Thursday, November 30, 2006

Freeze Warning, Snow, Tornado and Hailstone

Looks like the scene from the "Day After Tomorrow" is coming to Dallas except that its not going to be such a destructive forces of nature as depicted in the movie. The Weather forecast for early tomorrow morning in Dallas is -3 degrees celsius and with the humdity hanging around 65%, we might be experiencing snow right here. Wow, come to think of it I never experiencing such freezing temperature and not to mention snow too! Don't even know weather to celebrate outdoor when it snow or to stay indoor away from the cold. Texas use to be bright, sunny, dry and hot. Right now its really cloudy as we are under the edge of the invading cold front.

Autumn is here and the leaves are falling.
And the weather look gloomy.

Now the cold weather or cold front as they call it here came all way from North Western part of United States sweeping through many states in a South Easternly wind direction before landing right here in Dallas, Texas tomorow morning. So right now the weather is still pretty mild at 25 degrees celsius but we are already experincing the strong wind that is sweeping the cold front towards our place. There is already a Tornado warning siren been broadcast in certain area of Dallas and right now I am eager to see a Tornado 'LIVE' around my area ( but not crossing over my house). There is even report of quarter size hail stone that might be falling in our area.

Looking at the weather forecast, its going to be between -1 degree celsius to 13 degree celsius for the next 5 days. Talk about mother nature at its most coldest. Since all Hell is going to freeze for this few days, I am already embarking on a series of cold weather experiment for the next few days...

This is a cup of water in Liquid state

This is the same cup of water place at my balcony

Now I just gonna wait for night fall and see for the first time water turning into ice without a fridge. My camera, jacket and blanket is ready for tomorrow morning extreme cold weather... Planning to take video of snow if it occur. Some may thing I am kind of Bo Liao for this little experiment and the American might thing I am "Sua koo" but for a Tropical country boy like me, this is something very exciting to experience. Hmm...hopefully the ground freeze with a layer of ice just enough for a bit of ice skating with slippers.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Sore Throat

In the morning...

Bloody hell, I got sore throat today and its Sunday!!! What a way to start the week.

Now reporting in the evening...

What the hell, I sprained my ankle while jogging this morning. Can't see the pot holes on the ground and step right into it. Must be my cock-up left eye landing me in trouble. Two black kids were laughing non-stop while I was sitting at the side of the road in pain. At less they drop by and ask me if I am alright....

Must have looked really "Malu" to get myself hurt while running in full sporting attire and a nice oakley sunglasses.

Friday, November 24, 2006

Happy Thanksgiving Day!!!


Its the 4th Thursday of November and its THANKSGIVING DAY!!! And there is no work on Friday which links up to Saturday and Sunday. That equals to 4 days of break!!! Yippie!!!

So whats ThanksGiving Day? I have "Wikipedia-ed" it right HERE

Most shop is close today, even MacDonald. The atmosphere out door is like the first day of Chinese New Year in Singapore, nothing is open and everyone is taking a break to THANK God. I will be staying at home for rest after a long night of Guard Duty since yesterday evening. As for today evening, we got some new guys coming from Singapore to work right here in Peace Prairie Detachment and I will be heading down to give a red carpet welcome to them at Dallas/Ft.Worth Airport.

Man....can't believe I have already been here for 7 months. When I first arrive, I was recieved warmly at the airport by my seniors (really appreciate that) and I was totally new birdie and blur about US from shopping to supermarket, from the direction of road to the driver's side of the car. Since its Thanksgiving Day, I got to thanks all the guys who helped me oriented myself in United States and guided me during work. There is a Chinese saying "在家靠父母,出外靠朋友" (At home get the support of parents, when away from home get the support from friends). The saying is very very true and working in a foreign land, your friends and colleague are the closes to you when help and support is needed. They are like my family.

And the beauty of helping each other like a family is that its contagious. Good things get pass down from one person to another and I will pass down whatever good things I recieved to the new guys who will be needing it for their stay in Dallas and I'm hope this spirit will be pass on from them to the next new birds coming in like a never ending relay.

Monday, November 20, 2006

The Hello Kitty Syndrome


Long long time ago, in a country far far away which actually is smack right in the corner of South East Asia. There emerge a lifeless cat with short legs, 2 eyes and no mouth and for a set of fast food breakfast, lunch or dinner, customer get to have one lifeless cat of infinity life for a nominal price. The cat name is Hello Kitty and Hello Daniel and they come in 5 different pair with different assortment of costume. But in this country far far away and probably smaller than a Vatican City, a massive Q was formed by the natives to get their hands on the cats, the Q almost rival those at Vatican City where people around the world Q to get blessing from the Pope, at less peacefully.

What started as another MacDonald Value Meal promotion become a National Q-ing phenomean or should I say disaster. Many fanatic from young boys to old Ah Mah relentlessly Q up over the night almost everyday outside every brunch of MacDonald hopping to be the first few to get a hold of the limited stock of Hello Kittys the moment MacDonald opens at 6am in the morning. Waiting and camping outside of MacDonald for at less 6 hours is a norm.

What turn out to be peace and smooth as Vanilla soon brings out the ugly side of the society. Desperate Q cutting, quarreling, fightings and glass breaking. One incident happen between an old uncle and a group of Ah Bengs and Ah Lians. It was 1 vs many in a fight over "Who the hell Jump Q", that eventually required the intervention of the Police. Than there was the other case of the glass wall of the MacDonald outlet shattering due to crowd overpressure and pushing and shoving. Blood was drawn. Soon every Q around Singapore become a waste of tax payer money when Police have to be posted at almost every MacDonald to ensure law and order. So what begins as simply two lifeless cat almost stained the entire society. It brings out the best Kiasuism and Kiasee-sium in Singaporeans. And to see people getting the toys and throwing the fresh food away, I feel we ought to throw this kind of people to Africa.

All this craziness was thanks to a few speculators who mention that the price of a pair of Hello Kitties are going to fetch a high price over the second hand market, some even selling at more than 300% profit. No wonder Uncle and Auntie and even Ah Pek and Ah Mah who don't even know what Hello Kitty still brave the Q just to get their hands on one. Within a few months after the Hello Kitty Syndrome or Craze, this lifeless Cats are worthless in such EBAY ads

Back to the presents in the year 2006 and just for the past couple of days, we see the launch of Sony Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii, two latest generation powerhouse gaming console from two video games giants. I was wrong when I think only Singaporean have the Q-ing culture. Our good old Americans here do so too! At less its not some lifeless critters but the latest in entertainment system. How the hell can you play with Hello Kitties? Role play them? The Playstation 3 is pretty awesome but I won't be buying it untill the price falls and definately not going to Q overnight for it. Nintendo Wii is pretty neat too for it got controllers with motion sensors and that adds a brand new dimension to gaming. Now I could be playing a tennis game and instead of pressing the buttons till my fingers get numb, I could just swing the controller till I break my arms. Ha ha.



If you have read the news for the past few days, you won't miss the news about the huge crowds around United States and Canada and Japan Q-ing up outside electronic superstore to be the first few to get their hands on this incredible entertainment hardware. However not everyone is buying just because they are in love with it but because of the second hand market rate for the console. What was US$450 in store becomes US$2000 in the Ebay market... Greed scores it points again and with greed comes violence.

Man kanna shot for not giving in to robbers

So what is the "Hello Kitty Syndrome"?

1) It is define as the desperation to buy some worthless stuff hopping to sell it of at a higher market price when the market is still hot like a burning matchstick (which fizzle really fast).

2) The act of sacrificing sleep, humanity, moral values and Values Meals in the garbage bin just two get the lifeless soft toy.

Dinner at ROCKFISH




Everything Seafood!!!

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Today is my Dear Sis birthday

4 days right after me is my Dear little sister birthday. And for the first time in my life, I am not able to celebrate her birthday back at home. Right now, she is in Dubai and probably won't be able to recieve my long distance Birthday wish call. So I like to wish her a Happy birthday and thank my Dear sis for been with me for the past 23 years. Thank her for going shopping with me, helping me when I am down and giving me advise in life which kinda make me like the younger brother. Family is very important to me and more so to have a great Sister like her. We can quarrel at times, we can joke, we look for each other for consoling when down and we are both scorpio, Mysterious people. I feel closer to her than my mum and dad sometimes and is more willing to share my thoughts with her like best of friend because we are always on the same frequency.

Wish her a happy relationship (got boyfriend liao), and sucess in her business venture too. Can you guys and gals send her birthday wishes too? This is her friendster profile... Gonna trying calling her now to see if she is still awake in Dubai.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

My 25th Birthday cum Farewell Dinner




12th of Novemeber, another year have past and I have yet again grown a year older but not an inch taller or a pound heavier. Thanks to my wonderful colleague for the arrangement, I celebrated my birthday for the first time in a foreign land. Usually it was always a small, less fanfare home celebration cum cake cutting ceremony with my own family. This year was a bit different, we have a birthday dinner at Hooters and not only for myself but also a farewell dinner for Encik Teng and Hwa Chuan who will be heading back to Singapore this month, ending their 2 years tour of duty in US.

When you are in a foreign land, your families are your friends and great colleagues from the base. I still did not miss a cake cutting ceremony this year thanks to Kok Meng, Mun Kiat, Shirlene and Ricky for holding a simple dinner last friday at Mun Kiat and Shirlene (his wife) home.

Happy Birthday To Me!
Ice Cream Cakes are for Me!
Happy Birthday To Me Me!
Happy Birthday To ME!

Dinner at Hooters was really fun. Althought the food were SO-SO but the waitress were pretty and very very friendly. Of course we did not wanna miss the oppurtunity to take photos with all this pretty babes around. And in RT tradition, our farewell dinner is always held at Hooters and a group photo to remember the event is a must. For the many US farewell dinner we got in the past, our section displays the photo proudly as a symbol of Unity and also remembrance for the guys who have already ORDed....




Sunday, November 12, 2006

USA Veteran Day

Its another Holiday in the USA and it was usually SALES and SHOPPING to most of us Singaporean right here whatever the holiday is. A day off from work and a day to search for the best deal on the newspaper and online. I wonder, is that all we could think of doing here in this great country? Just shopping and eating? What is the significant Veteran Day to the true Americans that we have not learn to appreciate? Thats what motivated me to be different today. Searched online for Veteran Day events, the day where all Americans celebrate and remember the man who fought and the man who die for USA to bring them freedom and way of life they got today. Found a Veteran Day memorial service held at Dallas FortWorth National Cemetery located just south of our Air Base....and thats where I'm heading today.

The road name Mountain Creek is a winding one cuting through the autumn forest downhill from the Loop 12 highway. Its a winding road of serenity, peaceful and pretty bumpy. Its easy to spot the entrance of the Cemetery from the numerous USA Flag marking the entrance and the many vehicles turning in instead of heading straight ahead the road. The cemetery service road is only one-way and mark by the sight of neat, symmetrical hundred rows and columns of simple tombstone like seen on the movies. Nothing as elaborate or appealing as what we see in Singapore but the simple shape and clean stones sitting upon the very well trim grass holds the true meaning of a "Final Resting Place". Peaceful and Quiet, calming the heart of the surviving families and friends. There is no where you go in the cemetery that you will miss the sight of a US Flag.

At the National Cemetery... The Flag always fly high for the heroes.

Families and friends came in their Sedan, Coupe, SUV and Caravan neatly park at the side of the road laying flowers (some are actually plastics) and miniture US Flags on the grave of their loved ones. There was sound of sobbing from the old lady who lost his husband/son or daughter in the war and there was the sound of silence of two young guys who might be comrade-in-arms looking blankly at the grave and recalling the times their dear friend was still with them on their tour of duty in a dangerous foreign land.

Remembered by families and friends with Flag and Flowers



Just another stranger in my life but a part of the world freedom and peace.


Its was a short 1 hour memorial service honouring the Veteran both alive and in a special place in Heaven for their dedication and sacrifice to bring Freedom and peace to not just the Americans but to many part of the world. Started with a speech by an old US Marine General. No mention of the achievement of top brass officers of the past so well documented in newspaper and books or some old grandfather war story in his speech but a account of the bravery under fire of a junior ranking Private First Class fighting in Fallujah, Iraq who save his squad-mates despite getting numerous gun wound. He survive the battle but got shot through the heart and die the next week. He may not got any Medal or honoured for his deeds and so does many other great soldiers in the past for the great deeds of war and battle are sometime unheard of. Veteran Day is here for all this unsung heroes...

Wall of honor


Proud Mum of the United States of America, riding Harleys



A female singer next gave a short thank you speech to the man and women in the military past and presents and to their families for taking care back home when their father/son, mum/ daughter answer to the call of duty. She sang the sound "Proud To Be An American", joined in by all the people present today... A very very patriotic song and even for a foreigner like me and my friends right there. Heres a video clip of the song I found on Youtube,



and together with the Lyrics I hope you find a great meaning in this song... and here is a special video clip that introduce what is Veteran Day,

Veteran Day 2006



Riccardo reporting LIVE from Dallas/FortWorth National Cemetery

Friday, November 10, 2006

Something I learn today

I almost see a frustrated old man cried today. Too much pressure to work and almost no avenue for redress. This "old guard" of ours was totally pissed with the pressure to get all the job complete that he voice out against the upper management. However, I guess the big boss seems to have no power over the situation cause above my big boss is another Big Big Boss and it goes on and on.

So I see the organizational pressure came from top down and every boss is a man who take command from another boss. Addressing our complains and concern up the rank is like trying to fly through the other end of the funnel while unpopular decision comes down from the big end of the funnel.

Thus I don't blame our Big Boss for not been able to make the almost insurmountable changes for the good cause he is also going through that same funnel hole but the funnel hole is much bigger compare to those and the bottom of the rank or the "old guards". The higher ranking one get, the less harder it is to make a positive decision that will have a good effect on those down the rank (funnel). Of course the opposite will happen when bad decision are made, it can be easily made and implemented, as easy as pouring water down a funnel.

So Boss pour coca cola, we get coca cola....Boss pour wine, we get wine....Boss pour shit, we all get shit. The only way we could do is to join forces and block that funnel hole of any unpopular decision or policy.


I really respect this 'Old Guard' ....going to retire...he could choose not to handle all the politics and just quietly finish his work and take his monthly salary. But he choose to fight with the upper management on unpopular decision, for the good of his man who still got a long way ahead in the organization. Thats self-sacrifice at its best. Putting others before himself. Our Organization is blind if credit is not given to him duely... its a pity that only an Old Guard of ours with so many years in the organization got to stand up and be the lone voice among a sea of silence pain. We all should learn to speak up too...

Monday, November 06, 2006

Car Wash!!

After weeks of dirt ridden ride and water stain drive, its time to bring my "Unicorn" for a well deserve car wash for its service rendered. So I brought "Unicorn" down to the neighbourhood Kwik Kar Wash for a machine wash and hand wipe dry service...

Did mummy remind you to brush your teeth everyday?


Got to see my Unicorn get her wash through a room that remind me of a huge Aquarium.


Sparkling clean and glossy out from the brushes.


Thats not the latest 6.1 channel surround system,
just a huge blow dryer for the wet cars.

Now heres what missing in most Singapore car wash, the human touch..

Great thing about this car wash is the 48hrs warranty provided for event the cheapest car wash package at US$5.99. They will warranty the car wash for 48hrs from rain, road side splashes, mud splate and bird shit. And after 5 visit, I will get a Platinium car wash worth US$24.99 free of charge!!! Its Wash, Wax and Shine for the bod, tires and rims plus interior cleaning and vacuuming.

Friday, November 03, 2006

About courage and speaking up for the good.

Few days ago, our logistic big boss holds a close door "Meet the workers" session. It was pretty unique because our immediate bosses was not allowed to attend so its much like a close door session for us. Sadly, like before, only less than a hand count of people actually raise any question or concern to our big boss. While at times people could be bitching here and there during small talk over kopi and food, its pretty sad to realise that in times when the oppurtunity arise that could allow things to be highlighted and for the boss to clarify or take action with, no one actually stood up and said something about it? Maybe its the atmosphere or its just the culture cultivated to a "full grown tree" of not voicing out in front of your peers for the fear of discimination or critisim.

In fact big boss is a very very accomodating and like to mix with us on the ground both in work and lunch. Unlike other bosses we have that we only got to see occasionally. Big boss was always there during our working days. We can talk cock with him, joke while also discuss serious work matters. However I wonder what got into others during the close door session we have. I don't think its any problem with the Big Boss cause he is trying his best to make it as comfortable as possible. So I decided to break the silence and voice my concern that Structure Flight is stretching their man-power to the limit especially when I observe Warrent Officer Koh doing all the aircraft works for very long hours for a few weeks at probably a detrimental effect to his health and most importantly his Family. I am hopping that Big Boss will realise that a balance have to be strike between work and family and the way Encik Koh was going is not going to be good for him and his family in long term.

Big Boss replied that for Structure section, workload is like a sine wave. They get very busy during phase servicing but workload is minimal outside phase servicing. However, judging from the back to back aircraft phase servicing, with one aircraft completing and another coming hot behind its heel... the work load probably is more like a Y=X graph rather than a Y=SinX graph.

And here is reality...after the session, someone actually walk up to me and said I am asking for trouble or slapping myself in the face with the question. I just don't get it...its a concern about the welfare of our man and what could Big Boss find anything offensive about the question raise? Nowadays Boss are educated people and allow us to voice concern but people are still skeptical or fearful. And right when the few heros stand up and talk, they get hammered down not by a "Higher" being but the common human on the ground.

I believe LEADERS are different nowadays, they are willing to listen but the many years of practice, habit and attitude instilled into our people have literally mute us all. Like a Chinese saying "Once the root harden, its hard to pull the trees". The "Silent" culture in our organization have been so deeply rooted that openly voicing out is still a enormous challenge to many.

"A GOOD EMPLOYEE BRINGS THE BAD NEWS"
"A POOR EMPLOYEE JUST FLOW WITH THE SEWAGE"

When you hid the problem about the organization or the company from your superior or boss. It only mean 2 things, either your boss in incapable thus voicing out or not make no difference, or you just don't give a damn about it, only concerning on getting by each day and making sure salary is in your bank account every 10th of the month, that problem is just another nuisance. Than one day you realise that problem you consider just nuisance may not get bigger but many other small problem in work comes along and it starts to pile up higher and higher untill one day it combines to become a huge problem. By than the mentaility of ignorance is so imbue into your mind that you can't even feel the damage its causing you in work and life, like been stabbed many times with full body anesthetic. You eventually left your job, either you have become irrelevant (retrenched to be degratory) or you simply quit. Looking back in life, think about it...what have you achieved beside taking that monthly salary each month? All you got during your career is silence wound of disgust or hate about your job inflicted upon by yourself when you could have make the stand when Big Boss was a open man to suggestion, concern and critics.

Maybe you could have make that great contribution to the company for highlighting flaws no one realise and helping to zap the problem even if you did not offer any solution in the beginning. Maybe there won't be a mole hill of problems eventually but just little bits and pieces of debris to be clean up.

Instead of looking back 10 years the next time and brood over how things could have been better in life or work,

WHY LET TODAY PROBLEM FLOW DOWNSTREAM AND CHOKE UP YOUR LIFE TOMORROW?

Wednesday, November 01, 2006