我爱中国
14 Aug 2010 1 Comment
The Merchant of Venice is over! Rejoice, comrades!
Anyway, that isn’t my main point. Let me start off by asking a question to all students.
CHINESE SUCKS; Agree?
Without even gathering data, finding people dozing off during Chinese lessons, fiddling with their stationery, discreetly playing games on their computer is something most have been accustomed to [习以为常].
Frankly speaking, I am able to empathise and may just have committed one of the few wrongdoings mentioned above. The things we do can be a little mundane, compositions, lengthy comprehensions, go through vocabulary in the textbook, attempt incomprehensible passages in which we have to choose words amongst 4 options which trust me, is not as easy as it seems [并非易事].
You know, in primary school, I actually used to enjoy Chinese. I was taught by this senior Chinese teacher who was a little boring sometimes but the regular trips to the Computer Lab and the Chinese Centre were interesting. Well, maybe it was because of how I used to excel in that subject which led to a piqued interest.
I think it is peer influence which has caused me to increasingly grow distant from a subject I used to enjoy. [I am not blaming anyone in particular] Perhaps it is this atmosphere of drowsiness and restlessness which lingers which prompts me to dream and frolic in the playground of my imagination. Sometimes after a Chinese class, I would hear a close friend exclaim, “LIBERATION!” Very mean but quite representative of the masses’ feelings. Hmm, I think what I really want to say is, as much as we have preferences for various subjects, an open-minded mentality would be something good to possess, avoiding all sorts of negative influence which might prompt us to procrastinate or to be lackadaisical in our attitude. I guess this is why those who score so well maintain their stellar grades, its rare seeing them grumble and they are always so conscientious and diligent. And strangely, the term ‘mugger’ is used so derogatorily.
Un Changement
08 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
I was just reading through my blog and I thought, what kind of crap am I churning out. This would only get me 2 ACE or even lesser! In other words, I kind of felt I was a little flippant and happy-go-lucky, and in relation to other blogs such as Dylan’s whom I admire, mine pales in comparison. As such, I will [or at least attempt to] talk about something more serious and sombre today.
http://theonlinecitizen.com/2010/08/the-youth-olympic-games-why-the-great-apathy/
I think this is a pretty pertinent issue. And I shall be crude here, I personally feel our government has screwed up this time.
Yes, I am being heartless to discount all of the efforts that the government has put in to try to make this event a success, but the more I read up on it, I start to feel it is turning out to be an unmitigated catastrophe.
Firstly, I believe it is widely known how the event has severely exceeded its initial budget of $104 million, even up to threefold I have heard. And well, the public could always close one eye to the exceed in budget if the event turns out to be a booming success, comparable to the standards of the impressive Beijing Olympics. But, it turns out, no one really cares, even if this is the first YOG which would be held in our nation, no one really gives a heck.
At this point, I would like to draw an analogy to the Harry Potter film franchise. If I am not wrong, there was no Harry Potter film a few years ago despite it being filmed already and ready for distribution. Why? There was another blockbuster that year and the intelligent producers calculated a risk, and did not want the other blockbuster to outshadow the film, as such, they delayed the production and in the subsequent year, it raked in huge earnings. So, presuming the Harry Potter film refers to the YOG and the other blockbuster would be the World Cup. After the World Cup frenzy which is considered pretty recent, would one be interested in watching teenagers compete? It actually is pretty understandable how the public would naturally be a little disinterested.
Furthermore, International Olympic Committee ambassadors, Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt are going to forsake the YOG. Does this not further highlight how disinterested the people are? Locals have complained about their hard earned money being used to import foreign talents in the sports arena, and in turn, our local talents are being deprived of attention and resources. So ultimately, as much as Singapore wishes to make use of the YOG as a platform to boost itself to global awareness as a metropolitan state, there has been much contention over issues a single event has generated and surely all the money spent on this event could be actually used in a more worthy manner.
I am being a little biased over here, nitpicking on a government which is internationally known for its bureaucratic efficiency and lack of corruption. I love Singapore, really, there are so many things here which I take for granted and when I go overseas, I am just appalled by the unkempt surroundings. But still, shouldn’t the government have noticed how further they are sinking into this financial quagmire, and that all the precious money spent could actually go to more useful areas such as education, or attempting to close up the fissured income gap between the rich and the poor which had so drastically widened over the past few years.
Now, everything has already been done for the YOG and there is no way we can turn back. And yes, “It is hard to feel as a sense of pride when there is the growing recognition that citizens are merely being treated as government fodder for increasing some vague notion of prestige that has nothing to do the real lives and challenges faced by ordinary citizens.” At the end of the day, we remind ourselves of the main objectives of the Olympics, fostering camaraderie. If the public don’t even feel the slightest bit involved in the YOG and students being reluctantly summoned to the games, maybe it is time the government reviewed it’s actions and give the people a proper account.
Villainous Goodness
07 Aug 2010 Leave a Comment
I admire a lot of people, both fictional and real.
Most are actors; fabulous actors who have evil on-screen characters. And do you know what is so good about them, these people create a character so firm and solid and undeniably evil in just a film, creating a lasting impression in you. We all love a good villain, don’t we. (: Just looking at the villains is something so fascinating, their elaborate costumes, the makeup, the props they use, their speech, the air of pure turpitude they command. I’m in love.
So, without further ado, a compilation of a few of my favourite villains, in the sequence of cartoon to film!
1) MALEFICENT
Her lovely green skin reminds me of Elphaba from the Broadway musical ‘Wicked’. Anyway, I know what you are thinking. WHAT THE HELL, DISNEY? DISNEY?!?!?! Yes, as much as Disney may be the epitome of childish cheesiness, I have to laud them for the many fabulous antagonists they have created, like Cruella de Vil [Another personal favourite] She wields this staff with a green orb at the top and her voice is simply heavenly. Eleanor Audley is amazing, making this evil sorceress possessing this foxy charm and yet fatality beyond control.
2) THE RED QUEEN
How can I not mention this regal queen? Impatient, oddly shaped and devious, her memorable one-liner ‘OFF WITH HIS HEAD’ is loved. She likes power and authority, being at the helm and able to command people. The actor, Helena Bonham Carter is stupendous. You may not know her name, but surely you know Bellatrix Lestrange from Harry Potter, or Mrs. Lovett from Sweeney Todd. I guess her specialty would be slightly delirious and nefarious characters, with this air of mystery surrounding her.
3) WILHELMINA SLATER
I feature her a lot. Bigshot in a fashion magazine company with an insatiable thirst for power. Her schemes are just heavenly, creating discord between people, emotional blackmail and her elitist nature just makes many of her lines hilarious. It’s really sad Ugly Betty ended at Season 4. It should have been longer. ):
Of course, there are others like Regina George from Mean Girls etc, but this is a very short list of the famous villains I like. Very pointless post, to be frank. But hey, I indulge in such phantasmagoric elements once in a while to escape my immense workload. Works pretty well for me. 
What’s your favourite villain? Leave a comment!
Oh and just to show my inspiration for this post of female fatale, it would be the song ‘Cell Block Tango’ from the Chicago musical. A little burlesque but deliciously nice.
Regrets
06 Aug 2010 2 Comments
Every night, I find myself collapsing into the comfort of my bed. But I do not sleep immediately. There is a moment of pensive reflection, where I lay like a pharoah in his tomb in the darkness and involuntarily, thoughts permeate my brain.
I should have taken ‘jealousy’ instead of ‘joy’ for the EDC exco photoshoot. What happened to my ‘fierce’ image?!
Damn it. Why is my handwriting getting uglier by the day.
I should have retaliated ________ today.
*blah blah*
I regret a lot of stuff, evidently. But somehow, I live with it and I don’t enter a state of depression over trivial issues. This constantly rings in my head, DO NOT CRY OVER SPILT MILK.
Seriously. Do not. It’s a damn waste of time. It really is pointless, lamenting about things which already has happened and cannot be salvaged, like a decision to slap someone. If you have done it already, face it [the music/your actions] and continue with life. Life is too short to be filled with dumb old regrets. Be happy, carpe diem! After a test, quit grumbling over the lack of time, just move on. You have tried your best, and the grade will speak for the amount of effort you have put in. [I'm a very hypocritical person, so I may not practice what I preach]
Essentially, try not to regret whatever decisions you have made. The guilt always hinders the exploration of new opportunities. Instead of grumbling, learn. And hopefully, 船到桥头自然直.
