Ziang's rssMar 2008
The forsaken
31/03/08 22:23
WAS on my way home when I saw this...
One can imagine the number of Mainland workers and Bangladeshis working in Singapore. After a hard day's work, what they hope for is just some relaxation - throwing off their gloves and have a good long smoke.
The results? An old torn forsaken glove and a half smoked cigarette stump left on the floor.
Their fate is just like their owners - nobody even bat an eyelid to take an look at them.
Lonely and pitiful, aren't them?
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My imperial guards
30/03/08 23:29
RECENTLY I've noticed
a friend's friend who got disillusioned by his lack of improvement
and nasty comments made by a mere acquaintance.
And we always heard the phrase it's not the camera, it's the photographer that matters.
Bullshit.
Both are as important la. Without the camera, you can only do a Cyclops and print in your mind.
Duh.
Oh well. First stage of suicide is always denial. We can't afford that! Chill and find out what leads to the comments. Maybe you do need some improvements. Shoot more and find out for yourself what's wrong dude
That aside, I caught the sleeping guards today. My girlfriend was asking me what's so interesting about shooting them. I guess I kind of like 2 heads on a shoulder? Sleeping imperial guards always make a good pictures? The symmetry of things? The best of both worlds?
Psst. That's me and my gf on the reflections
And we always heard the phrase it's not the camera, it's the photographer that matters.
Bullshit.
Both are as important la. Without the camera, you can only do a Cyclops and print in your mind.
Duh.
Oh well. First stage of suicide is always denial. We can't afford that! Chill and find out what leads to the comments. Maybe you do need some improvements. Shoot more and find out for yourself what's wrong dude
That aside, I caught the sleeping guards today. My girlfriend was asking me what's so interesting about shooting them. I guess I kind of like 2 heads on a shoulder? Sleeping imperial guards always make a good pictures? The symmetry of things? The best of both worlds?
Psst. That's me and my gf on the reflections
Kicking the bucket
30/03/08 21:52
FINALLY after 3
months of waiting, the movie reaches our shore. With high
expectations, both of us sat down in our seats watching the
movie.
Needless to say, the story was good. The acting was good. While parts of the plot might be slow, it was really satisfying catching the movie.
Literally speaking, one must watch it before they kick the bucket!
Breath-taking at times, doing all the things you want to do before you kick it, a mission shared among 3 strangers (sorry, hope you don't mind the twist) to complete the lives so that they can smile with their eyes closed.
Trekking to Egyptian heavens, when was the last time you really had a smile to yourself? When was the last time you brought a smile to people?
Hope you can answer them as you read this
Needless to say, the story was good. The acting was good. While parts of the plot might be slow, it was really satisfying catching the movie.
Literally speaking, one must watch it before they kick the bucket!
Breath-taking at times, doing all the things you want to do before you kick it, a mission shared among 3 strangers (sorry, hope you don't mind the twist) to complete the lives so that they can smile with their eyes closed.
Trekking to Egyptian heavens, when was the last time you really had a smile to yourself? When was the last time you brought a smile to people?
Hope you can answer them as you read this
Taking things for granted?
29/03/08 20:16
WELCOME to the dark side, Google!
Scary, isn't it? This screenshot is not kidding you. Google is also doing its part for Earth, showing a darkened version of its famous main page. As I made the compulsory move for the whole house to be darkened for the next hour, lots of complaints and growlings were heard.
"Who cares!" "Wait my eyes spoil how!" "WTF!" were just some of the milder comments as I quenched all of them with a iron fist.
Sad to say, most of us really do take things for granted. Switching off the lights for an hour seem to be dooms day to most, who are so used to doing everything in a brightly lit world. It's not that hard to try to do our part, though little, by just switching off the lights for this one hour.
We can choose to make a stand, can't we?
The clock strikes on. Tick, tock, tick, tock.....
P.S. I'm running on battery life typing this. Trying to save electricity. Thanks Apple for creating keyboard back lights for MacBook Pro!
Mid youth crisis
29/03/08 13:16
WHILE everyone else
know of mid life crisis, is there anyone who even thought of mid
youth stuff?
Youth is an encompassing age group, I recall Andy Lau getting his best youth awards some years back when he's nearing 40! Of course, I'm nowhere there - probably not even half there yet.
The news struck a cord with me. The Bong family who crashed in the North South Highway, very pitiful. Watching and reading the news, an overwhelming urge to find out what happen to Jolene suddenly gushed over me.
Not that I'm remotely connected or related to them.
It was a miracle that she survived, with her family gone in this tragedy. It's hard not to feel anything for them, though I wonder how many people actually brushed it off as just another accident off the Straits. A funny thought went through my mind - if no one cares for her, I'm going to take care of her.
Of course, she still has her relatives. And I'm a bit tight fending for myself.
With both my parents off to Malaysia for Qing Ming (a festival to remember your passed away relatives), I can't help but worry for their safety. It was in stark contrast over what would have happened ten or twenty years ago, where we would be carefree and worry about nothing.
I guess we do have worries as we grow up. How I miss childhood.
Jolene's back in Singapore under the care of her relatives. While she might not know me (since she's still very young), I really do hope things to get much better for her.
God bless.
Youth is an encompassing age group, I recall Andy Lau getting his best youth awards some years back when he's nearing 40! Of course, I'm nowhere there - probably not even half there yet.
The news struck a cord with me. The Bong family who crashed in the North South Highway, very pitiful. Watching and reading the news, an overwhelming urge to find out what happen to Jolene suddenly gushed over me.
Not that I'm remotely connected or related to them.
It was a miracle that she survived, with her family gone in this tragedy. It's hard not to feel anything for them, though I wonder how many people actually brushed it off as just another accident off the Straits. A funny thought went through my mind - if no one cares for her, I'm going to take care of her.
Of course, she still has her relatives. And I'm a bit tight fending for myself.
With both my parents off to Malaysia for Qing Ming (a festival to remember your passed away relatives), I can't help but worry for their safety. It was in stark contrast over what would have happened ten or twenty years ago, where we would be carefree and worry about nothing.
I guess we do have worries as we grow up. How I miss childhood.
Jolene's back in Singapore under the care of her relatives. While she might not know me (since she's still very young), I really do hope things to get much better for her.
God bless.
The evening sky
27/03/08 21:21
cssedit & rapidweaver
26/03/08 23:06
Odd one out
26/03/08 12:38
JUST decided to take
up this project which many has done.
A Picture A Day - A.P.A.D. Only If I can afford the time that is.
Guess what's wrong with this picture? I think the ad agency which outsource this project must have been lazy and forgotten to check every single alignment - bad bad stuff for the company. While one might think this is meant to be special, there is nothing to shout out if for the whole length of the station this is the only odd one out - unless Canon decides that it wants to revolutionize a new way of shooting.
My girlfriend likes this new series of cameras though. I guess sometimes small mistakes might just be overlooked - just don't do it too often
A Picture A Day - A.P.A.D. Only If I can afford the time that is.
Guess what's wrong with this picture? I think the ad agency which outsource this project must have been lazy and forgotten to check every single alignment - bad bad stuff for the company. While one might think this is meant to be special, there is nothing to shout out if for the whole length of the station this is the only odd one out - unless Canon decides that it wants to revolutionize a new way of shooting.
My girlfriend likes this new series of cameras though. I guess sometimes small mistakes might just be overlooked - just don't do it too often
Authority or credibility
25/03/08 01:53
STILL smarting off from
the match that happened yesterday.
While many of us fans had cooled down, news about Torres getting roughed up and getting scans on the extend of injuries certainly added fuel to the already dying flames.
As a Liverpool fan, my point of view is somewhat objective - Mascherano should not have gotten himself into that situation in the first place. His sending off, however harsh, is somewhat deserved.
Though Steve Bennett could at the very least issue a final warning instead of card flicking.
Doesn't the Premier League offer any advice on warnings? Is the issue so severe to warrant an immediate yellow?
Even the card for Torres is somewhat harsh - considering what Ronaldo has been doing for the whole night - raising his hands and asking questions whenever he got down.
Enough of the fracas. I wouldn't fault Steve Bennett over this issue - he's doing his job, harsh or not.
However, while trying to stamp his authority, he had forgotten about any creed of refereeing - to act in the best interest of the game and the players. For every yellow card he dished out, he ought to be reflect on how much he had done to protect the players.
There it was, with Torres getting knocks everywhere, and all he did was to give a free ball, not even awarding to Liverpool.
Is he really a referee, or just a puppet on strings manipulated by the Premier League? Is refereeing all about the authority of themselves, or more for the credibility of the game, such that fair play is encouraged, and we get to see the best game whenever possible?
I think the Premier League has a point to prove now. Especially if a player is found to suffer multiple injuries and yet the culprits are let off with warnings. Which is more severe? Asking a question, or assaulting another person? Surely if one deemed that dissent is worth a card, it is even worse for the intention to inflict injuries on another player? What in the world is Steve Bennett thinking?
In the eyes of the law, I think Steve Bennett has failed to be a impartial judge. He ought to be punished for this act. The credibility of the the standard of refereeing in the Premier League is at stake. If the FA is going to impose further sanctions on the conduct of player, they had better come out with proper explanations on why the same system failed to protect the players the rules were made for in the first place.
Enough said. I hope Steve Bennett checks his conscience about this issue
While many of us fans had cooled down, news about Torres getting roughed up and getting scans on the extend of injuries certainly added fuel to the already dying flames.
As a Liverpool fan, my point of view is somewhat objective - Mascherano should not have gotten himself into that situation in the first place. His sending off, however harsh, is somewhat deserved.
Though Steve Bennett could at the very least issue a final warning instead of card flicking.
Doesn't the Premier League offer any advice on warnings? Is the issue so severe to warrant an immediate yellow?
Even the card for Torres is somewhat harsh - considering what Ronaldo has been doing for the whole night - raising his hands and asking questions whenever he got down.
Enough of the fracas. I wouldn't fault Steve Bennett over this issue - he's doing his job, harsh or not.
However, while trying to stamp his authority, he had forgotten about any creed of refereeing - to act in the best interest of the game and the players. For every yellow card he dished out, he ought to be reflect on how much he had done to protect the players.
There it was, with Torres getting knocks everywhere, and all he did was to give a free ball, not even awarding to Liverpool.
Is he really a referee, or just a puppet on strings manipulated by the Premier League? Is refereeing all about the authority of themselves, or more for the credibility of the game, such that fair play is encouraged, and we get to see the best game whenever possible?
I think the Premier League has a point to prove now. Especially if a player is found to suffer multiple injuries and yet the culprits are let off with warnings. Which is more severe? Asking a question, or assaulting another person? Surely if one deemed that dissent is worth a card, it is even worse for the intention to inflict injuries on another player? What in the world is Steve Bennett thinking?
In the eyes of the law, I think Steve Bennett has failed to be a impartial judge. He ought to be punished for this act. The credibility of the the standard of refereeing in the Premier League is at stake. If the FA is going to impose further sanctions on the conduct of player, they had better come out with proper explanations on why the same system failed to protect the players the rules were made for in the first place.
Enough said. I hope Steve Bennett checks his conscience about this issue
Starry starry night...not!
20/03/08 02:00
AND so they said, "Star light, star bright..." when you were young, and sing "Starry starry night, paint your palette blue and grey..."
They must be blind. One can hardly find stars in Singapore.
Enough complaining. Went for a shoot with some folks, and out of the 40 odd pictures, I can't seem to pinpoint what I like.
Oh well. I hate buildings. Unless Sir Norman Foster build a banana to snatch attention away from our durian
Best of both worlds
18/03/08 02:48
and 
= ?I guess to many of us who are chinese, we should have the answer to the above. That's right, as per the title, best of both worlds. 鱼与熊爪.
Just finished watching a serial, The Mischievous Princess. Not bad, the ending was a bit lame, but all's well ends well, which is quite predictable for a family serial.
That's not the crux of the thread.
Over the weekend, one conversation particularly hit me. A friend of mine suddenly brought up a matter which I've totally forgotten, and he compared it to the present situation, where history re-enacted.
Just that the results differ by half the planet.
A mutual friend of ours got together with this girl whom his best friend had a crush on since primary school, effectively complicating matters. Back during JC, he tried the same thing, though I guess he didn't intentionally meant it that way. Back then, he didn't lose his friend, who had a big heart to forgive him but now, luck's not on his side anymore.
Yes, the big hearted guy is me
Ignoring my brags, back to reality. After the incident, he lost a good friend of his who was buddy of his since primary school, and a bunch of classmates/friends too. Why? By getting together with his love partner, he broke the trust placed on him by his friends, and by splitting up with his ex, and getting together with this new girl in a short span of time, he effectively pissed most of his close friends, who are friends with the ex as well.
Complicating, isn't it? Of course, logically speaking, in relationships, being judgmental is a taboo. It is always safe to err on the side of the victim, or the female party.
Who cares about the guy, right?
With that saying, not that I'm for that guy, who disgusted friends by showing off his new relationship shortly after breaking up, but there's only so much that one can think of. If we care too much to what people will judge, what people will think, are we really living our lives for them instead? Or are we living it for ourselves, trying to do it for what we think and trust with our own set of values?
When it comes to affairs of the heart, to pinpoint what is right and wrong is really hard. Apart from feelings, there's always the issue of responsibilities and conscience. If that friend of ours could live with it, it surely means that to him, it was the right decision.
Back to reality, I guess trying to greedy, which most of us are guilty of, doesn't really pay.
I do pity that friend of ours. As much as I think he's not at fault for trusting in emotions, I guess the way he handled it was poor. He lost a huge bet with yet another mutual friend as well, a relatively small bet of a thousand dollars over who will get into a relationship first.
Pretty dumb. 赔了夫人又折兵.
Oh well. Sigh. Back to sleep.
Nalanda Trail
17/03/08 00:33
It's been some time since I visited
the museum, and this weekend alone I visited 2 of them! Of course,
the one worth mentioning more will be that of the Nalanda Trail.
Housed at the Asia Civilization Museum, the exhibition showcase a
series of Buddhism artifacts that was bewildering good, given that
their tools of the trade were powerful enough to create those
stunning exhibits. Just some pictures to show..
The exhibition
The Bronze Drum
The pattern on the drum
Sandstone figure of Buddha
Seated Buddha, from Burma
Bronze votive figures
Figures of young novices
The exhibition
The Bronze Drum
The pattern on the drum
Sandstone figure of Buddha
Seated Buddha, from Burma
Bronze votive figures
Figures of young novices
The day it rained...originality
14/03/08 00:58
Flipping through the Straits Times
today, I came across this interesting article.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_216239.html
At first, the idea seems quite fresh, and Straits Times seem to be pretty proud of this picture - from the fact that they hardly advertised the reporter and the settings they used for the shots.
Until just now.
I was flipping through some of the old photography magazines which I managed to get at a bargain price - people are getting rid of old stuff. Flipping through one particular issue, I chanced upon this:
http://www.pbase.com/mario_solka/image/88607546
Not posting the picture to respect the copyright issue.
For some background information, Mr Mario Solka shot that picture and came in second in 2004 for Popular Photography and Imaging Magazine
A bit disgusted. Maybe the reporter had the same idea, which came by 4 years late. If not, I think some crediting to Mr Mario Solka is somewhat deserved. Imagine if our national papers, or reporter, make use of an award winning idea, and gained credit for it.
Disgusting, aren't it?
Oh well. Nothing surprising. I guess sometimes trying too hard might not be the next best solution.
Time to move on.
http://www.straitstimes.com/Free/Story/STIStory_216239.html
At first, the idea seems quite fresh, and Straits Times seem to be pretty proud of this picture - from the fact that they hardly advertised the reporter and the settings they used for the shots.
Until just now.
I was flipping through some of the old photography magazines which I managed to get at a bargain price - people are getting rid of old stuff. Flipping through one particular issue, I chanced upon this:
http://www.pbase.com/mario_solka/image/88607546
Not posting the picture to respect the copyright issue.
For some background information, Mr Mario Solka shot that picture and came in second in 2004 for Popular Photography and Imaging Magazine
A bit disgusted. Maybe the reporter had the same idea, which came by 4 years late. If not, I think some crediting to Mr Mario Solka is somewhat deserved. Imagine if our national papers, or reporter, make use of an award winning idea, and gained credit for it.
Disgusting, aren't it?
Oh well. Nothing surprising. I guess sometimes trying too hard might not be the next best solution.
Time to move on.
Aperture tour @ Red dot
13/03/08 01:06
Attended this talk over at the Red Dot
Museum, and it was breadth-taking, to say the least!
In fact, I think if I had the knowledge of the product manager, I could have given a much more interesting talk than he did, though he didn't failed in his mission - to sell Aperture 2.0.
First takes:
1. 100+ features
I'm not kidding that it really meant business. I was into Photoshop and such for photos, until I discovered that Aperture can do the features that I needed Photoshop for! Tint for black, grey and white, definition and vibrance, white balance...these are just the bare minimals.
2. Ability to reference master files off external harddisk, keeping previews only in Library.
You can actually set the previews to fit your monitor screen size, or even higher, as per your demand. Finally I found some harddisk space back!
3. Filters - you can add vignetting and devignetting. Though barrel distortion is a good thing to have too!
4. Faster response time + tight integration
Come on! It's a Mac! Now the apps are tighter integrated, and everything works in a breeze.
I shoot with RAW exclusively, knowing that I can have a second chance if I didn't manage to get it right. Now, I'm even more inclined to this giant of an app! As what John Stanmeyer mentioned, we removed the gorrila from the backpack!
Keen to give it a try, if even for non-destructive images? Head down to
Apple.com/aperture now!
In fact, I think if I had the knowledge of the product manager, I could have given a much more interesting talk than he did, though he didn't failed in his mission - to sell Aperture 2.0.
First takes:
1. 100+ features
I'm not kidding that it really meant business. I was into Photoshop and such for photos, until I discovered that Aperture can do the features that I needed Photoshop for! Tint for black, grey and white, definition and vibrance, white balance...these are just the bare minimals.
2. Ability to reference master files off external harddisk, keeping previews only in Library.
You can actually set the previews to fit your monitor screen size, or even higher, as per your demand. Finally I found some harddisk space back!
3. Filters - you can add vignetting and devignetting. Though barrel distortion is a good thing to have too!
4. Faster response time + tight integration
Come on! It's a Mac! Now the apps are tighter integrated, and everything works in a breeze.
I shoot with RAW exclusively, knowing that I can have a second chance if I didn't manage to get it right. Now, I'm even more inclined to this giant of an app! As what John Stanmeyer mentioned, we removed the gorrila from the backpack!
Keen to give it a try, if even for non-destructive images?
Head down to
Apple.com/aperture now!