Before you read on, let me get one thing straight. I have nothing against taxi drivers. Bad experiences, yes, there were some but those were very mild ones. What you’re about to read is so extremely stupid you’ll think I made it all up.

It all started when we reached my destination. I asked for a receipt. Then, seeing that I had only $16 (the fare was $24.55), I asked to pay by NETS which he rejected because he said he printed out the receipt already.

I was a little angry that he assumed I was going to pay by cash but that was still okay. So we went to the nearest ATM so that I can withdraw some money.

He stopped 10 metres away from the ATM. Withdrawing money would only take all of 2 minutes. But when I wanted to go out, he didn’t trust me so he asked for me to leave my bag inside his taxi which I couldn’t because inside there was camera equipment (company property) worth over $1000. Okay, fair enough. So I gave him my driver’s card which has my photo, name and IC number on it and wanted to go out. As I was going to open the door, the taxi driver pulled my bag and locked the door like I was a thief. Seriously, WTF?

He said he didn’t trust me and he knew I was going to run away and then drove me to the Yew Tee Police Post to settle it. WHATT??? I was cursing and swearing and displaying my full array of colourful vocabulary at the time because he was wasting my time for nothing and I had work to do at home.

Funny thing was, he didn’t know the way to the police post so I had to give him directions.

At the police post, the policemen talked to us and calmed us down. Everyone there was looking at me like I was a criminal. It was humiliating.

In the end, the police told him to drive me to the ATM to withdraw money. So, it’s basically the same thing but he just wasted 30 minutes of my life.

Then, demanded that he drive me back to my destination. He topped it all off with a racist comment saying that he doesn’t trust Malays because Malays always run away without paying. And the ironic thing was, the policemen who talked to us were all Malays.

Unbelievable.

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The sores are finally out! Vettel who initially took pole position in the qualifiers for the first league of the Formula 1 2010 series in Bahrain ended up in fourth after a leading streat of over 42 laps. Emerging tops was team Ferrari with Fernando Alonso in P1 and Felipe Massa taking P2, while Englishman, Lewis Hamilton came in P3 on the podium from Mclaren Mercedes.

Sebestian Vettel who experienced a chain of bad luck through the final laps of the race, clutch problems then exhaust, saw a slow but steady lapse in gap timing between himself and Fernando Alonso before losing the lead. The pass however, was quick between the Ferrari cars and the Red Bull leader. Lewis Hamilton who seemed rather content with his position at third did not show any attempt to close the 7.1 second gap between himself and Felipe Massa who finished 16.0 seconds behind teammate Fernando Alonso.

Disappointing attempts by former Brawn GP drivers Rubens Barichello, and Jenson Button who came in P10 and P7 respectively. While Jenson made feeble attempts to close up to Michael Schumacher, whom after a 12 year break in his racing carrer, manages to reatin in P6 just behind Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, not bad for an old man.

The latest additions to the grid include Lotus, Virgin and Hispania Racing. Two of which retired before the end of the race due to mechnical faults. Only Heikki Kovalainen, former Mclaren Mercedes No.2 driver managed to complete the race at 15th place with a 2 lap trail in front of Scuderia Torro Rosso Ferrari Driver Sebastien Buemi.

Track conditions varied through the change of temperature between noon and evening, Mclaren Mercedes engineers did caution Lewis Hamilton of overheating brakes and some tyre inconsitencies during the race, but nontheless the very well built car with very advantgeous diffusers did prove helpful.

Predictions for the race was rather set on Alonso and Vettel, however there were speculations over the superior built of the Ferrari and Mclaren Mercedes cars that may take the overall advantage.

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Sitting face to face in front of Babyface and Christian McBride, the men I spent years of my tween-hood (and sometimes now) listening to gave me goose bumps.

Both men in person.

I wanted to throw so many questions at them – What inspires you? Do you eavesdrop like I do to get a glimpse into other people’s lives? Do you take a slice of your life then put it into a song? What comes first for a song – the writing or the composing? - Yes, verbal diarrhea. But one must have self control when in the midst of other grown-ups and while at the Esplanade.

I was glad when they answered those questions and more.

Christian McBride, probably the world’s most sought after jazz bassist, shared with us that his inspiration came from the songs that he listens to. Babyface on the other hand, shared that he is often inspired by other people’s conversations – so if you ever have the chance to sit near Babyface when you’re at dinner, watch out, what you discuss over dinner may just be his next hit song!

Working on a piece in celebration of President Barrack Obama’s election night

So what’s in store for these two great men?

Pay attention to what you say when you’re out for dinner and Babyface is sitting around the corner

Christian McBride is working on the fifth movement in a series that pays tribute to the civil rights movement and this movement celebrates the election night of United States’ President Barrack Obama. Meanwhile, Babyface is working with young talents like Kristinia DeBarge (daughter of DeBarge’s keyboardist, James DeBarge) on his new label, Sodapop Music.

Babyface and Christian McBride perform at the Esplanade tonight as part of the Mosaic Music Festival! 

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In the wake of our Leave The Tigers Alone issue last week, look at what my NTU juniors sent in the mail!

That’s Nicholette Chua, a full-time student, part-time tiger from East View Primary School, showing everyone three simple steps to take towards eco-responsibility.

She was just one of the many young children the NTU students worked with for an environmental campaign that encourages positive change via meaningful actions like the above. We heard the children set up booths at the canteen and romped about in tiger costumes to get friends and teachers to pledge their support to save animal habitats.

Speaking of which, consider adopting a tiger via WWF (not related to aforementioned campaign) to support their conservation efforts. Go tiger.

Technorati Tags: tiger conservation, save the world, green advocacy

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So I might be a few days shy of Valentines Day (could be counted in weeks actually). But nonetheless, the blog-o-sphere has been filled with stories of mended and broken hearts. Dr. Berns shares some tips on how to deal or avoid the sometimes unavoidable ‘broken hearted girl’.

Tip #1

I try my best to phrase this in the best way possible.

So you got dumped or dumped, hurts and feels good doesn’t it? You probably think that it is something you deserve, or maybe something your other ex-half deserved, don’t you?

I don’t disagree. Maybe you ended up the victim of the broken relationship and know (’think’ is such a weak word) negatively of the other gender. Considering turning to the same gender for comfort or maybe something more?

I highly recommend it!
Reasons:

1. No such thing as unwanted pregnancies
2. You won’t have stereotype other genders
3. Some people from the opposite gender may find you totally hawt.

Tip #2

Completely avoid all anniversaries, birthdays,  couple’s holidays or special landmarks of a couple’s dating life. That way, complaining that he/she dumping you for another won’t feel so bad. Let’s face it, men cheat and women weep, women cheat and men turn into creeps.

Tip #3

Gifts are a waste of time and effort. If you got perfume, leather goods or jewelery, you’re being considered encouraging materialistic tendencies or calling him/her cheap for not putting more effort into gifts or being a concerned partner. Of course, if you were planning to put effort into gifts, it usually ends up where you can’t be bothered to make that extra trip down to popular or art friend.

What are the odds that your partner does not appreciate the gift you got him/her? Pretty high.

Tip #4

Dates are for losers. One Night Stands are plain boring and Marriages are too darn expensive!

Think about it, single hood is best! Nobody to be accountable for, anniversaries and birthdays happen on the same day and instead of spending time and money, you receive them. Nothing to feel sorry about in case the gift isn’t good.

Tip#5

Make your date pay! Especially if you’re a guy.

Assuming you’re feeling really low and on one of your loser-ish days, on a date. Always choose to not say anything when it comes to picking a place to eat. By the time your date starves, he/she will pick a place, that way, you won’t have to succumb to the obligation of paying.

To do so, please bring extra food with you. Excuse yourself to the toilet and gobble away. While you munch, your date waits for you outside the washroom, growing hungrier and hungrier with every passing minute.

Tip #6

Have fun! Fool around, commitment ties you down and honestly, other than a complete distraction from work, it proves as nothing beneficial at all!
Think about it, when was the last time you saw a couple love each other for themselves? After time together and they remain absolutely the same? Commitment changes people and does things to them. Horrible things!

Take time, get to know a couple more guys out there, girls, if you see that cute Youth.SG writer, go ahead, talk to him. He’s probably friendly anyway, know more people, build your contact list. These things are more important than just knowing one guy really well and hitting it off as a relationship.

Most guys are douches anyway.
With the major exception of Youth.SG writers.

Tip #7

Ever wonder why marriages fail and relationships sour?

Everybody grows old sooner or later. When you grow old, you change, you don’t look like your 18 year old awesome self. Ex-Cheerleaders don’t get cheered on past their forties. Men don’t ‘perform’ as well past their fifties.

Today, I am introducing to you a revolutionary solution to all these problems. Surgery.

LADIES! - Saggy (Everywheres) - [face it, boobs are not the only ones that matter, too bad if you couldn’t afford a proper set of milk jugs back then. But that’s besides the point.] Your cheeks are dull, a lost of luster, no longer the smooth delicate money makers that make men drool for a peck. Your thighs are a little flabby, thundered them in the past? Those under-arms deflatable pillows sprung a leak, now it dangles like a silken bed sheet?

Use BOTOX! For god’s sake! This miracle drug pushes more than just face beauty into a clinical syringe.

MEN! - Blue V does more than just wonders. Other than separating the boys from the men, it turns men into Gods. Maybe i’ve been watching too many fantasy movies. But there is always a pill of immortality in those soddy chinese soaps. I figured, since immortality doesn’t exist in the real world, this is the closest thing.

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WIN PRIZES BY JUST TAGGING YOURSELF TO THE ITEM YOU WANT TO WIN!

Here’s how it’s gonna work: On Mar 11, between 11am to 2pm, we’ll be uploading a picture onto Facebook which contains a huge bunch of YOG merchandise. The first person to tag themselves to any YOG item in the picture will get to bring home the merchandise!

Note: only one prize per person!

Merchandise includes collector’s items including Lyo and Merly plush toys(worth $79.80), back packs ($149.90), Singapore 2010 sports bottle, pins, lanyards…

Keep Mar 11, 11am to 2pm free!

For a list of possible things you might just win, click here!

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Ever since I first read Tuesdays With Morrie, I’ve wanted to meet with Mitch Albom for a chance to pick his brain. Where do you get inspired? Where do you write - in a proper office/in a park/in your toilet? What’s your thought process like? Do you ever think about what your editors/publishers/readers will think about when they read your books? I need to know!

Well well well, the man himself, author of international bestselling titles like Tuesdays with Morrie, The 5 People You Meet in Heaven and his most recent novel, Have A Little Faith, was in Signapore last week and Youth.SG, along with over 150 people, rushed down to { prologue } to meet the man in person.

Just a fraction of the crowd that day…

Tickled pink by the unique names he gets here in Singapore..

I was blown away by Mitch. Not only was he down to earth and honest, he was witty and funny too! Young and old, fans lined up in front of the store over an hour slated before his appearance. Sweetly surprised by the turnout, MItch promised not to leave until he authographed each and every person’s books.

Before he got down to signing books, Mitch shared that Have A Little Faith was an accidental book, just like Tuesdays With Morrie. He was asked to write the eulogy for his rabbi when the time comes.

He shared that the process of writing Have A Little Faith humbled him and taught him a lesson. Despite the differences that we may have in our beliefs, our skin colour, and different set of challenges, one thing for sure is that faith provides comfort in a being larger than ourselves..

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Now that the earlier days of non-stop home visits for CNY is probably over, and we’re all back at work or in school, how about we take some time to survey our “collections” this CNY and plan how to use them wisely in the days ahead.

There’s only so much kam that one can stomach. So what do you do with the leftover mandarin oranges? Well, here are a few things that I can think of for now..

1. Freeze it for dessert
Cold mandarin oranges (peeled, of course) seem to somehow go down better and it’s easier to eat once someone else has taken the effort to peel it for us.
2. Juice it!
Juicing is probably the fastest way to finish up that truckload of mandarin oranges on your dining table. So go ahead and juice them up for a quick dose of Vitamin C!

3. Go for a picnic and volunteer to bring fruits
Have yet to get into the mood for work? How about a picnic for lunch one of these days to get out of the office? You can volunteer to bring mandarin oranges for the picnic and everyone gets their Vitamin C for a happy and balanced meal

4. Use the peel as freshener – fridge and car!
Don’t throw away those mandarin orange peels yet! Keep them in a net or a bag with holes as fresheners for your car, your room, or even your fridge. Trust me, it works and smells real good too!

Hong baos

Before we draw up a wishlist of things that we want for ourselves, why don’t we spare some of that collection to share with the people in Haiti? Or any other causes that you feel strongly about

Share your hong bao! <3

Cookies

Looks familiar?

The only thing that is more overwhelming than too many varieties of cookies is well, a mountain of cookies that you can’t seem to finish. I believe we’ve all done our fair share of munching on these treats even before the start of CNY so why not swap them with your friends for other varieties that you may not have?It’s a win-win situation. First, both parties are relieved of their leftover treats and second, they get new ones to try. You never know what you may get!

HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR EVERYONE! 
Photos: Google

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