Saturday, December 17, 2011

Channel U’s Christmas Mooncake

I know, I know. I haven’t been blogging for a long time. Busy. Swamped with work and studies.

But something caught my eye recently. Was channel-surfing when I stumped upon a trailer on Channel U.

The drama titled “Mooncake” was to be aired on Christmas Day. Apparently, it was a co-production between Japan and Singapore, starring Qi Yu Wu and a Japanese actress whom I have never seen before.

I was very curious why the drama was called Mooncake and it was to be played on Christmas day some more… Why don’t they call it log cake? I mean log cake is more in season and maybe more people will watch. :P

Been searching online, but can’t really find why the name “Mooncake”. Anyone wants to share the answer with me?

Channel U Trailer:



Qi Yu Wu looked quite jovial in this video. He seems to have a good time with filming at the fire station. Charming as usual. Haha.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Blessed.

If only I am as lucky in all other aspects of my life as my academic life.

I am so grateful for these almost miraculous assistance from all walks of life.

I hope I will really do well and not let whoever that has render me such divine help down. Thank you all very much.

Maybe it is already destined that I should have chosen to focus on the academic route for this life of mine.

So so grateful... So so blessed...

Reflections

I happened to stump upon this show - Miracle Detectives on Discovery Channel and after the first episode, I was hooked. The show in gist is about two investigators, a scientist and a believer, who travelled around the world in attempt to explain whether or not miracles are indeed work of God or just a case of good probabilities. In many ways, the show is almost like the reality version of X-files.

In one of the recent episodes, they were doing a feature on 911. Indra, the scientist who played the skeptic asked in a rather harsh manner (she always do), where is God during the 911 attack. If he existed, why is he allowing so many unfair death.

Then on the believer side, he interviewed this firefighter John Morabito who relates how he managed to avert death several times – the building collapsed while he was in it, but he was unhurt. He saw a lighted passage way and decides to follow it to get out. On his way out, the second building collapses and debris fall around him. Again, he escaped without a wound.

The most amazing encounter he had was when he was crossing the Brooklyn bridge. Half way walking through the bridge, he met a construction worker. The worker was told him that God has a bigger plan for him and he needs to tell his stories and keep memories of others alive. Once over the bridge, he met two police officers who were handing out water. He asked for an additional one so that he can pass it to his construction worker friend.

They looked puzzled and told him that they were concerned with what he is going to do as he had been staring at the sea for a very long time. All the while, they only saw him alone. There was no one else with him.

Who was that person who was with him? Was it God himself? Of course, this year was the ten anniversary of the fateful 911 event. Many channels were playing over and over again 911 remembrance show. By chance, I saw John Morabito recounting this particular part of experience on another channel while I was channel surfing.

Hmm… Is that a sign? So God has a bigger plan for everyone when he is putting us through pain? I am not so sure about this anymore. I have lost faith as with many things in my life. Why do I need to go through so much pain than others?

Why am I even here in this world, I sometimes wondered.

Two more days and I will be one year older. It is time for reflections again.

Will I be able to see the bigger picture at the end of the tunnel?

Spare me. Spare me from this monstrosity, please God.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Ouch…

God, why am I in such pain?

What have I done to be treated like that?

What wrong have I done to be humiliated like that?

Does it never occurs to one that it will look very bad on me?

Or one never cares anymore and all one wants is to be free?

How can one be so sensitive before but yet so insensitive now?

How can I ever walk myself out of this thorny hedge?

I am bleeding in the heart again. Profusely this time round.

Will it ever heal…

Maybe blood will run out this time round…

Ouch.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

The future can't remember and the past doesn't forget



Stars shining bright above you. Dream a little dream of me.



可日月哪能同天照?



Will you stand by me, little monsters?



你的啦 是我的啦啦啦啦 啦啦啦啦啦啦



I became a junkie for it, looking for the next high
I'm sorry I've been putting the search on the wrong place



當我痊癒了 可吃甚麼 我怎麼難習慣最低痛楚

我真想有那么的单纯。。。不可能。。。



前面的路也許真的並不太清楚 放心地走了以後 也許會覺得辛苦 
我發現 我有天經過你的身邊 找不到你的視線
別以為 我真的無所謂

What made me behave that way? Using words I never say
It's looking like a beautiful day

我也不想這麼樣 起起伏伏 都怪我太渴望得到你的保護

我已經把我傷口化作玫瑰 我的淚水已經變成雨水早已輪迴
他们说不配 也只能自卑說聲失陪

突然间你连瞒都不瞒 想也不想 就这么推翻
就这么说过去只是闹剧一场
你连探都不探 看也不看 像与你无关
像是只有我还可以承受这无解的遗憾

You are leaving for the last time, baby 
You want to be free and I've hurt you 
All the days spent together, I wished for better 
I didn't want the train to come
Now it's departed, I'm broken-hearted
Seems like we never started



Raise a glass to mend all the broken hearts of all my wrecked up friends

I'll never talk again I'll never write a song, won't even sing along
You left me speechless



Your words cut rather deeply
They are just some other lies
You seem to want to hurt me
No matter what I do

I am sitting down here but hey you can not see me
Kinda invisible you do not sense my stay
Maybe you will experience that someday



There's something something about this place
I couldn't listened to a joke or rock and roll
It is like muscle cars drove a truck right through my heart

We got a whole lot of money but we still pay rent
Cause one can't buy a house in heaven

I'm just a poor boy nobody loves me
He's just a poor boy from a poor family
Spare him his life from this monstrosity
Will you let me go

I sometimes wish I'd never been born at all

You know where you've sent her
You sure know where you are
You're trying to ease off
But you know you won't get far

And now she's up there
Sings like an angel
But you can't hear those words

The future can't remember and the past doesn't forget...

Monday, September 5, 2011

Monti Csárdás

Not sure who the old violinist is, but his interpretation of Monti Csardas was the best I ever heard on YouTube. Every note is full of life and emotions.

The younger violinist is apparently quite famous, a Hungarian by the name of Mága Zoltán. He played really well too.

I really like the sadness at the opening of the song, it almost sound like someone is weeping. It never failed to bring tears in my eyes. I also like how there is a lot of passion, almost celebrative-like towards the later part of the song.

I wondered if it signifies a happy ending to the story…

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Losing Faith

Will there be light at the end of the tunnel?

I am not so sure.

I am losing faith fast.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Rare luck - 29 double-yolk eggs in one go!

How lucky can one be? This lady from Manchester cracked opened 29 double-yolk eggs in one go!

I want to be so lucky too!

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

王菲-只爱陌生人

I didn’t like this song when it was first released. Had felt that it was quite plain. I was however hooked on it when it was remixed to the Jazz version in a concert.

This song essentially highlighted that it is the simple thing in life that people fall in love with – be it a smile, a look, a gesture or anything simple, it does not matter as long as one is there when most needed.

Simple things in life… I always had a craving for simple things in life, nothing too manipulating, nothing too pretentious, frank and upfront. Hence, Jazz vocal never fails to captivate me.

There is a certain technique of course, but the most important thing that came through in the song is the emotion in the vocal.    

Just learnt from an old friend that the writer of the song had wrote another melody for the same chord arrangement. It is more jazzy than the original song. Quite like it.

I agreed with my old friend that the song has a melody that makes you want to walk alone on the street and soaked in surrounding tranquility atmosphere.

Hum along: Wooo wo 我只爱陌生人…

Monday, January 24, 2011

We no speak Americano

My brothers have been listening to the remix of “We no speak Americano” recently. I thought it was quite nice too!

Here is the original version of the song by Renato Carosone. A bit of irony going on here.

The song title “We no speak Americano” is like rejecting America imperialism, but the style of the Song is strongly influenced by them…

Sunday, January 16, 2011

Answering Comments on Ophichus or Serpentarius

Not only that there had been a sudden surge in the number of visitors on my blog, but the number of discussions on my first blog post about Ophichus increased significantly as well.

I had wanted to round up some discussions under the comment page, but I got too happy and wrote too much. Hence, I decided to pen a new blog post to address some of the comments.

Many of you are right to point out that the existence of Ophichus is not new. It had been around for ages, but the press merely "resurface" the news and package it as new, hence directed this recent interest in Ophichus.

Some had suggested that since Ophichus is technically a cusp of Scorpio and Sag, hence it’s the traits should be a combination of both signs. I am not agreeable to the argument. Many signs which lay side by side rarely shared similar traits see libra and virgo as example. Their traits are determined with some historical influences. If so, shouldn’t we look at how Ophichus came about and from there determine characteristics which made up the sign?

I just want to raise one point here for those who felt that they do not belong to their current zodiac sign or those who always felt that zodiac readings are not accurate. The zodiac sign which we categorised ourselves are actually our sun signs.

To get an accurate reading of our birth astrology, professional astronomers (not referring to scientists) had to consider the time and place of your birth in order to determine your moon signs, mars sign and venus sign i.e. at which star constellations the moon, mars and venus was located at the time of your birth.

These signs further influence a person’s character. Your sun sign can be a Virgo, but because your moon is at Cancer for example, then you might show some characteristic of cancer in your personality.

Exactly what these other signs represent, I am not very sure at this moment. I could probably write another blog post to address this if everyone else is keen to read about it.

To give you an idea, I found an explanation from ofsite.com, they wrote that “the Moon is said to rule your personality, while the Sun rules your individuality, while the Ascendant Sun dictates our outer appearance and mannerisms...” I supposed Mars and Venus influenced some other aspects of us.

For those who are not very familiar with astrology, I think you have had enough shock this week. I leave you all to sink in to the astrological facts.

Meanwhile, you all might want to chill a bit with this song, written by Melynda and MichaelBloodalone: “Serpentarius” – Quite nice. :)

Have a happy week ahead!

Photosophize

*Photosophize is not an astronomer, but a curious girl who is interested with Astrology. She lives in Singapore, lamenting that she is still the critical Virgo in spite of the inclusion of Ophichus…

Read also:

Saturday, January 15, 2011

The Zodiac Signs Debate

Woh… Suddenly, my sleepy blog was awaken by a stampede of anxious people today. Poor souls, they had just discovered “rudely” that they may have been following the wrong zodiac sign readings all these years.

Yes, I am referring to the 13th Zodiac Sign – Ophichus.

It is nothing new for I have blogged about it in 2009 last year. I have learnt about Ophichus or Serpentarius from the History channel. They mentioned that there are actually 13 Zodiac signs instead of 12 in their documentary show - Nostradamus’ Lost Book.

One official explanation on why Ophichus was excluded from the current zodiac signs chart because it was not in the natural southerly path of the 12 major constellations hence it is awkward to promote it as part of natural universal precession.

I was still oblivious to the global outcry until I read many of my friends twitting on Facebook that their zodiac sign had changed. Then, my blog’s feedjit recorded a visitor clocking in every 30 seconds. This kind of attention on my humble blog was unprecedented.

Apparently, this current interest on zodiac signs was brought up by Minneapolis astronomy instructor Parke Kunkle, who wrote in an US paper - the Star Tribune - that our understanding on the current zodiac signs system was wrong. It was off by a month. (For details, read here)

Immediately, his claim sparkled off a debate. Some opposing astronomers rebutted that his calculation was wrong.

CNN’s Jason Hanna explained that the news was nothing new. There had always been two zodiacs, namely tropical zodiac and sidereal zodiac.

Western astrology adheres to tropical zodiac which is fixed to seasons. Ophichus is part of the sidereal zodiac, which is fixed to constellations and is followed more in the East. (For more details, read here)

He wrote “If you considered yourself a Cancer under the tropical zodiac last week, you're still a Cancer under the same zodiac this week.”

Looking at things, this debate might still be around for quite a while.

Both news article brought up a rather funny trend which caught my attention– many people were upset over the news. I can understand why they reacted. It is almost like raising a child till they are of age and only to discover that he/she was not really yours but somebody else’s - people felt cheated.

Specifically highlighted were people who had tattooed their zodiac signs on themselves. Upon learning that the zodiac signs are not accurate, they freaked out.

Hmm, I reckoned there is one immediate lesson that we can all draw from this debate – zodiac signs should be treated like lover’s name, they should never be tattooed onto your body. 

:P

What were your thoughts? Share with me under comments.

Ps: After all these debates, no one explained what were the characteristic or personalities of Ophichus or Serpentarius… Can someone enlighten us??

Read also:

Ophichus – The 13th Zodiac Sign

Monday, January 3, 2011

王菲 郭富城 - 星光无限

New Year New Start. Go for more, ask for more!

王菲 郭富城  - 星光无限

(王) 世界有多漂亮 就像梦想总会向往
我有渴望 所有星星都会因此更光

(郭) 繁星都不够多 全都给我采过
go for more ask for more
天空不够多 转身飞越过
go for more ask for more

(王) 一线光 一百种渴望在期待的脸 特别好看

(郭) 永不满足 所以不寂寞
随时向往 才随时开朗
转载来自

(王) 给我追赶 给我新鲜探访
Repeat * [合]

(郭) 一对手 拥抱这地球
能延绵千里 能环回一周

(王) 给我走一秒不停留
从平凡出发 随无涯奔走

[合] 你与我的渴望 令路上风光更好看

(郭) we better ask for more

(王) 刹那可以做什么可以容许你 遇着我

(郭) 所有星星都会因此更光

Repeat * [合]

Rap 星火不算多 烟花不够多 都给我采过
[合] 天空不够多 转身飞越过