vinyarb- you just have to read it

He's protecting The Island. Singapore, the island, that is.

Richard says:

U want me to set ur guest blogger details?

For when I go reservist

Riley says:

when you go protect our nation?

Richard says:

Ya

ATEC leh

Riley says:

so how do you intend to protect our nation, our motherland

protect our womanfolk and children, protect our way of life

protect zingapore!

Richard says:

Sleep a lot, so that I will be alert in times of crisis

Riley says:

that is very wise

rest, is to walk further

Richard says:

Eat well, so I won't be malnourished in the jungle

That's it so far

My two-pronged approach

Riley says:

that's good

a two-pronged approach is better than a one-prong approach

Richard says:

Agree

Shag and hot

I think I will go implement prong 1 now

Riley says:

this is a very inspirational chat that i think i should file for my first guest blog during your very important reservist

Richard says:

Hahahahaha

Totally

Riley says:

so that followers of vinyarb are kept up to date

i will also hot-tag keywords like Army, NS, NSF, MINDEF, so people surfing for resources will be directed to this very noble mission that you are on when you go protect singapore

Richard says:

all the hard work’s been done

Cut n past is all that’s left

Riley says:

post title: "Reservist, Bravery, & Sacrifice: National Service As Seen By a PES C and a PES E"

Richard says:

Hahahahhhahahahhaa

I love that title

Riley says:

seven days later army upgrade our PES statues

to A star star moon platinium

- - -

and by the way, even Dolph-the-Universal-Soldier-Lundgren agrees with Richard's two-pronged approach:

"http://io9.com/5470430/dolph-lundgrens-universal-soldier-tips-sleep-better-kill-more"

so Richard must be right. And "Sleep Better, Kill More" should totally be our new military battle cry and marching song.

? Snooze, Snooze, Snooze, Snooze, KILL!

An Indonesian man brought SGD 1,000 to play at Resorts World Sentosa's Casino, lost it all, and went on to the airport to try and steal phones to sell.

Hmmm... so should we start implementing a levy for all foreigners too?

A problem gambling ad campaign and hotline targeted for them as well, perhaps?

Scene 1: Foreigner happily flashes his passport and gets whizzed through the casino amidst smiling faces. Cue 360 degrees spinning cam view of happy faces. Happily playing the Roulette.

Scene 2: Foreigner's family back at foreign home. Kid crying cos she doesn't have her milk to drink. Mum consoling kid, saying "hush now darling. Daddy's at work and he's coming back soon with money and milk!" She doesn't seem to believe her own words.

Scene 3: Foreigner lost all his money. Looks despondent. Caught at airport stealing mobile phone. head down, hands cuffed. Goes to Jail.

Scene 4: Foreign wife cries. Cute kid cries.

End Scene: "KNOW THE LINE"

Full story on Channel News Asia

As a person ages, their immune system breaks down. Backs get sore, legs get wobbly, eyesight deteriorates, and you generally get lethargic easily.

My mother is suffering from Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), a rare degenerative neurological (brain) disorder affecting roughly 0.005% of the population. Put it another way, 5 out of 100,000 people are estimated to be inflicted with MSA.

There is no  known cure for the disease, and upon the onset of symptoms, remaining lifespan is at an average of 9 years.

Whenever she goes out (which is limited to sessions at the physio, or acupuncture), she needs a wheelchair. As she's encouraged to try and exercise whenever she can, she walks at home with a walking aid. With an aid, she takes an excructiating 15 minutes to make her way from the living room to the toilet.

She is also losing control of her speech, having to repeat herself several times before we can understand her.

Her frustrations and pain are something we as family members can never imagine. As we work and complain how 24 hours is never enough, I feel each 24 hour day for her is probably 12 hours too long.

She can't sleep more than 5 hours, so she wakes at 3am. But she can't get herself up. So she waits from 3am till 7am, where my dad and/or the maid wakes up to help her wash up. During this time, I dare not imagine what she thinks about.

She has breakfast, then watches tv. She has lunch, then watches tv. She has dinner, then watches tv. Because there's really not much else she can do. She doesn't want to go out, because her prideful nature will not allow others to see her like this.

She desperately seeks a cure, but we can't bring ourselves to tell her the prognosis. On the other hand, I believe she does know.

She tells me God is punishing her, and she doesn't know why. I don't know how to reply.

She tells me she cannot speak properly. I tell her as long as we understand, its ok. But I know its not ok.

My mother's deteriorated speech is compounded by the fact that my dad's hearing is also not that great. This makes communication between them difficult at best.

We can offer support, love and concern. But ultimately, the journey is hers to take alone, because we never truly feel what she feels.

Its understandable she's depressed. I would be, too.

I admire people who remain optimistic and cheerful in the face of terminal illnessses. I admire how they have accepted that their time is now limited, and proceed to do/see/experience things that they've always wanted, as far as they can, and leave happy and contented rather than embattled and bitter.

I admire how they fight to live another day, so they can live each day fulfilled and satisfied.

It takes great strength and courage to see the silver lining in every storm cloud. For it is much much easier said than done. I wish mum can be like that. To tell us what she wants to do and see instead of counting the seconds each day.

The fact that we each have 24 hours a day is handed to us. But how we play each hand, is entirely up to us.

Depression's a scary and lonely road. I hope no one ever has to go down that route.

Mum, I hope you find the strength in you to see beyond your pain, and view the world through rose-tinted glasses again. We all love you, and we're all trying to help.

The UK, in a bid to discourage smoking and reduce number of addicts from 8 to 4 million in 10 years, is considering banning the packaging of the cigarette packs.

This will mean cigarette packs will be in plain packets, with only the logo printed in plain text.

Food for thought: Will having them in plain packaging reduce smoking? Do smokers smoke because the pack of Marlboros has that perfect kerning?

Hmm... If that works, going by the same logic, we can ban packaging of condoms, so less people will buy condoms and more people will get pregnant!

Boom!

Aging population crisis solved!

You're welcome.

Read the article here