I can only disappoint u

I cannot remember if I've ever put up the lyrics to this song by Mansun. Well, if I did...I must've forgotten. And if this is the first time you're reading about this here, well, you must have too.

I'll leave the lyrics to the end because, well, my past few entries were almost always about some song or something.

Lyrics mean nothing, don't right any wrongs. In fact I'm not having them on this. You say they mean nothing, just gobbledy-gook. But just look at yourself, you're not clever enough. Understanding the truth, you are so out of touch. You believe all of this, you can't see it's a spoof. Understand all the words when they don't even rhyme. And I'm losing the rhythm and the whole thing's getting weirder and weirder. They all believe me. It's all so easy now.

- Paul Draper, Mansun.

I travelled from Dublin
You said you'd change the world
You sing like Sinatra, always

You've pulled 'em for miles now
Like Garbo in Berlin
You played 'em for zeros, just like always

Tonight, some bitch is hassling me
And tonight, it feels so good feeling cheap

I can only disappoint you
Cos I always let you down
I can only disappoint you
Cos I always let you down

You turned a man cuckoo
Half animal, half grace
The chick was a teaser, always

Tonight, their hips would swivel and turn
So we drove to the place where we first met

I can only disappoint you
Cos I always let you down
I can only disappint you, always

The Queens, they all loved you
The tall, the short, the fair
(la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
The sailors, the psychos, always

And here, I faltered, gun in my hand
And you, with "piggies" scrawled on your wall

And tonight, her note said "Better off dead"
And the Earth has never moved for me since

I can only disappoint you
Cos I always let you down
I can only disappoint you, always

I can only disappoint you
Cos I always let you down

I believe my life is to be lived alone.

Discoveries are sweetened when made alone with nobody to share it with. But experiences are different. It's not also fun to experience a sight, a city or a feeling alone.

I had dinner alone today. Wandered about J8 thinking that there's Seoul Garden there. I'm wont to go for steamboats alone. I realised while reading this morning's papers that a famous chef shares this "hobby" with me.

Seoul Garden is no longer doing business in J8.

I had dinner at Yoshinoya instead.

And while tucking in my beef bowl, the voice of Paolo Nutini wafted through the speakers of the eatery....

and I'm wondering 'round
with a half pack of cigarettes
searching for the change that I've lost somehow

Where'd the days go? When all we did was play
And the stress that we were under wasn't stress at all


These streets have too many names for me
I'm used to Glenfield road and spending my time down in Orchy
I'll get used to this eventually
I know, I know
you keep telling me so

Sometimes a song strikes you from nowhere and creates such a big impact. It's like a soundtrack of your life.

So I'm glad I didn't manage to find Seoul Garden in J8 tonight. I wouldn't have found this song that fitted nicely into my today.

Along came a spider......

Spiderman 3 looms nearer and nearer and it's going to be a blockbuster for sure. Last night while chilling at Shanghai Jazz, friend asked a question which I had never thought of myself.

How are Venom and Carnage related?

It appears that Venom is the father of Carnage. Carnage in the same vein gave "birth" to Toxin. But it's never an easy relationship between a man, his father and his son. Carnage is clearly the uncontrolled problem child. More powerful than Venom and 100% evil. Carnage refused his own spawn, Toxin and Venom had to step in to protect his grandson. Carnage was repulsed by the fact that he had to spawn as well as an inherent fear that Toxin will grow to become stronger and more powerful than he is. Sounds like Curse Of The Golden Peony.

Will we get to see a spin-off movie about this dysfunctional inter-galactic family based in New York? I wouldn't bet a single dollar on it. So how are Venom and Carnage related, well, they're father and son.

Don't Be A Galactic Nuisance

came to know by way of mr brown.

Ladies......

High waisted jeans?





NO.

mp147

My college mate is amazing. Besides traveling the world over for his Bachelors, Masters and soon, his Ph.D, he has the most amazing mind. Got through some tough statistics problem because of him.....

Here we find him thinking about meteors and super-earth.

This is news

Singapore, Indonesia to sign extradition treaty, defence pact on Friday (27 Apr 2007).

This is really news.

wow....is that why he was on the phone for so long whispering and whispering today at the briefing...???

A trio of goodies!

I got myself new CDs from
Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City,


Thirteen Senses - Contact


and Feist - The Reminder.

All fantastic. There is so much talent in this world. How to appreciate them all?


Ho ho ho! There is this information I gleamed from the internet about how Liam Gallagher thought that Bloc Party's album was bollocks and the band looks like they just stepped out from University Challenge - a British tv show pitting bright Uni students against each other, but when he heard SRXT (abbreviation for Seroxat - an antidepressant), he cried for 15 mintues into a cushion. That swine! Liam's probably being sarcastic.

But when I read the lyrics which went ".......being a man made me coarse when I wanted to be delicate........" and ".....like a castaway on a warm ocean, waiting for a purpose to rise. They say it's not becoming for a boy my age", I am not so sure anymore.

But the best lines have got to be

"If you want to know what makes me sad, well, it's hope - the endurance of faith.
A battle that lasts a lifetime, a fight that never ends"

Typical British self-deprecation. Wonderful.

Women's World Cup

So the 2006 World Cup is over and the Italians won.

But there is the 2007 Women's World Cup to look forward to!

Starting from 10th to 30th of September, 16 teams will fight through their way into the finals. It will be held in Hangzhou, Tianjin, Wuhan, Chengdu and Shanghai with the opening match in and the finals in Shanghai.

Looking at the groupings....

Well, USA is already whining about being put in the perceived "group of death". China appears to be in a relatively easy group. Things might be different if this weren't the women's world cup. Group A will be exciting to watch if it were the men's world cup. The English rivalry between World War 2 nemesis Germany will guarantee lots of talks about blitzkrieg and bluff. Futhermore will be the Thatcherite era issue of Falklands War with Argentina. And Japan! I don't know. Perhaps the English are still bitter about the Beatles being broken up by Yoko Ono. Who knows?

Group C is kind of boring. Perhaps it features two of the biggest countries in the world, Canada and Australia, with the most commonly mistaken capital? Canada's capital city is Ottawa. Not Vancouver, not Winnipeg, not Toronto, not Montreal and certainly not Quebec City. Australia's capital city is Canberra. Not Sydney. Not Melbourne. Not Brisbane and certainly not Perth.

Group D is deliberately created to ensure that host country, China, gets an easy ticket out of the group stages.

Group B! Wow! It features North Korea and USA! Exciting! It's like the Bush Administration versus Dear Leader Kim Jong Il. I expect lots of coverage on this match up. Weirdly, amongst the six nations involved in the (duh) six nations talk, only North Korea, Japan, USA and China are here. What happened to South Korea and Russia? South Korean girls, well, maybe they are still trying to get an appointment with their plastic surgeons. And Russian women are, well, busying occupying spots in the world of tennis instead?

There is nothing.....

......nothing in this world, that cannot be solved at the bottom of a glass of Penfolds Shiraz.

"Time is a healer", they said.

If you've not heard of Bloc Party, well, good for you. I hope you never will. That their sound and the voice of Kele Okereke reminds me of early Cure and the drumming like the metronomic Stephen Morris of Joy Division (latterly-known as New Order), lyrics written like a Morrisey of the 21st Century if you wish. I wish your references are limited and you can never discover their influences.

If you've heard of Bloc Party, well I sure hope you've not heard of their excellent contribution to Help: a Day in the Life Warchild compilation. The song's titled The Present. Pegged chockablock amongst other great tracks by The Magic Numbers, Elbow, Damien Rice and Gorillaz.

I hope you will never understand this song the way I understand it. That it paints a hapless (do you know the difference between this and being helpless?) man still standing by a promise he made to himself. That he takes it upon himself to be there because of the promise he made and forever gave up his chance to turn his wounds into scars. That to understand what he understood now is ever too late and he cannot forgive himself.

The Present
If you're cold and you're alone
And you don't know where to go
You can call me anytime
Nothing's changed, I am still here

If you're running out of breath
And your building's burning down
You can jump, I will catch you
Nothing's changed, I am still here

With heavy hands and an absent mind
Did I blow your candle out?
With shortened words and a lack of time
Am I ever on your mind?

Was I cruel and never there?
Nothing to rely on
Was our romance a black hole?
You kept the better half than me

Well if you really wanted to know
Well no the earth's not moved for me since
I wish I could've given you lightness
The lightness that you deserve

And they say time is a healer
And time will look after you
I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait, I can't wait
Come over

Come over

Why don't you come over?

Well if you really wanted to know
Well no the earth's not moved for me since
I wish I could've given you lightness
The lightness that you deserve

And they say time is a healer
And time will look after you
Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go
Come over

And I stole you that ring
'Cause I wanted you to have it
And it wasn't about me, I just wanted you to have it
Your smile, baby your smile, baby I come alive

I feel so naked, like before we met
Last night I was so close to just calling you up
They say it takes time to heal the wounds
I can't wait, I can't wait
Come over

~Bloc Party

My MSN Nicks

Previously I used "Appear Offline" as my MSN nick. That created some funny incident (read about it here). I am actually quite proud of that.

In the past, I will sometimes send my friends messages like "Message censored by Vodafone." when I was in university. Here, I just change it to "Message censored by SingTel. Sender information has been forwarded to authorities."

Recently I changed my MSN nick to "Insert witty phrase here". That generated some interest as well. People telling me that it got them laughing smiling. Glad it made your day.

Today my MSN nick is "There's suppose to be a funny phrase here, no joke". More specifically, it should be read as "There's suppose to be a funny phrase here. No joke". I just changed it to how it should be understood.

I wonder if people will appreciate humour like this.

Why Pucci?

I thought these enamel pieces from Pucci are absolutely excellent.

Three great ways to wear them. From left to right: with little Pucci bikini and a little Pucci enamel, with a lot of Pucci and a tiny-bitsy Pucci enamel (model is Dujuan by the way) or with no plain Pucci dress with LOTS and LOTS of Pucci enamel.

This one I like, alot!

When paired with simple black jersey dress. Mid-thigh to knee length, half to 3/4 sleeves. Non-obtrusive neckline.

The pair above with the graduated amber to orange to fuschia enamel looks so "Cafe del Mar-ish"....whatever that meant.

But they are in serious danger of being copied. But they don't always work.....see below for examples of when....

The fluidity of the design reminds me of the stuff Elsa Perreti did for Tiffany's.

It's like the negative of her open heart necklace that sort of thing.

Do you remember the days?

There was a time when Singaporean bloggers were cordial, non-judgemental and, dare I say it - liberal.

Was.

The comments left on metablogs, blogs and other websites that celebrate the idea behind web 2.0 resemble those on forums. Self-centred and self-congratulatory.

People used to be brown-ed. Now anything gets tomorrow-ed. I used to get excited, now I shudder to read.

It is interesting to qualify a comment like "I can crack racist jokes" with "because I am not racist and I read Uncle Tom's Cabin and To Kill A Mocking Bird.". "Gays should not be disturbed by my sharing of gay jokes with my heterosexual friends" with "because I am not a homophobe and I watch Queer Eye For A Straight Guy", "I think women are shallow" with "but I am not a misogynist and I love my mum!" The liberal use of slurs, making fun at the expense of others and general social mischief is so prevalent now. The line that separates humour and plain ole rudeness is constantly disappearing and re-appearing, shifting and changing, becoming increasingly wavy and at times, dotted.

Is the future self-assured and driven by a single need to satisfy self-interests? That spells hubris.

I think it was June

Thinking back, thinking of you,
Summer time think it was June,

Fond memories of picnics in front of the old administrative building during summertime bore deep in this head. Lemon meringue pies, yoghurt gingers and sticky toffees. He was unable to remember all of their names but he could picture their faces in his mind rather vividly.

Laying back head on the grass,
Chewing gum, having some laughs,

Sometimes there will be a nice bottle of Chardonnay or White Zinfandel, inevitably from Sainbury's or Thresher Wine Shop. Just enough alcohol to go round but never enough to get inebriated. Packets of crisps; prawn cocktail and salt & vinegar (she loves but which he hates) and cheese & onion and original (which he loves).

Drinking back drinking for two,
Drinking with you,
When drinking was new.

The mallards with her babies waddling behind will sometimes pucker up enough courage to scavenge for scraps around the blue/purple crosshatch picnic mat.

They were young, invincible and nary a care in the world. The last vestige of youthful angst and pubescent restlessness had disappeared and replaced with a sense of self in the world. But what they felt now will soon give way to jadedness.

You made me feel like the one,
The one

They were not suppose to last through the first winter together. But the following summer came and went and they had yet to part. That last summer, the air wasn't as sweet smelling as before.

I don't know where we are going now

They are moving on with their lives now. From one failed relationship to another. Carefully treading the lines, skip-hopping between stones that surface above the low water, across a riverine full of crocodiles. Just like before. Nothing changed, just the face that matches a name.

So take a look at me now

The faces will forever be etched in his memory but he cannot remember all their names.

click click click

See what I mean?

At P.S. Cafe Paragon with v but she's gone to the toilet. Ok, let her play.....

eating nice wasabi chips! :)~

ok. End of her single sentence.

Sometimes, it is the little things

I can't stand irregardless.

There are 26 letters in the alphabet. So when you ask me what the alphabet at the end of my IC number is, it's difficult to answer.

It's wreaking havoc. Havoc cannot be wrecked.

It's not the speed. It's the path.

More often than not, I spout nonsense. I leave on my blog, as in my "real" life, a trail of trashy talk, mindless banter, bits of gibberish, plenty of hokum and red-herrings and good ole crap.

But that's nonsense to the "non-mes" (plural of me = mes). It makes perfect sense to me. It's just that you don't connect the dots the way I do. It's not that you're slower. But it's just that the pathway with which your dots connect isn't like mine.

Like if I take a news article from CNA for example:


It talks about the latest campaign about using less plastic bags.

I will crack a joke about "double penetration" because lately I watched the Cuban Brothers in action.



See the lady with lots of colourful plastic bags. Well, two french loaves seemed to be strategically placed.

Or I will just paste some random advertisement from Yahoo! like so:


And have a good laugh about "Must-have Handbags!".

If you can find an "authentic genuine Gucci Birkin bag", yeah, it's a must-have!

If you can't find humour in the line above, see what I mean, it's not the speed that matters. It's the path.

There's no business like shoe business

I got a pair of new sneakers.



They are Adidas Gazelle Originals Vintage.

I couldn't find any pics of them on the internet so had to post them myself.

I got them cause I wanted to have a pair from adidas that looks like it's either tweed or something. And they are Gazelles! And Vintage!

So how to tell Adidas Vintage from normal Adidas Originals?

The "adidas" printed on the shoe will be enclosed in a box if they are vintage shoes.

As below: Adidas Gazelle Originals Vintage Mustard -



I blog about my shoes. How boring have I gotten?

Please, don't read my trash.....anyway, before I left the shop (only Raffles City Adidas sells them), guy said, "Enjoy your kicks!"

hmm...

Nocturne II

Following his first solo exhibition in March this year, artist Lin Bao-Ling will be continuing his theme of Nocturne in his second solo exhibition at Connoisseur Artworks.

Titled Nocturne II, the artist's second solo exhibition will run from 19 Apr 07 (opening night) until 19 May 07.


This is the second time I am invited to his opening and like the first, I am probably going to miss it because I am sailing....sigh.....

I think by the time I have my own place, I can no longer afford Lin Bao-Ling's paintings.... double sigh....

Gone Are The Days - The Magic Numbers

I couldn't find the lyrics on the internet. So here goes.....

Gone Are The Days

gone are the days, the nights
the hands that held the life
the life that i had tried to find

well i must be losing my mind
everytime

gone are the fears, the falls
the hands against the wall
the hands that held me every night

well i must be losing my mind
everytime

and since i met you
i've had no reason to hide
and since i left you
i've had no reasons to fight
why

gone are the fears, the falls
the hands against the wall
the hands that held me every night

i must be losing my mind
everytime

and since i met you
i've had no reason to hide
and since i left you
i've had no reasons to fight
why

gone are the days, the nights
the hands that held the life
the life that i had tried to find

i must be losing my mind
everytime

i must be losing my mind
everytime

The Magic Numbers

I [heart] technology

This may be a simple post but it's ok. Just wanna let v know that she should feel threatened. Of course she's not too concerned. Her days as my Numero Uno are numbered.

She is never fazed by my empty threats of finding a substitute for her. But that was the case then. Looking for a substitute was as Robert Smith would say,".....a witch hunt for another girl"

But those halcyon days are over!

My latest mate? Wireless@sg + Nokia E61 = love at first login

Life is sweet!

Mr Wang Says So.....

Here and Here are great reads.

No Second Troy

lemiel is a friend who shared an equal (possibly hers was higher and more profound) appreciation of Tori Amos. lemiel must be looking forward to Ms Amos' new album on May 1st.

lemiel writes brilliantly. Not by chance but by sheer raw talent polished and buffed to a shiny finish through her education, self-taught or institutional.

she is a made alot more sense on No Second Troy than I could ever have.

Currently.... 2

Previously it was those.

Now it is these:

Pucci-inspired prints on dress. Preferably sleeveless and the material is silky, satiny with a nice sheen. Not metallic though.

More heels less wedges. I think they are alot more sexier. Nothing raunchy though. Feminine will do.

Smocks! Although empire cut dresses, A-line and baby doll dresses are alot more feminine (in a cutesy Baby Spice way), smocks is something I would like to see more of. Because I think they exude more innocent charm. Single colour smocks using material that is not too luxurious, with or without buttons.

V was saying some of my preferences are counter-trending. But it's alright lah.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Lord, hear me now

Junkboats and English boys

Crashing out in Supermarts

Electric fences and guns

You swallow me

I'm a pill on your tongue


Here on the nineteenth floor

The neon lights make me numb

And late in a star's life

It begins to explode

And all the people in a dream,

wait for the machine

Pick the shit up, leave it clean

Kid, hang over here

What you're learning in school

Is the rise of an Eastern Sun
On a beacon for everyone

The radio station disappears
Music turning to thin air



The DJ was the last to leave
She had well conditioned hair,

Was beautiful, but nothing really was there

Damon Albarn hasn't sounded so wonderful since he sang No Distance Left To Run.

Smokin' Aces and operations

Watched Smokin' Aces today.

Spoilers ahead!

I urge all who want to make sense out of what I am about to write to watch the movie first. And, erm, try to follow the story which is told in a rather convoluted manner. I really think it was great story telling. And it mirrors modern warfare and intel collection efforts quite well.

Read the plot first. Here

Some parallels.....

Reel Life:
Let's start with the top....FBI surveillance efforts picks up some information. But because it was misinterpreted, they thought that the magician named Buddy "Aces" Israel was to be shot and his heart taken out for a princely sum of USD1,000,000 by a Swede hitman. But instead, it was actually to have a Swede heart surgeon to remove his heart for a transplant to a mafia boss - Primo. So in this case, the FBI, thinking that they had the aim and objective of the mafia went all out to protect Buddy Israel so that Buddy can snitch on the mafia and ensure the imprisonment of Primo.

Real Life:
Military operations usually have a huge intel network in support. And interpretations are sometimes misguided....military intel thinks they have got it sorted but usually they don't. Giving them complete information still will not guarantee complete understanding. One of the agents don't even know that the word "broad" was a slang for woman.... basically, you not only need to know the lingo, you need to understand the culture, the dynamics and nuances....not easy.... just like trying to nail piracy in the region. Alot of the effort to build Batam and Bintan up is because of the need to reduce piracy. Development does that. Providing people with jobs does that. Education too. Giving them a stake leaves them to think twice before risking their lives to smuggle, pirate and terrorise.

Reel Life:
Even before investigation was complete, the FBI agents were sent to protect Buddy Israel. But because it was later discovered that Buddy's heart was to be transplated to Primo - who was belatedly discovered to be an ex-FBI mole who turned to the dark side but whose information was alot more valuable than Buddy's, it was decided that Buddy should not be protected. By then, one of the FBI agent was already killed.

Real Life:
Military operations never happen with full appreciation of the situation. Even if militants have complete information, things change. And there is the danger of "not knowing what they do not know" or the "unknown unknowns". But nobody is going to sit around and wait until everybody got everything figured out. Action will still have to be carried out despite the lack of full knowledge. And when the intention is changed halfway, sacrifices may already have been made. But people higher up is not as concerned about the sacrifices but to ensure that the sacrifices are for a greater cause. 2 important side lessons here. "War is young men dying, old men talking" and "History remembers kings, not soldiers." Old men and kings refer to the FBI boss. Young men and soldiers refer to the FBI agents who were killed.

Reel Life:
When one half of the female hit(wo)man duo lost communication links with the other, she thought she was killed. Through her monocular telescopic sight, she saw a woman lying slumped and lifeless. The sight of a woman dead and that she had loss communications with her partner led her to conclude that her partner was dead. So she later made a series of rash moves that led to her being spotted by FBI agents and was killed.

Real Life:
Communications is vital in all military operations. Never make emotional choices in war. Control control control.

Reel Life:
The first group of people to die were the amateur hitmen led by Ben Affleck. Ok, maybe one of them did survive and got his revenge towards the end.... In fact, the only people who were alive (some barely) when they were out of the casino/hotel (it's an Integrated Resort) were the professional hitmen.

Real Life:
Always be on top of the game. Keep your skill set sharp. Amateurs die early in the game. Professionals come out of an ordeal alive.

There are other similarities but....damn, I'm tired....

Dakota

Previously I really liked Rewind by Stereophonics.

Now it's Dakota. (nothing to do with Dakota Fanning btw)

Thinking back, thinking of you
Summertime, think it was June
Yeah think it was June
Laying back, head on the grass
Chewing gum, having some laughs
Yeah having some laughs

You made me feel like the one
You made me feel like the one
The one

You made me feel like the one
You made me feel like the one
The one

Drinking back, drinking for two
Drinking with you
When drinking was new

Sleeping in the back of my car
We never went far
Didn't need to go far

You made me feel like the one
You made me feel like the one
The one

You made me feel like the one
You made me feel like the one
The one

I don't know where we are going now
I don't know where we are going now

Wake up call, coffee and juice
Remembering you
What happened to you

I wonder if we'll meet again
Talking about life since then
Talk about why did it end

You made me feel like the one
You made me feel like the one
The one

You made me feel like the one
You made me feel like the one
The one

I don't know where we are going now
I don't know where we are going now

So take a look at me now
So take a look at me now
So take a look at me now
So take a look at me now
So take a look at me now

I wanna write a short 200 to 300 word short story with this song in the background.

A Day In The Life

A cover of this track was played by The Observatory at their album launch in Zouk today. I bought their album 2 weeks back but yet to have a proper listen. The Obs always finish off their set with a cover? Previously there was Race For The Prize by The Flaming Lips. Ashes To Ashes by David Bowie, Joey by Nick Drake and now A Day In The Life by The Beatles. Predominantly British hor?

A Day In The Life
I read the news today oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grade
And though the news was rather sad
Well I just had to laugh
I saw the photograph
He blew his mind out in a car
He didn’t notice that the lights had changed
A crowd of people stood and stared
They’d seen his face before
Nobody was really sure
If he was from the House of Lords.
I saw a film today oh boy
The English Army had just won the war
A crowd of people turned away
But I just had to look
Having read the book.
I’d love to turn you on
Woke up, got out of bed,
Dragged a comb across my head
Found my way downstairs and drank a cup,
And looking up I noticed I was late.
Found my coat and grabbed my hat
Made the bus in seconds flat
Found my way upstairs and had a smoke,
And somebody spoke and I went into a dream
I heard the news today oh boy
Four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire
And though the holes were rather small
They had to count them all
Now they know how many holes it takes
To fill the Albert Hall.
I’d love to turn you on.

I don't know about you. The song makes me a little down...

Sunshine - movie review

Potential spoilers ahead. You may want to just read the last paragraph.

But mainly it's how I wish to set my mind before I watch this movie. But this is on hindsight of course.

It'll be easy to brush this off as another Armageddon. But it's not. The crew is not a bunch of rednecks. In fact, if not for the obvious lack of a black guy, I'd say it's pretty much a united colours of benetton ensemble.

What's interesting is how it scopes a discussion on society when viewed under a microscope. What happens when everybody in a society is rational, highly intelligent and outcome driven? Given a situation that can potentially tear the society apart, would the people within the society go the democratic way and put it to a vote? Or, since they are all rational, highly intelligent and outcome driven, will they sit down and discuss the pros and cons of each of the choices and decide on the best possible solution for the given situation?

In this question, you start to ask yourself this: if this is so, why then are we voting in a democracy? Maybe it's because we are not rational neither are we highly intelligent. Is the outcome in a vote within a democracy necessarily the best? Is a vote system rational? Is it intelligent? And the decision made at the end of a vote; does it serve the outcome the best?

If any of the answer to any of the question is a "no". Then should we get a group of people who are the most rational, intelligent and "knows what is best for us" to run us, wouldn't that be great? What happens to freedom of choice then?

But it gets trickier. Because the movie is set in a "do or die" scenario. Freedom of choice will get in the way of survival. So is "freedom of choice" a good or bad thing? And when you are indeed given a choice within a small society but you know that whatever you choose will not change the outcome, will you choose the "ethical" choice? Will you choose the "ethical" choice and leave the others to choose the "unethical" choice and protest against the outcome on "higher moral grounds"? What if the "unethical" choice outcome ensured your survival?

There a little bit of subtlety embedded by Alex Garland. It hints on the side on which he is on when it comes to the "science vs faith" debate. There is no mention of god and the only mention of faith is faith in scientific theories. Everybody in the movie as about to sacrifice their lives in order to deliver the payload and save planet earth. Except for this one guy who speaks of god as if he were his best friend. Maybe Alex Garland was trying to hint that in the end, when it comes to saving the world from whatever predicament we may be in: global warming, nuclear crisis, etc etc, the people who will stumble us are those who act from their religious faith. While that may not have been the design of their god but it is through their acts that you can tell how they interpreted the words of their gods.

The Last Paragraph
Of course, you can otherwise watch this movie as it is, an old fashion everybody dies in the end sci-fi flick with great special effects and a suitable amount of gore and violence. Great music by Karl Hyde and company aka Underworld and a great song as the credits roll by I Am Kloot called Avenue Of Hope - check out the insane Chinese subtitles that go with the song. The spaceship in the movie is named Icarus. Icarus, of course, with the waxed wings flew too near the sun and his wings got melted. There is a very interesting reason why the spaceship is named thus. Read it here.

Playlist for Change-of-Command Ceremony

I hate boring music. Even Muzak needs to be interesting otherwise I condemn whatever is piped through the PA.

I've been to too many ceremonies (opening, closing, workplan this and workplan that, seminar this and that and etc etc) where they invariably play some New Age bullshit, something by Kitaro, Kenny G, Kevin Kern, Enya, Richard Clayderman blah blah banal banal...

I don't think putting together a great set to function as "background music" is worth much. Because, nobody notices. But those who do, when they realise how different it sounds, it's a fantastic feeling. It's like a silent code enjoyed by two.

So this is the playlist for tomorrow:

Angelica by Lamb
Heaven by Lamb
Northern Lights by Lux
Suzuki by Tosca
Ballet Lane by Underworld
Breathe by Telepopmusik
An Ordinary Day by Bent
Papua New Guinea (Graham Massey Mix) by The Future Sound Of London
Vegw by Paul Van Dyk
Christina by Mr Hermano

It's ten tracks clocking in at just over 47 minutes.


I'm anal like that.

Early Christmas

Iran presented the UK, perhaps the western world, with an early Christmas gift. 15 Royal Navy personnel held over 13 days all released. President Ahmadinejad's publicity blitz.

There's a public release of both the UK and Iran version of events found on the BBC. Some critical numbers: UK maintained that the boat was 1.7 nautical miles inside Iraqi waters (1 nautical mile = 1852 metres - naval trivia! I bet I can use it as a pick up line somewhere). Iran disputed with a position provided by them but was told by UK that the revised position was still within Iraqi waters. Iran came up with another position. This time correctly putting the location within Iranian waters. The positions were provided by the same Global Positioning System (GPS) - NAVigation Satellite Timing And Ranging Global Positioning System (NAVSTAR GPS).

This is a classic example of an ambitious nation fighting against one with a well-oiled information management machine. The UK pioneered information management, especially on the war front. From World War 2 to Falklands. The US had to learn alot from them after their fumble over information management in the Vietnam War. US got their act briefly together in Gulf War 1. Only that they were too confident, leading to mismanagement at crucial areas. Cable News Network became famous as a result and US went back to re-learning info-management.

The trouble with GPS and the potential dangers of GPS was made into a movie. Tomorrow Never Dies, the 18th James Bond flick comes to mind. The recent article on the New York Time syndicate by Wilson Rothman points out several other examples. The NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Belgrade rises the problem of accurate GPS coupled with old maps.

The location at which the Royal Navy personnel were captured remains of vital importance. It is the only source of integrity in our present day and age. As Iran continues to pursue her ambitious plan to be recognised as a nuclear nation (since 2004), she cannot help but play on the terms that are current and considered normal. That dictates the need to be legal in her bearing, consistent in her approach and diplomatic in her dealings.

In this event, Iran has proven herself to be still a wannabe. While she tries to be act behind the facade of laws and mandated norms, her inconsistency in the provision of information (location of the seizure) totally destroyed her credibility. At least she was diplomatic, releasing the personnel unharmed and unconditionally in principal. Requesting, not demanding reciprocation.

So what is the UK suppose to do when shown such generosity which she cannot reciprocate? Proclaim this fracas as a publicity event meant to put Iran in a good light of course.

Could this happen in our own backyard? Disupted areas, baselines and other international diplomatic time bombs dot the South China Sea. So how well-oiled is our propaganda information management machine?

And for my next trick...

How To Disapppear Completely

That there
That's not me
I go
Where I please
I walk through walls
I float down the Liffey
I'm not here
This isn't happening
I'm not here
I'm not here

In a little while
I'll be gone
The moment's already passed
Yeah it's gone
And I'm not here
This isn't happening
I'm not here
I'm not here

Strobe lights and blown speakers
Fireworks and hurricanes
I'm not here
This isn't happening
I'm not here
I'm not here

~ Radiohead

Meanwhile in the Batcave...

I found a copy of 8 Days (everyweek!) to read while I was on duty. It was called "The Denim Issue" or something like that.

The information in there is just damn funny. And also very "all over the place".

But it's 8 Days. So....

I have a situation. I've been wearing raw denim for some time now. I like them. I like my white sneakers as well. My APC + Nike Court Tradition and Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66 Snow White.

When they combine under rain conditions....they spell D.O.O.M.

And if anybody wanna splurge on me (yes you Indonesian rich women, I can be your kept man! If you find me too young, throw me to your daughters!), I wanna have a pair of shoes from S***R. Just for fun.

There isn't another,

In the movie, Contact, Jodie Foster gasped upon seeing the celestial light show in front, "Some celestial event. No - no words. No words to describe it. Poetry! They should've sent a poet. So beautiful. So beautiful ... I had no idea."

No Second Troy

Why should I blame her that she filled my days
With misery, or that she would of late
Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways,
Or hurled the little streets upon the great,
Had they but courage equal to desire?
What could have made her peaceful with a mind
That nobleness made simple as a fire,
With beauty like a tightened bow, a kind
That is not natural in an age like this,
Being high and solitary and most stern?
Why, what could she have done, being as she is?
Was there another Troy for her to burn?

And so the story goes, how Paris stole Helen from the King of Sparta which led to the invasion of Troy. Here Yeats is trying to paint a picture of the contemporary woman. Her beauty, no longer compared to nature (flowers is a favourite, and often putting the latter to shame, whatever that meant), is now "a tightened bow". A weapon of war. A domain of man that she now shares the beauty of. A mind that is often assumed as kind and accomodating is now noble like a fire. At once useful and warm but will overwhelm and harm when uncontrolled.

But who could blame her? She is as much a result of who she is today because of what she was meant to be. Her will to attain what she is capable of and what she dreams of. So even if she is starting to appear like an equal to man, it is not a fault of anybody. And if she is starting to cause misery, that is only to be expected.

Similarly, modern interactions between men and women can be best described by W. B. Yeats poem.

I can't last here....

I awoke, having dozed of in front of the tv at 8 plus in the evening, feeling this great urge to either head down to Zouk and get gloriously drunk or just sit myself down and blog away.

I've been thinking everyday about you
Don't fit anywhere into my life
but that's okay

Sometimes I get torn between my procrastinator self and my hedonistic self. It's unlike the "let's put off sex till the next morning" sort of dilemma. Or the "I should drink the nth glass of gin tonic in an hour's time" decision. These, I can sort out easily.

Please don't leave me standing
with my heart in my hand
I can't last here

Damn, procrastinator self won over tonight. Someday I will overcome my inertia and have sex both at night and in the morning. And drink n glasses of gin and tonic within the hour.

I'm breaking down
and no one understands why I got here
But I knew
from the very first moment that I met you
You'd be the one

I'm going to enjoy my weekend no matter. I've got no time for hanger-ons or no-shows. If you can't go my way don't step onto my highway. Well, that sorta thing anyway.

Would you meet me by the water tonight?
Would you please fall asleep holding my hand?

In the background, Rachael Yamagata is singing Meet Me By The Water. And she asked not to be left standing with her heart in her hand and to have him fall asleep holding her hand...

more from Cure.....

check out their site. here

OFFICIAL!
WE ARE HEADLINING THE FUJI FESTIVAL JULY 2007
http://www.smash-uk.com/frf07/index.html

HONG KONG ON MONDAY 30TH AND SINGAPORE ON WEDNESDAY 1ST AUGUST ARE STILL PENDING...

AS IS AUSTRALIA...

BUT IF I WERE A BETTING MAN...

FULL DETAILS WILL BE POSTED HERE WHEN MORE INK IS DRY...

what do you make of it?

Recently, the Pope said this about Europe's population trend:

"besides putting economic growth at risk, can also cause enormous difficulties for social cohesion, and, above all, favor dangerous individualism, careless about the consequences for the future."

I really really have to be crazy to think the way I do. Nefarious perhaps. Dastardly, having make such claims on a blog. Blasphemous!

But guys, relax. I am just imagining. Like how I would look at an ah beng busking outside Ngee Ann City, playing a Mandarin pop oldie on the organ and start telling V about the guy's life. According to my imagination. V can only roll her eyes that much. Anymore rolling, her eye muscles can start to bench more than her arms.

Anyhow......here's what I think......

You know how we are all led to believe (some people lah) after reading Dan Brown fiction, how secretive and powerful the Vatican is?

Well, Pope's probably worried about his membership. I have no figures but my guess is this. Most Catholics in Europe are born into Catholic families. That is why they are Catholics. They are born into it. Unlike Protestant etc etc....other Christians, Catholics should worry about the falling birth rates cause that would mean a reduced membership size. Not good when you want to be powerful.

So before I can push my hypothesis any further, I gotta get some statistics on things like "Why did you become a Catholic" and also for all the other denominations. Next I will get the birth rates of Catholics to verfiy if indeed, Catholics, like the rest of Europe are reproducing at a reduced rate. Catholics aren't suppose to use contraceptives I think. So they must have lots of discipline.

The Pope's concern is mainlPublishy for Europe. Cause the growth in Americas (South especially), Asia (China especially, India not as much) and Africa are great.

Basically, you can't be a "powerful" organisation if your membership is limited.

No fr34k1n9 time

Whirlwind of a weekend.

Stayed till late so the weekend was off to a faulty start. Had to miss steamboat dinner with jados and the rest of the gang cause I couldn't make it in time and had a concert to attend.

Concert. Hush - Concave Scream. Wowee Zowee! That's the 3rd concert this month after Jose Gonzales and Rachael Yamagata.

I am so sure the artwork on this is by Andy Yang.

March was a cultural month. Well, sorta.

I had music! Plenty of concerts and plenty of new albums (Rachael Yamagata, The Magic Numbers, The Decemeberists, Tracey Thorn....I will talk about The Obs new album - A Far Cry From Here at a later date).

I had art! Solo exhibition by Lin Bao-ling. A bit low on this one....I'm sure I will head to the National Art Gallery when it opens soon. And perhaps I should just try my luck at Andy Yang's studio. It's so near my place! See if there's anything that strikes my fancy and within my budget. But first, need to know if the studio is (a) open for viewing and (b) have items for sale.

I had fashion! Club 21 Bazaar Sale! Finally after 4 barren years! The usual Club 21 Sale don't do much for me cause the prices and range usually don't fit me. But the Bazaar Sale is a totally different animal all by itself. Yes, so what if the stuff is from seasons ago? I saw at least three other senior colleagues milling around with their missus. No doubt looking for a bargain as well. My sister! Who is holidaying in Sweden! Is buying! Another pair of! Nudies! For me! But damn sad....no more Regular Ralf. So I'm settling for Straight Sven Dry Selvage (SSDS). I'm afraid it's gonna be a close similarity between the fit of my A.P.C New Standards (NS) and SSDS. Well I still got my SJDB - Slim Jim Dry Black!

So where did Fashion + Art + Music converge this week? At Sirens! Tony Tay meets Future Funk Squad with visuals by Bento and fullscreamriot.

It was a so-so set that had really memorable tracks. I think I just needed to get away. I had my weekend spoilt by a late phonecall on Friday night so I had a "let's just give it all" attitude. I remember bits of it....

• Touch Me - Rui da Silva featuring Cassandra
• Gorecki - Lamb (some mix)
• Just Can't Get Enough - Depeche Mode (some mix)
• Knights Of Cyndonia - Muse
• Starlight - Muse
• Inner City Life - Goldie
• Chime - Orbital
• Everything Counts - Depeche Mode
• Mr Brightside - The Killers

There's always art in Zouk. The visuals created by bento and fullscreamriot also art. Some of the girls there are pieces of art. Race queens included. Fashion....princess poofie was complaining royally that she couldn't sight any Fred Perry polos. I mouthed a silent prayer. I was asking her about her HoH UHU GARETH PUGH t-shirt.

Tiring weekend. Duty in later. Again.