He was highly political, supportive of the Communist movement. So when the CCP won the war in China, he must be jumping in joy. Because a few years later, he was coerced by the British into leaving the island. And he packed away with his wife and kids, but left his eldest son across the straits in Peninsular Malaysia.

Back in China, he was "discovered" and denounced as a KMT spy and jailed. He later died in prison. The official account was that he committed suicide. Till today, no one knows if it is the truth.

(29) Flower in the Pocket

Malaysian indie filmmakers make beautiful fims. Flower in the Pocket is one such example. Brilliant film. Intense nonetheless, you'll need to have patience and full concentration to appreciate the beauty of it. Arthouse but with subtle touches bordering comical. Hints of influences from Ozu and Hou Hsiao-hisen but credit still goes to director Liew Seng Tat, who manage to infuse his own witty Malaysian style.

Naturalistic and beautiful cinematography, despite shooting on a DV camera with miniDV tapes. The young filmmakers from Da Huang are highly admirable. How they manage to shoot digital features and not fall into the trap of only shooting on celluloid film and with big budgets. Their selfless collective spirit, helping one another in their films. The myriad of awards they have won paid the dues of their can-do spirit. Hopefully we can see a similar collective here take off in Singapore soon and do us proud.

They who have faith in the Buddha have faith in the best, and for those who have faith in the best the result is the best. Anguttara Nikaya II.34

(28) White Castle

Neil Patrick Harris: It's a fucking sausage fest in here, bros. Let's get some poontang, THEN we'll go to White Castle.


Spent Xmas Eve catching up with Hall friends and then spent the rest of the weekend at home, recuperating and catching up on the DVDs, looking after the puppy. Work's getting heavier. Time flies. On another note, I wish I've made something as good as Harold & Kumar.

Back to Liew Seng Tat's Flower in the Pocket for the night.

I go to work worried about Tara, calling up my mom to check on her. Cut down on so much social time and my back hurts from washing the crate. But timely video below that reminds you that it is all worthwhile.

Serom, Malaysia.

Unpopular decisions for what is right. What would your choice be? A rational mind and an iron heart.

A new stage has begun now and welcome to the real world. It's like a frog leaving the comforts of its well and seeing how society works, how deep the psyche of human beings can be. I want to do well. Lets see how far I can go. We'll never know. The present is always the most important time, hence we should always aspire to do our best on every todays.

(27) The Founding of a Republic

Father and son. Chiang Ching-kuo remains my favourite character during the Chinese Civil War.

"中国人打中国人这种事，我不干。"

The Maha Sangha

The Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples has entered on the good way;
the Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples has entered on the straight way;
the Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples has entered on the proper way,
that is to say; the Four Pairs of Men, the Eight Types of Persons;
the Sangha of the Blessed One's disciples is fit for gifts,
fit for hospitality, fit for offerings, and fit for reverential salutation,
as the incomparable field of merit for the world.

(26) Jingwu spirit

So did the Chinese really fought on French soil against the Germans in WW1?

Kato, my name.

The Legend of the Fist: The Return of Chen Zhen is rather disappointing, maybe previous efforts on Chen Zhen have been cult classics. The 2010 version suffers from bouts of schizophrenia. It isn't sure what it wants to be. A superhero film or a martial arts period piece or really just a spy thriller? It could have developed into a cult superhero film, which was what I was hoping, especially with all the superhuman amazing fighting abilities of Chen Zhen. Character development is also weak. Donnie Yen's Chen Zhen is just a lean mean fighting machine, but you don't feel his loyalty to his country or his devotion to his master as well as Bruce Lee did in Fist of Fury and Jet Li in Fist of Legend. The former highlighted the plight of the bruised Chinese pride while the latter gave the Japanese a little more human touch.

Camp Ehi-Passiko 2010

Organisers, Day One.

A record number of 62 by Day Four. Thank you guys. You are all one major reason why this camp has been a continuous success.

Class of 2010.

Sadhu...

and the Buddha beckons

Ehi-Passiko.

Well, do you feel Lucky? Well do ya, Punk?

Welcome to the next stage: the real thing, the real world.

Even if things get heavy we'll all float on
Alright already we'll all float on
Don't you worry we'll all float on
All float on

(25) The Dark Knight (2008)

Probably the best movie adaptation of a comic book superhero.

Middle Eastern perpective on our MRT Circle Line

Singapore 'jealous' of Malaysia

so says Ibrahim Ali, chairman of Perkasa in Malaysia. Read more here.

Erm, ok.

Confidential information that pits countries against countries, especially those in Asia, increasing tension in an already sensitive region.

Is this really a responsible pursuit of truth or motivated by the need for self-glorification?

I like the independence and financial freedom I now have as a working adult. But back in school, you have the limitless opportunity to dream big and wild. I don't like to live in the past but I still think about school once in awhile. And most importantly, the friends and professors who made the 4 years there probably the most memorable phase of growing up.

Float on, Modest Mouse.

I backed my car into a cop car the other day
Well he just drove off sometimes life's ok
I ran my mouth off a bit too much oh what can i say
Well you just laughed it off it was all ok

And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on any way well

Well, a fake Jamaican took every last dime with a scam
It was worth it just to learn some sleight-of-hand
Bad news comes don't you worry even when it lands
Good news will work its way to all them plans
We both got fired on the exactly the same day
Well we'll float on good news is on the way

And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on ok
And we'll all float on alright
Already we'll all float on
Now don't worry we'll all float on
Alright already we'll all float on
Alright don't worry we'll all float on

And we'll all float on alright
Already we'll all float on
Aliright don't worry even if things end up a bit to heavy
we'll all float on alright
Already we'll all float on
Alright already we'll all float on
Ok don't worry we'll all float on
Even if things get heavy we'll all float on
Alright already we'll all float on
Don't you worry we'll all float on
All float on

If the Lions are not going to perform and play good football, the fans will never stick around the terraces. Save for the few of us clutching onto our Nike jerseys wondering what went wrong yet again and how long more will we last? The same questions we've asked many nights before.

3 times champions in 12 years and crashing out of the tournament. Attackers all firing blanks. Passes going haywire. More than a decade of S-League and the first time a foreign team has clinched the title, this must be one of the lowest point in Singapore's football.

(24) Saint Jack (1979)

One thing about cinema is that it is like a time machine. Peter Bogdanovich's Saint Jack brought to life a forgotten Singapore in the 1970s, a time filled with gangsters and corrupt cops, local women parading around proudly as hookers. I'm glad we are not like that anymore and our women can count themselves to be some of the most sexually-forward in Asia. Something the detractors and the critics will never admit was a job well-done by a paternalistic government.

Politics aside, the film's premise may be thin on story but its character study makes for one of the more memorable films I've watched. A young Ben Gazzara (Dogville anyone?) stars as the titular character, Jack Flowers, an angmoh pimp operating a small chain of prostitutes to the envy of local gangsters, and then finding his backing from the CIA to operate a brothel for busloads of GIs fresh from the war in Vietnam. For all his flowery words and flamboyant behaviour, Jack Flowers seems at best a man with a dream to earn a fortune but inherently a very empty and lonely soul.

AFF Suzuki Cup

A very interesting Asean Suzuki Cup. Imagine a semis without Thailand and Vietnam but with the Philippines! Malaysia is hot on the heels of the Thais. Both are however teams I would like to see Singapore play against.

Still behind the Lions, despite a dismal performance against the Philippines and a close victory against Myanmar. The game against the Filipinos was heart-breaking. The Lions dominated but were toothless in front of a stubborn Filipino defence. Kudos to the Filipino team, they played with pride, albeit too defensive against Vietnam. Yes the underdogs won but it's a bad game for football. You don't play football by parking a bus in front of the goal.

Next up, the Lions against Vietnam on their homeground. Please give us a Kallang roar and an early Xmas present by winning this one and off to the Semis. It should be a cruise from should we not meet the Indons.

Homemade Hollywood

Bought a book recently from the Borders' clearance sale: Homemade Hollywood. Describes the fascination in fan-made adaptations of their favourite movies and comic book heroes. Legal suits and the lack of money and resources don't seem to deter them. Some were made with the hope of landing that dream Hollywood gig, yet it remains largely a pipe dream. The extent to which independent and hobbyist filmmakers can go to chase after their dreams.

Found tons of homemade Hollywood films online.

I like this the best. Grayson is a fan-made trailer on the premise that Batman is dead, presumably killed by Superman, while Dick Grayson aka Robin attempts to avenge his mentor's death. Robin in a starring role will be very much appreciated.


In Sandy Collora's fanmade trailer (US$12, 000) World's Finest, 2004, Superman teams up with Batman. LexCorp merges with Wayne Enterprises. But it remains at best, just a trailer.


Collora's debut fanfilm is Deadend, 2003. Where the Dark Knight takes on the Predator.


Dan Poole's Spiderman: The Green Goblin's Last Stand was made in 1992. No excuse not to make a film, just because you are not a professional and don't have the resources. It takes a lot of ingenuity to do something like this.

Six Ways of Squandering Wealth

As taught by the Buddha in the Sigalovada Sutta.

Six Ways of Squandering Wealth

1. Indulgence in Intoxicants	2. Roaming the streets at Inappropriate Times
1. Loss of immediate wealth, 2. Increased quarreling, 3. Susceptibility to illness, 4. Bad reputation 5. Indecent exposure, 6. Weakened insight.	1. He himself is unprotected and unguarded 2. His wife and children are unprotected and unguarded 3. His property is unprotected and unguarded 4. He is suspected of crimes 5. He becomes subject to false allegations and rumors 6. He is subjected to many miseries
3. Habitual Partying	4. Compulsive Gambling
1. You constantly seek, 'Where's the dancing? 2. Where's the singing? 3. Where's the music? 4. Where are the stories? 5. Where's the applause? 6. Where's the drumming?'	1. Winning breeds resentment; 2. The loser mourns lost property; 3. Loss of wealth; 4. One’s word carries no weight in a public forum or court of law; 5. Despised by friends and colleagues 6. One is not sought after for marriage, since a gambler cannot adequately support a family.
5. Bad Companionship	6. Laziness
1. Any rogue/gambler, 2. Drunkard, 3. Glutton 4. Cheat, 5. Swindler, 6. Thug/ bandit	1. 'It's too cold,' 2. ‘It's too hot,' 3. 'It's too late,' 4. 'It's too early,' 5. 'I'm too hungry,' 6. 'I'm too full,'

(23) The Blue Angel

Emil Jannings and Josef Von Sternberg are familiar names from film classes back in university. Jannings first melt my heart with his portrayal of the poor doorman in The Last Laugh. The Blue Angel is another German classic from Von Sternberg and starring Jannings again in a tale about unrequited love. Found this obscure DVD from Chinatown once again, what a treasure trove!

Synopsis edited from Wikipedia to the film stills. Feel free to use the stills in any way.

The Blue Angel follows a Professor Rath through a transformation from an esteemed educator at the local college to a destitute vagrant.

Rath's descent begins when he sees the beautiful Lola Lola, the headliner for the local cabaret, The Blue Angel.

Consumed with desire, Rath returns to the night club the following evening and spends the night with her.

The next morning, reeling from his night of passion, Rath arrives late to school to find his classroom in chaos and the principal furious with his behavior.

Rath subsequently resigns his position to marry Lola, but their happiness is short-lived, as they soon fritter away the teacher's meager savings and Rath is forced to take a position as a clown to pay the bills.

His growing insecurities about Lola's profession as a "shared woman" eventually reduce him to a mere shell of the man he used to be, consumed by his lust and jealousy. The troupe returns to his hometown, where he is ridiculed and berated by the Blue Angel patrons, the very people he himself used to deride.

As Rath performs his last act, he witnesses his wife embrace, and kiss, one of her former lovers, and Rath is enraged to the point of insanity. He attempts to strangle Lola, but is beaten down by the other members of the troupe and locked in a strait jacket.

Later that night, Rath is freed, and makes his way towards his old classroom.

Rejected, humiliated, and destitute, he passes away in remorse, clenching the desk from where he once taught.

The beauty of cinema and in this case, The Blue Angel, is how it continues to captivate and remain an important film in education, 80 years on.