Stress...and its lessons from a singer

Just read an article on Mavis Hee...and I feel a lot of sadness for her...

Prominent in my growing years where many of us will agree that she was the first Chinese prominent female singer after Teresa Teng's passing in 1994, she was so cheerful, and loved singing...and some of her songs were my favourites too...

But today, the merciless nature of the music industry has forced older singers who still have their forte and style but not relevant for the masses out...Singapore is no exception.

As I grew up, there was Mavis Hee and Kit Chan, then came Tanya Chua...now we have A-do, Stefanie Sun, and JJ Lin.

The aftermath of this has led to Mavis suffering and it is a big blow for anyone who has to come to terms with a sudden drop if your future would be blighted by circumstances such as this.

As a music lover, I really hope to see Mavis Hee come back to the singing stage again. For she can do if she believes. And in my opinion, the whole nation will be behind her when she makes her comeback soon.

If you do not know Singapore music that well, at least this provides a short commentary in the scene of the 1990s...anyway, I am lending my voice to the many fans who want Mavis back. After all, they are like me, hearing her music while growing up.

To end it off, here is her latest song to date, "Ming Zhi Dao". A very soothing though sad song which talks about the irony of love: something which is painful but will always stay in our hearts.

A song for all couples, especially the newly inaugurated pair which is just a few days old...you know whom I am talking about...all the best to you and her...

曲名：明知道 歌手：许美静 专辑：铁窗

我想算了吧 不如就这样地分手
我的心在痛 对你的爱太浓
是否你能带走过去的承诺 不再对你奢求什么
只想让你懂 转过身就不能回头
已经做決定 又何必再强留
选择了离开我 还能说什么 爱使你爱使我迷惑
明知道爱你不会有结果 为何还如此执着
为你付出所有 你竟不顾一切就走
明知道爱你只是继续错 为何还如此脆弱
已经习惯有你 已经不能将你摆脱

也许当一场梦 梦醒一切都随风

People Management

Something about what I learnt today:

It is called perception bias. It is very funny, because after what I have realised after today's tutorial, then I start to ask myself whether I am committing the same kind of mistakes.

I always tell myself that when I treat people, I must givem them the due benefit of doubt and treat them with all sincerity. And so far I think I have. But I can dare say that all of us commit some sort of perception bias here and there when we judge people, i.e., who is good, who is bad, who is cunning, who plays a political game always, etc. I am not saying that our judgements are wrong, but what I am saying is that we should be fair to all people when we assess each other. And be fair too in receiving criticisms from third party observers because they can see best from where we sometimes cannot even see from.

The moral of the story: Be sincere. Be truthful. Be professional. Be loyal. And lastly, have no agendas when you want to make friends. You make friends because you truly want them to be your companions along the road that is your life.

In a way, this is a censure to all political animals. They will all get their desserts.

New updates...new problems...and possibly my final word on the place where I started from

A new challenge, new problems...

The conference itself is not easy at all...but there already a few problems that I must overcome...

I can only say that it is a challenge to myself because it forces myself to organise my thoughts and manage my time so that I have time for everything and anything...nothing compared to real life work, but vitally important for me to step up to get used to work pressures that can be at least ten times as killing...

Ok, back to the troubles...I suppose with troubles comes challenges, and challenges make us better people because we must face it.

So I now formally congratulate the 27th Management Committee of the NUS Students' Arts and Social Sciences Club:

- Reuben and Lionel as President and Vice President,
- Chuan Seng for a hard won win as Hon Gen Sec,
- Jeremy as Treasurer,
- Nicholas as Welfare, and Xinyu as his deputy
- Joshua as my 'grandson' - Publications, and Jackson as his deputy,
- James as Marketing Cell Head,
- Michelle as FOP Chairperson,
- Amanda as Sports, and Kenneth as her deputy,
- Camy as Publicity,
- Shuning as Charity,
- Camy as Publicity,
- Tyler as Business,
- and James as Marketing.

Friends and all, the 27th MC.

Just want to make the point that this is probably the very last post that will mention the Arts Club by name...and I have decided that my efforts and attention need me elsewhere now...the time has come for me to do what I must do.

The remaining efforts for me now are properly diverted to 3 issues:
- Handover of my job scope to my successor,
- Settling into my job and sorting all the problems as SMUN 2007 Sec-Gen
- Books and results to go up.

A special message:

To my loved one...we sure have a fun and wonderful time the days before...I hope we can keep it up ok? May the bond and love between us stay and last for as long as it can be...

A song of dedication for all love romantics, and of course that includes me... :P

珊瑚海 歌手：周杰伦 专辑：十一月的萧邦
(Jay) 海平面远方开始阴霾 悲伤要怎么平静纯白我的脸上 始终挟带 一抹浅浅的无奈
(Lara) 你用唇语说你要离开 (心不在)
(合) 那难过无声慢了下来 汹涌潮水 你听明白 不是浪而是泪海
(合) 转身离开 (你有话说不出来) 分手说不出来 海鸟跟鱼相爱 只是一场意外我们的爱 (给的爱) 差异一直存在 (回不来) 风中尘埃 (等待) 竟累计成伤害
(合) 转身离开 (分手说不出来) 分手说不出来 蔚蓝的珊瑚海 错过瞬间苍白当初彼此 (你我都) 不够成熟坦白 (不应该) 热情不再 (你的) 笑容勉强不来 爱深埋珊瑚海
(Jay) 毁坏的沙雕如何重来 有裂痕的爱怎么重盖只是一切 结束太快 你说你无法释怀
(Lara) 贝壳里隐藏什么期待 (等花儿开)
(合) 我们也已经无心再猜 面向海风 咸咸的爱 尝不出还有未来
(合) 转身离开 (你有话说不出来) 分手说不出来 海鸟跟鱼相爱 只是一场意外我们的爱 (给的爱) 差异一直存在 (回不来) 风中尘埃 (等待) 竟累计成伤害
(合) 转身离开 (分手说不出来) 分手说不出来 蔚蓝的珊瑚海 错过瞬间苍白当初彼此 (你我都) 不够成熟坦白 (不应该) 热情不再 (你的) 笑容勉强不来 爱深埋珊瑚海

Another One:

再度重相逢 歌手：伍佰 专辑：泪桥

你说人生如梦 我说人生如秀
那有什么不同 不都一样朦胧
朦胧中有你 有你跟我就已经足够
你就在我的世界 升起了彩虹
简单爱你心所爱 世界也变得大了起来
所有花都为你开 所有景物也为了你安排
我们是如此的不同 肯定前世就已经深爱过
讲好了这一辈子 再度重相逢

Time strikes...now I have what I wish for...finally

It has been a while since I have felt truly happy...

Happy for a lot of people...not just myself.

First of all...I am happy for Thomas...because he can finally leave after a full 3 years at the helm, with a very trusted committee of people he knows can only bring PSSOC forward...

I am also happy for all the new members of the 38th Exco...because I know they are the best people and have the drive to see a lot of things true. Furthermore, this is truly a committee with different nationalities...now that's very interesting.

I am also happy that there are a lot of raggers running for Arts Club 27th MC...they are the people whom I know have the best interests of the Arts undergrads at heart and help out with their determination. Therefore, I am calling for all of you guys to give Reuben, Lionel, Aaron and the raggers their support! They are indeed the best team prepared to handle the rigours of one more year...

And finally...happy for myself. My current job has now found the best possible replacement whom I can fully entrust my work on and continue, while I have gotten my dream job - A conference... It is now mine's to lose.

Let's hope things really look up from here on in...