The Complexities of Life

Some people say life is simple. Others say it is complex.
It is complex because the fact that people think of life differently, the difference itself is already complex.

But is life inherently simple? Or do we make it complex?
Is life actually quite complex, but we try to make it simple?

Has the world made life complex? Or has it made us appreciate the simplicity of life?

Has our desires made life complicated? Or is our desire a product of the complexity of life?

This is not what I want to find out.

My mind is in a whirlwind. I have absolutely no idea what to do. I don't even know why am I typing this.

Am I disillusioned? Or my own thoughts dis-eluded me?

Why am I questioning myself? Why are questions questioning me?

What happened?

I am neither here nor there. I should be somewhere but I am nowhere to be found. In nowhere, I am somewhere but neither here nor there. Neither somewhere nor nowhere, I am here and there and everywhere. Everywhere means here and there and somewhere but not nowhere. But being nowhere, I should be somewhere out of everywhere, here and there. So everywhere is not only somewhere and here and there but also nowhere. Where is nowhere then? Nowhere is being somewhere here and there but not everywhere. But everywhere includes somewhere, here and there. If everywhere is somewhere, here and there, nowhere is being somewhere here and there but not everywhere, is everywhere nowhere? Where is here? It can be somewhere or nowhere, but here cannot be everywhere and there, then why is everywhere being here and there? Where am I? Here or there or nowhere or somewhere or everywhere?

What is there to fear? Why do I fear? I have nothing to lose.

Tomorrow may be good, tomorrow may be bad. Tomorrow may be the end of the world. You may never even see tomorrow. Tomorrow is a question mark. Tomorrow is the future. Tomorrow is spelt as t-o-m-o-r-r-o-w. Tomorrow you may have to do something, tomorrow you may not have something to do. Tomorrow is a routine. Tomorrow is a brand new day. Tomorrow is a nightmare come true. Tomorrow is hidden. Tomorrow you shall know your fate. Tomorrow is the chance. Tomorrow is the next day. What is tomorrow?

I am basically trying to make myself tired. Forget about yourself, forget about love, forget about your family, forget about the world, forget whatever you learnt, forget about everything, forget about waking up.

Sleep, my dear sleep, sing me a sweet lullaby. So soft, so sweet, so soothing, so comforting, so peaceful, so surreal, so calming. Enchant me, hallucinate me, bring me to a world where I really disappear, where I am one with nowhere. Where I do not know I exist. Come, take me, take the whole world with you, take everything. Close everything that you created, forget everything.

-dakepaike-

Wah, finally can stop... I hope readers are not lost somewhere in this ridiculous passage. I was in a 'trance'. It is just a drift away from reality and letting the emotions control my fingers to press the keyboard.

Dakepaike's Weekly Quotes:

Week 35:

The harder you think, the more bleak the situation becomes.

-dakepaike-

it is 3am in the morning

it is 3am in the morning... I am still not asleep. I cannot sleep. I don't know why.

Today was an extremely shag day. Somehow i felt today is more tiring than a 5km run. Maybe because the ups and downs of today were so drastic that there was not a moment that i could take a breather.

I think i was really physically drained and the worst part was that i was mentally drained as well.

Lactic acid is building up in my legs and i can't really move my body.

I don't know if it is true that when you are tired, your thoughts start to wander. I suddenly think of a lot of things in life... I somehow tear, for reasons that are absurd.

I felt tired and really miserable. The misery i am feeling adds to the tiredness, vice versa.

I feel like i am holding on to the end of a very fast moving train. The train is like my life, i need to hold on because if i release, my life would pass me by and disappear from my sight right in front of me in a matter of seconds. I would never catch the train again if i try to release and relax a little.

On the other hand, if i hold on tight, i always have this feeling that the train may suddenly brake and throw me right into it, leaving me badly injured.

And i also feel like i am wearing a time bomb. You don't know when is it going to explode, but you know it will eventually explode. I hope it will be defused safely of course but i know it would almost definitely explode. I am just trying to buy time, use little tricks to make distractions, preparing excuses and coming up with self justified reasons that maybe only i can accept.

But things are not that worse actually. I have flipped to the side of the coin that i desire. It is just that there are 2 sides to a coin, i know the back side of the coin will always be there, perhaps waiting for its chance to show up and over throw my desired side.

-dakepaike-

Where's the Fashion?

I was at Punggol Plaza one Friday morning and noticed something peculiar about the stalls at the wet market.



Erm, what is the fashion?



Hey, where’s the fish?

There are more stalls like this but I just couldn’t take pictures of them discreetly due to the new mobile phone technology (or should I say a tweak) that makes the phone camera produce a flash even though I chose the “flash off” function.

We have an incense stall with the stall name “Malay Fashion”, a “Yong Tau Foo” stall that sells fish and no yong tau foo.

My guess is that a lot of vendors quit selling their stuff and the next vendors sell different things but the signboards cannot be replaced.

-dakepaike-

Civil Sin by Boy Kill Boy

Here’s another song that I quite like. Civil sin by Boy Kill Boy. What a song title and band name…

Again, not your typical kind of song. Go figure what the song is trying to convey.

Youtube music video:


Lyrics:
Here's to the gods and their seats on high
Nobody knows anything
Here's to the flags in their guilty sky
Nobody says anything

This aside, this coast is clear
It doesn't help, it doesn't help me

Who am I? Only
One more life that you can owe me
It's civilised, it's civilised, it's civil sin
Who am I? Only
One more lie so you can own me
It's civilised, it's civilised, it's civil sin

Here's to the crown in their Sunday best
Nobody knows anything
Here's to the crowd, slaves who never rest
Nobody says anything

And this aside, this coast is clear
Until one man buys the whole show
And this aside, my mind is clear
It doesn't help, it doesn't help me

Who am I? Only
One more life that you can owe me
It's civilised, it's civilised, it's civil sin
Who am I? Only
One more lie so you can own me
It's civilised, it's civilised, it's civil sin
-dakepaike-

Dakepaike's Weekly Quotes:

Week 34:

The biggest room you can ever have is the room for improvement.

I seldom write encouraging quotes. So this is a rare one. Haha...

-dakepaike-

World Record vs Gold Medal

Just some miscellaneous thoughts on something I saw in the men's swimming event in the Olympics.

Pardon me if I get my facts wrong.

I was watching the men's 100m freestyle semi finals 1 & 2.

Before the semis, the world recorder holder is Eamon Sullivan, an Australia swimmer. He was scheduled to be in semi final 2.

Then there is this French guy, Alain Bernard, who has an amazing physique in semi final 1. He is the reigning European champion.

In semi final 1, Alain won it in style by breaking Eamon's world record in 47.20sec.

In semi final 2, Eamon had the perfect response by breaking the world record set by his rival just minutes ago in the 1st semi final with the time of 47.05sec.

So, the record went back to Eamon.

The next day, it was the final. Eamon and Alain were placed side by side.
And the winner is... Alain Bernard of France with a winning time of 47.21sec! Eamon came in 2nd with the time of 47.32sec.

Therefore, at the podium, Alain received the gold medal while Eamon got the silver.


Now, here comes the question:
Do you want to be the world record holder or the gold medalist?

After giving it some thought. I would rather be the gold medalist than the record holder. I am not sure about you guys, but I find that it makes more sense to be the gold medalist.

Everyone remembers at this Olympics, you are the gold medalist in this event.
Your gold medal is safe in your house, inside the trophy cabinet I suppose. No one can snatch your gold medal away from you. The best part is, your country may reward you with a lot of money.

If you hold the world record but finishes 2nd, the sad thing is - no one remembers who came in 2nd. The good bit is whenever there is an event that you held the record for, your name and time would be mentioned. However, your record is far from safe, you cannot keep your world record in your trophy cabinet. One fine day, someone is going to snatch away your 'world record' title. A fear that would, inevitably be realised. (Just look at the number of records broken in every Olympics)

Once your unparallel mark is replaced - who is going to remember the name? No gold medal, no more record, no more glory.

-dakepaike-

How many times did the Devil win?

Have you ever been caught in a situation where there is an angel and a devil above your head telling you different things? Which one do you always listen to? Who gives better advices?

Why would the devil emerge sometimes? Is it within us? Why would some issues create such a scenario between the angel and the devil? It is always more painful for the angel follower when he or she is caught in the battle but he or she usually feels better after the whole thing is over. The opposite is true for the devil followers.

What I am proposing here is that people with higher moral standards are more likely to encounter such situation because her who has no qualms about being the devil’s advocate will not struggle before he does nasty things. People who are in general, ‘morally good’, will struggle because of the angel, hence the presence of the 2 forces debating over your head for the right to rule your actions.

But then again, I have another perspective – morals give birth to the devil.

Because of morals, we struggle. We cannot do anything we like. We struggle because the angel and the devil are engaged in a fierce debate. If there are no morals to rule us, would there even be a devil above our heads, forcing us to struggle within?

I don’t know why but somehow this argument is difficult to put into words. I shall stop here, hope readers get the gist of what I am trying to convey.

-dakepaike-

Excuse me, what are you studying? …Geography?!?!

Being in this job does not require me to chat with others but chatting is a good way to pass time. The topics are more or less the same when I talk to anyone.

“So what are you studying now?” people asked.

“Geography.” I replied.

“Geography??? What can you do? Become a teacher next time?”

90% of the people say this, with this unbelievable look on their faces. Not unbelievably impressed, but unbelievably skeptical and confused.

I have to explain to them the different sub-disciplines and career prospects of geography. As much as I wanted to defend that the major I chose is useful and employ-able, I know only the capable students are able to get those slightly higher paying positions in stat boards.

So what good does geography have? I myself am not too sure about it too. In terms of job opportunities, it can be rather limited. In terms of salary, it can be more limited.

Some people say you do not require any knowledge of what you study in university in your future workplace. It is the skill you are learning, not the knowledge. I am not too sure how true is this. Perhaps only those fields of studies that are really specialized would require you to utilize what you have learnt in class. Or perhaps only those that are really really good would get jobs that utilize the knowledge learnt in class.

I have no idea. I just know that it seems like people are still ‘looking down’ on people who study ‘study subjects’ but the sad thing is I do not have much to say in defense.

-dakepaike-

Dakepaike's Weekly Quotes:

Week 33

A daunting challenge is an obstacle; An interesting obstacle is a challenge.

-dakepaike-

Chop Chop!

2310 - logged in to ivle. looking into the used textbooks forum.
2316 - successfully posted what i wanted to sell forum.
2328 - receive first sms from first potential buyer.
2332 - receive sms from another potential buyer.
2328 to 2338 - about 7 messages were transpired between me and first potential buyer. ignoring the second potential buyer.
2341 - confirmation. deal made. laughing at the second no-more-potential buyer.

It just took 31 min to sell a textbook. Is it such a good bargain? Or am i just so irresistable? Textbook selling record!

(0006 - glen johnson misses penalty. manchester united retains fa community shield.)

－异客拍客－

Sugar Daddies

Girls and money seem to be 2 inseparable entities.

I was watching this MTV programme by VH1 titled something like “The Planet’s Most Famous Sugar Daddies”. What a topic to talk about! So they talked about the sugar daddies’ profile, how much are they worth (none of them is worth less than 50 million dollars) and then they focus on their girlfriends and flings. All of them are either supermodels or celebrities. Most of them are outrageously gorgeous and young. Yes, young is the key word here. That is why these men become ‘daddies’. The programme kept emphasizing the age gap. The girls are always about 20 years younger than their rich but old boyfriends. In some interviews, reports actually have the audacity to question them on how do they communicate with such a huge age gap, how do the men feel to be dating someone fit to be your daughter (what a way to phrase the question!). The couples sure looked embarrassed and the girls never answer the questions directly. ‘He’s a wonderful man!’ Some exclaimed. Sure, when a guy can bring you around on his private jet, let you party on his yacht, provide you with endless Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada etc, he is of course nothing less than wonderful.

Enough of the descriptions. Here comes the reflection - so, can money buy you love? What are these men attracted to? Why are these 20-year-olds willing to be with a 50-year-old man who is not charming or handsome at all? Whom you may think is only interested in your youth and not your person?

I can only sigh and accept this is how the world works. Rich men always flanked by beautiful women but thankfully beautiful women do not always have rich men as their partners.

Everyone is ultimately trying to satisfy their own desires. The girls want their money and the guys want their bodies (sorry to be blunt here) or to flaunt their ability to get a beautiful girlfriend.

But I do not cross out the possibility of love between these couples. Because only when 2 people are happy then only love may slowly come. If you need to make ends meet every day, do you eve dare to love? If you know that the guy struggles to earn, do you still dare to love him? Especially when you are beautiful and have so many suitors?

I shall stop here, the more I think the more uncomfortable I feel. Haha…

The new football season is coming!

THE NEW FOOTBALL SEASON IS COMING!
THE NEW FOOTBALL SEASON IS COMING!
THE NEW FOOTBALL SEASON IS COMING!
THE NEW FOOTBALL SEASON IS COMING!
THE NEW FOOTBALL SEASON IS COMING!

This national day, we'll see coca-cola football league championships kick-off. The next day, we'll have the fa community shield, casualty filled man u vs underdogs portsmouth. The new barclays premier league will start next sat with seven matches. I just can't wait any longer. (Elsewhere in europe, italians and spainards like it to start late, on our northernly neighbour's national day. The germs start on the same day with the english, while le coq gaulois will cluck on national day.)

A bit bo-liao i know, but just want to say something. BTw, rangers kena kicked out of uefa champions league by... some... unknown Lithuanian club. Aren't they better in basketball than in soccer? This is worse than to understand how Holland managed to whack the finalists of fifa world cup 2006, but not fellow compatriot led Russians. It's been a month++, but i'm still pondering. (Shld i still buy the dutch team jersey?)

－异客拍客－

Couples' Quarrels

It is quite strange for me. Maybe because I still can’t quite get hold of what couples are thinking.

So this morning I was on the train and this young couple in their teens was quarreling over something. I had no idea what they were fighting about but they were definitely not merely bickering.

The girl’s face was as black as you could imagine. The boy kept looking into her eyes but she was shunning his look. The guy kept whispering something to her ear and trying to use his hand to touch her arm, only for her to fidget and push his hand away.

This went on for quite some time and suddenly, this girl hugged her boyfriend and vola! They made up. More hugs and whisperings came and they just could not stop touching each other.

Do all these sound familiar? I think this is quite common but there are things I cannot comprehend. Why is it always the girls that are angry? Why do the guys always ‘touch here and there’ to ask for forgiveness? And why do the girls always forgive them so easily?

Haha… I wondered what those guys say to their girlfriends but it seems that girls like to be pampered like queens and guys like to act like slaves. There is a reversal in roles nowadays.

Women have more ‘bargaining power’ than men. I feel that the balance has tilted, ladies got more than they fought for, it is more than balance of power they want, but more control over guys.

I am no male chauvinist, just my personal opinion.

Oh ya, I saw real stubborn ladies before who would make a big commotion in public. More than often, it is not the girls who will be embarrassed, but people would think what wrong has the guy done. What a sad case…

-dakepaike-

Sometimes this is Life

One day after work I didn’t know why but I was so tired that I decided to get myself a seat on the train, close my eyes and listen to some music.

Sounds like a tough task to get an empty seat when you are boarding the train at Dhoby Gaut during the evening peak hour. So I waited patiently for the train going to Habourfront where plenty of seats were available so when the train reached Habourfront and make a ‘u-turn’ trip back to Punggol station, I would be sitting nicely and dozing off to Hougang station.

But alas! There was a twist! I did not know that all passengers would normally be told to get off the train as it would cease operation at Harbourfront station.

But I could still board the train at the opposite platform where seats would still be available. I was right. Though it was still crowded with like-minded people like me, I managed to get a seat.

Nicely poised to close my eyes and enjoy my music, I somehow turned my head to look behind. I saw a pregnant lady standing outside the train, not wanting to come in. I looked around and realized there were no more empty seats. I offered her my seat but she refused. She was willing to wait for the next train. How could I possibly let a pregnant lady wait for the next train? I stood up and insisted she take my seat.

And so it went. I stood all the way back to my destination. I felt relieved though letting that lady have my seat.

This incident is just like life. Sometimes you put in a lot of time, effort and thought on doing something. You know you are on the brink of success, or maybe you have already achieved success. However, some people may just give up everything they got, on perhaps factors that others may think is illogical. But this is life. Sometimes it is not for us to choose, but the situation presents itself in a way that leaves us with choices but inclines us towards one that goes against our rationality. What can we do? We can’t really do anything.

-dakepaike-

Dakepaike's Weekly Quotes:

Week 32

Beliefs are hard to last if they are believing in someone.

-dakepaike-

The Unshockable by Maximo Park

[I tried to schdule a lot of posts in the days to come but apparently, it did not work. So I'll just post them manually from time to time]


Time for some music appreciation again!

This is a great song!

Meaningful lyrics, not like those typical pop songs that talk about love and nothing else. What I like about these indie European bands is that they don’t always write songs about love. They observe the world around them, the society and write their reflections about them and turning them into fantastic songs. Sometimes the lyrics are so abstract that you need to guess what they are trying to convey. Once you realize the meaning behind the song, you will say “Bravo!”

Here’s the lyric:

The lines of transport make their way through towns
The lines of transport make their way through towns
At any cost... name a price

Digging through towns
Make way, like Moses through the waves
Pick and choose from a folklore
To describe the biggest events

Did I make it all up?

Detritus gathers
Until dirt is the only layer you see
Scratch away, scrape away
Lacerate, keep scratching!

Have we become The Unshockable?
Or have we become The Saddened?
Activity is absent
Things are looking scarce

The human heart is on trial for a limited spell
A human heart is on offer for a limited spell

Your body was your great strength
How do you feel now there's nothing left?
The moment's gone
For me, you spent too many hours in bed

Do you think this is cruel?

Sniggering clowns
In laughter, we hide behind our hands
Take them away, move them away
Stand up straight, keep turning!

Have we become The Unshockable?
Or have we become The Saddened?
Activity is absent
And things are looking scarce

Have we become The Unshockable?
Or have we become The Saddened?
Activity is absent
And things are looking scarce

Conceal those thoughts that linger
On your breath
Keep them hidden
Or they'll catch their death

Conceal those thoughts that linger
On your breath
Keep them hidden
Or they'll catch their death

The modes of transport forge their way through towns
The modes of transport forge their way through towns
Take them away, move them away
Take them away, keep turning!
Take them away, move them away
Take them away, keep turning!

Have we become The Unshockable?
Or have we become The Saddened?
Activity is absent
And things are looking scarce

Have we become The Unshockable?
Or have we become The Saddened?
Activity is absent
And things are looking scarce

Basically, they are lamenting on how the transport system now is making people void of contact with each other, seems like we become part of the system, unfeeling and saddened.

I espcially like phrases like "make way... like Moses through the waves", "Conceal those thoughts that linger on your breath...Keep them hidden or they'll catch their death". Really interesting choice of words.


Here’s the youtube song. They did not make a music video.



-dakepaike-

Pocoyo

This is the new craze which I'm sharing with my nephew. Move aside Barney, u s**k.



Damn cute izn't it?



My nephew also fold his arms when he is angry.

－异客拍客－