The Truthiness Will Set You Free

Last Known Record

2008-02-17T07:34:00.002+08:00

Enough is enough.

1) Confidence. - When you talk to one person CONFIDENTIALLY, it's supposed stays that way.
2) I do give credit where it is due. But none of you are gonna believe me anyway.
3) Some people I have never tried to piss off. You guys have done nothing to me and I'm kinda hoping that the inverse is also true. If you are pissed, sorry, must be a spill effect.
4) I'm abandoning this weblog.

Goodnight folks....

Really now...

2008-02-06T21:29:00.000+08:00

A note. Some of you have never offended me. This is not meant for you. None of you will care what I write here and dismiss it as the rantings of a "angsty potty mouth". Frankly. I'm just tired.

But seriously...

Time to explain a few truths.

Snide comments I can deal with. In fact, I expect them from you and will pretend to act extremely shocked. Professional courtesy though. One messed up ear but I can still hear you. Keep it quiet till I'm out of earshot. Even if you bust a rib doing so.

Yes. I am an arrogant son of a bitch. Yes. I am an asshole.
Deal with it.
I don't have to answer to you.

Oh, and before reaching for that comment panel or IM-ing your bestest best friend in the whole wide world (for the next 2 months anyhow) to continue bitching...

Don't act cute. You're all as damaged as I am.

Happy Fucking New Year!

2007-12-31T22:31:00.000+08:00

They say that what you do when the year ends is what you will be doing for the rest of it. In that case, I'm pretty much in trouble.

Hasn't been a great year. But there are some things, some people I can be thankful for. People who helped made whatever little good there is in my year.

Nab, Trace and Ram who were there at the concert. My old friends, Heidi, Joy, KY, Anil... The people at school who I trust Sany, Gus, Candice, Jacky... New friends like Patty, Le Raine, Rachel, Siew Ling, Natalie, Sarah...

There are more. It's been a year...

I want my year to change. I didn't feel this year go by. Mostly because I kept having t struggle most days. Who has the time to step back?

I'd say next year will be better. Then again, I say that every year....

A Death in the Family

2007-12-30T05:00:00.000+08:00

My uncle died today. ETD 0245 hours.

MCR 11 Dec!!!

2007-12-12T00:51:00.000+08:00

I hate moshpits. Couple of wiseasses were shoving their way forward. I feared for my life. Now I can't feel my feet, my arms and back are killing me. BUT WHAT A FUCKING AWESOME CONCERT!!!!!!!!!!!

Jokes

2007-11-20T09:53:00.000+08:00

We spend time railing on people for what they say or do. No matter how much of a bad thing it may be, we become a judge. Even if the court is only in our eyes. But from where comes our right to play the high ground? What if we commit the same sins as the ones we condemn?

The joke's gone far enough. I am human. I deserve some sort of dignity.

I am not entirely humorless. I can take a joke. But when "Dorminic is a retard" jokes come every few minutes, even Larry King has changed his routine more.

You say a stiff comment is mean. But can this "meaness" be negated with a "just joking" behind it? Is it possible for me to negate it and pass it off as good natured ribbing because of us being "friends"?

Explain to me this concept.

Because I'm just tired.

Self-Defense

2007-11-15T19:30:00.000+08:00

I don't think people like me happy.

Everytime I'm in a good mood, feeling positive about my tomorrow, I end up getting my ass kicked right back. Snarky people, that really ugly I told you so feeling. And when I get started with that, I end up opening up a really big can of worms.

Why does what I have done in the distant past come back to bite me? Is it so easy to assume the worst of me?

I'm sick of defending myself.

Shattered Dreams

2007-11-10T01:11:00.000+08:00

I'm not a good guy.

All my friends around me have their dreams shattered and crumbling all around them. And all I can say is empty words of reassurances. Even then, my heart is screaming at their naivety or shouting "I told you so" to a select few.

If I knew that it was coming, do I indulge the delusion? Or do I shatter those dreams with my own hands. Am I a bad person? Who am I to make this judgment call when I can barely even fathom what my heart feels.

Falling in love is just that... Falling
Out of control of your heart and your soul
Taking a risk is just that... Taking
We've all been there before, I can't take anymore
Why love when love can be lost?

Funny. Despite all going on around me, all I can think about is about how my heart feels. Does that make me selfish?

I'm sorry. I really mean it. All of you, and many more to come.

I hate being the voice of doom and gloom. I don't like that it has to come from me.

The heart is a fragile thing, these sad fools for love.

Pointless

2007-11-09T22:15:00.000+08:00

What happened?

I used to have a future. Or at the very least believed myself to have a marginally bright one. There were big things for me. I was going to be somebody.

What happened to that hot shot debater? That career as a backup singer? A scientist? What happened to the dreams of being a family man with a beautiful life of just being there for the people who need you?

How did my life become such an exercise in futility?

How did I end up sloughing through one menial assignment, just to find another deadline and yet another one after that? All for a career that will never take off.

I never had the talent to succeed like this. I can't even spell success without a spellcheck. All I had going was bravado and heart.

If it were just work, I might be able to paint a bright smile on my face and win an academy. But you can't hug with nuklear arms. Like a dark Midas Touch, it seems everything around me tends to die. Or in a less dramatic fashion, fail.

But what happens when a heart stops beating?

You can lock it away in shatter proof glass but it'll still die. I'm running low on hope, on energy.

I end up just going through the motions. Nothing to look forward to but more failure and more futility.

This blog is an exercise in futility. No one even reads this garbage.

I wouldn't even be a cautionary tale, because I was never anything of note to begin with.

That would be pointless.

Bulls Openers

2007-11-03T11:09:00.000+08:00

So we lost home opener, we're 0-2. That I can deal. Back in 04/05, we were 1-9 before making the play-offs for the first time without MJ.

What I can't stand is how we seemed not to learn anything from that fiasco that was New Jersey. First, we got hammered on the boards. Next, our shooting was abysmal. Third, someone explain to me why Duhon was on the floor before Thabo? Even then, still better than BG at point, but still that happened.

The final thing that really pisses me off is that Noc is still playing big minutes at PF. Look at any pre-season prediction people will say that our depth at PF and C is a huge advantage. Even with Noah out injured, we still have Tyrus Thomas, Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, even Aaron Gray. Why put in Noc for such a stretch when he gets hammered on the boards?

Skiles loves that intensity on the court, but when you need to aggressively pull down those boards, you don't put in an aggressive player. You put in better rebounders. Noc can hit a few shots, but we need to get a lot better defensively to win.

A few positives. Gordon's shooting's getting better. As long as he's not playing point, I think he'll get better.

Career game for Tyrus Thomas. He'll be that 20-10 player yet.

Next up Bucks.

The Kiss That Fractured Time

2007-11-02T21:33:00.000+08:00

I can't wait for Heroes 2.07. Too many teasers leading into next week. But considering that it's sweeps week next week, it's just business.

Few reactions.

1) I hate the wondertwins.
They're just a really long drawn out plotline to get Sylar back into the big picture. They seemed okay here. Although the way Maya can't seem to register that Sylar is evil seems beyond me.
2) Ali Larter is HOT!!!
Finally she's back. Not in hospital clothing either. Was wondering when we'd see her again. So is it Nikki or Jessica?
3) Bennett is a real ....
Never realized that Bennett was such a bad-ass. Too bad they're gonna kill him off soon. He's one of the more interesting characters.
4) Hiro & Yaeko
This takes the cake. Hiro is such a cool character. I like the new take on him. The Kiss That Fractured Time. His character really struck a chord with me this season.

I'm kinda waiting for the entire thing to come full circle. Maya's power, the virus, Bennett dying, Peter Petrelli etc.

And I'm starting to think that the city of New York has her own superpower. The need to be saved all the time.

I Should Be Paying Attention

2007-10-29T11:13:00.000+08:00

Sitting in MM lecture now. 4 things.

1) The guy on the instructional video has a sense of humor. Plus he mumbles. Lord help me, he sounds like me...
2) BULLS @ NETS!!!
3) I can't wait for MY CHEM!!
4) I should be paying attention. I'll think I'll leave my MBP at home from now on

Departure

2007-10-26T20:51:00.000+08:00

The heart is a wonderful thing. It can bring you back from the brink of death. It can fill you with enough sorrow that you can never function normally ever again. But the heart is fragile, it can take the smallest illusions and turn them into the gospel truth.

You're dying. Your body is growing weaker by the day as the disease eats away at you. Your family is your only solace.

What happens when your family, your own dear sweet mother, keeps reminding each other that you are dying. Sure, everyone knows it, everyone thinks it. But then again, they aren't exactly big on subtle. Years of a wild wild life has already taken it's toll and that makes you the cautionary tale.

Your day goes by with you in a small stuffy room. There's barely enough room for anything other than a mattress and a small desk. On the insistence of your mother, a chanting machine blares a solemn ode. The same one they will play at your wake.

Today a few old men and women dressed in blue polo shirts walk into the house and chant, preparing you for the afterlife. Try as they might, they cannot hide the sadness in their eyes. With every word, with every verse, you are only reminded just how soon you are to go.

Explain to me how can there be hope like this. How can a heart stay healthy, a resolve stay unbroken in a place like this.

The heart is indeed a very fragile thing.

Section 377A

2007-10-20T03:37:00.000+08:00

I was looking through the signatures on the petition that was created to keep Section 337A of the Singaporean Penal Code. For the uninformed, it essentially deals with gay rights. Although recent changes to the Penal Code included the repealing of Section 337 (Carnal Intercourse against the course of nature), Section 337A (Gross Indecency) was pretty much left untouched.

Although there is a funny story that repealing 337 was still not gay friendly as it was only applies for heterosexual couples, because (1) in the eyes of the law, technically, there is no gay community and (2) check the legalese, it actually says so. But let's not get into that about now.

Instead, let's talk about why people are willing to set up petitions to keep this article in the penal code. Pick a page. Any page in the petition, and you'll find a lot of bigotry. And I mean a lot.

You have people thumping the bible as if it means something. You have people who come straight out to call homosexuals perverts or mutations. Easy to be brave when you can hide under a nickname like Ridiculous or SG Punk. There's also a bunch of people who come out and say it is against values.

It's bigotry plain and simple. The entire us against them mentality. We don't understand or wish to have to deal with it, we bludgeon it. Odds are, for every level head that can explain his decision on that list, there will be 20 who's driving reason is that it's not right or simply put, it wigs them out. I mean it's funny how people seem to object most violently to the idea of a all-male couple where as a lesbian couple flies just underneath the radar to most. Technically, the word GAY, is pretty much used as a swear word where I come from.

No one can come out and give a good reason why the rule cannot stand, at least not without thumping the bible, and BOY, do I have Jewish friends that'll agree with me on this.

I particularly love it when people bring up Asian values, family values. Homosexuality is against the traditional family. Hypocrites. Last I checked, looking after your parents was an Asian value, helping the poor and selflessness were Asian values.

Frankly the only reason that could possibly stand is that law is supposed to be a reflection of society, not an agent to change society. Because by repealing this article, you are allowing a segment of society forcing the government to dictate what the rest of the society is to feel about this segment.

The gay community in Singapore is a small segment as compared to the entire general population. This segment ends up being radicals who naturally will be more liberal. This added liberalism would force them to speak out more. There is a majority, however, this majority will forever be silent. Instead they will hide behind screen names so as not to be offensive but still show their support anyway.

Let's take a moment to see what happens if the article is retained. Homosexuality will be outlawed, they'll stop and the whole of Singapore will rejoice at having family values and the bible saving our fair island from the fate of Sodom.

Not really. How exactly will a law solve the problem? Homosexuals have been working outside the law for so long. Just because there is a law, people aren't going to fall in line immediately. Rules are made to be broken. You aren't supposed to chew gum, people do it anyway. You aren't supposed to litter, people do it anyway. You aren't supposed to jay walk, to drink and smoke before age 18. All these laws are unenforceable. You cannot to have a camera in every bedroom and a SWAT team ready to break down the door if a homosexual couple get a little too frisky.

It's naive to think that a paper will solve everything. Just because you sweep all the dust under the carpet doesn't mean that dust is gone. In fact it'll just aggravate a lot of allergies when you take that carpet out to the wash.

Personally I have several very bigoted reasons to support and also condemn the retention of the article. But it'll do me no good to take a stand here. In fact, I believe in an alternative.

Revise and rewrite articles 337 and 337A. There is no hiding the gay community from the world. It is a personal choice they have decided for themselves. The government's job is to strike a compromise. Grant the gay community some right. Maybe allowing consensual sex at a legal age. Some rights so as they have an avenue to express the freedom of choice that they have. Make it across the board. If the law doesn't discriminate against race and religion, why should it over sexual orientation?

However, there will still be laws that forbid civil unions and other such rights pertaining to marriage. It will be as a reminder that the society is still largely against such unions. Call the law biased here but it's a compromise. The Law Discriminates Because People Discriminate.

Making homosexuality illegal isn't going to turn them towards the straight and narrow (pun intended). Making it legal isn't going to make the general population welcome them with open arms.

This will have to make do until people can accept the gay population. In an Asian society like this, it might be never. But hell, if the Black Panthers and Malcolm X could do it, why not?

Although, I'll predict this. The government will throw out the repeal process. The Section will stay unaltered. The gay community will be up in arms for a week or two, and then all of us will go back to the way we were, where the gay community stays underground and bigots will continue to use the word Gay as a swear word.

One can dream can they?

For the record: I never signed the petition. And I never will.

Being empathetic is a pathetic way to be

2007-10-18T05:40:00.001+08:00

Well done, Jackass. You really outdone yourself Dorminic.

You lose the girl, you lose your eyesight, you come home looking and feeling like crap. You now need bandages on your legs too. You almost got your ass handed to you on a plate you candy ass. Picking the wrong fights, screwing the hell up, Nice work, Jackass.

Guys, I'm sorry if I ruined your evenings. Take it as my apology and I'm sure as hell gonna make it up to you guys.

Review: Shoot 'Em Up

2007-10-16T23:55:00.000+08:00

Just watched Shoot 'Em Up. One of the best movies I've seen this year. Frankly it's cathartic. There's no need for brains here as there is hardly any logic to this film, but with a title like this, were you really expecting a 23-like mindfuck?

Story goes like this, Clive Owen plays a carrot munching vagabond who, once upon a time, was affliated with the black ops. He spots a pregnant woman about to be murdered and swoops in to save her. The baby is born but the mother dies. He gets help from Monica Bellucci as he faces off against Paul Giamatti and his thugs as he tries to figure out the story behind the baby.

The start of the movie is the New Line Cinema logo having it's reel shot out. It generated a few laughs and set the tone for the rest of the movie. The movie lacked depth, but the action scenes more than made up for it. Some fairly nonsensical scenarios were created such as Clive Owen playing midwife as he shot out several bad guys. But all in good fun as the gun fights were mostly spectacular and at times hilarious. You could tell that most events were stitched in just so the story can move to the next gun fight.

The action started and ended the movie. Some of the more entertaining deaths were all carrot-induced (eat your vegetables). You cannot stop making references to that Warner Brother's rabbit with the Brooklyn/Bronx accent. Giamatti even called Owen a "wascawwy wabbit". When Clive Owen finally utters the one line the entire audience was waiting for (What's up, Doc?), the crowd lost it.

Despite the misgivings of the script, the acting was top-notch. Clive Owen was hilarious playing the angry anti-hero with the one-liners. His character hates everything, even running a BMW off the street for not signaling a turn. He was just like Angel with a mean streak. Even had the leather duster to complete it. The James Bond theme song played during one of the shoot-outs fit well.

Paul Giamatti took the cake. His character was the most intriguing. He was a ruthless man, up to the point of even torturing Bellucci. So much was played on his intelligence, of being a former FBI man. His rivalry with Owen's character made it enjoyable. One scene where a neon sign (Faulk's Truck And Tool) was reduced to read Fuk U after a huge gun fight (oh wow another one), in a fit of rage, Giamatti shot out the last L to make it read Fuk U Too. Under all of this, is a hen-pecked man who constantly has to answer calls from his wife, even in the middle of a gun fight. He even died well (Nope I'm not gonna spoil it).

Monica Bellucci's Donna Quinatano (DQ, you'll see why that's funny), was a redundant character. She just played the role of the eye candy who was supposed to hold baby as Owen was out shooting thugs. Although she was part of some of the more disturbing scenes such as her introduction into this movie where she was nursing a client (grown man in diaper, nuff said) or having sex while in a shoot out. But she pulled off what little there was for her to do, and was HOT!!!

This movie was cathartic. It's a gun fight with a plot. No brains necessary. One of the more fun movies I've seen.

My Rating: 8.0

Suspicious Minds

2007-10-10T12:23:00.000+08:00

Got this from Ram's Blog, who got it from Cheryl who got it from someone else...

1. Put your iTunes / Windows Media Player etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, skip to the next song to get your answer.
3. You must use that song’s title as your answer, no matter how silly it may
sound.

1. If someone says, “Is this o.k.?”, you say…
It’s in Da Game – Murphy Lee feat. Jazze Pha and Jody Breeze

2. How would you describe yourself?
I’m Already There – Lonestar

3. What do you like in a guy / girl?
Mr Cellophane – John Reilly (Chicago the Musical)

4. How do you feel today?
Cupid’s Chokehold – Gym Class Heroes

5. What is your life’s purpose?
Going Through the Motions – Sarah Michelle Geller (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Once More With Feeling)

6. What do your friends think of you?
I’m an Alcoholic - Xzibit

7. What do your parents think of you?
I So Hate Consequences – Relient K

8. What do you often think about?
The Future Freaks Me Out – Motion City Soundtrack

9. What do you think of the person you fancy?
I Love You – Martina McBride

10. What is your life story like?
Scars – Papa Roach

11. What do you want to be when you grow up?
不想长大－ S.H.E.

12. What goes through your mind when you see the person you fancy?
What a Fool Believes – Doobie Brothers

13. What will you dance to at your wedding?
To The End – My Chemical Romance

14. What will they play at your funeral?
Wait a Minute – Pussycat Dolls

15. What is your greatest fear?
Someone Else’s Dream – Faith Hill

16. What is your biggest secret?
She Said Yes – Lonestar

17.What do you think of your friends?
Stockholm Syndrome - MUSE

18. What is your nickname?
Underappreciated – Christina Aguilera

19. What will you post this bulletin as?
Suspicious Minds – Elvis Presley

Bring back Hope Solo

2007-10-03T06:14:00.000+08:00

Before I start ranting, a little bit of background.

The US Women's Team in is China for the womens World Cup. The US are favourites to regain their title from Germany with young upstart, Hope Solo in the nets. They face an exciting Brazil team that's just happy to be in the semi-final.

Hope Solo has kept 3 consecutive clean sheets and has only conceded 2 goals the entire tournament. However, hours before the big semi-final, coach Greg Ryan announced that he was benching Solo for veteran Briana Scurry. Scurry had an unbeaten record against the Brazilians but has not played from 3 months.

After getting beaten 4-0, Solo filibustered Ryan's decision.It was the wrong decision, and I think that anybody who knows the game of soccer knows that.

Ryan's response was to announce a team decision that Solo will not take part in the 3rd place playoff against Norway, in fact, Solo will not even suit up or travel home with the team.
That was the background. Now I can get pissed off.

1) Greg Ryan
That idea was stupid from the get-go. Scurry was a hero about 3 years ago. I respect her and what she did but sometimes you have to let legends die. What exactly did Ryan do wrong with this one fell swoop?

Interrupted the fabled team chemistry of the US team
Killed the confidence of a promising young goalie (Solo)
Ruined Scurry's legacy
Finally, on hindsight, removed one of the women's games best goaltenders, possibly for good, way before her prime

What was the point of the exercise? Solo was fresh, familiar and fit. All 3 Scurry was not.

2) Her Teammates
What I don't understand is how the team turned their back on Solo. Sure, the part about being able to make the saves that Scurry could not were unwarranted but Solo came out and spoke her mind. All she's saying is what the whole world already knows about Ryan. By not spouting the same diplomatic non-sequitors that every single athlete (this side of Charles Barkley that is) has been spewing since the dawn of the post-game interview, Solo has violated the unwritten rules about PR.

Thick or thin, Solo was the woman that was holding the team together from behind. She had been a constant in the team not just for this tournament. I don't exactly expect a riot because Solo got benched, but they shouldn't have frozen out Solo after her comments.

Solo's beef wasn't with Scurry. That much became clear. She was a woman who spoke out what everyone was already thinking but were just afraid to say out loud. And what happened? She got benched, disgraced and her career ruined. She couldn't play, wasn't on the bench, couldn't even suit up. It's the display of honesty that everyone wants but are just too gosh darned scared of accepting. Remember Tim Hardaway?

I've been a fan of Hope Solo since she took the top goalie job in '05. She's probably the best reaction goalie in both the Men's and Women's games and she has a smart goalkick. She's young and I hope this doesn't sour her career. But unfortunately, until the squad forgives this error, she might never play competitively with the US team again.

And that will be sad. Let's go back to pissing on Terrell Owens or Charles Barkley, just leave Hope alone.

A New Low

2007-09-25T23:25:00.000+08:00

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have hit a new low. I've just went for a movie alone. You got it, ALONE.

Do not ask, I'm very sad, lonely and depressed. I shall now scurry into a corner and brood.

The Da Dynamire Code

2007-09-22T21:29:00.000+08:00

Funny thing happened today. I was listless and trying to figure out something I can do. Which is funny because I remember there was something I wanted to do but I couldn't remember exactly what it was. SO I used the Da Dynamire Code, started with my MSN nick and got this.

Fool for Love --> Sad --> Cry --> Teardrops on my Guitar (Taylor Swift) --> Country music --> Lonestar's Not A Day Goes By --> B(u)ying Stuff --> Stuffed Animal --> Animal Control --> Micheal Vick --> Atlanta Falcons --> Underdog.

I have way too much free time and I wanna watch Underdog.

I am one of the good guys, right?

2007-09-21T01:56:00.000+08:00

Was talking to a couple of friends today. Mostly about relationships. One common thread, asswipe guys.

You know the type, alphamales, gets women but treat same women like shit.

I don't really understand that. I tried walking a mile in their shoes but I can't fit into army boots. Call me naive, but my views on sex involve it being a bonus from the woman I love. Every relationship I've ever been in or wanted to be in, sex never came into the picture until plenty far later.

I don't understand how idiots like said asswipes can treat their women like meat.

I don't think I'll ever be like that. I don't want to be like that. I'd like to think that I have a sense of chivalry or something to that extent in me. That my mommy brought me up right. Either that or maybe I'm just old fashioned.

I am one of the good guys, right?

Maybe I'm just naive and sentimental. Although when I hear the word sentimental, the word that I usually put after it is fool.

Bliss

2007-09-20T00:54:00.001+08:00

This is about as close to it I suppose. Be content and sleep through it.

The Good Die Young

2007-09-18T04:19:00.000+08:00

They say that the good die young.
So you gotta live when you're young
Cause time don't wait for no one,
Cause in this you get this only one
When God calls you gotta go home.
They say that the good die young.

Life is't fair.

It isn't fair that it had to be you. You've done nothing to end up like this. You weren't supposed to end up like this.

It's been too long. Now it ends up being much, much longer. That wasn't part of the deal. Worst thing is, I can't be there. I should've been there when you fell, I should be there now.

And Jan, damn your sorry ass to hell for not telling me.

Please wake up. Please get up and yell at me. Get up and tell me how I botched that last reflex save. Come back to us.

I miss you.

Sports & Scandals

2007-09-14T03:02:00.000+08:00

McLaren-Mercedes just got screwed. We finally see the end of that stolen information scandal. Not that I care much about them. It's just incredible that they pretty much have no more incentive into the season. It'll be hard to see how this will affect the morale at the McLaren camp as well as how the rest of the season will turn out.

What I can't stand is how Ferrari reacted through this. The statement in reaction through the end was “Ferrari is satisfied that the truth has now emerged.”

To me, it sounds a bit conceited. Of course you're satisfied. You were getting your red asses kicked and now the Constructors come to you on a silver platter.

One thing I gotta say. I don't think such a hoohah would be raised if it was some other team accused of industrial espionage.

Industrial espionage is pretty much industry standard no matter what field you are in. It happens in all sports.

One can argue that if everyone is cheating it'll still leave a fair playing field.

Some incidents end up being huge deals like the Tim Donaghy Gambling issue. Even if teams weren't buying off referees, there are still small things like fixing equipment.

In the NBA for instance, back in the 80's the Lakers used to over-pump their game balls because Magic Johnson preferred a higher bounce. Be it fixing the rim or balls, no one will call it in. Either because it was too hard to prove or that they were already doing it themselves.

Most teams (and companies) would only make a lot of noise when they directly lose out. Case in point Sheffield United. They went to court over the decision not to dock West Ham United's points during the Carlos Tevez saga.

In a nutshell, if West Ham won the court ruling, the Blades would be relegated and lose millions in TV money.

If the same story applies in F1, Ferrari had all to gain by getting McLaren committed. McLaren were the runaway champions-in-waiting and Ferrari was to have yet another season with no silverware. Now Ferrari is (pun intended) in the driver's seat as BMW is unlikely to catch up with a 57 point deficit and only 4 races left.

If it was a smaller team, I don't think Ferrari would make such noise about it. Although, in all fairness, McLaren did get sloppy and had it coming. They took an unnecessary risk and got caught.

However, be it F1, the NBA, FIFA, the NCAA or even Major League Baseball, sports in general will have a hard time cleaning up its act.

A Cry for Help

2007-09-10T03:30:00.000+08:00

The last I checked, I don't scare easily. But now, I'm afraid. I'm afraid of what's happening to me, of what I am and might become.

Sure, I've always been insecure and depressed before this, but I have never felt myself sink so low. I haven't truly slept for more than a week and I'm drained, but every time I lie down I feel so restless and uncomfortable that I have to get back up where I get so exhausted that I need to lie down again. And that is a good night.

I think this entire ordeal started at the start of the month, Teacher's day. I thought it was just nostalgia. Now it's pretty obvious it's more than that.

I'm tired and I can barely function now yet all I can think about is how sober I am. It all feels so real without whiskey in my blood to loosen me up. I keep going back to how I'm not adequately sauced. That and I think I'm craving nicotine.

I scare me now. More than ever, I really need help.

Someone please help me.

Fool for Love

2007-09-09T02:38:00.000+08:00

It's amazing how alcohol can bring you to revelations. Well, technically this wasn't a revelation. A revelation requires me not to know this beforehand. I guess it finally hit me.

Only a handful of women have ever gotten me to feel like I have. Each and everytime I can't seem to do anything about it. Every possible relationship I have ever wanted, it's so obvious that they will never happen. Those that might, will never work or drive me to slash my wrists. And that was the best case scenario.

I'm a fool for love.

I want to be complete. Somehow complete just doesn't seem possible by myself.

This is the sad truth. I'm not the kind of guy that people will run to. No matter what I do I can never be that guy. Even if I was that kind of person, it's not as if I choose the women that I dall head over heels for. But I know for sure one thing. The kind of person I am, I appreciate the smaller things in my life. But frankly, this also means that I stand to lose more.

I've given up. No, not given up, giving up means I must have something worthwhile to give up in the first place. I've accepted it. I'm ready to start living. I can't be something that I'm not. I am a slave to my heart and a victim to my emotions.

A person asked me once, if I believed in love. I can't remember the answer I gave but I believe in love. Love is a sad and twisted chemical reaction within you that makes you do stupid things for others. In my case, it makes me do anything for them. I'd die for them, live for them, this especially since I can never live with them. So yes, I believe in love.

Sounds gloomy, but that's life. Life isn't a song and if it was it sure as hell isn't a sing-a-long.

I know that now. And I will continue being so until further notice. It's my nature. Not really my personal choice of lifestyle and can't really be changed.

I'm love's bitch, but at least I'm man enough to admit it.

Puppets

2007-09-02T02:44:00.000+08:00

Maybe it's the immense amount of free time I have. Leaves too much time to either think or mind meld with the TV and old forgotten drama serials.

I'm in a deep blue funk.

I think if my inside self had a look it would be scowling, in black leather and spiked hair, possibly out looking for redemption. IS definitely not a morning person.

Kinda like this but a little less puppet-like.

Class Gatherings

2007-08-30T19:37:00.000+08:00

Class gathering yesterday. What an experience. Sure I had a migraine from the bad scotch at about 2 am, but it was refreshing.

I never really appreciated this class in its entireity before. I have always said that the groups I've been in this semester were the best I've ever had since I entered this institution. Beyond just saying it, I have never thought of the class in general.

There were some unsavoury elements, some of whcih come from the unlikeliest of sources. Some of those were resolved whilst one or two didn't even scratch. There were certain friendships I made here that I will treasure at least for another 5 years before we drop out of each other's lives.

Today I learned so much about these people. And they, in turn, run screaming for the hills because of what they learnt about me. I could even We talked about hidden talents, we talked about hopes, dreams and happiness in general. From the class chalet, to the soccer meets, even the routine movie trips, I want to know these people even more, I think I have made some friends.

As for the class, I'm sad that it's over. Maybe next year huh?

MSN

2007-08-25T01:45:00.000+08:00

I'm getting pretty sick of MSN.

You never know what's on the other line. Even if it was your friends, you still never know what's on the other side.

That guy on the other side seems pretty knowledgeable, turn the camera and the guy has wikipedia open in another window.

You laugh at the latest escapade of someone at school, your friend is bitching to that person about you.

You file that conversation away so you can look like you have a photographic memory thenext time out. So you can blackmail some schmoe.

You don't know who the other person is. If you do, you don't know what they are doing on the other end. Retribution can be so damn swift. It's like a show trial.

Sure you're more comfortable online, that's because no one can see you. We can be cowards and we all know it. But hey, isn't this a generation that puts comfort beyond all else?

Hell this blog is proof of that. I'm ranting so I can be happy. Everyone will then persecute me for being being brash.

If not me, some other jackass. If not now, I'll be blogging next tuesday.

Nuff said.

Remember... You asked for it

2007-08-04T23:25:00.001+08:00

Friday (3^rd Aug) was shit. We were filming the lip dub video. Frankly, I don’t even know why I even bother caring. All the work I do, all the ideas I have, all can be dismissed with a “relax can?” Like I’m some sort of bloody 8 year old.

I know I’m not likable. I know I’m somewhat of an embarrassment to be around. I know that I am a waste of oxygen as compared to the rest of you asswipes. But hell, I’m still human. I deserve the same basic respect that you give from one human being to another. I know people who treat their pets better than how you guys treat me.

I am only human. I need people around me. I need friends too. But frankly, I don’t like being treated like some lower class citizen.

There are those who treat me well. I thank you. But frankly I hate mob mentality. I have come to a point where I pretty much accepted my role as a object for people to bond and rally around. It’s so much easier to be good friends when you have someone in common to mock.

It’ll be so much easier to go on if I believed that if I changed you guys will warm up to me. But you guys will never. If I make a quick 180 now and maintained, you guys will just treat me as per usual. Now, tomorrow, the week after, a year after, 10, 20, 30, it’ll all be the same.

I talked to a friend. And now I know what I can do. I don't need to live for anyone.

Screw you fucktards.

No point even caring now. I will take a note from the Bible. Do onto others and all that. I dun have to be nice. I will treat you with the care and concern, or hate and animosity that you give me.

I’m so far down; I can afford to burn my bridges. Besides, when your best friend starts a mean streak out of nowhere towards you, you know it’s time to grab a torch.

Remember. You asked for it.

Ghost in a Shell

2007-07-30T21:05:00.000+08:00

Hard day filming. Only casualties are my shoes (to mud) and the knee of my jeans (also to mud). Who was the wise guy to get us to do One Leg Kicking?

During dinner I was watching a friend play on his PSP. Some game based on an anime, Ghost in a Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Not a bad anime but it gave me some things to think about.

1) FPS games should never leave the PC.
2) What is the point of Hentai anyhow?
3) Noodles are tasty.

And the most important thing. Game designers at GiaS have no sense of logic. The main character is a hot looking chick holding about 4 seperate firearms and is being followed by a ginat mechanical bug. She wearing a leather jacket, boots and stockings but running around in her panties.

Wearing stuff that are way too hard to put on and carrying so much heavy weaponery, wouldn't you think she'd take the time to put on some pants.

Voldemort for President

2007-07-23T20:23:00.000+08:00

I have started a new service. By the time you read this, thousands of people would be running around wearing Voldemort for President t-shirts. Actually it's only 9 but thousands sound a lot more cool.

Anyone who wants one can contact me personally either through this blog or through any other means just short of assault and battery. To show you what the product looks like, I have a picture of a random little kid who seems very happy. The t-shirt might or might not be photoshopped in.

This will be the first in a line of For President tees that will be available for order whenever I feel like it, roughly in 2 weeks.

I have Snape for President shirt, Pete Wentz for President and also a Bono for God shirt coming. There will also be a Jon Stewart for President shirt. I will keep costs down and I will assure you that all prices will be $12 or less. More people in line, the cheaper and faster it'll be.

Jon Stewart will take a while as I need more time to make mine stand out against all those other Jon Stewart for President shirts. It will also cost slightly more as Stewart deserves a standing honour of a better shirt.

If there are any other t-shirts you'll like to see, tell me. If it's popular, I'll get it for you and all your friends, real or imaginary.

Quizzes

2007-07-21T18:12:00.000+08:00

An evening of being bored shitless. So i go on silly quiz sites.

Dorminic Ong Yong Han is going to be reincarnated as...

The next president of the United States

'What" will you be reincarnated as?' at QuizGalaxy.com

You most resemble Marlon Brando

You are very smart, and very talented, although you don’t really enjoy social company. You prefer to live alone, go to movies alone, cry alone in the corner...

Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

Lonesome

2007-07-18T15:47:00.001+08:00

To tell you the truth, I hate posting personal stuff on my blog. What's the point of a diary when everyone can read it? Anything you say can and will be used against you. Why give them a paper trail then?

But this has to go out.

I'm sick of it. I'm sick of having to be a second class citizen to everyone. I'm tired to be the butt of all jokes. I'm sick of being the only person who has no credibility.

I know what it is like to be lonely. Sure, I've been all by myself all these years. They used to say that you can be lonely even if you are surrounded by people. Somehow I used to believe that I was above all of it. I didn't need anyone.

Now I feel more vulnerable than ever before. I'm all by myself and I hate it.

Even then, I will deal. But it will be nice to hope.

By the way, to the skinny kid with a big mouth? Don't get too smug. At least I know when I'm not wanted

Live Earth

2007-07-08T11:01:00.000+08:00

Who would have thought that a concert would save the world? Apparently Al Gore did. Live Earth is the biggest event to hit the world. However, I personally feel that it will not do much to save our planet.

Everything that the celebrities have tried to hawk, these aren’t brand new. They have been said time and time again by different people. No one has listened. How is it now going to be successful when Naomi Campbell says it?

I’m just going to be really clear on this point. I’m not against environmentalism; I just think that the event will be a dud.

First off, the amount of energy that will be used to power just one leg of the concert could probably power a few houses for a couple of years. Even if they were using fuel efficient lights, I doubt that the television stations are doing the same. What about the people who go to these concerts? I’m very sure they didn’t take a bus. And what about the artists? Private jets.

You have 150 artists, each taking a private jet. You end up increasing the amount of air pollution. This especially dangerous as most these greenhouse gases are released in the higher altitudes.

If the goal of Live Earth was to raise awareness, it will succeed. There will be a surge of people who become more environmentally conscious. But then it will pass. Like how they have to make Live Aid a yearly event. Maybe the amount of pollution that Live Earth creates can be evened out by the sudden rush of conservation. Then we’ll be right back to where we started.

But I will answer the call. I salute these artists for their intentions and Al Gore for his initiative. It’s just sad that Live Earth is the only thing being done in recent years.

Go Green people!!!

NBA Draft 2008

2007-06-29T13:45:00.000+08:00

As the only playoff team who has a lottory pick, the Chicago Bulls have used their 9th pick to take an athletic 7 foot, Joakim Noah. He might not help us in the low post, but Noah will help add some hustle to this already fast team.

The second rounders, JamesOn Curry (actual spelling) and Aaron Gray seem fairly NBA ready as well. Gray is 7'0 and weighs 240 pounds. He is big enough and can rebound and block. Curry seems like a pleasant surprise to Paxson.

Frankly, I wish the Bulls took Demitrius Nichols (who was taken after Curry) for some off the bench fire or Spencer Hawes but I can no longer bitch about how they never took my guy. These 3 are now our guys. I believe in Paxson and I think its what's good for us.

In Pax We Trust.

But frankly, good luck waking up to this image every morning...

Mortality

2007-06-14T09:43:00.000+08:00

My great-grandmother passed away today. She passed peacefully in her sleep. It was around 8.40am.

I didn't really know her that well. She slipped into her third stroke before I was old enough to be conscious about anything around me. What I did know, was that she was someone in my life who, when she was coherent, stayed with me and made a difference in my life.

I start asking questions about my own mortality.

Will I be loved, will I be remembered?

Will I fade into oblivion when I stop breathing?

I can't answer these questions. The best I can do now, is to answer them for my great grandmother.

Back to Before

2007-06-13T22:17:00.000+08:00

I'm reading Michael Jordan's biography. Hard not to see how there are so many similarities between him in 1995 and me now.

We are both men taken from our passions before our primes. Both of us wanting to do more but just unable to. Both our teams about to turn a corner and all we can do is to sit on the sidelines and die trying in other pastimes that remind us just how painfully human we are.

Difference is, he went back and won 3 more rings. I can never go back.

I've accepted it.

It hurts like hell and I still keep asking myself what might have been. I spend too many sleepless nights thinking about how so much of my life has closed itself to me, about how my life could possibly be over.

The only thing I can do now, is to go back to what was me. Math, Philosophy, Sports...

I learned my lessons and now, I need solace.

This boat has finally set sailed.

Goodbye my lover...

2007-06-09T23:31:00.000+08:00

What’s a man going to do if he just found forever, where’s he gonna go if he can’t get it together?

I’ve always thought that I’d be in debates for forever and a day. For something that has been so much of my life for the past 13 months, debates became my heroin. It was a drug pure and simple.

The past 13 months was the ultimate addiction. Now, I’ve been forced into quitting cold turkey.

I saw this coming. I’ve personally been contemplating leaving the club. I’d figure that I’d never survive outside without you guys. Good times or bad, I always counted on debates to be my safe harbour.

I’ve done certain things in Korea that I am not proud of, things that I regret now and for always. Regrets don’t change anything. I have to stand up to the music.

There are many things that I have learnt from the club. I have changed from day one. For that I will always say that this debates club has saved my life. I am eternally grateful.

I wish things could have ended on a brighter note. But it is for the good of the club.

The only complaint I had was that the choice I was offered wasn’t really a choice. I had to choose between leaving everything I had known for the bulk of my polytechnic life versus being a passenger to the dream. It wasn’t much of a choice and like I said, it was made for me.

Hopefully I can still consider you guys friends. If you can find in your hearts to allow me just that.

With or without, I wish you guys the best of luck. It’s been one helluva ride.

Happy Fucking Birthday!!!

2007-05-24T00:00:00.000+08:00

Once a year we celebrate
With stupid hats and plastic plates
The fact that you were able to make
Another trip around the sun
And everybody gathers round
With gift and laughter (sometimes without)
As we let out a joyfu sound and sing that stupid song

Now you're one year older
Your life still isn't over
You did not accomplish much
But you didn't die this year, so I guess that's good enough
You wish you had more money
Your life's so sad, it's funny
How much more can you take?
But your friends are hungry so just cut that stupid cake

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It's that time of the year again. Where we all have big fake smiles and pretend to like the lead actor. It makes no sense and yet we still place so much emphasis on it.

Funny though... I hate the event but if everyone forgot it existed, I'd till be pissed off...

Happy Fucking Birthday to me then...

A Trail of Broken Hearts

2007-04-30T08:42:00.000+08:00

I have decided not to tell her. The fact that I am placing these thought in writing is supposed to be a reminder that I cannot go back on this promise to myself and also as a silent one to her.

She doesn’t know who she is, no one besides myself and a select few know the identity of this woman who haunts me through every waking moment and also in my dreams. It hurts like the dickens now, it will continue to hurt. Be it a few days, a few months, God help me, even a few years.

There is too much at stake that I cannot be so damned selfish and seek this form of closure. I will live down these consequences. There is much that I will lose if I go through with this and precious little to gain.

She isn’t ready to hear this from me. And strangely, I don’t blame her. The signs were all there. How could I have been so blind to that? Maybe neither am I. I barely know her. What about her captivates me so? I have no answer.

It is with a heavy heart that I close this chapter of my story. I hope this could be reopened in the future, but for now, all I can do is to straighten up move on and dream of what might have been. The least that can happen now is if we can stay friends.

We don’t have to be a couple. We don’t have to be an item. I can be civil. I can keep myself from cracking. All I want is to be near, to see her happy, hear her out when she is unhappy, take some punches when she is angry.

That will be enough.

Funny how I reach for a rose and all I get are thorns.

Burn Out

2007-04-23T21:01:00.000+08:00

Working for Korea, Training for Korea, Fighting my family just to go to Korea.

Which ever way you look at it, I'm burning out to a point where I am just running on coffee and pure adrenaline. I am tired, my school life seems to be pointing downwards and I'm in real need of help.

This is not an excuse. This is not a complaint.

I know what I signed up for the day I paid my registration. I resign to the pain and weariness that will eventually kill me. But right now, I just need water and a lot of sleep.

Wake me up in time for Asians.

Virginia Tech

2007-04-22T17:17:00.000+08:00

A lot has been said about the Virginia Tech shooting. Another blog about it ain't really going to do much. To think so many people had todie so horribly, all because some Korean kid got overtly emo. It's Generation 'I' all over again. You can't really help but to feel pissed of at that ****.

Not to cheapen the deaths of the 33, but it's really funny when you see so much attention placed on that incident. It's been 4 days and the front page article is still something to do with or directly about the shooting.

For the record, I am in no way an insensitive prick. I am human and I feel a lot of sorrow for these victims. But shame on you. You as in the society.

Feel sad, feel hurt. Go on. But why make such a big yahoo out of this when the death toll in Sudan or even Iraq reaches these figures almost daily. What is so special about Virginia Tech that they take so much more coverage than any other disaster?

Is it because we are bored of the daily death tolls from Sudan? Hear it too many times that it gets old? OR, is it because it's the USA? A place where such violence is unheard of. For a country that legalizes firearms, it's kinda fun when it comes back to hurt you huh?

Bum Rests

2007-04-19T00:21:00.000+08:00

Came across an old newspaper article. Apparently, some mrt stations have "bum rests" installed there for commuters to rest their bums. But these seats are uncomfortable and too tall. People also can't sit on them (even though you are not supposed).

Being esteemed Singaporeans, we do not count our blessings and just take it. We complain.

What are these idiots thinking? They have seats. Doesn't matter if these seats are messed up. They are still there. It's a heckuva lot better than AMK or Khatib where you only have 5 benches which could sit about 7 each.

Factor in the stupidity and self centredness of commuters, it seats about 16 people. Last I checked, people could stand and not feel crack about it. Besides, floor good.

And SMRT ain't exactly blameless either. What the hell is wrong with you people?

You make "bum rests". It's kinda like one of those mindfucks where you attempt to invent something just for the hell of it. Next they have the swiss army q-tip. It slices, dices, cleans and uncorks. Whether you put the right tool in the right place or not, have fun!!!

It's just silly.

Not to mention they messed up the measurements. How did they make "rests" for people 7 feet tall when the bulk of the populace they serve is lucky to hit 6'2? Talk about eurocentrism. I always knew that the government was elitist but this is ridiculous.

And finally. Why? It's not like seats take more workmanship or metal to make. It's not like they take up more space.

All through this, I just kept asking myself... Are you kidding??? Trust the newpaper to write this drivel...

Opinions

2007-04-15T00:19:00.000+08:00

It is a free society. We like your opinions. We don't judge you by what you say. Free speech.

What a load of complete bull.

Remember the Miranda Rights? The one line that seems to make the most sense is that 'anything you say can and will be used against you.'

So true.

When anyone asks for an opinion, or if you are to offer it, you set yourself up for a huge opportunity to be judged. They may call it a free country (in Singapore, fuck off, other places too), but we form opinions on your opinions.

No one cares about what you think. If you say you do care and not judge, you are so full of shit. It's like you coming up in a Reconstructive Surgery debate and say that the society is not superficial with a straight face.

No one talks and no one gets hurt. That's the rule.

I dare you to prove me wrong.

Guess Who's Back.

2007-04-09T21:12:00.000+08:00

Just back from my homeland... KL.

Everything is so simple there, debates, sleep and lots and lots of liquor. Cliff's notes version ahead.

Team 1 won. Flawless victory although the panel was very dodgy for the final. Team 2 didn't do that bad as well. Canni got ranked 8th, not to take anything away from her, the adj pool really sucked as no one from team 1 got any where near top 10. Lastly, I broke in adjudicatin.

There were some bad rounds with really bad teams. I was in bin rooms all weekend long. A couple of really arrogant Pahang people, but I got through.

There was even an indoor roller coaster on the first day. Pictures and more on that later.

I earned a lot this tournament. A mounting debt first, a growing to-do list second. But I am more confident now. I believe I can break at Korea. I am not afraid of 7 minute speeches any more. More than that, I understand my squadmates and myself a lot more now. I have a strong purpose to run again.

And of course there is the "Monkey - Banana; No Give Philosophy Book". Will explain when you ask me.

If Nobody Believed In You

2007-03-13T23:31:00.000+08:00

The little boy held up his hand. The bat felt so heavy in his hands. The helmet seemed to weigh more than his 90 pounds did. He didn’t want any part of this anymore.

As his teammates roared their protests and the over-enthusiastic crowd of parents jeered, the little boy didn’t even try to take a swing. He dropped his bat and turned to the tunnel.

His team didn’t have faith in him, his father’s words rang in his head, loud and mean.

You’ll never amount to anything.

No matter how much that little boy worked, he was never good enough. He could never face his team. He was always seen as the one who would never amount to anything. He was a waste and he never let himself forget it, neither did anyone else around him.

That little boy quit trying. To the backdrop of jeers, he just turned and walked away. A single teardrop rolled down his face.

But frankly, tell me how you would feel. You’ll probably give up too, especially so if nobody believed in you.

From: If Nobody Believed In You
By Joe Nichols

No One Remembers Who Comes In Second

2007-03-11T23:15:00.000+08:00

It's all about the journey. At least you learnt something

--- PHOOEY!!! ---

No one ever remembers who comes in second. No one cares how you got there or how hard you fought. No one gives a damn how close you were. They just know one thing.

You didn't win.

You are a second-rate nothing if you don't win. A close second doesn't help. Eventually no one will remember you.

Pain heals, Chicks love scars, Glory lasts forever.
---> 2nd place and you might as well come in dead last.

Random Nonsense

2007-03-06T14:28:00.000+08:00

Why is it that whenever I participate in wholesome family fun like basketball and a day at the beach with my friends, I get hurt and paining into the week?

In contrast, no such thing occurs when I'm having other fun like drinking or debating? In fact I usually feel better.

Interesting to think about...

Today's List: Top 13 Overtly Sentimental Songs That Are In My Playlist Now

2007-03-03T03:38:00.000+08:00

The morning after...

I'm in one of those moods again. The kind where you play overtly sentimental songs that at the right time can coax tears out of you.

I have betrayed everything that I have ever stood for. I formed them with my own bare hands and now I had torn them apart with these same hands.

Definitely one of those moods.

With that, let's see today's list.

Top 13 Overtly Sentimental Songs That Are In My Playlist Now

Boulevard Of Broken Dreams - Green Day
Back At One - Brian McKnight
36 Days - Hawk Nelson
Always - Bon Jovi
Letters From Home - Jon Michael Montgomery
Measure of a Man - Clay Aiken
Secret Garden - Bruce Springsteen
My Valentine - Martina McBride
I'm Already There - Lonestar
Where Your Road Leads - Trisha Yearwood
One Night Only - Jennifer Hudson
Jesus Take The Wheel - Carrie Underwood
Tell Her That You Love Her - Lonestar

The Ultimate Camera Whore

2007-03-01T08:59:00.000+08:00

Ladies and Gentlemen.

In the spirit of the (amazingly badly run) Oscars. I also have awards to give here. First up, the one for the Ultimate Camera Whore.

*Applause*

I gotta admit. I was fooled the first time I saw this. I actually thought that this ad was authentic. Apparently, so did one newspaper.

Long story made entirely meaningless, a man made the ad himself and sent it to a newspaper to be published. He wasn't endorsed by Gucci.

This man wins the Award for the Ultimate Camera Whore.

I completely salute the guy. He's got guts. Shit for brains but yeah, guts. 10 bucks says he'd get his ass kicked in by Gucci. Let's just say Gucci is way too elitist to try and make use of this into a positive promotional tool. I have an idea that they could ask other civilians to send in their own ads. But that wouldn't really fit into their style.

Apparently, this guy's shot at Gucci wasn't his first camera whoring stunt. He once posed as Chayanne, some singer from Puerto Rico and tried to book out a stadium.

So in honour of the world's most deluded and daring camera whore, I present the award to... some guy whose name escapes me but is pictured above.

*Applause*

Where's Idol when you need it?

Review: DreamGirls

2007-02-28T00:02:00.000+08:00

I'm calling shenanigans at the Academy Awards. There's no chance in hell that DreamGirls should come away with only 2 wins.

Eddie Murphy should have taken the award for Best Supporting. He was brilliant as Jimmy Early. Who could ever imagine that he could sing so well and with so much soul? It was stellar acting that reminds us that he is a serious acting beyond slap stick comedy. Although he loses points for storming out like a little kid after he lost the award.

The movie was great. It was a nice storyline that mirrored Diana Ross & The Supremes as well as Motown Records. It had its immense highs but unfortunately, some very bad moments as well.

First, the bads. The transitions were way off. The movie seemed too short and lacking in character development in most areas. Also some scenes ought to be cut short. When Jennifer Hudson sang "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" when she confronted the rest of the group about being replaced, sure she had a good set of pipes but the song should have ended about 8 verses earlier.

But there are good things to add. The music was great all around. Beyonce's "Listen" showed us that there is more to her than booty-shaking. That girl's got some lungs on her. 2 nights later I still have that song "Patience" and "One Night Only" stuck in my head.

On a separate note, to the twit who said she was skeletal, you are blind my friend.

The story line is much more than the simple rags to riches story. I like the look into how record labels can both kill and make stars. I never thought I'd see Diana Ross as a sock puppet forced to be famous.

What really put this script up was the acting. Eddie Murphy should have taken the award. Jennifer Hudson was great in her break-out role. That girl can sing. In a movie like this, that's all she needs to do.

Special note on Jamie Foxx. He played his role to the hilt. At the end of the film, I hated the guy.
For that... Mission Accomplished... Although the script writer is an idiot for trying to humanize him at the end. If you spend so much time demonizing him in the movie and succeed, why mess it all up later?

Splendid acting, a good idea and brilliant music have turned this movie into one of the best I've seen and probably see this year.

My Rating (Out of 10):
7.5

Freedom of Speech is Overrated

2007-02-23T22:57:00.000+08:00

Was planning to write a post about personal realities. Somehow whenever I try it I always end up finding another post that required immediate attention. Is someone trying to tell me something?

Anyhow, i recently read that former Miami Heat guard, Tim Hardaway, had publicly stated in a radio interview that he hates gay people.

To be on the record, I don't share his sentiment. I have friends who are gay and I respect their choices and the choices of any one in that order. However, I cannot find it within myself to condemn Hardaway.

As Thomas Jefferson once said, "I do not agree with what you say, but I'll defend to death your right to say it."

The same thing here. Here is a man who is being completely honest. Yet, we come out and bash him for that honesty. Is it better to be so direct, or just keep silent although you share the same homophobia with him? Or worse, lie about your views just to avoid persecution?

We have such a big reaction only because it is a view that is widely accepted by majority that it is negative? Is Tim Hardaway at fault for having his own views and having the guts to say it out loud?

I say that he is at fault. He is a celebrity with a large reach. He should be more responsible with what he says. We would punish him more so than any other smart mouth. It is due to his reach as a respected celebrity. It is more damaging from him than any other sam-joe-harriett. And thus we match the punishment to the crime.

In a world where everyone try so hard to categorise each other into broad views. It isn't fair but if life was fair I wouldn't be sleeping on straw mat.

Tim Hardaway, like other celebrities before him, are being punished not for their irrational hate talk but for their honesty. It isn't a crime to have irrational and silly thoughts in their heads. If you say you never had them, I will smile at you in a condescending manner and have completely rational thoughts in my head that you are a liar.

I don't like hate talk. I think that it should be kept away from gullible little children, those above and below the age of 30. It is dangerous.

But we gotta think. There is no way we can track or remove irrational thoughts from people (the NSA would sure love that though).

We can't get people to not air those thoughts either.

censorship can only go so far
interesting concept of thought crimes (if you think about murder, is that a crime?)
where's the fun in that?

So what can we do to people like Mel Gibson and Tim Hardaway?

I neither agree with the message nor do i share that sentiment. But what else can we do here?

Security

2007-02-22T23:58:00.000+08:00

I was just talking to a friend of mine (who is not in anyway made up just to impress people with the fact that i have friends)

Apparently he got stopped at an MRT station. He was carrying a rather large bag filled with ____(1)____.

The nervous nellys in security thought he was a terrorist of some sort. To tell you the truth. It wasn't because of the bag. Another guy carrying the same bag got through without problems. It was because he looks Arab.

It is understandable that people are getting more and more jittery about security since 9-11. But do we really have to resort to this?

Can a man's skin colour or any such unchangable trait end up being used as a meter to gauge how safe he can be? It's not his fault that he looks like a Pakistani.

On a lighter note, here's a rather hilarious clip about security.

Note:
(1) I did say he was a Pakistani, it's a cricket bat in a bag. The imagination of some people...
(2) Jon Stewart is so cool. Jon Stewart for President!!!
(3) I like footnotes

My Theory of Happiness

2007-02-19T17:19:00.000+08:00

i have a theory on luck and happiness. for simplicity all athe examples given here will be centred on luck. if you need another reason i hate you.

my theory is that there is a set amount of happiness at any seperate moment. i gather this from all the times i feel like crap. at most times people around me are usually laughing, smiling and just being a happy bunch of people.

granted that often they were laughing AT me but that's just splitting hairs.

makes me feel relatively good whenever i'm feeling depressed. knowing that somewhere someone is not having such a bad day. (this line is courtesy of certain people who want me to lighten up, you know who you are)

by my theory, though, world peace will then be impossible. no matter how happy and peaceful people are, somewhere somehow someone is having a torrid time. maybe he's getting gang stabbed for being humans on a sunny day. who knows... ...

Just managed to get away with murder (or at least coming home drunk). Although in my defense, I was only a bit high, it's just that my stomach cannot handle lying down just about yet. Either way, happy days... (somewhat)

makes me feel sorry for the poor sleaze whos's getting gang stabbed now.

Romancing The Past

2007-02-18T14:02:00.000+08:00

Was reading an old blog entry of mine. Really forgot how much I enjoyed writing before all these changes.

I'm going to give this one more shot.

Before the day, before the politics. where it is just me, a laptop and time to dream