*adapted from Whose Line*

People who you don’t want to raise money for:
A: Hello. Welcome back to our six of the Professional Basketball player’s Telethon…
B: That’s right! We’ve been up for sixth straight hours!
A: Let’s just go and check the TelBoard. 386 million dollars, ladies and gentlemen, how can they live on that?
B: Come on!
A: I see two phones that are not busy right now. Let’s get those phones ringing. Let’s let a man eat a decent meal.
B: Get a five-star restaurant, preferably a casino with lots of showgirls; because they entertain you, they need entertainment. People! Come on!
A: *name*, a little fact here, I’m not sure. Do you know what it costs to make one sized-18 shoe?
B: No, no I don’t kno..
A: 350 dollars, that’s for ONE SHOE, ladies and gentlemen, ONE SHOE.
B: One shoe!
A: Most of these players wear two. Help them out! Get them a chance. Give them a chance in life.
B: Come on! Rodman needs more tattoos! You were a professional basketball player, weren’t you?
A: I was, for about a week. I could not make a living out of what they paid. I had to get out of it and a lot of them are stuck in their job.
B: That’s right.
A: They have families to feed. Some of them – some of these guys – have three or four wives, and they aren’t cheap!
B: That’s right. People, we aren’t the only ones worried.
A: We’re not.
B: We have assembled a great group of talented individuals…
A: I don’t know. We got a lot of them all over the place…
B: It’s amazing, and they’re here to sing a song that speaks out to each and every one of you.
A: *whispers* let’s get those phones ready!
B: Let’s bring out their talents, right now. Please a big hand!!

I was like, "whuttt??" when i first heard it. Simply love this title when normal people can't hear the lyrics just by listening to the song.

All About You by Kaci Brown

Keys in my hand
The car's parked outside
This has turned into one hell of a night
I can't believe that after all the things that we've been through
You try to blame me for all the things I didn't do
All the things I didn't do

Last time you promised
That you would change
Give me everything you had to give and now you can't
I'm going for a drive
Gonna be just fine
I don't know why you care anyway

When it's all about you
I'm always wrong
Forget what I said
Don't you get that I'm gone
Now you're alone
I like it like that
Know what you want and I don't want you back
It's all about you
It's all I could take
And I hope that you're happy this way
It's all about you

This simple life and empty home
No need to bargain, I can make it on my own
No more all night fighting
No more falling tears
No more late night crying
Wishing you were here
Still you call me everyday
With nothing new to say
Don't know why you care anyway

When it's all about you
I'm always wrong
Forget what I said
Don't you get that I'm gone
Now you're alone
I like it like that
Know what you want and I don't want you back
It's all about you
It's all I could take
And I hope that you're happy this way
It's all about you

Never cared about anybody but you babe
Thought I'd never fall in love again and feel this way
So never say how you're still
Breaking my heart

'Cuz it's all about you
Yeah, yeah
(All about you)
(All about you)

When it's all about you
I'm always wrong
Forget what I said
Don't you get that I'm gone
Now you're alone
I like it like that
Know what you want and I don't want you back
It's all about you
It's all I could take
And I hope that you're happy this way
It's all about you

When it's all about you
I'm always wrong (I'm gone)
Forget what I said (I'm gone)
Don't you get that I'm gone (I said I'm gone)
Now you're alone (I'm gone)
I like it like that
Know what you want and I don't want you back
It's all about you
It's all I could take
And I hope that you're happy this way
It's all about you

I'm gone,
I'm gone,
I said, I'm gone
I'm gone

I first heard of this singer from a friend who introduced me to this kind of music, but no time. STUDY. BYE

Look at the date now, it's 22nd April; the final day of Wicked showing in Singapore.

Now look at me, for the countless moments when I would admire every single song style and every lyric in each character, sing those songs with such zeal and flamboyance in every different cast of the song, going crazy last semester when I chance upon this banner during the tough homework-doing sessions and asking people to go with, I'm still back at where I was.

Perhaps I'm expecting a backlash after this post, but this has to come out.

I used to love the defying gravity song when it had so much dramatic effects with the lines and lyrics and crazy pitches. Then when Glee sang it with Kurt and Rachel characters I loved it even more, believing that this song isn't as untouchable as I thought.

Then came dancing through life, where it reflects so much on our daily lives when rigid systems are restricting us on what we do. There the song displayed so much energy and life in it that freed me in my thoughts and actions. In particular, the part in which Nessa spoke and I absolutely loved the voice. It was especially when her confidence struck me.

So, I bothered asking people. In fact, I could only ask people who have not been there and similar interest in the genre. I was down to two and felt awkward to go the HappyTree Friends kind, so I solely focused on one friend. Responses were "I want to go", but when I check in again, it became "hmm but I have projects". Fine, busy, but a week later, can you go? "I let you know again?" Usually I would have responded immediately saying that that meant no, but I had so much trust that I believed those words. I mean, it's fine if you do not wish to go, or you can't, SAY, please. Those questions are not as hard as one thinks. They are merely yes-no questions, and hearing a "no" is something I'm always prepared to hear, yet, NO, it goes "it's not a no, but neither is it a yes now". I ended up give up asking on that question, with saving the friendship in mind.

As I said, at the expense of the crazy desire to watch Wicked live anywhere in the nearest place, I chose to believe in my friend and just when I stare the clock ticking down before the cast leaves the little red dot. Regrets. Absolute regrets, especially when things could have been so much different in result. Yes, our friendship is worth a lot, but will one ever know how much the owner of the typist here loves the theatre? Musical in particular? No. But it's alright, by the time anyone reads this, it would have been sold out or months would have flown by. Lastly, the decision to trust someone has a hefty price to pay, and that the hurt stays when there is anything to do with you or the show. It wasn't your fault, I simply made a wrong choice. Just saying.

This song is by Kaci Brown, simply love her groove, but how I came to know her style will be covered another day.

I wish you didnt love me
I wish you'd make this easy
It was love that caught me
Now it's fear that keeps me with you
I want to be by your side
So I can close my eyes
To the growing emptiness inside that kills me
When I'm with you
You try to break me Try to hate me
So you can fall out of love
You want to make me believe that I'm crazy
That I'm nothing with out you

It's unbelievable but I believed you
Unforgivable but I forgave you
Insane what love can do
That keeps me coming back to you
You're irreplaceable but I'll replace you
Now I'm standing on my own
Alone

I feel you in my shadow
My heart feels cold and hollow
No matter where I run I see
Your eyes always follow me
You try to hold me
Try to own me
Keeping something that's not yours
You want to make me
Believe that I'm crazy
Make me think that you're the cure

It's unbelievable but I believed you
Unforgivable but I forgave you
Insane what love can do
That keeps me coming back to you
You're irreplaceable but I'll replace you
Now I'm standing on my own
Alone

You're still haunting me
In my sleep
You're all I see
But I can't go back
Cause I know it's wrong
For us to go on
And I'm growing strong
To confront my fears

It's unbelievable but I believed you
Unforgivable but I forgave you
Insane what love can do
That keeps me coming back to you
You're irreplaceable but I'll replace you
Now I'm standing on my own
Alone

Picture from www.yoursingapore.com

Will I See My Pet in Heaven?

by Friar Jack Wintz, OFM

The title of this E-spiration is also the title of a children’s edition of a book I wrote recently dealing with the question of whether we will see our pets again in the next life. In my experience, children are more ready than most adults to accept the hints and clues we find in the Bible or in the life of St. Francis of Assisi. And I think these clues encourage our children to believe that someday they will see their pets again in heaven.

A Clue from the Garden of Eden
Children can easily understand, for example, that there were lots of animals and birds that were happy with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden—before our first parents ate that forbidden fruit. Now, if these animals were happy with God in that original paradise, why would they not also be happy with him in the paradise that is yet to come?

The Story of Noah and the Ark
When children hear the story of Noah and the ark, they clearly understand that God wanted to save not only human beings in the ark, but the animals as well. God told Noah to bring not only his family into the ark, but a male and female of every non-human creature as well. In this way, God very carefully made sure that all animals would also be saved—and that these animals would not become extinct.

St. Francis and His Canticle of the Creatures
We can also tell our children that St. Francis wanted all the earth’s creatures to praise God—not simply the human beings. In his canticle, he called the various creatures “brothers” and “sisters, indicating that we are all members of one big family. In this very condensed version of the song, Francis proclaims:

All praise be yours, my Lord, through all that you have made,
And first my lord, Brother Sun, who brings the day. . . .
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Moon and Stars. . . .
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brothers Wind and Air. . . .
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Water,
so useful, lowly, precious and pure.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Brother Fire,
through whom you brighten up the night.
All praise be yours, my Lord, through Sister Earth, our mother
who. . .produces various fruits and colored flowers. . . .
Praise and bless my Lord, and give him thanks,
And serve him with great humility.

Would it not seem strange if this Canticle, which invites our brother and sister creatures to praise God with us in this life, should not also invite the same creatures to praise God with us in heaven? Don’t you think St. Francis of Assisi would also want his Canticle to be sung loud and clear in heaven also?

Happily, there are many other clues in the Bible and in the life of St. Francis. And these clues give our children sparks of hope that they will someday see their pets in heaven!

Article from AmericanCatholic.org's email about "Friar Jack's E-spirations"
Picture from www.bissell.com

When a foreign student comes into your group in a group project, it calls for a celebration. After all, they are the so-called "foreign talents" that the government has been portraying about. Indeed, when I was told that I have two of them in the same project this time, I was ready to pop champagne bottles till the corks fly higher than the fireworks at New Year's Day.

In the midst of my imagination, a voice called out from afar. Wait. Look what your title is all about. Something soMething in Singapore. I rubbed my eyes and stare at the task again. YES, Singapore. Read closely, SINGAPORE.

There was a little surprise, these people can't help much - they are in a foreign land with knowledge of their hometown and the information about this place on tourism leaflets. How can they express it in the local context? That was when I said to myself, yes, you know that there are so much you can do and it's your chance to offer your advice for the project.

Ideas flowed like a running tap and discussions went well, until when submission deadlines came in. There is so much power struggle between the two of us lately. Before guessing what the other guy's intentions were, I will state my points first.

I never wanted to be a leader of the pack. To me, leader requires huge responsibility and I didn't believe I can be one. Yet, it appeared I became one. Why? The other two were just receptive to the ideas that flowed in and discussions felt more like a talk show to keep them entertained. Really, there was hardly any question asked. So I thought, maybe their culture doesn't encourage public speaking or individual sharing, or perhaps they are just afraid to speak up, which prompted me with "what do you think?" Replies took awhile as expected and some answers sounded odd. That made me reflect, were the questions too surprising? After awhile, I gave up guessing as other work has to be done.

During intermediate deadlines, he reminded everyone to prepare materials and injected unforeseen ideas, which were good. However, this sneaky little basket simply engage in mental-verbal wars by bombarding sms-es. Still, I followed my instincts that people are good. This is when I see the drafts done. First, the language is simply horrible and the way this, supposed to be put across in a formal tone, suddenly sounds like an embryo's talk. That was simply my opinion, but this is no proof whatsoever.

The revelations dawned on me when he literally uses his way of English words. What matters most is when we get the final product good. So let's see, I cut down repeated words and grammar issues and the meanings in the paper JUST DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.

So I tried questioning him about his idea. This diq explained well; just verbally. "Hello?! How can others what you mean if you don't pen it down on paper?? You expect them to read your mind as well? You're not writing to a pen-pal and the reader has NO interest in what your thoughts are. Just your penned ideas."

If one thinks this is harsh, keep reading. This exact situation happened for every draft I read from him. Sure, it's entertaining to read for its nonsensical fairy-airy words, but that's just because this way of writing is simply immature. Wait. I forgot he's a "foreign talent", which probably means he's still underaged to do many things. And this actually meant that alot of words coming out of his mouth are pure imaginations with little real-life context, let alone the context of Singapore.

With reference to that, I altered some words that fit and flow better as an essay with all his copies. Read carefully. HIS DRAFTS. That's how much respect I was giving him. Every single time I edited HIS copy and improved on it. But as always some ideas are retarded. After my final draft I sent him, I thought perhaps my thoughts of him could alter a little if he bothered questioning some controversial ideas I had. So I asked for a view of the paper. MY BLOOD BOILED. For the second time ever (out of three drafts), no questions whatsoever; he copied his exact same paragraphs of his with same grammatical errors, rigid flow of ideas and tongue-twister sentences. This moron disregarded ALL my ideas with an edit, and I have to repeat this. NO QUESTIONS ASKED.

I mean, if he's that good I'd gladly let him run everything as we work towards our A. From the looks of it, this effort seems more like a C grade paper for its immaturity.

So I confronted him and held him back for as long as I wanted before the submission. I scrutinised every part of his with the rest of the group. His main concerns were not really the content brought up, rather the length of the content with "the number of words is fine". Of course the blood steam was still running the engine so I whacked all his notions one-by-one when they simply didn't link to the topic itself. Another thing he was concerned about was his choice of words relative to mine. First, I know my English words used are to context, not just synonyms from Microsoft Word or Thesaurus, and when I used a word considered to be relatively new in the paper, he simply right-clicked that word for something he never saw before. Whoa-la! The meaning altered immediately and all the intensity put across DIED.

"Now that's over, the sun is shining brighter than ever." Or that's what I thought, this morning, this experience remains. With the writing part of the paper long gone, this painful journey mentally, emotionally and intellectually can only serve as a reminder that the rest of modules will be an uphill task when this grade is appears to be at rock-bottom.

I never like discrimination, but this struck me in terms of my sociology brain I was talking about. What are we really embracing about foreign talents? Their ability to perform like computers? Their ability to develop as one who can serve the society? Or their ability to get good grades? And as I said, with this module dying, I'll turn my mind onto something else where I can probably do better.

Hi.

Today feels liberated because I decided to pick up my courage and do things out of my comfort zone. I:
- bought cables for internet
- did some math revision
- wrote all my cards
- bought insect repellent for grocery auntie
- attempted going to rbr and read up on an EE textbook
- found a purpose in life

The only catch? All these were for "me". Guess what? I teased someone too much and learnt about being a bad friend to other people. That's when I read Bridget's video post and came across this, which tells me to sit down and pray before everything else. A good thing is that I'm letting that go, and God in. All those just pure talk mean nothing if you don't believe.

Everything in its time by Corrinne May
Sometimes I wonder what lies ahead
How long till my hunger is fed
They say it's hard to make it in this part of town
So many people on this merry-go-round

Some folks try astrology
Some turn to crystal balls
To find an answer,
To get through it all
I just fall on my knees and I try to pray
In the silence I can hear Him say

The river runs and the river hides
Out to the ocean and under the sky
I promise you, the answer will come
Hold on to patience and watch for the sign
Everything in its time

I often feel like I'm two steps behind
Somebody must have moved that finish line
There are a thousand reasons
Why I should give up
But I'm stubborn in the things I believe

The river runs and the river hides
Out to the ocean and under the sky
I promise you, the answer will come
Hold on to patience and watch for the sign

'cause maybe there's another plan
One I still can't see
A little surprise, like your love in my life
Funny how time changes how we see

The river runs and the river hides
Out to the ocean and under the sky
I promise you, the answer will come
Hold on to patience and watch for the sign
Everything in its time
Everything in its time

Alright.

Things just sucked for awhile and I would say it's rough, but after watching friends with benefits, I am really happy. The best part? I'm motivated that everyday should be happy and carefree and let things be spontaneous as they can be. Well of course, not letting irresponsible side take control of me!

And, dear me isn't bothered about foolish things as of NOW.

Bye

Good day

The fact that I'm typing this clearly shows how bad in shape I am. As of now, I just had my math paper. But that's not all of the problem, as what many believe to be.

Firstly, I am still recuperating from the homesickness I had from last week's trip to you-know-where. I miss my family and the chilly weather. I miss the times when I have ten meals a day and good-quality caffeine that keeps me going all the time. I miss my cousins, I miss the family gatherings. I MISS EVERYTHING. Yet, here I am, back in this island of heat and new-found pressure.

Secondly, lately I've this feeling of wanting to hide from the limelight. Too much of it since the production, to my disgust. Particularly, putting a false front to people around as this cheeky little bastard and how this character is really in me. In fact, I'm not, and to show it, this is the real me you're seeing. I avoid, I slouch, my chin's down while my eyeballs tilt upwards, I judge before I act, I think of ways to kill before it starts, just to name a few. Even the polite smile I put forth this week is so creepy that freaks me out.

Next, I've lost all sense of arguing. It was that bad that I resorted to thinking before speaking and by the time my gut voices out, the next topic had started. That's probably why I crashed in the sociology class on monday. Perhaps the tutor's email wasn't directly at me in person, but yeah, close enough. The agenda of it was, "speak up" in highlighted yellow.

I have lots of errands to do, but I figured that I should cool my body down. Still, the problem of thinking too much action is just like my phone - it gets fevers all the time because it just can't do that fast. Yes. I'm feeling the heat perpetually.

There was this anxiety that sending the car for servicing meant I had to suffer the lack of freedom during this week of papers. The worry remains. I feel restricted about me having to bump into people on my way to the cooler library since that's my only reason I would leave my room to study.

Of all the reasons above, nothing beats the knot inside for weeks. Problem? I can't find something sharp enough to dig deep to untie it. I saw it previously, but I guess it's just the wrong time. Yes, perhaps in future I'll find the hidden tool useful.

In this bag there lie some things. Things undone. Alright. Off I go.

Till then

as of now i find things saddening. those values taught are not practised.

number six says yadayada, yet people of varying ages are doing just the opposite. for old people perhaps their beliefs have been preset in such a way that new teachings cannot overcome what they know, but the problem lies in kids. all they pick up from social networks are words their parents or teachers prohibit them to use, and with this some view it as a challenge to use them as often as possible without getting scolding. others dont not use them frequently, but bombardment of such ideas from the internet drills them into youths' minds.

to me, those who use them too often are lost cause, for they do not respect the english language (which is the tool for communication), as well as the people or things they talk to/about (communicators).

if you think i digressed, i did not. the things they say fit nicely into the theme of sexual connotations and infidelity. together they form half of what this rule number six.

the other half is about meeting people who have no business to meet you for. to put it crudely, hook ups. yikes, till now mentioning this word sounds inappropriate for any educator. i find it disturbing to learn about kids who behave as if they haven't learn anything, which in turn reflects on how disappointing the education system and their people are here.

in particular, since the age of puberty people pick up skills to find "targets" who are in no way related to them, attract their attention, go out on different nonsensical reasons which their define as dates in hope of getting a boyfriend or girlfriend just to increase their social status.

the worst is that although this method is applicable to most, people will soon realise that its the exact method used on them, and hence the euphoria of feeling the "most special" title would be killed instantly when the truth spills.

in all, one of the most important value that the system instills, integrity, is a mere facade when relationships are based on tweaked facts.

as "cal lightman" said, the most popular kids are the best liars. people of kiddish age are hardly able to experience immense amount of interesting events in the past to share with their friends, and this makes me wonder how they manage those pseudo-self-giving moments.

for the record, when i use the word "wonder", i am honestly curious, nothing sarcastic.

Everywhere I go, all the places that I’ve been
Every smile's a new
horizon on a land
I’ve never seen

There are people around the world -
different faces different names
But there's one true emotion that
reminds me we're the same...

Let's talk about love

From the laughter of a child
to the tears of a grown man
There's a thread that runs right through us
and helps us understand
As subtle as a breeze -
that fans a flicker to a flame
From the very first sweet melody to the
very last refrain...

Let's talk about love
Let's talk about us
Let's talk about life
Let's talk about trust
Let's talk about love


It's the king of all who live and the
queen of all good hearts
It's the ace you may keep up your
sleeve - till the name is all but lost

As deep as any sea - with the rage of
any storm
But as gentle as a falling leaf on any
autumn morn...

(oooo)Let's talk about love -
it's all we're
needin'
Let's talk about us - the air we're
breathin'

Let's talk about life - I wanna know you
Let's talk about trust - and I
wanna show you
Let's talk about love

(Everywhere I go all the
places that I’ve
been
Every smile's a new horizon on a land
I’ve
never seen
There are people around the world -
different faces different
names
But there's one true emotion that
reminds me we're the same...)

Uhhh! Let's talk about love
Let's talk about us
Let's talk about
life
Let's talk about trust
Let's talk about loooove!

It's all
we're needin'
The air we're breathin'

It's all we're needin'!
The
air we're breathin'!
Baby...