Power of Music (Literally)

Firehouse. Saw a promotion advertisement for this rock band who is going to perform soon in June. Listened to their songs a long time ago. I always thought that the vocalist's voice is one of the best I have ever heard. Strong and powerful vocals, suitable for classic rock ballads and roc anthems. Played the Firehouse album on the home theatre system, amazing.

Power of Music Encore

During the morning pre-assembly, heard from another teacher that she saw some of the students practising the song which I sang 2 weeks ago. It put a smile on my face. I am glad that I have raised awareness for arts among the students. After normal curriculum time, I saw 2 of my students holding a guitar each in their hands. I asked them about it and they told me they are going to rehearse singing my song. They are going to sing the exact song which I sang on stage at an Old Folks' Home on Monday. And just then, a teacher told me that they were inspired by my singing that day.

I felt really happy for them that they are doing something really meaningful. And also that I can be a sphere of influence to these children. There is hope again for humans.

Power of Music

Performed on the stage for the school during the Arts Festival. Sang "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz. The children loved it. Throughout the entire song, the students were clapping in beat, in rythym. I could tell from their faces that they really enjoyed themselves. It was a moment for the school, the children and me. It was a personal moment in which I am really proud of and will cherish all my life. Standing on stage, holding my guitar, strumming and singing a song in front of close to an audience of 1000, I reckon it will be a nerve-wrecking experience. But, once I got up to the centre of the stage and talked about why I learnt to play the guitar, I felt like I was simply talking to my class. It was even easier than having a lesson with some of my classes. All of the children were listening so attentively with their bright sparkling eyes. When I started to sing, there was an adrenalin rush to sing and perform to my best. After the second verse of the song, the children started to clap their hands without anyone's cue. The scene at the moment still play so vividly in front of me. I will forever cherish that moment.

The world that we live in

A world divided by countries.
A world divided by nationalities.
A world divided by religions.
A world divided by races.
A world divided by cultures.
A world divided by rich and poor.

How divided can this world be?

Over the Rainbow

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Once in a lullaby ii ii iii
Somewhere over the rainbow
Blue birds fly
And the dreams that you dreamed of
Dreams really do come true ooh ooooh
Someday I'll wish upon a star
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me ee ee eeh
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney tops thats where you'll find me oh
Somewhere over the rainbow bluebirds fly
And the dream that you dare to,why, oh why can't I? i iiii

Well I see trees of green and
Red roses too,
I'll watch them bloom for me and you
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world

Well I see skies of blue and I see clouds of white
And the brightness of day
I like the dark and I think to myself
What a wonderful world

The colors of the rainbow so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces of people passing by
I see friends shaking hands
Saying, "How do you do?"
They're really saying, I...I love you
I hear babies cry and I watch them grow,
They'll learn much more
Than we'll know
And I think to myself
What a wonderful world (w)oohoorld

Someday I'll wish upon a star,
Wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where trouble melts like lemon drops
High above the chimney top that's where you'll find me
Oh, Somewhere over the rainbow way up high
And the dream that you dare to, why, oh why can't I? I hiii ?

Love lessons

The guy, Ricky, is in a Bush-led war in Iraq, busy liberating the people living there. His girlfriend, Michelle, is in USA enjoying the American dream. One day, Michelle wrote to Ricky through a snail-mailed letter.

It says,
"
Dear Ricky,

How have you been? I think that it is very difficult to keep this relationship because of the long distance between the both of us. In fact, I have to admit that I have already cheated on you twice. I think we should break up. Can you return me the photo which I sent over to you last month?

Lots of XOXOXO
Michelle
"

After Ricky received this letter, he was in shock. After a few moments of silence, he took his girlfriend's photo, along with other photographs of 52 gorgeous women (girlfriends/wives of his military buddies) and stuff it into an envelope, together with a letter which wrote:

"
Dear Michelle,

Oh sure. I am sorry, but I can't even remember who you are. Please look for your photograph, I am sure it is in one of the lot. AND please return the rest of the photographs to me.
THanks.

Truthfully,
Ricky
"

Mind your education

The first words coming out from a baby's mouth are normally "Mummy", "Daddy".. Then came the "Yes", "No". We were being taught to give a definitive answers to questions like ," What is your favourite movie?", "What is your favourite food?" Simple answers were normally given. Then as one progresses through the rigours of the education system in a place where being world number one is top priority and attracting foreign talents is the solution to the decreasing birth rate(not excluding the fact that defamation suits are a norm), we learn to answer the same questions with a slightly more argumentative format, such as, "It depends..."," Yes, I agree, but to a certain extent."

THen came the understanding of law and order. WHen asked by higher authority of power(military included), we have to give either a "Yes" or a "No", no further questions asked.

So really, what does education want from us? Or rather what does education give us? More importantly, does good education necessarily make us better people? Better in what sense? Smart? Kind? Able to make lots of money? It might just be a case that we are highly sociable species and that education is a necessary tool to bond us together, to orientate our minds to do things in a similar fashion.

Corruption, quality and safety

Corruption is the number one worry in the world right now. Not global warming, not the decreasing oil resources, and definitely not the current financial crisis. Greed is the catalyst to corruption. The never-ending demand for more is what makes us humans. Aliens who visit Earth might have a laugh.(Assume that since they are able to reach us, they should technologically more advanced than us in orders of a few magnitudes)THey would most probably view humans as species who divide themselves into countries according to location, skin colours. THe hypocritical ways of "world leaders" who do more talk rather than doing it.

Corruption is like a disease. It spreads so fast that it is almost uncontainable and is happening every second of time. Some do the act secretly, while some do it openly, saying it is in order to keep the talent intact within the powers of the country, which is also saying to throw money at them to prevent corruption. The saying goes, "Curing posion using poison."

Untitled for politcal reasons

The gradual erosion of human rights, the rise of a powerful nanny state, and the creation of a political system that imposes its will on the people on behalf of an elite, and which tries to persuade its citizens that it is for the greater good of the country. It shows, for example, how a country can develop into a First World state without the accompanying civil and political liberties that would normally be associated with such development.

Mclaren at Singapore F1 GP

Ferrari at Singapore F1 GP