February 2006 Archives
I'm watching: "Before Sunset:"
I'm a sentimentalist and a dreamer at heart and I tend to like strange movies that make me think or bring back memories. Before Sunset did all that - it's sentimental, makes one dream of possibilities, and brought back memories of the time I watched it's prequel: "Before Sunrise:"
Besides, these movies have something real about them - you love someone, but the timing is wrong, you live in the same city as the one you long for but you never meet. You are oceans apart but they are all you think about but you don't know that because you have no way of knowing. So you move on with your life. And one day you meet again and you are faced with the very real decision of - do you give up your life for a flash in the pan? a storm in the teacup? did you imagine the romance?
Or will you give everything up for that one person - you really really connected with? But you know that it might not work out?
It's not your typical hollywood romance, I guess. That's why I like it.
Click on the link below to read the "Before Sunset" Synopsis provided by Rottentomatoes.com
A bus overflowing with people in Yangon, Myanmar.
I spy with my little eye: A display of racial harmony on a bus in Singapore where 1 family came on board with 2 young children, and the lady being pregnant and the husband having one-of-those-child-rolly-thingamajigs, were having a hard time managing on the bus to even sit on the 2 free seats, as the bus surged ahead from the bus stop where they had boarded.
2 ladies of totally different races immediately got up to help the kids and the pregnant lady out and they gestured at each other because no one even spoke the same language.
It was such a sweet gesture that my eyes welled up. (Usually I'm used to seeing people stare blankly at people in need as they struggle on the MRT and trains.)
I guess there are some decent people left.
I am reading the International Herald Tribune and the first thing that grabs my attention is the screaming headline "Europe's fear of Pinstriped Indians".
The story being that French and Euporeans in general are afraid of the new rich Asian people who are now able to compete with them globally in buying businesses!
And they go on to mention that they were afraid of the "Polish Plumber" before and that a French man who owns the company - that have been offered by a "Pinstriped Indian" good money to buy is sure that the amount would be "in monkey money" - less then average - because it came from the said "Pinstriped Indian." (said pinstriped Indian being a British national who was born in Britain)
You can read more at the link above because I cannot write anymore becuase I'm clouded by irritation and anger. Why? why? why do we continue to stereotype the minorities this way, once they are able to get on par with the white rich people to buy stuff? Huh?
First, it was the East Asians - who were "bucked tooth and yellowed skinned" and blah blah - and now they are mentioning they are afraid of "Pinstriped Indians". Why don't you just go label everyone and put it on the first page of an international paper? So everyone can catch that catchphrase, so the stereotype can widen? so that the minority himself/herself can believe that they are that.
And the cycle continues.
Why can't you just write the story the way it is: "French companies are not so eager to embrace foreign companies because they don't have the same labor laws as the French ones" - why is that so hard to say? But no, the writer/copy editors/sub editors had to use deragotary terms like "pinstriped Indians" like he's a monkey in a pinstried suit.
What the hell has become of journalism???
I'm so glad I didn't become a journalist.
"The junta quietly began building the new capital more than three years ago, constructing a prime minister's residence, an airport, hospital, a golf course, hotels and buildings for each ministry, along with a separate complex that houses military headquarters and bunkers. "
When I was talking to a few people about this move to Pyinmana, I heard about the building process. I'm not sure if it's entirely true but I don't doubt it, knowing the Burmese Junta government.
"These people can't read blueprints or maps! Or architectural drawings. We would be there, building a huge building for them, almost done, except for painting it......and they would want us to tear it down because it didn't come out like they envisioned. This went on for a couple of times. I mean, it doesn't make sense to anybody else to do this but to them, that's the only way they know how to do things."
Picture taken on the MRT Train in Singapore.
Me and K, talking about weight issues Asian girls face.
M: it just got to be too much.
K: I feel you girl, being Asian, it's like you gotta look hungry.
M: lmao, rotfl. That's so funny. Yet so true. I'm going to put that on my blog.
