Social awareness

There are times when writing here brings on a disturbing sense of agony. For once in my life, I have to acknowledge the fact that my buddies, for all their apparent stupidity, have been exceedingly tolerant with my ranting and complains. Even though we see less of each other these days, I'm still grateful for the fact that we all stuck together, even though there were times we could just totally disagree.

The gathering tonight was nice. Great food, great company and a birthday to boot. I hope you enjoyed yourself dear brother. May you have many more blessed quarter-centuries to come! I've got a weird hunch you will be the first person to tie the knot, so please remember to get a table for the class. We will make it even more happening for you.

I gave up a moment of my life to my friends today, and it made me happy. There were assignments and other commitments on the line, and I was hesitant about showing up. Obligation, commitment, fun or loyalty? Questions like these danced on in my mind. I wondered if such things in life made me more or less of a friend, but I knew that if the reason was assignments...then I would have been less of a friend, because everyone else in class faced the same thing.

Yet, they came.

I began to understand how the context in every situation matters. If within a gathering, the background, or the problems faced by each individual are different, then it certainly calls for mutual understanding. If a person only talks about gathering and does nothing, leaving a more passive member within the social circle to execute the task, who should you oblige then? These are certainly complicated issues, and the best course of action isn't constant, its subject to the dynamics of the group.

Picture this.

A group of ten monks saw a pretty young thing drowning in the river. They figured that their decision to save her or not was in direct conflict with their teachings, because Buddhist monasticism explicitly demanded you help all those in need and abstain from any contact with the opposite sex.

The shortest monk suggested, 'Since it concerns all of us, if one decides to save all will save. We will break one law and uphold the other one, in unison'

In the end, only 9 monks saved the drowning babe.

So now the question, who did the right thing? The 9 monks or the one monk who stood on the river bank?

Perhaps I should not judge, but why did that one monk not join the rest? Certainly he could not say that it would lead him to lust, for the other nine had worked that out pretty well. You can't say they had different reasons for sin, for all were pious Zen Buddhists who trained under the same master. There wasn't a gang bang after they safely brought the girl out of the water. Mathematically, all ten of them broke one law and upheld the other, but out of the equation the nine shared a more altruistic virtue.

Together-ness

Lately....

My best friend told me that 'little firecracker' suits me best, but I really miss having a shy bitch around.

We can't keep a scandal free environment. Things just keep happening, and there aren't enough journalists to cover every angle. Strangely, it just seems to get more humorous.

I saw a kid who was much loved by his mom and dad, until he made the biggest mistake. Well, I don't know what it was, but they left him to cry on the street. It broke my heart to see it happen.

Two adorable female friends asked me out...to watch a soft porn movie. It is an honor, I am deeply flattered by your kind intentions, even though pressing engagements prevented me from gracing the occasion.

I intend to conduct a research on the intelligence of SMU students. Their performance during the CNA forum with the minister mentor was appaling.

Elections are coming, and the peaceful town where I live is going to be a battlefield. GD, will your exams be over by then? We're supposed to attend Opposition rallies and have a good laugh right?

Once I start working, I will go through a series of body modifications, for aesthetic reasons. Lasik, skin rejuvination and hair removal. No, silicone and botox are not on my list. Dr Woffles scares me.

Tibet, Mongolia and Japan. I dream about those places so bad, that I can only afford to go Vietnam.

Buddhism rocks. It explains everything by asking one big, cosmological question, leaving you with no answers.

My dad had the most traumatic childhood. I am very worried such insanity runs in my veins.

Essays, reports and problem sums, that's my educational reality. I still hope my dear inventor friend KT Lau invents the mobile suit someday, then I will save this wretched planet from destruction, instead of burying myself in numbers and random thoughts.

Its sad. I don't have a life anymore. My younger brother and I are entitled to only half an hour of cartoon time each day.

天下 and the art of government

Politics is a tricky subject, with abstract ideas that possess the power to change the world. Well, after watching the forum on CNA, I am inclined to believe that the average intellectual might have been asking the wrong questions. The theories are pretty philosophical. You can even dramatize it by basking in the grandeur and liberation of a democracy, but still miss the point. For those panel of good looking journalists and geeky undergraduates, their impudence became the cause for their stupidity. So now, let's take an oriental approach through the study of one of Zhang Yimou's 'internationally acclaimed' films (I didn't really like the story, but the cinematography was superb...Mr Zhang is certainly not color AND babe-blind).

Since I watched the film a few years ago, I am only able to recall a few significant scenes. Basically this is set at the end of the Warring States period in ancient China. Qin has taken over most of the rival states, and a crew of rebels led by Broken Sword (Tony Leung) are planning to assasinate the king of Qin. However towards the end, the plot fails because of internal dissent. Sword's lover, Snow (Maggie Cheung) insists on avenging the deaths of her family in the state of Chu, but he will not permit her to commit the deed. Brooding and reflective, he writes on the sand, seeking to explain his intentions to her.

"天下"

Two simple words in less than ten strokes. It depicts the hierachy of society, from the age of the despots to the modern democracy. Whoever resides in heaven looks down on earth, not to subject the people to oppression, but to care for their well-being and happiness. This perhaps was what the ancient Chinese meant by the 'mandate from heaven' or the divine right to rule. Sword tells her that the ruler might have been cruel to his enemies, but he is wise and just, and under his governance the people, from the rich merchants to the poor farmers are able to enjoy the good life and be free from the tortures of war. Thus, if Snow kills him, China will once again plunge into chaos, and there will never be true peace for all.

This brings us back to the present tension between politics and the media. Journalists see themselves as advocates of the Fourth Estate, with the right to ensure all information is given to empower the citizens. However, it is unclear whether they know the functions and purposes of such information. By telling you all about guns, I am giving you knowledge, but at the same time, you will learn how to use a medium of violence. As much as news strives to be objective and free from regulation, few have paused to consider the ramifications of such ideas.

In fact, the questions during the forum did not stem from an issue of fairness, but rather from a prevalent sense of ignorance among the new generation, who simply fail to take the cultural and historical background into its proper context. "We can't be bothered because nothing we do will change anything" seems to be the general opinion amongst them. They feel they are like passive dupes in an artificial environment entirely controlled by those in power, with multiple conspiracies waiting to be uncovered. They simply fail to appreciate the reality of the good life and the multitude of problems that the government has solved. Education, healthcare, income, housing...these are just some of the modern versions that have evolved from the rice and taels used for exchange during imperial times.

"Politics is the art and science of government"

In my opnion, this remark summarizes the reasons for the exercise of power. The mandate is conferred by the people, irregardless of the political structure that is established. Democracy is a form of social control. It is not a civil right, but rather a means of allowing the masses to induce a rational change of government, without violence or global backlash. Governments are only displaced when peace and prosperity are taken away from the people. So ask yourself, have you been taking the good life for granted?

There, the title is on top. I have to admit, I was deliberating about whether to blog about British babes or bad company, but there were not enough words in space to make a decent entry. So yeah, thanks to Mr. How for reminding me it was the grand final of 'Campus Superstar.' Never anticipated that my muse tonight would a nymphet from the most famous convent on the island.

I would like to stress this again, to my loved ones, relatives, friends and enemies: I AM NOT A CRADLE SNATCHER. (Oh do you know, that if you make such a blatant statment, it might just come true?)

Anyway, ever since I started studyin the media, almost everything the media produced felt like trash. Assuming that it was information devoid of all truth, I alienated myself from the square box and buried myself in books. However, one fine weekday afternoon, while my mom was out purchasing some vegetables, I chanced upon the repeat broadcast of 'Campus superstar.' I watched everything....including the damn commercials.

For one thing, all the male contestants were simply TOO ugly to be in the entertainment scene. Short, specky and steeled teeth. What on earth were the producers and judges thinking? I looked EXACTLY like that in 1998. What's more, I could moonwalk and write lyrics, but there were no girls screaming for me.

F*** lah. I remember in school, GD could say that fella 5cm shorter than me had sex appeal, so the gals adored him. My ass ok? I know in front of alot of other people my self-esteem can take a bow, but not to that guy. Sex appeal? Yeah, he has it, especially when the 'gay mama' remarked that he was perfect for a blow job.

When I saw the gals going hysterical over dudes that had the 3S (spectacles, shortness and steeled teeth). I just wondered what life would be like if this competiton came to being eight years earlier. Then again, it won't be little boys with the 3S that made the cut.

Right, I believed I have digressed. Now to the female contestants.

I wasn't into her at the start. Truth is the taller one caught my eye. Taller girls turn me on pretty fast ( just ask all my dates, there aren't alot of them anyway). So it was Yvonne who got me glued to the box. She is that perfect 'take me home to see your mother' specimen. A simple, decent, sweet face, but not a catalyst for fantasy. Its just there nothing more, the nice bits aren't worth tasting, to me that is. By the time she ended her song I was inclined to turn it off. Those judges can talk a rainforest of crap that you can unconsciously learn to be like them

Incidentally, as I was almost hovering over that red button.....

'Love...love....love'

Ok that was all I heard. Those songs sung by gals don't stay in my head for long, since they don't apply to me.

The point here is, Teresa Tseng was performing, and she was smiling at me.

See my point? The media can produce such deceptive trash. One pubescent girl smiling at you through that darn screen and you start hallucinating that she has the HOTS for you. Lies....all lies.

Nevertheless, I watched on. You see, I just can't help myself.

Her name already precedes her. An alphabet short of having the same name as 邓郦君(in the romanized sense). You know that if she sings, she is destined for greatness. Second, she hails from Katong Convent, the ancient capital of the young nymphos. Legend has it that the pretty girls there have sexual powers, they can make a man pregnant (WOW) and that the sisters who govern the students are brothers in disguise. If you ask me, I just know that the 15 year olds from KC during my time could teach me how to wear a condom.

Times have surely changed. Scanning through the faces in the audience, the convent surely had gone through a Reformation. Even Kylie could tell me something totally radical.

"She's PRC, but not from PRC lah"

Teresa represents the 'chennanized' (pronounced chee-nah-nice) convent girl. The tamed young thing who blushes if she holds a guy's hand, who watches anime, collects soft toys and yearns to have her first kiss each day. On close observation, if you search with the eye of Nabokov (the most talented russian paedophile), she packs a HOT bod that would certainly make a profitable investment.

Get her on the cover of FHM, with a black tube to accentuate those curves and legs. Oh let the hair down and fan it against her face. Its time for her to burn some trousers.

Man, she's ONLY 15.....Damn you TV, the primal cause of all my sins.