Sometimes I wish I do more meaningful things. Well not that I am discontented with hours of sitcoms and coffee-lounging.
Anyway.
A friend has embarked on a great project for the youth. In the field of psychological practice, I cannot be prouder. Though secretly wished she had worked on this project few years ago, a friend could have used the assistance.
CHAT (Community Health Assessment Team) aims to promote awareness of mental health and to destigmatise mental illness. It is about providing “professional help when [one has] difficulty coping” with the daily stresses. So if you know of someone who can use some support (note: it is about the support and not just medical treatments) or you want to volunteer for the cause, visit Chat @ Facebook or YouthInMind.sg for more information.
They are having a launch event at the new and beautiful *SCAPE on 26th June 2010. Bet there will much chattering! Heh corny, I know.
I turned the papers up, down, left, and right when I read the news. The image seems so incredible. Certainly the work of an overzealous photoshopper, I thought.
Apparently, such sinkholes are common where the rock below the land surface is limestone, carbonate rock, salt beds or rocks that can naturally be dissolved by ground water circulating through them (source: U.S. Geological Survey). The pictures of such ‘formation‘ on Wiki are pretty in the natural setting but absolutely devastating when it happens in the middle of downtown.
The storm did not do this to Guatemala. It simply tightened the dead knot, fastened by some people.
I don’t know about the bed of Singapore. I really won’t want to see a HDB flat disappearing into the earth. There must be more accountability in the parties who are responsible for construction and drainage. Don’t forget what happened in Qinghai and Sichuan, China. Painful lessons (for the people) are everywhere.
When Sex and the city launched the movie 2 years ago, I was excited. I looked forward to the reunion of the 4 distinct personalities and the big wedding. Expectations were half-met. There were about 2 scenes that were exceptional. Other than that, there was mediocrity.
This year, the trailer for the sequel confirmed my fears. The show seems to have taken the unfortunate trek away from the original roots – 4 women with 4 perspectives, 4 varied strings of related-able problems, and 4 sets of fashion sense. Now, except for the hair colour, they dress and walk the same.
I adore the series for the writing. Character development is deliberated crafted. Dialogue and chemistry came first. Skirts and background furniture are secondary. Perhaps it is the nature of a feature film – distract the audience with glitz and a sad lack of realism for 146 minutes. Afterall, that’s all you have. 146 minutes opposed to six seasons.
Granted, I have not watched the sequel1. I do not have the the urge to run to the theaters because all the PR ra-ra is focused on the exotic set, trendsetting fashion, and brief appearance of Aiden. I wish they haven’t.
One can’t help but wonder – are they trying to recapture the magic or their youth?
I am not known to be big on social norms. Not challenged but my default preference to keep things short makes it tough to keep to a solid group of professional pals. Most of my friends have good (and close) relationships with their service providers. And they seem so well-adjusted, pampered, and understood. Totally envious.
Today I visited one person whom I wish to develop such a long term relationship with. In the past 12 months, I have visited him three times. We don’t really talk. I will sit still while he works the scissors. Few questions and answers will be exchanged and sometimes, we laugh. He blends into my system very well. Think his assistant likes me too. Good sign. All these despite my innate dislike for salons. I am proud of myself.
This is tough work and I have many more to engage and enroll into my life. I admire everyone who works it so effortlessly.
You know the Apple vs PC ads that we all love? Funnily imbalanced and totally effective. Given the track record, I am rather surprised that this same company who appears to be so onboard the train of competition humour cannot appreciate a comedian’s work. Though she had to ‘apologise’ for the tongue-in-cheek portrayal of the popular gadget, she definitely went down fighting. Heh.
Anyway if you have not seen Ellen’s parody of the phone functionality, watch it soon. Who knows when the “cease and desist” thingy may appear.
On a similar note, I enjoyed the Apple vs Blackberry ads. Of course, since it was formed in the rooms of highly paid ad men (and not from a comedian), it was just simple facts.