YEs, the exams are finally over. And this photo by Rabbit on Rabbit really cracks me up =3 L0L'ling~!
I am sure most of you have heard this song by now... "Love Lockdown" by Kanye West... and no.. I am not going to comment on the lyrical meaning of the song... I believe it is quite obvious... and he has even commented that its a symbol of going "where your heart takes you"...
Well, that aside, take a listen at the song once again with the video...
Lots of people have slammed Kanye regarding this song... since it is not a typical rap and uses the auto-tuner... and that it does not fit with his lyrical style and wit... well... here I am to defend the song...
1) The auto-tuner is just his shift towards the electronica style.. this shift is already seen in his previous hit "Stronger"...
2) Although this song is not a rap... and now really an interesting array or play with words... it is still quite a tight piece...
a) Sing along to the song. You will realise that most phrases are paced at 4-5 words, and each standing as an independent sentence. And that the phonics follow a monotonous beat.
b) If you sing along, you will also notice that it is quite a "downer" song. This is due to the clever use of subconscious "sighing". Each sentence in the verses ends with a word that requires your mouth to form an "O" and breathe out air when pronouncing it. This is the exact same motion as a sigh.
c)Only the chorus breaks from that trend, with the words "Keep", "Lock", "Down", which are sharp short words that can't really be stretched. This combined with the upbeat drumming, changes the mood. Adds to the meaning of the lyrics, that it has to end.
3) Finally the video uses some clever techniques to bring the mood.
a) Interesting use of white and being minimalistic in the setting to focus on the singer (it is really a nice colour for him, like his glasses in "Stronger") and create that sense of detachment.
b) Nice use of tribes to contrast. How on the surface one can look calm and peaceful, yet underneath it all.. there is such a struggle.. like the tribes at war. Love how it also ties in that despite how the modern man has evolved, there are some things like emotions that remain raw and very similar to that of our tribal forefathers. That underneath it all, that primal instinct still exists.
c) Interesting that almost most of the tribal dancers/warriors are men. And the only 2 main females dancing around... are depicted as larger and towering/untouchables. Even more interesting is that the females are body-painted with Nazca Lines and together with the spaceships... give that feel of another world. Like with aliens... we sometimes wish that we can understand them and co-inhabit.. but chances are... we are better off alone.. away from each other... ties in with the theme of the song.
d) I love how the song starts and ends with a soft drum beat. Much like the song "Teardrops" by Massive Attack (Many might know this as the House MD theme song). Yes, it is a catchy tune, but it is also very similar to the human heart-beat... and when you take it together with the final scene, where he curls up into the fetal position... it really resembles a scene of a fetus in the mother's womb... one of the most protective areas in the world... and a symbol of protecting yourself from the rest of the world.
Just love this installation by Why not Associates, a british graphic company. Installed in the Brunel Academy in Bristol, this wall expressed the pupil's wishes as inscribed into pieces of marble.
A classy touch to an old idea. But still very inspiring. Love the minimalistic touch, letting the words speak for themselves.
Somehow, I just love these walls... like how I wanna visit the wall of Jerusalem one day... its like... when you strip it all down to the bare minimum.. to the raw hopes and dreams... you will find how alike we all actually are.
Before I start, here is a disclaimer... the following article has no scientific backing and is purely speculated on observations... any resemblance dead or alive.. is purely coincidental...
Now, onto the topic..
Was sitting around in the fast-food restaurant the other day.. day-dreaming.. when I noticed this phenomenon... to most of us.. it is such a common act.. that it might be overlooked... and it got me thinking... indeed.. in a food court.. or a fast-food restaurant... the tray might be the most contaminated thing we would normally come in contact with...
First up... a look at the anatomies of the tray and the bin.... note that the wings of the tray are where you normally hold the tray... and the sheet.. is only available at higher class food courts and fast-food outlets where there is a paper sheet given on top of the tray surface.
So, where does the contamination occur? The tray looks clean when we take it... yes.. the contamination occurs at the last action before leaving the place... the disposal of the waste... shown below are the various means of disposing your leftovers/refuse from the tray as observed...
Personally the "Banger" would be the most irritating movement due to the commotion made.. wand both the "High tilter" and "Banger" might actually spill more refuse out of the bin if done incorrectly...
Based on observation of the techniques used... and assuming that the trays came in contact with the inner ledge of the bin... we speculate the amount of contamination that might have occured...
It should be noted that although the "High Tilter" and "Banger" might be disturbing and require precision... they might actually have the least contact with the ledge.. thus minimizing contamination...
So you might say... but the cleaners do wipe the trays clean... indeed... they do wipe the top of the tray clean... but what about the bottom.. that is in contact with the ledge of the bin? These "cleaned" trays would be stacked one on top of the other... and the nice contaminated bottom of tray 1 will come in contact with the "cleaned" top of tray 2.....
And afterall.. the "cleaned" trays are once again stacked back on top of the bin... smart move yeah?
And a final note... what about trays that have sheets of paper of them.. don't they at least help? Yes... they do help.. but only if the sheets are placed freshly when the trays are served to you... if the sheets are placed and stored together with the tray.. to save time... it wouldn't really help....
So~ I highly doubt that most fast-food restaurants or food courts actually wash their trays regularly throughout the day.. maybe a wipe of the top surface to remove spills and thats it... I do know that some wash the trays at the end of the day... but hey... how many times those trays have been recycled throughout the day?
Thus, it should be noted... that unlike the utensils and bowls/plates that can be washed frequently and the table that does not come into contact with the bin... caution should be observed when handling the tray... and even with the sheet on... you should confine the area of use to the sheet.. and not the exposed tray...
It so happened that today... we had a business group together with the Bioscience group in the exam hall... so while the invigilators were tallying and collecting the papers and all.. I took a look around and thought to myself... guess it is a real waste that Bioscience girls... and guys (to be fair).. don't really dress up... okay... maybe it is exams.. but on a daily basis.. most just come in t-shirts or polo-ts.. not really eye-catching...
I guess when the girls go out to work.. or get boyfriends.. gradually they will dress for the better... and I guess it got me thinking... you see...
It takes a nerdy girl.
To be a nerd teen.
To eventually become a hot doctor.
Since hot doctors are things of fantasy... I guess.. if the equation is right... it is just taking too darn long a process... crumbs... maybe the eye candys will come in another 10 years time... *grumbles*
Human Beat-boxer from Belgium. Love his techno and house remixes. Really a level up from the common beat-boxing. Looks alittle thin though.. but hey.. guess all geniuses are different in their own ways =x
Looks like Harry Potter on close-up =3 Love that he is enjoying his stuff on and off the crowd.
Alrighty~ Still in the exams... booo =( ... But hey, it also means the end of the year is also here, and a number of peeps on my side seems to be having their weddings in these 2 months...
Was looking around during my spare time, and came across these short tutorials by Ford Models hairstylist - Johnny Lavoy... I am not sure how practical they are (is it that easy when you do it on your own?) or if they are suited for asian hair.. but hey... never hurts to learn more i guess =x enjoy ^_^x
Turn a Long-layered Hair, into a short Bob without cutting.
Evening Look.
Curls.
Playing around with the traditional pony-tail. Really love the hairband here.
More elegant look. Braiding with a ribbon.
Two papers down. 4 more to go. At least there is the weekend =x Finished with my "Understanding China" elective, so yeah... a relief =x Was never really good with History...
Came across this great webby it's called Obey the Pure Breed and as you can guess.. its a webby on animals.. got to say that I really love their prints, especially that of Chairman Meow... Really rad stuff =3 might get myself one if I see one in Singapore ^_^x
I don't know if anyone remembers... but I do have fond memories of the McSpicy Double... How we used to have it after camps.. and how Edwin eats the patties separately...
But one day.. suddenly.. maybe the rising price of chickens with the bird flu... but MacDonalds decides that McSpicy Single was more attractive... 
Though they still claimed that their single patty was as thick as the double patties combined...
And now.. out of the blue.. ZOMG.. what do I see? It's the MEGA McSpicy.. and it has double the patties as the normal McSpicy!! What a fresh new idea! I bet you never saw that coming...
Does this mean that the added cost we are paying now.. is due to the fact that we have not one.. not two.. but supposedly 4 patties? (since each patty is suppose to be doubly thick) ZOMG!! What a steal!! (insert other enthusiastic statements here)
zzz... I am lost... what is MacDonalds trying to say... which is supposedly better? Single or Double?
This is so Whoa. Literally.
Lovely photographs from Benjamim Daniel.. Most interesting fact is that he is a photography lover, rather than a professional... Do visit his webby for more great shots! Really inspiring ^_^x
Yes, another song. Particularly like this for the lyrics rather than the video... Its one of those songs.. that really speaks for you.. when you are at the end of an argument.. you are tired.. you wish.. that you could.. you know that things will change.. but love remains the same...
And the video does just that... in a guy's perspective.. when this things happen.. normally you rarely have people to speak to.. and you just try to find solace in solitude.. and despite the various calming activities he tries to perform.. that tinge of frustration.. of incompleteness shows through..
really like how the video shows that humane side without being totally vulnerable and bawling all over.. makes it so much more realistic and relatable.
Half the time the world is ending.
Truth is I am done pretending.
I never thought that I,
Had anymore to give.
Pushing me so far,
Here I am without you.
The new single and music video by Taylor Swift, Love Story. The lyrics and the video of the song is basically based around Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet"
Personally, I have always felt that R&J has been one of Shakespeare's most cruel ironies... the mocking of the concept of love... and playing out the tragedy in more ways than one... I never really agreed that R&J was a love story to begin with...
So, personally I was quite turned off when I noticed that the song was based around R&J. But listening to it a second time.. that's when the song caught my attention and I am thoroughly impressed.
In R&J, Juliet is nearly 14.. and Romeo is only slightly older than her... and although it has been said that folks married really young at that time... the play mocks the youth's understanding of love.. the haste.. and the running away... trying to take fate into their own hands... this is emphasized in the song... the first and last line...
"We were both young when I first saw you"...
In this song... Juliet is portrayed as the impatient one... upon finding her true love... wanting to be with him despite the parent's disapproval.. and even wanting to elope with him... which is a good interpretation of a 14 year old, immature Juliet...
"Romeo, take me somewhere we can be alone. I'll be waiting, all there's left to do is run."
The great part of the song.. is the final verse... and it really impressed me... If someone was to rewrite the play R&J.. and make an appropriate alternative ending.. this would be it... despite being highly unlikely... given the stubbornness of the Lord Capulet and the young Romeo.. but being older than Juliet.. the happy ending, would be one in which he makes the mature choice... which.. unlike eloping.. will make everyone happy...
"Marry me, Juliet - you'll never have to be alone.
I love you and that's all I really know.
I talked to your dad - go pick out a white dress;
It's a love story - baby just say 'Yes.'"
Might I also add that I think the her MTVs and dresses are really hot... maybe I just miss the Victorian age.. love the guy's clothes too... the baggy shirt.. and the lovely classy dance... *dreamy* aww....
I have always felt that photography is about capturing that perfect moment.. when a person shows their true self, a hint of humanity, that glow... such that... I have believed that photos shouldn't really be photoshopped to enhance their raw look and value...
However, seeing these shots from Jen Gotch has given me a new look at the whole issue... her collection "Defaced" is a series of Polaroid photos taken and having the thoughts of that moment, penned down on it... and I don't mean around it, or in the empty spaces, but just directly spanning on the photo..
A simple idea, yet really brings a new meaning to these photos... suddenly they connect at a totally different level to the viewer... like a peepshow to the life of the photographer at an emotional level.. you know.. maybe this holidays... I will try this idea out... something like shera's wall photos.. but maybe with this added twist to it =3 and yeah.. I really gotta improve on my handwriting first =P
Alrighty... so in case you still do not know about it.. Obama is the new US President... Only time will tell if there will be change... but at the moment.. lets look at the journey thus far, and hope for the best...
Well at least there is some competition at the votes... you never really know what happens behind the curtains at these polls =x
Whenever it is near the exams, I guess I get emo, and alittle different... maybe a a need to be by myself.. maybe a want to be a perfectionist.. maybe a want to push myself to the limit...
At these times.. I am just reminded of the anime Samurai X for many reasons. Must say that I really love the fight scenes... much thought into it.. not really your modern day anime with super powers and all.. but more of the raw techniques and sword plays... great action.. and an even more interesting soap opera drama behind it.. if you have not caught it.. do catch it.
"Yeah I know that everyone gets scared...
But I've become what I can't be..."
Some time back.. Nick went for a tattoo..
and I've been thinking... there has been a recent increase in tattoos amongst Singaporeans... for guys.. everywhere is alright... mostly the shoulders, arms, upper back or ears... personally for me.. if in future.. I ever come across a phrase or point in life that meant so much to me.. I would get one like this... yeah.. I prefer the minimalistic look of it =P
For girls on the other hand... I find tattoos on the lower back or around the boobs really attractive... that peek-a-boo kindda effect... especially the lower back.. since it is what the guy would spend most time seeing, coming from behind =3
well.. the great old google never fails to amaze me =x here are some interesting designs that I came across on my random search =3
Butterflies were most common...
Some cuter than others...
Some only showed in swimwear and less...
Tribal looked abit boring...
Oriental was quite woah~
Some reminded guys of the fairy tale princess she wishes to be...
Others reminded them of the big game that they were missing...
Or the WoW raids he should be doing...
Finally, some even want you to literally read off her a$$ and remember why you loved her while you are at it....
Then again... sometimes, maybe a tattoo ain't all that you can have on your lower back =x