A Much Needed Break

Wow, has it really been 3 weeks since my last entry?

Just returned from a terrific trip to Sydney for a conference and some touring. Photos haven't been uploaded yet, but I'll try to post them within the next week or so when I have a few days off.

I previously passed through this city in 2000 - stayed a couple of days before hopping over to Melbourne ( my primary destination ). Have a vague memory of a night tour and food poisoning caused by a cold sandwich I ate at Changi Airport during a 6-hour (!) flight delay, thanks to Qantas Airways.

This time round, things were very different. I was in the pink of health, explored the city via public bus, and stayed at a beautiful hotel at Circular Quay, which is close to the Sydney Harbour. I awoke to a spectacular view of the Sydney Opera House surrounded by sparkling turqoise blue water every morning, which was heavenly!

Won't bore you with conference details. I had 4 free days for touring, which were spent at Hunter Valley, on a Sydney Harbour cruise, at the Opera House, shopping in the business district, and at the Star City casino.

Hunter Valley doesn't seem as pretty as Melbourne's Yarra Valley, but maybe the overcast sky marred the landscape a little. My mom and I visited the Hunter Valley Gardens, which are quite lovely, but also rather barren considering the early spring season. Got whipped around by strong winds during our 2-hour trudge through the grounds, but we plucked a couple of oranges from the trees, and ate fantastic scones at the cafe. Highly recommend you drop by during the summer months, especially since that's when the rose garden will be in full bloom.

A guided tour of the Opera House was fun and informative. The highlight though, was watching the resident symphony orchestra rehearse in the main concert hall. They were doing acoustic tests, so special wall panels were opened for this purpose. The effect was amazing despite our location in the last row near the exit. Ahh, I got goosebumps. :)

The interior is a tad ugly, considering the prominent slabs of bare concrete that form the foundations of the unique shell architecture. But the exterior is state-of-the-art, and its tumultuous construction history is fascinating.

The cruise we took around Sydney Harbour and surrounding areas lasted 2.5 hours, with an exhaustive commentary by a guide, and a mouth-watering afternoon tea spread ( more scones! :)). Started off cloudy, then the skies cleared in the 2nd hour, allowing me to take gorgeous photos of the Harbour Bridge and other scenic areas.

For the shopping, we concentrated on the George Street stretch. Strolled through The Strand Arcade and detoured to a handicraft store, where my mom bought almost 50 balls of wool at superb prices ( don't ask me how we stuffed them into our luggage, but we succeeded! ), then walked across all 4 floors of the Queen Victoria Building, with its stained glass windows and elegant ceilings, wonderful jewellery shops and exhibition of costumes from the Hollywood film The Young Victoria.

My greatest joy, however, was at the Virgin Megastore. Spent 2 hours browsing its extensive CD and DVD collections. Some of the deals were so unbelievable that I ended up buying a big bagful of discs. The Caucasian guy who processed my purchase was really friendly - he actually spoke to me about one of the films I bought, which I thought was very nice.

The Star City casino is gigantic, easily the same size as the one at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, where I stayed in 2007. Tonnes of slot machines, 3 of which served my mom well. She played for 5 hours and made a small profit - no small feat considering how I lost money at every machine I chose ( not my day I guess, but at least I played small ).

And believe it or not, the lady guarding the entrance thought I was below 18! Had to fish out my passport and get scrutinized before she let me in. Not sure if I should be flattered or insulted, heh.

Our stay was made more pleasant by the marvelous people we met - at the hotel, at restaurants and various shops we patronized. Vehicle drivers stopped for us even when it was their right of way, men opened doors for us though we were metres away from the entrance, and pedestrians apologized when WE accidentally bumped into THEM!

As a result, my mom and I couldn't help complaining upon returning to Singapore and facing reality again - locals who can't seem to walk straight, almost knock us over without even saying sorry, and slam doors in our faces. Sigh.

A big regret - not knowing that Cate Blanchett is performing at the Sydney Wharf Theatre in Tennessee Williams' A Streetcare Named Desire, until it was too late and tickets were completely sold out. Tried my luck calling the box office daily, but to no avail.

Last but not least, my thanks to 2 Singaporean medical colleague friends currently staying in Sydney, one of whom was at the conference and helped me navigate my way to the nearest bus-stop so I could find my way back to the hotel, and another who took my mom and I to dinner with his wife and 2 adorable children, followed by a drive along the coast, and a subsequent separate tour around town with his wife and daughter. They made us feel very welcome and right at home.

Overdosing on Gossip Girl

Season 1 DVD, to be exact. ( Check out its official website. )

From the creators of The O.C., but much less annoying, since airheads Mischa Barton and Rachel Bilson aren't in it.

I've been hearing about this hit series since 2007, and can now understand why it's so popular. The cast is the best-looking one I've ever seen on television, and some of the actors are pretty charismatic.

Favourite character: hands down, Chuck Bass, the crafty yet vulnerable playboy played deliciously by Ed Westwick.

Guilty pleasure: Chace Crawford, the floppy-haired golden boy whom I find more interesting than goody-two-shoes Zac Efron. I keep having to remind myself that he's more than 10 years my junior, but there's no denying that this guy is super-hot! Wonder how he'll fare in the remake of Footloose, which catapulted Kevin Bacon to fame back in the '80s?

Here they are, with Crawford on the left, and Westwick on the right.

Other Guilty Pleasures

True Blood Season 2, which continues to rack up the gore and sex factors, albeit in slightly censored form, on cable's Channel 59.

Alexander Skarsgard ( right )has more screen time as Eric, the 1000-year-old vampire. A friend who's read the Charlaine Harris novels tells me Eric actually features as the main character in the books, but I guess they chose to highlight Bill Compton ( Stephen Moyer ) in Season 1 because of the love story angle. Doesn't matter, since I like both actors. :)

Patrizio Buanne, whom I've been a fan of since his debut in 2005, just released his latest album, Patrizio. Tracks include a samba version of My Fair Lady's On The Street Where You Live, and cool covers of Patsy Kline's Crazy, Bryan Adams' Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?, plus jazz classics Mambo Italiano and Americano ( you may remember Matt Damon and Jude Law performing this in The Talented Mr. Ripley ).

I own his previous 2 CDs, so I know he has a fantastic voice. With this new album, he shifts gear and plays down the vocals a fair bit, which isn't the best approach to take, in my opinion. However, his spirit shines through in Mambo Italiano and Americano, where his smooth and stylish deliveries take centrestage. I've seen him perform, so I know this guy has moves. Also met him backstage in 2005 - hope I'll have another chance to say hello if he comes back for a show here.

Pictures from Sydney to follow in the next entry - hopefully. :)

Thank Goodness For Hungry Ghosts :)


After months of hell in the ER, and an average of almost 600 patients daily over the past week, we finally have some respite from the constant deluge, thanks to the annual Hungry Ghost Festival.

The difference is remarkable.

Attendances have fallen below 400 since the Festival began a few days ago. In fact, the absence of patients has resulted in the entire ER turning into a freezer, since there aren't that many people present to generate body heat.

If only we could celebrate this all year round. Haha.

Am counting down the remaining week as I continue to prep for the trip ahead. Going to hop on the public bus in a foreign country, alone, for the first time. Supposed to be quite safe, but you never know who you might meet, depending on your luck, so I intend to look as inconspicuous as possible.



True Blood season 2 began its run on local cable last night. The gore factor has increased significantly - e.g. one victim is shown with a huge bloody cavity in her chest, where her heart used to be - but I love the characters and this sort of edgy stuff, so it ain't a problem for me. :)

Alexander Sarsgaard is quite a find. This muscular European blondie is perfectly cast as the powerful vampire leader figure, Eric. There's a scene where he rips off a man's arm during an attack, but shot from a shadow-on-the-wall angle. I know it's all fake, but it's still pretty unnerving.



Anyone watching The Late Show With Conan O'Brien? I stopped after the initial few episodes, but started tuning in again last night, mostly so I could catch people like Peter Sarsgaard ( great actor in the current film release, Orphan, but whom I loved in Shattered Glass and Jarhead ), Stephen Moyer ( vampire Bill Compton from True Blood ), and Sacha Baron Cohen, who did the interview as Bruno. The last segment was a riot! SBC did an erotic dance at the end, and really tapped into his host's homophobic fears, as evidenced by a look of absolute terror on O'Brien's face when SBC tried to ram his nose into his crotch. I kid you not. :)

O'Brien also visited a science fair, where he poked fun at some of the exhibits. I laughed pretty hard, heh heh.



Another thing that made me laugh - watching Singapore Idol for half an hour last night. The lack of talent made me cringe, as did the atrocious English spoken by the judges, the host, and practically all the contestants. But Ken Lim's comment to a group of sunglass-wearing girls was hilarious: "Why, you all got sore eyes is it?" Good one, Ken!



Check this out: caught a performance by this troupe on O'Brien, and it blew me into outer space. Can't watch them in Vegas, but will they come to Singapore? One can always hope. Maybe when the Marina Bay casino resort opens? Adrian Monk can investigate if a murder occurs. Just need to find a good reason for him to be in Singapore in the first place. :)

Tip: go to YouTube to see the O'Brien clip. It's got a female pole dancer who defies gravity. Unbelievable.



The Broadway craving continues. Am currently blasting a CD I bought way back in 1996 when I caught Sarah Brightman and Anthony Warlow in concert at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Don't know why I never got round to buying more of his albums from Amazon, but I will definitely do so now that my interest in his music has been revived. This Australian stage star has one of the most exquisite voices I've ever heard. The CD I'm playing contains beautiful renditions of Music Of The Night ( Phantom of the Opera ), Bring Him Home ( Les Miserables ), This Is The Moment ( Jekyll & Hyde ), Being Alive ( Company ), among others.

His other albums, however, feature other gems like If Ever I Should Leave You ( Kismet ), Somewhere ( West Side Story ), Hello Dolly, and If I Loved You. All are songs that make me swoon - if done the right way, that is. :)

Am undecided about Lee Mead though. He's a terrific singer and performer, but if the arrangements don't suit him, then there really isn't a point in torturing myself. Need to sample his tracks first.

Also on my to-buy list: the original cast recording of Starlight Express, which I used to own in cassette form when I was in secondary school, before it disintegrated from too many spins. It is a fantastic musical, with lots of memorable and catchy numbers. Never came to Singapore, argh!

That's all for now. May post another entry before I fly off.

Sigh

Yes, it's one of those times - again.

Have been neglecting my blog severely due to work obligations. The administrative duties never cease, and shifts have been unbelievably bad. I mean, the sheer number of resus cases is reaching insane levels. What the heck!?

At least I'll be out of the country in about 2 weeks' time, for a conference and some touring. Not a long trip, but a short break is better than slogging at the ER, and definitely beats stewing in Singapore, where the people are driving me crazy.

Recently joined yet another online networking site - no prizes for guessing which - due to peer pressure, i.e. all those emails inviting me to be friends. Turns out quite a few pals have relocated overseas, so this is the easiest way to stay in touch. Some pages have also been rather revealing. I knew one guy's a flirt, but seeing him "yaya" online is a major revelation. This fellow is skilled, man. I should learn from him. :)

Recreation-wise, am now reading Mr. Monk And The Two Assistants, which is IMHO better than Mr. Monk Goes To Germany, mainly because Sharona ( watch the show if you want to know who she is ) is such a great character, and the novel explains her close relationship with Monk in much greater detail than anything I saw on television.
There're also a number of priceless scenes and murder suspects, one of whom professes to be "multi-sexual". Wrap your brain around that! :)

Mr. Goldberg, if you're still reading, I highly recommend a trip here to prep for Mr. Monk Goes To Singapore. I guarantee our little island will provide infinite material for a great mystery and lots of hilarious antics! ( Just try to imagine his reaction to, say, the Merlion. )

As for television, I'm trying out a few episodes of Fringe, which stars Joshua Jackson as a smart-aleck genius helping the FBI investigate strange occurrences all over the world. 2-hour premiere was okay, but if it doesn't pick up by week 3, I'm relegating it to the "not worth my time" tray.

The Mentalist is so-so, but Simon Baker, with his gorgeous wavy blonde locks, is a good enough reason to spend an hour in front of the goggle box. :)

And speaking of Jackson, I highly recommend Shutter, a remake of the Japanese horror flick about spirits appearing in photographic images. The Hollywood version is directed by a Japanese, which may account for all that nail-biting suspense and terrific performances from the leads. Rachael Taylor, whom you may remember as the heavily mascara-ed blondie computer hacker from Transformers, does a complete turnaround here, adopting a gentle American accent, light makeup, and demonstrating some serious acting chops as a woman tormented by a seemingly malevolent spirit. ( It's almost as good as Michelle Pfeiffer's turn in What Lies Beneath. )

I'm certain a photo I took in an Egyptian tomb captured spirits - which appeared as free floating white orbs within an inner chamber with no discernible breeze. Will post that picture at a later date if I have time. My mom says it creeps her out.

Right, time to do an exit round, then head home for some much needed sleep.

OMG!

Just logged into Blogger and found this comment from Lee Goldberg!

Not sure when it was posted - doesn't show in the comments page - but if you missed it, he said, "I'm glad you're enjoying my MONK novels. Are they in English or Chinese or Thai or Klingon?"

Mr. Goldberg, in response to your query ( which I'm sure was made in a completely tongue-in-cheek manner :)), they're in English. :)

Managed to get my hands on a new copy of Mr. Monk Goes To Germany, published in 2008. Considering it came from the public library, this is practically in mint condition compared to the other books, which were tattered with yellowed pages and the occasional doodle ( some of which looked obscene ).

Yes, Singaporeans don't know how to love their reading materials. Suspect I got H1N1 from a contaminated library book.

Also grabbed Mr. Monk And The Two Assistants from another library branch in town. Will read that once I finish Germany.

Now the only one missing from my list is Mr. Monk Goes To Hawaii.

Favourite so far: still Mr. Monk And The Blue Flu, followed by Mr. Monk Goes To The Firehouse.

Definitely helps that I've seen the TV series. The novels come to life beautifully when you can imagine all the characters speaking the lines and displaying their trademark mannerisms, especially Monk with his nervous tics and various "tells".

I have a special affinity for Captain Stottlemeyer - he's hilarious on TV, but very sweet on paper.

Thank you for dropping by my blog, Mr. Goldberg! If you ever visit Singapore, please let me know and I'll be more than happy to show you around! :)

You can visit his website here.

In Memoriam

Just received news about a friend's passing.

The medical community has lost an individual who embodied the best qualities a doctor should possess.

May you rest in peace.

Bleah

Will keep this short.

I'm on leave, but as luck would have it, I've also come down with what I suspect is H1N1.

Fever 38.6 deg C, myalgia, rhinorrhoea, cough, headache.

Am making do with self-medication at home. Still doing housework, but putting off the major vacuuming / mopping till next week when I don't feel so lousy.

Damn that I didn't get sick when I had to do shifts. At least it would've granted me a few days of MC.

And now, Blogger's posting page is in a weird format. Anyone else experiencing this problem? How the heck do you adjust the font size?

So the TVs and DVRs have arrived. Chose Panasonic LCD. Thanks to everyone who offered their advice. Am now watching a Michael Buble concert DVD - the effect is spectacular. :)

Also want to recommend a great, great film. It's called Lars And The Real Girl, and stars Ryan Gosling, Emily Mortimer and Paul Shneider.

Like one of my other favourites, Into The Wild, LATRG is deeply moving, expertly directed, and buoyed by a terrific cast.

Gosling proves his versatility, picking a role that is the polar opposite of his usual arrogant, rascally characters.
His portrayal of Lars is bittersweet, comical and heartwarming.

Supporting actors Emily Mortimer and Paul Shneider deserve special mention for their sensitive performances as Lars' patient sister-in-law and brother.
Shneider, in particular, stands out in quite a few scenes where his character first registers shock and disbelief, then settles into resignation and, finally, unconditional acceptance.
He also demonstrates a keen sense of comic timing. Look out for a hilarious breakfast scene where Shneider looks like he's having the mother of all migraines.

A beautiful piece of work.

Other beautiful pieces of work: Lee Goldberg's Monk novels, based on the long-running hit TV series.
Couldn't believe it when I found a whole chunk of them at the nearby public library. Have already read Mr. Monk And The Blue Flu ( side-splitting! ) and am now reading Mr. Monk Goes To The Firehouse ( equally good ).

Also spotted Jeff Lindsay's Dexter series, which resulted in the TV spinoff. Will borrow those later.

I feel a temperature spiking, so before I sign off, here's a link to a friend's blog which features reviews of the latest hot gadgets. Do pay it a visit.

Right, time for some Panadol and a cold shower.

Advice Needed

After 9 good years of service, my Panasonic TVs and VCRs - yes, VCRs - are dying slow deaths. Have to endure the next week or two without any recording capabilities ( missing the Law & Order marathon, argh! ), and contemplating whether to buy LCD or plasma TVs later this week when I venture to a Best Denki outlet in town.

Please post your comments - I will log into Blogger to read and moderate them daily.


In other news, I'm looking forward to another short block of leave starting this weekend. Unfortunately, it doesn't coincide with G's schedule, as he'll be out of the country for most of the period. Oh well, guess the alcohol session can wait. :)

Appaloosa turned out to be a moderately enjoyable Western flick, buoyed only by its terrific cast - Viggo Mortensen, Ed Harris, Jeremy Irons and Renee Zellweger.
Nothing very special about this film, except for the 3 unbelievably hot older actors, who don't seem to have an ounce of flab on their bodies and are tremendously gifted thespians to boot.
And Mortensen looks great with a shotgun. :)

Burn After Reading was a nice way to spend my post-call evening. Again, the cast saved an otherwise frivolous script, which sort of collapsed on itself towards the last half hour and ended too abruptly for my taste ( the Coen brothers need to kick this stupid habit - prime example: No Country For Old Men ).

Awaiting to be seen: The Duchess, Lars And The Real Girl ( Ryan Gosling got rave reviews for this one ), The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button ( high expectations to meet ), and a collection of short films by Pixar.
Am taking advantage of VideoEzy's Great Singapore Sale offers, after a huge delay due to a pile of administrative duties that have only recently been cleared from my in-tray.

Books-wise, the review of the Monk novel will be posted at a later date. I've also spotted some Dexter thrillers on the shelves. Wish I had the time to read them. I just love gory stuff. :)

Catching Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince soon. Have absolutely no impression from the book, which I hated, so hope the movie fares better.

Before I sign off, a link to Jason Mraz's blog. He's taking questions via Twitter - next round this coming Friday. Hope he returns to Singapore in the near future!

This Week...

I watched Changeling - yes, the Clint Eastwood film starring Angelina Jolie.
After hating Slumdog Millionaire, Changeling is a great breath of fresh air, expertly directed by Eastwood, with a taut script and terrific performances from the entire cast.
Am especially impressed with Jeffrey Donovan, who played a nasty police captain at loggerheads with Jolie's character. A breakout role for the Burn Notice star.

Also caught Imelda, the 2003 film by Ramona Diaz. Though far from blatantly critical, it does portray the infamous Filipino ex-First Lady in a less than flattering light.
Two scenes stand out: one where Mrs. Marcos launches into a lengthy discourse about the path to peace and order ( something about experiential and cosmic whatever ), and a remark that even the poor approve of her extravagant spending, because "when I live well, they live well".
Err, right.

Met up with G, whom I've known for more than 9 years, ever since my first MO posting in gastro. Had drinks at Raffles Hotel's Long Bar ( not as crowded as the last time I visited, which was quite a few years ago ), before moving on ( at G's insistence ) to another watering hole across the road. The mojito must've been mixed with some caffeinated concoction, since I had insomnia the whole night and remained wide awake the entire day. Or maybe it's just getting to spend time with G after an estimated 2 years apart.
He brought me a thoughtful - and most unexpected - gift, a definite first in the course of our long friendship. Impeccable manners, generous to a fault, a great conversationalist, still as good-looking as ever, and vowing to remain eternally single.
I really should take up his offer to drive me around one of these days. :)

Coming soon: reviews of Appaloosa ( a Viggo Mortensen western ), Burn After Reading ( not too hopeful about this one ), and a Lee Goldberg novel based on the Monk TV series ( hilarious so far ).

Pure Indulgence Part VI

After going cross-eyed while gathering statistics from the department's computerized medical records, it's time for some R&R.

If you don't like the direction this is going, feel free to drop by Singapore MD for something more intellectually stimulating. Whiny comments won't be published.

This entry is dedicated to male musical theatre stars.

First, John Barrowman, whom I mentioned recently after seeing him on BBC Entertainment's Any Dream Will Do -- a reality TV series which aired in the UK in 2007, pitched as a search for raw new talent to play the lead role in Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.

Already into its 3rd episode, I've got to say it's very entertaining, though at times a little too theatrical. I guess all that youthful energy makes it tough to be subtle, heh.

As my mother and I tuned in last night, she kept saying what "a huge pity" it is that Barrowman's gay. She must've made this remark at least 5 times. Awww, I feel your pain too, mom. :)

His biography lists Raoul ( Phantom Of The Opera ) and Bobby ( Stephen Sondheim's Company ) as past stage roles. You can sample his music on the IMEEM player on the right - just type his name in the box and click on the arrow. His cover of Carly Simon's You're So Vain is surprisingly good. Going to buy his CDs for my collection. :)

Next, Lee Mead, who's one of the contestants on Any Dream Will Do.

No spoiler alert since the show concluded 2 years ago. Suffice to say, I was too curious to pass up the chance to find out who won, and turns out Lee emerged the victor.

Funny thing is, when I first laid eyes on him during the first 2 episodes ( last week ), I knew nothing about his background and immediately picked him as my favourite of the lot. Partly because he has the right look, but also because he has a terrific voice and stage presence.

This week, it was revealed that he was an understudy for the role of Raoul on Phantom Of The Opera, but never got to perform because the principal actor didn't fall sick.

Can I pick 'em, or can I pick 'em? :)

Seems Lee became romantically involved with one of the show's judges soon after he won. Hooked up with Denise van Outen, a pretty blonde who's also 7 years older. They're now engaged to be married. Congratulations!

Next, on to another favourite, Raul Esparza, whom I've mentioned before during my Company obsession earlier this year, and whose photo I'd like to post as a gentle reminder.

He famously blasted Jeremy Piven for pulling out of Speed-The-Plow due to supposed mercury poisoning, and missed out on winning the Tony for Outstanding Actor in a Play.

Currently, he's starring opposite Anne Hathaway in a Broadway production of Twelfth Night.

I just hope he'll be acting in something when I'm back in NYC next year, or I'm going to pull my hair out.

Here he is with fellow Speed-The-Plow actors Elizabeth Moss and Piven ( who's on the right, in happier times ).

Last but not least, John Lloyd Young.

I may not have written about him for quite some time, but I still keep track of his career, and wish he'd release an album so I can buy it already.

He's acting in a comedy film, and making a guest appearance on the new Ryan Murphy ( Nip/Tuck creator ) TV series, Glee.

Thank you, L, for enabling me to catch the pilot episode, which I just know I'll love. :D

I really should drop JLY a fan letter one of these days, so I can receive another personal reply. It's fun. :)

Apologies for the tiny photo. It's one of the best ones available on the Net but comes in a low resolution, so I had to compromise.

Right, time to do an exit round, then head on home.

A Quickie Post

First, a link to Singapore MD, which will lead you to an interesting article about the H1N1 pandemic.

Second, a singer I recently discovered via BBC Entertainment on cable, named John Barrowman. Not sure how big a star he is on-stage, but he's got a great voice. ( He's also good-looking and openly gay, not that it matters. :))

Third, I finally watched Slumdog Millionaire on DVD. Does NOT deserve a Best Picture Oscar, or all that hype. It's cheesy from beginning to end. Flashback to the year Forrest Gump beat The Shawshank Redemption. Totally unfair.

Or maybe it's just me. Have been developing a taste for dark films these past few years - There Will Be Blood, Into The Wild, etc. I didn't like Wall-E, and got lots of flak for it. :)

By the way, it's Dead Poets Society's 20th anniversary this year. Wow, didn't realize I first saw it when I was 14 years old, and Ethan Hawke was only 17 or 18 in it. Still my all-time favourite. A real classic.

And last, a disappointing line-up for 2009's Singapore Sun Festival. Guess I'll save my money for 2010 when I return to Broadway.

Am drawing up a list of items to buy from Amazon when I go on leave later this month. May cost me a bundle. :P

R.I.P.

I am in shock right now.

Can't believe Michael Jackson's really dead.

Just saw the Internet news reports this morning. Confirmation of details surrounding his tragic demise are still pending, but I'm extremely saddened by this sudden turn of events.

Possibilities: 1) drug overdose? 2) some viral illness causing myocarditis? 3) an underlying disease which he hid from the media and finally did him in?

I still remember the night I saw him in concert at the Kallang Stadium. It was 1993, just days before my prelims, but my mom knew how much I wanted to go and generously purchased the most expensive tickets for us. We ended up standing on our foldable chairs for 2 whole hours, craning our necks to see MJ above all the outstretched arms in front of us. We also sang Happy Birthday for him as he turned 35 that very same day.

It remains one of the best shows I've ever attended and, weeks later, a letter I snail-mailed ( not much Internet back then ) to Shadoe Stevens - the host of American Top 40 - was read to a global audience. In it, I detailed his visit to Singapore, including his gifts of free concert tickets to healthcare personnel who took care of him at a local private hospital.

Wow, everything's still fresh in my mind...

Despite all the controversy and bad publicity that has dogged MJ these past 15 years, there's no question that he will always be a musical icon - a genius who fell victim to the perils of fame and fortune and, sadly, never managed to recover.

Time magazine's tribute edition will arrive in my mailbox next week. Will store it somewhere safe, next to the commemorative issue from 9/11.

Pure Indulgence Part V

Bear with me. :)

My mum's a little creeped out by that snake.

Real? Not real? I think it's the former. Fake ones can't coil like that.

Edgy - I like.

Not sure which year this is from, but James McAvoy has looked the same for the past 5 years.

Fabulous actor. If he'd been taller, he could've been a killer Darcy opposite Keira Knightley.

A recent favourite - though a perpetual Top 10.

He's done a few racy films in his early career. Check out YouTube. :)

An unexpected find on Google - a picture of Kevin Spacey that I've never seen before, and one of the most beautifully shot to boot.

Okay, now it's REALLY time to get back to work.

Back To Normal Transmission

For the time being, at least.

Some of you must be tired of my recent blog entries - a friend commented that my blog's become "sterile". Thanks, man. :)

Where's all the bitching and whining gone? A little bit of it migrated to Singapore MD. But I'm still holding most of my pent-up frustration in check.

Right now, it's 4am Saturday morning, and I'm ploughing through yet another mountain of admin work, though taking a short break to write this.


Am currently following State Of Play - the original BBC version - which has reruns on cable's BBC Entertainment Channel 76 every Thursday night.

I haven't seen the Hollywood remake starring Ben Affleck and an increasingly tubby Russell Crowe ( please go to the gym ). I've never been a big BBC fan ( other than long-ago productions of Jane Eyre, Pride And Prejudice and The Black Adder ), but State Of Play is proving addictive, especially after its 2nd episode.

Well-written and perfectly cast, the main reason I even know about this series ( didn't even make the connection between this and the film version ) is my deep interest in James McAvoy's career. This was one of his earliest roles, and he looks like a mischievous schoolboy here, playing a rookie reporter with a keen nose for hot leads.
Although how someone like him can be cast as the offspring of someone who looks like Bill Nighy is really beyond me.

The pace can be a tad slow at times, but the characters are compelling, and overall production is terrific.


Have been bugging Books Kinokuniya about the Adam Lambert issue of Rolling Stone magazine. Can't place an order until the magazine actually arrives, which I find kind of ridiculous. The harrassed staff fielding phone calls says she's received numerous queries about this particular issue. Same thing happened with the Clay Aiken edition back in 2003 ( which I also reserved and purchased at Kinokuniya ). I just find it cool that RS picked the right person to feature. Kris Allen may have won the title, but that doesn't make him the Idol. Not by a long shot.


A month into the new MO batch, we have yet again identified the weak and the strong. An alarming number of them are doing their very 1st MO posting in the ER. This was previously not allowed - in my time, you had to be at least a 2nd year MO before you could work at the frontlines - but who knows why the ban was lifted, and with dire consequences.

While it's true that a few of these very young MOs turn out to be star performers who go on to specialize in emergency medicine, the majority end up merely passing through, with quite a few being rotated through the ER against their will. The result: inexperienced junior doctors who may mismanage their clueless patients, fly below the senior doctors' radars ( we only review selected cases and ward admissions ), demonstrate zero team spirit, and incur the wrath of patients / relatives, who then complain and demand to speak to a senior doctor, who has to mop up the mess.

This round, we have another record number of MOs deemed unsuitable for night shifts, so those who can do calls may have as many as 7 on their monthly rosters. On many occasions, the night team is weak, necessitating the help of the evening shift MOs, who stay back for hours to help clear cases.

I'm not the sort to ask for help, but this year, I've had to keep people back simply because if I didn't, we'd all DIE.

It isn't always easy to pick out the slackers from the truly slow ones, but peer feedback ( in particular, input from veteran MOs who've been with us for a year or two ) is definitely useful. What I call "evasive tactics" can range from hiding out in the observation ward pretending to look busy, or walking from one end of the ER to the other pretending to look busy, or refusing to see cases 1-2 hours before one's shift ends.

I just find it sad that such behaviour is becoming the norm rather than the exception. Especially in the ER, which is no longer popular since most traineeships don't list it as a compulsory rotation, unlike 8 years ago when I worked side by side with surgical and medical trainees. Perhaps this is the reason we're getting more frivolous referrals from the specialist outpatient clinics, where even simple conditions not requiring urgent investigation or treatment are bumped off to the ER for "further management" - also called "tai-chi-ing".

Same thing goes on in the wards, with multiple blue letter referrals for even a mild cough ( this is a true story ). Turf wars continue to rage, though the ER does a pretty good job staying out of the fray - let the specialists fight it out with each other directly, don't be the messenger, I always say.

And do you know that certain UK med schools don't teach their students how to do proctoscopy exams? I think one of these so-called "top universities" is collaborating with NTU on the 3rd medical school. So does this mean our future local grads won't know what a proctoscope looks like either?

While complaining to a surgeon friend whom I've known for 8 years, she mentioned the "grandmother syndrome", where the older generation uses the typical line, "In my time..." I suppose some of this holds true. Medical practice has evolved through the years, and it's only natural that this impacts our juniors' behaviour to some degree. But is it so wrong to hold them to a high ethical standard? Lying, laziness and disrespect towards seniors have no place in medicine.


Ahh, nothing beats a good ranting. :)

Tips for the weekend:

- Saturday: Nobel Prize concert 7-9pm on Okto Channel 8.
- Sunday: Dancing With The Stars 7pm on BBC Entertainment Channel 76, Hugh Laurie on Inside The Actors Studio 8pm Okto, Bride & Prejudice 10pm Okto, and No Country For Old Men 9pm on HBO.
- State Of Play has multiple reruns during the weekend, Channel 76
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien airs both Sat & Sun on CNBC Channel 15

Take your pick. :)

Time to get back to work. Sigh.

Pure Indulgence Part IV

Yum :)

Pure Indulgence Part III


Like I said, my latest guilty pleasure.

They're so young, but such amazing dancers.

You MUST check them out on YouTube. Have already added Mark Ballas on my YT channel on the right.


Just finished prepping a conference presentation, so am rewarding myself with some Net surfing. :)

Pure Indulgence Part II

This is just too good to pass up.

Adam Lambert fans, you've GOT to read it.

Choice quote: "Adam's popularity proves that perceptions of sexual orientation do not determine what makes a man irresistible. My friend John doesn't understand -- he thinks the possibility that Adam plays for the other team disqualifies him as the object of a woman's crush. A voice rooted in my loins responds, "So what?" His performances display a smooth-edged virility that transcends sexual preference."

Exactly! :)

Feeling a little high at the moment. Got through a good call with an excellent night team, and have a couple of free days ahead before working a 5-shift stretch starting this weekend.

Lots of work to do, argh.

Pure Indulgence

Top marks if you can identify all these beautiful men, and figure out what they have in common ( clue's in the pictures ).

What can I say, I have interesting taste. :)

The Year Of Living Dangerously

I wish! :)

The title of this entry popped into my head from out of nowhere, though I suspect Adam Lambert blasting from the computer speaker may have influenced the choice a little.

Listening to Feeling Good - gorgeous, as always.

Anyway, I'm posting something only because my 34th birthday is coming up this week, and it's customary for me to reflect on the previous 12 months.

Was it a good year? You bet.

First and foremost, meeting Jason Mraz in person was and always will be a major highlight in my life. Waited many years for the opportunity, watching 2 gigs and buying every one of his CDs in existence before coming face to face with my favourite musician just before his 3rd show here in Singapore. Though it's been only 3 months since that memorable evening, it feels like it's been years ( wonder why? ).
But, of course, it exceeded all my expectations, and seeing him perform with the American Idol contestants at the finals results show was thrilling!

Second, saying hello to Peter Cincotti again ( 2nd meet-and-greet, very enjoyable ), and seeing Geoffrey Rush and the cast of The Bridge Project's The Winter's Tale up close at the Esplanade.

Third, visiting spectacular Egypt. Haven't done it justice with sufficient blog entries and photos - entirely my fault, my apologies. Definitely no longer that safe a destination for tourists, so I'm glad I've made my pilgrimage, and survived the trip.

Fourth, organizing the local annual emergency medicine conference. Made history as the youngest organizing chair so far, and am very proud of my excellent committee for ensuring its success. Also made 2 new wonderful friends from Mount Sinai Hospital's Department of Emergency Medicine, both of whom are leading experts in their respective fields yet humble to a fault. That outing to the Night Safari on a wet and windy night will always remain a fond memory. :)

Last but not least, recovering from the grief of losing a beloved friend and adopting a cat from SPCA. May not seem significant to some of you, but pets have always been an integral part of my life - I've had everything from hamsters to rabbits and even a chicken. However, cats sit right at the top of my list, and I've reached a point where even a few months without a feline companion causes actual physical pain.
Nemo's proven to be an absolute joy so far ( interesting name choice, no? :)), and I'll try to post a picture of him soon.


So what can I look forward to in the next 12 months?
Well, despite my July vacation plans being flushed down the toilet, things worked themselves out, and my extra leave is being used for another overseas trip in October - mixture of business and pleasure, but heavily subsidized by the hospital. I didn't really expect to get the funding to begin with, so greatly appreciate the support!
Won't be venturing that far, but it's a place I haven't visited before, and am most keen to spend time at those world-famous beaches, watching hunky surfers. :)

Will attend another international conference in September, which allows a few days of touring, during which I intend to purchase a crate of wine and distribute them to people I'd like to thank for a variety of reasons. Am also looking forward to savouring my share of pinot noirs and merlots. :D

Career-wise, my involvement in this year's local conference has certainly motivated me to volunteer my services for the big kahuna - 2010's International Conference of Emergency Medicine. It is a COLOSSAL undertaking, the details of which I won't elaborate on here. Lots of paperwork and deadlines and stress.

And of course, I need to publish something in a journal somewhere so I can get promoted. This is the part I hate. Apparently, doing tonnes of clinical work isn't good enough.


Anyway, moving on a slight tangent, I'm currently ploughing through Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People issue, and becoming nauseated by some of the tributes. In case you don't know, it's become tradition for those who make the list to have write-ups on them done by someone equally famous or accomplished. A few of these are great - e.g. Bill Gates writing about Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, Roger Federer doing one about Tiger Woods - but others are just plain indulgent ( Oprah Winfrey swooning over Michelle Obama, Bono blah-ing incoherently about George Clooney ).
As usual, there're quite a few candidates whom I've never heard of, hence the perennial question from Time readers about just how "influential" these people actually are. The disproportionate number of Americans even prompted a sarcastic letter from an irate subscriber, which got me laughing over my breakfast.
Same thing happens with People magazine's lists of 50 Most Beautiful People and Sexiest Man Alive. Aren't most of them American too?

I can live with the injustice. Time's writers are among the best in the world - my favourites include Joel Stein, Bryan Walsh and Nancy Gibbs - and my own style has been moulded by my 16-years-and-counting subscription to the publication. If someone can write about the India-Pakistan conflict over Kashmir or Vladmir Putin or harvesting fuel from algae and keep me up late at night with my eyes glued to the page, that's really saying something.

Straits Times reporters, take note.

Having A Little Bit 'O Fun

I'm not as tech-savvy as Angry Doctor, so this IMEEM Music Player's the best I can do. Just keep clicking the fast forward button to get more songs.

Suggestions for the little empty box:

1) Adam Lambert - Glamorize is my new favourite track!

2) Glee - the Rehab track is smokin'! ( ignore songs #4 and #5 )

I have insomnia. Going to suffer later today.

Yet Another Short Entry

Got side-tracked by clinical and administrative work - again.

First, Adam Lambert got robbed! I had an awful gut feeling he wouldn't win, but was still hoping he would. Many theories are bouncing around on the Internet, but in the end, I do realize that Adam made it to the finals by being himself, and that certainly counts for something, right?

Second, a nice Rolling Stone article, sent to me via email. A quote from the man himself: “My dream now is to make a really dope record, to do something new, push the boundaries a little bit, push people’s buttons, open people’s minds up a little bit." I can't WAIT to get my hands on his album. :)

Third, my favourite Adam picture from American Idol's Rock Week. If you've always thought I'm a conservative wuss, think again. You haven't seen me screaming myself hoarse at concerts. :)

On a different note, something to look forward to -- StarHub, please bring this to local cable! Gotta try the link from my laptop at home. Doesn't work at the hospital, dammit. You happy with yourself up there in the IT department?!?!

Morning rounds beckon. Enjoy your Sunday.