Monday, November 17, 2008

2008 Christmas Carol

You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better keep cash
I'm telling you why:
Recession is coming to town.

It's hitting you once,
It's hitting you twice
It doesn't care if you've been careful and wise
Recession is coming to town

It's worthless if you've got shares
It's worthless if you've got bonds
It's safe when you've got cash in hand
So keep cash for goodness sake, HEY

You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better keep cash
I'm telling you why:
Recession is coming to town!

Finance products are confusing
Finance products are so vague
The banks make you bear the cost of risk
So keep out for goodness sake, OH

You'd better watch out
You'd better not cry
You'd better keep cash
I'm telling you why:
Recession is coming to town.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Singapore Biennale 2008: Address (Project: Another Country)

Artwork:
Address (Project: Another Country)


Type:
Installation

Description:
Domestic objects cast on balikbayan (homecoming) box

Artists:
Alfredo Juan Aquilizan
Maria Isabel Gaudinez-Aquilizan



Inspired by their own relocation from Phillipines to Australia, the husband and wife team, Alfredo & Maria Aquilizan created this "room" by using tons of personal objects that have been collected from all over for more than 10 years. They then "cubed" the personal belongings, in a very artistic manner, by using the Balikbayan boxes. Balikbayan boxes are used a lot by Filipino migrants to store and relocate their belongings from one place to another. And yes, you can read more about the "Balikbayan boxes" from wikipedia.

Now, if this art project was simply collecting personal items, arranging them in a certain way so that they'll hold up in the Balikbayan boxes, and that make sure when the box is removed they are able to be stacked with the rest of the other items, then you are wrong.

As I walked and paid more attention to the details, each items were carefully placed. Not only the structure aspects were very well taken care of, but also the fun aspects of it. Yes, this "space" actually interacts with the viewer and sometimes you'll find some "spooky" items and sometimes you'll find that the artists were simply want to joke around with you. Like the following items I managed to find here.




First of all, I have to applaud the patience that the artists have in putting all the things together in a "chaotic" and yet organized manner. But what I adore the most from these piece of art is the fun and nostalgic feeling the viewers get while going through items over items. Well, the feeling of nostalgic may be really to the "older" people like me :p what I am trying to say is that everyone will find at least one item speaks to him/her in a special way. What's the item for me? Ah well, may be the duckie (or is it a chickie?) who loves her cocktail below is my personal favourite. Don't ask me why! :-)


Wall Arts

Recently I'm quite in the "artsy-fartsy" mode. Just recently been to the Singapore Biennale 2008 and took more than 400 photos (which I promised I will share a few of the artworks that I'm impressed with soon) and now I am being introduced with a different type of work of art. Something that is actually functional for the house.

And this website has quite a few "unique" designs of wall art that either make your jaw drops or wonder if that is really a piece of art, like this piece over here.

Normally, when we think about wall art, we tend to think about canvas oil paintings/canvas wall art, being one of the most common piece of art for most homes. I personally love more abstract pieces but everybody has its own tune to to arts.

There's also another kind of art that is revolutionizing home owners now. Metal wall art. Yeah, it may be heavy and bulky but I have to admit, some of their metal wall art are really exquisite! You should check out this page and after seeing some, you wouldn't even realize that they are actually made of metals!

Even though I don't own my own roof yet at this moment, but I can't help to appreciate such items. It's a feeling I can't really describe but when certain "art" speaks to you, even though it may just be on in the display window of a shop, you know it has touched you in a special way. Hope you'll find your special "wall art" one of these day. I haven't really found mine too, may be till I get my own roof. :)

How Did One Do That?

Recently, I was being mentioned in my plurk friend's blog and ho-boy I'm really honoured :-). Then I saw that at every post of hers, she has the word "NaBloPoMo" on each and every title of her blog post recently. I was wondering what on earth that is.

So I checked it out at the following website - www.nablopomo.com and found out it actually means National Blog Posting Month. It's a "movement" to help blogger commit and support each other in writing on a regular basis and their challenge for a start is to write everyday for a month including weekend!

Geez, I can't even keep up with a weekly post and here they are suggesting every day. Hmm ... may be this is just what I need to kick my lazy "a**" up into the flow of writing but I am not sure yet if I am up to it.

But well, no harm for me to share this piece of information just in case any of you fellow bloggers out there who are very ACTIVE and would like to turn it up a notch. So, why not just sign up and commit to a daily blogging habit. :D

But if you are already blogging daily and still want to turn it up a notch, may be you should create your own community of nablopoho.com - national blog posting hour, instead! :D

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

I Need to Write

Geez ... time has passed so fast ....
  • I've gone to Penang and back
  • I've enlarged my social circles (other than that, nothing else has been enlarged yet :p)
  • I've passed my first ever French test
  • I've watched Avenue Q and realized even in funny things wisdom exist
  • I've celebrated my 1st Halloween ever in my life and met MY PRECIOUS!
  • I've witnessed USA made a historical move by having the very first African American president
  • I've witnessed the stocks go up and down crazily in a mere 2 weeks
  • I've lived in the era of possible bad recession coming
  • I've taken a pic with one of the prettiest little girl ever exist in my life (and very well mannered too even though her mom is so nottie) :p
  • I've realized the biceps that I've trained so hard before, they have now turned into Cordyceps. So so sad .....
Yes, lots have passed and happened and one thing hasn't really been moving much is my blog. URGH! Yes, I know, I know, I've not been writing. I'm so sorry.

There are so many occasions when I have the urge to write, alas, I have no access to my computer. Then when I have the access, I have writer's block!

So now, I force myself this time to write, if not I'll be poked by ma chère tante (It's French for "my dear aunty"). She's someone special I met from my French class. Not only we are both monkey of different cycle in the Chinese zodiac, our mobile number is so creepily similar that when I dial, I'll feel like I'm calling myself. So, I wouldn't want to step on her monkey-ish tail and hence I am writing!!!! *humf* :p

Even though this post will not make much sense and it's seriously incoherent, but I have come to learn, any momentum is better than inactivity. Unless too much of activities have crippled your ability to keep a balance in your life.

Am I talking sense at all?

Well, that's all for now, folks. I'll be back. I promise I'll be back more often! Gggrr ... I need to give my writing mojo a few spanking. And at least now I have
ma chère tante who's kinda experienced in the spanking area as she's very well equipped with the knowledge of canes. "I'm oh so scared." So ... I'll be back. :-) Thanks for still staying with me despite of my absence.