We take photographs, to remember the precious memories we had. We take photographs, to capture a moment that meant something to us. We take photographs, because that someone in the photograph matters.
Standing in front of a famous landmark, being a part of the class photo, or a candid shoot during a night out, we take photographs all the time. But, maybe we should slow down a little, and look at the photos that we have taken. Here's a little something.
In 1984, American Peter Feldstein went around his neighbourhood in Oxford, Iowa, and captured the images of 670 residents. 21 years later, he set up his camera again, and finished off what he has started. Some of the original residents had died, and some had moved to other parts of the country, while there are still many who remained in the town. The project documented how things have changed / remained unchanged over the years.
As you view the photos, take a moment to think about your life, and your journey. Think about the next 10 years, next 20 years down the road. Who we will become? Who do you want others to remember you by? Ohh…that’s the class bully, the nerd that knew everything, the class beau that was everyone's dream girl?
Personally, i realized that we should not just snap away at random pictures which doesn't meant anything. We should put some thoughts into every image that we take.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Elitist Remarks…How it got really bad.
A few days ago, (I think it was on Oct 24th), a teen blogger found herself in deep sh*t, after making insensitive comments of another blogger.
The Internet once again is set alight with much debate on the issue of Elitism.
Mr Derek Wee, was giving his 2 cents worth on PM Lee’s calling, urging “the young to be committed and make a difference to Singapore”. Mr Wee feels “insecure over the future of Singapore”, and is concerned about losing his competitive edge within the work force. The fact that in Singapore, “when you are above 40, you are over the hill”.
Retrenchment at the age of 40, such as an export manager for a MNC-turn-taxi driver, is fast becoming a trend. Employers are unwilling to lower prejudice, and in a society where the rat race is ever-present, many have become quitters. Increasing number of well-educated 30 / 40 year olds are packing their bags and leaving for greener pastures, where they are ensured of a stable career into their 50s.
Uncertainty over our futures, the pressure cooker of the society, creates insecurity amongst the working class of Singaporeans. So, it’s a little difficult for the young to stay committed to our little red dot, when bread and butter issues are already a cause for concern. Make a difference…let’s put that at the back of our minds for the moment? …………………………………………………………………………………………….......................................................
Then comes the remarks, where Miss Wee Shu Min, RJC second-year student (daughter of MP Wee Siew Kim, coincidentally, a AMK GRC MP), caused an uproar within the online community.
Her blog entry is as follows:
“some blog post by some bleeding stupid 40-year old singaporean called derek wee (WHY do all the idiots have my surname why?!) whining about how singapore is such an insecure place, how old ppl (ie, 40 and above) fear for their jobs, how the pool of foreign "talent" (dismissively chucked between inverted commas) is really a tsunami that will consume us all (no actually he didn't say that, he probably said Fouren Talern Bery Bad.), how the reason why no one wants kids is that they're a liability in this world of fragile ricebowls, how the government really needs to save us from inevitable doom but they aren't because they are stick-shoved-up-ass elites who have no idea how the world works, yadayadayadayada.”
“i am inclined - too much, perhaps - to dismiss such people as crackpots. stupid crackpots. the sadder class. too often singaporeans - both the neighborhood poor and the red-taloned socialites - kid themselves into believing that our society, like most others, is compartmentalized by breeding. ridiculous. we are a tyranny of the capable and the clever, and the only other class is the complement.”
“sad derek attracted more than 50 comments praising him for his poignant views, joining him in a chorus of complaints that climax at the accusation of lack of press freedom because his all-too-true views had been rejected by the straits times forum. while i tend to gripe about how we only have one functioning newspaper too, i think the main reason for its lack of publication was that his incensed diatribe was written in pathetic little scraps that passed off as sentences, with poor spelling and no grammar.”
“derek, derek, derek darling, how can you expect to have an iron ricebowl or a solid future if you cannot spell? if you're not good enough, life will kick you in the balls. that's just how things go. there's no point in lambasting the government for making our society one that is, i quote, "far too survival of fittest". it's the same everywhere. yes discrimination exists, and it is sad, but most of the time if people would prefer hiring other people over you, it's because they're better. it's so sad when people like old derek lament the kind of world that singapore will be if we make it so uncertain. go be friggin communist, if uncertainty of success offends you so much - you will certainly be poor and miserable. unless you are an arm-twisting commie bully, which, given your whiny middle-class undereducated penchant, i doubt.”
“then again, it's easy for me to say. my future isn't certain but i guess right now it's a lot brighter than most people's. derek will read this and brand me as an 18-year old elite, one of the sinners who will inherit the country and run his stock to the gutter. go ahead. the world is about winners and losers. it's only sad when people who could be winners are marginalised and oppressed. is dear derek starving? has dear derek been denied an education? has dear derek been forced into child prostitution? has dear derek had his clan massacred by the government?”
“i should think not. dear derek is one of many wretched, undermotivated, overassuming leeches in our country, and in this world. one of those who would prefer to be unemployed and wax lyrical about how his myriad talents are being abandoned for the foreigner's, instead of earning a decent, stable living as a sales assistant. it's not even about being a road sweeper. these shitbags don't want anything without "manager" and a name card.”
The tone used by Derek is one of general concern, and it reflects the current situation where we face plenty of challenges in the workplace. It underlines the harshness of the society, thus, receiving quite a number of responses from fellow bloggers/readers. We can definitely identify with his plight. It has become increasingly tough to survive the new economy.
As for Shu Min, perhaps she has been brought up in a sheltered environment, received better education in a top school. However, she may not have even tried her hands on working (part time / vacation work), so there’s a lack of knowledge and experience about the difficulties and complexity within the workplace. The fact that she places herself high up in the social ladder, already looking down on the working class, makes it a hard pill to swallow for the online community. It’s a shame, really.
While we feel agitated by her words, maybe, we should also examine the whole topic here. Are we well-equipped to face the uphill battle of the working world? Are we getting complacent and expects the government to take care of all of us? Are we complaining a little too much?
For me, I believe in facing the music, and stand up and be counted. Prove them wrong, and work our butts off. All I hope for, is that everyone learn something from this episode, and get on with our individual challenges.
Friday, October 27, 2006
It's a warm feeling you have, when you get the chance to sit down as a family for dinner. Since it was my brother's birthday today, so it was one of those occasion where my family makes it a point to have dinner together. A simple meal of "Zhi Cha" at the kopitiam turns out to be a nice evening spent with the entire family having the chance to catch up with one another.
These days, there isn't much chance for everyone to have a proper meal together. Mornings are spent with the individual's plans in mind. Waking up at different time so as to accommodate the sharing of toilets, hot water from the kettle amongst other stuffs. Since everyone is either working or studying, lunch on a weekday is eaten outside. Different time schedule means that we have dinner at a seperate time. At times, watching a TV drama may be seen as more important. So, the time spent at the dining table is greatly reduced. My brother, who's serving his NS, doesn't help either.
Weekends, we also have our own programmes, perhaps a movie outing, maybe it's a class gathering (Hey, my parents also meet up with their school mates once in a while), usually someone will be absent from meal time. Also, we tend to sleep a few more hours during the weekends to make up for the lost rest time. So, it makes it even harder to have a meal together.
Sometimes, i wonder, when i have my own family, there would be even lesser opportunities to dine with my parents, and with the likelihood of a wife who would also be working, dining as a family unit seems difficult.
So... it probably time we should evaluate our lives. Just take a moment to think about, how we spend our 24 hours everyday. Instead of delicating so much time with our friends, we should also take time off everyday, or at least make an effort now and then to communicate with our family.
I am doing my bit, and i think you should as well.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
The following videos are taken from previous posts from MrBrown.com ...
These videos made my day.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
The online community has been rather critical about our newest batch of MPs (the above comic just justified this statement, and Me included in my post some time ago)
The P65 blog - http://www.p65.sg/ , is where post-65 MPs of Singapore has adopted to start a cyber platform to communicate with the Singaporean youths. Quite simply, the most active group of bloggers, internet 'addict' ranges between 13 to 30 yrs old, which in 10 years time, all will become eligible voters. Hey, we will be 'A force to be reckon with'.
While i have doubts whether this approach would be effective, i applaused them for their efforts to engage the youths. But, it's more important to connect with us on a more personal level. Blogging and the Hip Hop culture is just a small portion or teenagers' lives. The communication and bonding between the leaders of the country, with the population should take on different levels.
Connecting on the basic level would include things like meeting-the-people session, talking to us. When they visit schools, meeting students and understanding their problems. I feel that it should be a more spontaneous approach, and not one that seems artificial and deliberate. Any activities should be regular, say playing soccer or attending regular performances by different groups, instead of just on one special occasion.
Let's hope things turn out fine. And everyone can move towards a better Singapore (What's with all the Patriotism -> it's more like i dun know how to end this piece)
Monday, October 23, 2006
Deepavali 2006.
It's nice to have a public holiday, but since it falls on a Saturday, we dun get an extra day of rest. Too Bad. But, it turned out to be a pretty great day.
Did something a little unconventional, visited a farm. Not a typical kind of activity, so i was pretty lucky to find someone who would be interested to 'embrace' Mother Nature. I kinda missed the army days a little, u know, the greenery of LCK. Together with the curiousity after watching some television programme quite a while back, i got the idea of visiting Bollywood Veggies.
Had a healthy lunch (apparently there is an absence of MSG in the food), and took the rest of the time exploring the farm. Perhaps it wasn't the right season, most of the crops seems rather dead... There is also a lack of healthy plants, the harvest seems a little discouraging.
The mysterious friend
Some plants have weird names to begin with, while others are well protected against the harsh punishment which nature brings to them. And surprisingly, the 'Countryside' of Singapore, has so much less haze compared to the urban side. The fresh air was probably what i needed. Not to say that i have been under a lot of stress, but, i dun seems to be myself for quite some time already. (I dun wish to elaborate on this pt - coz this post is supposed to be happy).
Evening was spend @ my grandma's place for dinner. The meal was sumptous as usual since my auntie was cooking, while i kinda regret not spending enough time chatting with grandma. And the journey back home was quite an interesting one. Since my dad sold the car, travelling as a family can be quite a challenge. My cousin was the one who sent us back, but i had to squeeze to the back of his pickup, meaning i look something like this.
So it was quite an eventful day...although..everything i did have no relation with Deepavali whatsoever.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
10 Simple Pleasures in Life
Taking a long shower, washing away the day’s fatigue. Preferably, with hot water to improve one’s blood circulation, aids in muslce relaxation as well.
Eating cheap hawker fare, the red bean soups and the satays, dirty seats and all. Reserving seats with tissue paper, indulge in authentic heartland living.
Having a proper massage, relaxing your stiff necks and shoulders, and nope, not on your Osim Chair. There are also cheaper alternatives than high-end spas.
Walking around aimlessly, observing what goes on around you, and looking at Chio Bu at Orchard, uncles digging their noses at kopitiam.
Hanging out with friends, chilling at coffee joints, reading the latest copy of free magazines, sipping Latte.
Taking photographs, or looking at old photographs, reminisce about old times, capturing memorable moments, beautiful landscapes and architecture.
Chilling out in our comfort zone, your favourite bed, sofa, pillow.
Watching ones’ favourite TV shows, even if it is a rerun. (Especially for people who cannot get over Friends)
Having a haircut, looking forward to getting a more refresh hairstyle, change the colour, look different, less the re-bonding.
Sleeping, in the day or at night, with company or without.
Monday, October 16, 2006
It took precision to accomplish the task. It took numerous attempts to complete the process. It required plenty of patience. It needed the moral support of a friend to help me last the distance. (Although the words of encouragement equals to the sarcasm, thanks anyway, you know who you are)
Despite all the difficulties ahead, I managed to reach my goal. That is… …
To put on contact lens for the first time.
That’s about rounds up my weekend, together with the staple diet of EPL action and street soccer session. Looking forward to the weeks ahead…
Sunday, October 15, 2006
It's still rather hazy, but some Singaporeans still came out and play. Was @ Toa Payoh before heading home, saw this group of active aunties and uncles line dancing. Would have joined them, but was in the wrong attire, so i skipped. The swimming pool was pretty crowded too.
But, it was the smiles and laughters of these kids that made my day. The Horse-riding toy looks like a pretty fun ride as well...Wasted, if i was born much later, i won't mind playing on one as well...
Have more stuffs to share regarding my weekend, look out for the next post then.
Friday, October 13, 2006
Dreams are meant to be fulfilled, but there are so many obstacles along the way for us to navigate our way through. Some have taken their steps towards accomplishing their ambitions, some choose to complain about the difficulties.
Friends around me, a few are on their way to fulfill their personal goals. I wish them well. To Peggy, hope that you do well for the New Face Contest. To Andy, all the best in your Ultimate Comedian Competition. To Cong & Justin, do the country proud in the up-coming Asian Games.
They have goals, and are on their way there.
On the other hand, i am pretty much a lost sheep... At this present moment, i have so many things to sort out, that i wish there is someone who will guide me. Give me advice, Give me guidance, Give me a sense of direction. What do i want to do in 3 years time? What do i want to do in 5 years time? 10 years? 20 years?
It's not like i think too much. Things like this need to be well thought out.
Would be doing a fair bit of reading in the coming months. Let's hope i can discover what is the personal goal that i want to achieve.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Just how bad can the horrid Haze get?
While we thought that things will get better since the past few days has seen clearer skies, news yesterday just revealed that the PSI will only get worse. Changing wind direction would bring in more haze from Riau, Jambi and southern Sumatra. We will once again avoid heading out, choosing to stay indoors for most parts of the day.
Actually, i wonder if staying indoors really helps? Since the air is still the same, just that there is probably less wind and exhaust fumes indoors to make things worse. At least, today saw a change in wind direction which blown most of the haze away.
Better days
Worser days
Some advice: Please. If you are considering to get a mask to protect yourself, choose wisely.
This will work
This, doesn't
Finally, if you wish to keep yourself updated with the PSI index, tune in to any mediacorp tv channels, or visit http://app.nea.gov.sg/psi/ for the latest updates...
Monday, October 09, 2006
Sometimes, we play a prank at the workplace. When things get a little out of control, things may end up like this...
Presenting: Cardboard Cubicle
Note: Just take this as a filler, while i am experiencing a low level of inspiration to write.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Chingay Parade 2007 Feb 23 & 24
(Note-this is probably the only available image on the net)
Highlight - 12 post-65 MPs performing with 300 others hip hop dancers. Objective - "trying to connect with the youth and having fun with them, that's the main thing," - Chris de souza, MP, Holland-Bukit Timah GRC. Blogger Response -
(image from an unknown source)
My Take - It's possibly the Authorities' realization of the huge impact of the Youth culture has become today. Although it may not be the an easy "assignment" to dress in camou-prints / wrist bands / sneakers and dancin to the latest Hiphop tunes for a dozen MPs, lets give them some encouragement for their efforts. The painful fact is that the job scope of our MPs are ever-changing, and how challenging it is to keep up with the Pop (Popular) Culture.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Always feel that one'e room would showcase one's individual taste and personality.
So, the interior design of one's rooms should say a lot about the owner. Was browsing the net, came across very unique hotel rooms...kinda inspired me a little. Should i do something to my room??
Well...maybe i should do it...
I'm headin to the Drawin board, while u may visit http://www.hotelfox.dk/home.html for the rest of different hotel rooms interiors!
