DeepWave

Over the past couple of days, I’ve added a few new pages. These are mostly old articles and items which were never posted at the previous DeepWave server.

• A Short Romp in the US
• Negotiation in a Nutshell (Foreword)
• Review of Palm A.R.M. Screen Protector
• From the m505 to the T3

Negotiation in a Nutshell
By Arlene Bastion

Foreword
In his Inaugural Address as the President of the United States of America on 20 January 1961, John F. Kennedy presented his vision of peace throughout the world. During a time when the world lived in the shadow of possible global annihilation by a planned or accidental nuclear exchange, President Kennedy urged all people to “…never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.”

And that is precisely the spirit in which each of us must approach the fine art of negotiation. However, the problem for most people is precisely this fear of negotiating, of saying the wrong things, drawing up ill-conceived plans, committing to difficult promises, or making erroneous judgment calls and so on. This fear often prevents people from practising their negotiation skills, which is an important step to becoming an effective negotiator.

Here is a book that takes the fear out of negotiation by consolidating all the tips, references, and views about the negotiation process into one volume. The examples are clear and concise, the steps from planning to execution are detailed and comprehensive, while the reading and language used is light-hearted and effective. Indeed, Arlene Bastion has even covered difficult topics such as psychological, gender and cross-cultural factors, thus making this book both an excellent “how-to” guide for the uninitiated beginner, as well as a dog-eared reference for the seasoned expert.

Negotiating effectively could mean the difference between success or failure – and at very high levels, even life or death. As such, all people, not just businessmen like myself, but policemen, social workers, parents, educators, salespersons, indeed, anyone whose day-to-day activities bring them into contact with other people, need to know how to negotiate well. By following the steps, tips and examples in this book, I believe you will never again fear to negotiate, or for that matter, negotiate with fear.

Patrick Khoo
Managing Director
Digital Artifact
August 2004

Preface
Many books on negotiation promote one point of view, one aspect, a particular approach or strategy. My nutshell view approach is to simplify and present all that is usually said about negotiation in a comprehensive and palatable manner. The book has no noble ambition to create masterful negotiators. It intends to increase awareness of the basics of negotiation, with the added dimension of some issues that arise, from ethical, cross-cultural and gender considerations. Brief attention has also been given to some prominent psychological factors, of power, personality, and perception, as well as to the all-important communication and interpersonal skills in negotiation, including examples of language use.

Such a simplified overview can be of particular use to businesspersons interested in personal and professional self-development, students of negotiation, anyone wanting to enhance their knowledge and understanding of what negotiation entails. It can be the platform from which persons can work to maximize their effectiveness as negotiators.

There is nothing magical or mystical about negotiation. It actually consists of activities we do every day: propose, proposition, compromise, make concessions, bargain, persuade, argue, convince, make a case for. We can negotiate successfully without realizing it or without having read this book. But undeniably, the awareness of how these everyday skills can be geared and angled, developed and mastered, consciously and deliberately applied to any negotiation situation, can definitely maximize our potential for negotiation success.

Dr Arlene Bastion
Nanyang Technological University
August 2004

Table of Contents

   
So this was it. I was about to embark on a business trip that would take me halfway around the world. It had been four years since I was last in the US and I was certainly looking forward to the sights, sounds and tastes of this great land again.

I was determined to stay awake during the entire 24-hour flight (Singapore-Tokyo-Chicago-Baltimore) to try and beat the jet lag blues. My theory was that since I had left in the early morning in Singapore, and would arrive just in time for dinner in Baltimore, I could pretend I had a very long day. Reality promised otherwise. It wasn’t kid’s play staying awake through four movies, one entire novel, and an assortment of snacks, meals and drinks (the latter with their "entertainment" value inversely proportionate to the amount of time in the air). It didn’t help either that I had turned in late the night before. One important lesson I took home: don’t depend only on airplane food for sustenance.

Flying gives one an overview of greatness. As we left Chicago (which was where I switched planes), I managed to look out the window (yes, I got a window seat!) to enjoy a flawless view in crisp daylight. The land was flatly stretched out as far as the eye could see - and I felt kilometers of human intervention on one huge earthly spread. Looking southwards, I could see the tall towers of Chicago itself, Sears Tower being the most prominent. And as we crossed over Lake Michigan, I saw such a huge body of water that it seemed a gross injustice to call it a lake. I actually swam in Lake Michigan many years before. It is like swimming in the sea, except that the water does not get into your eyes (i.e. is not salty). Fabulous!

I finally made it to Baltimore-Washington International airport, which incidentally, is not really in Baltimore or Washington DC. It’s midway between the two, and almost an hour from either. That realisation only dawned on me when I was in the queue for the shuttle service. It took me fifteen minutes of queueing just to get to the booking counter, and there, I was told to wait at least an hour for the next available shuttle going my way. As the queue began to snake and slither (you could hear people cussing now and then), my stomach suddenly hissed too - okay, more like growled (as indication?) - and enticed me to pursue the path of least resistance. And so I got in (a considerably shorter) queue for a cab.

I was taken on a considerably more expensive ride too, as it turned out. Cabbies in the US, like cabbies elsewhere, are often out to make a fast buck. There are cabbies who take three rides at a time, don’t use a meter and cut queues to pick up passengers. I fell into the plush, boxy confines belonging to one such middle-aged gem, and somehow just couldn’t extricate myself from the US$40 cab fare for my 40-minute journey.

By the time I reached my hotel, night had fallen, so it escaped my attention that I was essentially in the middle of nowhere. I soon found out, though, that my company had booked me into a hotel which was a 10-minute drive away from The Inn & Conference Centre (I&CC), the venue for the 4-day conference I was to attend. The nearest mall was a thankless 15-minute drive away and the nearest drug store didn’t exactly offer at-your-doorstep convenience. How I wished I had a car to take me away from this estranged hub of civilisation, if only for a nice warm meal! Well, as it turned out, my wish came true: I got the car much later, but I also got more than I bargained for.

The I&CC is a part of the University of Maryland at College Park. On my way there, I noticed a building called Archives II - a large, tall imposing building without windows. This, apparently, was a part of the US Government’s National Archives facility. The battery of security guards made themselves seen and heard. Impressive, I thought. But I was even more impressed to see that the University had its own golf course! And a stadium that seemed larger than the National Stadium in Singapore! The I&CC was also a cultural milieu of sorts, with paintings and sculptures adorning pristine walls. It was evident that the academia there had a high appreciation of fine art.

Attending the conference was pretty straightforward; ears had to be peeled, presentations had to be prepared, notes had to be taken, and reading had to be done. So on my last day in Baltimore, I relieved myself of heightened somnolence at the nearest mall - Laurel Mall - where I enjoyed JC Pennys, Hechts and Wards, Babbages, Radio Shack, Victoria’s Secret and other deliciously sweet secrets!

All too soon, I had to leave Baltimore to head west, towards San Jose. Yes, Silicon Valley San Jose. Even the shuttle driver asked if I was going there to cash in my stock options. My flight plan took me there via Dallas, Texas, and the Rocky Mountains in the West Coast.

One thing I must say about the airports I have been to is that while it may seem that Changi is world class and has great service and all that, all one needs to do is to set foot in Narita, Chicago, Baltimore-Washington International or Dallas, to see the size of a world-class air-hub. These airports have huge terminals and planes all over the place. I used to think that seeing a plane land at Changi every two and a half minutes translated to "busy". At Dallas, we were stuck on the ground for almost fifteen minutes in what can only be termed an air-jam. About ten planes were in line for take-off on this particular runway, with at least five more planes behind us. Even in Narita, as the bus took us to the plane from the terminal, we must have passed by more than ten 747s sitting on the tarmac in various stages of departure/arrival.

Flying westwards over the Rockies was enthralling. The beauty was mind-boggling - flat stretches of white clouds, expanding deserts and spectacular mountain ranges in an effusive harmony of colours.

San Jose is in the middle of Silicon Valley, south of Palo Alto, next to Santa Clara and a stone’s throw away from San Francisco. It is a beautiful town, but of course, the topic on most people’s minds there these days is "high-tech startup". Although I had some business to attend to, I did get to sightsee a bit. As it turned out, my boss forgot his driving license, so I had to get behind the steering wheel of our rented car. I had to work, yeah, but the trade-off was that with a mid-sized car, I could comfortably go around San Jose itself, as well as up to San Francisco.

San Jose is truly the land of high tech companies. I saw the offices of big names like Nortel Networks, Oracle, Excite@Home, US Web, Intel, and countless net companies. My hotel was in fact across the highway from Network Associates. Many of these buildings house the global headquarters of companies whose names are proudly displayed on banners and roadside signboards. You know your company is big when there is a highway exit going to a place called 3Com Park, no doubt in reference to the large networking company, 3Com!

On my way to San Francisco, I saw interesting billboards along Interstate 101. Almost all of them had something to do with some kind of dotcom company or Internet service. I guess the entire valley can be summed up in a single nondescript billboard I saw that had only a web address on it - www.buy.com.

San Francisco is a haven of steep hills and spiffy two and three-storey townhouses (as well as skyscrapers in the CBD, of course). Some of the slopes are almost at a 45-degree incline, giving cars (not to mention pedestrians) a solid workout. Needless to say, I would not have gone by San Francisco without a visit to the Golden Gate Bridge. En route, I stopped at Fisherman’s Wharf, only to realise something fishy - no fishermen, just a jetty with lots of tourists. A much nicer place was Fort Point, an old Civil War fort at the base of the Bridge. From there, you can see the steel underside of the Bridge and hear the low constant rumbling of the traffic above. Unlike the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, you can actually walk across the Golden Gate Bridge. I would have at least ventured across the Bridge by car, were I not alone, and even paid the US$3 toll. But I didn’t want to cause a 12-car pile-up as a result of being distracted by the great view.

So I drove onwards down the coast where I was treated to an expansive view of the Pacific Ocean. While in San Francisco, I did manage to see the Legion of Honour, City Hall, Civic Centre and more. I also found this simple Chinese Restaurant along Geary Boulevard, where I enjoyed a Chinese lunch in American-sized proportions.

When I returned to San Jose, I scouted around some more, popping in at the Great Mall of the Bay Area, or so it’s called, which used to be a Ford factory where cars were assembled. After the factory closed down, some enterprising soul turned it into a huge shopper’s paradise. There, I was fortunate enough to chance upon a lady from the chinese food stall at the food court giving away free samples of their "General Tsao Chicken" to passers-by. I know about free cookie samples, but deep fried chicken in chilli sauce? Their little enterprise worked, though - I was sold and bought a plate of their tangy chicken and rice.

Eventually, after six days of romping around in bit parts of the US, it was time to go. Company expense was for a limited period only. Perhaps if I had stayed on an extra day, I would have made a trip to the Six Flags Great America Theme Park just down the road from my hotel. No daredevil rollercoaster ride on this trip - too bad! I perked up, though, at the thought of my ten-year US visa - that trusty pass which would allow me entry into the Land of Dreams again when the opportunity next arose. See you soon, America! (A little hoping never hurts, right?)

Below is a list of publications, press articles, presentations and events I have worked on. Do also check out the Articles and References section for non-fiction articles, or Some Light Reading for fiction work.

Digital Photography as a Hobby
Mensa Singapore Soapbox, 21 June 2008

Starting a Technology Company
WMV Download (217MB, 1hr 15m)
55@SP, Singapore Polytechnic, 6 January 2006,
Video recording by Singapore Polytechnic

Local Invention that Resurrects Crashed PCs
Today, 13 July 2004

Recovery Made Simple
Computerworld Singapore, 7 July 2004

Data Recovery Solutions for Small Businesses
The Business Times, 5 July 2004

Backing Up The Real World
Exabyte Partners Forum, 23 October 2003

Scientific Minds in Singapore
Agency for Science, Technology And Research (A*STAR) Explosion Magazine,
Issue 6, October 2003

Data Storage Support for Grid Computing
Agency for Science, Technology And Research (A*STAR) Computing Grid
Thematic Strategic Research Program Workshop, 22-23 September 2003

Data Storage is the Key to Business Success
Business Briefing: Data Management and Storage Technology, September 2003
World Markets Research Center

ComputerWorld Storage Dialogue 2003
ComputerWorld, 18 July 2003

Build your own Network Storage with DSI’s HyperSCSI
Data Storage Institute (DSI), Exploit Technologies (ETPL) and Singapore Infocomm
Technology Federation (SITF) Joint Workshop, 9 July 2003

Introduction to Network Storage
Anglo-Chinese Junior College, 18 March 2003

Ethernet Network Storage: Getting More For Less
Marcus Evans Network Storage Technologies and Solutions 2003,
13-14 January 2003

Sir, This Is Your Microwave Oven Calling . . .
Singapore Science Center, 14 December 2002

Ethernet Network Storage - Yes, You can have it Now!
Image and Store 2002, 12 December 2002

HyperSCSI Touted for Low-cost SANs
Computer Weekly 360, 25 November 2002

Ethernet SANs
ComputerWorld, 22 November 2002

Ethernet Network Storage - Reality or Pipe Dream?
Patrick Beng T. KHOO, Wilson Yong H. WANG, Heng N. YEO
LinuxDevices.com, 11 November 2002

Ethernet Storage Trends and Overview
ComputerWorld Storage Forum 2002, 30 October 2002

Ethernet and Internet Protocol-based Network Storage
Business Briefing: Data Management and Storage Technology, October 2002
World Markets Research Center

What’s a Hard Disk and How Should I Organise My Files?
Mensa Singapore Chill and Chat, 11 May 2002

Introducing a Flexible Data Transport Protocol for Network Storage Applications
Patrick Beng T. KHOO and Wilson Yong H. WANG
10th NASA Mass Storage Systems and Technologies Conference / 19th IEEE
Symposium on Mass Storage Systems, 15-18 April 2002

ComputerWorld Storage and Backup Dialogue 2002
ComputerWorld, 5 April 2002

Home-Networked Storage: The Heart of Your Future Home
Innovations Magazine, April 2002

The Heart of Your Future Home
Storage Unlimited, April 2002

The Future of Network Storage
SAN World 2001 Seminar, 21 November 2001

More Storage Protocols: eSCSI
Network Computing Asian Edition, October 2001

Agnostic Architecture
ComputerWorld, 28 September 2001

Free to Choose, Room to Grow
Computer Times, 12 September 2001

Life as a Research Engineer
NSTB Student Seminar - Nanyang Technological University, 11 September 2001

New Technology Widens Scope for Storage
Asia Computing Weekly, 18 September 2000

Network Storage Technology: A Summary From The Field
TechPartnership Seminar, 7 September 2000

Can I Help You? - Exploring Your Technical Support Options
NetWare Connection, October 1998

   
"Hey Alex!" she called out to him.

Alex turned around and looked at her. He was tall and dark, but not so much handsome as he was boyish looking. His dark skin came mostly from his many hours at the university pool. Swimming also gave him his broad shoulders and strong arms. It was in fact at the university pool where he practised that he had first met Mui Fong.

"Mui, hi!" he called out to her. She walked quickly over to him and hugged him. As they parted, she looked into his eyes and smiled.

"Alex, I had such a great day today!" she was still smiling.

"Oh you did? That’s good. Listen, we have to talk about something else."

"Oh? Okay, okay, but let me tell you what happened today. See, this morning, I went to talk to Prof Tan about the senior project I wanted to do, and you know what he said? He said it was a great idea!" Mui Fong touched his arm. Alex could see the sparkle in her eyes.

"And best of all, you know what? He thought it was such a good idea that he said he would ask the AARM Council to help fund my project! It’s more than I could have hoped for!" Mui Fong hugged Alex again.

They walked over to an empty table in the Engineering Cafeteria. The canteen was mostly deserted at that time in the afternoon. A few students were sitting nearby, probably having their tea break. Alex sat across from Mui Fong and looked at her as she sat down.

"Mui, what do you want to eat?" he asked.

"Oh, I feel like celebrating! Give me the ice kacang please."

"Sure, I’ll get it." Alex got up and walked towards the ice kacang stall. Mui looked at him as he disappeared around the corner. He seemed a little preoccupied with something. But then again, Alex had seemed a little distant for the past few days. There must be something that was bothering him. Didn’t he just say that there was something he needed to talk about? Mui Fong decided she would try to find out. Maybe they could go to Clementi and catch a movie afterwards and maybe that might cheer him up. He had been very busy with work lately and probably just needed some time off.

Mui Fong put her bag aside and looked around her. Some other students got up and left and the cleaners were walking around collecting their empty plates. The breeze was strong. Mui Fong brushed her hair away from her face with her hand. Alex was watching her as he walked towards her with a bowl of ice kacang. She was not incredibly beautiful, just average. She had shoulder length hair and was shorter than Alex. Her face was bright and showed off her current happy mood.

She looked at the ice kacang. "Wow, this is fantastic!"

"Listen Mui," Alex began. "I have something to tell you."

"What is it Alex?" she said as she scooped up some of the delicious ice kacang.

"Mui . . . I . . . I want to break up." Alex just let it come out.

Mui dropped her spoon. There was a look of shock on her face. She looked up at Alex. Alex thought she wanted to say something but she kept quiet.

Alex broke the silence. "Mui, listen, I’ve found someone else. She changed my life. These past few weeks, when I’ve been working hard, actually I’ve been with her. I’m sorry I lied to you."

Mui Fong turned away. She opened her bag and took out her purse. "How much for the ice kacang, Alex?"

"Mui," Alex began, "Look, I didn’t mean for this to happen, it just did. She’s, well, she’s incredible. She seems to know what I want before I say it, she’s everything I ever wanted." There was another pause as Mui Fong put down her purse and looked away. Alex saw there were tears forming in her eyes. He realised the full implication of what he just said.

"I don’t mean it that way, I mean . . . Oh heck, I don’t know what I mean. Look, I’m really sorry Mui, I never wanted to hurt you." Alex started to get up. "Lisa, well, that’s her name, she’s waiting for me. I gotta get going. I hope we can still be friends."

Mui finally spoke. "You never loved me did you? You jerk. Do you know how much you hurt me?"

"I’m sorry, Mui, that’s all I can say. I’m really sorry." He saw the tears roll down her cheek. Alex turned away and started to walk towards the end of the canteen.

Mui Fong saw him meet another girl. The other girl, Alex’s new girl, Lisa, was tall and had a great figure. She saw Lisa kiss Alex seductively on the lips as they walked away. Mui Fong turned away and wiped the tears from her eyes with her hand.

As Alex and Lisa were walking out of the canteen, Alex turned back and saw Mui Fong holding her head in her hands.

"Hey lover boy," Lisa held his arm closely. "Don’t you go worrying about her, she’ll be just fine."

"Yeah, honey, I’m not worrying about her." Alex replied. Deep inside he knew it to be true. Mui Fong was a strong girl, and she would get over this break up.

"Oh, Alex, I need to go to the ladies first, you go on ahead, I’ll catch up to you at the bus stop." Lisa kissed him again, this time lightly on the cheek.

"Okay, sure, but don’t take too long, I’m waiting," Alex smiled a knowing smile.

"I won’t, you just be ready for me." Lisa tossed her long hair back over her shoulder and walked back towards the canteen. Alex saw her hips swaying slightly from side to side. Lisa was something else. She was so different from Mui Fong. Alex walked on for a bit, and then quickly turned back towards the canteen, just to get a glimpse of Lisa walking down the aisle. But he didn’t see her. She must have turned the corner or something. He hurried through the canteen and then suddenly stopped short. He heard Mui Fong’s voice just around the corner. Better not bump into her. Alex decided that maybe it was better to just go back to the bus stop and wait there for Lisa. Then he heard Mui Fong’s voice more clearly. Alex stepped forward and peeped around the corner.

"How can I thank you? You’re just so wonderful," Mui Fong said with a wide smile on her face.

"Oh it’s nothing, besides, I can get rid of Alex anytime," said Lisa.

Lisa smiled broadly as Mui Fong held a tall, well built and handsome man in her arms. Then Mui Fong kissed this other man passionately on the lips.

"I’m so happy, I think I want to celebrate with another bowl of ice kacang, this is the best day of my life!" Mui Fong’s eyes lit up with joy.

"With Alex gone, and my brother together with my best friend from primary school, what more could I ask for? I want ice kacang too!" Lisa laughed happily.

   
The first thing she heard when she opened the car door was the chirping of the birds. They were singing the same familiar tune that she had heard for more than 16 years. She looked around. The house she had called her home since she was able to talk, looked the same as when she had left it a few hours ago. And yet in a way, it was different.

"Cheryl . . . . Cheryl . . . ," her Aunt’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

"Yes," she replied. She got out of the car and for a moment, took in her Aunt’s features. Aunty Yeap was a stout divorcee in her early forties. Her hair was not very neat that day and her face mirrored the worry and sadness that was bound up inside her. But she was a kind woman, gentle and easy going. She lived with her son Chiok Kee, a few doors down the road from Cheryl.

As she closed the car door, Cheryl wondered if her mother whom she did not have the chance to know, was like Aunty Yeap. Aunty Yeap and her mother were sisters but they looked quite different in their photograph taken together. Her mother was killed in a car accident when Cheryl was two.

Chiok Kee meanwhile, opened the door to Cheryl’s house. Chiok Kee was about Cheryl’s age except slightly taller and thinner. He was her closest companion, more like a brother to her especially since she was an only child. The two cousins were very close and now Cheryl would need his help even more.

As they entered the house, Aunty Yeap started to speak. "I’ll make us something to drink."

Her voice seemed to fill the entire house. From the sounds of cups and saucers knocking against each other, she had to be in the kitchen. Chiok Kee and Cheryl were alone in the living room. He couldn’t bear to look at her. Instead, his eyes looked down at the floor.

"Is there anything I can do?" He asked without looking up. She looked around the room. The chairs were neatly arranged. The drapes were half drawn. On the coffee table was a picture of her and her father. The two smiling, happy faces started back at Cheryl. It was taken three years ago when Cheryl and her father were at Genting Highlands for a holiday.

"I think I’ll go and lie down for a while."

"Good idea. If you need anything, just call." He looked at her. She looked so vulnerable and he knew that deep inside, she was hurting badly. He put his arms around her and hugged her tightly.

"It’s going to be okay." She nodded her head and picked up the photograph on the table. She took a last look at Chiok Kee and climbed slowly up the stairs.

As she walked towards her room, she passed her father’s room. She couldn’t bear to go in. It was too painful. Instead, she fought back the tears and hastened to her room, closing the door behind her.

Her room was like most other teenager’s rooms, a bit untidy with that strong feeling of being lived in. She walked over to her study table which was next to the window and sat down. Outside, she could hear the birds singing the same old song over and over again. She hated it. She covered her ears with her hands and tried to shut it out. She closed her eyes and her mind started to whirl.

Why? Why must God be so cruel? Why did He have to let families fall apart? First her mother whom she didn’t even know and now her father. Who’s next? Aunty Yeap? Chiok Kee? Heart attack, the doctors had said, but she knew her father was as fit as a fiddle. He was so full of joy and life before. He used to fetch her and Chiok Kee back from kindergarten many years ago. He always smiled secretly to himself, listening to his daughter and his nephew argue and fight. She remembered how he taught her to ride a bicycle after Aunty Yeap had bought Chiok Kee a bicycle.

"It’s all a matter of practice," he had said. Practise she did, and the day finally came when she could ride Chiok Kee’s bicycle without the trainer wheels. She was so happy that day. Chiok Kee screamed and shouted with joy while her father stood beaming. Even Aunty Yeap was caught up in all the excitement. But now her father had followed her mother. Her unknown mother. Who was her mother?

"Your mother was a very nice lady. She was beautiful, charming and caring. In some ways you’re just like your mother, you know?" Her father had said one day. She had seen her father sitting all alone in the dark staring into space.

"What’s wrong daddy?"

"Oh, nothing much, just remembering your mother that’s all. Hey shouldn’t you be in bed?" He picked her up and carried her upstairs. If he was in a good mood, he would tell her a story before she slept. She liked the story about the Chinese songbird being replaced in the Emperor’s Chamber by a mechanical bird and how the Emperor eventually asked for the real songbird in the end.

"Can I have my own songbird?" She would ask.

"Certainly. Just listen carefully and you will hear the birds singing outside your room." And sure enough, the birds were singing away late into the night.

"Just like the Chinese songbird, they will keep singing even when you’re feeling sad." Just like the birds outside her window, her father was there with her all the time. Her father was there with her when she won her school’s elocution contest years later when she was in secondary school. She practised very hard and finally on the day of the contest, her hard work and determination paid off. Her delivery was perfect and when it was over, she saw everyone clapping. Her father was clapping the loudest and was smiling from ear to ear.

Her father shared his success with her too, like when he got a promotion and a bonus. His company gave him a free two night stay at Genting Highlands for completing a project ahead of schedule. He took her on that trip and they had a lot of fun. Her favorite was the bumper cars and they must have spent a fortune on it. The two days were the dearest days of her life and her only wish was that her mother could be with them.

"I know. I wish the same thing too, but the past is gone and there is only today and tomorrow. We can only remember the memories and cherish them. Then we must get on with our lives." Her father was right but she could not accept it. When she failed her mid-year exams a couple of years later, her father didn’t get mad like she had expected. Instead, he comforted her and wiped away her tears, telling her that her best effort was more important than some silly exams. He was there when she needed him but where was he now? Where?

Why couldn’t he come back to her? What should she do now? Stay with Aunty Yeap? It was the most logical thing to do and yet she didn’t want to leave the house. There were too many memories. Oh, what should she do? Where was her father to advise her? She needed him now and she needed him badly. She was at a loss at what to do and her mind was confused. Feelings of anger, frustration, despair and regret boiled within her. The pain of her memories was too much to bear. She felt like she was about to burst. The memory of her father’s voice tormented her, the sight of her father’s face tortured her.

Suddenly, something made her look up. She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked outside the window. The rays of the setting sun were reflected off the clouds forming a beautiful picture. The red, yellow and crimson colours were mixed in a way no man could ever reproduce. And suddenly, in the middle of it all, she saw the arc of a rainbow. The rainbow stretched from one end of the horizon to the other with no beginning and no ending.

"We just pick ourselves up."

The clouds shifted and rolled, making the rainbow become even more distinct.

"We must get on with our lives."

But the beauty was short-lived and the rainbow began to fade.

"Remember the memories and cherish them."

While the picture began to unravel in front of her very eyes, a realization dawned upon her. Her despair was lifted, her confusion gone. Suddenly it was all so clear. Her father was still with her, and so was her mother.

There was a knock on the door. "Cheryl, are you awake?"

"Yes, I am," she answered, her voice filled with a new found happiness. Chiok Kee sensed it, and felt much better himself.

"Well my mother has made us something to drink."

"I feel much better now. I’ll be right down." And indeed, she did feel much better. She now knew that no matter where she was, her father would be with her in spirit and in memory. He would live forever in her heart and nothing could ever separate them now. Then, just as she was opening her room door to go downstairs, she realized that the birds were singing.

"They will keep singing even when you’re feeling sad."

But this time, the birds weren’t singing the same song she knew so well. They were singing a new song.

   
"Have you seen experiment 3.55A.96?"

"Yeah, it’s over there on that table."

"Man did you hear what happened did last night?"

"No, what happened?"

"Those life forms we accidentally created yesterday started doing all sorts of funny things."

"Like what?"

"They even started to gain what looked like a little bit of higher intelligence! But of course that can’t be possible. Such a thing has never been known to happen in our experiments before. But if it did…"

"Yeah, but whoever thought a life form as small as that could be even half intelligent eh? ha ha! I mean we created them! Unintentionally even!"

"Anyway, I figured we should place the test tube under observation today."

"Sounds like a good idea. In fact, lets take a look at it now. Put it under the microscope."

"Hey, what’s this?, they’re actually moving around a lot today."

"Animated responses, but man, do they throw out a lot of excretions. They’re destroying their own environment. You can’t call that intelligent, that’s suicide! Ha! Ha!"

"Wow, they’ve changed overnight! See how different their environment has become. And they’ve multiplied quite a bit too."

"Hmm, roughly speaking, at this rate, they’ll overflow the test tube by tomorrow night! What other so-called signs of intelligence do you see?"

"Here, look at that, they’ve actually modified the environment to fit their needs."

"That’s no sign of higher intelligence, lots of lower life forms do that all the time! It’s instinct."

"Yes, but does instinct cause them to huddle together and form clusters and seemingly cooperate?"

"Well instinct covers a wide variety of natural responses. And instinct by our laboratory definition is not a higher level of intelligence."

"Look! Look!, That one is moving much further away than any of the others have ever gone!"

"Well they’re running out of space, its simple exploration! Instinct again."

"I don’t know, I want to call the Boss in on this one."

"Come on, you can’t say that this is a fantastic discovery. These life forms may be just a quirk of nature, a dirty petri dish. One of them happened to slide too far out from its original spot."

"I could have sworn that they even managed to communicate effectively between one another."

"Where’d that rubbish come from? Ha! Ha! Can they sing?"

"Well, If you look at the microwave channels, you’d see strange fluctuations, repeated signals and even what looked like melodies."

"This is too much, I mean, we’re not supposed to have any "intelligent" life forms appear on our beat. That’s AR5’s department! We’re only supposed to create tiny simulated universes for the Boss."

"I know, but can’t we at least tell AR5 about this? I mean, they might want to develop this species into higher level life forms and release it on one of our bigger simulated universe projects."

"It’s not our department, forget it. These things do not demonstrate a high enough level of intelligence for anyone to be bothered with. Lets just trash this and start over."

"Yeah, I guess maybe you’re right. Maybe I am imagining things. It is some kind of life all right, but probably not worth the trouble to keep."

"What’s the official project name for this simulated universe? Earth and the Solar System? Never mind, we can throw this batch away and make a new one. Call it 3.65A.96. Hopefully it will be devoid of any life forms or dirty test tubes. I’ll tell the Boss about this later."

   
An Encounter,
    Full Of Beauty And Joy,
But Only For A Moment,
    For Then It Is Gone,
Leaving Only The Memory,
    And A Broken Heart.

The sky was darkening and the wind was getting stronger. Cheng Bok was sitting contentedly at his table looking around him. Son of a rich tycoon, he was an over achiever, top athlete, chairman and committee member of half a dozen committees and a socialite. He was a teacher’s pet and the perfect gentleman, polite and immaculately dressed. He was envied by all his friends because he was almost perfect.

The pitter-patter of raindrops aroused him from his thoughts. He had come the Keat Seng Cafe in Burmah Road for its famous pork chops. In his new Proton Saga which was parked some distance away. He wore a light brown and white striped shirt and long grey pants. His face was friendly and helpful, always with a cheerful grin. His hair was cut to the latest style. Many girls would love to go out with him.

Lightning flashed and thunder rolled. What seemed like a passing shower had become a threatening storm. The strong wind blew off a piece of the zinc roofing that had long given shelter to the customers of the cafe. Some people screamed and shouted while other scrambled to get out of the rain. In the midst of all the chaos, Cheng Bok caught sight of her.

She had long hair that was well kept. Her face was enchanting and beautiful. She did not need make up for her natural beauty exuded aesthetic pleasure. She had on a simple white blouse and navy blue skirt. Her high heeled shoes were made of leather and a small handbag hung over her shoulder. Cheng Bok couldn’t help staring at her as she scrambled out of the rain into the shelter of the shop house proper. He wanted to go over and meet her, but for the first time in his life, he began to feel really nervous and afraid. What if she didn’t like him? What if she didn’t like his name? The name Cheng Bok did not exactly fit a person of his stature. What if? What if? There were too many possibilities. He stood up. He wanted to walk over to her but his legs just couldn’t move. His hands were shaking and he couldn’t think straight.

Cheng Bok knew he had to do something fast or lose the chance forever, but what should he do? What could he do? Meanwhile, she was standing there tempting him. She stood there amidst the din and confusion like a beacon of light in the dark night.

The lightning flashed again. There was a power surge that blew all the fuses and left the cafe in darkness. Cheng Bok lost sight of her for a second. When his eyes got used to the darkness, he looked at the crowd hoping to see her. She was nowhere to be seen.

Cheng Bok was frantic. His mind took control of his wobbly legs and pushed them forward. He weaved in and out of the crowd but she was no where to be found. Cheng Bok gave up. He had his chance and he blew it. There was nothing left to do but wait out the storm.

The storm, however, had other plans. The remaining metal and zinc roofing that covered the cafe compound was beginning to shake. The supports gave way. In that split second, Cheng Bok caught sight of her standing next to a large steel support and realised that the roof was about to cave in. A wave of strength and urgency passed over him. In two strides, Cheng Bok reached her side, grabbed her by the waist and jumped out of the way of the falling roof. The roof missed them by inches.

When she realised what had happened, she was shocked and truly horrified. She turned to him and thanked him in a whispering voice that was full of fear and relief. Though it was just two words spoken softly but to Cheng Bok, it was music his ears. Cheng Bok cleared his throat, not knowing what to say, mumbled a polite greeting. She heard him say something but didn’t quite catch it. Instead, she motioned him towards the mess of metal and bodies. They realised that were quite a number of people trapped under the roof. They ran out into the drenching rain and started to clear the debris. Several other people began to do the same.

They worked hard, shifting metal and pulling people out. They kept working until the emergency services arrived. They then stood aside in the rain and let the firemen rescue the few people who were still buried under the roof . Cheng Bok now was a good chance to talk to her. He took a deep breath, hoped for the best and put his best foot forward.

All of a sudden, two firemen stepped right in his path carrying a large zinc sheet. His vision was blocked for a second. When they passed she was gone. He looked around frantically, like a madman who had lost a precious jewel. He searched the crowd, but to no avail.

Who was she? He would never know.

   
    Puff! Puff!
    Beware The Devil’s Breath,
    Puff! Puff!
    Be Wary Of An Early Death.

"This is the moment we have all been waiting for folks - the greatest and the best has arrived!"

That’s right, the greatest and the best is me! I’m the most enjoyable companion you can find. I’m compact, simple yet exotic. I’m the smallest but I last the longest. More taste than any other. The greatest aroma, the most luxurious yet affordable. I’m the best there is at what I do best, which is giving you all complete satisfaction. So light up, my friends! Light me up!

Ah! It feels so good to be on top. Sales are going up and I’m getting extremely popular. Everybody wants me - from the man in the street to the executives in their posh offices high up in the sky. Who says it’s lonely at the top? That commercial two months ago did its job. Of course the main explanation for being so popular is that I am what I said I am. I even heard that one of my rivals cannot stand the competition and is down and out.

Although I am very popular, there is a sector of the public who dislikes me. They yell out slogans and put up posters that tarnish my good name. Because of their merciless attacks on me, some of my fans are taking their so called "good" advice. They have stopped buying me. However my staunch supporters still like me and call me their favourite.

"Cough! Cough!"
"Ralph, you’re still coughing?"
"Unfortunately, yes. Cough!"
"Ralph, you had better stop. It’s ruining your life!"
"My dear, you’re right as - Cough! - always. I’ll try . . . ."

"I can’t stand it. It’s killing me. Just one puff. Just one . . . ." Well, his one puff led to another and another and another! He’s still hooked!

"I’m sorry, but the test is positive."
"Are you sure doctor?"
"Yes, I’m sorry."
"How long?"
"A month . . . . Maybe two . . . . I’m very sorry."
"Doctor . . . . Are you sure that it’s what caused this?"
"Yes . . . . Quite sure. I know how you must feel right now."
"No! You don’t doctor, you may never know. I’m going and it’s all your fault! It’s all your - "
"Mr. Hendricks! Get a hold of yourself!"
"I’m sorry doctor, it’s just that I’m very upset . . . . Thanks doc. I guess I’d better be leaving." Mr. Ralph Hendricks leaves with tears in his eyes, while the doctor sits at his desk saddened by the news he had to give.

I feel sad. To think that it may have been I who caused this. Hey! But it could be a million other reasons. I wonder . . . .

It’s been one and a half months since that conversation but I am still in doubt. I fear the truth. There standing by the grave is Mrs. Hendricks and her three children, Jennifer, Alex, and four year old, Molly.

"Mommy, where’s Daddy? I want to hear a story."
"Okay Molly, I’ll tell you one."
"No Mommy, I want Daddy to. He tells very good stories! Where’s Daddy?" And with that, Mrs. Hendricks starts to weep.
"Don’t cry Mommy, Daddy will be home soon. He always does."
"If only he had stopped, he could have lived," whispers the neighbour to a friend.

Since the death of Mr. Ralph Hendricks and others who had suffered the same fate have been publicised, sales have dropped. I suppose that my fans have realised their error, in time. But for me, it is too late. I have taken a life. Someone has died because of me. I’m afraid that’s it’s too late to regret now. My conscience does not let me rest. I have guilty feelings.

Let me spin you a tale,
One day a swan I saw,
Slender, white and graceful,
Gliding by the pale moonlight,
Vanished did it suddenly,
My eyes playing tricks on me,
Left behind, a lady was she,
Wonderful hair of gold,
Sparkling eyes of stars,
Smiling at me,
Charming my heart,
Softly calling out to me,
Was her voice of pure melody,
My heart, on wings to her,
My feet, like fish through water,
But she melted away,
Towards the face of the moon,
A magical, graceful swan,
My magical, graceful lady.