Here's a spur of creativity, I'd like to think...
Sitting in a warmly lit room, the sun at my back pours in to fill,
Waves of lounge and jazz reverberate to a familiar pulse
Images of people and faces as they walk by, talk by reflect the urgency of a need to ...
Thought glaze over my head like a razor grazes over skin. It's like an image that flashes by, but leaving deep imprints.
So wanting to hold on, yet helplessly watching it be let go...
It's like stretching out your hand to grasp, those dancing stars of your mind. They are so close, so near, yet so ever unreachable.
Sitting still, legs crosses, propped on the immovable sofa
The busy bustle continues around. The world spins endlessly about a still point.
Different shapes, different sizes, move toward and past.
High sounds, low sounds, dance about all around.
Little bells ringing, tiny mouths giggling, I wonder what it's like to be an infant again.
People talking, texting, typing.
In flips, in flops, in flats, in talls.
Things just don't stop.
I wonder but for a moment, what it would be like, to step away. To be outside. To turn back and take a look behind.
What if this world stopped spinning just for a moment, if it froze for me to explore it, what would I find?
The things to do, the choices to pick, decisions to make and sacrifices at stake...
Where will all this lead to? Someplace beyond. Someplace further.
To Randomness and Rowdy-ness, Laughter and lovelyness. Things feel that much better.
Sent via BlackBerry from SingTel!
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Dad visiting this weekend
My dad's coming for the weekend!!
Thinking of taking him to a few places around town:
Clarke Quay (we need to do the bum boat)
Geylang (for food and durian)
Vivocity for the view
Chinatown
Little india
Raffles
City Hall
Lau Sat Pat
We'll see if we can fit everything in the short time that he'll be here!
Thinking of taking him to a few places around town:
Clarke Quay (we need to do the bum boat)
Geylang (for food and durian)
Vivocity for the view
Chinatown
Little india
Raffles
City Hall
Lau Sat Pat
We'll see if we can fit everything in the short time that he'll be here!
Friday, January 15, 2010
The Story of Stuff
The Story of Stuff
Posted using ShareThis
Got this through an e-mail Chris sent me, there's a pretty good flash video about 'stuff', all the stuff that we have and the stuff that we use. I think it's a really excellent video for students to watch during an environment lesson.
"Slow Death by Rubber Duck" is a Canadian Bestseller and another source where we can learn more about stuff.
At the same time that it's made me aware of how the stuff that we use pollutes us, I'm feeling a bit skeptical (and perhaps 'hopeless' is a better word) about change. I would love for the world to change... but my vision of that was shattered a while ago. I used to think that we could eradicate poverty. But I've lost hope in that. maybe there's too much greed in this world. But even if there isn't, all it takes is just one bad apple...
During training today, the facilitator mentioned that the main aim of community service groups is termination. After mulling over that a bit, I agree with him (maybe not for ALL organizations, but for many). We initiate charity organizations, non-profit organizations because we see a need for them. A few examples are: Let'sSTOPAIDS, Cancer Foundations, homeless shelters... these all aim to help people who are in need and I do think that they want to terminate whatever is causing the problem. To: StopAids, Cure Cancer, and get people off the streets.
We have a universal education right by UNESCO to help eradicate poverty... so many things are put in place in hopes of stopping the harm that humans have caused. But do all these solutions address the root of the problems?
I know that a lot of people are trying to right many wrongs. A lot of people are doing a lot of good out there, and I believe that their efforts are helping and in part in the making of making this world a better place.... but there are big stakeholders that don't budge. There are so many examples of such stakeholders and as cynical as I am, our "good-doing" are midgets compared to the big giants.
Every time I want to make a change and initiate something, I hit this block.
Maybe I need a little more faith. Just a little more faith.......
Posted using ShareThis
Got this through an e-mail Chris sent me, there's a pretty good flash video about 'stuff', all the stuff that we have and the stuff that we use. I think it's a really excellent video for students to watch during an environment lesson.
"Slow Death by Rubber Duck" is a Canadian Bestseller and another source where we can learn more about stuff.
At the same time that it's made me aware of how the stuff that we use pollutes us, I'm feeling a bit skeptical (and perhaps 'hopeless' is a better word) about change. I would love for the world to change... but my vision of that was shattered a while ago. I used to think that we could eradicate poverty. But I've lost hope in that. maybe there's too much greed in this world. But even if there isn't, all it takes is just one bad apple...
During training today, the facilitator mentioned that the main aim of community service groups is termination. After mulling over that a bit, I agree with him (maybe not for ALL organizations, but for many). We initiate charity organizations, non-profit organizations because we see a need for them. A few examples are: Let'sSTOPAIDS, Cancer Foundations, homeless shelters... these all aim to help people who are in need and I do think that they want to terminate whatever is causing the problem. To: StopAids, Cure Cancer, and get people off the streets.
We have a universal education right by UNESCO to help eradicate poverty... so many things are put in place in hopes of stopping the harm that humans have caused. But do all these solutions address the root of the problems?
I know that a lot of people are trying to right many wrongs. A lot of people are doing a lot of good out there, and I believe that their efforts are helping and in part in the making of making this world a better place.... but there are big stakeholders that don't budge. There are so many examples of such stakeholders and as cynical as I am, our "good-doing" are midgets compared to the big giants.
Every time I want to make a change and initiate something, I hit this block.
Maybe I need a little more faith. Just a little more faith.......
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Getting ready...
Alright, big day tomorrow!
A bit nervous, a bit jumpy for the big day!
:)
I guess it's a good thing.
A bit nervous, a bit jumpy for the big day!
:)
I guess it's a good thing.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Another Year, A Fresh Start
I guess this is the really neat part about my job.
Every year is a fresh page, a new start.
This year will be different. It seems as if it is my "real" year. I get to start right from the start (opposed to in the middle as I did last year).
I meet them on Monday. I'm nervous, and I know it's normal. For my anyways.
After stepping out of the boardroom today, I felt overwhelmed. I know that it was just a feeling, and that it was from the nature of the situation: an information overload. It was, in a way, necessary for everyone to understand everything in a short period of time, because that was the only time left for information transfer. Now that it's a few hours and a movie later, I feel a bit better.
I have a better understanding of where things fit in on the timeline.
It will be busy, sometimes crazy busy, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to the connections and bonds that I will make, the new friendships, and rekindling the oldships.
Every year is a fresh page, a new start.
This year will be different. It seems as if it is my "real" year. I get to start right from the start (opposed to in the middle as I did last year).
I meet them on Monday. I'm nervous, and I know it's normal. For my anyways.
After stepping out of the boardroom today, I felt overwhelmed. I know that it was just a feeling, and that it was from the nature of the situation: an information overload. It was, in a way, necessary for everyone to understand everything in a short period of time, because that was the only time left for information transfer. Now that it's a few hours and a movie later, I feel a bit better.
I have a better understanding of where things fit in on the timeline.
It will be busy, sometimes crazy busy, but I'm looking forward to it. I'm looking forward to the connections and bonds that I will make, the new friendships, and rekindling the oldships.
"Invictus"
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
William Ernest Henley
I can imagine a lot of reviews, blogs, tweets and writings about this poem, about this movie.
I watched it with a colleague earlier this afternoon after learning that Invictus is about Nelson Mandella and South Africa. I also walked into the theatre asking myself how I'd be able to link this movie to the subject that I teach. I learned something today, and I'm glad I sat for the show. I think that the movie acts as a good starting place for those who don't really know about the political situation back in the 1990s in South Africa (i.e. myself). Not to mention it's also a good way to learn a bit about Rugby (I learned that you score 3 points kicking a ball between the posts - so that's what the posts are for!). I also think this movie would be a good one to show students to get them thinking about the racial tensions and why Mandella did certain things (to eas the tension, etc). This movie does cover quite a spectrum of topics that we cover in class, ranging from Politics to Prejudice.
Think I might just make a DVD recommendation to the school. We'll see.
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
William Ernest Henley
I can imagine a lot of reviews, blogs, tweets and writings about this poem, about this movie.
I watched it with a colleague earlier this afternoon after learning that Invictus is about Nelson Mandella and South Africa. I also walked into the theatre asking myself how I'd be able to link this movie to the subject that I teach. I learned something today, and I'm glad I sat for the show. I think that the movie acts as a good starting place for those who don't really know about the political situation back in the 1990s in South Africa (i.e. myself). Not to mention it's also a good way to learn a bit about Rugby (I learned that you score 3 points kicking a ball between the posts - so that's what the posts are for!). I also think this movie would be a good one to show students to get them thinking about the racial tensions and why Mandella did certain things (to eas the tension, etc). This movie does cover quite a spectrum of topics that we cover in class, ranging from Politics to Prejudice.
Think I might just make a DVD recommendation to the school. We'll see.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Memiors of a Geisha
Suyuri.
Yet again, I chance upon another movie that I had wanted to watch for a very long time. This time, the movie sitting in my room for the last month, under the demise of another name unknown to me. I hadn't realized this DVD set was that of a Geisha's! It was a good watch. In between my trying to figure out where I recognize each actor from, it was a cute story. I wonder if the Geisha were really like that. If the customs were as they were portrayed in the movie. I suppose I'll have to watch the 2nd DVD, the one about their production (and behind the scenes). Since I bought the Japanese version, I can't read the titles of the different chapters, means I get to watch the whole thing!
So much i want to read, watch and indulge myself in!
Life really is a bit short to fit all these things in. My infamous question: why must I choose? Why can't I have both? (In this case, it's why can't I do it all?! The only answer i've received from that so far is: because cest la vie.)
Yet again, I chance upon another movie that I had wanted to watch for a very long time. This time, the movie sitting in my room for the last month, under the demise of another name unknown to me. I hadn't realized this DVD set was that of a Geisha's! It was a good watch. In between my trying to figure out where I recognize each actor from, it was a cute story. I wonder if the Geisha were really like that. If the customs were as they were portrayed in the movie. I suppose I'll have to watch the 2nd DVD, the one about their production (and behind the scenes). Since I bought the Japanese version, I can't read the titles of the different chapters, means I get to watch the whole thing!
So much i want to read, watch and indulge myself in!
Life really is a bit short to fit all these things in. My infamous question: why must I choose? Why can't I have both? (In this case, it's why can't I do it all?! The only answer i've received from that so far is: because cest la vie.)
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