Poetry Solace: Of hope

Hope by Daniel Mark Epstein

In winter the crescent moon vanishes

So quickly in the blue, down the horizon,

Between the starry darkness and morning,

Like the hull of a ship without rigging

That I was meaning to load with wishes,

O not for me, my dear, wishes for you,

And you and you, my friends, all of us,

Such cargo as could only ride upon

The silver shell of that hallowed galleon.

I daydreamed, got bewildered by my muse,

Sun on the lace of frost, and fading Venus.

I looked up, and the reckless moon had gone.

Have a restful weekend. Be safe!

Sunday Serenade: you've got time

Few weeks ago, I binge-watched Orange is the New Black until 4am.. All I can say is, OITNB totally ROCKS!!

The plot/storyline of the show is something that will NEVER appear in Asian dramas.. It is definitely not for those who like simple, uncomplicated 'happily every-after' kind of drama. It's not for everyone, but those who do love it.

So this weekend, let's have the theme song of the show called "You've Got Time" by Regina Spektor.. I like the lyrics.. :)  Enjoy!

You've Got Time
The animals, the animals
Trapped, trapped, trapped 'till the cage is full
The cage is full
Stay awake
In the dark, count mistakes
The light was off but now it's on
Searching the ground for a bitter song
The sun is out, the day is new
And everyone is waiting, waiting on you
And you've got time
And you've got time

Think of all the roads
Think of all their crossings
Taking steps is easy
Standing still is hard
Remember all their faces
Remember all their voices
Everything is different
The second time around

The animals, the animals
Trapped, trapped, trapped 'till the cage is full
The cage is full
Stay awake
In the dark, count mistakes
The light was off but now it's on
Searching the ground for a bitter song
The sun is out, the day is new
And everyone is waiting, waiting on you
And you've got time
And you've got time
And you've got time





Have a productive week ahead!! Be safe and cheery!

Sunday Serenade: here's to never growing up

Have always liked the rebellious streak in Avril Lavigne's songs..  So here's another one.. :) Enjoy!!

Here's to Never Growing Up
[Chorus]
Singing Radiohead at the top of our lungs
With the boom box blaring as we're falling in love
Got a bottle of whatever, but it's getting us drunk
Singing here's to never growing up
[end of Chorus]

Call up all our friends, go hard this weekend
For no damn reason, I don't think we'll ever change
Meet you at the spot, half past ten o'clock
We don't ever stop, and we're never gonna change

[Chorus 2]
Say, won't you stay forever stay
If you stay forever hey
We can stay forever young
[end of Chorus 2]

[Chorus]
We'll be running down the street, yelling "Kiss my ass!"
I'm like yeah whatever, we're still living like that
When the sun's going down, we'll be raising our cups
Singing, here's to never growing up

Oh whoa, oh whoa, here's to never growing up
Oh whoa, oh whoa, here's to never growing up

We live like rock stars, dance on every bar
This is who we are, I don't think we'll ever change (hell no!)
They say just grow up, but they don't know us
We don't give a fuck, and we're never gonna change

[Chorus 2]
[Chorus]
We'll be running down the street, yelling "Kiss my ass!"
I'm like yeah whatever, we're still living like that
When the sun's going down, we'll be raising our cups
Singing, here's to never growing up

Oh whoa, oh whoa, here's to never growing up
Oh whoa, oh whoa, here's to never growing up

[Chorus 2]
[Chorus]
We'll be running down the street, yelling "Kiss my ass!"
I'm like yeah whatever, we're still living like that
When the sun's going down, we'll be raising our cups
Singing, here's to never growing up

Oh whoa, oh whoa, here's to never growing up
Oh whoa, oh whoa, (yeah raise your glass and say) here's to never growing up
Oh whoa, oh whoa, (da de da de da) here's to never growing up (no we're never growing up)
Oh whoa, oh whoa, here's to never growing up






Have a great week ahead! Be cool and stay cheerful!

Poetry Solace: Of nature - winter

From No One Can Stem the Tide by Jane Tyson Clement.. a poem about winter..

(61) Winter

The dark emerging trees 
from the new-winter wood 
are lovelier than leaves, 
as cold is also good.

The heart’s necessities 
include the interlude 
of frost-constricted peace 
on which the sun can brood.

The strong and caustic air 
that strikes us to the bone 
blows till we see again 
the weathered shape of home.

No season of the soul 
strips clear the face of God 
save cold and frozen wind 
upon the frozen sod.


Have a great weekend! Be safe but enjoy! :)

Sunday Serenade: how far we've come

Last week I've mentioned about how something that had happened 10 years ago that sorta changed the course of my life and wondered how far I've come.. so this week I'm gonna share this old song (2007) by Matchbox Twenty with a title that just seems perfect for the occasion.. :)

Enjoy!

How Far We've Come
Waking up at the start of the end of the world,
But it's feeling just like every other morning before,
Now I wonder what my life is going to mean if it's gone,
The cars are moving like a half a mile an hour
And I started staring at the passengers who're waving goodbye
Can you tell me what was ever really special about me all this time?

[Chorus]
I believe the world is burning to the ground
Oh well I guess we're gonna find out
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
Well I believe it all is coming to an end
Oh well, I guess, we're gonna pretend,
Let's see how far we've come
Let's see how far we've come
[end of Chorus]

I think it turned ten o'clock but I don't really know
And I can't remember caring for an hour or so
Started crying and I couldn't stop myself
I started running but there's no where to run to
I sat down on the street took a look at myself
Said where you going man you know the world is headed for hell
Say your goodbyes if you've got someone you can say goodbye to

[Chorus]

It's gone, gone, baby, it's all gone
There is no one on the corner and there's no one at home
It was cool cool, it was just all cool
Now it's over for me and it's over for you
Well it's gone, gone, baby, it's all gone
There is no one on the corner and there's no one at home
Well it was cool cool, it was just all cool
Now it's over for me and it's over for you

[Chorus]
Let's see how far we've come x7






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

‘混假油’事件

在目前這種笑貧不笑賤、崇拜追求金錢名利的社會裡，商人為了牟取暴利而採取不道德昧良心的手段，欺騙並出賣消費者似乎已經變成了‘定律’。無奸不商也已成為致富的潛規則。而這種現象似乎在所謂以華人（中國人）為主的社會中尤其明顯，新加坡除外。台灣和中國的食品業者好像在比賽看誰可以瞞天過海魚目混珠，以最廉價的（化學）物料賺取最高的利潤。這些業者利用無限的‘創意’制造出了許許多多又假又毒的食品，殘害了多少‘自己的同胞’卻一點悔意都沒有，也根本不懼怕所謂的報應或天譴。

華人社會整體來說對‘錢’看得非常重。我認為已經到了病態的地步。從小就常聽到大人說：“要好好讀書，以后才能夠賺大錢”。我們很少會說：“要好好讀書，以后做個對社會有用或有貢獻的人”。我們都是以一個人賺多少來衡量一個人的價值。賺得多就是‘有路用’，賺得少就是‘無路用’。所以奸商不擇手段后身價上千億，我認為他們只不過是迎合社會的‘期待’罷了。

只要有了錢，社會大眾就會主動上前巴結奉承。有錢人所說的話都成了真理名言，有錢人所做的事即成了豐功偉業。大家都以羨慕崇拜的眼光看著那些有錢人，狠不得自己可以沾點光，奢望能夠被提拔成為下一個有錢人。因為有了錢，名和勢就會隨之而來。為了錢連身體靈魂都可以出賣或兜售的新聞在中、港、台層出不窮也不是無道理的。男人為了錢，偷坑蒙拐騙搶無所不用其極；女人為了 錢，什麼都可以典當變賣交易。人們常說年輕一代的價值觀扭曲，我卻覺得那都是父母社會造成的。當每個人都如此地‘崇尚’金錢，誰會願意做個高尚的窮人呢？

如果大統的高老板會‘做人’，把自家的員工都照顧好並高薪款待，試問這次的‘假油’事件還會爆發嗎？這件事情被踢爆不是因為員工良心發現，覺得欺騙並危害大眾的健康是件很不道德的事情后告發自己的老板。他們之所以會密告衛生局是因為不滿（眼紅）老板賺那麼多卻還對員工壓榨剝削。到頭來還是‘錢’字在作祟。 黑心食品，只要有錢賺而且有法律漏洞可以鑽，這種生意永遠都會有（很多）人躍躍欲試的。人性被錢蒙蔽了，良心被錢收買了。

總而言之，這整個‘混假油’事件赤裸裸地把（華人）人性的險惡丑陋曝露無疑。我們要反思檢討的太多了。。

3654days ago

Today 10 years ago, I was fired from my (first) job. Although I have been ‘commemorating’ this day in my blog for years (here and here), I didn’t explicitly specify what it was. Now you know.

To say that the sacking came as a bombshell was a gross understatement. It shocked me to my core, and it was one that I will never forget. The betrayal and hypocrisy that I’ve experienced first-hand had since shaped my views and feelings on many things. At that time I was guileless and far too trusting, and those were bad combination with my ambitiousness and aggressiveness. I stepped on toes and antagonized many, including my ex-boss, without knowing and paid the price.

Ups & downs.. lows & highs.. that's LIFE..

At just 29, I was coming up the ranks too fast for my own good. I didn’t have nor learn the necessary skills and aptitude required to move up the ladder. I was tactless, insensitive, and (too) sure of myself (and my capabilities). I was sacked on the day that I was supposed to discuss my increment/bonus with my ex-boss. Talk about being stabbed in the back. But I should have seen it coming if only I was more conscious of the situation. I refused to ‘bend’, and in the end I was forced to break. My huge ego was shot to pieces. And my trust of people never recovered. Even to this day.

There’s no point pondering about the “what ifs”, but I can’t help myself sometimes. Would I take back the things I’ve done that led to the termination? Maybe. I have temperament issues that I wasn’t aware of. I was committing career suicide unknowingly. No one dared to tell me or point it out to me. And I didn’t know how to reflect on myself. I would have become more ‘obnoxious’ and overbearing if that firing didn’t happen. It forced me to look inside and faced my flaws. It wasn’t easy and it wasn’t pretty. But in the end, I did change for the better. And as a bonus, I have also learned the rules of the interpersonal ‘game’, albeit the hard way.

Also, I know now that I took a tumble at a time that I can afford to. If it were to happen later, I don’t think I would have the willpower and ability to get back on my feet. The higher you are the harder you fall, and consequently the harder to get back up. I stumbled before turning 29. I had sufficient time to learn from my mistakes, refocus my life and start afresh. For one, I seriously doubt that I would have gone to Japan for my Masters if I remained a ‘manager’ in the company, much less come over to TW to pursue my PhD.

One thing is for sure, I would not have come through the ordeal without the help and support of my family and (a few) friends. Over the years, I found out who my true friends are and who are just ‘passersby’ in my life. I am still learning to not care as much when we drift apart. We all heard about fair-weathered friends, but many times, friends drift apart when there are no longer any crisis or (common) grievances to bind them together. I am tired of making new friends. The ‘ROI' of searching for new (good) friends just isn’t there. I’m not against having acquaintances or (general) friends, but it’s hard to find people who 'get' me. And people always want something in return for their ‘friendship’. So I rather be anti-social (although I see myself more as being introvert) than waste my time on people who don't matter.

Looking back, 10 years later, I can see very clearly now how that incident has changed my life. I was forced to take a different path. Was it for the better? I do not know. Only (more) time will tell. But one thing is for sure, I am contented with what I have now. Do I want more? Of course! Who doesn’t? Yet, I know I will not want to trade what I have now for a do-over. I am glad to have met the people I’ve met these past 10 years. I treasure every encounter and experience I had so far, good and bad. Even though some of them brought me much heartaches and disappointments, but I have no regrets. I am who I am right now thanks to the different path that I’ve taken.

Sunday Serenade: brave

It is a special day this coming Tuesday. It is not what will happen, but what had happened.. 10 years ago.. I want to believe that I've come a long way since then.. I don't know.. but what I do know is that I survived.. and I'm happy with where I am right now.. Thus on this Sunday, I'm dedicating this song by Sara Bareilles to myself.. Enjoy!

Have a great week ahead! Stay strong and cheerful! :) 

Poetry Solace: Of love and longing (III)

Two more poems from No One Can Stem the Tide by Jane Tyson Clement.. really liked her work..

(31) Love and Longing

( To R.A.C. )
It’s not what happens that decides our end;
it’s how the heart takes hold of it and makes 
an open wound of pain, or wisdom’s scar. 
What my heart makes of this, the days will tell. 
Therefore return in some safe-distanced year
                  to see if I am invalid and lame 
or scarred but otherwise quite wise and well. 
But do not look to find me quite the same.

(32) Love and Longing

( To R.A.C. )
One who has loved is never quite alone, 
though all the hills declare our solitude. 
Having known you, I am no more afraid, 
the essential singleness of blood and bone 
when dispossessed, comes never in return; 
one who has loved is never quite alone.




Have a great weekend! Have fun but stay safe!! :)