A blog to put all about me online. My good days. My bad days. My experiences. My shortcomings. My dreams. My desires. Just one little glitch: true or false. Let's see who gets deluded.
"I used to think guys appreciated girls who have something intelligent to say about soccer, gadgets, the stock market, politics.... until someone told me that I should just pretend to be interested in only shopping."
Sorry, I don't waste my time pretending, so does that mean I'm pretty much luckless with the boys?
I'm taking a short break before continuing with the last bit of my work.
Here's some food for thought:
Upon completion of Hello Hurricane, the band had concluded a season of independence and artistic freedom that hadn't been experienced since the band recorded The Beautiful Letdown independently. Once this season was concluded, the band began shopping around for partners to distribute the songs all across the globe, "looking for the best partner to give these songs a large platform that is respectful to the people that listen to our music." On August 7, 2009, Switchfoot announced that their independently-owned label, lowercase people records, would be partnering with Atlantic Records to distribute Hello Hurricane globally. EMI CMG will meanwhile retain the rights to release Switchfoot's material to the Christian market.
I stumbled upon this piece of information while doing some research (which reminds me, I have to get a move on for a certain project - yes, work is getting busier and more exciting).
Switchfoot will be releasing their upcoming album, Hello Hurricane, via an indie label, but will be distributing it under a major label. So that they can stay true to their music and yet allow their music to reach the maximum number of music lovers out there.
Kinda like my blog, hmmm? I'm not a blogger who posts (digitally enhanced) pictures of herself up and reports on her latest shopping spree. Neither do I detail every single day of my life here.
I prefer to ponder upon (some say) serious topics, that can put the yawn in the word "bore".
I've toyed with the idea of lightening my blog up, but naaaaah.
That's not me.
So really, what I'm saying is, it's so much easier to be myself than to pretend to be like the other a million and one bloggers out there right?
The papers this weekend is full of wonderful stories and articles - an Insignt feature on censorship in Singapore, the US passed a legislation to include homosexuals in the list of groups protected under the hate-crime law, Senior Minister of State Grace Fu spoke up about women making choices between work and family.
(I'll probably blog about them later.)
And then K. Shanmugan, Minister for Law, at the New York State Bar Association International Section meeting. He talked about the link between press and democracy in Singapore.
I wasn't too keen on posting about this topic, since it's such a been-there-done-that one, but my friend Clement Tan wrote this over at Asian Correspondent.
It's a little difficult to read, because Clem loves using rhetoric, but the gist is very well summed up in his conclusion:
"Nothing really new I guess. But I am just concerned that as the Singapore political and historical rhetoric gets spun and respun by successive generations, Singapore's collective sense of reality would dissipate and fragment if competing versions aren't heard by the masses. Memories are what binds communities together and all histories are constructed... but if the basis for any construction is too contrived and are insufficiently organic or authentic, then people would be disconnected from it all. I mean, don't you feel dizzy after being spun around all the time?"
What plight has the government put us into, and how many of us are even aware of it?
I live in my jeans - I think they're the smartest attire invention ever because they are so comfortable and they're hardy. Also, they can be real stylish, if you have an eye for cut and detail. I'm loving the new Levi's Lady Style range.
So anyway (before I veer off topic), I decided to wear a skirt today. To work. I usually reserve skirts for really special occasions when I won't have to be in it for long.
Today I'm attending my colleague's wedding dinner. Hence the skirt. And oh yeah, I'm in heels too. Double whammy.
I regretted wearing it the moment I stepped out of my house. I had difficulty walking and felt absolutely uncomfortable.
The only way I could make it to the office in one piece was to hop onto a cab, so that's what I did.
When I got to the office, I tried my best to walk like a normal person, and I think I failed horribly. I even bumped into a glass door a la Ugly Betty.
I must be the only idiot to behave as such when I'm dressed in a skirt/dress. Actually, I'm already an idiot for choosing to wear the skirt and heels today in the first place.
Wearing something pretty (like a skirt or a pair of heels) is supposed to make a girl feel more confident, isn't it? It's supposed to make girls think that they're prettier and/or sexier, and hence they become more confident, right?
So how come I feel more stupid/bimbotic when I'm in something pretty? It's not like I've never worn this outfit before - I've even been clubbing in my skirt and heels!
I suppose all this comes down to two (very simple) conclusions - we gotta dress in what makes us comfortable, only then can we be confident of ourselves. And oh yeah, dress appropriately for the occasion too, you don't wanna be labeled yet another sloppy Singaporean.
I'm too busy making sure I don't fall in my heels or rip my skirt, and I therefore completely miss the point of looking pretty!
So. Lesson learnt. I've got to get through the dinner tonight first. Wish me luck.
I said, “Hey you, this is me. The idealist inside that holds your love on a string, wound and tied like kites to all your hopes and dreams. What a tangled mess that they’ve turned out to be. Take a breath, and ask yourself what matters.”
Days like masquerades, silent, hiding in the shadows, Stripped of their disguise leave you haunted as you scatter. But you’re always on my mind. You’re always on my mind.
When you feel lost out at sea, surrounded by on equal sides the same routine, Becoming what you swore you’d never be. Don’t distress, there’s a big bright place if you stay close to me. Take a breath, and I’ll show you what matters.
You’re always on my mind. You’re always on my mind.
Days like masquerades, take a breath and feel what matters.
Take a breath and feel it.
That poem was taken off William Becket (frontman of The Academy Is...)'s blog. Ain't it beautiful? I wish I had such wonderful flair with words/lyrics.
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I'm leaving with a quote from Grey's Anatomy.
"If there's something worse than fearing for your job, it's staying in a job that doesn't allow you to utilize your talents," Christina Yang.
I really have to sit down and think about this.
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Eeeks, two days left till the voting ends!! Wish me luck, please!!
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Yue Hui: Hahaha. Wait long long. I forgot to mention that I love going to the movies alone. Lol.
The weekend's almost over!! I'm, as usual, raring to get to work.... I've got lots of things to clear off my to-do list, gah.
This weekend turned out to be the weekend I planned for but didn't happen, haha. I had planned to party and shop, but I was tired, and things just happened at the wrong time. It all ended well anyway, since I needed the (well-deserved) rest.
I still managed to squeeze in a little partying! I was at the CLEO Rocks party, and it was great! It was well-orgnised and nothing pleases me more than to have an event well-executed.
I brought my sis along with me for her virgin bonafide clubbing experience. She doesn't really know how she feels about clubbing yet, but at least now she knows what clubbing is kinda like.
We proceeded to Phuture later, and even though I was there only for about an hour, I really had fun.
I wish I could've stayed longer, but my sis and I were really tired out.
I'm holding the partying till Cheryl gets back from Korea to party again. It's gonna be a looooong two weeks.
Boyzone was one of my favourite boybands growing up. I've got all their old albums, and I love singing along to their tracks.
(Nope, I ain't afraid to admit that I listened to boybands when I was a teenager.)
And Stephen Gately was my first crush ever on a boyband member.
(Yes, I know he came out a number of years ago.)
I was shocked when I heard news of his death. It was so sudden, as with all deaths - you never really appreciate someone's presence in your life till you lose them.
RIP Stephen Gately.
I can't decide on my favourite Boyzone song. So here're my top three choices, dedicated to you, Stephen. Thank you for the music.
I used to be an avid movie buff. I would watch one movie per week,especially when it came to Oscar and summer blockbuster season.
I love how movies are able to transport me into a different realm, and for about two hours, take me into a different reality and somehow escape my own.
That was four to five years ago. Now, I can only afford one movie per month, heh.
Doesn't matter much though, since I've recently had the chance to watch a number a good movies the past few months.
I caught G.I. Joe back in end July/beginning August, the last summer blockbuster this year, and I really enjoyed that! I don't usually watch action, but I knew G.I. Joe was gonna be a hit when I saw the trailer. Cinematography and CGI were intertwined so seamlessly, it was so beautiful to watch action sequence after action sequence. Transformers 2 may have been the box office hit among this year's crop of summer movies, but G.I. Joe was the critic's darling. Let's not forget the hotties in the movie - Lee Byung Hun and Channing Tatum. 'Nuff said.
Then in August/September we celebrated Small One's birthday and watched The Proposal. Chick flick, rom com, predictable, but thanks to Sandra Bullock and great company, the night ended well. I knew how the movie was gonna go, but I was still annoyed at it - romance and attraction doesn't just happen like that and happy endings are not real! Hmph.
(500) Days Of Summer was great! This was September. Finally. I loved the movie becuase it showed a more realistic picture of love - that it is a lot of hard work. Chemistry and common goals are important. The destination is as important as the journey. And Summer was a wonderful female character to look up to - she was decisive and independent. The movie was edited in a non-chronological order, which felt a tad cumbersome. I didn't think that it added any value to the story at all. But other than that, it was a great movie.
I watched Paper Heart two weeks ago with my sis. Another good, funny movie with an interesting premise of fact interlocking with fiction. I thought that there should've been more documentary, but the movie veered off the mark by exploring the relationship between the leads. Nonetheless, I enjoyed myself watching and listening to people talk about love. No matter how one tries to explain love - protagonist Charlyne Yi even interviewed a chemist - its meaning still eludes us all. I guess that's what makes it so special and desirable, eh.
So, this post turned out to be a movie recap of sorts for me. I used to review extensively every single movie I watched on my blog. I try to do that now, but time is always short, so I'm settling for shorter reviews....
So now you know which movies I'll be getting on DVD!
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I think Jennifer's Body is gonna be a cult favourite. With good reason too, the writing genius of Diablo Cody and the feminist horror-comedy theme is rockin' combination. I wish I had the guts to watch it though, I can't take horror at all.
Jennifer's Body
Read the New York Times review of the movie, and a write-up about female fans of horror/gore movies.
Another movie I'm looking forward to is Valentine's Day. The movie's written like Love Actually and He's Just Not That Into You - been there done that. But I guess a rom com will work just fine for the Valentine's Day season. (I will try very hard not to be emo when I watch this movie, hahaha.)
Valentine's Day
Everyone's waiting for New Moon to be released.
So let's get this clear first. I am not a fan of Twilight. I don't care for new age sensitive vampires, and the unrealistic storyline.
But where oh where do can I get myself one of these:
Yes, I'm on Team Jacob/Taylor Lautner just because he looks that hot.
LOL. *wink*
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Okays, I think that's enough movies for one post.
Before I go, lemme just shriek it out here.
GREEN DAY IS COMING TO SG!!!
I've got my ticket already, hurry get yours before they're all sold out!
Green Day's gonna rock the Indoor Stadium so good! Omg, I can't wait!!
Yes, I know I haven't been updating for some time - I've been really busy.
This weekend was supposed to be busy as well, but I think my sis and I have used up all our reserve energy, so we're staying home and watching TV.
Which gives me time to clear my list of topics to blog about. :)
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Corinne texted me one night, asking if I read the ST article on struggling online student papers. (Online student papers struggling for survival, ST Home Page B7, October 5, 2009)
TCO was mentioned, and it seems that even though the number of writers in the team at the moment is small, the paper is still going strong.
I'm glad. We really wanted TCO to continue after we left, and it may be struggling to stay alive now, but at least it's not about to sell out.
The striking point of the article though, was not about how many independent online student papers there are around, but how the practical (read: money-driven) students in Singapore irk me to no end.
TCO started out with nothing, only the passion of the ten of us wanting to serve the students of NUS by providing some perspective on what's happening on campus.
It seems that passion, in Singapore, is not enough.
I don't know about you, but to me, journalism is not something we should make money out of.
Yes, newspapers and magazines need business models to survive, but once money becomes the objective, journalism is gonna take a backseat.
As the current Executive Editor of TCO said in the article, "If we start paying writers, we will have people who write for the sake of money, not for the sake of journalism."
TCO is hell bent on making sure that we don't put money above passion. We did consider registering ourselves as a company, but that would mean profits need to be taken into consideration, and we would be restricted by censorship.
It's not easy figuring out a solution for TCO to survive long term. This issue has been on our minds since we first started.
But I'm glad the newspaper is still running on passion and not profit.
I wish I were....
More realistic.... Less practical....
More individualistic.... Less eccentric....
More passionate.... Less obsessive.....
More outgoing.... Less introverted....
Go figure.
When to the sessions of sweet silent thought
I summon up remembrance of things past,
I sigh the lack of many a thing I sought,
And with old woes new wail my dear time's waste:
Then can I drown an eye, unused to flow,
For precious friends hid in death's dateless night,
And weep afresh love's long-since-canceled woe,
And moan the expense of many a vanished sight:
Then can I grieve at grievances foregone,
And heavily from woe to woe tell o'er
The sad account of fore-bemoaned moan,
Which I new pay as if not paid before.
But if the while I think on thee, dear friend
All losses are restored, and sorrows end.
