE points for an event! Argh!!!
Anyway, after an extended absence from the spotlight, AI5 alumnus Elliott Yamin is back with an album. I'm a big fan of Elliott's, second only to Taylor in the last season, but sadly, his CD isn't up my alley, being strongly R&B-influenced, with only one piece I can actually stomach ( i.e. A Song For You ).
I pictured him recording a pop or jazz album, give or take a slight tinge of R&B. His voice suits those genres so perfectly, and served him well on songs he belted on the show ( beautiful renditions of classics from Stevie Wonder, a flawless cover of It Had To Be You, among others ).
Sorry, man, I'm not putting down money for this. But if he cuts a pop / jazz album in the future, I'd love to add it to my collection.
3rd album's due for release May 1st ( click on the link above to see the track listing -- looking really good :)), and did you catch his recent appearance on the latest AI6 results show, performing Call Me Irresponsible?
Alan Chang, his trusty friend and pianist ( who's very very good-looking up close, by the way :)), was on-stage to keep him company, and Michael just blew everyone away with his talent and charisma.
He's such a nice guy, you wouldn't believe it. ( Check out my October 10, 2005 entry if you don't already know what I'm yakking about. )
I must admit, Gina Glocksen's departure from the show proved a lot more poignant than I anticipated. Found myself shedding a few tears when she closed with a lovely rendition of Charlie Chaplin's Smile, doing much better than the night before.
Alas, Sanjaya sails through yet again. Yeesh.
Spent my MC day watching Swimming With Sharks, which I purchased from Amazon a few months ago. It's a very obscure film ( by Singapore standards, at least ), but oh sooooooooo good. :) They sent me a 10-year anniversary special edition, complete with a hard plastic outer cover with the words "This is a special edition, you schmuck". Love it! :D
It's Kevin Spacey at his megalomaniacal best, with tonnes of classic lines like "You...have...no...brain" and "protect his interests and serve his needs".
My parents, who've never seen it before, had a huge laugh when we sat down together to watch it on Good Friday. Almost made me forget about my laryngitis.
Here's something else that's interesting: try submitting questions to high-profile Time magazine interview subjects. They've already featured Hilary Swank and Jimmy Wales ( co-founder of Wikipedia ). This week it's Chevy Chase, who's a real hoot. I'm hoping they'll do Steve Martin sometime. Or Sergey Brin / Larry Page. Or Steve Jobs. Or Jeff Bezos. Or Michael Buble. Or Kevin Spacey...
Haha. :)
Scrolled through the latest MOPEX list yesterday. Got a couple of returnees, plus a name I recognize from the blogosphere. Don't worry -- there are no hard feelings. Will take good care of you. :) ( But then again, he may decide to swap, heh. )
False alarm about the pesky MO staying on. Heard he's seeking greener pastures overseas. Thank goodness.
And now, more photos. 
Vietnam: Part 3
These were taken at an embroidery workshop showroom in Dalat. It's the only place they allow cameras, otherwise I would've snapped a lot more.
Housed within a beautiful flower garden setting, with lots of bridges, koi ponds and tiny waterfalls, it provides a tranquil environment for its many 
concentration. The processes involved -- even that of transferring a sketch from paper to cloth -- are painstaking and tedious, but the attention to detail is astounding, hence the amazing quality of work churned out.
skilled workers ( or should I say, artists ), who comprise young, dainty Vietnamese girls with deft hands and superior powers of
These giant masterpieces take up o 6 months each to complete, sometimes necessitating multiple pairs of hands. The prices reflect the degree of difficulty involved -- upwards of US$5000 for the most exquisite ones. I had my eye on a gorgeous feline portrait, but even US$2600 is just too rich for my blood. Sigh.
Hopefully you'll be able to click on the images for full-screen perusal. The real things are absolutely breath-taking.
More to follow another time.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Ugh.....
3 bouts of flu in as many weeks. And this one's the worst so far, complete with severe laryngitis and GE. I give up...
So as I nurse my sore throat and down gallons of fluids, I've had to postpone dinner with friends yet again, all the while wondering where the heck I got this *&^%$#@ bug. An ER patient? One of my fellow colleagues? Or a random contagious host at a shopping mall ( or church ) -- who knows?
But for now, I guess this is a good opportunity for me to catch up on work and writing.
American Idol 6: The Greatest Farce Of All Time?
Just read on the Net that the latest casualty is ... Gina Glocksen, aka Goth Girl. No tears shed for this chick, since I've never favoured her from the get go. But yeesh, Sanjaya wasn't even in the bottom 3! This Vote For The Worst campaign is stronger than anyone thought. Let's hope the boy doesn't end up winning the competition. Even the usually impartial and supportive Ryan Seacrest made a face during his intro for Sanjaya at the performance show. Not a good sign.
Unexpected ER Surprise
Helped fast-track a friend for an eye consult last week. Haven't seen this guy in almost a year, despite repeated tries at meeting up, so this was nice -- in a way. :)
And get a load of Jade, the SGH ortho MO on the front page of Life! today. $8500 for an evening dress = my monthly registrar salary, before CPF cut. To quote a Hokkien phrase: very sim1 tiah3.
Vietnam: Part 2
Taken from a chapter titled "Highway Of Death" from Anthony Bourdain's A Cook's Tour ( I initially thought this came from The Nasty Bits, so apologies for the boo-boo. ).
"I just had the closest near-death experience I've ever had.
And I'm about to have another one. Then another.
I'm hurtling full speed down Highway 1 on my way to Can Tho, sitting with Philippe in the back of a hired minivan, horn honking constantly, heading right up the center line into oncoming traffic. There's a water truck about a hundred yards ahead, coming fast in the opposite direction, showing no sign that he intends to pull back into traffic, also honking wildly. Linh and a driver are in the front seat, with two shooters behind us -- and I'm convinced that any second we're all going to die.
...The thing is to keep up a constant attack with the horn. A beep means "Keep doing what you're doing, change nothing, make no sudden moves, and everything will probably be fine." It does not mean "Slow down" or "Stop" or "Move to the right" or "Get out of the way". If you try to do any of those things... - if you hesitate, look back over your shoulder, slow down, or even falter for a second - you will immediately find yourself in a burning heap of crumpled metal somewhere in a rice paddy. The horn means simply "I'm here!"
...We're right in the middle of the road, what would be a passing lane, if they had such a thing here. There's an uninterrupted line of fast-moving cars to our right, with no room at all between them in which to pull back in, a steady torrent of oncoming cars to our left, and the shoulders of both sides of the road are choked three- and four-deep with cyclists, motorbikes, water buffalo and scooters - all of them loaded with crates of food, washing-machine motors, sacks of fertilizer, flapping roosters, firewood, and family members.
...Just when our bumpers are about to meet, vaporizing all of us in an explosion of brake fluid, safety glass, blood and bone, two cars to our right suddenly open up a space for us -- and as if part of some hellish high-speed chorus line, we slip back into traffic. The water truck whips by with a terrific blast of wind, avoiding contact by less than a centimeter, and there's that peculiar vacuum pressure-drop effect you feel when on a train that is suddenly passed by another hurtling in the opposite direction. Philippe just looks at me, shaking his head, saying, "Are we still alive? I...I was sure that truck went right through us." He's not joking."
That, my friends, is exactly what we went through, multiplied by approximately 4 days ( taking into account the time we spent on crowded roads, NOT counting a particularly mind-bending drive along a rural "short cut" that was filled with potholes and granite slabs which tilted our bulky coach around 45 degrees at one point, but that's another story ).
Bourdain's description is based on a trip through the Mekong Delta, but as this photo taken during my 1st day in Ho Chi Minh City shows ( below ), the entire country follows essentially the same pattern, as long as similar conditions prevail.
[ p.s. make sure to click on the image for a full-screen magnification ]
It was nerve-wracking, to say the least, but sitting in a huge bus offers some advantage on the roads, so part of it
also turned out to be pretty fun. :)
Here's a quick shot taken from my seat on a busy Saturday morning. You can imagine what it's like during weekday peak hours. Population 8 million. Yikes.
3 bouts of flu in as many weeks. And this one's the worst so far, complete with severe laryngitis and GE. I give up...
So as I nurse my sore throat and down gallons of fluids, I've had to postpone dinner with friends yet again, all the while wondering where the heck I got this *&^%$#@ bug. An ER patient? One of my fellow colleagues? Or a random contagious host at a shopping mall ( or church ) -- who knows?
But for now, I guess this is a good opportunity for me to catch up on work and writing.
American Idol 6: The Greatest Farce Of All Time?
Just read on the Net that the latest casualty is ... Gina Glocksen, aka Goth Girl. No tears shed for this chick, since I've never favoured her from the get go. But yeesh, Sanjaya wasn't even in the bottom 3! This Vote For The Worst campaign is stronger than anyone thought. Let's hope the boy doesn't end up winning the competition. Even the usually impartial and supportive Ryan Seacrest made a face during his intro for Sanjaya at the performance show. Not a good sign.
Unexpected ER Surprise
Helped fast-track a friend for an eye consult last week. Haven't seen this guy in almost a year, despite repeated tries at meeting up, so this was nice -- in a way. :)
And get a load of Jade, the SGH ortho MO on the front page of Life! today. $8500 for an evening dress = my monthly registrar salary, before CPF cut. To quote a Hokkien phrase: very sim1 tiah3.
Vietnam: Part 2
Taken from a chapter titled "Highway Of Death" from Anthony Bourdain's A Cook's Tour ( I initially thought this came from The Nasty Bits, so apologies for the boo-boo. ).
"I just had the closest near-death experience I've ever had.
And I'm about to have another one. Then another.
I'm hurtling full speed down Highway 1 on my way to Can Tho, sitting with Philippe in the back of a hired minivan, horn honking constantly, heading right up the center line into oncoming traffic. There's a water truck about a hundred yards ahead, coming fast in the opposite direction, showing no sign that he intends to pull back into traffic, also honking wildly. Linh and a driver are in the front seat, with two shooters behind us -- and I'm convinced that any second we're all going to die.
...The thing is to keep up a constant attack with the horn. A beep means "Keep doing what you're doing, change nothing, make no sudden moves, and everything will probably be fine." It does not mean "Slow down" or "Stop" or "Move to the right" or "Get out of the way". If you try to do any of those things... - if you hesitate, look back over your shoulder, slow down, or even falter for a second - you will immediately find yourself in a burning heap of crumpled metal somewhere in a rice paddy. The horn means simply "I'm here!"
...We're right in the middle of the road, what would be a passing lane, if they had such a thing here. There's an uninterrupted line of fast-moving cars to our right, with no room at all between them in which to pull back in, a steady torrent of oncoming cars to our left, and the shoulders of both sides of the road are choked three- and four-deep with cyclists, motorbikes, water buffalo and scooters - all of them loaded with crates of food, washing-machine motors, sacks of fertilizer, flapping roosters, firewood, and family members.
...Just when our bumpers are about to meet, vaporizing all of us in an explosion of brake fluid, safety glass, blood and bone, two cars to our right suddenly open up a space for us -- and as if part of some hellish high-speed chorus line, we slip back into traffic. The water truck whips by with a terrific blast of wind, avoiding contact by less than a centimeter, and there's that peculiar vacuum pressure-drop effect you feel when on a train that is suddenly passed by another hurtling in the opposite direction. Philippe just looks at me, shaking his head, saying, "Are we still alive? I...I was sure that truck went right through us." He's not joking."
That, my friends, is exactly what we went through, multiplied by approximately 4 days ( taking into account the time we spent on crowded roads, NOT counting a particularly mind-bending drive along a rural "short cut" that was filled with potholes and granite slabs which tilted our bulky coach around 45 degrees at one point, but that's another story ).
Bourdain's description is based on a trip through the Mekong Delta, but as this photo taken during my 1st day in Ho Chi Minh City shows ( below ), the entire country follows essentially the same pattern, as long as similar conditions prevail.
[ p.s. make sure to click on the image for a full-screen magnification ]
It was nerve-wracking, to say the least, but sitting in a huge bus offers some advantage on the roads, so part of it
also turned out to be pretty fun. :)Here's a quick shot taken from my seat on a busy Saturday morning. You can imagine what it's like during weekday peak hours. Population 8 million. Yikes.
Bourdain's prose says it all, and it's just amazing how the Vietnamese manage to pile 2 adults and 3 children onto one tiny motorcycle, while mum straps an infant to her back. No helmets or safety harnesses of any kind, weaving through this mess without batting an eyelid.
I guess it helps that Vietnamese are almost invariably super-skinny. I don't recall ever seeing any fat natives anywhere. They work extremely hard, are extremely poor, but are also a lot nicer than some Singaporeans I know.
Navigating the streets of Ho Chi Minh is no joke, and this was especially evident since our hotel was situated in such a manner that our bus had to be parked on the opposite side of the road, with us being herded across like a flock of sheep ( with the bellboys' assistance, of course ). However, my mom and I made a solo effort one morning during a city tour, when I accompanied her on a restroom search. We scooted our way across a major traffic junction between the main Post Office and a shopping mall named the Diamond Plaza, heads spinning as motorbikes, cars, trucks and buses inched past us, honking away. Nobody cares about the zebra crossings, but it gives the pedestrian a teeny-tiny bit of so-called 'power' and sense of legitimacy, I suppose, 'cos if you try to cross somewhere else, you'll probably be mowed down in no time. ( At least they slow down a little near the crossings, even though the markings are so faded you can hardly make them out anymore. )
We had a GREAT driver, by the way. I thought our driver in Italy was fantastic ( Marcello the Invincible squeezed through the narrowest walkways and sped along tiny cliffside roads like a pro ), but Duong was such a hero on this trip, earning our respect and appreciation.
Also, if you've ever seen the film Little Miss Sunshine, you'll know what I mean when I say our bus sounded exactly like the movie's inanimate ( but memorable ) star during its forays on the roads.
And I swear, there were a few occasions when I had to suppress my mirth by clamping a hand over my mouth. It was so crazy, but how I loved it. :)
Next entry: beautiful images captured at random moments. Stay tuned.
Friday, March 30, 2007
The Nasty Bits
This is the title of my favourite Anthony Bourdain book, and it happens to fit my recent travel experience to a T.
I will also quote from one of Bourdain's chapters on Vietnam, but in a later entry regarding the totally insane traffic conditions.
So here's the thing: I was part of a group of 16, mostly people I know from church, almost all of whom are more than twice my age. At least half of us got hit with gastrointestinal upset in some form or other, and I wasn't spared. The upside: I make it a point to carry an arsenal of medications whenever I go overseas, so I handed out pills to the afflicted, with good results. Now everyone calls Maxolon a miracle pill. Haha. :)
Itinerary: Ho Chi Minh City, Dalat, Nha Trang and Mui Ne regions.
The food: not too bad, except for the fact that some of it caused the GE problems. We suspect the cold dishes are to blame. Or maybe the flies. Or the dodgy ice cubes. Or the generally filthy environment. Take your pick.
The first few days were pretty good. Food was excellent -- lots of fresh greens, superb seafood, tender chicken and beef, loads and loads of fragrant pho. Stayed at the cozy Novotel Dalat ( left ), which presented each guest with a silk scarf as a welcome gift, and offered a wonderful breakfast spread in an alfresco setting.
We also visited the renowned night market, which was really bustling during the weekend. Highlights include mutant vegetables such as broccoli the size of a small child's head ( right ), equally gigantic cabbages, potatoes and artichokes. At rock bottom prices. A veggie lover's paradise!
There were endless rows of stalls hawking everything from T-shirts ( US $1 upwards ) to gorgeous key chains with traditional tribal dolls ( I bought 5 ), a mind-boggling array of BBQ ( corn, sweet potato, kebabs ).
The weather was nice and chilly in the evening, turning balmy with a light breeze by morning.
Due to time concerns, more entries will follow at a later date. However, I must state for the record that, despite being really sick and miserable during the later part of this trip, it was a profound and memorable experience, for reasons I will expound on another day.
In Other News
American Idol 6 has been a tame rollercoaster ride thus far, with the only upset ( in my book at least ) being that of Chris Sligh's elimination this week. My main grouse: Sanjaya's persistent safety. A friend's SMS says it best: Sanjaya lives to torture another day. Wah lau...
Right now, I'm rooting for Melinda Doolittle and Jordin Sparks, who appear to be jostling for the top spot. Guys-wise, perhaps Chris Richardson and/or Blake Lewis will make it to the top 3 if they play their cards right, but my hopes aren't very high.
Fare thee well, Chris S. You had a good run while it lasted.
Prison Break 2: Ah, it's good to have the Fox River escapees back on the small screen! And this time, they're running for their lives with an obsessed FBI agent ( Harry Fichtner ) on their tails, so it's definitely a lot more interesting than all that political maneouvring within the prison walls in Season 1.
But you have to admit the usual plot loopholes are still there, and why the heck are the guys strolling around without any disguises ( except maybe a cap, which is useless )? In the real world, they would've been caught within 24 hours max.
Oh yeah, and the scriptwriters want us to believe a rural vet is capable of reattaching a human hand without anaesthesia or proper operating equipment. With restoration of full functionality withn minutes!
I'm watching only because of Wentworth Miller okay? :)
CSI Returneth with a vengeance. CSI Las Vegas Season 7 is cooking up all sorts of fascinating scenarios with a serial killer who builds exact replicas of his crime scenes in the form of little dollhouses. CSI New York, on the other hand, will be back next Monday, so don't miss it.
Barbara Walters' interviews with the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2006 is also worthy of mention. There's an Oscars special, plus Patrick Dempsey, Andre Agassi and Jay Z, among others.
Last but not least, this is the event of a lifetime!
I've already booked my tickets ( my poor pocket, but I wouldn't miss this for the world ).
Till next time...
This is the title of my favourite Anthony Bourdain book, and it happens to fit my recent travel experience to a T.
I will also quote from one of Bourdain's chapters on Vietnam, but in a later entry regarding the totally insane traffic conditions.
So here's the thing: I was part of a group of 16, mostly people I know from church, almost all of whom are more than twice my age. At least half of us got hit with gastrointestinal upset in some form or other, and I wasn't spared. The upside: I make it a point to carry an arsenal of medications whenever I go overseas, so I handed out pills to the afflicted, with good results. Now everyone calls Maxolon a miracle pill. Haha. :)
Itinerary: Ho Chi Minh City, Dalat, Nha Trang and Mui Ne regions.
The food: not too bad, except for the fact that some of it caused the GE problems. We suspect the cold dishes are to blame. Or maybe the flies. Or the dodgy ice cubes. Or the generally filthy environment. Take your pick.
The first few days were pretty good. Food was excellent -- lots of fresh greens, superb seafood, tender chicken and beef, loads and loads of fragrant pho. Stayed at the cozy Novotel Dalat ( left ), which presented each guest with a silk scarf as a welcome gift, and offered a wonderful breakfast spread in an alfresco setting.
We also visited the renowned night market, which was really bustling during the weekend. Highlights include mutant vegetables such as broccoli the size of a small child's head ( right ), equally gigantic cabbages, potatoes and artichokes. At rock bottom prices. A veggie lover's paradise!
There were endless rows of stalls hawking everything from T-shirts ( US $1 upwards ) to gorgeous key chains with traditional tribal dolls ( I bought 5 ), a mind-boggling array of BBQ ( corn, sweet potato, kebabs ).
The weather was nice and chilly in the evening, turning balmy with a light breeze by morning.
Due to time concerns, more entries will follow at a later date. However, I must state for the record that, despite being really sick and miserable during the later part of this trip, it was a profound and memorable experience, for reasons I will expound on another day.
In Other News
American Idol 6 has been a tame rollercoaster ride thus far, with the only upset ( in my book at least ) being that of Chris Sligh's elimination this week. My main grouse: Sanjaya's persistent safety. A friend's SMS says it best: Sanjaya lives to torture another day. Wah lau...
Right now, I'm rooting for Melinda Doolittle and Jordin Sparks, who appear to be jostling for the top spot. Guys-wise, perhaps Chris Richardson and/or Blake Lewis will make it to the top 3 if they play their cards right, but my hopes aren't very high.
Fare thee well, Chris S. You had a good run while it lasted.
Prison Break 2: Ah, it's good to have the Fox River escapees back on the small screen! And this time, they're running for their lives with an obsessed FBI agent ( Harry Fichtner ) on their tails, so it's definitely a lot more interesting than all that political maneouvring within the prison walls in Season 1.
But you have to admit the usual plot loopholes are still there, and why the heck are the guys strolling around without any disguises ( except maybe a cap, which is useless )? In the real world, they would've been caught within 24 hours max.
Oh yeah, and the scriptwriters want us to believe a rural vet is capable of reattaching a human hand without anaesthesia or proper operating equipment. With restoration of full functionality withn minutes!
I'm watching only because of Wentworth Miller okay? :)
CSI Returneth with a vengeance. CSI Las Vegas Season 7 is cooking up all sorts of fascinating scenarios with a serial killer who builds exact replicas of his crime scenes in the form of little dollhouses. CSI New York, on the other hand, will be back next Monday, so don't miss it.
Barbara Walters' interviews with the 10 Most Fascinating People of 2006 is also worthy of mention. There's an Oscars special, plus Patrick Dempsey, Andre Agassi and Jay Z, among others.
Last but not least, this is the event of a lifetime!
I've already booked my tickets ( my poor pocket, but I wouldn't miss this for the world ).
Till next time...
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