The Handphone

I noticed a strange phenonmenon on 2 occasions very recently....how people behave in a restricted area with strangers. Both involved the 'indispensible' accessory- the handphone.

I attended a briefing yesterday. The room was small and there were about 11 of us. Except for 2 girls who knew each other and were chatting away merrily, the rest of us were strangers to each other. So what happened?

1 of them read a magazine
3 of them just sort if starred into space
The remaining 5 were on their handphones. Now I'm not sure if they were reading /sending smses or just starring blankly into the phone (it's better than starring into space right? At least, you would seemed to be busy and don't have to make eye contact)

Today, in the crowded train, I noticed a similar trend. Though this time, they weren't 'using' their handphone so to speak... Out of my carriage of about 21 people, 7 of the passengers had their headphones. That's about 33%.

I asked hubby:
'What did people used to do before the invention and easy availability of handphone in a room of strangers?'

He said:
'They talked to each other.'

Hmm... it's probably true, isn't it?

So is the handphone making us closer or further apart?

What do you think?

Me? I'm not sure..let me know think about is whilst I listen to the music on my handphone. ^^

Driving hazard

I heard this news over the radio yesterday..that a 105 years old lady become the oldest driver in the world. She's been driving for over 70 years and she doesn't have a driving license as such thing didn't exist then. They just buy a car and start driving. But she does not have a single accident in her driving record.

Sigh...

And me? I just had my first driving lessons last week and probably became the latest hazard on the circuit.

I'm not sure if I can live to 105 and even if I did, I'm not sure if I can still drive at that age.

Heck...I'm not even sure if I can pass my test.

I'm certain I'm going to have an accident within the circuit whilst I'm learning driving. My driving instructor kept asking me if I was very nervous...which I was.

I mean...all these cars on my left and right...not to mention all those motorcyclists as well. If only they can get out of my way, I wouldn't be so nervous. As it was, I gripped the steering wheel tightly everytime I see a car either on my left or right.

And don't even ask me the number of times I stopped suddenly and threw my instructor off.. He kept saying 'brake slowly, apply the brakes gently'. BUT that's what I did!!!! Well, I thought that's what I was doing, anyway.

And how on earth do you co-ordinate all those movements between the legs, the hands and the eyes???? I'm forty, my refelxes aren't that good anymore...I can only do one thing at a time.

Sheeshh....

Well..I'm having more lessons next week, and the week after that, and the week after that. Actually I'm having lessons for many weeks to come. And I'm convinced that either I or my driving instructor will have a heart attack before the end of my lessons.

Wish me luck people!

Give me the Simple Life

And on with the continuation of food.

What would you do if you could pay for your food as you wish? No GST, no service charge, no fixed menu price...

And what if this is in a proper restaurant with nice cutlery, nice ambience, and good food?

Would you

1) Pay a little more than usual because you would rather err on generosity?

or

2) Pay as little as possible because this is a rare chance to get cheap food?

I wonder..

The Annalakshmi restaurant has been in operation since 1986 and this always been their mode of payment...Their motto?

'Eat what you like
Give as you feel
We believe in you
and trust you'
In other words, they believe in the goodness of man.

That people will be fair.

Makes quite a statement in today's highly competitive and fast world, doesn't it?

I've been to the restaurant quite a few times. Often, I've observed that people actually do pay a decent amount for their meals. I try to pay the amount that any decent restaurant would charge...I know my friends have done the same thing too. Of course, there are the exceptional few who seems to think it's ok to take advantage of such a situation. But I think it's not very often.

Strange isn't it?

When you leave it up to people, they tend to be more generous.

Imagine if this method of payment was carried out in the rest of the world. All of us would be happier and rich as well.

Consumers pay more than enough to retailers for the products
Retailers pay their suppliers more
Suppliers pay the manufacturers more
Manufacturers pay the workers the right amount of wages

There would be no more poverty in the world.

And because we trust each other to be fair, we would be happier and lead a simpler life too.

Give me the Simple Life

A cottage small is all I'm after,
Not one that's spacious and wide.
A house that rings with joy and laughter
And the ones you love inside.

Some like the high road, I like the low road,
Free from the care and strife.
Sounds corny and seedy, but yes, indeed-y;
Give me the simple life.

In case you would like to try out the food at Annalakshmi restaurant, (which is pretty good) it's at Chinatown Point. You can go to their website here for more information.

Just remember that they trust you.