No More Shark's Fin Soup for Me?

Came across this article in last Saturday's Straits Times. The number in the headline is attention grabbing.

Wow, it is estimated that every year, between 26-73 million sharks are killed for their fins. Species most at risk are the blue shark, hammerheads and silky sharks. Official estimates of the number of sharks killed each year might not reflect the true figure because there are unregulated fisheries. Hong Kong is the world's largest fin market.

I think some time back, there was a documentary on the killing of sharks for their fins. I missed it but Grimlock saw it and since then, he no longer takes shark's fin soup. I love seafood (except sea cucumber) and shark's fin soup is among my top favourites. The fin has no taste, it's the stock/soup that carries the flavour. It didn't struck me that many sharks a year are killed for their fins, to the extend that 65 out of 373 known shark species are threatened.

When I dine at good Cantonese restaurants with my sister who shares my passion for food, we would at times order shark's fin soup (our "pampering" potion). Ok, I can do away with this food (don't think sharks are commercially bred for mass consumption, eg like chicken). When the demand stops, the killing will stop. More awareness will need to be established for this "protest" to be effective.

Hearing It from a Cat: Silence Pays!

Extracted from "Mao Ke Xuan Yan":



"Who says when you're unhappy with something that has happened, you "got" to run, jump, scold or scream?

It turns out that silence will yield the best results. Of all the ways to protest, silence requires the least energy."

Skoda, Happy (Belated) 1st Year Anniversary!

Yesterday marked Skoda's first anniversary at the Cove. This posting was supposed to go up yesterday but I couldn't transfer the very pictures of her first day at the Cove from my mobile phone to the desktop. So I went to the blog of Skoda's 'godma' to get her photos when she was still at her place waiting to be adopted.

Time flies...one year ago, she was a three-month kitten when we went to pick her up on 29 October. It was a Saturday. We whisked her off to the vet for a general check-up and the vet gave her a clean bill of health. Neither of us had kept a cat before so we didn't really know what to expect. Did plenty of reading up on the Internet beforehand. Her arrival was the fulfillment of a childhood dream (Grimlock's) and of a promise (mine).

That's my little rascal!

Skoda stood out apart from her siblings for she was the only grey kitten.

(Photos courtesy of myanimalfamily)

Her first one month at the Cove was a steep learning curve for Grimlock and I, and for herself. It is amazing what she has taught us in the past one year. She is not a pet, she has become part of my family.

Who says cats are aloof? Skoda knows how to exchange a kiss or two (my highest record with her is six in a row). Skoda will follow me around the house. If I'm inside the master bedroom and she is outside, she'll start yeowing away and if I ignore her any further, she'll bang against the door and even scratch the door. She loves the master bedroom. Close to our bedtime, she'll standby outside the door and once we open the door, she'll dash in at lightning speed and start purring away. Except for occasional bouts of jealousy, Skoda is a fine big sister to Braun.

Skoda is smart - she learns fast and knows at the back of her paws, the house rules and hence, stays out of trouble. Skoda is beautiful - her photos attest to that (love her big, marble eyes and the fur between her ears is sooooo smooth). Skoda has character - she makes sure we're clear on her likes and dislikes - will bite and make us run around the house when it is her bedtime, and her latest trick is to lie down on Pinky and roll her belly up (it is hard to pick her up when she is in this position). Nearly forgot to add this - Skoda is the Cove's no. 1 friendly host! When there're visitors, she doesn't go into hiding. Instead she'll check them out and settle down nearby.

Skoda has quite a list of other names too:

1. Skoda (her original name, of course)
2. Da Da
3. Ah Da
4. SkioBoise
5. Boise Boise (I personally think this sounds quite 'bimbo' - no thanks to Grimlock)
6. Kapo Da
7. Ah Pui
8. Jelly Belly (hee hee, inspired by her curves)
9. Fire Fighter Da (funny girl - twice we caught her climbing up the window grilles, just like a firefighter)
10. Ada Sweet Love (no prize for guessing who came up with this)
11. Skod

I could go on and on talking about Skoda (and about Braun too). Great sense of achievement watching them bloom.

Skoda, Skoda there is never a dull moment with you around. Stay happy and healthy!

"Oops, got caught in the act just when I was having fun"

Skoda, You're Such a Babe!

Some time back, Grimlock commented that there are more photos of Braun than Skoda at the Cove. Hhhmmm, I didn't notice that... Of the two, I think Skoda is the more photogenic one but Braun can take close-up shots better. I confess Braun is more of my cat while Skoda has her ways to Grimlock's heart BUT we love them the same lah!

Just before Skoda was spayed in March, she began to like rolling on the floor. This habit of her continued since then. She would hold her forelimbs up to her chest level and gently 'rock' from side to side or stare with her big round eyes. We call this a bunny roll. Here is her at it again. When she is in this mode, there is a good chance that she'll allow a chin rub and stroking and possibly exchange a kiss or two.

Isn't she gorgeous? Such distinct markings, look at those eyes and so curveous (ha ha ha). Simply 'chio' (beautiful)!!

(Skoda, put your leg down! This is so 'unglam'!!)

New Playthings

To celebrate my new job, I bought a vertical scratching post that I had been eyeing for some time for Skoda and Braun end of last month. It is good to provide a variety of scratching posts as different cats have different likings. They usually stretch and scratch after a nap. We already have two scratching boxes and one scratching mat, all placed at different spots in the cove. The arm of my sofa has been quite badly scratched (threads are coming out) so we've placed the new vertical post beside it. Skoda started using it first and Braun followed suit soon. Skoda is usually the first one to explore new things.

Braun in action

Skoda using the base as her pillow

A good place too to think (talk?) things over

Last Wednesday, we bought a pink (so sweet) fabric "castle" cum couch for Skoda and Braun. The Cove is becoming cluttered with their things. We used to have a box in the living room for them to snuggle in. Then it became torn and tattered because Skoda kept trying to get into it (well, she is not exactly slim) and it was also their wrestling ring. It was falling apart so we had to throw it away. Braun seemed to miss the box. The new "castle" is more sturdy/durable and it is also washable. The top part can be flattened and transformed into a couch. Its original price was $50 but there was some stains on it so we got it at quite a good price for $40. Again, Skoda was the first one to check it out. She can be quite a bully. Braun was inside it and then Skoda climbed on top of it. Fortunately Braun didn't jump.

Skoda making herself comfortable

Skoda did some somersaults and there, she turned it 'upside down'

A Relationship that Calls for Sacrifice

I came across this article in The New Paper published on last Friday, 20 October. The story is about a house fire that was started by a disabled woman's cat. Her specially-trained dog, Jesse dragged the woman to safety. Then Jesse heard the cat which was still in the house and went to get the cat. Both perished in the fire.

Such a touching story. The dog exhibited immeasurable loyalty towards her owner and immense love for her other companion. (Who says dogs and cats are arch enemies? I know of people who have dogs and cats with them under the same roof and they get along fine.)

A teddy bear for this pair of friends who perished together, in memory of their friendship.

Hearing It from a Cat: Perspective

Extracted from "Mao Ke Xuan Yan":



"If we look at things from our own view, what we get is a one-sided perspective.

However, if we take a good look beyond our self-centredness, we get a clear view of everything."

Hanging Out Together

I love to take photos of Braun and Skoda together. I look out for tell-tale signs if they are getting on fine with one another, or merely tolerating each other's presence. They only have each other for company for most of the day, so of course I hope for the best.

So far so good. Skoda is doing well as a 'big sister' to Braun. She is ok with Braun taking up her favourite sleeping spots. Sometimes they play mind games and try to beat each other to a particular spot. Once Skoda was snoozing away in a box, Braun just had to have the box as well so she walked up to Skoda (Skoda woke up with a startle) and started licking her (I thought this was a good distraction tactic) and then both started wrestling away.

It is always sweet to 'catch' them licking each other. I see Braun doing this more. Skoda has her threshold as to how much licking she can tolerate. The licking often ends up with wrestling and going for each other's neck. I think this is their way of playing with each other. As long as they are not aggressive or I don't see blood, I leave them to interact in their own ways. I haven't seen them grooming each other though - this will be really sweet if it ever happens. They are fine with sharing their food and water bowls, as well as the litter tray.

My favourite photo of them together has to be the display photo I put up for this blog (the two of them in a box). These photos don't come easy because either both or one of them will do the disappearing act once I whip out my camera. Here are the other 'Kodak' moments of them hanging out together:

Skoda playing 'peek-a-boo' with Braun

Hanging out together on the kitchen counter-top

Snuggling up to Grimlock for our beauty sleep

My 'ah pui' (fatty aka Skoda) and 'ah san' (skinny aka Braun). Skoda has the cut of a 'big sister', doesn't she?

Braun giving Skoda her dose of affection

Striking the same poses for the camera

Our favourite snoozing pad - on top of the fridge

Hearing It from a Cat: The True Meaning of Endurance

Extracted from "Mao Ke Xuan Yan":

The essence of this quote is best appreciated in Chinese. This was a little difficult to translate but I'll give it my best shot:

"One should not yield to difficulties nor succumb to his own incompetence. To endure does not mean putting up with nor simply accepting reality.

Endurance comes with ability. If one has the ability to deal a blow and yet not do so, this is endurance.

Endurance is capability - the courage to take action and the courage to pull a stop when need to. Endurance is choosing not to when one could have. Those who do not put up a resistance but just accept reality should not make the self-claim that they have endurance."

True Love?

In response to the article "True Love: Let's Calculate the Odds" that I posted on 11 Oct, a ST writer, Tan Seow Hon contributed the article below "True Love? Look No Further than Friendship".

True love may be found in other than romantic love. There is also friendship, parental love and God's unconditional love. Tan is also of the view that finding one who believes in true friendship tends to be even harder than finding one who believes in true romantic love. I'm divided on this notion. I can relate to her point on coming "to expect less of friends after disappointments and the experience of waning friendships as people go through different phases of life". Perhaps this is why while my acquaintances are many, I count few as my inner circle. It is hard for people/friends to stay together, over time and commitments/busyness.

I particularly like the last paragraph: "...we cannot deny that our selfishness is one hindrance to finding true love...to form friendship, one must first be a friend. To find true love, be prepared first to love."

Still on Love

The title of this article caught my eye "True Love: Let's calculate the odds". Oh, calculate the possibility of finding love - how? The writer, Michael Kaplan did so by "applying" the Poisson's formula. According to him, true love is rare; we can only hope to find it once in a lifetime, and maybe not even then. I found his article/approach refreshing.

The Poisson curve, applied to finding true love, charts two things: the chance this rare event will happen once, twice, thrice in a lifetime; but also how likely it is to happen at all in progressively more unlikely circumstances. Hey, this makes food for thought?

Kaplan has this advice for finding love: Skew your social life towards those events where you can find out more about potential partners than whether they are just great dancers. Use every experience, good and bad, to refine your vision of that unknown ideal so that when the one chance comes, you won't let it slip away. Each step will take you closer to the centre of the Poisson curve.

If you're still looking for that someone (married persons are 'disqualified'), I hope this moment/day comes soon for you...

Hearing it from a Cat: Life & Love

Extracted from "Mao Ke Xuan Yan":



"In life, the most important thing is to know how to love. For if you don't know love, you don't know what life is about."

Something to Chase Away the Blues

How about some dry humour to start off a new week?

My Own Drama

I went through a drama myself on last Sunday...

I came down with a cough and flu on 22nd Sept. I almost finished the medication, I still was unwell so I went to see the doctor a second time. I was diagnosed with a viral infection and put on antibiotics. While I was sick, I suddenly coughed and hurt my back. Tried self-therapy by rubbing Tiger Balm and pasting Tiger Balm plasters on my back. My backache somehow got better but my cough didn't go away and I still had a slight running nose (already finished my second course of medication).

Back to MY drama on Sunday, 1st Oct... In the morning, I suddenly made a few continuous big, 'strong' sneezes. I had already 'injured' my back a few days back so this 'outburst' kind of made things worst - I sprained my back. I had to get up real slow, couldn't sit for long and couldn't bend nor squat.

It was already mid-day so I quickly ringed up my mom and brother for 'sinseh' contacts. Grimlock accompanied me to a "tui na" shop in Jalan Bukit Merah. The shop was very smoky because part of it is devoted to some fortune-telling activities. The man pressed real hard on the front of my ankle and my arm (I kept shrieking when he did that). After he finished pressing, my back felt 'loosened up' and the pain seemed to be gone. He made several comments about my state of health (my back problem is supposed to be related to this) and recommended that I take some pills that cost $12 for a daily dosage, to be taken over 40 days. So this would come up to $480. In my state of blurness (and maybe too overjoyed that the pain was gone), I almost took up the prescription until I finally 'woke up' and told him I would think it over and we left the shop.

We then walked over to an adjourning block to check out something. It was just about 8-10 minutes later and the pain came back and this helped me decide not to take up the prescription afterall (I doubt his credentials) .

We took a cab to Causeway Point to visit a shop that my brother recommended. Turned out that the shop only does foot reflexology and not 'tui na' for back sprains. It was already close to 6pm so we decided to go home (it was a Sunday, the other shops would have closed). I had to bear with the pain. Before I slept, Grimlock helped me rub Tiger Balm and paste Tokuhan plasters on my back. If I hadn't taken medical leave the week before and serving probation, I would take the Monday off.

My back felt slightly better when I woke up (2nd Oct). Went to work and I had to be very careful with my movements, keeping them to a minimal. In the evening, I went to a sinseh whom I used to visit - he does accupuncture which I feel more comfortable with, as compared to 'tui na'. For the first time, I had accupuncture done on my back. Immediately, I felt the difference and the sustained relief. He also prescribed a bottle of medication for my running nose and cough and to strengthen my back.

As at this evening, my running nose has stopped, still got a little cough (no more phelgm) and a little soreness at my lower back. I will monitor. I should be finishing my medication by this Sunday. Will see if I should make a second visit on next Monday.

Who would think so much drama can result from sneezing?!?

Hearing It from a Cat: Facing Oneself

A colleague recently lent me a book that I was immediately interested in. It is a compilation of cat drawings peppered with the feline's take/perspective/philosophy on life. As I read, some of the observations got me nodding in agreement, some got me laughing, some got me thinking and some I didn't understand. The author is a famous Hong Kong comic artist, Cai Zhi Zhong so the writings are in Chinese. The title is "Mao Ke Xuan Yan". Too bad the book is no longer available in the bookstores, otherwise I'll get my own copy.

I extracted 10 of the quotes which I particularly liked. I'll translate the gist of the quotes in English, but they're still best appreciated in Chinese. There is the comments box so if you wanna help to bring out the essence of the quote, don't be shy hor.

Here is the first one:

"Unless we ourselves allow it, no one can make us unhappy. Unless we accede to it, no one has the ability to make us happy. The reason why we dare not face the problem is because we dare not encounter the true self."

Drama, Drama & Drama

Yesterday was a drama-filled day in the office:

Drama 1: A colleague was on the phone in a tiff with his girlfriend, for almost 1.5 hours. I'm not seated very near him but I could still hear bits and pieces of his side of the conversation (the office was quite quiet). I was told this will happen now and then.

Drama 2: A colleague drifted into my room in the late afternoon and told me she just tendered her resignation. She has been with the company for close to four months. Looks like I'm gonna be very busy after she's gone. And I'll have to find another lunch 'kaki'.

Drama 3: After Drama 2 just ended, another lovers' tiff unfolded, also over the phone, in the room next to mine. Drama 1 was in whispers but Drama 3 was close to a shouting match. Fortunately, his door was closed.

What a Friday! What's my weekend going to be like?

"Excuse Me, Do You Have a Blog?"

This article, published in The Straits Times on last Wed, 27 Sept, easily caught my eye. The title: "Politicians are going to the blogs". Hey, I'm a blogger too. People from all walks of life are fast taking up their space on the blogosphere.

The article reported that "more than 50 million blogs had been created by last month - and the number is doubling every six months". It was interesting to read of how politicians is using this media to generate interest and support. Some interesting points that I picked up from the article:

1. According to political advisers, blogging is meant to let politicians communicate directly with voters in a folksky style.
2. Blogging is politically significant, precisely because it is not a tool of the elite.
3. Bloggers can impact the popularity/'fate' of politicans.
4. Virtues of blogging as a medium: speed, spontaneity, interactivity and the vast array of information and expertise that millions of bloggers can bring together.
5. Vices of (political) blogs: favours instant response over reflection, commentary over original research as well as stream-of-consciousness over structure.

I'm gonna check out the blogs links in the article...

"Oops, I Did It AGAIN..."

This song by Britney Spears must be one of Braun's favourite...

Here's why I thought so. This evening, Braun chewed through Grimlock's FIFTH mobile phone headset!

Thought for the Week

"What happens TO us is not nearly so important as what happens THROUGH us." - Anonymous

Leave Room in Our Hearts

In the recent months, there had been a continuous spate of cat abuse incidents. The victims suffered terrible torture and even death. I feel indignant because these animals, whether cats or dogs or some other kind, have equal rights as humans in owning their ‘rightful’ place on this earth. And if the animal had been of any form of annoyance, what gives the abuser the authority to dispense such cruel punishment? The cases also show how sick the abuser is mentally, to take it out on an animal which is unable to fight back as an equal being. So what if one is affluent when the soul is lacking in compassion towards animals? One can also look ‘ok on the outside’ but behind closed doors, darkness lurks and he lashes out in anger towards another being.

First to hit the news was David Hooi Yin Weng, a serial cat abuser. He was arrested on 27 June 2006 for torturing a four-month-old cat until its eyes swelled and one of its teeth broke. A few months before his arrest, he was jailed three months for abusing a kitten which had to be put down. For his recent crime, he was originally sentenced to three months in prison. As there is a high likelihood that Hooi would continue to seek out cats in future and with the public outcry for a heavier punishment, he was later given the maximum one year’s jail.

In August 2006, 28-year-old Wong Geng Thong was jailed for eight weeks for cat abuse. He was caught on camera grabbing a cat by the neck and repeatedly bashing its body against a wall in a multi-storey carpark in Kallang. He strangled 10 cats to death in a similar manner.

Earlier this month over three weeks, one cat after another showed up dead in Jurong. All in, 18 cat carcasses were found. After the killings were reported by the media, they have stopped for now.

Two weeks back, I read of another case where a four-month-old kitten was thrown down a block in Hougang. Cats don't have nine lives so of course, the kitten didn’t survive the fall. Last week, another black kitten was found with his eyeball pierced. Such cold-bloodedness.

This week on Wednesday, a white kitten was found dyed completely in permanent orange colour. This morning, I came across a headline in the New Paper that a man had been caught on film kicking a cat around like a football.

What kind of person would commit these brutal acts?

Psychiatrists who were interviewed said it would be someone who enjoys the feeling of power and because of that, he can be expected to do it again. They get a lot of thrill from killing and getting away with it. Those who kill small animals in this manner are also likely to have experienced violence during childhood.

“In future, they can transfer the violence towards people, especially children who are helpless.”

Cat lovers and volunteers have banded together, coming from all over Singapore to carry out night patrols to catch the cat killers of Bedok and Kallang. They have swung into action once again to nap the Jurong cat killer.

Is it sheer coincidence that there has been a continual spate of cat abuse? My fear is that Hooi’s heavier sentence and the capture of Wong have ‘spurred’ some other sick individuals to take it out on stray cats as a “Catch me if you can” challenge to the authorities and the cat grassroots activists. The photos that came with the media coverage were so gruesome. My blood boils each time I read of an abuse or a killing. Some suffered tragic deaths while others are permanently scarred/disfigured for life.

I look at Skoda and Braun. Their fellow kind roam the streets and have to do with scraps, fend for themselves (eg dogs, naughty children, busy traffic), find a place to take cover/rest and now, they have to learn immediately to be street-wise and keep a distance from HUMAN BEINGS.

Town councils are also hot on the heels of these stray cats. There have been mass culling exercises of neutered strays in the Tampines and Ang Mo Kio areas. You may ask, "Why?" Well, cats are listed as pests under some AVA list. This is also why we are disallowed to keep cats as pets in HDB. Take a good look around your neighbourhood. Aren't there less stray cats nowadays? Where have they gone to?

I pray for the killings and the abuses to cease and for the streets to be safe again for strays which otherwise have nowhere else to turn to.