Stuff I Like

There is a plethora of stuff that I like. There is such a plethora I had to categorise them! Would you say I had a plethora of stuff I like? ("Si, si, El Guapo, you have a plethora!" "Amigo, what ees a 'plethora'?" "El Guapo?" "Do you know what a 'plethora' ees?" "Er...no, El Guapo!" "Eef you don't know what a 'plethora' ees, how can you say I have a 'plethora'?" ".....!") To make it easier for you, the categories are listed below. Go ahead and look through the whole list. If you see something that is of interest to you too, go ahead and click on it. It will bring you straight to that topic. Have fun!

Music
Military History
Football
Favourite Drink
Comics
Cartoons
Star Wars
TV Shows
Making Friends

Music

My mama tells me that when I was a two-year old toddler, I would sit in front of the record player and listen to the Beatles and Matt Monroe. By the time I was three, I was singing the whole of Side A of Matt's album...or so it seems. My introduction to music came early in my life. Ever since, I have enjoyed listening to and playing music.

With regards to the playing bit, I play the keyboards (I took formal lessons once), the clarinet, the saxophone (although I don't own one), acoustic and electric guitars. I only just bought my guitars last year. I like Eric Clapton's style, and hopefully with some lessons I can play his stuff.

I listen to a lot of kinds of music, and I have favourites for the different types of music, too. Categories seem to be the best way to explain myself, so here is another list!

Classical Music

My parents sent me for piano lessons when I was six. I picked up a liking for classical music then. I still appreciate classical music, and sometimes feel that it is the only real type of music left in this world.
I like Baroque era music because it has a steady tempo and is good to do work to. In this area, Bach has just about got to be my favourite. I particularly enjoy listening to "Air in G", and was very pleasantly surprised when they used in that disturbing movie "Seven". (Remember the scene when the detective played by Morgan Freeman was in the library doing research?) Cool, huh? For those of you out there who don't know classical music, but enjoyed that scene and its music...well...I proudly announce that you actually enjoy classical music but didn't know it up until now! Congratulations! Join the club!

Country Music

I started appreciating Country Music when I spent some time in Fort Knox in Kentucky, USA. My family and I would drive about 150 miles to Nashville, the Music City of USA. My favourite male performer is Garth Brooks. I like "Friends In Low Places" and "If Tomorrow Never Comes". My favourite female performer is a toss-up between Katy Mattea and Reba McEntire. I like Reba's song "It's Your Call" (she also does a mean USA National Anthem), and Katy's "Harley" and "Knee Deep In The River".

Adult Contemporary

Circa 1976 (I think..could be 1977), I heard this song over the radio called "This One's For You" sung by this cool dude called

Barry Manilow and immediately fell in love with it. At that time, Barry was categorised under "Pop Music". Now, he's listed under "Adult Contemporary" (and hence the subtitle). I like Barry Manilow because the songs he writes and performs are mushy, the "why does it have to happen to me?" type, and basically excellent to sing along to. Anyone of you out there share my liking for Barry? You could email me and we can talk some more. I've also found a Barry website called The Barry Net that you may be interested in. Alright, if I was forced to choose my favourite Barry song, it would have to be "Tryin' To Get The Feeling".

Rock/Pop

As far as Rock/Pop music goes, I don't have any particular favourites. There are, however, some songs that I like, and they come from a whole range of performers. (Sometimes, I like the song, but don't know who the performer is...or worse, don't know the title!) Just a sampling of the songs in this category that I like:
Separate Ways by Journey
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
It's Oh So Quiet by Bjork (this was really recent)
Yellow Taxi Cab by Amy Grant
All songs done by Eagles (glad you guys got together again!)
Most songs done by Chicago (you guys sound great with or without Peter Cetera!)
Rosanna and Africa by Toto
You Oughta Know by Alanis Morissette (this is as recent as Bjork)
I'll Be There For You by The Rembrandts (Theme from 'Friends')

Peeves

I know I'm going to get flamed for this...but, really, this is my own opinion and I guess I am entitled to it. But I find great difficulty in appreciating Madonna and Michael Jackson...or their music.
Also, please don't force me to like Opera. I tried to. God knows I tried. There was a local production of Carmen that I went to watch...no..please...it's too painful...can we talk of something else, Mommy?

Musicals

I simply love musicals. It's not just the music. It's the whole concept, story, production...etc. I've watched some musicals and missed many. I've watched Cats, The Baker's Wife, A Little Night Music, Phantom of the Opera and Chorus Line. But my all time favourite musical is...

I watched this baby three times. My favourite character in this musical is Javert. Why? Because I like his song "Stars" and what his character stands for...Duty. Being a military man myself, I guess I can identify with Javert. Duty is something that is a very big thing with me as well. My favourite song in the musical has to be "One Day More". It speaks of hope, of promise, of desire, of duty, of futility....ahh....lovely! If you watched and enjoyed Les Mis as much as I did, you might want to go to the Les Miserables Home Page.

Among the numerous musicals that I didn't get a chance to watch, I must say Blondel is my favourite. It's about this minstrel who lived in the time of King Richard III. In the end, it is Blondel who saves the day for all England. I've got it on record but that has gone all scratchy. I'm looking for the CD version of this musical. Anyone out there know where I can get it?

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Military History

Being a professional soldier, I enjoy military history very much...not just because my job requires it, but because I personally find it very satisfying, intriguing, and fascinating. It also helps that I like to read a lot. My wife calls me a "voracious reader". Incidentally, I am a member of the Book-of-the-Month Club and The Good Book Club.
I like all kinds of military history, but prefer analysing events that are (or were as the case may be) land-based. So, for example, I would choose Clausewitz over Mahan (Naval Warfare) or Douhet (Air Warfare). I will read anything from the Trojan Art of War all the way up to the methods of fighting in the Gulf Crisis. Right now, though, I am particularly interested in the American Civil War.

American Civil War

My interest in the American Civil War started in 1992 when I was attending my Advanced Armor Course in Fort Knox, Kentucky. I have been reading and analysing the causes this War, and its individual battles since then. It is all pretty fascinating stuff. Take for example the reason for fighting. Many soldiers in the War (both Union and Confederate) were not very sure (some plum didn't know) why they were fighting. A good majority of them fought because they just had to. Clausewitz was right when he said "War is the continuation of policy..." Those Johnny Rebs and Billy Yanks were fighting for something their political masters were unhappy with each other about! Cest le guerre!
One thing that struck me about the Civil War is how the senior officers and commanding generals of the war viewed the concept of Duty. For most of them, Duty was the be-all and end-all. Indeed, it was Robert E. Lee himself who said "You must do your duty. You cannot do more, you should never do less." This is what he looked like.

He was a master strategist. He led the Army of Virginia against Northern Armies that were superior in number and whupped most of them. Some battles he is famous for are Fredericksburg (where he fought a larger Union Army of the Potomac), Chancellorsville (again against superior numbers but an incompetent Union general), and Gettysburg (where he met his match in George Meade). Even against Grant in the final throes of the war, he fought tactical withdrawal and retrograde battles all the way to Appomatox. His Army was never routed. His soldiers were never beaten....they just stopped fighting, is all!

My all-time hero of the Civil War has got to be this man...Gen Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. How he earned the nickname "Stonewall" is a legend in itself. He was famous for his flanking attacks and deceptions. His byword: "Always mytify, mislead, and surprise the enemy." He was a good general, well-loved by his men. He wasn't very well-liked by some of his officers....but that's only because he was a strict disciplinarian and wouldn't stand up to their nonsense. I must admit that he sometimes went overboard. He was an Officer with an extreme sense of Duty to his country, his men, his superior (Robert E. Lee) and God. The victory at Chancellorsville may be attributed to this man. It was a pity that he died from wounds sustained at Chancellorsville. It is even a greater pity that he got his wounds from being shot at by his own pickets (who thought he was the opposing calvary). I admire him so much I actually sign off my emails with a quotation of his: "You may be whatever you resolve to be."
Presently, I am studying and analysing the Battle of Gettysburg and the Battle of Chancellorsville. In fact, I just watched the show "Gettysburg" and think that it is quite a good representation of the actual Battle. Those of you out there who are interested can either borrow or rent the Laser Disc from selected shops, or read the book "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara (on which the show is based).
I also found some web pages on the American Civil War. A really good one that I actually found is The American Civil War. Go in and have fun!

World War Two

For the time being, I am reading about D-Day. I have not really sat down and analysed any Battles in WW2, although I have read books about The Battle of the Bulge, The Battle of France, and The Battle for Singapore. I suppose this is the next stop after my interest in the American Civil War starts to wane (if it ever does at all).
I am pretty fascinated by two generals of WW2. They are General George S. Patton and Field Marshall Erwin Rommel. Strangely enough, they both share many characteristics. Both were tank or cavalry commanders, both died during or shortly after the war from non-battle causes, both were excellent tactical and operational geniuses, both loved the armoured forces more than anything else, both were audacious (to the point of being insubordinate), and both knew how to end the war real quick...if only their superiors allowed them to. I am thinking of doing a comparative study of these two men. Being an Armour Officer myself, it is hardly incredible that I find these two men so fascinating.

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Football

There are two kinds of football that I like: English Football, otherwise known as Soccer, and American Football.

Soccer

I follow two leagues at the moment; the English Premier League, and Singapore's very own . Liverpool is the English Premier League team that I support. They did very well this season, I must say, although they did not have enough to finish better than third place. However, they are up against Man Utd in the FA Cup Final and I hope the Reds give them a thrashing. I have been a Liverpool fan since I was eight years old. I followed the team through the John Toshak days, the Kevin Keegan days, the Kenny Dalglish (as player) days, the Kenny Dalglish (as manager) days, right up to the present Robbie Fowler-Stan Collymore-Jamie Redknapp days. Fellow fans of Liverpool can check out The Liverpool Web Site.
The S-League team I support is the Warriors. This is the SAF Football Club. I support it for no other reason than that I am an Officer in the Singapore Armed Forces. We don't have many stars like Fandi Ahmad or Sundramoorthy. But we've got a few hard-working Croats who can play well when they're in form. Right now, the Warriors ain't so hot. Hopefully they get better as they play more games. Check out the latest happenings in The S-League.

American Football

There is no other team in the National Football League than the San Francisco 49ers! I just love these guys. I've been following them since the Joe Montana days. Even after Montana left to QB for the Kansas City Chiefs, he was more a 49er than a Chief! Steve Young took over QB for the 49ers and is now one of the best, if not the best QB in the League. Fellow fans of the 49ers should check out The San Francisco 49ers Home Page.

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Favourite Drink

My favourite drink is Coca-Cola. Is there any other brand of soft drink? I know by saying this I'm going to make a lot of Pepsi drinkers very unhappy...but let's face it guys...you should go with "The Real Thing"! What's more, Coca-Cola does not need to rely on babes like to market their product. So all you Coke fans out there, let's give a rousing cheer for our favourite drink and check out the The Coca-Cola Home Page!

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Comics

I will devote this section to Comic Strips and Comic Books. I need to make this distinction because I read both, and as usual, I have my favourites.

Comic Strips

My three favourite comic strips are:

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson

The Far Side by Gary Larson

Dilbert by Scott Adams

Of these three, only Dilbert is on-going. Mr Watterson and Mr Larson have decided to take a rest. This makes Dilbert my all-time favourite Comic strip.

Comic Books

My favourite comic books would be all those in the Batman series. This would include Detective Comics, Shadow of the Bat, Gotham Chronicles, and the Elseworld Graphic Novels. I think ever since "Year One", Batman is portrayed as what he was meant to be. Dark, mysterious, and out for vengeance. This is even more markedly so after his return from injury in the Knightfall/Knightquest storyline. I think his new black costume is mega-cool...projecting the "correct" kind of image that he should be projecting.
A word about the movie versions: I don't think any of the three did any justice to the real Batman, with perhaps the exception of the Val Kilmer one. Just my humble opinion.

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Cartoons

There is no other cartoon I like better than the Looney Tunes. Unforgettable characters like Bugs Bunny, Sylvester, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Wile E. Coyote, Roadrunner, and that oh so marvellous, magnificent and lovely Marvin the Martian! Marvin is my favourite character. This is one of those things that I cannot explain. Yes...normal people like Bugs, or Daffy, or even Tweety (bleah!). Me...I had to go pick Marvin. And he isn't featured very often either. Still, there's something about the little green guy with the spitoon for a helmet that I really like. And the way he speaks...ha!..."Hmmm, I have to blow up the earth..it's blocking my view of Venus!"

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Star Wars

This topic deserves a whole page on its own. So, fellow fans of Star Wars and everything else that has to do with it...CLICK RIGHT HERE!!! See you in the next galaxy!

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TV Shows

Singapore TV is nothing to shout very loudly about. But, after saying that, I must add that there are a couple of TV shows that I really like. They are:

The first thing that strikes me about this programme is the theme song. Have you heard anything more mysterious? The story lines are excellent. Mulder and Scully make up such a good team, as well. They have a good chemistry, meaning that although they work well together, it doesn't necessarily mean that they share the same beliefs and/or values. There is a lot more to this show than just aliens and unusual happenings, I tell ya! And for all you X-Philes out there, here's a cool X-Files Link. Enjoy!

This has got to be the best sitcom I've ever watched. What I can't hack is why it has got to be programmed so late at night. No mushy "happy-ending-everythings-going-to-be-alright" rubbish here. The stuff you see happening on "Friends", that's the kind of stuff that actually happens in real life. That's why I like this show. Besides, don't you think Phoebe's a babe? So Click Right Here for a "Friends" link.

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Making Friends

I would really like to make friends with you. If you've read all this stuff and feel that you share some of my interests, why don't you Email me? See you on the internet!

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In The Beginning...