1... 2... 3... 4... days to home!
Yeah! My FYP is finally close to be done here in the Philippines. Spending 4 weeks here is no joke. And I feel so much better after getting into the landfill yesterday.
It's not most ppl's idea of a happy day but seriously, being in the landfill yesterday really puts me so much at ease and relieve, after trying to get in for the past 4 weeks! I don't think anyone can understand the euphoria of being in the landfill other than my groupmates... haha.. and it was actually a lot better than expected, the smell is really not that bad and it was truly an eye-opener.
Thanks to all the Filipinos' help, support and cooperation, we are able to come so far. Just one more day of shoot for our last subject and it would be a nice wrap.
I'm just sad that I din have time to do touristy stuff like visiting the attractions, esp the beautiful churches. Who says u need to go to Europe for that? I guess I'll still be back in Phil but definitely 100% for play next time! It's a country with so much depth after getting to know it. And I feel ashamed for the stereotypes Singaporeans have about Filipinos.
Tata.. till i get back to Sg!!
HAPPY 2008!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 06, 2007
greetings from Manila
Greetings from Manila!!
It's been a hell of a month... really..
Projects, exams, brother in UK, demise of my grandpa and now FYP in Philippines..
I can't believe the amt of things I'm going thru the past month alone, not to say the past year.
But I'm ok now in Philippines. Crossing fingers things will go well for my FYP and I have a grade A FYP.
Internet connection in Philippines is hard to come by unless in an internet cafe. Will try to post periodic updates when I have time.
Now to find more kidney donors and recipients.
It's been a hell of a month... really..
Projects, exams, brother in UK, demise of my grandpa and now FYP in Philippines..
I can't believe the amt of things I'm going thru the past month alone, not to say the past year.
But I'm ok now in Philippines. Crossing fingers things will go well for my FYP and I have a grade A FYP.
Internet connection in Philippines is hard to come by unless in an internet cafe. Will try to post periodic updates when I have time.
Now to find more kidney donors and recipients.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
4 jabs in a day
my arms are aching so much, it's distracting my concentration to study...
taking 4 jabs at a go is no joke.. all these in prep for the Philippines trip..
Hep A
Tetanus
Typhoid
Influenza
Woah.. feeling weak now.. as my body is fighting all these anti-bodies..
wonder if there's any side effects of having too many vaccinations...
now back to studying Media Law... headache!
taking 4 jabs at a go is no joke.. all these in prep for the Philippines trip..
Hep A
Tetanus
Typhoid
Influenza
Woah.. feeling weak now.. as my body is fighting all these anti-bodies..
wonder if there's any side effects of having too many vaccinations...
now back to studying Media Law... headache!
Sunday, November 04, 2007
long time no see
久しぶり！还就不见！long time no see!
well.. obviously many things happened during this time.. so much so that i totally forgot about the existence of my blog..
but the greatest of all is that my elder bro is leaving for UK next Tuesday for 1.5 years.. The last time someone was away was me.. on exchange but that was only for 5 months..
1.5 years... hmm.. seems long..
will i miss him?
well.. obviously many things happened during this time.. so much so that i totally forgot about the existence of my blog..
but the greatest of all is that my elder bro is leaving for UK next Tuesday for 1.5 years.. The last time someone was away was me.. on exchange but that was only for 5 months..
1.5 years... hmm.. seems long..
will i miss him?
Sunday, September 23, 2007
happy day
Flight SGD02 has been a success so far and what i'm most happy about this production so far is not what i've achieved in terms of publicity but about getting the support from friends and family.
it's nice to have so many like-minded people share the passion to do theatre, but it's even better when you see people enjoy the performance, even though i'm not on stage performing. it's a kind of satisfaction that comes from the bottom of your heart.
i think it's also been years and years since my whole family had been to any of my performance. really glad they like the show, although maybe my dad less so, but still there are still bits that each one loves and i guess it's the strength of this 17 stories - everyone would be able to find something that they like. and for once, i am able to use this as a topic of conversation in my family.. think it beats everything.
well, i think getting people to take the first step is difficult but once u've impressed them enough, it's even a greater challenge to keep them interested and want to come back. at least now my family and friends know more about why i'm always missing in action, coming home so late and seemed so stressed out for the last couple of weeks. FYP with this theatre performance is quite a killer, plus there's still school work.
but for me, this mantra kind of always worked - 船到桥头自然直。there's no point worrying too much but take one step at a time and things would usually work themselves out.
it's nice to have so many like-minded people share the passion to do theatre, but it's even better when you see people enjoy the performance, even though i'm not on stage performing. it's a kind of satisfaction that comes from the bottom of your heart.
i think it's also been years and years since my whole family had been to any of my performance. really glad they like the show, although maybe my dad less so, but still there are still bits that each one loves and i guess it's the strength of this 17 stories - everyone would be able to find something that they like. and for once, i am able to use this as a topic of conversation in my family.. think it beats everything.
well, i think getting people to take the first step is difficult but once u've impressed them enough, it's even a greater challenge to keep them interested and want to come back. at least now my family and friends know more about why i'm always missing in action, coming home so late and seemed so stressed out for the last couple of weeks. FYP with this theatre performance is quite a killer, plus there's still school work.
but for me, this mantra kind of always worked - 船到桥头自然直。there's no point worrying too much but take one step at a time and things would usually work themselves out.
Saturday, September 15, 2007
publicity time!
today is the first day in more than a week that I can wake up at my own time... woot!
too much is happening but they can be summarized as below.
Come catch 紫飞机 at Play Den at the Arts House, 21st to 23rd Sept (that's next Fri to Sun). Well, can check out today's ST Life! for the write-up too!
Next up, catch this video!
It was on our website at http://thecolouredsky.com but there's some bandwidth issue there that restricts the hits on the video so it's now on the trusty youtube! Do spread it around, put on your blog, do anything you want! (It's my groupmates wish to make it the most watched video.. haha!!)
Well and we'll be returning to the Philippines again in October. It's be another enriching trip.. we have so much on our sleeves I don't think 9 days is going to be enough but well, it's still exciting.. tho LOTS of work!
-buried to my neck with work-
too much is happening but they can be summarized as below.
Come catch 紫飞机 at Play Den at the Arts House, 21st to 23rd Sept (that's next Fri to Sun). Well, can check out today's ST Life! for the write-up too!
Next up, catch this video!
It was on our website at http://thecolouredsky.com but there's some bandwidth issue there that restricts the hits on the video so it's now on the trusty youtube! Do spread it around, put on your blog, do anything you want! (It's my groupmates wish to make it the most watched video.. haha!!)
Well and we'll be returning to the Philippines again in October. It's be another enriching trip.. we have so much on our sleeves I don't think 9 days is going to be enough but well, it's still exciting.. tho LOTS of work!
-buried to my neck with work-
Friday, August 03, 2007
next phase
started work at radio chinese news again and it kinda felt weird. not an intern anymore.
it's familiar territory with familiar faces but the job seemed a little alien to me. i think i've just been bumming around and not using my brain too much lately that it took me really long to finish my story today. i would have finish it in half the time 2 months before but today i kinda just took my time to do it. plus after waking up pretty much as and when i like for the past month, i had to force myself to wake up before seven today. oh.. work! prelude to school!
school's starting next week. going for lessons and taking exams are kinda alien to me now. wonder how it would feel like to go back to the school environment where everything is about grades, studying and handing up school work. also seeing the people i haven't seen for 8 months now. the commuting will be sth new too since i've not secured a hall for myself. it is definitely a test to me being a good student.
but i'm really excited that my friends from NCCU are at NTU for exchange. to think that i was in their shoes 1.5 years ago. but it's just a really nice feeling to have friends coming from abroad and you know you could play host to, at least it's a nice feeling for me. hope they'll have a great exchange experience!
it's familiar territory with familiar faces but the job seemed a little alien to me. i think i've just been bumming around and not using my brain too much lately that it took me really long to finish my story today. i would have finish it in half the time 2 months before but today i kinda just took my time to do it. plus after waking up pretty much as and when i like for the past month, i had to force myself to wake up before seven today. oh.. work! prelude to school!
school's starting next week. going for lessons and taking exams are kinda alien to me now. wonder how it would feel like to go back to the school environment where everything is about grades, studying and handing up school work. also seeing the people i haven't seen for 8 months now. the commuting will be sth new too since i've not secured a hall for myself. it is definitely a test to me being a good student.
but i'm really excited that my friends from NCCU are at NTU for exchange. to think that i was in their shoes 1.5 years ago. but it's just a really nice feeling to have friends coming from abroad and you know you could play host to, at least it's a nice feeling for me. hope they'll have a great exchange experience!
Monday, July 16, 2007
manning a different kind of hotline
i was manning a different kind of hotline tonight. a hotline that actually gives me a sense of satisfaction...
it is the SPD Charity Show hotline for more than $30 donation.
the hotline was really damn hot.. at least for my line, cause i think it's like one of those default ones that gets connected first before the rest
so for 3 hours i was happily taking down the amounts ppl wan to donate. $50, $100, $200, $500. and for once, everyone that called are nice ppl, cause they are ppl who want to make donations.. a very welcomed change from all the complain calls, prank calls, rubbish calls.
plus it feels good to know that thousands of dollars were pledged for a good cause just by me being there to answer the calls. for me the highest amount someone pledged was $500, about 3 of the calls. and i heard some other volunteer had a person pledging $5000. cool!
so this is the kind of hotline i want to man, even though i get ear ache after that.
it is the SPD Charity Show hotline for more than $30 donation.
the hotline was really damn hot.. at least for my line, cause i think it's like one of those default ones that gets connected first before the rest
so for 3 hours i was happily taking down the amounts ppl wan to donate. $50, $100, $200, $500. and for once, everyone that called are nice ppl, cause they are ppl who want to make donations.. a very welcomed change from all the complain calls, prank calls, rubbish calls.
plus it feels good to know that thousands of dollars were pledged for a good cause just by me being there to answer the calls. for me the highest amount someone pledged was $500, about 3 of the calls. and i heard some other volunteer had a person pledging $5000. cool!
so this is the kind of hotline i want to man, even though i get ear ache after that.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
the forbidden trade
recently went on a trip to the Philippines to check out their kidney trade.
it's my first time to the Philippines and going there as a documentary maker/researcher really showed us a different side of the society, coming face to face with the poorest strata. something tourists do not usually see.
well, we did not even have much time to do much of the touristy activities. then and again, whenever we asked the locals what is there to see in Manila, they tell us there's nothing. But i was very intrigued by the churches and cathedrals that dates back to it's Spanish Colonial rule days. Definitely places I would visit the next time I go.
So, we mainly visited the slums and some poorer provinces as these are the places with a larger cluster of kidney donors. As much as many would like to argue that they donate out of compassion for the sick, it's really the money they are after becos they are so poor, this US$2000-3000 is a sum they would nv be able to get by slugging their lives away. Of cos the actual amount that the recipient paid for the kidney transplant is way higher than the amount the donor gets, prob about 10 times the amount, and these goes to the hospital, doctors and the kidney agent.
Well, as with such situations, there are always the sob stories to be told and the fact is that of the many people we spoke to, donors themselves and people who knows donors, they expressed that none of them had their lives improved after the donation. So now they are back to square one, but without a kidney.
this is really an open secret in the Philippines and most people know of this becos of an expose journalistic news program done by Jessica Soho some time back. still, the trade is flourishing and the government even has an organisation to regulate the trade, in a bid to stop exploitation of the poor.
thinking back to the NKF saga, the amount of money they embezzled could have gotten so many patients in NKF new kidneys, not just from Philippines , but also China, India, Iran and also Turkey. well, i'm not asking everyone to go and buy a kidney now but it does seem like it's more economically viable to spend the money u'll spend the next 10 years on dialysis to buy a kidney, to get a new leash of life. (ok now i'm growing accustomed to the idea)
now for some photos..
A typical house in the slums at Baseco, Manila
Some of the better houses built by the numerous overseas NGOs giving aid there.
One of their main recreational activities...
A street in the slums...
The dump site is the kids' playground...
The awesome sunset at Baseco. It's a slums by the bay, so they get this beautiful sunset everyday.
Kids.. Lots of kids.. And they are instantly drawn to a camera when they see one.
More (and better) photos of the trip can found at our project website http://thecolouredsky.com/islawalangbato
it's my first time to the Philippines and going there as a documentary maker/researcher really showed us a different side of the society, coming face to face with the poorest strata. something tourists do not usually see.
well, we did not even have much time to do much of the touristy activities. then and again, whenever we asked the locals what is there to see in Manila, they tell us there's nothing. But i was very intrigued by the churches and cathedrals that dates back to it's Spanish Colonial rule days. Definitely places I would visit the next time I go.
So, we mainly visited the slums and some poorer provinces as these are the places with a larger cluster of kidney donors. As much as many would like to argue that they donate out of compassion for the sick, it's really the money they are after becos they are so poor, this US$2000-3000 is a sum they would nv be able to get by slugging their lives away. Of cos the actual amount that the recipient paid for the kidney transplant is way higher than the amount the donor gets, prob about 10 times the amount, and these goes to the hospital, doctors and the kidney agent.
Well, as with such situations, there are always the sob stories to be told and the fact is that of the many people we spoke to, donors themselves and people who knows donors, they expressed that none of them had their lives improved after the donation. So now they are back to square one, but without a kidney.
this is really an open secret in the Philippines and most people know of this becos of an expose journalistic news program done by Jessica Soho some time back. still, the trade is flourishing and the government even has an organisation to regulate the trade, in a bid to stop exploitation of the poor.
thinking back to the NKF saga, the amount of money they embezzled could have gotten so many patients in NKF new kidneys, not just from Philippines , but also China, India, Iran and also Turkey. well, i'm not asking everyone to go and buy a kidney now but it does seem like it's more economically viable to spend the money u'll spend the next 10 years on dialysis to buy a kidney, to get a new leash of life. (ok now i'm growing accustomed to the idea)
now for some photos..
A typical house in the slums at Baseco, Manila
Some of the better houses built by the numerous overseas NGOs giving aid there.
One of their main recreational activities...
A street in the slums...
The dump site is the kids' playground...
The awesome sunset at Baseco. It's a slums by the bay, so they get this beautiful sunset everyday.
Kids.. Lots of kids.. And they are instantly drawn to a camera when they see one.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
nature trail
yet another person got killed by a falling branch. these days are filled with freak accidents.
actually there is probably quite a bit of these previously too, just that i did not pay attention to them.
anyway i was made to do a follow-up story on the killer branch incident at MacRitchie. i was tasked to go get some soundbites alone. upon reaching the carpark meant for those wanting to go for the Tree Top Walk, the only thing i saw was a dirt path (actually it was a nature trail la) leading towards the suspension bridge which was another 2.5km walk in amidst the trees. But the tot of going into the forest alone is quite scary and of cos i was paranoid that something might happen to me inside n prob no one else will know if i went in alone.
so i waited. and luckily a couple showed up juz 10 mins later wanting to walk the Tree Top Walk not knowing it's been close following the incident. good luck for me cos that way i get to have soundbites from them and also companion to go up the trail. Thanks Mr and Mrs Loke. You were really great company and we had a hearty chat the way up and down, which took abt 2 hours (of cos we stopped outside the Tree Top Walk and turned back)
it's these little things about meeting these people that make me like my job as a journalist.and it was my first nature trail walk in years, albeit in jeans and polo tee but luckily the weather was not too hot yesterday. and i nv knew there were so many nature trails in singapore if not for speaking to Mrs Loke.
along the way there were also many others who knew of the incident but we still gung-ho about going to the Tree Top Walk. i was too after seeing in but not being able to get in. Mr and Mrs Loke whom were my trekking buddies yesterday were nature lovers who've been to many other nature trails locally and overseas and had set foot on many other suspension bridges in the midst of the forests. cool. kind of rekindled my love for nature and to et close to the trees and animals, away from all the pollution and the concrete jungle.
i'll definitely be back to walk the Tree Top Walk. anyone gamed to come along? i'll remember to be extra careful of falling branches and run when it shows signs of going to rain tho.
The Tree Top Walk
actually there is probably quite a bit of these previously too, just that i did not pay attention to them.
anyway i was made to do a follow-up story on the killer branch incident at MacRitchie. i was tasked to go get some soundbites alone. upon reaching the carpark meant for those wanting to go for the Tree Top Walk, the only thing i saw was a dirt path (actually it was a nature trail la) leading towards the suspension bridge which was another 2.5km walk in amidst the trees. But the tot of going into the forest alone is quite scary and of cos i was paranoid that something might happen to me inside n prob no one else will know if i went in alone.
so i waited. and luckily a couple showed up juz 10 mins later wanting to walk the Tree Top Walk not knowing it's been close following the incident. good luck for me cos that way i get to have soundbites from them and also companion to go up the trail. Thanks Mr and Mrs Loke. You were really great company and we had a hearty chat the way up and down, which took abt 2 hours (of cos we stopped outside the Tree Top Walk and turned back)
it's these little things about meeting these people that make me like my job as a journalist.and it was my first nature trail walk in years, albeit in jeans and polo tee but luckily the weather was not too hot yesterday. and i nv knew there were so many nature trails in singapore if not for speaking to Mrs Loke.
along the way there were also many others who knew of the incident but we still gung-ho about going to the Tree Top Walk. i was too after seeing in but not being able to get in. Mr and Mrs Loke whom were my trekking buddies yesterday were nature lovers who've been to many other nature trails locally and overseas and had set foot on many other suspension bridges in the midst of the forests. cool. kind of rekindled my love for nature and to et close to the trees and animals, away from all the pollution and the concrete jungle.
i'll definitely be back to walk the Tree Top Walk. anyone gamed to come along? i'll remember to be extra careful of falling branches and run when it shows signs of going to rain tho.
The Tree Top WalkTuesday, May 29, 2007
I WANT TO COMPLAIN!!!
i'm in an incredibly bitchy mood since yesterday since i've attended the worst organised event and met the worst EVER PR since i've started my internship.. well which resulted in me filing an inaccurate report. totally pisses me off.
first the event started early at 8plus am (early by all journalist standards) and we went there to find out they prepare no press release, no fact sheet, NOTHING for any of us. insisted it's only going to be a doorstop and will provide info later.. me being the greenhorn thinks it's ok but my colleagues form a different desk can't take it and started bitching to the PR and she finally gave us ONE piece of fact sheet.
then when we ask the PR about the information provided, she cannot answer 9.5 out of 10 questions we pose. What bloody PR is that? her answer is always, 'I can check for you', 'I'll let you know later'. Redundant person altogether.
I'm particularly irritated by the PR cos the only thing she's excited about is talking the her GSS experience and how she was the one who sent her boss the email at midnight - cos she went shopping before that - and saying that's cos she has a life. all for work-life balance. HELLO! wake up your ideas. if she only has the same amount of fervour in getting me the right facts.
and trying to get facts and figures from her is like i'm trying to make things difficult for her. it's your job ok. so dun whine to me and pass sacarstic remarks at me. and it's ur job to handle the red tape in ur (governmental) organisation to get me the facts, not tell me there's nothing. on top of that she has the cheek to tell me things contrary to what the facts show. and i was stupid enough to take her word for it, well hence a report that was not accurate and different from what the rest of the media was reporting.
well it's also partly my fault for not consulting with my editor again when i got the contradicting figures.
still she totally spoilt my day. perhaps even my week.
the sort of people that works for the governmental organisations.
first the event started early at 8plus am (early by all journalist standards) and we went there to find out they prepare no press release, no fact sheet, NOTHING for any of us. insisted it's only going to be a doorstop and will provide info later.. me being the greenhorn thinks it's ok but my colleagues form a different desk can't take it and started bitching to the PR and she finally gave us ONE piece of fact sheet.
then when we ask the PR about the information provided, she cannot answer 9.5 out of 10 questions we pose. What bloody PR is that? her answer is always, 'I can check for you', 'I'll let you know later'. Redundant person altogether.
I'm particularly irritated by the PR cos the only thing she's excited about is talking the her GSS experience and how she was the one who sent her boss the email at midnight - cos she went shopping before that - and saying that's cos she has a life. all for work-life balance. HELLO! wake up your ideas. if she only has the same amount of fervour in getting me the right facts.
and trying to get facts and figures from her is like i'm trying to make things difficult for her. it's your job ok. so dun whine to me and pass sacarstic remarks at me. and it's ur job to handle the red tape in ur (governmental) organisation to get me the facts, not tell me there's nothing. on top of that she has the cheek to tell me things contrary to what the facts show. and i was stupid enough to take her word for it, well hence a report that was not accurate and different from what the rest of the media was reporting.
well it's also partly my fault for not consulting with my editor again when i got the contradicting figures.
still she totally spoilt my day. perhaps even my week.
the sort of people that works for the governmental organisations.
Monday, May 28, 2007
I've seen quite a few ppl posting these personality tests results on their blogs recently. well, so i decided to try them out too. maybe it's just me trying to find out what i'm really like. i thought this one is quite accurate, or rather i wish i really am what they said i am.
is this what you think of me too?
The Real You
Here is the analysis:
- You've got great self-confidence and you're full of charm. Most guys who get to know you will be attracted to you. You are far from sweet and proper; your intriguing personality fascinates them. Most guys find it easy to fall for a girl like you. (ok the guy part is so not true)
- You really care about other people's feelings and are quite serious about the issues that affect your life. You are sincere, and your concern for the well-being of others makes many people want to be your friend.
- You are a bright, cheerful and bubbly person. You are thoughtful and considerate, and like to have fun. Everybody feels comfortable around you because of your pleasant nature. When you walk into a room, people's eyes are likely to be drawn to you because of your charm. (i doubt the last line tho)
- Guys see you as being a thinker and a careful person. They will be really attracted to this quality in you, but you need to learn to speak your mind, otherwise people will find you too shy and quiet. Learn to relax and lighten up--it's okay to have fun sometimes. When you learn to develop your fun-loving side, guys are going to flock to your side.
- Your boyfriend believes that you are a strong and independent person. Your confidence and cheerfulness make you an attractive person to be around, but sometimes you need to pay more attention to what other people, including your boyfriend, are thinking.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
101 things to complete
It has been the busiest week for me on internship so far. PI report, court case, feature production, file live report... yesterday still got that whole water spout thing.
But mainly because of Singapore Arts Festival.
But I feel accomplished! Did my first feature by myself and also filed 2 pseudo live report from Padang yesterday, before and after the opening performance.
The opening performance was pretty good, just that I was too worried about my report when watching the show to enjoy it thoroughly.
Some sneak peeks to the show, 'Dreams in Flight':-
The first scene: Shadow play. Nothing very exciting to me, but still it was nicely done.
10 Spanish acrobats in a turning wheel. The wow factor comes from it being hung above the audience and that the wheel is roving all the time. I would love to be in that wheel actually.. like so fun.
The human net formed by 36 volunteers. Almost ended up as one of the volunteers but I was given too short a notice. I would love to hang from 40m high man.. so cool.. and perform for like almost 20,000 people in all. The view up there must be damn good! Now i a bit regret nv go and volunteer cos I tot it was too much commitment to perform for 3 nights and go for 2 days' training. Argh! Once in a lifetime leh.
Well Singaporeans' fav, fireworks brought an end to the performance. It was pretty nice but not THAT spectacular. But i was quite horrified when i got a reply from a public that he will be back today to watch the performance for the fireworks. *roll eyes* I think Singapore just need a Fireworks Festival and we will draw record number of audience.
Well, the show will still be on tonight and tomorrow night, 8pm, at Padang. And it's free so do catch it!
But mainly because of Singapore Arts Festival.
But I feel accomplished! Did my first feature by myself and also filed 2 pseudo live report from Padang yesterday, before and after the opening performance.
The opening performance was pretty good, just that I was too worried about my report when watching the show to enjoy it thoroughly.
Some sneak peeks to the show, 'Dreams in Flight':-
The first scene: Shadow play. Nothing very exciting to me, but still it was nicely done.
10 Spanish acrobats in a turning wheel. The wow factor comes from it being hung above the audience and that the wheel is roving all the time. I would love to be in that wheel actually.. like so fun.
The human net formed by 36 volunteers. Almost ended up as one of the volunteers but I was given too short a notice. I would love to hang from 40m high man.. so cool.. and perform for like almost 20,000 people in all. The view up there must be damn good! Now i a bit regret nv go and volunteer cos I tot it was too much commitment to perform for 3 nights and go for 2 days' training. Argh! Once in a lifetime leh.
Well Singaporeans' fav, fireworks brought an end to the performance. It was pretty nice but not THAT spectacular. But i was quite horrified when i got a reply from a public that he will be back today to watch the performance for the fireworks. *roll eyes* I think Singapore just need a Fireworks Festival and we will draw record number of audience.Well, the show will still be on tonight and tomorrow night, 8pm, at Padang. And it's free so do catch it!
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
on death
i seem to be facing a lot of deaths recently.. in the news at least..
everyday there will bound to be some deaths in road accidents and what not.. latest being that fallen trees killed people.
well i guess we can still sometimes joke about it, like no deaths means not serious, means we don't need to do follow-up and dun need to report.
but when death occurs, means we have a story. it's really saddening but that's what news is about. and so far i have not been given the task to speak to the relatives/friends of the deceased but i do believe it's hard. more than hard, it's probably excruciating. knowing the kind of grief they are going through and yet we need to get them to talk, to tell us the story, to provide us with the sound bite. i don't know if it has anything to do with being unethical but at least it's not really compassionate. or rather i won't say we are not compassionate but we just need to get the job done. so the hope is that there will be less of such cases.
back to the fallen tree. all i can say is life is unpredictable. imagine you are trying to keep a healthy lifestyle so you can live longer, hence you go out and have morning jog everyday BUT you get hit by a fallen tree and just lose your life. how ironic.
i guess this is life.
everyday there will bound to be some deaths in road accidents and what not.. latest being that fallen trees killed people.
well i guess we can still sometimes joke about it, like no deaths means not serious, means we don't need to do follow-up and dun need to report.
but when death occurs, means we have a story. it's really saddening but that's what news is about. and so far i have not been given the task to speak to the relatives/friends of the deceased but i do believe it's hard. more than hard, it's probably excruciating. knowing the kind of grief they are going through and yet we need to get them to talk, to tell us the story, to provide us with the sound bite. i don't know if it has anything to do with being unethical but at least it's not really compassionate. or rather i won't say we are not compassionate but we just need to get the job done. so the hope is that there will be less of such cases.
back to the fallen tree. all i can say is life is unpredictable. imagine you are trying to keep a healthy lifestyle so you can live longer, hence you go out and have morning jog everyday BUT you get hit by a fallen tree and just lose your life. how ironic.
i guess this is life.
Monday, May 14, 2007
busy like a bee
bzzzz... busy busy busy... pretty up sums up my life now
constantly worrying about one thing after another. my feature program, fyp, pi report, upcoming production... there is indeed much to keep me occupied these days.. perhaps a bit too much.
it's come to the stage to write my pi report... a time to reflect on the past 4.5 months on the job and all i must say i've pretty much enjoyed every moment. maybe not the moments that i got scolded over the hotline for no rhyme or reason but every other moment had been pretty enjoyable. there was no sai gang for me (unless manning hotline counts), minimal overtime, no overworking, no being side-lined. got to try my hands on news from entertainment to government workplans and doing hotline reporting, pretty much everything there is. So i'm not really counting down to the end of the internship like many are and i know i will definitely miss the people there. i'm counting my lucky stars here.
anyway, just want to share some really moving moments that i experienced on saturday while i was out covering a yellow ribbon project event at changi prison. and what a coincidence, cheryl tan was there too. act we were the only 2 press there. so glad to see her cos otherwise i would really be quite out of place.
the prison had been a place i've wanted to visit and well without this internship i would probably not have the chance to. although we did not really get to see the living quarters of the inmates like i hoped to. still the event was a really touching one being that it was in conjunction of mother's day and the families of some of the inmates who took part in this cooking competition were allowed to haf lunch with them. and for most of them, it's the first time they get to see the inmates close up, without a piece of glass between them and they could feel and hug them. for many, it was just too emotional a moment when these inmates presented them with the mother's day cake and rose (of cos having a live band singing 'you raise me up' and the lights dimmed definitely put one in the mood)that they juz teared on the spot. and not juz mothers, many of the fathers broke out in tears too. it was such a heartwarming moment, yet heartbreaking at the same time. i think cheryl was in the brink of tears. and interviewing the families, i can somewhat feel the emotional trauma they go through having their children and family members in prison.
felt so much for the report that i did in the end. poor cheryl had her story axed as they could not show the faces and reveal the real names of the inmates. so we were the only one carrying the report! it was a very meaningful event just that i think there's a bit of media fatigue on the yellow ribbon project, hence the lack of coverage.
constantly worrying about one thing after another. my feature program, fyp, pi report, upcoming production... there is indeed much to keep me occupied these days.. perhaps a bit too much.
it's come to the stage to write my pi report... a time to reflect on the past 4.5 months on the job and all i must say i've pretty much enjoyed every moment. maybe not the moments that i got scolded over the hotline for no rhyme or reason but every other moment had been pretty enjoyable. there was no sai gang for me (unless manning hotline counts), minimal overtime, no overworking, no being side-lined. got to try my hands on news from entertainment to government workplans and doing hotline reporting, pretty much everything there is. So i'm not really counting down to the end of the internship like many are and i know i will definitely miss the people there. i'm counting my lucky stars here.
anyway, just want to share some really moving moments that i experienced on saturday while i was out covering a yellow ribbon project event at changi prison. and what a coincidence, cheryl tan was there too. act we were the only 2 press there. so glad to see her cos otherwise i would really be quite out of place.
the prison had been a place i've wanted to visit and well without this internship i would probably not have the chance to. although we did not really get to see the living quarters of the inmates like i hoped to. still the event was a really touching one being that it was in conjunction of mother's day and the families of some of the inmates who took part in this cooking competition were allowed to haf lunch with them. and for most of them, it's the first time they get to see the inmates close up, without a piece of glass between them and they could feel and hug them. for many, it was just too emotional a moment when these inmates presented them with the mother's day cake and rose (of cos having a live band singing 'you raise me up' and the lights dimmed definitely put one in the mood)that they juz teared on the spot. and not juz mothers, many of the fathers broke out in tears too. it was such a heartwarming moment, yet heartbreaking at the same time. i think cheryl was in the brink of tears. and interviewing the families, i can somewhat feel the emotional trauma they go through having their children and family members in prison.
felt so much for the report that i did in the end. poor cheryl had her story axed as they could not show the faces and reveal the real names of the inmates. so we were the only one carrying the report! it was a very meaningful event just that i think there's a bit of media fatigue on the yellow ribbon project, hence the lack of coverage.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Capitalist "America", Socialist Korea
Capitalist "America", Socialist Korea?
Some 'interesting' video juxtaposing footages from American and North Korea. Well, food for thought.
I can never understand North Koreans, how they bow to 'the one' person there and think that he's the greatest of all. I once told someone that if I had a real death note, Kim Jong Il would be one name I want to put in it. But then, we cannot say the North Koreans are not happy. We'll nv know. Happiness is an elusive thing. We might say that they are happy with what they have because they do not know better, but at least they are happy. So what if we know better, it just makes us unhappy that we are not part of the 'better'.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
thoughts on recent events
since today is my off day.. decide to post more.. haven't been motivated to post much..
recently, the newsroom received a feedback email from a public and we were discussing how accurate this feedback is and how we could improve based on the feedback.
then i heard my colleagues talking about the times where there was Mediaworks and how the competition changed the news values. The focus shifted to more local news, and when the didn't have enough or realised they miss out on sth, they were told to just copy from the papers by the management. On the TV side, they go all out to shoot accidents on the roads but in the end cause traffic jams and inconveniences, leading the police to ban such acts.
This somehow sounds like Taiwan media to me. Local, sensationalized news. Now that it's back to just Mediacorp, we are reevaluating what our stand is. Can go back to doing what we think is right and not be bogged down by what competitors do and trying to outdo them.
So i'm not an advocate of media competition. Not cut throat competition at least. But it seems like any form of competition eventually becomes cut throat, at least when it comes to news. But there is a need for drive for the media to shape up and improve. And i think the drive can come from the public's feedback and complains. And i realised that most do take feedback and complains pretty seriously.
So don't keep quiet and let the people know what needs improving! Just complaining under your breath is not going to change anything.
recently, the newsroom received a feedback email from a public and we were discussing how accurate this feedback is and how we could improve based on the feedback.
then i heard my colleagues talking about the times where there was Mediaworks and how the competition changed the news values. The focus shifted to more local news, and when the didn't have enough or realised they miss out on sth, they were told to just copy from the papers by the management. On the TV side, they go all out to shoot accidents on the roads but in the end cause traffic jams and inconveniences, leading the police to ban such acts.
This somehow sounds like Taiwan media to me. Local, sensationalized news. Now that it's back to just Mediacorp, we are reevaluating what our stand is. Can go back to doing what we think is right and not be bogged down by what competitors do and trying to outdo them.
So i'm not an advocate of media competition. Not cut throat competition at least. But it seems like any form of competition eventually becomes cut throat, at least when it comes to news. But there is a need for drive for the media to shape up and improve. And i think the drive can come from the public's feedback and complains. And i realised that most do take feedback and complains pretty seriously.
So don't keep quiet and let the people know what needs improving! Just complaining under your breath is not going to change anything.
admin professional's day
Happy Administrative Professionals' Day!
nv heard of this day? that's cos it's used to be called Secretaries' Day. And how come i know? That's cos I had to do a feature on this out of desperation cos we got no topic to do on..
Guess what? I was only told on Monday i had to do it.. so from contacting the people to arranging for interviews, to getting the programme out to be aired today, it took me less than 2 days.. Super stress.. and this is my first feature programme at 958 la..
To think that we all took like more than 2 months to do a 青青校园 program back in school. But of course this one did not have music or any kind of sound design and all.. and i dun even need to voice it myself.. but still.. it's for broadcast on 958 leh..
Welcome to the real world. Racing against time.
nv heard of this day? that's cos it's used to be called Secretaries' Day. And how come i know? That's cos I had to do a feature on this out of desperation cos we got no topic to do on..
Guess what? I was only told on Monday i had to do it.. so from contacting the people to arranging for interviews, to getting the programme out to be aired today, it took me less than 2 days.. Super stress.. and this is my first feature programme at 958 la..
To think that we all took like more than 2 months to do a 青青校园 program back in school. But of course this one did not have music or any kind of sound design and all.. and i dun even need to voice it myself.. but still.. it's for broadcast on 958 leh..
Welcome to the real world. Racing against time.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
愚昧
was totally irritated by this hotline caller early in the morning yesterday
he's a 'serial caller' of sorts, whose name have been blacklisted in our 'list'
but what irritated me was his constant complain about CNA programs, and also the way he goes about doing it..
he called, i picked up
he goes on to complain, as if scolding me what he sees, as if we should just show what he wants to see.. and then he slams the phone.. like what the @#%^
but most of all, i'm irritated because he insisted the Virginia Tech killings is all but a domestic affair and CNA should not be giving so much coverage on it.
HELLO! please wake up! it's the greatest campus gunshot incident in history, it killed 33 people of various nationalities, there COULD be some Singaporeans there, the killer was suspected Asian (now confirm South Korean) and it questions US gun laws..
everyone around the world is interested to know.. if you are not interested then go away from the tele and stop complaining.. if you are disinterested in this, i dunno what you can be interested in.. other than dishing out complains..
wake up your ideas man!
he's a 'serial caller' of sorts, whose name have been blacklisted in our 'list'
but what irritated me was his constant complain about CNA programs, and also the way he goes about doing it..
he called, i picked up
he goes on to complain, as if scolding me what he sees, as if we should just show what he wants to see.. and then he slams the phone.. like what the @#%^
but most of all, i'm irritated because he insisted the Virginia Tech killings is all but a domestic affair and CNA should not be giving so much coverage on it.
HELLO! please wake up! it's the greatest campus gunshot incident in history, it killed 33 people of various nationalities, there COULD be some Singaporeans there, the killer was suspected Asian (now confirm South Korean) and it questions US gun laws..
everyone around the world is interested to know.. if you are not interested then go away from the tele and stop complaining.. if you are disinterested in this, i dunno what you can be interested in.. other than dishing out complains..
wake up your ideas man!
Sunday, April 15, 2007
20 and 2
20 and 2.. i'm 22..
no longer 20 and 1... i'm 22
birthday is essentially just like any other day in the year.. it's not like i grow another white hair on this day or grow an age ring around me like trees do (ha thankfully)..
still.. it has a special place in your heart, knowing it's your birthday.. that N years ago on this day you came to this world..
last year i was in Taiwan, away from home, away from my family..
this year i'm with my family around me.. it feels like it's been a long time..
my damn delicious bday cake from Hilton Hotel.. dun ask me why there are 3 orange 'balls' on the cake.. i also want to know why..
-20 and 2-
no longer 20 and 1... i'm 22
birthday is essentially just like any other day in the year.. it's not like i grow another white hair on this day or grow an age ring around me like trees do (ha thankfully)..
still.. it has a special place in your heart, knowing it's your birthday.. that N years ago on this day you came to this world..
last year i was in Taiwan, away from home, away from my family..
this year i'm with my family around me.. it feels like it's been a long time..
my damn delicious bday cake from Hilton Hotel.. dun ask me why there are 3 orange 'balls' on the cake.. i also want to know why..-20 and 2-
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
procrastinator
my internship logbook was due at the end of march
but i'm still not even half done writing it
i'm doing everything else except writing my logbook.. like writing this entry :P
i've been reminding myself thru my msn nick for the past week.. but it's still not done..
-the procrastinator-
but i'm still not even half done writing it
i'm doing everything else except writing my logbook.. like writing this entry :P
i've been reminding myself thru my msn nick for the past week.. but it's still not done..
-the procrastinator-
Friday, March 30, 2007
bad taxi experience!!!
had the worse taxi experience ever today!!
was rushing for an event at vivo so was keening awaiting a taxi and i was really relieved when this one showed up.. but it turned up to be a really horrible experience.. and it made me realised how vulnerable we passengers are and they can actually like bring us anywhere and there's nothing we can do about it.. luckily i still made it to the event on time..
anyway it's this super hamsap taxi driver in his late 40s that totally freaked me out.. first he told me the back door of his cab is spoilt so i had to sit in front.. ok.. so i sat in front tho i though it's weird.. and the next moment he said it's his first day hiring this cab and i should give him an ang bao for good luck.. like 'huh?!'... that's not so bad..
he then started singing praises at me.. and then about himself.. says he's a really good singer and wants to teach me singing, say i should go into TV and he can be the king of property and i can be the queen of tv land (like 'huh?!' again!) and then the worse part came, he demanded we be friends.. i was totally lost for words..
and i realised he was not keeping his eyes on the road but on me.. i nv knew i had such powers seriously.. that was when i think he planted the stupid story saying the back door is spoilt to make me sit in front.. omg.. and he was driving damn slowly possibly purposely taking a longer route to vivo then is needed.. and he kept saying we should exchange no.s.. that point i was contemplating rejecting him or juz simply giving him a fake no.
finally.. and i say finally, i reached vivocity and was all ready to jump off the cab.. and he still demanded he wanted my number.. i figure it's easier to juz give him a fake identity and number so i did just that.. got my change in lightning speed and sped off..
one HELL of a scary taxi ride..
_____________________________
luckily what's to follow is much more pleasant.. cos i get to meet with JJ Lin up close.. he's not exactly the most good looking guy around but hey he's talented and he's not bad looking la.. plus he's pretty nice and sincere.. i believe 1 most impt trait an artist must have is sincerity! can't stand those who don't even want to look you in the eye or just give half hearted answers like they dun even bother to process it in their brians..
tho i had to wait more than an hour with the whole lot of other reporters from all sorts of media for my turn which happens to be last on the list but that's cos i wanted to do the interview together with limin who was there for chinese tv news.. she was so poor thing having to handle the dv camera and digital camera by herself and with a malfunctioning tripod.. figured she couldn't be interviewing and shooting at the same time.. so i did the interviewing and she did he shooting in the end..
and so the highlight of the event.. photo with JJ.. (lighting sucks tho!plus my camera is not the best around)
was rushing for an event at vivo so was keening awaiting a taxi and i was really relieved when this one showed up.. but it turned up to be a really horrible experience.. and it made me realised how vulnerable we passengers are and they can actually like bring us anywhere and there's nothing we can do about it.. luckily i still made it to the event on time..
anyway it's this super hamsap taxi driver in his late 40s that totally freaked me out.. first he told me the back door of his cab is spoilt so i had to sit in front.. ok.. so i sat in front tho i though it's weird.. and the next moment he said it's his first day hiring this cab and i should give him an ang bao for good luck.. like 'huh?!'... that's not so bad..
he then started singing praises at me.. and then about himself.. says he's a really good singer and wants to teach me singing, say i should go into TV and he can be the king of property and i can be the queen of tv land (like 'huh?!' again!) and then the worse part came, he demanded we be friends.. i was totally lost for words..
and i realised he was not keeping his eyes on the road but on me.. i nv knew i had such powers seriously.. that was when i think he planted the stupid story saying the back door is spoilt to make me sit in front.. omg.. and he was driving damn slowly possibly purposely taking a longer route to vivo then is needed.. and he kept saying we should exchange no.s.. that point i was contemplating rejecting him or juz simply giving him a fake no.
finally.. and i say finally, i reached vivocity and was all ready to jump off the cab.. and he still demanded he wanted my number.. i figure it's easier to juz give him a fake identity and number so i did just that.. got my change in lightning speed and sped off..
one HELL of a scary taxi ride..
_____________________________
luckily what's to follow is much more pleasant.. cos i get to meet with JJ Lin up close.. he's not exactly the most good looking guy around but hey he's talented and he's not bad looking la.. plus he's pretty nice and sincere.. i believe 1 most impt trait an artist must have is sincerity! can't stand those who don't even want to look you in the eye or just give half hearted answers like they dun even bother to process it in their brians..
tho i had to wait more than an hour with the whole lot of other reporters from all sorts of media for my turn which happens to be last on the list but that's cos i wanted to do the interview together with limin who was there for chinese tv news.. she was so poor thing having to handle the dv camera and digital camera by herself and with a malfunctioning tripod.. figured she couldn't be interviewing and shooting at the same time.. so i did the interviewing and she did he shooting in the end..
and so the highlight of the event.. photo with JJ.. (lighting sucks tho!plus my camera is not the best around)
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
my previous entry got copied and pasted on digital life this week..
not happy... not happy at all..
wanting to share it online and wanting to share it in print is 2 different things altogether.. giving ppl (unwritten) permission to read it online does not mean that i'm giving others full use of the content anywhere else..
still i guess that's the internet.. perhaps i should seriously switch to using a blog with lock entry features or friends only features...
not happy... not happy at all..
wanting to share it online and wanting to share it in print is 2 different things altogether.. giving ppl (unwritten) permission to read it online does not mean that i'm giving others full use of the content anywhere else..
still i guess that's the internet.. perhaps i should seriously switch to using a blog with lock entry features or friends only features...
Thursday, March 22, 2007
1st time live on 958
had my first taste of being live on local radio.. and during drive time somemore manz.. so for those who heard a lin hui btw 815 to 845 on Capital 958 sharing her sad stories while she was in TAF club.. yah that was me..
actually i was 'sabo-ed' by my colleagues cos i happen to be made to do a reax report on MOE scraping TAF programme from next year. then i told them i used to be in TAF too.. and becos of that, plus also i think the DJs were desperately looking for topics and subjects to go on air to discuss some current topic, i got a call yesterday night to get me to go on air this morn..
and yes i used to be real fat.. like REAL fat.. my weight in p4 is more than my current weight.. (that's all i can reveal :P)
and yes all members in TAF in my pri sch were made to wear bright orange t-shirts to school everyday to differentiate us from the rest.. so they can make sure we run before eating during recess and to make sure the canteen dun sell us unhealthy food like soft drinks and fried food..
sounds like a sad and depressing experience? actually it wasn't that bad la.. i think at least it inculcated in me that exercise is important for healthy living.. but whether or not i do it now is another thing.. haha.. and i guess i was juz the sway batch that kena the orange shirt thingy.. cos the program juz started and they were trying things out.. i think that onli lasted a year or 2.. still i can still remember it like 12 years on..
it kinda amazes me on how much i can rem from so long ago.. either my memory is good, or it really did have a great impact on me..
and i do still feel fat.. not directly a result of the program (they keep trying to draw a link) but cos which gal dun wanna be skinnier? and of cos i have my siblings to remind me that i'm fat all the time too.. hah
actually i was 'sabo-ed' by my colleagues cos i happen to be made to do a reax report on MOE scraping TAF programme from next year. then i told them i used to be in TAF too.. and becos of that, plus also i think the DJs were desperately looking for topics and subjects to go on air to discuss some current topic, i got a call yesterday night to get me to go on air this morn..
and yes i used to be real fat.. like REAL fat.. my weight in p4 is more than my current weight.. (that's all i can reveal :P)
and yes all members in TAF in my pri sch were made to wear bright orange t-shirts to school everyday to differentiate us from the rest.. so they can make sure we run before eating during recess and to make sure the canteen dun sell us unhealthy food like soft drinks and fried food..
sounds like a sad and depressing experience? actually it wasn't that bad la.. i think at least it inculcated in me that exercise is important for healthy living.. but whether or not i do it now is another thing.. haha.. and i guess i was juz the sway batch that kena the orange shirt thingy.. cos the program juz started and they were trying things out.. i think that onli lasted a year or 2.. still i can still remember it like 12 years on..
it kinda amazes me on how much i can rem from so long ago.. either my memory is good, or it really did have a great impact on me..
and i do still feel fat.. not directly a result of the program (they keep trying to draw a link) but cos which gal dun wanna be skinnier? and of cos i have my siblings to remind me that i'm fat all the time too.. hah
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
amazing race asia 2 is open for applications!!! and i haf made a peg with my dear ex roomie to take part!
eh.. but i dunno how to drive... and cycle... and we need a audition video that will compel the producers to give us an interview! sounds like a daunting task at the moment..
brain is dead with all the work.. anyone can offer anything cool for the audition video for me n my dearie ex roomie?
*deadline is 30 March*
eh.. but i dunno how to drive... and cycle... and we need a audition video that will compel the producers to give us an interview! sounds like a daunting task at the moment..
brain is dead with all the work.. anyone can offer anything cool for the audition video for me n my dearie ex roomie?
*deadline is 30 March*
Monday, March 05, 2007
la cremeria chocolate hazelnut temptation!
chocolate and nut ice-cream lovers out there, you HAVE to try this ice cream
it's the La Cremeria Chocolate Hazelnut Ice-cream!!!
OMG i just ate it after dinner and boy i think it's even better then those ice creams you get from Haagen Daz or Anderson's. It's not chocolate bits that goes with the chocolate ice cream but it's gooey sticky semi-liquid rich dark choc! and plus the slight hazelnut taste and the real nuts that gives you something to chew on.. it's like the greatest ice cream i've had in a long time... the best part being that i din even haf to pay for it and it's sitting nicely in my fridge now!! i do think it's pretty affordable and can be found in all major supermarkets... go try it ok.. (i'm not getting paid for advertising this alright)
anyways it's been a long time since my last post.. let's just say a lot have happened since and mostly because i've been sick the past week but still forced myself to go to work.. so it's really just work and sleep, work and sleep for many many days.. then well something happened that is still leaving me in shock and some getting used to.. and it's just been busy busy lah..
still wanna congratulate my brother for getting 4 As in his A levels.. wah 1st one to get 4 As in the family ok.. now i'm no longer the one with the best results.. boo hoo.. but i'm really happy for him. then and again, 4As dun guarantee that you can get whatever scholarship or enter any university or course of your choice. So, why are we even studying so hard for anymore?
it's the La Cremeria Chocolate Hazelnut Ice-cream!!!
OMG i just ate it after dinner and boy i think it's even better then those ice creams you get from Haagen Daz or Anderson's. It's not chocolate bits that goes with the chocolate ice cream but it's gooey sticky semi-liquid rich dark choc! and plus the slight hazelnut taste and the real nuts that gives you something to chew on.. it's like the greatest ice cream i've had in a long time... the best part being that i din even haf to pay for it and it's sitting nicely in my fridge now!! i do think it's pretty affordable and can be found in all major supermarkets... go try it ok.. (i'm not getting paid for advertising this alright)
anyways it's been a long time since my last post.. let's just say a lot have happened since and mostly because i've been sick the past week but still forced myself to go to work.. so it's really just work and sleep, work and sleep for many many days.. then well something happened that is still leaving me in shock and some getting used to.. and it's just been busy busy lah..
still wanna congratulate my brother for getting 4 As in his A levels.. wah 1st one to get 4 As in the family ok.. now i'm no longer the one with the best results.. boo hoo.. but i'm really happy for him. then and again, 4As dun guarantee that you can get whatever scholarship or enter any university or course of your choice. So, why are we even studying so hard for anymore?
Thursday, February 22, 2007
searching for my pri sch classmates
i have this sudden urge to get into contact with them.. act it dates back a bit when my friend told me abt a gathering of her pri sch classmates on the 10th anniversary since they've graduated.. i tot it's really cool.. well this year this the 10th year that my batch graduated from primary school.. think it's really something.. plus the fact that i've lost touch with pretty much most of them since i was the only one from my pri sch to go to dhs..
and i would say it was also fuelled by a talk that i had yesterday with a malaysian friend studying in taiwan and was in singapore on transit on her way back to taiwan.. well it's complicated.. she was asking me about whether i meet up with my friends often and stuff, said she and her pri sch friends are still quite close n all.. you know that kind of thing.. that just made me realise how 'disconnected' i am with my friends..
but the point is that i actually already got 2 responses from them just by tracking them down on friendster and sending am email on friendster to them.. within say 4 hrs of sending out the emails.. much better response than i expected really.. and everyone would still be in contact with at least 1 or 2 other friends.. so that's cool.. friendster is indeed a good 'invention'.. haha.. i really did not expect ppl to be checking it (cos i dun..)
so looks like my 10th anniversary gathering is still going to happen!
and i would say it was also fuelled by a talk that i had yesterday with a malaysian friend studying in taiwan and was in singapore on transit on her way back to taiwan.. well it's complicated.. she was asking me about whether i meet up with my friends often and stuff, said she and her pri sch friends are still quite close n all.. you know that kind of thing.. that just made me realise how 'disconnected' i am with my friends..
but the point is that i actually already got 2 responses from them just by tracking them down on friendster and sending am email on friendster to them.. within say 4 hrs of sending out the emails.. much better response than i expected really.. and everyone would still be in contact with at least 1 or 2 other friends.. so that's cool.. friendster is indeed a good 'invention'.. haha.. i really did not expect ppl to be checking it (cos i dun..)
so looks like my 10th anniversary gathering is still going to happen!
Saturday, February 17, 2007
有幸福的感觉
今天同时收到2件从台湾寄来的包裹。赶在农历新年前收到真是开心。
感谢婉瑜和湘怡特地分别从桃园和新店寄出包裹，而且好巧啊，你们俩是同一天寄出的呢。
（虽然你们俩不认识彼此，但还是觉得太巧了！）
感谢婉瑜特地从高雄买了鱿鱼丝。收到鱿鱼丝真是有点惊讶。应该很少人会寄这类吃的吧！不管怎样多谢拉！还蛮好吃的呢。
感谢湘怡的口香糖和《17岁的天空》DVD.. 哇，这两样在新加坡都是禁品也，想不到可以顺利收到，谢谢你煞费苦心啦。看了DVD后再告诉大家如何。想看的新加坡朋友也可以向我借:P
先祝大家
感谢婉瑜和湘怡特地分别从桃园和新店寄出包裹，而且好巧啊，你们俩是同一天寄出的呢。
（虽然你们俩不认识彼此，但还是觉得太巧了！）
感谢婉瑜特地从高雄买了鱿鱼丝。收到鱿鱼丝真是有点惊讶。应该很少人会寄这类吃的吧！不管怎样多谢拉！还蛮好吃的呢。
感谢湘怡的口香糖和《17岁的天空》DVD.. 哇，这两样在新加坡都是禁品也，想不到可以顺利收到，谢谢你煞费苦心啦。看了DVD后再告诉大家如何。想看的新加坡朋友也可以向我借:P
先祝大家
猪年诸事顺利，心想事成！！！
Thursday, February 15, 2007
all hell broke loose on budget day
it's total chaos in the news room today.. and it's the first time that Budget Day is actually a big deal for me.. well not that i was in the heat of action cos i wasn't one of them that had to listen closely to the speech, or busy writing news scripts, or doing post-budget interviews.. just that i was around the heat and cos so many people were involved today, poor interns like us got displaced and had no desk to sit so was just wondering around the newsroom trying to look relevant..
and Mediacorp actually is quite good on welfare.. specially catered buffet dinner for the newsroom in view of how crazy it could get doing the budget.. whooo... so i hung around to get a share of the buffet even though technically i had nothing to do with all the budget flurry..
so how was everyone's Valentine's Day yesterday?
I would say this year V-day feels the most un-valentine's of all the valentine's day i've had.. i mean i've never really celebrated a v-day with any valentine but at least in school there's usu the friendship day thingy and people will be busy exchanging gifts.. and those angel and mortal games where you are more or less obliged to get each other something.. there is usu the hype there you see.. but this year there's really not that mood at all..
cos it's really just another day of work and i had so much work to complete cos of the impending CNY, was really numb by the end of the day and i still had to go to Chinatown to do a report on the CNY bazaar..
yes.. so i spent my valentine's day (or rather night) at Chinatown.. like i said, my beat is unofficially Chinatown!
and Mediacorp actually is quite good on welfare.. specially catered buffet dinner for the newsroom in view of how crazy it could get doing the budget.. whooo... so i hung around to get a share of the buffet even though technically i had nothing to do with all the budget flurry..
so how was everyone's Valentine's Day yesterday?
I would say this year V-day feels the most un-valentine's of all the valentine's day i've had.. i mean i've never really celebrated a v-day with any valentine but at least in school there's usu the friendship day thingy and people will be busy exchanging gifts.. and those angel and mortal games where you are more or less obliged to get each other something.. there is usu the hype there you see.. but this year there's really not that mood at all..
cos it's really just another day of work and i had so much work to complete cos of the impending CNY, was really numb by the end of the day and i still had to go to Chinatown to do a report on the CNY bazaar..
yes.. so i spent my valentine's day (or rather night) at Chinatown.. like i said, my beat is unofficially Chinatown!
Friday, February 09, 2007
new skin, new begining?
i started this blog to update ppl and to chronicle the happenings during my exhange in Taiwan. It's been 1 year and 1 day since i first stepped into Taiwanese shores for my exchange. (meant to write this yesterday la.. so it's 1 day late :P) so in a sense, the new look is to commemorate the 1st anniversary of me going to Taiwan for exchange..
All i can say is that it was truly an eye-opener and i definitely did not regret going there.. and having been there and done that, i really wanna go out again, go out more.. nothing beats going out there and experiencing a different lifestyle. so anyone comtemplating exchange or whatever chance to go overseas, don't have to think so much, just go! but it's also important to go with an open mind...
this was me, a year and a day ago..
my first meal in Taiwan.. it's some beef house and the food there is delicious.. i rememeber it's just opposite 华视... do i look different?
All i can say is that it was truly an eye-opener and i definitely did not regret going there.. and having been there and done that, i really wanna go out again, go out more.. nothing beats going out there and experiencing a different lifestyle. so anyone comtemplating exchange or whatever chance to go overseas, don't have to think so much, just go! but it's also important to go with an open mind...
this was me, a year and a day ago..
my first meal in Taiwan.. it's some beef house and the food there is delicious.. i rememeber it's just opposite 华视... do i look different?
new skin!!!
like the new skin? heh adapted from something i found on blogskin.. since i do not have the know-how or the time to make one of my own, i shall juz try to personalize it.. comments anyone?
Thursday, February 08, 2007
this blog shall have a new look soon..
i'm sick of this skin.. cos it's not been appearing right for a long time.. i've given it enough chance.. shall change it soon... :(
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
diya will always be our superstar!
ok this is a little overdue... still i tot Diya did a really great job on Sunday! it was really like watching a concert and i totally enjoyed myself (haha screaming and all..) sitting on the 3rd row... well and also getting recognised by friends and colleagues in the VT.. so now i'm known a as a Diya fan.. haha..
it was kinda sad that she did not win.. but then i dun think it's such a bad thing cos i do think that she'll still be offered contracts and she will make it big one day!! and she get really get a much deserved rest..
but now i'm looking forward to seeing her around 958 next week.. haha..
and speaking of 958.. oh well, my topics are mostly about work these days la ah.. what to do.. work 5 days a week so everything i see, i hear, i do is about work.. but the point is that i was praised today thru a mass email about a report i filed last week! haha doesn't sound very impressive ah.. but first time get praised mah.. it's the holland v rat story.. i shall go n copy n paste the contents of the email here man.. ok buay hiao bai.. still i'm happy..
email excerpt..
"另外一个是林卉追踪有关荷兰村老鼠为患的热线新闻。这则新闻的报道全面，投诉受鼠患困扰的受访者的 soundbite相当精彩，记者也访问了附近的居民和有关当局，让人留下深刻的印象。"
i think i'm crazy.. cos i'm happy when they give me many many things to do.. so much so that i might haf to work OT.. cos it means that they trust me, that they think i can do a good job.. i hate sitting in the office trying to act busy.. :P
i remember during a 301 class that we were told to rank what we look out for in a job or sth liddat.. there were things like money, power, recognition, being appreciated blah blah... i dun remember what i chose but now i know what's my no.1 criteria in a job.. to be appreciated for what i do..
ok time to sleep.. hotline morning shift again tml *yawnz*
it was kinda sad that she did not win.. but then i dun think it's such a bad thing cos i do think that she'll still be offered contracts and she will make it big one day!! and she get really get a much deserved rest..
but now i'm looking forward to seeing her around 958 next week.. haha..
and speaking of 958.. oh well, my topics are mostly about work these days la ah.. what to do.. work 5 days a week so everything i see, i hear, i do is about work.. but the point is that i was praised today thru a mass email about a report i filed last week! haha doesn't sound very impressive ah.. but first time get praised mah.. it's the holland v rat story.. i shall go n copy n paste the contents of the email here man.. ok buay hiao bai.. still i'm happy..
email excerpt..
"另外一个是林卉追踪有关荷兰村老鼠为患的热线新闻。这则新闻的报道全面，投诉受鼠患困扰的受访者的 soundbite相当精彩，记者也访问了附近的居民和有关当局，让人留下深刻的印象。"
i think i'm crazy.. cos i'm happy when they give me many many things to do.. so much so that i might haf to work OT.. cos it means that they trust me, that they think i can do a good job.. i hate sitting in the office trying to act busy.. :P
i remember during a 301 class that we were told to rank what we look out for in a job or sth liddat.. there were things like money, power, recognition, being appreciated blah blah... i dun remember what i chose but now i know what's my no.1 criteria in a job.. to be appreciated for what i do..
ok time to sleep.. hotline morning shift again tml *yawnz*
Sunday, February 04, 2007
photos...
some random photo updates...
IH Opening - Cheerleading competition
hall seven cheerleaders striking a sexy pose.. haha.. seriously i thought they should have won the cheerleading competition.. great dance and stunts as well, totally max entertainment value but they say it's kinda un-cheerleading like.. oh well..
really cool stunts they have.. always do not understand how cheerleaders can pull them off..
my hot ex-roomie.. cheerleading is her passion..
one of my fav mascots.. ninja turtles!! aren't they cute.. haha.. reminiscent..
i salute him for his courage to do this really.. haha.. golden cupid.. but i think it's still quite tastefully done.. i was quite disusted by the other cross dressing mascot.. esp the sailermoon.. yikes! shall not disgust u guys with the pics..
Reporting snap-snots..
(Holland V)
we received a complaint about rat problem in Holland V.. it turns out this alley is really totally infested by rats the size up to those of a kitten.. huge rats and up to 20 of them can appear in teh evening.. crazy!! and you know wat this is the alley behind all those restaurants such as Crystal Jade and Thai Express.. so guys beware!!
the stacks of rubbish that served as good hideout for the rats.. but i must say the waste management of the restaurants are pretty well done already.. i believe the problem lies....
here! at the clogged drains.. so disgusted by it.. and according to NEA they found like 10 rat nests (or equivalent.. dunno wat's the right to call it..) and by the way this problem seemed to have existed for the past 4 years at least.. omg.. what have we been eating ?
Lim Chee Guan Bak Gua
was told to do a story on the bak gua market for CNY.. you know la 958 listeners are aunties that are really concerned about such stuff.. and it was 10am in the morning but already a queue of 30-40 ppl have formed outside LCG bak gua.. and they were selling it at $44/kg already.. but it was Fragrance bak gua and Bee Cheng Hiang that were nicest to me.. gave me samples of their bakgua.. oh.. Fragrance had this really cute pig-shaped bak gua but my colleagues gobbled it up before i could get a snap shot of those piglets..
IH Opening - Cheerleading competition
hall seven cheerleaders striking a sexy pose.. haha.. seriously i thought they should have won the cheerleading competition.. great dance and stunts as well, totally max entertainment value but they say it's kinda un-cheerleading like.. oh well.. 
really cool stunts they have.. always do not understand how cheerleaders can pull them off.. 
my hot ex-roomie.. cheerleading is her passion..
one of my fav mascots.. ninja turtles!! aren't they cute.. haha.. reminiscent..
i salute him for his courage to do this really.. haha.. golden cupid.. but i think it's still quite tastefully done.. i was quite disusted by the other cross dressing mascot.. esp the sailermoon.. yikes! shall not disgust u guys with the pics..(Holland V)
we received a complaint about rat problem in Holland V.. it turns out this alley is really totally infested by rats the size up to those of a kitten.. huge rats and up to 20 of them can appear in teh evening.. crazy!! and you know wat this is the alley behind all those restaurants such as Crystal Jade and Thai Express.. so guys beware!! 
the stacks of rubbish that served as good hideout for the rats.. but i must say the waste management of the restaurants are pretty well done already.. i believe the problem lies....
here! at the clogged drains.. so disgusted by it.. and according to NEA they found like 10 rat nests (or equivalent.. dunno wat's the right to call it..) and by the way this problem seemed to have existed for the past 4 years at least.. omg.. what have we been eating ?Lim Chee Guan Bak Gua
was told to do a story on the bak gua market for CNY.. you know la 958 listeners are aunties that are really concerned about such stuff.. and it was 10am in the morning but already a queue of 30-40 ppl have formed outside LCG bak gua.. and they were selling it at $44/kg already.. but it was Fragrance bak gua and Bee Cheng Hiang that were nicest to me.. gave me samples of their bakgua.. oh.. Fragrance had this really cute pig-shaped bak gua but my colleagues gobbled it up before i could get a snap shot of those piglets.. life's differences
accountants are a blessed lot.. my ex-roomie is one.. they spend 3 yrs in school and get an honours degree and even before they graduate, prospective employers are fighting to get them.. seriously.. if you are an accountancy graduate, you are almost certainly secured employment by one of the big 4s.. as my ex-roomie puts it, the interviews with the big 4s are more of the company selling you their company and why you should choose them rather than you selling urself.. my roomie got selected by all 4 companies in the end..
and just when she thought she had made up her mind, one of the big 4s decided they want to offer her $200 more for her starting pay for her good results.. but she hasn't even graduated and do not know what honours classification she'll be getting.. anyway it seems like they are offering almost everyone this $200 more to lure them to the company..
now you see what i mean by accountants are a blessed lot.. the companies are FIGHTING for them.. wow.. what am i doing in the media industry where the starting pay is probably a good 1000 away from an accountant's.. hmm... and i even have to fork out money on my own to complete my FYP and accountants don't even need to do FYP..
then i remember.. i hate numbers and hate sitting in the office...
and just when she thought she had made up her mind, one of the big 4s decided they want to offer her $200 more for her starting pay for her good results.. but she hasn't even graduated and do not know what honours classification she'll be getting.. anyway it seems like they are offering almost everyone this $200 more to lure them to the company..
now you see what i mean by accountants are a blessed lot.. the companies are FIGHTING for them.. wow.. what am i doing in the media industry where the starting pay is probably a good 1000 away from an accountant's.. hmm... and i even have to fork out money on my own to complete my FYP and accountants don't even need to do FYP..
then i remember.. i hate numbers and hate sitting in the office...
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
story of the day...
on hotline shift again today.. damn tiring to be on hotline shift 2 days in a row cos it means i have to wake up at 530am... such unearthly hours.. but the stories i get nv fail to amuse me at the end of the day.. here's the story of the day:
A couple just moved into this unit at Bedok and they are making out in their living room every night for the past week or so with the lights on. With tinted glasses, they probably do not notice the crowd that had formed outside their unit when they are at it the whole night. Yes, it's not just for a while but for a couple of hours a night. (Great stamina i must say) And the caller said that it gets unbearable when the guy starts to lick the girl (i dun wanna know where la ah...)
damn happening leh this one.. if i'm from Xinmin Daily or Wan Bao or even TNP, I would definitely send a reporter to cover.. haha.. this kind must haf graphics one.. radio cannot la ah.. but it's really funny cos the caller refused to tell me his name or contact and he was half mumbling those words when he was recounting the incident.. i mean come on, i dun know who u are la so i can't and won't judge u.. such story muz give me clear description ma.. haha.. so all those interning at SPH, maybe u wanna take up this lead? can ask me for more details.. :P
but i totally hate it when ppl treat the news hotline as
1. complain line - u give constructive feedback ok but dun act like we owe you a living..
2. phone directory - pls call 100 to get no. of whatever org you are looking for
3. aunt agony - dun tell me ur problem and ask me "so what do i do now?" i'm not trained to give advice, i'm not a social worker.
act no. 3 is not that bad.. some ppl are really lost and just need someone to listen to them and will feel better after that.. just that too many ppl are treating the media as a means to get their way. like if their complain to the company dun get thru quickly enough they wan to use the media to give pressure.. tho i muz say a call from the media do work wonders sometimes.. still we are not ur slave!!!
ok enough ranting..
A couple just moved into this unit at Bedok and they are making out in their living room every night for the past week or so with the lights on. With tinted glasses, they probably do not notice the crowd that had formed outside their unit when they are at it the whole night. Yes, it's not just for a while but for a couple of hours a night. (Great stamina i must say) And the caller said that it gets unbearable when the guy starts to lick the girl (i dun wanna know where la ah...)
damn happening leh this one.. if i'm from Xinmin Daily or Wan Bao or even TNP, I would definitely send a reporter to cover.. haha.. this kind must haf graphics one.. radio cannot la ah.. but it's really funny cos the caller refused to tell me his name or contact and he was half mumbling those words when he was recounting the incident.. i mean come on, i dun know who u are la so i can't and won't judge u.. such story muz give me clear description ma.. haha.. so all those interning at SPH, maybe u wanna take up this lead? can ask me for more details.. :P
but i totally hate it when ppl treat the news hotline as
1. complain line - u give constructive feedback ok but dun act like we owe you a living..
2. phone directory - pls call 100 to get no. of whatever org you are looking for
3. aunt agony - dun tell me ur problem and ask me "so what do i do now?" i'm not trained to give advice, i'm not a social worker.
act no. 3 is not that bad.. some ppl are really lost and just need someone to listen to them and will feel better after that.. just that too many ppl are treating the media as a means to get their way. like if their complain to the company dun get thru quickly enough they wan to use the media to give pressure.. tho i muz say a call from the media do work wonders sometimes.. still we are not ur slave!!!
ok enough ranting..
Saturday, January 20, 2007
interview with SUPERSTAR!
assignment for the day: cover superstar press conference at cineleisure
and who's the superstar?? 陈迪雅!!! haha i was so excited about the assignment.. it's really weird interviewing a friend and really still trying to be professional and at the end of the day file a report.. but i dun think any of you would haf caught it cos it came out at 6pm, 7pm and 11pm yest.. and the best part is that not only do i get to interview them one-on-one, i also can take photos with them, and i get a copy of their singles free, a day before it's released.. now, i like the perks of being a reporter!
i did a relatively long (6mins each) interview with them but radio news can onli be less than 1.5 mins so basically it was cut like hell.. i think i'm not doing justice to some of the answers they gave me lah.. so sorry..
but now shall let photos do the talking..
the location for press conference.. they juz used photoshop to change the colour of their clothes lah.. so duh~ i was thinking it's looks weirdly familiar..
the superstars with the host.. yunying..
the superstars and their singles.. go get a diya one!!!
close up of their singles.. the sales figures will form 30% of the final score in the finals!! so go get one.. plus of cos it's nice la.. and got license one leh.. so cannot anyhow rip n send.. so advanced sia..
haha 自拍 photos with the superstars! damn song4! i know u all jealous! (ok i look quite cui3, when did my eye bags appear?)
yeah.. with diya! think the last time i took photo wif her was when she was still in top 40!
and who's the superstar?? 陈迪雅!!! haha i was so excited about the assignment.. it's really weird interviewing a friend and really still trying to be professional and at the end of the day file a report.. but i dun think any of you would haf caught it cos it came out at 6pm, 7pm and 11pm yest.. and the best part is that not only do i get to interview them one-on-one, i also can take photos with them, and i get a copy of their singles free, a day before it's released.. now, i like the perks of being a reporter!
i did a relatively long (6mins each) interview with them but radio news can onli be less than 1.5 mins so basically it was cut like hell.. i think i'm not doing justice to some of the answers they gave me lah.. so sorry..
but now shall let photos do the talking..
the location for press conference.. they juz used photoshop to change the colour of their clothes lah.. so duh~ i was thinking it's looks weirdly familiar.. 
the superstars with the host.. yunying..
the superstars and their singles.. go get a diya one!!!
close up of their singles.. the sales figures will form 30% of the final score in the finals!! so go get one.. plus of cos it's nice la.. and got license one leh.. so cannot anyhow rip n send.. so advanced sia..
haha 自拍 photos with the superstars! damn song4! i know u all jealous! (ok i look quite cui3, when did my eye bags appear?)
yeah.. with diya! think the last time i took photo wif her was when she was still in top 40!Sunday, January 14, 2007
little brother no more...
it's enlistment day for my little bro today.. and i got to go with him all the way to pulau tekong to see what it's really like.. it's actually my first time out of mainland singapore other than to sentosa manz.. and we ge tot take a ferry which actually reminded me of my trip to penghu which i had to take a 4 hr ferry.. but that's besides the point..
i guess if i were to just say bye to him from home, i wouldn't have felt that strongly of his enlistment.. afterall i had an elder bro who had been thru it.. and ns is definitely what it used to be and these recruits seemed to be treated pretty well nowadays..
but being brought thru the tour of their living and training spaces really made the fact that "my bro is going to be enlisted and going to train to be a man" thing more real.. haha.. quite an experience.. and now i can say i've been to tekong..
one thing i feel quite strongly is that parents these days are really quite overly protective.. come on they are sons and they can take care of themselves so don't get worried about things like what they will be eating, how much they will be eating and how often the ferry will come when they book out.. and demanding to know when the air con in the recre room will be fixed? come on, i dun even think that they should have air con there in the first place.. i just think that if it's going to be an easy life in ns then what's the point of putting them thru it to waste their time and tax payers' money. i guess it's easy to say this cos i'm a girl and i dun need to go thru it but i do believe that one can really grow in face of hardships and adversities and that is when u learn not to take things for granted..
so good luck to my dear little bro for his BMT.. enjoy your time in the 'chalet'.. till i see him 2 weeks later.. maybe i'll miss him..
the 'chalet' that he's going to be living in during the whole of his BMT... looks good from here doesn't it? but i heard it's especially depressing when you stay in those rooms that face the sea and see teh ferries come and go everyday.. cos you know those ferry can take you out of there but you can't get out!
i'm sure you can spot my geeky looking enlistee bro straight away.. the black plastic rim specs and long unkempt hair.. and they made all of them tuck in their shirts..
daddy and mummy say bye to their little boy..
as we were leaving tekong, we see these guys booking out.. and many of them seemed to be struggling to run with their heavy haversacks.. quite funny to see them running in that.. ok i'm just being mean..
was just thinking how surreal this place actually feels.. this is near the ferry terminal.. if not for it being a military training ground, i think it has potential to be a great resort place.. haha.. my holiday mood kicking in..
i guess if i were to just say bye to him from home, i wouldn't have felt that strongly of his enlistment.. afterall i had an elder bro who had been thru it.. and ns is definitely what it used to be and these recruits seemed to be treated pretty well nowadays..
but being brought thru the tour of their living and training spaces really made the fact that "my bro is going to be enlisted and going to train to be a man" thing more real.. haha.. quite an experience.. and now i can say i've been to tekong..
one thing i feel quite strongly is that parents these days are really quite overly protective.. come on they are sons and they can take care of themselves so don't get worried about things like what they will be eating, how much they will be eating and how often the ferry will come when they book out.. and demanding to know when the air con in the recre room will be fixed? come on, i dun even think that they should have air con there in the first place.. i just think that if it's going to be an easy life in ns then what's the point of putting them thru it to waste their time and tax payers' money. i guess it's easy to say this cos i'm a girl and i dun need to go thru it but i do believe that one can really grow in face of hardships and adversities and that is when u learn not to take things for granted..
so good luck to my dear little bro for his BMT.. enjoy your time in the 'chalet'.. till i see him 2 weeks later.. maybe i'll miss him..
the 'chalet' that he's going to be living in during the whole of his BMT... looks good from here doesn't it? but i heard it's especially depressing when you stay in those rooms that face the sea and see teh ferries come and go everyday.. cos you know those ferry can take you out of there but you can't get out!
i'm sure you can spot my geeky looking enlistee bro straight away.. the black plastic rim specs and long unkempt hair.. and they made all of them tuck in their shirts..
daddy and mummy say bye to their little boy.. 
as we were leaving tekong, we see these guys booking out.. and many of them seemed to be struggling to run with their heavy haversacks.. quite funny to see them running in that.. ok i'm just being mean..
was just thinking how surreal this place actually feels.. this is near the ferry terminal.. if not for it being a military training ground, i think it has potential to be a great resort place.. haha.. my holiday mood kicking in..Friday, January 12, 2007
busy but fruitful...
the reason why i decided to take up the internship at 958 news was cos I wanted to come out of internship knowing i learnt something and also cos i like the medium - radio.. and 1 week into internship and i think that, yeah, i've chosen the right one that really fulfilled what i set out to achieve..
as reporting shift starts, i'm really just thrown into the world to survive on my own and at the end of the day, produce. with zero news reporting experience (din even do cs203 leh), i was just thrown out there to do the thing.. so glad that i was from ebm cos at least i haf some knowledge of using the md recorder and not screw up my first reporting assignment. a senior was supposed to be there to guide me yesterday but cos she overslept and couldn't get a cab, by the time she got there, i was already done with the interview and got the soundbites needed, thinking up sth to ask them on the spot.. *phew* this is not like school assignments where i can redo if i dun like.. it's going to be broadcasted to all the listeners leh.. stress.. but then u realise they are actually really not that uptight about sound quality and everything.. cos wat matters is it's fast and there's content to be broadcasted..
and today.. went to crime conference... it's really not serious at all, despite it being at the Police HQ and it being a crime conference. I've learnt that conference is but a nice name to use.. it usu juz consist of like 5 ppl from the media showing up.. face it, how much media do we have in singapore? and after the conference we juz spilt into 2 camps to share cab back to the office.. the mediacorp camp and the sph camp.. haha..
luckily, other than the crime conference, i was also assigned to follow up on another story so i went out again, all alone, to bedok in the rain (of cos in cab la).. interviewed like 20 plus ppl and got all the soundbites then head back to piece my report together.. i realised the good thing about radio is that i can get soundbites secretly, without them actively consent to it cos i can hide my md recorder behind my note pad.. so they can onli see my note pad and think that i'm juz harmlessly asking them questions... hahaha.. so that's the power of the medium! an cos i'm not furiously scribbling away as they speak, ppl are actually quite willing to talk.. which is nice...
and so, i managed to come out with a full report today! feel accomplished.. and the editor liked my report.. hehe.. it's only 1min 30sec but well i'm proud of my first full piece of work.. tho i still dun get to do the VO but yeah i'm pretty satisfied.. it's onli 1.5 week into my internship yeah.. so if u see this post in time, u can tune into 958 at 8am, 10am, 12noon and 5pm tml to catch my report.. :P
as reporting shift starts, i'm really just thrown into the world to survive on my own and at the end of the day, produce. with zero news reporting experience (din even do cs203 leh), i was just thrown out there to do the thing.. so glad that i was from ebm cos at least i haf some knowledge of using the md recorder and not screw up my first reporting assignment. a senior was supposed to be there to guide me yesterday but cos she overslept and couldn't get a cab, by the time she got there, i was already done with the interview and got the soundbites needed, thinking up sth to ask them on the spot.. *phew* this is not like school assignments where i can redo if i dun like.. it's going to be broadcasted to all the listeners leh.. stress.. but then u realise they are actually really not that uptight about sound quality and everything.. cos wat matters is it's fast and there's content to be broadcasted..
and today.. went to crime conference... it's really not serious at all, despite it being at the Police HQ and it being a crime conference. I've learnt that conference is but a nice name to use.. it usu juz consist of like 5 ppl from the media showing up.. face it, how much media do we have in singapore? and after the conference we juz spilt into 2 camps to share cab back to the office.. the mediacorp camp and the sph camp.. haha..
luckily, other than the crime conference, i was also assigned to follow up on another story so i went out again, all alone, to bedok in the rain (of cos in cab la).. interviewed like 20 plus ppl and got all the soundbites then head back to piece my report together.. i realised the good thing about radio is that i can get soundbites secretly, without them actively consent to it cos i can hide my md recorder behind my note pad.. so they can onli see my note pad and think that i'm juz harmlessly asking them questions... hahaha.. so that's the power of the medium! an cos i'm not furiously scribbling away as they speak, ppl are actually quite willing to talk.. which is nice...
and so, i managed to come out with a full report today! feel accomplished.. and the editor liked my report.. hehe.. it's only 1min 30sec but well i'm proud of my first full piece of work.. tho i still dun get to do the VO but yeah i'm pretty satisfied.. it's onli 1.5 week into my internship yeah.. so if u see this post in time, u can tune into 958 at 8am, 10am, 12noon and 5pm tml to catch my report.. :P
Thursday, January 11, 2007
热线班
本来我对值热线班感到有点压力，因为最及时地新闻都是从热线来的。要是我收集资料不好，或是没有及时告知，那就是我的错了。而且又要和不认识的人打交道，好像不容易。
但是值了热线班，就觉得还蛮好玩的。打热线的人真的是应有尽有。真正提供新闻的没几个，要求多多倒是，骚扰电话也有，真不知道是该哭还是该笑。
很多人都把新闻热线当投诉热线，不管在哪里受气就打电话来说媒体应该去揭穿XXX。不然就是不知所措时也打来问该怎么办。反正就是各种人类，各种问题，各种要求都有。
昨天有个骚扰电话，打进来就拼命骂卫生部长林文兴。他练了一句话，然后打来就一直重复那句话。一口气会重复十几次。我问他话，他也就只重复那句，真是怪胎一个，而且还一天内在不同时间打进来3、4次电话，有够无聊。
值热线班可以接触到各种各样的人，真不错啦。而且会很忙，因为要一边接热线一边剪外电，所以时间会过得很快，也不会觉得闷或无聊。开始喜欢值热线班，但是觉得值多两次我也会闷了。
明天要去采访。第一次做采访好紧张。
但是值了热线班，就觉得还蛮好玩的。打热线的人真的是应有尽有。真正提供新闻的没几个，要求多多倒是，骚扰电话也有，真不知道是该哭还是该笑。
很多人都把新闻热线当投诉热线，不管在哪里受气就打电话来说媒体应该去揭穿XXX。不然就是不知所措时也打来问该怎么办。反正就是各种人类，各种问题，各种要求都有。
昨天有个骚扰电话，打进来就拼命骂卫生部长林文兴。他练了一句话，然后打来就一直重复那句话。一口气会重复十几次。我问他话，他也就只重复那句，真是怪胎一个，而且还一天内在不同时间打进来3、4次电话，有够无聊。
值热线班可以接触到各种各样的人，真不错啦。而且会很忙，因为要一边接热线一边剪外电，所以时间会过得很快，也不会觉得闷或无聊。开始喜欢值热线班，但是觉得值多两次我也会闷了。
明天要去采访。第一次做采访好紧张。
Sunday, January 07, 2007
first TVC voice-over
had my first try at doing a TVC voice-over yesterday! haha.. it was pretty fun, and well pretty good money.. perhaps i should consider making it my career ah.. hahaha...
so be sure to catch my first TVC voice-over starting tml.. it's the Singapore Maritime Foundation TVC.. cos they sponsored the channel 8 9pm show that's going to start airing from tml.. so be sure to catch the show.. and the TVC.. on channel 8.. hehe :P
and of cos must thank shunyi for the lobang..
there are actually 2 versions of the TVC and the other version has my hall mates and roomie in it.. so must catch it too.. and i think the tvc is quite well directed too..
so be sure to catch my first TVC voice-over starting tml.. it's the Singapore Maritime Foundation TVC.. cos they sponsored the channel 8 9pm show that's going to start airing from tml.. so be sure to catch the show.. and the TVC.. on channel 8.. hehe :P
and of cos must thank shunyi for the lobang..
there are actually 2 versions of the TVC and the other version has my hall mates and roomie in it.. so must catch it too.. and i think the tvc is quite well directed too..
Saturday, January 06, 2007
2007 :: life as an intern
2007 started with bang bang bang!!! too many bangs lah..
it's not exactly very exciting but still i was kept really busy.. i act went to a countdown at vivocity and was down at the mosh pit (is that how u spell it?).. it did not feel as high as i expect it to be.. prob cos u need tics to enter and all.. but the performances were not too bad.. got JJ Lin enough liao.. plus i was really surprised to see the Superstars there and managed to say hi to diya and witnessed her stumble on stage (oh no.. am i spoiling her image here?).. that was like the 2nd time i ever went for a countdown.. first time was millenium party at orchard which was disastrously crowded and i was out till like 5am.. this time we siam even b4 1230am to beat the crowd... haha..
anyway new year's day came and passed and i've started my intern life.. there are really a lot of interns from sci at mediacorp so everyday's lunch is like a mini gathering of sci students at the canteen.. haha.. but i think i shall not just stick to the sci ppl and mingle more with the other colleagues la.. must get out of my comfort zone..
i haf been feeling really tired after work everyday.. tho i confess the workload is really minimal.. i think it's the adrenaline rush in getting the news out that tires me out.. even tho that only happens once a day for me for now.. and ppl really get short-tempered when the time comes for news broadcast and have to rush stuff out.. i believe i will too.. so that's sth i have to get used to..
so things i've done these 3 days... watch tapes and tapes of taiwanese, hong kong and china news and edited snippets and write their leads for broadcast.. learnt how to man the hotline and have to start manning it next week..
news is truly a dynamic environment and the pace they work in is fast fast fast.. the ppl ard me are always either furiously typing away, making calls to check this and that or doing a telephone interview or voice-over.. whereas i'll juz be making myself relevant in the office.. haha.. i guess my days will just get busier! will be out to do reporting next week.. sounds really exciting!
it's not exactly very exciting but still i was kept really busy.. i act went to a countdown at vivocity and was down at the mosh pit (is that how u spell it?).. it did not feel as high as i expect it to be.. prob cos u need tics to enter and all.. but the performances were not too bad.. got JJ Lin enough liao.. plus i was really surprised to see the Superstars there and managed to say hi to diya and witnessed her stumble on stage (oh no.. am i spoiling her image here?).. that was like the 2nd time i ever went for a countdown.. first time was millenium party at orchard which was disastrously crowded and i was out till like 5am.. this time we siam even b4 1230am to beat the crowd... haha..
anyway new year's day came and passed and i've started my intern life.. there are really a lot of interns from sci at mediacorp so everyday's lunch is like a mini gathering of sci students at the canteen.. haha.. but i think i shall not just stick to the sci ppl and mingle more with the other colleagues la.. must get out of my comfort zone..
i haf been feeling really tired after work everyday.. tho i confess the workload is really minimal.. i think it's the adrenaline rush in getting the news out that tires me out.. even tho that only happens once a day for me for now.. and ppl really get short-tempered when the time comes for news broadcast and have to rush stuff out.. i believe i will too.. so that's sth i have to get used to..
so things i've done these 3 days... watch tapes and tapes of taiwanese, hong kong and china news and edited snippets and write their leads for broadcast.. learnt how to man the hotline and have to start manning it next week..
news is truly a dynamic environment and the pace they work in is fast fast fast.. the ppl ard me are always either furiously typing away, making calls to check this and that or doing a telephone interview or voice-over.. whereas i'll juz be making myself relevant in the office.. haha.. i guess my days will just get busier! will be out to do reporting next week.. sounds really exciting!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)