Rebranding exercises...

Samy Vellu sees change in mindset,
but only change that he sees when his mind is set,
To make sure no change is seen when the sun sets,
On the party he minds through changes he sets.

HELP!

I'm being stalked! And it's freaking the shit out of me!

Salvation

It doesn't matter in the end,
Who's the angel that God sends.

300?

To battle to battle,
To battle we go,
We'll sharpen our swords,
To smite all our foes!

To battle to battle,
to battle we march,
Defending our country,
Our city we guard!

To battle to battle,
to battle we charge,
Our army is tiny,
But our hearts, they are large!

To battle to battle,
To battle we ride,
And return home victorious,
With honour and pride!

Pakcik...

When I was working, everyday I used to have to cross this pedestrian bridge after getting out from the LRT station to get to my workplace. Sometimes, there would an old Malay man sitting in the middle of that bridge begging for money.

So I gave him some money everytime I saw him. He wasn't always there, so it wasn't exactly going to bankrupt me. After all, I hardly went out much back then so I didn't have much use for the money in a sense.

The first few times it was out of sympathy. I wondered if he had any children who had abandoned him. I was sure there was an interesting (although probably sad) life story he could tell me that had led him to where he was now. Now that I think of it, maybe I should have asked?

After a while though, I realized I started to do it for another reason as well. You see, my life at that point wasn't exactly going the way I was hoping it would. Once in a while, there would be days that I felt like it was going to be a bad day even before the day really began.

So on somedays when I was feeling that way, I was hoping the old man would be there so I could give him some money. It was almost like a way of paying for good karma so that my day would go well.

I guess looking back it was a pretty weird thing to do.

I don't know why I suddenly thought of the old man today after so long.

I really wonder how he's doing now.

Reciprocity

I'm paying it forward by crashing an (almost) stranger's wedding.

THAT IS JUST SO UNBELIEVABLY COOL!!!

Magazines...

When you visit a doctor's or dentist's office, they always have these piles of magazines for you to read while waiting. Usually it caters to a particular interest, more often than not, categorized based on gender. For women, you have your gossip and fasion mags like Cosmo, Elle or Women's Weeky. For men, there are a variety of motor magazines to choose from and maybe a few on fishing.

All in all, it's a nice selection of reading material. The only problem is that the latest issue of any magazine that you can find there is probably at least a year old.

The odd thing is, we don't generally mind that they are outdated. I don't think it's just because it's the only thing available to read (although it's probably one reason). Because there are other ways to get around that problem, i.e. bringing a book, going down to the Indian-run newstand next door to pick up the newspapers/a tabloid/new issue of similar publication found upstairs.

My point is that we read them because we are genuinely interested in those magazines. We don't really get bored with them despite their lack of practical usefulness. We do, however, get bored from waiting for our turn.

So of course the ultimately objective of being in the waiting room in the first place is to see your doctor/dentist. The magazines may be interesting, but the sooner you get probed and touched by the white jacket-wearing healthcare professional, the sooner you can get on with your life.

After you're done and leave, you may remember that you liked a particular publication you came across back there and decide to subscribe to it. Maybe keep reading it for a couple of years, maybe more.

Now think of those magazines as the interests/hobbies you pick up while waiting for your life partner to show up.

I read a lot of magazines, but I'm still waiting for my turn.