Sunday, June 15, 2003
My legs are aching sia. Playing soccer on the court is quite taxing, but none the less fun. Guess the bonding also helps, no doubt about that. Great also that we could play 4 on 4 today, unlike last week we played 3 on 2 until later when Sheng Long came and we could play 3 on 3. Hope Gary is right and that school starts on the 2nd week of July than at least I can go Ubin cycling at least once before school starts. Man, still hoping to have the chance to go Sentosa play beach volleyball soon.
he spoke at 3:33 pm
Marche's standard of food and service has dropped. Got to say that I was really quite disappointed today. Queued for my steak and waited for a damn long time. Ok, there were quite a number of people in front but what I never understood was why the people who ordered medium well or well done could get their orders before those who order medium rare. And the best part was those people who ordered medium rare ordered first!! The person was also quite rude and was like asking the people to squeeze to make the line look shorter. Please, asking people to squeeze when everyone was so near the grill?? And if you want us to squeeze, please say it nicer rather than go "Can you squeeze". The person doing the grill too. I ordered medium rare and the steak I got was almost well done. What makes me most sian is that Marche NO LONGER SERVES PORK KNUCKLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was one of the main reason why I love going Marche. Its because they serve up real wicked German pork knuckles, without the pickles somemore. Some German restuarants served it with some disgusting pickles. Those real sour type, and Marche thankfully was one of those places that doesn't. Sigh, looks to me like got to find another place that serves good pork knuckles again.
Got to go sleep soon. Playing soccer later at Elwin's place.
Happy Birthday Shiyi and Dawn!!
he spoke at 12:23 am
Saturday, June 14, 2003
Sheesh. Having a slight headache now and am really hoping for it to go away. Leaving for church in about an hour's time and there are rain clouds now. Sianz. Don't want to carry an umbrella to church. Will be meeting Willie and Joseph for dinner after mass. NOt sure where we are makaning but probably will be at Marche. Been quite a while since I last been to Marche. Think the last time I stepped into the one at Heerens is probably more than a year ago or even more. Been going to the one at Suntec. Don't know why also but maybe its usually more quiet there at Marche Suntec. Hey hey, blogging for only a couple of minutes and the sun is slowly shining again. Though the rain clouds are hanging around but seems unlikely to rain now.
Been spending my day watching MTVs. Yes, don't need to say and I am pretty sure some people would have guessed who's MTVs I was watching.
Yoz Jo and Dot! Bon voyage for your holiday tomorrow! Enjoy!
Was quite fascinated by what the papers mentioned about the difference about the football fans in Europe and Asia. In Europe, especially England, people tend to support the team for life, so regardless on whom the team signs, releases or how it performs, the fans will still support the club. But in Asia, the fans tend to support players. Meaning that if their favourite player plays at club A than they will support club A. If he moves to Club B than they will support club B. Yes, they mentioned it in reference to the Beckham saga. So if Beckham leaves for say Real Madrid, than Manchester United will probably lose an amount of Asian fans. But really, think Asian fans, i particular Singapore fans tend to support the team that performs best. If not, than its the rivals of the big clubs. A new club overthrows the strong club, you'll notice a number of fans will abandon that club to join the new "king". Sad huh? No loyalty most people here. If you do not believe, take a look around now and do you find lots of people wearing the France jersey? Seems like more people are wearing Brazil and Germany jerseys. How about after France won the World Cup in 98 and the European Cup in 2000. Where were the Brazilian jerseys than? Why where every we go we will seen the French jerseys? After Blackburn were crowned EPL champions too. A number of Manchester United jerseys suddenly disappeared and were replaced by the Blackburn colours. Today, we'll hardly find another person wearing it. Arsenal too. Only recently do we really see people wearing them. More be more exact, since they won their 1st double in recent times.
he spoke at 4:08 pm
Friday, June 13, 2003
Went to Al Ameen for lunch today. The tom yam soup still that good. Haha. Yea. Another day spend doing nothing. Yup, plain nothing. Beginning to get used to this lifestyle man and wondering why the people planning the oreintation have yet o call. So far I only got 1 call telling me that I'll be an OGL. Weird, considering that they had quite a few meetings so far and are planning the orientation tee shirt. Heard that the main problem is that there is no MCMers from our cohort in the current planning team. Yupz, just people from the other cohort. Well, guess maybe I'm not needed at all. Haha. Than that will only make my holiday even more simple.
he spoke at 11:48 pm
Thursday, June 12, 2003
Hmmm... According to his dad, Beckham is reportedly hurt that Manchester United is trading him like a commodity. You know, I've never thought of it that way and ongoing the saga is really an eye opener. All the while we see players being traded by their clubs and it has never crossed my mind that players do get hurt. Yea, no doubt they have much fame, fortune and skill, they are ultimately still human with feelings. Being traded the way players are these days can be really so nerve recking. Imagine yourself as a human player but your club sees otherwise; they see you as money. Isn't that the problem with most Asian players plying their trade in Europe? Look at Nakata, after Perugia bought him, they started selling Nakata jerseys in quick fast time. Seems like all Japanese wanted his jersey and Perugia tickets. During his time at Perugia, they made quite a substantial amount from ticket and Nakata jersey sales. Nakata's marketing appeal soon made nearly all of European clubs sit up and notice Asian players. Suddenly everyone wanted Nakata, not for his skill but for his commercial appeal. Soon Roma snapped him up, sold his jerseys and than sold him to Parma; again yes, you know what his job is. This season, Nakata is linked with Arsenal and Chelsea. The most interesting part is that whenever you see articles regarding the transfer of Asian players, there will be almost certainly talks about how much revenue can the player rake in while he is in the club. So how do you think Nakata feels as a professional footballer? If I was him, I will no doubt be hurt that my clubs want me, not because I play good football but because of my commerical value. That is exactly the same about Beckham. Do you really think that clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Milan and Inter are interested in Beckham the player? I am pretty sure that the 1st 2 clubs are more for Beckham the marketing tool. In fact, Barcelona is using him as a campain tool for the upcoming presidential elections. Imagine that, being used to win votes. That's not only an insult to the player but also to soccer. Soccer is no longer the beautiful game it once was, it has evolved into a money spinning game. The modern game is not about how it is played but how it can draw crowds for money. Teams are expected to play attractive football not to win the game but to attract the crowds. The English claim that they have the best football in the world and often laugh at the Italian game. But in truth is that Italian games are more technical and requires far more skill than the English game. The catenaccio, the formation that most Italian teams play is a style of play based on a tight defence and swift counter and the Italians have turned it into an art. Basically the teams will have a 3 men main defence form a "bolt". 3 "tentacles" made up of the other players will be in front of the "bolt" and the opponents will be allowed to attack. The opponents will be navigated along the tentacles and the closer they are to the "bolt", the more resistance they will find. It's like a noose slowly being tightened. The "bolt" will "shut" if the opponents manage to reach it, meaning that they will by than lose possession. Once the Italians get the abll, be it at the "bolt" or anywhere, they will counter attack along the tentacles. The basis of the catenaccio is a exceptionally strong defence and that is something that the English can never master. In terms or attacking football, the Spanish are the true masters. So if you are the look that the 3 main leagues in Europe, the Serie A, Primera Liga and EPL, the EPL is actually a mix of the 2; short of a pirated version in my opinion. The only reason why the EPL is so popular is because of how it is marketed. I also firmly believe that all the scorning that the EPL does on Serie A is just a case of sour grapes. They know deep inside that they can never be as technically gifted as the Italians. Top English players that had dared venture across to play in Italy usually end up struggling. I know that some people will ask about Taibi's horrific spell at Manchester United. Look at him now in Italy, he may be playing for a newly relegated team, but still he can put up quite a few good performances. Reason? I feel that it is the tight defence is playing behind in Italy. Yes, a tight defence even in a relegated team. Look at the Champions League. People will tell you that the only teams that are capable of stopping the Spanish clubs are the Italians! All this thanks again to the art called catenaccio.
he spoke at 7:12 pm
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
Ch I news reported that the Singapore government is looking into allowing students to decide what 2nd language they intend to take. Frankly I'm really not in favour of this move. What is wrong with each race having to take their own mother tongue as their 2nd langauge?? Based on what I understood from the report, it seems like students will be free to choose their own 2nd language. My guess on the result? Chinese who can't speak mandarin, Malays who can't speak Malay and Indians who can't speak Tamil. Is that the Singapore we want? I certainly hope not. What we will than have are posers. Don't think I can comment about the other races but as a Chinese, I am proud to be able to speak mandarin. True, my mandarin may not be very good but at the very least I can have a decent conversation in Mandarin. It's already bad enough that most people from my generation on is not able to speak their own dialect (something that makes each dialect group so unique), soon we will have Chinese who will not even be able to speak mandarin. To me, being an Asian who is ashamed of being Asian is bad enough (I think some of you will remember on how I was so disgusted by the Asian student from Berkeley University who was so in favour of Berkeley not allowing Asian students to study there while and American was against that policy), and now an Asian who cannot even speak his/her own langauge. That is absolutely nauseating. I know that if the policy is passed, it will be very popular among those students who have difficultly grasping their mother tongue and as we all know that how Singaporeans will disregard their own roots to have better grades and seem more cool, but I sincerely hope that the government will seriously consider not passing this policy to perserve the so very little roots we each have of our own race.
Somehow this issue reminds me of those teenagers and adults who go to the western countries for a short period of time and come back with an accent. Wow. It really amazes me on how these people can pick up an accent so easily when they spend like only less than 5% of their life in that country!! Experts will tell you that after you pass a certain age, you can never naturally pick up an accent and mind you, that age if I remember correctly is less than 12 years old. How than can people in their teens and adulthood can go over and come back with an accent?? The excuse that you stayed there for a period of time holds no damn water at all. Its just a lousy excuse of you being a poser. The truth is that you are fucking ashame of your Asian identity!! Fuckwits! How do we not see people returning from China with a Chinese accent? Huh?? Is it because China is a less cool country? So the logic must be that people do not aquire an accent from places that are less cool.
he spoke at 11:35 pm
Another day just spending my time at home doing nothing! Haha. Yea, that's my life now, all day long having in Lydia's words "a personal retreat". The most interesting happening of my day was driving out for lunch; been quite a while since I last drove. Don't know why too but my dad asked me to drive and I just agreed. Yea, quite sick and scared for driving for a while. Still remember what Joy told me once; that after driving for a while, you will just get a bit scared and would gladly let other people do the driving. Didn't really agree with her than but now I really understand and agree with her. Maybe at the point after you just passed you'll be so keen on driving, but if you ever get the misfortune of having near misses or meeting an accident, you'll definitely be freaked out. It's really very nerve recking and stressful on the road at times. Especially during peak hours or when there is heavt traffic. Others drivers can be so inconsiderate and will try to muscle their way on the road and never give way. On the road, its a jungle out there.
Sorry guys that I did not join you all for the KTV, hope you all had fun. Didn't go partly because I cant sing! Haha. Don't want to torture your ear drums with my tone deaf voice. Guess you all can still remember what happened during last Soc Psych. Been wanting to clean up my room but jut do not have the motivation. Must really do it soon and regarding my model kit, as expected, I have yet to get it and don't think I'll get it. Got so many things I want to do but just do not have the energy and will to do. Sheesh.
he spoke at 8:25 pm
Tuesday, June 10, 2003
Luther Vandross's new album was launched in US today. What's so special about this album? It's his first album he is launching after a stroke that at one point left him in a coma for nearly 2 months. Really impressed by these people; even after a major setback like this, they can still come out so strong and prove to the world that since they can do it, so can the rest of us. Even in the sporting world do such people exist. Why all the hype about Lance Armstrong? It's not only because he keeps winning the Tour de France, but also he won them after he recovered from testicular cancer. Just when everyone thought that his promising career had ended, he recovered from it and continued to defy the odds. Not only him, Deportivo La Coruna's Spanish keeper Jose Molina too. He recovered from cancer not once but twice! In June 2001, he was diagnosed with benign cancer and he recovered from it to be back for Depo's 1st team. October last year, he wad diagnosed with testicular cancer. Again he had the will and recovered from it and is now once again the 1st choice keeper. Mind you, Depo is no medicore team. They are 3rd in the Spanish Primera Liga (Real Madrid is 3 points ahead of them) and are challenging for the title. Juve and Italy's Alessandro del Piero too. He overcame the death of his father (a person whom he respected and loved most and a person who stood by him despite all the negative reports of del Piero after he came back from a career threatening injury) to lead Juve to 2 consecutive Serie A titles and this season's Champions League final. He said that the 2 seasons following his return where the worst ever in his career. The Golden Boy of Italian football had fallen from grace and it did not help when he missed 2 one on one situations in the Euro 2000 final against France. He was blamed by some factions for Italy's cruel defeat. After his father's death, he picked himself up and began to play to his former best and is now back as one of the best footballers in modern football. Even in last year's World Cup disaster for Italy, he was one of the few players who was not blamed at all. Wonder if any of you remember the equaliser he scored against Mexico, the goal that brought Italy to the 2nd round. After he scored that goal, he pointed up to the heavens and dedicated that goal to his dad. One word to describe that image - beautiful.
he spoke at 11:05 pm
A night of self discovery. Found out that I am so sensitive to caffine at night. Had a Coke Light around 7+ and the caffine had so strong effect that I had problem sleeping at night.
he spoke at 8:20 am
Met her today. Got to say that its really amazing that she always seem to appear whenever I lose hope of seeing her or get to know her better. Sheesh. If you all are wondering who she is? She's the girl of my dreams and she is the one person that examplifies true perfection and a girl truely of my dreams. How often do you find a girl who's friends have nothing to say about her but good things. Yes, I've never heard a single bad thing about her. That's how perfect she is.
Had dinner with the guys than played a bit of pool with Wings. Watched Phone Booth after. thatPhone Booth is probably the shortest movie I have ever watched. Only about 1 hour. Watched a 9.50 show and was out by 11.10 and that included all the trailers and ads. But the makers made it up with a good storyline and the message that they tried to put across was quite clear. A short but enjoyable show.
he spoke at 12:06 am