Note To Blog Marker

Hi Blog Marker,

Please click on "ACE Term 3" to look for my posts that I would like to be marked for ACE. Enjoy the many many songs that I put!

Cheers,

Darrel

Taman Jurong - Revealing the inherent childhood

Hi all,

We went to Taman Jurong today to have fun. As in seriously. Of course, you have the official paperwork, consent form and bureaucratic stuff saying "Newspaper Collection - National Day CIP", but we are efficient pleasure-seeking people who put fun above work, at the right time only, of course.

Firstly, I think we did each of our blocks by ourselves. We had our own really weird experiences, but for me, I think my most memorable experience was standing and walking around the void deck for 20 min literally doing nothing. That was just too fun. I think the people at the coffeeshop (I could see the coffeeshop from my block, only a 1 minute walk away) must have suspected me as a loitering person :) . The impression as being suspicious must have been confirmed when they saw me carrying the bags of every group member in my group.

Then, of course, all of us participated in the mass transportation activity of stuff to Blk 156, then the container. Unfortunately, newspapers couldn't be transported through traction of saltation (I mean, newspapers bouncing?), so we had to resort to suspension-like techniques to carry the newspaper. But at least we had fun, after the hard labour, throwing the newspapers. *point point at a lot of people* :).

Finally, it was break time, and while a lot of westernised classmates ordered French fries (shame! Chinse High leh! Must buy pau! OK just joking and no offence, but while fries were $2, pau was $0.60), I got a pau and two cups of Milo Ice. Unlike Rayson, I chose Milo Ice and not Milo because the ice would help to reduce the sweetness of the Milo. After eating, a lot of us were having fun at the playground. Finally, I realised that there were people who loved Tic Tac Toe as much as I do!

Few photos:

Ziying smiling, Samuel reading Deathly Hallows, Mdm Lim chatting with relief teacher.

Weiyang racing away on his brand new Ferrari!

It is only at times like this where you realise that endless CIP, while tiring, is ultimately more fun.

Cheers,

Darrel

Depressed Love

Hi all,

I suddenly have this weird desire to listen to depressing songs about love and I have no idea why. Ah well, after putting two songs about the feelings of people after break up, I think I'll just put two songs on happy love.

The first depressing one is sung by a really famous group. People who are somewhere around 50-70 should remember the Beatles really well? The first song is by them, and it's called "Yesterday". The lyrics are really simple, but the meaning's stated perfectly. Enjoy!

The second depressing one is actually not very depressing, but it's a nice song of innocence, or more appropriately, naivety. The feeling is that "Where are you? We were having so much fun yesterday but now you're gone" is being said, but by a innocent voice. Do enjoy "Lemon Tree" by Fool's Garden. I think all of you might have heard it before somewhere, this song is quite famous, but exact time period not sure.

Now, the first happy song is sung by a...well, also famous, but not just for his voice. Boy George's songs were greatly loved by the public in the 80's, but he was also gay, and that wasn't exactly very accpetable to the public then. Anyway, you should enjoy "Karma Chameleon" by him, and if you want the lyrics, get them here.

The second happy song was also famous in the late 80's. 'Wake me up before you go go" by Wham is a catchy song, so do listen to it if you're feeling down. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Darrel

Viewpont 3 - The connotations of Literature

Hi all,

It was only just nowthat I realised that the fact was universal - that when the correct words were used, length didn't matter, for the meaning was the most important. I think this is what our Chinese teacher is attempting to teach us, that when you have alread risen to the level of amazing words and phrases, the level of amazement can only rise further when you achieve the same effect with less words.

I think a really basic example would be the poem on paper planes that we did. I distinctly remembering telling Timothy Ling this as Zhu Cheng, him and I were briefly discussing: What was the paper planes symbolic of? Looking back, it's sort of obvious now that the main source of confusion was the "brutal road". It was never clear, and indeed i don't think no one had the explanation: What was the brutal road supposed to be sybolic of? Judging from how everyone said he died, I think that quite a number of us were thinking that he died in a car accident? I don't think this is wrong, cause even the answer sheet given to us didn't explain itself about this particular choice of word. It is possible now, that this referred to the cruel reality of life and of modern society. The "paper planes" being flown, if this interpretation were taken, would suddenly expand to mean many social vices, eg drugs.

In conclusion, I think when we write essays and the like, language and literature have the power to make us think far greater than what's stated in your text, so use them wisely. I like this quote: The written word triumphs over powerful physicals, but powerful physicals fail to make the written word fear.

Cheers,

Darrel

Don't Worry Be Happy!

Hi all,

There are times when people have wondered why our dear iCouncil chairman Glendon can always smile so widely. After long time unwilling interaction with him, I have finally discovered the reason, and this is what I shall share with you now.

It all begins with Glendon's amazing intellect in IH and current affairs. In his own words, he had "a lot of free time during P1 and P2", so he would "read the newspapers back and forth". Note the age and note the behaviour. This amazing acquaintance with newspapers and current affairs has developed into what we know today as the modern-day Glendon. In other words, he knows practically any medium-scale current affairs that has happened in the last 5 years.

If you interact with Glendon long enough, you will discover that when Glendon speaks about the poor and the dying in Africa, he doens't smile, but instead frowns slightly. This led me to wonder: Was it due to constant interaction through the newspapers that has led to him realising, as I have as well, that we have no right to be unhappy, simply because there are many poor, sick and starving people in rural Africa who can remain happy.

In other words, as the title of this post sums up: Don't worry, be happy! You have nothing to worry about that is truly very important (this applies in really general situations, like you didn't bring your Maths Assignment)!

Speaking about this makes me think of a recently very popular Chinese song by Jay Chou that has won quite a few major music awards recently. In English, it's called "Rice Fragrance", but I felt that a more appropriate translation would be "Paddy Fragrance", for the emphasis is on the delight of the padi. You can simply watch the video and listen to the song, but if you understand the lyrics, sing along, and reflect on them as you sing, cause you will hear that really, you have nothing to worry about. During a minor interlude in the pre-official-release-version of the song, Jay Chou speaks tells you exactly what I've been saying, that there isn't really a lot to worry about when you think of the many other people around the world suffering. Enjoy the video and the song, and remember: Don't worry, be happy!

Just a slight postscript though: You can also interprete the song as a escapist form of music par excellence (quote some stuff from Animal Farm notes, cause it's really quite appropriate), for it also says that if all else fails you, you will always have a warm and loving family waiting for you.

Cheers,

Darrel

Thoughts of an Immigrant - A musical expression

Hi all,

Did I ever mention that I went to China during the June holidays? It was basically for my paternal grandfather to meet up with his relatives in China and also for me to learn more about them. My main purpose here is to give a really brief introduction to three English songs that I feel really describe the feelings of my grandfather well, one when he just left, possibly around 4++ months, one when he was homesick, possibly around 3++ years, and wanted to come back, and one when he was about to come back.

I do not believe that any of you are familiar with the first one, for the really simple reason that it's a really really old song. "500 miles" by the Brothers Four appeared to be quite famous in the 1960's (I can't seem to get a lot of information on this song, possibly because they're not that famous). Get the lyrics from here , but the essential meaning is about an immigrant who has left his hometown and friends and relatives a long long distance away, and can only come back when he is rich enough to do so. Lovely song and lovely lyrics. Enjoy the video!

The next song is a lot more recent, and sung by a man commented on as a Frank Sinatra wannabe. This 2005 hit "Home" by Michael Buble is really delightful, and it's written like a husband's writing to his wife. The essential message: is I miss you a lot, and I can't stand it any longer, so I'll be coming home soon, baby. When you watch the Michael Buble official MV, you find it untouching and very Michael-Buble centred, so I chose the Westlife video, where singing part is slightly changed, but the video is a lot more touching. Watch the video. It'll make you wanna cry if you put yourself in the people shown in the video's shoes.

The last song is really recent, and I believe a lot of introduction isn't necessary to Daniel Powter's "Next Plane Home". Essentially, this person greatly misses his "you" in the song, and he'll be on the next plane home. Here, we can take "you" to be friends and relatives. Apparently they've removed the original MV of the song, so I'll have to use the one where he's performing it somewhere live. Enjoy the music.

Cheers,

Darrel

Viewpoint 2 - Clash of Civilisations

Hi all,

I was at a competition organised by the JC on the other side of our campus. In the final round(which I didn't get into), finalists were expected to present on certain issues regarding world poverty and hunger in Africa. A particular rival boys school's student impressed some with the way he inserted humour into his speech. Many teachers there were both shocked and amused. It was so politically incorrect, and he managed to make the serious situations into light-hearted jokes.

But then - there were many other participants, and indeed quite a number of the judges, who were looking sort of shocked at this particular boy's descriptions of such internationally sensitive conflicts. This was millions of people who were suffering, who were being tortured, who were dying, how could you ignore the severity of the situation?

This is my topic for discussion today - What are the influences of Western cultures and Eastern cultures in our education today? Let us take a look at this particular finalist. Coming from a greatly Westernised school, it could be said that his education had been along the path of the Western world. Politically incorrect jokes must surely be a feature of the culture. After a horrible day at work, a crowded subway, and enough glimpses of people who are just too serious, surely there must be a light-hearted side to the cruel world. Undoubtedly, politically incorrect jokes satirises the current system. Here, the student must have thought that this would work.

However, there were many schools who were under the influence of the East. People from the East are generally more relaxed. Having been slightly slower in their development, you still see a slight level of ignorance, albeit a peaceful one, of the troubles of the modernised world. Horrors on the other side of the world are merely a far-off nightmare. Thus, these people will attempt to offer aid, to stop this nightmare, thus developing a more emotional side, instead of the cool calmness needed to stop the horror. But when on comes along and coldly and humourously desensitises this situation - It implies a icyness in that particular person, something people in the East hate. Thus, when the student came along with his jokes, the more pro-Eastern were, as expected, greatly shocked.

Ultimately, there is no better culture. There is only the equal clash between them. Thus, it might be better to merge the two cultures, to please both of them.

Cheers,

Darrel