Today I woke up to a Facebook reply, a Twitter reply and a TextPlus reply all from the same person & as I was sending my reply on all these 3 platforms, I asked myself, “Is this crazy?”

Technology has come so far these days that to communicate with people, we run a whole multitude of platforms just to be able to reach out to everyone who doesn’t use the same social media platforms. I’m sure that is fine but when you stop to think about it, it borders on a whole level of psychoticism; or ‘tech-savvy’ if you are so inclined to be called that.

In the past, we only had pagers and we slowly evolved into mobile phone users. Even back then, mobile phones were mostly turned off most of the time and only on when we were awake. And as time past, we then evolved to keeping our mobile phones on 24/7 ‘just-in-case’. As Internet plans became more affordable and faster from 56k connections to DSL, more people were getting onto the Internet and the number of ways to ‘stay connected’ just increased like wildfire.

A rough breakdown analysis of how this works from my point-of-view of the numerous platforms used

Let me provide a simple scenario of my communications with a single person in this day and age. The following modes of communication are used: Email, MSN, SMS (Text Messaging), Twitter Direct Messages, Twitter, Facebook, Skype, TextPlus/WhatsApp. I kind of figured that some of these modes of communication are either ‘public’ or ‘private’.

Public
Twitter: For ranting, retweets (RTs) & participating in the cacophony of conversations with mutual friends, much like group chatting without the ‘instant’ factor that group chatting provides.

Facebook: Another ‘public’ way of sharing information on your own page in greater detail and also open to discussion.

Private

Email: For ‘I have tons of things to say but you are not online so I will leave an email’ or ‘I’m just forwarding an interesting email someone sent me’.

SMS (Text Messaging): For instant/urgent things to be communicated since you are not online/on-the-go.

Twitter Direct Messages: For private rantings and a substitute for short emails/SMS without needing an instant reply.

MSN: For normal text-based conversation.

Skype: Ever useful new substitute for MSN & mobile phones. For calling, video-calling and text-based conversation.

TextPlus/WhatsApp: New to the scene with the advent of 3G mobile phones, this is the cheaper alternative to SMS by running mobile phone applications that communicate phone-to-phone without spending a single cent sending that text message and still achieving the same ‘instantness’.

By taking conversation topics to so many platforms, it seems like not responding via the method the message was originally communicated by would break the topic. Imagine if instead of replying via all the platforms and I simply just gathered all my responses into a single platform to respond on, my message would just be garbled because everything would be taken out of context.

The question to ponder is, is it possible to stay connected and still be in context without exposing ourselves to a large number of modes of communication in this very technologically-driven era? Or will we die if we stick to just one?

Sometimes I think we as humans are hampered by communication via non face-to-face methods; text messaging, instant messaging over various media platforms, maybe even over the phone. Without audio and tonal cues, we simply are unable to fully understand the meaning of a simple message.

I noticed that the stupidest arguments happen over these platforms when our reduction of sentences become short words and abbrievations. Everything sounds curt and rude, even laughter sometimes sounds insincere. And when one party fails to understand the other, the little precursors to an argument start to appear.

Words like “never mind”, “forget it”, “you don’t get it”, “you don’t understand” are the start of what could be a blown-out argument over stupid things like where you’ve been, what you’ve been doing or even maybe about what you didn’t do. Before you know it, the other party fails to catch on to the precursor and attacks your remark. I guess knowing that, maybe we just have to stop using those words and stop ourselves from saying them in time.

There are people who look for love in many places.
There are people who are afraid to say yes.
There are people who are lucky enough for someone to take them back no matter what wrong they did.
There are people lucky to have someone by their side without question.

There are people lucky enough to be loved but they just don’t realise it.

When you have are suddenly blessed with a ton of free time on your hands, you start wondering what to do with all that time. I for one, took the liberty of that free time to plan a birthday present for a very dear friend. My main concern, was giving something NO ONE ELSE WOULD THINK OF and outdoing the gift I gave last year; which if mentioned now would spoil the surprise and make that friend realise that this entry is about their present! So I thought long and hard about how to post this without causing suspicion.

I was mainly inspired by this post from design*sponge when I was skimming through the DIY section the other day.  And then a design idea hit me & I got to work sketching it (I really wish I could post the sketch up but that would give it away too!)

My next concern was if I should use a mousepad, or some other medium, and executing the design (vinyl? stencil? heat transfer?) so I went out and exhausted the last of my $$ on craft supplies. Textile paint, stencil sponges, a cutting mat (would you believe I’ve been cutting on my marble floor the 3 years I was in design school?), shrinky plastic – which apparently doesn’t work well as a stencil material, and an A5 sized canvas board which only cost me $2.

Then I remembered that some printers do vinyls and cut the details out for you, which would save me the hassle of  a stencil because believe me, it will be a pain to cut out words in Tengwar (oops I dropped a hint). In any case, I’ll check out the printer complex next week and see how it goes.

I leave you with the above parting macro shot; which I think speaks volumes!

The most stunning thing happened in the office this Friday.
Something we knew was going to happen, just that we didn’t know it would happen to us…
With 3 country offices shut down & a large depletion of -14 in Singapore in a day, our time has ended.

In some ways, I knew this was coming, I sort of expected it, just that I didn’t know when.
The past 3 or so weeks have been an up&downhill of emotions and questions ranging from life, to work, to uni.
And with all that has happened this week, I knew God was going to send something rough to shake me up.

Over the week, many dear friends reminded me of plans I had made only a year earlier, the vacation I needed (or in their words; had to take). I’m very lucky that I made that leap to do my degree almost a year ago & I still remember the events that lead up to that.

Funnily, I felt quite numb when everything occurred, until I made that one phonecall & started tearing.
I’m not upset, more shocked & yet happy that the road to opportunities & decisions have opened up.

When one door closes, another opens.
The decision now, is which door to open.

Decided to take a break from my essay (to get my writer brain moving) and to do an entry on what will now be a monthly event from now on.

BAR 1 APRIL:

Mr Punch Winebar @ Mint Museum of Toys; 26 Seah Street

I found out about Mr Punch Cafe, Restaurant & Winebar from a classmate at university who frequents there for drinks. Quaintly located on a side road next to Raffles Hotel, if you didn’t know about it, I don’t think you would realise it was there! It’s right inside the Mint Museum of Toys. I decided to drag the girls there one day to see what it would be like, and from the experience, I would definitely head back.

Ly and I headed there early for dinner in the restaurant while waiting for Jessie and we both ordered a seafood linguine. It came with alfalfa sprouts! Yums! Honestly we forgot to bring a camera so everything was just iPhone shots. We were quite taken by the decor; which had a vintage toy feel, as well as the service! Staff were really attentive and friendly, laying napkins for us (like in those Chinese cuisine restaurants; Abel claims this only happened because we are female), refilling water CONSTANTLY, and it didn’t stop there. Of course the food was amazing. And then we decided to get dessert. The staff were really fantastic in describing the dessert and providing recommendations.

By the end of dessert, Jessie was nowhere to be seen and we realised that the kitchen was closing (9:30pm)! We hurriedly called her and the staff kindly took our order at 5 minutes past. To our surprise, they prepared it quite quickly within 15 minutes (and she still wasn’t here). When they realised that, they informed us that they would hold it in the kitchen for her until she arrived. She finally did at 10:00pm, rushed into the restaurant informing us that the bartenders at the door greeted her with a “Yes your friends have been waiting for you for awhile now!”.

We spent an average of $30 each on the main & dessert and then it was finally time to head to the bar…

Read the rest of this entry

I used to think that W.H. Auden was right, when he wrote “The More Loving One”. I, infact, believed in the second paragraph of this poem.

Looking up at the stars, I know quite well
That, for all they care, I can go to hell,
But on earth indifference is the least
We have to dread from man or beast.

How should we like it were stars to burn
With a passion for us we could not return?
If equal affection cannot be,
Let the more loving one be me.

Admirer as I think I am
Of stars that do not give a damn,
I cannot, now I see them, say
I missed one terribly all day.

Were all stars to disappear or die,
I should learn to look at an empty sky
And feel its total darkness sublime,
Though this might take me a little time.

I do believe that Auden used the analogy of a star as a lover. So what Auden meant, went something like this:
Looking at you, I know that you would not care if I live or die. And indifference exists no matter who you are. How would we like it if someone were to love us more than we could ever fathom, more than we could give? If the feelings can never be of the same value, then let me be the more loving one. Even as I love one who does not love me in return, one who will never acknowledge missing me. If every one I choose to love were to fade from me, I would learn to be alone with the void and emptiness, though this would take awhile.

Somehow, I realised that love is not being about “the more loving one”.
I think John Keats hit the nail on the forehead with love when he wrote “Bright Star”. Read the rest of this entry

Isaiah 33:2
“O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in times of distress.”

I had a really long prayer today, with so many questions needing to be answered. And this whole chapter in Proverbs, really summed up everything for me. I realised that while my thoughts were scattered, so were the answers, leading me to be able to pick up which parts answered for the different questions, like piecing a puzzle.

Proverbs 16

PERSEVERANCE, WORK & SCHOOL:
16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, to choose understanding rather than silver!
20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is he who trusts in the Lord.
26 The laborer’s appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on.

Knowlege and understanding are far more important than material wealth. Do not labour for the sake of wealth, remember that you labour for knowlege. And as you labour for knowlege, let that be the sole purpose of your perseverance, to complete what you have started.

KILL YOUR PRIDE:
5 The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished.
6 Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the Lord a man avoids evil.
7 When a man’s ways are pleasing to the Lord, he makes even his enemies live at peace with him.
8 Better a little with righteousness than much gain with injustice.
17 The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way guards his life.
18 Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

Success doesn’t depend on pride. Pride holds you back, pride destroys you, pride isolates you. Kill your pride, for there is nothing to fear when I am (God is) at your side. A prideful person fails to be understood. Have love and faithfulness in your heart.

I KNOW YOUR FEARS:
27 A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28 A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.
29 A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good.
30 He who winks with his eye is plotting perversity; he who purses his lips is bent on evil.

In everything, if you are afraid, remember to see with your eyes, your heart and your mind. Fear men who plot; for their words will give you uneasiness. Fear men who stir up a situation with their words and idle gossip, destroying relationships. Fear men who lead you onto wayward paths. Fear men who see you only with their eyes and without their heart.

ON LOVE:
21 The wise in heart are called discerning, and pleasant words promote instruction.
23 A wise man’s heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction.
24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
32 Better a patient man than a warrior, a man who controls his temper than one who takes a city.

Your strength lies in your heart, and your weaknesses lie in your heart. Be wise in your heart, to be able to discern the value of truth. Do not simply hear the words with your ears, LISTEN with your ears, LISTEN with your heart. A wise man will say the right things by following his heart. You will say the right things, by following your heart. The words that are guided by the heart are spoken true, these words will give you peace to your soul and heal you. Remember patience and temperance. Patience waits. You, wait. A patient man who holds back is better than a man who seeks a quick absolution. Remember it in your heart “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

ALWAYS REMEMBER MY PLAN:
1 To man belong the plans of the heart, but from the Lord comes the reply of the tongue.
2 All a man’s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.
3 Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
4 The Lord works out everything for his own ends— even the wicked for a day of disaster.
9 In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

No matter how you may plan, envisioning it in your head, thinking that everything you say and do is according to how you want it to be, every word that comes out from your mouth, was already according to His plan. In whatever we do, remember to give it unto God for He lets our plans succeed. Everything single thing that happens, is God’s plan, the good and the bad. We may think we are a step ahead of the situation, but always, God has already laid it out and seen how everything will unfold. We may be lost, unsure, fearful, doubtful of what goes on, but God HAS a plan and it is He who leads us on that path, giving us the steps to take. It is not chance, it is not coincidence, it is not fate, it is not destiny. We may well think that we roll the die, we cast the lot and come to our decision, but truly truly, everything is of God and his plan for you.

With the recent announcements by the government that parents are now allowed to choose a race for their mixed race newborn, there has been a constant debate over what this would mean. In the past, the government cited that the race of a child of mixed race parentage would officially follow that of its father. This new announcement officially allowed one to choose either race to follow.

Soon after the announcement, people have been writing in to forums exclaiming that one cannot choose to be a certain race when they are clearly both and as such, the government should allow for two races to be clearly stated on their registration. And true enough a few days later, the government announced that yes, it would now allow for a new category of race to acknowlege those of us who were born to mixed race parents. A hyphenated double race.

Perusing the news today, I realised that many other mixed race people out there felt the same way I did. Changing our race would be a way of claiming who we really are instead of being of a single race that was set upon us. Also, it would save time from explaining why we don’t look according to the race that is declared on our identification papers. However I was alarmed by the number of single race people who feel that allowing of a double race to emerge, it would set back those of a single race. Some worry that the benefits given to those of a double race would allow us access to areas that they would not be entitled to, such as access to help from more than one ethnic group organization (e.g. CDAC for Chinese, Mendaki for Malays, SINDA for Indians). Or that by sorting us with our dominant race, we would be taking up places that would belong to those of a single race when we should be sorted with those of other races. There is also the fear that most people would pick Chinese as their dominant race because it is after all, the majority race which brings about more benefits.

I for one believe that the impact of a double race would not have such a great effect on society but simply gives a means for those of us who have been a minority to finally have an identity. Even though we have been living our lives with a singlne race, we might not be able to identify with the race we have been given. I for one, have suffered discrimination from relatives and maybe even strangers just by being of a different race other than the one that was expected of me. My official papers may say “Chinese”, but looking at me or speaking to me will say otherwise.

Do I embrace this change? Yes of course! Lest I be the only one to be excited about this, I queried my cousins and sister who are also in the same situation to see if they would stick to the current race we have been given or opt for the one we are now allowed to have. And I’m happy to say that they share my sentiments on the issue and that we will all be looking forward to the day when the government releases the official statement on this new double race policy and what it would bring about.

One thing’s for sure, my future children will also need to have their race chosen once I have changed mine.

It’s been awhile. I’ve spent the past 2 – 3 months sorting out life and figuring where to go from here. Countless times I contemplated leaving my job fearing the inability to cope, as well as for job security.

As of yet, I am undecided but still striving. I’ve completed my foundation modules for my degree programme (hurrah to that!) and attained 2 Distinctions and 1 Credit. This only propels me to strive harder for a High Distinction.

While fearful and exhilirated, I just planned my units for the upcoming trimesters for school and await the start. Planned for the upcoming trimester is

Communication Research
Politics, Journalism & Society
Professional Communication

more news, when there’s news