Fortissimo

Today, after class, bravely resisting fatigue, I went to collect Mein Kampf from SAN Bookshop at Suntec. I doubt I have to tell you what a bitch the walk from Citylink is.

For many, the mention of this book marks the start of a colourful tirade about madmen coming to power. For an equal number of others, this represents a first hand look into the causes of one of the darkest times for Jews and Germany. I sincerely hope that my friends belong to the latter group. Also because it cost $41.50 for me to make this statement.

Kidding. My dad paid for it buhahaha.

Today, we had the privilege of Mr Tan Kin Lian, CEO of NTUC Income (read Insurance) giving a talk about customer service. It was obviously one talk he'd given quite a number of times, and it was interesting. Especially when he said that:

Out of 200 customers everyday, 20 are surveyed. 20 a day, 1000 a week. 20 X 5 = 1000. And this way we will know where customers are happy, where customers are not.

And I was hoping to win the Sudoku booklet they were giving away for my mom. It should have been mentioned somewhere on the page that she stares the ones on Today out for hours till she gets it done.

On the way to Suntec the escalator leading up the bridge connecting the One Raffles building and Suntec was spoilt. The sign there said SORRY ESCALATOR UNDER REPAIR.

Someone had struck UNDER out with a highlighter (for whatever fuck reason... I don't know of many whose grand total of stationary consists of one orange Stabilo Boss highlighter. Yes I can see its a Stabilo. Boss.) and above that, written BEYOND.

ESCALATOR BEYOND REPAIR.

Sounds more apt. That thing's not been moving since I saw it on Sunday, and probably before that too, because there were other penned complaints like STUPID! and FOR HOW LONG??? and all that shit.

And before that, when I alighted at City Hall and made my way to the escalator, I noticed something suddenly lift off from the ground and take flight. It had the biggest wings I'd seen in awhile, so huge you could actually make out the up-and-down movements. It flew halfway up the escalator and landed at the side. As I was going up I saw it was an elegant grasshopper the size of my palm.

Although, of course, it would have been a different matter if it had flown to me. If it was stupid enough to land on me, I would have murdered an insect as well as stained my shirt. Big time.

Whew.