Content Creators = Amateurs

I am battling with my new found opinion of writer Andrew Keen. His book titled, The Cult of the Amateur painted the picture (although, in my humble opinion, is way too harsh)of how the Internet today has created a world of facts with doubtful accuracy and has undermined subject matters' authorities.

Welcome to the world of amateurs, where everyone and just anyone who has Internet connection can create content by uploading a piece of their photo, video, post their comments or creating a website.

With "agents" of the Internet like social networking tools like MySpace, Facebook etc and blogs, content creators which are us, are simply self-advertising, according to Keen. Well, quite true, as no doubt ,the way we use Facebook can be thought as self-glorifying, at worst. But at best, it is also a tool for us to keep in touch with our friends by simply replacing any physical forms of contact of the yester-era. No more phone calls, no more birthday cards, just "wall-to-wall messaging" or simply updating our "status" to make our presence felt, isn't that simple?

Hence, with this thought-provoking subject that came to my knowing, I felt obliged not to write anything that is too personal, which I have planned to write about how my year, 2008 had ended. Well, leaping into a brand new year, I can only hope that, with a new year, there'll be a fresh perspective!

Werner's

A night to remember, as I would put it. A perfect restaurant with great food and wine, accompanied by the people whom you always wanted to see when you were away for too long...what a night!

The much anticipated and planned meeting finally came true. The tone of the evening was set by a flamboyant maestro's suggestion of Raoul shirt with cufflinks for the gentlemen and the ladies, in their best frock of designer's labels and well-specified Christian Louboutin pumps. I couldn't help but planned early on what to wear and pack for the trip! Although, in reality, the best dress could be anything that we are comfortable in. Somehow, what I have learnt lately, do know what brings out the best of your body.

We started with conversations pertaining our current lives, injecting the stories with our latest encounters, dramas, jokes and of course gossips, before moving briefly to a more serious tone of the economic situation. Of course, our flamboyant maestro came up with the most thought-provoking question of the night! What is the best and the worst thing that had happened to you in 2008? I just love how his mind works, sometimes!

Thank goodness I managed to say something that would win approval from myself, at least, if I would have to recall back my answer in the future. It sounds nothing like a Miss Universe's answer of how she has touched someone's life but indeed, the best thing that had happened to me was somewhat self-indulging of a great holiday with Danny to Santorini and to have him for a full year with me in Singapore...

p/s : The photos have no significance at all...

Beijing : Post Post-Olympics

I am now in Beijing. The lowest temperature recorded today is -5 degrees celsius. I was welcome into Beijing with the smell of polluted air which reminded me of our South East Asia haze problem back in 1997 and 2006. Despite the cold weather, which I normally like, I am not so please this time around.

What has happened to the fresh air I breathed in a few weeks back when I was here in Beijing? What happen to the pledge for cleaner air when the Olympics were taking place?

Nonetheless, the low temperature or the smoky smell did not deter me from going out. I had a Japanese meal in a familiar chain, Yoshinoya. It must be my appetite for something oriental and Yoshinoya just happened to be the most convenient one.

Interestingly, when I was in the restaurant, I could not help but notice a Caucasion woman surrounded by locals. She spoke fluent Mandarin which would definitely put me to shame with my very limited vocabulary. Dressed in smart corporate wear, holding a complimentary Radisson bottled water, I just admired how comfortable she behaved, out of her comfort zone. I may be observing and forming a conclusion rather superficially, but I know what it takes to master a foreign language and custom, especially when your native culture is so distinct from the Chinese. Truly, our world is converging!

She won my adoration while I was turning the pages of Mark Penn's Microtrends and a copy of China Daily in hand. Sitting in a restaurant, in a Chinese city, with the people of my skin colour and a foreign woman who speak my tongue can be rather fascinating...

Lipstick Jungle

I thought there will never be any glimpse of hope left, post-Sex and the City series. Desperate Housewives was never my taste as I don’t relate well to suburban culture. Perhaps, it’s also because of my reluctance to identify myself as a suburbanite, I'm not sure why. My speculation is that, I love the 'big city' feel.

With an introduction to HDD Player by a big-hearted friend, I managed to rekindle my love toward small screen series rather recently. And very quickly, Carrie Bradshaw and her troop are now being replaced by Nico Reilly (my favourite, no doubt!), Wendy Healy and Victory Ford (what a name!) as my topic of current interests. No prize for guessing as to why it’s Nico Reilly this time. Not because I’m a Cougar (an older woman who dates a younger man) like her, but I just find her as someone I hope to be if I had ever survived in the corporate world.

The women of Lipstick Jungle are where the four single women of SATC have never been yet. Attached or married with very successful careers (at least, two of them). In other words, they are powerhouse women. They have broken the glass ceiling in the corporate world and they’ve worked hard enough to be at the top, which is something I can believe has happened and is happening in reality.

Not a surprise, Lipstick Jungle is the brainchild of Candace Bushnell and with it, she has successfully introduced us, once again, to many more faces and lives of New York’s women and their daily drama. How interesting to know that it’s happening there and soon this part of the world may evolve toward the same tendencies. Perhaps, some may have already reached there.

A toast to Lipstick Jungle but one thing I could sense, is that it may not be a runaway success as compared to SATC. If you've moved on just like me, give Lipstick a try. It's quite refreshing yet some traces and familiarities still exist for us, SATC women and men to enjoy...

New York New York

I love the feeling of being in New York and it’s no secret to many who know me. I can even, hardly ever able, to contain my excitement when the announcement that we’ve landed at JFK was made. What am I supposed to do in New York again? What should I check out for? What are the latest headlines? What is there to buy? How is the situation in New York now, pending the Democrat President-elect to take over come January 2009? How bad has the credit crunch affected businesses here?

With so many questions, you can hardly able to imagine the hyper-activity of my stay here. How can one stay-in when there’s so much happening outside. Well, for the first time, I watched CNN Headlines instead of CNN. Anyway, the news is mainly concerning the Obamas and their moving in to the White House. I wonder, will they ever tempt to change the name of that residence since, well, think of it literally. For they can always justify it with the election mantra, “Change", "Yes, We Can”!

With the highly popularised US election worldwide, it is hard not to take notice or interest of this country. After all, we depend on this country, so much for technology, entertainment, ideas, innovation, fashion, media, etc..etc..which also come along with unfavourable baggage sometimes. Think waging wars and corporate scandals.

This capitalism practised, is showing the signs of aging despite the botox of corporate rescues or bail-outs by the government. When in good times, the Conservatives preach the wonders of a small government. When it is bad times, government must be the one in-charge. Looks like to me, it is closing one eye when there’s money to make and when bad things happen, punishment should not be rendered for the benefit of protecting the business. Yes, the monster of corporations is too big and too many are at stake. I wonder how it has come this far and how the next administration can fix it.

Well, back to being in New York, you will be absorbed into the shopping euphoria but not this time. I see many shops with very few people inside. Queues used to be a norm at Abercrombie & Fitch but the only queue was when people were waiting for it to open. Queue at the entrance does not necessarily result in queue at the cash registers. And that made sense when I didn’t see as many paper bags of clothing brands being flaunted (like there’s no problem living on credits at all) in the streets as I used to see when times were better. Already, former retail lot of CompUSA on prime Fifth Avenue has been emptied and I was not sure for how long since. Many more may follow suit eventually.

Well, I wonder how things could change so drastically in a year this time around. I remember I was in New York around the same time before Christmas. Quite contrary to the previous time, I don’t see as many happy faces, but I see men in suits especially, with defeated face. Another thing to note is that, I am disappointed for not being able to see the erection of the famous Rockefeller Christmas tree. With so much to digest, perhaps it is a good thing to reflect and stay in early for this time. I wonder will the Christmas tree have a Swarovski crystal star like last year…

One Week

I am now chilling at Orchard with plenty of time to spare. After a long trip away, you just want to rest your tired body and partake on a slice of cafe culture. It's the only way to adjust and try to internalize the relevance without feeling left out after being away for more than a week. Yes, a week can be a long time for some of us, urbanites. A lot of things can change in just a week especially in the city.

A week is long enough to enable me to cross over the Atlantic (twice), the Himalayas, stop at two major financial cities of the world and make some sense by witnessing the post-election amid the financial crisis. A week is actually a long long time when I am away from my loved ones. I often wonder how others live their one week. Isn't it too long? Yes, when we miss home and no, when we have so many things to do.

Since I am having a slice of opera cake that melts perfectly with a sip of flat white, I realize that I am so lucky to be blessed with the privilege that I have and the people I have been surrounded with for the past one week. Truly, without them, my one week would have felt longer and more unbearable despite my love of travelling...

I hope my future one weeks will be as celebrated as this...

Actress Jane Fonda

I am in the midst of reading "My Life So Far" by Jane Fonda. It is a gift from my very dear cousin for my 26th birthday. I must say, this biography is a page-turner and never would I thought that Jane Fonda is really an accomplished woman.

Reading the story of her life is not only entertaining but also serves as learning lessons to many of us. She is indeed honest in her writings and her journey towards womanhood striked me the most. She talked alot about her girlhood, her insecurities, her accidental career in films, her activisms, her intimate encounters and more, which made me realise that, afterall, we human beings have our mistakes made, hurtful words uttered, actions misunderstood and intentions misinterpreted.

The fact that Jane Fonda could look back at her life and share it with us, makes me feel that she belongs to the enlightened few who have realised that, despite all the downfalls in life, living life is indeed enjoyable if we can all look at the brighter side of things. Sometimes, I call it, the big picture of life. I wonder when I will see my big picture...