Debate

Watched The Arena yesterday and was pretty impressed by the various debaters. If I recalled quite carefully, the two schools were Nanyang Girls and RI. Was actually rooting for Nanyang but felt that RI probably deserved to win mainly because they set up devious traps which the girls fell into. (My opinion so please note that) Still, the highlight of the debate was the last speaker. Nanyang's last speaker and RI's last speaker displayed distinctive styles in their debate. While Nanyang was full of information and rushing to give their argument a firm structure, I could hardly understand what she was talking about. My parents like to say I merge two words into one so they don't understand, she was probably combining 3 words or more into one. I must say I'm very impressed the judges could understand her at all. The RI speaker used a very calm and measured tone to bring his point across, sacrificing content for clarity. If I could choose which style I like more, the Rafflesian will get the nod. He's what I thought a debater should be like despite his occasional stumble over words. The result wasn't what I would like to be but hey, the best team won!
Till next time then, remember to speak clearly and bring your point across!

Charity

Charity begins at home. That's what some people may say. If you are not willing to spend for the family, why should you use this money for others? In a way, the statement is not wrong. Family comes first. Blood is thicker than water as the Chinese like to say. However, it is also good to share the wealth as long as it is within the person's ability. Helping others is a joy. You may not see the immediate benefits as they are intangible but they are present nonetheless. The people who you have helped will not forget your act of kindness though they may not know who you are.

Then we have the various charity shows that are shown on television. Various local celebrities risk injury in order for more donations to be made. Prizes are dangled as carrots so that donations can increase with some people hoping to 'invest' their money. Questions have been raised on what is the true meaning of charity. Philantrophists will tell you that the heart has to be in it before the donations can mean anything. It is the willingness and the sincerity of the doners that really bring about the spirit of charity. There is no need to go to such great lengths in order to garner more money for charity. In fact, even if no money is involved, helping out in homes, hospices and orphanages is a good form of charity work. In fact, I feel many people have forgotten what it means to give and how good it feels to do so.
Till next time, remember helping others is a good deed and good karma is never enough. ;)

American Idol Season 7

The results are out and David Cook is the winner. The other David wasn't bad, though he probably more suited for slow ballads. Felt Cook had the greater potential as his husky voice means he is suited to sing rock and if needed soul music. I realise that these people have a special quality which is hard to describe. It has to do with their voice. Their voice is very different from the masses with a certain lyrical musicality if there is such a term. I can only say I'm green with envy. Don't think I can even come close to them in terms of singing though I would like to do so very much. I do love to sing but am confined to bathroom singing. Sigh. These people have something called talent which unfortunately for me, I am found wanting. Still, it ain't difficult to appreciate these people for music is special. Listening to the right music at the right time is a source of pleasure. Without these people, there will be no music and no enjoyment. Kudos to David Cook! Well done! And to all the previous idols too! I certainly hope that the pool of talent continue to grow even if I do have my selfish reasons hehe.

Acts of God

Hurricane Katrina was very real, the damage wide-spread. The effects are still felt today. Cue the Bali tsunami. A torrent of water so tall and so menacing, capable of taking lives in an instant and claim it did. With no disregard to the economic impact, the human impact was by far the most devastating. These are all recent history and I must say there have always been natural disasters since the day the Earth was created.

Time flies but it never forgets. The recent earthquake in Sichuan, China not only shook the ground, but also triggered a vortex of anguish and helplessness. Many lives were snuffed out in an instant while countless lie in hospitals all over China. The state flag was at half-mast representing a nation in mourning. Questions no doubt run through people's minds. Why did this happen? Why did it have to happen now? Why did it happen to us? Unfortunately, there is no answer to that. If there was a simple answer to give, it would be that it was an act of God. Nature can be giving, yet in the whole cycle of life, humans are insignificant in the face of Mother Gaia. So what can we do?

There are things we can do. Sending aid is just one of them. Many have lost their homes, their livelihood and loved ones. Necessities can be taken care of at least as much as possible but no one can replace human life. Mourn for them, but never give up. They would want their loved ones to be strong and live on. It isn't easy but on one ever said it was. Know that they would be there looking out for you so carry on and live your lives to the fullest. Pretty words they may be, but there is some logic in this.

Until next time, may peace be with those who have lost loved ones in the earthquake.

Animania (Anime Mania)

Don't think there's such a word of course. I do so adore animes. Not sure what is/are the reason(s) but the characters and how they are portrayed do appeal to me. Often with big doe eyes, colourful hair and flawless beauty, they are so unbelievable that they strike a chord. That most animes do have a credible storyline helps in many ways. In Japan, anime has reached an unprecedented high and has achieved cult status. There are even people who indulge in cosplay (costume play) just to make them feel closer to the anime characters. Truth be told, some of them do look like the characters they are trying to imitate. Although Japan is seemingly the place to look to for anime, there are some people who feel Korea might have something to say about it.
Anyway, animes are usually derived from manga, another product of Japan. Without manga, there's no anime simple as that. I personally have read some manga and I must say they are pretty interesting. Back to animes, I have lost count on the number of animes I have watched already. While some can wind up like soap operas (see Desparate Housewives) with countless episodes, most are actually pretty manageable, around 26 to 50 episodes per season. The range of genres are also astounding, comparable to books! Romance, mystery, comedy, action, fantasy, school life...the list goes on and on. What I'm trying to say is that if you do have some time, try watching some of them. You may actually like them even though they are in their native language. (Japanese but with subtitles) Just contact me if you want any recommendations!
Till next time, ciao!

Books

A source of knowledge. A source of inspiration. A source of pleasure. Books are all this and more. Many a times when boredom attempted to overwhelm, books became the sight for sore eyes. We read books for a variety of reasons, one of which is because there are writers writing them. Though this may sound a little weird, it isn't so if you think a little more. It is actually the writers, with their creativity, knowledge and finesse that allows books to take on a deeper meaning, that makes them come alive. In my limited experience, it is not easy to become a writer. A writer is tasked to convey certain meanings and facts to the reader in the mere form of words. It is a profession worthy of praise as books are known to take quite some time in order to be published. But enough about the writers. The topic after all is books. I love books. They can come in different packages: paperback, hardcover or pocketbooks just to name a few. Different genres too like romance, fantasy, thrillers, mystery and short stories. Much like my love for music, I also read quite widely at least in terms of the different genres. For me, books are like a timely oasis before I reach dehydration. The silver lining after a torrential rain. They do not provide any pressure, just a promise of company when loneliness threaten to creep in. It's fun to read books and I highly recommend my friends to read. Because you never know where books can really take us unless we flip the first page!

Contact tracing

I'm in the midst of contact tracing. So if possible msn me ur blog addresses if you want them linked. Amidst the changes, peace will reign. (Hopefully !)

I Have Moved

No longer at Journalhome! :)