His shadow 他的身影

By chance, found this MTV, song delivered by my favourite idol, Tang Na 坣娜.  This is her tribute to the late Master Sheng Yen...... 他的身影 His Shadow.   A beautiful piece. 

Aung San Suu Kyi - beautiful people do not just happen

I had been wanting to blog about one person whom I respect a lot for a while. In fact, my unfinished post was lying in draft mode for a few months.  Since the release of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, 67, from house arrest last November, I had wanted to write about her but just did not get about to doing it. She has spent 15 of the past 20 years under arrest.

  

A couple of weeks ago, on 20 June 2012, the two of my most favourite persons, Aung San Suu Kyi met His Holiness the Dalai Lama for the very first time in London, on her 67th birthday. Both are Nobel Prize icons. 

HHDL to Aung San Suu Kyi, "I have real admiration for your courage. I am very happy we've been able to meet."

His Holiness presented a Buddha statue to Aung San Suu Kyi. What an honour for Aung San Suu Kyi to receive a Buddha from the Living Buddha of Compassion! And what an apt gift for a deserving recipient. 

I love this photo very much - the two faces of Humanity.  His Holiness told Aung San Suu Kyi that just as her late father had shown great dedication, he was confident that she too would be of great service to humanity.

 

The wax statues of both Aung San Suu Kyi and His Holiness the Dalai Lama standing side by side at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Bangkok. Welcoming her release, the Dalai Lama had said: "I welcome the release of fellow Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. I take this opportunity to appeal to freedom-loving people all over the world to support such non-violent movements."

Aung San Suu Kyi accepted an honorary civil law doctorate from Oxford University. "During the most difficult years, I was upheld by the memories of Oxford".  She said young people in Burma were not able to have a similar college experience like her because their university life had been "shattered". She received a two-minute standing ovation at the end of her minute speech.

Aung San Suu Kyi met Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall before planting a Magnolia tree in the gardens of Clarence House on June 21, 2012 in London, England. “Every kindness I received, small or big, convinced me that there could never be enough of it in the world. Kindness, can change the lives of people.”- Aung San Suu Kyi

Aung San Suu Kyi with husband Michael Aris and sons in London in early years. They were separated for most part of their marriage, and she did not get to see him for the last time when he passed away.

Aung San Suu Kyi was detained in her own country in 1989 and spent 15 of the next 21 years in detention before finally being released from house arrest in 2010. During the brief times she was not being held, she refused to leave the country because she feared she would not be allowed back. The mother-of-two did not even travel to Britain to be with her husband when he was dying of cancer in the 90s.

Aung San Suu Kyi: "As I travel through my country, people often ask me how it feels to have been imprisoned in my home --first for six years, then for 19 months. How could I stand the separation from family and friends? It is ironic, I say, that in an authoritarian state it is only the prisoner of conscience who is genuinely free. Yes, we have given up our right to a normal life. But we have stayed true to that most precious part of our humanity--our conscience."

Dedicating this quote to Aung San Suu Kyi. May her aspirations to benefit her people succeed immediately.

“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” - Elisabeth Kübler-Ross.

Katniss Everdeen and her lingering baby fat

Ok, I didn't watch the movie, Hunger Games. I'm a little outdated. When someone in Facebook posted this photo, I thought this lady looked smashing (it helped that the lush green forest is the background because I am partial to greenery).  Then I realised she is actress Jennifer Lawrence playing the lead of the Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen.

At age 20, she was the second youngest actress ever to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress.

She has come under fire in this movie with reviewers claiming she was too 'big-boned' for the role. According to the Chicago Sun Times, one reporter referred to Jennifer as having 'lingering baby fat.'

To this, the actress laughed off the critics' responses as "hilarious". Jennifer said: 'First, people say how so many actresses in Hollywood look anorexic, and now they are criticising me for looking normal."

It's true. I can never understand how scrawny and bones skinny ladies are considered "ideal". To me, it is always good to have a little flesh. It's more sexy that way. Scroll down and tell me if you don't agree.

Another up and rising star.
 

Earth Hour 2012 - let's unite and save the planet!

Today, we are going to switch off the lights at 8.30pm in support of Earth Hour ! 

This year a record of 147 countries are going to participate in this global message to take action and save this planet. In Singapore alone, 370 organisations have pledged their support.  

There will be a Earth Hour Celebration at Orchard Road.

Date: Saturday, 31 March 2012
Time: 6.30pm – 10.00 pm 

Venue: Ngee Ann City Civic Plaza 

Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Environment and Water Resources, will be the Guest of Honour and officiate the lights-out ceremony at Orchard Road. Many malls and big brand names will switch off their lights too. 

Join the lovely Nadya Hutagalung (WWF Earth Hour Official Ambassador), Tung Soo Hua, Pan Ling Ling and Huang Shinan who will be there to share what Earth Hour means to them.  Nadya and her husband Desmond will be cycling to the event. As part of the challenge, more than 100 Nadya's twitter followers have pledged to be vegetarians for a month prior to this event.  

Click here for more information on Earth Hour.

     

Already Famous 《一泡而红》

One local movie is set to rock this November. I only learned of it last night when I saw this trailer. I do not usually watch local flicks but this is kinda funny. It is a movie starring and directed by our own local artiste, Michelle Chong. She is starring as a Malaysian aspiring for stardom and her accent was unmistakably and hilariously impeccable. Also, our very own Kumar is making an appearance as himself! 

It is Michelle Chong's directorial debut and Alien Huang's first Singapore movie.  Apparently Michelle Chong wrote the movie’s script 9 years ago. However the plan to direct the movie was delayed as Michelle became busy with various acting and hosting projects. Now Michelle is finally going to fulfill her dream. 《一泡而红》is a lighthearted and insightful comedy about Singapore’s entertainment industry. Watch out for it.

 

By the way, it was just announced in the news yesterday that our local TV news parody show, The Noose, has been nominated for Best Comedy in the International Emmy Award. This is a great news for Michelle Chong who starred in this comedy series and made popular memorable characters such as Barbarella, Leticia Bongnino, and B.B See, who pokes fun at all things Singaporean. This is great news for local TV and also for Michelle. 

With the debut of her first movie coming 24 Nov 2011, this Emmy Award nomination is so timely. A great career boost. By the time the movie is out, she is indeed ALREADY FAMOUS ..... not 一泡而红, but rather, 一炮而红.   Congratulations to her!  

Revealing the torso - how much is too much?

So, I read the news that the advertising body, ASAS (Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore), has managed to get the government body, Media Development Authority (MDA), to ban retail brand, Abercrombie & Fitch's huge-ass (I mean torso) billboard advertisement at KnightsBridge in Orchard Road.

The Abercrombie & Fitch ad fronting soon-to-be-opened store at Knightsbridge.

I quickly digged out this photo which I snapped a few weeks ago when I was passing by. I thought it was an interesting ad (shouting out at you) and not surprising coming from the retail giants in Orchard Road. I was in a rush when I snapped this, and coincidentally, from my angle, I happened to capture this couple in front of the shirtless model and the lady was right smacked at the... erm... vital part of the body. I did not do it on purpose. :P

ASAS brought up the standard code of conduct for advertising which says, "advertisements should not contain anything that is offensive to the standards of decency prevailing among those who are likely to be exposed to them".

I know Singapore is an Asian country. We are prudent, conservative, regulated, clean and I know what my Grandma and parents would say if they see this ad, "Aiyoh!!!". Definitely it raised eye brows. But still, I wonder what the hooha is about. There are many other more urgent and important issues on a macro level to handle. If one is worried that this is a bad influence for kids and that it encourages sexual activity, one has to be very ignorant what the kids are exposed to online these days, which is a zillion times worse. Even worse still, besides complaining that the model is almost naked, some found it offensive that it was headless as well, and cited this as the "worship of the devil".

If you think the headless naked male torso model in Orchard Road is questionable, there are some even more controversial ads from the retail big boys in the past.... (and of course they never made it to our shores).

Rocker Dave Navarro stripped to protest against wearing fur. He tells PETA in an interview that he used to wear fur in some of his over the top costumes, but he is now a reformed anti-fur believer.

In another PETA ad, gold medal winning USA swimmer Amanda Beard has made a big splash and bared all. The Olympian follows in the naked footsteps of Pamela Anderson and Eva Mendes, standing up and stripping down to protest the fur industry.

This shock advertising from Gucci is already 11-years old. Male torso was supposed to shine from London billboards, but the Mayor turned it down, regarding the picture as revolting.

Versace's ad of naked bodies. This poster was banned only in Arab Emirates and Oman.

This Emanuel Ungaro advertising appeared in 2002. Of all glossy magazines in the world, it was accepted for publishing only in American Vogue.

In 1995, the British Advertising Standards Authority found this Jean Paul Gaultierposter as inappropriate. The reason was that the poster could insult the idea of interracial marriages.

American feminists were outrageous at this Diesel advertisement. They claimed that the posters promoted sexism and went on TV to call for abandoning the brand’s products.

The British Advertising Standards Authority considered this Gucci poster to be violating to female dignity.

This 2004 advertisement for Calvin Klein Jeans is extremely racy and controversial, which suggest more than the purchase of designer jeans.

Antonio Federici Gelato busted out with a print ad campaign where nuns and priests get a little more intimate than the Holy Spirit is comfortable with. According to UK's Advertising Standards Authority, "linking sex or sexualised images with religion may cause particular offence" and "portraying nuns in a sexual manner is inappropriate." And they were just trying to sell ice cream.

There was not even torso revealed here. Yet United Colors of Benetton got into trouble with this ad. There was some gnashing and grinding of teeth when they parked this ad on a billboard outside the Vatican a few years ago.

In this 2007 Emporio Armani underwear ad, David Beckham revealed a hairless torso which was plastered on billboards in cities such as London, New York, Paris and Rome... Why was there not that much of a hooha then?

So how much is too much, where naked torso is concerned? You take your stand. It seems a little ironical that while the audience seem ok with pictures depicting violence, disasters, abuse etc... but when it comes to nudity they race to criticise, judge and censor. All these racy advertising campaigns are yet more proof that fashion houses are pushing boundaries to extremes in order to gain publicity for their products. To them, perhaps, no news is bad publicity.

May all parties..... advertisers, consumers, and governing bodies (no pun intended) exercise the right motivation when it comes to our birthday suit.

Vote for Miss Singapore Valerie Lim into Miss Universe 2011 Finals !!! @dweam

I'm garnering some support through this post and for once, this blog is going to be full of eye candy. Haha! I'm referring to the coming Miss Universe 2011 Pageant and the beauty queen who is going to do us Singaporeans proud is Miss Valerie Lim, the reigning Miss Singapore Universe 2011. She was crowned just 2 months ago.

Valerie is a fellow Cancerian whom I got to know online.  In fact I know her more as "dweam", her online moniker, as well as the beauty blogger of www.dweam.com.  From a couple of years of tweeting with each other and some conversation exchange here and there, I found her to be really a girl next door, with no airs about her.  She is forthcoming, very sincere and warm-hearted. Valerie exudes confidence and poise, on top of a friendly and frank demeanor. She won over all the judges in the Miss Singapore Universe 2011 pageant with her wit and stage presence.

Valerie is not new to beauty competitions. In fact, she was crowned Miss Earth 2009.  She is 26 years old and to her advantage, a height of 1.79m! In her day job, she is a behaviourial therapist dealing with autistic children. Pretty impressive, as the prerequisites of this job requires tact, patience and an incredible good kind heart!

Crowning of Miss Earth 2009

Valerie is currently in Sao Paolo, Brazil, preparing for the Miss Universe 2011 pageant finals with all the beauties of the world.  I managed to catch up with Valerie amidst her very busy and packed schedule, and she has graciously granted me a very brief interview. 

STUMPBO:  Which candidates are you closest to in this pageant? 

VALERIE:  I'm loving all my Asia-Pac girls: Thailand, China, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Philippines and including New Zealand too!

STUMPBO: Who do you think has the highest chance of becoming the next Miss Universe and why?

VALERIE:  Everyone stands a chance because they're all really beautiful and everyone puts in effort to dress up, groom themselves and keep fit. Beauty also comes from within and they're all worthy of the Miss Universe title.

STUMPBO:  What do you miss about Singapore so far?

VALERIE: Missing SG food! :D And the weather occasionally. It's Winter going to Spring  in Sao Paolo and can get occasionally chilly but I love the cold here too!

STUMPBO:  If you become Miss Universe 2011, what is the first thing you would like to do?

VALERIE: I'd like to say thank you to everyone who has shown their support one way or another to me being Miss Universe. Maybe throw a big party and Samba! ;)

Photo credits: Fotocology

STUMPBO:   What's in Sao Paolo that has touched and charmed you?

VALERIE just blogged briefly about Sao Paolo and here is an excerpt. She would be updating more about her experience in Sao Paolo in her blog www.dweam.com in the coming days. Look out for it! 

"We first traveled to the Hilton from the airport, to the stately Brasil flag that flew on its mast, the graffiti laden walls and impressive buildings, there’s a sort of sleepy yet romantic charm about the Sao Paulo city."

"Despite this calm, made even more conspicuous in the veil of the rain and an overcast sky today, the energy of the Brasilian people is a stark contrast to the city. Like a strong heartbeat, the Brasilian people are steady and vibrant. Both Samba and football are perfect examples of this brilliant energy. One cannot help but want to dance when in the presence of either".

Photo credits:  Brad Lau, Callan Tham

Here's more eye candy, Valerie and the other beauty queens, as they prepare for the heated competition on 12 Sept 2011.  

Valerie and her stylist, Kelly

Now here's what we can do to lend our support to Valerie. This may be the first time we can get Singapore into the semi-finals by online voting. Anyone located in, and a legal resident of, the home countries of the 2011 Miss Universe contestants can cast their vote(s) for the Miss Universe contestant of their choice. 

To vote, log on to www.nbc.com or www.missuniverse.com and follow the instructions. You need to provide your email address, confirm you are 16 years of age or older, and  your acceptance of the voting terms and conditions.

Then vote by clicking Valerie Shu Xian Lim !!!

You may vote online up to 10 times per e-mail address per day!  Internet voting is now open until Sunday, September 11, 2011 at 6pm ET.  The results will be revealed to the home viewing audience during the Miss Universe live telecast on September 12, 2011 and posted on www.missuniverse.com after the show.

Here's a clip of Valerie answering some questions in Sao Paulo, Brazil. 

Live telecast of the Miss Universe 2011 Pageant from Sao Paulo is on 12th September Sao Paulo time 10pm (Singapore is 11 hours ahead, approximately 9am Singapore time). Watch out for it! I can't wait!

I absolutely love this gorgeous photo of Valerie.  

PLEASE SUPPORT HER, GO AND VOTE NOW!  www.missuniverse.com

Val, may you win big time and do Singapore proud! GOOD LUCK!! You go, girl !!!