Articles by Crystal Tein 2008-09-08 An anguish sears within me, It tears me, Tears my soul apart. My mind in overdrive, My heart- In shreads. It has always existed, For reason I know not. "Is it always destined to be like this?" I always ask myself, Yet perhaps always..read on My Anguish 2008-09-08 An anguish sears within me, It tears me, Tears my soul apart. My mind in overdrive, My heart- In shreads. It has always existed, For reason I know not. "Is it always destined to be like this?" I always ask myself, Yet perhaps always..read on Sweet Money Talk 2008-08-29 A husband must have control over his wife, Without which he does not feel secure, This is the case- For most men. I must earn more than you, Otherwise I am not a man, You understand, dear? I love you. But my mother tells me I ..read on Void 2008-08-23 What are you, pray tell? There is no answer, Hollow. When we are empty, When there is longing- There is this immense thirst hankered after. But what are we hankering for? For what we know not. Except this is the state of being..read on Spenders vs Savers 2008-08-16 Having a good time is important, To some pleasure seeking folks, To them, what is life- If you don’t go out and live life? Why are you dressed like this? No style. And your hair and skin are not so good. Geesh! You want money?..read on Zombie 2008-08-10 You have no voice, Authority is everywhere. You are helpless in a corner, That was what happened in school. Behind pretty faces and nice words, Lie the skeleton of a zombie, A living death, A cruel fate. When one of the great ..read on The Global Millennium Economic Crisis 2008-08-02 Mother Nature wrecked her havoc, Many properties in America destroyed, Homes are lost. Banks lent money to finance these mortgages, Real estate companies built these houses with some loaning money from banks as well, Now money is lost re..read on Gambling Fiction: News from Planet Earth 2008-07-29 There were, and still are, seven princesses and five princes. The rule of the game is: there can only be four kings and four queens on the good side, with an additional clause; the seventh princess must definitely be chosen, for she is heart. Without..read on Madness 2008-07-25 It is nothing. Blank. Dead. One hurts oneself. Why? There is no reason. It is simply a spurt within, That steeps one in agony, An..read on It\'s not that Bad a World 2008-07-18 It’s not that bad a world sometimes, It’s not that bad a world. Not everybody can like you you know, That’s just how it is in this world. There will be many people in your life, Who treat you good or bad, It’s just up to you to how you ..read on One Singapore Employer 2008-07-11 It doesn’t really matter what a person do or don’t do in Singapore, It’s just your voice, It’s just your face, In short- It just boils down to whether we like you or not. You want a job? Sorry, we have too many resumes in our computers,..read on The Big Picture and Small Picture 2008-07-05 Price of food, Price of oil, Up. And wages, Down. Inflation sets in, Where money is lower than its value. So what is one to do? And what is a government to do, Pray tell? ..read on Reliance 2008-06-27 It’s the end of a stressful day, And one’s body is calling for help. What to do? Massage. One’s skin is coming out in blotches, People say you are ugly. What to do? Facial. I need chocolate, I need milk, I need coffee, I ne..read on Inside a Computer Game Addict\'s Mind 2008-06-21 It’s just numb- The computer game and I are numb. Mum is asking, And I am playing computer games yet again. I know this game very well Mum, I don’t need to think, It’s just a common reflex, My fingers and the buttons. The scor..read on The World Today 2008-06-18 A wind in the cup, Natural disasters galore. Save Gaia please. Despite black gold being the cause of all these phenomena, The die is cast- Wealth is deemed of a higher value than a harmonious Mother Earth. Bio-diesel fuel was no..read on Artisans Wind and Rain 2008-06-18 Gently whispering among the trees, The wind starts gathering its wings- Slowly. With rain as its bosom friend, A light, misty and airy scene- Refreshing. Many strokes on the window panes, Patterns start appearing galore, As th..read on The Office 2008-05-31 Be it strange that every office worker must be tame and docile, To maintain their jobs and keep their salary, Should one dare accuse- The office hums like a machine? As an entity for work that is- But the human relations steeped within, ..read on The United Nations 2008-05-24 It is indeed strange that United Nations, With help from America and England, Have sustained this organization for so long. When at university, Lecturers waxed lyrical, Of peacekeeping troops with limbs missing or long shot dead...read on Anything is Dangerous 2008-06-27 This is dangerous, This is safe, Don’t do this, Do that. Fasten a seat-belt, Eat slowly, Be prudent. It is a tad amusing, is it not? For is it not a fact that in fact, Anything is dangerous? One can be studying dilig..read on The Real World with Real People 2008-06-18 There are some who say there are others not in the real world, But what is the real world, pray tell? It is people who envision and create whatever world we are in. People cheat, People steal, And many people plot. But isn’t it ..read on The Olympic Torch 2008-06-18 Before the Olympics has even taken place, The Olympic torch is fraught with fire. Relations are ice-cold. China in actual fact has been amply warned, Media reports galore highlight the unfair ballooning trade imbalance, But China chose t..read on A Bastard Chinese Man\'s Voice 2008-06-18 I really have no time to get to know people, you know, I am busy, Time is money, I just see your face for a few minutes, Make a judgment, And that’s it- Ta ta. When I see fat, ugly women, I just want to laugh. I see them walking thro..read on Sweet Memories 2008-06-18 When we were young, We would study in the reading room together, Hang out at cafes with books together, That was fun- Sweet memories. We would go to the vending machines, And buy instant mee at only fifty cents a cup, And slurp it all ..read on The Ordinary 2008-06-18 The sun is in the sky, It is day. The moon is in the sky, It is night. The room is containing me, It is the room at home, Fruits are eaten, I like grapes. The purplish mode of the grapes, Very ordinary, Very contrite- Not. ..read on The Animal Kingdom 2008-06-18 Animals are intrinsically intriguing, With their behavior, There are many facets, Such as the food chain and mating rituals. The proud peacock, The wise owl, The agile monkey, The sly fox. Those which are fast and strong, C..read on Power 2008-03-07 There are some in this world who crave money, And a minority who craves power, Those who want money are simpler people, Those who are power-hungry, Are in actual fact- Monsters in the making. Once ascend the throne or seat, The thinkin..read on Human beings 2008-02-29 Human beings are nice, Human nature is complex and debatable, But everyone has their flaws, That is the human nature. We fight, We exploit each other, We steal, But we really like one another despite all our differences. Human..read on My Reputation 2008-06-18 You want to destroy my reputation? I won’t let you. Many surnames have been floated around, But never would I have guessed, That you know, That my ancestor is none other than, Toh Chin Chye. ..read on Money 2008-06-04 Money is the root of all evil, So goes the saying- And so truth speaks for itself, People loot, kill and rape, All for money. Money can buy one many things, Food, clothes and housing- And many other things, But there is one thing cann..read on Sleep 2008-02-10 Some may ask why others indulge in sleep, There is an option for an answer, In dreams where sleepers drift away, They can do anything and everything, See no one. Fear no one. In dreams it may be exciting, For adventures galore, And co..read on The Perception of Life 2008-02-10 Sometimes life is happy, Sometimes life is sad, Sometimes it is all black, Sometimes... The struggle- Between all emotions that can be experienced, Is a struggle within oneself. A never-ending surfacing and plunge. Sometimes i..read on Media Competition 2008-02-10 I hate you for your guts, For putting up this website, My readership affected, My media sales plummeting. This is an open market, Fair competition rules, No trickery involved, Just hard work galore. I will put up sexual cont..read on Sometimes... life 2008-01-26 Sometimes, life deals you a heavy blow, Sometimes life is kind, But whatever it is, take heart, For life has many spectrums of light. The many colors that will come, Is the spectrum of life, Makes the bad easier to handle, So take hear..read on Coffee 2008-02-10 Coffee, coffee, coffee coffee coffee... At cafes, restaurants- it's everywhere, It is the hype drink now, The cool must-have at the moment. You swallow it, swallow it- Swallow, swallow, swallow, Chug chug chug, chug chug chug. Sli..read on Happy New Year 2008-02-10 I wish I may, I wish I might, First star I see tonight. The end of the year, The time for new year resolutions, And taking stock of the past year. What have I done right? What have I done wrong? Have I fulfilled my wishes this..read on Charity 2008-02-10 Charity is mischievous, A naughty little nymph, Fleeting and mysterious. "I want fun," she says. Hmm... so you're bored and creating trouble. Bad girl! La la la la la. She skips and dances, In a whirl till she makes people diz..read on The Truth about Media 2008-03-28 You want a happy poem? That is not on the list today. The mood is not here, The setting is not right. I will tell you a secret about the media, I enjoy reading Cleo since I was young, Wear all those nice clothes, And envision myself as..read on Chapter 2- The Magical Baby and the Kitchen Girl 2008-01-08 There were cheers. "We got the baby! We got the baby!" The duck, chicken and pig spirits were dancing happily in a circle, anticipating the ransom due them. The duck was particularly happy. He was rich but he loved money and was a scrooge. ..read on Dance 2008-02-11 A dance is an ecstasy, Movement with grace, Swinging in daze. Circling, circling, Round and round, Whoa! It looks easy, But each movement must be accurate, Precision. Balance, Between techniques and spontaneity, Not..read on Growing Up 2008-02-10 A child's beauty is the innate instinct, To differentiate between right and wrong, good and bad, Instantly- Without any question or malicious thoughts polluting their minds. Old is wise but set in mind, Youth is like a white sheet of can..read on Pondering the Local Arts Scene 2008-02-10 Pardon me, if I may vent, I simply do not understand. Why local artistes adored abroad, Are scorned here like dogs. Here, they fight dearly for the arts, As though anybody cares, In actual fact, they don't give a damn, And meanwhile po..read on Happy Times 2008-02-10 It's chirpy, All the birds are singing, The humming birds are coming to the flowers, The sun is hanging in the sky. The telephone is ringing, It's fun being invited for gatherings, For an escapade of gallivanting, A bit of fun once in ..read on A Tough Global Capitalist World 2008-02-12 The world is not what it used to be, In this global capitalist society, Life is hard. All prices shoot up, The cost of living is high, Yet wages remain the same. A tough global love, Integrated between governments, Leading to ..read on Who 2008-02-10 Who's who in this world? Is this really important, In our short lives? You may know the CEO or the director, But all is lost, With no real caliber of your own. You may have all the connections, Pull all the strings you may, Bu..read on Work 2008-02-10 On the morn' when I wake, I see people moving, People going, Going to work, Go, go, go! Work keeps us healthy, Work keeps us happy, Work gives us a goal, Go, go, go! Wouldn't it be boring, To be idle all the time? It would ..read on Happiness 2008-02-12 There is a time when everybody experiences the void, An empty feeling, Which sinks in like dread. There is a time when you are not alone but in fact alone, Where silence- Rings much deeper. And so people start doing what they li..read on The Green Eye of the Magical Family 2008-01-23 Listen children to a story, That was written long ago, About a kingdom on a mountain, And the valley folk below, On the mountain was a treasure, Buried deep beneath a stone, And the valley folk swore, They'd have it for their very own. &..read on The Magical Baby and the Kitchen Girl 2007-11-29 There was once a very powerful magical baby. He is destined to rule the entire universe. This baby was the child of a magical couple, who were really nice, on all counts. However, they had one flaw: ill-treating of their servants. The butler..read on Water 2008-02-12 The search is never-ending, Like a river, Flowing on its course. Sometimes one has sea life as friends, Other times it is still, Silent. Is it better to be part of the glorified Dead Sea, Where you are at the lowest sea level, ..read on The Mis-guided Terrorist 2007-10-05 I got fired, Am in house unemployed, Looking for jobs, Doors closed to my face. I feel useless, A good-for-nothing, Religion calls, My comfort and joy. The uselessness in me, Rears into religious fanatic, By ..read on My Grandmother 2008-02-12 She is in pain again, This woman with white hair, With wrinkled and shaky hands, Clutching onto her medicated oil. I come to visit. "Go home, go home,"she says, "You have work to do. "There's nothing wrong with me." With this,..read on The Spurned \"Lover\" 2008-02-11 This woman is very strange, She has big breasts, Yet she is also quite capable, Is she for real? Women who are fat and with big breasts, Are usually stupid, aren't they? Women who are thin, Are the ones capable, right? She is ..read on Stupid Fools 2007-09-20 When I think I can outsmart you, I become crafty and greedy, Delighted and big-headed, Thinking that you be a stupid fool. A lead-on dance, In a merry-go round, Full of laughter and my surprises, Giving you much merriment for my merrim..read on The Urge 2007-09-26 The urge seizes suddenly, The finger starts moving rhythmically,Slowly, at first, but faster, then slowly again.Gasp!The ecstasy of it all liberates.From the mundane humdrum of life,This is like taking a pill.Addictive if not careful.Yet, just like ..read on A Tribute 2008-06-04 In the troubled waters of my mind, When I was like a lost boat, You came into my life, Bringing direction and joy. Calling you a lighthouse, Would only diminish your print, That you have made, In my insignificant life. ..read on Lost Slumber 2007-09-20 A sleepless soul on a Friday night. It strikes midnight. The clock chimes. Saturday morning. Most people slumber, Nobody to call. In the house, Darkness. Seemingly not alone, but alone, Tossing and turning. A..read on 20s and 30s Singaporean Chinese Males 2008-02-12 When I see a face I dislike, It matters not the intentions or the actions. I just see an ugly face, I would love to slap it! I have the urge to tap fat girls on the head, Shoot them with a rubber band, Poke them and squeeze them, For s..read on My Mother and I 2008-06-04 My mother controls my every moment, Causing me unnecessary torment, Making me trying to fathom, Why she is trying to make my life a phantom. All the unnecessary naggings and scoldings, While I am trying to get my bearings. The c..read on Of Poverty and Riches 2008-02-11 You see me in glamorous clothes, And in a beautiful big house, But do you know the story, That lies within these walls? I see only the riches, You know not my wretchedness, In cramped settings, And scant money for a living. My..read on Life\'s Choices 2007-08-31 At the top of the mountain, My struggles finally realized, Happiness should be the norm, Yet it eludes me. For struggle is exciting, The process endearing, Passions unbridled, Energies unleashed. Yet when all i..read on How to Subdue the Magical Family 2007-10-09 Now, the magical family is in Singapore and everybody is tired of them by now. I am particularly irked by the magical family in Singapore distributing newspapers in Singapore to aid the Falungong. They have been around, using magic for wealth, a bun..read on The Now Singapore 2007-08-17 Cold, Hard, Dead, Lifeless. A puppet to be controlled, In nice Singapore, Under the Education System, Lifeless. Be nice, Be successful, Be great, And you will get a scholarship. Always be sweet, Aways be strong, ..read on Ego 2007-08-10 Ego- Bold, Brash, Cold. Ego- Loud, Crush, Fire. Ego can land you in a lot of trouble, And blind you to many things, Cloud your visions, Burst your dreams. The eyes that are arrogant, With a hint of disdain, Is di..read on The Music Healer 2007-09-08 Biography Name Carlo Ricafort aka J-RICZ Age &n..read on A Free World for All 2008-02-10 It could be a free world for all, In life's trials and toils, Yet with a free world through, Comes survival too. A free-for-all situation, Is not always that magnificent, One often becomes weakened, By the sheer competition. H..read on Caution on Greed 2008-03-19 Enough is enough, We say this when annoyed. Do we say the same of riches, Or enough is not enough? Put Greed and Content, In a boxing ring, And what would we get, Pray tell? Well- Greed will box Content out flat most, That's what. ..read on Airies Like Aries 2007-08-02 It is a song full of fury with control, written using computer software by Walt Rebeiro. I like the title Airies because it reminds me of the horoscope "Aries", brimming with fire and strength.The music is a whole chant of staccatos..read on The Start of a New Day 2008-02-12 It is broad daylight, Yet I am feeling down. The sunlight almost seems to mock me, As I wake up. My coffee tastes bitter, Oh, it wasn't stirred. A fit of absent-mindedness, Thankfully not disastrous. My eggs are watery, With the ..read on The English Language 2007-08-03 English is a powerful language, Borrowed from many languages. Perhaps that is why, It is still relevant today. A word has many meanings. Ever wondered why? To cancel out, The effects of each. Too many gypsies, Too much witchc..read on America and China: Let\'s Win Together 2007-07-20 Peg the yuan? Still? This is a question weighing on many Americans' minds. Besides the obvious case of the ballooning trade deficit, there are many reasons pertaining to this sticking point. China is after all, leader of the Developing Natio..read on Time 2008-02-12 Tick tock, tick tock. Time is passing by- Slowly. Turn, turn- The hands turn, Time is passing by quickly. That was the time when young. Now- Hours can be short, But days can be long. Or- Hours can be long, ..read on Colors 2007-08-03 Colors are pretty, Colors are cool, Colors are what give the world its hues. Life- indeed, Would be very boring without these brilliant blobs, Black and white - only. No red to speak of passion, No yellow of sun rays, Just goo..read on Live Life! 2007-08-03 When you regret, You should feel heartened, That you have dared, To make mistakes. When you cry, You should feel glad, That you let loose And let yourself be weak. When you suffer, You should feel proud, That you were brave,..read on Direction of Equivocation 2007-08-03 The sun rises from the East, And sets in the West. The West colonized East, And now, East rises. Russia is a European country in the East, So too Australia and New Zealand, And they are not really Westerners, In the traditional capital..read on On a Rainy Day 2007-08-03 It is raining now, Pitter patter upon the windows, Sleep - like a goddess come upon creeping, A welcome relief from the busy life, Saving one from exhaustion. Dreams come, In a myriad of soft colors, Upon the unconscious mind, Thrilli..read on Inside a Terrorist\'s Mind 2007-08-03 Hatred burns in my soul. Oppression rampant. People starving, People dying. I appeal. No hope. I pray, And hear voices. I am to rid the world of all oppression, To provide the good life. Preach to all, Eternal heaven. Th..read on The Magical Family in Education 2007-04-06 And so, the magical family settled down in Singapore. They are all smart people, you must remember. It wasn't very long before they established themselves in various cornerstones of society. One of them is education. Moreover, don't forget all the va..read on My Take on Money 2007-03-24 "No one can survive on a diet of hope". This is one slogan that I see in the bus stops of Singapore. Of course, there are some who reminisce about kampong days. Yes, the family is poor, but surviving in a small space, sharing scant food help..read on Introducing the Magical Family from China 2007-03-16 There was, and still is, a magical family from China. Now, this group of family consists of many surnames, but the three known are - Tay, Chen and Wong. These are the three that are the most known in society, and the least dangerous. This fa..read on The News Looks Surreal 2007-08-03 It is blowing sand in China, Icebergs are melting at the poles, The Earth just had tsunamis, And earthquakes to boot. There are child soldiers, People are starving, There is war, There is unrest. Blink, blink. The news..read on A Little Girl and a Rose 2007-03-11 There was once a little girl who was the daughter of a magical couple. She was the epitome of sunshine. Whenever she laughed, it was like silver bells jingling. However, this little girl was not the model girl. She was rather active and didn..read on The Ball 2007-08-03 The ball was bouncing on the floor, But suddenly it fell down flat, It lay down on the floor, Like a dead rat. To be like the ball, With no rest, Where all its surfaces are curved, For better or for worse. It goes into goals, ..read on The Seventh Sister 2007-03-03 There are seven sisters borne by a magical couple. Each of them has a hidden skill to guard part of the universe. The day came when the seventh sister was born. Her birth was celebrated with much aplomb and fanfare. Her mother smiled ..read on Ten Things People Do to Keep Up Appearances 2007-03-10 1. They keep on talking on the telephone when you are in their office. 2. They say that they have many appointments and meetings so you have to book a slot in advance to meet them. ..read on God\'s Word 2007-08-03 For Man think that they believe, Not knowing what they do believe, An empty talk, meetings lots, Prayers in crisis, When not, silence- An unspiritual world, Where politics take helm, And especially business, Where everything is pragmatic and ..read on Is this what life is? 2007-02-12 Drifting, Longing, Wanting. Is this what life is? I look up and wonder, As I look at the sky, My existence is so insignificant, In this world that I cry. So many strive to find something, Be it career, love or money, What I ..read on Of Creation and Invention 2007-08-29 Lights pass, days cast, Gray and green, then blue and white, A lot of people ponder- And wonder, And ponder- And wonder again. The way of pondering, Is the way of the world. So we have astronauts, spacecraft and missiles. At ..read on Capitalism- For Better or for Worse? 2007-02-19 I see my relatives everyday, Working day in and day out, All for that thing called money. To the extent of health problems, With some turning to smoking and drinking, All to pay that mortgage. And I think back to brotherhood, W..read on In the shoes of terrorists 2005-06-07 When people think of terrorists, they think of mad, violent people. Let’s put ourselves in the terrorists' shoes. Would you spend so much money on resources, to the extent of even risking your own life, to bomb without provocation? There must be a re..read on Breathe Life into Art 2005-06-07 A lot of people think that the arts are abstract, something difficult to comprehend. In general, there are (in my perspective), two group of artists. The first seeks to be understood. The second don’t. It may be much to your puzzlement as to why t..read on The Adult World 2005-06-07 When I was a little girl, friends were friends. That was that. But, school was over again (like I said before) and social circles came into play. There were such things as networks, colleagues and the terms "acquaintances" also came into play..read on The Price of Success or Failure? 2007-08-29 People singing, Such melodious voices, The octaves rise and fall, Like the threads being weaved through a loom. Voices, voices in the air, Controlled not only by the tongue, The oesophagus, But also by the lungs. So many c..read on At the end of the day ... about friends 2005-06-07 The word "friend" often conjours up images of friendliness,warmth and bonds. Yet, I have a theory- the essential need from friendship comes from one's own need to fill up one's hole of loneliness and is also motivated by self-interest. Just think a..read on Back in 1990s- The Education System 2005-06-07 A crack at the Singapore Education system back in the 1990s. One day, the king sat down and thought hard about a possible business venture. He had just received a recipe from his parents for frying eggs . A recipe for royalty. A recipe for the perfe..read on A Global Cold War, perhaps? 2007-12-29 A lot of people have a lot to say about China's economy. In general, there are three major competitive advantages that China has in its economy- 1) Low currency rate 2) Low labour cost 3) A huge consumer market These three are the corne..read on Having children. Yes or no? 2005-07-04 Perhaps I am not qualified to write this article. After all, I'm a single 23 year old girl who has never even gone steady with a good man before. I am often sceptical about having children. For one thing, the childbirth must be painful. For anoth..read on The United States of America\'s foreign policy-the objective truth 2005-07-04 Saddam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden It is a fact that both these men were former CIA agents. I do not think that anybody can dispute that. Let us talk about Saddam Hussein first. His government was supported by the then American government to overthro..read on My own sense of being an Asian 1978-01-01 The auditorium was buzzing with excitement. Students, thronged in costumes and in everyday clothes, were all over the place. The splash of colours was very gratifying - very resonant of the Asian culture.Yes, it was THE DAY. All students would be gra..read on Froggy\'s first trip to the grocer\'s 1978-01-01 There was once a frog named Froggy. This frog loved her family a lot. There came a time when her parents were old and they needed her to earn a living.Side-note- And in case you're wondering, this is a family set in a small town.Froggy had to go out ..read on The Truth about Network Marketing 1978-01-01 Following the legalization of network marketing, also known as multi-level marketing in Singapore, it has become a force to be reckoned with. This article may seem to be a bit of a bitching session about this phenomenon, but more often than not, the ..read on Denouncing Online and Phone Dating 1978-01-01 I hate both. Frankly, they suck big time. They are nice for the thrills and spills, but that's about it.Imagine if you really do have a virtual boyfriend/girlfriend. He/she is someone nice to have around. Yet, they are what the word "virtual" means. ..read on Of feminism and blurring of the sexes (from a woman\'s perspective) 1978-01-01 Of feminism and blurring of the sexes (from a woman's perspective)In the midst of our change,We no longer complement one another,No longer intertwined,Breaking the delicate balance of nature.I ask myself- Why did this happen?There is no single answer..read on Terrorism Explained 1978-01-01 `The word terrorism is now seen and heard everywhere. The media is propagating this word everywhere. Before the 911 incident, terrorism was already rampant. India and Pakistan were fighting over Kashmir. Israel and Palestinians have always been fight..read on Human rights 1978-01-01 I believe that human rights have to be in the context of a country's economic status and communitarian values.For any country, human rights develop over a very long period of time. It took the French Revolution before Europe became, to some extent, m..read on My parents and my money 1978-01-01 Man is greedy. I belong to this species as well, so I am no exception. I used to have pocket money of S$30 per week. I had this amount since I was a little girl. Yet, when I reached the level of university, my mother still did not raise the amount. I..read on Bringing Home the Travelling Experience 1978-01-01 Travelling is more than just visiting scenic and tourist spots. It's part of it but doesn't encompass all of it. You see, when you just visit these areas, you only know the landmarks of the city. I'm not denouncing supreme architecture like the pyram..read on Creativity? Not so easy. 1978-01-01 The aim of being a professional is to be excellent by distinguishing yourself from the field. In order to do that, one must learn the techniques, bounded rules and customs in the trade. A runner has to learn to listen to the shot that marks the start..read on Rationalizing Death 1978-01-01 There was one time when I was still in my teens. A recurring thought that had been haunting me for a long time shaped in my mind. It was a very frightening thought-What if one day I cease to exist?When I don't talk, eat, move or breathe?When I am no ..read on Don\'t Let Disillusionment Get You Down 1978-01-01 VERSE: When I was a little girl, the sun was always bright. When I was a little girl, the sky was always blue. When I was a little girl, I saw rainbows, rainbows.. CHORUS: I always thought that life was fair, I always was an idea..read on Loneliness might not be such a bad thing after all 1978-01-01 To my first instinct, loneliness sucks big time. It is an empty feeling that grips me when I feel all alone in the world. In fact, I wrote this statement upon pondering over my past "relationships"- Loneliness grasps me, and I wonder-Should I search..read on Men\'s Vocabulary: A Guide for Women 1978-01-01 I remembered going for my first date. Not my first real date, but a date whereby the man had sexual interest in me. Incidentally, I didn't realize this at the time; he gave mixed signals, which he clarified for me afterwards. As I went along with him..read on Why Kerry didn\'t win? 1978-01-01 Much to your disbelief, but I did do it. I predicted an approximately 50-50 votes for both Kerry and Bush. Of course, opinion polls showed the statistics.The rationale behind it is very simple: In tracking the pattern of U.S. elections, in times of w..read on News by Crystal Tein2008-07-21 Board a bus, catch a train, and you may be surprised to see some changes at Singapore’s public transport. 1) Some ang mohs (whites) and Japanese are now Singaporeans’ fellow commuters. Previously, these two nationalities are seldom spotted o..read on Meow! May your business prosper! 2008-07-14 Traditionally, pink, yellow and red flags or couplets are displayed written with Chinese characters indicating business prosperity. However, some businesses are now fond of displaying Japan’s Fortune Cat, Maneki Neko, at a prominent front spot at the..read on “I want to transfer some of my salary into your account to evade income tax.” 2008-07-07 There is a job opening which is an easy way to make money. It merely involves transfer of money into your own account. Quoting from a financial professional, 26, “A few of our sales professionals make a monthly income in the thousands. Just give ..read on Employers has the last say in hiring decisions 2008-06-29 In the last decade, many Singaporeans have expressed dissatisfaction with the Singapore government for local jobs going to foreigners. In 2003, Nanyang Technological University has also compiled a study showing this to be true. Although the public..read on Sexual peep-a-boo advertisements 2008-06-22 It all started with the brand name MOCCA, local television station MediaCorp’s “search, buy, sell and connect” website. An advertisement saw three slender and attractive girls with placards in place of the position of their boobs, with pure flesh pee..read on Decentralization of Singapore\'s office 2008-06-15 With the sharp rise in Singapore’s property rental rates, there is now a phenomenon of decentralization of offices located in the island city. Many business owners are shunning the Central Business District (CBD) for cheaper office rents. Take Cha..read on The transport divide 2008-03-31 In the last eight years, many Singaporean yuppies have invested in trendy Jaguars as their favored mode of transport. Within these last three years, some have even got a step further by having fanciful pictures painted on them. The sighting of Merced..read on Makan all year round 2008-03-24 Food which used to be seasonal is now available all year round. A case in point is the king of fruits. Hawkers hawking durians in Geylang used to charge exorbitant prices during durian season due to high demand. However, now with the green spiky frui..read on Some Singaporeans profiteering from foreign workers and CPF 2008-03-17 The oft-published refrain in the media is Singaporeans' grumbles about competition from foreign workers for jobs and Central Provident Funds (CPF) contributions. Yet, scratch beneath the surface, and the dirt being dished out may leave one surpris..read on You want to choose your religion? Ok. 2008-03-10 Step into any Singapore household nowadays, and you can see pictures of Jesus Christ and the Virgin Mary alongside the altar of Buddha or Guan Yin. Singapore parents are increasingly more liberal in allowing their children to choose their own religio..read on A double take at Singapore\'s jaywalkers 2008-03-02 The green man is not there. The red man is there, but at the junction, traffic lights also signal red for vehicles to stop. Not surprisingly, pedestrians continue to walk, and no, they are not jaywalking. The traffic lights for pedestrians spotted..read on Are there robots in this world? 2008-02-28 There are two friends of mine in Singapore, not very close friends but acquaintances. They are nice, on all counts. They eat, they drink, they work and they play. Yet, they never lose control. They smile at me, they call me a friend, and do nice t..read on Singaporeans are eating leftovers 2008-02-25 Many Singaporeans have resorted to eating leftovers. Once the diner leaves his place at the table, there are Singaporeans lumbering over to eat the leftovers. Although the phenomenon is not new, there appears to be a sharp increase in direct relatio..read on The Straits Time report on theft in clothing retail outlets. 2008-02-18 In 2007, The Straits Times ran an article citing employees as siphoning clothing from retail outlets. Given The Straits Times reputation, it would be more credible if the newspaper cites as to the sources the statistics were based on, the names of th..read on Are you sure about UOB at Takashimaya? 2008-02-18 In 2007, The Straits Times ran an article citing Bangladesh people as thieves in missing of funds at UOB's automated teller machines (ATM). Given The Straits Times reputation, it would be more credible if specific names are provided and as to whether..read on A colorful food paradise 2008-02-17 With the success of cafes in Singapore such as The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and Starbucks, hawkers are quick to capitalize on this new trend. Signboards with names such as “Hola Cafeteria”, “The Red House” and “Gourmet Concept” have been spotted. The..read on Pay NTUC Fairprice ten, twenty cents more 2008-02-10 Recently, the display prices labeled on the shelves of NTUC Fairprice (a supermarket chain) is not the price you pay for the purchase. Shoppers have noted that cashiers do not adhere to display prices and charge approximately ten to twenty cents more..read on Why must Singapore hub this, hub that? 2008-02-05 The joke going around 2004 to 2006 was that the Singapore government was using the word ¡°hub¡± to describe Singapore in virtually any field. And it was true. Read any media content on Singapore, and there were terms like educational ¡°hub¡±, biomedi..read on Rubbish fashion for Singapore 2008-01-31 Mango, a Spanish fashion label once the fave of Singapore¡¯s women professionals, has lost its luster. The main reason could be the dumping of unwanted stock from the western countries to Singapore. Curiously, winter clothing was spotted in local ret..read on Short-changed when receiving change 2008-01-30 The recent going-on in Singapore is being short-changed when receiving change. Often, the culprit returns a lesser amount in terms of coins. When the mistake is discovered by the recipient, the culprit will return the remaining amount. However, many ..read on No more NS men falling flat on their feet 2008-01-30 Eighteen-year old boys in Singapore have often been exempted from National Service (NS) for medical reasons. One of the more common reasons is color-blindness. Another excuse often cited is flat feet. The boys only had to show their feet to gain exem..read on | All writersGregory Schnese Brie Stimson Saidul Khan Professor Curiously Melissa Gentile Haamid Ansari Terri Tanner Nava Thakuria Khalid Jehangir Chris Hartley Stacey Jenkins K Kirker Albertina Lloyd Kate Randall Chuck Scott Lou Lancelot Kirby N. Robbie McIntyre Kate Sole Giuliano Marinkovic Bryan Hatton Israel Jayakaran Crystal Tein John Sadowski Anthony Caroto Caleb Schaber Tara Meacham Joe Harless Margaret Gelbwasser Bhaskar Dasgupta Sajan Varghese Frank Cotolo Gina-Marie Cheeseman Stephen John Morgan John Turner Brianne St. George John Deeds Afrika Abney Reece Pocock Julian I. Taber, Ph.D. Henk Luf Shawntaye Scott GAUTAM S. MENGLE Genaro Torres Sanghani Hardik Stan Popovich Michael Fernando Julianna Willis Joe Pietaro Joe Cheray Kenneth Barnes Dr. Whacko Mark Jabo Don E. Post, Ph.D. Zack Sampsel Samuel Lee Sandy Wilson Linda Wattley Daniel Berman Serban Brebenel Sathish Chandra Tom Nicholson Trace Hacquard Michelle Mason S. Horovitch Alicia Morrison Susan Levine Shane Gillespie Dr. Freddy Davis TheCheers Guy Steve Harvith Nirlipta Kumar Pathy Lauren Walker Anirudh Chandrakant Thomas Lundy Lue Deck Chris Thomson Willhemina Wahlin D.A. Stacy Nick Lullo Steve Anderson Kathryn Giglio Sam Fels Dr. X Chen Gu Roberto Fuzzy Andy Price Tony Lucas Ralf Vinogradov Peter Mac Michelle Peckham Di Timmins Richard Patterson S. Melouney Humberto Rodriguez Rebecca Lang P D Han Linda Lycett Siim Einfeldt Michael Jae Adam Trahan Syed Abdul Mateen Emily Bivens Holly M. Juli Gladston Hung Vu Grant Fitz Gareth Suddes Matthew Morrissette Alexandra Smith Tony Lucas Roxanne Cottell Michael Marsh Robert P. Herbst Mike Oren Jeremiah Hopkins The Revenge Guy Stacey Su Nicole Marie Stevenson Walt Lange John Riddle Marjo R. Moore Dave Foreman Tom Sterner-Howe Dewayne Coleman Tara Young Kelly Williams Rita Woods Max Epinoza Jennifer Ellis R. Chris Brown Venkatesh Premchandran Tammy Mezera Lakshmi Natarajan Katherine Booth John Stark Karina Shatalova Craig Kole Ade-Odutola Peggy Butler Gary Bunker (UNV) Chris Fernando Aaron Foster Rodger Murray Brian H Olivier Laurent Gemma Coleman Daryl Grove Ask DocKee Nicole E. Johnson, Ph.D. Liz Prescott kristiano Ang Eric Webb Diego C. Kimiko de Freytas Tanya Sturman Kevin Smith Dave Wilbanks Stacey Winch Jack Goodstein Deano James Anyon J. J. Strum Kevin Hancock Becky Garrison Martin Hanson Jay Gory Robin Sisson Zhanna Bilenko Gav Stone Vishwanath V Red Legion Lizzie Kunal Surati Lisa Knapp Rich Bowden(UNV) Leonie Richman Lauren Kaemmerer Kristiano Ang Walt Pretorius Matt Holt (UNV) Andr do Val (UNV) Tuaha Bin Suhail Saifi Jayashree Lakshminarayanan Sal Amato Brenda Coxe Owen Hollifield Sanjay Verma Rachel I. Dotson Trisha Priebe Gareth Evans Khadeja Kausar Harold M. Paxton Yeni Salma Barlinti Jonathan Rosillo Anonymous Gian Marco Di Pietro Anathema Harris Rob Harris Courtney Sunday Andy Martello Fazale Karim Stephen Irving Rob Favero Lauren Slemenda Aja Beasley Emma Dixon Cees Bakker Efefiong Akpan Penny Thrift Brandy Muniz Amy Herl Valeria (UNV) Valiente Jenny Stein Daniel Martin Bill Jones Syed Rizwan Muhammad Rizvi Andrea Lutz Stuart Burrell Alyona Lelyushkina Peter Wadri Oliver Vogel Bismi Steven Lochran Cathy Walter | Crystal Tein Writer Experience Wrote in student publications. Wrote in a Singapore publication known as "Choices" with students as target readers. Currently writing in a Singapore publication known as "Prime" with target readers aged 45 years and above. More information about the writer I have been active in student politicial clubs and societies in the National University of Singapore. I have also helped out in "Meet the People" sessions under the banner of PAP, but am NOT a member of Youngpap. I have also helped out in my neighborhood committee. I am also a person currently targeted by a business family in Singapore to prevent me from earning a living in Singapore, after one of their nice decendants nearly poisoned me to death. I am a Singaporean who do not get along that much with my own generation and thus would decline any invitation for political leadership. Articles by this author 1. My Grandmother 2. Don\'t Let Disillusionment Get You Down 3. Why Kerry didn\'t win? 4. Men\'s Vocabulary: A Guide for Women 5. Loneliness might not be such a bad thing after all 6. Rationalizing Death 7. Creativity? Not so easy. 8. Bringing Home the Travelling Experience 9. My parents and my money 10. Denouncing Online and Phone Dating 11. Human rights 12. Having children. Yes or no? 13. Terrorism Explained 14. Of feminism and blurring of the sexes (from a woman\'s perspective) 15. The Truth about Network Marketing 16. Froggy\'s first trip to the grocer\'s 17. My own sense of being an Asian 18. The United States of America\'s foreign policy-the objective truth 19. A Global Cold War, perhaps? 20. The Price of Success or Failure? 21. Back in 1990s- The Education System 22. At the end of the day ... about friends 23. The Adult World 24. Breathe Life into Art 25. Inside a Terrorist\'s Mind 26. In the shoes of terrorists 27. Capitalism- For Better or for Worse? 28. The Seventh Sister 29. Of Creation and Invention 30. Introducing the Magical Family from China 31. Is this what life is? 32. God\'s Word 33. Ten Things People Do to Keep Up Appearances 34. The Ball 35. The News Looks Surreal 36. A Little Girl and a Rose 37. My Take on Money 38. The Magical Family in Education 39. On a Rainy Day 40. Direction of Equivocation 41. Live Life! 42. My Anguish 43. My Anguish 44. Colors 45. Time 46. America and China: Let\'s Win Together 47. The English Language 48. The Start of a New Day 49. Airies Like Aries 50. The Spurned \"Lover\" 51. Caution on Greed 52. A Free World for All 53. The Music Healer 54. Ego 55. The Now Singapore 56. How to Subdue the Magical Family 57. Life\'s Choices 58. Of Poverty and Riches 59. My Mother and I 60. 20s and 30s Singaporean Chinese Males 61. Dance 62. Lost Slumber 63. A Tribute 64. The Urge 65. Stupid Fools 66. The Mis-guided Terrorist 67. Water 68. The Magical Baby and the Kitchen Girl 69. The Green Eye of the Magical Family 70. Happiness 71. Work 72. Who 73. A Tough Global Capitalist World 74. Happy Times 75. Pondering the Local Arts Scene 76. Growing Up 77. Chapter 2- The Magical Baby and the Kitchen Girl 78. The Truth about Media 79. Charity 80. Happy New Year 81. Coffee 82. Sometimes... life 83. Media Competition 84. The Perception of Life 85. Sleep 86. Money 87. My Reputation 88. Human beings 89. Power 90. The Animal Kingdom 91. The Ordinary 92. A Bastard Chinese Man\'s Voice 93. Sweet Memories 94. The Olympic Torch 95. The Real World with Real People 96. Anything is Dangerous 97. The United Nations 98. The Office 99. Artisans Wind and Rain 100. The World Today 101. Inside a Computer Game Addict\'s Mind 102. Reliance 103. The Big Picture and Small Picture 104. One Singapore Employer 105. It\'s not that Bad a World 106. Madness 107. Gambling Fiction: News from Planet Earth 108. The Global Millennium Economic Crisis 109. Zombie 110. Spenders vs Savers 111. Void 112. Sweet Money Talk News by this author 1. On board the bus and train 2. Meow! May your business prosper! 3. “I want to transfer some of my salary into your account to evade income tax.” 4. Employers has the last say in hiring decisions 5. Sexual peep-a-boo advertisements 6. Decentralization of Singapore\'s office 7. The transport divide 8. Makan all year round 9. Some Singaporeans profiteering from foreign workers and CPF 10. You want to choose your religion? Ok. 11. A double take at Singapore\'s jaywalkers 12. Are there robots in this world? 13. Singaporeans are eating leftovers 14. The Straits Time report on theft in clothing retail outlets. 15. Are you sure about UOB at Takashimaya? 16. A colorful food paradise 17. Pay NTUC Fairprice ten, twenty cents more 18. Why must Singapore hub this, hub that? 19. Rubbish fashion for Singapore 20. Short-changed when receiving change 21. No more NS men falling flat on their feet |