Natrah / Maria Hertogh Dies at 72 From Leukemia

Just read it here via Tomorrow.sg. (apparently this happened 2 weeks ago, one of the downsides of not reading the MSM)

I first heard the story of Maria Hertogh from (of all places) a song by Handy Black. After some research i learnt gripping yet tragic story.

Short version - a Dutch girl who was adopted and brought up by a Malay lady in Singapore, Che Aminah for several years in the 1940s. Some years later her natural parents, Dutch Catholics, asked the courts to get their daughter back. The judge ruled in favour of the natural parents, and the girl was put in a convent before being sent back to the Netherlands. This resulted in a riots with 18 people killed and 179 injured.

For the longer version, you can read it at wikipedia here. RIP Maria / Natrah.

Moonlighting: Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepherd

Quick question - what popular TV show in the 80’s (shown here on TV3) starred a very young Bruce Willis and Cybil Shepherd as a pair of private investigators?

Answer - Moonlighting, of course.

I love that show, although i never really got to watch the whole series (due to the fact that i didn’t get TV3 at home, dammit). The premise of the show (whenever they kept to the plot) was about David Addison (Willis) and Maddie Hays (Shepherd) who run a PI firm called Blue Moon Detective Agency. The only other main character on the show was their quirky receptionist, Agnes DiPesto.

What made the show interesting was the growing sexual tension between the two leads, and the unconventional humor of the show. They talked to the camera, had outlandish fantasy sequences, claymation, impromptu musical numbers, etc. In comparison to the staid PI shows that were abundant during the 80’s (Remington Steele, Hunter, Hart to Hart) it was definitely ahead of its time.

The series ended abruptly during the 5th, never resolving the plotline. Willis went on to become a hugely popular action star, and as for Cybil Shepherd, well…

Was looking around for the show on the ‘Net, but to no success. Does anyone know where i can find the DVD?

KL Bon Odori 2009 This Saturday

For those of you looking for something interesting to do on a lazy Saturday afternoon, get down to Panasonic Sports Complex in Section 21 Shah Alam to catch the Bon Odori Festival in Malaysia.

The Bon Odori Festival is an excellent place to eat Japanese (and Malaysian-Japanese) food and snacks, meet new people and watch some interesting performances (and participate too if you like).

We went for the 31st one last year, pics and write-up here. Go early, if you don’t want to park 2 miles away or on the main road.

Unfortunately, after waiting a year for it, we are unable to make it there this time due to a prior engagement on Saturday. Sigh. Maybe next year then… (although my wife says i can still go to Jusco and find the same snacks there).

Checkmate

Does anyone still even play English chess anymore? I mean, other than the old folks after their qigong session in the park that is.

I used to play a bit when i was small, my brother taught me how to play. Never really had patience for it though, he used to whip my a$$ at it. He always maintained that really good player always looked 10 moves ahead, and a player like him looked about 3-5 moves ahead. Me? I only think of the move i’m making.

In the age of PC and Internet games, chess isn’t winning any new converts. I tried googling ‘play online chess’ and there were quite a few websites, but i don’t think i will be joining anytime soon.

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Chinese chess is probably fairing a little better. Its basically the same game, except apparently the queens bodyguards can’t leave the castle, and the cannonsbishops can’t cross rivers.