Huh?

These are a few of my favorite questions that I've been asked so far in the pharmacy.



1) Do you have any pills to make me run faster?

Hmm... I don't have anabolic steroids but even if he does take them it doesn't guarantee him doing 100m under 10 seconds.



2) Do you have any pills that will make more tears?

People who have Dry Eyes Syndrome (DES or Keratoconjunctivitis sicca) have to resort to artificial tears to keep their eyes 'lubricated', but the problem is when they forget to bring the eye drops. So this customer was just wondering if there is a pill she can take to overcome this problem.

I found out from this exchange that customers do not appreciate a pharmacist with a sense of humor. She gave me a weird look when I told her to try putting some chili in her handbag or something... good thing I didn't tell her to think of a very sad moment in her life.



3) I'm rushing to finish my assignment and have not slept for 3 days. Do you have anything for me?

Yea... better time management.



4) My 5 year old son has just shaved his head and he doesn't like the look. Any supplements to make the hair grow back instantly?

No kidding...



And my favorite one so far...


5) Customer: Hi there, do you have any pills for fever and diarrhea?
Me: Yea, this one here is for the fever. As for the diarrhea, take this o...
Customer (interrupts) : Oh no no, I just want 1 pill for both fever and diarrhea. I don't want 2.
Me: Uh...there isn..
Customer (interrupting again) : Ok never mind!

Wow. Talk about being random. That's like walking into IKEA and asking the salesman, "Hi do you have a frying pan and a toilet plunger?"

IKEA man : "Well yes, our frying pan is in the kitchen department upstairs and the toilet plunger is..."

"No no no, I wan't them both together. Toilet plunger and frying pan, 2 in 1. Don't have? Oh never mind!"

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Then again, don't hesitate to ask your pharmacist if you're not sure of anything. There isn't any question that is too stupid to ask - funny maybe, but not stupid. Unless you're asking for free medicines ...

Post Election : What now Malaysia?

What a great weekend! For the first time in history the opposition stood united to deny the ruling coalition a 2/3 majority in parliament. I was stuck at my shop from 9am to 10pm on that fateful Saturday working the day away...but thanks to the internet I was able to keep myself up to date.

At around 10, I closed shop and went home. There were very encouraging news so far but all unofficial - Penang had fallen to the opposition! As I reached home I saw my landlady listening to updates on the TV, but after half an hour, there were hardly any news on the opposition gaining ground. I celebrated with a glass of scotch and hoped for the best.

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The rest is history I guess. To the ruling coalition - all that we've ever wanted from you was good governance. Not monkeys in parliaments making sexist 'bocor' remarks. Not ministers who are more suited to be gangsters (bye bye Semi...we won't miss you). Not unresolved scandals after scandals that has made Malaysia a laughing stock. Get that into your heads - GOOD GOVERNANCE! You've shot yourself in the foot in Seputeh and Kinrara, where sexist remarks were made against Teresa Kok. To make matters worse, your PM insulted and blackmailed the chinese community on the day before the elections (HERE). I mean really...I thought the PM condemned playing the racial card. Seems that the rule does not apply to himself.

To the opposition, I congratulate you on having stoood united and wrestling an additional 4 states from the ruling party. However, it is a shame that this unity cannot be carried over to Sabah and Sarawak where there were many 3 cornered fights. It remains to be seen how you can get your act together and govern effectively, and I'm hoping for the best. Winning your seats is not an end in itself, its just the start of a long journey for all of you. Learn from the mistakes of the ruling coalition, or all of you will have nothing to show for at the end of your 5 year tenure.

There was never a need to give any political party a 2/3 majority in the first place. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. In any instance, the first 100 days of any administration is always a litmus test as it will set the tone for the rest of the administration. Let's wait and see prayerfully.

Book Review : The Moment It Clicks

As a photographer, its hard not to know about Joe McNally. He is without a doubt a legend in his own right. Joe has a unique and creative vision that shows in his photos, garnished with a pinch of humor and wit (something that I believe is important).

So when this book arrived in the mail a few weeks back, I locked myself in my room and quietly absorbed it.
Since most of the readers of this blog are Malaysians, I know you will ask - 'Why not just take 3 or 4 trips to the bookshop and read it there instead of buying?' Not this book. Joe throws in a lot of 'behind the scenes' moments and dishes out plenty of useful advice...well, you can bring a pen and paper to Borders and start jotting down notes if you want. I think one of the most important features of this book are Joe's thought processes, how he reacts to the problems that threatens to spoil the shoot and make it work.

Another impression I got of Joe was that he likes to take risks. You may have many radical ideas, but what use are they if you don't try to make it work? Imagine hanging Michelle Yeoh from a helicopter for a photoshoot... now that's thinking big! And to make a shoot like that work is nothing short of amazing.

Actually there are a few pics in the book that I've remembered seeing before. The Michelle Yeoh hanging from a helicopter picture, I have that issue of National Geographic. This picture above, with the laser being shot in the eye, I'm sure I have that issue of NG somewhere as well. Back then, I didn't know who Joe McNally was, but I knew his photos. That's how powerful a photograph can be. I can't remember anything about the articles...but I still remember the photos.

The book also details some of the personal sacrifices that Joe had to make to be at the top of his game. Being on the road always as a travelling photographer means you are not always around for your family. This is probably one of the most memorable quotes in the book -

"I slid down in the seat and began to weep (for his newly-born daughter). I wept for her, for me, but mostly because the siren call of my first big story with a yellow border around it was more powerful than the call of fatherhood."

If Joe had ignored that first assignment with National Geographic, who knows what would have happened. Anyway, its a great book and an interesting read. I highly recommend this book!