Before I go on, let me just apologize to everyone who's sent me emails asking if I got theirs, or how I'm doing, etc. Due to the craziness at work recently, I've put my emailing on hold, and only write via this blog for now. So please read this to find out what's going on in my horrible life during this period, and feel free to post comments, which I definitely check up on, and usually reply to. Thanks!

Yes, I guess you can tell from the tone of my writing that things haven't improved. The tally in the papers this morning was 74, but it will no doubt continue to climb for some time.

We had yet another mass briefing with our infectious diseases specialist this morning, and learnt quite a few interesting points that involve one particular index case ( who seems a lot more infectious than the rest ), and a primary contact whose profession I shall not mention or else SIA will go bankrupt, haha. Anyway, additional measures are being implemented, including the setting up of a "fever ward", which will accept and cohort all febrile A&E admissions, and sort these out before letting them loose on the general ward populations. 3 lucky young doctors have been arrowed for the honour of covering this ward -- they asked for volunteers, and one of my fellow MOs actually offered himself, wow! So they'll have to gown and glove up, wear special scrubs and masks, and are not allowed to go to other wards during the day.

The good news is, the quarantined bunch is returning to work tomorrow, a fact that was met with a collective sigh of relief, more because we'll have more manpower again, but also 'cos the last time the ID people checked, these guys were well and asymptomatic.

Last, in the context of my growing irritation with the moronic behaviour of some Singaporeans, below is an email I sent to The Straits Times Forum Page yesterday. As you will know, if you read the papers, it was not published -- though I expected that, since I blast the ST on a regular basis, but still...

Singaporeans' Sense of Responsibility
Speaking as a medical professional who's currently involved in the melee of the SARS epidemic, I'm appalled by your accounts of how some adults are callously allowing their children to go to school, even when they've been exposed to confirmed SARS patients, or recently returned from trips to endemic areas.

All the hospitals here are currently taking necessary measures to contain the outbreak, aided by ample media coverage to raise awareness, and even expert advice from the WHO. Therefore, when some Singaporeans -- whom I assume are well-educated and read the newspapers -- behave in such an irresponsible manner, not only is it detrimental to our efforts to halt a fast-spreading disease, it's also downright stupid.

Just last week, a patient was admitted to a government hospital with flu-like symptoms, but failed to tell the doctors that her sister was already warded at the CDC for SARS. This vital fact was discovered only after the CDC called the hospital with the information, thus delaying timely isolation of this new case.

And with the current "home quarantine" programme, I can only imagine how these few thousand people, who no doubt think they've hit the jackpot by being excused from work and school, are taking the opportunity to run around town instead of staying put in their homes as instructed.

Singaporeans need to fully grasp the gravity of the situation, and stop behaving like naive kindergarteners.

Dr. Oh Jen Jen

By the way, as I was going to work this morning, I saw a teenage boy all dressed to the nines, walking out to the main road, probably on his way to an outing with his friends, as all the schools in Singapore have been shut down as of today. What's the use of not having classes if the kids are gonna mingle in malls and arcades anyway? My advice: everybody stay home if you want to live on!

Well, I'm glad there's something to look forward to today. Can you guess? It's... Clay Aiken! Don't forget to tune in tonight!
Before I go, let me just say that Aaron Buerge from The Bachelor 2 is simply divine. He sounds so much like Ben Affleck, has a beautiful smile, and was pretty impressive on the ivories. The lady he later proposed to -- I won't reveal her name unless you want me to, of course -- is really bubbly and pretty, so no wonder she won his heart. But overall, the gals this time round are a lot more beautiful than the last batch. Only one of them annoys me -- Frances, the Asian-looking one ( ?Filipino ), who chose the moment when he offers her the rose to hesitate, then ask him whether he likes to dance. Hello? You had the ENTIRE NIGHT to ask him that question -- a question that's important enough for her to reconsider accepting his rose -- and she didn't think of it earlier? Poor Aaron just stood there and gave her this puzzled look as she pondered. It's kinda rude, don't you think?

Okay then, more another day. I'm still well, so crossing my fingers!

Apologies in advance for the following venting session.
I can't take this anymore! Tan Tock Seng's diversion of patients has resulted in chaos for the other hospitals, and the situation in my department continues to deteriorate. One medical officer has been down since last week because of a very bad back -- my sympathy goes out to the poor fellow, who's been limping for the past 2 months. Then with the SARS scare, 3 fellow doctors who were exposed have been told to go on "forced leave" till the 1-week incubation period is over, leaving us extremely short-handed. Then, the MO who's covering clinic full-time, and who took maternity leave plus sporadic annual leave this posting, is now racked with a headache and ear pain from otitis media, and is also going on medical leave! So, the other MO in my team has been deployed to run the afternoon clinic, leaving me to care for the 70 patients (70!!!) on our ridiculous list.

I don't grudge people their leave -- if you're sick, you're sick -- and I feel that post-calls are sacred ( heck, I wrote an article in the SMA newsletter about this after all -- it's in the November issue, I think ), so I'm the last person on the planet who'd even suggest asking people exhausted after a long night to stay back -- road traffic accidents happen for a reason, you know. But things are getting out of hand here, and we need locums, darn it! Locums to run the clinics, locums to help cover night calls if necessary. The UK has them, and I know for a fact that Singapore's crawling with professional locums, so why can't we get them to help out till the outbreak dies down? I even suggested closing the clinic this week, but was told that "it can't be done", whatever that means. The other alternative is for the seniors in our department to step down and cover MO duties, which will no doubt be met with great protest. So we're essentially back to square one...

Those of you following my blog, thanks for reading, and I repeat, please pray for all of us. I'd advise you to stay away from public air-conditioned areas ( especially hospitals ), but if you're familiar with Singapore, you'd realize that if you tried doing this, you'd have to migrate or move to an offshore island.

More updates another day.

American Idol never fails to brighten my day, and for only one reason: Clay Aiken! :) I spotted him during the quarter/semi-finals, and was ecstatic when he got through to the final 12. Now, he's so popular it's almost confirmed that he'll win this hands down. Even sulky Simon Cowell relented, saying Clay's "the one ( the others ) have got to beat" in the latest episode. Woohoo!
But of course, detractors will ask why Clay's so well-loved, when he's not hunky, gorgeous or particularly sexy in a conventional way ( like Corey Clark, for example ). In my opinion, though, I adore Clay 'cos to me, he's like a ray of sunshine, and has a wonderful personality and character. Just look at his face, and you can immediately tell he's got a heart of gold. I also applaud his humility -- even when being showered with the highest praise in front of millions of viewers, he still looks shocked each and every time, and never puffs up with over-confidence ( like Kim Caldwell ). Last but not least, his voice is exquisite! This is a guy who really, truly deserves to win this competition. And even if he doesn't ( which I hope never happens ), when he releases his album, you can be sure I'll be the first to buy it.
Clay, if you read this, you've got lots of fans here in Singapore, and we're all rooting for you! Good luck!

The department is officially going nuts. One poor MO ( that's medical officer for short, aka resident in American terminology ) has chronic back pain from prolapsed intervertebral discs, and has yet again gone on medical leave for an indefinite period. And another is aggressively clearing her annual leave, and disappears on and off, albeit in a rather disruptive manner -- which is understandable, and none of us grudge them their leave. But morale is low... People are going on MC in spurts, and depending on your luck, you may not get to go post-call, or worse, end up doing rounds for 50 patients by yourself, if the situation is really bad. What we need are locums! Any of you out there who are up to the task, please call our secretary Jesline at 68503560, thank you.

The Bachelor 2 is finally here, but there's no fun this time since I already know who he picked. However, Aaron Buerge is tonnes cuter than Alex Michel, and so much more eligible and accomplished. He's the heir to the First National Bank empire, and plays the piano -- I'm such a sucker for men who play musical instruments. :) But he's also very charming, with just a tinge of a Southern accent. Not to mention a certain resemblance to Ben Affleck in both body build, facial features and speech. Aaaaah, my Wednesday nights are so much more interesting now. :D

Tonight's American Idol 2 is split into 2 parts, which I don't exactly get, but who's complaining? Last week, I was totally blown away by Clay, Trenyce and Corey, and I'm rooting for Clay all the way. He's the most talented, though not Simon's favourite. Let's hope the American audience agrees with me.

And watch out for the champions' edition of Fear Factor, which is super-exciting. So far the stunts have been ho-hum, but next week, there's gonna be some swimming with alligators, and God-knows-what weird cuisine. It can be anyone's game, essentially, and with the doubling of prize money, you can bet they're all geared up to fight to the death.

The US-Iraq war has officially begun, despite millions of protests and questioning from the UN. The last battle took place when I was 16, and I didn't even bat an eyelash that time. This one's different somehow, especially in the wake of 9/11. I anticipate an uprising of Muslims all over the world, and since I live in a country that's virtually surrounded by Muslim nations ( ie. Malaysia and Indonesia ), and which has its own share of Malays, there's some tension in the air. The Singapore government isn't helping things by regularly spewing forth support for the US. I think we should just lay low and wait for the storm to blow over. In any case, I hope the good guys win. Start praying, everyone.

Latest news on the SARS scare in Asia: the name of one of the cases has been revealed, and it's someone I know, both during my med school days and after graduation. My heart goes out to his wife, who's in critical condition. They're both nice people, so let's hope they recover soon.

Get a load of Lionel Seah's comments in Life! today, in his review of The Michael Jackson Interview : The Footage You Were Never Meant To See. His criticisms of MJ are his own personal opinions, and who am I to tell him he's wrong, right? But I'm concerned about his defence of Martin Bashir's journalistic methods, practically saying that it's okay to lie in order to get your interviewee to open up to you -- ie. it's all right to be evil as long as it boosts your career. And reporters wonder why they're universally loathed.

Anyway, I saw the above programme, and Bashir is truly an ass. His remarks "off-screen" are the total opposite of what he retained in the final version, which is a detestable thing to do. MJ may be weird, but he doesn't deserve to be treated this way. No-one does.

I shall end on a happier note. Tune in March 19th for the pilot of The Bachelor 2, featuring a very good-looking Aaron Buerge. I already know the ending -- but shall leave that out for now, for the sake of those who don't want to have the suspense ruined -- but who can resist some trashy reality TV on a quiet weekday night? :)

Last but not least, check out this website for a bit of clean fun. Taken from Dave Barry's Blog. Cheerio!

What a week it's been. New ward, new team, not helped by the inexplicable humidity, despite the floor above and below ours being really windy. Anyway, I'm starting to feel really old nowadays, but then it IS an internal medicine posting, which is famous for making even the perkiest people feel jaded. Only 2 more months to go before I return to the emergency department -- and shift hours. Can't wait to get the chance to drink iced mocha lattes at Takashimaya's Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf on a Tuesday morning once again. :)

Anyway, my apologies for dwelling on TV shows most of the time, but I have no life, so the tube is my sole sustenance.

Fear Factor this week was extremely extreme, and I'm not mincing words here. The first stunt was - get this - walking butt naked in front of a private studio audience. And better still, they ALL completed the task without even blinking! The second challenge was the worst I've ever witnessed in this series -- EATING LIVE MADAGASCAN COCKROACHES. I'm so averse to these insects I can't even be in the same room with them, let alone pop them into my mouth, AAAAARRRRRGH!
But yet again, out of the 6 contestants, 5 got through to the next round. Wow! The last stunt paled in comparison, of course, but all in all, it was an eye-popping episode. Next week features the ingestion of live worms, which probably grosses a lot of people out. But nothing beats munching on cockroaches, brrrrr.

The wild card edition of American Idol indeed lived up to the hype generated by the judges. It's definitely the best group of the lot, starting out with hot favourites Kimberly Caldwell and Clay Aiken. The former is certainly beautiful, but she couldn't match Clay in terms of vocals. I was initially rooting for Julia DeMato, but with Clay on board in the finals, he's my choice all the way. Good luck!

Last night's Survivor:Amazon was rather dull. I just don't understand where all the sparks went! No trash talking either -- but trailers for next week's show indicate otherwise ( ie. rocket scientist Dave will get up close and personal with swimsuit model Jenna ). This week, Joanna - aka the African-American whose constant hymn-singing and nagging got on everybody's nerves - got the boot, while hottie Shawna became irreversibly depressed ( but wasn't voted off, go figure ). The guys won 2 challenges in a row for a change, and Dave is starting to grow on me :) Does anyone think he sounds a lot like Russell Crowe?

If you haven't started watching Monk yet, please do so ASAP. I've already seen 3 episodes, and they're all superbly written and well-acted. Tony Shalhoub is 100 times better than Jack Nicholson at portraying symptoms of OCD ( ie obsessive-compulsive disorder ), and cable is showing a special 75-minute mini-movie version ( check your catalogue for the dates and times ). Picture a detective who climbs ladders by covering each rung with wet wipes, then freezes at the top because of vertigo, or who continues to religiously count off parking metres while being pursued by a killer. It's a riot!

Looking forward to Michael Jackson's rebuttal special tonight. Remember to tune in.

Till next time then. Thanks for reading!

P.S. Dave Barry's blog is getting funnier by the day. Don't miss any more of his priceless entries!

Review of Daredevil ( spoilers ahead ):

I saw this without any prior knowledge of the comic book version, so I'm not sure if that would've altered my opinion.
Overall, I enjoyed the movie. Ben Affleck is well-cast as Matt Murdock, the blind lawyer who uses his other 4 heightened senses to fight crime in Hell's Kitchen. Equally engaging is Jennifer Garner ( most famous for her role in "Alias" ) as Elektra Natchios, a wealthy heiress who matches wits and kungfu skills with Daredevil. Villains-wise, we have Michael Clarke Duncan as Kingpin, plus an over-the-top Colin Farrell as Bullseye.

As you can imagine, with a cast like that, any movie is bound to be exciting, and that's precisely what works best for Daredevil. Sure, the action sequences aren't bad, but "Spiderman" far surpasses in that category. I liked the little fight scene cum mating dance between Matt and Elektra in a school playground, as well as the showdown between Daredevil and Bullseye ( don't blink during that one! ). But the film is extremely dark, both in content and cinematography, so be prepared to squint as you try to make out who's who through all the rain and darkness.

Affleck, who ranks high on my list of favourite actors, is sweet yet heroic as Murdock. His boyish good looks and towering frame make him convincing in his role. Garner, who's absolutely gorgeous and very spunky in so many ways, exudes loads of charisma, generating red-hot chemistry with her co-star. Their scenes together are romantic and tender -- watch out for the one with them standing on the rooftop of a building, while the rain pours down, allowing Murdock to use his sense of hearing to see her face. It's little details like these that can make all the difference in an otherwise run-of-the-mill action flick.

I was disappointed with Clarke Duncan's portrayal of Kingpin. He's got a unique look, no doubt, but he came across as rather bland and uninspiring. Farrell, on the other hand, is excellent as Bullseye, with his oversized ego and nervous tics. His snarling "He made me miss. I NEVER miss." is hilarious! Here's a fellow who, though a self-confessed playboy-alcoholic, has been springing all sorts of nice surprised on us over the past few years ( e.g. American Outlaws, Minority Report, and the upcoming The Recruit ). He's a veritable chameleon who should continue to do well in future projects.

So the verdict? Spidey still rules, but if you're a fan of the stars in Daredevil, it's worth the time and money. Or if nothing else, here's your chance to see two rarities in Hollywood: a lawyer with a heart, and a reporter with a conscience. :)

Looks like I've got closet obsessive-compulsive tendencies like Adrian Monk! Have been scratching my head over John Mayer's age issue, and upon analyzing a recording of his thank-you speech, realized that what he said at the Grammys wasn't that he's 16 years old, but that he feels like he's 16 years old. Ohhhh...
So that makes him 26, which certainly reduces the guilt factor for me, 'cos I didn't feel comfortable having the hots for a teenager, haha! :D

Who would've thought Survivor could turn into a comedy? Last night's episode became the safari version of Sex And The City, with all the trash talk, eye signals and flirtatious body language going into major overdrive. Daniel ( the Asian-American who was predictably ousted at tribal council ) made his move fast with Shawna, while Rob lusted after Heidi, and Dave ( who's getting cuter with each passing day -- is it his stubble or the fact that he's lost weight? ) was "engaged" by Jenna. The reward challenge was filled with sexual innuendos and cheeky smiles and winks, and even though the guys lost that one, they were so high from their encounter with the lovely ladies that they returned to camp in an ecstatic mood. Even the older men got into the action! It certainly was like high school all over again -- "Does she like me? I think she likes me. I hope she likes me, etc." It was hilarious!

But cheers to the women for winning the tough immunity challenge -- they've won 4 out of 5 challenges so far, woohoo!!! And I'm glad Daniel was kicked out. He's lazy, sulky, and easily distracted -- during the reward challenge, he made a big mistake because he was so busy staring at Heidi's boobs he completely missed the question asked by Rob just a few seconds earlier. Who knows, if he had gotten it right, the men may not have lost. He wasn't a team player, and deserved to be voted off.

Will be watching Daredeviltonight. More on that in my next entry.

Did you catch John Mayer on this year's Grammy Awards? He totally blew me away! I've got his album, Room For Squares, and let me tell you, it's astounding. He writes most of the songs, and once again, the sheer maturity of the pieces and his interpretation of them is amazing. I especially like "Neon" and "83", which features his unbelievable guitar skills. He sounds like he's been doing this for at least 20 years, and the way his fingers fly across the guitar strings is pure heaven. Here is a young man whose career will endure for many, many, many years to come.
(p.s. I know I posted earlier that he's 16 years old -- and he did say that when he accepted the Grammy after all! -- but his website says he was born in 1977, which makes him 25 or 26 at the moment. Okay, so he's not a child prodigy, but he's still pretty fantastic. :))

Was bitten by the flu bug, so did some major vegetating in front of the telly.
Last night's Fear Factor was especially exciting. Not only did they have 3 pairs of twins for contestants, they made them eat century eggs, aka 100-year-old eggs in American-speak, which are actually Asian delicacies and very tasty, but which the poor Americans kept gagging on. Bet they believed the eggs were really 100 years old! It was hilarious, but I also felt really sorry for them, the poor ignorant fools. :)

My opinion after watching Living With Michael Jackson is a sympathetic one. Martin Bashir is a shark, a vulture, a hyena -- or at the other end of the spectrum, a cockroach, a rat, a maggot. His animosity towards MJ is a total no-no in the realm of journalism -- well, that's my view anyhow -- and his biased interviews make cruel fun of a man whose life has been a rollercoaster from a tender age, and who continues to struggle with his inner demons as the paparazzi belittles and ridicules him. Is it any wonder that he turns to children for comfort? And that children gravitate towards him as well? Perhaps kids are the only ones capable of seeing him for who he truly is -- a vulnerable, helpless spirit in need of love and understanding -- understanding that only those with pure hearts can provide. I once wrote to the American Top 40 radio show back in 1993, stating my support for MJ, and miraculously, then-AT40 DJ Shadoe Stevens read my letter on his show, and I later received word from MJ's Heal The World Foundation director, who conveyed Jackson's thanks. Over the years, with the media circus surrounding the paedophilic allegations, I started to have doubts as well ( I was only 18 at the time after all ), but now, 10 years later, I know I did the right thing. I think everyone should just leave MJ alone, for pete's sake, and let him get on with the rest of his life in peace. And Bashir, I hope no-one else ever makes the mistake of granting you an interview. You are to journalism what Osama Bin Laden is to the Muslim religion.

On a lighter note, Monk is a fantastic show! Its airs every Friday night on Channel i at 8pm, so catch it ASAP so you don't miss any more episodes. Great script, awesome acting, and lovely comic timing. Great stuff. Watch it to find out what I'm raving about.

Before I sign off, here're a few brief reviews of shows I recently rented.

My Big Fat Greek Wedding -- totally over-rated, like Bend It Like Beckham. Starts out funny, but the ending's too perfect. Didn't realize Greeks are so similar to Italians.

Sweet Home Alabama -- liked this more than MBFGW, can you imagine? Reese Witherspoon is always a joy to watch, but get a load of Josh Lucas, who's a cross between Matthew McConaughey and Paul Newman. Those baby blues of his and that southern drawl are sure to turn your legs to jelly. :)

One Hour Photo -- good effort from an unknown writer-director, starring Robin Williams, Connie Nielsen ( from "Gladiator" ) and Michael Vartan ( FBI agent Vaughn in "Alias" ). Lots of suspense, with taut performances from the leads.

Possession -- my favourite of the lot so far. Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckhart ( the biker cum nanny in "Erin Brockovich" ) sizzle, and the film captivates despite its high-brow premise ( 2 literary scholars trying to prove an illicit affair between 2 famous 19th century poets ). Paltrow is extremely beautiful and fragile, and Eckhart is sexily likeable. The romance between the poets ( played by Jeremy Northam and Jennifer Ehle ) also makes for compelling viewing, reminiscent of "The English Patient", (which I absolutely love). Just make sure you're wide awake for this one, or you won't be able to appreciate it.

High point of yesterday for me: A feature on Ripley's Believe It Or Not about the chewing gum ban in Singapore. They even flashed the words "LEGALLY INSANE!" across the screen during the presentation. You said it, people! Haven't laughed this hard in quite a while. :D

And looks like my assessment of Christy the deaf Survivor contestant was off-base. I was taken aback by her outburst on last night's show, and whether it's a case of clever editing or not, we'll never know. She came across as quite a witch, but hasn't been voted off yet, so let's see if the tension will subside in subsequent installments. The women lost their second immunity challenge, but they did win the first reward challenge, crushing the men's egos even further :) Janet was the first female to be sent packing, but it's for the best, 'cos she's obviously not well, and will only hinder the group's efforts to have the upper hand in the competition.

The guys seem to be doing okay this week. And I really like Dave the rocket scientist. Seems like a down-to-earth fellow, and cute too. :)

Also caught the first few minutes of Monk ( couldn't watch it live 'cos I had bible study to attend ). Looks like one of those dramedies, ie. the law enforcement version of Ally McBeal. Tony Shalhoub's frightened-wild-animal look when confronted with dirt is priceless, and so far, the script and plot are pretty unconventional. Will write more once I get round to seeing the rest of it.

TV show updates:

1) Monk debuts on Channel i tonight. I don't really know much about this series, but it's got Tony Shalhoub in it ( perhaps obscure to most of you, but he did play the alien with the amazing ability to regenerate his shot-off head in Men In Black ). And furthermore, Shalhoub picked up a Golden Globe for his lead role in the show, playing "an obsessive-compulsive detective". Sounds promising.

2) C.S.I. has returned to cable! Showtime: every Wednesday 9pm on Channel 19 (AXN). This is the 3rd season, and though the first episode wasn't that exciting, the cast is looking better and better -- especially Marg Helgenberger and George Eads -- and they've added Eric Szmanda ( who plays the lab geek in love with the younger female member of the CSI team ) as a regular. His frequent double-meaning sexy repartees with Jorja Fox are such a delight to watch. :)

3) Don't miss Living With Michael Jackson on Channel 5 at 10pm this Sunday. Word has it he's crucified in this documentary, and although I agree he's weird, I tend to think that his bizarre behaviour is a by-product of his traumatic childhood and far-from-normal life in general. As we all know, the media loves to sling dirt, 'cos let's face it, nobody wants to read about the good stuff! But if you ask me, I think anyone possessing his generosity can't be all that bad. 10 years ago, when he came to Singapore for his first-ever concert here, he visited Mount Elizabeth Hospital when he fell ill, and after being checked out, he showered the staff there with free tickets to his show. On another day, he visited the local zoo, again being very accomodating with the fans he met, and even bringing along some less fortunate kids with him. As for the paedophile issue, the jury's still out. Bottomline: Don't be so judgmental and give the poor guy a break.

4) Next Sunday, there'll be yet another Robbie Williams concert special -- sorry, I just couldn't resist! :D Held in Manchester, it'll definitely be a real treat, and you'll be able to find out why I'm such a huge fan of his. It's gonna be on Channel 5, but I can't remember the exact time, so check the programme listing.

Now, here's an entry I almost never make on my blog -- a complaint! Yes, people, the department I'm currently posted to is driving me up a wall. One medical officer (MO) went on maternity leave, and as she's instrumental in keeping the clinic running efficiently, it's been a hellhole during her absence. We're consistently overbooked, no thanks to an inconsiderate appointment centre, and at any 1 point in time, a couple of other MOs are on much-needed exam or annual leave, or medical leave ( due to stress, no doubt ). As a result, clinic coverage is difficult, and the call rosters have been turned inside out and upside down countless times this month. I only hope the last 2 months I have left in this place will not cause me to succumb to a frighteningly potent flu bug that's been making its rounds on the entire staff since X'mas. This is because a new roster system has been implemented, saying that if you're sick and unable to do your own call, and someone has to replace you, you will have to pay that person back no matter what. Or if you're unable to get cover at all, you have to come back and do your night call -- yes, when you're sick enough to have to take MC, believe it or not.
I've taken only 1 day's MC so far, and managed to escape the flu epidemic, but if I do get sick, and suffer the bad end of the deal, morale's going to sink even lower.

Well, the upside is, I'll try to organize an end-of-posting MO/houseman dinner cum carousing session sometime in April ( our last month, thank goodness! ). Let off some steam before we move on to our next postings. :)

Shall end off with a nice quote I heard on the radio this morning:
"Let me just say that I think Jeniifer Capriati has a really nice pair of susu machines, brudder."-- Glenn Ong, Perfect 10 98.7FM DJ

Early morning entry again. Watched Meet My Folks yesterday, and here're a few pointers from the first show.

1. 3 losers are picked to meet the parents of this rich girl -- if a bungalow with a pool and jacuzzi are anything to go by -- and each has to do his best to impress in order to be chosen as the lucky bloke who gets to accompany her on an Oahu vacation.

2. I say losers because one of them cheated on his SATs to get into college, another slept with his ex-girlfriend's mom, and the last, though a Tom Cruise lookalike, was described as "obnoxious".

3. Although the girl -- unfortunately named Senta (???) -- was obviously enjoying herself and kissing the guys every chance she got, the parents ( especially the dad ) were quite distressed that they had to pick at least one of the guys, which was equivalent to choosing the least of the 3 evils, so to speak. Heck, if I were the mom, I'd be worried sick about sending my only daughter off on a holiday with someone who induced my child to perform a lap dance for him in a jacuzzi on national TV, on the first day they meet.

4. The boys' characters suffered further whipping after a surprise polygraph test. One told the truth 58% of the time, while the other scored even worse - 38%.

5. I can't help wondering why a well-to-do family, whose patriarch is obviously a conservative and respectable man, would stoop this low. It's not as if their daughter will have any problems snagging a boyfriend -- she looks a bit like Melissa Joan Hart ( from the TV series "Sabrina" ). Someone please offer me a plausible explanation.

6. It's addictive. I love the various twists in the plot, and particularly enjoyed the bit where the guys' ex-girlfriends were invited to breakfast and gleefully spilled the beans on their ex's cheating/lying, etc. Given the chance, I'd love to be one of those gals! I wanted to take the opportunity to add a link to my ex's website ( there's a photo of him with his new squeeze ), but it's mysteriously gone missing, for reasons unknown. If you find it, let me know. :)

Off to work I go. Till next time!

Hello. Did you enjoy the Moon Song link? It's becoming my daily morning ritual, before starting my morning rounds. Maybe you can try this routine for yourself as well. Really perks me up. :)

Okay, my thoughts on Survivor:Amazon. Women kick butt!!! I bow down to the show's producers, or whoever's responsible for the ingenious idea of pitting the guys against the gals, and for picking out such exciting personalities. On the male side, we have Dave the rocket scientist and Ryan the model ( the latter was unfortunately voted out, so there goes my eye candy :D ), and 2 of the gals - Heidi the gym teacher and Shawna the salesgirl - are gorgeous, and have got quite a few of the younger guys all hot and bothered ( one lovesick fellow even compared the
former to Viagra ). Someone give me a hankie please ( for wiping my eyes and my forehead )!

Once again, we have another Asian-American, this time in the form of Daniel, who looks like he has a major inferiority complex, and has the hots for Shawna. He won't last long, trust me. Dave hates his guts, and he's obviously a slacker, bulging muscles or not. What an embarrassment to Chinese all over the world -- Shi Ann from Survivor:Thailand was temperamental and paranoid, and now this. What the heck is going on?

My favourites right now come from the female camp. And let me tell you, when they beat the over-confident guys in the first immunity challenge, you must've heard the collective high-fives women all over the globe were giving each other! Heidi seems like a feisty contender for the prize money, but I especially like Christy, the first deaf contestant in Survivor history. Chances are she'll be hanging around till late in the season, if not because of her overall sweet demeanour, then because she's unable to hurl any insults due to her inability to hear any bitchiness that may occur around her. But her winning this round is a loooong shot.

It's still early, and one can only imagine what will happen when the 2 tribes merge, and the hormones go into overdrive. Host Jeff Probst made the astute observation that the guys' infatuation with some of the more attractive females may hurt them in the end, so don't be surprised if the finalists are dominated by the XX genotype. Stay tuned for more!

Watched "Catch Me If You Can" last night, and liked it. But it falled short of my high expectations -- can you blame me for wanting something more, since this film boasts the collaboration of Spielberg, Hanks and DiCaprio? Amazingly based on a true story, this movie is saved by only one thing: Leonardo's terrific portrayal of Frank Abagnale. He displayed loads of talent in his earlier works, but this is his crowning glory. He makes acting seem so effortlessly easy, and manages to convey a whole slew of complex emotions, even injecting humour here and there ( I loved the one where he impersonated a Harvard Medical School graduate and got himself out of a sticky situation one night in the ER ). At more than 2 hours, it can be a drag at times, but Leonardo makes it worth the time and money. This is one guy who's up for a fistful of Oscars -- it's only a matter of when.

My apologies to Mr. Dave Barry for stealing this link, but it's so hilarious I just couldn't live with myself if I didn't share it! Click on this, which is guaranteed to have you smiling no matter what.

Anyone read Tay YK's column today in Life! about his dislike for F4 and their fans? I totally agree with him, and must admit that it's one of the funnier articles I've read in a long long time. Even the Perfect 10 DJs were sliming the abovementioned this morning. Fans throwing neon sticks at each other is downright nasty, and if F4 is making money off such bitchy females, they should be ashamed of themselves. What we need is some good old-fashioned public telling off -- which is so often the case with Hong Kong / Taiwanese music stars. I'll bet some scolding and finger-wagging from the lads will cause major remorse from their fans. Who needs parents when you've got effeminate-looking tone-deaf fellows to do all the disciplining for you? ;)

Don't forget to tune in to Channel 5 tomorrow at 10pm for the debut of Survivor:Amazon. It's the guys against the gals, which will no doubt provide endless fun, 'cos we all know how insecure men are when facing competition from "the weaker sex". Promises to be the best of all the Survivors, so start following from the very beginning.

TIme for my on-call shower. Here's a list of short reviews for some DVDs I recently rented.

Lilo & Stitch - starts out wonderfully, but has a lame ending. Gains a few points for trying.

The Importance of Being Ernest - based on an Oscar Wilde comedy of errors, but the plot is weak and self-absorbed. However, who the heck cares when you've got the likes of Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon, Frances O'Connor and Judi Dench starring? Dench looks almost regal in an eye-catching lilac lace ensemble, a vast difference from her usual manly attire.

Enemy at the Gates - I had high expectations for this film, so ended up being a little disappointed. It's rather irritating when everyone speaks with an English accent when they're supposed to be Russian. And the movie's 30 minutes too long. Still, anything with Jude Law in it is always worth the time and money. He looks great even when covered in soot and with his hair in disarray. Word has it he's being wooed as the next James Bond -- yes, please! :)

Insomnnia -- Yet again, I've saved the best for last. "Memento" made me a Chris Nolan fan, but his follow-up effort has made me an ardent admirer ( same thing happened with Steven Soderbergh, after his hat trick of "Erin Brockovich", "Traffic" and "Ocean's Eleven" ). I shall not reveal the ingenious plot. All I can say is, it's just as original as "Memento", and boasts powerhouse performances from Al Pacino, Robin Williams and Hilary Swank. I can't believe neither Nolan movie has been up for Best Picture or Best Director Oscars. Hopefully, his time will come someday soon.

Juicy update: Check out famed American columnist Dave Barry's blog! This is a guy who's been around forever -- well, not really, but at least I read his books back when I was a teenager. Now his quirky witticisms are easily accessible in diary form, so if you're feeling particularly bogged down or want to read something that makes fun of the U.S., drop by his website for a good laugh.

I just browsed through the first page, and already spotted a few barbs directed at everything from "The Bachelorette" to the police chief of Miami. There's also an introspective thought about the space shuttle Columbia ( go to the site to find out more ). Great stuff here, and it's already clocked in 16,000-plus visitors since its inception ( which appears to be last month ). Click on the site meter logo at the bottom and you'll see that around 6,000 people read his blog daily. How's that for mass appeal? :)

I've got 10 minutes to spare before the morning ward round, so here's a review of Ronan Keating's show last night.

Methinks the tickets didn't sell as well as they could've, since some parts of the Singapore Indoor Stadium were conspicuously empty, and most of the audience was packed in the central area. But numbers didn't matter, 'cos the crowd yesterday rocked!

Things got off to a rather slow start at first. Even with upbeat songs like "Lovin' Each Day", the bulk of the spectators -- especially on my side -- remained glued to their chairs. More got to their feet when he belted out 2 Boyzone numbers - "Picture of You" ( from the "Mr. Bean" movie soundtrack ) and "Baby Can I Hold You". However, Ronan was savvy enough to specifically ask "all those with seats to stand up anyway", and that really did it :) Everybody moved their butts after that! And the concert was on its way!

It was an overall enjoyable show, no doubt about that, featuring many hits like "Life Is A Roller Coaster", "If Tomorrow Never Comes", "When You Say Nothing At All", "We've Got Tonight", "The Long Goodbye", and even a cool cover of "Brown-Eyed Girl". The band is terrific, and one of the backups ( who plays the guitar and keyboard, and also sings ) is really gorgeous :D Had a fine time staring at him, since he was directly in front of me, haha!

Concerts are always the best of the music experience for me. Listening to an artiste on the CD can never compare to seeing them in person, especially if they're well-known for being good live performers -- e.g. Ronan, Robbie Williams, Westlife, The Chieftains, The Corrs, Barry Manilow, Cliff Richard, just to name a few. And what can possibly beat the high of singing and dancing along with them, and seeing them respond to your enthusiasm? Ronan was obviously feeding off our catcalls and whistles, gaining momentum with each song until he literally collapsed onto the floor. Quite hilarious!

During the last song -- in a 3-piece encore set, no less! -- Ronan craftily used the lyrics of "The Long Goodbye" to ask us, "Are you coming back again?". And when we cheered ourselves hoarse, he replied, "Guess I'll be coming back again!" Well, it's been fantastic having you here, Ronan. Come back soon. :)

It's really boring today -- not necessarily a bad thing, though :)
Anyway, was just surfing the Net, and browsing through Eatonweb Portal, which had a pretty big list of weblogs. Turned up some interesting ones, including one that posts tidbits about the latest medical news -- albeit in a humourous fashion ( e.g. choy sum being an aphrodisiac ). But lest you dismiss these as pure nonsense, there's always an added reference ( e.g. BBC Health, Nature, etc ), that helps make it more legitimate. Something to do when you're really bummed out.

Anyway, before I go off for my evening round, here's a request for all you visitors to please write something in the comments section of my blog. Anything's fine, good or bad -- seriously! I notice a lot of different domains from the UK, Australia, US, NZ, and would very much like to hear from you guys and gals. Mucho gracias. :)

Thought I'd wait till after Ronan Keating's concert, but heck, the ward round ended at 10:15am today, and all the changes are done, so here's a short update. :)

Moby's coming to town! Counter and Internet SISTIC sales start today, and you can bet I'm gonna be among the first to grab mine. I only became acquainted with his music recently, after hearing "Extreme Ways" on "The Bourne Identity" soundtrack. Then I saw a half-hour showcase on MTV, which was great, and he was also at the MTV Europe Awards, where he wowed the crowd with an energetic performance. Sure, he's balding, scrawny, and dresses down for events ( T-shirt and jeans are the norm ), but his music is electrifying ( for me, at least ). Poor guy got whacked by some Eminem fans last year, which boggles the mind, but I'm sure he'll get a very warm reception here in Singapore. Welcome, Moby!

The Chinese New Year was pretty quiet for me this year. All my grandparents are dead, and my other relatives have their own reunions now. But the highlight was a junior college class reunion of sorts on the 3rd day of the New Year. We met up with our old JC civics tutor, who's now the principal of a well-known SAP school, and got to know his new wife -- a very lovely lady, btw. Around 10 of us ( out of the original 25 ) turned up, which is considered pretty good ( quite a few are overseas at the moment ), and we had a nice time catching up. Most haven't changed a bit in the last decade -- in terms of mannerisms, appearance -- and the old love-hate relationships still exist :) Lots are getting married, one's had a kid ( and it's not our teacher! ), but most are pretty much established in one way or another. 13 doctors, 3 or 4 lawyers, a bunch of engineers, accountants, scientists, a budding army general... whew, quite formidable! But it was loads of fun, and my best wishes to all those getting hitched or in the process of forging their careers. Looking forward to next year's gathering!

Another thing I did during the New Year was watch Shanghai Noon on cable. Man oh man, it's tonnes better than its sequel. Better storyline, funnier gags, and Lucy Liu is so much better than the very very bland Fann Wong. And speaking of movies that spawned sequels, I caught Men In Black last night, and laughed till my sides hurt -- MIB II, if you'll read one of my earliest blog entries dated last May, bored me to death.

More this weekend, especially after Ronan's show, and tonight's episode of American Idol II. :D

Review of Shanghai Knights ( spoilers beware )

I've never watched a Jackie Chan film in the cinema before, and what a treat this was! He's already great on the small screen, but it's ten times magnified on the big one. Owen Wilson is once again in his element as the cowboy sidekick, and let's not forget Fann Wong, who makes her Hollywood debut as Chan's on-screen sister.

The story is simple and nonsensical, like that of its predecessor. But the irreverent humour is its strong point, and never sinks to the moronic level. There's lots of poetic licence and name-dropping -- everyone from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Charlie Chaplin and even an uncredited Jack the Ripper are thrown into the mix. The chemistry between the stars is dynamite, and look out for Donnie Yen and newcomer Aidan Gillen as the villains. The latter makes a big impact with his eye-popping swordfighting skills in the climactic fight scene with Chan himself, managing to outshine the veteran, can you imagine! He looks like a cross between a young Gary Oldman and PeeWee Herman, relishes his bad-guy role and looks set for bigger things in the near future.

So how does Wong fare in her first big role? Well, it all depends on your taste. If you're already a big fan and don't care if she plays a deaf/blind mute, as long as she looks good, then this movie's right up your alley. But if you're hoping for some star quality that will make her get noticed by the Hollywood big shots, then you'll be sorely disappointed. She has an atrocious accent which will probably make international audiences think all Singaporeans can't speak English for nuts, and resorts to pouting and lip-biting when trying to emote. Her fight scenes are also obviously stunt-doubled, unlike Zhang Ziyi and Lucy Liu, who displayed admirable "hai-YA!" chops in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon", "Hero" and "Charlie's Angels".

My advice: don't go for Wong's sake. Chan and Wilson are the main attractions, and the chemistry between them remains strong and guaranteed to draw the crowds. I especially enjoyed a scene with Wilson stuck at the bottom of a lake, gurgling in conversation with an apologetic Chan. Subtitles are even provided as a guide. What a hoot! And ultimately, no-one compares to THE Jackie Chan as kungfu master. Just watch him flip, bounce and fly ( he does all his own stunts ), and you'll be amazed at his gravity-defying physical agility. Wow...

Last but not least, stay for the outtakes, which are worth the ticket price alone. I particularly like the one with Wong licking Wilson in a kama sutra scene, after which she smiles shyly at him, and he softly whispers, "Should I lick you back? I think I should lick you back. What do you think?", fixing her with his half-closed eyes. Lucky woman! :D


Next, the 2nd episode of American Idol II was painful. Many of the contestants failed to live up to their own expectations, never mind those of the judges’, and my favourite, Danny Rodriguez, was eliminated! Aaaaack! But he was a very good sport about it, belting out “My Way” when the results were announced. But hey, I predict he’ll get a recording contract anyway. Someone somewhere would want to harness his talent, so good for you, Danny!


Just bought the latest Russell Watson CD, Reprise, and it’s his best one yet. It’s got 18 songs, including classics like “Santa Lucia”, “Ave Maria”, plus other beautiful pieces from Verdi and Puccini. I love “La Danza”, which has Watson doing vocal gymnastics effortlessly and showing off his remarkable range and stamina. There’re also famous favourites like “That’s Amore” ( sounding uncannily like Dean Martin ), “The Living Years” and even “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. But my favourites are always the love songs, and here, “The Best That Love Can Be” – a duet with Cleopatra – stands out. Watson continues to astound us all with his versatility, managing to carry off opera and rock with equal aplomb. He’s got a baby face, and is only a couple of years my senior. Truly unbelievable! It’s a fabulous album, so get it ASAP.

Got side-tracked for the past week, so be prepared for a long list. :)

First, America Idol II has hit our shores. ( About time, too! ) And the pilot episode did not disappoint. If you don't know what it's about, where've you been this past week? Pluto??? Anyway, I'm just gonna jump right in and tell you my hot favourites after the first round -- bear in mind, of course, that they didn't show every single successful audition, preferring instead to dwell on the really lousy ones ( the main draw, no doubt ). I pick the twins -- what a knockout rendition of Alicia Keys' "Fallen"! -- and Danny Rodriguez, who sang "Fly Me To The Moon" and stole my heart straight away. :D And get a load of that young lady who sounded exactly like Julie London when she belted out "Fever" -- eerily uncanny. Yep, high-calibre stuff here.

But ultimately it isn't the great ones who stick in the mind. There was Edgar Nova, the Enrique Iglesias wannabe who embarrassed himself dreadfully on international TV, and later showed that he totally lacks insight by arguing with the panel of judges, and telling everyone outside that he'd been chosen for the next round. He needs a psych referral! And don't underestimate the dramatic factor, 'cos two girls who were picked have "potential catfight" written all over them, as one is dating the other's ex-boyfriend, and even though they pretend to be buddies, you can tell that there's definite animosity going on. Hmmm....

The barbs from Simon Cowell are ruthless, but you'll notice that when he's nasty, the contestant usually deserves it. And when he's impressed, he tells it to your face. I just can't figure out how some of the hopeful ones have the gall to go before him, expecting to be complimented when they suck so bad. They're just asking to be hammered, so I don't really pity them.

Well, it's gonna be a tough fight, so let's see who emerges the champion. Check out the website for more juicy gossip and updates.

Second, kudos to the organizers of this year's MTV Asia Awards. It's definitely a lot better than last year's marathon disaster, and the performances were great -- Matchbox Twenty, Missy Elliott, Shaggy, Jay Chou and Robbie Williams stood out. Robbie was especially cheeky during his performance of "Feel", pushing into the crowd and allowing the crazed audience members to grab at him. Way to go, Rob! Hope he'll be back later this year for a full-length concert!

Third, if you haven't heard of or been to Bar None at The Marriott Hotel, you must drop by one of these nights -- preferably a Wednesday, Friday or Saturday. It remains my all-time favourite hangout, and for good reason. Energy, with lead singer Douglas Oliveiro, still rocks! And they're constantly changing their repetoire, so last Friday, they played everything from the likes of U2, Aerosmith ( a dead-on cover of "Walk This Way" ), Guns 'N Roses ( "Sweet Child 'O Mine" never sounded better ), Tom Petty, and even did a cool rendition of "Stand By Me" ( with a guest performance from an audience member, who, thankfully, wasn't tone deaf! ). The dance music in between the sets was good stuff, and the crowd continued to pour in even after 1am. A really happening place, and patrons are young professionals in their 20s and 30s -- very friendly and sociable bunch too, as we made friends with quite a number of those standing near us. So I can't believe the post-MTV Asia Awards show party was at, ugh, Empress Place. No wonder everyone left early. Bar None's the place to be, guys!

Last, take a look inside last week's Time (Asia) magazine, which features Kim Jong Il on the cover. Fascinating issue, with an article on the cloning debate and a small feature on the kooky Raelians. There's also one on North Korea, and offers some interesting viewpoints on Kim Il Sung, as well as the mounting tension over the nuclear warhead crisis. But I especially enjoyed a piece on American architect David Rockwell, who's responsible for the beautiful Kodak Theatre ( home to the annual Oscar ceremonies ). Check out the awesome photos of his other creations ( especially the casino ), and you'll also be surprised by the fact that he was eager to design Singapore's new airport, but was passed over -- probably because his ideas were deemed too "radical" ( e.g. a curbside aquarium, and a giant aviary in the departure lounge ). Sigh, trust the Singapore government to stifle genius. :(

Okay, gotta go do some work. More updates next time!