So, 2020 is coming to an end. I know, the year Wawasan 2020 was all about. The hype around it - we basically envisaged it as a modern, high-tech, incredibly advanced Malaysia with flying cars, skyscrapers and those dorms you see in science fictions. Quite funny, isn't it, that our country has headed in an entirely wrong direction. We thought we saw a glimmer of hope when BN was ousted in 2018, but then PH collapsed and our country's political landscape got altered altogether and has gone down into the unknown. All political coalitions in Malaysia are deeply fractured - the Malays are very divided.
Anyway, let's see what's next - oh, Covid-19 struck. It got full-blown in March, and successive lockdowns began worldwide. I went back to Penang for CNY, and came back to Singapore with trepidations, and a month down the road we entered Circuit Breaker (CB), a fanciful term invented by the minister who is an electrical engineer to mean 'lockdown' without, however sweetly, trying to create chaos and panic. Try as he had, panic did ensue. Instant noodles were gold and snatched clean. Till today I've no freaking idea why the hell people stock toilet papers. All canned food were swept clean as well, but this is rather understandable. Snacks were taken. The absurd part was the fight for sanitisers. Some people got so desperate they even hoard alcohol swabs meant for injections and some diabetic patients couldn't get their insulin shots because they didn't have the swab - selfish bunch of people. During a crisis it's clear, the people's priority has always been self-survival. Collective action my ass. Look at the people trying to rip people's off by selling masks at a cut-throat price. Ya, masks were ridiculously expensive, could cost ten times what it cost now.
Okay, I'll probably wrap this year up on Thursday. Well, I've got to work tomorrow, and I'm working half day on Thursday, and on Friday we will be welcoming a next year. For the better or worse, we don't know, but what's life without some suspense ei?
Here's a picture of the Marina Bay Sands, taken on Christmas night, which was incredibly cheerful and ceremonious in Singapore. Normality has pretty much returned and life is inching back to pre-covid level, although some scars and alterations may have become permanent. Still, life goes on.
Recently, my life has been a little monotonous, nothing exciting has happened much.
A show which is greatly influential to me has ended. Supernatural has concluded its series after a long 15 years. I do feel kinda hollow as a result but I've got to admit, this show has come to its timely end. I would have loved to see more of Jack though. The introduction of a son to the series really changes its entire recipe.
Work has been fun, but recently for me it has got a bit slow. I've cleared most of my outstanding work, currently awaiting for some missing information, so, to be honest, I don't have much going on right now.
Inspections at hospitals prove to be a tedious task, mostly because the rooms to be inspected are often occupied and because they are emergency wards, there just isn't any telling when are they discharged or when new patients will be admitted so it proves an uphill task to gain access despite needing only 10 minutes max.
Otherwise, I've visited covid-19 wards, and to be honest it doesn't look very scary.
It has been rainy these few days, shifting from late mornings to late evenings, which is disruptive of all my outdoor plans. It's now year-end, and with covid-19 still raging, it means travelling outside the country is not possible, which means I couldn't get home. Consequently, I still have a pile of annual leaves to clear. But with rainy days, there isn't much I can do with my leaves.
Well, I'm monitoring my food intake, because I'm leading a much more sedentary lifestyle now and gaining weight becomes so much easier than I would have imagined. Sometimes, I sit through the time between my lunch and dinner with nary a movement. It's disturbing for me - sometimes I dream about quitting and getting a more active job. Office work could be boring sometimes and, obviously, unhealthy.
Well, that's all I guess. Nothing much has happened, due to covid-19. Covid-19 has temporarily halted many events and it sucks, but I guess in life we need a pause sometimes.
You know, I've watched Supernatural ever since it first aired in 2005. On a Sunday night, when I was very young - 11 years old. I was an 11-year-old boy, still in primary school, hadn't hit puberty probably!
I remember the first season was very creepy. It displayed much darker tone and was very folk-lore based. Local legends, curses and the sort. I still remember my sister and I compared it to Charmed. The former was about 3 sisters who are witches; the latter on two brothers who are mortal but up against supernatural enemies. The former had The Book of Shadows, the latter had their father's diary that functions similarly. The former had an ultimate evil - The Source; the latter had also an ultimate evil - Yellow-eyed demon.
Boy, what a ride it has been since the first season. I remember I was so hooked on, I even looked for it in the market!
Then, there came many more seasons, with season 5 being the peak. Castiel came into the picture in season 4, and admittedly the show was never the same then - it became more epic, more adventurous and to be very honest, much more interesting. I remember watching Lucifer rising at the end of season 4, and couldn't wait to watch season 5. That was in 2010! 10 freaking years ago! Can you imagine that? There was no internet yet in my house in 2010!
I remember season 5 was full of adrenaline - the entire season was just mind-blowing. After the season ended, admittedly I didn't feel like continuing watching anymore. When the main story arc completes, what follows usually sound hollow as they often would feel...stretched. My sister stopped watching after season 5. I went for a pause momentarily, but after my SPM I resumed watching - beginning from season 6.
Season 6 was....boring, admittedly. I couldn't remember much from season 6, except I know I hate it when Castiel became the antagonist. It just sounded stupid and like I said, stretched.
Oddly, I found season 7 interesting. The popular opinion was that season 7 was a poorly produced season with filler episodes. I didn't remember it so, maybe because I watched it after my SPM and was on a long break? There wasn't a lot of Castiel in this season, sadly.
Then there came season 8. My god, I remembered season 8 as interesting but I couldn't recall much, probably because it had been 7 years ago. It had got to mean only one thing: it was interesting but not memorable - so, just decent. Tablets, prophets, not so much of my liking. But as a Supernatural fan, I finished it. I didn't like the ending. Angels and their civil wars, don't sound great to me.
I remember season 9 as ridiculous. Angel residing in Sam without his knowledge. Wizard of Oz? Dean talking to dog? Geez. Same as season 10, I just couldn't remember much, except the ending - my god. When I read online that Dean killed Death, I just had to watch on YouTube the clips. This is on 2015 - when I was in university, second year. I remembered watching Dean unleashed the Darkness, and the wave of black smoke engulfing the Impala. That was an epic ending - and something primordial, evil finally was released. I remember that was the time I was thinking: the old-style Supernatural is back! That's enough crap of angel civil wars. Civil wars are boring.
So I waited, and waited, and season 11 went to air. I think we all could agree, season 11 was the season Supernatural came back on its feet. Amara was the evil enemy we have all wanted to see in Supernatural. Like I said, civil wars are stupid, boring - we needed new enemies, something that sends shivers down to the spine just by thinking about it, not some stupid brotherly fight or hatred between heaven and hell. Amara was interesting, I like her. And till today, season 11 was an all time favourite.
Season 12 got a bit bad I guess. London's Chapter Men of Letters? I never really like the concept of Men of Letters but I would agree the bunker was a great introduction to the Winchesters. Lucifer knocking up a lady? A son? I was thinking, geez, season 12 was also full of crap. Parallel universe? Again, I was in university, third year. My excitement faded rather quickly. At that moment, Jack wasn't something I conceived as a favourable character. Then I realised Jack would be a main character, a sharp change in Supernatural - for so many years, its main casts have always been the brothers and Castiel.
But boy, season 13 proved me wrong. I liked Jack! Alexander Calvert really proved to be a great actor in portraying a newly born boy in a supposedly 13-year-old boy. His innocence, naivety, and childish acts really bring out the fatherly figure in Dean, Sam and Castiel. Supernatural has changed - after 13 years, the brothers have got a son!
To be very honest, I've not completely finished season 14 and season 15. But knowing a show I grew up watching has ended, it hurts a lot. I started watching this show as a 11-year-old boy, now I'm a 26-year-old working adult. For 15 years, this show has been an intricate part of me - it's my source of entertainment. Because of Supernatural, I guess it's why I'm so into thriller and mystery genres. Some episodes bring me back to the days I watched them - they could bring out memories I forgot exist. I watched the two brothers fighting over their father, John, to fighting over becoming a father to Jack. It's just - for 15 years, it's a lot of memories, a lot of feelings.
I've never done anything so long - 15 years I've watched this show. It has ended. A part of me felt....hollow. Empty.
15 years of memory compressed into a two-minute montage, the emotion was overpowering and overwhelming. The show did justice to Dean and Sam, but it would have been great if Castiel and Jack were featured as well. They were a part of the family too, Castiel's last moment was a bad one. Jack was raised by the Winchesters but though he has a great ending, the producers could have featured him for a few minutes in the finale. Why can't just show the four of them reunited in Heaven?
I miss Supernatural. I'll forever remember this show. No other show could possibly have replaced its position in my heart. Many shows have lasted as long, or probably longer, but none of them is anything like Supernatural. Supernatural is about family - the brothers, the Winchesters and Castiel and Jack. For 15 years the story has consistently centred around them. Other shows have characters that come and go. Supernatural has the same one throughout, with only minor characters come and go but those are not the central core. It's why it's different. Even though it is fictitious, Supernatural's bond is authentic, and I'll forever Supernatural as a show I grew up watching, indulging and shaping me to who I am today.
Thank you, Supernatural. From one of your greatest fan, in Singapore currently.
Supernatural is ending after 15 years. 15 super long years. Three times more than original intended.
I first watched Supernatural at night, on a Sunday at 10pm in 2005. Since then I was hooked and every year I watch Supernatural with my adrenaline always annoyingly fully pumped. Barring the boring seasons like 9 and 10, the rest of the show has been mind-numbingly exciting, it is so excruciating that this show has finally come to an end.
Episode 19 just aired hours ago. It was the season finale. There's actually one more episode, but it's meant to be the series finale, which means the story arc deviates from the main storyline in season 15 because it has concluded. I predict it would be probably a few years since episode 19, and Jack and the Winchesters cross path again during some hunting events, and somehow Castiel will come into play. I refuse to believe the show will end without Castiel's return.
This show has been a part of me for the past 15 years. I've grown together with Sam and Dean (literally, I was 11 years old!), and I've watched them both and Castiel 'fathered' a son. By the way, I like Jack. Alexander Calvert's is an awesome actor.
I cannot begin to process that something that has been intrinsically part of me will come to an end next week. I really do feel like a part of me is gone. I really love this show, a lot. I've never been so determined with something for so long.
I'll always remember Supernatural. However it ends.
It's a tad late but I wish to congratulate Joe Biden for becoming the President-elect!
For the past four years the world has witnessed the horror Trump unrolls in the USA and the repercussive effects they have to the world. The chaos, disturb, evil and disturbance to the natural order can finally get a reprieve once Trump officially ends his Presidency come 20th January.
Yes, the Americans are very, very divided at the moment. For such a controversial candidate to have still received 70 million votes is very mind-boggling to the rest of the world, but it is reassuring that the outcome proves that at the very end the good prevails.
We cannot wait for 20th January, 2021 to come. Welcome back to the sane world, the United States of America!
Yes, yes I know I'm always late, but hey at least I try to keep up! I just finished watching DC's Legends of Tomorrow Season 4 and I'm just mind-blown. The first season was meh, and I didn't like it, but I continue watching because it is part of the Arrowverse series and there are crossovers and I don't want to miss any strings in the middle. Then there was season 2 and it was okay but season 3 was mind-blowing. It was awesome! And now, season 4, even better! I don't know why, but I didn't like Rip Hunter and Amaya Jiwe. But, the character Charlie is super great and the British accent, my god! Maybe, because the actress is natural here and didn't need to hide her accent, the character is more lively portrayed. Amaya spoke like a lifeless character with deep sufferings, but Charlie is a playful character with recalcitrant traits. Also, I like Ava a lot, though my favourite character is still Sara Lance. But, I actually like Zari a lot. She's an awesome character so why must the producer mess up this character too? I hate it that the Zari in season 5 would be a different Zari. Then, Nora Darkh. Damn, I didn't know why I didn't notice she's Kelly Kline in Supernatural! I like this character too, and I just realised she and the actor playing Ray Palmer are real-life husband and wife (oops). But I like Nora Darkh a lot, she's an interesting character, nothing like her father who I really despise. It saddens me that all characters I like somehow got rewritten, besides Sara Lance so far. On the other hand, this show which I liked the least in the Arrowverse is now my favourite series.
Oh damn, it's October 2020 and almost one year since Covid-19 surfaced in Wuhan, and things take quite a sharp turn around.
In March, when MCO was announced, I said it was stupid. I stand by what I said. People love to let emotions take charge when they are in fear. I said MCO was a temporary solution that would only delay the inevitable. People said I was stupid and reckless and that people like me are the reason the virus can spread.
Seven months on, look at what is happening now. It is self-explanatory. The current situation is way much worse then what happened in March, and people really couldn't give a damn anymore.
The difference between me and most people is that I don't let my emotions override my judgements. I stood by what I said, and I'm witnessing what I'm predicting.
It has been 10 months since I left my home. It would appear I wouldn't be able to return for a foreseeable future, including CNY next year.
I've been freakishly busy recently, where all I did was waking up, working, and went to sleep immediately after work. I had been so busy, I literally, seriously had no time to do anything leisurely. Even eating a meal felt rush.
But this song was one of the songs that managed to calm me.
I've heard this song before on Spotify, but I couldn't find it on YouTube. Only very recently was this video uploaded. This version is thousands times better than the original.
I was hoping she could release a music video (which is likely a single) on either Sour Candy or Replay, but she chose 911 instead.
I wasn't enthralled by 911, although most fans appear to craze over it. To me, it sounded okay, but I wasn't fascinated by it.
But I admit it's a catchy song and, like most of the songs on the album, it was likeable and enjoyable.
This year has been devastating to the entertainment industry due to Covid-19, and we've had almost 9 months of no new excitements due to a halt on almost every activity.
911 therefore couldn't come at a more welcoming time. When I first heard it was gonna be released in 9am P.T., I had to search what PT meant and what time is it in Singapore time. Damn, midnight it was I found.
So I waited. And the countdown was unbearable.
Then, it premiered.
As an avid Gaga fan, the music video lacked a little Gaga-ness to me. It looked like a fantasy (which it was meant to be), and there was a lack of Gaga dancing. I mean, after watching her VMA live performance on 911, this music video came a bit disappointing for me.
However, this music video still kicks ass a lot. It was incomprehensible until the song ended and viewers are shown what actually happens. Then, the whole music video makes sense. Brilliant concept, I would say.
Lady Gaga makes my depressing 2020 very much more delighting and entertaining. Thank you, Lady Gaga.
I'm only aware this is the last music video One Direction released, without Zayn too. It's a fitting farewell song.
I guess since Zayn left, they know it wasn't the same anymore, and so they just went on a hiatus.
I'm not a 1D fan, but I did listen to a lot of 1D songs since 2010 hence even though I'm not a fan, their music was influential to me.
I was aware Zayn Malik left, but I never knew what happened next. To be honest, I didn't even realise they are on a hiatus.
I don't blame them. I'm pretty sure Zayn has his reasons for leaving 1D even though he has been portrayed as being very happy in the band.
I myself have gone through a few phases of my life, and in each of them I repeatedly found myself needing to escape and move on to the next phase.
But when I've moved on to the next phase, I yearn for the last. When we have lost something, when we are already in a different situation and have moved on, we tend to remember only what made us happy, and not what made us wanted to move on. That's just life. Our brains are structured to remember only the happiness.
They were young. They hadn't found what they really wanted. Five years down the road, someone had. And they bid goodbye.
We all always want things to be the same. But we always never appreciate what we have, until we lost it.
1D is not coming back, guys. Few years down the road, I'm starting to miss listening to their songs on the radios. But let's admit it - time has changed. 1D members have each found what they want, and the boy band will not return. Not so soon.
I'm pretty sure all of them, including Zayn, want to go back to how it was. But everyone is different now. There's just no going back anymore.
If they were to re-assemble later, it would be many years later where many of us would already have teenage kids. I would be looking forward to it.
Anyway, night guys. I also miss a lot of my past. I can't go back to them anymore. But it's fine. Let's move on.
Here's a few things to start: First, I'm not a One Direction's fan. I listen to their songs, and that's all.
Second, I am an extremely sentimental guy. My emotion is very easily influenced by my surroundings.
1D songs were a hit when I was younger - when I was in my university especially.
When I was still studying in Swinburne, Fly Fm was an inseparable part of my life. I listened to the radio stations every day, every time I have a chance to.
1D songs were almost always on the tracks.
Fast forward to now, 2020, 2 years since I graduated, 6 years since I first entered Swinburne, memories just hit me really hard.
Time really flies. Things have changed. Circumstances have changed.
1D has broken down. Zayn Malik has left. 1D, which was so subtly influential to me, is a memory that will not return.
It really just makes me miss so many things I enjoyed so much in the past.
I've been reading his books since 2010 when I first read The Executioner, a book which even my sister couldn't help but got engrossed in it. Every year, Chris Carter publishes one book, which I find too little. Every year, I try to get the book immediately when it was published. Back in the early 2010s, e-book was not popular. His books were also deprived of the attention they deserve, so they were particularly hard to get. The only bookstore that sold his books were Borders in Queensbay Mall, which has now sadly shuttered. But so many years later, I'm now in Singapore, and I've got access to Google Play Books. The publishers usually do very hard to gain profits by first releasing hardcover versions only for the first year so that they have a reason to charge more. Nah, I go for e-books, because I refuse to pay more just for the hardcover, and also because his books are not immediately available in Singapore or Malaysia, and most importantly I couldn't even wait for a second more to read his books and ebook gives me immediate access!
Anyway, as usual, his books never fail to charm. I devoured the book in 2 days, max. The beginning of the books was a bit slow, and it started off a little differently from his previous books. The killer in this book is a little less sick, less brutal (though still brutal), and unlike the previous books, there aren't any races to save victims, because in this book all the victims have died. Still, this book is enchantingly absorbing, and you couldn't stop reading it even if you want to. He wrote it in a different tone, a tad less analytical, a bit more personal, and also the suspense isn't as strong. I initially thought the killer was bipolar, given the way it went, but as it turned out I was wrong. But, doesn't matter, it was still a good read, although I find it weaker than his previous novels. But since a tragedy befell him while he was penning it, I think it's understandable. If you like a crime novel, I highly recommend Chris Carter's novels. Although, given the amount of time it takes for me to finish it, I think his books really don't worth the money, since for the same amount of money, you could also buy some other books that keep you entertained for a much longer period. Rating: 9/10.
I've finally finished this marvellous TV series. I've explained how I chanced upon this TV, so I'll skip these and go straight to the main point: the last season, which was released last year. Season 3 has a slightly different tone - the characters are no longer at lost and finding themselves, they are now trying to move on. There are also two more risens: a Chinese immigrant and a girl murdered by a religious freak. Season 3 does not have a focus, but each character is given a centric episode. James, the protagonist, has very much less screen time. He no longer becomes the friendly person as he himself dies and comes back from the dead with only one mission as the enemies did in the first two seasons. I guess for a show like this, the ending is expected: everybody has to die. Whatever dies has to remain dead, or it risks upsetting the natural balance. I guess this is the gist of the show. Anyway, awesome show. Glitch shows that Australia can indeed produce good television drama.
It's funny that I'm not a fan of glee but still, hearing the news of a cast's death is still a painful news for me to absorb.
I don't watch glee but I do watch some performance and I like Rachel mostly, but Santana was also a very fascinating character, so I did watch a few of her performance.
But to hear Naya Rivera's death, is still painful.
It always is painful for me to accept that somebody who I have watched alive dies.
Rest in peace, Naya Rivera. You died young, and this song, which you sang, just sounded very, very sombre.
I first watched Supernatural on TV3, back when Charmed was still on TV, because it was advertised on Star2 when TV was still a big deal, back in 2005. My sister and I both watched it, and immediately loved the show. As Charmed was the hotter magic show back then, we drew similarities between these two show, and concluded that Charmed was more fantasy while Supernatural has darker tone and less fantasy. I loved the show so much, I even bought pirated DVDs because in 2005 the internet was still not a thing in Malaysia.
Not, fast forward 15 years later, Supernatural is supposed to have concluded. Due to Covid-19, it has been on a hiatus and we still do not know when the finale will come. 15 years later, I am still watching this series.
I deliberately chose not to watch Supernatural, season 13 yet because I know once I started it, I'll get addicted and I will not stop. I stopped at Season 12 two years ago, and intended to wait until the series finale so that I can finish 3 seasons in one go. I was wrong. I couldn't wait anymore. I watched it. As expected, I got addicted and finished it in a mere week despite massive workload.
Despite 13 seasons, Supernatural is still insanely addictive. Be very careful before you even begin to watch one episode.
The original intention was for it to have 5 seasons, and season 5 did conclude the main story arc. The first five seasons were indeed awesome, and I can remember a lot of it despite so many years have gone by.
Season 6 was very boring. Castiel became an antagonist is not cool. Season 7, quite the contrary to the public opinion, I did find this season interesting. Season 8 and 9 though, boring, I couldn't remember much. Season 10 was okay, but also I couldn't remember much.
Season 11 was when the show came back banging like season 5. The show we all loved came back strong and mighty!
Then there was season 12, which introduced something I thought ridiculous: a parallel universe. Okay, fine, let's just give it a try.
And then holy shit, season 13! We are introduced the character Jack, Lucifer's son. Oddly, I like this character a lot. It's well played by this actor, who I cannot recognise despite having guest starred on Arrow.
Sam-Dean-Castiel-Jack relationship just became another one that became an integral part of the series, and I really love to watch the brotherly bond.
The other story arc though, the ridiculous alternate universe archangels with this universe archangel. I don't really like it, but okay it was still entertaining. It was weak though, comparatively. Angels as the enemies, just don't bode well.
I have rough idea how Season 14 and 15 (so far) go, but I really just cannot wait for the finale!
I've watched this series for 15 years so far. 15 god damn long years. I will miss it when it finally ends. Really, I'll feel like a part of me has ended. 15 years, since season 1. I've never grown so attached to any series, and I don't think I'll find any one that will replaceSupernatural.
Naya Rivera is currently missing but presumably drown in the lake where her son was found alone on a boat. I don't want Glee much, I listen to some songs and watch some performance and that's all. But the presumed death of someone you have watched alive, is still something very uncomfortable to absorb. It has always been a difficult thing for me to accept the death of someone I know, and lucky for me I've never experienced the death of any close families or friends other than a primary school friend who died of blood cancer. I knew her, but the memory of her now is gone. I remembered I processed that news rather badly - I withdrew myself for a good whole day, even though by then I had not spoken to her for two years. The death of anybody has always been hard to me, and I've always hate that. Anyway, I hope Naya Rivera can be found alive, although truth to be told the chances are very slim. Still, I wish she could be well. Praying.
I like Glitch. In honesty, I like most Australian television drama I've watched. Newton's Law was a memorable legal drama that sadly was not renewed for a second season. Glitch caught my attention because it is a scientific paranormal television series, and I've never watched any produced by Australian network. The first season was great, but the second is even better! I honestly love this series so much I can't wait to finish the third and final season now on Netflix (but I'll hold on at the moment). I did not expect she to become the main antagonist. There are still unexplained questions, but since there's one more season to go, it's fine. I like Kate, and Charlie. Both of these characters are great, and played well by the actress and actors. Kirstee finally knew how she died, and who murdered her. Of course, we also know why everyone is brought back - there was only one target, the rest was brought back unintentionally because somebody else was thinking about them when the resurrection occurred.
This is one highly ranked and positively received Australian drama that I would highly recommend you to watch if you like paranormal series. It's not a horror drama, but it's sprinkled with many supernatural paranormal, so don't worry if scare is a big fear. It's mostly about the resurrected's journeys to ascertain how they died as they came back without memories, and also their survival from being murdered from somebody bent-on killing them. It's a great show, trust me you won't be disappointed. It's available on Netflix, all three seasons.
Top of the Lake: China Girl is the second season of the series, and currently the last, despite being aired in 2017. Honestly, the first season was kind of boring. I knew most people prefer the first over the second, rather overwhelmingly, but to me the first was boring. I remembered getting bored, wanting to end it as soon as possible because the progress was slow. Perhaps it just wasn't my cup of tea. The first season was filmed and set in New Zealand, but the second in Sydney, Australia. Well, Elisabeth Moss's Australian accent still sounds peculiar, incongruous actually. But otherwise, I like the second season so much better. The storyline is good, I actually was hooked on and wanted to finish the series. The ending though was a bit anti-climatic, and justice hasn't been served, but I guess the point of this series is that not all crimes are always met with justice. One thing though: They are not China girls. They are Thai. Not all Asians are Chinese. Otherwise, awesome series. Love it. Couldn't wait for a third season.
You know, I studied law as part of my undergraduate study. But even before taking that unit, I already fell in love with law. Law is fun. Anybody who loves languages would love law, barring the technicality that it entails. I love law, I love reading judgments although admittedly I so far have only studied common law. The argument, the hundreds of pages long of arguments just to analyse the impact of using 'and' or 'or', is mind-blowing. It fascinates me, especially since many of the justices analyse the words with so many facts and that semantics and language play such an influential role. Malaysia's judgments really pale in comparison with the US and the UK.
This is the latest court judgments provided by the United States Supreme Court on the discrimination of LGBT people. Surprisingly, despite having a conservative majority, the court ruled in favour of LGBT, and what's more surprising is one of Trump's appointee sided with the liberals.
I read it because it was a surprising result. The judgment the justices wrote reminded me what I love languages.
I don't watch Glee. But I like many of the songs in it.
I know it's many years late. Forgive me.
Lea Michelle has one of the greatest voice. Ya, recently some news about her nasty behaviour surfaced but I don't gossip.
I started looking into Glee music because I learnt both Supergirl actress and The Flash Grant Gustin were in there. So I dug up the episodes Grant was in because I heard he played a villain and I noticed it has been 10 years since he acted in it but he does not appear to ever change a tiny bit. Damn, he's really a great villain. I like the Warbler simply because they dance and sing. I have no issue with New Directions - it's just that their singings are just not as impressive (except Rachel's I like her) and their dancings are not entertaining.
I do not think I'll watch Glee though. The content of the show is as nasty as I could have imagined - teenage drama, rage, jealousy, bullying. Nah, I'll give it a pass. I'll just enjoy the music.
Did I mention I finally joined Netflix? Well, it's because my sister is paying for it. Netflix, however, has turned out to be more fun than I would have imagined. However, I am disappointed many of my favourite shows are not on it: Law & Order series, Chicago series, The Brokenwood Mysteries also. Netflix doesn't have a lot of Australian and New Zealand drama, and I love them, so it's kind of sad for me. However, it has a lot of old shows that I like, it has the full The Big Bang Theory series, but sadly no Young Sheldon. Anyway, it does have many series, and so far I enjoy using it. It would be great if they could bring in more Australian and New Zealand tv series. I watch drama more than movies.
As usual, Lady Gaga's songs don't connect when you first hear it.
It was released on Spotify Friday morning, and I listened to it immediately when it was available. To be honest I like the song, but I do not like the mechanical deep voice 'Rain on me' by Lady Gaga after the chorus, and the EDM sounds a bit uncharacteristically annoying.
But the music video was released hours later, almost 1am Saturday morning (I just finished my work then), and the song sounded better. Maybe because I was able to see human expressions and the neat dance, but I definitely find it much better now.
I'm not a big fan of Ariana Grande - nothing against her, just never really listen to her songs - but her willingness to follow Gaga's queer styles seem oddly inspiring.
I kinda want to go for postgraduate studies. Master's, by coursework. Not research. For civil engineers, if you want to stay in the industry, coursework is more important. Research is for people who want to go academics.
Here's my dilemma.
Initially, I wanted to go the University of Auckland. I've made inquiries, and eventually, I've formulated a plan: to work full-time and study part-time. The visa allows, I'll just have to declare that that's my intention. Because New Zealand (especially Auckland) is so costly, there's no way I can survive there without an income. But, finding a job there is extremely difficult. Civil engineering is a very localised job, it's an industry which you must appreciate the uniqueness of the location to excel, else it's an impossible job to perform. Understandably, New Zealand would not be very welcoming to foreigners who want to work as civil engineers there without New Zealand background. Not especially since I'm not NZ-code trained (AS-trained though) and I'm not familiar with seismic activities and also I come from a tropical country that cannot comprehend the effect of four seasons on the structural integrity of the structure. If the option can actually come into fruition, I perhaps would go for it: it takes two years to complete part-time studies, and I'll just have to try my best to pull through that enormously torturing two years. I like UoA course content, and most importantly New Zealand amazes me a lot. But this plan doesn't appear to be an easy one.
So I've thought of going back to Malaysia and take advantage of the subsidised tuition fees for Malaysians. It's extremely cheap, only about RM15k for the whole course, compared to NZD 42k (About RM113,000) for UoA. But not many universities offer Masters by coursework. And most that do contains research content in it. I've thought about going USM which provides mixed-mode study plan: half research, half coursework - equal weightage. But USM courses don't appeal - more on mechanics than civil designs. UPM, not keen. Not high on my list. UKM, I like the content a lot, but the thesis has to be written in Malay. I really cannot imagine writing a thesis in Malay when I don't learn everything in Malay. UTM, quite good, highest on my card right now, but it's in Skudai. It's close to EduCity and I've surveyed the area around (via Google Map) and it looks conducive fur study. But here's the catch: the course takes 1.5 years. I would need to go 1.5 years without income while paying rent and car. If I were in KL, I would get a job. But Johor, don't think so.
Last option: to get PR, and study in NUS. I really don't want to study in NUS because the whole Singapore industry is already Singapore trained so I really do not believe an NUS certificate would make my CV stand out in an already chokingly competitive market. Not especially since so many people are also NUS-trained. It's almost like everybody is NUS trained. So if I were to go to NUS, it means I'll have to leave Singapore to shine. But the thing is I have to get PR which means I'll have to pay CPF - 20% of salary gone and unreachable until age 55. And work full-time and study part-time while paying huge fees.
Besides Lady Gaga, Shawn Mendes's music is among those I occasionally listen to.
This isn't a new song, but this acoustic version makes the song so much rawer that it feels relatable.
I heard it on Fly Fm. To be honest, conventional radio is still the best. Better than Spotify. If you have selections, you tend to stick to those you're comfortable with. With radios, you listen to whatever that is played. You can't skip. And best of all, you don't know what's next - which means you're always in for a surprise!
Glitch is an Australian television drama which I think is unique of its kind. Australian drama tend to be family-centric, but this is sci-fi. Glitch is about the deads coming back to life in a small town in Australia with no memories of how they died and when they died. Only the policeman and local doctor are aware of the rise from the dead and they immediately brought the deads to the doctor's abode to avoid creating ripples and unrest in the small tightly knit community. It soon becomes apparent that the deads cannot leave the town or risk disintegrating and re-die, and that each of them comes back to somehow finish some unfinished business they did not wrap up before their demise, with majority of them seems to die of murder. Australian drama, like British tv series, is short and generally consists of only eight episodes per season. It's also densely packed with adrenaline-pumping stories and, other than Newton's Law and Janet King, it's a very interesting tv series to watch. The first season was produced by an Australian TV network but the second and third are produced by Netflix. So watch it if you can, it's good!
I usually watch American TV series in preference over movies, because movies sometimes are a bit too long for me to watch in a binge and sometimes the stories repeat itself I got bored of all the melodrama. But there are also times I'm just tired of American dramas and I switch to British/Australian/New Zealand dramas which are often less speckled with personal affections and more focused on its theme. Broadchurch is one of them I watched, and it turned out to be super awesome! Now, British drama is few and far between, and the charm (or maybe downside) of British shows is that they're super short, consisting of only a few episodes in a season (a 'season' in America is called a 'series' in British) so it makes the story short but compact and there are very little fillers.
Broadchurch is about an enigmatic detective whose arrival in a suburban British town coincided with the discovery of a dead boy's body that fractures the society. The trust between the small-town community cracks and consequently there are extra scrutiny and doubts over each other's personal lives as it appears that everybody has something to hide. I've just finished the first season, probably a few years late I believe, and the series is awesome! No melodrama, quite densely packed with enough elements to get you pumped, and coming from a suburban town, I was able to sync a bit with the elements of the town. It's good. If you're looking for a British crime drama, I highly recommend Broadchurch. I enjoyed it much more than I had expected to.
I support MCO in Malaysia, but unlike majority of the population, I want an easing in lifting it.
MCO is very harsh, given that in Malaysia the situation isn't as bad as Wuhan. But when it was introduced, there were uncertainties on how bad it could turn as the tabligh gathering was massive and the spreading could be uncontrollable. I agreed harsh MCO was needed for the first two weeks.
But now we are entering a third cycle. And our daily new cases hardly inspire confidence the situation has improved.
The reality is COVID-19 is going to stay with us for a little while longer. It isn't possible to see zero new cases for a few months. If MCO has been successfully, we should be seeing a reduction in new cases. But we're not. We're not seeing spikes, but we are not seeing flattening either.
The core of this issue lies with the people, of which I really am tired of explaining again.
I agree MCO is needed, but I think majority of people fail to understand something: MCO cannot halt this virus. It's meant to only flatten, and when it has achieved its goal, it will be lifted. And when MCO is lifted, the very dangerous, second wave is lingering and can attack as swiftly and savagely and perhaps more viciously than the first.
Malaysians need to understand that while MCO is helpful in flattening the curve, it is also dangerous because once it is lifted, it triggers a mass exodus (thanks to bad MCO implementation earlier when people left KL en masse) and mass societal movement that the police and armed forces will not be able to control. When one infected person comes into contact with a fellow passenger, the spread could be so fast it makes contact tracing impossible.
People will make excuses like, it has been two months, let's hang out, have party, dine out, go to cinemas and everywhere and in one day they will be making trips and meeting many different people. It is a perfect opportunity for a second messy explosive wave to come.
So MCO should be lifted gradually, slowly, beginning with services that most people will look for, but arguably not essential. For instance, barber. Haircut.
Almost 95% of Malaysians oppose allowing haircut services to resume despite being allowed to.
Let me tell you why I support it.
There are two scenarios: In both scenarios, let's consider you do come into contact with an infected person. If you cut your hair now and get infected, with limited social mobility and services, the infected can be quickly traced because the government knows where to focus. If you wait for them to lift MCO, when people are mobile and pent-up desire burst its bank and people may get a haircut and subsequently go eat, go drink, go watch movie, go to the beach and go any parks, contact tracing becomes impossible and the spreading of the virus will become uncontrollable, defeating the purpose of MCO.
Which scenario do you think is better? You're being asked to choose the better of two bad options. Nobody says it's a good option, it's just that the other one is so much more appalling.
You could get your haircut done at home. That would be ideal, only if everybody cooperates and do so. But then again, had people cooperated, we never needed MCO to begin with.
Wait for 0 new cases? Look at China, it's still not happening. By the way, China imposed strict lockdown, levels beyond what Malaysia MCO is. Even then, the daily new cases in Malaysia does not reflect 0-new-case day is on the horizon. So it's easier if you do not count on that. Plus, 0-new-case is possibly because it is undetected, not because it is absent. There's a difference.
I have no faith Malaysia will recover from COVID-19 this soon. Not because Malaysia does not have the capability, but because, judging from the barber service response, Malaysians are not prepared for what may happen post-MCO.
This flavour was introduced last year but I did not try it. I gave it a try this year, and my short and honest review: taste good, but awfully, ridiculously sweet, as if it's made with the sole intention of triggering diabetes to the drinkers. Otherwise, it tasted fine. I still prefer the original, or even chocolate and strawberry flavour which are also sweet, but at least they haven't been overwhelming.
Singapore has lost control of COVID-19 for quite a time already. The number of local unlinked cases has risen sharply and it piles up to become a staggering mess of trouble. But Singapore government, being rational, has not taken the drastic steps already enforced in many other countries: lockdown.
There has been disruption though: retail outlets are to shut, dining out is forbidden and only takeaways and delivery are allowed. And while it does not encourage wearing masks, it does not discourage. Basically, you decide how you see it. Wear if you want to, don't wear if you want to. Previously the government straight out discourages wearing, but now it retracts it but it stopped short of encouraging it.
To be honest, Singapore has responded well. One thing about it is that Singapore, unlike Malaysia, does not need to enforce a lockdown. It cannot afford to, being such a small country so heavily reliant on trade, and it also really just does not seem to need to. All Singapore government needs to do is to stop public transport, shut the MRTs, and the country mobility would be basically incapacitated. Only a few crazy rich Asians would have private vehicles to move around, but such privileges only befall a minority of Singaporeans and therefore should suffice.
Singapore is a small country that can be easily controlled. Only when it becomes to times like this, Singapore does become extremely appealing and inspire confidence.
Malaysia went into a partial lockdown from today until 31/3/2020.
What it means is that while people are free to move around, they are strongly advised to stay indoors. Malaysians should only go out to buy daily necessities.
However, Malaysians are not doing so.
Look, I belong to the minority that finds this fear wildly exaggerated and blown out of proportions. Lots of diseases are always spreading constantly and people are dying on a daily basis from something as mild as a flu. It is not announced because when something happens on a daily basis, the people lose interest and it therefore is not newsworthy. Just look at H1N1 in 2009. People were so scared, and Malaysia reported deaths daily, until when the deaths reached 80+, MOH just decided to stop reporting because the virus had spread out of control and people were dying at a pace too quick to tally. After all, interest and fear waned, and live went back to normal, even though the virus was still spreading and people were still dying from H1N1.
The same is happening now. The difference is there was no social media then, and even though the situation was actually much worse in 2009, this social panic did not occur.
COVID-19 will spread uncontrolled, and people will die. But we just have to wait until the psychological fear subsides. It is not a matter of whether this will happen. It's when.
In Singapore, despite skyrocketing cases, people already move out and not wearing masks. Because what matters here is psychology.
Plus, evidence points COVID-19 is on the same severity as H1N1. It isn't like SARS, or MERS (which I believe majority of people do not know about). Hence, it defies logic that the same outbreak involving virus of the same severity entail two wildly different public response.
Yet, again, I recognise I belong to a minority.
We live in a society. That being said, we therefore would have conflicts and difference in opinions.
It's true that while the majority of us would just display mild symptoms or even asymptomatic, there are people who have grandparents at home that are highly vulnerable. While the vulnerability exists even before COVID-19 spreads, and thanks to COVID-19, the awareness is much higher although stupidly displayed, it doesn't mask the fact that they can still catch the virus and die.
Therefore, it is essential you remain at your home when this partial lockdown is announced.
Don't be selfish.
We may disagree with the action, but bear in mind there are a few who really cannot catch this virus.
I don't like this order, in fact, I do not agree with this order at all. But since it already is being enforced, and if staying at home can prevent even one death, then just stay at home.
So please, just stay at home.
You don't want this lockdown to be extended.
By then, our economy could also be so badly brutalised, we cannot go back to pre-COVID-19 level.
The world is already in a mess, just be patient for 2 weeks.
Malaysians, please stay at home.
I'm not worried about how the virus is going to kill. I'm extremely concerned about the psychological toll it has on people.
People have been sharing awareness on social media, reminding and essentially, in a subtle but clear-cut way, warning everyone to take on the mantle of social responsibility by avoiding crowded public areas, informing that not displaying symptoms does not mean you're not a host to the virus.
It's good.
I mean, I agree with all this information. It's stupid to deny that they're true, not especially when the death toll has climbed so high and the new cases skyrocket all around the world, with the epicentre now shifted to Europe.
However, my question is: why now?
Why are this information only shared now?
Look, I get it. Thousands have died from COVID-19. New cases soared everywhere and this forcibly shuts many cities around the world and disrupts world economy on an unprecedented level.
But as healthcare professionals have warned repeatedly when panic buying infects the society, taking care of personal hygiene and all these social responsibility messages are something you should be doing ALL THE TIME. Why, exactly, in the thick skull of majority people's mind, makes you think this is the only time you need to do exactly that?
People die everyday. Everyday, thousands of people die from diseases from existing microorganisms, some of which already have a cure, and majority of them could be easily avoided.
The annual seasonal flu kills at the very least 80,000 people worldwide.
Non-transmittal diseases, like chronic diseases, and car accidents, misshaps, unforeseen tragedies, strike everyday. Why aren't awareness spread when all these are omnipresent?
Look, I'm not against practising all these things. But I guess I'm surprised how people have been so ignorant of ever-present existing threats on a daily basis that it saddens me to realise that it takes a new virus to slap people awake from the slumber.
COVID-19 mortality rate is not even higher than dengue. So far, dengue has infected 25,000 Malaysia to date. People still throw rubbish in the drain and clog it so that water can be left stagnant and breed aedes.
COVID-19 mortality is hardly more deadly than car accidents that could leave also a psychological impact. Yet, people in Malaysia still do not know how to use their signal lights. For all you idiots who say car accidents are avoidable and this virus is not, let me remind you accidents are called accidents because they are not foreseen and happens without warnings and therefore they are not avoidable. You can be careful and not hit anyone person's car, but you could be the victim of another person's mistake. You can be careful and it could reduce the probability of getting one, but there's nothing that says you can't land yourself in one. Just like the virus, you can try to avoid it, but the virus lingers on surfaces for a few hours and you cannot possibly tell where they are. Somebody may sneeze on a table in the cafe and you may sit on it a few hours later and touch the table and then touch your food. If you're gonna tell me I'm stretching it with my fancy imagination, let me tell you all these happen out of probability, of which this is one.
My point is all these risks are present on a daily basis. Just because COVID-19 is spreading it doesn't mean you couldn't get yourself a nasty dengue and die from it. Stop being obsessed with COVID-19 and start taking care of your health by watching out for all diseases. Just because COVID-19 is spreading doesn't mean you wouldn't die from other causes the next day. So wearing a mask now guarantees some safety? If you don't know how to throw away the stagnant water in the flower pot you could get dengue of die of something nasty later. The morgue isn't invented only now to cope with COVID-19.
Avoid crowded areas when you're sick is what you should be doing all along. Not just when COVID-19 is spreading. If you have fever, even if it's just seasonal flu, just stay home. It's good right now you realise you could spread it to someone who would just manifest mild symptoms but spread it to vulnerable old people with compromised immunity. I just hope you remember this one year later when COVID-19 would most likely stay common among the community and when people stop caring about it.
Remember H1N1 in 2009? All the hype then, only to have it still spreading among the community 11 years later and people already stop giving a shit about it like it does not matter now. You gonna tell me all these 11 years you've been stocking yourself with hand sanitisers and masks? Don't kid yourself - I know for a fact nobody is doing that, else why is the demand spiking now even though H1N1 is continuously still spreading?
It's good this awareness is spreading now. Let's see when people start getting comfortable and forget all this advice and go back to being a jerk that goes to the office when they're sick.
And also, wanna bet by then COVID-19 is still spreading?
This is going to be a 2nd H1N1 - people give so much shit and panic when it starts spreading. But after a few months....nah.
The gist: practise social responsibility all the time. Not only now. People forget very fast, and soon nobody cares anymore. Shame. It's a real shame it takes a new virus to slap people awake. It's like everyday only PROTON gets into a car accident, then suddenly a BMW gets into one, and everybody starts using signal light and buckle up. I'm not downplaying COVID-19, but I find it curious people downplay all other diseases that are existing and spreading at the same time.
Wawasan 2020 indeed an impossible aspiration. The year when the government who were voted against still become the government despite losing majority seats and majority votes.
R.I.P Democracy in Malaysia. Your stint is short-lived, barely even 2 years, but you'll be very sorely missed. We'll try to revive you when the next general election comes. I'll be part of the effort, and will strive to make sure it succeeds.
I don't proclaim myself a baby monster, but I do enjoy many of her songs, although I don't yet consider myself a fan since I don't really all her movements.
But I do like her songs and many of them am I still listening after so many years. So when I learnt that she was releasing a song at around 1pm Malaysian time, I just had to listen.
I first listened it on Spotify, and it struck me as normal. But let's admit, her songs don't sit in that fast. It becomes an earworm that slowly adjusted itself comfortably into your ears, and then it become a nuisance and you just have to listen to it again and again.
This song is quite good, although it harkens back to her time prior to Perfect Illusion - to Bad Romance's era. I love the Perfect Illusion Gaga, so I hope she doesn't revert back to the maniac Gaga. Although, however form she chooses to take, I most likely will still be a fan.
I just learnt the existence of Calum Scott a few days ago and I just fell in love with his songs.
Then, I learnt that prior to his appearance on GBT, he toured around as a member in Maroon 4 covering Maroon 5's songs.
His voice is distinctly similar to Adam Levine's, and his cover of his song's Misery really just sounds too enchanting.
This is Calum Scott, singing Adam Levine's Misery before he became a star. I'm not joking. He might sound like Adam Levine, he might look like Adam Levine, but make no mistake, the guy in the video is the amazing Calum Scott.
I think I stopped watching American Idols since....I don't know, season 5? And that was a decade ago, think probably almost two. It has been a long time.
I was bored and somehow my brain had a little miswiring and all of the sudden, American Idols came to my mind and I googled it. The first video that came out was the Top 10 best performance of all time, and among my favourites is this, Bennie and the Jets sang by Haley Reinhart.
I've no idea who she is, but she's apparently an awesome singer! I mean, watch her performance, can you see how beautiful is it?
You see, this is the difference between the Western singing competitions when compared to China's.
A lot of people commented that after you've watched Sing! China, X-factors, AGT, BGT and American Idols and the likes became so meaningless that it didn't worth a second of your time. I whole-heartedly disagreed.
The difference between the Western and Chinese culture actually has its roots within the difference in their attitudes, and this, by extension, affects how people sing.
The Westerners tend to sing the songs and do their best to enjoy themselves, without the competition being a huge motivation but it is apparent the competition goes second for them. The main priority is to enjoy themselves, and you can many of the artists' performance - there is very little fear of being different, of being substandard, that however appalling some of them can be, they acted like that stage is theirs and it does not matter the response is cold, all it matters is the few minutes they get to enjoy themselves. Consequently, you do get lots of idiots who just wanna grab your attention, but within that mix of interesting bag, you do get a few individuals who shine unusually and blindingly bright. And this person, even if he/she is only 1 out of a 100, is extremely inspiring.
The Asians tend to treat competition very seriously, and has that target as number one, and therefore while their performances impress, it's because they are a product of undeniable hard work. You're impressed by how much effort they are willing to put in, but not the fact that they enjoy themselves. If you watch their performances, majority has a storyline or a plot, or tend to be deeply emotional that intend to emotionally support their deliverance. You very rarely, though not impossible, see contestants who truly enjoy what they do on stage, and who reacted like it did not matter what people care. Their concern is to impress, and to grab the people's attention and recognition. Unlike the Westerners - the aim is not to enjoy, but to be recognised. While I do admire a lot of what they do, a lot of them lack inspiration. You watch their performances and you're impressed with what they're capable of, but you hardly would be inspired to be them. On the other hand you may feel stressed that everybody has some talent, but you are just ordinary.
I'm at a crossroad of my life where I do not know how to proceed.
I don't particularly hate what I am doing. I enjoy what I'm doing, it's just that it is very repetitive and there's no sense of accomplishments. I do get to learn a lot, and that's very satisfying although at the same time learning more simultaneously brings more questions and that slowly shreds my confidence layer by layer as days go by, and I also enjoy gaining knowledge. But my dilemma isn't exactly work-related, but life.
You see, I'm 26, halfway past the critical age where people cease being a teenager and identify as an adult, and yet I'm nowhere close to what I imagined I would be when I was little.
To be honest, rather naively I had imagined I would have a stable life at 26. No I do not want that now, on hindsight that was a naive thought because having a stable life at this young of an age curtails a lot of possibilities. I want there to be security, not stability. I can afford to experience some turmoil and volatility, I just need assurances that I can overcome them. I do not yet have this feeling.
Occasionally I do wish I have a partner. Everybody around me has one, but most of the time I really don't. I want there to be somebody in my life, but I'm really not interested in puppy love or those immature relationships one often has to suffer through. I just look forward to the kind of married life where one goes home and another one is at home and one only really needs each other for company. I need someone to be there but to be honest I know I can get by without one. I have never learnt to live for another person - this kind of love is incomprehensible for me. If I ever have a girlfriend it would be because I like her for who she is, it won't be because I'm lonely or that I need someone to live for. I have myself to live for and I've lots of things I still want to do so a lack of reason to live wouldn't really be something I would need to find on another person.
I want to go to someplace foreign (Singapore is overseas but doesn't quantify as 'foreign' for a Malaysian), preferably with entirely different culture, or entirely similar, and with four seasons. I've always yearned to live in either Taiwan or New Zealand and I'm actively exploring this option. But the problem is, Taiwan is a harsh place to work though a pleasant place to live and I do enjoy Taiwan. The work environment there is just insane, and I don't think I can visualise myself writing in traditional Chinese characters that also do not adopt Hanyu pinyin. But the 4 seasons there are not very harsh and liveable. New Zealand is a great place to live but not exactly a great place to work, because it is highly specialised and the knowledge there aren't exactly applicable in Malaysia/Singapore where high rise buildings are more dominant and seismic less of an emphasis. New Zealand places extra emphasis on seismic and infrastructure, two of which Malaysia isn't very appreciative of although Malaysia should be. Plus, New Zealand is too far away, and going to such a foreign country alone is not something I look forward to. Perhaps when I was younger, when I was more adventurous, it would have been very inviting for me. But now, at age 26, I would either be going there for postgraduate studies or to work, and both options are highly costly and the culture difference makes it a little prohibitive.
So you see, I don't know what to do next. I'm still in Singapore but I cannot visualise a life in Singapore because this is a city for one to work, not live. It's a city that lives on the sole purpose of a necessary survival in an ever-changing society intertwined with fast-paced globalisation. As a tiny island with nothing to offer, it hinges on what other countries need, functioning as an entrepot to import raw materials from third world countries for processing to export to first world countries. Therefore it often chokes on the fast-changing countries like USA, UK, PRC, Europe and it doesn't get space to breathe, slow down and enjoy life as people in other countries have the privilege to. In Singapore, this basic essence of life, enjoyment, does not exist, for the sole reason its existence deprives the country from the relevance it finds support onto.
What should I do next? While I do like the idea of taking a break by going into postgraduate studies, I also wish to continue writing, perhaps exploring my other hobbies: writing. Language studies sound nice. Perhaps teaching. I don't know there are a lot of things I want to do, but I just am lost on which to go for next.
I cannot remember whether I've shared this song before, and I'm just too lazy to check.
This song somehow just wakens the slumbering part of my brain and lifts my spirits up.
To be honest, my favourite part is the first one minute sang by Florida Georgia Line. While the rest still sounds awesome, somehow their vocals are exceptionally captivating.
The first time I heard this song was from a pirated CD I bought from Tabuan Plaza in Kuching (oops, admitting to a crime). After years I still wish to know who the singer is because it's so sentimental and the voice is so soothing I just couldn't forget such a beautiful voice.
Plus the sudden smooth transition from one song to another towards the end is really fascinating.
I've never been able to find it for years because this is a cover version and the singer probably isn't established enough for a Google search. Until today it came to my mind he may have uploaded his song to Spotify and....tada....there's where I found him!
After so many years. This shows that if you do not give up, you do get what you want at the end.
Sharing with you guys, one of the greatest songs I've ever heard.
Yesterday, the Singapore government reported three locally transmitted cases which couldn't be traced to the previous patients and also PRC, the origin of the virus. Because this is a sign that is a local transmission and ain't an imported one, MOH raised their alert level a notch higher to Orange, which is the second-highest on their scale, and merely advises people to take care of personal hygiene. In no way is their circular written that a lockdown would be implemented, and schools aren't even ordered to be closed yet.
So the typical kiasi Singaporeans interpret it the kiasi way - lockdown is imminent. Whole island reacts like zombie would rise anytime and rush to get daily supplies, resulting in queue in stores that stretch to metre and depletion so severe the bosses of NTUC, ShengSiong have to come out and urge people to stay calm and don't hoard and that they have plenty of supplies to sufficiently distribute to everyone.
But, as a typical kiasi Singapore would interpret to such a statement: their focus is that they have sufficient supply, not to stay calm, so they would go out and buy more instead!
At the event of potential difficulty, the ugliness of the society comes out blindingly apparent and the over-reaction to something so tiny is what place Singapore so high on the stressful environment list.
Singaporeans obsession to over-react to every incidents, however tiny it is, is what causes Singaporeans so stressed. They don't know how to live - they live like they work. When a mistake is committed, the first thing to do is to find who is liable and how to prevent another from happening. Unlike the rest of the world where the natural first response is to determine how severe it is - if it's minor then reprimand and fix it and move on but if it's major, fix it first and reprimand later. Not Singapore. Singapore pattern is, got problem? Faster check whether it is mine. If it's not mine, not my problem. No sense of society. No sense of responsibility. Whatever they do, only they themselves matter most. Just like when this warning of virus is raised.
I don't know why anyone actually enjoys Singapore. I mean, sure this country is awesome. The infrastructure really is outstanding and I love their MRT with every fibre of my being and their economy really is the envy of the whole world. But the people here, facepalmed.
If you live the way you work, you're giving yourself a lot of undue stress.
Life doesn't always go smoothly. Sometimes mistakes happen, and our lives aren't meant to be planned. What goes along comes around and what is meant to be is meant to be. You cannot make your living so rigid and treat it like it's something that has to be scheduled. You cannot see people do something and then kiasi and follow suit. I still cannot understand why peer pressure is so significant in Singapore to the point the whole island country subscribes to only one life - do well, work well, go kiasi and follow all newest trend and then what? Die of old age while still cannot take out your cpf?
Happy Chinese New Year! The CNY this year falls on Saturday so it means we've less public holidays than we dream of, but nonetheless it still marks the beginning of a new year and this year we welcome the year of the rat! As usual, my company closes for one week and I, owing to the exorbitant price tickets that made me cringed and stumbled over, took the bus organised by my school's alumni in Singapore and it departed 7.30pm on Thursday. Lucky for me the traffic was rather smooth, barring a little stretch towards Yong Peng, and I reached Juru at 06:30 on Friday. Anyway, it's time to be fat again because the cookies are devilishly delicious and there are just too many good food (come on, this is Malaysia anyway). I'll just sin for a week and try to lose fat after I return to Singapore. Anyway, happy CNY again!
Okay I wasn't even keen about watching this show because, well, I don't know, the synopsis hardly charms. I didn't also know it was based on a book. I gave it a try anyway because a change in genre may be welcoming since I have been watching the same shows for quite some time. As it turns out, this show blew my mind! I just started watching season 1 like 2 days ago, and even though it has only ten episodes in one season, I found it difficult to pace myself and resist finish watching them in one day. I particularly like the character Villanelle, and boy isn't she an awesome actress? She's so good in acting that anybody would really convince she is a psychopath. If you're searching for a good show, give it a try!
Is anyone out there like me, grow up in a bilingual environment, simultaneously exposed to both cultures and therefore is coloured and influenced by both to create some weird mix? I personally grow up with a Western-influenced father and speak English to my father, but I also grow up with a Chinese-influenced mother and speak Chinese to her (how these two met despite these conflicting and colliding cultures escapes me and I don't really want to ask too much). The result is that I'm exposed and ergo absorbed both cultures' values. I listen to both English and Chinese songs, but unlike most people of my age and around me, I do not have an inclination towards one. I read both books, again against the norm because most people have a preference: either only Chinese with occasional English books or the inverse. I read both, rather frequently. I watch both dramas, though I show a preference for Western's.
In my life, I pick and select values I desire from both cultures, which most people do not because they do not grow up like me. The result is that my personality is a little ironic: for instance, I like the West's independence and respect for personal liberty, but I also respect Chinese's value of collectiveness and togetherness. The result is that even though I want to have liberty and, to some extent, freedom to run wild, I also simultaneously wish to work with people in a group to produce an achievement that I could be proud of. But most people do not, they yearn for only one: they either want to be completely free, or they want to work hard in a group together. Hence I always stand out: I want to work in a group, but my presence is often incongruous because the way I work often goes against the norm.
I think growing up and being exposed to both cultures is a blessing in disguise for me, for it coloured me in a unique way I do not think a lot of people enjoy. But sometimes it causes conflicting personalities, and occasional identity crisis.
