mrbrown.com

the mrbrown show: Everyday with Minister Midas - No Surprises

Minister Midas announces his election plans.

YouTube link: http://mrbrwn.co/1LNm5fg

Choose Your Party

This brought out the WoW geek in me. I suppose Chiam See Tong will be available as a powerful old wizard in the DLC or expansion pack.

via The Good Citizen and available as a t-shirt at The Local Collective

the mrbrown show: Everyday with Minister Midas - Checks and Balances

Minister Midas reassures us that all is well in the checks and balances department.

YouTube link: http://mrbrwn.co/1JEN8CK

the mrbrown show: Everyday with Minister Midas - New Faces

Minister Midas Jin Jue Lui introduces some new faces for this coming election.

YouTube link: http://mrbrwn.co/1F1ZeVF

the mrbrown show: Everyday with Minister Midas - Meat the People

Minister Midas Jin Jue Lui kicks off the election season with his almost daily show. In this episode, he warns voters about the promises of other parties.

YouTube link: http://mrbrwn.co/1K6Cn2C

Not a Hokkien pie

Don't shout this order too loud at the McDonald's in Malaysia.

the mrbrown show: the taste of Singapore

It's election season and time to try the taste of Singapore!

Download or listen via the Soundcloud player above or the mrbrown server below:

Play "the mrbrown show: the taste of Singapore"

See What Show: Inside Out

I didn't know I could so much feels watching a movie about feelings. Who was chopping onions in the cinema? Manly tears, I tell you. Manly tears.

Visually it was a simple affair but the storytelling was ace. Pixar really knows how to tell a story.

Inside Out follows 11-year-old Riley Anderson (and her five Feelings). Riley loves ice hockey and goofiness, but when her family goes through a major change, her Feelings turn upside down.

The scene where the Feelings inside Riley and her parents react during dinner was one of my favorites. Also funny was the Dreams segment.

It is a nice change from the Pixar's less-wonderful Cars 2 and Monsters University. I really felt like a kid again. Emo sia.

Don't scared…

“In a democracy, someone who fails to get elected to office can always console himself with the thought that there was something not quite fair about it.” ― Thucydides, The History of the Peloponnesian War.

In Singapore, someone who fails to get elected to office can always console himself that next round, he can always tompang a coattail.

You Have Two Cows: mrbrown's Asian Edition

Recently a series of the age-old "You Have Two Cows" joke went viral. For example:

Socialism: You have two cows. The government takes one and gives it to your neighbour.

Communism: You have two cows. You give them to the government, and the government then gives you some milk.

Fascism: You have two cows. You give them to the government, and the government then sells you some milk.

Capitalism: You have two cows. You sell one and buy a bull.

So I thought we ought to have an Asian edition.

In fact, this series of images, a larger collection of which was first shared on my Facebook Page , became so viral I thought what the heck, I would write some more Two Cows slides and create a video slideshow of it.

YouTube link: http://youtu.be/y-bW-c6YVdY

Ministry of Transport: Destroyer of Political Careers

“When the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies but the pack survives.”

With Lui Tuck Yew stepping down, who will ascend the brutal Transport Throne?

PM said on his Facebook page:
“Lui Tuck Yew has told me that he does not wish to stand again in the coming General Election, and I have reluctantly accepted his decision. He had told me this early this year. My senior colleagues and I tried hard to change his mind, and are disappointed that we did not succeed.”

If I were his colleagues, I also don't want him to leave lor. Or else might become the next fella to kena arrow.

NDP Thought of the Day

BreadTalk's "freshly prepared" soya bean milk will never taste quite the same again.

Singapore Exam Life

If you study hard, you will do O Levels. If not, Zero Levels.

Happy 50th Birthday Singapore!

This morning, we woke up in time to hear the SCDF sirens at 9am. "Turn on the TV, quick!" I told the wife as I was brushing my teeth.

I listened to the Proclaimafion of Independence read by the late Lee Kuan Yew. It hit us right in the feels. It would have been nice to hear him read it in person.

Then we sang the National Anthem and said the Pledge, some of us still in pajamas.

The wife had bought matchy matchy SG50 polo t-shirts for us some weeks ago. When she first mentioned it, I said, "Wah, so expensive the t-shirts."

But it was nice to see the family dressed in red and white. And so I took some family photos to commemorate the occasion and to make it worthwhile spending all that SG50 money.

Our family is blessed to have Singapore as our home. Here's to the next fifty years.

The DBS PayLah! S$100,000 SGWave

This is me practise-waving my DBS PayLah! app. Why am I doing this? Read on and find out!

You know how concert fans wave their phones like light sticks to support their music act? 我们永远支持你！

Well, for our 50th National Day, DBS PayLah! is is inviting you to do the DBS PayLah! SGWave!

Sponsored Message:
You just need to be a PayLah! user (or if you are not one get, just download the app and register, preferably before noon tomorrow). Then on on 9 August 2015, launch your DBS PayLah! app, wave your phone during 1pm to 2pm and 5pm to 6pm, and you may stand to win cash prizes up to $100k!

Just 3 simple steps:
Step 1: Open your DBS PayLah! app on National Day during the above time periods.
Step 2: Click on: “Play Now”
Step 3: Wave your mobile phone and if you are lucky, you will win an instant cash prize!

Launch, Click and SGWave your way to some cash! Wave with your Paylah! app in one hand and the Singapore flag in the other!

Reminder: if you are a new DBS PayLah! user, do try to pre-register for PayLah! before noon tomorrow, 9 August 2015. Do eeeeet naaaaaao!

For more info, go to: go.dbs.com/sgwave

the mrbrown show: We're Just Getting Started (an SG50 song)

An SG50 song for our nation's 50th National Day from the mrbrown gang and The Momma Shop band! I know, I know, simisai also SG50. But how can we not join in, right?

YouTube link: https://youtu.be/QHwU9fiBkyo

Soundcloud audio:

Song composed by mrbrown, Marc Nair and James Lye
Music Performed & Arranged by The Momma Shop
Music Produced & Mixed by James Lye

The Momma Shop:
www.facebook.com/themommashop
www.twitter.com/themommashop
instagram.com/themommashop

James Lye:
www.facebook.com/jameslyemusic
instagram.com/jameslyemusic

1 More Donation, Boleh?

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) now says funds in Malaysian PM Najib's account were from a "donation", and not from debt-laden state fund 1MDB.

Aiyah! DONATION WOR! Why nair early say? We believe you, Najib!

In other news, there are rumours that Najib is replacing Zayn Malik as part of the boy band, One Donation.

Someone shared this movie poster with me. Malaysia, it seems, also got their own 叶问. My friend JC says there is a sequel coming called 别再问. And a prequel called 早就叫你别问.

This movie may be quite long, and may contain long stretches of wayang.

Fifty 5-Word Singapore Stories

Update: Thanks for the mention, Mashable, Channel 8 News, and TODAY!

When Twitter approached me to launch the first ever Twitter emojis for Singapore, I was thrilled because I am an emoji and sticker addict. The emojis show up when you type # followed by Singapore or # followed by SG50, in Twitter. It only lasts for this month, so enjoy spamming them while you can.

So on this rainy Monday morning, I kicked it off with a hashtag meme called #5wordSingaporeStories.

Here are some of mine and some of the stories I liked. Feel free to add your stories in the comments section below:

1. @mrbrown: Flat's here. We can marry. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

2. @kyelhye: See queue must join queue. #5WordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

3. @frhn: Late for dinner. SMRT breakdown. #5WordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

4. @keeweeeee: PSLE, O-Level, A-Level / Poly, Uni #5WordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

He'll miss the birthday party. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

— mrbrown (@mrbrown) August 3, 2015

5. @mrbrown: He'll miss the birthday party. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

6. @lukevijay: National Day weekend, go Krabi? #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

7. @sarahcoldheart: Moving. Never tell Kopitiam Aunty. #5WordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

8. @mphrmphmphrmph: Today rain, I take MC. #5WordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

9. @leejkp: *Hails down taxi* "Change Shift" #5WordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

10. @miyagi: A Sleepy Fishing Village, ZZZ #5WordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

11. @jiaming_k: Chao recruit, knock it down! #5WordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

"How much?" "讲华语." #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

— mrbrown (@mrbrown) August 3, 2015

12. @mrbrown: "How much?" "讲华语." #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50 #Singapore #SG50

13. @joleeqh: "Auntie, mee siam mai hum." #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50 (Mee Siam where got hum? -mb)

14. @dchieng: Getting taxis while raining? LOL #5WordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

15. @dchieng My babies were born here. #5WordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

16. @blackadlerqueen: Meat parts in curry: Human. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

17. @mrbrown: A General retired. Election time. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

18. @iamleonwei: Lui Tuck Yew 'extremely concerned’. #5wordsingaporestories #Singapore #SG50

19. @sgliterature: Monday liao. Wah lau eh. #5WordSingaporestories #Singapore #SG50

20. @ErvinHan: Thundery showers expected this afternoon. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

Run daily with this sunrise. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50 pic.twitter.com/Uuv9l3g8yt

— Parminder Singh (@parrysingh) August 3, 2015

21. @parrysingh Run daily with this sunrise. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore
#SG50

22. @ErvinHan Fifty years old still sexy. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

23. @mrbrown: After The Riot, alcohol banned. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

24. @dchieng: Looks up north, grabs popcorn. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

25. @iisjong: Xiao Ming, Ahmad and Muthu. #5WordSingaporeStories

26. @miyagi: Today is my bookout day #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50 #SAF50 (Long weekend, lagi best lah. -mb)

27. @alfpang: What are we queuing for? ##5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

"A? Why no A Star?" #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

— mrbrown (@mrbrown) August 3, 2015

28. @mrbrown: "A? Why no A Star?" #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

29. @mrbrown: He studied hard, now Gifted. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

30. @JoakimGomez: Mr. Brown starts Twitter Trend. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

31. @miyagi: "Why every year same #FormulaOne?" #5WordSingaporeStories #SG50 #Singapore #SingaporeGP

I love you. Let's BTO. #5WordSingaporeStories

— fey says hey (@heysayfey) August 3, 2015

32. @heysayfey: I love you. Let's BTO. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

33. @funkshin: Noted with thanks. Please revert. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

34. @deliciatan: One-room rental flat. Forgotten. #5WordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

35. @miyagi: Monitoring the situation very closely. #5WordSingaporeStories #SG50 #Singapore

"Papa, why doesn't 姐 talk?" #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

— mrbrown (@mrbrown) August 3, 2015

36. @mrbrown: "Papa, why doesn't 姐 talk?" #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

37. @sengkangauntie: Your children go where tuition? #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

38. @aditishiva: "I also don't friend you." #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

39. @Foodie_TL: We, the citizens of Singapore #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

40. @mrbrown: Ten years, no Baby Bonus.#5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

"I make $1,000." "Can HDB!" #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

— mrbrown (@mrbrown) August 3, 2015

41. @mrbrown: "I make $1,000." "Can HDB!" #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

42. @mrbrown: Heavy downpour. Winter is here. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

43. @ChickenMacabre: For sale, Baby Shoes, #BBBMTL. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

44. @mrbrown: He wasn't sad. Just underhappy. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

45. @mrbrown: She picked cardboard for exercise. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

46. @mrbrown: "有一天，小明……" #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

47. @ShankerPaarey: Purple light, in the valley… #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

48. @mrbrown: "Where's my tissue and seat?" #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

49. @mrbrown: Replaced Straits Times in birdcage. #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50

50. @mrbrown: "Where did Joo Chiat go?" #5wordSingaporeStories #Singapore #SG50


Bonus. This was a moment of synchronicity:

My iPad Girl

Spent a lazy Saturday morning listening to Faith's favorite worship songs with her. She tilted the iPad Mini screen towards the camera when she saw me take the photo, as if to show what's playing.

Looks like this iPad Mini will soon be her personal property.