I took this test sometime in '99. The result then and now was and still is St. Bernard. Click here to see my result and the explanation. Budd was a collie then and still is a collie now. Joge turned out to be a Golden Retriever; very fitting as he is the centre of attention. I am sure the result will still be the same if he takes it again.

Try it out and see what breed of dog you are.

http://www.emode.com/dog/

Budd invited me to a Peranakan play at the Victoria Theatre on Saturday evening entitled "Kipas Chendana" (The Sandalwood Fan).

His friend Artt, a member of The Peranakan Association, had gotten him two tickets so he decided to ask me along.

I wasn't too keen on it initially because my Bahasa Melayu is pathetic and most of the dialogue would be greek to me. But I figured it would be a good opportunity to get in touch with my maternal heritage and see what it's all about.

All the bibiks and nyonyas sashayed into the theatre in their best sarong kebayas. One young nyonya in particular had an updated black ensemble of kebaya and tight pants. Nice!

It was then that I realised there were quite a few gay men and nyonyas who are actually pre/post-op trans. I even spotted one butch.

Wait... are we Peranakans that "dysfunctional" or are we generally more accepting of diversity?

I tend to think that it's more of the latter considering our historical origins.

Here we have a group of people who don't actually fit in to the official demography of Singapore - Chinese who speak Malay and not Mandarin and their ladies who dress in Sarong Kebaya and not the cheongsam.

I think in a sense, we are almost as close as possible to the idea of a Singaporean race: a racial and cultural mix of Malay and Chinese even though the Malay portion is getting more diluted.

Historically, the Peranakan Chinese formed a bridge between the local Malays and the later Chinese migrants. This was also evident that evening when I saw quite a number of Malays in the audience.

The play itself was entertaining though I had a hard time following the dialogue. G.T. Lye played the lead character of the matchmaker in drag and K. T. played the tragic-comedic Lorrie in drag as well. The plot had its twist and turns that were quite unexpected and it was all capped with a grand traditional Peranakan Chinese wedding in all its finery.

In between the acts, there would be a song and dance routine and the highlight of it was the most impressive performance by the blind Philip Lye. He sang a Malay ballad (I can't remember the title) and did a fantastic job at it. I would say he even sang better than P. Ramlee. His voice and technique was amazing.

I am certainly going to bring along my mom and sis for the next Peranakan play. It would be a good opportunity for her to glam it up in her sarong kebaya which she hasn't worn for a long time.

While doing my barbell lunges this morning, I noticed a picture of Edward Said being shown on the muted television in the gym.

Puzzled and uncomfortable by the sudden appearance of his picture, I immediately searched the web upon reaching my office.

To my dismay, I learnt that the eminent Edward W Said, whom I happened to share a birthday with, passed away yesterday in New York City. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter.

I had already known previously that he was stricken with leukaemia, but I didn't think that he would succumb to it so soon.

In my humble opinion, the world has lost one of its finest and greatest minds and most influential thinker of this age.

I first knew of him as a writer and academic. And when the second intifada (uprising) erupted, an advocate and activist for the Palestinian cause. With 9/11, I saw him in the role as a political commentator seeking to bring understanding of the Muslim world to the world at large. It was only today, when I read his obituary did I learn of his other accomplishment: that of a trained pianist and music critic.

My first brush with his work was about a decade ago when I stumbled onto his book entitled "Culture and Imperialism". I bought it and struggled through it just like I struggled through his "Orientalism". It was not an easy read for someone of limited education like me who only has "O" levels to my name.

Written in a typical academic style with long sentences that seeks to qualify itself, he discussed issues that had always interest me. Issues that I learnt to see from a new and different perspective.

His style of writing was understandable since he was formerly a Professor of English and Comparative Literature, and later of Humanities at Columbia before moving up to the highest academic position, that of university professor.

Despite being a Palestinian Christian, he defended Islamic civilisation and sought to advance western understanding of it beyond the rhetoric and prejudice. Later on, he became well known as an advocate of the Palestinian cause and one of the leading pundits on the Middle East.

His vision for the future of Palestinians and Israelis remained firmly based on a one state solution where the two peoples would live together in a bi-national democratic state that protected the rights of all of its citizens.

I still remember some of the interviews he gave on television where he was sought for his opinions on events in that region as well as the progress, or lack thereof, of the Palestinian issue. Issues that he knew so well since he was a member of the Palestine National Conference (the Palestinian parliament-in-exile).

When someone famous and respected articulates his own opinions about events and issues of the Middle East, he is bound to have his fair share of detractors and critics. Professor Said was no different.

But whether they agreed with him or not, he had most of their respect and admiration, Jews and non-Jews alike.

"While not sharing all of Professor Said's opinions, the Secretary-General always enjoyed his company, savoured his wit, and admired the passion with which he pursued his vision of peace between Israelis and Palestinians," said a statement by the spokesman of the Secretary-General of the UN.

This giant of an intellect and critical thought will be sorely missed. He has achieved and given much. He has learnt and taught much. His efforts to bring about better understanding and rapprochement between the Western and Middle Eastern world in the polemical "clash of civilisation" leave little to be desired.

The world has lost a voice of reason.

Five days after being shot by unidentified gunmen, Akila al-Hashemi passed away. She was one of only three female members of Iraq's 25-member Governing Council appointed by the Americans.

On the 23rd of September, US troops and jets attack a ramshackle house of bricks in Sichir killing three men and wounded another. 15 family members, including children, were sleeping inside.

Like ants, innocent Iraqis are caught in a guerrilla war between the American occupation force and the unidentified rebels and saboteurs.

Ever since the fall of Baghdad, the military administration has been stretched thin by the responsibility of maintaining and sustaining basic amenities as well as the all-important task of providing security.

It is a testament of Paul Bremer's* performance that the country has grown progressively more dangerous as the days stretch into months.

Not only has American troops seen casualty and deaths, even members of the UN and other international relief organisation have not been spared. And I am sure there are many nameless innocent Iraqi civilians who are shot and killed in daily gun battles that are not reported in the papers.

With the benefit of hindsight, it is pretty obvious that Bush and company failed to consider fully the task of administering Iraq after the war.

Unless the administration gets their act together, this country will degenerate into chaos and more innocent civilians will suffer and die.

When that happens, the sporadic resistance may just grow into a national uprising and rebellion. And whatever goals, regardless of its virtue, that the American government has for Iraq will never see the light of day.

War may be easy, but keeping the peace isn't.

Meanwhile, President Bush "lays an egg at the UN" The response from the audience to his speech was described as cool but polite.

* the American civilian administrator for Iraq

Singapore Press Holdings's Malay daily, Berita Harian, latest faux pas.

As they say, bad things come in three.

1. On August 21, a second sergeant died during combat survival training.


2. On September 3, a 25-year-old second sergeant died after a 5-kilometre run.


3. And on September 23 (two days ago), a 20-year-old recruit collapsed and died during a 2.4-kilometre run.

What the hell is happening? Why are so many servicemen dropping like flies?

It's been said by many that the army is getting so desperate over the lack of foot soldiers that they have been pushing those medically unfit recruits into combat vocations.

On top of that, they have gotten even more stringent over their medical classifications. Someone who would have been previously confined to a desk bound job because of some medical issues would now be thrown into the field.

I pity the parents of these deceased soldiers. After spending 18 years of their lives to bring up their sons, the country takes their lives away.

With decreasing manpower for the armed forces, isn't it kind of interesting how jobs are being given to "foreign talents" who do not have any national service liability at the expense of unemployed or underemployed locals who have to serve two and a half years in the armed forces, police or civil defence plus annual in-camp training for up to 40 days a year till the age of 40 or 50?

Well, I guess that's the difference between "foreign talents" and "local security".

It had to happen. With all the attendant publicity of being the world's most read blog, plus syndication in the UK's Guardian Unlimited, Salam Pax's blog, "Where is Raed", has been transferred from bits and bytes to a book of printed words. Check out "The Baghdad Blog".

At least someone's life in Iraq is improving for the better. Who would have known that blogging could land you a book contract.

I guess a few years down the line, Salam will be referred to as the "Anne Frank" of the Iraq war.

Just imagine, all this started when he got tired of waiting for replies to his e-mails from his friend Raed and decided to start a blog that he can then read at his own leisure.

I flashed my biometric access card at the reader, punched in my security code and opened door. After disarming the security system and turning on the rest of the lights, I went to the last rack in the last row.

While tracing the E1 cables from the termination point to the router, I thought I heard the sound of the door. Thinking it could be my colleague; I ignored it. A short while later, I heard the sound of the switch before the same lights I had turned on earlier went out.

Okay, maybe my colleague didn't realise I was in the data centre. So I walked out from between the racks and proceeded to turn the lights back on.

At that point, I noticed that there wasn't anyone else in the data centre besides me.

Thinking through the sequence of events, I realised that I heard the sound of the door first before hearing the sound of the light switch being flicked.

If the door were opened, then the only sound the door would make would be that of its closing. And if the light switch was flicked after the door closed, then the person who flicked the switch should still be in the room.

And if the door were closed, then the only sound the door would make would be that of its opening. But when I came out to turn the lights back on, the door was still shut.

Spooked? You bet I was. Considering the fact that Ukyt has been telling me about the strange sounds and shadows in the flat that he's renting a room in.

Once when he was sick at home in the early evening, he heard the sound of footsteps on the living room's wooden panelled floor followed by the sound of empty moon cake containers being moved. There wasn't anyone else at home.

Last week after showering, he was proceeding back to his room. As he approached the door, he noticed that someone was playing with the doorknob from inside the room. Upon opening it, he found his room empty but saw a fleeting shadow move across the wall towards the adjacent wall.

Then there is the other one about his landlord's boyfriend taking an empty elevator back home one evening. While waiting for the elevator carriage to take him to his level, a voice behind him called out a "hello". Freaked, he didn't dare turn around until the elevator door opened and he took to his heels.

As for my little incident, the switch could have been faulty and didn't hold its position after I turned it on. Hence, it bounced back to its original position and turned itself off.

Unfortunately, I can't explain the sound of the door. There are no other offices next to my data centre and the nearest one is opposite. Even if it was that office's door opening or closing, there is no way I could have heard it from the back of my data centre with the door closed.

Woo... wee... woo....

Zuco: I just realise that there might be something majorly wrong with me. I haven't been meeting people or dating at all. It's like I am way too disinterested in getting attached. Maybe I am way too comfortable by myself and with my friends.
Budd: Yeah, I noticed that too. But I didn't want to bring it up cause I know you would get defensive.
Budd: I wanted to tell you to move slightly away from the group and not get too reliant. Start dating so you won't get too complacent.
Zuco: But even if I move away from the group, I may not start dating or seeing other people.
Budd: I didn't ask you to move away completely. I think the rest of the group have lives outside the group. Your life seems to revolve around the group.
Zuco: They do. They do other things outside the group. But I am usually way too tired after work to contemplate that.
Budd: Exactly my point.
Zuco: I only meet them up once every week. And that's on Saturday night. I don't meet up with any of them on the weekdays.
Budd: You're just revolving your life within the group. You are the only one who puts his life in the group.
Zuco: Do I?
Budd: I mean you can go on dates and meet them after dates right ?
Zuco: That's if I go on dates. I think the issue may not be me being part of the group. The issue is with me looking for and going out on dates.
Budd: I think as long as you have your safety net, you will not be willing to get out of it. Which is why you don't want to go out on dates, coz you feel you don't need to since you have your group of friends.
Zuco: True.
Budd: So as long as you have that mindset, you will never feel the desire to go out and meet people. Hence, the lack of sex. Hence, the nonchalant attitude towards sex.
Zuco: But I have a strong feeling that even if the group wasn't there, I would still be hanging out by myself. Of course, the chance of me dating and seeing others MAY increase.
Budd: You just answered your doubt.
Zuco: Lack of sex has neven been a concern with me. I mean it's just sex. It's not air, water and food.
Budd: I know, I read your blog.
Budd: So the way I see it is that you can be complacent and wait till you're 40 and realize how much time you have wasted or you can learn to change and try something different.
Zuco: I think part of the problem could be me being kind of "sian". After going out on dates with so many people I met through the 'net, I got kind of bored with it.
Budd: Normally when you're bored or sian, it means your expectations were not met.
Zuco: So you're suggesting I put myself on line again?
Budd: I don't want to suggest anything, but I'd suggest that you don't make the group your life and find something apart from them. It doesn't mean you dump them but start thinking about yourself too.
Budd: It's the same pattern with Joge and Vern repeating itself.
Zuco: How do you mean?
Budd: Remember how you, Joge and Vern spent so much time together until they found their partners and left you to your own devices? I know you're okay with it but they were not treating you fair. You were like a time filler for your them.
Zuco: Do you think I spend too much time with my group?
Budd: I dunno, only you can answer that. It's just that when I read your blog, it seems like most of your free time is spent with them.
Zuco: Cause I don't think I do. After all, it's only once a week on Saturday evenings. Yesterday night was kind of an exception.
Budd: Ok. Like I said, only you can answer it for yourself. I just don't want you to be a time filler for your friends.
Zuco: I know my blog gives that impression.
Budd: You deserve better treatment. But then again, it's not like they have treated you horribly. Just don't revolve your life around your group, see what's in store for you out there. If you don't see the need to date then its up to you.
Zuco: But I kind of know what's in store for me out there. I think both of us know. The same old crap repeating themselves with different guys.
Budd: This time, be more selective. You know what you're looking for so, if that person doesn't fit the bill, move on.

This was forwarded to me by a friend, our little state of the nation story.

Careful, singing copyrighted songs like "Happy Birthday" or Christina's "Beautiful" can land you in jail.

http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2003/09/16/arts/20030916_POPLIFE_IMAGE.html?8hpib

This is rich. When four of Africa's poorest nations asked for redress for the losses they suffered because of unfair competition from wealthy farmers, a draft proposal suggested that the question be studied and that the African farmers plant other crops.

Such arrogance!

It is obvious that the rich nations have no consideration for the poorer ones. All they want is free market access for their trade juggernaut to run roughshod over the poorer nations.

"All we want is for everyone to be rich and happy." Yeah, but at whose expense?

This time round, the rich nations who have always been dominating the agenda found themselves opposed strongly by the poorer nations who have banded together so that their grievances won't be ignored again.

Yeah, this may delay the whole thing and the poorer nations may miss out on the opportunity to gain financially. But at least they now have a somewhat coherent bloc that will not be a pushover.

I just realised the repercussions of keeping an online journal, one that I should have seen coming.

In my blogs, I have talked about some of my friends and committed to the online medium things that were discussed between us.

Even though I've only told a few people about its existence and regardless of the fact that I use pseudonyms to disguise their identity, the fact that it was written online was bad enough. It is my own choice to bare my own soul and thoughts, but I failed to draw the line when it involved my friends. For that I'll have to pay the price.

Today, I have just lost a friend who trusted and looked up to me, a friend whose friendship I treasured, whose trust I have betrayed and whom I have hurt deeply.

I assign no blame and accept the ultimate responsibility and repercussions of my actions. I can't blame situations for my own bad choices that returns to haunt me.

I make my bed, I sleep on it. I reap what I sow.

Second chances rarely comes by.

At last! I have finished the revamp of all my blogs. Instead of having different designs for each one of them, I have decided to go for a uniform look.

My next task is to come up with a script for people to leave their comments. This is Budd's request.

The mutual apologies from the leaders of the two countries sure took me by surprise. After all the brutality inflicted by the people of the two countries and ethic groups against each other, their leaders have taken the extraordinary steps of apologising for the actions of their people.

I hope the presidents of Serbia-Montenegro and Bosnia would do likewise soon and begin the healing process that is so needed.

Next stop, the future leaders of Israel and Palestine?Looks like pigs do fly; albeit rarely.

That's the phrase on my mind now. I was told that a TV Exec saw a picture of me recently and said that I have a world worn face, a face of someone who has experienced a lot in life.

He is not the first. Some talent scout for a TV commercial production house spotted me a few years back and said that I have a face of a person who has been through a lot in life.

They wanted to cast me in a commercial that I was thankfully not selected for. Instead they picked someone with lots of tattoos.

Now here I am, sitting in front of a computer in the data centre and waiting for a customer to finish his work while thinking about the TV Exec's description of me.

Do all my life experiences, pain and disappointments show that obviously on my face? Are they etched forever in my features? Frightening thought.

I have never really thought about it, but what do people really make of me when they meet me the first time?

One or two have said that I have a streetwise look. Jeez... a streetwise look? Make me sound like I know way too much about life.

Meng said sometime back that I have an old soul.

We knew each other back in our teens from school and she has seen the changes in me throughout the years. We met up once many years ago when she came over from Melbourne for a holiday and was shocked by the way I looked. She recalled that I looked like I had so much promise and potential back in school and wondered what the hell happened to me. I can't remember what my answer was, but it was most likely silence.

When I looked at others and hear of their lives and experiences, I came to believe that I didn't have it that bad. I believed that no matter how bad I thought I had it, there were others who had it worse and that I was luckier in a way. Am I wrong? Or did we all have it really that bad and mine was just a lesser of the evils?

A world worn face... Jeez... Have I lost that inner child? Have I lost my idealism and the ability to be amazed and awed? Do I look at life through a window of experiences tinged with cynicism?

Maybe I have "grown up" without realising it. At this rate, people will look at me a few years down the line and say that I have the face of a wizened old man who has suffered and lost much in life.

Gawd! I just realised that I am slowly starting to turn into... my late father!

Scary thought.

Okay. End of navel gazing, back to reality and work.

Addendum: Excerpts of my conversation with Budd...

Budd: I believe I already told u that u have the look of someone who carries the weight of the world on the shoulders
Zuco: Did you?
Zuco: OK.
Budd: Yeah!
Budd: I told you that long time ago !
Zuco: Eh... hee! hee!
Zuco: Sorry lah. Forgot.

        "The International Red Cross says the detained Burmese pro-democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, is not on hunger strike, despite claims by the US State Department." - BBC News (6 September 2003)

        "Mr Qurei - speaker of the legislature - was chosen by the Palestinian leader to succeed Mahmoud Abbas, who resigned at the weekend. Earlier Mr Qurei said there was no point forming a new government if Israel continues its current policies. - BBC News (8 September 2003)

        "A Singaporean man at Singapore General Hospital has tested positive for SARS. The patient has been moved to Tan Tock Seng Hospital - the frontline hospital in the SARS battle. But several more tests are being done on Monday to confirm this preliminary diagnosis. In the past, an initial positive result has sometimes proven to be a false alarm. The Health Ministry said the patient had been isolated at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, and contact tracing has begun." - Channel NewsAsia (8 September 2003) DAMN!!

Looks like there is some truth behind the myth of the demure looking but kinky in bed Japanese women.Wow!! I think Japanese women beat gay men hands down for their sexual activeness and kinkiness!

I was online with Budd last week when he told me that my resolution for next year should be to have sex at least twice a month.

"What?! Are you out to sluttify me?!"

"No, it's just that your sex drive is way too low. I mean once or twice a year? C'mon! You need to do better than that." He replied.

Ahh... I'm not too sure about his suggestion, but when I think about it, my sex life is almost virtually non-existent (you mean almost daily wanking doesn't count?).

I know a lot of people have expressed surprise at the lack of activities (sexual or dating) in my life relative to others, but am I expected to have a very active sex life as a gay men?

It's not like I can't get it if I want to. I may not be the most gorgeous man in the world but neither am I the ugliest. I do have my own appeal but I am not giving it a chance to realise its full potential.

I think I am just a gay NS Men. I am only gay when I have sex with other men and since I only do it once or twice a year, it can be concluded that I'm not an active servicemen.

I just get my mobilisation codeword flashed through the screen of my mind once or twice a year, do it and fuck off back to my own world. It's not even a 14 days In-Camp Training.

Some people may conclude that I have some deep seated unresolved issues and hang ups. Well I don't really think so even though I am usually pretty nervous or slightly uncomfortable in a sexual situation with another guy, but that could be caused by my lack of experience.

I don't know, maybe I have been subliminally brainwashed by my church as a kid or maybe I am just too busy with my life. Or maybe I've never had that fantastic one that makes me want for more. Or maybe I just don't see the big deal about it. After all, it's just sex.

I had two dreams last night but it's past noon and the memory of it is fast fading away. Here's what I can recall of it:

The first dream involved me trying to get a bus home in this three-storey bus terminal that was manned and guarded by Military and Regimental Police in number 4 (?).

The entry to the terminal was by a driveway at the first storey. The buses would end their run by entering via a raised driveway at the third storey and would commence their run from the second storey.

There was only one staircase that connected the third storey with the first. But to get to the second storey required me to walk up and down a few unconnected staircases.

Since I was in a rush, I decided to take a short cut that was shown to me by an off-duty RP. It somehow required me to climb through a window and up through a ceiling.

While I was doing that, an MP spotted me and later detained me for breach of security. I was then transported to a military camp and made to wait outside an office for processing.

While standing outside the office, quite a number of other servicemen and women passed my way and expressed empathy and understanding for my situation.

Somehow the dream ended after that.

The second dream was gross.

I had to take a dump but my two bosses and the sales director kept hassling me about work and stuff.

In the end, I had to do it over a stainless steel toilet bowl that required me to squat over it. Somehow, the new toilet bowl was not attached to the floor and piping yet but was ready to be used.

While I was doing it, my boss and the sales director kept talking away while peering over the top of the low cubicle wall behind me.

When I was done, I had to physically move the toilet bowl into the hole in the floor and flush it.

This is the disgusting part.

When I flushed it, it started clogging up and all the shit from the previous users floated up. Very soon the whole toilet bowl was filled to the brim with crap of all shades and odours from the previous users and me.

I just stood there staring at it with disgust and the realisation that I was probably the one who is going to have to clean it up.

Fortunately, I woke up at that point.

I don't really know how the first dream came about or what it meant but I think the second dream has a lot to do with my job and how I had to clean up other people's mess and shit.

Came back just in time for Star Trek Generations on the telly just now. The 1994 movie was the first movie that starred the cast of ST:TNG and some of the original series cast members.

The Klingon Duras sisters were hilarious as usual and the movie was entertaining enough for a lightweight trek fan like me.

However, one of Captain Picard's last lines at the end of the movie got stuck in my head for a while so I've decided to record it down here before I forget.

        "Someone once told me that time is a predator that stalks us all our lives. But I'd rather think that time is a companion who goes with us on the journey, and teaches us to treasure every moment, cause they'll never come again. What we leave behind is not as important as how we've lived. After all, Number one. We're only mortal."

Exellent advice for the ladies in a relationship from the advicegoddess.com. Works for gay relationships too.

        If The Shrew Fits...

My phone beeped with an in-coming message at 2330H last night. My friend asked whether I would like to go for a drink.

"Time and place?" I asked in reply.

So we made plans to meet outside Taboo at 0030H before heading over to Why Not.

It's been many months since we were there but somehow nothing changed. It's like we never left. There were still playing the same old music they were playing a year or so ago and the same could be said for Taboo when we went over later. There were new faces there but most of the people were still the same.

I felt like I was plugged back into the Matrix and discovered that everything is still the same. It seemed like there was a glitch and that sub-routine was stuck in some kind of infinite loop with no way to break it.

In the darkness of the club, I felt like Neo in the beginning of the first movie when Trinity met him at this club after following the white rabbit. The darkness, people, party lights and music added to the feel.

Bizzare.

Who says nothing ever stays the same in Singapore?

My phone rang while I was laying cables in the data centre yesterday afternoon and my friend (who shall remain anonymous) asked, "free to talk?'

Knowing that this is a gossipy call, I went outside before replying.

"Guess what happened?" He asked.

"You got blown?" I replied.

Turns out that he was shopping for some swimming trunks in the city when he went into this particular shop which was rather small. The owner, who was obviously gay, kind of took a liking to him and recommended a pair for him to try.

After putting it on and coming out to look at himself in the mirror, the owner patted his crotch and said "hmmm... nice package" before making him try a few others.

When he was trying on the final pair, the owner pulled out his willy and started playing with it.

Knowing anyone could step in at any moment, the owner told him to hang on before proceeding to close the shop and lower all the blinds.

Then the two of them went at it and did in the shop.

"Gawd! I always had a fantasy of doing it in a shop and looks like it came true."

Anyway, after they were done, they established the fact that they were "married" and swore not to tell if the other didn't.

Of course this shopping trip was way too hot for him to keep it to himself so he had to call and tell me about it.

Is this the beginning of a change of governing style of Tung and cabinet coincidentally timed with that of our island republic? Slight differences though, the change in Hong Kong is a result of a groundswell of discontent whereas the change in Singapore is a result of a decision by our Prime Minister in response to changes from without that is beyond the government's control.

Actually the previous post reminded me of my own experience in 2001.

It was an early August 12th evening and I was walking to the bus stop from my windsurfing club on my way to meet Erin, Bodi and a few other friends for dinner at Palm Beach restaurant in Kallang.

The sky was clear with some high clouds and the sun was going down in the west. I was walking along Marine Parade Road opposite Lagoon View listening to Sissel playing on my MD player when all of a sudden, something in the sky caught my eye.

I looked up and saw a bright object moving diagonally westward. It looked almost as bright as the sun with a tapering tail that was just as bright.

Puzzled, I kept on looking at it thinking that it would disappear soon. It didn't, it stayed up there for a long time. The day was still bright, so the fact that I could see it shining in the sky shows how bright it was.

The next evening, I heard it being mentioned in the news on TV but I can't remember the explanation for it.

You can check out the SPI's webpage for their story on this glowing object plus a video clip of it taken from the news.

Okay, now that the Mars craze is almost over, let's have some panic induced by PROBABLE global calamity of astronomical origins.

Yes, it's time to have your last fling, fuck, romp, etc. before asteroid 2003 QQ47 hits. Well... almost.

Apparently, astronomers and scientist have place the risk of this asteroid slamming into our big blue marble at "1" which means, "Impact extremely unlikely, merits monitoring" (see table below).

THE TORINO SCALE
0	Zero or virtually zero chance of impact
1	Impact extremely unlikely, merits monitoring
2	Impact very unlikely
3	Close encounter with at least 1% chance of local destruction
4	Close encounter with at least 1% chance of regional destruction
5	Close encounter with at significant threat of regional destruction
6	Close encounter with significant threat of global catastrophe
7	Close encounter with extremely significant threat of global catastrophe
8	Certain collision with local destruction
9	Certain collision with regional devastation
10	Certain collision causing global climatic catastrophe

This rock which measures 1.2km across is travelling at a speed of 30km/s. It is about a 10th of the size of the big one which wiped out the dinosaurs (How did they know that? Did the dinos leave behind a secret blog or LiveJournal?).

According to the BBC News website, "2003 QQ47 is likely to drop down to zero on the Torino scale once more observations have been made."

I am trying to figure out whether they are telling us the truth or just trying to hoodwink us so as to prevent mass panic on a global scale a la pandemonium scene in "Independence Day" and other global disaster movies.

Think about it, will they really tell us if we are on a collision course with an asteroid that may kill off the majority of this planet's life forms? Uh-uh, I don't think so. The authorities will probably say, "Do not panic. We have everything under control."

I wonder what are their contingency plans if this eventuality comes to past? Send some suicidal miners to a few of them and plant nuclear explosives? Get North Korea to put their nuclear arsenal to constructive use?

At least the Brits are putting their heads to good use. A British peer, Lord Tanlaw has suggested in the House of Lords that "the UK missile station earmarked for the 'Son of Star Wars' defence shield should also be used to protect against asteroids," said a 14^th February report on BBC.

Ukyt said, "btw, usually, independant academics also do calculations like collision courses so it's not easy to keep info like these from public." Ahh... the voice of reason. Well, I'm just doing my bit in spreading widespread terror and panic.

        "Chaos, panic and disorder... my work here is done."

Out : General Than Shwe, a hardliner (resigned as PM)
In : General Khin Nyunt, a supposed pragmatist (the new PM)

Is Khin Nyunt a lesser of the evil or just a hardliner with sugar coating? He has promised a "road map to democracy" but some analysts are doubtful.

Meanwhile, the US State Department has claimed that Aung Sang Suu Kyi has begun a hunger strike which could not be confirmed nor denied by anyone. The American government has refused to reveal their source but stated that the military government would be held responsible for her well-being.

Gawd, I can so fucking identify with this episode of "Kyle's Bed & Breakfast"; with the character of Nick just in case you're wondering.

        Kyle's Bed & Breakfast: Sept. 2nd, 2003 - #108

My favourite lines from "TOP 20 SIGNS YOU MIGHT BE AN AH BENG JEDI"