Breaking News

For a while now, CNN's Anderson Cooper 360 has become my source of daily news fix (everynight 10pm ET, lol). I've developed my habit of following news closely after taking my favorite course at Ryerson - International Relations & Cold War History (HST500).

I didn't do particularly well in it (I got B), but this course, and the prof of the course Arne Kislenko, has changed my view on the world. I care about it. I pay attention to it. I like learning about the relations between countries and religious groups. Most importantly, I want it to be better, safer.

Anderson is a really charming person. Smart, good looking, reported from war zones and sites of natural disasters, travelled all around the globe. After reading his book "Dispatches From The Edge", I find his life incredibly interesting... not just another shallow blow dried anchor.

I also like his way of handling news. He doesn't take sides, doesn't wear his opinions and views on his sleeves. He believes in FACTS and presenting them accurately. Viewers are smart enough to make their own decisions on what they see and hear.

I also enjoy watching AC360's co-anchor Erica Hill. I think she's quite a pretty lady. She appears nightly at the webcast during the show, delivers news bulletins, often handles her own segments, and always have funny chit-chats with AC for "The Shot of the Day" and Beat360...

I wish she can sit in more often when AC is off or even get a bigger part in the show. She's again and again shown her ability to hold down the fort... it was incredible to see her delivering Mumbai Attacks news last Wednesday night... she's definitely NOT just there because of her looks...

By the way, I won the Beat 360 t-shirt last month from the show! hahaha, here's my winning video!

Pictures from ATA

Utopia

The word Utopia comes from a combination of two Greek words, defined as"the good place" and "the place that cannot be".


Novemeber 26, 2008.
Hundreds are dead and wounded in Mumbai.


It's another one of those horrific days in our times. It's hard to understand why people would use such methods to express their radical world views, their disagreements against so many innocent people.


November 26, 2008.
My first day of work... I enjoy working there. My coworkers are fun to be with. But honestly, I don't want to work there. I believe I deserve something better, but I'm so tired of waiting. I'm so exhausted of the fruitless search. I'm sick of the continuous bad news in the economy.


I'm so tired, exhausted, and sick.

烏托邦 - 謝安琪
(From 2008 Album "Binary")

曲/編/詞: 周博賢

聽說有處 怪誕到極限 哄騙虜拐偷呃 獲豐足三餐
處世太正派 會有大難 靠正宗真功夫被視作不懂得 轉彎

叩拜富貴 不休的戀棧 判斷正反忠奸 著重多少資產
哪個較拮据會遭到待慢 越是有千億家財 越得到偏袒

爭相要脫貧致富 個個也發難
未習慣會漸漸慣 社會雖荒誕 起碼包裝燦爛
大眾向利字進發 已閉起雙眼 不去分好與爛 腐化 被盛讚

盼要富貴 多麼的簡單
(RAP: 放暗箭 出口術 投機 擦鞋搞關係
沽名釣譽 踩住人地個頭上 做世界仔)

再信致富靠儲蓄太浪漫 現在每一分耕耘 獲七分孤單
這些叫與時進化 過去已破爛
未習慣會漸漸慣 社會雖荒誕 起碼包裝燦爛
大眾向利字進發 已閉起雙眼 不去分好與爛 腐化

未習慣會漸漸看慣 社會雖荒誕 起碼包裝燦爛
大眾向利字進發 已閉起雙眼 恐怕越見越煩
不慣也會漸漸變慣 試放開感歎 且看花火燦爛
一眾已向利字進發 為瞬間璀璨
手法不需設限 腐化 被盛讚

Aligning With Beauty

Today's my second time volunteering at Varley Gallery, at their "Aligning with Beauty" art exhibition opening. Marvelous art works by artists all around Canada and U.S. and some remarkable performances by a operatic quartet (soprano vocal, cello, piano, and flute) were featured in the show.

I had the chance to speak with some members of the band and the artists. At times of economic trouble, we align ourselves with many things... but it's beauty that connects us all together...

http://www.markham.ca/Markham/Attractions/Gallery/Exhibitions/exhibit_aligningbeauty.htm






畫意 - 王菀之
From 2006 Album 詩情 . 畫意

Safe Trip Home - Dido

My Rating: 76/100

Tracklist:

1. Don't Believe In Love

2. Quiet Times

3. Never Want To Say It's Love

4. Grafton Street

5. It Comes And It Goes

6. Look No Further

7. Us 2 Little Gods

8. The Day Before The Day

9. Let's Do The Things We Normally Do

10. Burnin Love

11. Northern Skies

Dido, Feist, Keren Ann, Sarah McLachlan...

These are 4 of my favorite female singer-songwriters. They all share similar vocal qualities, the purity, sweetness, authenticity, and width of soundscape in their materials have gotten me addicted to them. These 4 are always played in my car, on my iPod, my hifi... basically I just pick any one of their albums and I can spend an afternoon with it.

I tend to group Dido and Sarah in the same category. They are a little more mature (both in song contents and vocal delivery) and more mainstream (both have megahits known all around the world). And Feist and Keren tend to be more experimental and more 'out of the box'.

The "Madonna of Britain" Dido released her 3rd full album Safe Trip Home in Nov 2008, five years after her critically and commercially acclaimed sophomore work, Life For Rent, which I loved by the way.

The main theme of this album is about "saying goodbyes". Dido said in an interview that she only wants to put out an album when she has something to say. Affected by her dad's death a couple of years ago, the album is apparently inspired by this life changing event and a tribute to Mr. Armstrong.

The first impression after listening to all the tracks on Safe Trip Home is... it's really SAFE. The melancholy mood is still melancholy, the beautiful voice is still beautiful, the sense of stability in her materials is still very much present... the one difference is that more 'real" and acoustic instruments (guitar, strings, piano) are used instead of electronic ones. However, I have a little bit of trouble telling songs apart from each other. But seriously, I don't really mind at all that she's repeating herself. I love her voice, melodies, lyrics, and the simple arrangements, aka, her 'signature dishes' :)

A few songs do jump out at me, let's look at them more up close...

Northern Skies

A 9 minute long, subtle, minimal electronica track, with a steady drum loop and emphasis on bass line, it reminds me of Sandy Lam's Live 07 version of "Lonely Shooting Stars". The sense of tranquility keeps on looping till the very end, so far I like this track the best.

Grafton Street

Probably a close second to Northern Skies, it also has that similar minimalist vibe to it. This song pays tribute to places that were part of your life which you no longer visit anymore. To Dido, it's Grafton Street, to me, it's probably school... Dido's voice is hauntingly beautiful in this song... The flute and strings heard in the bridges gives it a lively and foriegn touch!

The Day Before The Day

This is another song where Dido's vocal abilities are applied to the max. It's a very simple song with just an acoustic guitar accompanying her. I think "silky" is a good word to describe that beautiful quality of her voice heard here.

Let's Do The Things We Normally Do

A consistent theme of Safe Trip Home is the sense of leaving or parting with someone, something, someplace. The theme is spoken (or sung) out bluntly here in this little mysterious track:

"Don't hold my hand for longer than you need to,

Don't look me in the eye more than you need to,

Don't try to say goodbye if I don't want to."

Don't Believe In Love

This song reminds me of "White Flag", the first single of her previous album. The darkness portrayed in the lyrics is very typical for Dido and other British alt-rock artists. It is definitely something that all pessimistic ppl like me enjoy. This song here starts the album off with a cool bass riff, giving it an edgier quality. Without it, I think this would be just another "pop song".

珠光寶氣 (The Gem of Life)

The first TVB drama I really like since 金枝慾孽...

I've not watched any TVB stuff for quite a while, the scale of production and plot of HK TV shows is never comparable to U.S. TV series... LOST, MAD MEN, or even GREY's.... Too spoiled by the real good stuff...

I think 珠光寶氣 is the first show that's able to reach the level of 金枝慾孽. The production is quite grand, filming locations include China, HK, SE Asia, Europe... The plot is interesting, especially the stories of Ada Choi (Jessica), Gigi Lai (Constance), and Maggie Shiu (Sylvia)... the three sisters in the focus of the entire story. However, it's way too early to tell if the goodness will carry on, TVB shows have a track record of having endings that make no sense at all.

I think Ada Choi is a really good actress (HK TV standard). She has a very versatile look and is able to play goofy, serious, elegant, complicated, and this time, a rich woman who likes to show off and save face.

I love the way her character drops to rock bottom when her husband ran away with all the money and had to declare bankruptcy. I think the plot is now preparing her for a huge comeback by marrying another rich dude... stay tuned!

Gigi Lai plays Constance, the most innocent, least calculating sister of the family. At first, I thought her character was really annoying, I doubt there's anyone that dumb in real life. But now it's getting better, after she actually found a job at the jewelry shop. Her customer service attitudes reminds me of my own ;)

Maggie Shiu plays the big sister, Sylvia, the most calm and collected one in the family. I like her the least so far cuz of the predictability of the character. But for some reason, and it's not just me who think this.... SHE LOOKS LIKE MY MOM. hahaha.

Three Dark Months.

There are no signs indicating this will end soon. It's unpleasant to say the least, more close to torturing. Disappointments after disappointments. I think I'm more pissed off then sad now.

Pick Yourself Up, Start All Over Again.

Pick Yourself Up - Diana Krall (Live In Paris Version)

Nothings impossible I have found
For when my chin is on the ground
I pick myself up, dust myself off, start all over again

Don't lose your confidence if you slip
Be grateful for a pleasant trip
And pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again

Work like a soul inspired till the battle of the day is won
You may be sick and tired but you'll be a man my son
Don't you remember the famous man who had to fall to rise again?
They picked themselves up, dust themselves off and started all over again

Hardwork brings success. It's a notion I've learned since kindergarten, maybe a little later. It has always worked for me in the past 20 yrs or so - you study your ass off and you get A's; simple as that.

This notion was shattered this morning.

In the real world, where money talks and everything else walks... no matter how hard you try, how dedicated you are, how much potential you have (or they say you have), all they care about is the final result. And if you haven't shown any track record of success, they just don't care.

Another lesson learned.

I pick myself up, dust myself off, and start all over again.

Roberto, Sammi, & Dominic Baggio

94世界盃決賽，巴治奧射失一球十二碼，親手將獎盃送俾巴西成為罪人。被遺棄的日子裡面，仍然堅決不低頭，為爭取更多正選上陣機會，毅然自降身價，轉踢中型球會，誓要重奪國家隊席位，捲土重來。

同時，香港亦有一個束起小馬尾的米蘭名牌時裝店香港區最強營業員 ── 羅拔圖。佢一直努力工作，全心進軍米蘭總店，可惜因為一次失誤，白白放過一個黃金機會，加上命運不濟，傷患影響事業跌落谷底，從此被所有人稱呼為「巴治奧」。羅拔圖命運同做人態度與巴治奧不謀而合 ── 再次發奮谷底反彈，重返中環進軍米蘭。

Dominic, a 2008 university graduate in Toronto, with a pretty good resume, earned various school and workplace achievement awards, still cannot find a job after three months of job searching. Faced with the biggest global financial crisis since Great Depression, rising unemployment numbers, mass-layoffs and bankruptcy declared by many reputable organizations, Dom is in the deepest trench of his life.

However, Dom has decided to fight on. He'll find a part-time job now and keep looking for any full-time opportunities. In some ways, he should be glad that he's presented with big challenges at such an early stage of his life and career. This would give him strength and experience to eliminate and deal with other obstacles later on in his life.

以最美的風度　著最閃的戰袍
受過苦的心境更加高
從前輸過都好　在谷底給我漫舞

My Theme Song:

輸得漂亮 鄭秀文

作詞：林夕　
作曲/編曲：金培達　

錯甚麼　舊時做到太好之過
自信可立正去承受賽果
誰都想　趁慘敗去羞辱我
偏偏很高貴地說未跌低　就當做打和

怕甚麼　越贏越怕最終出錯
害怕輸 習慣了贏盡最多
誰都想　以獎座去打敗我
只因不敢失去甚麼
讓我知錯　其實我不需要贏只要做我

難和天去比高　我輸得起都驕傲
以最美的風度　著最閃的戰袍
受過苦的心境更加高
從前輸過都好　在谷底給我漫舞
我要再進一步　看似輕於羽毛
就算這壓力如像天高 誰都想看到

Seven More Days.

I'm giving myself seven more days. That's all. Then, I'll just go with part time.

My iPod Top Ten.

Here they are. The top ten most played songs on my iPod... I just noticed when I'm compiling this list that most of my top played songs has some sort of dark or sad mood surrounding it...

1. 達爾文 - 蔡健雅 (Mandarin - Singapore / Taiwan)

From 2007 Album - Goodbye & Hello

A Comparison between Darwin's Evolution Theory and Love, the strong survives, the weak are eliminated.

2. 木紋 - 何韻詩 (Cantonese - HK)

From 2007 Album - What Really Matters

Memories are like wood grain, they cannot be erased and will be a part of us forever.

3. 青春 - at17 (Cantonese - HK)

From 2005 Album - 變變變

Discussion of youth and the fear, joy, excitement, pain of love and sex.

4. Delicate - Damien Rice (English - Ireland)

From 2003 Album - O

A song of ultimate pain and suffering... where I find comfort during dark times.

5. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley (English - U.S.)

From 1994 Album - Grace

A serene and dark version of an all-time Canadian classics.

6. Sit In The Sun - Keren Ann (English - France)

From 2003 Album - Not Going Anywhere

One of the best laidback indie pop songs ever.

7. Life In A Glass House - Radiohead (English - U.K.)

From 2001 Album - Amnesiac

Nice blend of NOLA jazz and U.K. alt-rock... dark and creepy.

8. 紙飛機 - 林憶蓮 (Mandarin - HK / Taiwan)

From 2001 Album - 原來...

Sweet memories of childhood, acoustic guitar, and the most beautiful voice on earth.

9. 散 - 莫文蔚 (Mandarin - HK / Taiwan)

From 2007 Album - L!VE IS... KAREN MOK

This song belongs to a jazz bar at night, when everyone is drunk on red wine, about to exit.

10. Girls - Death In Vegas (Ambiant - U.K / U.S.)

From 2003 Album - Lost In Translation OST

Signature track of my favorite movie, electronic arrangement and warm vocal harmonies portrays the vibrant nightlife of Tokyo.

An Obama Nation.

Congratulations to The OBAMA Family.

It must be such an emotional night for Americans from coast-to-coast, Barack Obama, the first African American President of United States, has been elected.

There's been a lot of talk going on about how the rest of the world would view America if Obama, a colored man, wins the election. Well, I think no matter what race you are, where you're from, everyone must be so proud of this choice. It can happen.

A well managed and successfully executed campaign (enormous size of motivated ground staff, innovative fundraising, unified message, smart use of technology) was probably the key reason for Obama's well deserved victory.

Let's hope his strong leadership skills and clear judgement will stay with him throughout his term in the White House. Let's hope he keeps his promise and will bring reform to Washington. Let's hope he'll take appropriate measures to resolve this huge financial crisis and restore prosperity in U.S. and abroad.

Don Draper, Mad Men.

I really enjoy watching Mad Men.



First of all, I love the setting - Manhattan in the early 1960s. Everything was so glamorous, yet so depressing at the same time. The unstable political situation at home and abroad mixed with the booming US economy creates a tension and contrast... which is very well expressed in the show through the backdrops and characters.





A lot of drinking, a lot of smoking, a lot of fine dining, a lot of lustful relationships, it's so fun to watch, but I also feel sad for these people who are numbing themselves from the reality... There's always a dark overtone surrounding the show... Love it.






Secondly, there's the protagonist Don Draper, Creative Director at Sterling Cooper, a fictional ad agency.

He's who I wanna be ten or twenty yrs from now. Draper's smart, successful, confident, charming, mysterious, has beautiful women all around him... who doesn't wanna be him? But he seems to be always in a troubled, depressed state of mind... like an injured soul waiting to be healed. And, tobacco, alcohol, and sex are his medicine.



There's this self-destructive quality to him... infidelity, chain-smoking in every scene, a dark past in his childhood... He's such an interesting character to watch, almost REAL. A sense of loneliness and emptiness always looms around him at the end of each episode, despite all his achievements... which is how I'm always feeling these days so I really like Don Draper (or Jon Hamm's portrayal of Draper)...

I also love all the ads and slogans they come up with in the series. As a marketing major, I love learning more about the history of advertising in this format. The slogans, the artwork, the client meetings, the sales pitches... they are so retro and fun to watch... and I learn from it too.

Yellow, Reprise.

I'm standing on the verge of the rainbow, finding the yellow...

These are the yellow roses I got from the covocation...

The Moon from at17's Yellow EP has been playing over and over on my iPod, it's a really beautiful melody - simple, calming, that's all I need now...

I don't think it has ever been a favorite color of mine... I don't own any yellow clothing, items, furnitures, whatsoever...

But I've now come to appreciate the brightness of yellow...

My mind is lightened, my pressure is relieved....
Oh my yellow, oh so mellow...

Books, Books, Books.... More Books!

There are two types of stores that I can spend hours in - CD stores and Bookstores.

Over the pass few months as a fucked up unemployed new grad, I spent more time reading than probably all the previous 21 yrs combined.

I enjoy reading A LOT. I usually read before I sleep and after I wake up (if I have nothing to do, of course), with my iPod plugged in, usually Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Sigur Ros, Lost In Translations OST, and any other types of ambiant or laid-back music.

Another perfect place to read is Starbucks... nice cup of soy latte, good book, relaxing music... That's what I call a perfect afternoon.

Went to purchase a couple more books this afternoon with the giftcard I got from Air Canada... Henry Miller's Tropic of Cancer and Stephen King's The Stand.

I just can't get enough of Stephen King's horror stories. The ghosts or the killings ain't the best parts... it's the mental, psychological, inner struggles that his characters go through that draws me in. The way he describes the thoughts of these characters are what creeps me out the most, but I enjoy it, really do. There's a twisted and sick sense thrill that I get out of it... and I guess it's what makes him such a popular horror novel writer.

As of this moment, I'm reading Different Seasons by SK, a collection of 4 short stories: Shawshank Redemption (Hope Springs Eternal), Apt Pupil (Summer of Corruption), The Body (Fall From Innocence), The Breathing Method (A Winter's Tale).

You should really read it, it's gonna blow your mind.