Wednesday, January 31, 2007
the entertainment industry never fails to amaze me, either with their antics in marketing or simply their choice of a new artist. where are the real talents hiding?
im fine with the Project Superstar and Singapore idol finalists. The winners no doubt the best of the lot, still have a lot of room for improvement, which is ok, cuz it goes to show that they have potential. No way can we compare with Australia and America, whose talents perhaps amount to the total population here. Likewise the number of silly people who delude themselves to be better than all the previous Idol winnders outnumber the gd ones like 10 to 1. How else do they get such ridiculous clips to amuse us week after week?
saw a promo video by Apple Hong Yi Xin at POSB yesterday. just checked it out and eeps! she has an album as well. i've nothing against her, but as far as i know, her voice is nothing extraordinary. granted she isn't tone deaf, however many people aren't tone deaf either and you don't see them cutting albums everyday.
lets talk about a real talented person - Clay Aiken (my bro says hez gay, but i honestly dun really care). i was so happy when he released another album after his first eons ago, couldn't wait to listen to his voice all over again. to my dismay, this second (well third, if u count the christmas album) is all covers. its weird that being an idol alumni, his first consisted of originals and second, covers. why couldn't they have gotten people to write songs for him? not that he doesn't breathe new life to those classics, but he needs more songs to call his own.
nowadays, its no longer talent that matters but marketing or rather packaging. u find a company thats a genius in making you so likable that it won't matter if your voice is below average or your looks nothing to exclaim about, and your cds will rake in sales. you will still have a following of fans that scream your name and faint at the prospect of getting near you. honestly, what is the world coming to? my ears are straining to hear really good music on the radio...
Thursday, January 25, 2007
the only reason i can give for not updating earlier is plain laziness or maybe my life was so mundane, it was not worth blogging about. however just as i was a number 1 bummer before i now have too many things to handle.
it never rains, it pours. and just like how previously the days were all sunny and bright and the dreary, rainy ones are back, my life before and now seems just like the weather.
i was royally pissed when I called Lapmate a few days ago to find out that the 3yr warranty displayed on the packaging of their optical mouse is in actual fact only 1 yr since I got it when I bought my lappie from NUS. This mouse was spoilt the moment I took it out just before I left, and they gave me the wrong information then so I had no chance to change it. Since I have been away, the 1yr warranty is already over so I am stuck with a useless mouse that I never got to used.
the same day, my brother and i went to funan to buy the wireless router. finally, i can use wireless at home. and thank God, we manage to set it up after hours of frustration. i suggest that Linksys give instruction manuals that are clearer . 2 days ago, my SD card seems to be having trouble being read by my comp. Just figured it out that i could format it on my digicam and it is as good as new. Thank God I do not need to make a trip down to Albert Complex to get it fixed.
the next 3 days I will be going out non-stop, to meet up with friends. although it is thoroughly enjoyable to catch up with people, it takes a toil on your wallet and alot of your time as well. but i guess certain things can't be helped if you are not around 9mths of the year.
wat truly bothers me now is the fact that my intended housemate has bought a house. but it is not walking distance to school and it is only available late march. so regardless of whether i choose to stay with her or not, i will have to find a place to stay the moment touch down. so its back to, looking for housemates, a place to stay that is reasonable, all these without being in Adelaide. which makes things really hard and i feel really bad asking my friend for help. God please grant me wisdom in choosing the place and who to stay with.
Praise the Lord that the vision for this year's OCF flinders is out - "His image, His reflection". Now I have to start planning the program for the year as well as the bible studies. Will have to discuss with Rach how to settle DG (discovery group). I know fully well what I have to do, but I can't seem to stop the feeling of being helpless from creeping in. Perhaps its good that I realize that I can't do it on my own strength, but my only hope lies in God. As has always been my problem, head knowledge seldom equates to heart knowledge. Back here, I dunno why but I feel really distant from God. Examining myself, maybe its due to the fact that I have unlimited usage of the internet, a ton more interesting shows to watch on TV or that I have stop actively serving. I guess I am someone who loves by serving, but am I mistaking service for a real relationship with God? I'm still looking for the answer...
Thursday, January 11, 2007
ok, this is 1 wk late, but here goes...
For this year, starting as of this week, I hope to:
1. Nurture a hunger for God's word, so much so that its the first thing that comes to my mind every new morning. If possible that it will be the first thing I do after breakfast.
2. Exercise! Ok... this has been on my resolutions list for the past ten years and I have yet to keep to it. However, I have went to exercised twice in this week alone (my sore legs can testify to that), so it looks like Im off to a good start. Hopefully I can keep this up, even in Adelaide. 3 times a week, 30mins each time is what I aim to do at least.
3. Sleep early and wake up early too. For practical and beauty reasons. I wanna get rid of my panda eyes, which unless I sleep early, will never disappear. Also, my place is undergoing some construction which never fails to wake me up by 9, so if I want my 10 hours of sleep, I ought to be in bed at 11pm.
Umm... i think that's about it. If I am able to keep these 3 resolutions I'll be very happy.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Alrite, its official. No one reads my blog anymore. Haha… well at least that’s what my counter tells me.
In that case, I have no time to wallow in self pity. I have got to do something before my blog becomes a ghost town and then I’ll have to tear it down to make way for something newer and better. I’m a true blue Singaporean aren’t I? =D
Then again, I set up this blog for myself and it is in this tiny space in cyberworld where I can be self indulgent. A place where I can express a fraction of the thoughts that run thru my mind every day. However can I truly write what I want here without inhibition or censorship?
The answer is no. Because if someday, someone were to stumble across this blog and finds something offensive, I could be in real deep trouble. A blog could be private, especially when no one visits it or when one puts restrictions on viewership. Still, it is not the same as a pen and paper diary which you could hide under lock and key, in which only you have access to. The World Wide Web is open to just about anyone who has internet access and because of that, whatever one posts, one has to take responsibility for it. Esp in this tiny little red dot, cuz there’s absolutely no way you can hide.
But the question is why is no one reading my blog? Is everyone so busy? Or have the content of my blog caused people to shy away or possibly pissed them off? Its probably the latter being that I always unwittingly offend people, so why should my blog be any different. To my dear friends, if there’s something that makes u uncomfortable, please please let me know. If there is one thing Im afraid of, it would be cold war. And believe me, this blog was never meant as a weapon to lash out at others, but its primary purpose is to encourage and uplift whoever reads it. If it ain’t fulfilling its purpose, tell me and I promise u, I’ll definitely do something about it.
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Would you believe that I am more concerned about you than what you think of me
Would you believe every word that comes out of my mouth is only because I want what is best for you and not to tell you how to live your life
Would you believe I would never intentionally hurt you, for hurting you hurts me too
Would you believe that I have shed a tear for every stick of cigarette you smoked tonight
Would you believe that I have ever gone on my knees to pray for you, that my God may bless you and watch over you
Would you believe I really want to know you better if only I knew how
Would you believe I know being away for so long I have no right butting in and saying certain things but I try anyway and pray that you’ll understand
Would you believe this poem is not about my disapproval but the only way I know of telling you “I love you”…
Monday, January 01, 2007
i don't know why, but as the year 2006 drew to an end, and 2007 arrived, i started lamenting. my heart is welling up with loads of regrets and its nt about the year 2006 but of the year 2005.
you may think that i am 1 year behind time however it could have been the anticipation of going overseas to study that prevented me from giving myself the opportunity to look back and reflect on that year. or maybe its only on hindsight that i begin to see the folly of my ways...
1. I should have taken up driving. Private driving lessons are way cheaper over here and I had over a year to complete it. Now there is no way I'll be able to finish it in the 2mths im back in sg and I can't stand paying more than i have to for anything
2. I should have travelled more! Especially to Taiwan with Val when she asked. Honestly, I can't remember why I did not go with her.
3. I should have seeked medical help for my complexion instead of spending an obscene amount of money (which I earned) that did no good but only made things worse. Im quite puzzled as to why didn't I go to the doctor when I was like 16 or something and waited only after JC. Guess Im not that concerned about my looks as I thought I am.
4. I can't seem to get over certain things I felt I shouldn't have done or said and its driving me nuts. Even though I know its no use crying over spilt milk.
There will be more if I allow myself to ruminate but I won't cuz I can never go back in time so there is no use thinking about the 'What ifs". Instead Im gonna choose to focus on my blessings.
1. Thank God for granting me the scholarship, no doubt its partial, without it I wouldn't be able to complete my studies.
2. Thank God for being with me in Adelaide, surrounding me with people who became my foster family in a place where I barely knew anyone. These wonderful brothers and sisters made me feel accepted me for who I am.
3. Thank God for keeping me sane and upholding me during the semesters especially when all the datelines were closing in and exams looming ominously over me.
4. Thank God for the grades He has graciously given me.
5. Thank God for allowing me to come home in July and Dec and provided seats on the plane for me to rush back for my grandfather's wake and go back to Adelaide for the 2nd sem.
6. Thank God for my parents who have supported my decisions all the way and been there for me always.
7. Thank God for close friends whose friendships with me are not affected by time and distance apart.
8. Thank God for the fantastic time I had in Melbourne and convention. I was truly blessed by everyone I met.
And the list goes on.
I learnt that if one were to always focus on the bad things that has happened, one would easily become depressed and seriously no one likes to be around a depressed person. But if you learn to count your blessings, your outlook in life would be much brighter.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus ."
Thanks to all the blogs i referred to (countless) for html code help :) (esp. cyn' and sixseven)
Adobe Photoshop Elements for supernatural abilities
