Lemon tree

This song kept coming into my head so I figured I'd blog on it. Reminds me of the time I lived in a house with a lemon tree. Never quite figured out what to do with the lemons though, I'm not much of a cook when it comes to lemons!

942 Cerrito street, Albany. That was a beautiful place, almost a dream home. Guess I was really young and innocent then, didn't know how tough it'd be to cut the grass and clean up the fallen plums every summer. Living in a house with a garden and back yard is not what I'm used to in Singapore! I never went to home depot so many times in my life!



I'm sitting here in the boring room
It's just another rainy Sunday afternoon
I'm wasting my time
I got nothing to do
I'm hanging around
I'm waiting for you
But nothing ever happens and I wonder

I'm driving around in my car
I'm driving too fast
I'm driving too far
I'd like to change my point of view
I feel so lonely
I'm waiting for you
But nothing ever happens and I wonder

I wonder how
I wonder why
Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky
And all that I can see is just a yellow lemon-tree
I'm turning my head up and down
I'm turning turning turning turning turning around
And all that I can see is just another lemon-tree

I'm sitting here
I miss the power
I'd like to go out taking a shower
But there's a heavy cloud inside my head
I feel so tired
Put myself into bed
Well, nothing ever happens and I wonder

Isolation is not good for me
Isolation I don't want to sit on the lemon-tree

I'm steppin' around in the desert of joy
Baby anyhow I'll get another toy
And everything will happen and you wonder

I wonder how
I wonder why
Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky
And all that I can see is just another lemon-tree
I'm turning my head up and down
I'm turning turning turning turning turning around
And all that I can see is just a yellow lemon-tree
And I wonder, wonder

I wonder how
I wonder why
Yesterday you told me 'bout the blue blue sky
And all that I can see, and all that I can see, and all that I can see
Is just a yellow lemon-tree

Crab Bee Hoon

Yesterday I tried crab bee hoon at the Punggol Kopitiam. Okay, Punggol Kopitiam isn't exactly in the most happening part of town, but at least when I told the taxi driver, "the one near punggol plaza, got crab one" he knew what I was talking about.

So what exactly is it like? Basically its thick bee hoon in milky broth, kinda like the fish bee hoon ya know? And with crab meat boiled together in it. I suppose you can imagine what the absolutely yummy broth would taste like! And we had some scallops and asparagus dish on the side, guess we needed some healthy food to go with the high cholesterol.....

Do I like crabs? Yeah I do! Especially those that are fresh and cold which you can find at Tomales Bay in the Bay area. I guess asian style with lots of gravy and broth is good too, but fresh boiled and cold you can really taste the freshness of the meat! Sweet freshness. Just like the 10 lb spider crab I ate in Oxnard, SoCal, absolutely fantastic!

Somebody I know who's associated with crabs has broke his bond and gone far far away. Guess I won't be seeing him for a long time. Come to think of it, the last time I had crabs with him I think we were still in California! Seems like such a long time ago now....

Thank you

My tea's gone cold I'm wondering why I
Got out of bed at all
The morning rain clouds up my window
And I can't see at all
But even if I could it would all be grey
With your picture on my wall
It reminds me that it's not so bad, not so bad....

I want to thank you
For giving me the best days of my life
Oh, just to be with you
Is having the best day of my life

Drank to much last night got bills to pay
My head just feels in pain
I missed the bus and there'll be hell today
I'm late for work again
But even if I'm there they'd all imply
That I might not last the day
And then you called me
And it's not so bad, not so bad...

Push the door I'm home at last
I'm soaking through and through
And then you handed me a towel
And all I see is you
Even if the house falls down now
I wouldn't have a clue
Because you're near me
And it's not so bad, not so bad...

Erm, I'm not sure if anyone wouldn't have a clue if the house falls down? Fire, earthquake or hurricane, take your pick, but I'd certainly run for my life haha! Otherwise I think it's a beautiful song. Relationships IMHO are all about being there for each other, as much of the time as possible, so that in the bad times it's "not so bad" and when its the good times, its "oh so good"!

I took a walk around bugis junction tonight and it was surprisingly empty. True it's a weekday night, but usually Thursday is more crowded. I used to hang out in this neighbourhood all the time cos YW lived few blocks away. Always convenient to drop by his place for Sam Adams and to just hang out around there! Boy I miss those good 'ol days! YW you better entertain me if I ever come to London!

Forrest is gonna be in town tomorrow. This chap is a friend of a friend from Bay Area who happens to be working in the Tsunami rebuilding project in Aceh. Its quite a long shot from the Bay Area to Aceh, and I really admire his courage and enthusiasm. Anyway I think he is stopping by Singapore on the way back to the US, so it'll be a fun time to meet up. And perhaps check out Cal drinks at Loof. Something tells me I'm gonna be at Bugis area again though haha....

I haven't watched much tv in a long time. Not sure what's on. Surprisingly, I never watched much when I was in US this time too. After we were done with stuff and finished watching the Daily Show and Colbert Report, there usually isn't much else left to see except SouthPark. Hmm, perhaps I don't really need TV in my life that much. Perhaps YW has seen the light.....

Into the Ocean end it all

Somebody called me a float. Float? Well, I think it was supposed to be a bad thing. A float is something that is needed when one is in distress, but is otherwise not very useful. Floats are cheap and after you use it, you don't really bother about retrieving it.

I want to swim away but don't know how
Sometimes it feels just like I am falling in the ocean
Let the wave up, keep me down
Let the hurricane set in motion
Let the rain of what I feel right now come down
Let the rain come down....

Then again if you want to swim away in the big ocean with a hurricane brewing you'd better want a float nearby! And hell no you won't discard it after using it! haha.

There has been quite a bit of turbulence in my life lately, and I am greatful for all the great friends who have lent their support. It always feels good to know that I'm not alone. Sometimes life's ups and downs makes me forget how to enjoy the music in my ear, the sound of the leaves falling and the wind in my hair as I skate down the park in the morning.... and especially all of them at the same time!

Is it worse to be miserable for a long period of time or to be happy one moment and sad the next over and over again? I always always thought that its worse to be miserable for a long period of time, because if there is at least a glimpse of happiness there is hope for the future. I guess I really don't know the answer to this question.

What is my greatest fear? It's not cockroaches or lizards of the fear of falling... Okay I hate falling, but I'd do it if I have to. I guess my greatest fear is loneliness.

life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness

Yo everyone! Well, this blog's been kinda quiet for a while, I guess its some consequence of my life being a bit topsy turvy for the past month or so. Everyone goes through this phase at some point of time in life, so I suppose I'm no exception.

My estate is going on en-bloc sale. Or at least they are hoping to... If it goes through my parents will make a lot of money and will happily enjoy their retirement. That's IF it goes through. In the meantime the entire housing estate is just bickering, even on a Mother's Day night! Don't these people have mothers to entertain tonight?

Sometimes I wonder how my life is turning out to be. There's quite a lot of uncertainty in my life right now. To some extent I guess I should be contented that things finally seem somewhat alright compared to before, but somehow its still not clear where I'm heading. Can I ever be satisfied or at peace until its clear and certain which path my life is going to head towards? Just knowing the general direction doesn't seem enough.

Sometimes I try so hard to find a way to make things better. And sometimes I end up making things a little worse in the process instead, it can be quite frustrating. But then again, I guess life's all about laughing it off, picking yourself up and trying again. This process has probably made me a lot more thick skinned, though its really difficult to laugh sometimes.

Is it really the impossible that I wish to achieve in life? Fame, fortune or power? Those do not appeal to me right now. All I want is to be happy. To enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Perhaps it seems so near yet so far.

It's Amore

And there was Mary, and Rory, and Chris, and Amy and Sunil, and Hank, and Pan Pan and me; and we had lots and lots of pasta and sang "It's Amore!" That was the most wonderful gathering of Cal pals ever! Will we meet again? Perhaps.
Thanks everyone, for a wonderful evening at C&O's on Venice Beach! And all thanks to Mary for picking the place!

Back!

I'm finally back in Singapore after one crazy month in the US! Why crazy? Well basically it was work in the daytime, going out (mostly) at night, and road trips every weekend! I went up the LA coastline past Malibu to Camarillo one weekend. Followed by 2 days of skiing at Big Bear mountain the next weekend. Road trip from SoCal to Bay area, stopping at Monterey, followed by road trip up to the giant redwoods in Humbolt county on the third weekend. Finally in the last week we drove to the death valley, one whole round passing by China Lake Naval Weapons Testing Facility on the way back! Whoa! That's almost 3500 miles added to the rental car! I couldn't have made it alone, credit goes to a wonderful travelling companion who dared to go along with my crazy ideas. Now its time to get some sleep.....

Into The Ocean

Into The Ocean

I'm just a normal boy
That sank when I fell overboard
My ship would leave the country
But I'd rather swim ashore

Without a life vest I'd be stuck again
Wish I was much more masculine
Maybe then I could learn to swim
Like 'fourteen miles away'

Now floating up and down
I spin, colliding into sound
Like whales beneath me diving down
I'm sinking to the bottom of my
Everything that freaks me out
The lighthouse beam has just run out
I'm cold as cold as cold can be
be

I want to swim away but don't know how
Sometimes it feels just like I'm falling in the ocean
Let the waves up take me down
Let the hurricane set in motion... yeah
Let the rain of what I feel right now...come down
Let the rain come down

Where is the coastguard
I keep looking each direction
For a spotlight, give me something
I need something for protection
Maybe flotsam junk will do just fine
the jetsam sunk, I'm left behind
I'm treading for my life believe me
(How can I keep up this breathing)

Not knowing how to think
I scream aloud, begin to sink
My legs and arms are broken down
With envy for the solid ground
I'm reaching for the life within me
How can one man stop his ending
I thought of just your face
Relaxed, and floated into space

I want to swim away but don't know how
Sometimes it feels just like I'm falling in the ocean
Let the waves up take me down
Let the hurricane set in motion... yeah
Let the rain of what I feel right now...come down
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down

Now waking to the sun
I calculate what I had done
Like jumping from the bow (yeah)
Just to prove I knew how (yeah)
It's midnight's late reminder of
The loss of her, the one I love
My will to quickly end it all
Set front row in my need to fall

Into the ocean, end it all
Into the ocean, end it all
Into the ocean, end it all
into the ocean...end it all

[Zayra]
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)

I want to swim away but don't know how
Sometimes it feels just like I'm falling in the ocean
Let the waves up take me down
Let the hurricane set in motion (yeah)
Let the rain of what I feel right now...come down
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down

Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
(In to space)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
(I thought of just your face)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)
Into the ocean (goodbye) end it all (goodbye)

California here we come

In 14.5 hours time I'll be flying to LA. Finally back to the golden state! I guess I should be feeling all excited and pumped up right now, but for some reason I'm not....

Perhaps its the flu. What a bad time to have caught the flu. And by the way, its the third time I have the flu since the start of the year!!! Something tells me I never really recovered but probably just did too many silly things and got the virus taking over my body again.....

But perhaps its more than the flu.... I guess these days I'm searching for more direction and yet I can't find it. It's almost like I'm a wandering soul who does not know what he wants. And I don't know who can help me. I have choices, but yet there's no certainty that any path I take in any aspect of life is going to lead to greater happiness.

We hear of "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" and I believe every word of it. Like the trailer of Will Smith's new movie "The Pursuit of Happyness" I believe that if one has a clear goal like Will Smith, and goes for it, he will eventually find happiness. But what if one doesn't have any clear goal? How then is the pursuit of happiness going to happen? Perhaps life and liberty are sufficient?

In my two and a half years back in Singapore there are probably only two things that have brought happiness: contributing to society, and earning recognition for good work. But then again such events don't come by often, and it takes a lot of sweat and tears for a short moment of happiness. Perhaps there's more ways to be happy. Some guru's say that one should be happy with a positive attitude approaching every task at work. I try so hard to do so, but unfortunately the positive attitude thing doesn't really last past the first hour of the day, or the last hour (knowing that I'll be out of there soon). Where do we go from here?

Perhaps I will learn more about "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" in the "Land of the free, and the home of the brave (BEARS!)".

Didn't you know that?

I've spent a large part of the last 2 days reformatting my hard drive. Some windows error was causing it to get more and more corrupted so I had to do something about it before the CNY weekend.

Happy Chinese New Year everyone! (Before I forget)

I found out something interesting. Did you realise that many supermarkets in the US stock goods that are $4.99, $9.99, $XX.99 etc? Well we always thought the idea of using the .99 was to make goods look cheaper than it actually are. Which is kinda dumb anyway, because the consumer really isn't that stupid... It turns out that supermarkets price goods at $XX.99 on purpose so that the cashier has to ring the till during a purchase since most people won't have exact change. The practice came about because too many supermarket cashiers will pilfering the money paid for goods without putting it into the till. It's difficult for them to do that if the till has to be opened for change, because there will be a record. Betcha didn't know that!

You know kids always put things into their mouths? I saw a documentary that says that kids keep doing that and it's alright, because the body needs that to build up extra resistance to foreign germs/bacteria. By eating and being exposed to these harmful germs, the body will produce antibodies to fight against them. Interestingly however, I also read a health book that says if you want to get sick less often (for adults only), wash your hands before you eat! Poor hand hygiene is the biggest cause of most adult sicknesses (flu, stomachache etc), which is quite surprising compared to the kids huh?

There is a big tussle in Oregon about some euthanasia law. Voters generally refer to it as "physician-assisted suicide" but advocates object that "suicide" refers to "cut(ting) short a life that would otherwise continue, whereas terminal patients are simply hastening a death that is already near". I think this line of thought leads us down a dangerous path. How near is a death that is near? Everybody dies, eventually, and I doubt anyone can predict death accurately all the time. People given a few days to live have often lived a few more years, and vice versa. Euthanisia is a form of suicide regardless of whether you find it morally appealing or not. Nobody can decide with absolute certainty that death is actually "near" enough so that life would not "otherwise continue".

Nature or nurture? Or does it even matter?

It's been a great and eventful weekend. Lotsa sun, lotsa skating and great food. So I'm gonna post another blog. 3 blog entries in one weekend is too much? Well, perhaps I might not have time once I make the US trip (gonna be skiing in Mammoth baby!), so here goes.

I jumped right into this article in this week's Economist because it caught my eye right there when I opened the cover. The big nature/nurture debate in the search for gifted geniuses. Why's there such a fuss over who's the brightest smartest little kid? It doesn't take a genius with an IQ of 200 to run the world's most powerful country (hell you got that right!) or make the most money in the stockmarket. And neither is it that every great scientist or artist is truly a child genius, perhaps some aren't even geniuses but just really persistant. The last sentence of the article perhaps sheds some light. (Hope nobody sues me for copyright, but hey, I'm trying to promote their magazine okay!)

Gifted children

Bright sparks
Feb 8th 2007
From The Economist print edition

Not everyone's a genius, but don't say so in front of the children


BY the time Laszlo Polgar's first baby was born in 1969 he already had firm views on child-rearing. An eccentric citizen of communist Hungary, he had written a book called “Bring up Genius!” and one of his favourite sayings was “Geniuses are made, not born”.

An expert on the theory of chess, he proceeded to teach little Zsuzsa at home, spending up to ten hours a day on the game. Two more daughters were similarly hot-housed. All three obliged their father by becoming world-class players. The youngest, Judit, is currently ranked 13th in the world, and is by far the best female chess player of all time.

Would the experiment have succeeded with a different trio of children? If any child can be turned into a star, then a lot of time and money are being wasted worldwide on trying to pick winners.

America has long held “talent searches”, using test results and teacher recommendations to select children for advanced school courses, summer schools and other extra tuition. This provision is set to grow. In his state-of-the-union address in 2006, President George Bush announced the “American Competitiveness Initiative”, which, among much else, would train 70,000 high-school teachers to lead advanced courses for selected pupils in mathematics and science. Just as the superpowers' space race made Congress put money into science education, the thought of China and India turning out hundreds of thousands of engineers and scientists is scaring America into prodding its brightest to do their best.

The philosophy behind this talent search is that ability is innate; that it can be diagnosed with considerable accuracy; and that it is worth cultivating.

In America, bright children are ranked as “moderately”, “highly”, “exceptionally” and “profoundly” gifted. The only chance to influence innate ability is thought to be in the womb or the first couple of years of life. Hence the fad for “teaching aids” such as videos and flashcards for newborns, and “whale sounds” on tape which a pregnant mother can strap to her belly.

In Britain, there is a broadly similar belief in the existence of innate talent, but also an egalitarian sentiment which makes people queasy about the idea of investing resources in grooming intelligence.

Teachers are often opposed to separate provision for the best-performing children, saying any extra help should go to stragglers. In 2002, in a bid to help the able while leaving intact the ban on most selection by ability in state schools, the government set up the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth. This outfit runs summer schools and master classes for children nominated by their schools. To date, though, only seven in ten secondary schools have nominated even a single child. Last year all schools were told they must supply the names of their top 10%.

Picking winners is also the order of the day in ex-communist states, a hangover from the times when talented individuals were plucked from their homes and ruthlessly trained for the glory of the nation. But in many other countries, opposition to the idea of singling out talent and grooming it runs deep. In Scandinavia, a belief in virtues like modesty and social solidarity makes people flinch from the idea of treating brainy children differently.

And in Japan there is a widespread belief that all children are born with the same innate abilities—and should therefore be treated alike. All are taught together, covering the same syllabus at the same rate until they finish compulsory schooling. Those who learn quickest are expected then to teach their classmates.

In China, extra teaching is provided, but to a self-selected bunch. “Children's palaces” in big cities offer a huge range of after-school classes. Anyone can sign up; all that is asked is excellent attendance.

Statistics give little clue as to which system is best. The performance of the most able is heavily affected by factors other than state provision. Most state education in Britain is nominally non-selective, but middle-class parents try to live near the best schools. Ambitious Japanese parents have made private, out-of-school tuition a thriving business. And Scandinavia's egalitarianism might work less well in places with more diverse populations and less competent teachers. For what it's worth, the data suggest that some countries—like Japan and Finland, see table—can eschew selection and still thrive. But that does not mean that any country can ditch selection and do as well.

Mr Polgar thought any child could be a prodigy given the right teaching, an early start and enough practice. At one point he planned to prove it by adopting three baby boys from a poor country and trying his methods on them. (His wife vetoed the scheme.) Some say the key to success is simply hard graft. Judit, the youngest of the Polgar sisters, was the most driven, and the most successful; Zsofia, the middle one, was regarded as the most talented, but she was the only one who did not achieve the status of grand master. “Everything came easiest to her,” said her older sister. “But she was lazy.”

Tiong Bahru Porridge

Tiong Bahru Porridge has a branch in Parkway Parade! I have no idea when they set up, but I just had to try their famous pigs organ porridge (zhu zha zhou) when I passed by just now. The fried intestines were so crispy and tasty, I even added extra ($2.20 more) mmmmmmm!!!! Two thumbs up!

When I was young I always had pigs organ porridge at Tiong Bahru market every sunday when we visited my grandpa. Unfortunately he has passed away and we never really went there since. The old geezer who manned the stall was very grumpy one! He only opens late in the evening and when he's in a good mood. And for a long time it was only a one man show. Well, I heard his sons have taken over and made it a chain with a few branches, while the old man has passed away recently (may his soul rest in peace). The other good stuff from Tiong Bahru market is the juee kuei, which has coincidentally also become a chain! But I think their other branches aren't doing that well, Telok Blangah branch closed down after a few months.

Okay, I'm not really a foodie I confess. But the top 2 places for pigs organ porridge are Tiong Bahru porridge (any branch) and Tiong Shan (chang cheng) porridge in Chinatown at the corner of Keong Saik and Eu Tong Sen. Tiong Shan is more popular because it has like 20 other kinds of porridge also, the most popular being the frogs legs one. However, there's other shady business going on along Keong Saik road so perhaps you wouldn't stay there too late haha.... And it's a pain getting seating during dinner because its just so crowded man! Very hot and squeezy, definitely not as comfy as the new Tiong Bahru market or Parkway Parade (aircon)!

So why did my family grow up eating porridge? Well, my late grandpa once said that it was popular during the war, though they did not have tasty intestines during that time. Porridge makes your stomach feel full (shiok) though you aren't exactly eating much food, which is perfect during the war when food was scarce. I guess porridge has gone a long way since then......

Come and join the OAC ah

C says there was snow at Mammoth until June last year, so I'm going SKIING!!! Heheh, this is gonna be like the best thing in the longest time! Last time I hit the slopes was in 2004, and I think it was Donner ski ranch, not exactly the best place in the world!

So I've been training up by going skating. I'm skating today, and tomorrow also. As I was skating today there was this guy who was stroking and gliding BACKWARDS!! Basically he was skating backwards faster than most people can skate forward, and that's no joke man! And he looks behind too OMG! That's one trick I gotta learn man. Otherwise the weather was absolutely fantastic, and I wish I could stay another hour, but lunch beckoned and I had to head to the museum in the afternoon.

So what was I doing at the museum? I signed up for volunteering and they wanted to talk to me about what I wanna do. I was up for the History gallery guide position except I'm gonna be in California when the training starts (ouch). It turns out that the docents for the history gallery really got to know lotsa stuff man. Got to do own research and all too! Anyway, looks like I'm gonna do the architectural tours as well as the special exhibits which is pretty darn cool too!

Later in the evening I met up with some OAC alumni for chinese new year dinner. And they were all so young man! Most of them were 06/07, I'm 96/97 which is like 10 years ago man! But its good to hear they are still quite enthusiastic. It always worried me that kids today might regress in their enthusiasm of outdoor adventure. Especially after the unfortunate accident that happened to the RJ ODAC.... But anyway, all's good. And really brought back good memories of happy days. Here's some good 'ol OAC songs to reminisce (though I might have lost some lyrics):

A is for Akua, we love Akua, if you wanna be the best, come and join the OAC ah!
B is for Bak Kwa
C is for Chao Tah
D is for Dao Kua
E is for Eno
F is for Fried Fish
G is for Gu-Niang
H is for Hao Lian
I is for Idiot
J is for Ja-gong
K is for Kiasu
L is for Lao-sai
M is for Milo
N is for NJC
O is for OAC
P is for Pai Kia
Q is for QM
R is for Reccee
S is for Sam-pa or seniors
T is for Topo
U is for Ubin
V is for ???
W is for Water
X is for ???
Y is for Yao Kwee
Z is for Ziploc
(Perhaps someone can fill the blanks)

*************************************

Mmm Mmm went a little green frog one day
Mmm Mmm went a little green frog
Mmm Mmm went a little green frog one day
And a little green frog went mmm mmm
But we know frogs go: Clap! Shalalalala
Clap! Shalalalala
We know frogs go: Clap! Shalalalala
Frogs don't go mmm mmm

Choo choo went a little blue train one day
Choo choo went a little blue train
Choo choo went a little blue train one day
And a little blue train went choo choo
But we know trains go: Clap! Shalalalala
Clap! Shalalalala
We know trains go: Clap! Shalalalala
Trains don't go choo choo

Nag nag went a little sam-pa one day
Nag nag went a little sam-pa
Nag nag went a little sam-pa one day
And a little sam-pa went nag nag
But we know sam-pa's go: Waaaaaaa!
Waaaaaa! Waaaaaa!
We know sam-pa-s go: Waaaaa!
Sam-pa's don't go nag nag

**********************************

Chou nan ren, chou nan ren
Every morning we see you
Play carrom, ti soccer
We're not happy to see you!

**********************************

I ask my love
To take a walk
To take a walk
Down Orchard Road
Bypass Mandarin
To Centerpoint
We had our lunch
At McDonald

We had filet
And apple pie
We shared a cup
Of lemon lime
I hold her hand
Look into her eyes
I ask her to be
My valentine

There was one night
There was no light
There was no light
So we use torchlight
Under the clear blue sky
Under the bright moonlight
I ask her to be
My future wife

***************************

How long can we wait for our fighting to end?
How long can we wait for our love to begin?
Oh can't you see we can't wait for forever to start
Together, forever we are one

Together, together we are one
One body one army we are one
United we stand, divided we fall
Together forever, all for one and one for all!

Just read this interesting article

Under Dr Lee's microscope

Letter from Associate Professor Lee Wei Ling
Director, National Neuroscience Institute

THE official stance by the Government is that there is nothing wrong with its biomedical research strategy. It justifies that it is on the right track by the fact that the biomedical sector now makes up a quarter of Singapore's Gross Domestic Product generated by manufacturing.

Output by Singapore's drug factories jumped by over a third last year, pushing overall biomedical production up by 30.2 per cent. This robust growth puts biomedical output at a record $23 billion, almost four times the production in 2000. More than 90 per cent comes from pharmaceuticals, with the rest from the medical technology sector.

To attribute the investment by biomedical companies in Singapore to our multibillion dollar research drive is inaccurate. Numerous news agencies and newspapers have reported the reasons why these biomedical companies decided to set up in Singapore. The generous help from the Singapore Government, the strict enforcement of intellectual-property (IP) laws, proximity to new major markets in Asia, Singapore's efficiency, educated workforce and English-speaking environment are the incentives for investing in Singapore.

Singapore's own huge biomedical research initiative is not an important consideration, except in the few cases where the pharmaceutical companies have joint research ventures with the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*Star) or the Biopolis. This is not surprising. Research groups doing similar research are all competing with each other to make breakthroughs — only then do they get the IP rights. So, how would having competing groups in Singapore be an incentive for biomedical companies to come and set up shop here?

Mr Philip Yeo described me as "a voice in the wilderness", noting that I have not been in the Biopolis. But I have received more fanmail than I can remember from Singapore doctors and researchers, thanking me for pointing out the obvious mistake in the way the biomedical drive has been carried out.

I would challenge that, having never practised as a doctor, Mr Yeo is strategising about biomedical research directions in an ivory tower. He has been very successful in selling Singapore in the past, but biomedical research is a different ball game. The fact that he dismisses the importance of Hepatitis B and head injury shows how out of touch he is with reality.

Yes, Singapore is immunising its children against Hepatitis B, but immunisation does not help someone who is already a carrier for the Hepatitis B virus. What is more significant is that 5 per cent of all ethnic Chinese are Hepatitis B carriers.

Head injury is the major cause of disability in children and economically-productive adults. The cost to the patients' families and to society equals, if not exceeds, that of cancer. Head injury is not particular to Singapore, but it is an area where not many research centres have chosen to concentrate on. At the National Neuroscience Institute, we have a good research track record and will continue to pursue this area of research.

Lieutenant-General (NS) Lim Chuan Poh said "you have to give it time to show success. Some of these things cannot be done in a matter of three or five years; we are going to stay the course".

If A*Star believes this, why did it sign an agreement with Johns Hopkins that had a five year timeline?

In fact, Professor William Brody from The Johns Hopkins University alluded to this when he was asked about biomedical research in Singapore. Prof Brody also pointed out the fact "that research is not linear, or predictable — it's unpredictable".

Can Singapore afford to continue to pour in huge sums of money for 10 or 20 years in the hope of eventually yielding results, yet knowing that there is no certainty of success?

Lt-Gen Lim goes on to ask: "Why must it be that Singaporeans cannot be world-beaters?" My answer to that is: Singaporeans can be world-beaters — if Singapore has the appropriate research strategy and concentrates effort and resources on the areas where we have a competitive advantage. The Singapore Olympic Council seems to understand this simple concept which escapes the highly intellectual officials determining the direction of Singapore's research strategy.

A*Star dismissed any suggestion that the Government might be rethinking its strategy to develop the biomedical research sector. However, Dr Tony Tan seems more open-minded about this issue. Dr Tan, who is the Research, Innovation and Enterprise Council's deputy chairman, said he was sure the biomedical science executive committee will consider all input: "If there is any change in direction or emphasis necessary, I'm confident they will take the appropriate action."

In the same article where he was featured opening the new National University of Singapore Centre for Life Sciences, it was reported that "several cancers, the ones more common in Singapore and the region, will be put under the microscope". This is in line with the concept of niche areas that I have been advocating.

Official?

Is it official or not? I'm tempted to say it is, but until the air tickets are actually in my hand, nothing's really confirmed yet. And unexpected things are showing up everyday still, argh!

Anyways, I figure that I should give everyone a heads up, so we can have some fun together if it materializes. Well here it is: I'm (probably) going to LA for a 3 week job attachment! The timing will be 25th Feb to 20 Mar or thereabouts, and I'll be working in Burbank, though I'm gonna have to figure out cheap housing in the neighbourhood somehow.

If you're gonna be in the neighbourhood just holler out! I'm probably not gonna have much other opportunities to be in town in the near future, though I'd like to enjoy the ski season someday haha. Here's an great song by the Red Hot Chili Peppers although I have absolutely no idea what it means:

Gettin' born in the state of Mississippi
Poppa was a copper and'a momma was a hippie
In Alabama she was swinging hammer
Price you gotta pay when you break the panorama
She never knew that there was anything more than poor
What in the world does your company take me for?


Black bandana, sweet Louisiana
Robbin'on a bank in the state of Indiana
She's a runner, rebel and a stunner
On her merry way saying baby what you gonna
Lookin' down the barrel of a hot metal .45
Just another way to survive

Chorus:

California rest in peace
Simultaneous release
California show your teeth
She's my priestess, I'm your priest
Yeah, yeah


She's a lover, baby and a fighter
Should've seen her coming when it got a little brighter
With a name like Dani California
Day was gonna come when I was gonna mourn ya
A little loaded she was stealing another breath
I love my baby to death

Chorus:

California rest in peace
Simultaneous release
California show your teeth
She's my priestess, I'm your priest
Yeah, yeah

Who knew the other side of you
Who knew what others died to prove
Too true to say goodbye to you
Too true, too sad sad sad

Push the fader, gifted animator
One for the now and eleven for the later
Never made it, Up to Minnessota
North Dakota man was a gunnin' for the quota
Down in the badlands she was saving the best for last
it only hurts when I laugh
Gone too fast

Chorus:

California rest in peace
Simultaneous release
California show your teeth
She's my priestess, I'm your priest
Yeah, yeah

California rest in peace
Simultaneous release
California show your teeth
She's my priestess, I'm your priest
Yeah, yeah

Okay, I can't resist it. I don't like repeating posts but what the heck. Perhaps this is more apt:

We've be on the run
Driving in the sun
Looking out for number one
California, here we come
Right back where we started from

Well, hustlers grab your guns
The shadow weighs a ton
Driving down the 101
California, here we come
Right back where we started from

California
Here we come!

On the stereo
Listen as we go
Nothing's gonna stop me now
California, here we come
Right back where we started from

Peddle to the floor
Thinking of you more
Gotta get us to the show
California, here we come
Right back where we started from

California
Here we come!