Sunday Serenade: shooting star

The song for this week is Shooting Star by Owl City.. think those who listens to pop songs won't be too unfamiliar with this guy.. remember Fireflies? This is yet another feel-good song.. :)

Enjoy!

Shooting Star
Close your tired eyes, relax and then
Count from 1 to 10 and open them
All these heavy thoughts will try to weigh you down
But not this time

Way up in the air, you're finally free
And you can stay up there right next to me
All this gravity will try to pull you down
But not this time

[Chorus]
When the sun goes down and the lights burn out
Then it's time for you to shine
Brighter than a shooting star
So shine no matter where you are

Fill the darkest night with a brilliant light
'Cause it's time for you to shine
Brighter than a shooting star
So shine no matter where you are tonight

Woah-oh, woah-oh, woah-oh

Brighter than a shooting star
Shine no matter where you are tonight
[end of Chorus]

Gaze into my eyes when the fire starts
And fan the flames so hot it melts our hearts
Oh, the pouring rain will try to put it out
But not this time

Let your colors burn and brightly burst
Into a million sparks that all disperse
And illuminate a world that'll try to bring you down
But not this time

[Chorus]

A thousand heart beats beat in time
It makes this dark planet come alive
So when the lights flicker out tonight
You gotta shine

[Chorus]






Have a productive week! Stay funky and be safe! :)

Singlish

This is my first attempt at writing in Singlish.. hope I will have inspiration to write more in future.. 
Let me know what you think about this short piece.. Enjoy! 
-------------------------------------
Siao liao 3^rd year oreddy.. Still no paper, si beh jia lat.. how not to kan-cheong? Sian, need to be on the ball now, if not sure up the lorry.. cannot play play liao.. and cannot keng liao.. need to chiong all the way... die die must ORD in 5 years..

Some academic papers are so cheem I read until blur and still catch no ball.. heng my England powderful, else sure gone case.. research si beh siong.. very pek chek sometimes..

I boh chup many of my classmates cos I buay song their attitude.. some of them ai chut pattern.. some damn hao lian.. some like to kay kiang.. some like to wayang.. all one kind one.. really beh tahan them.. most of them cannot make it one and a few sure gone case one.. I either heck care them or siam them.. only a few I kawan with them.. 

school - update

For this semester, I've only 2 classes to attend.. Monday afternoon and Thursday morning.. not as 'boh eng' as before... It was Mid-Autumn Festival last week, so no school on Thursday and Friday.. thus in a sense, the actual semester starts this week..

Also, in this semester, I've managed to get a small research room in the library. Unlike previous semesters, I was allocated a room on the 8th floor. I'm treating it as my "office", meaning I will be there at least 7-8 hours everyday, maybe even during weekends.. Monday to Wednesday will be for my translation jobs and homework (if there is any), while I'm going to do my reading and research between Thursday and Saturday.. And Sunday shall be my day off.. :)  Well, at least that is the plan..

Sunday Serenade: people like us

This week, I'm gonna share Kelly Clarkson's People Like Us.. have always like her songs' lyrics.. telling us to be strong and to stand together.. Songs that can pick you up when you're down.. and we know how often we need such boasts because when there's ups, there'll be downs...

Enjoy!

People Like Us
We come into this world unknown
But know that we are not alone
They try and knock us down
But change is coming, it's our time now

Hey… everybody loses it,
Everybody wants to throw it all away sometimes
And hey… yeah I know what you're going through
Don't let it get the best of you, you'll make it out alive
Ohh

[Chorus 1]
People like us we've gotta stick together
Keep your head up, nothing lasts forever
Here's to the damned, to the lost and forgotten
It's hard to get high when you're living on the bottom
[end of Chorus 1]

[Chorus 2]
Oh woah oh oh woah oh
We are all misfits living in a world on fire
Oh woah oh oh woah oh
Sing it for the people like us, the people like us
[end of Chorus 2]

Hey, this is not a funeral
It's a revolution, after all your tears have turned to rage
Just wait, everything will be okay
Even when you're feeling like it's going down in flames
Ohh

[Chorus 1]
[Chorus 2] x 2

They can't do nothing to you, they can't do nothing to me
This is the life that we choose, this is the life that we bleed
So throw your fists in the air, come out, come out if you dare
Tonight we're gonna change forever

Everybody loses it, everybody wants to throw it all away sometimes
Ohh

[Chorus 1]
[Chorus 2]
Oh woah oh oh woah oh
You've just got to turn it up loud when the flames get higher
Oh woah oh oh woah oh
Sing it for the people like us, the people like us

[Chorus 2]
Oh woah oh oh woah oh
You've just got to turn it up loud when the flames get higher
Oh woah oh oh woah oh
Sing it for the people like us, the people like us




Have a productive week ahead! Be cheery and stay healthy! :)

Poetry Solace: Of summer night storm

From No One Can Stem the Tide by Jane Tyson Clement..

(8) Summer Night Storm

The ranting of the gods, this tumbling sky,

this wind-strong rain which pelts against my cheek,

the world re-lit by lightning, and the lie

of tall sea grass low bent against the sand.

I stand here, strangely still, with all the world

tumultuous at my feet, and yet my heart

is stronger than the roaring wind that swirls

about my body, taut against its force;

that blows my eyelids shut, that locks my lips,

lest all my spirit end its restlessness

in one wild song.

Have a good weekend! Enjoy and be safe!

starting 3rd year

Today is the first day of school.. after more than 12 weeks of summer holiday it is time to get back to school.. :)

In this semester, I will be taking just 2 subjects and maybe auditing another. Both subjects are taught by my adviser, so I will be seeing him twice a week this entire semester. This might just be the 'push' I need to finally write something.  It is time for me to concentrate on my research and produce at least one paper by the end of this semester. Yet, I am wary that there may be a surprise or two during this period. Again, come what may, I have to write something if I want to graduate within the timeline I've set for myself..

It is always good to plan, but adjustments need to be made along the way when 'shit' happens. And this semester I have a little study room in the library, so there's no more excuse of not having a conducive environment to research/study... Looks like I'm all ready to face the new semester!

Sunday Serenade: skyfall

When you mentioned James Bond, only Sean Connery and Pierce Brosnan comes to mind.. The latest actor playing James Bond, Daniel Craig, is too 'rough' and rugged for my liking.. I only caught his 3rd Bond movie recently over cable.. What caught my eyes, or rather ears about that movie is Adele's rendition of the theme song.. Her voice is heavenly.. So this week, let's revel her voice in this theme song..

Enjoy!





Have a productive week ahead! Be safe and stay funky! :)

Sunday Serenade: lego house

When I first watched this MV, I was like "Huh? when did Ron Wesley start singing?". I googled it and found that he was just acting in it.. but the actual singer, Ed Sheeren, is also a red head..

After listening closely, I like the lyrics very much.. especially the chorus.. Enjoy!

Lego House
I'm gonna pick up the pieces,
And build a Lego house
If things go wrong we can knock it down

My three words have two meanings,
There's one thing on my mind
It's all for you

And it's dark in a cold December, but I've got you to keep me warm
If you're broken I will mend you and I'll keep you sheltered from the storm that's raging on now

[Chorus]
I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now
I'm out of sight, I'm out of mind
I'll do it all for you in time
And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now
[end of Chorus]

I'm gonna paint you by numbers
And colour you in
If things go right we can frame it and put you on a wall

And it's so hard to say it but I've been here before
Now I'll surrender up my heart
And swap it for yours

[Chorus]

Don't hold me down
I think my braces are breaking, and it's more than I can take

And it's dark in a cold December, but I've got you to keep me warm
If you're broken I will mend you and I'll keep you sheltered from the storm that's raging on now

[Chorus]

I'm out of touch, I'm out of love
I'll pick you up when you're getting down

And out of all these things I've done I think I love you better now

[Chorus]




Have a great week ahead! Be productive and stay healthy!

Poetry Solace: Of a time

In A Time

by Maya Angelou

In a time of secret wooing

Today prepares tomorrow's ruin

Left knows not what right is doing

My heart is torn asunder.

In a time of furtive sighs

Sweet hellos and sad goodbyes

Half-truths told and entire lies

My conscience echoes thunder.

In a time when kingdom comes

Joy is brief as summer's fun

Happiness its race has run

Then pain stalks in to plunder.

Enjoy your weekend and be safe!!

art

I used to hate art, art classes that is, when I was in school. Compared to my brother, I have no talent for drawing. Whether it is with color pencils, crayons, or water color, I suck big time in drawing. Unlike my brother who had won numerous drawing competitions, I can’t draw to save my life. Even though I never flunk my Art classes, I never did get good grades for them. Thus you can imagine my relief when I found out that I can drop Arts as a subject for the national level examinations of SRP and SPM.

I can’t draw but I can copy sketches. I can’t create but I can imitate. Just give me an example/model, and I would be able to replicate it. I can’t draw but I am pretty good with handicrafts. I have made origami, paper cutting, Chinese knotting and Plasticine figurines as presents for friends. In future, I would love to try my hands on wood carving, metal work, woodwork, and pottery, just to name a few. I just like to get my hands dirty, so to speak.. :)

Nevertheless my inability to draw doesn't prevent me from appreciating art, be it drawings, painting, sculptures or other types of artistic creation. I've always like pieces from the Renaissance and Baroque era, thus my fascination with museums in Europe. I can lose myself in museums and art museums for hours, wandering around halls and rooms filled with creative creations. Even if I don’t ‘get it’, I would still like to understand the inspiration and the story behind these art pieces.

Leonardo da Vinci once said, “Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen”. I love both painting and poetry. I may not look like an art lover, but I am, maybe just not your typical art aficionado. And I couldn't agree more with Pablo Picasso that “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” 

flunk

Have you ever gotten an “F”? If yes, when was it? Was it during your primary school? Your secondary school? High school? University? Well, I’ll admit that I did flunk during my time in NUS. In fact, I had 6 “F”s on my BSc. transcript from NUS and 2 of them were for the same subject. Yes, I took the same subject for 3 semesters and only passed it the third time. Indeed, at that time the professors and lecturers in NUS didn’t think twice about failing their students. It was pretty common to fail a couple during our 3 or 4-year uni life. 

All the praying won't help you not flunk..

More than once I’ve heard from my seniors and friends who are teaching staff in various universities in MY and TW that it is hard to fail undergraduates nowadays. It is a common predicament for teaching staff in both countries. Most universities and their departments do not want to get complaints from parents when their son/daughter failed a subject, even if they deserved it. They will pass everyone and anyone as long as the barest of the minimum is satisfied. They will find all kinds of reasons (or should I say excuse) to give a passing grade. That is very sad: teaching staff being held hostage by unreasonable parents. Under such circumstance, how will we be able to differentiate the good from the bad when everyone passes? Just to clarify, I’m not advocating failing for the sake of failing or rigid compliance to the bell-curve grading system. If the students deserve a passing grade, then give it to them. No reason to deprive deserving students of their top grades. But if the student did not do enough to warrant a pass, then he/she should get an “F”.

Things are worst for private universities, as they can’t afford to have too high a failure rate less potential students deemed them as ‘difficult’ (thus must study very hard and have no time to play/enjoy). These private universities depend on new (student) intake for sustenance. They cannot afford to ‘scare away’ potential students by having a reputation for being ‘hard’. Therefore, these private universities have to ‘please’ their students by being lenient (in grading and syllables) and fun. All these goes against the core mission of education which is to make sure students are armed with the necessary skills to contribute to the society. Thus there is no surprise that the quality of graduates in general are plummeting. 

hair

I've always had short hair. The longest I've ever had was below my shoulder and it was only for about 2 months. And that was during my last semester in NUS. I wanted to see how I would look with long hair. In the end, I decided that I’m more comfortable with short hair. I don’t have the patience to go through the ‘long hair regime’ with the whole routine of washing, conditioning, trimming, oiling, combing and whatever. I don’t want to worry about it curling the wrong way in the morning or how I look when the wind blows. I don’t like to use hairdryer. I just don’t like to fuss over these things. Even my nails are kept short and without any nail polish.

Usually, I would cut my hair every 3 or 4 months, depending on its rate of growth. Since coming to TW, I've only cut my hair once in one of those budget salons that give quick NT$100 haircuts. I didn't like the attitude of the lady who cut my hair, so I decided to use a voucher that I bought in one of the campus charity sales and go to a proper salon to get a haircut. As I’m using a voucher (NT$80), I was assigned a junior/trainee stylist. She was pleasant and friendly, except that she gave me a hair style that is not age-appropriate. Luckily (?), I can comb the fringe up and look my age again. So will I go back to that salon again to get my hair cut? I think I will. Next time, I am willing to pay the full price (NT$300) to get the service (and skills) of an experienced stylist. Maybe I will go in Dec.. :)

Sunday Serenade: take back the night

Never been a great fan of Justin Timberlake. Never really listen to his songs too, maybe cos of the media hype and (crazy) female fans of his.. much like the other Canadian celebrity sharing the same first name.. After catching one of his movie, "In Time" over the cable (I watched it because of Amanda Seyfried. :P), I've decided to look for his MV. And this is what I've found.. so enjoy!!

Take Back the Night
Yeah, uh, feels good, don't it?
Listen, uh

[Verse 1:]
Yeah, this was your city
You did it all and more, broke every law except for one, babe
Attraction, are you ready
I know you feel it
Pull you nearer 'til you feel it again, oh

[Bridge:]
I wanna do something right
But we can do something better
Ain't no time like tonight
And we ain't trying to save it 'til later
Stay out here living the life
Nobody cares who we are tomorrow
You got that lil' something I like
A little something I've been wanting to borrow

Tonight the night's, come on surrender
I won't lead your love astray, astray, yeah
Your love's a weapon
Give your body some direction
That's my aim
Then, we could

[Chorus:]
Take back the night
Come on, use me up until there's nothing left
Take back the night
Dizzy, spinning, sweating, you can't catch your breath
Take back the night
Ooh, don't know when the sun is rising next
Take back the night
So if the feeling's right, then raise your glass and let's

[Post-Chorus:]
Take back the night, take back the night
They gonna try to shut us down, I'll be damned if we gonna let them
Take back the night, take back the night
You know you gonna mess around and find out there ain't no one better
[end of Chorus]

Take back the night, oh
Yeah

[Verse 2:]
Rare, there's not too many
No one but you and crowded rooms, we can do anything (yeah)
Attraction can drive you crazy
The way you move, you go crazy, that's incentive for me

[Bridge:]

Tonight the night's, come on surrender
I won't lead your love astray, astray, yeah
Your love's a weapon
Give your body some direction
That's my aim
Then, we could

[Chorus:]
[Post-Chorus:]

[Middle 8:] And the horns say, alright
And the horns say, alright
Uh, ooh, and the horns say, alright
And the horns say
Doo doo doo doo doo doo doo
Take it over
Yeah, yeah

[Timbaland:] Y'all ready to have a good time out there, ladies and gentlemen?

Take back the night, take back the night...

[Chorus:]






Have a great week ahead! Be productive and stay safe!