Some times, I don't blame her.
I mean, when song writers write songs, they should think about audience perception. Not everyone has the lyrics to the songs and not all singers can sing clearly.
For the longest time, I thought the chorus for Irreplaceable begins with "You must run over me, you must run over me..." and
All the Single Ladies began with "All the single legs, all the single legs..."
I'm not against singers showing off their vocal prowess or song writers trying to show off, but there is a limit to how many syllables can be shoved into a single hemidemisemiquaver note.
In Chinese songs, however, there are songs where the meanings get distorted. For instance,
has its lyrics been spoofed. It used to mean "Love's Anthem" and the new title is "Brother Piggy's Love". This spoof is not without history. Piggy, in Journey to the West (aka Monkey King), used to be a lascivious general in Heaven. He was banished to earth as a pig headed creature for running afoul with Heavenly Laws.
Of course, Jay Chou, with his garbled singing style, has had many of his songs turned R- or X-rated.
The ordinary (wo)man's perverted mind cannot be underestimated. But with all things, there must exist suitable impetus to spur the thoughts. The various poorly written songs and poorly executed songs have definitely played a large role in this.
We of course shall exclude intentionally perverted songs such as "The Horny Goatherd" from this discussion as that is a different story.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
What we need next...
Following the Eyjafjallajoekull volcanic eruption, what we now need are ...
... Mayon (in the Philippines) erupts
... Etna (in Italy) erupts
... Kilauea (in Hawaii) erupts
... Asama (in Japan) erupts
... Ruapehu (in New Zealand) erupts
... Llaima and Chaitén (in Chile) erupt
and each sends a column of ash so big that we get 24/7 night for the next few months.
That would be so exciting.
I'm faking a "flash forward." I'm feeling so 2012 now. Hee hee...
... Mayon (in the Philippines) erupts
... Etna (in Italy) erupts
... Kilauea (in Hawaii) erupts
... Asama (in Japan) erupts
... Ruapehu (in New Zealand) erupts
... Llaima and Chaitén (in Chile) erupt
and each sends a column of ash so big that we get 24/7 night for the next few months.
That would be so exciting.
I'm faking a "flash forward." I'm feeling so 2012 now. Hee hee...
Forty Cents
My morning exercise session was followed by a visit to the vegetarian noodles stall where I bought two packets of noodles. It's always good to stock up a spare packet since I am usually the loser in the inertia fights, especially during my holiday breaks. Each packet costs $2.30 and I had a $5 note on me.
Thereafter, I had 40 cents. What can a man do with 40 cents?
Honestly, after I had scoured the entire neighbourhood, I found out that 40 cents can get me a half-past six curry puff from the malay stall near Shop and Save Supermarket.
It's really awfully pathetic, you know? I remember the days when my recess money was a mere 50 cents. What can one get for 40 cents these days?
Anyone?
Thereafter, I had 40 cents. What can a man do with 40 cents?
Honestly, after I had scoured the entire neighbourhood, I found out that 40 cents can get me a half-past six curry puff from the malay stall near Shop and Save Supermarket.
It's really awfully pathetic, you know? I remember the days when my recess money was a mere 50 cents. What can one get for 40 cents these days?
Anyone?
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Alternatives
Sometimes, it is easier to find a song that best reflects how you are feeling rather than to express it in words.
As I get older, there are things that aren't worth storage space in my mind any more. I don't recall many of the things that used to diss me lots when I was at the PRC School. Honestly, I only remember the gist - the key lessons if you prefer - of why I am who I am today.
And so, here is today's song selection. If I were to find a common theme, it would be Self.
As I get older, there are things that aren't worth storage space in my mind any more. I don't recall many of the things that used to diss me lots when I was at the PRC School. Honestly, I only remember the gist - the key lessons if you prefer - of why I am who I am today.
And so, here is today's song selection. If I were to find a common theme, it would be Self.
风筝
因为我知道你是个容易担心的小孩子
所以我将线交你手中 却也不敢飞得太远
不管我随着风飞翔到云间我希望你能看得见
就算我偶尔会贪玩迷了路也知道你在等着我
我是一个贪玩又自由的风筝每天都会让你担忧
如果有一天迷失风中 要如何回到你身边
因为我知道你是个容易担心的小孩子
所以我会在乌云来时轻轻滑落在你怀中
我是一个贪玩又自由的风筝每天都会让你担忧
如果有一天迷失风中 要如何回到你身边
贪玩又自由的风筝 每天都游戏在天空
如果有一天扯断了线 你是否会回来寻找我
如果有一天迷失风中 带我回到你的怀中
因为我知道你是个容易担心的小孩子
所以我在飞翔的时候 却也不敢飞得太远
可能是跟老婆交代的一首歌。可能老牛吃嫩草, 可能在外打架, 可能...
但是如果有一天迷失风中 带我回到你的怀中。绝世聪明坏男人还是懂得怎么做的。
但願人長久
明月幾時有 把酒問青天
不知天上宮闕 今夕是何年
我欲乘風歸去 唯恐瓊樓玉宇
高處不勝寒 起舞弄清影 何似在人間
轉朱閣低綺戶照無眠
不應有恨何事長向別時圓
人有悲歡離合 月有陰晴圓缺
此事古難全 但願人長久
千里共嬋娟
我欲乘風歸去 唯恐瓊樓玉宇
高處不勝寒 起舞弄清影
何似在人間
轉朱閣低綺戶照無眠
不應有恨何事長向別時圓
人有悲歡離合 月有陰晴圓缺
此事古難全 但願人長久
千里共嬋娟
王菲-紅豆
作詞：林夕 ／ 作曲：柳重言
還沒好好的感受 雪花綻放的氣候
我們一起顫抖 會更明白 甚麼是溫柔
還沒跟你牽著手 走過荒蕪的沙丘
可能從此以後 學會珍惜 天長和地久
有時候 有時候 我會相信一切有盡頭
相聚離開 都有時候 沒有甚麼會永垂不朽
可是我 有時候 寧願選擇留戀不放手
等到風景都看透 也許你會陪我 看細水長流
還沒為你把紅豆 熬成纏綿的傷口
然後一起分享 會更明白 相思的哀愁
還沒好好的感受 醒著親吻的溫柔
可能在我左右 你才追求 孤獨的自由
有時候 有時候 我會相信一切有盡頭
相聚離開 都有時候 沒有甚麼會永垂不朽
可是我 有時候 寧願選擇留戀不放手
等到風景都看透 也許你會陪我 看細水長流
Familiarly Remote
Just visited my alma mater last week to conduct a training session for some of the students.
It's been more than 2 decades since I've graduated and honestly, apart from the familiar school crest and the school motto, nothing I saw that day even resembled what I remembered as a student there.
I saw monkeys. Students have lost the ability to behave themselves. Discipline is lax and poor conduct was rampant. There was noise. Sheer pandemonium. Endless senseless screaming, running around, messing around. It was nothing like the erudite atmosphere that we had in the past.
I met an ex-teacher and not unexpectedly, she couldn't quite remember who I was. It was after all more than twenty years. I took a look at the staff photo and saw a few familiar faces. Those were the teachers who had taught me when I was a student there. However, was I going to face more "You look familiar but I can't quite remember your name?"
I finished my lesson quickly and made a rapid exit.
The school is now entirely different from the nurturing place I used to remember. Or is my memory failing...?
It's been more than 2 decades since I've graduated and honestly, apart from the familiar school crest and the school motto, nothing I saw that day even resembled what I remembered as a student there.
I saw monkeys. Students have lost the ability to behave themselves. Discipline is lax and poor conduct was rampant. There was noise. Sheer pandemonium. Endless senseless screaming, running around, messing around. It was nothing like the erudite atmosphere that we had in the past.
I met an ex-teacher and not unexpectedly, she couldn't quite remember who I was. It was after all more than twenty years. I took a look at the staff photo and saw a few familiar faces. Those were the teachers who had taught me when I was a student there. However, was I going to face more "You look familiar but I can't quite remember your name?"
I finished my lesson quickly and made a rapid exit.
The school is now entirely different from the nurturing place I used to remember. Or is my memory failing...?
Thursday, April 01, 2010
HDB Millionnaire?
My darling government should be concerned. In fact, it should be very concerned. Clearly, Singaporeans are now not afraid of their government. At least, not in the investment realms. Ok, add marriage and having babies to that list of things that Singaporeans simply don't care two hoots about what the men and women in white are urging us to do.
Singapore is likely to witness the first case of an HDB apartment - with a 99-year lease - to be transacted at a whisker under $1 million dollars. For those like my fortunate friends in the US who are not aware of leased land, the government allows Singaporeans to own their HDB flats for a lease period of 99 years. While that is stated on paper, Singaporeans will have to give up their flat should the government want to conduct en bloc upgrading of the estate or when the housing lease is up, whichever is sooner. At the current state, the former is happening more frequently than the latter. I have yet to see 99-year-old flats being repossessed by the state.
I shall not delve into the ethics of evicting me from my home - technically, I am not even an HDB apartment owner - or discuss the immorality of forcing me into another housing loan for a new flat that I don't want - many other Singaporeans cannot wait to move out of their free-range chicken farm into a chicken coop - but I shall say that HDB housing, a right of Singaporeans, is now becoming elusive.
It is so elusive that a single man can expect to fork out his arm, his leg and may be what hangs between his leg to buy an HDB flat. And add to that, he can pledge his heart, corneas, lungs, kidneys, and testicles even (!), to secure a housing loan, which he can expect to service for the rest of his life. (The gender under question is intentional - a woman "can expect to service for the rest of her life" sounds way too colourful for the G-rated nature of this innocent looking blog. *Blinks innocently*)
Now that the Bishan Executive Mansionette is going for S$900,000, Singaporeans are now of the belief that the shit hole they live in is worth twice as much as was valued by the HDB valuers.
Before we go forward, let us take a giant step back to see this travesty through the eyes of this innocent blogger. *Blink blink blink (think Bambi)* Let's do some sums!
Total value of unit - $900,000
Cash-over-valuation - $170,000 (This portion needs to be paid for in cash!)
Valuation - $730,000 (I don't quite believe this; EM valuation hardly break 700k)
5% cash downpayment on Valuation - $36,500
15% cash/CPF downpayment on Valuation - $109,500
80% or less bank loan on Valuation - $584,000 (If you decide to take a smaller loan, you have to fork out even more cash or CPF.)
In other words, this buyer has a total of at least $206,500 in cash sitting freely around! House buyers (or potential ones) know that there is still stamp duties to be paid on the house and lawyer fees!
How in the world did this happen?
Many worker bees like us are required to either go out and collect pollen and feed the hive or spend the whole time breeding the Queen Bitch. I mean, the Queen Bee. For the pittance we are often paid, how do we accumulate $200,000 in cash at all? I am hard pressed to come up with HALF that amount, much less have the full $200,000 lying around.
Given the CPF caps that are applied since two recessions ago, CPF is paid for the first $4500 of our salaries. This is again a complicated calculation process but it is suffice to say that there is very little likelihood to build a CPF to that grand scale as above.
Although market watchers will dismiss these HDB windfalls (for the owners) to be one-off, most houseowners will be emboldened by the news and begin withdrawing their units from the market and relaunch them at even higher prices. I have already experienced that with a few units I viewed recently. What will this world come to?
How is it possible for a single Singaporean man to own a roof these days? *Continues in his search for the Widowed Childless Rich Old Dying Datin*
Singapore is likely to witness the first case of an HDB apartment - with a 99-year lease - to be transacted at a whisker under $1 million dollars. For those like my fortunate friends in the US who are not aware of leased land, the government allows Singaporeans to own their HDB flats for a lease period of 99 years. While that is stated on paper, Singaporeans will have to give up their flat should the government want to conduct en bloc upgrading of the estate or when the housing lease is up, whichever is sooner. At the current state, the former is happening more frequently than the latter. I have yet to see 99-year-old flats being repossessed by the state.
I shall not delve into the ethics of evicting me from my home - technically, I am not even an HDB apartment owner - or discuss the immorality of forcing me into another housing loan for a new flat that I don't want - many other Singaporeans cannot wait to move out of their free-range chicken farm into a chicken coop - but I shall say that HDB housing, a right of Singaporeans, is now becoming elusive.
It is so elusive that a single man can expect to fork out his arm, his leg and may be what hangs between his leg to buy an HDB flat. And add to that, he can pledge his heart, corneas, lungs, kidneys, and testicles even (!), to secure a housing loan, which he can expect to service for the rest of his life. (The gender under question is intentional - a woman "can expect to service for the rest of her life" sounds way too colourful for the G-rated nature of this innocent looking blog. *Blinks innocently*)
Now that the Bishan Executive Mansionette is going for S$900,000, Singaporeans are now of the belief that the shit hole they live in is worth twice as much as was valued by the HDB valuers.
Before we go forward, let us take a giant step back to see this travesty through the eyes of this innocent blogger. *Blink blink blink (think Bambi)* Let's do some sums!
Total value of unit - $900,000
Cash-over-valuation - $170,000 (This portion needs to be paid for in cash!)
Valuation - $730,000 (I don't quite believe this; EM valuation hardly break 700k)
5% cash downpayment on Valuation - $36,500
15% cash/CPF downpayment on Valuation - $109,500
80% or less bank loan on Valuation - $584,000 (If you decide to take a smaller loan, you have to fork out even more cash or CPF.)
In other words, this buyer has a total of at least $206,500 in cash sitting freely around! House buyers (or potential ones) know that there is still stamp duties to be paid on the house and lawyer fees!
How in the world did this happen?
Many worker bees like us are required to either go out and collect pollen and feed the hive or spend the whole time breeding the Queen Bitch. I mean, the Queen Bee. For the pittance we are often paid, how do we accumulate $200,000 in cash at all? I am hard pressed to come up with HALF that amount, much less have the full $200,000 lying around.
Given the CPF caps that are applied since two recessions ago, CPF is paid for the first $4500 of our salaries. This is again a complicated calculation process but it is suffice to say that there is very little likelihood to build a CPF to that grand scale as above.
Although market watchers will dismiss these HDB windfalls (for the owners) to be one-off, most houseowners will be emboldened by the news and begin withdrawing their units from the market and relaunch them at even higher prices. I have already experienced that with a few units I viewed recently. What will this world come to?
How is it possible for a single Singaporean man to own a roof these days? *Continues in his search for the Widowed Childless Rich Old Dying Datin*
Friday, March 26, 2010
The Mathematical Brain
This post is synonymously titled with "The Mathematical Brain" by Brian Butterworth. I first read that book when I was a trainee teacher in 2001 and since then, my view of mathematics learning has changed radically.
Now I see there is actually a place for mathematics haters. They really have a place - far far away from me.
I'm not against people struggling with mathematics but I wonder why people wouldn't try. I know interest counts for a lot and I concede that point about interest. But then, if one weren't interested, explain why one would come for Mathematical Olympiad training sessions?
Question for the day:
Which of the following products is bigger?
20092010 * 2011 or 20112010 * 2009
Now I see there is actually a place for mathematics haters. They really have a place - far far away from me.
I'm not against people struggling with mathematics but I wonder why people wouldn't try. I know interest counts for a lot and I concede that point about interest. But then, if one weren't interested, explain why one would come for Mathematical Olympiad training sessions?
Question for the day:
Which of the following products is bigger?
20092010 * 2011 or 20112010 * 2009
Gaps
There had been occasions when I told myself to blog but when I finally reach home, I am only energized for bed.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Answering a Stern Question
The laptop came back with a new LCD screen, a new keyboard and an updated BIOS. However, the most irritating problem of the flying cursor was not solved.
Eventually, the critical data were saved out and then the entire hard disk was wiped clean and reformatted.
No cloths were dirtied in the process.
I'm still regaining my balance on the new laptop and this post is done at work.
Class begins in 35 minutes and I'm not so much looking forward to it. Yet it has to be done.
Eventually, the critical data were saved out and then the entire hard disk was wiped clean and reformatted.
No cloths were dirtied in the process.
I'm still regaining my balance on the new laptop and this post is done at work.
Class begins in 35 minutes and I'm not so much looking forward to it. Yet it has to be done.
Monday, March 08, 2010
No fool like the old fool
There’s no fool like an old fool and this, I do know
It’s really quite disgusting and horribly saddening
To be brought down so low.
There’s no fool like a blind fool whose who pokes himself
In the very eye,
Blindness is a mental condition; it clouds the clearest of vision
And its realization, oh my.
A blind fool and an old fool are a sad fool, yes, indeed
One finds it through ones’ own struggling
While others laughingly pay heed.
Tis a sad business and this business I wish it were not so
Our Dreams suddenly shatter and we find ourselves in the weather
And in mirrors our reality doth show.
And on with the show…..
It’s really quite disgusting and horribly saddening
To be brought down so low.
There’s no fool like a blind fool whose who pokes himself
In the very eye,
Blindness is a mental condition; it clouds the clearest of vision
And its realization, oh my.
A blind fool and an old fool are a sad fool, yes, indeed
One finds it through ones’ own struggling
While others laughingly pay heed.
Tis a sad business and this business I wish it were not so
Our Dreams suddenly shatter and we find ourselves in the weather
And in mirrors our reality doth show.
And on with the show…..
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Laptop on Leave
My laptop is finally taking a break at the HP service centre.
Among other things, it has a broken key "4". There was no way to reattach it. It has a mouse pad that is so hypersensitive that wind from the fan can move the cursor around! It has a fan that is not working. The lap top gets so hot that it shuts down by itself for self preservation. It has a intermittently not working USB port. You can lose connection to whatever you attach there as you wish. There is a screen that flickers when you work the lap top hard.
The laptop has worked really hard and it is now being restored. Thank god for the extended warranty. Let's hope they do the necessary "organ" transplants.
Among other things, it has a broken key "4". There was no way to reattach it. It has a mouse pad that is so hypersensitive that wind from the fan can move the cursor around! It has a fan that is not working. The lap top gets so hot that it shuts down by itself for self preservation. It has a intermittently not working USB port. You can lose connection to whatever you attach there as you wish. There is a screen that flickers when you work the lap top hard.
The laptop has worked really hard and it is now being restored. Thank god for the extended warranty. Let's hope they do the necessary "organ" transplants.
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