R.I.P. King of Pop

Can't believe he was 50. Controversial character he may be, but you can't deny his talent and its hard not to sympathise with his "tragic".

R.I.P. Michael Joseph Jackson
(August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009)

MSNBC's slideshow tribute on MJ (LINK)

Jermaine Jackson, brother: "My brother, the legendary king of pop, Michael Jackson passed away on Thursday June 25th 2009 at 2.26pm. It is believed he suffered cardiac arrest in his home.

"Our family requests that the media please requests our privacy at this tough time. And may Allah be with you Michael, always. Love you."



Reverend Al Sharpton, civil rights campaigner and close friend: "Michael Jackson made culture accept a person of colour way before Tiger Woods, way before Oprah Winfrey, way before Barack Obama."

MJ's signature moonwalk dance -->

(The moonwalk or backslide is a dance technique that presents the illusion that the dancer is stepping forward whilst actually moving backward. The dance move gained widespread popularity after being performed by Michael Jackson on the 1983 television special Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever, and was considered his signature move. The moonwalk has since become the best known dance move in the world.)

Counting Down

Less than 1 month to go already. How time flies! Really ought to live and enjoy each moment as it comes and past. 1 year stay became 2 years. Alas, had it not been as such, wouldn't have experienced lots more and wouldn't have known the many people whom I do now.

There have been many ups and downs, surprises, joys, despair/disappointment and new findings along the way but at least one thing for sure and has been consistent is the liking, desire and belief. Never looked back ever since making the 1st step. Never did, never will.

On a sidenote, heard this 'old' song the other day during the treat at Swensen's with Andrea, Jean Rong, Li Hua and Shinnie (by alphabetical order ok, see I'm very fair and unbias). This song's about 2 years old already, quite surprised Shinnie knew the title when I couldn't recall and was asking about it. "Breathless" by X-Factor winner, Shayne Ward.

He's so seductive in the music video for this song, even I'm attracted. LOL! (Hey don't get me wrong, ok?). Look at the lip syncing and the eyes. Wow! Like the rhythm, like the chorus, like the soft voice and the high pitch. *_*/~

"New Divide" Official Music Video

Linkin Park's MV for "New Divide" is out!

Ehmm won't say its 'nice'. More like suitable and appropriate (for a theme song of the movie Transformers)?

Enjoy!

如果我变成回忆

(P.S. View blog in IE. Dunno why font looks distorted in FF. X_X)

Faced with the threat of seeing his life claimed by hereditary heart disease (遗传性心脏病), Tank's new song <<如果我变成回忆>> is a 情歌 on the surface but the gist of it was the helplessness he feels in having no control over his own health, as well as life and death (无法掌控自己身体与生命的无奈).

Tank's 如果我变成回忆 Music Video feat. (Huiling's fav) 大东 Jiro Wang



Here's a loose translation for some of my favourite lines from the song:

“如果我变成回忆，退出了这场生命，
(If I were to become memory, and retreat from this game of life,)

留下你错愕哭泣，我冰冷身体，拥抱不了你，
(leaving you drenched in tears, my frozen cold body, can hold
you no more)

想到我让深爱的你，人海孤独旅行，我会恨自己如此狠心。
(to think how I've let my beloved you, wander alone in a sea of people, I will hate myself for being so heartless)”
 

And because his sister actually passed away in her sleep (it prompted him to add the lyrics listed below, in the song), and revealed that at a particular
stage of his treatment, it was the doctor's encouragement that reminded him to treasure life, instead of choosing the easier way out and giving up.

“好怕一放心睡了，
(Worried that once I fall asleep soundly,)

心跳在梦中不听话的就停止了,
(and the heart refuse to obey and stops beating;)

我还能珍惜什么，如果我连自己的脉搏都难掌握
(what else is there for me to treasure, if I can't even control
my own pulse)”

Treasure life. Treasure love - of all sorts. Kinship (with family members), friendship (with friends and buddies), partnership (with your 'one and only'). Life is that unpredictable.

记得, 要珍惜哦! (当然也要包括珍惜我这个朋友/老师, ok?)
Lol, 真够不要脸的球老师 (>_<)

Important Long Message For You. Yes, You.

So, where do I start? Ok, I'm not one for beating about the bush, so lets get straight to the point. This is especially meant for one particular student, but its also something I would like to share with everyone else.

1. Responsibility
- For self and others. Put some thought into it. Be responsibile for one's own action cos one have the ultimate control of one's own decision making/course of action. Do not forget too that we are usually, if not, never alone. Any decision/action will affect someone else (regardless of quantity or importance).

2. Honesty
- Committing mistake(s) is one issue. Admitting to it/them is another. Simiple scenario: "Pupil A claims that he forgot to bring his homework. Actual truth is he forgot/failed to complete it. How would you feel if you find out the truth? Not doing/completing is already one wrong." Not admitting/giving the real reason is another. Two wrongs does not make one right. As the lyrics goes "Truth hurts and lies worse" (>_<).

3. Appreciation/Apology
- Yes, its very easy to say these words. "Sorry", "Apologies", "Thank you", "Thanks" etc. They cost nothing. But (a) that alone still works wonders. It's definitely better (even by 0.01%) than saying nothing at all. Besides, (b) with that extra/special tinge of sincerity, it will be really heartwarming.

4. Treasure
- Only 'cats have 9 lives'. One can be lucky, one can be blessed. But it can simply take one incident/event to put you down, and I mean really DOWN. Learn to treasure. Don't take things for granted. Someone can help you one time. Another can save you in another instance. But there's no outright rule in this world stating that every trouble/problem you have can/will be solved/rectified by others.

====================================

Reflecting/sharing some of my beliefs:

1. Everyone deserves a chance. I feel I ought to give everyone a chance, irregardless of the (similar type of?) chances others may have given. However, show disregard for it and you can be sure that will be the one and only.

2. I am rarely angry (feeling or showing strong resentment). I would say I tend to feel disappointed (depressed or discouraged by the failure of one's hope or expectations) more often instead. And I am not petty, ok?. Haha. I just want time to cool down and reflect if necessary.

3. I can be a 烂好人 at times. Some may criticise me for that. Some may think I deserve what I may potentially get for helping the "undeserved". Alas, besides standing by my belief that people learn from mistakes, I tend to help/assist in the hope of them learning something from it, no matter big or small. Similar to if I tell someone of or if I express my disappointment on certain issue. I have only one simple wish. That someone understood or tried to understand what went wrong (even if its just one minor point), instead of pointing fingers or brush things off.

As I type this long post, I realised and recalled my many own failings in these areas as well. These are obviously very potential pitfalls one may/will encounter.

Therefore, I would like to stress again, I am not trying to put anyone down or portray myself as a good guy or hero. Self-proclaimed/crowned titles are of no use.

I just pray and hope for one thing - that majority, if not all parties (esp. the main lead) involved, take away something positive (eg. new lesson learnt/values revisited).

I really do. In short, just hope help/assistance/sacrifice does not go down in vain.

My impression of you has started of with a clean slate now. I hope what I've done is worth it. Take inspiration from Linkin Park's "What I've Done".
That's a sweetener good enough for me, already.

For what I’ve done
I start again
And whatever pain may come
Today this ends
I’m forgiving what I’ve done!!!

Cheers. (That's all for the rant and moral teaching. Haha. *_^)