Stupidity Quotient ...

... if there was one, how far removed are we from Singapore?

I forgot my EZ Link card today so I had to pay cash for transportation. This is the first time in a long while since I used cash for the MRT. I approached a counter that said "Ticket Office", and asked the lady there for a one-way ticket. She said they don't sell tickets, so she directed me to the ticketing machine. Say what? Don't sell tickets at the "Ticket Office"? Anyway, I just came from the machine, right? And they don't accept $10 notes, I said. She then replied that I would have to get change from the "Passenger Services" counter, which is like half way across a crowded station, which, by the way, also do not sell tickets, just to break my $10. Then I had to make my way back to the ticketing machine - again - through throngs of people. Was that mind-numbing? just reading that? try actually going through the hassle at rush our when you're, like, freakin' rushing so you won't have to be freakin' late for work.

This is reminiscent of the what I call Putra LRT phenomenon. This strange phenomenon happens at Putra LRT stations (I don't take STAR, so I can't say if it happens only to the Putra line stations). The phenomenon causes ticketing machines to accept only 1 note per ticket. Yes, only 1. So if you have say RM2, you can only use 1 RM1 note and the rest in coins. Apparently, the machine is not intelligent enough to accept more than 2 notes (to their credit, I think this problem has rectified).

Yes, strange, stupid things happen at train stations. So now back to the question: How far removed are we? Apparently, not far. Not far at all.

Tour de Tampines

Circumnavigated Tampines on foot this evening: http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2985598 Total time: 58:25:10. Distance: about 8km/5mi.

Speaking of miles, I might want to start recording my mileage in miles. Thinking in large numbers using kms when I am running can be quite depressing. I started off using km because the measurement unit used on the markers of the park connectors was metric. But now with Gmaps Pedometer and some conversion websites, measuring in miles may not be so difficult after all.

Yay! Prison Break is on

I don't know why I keep watching this. The plot is just impossible and unreal, but, the suspense ...

Anyway, in today's episode - Alex escapes custody; Michael is successfully operated on; Bagwell gets kidnapped; Gretchen and Don Self is on the run, losses Scylla, and is on the run ... again; Sucre has had enough of 4 seasons of shit and decides to leave the group. He hugs Lincoln and says goodbye; the General forces Lincoln to work with Gretchen and Don; and, finally, it's revealed the Michael's mother is a Company operative.

And there you go - today's Prison Break episode in a nutshell!

It's hot, hot, HOT!

30:07:57 - 5km around the park near my apartment. 12.5 rounds on a 400m running track. I think I did about the same time last week. I hope to improve my time with these regular runs.

It was raining almost the whole day, not heavy, but still, the air was humid. I imagine that running in temperate climates would be slightly easier because of the lack of humidity, but, hey, what to do? I live in the tropics. The weather can be plain oppressive sometimes, nay, most times, like a huge weight bearing on my back. It gets worse when it rains or threatens to rain. When it rains, the weather might be cooler, but the humidity quickly negates any positive effects of the coolness.

If I were to run a marathon overseas and I am on a tight budget, I think I'll try Bangkok or anywhere further north in the summer. Is Perth drier too? I want to try running in a drier climate for once.

Wassamatter? Marathon not going too well?

Ok, the complaints are surfacing about the recent inaugural KL Stanchart Marathon. A friend also told me that his marathon finisher t-shirt's colours are running after the first wash plus the size of the tee is 3 sizes too big, so we've established that the quality is quite crap lah.

I didn't run the marathon, so I am not in a position to complain lah. All I can say is: "teething problems". That and "Malaysia Boleh". See, mebbe my friend should have dry cleaned his t-shirt *snicker*

Oh well, at least the organizers apologized. Can or not?

Ran past the 11k mark today

Managed at least 15k today running through Loyang, Nicoll Drive and Changi Coast Road. Once I got past Changi Ferry Terminal, the running path continued on past the Changi Airport runways. The airplanes were pretty close there, and I could see the viewing gallery on the terminals on my right. On my left is just a mangrove swamp, but it was quiet and serene along the park connector. There were quite a few cyclist, but most of them stayed on the roads. All in all, it was a good route to take.

This run was interesting for as it's the first time I've run 15k. I was exhausted, but surprisingly after about the 8th or 9th km, my legs felt as if they had a mind of their own. You know how it is when you first start running and your legs feel like lead? and every step you take is a laborous feat. Well, after I got over that stage, my legs just, well, didn't feel like lead. I was tired, but my legs felt light.

Oh yeah, I found out what running cramps feel like today. Good thing it wasn't serious enough to stop me at my tracks. Nevertheless, it was a signal that my calves were tired.

What happened to my Prison Break?

They took off the scheduled Prison Break episode to show some special on Michael Jackson? Man! I am cheesed.

Yeah, I am sad that he passed on, but everyone passes on sooner or later. But I think I am sad for his passing for my own selfish reason.

His passing in some way signifies that a chapter of my life has now closed - the life I once lived when I was a boy. Then, MJ was a big hit. He was everywhere. I think it's the nostalgia that saddens me and not the passing of the person itself. Do I sound insensitive? I guess I am. I don't really know him as a person.

And now that he is gone, suddenly he is in the limelight again. They are making his death into a media circus as exemplified by that special they're showing now in place of Prison Break. I don't know if this what MJ had really wanted, but I think we should just respect his passing and not make a mockery of it. I think we do him kindness by remembering his music and showmanship instead of being fixated on his personal life.