Gaming on a Wednesday Evening

Ever since I enlisted, my night activites have revolved largely around chilling out with friends or bumming around at the clubs. Gaming, surfing the net for new music soon became a thing of the past for me... well till yesterday that is. I spent the large part of last night surfing the net for battle videos of my all time favourtie game ROME: TOTAL WAR. Whilst surfing I chanced upon a couple of damn good vids with excellent sound tracks. Something very different from the mainstream music... falls under the musical genre "metallic opera". I've got to admit I never like heavy rock music metal let alone metal... but some of the music is pretty appealing. I've uploaded some of the really good ones on my blog... do go have a listen... Wade Robson's dance hit are pretty groovy too...

Haven't really had the time to really log in a good entry... so these little snippets will have to suffice for now...

“Music has charms to soothe the savage breast, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak.”

- William Congreve (1670 - 1729), The Mourning Bride, Act 1 Scene 1

Re-scheduling the morning routine...

As my manager would be arriving late today, she told me that it would be alright for me to come in slightly later than usual this morning. I was obviously delighted with this new arrangement and decided to schedule in an early morning gym session. I was always under the impression that the gym opens at 8.00am everyday. So I was pretty surprised to find out that the gym opens at 7.00am on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and 8.30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I am pretty glad I found this out early so I can now ease up on my workout sessions. Instead of packing everything into the evening session, I will now be able to distribute my workouts rather evenly. No more rushed-full-body-1hour 5mins workouts for me anymore!! I'll most probably try to factor in a couple of good old cardio sessions too...

Will be rushing to town later to meet a couple of clients so... till the next entry. Here's something which really captures the escences of the desicion-making processes which I try to live by as close as possible.

“He who every morning plans the transaction of the day and follows out that plan, carries a thread that will guide him through the maze of the most busy life. But where no plan is laid, where the disposal of time is surrendered merely to the chance of incidence, chaos will soon reign.”

Victor Hugo

French dramatist, novelist, & poet (1802 - 1885)

The Problem with having too much time during lunch...

Just came back from lunch
Went shopping at the EXPO in Changi near my workplace
Took a long "short" walk back to my little prison cell
Browsed through Facebook for the umpteenth time
Chanced upon pics of my JC mates wilding it out far yonder
Wonder if I'll ever get that chance to take that shot

Sigh... should have mugged with greater intensity in JC. Sure as hell regret the past now.

Tuesday :)

I really got to work on the blog headings... something catchy or emotionally captivating. :) Anyway I am afraid I've got a terrible confession to make... I am really loosing interest in my internship. The daily ramblings at work, coughing out ridiculous amounts of meaningless statistics and doing stuff strictly for the sake of putting up a show to make the someone up there look almighty and intelligent... shucks its really taking a toll on me. Its pretty interesting to note how as people or a particular organization progresses, they tend to complicate issues and make things a lot harder than it really is. I understand the need for a system, however that system has to facilitate the work that needs to be done and not make the procedure of getting that work done more complicated. Its just an observation I am making now and I am well aware that in 10 years time, I may jolly well be one of those out there who thrive on the complexities/ superficiality/ artificiality of the corporate lifestyle.

Shucks... I doubt I am going to get any thing done this really quiet, boring Tuesday morning. One more week to the Chinese Lunar New Year. Shucks...

“The squeaking wheel doesn't always get the grease. Sometimes it gets replaced.” - Vic Gold

Biting the hand(s) that fed him... I wonder who the above statement was directed too but it sure as hell applies to everyone I know at work :)

Later.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

I really do not want to spoil this show for anyone out there so I'll just provide a brief background and a rather short synopsis of the movie. The movie is an onscreen adaptation of the memoirs of Jean-Dominique Bauby, the former editor of ELLE (France). The memoir, titled "Le Scaphandre et le Papillon" basically narrates the final chapters of Bauby's life after he suffers a severe stroke which leaves him paralysed from head to toe. Commonly known as the "Locked in Syndrome", Bauby becomes a prisoner in his own body, his mind still alert and every bit the same as it was before the crippling incident. What happens next is what truly defines the film and more importantly the strength of Bauby's character. Despite his seemingly vegetative state, Bauby refuses to submit and resign to whatever fate had dished out to him. Instead, he embarked on the most beautiful journey in his entire time, through his memories and his remarkable imagination.

I have never been a big fan of foreign films and movie adaptations but this movie really was a pleasure to watch. Makes you think twice about life and how one lives it. :)

Friendship Club

"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo and withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation."

- George Washington, First president of US (1732 - 1799)

Time and Friendship. Two seemingly distant qualities which to many bear virtually no similarities whatsoever. I never saw the co-relation between either too till rather recently. I can't seem to really put down in words this particular revelation I have, so the quote above by Mr Washington will have to suffice for now. Besides, the quote really does capture the essence of the whole concept of the fostering of good friendship.

On a lighter note, the past weekend went extremely well for me. Met the Menage e Trois on a friday after dance classes for the usual movie marathon. The theme for the night was "Crappy Movies" so our top two picks were "Ecks VS. Severs" and "Alien Resurrection". Both movies clearly reflected the theme and lived up to the preconceived reputation we had of them. Thanks again for a wonderful Friday.

I had no plans for the most of Saturday so I spent the day gymming and swimming. Looking at the mirror, there is definitely room for improvement, much more room in fact. :)

After the short but hopefully effective workout session, I headed down to Changi sailing club for a Wee Chin's 21st. Good food, rustic yet nostalgic environment with a ridiculous amount of alcohol. Perfect. Its been a while since the whole group of us got together and I must agree with Wong that we really should do this more often... I was the self designated driver for the night so I was spared the embarrassment of getting drunk silly :).

Slept in a bit on Sunday morning before meeting an old friend for a movie and drinks. We caught "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" at Vivo before parting. It was a really good french flick... which warrants a entire entry to itself. :)

I must say that dinner later that evening was wonderful. Pics and entries coming soon...

Monday... 4 and half more days to go...

Finally Friday... Kudos to a good weekend ahead... I hope...

Some advice for a friend in trouble; Focus on the things that matter, the things you can directly change and affect. Those that are out of your control, learn to live around it and with it. Do not fight against something you know you can't change or can only change at a great cost. It simply isn't worth it. :)

There are two common; terribly obnoxious habits which I notice is rather rampant amongst us singaporeans. There first which I will now address will be the blatant disrespect for another's personal space, be it on public transport, sitting in the cinemas or even at the local food court. I personally had two encounters with these sort of individuals the first at the screening of American Gangster with my family and the second last night on Bus Service No. 23 to Little India MRT station. I won't allow this entry to break down and degenerate into a bitching session for I feel that despite warranting a little attention, these people simply don't deserve too much media coverage... of any kind. Think Britney Spears, you'll get the picture.


After a quick gym session, I headed down to Robertson Quay to watch the Amazing Race Asia with old friends. Adrian and Collin won this leg of the race impressing even their rivals. Kudos to you too, and all the best in the remainder of the competition...

Friday heralds the arrival of the weekend and I am really looking forward to spending quality time with friends and family. Till the next entry!!

1979 - 2008

I don't usually get all touche and all but its sad when such potiential is lost. Life's too short to sweat the small stuff.

“The good life, as I conceive it, is a happy life. I do not mean that if you are good you will be happy - I mean that if you are happy you will be good.”

- Bertrand Russell (1872 - 1970)

Tranquility in Tampines

“Every portrait that is painted with feeling is a portrait of the artist, not of the sitter.”

- Oscar Wilde, Irish dramatist, novelist, & poet (1854 - 1900)

Alone beneath the darkening sky

Dark clouds gather, but soon blow by

The sun soon dims as the moon too rise

The birds cry sadly as they all fly high

Tear drops fall as I pen this note

Wondering how I am to say goodbye

- Jason Yip (2008)

Hope you like this entry. Basically describing what I see in the photo which I took above a couple of days back in Tampines. Dedicated to all the breaking hearts out there. You're not alone.

Trudging to work on a terrible Thursday morning...

Before I continue on todays post, I'd just like to say I found the quote from Elizabeth: The golen age which I was describing in my previous post. It wasn't Queen E who said it but the astrologer she consults with... here goes one of the most memorable quotes in the movies... but I must comment that my spiced up version sounds more "umph" :) I should really consider being a professional "quote generator".

"When the storm breaks, each man acts in accordance with his own nature. Some are dumb with terror. Some flee. Some hide. And some spread their wings like eagles and soar on the wind."

-Dr John Dee

I took the Wednesday off for a dental appointment which I have been putting off for a couple of weeks now. I had my wisdom teeth extracted last September. As the lower two teeth were set rather deep in my lower jaw, two rather deep cavities resulted in the removal of the two teeth. As doctors were afraid that the gaps in my lower jaw will not close up fast enough before infection sets in, I need to return every two to three months to get the little portholes in my mouth cleaned up. The nurse too commented on the coffee stains, hinting at the need to restrict my caffeine intake. One must understand that I need the daily morning caffeine fix to stop myself from turning into a zombie. Visualization aid: Think Blade without the daily injections... same theory.

A lot of thing are happening at the same time for me now and I am really glad for that. There are a couple of stuff in the pipeline and despite how much I would love to blog about it, critic it and get all emotional and bitchy about it... I shall wait till it happens or does not happen before spilling it here.

After the dental appointment, I proceeded to have a great lunch and coffee fix again with really good company. (Told you I'll blog about it... ) ...

My small pool of loyal and dedicated readers have again commented on the need for pictorial entries on this blog of mine. I must admit that so far, I have been pretty happy just rambling on and on about my life and the the little issues which have caught my attention. But having pictures of the stuff I do up would be a refreshing breather from my recent entries. Next entry perhaps, once I get a whole of the pictures of my outing on Tuesday evening.


“You can go a long way with a smile. You can go a lot farther with a smile and a gun.” - Al Capone (1899 - 1947)

I chanced upon the above quote as I searched for something applicable to end off today's entry. I found the above quote which sparked off a wave of emo-thoughts about how I feel about life and its processes in general. The quote doesn't really reflect well on the stuff I mentioned earlier but it does reflect very well on the way I feel things ought to be done. My family was watching some lawyer/crime show when my mum commented on the methods used by the prosecutors in trialing the case. She was abhorred by the underhand tactics used and start this long tedious lecture on principles and about how everything I do in future must be upright and all. I just smiled, if only she knew about the way I worked...

I believe in self preservation as much as the need to lead a morally upright life. I too believe in the need for a guiding set of principles and ethics in our everyday life. However, we all know that, sometimes to get that one level higher, the occasional sacrifices need to be made. Will I do what I think needs to be done come the crunch time? I believe I can. Many people make the mistake of thinking with their hearts and not their heads. Regret only comes about when the mind realises that a particular decision was made thorough the heart. Something I will always bear in mind. Harsh as it may seem, the realities of life.

Hopefully-soon-to-famous Quote by a Not-so-famous person

"Many wander in the darkness, seeking that light at the end of that long, dark tunnel. To some, that light marks the end of their dark, lonely and treacherous journey. To the rest, that light marks the arrival of the 2pm freight train, too marking the end of their miserable walk in the dark."

- Jason Yip (2008)

Monday Tuesday... all over again...

"Diana Revealed" was screened last night on central. I caught the bio-documentary after downing a bowl of noodles and showering. The documentary provided viewers with a rather thorough insight into the private life of the "people's princess". The interview, conducted throughout the summer of 1992, included her feelings about her family, her fairy-tale wedding to Prince Charles, living with royalty and so much more.

I guess the one lesson I learnt was that Happiness can't be bought. Neither can Happiness be found or discovered as mentioned in all those popular idioms or phrases out there. Happiness is something you have to work hard for and make. Happiness has to be earned. It isn't given to you on a silver platter or in a golden spoon. Success in life can be measured in many forms, material wealth being the easiest and most commonly used form of measurement. Others measure their success through the amount of influence or "power" they have. Many I know measure theirs through their amount of popularity they think they have. I guess using something one can feel, see and touch is always the easiest and most convenient form of measurement.

I admit I used to be entrenched in that world not too long ago, striving for attention, craving for that one more glance, desiring that one more new friend and so on and so forth. And then that was when it occured to me. Was that what I really wanted, to be the one people miss on a saturday night out, to be the one with all the invites to the best parties in town or to be the one people talk about most on their blogs and other online social networking sites? I am not going to go all saintly and deny that I did aspire to be and have all that... but I guess I realised that having all that didn't account for anything at all.

Success, to me, is an extremely abstract concept which I admit I have not grasped entirely. But at least, I know what it is not...

Weekend Exploits....

The last weekend proved to be a rather eventful and fruitful one. Its amazing how much one can achieve in such a short span of time with careful planning and intricate time management.

I spent the early part of Friday evening dancing at dance class before heading over to Isaac's place for movies and Ice-cream. I don't really like Disney movies but I must admit Ella Enchanted was pretty interesting. I was really expecting some waterworks from a particular individual but was disappointed once again. We'll try Bambi or Titanic next time, something slightly heavier.

My Sis and I spent Saturday morning touring the venues we shortlisted for my 21st Birthday. We had a few locations lined up initially but after having a look at the first one, my mind was more or less made up. With the venue 90 percent decided on, I guess its time to start the tedious planning process. So much to do in so little time.

After a quick lunch and "Booze" (Mango and green tea smoothie... really good!!!) We caught Elizabeth: The Golden Age. The storyline could have been more intricate and the characters further developed but other than that I have got no complaints. The cinematography was beautiful and the battle scenes rather spectacular. I'd strongly recommend the show to those who know how to appreciate good cinematography or have a zest for historical movies.

I tried out dragon boating for the first time officially on Sunday and I must say, it was rather exhausting. Despite having a rather good stamina and endurance level, the 2 hour session that Sunday afternoon left me totally spent. The main difference between dragon boating and all the other sports I have done so far is perhaps the team factor. I never have considered myself a team player. All the decisions made during my competitions (be it triathlons or sailing regattas) are solely made by me. The consequences of your actions will be borne solely by me and me alone. With a team, there is a new added pressure and obligation to the team and it is a new aspect of the sport I have to try and get used to.

"When faced with the darkest storms, most people will flee from it, a good many will seek shelter, hide and hope for the best. However some people will spread their wings and soar like the eagles. You can leave with my court Sir, but England will not cower and hide. I will not run and hide." quotation adapted from Elizabeth. I can't remember the exact quotation but it does have a similar effect and meaning to the one above. There were many other memorable quotes in the movie but I couldn't catch all of them... will list them all out as soon as I lay my hands on the DVD when released.

KM8 was up next on the to-do list for Sunday. After a rather uneventful lunch with the dragon boating crew, I headed to Tanjong beach for some R&R with Charles. The one worry I had was the looming clouds in the horizon and the high probability of showers near the southern parts of Singapore. I guessed that fear was laid to rest upon my arrival there. Mark and Charles spent the majority of the time playing volleyball on the beach while I spent mine lazing around with Hushka. Hushka's a beautiful 3 year old German Shepherd who's really loyal to Mark. When the two of them left to play volleyball, Hushka went a little crazy and started pining and prancing around. Her rather violent activities left me with scratches and fur all over. I hope the scratches aren't permanent. :(

After the beach outing, Charles and I headed over to Ben's place for dinner with Dom, Ken and Wei. His apartment faced the Pasir Panjang Ferry Terminal and the view of Bukom at night was simply breathtaking. Dinner was excellent with sumptuous dishes and excellent company. I thoroughly enjoyed myself that night and am looking forward to more gatherings to come. No pretense, no acting, no ulterior motives whatsoever, just good conversation over an excellent meal with great company.

As I lay on my bed last night awaiting sleep to overcome me, I couldn't help reminiscing about the day's events. Mark and Wei gave me really good advice during our conversations that day.

As I was jogging with Mark along the beach, he told me that I had time on my side. He briefly described his life so far and explained the various decisions he made which let him to where he is today. After Dinner, Wei too shared with me his inner thoughts and views on certain issues pertaining to self development and how everything one does will eventually contribute to where one will end up in future.

Mark and Wei are two individuals who I consider to be pioneers in what they do and an inspiration to me. I learnt a lot yesterday about the things I need to do and stuff I need to learn to be the individual I want to be in time to come. Being true to yourself and sticking by ones principles, diversification, all these lessons and advice are things you can't get from the classroom and lectures. My parents and friends have been really helpful as I try to find my path in the world. All I need now is the discipline and strength to see through these dreams and visions I have blossoming in my mind.

“The only place where success comes before work is a dictionary." - Vidal Sassoon

“
The key to realizing a dream is to focus not on success but significance - and then even the small steps and little victories along your path will take on greater meaning.” - Oprah Winfrey

Friday.. Finally...

After an arduous 4 days, the weekend finally approaches. Its finally the 5th day of the week. I now believe that one can only truly appreciate the weekend by undergoing mundane yet deceivingly stressful work from Monday to Thursday. The twiddling of the fingers and the watching of the minute hands on the office clock... all these help one truly understand the meaning of TGIF. :) This week's been pretty kind to me I must say, kept myself pretty busy with the usual morning routine of blogging and blogsurfing followed by hours of data-entry and customer profile analysis... Though extremely boring at times, I must admit that it was a learning experience, getting to see how a MNC truly works and the amount of work needed to keep such a large corporation functioning.

I am pretty satisfied with the way things are going for now... keeping myself pretty busy as I navigate through this 6 month gap period before I matriculate... Really hoping that when the real action starts, I will be better equipped to handle the challenges thrown my way.

I just browsed through the earlier posts I put up towards the end of last year. I have to agree that my posts have evolved into rather long, vebrose rantings about my thoughts and sentiments about touche issues and other random stuff... what did one of my army coursemates call it.. ah yes "an emo-blog" :) Oh well, perhaps in time, and with enough practice on this blog, I could progress to be a columnist in some "emo-male" magazine, a Uncle Agony of some sorts :) I'll try to get some photos this weekend from Sentosa and my other random stuff... Try...

I spent yesterday evening with my entire family including the baby of the family Sumo. We had dinner at Joo Chiat, at my mum's old haunt before heading home for TV and Durian... Good old quality time.. loved it. Today's entry has to be slightly shorter than usual cause there's a lot of last min work to get sorted out before I troop out of here later...

SUMO

"God runs electromagnetics by wave theory on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and the Devil runs them by quantum theory on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday." - Sir William Bragg (1862 - 1942)

Never knew Sir William Bragg was capapble of joking... Have a great weekend... :)

Surface Beauty...

I was browsing through some blogs before I logged of work yesterday and I have come to realise that these little websites provide the world a tiny glimpse into how you view the things around you. Some Blogs serve as a record of day to day events, many highlight key milestones in the individuals social calender while others merely reflect the inner emotions and ramblings of just another person trying to find his place in this large and cold world.

Well I can't say for certain exactly what I aim to achieve through blogging, but I must admit that these daily entries have certainly helped me recover some of my literary skills. Some sentences still don't make sense and some parts are grammatically incorrect but I am sure with time and practice I'll improve. For friends who do know me prior to my blogging days, I guess this could serve as a medium for you to better understand my position and opinions on certain issues. For those of you who don't know me.... well... just read and leave me your comments :) So much for an emotional and thought-provoking introduction to this entry. (My entries are rather text heavy... do bear with it as I scavenge for some photos to throw up here)

Work ended rather early yesterday, something I have learnt not to take for granted. As the new work year kicks off, I foresee longer hours and thicker spreadsheets coming my way. Time will become a rare commodity. I headed to the gym for my usual evening workout after logging off. Whislt I was still in the army, I could easily manage two to three workout sessions a day. Now I'd be lucky just to fit in two. (Still trying to gather the strength for the morning run before work... will update on progress). The gym was extremely packed and there was a lot of waiting for the various equipment... I have resorted to planning my detailed workout session only upon arrival at the gym so as to minimize waiting time.

After a 1 hour 10 min work out, I left for home. The gym is situated about a 20 mins walking journey away from my house so the walk back will serve as a cool down for me. Armed with my mp3 player, I'll walk briskly home, not really paying much attention to the surroundings around me... till yesterday that is.

My mp3 player was flat so I walked home without the usual accompaniment of Frank Sinatra or Peter, Paul and Mary. About 10 mins from home, I chance upon a couple of elderly folk sitting around the stone tables at the void deck. As I walked past them, they all turned and smiled.

Well I was quite taken a back cause the last time someone I didn't know smiled at me was when my fly was open so ... my initial reaction was to check whether my singlet was worn inside out or were my socks mismatched. Everything was in order.

One particular old lady then wished me good evening and asked where I was headed. I mentioned I was headed home. She just laughed and mentioned that it was good that there are young people around who still workout and go home for dinner... I was quite surprised at how she knew my routine. She just laughed and said, "Dear boy, Auntie here has been sitting here with my friends every evening for the last 3 years now, we see you always rushing about to and fro everyday..."

That was when it stuck me. It dawned on me that perhaps as all of us go about our day to day chain of events, scuttling around totally engrossed with the ambitious goals and materialistic wants in life, that we may have missed out on the stuff that really matters. The human connection, the emotional bond to the people around us, whatever you may classify it as. Perhaps it is time we slow down and look up, and see the world for what it trully encompasses. That big car, sprawling mansion, country club membership are all nice things to have but I seriously doubt they can bring to the indivual that inner joy and satisfaction with life. It does not matter where you are... neither does it not require much effort to make that change. Have dinner at the dining table with the family and the TV off, chill out at a park instead of a bar, watch a movie at a friend's place instead of a cinema, etc... If everyone to place a little more emphasis on the smaller bits in life... I am very sure the world will be a much more friendlier place to be in.

James Oppenheim once said, "The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet. ". I am so glad I finally saw the truth in that statement.

Food For Thought

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.

George Bernard Shaw (1856 - 1950)

Personal Favourite...

The Mundane Task of Data Logging

There are many ways to look at a situation, in general, either a positive or negative way. What may seem like a good thing may turn out bad and what may seem like a disastrous turn of events could have some hidden sliver lining.
I was busy doing some data-entry work earlier this morning when I accidentally closed the whole file, in the process deleting 3 hours of painstaking work. I went all white as I tried in vain to recover the file from all possible sources. 3 whole hours of work... gone at the click of a button. I must admit I was rather pissed and seriously felt like throwing the whole laptop into the dustbin... 3 whole hours of hacking away at the keyboard... not easy for someone like me. Anyway I proceeded to play around with the various controls and learnt the joy of "vlookup" on excel and subsequently managed to re patch all my values from another worksheet back into the files... all in 10 mins... phew... Lessons learnt are as follows:

1.) Keep calm when pissed
2.) Save the work every 2 mins
3.) Read before you click anything

What an adrenaline rush at the desk today. Well at least I got all that out of the way for the morning. I doubt I'll have much to do this afternoon but... I shan't speak so soon.

I went for a 45 min bike ride with my dad last night and I must admit, it was time very well spent. We talked a lot about life and other stuff as we cycled around the neighbourhood and through the various park connectors. The night was crisp and refreshing as the showers late in the afternoon really cooled things down. My dad works outstation so his time back in Singapore is really quality time. I guess among my parents my dad is the one with the cool head. From him I learnt how to take things in my stride and really think before acting. "Always remember, 5 by 5 and all will be well" he said. "5 by 5" means when faced with a difficult situation be it a confrontation, difficult task etc, take 5 steps back and wait 5 mins before making an decision. This gives one the time and space to really rationalize things and hopefully make a wiser choice. Really applicable to a hot-headed individual like me I must say. Really am looking forward to more quality time like that.

I guess as 2007 drew to a close, I realised that whatever I have done in the past has affected the situation I am in now and whatever I do now will affect me as I travel down the arduous path called life. Certain events have definitely left an impact in me and despite those instances being really bad ones, I am glad I learnt from it and hopefully do not make the same mistakes again. "History repeats itself". How very true a saying. 2007 made me a wiser person and I hope 2008 will make me a successful one. :)

My manager isn't in today again due to sever gastric problems and all, so I am pretty much left alone for today. Most probably I am going to finish up with a bit more work before heading for lunch. Wednesday... that leaves Thursday and Friday before the weekend arrives... ahh... Going to start planning for it now. Hopefully I will be able to catch some good movies too.. 3.10 to Yuma looks good... :)

Till the next entry.

American Gangster makes my week :)

American Gangster was one of the best shows I have ever watched. Marvelous screenplay, excellent acting by the two leads and an extremely intricate storyline made for an extremely good watch. Anyway, below is my take on the movie... Go watch yar!!! This movie sure makes up for the other shitty stuff on screen now...



“Spoiler Alert”


Ellsworth "Bumpy" Johnson, a disciplined and intelligent black gangster, runs much of Harlem and imparts his wisdom onto his former driver turned right-hand man, Frank Lucas (Denzel Washington). When Johnson dies of a heart attack in 1968 at an electronics store, “Bumpy”’s domain threatens to get split and divided amongst the other gangs in the area. Frank dislikes the new, flashy gangsters and decides to take control. To gain money and power, he travels to Southeast Asia. With the help of his cousin, an Army Senior NCO, strikes a deal with a Thai general who supplies him with pure heroin. Frank then has the drugs transported back to America via military service planes, hidden in the coffins of dead U.S. soldiers from the Vietnam War.


Frank’s unique drug supply enables him to sell extemely potent drugs (“Blue Magic” heroin) at low prices. He quickly makes a fortune and buys several nightclubs and apartments. He moves his family from North Carolina to New Jersey, where he purchases a large estate for his humble mother. His five brothers are enlisted as his lieutenants in the NYC drug trade – forming “The Country Boys,” who work together to traffic and sell dope on the streets of Harlem. During his rise, Frank meets and falls in love with Eva, a Puerto Rican beauty queen. Through his discipline, organization, and ruthelessness, Frank quickly rises to the top of the Harlem drug and crime scene.


Meanwhile in Newark, New Jersey, detective Richie Roberts (Russell Crowe) is juggling a failing marriage, late-night law school classes, and his police career. When Richie and his partner, Javier Rivera, discover nearly $1 million in unmarked bills in a car, Richie resists temptation and turns the money in. His rare honest ways make him a hated member of his precinct eventually resulting in his partner being exiled from the force. Richie's rampant womanizing behavior leads his wife to seek a divorce and custody of their son. After his exiled partner dies from overdosing on Blue Magic, Richie's honesty catches him a break when his superior Captain Lou Toback (Ted Levine) puts him in charge of a newly created task force to stop drug trafficking in Essex County, New Jersey and New York City. Richie handpicks honest cops and gets to work on finding who is supplying Blue Magic.


As Frank's business prospers, he makes a point of operating quietly and dressing with a modest conservatism both as a sign of strength and to avoid attracting the attention of the law. However, Frank disregards this habit for his wife for one ostentatious night out, attending a Muhammad Ali boxing match with several known mobsters in a US$25,000 fur coat and hat, and with a ring-side seat. Roberts, who was staking out the match, sees this unknown, but obviously wealthy, person associating with high-level criminals, as well as having better seats than the Italian mafia. Robert becomes suspicious, and he begins to investigate this unknown (to him) figure in New York organized crime.


Even as Frank realizes he has exposed himself to police scrutiny, he must make deals with the Italian mafia and fend off corrupt NYC detectives, such as Det. Trupo (Josh Brolin), who extort and threaten him. Trupo's dislike of Frank is capped when his prized 350 Shelby Mustang is bombed before his eyes. He must also contend with local crime figure Nicky Barnes (Cuba Gooding, Jr.), who is taking some of Frank's product, diluting it himself, and selling it under Frank's "brand" name. Unidentified assassins try to kill Frank’s wife, further destabilizing him and worsening his unsteady marriage. Things finally take a turn for the worse when Frank sees the U.S. Military vacating Vietnam, which in turn cuts off his primary mode of transportation for his goods.


Richie catches another break when his men witness the driver of one of Frank’s top soldiers shooting a woman. They use the driver’s bad predicament to get him to wear a wire. The wire allows Richie and his task force to discover when a plane carrying drugs is landing. Meanwhile, Trupo leads his band of police officers to Frank's mother's mansion where they take Frank's emergency cash supply. When the plane lands, Richie and his men follow the drugs into Newark's projects and obtain a warrant. A huge group of police and detectives attack the drug apartments en masse and a large shootout occurs. Frank is at church when the bust goes down, but he is arrested after the service ends. Frank and Richie finally meet, and Frank’s attempts to bully Richie are unsuccessful.


With no other options, Frank decides to provide names of numerous other criminals, including his and Richie’s common enemies: corrupt NYC detectives. Numerous corrupt cops are arrested; a distraught Trupo kills himself to avoid arrest. Richie, having passed the Bar Exam, prosecutes Frank, but he leaves the prosecutor's office after the Lucas trial. The first client he takes after becoming a defense attorney is Frank. Because of his cooperation, Frank receives a relatively light sentence of 15 years rather than the original 70. At the film’s end, he steps out of jail to the sounds and era of the 1990s, significantly older and out of place.


American Gangster is a really good movie, the best to hit the screens in a long while. Coupling amazing acting with really dramatic scenes that shed a new light on drug-trafficking, I’d give it a definite 9.5 out of 10. Though there have been so many other drug/crime cop films out there, American Gangster proves to provide viewers with a fresh new perspective on the drug scene in the United States from the late 60s to the early 70s. Washington and Crowe were excellent in portraying the two adversaries and this show is a testament to their excellent ratings as A-class actors. No one else besides these two could have pulled this off so magnificently. There have been countless crime/ drug lord/ gangster flims made and American Gangster may come across as another one of those. But don't let that sway you if you enjoy good movies or crime films. American Gangster is so much more than that, with themes of loyalty and perseverance, making it an extremely wholesome (questionable use of the word wholesome but definitely an insightful) flick to catch. And also, Frank Lucas is one hell of an interesting personality. My Man…..

"All good things come to an end" - Nelly Futardo

"Only by embracing your past, can you understand the present, and reach for the future" Jason, upon reflection and analyzing the numerous quotes pertaining to heritage and embracing the future :)

Mundane Monday...

It seems like the time over the weekends fly by at a seemingly astonishing speed. "puff" and here I am back seated at this miserable cubicle again pumping numbers through meaningless statistical formulas and posting my ramblings up.
The weekend was a rather fruitful one starting immediately after work last Friday. Wrapping up work at approximately 5.30pm, I rushed straight for the 1st lesson of my dance class at City Hall. I am currently on the second module and I must say, the moves and all, just got pretty complicated. With practice I hope to get it all sorted out. After Dance, I headed to Sunshine's place for some chillout time. I must admit that all this chilling and all sure beats the mindless bouncing/ drinking at some sleazy joint. I spent the evening watching stupid movies, gorging on burgers, blog-surfing and the most thrilling event of them all... indoor r/c flying hahaha... what a night...

Saturday morning was spent sleeping in, i could only manage gym from 11am-1.30pm.... Terribly crowded on weekends so I spent a lot of time waiting to use the free weights and all... Saturday afternoon was spent galavanting in town. Had to look for presents for a cousin of mine who was celebrating her 12th birthday that evening... >>> fast forward>>> ... okok I spent the evening at her birthday party at Aloha Changi. Quaint little terrace place away from the hustle and bustle of an urban setting. Extremely relaxing. The food was simple yet thoroughly delightful, especially the giant prawns... We left at about 11.30pm for home...

Sunday was equally pleasent as I spent the Sunday again walking down orchard road... had a haircut at three... then it was dinner and coffee with mum and dad at vivo...

6 more months before I matriculate and start a whole new chapter in my life. When you reduce the amount of time left to the minutes and seconds you realise you don't have much time left to sweat the small stuff. Time is a commodity which many of us take for granted and assume will last forever. Many a times we (or perhaps more specifically I) get caught up in the moment and forget to look at things in perspective. I guess as we get older, we become more mature and start being able to put things in perspectives. I am glad I am starting to see the world in this way and with things starting to fall into place and my priorities slowly being sorted out, I believe that the days ahead will be smooth sailing... till the next entry :)

Fabulous Friday... :)

TGIF... Dad drove me to work today and I have come to realise the difference between public transport and A car ride.

Car Ride : 7 mins 23 seconds
Public: 40 mins 35 seconds

Saved 33 mins 12 seconds today... yeah!!! Intending to bash through the pile of work and leave the office early today... Dance class at 7pm so... yup yup less blogging more working.... :)

Anyway, I was at the airport last night with my mum and sister to pick up my dad. While waiting for him to collect his luggage, I saw a couple of NS guys arriving too from Brunei, OCTs I think. It has been 2 months since I collected my IC and cycled out of Hendon for the last time and in all honesty I do miss my NS days. Things were much simpler than and all I had to worry about was what time I had to leave the camp. However I do regret not having been through a "real soldier's life". As a PT instructor, I lived a rather sheltered atmoshpere with virtually no outfields or weapon handlings... It was a good life and I have no complaints about that, but I do feel at times that I have missed out on a rather different experience. Hmmm its over anyway... no regrets too I guess taking into consideration the number of sporting events I was sponsored to participate in... An idle mind is the devil's workshop... haha I really shouldn't think so much yar...

21 in 9 more weeks. Time... Flies... :(

Thursday Trembles

Unlike most individuals out there in the blogging community.... I blog at the start of each day... nothing poetic about it but thought it would be good random information to share on my blog.

Thursday... Tomorrow marks the start of the end... Excellent…

peut-être je retournerai à apprendre le français encore. Nouvelles aventures de nouveau jour… Avoir un bon jeudi ! !

Wednesday Worries

" To many the beauty of Life is only realised in death. Live every day like its your last, and only than can one truly appreciate the joy in every breath. " quote... me :)
As I trudge to work every morning, I can't help but see myself slowly evolving into the millions out there who get trapped in this vicious circle of endless work. The joy on their faces ebbed ages ago, their dreams and passion fizzled out by the sheer amount of mundane tasks accumulated over years in the never-ending rat race. Perhaps if everyone just holds on to that little hope, that seemingly unattainable childhood dream.... perhaps only than will life be a joyous journey... :)

Tues terror...

Tuesday. Still 4 more days to go before the joy of waking up at 11 in the morning becomes a reality. Work is really starting to pile up now. Excel workbook after workbook... meeting after meeting... and i am only an intern... hahaha... Oh well in some weird way it is pretty interesting and thrilling... being in a corporate environment and all... brisk walking to work like those people one sees in those corporate films on screen. Perhaps it is the knowledge that I will be here only for another 4 more months which makes this all bearable and somewhat interesting. Oh I must mention that Japanese green tea makes an excellent companion during those long druggy hours at work... for me it beats the espresso shots or frappachinos...
I discovered the joy of blogging rather recently and I must admit I do enjoy rambling on and on about stuff online... pretty enjoyable... no theme no deadlines no end in sight... just pure unloading of the heart and mind... :)
I have been thinking a lot lately about life and all. I realised I spent most of my life waiting for things to happen, wishing for this and that, having dreams and visions of good stuff which happens to others happening to me. Oh well... thank got I got that out of my system. I am going to start making a difference in my life... working towards those goals I set and realizing those dreams I have... a great many indeed.
"the visit opus 2" ... good music... sets the mood for in depth thinking... :) ramble ramble ramble...
I seriously need to find myself something to do on Sunday mornings... something constructive...

Something new again... just something random...

Time
Stops
Not

As
We
Rot

Hasten
Slacken

Time
Stops
Not

A Dream
A Vision
A Goal
Is Nothing
Without Passion
Without Action
Without Determination

Take my Hand
Close your Eyes
Open your Heart
Hold your Breath
Free your mind

Embrace the present
Remember the past
Walk into the future
A better man


When u're emotionally stimulated... I guess you just become more literary.
Tuesday. 4 more days to go :)

Wonderful Weekend

First weekend of the New Year... come and gone in the blink of an eye.. Time doesn't just fly it seems... It flashes past...

I spent Friday chilling out with really good company at a really nice place gorging on really bad stuff watching rather entertaining shows... Thanks for the company and I am really looking forward to more of these constructive outings.
As I browsed through the various blogs online (We all blog surf at some point, its whether we admit it a not :) ), I realised that a great many out there have produced a list of stuff they have accomplished in 2007. I guess its by only seeing how much you have accomplished can one determine and set the bar for the new year to come. My list for 2007... not very long but ...

1.) Ord-ed from the army... I must admit my two years have been thoroughly enjoyable... and
given a choice, I will do the same thing all over again
2.) Secured a rather sought after internship with an internationally established MNC. Hopefully
this will add value to my life and provide me with an insight into the life and career path that
I so badly crave.
3.) Attaining that elusive photocard which empowers me with the right to handle an automobile.
Finally... no more 30 dollar cab fares on a late night...
4.) Finishing 12th in my age group in the inaugural Singapore Half-Ironman Race. No mean feat
by an means... and I hope I wil be able to maintain my fitness level despite the hectic 9-5 job
now.
5.) Concluding the legal issues pertaining to the accident I had towards the end of 2006
6.) Finding and fostering strong friendships... one of my greatest acomplishments this year
perhaps... Thanks for being there... :)
7.) Meeting two very special individuals who really taught me a lot about myself... and about life
as a whole... Thanks for being with me. I won't forget the times we had....

Thats about all i can come out with for now i guess... 2007 was a really good ride with the arrival of 2008... and the start of uni-life... really am anticipating a wild ride ahead...:)

Vroom Vroom

Alright... I did mention that I passed my driving on the 31st of December 2007 but kinda left out the sacrifice made to obtain that ridiculously expensive photocard. My private instructor (who is really good by the way... and if you need help you should get his number from me :) ) was convinced that having the test on the 31st would increase my chances of passing. Apparently its half day for all the testers and this is a critical factor in determining the mood for the day... or half day... anyway as you all know... things turned out the way my instructor and I envisioned. Imagine failing on the 31st.... terrible end to 07 cum tragic start to 08.... phew....
Anyway, my mum has taken over the role of intructor for now and she's the one now sitting on the left hand side. I swear she's much more aggressive than most instructors out there... yelling when I bring the car too close to a curb or slapping me when the speedometer reads 80km/h and above... uber stressful... My dad's coming back soon from his overseas assignments, so with any luck I should be able to, with his help that is, convince my mum to either a.) let me drive the family car around or b.) rent or purchase a second car for me :) oh well.... till then....
Work wise for those who do want to know more, has been pretty mundane. As the fiscal year has just begun for my company, there is nothing much to be done... yet.... as the reports form the other companies and departments have not come in yet... so i gues its more reading and report writing practice for me till the middle of the month.
This weekend too marks the start of the a whole new way of R&R... no more boozing, no more mindless bobbing to deafening beats at clubs... :) we'll see how long this can go...haha
alrighty... 9.30am... time to work.... till the next entry.

Lesson Learnt

A many hurtful things I have done,

A many painful words I have said,

A great deal more I should have gave,

Regret and apologies are now all I have,

Pray do tell, Am I too late to start afresh?



So much more I have yet to say,

So much more I have yet to give,

Sorrow and heartache are all I'm left,

Your smile and touch I deeply crave.



A fairy-tale ending this will not have,

Your Prince Charming I may not be,

Laughter and good times instead of swords and shields,

A close and true friend I hope I'll be.





Trying my hand at some literary work.... for that special someone out there.... enjoy.

Happy New Year to all...

2007 has been a rather eventful year for me... finishing up with my national service, passing my driving, securing that much sought after internship, US uni applications and uni applications, finding that special someone... The year has been a rather fruitful one....however I feel that as with all aspects of my life, much improvement can be made. Scholastically, 2008 will mark the start of my return to academic pursuits and hopefully with the last 2 years as a break from hitting the books I will be more focused and ready to deal with the upcoming challenges ahead. 2007 too brought about the formation of many new friendships, some very very close ones :) and perhaps I will spend this year fostering a greater bond amongst these friends....
Personally, I will try to be more focused, less judgmental and less unreasonable to those around me and instead make an effort to truly care for those around.... oh well cheers to 2008 and a fresh new start!!!!