...I'm speechless.

Man gets nut stuck around penis: report

August 31, 2008, 4:20 pm

A Malaysian welder had to have a nut removed from around his penis after an attempt to lengthen it before he gets engaged next week went embarrassingly wrong.

The nut got stuck on his penis following an erection, the Star newspaper reported, forcing him to seek help at a hospital in southern Johor state.

Staff from the Sultanah Aminah hospital had to drain some blood from the penis and cut away a top layer of skin before the object could be removed, the newspaper said.

It said the fire and rescue department were also involved in trying to remove the nut from the unnamed welder, who is in his 20s and hoped the nut would weigh down his penis to make it longer.

"The patient is now recovering and we hope to discharge him today (Sunday)," hospital director Daud Abdul Rahim told the Star.

On August 25, another young man in Kuala Lumpur had tried to increase his sexual prowess by slipping a steel ring around his penis, forcing the fire department to cut off the ring after doctors were unable to remove it, the newspaper said.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/mp/4978295/man-gets-nut-stuck-penis-report

You gotta be freakin' kidding me! Found this while randomly surfing through Yahoo Australia. Still, this can't beat the recent circus of racism back home. Bukit Bendera Umno division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail for one. Squatters, are we? If all of us Chinese 'squatters' leave the country in pursuit of greener pastures, I wonder what would happen to your glorious Tanah Melayu. So much for being Bangsa Malaysia. It's more about Bangsa than Malaysia eh?

After reading TRC volume 18, I've become a fully convicted KuroFai fangirl!!!

Vampire Fai is too hot for words. The best couple in Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle isn't Syaoran and Sakura, it's Fai and Kurogane. *Swoons* I was devastated when I heard that there won't be a season 3 of TRC anime. Oh well... the manga is a whole lot better anyway. CLAMP better put in more kinky feeding scenes. :P

Batman: The Dark Knight Spoof!!! ROTFLOL....

End of another rotation and things I learnt

ACC 2 is over!!! *Dances with joy* No more reports, no more medication reviews and pain presentations and traveling back and forth to St. Margaret's/nursing home/whatever rehab/geriatric association. Ok... it's not that I hate geriatrics. I've never hated a rotation (with one exception, but that was more of hating a certain RMO from Hell than the rotation itself). Very grateful to have passed, though I wish I gave better answers for my viva. *Sigh* You reap what you sow I guess. Have to study more seriously from now on! Everyone in my batch is so matured and smart and hardworking, I can't get left behind!

Interesting triva: The 'phantom' bus stop

I've always wondered why on earth is there a bus stop in the TQEH Geriatrics courtyard. It's exactly like the bus stops around Adelaide, complete with a stop number. It's surrounded by four walls for goodness sake, right in the middle of the garden. When we visited a nursing home we noticed that the ward for patients with dementia and/or psych issues also had a bus stop AND a post box in their courtyard. The lady in charge of the nursing home explained to us that when the patients with dementia wanna leave the hospital, they'd wanna take a bus right? And instead of restraining them or whatnot, let them go take the bus. Direct them to the 'bus stop' and have them comfortably sit there and wait. 'Cos they're confused and demented anyway they won't notice that the bus stop is in the garden... Eventually they'll get tired of waiting for the bus that will never come and return to their rooms. Or they'll forget what were they trying to do in the first place and go back inside. The person who thought of this trick is a sadistic, sneaky genius. :P

ACC 2 is kind of a mix of geriatrics + ICU + Anesthesia + Acute and Chronic Pain + General Practice. 6 weeks really isn't enough for everything so it's good that the current 4th years will be getting a longer ACC 2 rotation next year. My most memorable part of ACC 2 has to be my GP week. The GP I was posted with was fantastic. He was really friendly and experienced. I got to see him cut out a basal cell carcinoma from an old lady's nose! It's cool also 'cos that's the first time I saw a patient with a BCC. Since he has a special interest in psychiatry, I got to visit a hostel (like a place people with psych issues can stay at) and give them their anti-psychotic depot. Honestly I haven't done many IM injections, so I was glad to get some practice. I dunno why 99% of the psych patients I see are so dirty and smelly. I've come to associate that smell as the 'psych smell'. Not that I have anything against psych patients. Hmm but I guess if I was psychotic I wouldn't be thinking too much bout getting a shower... Like there was this guy whom I wanted to inject his butt, but there was this BLACK STAIN like SHIT on his right butt cheek. The patient (quite a nice guy la actually) adamantly insisted that he showered real well before he saw us. The GP was trying not to laugh also and just said "Well, you missed a spot." Heh. Luckily his left butt cheek was fine...

Some of the patients in the hostel had really interesting forensic histories... The most important thing I learnt from that visit was the importance of being non-judgmental. It's easier said than done, really. Especially when you discover the person you're treating killed his wife/raped his grand-daughter, you subconsciously 'label' that person. It worked well for me to keep my rapport warm but superficial. Don't know how I would fare if I had to treat that patient for the next 20 years.

Anyhow seeing this GP truly caring for his patients and not just treating them for the sake of getting cash was inspiring. Over the years in med school, I've met a few outstanding doctors who actually do love their patients. They listen, empathize and graciously take students under their wing. It felt heart-warming and reminded me of why I chose this profession. I want to be that kind of doctor. The early years of my career will be full of frustration and no doubt corrode my 'armor of idealism'. But I hope I won't forget the important things in medicine: to put your heart into every patient you meet and to listen and learn, for a patient isn't a disease but a person.

Stranglers + My First NGT + Random Updates

Dunno why but I find it hillarious! Heh.

I finally got to put in a nasogastric tube a few weeks ago. It's all these super simple procedures that keep eluding me. I know, I know, it's an idiot-proof proof thing and even a monkey can do it, but I don't feel satisfied until I've done it hands on. Same goes with assisting with delivering a baby. Didn't feel like I completed my O&G rotation until I did at least one. Anyway I got the scare of my life la with this patient...

She was in ICU with sepsis. Asked the registrar if I could do it for him and he said OK. Slid the thing in, auscultated to check if it was in the stomach, aspirated gastric contents. Registrar was happy. NGT was taped in place, patient sent for chest X-ray to double check. 2 hours later, the consultant was going through the X-rays during the round. She looked at that patients chest X-ray and said: "The course of the tube is very odd. I think the NGT is in the lungs..."

I was like!!!!!! Internally going "SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHIT SHITTTTTT!!" How could I screw up something so simple? I was pretty darned sure it was in the stomach. So consultant asks nurse to check the NGT aspirate. Looked like gastric contents. pH test scored a 7. Wah that time I even more panic... After a few minutes of debating between the consultant and registrar, it was discovered that the patient was on proton-pump inhibitors. Maybe too much of it. That caused the ridiculous gastric content pH.

....so the conclusion was, the NGT is in the stomach and working fine. Cease PPIs. *PHEW*

Haha handed in my Geriatrics and Rehabilitation Medicine write-ups today! One stone off my back for now. That medication review and management planning for my patient was giving me white hair. My patient was on 16 different medications. My report ended up being 20 pages of crap no thanks to that.

Am finishing up my week with pain presentations tomorrow. Can't wait 'cos the weekend's here!

My Current Obsessions (all the things I can't wear to hospital!!! *SOBB*):
1. Denim dresses
2. Vests
3. Skinny Jeans
4. Tartan

No Bravery - by James Blunt


There are children standing here,
Arms outstretched into the sky,
Tears drying on their face.
He has been here.
Brothers lie in shallow graves.
Fathers lost without a trace.
A nation blind to their disgrace,
Since he's been here.

And I see no bravery,
No bravery in your eyes anymore.
Only sadness.

Houses burnt beyond repair.
The smell of death is in the air.
A woman weeping in despair says,
He has been here.
Tracer lighting up the sky.
It's another family's turn to die.
A child afraid to even cry out says,
He has been here.

And I see no bravery,
No bravery in your eyes anymore.
Only sadness.

There are children standing here,
Arms outstretched into the sky,
But no one asks the question why,
He has been here.
Old men kneel and accept their fate.
Wives and daughters cut and raped.
A generation drenched in hate.
Yes, he has been here.

And I see no bravery,
No bravery in your eyes anymore.
Only sadness.

Voices of a Distant Star

...we are far, far, very, very far apart...
but it might be that thoughts can overcome time and distance.

This short film touched my heart in a special way. Maybe it's because I can relate to film's theme: Distance.

Voices of a Distant Star (ほしのこえ, Hoshi no Koe) is a Japanese anime OVA by Makoto Shinkai. It chronicles a long-distance relationship between a teenage couple who communicate by sending emails via their mobile phones across interstellar space.

Hoshi no Koe was written, directed and produced entirely by Makoto on his Macintosh computer. Makoto and his fiancée provided the voice acting for the working dub. Makoto's friend Tenmon, who had worked with Makoto at his video game company, provided the soundtrack. This half hour OVA also represents the "long distance" relationship between Makoto Shinkai and his wife, as Shinkai spent often long hours in the studio and communicated with his wife via text messaging.

A middle-school girl named Mikako Nagamine is drafted to the UN Space Army in a war against a group of aliens called the Tarsians, named after the Martian region (Tharsis) where they were first encountered. As a Special Agent, Mikako pilots a giant bipedal robot or mecha as part of a fighting squadron attached to the spacecraft carrier Lysithea.

When the Lysithea leaves Earth to search for the Tarsians with Mikako on board, Mikako's friend, Noboru Terao, remains behind. The couple continues to communicate across interplanetary, and eventually interstellar space via the e-mail facilities on their mobile phones.

As the Lysithea travels deeper into space, the e-mails take increasingly longer to reach Noboru on Earth, and the time-lag of their correspondence eventually spans years.

(Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voices_of_a_Distant_Star)

Though only 25 minutes long, the film delivered so much bittersweet emotion that I couldn't help but cry. The dialogue was simple and earnest, and that made it even more heartbreaking. The animation is... for lack of a better word: stunning. For Makoto Shinkai to single-handedly create such beauty on a humble laptop is amazing. The music complimented the story perfectly and the song for the final scene was painfully melancholic. I've also watched his most recent film 5 Centimeters per second which also revolves around distance. The animation for 5 cm is like 10 times more breath-taking than Voices. Seriously. I think Hayao Miyazaki is the only person I'd rank above him.


Towards the end, the messages between Mikako and Noboru take 8 years, 224 days and 18 hours to arrive. Imagine waiting that long for just a simple "I am here.", let alone her returning to Earth. Would you have the strength to love and wait for someone who may never return? Would you?

Rejoice in the little things in life...

...like stir-fried garlic + ginger + spring onion + wine mussels. Made this for dinner and it really made my day.

30 Days of Night Comic Series

The origin of the movie. The movie was ok la, not terrible but not the best vampire movie ever. Still can't beat Interview with the Vampire which had Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise in it (I prefer Brad over Tom anytime, though!). Don't even get me started on bad vampire movies. Remember Queen of the Damned, anyone? Any self-respecting Anne Rice fan would cry bloody tears.

Ok anyway I love love love the art in 30 Days of Night: Eben and Stella. Lots of playing around with shadow and diffuse light. The story was a bit short and action scenes in the last bit were kinda confusing, but oh well. I'm a sucker for vampire romance. :P:P:P

This is some hillarious but depressing shit. Not to mention invariably true...

From DOCFILES.blogspot.com:

Malaysian Govt Doctors Criteria

Criteria for becoming a Malaysian Govt Doctor. Theres no need for an aptitude test. Students should consider these requirements:

1. No life outside medicine; this includes dating, sports, clubbing, chores for your parents and visiting the toilet

2. Not to live with your parents. Move out ASAP as they will never understand the ludicrous working hours that u go through. Furthermore, chores are not suitable for u as to rule No. 1.

3. Not to be married until completion of all 4 years of Govt Compulsory service as u will be transferred left and right to some of the most remote Govt clinics in Malaysia. Having wife and kids to follow you to your new working area may increase high level of stress on all parties. Furthermore, if your spouse is a Govt Doctor, he/she will also be transferred away from u and no matter what appeal is made, KKM will put up a deaf ear (unless u have big cables or of a certain skin color).

4. If married, no to have children until u finish all 4 years of Govt Compulsory service, as to which u and your spouse will not have much time for your child/children or they end up not recognizing u and refer the Indonesian maid as their mother (change in language patterns commonly follow).

5. To obtain life insurance once your govt service begins as there is not many claims for accidents during work. Don't be fooled, Doctoring in Malaysia is hazardous.

6. Able to withstand 36 hours of non stop work and stress without mistakenly labeling Left for Right or uvula for vulva (or Volvo S40)

7. To buy a car with complete safety features (like I'm doing) which includes multiple airbags, ABS, EBD, side-front-rear-top-parallel and diagonal impact bars and seat belts to ensure survivability if u are involved in an accident because your driving resembled a drunkard maniac after working in the hospital for 40 hrs non stop.

8. Constant supply of coffee

9. Nicotine Patch as u will have the urge to start smoking due to overwhelming stress

10. Interest in watching medical sitcoms such as House MD, Scrubs, ER, Grays Anatomy and Chicago Hope to inspire u to continue your life as a doctor as the exciting things u see on TV does not resemble the real life of a Malaysian govt doctor.

11. Not to have any pets or plants (not even cactuses) as u will have no time to feed or care for them and eventually all will end up in your mortuary.

12. Able to endure the stench of your own sweat as to when 36 hours "on call" does not permit u time to bathe or freshen up.

13. Able to carry on working without food or water over 15 hours. ( I was in OT for 16 hrs without food, water or bathroom breaks). If during fasting month, able to break your fast with “water for injection” as u had no time to buy food.

14. Able to come to work with fever/cough/illness or physical disability (sprained ankle etc) as to which doctors do not deserve MCs. (My MO was on crutches during rounds)

15. Able to stand scolding, destructive criticism, kiss ass behaviors, racial bias, finger pointing, scape goating, and in competency from your superiors.

16. Able to withstand the jealousy when your friends call u up for some fun and ur stuck in the hospital during on call.


Also see Doctor jobs Malaysia - Looking for Doctors.

For the man who loved selflessly, and made us his world...

Happy Birthday Papa! Hope you're having a good time with the Mama, Kakh and Pork today! Lots of love from your daughter in Adelaide. ^_^

I'm back in Adelaide again. Arrived this morning after transiting in Singapore and a rather turbulent flight in. Winter isn't as cold as I remembered it to be. Maybe it's because it'll still early in the evening. Or maybe the warmth of home is still lingering around me, protecting me.

I can feel that depressing heaviness seeping through. Thank God for the 3 weeks back home. I doubt I'd be able to function if I spent the holidays here, away from everyone I love.

I miss you Mama and Papa.
I miss you Kakh and Pork.
I miss you Darling. You kept me from crumbling apart all this while.
I miss you my Subang peeps! Have a blast in Bangkok!

Acute and Chronic Care 2 starts at TQEH tomorrow morning. 5 months to the Big Bad Finals. Pleaseeeeeee give me the strength to pull through...

English teachers, cry your hearts out.

Had a look at a compilation of research abstracts from the National Research and Innovation Competition (NRIC) 2008 which Seng Kiat and Shing Wei attended last month. They did a great job with their research and presentation, but unfortunately didn't win. When I asked Seng Kiat about the competition, he told me it was just a big joke. Didn't understand why till I read the abstracts. There were a few good ones, but sad to say most of them were half-baked and strung together with fragmented English. The winner of the competition didn't look that impressive to me either. In my opinion there were better ones in the list but God knows what other 'criteria' were taken into account when judging. OK la my English is pretty crap also. But if you're a uni student doing a presentation for your research/invention, there has to be some sort of standard right? I mean, you gotta at least be able to string together a complete sentence right? I knew the standard of English in my country is bad (and getting worse as the years go by), but this one is so bad that it's 'good'.


University: *suffice to say, it's a local uni....should I embarrass them by putting the name?*
Category: Social Transformation and Creative Art
Project Title: HIVEGON

The bee hive is used for breed the bee. Today, the honey used in around the world. The honey is a good business. Because the honey very expensive. The honey has more each for health. The bee also gives more benefit for human, because the bee can do the pollination process. So, human take the benefit from the bee process. For the gardener it the big benefit, because the bee can give the pollination process. So, gardener must breeders the bee for take a big profits. The bee hive has a, the name is a HIVEGON. It's because the bee hive has a subject matter from the hexagon or honey comb. The bee hive also solves many problems from the existing product. With the bee hive, breeders can take the honey be easy, because breeders not will go to the jungle and climb the Tualang tree again. Breeders can use the bee hive in their own garden or farm. With that skill, breeders can take 2 benefits in one time.

The Curve & Si Ham

Since I hardly ever (maybe never?) blog about my dates with Xian-Nian, I guess this is a good time to start. Holidays have been great! It's sooo good to just laze around doing nothing but eat and watch disc after disc of movies and then eat somemore. Thanks Andrew, Seng Kiat, Shing Wei, Meng Lee and Calvin for the beautiful birthday surprise!!! No, seriously I did not expect it! I'm sure the sight of me in my skanky nightgown and dishevelled hair is proof enough. Love you guys lots, as always. Too bad they've been really busy of late with major exams and assignments. Looks like I chose an inconvenient time to come home. And to the Adelaide IMU-ians, thanks so much for the presents! They're beautiful and I'll make sure they're put to good use this winter. =)

Anyway, Xian-Nian and I had a lovely food-filled Sunday. Crossed off quite a few 'food objectives' in the process. We visited The Curve flea market in the afternoon:

Lunch time!! Yes, this was on my list of foods to eat. There're so many new restaurants in The Curve now, but I didn't regret going back to this one. Should try a few of the others in the near future too. :P

Our main dish was (I forgot the name) some Argentinean steak with crepes and passionfruit sauce + peaches + plums. Delicious!

The desert was great too. Some apple fritter + crepe + vanilla ice-cream + fruits thingy. *Swoons*

Painted stone turtles I bought from the flea market. The latest addition to my legion of turtles!

Took a shuttle bus to the Kelana Jaya LRT station. Spotted this fella in the bushes outside the station. Looks so much like the tulan lizard in my garden! Poor tulan lizard was eaten by a cat last year. *Sigh* I miss him...

Threw a berry at him and he displayed some impressive split-second agility.

Xian-Nian's dad bought a bag of boiled peanuts! I am yet to see this in Australia. They really should make these there. These peanuts rock!

To make things better, I found this denim dress in Padini at Ikano Power Center. Quite happy with it 'cos I was looking for a denim dress and got this for a heavily discounted price to boot. =)

But the best part of the day was dinner! I think it had become somewhat a tradition for the both of us now. Si Ham for dinner at the good ol' Chinese hawker stall in SS19. In a way these taste heaps better than oysters and are way cheaper too! Xian-Nian hates si ham, but too bad. His girlfriend is in love with them. Refer to my previous si ham posts.

*Swoons even more* Half the fun is digging them open and plucking out the plump, juicy flesh.

We also had other mouth-watering delicacies such as beef and chicken satay, Hokkien noodles and Cantonese fried (does this sound correct? I suck at Chinese translations).

We finished everything. Every single morsel. Thank you Darling for the wonderful day!!!

Half a year is over, and I'm finally going home. It won't be long till I'm back in your arms. But I know that happy times go by swiftly, and I will have to leave you again.

And again.

And again.

So I'm going to cherish every moment of it. Time is a thief but also a generous giver. Wait for me, k?