What makes a good academician?

Posted on October 18, 2005 by Mabel

As a student, I have suffered and bore the brunt of having 1) lecturers/professors who are great as friends but suck big time as educators, and 2) lecturers/professors who are stern but great as educators. Throughout my bachelor’s degree period – I’ll be honest here – with the exception of one lecturer who did more than he should, the rest just did what they were supposed to – by the book. It was not because they had communication problems – one of them was a TV emcee, another a PR practitioner and there was this one dude who was a Toastmasters member (and always championing the perks of public speaking). It was because it was just…enough.

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Another e-drama.

Posted on October 18, 2005 by Mabel

I swear, sometimes people just can’t let go of things – past, present, drama, whatever la. It’s bad enough that we have real life dramas at home, at the workplace and even in our relationships, be it with friends or family. But an e-drama between ‘neighbours’?

It started yesterday evening when minishorts dearest kicked a link over regarding some XiaXue post entitled “I’m hungry” (or something to that effect). I didn’t have time to check it out since I was in a rush to settle some stuff. Anyway, that night, I logged on and after a while of boredom, checked out her pinkified blog entry. Nice template although I have one complain to make – she really needs to resize her pictures (it takes a while for everything to load. Gack!) OR stop putting so many pictures on one page! @_@

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Untitled.

Posted on October 17, 2005 by Mabel

Lets see.

I think I’ll blog in short sentences today. Don’t know why. Maybe it’s because I just don’t feel like doing anything else but listen to soundtracks – Miss Saigon, specifically – at maximum volume (well, louder than usual) and fool around with my blog.

Oops. That is SERIOUSLY one long sentence, IMHO, anyway. Oh bleh. Who am I kidding? Alright, back to the usual ramblings…

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Already 26.

Posted on October 15, 2005 by Mabel

Whoever said birthdays were supposed to be celebrated with a bang evidently doesn’t know how to appreciate quiet conversations with family members/partner/friends with coffee and cake on the side.

On a side note…

WOW.

Time does fly by fast.

While the radio is on…

Posted on October 12, 2005 by Mabel

I love listening to radio and I suspect that despite my ‘young’ age, I’m an oldie and a romantic. True red blooded one. Those old songs with meaning, those typically sweet yet tragic love songs, those love songs… Nil doesn’t share my music taste – he prefers rock-like tunes to the gentle melodic whispers I favour.

Oddly enough, I never suspected that I would one day have an ‘exciting’ discussion about singers, who sang what and where to find them on the Internet. Dad has about nearly twenty over CDs filled with Mp3s of all sorts. From theme songs to Christmas songs. It’s crazy.

I reckon I’ll have to put up a category called ‘Lyrics’ for stuff related to songs. O’well…just in case you’re wondering, if I put up the lyrics, it also means I have the Mp3.

Just ask.

I’ve Never Been to Me

Posted on October 12, 2005 by Mabel

I’ve Never Been to Me by Charlene (or Tracy Huang – the more common version)
Hey lady, you lady, cursing at your life
You’re a discontented mother and a regimented wife
I’ve no doubt you dream about the things you’ll never do
But, I wish someone had talked to me
Like I wanna talk to you…..

Oh, I’ve been to Georgia and California and anywhere I could run
I took the hand of a preacher man and we made love in the sun
But I ran out of places and friendly faces because I had to be free
I’ve been to paradise but I’ve never been to me

Please lady, please lady, don’t just walk away
‘Cause I have this need to tell you why I’m all alone today
I can see so much of me still living in your eyes
Won’t you share a part of a weary heart that has lived million lies….

Oh, I’ve been to Nice and the Isle of Greece while I’ve sipped champagne on a yacht
I’ve moved like Harlow in Monte Carlo and showed ‘em what I’ve got
I’ve been undressed by kings and I’ve seen some things that a woman ain’t supposed to see
I’ve been to paradise, but I’ve never been to me

[spoken]
Hey, you know what paradise is?
It’s a lie, a fantasy we create about people and places as we’d like them to be
But you know what truth is?
It’s that little baby you’re holding, it’s that man you fought with this morning
The same one you’re going to make love with tonight
That’s truth, that’s love……

Sometimes I’ve been to crying for unborn children that might have made me complete
But I took the sweet life, I never knew I’d be bitter from the sweet
I’ve spent my life exploring the subtle whoring that costs too much to be free
Hey lady……
I’ve been to paradise, (I’ve been to paradise)
But I’ve never been to me

(I’ve been to Georgia and California, and anywhere I could run)
I’ve been to paradise, never been to me
(I’ve been to Nice and the isle of Greece while I’ve sipped champagne on a yacht)
I’ve been to paradise, never been to me
(I’ve been to cryin’ for unborn children that might have made me complete)
I’ve been to paradise, never been to me
(I’ve been to Georgia and California, and anywhere I could run)
I’ve been to paradise, never been to me

Just ‘girlfriend’ or more?

Posted on October 11, 2005 by Mabel

I was both amused and reminded of a blog entry I once made when I reviewed the comments made here.

While I was happy that someone out there felt that inter-racial relationships should be seen from a different light, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was true that he was being naive or overly optimistic in thinking so. Part of me felt it was because of my own experiences when it came to inter-racial dating. Another part, well, just wants people to understand that when two people fall in love, skin colour just becomes…non-essential.

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Fashionable to date Western men? Not anymore.

Posted on October 10, 2005 by Mabel

This just came in today’s Star. Couldn’t find the online version so I typed everything out here.

HONG KONG: Women here have stopped dating white westerners because they are no longer seen as fashionable and wealthy, a news report said yesterday.

Commentators here say having a white boyfriend is no longer a status symbol and that Hong Kong women prefer a Chinese partner, according to the Sunday Morning Post.

The newspaper quoted former BBC journalist and television pundit Chip Tsao who said that white men had begun to lose their appeal since the territory returned to Chinese rule in 1997. The white men left behind were inferior specimens more likely to be seen “clad in t-shirts, shorts and a pair of flip-flops” and living in rural houses where locals “used to house pigs”, Tso said.

He said: “They no longer have cars or property. You might end up stepping on a penniless landmine. It’s too much to sacrifice for a passport.”

The owner of a dating service here, told the newspaper that now, of 5,000 members, only one woman currently on her books had requested western men. – dpa

Now if only we can get ‘experts’ to claim the same of Malaysian women. That way, if we do date ang mohs we wouldn’t be seen as 1) prostitutes; 2) gold-diggers; 3) green-card (or similar) wannabes; and 4) loose women.

We’d just be unfashionable.