I have been on Blogger since 2003; this place has been good to me, as have all six of you who read my blog. I felt it was time to move the blog to a host that allows me to customise the look of the site without needing to learn CSS or PHP or any of that fancy stuff, and my experience with Squarespace has been great thus far.
So long Blogger, and thanks for everything. As for the six of you, if you're still here, hurry on over to http://www.callantham.org/ and let me know what you think. Drop a note, put down a comment, and hopefully, enjoy a post or twelve.
See you guys on the other side!
This blog has moved to http://www.callantham.org/
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
MovieWatch: Transformers 2
WARNING: This being a review there will be spoilers. Do not proceed further if you do not wish to view them. But then again, reading this could spare you the agony of watching this drivel.
Nearly two years ago, I raved about the first Transformers movie. Many fans would disagree, but at the very least it was a good action movie that delivered and did not have too many minutes wasted on unimportant and irrelevant details. The biggest disappointment then was how Megatron easily had the edge over Optimus Prime in their fight at the end of the movie, and it was a quibble.
Fast forward to last weekend, when I finally got to watch the sequel with the old gang, and witnessed an absolute wreck of a movie. Sure, they made sure Optimus Prime kicked ass, but even Optimus Prime cannot rescue the mess Michael Bay made. I can name a litany of faults and plot holes the size of Mars, but instead I will stick with the following.
- There was a Decepticon who was disguised as a "hot chick" to seduce Sam, who transformed into a Species-inspired robot in an attempt to kill him. When did the Decepticons start making skin grafts, and why the hell would they even bother? And for those of you who watched Species, can you remember what was so great about it, besides Natasha Henstridge and Marg Helgenberger? That's right. Absolutely nothing. It was a ripoff of Alien, and a piss-poor one at that. And yet Bay decided it would be a good idea to ripoff a piss-poor ripoff of another movie.
- Arcee barely had any screentime, and the Twins had too much. If you want to introduce more Autobots, don't do it because you can sell more toys, do it because you're actually gonna use those characters. And stop the nonsense about African-American accented robots. These are ALIEN SPACE ROBOTS. They shouldn't take after human speech patterns. Ugh.
- A leg-humping Decepticon. Really. I know it's Megan Fox's leg we're talking about, but come on. Oh, and a senile Decepticon-turned-Autobot.
- Devastator was one of the coolest Transformers EVER. A gargantuan robot made with five different giant robots named the Constructicons? Hell yeah. Except in the movie they gave him balls. Was that necessary? I'll answer my own rhetorical question: No, it wasn't.
- The Matrix of Leadership isn't what we know as the Matrix of Leadership. WTF?
- Megatron isn't the big, bad boss. He answers to a guy called the Fallen, which makes absolutely no sense. WTF.
- That last battle scene that lasted something like 40 minutes could be shortened by 30 and made the movie that much less of an over-the-top, slo-mo filled Baysplosion fest. But hey, why make it suck halfway when you can make it suck so hard light fails to escape?
I'm getting angrier the more I think about it, so I shall stop here. The only reasons to watch this movie is if you're hard up for a explosion-filled, mindless, senseless action movie, and watching Optimus Prime open up cans of whup-arse. Leave your brains at home. Otherwise, don't even bother. There is a school of thought that those who have not watched the animated series would enjoy it more than those who have. I wouldn't bet on it though.
Nearly two years ago, I raved about the first Transformers movie. Many fans would disagree, but at the very least it was a good action movie that delivered and did not have too many minutes wasted on unimportant and irrelevant details. The biggest disappointment then was how Megatron easily had the edge over Optimus Prime in their fight at the end of the movie, and it was a quibble.
Fast forward to last weekend, when I finally got to watch the sequel with the old gang, and witnessed an absolute wreck of a movie. Sure, they made sure Optimus Prime kicked ass, but even Optimus Prime cannot rescue the mess Michael Bay made. I can name a litany of faults and plot holes the size of Mars, but instead I will stick with the following.
- There was a Decepticon who was disguised as a "hot chick" to seduce Sam, who transformed into a Species-inspired robot in an attempt to kill him. When did the Decepticons start making skin grafts, and why the hell would they even bother? And for those of you who watched Species, can you remember what was so great about it, besides Natasha Henstridge and Marg Helgenberger? That's right. Absolutely nothing. It was a ripoff of Alien, and a piss-poor one at that. And yet Bay decided it would be a good idea to ripoff a piss-poor ripoff of another movie.
- Arcee barely had any screentime, and the Twins had too much. If you want to introduce more Autobots, don't do it because you can sell more toys, do it because you're actually gonna use those characters. And stop the nonsense about African-American accented robots. These are ALIEN SPACE ROBOTS. They shouldn't take after human speech patterns. Ugh.
- A leg-humping Decepticon. Really. I know it's Megan Fox's leg we're talking about, but come on. Oh, and a senile Decepticon-turned-Autobot.
- Devastator was one of the coolest Transformers EVER. A gargantuan robot made with five different giant robots named the Constructicons? Hell yeah. Except in the movie they gave him balls. Was that necessary? I'll answer my own rhetorical question: No, it wasn't.
- The Matrix of Leadership isn't what we know as the Matrix of Leadership. WTF?
- Megatron isn't the big, bad boss. He answers to a guy called the Fallen, which makes absolutely no sense. WTF.
- That last battle scene that lasted something like 40 minutes could be shortened by 30 and made the movie that much less of an over-the-top, slo-mo filled Baysplosion fest. But hey, why make it suck halfway when you can make it suck so hard light fails to escape?
I'm getting angrier the more I think about it, so I shall stop here. The only reasons to watch this movie is if you're hard up for a explosion-filled, mindless, senseless action movie, and watching Optimus Prime open up cans of whup-arse. Leave your brains at home. Otherwise, don't even bother. There is a school of thought that those who have not watched the animated series would enjoy it more than those who have. I wouldn't bet on it though.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
AWARE: The next 25 years begin now
That was the core theme of AWARE's new plans, unveiled in a press conference at the AWARE Centre on Monday, July 6th, 2009. I was one of three persons from the New Media team, along with Robin and June, to cover the presser, live tweeting the proceedings as they happen "to the world", as AWARE President Dana Lam so succinctly put it. The press releases, along with some videos and photos, are up on the WAA site.
Compared to the atmosphere at the height of the post-AGM, pre-EGM emotions, this presser was very calm. The entire AWARE Exco was present with the exception of the Vice President, Chew I-Jin, as she was at home due to a H1N1 self-quarantine. This was no time for frazzled emotions or outbursts, but rather one which exemplified the steely determination of these women, who were returned to office by a passionate crowd on May 2nd, to get on with the program in full comprehension of their responsibilities in service of a soon-to-be 25 year old organisation. There were a lot of accomplishments, but there is still much to do, and that was the message they came out to convey, successfully in this author's opinion, at the press conference.
The $90,000 Question
This was also an opportunity to close the chapter of the fractious events that led up to, and including, the EGM. One of those issues has become known as "the $90,000 Question" has been a constant talking point since the EGM, and the final numbers were announced in a press release: the previous Exco spent a total of $99,291.28 on the EGM, and the total was not completely covered by membership fees that came in during the time of the previous Exco, headed by Josie Lau, between March 29th and May 2nd, which amounted to $98,765.70. Despite the claims that the membership fees would cover the cost of the EGM, this was proven to be untrue. However, Dana announced that they will not "be taking any action against the previous Exco", for several reasons, a decision arrived at after an internal review team had looked into the matter. "We recognise that they were handicapped by their lack of experience in the NGO culture", and that they were able to recoup some of the costs "through the generosity of some of the vendors".
Among these vendors are the law firm Rajah & Tann LLP, who waived $17,641.50 off their consultation fees, and donating $5,000 to AWARE; Boardroom Corporate & Advisory Services who waived $9,000 in fees, and who have pledged a donation; and accountancy and auditing giant Deloitte and Touche, who provided a discount of $74,355 for their services and further donated $3,000 to AWARE. Suntec Singapore, whose premises held the EGM, and Ape Communications which organised the event, charged a total of $53,931.30, which was a discount of 26.5% of their facilities and services. Kudos should be given for their generosity, especially from Rajah & Tann, Boardroom and D&T.
"Most importantly," Dana elaborated on their decision, "we want to get on with our work - which is to identify and help remove the obstacles that prevent women from realising their full potential. This is, and has always been, AWARE's agenda." This was a timely reminder of what they have stood for in the past 24 years, regardless of what has been conveniently misrepresented by certain segments of society. Corinna Lim, AWARE's Assistant Honorary Secretary, also explained that while the previous Exco did not adhere fully to the organisation's constitution and established practices, such as trying to acquire pro bono legal advice, they want to "close the chapter". She also mentioned that they have found some of the associated costs of the EGM to be "reasonable".
You can watch the video where Dana explains their decision on WAA or Youtube. I have also embedded it below.
The Comprehensive Sexuality Education program
Another major talking point has been AWARE's Comprehensive Sexuality Education program, and MOE's flip-flopping between support and suspension of the program. The suspension is still in effect, after Education Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen said AWARE must regain "parents' trust" before the program will be accepted again. While AWARE has not given up on the CSE, MOE's acceptance of the program is no longer a top priority. There are plans to develop the CSE to involve both parents and their children, but they are happy that MOE is looking into the scope of the offered programs and will be offering more than just abstinence-only sex education.
The CSE has drawn very unfair criticism in the recent saga, and it is in fact one of the many programs AWARE developed to fill a need that was not fulfilled. Prior to AWARE's CSE being rolled out 2 years ago, all available sexual education programs were abstinence-only; this approach is not effective in preventing unwanted teenage pregnancies and spread of STIs. Now that the government is taking this up, AWARE no longer needs to be at the forefront of the CSE.
Former AWARE President and current Advisor to the Exco, Constance Singam, also made it clear that AWARE has always been a catalyst in its history; through the organisation's work society have made great strides forward in women's rights issues. The CSE is just another example of this.
State of the Nation's Women report
Instead of directing efforts at developing the CSE for MOE acceptance or recovering the $99,000 from their predecessors, they have determined to forge ahead with new programs. One of these is the State of the Nation's Women (SNW) report, slated to be published in 2011. It is similar to the CEDAW reports that AWARE submits to the United Nations, with the key difference being the outreach in an effort to really listen to the voices and stories of women in Singapore. The SNW report is a canvassing of Singaporean women's views on national policies and laws and the challenges they face as women.
To facilitate this outreach, AWARE has planned a forum series named "Stand Up and Speak Out", small group discussions and talks, as well as at least one major conference. They are also exploring possibilities of joint projects with the media and other NGOs.
This project in my opinion places the emphasis on the typical Singaporean women and their lives, and looks like a major challenge even with the 2011 deadline. However, it is also my view that this is a long overdue project; far too many people in this country are not mindful of the discrimination that happens, even when it happens to them. Many just live with it, thinking that it is the "price of admission". Only by documenting these events and incidents, and airing them publicly for intelligent discourse, can these prejudices be exposed and overcome.
AWARE Training Institute (ATI)'s New Programs
The ATI is also moving ahead with several new programs this year, centered around the goals of skills development, knowledge building, and self-knowledge. This is done in line with AWARE's goals to "educate, enable and empower women to achieve their highest potential in society". Among these programs are Body Image Workshops, tailored to help young girls deal with body image and self-esteem issues, which is very much needed in these times when we are assaulted with an unrealistic view of what a woman should look like; as well as an enhanced financial training program for women.
But the major program this year appears to be one targeting sexual harassment in the workplace. In a survey done in June 2008, approximately 54% of the respondents indicated that they have experienced sexual harassment at work. Whatever excuses we can think of, the number remains shocking. The ATI is currently developing workshops to train organisations to deal with sexual harassment and assault, and have assembled a team to design a "comprehensive package of services to train and advise companies on policies and practices to prevent and deal with sexual harassment and assault at the workplace". This program is slated to be unveiled by the end of this year, and will be formalised by a team of HR practitioners, lawyers and social workers.
They have also started "Women In Conversation", which provides a chance "for women to discuss and explore their thoughts on various issues in a supportive environment". What was originally a simple way "to gather info and feedback which could be used in aware talks and workshops" has taken a life of its own, spawning the blog site and bitingly honest discussion among women. Posts are already up on the site and there is more to come.
You can hear Corinna talking about the new programs in this video on WAA and Youtube.
Changes to the Constitution
Another major announcement was made regarding proposed changes to the AWARE Constitution, which seemed mostly in reaction to the events at the AGM. First of all, to run for an Exco position, you will need to be an AWARE member for a minimum of 2 years. This one is obvious and straightforward, and would prevent the easy takeover that happened.
To reinforce that, the elected Exco have also been given the authority to dismiss any member from AWARE for acting against the interests of the organisation. This one though, is not so straightforward; the civil libertarian alarm bells go off in my head whenever authority phrased in such a way is given to anyone, and despite the takeover and the EGM, the alarm bells went off nonetheless. This sentiment was also shared by some on Twitter, as it is not clear who defines "the interests of the organisation".
Thankfully, I was able to clarify that statement with several members of the Exco after the presser had concluded, including Dana, Hafizah and Margie, as well as Constance Singam; the "interests" of AWARE would be the constitution of the organisation itself, and the values that are enshrined in that constitution. This makes me feel better about the change, but I believe the Exco will clarify this further soon.
However, there are no plans to allow male members to vote at the AGM. This is a personal bone to pick for me, since I am a man, and I don't think that denying men the right to vote is an expression of equality or progress. If equality is the goal, then we should not deny these rights to anyone. If, and when, it changes, perhaps we can hail that as a triumph. Your guess is as good as mine as to when that day will arrive.
Compared to the atmosphere at the height of the post-AGM, pre-EGM emotions, this presser was very calm. The entire AWARE Exco was present with the exception of the Vice President, Chew I-Jin, as she was at home due to a H1N1 self-quarantine. This was no time for frazzled emotions or outbursts, but rather one which exemplified the steely determination of these women, who were returned to office by a passionate crowd on May 2nd, to get on with the program in full comprehension of their responsibilities in service of a soon-to-be 25 year old organisation. There were a lot of accomplishments, but there is still much to do, and that was the message they came out to convey, successfully in this author's opinion, at the press conference.
The $90,000 Question
This was also an opportunity to close the chapter of the fractious events that led up to, and including, the EGM. One of those issues has become known as "the $90,000 Question" has been a constant talking point since the EGM, and the final numbers were announced in a press release: the previous Exco spent a total of $99,291.28 on the EGM, and the total was not completely covered by membership fees that came in during the time of the previous Exco, headed by Josie Lau, between March 29th and May 2nd, which amounted to $98,765.70. Despite the claims that the membership fees would cover the cost of the EGM, this was proven to be untrue. However, Dana announced that they will not "be taking any action against the previous Exco", for several reasons, a decision arrived at after an internal review team had looked into the matter. "We recognise that they were handicapped by their lack of experience in the NGO culture", and that they were able to recoup some of the costs "through the generosity of some of the vendors".
Among these vendors are the law firm Rajah & Tann LLP, who waived $17,641.50 off their consultation fees, and donating $5,000 to AWARE; Boardroom Corporate & Advisory Services who waived $9,000 in fees, and who have pledged a donation; and accountancy and auditing giant Deloitte and Touche, who provided a discount of $74,355 for their services and further donated $3,000 to AWARE. Suntec Singapore, whose premises held the EGM, and Ape Communications which organised the event, charged a total of $53,931.30, which was a discount of 26.5% of their facilities and services. Kudos should be given for their generosity, especially from Rajah & Tann, Boardroom and D&T.
"Most importantly," Dana elaborated on their decision, "we want to get on with our work - which is to identify and help remove the obstacles that prevent women from realising their full potential. This is, and has always been, AWARE's agenda." This was a timely reminder of what they have stood for in the past 24 years, regardless of what has been conveniently misrepresented by certain segments of society. Corinna Lim, AWARE's Assistant Honorary Secretary, also explained that while the previous Exco did not adhere fully to the organisation's constitution and established practices, such as trying to acquire pro bono legal advice, they want to "close the chapter". She also mentioned that they have found some of the associated costs of the EGM to be "reasonable".
You can watch the video where Dana explains their decision on WAA or Youtube. I have also embedded it below.
The Comprehensive Sexuality Education program
Another major talking point has been AWARE's Comprehensive Sexuality Education program, and MOE's flip-flopping between support and suspension of the program. The suspension is still in effect, after Education Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen said AWARE must regain "parents' trust" before the program will be accepted again. While AWARE has not given up on the CSE, MOE's acceptance of the program is no longer a top priority. There are plans to develop the CSE to involve both parents and their children, but they are happy that MOE is looking into the scope of the offered programs and will be offering more than just abstinence-only sex education.
The CSE has drawn very unfair criticism in the recent saga, and it is in fact one of the many programs AWARE developed to fill a need that was not fulfilled. Prior to AWARE's CSE being rolled out 2 years ago, all available sexual education programs were abstinence-only; this approach is not effective in preventing unwanted teenage pregnancies and spread of STIs. Now that the government is taking this up, AWARE no longer needs to be at the forefront of the CSE.
Former AWARE President and current Advisor to the Exco, Constance Singam, also made it clear that AWARE has always been a catalyst in its history; through the organisation's work society have made great strides forward in women's rights issues. The CSE is just another example of this.
State of the Nation's Women report
Instead of directing efforts at developing the CSE for MOE acceptance or recovering the $99,000 from their predecessors, they have determined to forge ahead with new programs. One of these is the State of the Nation's Women (SNW) report, slated to be published in 2011. It is similar to the CEDAW reports that AWARE submits to the United Nations, with the key difference being the outreach in an effort to really listen to the voices and stories of women in Singapore. The SNW report is a canvassing of Singaporean women's views on national policies and laws and the challenges they face as women.
To facilitate this outreach, AWARE has planned a forum series named "Stand Up and Speak Out", small group discussions and talks, as well as at least one major conference. They are also exploring possibilities of joint projects with the media and other NGOs.
This project in my opinion places the emphasis on the typical Singaporean women and their lives, and looks like a major challenge even with the 2011 deadline. However, it is also my view that this is a long overdue project; far too many people in this country are not mindful of the discrimination that happens, even when it happens to them. Many just live with it, thinking that it is the "price of admission". Only by documenting these events and incidents, and airing them publicly for intelligent discourse, can these prejudices be exposed and overcome.
AWARE Training Institute (ATI)'s New Programs
The ATI is also moving ahead with several new programs this year, centered around the goals of skills development, knowledge building, and self-knowledge. This is done in line with AWARE's goals to "educate, enable and empower women to achieve their highest potential in society". Among these programs are Body Image Workshops, tailored to help young girls deal with body image and self-esteem issues, which is very much needed in these times when we are assaulted with an unrealistic view of what a woman should look like; as well as an enhanced financial training program for women.
But the major program this year appears to be one targeting sexual harassment in the workplace. In a survey done in June 2008, approximately 54% of the respondents indicated that they have experienced sexual harassment at work. Whatever excuses we can think of, the number remains shocking. The ATI is currently developing workshops to train organisations to deal with sexual harassment and assault, and have assembled a team to design a "comprehensive package of services to train and advise companies on policies and practices to prevent and deal with sexual harassment and assault at the workplace". This program is slated to be unveiled by the end of this year, and will be formalised by a team of HR practitioners, lawyers and social workers.
They have also started "Women In Conversation", which provides a chance "for women to discuss and explore their thoughts on various issues in a supportive environment". What was originally a simple way "to gather info and feedback which could be used in aware talks and workshops" has taken a life of its own, spawning the blog site and bitingly honest discussion among women. Posts are already up on the site and there is more to come.
You can hear Corinna talking about the new programs in this video on WAA and Youtube.
Changes to the Constitution
Another major announcement was made regarding proposed changes to the AWARE Constitution, which seemed mostly in reaction to the events at the AGM. First of all, to run for an Exco position, you will need to be an AWARE member for a minimum of 2 years. This one is obvious and straightforward, and would prevent the easy takeover that happened.
To reinforce that, the elected Exco have also been given the authority to dismiss any member from AWARE for acting against the interests of the organisation. This one though, is not so straightforward; the civil libertarian alarm bells go off in my head whenever authority phrased in such a way is given to anyone, and despite the takeover and the EGM, the alarm bells went off nonetheless. This sentiment was also shared by some on Twitter, as it is not clear who defines "the interests of the organisation".
Thankfully, I was able to clarify that statement with several members of the Exco after the presser had concluded, including Dana, Hafizah and Margie, as well as Constance Singam; the "interests" of AWARE would be the constitution of the organisation itself, and the values that are enshrined in that constitution. This makes me feel better about the change, but I believe the Exco will clarify this further soon.
However, there are no plans to allow male members to vote at the AGM. This is a personal bone to pick for me, since I am a man, and I don't think that denying men the right to vote is an expression of equality or progress. If equality is the goal, then we should not deny these rights to anyone. If, and when, it changes, perhaps we can hail that as a triumph. Your guess is as good as mine as to when that day will arrive.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
#FollowFriday Ver. 1 - The Classic
#FollowFriday is a Twitter meme where you recommend people to follow to your followers. I have not been an active participant for the past three weeks, mainly because I've been wondering about the effectiveness of the meme, and more importantly, the relevance of it. I rely more on searches and trawling the following lists of people I follow for that purpose, because after all, if that person is worth following for you, it's gotta mean something right?
That said, I am going to take a page out of @MariKurisato's book, and write a blog post for #FollowFriday every week. She's right, 140 characters does not do enough justice to some of these people. I will try to keep it to a maximum of 10 people per week. So here we go!
First off, @MariKurisato. She's a kick-ass digital artist and writer, and loves coffee, napalm, robots and zombies. And Shirow Masamune. Don't be fooled by her online persona, she is probably one of the nicest people you'll get to know, and a great conversationalist to boot. Her recent artwork on the Iran Presidential election saga gave me the chills, in a good way, and you can check that out here. It was also featured on CNN's coverage, but the bastards credited the work wrongly. Most importantly, to me anyway, she gives a damn about a lot of issues that I think we should all give a damn about, and she isn't afraid to show that. That moral courage and honesty is what we so sorely lack around here.
Next up we have @RayBeckerman. He holds a day job as a lawyer who battles the RIAA and their frivolous lawsuits, which makes him a hero to me. To add on to that, he interacts with all his Twitter followers, all 4000+ of them, never missing a tweet, and his coverage on the struggles of Peru's indigenous people to protect their lands in the Amazon jungle is very moving. He is also featured as one of the six most badass lawyers ever, and not surprisingly, the only one on that list who is a real person. (No, Judge Dredd is not real.)
@RedheadWriting is a writer whose blogs make me laugh without fail. Besides being outrageously funny, she's also quite the looker, which once prompted us to wonder on Twitter why there aren't hordes or men and women all chasing after her to ask her out. She never answered that question convincingly. On a serious note, she is one hell of a writer, with a purpose and clarity of words that is rarely found in the millions of blogs available today. That alone is worth the follow.
@JosephLane is an awesome Canadian whose Irish roots show through proudly. A fellow coffee lover, much like @GrowlyBear / @bruincoffee, he is also an ice hockey fan, but I forgive him for that because he is a genuinely warm person with a great personality. He kept me sane during my many night shifts, and for that, thanks must be given.
Speaking of Canadians, @missbossy probably changed my life by involving me in the Twitter coverage for the AWARE saga. She continually amazes me with her energy and organisational ability, as well as how quickly she gets things done, without being pushy or bossy. Also, she can do stuff even while the dentist is torturing her on the chair. THAT is dedication for you younger folk.
Another favourite of mine is @savagemike, who tweets a lot of weird and funny stuff throughout the day, and never fails to elicit a reaction from them. He also is not afraid to stand up and speak his mind, and once famously tweeted "For too long liberals have had a reputation for being pussies; I am here to change that". His thoughts pretty much parallel mine, so much so that I'm beginning to suspect that he is a twin of some sort, only that he stays in the US.
For the 10 years of friendship, as well as countless coffee and lunch sessions at my local coffeeshop, you can't go wrong with following the PAWS OF MADNESS: @GrowlyBear / @bruincoffee. The insanity must be experienced first hand, for words fail to describe the awesomeness of the sight of them talking to each other. Fellow geek, coffee lover, and Vulcan logic addict, we await the day when we can say everyone we had to deal with had been very logical. That day may never come, but we live in hope.
Now for two of the nicest people I have met on Twitter and in real life: @inrsoul and @Wolfgang_. The former is a fellow photography and strobist fan and Canon user, whose skills I admire; in addition to being a nice chap who knows when to take things seriously and when not to, he also has his feet firmly on the ground and is really helpful. As for the latter, his disposition despite his difficulties shows a courage that not many can understand. And he keeps dropping his iPhone, which somehow mysteriously survived all the 57 or so times it crashed mercilessly on to the concrete. maybe his iPhone is picking up a thing or two about his owner's resilience.
Last one for the week is @colbertobsessed; seriously, who doesn't like Stephen Colbert? Maybe the religious right and the neocons, but still, they don't count. She also loves The Nanny, and 24, introduced me to the word "bromance", and her tweets are laugh-out-loud funny because she doesn't hide her emotions. Can't get better than that.
OK, I lied. One more: @mizhalle aka June. She is a writer (I love writers don't I) and "professional lunatic". I consider it a badge of honour when she calls me "crazy". She routinely constructs decapitation scenes with her toys, loves Gundam enough to dress her gunpla in frilly dresses, and isn't afraid to kill a cockroach in her office while yelling "DIE MOTHERFUCKER". She also gives a damn enough to wear a green headdress to work in support of the Iranian people. What's not to like?
Finally, a big thank you to the following people for showing me #FollowFriday love: @aureliom @robin_low @PheasantPhun @unfluff @RayBeckerman @colbertobsessed @rfmf24x3 @Goldenorckus @perthtones @therightblue @ProfBrendi @JosephLane @Wolfgang_; have a great weekend guys, and thank you! Also, thank you to my Twitter followers, new and old alike. I hope I do not bore you to tears.
That said, I am going to take a page out of @MariKurisato's book, and write a blog post for #FollowFriday every week. She's right, 140 characters does not do enough justice to some of these people. I will try to keep it to a maximum of 10 people per week. So here we go!
First off, @MariKurisato. She's a kick-ass digital artist and writer, and loves coffee, napalm, robots and zombies. And Shirow Masamune. Don't be fooled by her online persona, she is probably one of the nicest people you'll get to know, and a great conversationalist to boot. Her recent artwork on the Iran Presidential election saga gave me the chills, in a good way, and you can check that out here. It was also featured on CNN's coverage, but the bastards credited the work wrongly. Most importantly, to me anyway, she gives a damn about a lot of issues that I think we should all give a damn about, and she isn't afraid to show that. That moral courage and honesty is what we so sorely lack around here.
Next up we have @RayBeckerman. He holds a day job as a lawyer who battles the RIAA and their frivolous lawsuits, which makes him a hero to me. To add on to that, he interacts with all his Twitter followers, all 4000+ of them, never missing a tweet, and his coverage on the struggles of Peru's indigenous people to protect their lands in the Amazon jungle is very moving. He is also featured as one of the six most badass lawyers ever, and not surprisingly, the only one on that list who is a real person. (No, Judge Dredd is not real.)
@RedheadWriting is a writer whose blogs make me laugh without fail. Besides being outrageously funny, she's also quite the looker, which once prompted us to wonder on Twitter why there aren't hordes or men and women all chasing after her to ask her out. She never answered that question convincingly. On a serious note, she is one hell of a writer, with a purpose and clarity of words that is rarely found in the millions of blogs available today. That alone is worth the follow.
@JosephLane is an awesome Canadian whose Irish roots show through proudly. A fellow coffee lover, much like @GrowlyBear / @bruincoffee, he is also an ice hockey fan, but I forgive him for that because he is a genuinely warm person with a great personality. He kept me sane during my many night shifts, and for that, thanks must be given.
Speaking of Canadians, @missbossy probably changed my life by involving me in the Twitter coverage for the AWARE saga. She continually amazes me with her energy and organisational ability, as well as how quickly she gets things done, without being pushy or bossy. Also, she can do stuff even while the dentist is torturing her on the chair. THAT is dedication for you younger folk.
Another favourite of mine is @savagemike, who tweets a lot of weird and funny stuff throughout the day, and never fails to elicit a reaction from them. He also is not afraid to stand up and speak his mind, and once famously tweeted "For too long liberals have had a reputation for being pussies; I am here to change that". His thoughts pretty much parallel mine, so much so that I'm beginning to suspect that he is a twin of some sort, only that he stays in the US.
For the 10 years of friendship, as well as countless coffee and lunch sessions at my local coffeeshop, you can't go wrong with following the PAWS OF MADNESS: @GrowlyBear / @bruincoffee. The insanity must be experienced first hand, for words fail to describe the awesomeness of the sight of them talking to each other. Fellow geek, coffee lover, and Vulcan logic addict, we await the day when we can say everyone we had to deal with had been very logical. That day may never come, but we live in hope.
Now for two of the nicest people I have met on Twitter and in real life: @inrsoul and @Wolfgang_. The former is a fellow photography and strobist fan and Canon user, whose skills I admire; in addition to being a nice chap who knows when to take things seriously and when not to, he also has his feet firmly on the ground and is really helpful. As for the latter, his disposition despite his difficulties shows a courage that not many can understand. And he keeps dropping his iPhone, which somehow mysteriously survived all the 57 or so times it crashed mercilessly on to the concrete. maybe his iPhone is picking up a thing or two about his owner's resilience.
Last one for the week is @colbertobsessed; seriously, who doesn't like Stephen Colbert? Maybe the religious right and the neocons, but still, they don't count. She also loves The Nanny, and 24, introduced me to the word "bromance", and her tweets are laugh-out-loud funny because she doesn't hide her emotions. Can't get better than that.
OK, I lied. One more: @mizhalle aka June. She is a writer (I love writers don't I) and "professional lunatic". I consider it a badge of honour when she calls me "crazy". She routinely constructs decapitation scenes with her toys, loves Gundam enough to dress her gunpla in frilly dresses, and isn't afraid to kill a cockroach in her office while yelling "DIE MOTHERFUCKER". She also gives a damn enough to wear a green headdress to work in support of the Iranian people. What's not to like?
Finally, a big thank you to the following people for showing me #FollowFriday love: @aureliom @robin_low @PheasantPhun @unfluff @RayBeckerman @colbertobsessed @rfmf24x3 @Goldenorckus @perthtones @therightblue @ProfBrendi @JosephLane @Wolfgang_; have a great weekend guys, and thank you! Also, thank you to my Twitter followers, new and old alike. I hope I do not bore you to tears.
Friday, July 03, 2009
Dude, where are the posts?
It's been more than a month since my last post, but I'm still around. It's been a really busy time, so I figured it's time to post some updates.
First off, I've been busy trying to reorganise and launch a new blog to replace this one. I've registered a couple of domains, and am playing around with a trial account on Squarespace; I'm pretty impressed with what they offer so far, since I'm a web design idiot and lazy to boot. When it's done, I'll let you lot know the new location.
The AWARE saga is over, but the activities continue. I'm involved in a volunteer capacity to help them sort out a few things, and there are a lot of work to be done in the coming months, much of which I can't really talk about, but it's pretty exciting, sometimes frustrating, but hopefully, ultimately fulfilling. I will also be covering their upcoming press conference, to be held on July 6th at 12.30pm at the AWARE Centre. To be more precise, I will be tweeting live from the event, together with @mizhalle, so if you guys have any questions for the AWARE Exco, please send them to me via Twitter, and we'll see if we get to ask a question or two. We also have a new website up at we-are-aware.sg, and are continually populating content like interview videos, news on RSS feeds, etc, so do pop by and let us know what you think.
Another piece of good news is that I passed all three exams for my diploma this semester. I have one more year to go, if everything goes smoothly, before I graduate with a diploma, so wish me luck.
That's all I guess, I got more posts to write, and hopefully post them before I return to work on Sunday night. TTFN.
First off, I've been busy trying to reorganise and launch a new blog to replace this one. I've registered a couple of domains, and am playing around with a trial account on Squarespace; I'm pretty impressed with what they offer so far, since I'm a web design idiot and lazy to boot. When it's done, I'll let you lot know the new location.
The AWARE saga is over, but the activities continue. I'm involved in a volunteer capacity to help them sort out a few things, and there are a lot of work to be done in the coming months, much of which I can't really talk about, but it's pretty exciting, sometimes frustrating, but hopefully, ultimately fulfilling. I will also be covering their upcoming press conference, to be held on July 6th at 12.30pm at the AWARE Centre. To be more precise, I will be tweeting live from the event, together with @mizhalle, so if you guys have any questions for the AWARE Exco, please send them to me via Twitter, and we'll see if we get to ask a question or two. We also have a new website up at we-are-aware.sg, and are continually populating content like interview videos, news on RSS feeds, etc, so do pop by and let us know what you think.
Another piece of good news is that I passed all three exams for my diploma this semester. I have one more year to go, if everything goes smoothly, before I graduate with a diploma, so wish me luck.
That's all I guess, I got more posts to write, and hopefully post them before I return to work on Sunday night. TTFN.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
The only agenda being pushed is the Anti-Gay agenda
This is my response to the letter written by Dr Thio Su Mien and published in The Straits Times on May 18th, 2009. The letter can be found in it's original form here and reproduced on the new We-Are-Aware forums here. Please feel free to respond to it at the forum posting, as my post will also be posted in response in the thread. I will not be sending this in to The Straits Times, simply because that will give her the attention she apparently craves. We've given her enough of the public limelight.
Dr Thio's letter is just another piece of evidence that points to her anti-gay agenda. She has insisted that AWARE "had veered towards promoting the homosexual political agenda". The only examples that she can point out are AWARE's sponsorship of the Spider Lilies movie premiere in Singapore, the listings that says "homosexuality is neutral and normal" in the instructors' guide of the CSE, and the "vocal and vociferous" homosexual women who supported the "old guard", also calling them "sexually challenged".
These "evidence" are, in my not so humble opinion, flimsier than the ones Bush & Cheney used to start a war in Iraq, and the words used are no less inflammatory. The letter is designed to spread fear, uncertainty and doubt, with scanty mentions of the law and a flip-flopping authority figure (MOE) in order to legitimise her false claims of a gay agenda, while providing no scientific or factual indication of why homosexuality is "wrong", or how sponsoring a movie premiere is the equivalent of promoting LGBT rights, or her equating homosexuals with "vocal and vociferous" and "sexually challenged".
This absence of proof, along with the absence of her personal motivations, makes her letter all provocation and no substance. Those familiar with the term "strawman argument" will see that it is what the letter is, and it is consistent with her views on LGBT rights. Her recent interview with Zaobao contains another manifestation of this strawman argument.
Letters like this one, and the recent astroturfing of NMP Siew Kum Hong because of the AWARE issue, shows that the only side interested in manipulating public opinion and pushing an agenda is the Christian extreme right. And the only agenda that is being pushed in the anti-gay agenda, with her fixation on attacking homosexuality, and the unsubstantiated libelous claims of her supporters against NMP Siew has tipped that same self-righteous, religious fervour into the political arena.
So who is promoting a "political agenda", again?
Dr Thio's letter is just another piece of evidence that points to her anti-gay agenda. She has insisted that AWARE "had veered towards promoting the homosexual political agenda". The only examples that she can point out are AWARE's sponsorship of the Spider Lilies movie premiere in Singapore, the listings that says "homosexuality is neutral and normal" in the instructors' guide of the CSE, and the "vocal and vociferous" homosexual women who supported the "old guard", also calling them "sexually challenged".
These "evidence" are, in my not so humble opinion, flimsier than the ones Bush & Cheney used to start a war in Iraq, and the words used are no less inflammatory. The letter is designed to spread fear, uncertainty and doubt, with scanty mentions of the law and a flip-flopping authority figure (MOE) in order to legitimise her false claims of a gay agenda, while providing no scientific or factual indication of why homosexuality is "wrong", or how sponsoring a movie premiere is the equivalent of promoting LGBT rights, or her equating homosexuals with "vocal and vociferous" and "sexually challenged".
This absence of proof, along with the absence of her personal motivations, makes her letter all provocation and no substance. Those familiar with the term "strawman argument" will see that it is what the letter is, and it is consistent with her views on LGBT rights. Her recent interview with Zaobao contains another manifestation of this strawman argument.
Letters like this one, and the recent astroturfing of NMP Siew Kum Hong because of the AWARE issue, shows that the only side interested in manipulating public opinion and pushing an agenda is the Christian extreme right. And the only agenda that is being pushed in the anti-gay agenda, with her fixation on attacking homosexuality, and the unsubstantiated libelous claims of her supporters against NMP Siew has tipped that same self-righteous, religious fervour into the political arena.
So who is promoting a "political agenda", again?
Saturday, May 16, 2009
No context, no credibility
Still on the subject of the suspended CSE, there was an open letter penned by law undergrad Leon Ryan that truly hit the nail on the head. It is a pretty long one, so I'll suggest you pop over to the new We-Are-Aware website to have a look here: Leon Ryan's Open Letter to MOE. It is a remarkable letter, and particularly pertinent because he is still in the education system unlike most of the usual commenters like yours truly. It provides context and a view from the ground, which has strangely been largely ignored until now.
To provide the contrast, the first comment it drew was revealing. I will quote Mr Lawrence Ang here:
Zero context. Zero participation. Total armchair critic and dogmatic, unquestioning deference to authority. And here's my response (which is awaiting moderation, so you read it here first people).
I wanted to write a short response, but my brains and fingers took it and ran. Hope you guys enjoyed it, feedback and comments are welcome.
To provide the contrast, the first comment it drew was revealing. I will quote Mr Lawrence Ang here:
As a product of the Singaporean education system, I am fully supportive of the MOE’s suspension of the highly irresponsible position taken by AWARE in their stance towards sexual education. Moreover, it is absolutely nauseating that after being chided by the MOE, the response has been one of resistance to change and compromise with the MOE, who represents the interest of the majority of the singaporean students , their parents and families. As for Leon’s open letter, I am afraid to say that the majority of Singaporeans will not be able to grasp let alone understand the point Leon is trying to make.
I find it hard to believe Leon is a law undergraduate, and if he continues writing like that, I am afraid he may never graduate.
Zero context. Zero participation. Total armchair critic and dogmatic, unquestioning deference to authority. And here's my response (which is awaiting moderation, so you read it here first people).
Mr Ang, have you actually gone through the CSE yourself? Do you know that all sexuality education programs by all external vendors have been suspended, and not only AWARE's? And what "irresponsible position" has AWARE taken?
The only irresponsible position that is taken is the one by MOE. The suspension of sexuality education programs again mean that the students, who are the ones who benefit from the knowledge gleaned, have nowhere to turn to but the internet. While the information they can find are not easily verifiable, nor do they have the advantage of experienced trainers who will guide them in this potential minefield of confusion.
I do not believe MOE represent the interest of the majority of the Singaporean students, because if they do, then the suspension of the programs, which up until the suspension, have not received negative feedback from participants or their parents, is an action that goes against the practices of the scientific method, which is a cornerstone of a modern education and critical thinking.
An approach that advocates burying your head in the sand regarding any subject is detrimental to the development of our future minds and leaders. And this is where MOE, and where criticism aimed at the CSEs, especially from non-participants, have failed.
I also find your statement about the "majority of Singaporeans will not be able to grasp let alone understand the point" very interesting. Most Singaporeans are, as you said, a "product of the Singaporean education system". Even myself. But if this majority is assumed to not understand Leon's letter, then MOE has already failed generations of Singaporeans. That is a bigger issue than the CSEs, do you not think so?
As for your fear that "he may never graduate", I think we can all rest assured that if Leon can write such a letter, he is more than adequately equipped to do well in his field of study. More interestingly, your comment seemed to indicate a deference to authority without questioning, almost like the MOE is dogma. I believe that to be yet another failure of the MOE and our society in failing to produce students who can critically and objectively assess different issues and scenarios, taking into account the context.
I will not assume that your mindset is what I can expect from the majority of Singaporeans. But if it is, then the education system has failed in its most fundamental requirements. This country deserves, and needs, better than that.
I wanted to write a short response, but my brains and fingers took it and ran. Hope you guys enjoyed it, feedback and comments are welcome.
The MOE Flip-Flop
Singapore's Ministry of Education has always been a target of my anger, simply because of the important role they play in moulding the future leaders, and hence the future, of this country. A formal education may not be totally necessary, nor is it always relevant, to the individual receiving it; but education is so much more than exams and the paper chase. The emphasis on the quality of grades over the quality of education itself has always riled me because our youth deserve better. While we can propose solutions to improve the education system (and I have a few, which will be touched on in a future post), there are some fundamental weaknesses that MOE needs to address before changes can truly benefit the country.
And one of those weaknesses is the lack of moral fibre. A lack of spinal fortitude as it were. I say this because of their "it's ok, oops, now it's not" stand on AWARE's, and all other external vendors', sexuality education programs, as well as their caving in to an anonymous letter and forcing one of their GP teachers to remove a well articulated note on Facebook. There is no point in trying to educate the youth when they can clearly see the paucity of courage coming from the "educators".
The flip-flop on the CSEs have now become a running joke and a source of indignation. It is clear that the MOE has chosen to sway with the winds, not unlike a coconut tree, instead of sticking to its initial statement that the CSEs conform to their guidelines. It is telling that while participants did not raise complaints to the MOE, non-participating parents did, ironically under a banner of "concerned parents". One has to wonder where that concern was before this ruckus was raised. But I digress.
This episode is particularly insulting to the students of today, because it implies that parents do not trust their children to think clearly and intelligently or to be responsible for their actions, nor should they be equipped with the skills to objectively analyse issues or to be responsible for their own conduct. This is a very weak position to lobby for a suspension of the CSEs, and yet MOE has done just that, which is a further indictment to their poor judgment and dearth of moral fibre.
Which brings me to the issue of Ms Lisa Li and her now famous Facebook note. It has been taken down, but I will reproduce it here for everyone's benefit.
Our government have constantly stressed that we should not hide behind the veil of anonymity as it is an act of cowardice. If we are to apply that logic, then this letter is nothing more than that: an act of cowardice enacted from behind the comfort and safety of anonymity. But MOE still bowed to the might of cowardice, forcing Lisa to take down her post, as if that letter was no different from an imperial decree and defiance will result in the massacre of entire family lines. It betrays the trust that teachers have with MOE, and, much like the flip-flop on the CSEs, betrays how MOE truly thinks about their teachers.
This loss of moral courage from the MOE is dismaying, and conveys the wrong message to students, teachers and parents. And the biggest losers in the debacle are the students, which is the real problem. We may be so strong in math education that the US wants to learn from us, but they won't be queuing up to listen to how MOE handles sexuality education. The Obama administration has moved to remove the budget funding abstinence-only sex ed programs, because it has proven to be ineffective. It's high time we got on with the program and let the CSEs be continued in schools, where the only people who matter can benefit: the students.
And one of those weaknesses is the lack of moral fibre. A lack of spinal fortitude as it were. I say this because of their "it's ok, oops, now it's not" stand on AWARE's, and all other external vendors', sexuality education programs, as well as their caving in to an anonymous letter and forcing one of their GP teachers to remove a well articulated note on Facebook. There is no point in trying to educate the youth when they can clearly see the paucity of courage coming from the "educators".
The flip-flop on the CSEs have now become a running joke and a source of indignation. It is clear that the MOE has chosen to sway with the winds, not unlike a coconut tree, instead of sticking to its initial statement that the CSEs conform to their guidelines. It is telling that while participants did not raise complaints to the MOE, non-participating parents did, ironically under a banner of "concerned parents". One has to wonder where that concern was before this ruckus was raised. But I digress.
This episode is particularly insulting to the students of today, because it implies that parents do not trust their children to think clearly and intelligently or to be responsible for their actions, nor should they be equipped with the skills to objectively analyse issues or to be responsible for their own conduct. This is a very weak position to lobby for a suspension of the CSEs, and yet MOE has done just that, which is a further indictment to their poor judgment and dearth of moral fibre.
Which brings me to the issue of Ms Lisa Li and her now famous Facebook note. It has been taken down, but I will reproduce it here for everyone's benefit.
11 May 2009I have to thank Lisa for writing this note. This is written from the perspective of a teacher, with first-hand knowledge, in touch with her students. This is a valuable contribution from a person who is on the ground, doing the work that others have the luxury to criticise but not the gumption to perform. And yet, MOE forced her to remove that post after they received a complaint letter from an anonymous source.
I TEACH GENERAL PAPER, NOT HOMOSEXUALITY
Lisa Li
With all due respect to the well-meaning "concerned parents" out there, this is starting to sound like a dodgy GP essay to me.
Apparently, because my students and I "discuss topics such as the legalisation of gay marriage and parents of the same sex forming families through adoption" in class, I am guilty of promoting homosexuality.*
Right.
But never mind. MOE has already come to the rescue with their statement that "GP lessons are meant to promote critical thinking" and GP teachers "should also adhere to social norms and values of our mainstream society".*
Oh yes, apparently one can facilitate critical thinking, that is, the reasoned questioning of assumptions, norms and values AND fully reinforce and adhere to social norms at the same time.
And wait, I see this again, in the debate on sexuality education and just what should be said about homosexuality:
1. Homosexuality is against the social norms and values of mainstream society.
2. Homosexuality is illegal and considered unnatural under Singapore law.
The first thing any student of GP (or indeed, any human being who knows anything about world history) will realise, is that social norms change.
Secondly, if you insist on going by "mainstream" values and beliefs, you may like to follow 43% of Singaporeans and look to Buddhism, which views homosexuality on neutral grounds, as opposed to Christianity (15%) and Islam (15%).
In any case, the legal argument will only hold as long as homosexual acts are considered illegal in Singapore.... and judging from the force of change in the world, frankly my dear, you can't hold the dam for much longer.
Singapore's law criminalising homosexual acts is based on British law - which decriminalised this in 1967.
Other countries which have decriminalised homosexuality include France (1791), The Netherlands (1811), Brazil (1830), Ottoman Empire (1858), Germany (1871), Japan (1880), Italy (1889), USSR (1922), Denmark (1930), Iceland (1940), Switzerland (1942), Sweden (1944), Greece (1951), Thailand (1956), Israel (1963), Chad (1967), Canada (1969), Kosovo (1970), Australia (1981), South Africa (1994), China (1997) etc.
This shows an increasing acceptance that personal preferences that do not harm anyone else should not be governed (in this case, criminalised) by the state. As with the wearing away of all other forms of inequality, I believe this discrimination of homosexuals cannot last.
So what are we left with?
Are we justifying a brand of education with reasons that won't hold weight for much longer?
You may argue that making something legal doesn't make it right, and you have a point.
But then that would depend on what you consider "right", which really is a moral issue and one that concerns personal belief.
So I have two points for you:
1. Personal beliefs - religious or otherwise - should not influence the laws of a secular society. The onus is on parents and preachers to educate their children in these beliefs. Say what you want at the pulpit, not in Parliament, and certainly, do not foist this responsibility onto your child's teachers in secular schools.
2. It is unfair, impractical and dangerous to insist that youths be given only the old rules when they live in a completely different world. Parents, if you insist on a black-and-white moral education for your children, you only drive them into secrecy when they need you most. If teachers cannot teach openly and factually, rest assured that the internet will.
As an educator and maybe future parent, I admit I am less concerned about whether my children are homosexual/transsexual/(fill in the blank) or not, and more concerned that they should always respect others and themselves, never discriminate, always critically examine issues, always feel free to share their thoughts with me without fear of condemnation, always love and always be loved no matter what.
This is my hope.
PS. If you think your children will rush to become homosexual/transsexual/(fill in the blank) because of my words, I THANK YOU for crediting me with such influence! By the way, your children are smarter than you think....
* Quoted from "AWARE sex guide suspended" (ST, 7 May 2009)
http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_373422.html
Our government have constantly stressed that we should not hide behind the veil of anonymity as it is an act of cowardice. If we are to apply that logic, then this letter is nothing more than that: an act of cowardice enacted from behind the comfort and safety of anonymity. But MOE still bowed to the might of cowardice, forcing Lisa to take down her post, as if that letter was no different from an imperial decree and defiance will result in the massacre of entire family lines. It betrays the trust that teachers have with MOE, and, much like the flip-flop on the CSEs, betrays how MOE truly thinks about their teachers.
This loss of moral courage from the MOE is dismaying, and conveys the wrong message to students, teachers and parents. And the biggest losers in the debacle are the students, which is the real problem. We may be so strong in math education that the US wants to learn from us, but they won't be queuing up to listen to how MOE handles sexuality education. The Obama administration has moved to remove the budget funding abstinence-only sex ed programs, because it has proven to be ineffective. It's high time we got on with the program and let the CSEs be continued in schools, where the only people who matter can benefit: the students.
The #sgtweetup
I attended the first organised tweetup for locals a couple days back, held at Geek Terminal. There must've been about 100-odd people who turned up; it was kind of overwhelming for me. I'm not exactly a very sociable guy, nor am I dexterous in the ways of networking like a lot of these folks were. This tweetup, unlike the one we had last week with the #awaresg guys, was almost exactly what I expected. Lots of mobile devices and notebooks were in view, there were two screens with Twitterfall displaying the #sgtweetup tweets, and well, lots of tweeting and socialising going on.
It was great to meet some of the good people I have been interacting with online, and actually have a beer with them. Putting faces to names like @inrsoul, @FoOie, @micamonkey, @mhisham, @twistedian, @gniliep, @BoltClock (who looked like a poor fish out of water) and @CarlGriffith, who organised the event, is quite the experience. I'd have buggered off early if @inrsoul did not show up, but I'm glad I stayed till the end. It was worth it. There is another one planned for May 21st, and I'd love to go, but I'll have to see how much work there is left to do. But beer and tapas is one alluring package.
There were also a lot of complaining done during and after the event, which is unfortunate. All that griping because a few models showed up for a publicity stunt for an online modeling competition? Come on. I thought geeks complaining about models showing up would be one of the signs of the Apocalypse, but it happened. Yes, it was unexpected, and no one had any clue (though it did not stop the speculation when the models showed up). But to label it as a hijack, using demeaning descriptions on the models, and to attack Carl despite his top-notch effort in organising this tweetup was uncalled for. Some of these comments came from folks who did not even attend the event, which made it laughable. (Now why is that so familiar?)
I have to admit, the models was a curveball. But I don't think Babe Ruth stopped hitting home runs when one was thrown at him. The event was a success, and I definitely got what I went for: good company and good conversation. Having beautiful models around made it a lil more glamourous than just a collection of geeks. And it's a bonus, not a Bad Thing. You want justified gripes? Here's one: GT ran out of beer. That one's unforgivable in my book; no fault of Carl's. And here's a really justified gripe.
No one turned up dressed like a Klingon or like Tasha Yar. Now that is a real shame, and I'm sure Carl would agree.
It was great to meet some of the good people I have been interacting with online, and actually have a beer with them. Putting faces to names like @inrsoul, @FoOie, @micamonkey, @mhisham, @twistedian, @gniliep, @BoltClock (who looked like a poor fish out of water) and @CarlGriffith, who organised the event, is quite the experience. I'd have buggered off early if @inrsoul did not show up, but I'm glad I stayed till the end. It was worth it. There is another one planned for May 21st, and I'd love to go, but I'll have to see how much work there is left to do. But beer and tapas is one alluring package.
There were also a lot of complaining done during and after the event, which is unfortunate. All that griping because a few models showed up for a publicity stunt for an online modeling competition? Come on. I thought geeks complaining about models showing up would be one of the signs of the Apocalypse, but it happened. Yes, it was unexpected, and no one had any clue (though it did not stop the speculation when the models showed up). But to label it as a hijack, using demeaning descriptions on the models, and to attack Carl despite his top-notch effort in organising this tweetup was uncalled for. Some of these comments came from folks who did not even attend the event, which made it laughable. (Now why is that so familiar?)
I have to admit, the models was a curveball. But I don't think Babe Ruth stopped hitting home runs when one was thrown at him. The event was a success, and I definitely got what I went for: good company and good conversation. Having beautiful models around made it a lil more glamourous than just a collection of geeks. And it's a bonus, not a Bad Thing. You want justified gripes? Here's one: GT ran out of beer. That one's unforgivable in my book; no fault of Carl's. And here's a really justified gripe.
No one turned up dressed like a Klingon or like Tasha Yar. Now that is a real shame, and I'm sure Carl would agree.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The first Singapore AWARE Tweetup
We first made history on May 2nd, when we did our bit to make #awaresg the top trending topic on Twitter for a good 5 hours. Last night, we did it again; this time, a tweetup was quickly mooted, organised and thrown together, and attended by many of us who attended, volunteered at, tweeted about the EGM just a week ago. All this was done just over Twitter as well. This time the mood was far more relaxed obviously, and there were a lot more booze to enjoy. Good booze too, since we congregated (hehe) at Brewerkz at Clarke Quay.
I've wondered what a tweetup would be like. Would there be rows upon rows of iPhones adorning the table? Would it be a LAN party-like nerdfest, where one lame joke will get everyone reacting "Ive gotta tweet that!", feverishly punching the number pads of their phones or typing furiously on their MacBooks Pro? Thankfully, neither of those scenaros materialised. But given the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and eloquence of the people involved, most likely I worried for nothing.
Everyone knows the quality of beer goes up with the quality of the company, and without a doubt the company was top-notch. For me, Twitter is all about making real connections to people, not about making money on the web, nor about follower count, etc. And this tweetup just reinforces that. What is even more heartening is the way no one seemed ready to give up on the cause which brought us together in the first place. Discussion was earnest, plans were made, people were keen to be involved.
Did I enjoy myself? Hell yes. Will there be more? There better be. Though I might have to make herb lamb for a lot more people than I imagine. Was this the first ever organised tweetup in Singapore? Maybe, but that was never the point for me. It was always about being, and staying, united for something we believe in. And it definitely was the first Tweetup centred around AWARE. And that is good enough :)
Oh, and for those who say "pics or it didn't happen", here you go. I'll put it here when I get the owner's approval, so click on the link for now.
Edit: Edited the title so it's clearer.
Our dear @mizhalle finally put up her post here! I have to admit, her post is better than mine.
I've wondered what a tweetup would be like. Would there be rows upon rows of iPhones adorning the table? Would it be a LAN party-like nerdfest, where one lame joke will get everyone reacting "Ive gotta tweet that!", feverishly punching the number pads of their phones or typing furiously on their MacBooks Pro? Thankfully, neither of those scenaros materialised. But given the diverse backgrounds, experiences, and eloquence of the people involved, most likely I worried for nothing.
Everyone knows the quality of beer goes up with the quality of the company, and without a doubt the company was top-notch. For me, Twitter is all about making real connections to people, not about making money on the web, nor about follower count, etc. And this tweetup just reinforces that. What is even more heartening is the way no one seemed ready to give up on the cause which brought us together in the first place. Discussion was earnest, plans were made, people were keen to be involved.
Did I enjoy myself? Hell yes. Will there be more? There better be. Though I might have to make herb lamb for a lot more people than I imagine. Was this the first ever organised tweetup in Singapore? Maybe, but that was never the point for me. It was always about being, and staying, united for something we believe in. And it definitely was the first Tweetup centred around AWARE. And that is good enough :)
Oh, and for those who say "pics or it didn't happen", here you go. I'll put it here when I get the owner's approval, so click on the link for now.
Edit: Edited the title so it's clearer.
Our dear @mizhalle finally put up her post here! I have to admit, her post is better than mine.
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