What is a love-hate relationship?

My relationship with Knowledge Book store in Bras Basah, that's what it is!!!

I've always been an avid hunter of old books, mostly for nostalgic value, but targetting primarily out-of-print titles.  Been restricting myself since I got a family and not enough space at home, but occassionally, a rare chance would come by and I get to browse through the shops at Bras Basah looking for more nuggets.

After the nameless shop next to Evernew, Knowledge Books turned out to be the next greatest treasure trove (particularly since the former is almost tapped out).

But man, oh, man, their lack of organisation and double shelving of books make the whole process so time consuming, which tantalises, entices, but mostly guarantees to take up ten times as much time as I could spare to search through meticulously.  And being good practicing Muslims, they close on Friday lunchtime for weekly prayers.

And they've been opening extensions after extension units on the same floor.

Yes, I did notice some attempt to group the target age groups together, and even marked off sections for Archies and Hardy Boys, but who cares? Those books aren't in danger of becoming out of print, and they're less than a dime a dozen.

Biggles, Race Against Time, Three Investigators, now these are the rare ones.

I love the store for their products, yet hate them for making it is so difficult to locate particular titles.

If I am still single, I could well volunteer my services to sort those books out for them, in all 6 units or so of their outlets.

It's a very gratifying and rewarding process, probably ranks right up there with sex and chocolates ... okay, maybe a little lower.

Man ... I hate them, yet I love them ...

881

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Independent

Found the DVD at National Library. Finally finished watching it after running into overtime (it was overdue a few days ago!).

Not growing up in Singapore, or to be precise, my family not being involved in the tradition of watching Getai during the Lunar 7th month, I was never particularly interested in it even after reading about it and passing by some Getais.

However, I was intrigued by the film 881, as it was Royston Tan's creation.

At first, I was simply facsinated by some of the customs reflected about 7th month traditions, but wifey informed me those were made up or over-exaggerated for the film.

Pity, I thought, it could have given viewers a more authentic representation of Singapore's culture.

Then again, wifey knew Yeo Yann Yann back from Theatre Practice days, and she affirmed that the film was a bit "larger-than-life". The way Yeo's character and Mindee's character hit off was glossed over in the film, but their friendship was a critical component of their endeavour focussed in the film, one rather discomfiting imperfection for those who require it. Though I guess many movie-makers do make such leaps over transitions which, to do justice, require lengthy narration only feasible really in TV serials rather than movies.

Still, the whole show does give a pleasant viewing experience and encourages a healthier respect for this traditional custom which are unique to the region.

Qi YiWu's character GuanYin (关音) was rather understated (he is supposed to be mute, though much of the narration were done through perspective). Still, his wooden facial expression underlined with sympathy for the sisters, as well as his showing off his delectable physique, was probably a well-calculated feature by the film-makers as part of the film's appeal. I just wish I understood more about his character's obsession with the pet chicken.

Veteran Getai performer, Liu Ling Ling, scored in her dual roles as twin sisters, the seamstress Aunt Ling who "raised strays" and the Getai goddess. Having been in a choir before, I have a healthy respect for those who can sing well, and would do so in the most unglamorous appearance. She was indeed the Sun to Mindee's Moon and Yann Yann's Stars.

Despite their difference in background, education and upbringing, there was unfortunately little to distinguish between Mindee's and Yann Yann's characters. Never mind that the Papaya sisters were supposed to be closed despite all their diverse histories - Seems that in the end, it wouldn't have really matter whether it was Big Papaya (Yann Yann) or Little Papaya (Mindee) who got cancer.

One thing I felt the movie should have paid proper tributes to the real life characters in the film, such as blind-singer Chen WeiLian, and the recently departed popular Getai king Chen JinLang, whose passing created a big stir locally.

Instead, it gave the usual "all events, characters and incidents ... are fictional. Any similarity ... is purely coincidental and unintentional"

Official Website : http://881themovie.com/#

Could have been handled better, couldn't it? (For internal groups only)

I'm gonna write down my thoughts on something, sharing with friends who access my blogs, but ask them to not to discuss it outside the my group of contacts who have access to this.

Reason : this is about my company, and I respect company policy for staff not to discuss in public about company affairs.

The relevant information are actually in public domain:

Today's Straits Times Online Forum entry : Customer not told of changed flight schedule from http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Online%2BStory/STIStory_215766.html

and SIA to offer all-business-class seats on Los Angeles, New York flights from http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/singaporebusinessnews/view/332821/1/.html

The forum letter today goes as follows:

I TOOK my parents and two young children, aged two and four, with me to North Carolina in the United States for four months beginning February for a job posting. I had booked my return journey at a June date from Raleigh, North Carolina, to Singapore with Singapore Airlines in January. My return flight consists of a connection with Continental Air from Raleigh to Newark, followed by an onward journey from Newark to Singapore.

I was shocked to find out, when I checked my bookings on the SIA website on Friday, that my return flight from Newark to Singapore had been rescheduled to depart from JFK and transiting at Frankfurt. SIA had not bothered to inform me or consider my connecting flight on Continental Air from Raleigh to Newark. My current itinerary says that I will arrive in Newark on the same day at 7.20pm and catch the SQ flight from JFK airport at 9.05pm. Is that possible?

It is inconceivable that SIA could reschedule changes affecting passengers who hold confirmed tickets and who had already commenced their journey. Since the airline has already committed to me by accepting my payment and issued me the tickets, it cannot make changes to passengers' schedule without informing the affected customers. To date, SIA has still not contacted me or my travel agent from whom I bought my tickets regarding the schedule changes.

Dr Law Yan Mee

North Carolina, USA

The answer, I suspect, might be related to the decision by SIA to convert the direct SIN-EWR flight from 2-class configuration (business and super economy) to single-class (business), announced on March 04, 2008.

SINGAPORE - Singapore Airlines (SIA) will offer an all-business class seating on its non-stop flights to Los Angeles and New York starting in mid-May, the carrier said Tuesday.

The decision to remove economy seats and offer only business class is aimed at catering to strong demand from its premium travellers, said SIA, one of the world's most profitable carriers.

Under the new configuration, SIA will replace the existing two-class, 181-seat arrangement on its five Airbus A340-500 long range planes with 100 business class seats for the direct flights between Singapore and the two US cities.

"The peak demand for the non-stop flights is from our business class customers, and this change will expand business class capacity from 64 to 100 seats on each flight," said Huang Cheng Eng, executive vice-president for marketing and regions.

SIA said the business class seats, each measuring 30 inches (76 centimetres) wide, can be converted into a fully flat bed.

The business class seats are the same design as those fitted on the Airbus A380, the world's biggest passenger plane. SIA is the first airline worldwide to fly the A380.

SIA charges S$11,000, including taxes, for a two-way business class ticket to Los Angeles and S$12,100 to New York, according to travel agents.

A return economy ticket for Los Angeles is priced at S$2,710 and for New York at S$2,920, they added. - AFP/ir

I am guessing that Dr. Law booked his party for the super-economy class, and when that was scrapped, SIA changed his booking to the JFK-FRA-SIN flight.

I am not cognizant of the relevant department in SIA that handles this, and how they went about informing the customers who had booked for the super-economy class in advance before the decision to scrap it was announced.

Perhaps that Dr. Law and family are in North Carolina might have impeded communication attempts made by SIA, not that I am excusing the company from its responsibility.

Or perhaps there was contact, but Dr. Law was not interested in his plans being changed and communication was difficult, perhaps indirect.

The whole affair could have been much better handled if the Company had announced in its press release what it would actually do about the bookings already received/confirmed for super-economy class on the A345 flights.

Personally, I am rather sorry that they removed the EY class from those flights, I'd have like to take my family on direct flights to the USA rather than having to transit, even if it is subject to commercial availability.

I do hope that the slowdown in the US will not have adverse effect on the decision to implement full-business class direct SIN-US flights, the timing could really have been better.

Do I want it to be a never-ending story?

Aoyama Gosho's Case Closed, aka Detective Conan (名探偵 コナン, Meitantei Konan') has been going strong for more than a decade.  The creator did announce that he had an ending in mind, but do I really want the series, anime or manga, to end?

Unlike Kinda'ichi Case Files (金田一少年の事件簿, Kinda'ichi Shōnen no Jikenbo'), there is a definite plot device to start the series, somewhat of a MacGuffin much of the time, but real nevertheless.  I'm referring to of course, the fact that the series started out with the character Conan being created after the high schooler detective Kudo Shinichi was administered by the mysterious Black Organization with the Apotoxin-4869 (APTX4869), a drug meant to kill him but instead shrunk him from the body of 16 year old to that of a 6 year old.

Given such a premise, it is to be expected that there would be a resolution - either he would get permanently cured, or he would not.  If he does, that'd be the series finale, 'cos the character Conan would cease to exist.

But do I really want the series to end?

I do so hate it when a favourite series ends.

Like Robert van Gulik's Judge Dee, was completed (well, it ended since the author died, on a sad note with death of a cherished character).

Like Agatha Christie's Poirot, with the death of the character.

Conclusions mean farewell.  Goodbye to something that became an intimate part of one's life.

End of primary school - end of the most carefree days.

End of secondary school - well, I wasn't missing it too much, as I was looking forward to the co-educational environment of junior college.

End of junior college - very sad, the U was a great unknown.

End of the U - well, didn't have luxury of remiscence then - U was hectic and expensive, I was feeling the pressure to go out and earn a living, pay off some debts, support the family.

Now I find myself trying not to think of when my little girl and little boy will grow up and leave the nest.

Back to animes and mangas ...

There're never-ending series like Doraemon.

Then there's those that seemed never would end, like Dragon Ball.

I guess I still enjoy Conan a lot, and I wish it would continue longer, though I know there'd be others out there to replace it once it's over.  Detective fiction never goes out of style, though its main drive today comes mainly from Japan instead of Europe/America.

Not a police policy to offer reward for information to (re)capture terrorist

Can't help cringing when I read the ST (4 March 2008) reporting the Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng maintaining that it is not police policy to offer rewards for information leading to the capture of criminals.

One reasoning I read was it could even be counter-productive as people with information might withhold it in anticipation of the reward being increased.

Now, I'm not advocating for influencing the public to be mercenary - but I am realistic enough to accept that offering such inducements if it would increase the chances of recapturing Mas Selamat.

To begin with, if it was deemed worth the resources deployed in mobilising the police and military to hunt him over the past week, it must surely be worth offering the reward.

The next consideration is that unfortunately, many people in Singapore are just indifferent, as evidenced by the lack of consideration in their public behaviour.

Last but not least, if it was deemed material to pay ministers well to retain them, what's the difference with paying public informants for information that is supposed to be vital.

If Singapore is a sufficiently altruistic society, we won't see smokers flouting non-smoking rules at coffeeshops nor litterbugs.