Sunday, April 08, 2012

Less Than a Month

Thank goodness it's April. It means that in less than a month time, I will be enjoying my first "summer holiday". I can almost taste the freedom. I gave myself a week of hiatus to have fun online before the tough job of preparing for the finals. Sigh, examinations. I abhorred exams.

In a month time, I will be celebrating my 21st birthday which is not exactly a big deal in Singapore.

Well, technically, you are an adult and sure, you will be eligible to vote. But mentally, I am not and don't relish being one. There's nothing great about being an adult other than the fact that you can book a hotel and tours. I can officially go on holiday trips on my own but as if I could do so.

I do know what I want as my present though. I am going to buy more charms for my Pandora bracelet after waiting for a year.

I won't be holding the 'obligatory' birthday party because it is not my kind of thing. I will probably regret it when I am older but hey, why do something you don't feel comfortable with? It's not as if I have lots of friends I can invite anyway. It's sad but true.

For now, I just want to get the finals over and done with and get ready to welcome May (and the holidays) with open arms. I have so many plans for the holidays. It's just too bad that I won't be able to go overseas. Please, let there be a miracle.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

In which I talk about Fandoms

I'll be honest about why I am reluctant to watch what is now known as the "hottest blockbuster" of the year. The last thing I want is to get stuck in another fandom-war.

I'm already sick of reading all those articles and comments comparing this franchise with another successful movie franchise. Why do people like to compare and pit the fandoms against each other? It's almost like they are doing it with glee watching the fans fight verbally. I have seen some pretty ghastly and nasty remarks during the "infamous" Harry Potter fanbase hate everything Twilight. It's still going on but on a more subtle scale.

That's part of the reason why I decided to drop out of the scene. The childish behaviour of people who should know better put me off. I still get excited over Harry Potter matters and still considered myself as an avid fan, but I'm much less active in other areas such as reading forums and stuff. In a way, I've moved on.

Of course, there's a part of me who feel indignant at the blatant way people insult the whole Twilight phenomenon, from the fans to the author to the books to the movies. To be fair, I did enjoy the books tremendously because I found it quite well-written despite all the naysayers. I did like the romantic aspect and the idea of the supernatural living amongst us.

It's fine if one doesn't like it. But to go to the extent of insulting everything on sight and making it the butt of the joke is going too far. It's one thing to hate a book/movie and another to degrade the author or the fans.

Anyway, I'm glad that this movie franchise is ending because I wish the uproar would die down.

I'm trying to put the young adults genre behind me and move on to better stuff like classics and fanfiction. Besides, I'm still relatively new to the Sherlock fandom and am having too much fun to join another fandom. It's most enjoyable with fans that are mostly pleasant and talented. Most of all, I love how the actors and writers are able to chat/troll with fans. It's almost like a closely-knitted family and this makes it wonderful.

Hottest blockbuster, maybe. I am counting on The Hobbit to topple the record though. Shhhh.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Surviving March

These past few days have been horrible. My aim is to survive March first before thinking about April.

I've been going to school in the morning and coming back home in the late afternoons for 3 consecutive days. I've never been this weary before.

This Friday, I will bid goodbye to one of the projects and hopefully, scored a good grade for it because it has been plain tiring doing it. This is definitely one of the most annoying projects I did so far. It get even worse with less than stellar group members.

Next Friday, I will hand up my last project which is also a pain to complete. Up till now, we are still entering data. I can't believe it.

What these 2 projects have in common is that they are vague. It's free rein and you have to come up with the scope yourself. Perhaps for some people, this comes as a blessing as one can be creative. This is true for me in Poly, we can set up whatever business you want and justify it. But not so in University.

One thing I realise about University modules is that they are so research-based and boring as h***. Nothing fascinates me. Yes, professors dedicate their time on researches to make this world a better base but I find it so stuffy and academic (in the bad way).

Sigh, talking about my "past life" makes me sad. Would it be better if I'd just choose a different path or will it be worse? I would never know since I can't travel back. But, you've got your troubles and I've got mine. So, let's not say whether my grousing and complaints are justifiable.

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Famdom is my way of Life

Fandom is a way of life.

I like the sound of that, very much. I've been part of different fandoms for a long time. The most prominent three fandoms I belonged or used to belong to are "Potterheads", "Twilighter" and recently, "Sherlockians". I refused to use the term "Twihard" because it doesn't represent the spirit of the original fandom.

Indeed, for all budding fandoms, I think original fans who have been there since the start have it tough with all the attention and newcomers. Once something gets famous and a cultish-fanbase grows, there's no stopping it and let's be honest, suddenly everyone wants in or proclaimed themselves to be "true fans".

The problem with the new found attention is that it tends to attract all kinds of unpleasant people who do not understand what boundaries are.

It's the situation Sherlockians are facing now and it will be worse in the future. I understand that awareness is great because it means people are spreading the word but that magical feeling is gone, isn't it?

That's what happen to the Twilight fandom. I still love the books and will still watch the last movie when it comes out, but I've lost my passion due to all the (mostly bad) publicity and influx of "immature fans". The original spirit is gone, majority of them are just gushing over the movies and not the books.

It's like having a limited edition bag which is so dear to you and the next moment, you see everyone on the street carrying it. The special feeling is gone and the bag has become another ordinary accessory.

That being said, I wasn't part of the Sherlock fandom since its start in 2010. I was late in every sense as I only heard about the TV show in June 2011 and was only properly introduced to the fandom in December 2011. Still, I feel as if I belonged. The fandom is great and glorious, full of wonderful and talented people who make awesome fanart and write interesting fanfiction.

But when something grows in awareness and gains momentum, fans will have to deal with unwanted attention too, from haters and unsavoury fans. It's a double-edged sword.

In the fandom world, I would be considered a "lurker". I know the inside jokes, the good fanfictions, the fanvideos etc but I have never interact much with the other fans. It's both a choice and circumstance.

Oh well, it is out of my hands. I will bask in the glory of this fandom for as long as the spirit remains. It's a long wait for series 3 anway.

Thursday, March 08, 2012

Ridiculous in the name of the "Greater Good"

Reading this on a brand new day is a mistake because it totally spoils my mood now. I'll likely be brooding about this for days, even though brooding accomplishes nothing.

This is getting ridiculous. Why must they build a hawker centre right on the piece of green patch left in Yishun? And why must it be right in front of my house? This makes it hard to stomach, oh look, I make a pun.

Yishun is turning fast into a concrete jungle and is going to be no different from all the towns in Singapore. I loathe it for what it is becoming to be. There is no "special feeling" anymore. The sense of identity is gone.

While I am on this point, the large trees in Yishun Park were fell and along with them, down came the white-bellied sea eagles' nest. I lamented about it for days but what can I do? Write a letter when the matter was already done?

Yes, so the government do caters to what residents want. But, what about those that veto against this construction? Do we have no say at all? I doubt that all the residents are consulted before this decision is made.

I used to pride myself for being loyal to the leading party in Singapore because overall, they did do a great job. But, recently, the onslaught to kill what is left of Yishun makes me so angry and frustrated.

Does that mean that the opposing party will gain another follower? I'm afraid, no. Unless they can  protect more greenlands and slow down the development, I see no reason to change sides. It is not as if they will have an alternative.

I understand that there will always be collateral damage. This leads me to another point, I admit having the NIMBY Syndrome. Don't most of us, if not all? Will you be happy if your backyard has to make way for the "greater good"? Can you be sure you will agree with the decision to build a nuclear plant right in front of your doorstep?

Am I having the defeatist attitude as well? Perhaps. You tend to have it in Singapore. What can you do but to accept the "greater good"? It's the same for Bukit Brown, isn't it? It is everything to do with progress, pragmatism and the need to rise to world stage. We can never afford something as simple and luxurious as a green patch of land without some development on it.

At the very least, it is not a twelve-storey HDB which will completely block any view. I shudder to think the thought of looking into another's bedroom. At the very least, it is probably just a one-storey building that will cause traffic problems, pest problems (roaches and rats!), noise pollution, hygiene problems and that nasty smell that will stick to your clothes.

The thought of moving away to the countryside suddenly seems so appealing. Perhaps, I need to get away from Singapore for a few months, if not years when I'm older just to get away from the urbanisation.

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

John, what John?

I think enough have been said on the news whereby CBS decided to change John Watson into a Joan Watson with the recent casting for their re-make of Sherlock Holmes set in modern time, in New York no less.

We'll see whether this remake will flop or not, won't we? If it does, Sherlock fans will be laughing. If it doesn't, then it's all fine. It's not as if the BBC original version pales in comparison or will lose their revenue to them. The BBC version will always be in the hearts and minds of devoted fans.

The first thing I thought of when the cast was announced was "wow, it's like fanfiction coming true". They even used the first name, Joan, which is what most fanfic writers go for when they create a female Watson.

The demographics has already shifted 180 degrees. From what I've seen, this programme will be targeted at more conservative, older Americans who will frown at a platonic bromance or any underling sexual tension, so as to speak.

Like so many other Sherlock fans, I do find it atrocious and silly, on so many levels of wrong basically but I doubt I will be getting myself up in a tizzy over it. This post is more for my reference than for anything else.

Of all the direction for originality the team could take, they choose this. Many people have said that it was because they and the audience couldn't deal with any sort of ambiguous relationship that may arise between Holmes and Watson. To make it more acceptable to the general public, they made this radical move.

Why must people always be afraid of homosexual undertones that everything has to become heterosexual just to have a romance?

I've seen a great quote somewhere that goes something like this, "it is easier to fake sexual chemistry than platonic chemistry" which is quite true. By having a female Watson, it changes everything. The possibility of a romantic relationship between Holmes and female Watson will almost be cemented, won't it?

Furthermore, it just spoils the direction Arthur Conan Doyle took with his books. The whole essence of Sherlock Holmes is the friendship and loyalty between Sherlock and John, two housemates with two very different personalities. The relationship dynamics between the two is crucial in the development.

I will probably try it out for the laughs provided I could access the programme in the first place. If it's really funny and ridiculous as people made it out to be, it will be more fun.

Happy Leap Year 2012

Happy Leap Year! It's 29th February 2012 and since it is a special day that only occurs every 4 years, I would like to take this opportunity to write up this post to commemorate.

Besides, it is supposedly my grandmother's adopted birthday although we do celebrate every year.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy movie review


I'm glad I went out with a friend on Saturday and I'm even more glad that I went to watch Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. From what I have gathered, viewers either love or hate the film so I was in a bit of of a conundrum. Furthermore, the rating was in M18 for "sexual scenes" so I was nervous as well.

However, I'm happy that I went because I did enjoy this Oscar-nominated movie. Yes, it was a slow-burning, non-action spy thriller. It's completely different from what one would get from mainstream Hollywood slap, chase, bang spy films. For one, this is British, and we all know that there is something magical about British-made products. This film is intelligent but mind-boggling, I've to admit. You never know who the mole is until the end.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy features the creme de la creme of British actors, both veterans and rising stars, who showcase their superb acting skills. Gary Oldman was stellar in his performance as the world-weary, retired MI6 agent. Benedict Cumberbatch was, of course, brilliant as Peter Gulliam, Gary Oldman's protege. I can't help smiling seeing him act in a completely different role. The cinematography is lovely as well, since this was supposed to be in the Cold War period.

I've never read the book by John le Carre before and it was because of Benedict Cumberbatch that I was even interested in this film. I know, I sounded shallow. But sometimes, one need incentives to start something. I am very much "involved" in Sherlock fandom right now and I do find the men of Sherlock very attractive, hence, it is my goal to catch as many of their productions as possible. TTSS just happen to come along and is the most recent production that features the leading character.

As for a M18 rating, Singapore set a too-high bar for it. Sexual scenes? I think they meant sexual scene, as in one. And for that matter, it wasn't even in-your-face. If the M18 rating has to account for anything, I would say it's for the bad language and the few scenes of "gore". I felt more uncomfortable watching blood being splattered than the supposedly "sex".

I'm happy that I managed to get a friend to watch it with me because it is difficult to find people who can appreciate sophisticated films. It's true. Many would think that it's money wasted if there isn't action scenes in it. Why would one want to fall asleep in the cinema? Therefore, it came as no surprise when the demographics in the small theatre leaned towards older Caucasians.

Overall, it is definitely worth it and I will be more inclinced to give new films a try the next time.

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Singapore Airshow 2012

Indefinite hiatus again, I know. Although there were things happening, I don't have the mood to write.

On Saturday, together with my father and brother, I went to the biannual Singapore Airshow 2012 at Changi Exhibition Centre. I'm not a plane enthusiast per say and I have my own reasons for wanting to go. I've been hearing stories about how there will be lots of souvenirs and giveaways from the different exhibitors and so, being the enthusiast in all things knick-knack, I naturally cannot miss out this opportunity.

It was raining quite heavily on the way there and I was praying so hard for it to stop so that we can fully enjoy the afternoon. Thankfully, it did stop raining when we arrived. We parked the car at Terminal 3 and went to the shuttle buses area. I was pleasantly surprised by how efficient the service was. There was almost a continuous supply of SMRT buses ferrying the passengers to and fro. As a result, the bus we took was not very crowded which is great.

Maybe it was the rain, or maybe it was in the afternoon, but it wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be. I did enjoy it though, because it means that we have more personal space.

The aerial show display was the highlight, of course. I managed to snap some pretty pictures of the RSAF display and my favourite, the Australia Roulettes. Again, thanks heavens that the rain stopped just in time for the flying display.

We didn't have any chance to go up to the Singapore Airlines Boeing 747 or any of the planes on display because the queues were simply too long. The exhibition hall was really huge and it was a pity that I didn't manage to collect lots of souvenirs. I did get one collar-pin though.
As the event came to a close, we went to the merchandise booth and I bought the mascot toy after some deliberation.

It was a wonderful day and I looked forward to the show in 2014, only this time, I want to be there throughout the day to fully enjoy the event.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Inspiration

Inspiration. It's a funny, little thing, isn't it? It can hit you when you least expected it and at the same time, it can be the bane or boon of your life. After all, inspiration is what provides jobs for so many people.

For me, inspiration is about whether I have something to write for my blog or do something I normally would not do. There are good periods and bad ones. Sometimes, I hit a "writer's block" and it will be a drought here. Other times, I will go on and on about entries.

This time round, I have been inspired to play my keyboard (piano) after a long, long while. There are times when I lament about why didn't I continue my lessons in Primary 1. I wasn't trained to play with two hands nor was I trained to read the notes. But, I know enough to play really simple songs. I can play if I have the notes translated to letters.

Why the sudden interest? It's because of Sherlock, of course. Lately, everything has been about Sherlock. I picked up Conan Doyle's books, watched all those past shows starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman etc.

It's just too bad I couldn't carry it through since it is really an awful time to start, what with school and stuff. At least I have the notes translated into letters.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

CNY 2012

Lunar New Year 2012 came and went. It has been great this year and the ambience is so much better than Christmas.

I was already in the holiday mood when last Wednesday came around. I went to cut my hair and the following day, did manicure in the purple and blue which turned out really cool. Red and pink are so yesterday. That evening, the family went to the Chong Pang area to do some last minute new year shopping and to soak in the festive atmosphere.

On Friday, originally we wanted to go to our usual haunt, Far East Flora but the queue was too long and thus, we went to Ang Mo Kio instead.

We had our reunion dinner at my uncle's house a day before the eve. It was the usual steamboat dinner but I did enjoy it as this is the only time throughout the year in which we get steamboat. Having steamboat at home beats having it outside because it is very casual and everything tastes so much better and superior.

This left us free on Sunday. We went to Far East Flora around 5pm so it was not as crowded. I managed to buy some beautiful cut flowers and my mother got 2 pots of plants. Afterwards, we headed over to Marina Square to meet the relatives.

It was a very smooth journey as most shops will be closed by then and most families will be having their reunion dinner. For the first time, the carpark at Marina Square was so empty and we can park wherever we like. It's fun seeing almost all shutters down.

We ate some snacks at KFC and thankfully, the drizzle ended and we walked over to River Hongbao where all the festivities are. I used to have an aversion going to that place because I remembered it being wet, congested with lots of people and generally being unpleasant. Therefore, it was a surprise to many of us when we arrived as it was so much more organised and roomy now. We even get to walk on the floating platform!

It was the usual visiting on Monday and Tuesday. On more exciting news, we went to Marina Bay Sands on Tuesday evening to watch the laser show at the waterfront and had dinner at Bazin. There was nothing special about the show as I have seen better ones at Sentosa in the past. Bazin is located at the waterfront and it is really cool with all the breeze and palm trees around. It's almost like we are on a vacation overseas. Too bad, reality is that day was the end of the celebrations.

Monday, January 16, 2012

The Reichenbach Fall

Sherlock. Now, this is what I call superior TV. It enthrals the viewer and evokes all sorts of emotions within. It redefines what TV is and proves that with the right amount of attitude and effort, quality shows can be made.

Sherlock is full of win because of fine acting, skilled execution of filming style and of course, the modern adaptations. There is an element of charm that grabs your attention right from the start.

The Reichenbach Fall is the finale of season 2. It is the modern retelling of The Final Problem by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle where the author originally killed off both Moriarty and Sherlock. Thankfully, all those years ago, readers worldwide protested so much that 3 years later, the author brought Sherlock Holmes back alive again in The Empty House.

The producers of Sherlock BBC kept the best secrets in the world, as soon as episode 3 came out yesterday in the Britain, they made the announcement that season 3 was commissioned at the same time as season 2! What a tease! They must be having a laugh at all the anxiety and pleading by fans.

With this in mind, I felt that I could tackle the onslaught of emotions I was sure to face much better. At least, I will know that Sherlock will come back.

Reichenbach Fall starts off on a heavy note, with John Watson back at his therapist after an 18 months hiatus. Sherlock Holmes is dead. It then faded to 3 months earlier, where Sherlock and John were getting famous for their detective skills.

The dry wit and snappy dialogue are still present but cut down. Viewers know what is coming and the episode did nothing to glaze over this fact.

Moving on without focusing on the plot too much, Martin Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch ought and deserve every award they will subsequent receive for excellent portrayals of their respective characters.

My eyes did well up when John and Mrs Hudson visit Sherlock's grave. One powerful scene was when John saw the "leap of fate" by Sherlock. I don't know what it must be like, seeing your friend jumped to death in front of you. I love how John didn't actually cry out loud but fans all know that he is grieving inside. I love the wiping of eyes and the hitched voice - all those subtle gestures build on the scene. I think that seeing John's anguished look is even more intensive than watching him cry.

Kudos to Benedict Cumberbatch as well. His portrayal of Sherlock utterly won me over, right from the start. In this episode, he gave his best performance yet, playing a wide spectrum of emotions, from rage to sadness, in one episode.

I do hate seeing him vulnerable, so uncertain of himself and the way he loses control around Moriarty.

The scene where he told John that he is a fraud and the things he does are magic tricks is an extremely heart-wrecking scene. There he is, doing the most human thing ever, to thoroughly disgrace himself and protect John from Moriarty's marksman. He finally gain humanity or putting it in another way, thaws the coldness around his heart. Indeed, caring does not help save lives and it certainly is not an advantage, but why did he cry when he knows this is just an act? He truly cares about John and his friends.

I hate how people, even Lestrade, started to doubt him, his skills and the side he is on. He does not see himself as a hero or an angel, but like what Lestrade said in A Study in Pink, "Sherlock Holmes is a great man, and some day, if we're very, very lucky, he might even be a good one".

I don't understand why quite a lot of viewers think that Andrew Scott isn't a good Moriarty. To me, he is an extremely creepy and unstable-minded villain. His character is not a straightforward, in-your-face bad guy. The way he talks seriously creeps me out. Moriarty does not hesitate to manipulate people's thoughts and actions. This is evident when he wooed Molly and pretended to be an actor who has been wronged by Sherlock. He is so good an actor that even Sherlock seems to doubt himself.

I am glad that he is dead, or is he? He did shoot himself in the mouth, but what if he returns once again? I can't stand him any longer but he is the only one who can challenge Sherlock in his own game.

And so, the curtains shall fall on this season. Altogether, it was a brief but satisfying 3 weeks of three 90-minutes of brilliant TV. For many countries, this is just the beginning because Sherlock is not even aired yet. I am resourceful enough to go for downloading as soon as possible.

It is foreseen that Sherlock season 3 can only start filming in late 2012 and the earliest schedule for its release is 2013. As long as it's not another 18 months wait, eh? Something to look forward to this December will be The Hobbit.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Reichenbach Feelings

Times passes so fast, doesn't it?
At the beginning of the new year, I was still extremely excited about the new Sherlock series and the debut of A Scandal in Belgravia. Then, a week past by and I started to feel a bit of doom and gloom about the second episode, The Hounds of Baskerville, because it means that final episode will be upon us soon.

This week marks the end of another season of Sherlock with the Reichenbach Fall coming out in less than 24 hours on BBC One. This episode will break so many hearts and maybe, even tears will fall.

The last time I was so emotionally invested in fiction was when I cried over the deaths in Harry Potter. Other than that, I couldn't remember any times where I feel so depressed over a character death. Can't the producers just confirm that season 3 is in the making? I get it that they want to maximise the suspense for the finale but the way is so cruel. How could they do this to us?!

The whole Sherlock fandom is probably going to be writing angsty fanfiction for many weeks/months to come. All those post-Reichenbach stories about how John, Mycroft and Lestrade will cope without the existence of Sherlock. Sigh.

I am going to be melancholy for days to come and comfort myself by reading lots of fun fanfiction. On the other hand, I can probably focus better on my school work since there is nothing to look forward to once episode 3 is done.

Please, do not give us another 18 months wait for season 3. I don't know how I could bear it. But, I will take 18 months when compared against 3 years wait, like what Sir Arthur Conan Doyle put his readers through. Oh please, let The Empty House happens sooner than later.

Monday, January 02, 2012

I Am Sherlocked

The second day of 2012 got off in a good start.

There's no way I can wait for the Sherlock season 2 episode 1 to be released in the States or for it to even be shown in Singapore, therefore, there's only one way to go about doing this. I managed to get into BBC iPlayer and caught 'A Scandal in Belgravia' hours after its debut in the United Kingdom.

The episode is everything I could have hope for and more. It is brilliantly executed and very emotional. In fact, many viewers have declared that this episode surpasses all of season 1. Steven Moffat really tugs our heartstrings like a violin. Episode 1 does things to my heart when I saw how lost Sherlock was.

Irene Adler is portrayed amazingly as a dominatrix and the power play with Sherlock is deliciously thrilling. The rapport and chemistry between Sherlock and John is stronger and better than ever. The acting was really stellar. There were good effects as well, with the return of the text overlays such as blog posts and text messages.

Viewership in UK alone was estimated at around 9 million at present and looked set to rise above 10 million once the final figure comes in. Besides, this figure is just in UK, it is not even released in the States or other countries yet.

Even though I am miles away from the land of origin, I am still proud to be a fan in this rising fandom. Sherlock is going to be a phenomenon. It is a testimony of how TV programmes can be if effort is put in. Sherlock is an example of the new TV show with intelligent humour for thinking people. Amidst in this era of dull, repetitive and mediocre TV programmes, Sherlock shines like a jewel. It is refreshing, smart and charming.

Kudos to the geniuses behind Sherlock! I think everyone out there will be on the lookout for news of series 3 in making. Fingers crossed. If BBC knows what is good for them, they will pass this motion. Sherlock is literally the best thing that happens in TV for a long time.

Saturday, December 31, 2011

The Good & Bad of 2011


I can hardly believe that 2011 is ending! Hold your horses though, because I intend to make good use of the last day of 2011.

Year 2011 is a year full of ups and downs, personally, locally and internationally.

For me, I graduated with a Diploma with Merit and an award for the Kingsmen Creatives Prize. That was the glory of my life, my pride and joy. I was at the top of the world. Then, came the task of choosing a University. I fretted over whether I am good enough to enter a local University and thought that I lost my chance. In the end, I chose NUS and am planning to major in Geography.

I wouldn't say that 2011 is good to me because it isn't. The year seems to hover between good and bad, besides, I am not entirely pleased with myself and the way things are heading. Indeed, I would say that the earlier half of the year was so much better than the later half.

If there is one regret I have for 2011, it is that I failed to fulfil my goal and dream of going to USA. All these years, I worked so hard and am going to reward myself with a bang but yet, it failed to materialise. That goal is still standing. I can only hope that I can fulfil it sooner not later.

In Singapore, this is nerve-wracking year. Toes are trod-on and fingers are pointed at. We witnessed the watershed General Election and Presidential Election. I finally realised that Singapore is not what I thought it to be. I thought that people will be more grateful and thankful for we have, alas, that was not the case. People, especially, the younger generation, have grown contemptuous and cynical. They have grown "fat" from all the coddling and protection.

2011 is a year full of disasters that one can almost say it's a disastrous year. Not only are there earthquakes, floods and tsunamis with thousands of lives lost, there is also the financial crisis that sent countries into debt and the stock markets a-tumbling. The powerhouses of the world are not so powerful after all.

The technological world lost a visionary, Steve Jobs, who redefines technology. The world, too, lost dictators such as Gaddafi and Kim Jong Il.

All in all, it's been a roller-coaster ride of a year. However, I will still miss it simply because the year is gone. The new year ahead seems daunting and tough, for the world economy and for myself. Not to mention, the supposedly end-of-the-world will arrive. I will be entering into my second semester of studies and I have to grit my teeth to bear with it.

For all the pessimism I show, I still have hopes that 2012 will be wonderful as it can be. Besides, the year 2012 is made better already with the thoughts of Sherlock season 2 in January and The Hobbit in December starring both Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman in both shows. Oh, it's Christmas!

Friday, December 30, 2011

BBC Sherlock: A Review


This holiday, I am in love. It's not very often I find myself in love with something. Perhaps, rather than calling it love, I should called it 'passion' or a worse word, 'obsession'.

I love Harry Potter (the book series and the movies), Lord of the Rings (the book series and the movies), Twilight (the book series, not so much the movies), and a couple of less epic book series and movies.

Fanfiction has play an important role all these years, I started out with good old Harry Potter fics of course. After which, I branched out. I must count my good fortune that I am exposed to so many wonderful and inspiring fanfiction. It kind of binds the world together, don't you think?  All these great writers, not professionals, but still manage to spellbind so many readers, drawing in reviews, be it good or bad.

My latest "obsession" is Sherlock from BBC One. The British really does amazing films. In this area, I would like to bring out the phrase, "quality not quantity". The mini series consists of only three 90-minutes episodes, but it has already won the BAFTA Awards that very year it came out. The series is critically-acclaimed and at the same time, well-received by the general public. There is always a line between what critics like and what the public like but it looks like Sherlock struck gold.

I know that it was released in England in August 2010 but I got wind of it only in the early months of this year.

Indeed, just after the first episode, I can't help but to get drawn into the 21st century reboot of the beloved series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Sherlock is so witty and sarcastic, filled with British humour. It is ingenious, cleverly executed and a fast-paced, intelligent and fun series. Sherlock is like a breath of fresh air and it actually allows the viewer to think things through. I often find myself rewinding to truly understand the deductions. I enjoyed it tremendously.

What adds fuel to the fire is the fact that the Sherlock Holmes and John Watson are played by two good-looking, British actors namely, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. Supporting cast are up on par as well. I guess this is where the main appeal lies.

Audience do appreciate good-lookers in films, I can firmly attested to that. Of course, that doesn't mean I only watch shows with good-looking guys but it does affect one's decision, doesn't it?

I quickly moved on to the world of BBC!Sherlock fanfiction and found out just how big this fandom truly is. It has only been slightly more than a year old!

With series 2 coming up in the January 2012, the BBC!Sherlock fandom looks set to expand and grow to new heights. While I am excited over the prospect of the new series, I am thrilled by the thought of new fanfics that will be inspired by the new season. I simply cannot wait for the new and existing authors to contribute and share their work with the rest of the fandom.

Let it not be said that viewers these days only appreciate the TV adaptations and fanon writings. I read a wide spectrum of works, ranging from literary writings to novels to amatuers' fanfiction.

I do take the steps to read up on the history of the original author and the book series.I have done it for Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. Not only did I read the Lord of the Rings trilogy, I also dabbled in Tolkien's other works such as The Silmarillion and previously unpublished commentary in The History of Middle Earth. I was 14 going on 15 at that time.

For Harry Potter, other than the the 7 books, I too read literary, analytical works such as Looking for God in Harry Potter and The End of Harry Potter.

As for my new interest in Sherlock Holmes, well, for the first time, I picked up Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work. It's certainly baffling why I didn't have the interest in it when I was younger. The thought of reading this worldwide renowned series never did cross my mind. Perhaps, it's because I was never into the mystery and crime genre.

As I grow older, the time I can devote myself to novels and books lessen. These days, I mostly read fanfiction on the Internet.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Small Miracles

There's so much to update before the year comes to an end. Hopefully, my muse will allow me to write in this last few days.

I'd received my grades for Semester 1 and I must say, thank god for small miracles! For Social Work, I got an A-, the best grade I've received so far. The others are just B-, B and B+. It's alright though, because there's nothing wrong with being average, particularly in these trying times.

I have come to realise that I should lower my expectations in this part of my academic life and it doesn't help that University isn't really my cup of tea. Oh well, like I said, I am fine as long as I do not fall below the B- mark. That is one big no-no for me.

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Brain Mush

My brains is becoming mush after the sudden switch in activities. For a couple of weeks, I was preparing exams like crazy, using lots of mind power and then, when the exams ended, it was like the button inside my head was in a switch-off mode.

Of course, I took fully advantage in "wasting" my time because when else will I get the chance?

I realised I have been neglecting my blog this year and I am not exactly satisfied with myself and the way everything is going. Sigh, maybe I am just not in the mood for anything. Maybe, I am jaded about Life in general. Seriously, even Christmas seems "off" this year. I can't really feel any excitement or the spirit I have been looking forward to. Maybe, I am getting old.

Another year is about to come to a close and like every past year, I will lament the ending and am not looking forward to another new year. Why must all the good holidays happen within a couple of months? It makes the rest of the year so drab and dull.

Friday, December 02, 2011

Finals Are Over

My finals are finally over on Monday, 28th November and I'm planning to enjoy my one month holiday fully.

The past two weeks have been, for a lack of better word, tough. I've never feel so incompetent and not confident before. But the exams, like anything, came and went. And I can only hope that I did alright. I mean, the exams did feel alright.

I am kind of apologetic for all the grouses I made during the study week and more. I guessed I must have drove my family bonkers. Oh well, like I told them, they will have to endure for another 2 and a half years.

University is no joke and I am not amused. With the end of semester 1, I can say that I just have the worst time in my entire academic life. It has been awful and miserable.

I have chosen geography as my major. Let's hope that there will be no regrets. To have some interest in it is a good right, non?

Monday, November 21, 2011

As ready as I'll ever be

I'm as ready as I'll ever be = I don't really feel ready, but there is nothing I can do to ever feel more ready.

I've done all that I could and really hope that my hardwork will pay off.