jamming

Came across one of the wierdest websites ever! Don't forget to keep the speakers on

http://shark.armchair.mb.ca/scissors/

rare songs & music sharing

Recently subscribed to MP3 rocket, a paid (one time lifetime) software that lets me download music and movies from the net. Am blown away by how much rare stuff is out there on the net - listening to an AC/DC version of johnny b. goode while I download the same song done by Huey Lewis in parallel. Other rare songs include a Metallica on cello version of Nothing else matters, Metallica with the London philharmonic performing Beethoven's 5th, someone's version of a remix with AC/DC and eminem (!), beatles w/ Jimi Hendrix on day tripper, 5 versions of "somewhere over the rainbow" (norah jones, steve vai, ray charles, jimi hendrix, eric clapton), an acoustic Jeremy by Pearl Jam etc. etc. etc.

150+ songs already downloaded though i can't find any good movies so far - loved the south park uncensored movie though - absolutely hilarious !!! Am damn scared though to upload - selfish I know but I have virus concerns or just plain "violation" concerns if someone comes and probes into my hard drive. Wonder how many people just take and never give back!

Jamming with Band no. 3

So I had my first studio jam session with Band no. 3. All students except 1-2 working guys. All Chinese and all with significantly less english control than the ones I have in office - so didn't catch many names or sentences at all. Gotta learn chinese one day - fascinating language and culture. The musical experience wasn't all that hot since the folks were still quite new to the game but it was fun to be surrounded by smiling, enthusiastic, willing-to-meet-new-people faces of the all chinese group. Helped me feel that there are non-racists out there in singapore though it's probably not the taxi drivers in this group:-) After an hour of chaos and cacophony on songs too ambitious for the group (marilyn manson, maiden, purple, skidrow, gn'r), we called it a day. Not sure if I shall play with them again - maybe I will, just for the smiles and the enthusiasm. One doesn't get that much energy from some of the office folks anymore and it's really re-invigorating. Also found out name of classic rock pub at Cuppage road somewhere - gotta go check it out.

toy houses and things best left unsaid

Revelation: Just like in japan, the apartments here have paper walls (or so it seems like it). Been 3 months since we moved in and we can hear every night time and daytime walk to toilet, flush, walk back, crying baby etc. from the upstairs apartment. Maid left citing the fact that she couldn't sleep in the house due to the noise from upstairs. As I observed it, the folks are Iranian and a VERY large family (several adults and several kids) who have just moved in...so obviously not as quiet as a normal chinese household would have been. Tried to first ignore but then red eyes indicated that sleep was getting affected. Tried speaking to guards etc. who went and "advised" them (singaporean funda) but no avail. The occasional basketball also started - fun! Another month went by, went to building management who says "resolve among yourselves, we can't help". Others advised "best not to bring it up, this is singapore and is normal here". Reminded me of switzerland or somewhere where you can't flush the loo after 10 p.m.!!! Also reminded me of the Japanese living experience where one doesn't speak about these things. So now the dilemma is - (i) do we move out and go to someplace else with similar issues? (ii) do we raise hell with management/police etc. to make them move/shut up? (iii) do we start living in our own bubble and pretend they don't exist? Any ideas? Dilemma indeed!

Fibre!

No, it's not age but the concept of "learn something new everyday" continues to hold. Just found out that Fibre is not just about having a "good" morning! Had no idea that it reduces cholestrol (!), cuts blood sugar for diabetics (!!), makes you feel full so you don't eat as much in gluttony (!!!) among other things!!! I guess as an Indian, having wheat as key part of daily diet, I never felt the need for this but when I met the aussies and saw what they ate everyday (shocking!), it's something that everyone should have! The other eye opening thing - 100% of the world's supply is sourced from one state in one country (rajasthan!) - you hope the farmers don't move away to farming cotton or opium! So have started popping metamucil tabs every day (2 tabs = 2 bowls of cereal!). Try it - no selfish interest (heh heh, yeah right!).

of residency, citizenship and being indian

Got a letter from the folks saying my permanent residency application is approved. Long discussion followed in various social occasions on the combinations - what amazed me was how much the lay folks knew about living abroad and the various types of visas. The US bound amaze me even more with the combinations of H1/B1 etc. etc. etc. What I'm looking forward to is the concept of dual (triple? quadruple?) citizenship. Imagine being like James Bond, having multiple passports and using the appropriate one. No more visa lines! But would I ever leave the Indian passport and take up singapore citizenship? probably never - for emotional as much as practical reasons. India will be the new US (so they say and so I believe) in about 20 years time and just when I need to retire, I would like to be home and in a country I can be proud of being from. Just read that China is already having problems of the ageing since their 1 child policy didn't lead to much population growth. Will desi teens be the largest chunk of global youth in 20 years time? what a statistic! it's already happening with MTV India being seen as a success model for other low income markets - customise, local music, local talent/VJs, lots of onground events/PR to build emotional connect and word of mouth etc.

And so I become a permanent residence. How does it help me? Helps me pass through immigration quicker and helps G get job 200% more easily than not having PR. So the bubble strengthens with another thin layer of security around it...:-)

martens in the morning

Found my favourite radio show finally in this city - nonstop english rock, funny RJs, few ads and good timing (drivetime). 98.7 fm it is from now on with the "martens" (wonder what it means) in the morning. 2 funny funny guys pulling pranks on bleary eyed suspects early morning. Wonder if it's possible for non-singapore based folks to listen to it online? I think they have podcasts posted up to their website 987fm.com (or something like that - search!). The funniest so far has been the man who called up to say his wife liked the fish more than him. They called her up pretending to be contractors and in typical singlish asked "madam, you wann fish fried or poached?" Even as she recovers from her shock and asks who they want to speak to, they go on to explain that they are workers and they knocked over the fish while doing some work at the house. Said it's no big deal, it's "just a fish" and then went on to explain how big it was and how they didn't really bring lunch so this would do just fine. At the moment of the lady completely losing it, they do the brilliant bullfighter routine - diverting the full blame away to the husband!

The other one was where this girl calls to say her co-worker has bad BO. They call him up and say "on behalf of your entire office, we wanted to let you know - YOU STINK MAN!!!!" and then hung up! In non communicative bubbles these days, these shows (along with reality shows i would guess!) help provide that essential feeling of community and laughter. the social need thus met in a bubble - cool!

new eminem song

heard "smack that" - the new eminem song with some other guy? is it just me or does it actually encourage guys to hit women?!!!!!!!!! To be fair, it's actually some rap phrase meaning something else (vs. being literally "smack")! Educate me via comments!

juggling bands

Okay so now I've got a band overload - am playing with 4 at last count! 2 happened over the past 2 days (viva la soft.com.sg). 2 desi and 2 chinese bands that play old school rock. What's with the chinese singaporeans - everyone's into the harder stuff but hey, something's better than nothing! So am going for practice with band no. 2 this sunday, with band no. 3 next saturday and need to find a bassist from band no. 2 to also play with me in band no. 4! You don't need to follow - I'm barely doing so!

eggplant overdose

went across to a great place called original sin. All vegetarian place with an amazing menu and even more amazing chefs. Every dish ordered turned out to have eggplant! They say it has no nutritional value and hence the name "baingan" (or "be-gun", without merit). Wonder why it's so popular in the middle east/mediterranean! There is an old fable about it - a king loved it so much that he got a crown nailed to the top of the bland coloured veggie and hence the current "crown". Damn it sure is flexible - goes with all types of food across cultures! If we hadn't gone out, MIL had made eggplant at home as well! Currently am seeing deep purple post the eggplant overdose. Woman in tokyo also make neat eggplant (robatoyaki!).

Enough on eggplant - did you know there is a website called the world carrot museum? It's amazing - check it out!!!

the far side & bizarro

anyone a fan of bizarro & far side out there? You have the regular sunday comics (hagar, beetle bailey, wizard of id etc.). And THEN you have bizarro and the far side. It really takes a certain left/right ratio to look at the world in such a different light. More than the humour itself, the tangent just blows me away each time. To take something very ordinary and normally seen through the blinkers of "normalcy" and then to twist it into a very different plane is mindblowing. both are available online at their respective sites if you've never seen them. Check out the description of Dan (Bizarro cartoonist) at http://www.kingfeatures.com/features/comics/bizarro/about.htm

airport musings

Was at the airport at 4 a.m. this morning. It's a different life out there. Wonder what the regulars there feel like at normal hours while others are at work? Would guess that over time they become a bit more introspective, reserved with an immediate distaste for a work environment that is loud, fast and aggressive. Wonder how the 3 a.m. airport starbucks employee will do in a 8 a.m. shift at a prime location? From ennui to energy overload. There was even a lady who was supposed to help the odd businessman book meeting rooms - needless to say the counter was empty. What was interesting though was that instead of just reading newspapers/books or talking to each other, every employee at every counter (currency xchange, coffee shop, meeting setup, food joint, mcdonalds etc.) was BUSY doing something! No customers whatsoever but these guys are busy as ants! Must spend some time with them next time to figure out just what keeps them this busy - am guessing they have settled into some sort of routine over time, creating work and making their worklives meaningful. Not different at all from others like us.

haiku attempt 1

sunday night, pre-cursor to tough week
interestingly the wind outside has also stopped like the lull before

Christmas shopping

Heard about the concept of basket sales post christmas in the US - further perpetuating in my head, the stereotype of the wasteful american family, living in their own bubble. Even down in singapore, the "celebrations" (driven by the marketing managers of various malls who probably don't even spend christmas at home) start in early November. Christmas trees are put up by mid-November and sales continue for a total of 12 odd weeks for a 1 day festival! 'tis the joy of giving? Not sure what % of the shopping is really given to those who need it most. I think it'll be a pretty cool idea if 1% of all christmas sales every year are given to charity.

the starting bell

So i get into blogging...the starting bell sounds much like the same one for the rat race. Been 12 odd years now and the bubble we're in gets bigger and prettier. Almost feels like the bubble is the world. It's ultimately happiness that matters though and whatever drives that is welcome, rats or no rats! so it is for blogging - am years behind others but shall not use this as another race! Welcome to the roller coaster.