NTU invitation to high tea with Bertil

I don't understand NTU. They were very original with offering an online form for staff to resign their positions, truly a first. Recently I read in the papers that they will no longer mail acceptance letters to incoming students, instead will be notified via email. Today my daughter showed me this from the NTU President's Office. What's the point? So she RSVP this nicely done up invitation and letter....months later she will only get an email if NTU accepts her? Incongruous.

I think she should just go to NUS where she already practically has the pick of anything she wants.

Oh one more thing. The A levels results weren't out till March 3 but this letter was dated February 28. The way NTU work, this is more like Malaysia than Singapore. Yep, I am thinking of how our neighbor up north is handling the mysterious disappearance of MH370. I am guilty of exaggeration but they do not leave a good impression.

First time: Pontian Noodles

I have often wondered if this Kolo Mee would be like compared to those I regularly had when I was a kid.

Today I had the chance to try this with wifey and I think those I had long ago were way better. I don't think I would have this again if I could help it.

Come to think of it, are Pontian noodles and Kolo mee the same thing? Sigh! Just as I heard over the car radio today that soup comes as consomme, broth etc., I have heard each one of them but never bother to tell the difference between them.  

131 Jotter books: One last look

Jotter books, one hundred and thirty one of them. A record of the work the daughter did preparing for the A levels last year. I never complained why she didn't just use the backs of printed sheets. If she worked best this way, let it be.

Would she be doing the same in university? That's OK.

Bathesda Book moving out

Just got an email from Bathesda Book Centre that they are moving out. I have fond memories of them in the 80s especially when I was serving my NS and later studying in NUS. How I would walk from and eventually drive from Braddell View to the shop. I would spend sometimes hours there, often buying books and greeting cards. In the last few years, I insisted with only rare exceptions that I only ebooks will do and often wondered how many customers were doing the same. Unlike Times, MPH, Kino and Popular they are a niche player. Boutique outfits elsewhere are still getting by and I hope they would too. Nevertheless I wouldn't be surprised their days are numbered if they do not figure a way to adapt to the new reality.

What I don't like about ebooks is that they are so clinical and unsentimental. I always like those scenes in Star Trek of Captain Picard enjoying an old fashioned book. Perhaps my pace of  life is too fast and there are many things to do, and I cannot stop to smell the roses. Ebooks are just supremely practical for my lifestyle at the moment.  I should be grateful that I am making time to read! But there is no future except wishing on dumb luck for the non-reader.

MH370: Malaysian elites incompetence

The email title isn't as kind as the article: Amid Search for Jet, Malaysian Leaders Face Rare Scrutiny.

I will never get over how on our flight from KL to Osaka, three families have missing luggage at Kansai airport.

And we found this yesterday. What an epic cock up by MAS. How could they have sent them to India instead of KL? But they have a culture of tolerating errors and not following procedures. Now where is Mahathir when some Malaysian leader is needed to restore pride and credibility to the nation?

Update: 7:20 pm

Just got this from wifey. Shame on you the leaders of Malaysia.

The faces of MH370

This picture is worth keeping. Like everyone else I hope the come back but I am also realistic that this is wishing on that less than 1% probability. If they find the wreckage of the B777, the 1% will go to 0% and we have closure. The sooner the better as this is killing people alive.

Even if the remains of the plane is never found it must be after we have deployed all our resources and is very sure it is not there. At that time each of us will have only our own faith and belief to go by. Somehow I don't think we would be so unlucky.

MAS 777 may have crashed

This just came in for me. A grave tragedy for Malaysia :-(

This morning I told wifey that an MHS plane had been lost. She asked who stole it. I said no, the plane wasn't stolen. It didn't arrive in Beijing early this morning as scheduled.

Then there were rumors that it had landed in Nanning. You know, that is a very Malaysian response. But as the clocks ticked past the hours, we all know the 777-200 would have ran out of fuel.

Now the oil slick. This is absolutely bad. Falling from 35,000 feet can you expect survivors? Now the grim task of finding the wreckage and black boxes.

We used to watch Air Crash Investigations on Natgeo. I have some idea what this is going to be but let's not speculate.

Update: March 9, 8:35am

I saw a few videos reporting this tragedy. The human stories of the loved ones left behind to mourn the loss is heart rending.

All pointers now seem to suggest terrorism as a possible cause. ABC News at that point of the report didn't know about two passengers using stolen passports to get on board.


We had traveled with Malaysia Airlines to Osaka late last year and told ourselves we wouldn't fly with them again if we could help it. Actually our unhappiness had less to do with the airline than KLIA operations. Besides losing our luggage and we weren't the only ones on that flight to suffer that inconvenience. We were appalled at their casualness and inconsistency airport staff went about their jobs. I thought with such sloppy work it was far easier to smuggle a bomb on board a plane than many other airports. In the back of my mind, I felt that this airport is a relatively easier terrorist target. Time will tell if my guess is right and shame on Malaysia aviation authorities if this turned out to be the reason for this crash.

Update: March 9, 10:10 pm

Not surprised that Najib has ordered this.