EYE SEE

Going, Going...Gone

2011-08-07T01:42:00.004+10:00

Tonight, I finally decided to sit down and have a browse through my gmail inbox to delete old messages and countless unwanted newsletters. I had close to 800 unread emails and over 2000 messages, accumulated over the last three-four years. To make things easier, I created a new folder and entitled it "SAVE" and transferred all recent, important emails before marking the remainder for deletion. I tried to delete the rest with a blind eye, but found myself transferring old email messages from long-lost friends and ex-lovers (uh, not really but you know, potentials) into the SAVE folder. The whole process was almost like spring-cleaning. Each time I transferred an old email into the SAVE folder, I knew that I would probably never read the message again or forget about it... yet I wanted to keep it just for old-time's sake.

After sorting through all my emails and executing the mass deletion, I decided to transfer all the saved messages into my now empty inbox and delete the SAVE folder. BUT, AHH! Somehow, I deleted absolutely everything by accident. By the click of a mousepad--words from which so many memories have been transcribed are now lost forever.

I felt so disappointed immediately after it happened, but now, I have mixed feelings. When I see my email account completely void of any message, I get the impression that this is a new beginning. A clean slate? The accident could be likened to a catharsis, almost--but a release from what? If anything, this is a great example of what it means to "cut down on excess"--even if the excess means a few gigabytes in cyberspace.

So, I have FINALLY decided to delete my hotmail account which was created back in 2000. After years of plotting its demise, rockyval@hotmail.com will become history. But first, a eulogy in the form of an amusing story. At one stage, I received "fan mail" from people of different nationalities expressing how happy they were to finally find me on hotmail and MSN. Apparently, they had seen my YouTube videos and really enjoyed my music. Back then, I hadn't posted any music online yet so I was really confused. I got to the bottom of it and found out that there was a girl who performed Avril Lavigne covers on YouTube under the name "Rockyval"! She dressed like Avril too. Well, the Lavigne imposter can now have rockyval@hotmail.com--but please, use the domain with dignity. It was first created as a tribute to one girl's love for THE ROCK aka Dwayne Johnson or "The People's Champ", not for a "Sk8rgirl".

Michelle

2011-08-03T01:22:00.006+10:00

Michelle Li has been my housemate over the last six months. It's been a week since she returned to her hometown in Guangdong, China and I miss her. This girl has one of the best hearts around. While staying together, she insisted on praying for me nightly-- for the miraculous healing of my eczema. Those "bedside" moments in prayer have touched me so deeply. How many people are willing to do that? Even I myself have not been as persistent to seek my own healing. Now, despite the distance, we stay in touch via Whatsapp and Skype...and she continues to pray. I'm learning what it means to be "compelled by love to love", and she has been an excellent teacher.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Moonlight

2011-04-21T00:54:00.003+10:00

Sometimes, I think I have insomnia although this hasn't been diagnosed. It takes me a long time to fall asleep. Sleep disturbance, a topic I've been tutoring second year uni students over the last month...and ironically, I myself have poor sleep. A few nights ago, I was lying in bed thinking about the number of lab reports I have to finish marking and about the number of assignments I have to submit by the end of Easter break. I was stressed out and distressed while speaking to God, asking for his peace to guard my heart and my mind...

...and then I looked up, saw this through my skylight and felt happy. It was almost as if God was reassuring me that he's got his eye on me and that he will show me beautiful things. I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good, and I'm convinced that he WILL do it again just as he's done throughout my academic life.

Love

2011-04-05T22:37:00.000+10:00

I want to meet

The

Tallest

Man

Earth

He visited the Sydney Opera House

Snail Mail

2011-04-04T02:03:00.000+10:00

I love receiving postcards, especially when they arrive when I least expect. This morning, I received one from a certain friend--no stamp or address, delivered by hand--and it made my day.

It's a Lomo Sunday

2011-03-31T14:52:00.007+11:00

I've been playing with digitalized Lomo cameras since purchasing the iPhone 4 on the first week of March. Here are some pictures I took on a very eventful Sunday last weekend:

I recently joined the worship team for Planetshakers City Church and while waiting at the backstage fire exit for the morning service to start, I spotted two hot air balloons in the distance.

St. Patrick's Cathedral

Fall

Alley Mop

The S-steel of Lt Collins St

Stepping into Laurent

Jonathan Boulet.

I watched them play at The Corner Hotel with new friend Ben. One word--eargasmic.

Jonathan Boulet's young drummer hitting it hard.

Check out their music here

--More to come: this Lomo-phase isn't dying out yet--

Good Vibrations

2011-03-31T03:55:00.007+11:00

"Lomo Lomo" for iPhone4

This is attempt #___ to start blogging again. Thank you, Belinda, for giving me some inspiration to write a new entry at 2am. Belinda is a new friend who found me interesting enough to interview for her series on people who are "working towards their dream jobs". You can read the interview here.

The conversation with Belinda brought many things into perspective for me, the interviewee. Often, I don't ask myself why I like doing what I like to do or why I do what I do. It is usually understood and hence, not worthy of discussion. It isn't until somebody asks me the questions that I realize my dreams/desires are not as trivial as I would have otherwise perceived. And so, I reflected about my affinity for playing music...

Playing music to large audiences has been a dream since high school. The pep rallies and talent shows were great fun, and as a teenager searching for security in what would bring me recognition beyond academic achievement and a friendly disposition, I would dream of musical success. At 17, it was reasonable to dream about the music videos I would create or the sold-out shows I would perform in stadiums across the world. Fame, money, fortune.

Now almost at 23, these aspects of the dream are no longer appealing but the drive to play music is greater than it has ever been. I believe this is so because I recognize that I'm going through a process of refinement dictated by the "heart" I have gradually come to put into my music. If you cannot feel your own music, don't expect your audience to. When I play music, I want people to listen. I want to make music that people will remember--music that I cannot fake. If a musical career is in the works, I intend to safeguard this sincerity so that my songs will not become depersonalized in the context. There is still so much to discover about how aspects of my self and my musical ability can culminate into something beautiful, but for now, I'm happy knowing that I'm blessed to be entrusted with this gift of song and that I'm equally blessed to be able to enjoy it.

PG-13

2011-01-21T02:24:00.002+11:00

I'll be playing music for a group of young children at a Montessori play school tomorrow. It will be my second time entertaining children, with last week being the first. In preparation for tomorrow's performance, I searched through a list of Nursery Rhymes and came across lyrics for "Three Blind Mice". Perhaps not the best song to play, but hilarious otherwise!

Macking La Mac Mac

2011-01-19T17:25:00.000+11:00

After 3.5 years of using an HP laptop with lots of video card and battery problems, I now own a MacBook Pro 13". Photo Booth is not news, but I am new to this and having a lot of fun with it.

Hi, Zack. Let's go on a date!

"EYES FOR YOU" - Valerie Yap

2011-01-19T05:10:00.007+11:00

PREVIOUS POST, CONTINUED:

This post comes three months late, but nonetheless. I have prepared a slideshow of Jonathan's pictures to accompany my song, "Eyes for You". I uploaded it to Facebook a week ago and was overwhelmed by the positive feedback received from friends. I also enjoyed a day of having the "#95 most viewed --musician (Australia)" channel on YouTube. However, as one friend put it, the song had made her depressed because she is not in love with anyone at present. To some extent, I must admit that I feel the same way, but in my case the feeling can be more accurately described as bittersweet than depressing. When I listen to the song, I want to fall in love---this being the effect, not the cause, of my own songwriting and composition. Thus I suppose I have accomplished something significant with my music, given that this assumption has been tested on myself.

ITUNES:

After much consideration, I decided to sell the song on iTunes under the artist name, "Valerie Yap". I almost settled for a name which has no relationship to myself, such as "Zack", but changed my mind knowing that it would take me weeks to get personal with my male counterpart. BUT if you are an eligible, datable male named Zack who can harmonise and play percussion or anything else, please shoot me an email at vyapmusic@gmail.com -- I would like to play (music) with you. If interested, click here to buy the song

ONWARDS:

I'm glad. Thank you Jesus for this opportunity which serves as a stepping stone towards something bigger which will culminate before I kiss 2011 goodbye. I write these words in faith as I have no idea what will happen or what this "something bigger" actually is. Amen!

Jonathan Ong

2010-10-19T02:28:00.006+11:00

Jonathan is a professional wedding photographer who captures the moment with so much sensitivity. I want fall in love with love when I see his pictures. I'm proud to call him friend, and even more honored that he had asked me to write a song specifically for his website. Almost a year after recording it in the studio, it has finally reached cyberspace. I'll upload a video of the song + a slideshow of his pictures eventually. For now, check out "Eyes for You" here at: WWW.JONATHANONG.COM

Thanks: Ian Lee for giving up your time and expertise to help out with the recording. Thanks: Matthew Bryant for playing the bass. This is the first song I've ever recorded on anything else besides my laptop. Having written many more songs between then and now, it feels slightly awkward listening to this tune again. Either way, people who've heard it for the first time seem to like it. I hope you do too.

Hallelujah!

2010-10-13T22:08:00.003+11:00

Prayer is powerful. Ask the Chilean miners and they would agree. I found myself interceding on their behalf from halfway across the globe as I watched the rescue operation commence live on CNN. Now eight hours later, nine miners have already returned to the surface and the rescue team is not wasting any time to retrieve the others. What a miracle-- from Day 1, with the flight of a white butterfly 2,300 ft beneath the earth's surface to Day 17, when the miners received supplies and began communicating with those on the ground... from the development of "Plan B" to the ongoing rescue of 24 more miners... I truly believe that all this is the result of faith and prayer. Thank you Lord for giving the rescue workers wisdom. Thank you Lord for keeping all the miners alive. Thank God that the mission has progressed ahead of schedule. Continue to pray that no technical difficulties or unforeseen circumstances will interfere with rest of the operation. ALL men will be hoisted back to safety. Amen!

Hello

2010-09-30T02:08:00.006+10:00

I've been absent from the blogosphere in such a long time. I hope more people will visit my blog once I start updating it on a regular basis. On that note, I feel the sudden urge to write tonight. I'm in the middle of completing a big thesis on visuospatial attention and feeling like quite the academic. The mess of journal articles strewn across my bedroom floor gives me reassurance that I'm making progress. Tonight, I'm embracing the arrogance that comes with being an intellectual snob before tomorrow morning brings me closer to the deadline and puts me in my place again. Until then, here are some last words from a Magnetic Fields song that have no relation to my musings: "I CAN PLAY MY RIBCAGE LIKE A XYLOPHONE..."

Devotional

2010-06-10T09:14:00.004+10:00

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." - Isaiah 40:29-31

He will come through for you yet again. His ways are higher than your ways. Be still and know that he is God. Thank you Jesus for your peace. I am more than a conqueror because you live in me. Today is a new day and your promises are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. All I have needed your hand has provided, and I will praise you in advance for the better days to come! Amen.

Formula

2010-06-04T17:43:00.008+10:00

In preparation for my big statistics exam, I've created this desktop wallpaper to motivate me when I get discouraged. It's tough as, but I'm going to finish this semester strong with lots of effort and more importantly, prayer.
加油!

Wedding Bells

2010-06-02T23:30:00.003+10:00

I've now got extended family in Holland! My sister got married in Melbourne almost two weeks ago. Here's a family picture with parents, siblings, cousins and uncles/aunts. It was a lovely day, with only 70 guests who all seemed to be genuinely happy for the newly-weds. The celebration ended with the "human tunnel"--couples holding hands and walking through. When my sister and brother-in-law came by, I clearly remember hearing the chorus to "Eyes" by Rogue Wave playing in the background as dusk was approaching. It seemed like the perfect ending to a good movie and made me very, very happy. This ceremony was followed by a Chinese banquet in Singapore a few days later and now, we suffer the aftermath of a highly stressful but memorable week--recuperating in bed from the flu.

Oats!

2010-05-04T00:00:00.013+10:00

I never liked oats, but yes, I have been eating a lot of oats lately. It started one night when I found a sachet of Uncle Tobys Brown Sugar and Cinnamon Oats sitting on the dining table next to a bottle of honey. I was hungry for a midnight snack, and with nothing else but IndoMie in the pantry, I opted for the healthier choice. Over the next few days, I emptied my sister's stash and tonight I'm going for my third bowl. It took me a long time to discover the goodness of Uncle Tobys Oats, but better late than never.

Chungking Express (1994)

2010-04-05T02:19:00.021+10:00

This movie definitely goes on my list of favourites. It tells two stories in sequence, each involving a policeman struggling with heartbreak and uncertainty in loneliness. The themes are bought out nicely with simple, clever screenplay and beautiful cinematography. I particularly enjoyed the second story and Faye Wong's character. Somehow, I thought about Taxi Driver (Robert DeNiro) while watching the first half. Watch movie here.

"We split up on April Fool's Day. Everyday I buy a can of pineapple with a sell-date of May 1. May loves pineapple... and May 1 is my birthday. If May hasn't changed her mind by the time I buy 30 cans then our love will also expire."

**NOTE: I've been watching Mandarin/Cantonese movies on YouTube since my reacquantance with Takeshi Kaneshiro. I'm on a new mission to watch all of Takeshi's films, and that's how I came across Chungking Express. To quote another female fan, my Takeshi crush has lasted far longer than other celebs. Tonight, I even found myself searching for "is takeshi kaneshiro gay?" on Google to disprove a remark made about his sexual orientation over the dinner table. I had to browse through pages of biography, gossip, photo albums and interviews to find the answer. I came across various responses to the question. Here's one: "Part of me wishes he were gay so that another woman cannot have him... but then, there would go my plans to kidnap him in the middle of the night and make him my love slave." And another: "GAWD ALL WOMEN WOULD DIE IF HE WAS GAY!!!" Haha. I'll join the general consensus and say that Takeshi is straight. This only matters because it means that single female fans can still dream. I would never bother with these things, but the more I read about him, the more I realise what an incredibly magnetic and mysterious character he is. Definitely someone I'd be so intrigued to meet in person. There is something appealing about hot men who get the limelight without craving it.

Eye See

2010-04-04T02:41:00.004+11:00

"Now then. My own thought, which grew out of seeing this film, was to remove the brain from the skull of a human and keep it alive and functioning as an independent unit for an unlimited period after he is dead. Your brain, for example, after you are dead."

"William and Mary" is my favourite short story from Roald Dahl's Kiss, Kiss. I remember cringing and laughing sheepishly in bed when I first read it. I won't give it away--read the full story here. It's so strange, you'll love it. There's even a short film on YouTube. :D

Honours Year

2010-04-04T00:12:00.009+11:00

Here's an update on my academic life. I graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Melbourne last December and have since moved on to do an honours year in psychology. Every year, intake gets competitive considering that an honours year is the only way to qualify for postgraduate studies and progress in the field. I have been blessed to secure a position and to come under the supervision of Mike Nicholls, an excellent lecturer who specialises in laterality of the brain. My project is co-supervised with his research fellow, Mark Yates, who has been nothing short of helpful and awesome to work with. One month into the course, I've already collected all my data from a first-year pool of undergraduate students and am in the final stages of analysing results. If the results support my hypotheses, I will be conducting a second experiment before Semester 1 ends.

This has little to do with how conscientious I am but everything to do with God's grace. He has placed a wonderful team of people behind me. If anything, I've just been cruising along enjoying the fruit of my supervisors' hard work. To break it down, they handled my ethics application even before the term started while most other students are still waiting for ethics approval. The research project was clearly explained to me, from key articles and hypotheses to experimental design and methods of analysing the data. To make sure I understood the context, I was required to write a 2000-word literature review during my holiday in preparation for testing participants. Now that I've collected the data, Mark has given me so much help with its organisation and analysis on Excel and SPSS. Furthermore, Jeromy Anglim who lectured me in 3rd-year stats has kindly given some time and advice to help with fitting functions to the mass of data points collected. I can imagine that there would be a few students struggling at this point--and I would be one of them if not for the tremendous help that I've received. I'm excited to see how else my year will unfold. To God be the glory! Happy Easter Sunday.

What is my honours project about? If you're interested to know, look out for my next entry.

Turn Left, Turn Right

2010-04-02T22:27:00.017+11:00

In relation to my last blog entry, here's the basic concept of "Turn Left, Turn Right". Two strangers meet in the park to find out that they're not strangers after all. They first met on a school trip in their early teens, fell in love with each other then and had no contact since. Here they are 13 years later, sparks go off and the attraction is powerful. It starts to rain, they swap numbers and go their separate ways only to realise that the phone numbers have been smudged by rainwater. Phone call after phone call, no luck. They refer to each other according to the numbers once sewn on their school uniforms and don't know each others' names. Any potential for a future together depends on one successful phone call. The catch is that they are so close yet so far away--all that separates them is a brick wall which collapses at the end of the movie. Literally.

Sounds like a good plot which captures the imagination, and it does so until the coincidences between the characters' lives become too much to bear that the movie starts to lose its edge. It starts off with lots of charm which the directors fail to sustain throughout. Watch the movie and you'll see what I mean. Or perhaps I've become cynical about the point of "love at first sight" and how binding it can be. Maybe the point is that there is no need to justify the point.

Here are the first few stanzas from Wislawa Szymborska's poem entitled "Love at First Sight", frequently referred to in the movie. The questions it raises are hard to ignore. What if? What could've been? If only? How many people lead such parallel lives that never cross? Double entendre?

They’re both convinced
that a sudden passion joined them.
Such certainty is beautiful,
but uncertainty is more beautiful still.

Since they’d never met before, they’re sure
that there’d been nothing between them.
But what’s the word from the streets, staircases, hallways-
perhaps they’ve passed by each other a million times?

I want to ask them
if they don’t remember -
a moment face to face
in some revolving door?
perhaps a “sorry” muttered in a crowd?
a curt “wrong number” caught in the receiver?
but I know the answer.
No, they don’t remember.

They’d be amazed to hear
that Chance has been toying with them
now for years.

Photo taken from gguillaumee's flickr photostream subway mood (b&w)

Takeshi Kaneshiro

2010-03-25T00:21:00.010+11:00

Movie for the weekend.
I've found "Turn Left, Turn Right" on YouTube!
Looks like I'll be spending my Sat night with you, Takeshi.

Help

2010-03-23T00:06:00.009+11:00

MULTIDIMENSIONAL SCALING? 
I'm still trying to find a coherent web-based resource on MDS for dummies. I have too many questions to ask, but I really don't know where to start.

Classic

2010-03-21T23:25:00.009+11:00

Scarlett: Rhett, don't. I shall faint.
Rhett Butler: I want you to faint. This is what you were meant for. None of the fools you've ever know have kissed you like this, have they? Your Charles, or your Frank, or your stupid Ashley.
More quotes here

Sharon is my neighbour from across the river. Handsome men give her the shiver. On Friday night she came by to watch Gone with the Wind until early morning the next day. It's GREAT fun to watch classics with good friends who appreciate them. Turned out that my DVD was in technicolour and not black-and-white. How nice it would be to watch this at the Astor Theatre! But just as nice in the comfort of your own living room where you could watch Clark Gable at his best while eating crackers and cream cheese, peeling at Easter bunnies, cooking tuna pasta and boiling instant noodles. Yes, that's what I did.

Summer Friends

2010-03-19T02:56:00.012+11:00

While in Australia...

2010-03-19T02:26:00.007+11:00

Australian fur seals at Seal Bay, Kangaroo Island.
Check my Facebook for more pictures: 1 & 2

I finally caught the travel bug after a trip to Kangaroo Island in Dec 2009. What followed were recurring daydreams about travelling around Australia and the world. Three weeks later, I was on a plane to Brisbane, a bus to the Sunshine Coast and a 4WD on Fraser's Island. Within a month, I had stayed in three different hostels and made backpacker friends with whom I plan to travel in the near future. This winter break, I plan to do an extended tour through Kakadu and Uluru. Come summer, I'll be in Tasmania. This is the plan and if it pulls through, perhaps I'll throw in sky-diving too.

Welcome Back

2010-03-16T14:56:00.006+11:00

Thanks, Iris.

I did an openmic set at the Arthouse last night. It's been almost three years since my first and only one. It felt nice to be on stage again. Matt, the guy in charge, said he remembers me from my first performance. What a nice guy. The best part was having a big, supportive group of friends there. They're wonderful. Here's the link to my new song entitled "In You Alone".

Suzy Lee

2009-10-25T16:56:00.003+11:00

Just uploaded two new YouTube videos to my channel last night. Here's "We're Going to be Friends" by The White Stripes. It's such a sweet song.

Ting!

2009-10-12T22:32:00.000+11:00

I WANT A METALLOPHONE!

Moonshot

2009-10-12T14:32:00.002+11:00

I just discovered Dean & Britta's music on youtube yesterday...I've become a fan! Right timing, too. They're performing at the Melbourne International Arts Festival--music for Andy Warhol's 13 most famous Screen Tests. Check out my new favourite song here.

Greetings

2009-10-06T23:34:00.007+11:00

Here's my best buddy from high school, Josh. This is us on a postcard, enjoying the Australian summer outside our caravan sometime in early 2008. Yeah, we had lemonade and played with a beach ball while a kookaburra watched. Right...right. When I see this picture, I think of "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams. My bodypump instructor always plays the remix for our squat tracks.

Coincidence

2009-10-06T21:50:00.009+11:00

A few days ago, I updated my blog with a picture from AwkwardFamilyPhotos. I posted a link on Facebook, with a thumbnail picture of that family and Kat, one of my closest friends from the Philippines, responded:

"oh my god val! where did you get this picture? that's adrian's family! hahaha! the baby being held by the mom is adrian. the crotch kid and the crotch guy and the odd hand guy are adrian's brothers! hahaha!:P"

The awkward family I selected for my blog turned out to be her boyfriend's family! I love these coincidences.

Confessions

2009-10-05T00:25:00.013+11:00

"So turn us, God of Hosts. Stand in front of us and show Yourself to check our headlong flight. Then we shall become whole persons. For You already stand in our path, whatever direction our soul runs. Unless we see You there before us, we will remain welded to sorrows, however beautiful they seem. Life's lovelies have no luster unless You give them, and we enjoy them in You. For all beautiful things have their moment of newness. They rise and set. They grow, become perfect, then decline and shrivel. Not every earthly thing grows old. But ever earthly thing crumbles. Earthly things begin and appear to be. Quickly they grow to their full potential. More quickly they fade and are unmade. You allot a portion of time and being to each thing, because it is not the totality of Your Creation. It is just a bit of it. Each thing must cease to exist so the next thing in Your plan can take its turn. All the things You made do not exist all at once. Each takes its turn, passes away, and is succeeded by the next, until all the pieces will someday complete the universe of which each thing is part."

-St. Augustine

If you want to know me, somehow you must know this: I believe in Jesus Christ. I've reached the point where I can no longer hide this, sugar-coat it or beat around to bring the message across. Without my life in his hands, I would be lost. I can try to live without him, and I'll get by, but I'll never see the full potential of what my life could be. I'll miss the point entirely. I can run but I won't be able to hide. I've come to realise that even when everything goes well, I feel most unsatisfied when I'm disatant from the source of these good things. God doesn't force himself upon you, but he knocks and the invitation to draw close to him will always stand open. There are things I don't understand and things I'll never know, but I know where his love compels me I'll go.

Joshua

2009-10-03T14:07:00.004+10:00

I finally updated my YouTube page. Here's one of my own:

Interview

2009-10-02T08:13:00.008+10:00

My close friend Wan Theng has a sister who's a freelance journalist in Manchester. She did an interview with me and published it on her blog today! I'm far from being an established musician and I'm not even trying hard enough to take my music a step further. All you'll get on my Youtube page so far are two covers, although there are more on Facebook. But doing her interview really put things into perspective for me. It forced me to acknowledge the possibilities of my dreams becoming a reality someday and reminded me that everything starts small. I enjoy playing music--that's all I've got right now--but gradually, I suppose it'll evolve into something bigger. Thank you, Wan Phing! Read her blog here.

Randver

2009-10-01T03:16:00.008+10:00

Earlier tonight, I was sorting through a huge pile of receipts from purchases made in April onwards. I found one for Jon Hopkins' "Insides" dated June 27, 2009. I remember that day so well. It's cool how receipts can bring back memories--from Smith/Brunswick St to Bourke St, Collectors Corner to Nando's, and from the Rooftop Bar to the Shrine of Remembrance... that was the last weekend I hung out with my friend Rene before he left for Estonia.

Thanks so much for the "Video Mixtape". It came at the right time. I've never received one before. Here's a YouTube playlist I made for you. I've never made one before. Enjoy this one.

Stud Muffin

2009-09-28T23:57:00.013+10:00

Lean on me

AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com

Push Play

2009-09-27T22:46:00.008+10:00

I love making "mixCDs" for friends. The process of going through my song collection and deciding which songs to include in the CD is great fun. I pick songs according to what I think the other person would enjoy, and most of the time I get it right (I think). So, every playlist is different whether the difference lies in the song selection itself or in the general order of songs--yes, I think songs must be listened to a specific order for playlists to work! I don't like using the same playlist for different people. It's a lot less personal that way. This is the most recent one. I made it for a close friend who just went back to Berlin after a semester of exchange and 3 months of backpacking around Australia. Go, Anja!

I also want to make playlists for a laneway cafe... but first, I need new music. I haven't updated my library in such a long time.

Sweet Disposition

2009-09-26T00:09:00.023+10:00

I didn't go to T.G.I.F. to celebrate the end of my long week. Instead, I worked a shift and treated myself to (500) Days of Summer afterwards. I watched it alone, curled up in the movie seat and smiling to myself like crazy. It was as delightful as it was heartbreaking--definitely one of those movies that "worked" for me. It worked because the characters had enough charm to bring it through. Everything was so natural and the emotions were so convincing. It felt as though I (or at least the character I play in my own chickflick) have already been there --from dates at IKEA to parks where the guy draws buildings on my arm, and even to cheesy horror flicks with VAGIANT (half vampire-half giant)...

...and that elevator scene where she tells him that she loves The Smiths and he goes crazy. I'd always wished something like that would happen for me--something that involves headphones, good music and a shy guy who secretly wants me. Somehow, this also brings me back to the Garden State where Natalie Portman and Zach Braff click over The Shins.

Here's bearing a bit of my soul. I like to think that I'm eccentric and that there's something interesting or even midly attractive about my eccentricity. Thus far, in terms of boy-girl oooos and aaaahs, I don't think anything/anyone has come close enough to affirm these assumptions. So this movie gets me excited to believe that there's someone out there who would appreciate my quirks and enjoy them with me. Maybe he already exists within my social network. Maybe I'm just not looking hard enough. Maybe it just hasn't happened for me yet, but when it happens, I'll know.

Educate Me

2009-09-23T16:06:00.010+10:00

I'm not "depressed", just thinking.

Today, I received a letter from my university telling me to register for graduation in mid-December. My three years in Melbourne is almost up, but I'm determined to stay on to do an extra year of Honours in psychology. On that note, I just returned from a discussion with my tutor about a previous assignment that I didn't completely understand. I asked her how I could fix the mistakes I made and what I could've done to write a better paper. She told me that we're expected to make mistakes--if we all knew exactly what we were doing and handed in perfect work, her role as a tutor would be useless. This is so true, and her words are reassuring enough but when you're at the end of your undergraduate degree and intend to study more, every percent begins to count. You start to feel like there's no more room to make mistakes--that any mistake you could make should've been made earlier. Either way, the underlying principle holds true: we live, we learn.

Jesus

2009-09-23T09:37:00.002+10:00

...I need more of you.

Match Point

2009-09-23T04:12:00.010+10:00

One more assignment to go before I can finally enjoy my mid-semester break without interruption. For the next few days, I'll be up all night before my laptop computer writing about number development in young children. When Friday comes along, I'd like to go to Chapel St for a good T.G.I.F. meal to celebrate. Until then, I've got to keep burning the midnight oil.

Tuesday Night

2009-09-23T03:05:00.009+10:00

Made in the '80's:
Happy 21st, Christy!

Visit Le Petit Gateau (458 Little Collins St) and try their passionfruit brownie cake. Also, go to the Docklands on Tuesday night for cheap eats. If you order one main and one dessert at a participating restaurant, you get 50% off your bill.

La Di Da

2009-09-22T18:07:00.008+10:00

I've become a stranger to gigs these days, and to think that I went to one almost every week last semester... but summer is on its way and the good bands will come out to play. Until then, I'll be spending my money on a synthesizer (hopefully).

HTHB/HTPS

2009-07-08T21:57:00.012+10:00

Habitat, forever.
(in the "Diamonds are Forever" tune)

HTHB/HTPS stands for "Hey There Handsome Brother/Hey There Pretty Sister". I think I'm letting an inside joke leak out. I love these people--they're weird. Weird is a GOOD thing. I overuse that word a lot, but always to compliment not insult. These people love God and know how to have a lot of fun. So far, my holiday has been full of monkey paws, lion roars, pigeon proooing and metoy bagging.

Euro Trip

2009-07-08T21:19:00.004+10:00

I'm starting to publish more personal posts now...

I've only met two Estonians in my life. He is the first.

I seem to be exposed to many things "European" lately, and suddenly, I have this urge to travel around Europe. I've been hit a few times, but the excitement is always short-lived and three days at most. We'll see how long this one lasts for. In particular, I've been hearing many stories from Pei Jet about cultural differences between the French and Italians and gondola rides in Venice. She got me thinking a lot about Before Sunrise and Before Sunset, two of my favourite movies. The chemistry between Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy is whoa--hard to believe the two didn't fall for each other while filming (or did they). On top of that, I have developed a close relationship with two exchange students over the semester--Anja from Berlin and Rene from Estonia--plus Wenke, a spunky German whom I met at the Laneway Festival earlier this year. My best friend from high school who now studies in California is also doing exchange with a university in Paris. A couple days ago, I found myself browsing through Lonely Planet guides at Borders about Scandinavian Europe, Greece and Spain in particular. Suddenly, I want to pick up Spanish again--practically grew up learning the language in school, and it's so disappointing that I'm going nowhere with it at the moment. Is this a sign? I'd like to think so, which is why I'm booking myself in for more 5-9pm shifts at work. Show me the money!

I have one

2009-07-07T02:46:00.008+10:00

http://twitter.com/threwskish

June 14, 2009

2009-07-07T02:15:00.017+10:00

I didn't intend to write about my 21st tonight, but when
I saw this picture, I knew I had to put it on...

This is my friend Daniel on his Vespa--my first bike ride, ever.

One of my closest friends (Wan Theng) just posted pictures of my 21st birthday on Facebook. It's been a month, almost, but those pictures make me so happy. I didn't plan a big bash but my friends threw me the best dinner party, and with a surprise visit from my "Urban Life", I fell in love with Melbourne again. I have an amazing group of friends behind me. Thank you to EVERYONE, and of course, to you Hemme (Ai Jet Chuah). I bet you guys don't even know I have a blog, but everyone else who reads my blog will know who you are now. When I start earning big bucks, everyone will be in for an expensive treat. For now, we'll settle with Classic Curry.

Growl

2009-06-18T20:13:00.003+10:00

Gentle bear, oh the GENTLEST!

AwkwardFamilyPhotos.com

Yes!

2009-06-08T00:51:00.005+10:00

SHOUT OUT TO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH!
SHOUT OUT TO GOD WITH A VOICE OF PRAISE!
SHOUT OUT TO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH!
SHOUT OUT TO GOD WITH A VOICE OF PRAISE!
SHOUT OUT TO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH!
SHOUT OUT TO GOD WITH A VOICE OF PRAISE!
SHOUT OUT TO GOD WITH A VOICE OF TRIUMPH!
SHOUT OUT TO GOD WITH A VOICE OF PRAISE!

...because when you realise how BIG God is, that's all you can do...

Brain Food

2009-06-08T00:40:00.008+10:00

CUP NOODLES...your ultimate companion during exam revision.

Eye Am Still Open

2009-06-04T04:04:00.006+10:00

At 4:10am, I find myself listening to "Your Heart is an Empty Room" by Death Cab for Cutie which brings me back to "The Science of Sleep". I should be asleep, but I'm not. Train of thought and thoughts of trains. There is nothing wrong with Death Cab except for Ben Gibbard's voice. It's "nice", but maybe a little too nice if you know what I mean.

"Backlash"

2009-06-01T03:01:00.006+10:00

I'm back!

Tadatratatata!

"Boyle Backlash" said the headline in the tabloid News of the World, suggesting that the Scottish 48-year-old's alleged "four-letter tantrum" earlier this week had influenced millions of viewers to switch their votes to dance act Diversity. The buildup to Saturday night's live final had been dominated by reports that Boyle lost her temper in a London hotel and had even considered pulling out of the talent show finale. The Mail on Sunday said she had been been "comforted by psychiatrists" ahead of Saturday's final. Hahaha! Full Story

Alive

2009-04-14T00:50:00.004+10:00

I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE. I WILL UPDATE.

Eye Candy

2009-02-23T12:22:00.004+11:00

After Marlon Brando, I found inspiration for my latest blog entry. Here are a few other male characters that I go oxvnocxnvoasdhgohx about:

TROY (Ethan Hawke)
"Reality Bites"

LONGFELLOW DEEDS (Gary Cooper)
"Mr. Deeds Goes To Town"

CHE (Gael Garcia Bernal)
"The Motorcycle Diaries"

JACK (Matthew Fox)
"LOST"

DEREK (Edward Norton)
"American History X"

DAN (Ryan Gosling)
"Half Nelson"

Raoul Bova

as anything, in anything

Smokin'

2009-02-23T10:51:00.009+11:00

I've finally seen A Streetcar Named Desire, and Stanley a.k.a. Marlon Brando...ahh, talk about sexy. What a beast and how animalistic in his cruelty, but it all adds to his appeal. And that's sad truth--as long as the man has good physique, I guess a woman will allow herself to overlook everything else. Watch the movie and you'll see what I mean.

Christian Spirituality: LOVE

2009-02-14T03:48:00.016+11:00

BLUE LIKE JAZZ

by: Donald Miller

I tend to underestimate or altogether dismiss an author's writing skill just because I found his/her book at a Christian shop. I don't read many Christian books for this reason. When I do, I stick to the "resources" or books written with the intention to teach something specific. I don't touch anything "creative" except for C.S. Lewis' work. Well, this has changed. I've come across DONALD MILLER, and I love his work.

My most recent faith struggle is not one of intellect. I don't really do that anymore. Sooner or later you just figure out there are some guys who don't believe in God and they can prove He doesn't exist, and some other guys who do believe in God and they can prove He does exist, and the argument stopped being about God a long time ago and now it's about who is smarter, and honestly I don't care. I don't believe I will ever walk away from God for intellectual reasons. Who knows anything anyway? If I walk away from Him, and please pray that I never do, I will walk away for social reasons, identity reasons, deep emotional reasons, the same reasons that any of us do anything.

Blue Like Jazz is an account of Don's personal journey with God. So honest in its simplicity yet complex in the conflict that Christian spirituality evokes within the self. It emphasizes the battle between flesh and spirit that men have struggled with since creation. The problem: SELF-ADDICTION. The victims: YOU AND EVERYONE ELSE. The verdict: YOU NEED HELP, and help comes first from acknowledging that you need it then finding a solution which Don offers as Jesus Christ. Yet he doesn't do this in an intimidating but accommodating and unconventional manner.

I know now, from experience, that the path of joy winds through this dark valley. I think every well-adjusted human being has dealt squarely with his or her own depravity. I realize this sounds very Christian, very fundamentalist and browbeating, but I want to tell you this part of what the Christians are saying is true. I think Jesus feels strongly about communicating the idea of our brokenness, and I think it is worth reflection. Nothing is going to change in the Congo until you and I figure out what is wrong with the person in the mirror.

After reading, I felt so refreshed. Christianity can be about a lot of things: church, ritual, religiosity, preaching, a holy image, seeking blessings, shunning evil.......... And with all the noise, it's too easy to miss out on what pleases God most, the fundamental message of Christ--LOVE. All men, whether Christian or not, have indeed fallen short of God's glory and need redemption. Christ tells us not to judge others for good reason, because we cannot pull the plank out of our own eye and cannot pull out someone else's. The faults that we have with others and the judgment that we attach to their names are really our own. We don't suffer from lust for human affection but we suffer from lack of God. Why can't God's love be enough? It never seems to be enough when it should. Even the "strongest" Christians (if you can find a standard on which to determine strong or weak) need to constantly keep themselves in check. Think about it, though. If God's love IS enough--that is, if you find your worth in God and God alone--then loving everyone else will become natural.

We dream of Christ's love for His bride reading like Romeo and Juliet; two equals enflamed in liberal love. I think it is more like Lucentio's pursuit of Bianca in The Taming of the Shrew. That is, the groom endearing the belligerent bride with kindness, patience, and love. Our "behaviour" will not be changed long with self-disciple, but fall in love and a human will accomplish what he never thought possible. The laziest of men will swim the English channel to win his woman. I think what Rick said is wroth repeating that by accepting God's love for us, we fall in love with Him, and only then do we have the fuel we need to obey. In exchange for our humility and willingness to accept the charity of God, we are given a kingdom, And a beggar's kingdom is better than a proud man's delusion.

It sounds as though Christians are working towards a goal that they cannot attain. That's true. We really can't attain this goal by ourselves, and dependence on our own strength doesn't justify anything except that we are proud when we should in fact be humble because God honors the humble. So why all the agony in trying to be altruistic? Exactly. Following Christ's example of love shouldn't be agonizing. It should be enjoyable for otherwise, it defeats the purpose of unconditional love. But how, how, how, HOW DO I BECOME LIKE CHRIST? I'm only human. Totally an understandable but not necessarily a legitimate excuse. You can't keep running from the call to improvement and hiding behind "human nature" just because of your laziness to make the effort to change. Jesus' birth, death and resurrection were meant for your freedom and upon accepting this, you are meant to have victory over your flesh. You are given the power to make decisions and with every decision you make there will be consequences, good or bad. Your journey towards redemption begins when you decide to ask for help. Ask Jesus to reveal more of himself to you, to ease the strain of unbelief. Then ask him to help you overcome that unbelief and to be able to receive his love. Unless you receive his love, you cannot love him. And if you cannot love him, then you cannot obey his commands. And the vicious cycle repeats itself. Remember that you are not seeking men, but God. God knows everything about you, beauty and ugliness. He, unlike men, is not deceived by externals. So be honest with him. Whether you live or die, you live or die to the Lord.

All great characters in stories are the ones who give their lives to something bigger than themselves. And in all of the stories I don't find anyone more noble than Jesus. He gave His life for me, in obedience to His Father. I truly love Him for it. I feel that, and so does Laura and Penny and Rick and Tony the Beat Poet. I think the differences in my life came when I realized, after reading those Gospels, that Jesus didn't just love me out of principle; He didn't just love me because it was the right thing to do. Rather, there was something inside me that caused Him to love me. i think I realized that if I walked up to His campfire, He would ask me to sit down, and He would ask me my story. He would take the time to listen to my ramblings or my anger until I could calm down, and then He would look me directly in the eye, and He would speak to me; He would tell me the truth, and I would sense in his voice and in the lines on His face that he liked me. He would rebuke me, too, and he would tell me that I have prejudices against very religious people and that I need to deal with that' He would tell me that there are poor people in the world and I need to feed them and that somehow this will make me more happy. I think He would tell me what my gifts are and why I have them, and He would give me ideas on how to use them. I think He would explain to me why my father left, and He would point out very clearly all the ways God has taken care of me through the years, all the stuff God protected me from.

OOPS...

2009-02-12T00:06:00.013+11:00

What is fmylife.com? A site for losers after everybody's sympathy or a site for everybody to laugh at their misfortune?

Tragic:

Today, the girl I love and I went to visit my parents out of state for the first time. My father grinned and acknowledged that she was a "keeper", at which she laughed and said we were "just friends". I was going to propose to her next week. FML
Today, I went to my boyfriend’s work to surprise him. When I got there, I called him on his phone to tell him to turn around. I saw him look at his phone. His co-worker next to him asked who that was. He replied, “Just this fat chick I know”. FML
Today, my boyfriend of 2 years sent me a text messages saying, "Don't worry I'm gonna break up with her soon. Love you." FML
Today, I fell asleep. I felt something on my face. I batted it away. It was my hamster. It died from a concussion upon hitting the wall. FML
Today, I got this HUGE package at my college dorm from my parents with candy, chips, canned soup and all these goodies. When I called my mom to thank her, she replied "We got rid of your cat, Annie". FML
Today, I received my passport in the mail. They got my birthdate wrong. Then I picked up my birth certificate that I had sent in with the application. Turns out my parents have been celebrating my birthday on the wrong day for 16 years. FML
Today, I was reading an article about girls who have low self-esteem and end up whoring around to feel better. When I finished, I realized it was actually written by my best friend. The girl in the article was me. FML
Today, I was eating ice cream and I noticed some on my jeans so I wiped it off with my finger and licked it. It was bird shit. FML
Today, at the elementary school where I teach, the kids all voted for their favorite teacher. I was the only one to receive zero votes. When I asked a small group of students why no one voted for me, one boy replied "because you're the ugliest". FML
Today, when I arrived at school, one of my friends referred me to this site. He said I'd be perfect for it. FML
Today, I saw a friend in the street but he didn't see me, so as a joke I decided to ring him. He took his mobile out of his pocket, sighed and didn't pick up. FML
Today, I took a picture for my photography course of a random adorable couple kissing in the snow. Later, upon closer inspection, I realized that the guy was my boyfriend. FML
Today, my boyfriend handcuffed me to the bed, naked. Someone pulled the fire alarm, and my boyfriend couldn't find the key. So he left me, and the Resident Advisor found me. The fireman had to cut the chain. FML
Today, my girlfriend dumped me proclaiming she wanted someone more like her "Edward". I asked her who Edward was. She held up a copy her "Twilight" book. She was talking about a fictional vampire. FML
Today, this guy took me to Denny's on a first date and used a 2 for 1 coupon. It was expired. I paid. FML
Today, I told my mom I loved her and she asked if I was going to kill myself. FML
Today, I woke up around 5am from a party I had last night. I was still quite drunk. This chick was lying next to me from the night before. I kissed her, and about a minute and a half into some heavy making out she opens her eyes and says "Oh, it's you." Then gets up and walks out. FML.
Today, I wore a cute new stripped shirt to work. One of my co-workers said to me "I like your shirt. Most fat people don't look good in horizontals." FML
Today, I finally reunited with a lot of old friends from school. It was great to see everyone grown up and hear the stories. At the end we decided to have a group photo for old times sake. They asked me to take the picture. FML

You can spend hours on this thing!

Laneway Fest '09

2009-02-10T05:42:00.013+11:00

(1-2-09, Cut Off Your Hands; my flickr)

This post is long delayed. I put up a note on Facebook earlier with lots of pictures that I took during the festival. It was considered a big flop by many--over-crowding, lack of toilet facilities and overall bad planning. It was frustrating because I wasn't allowed entry into the stage where big acts Architecture in Helsinki and Girl Talk were playing. The photos I took turned out well, though and have compensated for the disappointment. At the risk of a very messy blog, I have decided against posting the pictures on blogspot, but I'd appreciate it if you check them out here. I'd have to say that I'm quite impressed with my digital zoom of almost three years. I think I'll be ready for an SLR real soon.

Val Erie

2009-02-10T05:19:00.006+11:00

Lately, I've been sleeping at odd times. Anytime between 5-7AM is becoming staple. Times like these that I want my insomniac friend on MSN ready for a chat, but unfortunately he's travelling around South East Asia. This is what I found myself doing a few nights ago: Facebook note. If you'd like to know me better down to the basics that I probably wouldn't bring up in this blog, have a read.

Graveyard Talk

2009-02-10T04:20:00.008+11:00

What I presumed to be a casual meeting with a friend turned out to be, perhaps, my most memorable day of 2009 so far. And it all happened in a cemetary. Having been very restless in my spirit lately, lonely and in need of renewed confidence, I needed encouragement from people and rest in the Lord. Then, along came the most unlikely person to bring joy into my day. Long story short, the genuine attention, excitement and hope that I saw in his eyes as I told him about my own spiritual challenges, blessings and pursuits within the last month is enough to take me a long way. Through this encounter I now know that in the future, whenever ugly and in doubt of my capacity to love or to exert good influence on someone else, I can always look back and remember the immense happiness I felt when speaking into this friend's life and he into mine. Moments like this you just know are God-given simply because they are so prompt, precise and powerful. He really knows what you need and when he delivers it at the right time, you'll know what hit you.

Inferno

2009-02-10T03:37:00.006+11:00

On Saturday, city folk complained about faulty air-conditioners when not too far away, country folk were crying for lost life, possessions and property. I was one of those city dwellers, except more comfortable within a freezing office. I didn't realize how extensive and severe the bushfires had become until reading the news today. Two towns wiped out from the 46deg weather and crazy winds. At present, up to 170 (death toll rising) deaths and thousands of homes destroyed. A couple reported about how they returned from a trip to the grocery store to find their house in flames. People trapped at home, families burned upon attempting to escape in their cars, forced evacuation within minutes, farmers losing their crops and livestock...nothing less than devastating. And to think that all this happened so close to home--the worst bushfires in Australian history having occurred in the state of Victoria. Full story

A close friend of mine who now lives in Korea has informed me that one of his best friends lost her brother, her brother's girlfriend and the girlfriend's own brother in the bushfire. They were trapped at home but managed to call family to say goodbye before dying. In times like these, there's nothing left to do but to pray for God's support. Don't take a prayer for granted. One prayer, even if you don't personally know anyone who is affected by the bushfires, counts.

Musicians Wanted

2009-02-05T04:06:00.007+11:00

Female musician (singer/songwriter/guitarist)
seeking Christian musicians for indie/rock band Full Ad

I just posted an ad on musolist.com. I did it on impulse before I could change my mind. This is probably the boldest move I've made in a very long time. Definitely a big step of faith for me. I'm tired of waiting around passively for opportunities to come my way--got to get laziness and complacency out of my system. With this ad published, I'll be more conscious of making the effort to diligently pray and seek God about these creative dreams. After all, I'm responsible for these gifts and can't bury them forever. It's time to become active in my wait. I don't know what the outcome will be, but I believe that He will open or close doors at the right time.

Revolutionary Road

2009-01-28T00:51:00.005+11:00

What goes on inside the Wheelers' household is too personal for anyone outside to understand. But the problems are all too human. The conflict does not revolve around a love-hate relationship, but one full of love--so much in fact, that the disputes come from finding common ground on which both man and wife can be secure in their expression of love.

Excellent performances by Leonardo di Caprio and Kate Winslet. I didn't feel inclined to side with one character over the other, which hit the point. Both characters were guilty but demanded sympathy, which made it impossible to identify the greater sinner. Nothing was exaggerated and my heartstrings didn't snap, yet I felt the tension throughout the movie. Revolutionary Road is intense in its honesty of the struggles shared between married couples. Definitely a must-see. Full movie

Dancing Shoes

2009-01-27T02:49:00.015+11:00

ARCTIC MONKEYS in Melbourne:
A Big Day Out Sideshow

(Palais Theatre, 24-1-09; my flickr)

Almost two years since they released an album, the Arctic Monkeys are still going strong. The crowd loved them, and so did we. Big thanks to Daniel for the free ticket!

P.S.: Listen to PIVOT. They opened with a baaang.

(Palais Theatre, 24-1-09; my flickr)

What Lies Beneath

2009-01-27T02:01:00.008+11:00

Watch David Attenborough's The Blue Planet. I have yet to finish the series, but it's simply beautiful. Clip

Brain Matter

2009-01-27T01:07:00.010+11:00

I've forgotten much of what I've studied at university. This frustrates me. What kind of encoding is necessary to remember the details after an exam? With the amount of material being presented in a semester, twelve weeks is too short a time to efficiently process information for retrieval one year later.

So, in preparation for an extensive range of third-year behavioural neuroscience subjects, I'm commiting myself to start a NEUROSCIENCE FOR BEGINNERS blog. Even if nobody reads it, it's summer school for me.

All the President's Dolls

2009-01-25T01:37:00.002+11:00

MICHELLE OBAMA: THREAT TO AN EXCELLENT MARKETING STRATEGY LAUNCHED BY DOLL MAKERS, TY Full story

Meet Sweet Sasha and Marvelous Malia. Of course their mother disapproves! But what did the Beanie Babies' spokesperson say? Lundeen told the Associated Press that the doll names -- "Sweet Sasha" and "Marvelous Malia" -- were chosen because "they are beautiful names," not because of any resemblance to first kids Malia and Sasha Obama. (Chicago Sun-Times) Right...

Now, words from a "TrueIndependent" who wanted to have his/her say: "I really would not feel so bad if the dolls were made in the U.S. But no, they were made in China!!!!!"

Danger

2009-01-24T01:37:00.001+11:00

MAN WITH PAINTED FACE KILLS CHILDREN AT NURSERY
A stabbing at a nursery school outside Brussels, Belgium, on Friday left two children and one adult dead, the Belgian Interior Ministry said. Another three children were rushed to hospital in a critical condition, according to reports.
Full story

Sometimes, we forget that EVIL is not confined to thrillers or crime fiction but that it exists among us. After all, storytellers get ideas from true crime, and the criminals get their ideas from storytellers. How do you protect yourself in a society blind to crazy people? Pray for wisdom, discernment and safety against hidden dangers. Above all, have faith that your God has your wellbeing at heart.

Word Search

2009-01-23T13:53:00.001+11:00

I've decided to bring printed word puzzles to work everyday. This is what I'll be attempting today:

Blind Love

2009-01-23T13:21:00.001+11:00

Yesterday, I was playing a word scramble game on a peice of mX that had been torn out and left at my work station by a fellow interviewer. This is what I found on the other side of the paper:

KIND ACT: To the girl who helped a blind man to his seat on Glen Waverley train on Monday--you're lovely. - Ben, Mt Waverley

People watch, and the ones who are less afraid to extend courtesy stand out.

Weekend

2009-01-23T01:49:00.001+11:00

St. Jerome's is only a week away, but tonight, another week seems a long wait...I would love to watch a gig right now. Not Mark Barrage, though.

(Roxanne Parlour, 22-8-08; my flickr)

Red Meat

2009-01-23T00:56:00.001+11:00

I JUST WANTED TO POST THIS UP:
(click on it for a better view)

I'm so proud of my work.
Red Meat Construction Site -- you can spend hours on this thing!