The Dying Art of Dialects

Check out this classic Xinyao song which was banned from the radio for over 20 years:

Too old school for your taste? Here’s a more updated version with pretty girls and cute guys for the social media generation:

Since many young Singaporeans can’t even carry a proper conversation in their Mother Tongues now, will dialects die out here eventually?

Top Five Regrets of the Dying

A nurse has recorded the most common regrets of the dying, and among the top ones is ‘I wish I hadn’t worked so hard’. What would your biggest regret be if this was your last day of life?

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

“This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.”

2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard.

“This came from every male patient that I nursed. They missed their children’s youth and their partner’s companionship. Women also spoke of this regret, but as most were from an older generation, many of the female patients had not been breadwinners. All of the men I nursed deeply regretted spending so much of their lives on the treadmill of a work existence.”

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings.

“Many people suppressed their feelings in order to keep peace with others. As a result, they settled for a mediocre existence and never became who they were truly capable of becoming. Many developed illnesses relating to the bitterness and resentment they carried as a result.”

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

“Often they would not truly realise the full benefits of old friends until their dying weeks and it was not always possible to track them down. Many had become so caught up in their own lives that they had let golden friendships slip by over the years. There were many deep regrets about not giving friendships the time and effort that they deserved. Everyone misses their friends when they are dying.”

5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.

“This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called ‘comfort’ of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content, when deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.”

formspring.me

Ask me anything http://www.formspring.me/casualchin

Hat-py Party

Overdue post on the Hat-py Party I attended organised by my friend Claudia and her team at 24seven, a social media agency that helps market your events, products and services through the online media.

The event was held at the Singapore Art Museum and as the title suggested, the theme was crazy hats. Guests were informed to wear a crazy hat to the party (no invisible hat and no caps). I was ‘huh’ at first as I did not own any hat. I went about getting a hat (S$7) and thought about how to decorate it DIY. I sew three pooh bears onto the hat and the results can be seen above.

A sumptuous buffet spread started the evening followed by games and performances by Black Diamond Ninjas and Only After Coffee. One of the game required guests to take a photo of their favourite art piece at the museum and email the organiser with prose to describe their choice.

At any other event, this would prove a difficult task but not at the Hat-py Party as almost every guest is an avid blogger armed with camera phones. They went about doing the task with nonchalance and some even with glee. Prize-giving ended the evening. I thoroughly enjoyed myself as I acquaint myself with some of the bloggers there.

More photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilovechin/sets/72157622976467913/

Free Parking Not

This poster was taken at the Tampines 1 mall. I wonder if the management is offering free parking or not? I cannot even begin to fathom the conditions.

1. Weekdays only
2. Must spent $50
3. The $50 spent must be in a single receipt
4. The $50 must be in a single receipt spent between 10am to 5pm OR
5. The free parking is only between 10am to 5pm
6. Only limited to 80 shoppers per day
7. Only one redemption per shopper
8. Just in case you forgot the first rule; Monday to Friday only
9. Don’t forget the ubiquitous ‘Terms and conditions apply’

A Vampires Reunion

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1923605
Vodpod videos no longer available.

Happy Halloween.

This is what happens when you put Dracula, Edward Cullen (Twilight), Bill Compton (True Blood), The Count (Sesame Street) and Angel together in the same room.