You Should Never Be Too Impressed By People With Good Manners

I have stopped watching Desperate Housewives and most of the TV shows since I came back from Europe. Today, I got bored and decided to watch it again. I am again being reminded what a great TV series Desperate Housewives is. It is not the drama between the ladies that I am realized I miss but there are only 2 things I fall in love all over again with what the great writers behind have done. The beginning and the ending. The soul of each and every episode has been written in such a profound manner by the writers. And in this week's episode, the ending simply hit such a high note with me that I couldn't help to share it with all of you. Its wisdom is so profound that sometimes we need to be reminded of what we tend to forget.

"You should never be too impressed by people with good manners, they are the ones who will give a friendly wave even if they've stolen from you. They're the type who sweetly welcome you even as they tried to uncover your secrets. They are the kind to offer you coffee, even as they report you to the police. And don't be too offended by someone who's openly rude, because they may be that way for the nicest of reasons." - Desperate Housewives

Have you found yourself in such situation? Where you are impressed with someone good manners and behind it all, a samurai has been waiting to slice you up in pieces? Ah well, I have. Though my experience was definitely not as dramatic as those you watch on TV but well, the surprise was shocking enough to make you realize a few atoms of your lives have simply be stolen from you.

Then, have you been to the other extreme? Where what or who's deemed to be dangerous turned out to be the best thing that may ever happened in your life? Oh, tell me about it ...

Life is so full of mystery, isn't it? It's so not straightforward especially when it contains billions of people with billions of possibilities in personalities. We can only trust our guts, prepare for the worst and expect for the best. And watch out for life advices at the most unexpected places. For me, this time, it's from Desperate Houswives Season 5 Episode 16 titled - Crime Doesn't Pay.

For the Brave Women (and some Men) Out There

I just finished watching North Country right now on TV and my blood has never boiled to the roof like this before. Though what was being depicted in the movie was not BASED on a true story, it was only INSPIRED by a true story. But I can not imagine anybody was able to endure such treatments in their work places.

For those of you who are interested in the movie, North Country is about an iron mining female worker (played by Charlize Theron who was nominated for Oscars for this role) who was sexually harassed by her male co-workers. She fought the battle all alone with almost zero person supporting her except her lawyer at first. The rest was history.

The movie was inspired by a real case - Jenson versus Eveleth Teconite Co. It took 10-20 years of courage and public display to the private lives of the plaintifs to finally get what they deserve, a protection at their work place and of course, some compensations.

This, is only one case. How many cases are there throughout the history where women endure the pain and fought against all odds that make us - women who are breathing and living now - have what we have and live the way we live? I am seriously clueless and ashamed.

May be that's why in a way we were thought history at school (one of the subject I hated the most and now kinda regret that I didn't pay too much attention at school) so that we know who have pathed the way for us. Yes, some of the information may have been twisted and distorted, and some seriously, who knows they are simply fables and tales. But history is part of us, they made us who we are today.

Hence, this post is dedicated to people, especially women (and maybe there were also some men) who have made it possible for us, women, to live a safe life and of equal rights (at least at most part of the world at the moment). I believe without these great people we would not be able to talk as we like, walk as we like, work as we like, have what we like and even think as we like. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. And I hope to learn more about each and everyone of you as my life goes by and hopefully you will always leave your heartprints to the next generations to come. You have carved out life paths for us, I hope we will continue to do so and make the paths bigger and better.

The Curious Case of NTU Singapore

Have you heard about the news that have been really hot in Singapore? Well, the university that I graduated from has apparently been in the limelight recently, for the wrong reasons. Dead bodies and blood are involved in Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

For the news, lookie here: http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_347185.html

It was said according to the news source that 1st incident, an Indonesian Chinese student has stabbed a professor and then committed suicide. That happened on a Monday. Then, during the same week, on Saturday, a Chinese project officer has found hung.

2 dead bodies in less than a week. Wow ... Is the recession so bad and gloomy that everybody feels so stressed and simply needs to end their lives to feel better? And is it really a coincidence that both of them were from the same faculty - the School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering? Ah ... not forgetting a fact that both of them are also working in the same lab - S2-B3a-06. Ah ... yes, don't forget, people who are like the Indonesian student (a scholar who even represented the country for some Maths competition) and the Chinese project officer (who landed a job in NTU which was supposedly not as easy to get in as to work in McDonalds) must have some kind of brilliance especially in the academic arena. They were engineering trained, who were supposed to be pretty logical and "thought-things-through" before experimenting with anything, and these are the outcomes for their lives? And both in the same week?

I don't know how to feel about this news. But the news has definitely stirred certain mood in me when I first read it. I must admit that I must have pointed finger into the direction that media wanted me to believe. The media is a powerful too indeed. How can one forget that? Fortunately, God created this thing called "BRAIN". And some of those who remembered to utilize it, started to ask questions and feel something was fishy and then I was awakened.

I am definitely not in any position to comment about this case. I am no CSI and even if I am one, I have no access to the evidences and witnesses and whatever things that CSI needs in solving a case. So, I'm not here to argue, what's right, what's wrong, what should have been done, etc. I am also not here to dissect this situation as I am in no place to shine any lights to the case. I really hope the truth will prevail but even though if it's not, Miss Karma will take action in its own hand and in its own time.

But what I would like to point out in this era where we are so heavily spoon-fed by what we read, heard and seen, have we forgotten how to think for ourselves? Are we really that mentally lazy? Unfortunately, we are. I know I am. But through the curious case of NTU Singapore, this time, I really hope we'll be more awakened. To be reminded that we are born with a brain that hardly being utilized fully on things that REALLY matter. Life is hardly so straightforward, it needs a little bit of "detective" works and seriously, I am not just talking about this NTU case but about our own lives. I know I'm in the midst of a very big important and puzzling case of my own and I'm going to get my detective hat, coat and magnifying glass in order to find some clues about my own life. I hope you do too. Life is a mystery indeed, solve as much as you can and don't forget, we have a brain.

The Carpenters

Ah well ... yes, another game of the songs as a friend of mine and the faithful reader of my blog, "challenged" me to do so with Carpenters' songs, so voila ... here they are. My friend, hope you are happy with this. I must say, it's not as easy as Metallica or ABBA.

The Name of the Game: Choose a singer/band/group, answer using ONLY titles of songs by that singer/band/group.

1. Are you male or female?
Strengh of A Woman

2. Describe yourself.
Ordinary Fool

3. What do people feel when they're around you?
Top of the World (I'm delusional, aren't I?)

4. How would you describe your previous relationship?
Yesterday Once More

5. Describe your current relationship.
Fun, Fun, Fun

6. Where would you want to be now?
Honolulu City Lights (They don't have Paris ler :'()

7. How do you feel about love?
Love is Surrender

8. What's your life like?
Happy

9. What would you ask for if you had only one wish?
Love Me for What I Am

10. Say something wise.
Don't Be Afraid

Metallica

Well ... since I promised a friend I'll use Metallica for this quiz, I'll try my best to answer them ... dunno what it'll turn out though ... (arh.. what did I get myself into without knowing)

Choose a singer/band/group, answer using ONLY titles of songs by that singer/band/group.

1. Are you male or female?
Ain't My Bitch

2. Describe yourself?
Poor Twisted Me

3. What do people feel when they're around you?
Some Kind of Monster

4. How would you describe your previous relationship?
The Unnamed Feeling

5. Describe your current relationship.
Welcome Home

6. Where would you want to be now?
Wherever I May Roam

7. How do you feel about love?
No Remorse

8. What's your life like?
All Within My Hands

9. What would you ask for if you had only one wish?
...And Justice for All

10. Say something wise.
Carpe Diem Baby (means Seize the Day, Baby)

OMG! So different from ABBA! Like the Yin and the Yang
*fainted*

ABBA

A friend of mine posted this "note" on Facebook and I think it's a great way to discovers singers and songs you may want to relate to. My first choice is ABBA and here's my answers. How about yours? I may try with different singers next time. :D

The Name of the Game: Choose a singer/band/group, answer using ONLY titles of songs by that singer/band/group.

1. Are you male or female?
I Am Just A Girl

2. Describe yourself.
I Have A Dream

3. What do people feel when they're around you?
The Way Old friends Do

4. How would you describe your previous relationship?
Dream World

5. Describe your current relationship.
I Let the Music Speak // Me And I

6. Where would you want to be now?
Another Town Another Train

7. How do you feel about love?
Knowing Me Knowing You

8. What's your life like?
As Good As New

9. What would you ask for if you had only one wish?
Voulez Vous (Means "Would You?")

10. Say something wise.
The Winner Takes It All