educatewandie  -

by | § ¶ | trackbackPeople You Meet

Over the past few years of helping out in the moderation efforts on Togoparts, it helps to have a sense of humour and a slow-to-react temperament. Also good to have is a blog such as this to serve as a seperate outlet for venting all that pent up rage/bewilderment one gets in the course of maintaining 'The Balance'. Because anything and everything you say often ends up as the official party line of the powers that be. With so much shit on the forums right now from some folks, it's a wonder why some of us are still doing it year after year when we could be taking in millions a month selling ringtones instead?

Anyways back to the people. Yes these wonderful netizens I get to meet and greet all day and night in Togoparts. I have to thank Mike Reed for being spot on with his illustrations and laugh out loud (am I geek or what?) descriptions of these characters.

Here are some of which I've gleaned and mildy edited from the Flame Warriors Home because they are particularly common locally.

(more)

Keywords: flame,warriors

by | § ¶ | trackbackFilmFest Pick 2

Here's the list of movies I want to watch:

- Question (is sex just the meeting of bodies or can it perhaps lead to the meeting of minds and even to a higher place where it is sacred?)
- Perpetual Motion (caused quite a stir in North Asia and apparantly men need to have some courage to see this film)
- Bush's Brain (answers to why Bush is still the president of USA)
- Art of Flirting (singaporean production with substance, or so i heard) 
- Avetik (erm, i'm attracted to the arty farty picture in the booklet)

by | § ¶ | trackbackBudget Terminal

Popped by the Budget Terminal ((T4) over the weekend for a look-see. And as you can see, there wasn't much look-see to be had. And to think we were expecting to find a Standsted-like terminal but left feeling we were back in Salzburg's except only worse. The colours were all wrong inside and out (which felt to me like that of an army camp) and the place looks like a large hanger hurriedly cleared and converted into an airport. Exposed beams, ugly clocks, sports hall lighting... ugh. Since when did budget = gawdy and obiang?

Photos (Clockwise from top right): Arrival Hall, Departure Hall (with Hans in the background), Departure Hall Check-in Row, Departure Gallery.

As always, refer to your major media outlets for all the positive spin.

Keywords: budget,terminal

by | § ¶ | trackbackFilmfest Picks

The filmfest is here again and I've got my initial list after finally managing to get my hands on a festival booklet. (What's the deal with ticketing outlets closing at 8pm anyway?)

- Iraq, My Country / Tin Soldiers
- The Flood In Baath Country / Selves And Others
- Out Of Place
- Workingman's Death
- We Feed The World
- The Giant Buddhas
- Voice
- Perpetual Motion

It would be unlikely that I'll be able to go to all eight screenings though so I'll have to make the painful choices and make them fast.

Perhaps it's just me but this year's selection didn't quite appeal to me so I think I've turned into a rabid documentary fan this time around and picked 8 documentaries. However, there's the novelty of having a brand new venue for screenings at the Gallery Theatre at the soon to be opened National Museum of Singapore (How does that work I wonder).

p.s. A pity the two much talked about Singaporean films '4:30' and 'Singapore Dreaming' are probably sold out by now.

Keywords: filmfest

by | § ¶ | trackbackGod Save The Bears

How can you not find this photo funny? More about the PETA protest outside the Istana here.

Keywords: peta,protest,bear,istana

by | § ¶ | trackbackThey Don't Report The News Like They Used To...

Found the scrap of paper I had scribbled on while at the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library in August last year. Man my handwriting is really really terrible.

"It has been ascertained that Whampoa, the younger, whose name is known far & wide in these eastern parts and is familar ro not a few even in distant Europe, was about to leave thus by the next steamer on a visit to his native country, a few of his friends amongst the European Merchantile community chiefly, reserved to show their respect and esteem for him by entertainin him at dinner. The dinner accordingly came off on Monday evening at the London Hotel when about twenty sat down....

The health of their guest having been given, Whampoa returned thanks in a most neat and feeling manner in English. And on the health of Tan Kim Seng, one of our most respected Chinese Merchants who was also present being drunk, Kim Seng replied in a clever and humourous speech in Malay which delighted all present."

The 'Free Press (11 Feb 1847)' acount of a dinner to Whampoa.

Oh and if you're into stuff like this, be sure to visit the newly launched Yesterday.sg for a whole bullock cart load of fascinating writeups about Singapore history.

Keywords: whampoa,singapore,history