Tuesday, September 19, 2006



Something Burning


I have faith in you, and I have trust in me.
I feel the pull of the river now and I want to go.
I hope you find your river soon and you meet me
when we have followed our rivers down to the sea.

-- Deb Talan, "Something Burning"



Looks like this Deb Talan is a singer/songwriter worth stalking. =) I love her straightforward lyrics in that whole album, though her tunes haven't hooked me yet. They seem to have a Jane Siberry flavour, which means, rather "weird" to me. But in Siberry's case some of that weirdness are pretty enjoyable, so I'm not giving up yet. ^_^



Saturday, September 16, 2006



Outside Coming In


Watched The Banquet today with "the Medanese group". =D (No racist connotation, really!) The likely suspects who'd go for this kind of Chinese wuxia film, in short. Rimbun is a very good event organizer; the two movie outings I've had with him are well confirmed, meal-annotated, and SMS-reminder-ed. *thumb up*

Anyway, this group speak Hokkian, and I can only catch a little that's similar to Teochew, so they speak Indonesian to me, but "group discussions" are mostly in Hokkian. But take it easy folks (if you happen to read), I'm actually pretty content just listening and catching bits of foreign languages here and there just for the heck of it, so don't worry. =D

But even when language is not a barrier I'm just not much of a conversationist, I guess. I'm hopeless at making small talks, and I'm usually not sensitive enough to make the effort. =P Once, I had a meal with my housemate and her colleague whom she just introduced to me. I kinda assumed this colleague was well "taken care of" by my housemate, and since I had nothing to say, I didn't initiate much conversation. Later on I found out from my housemate that her colleague, being a very nice girl, was actually very concerned over what to say to me during that meal since I didn't give many openings. =PP

At that time I told myself to fix that, but I haven't been out with new people since so I've forgotten all about it. *slaps forehead*

Anyway, since no Eka to review the movie this time, I'll say something about it. =) It's the artistic type, so if you don't really enjoy this genre, not very recommended lah. But if you do, wow is this pretty. And not difficult to follow. It's quite bloody (sometimes unnecessarily excessive in my opinion) and violent and tragic, so brace yourself for it. Bits of sensuality here and there, so innocent eyes and minds (not mine, admittedly) please be warned. It's also very poetic, and it helpfully comes with both Mandarin and English subtitles, so I guess it'd be interesting to language enthusiasts. And good songs too.

All in all, I like it. The plot is captivating; maybe it helps not to read too many synopses before watching. The ending made me go "Whaaat?" at first, but if it's meant to convey what I thought it did, then I'm very impressed. There are also many a moral along the plot flow that made us all go "Well said!" =)

What impressed me further is how it bares to us the reality of human nature. We need to remember that this was the time of dynasties and emperors, when birthrights (and more importantly, how they are exercised) put one on a throne or at other people's feet or at assassins' swordpoints. Some characters are ruthless and I admire them for it, because that's much stronger than submitting to one-time emotions, though how pure their motives are I cannot tell. Some "change with the weather" and I think that's much wiser than losing one's life (and the whole clan's, as per the tradition in those times) and by that, accomplishing nothing. Not very noble on the surface maybe, but applying nobility also needs skillful means mah.

Anyway (this word is quickly becoming my favourite uttering), enough rambling on that. Called home after I'm back from the movie and asked my mum a "social" question. I.e. there's this kind of situation involving our relatives or general friends of the family, so do I need to do this and that? Her judgement and hunches have proved to be truly accurate time and again, but if I think of how I still need to employ my mother as my P.R. counsellor at this age, oh my.

Also, caught a snippet of that Fei Yu Qing's show on Channel 8 (?) this afternoon, and I thought of how my father would love it. Hoping to get my parents to come visit next month and hoping this show will still be airing till then. ^^



Friday, September 15, 2006



Hitting Close to Home


So, Jonathan Leong will be at the UCC at 5pm today. I did checked his blog this morning (as per Daniel Ong's instruction) because I was curious, but never thought I'd be receiving the confirmed news in my work/school email inbox. NUS Centre for the Arts asked for support for the event, as Jonathan is a member of the NUS Jazz Band.

It was also a surprise yesterday when I saw a poster beside the lift in my building, soliciting votes for Jasmine Tye because she turns out to be a "schoolmate", a Life Sciences 1st year. Strictly speaking, "less" of an NUS student than Jonathan (3rd year Political Science according to CFA's email) since I figured her being first year meant that she had missed all the lectures since the start of the academic year. Most probably they also have similar posters for Jonathan over at Arts Fac. Erm, not that year and faculty should be a factor in deciding who to vote for, ya. *disclaim disclaim*

Anyway, I hope they don't mind me discussing their, uh, academic life here. I'm just a little surprised at how such a commercial thing finds its way to a school I'm close with. I guess it's only me making that distinction.

So, being a half-fan of Jonathan (I voted for both finalists yesterday), I'm a little tempted to go, but decided not to since I don't know anyone else at school that can go fangirl/boy(?)-ing with me. Paiseh lah. =P Huaha.



Thursday, September 14, 2006



Life's Not A B*tch, Life Is A Beautiful Woman


Got this from Lena's mailing list. Another of that life's-little-instruction-book thing, but here it is again because (1) I like; (2) who knows, you may not have read some of these before; (3) different points connect with different people at different times, or so I believe; and (4) speaking for my lazy self, I could certainly use some push in the right direction.

In particular that advice about saying no. *ponders*

---

25 Things I Wish I'd Known in My 20's
by Becky Waters


1. The only thing you have control over is yourself. Trying to control other people or things is a waste of time and energy.

2. Holding on to something or someone is the best way to lose it. The tighter the grip, the faster they run.

3. You create your life experiences one thought at a time. Thoughts affect perception, which affect choices, which create your life situation.

4. You are completely responsible for your life and how you choose to live it.

5. If you are unhappy with your situation, take action to change it.

6. How we feel matters. A thought with a feeling – a passion – behind it is like a beacon with a huge magnet shining out and drawing it to us.

7. Feeling sorry for yourself is addicting. It may be okay for a few minutes, but spending much more time than that will take you years – or decades – to recover from.

8. Whatever it is that we think about and give our attention to, we get more of. Even if we say we don’t want it.

9. That childhood saying about “stick and stones… and words can never hurt me” is a total lie and was created as a “nany-nany-boo-boo” to cover up the hurt that you’re feeling.

10. Every time you remember one of those “nany-nany-boo-boo” experiences and relive the hurt feelings, it is an opportunity for you to heal it and let it go. Buried feelings never die.

11. Giving and receiving are inseparable. They are two sides of the same coin.

12. In every human interaction, all anybody really wants is to be treated decently and with respect.

13. It’s okay to say “no” if you don’t want to do something. Saying nothing or being indecisive is the same thing as saying “yes”.

14. It is very important to be clear about what you want and what you don’t want. Otherwise, you spend a lot of time going in circles.

15. It’s okay to change your mind about what you want and don’t want – especially if what you thought you wanted is not working.

16. Happiness is an inside job. No one else can “make” you happy or unhappy, since happiness is mostly a matter of how we choose to perceive things and people.

17. Personal boundaries are not shackles. They’re a healthy sign of respect for ourselves and others.

18. We teach people how to treat us by the boundaries we set or don’t set.

19. If you don’t respect yourself, no one else will either.

20. Follow Mom’s advice to “just be yourself,” but don’t be surprised if she doesn’t always approve of the “self” you choose to be.

21. Needing other people’s approval – even your parents’ – keeps you from beginning your real, true self.

22. There is enough of everything. It’s our fear of lack that keeps it from coming to us.

23. The first step to accomplishing anything is to believe in yourself and have the confidence to know that you matter.

24. You DO matter... everybody matters... or else we wouldn’t BE here in this world of “matter”.

25. The easiest way to get something is to ask for it. Then let go and allow the Universe bring it to you.



Friday, September 08, 2006



Wide Awake


The words are touching, and with the tune even more so, so go find this song. =)


Wide Awake
Vocal: Emi Fujita
Album: Camomile

The dawn breaks slowly in the east
as day defeats the night.
The echo of your voice that greets
the feeble morning light
is the only answer to my silent prayer
and promises I never make.
You are always with me, you're always there
in my dreams, though I am wide awake.

And sometimes a forbidden glance
will give my heart away.
The light that kindles our romance
may flicker through the gray.
All the gold and silver at the rainbow's end,
all earthly goods I will forsake.
For each shooting star, a wish I send;
and I dream though I am wide awake.

You were the rolling tidal wave
that swept my barren shores.
If you will let me share your day,
my life's forever yours.
I will never understand the reason why
we fail to learn from our mistakes.
I will wait for you as the days go by
with my dream, though I am wide awake.



Tuesday, September 05, 2006



Longer


I know whom I truly love
and they are few indeed.
It's worrying that of all people close to me
it isn't anything like this.
Does it really take twenty years
for feelings to go that deep?
Then I'd better start soon, if not already,
and take care lest I break the streak.



Friday, September 01, 2006



Stalking Cinema


Death Note is being made into a movie. Uwaaaah. =DDD

It's a two-part movie. Official site says part one is released June and part two November. In Japan, I assume. The Singapore release is 19 Oct for part one.

Now, hm, I want to watch. ^^; Then again, I've read the manga, and fans reviews of the movie are not very encouraging in terms of plot adaptation. Seeing how Eka felt about Harry Potter movies (which I didn't share since I haven't read the books) maybe I'll consider again when the time is near. =P

The reviews do praise the characters' portrayal, particularly L, who gets thicker eyeliner than Paul Twohill, but this one I readily forgive. =D (In the manga it's supposed to be eyebags, I think, unless I've been ignorant all this time.) It helps that Raito's character is already a bishounen (pretty boy) in the manga, because then the apparent tendency to cast pretty teenagers for manga-adapted movies/series is not much of a problem here. He kinda have to be handsome for the characterization to work, anyway. I recently saw the ad for the movie adaptation of Rough, and well yeah, I love Adachi's (adorably goofy) manga characters too much to tolerate the casts. Ah.

Anyway, it's a dark story. Trailer here. Shinigami Ryuuku is CG-ed and sufficiently ghostly, but I think I'll be able to handle that. =D Speaking of which I also got interested in How to Eat Fried Worms, a Fear Factor-ish kiddy comedy, but I've satisfied my curiosity with the trailers and I don't think I need to see more of those wiggly things on the wide screen, unless my movie buddy gets interested. ^^

But one definite stalking material is the tenor penguin with an accent (wonder who) in Happy Feet, opening end November. Been eyeing it since at least a month ago, heh.

And you know, by the end of this entry my mind is quite made up to go watch the movie that sparked this rambling. That probably means committing myself to the second part as well, unless I fail to adore Raito by the end of the first part, because part two will be the M/N saga already (i.e. no L). Am devoid of movies right now since there's not any that I'm particularly interested in, so three stalked movies don't seem too outrageous compared to my movie streak before this. Huaha.