Hamlet

Watched The Banquet 夜宴 starring Zhang ZhiYi and Ge You last weekend. If you have read the review or watched the movie, you will know that the story is based on Hamlet.

Over the years, there have been quite a few movies with this Hamlet theme as well, you might have watched them. One of the memorable one is from Disney's The Lion King: Simba as Hamlet, the young prince, King Mufasa as Hamlet's father who becomes a ghost and Scar as Claudius, the uncle who tries to take over the king's throne.

漫游欲

你有漫游欲吗 ?
这篇文章是在星期六早报副刊刊登的:

虎威

　　很喜欢Wanderlust 这个字。它原本是德文，但也用在英文词汇中。翻看英汉字典，或把它翻译成“浪游癖”、“旅行癖”的，都不合我意。这个词，用英文解释，是“a strong desire to travel”——我认为“癖”一字用得不好，总让我想起“酒癖”、“赌癖”、“怪癖”。所以把Wanderlust称为“漫游欲”——到处漫游的强烈欲 望。

　　漫游欲我肯定有。从小就有。七八岁时便梦想飞往有春夏秋冬的国度，现实中，只偶有机会到邻国的哥打丁宜瀑布，却也雀跃万分。到了 念中四那年，学校的军乐队赴港台巡回演出，作为乐队一员的我，第一次坐飞机到遥远的地方去，心中有说不出的快活。往后的海外军训、国外留学，因公的异地出 差、考察，私人的异域旅行、度假，渐渐地扩大实质上漫游的版图，却填不平心中漫游的欲望。

　　我肯定有漫游欲。不然无法解释为什么会那么 喜欢舒伯特的音乐、弗里德里希（Caspar David Friedrich）的创作。尤其是舒伯特那些关于旅者的歌曲、弗里德里希描绘旅途的油画。渺小的旅人，面对着雄伟的大自然——或许是千山万壑，或许是汪 洋大海，不知道前面的风景会是什么样的，却还是渴望着要出发，要启航。

　　但我的漫游欲比起一些四海为家，不断地从一个地方移居到另一个 地方的人来说，却必定是“轻淡”得多。我只是每隔一段时期，就会“不安于室”，想去新地方走走看看。走走看看之后，又会回返，并不一定要变更作为“据点” 的 “室”。这似乎与Wanderlust的另一个解释“a strong desire not to stay in one place”——不在同一地点留驻的强烈欲望——有点出入。用这样的解释，我的漫游欲似乎便不能算是漫游欲。

　　无论如何，漫游确是我生 命中重要的一部分。身边的亲人早就接受了这个事实。想想从前漫游对他们的影响，以及现在漫游对他们的“无影响”，颇为有趣。早期，每次的出国仿佛都是件大 事。必定有人到机场送行，事前总会有一番讨论，到底该买些什么免税商品，回国之日也肯定会有人接机。早期，电讯业不发达，长途电话难得一打，但抵达异国后 报平安的电话总是要打的。靠书信与家人联络有时很靠不住。有一回单枪匹马到意大利旅行，写给家人的明信片迟了好多天才到家，害得老妈寝食难安。

　 　最近频频到国外出差，印度、越南、中国……四处走。和家人说“明天我要到Bombay 开会”，效果就好像说“明天早上我要到Boon Lay开会”一样，没有人会当成是件特别的事。行李箱常常准备好，随时可以拿起上机。还备有出差专用皮包。里面只有一张信用卡，看看是去哪个国家，再把哪 个国家的现钞添上，就带着上路。而每段旅程除了坐机的时间外，都是有可能随时以手机与家人联络的。但因为“去孟买”好似“去文礼”，相互的联络只在于夜间 一通电话的寒暄，也就够了。

　　这样的生活方式，必定能满足我的漫游欲——你真的这么认为么？未必。都说了：具Wanderlust的 人，是不甘心于留驻在某一个定点的。当任何一种生活方式变成一种不变的方式时，他们便会去找寻另一种方式。他们爬了一座山，又想爬另一座山，抵达一个岸， 又想航行到另一个岸。

　　他们不断地在漫游。

Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you

If you have been following the local news for the past few days, you might have read about the spute being our leader and Malaysia.

It all started when our MM told a forum in Singapore that it was vital for Singapore, a predominantly ethnic Chinese state, to stand up to its bigger, mainly Muslim neighbours, Indonesia and Malaysia.

He made the following statement:

"Our neighbours both have problems with their Chinese. They are successful. They are hard-working and therefore they are systemically marginalised,"

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/060915/3/43gi5.html

Don't you think it is uncalled for? Whether the statement holds any truth is one matter, in the first place, what rights do you have to talk or criticise on other countries matters? Heard of 家有家规, 国有国法?

I liken this to Neighbour A telling others how her Neighbour B is mistreating one of her 3 kids, not giving that kid enough food to eat, pocket money to spend, freedom to play etc whereas the other 2 kids were allow all the incentives. Each family has its own rules and how do you feel, if your neighbours were to do the same, go around making comments on how you should run your family ?

Mahathir hits back with the following reply:

"You are not that clever. In a small group, perhaps you seem clever," Mahathir said, referring to Lee.

"But when (Lee) goes to China, the Chinese there don't want to listen to him. The Chinese in China don't think much of him and it is a fact that he is marginalized by Chinese in the world," Mahathir was quoted as saying by the national news agency, Bernama.

"We should have an independent investigation on why the Malays are left behind in Singapore," Mahathir said. "They are pressured, marginalized and oppressed. That is the kind of government founded on the views of Lee Kuan Yew."

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/09/23/asia/AS_GEN_Malaysia_Singapore_Lee.php

You may want to debate if the statement holds any truth or not but that is not the essence of the argument. My personal motto: "Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you".

You may say this is freedom of speech, why can't people make comments freely, well fine, then be willing to accept criticsm as well from others. Just mid this month, FEER was sued again for libel:

http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=18882

Call Center

Just finished reading the book by NY times columnist Thomas L. Friedman. It talks about how technology has evolved over the years and people are connected wirelessly between countries and business are done remotely.

The book also touches on how China and India is competing and getting alot of business in the US. Lenovo buying over IBM laptop business and many companies outsourcing to India in areas like technical support.

I work in a technical support field and in my daily job, I deal with support centers. I've seen big corporations including my company, outsourcing their support center to India, Philippines and Malaysia among others.

Here are some funny videos on call centers, enjoy:



Call center movie

Happy Feet

You might have catch this trailer for the coming animated movie Happy Feet while at the cinema. So cute! The penguins were so adorable and Robin Williams did a darn good job in his Spanish renedition of the song "My Way". The film will be in theatres Nov and stars Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman, among others


Check it out!



Another one:

有趣的语言易位

在网上读到这段有趣的语言易位

满祥广

江西、湖南、四川三省的人爱吃辣椒，一个地方比一个地方厉害，所以人们就说：
江西人不怕辣，湖南人辣不怕，四川人怕不辣。
在以上的话中，三个字的位置互换后，意思就发生了微妙的变化，多么巧妙。这种形式叫“易位”。

一名著名学者有一段名言，表白了自己与众不同的思想。他说：人家说了再做，我是做了再说；人家说了不一定做，我是做了不一定说。
“说”与“做”，这两个字易位马上反映了两种截然不同的态度，让人回味无穷。

Just for Laugh, it's Friday!

Have been quite busy this week, didnt get to rest after I came back from my business trip, went straight to work on Monday. Glad it's Friday!

Share with you this funny clip :

Read first before you watch the video clip (simple content translation) :

Motorist : May I know what is the time now?
Cow Owner touch the cow's balls, and say : it is 10am.
Motorist doubted : Are you sure?
Cow Owner touch the cow's balls again and answer : Yes.
Motorist then tune his watch with doubt, and drove off for his appointment.

Later on, the Motorist return from his appointment and asked this Cow Owner again. He has tune his watch at the exact time while he was at the town for his appointment.
Motorist : May I know what is the time now?
Cow Owner touches the cow's balls again and reply : its 3pm.
The Motorist feel unbelievable and ask the Cow Owner how he know the time by touching the cow's balls?
Cow Owner : ...

The Miracle Rain Tree

Ever see a tree that actually "rains" ? No, it's not the common rain tree that I'm talking about :)
Well, read from papers yesterday, a 'miracle' tree, an angsana to be exact, was spotted "raining" at Empress Place near the Asian Civilisation Museum.

This was actually an art performance put up as part of the Singapore Biennale 2006.
The cool concept was created by Dutch artist, IEPE, quite interesting huh. Rain occurs at random times throughout the day.

According to the news report, "IEPE does not want to reveal the secret behind the rain making.

Instead, he says the question that should be asked is: what's the meaning of it all?

"What's the meaning of a miracle? What does a miracle teach us? Is there more beyond rationalism or is it that we have to believe in fantasy? I think it gives people a good feeling and gives them a chance to not to think but to experience," said the artist. "

I thought it will be even appropriate if the artist create this concept on the real raintree, isn't it? I like raintree, in particularly the shape of its crown or dome, dunno the exact term for it. Mediacorp movie sideline Raintree Pictures used the raintree design as its logo.

Come to think of it, it is easy to visualise and not difficult to implement this rain tree concept, wonder what will the artist's reaction be if i have a suggestion to use the flame of the forest tree :)

Thank you for drinking soda

On the first day of my training at my company's vendor's site, our instructor told us that the soda (soft drinks) available from the vending machines are free.














It was just 8.30am and quite many of my course mates were already drinking their favourite soda to their hearts content. I went to check out the vending machine, wow there are so many sodas to choose from, I counted, there are 16 different drinks! Coke, Diet Coke, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Sprite, Diet Sprite, Dr Peppers, Diet Dr Peppers, Fanta Grape, Fanta Orange, Fruit Punch, Root Beer, Ginger Ale, Cherry Coke, Lemon Tea, Mountain Dew.

I wondered if this is the cause of obesity in the States. Incidentally, on the same day, I read this report
Waistlines Continue to Grow in U.S from Associated Press:

There is no mention in the report that soda is the cause of obesity but those working in the soda industry will be similing if they were to know that during the duration of my training, some of my course mates can drink up to 2 or 3 sodas per day. I am no saint, I too was 'lured' into drinking but I choose Ginger Ale and Lemon Tea :) If you were to look at this scenario on a bigger scale, those lobbyist will probably be saying "Thank you for drinking soda".

This brings me to the satire comedy movie 'Thank you for smoking' which I watched recently on krisworld. The story is about how the character Nick Naylor, deals with the public/his family and friends, being the person to hate, as he is a lobbyist in the smoking and tobacco industry.

Nick has a 12 year old son and he teaches his son to argue rather than to negiotiate to 'win'. In Nick's words, "That's the beauty of argument, if you argue correctly, you're never wrong".

I can remember two particular scenes:

Kid: My Mommy says smoking is bad for you
Nick Naylor: Oh, is your Mommy a doctor?
Kid: No.
Nick Naylor: A scientific researcher of some kind?
Kid: No.
Nick Naylor: Well then she's hardly a credible expert, is she?

In the other scene, Nick creates an analogy for his son about how arguing over whether smoking causes cancer is similar to an argument over whether vanilla ice cream is better than chocolate. They stage the fake argument and Nick begins twisting the discussion until he's talking about freedom of choice in ice cream flavors, something to the extend like there is truth as to chocolate is better than vanilla (vice versa) but people is free to choose which flavour they like. Flustered, his son says, "But that's not what we're talking about!"
"But that's what _I'm_ talking about," emphasizes Nick :)

Well, all I have to say is we are what we eat so we have to be responsible with what we consume. Yes life is short but don't blame the unhealthy food, blame ourselves instead and exercise if you feel the guilt :)

Scenes from the movie

Greetings from Washington!

As I take in the sights, I'm brought back to some of the movie scenes that I've enjoyed in the past.

In the film "In the line of Fire", there is this scene where Clint Eastwood watches Rene Russo leave from the Lincoln Memorial. Clint mumbled to himself: If she looks back, it means she's interested. Come on, give me a look back now. Just give me that smug expression and be on your way. Rene Russo finally looks back, so cliche right, haha, thats Hollywood :)













Another scene filmed not far from the Lincolm Memorial is one from Forrest Gump. Tom Hanks was preparing to make a speech in front of the reflecting pool when long lost Robin Wright saw him on the stage. Then in Hollywood style, they run to each other's embrace while wading in the pool. The pool appears to be sheet clean from afar but on closer look, alot of duck droppings ah :)

A good rest

I am reminded by how many hours of proper sleep I had when the washington heat get a little over me this afternoon. Lets do some maths here, in spore timezone:
sun 27, woke up 6.30am for run
sun 27, 4pm left for LA
mon 28, 8.30pm reached hotel
mon 28, trip to washington at 10pm
tues 29, back in hotel 6am
finallY hit the bed! That comes up to 48hrs! Wow, now as a make up, I will try and get 9hrs of sleep :)

Waiting

I have about 4 hours to catch my transit flight to Baltimore-Washington airport to my destination, Columbia. i survived the 16hrs flight, manage to watch 5 films to kill time and catch some sleep in between. Watched singapore gaga, a 55mins documentary on things singapore by tan pin pin, two brits production, kinky boots and keeping mum, the latter starring kristen scott thomas, mr bean and maggie smith. The other two were she's the man and thank you for smoking.

Now I am at Los Angeles airport, the UA terminal to be exact. There are no shops at the departure area just counters for u to check in so I decided to check in early to get to the departure lounge, at least there will be some shops and cafes. So here I am, at starbucks, ordered a pomengrenate frappachino, seated near the window overlooking the runway.















The radio is playing Lisa Stansfield 'All around the world', and it is turning dark outside. No wifi here but didnt know what else to do so login to blog abit.

Jog & Fly

Today I participated in my first even run/jog at the Safra Sheares Bridge Run. The turnout was about 60,000! and its not easy to jog when you have so many people around you. Anyway I managed to complete the 6km run, feel so good after that, despite the rain that came pouring down at the 4km mark.

Right now, I'm at Changi Airport, departing to USA to attend a training. Hope I will get some rest on the plane to recharge. Adios!

All set

This is my running tag and Tshirt for tomorrow's Safra 6km run.

0320, nice number? I will buy 4D for this weekend, see got luck or not :)

The future will be fun with Office 2006!

Office 2006 is here!
These are the latest features for the new 2006 business computers!

Some Features you may need on your Computer

KOLYA

在早报副刊读到这篇文章, 读后也有同样的感触,但本身没有那么好的文笔,所以把它放在这,与大家分享.

很喜好这部电影, 小男孩的童真是非笔墨所能形容的.回故一下也有9年了,1997年KOLYA在奥斯卡赢得最佳外语影片的荣誉.
没记错的活第一次是在97或98年新加坡电影节看的.第二次观赏应该是在04年的捷克电影节吧. 与作者一样我也被布拉格的美景迷着, 很侥幸的,在03年有机会到布拉格度假,总于目睹了这个有东方巴黎之称(Paris of the East)的城市.



快乐的泪光 (刊登于8月23日早报副刊)

● 尤今

“KOLYA”是一部精彩绝伦的电影，以捷克语和俄罗斯语为对白，附中英文字幕。

　　当初买这影碟，只为了一个非常简单的理由：它拍摄于捷克首都布拉格，而我，对这城市念念不忘──忘不了它集绰约风姿与万千气派于一身的超俗美丽。那回的旅游，让我至感遗憾的是：好几卷照片因为人为的疏忽而走光了，因此，我希望在电影中重新拾掇那一份逐渐模糊的记忆。

　　然而，影片震撼我的，竟不是让我眷恋不已的绮丽风光，而是一份催人泪下的人间温情。

　 　故事发生于1988年的布拉格，当时，捷克还在苏联的掌控中。主角路卡是布拉格一名怀才不遇的大提琴手，风流倜傥，把婚姻视为桎梏，年过五旬，仍然是逍 遥自在的单身汉。许多女性倾倒于他的音乐才华而主动投怀送抱，可是，他却因为经济拮据而决定与一名素不相识的俄罗斯女子假结婚，帮助她取得捷克的居留权而 为自己换取丰厚的酬劳。双方议定半年之后离婚。俄罗斯女子有名五岁的儿子哥耶，与祖母同住。万万料不到，女子婚后竟逃到西德去私会情人，把儿子哥耶留下。 更料不到的是：哥耶的祖母不久病逝，照顾哥耶的担子于是落到路卡身上。

　　束手无策的路卡把哥耶带返母亲处，要求母亲代为照顾，可是，一向痛恨俄罗斯人的母亲，一口拒绝了。

　　故事于是在一老一小之间展开了。

　 　路卡只谙捷克语，哥耶呢，只懂俄语。两个连沟通都有问题的人，只好靠肢体语言努力适应。路卡把哥耶当作是摔不掉的累赘，哥耶将路卡看成是有怪癖的老人， 两相嫌弃。然而，后来，哥耶的童真，终于攻陷了路卡心房里那坚固的堡垒，两个年纪相差了半个世纪的人，建立了相濡以沫的“父子情”。

　　电影拍得平实而又真实，显得特别的温馨，也特别的感人。

　 　为了给哥耶解闷，路卡大汗滴小汗地砍伐木柴给哥耶雕小玩偶、买蜡笔和画布教他绘画、送小提琴让他学音乐、带他外出骑脚车寻乐子。早熟的哥耶，亦步亦趋地 跟着路卡，玩得很开心，散落一串串清脆的笑声。终于，有一晚，上床后，主动给了路卡一个响亮的吻，说：“晚安，老爹。”。

　　一回，倦游 归来后，路卡在浴缸里放满了水让哥耶享受泡浴，哥耶泡着、泡着，竟把花洒当成电话筒，“拨电”给他的祖母，说：“奶奶，您什么时候可以回家呀？上回，我去 医院看您，可是，老爹说您睡着了，不要叫醒您，您几时才会醒过来呢？您如果醒了，就快点回家来吧！”说着，说着，竟哭了起来；站在浴室外无意间偷看到这一 幕的路卡，赶紧给他的情人打电话，要求以教俄文为生的情人为小哥耶讲个故事。于是，小哥耶在泡浴之后，便躺在床上，握着电话筒，如饥如渴地让那久违了的俄 语带着他飞往那个美丽的童话王国，听着时，他晶晶发亮的大眼睛薄薄地镀着一层快乐的泪光.……听完后，他满足地叹息着说：“呵，真好听啊！”

　　就在这时，我眼眶全湿。

　　啊，再多的玩具、再精采的出游、再新鲜的游戏，通通通通都比不上一个用自己母语畅述的故事。

　　世界上，有什么语言，比自己的母语更动听、更好听、更叫人动心、更令人动情呢？

　　《KOLYA》这影片，除了荣获奥斯卡最佳外语片之外，还获颁“金球奖”最佳外语片奖、欧洲最佳电影奖、东京国际电影节最佳影片奖。

　　它是实至名归的。

　　影片中的许多情节，看似平凡，但却寓藏了深刻的思想内涵。

　　看懂了，处处都是触动人心的启示；看不懂呢，它就仅仅只是一部好看的电影而已。

Sophie Scholl

I watched the movie last night. There were not much actions or drama so to speak unlike other war movies but you could feel that it was impactful. The story traces the last 4 days of Sophie Scholl, in Munich in Feb 1943. The movie centers around the interrogation process of Sophie, who got into trouble while helping her brother in carrying out anti-Nazi activities. Julia Jentsch who plays Sophie did a very good job in portraying the relentless and never-see-die, side of the character. She fought strongly with the authorities, and did not succumb to any of the threats.

One scene that strikes me is when she asked for permission to go to the lavatoy to relieve herself. If I remembered correctly, it was right after she was told that she will be punished for the "crimes" that she has committed - spreading anti-Nazi newsletters. Punishment equates death and Sophie was worried what will happen to her parents at the same time. When she was lead to the lavatory, she did not wash up or relieve herself as you would think. Instead, she stood in front of the mirror looking in vain and rest her back against the wall and let out a cry. A helpless cry.

Read more about the White Rose

怀旧卡通片

你小时候有看过这些卡通片吗?

What a difference a "u" make

I was told last week by my colleague that I may be going to Columbia to attend a training. As it was still pending, I did not look up to find out more on the destination. I told my family and friends and the reactions were "not safe, exotic, out-of-place". Initially I thought I am going to South America too but till I got my facts right, I realised I was going to Columbia and not Colombia. Both sounds the same right? :)

Columbia is in Maryland state, located between Baltimore and Washington. A search on the web shows there are other Columbia in several US states.

This is a short trip, arrive Monday, depart Friday kind, hope I will still get a chance to go to Washington to catch a glimpse of the White House and to visit the Holocaust Museum.

What I Live By

我的座右铭

Do not do unto others, what you do not want others to do unto you.

你希望别人怎么对待你，你就怎么对待别人

孔子也留下了相仿的话“己所不欲，勿施于人”
这句话是儒家道德信条的基础，它的意思是说，自己所不愿意承受的，不要去加在别人头上。八个字看来很简单，其实包含着很深的道理。

播种一个行动，你会收到一个习惯；
播种一个习惯，你会收到一个个性；
播种一个个性，你会收到一个命运；
播种一个善行，你会收到一个善果；
播种一个恶行，你会收到一个恶果。