The Beauty of Simplicity

`` my daily journey. [#] `-

Friday, 28 March 2008

In-flight Mobiles are Plane Wrong

It’s very difficult to type with clenched fists, but news that airlines are poised to enable mobile phones on flights is sending this writer to the edge of a very angry place indeed.

Heaven help us. You can picture the scene now. You’ve just squeezed into your minuscule seat and endured a hair-raising take-off, when the Crazy Frog ringtone goes off from the seat next to you. “HELLO, DAVE?! YEAH, I’M ON THE PLANE, MATE! NO, THE PLANE!!” bellows your oblivious neighbour. Welcome to the next six hours of your life.

What are they thinking? Mobiles have their place, which is ideally in the pocket of their owner, set to silent. Granted, they are also packed with much-loved gadgets. Built-in cameras, MP3 players and internet browsers are all features most of us could no longer do without.

But when used in an enclosed space, mobiles become the invention of Satan himself. Just ask anyone who regularly catches a commuter train. No-one speaks at a normal volume when taking a call and most people shout with a ferocity that almost negates the need for a phone at all.

Combine that kind of selfishness with no chance of immediate escape from your talkative tormentor and you have a recipe for temporary insanity.
It’s difficult to describe any airplane as an oasis of calm, but the escape from a high-tech world to a cabin with technology no more advanced than a stuttering TV screen can be almost relaxing. We like to be able to retreat from our 'always-on' lifestyles every once in a while. Once we’re up in the clouds no-one can reach us – no matter how hard they try. The ability to make phone calls in-flight will shatter all that.

Which begs the question: who actually wants this? A survey taken in 2005 by Skytrax asked nearly 700,000 people for their thoughts on the potential use of mobile phones on planes. An overwhelming 89 per cent said they did not want such a service to become possible. Not ever. Now those seem pretty damning statistics.

Damning, but not surprising. Flying is an arduous enough business as it is, what with the screaming toddlers, the cabin crew banging your knee with their trolleys and the snoring businessman gently dribbling on your shoulder. Do we really need another reason to tear out our hair as we zoom across the Atlantic?

But still the plan goes ahead. While the European-based airlines have just been told they can enable on-board calls, Emirates airline has already unveiled its new mobile-friendly service. It’s not just the airline industry, either. London Underground also plans to start trials this year that will enable mobile users to rabbit while travelling between stations on the Tube. Soon, there will be no escape.

There is such a thing as a cell phone jammer. Handily pocket-sized, this gives you the ability to knock out the reception of any nearby mobiles which just a click of a button. Sadly such gadgets are illegal to use in the UK and also, one would imagine, particularly unwise to use when cruising at 35,000 feet.

Perhaps we could deal with this rising menace by installing ejector seats on aircraft that activate when the occupant yaps above a certain decibel level. Again, the legality issue comes into play here. It seems the only solution is to make another gadget purchase - that of a new MP3 player and some noise-reducing headphones.

http://tech.uk.msn.com/features/article.aspx?cp-documentid=7895606

This writer is humourous...=p I totally agree with him or her (I think it is a 'he'), mobile phones have no place in a plane. I can imagine the pain. I was totally annoyed while people on the bus or train starts to talk, no, shout into the phone; when it was just a normal conversation. They were not even arguing. So why shout? Ugh. That was how I felt when it was a less than an hour journey. Imagine how I will react if it is a few hours trip on the plane, with no where to escape. (One can only stay in the toilet for so long before others start banging on the door.)

I think I'd kill the person who dares to talk above a certain decibel level.

Light my path
1:05:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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Sunday, 23 March 2008

I had been watching the Taiwanese drama 恶魔在身边 yesterday and today. It was not bad. Rather good, though I could do without some parts. I like the 2nd male lead - Wang Chuan Yi (王传一) a tad more than the male lead (賀軍翔). But I do have to admit that the look he gave 齐悦 (starred by 杨丞林); in a scene in his bedroom, where she was applying medication to his injured hand, was really 100% captivating and devastatingly sexy.

Issachar and Candace (my hamsters - a present from Jimmy. He said since this is the Year of Rat.) are quite well behaved. I dote on Candace more. She's more obedient and pliant. Issachar is more jumpy and nervous. He scampers away when I tried to stroke him. He is ULTRA hard to catch. In addition, he likes to bite at my fingers. I discouraged him from doing that by tapping his mouth and scolding him but that did not deter him. Whereas when Candace does that and I disciplined her, she obeyed me and never bites me anymore. Which is why I named her Candace, which means who possesses contrition. Issachar means reward, recompense. I named him Issachar because the meaning of it caught my eyes when I was surfing the Net looking for suitable names. I was caught by the word, 'recompense'. My mother did not allow me to keep Issachar and Candace, she cited reasons like they smell, why would I put them...etc. But the main reason is that my eldest sister would not like it. Plus, this house is under her name, I do not have a share in paying for the house nor is the house under my name. So, in short, I do not have a say in what goes in or out of here. I am a mere boarder. Those are my mother's words and the last statement is my eldest sister's words.

I understand. That moment, I understood where I stand in this family. At that moment, I was hurt beyond belief, but now, I understand and realize the truth. I won't be hurt anymore and I won't allow myself to be hurt. At least I knew the truth and I will not expect anything out of this family and from any one of them.

I smuggled Issachar and Candace home on Thursday night. Jimmy had to take them away a few Saturdays ago when my mother told him to his face that I cannot keep the hamsters. (Respect my friend much?) I am planning to let Issachar and Candace stay with Angeline. She loves hamsters and knows how to take care of them. Thus, she is my first choice. I know that Candace & Issachar will be safe and happy with her. I will probably pass them to her on Tuesday.

A colleague of mine informed me that her last day is this coming Thursday. We came in together at almost the same time. I was earlier by a day or a week, I can't remember. This coming May will mark the end of my first year in this company. When she told me, I wasn't surprised, for I sort of expected it. I am glad that she found a company which offers better benefits and working hours. On the other hand, I felt like I am not moving. I want to move. I need to move away from this stagnant position but I have no idea to where. Wanting, thinking and desiring to move, to leave, are just thoughts and words. It takes courage to actually do it.

Tomorrow is another day. Monday.

Ugh.

It is a drag, going to work.

Light my path
7:25:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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Sunday, 16 March 2008

Aaa..I am dead beat. I was nursing a headache earlier in the afternoon, courtesy of the late nights spent on reading books. I had popped a panadol extra before napping for an hour and half. After which, I got up and started painting my nails and had a bowl of fried rice for dinner before preparing to go out.

I missed my bus and ended up waiting for what seemed to be an eternity before bus 169 finally arrived. All I can say is that, I made it to the Max Pavilion, in the nick of time. I wasn't late for Jeff Chang's concert. But anyway, it started around 8pm or later. I was rather turned off and disgusted when there were still people walking in when Jeff Chang was on his fourth or fifth song. Those people have no sense of time, no respect for the singer and the audience. The concert's kick-off time is 7.30pm, thus everyone should be seated by then, but no, many seats in the front were still empty. It wasn't till the show had started that the seats were filled up. Frankly speaking, I do not care if those people pay good money to miss part of Jeff Chang's performance, but it is disrespectful to be so late and slowly STROLL in while he was singing. They did not give him the respect due to every performer, which goes to show the kind of upbringing they have had and what kind of people they are.

Let's move on.

The stage was beautifully set up, with a classy chandelier hanging above the orchestra and different colour lightings, depending on the song and atmosphere. In the backdrop is 3 picture frames, with the 2 smaller frames flanking the bigger centerpiece. When the orchestra came on stage and started off with an instrumental piece, drawings drawn by artists of an earlier century were shown in the picture frames. The bigger frame in the middle showed the whole drawing while the other frames focused on and highlighted other parts of the same drawing. The name and year of birth and death of the artist was shown on the large screens by the side of the stage.

When Jeff Chang finally came out, amidst screams and clapping; he started off with "直觉". His voice is impressive, the years have not taken away any iota of his beautiful singing. The way he sang last night, is still as charming as ever. He has a way of stirring up forgotten emotions and dreams with his voice and the way he expressed the lyrics. The years have done him well. People have a way of fading over the years, after all environment, life and age does affect a person in all ways. But for Jeff Chang, his voice is still as good as ever. Still as clear and beautiful.

He sang many of my favourite songs. Actually, to tell the truth, there isn't any song of his that I do not love. I love all of his songs, as long as he is the one singing. Some of the songs he sang includes, '白月光', '过火'，‘从开始到现在’，‘做你的男人’， ‘说谎’，‘宽容’，‘到处留情’，‘不要对他说’，‘信仰’， ‘爱如潮水’， ‘用情’， ‘太想爱你’， ‘逃生’(his new song) and many more.

As each song progresses, he talked a little about the theme for this concert and that the drawings chosen carefully in order to compliment the songs. The concert was divided into 5 segments, categorizing the different kinds of love and romanticism. In one segment, he incorporated Chinese opera into his songs. There were even Chinese opera performers! In one song, a lady costumed in in pink and white, danced gracefully with a fan. Towards the very end of that song, Jeff Chang did a little turn and struck a pose with her. As for the second song - 牡丹优, a man dressed in black with a long sweeping beard came onto stage and started singing (which I think is the opening of his new song). The song seems to be talking about a mother and child's love.

At some point of the concert, some brave souls went forward to give him bouquets of flowers. That marked the start of a flow of flower bouquets and presents being passed to him from below the stage. Towards the middle of his concert, Jeff Chang was interacting with the audience and he was saying that many people always have the conception that love songs are slow. Slow and sleep-inducing, he drawled and mimicked people dozing off. He asked if the the audience agreed to that and he was like, "Ah!! Some one agreed! Who's that? Who's that?!", while striding towards stage left, as though intending to pursue the person. The audience laughed.

To me, that was one of the memorable parts.

Another one was when he was commenting about one of the drawings. He said the young girl in it had flushed cheeks. Very beautiful. It makes one wants to kiss her on her pinked hue cheeks. She is like a girl in love. He went on to say that men should be the ones to put that kind of blush on their faces, if they do not know how to go about it, they could learn from the song he's about to sing - 做你的男人.

I can't remember most of the artists' names, but I think Jeff Chang mentioned that he quite likes Jean-Francois Millet's drawings. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois_Millet). For myself, I like the drawings of Edgar Degas (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degas) for most of them they depict dancers. Another picture which caught my eye was this - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cd/VanGogh-starry_night.jpg. It was drawn by Vincent van Gogh (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vincent_van_Gogh).

There is one part where he commented that a girl in the painting is pretty or some thing along that line, unlike some girls who are thin as sticks; which drew the audience's laughter. From that remark, I am glad to know that Jeff Chang isn't one of those people who likes or prefers skinny girls.

He is a rather polite person, he kept bowing deeply, at the waist, at the end of each song. One of his stage clothes draw my attention. He was dressed like an English noble, a brown velvet coat, royal purple pants and a blue and royal purple striped shirt, complete with a flowing dark blue necktie.

Towards the end of the concert, things started to get a little crazy and hectic. At first, a number of brave and daring people crept up to the front of the stage to take closeup shots of him when he stopped near the front stage. The girl beside me went up to take too. I was tempted to follow her too, but didn't. Later on, when there were more and more people going up, I actually drew out my camera and had wanted to go up and take a few closeup shots too But he moved away!!

*Bursts into tears*

The moral of the lesson is to take up your chance when opportunity presents itself. Many things don't come knocking a second time.

SIGHHHHHHHHHHH.

Anyway, after that, the ushers and security staff came together and blocked the way to stop people from going down that last aisle leading to the stage. People still kept coming and just banded around that around trying to take photos and get a better view of him. Which as a result, meant that the people in my section were blocked. I thought of standing up but if I did, I would be blocking the people behind me too. But as more and more people came down and flocked to the front, I was totally blocked and couldn't see a thing, so in the end, I stood up too. Upon seeing this, Jeff Chang gently teased, "Why did you all do this (the flocking) so late into the concert?" Implying that we should have done that earlier.......=p

Haha...

Sorry, Jeff, but we Singaporeans are slow to warm up and we are kind of reserved and goody-two-shoes people.

Sorry, if that made you think we are not enjoying your concert. But to tell the truth, I thoroughly love your concert..=)

I love the way he teasingly encouraged us to come closer to him, to do all that we yearn to do but fear to do, for fear of embarrassment. He reminded us that, "This is the last chance (for the concert is only for that one night). So those who want to scream and shriek, and do whatever that they yearn to do, had better do it now." He really is adorable!

The concert ended with an encore consisting of at least 3 songs and with many people on their feet, crowding up front.

I took some pictures, but the quality was sigh-worthy. I should have borrowed Angeline's camera. I wasn't able to capture any good photos.

To conclude, all together it wasn't a boring and sleep-inducing concert. Certainly it wasn't a get-up-and-jump that kind of concert, for in the first place, Jeff Chang's songs aren't in such a genre. But the way the concert was planned, from the painstaking efforts to pull together a uniform presentation (the art pieces, the orchestra, the backdrop, the stage decor, Jeff Chang's clothes and his songs); to the interaction with the audience and the way he attempted to remix a number of his songs and experimenting with different infusions into his new songs made the concert a very enjoyable and non-sleep inducing one. I, for one was pleasantly surprised by the infusions of different culture into his songs. He has maintained his singing prowess and succeeded in making a different type of music, yet not diverting from his usual genre.

Those who missed this concert, missed out on a lot of things. Usually, singing 'live' is different from the songs in the records, for the voice can be digitally altered. But last night, Jeff Chang's voice is magnificent. As smooth, clear and clean as the songs I have in my CD.

Jeff Chang really does live up magnificently to the title - 情歌王子.

All that and more.

I can't wait for his new album which will be coming out early April 2008!!!!

Light my path
12:33:00 am

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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Friday, 14 March 2008

When I close my eyes
And before I go to sleep...

Before the sands of sleep come
And the Maker takes me home

Before I fade away...

I wish to see your face by my side
Eteched with lines of concern
And lit up with the beauty of love.

I wish to feel your reassuring caresses.
The deep and warm timber of your voice,
Saying that everything's going to be alright.
That you'll be by my side
When I open my eyes.

That you'll be the first I see.

Before I fade away.

Light my path
10:04:00 am

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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Thursday, 13 March 2008

"My only love sprung from my only hate! Too early seen unknown, and known too late! "

- Romeo & Juliet - Act 1, Scene 5

Light my path
11:39:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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“There’s the present, there’s the future, but I’m still stuck in the past.”

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3878118/7/

Light my path
11:35:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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Wednesday, 12 March 2008

I went down to Bishan last evening. It was with a big heave of relief when I finally sat down. My shoes were hurting my feet, which in turn, were killing me. Or rather, making me wish I could maul the designer and maker.

Gah.

I seem rather unbalanced.

Anyway, Carol was working yesterday, thus I dropped by with some snacks from Old Chang Kee. We chatted for awhile, I had intended to leave but some how I was being offered up to be a companion for Yan Pheng as she went house hunting. Before we left to eat dinner, I bought a pair of slippers to soothe my sore and abused feet.

We went to eat pasta at Pastamania. I ate the yummy Chicken Sausage (without the peas). Yan Pheng ate the Arribata. We left for Admiralty after she took a smoke while I went to return a library book.

The first house we went to, was on the 7th floor, belonging to some Muslims. I didn't quite like that place as it was rather cramped and cluttered. I didn't feel comfortable in there.

The second place we visited, was a few blocks away. The apartment was on the 12th level. As we walked along the corridor, my first impression was, "Whoa! I love the view." Some lucky homeowners have a completely unblocked view of a modestly sized green plain. The winds were cool and the scenery was opened and unobstructed. Though the house which we visited, was not located along that particular corridor, I still prefer that apartment compared to the first.

It was totally spacious and uncluttered. Perhaps it is because there weren't a lot of decorations, unlike the first house; thus giving the impression of spaciousness. Anyway, that house gave me a comfortable feeling. The balcony is good too, long and moderately sized. It was quite like my previous home in Ang Mo Kio. If I am of age and have the dollars, I would definitely get that place.

But unlike me, Yan Pheng preferred the first house we visited. As she was thinking about other things like, is the place run-down, does it needs more renovation? The home belonging to the muslims were quite renovated and the floors are of good quality. Whereas the 2nd place was not so renovated, so she'd have to spend more on renovating.

After a night of traisping around, my head was bombarded with information and many stuff that one needs to know when buying a house.

Ugh.

I am no good with such things.

But I'd love to buy a place of my own when I reach 35 years old. So I am saving money towards that goal. And, I would be able to rear my beloved animal - cats!!!!! I will build many shelves for my books. Those two are very essential.

Light my path
8:44:00 am

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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Obsessive.
Fanatical.
Fixated.
Infatuated.
Absorbed.
Hooked.
Enraptured.
Captivated.
Enchanted.
Enthralled.
Mesmerized.
Fascinated.
Enticed.

I am all that and more. All simply because of this one person. Maybe I should add 'crazy' to the list above. No one is worth this pining over.

Light my path
8:27:00 am

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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Friday, 7 March 2008

I won't look, I told myself fiercely
That I won't look.

I won't look into the faces of nameless strangers
Pushing past me, for a trace of your figure.
I won't turn around,
Every time some one comes into the room.
Hoping that it might be you.
I won't search for your ever familiar voice,
In an ocean of dissonance.
I won't wait till the wee hours,
Till the sun sets and the moon sinks low.
With expectancy and longing,
That you will show up this very second.

You are gone, forever out of my reach.
Perhaps this is what you wanted:
Far away from me.
If you are feeling glad and all that,
I am satisfied too.

Though, the thought of you
Choosing that compared to being by my side,
Hurts my heart beyond all belief.

Light my path
6:36:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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Thursday, 6 March 2008

It is freaking cold in here.

I am in a blouse and pants and my ass is freezing.

Not literally.

But I suppose you do get my point, right? You'd have to be a dimwit if you don't.

After that caustic sentence, I gather that my audience will know that the author is in a sarcastic mood.

Yup!

Yours truly is in a fine mood and a tip-top condition to spar and scar with words. Intellectual sparring of words. What a fine hobby.

I am frozen.

On a side note, I will be going down to Uni SIM this Saturday, for their Open House talks. I will be there from 1400-1600 for two of their talks. They seem to be replacing the degree that they took out with a BA in Communication. It seems like my cup of tea.

I am rather keen on it.

But, insecurity rears its ugly head..

I am afraid that I am not competent enough, that I am not as good as I thought in writing. Everyone can write. But not many can write.

Haiz.

I am in such a dilemma.

Such a lovely situation.

Light my path
2:12:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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Tuesday, 4 March 2008

Today, I saw you,
Just when I least expected it.
It was so wonderful, so thrilling.
That I try not to mind that
You didn't seem to be happy seeing me.

Today, I saw you,
When I least expected it.
I was so drunk with gladness.
That though it was so brief,
I was contented.

Today, I saw you,
When I least expected it.
I was so relieved as I had thought
That you've already gone away.
Though I secretly wished you could have stayed forever.

Light my path
10:10:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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Wrapped and embraced in darkness,
I curled into myself, waiting.
With sharp eyes, quick to catch any hint of light.
Ears straining to hear the faintest trace of footballs
And nostrils flared to sense the perfume of your cologne.

There are no creaky noises
Nor any howling of the cold biting winds.
No unbearable horrors of the darkness.
There is nothing at all.
Only deathly silence and absolute nothingness.

I don't want to be weak
I don't want to be a burden.
I want to search for a way out
To free myself.

But there are times when I am weak
And need you to save me.
So please, come and bring me out of this hell.
For I need you now.

Like Cinderella who had lost her glass slipper
I have lost my light, would you bring it to me?
(Would you be my light?)

Like Sleeping Beauty who needed a kiss
From the one who loves her.
Would you wake me up?
(Would you give me the kiss of life?)

Waiting. I am waiting,
In the darkness,
For your hands to reach in
And carry me off to the sunset.
Banishing all grief and fear.

I will wait.

Light my path
4:07:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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This is seriously funny. Got it from Yahoo..=p

Matthew McConaughey gives his best "Baywatch" hair flip.

Light my path
11:41:00 am

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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Monday, 3 March 2008

I did some thing stalker-ish last Friday.

Gosh.

*clutches head in abject shame*

I feel rather embarrassed. I can't face anyone, anymore!

Alright, alright.

I can hear the calls for me to cease and desist all that moaning.

I won't give the details, But I will give you the run-down, fair enough?

I went onto Friendster, taking care not to log in (so that he would not know that I am looking for him) and started a search for some one. After sifting through the selection, I finally found him.

Yep.

But I wasn't 100% sure, as the picture showed his back. But with several facts combined, I am 98% sure that it is him. That is a conclusion drawn after spending quite a chunk of my time poring over that one and only picture of him.

Eh....

Let's take a vote, am I being a stalker?

Gosh, I really hope not. It is out of pure intentions and harmless motives, that I went searching for him.

So!!

I am not a stalker, right?? I do not have stalker instincts, correct?

Say 'YES'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good boy / girl!=)

*Desperate & maniacal smile*

I am so obsessed. And in so deep.

Haiz..

Light my path
3:45:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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Sunday, 2 March 2008

It's time to begin again

That means it's time to fall apart

It's time to be strong again

That means it's time to break my heart

- Anonymous

Light my path
10:52:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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If I just wish hard enough

Will my desires come true?

If I just hope hard enough

Will I be able to find you?

- Anonymous

Light my path
10:46:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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Saturday, 1 March 2008

“We believe that we were made for somebody—we were destined to love and be loved by that someone but sometimes we overlook that we have our own resolve and hearts to decide on our life and not the fate we deem in.”

- http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3775156/24/Hamlet_and_Juliet

Light my path
10:54:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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There's much to do with hate,
But more to love...

My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late...

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3775156/1/Hamlet_and_Juliet

Light my path
3:43:00 pm

youdrovemydarknessaway`-//*

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