Hey there! I just changed my blogskin :) It's a little user-unfriendly because you can't navigate my past posts by headings or hashtags. So i'm gonna update the codings, stay tuned! (The font's kinda hard to read too..other than these 3 peeves, i'm quite satisfied) Follow me on the links below! :) 29/4/2015.
Started this blog during the last few weeks of SEM1(AY2014/15) cos' i regained interest in blogging. I blog about anything - news, social issues, music - but mostly about my university life :) Hope my posts will help you to make better life (and module) choices! Currently a Sociology Major. Still fresh. xD
Haven't been hooked onto songs for a long time! Finally found one where the melody really resonates with me. Replayed this countless times! And i even tried to make a cover on my guitar! Its pretty hard to get the strumming pattern (dk if mine's correct, i play by ear) cos the beat is way too cool for me HAHA. But i'm improving! :)I really like the beat of this song, though i don't exactly like the lyrics.. haha. But the tune makes up for my dislike. "Boys only want love if its torture~" and she justifies that Men are the ones who will give real love and security. ... ... well u could be a 35 year old boy and 20 year old man
The MV was pretty darn awesome too! So many diff fashion styles! The way TS pokes fun at the media's portrayal of her XD And she casted Sean! He has dreamy eyes. So deep i can get lost LOL. The lip-sync part was my fave! And the part where she stood on the horse!!
Trying to improve on my soci by posting a news article in a sociological perspective everyday..but oh well..not easy, shall start from today lol!
So, recently SCDF & SPF conducted a riot exercise, casting our dear indian foreign workers as the rioters and the majestic chinese police force as our defenders. Minister of National Development, Khaw Boon Wan said that this exercise was really meaningful.
"We refer to the joint riot simulation exercise organised by Police and SCDF. According to Minister of National Development Khaw Boon Wan's facebook post, this exercise was meant to 'network up the agencies' and 'spread preventive messages.'
However, what it has done is reinforce the stereotype that foreign workers, especially those of South Asian origin are more prone to violence and riots. Not only does this encourage racism towards the community, it de-humanises and marginalises migrant workers even further. Such an approach also counters current efforts to integrate migrant workers into Singapore society.
If the government is concerned about fights and skirmishes in dormitories, more resources need to be spent to ensure migrant workers receive adequate social services and support from the community. We also need to examine the structural factors which lead to such conflicts: many dormitories in Singapore are crowded, with many men sharing a single room, infested with pests and bed bugs. Long working hours, and poor quality sleep lead to fatigue and frayed nerves. These workers also have to cope with the stress of living abroad and providing for their families. Therefore, the physical, social and psychological well being of foreign workers need to be addressed if the government wants to minimise violence and conflict among the community.
This has to be reflected not just in our laws and policies but our attitudes and modes of engagement. The economic significance of foreign workers is enough justification for spending more on their welfare; yet the amount of resources allocated to this is disproportionate to the contributions that they make. This has to change because investing in the wellbeing of migrant workers is an important part of building mutual respect, and upholding the dignity of those who are marginalised; The principles of non-discrimination and equality are the key values of this approach, and absolutely necessary if we want a more cohesive society."
In a nutshell, more needs to be done to repair these structural strains in society which has reinforced such stereotypes.
Kinda sleepy but here's a few soci articles on gender which may be useful for finals! #notetoself
Haven't really read the first 2, shall keep 'em in view and talk about it tmr!
Yawns~ I have 2 essays due on Sun..
Today marks the last day of sem 1. yay. finals are coming >_<
Not really confident for psych but i'll try my best! At least CA2 marks were pretty motivating :)
Really enjoyed jap studies lecture today! I love McMorran lectures! Generally the lecturers i got this sem are really good. Well lecturers for exposure mods are pretty good i heard. I can sense their intense passion LOL, esp Prof McMorran hahaha. Sad for peeps taking js1101e next sem cos he's not taking the mod.
JIAYOU FOR FINALS! GOGOGO!
JS map took up my whole night sniffs (i'm havin flu now)
PF, Alison & HT came to my house to study today! Looking forward to more study sessions! yippee!
This post has no structure but idc la! haha (pardon me cos i'm haven fluuu)
To show genuine interest in everyone you meet and learn from the, we all have something special to offer.
written on Sunday, 9 November 2014 @ 04:41 ✈
That is one of my life mottos. But sometimes it hard to be like, "F' yes" to everybody, although you really wish you could. Sometimes its just awkward. Or that you're emotionally/physically drained. But everyone you meet definitely has something you can learn from, if you show genuine interest and make effort to talk to them. Everyone has something special to offer. Sad thing is, sometimes i just suck at making conversations, especially in groups, and i tend to be lukewarm to everyone.
This article i stumbled upon on Facebook resonates with me and i think everyone should check it out!
Especially this part:
"The first problem is people who never feel a “Fuck Yes” for anybody they meet. If you are lukewarm on absolutely everyone you meet, then either your demographics are way off, or you suffer from a lack of vulnerability and are protecting yourself by remaining indifferent and unenthused by all of those around you.
Remember, it’s your job to look for something cool in everyone you meet; it’s not their job to show you. This is life, not a fucking sales convention. Learning to appreciate people you meet is a skill you cultivate. So get on it. This doesn’t mean you have to fall in love with everyone who breathes in your direction. It just means you need to take responsibility for your ability to connect with the people you are meeting.
The second problem is people who never meet others who feel a “Fuck Yes” for them. If all of the people you pursue give you a mild responses, or outright rejections, then it’s time to focus on improving yourself. Ask yourself, what is it about yourself that would inspire others to say “Fuck Yes” about you? If the answer is not obvious, then you get to work. Build yourself into a person others would say “Fuck Yes” to.
And this is the ultimate dating advice lesson — man, woman, gay, straight, trans, furry, whatever — the only real dating advice is self improvement. Everything else is a distraction, a futile battle in the grey area, a prolonged ego trip. Because, yes, with the right tools and performance, you may be able to con somebody into sleeping with you, dating you, even marrying you. But you will have won the battle by sacrificing the war, the war of long-term happiness. "
I know sometimes we just can't click with some people, but have we really tried talking to them? People tend to not "live the moment", thinking that "I would be better off if i'm at ____" , "This is awkward, i shouldn't have came." "If only i could _____" , "If i knew that would happen i would've ____"
yada yada yada .. there is no way to turn back time so just make the best out of what you have.
I'm guilty of that too and i'm sure that we all do that in some point of our lives, but since you have read this, i hope that whenever you think in that direction, signal to yourself to STOP and make the best use of your time in what you're (stuck at) doing now. And if you don't like it, don't repeat it. Sounds easy but i know its tough to do so sometimes.
My takeaway, and what i live by too: Everyone's going through their individual life hurdles so be kind to everyone you meet, you never know how big their troubles are.
Here's something to lighten da mood and relieve your mind HAHA:
Recently discovered this really talented local band! :)
Yay today's the last session of sociology GDs! Really wished i could contribute more but i just don't have the content. And i kinda suck at phrasing what i wanna say cos..i still don't know my stuff. It makes me wanna form study groups with my friends too haha! Actually i did form one but it takes quite a lot of effort to maintain and everyone's busy with their assignments and stuff): Maybe next sem ba! Or reading week!
Anyway, kinda slow but I JUST FOUND OUT WHAT EXACTLY VOCALOIDS ARE TODAY. Essentially, its a digitally produced anime popstar singer; its voice is digitally arranged, pre-recorded and auto-tuned from a real person's voice.
And the most popular vocaloid is none other than Hatsune Miku. Go check it out on Youtube if you haven't heard of it. Last i checked, she performed in a concert with hundreds of cheering fans, enthusiastically waving their lightsticks and cheering!! It has over 2 million views. WOW. I was mind blown O_O!
For the uninitiated (oh don't you love this phrase HAHAHA):
My first reaction was just absolute shock because i couldn't believe that one would actually pay to watch an animated holographic girl sing. ANIMATED YO, you can just watch it at home, but yea you can argue that being at the concert gives a totally different feel BUT STILL, "ITS NOT REAAALLL!!!" Its like an animated movie but way more expensive??
Check out these reactions! I love this youtube channel hahaha.
So..what's your reaction to this internet sensation?
Pretty clear that there's a mix of reactions between both age groups, some people could not accept it because it just wasn't real. Hatsune Miku couldn't give you emotional vocals and some perceive that liking and being a fan of it is just dumb. You can't hug it. Or talk to it. Well its common to be a fan of cartoon TV shows, ya know adventure time, pokemon, but vocaloids brings it to another new level.
Let me give you a brief insight into the fan demographics for Hatsune Miku:
1. It isn't only restricted to Japan. Though Japan's culture is extremely different from that of America/UK, people all around the whole are pretty much hyped up about this hologram singing dude
Hatsune was the most wanted singer for the London Olympics 2012.
2. Couldn't find statistics but i would presume teenagers occupy the largest proportion of its fan base.
They attract teens to the concerts by giving discounts for those under the age of 18.
They also have this "Miku Miku dance" program which complements the song so you can dance along with it.
Many are shocked by the level of technological advancement which created Hatsune.
This is how i feel about this topic:
Personally, i think that the creation of Hatsune is darn cool, its marketed extremely well, as seen from its enormous fan base. And that the fans are so willing to fork out their money to buy tickets to watch a hologram sing and dance. Its pretty funny that the band members are real and the main singer is fake..exact reverse of a typical concert. The singer sings along to the BG music. But in this case the instrumentalists play along to Hatsune's recorded songs.
I'm a guitar player and i make covers- and i really hate auto tune.. I mean a lil auto-tune is fine, c'mon many singers do that, but this is too extreme. But it all really depends on your interpretation of music. What do you look out for in a song? I listen for emotions and strength of vocals, i love to hear singers belt out dat high note, full of emotion~ Auto tune just makes it sound emotionless to me and it gives me headache lols. But if you like cute music and auto tune, congrats you've found paradise!
I do appreciate the hard work music arrangers put in behind the scenes, pretty darn awesome but this kind of music is not my style haha. One good thing is that Hatsune doesn't really have to deal with anti-fans/stalkers HAHA.
Haven't been hooked onto songs for a long time! Finally found one where the melody really resonates with me. Replayed this countless times! And i even tried to make a cover on my guitar! Its pretty hard to get the strumming pattern (dk if mine's correct, i play by ear) cos the beat is way too cool for me HAHA. But i'm improving! :)I really like the beat of this song, though i don't exactly like the lyrics.. haha. But the tune makes up for my dislike. "Boys only want love if its torture~" and she justifies that Men are the ones who will give real love and security. ... ... well u could be a 35 year old boy and 20 year old man
The MV was pretty darn awesome too! So many diff fashion styles! The way TS pokes fun at the media's portrayal of her XD And she casted Sean! He has dreamy eyes. So deep i can get lost LOL. The lip-sync part was my fave! And the part where she stood on the horse!!
Trying to improve on my soci by posting a news article in a sociological perspective everyday..but oh well..not easy, shall start from today lol!
So, recently SCDF & SPF conducted a riot exercise, casting our dear indian foreign workers as the rioters and the majestic chinese police force as our defenders. Minister of National Development, Khaw Boon Wan said that this exercise was really meaningful.
"We refer to the joint riot simulation exercise organised by Police and SCDF. According to Minister of National Development Khaw Boon Wan's facebook post, this exercise was meant to 'network up the agencies' and 'spread preventive messages.'
However, what it has done is reinforce the stereotype that foreign workers, especially those of South Asian origin are more prone to violence and riots. Not only does this encourage racism towards the community, it de-humanises and marginalises migrant workers even further. Such an approach also counters current efforts to integrate migrant workers into Singapore society.
If the government is concerned about fights and skirmishes in dormitories, more resources need to be spent to ensure migrant workers receive adequate social services and support from the community. We also need to examine the structural factors which lead to such conflicts: many dormitories in Singapore are crowded, with many men sharing a single room, infested with pests and bed bugs. Long working hours, and poor quality sleep lead to fatigue and frayed nerves. These workers also have to cope with the stress of living abroad and providing for their families. Therefore, the physical, social and psychological well being of foreign workers need to be addressed if the government wants to minimise violence and conflict among the community.
This has to be reflected not just in our laws and policies but our attitudes and modes of engagement. The economic significance of foreign workers is enough justification for spending more on their welfare; yet the amount of resources allocated to this is disproportionate to the contributions that they make. This has to change because investing in the wellbeing of migrant workers is an important part of building mutual respect, and upholding the dignity of those who are marginalised; The principles of non-discrimination and equality are the key values of this approach, and absolutely necessary if we want a more cohesive society."
In a nutshell, more needs to be done to repair these structural strains in society which has reinforced such stereotypes.
Kinda sleepy but here's a few soci articles on gender which may be useful for finals! #notetoself
Haven't really read the first 2, shall keep 'em in view and talk about it tmr!
Yawns~ I have 2 essays due on Sun..
Today marks the last day of sem 1. yay. finals are coming >_<
Not really confident for psych but i'll try my best! At least CA2 marks were pretty motivating :)
Really enjoyed jap studies lecture today! I love McMorran lectures! Generally the lecturers i got this sem are really good. Well lecturers for exposure mods are pretty good i heard. I can sense their intense passion LOL, esp Prof McMorran hahaha. Sad for peeps taking js1101e next sem cos he's not taking the mod.
JIAYOU FOR FINALS! GOGOGO!
JS map took up my whole night sniffs (i'm havin flu now)
PF, Alison & HT came to my house to study today! Looking forward to more study sessions! yippee!
This post has no structure but idc la! haha (pardon me cos i'm haven fluuu)
To show genuine interest in everyone you meet and learn from the, we all have something special to offer.
written on Sunday, 9 November 2014 @ 04:41 ✈
That is one of my life mottos. But sometimes it hard to be like, "F' yes" to everybody, although you really wish you could. Sometimes its just awkward. Or that you're emotionally/physically drained. But everyone you meet definitely has something you can learn from, if you show genuine interest and make effort to talk to them. Everyone has something special to offer. Sad thing is, sometimes i just suck at making conversations, especially in groups, and i tend to be lukewarm to everyone.
This article i stumbled upon on Facebook resonates with me and i think everyone should check it out!
Especially this part:
"The first problem is people who never feel a “Fuck Yes” for anybody they meet. If you are lukewarm on absolutely everyone you meet, then either your demographics are way off, or you suffer from a lack of vulnerability and are protecting yourself by remaining indifferent and unenthused by all of those around you.
Remember, it’s your job to look for something cool in everyone you meet; it’s not their job to show you. This is life, not a fucking sales convention. Learning to appreciate people you meet is a skill you cultivate. So get on it. This doesn’t mean you have to fall in love with everyone who breathes in your direction. It just means you need to take responsibility for your ability to connect with the people you are meeting.
The second problem is people who never meet others who feel a “Fuck Yes” for them. If all of the people you pursue give you a mild responses, or outright rejections, then it’s time to focus on improving yourself. Ask yourself, what is it about yourself that would inspire others to say “Fuck Yes” about you? If the answer is not obvious, then you get to work. Build yourself into a person others would say “Fuck Yes” to.
And this is the ultimate dating advice lesson — man, woman, gay, straight, trans, furry, whatever — the only real dating advice is self improvement. Everything else is a distraction, a futile battle in the grey area, a prolonged ego trip. Because, yes, with the right tools and performance, you may be able to con somebody into sleeping with you, dating you, even marrying you. But you will have won the battle by sacrificing the war, the war of long-term happiness. "
I know sometimes we just can't click with some people, but have we really tried talking to them? People tend to not "live the moment", thinking that "I would be better off if i'm at ____" , "This is awkward, i shouldn't have came." "If only i could _____" , "If i knew that would happen i would've ____"
yada yada yada .. there is no way to turn back time so just make the best out of what you have.
I'm guilty of that too and i'm sure that we all do that in some point of our lives, but since you have read this, i hope that whenever you think in that direction, signal to yourself to STOP and make the best use of your time in what you're (stuck at) doing now. And if you don't like it, don't repeat it. Sounds easy but i know its tough to do so sometimes.
My takeaway, and what i live by too: Everyone's going through their individual life hurdles so be kind to everyone you meet, you never know how big their troubles are.
Here's something to lighten da mood and relieve your mind HAHA:
Recently discovered this really talented local band! :)
Yay today's the last session of sociology GDs! Really wished i could contribute more but i just don't have the content. And i kinda suck at phrasing what i wanna say cos..i still don't know my stuff. It makes me wanna form study groups with my friends too haha! Actually i did form one but it takes quite a lot of effort to maintain and everyone's busy with their assignments and stuff): Maybe next sem ba! Or reading week!
Anyway, kinda slow but I JUST FOUND OUT WHAT EXACTLY VOCALOIDS ARE TODAY. Essentially, its a digitally produced anime popstar singer; its voice is digitally arranged, pre-recorded and auto-tuned from a real person's voice.
And the most popular vocaloid is none other than Hatsune Miku. Go check it out on Youtube if you haven't heard of it. Last i checked, she performed in a concert with hundreds of cheering fans, enthusiastically waving their lightsticks and cheering!! It has over 2 million views. WOW. I was mind blown O_O!
For the uninitiated (oh don't you love this phrase HAHAHA):
My first reaction was just absolute shock because i couldn't believe that one would actually pay to watch an animated holographic girl sing. ANIMATED YO, you can just watch it at home, but yea you can argue that being at the concert gives a totally different feel BUT STILL, "ITS NOT REAAALLL!!!" Its like an animated movie but way more expensive??
Check out these reactions! I love this youtube channel hahaha.
So..what's your reaction to this internet sensation?
Pretty clear that there's a mix of reactions between both age groups, some people could not accept it because it just wasn't real. Hatsune Miku couldn't give you emotional vocals and some perceive that liking and being a fan of it is just dumb. You can't hug it. Or talk to it. Well its common to be a fan of cartoon TV shows, ya know adventure time, pokemon, but vocaloids brings it to another new level.
Let me give you a brief insight into the fan demographics for Hatsune Miku:
1. It isn't only restricted to Japan. Though Japan's culture is extremely different from that of America/UK, people all around the whole are pretty much hyped up about this hologram singing dude
Hatsune was the most wanted singer for the London Olympics 2012.
2. Couldn't find statistics but i would presume teenagers occupy the largest proportion of its fan base.
They attract teens to the concerts by giving discounts for those under the age of 18.
They also have this "Miku Miku dance" program which complements the song so you can dance along with it.
Many are shocked by the level of technological advancement which created Hatsune.
This is how i feel about this topic:
Personally, i think that the creation of Hatsune is darn cool, its marketed extremely well, as seen from its enormous fan base. And that the fans are so willing to fork out their money to buy tickets to watch a hologram sing and dance. Its pretty funny that the band members are real and the main singer is fake..exact reverse of a typical concert. The singer sings along to the BG music. But in this case the instrumentalists play along to Hatsune's recorded songs.
I'm a guitar player and i make covers- and i really hate auto tune.. I mean a lil auto-tune is fine, c'mon many singers do that, but this is too extreme. But it all really depends on your interpretation of music. What do you look out for in a song? I listen for emotions and strength of vocals, i love to hear singers belt out dat high note, full of emotion~ Auto tune just makes it sound emotionless to me and it gives me headache lols. But if you like cute music and auto tune, congrats you've found paradise!
I do appreciate the hard work music arrangers put in behind the scenes, pretty darn awesome but this kind of music is not my style haha. One good thing is that Hatsune doesn't really have to deal with anti-fans/stalkers HAHA.
“To put away aimlessness and weakness, and to begin to think with purpose, is to enter the ranks of those strong ones who only recognize failure as one of the pathways to attainment; who make all conditions serve them, and who think strongly, attempt fearlessly, and accomplish masterfully.”
- James Allen Quotes
Sometimes I wonder how people see me and what they think of me. It scares me a bit, honestly. I am sure though, that what they think of me,
what they think my life is, is a complete misperception. I have always tried to show myself as a carefree person, as someone who wont get bothered
because of public judgements. I am sure my friend and family think there is nothing going wrong in my life, that I do not worry enough, that
I am always happy. And I am sure they probably somewhat hate me for it because, lets admit it, there is nothing worse than seeing someone
who is life seems so perfect while yours is a complete mess. Truth is, I have become an expert at pretending. I think we are all experts
or at least we are getting there.
my projects
links exchanged opened! just tag me but link me first
: Amelia Lim, 20 October.