Subtract Love, add anger

When people ceased to believe in hope, they will fall into despair and destitute, will start to get angry about and with almost everything. From objects to animals to even TV drama plots. But by chance, they will see light of the situation, and improve their emotional and mental well-being.

RIP Margaret Thatcher

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had died following a stroke, aged 87 in the morning of 8 April 2013, her family had revealed. With BBC coverage of her life as ex-Prime Minister, of her remarkable achievements of her over a decade in office.

She will be having a ceremonial funeral at St Paul's Cathedral.

Margaret Thatcher was also the first women Prime Minister in the UK, and is most notable for her decision in the Falklands War. Other than Falkland War, Lady Thatcher was also known for her economic reform policies, including privatisation of British Air, the NHS, BP and many more. Such was the popularity of the Tories during her reign that she continued to privatised public utilities. New Labour indeed continued privatisation as part of their political agenda.  

A fortnight ago, press journalise said they will not return to work (from their strike) to cover the death of Margaret Thatcher (hypothetically), but of Nielsen Mandela because of her tough stance on the trade union.

Her years in office paves the way into the future of politics in UK, and coined the term, Thatcherism as a phrase on the stuffs and policies implemented to help serve and improve the life (hopefully) of the common Briton.

RIP, Margaret Thatcher.

The Doctor is back

A ridiculously yet uncanny storyline revolving about WiFi and how an evil, sinister women is introducing lifestreams sucking and downloading the human soul in London (read the ugliest addition to the skyline- The Shard) to feed the Great Intelligence. At the end of the episode, he had been fed enough and it’s time for the evil sinister women (Miss Kizlet) to reduce. 

We have seen the story of Amy and Rory Pond as the first companions of the eleventh doctor, with their great on screen chemistry (although between Rory and Amy, it’s a tad awkward) but with Clara, I do admit I prefer the previous companions. Critics of Amy and Rory can be smug about Clara, who seemed relaxed in her role as the Doctor’s new companion. 

The plot reveals about the Great Intelligence manipulating ordinary humans or as I call it, people of the streets into this ugly looking building as a HQ for downloading human soul for him. What is cool about this group of evil people is the tablet device which is capable of adjusting IQ, Paranoid and Confidence level of her workers.

A pun on the show, Doctor Who? Also provides comic relief to the show, although the question is better left for the 50^th anniversary.

In all, as the plot thickens, I’m not expecting what I think I wish to see, since I have much more expectation for Steven Moffat works. But this episode is enough for Whovians, for now till next week. The plot can actually play out well, if not for the rush and slipshod editing (leaving much to be desired and the choice of background music?) I do love the concept though. I just can't wait to know how she becomes a Dalek and her story- of being a time lord. 

Realisation

I used to ask myself if the actions I ever took (take or taken, have or have yet to take) is always the correct decision. But since I cannot always please myself (because, half of me decided it's correct, and another half thinks it's wrong), so SCREW IT

Being a Mayor on SimCity

The new SimCity is out, with horrific experience for me, with the servers down and all. Maxis (EA more likely) decided to grant all players affected with a new EA digital download game (hopefully I can have a free Sims 3 University)! But that is not enough, why launch a new game when you do not have the capabilities for it? And the game is not as fun as the previous franchise.

So a mayor, do be careful of being bankrupt! Here are a few shots of my city...come join me if you're playing. Origin: Surfinder

I think having circus for arterial roads serve a huge purpose in town/urban planning. Whoever says circus in road planning is due to urban planners leaving a round coffee-stain on blueprints (thanks to their mugs)??? Ok, lame joke.

Crowd Source Videos- The future?

In the first quarter of 2013, usher in a new phenomenon- Crowd Source Videos. The popularity of an old soundtrack- Harlem Shake shows us all. In an office, a funky person enters the busy office in a motorbike helmet (where’s the courtesy to remove it when entering a formal location?!?!) for the first 10s. Then, drop in the bass and everyone starts to be involve in some form of random and totally repetitive action for 30s. This is the future of entertainment. FYI, this video had been seen over 10 million times just on Youtube.

Harlem shake is not exactly a new song, and the popularity rises recently just because of a youtube video (the original single does not even have a MV). Through shares and likes, Harlem Shake soon became a sensation. Curators hate to love it, lovers love to hate it.    Even some units of BBC had started riding on Harlem Shake, with Holby City and Eastenders (and also more, but I’m just not really keen to mention them). 

What constitutes to the popularity of such videos? First came Gangnam Style, now Harlem Shake. This should lies on the concept of Crowd Source Videos. Same as crowd-sourcing, whereby an online community pool together resources, crowd-sourcing involves viewers of a particular video to upload their own version online. Usually such video have an easy concept, and is also easy to duplicate. This explains the numerous parodies of Gangnam Style videos. The catchy tune and weird looking horse-riding dance movement strides a chord with the online community and the person having the last laugh (as well as shaking to the bank) will be Psy.

Now with a high smartphone penetration rate in developed nations, and all smartphone have a video capturing function with easy uploading to Youtube, helps increase the platform and infrastructure of such Crowd Source Videos. You upload it to share with your friends and in turn, your friends will share the video and might also upload their own version at the same time. Thus far, Crowd Source Videos had been limited to just personal entertainment, but soon, some brands will adopt it.

Just like your daily exposure of advertisements, if one is exposed to a lot of such videos, viewers might become frustrated and deemed It as a nuisance. For Harlem Shake and Gangnam style, many had already passed it off as a fade and hated the videos (and so for similar video, will also express scant interest). As a PR stunt many brands had start to adopt this, but ultimately, will it continue to hurt their brand image?

Crowd source videos had been around for a long time, but just 3 years ago, are not as popular as before. This might be due to people still not being open and also not having appropriate means to be involve. Other crowd source videos in the past includes Cinnamon challenge (which proves to be highly controversial), Brad Pitt ad, Gangnam Style, Harlem Shake and Where the hell is Matt ad. Now, what will be the next crazy ass fade on Youtube?

Buzz words and notable phrase in use right now and for 2013

As a tribute to yet another progression into the new year (currently in the dying days of the second month), comes a literacy acknowledgement. Acknowledgement of the new language and phrases we’ve come to terms with, and will embrace it (unwillingly for some).

1. Royal Bump

Now almost four months pregnant, Britain’s media darling Kate Middleton is not having a smooth pregnancy now. From radio pranks causing the death of a nurse to harsh morning sickness to being compared to a Panda, our dear Kate certainly needs lots of rest. With her now officially revealing the bump of hers to be insignificant compared to the humps on the road, revealing herself to be smiling, all smiles. The new bump certainly will give rise to this new phase ‘royal bump’ till the better half of the year. Brace yourself for the bumps!

2. Plebs

When this ancient word use during medieval times was uttered by then party whip Andrew Mitchell (who have since apologised) to a police when cycling to Westminster last September, it caused a massive uproar. With the police demanding an apology and David Cameron trying to defend his party as being out of touch (just how many people cycle as oppose to taking the Tube?) and senseless. Months later, many people had forgotten about this and well, case close. The whole case have it’s own Wikipedia page (Plebgate). Reportedly David had been using ‘fucking pleb’ to remand the policeman, and yet, media picked up on the use of Pleb and not fucking. It’s a poor PR showing which demonstrates the straining ties between Downing Street and the police.

TBC…

When will it be enough?

As the sun sets, yet another day begins. Yet another day to 6.9 million people in the crowded space of Singapore. Oh, how we hope that day will never occur, or even think about it. Why, oh why, does people have to think about it?

Is it a parameter or sorts for town and urban planning? Or is it more of a target the government hopes to meet by 2030? Either way, most people are sceptical of the white paper. Simply because, why does them need to plan for 6.9 million people when they themselves said the total population will not hit 6.9 million? So, why will there be a senseless surplus (in more resources being spend needlessly)?

A senseless and insensitive comment made, with unjustifiable grounds of reasoning. But is it inevitable that Singapore will be experiencing yet another wave of migrants or sort? The answer is yes.

Globalisation had long been the buzzword for all things- from China to transport to economy growth. But this is also the very thing which lands nations on debt and a downward spiral on growth. This buzzword also explains why does people keep getting uprooted.

Many had commented and debated on the immigrant issue and all, together with the 6.9 million populations. Is it an evil necessity?  Bearing in mind with open doors policy, there are exponential growth in total population. Elsewhere, from Australia to UK, they similarly experience increased in population growth, mainly with blue collar jobs. In the UK alone, Romania had been flocking to UK seeking employment and housing (as well as the benefits) by exploiting loopholes. New immigrants had set-up new enclaves for their own community. First was the Polish builders, now comes the Romania magazine sellers (Big Easy). When will it stop? Asked everyone.

6.9 million is necessary if urban planners are conceited and game for a tough challenge. There are no take twos. If failed, many people will be unhappy. Current infrastructure in place are not even enough to meet the current population (of about 5 million). With multiculturalism at heart of the nation, racism will become a problem sooner or later, with other country having higher tolerance of racism. See Australia, notorious for their racism. Or UK with racist attacks on black football payers. With Singapore being a coloured society, it indeed is a colourful nation. Will ethnic ratio still be important with numerous new Singaporeans of various breed? And given the tough housing situation expected by 2030, who will still continue to care of your race when I have the money so I’ll take the flat.

Simply put, the whole white paper is a senseless piece of paper.