Pottie - Moving out... but not away

Have given this a thought and two; and I think the time has come for this pottie to move out.
I know its been a tough decision as 3potties gave me the base to relocate myself
and we had loads of fun blogging together.
And we shall.

I think its time now for me to blow-dry. And more than ever I will need you guys to help me through this transition in my life and ofcourse move out.

So lets get smashed the next couple of months this year and re-live some of the pottie moments.

Love yous

Till then,

Lolly

Lolly's turn

Lolly,

Happy Hanky Birthday to you!

Looking forward to the party this weekend! ;)

Till then - thuttify...

Iyer

DVDs on Demand

A few months back, I and Iyer were discussing about Netflix and how its business model was perfect for Singapore. It turns out that there are two online firms that have already emulated Netflix's model here in Singapore, namely HollywoodClicks and Homepal. I have just signed up for a 14 day free trial with Hollywood clicks. They charge a flat rate of 35$/month and you can borrow 3 DVDs at a time. I guess i can see for myself how well they have adapted Netflix's model to Singapore.

Machee

Nature's Fury

Starting from last year's Tsunami to the recent South Asia earthquake, nature has created havoc and destruction galore. Asia seems the worst affected because of these natural disasters, although this has more to do with the high population density of the region. But otherwise her wrath has been rather equitable starting from floods in Latin America, hurricanes in north America, forest fires in Europe and droughts in Africa; no place on the globe has been left untouched. Most of these disasters are the culmination of years of abuse of Earth and her resources. This year serves to give us a chilling reminder of what might happen in the years to come. The time has come where quick action has to be taken not only by the big nations but also by individual people, to ensure that earth is not consigned to the pages of the history book for our future generations.

Machee

Race, Culture and Genes

An interesting read brought to my attention by Nish.
The paper expresses the views of the author alone.

Lee Kuan Yew: Race, Culture and Genes

by Michael D. Barr
Department of History, University of Queensland
Journal of Contemporary Asia v29, n2 (1999)

Racism is rarely far from the surface of Asian societies, and this is especially true of those multiracial societies that feel the need to promote racial tolerance as part of official ideology. Yet even in these cases, promoting racial tolerance does not necessarily imply the promotion of racial indifference. Singapore's multiracialism, for instance, encourages a high consciousness of one's race even as it insists on tolerance. Read more.

3 Questions

People change, seasons change (Singapore excluded) and so do the potties.

When we started the 3 potties saga back on the 2nd of April 2005 we thought we should be polite and all and introduce ourselves. This being a humble suggestion from Lolly (the perpetual showman). When I re-read that particular introduction, something jumped right out, like naked butts in a nun conference (for example lah). And I quote the description for Vice Man 1 aka Machee (the perpetual snowman).

“Who am I : Dreamy drooler, not sure at times if asleep or awake.
What I want : tender loving care and thousand different ways to get that
What I get : a pat on the back”

Well, well. Six months ago Machee was really like a snowman - with a hard carrot and bleak snow all around.

Something happened then. The snowman shrugged and in a blink he lost all - except the hard carrot - all that had kept him rooted in that loveless dessert. A couple of pounds of curly hair was shed and the snowman was off, like a rabbit, looking for green pastures.

Now what changed him and where all he wandered we may never know. The pace of change has left the other potties in the swirling dust (or snow). As I see him jump up and down various rabbit holes, I am reminded of a brilliantly funny dialogue by Vivek in the movie Anniyan.

He says “Poonai paal kudikumaanu partha, ingai beere adikarathe da!” - I wondered if the cat will ever drink milk, but I see it gulping down a beer!

In fact, our Poonai/cat is having two beers and there is no sign of the burp.

And while I wait, I wonder what the answers to the three questions are - Who is he? What does he want? And of course, What is he getting?

Iyer

About "Birds"

The commercial opens with a breathtaking view at sunrise of the mystic Jawant Thada, the graceful marble cenotaph of Maharaja Jawant Singh II in Jodhpur. A little girl sees her brother packing for a journey. She runs through the village streets of Jodhpur, stopping at a stall to buy birds, to bring good fortune to her brother, who is embarking on a journey. Hoping to buy five birds but only able to afford one, she leaves dejected with her bird. The visiting tourist - Richard Gere - overhears this and after she has left, takes out his Visa card and buys all the birds from the stalls.

As the little girl is about to bid her brother farewell and release her single bird into the air, hundreds of birds suddenly soar into the sky behind her. The commercial concludes on a warm and humorous note, as Richard Gere and the bird sellers look away innocently, disclaiming responsibility.*

This ad is third in line after the one showing Pierce Brosnan whizzing through Bangkok in a tuk-tuk and goddess Catherine Zeta Jones going bananas in the jungle. The first two were funny but I love this new ad, especially for the rustic imagery created in the vibrant bazaars of Jodhpur, with a back drop of the Meherangarh Fort.

Last week, as I was heading to Suntec City with a senior Chinese gentleman, a Singaporean entrepreneur, we happened to see this ad playing on one of those big LCD screens. He looked at me and said “That ad is a lot of BS.”

“Why would you say that?” I asked. My boss and Pooja, a journalist for SVCA, looked up from the back seat as the Chinese gentleman continued.

“Well, I think it epitomizes the Westerner – the White man – as the World’s philanthropist.” He said. I was surprised by his comment mostly because I had failed to see this ad in the light he presented. I think the ad did a great job in reinforcing the idea that VISA is ubiquitous in terms of acceptance. I would have probably enjoyed it more if Amitabh Bachchan had been in Richard Gere’s place.

Pooja spoke up from behind “Indians don’t have the insecurity anymore!” The gentleman didn’t seem convinced and we changed topic as we headed into the car park. It did make sense. Indians I guess are bathing in the glory of “India Shining” and the White man is just another player in this level playing field.

Throughout much of the last 3 centuries Indians saw themselves under the rule of the White men (or women). Nationalized history has vilified them and we have all the reasons to feel wronged. Amir Khan belting the buggers in Lagaan did seem to put things right. But I don’t know if it’s my whetted confidence or indifference that didn’t make me see the other perspective.

But what made this gentleman insecure? I thought Singaporeans loved and aped the West. What do the younger generations feel? Does the ad risk falling in disfavor of most Asians?

Iyer

* From www.visa-asia.com