In Continuation
Is it 3:40pm already?! Where does the time go? Oh yeah, I slept the whole morning, and just watched the Matrix Revolutions VCD. Okay... :)
So I've finished my reply to The Complaint. I haven't asked what happened in the SOC today ( their pre-scheduled TCU ), but will post something at a later date.
Au Revoir
... to a JC classmate who's flying off to the US tomorrow for a one-year training stint. We had a nice group dinner in his honour a couple of days ago ( he doesn't want to admit it, but hey, it's the truth :)) and as always, we all had a great time. Seems so much has happened this past decade, and we were wondering what 2005 holds, since we'll be turning the big three-O next year. *gasp! sob! choke!* But the most important thing, I realize, is being happy with the choices you've made, even if it's a slight detour from the original route you intended to take. And sure enough, I think every one of us is indeed content in that respect.
Have a safe trip, CS!
Life!'s Pretty Interesting Nowadays
[ The exclamation mark's intentional, ahem. :) ]
Shzr Ee's spot-on commentary in yesterday's edition of Life! was a wake-up call, if anyone's even listening. It isn't my imagination after all -- young people today are getting increasingly obnoxious, disrespectful and spoilt. At least 10 other dinner companions agreed on this on Monday ( a mixed bunch of individuals from the medical, engineering and law professions ). One magistrate said, "When I was a kid, I didn't even dare to answer back!" And back in primary and secondary school -- even college -- all it took was a 3-second stare from a teacher and we'd be instantly subdued. Even now, in the course of our work, we try our best to be responsible and take our jobs seriously, working hard when the situation calls for it, and making a conscious effort to avoid selling out at all costs.
Will our future generations be able to do the same? From the looks of it -- no. Many Gen X-ers ( my batch ) already lead frivolous lives -- refer to a recent Straits Times feature on yuppies who blow tens of thousands of dollars on football bets without even blinking -- and I frequently have unpleasant experiences with the service sectors, which are becoming increasingly populated by disgruntled, lazy 20-something employees out to make a quick buck without actually contributing anything to society. Charity work? Donating part of my "hard-earned" money to the less fortunate? What planet do you think I'm from?
Of course, there is a minority who sustains our hopes for this millenium. Youngsters who haven't yet lost sight of the bigger picture, who use their vacation time to volunteer, or to actively harness all their creative powers instead of just sitting back and waiting for a handout. Who actually care about the world around them, instead of taking it for granted.
At the rate we're going, Singapore is currently poised at the edge of a precipice. I shudder to think of the outcome should it tip over in the wrong direction.
All right then, enough of the heavy stuff. :)
Alias Is Back!
I almost missed the 3rd season, but caught it just in time when I was surfing channels at 1am Tuesday morning ( insomnia, ugh ). Lots of delicious plot twists yet again -- Sidney Bristow's inexplicable 2-year-long disappearance and concomitant amnesia, a new enemy in the form of The Covenant, and lots of tension between Sidney, ex-love Michael Vaughn and his new wife. Jennifer Garner looks unbelievable, and the cinematography ( can I still call it that if it's a TV show? ) is awesome. I hope they'll make an Alias full-length movie at some point, 'cos the script rocks, the action sequences kick ass, and the actors would translate terrifically onto the big screen. Hint hint!
VCD/DVD Reviews Part ?
Yeah, I've been renting a lot of them lately. :P
Matrix Revolutions
Man, this SUCKS!!! Don't get me wrong, I loved The Matrix, but its sequel left me a little cold, and all I can say is: (1) thank goodness I didn't watch this in the cinema ( 'cos I would've walked out for sure ) and (2) I just adore fast-forward buttons, heh heh. Running time: 129 mins. Total viewing time at home on the DVD player: 60 mins, not counting the many occasions I looked out the window or got up to do something or other. While the first installment blew me away ( I've seen it at least 5 times to date ), Matrix Reloaded and Revolutions have failed to recapture any of the thrills and spills offered by Episode 1. The Oracle grates on my nerves, Morpheus has lost too much valuable screen time, and Neo is a mere shell of what he once was. And what's with all the whispering in Revolutions? This is war, people! A matter of life and death, survival vs annihilation! Do you WHISPER in such situations? Sheesh!
The only saving grace is Mr. Smith, played with fervent glee by Hugo Weaving ( Elrond aka Arwen's daddy in LOTR ). That maniacal grin and spitting speech pattern woke me up from a deep slumber immediately. Why oh why did he have to be destroyed in the end? I personally would've enjoyed seeing more of him -- how about a prequel? Hint hint again. :)
Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines
This one's just a little bit better. More action ( and more importantly, appropriate shouting matches ), and a storyline that makes lots more sense. Although... think they could've picked someone better to play the legendary John Connor ( Nick Stahl? What a wimp! ), and the need for a female villain is a total gimmick ( Kristanna Loken must've practised for hours in front of the mirror while perfecting that glare ). Would've preferred another evil male android anyday -- e.g. Hugh Jackman ( check out X-Men I & II ), Eric Bana ( The Hulk and Troy ), heck even Russell Crowe ( did you see him in Virtuosity? Brr. ).
I just hope the inevitable Terminator 4 won't deteriorate into another Matrix Revolutions-type disaster. Star Wars Episodes 1 & 2 are bad enough.
Runaway Jury
Excellent, this one. John Grisham may not be that great a writer ( I'm never fully satisfied after reading his novels ), but you've got to hand it to the guy: he has a fantastic eye for fascinating tales and print-to-screen adaptations. In my opinion, the films based on his books have far surpassed the published versions on every occasion, and my favourites thus far include The Rainmaker, and now, Runaway Jury. ( It helps a lot that John Cusack plays the immensely likeable lead, but I digress. :D )
With a taut screenplay, exceptional casting and focussed direction, this latest offering is hard not to enjoy. Intriguing premise, crackling courtroom drama, a David-vs-Goliath triumph ( very characteristic of Grisham tales ) -- I was hooked from beginning to end.
Cusack, always the consummate character actor, plays up his lovable personality here in his portrayal of the ambiguous Nicholas Easter. Casting him in this role, which demands both understated but undeniable charm, is pure genius. One of his best performances yet.
But the clincher, I feel, is a scene where just after the verdict, Dustin Hoffman spots Cusack outside the courthouse, and silently acknowledges him. Won't reveal vital plotlines here, but those few seconds are what this entire movie is all about -- standing up for what you believe in, and doing what's right even when everyone else is playing dirty ball. Yay for the underdogs!
Album Reviews
I'm almost done, I promise. :)
Jason Mraz's Waiting For My Rocket To Come
This CD deserves to be blasted on the car stereo, 'cos it sounds best that way for me. Lots of road-trip type pieces, with up-tempo guitar riffs, carried by Mraz's amazing vocals. His is a boyish yet pitch-perfect delivery of compositions that are quite tough to sing, with their meandering melodies and accelerated speeds ( give him an award for The Most Number of Words Crammed Into The Least Number of Musical Bars ). From the sound of it, some parts are written in demi-semi-quavers, but I love it 'cos he's blessed with flawless diction, so you can actually make out every single word. And the lyrics are... beautiful. My favourite has got to be The Remedy ( I Won't Worry ), a rollicking head-bobber that says "I say the tragedy is how you're gonna spend the rest of your nights with the light on/ So shine the light on all of your friends because it all amounts to nothing in the end/ I won't worry my life away" ( inspired by Mraz's good friend's fight with cancer ). Other noteworthy offerings include You And I Both, I'll Do Anything, Too Much Food, and The Boy's Gone.
But then, this could be an acquired taste, to be sure to sample it before buying. I don't want to get a scolding. :P
Jamie Cullum's Pointless Nostalgic
Released in 2002 ( a year before his hit 2nd album Twentysomething ), this has more covers than original songs, but again demonstrates his propensity / talent for innovative arrangements and interpretations of even the most conventional jazz pieces. Once again, he's helped me appreciate hard-core classics which I would otherwise reject, most notably Devil May Care and You And The Night And The Music. High And Dry and I Can't Get Started show off his sexy vocals to great effect, as does A Time For Love, now one of my all-time favs, together with Michael Buble's The Way You Look Tonight, Peter Cincotti's Sway and Robbie Williams' One More For The Road.
Perhaps the most personal composition of his to date, Pointless Nostalgic should appeal to anyone who's gone through a painful breakup. "Reminiscing my cares away / Wishing I could go back and change the points that were low / Til I realize that life's meant to be / Photographs lost in time are all I see / A pointless nostalgic - that's me"
Just caught him on MTV's Asia Hitlist this morning -- he's #5, wow! -- doing These Are The Days. Reminds me a lot of Robbie, which bodes well for any live performance. So be sure to catch him if he ever pops by, 'cos I definitely wouldn't miss it for the world.
Over and out. For now. ;)
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
A Tribute To Smiling Tigers
They are deceivingly polite and softspoken, with measured tones and benign smiles. They ask questions in the most mild-mannered ways, and appear understanding and agreeable when you reply. Thank you, they say, as they exit the door. Not one insulting word. Not one frown. Just another easy case, you think.
Then, the bomb drops. The complaint hits you like a fallen anvil from the sky. What the f...?! The language used is a far cry from the peaceful homo sapien you saw the other day. The letter is cc-ed to top guys ( and gals ) who are now unwillingly roped in to investigate an otherwise insignificant matter. Loss of life and limb? No. Negligence? Nil. Bad doctor attitude? Zilch. Actual complaint? Well, I'm not at liberty to reveal details, but let's just say the patient looked happier than all of us working in the department. The only people who are unwell, apparently, are his parents.
Thankfully, I'm not at the centre of this storm in a teacup. Luckily, I'm not responsible for the infant's problem, nor was I the first doctor to see him. Most importantly, never underestimate the need to consult someone senior, which I of course did on this particular occasion. And sadly enough, this senior, who possesses a wealth of experience, now has to answer to two people with zero medical education and dubious "medical knowledge", demanding explanations from every single rank in the healthcare system hierarchy.
Incidents like these undoubtedly ruin your day. Disillusion and frustration set in quickly, and you wonder why, dammit . But it has an upside ( yeah, it does indeed! ). Chances are, this will blow over very soon, as no-one can find fault with the management plan, and the patient is none the worse for it. Eventually, it will merely be another closed chapter in the Annals of Hospital Complaints.
Also, something like this always makes for good gossip fodder. Another thing you should never under-estimate is a doctor's sense of humour. :)
And last but not least, I'm a little intrigued by the fact that I actually saw this coming. I managed to see through the facade, and kinda expected a "complication" such as this, so I made sure to be extra-sweet to them before discharge. Maybe that's why I warranted only one sentence in the 2-page rant. I should write a guidebook someday. :P
More to follow. Back to work!
They are deceivingly polite and softspoken, with measured tones and benign smiles. They ask questions in the most mild-mannered ways, and appear understanding and agreeable when you reply. Thank you, they say, as they exit the door. Not one insulting word. Not one frown. Just another easy case, you think.
Then, the bomb drops. The complaint hits you like a fallen anvil from the sky. What the f...?! The language used is a far cry from the peaceful homo sapien you saw the other day. The letter is cc-ed to top guys ( and gals ) who are now unwillingly roped in to investigate an otherwise insignificant matter. Loss of life and limb? No. Negligence? Nil. Bad doctor attitude? Zilch. Actual complaint? Well, I'm not at liberty to reveal details, but let's just say the patient looked happier than all of us working in the department. The only people who are unwell, apparently, are his parents.
Thankfully, I'm not at the centre of this storm in a teacup. Luckily, I'm not responsible for the infant's problem, nor was I the first doctor to see him. Most importantly, never underestimate the need to consult someone senior, which I of course did on this particular occasion. And sadly enough, this senior, who possesses a wealth of experience, now has to answer to two people with zero medical education and dubious "medical knowledge", demanding explanations from every single rank in the healthcare system hierarchy.
Incidents like these undoubtedly ruin your day. Disillusion and frustration set in quickly, and you wonder why, dammit . But it has an upside ( yeah, it does indeed! ). Chances are, this will blow over very soon, as no-one can find fault with the management plan, and the patient is none the worse for it. Eventually, it will merely be another closed chapter in the Annals of Hospital Complaints.
Also, something like this always makes for good gossip fodder. Another thing you should never under-estimate is a doctor's sense of humour. :)
And last but not least, I'm a little intrigued by the fact that I actually saw this coming. I managed to see through the facade, and kinda expected a "complication" such as this, so I made sure to be extra-sweet to them before discharge. Maybe that's why I warranted only one sentence in the 2-page rant. I should write a guidebook someday. :P
More to follow. Back to work!
Saturday, June 12, 2004
I'm feeling rather uninspired lately. Or maybe it's a hormonal thing. ( Yeah, blame the hormones. THAT'S easy. :))
Revision for the MRCS Part 2 is getting under way, and the stress level steadily increases. Hopefully I'll be able to clear it on the first attempt, 'cos I'm going to take advantage of the AST exercise for November and apply ASAP. Me, a registrar. *shudder* :P
The Joint Venture is coming along nicely, and contrary to what a few people think, it isn't detrimental to my studies lah . In fact, it's relieving the tension quite effectively. Something to look forward to. A myriad of possibilities. An opportunity to hit back at the local press. *evil cackle*
Back to the point: confirmed launch date -- July 1st. Watch for it!
Just caught the movie "Stuck on You" on DVD.
It's a Farrelly brothers film ( Something About Mary, Shallow Hal ), and although I've never been a fan ( I don't enjoy crass humour ), this effort is actually really really good. The script is sensitively written, the funny bits are laugh-out-loud calibre, yet the concept of conjoined twins never degenerates into slapstick territory.
The leads -- Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear -- have great chemistry, and the supporting characters ( including an interesting Chinese female penpal who falls in love with one of them ) add to the delightful mix. Farrelly brothers => heartwarming, thought-provoking fare? You bet. What a terrific way to spend my post-night afternoon. :)
Last night's Nip / Tuck had me in stitches yet again. Xena ( a fellow blogger ) thinks it's a little strange, which I definitely agree with. But I'm a little strange myself, so... ;)
Anyway, no detailed review here. Saving that for either the Joint Venture, or the SMA News. Sorry. :)
Signing off to go hit the books.
A fond farewell to re-minisce, who will be leaving our shores in a few days' time. Safe journey, dood. :D
Revision for the MRCS Part 2 is getting under way, and the stress level steadily increases. Hopefully I'll be able to clear it on the first attempt, 'cos I'm going to take advantage of the AST exercise for November and apply ASAP. Me, a registrar. *shudder* :P
The Joint Venture is coming along nicely, and contrary to what a few people think, it isn't detrimental to my studies lah . In fact, it's relieving the tension quite effectively. Something to look forward to. A myriad of possibilities. An opportunity to hit back at the local press. *evil cackle*
Back to the point: confirmed launch date -- July 1st. Watch for it!
Just caught the movie "Stuck on You" on DVD.
It's a Farrelly brothers film ( Something About Mary, Shallow Hal ), and although I've never been a fan ( I don't enjoy crass humour ), this effort is actually really really good. The script is sensitively written, the funny bits are laugh-out-loud calibre, yet the concept of conjoined twins never degenerates into slapstick territory.
The leads -- Matt Damon and Greg Kinnear -- have great chemistry, and the supporting characters ( including an interesting Chinese female penpal who falls in love with one of them ) add to the delightful mix. Farrelly brothers => heartwarming, thought-provoking fare? You bet. What a terrific way to spend my post-night afternoon. :)
Last night's Nip / Tuck had me in stitches yet again. Xena ( a fellow blogger ) thinks it's a little strange, which I definitely agree with. But I'm a little strange myself, so... ;)
Anyway, no detailed review here. Saving that for either the Joint Venture, or the SMA News. Sorry. :)
Signing off to go hit the books.
A fond farewell to re-minisce, who will be leaving our shores in a few days' time. Safe journey, dood. :D
Wednesday, June 09, 2004
Read!
Please welcome our new SMA News editor, Dr. Toh Han Chong, a consultant oncologist at the National Cancer Centre. Like his predecessor, opthalmologist Dr. Wong Tien Yin, Dr. Toh is an extremely nice guy whose support of his Editorial Board members is nothing short of extraordinary. I thank him for his description of myself and Terence, ie. "prolific Ed Board members" who convey the "angst and zeitgeist of Generation X doctors". :)
Also, be sure to catch my report on the Medecins Sans Frontieres talk in Singapore in April. If it inspires just one person to sign up with the group, my job is done. :D
This is a short post, because of the time issue. But before I go, a warm welcome-back to The Dude in London, who's now back home in Singapore for a very compelling reason. What it is exactly, I can't say, but I have my suspicions. Heh heh. ;) Hope you enjoy yourself! Weather's very unpredictable these days -- don't get sick!
Please welcome our new SMA News editor, Dr. Toh Han Chong, a consultant oncologist at the National Cancer Centre. Like his predecessor, opthalmologist Dr. Wong Tien Yin, Dr. Toh is an extremely nice guy whose support of his Editorial Board members is nothing short of extraordinary. I thank him for his description of myself and Terence, ie. "prolific Ed Board members" who convey the "angst and zeitgeist of Generation X doctors". :)
Also, be sure to catch my report on the Medecins Sans Frontieres talk in Singapore in April. If it inspires just one person to sign up with the group, my job is done. :D
This is a short post, because of the time issue. But before I go, a warm welcome-back to The Dude in London, who's now back home in Singapore for a very compelling reason. What it is exactly, I can't say, but I have my suspicions. Heh heh. ;) Hope you enjoy yourself! Weather's very unpredictable these days -- don't get sick!
Sunday, June 06, 2004
Very Quick Update
Clay Aiken Singapore's Valentine's Day Project for the Autism Association Singapore has been featured on the Bubel/Aiken Foundation website, thanks to the BAF's attorney, Fran Skinner-Lewis, who took us under her wing and first suggested publicizing CAS' maiden effort in charity work.
Here's the link. We're right at the top, woohoo! :)
CAS' V-Day Project on TBAF's Website
Those interested in joining us can find further details in this thread:
CAS Forum -- Volunteering Opportunities
It's a very fulfilling and enjoyable activity, and you'll make lots of great friends ( I know many of these people, so take my word for it! ). As Clay always says so simply yet profoundly: It isn't necessarily how I make a difference, but I want to make sure that I do.
Got a deadline to meet. Will write more some other time.
Clay Aiken Singapore's Valentine's Day Project for the Autism Association Singapore has been featured on the Bubel/Aiken Foundation website, thanks to the BAF's attorney, Fran Skinner-Lewis, who took us under her wing and first suggested publicizing CAS' maiden effort in charity work.
Here's the link. We're right at the top, woohoo! :)
CAS' V-Day Project on TBAF's Website
Those interested in joining us can find further details in this thread:
CAS Forum -- Volunteering Opportunities
It's a very fulfilling and enjoyable activity, and you'll make lots of great friends ( I know many of these people, so take my word for it! ). As Clay always says so simply yet profoundly: It isn't necessarily how I make a difference, but I want to make sure that I do.
Got a deadline to meet. Will write more some other time.
Saturday, June 05, 2004
This is gonna be a long one. Have you eaten yet? ;)
I'll put the subheadings in bold to make things easier for you. :)
Movie Review of Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban
**Naturally, spoilers galore. Proceed with caution!**
( no thanks to a certain Life! reporter who leaked a major plotline in the Saturday edition *bppppphhhhhhhht* )
Like many other Potter fans, Book 3 is my favourite so far ( Book 5 is my second fav, but that may change depending on Rowling's next 2 efforts ). Most agree that Azkaban strikes a deep chord because it tells the best story, and introduces two pivotal and extremely likeable characters in the forms of Sirius Black ( Harry's godfather ) and Professor Remus Lupin ( the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and Harry's kind mentor ). For me, this installment touched the very depths of my being because of the Patronus, a powerful spell Harry learns to ward off Dementors, but which also links him to his late father. This last aspect was handled so expertly in the novel that to this day, I still remember how tears rolled down my cheek as I read this particular chapter so many years ago.
I haven't touched the book since, but dug it up last night to pore over a few key scenes and compare them to the film's versions. More on that later.
On the whole, I did enjoy this movie. It's shorter ( 2 hours compared to the usual 2 1/2 ), moves at a much quicker pace ( zip! swoosh! ), boasts the addition of yet more esteemed British actors ( Emma Thompson, Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis ), and the young leads have never been more adorable. Unlike some child actors who lose their appeal once they hit Puberty ( Macaulay Culkin ), Daniel Radcliffe ( Harry ), Emma Watson ( Hermione ) and Rupert Grint ( Ron ) look great and fulfill their roles with mature confidence and ease. It's also a pleasure to watch their group dynamics at play -- something not very obvious in the previous 2 films ( though very palpable in the novels ).
Azkaban has been described by many as "dark". Well, that's an understatement! This one's positively spine-chilling, especially whenever the Dementors show up. And you thought the Nazgul from LOTR were scary! Everything is perpetually drenched in a grayish hue, or soaked in rain ( including the Quidditch match -- but that's faithful to the book ). Sirius Black is a menacing force ( until the truth is revealed ), and the concept of an Animagus is explained, complete with an unlikely example ( Lupin's reluctant werewolf ).
But what would a Potter novel be without the requisite uplifting moments? Here, he finds hope of finding lasting happiness with his loving godfather ( the wrongly framed Sirius ), forms a deep bond with Lupin, and glimpses his father's spirit. Gary Oldman is sorely underused, but you'll see more of him in episodes 4 and 5, which I'm definitely looking forward to. David Thewlis, on the other hand, is perfectly cast as Lupin. Lanky and mild-mannered, he is nonetheless proficient when it comes to Defence Against the Dark Arts, and his scenes with Radcliffe ( especially one where they quietly discuss Harry's resemblance to his parents ) are tender and memorable.
Would I recommend this film? Yes. By all means, see it, because despite its imperfections, it's pretty good nonetheless ( though I still like the first installment the most ). All this talk about the new director, Alfonso Cuaron, having some earth-shaking effect on the franchise, has me a little befuddled, 'cos from what I can see, the cast could've driven this film without anyone's help. If anything, credit should go to Chris Columbus ( who helmed #1 and #2 ) for building such an awe-inspiring foundation, nurturing these talented children, and having the generosity and grace to let others in on the fun. Time magazine's Richard Corliss suggested a few A-list directors for future Potter movies ( Tim Burton, Ang Lee, even Mel Gibson ), but I think it'd be most fitting if Columbus returned to lead the finale ( Book 7, if Rowling doesn't change her mind ).
Similarly, I'd much prefer having the same troupe of young actors staying on till the tale's conclusion. True, they're fast outgrowing their roles because the films can't get made within a year ( #4 is due November 2005 ). I suppose it's inevitable, but Radcliffe, Watson and Grint will always be remembered for these roles -- roles they played so adeptly -- and there's never anything wrong with bringing smiles to people's faces through the power of a mere thought. :)
Now, I will share excerpts from the book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This is how Rowling wrote the harrowing scene where Harry confronted a horde of Dementors before being saved by a Patronus conjured by someone ( originally suggested to be his late father, but later revealed to be otherwise ).
I'm doing this because I'd like to know if I'm the only person who thinks this very important sequence wasn't portrayed as ideally as expected. Maybe it's just me.
"Harry set off at a run, Hermione right behind him. The yelping seemed to be coming from near the lake. They pelted towards it, and Harry, running flat out, felt the cold without realising what is must mean -
The yelping stopped abruptly. As they reached the lake's shore they saw why - Sirius had turned back into a man. He was crouched on all fours, his hands over his head.
'Noooo ,' he moaned. 'Nooooo ... please...'
And then Harry saw them. Dementors, at least a hundred of them, gliding in a black mass around the lake towards them. He spun around, the familiar, icy cold penetrating his insides, fog starting to obscure his vision; more were appearing out of the darkness on every side; they were encircling them...
'Hermione, think of something happy!' Harry yelled, raising his wand, blinking furiously to try and clear his vision, shaking his head to rid it of the faint screaming that has started inside it -
I'm going to live with my godfather. I'm leaving the Dursleys.
He forced himself to think of Sirius, and only Sirius, and began to chant: 'Expecto patronum! Expecto patronum!'
Black gave a shudder, rolled over and lay motionless on the ground, pale as death.
He'll be all right. I'm going to go and live with him.
'Expecto patronum! Hermione, help me! Expecto patronum!'
'Expecto - ' Hermione whispered, 'expecto- expecto- '
But she couldn't do it. The Dementors were closing in, barely ten feet from them. They formed a solid wall around Harry and Hermione, and were getting close...
'EXPECTO PATRONUM!' Harry yelled, trying to blot the screaming from his ears. 'EXPECTO PATRONUM!'
A thin wisp of silver escaped his wand and hovered like mist before him. At the same moment, Harry felt Hermione collapse next to him. He was alone... completely alone...
'Expecto - expecto patronum - '
Harry felt his knees hit the cold grass. Fog was clouding his eyes. With a huge effort, he fought to remember - Sirius was innocent - innocent - we'll be OK - I'm going to live with him -
'Expecto patronum!' he gasped.
By the feeble light of his formless Patronus, he saw a Dementor halt, very close to him. It couldn't walk through the cloud of silver mist Harry had conjured. A dead, slimy hand slid out from under the cloak. It made a gesture as though to sweep the Patronus aside.
'No - no -' Harry gasped. 'He's innocent... expecto - expecto patronum - '
He could feel them watching him, hear their rattling breath like an evil wind around him. Then it raised both its rotting hands - and lowered its hood.
Where there should have been eyes, there was only thin, grey, scabbed skin, stretched blankly over empty sockets. But there was a mouth ... a gaping shapeless hole, sucking the air with the sound of a death-rattle.
A paralysing terror filled Harry so that he couldn't move or speak. His Patronus flickered and died.
White fog was blinding him. He had to fight... expecto patronum ... .. he couldn't see.. and in the distance, he heard the familiar screaming .. expecto patronum ... he groped in the mist for Sirius, and found his arm... they weren't going to take him...
But a pair of strong, clammy hands suddenly wrapped themselves around Harry's neck. They were forcing his face upwards... he could feel its breath ... it was going to get rid of him first... he could feel its putrid breath ... his mother was screaming in his ears ... she was going to be the last thing he ever heard -
And then, through the fog that was drowning him, he thought he saw a silvery light, growing brighter and brighter ... he felt himself fall forwards onto the grass -
Face down, too weak to move, sick and shaking, Harry opened his eyes. The blinding light was illuminating the grass around him ... The screaming had stopped, the cold was ebbing away...
Something was driving the Dementors back... it was circling around him and Sirius and Hermione... the rattling, sucking sounds of the Dementors were fading. They were leaving... the air was warm again...
With every ounce of strength he could muster, Harry raised his head a few inches and saw an animal amidst the light, galloping away across the lake. Eyes blurred with sweat, Harry tried to make out what it was .. it was bright as a unicorn. Fighting to stay conscious, Harry watched it canter to a halt as it reached the opposite shore. For a moment, Harry saw, by its brightness, somebody welcoming it back... raising his hand to pat it... someone who looked strangley familiar... but it couldn't be ...
Harry didn't understand. He couldn't think anymore. He felt the last of his strength leave him, and his head hit the ground as he fainted."
And here's another bit from the book that was glaringly left out of the movie, aargh!
"Harry looked up at him. Dumbledore wouldn't laugh - he could tell Dumbledore...
'Last night... I thought it was my dad who'd conjured my Patronus. I mean, when I saw myself across the lake... I thought I was seeing him.'
'An easy mistake to make,' said Dumbledore softly. 'I expect you're tired of hearing it, but you do look extraordinarily like James. Except for your eyes... you have your mother's eyes.'
Harry shook his head.
'It was stupid, thinking it was him,' he muttered. 'I mean, I knew he was dead.'
'You think the dead we have loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don't recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble? Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him. How else could you produce that particular Patronus? Prongs rode again last night.'
It took a moment for Harry to realise what Dumbledore had said.
'Sirius told me all about how they became Animagi last night,' said Dumbledore, smiling. 'An extraordinary achievement - not least, keeping it quiet from me. And then I remembered the most unusual form your Patronus took, when it charged Mr. Malfoy down at your Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. so you did see your father last night, Harry... you found him inside yourself.'
I love this book! :)
Birthday Break ... Continued
Ignoring my studies for a day or two, and thanks again to everyone who's sent their well wishes. I appreciate them all. :)
Today, I'll be heading down to SUNTEC to catch the Singapore Idol action. Here's something to read:
Queues start early for Idol auditions
Let the madness begin! :D
Dinner will be a meaty affair. Must remember to eat less for lunch. Will talk about the food another time. :)
Best of all, I bought myself some terrific discs from That CD Shop. These are going to send me to the moon, I tell you:
Jamie Cullum's Pointless Nostalgic -- released before the current double-platinum Twentysomething, this first effort is also a big winner. More conventional jazz fare, but his voice is younger, sounding like a cross between Connick Jr. and Buble ( before evolving into the more full-throated version on his second album ). A full review will follow soon, but suffice to say, his rendition of "A Time For Love" is driving me nuts -- but in a good way, of course. :)
Jazz fans, especially Cullum supporters, you HAVE to get this!
Jason Mraz's Waiting For My Rocket To Come -- the new stock's finally here, but I grabbed the last CD on the shelf! I liked what I heard during a quick scan through the tracks, but have to get through Cullum before moving on to Rocket. Will write more once I get the chance to listen to this properly, but my preliminary assessment is that Mraz has a beautiful voice, and great song-writing talent.
Concert DVD -- Russell Watson Live in Auckland. Promises to be a treat! Again, time constraints +++ More reviews another day.
Okay then, it's time for me to grab lunch. More vegetating awaits later, heh heh!
Have a good weekend!
I'll put the subheadings in bold to make things easier for you. :)
Movie Review of Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban
**Naturally, spoilers galore. Proceed with caution!**
( no thanks to a certain Life! reporter who leaked a major plotline in the Saturday edition *bppppphhhhhhhht* )
Like many other Potter fans, Book 3 is my favourite so far ( Book 5 is my second fav, but that may change depending on Rowling's next 2 efforts ). Most agree that Azkaban strikes a deep chord because it tells the best story, and introduces two pivotal and extremely likeable characters in the forms of Sirius Black ( Harry's godfather ) and Professor Remus Lupin ( the new Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, and Harry's kind mentor ). For me, this installment touched the very depths of my being because of the Patronus, a powerful spell Harry learns to ward off Dementors, but which also links him to his late father. This last aspect was handled so expertly in the novel that to this day, I still remember how tears rolled down my cheek as I read this particular chapter so many years ago.
I haven't touched the book since, but dug it up last night to pore over a few key scenes and compare them to the film's versions. More on that later.
On the whole, I did enjoy this movie. It's shorter ( 2 hours compared to the usual 2 1/2 ), moves at a much quicker pace ( zip! swoosh! ), boasts the addition of yet more esteemed British actors ( Emma Thompson, Michael Gambon, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis ), and the young leads have never been more adorable. Unlike some child actors who lose their appeal once they hit Puberty ( Macaulay Culkin ), Daniel Radcliffe ( Harry ), Emma Watson ( Hermione ) and Rupert Grint ( Ron ) look great and fulfill their roles with mature confidence and ease. It's also a pleasure to watch their group dynamics at play -- something not very obvious in the previous 2 films ( though very palpable in the novels ).
Azkaban has been described by many as "dark". Well, that's an understatement! This one's positively spine-chilling, especially whenever the Dementors show up. And you thought the Nazgul from LOTR were scary! Everything is perpetually drenched in a grayish hue, or soaked in rain ( including the Quidditch match -- but that's faithful to the book ). Sirius Black is a menacing force ( until the truth is revealed ), and the concept of an Animagus is explained, complete with an unlikely example ( Lupin's reluctant werewolf ).
But what would a Potter novel be without the requisite uplifting moments? Here, he finds hope of finding lasting happiness with his loving godfather ( the wrongly framed Sirius ), forms a deep bond with Lupin, and glimpses his father's spirit. Gary Oldman is sorely underused, but you'll see more of him in episodes 4 and 5, which I'm definitely looking forward to. David Thewlis, on the other hand, is perfectly cast as Lupin. Lanky and mild-mannered, he is nonetheless proficient when it comes to Defence Against the Dark Arts, and his scenes with Radcliffe ( especially one where they quietly discuss Harry's resemblance to his parents ) are tender and memorable.
Would I recommend this film? Yes. By all means, see it, because despite its imperfections, it's pretty good nonetheless ( though I still like the first installment the most ). All this talk about the new director, Alfonso Cuaron, having some earth-shaking effect on the franchise, has me a little befuddled, 'cos from what I can see, the cast could've driven this film without anyone's help. If anything, credit should go to Chris Columbus ( who helmed #1 and #2 ) for building such an awe-inspiring foundation, nurturing these talented children, and having the generosity and grace to let others in on the fun. Time magazine's Richard Corliss suggested a few A-list directors for future Potter movies ( Tim Burton, Ang Lee, even Mel Gibson ), but I think it'd be most fitting if Columbus returned to lead the finale ( Book 7, if Rowling doesn't change her mind ).
Similarly, I'd much prefer having the same troupe of young actors staying on till the tale's conclusion. True, they're fast outgrowing their roles because the films can't get made within a year ( #4 is due November 2005 ). I suppose it's inevitable, but Radcliffe, Watson and Grint will always be remembered for these roles -- roles they played so adeptly -- and there's never anything wrong with bringing smiles to people's faces through the power of a mere thought. :)
Now, I will share excerpts from the book, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. This is how Rowling wrote the harrowing scene where Harry confronted a horde of Dementors before being saved by a Patronus conjured by someone ( originally suggested to be his late father, but later revealed to be otherwise ).
I'm doing this because I'd like to know if I'm the only person who thinks this very important sequence wasn't portrayed as ideally as expected. Maybe it's just me.
"Harry set off at a run, Hermione right behind him. The yelping seemed to be coming from near the lake. They pelted towards it, and Harry, running flat out, felt the cold without realising what is must mean -
The yelping stopped abruptly. As they reached the lake's shore they saw why - Sirius had turned back into a man. He was crouched on all fours, his hands over his head.
'Noooo ,' he moaned. 'Nooooo ... please...'
And then Harry saw them. Dementors, at least a hundred of them, gliding in a black mass around the lake towards them. He spun around, the familiar, icy cold penetrating his insides, fog starting to obscure his vision; more were appearing out of the darkness on every side; they were encircling them...
'Hermione, think of something happy!' Harry yelled, raising his wand, blinking furiously to try and clear his vision, shaking his head to rid it of the faint screaming that has started inside it -
I'm going to live with my godfather. I'm leaving the Dursleys.
He forced himself to think of Sirius, and only Sirius, and began to chant: 'Expecto patronum! Expecto patronum!'
Black gave a shudder, rolled over and lay motionless on the ground, pale as death.
He'll be all right. I'm going to go and live with him.
'Expecto patronum! Hermione, help me! Expecto patronum!'
'Expecto - ' Hermione whispered, 'expecto- expecto- '
But she couldn't do it. The Dementors were closing in, barely ten feet from them. They formed a solid wall around Harry and Hermione, and were getting close...
'EXPECTO PATRONUM!' Harry yelled, trying to blot the screaming from his ears. 'EXPECTO PATRONUM!'
A thin wisp of silver escaped his wand and hovered like mist before him. At the same moment, Harry felt Hermione collapse next to him. He was alone... completely alone...
'Expecto - expecto patronum - '
Harry felt his knees hit the cold grass. Fog was clouding his eyes. With a huge effort, he fought to remember - Sirius was innocent - innocent - we'll be OK - I'm going to live with him -
'Expecto patronum!' he gasped.
By the feeble light of his formless Patronus, he saw a Dementor halt, very close to him. It couldn't walk through the cloud of silver mist Harry had conjured. A dead, slimy hand slid out from under the cloak. It made a gesture as though to sweep the Patronus aside.
'No - no -' Harry gasped. 'He's innocent... expecto - expecto patronum - '
He could feel them watching him, hear their rattling breath like an evil wind around him. Then it raised both its rotting hands - and lowered its hood.
Where there should have been eyes, there was only thin, grey, scabbed skin, stretched blankly over empty sockets. But there was a mouth ... a gaping shapeless hole, sucking the air with the sound of a death-rattle.
A paralysing terror filled Harry so that he couldn't move or speak. His Patronus flickered and died.
White fog was blinding him. He had to fight... expecto patronum ... .. he couldn't see.. and in the distance, he heard the familiar screaming .. expecto patronum ... he groped in the mist for Sirius, and found his arm... they weren't going to take him...
But a pair of strong, clammy hands suddenly wrapped themselves around Harry's neck. They were forcing his face upwards... he could feel its breath ... it was going to get rid of him first... he could feel its putrid breath ... his mother was screaming in his ears ... she was going to be the last thing he ever heard -
And then, through the fog that was drowning him, he thought he saw a silvery light, growing brighter and brighter ... he felt himself fall forwards onto the grass -
Face down, too weak to move, sick and shaking, Harry opened his eyes. The blinding light was illuminating the grass around him ... The screaming had stopped, the cold was ebbing away...
Something was driving the Dementors back... it was circling around him and Sirius and Hermione... the rattling, sucking sounds of the Dementors were fading. They were leaving... the air was warm again...
With every ounce of strength he could muster, Harry raised his head a few inches and saw an animal amidst the light, galloping away across the lake. Eyes blurred with sweat, Harry tried to make out what it was .. it was bright as a unicorn. Fighting to stay conscious, Harry watched it canter to a halt as it reached the opposite shore. For a moment, Harry saw, by its brightness, somebody welcoming it back... raising his hand to pat it... someone who looked strangley familiar... but it couldn't be ...
Harry didn't understand. He couldn't think anymore. He felt the last of his strength leave him, and his head hit the ground as he fainted."
And here's another bit from the book that was glaringly left out of the movie, aargh!
"Harry looked up at him. Dumbledore wouldn't laugh - he could tell Dumbledore...
'Last night... I thought it was my dad who'd conjured my Patronus. I mean, when I saw myself across the lake... I thought I was seeing him.'
'An easy mistake to make,' said Dumbledore softly. 'I expect you're tired of hearing it, but you do look extraordinarily like James. Except for your eyes... you have your mother's eyes.'
Harry shook his head.
'It was stupid, thinking it was him,' he muttered. 'I mean, I knew he was dead.'
'You think the dead we have loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don't recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble? Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him. How else could you produce that particular Patronus? Prongs rode again last night.'
It took a moment for Harry to realise what Dumbledore had said.
'Sirius told me all about how they became Animagi last night,' said Dumbledore, smiling. 'An extraordinary achievement - not least, keeping it quiet from me. And then I remembered the most unusual form your Patronus took, when it charged Mr. Malfoy down at your Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. so you did see your father last night, Harry... you found him inside yourself.'
I love this book! :)
Birthday Break ... Continued
Ignoring my studies for a day or two, and thanks again to everyone who's sent their well wishes. I appreciate them all. :)
Today, I'll be heading down to SUNTEC to catch the Singapore Idol action. Here's something to read:
Queues start early for Idol auditions
Let the madness begin! :D
Dinner will be a meaty affair. Must remember to eat less for lunch. Will talk about the food another time. :)
Best of all, I bought myself some terrific discs from That CD Shop. These are going to send me to the moon, I tell you:
Jamie Cullum's Pointless Nostalgic -- released before the current double-platinum Twentysomething, this first effort is also a big winner. More conventional jazz fare, but his voice is younger, sounding like a cross between Connick Jr. and Buble ( before evolving into the more full-throated version on his second album ). A full review will follow soon, but suffice to say, his rendition of "A Time For Love" is driving me nuts -- but in a good way, of course. :)
Jazz fans, especially Cullum supporters, you HAVE to get this!
Jason Mraz's Waiting For My Rocket To Come -- the new stock's finally here, but I grabbed the last CD on the shelf! I liked what I heard during a quick scan through the tracks, but have to get through Cullum before moving on to Rocket. Will write more once I get the chance to listen to this properly, but my preliminary assessment is that Mraz has a beautiful voice, and great song-writing talent.
Concert DVD -- Russell Watson Live in Auckland. Promises to be a treat! Again, time constraints +++ More reviews another day.
Okay then, it's time for me to grab lunch. More vegetating awaits later, heh heh!
Have a good weekend!
Thursday, June 03, 2004
Interesting Email
From an American friend whom I've known for 3 years. Here're some things you DON'T read about in the news.
"At the Nuremburg War Crimes Trial following World War II, Albert Speere spoke in his own defense regarding his role in the Holocaust. Speere was the man that designed the final solution for Hilter and the boys, and did the organization elements of the trains that
dropped off their loads at the camps. Speere's defense was, "I was just following orders." Speere was hung.
Now, regarding Abu Ghraib, the military announced the investigation into the abuse in January 2003. The army uncovered these abuses, and was actively conducting an investigation. The New York Times printed a 970 word story. An update (370 words) on the abuse investigation was printed in the New York Times in March 2003 when the military issued a press release stating at what stage the investigation was in. Neither of these two stories got any attention because they were without photos. Then in May, the photos were leaked.
The seven soldiers involved stated that "We were following orders." Now to begin with, the female soldier in those photos holding the leash and pointing and smiling was not
assigned to Abu Ghraib prison. She was there visiting her boyfriend. Her boyfriend was a higher-ranking soldier assigned to the prison. She is now pregnant with his baby. Now am I to believe that she was ordered to go to a duty station that she was not assigned to during her time off, and participate in those photos for someone who was not her commanding officer? Was she also ordered to have a boyfriend of superior rank (forbidden in the army), and to have relations with him (forbidden in the army), and to get pregnant (forbidden)? Probably not.
Now let's focus on the so-called general-in-charge at Abu Ghraib. She is a reservist who claims that she is not responsible because military intelligence was responsible for that phase of the operation. Horse-s**t! She had a reputation for allowing for a complete breakdown in military discipline, including not requiring her officers and enlisted ranks to salute each other, soldiers referring to each other by their first names, and no properly overseeing her operation. She should be tried, and convicted of dereliction of duty, among other charges. Her junior officers should take the fall as well.
Now, it should be stated that I have not seen much of anything that violates the Geneva Convention, with the exception of the barking dog photo, and the fact that
photos were taken. You are allowed to deprive prisoners of sleep, and to break them down mentally so long as they are fed, their health is not in jeopardy, they are not humiliated (ambiguous, but usually refers to public humiliation), etc. I did not see Americans chopping anyone's head off on TV, or interviewing prisoners on CNN, or burning anyone to death and dragging their bodies through the street and hanging them from a bridge. Did you happen to notice the number of days those events were on the news compared
to the number of days the Abu Ghraid scandal was on the front pages? Chop off a head, burn humans alive and hang them from a bridge and you get 12 hours of coverage, and then it disappears forver. If you are the US, and some idiots stack some naked guys, 16 straight days of page one coverage.
To explain this, you have to look back to 1968, in Vietnam. I know you have seen the photo of the South Vietnamese soldier holding a gun to the head of a Viet Cong, and shooting him in the head. It is a famous photo in the US, and it made Americans feel bad about the war. What the photo does not communicate is that the man being executed had, moments before, killed a South Vietnamese General, his wife, and his four children, ages 12, 10, 6, and 2. The photos at Abu Ghraib are meant to demoralize the American public,
make them turn against the war, and elect John Kerry in November, because Kerry is a liberal just like the news organizations. You will not hear, for example, that breast cancer surgeries have resumed after a 30 year absence in Iraq. You will not hear much about the fact that this is currently the only Muslim country out of 54 that is a demoncracy. You will not hear about the soldiers collecting clothes and school
supplies from the middle of the US, where they are from, and donating those supplies to Iraqi neighborhoods...you will only hear about the failures and tragedies. In the coming months, you will hear a lot of nonsense about the "fairness" of Saddam's trial as well, as if the 400,000 in the mass graves had had that consideration.
So I avoided the Army and joined the Marines...we are
a bit different :)"
Thursday morning. Is my 29th birthday just round the corner already? I've got everything planned ( not much, but it's better than sitting at home -- thank goodness my flu's gone ): Harry Potter 3 tomorrow, then for the day after -- hanging out at SUNTEC to catch the Singapore Idol auditions action, a trip to Raffles City to see Urban Dream Capsule (4 Australian blokes living in a glass case for 2 weeks ), ending off with a sumptuous dinner at a nice restaurant ( will keep that secret for obvious reasons :)). No hot date. Just me and my parents. No gifts -- I find them cheesy, and most of the time, people don't know what it is I want exactly ( except for one good friend who never fails to buy me something I like -- you know who you are :)). I don't feel any different. "Feeling old" hit me at age 25, when a certain individual caused me great pain. The process of spiritual senescence has stagnated since then, which is a good thing. But last night, flipping through photo albums, I notice how 10 years ago, I smiled so much more, but now, the occasional twitch of the corner of my mouth is so hard to come by.
Of course, that's only during picture-taking. Think people who've actually met me have described me as a laughing hyena at one point. The better I know you, the crazier I get, heh heh. :)
Not much to update on today. Azarael, here're 2 movie quotes just for you.
From "Good Will Hunting":
Sean ( Robin Williams ): Do you have a soul mate?
Will ( Matt Damon ): Define that.
Sean: Someone you can relate to, someone who opens things up for you.
Will: Sure, I got plenty.
Sean: Well, name them.
Will: Shakespeare, Nietzsche, Frost, O'Connor...
Sean: Well that's great. They're all dead.
Will: Not to me, they're not.
Sean: You can't have a lot of dialogue with them.
Will: Not without a heater and some serious smelling salts.
Which reminds me, you should rent "The Rainmaker". This was just shown on Vesak Day ( Channel i ), and even though I've seen it before eons ago, it still had me riveted for 2 1/2 hours. Matt Damon was in his early 20s when he got his first big break in the lead role, starring with Jon Voight, Danny DeVito and Mickey Rourke, and directed by none other than the legendary Francis Ford Coppola ( The Godfather trilogy, Bram Stoker's Dracula ). John Grisham novels aren't exactly the most cerebral, but the script ( also adapted by Coppola ) does the story great justice, and the entire cast ( Damon in particular ) give stellar performances. It's basically a David and Goliath tale, but surpasses the more famous / profitable "Erin Brockovich" because of its understated yet far more poignant delivery.
And for "The Royal Tenenbaums"
[Royal ( Gene Hackman ) motions to Pagoda ( his Indian servant )]
Royal: He saved my life, you know. Thirty years ago. I was knifed at a bazaar in Calcutta, and he carried me to the hospital on his back.
Ari: Who stabbed you?
[Royal motions to Pagoda again]
Royal: He did. There was a price on my head, and he was a hired assassin. Stuck me in the gut with a shiv.
Gotta love it. :)
From an American friend whom I've known for 3 years. Here're some things you DON'T read about in the news.
"At the Nuremburg War Crimes Trial following World War II, Albert Speere spoke in his own defense regarding his role in the Holocaust. Speere was the man that designed the final solution for Hilter and the boys, and did the organization elements of the trains that
dropped off their loads at the camps. Speere's defense was, "I was just following orders." Speere was hung.
Now, regarding Abu Ghraib, the military announced the investigation into the abuse in January 2003. The army uncovered these abuses, and was actively conducting an investigation. The New York Times printed a 970 word story. An update (370 words) on the abuse investigation was printed in the New York Times in March 2003 when the military issued a press release stating at what stage the investigation was in. Neither of these two stories got any attention because they were without photos. Then in May, the photos were leaked.
The seven soldiers involved stated that "We were following orders." Now to begin with, the female soldier in those photos holding the leash and pointing and smiling was not
assigned to Abu Ghraib prison. She was there visiting her boyfriend. Her boyfriend was a higher-ranking soldier assigned to the prison. She is now pregnant with his baby. Now am I to believe that she was ordered to go to a duty station that she was not assigned to during her time off, and participate in those photos for someone who was not her commanding officer? Was she also ordered to have a boyfriend of superior rank (forbidden in the army), and to have relations with him (forbidden in the army), and to get pregnant (forbidden)? Probably not.
Now let's focus on the so-called general-in-charge at Abu Ghraib. She is a reservist who claims that she is not responsible because military intelligence was responsible for that phase of the operation. Horse-s**t! She had a reputation for allowing for a complete breakdown in military discipline, including not requiring her officers and enlisted ranks to salute each other, soldiers referring to each other by their first names, and no properly overseeing her operation. She should be tried, and convicted of dereliction of duty, among other charges. Her junior officers should take the fall as well.
Now, it should be stated that I have not seen much of anything that violates the Geneva Convention, with the exception of the barking dog photo, and the fact that
photos were taken. You are allowed to deprive prisoners of sleep, and to break them down mentally so long as they are fed, their health is not in jeopardy, they are not humiliated (ambiguous, but usually refers to public humiliation), etc. I did not see Americans chopping anyone's head off on TV, or interviewing prisoners on CNN, or burning anyone to death and dragging their bodies through the street and hanging them from a bridge. Did you happen to notice the number of days those events were on the news compared
to the number of days the Abu Ghraid scandal was on the front pages? Chop off a head, burn humans alive and hang them from a bridge and you get 12 hours of coverage, and then it disappears forver. If you are the US, and some idiots stack some naked guys, 16 straight days of page one coverage.
To explain this, you have to look back to 1968, in Vietnam. I know you have seen the photo of the South Vietnamese soldier holding a gun to the head of a Viet Cong, and shooting him in the head. It is a famous photo in the US, and it made Americans feel bad about the war. What the photo does not communicate is that the man being executed had, moments before, killed a South Vietnamese General, his wife, and his four children, ages 12, 10, 6, and 2. The photos at Abu Ghraib are meant to demoralize the American public,
make them turn against the war, and elect John Kerry in November, because Kerry is a liberal just like the news organizations. You will not hear, for example, that breast cancer surgeries have resumed after a 30 year absence in Iraq. You will not hear much about the fact that this is currently the only Muslim country out of 54 that is a demoncracy. You will not hear about the soldiers collecting clothes and school
supplies from the middle of the US, where they are from, and donating those supplies to Iraqi neighborhoods...you will only hear about the failures and tragedies. In the coming months, you will hear a lot of nonsense about the "fairness" of Saddam's trial as well, as if the 400,000 in the mass graves had had that consideration.
So I avoided the Army and joined the Marines...we are
a bit different :)"
Thursday morning. Is my 29th birthday just round the corner already? I've got everything planned ( not much, but it's better than sitting at home -- thank goodness my flu's gone ): Harry Potter 3 tomorrow, then for the day after -- hanging out at SUNTEC to catch the Singapore Idol auditions action, a trip to Raffles City to see Urban Dream Capsule (4 Australian blokes living in a glass case for 2 weeks ), ending off with a sumptuous dinner at a nice restaurant ( will keep that secret for obvious reasons :)). No hot date. Just me and my parents. No gifts -- I find them cheesy, and most of the time, people don't know what it is I want exactly ( except for one good friend who never fails to buy me something I like -- you know who you are :)). I don't feel any different. "Feeling old" hit me at age 25, when a certain individual caused me great pain. The process of spiritual senescence has stagnated since then, which is a good thing. But last night, flipping through photo albums, I notice how 10 years ago, I smiled so much more, but now, the occasional twitch of the corner of my mouth is so hard to come by.
Of course, that's only during picture-taking. Think people who've actually met me have described me as a laughing hyena at one point. The better I know you, the crazier I get, heh heh. :)
Not much to update on today. Azarael, here're 2 movie quotes just for you.
From "Good Will Hunting":
Sean ( Robin Williams ): Do you have a soul mate?
Will ( Matt Damon ): Define that.
Sean: Someone you can relate to, someone who opens things up for you.
Will: Sure, I got plenty.
Sean: Well, name them.
Will: Shakespeare, Nietzsche, Frost, O'Connor...
Sean: Well that's great. They're all dead.
Will: Not to me, they're not.
Sean: You can't have a lot of dialogue with them.
Will: Not without a heater and some serious smelling salts.
Which reminds me, you should rent "The Rainmaker". This was just shown on Vesak Day ( Channel i ), and even though I've seen it before eons ago, it still had me riveted for 2 1/2 hours. Matt Damon was in his early 20s when he got his first big break in the lead role, starring with Jon Voight, Danny DeVito and Mickey Rourke, and directed by none other than the legendary Francis Ford Coppola ( The Godfather trilogy, Bram Stoker's Dracula ). John Grisham novels aren't exactly the most cerebral, but the script ( also adapted by Coppola ) does the story great justice, and the entire cast ( Damon in particular ) give stellar performances. It's basically a David and Goliath tale, but surpasses the more famous / profitable "Erin Brockovich" because of its understated yet far more poignant delivery.
And for "The Royal Tenenbaums"
[Royal ( Gene Hackman ) motions to Pagoda ( his Indian servant )]
Royal: He saved my life, you know. Thirty years ago. I was knifed at a bazaar in Calcutta, and he carried me to the hospital on his back.
Ari: Who stabbed you?
[Royal motions to Pagoda again]
Royal: He did. There was a price on my head, and he was a hired assassin. Stuck me in the gut with a shiv.
Gotta love it. :)
Tuesday, June 01, 2004
Short Update
Get a load of this:
Rance's Blog
Why's it interesting, you ask? Featured in a quarter-page article in Life! today, this site is the talk of the Internet, with hot speculations regarding the writer's true identity. Rumours are rife that he's an "A-list actor" who once wrote that "Suffice to say, I know what it's like to see your picture on the magazine rack every now and again when you pay for groceries."
The possibilities listed include Jim Carrey, Ben Affleck, George Clooney and Owen Wilson. I dropped by the blog just a few minutes ago, and from a quick skim of its contents, I really can't say at this point. Besides, Rance has denied he's anywhere near what the media has painted him out to be. He says he's a "high school failure". But then, aren't quite a few A-list actors? :) Right, so based on that one line, he CANNOT be (1) Matt Damon ( got into Harvard ), (2) David Duchovny ( another Ivy Leaguer ), or (3) Tommy Lee Jones ( bunked with Al Gore in college ).
My best guess at the moment? If I have to choose from the 4 provided, I'd say either Ben Affleck or Owen Wilson. Carrey and Clooney don't strike me as very articulate, at least not in the written format. If it is indeed an actor doing all the blogging, it would make sense ( to me ) if he's also a screenwriter, 'cos it takes some level of intelligence to be able to pen a good script, and these two men have been there, done that -- Affleck got an Oscar with Damon for "Good Will Hunting" ( excellent stuff ), while Wilson co-wrote "The Royal Tenenbaums" with his brother Luke ( terrific ). Wilson, in particular, is a fascinating character: blonde surfer dude looks, a thick American drawl, the ability to combine physical comedy with sexy charm, a broken nose which he refuses to fix, and lots of brain lurking just beneath the brawn. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if he ran a blog like Rance's. It's pretty hilarious. :)
28 Days Later
... I didn't get past the first 30 minutes. Even I'm shocked. :/
Post-call haze. I'd better get down to proper exam revision. The clock's ticking.
Get a load of this:
Rance's Blog
Why's it interesting, you ask? Featured in a quarter-page article in Life! today, this site is the talk of the Internet, with hot speculations regarding the writer's true identity. Rumours are rife that he's an "A-list actor" who once wrote that "Suffice to say, I know what it's like to see your picture on the magazine rack every now and again when you pay for groceries."
The possibilities listed include Jim Carrey, Ben Affleck, George Clooney and Owen Wilson. I dropped by the blog just a few minutes ago, and from a quick skim of its contents, I really can't say at this point. Besides, Rance has denied he's anywhere near what the media has painted him out to be. He says he's a "high school failure". But then, aren't quite a few A-list actors? :) Right, so based on that one line, he CANNOT be (1) Matt Damon ( got into Harvard ), (2) David Duchovny ( another Ivy Leaguer ), or (3) Tommy Lee Jones ( bunked with Al Gore in college ).
My best guess at the moment? If I have to choose from the 4 provided, I'd say either Ben Affleck or Owen Wilson. Carrey and Clooney don't strike me as very articulate, at least not in the written format. If it is indeed an actor doing all the blogging, it would make sense ( to me ) if he's also a screenwriter, 'cos it takes some level of intelligence to be able to pen a good script, and these two men have been there, done that -- Affleck got an Oscar with Damon for "Good Will Hunting" ( excellent stuff ), while Wilson co-wrote "The Royal Tenenbaums" with his brother Luke ( terrific ). Wilson, in particular, is a fascinating character: blonde surfer dude looks, a thick American drawl, the ability to combine physical comedy with sexy charm, a broken nose which he refuses to fix, and lots of brain lurking just beneath the brawn. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if he ran a blog like Rance's. It's pretty hilarious. :)
28 Days Later
... I didn't get past the first 30 minutes. Even I'm shocked. :/
Post-call haze. I'd better get down to proper exam revision. The clock's ticking.
Resistance Is Futile
Two examples:
#1: It's 3am. It's my rest time. And I'm blogging. Someone please throttle me now.
#2: New meaning to the term "shift requests". Over here, it appears that making a request automatically saddles you with the opposite of what you want. Oh, so you need to be off on this day do you? Well then, let me make DOUBLY SURE you WORK! Looking at my June roster was mighty depressing. But at least I've got 3 days of leave in the last week. Will be doing night on my birthday, but hey, I don't start till 11pm, which gives me an entire day to fill with loads of nonsensical activities. :)
Singapore Idol's judges were announced this evening. My mom gave me a quick call ('cos I told her to), and I'm a little surrprised Jacintha and Anita Sarawak aren't part of the team. And no Kumar or Najip Ali?! So does that mean everyone's going to be nice then? How absolutely boring. :P
Just watched "House of Sand And Fog" this afternoon. Was floored by it 'cos it's just THAT good. Okay, so never mind that it's hard to believe someone as exquisite as Jennifer Connelly would be stuck in house-cleaning jobs. ( Almost as dumb as the concept of Nicole Kidman as a janitor in "The Human Stain". ) But the film is well-paced and extremely touching, with just enough irony to make it interesting, and not too much drama to tip it over into a shameless weepie. Extenuating circumstances turn otherwise mild humans into desperate creatures. But no-one can be labelled the good or bad guy here, and that's the beauty of it. Every time you start sympathizing with one or the other, something else occurs that makes you switch sides. In the end, I think, both characters deserve our empathy.
Ben Kingsley ( who plays the male lead )has always had a very respectable acting career, but there's one scene that lingers in my mind: in the last 15 minutes of the film, as he charges through a hospital corridor searching for the ER, he keeps mumbling the word "emergency" over and over again, while stumbling along with a glassy look in his eyes. Suddenly, he crouches, bends over almost, and wails "emergen-CEEEE!", causing by-standers to reel back in shock. Following that split second of agony, he's up on his feet again, running off to continue his mission.
Wow.
I've got "28 Days Later" sitting at home, which I shall get to after my shift ends. Will be leaving the hospital at 6am, bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! I'll review the show another time. :D
And if, for some reason you're at home today at around 9am, be sure to tune in to The Oprah Winfrey Show on cable Channel 18, for her interviews with the stars of "Troy". It's a repeat telecast of Monday afternoon's episode, which I managed to catch only 30 minutes of 'cos I got home late after lunch. In a nutshell: Eric Bana is one fantastic-looking man. He's taller than Brad Pitt, which I didn't realize till now. And he just looks... yummy. Sorry, I shouldn't drool in front of others. :P
There's a segment where Oprah plays a clip from an ancient Pitt movie -- "Johnny Suede" -- in which he sports 4-feet-high hair, and sings while strumming a guitar. He can hold a tune, but when Oprah tells her audience "Did you know Brad can sing?", he quickly corrects her by dryly replying, "Wait a minute, Oprah -- Brad canNOT sing." That was funny. :D
In Reply To Fellow Bloggers
re-minisce: suprapubic aspirations of paeds patients? Is that how it works in the UK? Or were you joking? Sorry, can never tell with The Man With The Mysterious Sense of Humour. ;)
Lucian: Further details of The Joint Venture have to remain vague for the moment, for err, security reasons, heh heh. But more information will be supplied on a timely basis, so be patient. :)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban opens this week. Better book my tickets online now. :D
Two examples:
#1: It's 3am. It's my rest time. And I'm blogging. Someone please throttle me now.
#2: New meaning to the term "shift requests". Over here, it appears that making a request automatically saddles you with the opposite of what you want. Oh, so you need to be off on this day do you? Well then, let me make DOUBLY SURE you WORK! Looking at my June roster was mighty depressing. But at least I've got 3 days of leave in the last week. Will be doing night on my birthday, but hey, I don't start till 11pm, which gives me an entire day to fill with loads of nonsensical activities. :)
Singapore Idol's judges were announced this evening. My mom gave me a quick call ('cos I told her to), and I'm a little surrprised Jacintha and Anita Sarawak aren't part of the team. And no Kumar or Najip Ali?! So does that mean everyone's going to be nice then? How absolutely boring. :P
Just watched "House of Sand And Fog" this afternoon. Was floored by it 'cos it's just THAT good. Okay, so never mind that it's hard to believe someone as exquisite as Jennifer Connelly would be stuck in house-cleaning jobs. ( Almost as dumb as the concept of Nicole Kidman as a janitor in "The Human Stain". ) But the film is well-paced and extremely touching, with just enough irony to make it interesting, and not too much drama to tip it over into a shameless weepie. Extenuating circumstances turn otherwise mild humans into desperate creatures. But no-one can be labelled the good or bad guy here, and that's the beauty of it. Every time you start sympathizing with one or the other, something else occurs that makes you switch sides. In the end, I think, both characters deserve our empathy.
Ben Kingsley ( who plays the male lead )has always had a very respectable acting career, but there's one scene that lingers in my mind: in the last 15 minutes of the film, as he charges through a hospital corridor searching for the ER, he keeps mumbling the word "emergency" over and over again, while stumbling along with a glassy look in his eyes. Suddenly, he crouches, bends over almost, and wails "emergen-CEEEE!", causing by-standers to reel back in shock. Following that split second of agony, he's up on his feet again, running off to continue his mission.
Wow.
I've got "28 Days Later" sitting at home, which I shall get to after my shift ends. Will be leaving the hospital at 6am, bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! I'll review the show another time. :D
And if, for some reason you're at home today at around 9am, be sure to tune in to The Oprah Winfrey Show on cable Channel 18, for her interviews with the stars of "Troy". It's a repeat telecast of Monday afternoon's episode, which I managed to catch only 30 minutes of 'cos I got home late after lunch. In a nutshell: Eric Bana is one fantastic-looking man. He's taller than Brad Pitt, which I didn't realize till now. And he just looks... yummy. Sorry, I shouldn't drool in front of others. :P
There's a segment where Oprah plays a clip from an ancient Pitt movie -- "Johnny Suede" -- in which he sports 4-feet-high hair, and sings while strumming a guitar. He can hold a tune, but when Oprah tells her audience "Did you know Brad can sing?", he quickly corrects her by dryly replying, "Wait a minute, Oprah -- Brad canNOT sing." That was funny. :D
In Reply To Fellow Bloggers
re-minisce: suprapubic aspirations of paeds patients? Is that how it works in the UK? Or were you joking? Sorry, can never tell with The Man With The Mysterious Sense of Humour. ;)
Lucian: Further details of The Joint Venture have to remain vague for the moment, for err, security reasons, heh heh. But more information will be supplied on a timely basis, so be patient. :)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban opens this week. Better book my tickets online now. :D
Saturday, May 29, 2004
It's the weekend, and here I am nursing a tension headache at home on a Saturday night. Sigh.
Am actually seeing close to 30 cases per shift at my current department, despite the occasional parent with a thousand questions about the most minute details, or infants with fevers whom I can't clear from my list because they just fail to produce any urine even after 5 hours of waiting. Yes, 5 hours. 300 minutes. Count them. Solution? Believe it or not, in-out catheterizations. My first cath of a tiny 3 or 6 month old made me extremely nervous ( ack, what if I damage something?! ), but it's surprisingly a lot easier than adults, with their urethral strictures, hypertrophied prostates, uterovaginal prolapses and what not.
So Fantasia Barrino has been crowned this year's American Idol. I didn't really like her at first -- especially after her outburst at Simon early in the competition -- but she's mellowed over the past few months, and worked hard to become the victor. Will I buy her album though? Err, sorry, nope. The only Idol worthy of my money so far is Clay Aiken. :)
Singapore Idol auditions commence 5 June. No word about my roster as yet, but if I'm free, I'll be dropping by SUNTEC to catch the action, plus some chow for my celebratory birthday dinner. Need to finish a roll of film so I can develop my photos with the Tenors too, heh heh.
More VCD / DVD reviews:
Intolerable Cruelty -- disappointing, considering it's from the Coen brothers. I like George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones, but the story made no sense to me...
Paycheck -- hey, not bad at all. Okay, so the ending was hokey. But the premise is interesting, and no matter what the critics say, I'm a Ben Affleck ( and Matt Damon ) fan for life. So there. :)
Cold Creek Manor -- Dennis Quaid, Sharon Stone, Stephen Dorff and Juliette Lewis in a thriller that just never seems to take off. A dream home being threatened by a jealous psychopath? I prefer "Pacific Heights" any day ( Matthew Modine, Michael Keaton, Melanie Griffith ).
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen -- Not as terrible as I expected, but is there something wrong with my VCD, or is it supposed to look colourless all the time? Shane West and Stuart Townsend look really good. Yeah, that's my summary of the movie. :P
Identity -- John Cusack, need I say more? Quite unique, good twist at the end, but on the whole, pretty forgettable. Good way to spend 90 minutes of idle time.
Under The Tuscan Sun -- Love this one! Kinda like "Chocolat", only set in Tuscany. Diane Lane shines in her lead role, and the scenery is breath-taking. Primer for my Italy trip next year maybe? :D Get a load of Raoul Bova, who plays the very delectable Marcello. Is it getting hot in here? ;)
I bought the DVD for "LOTR: Return of the King". Haven't sat down for a full viewing yet, but once I get a day off, I will. Have been selecting various scenes to savour again -- the lighting of the Beacons, Aragorn's walking the Path of the Dead, Shelob's Lair. Wow, it's just amazing how much I love this film.
Nip / Tuck
If you haven't started following the series yet, I strongly urge you to do so ASAP. It keeps getting better and better, I tell you! And Julian McMahon ( Dr. Christian Troy aka the pai kiah -- Hokkien-speak for "bad boy" ) is drop-dead gorgeous ( to me, anyhow ). Last night's episode had a scene where he was forced to seduce a patient so she would drop a 10 million dollar lawsuit against him and his partner. Priceless!
The Joint Venture
My apologies for sounding like a broken tape recorder, but I'm excited, so shoot me.
The site is up, woohoo! We're testing it out, then it'll be all systems go pretty soon. Very promising. Watch for regular updates.
Movie quote time
From "Under The Tuscan Sun"
Frances ( played by Diane Lane ): Do you know the most surprising thing about divorce? It doesn't actually kill you. Like a bullet to the heart or a head-on car wreck. It should. When someone you've promised to cherish till death do you part says "I never loved you," it should kill you instantly. You shouldn't have to wake up day after day after that, trying to understand how in the world you didn't know. The light just never went on, you know. I must have known, of course, but I was too scared to see the truth. Then fear just makes you so stupid.
Martini: No, it's not stupid, Signora Mayes. L'amore e cieco.
Frances: Oh, love is blind. Yeah, we have that saying too.
Martini: Everybody has that saying because it's true everywhere.
Have a great weekend!
Am actually seeing close to 30 cases per shift at my current department, despite the occasional parent with a thousand questions about the most minute details, or infants with fevers whom I can't clear from my list because they just fail to produce any urine even after 5 hours of waiting. Yes, 5 hours. 300 minutes. Count them. Solution? Believe it or not, in-out catheterizations. My first cath of a tiny 3 or 6 month old made me extremely nervous ( ack, what if I damage something?! ), but it's surprisingly a lot easier than adults, with their urethral strictures, hypertrophied prostates, uterovaginal prolapses and what not.
So Fantasia Barrino has been crowned this year's American Idol. I didn't really like her at first -- especially after her outburst at Simon early in the competition -- but she's mellowed over the past few months, and worked hard to become the victor. Will I buy her album though? Err, sorry, nope. The only Idol worthy of my money so far is Clay Aiken. :)
Singapore Idol auditions commence 5 June. No word about my roster as yet, but if I'm free, I'll be dropping by SUNTEC to catch the action, plus some chow for my celebratory birthday dinner. Need to finish a roll of film so I can develop my photos with the Tenors too, heh heh.
More VCD / DVD reviews:
Intolerable Cruelty -- disappointing, considering it's from the Coen brothers. I like George Clooney and Catherine Zeta-Jones, but the story made no sense to me...
Paycheck -- hey, not bad at all. Okay, so the ending was hokey. But the premise is interesting, and no matter what the critics say, I'm a Ben Affleck ( and Matt Damon ) fan for life. So there. :)
Cold Creek Manor -- Dennis Quaid, Sharon Stone, Stephen Dorff and Juliette Lewis in a thriller that just never seems to take off. A dream home being threatened by a jealous psychopath? I prefer "Pacific Heights" any day ( Matthew Modine, Michael Keaton, Melanie Griffith ).
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen -- Not as terrible as I expected, but is there something wrong with my VCD, or is it supposed to look colourless all the time? Shane West and Stuart Townsend look really good. Yeah, that's my summary of the movie. :P
Identity -- John Cusack, need I say more? Quite unique, good twist at the end, but on the whole, pretty forgettable. Good way to spend 90 minutes of idle time.
Under The Tuscan Sun -- Love this one! Kinda like "Chocolat", only set in Tuscany. Diane Lane shines in her lead role, and the scenery is breath-taking. Primer for my Italy trip next year maybe? :D Get a load of Raoul Bova, who plays the very delectable Marcello. Is it getting hot in here? ;)
I bought the DVD for "LOTR: Return of the King". Haven't sat down for a full viewing yet, but once I get a day off, I will. Have been selecting various scenes to savour again -- the lighting of the Beacons, Aragorn's walking the Path of the Dead, Shelob's Lair. Wow, it's just amazing how much I love this film.
Nip / Tuck
If you haven't started following the series yet, I strongly urge you to do so ASAP. It keeps getting better and better, I tell you! And Julian McMahon ( Dr. Christian Troy aka the pai kiah -- Hokkien-speak for "bad boy" ) is drop-dead gorgeous ( to me, anyhow ). Last night's episode had a scene where he was forced to seduce a patient so she would drop a 10 million dollar lawsuit against him and his partner. Priceless!
The Joint Venture
My apologies for sounding like a broken tape recorder, but I'm excited, so shoot me.
The site is up, woohoo! We're testing it out, then it'll be all systems go pretty soon. Very promising. Watch for regular updates.
Movie quote time
From "Under The Tuscan Sun"
Frances ( played by Diane Lane ): Do you know the most surprising thing about divorce? It doesn't actually kill you. Like a bullet to the heart or a head-on car wreck. It should. When someone you've promised to cherish till death do you part says "I never loved you," it should kill you instantly. You shouldn't have to wake up day after day after that, trying to understand how in the world you didn't know. The light just never went on, you know. I must have known, of course, but I was too scared to see the truth. Then fear just makes you so stupid.
Martini: No, it's not stupid, Signora Mayes. L'amore e cieco.
Frances: Oh, love is blind. Yeah, we have that saying too.
Martini: Everybody has that saying because it's true everywhere.
Have a great weekend!
Wednesday, May 26, 2004
On The Road...
...to recovery! Yes!
And in good time too. Night shift today, followed by an M+M meeting tomorrow morning, during which I'm supposed to present a case of phaechromocytoma. Presentation just done, which exonerates all feelings of guilt as I blog, heh heh.
Did the EES save my throat, or would I have gotten well on my own eventually? Guess I'll never know. Nice to have my voice back. Choice of song to try singing today: Jamie Cullum's What A Difference A Day Made. :)
American Idol 3 concludes this week. Funny how I've hardly talked about it, considering my lengthy analyses of AI2 when Clay was a contestant. I don't know. The magic just wasn't palpable this time round. I thought Jon Peter Lewis had it, but he quickly fizzled and was eliminated. George Huff was quite interesting, but didn't survive the cut. With the multiple voting debacles and Jasmine advancing much further than she deserved, I've lost faith in the franchise, and the final outcome elicits nothing more than mild curiosity now. Diana or Fantasia? Who the heck cares?!
At least I have The Bachelor 4 to keep me entertained. This season's a bit different from the rest -- everyone knows who the guy is, and all the women are already hung on him. Bob Guiney is extremely likeable ( talk about an infectious laugh! :)), and it's fun to see how gorgeous gals fall all over themselves in his presence. There's hope for the underdog yet!
My Apologies
For not posting more about my medical exploits of late. In the interest of the Joint Venture ( shameless pimping, haha :P), I'll leave such accounts for a later date. But feel free to visit other medical links provided on the right. Guaranteed to provide hours of immense reading pleasure.
Just want to share something from Time magazine's 100 World's Most Influential People issue. Here's their profile of Peter Jackson, who's included in the list of Artists & Entertainers:
"In 1996, Roger Ebert called Peter Jackson's The Frighteners "a film that looks more like a demo reel than a movie -- like the kind of audition tape a special-effects expert would put together, hoping to impress a producer enough to give him a real job." Ebert couldn't have known how right he was. For in making the film, Jackson had amassed a gigaload of effects technology. He just needed the right subject in which to put his cybertoys to spectacular use.
The subject, we know, was the Middle-earth wars. J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings books handed Jackson a quest story involving dozens of exotic species and hundreds of dreamlike or infernal settings. Over a seven-year stretch in his native New Zealand, Jackson brought this vast canvas to life, eventually earning nearly $3 billion in movie theaters and oodles more on home formats. He blended live action and computer animation in a way that could not have been realized, or even imagined, 10 years ago. Just as important, the trilogy infused the fantasy genre with a grace and gravity unseen on such a huge scale. LOTR was an artistic and financial coup so impressive that even the Motion Picture Academy was bowled over, giving the film a record-tying 11 Oscars.
Today the project sounds golden. But Hollywood didn't always think so. Disney-Miramax rejected Jackson's proposal, even at a compromised two-film length... potential sponsors had only to measure the $300 million Jackson needed to make the trilogy against the measly $35 million or so his five previous features had earned worldwide.
Jackson's duty, as he saw it, was to make a faithful translation of Middle-earth -- a kind of transmedial cloning. His triumph was to oversee a production as mammoth as his early films had been intimate, and to keep the grand scheme in mind while enriching each screen moment. Moveimakers appreciated the breadth and depth of his commitment. And studio execs learned that once in a while it's a good bet to trust a director's passion and vision.
Now that Jackson has all this power, what will he do with it? Remake King Kong , a monster film he has loved since his youth. And Universal Pictures is happy to bankroll the third version of a story that most people thought was perfect the first time around and the redundant the second.
This might seem to be the whim of a rich kid in a man's body. But the smart money was wrong before in underestimating Jackson's imagination and ambition. It would be folly to do so again."
-- by Richard Corliss, film correspondent for Time
Well said! My admiration for Jackson and his LOTR team isn't restricted to pure movie enjoyment, but extends far beyond, thanks to hunting down multiple documentaries and reading materials on their long and arduous journey in bringing this masterpiece to life, as well as an amazing eye-opening experience during my foray to Middle-earth itself last December -- breath-taking, gorgeous New Zealand, filled with the friendliest people I've ever met, and LOTR tours that offer huge chunks of encyclopaedic knowledge.
My recurring interest in Jackson is also influenced by the Wellington Rover LOTR itinerary. In addition to taking us to filming locations for Helm's Deep, Rivendell, the River Anduin, the Gardens of Isengard, and favourite cast / crew hangouts like The Chocolate Fish Cafe along the Miramar Peninsula, there's one feature that I'm not at liberty to discuss, but is forever seared into my memory. I respect Wellington Rover's wishes to keep this particular detail secret, but anyone who joins the tour will see it, and believe me, it's an indescribable feeling. After that, Peter Jackson will hold an entirely different sort of significance for you. :)
By the way, I passed the boat which will be used in King Kong -- it's a white-and-green vessel which was anchored along the coast the day we drove by, but we couldn't stop for photos. Our guide, Dan, says it will be undergoing a major overhaul ( including a paint job ), so it may look completely different. Still, I'll be looking out for it in the film.
LOTR: The Return of the King is out on video and disc. Go get it!
...to recovery! Yes!
And in good time too. Night shift today, followed by an M+M meeting tomorrow morning, during which I'm supposed to present a case of phaechromocytoma. Presentation just done, which exonerates all feelings of guilt as I blog, heh heh.
Did the EES save my throat, or would I have gotten well on my own eventually? Guess I'll never know. Nice to have my voice back. Choice of song to try singing today: Jamie Cullum's What A Difference A Day Made. :)
American Idol 3 concludes this week. Funny how I've hardly talked about it, considering my lengthy analyses of AI2 when Clay was a contestant. I don't know. The magic just wasn't palpable this time round. I thought Jon Peter Lewis had it, but he quickly fizzled and was eliminated. George Huff was quite interesting, but didn't survive the cut. With the multiple voting debacles and Jasmine advancing much further than she deserved, I've lost faith in the franchise, and the final outcome elicits nothing more than mild curiosity now. Diana or Fantasia? Who the heck cares?!
At least I have The Bachelor 4 to keep me entertained. This season's a bit different from the rest -- everyone knows who the guy is, and all the women are already hung on him. Bob Guiney is extremely likeable ( talk about an infectious laugh! :)), and it's fun to see how gorgeous gals fall all over themselves in his presence. There's hope for the underdog yet!
My Apologies
For not posting more about my medical exploits of late. In the interest of the Joint Venture ( shameless pimping, haha :P), I'll leave such accounts for a later date. But feel free to visit other medical links provided on the right. Guaranteed to provide hours of immense reading pleasure.
Just want to share something from Time magazine's 100 World's Most Influential People issue. Here's their profile of Peter Jackson, who's included in the list of Artists & Entertainers:
"In 1996, Roger Ebert called Peter Jackson's The Frighteners "a film that looks more like a demo reel than a movie -- like the kind of audition tape a special-effects expert would put together, hoping to impress a producer enough to give him a real job." Ebert couldn't have known how right he was. For in making the film, Jackson had amassed a gigaload of effects technology. He just needed the right subject in which to put his cybertoys to spectacular use.
The subject, we know, was the Middle-earth wars. J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings books handed Jackson a quest story involving dozens of exotic species and hundreds of dreamlike or infernal settings. Over a seven-year stretch in his native New Zealand, Jackson brought this vast canvas to life, eventually earning nearly $3 billion in movie theaters and oodles more on home formats. He blended live action and computer animation in a way that could not have been realized, or even imagined, 10 years ago. Just as important, the trilogy infused the fantasy genre with a grace and gravity unseen on such a huge scale. LOTR was an artistic and financial coup so impressive that even the Motion Picture Academy was bowled over, giving the film a record-tying 11 Oscars.
Today the project sounds golden. But Hollywood didn't always think so. Disney-Miramax rejected Jackson's proposal, even at a compromised two-film length... potential sponsors had only to measure the $300 million Jackson needed to make the trilogy against the measly $35 million or so his five previous features had earned worldwide.
Jackson's duty, as he saw it, was to make a faithful translation of Middle-earth -- a kind of transmedial cloning. His triumph was to oversee a production as mammoth as his early films had been intimate, and to keep the grand scheme in mind while enriching each screen moment. Moveimakers appreciated the breadth and depth of his commitment. And studio execs learned that once in a while it's a good bet to trust a director's passion and vision.
Now that Jackson has all this power, what will he do with it? Remake King Kong , a monster film he has loved since his youth. And Universal Pictures is happy to bankroll the third version of a story that most people thought was perfect the first time around and the redundant the second.
This might seem to be the whim of a rich kid in a man's body. But the smart money was wrong before in underestimating Jackson's imagination and ambition. It would be folly to do so again."
-- by Richard Corliss, film correspondent for Time
Well said! My admiration for Jackson and his LOTR team isn't restricted to pure movie enjoyment, but extends far beyond, thanks to hunting down multiple documentaries and reading materials on their long and arduous journey in bringing this masterpiece to life, as well as an amazing eye-opening experience during my foray to Middle-earth itself last December -- breath-taking, gorgeous New Zealand, filled with the friendliest people I've ever met, and LOTR tours that offer huge chunks of encyclopaedic knowledge.
My recurring interest in Jackson is also influenced by the Wellington Rover LOTR itinerary. In addition to taking us to filming locations for Helm's Deep, Rivendell, the River Anduin, the Gardens of Isengard, and favourite cast / crew hangouts like The Chocolate Fish Cafe along the Miramar Peninsula, there's one feature that I'm not at liberty to discuss, but is forever seared into my memory. I respect Wellington Rover's wishes to keep this particular detail secret, but anyone who joins the tour will see it, and believe me, it's an indescribable feeling. After that, Peter Jackson will hold an entirely different sort of significance for you. :)
By the way, I passed the boat which will be used in King Kong -- it's a white-and-green vessel which was anchored along the coast the day we drove by, but we couldn't stop for photos. Our guide, Dan, says it will be undergoing a major overhaul ( including a paint job ), so it may look completely different. Still, I'll be looking out for it in the film.
LOTR: The Return of the King is out on video and disc. Go get it!
Monday, May 24, 2004
Checking In
Is it Day 7 of my URTI already? Okay, that doesn't make sense. No URTI lasts a week, especially since I'm STILL nowhere near my normal state. The EES is kicking in though, and my voice is improving, though at a painfully slow pace, interspersed with the occasional bout of debilitating coughing / hacking episodes. Was contemplating a CXR at some point, but why bother really? I'd feel guilty taking medical leave anyhow. Won't subject myself to more stress by entertaining the possiblity of a raging pneumonia, thank you very much.
Work continues at spinal-reflex level. Fever? Antipyretics, sponging, fluids, fever advice blah blah blah. Abdominal pain? First-line: fleet enema, THEN we'll talk further. :) I kinda enjoy trauma cases -- lacerations, fractures, etc. Less explaining, more doing, sedation if the kid decides to kick up a fuss ( almost ruptured my tympanic membrane last night when I tried to stitch a 2-year-old after applying the usually dependable LET gel to the wound, but the child is quite the fusspot, and fought 3 grown adults for 5 whole minutes, causing my suture knots to loosen before I could secure them properly, after which I said, "That's IT! Knock her out!" -- in front of the parents, 'cos I couldn't care less anymore. It was midnight, she was the last case I saw before I could go home on time for once, and I wasn't in the mood for any nonsense, hmph. )
Still haven't seen any resus cases, but I'll get my chance soon enough I suppose. A friend attended to a toddler who perished in a road traffic accident, but details are pending and I'm not sure how this event has affected him. Believe it or not, for some reason, I've never witnessed a paediatric death firsthand before, even though I did paeds as an intern ( with a full month in paeds oncology ), and have done quite a number of A&E rotations. Well, it's certainly something I can do without.
Quick Rundown
What do you do when you're sick and incapable of anything productive? Why, you vegetate big-time, of course. In my case, by renting truckloads of VCDs / DVDs.
Mona Lisa Smile -- shallow and uninspiring.
Secondhand Lions -- a little too childish and winsome for me, Haley Joel Osment's a fine actor, but he's also growing up, and needs to look... happier. For once!
Phone Booth -- Joel Shumacher and Colin Farrell couldn't even save this stinker.
Love Actually -- unexpectedly boring, despite a stellar cast and a screenwriter with a (previously) untainted track record. How could this happen!?
Seabiscuit -- not too bad, but I've seen better.
The Italian Job -- finally, something good! Really enjoyed this one, but can't compare to its blockbuster counterparts ( e.g. Ocean's Eleven ). Thank goodness for Edward Norton, Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron. Plus a thumping soundtrack from John Powell ( The Bourne Identity ).
I've got The Last Samurai left to view. Don't expect much, but hey, it only cost me 3 bucks. :)
Target Launch Date
Teaser countdown for that "joint venture" I mentioned in earlier posts. :D
Aiming for July 1st. Keep your eyes peeled.
Movie Quote for the Day
Here's one from a film I DON'T like. But hey, it earns points for campiness. :)
Velkan ( Anna's brother -- the dude who turns into a werewolf ): I'd rather die than help you!
Count Vladislaus Dracula: Oh, don't be boring. Everyone who says that dies.
Is it Day 7 of my URTI already? Okay, that doesn't make sense. No URTI lasts a week, especially since I'm STILL nowhere near my normal state. The EES is kicking in though, and my voice is improving, though at a painfully slow pace, interspersed with the occasional bout of debilitating coughing / hacking episodes. Was contemplating a CXR at some point, but why bother really? I'd feel guilty taking medical leave anyhow. Won't subject myself to more stress by entertaining the possiblity of a raging pneumonia, thank you very much.
Work continues at spinal-reflex level. Fever? Antipyretics, sponging, fluids, fever advice blah blah blah. Abdominal pain? First-line: fleet enema, THEN we'll talk further. :) I kinda enjoy trauma cases -- lacerations, fractures, etc. Less explaining, more doing, sedation if the kid decides to kick up a fuss ( almost ruptured my tympanic membrane last night when I tried to stitch a 2-year-old after applying the usually dependable LET gel to the wound, but the child is quite the fusspot, and fought 3 grown adults for 5 whole minutes, causing my suture knots to loosen before I could secure them properly, after which I said, "That's IT! Knock her out!" -- in front of the parents, 'cos I couldn't care less anymore. It was midnight, she was the last case I saw before I could go home on time for once, and I wasn't in the mood for any nonsense, hmph. )
Still haven't seen any resus cases, but I'll get my chance soon enough I suppose. A friend attended to a toddler who perished in a road traffic accident, but details are pending and I'm not sure how this event has affected him. Believe it or not, for some reason, I've never witnessed a paediatric death firsthand before, even though I did paeds as an intern ( with a full month in paeds oncology ), and have done quite a number of A&E rotations. Well, it's certainly something I can do without.
Quick Rundown
What do you do when you're sick and incapable of anything productive? Why, you vegetate big-time, of course. In my case, by renting truckloads of VCDs / DVDs.
Mona Lisa Smile -- shallow and uninspiring.
Secondhand Lions -- a little too childish and winsome for me, Haley Joel Osment's a fine actor, but he's also growing up, and needs to look... happier. For once!
Phone Booth -- Joel Shumacher and Colin Farrell couldn't even save this stinker.
Love Actually -- unexpectedly boring, despite a stellar cast and a screenwriter with a (previously) untainted track record. How could this happen!?
Seabiscuit -- not too bad, but I've seen better.
The Italian Job -- finally, something good! Really enjoyed this one, but can't compare to its blockbuster counterparts ( e.g. Ocean's Eleven ). Thank goodness for Edward Norton, Mark Wahlberg and Charlize Theron. Plus a thumping soundtrack from John Powell ( The Bourne Identity ).
I've got The Last Samurai left to view. Don't expect much, but hey, it only cost me 3 bucks. :)
Target Launch Date
Teaser countdown for that "joint venture" I mentioned in earlier posts. :D
Aiming for July 1st. Keep your eyes peeled.
Movie Quote for the Day
Here's one from a film I DON'T like. But hey, it earns points for campiness. :)
Velkan ( Anna's brother -- the dude who turns into a werewolf ): I'd rather die than help you!
Count Vladislaus Dracula: Oh, don't be boring. Everyone who says that dies.
Friday, May 21, 2004
Ugh
It's Day 5 of the flu, and my voice still hasn't returned. Went back to work on Day 4, with catastrophic results -- my slightly better larynx deteriorated towards the end of my shift, and now I'm back to square one. Also, my nose is starting to give problems. What kind of bug IS THIS?!?!
Anyhow, re-minisce, I made the changes you asked for. Not too sure about their significance, but hope it worked. :)
Post from The Ten Tenors' Managing Director
... can be seen under the comments box for my last entry ( May 18 2004 ). I dropped them an email, which is how they know about my blog. Very nice of Matthew to post something. Thank you!
Btw, the August entry he mentioned is in the archives, under August 16 2003. That was the first time I saw the guys in concert. Ahh, good memories. :)
Matthew Hickey's Message on The Ten Tenors' Website
Nip/Tuck
Website here
It's finally here -- one of the edgiest medical dramas around is now being screened on local television, despite its controversial content.
If the pilot episode is anything to go by, this series promises to deliver more eyebrow-raising, stomach-churning moments in the months to come. In the 90-minute premiere, we're already treated to scenes of liposuction ( crude and messy, we all know, but one wrong move by an uptight patient's relative and everything literally gets hurled in all directions -- yuck! ), jetsetting / sexually promiscuous plastic surgeon lifestyles, a scene that borders adultery ( though ultimately not consummated ), and a torture chamber sequence using Botox as a weapon.
Too extreme for you? Then you'd better not watch it. This is one of those shows that you either love or hate. Or even both. I love it for being, well, different. It can be a little too much at times, but at the end of the day, it gets me thinking, and that's what's important. But then, I also hate it because it depicts surgeons in such a blood-curdling manner -- they're in it for the wealth and the women, they'll even take drug money because it's just so easy. Hardly something docs everywhere would be happy with, even if some of this stuff is true ( speaking as someone "in the know", part of it is DEFINITELY real, even in the local context ).
The next question is: which character do you gravitate towards? Is it guy-with-a-conscience Sean McNamara ( Dylan Walsh ), or bad-boy-to-the-core Christian Troy ( Julian McMahon )? Traditionally at least, the good guys are often bland, so yeah, I prefer Christian, imperfections and all. McMahon possesses the dark looks and sex appeal to pull this role off, with an ability to be menacing and cold with a client, yet soft and kind with an ex-flame.
The 2nd episode ( and the rest of the first season ) airs every Friday at 11pm starting tonight, after The Bachelor 4, which boasts Bob Guiney, the boyish funnyman from The Bachelorette, in the hot seat. A treat for the ladies. :D
The movie quotes return
[ Taken from "Snatch", written and directed by Maddona's hubby, Guy Ritchie, and starring Brad Pitt, Benicio Tel Tor, et al. ]
Brick Top ( dispensing-advice mode ): You're always gonna have problems lifting a body in one piece. Apparently the best thing to do is cut up a corpse into six pieces and pile it all together.
Sol ( has a body he doesn't really know how to get rid of ): Would someone mind telling me, who are you?
Brick Top: And when you got your six pieces, you gotta get rid of them, because it's no good leaving it in the deep freeze for your mum to discover, now is it? Then I hear the best thing to do is feed them to pigs. You got to starve the pigs for a few days, then the sight of a chopped-up body will look like curry to a pisshead. You gotta shave the heads of your victims, and pull the teeth out for the sake of the piggies' digestion. You could do this afterwards, of course, but you don't want to go sievin' through pig shit, now do you? They will go through bone like butter. You need at least sixteen pigs to finish the job in one sitting, so be wary of any man who keeps a pig farm. They will go through a body that weighs 200 pounds in about eight minutes. That means that a single pig can consume two pounds of uncooked flesh every minute. Hence the expression, "as greedy as a pig."
This one had me laughing from start to finish. Can't believe I actually caught the jokes despite the heavy accents and multiple slang expressions. I have new-found respect for Ritchie, and rank this among indie greats "Raising Arizona" ( starring Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter in their younger days, written and directed by the unbeatable Coen brothers ) and "Shallow Grave" ( one of Ewan McGregor's earlier films ). Hmm, better add "Ravenous" to that list as well -- super-gory movie set in the wilderness, but sharing a common "dark humour" theme. Right up my alley. :)
Will be on night shift again this evening. Not looking forward to it, considering how my throat acts up at the most unexpected -- and inconvenient -- times, causing me to go into major coughing fits. Ah yes, the hard life of a junior doc never ceases to hit new lows.
Shall use my nap time for napping -- for a change. Next blog entry: who knows when really?
Adieu.
It's Day 5 of the flu, and my voice still hasn't returned. Went back to work on Day 4, with catastrophic results -- my slightly better larynx deteriorated towards the end of my shift, and now I'm back to square one. Also, my nose is starting to give problems. What kind of bug IS THIS?!?!
Anyhow, re-minisce, I made the changes you asked for. Not too sure about their significance, but hope it worked. :)
Post from The Ten Tenors' Managing Director
... can be seen under the comments box for my last entry ( May 18 2004 ). I dropped them an email, which is how they know about my blog. Very nice of Matthew to post something. Thank you!
Btw, the August entry he mentioned is in the archives, under August 16 2003. That was the first time I saw the guys in concert. Ahh, good memories. :)
Matthew Hickey's Message on The Ten Tenors' Website
Nip/Tuck
Website here
It's finally here -- one of the edgiest medical dramas around is now being screened on local television, despite its controversial content.
If the pilot episode is anything to go by, this series promises to deliver more eyebrow-raising, stomach-churning moments in the months to come. In the 90-minute premiere, we're already treated to scenes of liposuction ( crude and messy, we all know, but one wrong move by an uptight patient's relative and everything literally gets hurled in all directions -- yuck! ), jetsetting / sexually promiscuous plastic surgeon lifestyles, a scene that borders adultery ( though ultimately not consummated ), and a torture chamber sequence using Botox as a weapon.
Too extreme for you? Then you'd better not watch it. This is one of those shows that you either love or hate. Or even both. I love it for being, well, different. It can be a little too much at times, but at the end of the day, it gets me thinking, and that's what's important. But then, I also hate it because it depicts surgeons in such a blood-curdling manner -- they're in it for the wealth and the women, they'll even take drug money because it's just so easy. Hardly something docs everywhere would be happy with, even if some of this stuff is true ( speaking as someone "in the know", part of it is DEFINITELY real, even in the local context ).
The next question is: which character do you gravitate towards? Is it guy-with-a-conscience Sean McNamara ( Dylan Walsh ), or bad-boy-to-the-core Christian Troy ( Julian McMahon )? Traditionally at least, the good guys are often bland, so yeah, I prefer Christian, imperfections and all. McMahon possesses the dark looks and sex appeal to pull this role off, with an ability to be menacing and cold with a client, yet soft and kind with an ex-flame.
The 2nd episode ( and the rest of the first season ) airs every Friday at 11pm starting tonight, after The Bachelor 4, which boasts Bob Guiney, the boyish funnyman from The Bachelorette, in the hot seat. A treat for the ladies. :D
The movie quotes return
[ Taken from "Snatch", written and directed by Maddona's hubby, Guy Ritchie, and starring Brad Pitt, Benicio Tel Tor, et al. ]
Brick Top ( dispensing-advice mode ): You're always gonna have problems lifting a body in one piece. Apparently the best thing to do is cut up a corpse into six pieces and pile it all together.
Sol ( has a body he doesn't really know how to get rid of ): Would someone mind telling me, who are you?
Brick Top: And when you got your six pieces, you gotta get rid of them, because it's no good leaving it in the deep freeze for your mum to discover, now is it? Then I hear the best thing to do is feed them to pigs. You got to starve the pigs for a few days, then the sight of a chopped-up body will look like curry to a pisshead. You gotta shave the heads of your victims, and pull the teeth out for the sake of the piggies' digestion. You could do this afterwards, of course, but you don't want to go sievin' through pig shit, now do you? They will go through bone like butter. You need at least sixteen pigs to finish the job in one sitting, so be wary of any man who keeps a pig farm. They will go through a body that weighs 200 pounds in about eight minutes. That means that a single pig can consume two pounds of uncooked flesh every minute. Hence the expression, "as greedy as a pig."
This one had me laughing from start to finish. Can't believe I actually caught the jokes despite the heavy accents and multiple slang expressions. I have new-found respect for Ritchie, and rank this among indie greats "Raising Arizona" ( starring Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter in their younger days, written and directed by the unbeatable Coen brothers ) and "Shallow Grave" ( one of Ewan McGregor's earlier films ). Hmm, better add "Ravenous" to that list as well -- super-gory movie set in the wilderness, but sharing a common "dark humour" theme. Right up my alley. :)
Will be on night shift again this evening. Not looking forward to it, considering how my throat acts up at the most unexpected -- and inconvenient -- times, causing me to go into major coughing fits. Ah yes, the hard life of a junior doc never ceases to hit new lows.
Shall use my nap time for napping -- for a change. Next blog entry: who knows when really?
Adieu.
Tuesday, May 18, 2004
Ahem...
Literally.
I've been hit by the flu bug, no thanks to the influenza vaccine forced on me last October. With the bad weather, hazy skies and major bug-spreading going on right now, PLUS my recent rotation to the paeds ER, small wonder I've been hit. And hit bad.
Started off with a fuzzy throat, then escalated to hoarseness, a low-grade fever and dry cough, before culminating in a near-complete loss of voice this morning. I'm currently down to a whisper / croak, and will be on medical leave till tomorrow. My deepest apologies to the standby guys if they're called down. I would've gone to work if I could. But there's no way I can see patients if they can't even hear me. :(
Anyhow, I may be sick, but I'm far from depressed about it. Had a terrific Monday, thanks to a well-timed day off:
LOTR Exhibition at the Singapore Science Centre
Xena asked if it's worth the $20 admission ticket. My reply: depends on what you consider "worth the money". I got some discount, but even if I'd paid the full price, I have absolutely zero regret. First of all, it is the exhibition's only stop in Asia, in between London and Boston. We're also fortunate enough to be the first venue featuring props from all 3 films.
I took 2 hours to get through everything -- mostly displays of costumes and various accessories like weapons, crowns, rings; some life-size cave troll / goblin / Treebeard models. Each section is accompanied by video presentations that offer in-depth explanations. There's also a booth where you will experience first-hand the camera gimmicks employed in creating the effects responsible for shrinking the likes of Elijah Wood to hobbit proportions.
My favourites are definitely the costumes: Gandalf, Saruman, Arwen, Legolas ( wow, this one is really gorgeous ), Galadriel ( by far the most beautiful ) and Aragorn. I almost freaked out when I read that this is the same one Viggo Mortensen wore throughout the trilogy -- he even washed and mended it himself, thus giving it a very "lived in", slightly tattered look. Like the others, this outfit was protected by a plastic case, but only up till shoulder level. And guess what, I managed to tip-toe and touch its left sleeve. :) Sorry, you just CANNOT put something Mortensen wore right in front of me and expect me to walk off without copping a feel. That put a smile on my face for the rest of the day. :D
I can confidently say that LOTR fans will not be disappointed. A friend who accompanied me is a faithful follower of the series, and was duly impressed. The intricacy of the designs, and sheer ingenuity of the many visual effects, are enough to make you gawk. It was also a nice time to reminisce about my recent NZ trip, whenever filming locations were mentioned and I realized I'd been there. :)
My only complaint is the merchandise store, which sadly didn't stock up on sold-out items like movie posters, mugs and other popular paraphernalia. Thank goodness my friend, who was in NZ last year as well, was kind enough to help buy me an Aragorn T-shirt before returning to Singapore. I really treasure that!
The Ten Tenors Concert @ the Esplanade Theatre
Official website
List of the Tenors
To top off an already excellent day, my smile grew even larger when the guys stepped onto the Singapore stage yet again in the space of just 9 months. After charming the socks off local audiences last August, they graced us with their good-humoured antics once more, playing to a packed hall and an even more appreciative crowd ( in comparison with last year's ). Lots more cat-calling, whistling, squealing, and a unanimous standing ovation after the 3rd encore.
This is my first time in the larger theatre ( I've always attended shows in the smaller concert hall ), and I found the acoustics slightly flawed. The tenors definitely sounded better last year, when they gave a one-night show in the less expansive concert hall. No fault of theirs, believe me. Their voices remain exceptional in tone and control, never wavering even when they're engaged in disco moves, country square dances, rock-star head-banging or cabaret-style high-kicking. The repertoire isn't much different from 2003's, but I'm not complaining! I never tire of their classic covers of Bohemian Rhapsody, Good Vibrations, Dancing Queen, "opera without the boring bits", Rawhide, Love Is In The Air, and the biggest crowd pleaser -- Bee Gees songs.
A few subtle differences this time round: more singing, less banter. I didn't recognize some of the new pieces, and the opera / Australian medley segments had maybe 1 or 2 songs missing.
Still, I just adore these guys, and watching them "live" is always the experience of a lifetime. Consummate performers oozing charm, confidence and loads of rhythm, you'd have to be a corpse in order to NOT enjoy yourself.
Will they be back in 2005? I sure hope so!
Post-Show Surprise
I'm trying to remember if they had this the last time, but I don't think so.
Last night, the tenors were accomodating enough to hang around after the concert to sign autographs and pose for photos in the foyer. Of course, their CDs were being snapped up at a nearby counter, after which you can join a queue and get the opportunity to get every single member's signature and mug shot.
It was a thrilling experience for me, but imagine my amusement when I witnessed middle-aged / elderly ladies turning into groupies as well. :P The woman just before me, who looked like she was in her late 50s or early 60s, kept snapping pictures of the tenors and bantering with them unreservedly, and they returned in kind, striking various side-splitting poses for us ( yep, I took advantage of the situation and clicked away, haha! ). They were so friendly and sweet, with each guy making sure he looked you straight in the eye, before beaming a bright, sincere smile, giving a warm greeting then thanking you for coming.
I didn't want to hold up the line, so I couldn't pose with all of them. However, I'm delighted that I managed to grab my favourite of the lot. Here's his profile:
Tod from The Ten Tenors
I already noticed that around 3 or 4 of the tenors are new, so to speak. Tod is one of them, 'cos honestly, if he'd been around last year, I would've remembered. :) I describe him as a shaggy-haired blonde -- a Rod Stewart look -- but with a much more pleasant voice. A fixture in the 2nd-from-right position on-stage, he takes the lead in songs like Volare, Burn For You and the opening verse to Bohemian Rhapsody. I also heard him sing opera a little, to great effect. He has a very lovable personality, and will no doubt be easily remembered as "the guy who did those pirouettes". In person, he is ( in my opinion at least ) the nicest of the lot, and much better-looking. I was a little nervous when it was my turn to get his autograph, but he put me at ease immediately, flashing a gorgeous smile and talking to me a little as he scribbled his name. I'd already told my friend ( who was gamely helping me snap pictures as I made my way down the line ) that Tod was my favourite and I HAD to get a photo with him, but Tod was very observant, and spotted my friend focussing for a shot, after which he actually said, "Let's pose for a proper one." and roped in 2 other guys ( the younger, cuter ones, heh heh ) for a group pic. Tod leaned in on my right, another was behind me, and the one on my left ( I have to develop the photo in order to identify him, 'cos everything went by so fast! ) even plastered himself to me, and according to my mom, put his cheek right next to mine. Haha! That was a real icing on the cake!
All I can say is, the Ten Tenors have oodles of talent, and will surely win the world over someday. Thanks, guys, for making me forget my flu for 2 whole hours, and for being so unbelievably nice. I just hope I didn't pass any of you my potent virus. :)
More Troy
I just can't get enough of this film!
*Spoilers alert, as usual*
Cool scenes ( both of which involve Brad Pitt, hmm )
1. When Achilles leaps off the ground and swoops down on Sparta's chosen warrior, ending his life with one well-aimed blow to the right shoulder. Thereafter, he faces Sparta's troops, yelling arrogantly, "Is there NO-ONE ELSE?!"
2. When Achilles rides up to the gates of Troy, then screams Hector's name repeatedly. In between, he paces the ground like a hungry lion, his breath heavy with rage and impatience. Woo. :)
Right then, I have to go eat lunch now. More later. Man, my throat hurts.
Literally.
I've been hit by the flu bug, no thanks to the influenza vaccine forced on me last October. With the bad weather, hazy skies and major bug-spreading going on right now, PLUS my recent rotation to the paeds ER, small wonder I've been hit. And hit bad.
Started off with a fuzzy throat, then escalated to hoarseness, a low-grade fever and dry cough, before culminating in a near-complete loss of voice this morning. I'm currently down to a whisper / croak, and will be on medical leave till tomorrow. My deepest apologies to the standby guys if they're called down. I would've gone to work if I could. But there's no way I can see patients if they can't even hear me. :(
Anyhow, I may be sick, but I'm far from depressed about it. Had a terrific Monday, thanks to a well-timed day off:
LOTR Exhibition at the Singapore Science Centre
Xena asked if it's worth the $20 admission ticket. My reply: depends on what you consider "worth the money". I got some discount, but even if I'd paid the full price, I have absolutely zero regret. First of all, it is the exhibition's only stop in Asia, in between London and Boston. We're also fortunate enough to be the first venue featuring props from all 3 films.
I took 2 hours to get through everything -- mostly displays of costumes and various accessories like weapons, crowns, rings; some life-size cave troll / goblin / Treebeard models. Each section is accompanied by video presentations that offer in-depth explanations. There's also a booth where you will experience first-hand the camera gimmicks employed in creating the effects responsible for shrinking the likes of Elijah Wood to hobbit proportions.
My favourites are definitely the costumes: Gandalf, Saruman, Arwen, Legolas ( wow, this one is really gorgeous ), Galadriel ( by far the most beautiful ) and Aragorn. I almost freaked out when I read that this is the same one Viggo Mortensen wore throughout the trilogy -- he even washed and mended it himself, thus giving it a very "lived in", slightly tattered look. Like the others, this outfit was protected by a plastic case, but only up till shoulder level. And guess what, I managed to tip-toe and touch its left sleeve. :) Sorry, you just CANNOT put something Mortensen wore right in front of me and expect me to walk off without copping a feel. That put a smile on my face for the rest of the day. :D
I can confidently say that LOTR fans will not be disappointed. A friend who accompanied me is a faithful follower of the series, and was duly impressed. The intricacy of the designs, and sheer ingenuity of the many visual effects, are enough to make you gawk. It was also a nice time to reminisce about my recent NZ trip, whenever filming locations were mentioned and I realized I'd been there. :)
My only complaint is the merchandise store, which sadly didn't stock up on sold-out items like movie posters, mugs and other popular paraphernalia. Thank goodness my friend, who was in NZ last year as well, was kind enough to help buy me an Aragorn T-shirt before returning to Singapore. I really treasure that!
The Ten Tenors Concert @ the Esplanade Theatre
Official website
List of the Tenors
To top off an already excellent day, my smile grew even larger when the guys stepped onto the Singapore stage yet again in the space of just 9 months. After charming the socks off local audiences last August, they graced us with their good-humoured antics once more, playing to a packed hall and an even more appreciative crowd ( in comparison with last year's ). Lots more cat-calling, whistling, squealing, and a unanimous standing ovation after the 3rd encore.
This is my first time in the larger theatre ( I've always attended shows in the smaller concert hall ), and I found the acoustics slightly flawed. The tenors definitely sounded better last year, when they gave a one-night show in the less expansive concert hall. No fault of theirs, believe me. Their voices remain exceptional in tone and control, never wavering even when they're engaged in disco moves, country square dances, rock-star head-banging or cabaret-style high-kicking. The repertoire isn't much different from 2003's, but I'm not complaining! I never tire of their classic covers of Bohemian Rhapsody, Good Vibrations, Dancing Queen, "opera without the boring bits", Rawhide, Love Is In The Air, and the biggest crowd pleaser -- Bee Gees songs.
A few subtle differences this time round: more singing, less banter. I didn't recognize some of the new pieces, and the opera / Australian medley segments had maybe 1 or 2 songs missing.
Still, I just adore these guys, and watching them "live" is always the experience of a lifetime. Consummate performers oozing charm, confidence and loads of rhythm, you'd have to be a corpse in order to NOT enjoy yourself.
Will they be back in 2005? I sure hope so!
Post-Show Surprise
I'm trying to remember if they had this the last time, but I don't think so.
Last night, the tenors were accomodating enough to hang around after the concert to sign autographs and pose for photos in the foyer. Of course, their CDs were being snapped up at a nearby counter, after which you can join a queue and get the opportunity to get every single member's signature and mug shot.
It was a thrilling experience for me, but imagine my amusement when I witnessed middle-aged / elderly ladies turning into groupies as well. :P The woman just before me, who looked like she was in her late 50s or early 60s, kept snapping pictures of the tenors and bantering with them unreservedly, and they returned in kind, striking various side-splitting poses for us ( yep, I took advantage of the situation and clicked away, haha! ). They were so friendly and sweet, with each guy making sure he looked you straight in the eye, before beaming a bright, sincere smile, giving a warm greeting then thanking you for coming.
I didn't want to hold up the line, so I couldn't pose with all of them. However, I'm delighted that I managed to grab my favourite of the lot. Here's his profile:
Tod from The Ten Tenors
I already noticed that around 3 or 4 of the tenors are new, so to speak. Tod is one of them, 'cos honestly, if he'd been around last year, I would've remembered. :) I describe him as a shaggy-haired blonde -- a Rod Stewart look -- but with a much more pleasant voice. A fixture in the 2nd-from-right position on-stage, he takes the lead in songs like Volare, Burn For You and the opening verse to Bohemian Rhapsody. I also heard him sing opera a little, to great effect. He has a very lovable personality, and will no doubt be easily remembered as "the guy who did those pirouettes". In person, he is ( in my opinion at least ) the nicest of the lot, and much better-looking. I was a little nervous when it was my turn to get his autograph, but he put me at ease immediately, flashing a gorgeous smile and talking to me a little as he scribbled his name. I'd already told my friend ( who was gamely helping me snap pictures as I made my way down the line ) that Tod was my favourite and I HAD to get a photo with him, but Tod was very observant, and spotted my friend focussing for a shot, after which he actually said, "Let's pose for a proper one." and roped in 2 other guys ( the younger, cuter ones, heh heh ) for a group pic. Tod leaned in on my right, another was behind me, and the one on my left ( I have to develop the photo in order to identify him, 'cos everything went by so fast! ) even plastered himself to me, and according to my mom, put his cheek right next to mine. Haha! That was a real icing on the cake!
All I can say is, the Ten Tenors have oodles of talent, and will surely win the world over someday. Thanks, guys, for making me forget my flu for 2 whole hours, and for being so unbelievably nice. I just hope I didn't pass any of you my potent virus. :)
More Troy
I just can't get enough of this film!
*Spoilers alert, as usual*
Cool scenes ( both of which involve Brad Pitt, hmm )
1. When Achilles leaps off the ground and swoops down on Sparta's chosen warrior, ending his life with one well-aimed blow to the right shoulder. Thereafter, he faces Sparta's troops, yelling arrogantly, "Is there NO-ONE ELSE?!"
2. When Achilles rides up to the gates of Troy, then screams Hector's name repeatedly. In between, he paces the ground like a hungry lion, his breath heavy with rage and impatience. Woo. :)
Right then, I have to go eat lunch now. More later. Man, my throat hurts.
Thursday, May 13, 2004
Review Of "Troy"
***Spoilers beware***
First of all, I am happy to report that it is TONNES better than Van Helsing -- though I'm still a big Hugh Jackman fan no matter what crap he stars in.
For starters, here's a link to the official movie website:
Troy @ Warner Brothers
Second of all, this is easily one of the best film experiences of my entire life. 3 hours passed by in an adrenaline-filled blur, and I definitely include it on my top 5 list of all-time favourites. "Gladiator" doesn't even come close anymore.
You can read about the plot on the above site. What I'd like to discuss further are my impressions of its layout, cast, and various other details.
Cinematography and locales are magnificent. Shot along a coast in Malta, gigantic sets were painstakingly put together, with computer-generated effects added only when necessary for sweeping angles and the illusion of vast empires and their tens of thousands of troops engaging in epic battles. Warm golden hues and bright blue shades permeate throughout. Kudos too to the makeup and costume teams for making many of the actors look their best ever.
Wolfgang Petersen ( Das Boot, Air Force One, The Perfect Storm ) expertly directs his crew, giving Ridley Scott ( Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, the Alien trilogy ) a major run for his money. Movies revolving around the legendary Romans and Greeks of yore were intimidating undertakings back in the 50's and 60's, with only a few ( Spartacus, Cleopatra, Ben Hur ) winning accolades. The genre fizzled for another 30 years before being revived in grand splendour by Scott. And now, "Troy" not only follows in "Gladiator"'s footsteps, it even surpasses it.
I can't find anything not to like about this film. But a vital part of my enjoyment comes from watching the perfectly cast actors -- Brad Pitt as the feared Greek warrior Achilles, Eric Bana as the Trojan prince Hector, Orlando Bloom as his younger, romantic / foolhardy brother Paris, Peter O'Toole as their conflicted father Priam, and Brian Cox as the hated Agamemnon.
Greek mythology is filled with over-the-top drama, but the cast expertly handles all that angst, delivering beautifully measured performances. Cox obviously relishes his role as the villain, while O'Toole's sad pale blue eyes and trembling demeanour bring palpable, heartfelt grief in his turn as a ruler whose imperfect decisions result in the loss of a beloved son. A poignant scene where Priam sneaks into Achilles' tent to plead for the return of Hector's body for a proper burial is excellently executed. Who would've thought O'Toole and Pitt would one day face each other on the big screen, and to such amazing effect? Those short 5 minutes left me in tears.
Bloom, who continues to grow on me, admittedly doesn't have much to chew on, but does his best nonetheless, putting his boyish looks to good use and baring lots of skin as well for a change. He also shares terrific chemistry with Bana, thus the two men are completely convincing as siblings who are tightly knit yet polar opposites. While Bloom excels as the impulsive, lovelorn Paris, Bana practically devours every bit of scenery in his career-making role as the steadfast, courageous and fiercely protective Hector. In fact, at certain points, he eclipses even Brad Pitt.
Now we come to the Golden Boy himself. Not looking a day older than 30, the 40-year-old walking pillar of testosterone gives the performance of his life, sporting shoulder-length wavy blonde hair, loads of cockiness and sexuality, and some gravity-defying moves in exciting fight scenes. True, his skills as a thespian aren't exactly of Oscar calibre ( Bana, however, is a good bet for next year's Academy Awards ), but he does pretty well as far as I'm concerned. Whether standing on a hill with his sword raised as thousands of soldiers cheer, riding off on his chariot with a mildly disdainful expression, or commanding his men that "Immortality -- it's yours. Take it!", Pitt has gone against convention in a totally different manner this time -- rather than playing scruffy parts in edgy classics like "Snatch", "Fight Club" and "Se7en", he now plays up his Greek-god gorgeousness in all its glory. He's never looked more magnificent.
The women in "Troy", sadly, disappoint. Diane Kruger, who was handpicked for the role of Helen -- aka "the face that launched a thousand ships" -- is rather bland. Saffron Burrows plays Hector's distressed wife, but doesn't demonstrate any of the tortured sensuality that was so evident in "Circle of Friends", where she starred alongside Chris O'Donnell, Minnie Driver and Colin Firth, as a status-hungry but ultimately betrayed poor college student caught in an illicit affair with a despicable nobleman.
The only female who caught my attention is Rose Byrne, a dead ringer for Monica Bellucci who plays the virginal Bruseis, later turned Achilles' lover and proverbial "Achilles' heel". Her scenes with Pitt are nothing short of hot-blooded. I haven't seen him generate this much heat with a female co-star since Geena Davis in "Thelma and Louise".
Yes yes, I LOVED IT! :) Wish I could watch it again, but alas, I don't have the time to do so. *sob*
Additional bonus:
If you're a Josh Groban fan, a wonderful surprise awaits once the closing credits roll. He sings the love theme, titled "Remember", a haunting Middle-eastern-flavoured number which shows off his exquisite voice and range, thanks to Oscar-winning composer James Horner( Titanic ). The film's soundtrack is elegantly written and conducted, even boasting a Crouching Tiger-Hidden Dragon-esque sequence where Hector and Achilles fight to the death to the beat of a single drum.
The summer blockbuster season has officially begun! Next up, "Shrek 2" and "Harry Potter: The Prisoner Of Azkaban". Woohoo!
Signing off. And guess what? Auditions for Singapore Idol start on my birthday. Tempted to make my way down to SUNTEC for a peek. Hmmm... :)
***Spoilers beware***
First of all, I am happy to report that it is TONNES better than Van Helsing -- though I'm still a big Hugh Jackman fan no matter what crap he stars in.
For starters, here's a link to the official movie website:
Troy @ Warner Brothers
Second of all, this is easily one of the best film experiences of my entire life. 3 hours passed by in an adrenaline-filled blur, and I definitely include it on my top 5 list of all-time favourites. "Gladiator" doesn't even come close anymore.
You can read about the plot on the above site. What I'd like to discuss further are my impressions of its layout, cast, and various other details.
Cinematography and locales are magnificent. Shot along a coast in Malta, gigantic sets were painstakingly put together, with computer-generated effects added only when necessary for sweeping angles and the illusion of vast empires and their tens of thousands of troops engaging in epic battles. Warm golden hues and bright blue shades permeate throughout. Kudos too to the makeup and costume teams for making many of the actors look their best ever.
Wolfgang Petersen ( Das Boot, Air Force One, The Perfect Storm ) expertly directs his crew, giving Ridley Scott ( Gladiator, Black Hawk Down, the Alien trilogy ) a major run for his money. Movies revolving around the legendary Romans and Greeks of yore were intimidating undertakings back in the 50's and 60's, with only a few ( Spartacus, Cleopatra, Ben Hur ) winning accolades. The genre fizzled for another 30 years before being revived in grand splendour by Scott. And now, "Troy" not only follows in "Gladiator"'s footsteps, it even surpasses it.
I can't find anything not to like about this film. But a vital part of my enjoyment comes from watching the perfectly cast actors -- Brad Pitt as the feared Greek warrior Achilles, Eric Bana as the Trojan prince Hector, Orlando Bloom as his younger, romantic / foolhardy brother Paris, Peter O'Toole as their conflicted father Priam, and Brian Cox as the hated Agamemnon.
Greek mythology is filled with over-the-top drama, but the cast expertly handles all that angst, delivering beautifully measured performances. Cox obviously relishes his role as the villain, while O'Toole's sad pale blue eyes and trembling demeanour bring palpable, heartfelt grief in his turn as a ruler whose imperfect decisions result in the loss of a beloved son. A poignant scene where Priam sneaks into Achilles' tent to plead for the return of Hector's body for a proper burial is excellently executed. Who would've thought O'Toole and Pitt would one day face each other on the big screen, and to such amazing effect? Those short 5 minutes left me in tears.
Bloom, who continues to grow on me, admittedly doesn't have much to chew on, but does his best nonetheless, putting his boyish looks to good use and baring lots of skin as well for a change. He also shares terrific chemistry with Bana, thus the two men are completely convincing as siblings who are tightly knit yet polar opposites. While Bloom excels as the impulsive, lovelorn Paris, Bana practically devours every bit of scenery in his career-making role as the steadfast, courageous and fiercely protective Hector. In fact, at certain points, he eclipses even Brad Pitt.
Now we come to the Golden Boy himself. Not looking a day older than 30, the 40-year-old walking pillar of testosterone gives the performance of his life, sporting shoulder-length wavy blonde hair, loads of cockiness and sexuality, and some gravity-defying moves in exciting fight scenes. True, his skills as a thespian aren't exactly of Oscar calibre ( Bana, however, is a good bet for next year's Academy Awards ), but he does pretty well as far as I'm concerned. Whether standing on a hill with his sword raised as thousands of soldiers cheer, riding off on his chariot with a mildly disdainful expression, or commanding his men that "Immortality -- it's yours. Take it!", Pitt has gone against convention in a totally different manner this time -- rather than playing scruffy parts in edgy classics like "Snatch", "Fight Club" and "Se7en", he now plays up his Greek-god gorgeousness in all its glory. He's never looked more magnificent.
The women in "Troy", sadly, disappoint. Diane Kruger, who was handpicked for the role of Helen -- aka "the face that launched a thousand ships" -- is rather bland. Saffron Burrows plays Hector's distressed wife, but doesn't demonstrate any of the tortured sensuality that was so evident in "Circle of Friends", where she starred alongside Chris O'Donnell, Minnie Driver and Colin Firth, as a status-hungry but ultimately betrayed poor college student caught in an illicit affair with a despicable nobleman.
The only female who caught my attention is Rose Byrne, a dead ringer for Monica Bellucci who plays the virginal Bruseis, later turned Achilles' lover and proverbial "Achilles' heel". Her scenes with Pitt are nothing short of hot-blooded. I haven't seen him generate this much heat with a female co-star since Geena Davis in "Thelma and Louise".
Yes yes, I LOVED IT! :) Wish I could watch it again, but alas, I don't have the time to do so. *sob*
Additional bonus:
If you're a Josh Groban fan, a wonderful surprise awaits once the closing credits roll. He sings the love theme, titled "Remember", a haunting Middle-eastern-flavoured number which shows off his exquisite voice and range, thanks to Oscar-winning composer James Horner( Titanic ). The film's soundtrack is elegantly written and conducted, even boasting a Crouching Tiger-Hidden Dragon-esque sequence where Hector and Achilles fight to the death to the beat of a single drum.
The summer blockbuster season has officially begun! Next up, "Shrek 2" and "Harry Potter: The Prisoner Of Azkaban". Woohoo!
Signing off. And guess what? Auditions for Singapore Idol start on my birthday. Tempted to make my way down to SUNTEC for a peek. Hmmm... :)
Whoa, Blogger has changed its format -- AGAIN. What's up with that?
If you guessed I'm on night again, you're absolutely right. I don't know what it is about my schedule nowadays. I just don't have time to blog. Frustrating, aaargh!
4am, lull in the queue compared to 32 waiting when I walked in to start my shift at 11pm. The patients were magically cleared within an hour, but continue to trickle in every few minutes. My brain function continues to regress, as I see fever after fever after fever. But am really enjoying the kids -- bawling one minute as you stick a spatula into their mouths, then smiling and waving goodbye the next after you give them a sweet as compensation for those few short seconds of torture.
Had my first foray into the local courts this morning when I was called as a witness in a case involving a married couple. Can't be specific about it for legal reasons, but looks as if all these years of watching The Practice on TV has payed off. :) I must've come across as one of the most non-commital, vague people around. But I did try to help both parties in turn. The lawyers were thankfully kind, as was the judge. The only complaint I have is how judges in Singapore have to transcribe testimonies word for word by hand, in their own writing some more. No stenographers. No clerks. Takes too long lah.
Another thing I noticed is how crowded the family court was today. In fact, it was so packed I had problems squeezing through at certain areas. As I passed one small group, I overheard a man telling the others, "It's a fine line between love and hate." Another young lady sobbed in the waiting area, while formally attired attorneys conferred along the corridors. Interesting experience.
I've been informed I may get subpoenaed for yet another case later this month, involving a youth who was slashed and is now disfigured. The case I missed out on was the one involving that Japanese fellow on the SQ flight who pleaded guilty to molesting an air stewardess. It was in the Straits Times but I didn't get the chance to read it, relying only on my parents for information. I was initially called upon to testify because I saw him on the night of the incident and took his blood for alcohol level, but was later let off the hook when he pleaded out and avoided a trial. There goes my 15 minutes of fame. :P
I recently heard a disturbing tale involving a high-profile medical professional in a government hospital. The facts have been verified by multiple sources close to the person in question, and all I can say is: a HUGE INJUSTICE has occurred. Details? Only if I have a death wish. But some people know what I'm talking about, and the saddest part of this is: we wish so much that we could do something, but our hands are tied. Sigh.
The finale for Eye For A Guy was bizarre. My head was spinning, and I'm still reeling from the completely weird conclusion. Rachel picked Sivert ( cute hair salon manager guy who seems very down-to-earth ). But shortly after, she started dating Mark ( cocky polytechnic lecturer with a thick American accent and the title of Cleo magaizine's Bachelor of the Year 2003 ). R and M are now going to Paris together, but S has bought himself a ticket as well, and will be joining them there. HUH???
Ok, better not waste any more brain space pondering that situation. :)
Will be watching Troy this afternoon, post-night fatigue or not. The film garnered 5 stars in the Life! review, but I already know it's going to be superb, judging from an MTV making-of special I caught the night before. Everyone looks fantastic, the visual effects are stunning, the dialogue dramatic yet lacking in moronic cheesiness. The cast has also perfected this pseudo-Brit / neutral-sounding accent, so none of that funny American / Australian brogue creeping in at crucial points to distract viewers. It's a Greek legend, so twangs make a big difference. Brad Pitt is pretty good with accents ( Snatch, The Devil's Own ). He sounds great spewing cerebral lines in that deep voice of his. I'll post a review soon.
Right then, time to freshen up before starting work again. 3 more hours to go. Just ate a whole Snickers bar. Mmmmmm, chocolate. :)
If you guessed I'm on night again, you're absolutely right. I don't know what it is about my schedule nowadays. I just don't have time to blog. Frustrating, aaargh!
4am, lull in the queue compared to 32 waiting when I walked in to start my shift at 11pm. The patients were magically cleared within an hour, but continue to trickle in every few minutes. My brain function continues to regress, as I see fever after fever after fever. But am really enjoying the kids -- bawling one minute as you stick a spatula into their mouths, then smiling and waving goodbye the next after you give them a sweet as compensation for those few short seconds of torture.
Had my first foray into the local courts this morning when I was called as a witness in a case involving a married couple. Can't be specific about it for legal reasons, but looks as if all these years of watching The Practice on TV has payed off. :) I must've come across as one of the most non-commital, vague people around. But I did try to help both parties in turn. The lawyers were thankfully kind, as was the judge. The only complaint I have is how judges in Singapore have to transcribe testimonies word for word by hand, in their own writing some more. No stenographers. No clerks. Takes too long lah.
Another thing I noticed is how crowded the family court was today. In fact, it was so packed I had problems squeezing through at certain areas. As I passed one small group, I overheard a man telling the others, "It's a fine line between love and hate." Another young lady sobbed in the waiting area, while formally attired attorneys conferred along the corridors. Interesting experience.
I've been informed I may get subpoenaed for yet another case later this month, involving a youth who was slashed and is now disfigured. The case I missed out on was the one involving that Japanese fellow on the SQ flight who pleaded guilty to molesting an air stewardess. It was in the Straits Times but I didn't get the chance to read it, relying only on my parents for information. I was initially called upon to testify because I saw him on the night of the incident and took his blood for alcohol level, but was later let off the hook when he pleaded out and avoided a trial. There goes my 15 minutes of fame. :P
I recently heard a disturbing tale involving a high-profile medical professional in a government hospital. The facts have been verified by multiple sources close to the person in question, and all I can say is: a HUGE INJUSTICE has occurred. Details? Only if I have a death wish. But some people know what I'm talking about, and the saddest part of this is: we wish so much that we could do something, but our hands are tied. Sigh.
The finale for Eye For A Guy was bizarre. My head was spinning, and I'm still reeling from the completely weird conclusion. Rachel picked Sivert ( cute hair salon manager guy who seems very down-to-earth ). But shortly after, she started dating Mark ( cocky polytechnic lecturer with a thick American accent and the title of Cleo magaizine's Bachelor of the Year 2003 ). R and M are now going to Paris together, but S has bought himself a ticket as well, and will be joining them there. HUH???
Ok, better not waste any more brain space pondering that situation. :)
Will be watching Troy this afternoon, post-night fatigue or not. The film garnered 5 stars in the Life! review, but I already know it's going to be superb, judging from an MTV making-of special I caught the night before. Everyone looks fantastic, the visual effects are stunning, the dialogue dramatic yet lacking in moronic cheesiness. The cast has also perfected this pseudo-Brit / neutral-sounding accent, so none of that funny American / Australian brogue creeping in at crucial points to distract viewers. It's a Greek legend, so twangs make a big difference. Brad Pitt is pretty good with accents ( Snatch, The Devil's Own ). He sounds great spewing cerebral lines in that deep voice of his. I'll post a review soon.
Right then, time to freshen up before starting work again. 3 more hours to go. Just ate a whole Snickers bar. Mmmmmm, chocolate. :)
Saturday, May 08, 2004
Desperate Measures
Guess what. It's 4am, I'm on my first night shift in the new posting, and have resorted to using my rest period to blog.
What can I say -- the first few days were rough. REALLY rough. New environment, new patient demographics, new colleagues, new %&^%$# computer system -- took some getting used to. But most of us have adjusted, and things are flowing pretty smoothly now.
It's pretty fun, no doubt about that. We get the occasional FON parent or fussy patient, but most -- surprisingly -- are actually nice and easy to handle. It also helps that our seniors gave us lots of tips on how to put our interpersonal skills to good use. It isn't exactly WHAT you say, but HOW you say it.
Babies are sooooo cute. :) And some of the toddlers and older children I've seen are extremely sweet. So is it just the Eastern population that's consistently irritating? Seems so. :P
Lots of procedures down here. A paeds A&E reg once told me the paeds ER enjoys a lot of autonomy, and from what I've observed, he's absolutely right. We do the usual toilet and sutures, manipulations and reductions, BUT just yesterday, one of my consultants gave me permission to drain a superficial lower neck abscess. One MO who once did a paeds surgical posting told me he's had admissions for less, but I guess if your seniors have confidence in you, anything goes. Cool. :)
Weapon of choice -- oh wait, I meant drug of choice, heh heh -- KETAMINE. The wonders of this drug never fail to amaze me. 5 minutes after an IM injection, a screaming child is reduced to a floppy, dazed rag doll. Some exhibit nystagmus -- a horizontal zig-zagging of the eyes -- which always amuses me no end. Peace and quiet for the next 30 - 60 minutes. Aaaah. :)
The only thing is, my brain may start to rot a little after a while, so I'd better keep revising for the upcoming exam in August. Almost every paediatric case here falls into one of the following categories:
1) fever
2) vomiting / diarrhoea
3) breathlessness
4) non-specific abdominal pain
5) fit -- usually febrile
Resuscitations are few and far between, and after a while, I sound like a broken tape recorder as I dish out fever / gastroenteritis advice ad nauseum. I've learnt to make full use of the patient information leaflets, which I consider real lifesavers. "Take this home and look through it. Very good explanations inside!" I tell them in a chirpy voice. "Ooh, okay doc! Thanks!" Works every time. :P
More medical stuff another time. Hopefully that venture will materialize soon. :)
Van Helsing
Caught the movie this afternoon, and all I can say is: thank goodness I didn't have to pay for the tickets ( credit card points redeemed for movie vouchers, yeah! ).
That 3.5-star review in Life! by Ong Sor Fern is sorely overrated. I started getting bored 30 minutes into the film, which almost never happens ( other unfortunate candidates for me include Chain Reaction and Beautiful Girls ). Never mind that director Stephen Sommers helmed The Mummy and its sequel. Never mind that there're loads of eye-popping special effects and monsters galore. Never mind the gorgeous leads Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale.
My main qualm is how the story got majorly distorted, and all in the name of (mindless) entertainment. Won't give the plot away here, but personally speaking, I hated it. Almost as much as I hated Chain Reaction, blech.
The only saving grace is Jackman, of course. Towering, ruggedly handsome and sexy in spite of that cringe-worthy costume he's made to wear, he manages to keep the movie afloat, spouting bad lines like a pro, and being every bit the athletic, fearless hunter.
Will this make pots of money? Probably. But watch at your own risk. And redeem your UOB credit card points. :D
Jamie Cullum's Album
I've already played it to death in my car, but will spare you the track-by-track breakdown. ( I'm a little tired as well, so there. :))
This is one talented dude, folks. And a Brit, no less. Twentysomething has already gone double platinum, and he's received accolades from both sides of the Atlantic. Like Peter Cincotti -- another rising jazz star in his 20s -- Cullum is an excellent pianist, with the additional credentials of composer and arranger. Both men have produced terrific albums, but greatly differ in style and personality.
While Cincotti has a mellow, boyish voice, Cullum's vocals are raspy, almost rough even. Or as one reviewer wrote: sandpaper finish. But both use their unique characteristics to great effect, with Cincotti favouring more conventional, breezy fare, and Cullum experimenting with an edgier repertoire.
In Twentysomething, choice selections include:
1) Original compositions -- Twentysomething, All At Sea
The former is a playful, albeit cheeky, take on life as a young adult ( Maybe I'll go to the gym so I won't get fat / Aren't things more easy with a tight six-pack? ), and the latter a beautifully introspective mood piece about personal space and the need for quiet reflection. Love them.
2) Songs from 50's musicals -- Singin' In The Rain, I Could Have Danced All Night.
Singin', originally done by Gene Kelly, is given a modern makeover here, with smooth grooves that actually work well despite having some huge shoes to fill. The second piece is taken from My Fair Lady, but put to pumping synthesizer beats and a head-bobbing rhythm. The songs kinda grow on me, but lo and behold, my mom LOVED them when I blasted my hi-fi today. And she's a purist! Can't get better that that! :)
3) Jazz classics -- lots of them here. What A Difference A Day Makes starts things off as the CD's first track. Wonderfully done. I especially like Old Devil Moon, Blame It On My Youth and I Get A Kick Out Of You ( the last showcases Cullum's prowess on the piano ). Think my mom sums it up best by commenting that he has a "sexy way of singing", which in my opinion, is vital in the jazz genre. You can't just robotically belt out the lyrics -- you have to feel them, give them life, make them your own, and draw the listener in.
This week's American Idol had a big band theme. The best performer is very obviously LaToya London, whose dynamite performance easily equals some of our century's greatest -- a natural gift given her lack of experience. The other contestants may have good voices, but they lacked the requisite pizazz *snap your fingers when you say that word :)*.
Cullum, Cincotti, Michael Buble, Robbie Williams -- they all have loads of pizazz. There seems to be a jazz revival in progress, and these 4 young men may very well be our generation's Rat Pack, just as Sinatra, Martin and Davis were their generation's icons. I've already seen two on this list. Waiting patiently for the rest to come to Singapore. ;)
Update
Forgive the vague-ness. Let me put it this way: in a recent public incident which divided locals into 2 distinct camps, and in which a certain high-ranking figure flouted a rule, I have it on good authority that the person who made this high-ranking figure break that rule had it coming.
Apparently, the "victim" spewed forth unspeakable vulgarities, even insulting the high-ranking figure's family in the process. Showed zero remorse, is a consistent and defiant repeat offender, and in all likelihood, gives authorities the middle finger on a regular basis.
Internal sabotage hasn't been ruled out, but those closely involved are keeping mum. It is indeed a sad day for Singapore.
Time to have a snack before I pass out. Enjoy your weekend!
Guess what. It's 4am, I'm on my first night shift in the new posting, and have resorted to using my rest period to blog.
What can I say -- the first few days were rough. REALLY rough. New environment, new patient demographics, new colleagues, new %&^%$# computer system -- took some getting used to. But most of us have adjusted, and things are flowing pretty smoothly now.
It's pretty fun, no doubt about that. We get the occasional FON parent or fussy patient, but most -- surprisingly -- are actually nice and easy to handle. It also helps that our seniors gave us lots of tips on how to put our interpersonal skills to good use. It isn't exactly WHAT you say, but HOW you say it.
Babies are sooooo cute. :) And some of the toddlers and older children I've seen are extremely sweet. So is it just the Eastern population that's consistently irritating? Seems so. :P
Lots of procedures down here. A paeds A&E reg once told me the paeds ER enjoys a lot of autonomy, and from what I've observed, he's absolutely right. We do the usual toilet and sutures, manipulations and reductions, BUT just yesterday, one of my consultants gave me permission to drain a superficial lower neck abscess. One MO who once did a paeds surgical posting told me he's had admissions for less, but I guess if your seniors have confidence in you, anything goes. Cool. :)
Weapon of choice -- oh wait, I meant drug of choice, heh heh -- KETAMINE. The wonders of this drug never fail to amaze me. 5 minutes after an IM injection, a screaming child is reduced to a floppy, dazed rag doll. Some exhibit nystagmus -- a horizontal zig-zagging of the eyes -- which always amuses me no end. Peace and quiet for the next 30 - 60 minutes. Aaaah. :)
The only thing is, my brain may start to rot a little after a while, so I'd better keep revising for the upcoming exam in August. Almost every paediatric case here falls into one of the following categories:
1) fever
2) vomiting / diarrhoea
3) breathlessness
4) non-specific abdominal pain
5) fit -- usually febrile
Resuscitations are few and far between, and after a while, I sound like a broken tape recorder as I dish out fever / gastroenteritis advice ad nauseum. I've learnt to make full use of the patient information leaflets, which I consider real lifesavers. "Take this home and look through it. Very good explanations inside!" I tell them in a chirpy voice. "Ooh, okay doc! Thanks!" Works every time. :P
More medical stuff another time. Hopefully that venture will materialize soon. :)
Van Helsing
Caught the movie this afternoon, and all I can say is: thank goodness I didn't have to pay for the tickets ( credit card points redeemed for movie vouchers, yeah! ).
That 3.5-star review in Life! by Ong Sor Fern is sorely overrated. I started getting bored 30 minutes into the film, which almost never happens ( other unfortunate candidates for me include Chain Reaction and Beautiful Girls ). Never mind that director Stephen Sommers helmed The Mummy and its sequel. Never mind that there're loads of eye-popping special effects and monsters galore. Never mind the gorgeous leads Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale.
My main qualm is how the story got majorly distorted, and all in the name of (mindless) entertainment. Won't give the plot away here, but personally speaking, I hated it. Almost as much as I hated Chain Reaction, blech.
The only saving grace is Jackman, of course. Towering, ruggedly handsome and sexy in spite of that cringe-worthy costume he's made to wear, he manages to keep the movie afloat, spouting bad lines like a pro, and being every bit the athletic, fearless hunter.
Will this make pots of money? Probably. But watch at your own risk. And redeem your UOB credit card points. :D
Jamie Cullum's Album
I've already played it to death in my car, but will spare you the track-by-track breakdown. ( I'm a little tired as well, so there. :))
This is one talented dude, folks. And a Brit, no less. Twentysomething has already gone double platinum, and he's received accolades from both sides of the Atlantic. Like Peter Cincotti -- another rising jazz star in his 20s -- Cullum is an excellent pianist, with the additional credentials of composer and arranger. Both men have produced terrific albums, but greatly differ in style and personality.
While Cincotti has a mellow, boyish voice, Cullum's vocals are raspy, almost rough even. Or as one reviewer wrote: sandpaper finish. But both use their unique characteristics to great effect, with Cincotti favouring more conventional, breezy fare, and Cullum experimenting with an edgier repertoire.
In Twentysomething, choice selections include:
1) Original compositions -- Twentysomething, All At Sea
The former is a playful, albeit cheeky, take on life as a young adult ( Maybe I'll go to the gym so I won't get fat / Aren't things more easy with a tight six-pack? ), and the latter a beautifully introspective mood piece about personal space and the need for quiet reflection. Love them.
2) Songs from 50's musicals -- Singin' In The Rain, I Could Have Danced All Night.
Singin', originally done by Gene Kelly, is given a modern makeover here, with smooth grooves that actually work well despite having some huge shoes to fill. The second piece is taken from My Fair Lady, but put to pumping synthesizer beats and a head-bobbing rhythm. The songs kinda grow on me, but lo and behold, my mom LOVED them when I blasted my hi-fi today. And she's a purist! Can't get better that that! :)
3) Jazz classics -- lots of them here. What A Difference A Day Makes starts things off as the CD's first track. Wonderfully done. I especially like Old Devil Moon, Blame It On My Youth and I Get A Kick Out Of You ( the last showcases Cullum's prowess on the piano ). Think my mom sums it up best by commenting that he has a "sexy way of singing", which in my opinion, is vital in the jazz genre. You can't just robotically belt out the lyrics -- you have to feel them, give them life, make them your own, and draw the listener in.
This week's American Idol had a big band theme. The best performer is very obviously LaToya London, whose dynamite performance easily equals some of our century's greatest -- a natural gift given her lack of experience. The other contestants may have good voices, but they lacked the requisite pizazz *snap your fingers when you say that word :)*.
Cullum, Cincotti, Michael Buble, Robbie Williams -- they all have loads of pizazz. There seems to be a jazz revival in progress, and these 4 young men may very well be our generation's Rat Pack, just as Sinatra, Martin and Davis were their generation's icons. I've already seen two on this list. Waiting patiently for the rest to come to Singapore. ;)
Update
Forgive the vague-ness. Let me put it this way: in a recent public incident which divided locals into 2 distinct camps, and in which a certain high-ranking figure flouted a rule, I have it on good authority that the person who made this high-ranking figure break that rule had it coming.
Apparently, the "victim" spewed forth unspeakable vulgarities, even insulting the high-ranking figure's family in the process. Showed zero remorse, is a consistent and defiant repeat offender, and in all likelihood, gives authorities the middle finger on a regular basis.
Internal sabotage hasn't been ruled out, but those closely involved are keeping mum. It is indeed a sad day for Singapore.
Time to have a snack before I pass out. Enjoy your weekend!
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
A quick entry...
It's been hellish these past few days, but things will settle down real soon. I hope.
New home, new posting, new blog direction.
First, the new home.
Excellent beyond imagination. Never mind about how we furnished it. I'm talking about the view, the proximity to the park, major highways, detour routes to town, reservoirs, bustling malls. Now, we've even got a free shuttle service to and from our residence to the MRT station. Even on Sundays and public holidays, woohoo!
Just went to the nearby park this evening for a stroll. Very pretty place, totally not what I expected at all.
I see the sunrise every morning, and enjoy the gorgeous sky hues during sunsets. We face a lengthy green belt surrounded by beautiful street lights. I'm wondering what else I'll discover, haha. :)
New posting.
Was 5pm-midnight yesterday. Nightmare, but only because we were new to the system, and many of us have little to no experience in paediatrics, which is a whole new world, to put it very mildly. But our senior staff are very supportive, the nurses extremely capable and nice, and fellow MOs already working well as a team.
New blog direction
Something's in the works, but I'm not at liberty to discuss it further at this point. As a result, I will be dwelling less on the medical stuff over the next few weeks, and will post information on this new format as soon as I receive the go-ahead. It's a very exciting venture, and guarantees a much more enjoyable experience in terms of variety and reading pleasure. Watch this space!
A big hey to Class 95's Mark Richmond, who's been playing my Peter Cincotti requests this past week during dinner jazz. :) My choice today was "Are You The One?", and guess what? That CD Shop outlets have ordered a whole stack of Cincotti's albums, so be sure to grab one ASAP. Great stuff!
I've got a new jazz disc, titled Twentysomething, by that's right -- Jamie Cullum. I just started listening to it, so a review will follow soon. Preliminary opinion: Fantastic. So fantastic that Harry Connick's latest offering -- a compilation of all-time jazz favourites which I sampled at the store, and which should have lots of mass appeal -- pales in comparison. For me at least.
If you can't wait, go here.
No time, no time, aargh! Signing off for now.
It's been hellish these past few days, but things will settle down real soon. I hope.
New home, new posting, new blog direction.
First, the new home.
Excellent beyond imagination. Never mind about how we furnished it. I'm talking about the view, the proximity to the park, major highways, detour routes to town, reservoirs, bustling malls. Now, we've even got a free shuttle service to and from our residence to the MRT station. Even on Sundays and public holidays, woohoo!
Just went to the nearby park this evening for a stroll. Very pretty place, totally not what I expected at all.
I see the sunrise every morning, and enjoy the gorgeous sky hues during sunsets. We face a lengthy green belt surrounded by beautiful street lights. I'm wondering what else I'll discover, haha. :)
New posting.
Was 5pm-midnight yesterday. Nightmare, but only because we were new to the system, and many of us have little to no experience in paediatrics, which is a whole new world, to put it very mildly. But our senior staff are very supportive, the nurses extremely capable and nice, and fellow MOs already working well as a team.
New blog direction
Something's in the works, but I'm not at liberty to discuss it further at this point. As a result, I will be dwelling less on the medical stuff over the next few weeks, and will post information on this new format as soon as I receive the go-ahead. It's a very exciting venture, and guarantees a much more enjoyable experience in terms of variety and reading pleasure. Watch this space!
A big hey to Class 95's Mark Richmond, who's been playing my Peter Cincotti requests this past week during dinner jazz. :) My choice today was "Are You The One?", and guess what? That CD Shop outlets have ordered a whole stack of Cincotti's albums, so be sure to grab one ASAP. Great stuff!
I've got a new jazz disc, titled Twentysomething, by that's right -- Jamie Cullum. I just started listening to it, so a review will follow soon. Preliminary opinion: Fantastic. So fantastic that Harry Connick's latest offering -- a compilation of all-time jazz favourites which I sampled at the store, and which should have lots of mass appeal -- pales in comparison. For me at least.
If you can't wait, go here.
No time, no time, aargh! Signing off for now.
Sunday, May 02, 2004
Check this out.
Forecast: Hazy today. My brain, that is. Subsisted on 3 1/2 hours of sleep for the whole of Friday and the earlier part of Saturday, before finally hitting the sack at midnight and getting up before 7 this morning to do a bit more unpacking. I'm tired, but immensely relieved. And I just love my new room. :P
Not too happy with my department secretary for ignoring my request to have at least one day off this week. She's usually quite sharp, but didn't give me what I asked for, for some strange reason. Oh well. Tomorrow's my first day at KKH, and none of us even knows our shifts yet. Not good.
So now I'm stuck here from 8-4, fighting off the constant urge to yawn, or to give yet another NS boy a piece of my mind. But why bother? I may be losing steam, but things will only get better once I move on to the next ER. No more 50-patient calls, or 40-patient shifts. Crying babies aren't my cup of tea, but it's a welcome change nevertheless. 6 months of it -- tolerable. :)
After a full year in emergency medicine, I'm inadvertently forced to (re-)evaluate my opinion of this field. It's a natural process regardless of which specialty you're in. What I feel isn't different from my past experiences in other departments -- the highs and lows, the usual difficulties that come with each job, adapting to new colleagues / environments, facing the occasional FON cases and getting stabbed in the back with a belated bloody complaint letter.
Why emergency medicine? Reading someone's blog entry about The One (pertaining to mate-choosing), I guess a lot of it can be extrapolated to specialty selection as well. You know when you know . I didn't aim for a life in the ER from the word go. I'm a big fan of the TV show, but considered it little more than simple entertainment. There isn't a particular moment which I can pinpoint, when I said, "Eureka! THIS is what I want to do for the rest of my life!" It was more of a gradual realization, though technically over a relatively short period ( 3 weeks at most, which equals the length of my 4th year A&E posting ). True, I had novelty on my side at the time -- wet-behind-the-ears med student dipping her toes into the ocean of ACLS / ATLS / breech deliveries in the ER -- but now, many years down the road, there's a new kind of novelty. I may have seen almost every common condition in the book, but it's the sleuth work that always gets me going. Pinpointing the patient's problem(s) ( sometimes through history alone ), knowing what to do based on your best clinical guess ( e.g. man presented with postural giddiness, not particularly pale, but I PR-ed anyway and found a fungating rectal tumour; young lady complaining of "generalized numbness", who looked just a tad edgy -- I pulled down her turtle-neck collar and found a goitre; guy who couldn't stop walking x1 episode and almost knocked into a wall, neurologically normal -- CT head revealed an acute subdural bleed, but had zero history of trauma ).
Patients don't understand what's involved in making such diagnoses, so don't expect any gratitude. In fact, in the field of emergency medicine, I don't expect thanks at all. Short consultation, no follow-up, high stress situtations with tense psyches all around -- ideal recipe for complaints, I guarantee you. Busy shifts, manpower shortage, getting rapped for incidents that are beyond your control... why did I choose this again? :)
At the end of the day, though, I know I wouldn't be happier anywhere else. And that is what matters most. For every idiotic patient who gives me a hard time, there's another nice one who appreciates my efforts. For every complaint about "missing a diagnosis", there's one that I managed to make based on clinical acumen alone. The ER is where you hone your skills and practise "minimalist medicine". If I had a choice, I'd like to work in a rural field hospital in a developing country for a short stint, in order to experience medicine in its most primitive form. But that's an issue my parents and I have to resolve. :)
A few fellow trainees have expressed feelings of disillusion, with a number of them dropping out along the way. It's expected, of course. But again, not restricted to this particular specialty. I gripe and rant, yet am certain that this is where I want to be. Besides, I have my ways of coping with the stress, as you readers are well aware of. :P
Adios, CGH A&E. Hello, KKH Paeds. I'm not too optimistic about seeing fretful kids and hyper parents. But life's unpredictable. Who knows, I may actually end up liking it. ;)
And how could I possibly forget...
Movie quote: from "Four Weddings and a Funeral", which introduced foppy-haired Hugh Grant to the world.
( oh heck, there're so many good ones, let's have a few all at once )
Gareth: I've got a new theory about marriage. Two people are in love, they live together, and then suddenly one day, they run out of conversation.
Charles ( Grant's character ): Uh-huh.
Gareth: Totally. I mean they can't think of a single thing to say to each other. That's it: panic! Then suddenly it-it occurs to the chap that there is a way out of the deadlock.
Charles: Which is?
Gareth: He'll ask her to marry him.
Charles: Brilliant! Brilliant!
Gareth: Suddenly they've got something to talk about for the rest of their lives.
Charles: Basically you're saying marriage is just a way of getting out of an embarrassing pause in conversation.
Gareth: The definitive icebreaker.
[at Gareth's funeral]
Matthew: Gareth used to prefer funerals to weddings; he said it was easier to get enthusiastic about a ceremony one had an outside chance of eventually being involved in. In order to prepare this speech I rang a few people to get a general picture of how Gareth was regarded by those who met him. "Fat" seems to have been a word people most connected with him. "Terribly rude" also rang a lot of bells. So "very fat" and "very rude" seems to have been the stranger's viewpoint. On the other hand, some of you have been kind enough to ring me and let me know that you loved him, which I know he would have been thrilled to hear. You remember his fabulous hospitality and his strange experimental cooking. The recipe for "Duck a la Banana" fortunately goes with him to his grave. Most of all, you tell me of his enormous capacity for joy, and when joyful... when joyful, for highly vocal drunkenness; but I hope "joyful" is how you will remember him. Not stuck in a box in a church! Pick your favorite of his waistcoats and remember him that way! The most splendid, replete, big-hearted... weak-hearted, as it turned out... and jolly bugger most of us ever met! As for me, you may ask how I will remember him; what I thought of him. Unfortunately, there I run out of words.
Charles: Why am I always at, uh, weddings, and never actually getting married, now?
Matthew: It's probably 'cause you're a bit scruffy. Or it could also be 'cause you haven't met the right girl.
Charles: Ah, but you see, is that it? Maybe I have met the right girls. Maybe I meet the right girls all the time. Maybe it's me.
[Charles comes running after Carrie]
Charles: Ehm, look. Sorry, sorry. I just, ehm, well, this is a very stupid question and... , particularly in view of our recent shopping excursion, but I just wondered, by any chance, ehm, eh, I mean obviously not because I guess I've only slept with 9 people, but-but I-I just wondered... ehh. I really feel, ehh, in short, to recap it slightly in a clearer version, eh, the words of David Cassidy in fact, eh, while he was still with the Partridge family, eh, "I think I love you," and eh, I-I just wondered by any chance you wouldn't like to... Eh... Eh... No, no, no of course not... I'm an idiot, he's not... Excellent, excellent, fantastic, eh, I was gonna say lovely to see you, sorry to disturb... Better get on...
Carrie: That was very romantic.
Charles: Well, I thought it over a lot, you know, I wanted to get it just right.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Forecast: Hazy today. My brain, that is. Subsisted on 3 1/2 hours of sleep for the whole of Friday and the earlier part of Saturday, before finally hitting the sack at midnight and getting up before 7 this morning to do a bit more unpacking. I'm tired, but immensely relieved. And I just love my new room. :P
Not too happy with my department secretary for ignoring my request to have at least one day off this week. She's usually quite sharp, but didn't give me what I asked for, for some strange reason. Oh well. Tomorrow's my first day at KKH, and none of us even knows our shifts yet. Not good.
So now I'm stuck here from 8-4, fighting off the constant urge to yawn, or to give yet another NS boy a piece of my mind. But why bother? I may be losing steam, but things will only get better once I move on to the next ER. No more 50-patient calls, or 40-patient shifts. Crying babies aren't my cup of tea, but it's a welcome change nevertheless. 6 months of it -- tolerable. :)
After a full year in emergency medicine, I'm inadvertently forced to (re-)evaluate my opinion of this field. It's a natural process regardless of which specialty you're in. What I feel isn't different from my past experiences in other departments -- the highs and lows, the usual difficulties that come with each job, adapting to new colleagues / environments, facing the occasional FON cases and getting stabbed in the back with a belated bloody complaint letter.
Why emergency medicine? Reading someone's blog entry about The One (pertaining to mate-choosing), I guess a lot of it can be extrapolated to specialty selection as well. You know when you know . I didn't aim for a life in the ER from the word go. I'm a big fan of the TV show, but considered it little more than simple entertainment. There isn't a particular moment which I can pinpoint, when I said, "Eureka! THIS is what I want to do for the rest of my life!" It was more of a gradual realization, though technically over a relatively short period ( 3 weeks at most, which equals the length of my 4th year A&E posting ). True, I had novelty on my side at the time -- wet-behind-the-ears med student dipping her toes into the ocean of ACLS / ATLS / breech deliveries in the ER -- but now, many years down the road, there's a new kind of novelty. I may have seen almost every common condition in the book, but it's the sleuth work that always gets me going. Pinpointing the patient's problem(s) ( sometimes through history alone ), knowing what to do based on your best clinical guess ( e.g. man presented with postural giddiness, not particularly pale, but I PR-ed anyway and found a fungating rectal tumour; young lady complaining of "generalized numbness", who looked just a tad edgy -- I pulled down her turtle-neck collar and found a goitre; guy who couldn't stop walking x1 episode and almost knocked into a wall, neurologically normal -- CT head revealed an acute subdural bleed, but had zero history of trauma ).
Patients don't understand what's involved in making such diagnoses, so don't expect any gratitude. In fact, in the field of emergency medicine, I don't expect thanks at all. Short consultation, no follow-up, high stress situtations with tense psyches all around -- ideal recipe for complaints, I guarantee you. Busy shifts, manpower shortage, getting rapped for incidents that are beyond your control... why did I choose this again? :)
At the end of the day, though, I know I wouldn't be happier anywhere else. And that is what matters most. For every idiotic patient who gives me a hard time, there's another nice one who appreciates my efforts. For every complaint about "missing a diagnosis", there's one that I managed to make based on clinical acumen alone. The ER is where you hone your skills and practise "minimalist medicine". If I had a choice, I'd like to work in a rural field hospital in a developing country for a short stint, in order to experience medicine in its most primitive form. But that's an issue my parents and I have to resolve. :)
A few fellow trainees have expressed feelings of disillusion, with a number of them dropping out along the way. It's expected, of course. But again, not restricted to this particular specialty. I gripe and rant, yet am certain that this is where I want to be. Besides, I have my ways of coping with the stress, as you readers are well aware of. :P
Adios, CGH A&E. Hello, KKH Paeds. I'm not too optimistic about seeing fretful kids and hyper parents. But life's unpredictable. Who knows, I may actually end up liking it. ;)
And how could I possibly forget...
Movie quote: from "Four Weddings and a Funeral", which introduced foppy-haired Hugh Grant to the world.
( oh heck, there're so many good ones, let's have a few all at once )
Gareth: I've got a new theory about marriage. Two people are in love, they live together, and then suddenly one day, they run out of conversation.
Charles ( Grant's character ): Uh-huh.
Gareth: Totally. I mean they can't think of a single thing to say to each other. That's it: panic! Then suddenly it-it occurs to the chap that there is a way out of the deadlock.
Charles: Which is?
Gareth: He'll ask her to marry him.
Charles: Brilliant! Brilliant!
Gareth: Suddenly they've got something to talk about for the rest of their lives.
Charles: Basically you're saying marriage is just a way of getting out of an embarrassing pause in conversation.
Gareth: The definitive icebreaker.
[at Gareth's funeral]
Matthew: Gareth used to prefer funerals to weddings; he said it was easier to get enthusiastic about a ceremony one had an outside chance of eventually being involved in. In order to prepare this speech I rang a few people to get a general picture of how Gareth was regarded by those who met him. "Fat" seems to have been a word people most connected with him. "Terribly rude" also rang a lot of bells. So "very fat" and "very rude" seems to have been the stranger's viewpoint. On the other hand, some of you have been kind enough to ring me and let me know that you loved him, which I know he would have been thrilled to hear. You remember his fabulous hospitality and his strange experimental cooking. The recipe for "Duck a la Banana" fortunately goes with him to his grave. Most of all, you tell me of his enormous capacity for joy, and when joyful... when joyful, for highly vocal drunkenness; but I hope "joyful" is how you will remember him. Not stuck in a box in a church! Pick your favorite of his waistcoats and remember him that way! The most splendid, replete, big-hearted... weak-hearted, as it turned out... and jolly bugger most of us ever met! As for me, you may ask how I will remember him; what I thought of him. Unfortunately, there I run out of words.
Charles: Why am I always at, uh, weddings, and never actually getting married, now?
Matthew: It's probably 'cause you're a bit scruffy. Or it could also be 'cause you haven't met the right girl.
Charles: Ah, but you see, is that it? Maybe I have met the right girls. Maybe I meet the right girls all the time. Maybe it's me.
[Charles comes running after Carrie]
Charles: Ehm, look. Sorry, sorry. I just, ehm, well, this is a very stupid question and... , particularly in view of our recent shopping excursion, but I just wondered, by any chance, ehm, eh, I mean obviously not because I guess I've only slept with 9 people, but-but I-I just wondered... ehh. I really feel, ehh, in short, to recap it slightly in a clearer version, eh, the words of David Cassidy in fact, eh, while he was still with the Partridge family, eh, "I think I love you," and eh, I-I just wondered by any chance you wouldn't like to... Eh... Eh... No, no, no of course not... I'm an idiot, he's not... Excellent, excellent, fantastic, eh, I was gonna say lovely to see you, sorry to disturb... Better get on...
Carrie: That was very romantic.
Charles: Well, I thought it over a lot, you know, I wanted to get it just right.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
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