Misfortune Draws Flies Faster Than Racecars...

It was 2 am in the morning and I was forcibly awakened by the sounds of several very loud automobile engines screaming like banshees in the middle of a very still night. I mean I knew that the racers were test driving around the track for the race today, but I didn't think they would be up so late and I certainly didn't think it was possible to hear the high pitch whine of those F1 engines half an island away.

I guess F1 fever has brought out all the illegal racers. Heck, I just wish those guys would have some consideration for everyone in dreamland and head over to the empty roads at Tuas instead, at least the roads are wider and it's a virtual ghost town at night manned only by the occasional security guard; so no chance of hitting the odd HDB resident who might be wandering around with the restless family pooch... (the odd HDB dweller taking the dog out for a walk at 12 midnight to the wee hours of the morning is something that happens quite frequently in my estate)

Having never had an interest in cars or racing and since I did not bet on any of the racers, I cannot understand the Formula One fever that has hit this island. I mean, every time I've had the chance to see a race on the TV; it’s just a bunch of cars zooming around repetitively on the same piece of road. That kind of thing puts me to sleep real fast, the other thing is golf...truly a game that is NOT best enjoyed as a spectator sport.

Apparently, the fever has hit even the local aunties. That's right, I’m talking about all the middle-aged or little old lady housewives that are a common sight in any neighbourhood. I can't imagine all those aunties waving their hands and staring at cars whizzing around on the TV. But there they were lined up in front of a huge projector screen set up by a community centre to show the race to members of the neighbourhood. It was a literal party. I guess it must have been a slow gossip month. :P

Despite having a bad taste in the mouth from having watched bits of so many snooze-worthy races... I decided to tune in to the race anyway, just to see what Singapore looks like at night with a racetrack and to catch a glimpse of the really big event that was happening in this country... As a Singaporean I am naturally curious and it does give me something to talk about when I meet my fellow countrymen.

When I switched over to the races, there was tiny nagging feeling that an accident was imminent. I mean I have seen historical footage of some really bad crashes, but I don't expect anything to really happen. After all, one doesn't tune in to the races to watch people crash into walls.

Well, 5 minutes after I tuned into the race, I saw Nelson Piquet’s car smack into the concrete in front of the main spectator stand. I was shocked, but also relieved when the driver climbed out on his own. Well, after that, I became fascinated by the race. And certainly, the night did not disappoint with 2 other non-fatal accidents and racer Felipe Massa driving off from the pit in a hurry with the fuel hose he had violently yanked off dragging along behind him. Apparently the snooze-worthy sport had turned into something like grand drama in just a few short hours.


For a coverage of this event, read the following:
Article: Alonso wins drama-filled F1 Singapore GP
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080928/tsp-auto-prix-sin-5820418.html

Well, this sort of confirms my longstanding theory that there's some kind of mojo circulating around this island that keeps this island interesting to the rest of the world. After all, rationally speaking how interesting can a grand prix event get? Even the newscaster remarked that they didn't expect the race to have "so much drama". Well, a comment from a member of the grand prix audience sort of sets the tone for the race.

"I hope that an accident happens... " he blurted out and then changed his statement a few seconds later.

Could the collective primal desire to see some kind of blood and gore drama have manifested the 3 accidents and all the drama that occurred at the tracks tonight? Experts and analysts looking back on the race will say that the accidents were caused by the tight city street turns and bumpy road. I don't know what the actual answer is, but I do know that quite a lot of people put money on the races down at the betting booth at City Hall. And knowing some gamblers here, I am sure they went to the local bomoh (ie. witchdoctor) to get some help in winning their bets.

I did learn one thing from this event. Unfortunately, like all my fellow countrymen, my interest is piqued only when something bad happens. Despite being separated from the circuses of ancient Rome by 2000 years of history and numerous incarnations, I'm still as susceptible to its attractions as anybody else. So much for being filled with "love and light" (incidently, a notion I have never felt much inclination for... but I'll talk about it another time) :P

Of Coffee And Other Vices...

Since I joined the workforce some 12 or so years ago, coffee became one of my largest vices. I am a natural Night Owl and well, coffee does help me to wake up in the mornings. I was never fortunate enough to find a job that allowed me to man the graveyard shift. I remembered that it got to the point where I was drinking quite a few huge mugs every day since coffee is provided free of charge by many companies. Of course, they got the cheapest variety, which turned out to be the super-unhealthy 1/2 coffee - 1/2 burnt corn blend that leaves a weird smokey-sour aftertaste in your mouth.

I switched to drinking Nescafe (and other coffees that at least were recognised supermarket brands) after the coffee lady informed us about the burnt corn. (Yeah, it was THAT long ago in a time when there were still coffee ladies in the workplace.)

I recently found out that drinking coffee was really not something I should be doing if I wanted a healthier existance. I mean, I knew that all along, after all one of my old primary (this is sort of like elementary school in singapore) school teachers died pretty young. She was a heavy drinker who sipped like 8 large mugs everyday and was advised by her doctors not long before she died that she had to cut down on the beverage because it was contributing to some kidney-bladder problems she had.

So about a month ago, I stopped drinking coffee... I still allowed myself to drink tea, but I sometimes wonder if I should stop that too. There's some talk in the circles I move around that tea has as much caffine as coffee.

Well, I was pretty glad when I saw the following article on Yahoo!

Article: Britain and tea: Health benefits renew century-old relationship
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/afp/20080924/tts-lifestyle-britain-culture-drink-tea-cac1e9b.html

The article claims that tea "...is mostly made up of water, is rich in anti-oxidants, is hydrating, low in calories and has a low level of caffeine..." Now I do not know if that factoid is really true because "scientific" research keeps changing day after day... (eg. In the past: eggs are bad because of high cholesterol. Now: Eggs are good because they are a rich source of lecitin...)

By the way... I like the following historical tidbit
"In 1908, a tea merchant in New York, Thomas Sullivan, sent samples of his tea to prospective customers in small silken bags.

The customers, many of them unfamiliar with the beverage, put the bags into hot water instead of emptying their contents, thereby leading to the development of the tea bag."

So how has my attempt to break the coffee habit been proceeding? Actually results have been pretty average... I mean I haven't had a single drink of coffee since I day I gave it up, but I really really cannot get over the whole idea of drinking coffee. I sometimes pass by Starbucks and go in to get a waft of that heavenly aroma... :(

And what's more, my attempt to kick my other vice... drinking Coke Light and other fizzy canned delights fell flat a few days ago...:( But that's really another story......

Really, this whole thing about kicking my longstanding vices and embarking on a healthier lifestyle was undertaken for general health reasons and in part due to the oft cited axioms in ceremonial magic:

"...the magician labors to purify the mind and body of all influences which may interfere with the Great Work..."

"... a magician must be sound of mind and body..."

Principles that are really not often adhered to today. :(

To divert from the topic of coffee lest I start making myself a cup... the other article of note which I saw today was the following:

Article: Singapore escort girls cash in on Grand Prix traffic
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/20080925/tap-motor-racing-prix-singapore-escorts-c3bb44c.html

I guess this really should come as no surprise. I mean, what's a Grand Prix without the babes right?

There was a news story on Channel NewsAsia some days ago where retailers expressed doubt if sales would increase as a result of so many foreigners coming for the F1 event. Even Singapore Pools (that's the local lottery organisation) has gotten into the act. There's now an official betting booth down at City Hall. I had thought about putting a few dollars on the participants after doing a divination on possible winners, but I've never really been good when it comes so gambling so I'll leave it at that...

Besides, there's some local superstition about the negative effects of using psychic/spiritual/magical powers in gambling... I personally don't believe it, but I think at least for now it's appropriate for me to make my cash the old fashioned way...

Anyway, about that whole escort thing. An intrepid aquaintance and entrepreneur I knew expressed interest in this area once. I mean, it's true, this area of business will never really get out of fashion, even in bad times. And at one point, I did entertain the thought of what it might be like to own an escort service. It was some years ago when I was still a member of in the local media industry. I mean, some of the parties were really great... some movie launches had great buffet spreads... the clubs were pretty interesting but I generally don't like smokey, dark places with a full crowd. My experiences at the popular local nightspots were crappy for the most part. Sometimes, it got so crowded dancing is almost out of the question. The best movement I managed was jumping up and down on the spot... yeah, we were sardines.

But yeah, it was possible then for me to find a cadre of good looking guys and gals. Looking back at those times on hindsight, there were some things I missed... like free movies... well they were not exactly free since I had to do the reviews, but I still enjoyed doing them. And there were some things I don't miss at all. The smokey clubs was one and the other was that I don't really think I blended into the whole media-nightlife scene. That just wasn't who I really am. I mean I don't mind going out at night to a creepy location and staying up to do a ritual, and I don't mind smoke from frankincense and other natural resins, but its really another thing being at a club or pub. For one thing, with all that pounding music I don't knw how anyone can even think.

And I think, right at the end, even the local nightlife fixtures I knew could tell that I really wasn't "of the crowd". Did I change? No I don't think so... my job required me to wear a mask so that I could fit in and do what was required... but as a friend once commented, the mask got so tight if I didn't take it off it would just burst. And in the end, I think it did. The funny thing is that I didn't even know I was wearing a mask... go figure. Everyone's capable of intense self-deception and especially those who are into some kind of spirituality.

But back to escorts...

I guess if I were born into a different family this lifetime and brought up with different social mores on what's acceptable, I might venture into this business. After all, it really is pretty tame (not to mention legal here) considering I was a career criminal in at least two distinct past lives. So it should be no big whoop right?

I guess my need for respectability overcomes any notion I might have to make cash in a non-conventional way. Someday, I'll get over this. Someday...