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Welcome to the Fallout - Friday, March 13, 2009 at 10:57 AM
These days, our lives are moving at such lightning speeds, it's no wonder the answer to "the meaning of life" becomes more and more elusive and enigmatic.
Case in point, computing and society tutorial on tuesday. The main part of the discussion was on foreign students and whether we (referring to the locals) accept/welcome their presence. For the uninitiated, the issues that usually attach themselves to foreign students are whether they are limiting the chances given to Singaporeans, them leaving for greener pastures once they have finished grazing ours, them having to reap the rewards of our country without the responsibilities... you get the picture. Anyway, staying true to the politically correct era, all the volunteers in class gave probable reasons for the situation and possible views of the general public, but no one took a stand. Can't risk being a bigot or a hypocrite, and I don't blame them, 'cos I would have done the same. If i even bothered to participate.
That aside, there are really a ton of reasons not to welcome foreign students, solely from a student's point of view. Firstly, they are mostly on scholarships and you can be sure where the bulk of the A's go to (it is a bell curve system after all). Secondly, the scholarship would require them to be bonded locally for a period of time, a simple translation of which means less job vacancies for those "left behind". I'm not going to bother to discuss the "big picture", where these foreign students will eventually be big players in our economy, bringing Singapore forward into the future. This is for the simple fact that the average Singaporean student do not think of such noble things. Starting salaries and employment opportunities hit closer to home on that count.
Amidst the furore over the education system's injustice towards Singapore's own youth, the recent suicides involving foreign students didn't help much in the foreign students' bid to salvage their shredded reputation. For a moment, it seemed that not only do we have to lay out the red carpet for them, but have to clean up their mess as well. Bitterness and anger ensued, with a majority of the local strugglers clenching their teeth in silence, and a minority lashing it out behind their computer screens, more of a release than a petition.
Out of the chaos and unrest, appears event X*. Event X involves a foreign student, typically bright and brilliant. Her grades often placed her in the top 5% of her cohort, and you would think she's "one of those" who spends her time holed up in her room, burying her head in books every waking moment. That mould casted by our unfair impressions, sometimes referred to as stereotyping, was broken by her. She set aside time for various campus activities, and even held leadership positions in some. Her resume is set to look like that of a potential elite's, giving her the perfect opportunity to help her parents break out of the poverty cycle.
Then the cruel twist, the fallout of our corrupt world, hit.
Leukemia may be recognised as a diagnosis to others, but to her, it's the destroyer of hopes and dreams. Only minimally covered by insurance, far away from her loved ones, she who seemed to have everything going for her suddenly found herself in a dark hole with a whopping S$400,000 medical bill and more importantly, her life to worry about.
At this very moment, you start to wonder how is she doing. Will she pull through? Are her parents coping with the news? Will she be able to raise the $400,000? You're no longer thinking of her as one less competitor in the job market. You don't start to eye the A+ or A- spot she has just vacated. Goodness, no. You just.. don't. Because all these things just seem so minute in the scheme of things. The big picture referred to here not Singapore's future, but humanity.
Event X is Perspective.
Two eyes, one tongue. We're all the same essentially, and it's a pity sometimes it takes a tragedy/near-tragedy to release us from the trance society has us in. The rat race has all of us becoming heartless creatures with hidden knives, ready to plunge it to the backs of anybody in our way. However, it's no longer about saving a job or recouping losses in the financial market. Those are things that can be gained back, and even so, will eventually rot and rust. A life, a soul, you can't tell me those aren't more important. Not with Perspective being put out into plain words for you to see.
Donating to Zhang Xiaoou has more implications than just the act of giving money to someone who needs it more than you do. It implies that love has a chance in this world. It's about not wanting to lose the common ground we have with each other, with the whole world upside-down. And above all, it's about saving a life.
If you're more of a visual person, here's the summary to the post. At around 2:53, but don't skip it! Both the song and music video's really good
The world is flawed But these scars will heal (Eventually)
My B-b-b-b-Benzedrine Now - Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 5:52 AM
I caught whiff of a few movie trailers that are now sitting pretty on top of my must watch list:
Sunshine cleaning. I've watched this 2 or 3 times, and it always looks like a good show. or maybe it's just the whole idea of Amy Adams and Emily Blunt in the same show.
(500) days of summer. I'm damn girl, you say? Come on, give me a break. I didn't bite into the whole Marley & Me crap, so let this one slide
Inglorious Basterds. If the senseless violence doesn't appeal to you, i'm sure Brad Pitt's pornstache will. Err... right. -
When It Rains, Will You Always Find An Escape Just Running Away - Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 8:15 AM
And when it rains Will you always find an escape Just running away (Or) Spend all your time waiting For that second chance For a break that would make it okay
(Just a) scared little [runaway], [Holding] fast to the break of day. (You are) screaming inside, but you can't be heard
You got to get yourself together Now you're stuck in a moment And you can't get out of it
All of the wasted time, The hours that were left behind The answers that'll [you'll] never find Throw it away Forget yesterday We'll make the great escape
The falling sky and the rain? I want to know that [your] heart's still beating I want to write [your] name in the sky Gonna free fall out into nothin' [You're] awakening
Ok, i admit, i thought i had a flash of brilliance and decided to do a mash up of lyrics from the songs in my (currently) short playlist of 12 songs, and write out a poem (of sorts). Epic fail. I probably look like one of them amatuer photographers, armed with a DSLR and a flurry of different lenses, trying to make an empty coke can on the side of the road look as deep as a Rembrandt. To my defense, i had only 12 songs to choose from.
I shall try to master this in time to come 'cos i still think it's an excellent idea. Maybe i need to be a 'mo cos it seems to be the mojo factor in good poets these days. Just no slashing of wrists for me, please. -
heard of Third Day's 'when the rain comes'? i thought of it reading this. and i laugh out loud every time i see that phrase you wrote 'epic fail'. it's not so bad. haha.
We're All Right Where We're Supposed To Be - Sunday, February 01, 2009 at 10:13 AM
As I've repeated so many times, the internet is a smorgasboard of all sorts of information, this always being more of an understatement than an overstatement. And like any weapon that can be used to kill the enemy, the guns can be easily turned on you, so to speak.
Apparently, this obscure blog can be found with google, which can never be good especially since i'm gonna start on a job hunt. Rewind this to roughly 4 years ago, with the whole sheares hall debaucle. Of 'cos, i've got to add that the whole matter is just childishness on the committee's part and cheekiness on mine (i've got to take my own side, no?), but that aside, it's kindof scary how this blog got dug up just like that. Technology is really a double edged sword.
Hence, i've taken precautionary measures to ensure that history doesn't repeat itself by censoring my own entries. Turns out, quite a good number of them looked potentially damaging and wound up on my chopping board. Not chopped off entirely, but safe in storage. Most of them came from the army era, me being the atypical NSF, just full of complaints. Others, well, let's just say i'm not taking any chances especially in our wounded economic situation that gaurantees no jobs.
There's a fine line between fighting for your freedom rights, and plain stupidity. Especially politically charged blogs. I'm not gonna start on blog entries on racial and religion issues 'cos that's just asking to be thrown in the slammer, on top of being rude. For the slew of local blogs slamming the local government, all i can say is, just don't leave your namecard behind. You never know who's reading (*takes a peek behind shoulder) -
We're All Right Where We're Supposed To Be - Thursday, January 22, 2009 at 9:53 AM
Indie rock has always intrigued me in more ways than one, both music-wise and the social consequences and/or behavourial patterns attached to it.
First off, reason for bringing this up is that i recently picked up (not literally, if you catch my drift *wink wink) the soundtrack to nick and norah's infinite playlist, which, if you haven't figured it out yet, is a mixtape (in the spirit of the movie, for those who caught it) of contemporary indie rock bands. And i must say, it's definitely worth a listen even for those who aren't into indie rock. And especially if you've watched the movie, 'cos the use of the soundtrack throughtout the show was absolutely brilliant. I mean, that should be expected given the title of the movie yea? And you won't be disappointed.
Indie rock is a genre which definition i'm still utterly confused by. To some, the genre inclusions are as narrow as bands in the underground scene playing a certain style of rock, a la those New York-based bands such as Modest Mouse, We are Scientists. To others, post punk bands like the Killers are considered indie as well. There are even some who dispute that indie rock isn't a genre. It just refers to bands under independent record labels, who play rock, just that they all happen to play the same style of rock.
Whatever your definition of indie rock is, here comes the social enigma which i find so strongly attached to indie rock: the whole idea, or many might even suggest "ideal", of individuality. In fact, "ideal" sounds more fitting here, since i'm going to drive home the point that indie rock has been robbed of its essence, and that is individuality.
Confused? (Note: the following is just my hypothesis) Well, indie rock bands are independent in the first place for a reason, making music the mainstream won't appreciate. Which might be the reason why no major label is signing them. I'm talking about years ago, before the 80s when a certain Mr Cobain introduced garage rock to the mainstream world, before putting a bullet at the back of his head, further cementing garage rock into the annals of music history. So, before indie rock become more mainstream, people who actually followed indie rock bands, i might go out on a limb to say this, truly followed a band because of personal taste.
Fastforward to the 21st Century PC (post-Cobain), individuality in indie rock has taken a different turn. Now pardon me, i'm not assuming that there aren't people who followed indie bands cos their good. No, no.. definitely not with the slew of talented indie bands out there, that would be a really unfair and sweeping statement. And neither am I saying that listening to indie bands = having tons of individuality. But how many times have you come across people around you naming obscure bands during conversations, knowing that they have a miley cyrus shrine hidden at the back of their closets? They might have diverse tastes in music, but if that's the case, why don't you ever hear them speak about the new jonas brudders single?
Individuality in music has always been about listening to whatever you like. However, this has evolved into a mindset that individuality is listening to something that everyone else hasn't heard before. There are people who listen to bands not because they sound good, but because a little knowledge of these bands and a little name-dropping during conversations will up their individuality factor. I've hung around the local music forums and it's qutie amusing to see so many locals slamming mainstream music, example "we play indie rock/emo/metal, not lame pop music". Yes, different strokes for different folks, but that shouldn't be used as ammunition to slam someone else's music tastes.
I could go on about the ridiculous views on individuality and music some (or even most) kids have these days. Listening to the Decemberists doesn't make me any more an individual than my 13 year old neighbour listening to britney. (By the way, i don't listen to the decemberists, and i don't have a 13 year old neighbour. Just an example.) I think everyone should just be proud of what they listen to, though it is hard with all the haters out there. shrug
Anyway, here's my (not-so) infinite playlist. Not exactly the soundtrack of my life. Which is a very interesting idea. Everyone should have a soundtrack of their lives! To whomever reading this, whether i know you or don't, let's post it up and send me a link somewhere. I'm always game for a good song!
Without further ado: After Hours, Impatience - We Are Scientists Last Words - The Real Tuesday Weld Middle Management - Bishop Allen Nick & Norah's Theme - Mark Mothersbaugh (great, potentially loopable material)
PS, i'm on an indie rock kick, so no mainstream stuff. but i'm not embarassed to say i do like mainstream stuff, just as long as they're catchy. That's all i ask for. -
2 Comments:
HELLO. i have a blog(or maybe u alr know since u frequently blog perve), and i've decided to let you in on all my secrets(don't say i have no secrets).be honored. soundtrack of my life's sorta up there.hastily done and inaccurate tho.read at your own discretion ha ha
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Slow Dancing In A Burning Room - Wednesday, December 10, 2008 at 11:26 AM
A few pre-Uni, NS guys have asked me the simple question of "how is engineering?"
"sucks. damn hard to study, and you don't score unless you're really smart. or you intend to bury your head in your books 24/7. are you actually interested in engineering?"
"don't know lei. actually, i got nowhere else to go"
Utter. Rubbish.
That's what i thought too. I have to debunk this myth, so i've come up with a little test. A gauge of which faculty you should plant your backside firmly in come the start of your respective academic semesters.
Of course, if you're swearing by this test at the end of this entry, how you are able to get a place in uni with your intelligence level... is of extremely high suspect
If at any point of the video, you actually nodded your head and go "absolutely brilliant" or "pure genius", shedding a tear in between applauds, join the queue that says "ARTS"
"You can actually program this on a home PC? And it's considered a module? COOL!" Yes, it's called ee2007. Do note, the end product might look really good, but the process can give you grey hair. Electrical Engineering for you
Mechanical engineering
If you find yourself kneeling on the floor kowtowing, as an automatic reflex, the moment Warren Bufett's mug flashed across the screen, Business. The kowtowing is good practice to help you do well in the course as well.
