Down
Bad bad month. I pray for everything to turn out for the better. And it doesn't help that I have work and personal plans all lined up ahead of me.
星期二, 三月 24, 2009
星期六, 三月 21, 2009
The Fallacy of The Word 'Unbiased'
Been reading much from the web at work lately, especially socio-political sites, and it triggered some thoughts which I thought of penning down.
I must say I am intrigued by the spectrum of views - some being really hilarious and entertaining, some more eye-opening and interesting, while others being too extreme and nonsensical for my liking. I did however come across a common thought on the local mainstream media - or more specifically of it being weighed as too biased and one-sided. Now that's not for me to agree or disagree, but what caught my eye was the reasons people were giving for turning to alternative channels, claiming that they are deviating from mainstream media for better 'unbiased' news. As a communications and media student, I have learnt much about journalistic ethics of reporting from a neutral standpoint and carefully selecting a more 'neutralistic' range of words and expressions. However, despite adhering to these journalistic directives, I question if total unbiasness can really be achieved? Wouldn't alternative media have their own biasness in some sense too? So which entity can ever be considered 'unbiased' and fair?
I tend to enjoy reads of those who write well, but more importantly, those who acknowledge that every issue or argument has two sides (with biasness still involved somewhere of course). Similarly, I prefer those who backs their arguments with quality thoughts for one to consider and ponder about. So it kinda puts me off when some political comments and discussions goes 'Vote the current party off'. Fullstop. My question would be 'Ok after you've done that, then what?' Expect a new (and unexperienced) other-party to come in and do a better job, and think that no one else will complain about new problems? And just to sum my point up, I shall quote Barack Obama in his recent appearance on Jay Leno's show.
" If there are members of Congress who object to specific policies and proposals in, then I ask them to be ready and willing to propose constructive, alternative solutions.
'Just say no' is the right advice to give your teenagers about drugs.
It is not an acceptable response to whatever economic policy is proposed by the other party. " - Source, TNP
I must say I am intrigued by the spectrum of views - some being really hilarious and entertaining, some more eye-opening and interesting, while others being too extreme and nonsensical for my liking. I did however come across a common thought on the local mainstream media - or more specifically of it being weighed as too biased and one-sided. Now that's not for me to agree or disagree, but what caught my eye was the reasons people were giving for turning to alternative channels, claiming that they are deviating from mainstream media for better 'unbiased' news. As a communications and media student, I have learnt much about journalistic ethics of reporting from a neutral standpoint and carefully selecting a more 'neutralistic' range of words and expressions. However, despite adhering to these journalistic directives, I question if total unbiasness can really be achieved? Wouldn't alternative media have their own biasness in some sense too? So which entity can ever be considered 'unbiased' and fair?
I tend to enjoy reads of those who write well, but more importantly, those who acknowledge that every issue or argument has two sides (with biasness still involved somewhere of course). Similarly, I prefer those who backs their arguments with quality thoughts for one to consider and ponder about. So it kinda puts me off when some political comments and discussions goes 'Vote the current party off'. Fullstop. My question would be 'Ok after you've done that, then what?' Expect a new (and unexperienced) other-party to come in and do a better job, and think that no one else will complain about new problems? And just to sum my point up, I shall quote Barack Obama in his recent appearance on Jay Leno's show.
" If there are members of Congress who object to specific policies and proposals in, then I ask them to be ready and willing to propose constructive, alternative solutions.
'Just say no' is the right advice to give your teenagers about drugs.
It is not an acceptable response to whatever economic policy is proposed by the other party. " - Source, TNP
星期六, 三月 14, 2009
Worst Week of My Life
The last week was perhaps one of the worst ever in my 24 years. I fell horribly ill during the previous weekend, struggled in bed at home, went to the doctor, struggled another day at home, went to the hospital in the wee hours for outpatient treatment, and struggled another full day at home. Throughout all these, I was running a high fever and had a very bad stomach, with runs to the toilet in between. It finally hit the 'limit' on Monday night when I was admitted to hospital with high fever and some very bad stomach infection. I finally managed to get out today.
It was my first ever admission, and I so want it to be my last. Many times, especially during the start of the week, I felt so painful and horrible that at times I just wanted to ask if there was some kind of jab which could put me to sleep until the pain subsided. Through the few days my life was only about sleeping on the hospital bed or sitting in the hospital toilet, and it felt really miserable. The biggest pain of all would be the cost of this whole saga. This unfortunate incident had cost a bomb, and I'm just feeling really down and upset that I have to burden my parents with all these. I can perhaps tell myself that no one could really predict this, and that such unforseen but necessary expenses will always have to be spent in life, but it's just painful.
The whole thing suddenly brought me to re-think about the whole issue of money, and about how I really want to quickly finish my studies so as to go out to work. Being stuck there in the hospital just gave me so much time to think about anything and everything, and how I could perhaps do so much more with my life. I get upset when I (think I) burden or let my parents down, and am somehow now more determined to work even harder to provide for them in the future.
Of course, I always see the importance of seeing the positives out of the negatives. So despite all the downs, I'm glad I got to experience much love, care and concern during this week. Also, I can count myself lucky that this didn't happen when I was in HK, nor when I am in a full semester in school. Furthermore, it's kind of a hellish period in school now, and what a disaster it would have been if this kept me out for a whole week of school. Although there are only two positives out of the many negatives, I'll just be thankful for them.
It was my first ever admission, and I so want it to be my last. Many times, especially during the start of the week, I felt so painful and horrible that at times I just wanted to ask if there was some kind of jab which could put me to sleep until the pain subsided. Through the few days my life was only about sleeping on the hospital bed or sitting in the hospital toilet, and it felt really miserable. The biggest pain of all would be the cost of this whole saga. This unfortunate incident had cost a bomb, and I'm just feeling really down and upset that I have to burden my parents with all these. I can perhaps tell myself that no one could really predict this, and that such unforseen but necessary expenses will always have to be spent in life, but it's just painful.
The whole thing suddenly brought me to re-think about the whole issue of money, and about how I really want to quickly finish my studies so as to go out to work. Being stuck there in the hospital just gave me so much time to think about anything and everything, and how I could perhaps do so much more with my life. I get upset when I (think I) burden or let my parents down, and am somehow now more determined to work even harder to provide for them in the future.
Of course, I always see the importance of seeing the positives out of the negatives. So despite all the downs, I'm glad I got to experience much love, care and concern during this week. Also, I can count myself lucky that this didn't happen when I was in HK, nor when I am in a full semester in school. Furthermore, it's kind of a hellish period in school now, and what a disaster it would have been if this kept me out for a whole week of school. Although there are only two positives out of the many negatives, I'll just be thankful for them.
星期日, 三月 01, 2009
Love the Weekends
Believe it or not, after 2 months of internship I still can't really get used to waking up early in the morning to get myself ready for work. So that is why I cherish the weekends much more now. I slept for at least 12 hours last night, as I woke up in the afternoon today. Then it rained for the whole day, and I just lazed in front of the computer and television. How nice!
Lightning actually struck the Merlion today! That's a first, and it's amazing on many counts. First of all, of all the things, lightning had to strike one of the iconic statues of our country. Secondly, the Merlion wasn't that tall to start of with, so how did that really happen? I'm gonna bet that with all the new media hype lately, this is gonna get much coverage on forums and blogs, with people relating this incident to like 'signs of Singapore being suay' or 'the heavens are telling Singaporeans something' etc. etc.
Lightning actually struck the Merlion today! That's a first, and it's amazing on many counts. First of all, of all the things, lightning had to strike one of the iconic statues of our country. Secondly, the Merlion wasn't that tall to start of with, so how did that really happen? I'm gonna bet that with all the new media hype lately, this is gonna get much coverage on forums and blogs, with people relating this incident to like 'signs of Singapore being suay' or 'the heavens are telling Singaporeans something' etc. etc.
