Vox populi vox dei

Vox Populi Vox Dei. Do you believe in this proverb? In the past, people who believe and follow the masses are mostly just ignorant beings who need to rely on the power of a majority. In modern times, it is no different with people relying on the mass media and government for information, albeit armed with a seemingly more discerning eye and perceived inherent knowledge. Indeed, the parent quote "Nec audiendi qui solent dicere, Vox populi, vox Dei, quum tumultuositas vulgi semper insaniae proxima sit" probably holds the truth. It translates to "Do not listen to those who are accustomed to claim, 'The voice of the people is the voice of God', because the tumult of the masses is always close to insanity." But then again, that's almost exactly how democracy today works right?

Overcrowding in the heartland

I was in Junction 8 last evening fighting the crowds for a dinner table. In town today, I had to fight equally hard not only for a lunch table, but also for space to walk. The faces in Jurong, Woodlands and Orchard are becoming more and more foreign. Newspapers report that our very own Chinatown and Geylang are being taken over by Chinese immigrants. I am hearing more frequent complaints from friends and family about overcrowding. With only 4.8 million inhabitants with one in four being a non-Singaporean, how will things be when we reach our goal of 6 million? I never really understood why Japan was so conservative in her immigration policy, perhaps I'm starting to understand why.

Taxi

In the short journey to Mid-Valley Shopping Centre in a taxi, my family had an interesting conversation with the driver. In his sixties probably, he spoke with a slight English accent. He had explained he lived in Singapore for seven years during which he was a Military Transport Officer when the British were still around. Somehow, conversations in cabs always end up on the political spectrum, and the topic of Dr. Mahathir disliking my country came into the picture. To my surprise, the driver thought that Dr Mahathir's constant condemnation of a seemingly superior Singapore was necessary as a leader igniting hope and confidence to his people. I didn't quite know what to say to that, but I felt if that was true, it is sad.

Does the future change?

I experienced an epiphany last night. It left me with a strange feeling, as if I was standing at the edge of space, looking down upon earth, our world. I thought of the future. What will become of us? We, or at least myself, have great aspirations and expectations for the future. My visualisation includes not only great advancement in technology, but changes in behaviour in society, right down to every individual. But will we look back 50 years from now and say, "Seems like nothing much had changed"? It is an unfulfillingly sad but highly probable outcome. For now, just indulging in the thrill of what to come will suffice for me, all which its unpredictable nature might render purposeless.

Ergo Proxy

I must be honest. I didn't like Ergo Proxy at first. I found it messy and had not much of an element of suspense that makes me want to watch on. However, things began to change slowly as I progressed into the series, and I soon found an intriguingly deep focus on the psychology and mentality of its protagonists. In the future, humans and androids each assumes a purpose, and this "raison d'etre" consumes them throughout the series, drawing parallels from theories of philosophy. Amidst the chaos and mess of the perceived future, I somehow felt compelled to sit back and think of my very own raison d'etre.

Happy Birthday Mum

There exists a lady, who's the fairest of all
To her children always standing proud and tall
She can play every role
A best friend, a teacher, a motherly soul
Looking and fixing our every loophole
We hear too, she likes red
But there's no denying Korean dramas are her fav'rite
And here's this lady
Whom you just can't catch any day
Deserving of a great Happy Forty-ninth Birthday.

District 9

Warning! This is not your usual alien fare. District 9's unique method of cinematography had me gripped from beginning to end. Shockingly intense and truthful, it explicitly portrays both physical violence (thus the M18 rating) and deep emotional trauma. This is the type of show that makes people stick to their seats for awhile even after the movie had ended. Though the end was clear to all, I left the cinema silently pondering, if there could have been another way things played out.

4 stars.

Eden of the East

Eden of the East is a short 11-episode anime series. Behind the main storyline of twelve chosen individuals tasked to play a 'game', this plot carries an unusually deep undertone. To put simply, it deeply discusses the strange hypocrisies in the human nature. Who will stand up and be the 'bad guy' when the time comes? Why do people choose to see the bad over the good? Why do people only cherish things when they lose it? These are just a few questions being tackled in the series. It is a stark but cruel reflection of our societies. It is said such societies need some form of tragedy to avoid an imminent evolutionary standstill. Are we at such a precipice?

Already back to black?

Insanity has arrived. 2767 new homes were sold in July - compared to the 1825 sold in June which already topped the previous peak in Aug 2007. What is the world (or rather, Singapore) coming to? Has the foam grown into bubbles? With newfound paranoia emerging regarding a "second wave" of economic turmoil, we are once again fraught with the all-too-familiar uncertain trepidation. The rally last night also left me somewhat unconvinced. Are we really back to black?

Up

Pixar and Disney has once again scored with UP. A heart-warming and deep movie punctuated with funny moments, the show was also well-paced from the start to end. For me, the most meaningful takeaway was the scene which Carl "left the heavy baggage so as to fly". It reminds us that it is never too late (or too old in Carl's case) to start your own adventure.

4 stars.

What do you see?

What do you see? For me, everything I envisioned for my NDP experience came to life. Volunteering for it was undoubtedly the best decision I have made thus far in my NS stint. Happy Birthday Singapore!

Different faces of home

The different faces of Singapore. A day before National Day, I thought it would be befitting to gather the best shots of my country and compile them here. Thank you to all the photographers of the above photos who did justice to our home.

G.I. Joe

Action-packed from the beginning to the end. Very predictable storyline but also equally entertaining special effects and slick fight scenes. This is a "Transformers" and more. Standard fare from car chasing to deep sea battles will keep you at the edge of your seat. The ending also made sure a sequel will be produced, which is a good thing. I don't mind buying the DVD in blu-ray to enjoy the high definition gunfire too. And of course, everyone loves a bitchy lady who fights - the baroness in this case.

3.5 stars.

Public Enemies

Public Enemies is based on a true story. It's quite funny how you hear the audience asking each other about this only at the end of the film. True-life stories that capture public attention have usually already reached the overly-dramatic stage, thus allowing them to get that status in the first place. I felt the movie might have exaggerated some parts to the slight point of unreality. Nevertheless, Marion Cotillard, Johnny Depp and Christian Bale did not disappoint.

3 stars.

Leonardo da Vinci

I was struck in awe the moment I stepped into the exhibition grounds. Leonardo da Vinci was a man who wanted to know everything, and he did knew almost everything. He was an unmistakable polymath whose expertise gave birth to many of our modern inventions. Sadly, a genius's life is often filled with drama and scandal, and his real contributions to society was not known till after his death. The above picture shows one of his many notebooks which he kept his research. After being tried for sodomy, he became much more distrusting and paranoid, thus depriving the world of many of his work which he secretly guarded and that was eventually never found. A great pity isn't it? But a great man is never without his flaws.

Live prawns, anyone?

Imagine my horror when I realised tonight's dinner included steamboat-ing live prawns. Yes, you read it right. We had to dangle the poor struggling prawns above the steaming pot of soup...and drop them inside! Worse still, they are still seen to be struggling in pain inside. Some defiant prawns thought that they could escape death by jumping out of the soup, but to no avail. All they left behind was a tiny splash, a testimony of their insignificant existence on earth. I shudder at the thought of the scarred souls of little children at the restaurant witnessing the adults doing such acts of crime.

I really hope the prawns don't attack me in my sleep tonight. At least, I ended up eating none of the prawns. Rest in peace prawns...in my friends' stomachs.

NDP 2059

I read with interest Ho Kwon Ping's article mimicking a post National Day speech in 2059 - after 100 years of self-rule. The article was peppered with many amusing achievements and milestones, though in retrospect many modern milestones achieved probably sounded comical to the people of the past too. It urged me to imagine what our country and lifestyle would be like 50 years down the road.

I will be 70 years old then. Will I live till that age? What will become of me? The future, both filled with glorious hope and unpredictable traps, seem to loom ahead...closer than ever before.

Love of Siam

Today marks the last day Love of Siam screens at Cinema Europa at VivoCity. First released in Thailand in 2007, the show immediately received mixed reactions due to the portrayal of different types of love - including love between two boys. Doing much more than simply tugging at our heartstrings, the movie, in its simplicity, inspires love and the very right to love. The show's success is also compounded by the delicate acting from the cast. No doubt, it has impacted many lives and will continue to do so in its run in Japan.

I have had the opportunity to watch the director's cut of the film, an almost three hours long cut. Despite the duration, the strong dynamics between the characters in the show resulted in not a single moment of dip. A formula of family love, romantic love, and love between friends amongst others might shamelessly be the simplest formula to win over one's heart, but Love of Siam did it beautifully and rightfully realistic. It is an honest reflection of the strict Asian values that we all live by.

4.5 stars.

Just happiness

I just spent the past hour browsing through the yellow and sticky old photo albums with my mum. I never knew such simple pleasures could be derived from equally unassuming treasures. Laughing and recounting the memories, it dawned on me once again how 20 years have passed so quickly. I saw myself in the old photos, when I was just nine, or ten. Would I have ever known who I would be ten years down? That ignorant and contented glaze staring back at me from the photo somehow soothed me. Suddenly all material wants dissipated.. all I want is my family to remain together and to savour more happy memories to come.

Ion Orchard & ors

Walking around the glitzy new Ion Orchard was exciting, but the excitement died down a bit when I realised how much more the management could have done with Orchard Central just a station down. Ion barely opened its doors a week back, and it already has a huge percentage of shops opened and ready to surprise shoppers with new fare. OC, on the other hand, has been opened since god-knows-how-long-ago, but has yet to show anything groundbreaking with the exception of sky-high escalators that commanded a good view of Orchard.

Five main reasons why Ion had my vote: Firstly, I met with surprises at almost every turn, with new brands popping up and existing ones offering new collections. Secondly, the layout, although confusing for some, made me feel like an explorer who's spoilt for choice in this jungle of merchandise. Thirdly, the food was good. Fourth, I love the toilets, especially the cubicles which made you feel like you are in an almost sound-proof private enclosed space. Lastly, I felt at ease with the interior design. I could tell the management and individual shops had done a lot in ensuring everything presented was marketed a notch above the usual fare.

I will, and need to go back there again. Excited.

Henderson Waves

The trip to Henderson Waves was well worth it. Whoever said there was nothing to do in boring Singapore? The bridge itself amazes me in both design and functionality. It was a great location to experiment different stills and tableaux, taking advantage of the linear and curves of the bridge. But what I felt most at ease about was that it seems to blend in smoothly with the very nature that we had earlier emerged from.

20, with a start

Looking at my calendar one day, I realised my twentieth birthday is just a matter of months away. Indeed, it is only when we aren't consciously noticing that time passes really quickly. I must admit I'm really excited for the future, but I'm equally appreciative of the past. This made up my mind to resume blogging. From the extremities of frivolity to philosophy, nothing will take away the good memories we had in our youth. I need to make sure of that.