欲加之罪何患无辞

做什么都没有用

欲加之罪何患无辞

就只会在那激我挖坑给我跳

期待我行差踏错的一天

然后说

看吧 你们都一样

Poem in 1976

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew. 

Then they came for me—
and there was no one left to speak for me.

- Martin Niemöller (1892–1984)

Values are not the same as attitudes.

These couple of weeks and especially today, alongside reports from the PM office, was heated discussions about MM Lee. Some love him, some hate him. I never participate in such online discussions because from past experiences people like to shove their opinions your face and in a less than civil manner. And also you can be presented with all the objective facts and still love/hate him.

I am actually quite politically apathetic. Other than the PM and the head of my area's GRC, I do not know and do not care about the other politicians. PAP aka the ruling government to me is an established state bureaucracy, and impersonal. One can argue that we are propagated such that we do not imagine changing the ruling party, but I also believe that it is because our security is taken care of to the extent that we take it for granted.

Of course, I speak as such because of my biography. In our meritocratic and elitist system, I don't exactly belong to the elite group duh, but I was able to get proper education. I am able to get an university education with heavy subsidies and loans from the government. My university degree would be recognized in most parts of the world. If I don't get all stuck up and expect too high a starting pay, I should be able to get a relatively decent job, and be able to pay off my loan in installments, and accumulate savings in my CPF account.

There are flaws in our system. The heavy reliance on CPF account leaves those without employment such as housewives vulnerable. The constant focus on the nuclear family in many of our policies disadvantages those without, such as single mothers. The continual stress on Asian conservativism results in stagnant accordance of social rights and repression of various minorities. The tight social controls and censorship results in stifled freedom of speech and infringement of various rights such as privacy.

 I diverged.

Probably because how often I hear and read about people blaming the Lee family, the PAP, as though they personally are responsible for every problem in their life. 

It's so weird.

As sociologists we are supposed to translate "private troubles to public issues", which is to take into account historical, structural, autobiographical contexts in analysis, and to see personal problems as influenced by larger structural issues. What I see from many people is claiming private troubles as caused by the PAP government. And if those who complained were those compromised by the system i.e. housewives, migrant workers, I could empathize. But the weirdest thing is how often those who complain are those who actually benefit from the system. Middle-class employees who could afford a car (and that COE), regular travel trips, branded goods, dining indulges, are complaining about high prices. University undergraduates are complaining about the competitive education system (excuse me do you realize how many people you step on to get a place??) - but it is precisely this exclusiveness that gives the degree its value and the higher starting pay.

The list of things that LKY did for our country, whether they are liked or not has been brought up and discussed in detail. Your values and experience would determine what you choose to believe, what you choose to see. I always thought that being a politician in a democratic regime is a thankless job. All I can say is, he had a vision for a tiny island years ago, and he went on to realize it. Do you even see beyond yourself aside from personal achievements? If you do not like what you are seeing in this country now, are you going to make the effort to effect change, or would you just migrate to another country with the money and resources that you had acquired from here in Singapore?

3 grand essentials of happiness

"The three grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, someone to love, and something to hope for. "
-Alexander Chalmers

可惜等价交换原则并不通用

So it's true that when you don't expect to be treated like something, you won't be anything.

社会学

就一时兴起，试想如果我是以中文学习社会学的话，我应该会当掉。
想想看，单单Social Thought and Theory好了，我要怎么阅读、理解再加上用自己的话来些文章呢？

大家最熟悉的 卡尔·马克思 所想出和致力于的共产主义其实字面上的翻译也存在着误差。他坚信当时资本主义系统是非人道而且因为其奴役性必定被推翻。这学期我们从他和弗里德里希·恩格斯一起撰写的《1844年经济学哲学手稿》、《德意志意识形态》、《资本论》来理解一向被误解的马克思主义，并了解到即使他极力推动革命，但其原意是为了全人类的自由。

社会学的开拓者 爱米尔·涂尔干 广为人知的机能主义。他坚信社会学的独特性和科学性。他通过《社会学方法的规则》奠基了如何研究探讨社会现象，规定何为社会事实和集体意识。他在《社会分工论》表明正确的社会分工是可取的。他通过《自杀论》来证实社会事实的存在和社会学的科学性；因为他相信如果自杀-这最个人的举动，能够被证实为一种社会事实的话，社会学的科学性和特定性就会被证实。

我们最后接触的现代社会学家是 马克斯·韦伯。他在《新教伦理与资本主义精神》里试图证实西方资本主义的由来。他相信资本主义的由来一定是由某一些人开始推动的并且通过研究历史文物找出新教伦理和资本主义精神的关联。他最后的结论是，即使最初的资产阶级有着宗教信仰和理念，但是所产生的资本主义系统经过演变已失去其宗教热情只剩一个极其合理化且无法推翻的铁笼。

Okay what is this crap that I've written. Anyway these 3 authors are namely Karl Marx, Durkheim, and Max Weber fyi if anybody actually read through all of that lol. The point is, academic subject matter are easier to understand and write in English, because of the expandability of the language, as many of the writers wrote in different languages and there is always the problem of translation. Anyway can you imagine trying to write like 2-3 essays in 2 hours for exams in Chinese for sociology? >.< I would probably hyperventilate just from trying to memorize the authors' names and the title of their works and their theories.

Affect

I've got a blueberry chocolate tart today~

Why some people are such assholes

S: Why? You did anything wrong?
Me: I stayed home during the weekends.

One of the most ridic wrong I did tbh.

I need to breathe.
I hate conflict.
I hate negative feelings.
I hate unfairness.
I hate bullying.
I hate verbal and emotional abuse.
I hate threats,
I hate it.
I really really hate it.
I need to breathe.

The Queen is above y'all petty politics

Forever indignant that Queen Yuna lost to someone who stumbled on the ice. So in Sochi people can actually improve a whole 20 points from your last performance a month ago. Certain individuals only of course. Oh and you can also get a 0 for a  perfectly clean jump. Wow Sochi. Wow.

And it's a pity that Mao Asada got marked down too. Apparently she had the highest potential base score, and although her SP was not the best, her FP this time was pretty awesome. It's a pity that she's not on the podium.

Not going to watch Ice Figure skating again. Started watching it for Kim Yuna, gonna stop cause no more Kim Yuna. Buai.

我要一座大房子 有很多很多的房间 房间里有好多猫和小狗〜

以后我要一栋大房子
不为什么
只是希望能尽量养更多的狗狗

这几天看九把刀监制出品的「十二夜」的花絮和预告
看一个视频一篇观后感都要哭上一阵
觉得自己明明帮不上忙还关注这个活动是在找虐
唉

领养，不弃养！

Asian hyper-cool

When your favourite kpop group appears in a published book ^^

“At one level, it may appear, from the popularity of Korean TV dramas or through the appeal of idols and performers such as the musician Rain or boy bands like DBSG/TVXQ/Tohoshinki, that South Korea has replaced Japan as the ultimate in Asian hyper-cool.” 

Fitzsimmons, Lorna, and John A. Lent. Popular Culture in Asia: Memory, City, Celebrity. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2013. Print.

Kim Jaejoong - WWW (1st album Who When Why)

My latest album jam ♫~

Kim Jaejoong delivers as usual. Not one of my favourite male soloist for nothing yo. Not one track that I will trash. Love all 13 tracks with its variety of genres and rock influence♡

远

想起一个系列截图 是康熙来了小S和谢娜的对话 大概是这样
谢娜：什么时候觉得离朋友最远
小S：在她穿着我没看过的衣服 在我不知道的地方拍照 照片里和留言的人都是我不认识的名字
谢娜：是她和你认识的朋友拍照 但你却不知道她们什么时候做了这件事

Everyone is a social construct.

就是尽力而已 能做到就去做
可是又很怕造成负担
就干脆算了
阴影什么的 不管过了多久依旧挥之不去

hazeeee

Tempted to join RunNus >.< but thinking of the 5/10km distance my eyes just want to roll into my head. But in my current mood I don't mind training for it but suay suay now got haze. roarrrr

I also want to go bowlinggggg I want to go shootingggg I want to go arcadeeee Why am I stuck in my house when I'm temporarily free from workkkk

First experiences

8 June - Paintball
Got hit on the limbs and head and hurts like hell

9 June - Mt Ophir
The 10-11hours up and down this mountain was literally living hell.
Lucky that my fellow trekkers were stuffing me with sweets, almonds, sports drinks, water, etc that I did not lose consciousness along the way and tumble down the mountain.
Hurting all over by the end of the day.

12 June - Medz
Went for lunch with Lili. Was planning on going to Genki Sushi and somehow for some unknown reason the queue was damn long and Lili had to go for work in the late afternoon so we couldn't wait. Went down to check out Medz because I remember they had affordable lunches when I passed by them.
Turns out the lunch sets were really value for money. Main course + coffee/tea + appetizer + dessert was less than $15. And they taste AWESOME. Especially their apple tart /drools. Definitely going there again omg.

Today.
Day of data punching againnnn

ang gong

Was at Coffee Bean having tea with my sisters, nieces and mum when an uncle came up to our table selling keychains. He was heavily tattooed all the way from the neck down. We initially didn't want to buy (as usual to all touting) but he went on to ask for help as he was released from prison and he couldn't find other employment, so he had a pass (which he showed to us) from the government which allows him to sell those keychains. In the end my mum bought one and he was very grateful saying god bless you and all that.

I would have bought another if I had the cash with me. Simply because there are just so many things in life that you are helpless about, and if there's a chance for you to make a little difference, no matter how minor, in other's, you would take it. I think it's...sad? I mean, I have no idea what crimes he or the many others committed that sent them to jail, I have no idea whether they are truly repentent or not, but still. You came out of prison at an age past your prime, you have a criminal record, you practically have 'danger' branded all over you, and yet right at this moment you may have really wanted to turn over a new leaf, have a new life, but couldn't. Because you can't get a job. You couldn't even really assimilate back to society. You are judged and stereotyped before people even talk to you.

I mean, I'm not a saint or anything, believing that there's good in all men blahblah, or that I'm free of prejudices and stereotyping. I do get uncomfortable at the sight of all those tattoos, and I'm skeptical about the usefulness of prison. But. Still.

Part of growing up

年纪增长 心境渐渐改变 泪点变得越来越多 感触也渐渐不一样

有些棱角不得不被磨掉  有些坚持不得不放弃

以前懒得解释 现在不得不解释 虽然解释了没用

有时觉得做自己为什么不可以 又没有伤害或妨碍到谁
结果就是不可以

ITE of exams! Partay peopleeeeee

Really went with PY to USS the day after my exams~
Lucky it's off-peak period and we didn't have to queue much for the rides.
The first ride we rode was BSG Human - and realised they added harness to the seats so the scariness of it was halved but still~ Realised how much we missed the thrill after the first ride.
 And we went for the Cylon right after and realised that we had like only 5min buffer time between rides.
Got a bit giddy after that.
We finished all the rides by early afternoon and had time to go for the rides second round.
Then realised we had gotten old because despite our declaration that we gonna stay until the park closes, we were thoroughly spent by 4-5pm and left to get our stomachs filled.
Day of realisations xD

 They added Sesame Street~ Sadly wasn't too excited due to lack of emotional attachment.
On the other hand, I shall wait for da day I can go to the USSs with Harry Potter theme >.<

Just not right now.

所谓天时地利人和
缺一不可

"It's [feelings between him and Elena] right. Just not right now." - Damon (TVD)