back

Been back for more than a month now.. Had a great time back in Malaysia.. spent some quality time with my parents and my little sister. :)

Been busy catching up with stuff.. running around settling the usual red-tapes.. also spent a couple of days in Kaohsiung traveling although the main reason for my being there is to attend Joe's wedding.. Am in the process of sorting the photos and shall write a few entries about that trip..

Will be fairly busy in the months to come as I am in the midst of completing a conference paper due June. Will be heading to Rotterdam, The Netherlands end of Jun for an academic conference. Unlike Japan, I need to apply for financial support for that trip, so lots of bureaucratic hoops to jump through before securing the money. Even so, only my flight tickets and registration fees will be covered. I will be looking at the possibility of repeating my coach-surfing adventure once again, or use AirBnB since I plan to stay longer in fewer cities. So lots to do before then.. 

Sunday Serenade: let it go

Not one who will go to the big screen to watch an animation but I do watch them when shown on cable.. This is a song that is all the craze since it was released last year, and some might say that it is getting irritating.. but still, I want to share this song today.. because one can never get enough of a great song - meaningful lyrics, catchy tune and amazing vocal..

Enjoy!

Let it go
performed by Idina Menzel





Have a great week ahead! Stay safe and be productive!

Poetry Solace: i substitute for the dead lecturer

Here's another poem by Leroi Jones (Amiri Baraka). I don't like all his poems, just a couple, and this is one of the few that I like. Enjoy!

I Substitute for the Dead Lecturer

What is most precious, because

it is lost. What is lost,

because it is most precious.

They have turned, and say that I am dying. That
I have thrown
my life
away. They
have left me alone, where
there is no one, nothing
save who I am. Not a note
nor a word.

          Cold air batters
the poor (and their minds
turn open
like sores). What kindness
What wealth
can I offer? Except
what is, for me,
ugliest. What is
for me, shadows, shrieking
phantoms. Except
they have need
of life. Flesh
at least,
     should be theirs.

The Lord has saved me
to do this. Te Lord
has made me strong. I
am as I must have
myself. Against all
thought, all music, all
my soft loves.

          For all these wan roads
I am pushed to follow, are
my own conceit. A simple muttering
elegance, slipped in my head
pressed on my soul, is my heart's
worth. And I am frightened
that the flame of my sickness
will burn off my face. And leave
the bones, my stewed black skull,
an empty cage of failure.




Have a great weekend. Be safe!

第七天

無感的總統、無能的黨團，利己利黨多於利國的作風，促成現在的僵局。
熱血的學生、煽情的媒體，激動激進多於激勵的報道，鼓動如今的學運。

無感消極的民選總統遇到了熱血積極的自覺學生
一方背負著沉重的歷史包袱，另一方肩負國家的前程展望
一方仍情系大陸 ，另一方欲走向世界
一方為了歷史定位，另一方則為了未來發展
一方強調司法程序，另一方堅持作業透明
一方仗著政府機制，另一方持有人民意願
一方為了理念，另一方為了信念
兩者都是為台灣的前途擔憂，兩者的出發點都是為台灣的未來
各自使用各自認為最有效的方式企圖把台灣導向最有利的方向，
無奈兩方對‘有利’的定義卻無法達到共識。

為了反對而反對的反對黨，只要是中國就什麼都好的執政黨，
雙方都完全失職也徹底辜負了給予厚望的台灣人民。
服貿到底好不好，因身份立場不同，見人見智。

但是
僵持下去，吃虧的、付出代價的都僅是學生和前線的警衛們。
那些部長、民代、議員、政商名流依舊過著他們的舒適生活。
這次學運代表的老師們教授們難道就不能好好地和學生們協商討論嗎？

希望到了第七天，大家都能夠冷靜下來，各自退一步，才可能出現轉機。

Sunday Serenade: cups

For this week it is a song by Anna Kendrick, Cups.. This song makes me wanna go travel... and I like the way they clap and tap to give it an instrumental feel..  :)  Enjoy!

Cups
I've got my ticket for the long way 'round
Two bottle whiskey for the way
And I sure would like some sweet company
And I'm leaving tomorrow. What d'you say?

When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my hair
You're gonna miss me everywhere, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my walk
You're gonna miss me by my talk, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

I've got my ticket for the long way 'round
The one with the prettiest of views
It's got mountains, it's got rivers
It's got sights to give you shivers
But it sure would be prettier with you

When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my walk
You're gonna miss me by my talk, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone

When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my hair
You're gonna miss me everywhere, oh
You're sure gonna miss me when I'm gone

When I'm gone, when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone
You're gonna miss me by my walk
You're gonna miss me by my talk, oh
You're gonna miss me when I'm gone




Have a productive week! Stay healthy and be safe!