Below are the most recent 11 friends' journal entries.

Thursday, September 4th, 2008
idle_banter	6:30a	Musical Chairs Our Terms And Conditions 1. No exchange of tickets will be made under any circumstances and tickets are not transferable. 2. No refund on tickets will be made under any circumstances except pursuant to conditions (3) - (10) below. 3. If an event is postponed or cancelled, a Postponement Publicity Notice or a Cancellation Publicity Notice (collectively, the ''Notices'' or individually, a ''Notice'') respectively shall be placed in the media by the Promoter or SISTIC. 4. Any refund made by SISTIC shall only be made out of sums held by SISTIC for the Promoter as authorised by the prior written agreement of the Promoter. The amount of refund will be made on a pro-rated basis (''Pro-rated Amount'') in accordance with the amount of the said sums held by SISTIC and the price paid by the ticket holder for the ticket. SISTIC shall not be liable to make a refund beyond the Pro-rated Amount under any circumstances. SISTIC shall not be liable and under no obligation to make any refund at all in the event that the Promoter did not pay in advance the said sums to SISTIC. 5. The Notices at the venue shall advise procedures for requesting a refund and the period and time within which the ticket holder could request a refund. 6. If a request for a refund is made within one month after the date of a Notice, no administrative fee will be charged pursuant to such a request. 7. If a request for a refund is made between one month and six months (inclusive) after the date of a Notice, any refund made pursuant to such a request shall be charged a 20% administrative fee on the value of the ticket(s), subject to a maximum sum represented by the Pro-rated Amount. 8. Refund will not be entertained if a request for a refund is made after six months from the date of a Notice. Such unrefunded sums shall be dealt with at SISTIC's sole discretion. 9. In the event of cancellation, all tickets purchased using credit cards shall automatically be refunded to the credit cards with which the tickets were purchased. If such credit cards are no longer valid, no automatic refunds will be made and condition (10) below shall apply. 10. Tickets purchased using payments other than credit cards shall be refunded in cash and refunds will have to be made at the SISTIC Box Office located at 2 Stadium Walk, #01-08 Singapore 397691 during the normal operating hours of our box office. Ticket Holders will have to produce the full stub of the original tickets in good condition to claim refunds. The identity of the person receiving the refunds may be recorded by our customer service officers. 11. Entry will be refused if tickets have not been purchased from SISTIC or other authorised points of sale. 12. The resale of tickets at the same or any price in excess of the initial purchase price is prohibited. SISTIC reserves the right to cancel any tickets that have been resold. 13. Infants in arms or children without tickets will not be admitted unless otherwise stated in event advertisements or announcement. 14. Student and Senior Citizen passes (and others where applicable) must be shown to obtain discounts (where applicable) and upon admission. 15. Latecomers cannot be admitted until a suitable break during the performances. 16. Venue Owner reserves the right without refund or compensation to refuse admission to any person whose conduct is disorderly or unbecoming. 17. No photography, audio or video recording is allowed during the event unless otherwise stated by the Promoter. 18. The Promoter may add, withdraw or substitute artistes and/or vary advertised programmes, event times, seating arrangements and audience capacity without prior notice. 19. The Promoter/Venue Owner may use the ticket holder's image or likeness in any live or recorded video display, photograph or picture. 20. The Promoter/Venue Owner may postpone, cancel, interrupt or stop the event due to adverse weather, dangerous situations, or any other causes beyond his reasonable control. 21. The Ticket Holder agrees to submit to any search for any prohibited items including but not limited to weapons, controlled, dangerous and illegal substances and recording devices. 22. The Ticket Holder voluntarily assumes all risk and danger incidental to the event whether occurring prior to, during or subsequent to the actual event, including any death, personal injury, loss, damage or liability. 23. Purchasers of tickets who are under 18 years of age should seek parental consent before purchasing tickets/merchandises from our website. By transacting on our website, purchaser certifies that purchaser is at least 18 years of age and understands the conditions of use. 24. Any complaints regarding the event will be directed to and dealt with by the Promoter. 25. Singapore law shall govern the sale of all tickets and you agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Singapore courts I knew something was afoot when the Brahms Violin Concerto disappeared off the programme and was replaced by Mozart's Violin Concerto. Not quite an equivalent experience if you ask me. For all my fondness for Mozart and his operas, his violin concertos however do not deliver the pyrotechnics that the Brahms does and anyway, it is the 3rd through 5th ones that I like only. And especially since that the Brahms was the only reason I had booked myself for the concert, as the other work was the substantial Shostakovich Symphony No 10. Not that familiar with the symphony at all, and judging from my tastes, anything "modern" does not quite do it for me. Anyway, lo and behold, but another casual browse online surfaced yet another change and this time, "Qin Li-Wei performs in place of Augustin Dumay, who is indisposed and unable to participate in this concert." Well, at least I'm a little more placated now, as it will be the Dvorak Cello Concerto. Missed the last one with Nina Kotova as I was sick and had to give my tickets away. Then she cancelled her appearance at the inaugural Singapore Sun Festival last year as she was in the family way. Wonder what happened to Mr Dumay? (Comment on this)
Monday, September 1st, 2008
idle_banter	8:30p	[LJ2ME] Smoked Sermon How many times have I been on the bus when I'm overcome by a pestillent decaying stench which emanates from someone who's just boarded the bus, but not before having smoked a fistful of cigarettes as though it were his last moments on earth. The odour permeates every membrane of my being, and there's no escaping it, be it not-so-subtle changing of seats to adjusting the air vents to blow the offending smell away. It is times like these that I entertain irreverent and irrelevant thoughts like if I were God when I am God: - cigarettes would cost $1,000 per stick. And not at inflationary rates, mind, but to the effect that you choose between having a fag or buying a top-end mobile phone or a UMPC or something nice. - why bother putting those scare-tactic pictures on the box? Might as well have the side-effects take place immediately and simulataneously as you work your way through the pack. By the time you finish the last stick, you'd look like the guy in the photo. Don't say you're not given a choice, for apart from that of smoking or not smoking, where if you choose to smoke, you get to choose your destiny too. - cigarettes would smell (already do anyway) and taste (I hope they do) like shit / sewage / swill. Pucker up and go kiss your loved one after you've had one. They're going to love you for it. Oh, one can dream, can't one? Cheap shot, but I'm happy now. Current Mood: wicked (Comment on this)
idle_banter	8:30a	[LJ2ME] Tease Is The Story Of Their Lives Some years after the issue of freshmen hazing activities made the news after a parent wrote in to complain about the "taupok" episodes his son was put through, yet another round of controversy rears its ugly head. As I've aired my opinion publicly the last time, this time is no different. Admittedly, it is a double-edged sword where refusal to participate would put a target on your back for the rest of your institutional life, but still. Please! Stand up for yourself if you are uncomfortable about it. You don't have to say yes everytime. There isn't a knife at your throat or a gun at your head. Is there? Anyway, the whole issue of crossing boundaries of common decency and propriety are but facades of keeping up appearances. You know, I know, we know that the young of today are not as innocent and naive as they seem. I've this controversial and contentious view of sexual harassment which may be a little extremist, but if you give it some thought, it actually makes sense. That is, there are no strict rules laid down as to what constitutes sexual harassment. It's a question of individual acceptance and tolerance. What is harmles flirtation for one is outrage of modesty for another. And it all boils down to who the "perpetrator" is. If it were the school hunk making the move, surely the "victims" would bat the eyelashes coyly and work their most disarming smiles and flirt back shamelessly. But if it were anyone less than savoury, out come the defences and the hypocritical incense. What I'd give to lick whipped cream off the body of some guy (the guy with the pixellated face in the photo in the article will suffice)... Oops, have I said too much? So off with the masks of put-on values and graces, and embrace your hot-blooded youth. Throw out your veils and let your hair down. You're only young once and you only live once. You'll regret and rue the day you didn't follow your heart when you're old like me. Those of you still cloistered in the convent need not apply. (Comment on this)
Saturday, August 30th, 2008
idle_banter	11:30p	[LJ2ME] Not Say I Want To Say Don't Say I Never Say The last hour at work earlier was madness, with an influx of patients, and the arrival of several emergency cases simultaneously that called out for attention that was scarce and stretched. Didn't like myself for turning into a task-master and slave-driver then, for barking out orders and not holding my tongue when a dressing down was due. What else can I do when I'm working with some people who do not pull their own weight and have no initiative and sense of urgency? While my actions and intentions may be misinterpreted, I guess I can empathise with Lee Bee Wah now. Sometimes, you have no choice but to play the bad guy. I wasn't very popular during my army days, for I ran my store like a tight ship. While I wouldn't (couldn't!) expect the same standards and results from them that I expected of myself, the least I required was for work to be done when there was work to be done. Alas, that was not to be, and I had to go hunt them down and flush them out from wherever they were taking their smoke-canteen-nap breaks. I know it was National Service, and none of us wanted to do it, but I wasn't asking for them to go beyond the call of duty but just doing their part and even that was a problem, so can you blame me? Similarly, I must have driven my flatmates in Birmingham crazy. There they were, away from the watchful eyes of their parents and they find themselves right back at Square One with me breathing down their necks. I wasn't putting them on curfews or asking them to clean out their bedrooms, but when it came to the common kitchen, I expected nothing less than consideration and courtesy for the others. Raised in a nation of signs and fines, I put up notes in the kitchen requesting their cooperation, but burnt, cogealed stove-tops and crumbly, sticky counter-tops and accumulating, unwashed sink-tops were the order of the day. The irony of my anal-retentiveness is that I only entertain the highest expectations of myself and subscribe to the highest standards for myself when my work and results impact on others. Thus, perhaps, I expect nothing less than the same of, from others, which is a little too far-fetched and wishful thinking unfortunately. You may think I'm having illusions of grandeur and self-importance, but even if so, I'm thinking only of myself. As opposed to thinking only for myself. Or is it the other way round? Is there a difference? Go figure... Bah! Humbug! Current Mood: aggravated Current Music: Mozart: Der Hölle Rache (Lucia Popp) (Comment on this)
idle_banter	11:00a	[LJ2ME] The Princess Diaries Those of you with post-Olympics withdrawal symptoms have cause for celebration. For a limited run only, you get a repeat of gymnastics, a preview of nanquan as well as the whole hog of Chinoiserie that heralded the start, duration and finish of the Beijing 2008 games. The Singapore Lyric Opera's production of Puccini's Turandot, in his 150th year, was admittedly done on a "shoe-string" budget ($800,000)by any standards and to be fair, it was remarkable for what they've achieved with what they've had to make do with. The thing with opera is that unless it is well done on all fronts, then it is better heard than seen. The word itself references the many works that make up the form, and it is indeed a logistical challenge to put everything together and make it work. One would have been delusional to have entertained high hopes and expectations of the evening, but it was on all counts, at least not regrettable. With alternate casts available in the three lead roles, we had the first, comprising Jessica Chen in the title, Lee Jae Wook as Calaf and Nancy Yuen as Liu. Chen didn't stir the emotions in my heart and mind with her opening In questa reggia, the voice tone and colour a little clouded and guttural. However, she warmed up and managed to pull it off, despite some insecurity on the exposed tessitura at the climax. Her riddle scene was more effective, the brilliance and ring in the voice coming to the fore. From his last outing as Alfredo in Traviata, Lee has developed his voice to take this unlikely part for his natural range. He does a good job carrying the heroic role on his shoulders, and with certain moments recalling the inflections of a Carreras or a Domingo, he has opened a door to a new career path, if he so chooses. The anthem Nessun dorma was tossed off with nary a glitch, but of course nowhere quite near what was the unparalleled outpouring of a Pavarotti. Yuen as Liu once again irritated with the production of her voice, with a fabricated sound that tended to hinge on acting cute. If it was her intention to recreate the role in the mould and memory of the greats that have good before her, she succeeded. The creaminess of weight, the heft of volume and the control of dynamics were qualities which make the best Lius. And her breath control in Signore ascolta was breathtaking was want of a better word. The trio of court jesters, oops, ministers, Ping, Pang and Pong were well taken and their voices simultaneously stood out as as well as blended in unison. However, what was with the whole 福禄寿 costumes that screamed "ching chang chong"? It was hard to pinpoint exactly which Chinese dynasty or era the piece was set in, with the amalgam of styles and designs. The soldiers were kitted out as Terracotta warriors, the peasants like extras in pugilistic dramas, and as ryanfoster put it, our ice princess was almost matronly and dowager-like. I believe he actually described her as 武则天... With the production budget, the stage set was quite sparse and to make up for it, the director and choreographer filled the scenes with irrelevant martial arts displays and water sleeve dances, while the blocking of the stage desperately needed looking into, as the chorus was always flanking the sides in orderly queues. Well, at least it was authentically Chinese. The European houses of today have this penchant for tweaking with the productions and taking the operas out of context. Some work, most don't. Like Aida, Turandot is one that cannot be violated. And both need to be done on a big scale. All things said, once again, we owe our thanks to little mercies, starved as we are for greater things... (Comment on this)
Thursday, August 28th, 2008
idle_banter	10:00p	[LJ2ME] 6ixty-9ine Ah... 69... The perfect aesthetic beauty of the number where when flipped over upside-down reads the same. And of course there's the "other", ahem, association. So you'd forgive me if I was floored early when after registering a patient and giving her the queue number, the following conversation ensued: Patient: Is there a long wait? Me: A few patients have just arrived ahead of you, so you'll be seen shortly. About 5 more to your turn. The number will be reflected on the panel over there. P: (looking at panel and then number on queue ticket) So many to go! You said only a few patients, right? M: Yes, that's right. 64 is being seen now. So about 5 patients before you. P: (looking at queue ticket again) Oh, I was holding it upside-down. I read it wrongly. M: (slight irritation before being stricken by split-second realisation) But you're number 69, it reads the same upside-down... It was only after my retort that I realised that I had spoken up rather loudly and in a tone which conveyed the full implication of "D'uh!". Luckily she realised her faux pas and slunk away with her tail between her legs. It didn't help that my colleagues nearly couldn't control their giggles and had to excuse themselves to hide away and laugh and then ask if I had planned and planted the joke... TSK! (Comment on this)
idle_banter	11:45a	Guaranteed No Show Well, well, well... What am I waiting for? Put my name down for it! (Comment on this)
Monday, August 25th, 2008
idle_banter	8:00p	[LJ2ME] Journey To The Centre Of The Earth On the way home from work earlier, I was waiting for the lift at the ground floor lobby with two other neighbours. With the ongoing lift upgrading programme to install lift landings on every floor, only one of the pair was in operation, and thus, you see neighbours you didn't use to, since the lifts only stopped at selected alternate floors previously. When the lift door opened, we stayed back to allow the occupants to exit, but it looked empty so we proceeded to file into the cabin, only to find an old man standing quietly in a corner. We stood to a side, making space and waiting for him to walk out, but he remained immobile and oblivious to our curious looks. One of us spread her hands in a elaborate gesture as in to show the guest to his place, but still he remained unreceptive. She then pointed to the door and amazingly, the man pointed down towards the ground. As I was still plugged into my Giulini Chicago Brahms Symphony No 4, I then realised that there was a communication problem as the domestic helper was trying her best to let the uncle know that we were on the ground floor. I played my part as translator and the uncle then realised the joke and shuffled out, leaving us to smile noddingly at one another. For it being the Seventh Month and all, luckily this transpired during the day or it might have taken a turn for the worse, in the vein of B-grade ghost films... (Comment on this)
Sunday, August 24th, 2008
idle_banter	1:30a	[LJ2ME] Brahms Mobilised True enough, the mobilisation exercise dragged on for longer than it should have, for the recalcitrant ones who chose to keep everyone waiting for them, and we were only dismissed at about half seven. Was definitely going to miss the concert, but I decided there and then that I had no choice but to hotfoot it to the concert direct. Yes, in my uniform and with my barang barang in tow. Must have raised some eyebrows and initiated some talking points when I was at The Esplanade and at Citilink after. Not since my NS days have I exposed myself to the public thus, and having the full complement of equipment was a first time ever, never to be repeated, please. The whole rush and hassle was worth it, for catching my favourite piano concerto with a pianist who blew my mind the last time I saw him couldn't be let up. With its four movements, the Brahms Piano Concerto No 2 is a veritable warhorse that challenges the best of pianists and orchestras. While not quite the virtuoso masterpiece the Rachmaninov concertos embody, this is no walk in the park, with the soloist's endurance and technique stretched to the limits. Brahms crafted the work like a symphony with a substantial piano part, so the orchestral overtures were rich and sonic with some of the most beautiful music ever written being spun out as the narrative of the four movements unfolded like an epic legend of old. The melancholic and mellow horn call that opens the work was hypnotically turned out by horn principal Han Chang Chou. In the slow movement, the cello refrain with the plucked bass underline, and then the alternating viola and violin parts simmering and shimmering in sensitive support were paralysingly poignant. Yefim Bronfman rose to the challenges of the part with a most involved reading, gently coaxing out the cluster of notes from the span of the keyboard in the introspective and lyrical parts and then majestic in his tumbling passages in the more impassioned runs. He deigned to play an encore after resounding applause brought him back on stage again and again, tossing off his regular encore, Chopin's Revolutionary Etude with equal parts power and precision. It's been a long time since my last Brahms 2, but every performance makes me want to go right back and put on Gilel's benchmark recording and listen to it all over again. Maybe I will! (Comment on this)
idle_banter	12:55a	[LJ2ME] Bending Over Backwards To Please Have always preferred the artistic gymnastic routines to the rhythmic gymnastics apparatuses, but on watching the finals now, I think I may be won over and may have to reconsider. What effortless grace and extreme suppleness combined with facility of execution and beauty of expression in their routines that I watch slack-jawed though I'm almost dead to the world. The wonders of skin-tone sheer fabric... As opposed to the girls of the artistic gymnastics, here the packaging of the aesthetic components weigh heavily on the total performance where much attention has been paid to the costumes and apparatuses, with matching colour schemes and designs. No wonder all of the girls here look like they stepped off the stage of the Bolshoi or Mariinsky ballet corps with their slender physiques and endless legs. Just compare them to say, Shawn Johnson's stumpy muscular stature and you'll see what I mean. My favourite apparatus is the ribbon and that is yet to come. However, the rope and hoop routines so far have been superlative. Would that I were that flexible. Imagine the kama sutra positions achievable... (Comment on this)
Saturday, August 23rd, 2008
idle_banter	11:02a	Call Of The Wild My reservist unit is on mobilisation standby since last week and while rumours had it that it was to have been last weekend, guess the powers-to-be decided that the table tennis match wasn't to be missed. Received word over the last few days that the recall would take place today, and lo and behold, true enough, the CSM sent word that yes, he had received news from the unit and it will be this afternoon. Oh, the timeliness of it all. Had booked myself for the matinee performance of Own Time Own Target of the Singapore Theatre Festival as well as the evening SSO concert with Yefim Bronfman's Brahms 2nd Piano Concerto. While it looks like the first is a definite no-go, which I've already resigned to and passed up my tickets, I hope to make the SSO. Well, at least for the second half after the intermission, where the Brahms is programmed. Well, I guess it's better to get it over and done with. We've escaped so far and it's going to be a sooner or later thing. Though, privately, later might be better and not at all best. At least we got a heads-up this time with CO telling OC that its almost 100% confirmed that we would be called back. Thus I had advance notice to prepare my stuff. Had dismantled my full pack after NS, and spent some time reassembling it this time. Sigh, here we go again! Going to be a lot of idle waiting around later. Got my iPod charged and have prepared reading material. Fingers crossed that it wraps up ASAP... Current Mood: crappy (Comment on this)