Visited The Esplanade: Theatres on the Bay yesterday during its open house. Though intially unimpressed despite all the hype in the media, I ended up liking the place quite a lot after seeing it "in the flesh", so to speak.

First, the design is actually pretty good. The durian-like roofs give it an air of grandeur, and make it distinctly Singaporean -- but whether the architects intended to create such an effect remains unknown. However, I think its location is a stroke of genius. Situated at Marina Bay with a panoramic view of the skyline and the sea, it certainly warrants comparison with that other seafront theatre, namely the Sydney Opera House.

The interior is tastefully decorated, but with the massive crowds squeezing past each other, I couldn't get a proper glimpse of the overall design. I did, however, get a look inside the concert hall, which has a seating capacity of 1,600, and suspiciously closely resembles the Royal Albert Hall -- from the pipe organ above the stage, to the domed ceiling ( but comes nowhere close in terms of class, of course ).
Acoustics-wise, the concert hall definitely has it. The 2 performances I attended were given by the MGSS choir and Budak Pantai. While the former lacked power, the latter blew me away with its hearty a capella renditions of "My Cherie Amour" ( a Stevie Wonders classic ), Richard Marx's "Right Here Waiting" and even "Ke Ren Lai" ( a famous children's ditty ). Their rich tenor and bass voices filled the hall and gave me goose pimples. Just imagine what it'll sound like with a full orchestra -- The London and New York Philharmonic orchestras will be gracing the stage come October, but sadly, tickets are all sold out.

Outside, there's a scenic Waterfront area with al fresco dining. The restaurants are mostly small and not very well-known. Prices will probably be around the higher ranges, so it'll be better to eat at One Fullerton ( located just 10-15 minutes' walk away ).

I still prefer the Singapore Indoor Stadium, which never fails to humble me with its size ( 10,000 seating capacity ). But The Esplanade will be a fabulous venue for musicals and classical performances. Hope the ticket prices will be more affordable though -- currently, top prices for the more popular concerts are $200 a head.


Next, did anyone read Life! today? Samuel Lee, one of the resident reporters, gave "Restless" 3 1/2 stars!?!?!?!?!?
There are, of course, a few reasons I can give for this erroneous review.
1) He has really weird taste.
2) He has a thing for Carol Tham and/or Jean Danker. ( What better way to get them interested than to say, "Hi, I'm so-and-so, the reporter who gave your show 3 1/2 stars."? )
3) He's one of the uncredited producers.
4) He was really drunk when he watched the pilot episode.


Last but not least, it's Matt Damon festival on cable in October, so stock up on blank video tapes and whip out your SCV catalogues. I don't have mine with me at the moment, so I can't give exact dates, but here're the movies which will be screened.

1) Good Will Hunting -- I had no idea this would be shown on cable, so I actually rented the DVD last week. No regrets, however. It's a brilliantly written film, with terrific performances by Damon and Robin Williams. I'll leave the story for you to find out, but make sure you're wide awake, as it's a talkie type of movie, and is loaded with gems, which is yet another reason for you to record it on tape for later repeat viewing(s). I certainly didn't appreciate it as much the first time I saw it, but last Friday, after sitting through it again, I have new-found admiration for Damon ( who penned most of the script, and at the tender age of 26 or 27 -- Ben Affleck admitted his main role was as typist ). Their work won them the Best Screenplay Oscars in 1998, and they definitely deserved them.
My favourite moments: Look out for a conversation about Ted Kazynski, aka The Unabomber, as well as a touching account of how Robin Williams' character met his wife ( the line "I gotta go see about a girl." has got to be one of the simplest yet most poignant declarations of love ever ).

2) The Talented Mr. Ripley -- This was shown on Channel i just last month, I believe, yet it will be screened again, this time on one of the SCV movie channels. Based on a novel by Patricia Highsmith, this is a tale about Tom Ripley, a nobody who unwittingly befriends the filthy rich Dickie Greenleaf ( matinee idol incarnate Jude Law ) and his equally wealthy girlfriend ( a lovely Gwyneth Paltrow ). When his newfound lifestyle is threatened, he proceeds to eliminate all who stand in his way, and assumes the identity of the person he most admires, with dire consequences.
Damon defies all expectations in his role as a homosexual serial killer, and manages to make your hair stand despite his boyish and rather nerdy looks. Watch out for the bathroom scene featuring Damon and Law. It's laced with sexual undertones, but it remains to be seen whether this will show up on local television -- cable or no cable ( they've banned "Sex and the City", after all ).

Adverts in the SCV catalogues have indicated that other Damon films, namely "The Legend of Bagger Vance" and "All The Pretty Horses" will be screened in November/December, so get ready for more of the very delectable Matt. :)

Here're my views on "Restless", that new TCS offering mentioned in an earlier entry.

It sucks! Just wanted to get that off my chest immediately. My God, does it suck!
The script isn't the problem, mind you, and my sympathy goes out to the poor writers, who try hard and haven't done badly.
The visuals aren't that great, but again I applaud the "cinematographer" ( though I don't think people in "show business" here deserve any sort of title ). The dark colours are quite interesting and atmospheric. Too bad they get marred by the cheesy "shock music" -- sudden surges in the creepy score at key moments, specifically aimed at making you jump in fright. I'm immune to this sort of tactics, so it had zero effect on me, yawn.

No no, what really really sucks is the acting -- Carol Tham's, in particular. Where the heck did the producers/director dig up this bimbo? Okay, she IS quite pretty, and her cutesy fragile features could earn viewers' empathy -- after all, most horror shows make use of children or beautiful females, presumably to make you feel protective towards these characters ( e.g. The Sixth Sense, The Exorcist, What Lies Beneath, The Others ). But in order for this to work, the lead has to be able to ACT. Tham, unfortunately, has abyssmal emoting skills. Her expressions are limited to three at most, her delivery of lines is so lacklustre you start to wonder if she needs to have her thyroid function checked, and her attempts at acting petrified are awfully forced and artificial. Jean Danker ( who plays her friend ) would definitely have done a much better job. Is it too late to change leads?

The actors playing the different ghosts don't fare better either. The little boy who showed up in the pilot episode talks exactly the same way as Tham, and one particular scene, in which the two of them were sitting next to each other having a conversation, was so dumb I started laughing. Not a good sign for a thriller.

The day after this disaster aired, I heard Perfect 10 DJs Glenn Ong and Rod Monteiro talking about it on the radio. Glenn raved about "The Practice" ( which I saw, and WOW! ), but when pressed by Rod to comment on "Restless", kept evading the question. Finally, he admitted how bad it is, and Rod answered, "So you got restless watching "Restless" eh?" What a bunch of clowns. :)

Verdict? Don't wast your precious time on this clunker. Why can't TCS just save their money and bring in more US TV shows instead of wasting it on stupid projects like this one?

Next, a list of some upcoming TV shows which I think are really worth catching.

Now showing:

1) The Practice ( Tuesdays 10:30pm, Channel 5 ) - It's sometimes hard to imagine that David E. Kelley is capable of writing a show as fantastic as this, when he's also responsible for the ditz-fest known as "Ally McBeal". This new season promises more sensational cases and riveting courtroom drama, as well as a Hannibal Lecter-type killer. Seeing Dylan McDermott on the small screen again is always a good thing too. :)

2) Boston Public ( Tuesdays 11:30pm, Channel 5 ) - Okay, this one's not that high on my list, but it'll be interesting to see how the 2nd season progresses. Set in a high school swarming with troubled teens and stressed out teachers, it tends to over-dramatize situations, yet that's precisely what makes it so addictive. Here's a place where the students ridicule their principal on a public website, commit murder/suicide, get pregnant, or get scholarships.

3) Restless ( Tuesdays 10pm, Channel 5 ) - Touted as the female/Singaporean version of "The Sixth Sense", but will most likely disappoint, as all local English productions usually do. The protagonist looks useless, and so far I've only seen one expression on her face -- that of utter confusion ( it's supposed to pass for terror, I assume ). I'll watch the first couple of episodes for the heck of it, and post my opinions another time.

4) Survivor:Thailand ( Fridays 3pm and 10pm, Channel 5 ) - The review you may have read in the papers is right. This motley crew of Robinson Crusoe wannabes is definitely the most interesting bunch since the Survivor season set in the Australian outback. The pilot episode featured the novel concept of asking the 2 eldest participants to choose their team members, and was made even more unpredictable when the female senior citizen decided to gather all the old fogies into her fold. And within this first hour, I've already identified the heckler ( a long-haired bartender whose name I haven't memorized yet ), a female fire-fighter who pulled a Richard Hatch by stripping naked the first night, a cop who looks like Ricky Martin from certain angles, an Asian called Shi-Ann who calls herself a "she-devil" ( she'd better not shame Chinese all over the world by doing something stupid or disgusting ), a nasty pastor ( who got booted off, darn ), and porn-actor-turned-used-car-salesman Brian. I'm already hopelessly addicted. :)

Coming soon:

1) Scrubs (?October, Channel 5 )- Yet another medical drama, but I haven't done any research on it yet, so I'll post details as and when I find out.

2) Six Feet Under ( premieres October, SCV HBO Channel 60 ) - It's earned rave reviews in the US for its dark humour and portrayal of family dysfunction, so this is one I'm really looking forward to.

3) The Amazing Race 3 ( October, Channel 5 ) - The most gruelling obstacle course in reality TV, where 12 teams race around the world finding clues to their next destination. There's little time for rest, and the stress level's enough to kill you or make you really sick. However, it's yet another Jerry Bruckheimer production, and past countries featured include New Zealand, France, Africa, China and Australia. There's lots of human drama as well, 'cos this competition always brings out the worst in its contestants.

I shall end off with some hilarious lyrics from the song "Daddy Wasn't There", which is featured on the "Austin Powers:Goldmember" soundtrack, and brilliantly performed by Mike Myers.

"When I was first baptized/
When I was criticized/
When I was ostracized/
When I was jazzercised/
Steak and kidney pies/
One hour Martinized/
When I was cir-cum-cised/
Daddy wasn't there."

Here're reviews of some recent DVD releases I watched over the weekend.

1) Monsters, Inc - This is from Pixar, the talented team that brought us "Toy Story". This one again showcases their wonderful computer graphics, especially in the form of an Asian-looking toddler named Boo. However, I felt the storyline wasn't interesting enough, and lost some interest towards the end. Still, it's a good way to relax after a long day, and look out for Steve Buscemi who voices Randall, a really creepy chameleon-like monster.

2) Panic Room - A much awaited project from David Fincher, who helmed the shocking thriller "Se7en", and followed up with the terrific "Fight Club". "Panic Room" falls flat, though, with its simple plot and boring characters. Jodie Foster obviously worked out for the role, but the script sucks, and the villains are downright moronic at times. I had my finger on the fast-forward button for the last half hour, and didn't even miss a thing.

3) Queen of the Damned - Technically a B-grade horror flick, but surprisingly, it's the only one among the 3 that I actually enjoyed. This is the sequel to "Interview With The Vampire", which was based on the first book in the Vampire Chronicles series by Anne Rice, and released almost 10 years ago. It starred heavyweights Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Antonio Banderas and then-unknown Kirsten Dunst, and made a pot of money. QOTD doesn't boast any major star power, but let me tell you, it's a lot more realistic as a vampire film than "Interview" ever will be.
This movie continues where the first left off. Lestat awakens from hibernation and rejoins the mortal world as a rock star, becoming an international sex symbol. Along the way, he unwittingly unleashes Akasha, the queen of the vampires, causing death and destruction in the process.
Lestat is played by Stuart Townsend, an actor whose work I've never seen, but who positively dazzles in his role. Possessing unbelievable cheekbones ( rivalled only by Orlando Bloom's, aka Legolas in the "Lord of the Rings" films ) and loads of attitude, he is very convincing as an ancient bloodsucker who's both fascinated with and bored by the humans who worship him. While Cruise sauntered around in wigs and frilly coats, Townsend struts about in tight leather pants with unbuttoned silk shirts in all-black ensembles. Combined with garishly pale facial makeup and bloodshot eyes, he beats Cruise hands down as the quintessential vampire, and even makes the latter look like a wimp.
Aaliyah does a nice job as Akasha, but I don't fancy her acting "technique" -- ie. slinking around and hissing her lines. She was a talented singer/dancer, but probably wouldn't have excelled as a thespian.

This is the week I have 3 calls within 7 days. The one last Saturday was relatively quiet with a few spurts of activity - defibrillated a patient for the very first time, an experience I will never forget! It's Tuesday evening 8pm right now, and so far I've had 1 admission, woohoo! The night's still young, of course, but once you get through the first few hours with a track record like this, you count your blessings. :)

Just browsed the latest issue of the SMA News on the Internet, and would like to draw your attention to a piece written by my fellow Editorial Board member Terence Lim. He's penned a very candid article on life in the ER, and let me tell you very honestly - I really admire his guts! :) A most enjoyable read.

And now, back to my favourite topic - movies. I watched a terrific John Cusack film on cable last night called "Say Anything" ( Star Movies, Channel 58 ), and thought I'd make up a list of good JC movies you can try out if you're interested. In order of preference:

1) Say Anything - Yes! I like it that much! Cusack plays a high school graduate who takes a leap of faith and asks the top girl in his class out, before she embarks on a scholarship study programme in England. It's an early work by Cameron Crowe ( of "Almost Famous" and "Vanilla Sky" fame ), and sparkles with smart dialogue and on-screen chemistry between its 2 young stars ( the other being Ione Skye ). JC fills his character with emotional angst and a wonderful sweetness which is further enhanced by his angelic looks ( yes, Cusack was adorable as a teen :)). A very good date movie, especially if you're craving an intelligent love story.

2) Grosse Pointe Blank - This one's not well-known, but has Cusack in the role of a hitman who returns to his hometown for a high school reunion, meeting up with an old flame ( Minnie Driver ) in the process. A movie made watchable only by JC's presence, but also boosted by a nice comedic performance from Driver ( who's shown good comic timing in the Disney cartoon "Tarzan", as well as "Return To Me" and "Circle of Friends" ). Promises lots of good laughs.

3) Con Air - Cusack's only mainstream blockbuster, I believe, in which he shares the screen with the likes of Nicolas Cage and John Malkovich, playing a US Marshal out to re-capture a plane that has been hijacked by a group of hard-core criminals. He looks great here, and amazingly, manages to look believable despite his boyish features.

4) Pushing Tin - Here, he's an air traffic controller who's so neurotic you really start to worry about your own safety when you travel on planes ( you think Singaporeans are any different?! ). This is a hilarious take on the nasty goings-on in "the tower", and sees Cusack matching wits with Billy Bob Thornton, and sharing some intimate moments with Cate Blanchett ( excellent as a loud-mouthed, gaudily dressed wife ) and Angelina Jolie ( who never fails to heat up a screen ). It may seem to lose a bit of direction towards the end, but it's a good ride, nonetheless.

5) Being John Malkovich - A masterpiece all on its own, but not one of JC's best performances. The storyline's one of the most original ever -- Cusack discovers a hole in his office that leads directly into the mind of John Malkovich. My main peeve is his grungy look, which really doesn't seem necessary. But this is a guy who ultimately excels in kooky roles ( e.g. "High Fidelity" ), and never appears that comfortable as more conventional leading man characters ( e.g. "America's Sweethearts", "Serendipity").

One of the most deserving of an Oscar. He just needs the right role in the right film. I'm just waiting, 'cos I'm sure it'll happen someday.

Will be writing on more themes periodically. Coming up: Good horror flicks ( in October, in celebration of Halloween ), and perhaps some choice movies from Matt Damon.
If anyone has special requests, feel free to email me at ojj75@yahoo.com. Would be most happy to oblige - and get a few opinions as well. :)

Just adding a note for anyone visiting this site after reading the SMA News.
The 2nd season for C.S.I. was recently shown over cable, and ended just last week -- unfortunately, my article was on the waiting list for a couple of months. :)
The pilot season is actually being screened at midnight every Wednesday over Channel 5. An unearthly hour, but considering its niche audience here in Singapore, it's understandable. I highly recommend recording it on the VCR for later viewing.

It's a busy day today. Will update again another time.

Here's my review of The Bourne Identity, which I saw yesterday. I've included 2 versions - one with spoilers, and one without. Take your pick, but some of you may prefer to read about the details, as they help prepare you for certain scenes so you don't miss out on some really spiffy plot developments.

Review 1: Without spoilers

Easily the most famous of Robert Ludlum's spy thrillers, I vaguely recall a TV series based on it many years ago, starring Richard Chamberlain. So when I first heard of the big-screen version, featuring Matt Damon of all people, I wasn't very impressed -- Damon in an action flick? Errr....
But thanks to an aggressive marketing ploy by Universal / United International Pictures, I was practically brainwashed into going to the cinema. I've been endlessly inundated by trailers and making-of specials for the movie this past week, and was quite taken with the shots of Damon kickboxing -- sorry, I'm a sucker for such things. :)

Rest assured, though, 'cos you will not be disappointed! "The Bourne Identity" is an exceptional espionage film, in the tradition of old-fashioned classics like "The French Connection", yet reminiscent of the recent "Enemy of the State".

Damon plays a man who is mysteriously found floating in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea one stormy night, with no form of identification on him, and worse, no memory of who he is. However, he leaves himself various clues, and a trail leading to the name Jason Bourne. Along the way, Bourne discovers he is a wanted man, being hunted by the CIA as well as its enemies. What follows is a slam-bang action movie, made even more exhilarating by an intelligent storyline.

I'll leave details of the scenes in the review with spoilers, and take the opportunity in this one to wax lyrical about the cast and crew. :)

Doug Liman ( director )
A search on his past credits yielded only one film I know -- "Swingers" -- which is basically a buddy-road-trip film that starred Vince Vaughn a few years ago, and earned rave reviews but modest box office takings. A surprising discovery, especially after watching "The Bourne Identity". His expert direction makes it seem he's been doing this all his life, a la Ridley Scott. The director, in my opinion, is always the most important figure in any film, dictating everything from the mood to the pace and of course, the quality of the actors' performances. This guy's definitely made a big impact here. Let's hope he won't mess it up by making bad choices in the future.

John Powell ( composer )
A search on THIS guy coughed up the following: "Face/Off", "Rat Race", "Evolution", "Shrek" and "Antz", among other varied projects. While some movies are complemented by their soundtracks, this one's practically propelled by it, and listening to Powell's pumping tempos is almost as enjoyable as watching the action unfold. If you have time, sit back for a full blast of the excellent score after the credits start rolling. You won't regret it.

Franka Potente ( female protagonist )
Here's another one of those unknown actresses who suddenly lands a big role in a major Hollywood film despite so-so looks -- not unlike Thandie Newton from "Mission: Impossible 2". Luckily, Potente fares a lot better in the acting category, and does much more than parade around rolling her eyes or dressing skimpily ( the weather in "The Bourne Identity" is uniformly wet and cold, so everyone's wrapped up for most of the film ). She possesses a streetwise yet innocent charm that plays off Damon's paranoia extremely well. I thought the love scene was a tad forced, but the chemistry's there. We'll be seeing more of her in the years to come.

Matt Damon ( male protagonist )
I've left the best for last. :) In truth, Damon's always been in the back of my mind, and I first saw him in "The Rainmaker", the movie that made him a star. Since then, he's taken the road less travelled -- as his lifelong friend Ben Affleck went on to become a mainstream action hero, Damon's played everything from a genius ("Good Will Hunting") to a gay psychopathic killer ("The Talented Mr. Ripley") to a cowboy ("All The Pretty Horses") and a thief ("Ocean's Eleven").
Though often overshadowed by his more outgoing compatriot ( ie. Affleck ), Damon displayed his own intelligent wit and sexy charisma in an interview with Oprah Winfrey last year ( which I have on tape, ahem :)). Ben may be the hunk, but Matt's cute, AND a deep thinker.

So yes, I raised my eyebrows when I heard he'd been picked for the role of Jason Bourne, but after watching the movie, I guarantee you will agree he was made for it. Thanks to Hollywood magic and know-how, Damon's transformed into a veritable fighting machine, complete with bulging biceps, moves worthy of Jean Claude Van Damme's admiration, and the agility of a panther. He also adds a nice emotional tinge to his character, who's capable of killing without remorse, yet stops himself when morally confused.

An interview on the movies.com website ( search for "The Bourne Identity" ) mentioned the possibility of another installment for Jason Bourne, and Damon did say he wouldn't mind reprising the role. Wishful thinking? It doesn't hurt to hope. :)

Review 2: Spoilers included

Favourite scenes:
1) The car chase: Any doubts about the hardy little Mini should be laid to rest with this heart-stopping sequence through the congested, narrow streets of Paris.
2) The wall crawl: This one takes place during Bourne's daring escape from the American Embassy in Paris, and has him stealthily creeping along the outside wall while
all hell breaks loose within. I particularly liked this part 'cos I noticed that there was no background music ( possibly the only moment in the film where there's complete
silence ). So you have Damon slowly inching his way down, with nothing but the sound of his footsteps and maybe a gentle breeze blowing. Really cool.
3) The fight scenes: More drooling on my part, sorry. :) Damon demonstrates deft grace in his execution of karate/kickboxing moves. The nice sound effects add some
finesse as well. Say what you like, Ben Affleck probably won't look as convincing doing the same thing.
4) The hunt for the sniper: This occurs while Bourne is hiding out at a country house with Marie ( Potente ), and confronts an assassin sent to kill him. The tactics employed
by both killers are calculated and ingenious as each tries to flush the other out.

Nice touches:
1) The bathroom scene: Bourne washing Marie's hair is innocuous yet rife with sexual tension. You'd have to be dead not to feel it.
2) Afterthoughts: This one's a short list of smart things Bourne does throughout the course of the movie, so you can pick up on them.
a) In the American Embassy, as the alarm is sounded, Bourne calmly walks through the corridors, then suddenly yanks a framed picture off the wall. This is actually a floor plan showing the exits, and helps him navigate his way to an escape route.
b) Again in the Embassy, after whacking a guard, he doubles back to grab his headset, so he can tune in to the other guards' conversations and find out where they've positioned themselves.
c) Just before the car chase, Bourne is seen carefully scrutinizing a road map. I completely missed this one, and only realized it when my friend told me about it. Bourne has a photographic memory, so although the Mini seems to be aimlessly weaving through traffic, this guy actually knows exactly where he's going.
d) At the country house, Bourne creates an explosion, using the thick smoke as a cover as he runs up the slope to where the other killer is parked. Once up there, he shoots at a flock of birds in the long grass, so they make a ruckus and distract the sniper while Bourne uses the opportunity to move around without being discovered.
e) A humourous segment: In an attempt to obtain a hotel bill, Bourne devises a complicated plan, only to be caught offguard by Marie's straightforward method -- that of just walking up to the concierge and asking for it.

I'm just waiting for the DVD release, so I can add it to my collection. :)

Heard over Power 98 ( a local radio station ): Don't buy shampoo, buy real poo!
Just a cheesy joke to jumpstart your Monday. :)

Latest DVD reviews:

i am sam - Sean Penn, Michelle Pfeiffer, Dakota Fanning
An unapologetic tear-jerker, it features Penn as a mentally challenged man who raises his young daughter on his own, only to later fight social services to retain custody. Pfeiffer plays the hotshot lawyer who helps him, and Fanning the daughter in question.
I don't remember this movie doing well at the box office, so the only reason I rented this is because Michelle Pfeiffer is in it. Looking more luminously beautiful with each passing year, she's gorgeous in this film, and excels in her role of a hypocritical attorney who gradually learns to laugh and love again after her encounter with Penn.
A well-directed effort with a thoughtful and touching script, it is further lifted by Penn's admirable portrayal of a person with the mental capacity of a 7-year-old, and a lifetime obsession with the Beatles and Dr. Seuss. Considering his reputations for being a bad boy and the ex-husband of Madonna, it's a stretch which he executes perfectly.
Watch out for Fanning as the precocious daughter who changes the lives of all those around her. A real find with loads of talent - much of which is still untapped, I predict - she is what I would call 'the female equivalent of Haley Joel Osment'.

In The Bedroom - Sissy Spacek, Tom Wilkinson, Marisa Tomei, Nick Stahl
This film has won many awards, but honestly speaking, I was quite disappointed. A young man ( Stahl ) gets involved with a married young woman ( Tomei ) who's in the middle of a bitter divorce. His parents ( Spacek and Wilkinson ) tolerate it only because they're convinced he'll outgrow it, and also because he's going away to college. A tragic turn of events occurs, however, resulting in the young man's death. And thus the story begins, as we watch the once-warm relationship between his devastated parents slowly unravel.
An "indie" film, it is no doubt a good effort by director Todd Field. He draws nice performances from all his cast members, most notably Wilkinson who, with his burly teddy-bear build, soft, kind face and mild-mannered demeanour, breaks our hearts as he transforms from a blissfully happy man to one who sobs in private and skips lunch because he no longer has a son to eat with.
The pace of the movie, though, leaves much to be desired. Certain scenes are a little unnecessary and slow the story down. My attention wavered towards the last one-third, even with my relatively high threshold for "slow-burners". Verdict? Not too bad, but a little overrated, I think.

Update on Josh Groban:
He will be appearing in a tribute concert for America come September 11th, which will most likely be broadcast over cable - channel and time still pending. For those of you who are wondering what I've been raving about these past few months, this is a good chance for you to finally see him in action. Rumour has it he's been picked to sing the national anthem - a rendition of which may be found on his website ( click on "Watch" for a sampling ). He's also mentioned he's coming to Asia for a promotional tour later this year, so if you become a Grobanite ( like me! ), you're in for a real treat. Stay tuned...

The forum page for Sensory magazine is now up and running. I'm the movies/musicals SIG leader, and have already posted in the Movies and Travel groups. Do drop by when you're free. Public access is currently available, but not for long.

"Integrity: Doing the right thing, even when nobody's looking."

Got sidetracked by yesterday's round, which ended at 5pm, thankfully. :) There appears to be a virulent flu bug going around, and some of the consultants and registrars are down with colds. Today, my consultant's baby got sick, so he couldn't come to the hospital. Reminder to myself: double dose on Vitamin C when post-call tomorrow!

In continuation... yet another call today, hopefully a good one. Have been lucky so far, but the Hungry Ghost Festival may have a part to play in this anomaly. Quite a few patients in the wards have turned bad recently. And a few of those left upstairs aren't too well either. One of them, an elderly lady with dilated ischemic cardiomyopathy and an ejection fraction of only 15% ( normal being 50% ) was admitted last weekend for fluid overload -- yet again. She's got end-stage renal failure, diabetes, infected leg ulcers, but refuses dialysis, so her kidneys are shutting down and everything we give her isn't helping. It's terrible for us to see her day after day, sitting up in bed, gasping away, unable to eat or sleep or talk. Her family seems indifferent, and I've yet to meet any of them. In fact, last Saturday, when she arrived in the ward and I went to see her almost immediately, her children had already left. It's hard to believe that such people exist. Certainly not one of the finer moments in the life of a doctor.

Which reminds me of a comment I heard on "C.S.I." ( a link is provided below ). A pathologist on the show, upon hearing the grisly details of a victim's death, said," Sometimes I'm glad I only deal with dead people." Hear, hear.

The July issue of Reader's Digest features excerpts from the autobiography "Lucky Man", written by Michael J. Fox. I've followed his career from the beginning -- used to watch "Family Ties" in primary school, followed by the "Back To The Future" trilogy, "The Secret Of My Success", "The American President" and "Spin City". Like millions of his fans, I was shocked when he announced he has Parkinson's Disease, as he only recently turned 40, and has 3 young children to bring up. His account of what happened is both touching and honest, as he reveals how he battled alcoholism and withdrew from his loved ones. He also has a surprisingly good writing style, and his words are entirely his own, unlike other celebrities who enlist the help of professionals in writing their life stories. An inspiring story.

Okay. Here're links to my favourite websites, which can also be found on my homepage. Check them out.

1. Josh Groban - aka Grobania. Great site that gives you the opportunity to sample Josh's entire CD. The forum is practically overflowing with daily posts, with quite a number from the young man himself. I'm actively involved in the Asian Grobanites thread. Page 19 has a transcript of a recent Asian Grobanite group chat ( my nickname is
"spacefan"). Somehow, it's more hilarious reading it on the forum. A bit embarrassing too. :)

2. Blogger.com - enough said. Mentioned before in an earlier blog. Promises endless hours of amusement!

3. C.S.I. - This one's based on the TV series which has overtaken "ER" in the ratings race in the U.S.

4 Website for Emergency Physicians - for ER-philes only. I use this to check up on the latest developments in emergency medicine, but it also has a cool evidence-based medicine tutorial, which links to some pretty interesting pages. E.g. they define confidence intervals using polls in the U.S. presidential elections -- very clear and concise, and better than any tutorial I ever got in med school!

5. . My homepage - just being opportunistic here. :D I update this regularly, and it's got a few things some people don't know about.

6. Website for Singapore Doctors - came across this last week, and thought I'd mention it. Still relatively new, and a bit quiet, with 200 members but most of them keeping silent. Areas of interest include the forum for houseman and medical officers -- night calls being a hot topic. Medical students are apparently also allowed access.

7. Movies.com - haven't visited this one in a while, but I used to be addicted to it while doing surgery at Changi General -- all that time idling in between cases can really bore me to death! It's a great site for viewing trailers for upcoming movies, and reading reviews.

Waiting for an afternoon round with my consultant, so thought I'd update this a bit -- tried to do this last night but made the HUGE mistake of watching "Blair Witch 2: Book of Shadows" on cable, and sorely regretted it. Not many movies suck, but this is one of them.

Got word from a penpal of mine from England who just started a traineeship in surgery, that they've implemented a shift system. This means there're 3 shifts each day, even in the wards. Obviously this is done to reduce doctors' working hours, which have apparently been implicated in a number of lawsuits over there -- he tells me the lawyers dig up medical records and find out exactly for how long the doctors involved have been staying awake, so as to build a case for possible negligence. This follows the recent trend in the U.S., which has also cut doc's hours to 80 hours a week, and no more than 24-hour shifts each time. I submitted a piece on this to the SMA newsletter a couple of months ago, which will probably be printed in the september issue, so more details then.

Here're a couple of good jokes from a recent issue of Reader's Digest.

A young man spots a bottle in the sand one day while strolling along the beach. He picks it up, uncorks it, and releases a genie.
"You now have 3 wishes," the genie says.
"I wish I were a billionaire!" says the man. Poof! He opens his eyes to see a piece of paper with a Swiss bank account number in his hand.
Now for his second wish. "I wish I had a cool sports car!" Poof! He found himself standing next to a brand new red Ferrari.
For his last wish, he exclaimed, "I wish I were irresistible to women!!"
Poof! He turned into a box of chocolates.

A man sits at a bar drinking beer. Suddenly, he hears a voice saying, "You have lovely ears."
He turns around but sees no-one seated near him, so he continues drinking.
A few minutes later, another voice says, "You have beautiful eyes." Startled, he looks around again, but he's still alone at the bar.
He stops the bartender, and asks, "Am I crazy, or did I just hear someone say I have beautiful eyes?"
"Oh, don't worry," the bartender replies. "It's just the peanuts. They're complimentary."


Here's something that made headlines this week. In his National Day Rally speech, our Prime Minister, Goh Chok Tong, turned emotional, saying Singaporeans are either "stayers" or "quitters", and too critical of the government for not changing policies even in the midst of overwhelming negative response from the public. He went on to say that the PAP ( Peope's Action Party, which has ruled Singapore forever, to the uninitiated ) "welcomes feedback", but will continue to make necessary decisions if they are deemed necessary and for the good of the country. He calls it "bitter medicine", and likened it to a patient having to take his doctor's advice as long as it's the right treatment, no matter how unpleasant it is.

I have a lot of respect for the PM. I believe he's a genuinely good person and a great patriot. But I also think his views are very misplaced -- whether they are his own, I'll leave that to speculation. And since he's comparing the situation to one many doctors face, I'd like to point out a few things.

First, Singaporean patients love to exert their autonomy. They can be young and educated, or old and illiterate, but there's a significant number of individuals who will question our treatment, and if they're not happy, refuse procedures/tests, default follow-up, discharge against medical advice, or seek a second opinion. Saying Singaporeans are "patients" who will understand and accept government policies if they know they're for the good of the people is plain wrong.

Second, no two doctors will ever have the exact same opinion. Even with guidelines and numerous evidence-based studies, no two patients are alike, and therapies have to be tailored to each and every one of them. This is why we have combined meetings, where complicated cases are discussed and a concensus agreed upon. Sometimes, heated arguments arise as one doctor interrogates another on his choices. Therefore, I ask, what are the opposition leaders in Parliament doing? Are we to assume that they fully agree with everything the PAP is implementing? I admit I don't read the papers very regularly, but if there's dissent within the political system, is anyone even listening?

Third, lumping Singaporeans into stayers and quitters is myopic and, quite frankly, mean. Like patients who don't comply with treatment, locals who decide to leave the country always have their reasons, and good ones at that. People I treat will tell me they cannot afford the medications we prescribe, or are unable to tolerate their side effects. Others have job and family commitments which prevent them from keeping appointments no matter how hard they try. A few even cite religious reasons. Likewise, Singaporeans migrate for good reason. I personally feel the standard of living here is unbelievable. In the near future, it may be impossible for a single young professional to support his parents and own a home, let alone a car. Throw in raising a family and the average monthly savings is close to zero. Small wonder that some of us dream of moving to places where a car costs $10,000, a house $100,000, with a much more relaxed pace of life for us and our stressed-out children.

Last but not least, the issue of welcoming feedback. Let's see, a few years ago, a feisty group of NUS undergraduates staged a peaceful protest, wearing black ribbons around campus. This was promptly halted by the authorities. Opposition leaders continue to be hauled to court, sued to to point of bankruptcy, and occasionally exiled. The Speaker's Corner, introduced to allow citizens to voice their unhappiness, has been repeatedly ridiculed in the media, is located in an obscure area of town, and has all but faded from public memory. And of course, numerous complaints from Singaporeans about the ERP ( Electronic Road Pricing ), transport fare hikes and so on haven't resulted in any policy changes. I'm still driving to work at 7am every morning -- my day officially begins at 8 -- so I don't have to pay 3 times as I travel along the CTE to the city. At its worst, this works out to $2.50 per gantry = $7.50 for a 5-minute drive, along an expressway that was built primarily to ease traffic jams and cut down travelling time, might I add.

I recently emailed the Forum editor with my opinions, some of which are listed above, and received a reply that it will not be published. Not that I'm surprised. The letters I've seen printed so far have either been supportive of PM Goh's sentiments, or mildly critical. One even talked about bar-top dancing, for pete's sake. Well, you can't blame me for trying.

I really wish I could add pictures to this thing. Well, maybe in the near future. Gonna buy a much-needed digital camera next month, along with a printer, after which I will swamp the Internet with numerous photos and be the first to cause the World Wife Web to implode -- worth a try. :)

Calls have a weird effect on me. And yes, I'm on call again today. I'm usually muted on such days, but not so at the moment, as you can see! Maybe it's because I just visited a blog which is hilarious. Click here and prepare to be greatly amused.

Anyhow, life goes on and except for the occasional liquor consumption and extravagant spending at a swanky restaurant, my programme is pretty much fixed.

What I do after work:

Monday -- Watch comedies on cable, followed by "Friends", "Alias" and "Ed" on Channel 5. I used to record "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" but the latest season has yet to arrive and I'm starting to get withdrawal symptoms.

Tuesday -- Watch "Ally McBeal" and "Gilmore Girls".

Wednesday -- Watch "Philly" on Channel i ( a cool new legal drama which has replaced "The Guardian", and stars Tom Everett Scott , from "That Thing You Do!" and Kim Delaney , from "NYPD Blue" ), followed by my all-time favourite, "C.S.I."

Thursday -- No good shows on Singapore TV, so might catch a good film on cable, surf the Net or read a good book.

Friday -- same as for Thursday.

Saturday -- Most of the time, it's either relaxing at home or cramming a whole lot of errands into half a day, ranging from grocery-shopping to buying CDs/clothes to meeting up with friends. Pubbing occurs once every 3 to 4 months, usually when I'm depressed. :)

Sunday -- Swimming in the morning, with the afternoon left free for maybe going to the cinemas, updating my websites, or doing some writing. I particularly enjoy sitting in the garden with my cat in the early evening. That's when the warm evening sun comes by the front porch, and it's prime time for jogger-watching -- mostly young good-looking men around my neighbourhood. :D

Recently acquired a "VIP" patient with end-stage renal failure and fluid overload. He's currently very ill and unresponsive to external stimuli. I take blood from him daily, and sometimes do other invasive procedures like catheterizing, and every time I look at him, it's sad when I realize who this man is, and what he used to be. Obviously someone who was a distinguished figure in his earlier years, he is now totally dependent on others and bedbound. Makes me think hard about my own mortality.

Right then, it's nearing 5pm, so will make a beeline for the call room, change into slippers, and hope the next 14 hours won't kill me.

Met up with a group of friends last night for dinner and some catching up. Had a great meal at mezza9, and though I've been there 5 times in the past few years, this is one place where the food and wine is exceptional and the standard meticulously maintained. Their best dishes have got to be those from their Japanese and Thai menus. The sashimi platter is a must, and we sampled their padthai noodles from this fortnight's special selection -- a delicious mix of spicy sauce, giant juicy prawns and other seafood.

Thereafter, we adjourned to Blu, a famous jazz bar at the Shangri-La Hotel here in Singapore. It features live jazz music in the form of a trio -- an African-American female singer, a pianist and a cellist. It wasn't particularly crowded last night, which was unusual, but we didn't mind as we ended up being the only ones in the entire restaurant after midnight -- the majority of patrons was parked at the bar next door. The repetoire consisted of old favourites like Fever, Hit The Road, Jack, and L-O-V-E, and were crooned to perfection. The liquor wasn't too bad either -- the Oasis Blu cocktails were refreshing -- but the margaritas were smeared with salt around the rims of our glasses and a tad too, er, salty. But it's a great place to go to after dinner. Better still if you're with a large group, especially since you can make requests for your own jazz favourites.

Also had the opportunity to have a drink and a chat with Dr. Wong Ting Hway, whom I met a year ago when we worked at the Singapore General Hospital A&E department. At that time, I knew very little about her, but did hear that she'd graduated from Cambridge and had an adventurous spirit. We used to converse with each other over hurried lunches in the staff pantry or during lulls in the usually busy ER, and soon after, she left for Angola, Africa for a stint with Doctors Without Borders. She returned a few months ago and is currently working for the Dover Park Hospice, making house calls, doing rounds, etc. This coming Friday, she will fly off -- yet again! -- to Iraq, on a year-long trip with the International Red Cross organization, ensuring that POWs get adequate medical attention, as well as treating other victims of war crimes.
She just appeared in today's edition of The Straits Times, as she's the first Singaporean ever to work full-time for the Red Cross.
The reason I mention her is because she's one of the most humble, unassuming people I know, despite her great accomplishments ( being only 2 years older than myself ). If you've read the article, believe what she says, 'cos that's the unadulterated truth. I can't think of anyone else more deserving of this honour, or more suited for the job. I thank her for taking the time from her busy schedule to join us at Blu yesterday, and wish her all the best in the year ahead. I'm certain she's destined for even greater things in the near future!

On a lighter note, I recently caught a few episodes of The Osbournes -- yes, that vulgar MTV reality show about that dysfunctional (ie. white trash with money) family, the head of which is Ozzy Osbourne ( how he can sell any CDs with a voice like that is beyond me ). Anyhow, the fact that this series has become phenomenally successful is plain sad. The first time I saw it, more than 50% of the dialogue was bleeped out because of the "F" word, 25% of it involved various forms of swearing over dog excrement ( there're maybe 5 yappy dogs running around the place, all of which aren't toilet-trained, believe it or not ), and the last 25% consisted of inane remarks about really dumb topics.
Friday night, while battling a bout of insomnia, I stumbled upon yet another episode while channel-surfing. And guess what? This one was 90% identical to the last one! The 10% difference was 1) a blonde dog psychiatrist/therapist/trainer with tight buns and a super-thick European accent, 2) a special in-depth focus on Lola, the female bulldog responsible for most of the soiling of the house -- the cameraman particularly enjoys doing close-ups of her when she's doing it, which is awful, yet painfully addictive, and
3) an unexpected visit from Elijah Wood, whose sister is the friend of Ozzy's daughter Kelly.
This family is really off its rocker. And I can only imagine what the mansion smells like -- if it isn't dog poo, then it's really strong carpet cleaner. And here's a novel idea: Want to make a quick buck? Try being the sole supplier of monochromed towels for the Osbournes. They clean up the canine messes with brand new towels each and every time, throwing them in the trash instead of washing them I reckon, so they probably go through 10 of these a day.
So will I catch the next episode? If I'm unable to sleep and need to lose some weight, then yeah!

I seriously think I'm getting too old to do calls. I really don't know how some of my friends, and especially my seniors, can find the energy to even go out or play with their kids after a 36-hour shift. Kudos to them! Things were tolerable in surgical postings, where rounds last an hour at most, and the rest of the morning is spent clearing cases or, if you're lucky, sitting around having breakfast. :) Medical rounds, through no fault of their own, typically last 3 - 4 hours, and sometimes you have a load of patients with 10 or more concomitant problems that all need to be solved in 10 minutes. Today, for example, I faced an elderly gentleman with severe cardiomyopathy ( ie. a failed pump ), sepsis and possible liver failure. At the end of all the running around taking urgent bloods, arranging urgent consults and scans, I felt like I was 80 -- no kidding. For me, emergency medicine will always be the right choice. Regular shift hours, and like Prof. Peter Manning ( chief of the ER at NUH ) once said, " You'll be able to sit at a cafe in Orchard Road on a Tuesday morning, sipping coffee and watching the world pass you by." I did that once, but at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf at Takashimaya, on a Thursday afternoon -- and it felt great!

Some other good news. Josh Groban, my 2nd favourite singer ( after Robbie Williams ) has confirmed he will be coming to Asia, and Singapore, in the next few months. For those of you who haven't read about him yet, look through my earlier entries for the full story, or just go to his website.. The best thing about Josh is that he regularly posts on the discussion group, and this little bit came directly from him. His song, "To Where You Are" is now #1 on the adult contemporary chart in the U.S., and he will appear this September 11th for a tribute concert. He's only released one album so far, but I predict his next one will shoot through the roof in terms of sales -- he's sold over 15,000 copies in Singapore alone, unheard of for someone who sings semi-operatic numbers and is really decent. :) Looking forward to seeing him soon.

The Life! reporter I mentioned is none other than Helmi Yusof. And to my pleasant surprise, he was very gracious in his reply, thanking me for my input and agreeing that some of my views were "cogent", despite my huffing and puffing in my email. His response is markedly different from that of his colleague's, Tommy Wee, who once sent me a irate and sarcastic email when I criticized his put-down of boy bands. ( I pointed out his own obsession with blonde, leggy female singers, but I suppose he believes he's only interested in their music ). Bravo, Mr. Yusof. You've gained a fan. :)

Just going to add a link before I sign off. If you're interested in Josh Groban, then you will definitely like Michael Ball, a wonderful singer who made his mark on Broadway, and whose trademark song is "Love Changes Everything" from "Aspects of Love". His website is a veritable treasure including sound clips from his numerous CD recordings. I own 3 of his albums, but only because I couldn't find more at the music stores here. Here's a guy who can sing "The Phantom of the Opera" as well as "Millenium" ( that cool number by Robbie Williams ).

Will end off with a portion of "Love Changes Everything". A truly beautiful song that celebrates all that is good, and bad, about this thing called love.

"Love, love changes everything/
Hands and faces, earth and sky/
Love, love changes everything/
how you live and how you die/
Love can make the summer fly/
Or a night seem like a lifetime/
Yes, love, love changes everything/
Now I tremble at your name/
Love will never never let you be the same

Love, love changes everything/
Days are longer, words mean more/
Love, love changes everything/
Pain is deeper than before/
Love will turn your world around/
And that world will last forever/
Yes, love, love changes everything/
Brings you glory, brings you shame/
Love will never never let you be the same.

Off into the world we go/
Planning futures, shaping years/
Love bursts in and suddenly/
All our wisdom disappears/
Love makes fools of everyone/
All the rules we make are broken/
Yes, love, love changes everything/
Live or perish in its flame/
Nothing in the world will ever be the same."

Just adding a link to the official "Signs" website where you can read a load of glowing reviews from the likes of Rolling Stone magazine, CNN and Roger Ebert, among others. I've also just sent an email to the Life! critic with the address. Let him/her learn a lesson or two. :)

Yet another good call! Okay, it didn't start that well -- 7 admissions within an hour, 3 hours of non-stop clerking and passive work, followed by a hurried dinner and a review round with the registrar-on-call. But at least both of us got to rest after midnight, 'cos believe it or not, the cases suddenly stopped coming in. Who knows how much longer this anomaly will last? :)

Next up, a really loooong piece about Signs, which I watched yesterday. Get ready for a tirade, actually, because I'm really PO-ed by the lousy review from a local movie critic in Life! a few days ago.

First of all, I'm a huge fan of M. Night Shyamalan. "The Sixth Sense" ranks among my top 5 favourite films -- the others being "Swimming With Sharks", "Dead Poets' Society", "The English Patient" and "Gladiator". I also loved "Unbreakable", which didn't sit well with a lot of people, but retained the distinctive style that is Shyamalan's alone.

So far, he hasn't been quite able to reproduce the phenomenon that "The Sixth Sense" became. But through no fault of his own, Shyamalan had the misfortune of making his mark with such an exceptional film, and now has to live up to that standard, or be branded a fluke. This isn't helped by the marketing ploys used by major studios -- "Signs" is currently being touted as a thriller cum horror movie about crop circles and aliens, when in truth, those aren't its main themes at all.

Spoilers ahead, so proceed at your own risk!

The plot is simple: a priest (Mel Gibson) loses his wife in a terrible car accident, loses his faith, and retreats to an isolated farm with his two young children and his younger brother ( Joaquin Phoenix ). While ensconced in the middle of acres of wheatfields, they suddenly come face to face with crop circles outside their doorstep, and are later terrorized by alien beings ( rather crudely depicted though, in this age of computer-generated effects ).

The abovementioned film critic panned its bad ending, and felt "cheated" thereafter. My take? If you walk into the cinema expecting to be scared out of your wits, or to see a "War of the Worlds" type of thing, then don't even bother, 'cos you will end up hating the movie.

As evidenced by his 2 previous works, Shyamalan is a very special breed of film-maker. Unlike most other directors/writers, he prefers quiet to rowdy, understated to flashy, and excels at delving deep into human nature -- notably that of children -- and exploring our perceptions of life and death. I particularly like his uncanny ability to write insightful and touching dialogue for his various young stars -- Haley Joel Osment ("I see dead people") in "The Sixth Sense", Spencer Treat Clark in "Unbreakable", and Rory Culkin in "Signs". In Shyamalan's world, children aren't spoilt or stupid. They are intelligent, mature beyond their years, and best of all, not predisposed to yelling or throwing tantrums.

Another trademark he retains is that of intimacy. He is truly one of the few in Hollywood -- despite his relatively young age and inexperience -- who can stage a scene with 1 adult and 1 child, make it last 10 minutes, and still keep you completely engrossed. He did it in his previous films, and does it just as well here. My favourite scene takes place in the kitchen during their "last meal" before an alien invasion, which ends in a tearful group hug where even Joaquin Phoenix is forcibly yanked into.

Mel Gibson, who's made a name for himself playing mentally unbalanced ("Lethal Weapon"), angry/revengeful ("The Patriot", "Braveheart") and lustful characters ("What Women Want", "Bird On A Wire"), goes against type and gives a muted yet poignant performance this time round. Phoenix demonstrates an affinity for acting with child stars, while the young ones almost steal the show from the adults with their witty one-liners.

Which brings us to the pet peeve of critics -- what exactly is "Signs" about? I can tell you this: it has little to do with the mystery of crop circles or aliens, and I doubt that Shyamalan ever intended it to be. In my opinion, he just wanted to make a film about a family, and to tell their story. The bigger story is purely secondary, and sadly, he's being criticized for it.

Major spoiler below. Stop now if you haven't seen the movie!

In the climactic finale, the message conveyed is that of how coincidence is actually a sign that someone up there is watching over you. Though not the type of ending one would expect in a story like this, it should strike a cord in anyone who's ever had any profoundly life-changing event in their lives.

I am an atheist, and anyone who knows me will tesify that nothing short of Christ coming to Earth and shaking my hand can make me believe. However, I subscribe to Shyamalan's message, and though contradictory to my atheism, I believe in life after death, and how strokes of good luck are indications of protection from spirits that watch over us. My own experience in this is recent. In May this year, I was involved in a bad car accident on the CTE turnoff to Ang Mo Kio Ave. 1. A young whippersnapper of a probation driver rammed into me at the traffic junction and sent my vehicle spinning. As I was the only car at the front, the force would've naturally propelled me forward into the middle of a very busy intersection. I managed to avert this disaster because moments before the car hit me, for some strange reason, I looked into my rear view mirror ( something I never do at a traffic light ), and spotted the guy charging at me a split second before impact. As a result, I stepped hard on the brake and instinctively swerved to the right, hitting the traffic light instead and coming to a stop at the side of the road.
Nothing unusual? Then I should mention that a few days prior to this incident, I felt a presence sitting at the foot of my bed every night -- not a sinister one, but one I felt I knew. I suspect it was either my late uncle ( who passed away from a stroke last year ), or grandmother ( who died this year ). Interestingly, after the accident, the presence did not return.

My tirade will end shortly :) Bottomline? Obviously, not everybody will like "Signs". Of all his 3 films so far, it may be the least satisfying. But for me, it brought back memories of loved ones, and reinforced my belief of how coincidence really isn't coincidence at all. And for that, I think Shyamalan is one of the best writers/directors Hollywood has ever had the good fortune of acquiring, and will remain so for many years to come.

It turned out to be an atypically good call on Saturday, but heck, I'm not complaining. :) Cardiology is definitely one of the more interesting postings around, but it's also very specialized, so 3 months here will not be enough to pick up on its finer points.
Got some good news today -- we have a new resident joining us, yes! Haven't been formally introduced yet, but was told she's a German lass and will be with the department for 6 months. From a practical point of view, that translates into extra manpower, fewer calls and better post-call coverage. From a more human perspective, it'll be fun to have a nice conversation with her and learn more about her previous experiences. We've got a lot of foreign residents here in Singapore, but don't think I've met any from Germany yet.

Watched The Affair of the Necklace on a rented VCD last night. This is an obscure little film which didn't make any impact at the box office, but which I borrowed because of Hilary Swank and a guy named Simon Baker.
For those who went "Huh?", Swank won the Oscar for her portrayal of a woman with a sexual identity crisis in "Boys Don't Cry", while Baker is currently heating up the TV screen on "The Guardian" which airs every Wednesday night on Channel i.
I first saw Baker on TV when he took the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a TV Drama Series last year. So when "The Guardian" arrived, I started following it religiously, and it has been worth it. Unlike "Ally McBeal" -- which makes lawyers look dumb -- or "The Practice" -- which makes lawyers look godly -- Baker plays a legal eagle with immense talent, but also so many flaws and such a terrible sense of timing, I'm surprised his character is still breathing.
Thankfully, the central plot is original: rich kid Nick Fallin ( Baker ) works for his hotshot dad who owns a huge law firm in Pittsburgh, and gets slapped with community service after being arrested for taking drugs. His life takes a turn for the better when he starts working for social services and represents the likes of abused and homeless children. He even develops feelings for a fellow co-worker, but gets rejected when she elopes with her fiancee in order to get over her infatuation with Nick -- really stupid, but makes for compelling TV.
The latest episode is an indication of the series hitting melodramatic proportions -- Nick becomes embroiled in manslaughter just after his father becomes a federal judge, and the firm is passed on to a sleazy senator. However, the performances all round are wonderfully understated, so there's no yelling or bawling. In fact, in a rare show of emotion, Nick breaks down only when he calls his dad and leaves a message to apologize after unwittingly killing a club dancer. I can't even imagine what's coming next week!

Anyway, back to The Affair of the Necklace. This one claims to be based on true events, and relates how Jeanne Valois, a young countess whose father's estate was usurped during the French Revolution, attempts to take back what's rightfully hers. Along the way, she meets Retaux ( played by Baker ), a gigolo who shares her mission to keep the monarchy on its toes, and they embark on an elaborate scheme to deceive and cheat the 2 most powerful figures in France at the time -- Queen Marie Antoinette, and the Cardinal.
Masterfully directed by Charles Shyer, it is lusciously filmed and intriguing to the very end -- despite being post-call, I remained wide awake till the end-credits. Swank, who played a tomboy in her Oscar-winning role, is the total opposite here, complete with dollish curls and ruffled dresses, making you sit up and exclaim, "Wow, she's a knockout!".
Baker, on the other hand, gives an admirable supporting performance as her loyal partner. "Guardian" fans will be happy to know that he smiles a lot in this film, unlike sulky Nick Fallin. Which goes to show that he's actually quite versatile. :) Too bad he lacks the height, a la 1.9-metred Heath Ledger and Hugh Jackman ( his fellow Australians ).
You can rent this if you're curious, but I would suggest it mostly to Baker/Swank fans, or anyone who loves period pieces as much as I do.

Also bought -- yes, bought! -- the DVD for The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. It's just been released here, and
I just couldn't resist when I spotted it at the rental shop! I got it for $45, and got a free giant poster as well! I looked through the bonus features last night, and there's a 10-minute preview to "The Two Towers", plus a music video of "May It Be" -- a hauntingly beautiful piece by Enya, brought to life with equally gorgeous snippets from the film. The only problem is it's a widescreen version, and my DVD player can't expand the picture on-screen, so the top and bottom are cut off. Really sucks. But this is one DVD everyone should add to their collection. Don't bother with the VCD or video. It has to be DVD or nothing at all.

Well, believe it or not, contrary to what I thought, I've actually found some time to log in and make an entry!
Yes, I'm in cardiology at NUH now. It's a major culture shock -- completely new hospital environment, no housemen/interns to help us, and rounds last at least 3 hours each day. Plus, this place is all the way in the west, whereas I live in the northeast, so it takes me 40 minutes each way, and mostly because of the crappy traffic jams.
It's my first call today, and thank goodness it's been relatively quiet. Oops, it's only 8pm, so hope I didn't speak too soon, aargh! There's this superstition that if you say a call is "quiet", all hell will break loose. Eating buns is also bad luck during calls, while showering is believed to be protective -- I've tried all of them, and they don't work for me. :)

The upside is, NUH is one of the few hospitals here with full-time phlebotomists. I was surprised to hear about this, but also relieved. All the hospitals I've worked in so far don't have this service, and my internship was therefore riddled with tonnes of daily bloods to take after legthy ward rounds, and nightmares about difficult veins and fussy patients who scold you even if you miss once. But I survived, and so did my peers. Personally, although I support the idea of having other people take blood for me, in retrospect, I feel that interns should learn to do venepunctures themselves -- how to handle problematic veins, how to take blood in the most efficient way, etc. It builds character, and once you turn resident, there isn't any blood you can't take. This will prove useful when someday you're confronted with a really sick patient in the middle of the night and his veins are collapsed from hypotension. It's also a good skill to have if you're an emergency physician -- hence my opinion. :)

Sequel to my earlier comment on doctors' heavy workloads in Singapore. A few days ago, a registrar, aka senior resident, whose name I don't recognize but who works in a government hospital, also complained about the sorry state of affairs. I really admire his courage -- I've been told that doctors in the public sector are not allowed to air their views in the national newspaper without prior clearance with the Ministry of Health or some other higher authority. I'd like to know what happened to him after his letter was published. Is he still alive? ( Just kidding :))

Looks like I did speak too soon. There's an admission! Work beckons, so will write again some other time. Hope I live through tonight.