Veterans Day

Honoring all who served

As a MOH recipient mentioned in this documentary, "No one sets out to win the medal of honor. We were just fighting for our buddies on our left and right to stay alive."

In my mind, I was playing Vangelis' Conquest of Paradise and Warcraft III's haunting opening cinematic scene (and by extension - to LOTR's TTT and ROTK).

Two Songs

Pay attention to the lyrics.

1. What Do You Do With a B.A. In English? / It Sucks To Be Me

2. Dear Mr. President - Pink

I would love to go watch Avenue Q (in NYC) one day.

Icy Igloo; Girl and her guitar

It was unseasonably warm here when I arrived almost two weeks ago. My friend picked me up from the airport in T-shirt and berms. Imagine that! In Jan! Maybe Mother Nature realized this belatedly and this weekend saw the first significant snowfall for this region this year. Temperatures dipped well below freezing; even the area newscasters admitted the weather is unusually frigid.

This, plus the fact that the central heater for the dwelling has broken down, means that I have been reduced to living an Eskimo's lifestyle in my house. The space heater I have unfortunately is only good enough for my bedroom; even at maximum heat setting I go to sleep wearing 3 layers of clothes and under 2 layers of blankets, one of which a comforter.

*

New tenants have moved in to the unit below mine. For the last two nights a girl was singing and strumming the guitar. I don't know who she is, but her music made me sleepy. It has been almost TWO years since someone last had that effect on me.

饮酒赏月

(Dragon) Lee says Singapore needs more bilingual, bicultural talents.

...Besides nurturing more bilingual and bicultural talents in school, the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCCI) is also helping to promote Mandarin.

The Chamber is setting up a new club called 'Business China', which will bring together businessmen, professionals, young entrepreneurs and students who are interested in China, to network, interact and discuss important issues in Mandarin.

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has agreed to be its Patron and Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng and other ministers will serve as advisers.

I laughed. As I im-ed cognitive dissonance: "I learnt more about China and Taiwan (as well as improved my Mandarin) when I was trying to date girls from those countries, than from my 10 years in SAP schools".

I had to get out of the country to rekindle my interest in the Chinese language and culture. Isn't that great?

*

A compatriot hosted an alcohol tasting session for a group of us at his place last night. Wines, along with roasted peanuts, baguette and curry chicken (he had brought primataste from Singapore) made us happy campers.

We had loads of fun listening to theme songs from old school Chinese drama serials, watching a Singapore-made movie - Jack Neo's Just Follow Law and debating about our favorite characters from 金庸's 武侠小说.

一杯酒，漱漱口。
二杯酒，掂份量。
三杯酒，做客套。
四杯酒，图开心。
五杯酒，交朋友。
六杯酒，有缘人。
七杯酒，是知己。
八杯酒，论义气。
九杯酒，结兄弟。
十杯酒，诉衷肠。
百杯酒，共患难。
千杯酒，同是天涯沦落人。

What stood out was that all the Singaporeans present except one were guys, and their other halves (if they have one) were from elsewhere. It was an international (all Asian) group.

*

On the occasion of the National Day Rally, I dedicate this song to my Singaporean readers. I hope you still believe in the Singapore Dream.

星月 by Mavis Hee

在你怀中一起成长 我的世界 我的梦想
每次向天空仰望 星光闪耀月儿弯
牵引无穷尽的幻想 在我心中迎风昂然飘扬
我的梦让我勇敢 是你给我力量

星月照亮我前方 一路上永远有希望
像明灯一盏 越暗越是明亮
星月照亮我前方 于是我拥有信心和温暖
愿一切与你分享 星月常伴

在你光辉中我成长 我的朋友 我的家园
飞得多远心中依然 星光闪耀月儿弯
童年无穷尽的理想 在我天空迎风昂然飘扬
每个梦让我勇敢 是你给我力量

星月照亮我前方 一路上永远有希望
像明灯一盏 越暗越是灿烂
星月照亮我前方 于是我拥有信心和温暖
愿一切与你分享 星月常伴

我的梦 星月常伴

How disconnected I am with the Island

She asked me about the good places to visit in Singapore. I struggled for a good 5 minutes to come up with a decent (albeit still short) list. It turned out that she had been to more places than I ever did in my 21 years (before I left for my tertiary education) on that island.

So lau kui malu.

I haven't even been to (that part of) Geylang, yet I had my fun in Ropponggi.

How many sides of Singapore have you seen, being a long time resident?

Friend: I am not surprised. You and most of your Singaporean friends are cocooned in a little ivory tower. Bet you don't even know much about the neighborhood schools' environment.

*

I am becoming a youtube junkie, searching for songs from my childhood and teenage years. This is my favorite from Chage and Aska (similar to 周华健's "让我欢喜让我忧").

Daddy was the Apple of my Eye

It's not often that you go around telling people you like a song from an underwear ad. I found myself humming it (subconsciously) when it played on TV.



Lyrics:

No castle in the south of France
But what we had were underpants
That made us feel like royalty
His hands were hard, his waistbands soft,
And in his deep red apple thoughts, he said,
‘Your fruit will be of the loom, not of the tree.’
Yeah, Daddy was the apple of my eye,
Like underwear he’s with me ’til I die
And the more that I peel back the years, the more I realize
He will always be, the apple of my eye.
A father knows a young boy grows
The clothesline of life sometimes blows
Brief memories that last forevermore.
He gave to me his fearless grin
His rosy cheeks, his tender skin
A comfort that runs straight down to the core.
Yeah, Daddy was the apple of my eye,
Like underwear he’s with me ’til I die.
And the more that I peel back the years, the more I realize
In that tangled family tree, he will forever be
The shining, polished apple of my eye.

On a side note, my mum was the one who chose my clothes (including underpants) when I was young. Heh.

选择

I

Upcoming Weekend Dinner Korean lunch invitation, accepted;
The Simpsons Movie (Ed: last minute switch to Hairspray) on Saturday, accepted;
Long chats on the phone and MSN, becoming regular.

Continue to slog for the company. The moolah's decent, but I am getting disillusioned with the work.

She got the intra-company transfer offer - to relocate to a state to the west of mine.

她: 我的希望就是做米虫,真的,想得越多越发现不会思考;不去想太多,那是多么好的一件事! 就因为是工科博士毕业,做米虫又太浪费。早知高中毕业后就选文科当教师，一个平稳朝九晚五的工作, 又能留在台湾。

*

II

From: takchek's advisor (TA)
To: takchek

FYI - post doc opps at (national lab)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

From: TA's friend [mailto:taf@(national-lab).gov]
To: TA
Subject: Post Doc Opportunities

TA,
I hope you are well. Don't forget to submit your abstract to the symposium!
We have a couple of post-doc opportunities up here at (national lab). If you have anyone coming down the pipe who would be interested, please let me know.

Thanks,
TAF

*

takchek, you have to choose again. Soon.

*The lab's on the east coast.

"OH, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet..."

*

What would you recommend giving the girl for her birthday?

Why is giving her cash/gift card a bad idea? They are most versatile and practical, no?

Female friend:

no lah..don't..insincere. give something better..like flowers or accessories.

Sometimes I don't understand women. Really.

*

National Day is coming, and this song is making me feel emo. More so when I read these.

德明中學，矗立加東。

But, quoting BL:

Nostalgia is like a grammar lesson, you find the present tense and the past perfect.

Kim Gun Mo - Wrongful Meeting (잘못된 만남)

This is one of my favorites when speeding driving on the interstate at 80 - 90 mph. Possibly the Korean rap song with the fastest tempo.

Same song, by Ayumi.

------------------------------------------------------

The storyline is sad. Falling for your best friend's gf.

Hi De Ho - by K7

I spent 30 mins yesterday playing and replaying this song. It was also featured in "The Mask". Brought back happy memories of the silly Mass Dance they subjected the first years to.

ありがとう...

Arigato, by KOKIA.

Lyrics:

作詩：KOKIA 作曲：KOKIA

誰もが気付かぬうちに 何かを失っている
フッと気付けばあなたはいない 思い出だけを残して
せわしい時の中 言葉を失った人形達のように
街角に溢れたノラネコのように
声にならない叫びが聞こえてくる

もしも もう一度あなたに会えるなら
たった一言伝えたい ありがとう ありがとう

時には傷つけあっても あなたを感じていたい
思い出はせめてもの慰め いつまでもあなたはここにいる

※もしも もう一度あなたに会えるなら
たった一言伝えたい
もしも もう一度あなたに会えるなら
たった一言伝えたい ありがとう ありがとう※

(※くり返し)

時には傷つけあっても あなたを感じてたい

Thank you for the song. :)

童话里都是骗人的

I hate you for humming/singing Guang Liang's songs. The lyrics bring back painful memories. It has to be by a girl who rejected me to remind me of one I dumped.

Can you ever forget your first love? All these pieces of baggage...

*

那年在从莱初送她回家的路上,

是我第一次说:"我喜欢你"。

第一次心不停地顫抖,

第一次在路上牽起她的手,

第一次吻,

第一次拥抱,

第一次相信天長地久,

第一次決定我決不會錯。

*



Partially inspired by Olandario's entry.

明天會更好

Dedicated to those of us who spent our childhood (i.e =< primary school) years in the 80s.



First heard in 1985.

Tip: Biao.

------------------------------------------------------------

Edit (13 Apr): The lyrics (and the respective singers)

明 天 會 更 好
曲 ︰ 羅 大 佑
詞 ︰ 羅 大 佑 ／ 張 大 春 ／ 許 乃 勝 ／ 李 壽 全 ／ 邱 復 生 ／ 張 艾 嘉 ／ 詹 宏 志
編 ︰ 陳 志 遠

主 唱 ︰ 小 松 , 小 柏 , 王 日 昇 , 王 芷 蕾 , 王 夢 麟 , 文 章 , 包 偉 銘 , 水 草 三 重 唱 ,
成 鳳 , 江 惠 , 江 音 傑 , 百 合 二 重 唱 , 蔡 琴 , 李 佩 菁 , 李 碧 華 , 李 宗 盛 , 李 建 復 , 余 天 ,
何 春 蘭 , 芊 苓 , 巫 啟 賢 , 吳 大 衛 , 林 禹 勝 , 林 淑 蓉 , 林 慧 萍 , 洪 榮 宏 , 邰 肇 玫 ,
施 孝 榮 , 岳 雷 , 唐 曉 詩 , 徐 乃 麟 , 徐 瑋 , 姚 乙 , 娃 娃 , 麥 瑋 婷 , 許 慧 慧 , 陳 淑 樺 ,
陳 黎 鐘 , 黃 慧 文 , 黃 鶯 鶯 , 張 清 芳 , 張 海 漢 , 童 安 格 , 費 玉 清 , 楊 林 , 楊 烈 ,
楊 耀 東 , 甄 妮 , 齊 秦 , 齊 豫 , 廖 小 維 , 羅 吉 鎮 , 潘 越 雲 , 鄭 怡 , 賴 佩 霞 , 鐘 有 道 ,
藍 心 湄 , 蘇 芮

蔡 琴 ︰ 輕 輕 敲 醒 沉 睡 的 心 靈
慢 慢 張 開 你 的 眼 睛
余 天 ︰ 看 看 忙 碌 的 世 界 是 否 依 然
孤 獨 地 轉 個 不 停
蘇 芮 ︰ 春 風 不 解 風 情 　 吹 動 少 年 的 心
潘 越 雲 ︰ 讓 昨 日 臉 上 的 淚 痕 　 隨 記 憶 風 乾 了

甄 妮 ︰ 抬 頭 尋 找 天 空 的 翅 膀
侯 鳥 出 現 牠 的 影 跡
李 建 復 ︰ 帶 來 遠 處 的 飢 荒 無 情 的 戰 火
依 然 存 在 的 消 息
林 慧 萍 ︰ 玉 山 白 雪 飄 零 　 燃 燒 少 年 的 心
王 芷 蕾 ︰ 使 真 情 溶 化 成 音 符 　 傾 訴 遙 遠 的 祝 福

黃 鶯 鶯 ︰ 唱 出 你 的 熱 情 　 伸 出 你 雙 手
讓 我 擁 抱 著 你 的 夢
讓 我 擁 有 你 真 心 的 面 孔
洪 榮 宏 ︰ 讓 我 們 的 笑 容 　 充 滿 著 青 春 的 驕 傲
為 明 天 獻 出 虔 誠 的 祈 禱

陳 淑 樺 ︰ 誰 能 不 顧 自 己 的 家 園
拋 開 記 憶 中 的 童 年
金 智 娟 ︰ 誰 能 忍 心 看 他 昨 日 的 憂 愁
帶 走 我 們 的 笑 容
王 夢 麟 ︰ 青 春 不 解 紅 塵 　 胭 脂 沾 染 了 灰
李 佩 菁 ︰ 讓 久 違 不 見 的 淚 水 　 滋 潤 了 你 的 面 容

費 玉 清 ︰ 唱 出 你 的 熱 情 　 伸 出 你 雙 手
讓 我 擁 抱 著 你 的 夢
讓 我 擁 有 你 真 心 的 面 孔
讓 我 們 的 笑 容 　 充 滿 著 青 春 的 驕 傲
為 明 天 獻 出 虔 誠 的 祈 禱

齊 豫 ︰ 輕 輕 敲 醒 沉 睡 的 心 靈
慢 慢 張 開 你 的 眼 睛
鄭 怡 ︰ 看 那 忙 碌 的 世 界 是 否 依 然
孤 獨 地 轉 個 不 停
江 蕙 ︰ 日 出 喚 醒 清 晨 　 大 地 光 彩 重 生
楊 林 ︰ 讓 和 風 拂 出 的 音 響 　 譜 成 生 命 的 樂 章

＊ 合 ︰ 唱 出 你 的 熱 情 　 伸 出 你 雙 手
讓 我 擁 抱 著 你 的 夢
讓 我 擁 有 你 真 心 的 面 孔
讓 我 們 的 笑 容 　 充 滿 著 青 春 的 驕 傲
讓 我 們 期 待 明 天 會 更 好

重 唱 　 ＊

蘇 芮 ︰ 唱 出 你 的 熱 情 　 伸 出 你 雙 手
讓 我 擁 抱 著 你 的 夢
齊 秦 ︰ 抱 著 你 的 夢
讓 我 擁 有 你 真 心 的 面 孔
齊 秦 ︰ 讓 我 擁 有 你 真 心 的 面 孔
讓 我 們 的 笑 容 　 充 滿 著 青 春 的 驕 傲
齊 秦 ︰ 青 春 的 驕 傲
蘇 芮 ︰ 讓 我 們 期 待 明 天 會 更 好

余 天 ︰ 唱 出 你 的 熱 情 　 伸 出 你 雙 手
讓 我 擁 抱 著 你 的 夢
讓 我 擁 有 你 真 心 的 面 孔
蘇 芮 ︰ 真 心 的 面 孔
余 天 ︰ 讓 我 們 的 笑 容 　 充 滿 著 青 春 的 驕 傲
蘇 芮 ︰ 青 春 的 驕 傲
余 天 ／ 蘇 芮 ︰ 讓 我 們 期 待 明 天 會 更 好

重 唱 　 ＊

(From: http://www.comp.nus.edu.sg/~nghoongk/lyrics/writer1154-1.html)

Songs of Physics

Came across these two songs (The Entanglement Tango and The Physics Today Rag) while browsing through Physics Today, as part of the centennial celebrations commemorating the pioneering contributions of Albert Einstein in 1905.

One thing led to another, and I found an online database of Physics songs, as well as a Quantum Physics musical. Physics Today also had its own music songbag with midi files.

Melding music and science, E = mc2