Friday, December 19, 2008
Thursday, December 04, 2008
05.12.08
Tomorrow we'll discover
What our God in Heaven has in store
One more dawn
One more day
One day more...
What our God in Heaven has in store
One more dawn
One more day
One day more...
Wednesday, December 03, 2008
PLC does crazy things to you...
I went on a buying spree after last Friday's paper and I just bought this online after today's:
to compliment this that I got years ago:
Hopefully they retain their value more than my dismal attempt at stock trading.
Time to eat grass!
Fantastic Four #1 (x)
Spider-Man #1 (x)
The Hulk #1
Iron Man #1
Thor (Journey into Mystery #83)
Daredevil #1
X-Men #1
The Avengers #1
to compliment this that I got years ago:
Hopefully they retain their value more than my dismal attempt at stock trading.
Time to eat grass!
Fantastic Four #1 (x)
Spider-Man #1 (x)
The Hulk #1
Iron Man #1
Thor (Journey into Mystery #83)
Daredevil #1
X-Men #1
The Avengers #1
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
I suck at Economy 101
I still maintain that the economic crisis was due primarily because of the involuntary shrinking of everyone's belt because they were scared off by the economic failures they read about in the news and see on tv. There is no real actual crisis except everyone cutting down on everything, and some even jumping on the bandwagon to cut and save money as an excuse.
If you're a teacher, will you be affected by the economic crisis? MOE is just cutting salaries because they wanna save money and they wanna save money because they (as any company) are inherently trying to cut costs whenever they can. One might argue that the economy is global and even our town councils have investments that depreciate and cause them to lose money. But they are not supposed to invest more than a certain % of their funds in such investments. So what about the rest of it? Similarly, if MOE has such links to the economy, and they have ample funds left, why the excuse to cut salaries?
This economic crisis is a farce and the only ones benefitting from it are the companies (and organizations) that are crying foul. We need people to spend more so banks won't be so scared to lend more and that doesn't help if you cut salaries. You start doing that and you get MORE defaults in payments and don't even start on the layoffs. The whole vicious cycle goes on because of this.
It's just so ridiculous how things can escalate.
If you're a teacher, will you be affected by the economic crisis? MOE is just cutting salaries because they wanna save money and they wanna save money because they (as any company) are inherently trying to cut costs whenever they can. One might argue that the economy is global and even our town councils have investments that depreciate and cause them to lose money. But they are not supposed to invest more than a certain % of their funds in such investments. So what about the rest of it? Similarly, if MOE has such links to the economy, and they have ample funds left, why the excuse to cut salaries?
This economic crisis is a farce and the only ones benefitting from it are the companies (and organizations) that are crying foul. We need people to spend more so banks won't be so scared to lend more and that doesn't help if you cut salaries. You start doing that and you get MORE defaults in payments and don't even start on the layoffs. The whole vicious cycle goes on because of this.
It's just so ridiculous how things can escalate.
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
It all started with the Barenaked Ladies!
Download Big Bang Theory mp3
Our whole universe was in a hot dense state,
Then nearly fourteen billion years ago expansion started. Wait...
The Earth began to cool,
The autotrophs began to drool,
Neanderthals developed tools,
We built a wall (we built the pyramids),
Math, science, history, unraveling the mysteries,
That all started with the big bang!
"Since the dawn of man" is really not that long,
As every galaxy was formed in less time than it takes to sing this song.
A fraction of a second and the elements were made.
The bipeds stood up straight,
The dinosaurs all met their fate,
They tried to leap but they were late
And they all died (they froze their asses off)
The oceans and pangea
See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya
Set in motion by the same big bang!
It all started with the big BANG!
It's expanding ever outward but one day
It will cause the stars to go the other way,
Collapsing ever inward, we won't be here, it wont be hurt
Our best and brightest figure that it'll make an even bigger bang!
Australopithecus would really have been sick of us
Debating out while here they're catching deer (we're catching viruses)
Religion or astronomy, Encarta, Deuteronomy
It all started with the big bang!
Music and mythology, Einstein and astrology
It all started with the big bang!
It all started with the big BANG!
Our whole universe was in a hot dense state,
Then nearly fourteen billion years ago expansion started. Wait...
The Earth began to cool,
The autotrophs began to drool,
Neanderthals developed tools,
We built a wall (we built the pyramids),
Math, science, history, unraveling the mysteries,
That all started with the big bang!
"Since the dawn of man" is really not that long,
As every galaxy was formed in less time than it takes to sing this song.
A fraction of a second and the elements were made.
The bipeds stood up straight,
The dinosaurs all met their fate,
They tried to leap but they were late
And they all died (they froze their asses off)
The oceans and pangea
See ya, wouldn't wanna be ya
Set in motion by the same big bang!
It all started with the big BANG!
It's expanding ever outward but one day
It will cause the stars to go the other way,
Collapsing ever inward, we won't be here, it wont be hurt
Our best and brightest figure that it'll make an even bigger bang!
Australopithecus would really have been sick of us
Debating out while here they're catching deer (we're catching viruses)
Religion or astronomy, Encarta, Deuteronomy
It all started with the big bang!
Music and mythology, Einstein and astrology
It all started with the big bang!
It all started with the big BANG!
Monday, November 24, 2008
The 90s
Sometimes, I am still amazed that something from the 90s can still look so good. He actually doesn't look very out of place alongside the newly revamped Nolan Batman and Singer Superman.
When the invigilator @ the Bar Examination announced that...
"The color of the examination booklet for today's paper is BLUE"
I actually wondered why my examination booklet was green.
Dammit.
I actually wondered why my examination booklet was green.
Dammit.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
ROCK PAPER SCISSORS SPOCK LIZARD
The latest episode of the Big Bang Theory introduced the majority of the world to the extension of the Rock-Paper-Scissors paradigm. Created wayyyy back in the 90s.
This game was invented because it seems like when you know someone well enough, 75-80% of any Rock-Paper-Scissors games you play with that person end up in a tie. Well, here is a slight variation that reduces that probability. (Note that for those of you who like to swing your fist back and forth and say, "Rock, Paper, Scissors, GO!", might want to continue to do that, replacing "Rock" with "One," "Paper" with "Two," and "Scissors" with "Three.") This version is also nice because it satisfies the Law of Fives.
This game was invented because it seems like when you know someone well enough, 75-80% of any Rock-Paper-Scissors games you play with that person end up in a tie. Well, here is a slight variation that reduces that probability. (Note that for those of you who like to swing your fist back and forth and say, "Rock, Paper, Scissors, GO!", might want to continue to do that, replacing "Rock" with "One," "Paper" with "Two," and "Scissors" with "Three.") This version is also nice because it satisfies the Law of Fives.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
The Postman Cometh!
... and brought me my early Christmas present :D
Now I'm just waiting for my China Postman to come...
Now I'm just waiting for my China Postman to come...
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
The Social Experiment
Months ago, a PRC in Shenzhen whom was working in his sister's office got bored and scribbled his QQ (sorta like MSN) contact number and his name on a piece of card which was shipped off to be attached to a pair of hairbands sold by Forever 21. Fast forward a few months later, and Miss Mao Cow was happily retrieving the said hairbands out of the shipping box delivered to us by Singapore Post. Because she was impatient, instead of removing the hairbands by sliding them out of the cardboard attachment, she tore it apart and we discovered the message.
It was essentially a greeting message with a request for the reader to add the said PRC to his QQ and be friends. I say "he" because the name was obviously a male's. Intrigued, and very coincidental too that I had QQ, we added him to my QQ and awaited his messages.
This little boy (18-19 according to the profile) kept asking why we were not replying as fast as him. The fact was that we were busy watching videos on my laptop and not all that concerned with his queries as we were trying to ask him 1) why he sent out the card - we later found out that it was out of boredom and 2) how many did he send out and how many replied him - many many but I was the only boliao one that replied. He was however more concerned with whether I could introduce him to Singapore girls AFTER he established that I was not a girl (as he DID scribble his message on a Forever 21 card, I would assume his target was a girl).
After many lame reasons like don't you have msn? (I'm lucky he doesn't have it actually) And my friends don't have QQ (in fact, I only have it myself due to commercial reasons), I decided to point him to a website where he could meet Singapore girls and make friends with them.
Enter facebook.
Rest assured that I am no longer in contact with him and he does not have my facebook name/email nor any chance to contact any of you girls that are my friends. But in the event you get a message from a 18-19 year old PRC from Shenzhen, do exercise your own discretion. You have been warned.
It was essentially a greeting message with a request for the reader to add the said PRC to his QQ and be friends. I say "he" because the name was obviously a male's. Intrigued, and very coincidental too that I had QQ, we added him to my QQ and awaited his messages.
This little boy (18-19 according to the profile) kept asking why we were not replying as fast as him. The fact was that we were busy watching videos on my laptop and not all that concerned with his queries as we were trying to ask him 1) why he sent out the card - we later found out that it was out of boredom and 2) how many did he send out and how many replied him - many many but I was the only boliao one that replied. He was however more concerned with whether I could introduce him to Singapore girls AFTER he established that I was not a girl (as he DID scribble his message on a Forever 21 card, I would assume his target was a girl).
After many lame reasons like don't you have msn? (I'm lucky he doesn't have it actually) And my friends don't have QQ (in fact, I only have it myself due to commercial reasons), I decided to point him to a website where he could meet Singapore girls and make friends with them.
Enter facebook.
Rest assured that I am no longer in contact with him and he does not have my facebook name/email nor any chance to contact any of you girls that are my friends. But in the event you get a message from a 18-19 year old PRC from Shenzhen, do exercise your own discretion. You have been warned.
Monday, November 17, 2008
This is a joke
After my great haul at the MPH bookfair/warehouse sale/whatnot at the expo over the weekend (fri and sunday to be exact), the POPULAR bookfair at suntec was a complete waste of my 10 minutes.
Touted as the largest and most successful bookfair in Singapore, it certainly lets one down as there was a maximum of only 20% off "storewide" and heavily marked up chinese books on discount (after you calculate, the prices are about the same as their original retail prices). If I had wanted 20% off I'd have hit POPULAR/HARRIS' bookstores during their sales. Why they are wasting money renting the exhibition hall is beyond my imagination.
*Shakes head*
The only people enjoying the sale were probably aunties buying assessment books for their children. Then again, they always do that at neighborhood POPULAR stores anyway.
Touted as the largest and most successful bookfair in Singapore, it certainly lets one down as there was a maximum of only 20% off "storewide" and heavily marked up chinese books on discount (after you calculate, the prices are about the same as their original retail prices). If I had wanted 20% off I'd have hit POPULAR/HARRIS' bookstores during their sales. Why they are wasting money renting the exhibition hall is beyond my imagination.
*Shakes head*
The only people enjoying the sale were probably aunties buying assessment books for their children. Then again, they always do that at neighborhood POPULAR stores anyway.
Friday, November 14, 2008
The Gaiman Twilight Saga
All these hardcovers for $48. Plus additional 10% off. Plus $2 MPH Voucher for next purchase. You do the math~
Buying and the Economy
When the economy gets tough, the smart people spend. These are times where you get that extra mile for your dollar. Smart companies are thinking of ways to slash prices to make you, the average consumer part with your hard earned monies ESPECIALLY during hard times. Who can blame them? They just want to stay afloat. This is the time to spend spend spend!
(note: HDB as mentioned in my previous post is doing the entire opposite. Raising flat prices instead of slashing them. But then again that only works if you've got a monopoly. Even Mediacorp is advertising lower ad rates even though they are also a monopoly just that they are in denial)
Just flip through today's Straits Times and you will find sales galore. Forget the 20% off storewide stuff. They're not much of a help. Forget up to 70% off at boutiques. I asked Hush Puppies which items were at 70% off and there were none. The max was 30%. Places to score great deals are warehouse sales, baskets and periodical mega sales at trusty places like 1) carrefour, 2) departmental stores and 3) expo sales.
Before you buy, create a budget. In tough times, it’s important to limit your spending on unnecessary extras and zero in on what are truly important. So if you're looking for a 8GB thumb drive, don't be distracted by that groovy portable speaker. Chances are you don't need it. If the stuff is out of your REASONABLE price range, forget it. If you notice a trend in electronics, prices are going DOWN DOWN DOWN (my 42" LCD TV was bought for $2,899 and about a year later it's dropped to less than 1K!). Even when you're encountering a MEGA SALE and have the possibility of overspending, make sure you budget yourself. Say I am only going to spend $80 at this book fair. And I will not pay more than $x per book. It usually helps you take out the stuff that you've grabbed on impulse like "the life of Mao Zhedong" and "Applied Modern Philosophy". You probably won't read it. Not even "Barack Obama". And if you've never read the Davinci Code before you saw the movie, chances are you probably won't. So put that back.
(note: this aunty woman queuing up in front of me was approached by a PRC to help her purchase the Da vinci Code. It was a pretty good hardcover for $8 with big font and even I had a copy of it bought a few months back for $6 at a similar fair. After agreeing to help the PRC woman purchase the book, she started flipping through the book and conversed with her equally aunty friend that "this book is not very good" and "alot of it is not real". After which she beckoned to the PRC waiting by the line to come over, and told her "this book is not a good book. Alot of it is not real". I mean C'MON. It's FICTION. OF COURSE IT'S NOT REAL. So does that make "CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS" that's in your box to purchase a BAD BOOK as well because it is NOT REAL?)
That said, one should hit mega sales at expos and warehouse sales more frequently. BUT limit yourself to stuff that you are actually buying. Hence if you are looking for bedroom sets, wait for warehouse sales for bedroom sets. If you are looking for shoes, look for warehouse sales of shoes. If you are looking for books, look for warehouse sales of books. This cannot be stressed enough because general warehouse sales by establishments such as METRO, JOHN LITTLE and ROBINSONS are a dime a dozen and simply don't have a good deal for people knowing what they want. They are structured to make you pick up things that you don't actually need! (As if you didn't know that already...)
I used to scout Amazon for the best deals in books because I simply do not like to pay retail for books. But even nowadays, Amazon is faltering to the local bookstore chains that offer you 30% + 10% every other month. Although having said that, I sincerely regret buying my MICROECONOMICS and FREAKONOMICS from Borders at 30% + 10% off because now I see the same book sitting on the shelf in CARREFOUR for $6. Books will never go out of print. So if you're into books, wait a few months for the distributor to dump his excess stock via expo/warehouse sales and you can find the books sitting high on Kinokuniya's top 10 books for the week in the bargain bin for $6 - $8 depending on whether it's a softcover or hardcover.
Of course the above is just my perspective and is only in relation to stuff I like, like toys, electronics and books etc. Nerdy stuff. But that said, I also do buy clothes and look out for stuff like the Club21 sale amongst others and pick up good deals from Isetan and TANGS baskets. Yes, there are cheap and affordable clothes at TANGS.
But even now, I have actually shopped LESS in Singapore and have chosen to spend MORE overseas. Without leaving my chair of course. That brings me to shopping online, the next best thing to being there. Yes I know, women like to "physically shop" but shopping online is tiring too okay! :) Although I have given up Amazon for books, I still trough online websites for good deals and there are many to be had. For instance her latest buy for me online was a $5 pair of men's shorts from Heritage. And it was better than anything I could find in Singapore for say $30. Also, I can pick up something that's available in Singapore at $300 for about $220 shipped to my doorstep. These savings all count IF you MUST buy the item. Also, before purchasing, use your search engine to identify manufacturers of items you regularly buy and see if you can get on their e-mail list for special coupons online. Major retail chains also e-mail coupons and news of special sales to customers online as well. If you don’t have something to type in that “discount code” box when you’re buying something online, stop. It’s wise to pull up another search window and type in the name of the product, the retailer’s name and the words “discount code” and see if anything comes up that fits the product you’re buying. These can give you 20% off plus free shipping on ALREADY heavily discounted items! (and if you ship by vpost, they have 20% off using UOB PLUS a lucky draw which I won a pair of $39 speakers!)
And I don't even need to tell you how good prices are when you import your essentials directly from China. A fraction of the price. Of course, my essentials aren't the same as yours and it would be wise to steer clear of all foodstuffs.
Yes. That means at the end of the day, I have a smaller bank account. But if you consider that you're not gonna spend that money anyway even if you hang onto it and wait to spend it in better times, and the CRAPPY PUI PUI PUI bank interest POSB is giving you (it's an insult I tell you), you might as well spend more NOW and get MORE, then to spend MUCH MORE next time, and get LESS.
Unless of course you are buying a HDB flat. (Shame on you HDB!)
(note: HDB as mentioned in my previous post is doing the entire opposite. Raising flat prices instead of slashing them. But then again that only works if you've got a monopoly. Even Mediacorp is advertising lower ad rates even though they are also a monopoly just that they are in denial)
Just flip through today's Straits Times and you will find sales galore. Forget the 20% off storewide stuff. They're not much of a help. Forget up to 70% off at boutiques. I asked Hush Puppies which items were at 70% off and there were none. The max was 30%. Places to score great deals are warehouse sales, baskets and periodical mega sales at trusty places like 1) carrefour, 2) departmental stores and 3) expo sales.
Before you buy, create a budget. In tough times, it’s important to limit your spending on unnecessary extras and zero in on what are truly important. So if you're looking for a 8GB thumb drive, don't be distracted by that groovy portable speaker. Chances are you don't need it. If the stuff is out of your REASONABLE price range, forget it. If you notice a trend in electronics, prices are going DOWN DOWN DOWN (my 42" LCD TV was bought for $2,899 and about a year later it's dropped to less than 1K!). Even when you're encountering a MEGA SALE and have the possibility of overspending, make sure you budget yourself. Say I am only going to spend $80 at this book fair. And I will not pay more than $x per book. It usually helps you take out the stuff that you've grabbed on impulse like "the life of Mao Zhedong" and "Applied Modern Philosophy". You probably won't read it. Not even "Barack Obama". And if you've never read the Davinci Code before you saw the movie, chances are you probably won't. So put that back.
(note: this aunty woman queuing up in front of me was approached by a PRC to help her purchase the Da vinci Code. It was a pretty good hardcover for $8 with big font and even I had a copy of it bought a few months back for $6 at a similar fair. After agreeing to help the PRC woman purchase the book, she started flipping through the book and conversed with her equally aunty friend that "this book is not very good" and "alot of it is not real". After which she beckoned to the PRC waiting by the line to come over, and told her "this book is not a good book. Alot of it is not real". I mean C'MON. It's FICTION. OF COURSE IT'S NOT REAL. So does that make "CAPTAIN UNDERPANTS" that's in your box to purchase a BAD BOOK as well because it is NOT REAL?)
That said, one should hit mega sales at expos and warehouse sales more frequently. BUT limit yourself to stuff that you are actually buying. Hence if you are looking for bedroom sets, wait for warehouse sales for bedroom sets. If you are looking for shoes, look for warehouse sales of shoes. If you are looking for books, look for warehouse sales of books. This cannot be stressed enough because general warehouse sales by establishments such as METRO, JOHN LITTLE and ROBINSONS are a dime a dozen and simply don't have a good deal for people knowing what they want. They are structured to make you pick up things that you don't actually need! (As if you didn't know that already...)
I used to scout Amazon for the best deals in books because I simply do not like to pay retail for books. But even nowadays, Amazon is faltering to the local bookstore chains that offer you 30% + 10% every other month. Although having said that, I sincerely regret buying my MICROECONOMICS and FREAKONOMICS from Borders at 30% + 10% off because now I see the same book sitting on the shelf in CARREFOUR for $6. Books will never go out of print. So if you're into books, wait a few months for the distributor to dump his excess stock via expo/warehouse sales and you can find the books sitting high on Kinokuniya's top 10 books for the week in the bargain bin for $6 - $8 depending on whether it's a softcover or hardcover.
Of course the above is just my perspective and is only in relation to stuff I like, like toys, electronics and books etc. Nerdy stuff. But that said, I also do buy clothes and look out for stuff like the Club21 sale amongst others and pick up good deals from Isetan and TANGS baskets. Yes, there are cheap and affordable clothes at TANGS.
But even now, I have actually shopped LESS in Singapore and have chosen to spend MORE overseas. Without leaving my chair of course. That brings me to shopping online, the next best thing to being there. Yes I know, women like to "physically shop" but shopping online is tiring too okay! :) Although I have given up Amazon for books, I still trough online websites for good deals and there are many to be had. For instance her latest buy for me online was a $5 pair of men's shorts from Heritage. And it was better than anything I could find in Singapore for say $30. Also, I can pick up something that's available in Singapore at $300 for about $220 shipped to my doorstep. These savings all count IF you MUST buy the item. Also, before purchasing, use your search engine to identify manufacturers of items you regularly buy and see if you can get on their e-mail list for special coupons online. Major retail chains also e-mail coupons and news of special sales to customers online as well. If you don’t have something to type in that “discount code” box when you’re buying something online, stop. It’s wise to pull up another search window and type in the name of the product, the retailer’s name and the words “discount code” and see if anything comes up that fits the product you’re buying. These can give you 20% off plus free shipping on ALREADY heavily discounted items! (and if you ship by vpost, they have 20% off using UOB PLUS a lucky draw which I won a pair of $39 speakers!)
And I don't even need to tell you how good prices are when you import your essentials directly from China. A fraction of the price. Of course, my essentials aren't the same as yours and it would be wise to steer clear of all foodstuffs.
Yes. That means at the end of the day, I have a smaller bank account. But if you consider that you're not gonna spend that money anyway even if you hang onto it and wait to spend it in better times, and the CRAPPY PUI PUI PUI bank interest POSB is giving you (it's an insult I tell you), you might as well spend more NOW and get MORE, then to spend MUCH MORE next time, and get LESS.
Unless of course you are buying a HDB flat. (Shame on you HDB!)
Friday, October 31, 2008
HDB should reconsider
Considering the bad economy which our ministers have been harping about, how we should tighten our belts, how the government is trying to help our people through this difficult time and how property prices are falling like crazy (today's newspaper says central 4rm flats are lower by $40,000 and are still going to drop!), SHOULDN'T HDB WAKE UP THEIR IDEA AND REPRICE THEIR DUXTON FLATS?
I mean yes, when you declared it for balloting sale the economy wasn't THAT bad. YET. But over the past few weeks, things have gone to hell and honesty, they should step in and say that "we're gonna give you guys an additional $100,000 discount. This is considering we've already raised the price by $200,000 since the first release and oh yes, the bad economy."
One can only hope.
(this is highly unlikely. Just look at the Bishan DBSS flats)
I mean yes, when you declared it for balloting sale the economy wasn't THAT bad. YET. But over the past few weeks, things have gone to hell and honesty, they should step in and say that "we're gonna give you guys an additional $100,000 discount. This is considering we've already raised the price by $200,000 since the first release and oh yes, the bad economy."
One can only hope.
(this is highly unlikely. Just look at the Bishan DBSS flats)
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Pirated Fruit
My mum was just telling me about the lovely honey melons that we had 2 weeks ago and how expensive they were. When the other mao cow liked it so much that she finished half of it, my mum told my dad to go get some more. These were rare honey melons from spain that somehow found their way to the local HDB fruit stall and were hence expensive at $8.50 per melon.
Fast forward 2 weeks later, my dad brought home 2 of the 'same' melons at the same exorbitant price but they just didn't taste the same. The seller said they were from spain as well but they just tasted so inferior. In fact, they were tasteless. After making a couple of rounds at bedok interchange and spotting similar looking melons from malaysia, my mum came to the conclusion that the HDB fruit stall seller was passing off malaysian honey melons as spain honey melons. In a sense, these were pirated fruit!
It's a fake. It's not from spain = pirated!
There are also other types of pirated fruit around. For example this lovely orange below:
It's supposed to say VALENCIA and not NALENCIA. So next time check your fruits (if it's a sticker problem) or don't buy too many melons at one go. We're still stuck with the tasteless one since nobody really likes to eat tasteless food.
Fast forward 2 weeks later, my dad brought home 2 of the 'same' melons at the same exorbitant price but they just didn't taste the same. The seller said they were from spain as well but they just tasted so inferior. In fact, they were tasteless. After making a couple of rounds at bedok interchange and spotting similar looking melons from malaysia, my mum came to the conclusion that the HDB fruit stall seller was passing off malaysian honey melons as spain honey melons. In a sense, these were pirated fruit!
It's a fake. It's not from spain = pirated!
There are also other types of pirated fruit around. For example this lovely orange below:
It's supposed to say VALENCIA and not NALENCIA. So next time check your fruits (if it's a sticker problem) or don't buy too many melons at one go. We're still stuck with the tasteless one since nobody really likes to eat tasteless food.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Stupid People
Half my extended family is _______ . I'm sure most of you that know me know which half (although the other half are almost as equally melodramatic as they are ________ ). I'm not criticizing them, but more so of commenting on their _______ manner in which they handle things. One case happened years ago, another, just yesterday.
#1) Years ago, my mum repeatedly got a phone call from my grandfather asking for my dad. He was obviously at work and when asked what the matter was, he just kept saying never mind and put down the phone. Many many times. Much much later, my mum managed to contact my dad it turned out that my grandma had a stroke but they didn't know what to do. When told to call an ambulance, they decided to wait until xiaomei was home before calling. So about 12 hours after the incident after xiaomei came home, they called for the ambulance and well, it was confirmed that it was as stroke. Apparently though, the first few hours after the attack is the most important as chemicals/medicines can be injected to ease the damage caused by the stroke and help the patient towards an almost full recovery. But no. They chose to not tell anyone outside of the 'family' (anyone without DIRECT blood relation) so not even my mum whom would have told them to call for an ambulance immediately and the old fart may still be walking around today screaming her head off and reigning the household. That's one ridiculous incident.
#2) Yesterday, I got a call from my uncle multiple times looking for my dad. From 2 different numbers. I kept asking him what it was regarding and whether I could leave a message for my dad and he kept saying no, it's nothing. Never mind. Having decided that whatever went on in that side of the family had dipshit to do with me anymore after I tried to tell my dad what they were doing (withholding information from us when we could obviously help) was wrong and got reprimanded for it, I didn't even care whether anything was really wrong. But apparently as usual there was something wrong. It turns out that my aunt had contracted breast cancer and well, I simply wasn't 'family' enough for this information. So fine. Even when my dad came back at night, I told him my uncle was looking for him, and knowing my dad, he can't be bothered to call back unless he knows HOW important it is. So today my uncle keeps calling back and looking for my dad and my mum picks up. After the second time he called, he finally relented and told my mum about my aunt's condition. I guess maybe because my mum knew my aunt personally or that maybe she was more adult than me, but IF he had told me that yesterday, my dad would have gotten the news last night and he would have definitely called back. Not that it's any help though. The operation is today. Apparently they saw a small dot on the mammogram and then they went in to take a sample. By bursting the cell to take the sample, the cancer immediately spread within the few days and now have to cut both breasts. Whereas my mum's colleague last time got small dot, the doc advise her to go radiation and kill the dot without disturbing it and she has no problems after that. Maybe they should have asked for a second opinion or consulted relatives (considering we have how many cancer relatives) on this matter before acting. Sigh.
I honestly didn't know that such an arcane way of thinking can still exist.
#1) Years ago, my mum repeatedly got a phone call from my grandfather asking for my dad. He was obviously at work and when asked what the matter was, he just kept saying never mind and put down the phone. Many many times. Much much later, my mum managed to contact my dad it turned out that my grandma had a stroke but they didn't know what to do. When told to call an ambulance, they decided to wait until xiaomei was home before calling. So about 12 hours after the incident after xiaomei came home, they called for the ambulance and well, it was confirmed that it was as stroke. Apparently though, the first few hours after the attack is the most important as chemicals/medicines can be injected to ease the damage caused by the stroke and help the patient towards an almost full recovery. But no. They chose to not tell anyone outside of the 'family' (anyone without DIRECT blood relation) so not even my mum whom would have told them to call for an ambulance immediately and the old fart may still be walking around today screaming her head off and reigning the household. That's one ridiculous incident.
#2) Yesterday, I got a call from my uncle multiple times looking for my dad. From 2 different numbers. I kept asking him what it was regarding and whether I could leave a message for my dad and he kept saying no, it's nothing. Never mind. Having decided that whatever went on in that side of the family had dipshit to do with me anymore after I tried to tell my dad what they were doing (withholding information from us when we could obviously help) was wrong and got reprimanded for it, I didn't even care whether anything was really wrong. But apparently as usual there was something wrong. It turns out that my aunt had contracted breast cancer and well, I simply wasn't 'family' enough for this information. So fine. Even when my dad came back at night, I told him my uncle was looking for him, and knowing my dad, he can't be bothered to call back unless he knows HOW important it is. So today my uncle keeps calling back and looking for my dad and my mum picks up. After the second time he called, he finally relented and told my mum about my aunt's condition. I guess maybe because my mum knew my aunt personally or that maybe she was more adult than me, but IF he had told me that yesterday, my dad would have gotten the news last night and he would have definitely called back. Not that it's any help though. The operation is today. Apparently they saw a small dot on the mammogram and then they went in to take a sample. By bursting the cell to take the sample, the cancer immediately spread within the few days and now have to cut both breasts. Whereas my mum's colleague last time got small dot, the doc advise her to go radiation and kill the dot without disturbing it and she has no problems after that. Maybe they should have asked for a second opinion or consulted relatives (considering we have how many cancer relatives) on this matter before acting. Sigh.
I honestly didn't know that such an arcane way of thinking can still exist.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
人生不该那么惨
对这个世界如
果你有太多的抱怨
跌倒了
就不敢继续往前走
为什么
人要这么的脆弱堕落
请你打开电视看看
多少人为生命在努力
勇敢的走下去
我们是不是该知足
珍惜一切就算没有拥有
还记得你说家是唯一的城堡
随着稻香河流继续奔跑
微微笑小时候的梦我知道
不要哭让萤火虫带著你逃跑
乡间的歌谣永远的依靠
回家吧回到最初的美好
不要这么容易就想放弃
就像我说的
追不到的梦想
换个梦不就得了
为自己的人生鲜艳上色
先把爱涂上喜欢的颜色
笑一个吧
功成名就不是目的
让自己快乐快乐
这才叫做意义
童年的纸飞机
现在终于飞回我手里
所谓的那快乐
赤脚在田里追蜻蜓追到累了
偷摘水果被蜜蜂给叮到怕了
谁在偷笑呢
我靠着稻草人吹着风
唱着歌睡着了
哦哦~
午后吉它在虫鸣中更清脆
哦哦~
阳光洒在路上就不怕心碎
珍惜一切就算没有拥有
还记得你说家是唯一的城堡
随着稻香河流继续奔跑
微微笑小时候的梦我知道
不要哭让萤火虫带著你逃跑
乡间的歌谣永远的依靠
回家吧回到最初的美好
还记得你说家是唯一的城堡
随着稻香河流继续奔跑
微微笑小时候的梦我知道
不要哭让萤火虫带著你逃跑
乡间的歌谣永远的依靠
回家吧回到最初的美好
The Cat Chaser
Looking at the open casket transported me back to primary 3 when I was faced with a similar situation. I was delegated with the honorable task of chasing cats away from the tentage area. We had to ensure that no cat jumped over the coffin as it may result in us having to tackle our undead grandfather (although I believed then that the glass covering the coffin was enough to hold him in). This time round, it was my uncle.
He wasn't my favorite uncle for the simple fact that I never had one. But he was a good family man. Extremely patient and tolerant, he was able to bear everything he faced headlong and never faltering. He didn't drink, he didn't gamble, he didn't smoke and of course he didn't drink and drive. What he did do was to work hard to provide for his family and work even harder (initially) to propel his own parents and siblings out of poverty. Although he had a very demanding wife whom went for treatment at times for her problems and idyosyncratic tendencies, he never left her side even as she turned their matrimonial home into a war zone and frankly speaking, less habitable than my toy room. That explained why for a prolonged period of time they stayed in hotels for months. He did not make much money, but he tried all he could to provide for his family.
I never spoke to him about politics, about school or even about how we were doing much. We met during the obligatory chinese new year gatherings and exchanged pleasantries. That was all. Whatever I knew came from stories that my parents told me. Hence it was a shock when we heard a few months back that he suffered a serious heart attack which left him with only 5% of its usual strength. But yet he persevered. Doctors told us that his heart stopped twice and yet he fought back. We knew he loved his daughter, we just didn't know how much.
It was a worse shock to hear about his passing a night ago. Apparently the remaining 5% of his heart strength just expired, taking with it a great man. He wasn't a minister, he didn't make millions, he wasn't even well known in his housing estate. But this man in bid to create the perfect life for his wife and daughter, made sure that everything was taken care of for them. His wife never worked and so he was the sole breadwinner of the family. Yet he managed to pay off a two-storey HDB executive flat and his car. They have essentially no bills and no debts to worry about. His final gift to his loved ones: a peace of mind.
But even then he couldn't let go. From what was told to me (maybe a bit melodramatically), his eyes were opened and even though the doctors pushed his eyelids down, they couldn't do it fully. It was only after my mum told him to rest in peace and move on as we would all look after his family, did he finally close his eyes (drama). I believe that he was a good man. He wasn't a womanizer (although he had all the reasons to be one) and he sacrificed his life to go back to work full time for his family after his heart attack and that may have been what drained his heart.
But I am angry. People can say it's life. But I still have to say that it's unfair. How can someone so good be taken away before those more deserving of death? For starters I know for sure Clorance from Led Dawg surely has character flaws so bad that everyone he meets would want him dead. So why did a good man have to go and not someone so despicably bad that actually backstabbed 3 people and caused them to lose their jobs? It just doesn't make sense. Doesn't balance out.
If there is someone up there, He should be going "You! the Pubic Renaissance associate that just spurted vulgarities at your client when he's asking you what went wrong. Take THIS for your punishment for getting a $2,000 fee for 3 months and acting like a big fuck!" Okay I digress. But you see my point. And well, just fittingly, my other aunt came along and reminded me why I lost the plot with the dude upstairs when she refused to hold the incense because it was against her religion. Fantastic.
Do people believe in spirits? Do people believe that a butterfly at the alter means his spirit is back? Do people believe in the 7x7 49 days of when the spirit is wandering in the house? I think my aunt does. Apparently she's too afraid to go home because she is afraid of him being there. Other than that, another reason why she doesn't want to go up home is because the place has too many memories. Which is why mother and daughter will break down frequently when they see some object my uncle used fondly when he was alive. A solution which my relatives employed when my grandfather passed away was to throw away all his stuff. Especially his bed. Although then it took some time because times were hard and they didn't want to waste money. So my uncle (another one) stacked my grandfather's mattress below my grandma's, thereby encouraging my grandfather to visit my grandmother at night in a bid to take her away with him. Luckily she outsmarted him. I dunno how. But that's why she's still 95 and kicking. Hence apparently alot of my uncle's stuff has to be thrown out too. Even if I don't believe in that mumbalo jumbalo, I'd still be afraid to stay in the house, afterall, someone died there. Sorry I hum. But I was having a backache from resting on the cold hard cement void deck floor like a bangrah because the comfy chairs were for the grieving folk. (And I just got home and it's like 12:33 in the afternoon)
But enough ranting. I've survived the night chasing cats, building anti-cat weapons, establishing forts and inventing new ways to prevent cats from turning my uncle into a zombie. I also ate alot of food. I believe that deserves some incoherency.
He wasn't my favorite uncle for the simple fact that I never had one. But he was a good family man. Extremely patient and tolerant, he was able to bear everything he faced headlong and never faltering. He didn't drink, he didn't gamble, he didn't smoke and of course he didn't drink and drive. What he did do was to work hard to provide for his family and work even harder (initially) to propel his own parents and siblings out of poverty. Although he had a very demanding wife whom went for treatment at times for her problems and idyosyncratic tendencies, he never left her side even as she turned their matrimonial home into a war zone and frankly speaking, less habitable than my toy room. That explained why for a prolonged period of time they stayed in hotels for months. He did not make much money, but he tried all he could to provide for his family.
I never spoke to him about politics, about school or even about how we were doing much. We met during the obligatory chinese new year gatherings and exchanged pleasantries. That was all. Whatever I knew came from stories that my parents told me. Hence it was a shock when we heard a few months back that he suffered a serious heart attack which left him with only 5% of its usual strength. But yet he persevered. Doctors told us that his heart stopped twice and yet he fought back. We knew he loved his daughter, we just didn't know how much.
It was a worse shock to hear about his passing a night ago. Apparently the remaining 5% of his heart strength just expired, taking with it a great man. He wasn't a minister, he didn't make millions, he wasn't even well known in his housing estate. But this man in bid to create the perfect life for his wife and daughter, made sure that everything was taken care of for them. His wife never worked and so he was the sole breadwinner of the family. Yet he managed to pay off a two-storey HDB executive flat and his car. They have essentially no bills and no debts to worry about. His final gift to his loved ones: a peace of mind.
But even then he couldn't let go. From what was told to me (maybe a bit melodramatically), his eyes were opened and even though the doctors pushed his eyelids down, they couldn't do it fully. It was only after my mum told him to rest in peace and move on as we would all look after his family, did he finally close his eyes (drama). I believe that he was a good man. He wasn't a womanizer (although he had all the reasons to be one) and he sacrificed his life to go back to work full time for his family after his heart attack and that may have been what drained his heart.
But I am angry. People can say it's life. But I still have to say that it's unfair. How can someone so good be taken away before those more deserving of death? For starters I know for sure Clorance from Led Dawg surely has character flaws so bad that everyone he meets would want him dead. So why did a good man have to go and not someone so despicably bad that actually backstabbed 3 people and caused them to lose their jobs? It just doesn't make sense. Doesn't balance out.
If there is someone up there, He should be going "You! the Pubic Renaissance associate that just spurted vulgarities at your client when he's asking you what went wrong. Take THIS for your punishment for getting a $2,000 fee for 3 months and acting like a big fuck!" Okay I digress. But you see my point. And well, just fittingly, my other aunt came along and reminded me why I lost the plot with the dude upstairs when she refused to hold the incense because it was against her religion. Fantastic.
Do people believe in spirits? Do people believe that a butterfly at the alter means his spirit is back? Do people believe in the 7x7 49 days of when the spirit is wandering in the house? I think my aunt does. Apparently she's too afraid to go home because she is afraid of him being there. Other than that, another reason why she doesn't want to go up home is because the place has too many memories. Which is why mother and daughter will break down frequently when they see some object my uncle used fondly when he was alive. A solution which my relatives employed when my grandfather passed away was to throw away all his stuff. Especially his bed. Although then it took some time because times were hard and they didn't want to waste money. So my uncle (another one) stacked my grandfather's mattress below my grandma's, thereby encouraging my grandfather to visit my grandmother at night in a bid to take her away with him. Luckily she outsmarted him. I dunno how. But that's why she's still 95 and kicking. Hence apparently alot of my uncle's stuff has to be thrown out too. Even if I don't believe in that mumbalo jumbalo, I'd still be afraid to stay in the house, afterall, someone died there. Sorry I hum. But I was having a backache from resting on the cold hard cement void deck floor like a bangrah because the comfy chairs were for the grieving folk. (And I just got home and it's like 12:33 in the afternoon)
But enough ranting. I've survived the night chasing cats, building anti-cat weapons, establishing forts and inventing new ways to prevent cats from turning my uncle into a zombie. I also ate alot of food. I believe that deserves some incoherency.
You just need 100 ringgit to bomb Malaysia
According to my cousin, on or around 2 September 2008, he was stopped at Malaysian customs (JB) due to his camera equipment. Of particular importance was his camera battery which resembled a black capsule. He was told by the customs officer (the one chopping the passport) that his camera battery was a bomb and that if he wanted to bring it in, he would have to pay 100 ringgit to pass with it.
So there we have it, you just need 100 ringgit to bomb Malaysia.
(Note: He was stopped at Singapore customs on the way back and spent a long time there due to the same problem but he wasn't asked to pay a toll fee to carry his "bomb" through)
So there we have it, you just need 100 ringgit to bomb Malaysia.
(Note: He was stopped at Singapore customs on the way back and spent a long time there due to the same problem but he wasn't asked to pay a toll fee to carry his "bomb" through)
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
20th Century Boys
I was kinda surprised when I saw this movie poster in bus stops and mrts. Primarily because I thought the manga was so convoluted and confusing that nobody would want to make a movie out of it. In fact, I gave up reading it after being a fan of 13 issues. It started off very nicely but then became a whole mess of conspiracy theories and whatnot that made me kinda sick of it even after I suspended my disbelief for like issues 11 thru to 13. Maybe I should go back to read it considering the movie is coming out and has been a big hit in Japan. Anyway, there's a link online to a kind soul's website that actually hosts scans of the entire series in English (I read mine in Chinese!).
http://www.onemanga.com/20th_Century_Boys/1/00/
The above link starts from chapter 1 page 1 and is quite comprehensive. Maybe readers here that are damn free (read: my PLC friends) can care to give it a try. Afterall it's free. :)
Official trailer: http://www.20thboys.com/index.html#/trailer/
Slacker Uprising
This is a new film by Michael Moore and is available free for download on the internet. The aim of him in this new film was to turn out as many first time voters as possible. Even though it's not that applicable to Singapore in the sense that we do vote if we have to (i.e. contested!), I suppose it's still relevant when we consider the number of blank votes we have in each election. It's free, so just download and looksie right?
If you're not in Singapore, here are the links to download from via the email signup:
Michael Moore to me
Reply
Thanks for signing up to download Slacker Uprising. It is available for free as a gift from me to all of you. And you have my permission to share it or show it in any way you see fit.
Watch it all: http://slackeruprising.com/download/location.php?utm_medium=download&utm_source=32106873
At that link, there are five ways you can watch it free and without advertising:
blip.tv is providing streaming right from slackeruprising.com, free of commercials and advertising.
Amazon Video on Demand is providing a higher resolution version of the above stream for people with lots of bandwidth.
iTunes makes it easy for you to download "Slacker Uprising" on your iTunes, iPod, or Apple TV, and view it there or transmit it to your television. This way, the film can be portable as well as for home viewing.
Hypernia is providing bandwidth and servers to host MPEG4 and DivX versions of "Slacker Uprising" online, so you can burn a DVD or download the film to watch on your computer, XBOX, or PS3.
Lycos is providing free streaming of the film and an on-demand version.
Stream it, download it, burn it now. It's the first time a major feature-length film is being released for free on the internet. You can be part of this historic moment by logging on now!
Enjoy!!
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com
SlackerUprising.com
P.S. Remember, we're doing something that's never been done, so I have no idea how it will all go! Don't give up if it seems to go slow (like with any streaming, give the downloading a head start before you hit play), and don't forget there are two places where you can actually download it to your hard drive and three ways to stream it. You can get to all of them at the link above.
P.P.S. If you're not yet registered to vote, here's a good link: https://www.voteforchange.com/.
If you're in Singapore, torrents are available: http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4409927/Slacker_Uprising_Michael_Moore_[2008]_Official
Even if it's a one-sided account, I'm sure it'll be entertaining nonetheless. :)
Source: http://slackeruprising.com/about.php
If you're not in Singapore, here are the links to download from via the email signup:
Michael Moore to me
Reply
Thanks for signing up to download Slacker Uprising. It is available for free as a gift from me to all of you. And you have my permission to share it or show it in any way you see fit.
Watch it all: http://slackeruprising.com/download/location.php?utm_medium=download&utm_source=32106873
At that link, there are five ways you can watch it free and without advertising:
blip.tv is providing streaming right from slackeruprising.com, free of commercials and advertising.
Amazon Video on Demand is providing a higher resolution version of the above stream for people with lots of bandwidth.
iTunes makes it easy for you to download "Slacker Uprising" on your iTunes, iPod, or Apple TV, and view it there or transmit it to your television. This way, the film can be portable as well as for home viewing.
Hypernia is providing bandwidth and servers to host MPEG4 and DivX versions of "Slacker Uprising" online, so you can burn a DVD or download the film to watch on your computer, XBOX, or PS3.
Lycos is providing free streaming of the film and an on-demand version.
Stream it, download it, burn it now. It's the first time a major feature-length film is being released for free on the internet. You can be part of this historic moment by logging on now!
Enjoy!!
Michael Moore
MMFlint@aol.com
MichaelMoore.com
SlackerUprising.com
P.S. Remember, we're doing something that's never been done, so I have no idea how it will all go! Don't give up if it seems to go slow (like with any streaming, give the downloading a head start before you hit play), and don't forget there are two places where you can actually download it to your hard drive and three ways to stream it. You can get to all of them at the link above.
P.P.S. If you're not yet registered to vote, here's a good link: https://www.voteforchange.com/.
If you're in Singapore, torrents are available: http://thepiratebay.org/torrent/4409927/Slacker_Uprising_Michael_Moore_[2008]_Official
Even if it's a one-sided account, I'm sure it'll be entertaining nonetheless. :)
Source: http://slackeruprising.com/about.php
Monday, October 06, 2008
Something still worth catching on the silver screen
Despite my inclination towards avi and divx files, there are still some films that deserve that precious $21 ($10.50 per weekend ticket) and the giant bottle of Oolong tea. I came to this conclusion after scanning through this morning's papers and I'm glad to say that these films have only recently opened in the box office so there is still mucho time to catch them.
MY MAGIC
Rating: NC16
Consumer Advice: Some Coarse Language & Some Disturbing Scenes
Genre: Drama
Language: Tamil, Hokkien
Subtitles: Chinese and English Subtitles
Director: Eric Khoo
Main Cast: Bosco Francis, Jathishweran
Runtime: 78mins
Francis (Bosco Francis) is a man at the end of is tether. The former magician often takes solace in the bottle and barely ekes out a living as a cleaner in a nightclub. He has a 10-year-old son he loves desperately, but sorrow, guilt and constant inebriation have made him an ineffectual father. The son (Jathishweran) is a stoic old soul who has learned to bury his affection for his old man and to cope with his chaotic life.
A broken spirit and a single parent, Francis hopes to redeem himself and win his sons love and respect. He makes a painful - and bizarre return to magic. An unexpected incident one night sets father and son on the road. In a dilapidated building, these two wounded souls come to terms with their love - a love which is as deep and acute as their grief.
BURN AFTER READING
Rating: TBA
Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Main Cast: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton and Brad Pitt
Runtime: TBC
Osbourne Cox is a CIA operative struggling to stay afloat. His job and marriage are going nowhere, and he's got a drinking problem to boot. Harry Pfarrer (Clooney) is a Treasury Department marshal who can't stop tripping over his own vanity. His hobbies include internet-dating behind his wife's back and building homemade sex toys in this basement, not to mention sleeping with Osbourne's dissatisfied wife. When Ozzie gets fired from the Agency, he decides to write a tell-all memoir, blissfully unaware that he doesn't have much to tell. However, a draft ends up in the hands of Harry's other love, harebrained Hardbodies gym employee Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand), and her dopey colleague Chad Feldheimer (Pitt). Convinced they've tapped into classified information, they see this as the perfect opportunity to make some serious cash, and they bring their discovery straight to the Russians! Instantly, affairs of love and state become absurdly entangled, and nobody knows who to trust or what to believe - least of all, the "brilliant" minds at the CIA, who lead us to ask: just how intelligent is Central Intelligence?
Other than the two gems above, there are some comedies that you know aren't worth $21, but you'll just want to catch them anyway. Meet the House Bunny and Big Stan:
THE HOUSE BUNNY
Rating: PG
Consumer Advice: Sexual References
Genre: Comedy
Language: English with chinese subtitle
Cast: Anna Faris
Running Time: 98 min
In Columbia Pictures’ comedy The House Bunny, Anna Faris charms as Shelley Darlington, a Playboy Bunny who teaches an awkward sorority about the opposite sex – only to learn that what boys really like is what’s on the inside.
Shelley is living a carefree life until a rival gets her tossed out of the Playboy Mansion. With nowhere to go, fate delivers her to the sorority girls from Zeta Alpha Zeta. Unless they can sign a new pledge class, the seven socially clueless women will lose their house to the scheming girls of Phi Iota Mu. In order to accomplish their goal, they need Shelley to teach them the ways of makeup and men; at the same time, Shelley needs some of what the Zetas have – a sense of individuality. The combination leads all the girls to learn how to stop pretending and start being themselves.
BIG STAN
Rating: M18
Consumer Advice: Some mature content
Language: English with no subtitles
Director: Rob Schneider
Main Cast: Rob Schneider, Brandon Molale, David Carradine, Randy Couture, Barbara Dodd
Runtime: 105mins
Stan, a two-bit con man, is being sent to prison for fraud and the prospect terrifies him. Seeking help from a mysterious martial arts guru known only as The Master, Stan transforms himself into a kung fu expert! Ultimately bringing the warring prison gangs together and establishing peace within its walls.
And of course, because Singapore is just OH SO SLOW in getting new flicks onto the silver screen, there are some upcoming gems that one MUST take note of. Don't play play:
TROPIC THUNDER
Rating: TBC
Genre: Action,Comedy
Language: English
Director: Ben Stiller
Main Cast: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr (Yes. THAT Robert Downey Jr).
Runtime: TBA
Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. lead an ensemble cast in “Tropic Thunder,” an action comedy about a group of self-absorbed actors who set out to make the biggest war film ever. After ballooning costs (and the out of control egos of the pampered cast) threaten to shut down the movie, the frustrated director refuses to stop shooting, leading his cast deep into the jungles of Southeast Asia for “increased realism,” where they inadvertently encounter real bad guys.
This was a big hit in the States and I don't understand why with the star studded cast that it is getting released in Singapore later than Big Stan. Oh well. The final recommendation is the biggest talk of tinseltown and the biggest Taiwanese film to surpass all expectations (and earnings) so far. Yes. It won the Dark Knight in Taiwan. Very very big feat:
Cape No. 7 is a 2008 Taiwanese romantic comedy film written and directed by Taiwanese director Te-Sheng Wei (魏德聖). The film is mainly in Mandarin Chinese but also contains significant lines in Japanese and Taiwanese. Before its commercial release, the film was selected as one of the opening films in the 2008 Taipei Film Festival.
The two leading actors Van Fan (范逸臣) and Chie Tanaka (田中千絵) only had minor acting experience while most of the other actors were amateurs, picked mainly for their rock band experience as needed by the plot. Although without a strong promotional campaign, this movie attracted unexpected popularity in Taiwan after its official release on August 22, 2008. As of September 18, the movie has grossed over NT$100 million. It is also the top grossing Taiwanese film in the island's cinematic history.
Back in the 1940s during the Taiwan under Japanese rule era, a Japanese teacher (Kousuke Atari) dispatched to Hengchun fell in love with a local girl who was given the Japanese name Kojima Tomoko (Rachel Liang). However, after the Surrender of Japan he was forced to return to his home country. He penned seven love letters on his trip home to express his regret for leaving Kojima Tomoko, who originally planned on living in Japan with Atari.
More than 60 years after Atari left Tomoko, Aga (Van Fan) is introduced as a struggling young Hengchun-native rock band singer who could not secure a job in Taipei. After returning to his hometown, Aga's step father (Ju-Lung Ma), the Town Council Representative, arranged a postman position for him, replacing the senile Uncle Mao (Lin Tsung-ren), on break after a motorcycle accident broke his leg. One day Aga came across an undeliverable piece of mail: the Japanese teacher has been dead and his offspring decided to mail these unsent love letters to Taiwan after discovering them. Aga unlawfully opened this mail to discover that the old Japanese-style address Cape No. 7, Hengchun County, Takao Prefecture, could no longer be found.
Meantime a local resort hotel inside Kenting National Park is organizing a beach concert featuring Japanese pop singer Kousuke Atari, but Aga's step father made use of his official identity to insist that the accompanying band be formed by locals. Tomoko (Chie Tanaka), a Chinese-speaking Japanese fashion model dispatched to Hengchun, took up the difficult task of managing this band, led by Aga along with six other locals of rather particular backgrounds. After a frustrating trial period Aga and Tomoko unexpectedly began a relationship. With some assistance from hotel maid Ming-chu (Shino Lin), Tomoko helped Aga find Kojima Tomoko, the rightful recipient of the seven love letters. Aga then returned to the beach resort and performed a highly successful concert with this local band and Kousuke Atari.
Source: http://cape7.pixnet.net/blog/
So that's where my next paycheck will be going to. Other than food of course. Before I end this post, do watch out for Cape No. 7. There must be a reason why there's been unprecedented positive feedback about this film. So, when it DOES reach Singapore (probably in December), do make a point to catch it. Meanwhile, here's the trailer for your viewing pleasure:
Considering that they spent about 2.3m SGD to film this, I don't understand why we use more money (2m USD) and come up with crap like Zodiac instead. That one even the trailer looked bad. Sheesh.
MY MAGIC
Rating: NC16
Consumer Advice: Some Coarse Language & Some Disturbing Scenes
Genre: Drama
Language: Tamil, Hokkien
Subtitles: Chinese and English Subtitles
Director: Eric Khoo
Main Cast: Bosco Francis, Jathishweran
Runtime: 78mins
Francis (Bosco Francis) is a man at the end of is tether. The former magician often takes solace in the bottle and barely ekes out a living as a cleaner in a nightclub. He has a 10-year-old son he loves desperately, but sorrow, guilt and constant inebriation have made him an ineffectual father. The son (Jathishweran) is a stoic old soul who has learned to bury his affection for his old man and to cope with his chaotic life.
A broken spirit and a single parent, Francis hopes to redeem himself and win his sons love and respect. He makes a painful - and bizarre return to magic. An unexpected incident one night sets father and son on the road. In a dilapidated building, these two wounded souls come to terms with their love - a love which is as deep and acute as their grief.
BURN AFTER READING
Rating: TBA
Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Main Cast: George Clooney, Frances McDormand, John Malkovich, Tilda Swinton and Brad Pitt
Runtime: TBC
Osbourne Cox is a CIA operative struggling to stay afloat. His job and marriage are going nowhere, and he's got a drinking problem to boot. Harry Pfarrer (Clooney) is a Treasury Department marshal who can't stop tripping over his own vanity. His hobbies include internet-dating behind his wife's back and building homemade sex toys in this basement, not to mention sleeping with Osbourne's dissatisfied wife. When Ozzie gets fired from the Agency, he decides to write a tell-all memoir, blissfully unaware that he doesn't have much to tell. However, a draft ends up in the hands of Harry's other love, harebrained Hardbodies gym employee Linda Litzke (Frances McDormand), and her dopey colleague Chad Feldheimer (Pitt). Convinced they've tapped into classified information, they see this as the perfect opportunity to make some serious cash, and they bring their discovery straight to the Russians! Instantly, affairs of love and state become absurdly entangled, and nobody knows who to trust or what to believe - least of all, the "brilliant" minds at the CIA, who lead us to ask: just how intelligent is Central Intelligence?
Other than the two gems above, there are some comedies that you know aren't worth $21, but you'll just want to catch them anyway. Meet the House Bunny and Big Stan:
THE HOUSE BUNNY
Rating: PG
Consumer Advice: Sexual References
Genre: Comedy
Language: English with chinese subtitle
Cast: Anna Faris
Running Time: 98 min
In Columbia Pictures’ comedy The House Bunny, Anna Faris charms as Shelley Darlington, a Playboy Bunny who teaches an awkward sorority about the opposite sex – only to learn that what boys really like is what’s on the inside.
Shelley is living a carefree life until a rival gets her tossed out of the Playboy Mansion. With nowhere to go, fate delivers her to the sorority girls from Zeta Alpha Zeta. Unless they can sign a new pledge class, the seven socially clueless women will lose their house to the scheming girls of Phi Iota Mu. In order to accomplish their goal, they need Shelley to teach them the ways of makeup and men; at the same time, Shelley needs some of what the Zetas have – a sense of individuality. The combination leads all the girls to learn how to stop pretending and start being themselves.
BIG STAN
Rating: M18
Consumer Advice: Some mature content
Language: English with no subtitles
Director: Rob Schneider
Main Cast: Rob Schneider, Brandon Molale, David Carradine, Randy Couture, Barbara Dodd
Runtime: 105mins
Stan, a two-bit con man, is being sent to prison for fraud and the prospect terrifies him. Seeking help from a mysterious martial arts guru known only as The Master, Stan transforms himself into a kung fu expert! Ultimately bringing the warring prison gangs together and establishing peace within its walls.
And of course, because Singapore is just OH SO SLOW in getting new flicks onto the silver screen, there are some upcoming gems that one MUST take note of. Don't play play:
TROPIC THUNDER
Rating: TBC
Genre: Action,Comedy
Language: English
Director: Ben Stiller
Main Cast: Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Robert Downey Jr (Yes. THAT Robert Downey Jr).
Runtime: TBA
Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downey Jr. lead an ensemble cast in “Tropic Thunder,” an action comedy about a group of self-absorbed actors who set out to make the biggest war film ever. After ballooning costs (and the out of control egos of the pampered cast) threaten to shut down the movie, the frustrated director refuses to stop shooting, leading his cast deep into the jungles of Southeast Asia for “increased realism,” where they inadvertently encounter real bad guys.
This was a big hit in the States and I don't understand why with the star studded cast that it is getting released in Singapore later than Big Stan. Oh well. The final recommendation is the biggest talk of tinseltown and the biggest Taiwanese film to surpass all expectations (and earnings) so far. Yes. It won the Dark Knight in Taiwan. Very very big feat:
Cape No. 7 is a 2008 Taiwanese romantic comedy film written and directed by Taiwanese director Te-Sheng Wei (魏德聖). The film is mainly in Mandarin Chinese but also contains significant lines in Japanese and Taiwanese. Before its commercial release, the film was selected as one of the opening films in the 2008 Taipei Film Festival.
The two leading actors Van Fan (范逸臣) and Chie Tanaka (田中千絵) only had minor acting experience while most of the other actors were amateurs, picked mainly for their rock band experience as needed by the plot. Although without a strong promotional campaign, this movie attracted unexpected popularity in Taiwan after its official release on August 22, 2008. As of September 18, the movie has grossed over NT$100 million. It is also the top grossing Taiwanese film in the island's cinematic history.
Back in the 1940s during the Taiwan under Japanese rule era, a Japanese teacher (Kousuke Atari) dispatched to Hengchun fell in love with a local girl who was given the Japanese name Kojima Tomoko (Rachel Liang). However, after the Surrender of Japan he was forced to return to his home country. He penned seven love letters on his trip home to express his regret for leaving Kojima Tomoko, who originally planned on living in Japan with Atari.
More than 60 years after Atari left Tomoko, Aga (Van Fan) is introduced as a struggling young Hengchun-native rock band singer who could not secure a job in Taipei. After returning to his hometown, Aga's step father (Ju-Lung Ma), the Town Council Representative, arranged a postman position for him, replacing the senile Uncle Mao (Lin Tsung-ren), on break after a motorcycle accident broke his leg. One day Aga came across an undeliverable piece of mail: the Japanese teacher has been dead and his offspring decided to mail these unsent love letters to Taiwan after discovering them. Aga unlawfully opened this mail to discover that the old Japanese-style address Cape No. 7, Hengchun County, Takao Prefecture, could no longer be found.
Meantime a local resort hotel inside Kenting National Park is organizing a beach concert featuring Japanese pop singer Kousuke Atari, but Aga's step father made use of his official identity to insist that the accompanying band be formed by locals. Tomoko (Chie Tanaka), a Chinese-speaking Japanese fashion model dispatched to Hengchun, took up the difficult task of managing this band, led by Aga along with six other locals of rather particular backgrounds. After a frustrating trial period Aga and Tomoko unexpectedly began a relationship. With some assistance from hotel maid Ming-chu (Shino Lin), Tomoko helped Aga find Kojima Tomoko, the rightful recipient of the seven love letters. Aga then returned to the beach resort and performed a highly successful concert with this local band and Kousuke Atari.
Source: http://cape7.pixnet.net/blog/
So that's where my next paycheck will be going to. Other than food of course. Before I end this post, do watch out for Cape No. 7. There must be a reason why there's been unprecedented positive feedback about this film. So, when it DOES reach Singapore (probably in December), do make a point to catch it. Meanwhile, here's the trailer for your viewing pleasure:
Considering that they spent about 2.3m SGD to film this, I don't understand why we use more money (2m USD) and come up with crap like Zodiac instead. That one even the trailer looked bad. Sheesh.
Friday, October 03, 2008
Mr Wayne's thoughts about JBJ
Not surprising that Wayne was writing a tribute to Mr JBJ on the 30th. I think 1/2 of Singapore was doing that. But he was thinking about the current economic crises to me was surprising as I was thinking the exact same thing for the economic crisis of 2007-2008-2009 which has YET to hit us fully and as I type this, am already drafting an entry regarding it.
Thinking about Mr. JBJ
September 30, 2008 · Wayne Soon
http://antineodem.wordpress.com/
The passing away of JBJ in the midst of one of the worst economic crises since 1997 have left us with the legacy that indeed, there is more to life than financial spreedsheets, data analysis and unbridled risks and rewards. There is something called freedom and democracy, which JBJ stood for consistently in his political career. His one mindneness in bringing about political change have meant that he has lost much monetarily and socially. He has won and lost parliamentary seats, debated countless MPs from the other side for two generations, spoke at hundreds of rallies and meetings calling for a fundemental re-think of the Singapore spirit, and voted to secure the rights and freedom for his countrymen in parliament.
Perhaps the most poignant moment is still his victory at the Anson by-election, which shattered the myth of an invincible and omnipotent PAP, which continues to be the historical faultline in the othewise dominant PAP narrative. The relentless search for cracks and pains within the Singapore polity to remedy, which irritated contented Singaporeans and even yours truly at times, did not meant widespread dislike for Mr. JBJ. Rather, many Singaporeans often attended his rallies, buy his books, donated money, voted for him and listened to him in his fiery encounters with the powers-to-be. Some even made a play out of him to raise political awarness in the polity. What most did not do was to vote for the party he represented, and to extend the same respect for him to other members of the opposition.
Why will happen next is a question for another time, but at present, if Singaporeans stop to think about JBJ and what he stood for a moment as they contemplate their studies, their AIG shares, their electricity bill, the goodness of our government and their loved ones, I think Mr. JBJ and his family will be satisfied.
Thinking about Mr. JBJ
September 30, 2008 · Wayne Soon
http://antineodem.wordpress.com/
The passing away of JBJ in the midst of one of the worst economic crises since 1997 have left us with the legacy that indeed, there is more to life than financial spreedsheets, data analysis and unbridled risks and rewards. There is something called freedom and democracy, which JBJ stood for consistently in his political career. His one mindneness in bringing about political change have meant that he has lost much monetarily and socially. He has won and lost parliamentary seats, debated countless MPs from the other side for two generations, spoke at hundreds of rallies and meetings calling for a fundemental re-think of the Singapore spirit, and voted to secure the rights and freedom for his countrymen in parliament.
Perhaps the most poignant moment is still his victory at the Anson by-election, which shattered the myth of an invincible and omnipotent PAP, which continues to be the historical faultline in the othewise dominant PAP narrative. The relentless search for cracks and pains within the Singapore polity to remedy, which irritated contented Singaporeans and even yours truly at times, did not meant widespread dislike for Mr. JBJ. Rather, many Singaporeans often attended his rallies, buy his books, donated money, voted for him and listened to him in his fiery encounters with the powers-to-be. Some even made a play out of him to raise political awarness in the polity. What most did not do was to vote for the party he represented, and to extend the same respect for him to other members of the opposition.
Why will happen next is a question for another time, but at present, if Singaporeans stop to think about JBJ and what he stood for a moment as they contemplate their studies, their AIG shares, their electricity bill, the goodness of our government and their loved ones, I think Mr. JBJ and his family will be satisfied.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Exercise
Why do I play tennis even though I suck at it? Because I am trying to lose weight. No sorry. Keep fit. Why do I play badminton even though the other players are oh so much better? Because I am trying to keep fit. Why do I swim even though I am inherently lazy? Because I want to keep fit. No sorry. Get a little tan too look fit. That is obviously because my plan of keeping fit isn't working. So the least I can do is attempt to look fit. That also explains why I bought a basketball and played only twice with the neighborhood kids. And I do means kids. Like primary school. I used to play downstairs all the time but now nobody my age actually plays basketball downstairs anymore. So sad right. That explains why I travel all the way to bukit timah to play badminton, and queenstown to play tennis. I need more friends in the east that can exercise or sport with me. But then most of them are attached to their other halves and aren't really in the east that much as well. Then again, that's the same with me. Haha. The thing about exercising in the sun is that you get a tan. I'm all for swimming and Mr Sun. But not tennis. You'll get an ugly singlet tan which is equivalent to the average manbra tan. Very ugly. Of course, someone had commented that I was too vain to not play tennis in the sun because of this. Yes. Says someone that buys over 100 cosmetic products a year. I am vain. I do know that some girls don't care about their tan, whether it ends at their bikini line or their t-shirt or sports bra line. But I'm pretty sure my gf is quite a vainpot in that area too. Then again she just doesn't like to tan generally. Ha.
What is also sad is that I had a nice paragraph of text but it was lost when I clicked publish post as I was not connected to the internet. I think it was about something I should do. Or was it something I should eat? I know for sure that when it comes to losing weight, pills don't work. I've seen my brother try to lose weight on pills and the only thing he seems to be losing is his waistline. Ha! That said, maybe I should hit the gym daily after I'm back at the firm. I think stress + gym makes a good combination for weight loss. Alternatively, I could try to make HER fat so I won't be so guilty of being fat.
Hmmm. Suggestions?
What is also sad is that I had a nice paragraph of text but it was lost when I clicked publish post as I was not connected to the internet. I think it was about something I should do. Or was it something I should eat? I know for sure that when it comes to losing weight, pills don't work. I've seen my brother try to lose weight on pills and the only thing he seems to be losing is his waistline. Ha! That said, maybe I should hit the gym daily after I'm back at the firm. I think stress + gym makes a good combination for weight loss. Alternatively, I could try to make HER fat so I won't be so guilty of being fat.
Hmmm. Suggestions?
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
30th September 2008 [032155]
Although the newspaper was flooded with groundbreaking news like who didn't turn up at the F1 party at Amberlounge, the 700 billion dollar rescue package didn't go through, the duxton was oversubscribed 3x over, Cadbury featuring ads to say its products are safe despite the AVA issuing directives to recall Cadbury products, nothing was more shocking than the news of JBJ's passing which I heard on the radio.
Granted, he is old and doesn't have as many resources as other old men his age that can afford to prolong their lives, but after reading all about him and meeting him in person so many years ago, I did feel affected to the extent that I immediately sms'd a few people that I think would care to know about his passing.
It is true that many shunned him whilst he promoted the hammer and his books in public. I am quite sure that as many were probably intrigued and would not actually mind hearing what he had to say as he was undoubtedly more coherent then some other fellow opposition member(s). There is a distinction between a lawyer and a doctor ya. I recall a day years ago when I was at city hall and I actually went up to him to get two copies of his latest book from him. It's really sad that here is a man trying to do what he thought was best for his country through the "official channels" and yet having them laugh and scoff at him. He loved Singapore, but Singapore mocked him. Sounds familiar?
The media has been generally kinder to him than they have been to other opposition members primarily because he makes more sense than them, as does CST. But even so, the article on straitstimes.com has been changed over the course of the day from a rude editorial in the morning to something a little better by the evening. Now that's a tad unfair isn't it? That suggests changes done (probably over flaming in the ST forums) over the course of the day. Somebody's gonna get it from the online community. I think if one googles hard enough, he/she may still be able to find the morning article. Hmmm.
I find that we take it for granted that there would be coherent opposition members around to act as a check and balance in Parliament. This cannot be more wrong. Although I do not advocate blindly throwing weight behind any opposition group, nor that the government should recognize more opposition groups, I do hope that the people and the government can actually recognize good opposition leaders/members and give them credit where credit is due. This goes for the media as well.
It is hard to write something personal to a man one barely knows personally. But I do want to say that it is a damn shame that he was taken so prematurely (82 is still young compared to some oldies that are like 90s and clinging on to their life for the sake of pissing off their relatives). Perhaps JBJ will become stronger in death, as do some of the world's greatest artists. It is a shame that we do not realize how much he has achieved until we have lost him. I did notice however that upon his passing, more people are realizing how important he actually was to Singapore. Here's to the thought that even though he may never see it, his dreams for Singapore will materialize one day.
Granted, he is old and doesn't have as many resources as other old men his age that can afford to prolong their lives, but after reading all about him and meeting him in person so many years ago, I did feel affected to the extent that I immediately sms'd a few people that I think would care to know about his passing.
It is true that many shunned him whilst he promoted the hammer and his books in public. I am quite sure that as many were probably intrigued and would not actually mind hearing what he had to say as he was undoubtedly more coherent then some other fellow opposition member(s). There is a distinction between a lawyer and a doctor ya. I recall a day years ago when I was at city hall and I actually went up to him to get two copies of his latest book from him. It's really sad that here is a man trying to do what he thought was best for his country through the "official channels" and yet having them laugh and scoff at him. He loved Singapore, but Singapore mocked him. Sounds familiar?
The media has been generally kinder to him than they have been to other opposition members primarily because he makes more sense than them, as does CST. But even so, the article on straitstimes.com has been changed over the course of the day from a rude editorial in the morning to something a little better by the evening. Now that's a tad unfair isn't it? That suggests changes done (probably over flaming in the ST forums) over the course of the day. Somebody's gonna get it from the online community. I think if one googles hard enough, he/she may still be able to find the morning article. Hmmm.
I find that we take it for granted that there would be coherent opposition members around to act as a check and balance in Parliament. This cannot be more wrong. Although I do not advocate blindly throwing weight behind any opposition group, nor that the government should recognize more opposition groups, I do hope that the people and the government can actually recognize good opposition leaders/members and give them credit where credit is due. This goes for the media as well.
It is hard to write something personal to a man one barely knows personally. But I do want to say that it is a damn shame that he was taken so prematurely (82 is still young compared to some oldies that are like 90s and clinging on to their life for the sake of pissing off their relatives). Perhaps JBJ will become stronger in death, as do some of the world's greatest artists. It is a shame that we do not realize how much he has achieved until we have lost him. I did notice however that upon his passing, more people are realizing how important he actually was to Singapore. Here's to the thought that even though he may never see it, his dreams for Singapore will materialize one day.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Food
Before I get old, senile and forget things, here are some eateries Master and Mistress Cow (doesn't sound very non-naughty-ish) will be gracing soon.
Jerry's Grill @ Club Street
Clarity Cafe @ Beach Road
Tampopo @ Liang Court
Boomerang @ Robertson Quay
1925 @ lunch
Any other suggestions?
Jerry's Grill @ Club Street
Clarity Cafe @ Beach Road
Tampopo @ Liang Court
Boomerang @ Robertson Quay
1925 @ lunch
Any other suggestions?
Hmmm
Does it really get better?
Stop nodding at me you stupid little bobbleheads.
Still nodding.
Sometimes I wish there's a place we can call home.
Without the stupid little bobbleheads.
But will that really help?
Or...
Stop nodding at me you stupid little bobbleheads.
Still nodding.
Sometimes I wish there's a place we can call home.
Without the stupid little bobbleheads.
But will that really help?
Or...
Monday, August 18, 2008
Warren Ellis on JLU
He writes the best dialogue. Period. I actually smirked when I saw this:
[Batman falling from a great height]
"Batman to all points, I could use some air support"
[Beat]
"Since I can’t fly"
[Beat]
"At all"
[Beat] [Still falling and almost reaching the ground]
"Now would be good"
[Superman swoops in to save him]
I'm sorry but I just had a Sheldon moment. (See the Big Bang Theory)
Stuff you don't really need to know:
Warren Ellis is a famed writer of comics and graphic novels, best known for Global Frequency (which was the source for an aborted WB network pilot originally set for early 2005). He also worked on Transmetropolitan and Planetary, a PC game (Hostile Waters) and any number of other works. This is his first work on a WB animated series.
Dark Heart
Episode Number: 62 Season Num: 3 First Aired: Saturday December 11, 2004 Prod Code: 362
When nanotech-based alien robots land in the American southwest and overwhelm the League, only the Atom, a microscopic super hero, can defeat them.
[Batman falling from a great height]
"Batman to all points, I could use some air support"
[Beat]
"Since I can’t fly"
[Beat]
"At all"
[Beat] [Still falling and almost reaching the ground]
"Now would be good"
[Superman swoops in to save him]
I'm sorry but I just had a Sheldon moment. (See the Big Bang Theory)
Stuff you don't really need to know:
Warren Ellis is a famed writer of comics and graphic novels, best known for Global Frequency (which was the source for an aborted WB network pilot originally set for early 2005). He also worked on Transmetropolitan and Planetary, a PC game (Hostile Waters) and any number of other works. This is his first work on a WB animated series.
Dark Heart
Episode Number: 62 Season Num: 3 First Aired: Saturday December 11, 2004 Prod Code: 362
When nanotech-based alien robots land in the American southwest and overwhelm the League, only the Atom, a microscopic super hero, can defeat them.
Monday, August 04, 2008
Eason songs in my iPod (shuffle)
Eason aren't you glad? Your concert's a sellout.
"and as the world turns on and on, love is lost and love is won, laughed and cried when we were young"
"and did you ever see everything inside of me?"
that's just life for ya.
穿過人潮雙眼燈火欄柵 沒有想過回頭
一段又一段走不完的旅程 甚麼時候能走完
噢 我的 夢代表甚麼 又是甚麼讓我們不安
* That’s just life 尋找夢裡的未來
That’s just life 少點現實的無奈
不論風吹的時候 不再傍徨的時候
永遠向前 路一直都在
穿過一塊裡面一片黑暗 沒有想過回頭
一段又一段走不完的旅程 甚麼時候能習慣
噢 我的 夢代表甚麼 又是甚麼讓我們期盼
(repeat *)
看不清的路又算甚麼 看不清的夢又算甚麼
就算走到盡頭又能算甚麼 能算甚麼
(repeat *)
永遠向前 路一直都在
That’s just life 徘徊到不再徘徊
That’s just life 從來都不怕重來
沒有選擇的時候 無法選擇的時候
永遠向前 路一直都
Extremely catchy.
我也相信 路,一直都在。
Oh yeah. A 惨song.
我來到你的城市 走過你來時的路
想像著沒我的日子 你是怎樣的孤獨
拿著你給的照片 熟悉的那一條街
只是沒了你的畫面 我們回不到那天
你會不會忽然的出現 在街角的咖啡店
我會帶著笑臉 揮手寒喧 和你坐著聊聊天
我多麼想和你見一面 看看你最近改變
不再去說從前 只是寒喧
對你說一句 只是說一句 好久不見
拿著你給的照片 熟悉的那一條街
只是沒了你的畫面 我們回不到那天
你會不會忽然的出現 在街角的咖啡店
我會帶著笑臉 揮手寒喧 和你坐著聊聊天
我多麼想和你見一面 看看你最近改變
不再去說從前 只是寒喧
對你說一句 只是說一句 好久不見
Emo.
And a final nice song as well.
Good songs are meant to be shared.
愛情轉移。每次聽每次 emo。
"and as the world turns on and on, love is lost and love is won, laughed and cried when we were young"
"and did you ever see everything inside of me?"
that's just life for ya.
穿過人潮雙眼燈火欄柵 沒有想過回頭
一段又一段走不完的旅程 甚麼時候能走完
噢 我的 夢代表甚麼 又是甚麼讓我們不安
* That’s just life 尋找夢裡的未來
That’s just life 少點現實的無奈
不論風吹的時候 不再傍徨的時候
永遠向前 路一直都在
穿過一塊裡面一片黑暗 沒有想過回頭
一段又一段走不完的旅程 甚麼時候能習慣
噢 我的 夢代表甚麼 又是甚麼讓我們期盼
(repeat *)
看不清的路又算甚麼 看不清的夢又算甚麼
就算走到盡頭又能算甚麼 能算甚麼
(repeat *)
永遠向前 路一直都在
That’s just life 徘徊到不再徘徊
That’s just life 從來都不怕重來
沒有選擇的時候 無法選擇的時候
永遠向前 路一直都
Extremely catchy.
我也相信 路,一直都在。
Oh yeah. A 惨song.
我來到你的城市 走過你來時的路
想像著沒我的日子 你是怎樣的孤獨
拿著你給的照片 熟悉的那一條街
只是沒了你的畫面 我們回不到那天
你會不會忽然的出現 在街角的咖啡店
我會帶著笑臉 揮手寒喧 和你坐著聊聊天
我多麼想和你見一面 看看你最近改變
不再去說從前 只是寒喧
對你說一句 只是說一句 好久不見
拿著你給的照片 熟悉的那一條街
只是沒了你的畫面 我們回不到那天
你會不會忽然的出現 在街角的咖啡店
我會帶著笑臉 揮手寒喧 和你坐著聊聊天
我多麼想和你見一面 看看你最近改變
不再去說從前 只是寒喧
對你說一句 只是說一句 好久不見
Emo.
And a final nice song as well.
Good songs are meant to be shared.
愛情轉移。每次聽每次 emo。
Monday, July 28, 2008
I Dream of Aud (1965)
It was a weird dream. I was decked out in the light brown/beige Hwa Chu uniform and was wandering the assembly grounds of what I now recall to be Tao Nan School. There were hundreds of students there and on closer look, they were people I knew. Of particular notice, the Tataps were there. As a group. Not long after saying hi, the music started and the national anthem played.
Only it wasn't the national anthem.
I can't remember the music now but I saw the lines of students moving. If I weren't mistaken, they were either Bollywood dancing or linedancing. And I was moving too. Except that I think I looked more like I was performing the Great Singapore Workout.
After that unnerving experience, we were dismissed and I wandered the school grounds aimlessly. Scours of students were around and I wandered to this part of the school which resembled the corridor outside the current Law Library. That's when I looked up and saw Aud. She was being nice and said something that I couldn't hear. But it seemed like I understood her. Something about contacting the BLE.
My God. Even in my dream I was preoccupied about my bloody PLC. I felt this strange feeling that something was very wrong. I started to be aware of my surroundings and that it was rather... unnatural. Especially so was the fact that I was in school uniform and I think I was supposed to be in my PLC! Immediately I whipped out my handphone and dialed the number to the BLE (I stored it on my handphone okay~) Immediately the first thing I heard was "Is this that girl from just now? Is she calling back again? That Aud? Tell her her application is not ready yet, don't be so gan cheong."
That was weird. Frantically I tried to tell them "this has got to be a mistake! I don't belong here!" I was put on hold as they checked my particulars (which oddly enough I didn't give them) and then...
I woke up.
9:00 AM and the alarm was ringing.
Halfway through the first seminar of the day, I messaged Aud and told her that I dreamt of her. And of the dancing. She was nice enough to reply that she didn't mind a night out dancing if that was what I meant. But what I really meant to illustrate when I texted her was that I now believe that men can tell a girl that she was the girl in their dreams (the night before), and not have a sexual connotation to it.
In fact it was strangely bizarre. Hur hur hur.
Poking around online in search of the meaning of the bizarre dancing in my dream, I found this:
"To dream that you are dancing, signifies freedom from constraints and harmony/balance with yourself. You are working in cooperation with yourself. It also represents frivolity, happiness, gracefulness, sensuality and sexual desires. Alternatively, it may signify intimacy and a union of the masculine and feminine aspects of yourself.
To dream that you are attending or going to a dance, indicates a celebration and your attempts to achieve happiness. Consider the phrase the "dance of life" which suggests creation, ecstasy, and going with what life has to offer you.
To see children dancing in your dream, signifies that you will have a comfortable home, and healthy, well-behaved children in the future.
To see ritualistic dancing in your dream, denotes your need to get in touch with the spirit within.."
I know I'm working on something. That's for sure, but I'm not exactly happy at the moment with what life has to offer me. I THINK I saw children, is that a good sign? Was my lame attempt at dancing considered ritualistic? Hmm. If I see something supernatural tonight (within) I'll do up another lame blog post.
Moral of the story. I have fucking lame dreams that make no fucking sense at all.
Only it wasn't the national anthem.
I can't remember the music now but I saw the lines of students moving. If I weren't mistaken, they were either Bollywood dancing or linedancing. And I was moving too. Except that I think I looked more like I was performing the Great Singapore Workout.
After that unnerving experience, we were dismissed and I wandered the school grounds aimlessly. Scours of students were around and I wandered to this part of the school which resembled the corridor outside the current Law Library. That's when I looked up and saw Aud. She was being nice and said something that I couldn't hear. But it seemed like I understood her. Something about contacting the BLE.
My God. Even in my dream I was preoccupied about my bloody PLC. I felt this strange feeling that something was very wrong. I started to be aware of my surroundings and that it was rather... unnatural. Especially so was the fact that I was in school uniform and I think I was supposed to be in my PLC! Immediately I whipped out my handphone and dialed the number to the BLE (I stored it on my handphone okay~) Immediately the first thing I heard was "Is this that girl from just now? Is she calling back again? That Aud? Tell her her application is not ready yet, don't be so gan cheong."
That was weird. Frantically I tried to tell them "this has got to be a mistake! I don't belong here!" I was put on hold as they checked my particulars (which oddly enough I didn't give them) and then...
I woke up.
9:00 AM and the alarm was ringing.
Halfway through the first seminar of the day, I messaged Aud and told her that I dreamt of her. And of the dancing. She was nice enough to reply that she didn't mind a night out dancing if that was what I meant. But what I really meant to illustrate when I texted her was that I now believe that men can tell a girl that she was the girl in their dreams (the night before), and not have a sexual connotation to it.
In fact it was strangely bizarre. Hur hur hur.
Poking around online in search of the meaning of the bizarre dancing in my dream, I found this:
"To dream that you are dancing, signifies freedom from constraints and harmony/balance with yourself. You are working in cooperation with yourself. It also represents frivolity, happiness, gracefulness, sensuality and sexual desires. Alternatively, it may signify intimacy and a union of the masculine and feminine aspects of yourself.
To dream that you are attending or going to a dance, indicates a celebration and your attempts to achieve happiness. Consider the phrase the "dance of life" which suggests creation, ecstasy, and going with what life has to offer you.
To see children dancing in your dream, signifies that you will have a comfortable home, and healthy, well-behaved children in the future.
To see ritualistic dancing in your dream, denotes your need to get in touch with the spirit within.."
I know I'm working on something. That's for sure, but I'm not exactly happy at the moment with what life has to offer me. I THINK I saw children, is that a good sign? Was my lame attempt at dancing considered ritualistic? Hmm. If I see something supernatural tonight (within) I'll do up another lame blog post.
Moral of the story. I have fucking lame dreams that make no fucking sense at all.
Saturday, July 26, 2008
What an Emo song
And so it is
Just like you said it would be
Life goes easy on me
Most of the time
And so it is
The shorter story
No love, no glory
No hero in her sky
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...
And so it is
Just like you said it should be
We'll both forget the breeze
Most of the time
And so it is
The colder water
The blower's daughter
The pupil in denial
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off of you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes off you
I can't take my eyes...
Did I say that I loathe you?
Did I say that I want to
Leave it all behind?
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off of you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind off you
I can't take my mind...
My mind...my mind...
------------------------
As I replayed this song, I couldn't help but feel that it was strangely appropriate. It essentially stripped the dramatics away from love and distilled it into it's most essential elements, leaving one powerless and yearning to drink in the object of affection. Love in this form has transcended to become pure need that consumes. The song has such amazing lines. It's like one is feeling that strong for someone, but knowing that there are stronger, deeper feelings that no matter how much you want to hate someone, you know you never will, you just can't. It is being addicted and completely infatuated with someone, but not knowing how to let go. Being in a trance of fascination, being pulled in and wanting to get out, but not knowing how, and maybe not wanting to get out even. It’s about not having control over the situation, but wanting to gain control so badly because it’s taking over and you're sick of being so infatuated because it hurts too damn bloody much. The first time I heard this song it was in the film Closer and I just sat there, drinking in its beauty. Now when I listen to it, it actually made me cry.
This is perhaps the most apt: The shorter story, No love, no glory, No hero in her sky. When one looks back at or evaluates a (past) relationship, they usually give the version devoid of the love, emotion or passion that was once evident. It is also the most heartbreaking line depending on which side you're on. Wordplay on the film's title also relates closely to this song.
Simple yet powerful lyrics.
Gigantic List of DVDs coming to the House of Mao
I don't think I need to leave the house anytime soon once these come:
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Vanishing Point
Jaws 1-4
Jurassic Park 1-3
The Mummy 1-3
There's Something About Mary
Trainspotting
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Toy Story Boxset
Doctor Dolittle 1-3
Final Fantasy VII
Miami Vice
Deep Impact
The Interpreter
Backdraft
Snow Falling on Cedars
Thunderbirds
Inside Man
Master and Commander
Robocop
Silent Hill
Beatles Yellow Submarine
Red Dragon
Die Hard 1
About a Boy
Deathnote
Apollo 13
SWAT
ET
Jesus Christ Superstar
Armageddon
Dawn of the Dead
Road to Perdition
Shakesphere in Love
Never Say Never Again
Brokeback Mountain
LOTR 3
King Kong
King Arthur
8 Mile
The Birdcage
Intolerable Cruelty
Indiana Jones 1-3
Life is Beautiful
Calendar Girls
Munich
Cider House Rules
Blues Brothers
Dante's Peak
Meet the Parents
Blown Away
Thomas Crown Affair
Too Fast Too Furious 1-2
Pride and Prejudice
Dragonheart
Sin City
Titanic
Moulin Rouge
Speed
Seabiscuit
West Side Story
Oliver Twist
iRobot
The Holiday
Live and Let Die
Cast Away
Hulk
Hellboy
Terminator 3
Van Helsing
Casino Royale
The Day After Tomorrow
Sound of Music
Terminator 1
Die Another Day
Alfred Hitchcock Boxset
Indiana Jones Boxset
LOST Season 1
Desperate Housewives Season 1
Murder One Season 1
The Apprentice Season 1
Home Improvement Season 1-3
Bones Season 1
The entire 007 Collection
Plus 105 Code 1 DVDs (assorted)
And very possibly:
Sex and the City Season 1-6
Angel Season 1-5
Battlestar Galactica Season 2-3
Friends Season 1-10
and more if my lobang works out.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Vanishing Point
Jaws 1-4
Jurassic Park 1-3
The Mummy 1-3
There's Something About Mary
Trainspotting
League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
Toy Story Boxset
Doctor Dolittle 1-3
Final Fantasy VII
Miami Vice
Deep Impact
The Interpreter
Backdraft
Snow Falling on Cedars
Thunderbirds
Inside Man
Master and Commander
Robocop
Silent Hill
Beatles Yellow Submarine
Red Dragon
Die Hard 1
About a Boy
Deathnote
Apollo 13
SWAT
ET
Jesus Christ Superstar
Armageddon
Dawn of the Dead
Road to Perdition
Shakesphere in Love
Never Say Never Again
Brokeback Mountain
LOTR 3
King Kong
King Arthur
8 Mile
The Birdcage
Intolerable Cruelty
Indiana Jones 1-3
Life is Beautiful
Calendar Girls
Munich
Cider House Rules
Blues Brothers
Dante's Peak
Meet the Parents
Blown Away
Thomas Crown Affair
Too Fast Too Furious 1-2
Pride and Prejudice
Dragonheart
Sin City
Titanic
Moulin Rouge
Speed
Seabiscuit
West Side Story
Oliver Twist
iRobot
The Holiday
Live and Let Die
Cast Away
Hulk
Hellboy
Terminator 3
Van Helsing
Casino Royale
The Day After Tomorrow
Sound of Music
Terminator 1
Die Another Day
Alfred Hitchcock Boxset
Indiana Jones Boxset
LOST Season 1
Desperate Housewives Season 1
Murder One Season 1
The Apprentice Season 1
Home Improvement Season 1-3
Bones Season 1
The entire 007 Collection
Plus 105 Code 1 DVDs (assorted)
And very possibly:
Sex and the City Season 1-6
Angel Season 1-5
Battlestar Galactica Season 2-3
Friends Season 1-10
and more if my lobang works out.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
There is a new status quo
Along Lake Toya, amidst a blaze of fireworks on May 13th, the deed was done. Planning and finding the ring during my exams was chaotic enough, but it was worth it and we are now engaged. There will be frantic uploading of pictures soon, but before then, I can safely say that this is a big step for us and it's not to be taken lightly. Believe me I had to ponder over it for months before deciding and planning anything at all. And although we are still young, it doesn't mean that we are rushing into things. We're planning for our life together and it's starting today. And it will be a happy one.
Friday, May 02, 2008
I wish I can feel as good.
"It's a new dawn, It's a new day, It's a new life, and I'm feeling good..."
I'm still one paper away from freedom. Freedom, Ironman and tasty little snacks wrapped in seaweed and served with curry. I don't know what they are. I just want to eat them.
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Mas Selamat Found?
I think I have a problem. I think I know where Mas Selamat is hiding. Apparently he's hiding in my house because I found his slippers in my toilet.
Yes, I have that exact same pair of slippers in my house toilet. The one that's circulating around the world as we speak. Not only that, I have like 6 pairs of them. Does that mean there are 5 more escapees that the government has neglected to tell us about?
I shudder to think where he's hiding. My only guess is the toy room because it's so impossible to navigate that even I give up entering the room after opening the door.
Jialat sia.
Yes, I have that exact same pair of slippers in my house toilet. The one that's circulating around the world as we speak. Not only that, I have like 6 pairs of them. Does that mean there are 5 more escapees that the government has neglected to tell us about?
I shudder to think where he's hiding. My only guess is the toy room because it's so impossible to navigate that even I give up entering the room after opening the door.
Jialat sia.
How to avoid getting splitting headaches: Turn off the power outlet before fixing the lights
Before I was going to continue on my paper, I went around looking for things to do. Which is what happens when I have something really important to do. I will basically try to distract myself by doing wu ah bo things and ending up tearing my hair out last minute. As usual.
So I went pattering around the house, fixing this, tweaking that. It then dawned on me to fix the lights. I recently fixed a toilet light last week, but that was easy, just taking out the tube and putting it in. Hardly fixing. This was a challenge. The living room light had a spoilt starter and my dad said he wanted to call the technician in. But no. I was too smart for that. 'It's just unscrewing some wires and fixing it back! How hard can it be? Save the $30!'
I then took a screwdriver to the thing and because it was getting pretty dark, couldn't really aim carefully. I ended up stabbing my finger. But that didn't deter me. There were two wires to remove and replace. After getting the first one, I was fairly confident. I then did the second one a little too vigorously. That was when I realized that I had forgotten to switch off the power. There was this strange sensation that surged through my body, traveling from my hand and up to my head, gripping my brain, before going down to near my stomach area. Luckily I was fat and could still stand after wrenching my screwdriver away from the screw in that split second. By then I realized that I was just shocked by X voltage. After replacing the second wire, the lights worked, but I had a splitting headache. Which still persists now.
Sad right. But then I took that $30 we saved and immediately invested it in something else.
Now, I can take slight comfort and solace in the fact that... I still have the night to continue, (PROCRASTINATION!) and I have the Bourne Trilogy waiting for me after Sunday/Monday's paper~ Yes it's CHINA ORIGINAL DVD. But it's $30 for all 3 when I could have spent $29.90 getting one MALAYSIAN ORIGINAL DVD or $34.90 for a CODE 1. Even if I get it from Amazon, it still won't be $10SGD per disc. And I didn't feel like supporting piracy recently (after getting scolded) and so, $30 it is. iLove China but iHate inconsiderate and rude PRCs. If only PRCs could be nicer. Oh well.
So I went pattering around the house, fixing this, tweaking that. It then dawned on me to fix the lights. I recently fixed a toilet light last week, but that was easy, just taking out the tube and putting it in. Hardly fixing. This was a challenge. The living room light had a spoilt starter and my dad said he wanted to call the technician in. But no. I was too smart for that. 'It's just unscrewing some wires and fixing it back! How hard can it be? Save the $30!'
I then took a screwdriver to the thing and because it was getting pretty dark, couldn't really aim carefully. I ended up stabbing my finger. But that didn't deter me. There were two wires to remove and replace. After getting the first one, I was fairly confident. I then did the second one a little too vigorously. That was when I realized that I had forgotten to switch off the power. There was this strange sensation that surged through my body, traveling from my hand and up to my head, gripping my brain, before going down to near my stomach area. Luckily I was fat and could still stand after wrenching my screwdriver away from the screw in that split second. By then I realized that I was just shocked by X voltage. After replacing the second wire, the lights worked, but I had a splitting headache. Which still persists now.
Sad right. But then I took that $30 we saved and immediately invested it in something else.
Now, I can take slight comfort and solace in the fact that... I still have the night to continue, (PROCRASTINATION!) and I have the Bourne Trilogy waiting for me after Sunday/Monday's paper~ Yes it's CHINA ORIGINAL DVD. But it's $30 for all 3 when I could have spent $29.90 getting one MALAYSIAN ORIGINAL DVD or $34.90 for a CODE 1. Even if I get it from Amazon, it still won't be $10SGD per disc. And I didn't feel like supporting piracy recently (after getting scolded) and so, $30 it is. iLove China but iHate inconsiderate and rude PRCs. If only PRCs could be nicer. Oh well.
Monday, March 03, 2008
Chasing (Mao) Cows Across the Universe
Words are flying out like
endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy
are drifting thorough my open mind
Possessing and caressing me
A (mao) cow is a nocturnal animal. Extremely lazy and greedy, it likes to sleep in during the day and only wake up to feed as and when it likes before going back to sleep. It thrives in the night where the temperature is cooler and there is less chance of over-exerting itself or getting cooked by the sun.
Images of broken light which
dance before me like a million eyes
That call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a
restless wind inside a letter box
they tumble blindly as
they make their way across the universe
The (mao) cow likes to feed on a variety of things. Usually it will try to make do with anything it can find near it. Be it chocolates, wine, Pa Pa or some version of canned soup. However, bring the (mao) cow out for supper and it will like to order excessively and top off the meal with an Oolong tea or two. If the (mao) cow is not fed appropriately, it will not be happy. Conversely, once it is fed, it will be happy and will be easier to deal with.
Sounds of laughter shades of life
are ringing through my open ears
exciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which
shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe
The (mao) cow likes to travel in pairs. Because it is lazy inherently, it also likes to keep lazy pets like little brown dogs that think that they are white. The pet must also be able to have the ability to sleep the entire day away so that it does not disturb the living habits of the (mao) cow. (Mao) cows are contented with each others company and can stay that way for eons.
endless rain into a paper cup
They slither while they pass
They slip away across the universe
Pools of sorrow waves of joy
are drifting thorough my open mind
Possessing and caressing me
A (mao) cow is a nocturnal animal. Extremely lazy and greedy, it likes to sleep in during the day and only wake up to feed as and when it likes before going back to sleep. It thrives in the night where the temperature is cooler and there is less chance of over-exerting itself or getting cooked by the sun.
Images of broken light which
dance before me like a million eyes
That call me on and on across the universe
Thoughts meander like a
restless wind inside a letter box
they tumble blindly as
they make their way across the universe
The (mao) cow likes to feed on a variety of things. Usually it will try to make do with anything it can find near it. Be it chocolates, wine, Pa Pa or some version of canned soup. However, bring the (mao) cow out for supper and it will like to order excessively and top off the meal with an Oolong tea or two. If the (mao) cow is not fed appropriately, it will not be happy. Conversely, once it is fed, it will be happy and will be easier to deal with.
Sounds of laughter shades of life
are ringing through my open ears
exciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love which
shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on across the universe
The (mao) cow likes to travel in pairs. Because it is lazy inherently, it also likes to keep lazy pets like little brown dogs that think that they are white. The pet must also be able to have the ability to sleep the entire day away so that it does not disturb the living habits of the (mao) cow. (Mao) cows are contented with each others company and can stay that way for eons.
Friday, February 08, 2008
Please save this Dog
He will be put to sleep by end Feb as his owners are going to put him to sleep after moving house. He is healthy and friskier than me and is about 8-9 years of age. Very very active and friendly, is so well toilet trained that he will keep his shit in until his owner comes back to bring him out to shit. Extremely cute and adorable.
Has a very prosperous name~
Has a very prosperous name~
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