Reading Challenges

If you’d take a look at my sidebar, I’ve got new links to 2 reading challenge I’m putting myself up for. First is the What’s in a name? Challenge, where I have to read a book that has titles with a word from each of the category listed below:

1. Color
2. Animal
3. First name
4. Place
5. Weather Event
6. Plant

And the second challenge is the Royalty Rules challenge, where I have to read 2-4 books with a royal character in there.

So it’s about 8-10 books I have to read this year. (Oh, the Royalty Rules Challenge ends in April).

I’ll be posting my list up soon!

[Edit] List is up. Look at Reading 2008.

Smell of Decomp

That day I was digging around this cupboard of old books for some textbook from my secondary school days, and when I opened the cupboard, I smelled an odour that is what I would expect decomp (decomposition; I say decomp the CSI way) to be. Someone once told me decomp is like rotting flesh, just worse, and get stuck in your hair for days. So anyway, I panicked. I was afraid that some lizard or other critters died in that cupboard, and I would have to remove it myself. And being me, I decided to avoid the problem (and lapse into denial) and I closed the cupboard and went away. But the smell didn’t leave me. And I thought, oh wow now it’s really stuck in my hair.

I went out of my room and to the living room. The smell followed. And after a while, my mother and I both realized that the smell actually came from a neighbour’s cooking.

I wonder if she’s/he’s cooking dismembered parts of her/his murder victim. My mother says it’s balachan. I don’t recall balachan being that stinky. Maybe they’ve got some potent stuff brought in from Indonesia or something. Whatever it is, it stank of decomp and I can’t fathom why would anyone want to eat it. I, for the matter, do not eat sambal balachan, so there.

Musing Meme

Borrowed this from Con Fuoco.

What is the meaning of life? I don’t have an answer. Possibly the meaning of life is to be in the eternal search for the meaning of life. :P 

If a tree falls in a forest with no one to hear, does it make a sound? Yes. 

What is the fundamental flaw in human nature? Pride or greed? Greed, especially when it results in denying someone else a certain something just so you can hoard it. Pride essentially is about oneself, and does not take anything away from anyone around them. 

Why do you think a man marries a woman? Free domestic helper + birthgiving machine + sex toy and/or money? Would a man still marry a woman willingly if all 4 above are missing from said woman?

Would you kill one person to save a thousand? However, that one person is the most important human being in your life. Would you still do it? No I wouldn’t. I’m a selfish person.I do not know that 1000 people personally to want to save them. I would probably be more at ease not saving (i.e. not the same as killing) those 1000 than killing one person that’s important to me. 

Are men naturally polygamous? (I think this question should be phrased as: Is Man naturally polygamous?) Yes. Without a doubt. 

Are women naturally competitive with other women? Yes, but so are men.

If “all the world’s a stage and we are merely players,” what game are we playing? (UH. There seems to be a misunderstanding of Shakespeare’s notion huh. It’s not exactly players of a game, but more like actors) Anyway, we’re playing Sudoku. There are some easier puzzles that we can fill up but laborious (or not) deduction and logic, but there are some puzzles that require you to first take a step to guess via trial and error (because not enough clues were given). 

What do you think is the greatest invention of women? (by women you mean?) No idea. 

What common question do you think has a hidden question underneath it? Actually from a linguist’s point of view, almost every common question means something apart from the question itself. Personally speaking, I’d think it’s “are you all right?” (in the Singapore context). There isn’t a “hidden question” per se, but it really means more that just enquiry of well being; rather it’s embedded the questioner’s intention to the questionee that “it’s all right to tell me everything”. 

In a society where everyone is “entitled to their opinion,” what place is there for right and wrong? The stark difference between Right and Wrong is still there, but sometimes it’s a matter of who is a greater orator and hence hold the floor and hold to power to influence the audience. 

If it was never illegal, would you have killed someone by now? Yes.

Does everything in the world have an opposite? If no, give an example. Obviously not. What’s the opposite of niece? (If you say “nephew”, are you sure?) However we live in a world where the binary system is very much favoured and “in-betweens” are shunned, so most things tend to seem to have an “opposite”. 

How do you define personal honor? Personal honor is never letting other people create self-doubt in you, and to be personally responsible for your own emotional, psychological and physical well-being. 

How would you describe the color blue to a blind person? (I can’t even define blue to sighted human beings; and I repeat, blue is NOT the colour of the sky nor sea. It’s not universal!) Blue smells clean and feels light. 

How will you prove that genuine love exists? By trying to prove that it doesn’t exist. So that if I spend my lifetime unable to prove that genuine love doesn’t exist, by abstraction, genuine love must then exist somewhat. 

What is the greatest unsolved mystery on earth? Why is it that geniuses are often recluse and even autistic? Is social behaviour impeding our quest to be a genius?

Given infinity, will all that is possible eventually happen? Yes. There is nothing outside infinity. 

Is it better to be uncertain about something forever or know the truth and be very hurt through all your life? I prefer to be uncertain. Once I know the truth, it’s the truth, there’s no turning back. I rather like the status quo.

If you saw a yellow ball but everyone told you it was purple, who would you believe? What would you do to prove your side? Bring the ball back and I’ll look at it again. If it’s still yellow, those people can go screw themselves. 

Is education the filling of a pail or the lighting of a fire? For me, the filling of a pail. Because a flame can die out, but hopefully a pail can remain filled forever. 

Is a lie a lie if everybody knows it is? It is not a necessary condition for everyone to know for a lie to be a lie. I can lie to myself, and only I know it, but that doesn’t make it any less a lie. (Perhaps it’s delusion in some sense). 

Imagine yourself experiencing a car accident. What happens and how does everything look like after the accident? Assuming I’m a passenger (I can’t drive anyway), it’d probably the most painful point and most painful wait of my life. The paramedics might be there, but all I see is blur.

Do you ever wonder if you’re already dead and this is just your life flashing before your eyes? Nope. I’m certain in that flashback after death thing isn’t nearly as painful as some of the things I’ve gone through.

Should a conservative Christian husband of an atheist woman allow her to have an abortion if there’s a chance the kid might grow up and turn into a gay Mormon? If he, being the conservative Christian loves the wife enough to marry her despite her being an Atheist, I’m sure he has no problems with raising a gay Mormon son. 

Chesty Nutty Bang Bang: The Hairspray of the Phoenix

Visit the official website here.

I. LOVE. THIS. SHOW.

I caught it during the preview on Wednesday, and once more today. Just because I love it so much. This is my 5th Chestnuts show, and I’ve been catching it dutifully every year since 2003.

Recently I heard that there’s an atas acquaintance who went for the show in 2005 and said that it sucks. Well, you suck more. From the bottom of my heart, I believe producing and acting in Chestnuts require more artistry than any other show you can name. It’s more entertaining and artful than a musical, it’s more funnier than slapstick (definitely) and it’s more sophisticated than I’ll-baffle-the-stupid-audience-with-cheem-lines drama. The songs are great, the ideas are great, even the audience rocks more than your average theatregoer. Any way you see it, this show rocks. Only the stuffy pseudo-cultured bigots cannot appreciate this show. And I’ll say it again - only the stuffy pseudo-cultured bigots cannot appreciate this show. There, I’ve ranted.

This year is different because there is a much bigger cast, and hence more stuff can be explored. From spoofing Beauty World (asking Laselle for one more girl and Mediacorp for one more ah-beng because your seasoned theatre practitioners are too darn busy), to Hairspray (who would have guessed that John Trovolta’s comeback would be in drag), and from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (and how JKR will never stop writing) to 881 (and all that Hokkien). I loved every minute of it.

My favourite section was the spoof of 881, whereby after the death of Little Papaya, renowned Annabelle Chong decided to take her place, and together they battled Section 881A of the Penal Code that forbids the staging of getai in Singapore for fear of “tearing at our social fabric” and “causing disturbances to procreation” and that getai is “against the natural order”. Obviously, this is alluding to another section of the Penal Code as we know. Apart from this allusion, I really liked the part they got the audience to sing along to Count on Me Singapore in support of the “repeel” (repeal) against said Penal Code. I’m really happy that the audience were complying and sporting enough because really, this is as close as we can get to voicing our discontent about said Penal Code in public ever. It makes me feel very proud to be part of it all; and makes me feel prouder than I have ever been as a theatregoer.

And needless to say, I adored the political bits of the play. It is mentioned that “why is it our new national day’s songs do not contain the name of our country?” Like we’re all ready to transplant that song to any other country. And also, is it only on that day of the national day’s parade that we are allowed to feel truly Singaporean? What does it mean to be a Singaporean?

That aside, the cast. I felt Joakim was a little raw and shy during the preview, but I’m happy that he’s warmed up after that, and was much better today. Although the singing was still not as good as I would expect. And speaking of Singapore, Celine Tan has the greatest singing voice I’ve heard. It’s just so pleasant and great. And Rodney is better this year; last year he was quite as raw and uninitiated as Joakim is, but he’s improved. And as usual, Jonathan rocked my world.

I really really really enjoyed this show. I think it runs for a few more days. Go catch it! Book your tickets via Gatecrash.

And do not tell me you didn’t like it because that would only mean 3 things: 1, you are atas when you shouldn’t be because you don’t deserve to be; 2, you are homophobic and hates the play because it’s homosexual-centric (go watch Disney on Ice if you can’t stand matured themes!); and 3, you don’t understand the intertexuality (term supplied by my Literature-ish friend) i.e. you don’t understand because you lack basic cultural knowledge. (Stupid angmohs, go home! Don’t frown just because you can’t understand the local elements!)

Yeah. So there. I can’t wait for next year’s show! (Like every other year.)

It’s going to be a hectic semester…

… and I’m undecided if I’m happy or not.

When I received news that we can write an individual research paper for Cross-cultural Communication (as opposed to a previous arrangement for a group research paper), I was so elated words cannot describe how happy I was. I love writing individual research papers; they give me a chance to research something I am interested it, at my own pace, draw my own conclusions, and feel the utmost sense of self-satisfaction.

But because I’m taking 6 modules this semester (as opposed to the usual 5), I’ve more on my hands. And since I’ve been picking modules with the least group projects, we’re talking many individual essays and papers. Not that I’m complaining about the workload, but it certainly feels like I’ve adopted a few children at once and not sure if I can give my attention to all of them. Each research paper would be my brainchild, and to have to practise favouritism on any of them just makes me … sad. And not to mention the amount of readings I’d have to do for all 6 modules; I reckon it’s about 10-12 chapters/articles a week.

I guess it’s a challenge to myself, and I’m all braced for it.

I said then you said.

“Fly me higher to the clouds the stars the moon!”
You said yes.
“Hold me tighter through the storm the wind the cold.”
You said yes.
“Teach me to dance to swim to paint to love you.”
You said yes.
“Tell me it’s fake it’s play it’s nothing like it seems.”
You said nothing.
“Leave me alone leave me to cry leave me to die.”
You said no.
“Allow me to leave you to move on to love myself.”
You said go.

It was not too long ago

It was not too long ago since …

that Monday morning where we painted the skies pink through rose-tinted glasses running in the wind chasing our shadows
that Tuesday midnight where we flew amongst the stars in our rainbow coloured slippers kissing like our life depended on it
that Wednesday evening where we danced in the rain under the street lamps skipping puddles laughing
that Thursday afternoon where we curled up on the chaise whispering sweet nothings reading sonnets together
that Friday night where we met at the pub we weren’t supposed to be at with whom we weren’t supposed to be with
that Saturday dawn where we fought and tore at the fabric we knitted with sweat and tears over the past years
that Sunday morning where we parted ways with one last kiss and apology with our boxes packed and the cat sent away.

Men vs. Women

In the same day I’ve heard two different lecturers use the same example to exhibit gender differences in speech. How women talk about their problems to generally whine and gain sympathy, and men talk about their problems to seek logical and pragmatic solutions. Consequently men don’t understand women, and women find men too crass with their lack of sympathy.

Bollocks, really.

I’m a woman, and when my friends tell me of their problems, I try to give constructive comments and suggest solutions. Does that make me a man? Or if a man truly “indulges” in our whining, is he simply brushing us off as being over-reacting?

Has our society changed that much that we have stopped ascribing to such Anglo-centric point of view when it comes to the gender issue?

Mark your calendars, people

because today I cut my own hair.

My own fringe to be exact. It’s quite a radical change though.

I will put pictures up once I get a nice shot of it (which could take forever)

Song Meme

Go here and change the number in the URL to reflect the year you graduated high school to get the top 100 songs of that year. Strike through the songs you hate(d). Bold the songs you love(d). Underline the songs you like(d). Leave blank those you don’t care about or don’t remember.

1. The Reason, Hoobastank
2. This Love, Maroon 5
3. Yeah, Usher featuring Ludacris & Lil’ Jon
4. Leave (Get Out), JoJo
5. She Will Be Loved, Maroon 5
6. Pieces Of Me, Ashlee Simpson
7. With You, Jessica Simpson
8. The Way You Move, Outkast
9. My Immortal, Evanescence
10. My Happy Ending, Avril Lavigne
11. My Boo, Usher & Alicia Key
12. Burn, Usher
13. Toxic, Britney Spears
14. If I Ain’t Got You, Alicia Keys
15. Breakaway, Kelly Clarkson
16. Dare You To Move, Switchfoot
17. Dip It Low, Christina Milian
18. Over And Over, Nelly featuring Tim McGraw
19. Hey Mama, Black Eyed Peas
20. Meant To Live, Switchfoot
21. Lose My Breath, Destiny’s Child
22. I Don’t Want To Be, Gavin DeGraw
23. Naughty Girl, Beyoncé Knowles
24. Let’s Get It Started, Black Eyed Peas
25. On The Way Down, Ryan Cabrera
26. I Don’t Want You Back, Eamon
27. Falls On Me, Fuel
28. Roses, Outkast
29. One Thing, Finger Eleven
30. Move Ya Body, Nina Sky
31. I Don’t Wanna Know, Mario Winans featuring Enya & P. Diddy
32. Broken, Seether featuring Amy Lee
33. Everytime, Britney Spears
34. The First Cut Is The Deepest, Sheryl Crow
35. Scandalous, Mis-Teeq
36. The Voice Within, Christina Aguilera
37. Take My Breath Away, Jessica Simpson
38. Turn Me On, Kevin Lyttle
39. Heaven, Los Lonely Boys
40. 1985, Bowling For Soup
41. Ocean Avenue, Yellowcard
42. Don’t Tell Me, Avril Lavigne
43. Confessions Part 2, Usher
44. Milkshake, Kelis
45. Eighth World Wonder, Kimberly Locke
46. Me, Myself And I, Beyoncé Knowles
47. Sunshine, Lil Flip
48. Baby It’s You, JoJo
49. Numb, Linkin Park
50. Goodies, Ciara
51. Welcome To My Life, Simple Plan
52. Drop It Like It’s Hot, Snoop Dogg
53. Come Clean, Hilary Duff
54. My Band, D12 featuring Eminem
55. One Call Away, Chingy
56. Hold On, Good Charlotte
57. Freek-A-Leek, Petey Pablo
58. Daughters, John Mayer
59. Tipsy, J-Kwon
60. Slow Jamz, Twista featuring Kanye West & Jamie Foxx
61. Are You Gonna Be My Girl, Jet
62. Just Lose It, Eminem
63. The Trouble With Love Is, Kelly Clarkson
64. Hotel, Cassidy featuring R. Kelly
65. I Like That, Houston
66. Bounce, Sarah Connor
67. Lady, Lenny Kravitz
68. Slow Motion, Juvenile
69. I Miss You, Blink-182
70. Feelin’ Way Too Damn Good, Nickelback
71. My Place, Nelly
72. Dirt Off Your Shoulder, Jay-Z
73. Vertigo, U2
74. You Don’t Know My Name, Alicia Keys
75. Gigolo, Nick Cannon
76. White Houses, Vanessa Carlton
77. Let’s Go, Trick Daddy
78. You And I Both, Jason Mraz
79. Overnight Celebrity, Twista
80. (I Hate) Everything About You, Three Days Grace
81. Only One, Yellowcard
82. Change Clothes, Jay-Z
83. 100 Years, Five For Fighting
84. Echo, Trapt
85. I’m Still In Love With You, Sean Paul
86. Breaking The Habit, Linkin Park
87. Shadow, Ashlee Simpson
88. What You Waiting For?, Gwen Stefani
89. How Come, D12
90. Slow, Kylie Minogue
91. Some Girls (Dance With Women), JC Chasez
92. Vindicated, Dashboard Confessional
93. God Is A DJ, Pink
94. Lean Back, Terror Squad
95. Accidentally In Love, Counting Crows
96. Just A Little While, Janet Jackson
97. Away From The Sun, 3 Doors Down
98. Angels, Jessica Simpson
99. Locked Up, Akon
100. Not Today, Mary J. Blige featuring Eve

Wow. It’s been that long since I graduated from high school (junior college here). These are songs I might wind up calling retro a few years down the road (see, Backstreet Boys is retro for me).

And I saw a Shakespeare version of Milkshake this other day, and it goes:

“My milkshake bringeth all ye goodfellow in the yard
It’s better than thine
Verily, it’s better than thine
I could teach thee
But I have to levy a fee”

Haha, it was too funny I just had to write it down.