Questions

I'm really getting my  much-needed daily dose of political philosophy from this Machiavelli class.

He teaches us to use cruelty, not just when necessary, but be capable of using it at any point in time. He teaches us to not trust relationships based on loyalty, but on those based on obligation. He calls religion false and the attacks the Church,and calls for us to rely on our on virtues instead of chance and fortune. He teaches that generosity is bad and will never be appreciated.


1. Does it makes me a bad person if I find his teachings to be enlightening and sound advice?
2. Forget about Machiavelli, hell, my dad could have taught me the exact same stuff. My 21-year old friend from Beijing could have taught me this stuff. Is Machiavelli overrated, or are Chinese people just so much more cynical?

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 25

Day 25: A song that makes you laugh

This song is just so awesome. I'm obsessed with the Scottish accent, I think this song is what got my infamous Irish/Scottish accent imitations started in the first place. *ashamed*

30 Day Song Challenge: Days 23, 24

At this point I've given up on following the rules systematically, instead I'm just picking the days that appeal to me.

Day 23: A song you want to play at your wedding

I feel like this is not an obvious wedding song, but it really is so sweet and really expresses how two people in love should feel about each other, and of course, how one should live life.




Day 24: A song you want to play your your funeral

I'm not really into funerals. When I die I want to be cremated (in true atheist fashion I don't believe in burials and letting my corpse waste a completely lovely plot of land), I don't want people trying to "remember" me by listening to someone drone about my life and then eat a huge meal afterwards. That's all bullshit. When a life ends, it ends. What matters is that I've lived it to the fullest, but if I must choose..

Go on

This has been my best quarter at UChicago, but as of yesterday it became the worst. Where does this shittiness come from? Well, I owe all my gratitude to CAPS for fucking up my summer and OIA for bitching me out and making me cry on the 171.

There is a lot of things to sort out, a lot of things, and thankfully those who knew about this have been immensely helpful and supportive. Right now, I just walk through campus and sit through classes, trying to suppress all my anger and stress, while listening to Jack Johnson on repeat.

"What is the purpose of my life
If it doesn't ever do
With learning to let it go.."

A quote from the brilliant Niccolo Machiavelli

"When evening has come, I return to my house and go into my study. At the door I take off my clothes of the day, covered with mud and mire, and I put on my regal and courtly garments; and decently reclothed, I enter the ancient courts of ancient men, where, received by them lovingly, I feed on the food that alone is mine and that I was born for. There I am not ashamed to speak with them and to ask them the reason for their actions; and they in their humanity reply to me. And for the space of four hours I feel no boredom, I forget every pain, I do not fear poverty, death does not frighten me."

- Niccolo Machiavelli
letter to Francesco Vettori
December, 1513.

The above may be among the most eloquently written paragraphs I have ever read. It reminds me of why I live to read, and of the knowledge of the ancients that never cease to be a source of inspiration.

30 Day Song Challenge: Days 17 - 19

Day 17: A song you hear often on the radio.

Does Pandora count? I listen to the Mumford & Sons station, so this is an obvious answer.



Day 18: A song you wish you heard on the radio

I wish the radio would play nothing but Donavon sometimes.



Day 19: A song from your favourite album

Hopes and Fears  - Keane 2004 <3

30 Day Song Challenge: Days 15 and 16

Day 15: A song that describes you.

Day 16: A song that you used to love but now hate.



Oh Simple Plan....how I used to be obsessed with you. When you were super popular, I would get angry when other people said they liked you because I discovered you "first". When I lived in New Zealand and dreamt out getting out day and night of my boring fourteen year-old life (ironic now that I just want to go back), you gave me so much "hope" through your angsty "I hate my parents and my life"-esque lyrics. Ohhhhh Simple Plan...

30 Day Song challenge: Days 12-14

After a brief hiatus, I am back to gush over, and hate on, more songs.

Day 12: A song from a band you hate.

I'm sorry, but this is exactly why bands that dominate music charts suck.

Day 13: A song that is a guilty pleasure.

Ok, I secretly want to rise out of the water in a lizard? skin suit and then wiggle my body by the ocean.

OK!!! I love this song... *embarassed*

Day 14: A song that no one would expect you to love.

In my defense, this song is really catchy! 

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 11

Day 11: A song from your favourite band.

I wish their brilliance is more appreciated.

Singapore Elections 2011

The election was historical in many ways. For the first time ever, the opposition (Worker's Party) successfully contested a GRC and won 5 seats. The voices and actions of young people made a significant impact on the results of the election - they voiced their dissent through Twitter and Facebook, which culminated in a tidal wave that the PAP (and especially MM Lee) could not have expected.

However, aside from this seemingly positive move towards democratization, its implications are sobering. The Worker's Party platform, which claims they need to be in parliament to keep the PAP in check, is not a valid reason for the residents of Aljunied to support them. The first and foremost responsibility of these MPs are to address the concerns of residents in their daily lives, improve living standards, bridge the income inequality gap, and so on. Their job is NOT to use Aljunied as a platform for future electoral success while ignoring the actual problems of people they are representing. The people, too, are voting for the opposition not because of their policies, but out of hatred for the PAP. Is that really a legitimate reason? Voting for an inexperienced group of politicians simply because the PAP has been in power too long does not seem to be the best solution for improving lives of these individuals. Furthermore, the young generation seems to have completely forgotten Singapore's humble beginnings and the tough issues the country still faces. They need to elect a government capable of producing the best for the country, not those who want power simply for the sake of "democratization".

What does the 2011 election mean for Singapore? Only time will tell...

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 10

Day 10: A song that makes you fall asleep.

I'm going to interpret this as falling asleep in a good way. =)
The instrumentals are amazing.

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 9

Day 8: A song that you can dance to.





Best. Dance. Song. Ever.
Stromae's expression in his cubicle = my life
Chugging a beer sounds pretty good right now. -_-

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 8

Day 8: A song you know all the words to.



Keane <3

I hate the feeling of helplessness

- when you know you are drifting apart from someone, and you can't do anything about. It's like watching your life unfold on the sidelines, as nothing but a spectator.

- when you know horrific things are happening in the world every day, and you can only watch as leaders make more detrimental decisions and destroy people's lives, squashing them like ants.

- when you know you are being pushed towards a different direction from where you want to go, but it's like you boarded a bullet train, with no stops. So you either stay on it till the end, or jump off with disastrous consequences

- when you miss your family and friends, but you can't just go home and see them.

-

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 7

Day 7: A song that reminds you of a certain event.

At my high school graduation, all of us Chinese speaking students, from the mainland and Taiwan, Malaysia, Hong Kong...sang this together.

别管以后将如何结束 至少我们曾经相聚过
不必费心地彼此约束 更不需要言语的承诺
只要我们曾经拥有过 对你我来讲已经足够
人的一生有许多回忆 只愿你的追忆有个我 。

It was a fitting end to those happy years.

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 6

Day 6: A song that reminds you of somewhere.

Oh Beijing....and the video just brings back memories of biking home from school in narrow hutongs in the summer, past old people playing chess, willow trees, and eating watermelons in the yard.



This song just reminds me of summer, summer anywhere. That holiday to the Barrier Reef, biking along East Coast Beach, good times. good times.

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 5

Day 5: A song that reminds you of someone.

30 Day Song Challenge: Day 4

Day 4: A song that makes you sad.



Her voice is heartbreaking.