Fountains, Comets, Spinners & Mines

There seems to be some confusion about the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown event and whether it's still on.

Now let's get this clear here --- ONLY the Party@TheFloat is cancelled. The rest of the Marina Bay Singapore Countdown Party is STILL ON. And it'll go as planned - 10:30pm on New Year's Eve (yes, tomorrow!).

Out of the 4.84 million here, an article from today's Straits Times mentioned that "More than 250,000 party-goers are expected to gather around the Marina Bay area to usher in the New Year" --- Wowness!

For me, ONE reason that's luring me there would be --- the 8-minute long fireworks display. On a side note, I'm wondering why they won't make it to 9 minutes instead?...you know, since we're moving into 200....9. True enough fireworks are always amazing, but I guess during these uncertain economic times, careful budget decisions are crucial as cost for a Celebration Fireworks show varies with the length of time and customization features requested.

So if for any reason it's 'highway robbery' to have an extra minute, then I guess I can make do with the number 8 which I'm pretty sure, would be just as splendid. *smiles*

Length of time doesn't matter much, for its the effects that works for me. I mean seriously, would you really start timing for 8 minutes on the first firework comet that shoots up into the air?..I doubt so. Hence, go forth and enjoy the moment..after all, the best things in life are free!

Going back into Nineteen 6ixty-Four

This is in relation to distance...

- I don't know how it's doing but I hope it's warm and near.

This is in relation to communication...

- I don't know how it's doing, but I hope it speaks.

This is in relation to healthiness...

- I don't know how it's doing, but I hope it'll struggle through.

This is in relation to the past...

- I don't know how it's doing, but I hope it has left.

This is in relation to the present...

- I don't know how it's doing, but I hope it'll manage.

This is in relation to the future...

- I don't know how it'll do, but I hope it'll shimmer and shine.

Hello darkness, my old friend

I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains

Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turn my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash
of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never shared
No one dared
Disturb the sound of silence

"Fools," said I, "you do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said: The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sound of silence

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As of now, I'm better off remaining silent. Now silence doesn't mean complete abstention from speech. To be silent, I guess you need to do nothing except the wish to do so and the will to practice it. By reason of the way I see this, it's best to have a heart without words, than to have words without a heart. But as of now, this inner voice - is heard in silence....

O...O....Obama!

I'm no American but every individual on every corner of this globe very well knows of the tight race between McCain and Obama. Today, Americans have spoken. They've elected their 44th President to be Barack Hussein Obama, Jr - a confident, articulate and charismatic individual.

However, issues brought into media invoking of his middle name "Hussein" shouldn't be 'issues' in the first place. If not, at all. This name's a blessed name, just like yours and mine. It's a heroic name, as heroic and American in its way as the name of General Omar Nelson Bradley. "Hussein" is from the Semitic word, hasan, and Arabic origin meaning "good" or "handsome".

Barack Obama's middle name is in honor of his grandfather, Hussein, a secular resident of Nairobi. There've been lots of Husseins in history, from the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w, a hero who touched the historian Gibbon, to King Hussein of Jordan, one of America's most steadfast allies in the 20th century.

And in Obama's case, "Hussein" is just a reference to his grandfather - making Obama 50% Caucasian from his mother's side, 43.75% Arabic, and 6.25% African Negro from his father's side.

The media also made such great emphasis that Obama, as a young boy, attended "Madrasah" in Indonesia and falsely highlighting that the term "Madrasah" is a radical Muslim school. Again to me, an uproar on this one's unnecessary. Yes, Obama did attend a "Madrasah" for 4 years. But "Madrasah" literally means "school" in Arabic, and is used exactly in English. So one can refer it to a Jewish, Christian or Islamic Madrasah, as well as a public, private, elementary or secondary Madrasah.

Obama clearly went to a school...and even if he did go to a religious school, that certainly doesn't mean it was a place where they learned only the Qur'an and not Chemistry or Math, English or Art.

All in all, I'd put it that the popularity and support for Obama is not a case about white versus black. In the words of Obama during his victory speech - "Change has come to America".

I sure hope this "change" applies to the rest of the world as well, because to me, Obama has transcended race, religion, age, gender and class.

Presenting to you,

President-elect Obama's Victory Speech

Hit by the Running Bug

Just 5 days after the Great Eastern Run, tomorrow (yes, tomorrow) will yet be another. Only this time round, it's a Cross-Country. I'm appreciative to be chosen under the 'Women's Open 3.2 mile' category but after the collapse I had last Sunday, I've to admit I am feeling a little skeptical. Got to know the confirmation after lunch, and upon hearing the news Priya has been going, "Farah, please. Be careful. PLEASE." My response was wordless..because somehow a smile overtook it.

Location will be along MacRitchie Reservoir - which I've no idea where that is but sure glad there'll be transport to take me there. After settling down at home, I went to the extent of checking the place through Wiki. Extracted as 'Singapore's oldest reservoir', I thought for a first-timer, that'll be a nice place to run.

However, skepticism's playing in my head right now:

(1) there's a world difference between cross-country running and 'road racing' (which I've been more into). In my experience, a road race takes place on pavement, flat surfaces and rarely would you be on grass or dirt. But cross-country running? I guess you pretty much have to prepare undulating courses.

(2) The people who knew of the run, told me there'd be monkeys on the loose. No, not (human) monkeys like what I was before doing the Great Eastern Women 10K, but REAL MONKEYS!

Now how terrifying is that?? I took it jokingly and replied that maybe being chased by monkeys won't be a bad idea after all, because without you realising you'll be going at a speed faster than you'd ever imagine! Of course, behind that joke to make them smile, my heart did start to double-beat.

First thing I asked the organiser was, "there will be a medical team around, right?"

I told myself that whatever it is, I will/have to/shall listen to my body. What matters most is the heart (which apparently is on the downside right now. Yes, I could take it as a joke, but then I'd be lying not to pretend I'm hurt. Simply because, I didn't expect the remark coming)

Wish me luck for the run?

And just before I end, would like to drop a message in response to my previous post...

To:

- The two "Anonymous" & Peter of CA,USA: Thank you, your comments are valued. :-)

- Plan b: Thanks for visiting my site & all the best in the upcoming Standard Chartered Run! :-)

Greetings & Welcome!

Tuesday 28 October 2008 - the official date for http://farahdee.blogspot.com to have its first official post. I'm sure most would've landed to this blog through the link of my previous one. Why, thank you! I've to agree, the previous blog I had is known by websites like yesterday.sg, mr-kiasu.com and many more, and the last time I checked, my previous blog's hitting close to 7,000 views! So WHY the change of blog address?? WHY the change of blog layout??

Well, just like newspapers and magazines - revamps are good. They say a person changes because they become for the better or for the worst. Well, it's neither. When a person changes, he/she pretty much becomes....different...to others. And that's when acceptance comes in.

I've been blogging since 2004 and this is my 3rd change of address with the 1st one deleted (due to some hiccups in life). My 2nd blog shall remain 'active' as it acts as Memory Lane for me to look back and smile upon. At this moment, I've been focusing more on getting health back on track, but apart from that, the blogger that you've known - is still the same.

Once again, I welcome you.