REALLY SCARY HALLOWEEN COSTUME IDEAS

So you’re going to a Halloween costume party at some club and are wondering what to wear, but you’re sian of all the corny vampire/ghost/Frankenstein crap? Here are some REALLY SCARY HALLOWEEN COSTUME IDEAS! Sure to make every Singaporean panic the moment you step in the room!



1. Chicken with the flu

2. Any of the Singapore Idol judges

3. Spongebob Nopants

4. A bottle of Newater

5. A friend who’s recently been converted to Multi-Level Marketing and wants to ‘share’ with you

6. PSLE Science Paper

7. Donald Trump

8. Medisave Bill

9. Anything that’s high carb

10. A tiny piece of dried up nasal mucus

11. An expat carrying a bag of white powder

12. Michael Jackson (sure to terrify the kids!)

13. Osama (Come to think of it, George W Bush too)

14. A weapon of mass destruction

15. Douse yourself heavily in powder and tell people you’re ‘the Haze’

16. Cover yourself in paper and say you’re a ‘defamation suit’

17. J.Lo’s butt

18. URA parking attendant

19. White pants, with white shirt or red polo t-shirt

20. Go as yourself, but tell everyone you’re obviously a zombie. Why else would a Singaporean celebrate a pagan festival that’s hyped up by American marketing people to make you buy rubbish? Now that’s really scary!

No civil unrest unless...

Having worked in PPD and then now AVA for the better part of 5 years I can safely say that I hvae seen first hand the inner workings of the Civil Service. Over the years there have been various initiatives to encourage out-of-the-box thinking among civil servants and to allow more dynamism and a can do attitude. The main initiative launched was PS21 with the aim of streamlining functions and roles and to allow more flexibility in dealing with situations to the mutual benefit of all.

One of the chief grouses of members of public and the private sector is that we (the civil service) are too bound to rules and legislation. As a result queries and problems get passed around like a hot potato from staff to staff,section to section,department to department, agency to agency, ministry to ministry and maybe gets resolved at the end of the merry-go-round.

It is officially encouraged to live up to the ideals of PS21. But the reality is that little has changed since the implementation. Queries from the public still get passed around. Rules are hardly ever bent, let alone broken to promote efficiency. 'No' is an acceptable answer to most request.

Officers that state views or opinions other than the official line find themselves more often than not put in their place. All duties have to be performed according to the hallowed Instruction Manual (IM).

In an ideal Civil Service there would be room for all of us to maneuver and make independent decisions when it comes to problems. All enquiries would be answered to the satisfaction of our public, who incidentally pay us our salaries if we think about it. There would be no need to 'check with my superior' or call a customer back later with the final answer after a thorough reading of all rules concerning the matter and refering the matter to all the senior officers in the hierachy.

to be continued...

Fear of being blacklisted blocks staff speaking up

Having spent two stints in the public sector — in a Ministry and a statutory board — in the past decade, I have serious doubts that the recent calls for "civil unrest" will lead to any substantial and fundamental changes in the character and work culture of those in it.
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The first reason can be found in Today's report ("Heeding the call for 'civil unrest' ", Oct 22). Almost none of the civil servants interviewed dared to give his or her full name.
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Can "guerrilla units" boasting subversive thinking ever be formed among those who even fear owning their views?
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Fear of articulating views that run counter to the top is based on the real worry of being blacklisted as an anti-organisation employee who does not share its goals, mission and vision.
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This could translate into an appraisal of poor work/attitude, zero performance bonuses, demotion and even termination of service.
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One of the best things about being in the private sector is that the bosses — at least those I've worked with — mean it when they say, "If the idea stinks, say so".
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As such, I had no reservations in speaking my mind on or against whatever the management had to say during staff meetings.
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In the public sector, however, being a follower is still very much the hallmark of a valued staffer.
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The bosses I'd worked with were averse to having their ideas criticised and torn apart, although they solicited staff feedback.
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Hence, if the public sector is ever to achieve the dynamism and innovativeness of the private sector, its top management must first rest easy when facing "civil unrest" among employees.
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So long as they frown, chastise and penalise the agent--provocateur employees for subversive thinking, no real and meaningful transformation will ever happen.

Civil unrest

Idea of 'guerrilla units' welcome; sceptism prevails on acceptance


LAST week, without tabling a white paper on the matter, two top civil servants, aided by an "outsider", virtually asked the rest of their kind to move into a state of civil "unrest".
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Leading the call for change was Second Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Bilahari Kausikan, who said that there was a need to overhaul the "politics, bureaucracy and unthinking procedures" inherent in the system. Mr Bilahari also asked for "subversive" thinking within the service, in order to effect change.
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Civil service chief Lim Siong Guan was quick to follow with his own pet peeves, blasting managers and supervisors who are just caught up with the "numbers game".
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Then came the private sector view in the form of Banyan Tree Resorts chairman Ho Kwon Ping's suggestion of forming small, independent "guerrilla" units of young civil servants who report directly to the permanent secretary, free from the shackles of the hierarchy.
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Exciting ideas indeed, but were the intended agents of change, for whom the message was crafted, sold on the ideas mooted?
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And is the civil service itself, often described as being resistant to change, ready for such a revolution?
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Junior civil servants Today spoke to were divided on the issue.
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"A guerrilla team would help open up the channels for change. Currently, only the Work Improvement Teams (Wits) structure is an avenue where your voice can be heard," said Mr T Lee, 27, a civil servant who preferred not to give his full name.
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Such a unit would help "flatten the hierarchy" and "empower the rank and file", said Samuel Tay, 29.
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He added: "With political will to push for change, staff on the ground will have their hands free to make quicker decisions and craft more timely policies."
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Another civil servant S Gunalan, 26, said: "It is an innovative idea as it gives you access to the guy at the top. Otherwise, the many restrictive procedures in place at the lower to middle level make it hard to go against the grain."
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Others, however, were more sceptical, almost dismissive that the civil service could cope with terms like "insurgency" and "subversion".
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"Ideas like Mr Bilahari's are still a top-down initiative and not going to percolate down to us. You have to walk the talk with concrete programmes. You need to offer small rewards for small changes to enable insurgency or risk-taking to permeate through the whole service," said Ms R Wee, obviously not willing to give her full name.
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Sceptics like her believe that many institutional facets of the service have to be altered before any real progress is seen.
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Said Mr Tay: "The appraisal system for civil servants must be expanded to encourage and reward independent decision-making and performance judged not only on outcome but also on the thought process that led to that outcome."
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"Induction programmes at the civil service college are still taught by retired civil servants who had once held high positions," said Ms Wee. "We're not allowed to come up with our own fresh ways of doing things and stick to the tried and tested."
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So is there room for insurgency?
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"The consensus among junior officers is that you keep your opinions to yourself — or you risk being shot down and blacklisted for suggesting things outside your job scope, for making your boss look bad," said Ms Wee.
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Said civil servant K Andrew, 30: "'Insurgent' implies a person who is very critical. Most of the time, the culture is to sugarcoat criticisms or not criticise at all."
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Mr Lee said: "To move from a procedure that is familiar to one that's more efficient and rational — that's shunned because it's unknown. The culture in the civil service is not one of continual change."
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Not everyone agrees, though. Mr J Lee, for example, says he can already see the service moving in a new direction.
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Said the 27-year-old: "Already, they've hired administrative assistants to help teachers in non-teaching duties.
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"If you create a controlled environment for renewal and 'subversion', you nip the cynicism in the bud by encouraging those who naturally think out of the box to come forward and be rewarded for their efforts."

Maia's out...

Maia got knocked out? Looks like another one of those days. But now that the field has been narrowed down to 6 I guess we can safely say that all those remaining deserve to be there. Christopher Lee is probably the weakest of those left and will probably be the next to go.
But the part I do not understand is how Sylvester and Maia could be in the bottom 3. They seem to be 2 of the favourites in polls and even with the studio audience. Oh well... stranger things have happened.



Maia does have the spunk and attitude to go far. Best of luck to her in her future endeavours. She has the opposite problem of some of the other contestants. Some of them are still finding their feet or niche as to what their style or persona is. But Maia found hers right from the get go. So she became 'predictable' and 'old'. At least she can hold her head up high and say that she played to her strengths.

a rant about my honey(or lack thereof)

I don't know what it is. But I seem to love being loved. And when I feel like I am not being loved, then I feel kinda blue.

I am on leave on the 1st till the 3rd of November as I have to start clearing my leave. If you include Saturday and Sunday that makes it about 5 days. I was thinking about going on a short trip out of the country with Joyce. Not far or to a fancy place. But alas, Joyce says she has 'no money' for a trip. It is not that I was not gonna pay for her as well. But what this incident shows is how unenthusiastic Joyce can be about stuff that matters to me. It is not the first time that I have brought up the subject of a holiday and likewise not the first time that I got a negative reply. We are both overdue for a holiday. It seems that her mind is on work and making hay while the sun is out and not on me. :P

I am an easy going guy. Sometimes too easy going for my own good. I allow people to step all over me at times. I just wish that Joyce would at least make me feel like an important part of her life and not a distraction from the 'important stuff'. It is bad enough when she comes out and says that we should not meet so often and spend less when we go out. To me money is not an issue when it is spent on someone you love. Likewise I do not mind making the effort to meet Joyce everyday. I love being with her and doing things with her. And even when we are together it feels like she is just bidding her time until she has to go home. I do not need reminders of how late it is or that we have to work the next day. The feeling is rotten when you have to come up with good solid reasons why you wanna meet up or end up not meeting at all. The same thing applies to the places we go to. I do not mind eating hawker food or eating at home, but when you make it a point to stinge on meals it leaves a bad taste in my mouth (pun not intended).It seems like double standards to me when you say that yet go out for Hi-tea with your frens, have good lunches with your colleagues and go to a restaurant with your mum for dinner yet do none of the above with me alone.

I do not understand why my fiancee does not want to spend more time with me. Life is short enough as it is.Whats gonna happen after we marry? Are we gonna live apart or in separate rooms?
This is not about money or quality time as it is about getting your priorities straight.I should rightfully be the most important thing/person in your life right now. But I do not feel treasured or loved most of the time.

*sigh*

Do I always have to be the one to SMS you first? Must I be the one that makes that call before bedtime? Am I that detestable that you could not bear to hug, let alone kiss me without me having to initiate it first? When was the last time you said or did anything for me just because?

It just feels like I am the one that has to make the changes and adapt to your way of life and not vice versa. I have literally re-arranged my life just so that you would feel at home in my world. Is there anything that you asked for that I have not within my power given to you?

to be continued....

my day today

Me did me cashiering thingy today.
All went well by the looks of things. Everything seemed to tally with the exception of one unaccounted for cancelled phytosanitary certificate.
Guess I have reason to be proud...

Joyce is out having a 'day out with the girls'. They are going for high tea and such.So little old me has to keep myself entertained today.
Self entertainment: a familiar word for me. And i mean that in the bad sense of the words.

Godzilla gets star on Walk of Fame

Through a translator Godzilla commented,'I am very happy with star.Although it looks too small to eat' as he smiled into the camera...



A ceremony will honor the giant lizard in front of Hollywood Boulevard’s famed Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on Nov. 29, the world premiere of “Godzilla: Final Wars” The movie, the 28th in the series, will mark 50 years since Godzilla emerged from the sea. Godzilla has already made millions from his movies and merchandise royalties and decided to retire and start a family in line with all the new pro-family policies announced this year. Goddy, as his friends him, has reportedly been spotted behaving intimately with a cow elephant at the Tokyo Zoo.However Goddy and Miss Ally Fan have vehemently denied that they are in a relationship and that they are just friends.

This is some weird pastry from a local bread shop. How do you eat this with any dignity in public?

How could I forget....Lisa... 

Dillon and mummy dearest 

Rachelle with Coco 

Neev again.... 

its Neeven! 

Me by the lake 

in a scottish accent,"Don-kay." 

Changi Boardwalk 

the National Flower 

a picture taken at the granite quarry at Bukit Timah Hill 

Camou: the hyperactive kangaroo wawa 

The office guys at our farewell dinner at Amiran's 

just a gentle reminder whose blog this is... 

Any resemblance is totally coincidental 

Finding Nemo. 

Ooooh...yeah.... 

ummm...us....in front...err...of Mick...umm...Minnie...i think... 

Me with Eeyore and Tigger. Ignore the Pooh...looks like he is thrusting in my direction! The pervert!!! 

me and my pals just hanging around 

Sunset at Labrador 

the streets of London? Nah....Fraser's Hill. Notice the Malaysia Flag 

me and Alden outside my house. 

The Hamydryas Baboons