I made a small donation to the This American Life podcast and Wikipedia today. Both of these web services make such a big difference to my life and yet they remain free to everyone. That is pretty amazing. You might consider donating to wiki and have your name on the wikipedia donor list alongside thousands(possibly a lot more) of people from all over the world. That list really demonstrates the power of the web as a platform that brings people and their resources together for something truly great.
To subscribe to This American Life on iTunes, click here.
I stumbled upon Mary Pols' blog the other day. She is a blogger, journalist and author of "Accidentally on Purpose: True Tale of a Happy Single Mother". In a post comparing blogging and writing for magazines, she said how the latter forces to write better, because she's writing for an editor. A good editor will improve her "game" like a good tennis opponent does. On another self-loathing day, I might expand this into a self-criticism about not writing and improving my game instead of hating my work. But this is not the day.
I'm now reeking of alcohol and tired. Post-gym dinners with Bern and Steph are always nice chatting sessions about life and work. Today's a little awkward because B had been having a lousy day. Luckily, some thrash-talk and a little alcohol lightened the mood and he was laughing again.
We talked a little about the fresh troops Obama will be pouring into Afghanistan. "Nothing has changed, right?" Steph was disappointed because he thought Obama would be a peacenik and end the war.
"It's the same strategy again." Personally, I feel the Americans are doing a thankless but vital job in maintaining peace in the Middle East. And I share the sympathy Tony Blankley expressed on radio recently for those statesmen who are making difficult decisions that have no consensus between the hawks and doves while trying to keep the warring factions from bombing the world out of existence. Good luck, Mr Obama, I hope you accomplish everything they give you the Nobel Prize for.
Blogging is lazy. Holiday planning is mind-boggling. Finally booked a nice Tudor-styled hotel in Cameron Highlands for my family vacation-our first! Usually I like serendipity and adventure, but I this time I'm putting in the effort so my parents don't get lost with me in Malaysia. I think I will enjoy a slow, relaxed holiday on the cool highlands with hot tea. :)
Let's end this nonsensical post with Green Day's "time of your life". Oh I can't wait for their concert here in Singapore!
Just uploaded a couple of photos from my Lumix onto flickr - no shot in particular that I like, but well...
This exhibit called The Mice Wedding was pretty cool. It was a depiction of the final scene from this folk story about how a mice couple who wanted to marry their daughter to the Sun they thought was the biggest stud in town. The daughter, of course, had already a lover. Luckily for her, the Sun said he wasn't the most powerful person as the Cloud make him disappear. The Cloud said the same about himself and pointed to the Wind, which did likewise and pointed to the Wall. Finally the Wall said it's not the most powerful because mice can make holes in it. The parents realised their folly and married their daughter to her sweetheart. Aww.. As do most parables, this one has plenty of meanings you can draw from yourself.
A separate point, I watched The Informant today and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The comedy drama has the usual sardonic black humour expected from director Steven Soderbergh, and Matt Damon was very funny as the incorrigible liar who helped the FBI expose an international price fixing crime.
Hey History Nuts, don't miss this exhibition! The theme of modernity is familiar - see how Mexican artists dealt with tumultuous changes in their country from the 1900s to the 1950s. Though I don't think I saw anything as dramatic as Picasso's La Guernica, there were definitely similar 'modern' sensibilities present at this dark and thought-provoking show. On second thought, maybe the piece showing pierced arms and mutilated bodies - a scathing critique of the Spanish conquistadors (I didn't note down the art's name) - does come close to Picasso's vision of maimed horses. I also think the addition of a mini Philippines 'modernity' gallery was a nice touch - a conscious effort by the curator to conjoin the two countries' shared experiences?
Will definitely go back again with my camera.. haha.. The one that really caught my eye was Raul Anguiano's 'The Thorn' - the lithograph above showing a sagely Mayan removing a thorn from her foot. Look at that cool poise, ya?
It is a few minutes past nine and I just reached the office. I love the golden sunshine that floods the space outside the museum at this time of the day. Everything feels so alive and colourful, it's as though the day holds so much wonderful possibilities ahead. Would love it even more if the sun wasn't so scorching hot.
