The world is never black and white. Neither do you see the world with rose-tainted glasses.
The world is grey. With a lot of sitting-on-the-fence approach with issues.
Neither do you cross the line nor stay behind the line, you stand ON the line.
That seems safer.
There’re many double standards. Like how a man will be offended if the woman fantasizes about someone else while making love with him, yet it’s acceptable if the man masturbates to the porn of someone else in his alone time. Food for thought.
I’ve watched The Cove and its one show hard to sit through. It builds up very steadily the impending issue of dolphin slaughter. It’s very well developed and informative. Instinctively, you’ll hate the Japanese for doing these things to such beautiful intellectual creatures. God created a permanent smiling face on the dolphins (reminds you of Joker, no?), that disallows captured/tortured dolphins to show their pain (by far, I have only seen dogs showing emotions. Their eyes well up with tears if you reprimand them. ) Have you seen any other animals expressing emotions? I think my hamster showed pain when she was giving birth too. But that could be my imagination.
When I walked out of the theatre, my head cleared and emotions aside, I started taking the issue apart and analyzing it. After all, any form of media is propaganda. The Cove talks about how whale meat is a commodity in Japan. Because there is a demand for them and not enough whales, the unethical business men supplies mock whale meat. Dolphin meat. The whole film advocates the immediate halt of dolphin slaughter for its meat (that is highly toxic and therefore not nutritional at all to humans) and as entertaining performers (because dolphins in captivity do not live long). I second that.
Through the film, it has highlighted the politics that go around the World. Like how they wiped out WW II history from their textbooks, I am sure this film will never be heard in their country due to media control.
This film has created uproar around the world and people are criticizing Japan because of this. Firstly, I am not defending Japan, neither do I condone any animal/human cruelty, but people need to start seeing that such unethical incidents are not happening ONLY in Japan! Some parts of the world kill dogs and monkeys. Some parts of the world kill for fur. Some parts of the world throw male chicks alive into the machine that spins it up into a bloody mess (because they can’t produce eggs). WE eat frog porridge and drink turtle soup. Frankly, the film has made me contemplated turning vegetarian.
1) The truth is whale meat is NOT the food for common folk in Japan. It is a premium meat. Sushi is a treat for the Japanese, unlike in Singapore where we can eat sushi at the belts for $2.99 and $5.99 for the red plates. In Japan, sushi can cost USD 1200 for 5 people.
The Cove might have made a vague unfounded impression that the Japanese eat whale meat like the world eats chicken.
The film uses shock treatment to make people change their lifestyles. I hope it makes you to think more about your own lifestyle and what you can do to make the world a better place than to be focused in hating the Japanese. Then again, we have the shock tactics on our cigarette boxes too, I don’t see anyone changing.
When MJ died, I took a closer look at his lyrics. It seemed like he was crying out for help. Help for the dying world.
So if we’re going to boycott Japan because of their actions, I think we have to boycott German beer (no explanation needed), diamonds (at the expense of poverty) and not use oil (because then we fuel indirectly terrorism?) That won’t be realistic.
Still, I applaud the film makers of The Cove. They have brought an issue and discovered secrets that the world didn’t know about. I hope international pressure is enough to stop the slaughter. Every year, the massacre starts September to March. 200,000 dolphins are killed/ captured each year. I don’t think the film is really highlighting the fact that the Japanese are consuming whale meat. Rather, highlighting the fact that people are eating dolphin meat (assuming its whale) that is highly toxic and therefore hazardous to human’s health. Also to ask people to not support dolphin acts because if we buy show tickets, we show the demand and therefore the supply. The buying and selling of performing dolphins is a billion dollar industry.
I am very touched by the production team of the film. They are such fervent advocators who gave up time and money (2 most important things to man) for a cause. It makes me feel ashamed that I haven’t been able to step out of my comfort zone to do more. The world is not just about me, me and me. Perhaps we could start somewhere. Let’s write in to Resort World to say we don’t want dolphins at the new entertainment resort.We have a realistic world where needs conflict with wants. Hopes clash with necessities, morality is over-rated. This world is grey, so grey.
It’s September now, the killing has started……
It always seems like a blogging diarrhoea after a weekend. It was pretty fun hopping from one place to another.
Chunk Fest was quite a disappointment. I was expecting it like Australia Big Day Out, but it looked like it was trying to achieve that but failed miserably. There weren't as many fringe activities as they promised to have. It wasn't as happening as i thought it would be. 
But the venue was nice, the skyline was pretty. It wouldn't have been such a let-down if the weather was within control. Like D said, if only Singapore is 10 degrees cooler. Not too ambitious, are we?
The ice-cream was not even free! And they melted before you could even say A to D! So i paid $4.50 to try one of the twelve flavours they wouldn't otherwise have in their stores. Yellow Brick Road was a tasty blend of chocolate and peanut butter.
This camp was ONLY 3 yrs ago!! Why did it seem like yester years? We even looked yester year. This photo was West Side Kids. HAHAHA! I think it must be the "in" thing in 2005. Probably some Taiwanese drama.
I LOVE church camps. The young, the old...everyone gathers to sleep together.
I lost count on the number of camps we went. Yet each one, the memory stays.
Every morning, we wrestle to get to the loo.
Then pose in front of the mirror in the hotel lobby.
At night, we gather to gossip.
Gawd, i miss those times. We grew up in the same neighbourhood but have grown apart as we grow up. I always feared we will never have times like this again (and it seems true), but they'll always be family to me.
Stop and stare...
One foot long chilli chicken sausage that the waitress promises to be "very nice!" It's just another sausage that costs $13 and looks like dung.
I love their Skinny Pizzas though. Wild Truffle Mushroom is my favourite. Pity Suntec City's outlet didn't have the sweet potato fritters (was looking forward to that one). Their apple cider which has 2% alcohol tastes like beer to me. My friend noticed that they put grass with every dish. I was telling him i chose this place because i felt really unhealthy the past week having consumed zero vegetables. So he said, "there you go, you get your grass!"
Max Berner, which was a wiser choice for desert at the Esplanade was heavenly. So empty, so quiet, smells so good.
One for mum, one for dad. One for Brother 1, one for Brother 2. Brother 1 and 2 don't seem to like my choice for them. Hahahaha.
On Wednesday afternoon:
Don't expect me singing nor dancing anytime soon!
The Ah Beng squat.
The one-leg kopitam uncle stance.
Leg-very-tired squat.
and if someone pushes you, you give the "want to fight?!" look.
the tai tai with sunglasses look.
I don't understand what's all the hype about F1.