The Nanyang Chronicle Vol 15 Issue 02 by Nanyang Chronicle

CHRONICLE

This professor can tell the stories of the dead... PAGE 11

THE NANYANG

AUGUS T 25 , 20 0 8 | V OL 15 NO 2 | IS SN NO 0 218 -7310 | W W W. N T U. EDU. S G / C HRONIC L E

BEAUTY&

2010 YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES

Our chance BRAINS in the global limelight PAGE 03 A Dean’s List student, and now one of the most beautiful women in Singapore. Faraliza Tan seems to have it all.

NTU hopes to showcase its campus and hospitality to the world during the Youth Olympic Games, while students voice concerns about the facilities and accommodation upgrades

POPPING &

LOCKING Will they be able to step up their game? A group of NTU dance enthusiasts await approval for their new CCA.

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RISE & SHINE

Wake up to the smell of fresh bread hot off the oven—with a portion of Eggs Benedict.

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随意诗人的 FRACTURED

文化空间

HOPE “...it was like a dream dashed, but that’s life.” Ex-NTU rugby captain tells his story.

23 页 PAGE 34

ZAKARIA ZAINAL WITH close to 5,000 athletes and sport officials from the Youth Olympic Games coming to NTU in 2010, the university is priming itself for its chance in the global limelight. This comes from the recent announcement that the Village will move from the $500-million, 19ha University Town at the National University of Singapore (NUS) to NTU, due to rising construction costs that have slowed down building there. Press reports also mentioned that the university’s sports facilities will be refurbished and organisers are considering installing airconditioning in several residential halls. Over at the National Institute of Education, the campus will be used as the Village Square, said Mr Alan Ch’ng, divisional director of Corporate Planning and Development. “NTU is excited to be the host and are in the process of sorting out the logistics and scope of work to ready the needed facilities of NTU/NIE for the Games,” he said. He added that the Village Square will be a place where “athletes will be interacting, dining and also participating in cultural and educational activities”. “It is an early stage yet in this work with the (Games organising committee),” he said. A university spokesperson said they will be working closely with

the Games organising committee and the International Olympic Com m it tee to ma ke su itable adjustments to t he academic programmes and accommodation arrangements while the Games take place. In developing these plans, the Universit y said they will be mindful of the needs of the students. However, students have raised concerns about the upgrading of facilities affecting their sports training, a possible increase in accommodation prices for the upgraded hal lrooms, and the possible delay of academic year 2010, according to the national media.

NTU is excited to be the host and are in the process of sorting out the logistics and scope of work to ready the needed facilities. Mr Alan Ch ng Divisional Director Corporate Planning and Development

Hen r y Sea h , second-yea r undergraduate from Nanyang Business School and also a member of the university’s men’s table tennis team, has highlighted how the refurbishing of training facilities could affect sportsmen like him. “In the short term, training will be disrupted, but in the long term, our athletes will reap the benefits,” he said. >> CONTINUED ON THE NEXT PAGE

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Let your voices be heard More students come forth to vote for their Union Representatives from the different schools

time around, with more students stepping up to vote. Third-year CEE student Stanley Goh said he would cast his vote for someone who has the potential and is interested in addressing the needs of the students. “It’s the way they advertise themselves. The candidates put in a lot of effort. I have worked with some of them closely before.”

Farah Elias UNION Day was held on August 21 with Senior Associate Provost Professor Er Meng Hwa as the guest-of-honour. Professor Er was greeted by a lion dance troupe at the opening ceremony. In his speech, he welcomed Union Day as a day to celebrate the achievements of the Students’ Union in the past year as well as choose the new leaders to represent the students. “The Students’ Union is the flag bearer of the university activities and over the years, has fortified the universit y’s position as a leading learning institute,” said Professor Er. He added that 2008 has been a landmark year for NTU – a recordsetting year for fund raising. He highlighted the two-day donation drive to help Li Bingbing, a student of NTU diagnosed with leukaemia. The total sum raised amounted to more than $80000.

EXERCISING YOUR VOTE: Vote for the next Union Representative. PHOTO | TAN ZI JIE

Chairman of the event, Paul George, 20, said: “Union Day is also about exercising your choice and voting for the people you believe in.” There are 16 clubs involved in Union Day – 13 academic constituent clubs and 3 nonacademic ones. Outgoing President of the 17th Students’ Union, Choudhury Anshuman Das, 22, said: “This year, we made sure that those running for Union Representative k new that they were joining

the Students’ Union Executive Committee. Once they are elected as Union Representative, they are detached from their respective school clubs." C iv i l a nd Env i ron me nta l Engineering (CEE) student, Xiao Meng, 21, is running for Union Representative and wishes to implement special projects to encourage student participation. “I want more of the school population to get involved in activities.” Response from the student population has also improved this

“Union Day is also about exercising your choice and voting for the people you believe in.” Paul George, 20 Chairman Union Day

The Union Representatives who will make up the 18th Students’ Union Executive Committee have a lot to live up to. Das said: “I hope the next committee will continue working on what we have been trying to establish, such as the S/U option and free parking.”

Continued from page 1

NTU the new home for 2010 Youth Games “It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to be serving the Olympic community.” Choudhury Anshuman Das, 22 President 17th Students' Union Executive Committee

WELCOME, WORLD: NTU will be upgrading a number of its halls and facilities to house the international athletes. PHOTO | FILE

Me a nwh i le , a t h i r d-yea r business undergraduate, Lim Jian Liang, feels that air-conditioned accommodation is a gesture of hospitalit y and is needed to portray a good image. Lim, who also represents NTU in basketball, has no qualms about having airconditioned accommodation with extra costs.

NUS students such as Seah Ru Han have expressed their disappointment over the relocation of the village. “It’s just another hit to the publicity efforts,” said the political science major from the Faculty of Arts and Social Science.. On t he ot he r ha nd C he n Qiaozhi, an NUS economics major,

remained positive and hopes that both universities can work together to be part of the Games come 2010. The Games is slated to be held between August 14th and 26th. D u r i n g t h i s p e r io d , t h e university is considering an option of delaying the academic term by two weeks. Preparation and

involvement during the games may take up the entire month of August 2010. And while Ghazi Al Qudcy, 25, a first-year School of Art, Design and Media student acknowledged t hat opinions may differ, he welcomes the delay of the 2010 academic year. “I don’t see a problem as it will mean a longer break,” he said. Nevertheless, students should look at this as a great opportunity to showcase Singapore and the u n i v e r s i t y s a id C houd h u r y Anshuman Das, president of the 17th Students’ Union Executive Committee. “It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be ser ving the Olympic community,” he said. “And we are proud to be part of this significant event.”

news flash THAI PM SAYS THAKSIN CAN KEEP his diplomatic passport despite calls by anti-government protesters to strip the ousted premier of all his travel documents. THE THIRD GENERATION iPHONE has finally arrived last Friday after a long wait, with SingTel the first carrier of the iPhone 3G in Singapore. ZHANG YINING BEATS LI JIAWEI in the China versus Singapore table tennis semifinals in the Olympics, beating her four sets to one. IOC ASKS FOR INQUIRY OF Chinese gymnasts to investigate whether members of the Chinese women's team were too young to compete in the Olympics. SEVENTY IN PAKISTAN DIE IN two suicide bomb attacks outside Pakistan's biggest weapons factory complex. SINGAPORE WILL HOST THE 40th Asean Economic Ministers and related meetings from August 25th - 29th. MEDIACORP SAYS JADE SEAH will not be taken off the Olympics news programme, Today in Beijing, despite accidentally uttering an expletive on last Wednesday's episode. SOME THIRTEEN THOUSAND dollars worth of drugs were seized by the Central Narcotics Bureau on Thursday in a sting operation. Three Singaporeans were arrested. SINGAPORE COUPLES TURNING to assisted reproduction techniques such as in-vitro fertilisation will have their treatments subsidised by up to half, thanks to government policies to promote childbirth. RUSSIA FREEZES ITS MILITARY co-operation with NATO and allied countries on Thursday, as both parties' relations take a turn for the worse after Russia invaded Georgia. USA WILL NOT CONFIRM IF former Pakistani president, Pervez Musharaff, will be granted asylum in the country, following Musharaff's resignation from his post to avoid impeachment. UP TO 150 MAY HAVE DIED IN Madrid when the jet plane they were travelling on skidded off the Madrid airport runway and burst into flames on Wednesday night. CHINESE ATHLETE LIU XIANG may receive up to US14.6m in insurance pay-out for his longstanding tendon injury, which forced him to withdraw from his 110 metre hurdles heat in the Beijing Olympics. BOSNIAN AUTHORITIES ARREST a pigeon for alllegedly smuggling drugs into a prison.

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A gold chest of opportunities

TAN CHIN TUAN CENTENNIAL FUND: President S R Nathan and other distinguished guests graced the launch. PHOTO | JEFFREY PANG

Two lecture theatres on campus are renamed to thank donors Jamuna d/o Sundaraj THE launch of the Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Fund (TCTF) on August 19th celebrates the 100th birthday of the founder, Tan Sri Dr Tan Chin Tuan and the foundation’s contributions to the university over the years. The fund has been established to fund a professorship, a forum and an exchange fellowship; as well as to foster research collaborations and networking platforms.

“With such opportunities provided... I believe that NTU has the potential to be the best technological university .” Professor Ng Wun Jern Executive Director of the Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute

These three programmes were made possible by the Tan Chin Tuan Foundation’s (TCTF) gift of $10 million, matched dollar for dollar by the government to create the fund. “Ideally the projects we fund

should create synergies, avoid duplication and have a cascading effect for professors and students alike,” said Miss Chew Gek Khim, Deputy Chairman, TCTF. It would create a multiplier effect that would help students and professors, she explained. She was speaking at the launch of the fund that was graced by President S R Nathan, and other distinguished guests. The launch also unveiled the Tan Chin Tuan bronze bust that is to be placed at the entrance of the Tan Chin Tuan Lecture Theatre, formerly known as Lecture Theatre 2. The noted philanthropist has had close ties with the university since its earlier days as Nanyang University in the 1950s. The Singapore-born banker set up the foundation as a way to give back to society. Miss Yap Su Yin, programme director of the fund, said: “TCTF wants to deepen its engagement with N T U and help bring the university to the next level in terms of enhancing its research capabilities.” The fund will help to organise and provide a platform for the university to foster relationships with its alumni in China through the inaugural Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Forum that would be taking place later this year. Meanwhile, the Tan Chin Tuan Exchange fellowship will continue to be a channel for students to collaborate and learn from other partnering universities abroad. A not her pa r t of t he f u nd will go into the Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professorship. The first recipient is Professor Ng Wun Jern, executive director of the Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute at NTU.

Professor Ng said he believed that this award will provide “recognition that goes beyond his work and to the discipline itself.” “With such opportunities provided by the foundation and the university, I believe that NTU has the potential to be the best technological university,” he added. The TCTF not only supports the Engineering faculties, but also funds the Centre for Chinese Language and Culture located at the Humanities and Social Sciences building, provides sc hola r sh ips for f i na nc ia l journalism and gives annual donations to the university. “T hrough t his we have actually embedded Dr Tan and his works into the university that has had a strong relationship with the foundation,” said Ms Marina Tan Harper, director of Development Office. Another lecture theatre on campus has also been renamed. The School of Communication a nd I n for mat ion Lec t u r e Theatre is now known as the Lee Foundation Lecture Theatre. According to Ms Tan, the fou ndat ion cont r ibuted a n estimated $5 million to the Wee Kim Wee Legacy Fund. “It is our way of thanking (the foundations) publicly,” said Miss Tan. Students also believe that renaming lecture theatres to donors’ names also provides a sense of history to the place. Evon Lim, 20, a second-year Humanities and Social Sciences student said: “Giving names to the lecture theatres, especially to the prominent ones, gives an identity and a story to the place.”

Teachers pen book for students Syafiqah Omar TEN years ago, she was diagnosed with cancer and suffered heart attacks. Yet so determined was Mdm Shirley Yeo to have a hand in cultivating good values in children that she did not quit her job. Now retired, Mdm Yeo, 66, continues to supervise nursery schools. Said the cancer survivor: “I find it extremely thrilling that after all these years, the students that I had taught acknowledge me and sometimes, even the parents can recognise me and thank me for my efforts in teaching their kids.” Mdm Yeo’s personal account was just one of many in a book specially compiled for students i n t he Nat iona l I n st it ute of Education. Titled “Class Dismissed: Lessons Beyond The Classroom,” the book was launched on August 15th as an early Teachers’ Day present to encourage the Institute’s teachersto-be. It was produced by Edunet, a group of professional teachers from diverse backgrounds. Mr Ng Yeow Ling, one of the book’s writers, said: “We just went with this notion to do something to inspire student-teachers, and see if this will bring some positive

vibes on how they feel about their decision to go into teaching.” The book also includes accounts of teachers from schools such as the Singapore Sports School, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts as well as Movement for the Intellectually Disabled of Singapore (MINDS). This, Mr Ng feels, makes the book representative of the various teaching sectors in Singapore. Deputy Secretary (Policy) of the Ministry of Education Mr Loh Ngai Seng, who was guest-of-honour at the launch, said that the book does not glamourise the teaching profession, but is a “down-to-earth narrative to highlight the defining moments of some educators”. Trainee teachers see the book as a valuable source of information, especially as such publications by e x per ienced teacher s a re uncommon. Trainee teacher Muhammad Faeez bin Rahmudeen, 21, believes the book will help open his eyes to challenges he may face in his career. However, for student-teacher Durgadevi d/o Tamil Selvam, 22, it was Mdm Shirley Yeo’s story that touched her deeply. Said Durgadevi:“There are many things to learn beyond the classroom and this article inspired me to see teaching not only as a career but as a lifelong achievement.”

Newly Crowned

PHOTO | INTERNET

FARALIZA Tan, 21, the newly crowned Miss Singapore World 2008, will represent the country in the 58th Miss World beauty pageant to be held in Ukraine on October 4th. Ms Tan, a final-year Communication Studies student, has made it to the Dean’s List three times in a row and majors in broadcast studies.

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Cans and thumbprints set records for charity Two records were set with more than $18,000 raised in fund-raiser Shereen Naaz Charles Syariff

CHARITY STARTS FROM YOUNG: Many of the shoppers at Jurong Point Shopping Centre were treated to many interesting performances and events, all aimed at raising money for the Children’s Cancer Foundation. PHOTO | CAI YUN

Taking it to the screen Syafiqah Omar IN THE first of its kind, four students from NTU collaborated with students from the National University of Singapore (NUS) to produce short documentaries of Singapore youth culture. In May this year, the students from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information volunteered for National Youth Council’s Youthprobe project, which uses videos to highlight t h e y ou t h s u b c u lt u r e s i n Singapore. W hile N US st udents researched on the content, the communication students lent their technical expertise in the field by directing and editing videos.

“We had to tell them that what worked well on paper might not necessarily turn out well on screen.” Junaini bte Johari, 21 Third-year Communication Studies student

Third-year students Junaini bte Johari, 22, and Valerie Toh Ser Yi,

21, teamed up with two other NUS students majoring in sociology to produce a film on the ‘Mat Motor’ phenomenon. Toh explained that the term refers to Malay youths who enjoy riding motorcycles and spending time together. Another pair, Yan Zixin and Ya ng Shu hu i, 21, t h i rd-yea r students, worked on a 12-minute video documentary chronicling the booming indie culture. Yang said that indie culture is a type of subculture with strong emphasis on individuality and self-expression, especially by creating original music. “We initially thought that indie culture was about deviant behaviours, but we soon overcame it when we realised that they were doing it because they have a strong passion for it,” said Yan. T he teams also faced challennges working together. Said Toh: “We look at what works well on television and how to get the audience to relate to the documentary while the researchers look at the concepts and how best to translate it to video.” “We had to work with each other in a sense that we had to tell them that what worked on paper might not necessarily turn out well on screen,” explained Junaini. Nevertheless, they all agreed t hat work ing on t his proved enriching. Toh said: “The youths were very sincere and we were touched by their friendliness throughout the one month of filming.”

IN THE process of raising funds for charity, a group of NTU hall residents set two records. One of the ways they attracted attention from passers-by was with the record-breaking items they had on display, namely, a sculpture built out of the most number of cans and the largest poster covered in thumbprints. The sculpture was made of 4,584 cans. The second record was set by hall residents who, for $1 each, added their thumbprints to pictures of themselves on a large poster measuring 178.2 cm by 84 cm. Touch of the Hearts (Tots) is an annual drive organised by Hall 4 residents to benefit the less for tunate. This year, the Children’s Cancer Foundation was the beneficiary of this fundraising attempt, which garnered more than $18,000 from the public. Named “Shining Nights 4 Childhood Cancer”, the event was

held on 16th and 17th August at Jurong Point Shopping Centre. Hall 4 residents collaborated with schools in the western region of Singapore to educate the public on childhood cancer, while appealing for support and donations from the public. Tots’ committee president, Lu Ling Ling, 20, said they aimed for a personal approach to charity. “The thumbprints symbolise an identity and each thumbprint is a personal effort towards this event,” she said. “The heart symbolises love, care and concern.” The two-day long event had a number of other performances as well, such as fashion shows, charity auctions for beauty products, and appearances by Project Superstar finalists that got shoppers joining in the fun. One bidder was Mrs Anges Chow, 34, who put up $75 for a Kose beauty hamper valued at $250. Mrs Chow chanced upon the event while shopping. Mrs Chow felt that although yout h s ca n cont r ibute w it h volunteer work, working adults like herself should chip in monetarily. She said: “If I can afford it, why not just do something good for charity?”

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T H E NA N YA NG C H RON IC L E

Choir overcomes money woes to win gold at Festival

Hostage? Biohazard? IT helps BECKY LO CAMPUS security will be beefed up with a new way to reach out to as many students as possible during emergencies, the university announced on August 13th. The Centre for IT Services’ Chief Information Officer Lau Kai Cheong said a communication system will be activated when an event such as a hostage incident or biological hazard happens. Staff authorised by the university’s cr isis management team will alert students by broadcasting messages through various media technologies. Depending on the nature of the emergency, students will be informed of the situation via text messages, emails, the university’s websites, computer ter minals and campus television broadcast channel. For example, if a fi re breaks out in the university, students there will see a message on their computer terminals warning them to leave the affected area, while faculty staff will help provide directions to evacuate them to safety. Some of the communication channels have been used before w it h a n i n sta nt bei ng when Singapore was grappling with an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).

Said Mr Lau: “The purpose (of the campus emergency communication procedure) is to have a rapid notification capability that can reach out to the university community in as short a time as possible.” However, some students are not sure if the system will help them in real moments of emergencies.

Students will know what emergency it is and what to do through these mediums, but I think sending text messages will be more helpful than emails. Jesslin Lim Kai Ting, 21 2nd-year Business student

Second-year Business student, Jesslin Lim Kai Ting, 21, said: “St udent s w i l l k now what emergency it is and what to do through these mediums, but I think sending text messages will be more helpful than emails.”

INSTANT EMERGENCY ALERTS: Students may receive mass -messages on their mobile phones when emergencies occur. PHOTO | CHEN WEI LI

M r L au s a id t h at t he university has a contingency plan in place if the com mu n icat ion c ha n ne l s fail. This includes backup generators that will start up automatically when power is down and provide power for emergency lightings, fi re protection systems and data centres.

Next best thing to National Day STACEY CHIA MORE than 500 university staff and students were invited to the first National Day Obser vance ceremony at t he Pav ilion on August 12th. The ceremony is a formal event to foster a greater sense of national pride in the school community. St udent A f fa i r s Of f ice divisional director Mrs Seah Wai Choo said international students were encouraged to participate, hopefully helping them feel more at home in Singapore. This gesture of hospitality was mir rored in a speech by NTU President Su Guaning at the event. “Singapore welcomes all with open arms,” said Dr Su. “For those of you who go back to your countries, you are our bridge of friendship to all around the world.” One of t he i nte r nat iona l students who attended was Pawel Sawicki, 25, a doctorate student from the School of Computer Engineering. “I couldn’t get tickets for the National Day parade, therefore this event is the next best way for me to experience what National Day is like in Singapore,” said the Polish student.

Prior to Dr Su’s speech, the ceremony’s attendees sang the National Anthem and recited the national pledge. Mrs Seah said that the school had intended to hold the event on August 8th, but feared a poor turnout as they anticipated that many students would take an extra day off given the long weekend. “We didn’t want to end up having only international students celebrating with us,” said Mrs Seah.

“I’m pleased with the turnout and we hope to continue doing this every year, but in order to have a bigger event, we need more support from the local students,” she said. Fourth-year School of Art, Design and Media student Huang Yuying, , 22, said: “I haven’t sung the National Anthem or recited the pledge since junior college. Doing it again just reminds me of how proud I am to be Singaporean.”

ONE UNITED NATION: International and local students take the Singapore pledge together. PHOTO | IRWIN TAN

A GOLD FOR EFFORT: Despite earlier financial difficulties, the CAC Choir pulled through and took home their first-ever gold medal. PHOTO | COURTESY

MAY CHEN THE Cultural Activities Club choir has proven that lack of funds cannot rain on passion, as they emerged triumphant at the 36th Festival of Songs in Oloumouc, Czech Republic. At the annual international compet it ion he ld f rom Ju ne 4th - 8th, the 30-strong choir’s repertoire of folk songs earned them a gold medal in the folklore a cappella category for youth and adult choirs. This is the choir’s first gold medal on the international stage. Budget and cost issues almost kept them from their international win, but sponsorships helped subsidise travelling costs for members. “We were sending out a lot of proposals to sponsors,” said Er Yanbing, 20, business manager of the choir, adding that their sponsors’ contacts came from the university’s Development Office. Organizations such as the Japanese Chamber of Commerce a n d I n d u s t r y, H on g L e on g Fou n d at i on , t h e Si n g a p or e Annkway Association and the Student Affairs Office eventually formed the major sponsors that helped shave a thousand dollars off the total travel costs for each member. Despite the subsidies, each member still had to fork out about $1,200. To keep to the tight budget, the group took upon themselves to prepare their costumes instead of leaving it to a tailor. T he group i mprov ised by working with cloth bought from places like Arab Street, while hairpieces were hand-made using materials like gold foil, cardboard and satay sticks. “We saved quite a bit on costuming costs by hand-making a lot of things, instead of taking the easy way out by sourcing for a

tailor which would have taken too much time and money,” said Er. The choir presented four songs in the competition, including a Filipino song, two Indonesian songs and a song from a Taiwanese aboriginal tribe. President of the choir, Alicia Poon, 19, said that committing to the long training hours was another difficulty in preparing for the competition. In the six weeks that led up to the competition, the choir met thrice weekly for around five hours each time, perfecting their pitch, dynamics and pronunciation.

United, we ll be able to conquer more medals together and do the school proud. Alicia Poon, 19 CAC Choir President

A total of seven choirs from around the world took part in the folklore category, including teams from Slovenia and Czech Republic. Teams had to score a minimum of 90 points in order to earn a gold medal. Poon felt that on top of earning the accolade, the choir has also gained a great deal of experience. “It was an eye-opener to be exposed to and be able to learn from so many different choirs from around the world,” she said. According to her, the close bonds created during the trip will also help the choir sing well together in future. “United, we will be able to conquer more medals together and do the school and choir proud.”

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Pop, lock and drop it in NTU Teo Wan Gek news editor

PUT on your blue suede shoes, as a new dance club, “Soul Funky”, may be made available to NTU students in the next semester. A group of students have come together to bring forth a dance style, also known as “popping and locking”, to the university for the first time, but the club has yet to be approved by the Cultural Activities Club (CAC).

“It’s like an exciting mixture of both retro and contemporary styles, but yet unique in its own way.” Fabian Wong, 22 President Soul Funky

Out-going CAC President Lee Szu Yung David, 26, said: “We face constraints on the facilities available to the existing seven

dance clubs. Budget and instructor fees are shared among the seven too. The addition of a new dance club would further strain the resources.” Nonet he le s s , Sou l Fu n k y already has an existing committee of members and its own club president, Fabian Wong, 22, who founded the club. A member, Chia Wei Long, 23, said: “We hope to convince CAC to approve our application if they see more students join.” Originating from America in the 1970s, popping and locking has seen increasing popularity, especially amongst many male dancers for popping. Popping is more technical and requires the flexing of muscles, hence female dancers prefer to “lock”. The style’s name derives from the way dancers’ bodies ‘pop’ and jerk when they contract and relax their muscles quickly, while ‘locking’ involves holding the pose in pauses and locking again. Prepa rat ions for t he club sta r ted si x mont hs ago, and committee member Sim Yuan Bin, 22, a second-year Materials Science Engineering student, is confident that the distinctive dance style will appeal to dance enthusiasts. Sim said: “I have friends who don’t dance and yet they watch

CCA fair draws in the crowds

HUSTLE AND BUSTLE: Students at the Fair are spoilt for choice. PHOTO | CHERYL WEE

STUDENTS mill around the North Spine as they scout for enriching and fun activities to take part in at the Co-Curricular Activities Fair held on the second week of school. CCAs are keen to recruit new members into their clubs. Booths are set up to showcase the various clubs and societies in the university.

DANCE REVOLUTION: Dancers from Soul Funky show off their popping and locking moves. PHOTO | ERIC LEONG

the dance videos from YouTube. There is an interest in popping and locking.” The club committee has been raising funds by showcasing their skills at external gigs, such as

Plaza Singapura. An introductory session was held on August 22nd, with more than 15 signups from students. “We hope to create awareness for other interesting genres of

dance, besides the mainstream hip-hop or ballroom”, said the club’s president, Wong. “It’s like an exciting mixture of both retro and contemporary styles, but yet unique in its own way.”

Proposal on S/U option still pending Geraldine Yeo FOUR months after students were first surveyed on their thoughts about revising the satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) option, but the Students’ Union is still waiting for a reply on its proposal to review the policy. E a r l i e r t h i s y e a r, t h e St udent’s Union conducted a sur vey to help revise the University’s current practice of its S/U option. The option allows students to declare a percentage of their subjects to be excluded when computing the cumulative grade point average. Its aim is to give students the freedom to take electives they are interested in while not having to worry that they would not do well for the course. The existing system lets students exercise their option before they take their examinations. A year ago, however, the National University of Singapore changed its policy on their S/U option, and allowed students to exercise their option after the release of the examination results. This made NTU students keen to have a similar system in place here as well. The survey results showed t hat nearly 70 per cent of students polled want to be able

to use their option after they know their examination results. The Union gathered these results last semester and submitted a proposal asking for a review of the system. “We sent out our proposal weeks before the new term started, and we have since been reminding the relevant authority repeatedly in past weeks,” he said. “But we get a similar reply (each time), stating that the proposal is under review and consideration.” According to Das, the “real discussion” can only take place when they meet the relevant authorities face-to-face. Said Das: “They have to be ready on their end.” When contacted, the Office of Academic Services said that

the proposed changes need to be carefully considered but declined to reveal the exact details of its decision-making progress. “As of now, (the situation) is uncertain because we have not met with the Union,” said a spokesperson for the OAS. T he C h r on ic le cou ld not confirm when the final decision w i l l be made, but st udent s such as Grace Chen, 20, a thirdyear Chemical and Biological Engineering student, believes that progress will happen soon. “ T he Un ion i s t he br idge between the administrators and the students,” she said. “I believe that they have the ability to settle this simple issue through more indepth discussions.”

HOPE FOR CHANGE: The survey results show huge support to exercise S/U option after release of exam results. GRAPHIC | JANELL HOONG

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The million dollar babies NTU teams devise clever robots for a competition in a bid to clinch the million-dollar prize Cheryl Wee IF YOU are passing by the Electrical and Electronic Engineering (EEE) block one evening, do not be surprised if you see a robot make its way across the car park. This robot is merely on one of its practice routes. It is a contender for a million-dollar prize in the Defence Science and Technology A ge nc y ’s Te c h X C h a l le n ge . Competing teams must devise robots that can carry out a number of functions. T he cha l lenge, wh ich t he agency describes as a way to encourage engineers in developing te c h nolog y for defe nce a nd national security, requires teams to build robots able to “think” for themselves. The robots must understand different scenarios and respond accordingly. For example, the competition finals requires the robots to navigate outdoors and find their way into a building. They must also be able to operate a lift and take the stairs, among other tasks. The robot that completes its

challenge in the shortest time will win its team $1m. T he N T U tea ms include e ng i ne e r i ng s t ude nt s , t he i r professors and a group of robot enthusiasts. Only three—Evolution, Azrobowar, and Fantastic Four— made it into the finals. A s si sta nt P rofe s sor A le x Tay Leng Phuan, who led Team Pathfinders, stressed that the competition provided a golden opportunity for current students to get some hands-on experience. He said each team has spent t housands of dollars put ting together a robot for the challenge but they would be used to give engineering students a better grasp of the technology even after the challenge. “This work over here is not just a one-off work, but will have continuity,” he said. As for the contenders, winning the generous prize money has not featured much in their plans yet. They will face-off with three other teams on September 21st. “Knowledge is more important than money, and whether we win or not is not as important as long as we get some practice in doing what we have learnt,” said Fantastic Four member Dong Junfeng, 28, an EEE graduate student. “After all, isn’t that the whole point of university? To put into practice what we have learnt?”

Putting the weather at the tips of your fingers Cathryn Neo IT CAN detect weather patterns, help fight dengue, and even aid researchers in their search for renewable sources of energy. Known as the “Asia-Pacific Environmental Sensor Grid”, it is already widely applied in environmental monitoring systems that use a network of sensors and weather stations to send real-time information of the environment back to a centre that manages the information. W hile Singapore is safe f rom t he d i r ec t on slaug ht of nature’s fury, it is no less immune to indirect effects, such as earthquake tremors in neighbouring countries. Said Dr Lim Hock Beng, who leads the National Weather Sensor Grid Project at NTU: “Early detection of such potential disasters can significantly help scientists and policy makers to mitigate the effects of natural disasters which may indirectly impact Singapore.” In a recent collaboration with the National Research Fou nd at ion ( N R F ) , it wa s used to analyse solar energy distribution, which allows for the efficient harnessing of solar energy. The system was also used to study the effect of weather

patterns on dengue fever outbreaks last year. But t h is mu lt i-pu r pose technology has more tricks up its sleeve. Dr Lim’s research team is currently working with a building consultancy firm and an Australian developer to explore the use of this system in areas such as the harnessing of wind energy.

T he tec h nolog y i s st i l l a relatively young one, said Dr Lim, but he hopes to be able to influence its development and uses worldwide. Said Dr Lim: “In the long run, we plan to develop large-scale infrastructures to collect realtime data which will significantly impact research in the international scene.”

WIND FARMS IN SINGAPORE?: These are some of the questions NTU’s National Weather Sensor Grid project is trying to find out. PHOTO | INTERNET

Sharing Confucian values with NTU Lee Yen Nee

SMART BOTS: NTU teams have built robots that can study their surroundings and move about accordingly as part of the TechX Challenge. PHOTO | CHERYL WEE

IT IS the Confucius InstituteN T U’s second year since it was first established here, and its birthday wish is to get the university’s students involved in its programmes to promote the Chinese culture. The institute was inaugurated in 2005 at the Universit y’s campus, but moved last year One-North campus in Buona Vista so it may expand the programmes it offers. One of the oldest programmes offered by the institute is the Diploma in Teaching Chinese La ng uage for educator s to improve their teaching methods and mastery of the language. It has also worked with various schools in Singapore, such as Tampines Primary School, which has immersion programmes to Shandong, China. With the help of the institute, teachers from the school published a book on Confucian values. The book is now used as a teaching aide. The institute builds up on its cor porate links as well. Earlier this year, there was a request from Keppel Group to conduct a “Contemporary China and Cultural” course for their

management staff. The feedback was a positive one, according to the institute’s director, Associate Professor Koh Hock Kiat. To achieve its aims of being a leading Confucius Institute in the world, it also has a new series of programmes lined up. The “Young Confucius” cultural camp for primary and secondary school students aims to instil a deeper sense of the Confucian teachings. And while it has done much to promote the Chinese culture in Singapore, the institute recognises that its efforts in the University

still has some way to go. Professor Koh said they hosted a summer programme for a number of foreign students who came to NTU last July. During their stay, they attended basic Mandar in and Ch inese cultural classes at the institute. Professor Koh said he hopes the institute could contribute more to NTU. Said Professor Koh: “We want to lay the foundations to higher studies in the Chinese language and culture at the universit y level.”

PROMOTING THE CHINESE CULTURE: The Confucius Institute sent students on exchanges to China, among its many programmes. PHOTO | COURTESY

Lifestyle

Italy just isn’t that romantic after all Page 15

a corner of their own Playing games is not just about having fun. Two NTU students have created their own game and produced it successfully. Liyana Low talks to them to find out just what goes into designing a board game IF LIFE is just a game, how can you tell if you are winning? Having a brand new board game in production, and watching people play it, enjoy it and come back for more is one good sign - at least for two inventors from NTU. Satkunarajah Pratheepan and his friend William Peh created Corner, a new board game that relies on social interaction and intellectual smarts. “Corner is really a universal game where you can apply what you learn from it to real life because it teaches you how to be flexible and to think on your feet,” said William. S a t k u n a r a j a h , a Ye a r 2 Materials Science Engineering student and William, a Year 2 Biological Sciences student, both 22, were fresh out of National Service when they came up with the idea to fuse education and entertainment together in a board game. “When I was a kid in school, studying was boring. My mum didn’t want me to play games because she thought they were a waste of time,” said William. It was then, that the idea for Corner took shape: “Corner is a way to make education fun,” said Satkunarajah. “It’s really just out of interest and passion that we created Corner. We don’t see it as a business. To us, Corner is more like an adventurous venture.” The game, which follows a carefully developed storyline and requires players to interact with one another, took two of them around one year to create. Satkunarajah and William invited groups of people with different backgrounds to test the prototype. They found that while some were enthusiastic about the game, others were not.

CORNERED: Satkunarajah Pratheepan (in grey) and William Peh (in white shirt and jeans) show their hand. PHOTOS| TAN YI WEN

However, they were undeterred and worked on the game to make it viable to a wider audience. The two credited the NTU Board Games Society, Fast Forward, as it was the society who provided them with contacts of board games cafes. They also got feedback from experienced board game players on how to improve Corner. But they still met with a few setbacks along way. “Luck ily, we had a fr iend whose mother had a small printing company. So he decided to do us a favour. But because it was small, we could only produce a few hundred sets at a time. So it took us some time to produce 1,000 sets,” recounted William. “We also came up with the init ia l capita l w it h ou r ow n pockets, so it definitely hurt,” said

Pratheepan. For the both of them, one of the important lessons learnt was that the collaboration between different parties could bring about more benefits. “I think the whole process could have been shortened by making more use of contacts,” said Satkunarajah. “We were inexperienced and did not know the importance of making use of the contacts we had, so we thought we could just rely on ourselves and do everything on our own.” He mentioned a kind lawyer they met through the Intellectual Proper t y Off ice of Singapore (IPOS), a statutory board under the Ministry of Law that advises on and administers intellectual property laws in Singapore. “A s we were st udents, he charged us an extremely discounted

rate and didn’t take advantage of us. We only had to pay $300 to settle our copyright filing.” When asked about the future of the game, they said: “For us, if the players of Corner think that they have gained something from playing the game, we would already consider it a success.” “But at this point in time, it’s hard to say if we’ve failed or succeeded because we’ve just came up with the physical product and there’s still so much more to be done,” added William.

GAME ON: William Peh is ready to take on the game market with Corner, a game he created with his friend.

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WILD IN THE COUNTRY

BALL ROLLING: Mr Martin Cooper and his daughter, Ellie, right before they take a tumble. PHOTO | NG XI JIE

Ng Xi Jie and Charissa Tan roll down a hill, bait prawns and walk the forest trails to discover the activities that the countryside has in our concrete jungle. PUT a spin on things with zorbing, a new activity, where participants are strapped inside a giant plastic ball and go rolling. Originating from New Zealand, it was brought to Singapore recently by Joshua Tay, 29, founder of zorbing company, Zovbsg. The air-cushioned zorb ball is three-metres wide and big enough to hold two people. Staffers on hand will run with the ball to control it and ensure safety. Two roll downs cost $35 per

student and $50 per adult. Group zorbing can also be done with a minimum of 10 people. Zovbsg a lso organ ises teambuilding games that involves obstacle courses. Zorbing can be done at other locations but at an extra charge of $180. Bring along picnic mats, kites and frisbees and enjoy a day out. The best time to zorb is in the late afternoon, when it is cooler. There are different types of zorbing—wet and dry. Dry options

Hook, Line and Sinker

PHOTOS | CHARISSA TAN

WESTLAKE FISHING VILLAGE Lakeside Fishing Village (Open 24 hours) 9 Japanese Gardens Tel: 6268 0604

FOR those who do not have the patience for angling, prawning makes for a fuss-free sport. It involves baiting prawns in a man-made pool, after which you

can eat your catch fresh off the grill. Charges are $13 per hour, and $26 for three, which is inclusive of a fishing rod, net and bait. While one might misconceive that it’s a sport for old fogies, coowner of the place, Eric Woo, who is in his thirties, said that most customers are between 20 to 40 years old. Here’s a tempting deal for first-timers who are unsure of how adept they might be. Tagged

include harness zorbing where one or two people get strapped into the sides of the ball, or freeform zorbing, where one goes unstrapped. If you do not mind getting wet, try hydro zorbing. Strapped, it is like being in a washing machine; unstrapped, it is like a water slide. Bring at least three litres of water and a change of clothes for this option. Nigel Low and his brother, Javier screamed continously as

they rolled downhill. Javier, 14, said,“It was not scary...not the slightest bit.” “It was so cool. You feel the blood rush to your brain,” said Nigel Low, 18. Martin Cooper, 41, who zorbed with his daughter, Ellie, 12, said that going downhill was too quick and uphill too slow but that it was “really good fun”. You have to be relatively fit to take the physical strain of tumbling downhill and walking back up in

prawns are released on Wednesdays and Fridays from 7pm to 5am. Tags range between $2 to $20; catch one and you’ll be paid the prize amount corresponding to the one displayed on the tag. Get your fishing rod, hook your bait, drop it in the water and wait. Sounds simple right? Wrong. The trick is to watch your float as it bobs and begins to dip below the surface past the indicator. Tug a little just to feel the tension, and then jerk it up as it submerges below the water level. This hooks your prey just as it’s beginning to savour the chicken-heart bait. “The thrill of catching a prawn is definitely addictive; I could stay here for hours!” said Samantha Sim, 20, who initially expressed boredom while waiting for her first catch. The challenge of hooking the prawns, especially before the smart critters nibble away your bait, is exhilarating. Add the fact that there’s a barbeque pit with red-hot coals ready to grill your catch—simply gratifying.

Forest Bliss THE Southern Ridges consists of a nine kilometre chain of nature trails, with bridges, Henderson Waves and Alexandra Arch. It links three of Singapore’s oldest parks, namely Kent Ridge Park, Telok Blangah Hill Park, and Mount Faber Park. The highlight of the walk is the Henderson Waves (right), the highest pedestrian bridge in Singapore. I t s wo o d e n s t r u c t u r e i s embellished with seven steel curves; each flaxen curve serves as a sheltered, shady resting spot where you can cloud-gaze comfortably. Stroll through Hilltop Walk, a trail that winds through Telok Blangah Park. Stop at Terrace Garden, at the top, which has an excellent view. This leads to Forest Walk; carry on to Alexandra Arch. Amble through Floral Walk and Hort Park, the gardening hub of Singapore. End off at Canopy Walk among treetops. The trail takes about two hours to complete.

the ball like hamsters. Water may shoot up your nose when hydorzorbing but being swilled with water is the perfect cool down for a hot day. All in all, a marvellous thrill on a wide open field.

ZOVBSG

Old Holland Road, Enter through Blackmore Drive to Brizay Park Tel: 6779 1031 Website: www.zovbsg.com

I f you pr e f e r t he n i g ht , explore Alexander Arch and the Forest Trail. The paths are softly illuminated, creating an almost phantasmagorical scene not unlike the forests in Lord of the Rings. While there are a few rangers patrolling the Ridges at all times, girls probably should not embark on the forest trails alone. Bring lots of water and some food supplies to see you through the walk. Call NParks as they provide information and suggestions that are not available on their website.

SOUTHERN RIDGES Tel: 6471 5601 Website: www.nparks.gov.sg

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upcoming events

know your prof Assistant Professor Roderick Wayland Bates talks to Stacey Chia about the attraction of death HAVE YOU SEEN A DEAD BODY?

I have seen a dead body being cut up right before my eyes. I visited a guest lecturer at his hospital in Thailand and he was cutting the body up while talking to me. It was the first time I saw all the parts being removed from the body; it was not something I was used to. I felt a little uncomfortable, but if I had to see another dead body today, I wouldn’t mind.

LOMO + ELECTRICO COLLABORATION—THE EXHIBITION

STEP ASIDE,

GRISSOM

Party with Electrico Lomo-style at the launch of their new album, We Satellites, with fanciful visual treats. P ic t ur e s t aken b y t h e eight Lomographers who got to hang out and take pictures of Electrico during the band’s album launch tour will also be exhibited. Also on the Electrico Lomowall are pictures that the band shot in their own time, using the Lomo LC-A+ and Fisheye No 2.

DO YOU GET THE CREEPS WHEN YOU FOLLOW CASES?

Looking at the pictures no, but thinking about what these people did, yes, par ticularly those involving children. It’s cruel and inhumane. Sometimes you don’t want to continue reading about what happened to these people because it’s horrible. HOW POPULAR IS YOUR CLASS AND WHY?

AUG 23 TO OCT 6TH TIME: 11AM - 7PM (MON - FRI) AND 1PM - 5PM (SAT) VENUE: LOMOGRAPHIC EMBASSY SINGAPORE/ OBJECTIFS, 12A LIANG SEAH STREET ADMISSION IS FREE

I h ad 370 on l i ne app e a l s and many email appeals. Its popularity has much to do with the popular television show, CSI. In addition, I try and make the science aspect very easy, so you don’t need a science background to understand the principles. Students from all sorts of disciplines use it to fi ll their science requirement and it’s the kind of science that is very accessible to everyone, even if they are arts students.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT 6339 3068 OR EMAIL SINGAPORE@ LOMOGRAPHYASIA .COM OR VISIT WWW.OBJECTIFS .COM.SG / LOMO.HTM VIVACE IX—A HARMONICA CONCERT BY NTU CHINESE SOCIETY HARMONICA GROUP

IS FORENSIC SCIENCE USEFUL IN SINGAPORE?

DATE: AUG 30TH TIME: 7.30PM TO 10PM VENUE: ADM AUDITORIUM TICKET PRICE: $8 FREE SEATING

No, because our crime rate is too low. It’s useful for people who intend to go into the police force, which is why we have seven policemen, who are not students at NTU, taking the course this year. A guest speaker from the forensic management branch of the Singapore Police Force asked if he could send some of his colleagues as he thought it would be useful for them to learn something from the class. YOU TEACH FORENSIC SCIENCE, BUT YOU RE NOT A SCIENTIST, SO HOW DID YOUR INTEREST BEGIN?

I’m a n orga n ic chem ist by training; I was never really following forensic science. When the Division of Chemical and Biological Chemistr y opened three years ago, we had to come up with a course that would appeal to students and forensic science was it. But I did develop a very strong curiosity for the subject once I started lecturing it. Whenever a big case comes up I try to look into it. I spend too much time reading case fi les. IS IT DIFFICULT TO TEACH THE SUBJECT, SINCE YOU HAVE NO FORMAL EDUCATION ON THE SUBJECT?

It isn’t. Essentially, it’s basic

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT BERNARD AT BERN0004@ NTU.EDU.SG OR VISIT VIVACEIX .BLOGSPOT.COM WATERFEST SINGAPORE ‘08

PHOTO | CHEN WEI LI

Chemistry, Physics and Biology, so it’s just a matter of taking the same science I learnt in University and giving it a new application. What is surprising is that even very fundamental

It was the ﬁrst time I saw all the parts being removed from the body.

Asst Prof Roderick Wayland Bates Division of Chemistry and Bio Chemistry

pieces of science do turn out to become fairly applicable in these situations. W H AT H O B B I E S D O Y O U PURSUE?

M y w i f e a nd I l i ke to go hiking. For a cit y, Singapore has a sur prising amount of nat ure. We nor mally go to Bukit Timah Nature Reser ve, MacRitchie Nat ure Reser ve or Su n ge i B u loh We t l a nd Reser ve. NTU is a great place for nature walks as well. HOW DOES SINGAPORE COMPARE TO THE OTHER CITIES YOU VE LIVED IN?

Compared to Bangkok, where

I wa s located for seven years, Singapore is a much bet ter place to live i n, as getting around in Bangkok is ver y stressful because of traffic. Singapore is such an easy place to live in because it ’s ef f ic ie nt ly or ga n i se d , you can get around easily. it’s clean, safe and you can get almost ever y thing you want here. WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT YOUR HOMETOWN?

If there’s one thing I miss about my bi r t hplace in England, it’s the countryside, Singapore doesn’t have much of it.

Singapore’s largest waterfest returns for another year. This is the fourth time that the festival has been held. Various water hotspots around the island will be transformed into play areas where anyone can particpate or watch different sports DATE: AUG 30TH F OR

OCT 11TH

MORE INFORMATION , PLEASE EMAIL

INFO @ WATERFESTSINGAPORE.COM OR VISIT WWW.WATERFESTSINGAPORE.COM

To have your event listed, e-mail chronicle@ntu.edu.sg. Include event date, location, contact and any pictures.

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dapper: your essential style guide

CULT FAVOURITES Gerald Tan goes underground with T-shirts big on bold prints, abstract graphics and lots of attitude

ith the emergence of streetwear and indie brands in recent years, the humble T-shirt is now more than just a wardrobe staple. Popularising the vibrancy of street culture, brands like Supreme, Obey, and Atticus have alleviated the T-shirt into cult status with a loyal following. Thought to have originated from and influenced by rap and hiphop musical styles in the US, the trend soon found its way into Asia, with Japan being the first market to embrace it. A Bathing Ape, or BAPE as it is commonly known, is one such successful Japanese brand to infuse street culture into its T-shirts. Its stores in Japan are notoriously difficult to locate and its elusiveness leaves fans of the cult label wanting more. Hong Kong-based Know1edge is also one of the most in-demand street couture labels currently. Today, such T-shirts are making waves, breaking rules and crossing boundaries in the fashion industry. Highly anticipated collaborations between cult brands churn out limited edition T-shirts that are not only exclusive, but highly sought after by those in the know as well. Besides offering designers and graphic artists countless creative possibilities with its simple and fuss-free form, these T-shirts do more than just look good. For many, it is also the symbol of selfexpression and all things anti-establishment. Celebrities such as Pharrell Williams have been spotted out and about town in statement-making T-shirts. Make your own social commentary, or simply embrace your devil-may-care attitude true to street culture by donning one of these T-shirts dripping with attitude.

ON HIM: Lightning Street Tee, $39, from COL:LAGE; DOPE Cap, $130 and red belt by Know1edge, $65, both from What’s Good; shades, jeans and wristband, stylist’s own. CLOCKWISE FROM BOTTOM LEFT: Boneyards Pirate Tee by Stussy x Neighbourhood, $100 and Marlene Tee by Know1edge, $69, both from What’s Good; RAMPIT Tee by HDLN, $39, from COL:LAGE; Second Anniversary Tee by Know1edge x WG, $45, Checked Tee by Alphanumeric, $45, Cruz 2 Tee by Know1edge, $69, Reverb Tee, $45 and Low Down Tee, $45, both by Alphanumeric, Lauren Tee by Know1edge, $69, Aloha Friday Tee by Crooks & Castles, $79, and Monogram pocket Tee by Know1edge x WG, $50, all from What’s Good. STOCKIST COL:LAGE, 61 Haji Lane; What’s Good, 04-08, The Cathay, 2 Handy Road

Photography Chen Wei Li Styling Gerald Tan Styling Assistants Rachael Boon & Lin Xinyi Model Kasster Soh

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food from the globe

FILIPINO FLAVOURED

Known for their diverse food influences, Filipino food is flavourful and a delight to indulge in. With the warm hospitality of the Filipinos, Shereen Naaz Charles Syariff uncovers some surprises that await you at a Filipino food mart

MEGA LIFESTYLE 04-24 Lucky Plaza Opens 10 am to 9pm (Mon-Sun) Tel : 6735 9973

FI LI PI NO food comes from a diverse mishmash of cultures. It tends to have the spiciness of Spanish food, the rich flavours of Malay delicacies and the modern tastes of American cuisine. Filipino food and ingredients are difficult to find here and cannot simply be purchased at our local mini-marts. Most Filipinos such as April Zara, 22, a fresh graduate says that one of the best places to look for anything Philippines-related would be at Lucky Plaza—where a wonderland awaits you. I ndeed it i s. H idden i n a nondescript corner of Lucky Plaza is Mega Lifestyle—a mini-mart run by Howard and Evangeline Mak. After moving to Singapore almost seventeen years ago, the husband and wife team works hard to ensure that the true, authentic nature of Filipino products are not compromised. A lt hou g h t he m i n i-m a r t appears to sell the usual essentials,

it is in fact, a treasure cove fi lled with great steals and deals. Unlike most mini-marts in Lucky Plaza that carry instant noodles, shrimp paste and soup mi xes, Mega Lifestyle carries an unusual range of products such as laxatives and laing (yam) leaves. Also, Muslims may have the misconception that Filipino foods are not halal. However, Mega Lifestyle carries a large range of Filipino food that are certified halal. Well-known for their excellent hospitalit y, Filipinos like the Maks welcome you with a warm smile and open arms. Mrs Mak believes “customer sat isfact ion and product availability” is important and is the secret behind their regular customer clientele. This gives them an edge over the other stores. So if you’re bored of t he u sua l ca nteen food or ta keaway ser vices, go on down to Mega Lifestyle to enjoy a unique gastronomical adventure. Not only will you receive excellent service from the owners, but you will also fi nd yourself lost in a sea full of unique and interesting products.

5 THINGS WE LIKE Barrio Fiesta s Bagoong $3.40 for 250g jar BAGOONG is a simple, salted anchovy paste that can be eaten right out of the jar. This salty concoction is widely enjoyed as a delicious dip. Barrio Fiesta uses only the finest and freshest fish for their anchovy paste – which comes in three different flavours: sweet, salty and spicy. Usually eaten with green mangoes, the combination of sour and salty can be quite tangy and refreshing at the same time. Goldilocks Polvoron $0.60 per piece; $2.80 for ﬁve pieces IF YOU have a weakness for things sweet and creamy, this dessert is a must-try. The flaky,buttery ‘cake’ is enough to induce a sugar high. The more adventurous can try the flavoured Polvorons which come in many different flavours such as Chocolate, Cookies & Cream, Nuts and even Pinipig – a rice krispies version. Even if you are skeptical, at only $0.60 per piece, you cannot go wrong.

BARGAINS GALORE: Customers jostle for space at this store selling Filipino-made items. PHOTOS | TAN ZI JIE

Tuyo $1.50 for ﬁve pieces THE most important meal of the day for Filipinos is the almusal, or breakfast. Known as the ‘Poor Man’s Dish’, tuyo is actually salted fish. The fish are preserved and carries a very strong stench. However, when cooked with garlic rice and fried egg, this smelly fish is transformed into one of the most popu la r a nd enjoyed Filipino foods.

Kraft Cheez s Whiz Piniento $3.80 for 220g AT FIRST glance, this appears to be yet another cheese spread. However, it is unusually mixed with piniento, or bell pepper. Although the dark orange cheese paste may make one feel queasy, it remains one of the most popular items. This variety of Kraft Cheese, can only be found in Filipino marts like this. So, the next time you’re planning to stock up on cheese, why not try this cheese paste that is spicy, yet retains the rich taste of Kraft’s cheese.

Mama Sita s Mixes $1.50 per sachet or mix IF YOU have always wanted to try your hand at cooking unique dishes but never had the flair or guts to, why not pick up a sachet of Mama Sita’s mixes? These mixes make cooking fool - proof and the end products are surprisingly good. Mega Lifestyle carries an entire rack of spices ranging from Adobo flavouring (a general marinade usually applied to meat), Sinigang (tamarind seasoning ), Palabok (nutty gravy), Caldereta (Spicy sauce) and Kare-kare (Peanut sauce ). These sachets of goodness are especially handy for those who stay in hall and want to try something new and different. Simply add water and your desired ingredients, and you are ready to enjoy your meal in less than 20 minutes.

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food snoop

START YOUR DAY RIGHT Here s another reason to get out of bed early: scrumptious breakfasts delights. Estelle Low and Aw Hui Min ﬁnd the best places to begin your day

coconut topping lends fragrance and texture to the mild-tasting Japanese curry inside. Since the à la carte orders are generally light and not quite filling, try the Bacon Egg Sandwich Set if you want a heartier breakfast. For $5, you get four quarter-slices of sandwich, a salad and coffee or tea. The sandwich is almost perfect with the right blend of ingredients. The egg is mixed with enough mayonnaise without stripping the taste from the bacon. The winning

PROVENCE 17A Lorong Liput Holland Village Opens 9.30am to 8.30pm (Mon to Fri); 8.30am to 8.30pm (Sat & Sun) Tel: 6467 6966

T H ER E is no fanc y decor or boisterous welcome, but Provence has captured the hearts of Holland Village residents. It is impossible to miss it when customers are continually streaming in and out of this brightly lit bakery-cafe. Unlike the open-tray concept adopted by most bakeries, Provence pastries are neatly placed in pigeonhole compartments with plastic covers to ensure that they stay fresh and clean. Other pastries like scones and cookies are beguilingly displayed in picnic baskets. Reviewers have raved about its signature creation—Chocolate Wassants (10 for $6; extreme right). Inspired by French croissants, these dark chocolate-marbled wassants are Provence’s best-sellers. Also coming in custard flavour, they are incredibly soft and velvety.

EUROPEAN PASTRIES WITH A JAPANESE TWIST: The Cream Cheese Sesame and Milk Pan emerge as winners, while the Bacon Egg Sandwich Set gives you more bang for your buck. PHOTOS | CHEN WEI LI

Another hot-seller is the Milk Pan ($1.50), a snowy white bun with milk custard fi lling. It looks plain, but the light and creamy custard can get very addictive. The Brown Rice An Pan ($1.40) is another winner. Made from brown rice and wheat flour, the

bread is surprisingly soft with a slightly grainy texture. The red bean paste fi lling is generous and not overly sweet, making this bun easy on the taste buds. It is easy to overlook the pint-sized Cream Cheese Sesame ($0.80), but do try these f laky

sesame-flavoured rolls. The crust is f irm yet crispy, and melds brilliantly with the cream cheese fi lling. The only downside is its small size. The Curry Doughnut ($1.70) looks slightly unattractive, but is definitely worth a try. The grated

formula however—like all other buns in Provence—is in the bread, which is fluffier and more fragrant than the usual white bread. Head down in the late afternoon if you still crave breakfast food, and you will not have to jostle with the morning brunch crowd.

SCRUMPTIOUS CAFE 200 Turf Club Road 01-19 Turf City Opens 8.30am to 6pm Closed on Wednesdays Tel: 6463 6543

FORGET McDonald’s Big Breakfast and McGriddles. Tucked in Turf City is a new kid in town that dishes out meaner breakfast sets than our familiar fast food outlets. S c r u mpt iou s C a f e of f e r s selections drawn from the common western food fare, but its magic lies in its morning menu. Many of these breakfast items are perfect renditions of classic Australian br ea k f a s t ite m s . T he y may, however, be a tad heavy for locals, given the large portions. Start with a glass of sugarfree Very Berry ($7). Unlike most smoothies, fresh yoghurt and minimal ice are used to produce the smoothie’s thick texture without being cloying. The uncluttered dining room emanates a sweet scent of waffles. Feast on the US Malt Waffles a la mode ($10.90), served in four petite pieces. Most customers find the fragrance especially alluring as the chef uses atypical malt flour to give the waffles a distinctive light texture and buttery flavour. T heir signat ure dish, Scrumptious Fr y-up ($17) is a

EGGS-PLOSIVE DELIGHT: Tuck into the orgasmic Eggs Benedict (above) and Scrumptious! Burger (right), and top it off with a rich smoothie blend of strawberries, raspberries and blackberries (top right).

hearty variety platter of Chipolata, Bratwurst sausages, bacon strips, honey baked ham, and scrambled eggs with mushroom. Big on savoury meat, Scrumptious Fryup i s d i sappoi nt i ng ly sma l l on sur pr ises. The items were unimpressive, and the Chipolata and sausages were too salty for the palate.

But it is the Eggs Benedict ($14.50) that is the cafe’s de facto scr umptious dish. Covered in gloopy egg yolk when sliced, this dish is not meant to be consumed politely. Here, two perfectly poached eggs are placed on fresh English muffi ns, with honey baked ham and baby spinach sandwiched in

RECEIVE FLES F ALT WA FREE M OOPS OF ICE SC OR TWO R EVERY TWO O F M ERED CREA SES ORD UR R U O C MAIN W YO OU SHO WHEN Y RIC CARD. MAT

between and Hollandaise sauce drizzled over. The overall dish is immensely satisfying—a superb mishmash of sweet, salty and tangy f lavours all rolled into one. A hot favourite, Eggs Benedict is usually snapped up by 12pm on most weekends. T he chef then prepares another batch of

Hollandaise sauce for the late afternoon crowd, which is ready after 2pm. At Scrumptious Cafe, you have the best of both worlds: Main courses are ready after 11am, while the breakfast menu is available all day. Despite the cafe’s location, waking up early to Eggs Benedict is truly rewarding.

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travelogue

LIVING LA DOLCE VITA Hopeless romantic Amanda Tan visits Italy, and realises that its sights are overrated. Yet, the experience leaves her mesmerised and hungry for more

SOME say the grass is not greener on the other side. Catwalks, models, high fashion, glamour and glitz formed my preconceptions of the world’s fashion capital—Milan. Yet, as I dragged my luggage down cobbled streets (not redcarpets), my main concern was why weren’t there any escalators? Could this really be the glitzy place I thought? Surely escalators were the least to ask for? It was plain to all that I was disappointed.

I wa s on a t h r e e -we e k European tour with my boyfriend and for the Italian leg, I expected Milan to dazzle me. Milan was not Milan with its poorly-maintained trams and trains. Litter clogged the streets and pollution was in the air. There were bits of cotton-like pollutants flying all around. However, the city centre did not disappoint. It was exactly

5 THINGS TO TRY IN ITALY 1 Explore the narrow alleys (except the dodgy-looking ones, of course) and try the eateries there. The commercialised restaurants tend to be on main roads, and are also more costly. The understated eateries have a more homely feel with added personal touches to their menus. 2 Splurge on a gondola ride if you go to Venice. Prices range from 80 euros to 200 euros ($150-$400) depending on time of day and vendor. Venice is all about its scenic waterways and alleys, most of which cannot be explored by foot, so it will be wise to have a gondolier as your guide. 3 The Vatican City in Rome is a must-visit. If possible, try to coincide your trip with the Pope’s mass (every Sunday), or the papal audience, where the Pope will give a public blessing (most Wednesdays). 4 Read up on the histories of places, monuments, artists etc before your trip and you’ll find much more meaning in surveying these great works in actuality. After all, in every corner of Italy lies a bit of the grand old past. 5 If you do travel inter-city by Trenitalia or other local trains, be sure to make seat reservations before your scheduled travel date. If you don’t, expect to squeeze in a crowded cabin for a four-hour ride.

the way I had expected Milan to be. I visited Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, which houses all the luxury brands. It was nothing short of what pop culture and movies portrayed. Similarly, our stop in Venice (above) awed us with postcardperfect scener y. We splurged on a 100 Euros ($200) gondola ride and drifted through narrow waterways, exploring a side of the city unseen on foot. Humming Italian tunes from his childhood, our gondolier told us tales from Venetian history and shared his family traditions. It was this slow and unassuming Eu ropean pace of life t hat I relished. Despite the multitude of tourists we encountered in the various cities, it was still a muted form of the hustle and bustle that we are accustomed to in Singapore. Perhaps it was because we were standing on sacred ground in the Vatican, or because we were visiting world icons and legends that commanded a sense of awe and respect. If I had one travel tip, I would recommend taking trains from one city to the next. Planes may be dirt cheap (think 1 cent for a one-way fl ight), but it does not offer the same sights and sounds that a train ride would.

On our fi rst inter-city train ride, we made the mistake of not reserving seats in advance. We suffered three hours of standing agony in a crowded train where some drunken passengers used the train f loors as their toilet. That aside, rolling hills and vast pastures kept me amazed as I snapped picture after picture, hoping to i m mor ta lise t hese breathtaking scenes which I may never see again, at least in the near future.

CAMERA FRIENDLY: Playing with poses at the Leaning Tower of Pisa. PHOTO | COURTESY

In the same way, I snapped away furiously during mass with the Pope in Vatican City, and again when posing with the Leaning Tower of Pisa (I posed, not the Pope). Other memorable places were the Colosseum and the Roman Forums. Many times, I stood rooted in contemplation, wondering how on earth I could really be there when previously it had all taken form only in my imagination. That was my sentiment for most of my trip—disbelief and wonder. This experience has also taught me lessons. For instance, I realised my perception of Italy was highly romanticised, and was not entirely in tune with reality. I learnt to treasure the good things I had back home. The grass may not have been greener on some sides, but I wanted to take everything down on fi lm; from the clear blue skies to the fresh spring blooms under my feet. This would give me something to hold on to. Just in case my memories fail me one day, I would still remember these wonderful things in life. Got a travel experience to share? E-mail us at chronicle.life@ntu.edu.sg with your name and contact details.

lifestyle review

BOOKS

When You Are Engulfed In Flames David Sedaris $ 28.89, available at Kinokuniya Published by Little, Brown

WITH Van Gogh’s Skull with Cigarette on the cover, you would think that the latest offering from bestseller David Sedaris would be a gloomy and depressing one about death and smoking. That is true, but Sedaris covers such grave topics and everyday nitty gritty, with an alternative touch that makes you ask the question, “Why haven’t I thought of it that way before?” In his sixth collection of autobiographical essays, Sedaris writes about everyday nothings and spins a wondrous tale of his life. In Memento Mori, Sedaris buys a preserved skeleton for his partner and decides to hang it from the bedroom ceiling. As if that is not creepy enough, it seems to be a constant reminder of Sedaris’ very mortality. “You are going to die,” it intones in his head. After much begging and cajoling, it relented to: “You are going to be dead… some day.” Sedaris’ acute attention to seemingly mundane activities and his scathing wit makes reading feel like a personal reflection on our own lives. In between stories of him being picked up by a truck driver who wants a little “extra” on the side, and his obnoxious neighbour, Sedaris manages to weasel in heart-warming stories of his relationship with Hugh, as an “aging monogamous couple”. Poignant moments arrive when you least expect it, as he describes how he and his partner just breathe into the phone receiver, contented with the silence; or how he tries to pick up Japanese and quit smoking in Tokyo. Although he seems to have mellowed with age, his words are still funnily acerbic. You won’t get engulfed in flames for reading Sedaris, but you sure would come out with a new perspective on life after Flames, be it the way you treat your loved ones, or the pleasures in simple, everyday living. That’s what David Sedaris has always been about.—Kelvin Pang

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“I am a robber MUSIC Bring Ya To The Brink in the dark, ¯¯¯¯¯ Singing about a broken heart, Answering whispers in the air, Waiting for someone else Sunjinho ¯¯¯¯¯ to care.” C yndi L auper (Dance /Electronic)

This is Grammy winner Cyndi Lauper’s 10th studio album. The 80s pop icon is best known for songs like Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Time After Time.

MENTION Cyndi Lauper and many would remember her mambo anthem, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun. Indeed, Lauper looks set to have more fun with her new release, Bring Ya to the Brink. Lauper worked with several notable dance artistes including Basement Jaxx to produce this highly addictive album. Her new sound is very electronic with its groovy downbeats and a dash of the old Lauper. Echo is a brilliant mash of synthesizers and Lauper’s distinctive vocals, while Into the Nightlife’s heavy bass thudding invites you to “shake your money-maker”. Lauper closes the album with Rain On Me, a heartbreak song with a radio-friendly melody which is sure to please her fans. Brink, with its delightful ditties and wonderful stretch of Lauper’s artistic creativity, is an album that will bring you to the brink and leave you asking for more.—Kelvin Pang

Jackson Conti (Jazz)

“Rain On Me” by Cyndi Lauper

TO THE uninitiated, Jackson Conti may sound like a hiphop artist but it is in fact, a team made up of hip-hop/ down-tempo producer Otis Jackson, Jr. (Madlib) and veteran Brazilian drummer Ivan “Mamão” Conti. Jackson is known to many as an experimental hip-hop legend passionate about jazz and soul while Mamão is the founding member of jazz/samba trio Azymuth and has worked with the greats of Brazilian music. This combination has resulted in Sunjinho, an album full of Brazilian beats and some funk reggae, which at times verges on sounding like elevator music. However, the music definitely creates the atmosphere of chilling out by the beach. The album is filled with melodies of Spanish guitars, synth pads, and xylophones, which are just some of the instruments used to produce the sounds of Brazil. Brasilian Sugar is one of the sweeter deals with lively drumming kicking off the track and the speaking voices of the artistes taking us along into the studio with them.—Rachael Boon

An Atlas Of Impossible Longing Anuradha Roy $30.00, available at Borders Published by Maclehose Press

SET in pre-independence India in the small town of Songarh, An Atlas of Impossible Longing chronicles the lives of three generations of a family, as they try to break away from the societal norms which are thrust upon them. The story starts with Amulya, the head of the family taking his wife and two sons from the metropolitan Calcutta to rural Songarh. His wife, Kananbala, is stifled because being away from her relatives leaves her with no one to talk to. In an attempt to deal with her frustration, she finds herself steadily distancing herself from her husband. 11 years later, their younger son Nirmal returns home from his excavations, to his daughter Bakul who has become rebellious. While trying to mend their fractured relationship, he finds himself drawn to widow Meera. Meanwhile, Bakul finds companionship in the orphan boy Mukunda, who is being taken care of by the household. They share a passionate bond, and it soon attracts the attention of the elders. Narrating the story of the third generation is Mukunda. As he starts working with a builder, he earns enough money to get married. Mukunda however still feels a bond with Songarh, as his memories of Bakul has not faded away. His latest project ensures that he will, once again, cross paths with the only girl he has ever pined for. Atlas is replete with metaphors and lovely imagery. Roy effectively magnifies smaller details of a family’s life in that period. However, she falls short in characterisation. The story structure limits the development of her characters and they remain stereotypes and one-dimensional. The story may seem predictable at times but for those who enjoy reading about the struggles of a family set in colonial times, this is the perfect read for you.—K arthik Shankar

Otis Jackson, Jr. started his career by making music with rap group Lootpack and Ivan Conti is the drummer of famed samba trio Azymuth.

The Orchard

Lizz Wright (Jazz)

¯¯¯¯¯ Her 2nd album Dreaming Wide Awake reached number one on the Top Contemporary Jazz chart in 2006.

PHOTO | INTERNET

LIZZ Wright’s 3rd album offers slow, soulful ballads with distinctive beats. Inspired by pictures of the countryside where she lived and places that were important to her, her new album is aptly titled The Orchard. For contemporary jazz fanatics, this is the album for you. Elements of jazz, gospel and blues are creatively weaved into her songs and her vocals are pitch-perfect, sensuous and unfaltering. You will fall in love with her as she serenades you with her smoky vocals accompanied by rhythmic strums of the guitar in songs like Coming Home. Wright also performs covers by great singers like Tina Turner and Patsy Cline, which turn out to be delightful surprises, especially with her strong vocals in Turner’s I Idolise You. Her album promises to deliver and is guaranteed to leave a strong impression on you.—Joanne Yan

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FILMS

Meet Dave Comedy (PG)

Murder of the Inugami Clan Mystery/Thriller /Crime (NC16)

Koji Ishizaka, Nanako Matsushima, Kikunosuke Onoe, Sumiko Fuji, Keiko Matsuzaka, Hisako Manda 136 minutes

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Eddie Murphy, Gabrielle Union, Elizabeth Banks 90 minutes

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EDDIE Murphy plays a dual role here, as an alien spaceship in the form of a human named Dave from planet Nill, and as the miniature captain of the spaceship. The spaceship was sent to Earth with the purpose of draining the Earth’s waters to use the salt from the seawater to power their dying planet. W hile on Ear th, Dave meets Gina (Elizabeth Banks) and her son, Josh (Austyn Lind Myers), who helps him adapt to the human world. Through them, Dave and the rest of the crew slowly discover that humans are not as frivolous as they initially perceived. In the course of their interaction, they also start to develop certain humanlike feelings. The only one unhappy with how foolish everyone is acting is Number 2 (Ed Helms), the second-in-command who decides to overthrow the captain. Giddy with power, Number 2 transforms Dave into a destructive walking machine, bent on fulfilling their initial mission. Do expect laugh-out-loud scenes and sheer silliness as Mur phy hams it up perfectly for the big screen in this new flick. His portrayal as the stiff and unnatural Dave is perfect as he tries to learn how to act like

a human during his stay on Earth. Here, you can’t help but cringe at certain moments when Dave appears ignorant, but you will cheer for him when he stands up for the often bullied Josh. It will be difficult to not feel for this endearing character. Kudos go to Myers as well, who also puts up a great performance as the young boy who is Dave’s admirer, whom he considers his close ally. Meet Dave is a great movie for anyone who wants to watch something full of fun and endearing moments, especially one made even more so with Murphy’s irresistible comedic charm.—Chrystal Chan

Journey To The Center Of The Earth Action /Adventure (PG) Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem 93 minutes

PHOTOS | INTERNET

WHEN the head of the Inugami clan, Sahei Inugami, passes away, his death brings the Inugami clan together for the reading of his will. An unexpected beneficiary of the estate is announced, and so begins a series of murders and the family members find themselves involved in a mystery where the real killer could be anyone. The only outsider of the clan, Tamayo Nonomiya (played by Nanako Matsushima, well-known for her role in The Ring) is the granddaughter of the deceased patriarch’s close friend. The will stipulates that the entire Inugami fortune will go to Tamayo, provided she marries one of Sahei’s grandsons. His three grandsons, each born to a different mother, compete for Tamayo’s hand. But when the first grandson is brutally beheaded, fingers are pointed as the race for the inheritance grows more intense. Directed by the late Kon Ichikawa, Murder of the Inugami Clan is a remake of his own 1976 classic, The Inugami Family. The delightful Koji Ishizaka reprises his role as Kosuke Kindaichi, the scruffy

famous detective with the trademark messy, dandruff-laden long hair, who is hired by Inugami’s family lawyer to find the killer. Ichikawa’s last film is a straightforward whodunit murder mystery, tastefully done without the special effects and abstract themes surrounding postmodern films of the same genre today. Ichikawa teased viewers by revealing only bits of information, keeping them disconnected and hard to piece together. Only until the very end was everything revealed. Based on the novel by Seishi Yokomizo, Murder of the Inugami Clan is a wellexecuted detective story, staying true to the original 1976 version. Expect no flashy car-chases and explosions. In its place, Ichikawa gave us an unhurried story of family betrayal, greed and jealousy. Lasting a little over two hours, the movie may be slightly too long for today’s cinema goers. However, by the end of the movie, viewers will come to understand why Ichikawa is one of Japan’s most celebrated directors

—Salfarizah Saleh

Box Office Results Week ending 17 August 1.

Money No Enough 2

12 Lotus

Meet Dave

Mad About English!

Journey To The Center Of The Earth 3D

The Mummy 3: Tomb Of The Dragon Emperor

Love Guru

The Dark Knight

Space Chimps

10.

Midnight Meat Train

SOURCE | INTERNET

AN adaptation of Jules Vernes’ novel, this movie is action-packed and filled with unexpected and exciting visuals. Trevor Anderson (Brendan Fraser) is a college professor specialising in tectonic physics, whose brother Max disappeared in a volcanic expedition ten years ago. Right now, the funding of Trevor’s work at the university, based on his brother’s unfinished research on volcanoes, is about to be withdrawn and this leaves Trevor at his wits’ end. A frustrated Trevor returns home to find that his nephew, Sean (Josh Hutcherson) has arrived for a two-week stay. Going through Max’s belongings, they find a copy of Jules Vernes’ “Journey to the Center of the Earth”, which also contains Max’s scientific notes. They realise that Max had set out to prove the scientific truth of Vernes’ novel and that those events had really occured. Trevor and Sean then decide to leave town, to discover and vindicate Max’s research, by heading to Iceland first in search of a fellow scientist Max was working with. Upon reaching, they instead find Hannah (Anita Briem), a mountain guide who works through the dangerous Iceland volcanic terrains. Trevor quickly hires her to lead

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them to where Max last went—the volcanic regions. Predictably, when they arrive, a storm breaks out and the trio gets trapped in a cave. This is where the adventure truly begins, as they delve deeper into the centre of the Earth and battle creatures along their way there. This movie appeals to children because it is fun imagining travels to the centre of the Earth and the ride is certainly exhilarating. It contains excellent special effects, which includes glowing birds, a T-rex, flying piranhas, gigantic waterfalls, a roller coaster mine ride and even a gigantic magnetic field. With non-stop exciting action sequences, this movie cannot help but resemble a Universal Studios attraction. However, the plot is slightly weak because the main characters only face two challenges: to descend to the centre of the Earth as quickly as possible and to get back to the surface again. Furthermore, the obligatory romance between Trevor and Hannah did nothing to add to the plot. Yet, the small cast, rare for an action movie, and the dialogue among the cast members brings out close family relationships.—Ellyne Phneah

show through the looking glass

UNSUNG

Heroes Some start work at the break of dawn, while others patrol by night. They are in labs, studios, halls, canteens and everywhere in between. Their jobs may not be glamorous, but are no less important than others. They clean our environment. They ferry us around campus. They ensure our safety. They share our campus, yet their existence is seldom acknowledged and rarely appreciated. Most eyes pass over them without a second glance. You may not even notice them while they are here. But if they were gone, you will definitely feel their absence.

by TAN ZI JIE

& KUAN JIE WEI

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tech review

DOING IT THE

WRIGHT WAY

PHOTOS | INTERNET

Often hailed as one of the most important figures in the realm of video games, game designer Will Wright was in town for the first time to promote the long awaited PC title, Spore. Lien Xiu Wen finds out what makes him tick SE V E R E jet lag d id not stop American games guru Will Wright from speaking at a special “Meet the Maker” session with over 100 enthusiastic students in attendance last Wednesday at the Singapore Zoological Gardens. These lucky students from selected primar y and ter tiar y institutions listened in awe to Mr Wright’s inspiring and interactive presentation on his latest game, Spore, which is set for a September 7 release on the PC, Mac, Nintendo DS and mobile phones. Mr Wright, chief creator of The Sims was in Singapore as a speaker for the Global Brand Forum, and also to showcase the widely-anticipated Spore to the regional media. It took six years for Spore to be developed from a concept to a full-fledged game, and when asked about the source of inspiration for the game, Mr Wright said he drew it from everywhere. “Spore is a game of mixed genres. It combines various areas of sciences and design, and along with accessible graphics, it allows gamers to create and evolve life in their personal universe.” Mr Wright likened Spore to its predecessor, The Sims, the best selling PC game franchise of all-time with more than 100 million copies sold to date. After T he Si m s, he had set out to create a game that expanded on

ever ything the previous game was unable to do, particularly with science and astrobiology, hence the initial working title of “SimsEverything”. This explains the expansive game play in Spore—gamers can either start from the cell phase and nurture their personal creation into a whole civilization; or just focus on taking over the universe by bringing tribes across multiple planets. Students were invited to create their own creatures with the Spore Creature Creator where Mr Wright demonstrated how to create one-ofa-kind creatures with the tool. Jessie Loy, 22, a final year st udent of the Wee K im Wee School of Communication and Information was impressed with the game play. “I’m not an avid gamer, but Spore really interests me with the expansive creation tools which allows for a lot of creativity.” But Mr Wright did not stop at introducing Spore to the students. He also shared some personal anecdotes and beliefs in t he growing gaming industr y at a Q&A session afterwards. A n advocate of t he “a p p r e n t i c e s h i p m o d e l” i n educating the next generation of game designers, Mr Wright said the “failure based learning aspect (of the apprenticeship model)” helps push creative boundaries.

Alex Liow, 16 from NUS High School agreed with Mr Wright’s v iew on educat i ng t he ne x t generation. “We’re often advised against failing because failures are frowned upon, but I think that failures create better learning experiences.” Mr Wright also advised students who were interested in a career in game design to draw inspiration from the “weirdest things you can think of”, and to explore ideas from design initiatives such as architecture and environmental design. It is well known that as a child, he aspired to be an astronaut, and wanted to form space colonies to alleviate the problem of overpopulation. “Spore and even The Sims are primarily on creation, and the team required a lot of design influences to help bring the game design to another level,” said Mr Wright. He also mentioned the need to be “dynamic”. Often, what starts out as a design problem can become part of the language of a game if solved creatively: “You’re basically trying to get a lot of square pegs and putting them into round holes. It’s a bit like an Aikido design sense, where you take this (opposing) force and turn it into your advantage.” Victoria Yuette Chastan, 21, a game design student at Nanyang Polytechnic and a budding game designer, was inspired by his

What isISSpore? WHAT SPORE? No, it is not just the short form for our little island state. From the creator of The Sims comes Spore, a revolutionary stimulation game that will allow gamers to develop their own unique species in their personal universe. Players can choose to start from the cell phase or to create their own creatures and watch them evolve into a tribe, a full-blown civilization, and then out into space. When the Spore Creature Creator was launched in June this year, the Internet community was set abuzz with more than 2.6 million creatures created by users and uploaded on the Sporepedia—and these creatures ranged from Pokemon lookalikes to creatures curiously looking like the male appendage. If you are sick and tired of your own planet, Spore is perhaps your best chance to play God and create your ideal species.

Platforms: Release Date: Genre: Players: Retail price:

PC and Mac 7 September 2008 Simulation Single player, with online capabilities to share your creatures with your friends $59.90

Spore Creature Creator is available as a free download at http://www.spore.com/trial Official site: http://www.ea.com.sg/spore/

presentation: “I will know where to look for inspiration when I create my horror RPG games in the future —perhaps from the weirdest things that have happened in my life!” While a Wii version of the game has been announced, there is no official news on the release date as yet.

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tech review

JACK OF ALL TRADES Looking for an All-in-one (AiO) solution for dorm use? Our tech editor Lim Yan Liang reviews Hewlett Packard s (HP) latest oﬀering, the Deskjet F4280

Setting up the printer was a painless process, and I was done with it in 10 minutes. Insertion of the print cartridges proved a little more difficult than it should be, requiring quite some force to click into place. However, once the initial setup was done, the test page printed without a hitch and scanner alignment was similarly problem-free. My tests indicate that a fulltext page in Microsoft Word takes about 20 seconds to print on the Normal quality setting. On the Fast Draft setting, the time taken

EA MYTHIC HAS ANNOUNCED t h at it s War h amm er O nlin e MMO will begin its open beta on September 7, just over a week before the game is to launch publicly. While levels are capped, all 20 classes will be available.

SONY ANNOUNCED LAST week that it has been working with Neversoft, Activision, Harmonix and Konami to fi x the incompatibilty issues for Guitar Hero and Rock Bank peripherals, promising that they will work on competing titles. POPCAP GAMES HAS BREACHED the 25 million mark for copies of Bejeweled and Bejeweled 2 sold since it was first launched in 2000, earning the casual games company more than $300 million in sales. SEGA IS BRINGING AN ALL NEW zombie shooter to the Wii. House of the Dead: Overkill will allow players to not just aim and shoot with the Wii remote, but also for melee attacks such as close range pistol-whipping.

EXTERIOR

PERFORMANCE

tech ﬂash

BIOWARE HAS ANNOUNCED that its upcoming RPG title Dragon Age: Origins, touted as the spiritual successor to the classic Baldur’s Gate series, will be released to both consoles and the PC in early 2009.

WHILE libraries and photocopying shops spr in k led a ll over t he ca mpu s , a r e of fe r i ng c heap printing services, the convenience of beating the queues and being able to print from the comfort of your own room is hard to beat. With the price of AiOs as affordable as they are today, and a serious lack of workspace in those crammed dormitaries, it makes smart fiscal and physical sense to get a multi-function printer over standalone printers, scanners and copiers. The Deskjet F4280 is the latest budget offering from HP. With flatbed scanning, printing and copying under one roof, the resulting physical footprint is a respectable 17.2x11.4x6.4in. The two-tone white-and-grey design is fortunately not a fi ngerprint magnet, but the dull 1990’s styling does not earn it much style points. The downside of white and grey is the inevitable ink smudges on the exterior, but I am nitpicking here. Unfortunately, symptomatic of printers in its class, the paper tray is a flimsy affair. The same tray is also used for both paper feed and the fi nished printouts. The detachable scanner lid is a boon for all students, allowing those thick library tomes to be scanned without a hitch. The control panel on the left has many useful functions like onetouch print cancel and standalone photocopying in both black and white, and colour. Unfortunately, what is obviously lacking is an LCD panel of any kind. While the copy speed is respectable (more on that later), the single-digit LED display shows that maximum copy limit is 9 pages at a time, although the casual user would be hardpressed to need more.

PHOTO | INTERNET

Overall print performance is decent: although speeds are not spectacular, the F4280 goes about its business quietly. improves to 15 seconds a page. A full colour page takes 40 seconds to print on Normal setting and 22 seconds on Fast Draft. As for printing on photo paper, a typical 4R print on the highest quality setting takes a minute and ten seconds. Black-and-white copying takes 25 seconds a page, and colour photocopying takes 33 seconds. While colour printing at Fast Draft setting is immediately inferior to the Normal setting, text pages printed on Fast Draft are virtually indistinguishable from those printed on Normal setting unless viewed up close. Overall print performance is decent: although speeds are not spectacular, the F4280 goes about its business quietly. Scanning at 200dpi takes slightly longer than competing models, but the resulting image is crisper. Photo prints on photo quality paper, while slightly lacking in contrast, are acceptable for its price range. A slight niggle I have with the F4280 is that the printer displays slight “lag” of about 5

seconds from the time the printing command is sent, to the first response from the printer itself. Also, print spooling from large PDF fi les (such as class readings) takes up a significant amount of system resources, resulting in sluggish system performance until the spooling is done. As with many other inkjets, the cost of ink quickly adds up. The ordinary HP 60 cartridges are rated 200 pages for black, and 165 pages for colour, meaning that the consumables component costs slightly more than comparable printers from Epson . Fortunately, HP offers high-capacity HP 60XL cartridges which provide better value-for-money, but at the expense of a greater initial outlay.

VERDICT An affordable workhorse with a pretty compact footprint, the F4280 is clearly geared towards budget users. While scan speeds are average, text prints, the lifeblood of students, are pretty speedy. The one-touch photocopying makes quick work of those pesky stacks of library books, and the control panel on the side provides a range of useful features. The HP F4280 is recommended for the casual home or dorm user, packing decent performance and myriad functionality into a single machine.

A SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR OUR READERS! HP Deskjet F4280 All-in-One: Compact and Affordable Allin-One (Print Scan Copy) Purchase with Purchase Student Price: $99* (U.P. $149) Buy a HP notebook at COMEX 08, show your resellers’ invoice and buy the above printer at the special price of $99 available only at HP booth no. 8150. *Limited to one set per customer. The Nanyang Chronicle Readers’ Exclusive: Free touch screen Sudoku Game worth $39 when you purchase the above printer at Comex 08 (HP Booth 8150). While stocks last.

CRYPTIC STUDIOS, MAKER OF games such as City of Heroes and Villains, has shed more light on the upcoming Star Trek Online MMO, and released a debut gameplay trailer showcasing interstellar combat and phaser fights. LENOVO HAS RELEASED ITS new W700, the world’s first laptop with a full-sized keyboard, a numeric keypad, and a WACOM tablet. The 17” behemoth will pack dual hard drive bays, Nvidia Quadro graphics, and 5 USB ports. Prices start from USS$3000. AFTER VIA’S DEPARTURE FROM the motherboard chipset business last week, Abit is also reportedly leaving the arena. The company says it intends to focus its manufacturing efforts on products like UMPCs and photo frames. I N T E L H A S O F F I C I A L LY announced its long-awaited xHCI open USB 3.0 host controller standard, and the specification is likely to be adopted by the majority of motherboard chipset vendors. The USB 3.0 spec offers data transfer speeds of up to 4.8GBps. I N A N T I C I PAT I O N O F T H E soon-to-be-released Nehalembased “Core i7” high-end chips, Intel has announced a migration to faster clock speeds for its current Penryn processors, and a price drop on existing Yorkfield parts. A STUDY COMPLETED RECENTLY showed that doctors who spent time playing selected video games displayed improved motor control and better hand-eye coordination, per forming real-life surgical procedures in 40 percent less time and with 50 percent less errors.

郭静不是“美少女”派，走的是帅气风 —— 刊27页

新闻

2010年青奥会

选手村将迁至南大

红酒投成资年新轻宠人申剀●报道

源

国际奥委会主席Dr Jacques Rogge日前在国立教育学院担任了纪念本地运动员风光史的玻璃壁画开幕礼嘉宾。照片|档案照片

申剀●报道

新

加坡青奥组委会在本月初召开记者会，宣布 2010年青年奥运会选手村已从原定的新加坡国立大学城（University Town）改址为南洋理工大学。去年10月提交的新加坡申办青奥会计划书中，国立大学城曾被拟定为选手村基地，而南大则被列为“应变后备地点”。然而，受全球通货膨胀、经济波动大环境的影响，建筑材料价格持续上升。已展开建造工程的大学城如果要在青奥会举行之前竣工，必须加快工程进度。而这将使建筑费用大大超出7500万美元的预算。青奥组委会经过深思熟虑，应国际奥委会的“主办国应把预算控制在合理范围内”的要求，决定把选手村改设在南

大，以减少建设量。青奥组委会总裁吴启元指出，选手村的迁址将不会影响奥运村质量。据悉，南大现有的9个宿舍将接纳运动员、教练、职员、青年大使等5000多人。这9个宿舍是Hall 3和Hall 10至16，以及研究生宿舍（Graduate Hall）。由于8月炎热，为了不影响选手，这些宿舍都将增添冷气设备。当然住宿者也有节能不开冷气的选择。另一些细节也将被完善，包括加强安全性和照明系统。同时，NIE作为选手村广场，将有一个举行文化与教育活动的中心连至食堂。届时青奥会在8月举行。为避免影响学生的正常入住，新学期可能会延期两周。许多受访的海外学生担心，青奥村的迁入，使得他们假期不得不搬出宿舍，担心行李不

知该安置在哪里。也有学生质疑，翻新后，宿舍的收费是否会调高。南大校长徐冠林教授表示，课程及宿舍安排必须调整，但会照顾到学生利益。相关详情日后将公布。不过对于青奥会，也有学生相当支持并且充满热情。一名化学与生物医学工程学院的学生说：“运动员们总会离开，但会在南大留下青奥会的精神和气息。这也将是南大一次拥抱世界，注入青春活力的机会。” 针对迁址对前往比赛现场路程的影响，组委会也准备了后勤服务的重新安排，保证运动员按时到场。另外，国立大学城将延迟竣工，且不会举办任何与青奥会有关的活动。青奥选手村迁入南大，对学生有什么影响？——言论刊24页

于英国在欧洲已有 300多年历史的葡萄酒投资业，近来在新加坡颇受年轻人的追捧。其低风险高回报的特点，被誉为“液体黄金”。与股票相比，顶级葡萄酒价格受金融市场波动影响小，且具有可消费、易携带、免税等优势。真正具投资价值的佳酿被称为投资级葡萄酒，是指可长期陈年并随时间延长而增值的葡萄酒。全球每年评出30款名葡萄酒，80%分布在法国波尔多酒庄，其中拉菲（Lafite）、拉图（Latour）、

张光裕表示年轻投资者多半不喝红酒。

摄影｜林佐伊

玛哥（Margaux）、木桐（Mouton）、奥比安（HautBrion）五大名庄的一级红酒最为珍贵，也有澳洲美国的新世界酒。除产地，酒庄，年份，质量外，酒评师美国人 Robert Parker的评分被奉为葡萄酒价格的金科玉律，通常采用百分制或星级评分标准。葡萄酒投资者得具备红酒的成色、历史、正确储藏储藏酒的知识。专业的葡萄酒投资服务就从品酒、挑酒到藏酒和投资管理，投资顾问提供一条龙服务。葡萄酒投资分：期酒，成品与基金。期酒指瓶装前就发售的酒，增值空间大，相对风险高。成品酒通过二级市场拍卖流通。基金则主要盛行于欧美地区。新加坡 Assets Wine Management公司主管张光裕受访时指出，投资起步至少需 1万元，建立一个完整的酒单还要平衡不同产地、酒庄、年份酒之间的风险则需近10万投入。投资葡萄酒的年回报率为 8-12%，通常5到10年后收益。张光裕说，90%以上客户为20到30岁之间的年轻人，且多半不喝葡萄酒。可见葡萄酒投资并非爱酒人士专利。然而，许多学生并不了解这种新兴投资，材料科学与工程学院3年级生赵晓强说：“ 这需要很多资金吧？这么久的等待，还不如存银行算了。” 目前亚太地区葡萄酒投资已初具规模，仍处于摇篮期的本地市场定会迅猛发展起来。

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随意诗人打造诗一般的文化空间陈丽汶●报道

慵

懒的阳光透射窗口，稀释着店内悠闲的吉他声与歌声；店中弥漫的恬淡气氛化解了橱窗外的喧嚣，舒缓了城市烦躁的脉搏，增添了诗歌般的惬意——原来，生活其实犹如诗一般优美。这就是创办 casualpoet“随意诗人”店长卓诗妮（22岁），所坚信的理念。其实港台地区不乏推广独立文化的店铺，但今年6月24日开幕的“随意诗人”却是属于新加坡少数推广独立文化的空间。 19岁便开始接触独立文化的诗妮表示，创办“随意诗人” 的灵感便来自于极力推广当地独立文化的台湾商店——“蘑菇”。诗妮最喜欢的美国作家 Jack Kerouac 常自称为“casualpoet”，由于喜欢这词的意境，诗妮便以它命名自己的店。 “随意诗人”最初成立时，便通过网站售卖独立文化的刊物与音乐。后来，当她在牛车水物色到适合的店面后，网上的“随意诗人”便将其身从虚拟世界延伸至热闹市区，而店内设计由她一手包办。 “随意诗人”所售卖的独立创意产品都经过诗妮的精心挑选。这些小型品牌和独立设计师的原创手工品，都必须符

卓诗妮（上图）最喜欢的美国作家 Jack Kerouac 常自称为“casualpoet” 。由于喜欢这词的意境，她便以它命名自己的店。合“随意诗人”的理念：生活其实很简单、很美好。除此，诗妮也尝试引进本地缺乏的中文刊物，如《印刻文学杂志》，同时也售卖在市面上难找到的独立制作中文音乐专辑。店内还设有迷你咖啡馆，供顾客享用“全日早餐”和简

与教授对谈

柯思仁副教授是punting高手文／邓熙玮

中

文系代主任柯思仁副教授是名作家、编剧、学者。但他原来会punting，也是

摄影｜黄伟曼

电影“发烧友”。本报新栏目《与教授对谈》，让我有机会面对面与柯教授交谈，多了解这位学生眼中最亲切的教授。我来到柯教授位于华裔馆

“随意诗人”的理念：生活其实很简单、很美好；所售卖的独立创意产品都经过店长诗妮的精心挑选。摄影| 江岫颖单健康的食品。诗妮拥有自己的“早餐哲学”。她说：“吃早餐是人生非常美好的事，不但能使人快乐，也能让人精神充沛。因此，我们希望能供应 “全日早餐”，让顾客全天感受享用早餐的欢乐与体验生活之美。” 曾在南大修读一年英文文学的诗妮，后来转修拉萨艺术学院的音乐科技系。不过为了实现理想，她目前已全身投入

经营自己的商店，是“随意诗人”的全职店长。她回想起最初起步的时侯：“我的工作经验并不多，最初什么也不懂。我靠着自觉行事，后来也在过程中渐渐吸取经验。” 创业初期的隐忧妈妈一路的鼎力支持和她对独立文化的热忱让她勇于实现理想。对于未来，诗妮希望“随意诗人”能继续茁壮成长，为繁忙的都市人提供憩息的园地，感受生活的美好。

的办公室，在没有咖啡的助兴下，我们开始了这次的谈话。短短的访谈让我发现柯教授是那么的健谈，亲切的回应与不时的笑声，让原本紧张的我轻松了许多。要用一样东西来形容自己，柯教授选择了电影海报。他说：“因为一张设计好的电影海报，特别引人注意，就像那张。”教授指向我身后，电影《15》的海报。“这张海报曾用于英国电影节。那时，有位从事电影研究的朋友，把海报贴在办公室门旁，我看到就喜欢，所以随手把它撕下，带回新加坡来。”话一说完，我们一阵哄堂大笑。他还说：“《15》这部电影在新加坡是禁止播放和出售。没有电影看，我只好看这张海报。”柯教授就是那么有趣的一个人。那么柯教授做过最浪漫的事是什么呢？他说：“是punting。它是我在英国剑桥大学读书时最喜欢做的一件事。Punting像划船，但不完全是划船。Punt 是

一只杆，约这么长。”教授站了起来，比给我看punt的长度。 “ 正式的名称是 ‘蒿’。Punting就是‘撑蒿’。徐志摩《再别康桥》里提到‘寻梦? 撑一支长蒿’所说的就是punting。我撑的还不错哦！所以每次一有朋友来探我，我都会请他们去剑河（River Cam）坐这个船，然后我来撑。” 我很好奇，柯教授执教多年，是否记得第一堂课的情形？所以就随口问了问。他想了一会儿，然后大笑说：“我记得课室里空空的，一个人都没有。” 说完后，再度哄堂。 “刚当上教授时，我在NIE 教书，对周遭环境不熟悉，什么第一个星期有lecture，没有 tutorial等，我都一头雾水。所以弄错上课时间。” 不过柯教授喜欢大学开放自由的教学方式，因为可以根据意愿去设计一门课。好比“partial open book”这个考试方式就是柯教授首创，接着

casualpoet 地址： 273B New Bridge Road Singapore 088749 营业时间：星期二至日中午12点至晚上9点（星期一休息）网站： http://casualpoet.com/

吸引其他教授跟着用。看来教授不仅浪漫，而且创意十足！

VIVACE IX 《星空●心弦●琴》南大中文学会将于8月30日举行VIVACE IX《星空●心弦●琴》口琴演奏音乐会。时间：傍晚7点30分至晚上 10点地点：南大艺术、设计与媒体学院大礼堂（NTU ADM Auditorium）票价：$8 欲知详情，可联络 Bernard @ 96757479、电邮至 bern0004@ntu.edu.sg或游览http://vivaceix.blogspot. com

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言论校园大声讲

宋佳佳

新

加坡青奥运组委会决定，青奥选手村将于国立大学城移迁南大。这一决定除了能为政府省下一笔可观的建筑费外，也在无形中为南大带来福利。为了给运动员提供最好的便利与服务，政府将拨出巨款改善及更新南大设施。其中包括增添运动场所，翻新游泳池及操场跑道。同时也考虑把学生宿舍全都加装空调。如此一来，南大学生就能跟着享有更好的设施与学习环境。虽然青年奥运会是个体育盛会，但它的意义却远超乎体育。作为青奥选手村的南大形象将因此更显著地投射到世界。俗话说日久生情，这么多十几岁的青年运动员来到南大住上两三个星期，想必一定会对南大留下深刻印象。再加上南大环境幽雅，设施完备，留下的印象肯定不差。这些运动员打道回府后势必会在家人朋友面前提起南大，

青奥选手村迁入南大对学生有什么影响？南大的知名度将会被大大地提高。此外，参赛运动员平均年龄尚小，今后选择南大就读也有可能。展望未来，这几个星期的邂逅兴许还能给南大带来不少商机。不过话说回来，虽然奥村移址的决策表面上看来有百利而无一害，但在乐观的背后我们也应该考虑一下潜藏的问题。翻新游泳池等运动场所的初步费用由政府包办，但日后的维修费呢？南大在青奥结束后恢复自理，修建好的设施将需要定期的维修与保养。这笔费用自然会落在学生的身上，可学生们负担的起吗？宿舍全面空调制，即费电又不环保，这些问题都是我们在雀跃的同时应深入考虑的。既然是破题儿第一遭，人们很自然的都会期望主办国能树立好榜样，确立高标准。我们不只需要确保硬件及时到位，更需借机发挥软件方面的力量，让南洋理工大学的美名远播。毕竟青奥不仅是一次体育盛会，更能给我们留下很多非体育的遗产。

滕思珂

国

际奥委会前段时间宣布，2010年在新加坡举办的世界第一届青年奥运会将把奥运村设立在南洋理工大学。作为南大学子，无形中我们也卷入这个突然的决定之中。我认为，虽然这个选择面临一些问题，但总体上来说，不论是学校还是学生都将从中受益。听到青奥会选手村要搬进南大的消息，作为国际学生的一员，我最为关心的无疑是住房问题。由于青奥会要占用一半南大学生宿舍，所以，虽然青奥会举办时间仍处在暑假，很多假期在学校学习，做研究的同学难免担心住宿问题。本地学生虽然也不方便，但仍尚可回家居住。而对于国际学生，生活用品数量比较多，在新加坡除了南大没有第二个家，面对因为举办青奥会而失去宿舍的问题，国际学生的反应尤为强烈。前段时间的“三人间” 提议为住宿问题打响前战，却

——看看他们有什么话说遭学生抵制。怎样解决青奥会期间的这个矛盾，是我对青奥会奥运村的主要关心焦点。然而，我同时相信很多南大的超级体育迷却非常欢迎青奥会选手村的到来。青奥会的申办成功，以及新加坡体育在世界体坛的瞩目发展，无疑刺激了我们年轻人对体育的热情。一些南大校队同学表示，他们非常期盼青奥会，并且希望可以有机会和世界上青年顶级选手切磋，进一步提高水平。当然也有不擅长体育运动的

学生，表示乐于参与各种青奥会服务。我认为可以足不出乎吸收各国文化，并且向国际友人展示新加坡本土文化，与各国年轻人交流，对本地的年轻人是个极佳的促进，同时我们可以寄希望可以通过青奥会的的媒体曝光率，提高南大的世界知名度。 2010，世界的目光将投向新加坡，投向南大奥运村。我们面临一些急待解决的矛盾，但不论怎样，让我们一起期待与青奥会的这个约定。

第16宿舍将是青奥会，运动员居住的宿舍之一。照片|挡案照片

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旅游

娱乐集邮箱

F.I.R.首次狮城开唱靠萧敬腾炒热现场气氛韩伟定●报道中文总编辑

照片｜陈文华提供

柬埔寨之旅散发关怀爱心文 / 陈文华

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世界几乎一半的人们没有卫生设施，尤其是在较落后地区。因为没有基本卫生水平而危及生命的人们不计其数。问题极其严重，恐怕无法达到联合国所设定的目标。为了想做出一丝贡献，我在今年的五月中旬参加了“爱柬埔寨之旅”。 “爱柬埔寨之旅”把我们十八人的爱从新加坡带到了柬埔寨的磅同（Kompong Thom），而且主要任务有二：勘测那里的卫生情况与带给乡村孩子们一些游戏和教育节目。目标看似简单，但其实要完成它并不容易。我们必须了解人民的需要、寻求能提供资源与专业服务的赞助者等阶段。除此之外，还得把语言的障碍减至最低点、避免文化之异带来的麻烦。这是我第一次参加这类计划。主办者其实对柬埔寨的情况蛮熟悉的，而且已和当地的多个机构有联系。加上计划的目的明确、整组队也都知道计划持续性的重要，我希望可以参与他们这项有意义的旅程。计划的持续性是成败的关键。我们认为单单只为乡村建设厕所是不够的。令我们担心的是，建了厕所村民却不用。他们也许觉得“方便”时要上厕所是多此一举的，无法看到

其中的卫生问题。那么，我们辛辛苦苦建的厕所将都会成为“白象”吗？所以，这项计划也要使村民了解卫生的重要，与如何在日常生活里实践良好的卫生习惯。由于是我的第一次，心里总担心自己会手忙脚乱帮不上忙，但也感到非常兴奋，能为小朋友做一些事情。为此行程所做的筹备工作很费力。不只举办了一次义卖会和收集衣服，也准备了许多孩童节目，例如扮演小故事、唱童谣和玩游戏。大家也绞尽脑汁安排一些简短的“速成班”，希望小朋友可以从中获益。这些“速成班”包括卫生小知识、初级英语会话和简单的手工艺。乡村里不是户户都有厕所，而且小孩要“方便”时，也是随地解决。所以除了要为他们提供厕所外，我们也希望可以灌输良好的卫生意识。虽然磅同的生活水平比我们的差，但是小孩子都是一样的。不论世界哪个角落的小孩子，他们都是爱玩活泼的。整个行程最令我难忘就是和他们闹成一片的时候。因为我们之间确实存有语言隔阂，所以得安排好几个翻译员陪伴着我们。但是他们总不能每时每刻跟着我，和小朋友比手划脚是难免的，不过也挺好玩的。为了这次行程劳心也劳力，确是挺辛苦的，但无非也是个有意义的旅程。

首

次来新加坡开唱的 F.I.R.飞儿乐团，在演唱会的前半场并没能使出他们真正的实力，倒是靠特别嘉宾萧敬腾炒热全场气氛。后半场的演唱会，主唱 Faye才慢慢进入状况，用歌声感动全场。 F.I.R.《第十行星世界巡回演唱会》首个海外站献给了新加坡，8月8日在新加坡室内体育馆拉开帷幕。主唱Faye、吉他手阿沁与键盘手建宁老师先是以全身白色服装亮相，演唱了《无限》、《光芒》与《我要飞》3首快歌，但Faye的歌声却似乎欠缺感染力，无法带动现场气氛。只见前排歌迷会成员热情回应，但其他观众显得较为“冷静”。即使是在演唱抒情歌《天天夜夜》、《把爱放开》时，Faye的歌声中流露出了一丝倦意，唱得有些吃力，表现有点不理想，歌声还多次被乐队的演奏盖过。幸亏中段的组曲让整个演唱会有了新的惊喜。《你的微笑》、《月牙湾》、《塔罗牌》和《飞行部落》重新编曲后，加入了中东、中国、西班牙佛朗明戈和非洲曲风元素，配合 Faye的绚丽服装和有劲的舞蹈，让演唱会精彩了许多。

F.I.R.主唱Faye在演唱会的后半段才进入状况，用歌声感动全场。摄影|关洁薇

一动一静，演唱会上，F.I.R.带来了一段不插电（unplugged），也难得3人同台弹吉他写意演奏。Faye还在曲目之间娓娓道出了出道的历程和一些个人感受，让演唱会多了一份真情流露。 “省话一哥”萧敬腾歌唱爆发力十足萧敬腾在演唱会上与 Faye合唱了“We Will Rock You”，爆发力十足，顿时现场气氛持续升温，但是也让 Faye的表现，在相比之下逊色不少。萧敬腾也独唱了《收藏》

被苏打绿的温柔占领《无与伦比的美丽》为演唱会掀开序幕，顶着紫色的“鸡冠头”的主唱青峰一出场赢得全场欢呼，歌迷手中的荧光棒成了一片绿海，随着旋律辉出满满的感动。苏打绿开场后一照片｜滚石唱片提供口气表演了7首歌曲，阿龚在《暂时杨淑慧报道失空》也秀了自创舞蹈，地板动作似乎难不倒这位键盘兼中着第19届台湾金曲奖提琴手。主场当晚状态极佳，最佳乐团的苏打绿在收放自如的高音把深情至摇滚 8月2日举办了《陪我歌唱》的曲目诠释得淋漓尽致，无不巡回演唱会。6位团员掀起让歌迷听得如痴如醉。一阵绿色音乐旋风，团员幽青峰更自爆因为动作太大默逗趣的言行也让整个The 导致裤子左侧破了洞，他还提 Max Pavilion笑声连连。醒大家：“待会儿我唱歌的时

●

挟

和《王子的新衣》，现场唱功具震撼力。在演唱会上，他难掩紧张情绪，唱完第一首歌后，就问：“我想喝水，我的水呢？”唱了第二首后，他还是说：“我要喝水……我很紧张。”腼腆的模样，也让现场 high翻天。 Encore曲“Lydia”和“Fly Away”，Faye展现了自己的最佳状态，具爆发力的歌声获得全场的掌声和欢呼，歌迷也随歌曲的节奏舞动起来，更是把演唱会推向高潮。值得一提的是，舞台的“星球”设计、灯光设计或在银幕上播映的动画片段，都为演唱会的视觉效果加分不少。

候，你们的视线不要往下飘哦！” 脍炙人口的《小情歌》在后半段登场，没有喧哗的配乐，只有钢琴伴奏，现场空气仿佛顿时凝结，大家的目光焦聚地陶醉在苏打绿的音乐领域里。除了渲染力十足的音乐，苏打绿与观众自然的互动也让人印象深刻。在最后安可开放点歌因为曲目不胜负荷，青峰于是佯装大骂：“不要再点歌了，你们听不懂人话吗？” 在苏打绿具渲染力音乐的带动下，3小时的演出在《陪我歌唱》告一段落。虽然团员的幽默为演唱会添加欢乐的气氛，可是他们的音乐无疑是最动人的初衷。离开舞台前，青峰呼吁： “如果我们的歌有流进你们的心，要让我们知道。” 相信观众掌声与欢呼已是最好的答案。

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娱乐娱乐休闲厅美心专访

理想情人要会回答“笨问题”

萧敬腾不喜欢女友抽烟

林芯怡●报道

甜

蜜教主美心的理想情人不仅要孝顺，有耐心，而且还要懂得回答她的笨问题！她笑说：“就算我问他月亮为什么是圆的，他也要给我一个满意的答复！” 但被问起恋爱，事业心重的她则表示，现在的自己会为事业而把爱情搁置在一旁，就算真的有很喜欢的人也不会因此动摇。 “这是一种考验所以我现在必须很拼，而且公司也说要等到25岁后呢！” 这位土生土长的21岁美少女以甜美形象出道，不仅发过一张由李伟松亲自制作的单曲——《瞬间》，也曾演出本地环境剧《女婿大人》里小妹的一角，也与王健复搭档主持虽没能像孙燕姿一样出道红透半边天，但美心却还是很努力在中台发展她的事业。摄影|符敦凱综艺节目《冤家路窄2》。模特儿出生的美心放眼广大忙。但美心还是开心地表示这一切的亚洲市场，正积极地为中国新剧《关东大都很值得，还说她必须好好把握难先生》里女主角的角色做准备。得的机会以不辜负期望。对于这难得的机会，美心毫不掩饰地对美心也透露：“我小时候自己给她演出机会的中国影坛红人赵本山表达谢常躲在窗口旁听邻居李迪文（Dick 意：“遇上本山老师真的很幸运，我觉得上 Lee）弹钢琴，非常羡慕他的才帝对我真的太好了，好到我有点怕！” 华。” 虽然没能像本地歌手孙燕姿一样出道红再加上家附近是新传媒常拍戏的透半边天，但美心却还是很努力的发展她的地方，她在这种环境的影响下渐渐事业。开始对演艺圈产生兴趣。后来在一她也在中国拍戏的空档中抽空飞回新加个寻找“开心特质女生”的选美赛坡为新专辑录音，又飞到台湾和蔡依琳的舞中被公司发掘，一路拼到现在。蹈老师张胜丰进行舞蹈训练，行程非常繁

腼腆的萧敬腾虽然省话，但“笑料”十足。摄影|陈渊莊

宋慧纯●报道中文副编辑

台

湾“省话一哥”萧敬腾日前来新宣传首张个人专辑时，谈及感情三咸其口，但表示最不能忍受的就是女友抽烟和不爱干净。他说：“抽烟不好，戒掉好了。”谈到感情，萧敬腾都以“不知道”回应，草草带过。但他透露自己不会刻意去为女友做一些浪漫的事情，一切顺其自然。处于感情空窗期的敬藤坦言： “如果缘分来了，就来了。” 专辑里的歌曲有不少大牌音乐人跨刀合作，其中还包括本地知名音乐人李偲松、李伟松，为萧敬腾量身打造歌曲。

影评电影播映室

阔别10年，梁智强导演再次呈现电影《钱不够用 2》，探讨民生课题。继《881》的票房佳绩，陈子谦导演又以歌台为题材，带来了《十二莲花》。两位本地导演的作品，是否有看头？记者颜子欣、黄伟曼为你分析。 : 梁智强的《钱不够用2》和陈子谦的《十二莲花》这两部本土电影我都看了，而我比较喜欢梁导的作品，你的看法如何？ : 《钱不够用1》与《钱不够用2》虽然用的是一样的题材，谈新加坡人对于钱的看法，但却给人不同的感觉。 : 《钱2》提醒了新加坡人社会老化的趋势，而社会上会有越来越多人遭遇到戏中演员所

面对的窘境。 : 但是，看了太多部梁导的电影，也觉得剧本里的笑话有些已不能引起理想的共鸣。其实，我印象最深刻的反而是后半段呈现家庭伦理关系的剧情，让人感动。“比没钱更穷的时候，你体验过吗？”，这个主题用的十分恰当。 : 可是，我觉得电影前半段和后半段的剧情因为这种情节的差异而显得不能连接。梁导

《钱不够用2》

VS 《十二莲花》

但备受瞩目的，还是与哥哥一同创作的《海芋恋》。现场有记者说《海芋恋》写出了萧敬腾21岁的内心世界，听出了一些感情问题。但机灵的他立即澄清：“歌词是他（哥哥）写的，有感情的话应该是他本人。” 萧敬腾与哥哥感情很好，被问及两兄弟平时爱做些什么事情，他语出惊人。他说：“我们兄弟会做一些... 兄弟做的事。” 记者追问：“那你们会不会一起把妹？” 他尴尬一下，说：“什么都能做。” 顿时引起全场大笑。如今兄弟俩在音乐上有了交集，他们还一起上综艺节目。萧敬腾表示，哥哥是以音乐人的身份上节目，不怕哥哥变成事业上的对手。他欢迎哥哥一起竞争，认为这是很幸运的。记者会上，敬腾不改“省话” 风格，说专辑里的歌“都喜欢” 因为“都很棒”。但被问及是否会在下一张专辑尝试像罗志祥一样的舞蹈时，他爽朗回应：“好啊,好啊！” 如今圆了歌手的梦，成名一路走来，萧敬腾坦言受到很多人照顾，感觉很棒。但是工作上有些不顺遂的时候，他偶尔会和猫聊心事。如果不当歌手，萧敬腾表示自己也蛮喜欢画画和运动的，现在有空时偶尔也会画画。

到了最后以笑话圆戏，削弱了整个故事所要带出的主题。 : 用笑话轻松地谈大家熟悉的社会课题，反映真实的社会民情，这一向来就是梁导的作风嘛！那你觉不觉得这次《钱2》加入了歌台的部分，不禁让人想起陈子谦的《十》，都用了音乐效果激起观众的情绪？ : 我觉得《十》用的音乐效果相比之下较好，紧扣情节。然而，我觉得《十》并没有我期待中拍得好。 : 我不这么认为。我倒觉得《十》里的歌与戏融合在一起，而观众可在歌里找画面，看见一名苦命歌女一生坎坷的故事。比起《881》纯粹秀歌台文化的多姿多彩，《十》比较能够让陈导发挥他的才华。 : 我却觉得《十》拍得很表

面。莲花的故事并不能感动我，因为在莲花的身上我看不到和她的共同之处。但是，陈导还是把《十》拍得很有美感。 : 确实，很多情景似乎没有很好的连接性，但我还是认为这是一部陈导比较成熟的作品，又有戏剧性且有商业价值。演员们在戏中也呈现了精湛的演技。 : 尤其是女主角之一刘玲玲的演出让我不禁觉得她真的是一块宝，一块我们都一直没有留意的宝。我觉得她已经闯出她的另一个天地。 : 这部戏确实让我们更肯定刘玲玲的精湛演技。总之，《十》故事性强，拍摄手法新奇，而《钱2》故事虽较不新颖，但它准确地反映社会民情，又十分幽默，两部都是值得一看的电影！

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乐评音乐Jukebox 专辑：《干物世界》歌手：林宇中推荐：《干物女》《改嫁》

以

何维健担心不能出唱片摄影｜林佐伊

杨淑慧●报道

等

了大约三年，第一届《绝对Superstar》男子组的季军何维健终于发片了。他在记者会上说的第一句话：“大家好，好久不见”也显得格外贴切。何维健服完兵役便开始筹备首张专辑。当初因为等专辑等了好久，他曾质疑唱片公司是否会帮他发片，所以将来能不能成为职业歌手对他来说仍是个未知数。如今，何维健达成了梦想，

听到专辑《无法归类》开卖当天就被抢购一空的消息时他起初不相信，经过再三确认后才点了点头，微笑表示：“酷，酷！” 何维健一直给予观众一个亲切和阳光的形象，但他也希望大家能够看到不一样的自己，所以在专辑里挑战舞曲，还到了台湾接受舞蹈训练。 “虽然录音和跳舞的过程很累，可是我并不觉得辛苦，因为我都是心甘情愿去做的。” 谈到《碰碰爱》音乐录影带的拍摄过程，何维健笑说，抵达拍摄地点才知道会与两位女

舞者有亲密互动，没想到自己的形象会有所“损伤”，所以开拍时有些心理障碍。他解释：“我担心观众不能接受，突然出现这样的何维健，大家会不会吓死？” 结果，他不但克服了心理障碍，更凭着“我不能输给舞者”的理念顺利把剧情的角色扮演好。在记者会上，《绝》的前战友也前来支持何维健久违的作品，并纷纷献上祝福，希望他能得到更多人的肯定。对此，何维健说：“我也希望我可以大红！”

不属于“美少女”派郭静走帅气风黄敏玮●报道

台

湾歌手郭静私底下很男性化，不仅会大笑，坐姿也很随性，跟她甜美的外型和歌声有很大的出入。可是，由于郭静给人的甜美形象太根深蒂固，媒体将她归类为“美少女歌手”，还拿她和杨丞琳作比较。对此，郭静深感意外，并表示：“我不觉得自己属于 ‘美少女’一派的，我走的是帅气风；杨丞琳则是‘可爱教主’，没人比得过她。我们的路线不同。” 担心一辈子当“隐形歌手” 郭静日前在由南大文化活动协会举办的《下一个天亮》校园演唱会上，带来不少动听歌曲。她跑遍全场与同学们握手，把现场气氛推到最高点。郭静过后接受专访时，聊起出道至今的心路历程。 2004年被唱片公司发掘后，她以英文名Claire演唱《我不想忘记你》等偶像剧片尾曲和插曲，但从未现身，直到去年才

以真面目发片。她坦言，自己曾担心一辈子当“隐形歌手”。她说：“我以为一签约就能发片，可是间中什么事都没发生，我当时真的有点担心。” 不过，郭静认为3年漫长的等待使她作好充分的准备，而之前演唱的5首偶像剧片尾曲和插曲都收录在首张专辑，正好让她享受发“精选辑”的快感。作为新人，郭静可谓歌艺不

俗，却无缘入围本届金曲奖。不少歌迷和乐评人都替她叫屈，认为她“歌红人不红”。郭静虽遗憾与“一生只有一次”的新人奖擦肩而过，但以豁达的态度接受评语。她笑说：“的确是这样啊！我之前在没有露面的情况下唱歌，大家记得是我的歌，而不是我。” 不过，郭静有感自己的知名度已渐渐提高，因为她最近逛街时经常被大家认出！

郭静在《下一个天亮》校园演唱会上，带来不少动听的歌曲。摄影|沈丽芬

《干物世界》为专辑命名，让人未听就先对这张专辑感到好奇。听了之后，更是让人觉得其概念新鲜有趣。首波主打《干物女》以幽默的歌词和轻快的曲风描述了女人失去爱情后的伤感情怀，两种对比的概念却意外的融洽。也因为这样的曲风，让人较难融入歌词的悲伤意境。而歌曲中间一段女生的独白，又能让人为“干物女”心疼。整首歌玩弄着听众的情感，让人不知道是该为“干物女”伤心，还是该快乐地沉浸在轻快的音乐里。《改嫁》虽也为专辑中另一首百听不厌的抒情歌，但融入了中国风的曲调，风格较为强烈。曲中一句家喻户晓的“掀起了你的盖头来，让我来看看你的脸”也容易让听众对这首歌留下印象。抒情歌仍是林宇中的杀手锏，但专辑中也加入了俏皮好玩的歌曲，如“维他命C我加你”和“幸福马戏团”。丰富的曲风加上耐人寻味的好嗓音，这张专辑绝对值得一听。（文／黄佳敏）

专辑：《无法归类》歌手：何维健推荐：《无法归类》《咬字》

睽

违三年，第一届《绝对 Superstar》男子组季军何维健终于推出首张个人专辑《无法归类》。首波同名主打让维健大展苦练多时的舞技。虽然何维健较擅长演唱抒情歌曲，但在这张专辑中，他在快歌上的表现反而更为亮眼。专辑除了收录陈孟奇的作品，也有何维健的个人创作如《咬字》。词中表达了他对自己独特咬字方式的看法，也是一首他献给歌迷的歌曲。何维健在快歌上的表现令人刮目相看，也能从中听到他较成熟的诠释。抒情主打《你走天桥我走地下道》虽然属于K歌，但旋律不比《今天过去》扣人。专辑中的慢歌多数给人的感觉像是淡淡的哀伤，比较难找到当初参赛时演唱“Piano”与《很想你》的感动度。（文／陈筱艳）

专辑：《12莲花》电影原声带推荐：《疼憨人》《一百万》

继

《881》电影原声带大卖后，导演陈子谦再次与原班人马打造《十二莲花》电影原声带。众音乐人这次依旧大玩福建音乐，两张原声带因此难逃被比较的命运。伍家辉这次诠释的《寸步不离》无疑展现了他飚高音的能力，却因为唱起来难度太高，少了《一人一半》的亲和力。此外，由林倛玉演唱的另一主打《同花顺》和《881》电影原声带的《代替》风格接近，无法带来新意，实属另一遗憾。还好第二届《绝对Superstar》女亚军杨佳盈将抒情曲《疼傻人》诠释得恰到好处，由平静渐渐转为激动的歌声让人听出耳油。不过，改编自黄一飞的《一百万》才是最引人注目的。摇滚版本以俏皮可爱的歌词和节奏道出小市民的心声，但最令人印象深刻的，还是由陈子谦和红毛派演唱的福建抒情版，让大家见识到福建歌的优雅气质，十分难得。（文／黄敏玮）

Opinion

“Should privacy be violated in the name of exposing another immoral deed?” Page 30

EDITORIAL

Silver medal—bane or boon? FAR from uniting the nation under a blanket of celebration, the joy over what is a significant victory by our women’s table tennis team has been tempered. While some congratulate the nation for breaking half a century of medal drought, others say it is a win for the athletes— but not for Singapore. But far more impor tant than the squabble over the authenticity of this victory is the direction that Singapore sports will head into. How are we going to prevent another 48year wait for our next medal? Accord ing to sen ior parliamentar y secretar y for community development, youth and sports, Mr Teo Ser Luck, foreign talents contributed more than 30% of Singapore’s gold medals at the the 2007 Sea games despite only making up some 7% of our contingent. But to continue pouring resources into the foreign talent scheme could render future victories hollow. There is always an opportunity cost when resources are concerned, and it may very well be the case that in our enthusiasm for sporting glory, we have ingrained a message into our young sportsmen and women that they will never get a chance to don our nation’s colours because we prefer to buy our success ready-made. Instead the medal must serve as a driving force for

Singapore to finally nurture its own homegrown talent. The exploits of our table tennis team will no doubt raise the status of sports in Si ngapore. T he ha nd some reward of $250,000 for each of the three players should also show pragmatic Singaporeans that sports is a viable career option. More publicity must be put into letting Singaporeans know that we now want talent born and raised here. T he gove r n me nt ha s d e f e nd e d t h e s c h e m e a s important not only in winning medals for us, but also in the nurturing of local athletes. But f if teen years af ter its implementation, none of the Singapore-born athletes are even faint medal hopefuls. We need to drop the pretence that the scheme benefits our local athletes. Li Jiawei and her teammates are medal-winning machines for our country, not the nurturers of sports. Have we, as a nation, grown so used to overnight economic success that we now accept—or even demand—the same of sporting glory? As for the on-going debate about the silver medal won by three China-born athletes, an important question needs to be considered. To those who found no joy in Singapore’s win: would a loss to the Korean team in the semifinal have made you happier?

CH R O N ICL E THE NANYANG

chief editor Lin Junjie Managing editor Lin Xinyi sub-editors Amelia Chia Philip Lim Valerie Toh Ser Yi Zeinab Yusuf News editors Cheryl Ong Teo Wan Gek Lifestyle editors Amanda Tan Natasha Ann Zachariah Reviews editor Rachael Boon tech editor Lim Yan Liang Chinese editors Han Weiding Song Huichun opinion editors Huynh Kim Phong Vo Van Hung

sports editors Fabian Ng Tan Jinhe layout editors Gerald Tan Imran Jalal Sharon Hiu photo editors Chen Wei Li Kuan Jie Wei Tan Zi Jie graphics editor Janell Hoong WEB editor Alan Tan Yu Shyang business managers Lee Yi Ling Eileen Teo Xin Wen Jean Toh Zong Rong production support Ng Heng Ghee Teacher advisors Andrew Duffy Javed Nazir Xu Xiaoge

A students’ newspaper published by the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information (WKWSCI) Nanyang Technological University 31 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637718 Tel: 6790 6446 Unsigned editorials represent the majority view of the editorial board of The Chronicle and do not necessarily reflect the policies or views of Nanyang Technological University, its employees, the students or the Council of the University. Signed opinion columns, letters and editorial cartoons represent the opinion of the writer or artist and are not necessarily those of The Chronicle. Printed by KHL Printing Co. Pte Ltd, 57 Loyang Drive, Singapore 508968

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU News Hotline: 6790 6446 Letters: chronicle@ntu.edu.sg Opinions: chronicle.opinions@ ntu.edu.sg Please include your full name, contact number, faculty and year of study.

Old habits die hard

Chong Zi Liang

he first thing I learnt about fitting into American society when I was on an exchange programme in the United States, was: Except when at a restaurant, always clear your tray after a meal. It did not matter if I was dining in a fast-food joint or at a food court. Whatever mess I made on the table was my responsibility to clear up. But it was not just the American way of dining, I soon learnt. Sharing my experiences with other students who were in other countries for exchange, I realised that places like Japan, Taiwan and other parts of the world also have this unwritten policy that everyone strictly adheres to. Coming from a country where I am constantly faced with “Fine: $500” signs for littering, I found it baffling that people were being civil without the threat of punishment hanging over their heads. Here in sunny Singapore, it seems like we believe clearing up after ourselves is, well, beneath us. Either that, or we believe it is the responsibilit y of the elderly folks (for heaven’s sake, they are old enough to be your grandparents!) to clear trays from the tables. Now it seems NTU is making a bid to adopt the gracious habits of the rest of the world. T he newly-opened Food Connection is encouraging patrons to return their own trays after having their meals. The first two weeks of school also saw members of Earthlink, a st udent env i ron menta l organisation, patrolling the food court to encourage patrons to clear up after themselves. They handed out serviettes to patrons who were finishing their meals before reminding them of the new policy in Food Connection. T he ma nagement of Food Connection even threw in signs on every table reminding customers to “please return your used crockery after eating” for good measure. Intrigued by how this social exper iment would pan out, I decided to have most of my meals in Food Connection to observe my fellow diners. That, and also because I enjoy the food there. With the Earthlink members diligently urging patrons to return their used utensils, most people complied. Only a few stood out by taking

GRAPHIC | CHRISTIYANI KABUL

the serviettes the members handed out and conveniently forgetting why they received them in the first place. But when the good people of Earthlink ended their patrols, uncleared trays once again began piling up on tables. A society does not change its habits overnight.

A lasting culture of returning our used utensils can only be built up in the long term by persistence Some may dismiss the idea of one food court having its own policy of diners clearing their own utensils when the entire nation runs on another set of rules, but I believe it is a goal possible to achieve within NTU itself. Just look at the canteen in NIE, where utensil returning posts are numerous and clearly marked. The welcoming sight of a canteen not strewn with used bowls and chopsticks makes dining there more convenient and, frankly,

much more pleasant. And it is not just the future educators of Singapore who are setting a fine example. Our counterparts in NUS are doing the same. Every canteen in NUS has a policy of patrons returning their own utensils. If they can do it, why not us? Old habits die hard, and it is perfectly understandable that some of us forget to clear up after ourselves. Fellow patrons can and should chip in to help by reminding them that this is now the new NTU way of dining. But I also k now t hat Singaporeans, being themselves, are unlikely to do so much as to be seen minding someone else’s business. So the next best thing, it dawns on me, would be to clear a table adjacent to you if it is within your means. A lasting culture of returning our used utensils can only be built up in the long ter m by persistence. In the short term, it seems that mutual reminder is the only way to go. Failing which, we can always add a “Fine: $500” to the signs on all the tables. This is a fine city after all.

opinion

AU G US T 2 5, 20 0 8

T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e

canteen talk

The 2010 inaugural Youth Olympic Games Village is to be located in our campus. We find out what NTU students think about this opportunity.

The current sports and accommodation facilities in NTU are not adequate and will definitely need upgrading.

”

Is privacy extinct?

Ho Jia Yee, CEE, Year 4, 25

“

It will be good for NTU in terms of branding as more people around the world will know about the University if it does well as a host.

GRAPHIC | SARAH AMNAH

Fu Zixiang, CSC, Year 1, 22

Our English is a problem as international friends will not understand Singlish.

”

Gireesh Kumar, MSc Bioinformatics Year 1, 24

“

The signboard system in NTU needs to be improved to better guide our international friends around such a large campus. Cheryl Yeo, ELH, Year 4, 21

I am proud that our University will play a part in supporting such a prestigious event. I will definitely volunteer to help in 2010.

”

Nur ‘Adilah Suhaimi, NIE, Year 1, 20

TEXT | HUYNH KIM PHONG, PHOTOS | JEFFREY PANG

Terence Lee

rivacy is going the way of t he d i nosau r s , but Singaporeans can do nothing about it. Consider this: on a typical day, you would already be caught numerous times on closedcircuit television on the way to campus. When you board the train, somebody might be taking photos of you with their mobile phone, and uploading them onto STOMP, a citizen journalism website run by The Straits Times. Howe ve r, it appea r s t hat Singaporeans don’t mind that their actions are being tracked, at least on the internet. We do not seem to mind the fact that websites like YouTube, a Google-owned video sharing site, are efficient in gathering information about us by keeping track of our viewing. In a US$1 billion ($1.41 billion) copyright infringement lawsuit last year, Viacom contended that YouTube has been showing 160,000 video clips of its programming without permission. The verdict was controversial: it ruled that Google must hand over the viewing records of all YouTube users. For t unately for the users, both Google and Viacom pledged to protect all YouTube users’ anony mit y in investigations. In the Internet age, where we often reveal more about ourselves online, there is a need to define what privacy is. In this case, we are referring to information privacy, where an individual has the right to decide what information he or she chooses to reveal to others. Wit h t he e x plosion of information today in the form of text, pictures, sound, and video, the possession of knowledge is truly a source of power. Consider the case of Dr Tam Tak Chuen who, according to a Straits

Times report in May, was caught on camera having sex with his clinic assistant. The voyeur: business partner Khairul Abdul Rahman, who had long suspected them of having an affair. The above example illustrates a dilemma: should privacy be violated in the name of exposing another immoral deed? No doubt, whatever individuals choose to do in private is their own personal choice, but they must be reminded that any private action runs the risk of becoming public —especially if society deems it immoral or controversial.

The fact that privacy is an inalienable right of every human being must be recognised more strongly in Singapore Nevertheless, the fact that privacy is an inalienable right of every human being must be recogn ised more st rongly in Singapore. This is especially important in the Internet age, where our privacy is under siege by the advance of technology. T he lack of clear pr ivac y protection guidelines in Singapore is apparent, and will only become more so in the future. In 1999, then 21-year-old NUS student Anne Lee told The Straits Times that her SingNet account was hacked into from the Home Affairs Ministry. Later, it was found that 200,000 accounts were scanned without the users’

knowledge—about half of the total number of internet users in Singapore then. This is not an isolated incident. Last yea r, Si ng Tel was once again embroiled in a privacy infringement controversy. Local anime distributor Odex obtained court orders that required SingTel and StarHub to reveal the identities of over 2,000 subscribers alleged to have downloaded anime illegally. In its defence, SingTel said it was checking to see if these accounts were protected against viruses. W h i le t he judge felt t hat copyright infringement must take precedence over privacy protection, Straits Times senior writer Andy Ho wrote in September last year that the individuals who were about to have their information divulged were not represented in court at all. Surely the privacy matters of internet users should be given a better hearing? Both incidents illustrate the fact that privacy issues will continue to surface. Therefore, a set of privacy laws would be usef ul for the government and the Supreme Court: it defines the rights citizens have to information privacy, and would ser ve as a guideline in future controversies. The government can look to the European Directive on Protection of Personal Data for inspiration, currently in effect in the European Union. The directive states that for all data collected, there should be a stated purpose, and they should be deleted when it is no longer needed. Also, some data can be deemed too sensitive to be collected, except under extreme circumstances. Only with similar laws can the privacy rights of Singaporeans be safeguarded effectively.

opinion

AU G US T 2 5, 20 0 8

T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e

One nation, one self ? Amanda Tan

GRAPHIC | CLAIRE LIM

PENDING AD

uch has been lamented about the lack of graciousness a m o n g Si ngaporea ns. Unfortunately, this issue is hard to tackle, as it seems to stem from deeper problems with our upbringing. Let me relate an experience I had recently. Going about my daily routine did seem a little different on National Day. I felt a little cheer hovering in the air— schoolchildren ditched their heav y backpacks for handy pouches and office workers had a sparkle in their eyes, perhaps because some had half a day’s leave. Stiff uniforms and starched office garb were traded for bright hues of red and white. It was an overwhelming display of unity. “How nice,” I had thought. At least for one day, people seemed like they really wanted to belong as one. S o n a t u r a l l y, i t w a s unnerving for me to witness the familiar scramble as people rushed to board the bus. There was pushing, shoving, and the occasional elbowing of people. No one wanted to be left behind; even as the bus driver kept calling out that the next bus was arriving. In that one minute, it was as if an ugly dark cloud had eclipsed the morning cheer. What happened to the unity displayed in those bright shades of red and white? It dawned on me that the pretty sight of red and white was as shallow as facades go. How does t h is incident relate to the reluctance to offer praise? Well, for one, it clearly shows our selfishness, and the concern for oneself. Not even the “National Day Spirit” could stop the ungracious shoving to get on the bus. It has a lways been ou r culture to be competitive. To be the top student, to have the highest paying job, materialistic aims are often among our top priorities. In school, we all learnt the hard way that only the fittest (or smartest, for that matter) survive. Being above average is expected, and being mediocre is tantamount to educational suicide. This attitude is one that we carry through the formative years, with each phase of our lives emphasizing this all the more. But by the time we reach college, you would need a certain number of distinctions and aggregate points to qualify for a promotion. Competition for limited university placements and scholarships adds to this quest for more. This suggests

that as we grow up, we learn that it is every man for himself. In school, it was commonplace to hear “advice” such as “if your friend needs you to replace him for a play, refuse, or else it will cost you your distinction.” Inevitably, it becomes a dog-eat-dog world, where every man only needs to ensure the best for himself. A few weeks ago, The Straits Times threw into the spotlight a secondar y school that was allegedly favouring the smarter students and neglecting those in the weaker classes. It is believed that students who showed more promise deserved to be paid more attention to. This suggests that it is acceptable to leave some behind whilst others charge ahead. This fuels my point. How can we ever know graciousness when it has been the practice not to show it? If we spend 20 years of our lives working and climbing up the corporate ladder on our own while shoving others down, then we cannot expect a miracle to suddenly happen. It just does not go from me-mentality to a youand-me-mentality overnight. O n t he ot he r h a nd , t he Europeans and Westerners are ver y ready with their praise. Even if the accomplishment had been a trivial one, it was always enough to earn a smile or word of encouragement.

Not even the “National Day Spirit” could stop the ungracious shoving to get on the bus But we could change too, through baby steps. For example, instead of clamouring for our own aims, we could spare a moment to recognise The Others who are in the picture, too. Effectively, this means that instead of being narcissistic, selfish creatures, we could try to be more concerned about others as well. It could start with school. Personally, I wish my teachers had been more generous with their praise through the years. A d m it te d l y, pr a i s e t h at i s hard earned tends to be more ef fect ive and savou red, but the disappointment from not receiving the praise I deserved lingers. This is the graciousness ever yone knows, but nobody shows. Most of us want it, but do not want to give it. Everyone simply thinks, “Since they are not doing it, I won’t either.” Let us stop waiting for each other to change. It starts with one’s self. I ndeed, because t he best things in life are free, give some praise today.

opinion

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T H E NA N YA NG C H RON IC L E

It starts with a heartware upgrade MAUNG YE YINT AUNG

ome 2010, N T U w i l l be come t he of f ic ia l Ga me s V i l lage for t he inaugu ra l Yout h Olympics Games (YOG). The ongoing Olympic Games has ushered spor ts back into the limelight after several past Olympic Games being tainted with cheating and the use of drugs in sports. Michael Phelps rose to the challenge, not only silencing his critics but also succeeding in becoming a “G.O.A.T”—Greatest of All Time. Usain Bolt, the fastest man alive, showed us that you do not need help from drugs to shock and awe—it is the mind that controls the body. The Singapore Women’s tabletennis team ended the 48 yearmedal drought for Singapore and made us believe that sports does have a place in our society. The golden era for Singapore sports seems to be dawning and now NTU has been tasked with the duty of doing what Beijing did for China: playing host to the athletes. The task may seem daunting, but we have a strong heritage of sports here in NTU to build on. Our dragonboat team did us university proud by bringing back

the Prime Minister’s Cup to Jalan Bahar. The tennis girls are reigning champions, and also not forgetting ACES, the NTU cheerleading team comprising mostly of national cheerleaders and are the defending champions of National Cheerobics Competition 2008. There is no doubt that NTU h a s t h e s u b s t a nc e a nd t h e infrastructure to host athletes for the YOG in 2010 Games. Perhaps the only area NTU needs to build up on is its image and packaging. NTU has the image of being in the jungle and not being as hip or happening as the other universities in Singapore.

The task may seem daunting, but we have a strong heritage of sports in NTU to build on That may be true, but at least we have proper sports facilities and the infrastructure to groom our nation’s spor ting talents. That should be more important to international youth athletes than proximity to Mohamed Sultan and

Clarke Quay, shouldn’t it? Our old gym behind the SRC office and beside the swimming pool can be described by one word—Spartan. It looks as if it should be at the top of the list to be refurbished for the YOG. Nevertheless, there is one aspect of sports that is often overlooked: the heart. “If you could have the arms of Hercules, legs as swift as the wind; if you could leap shoulder high above the rim, have the kick of a dolphin, the reflexes of a cat; if you could have all this, you would have the body, you would have the tools. But you will not have greatness until you understand that the strongest muscle is the heart,” said opera singer Andrea Bocelli, who has not been held back by his blindness. If we are to succeed, we need to change our mindsets, and show that we have the “heartware”. To become a good host, we will need to learn how to be more gracious and show understanding towards international guests. On the pitch, it is called sportsmanship. Our challenge is to extend it to the halls of residence, the canteens and the shuttle buses. Then, the inaugural YOG village will change perceptions of NTU and propel the university to become a truly global melting-pot of talents. Dare. Dream. Deliver.

SPORTSMANSHIP: This spirit on the pitch should be extended to the hearts and minds of each and every staff and student in NTU. PHOTO | FILE

10 pairs of MAMMA MIA tickets TO GIVE OUT! SYNOPSIS

An independent, single mother who owns a small hotel on an idyllic Greek island, Donna (Meryl Streep) is about to let go of Sophie (Amanda Seyfried), the spirited daughter she’s raised alone. For Sophie’s wedding, Donna has invited her two lifelong best girlfriends—practical and no-nonsense Rosie (Julie Walters) and wealthy, multi-divorcee Tanya (Christine Baranski)—from her one-time backing band, Donna and the Dynamos. But Sophie has secretly invited three guests of her own. On a quest to find the identity of her father to walk her down the aisle, she brings back three men from Donna’s past to the Mediterranean paradise they visited 20 years earlier. Over 24 chaotic, magical hours, new love will bloom and old romances will be rekindled on this lush island full of possibilities. Inspired by the storytelling magic of ABBA’s songs from “Dancing Queen” and “S.O.S.” to “Money, Money, Money” and “Take a Chance on Me,” Mamma Mia! is a celebration of mothers and daughters, old friends and new family found.

Q: MAMMA MIA! THE MOVIE features the

16 September 2008, Tuesday 7.15pm Lido Cineplex, Hall 2 (Level 5, Shaw House)

music from which iconic Swedish superband?

Be the ﬁrst 10 to send in the correct answer, with your name, matric and HP no. to nanyangchronicle@ntu.edu.sg Screening Winners will be notiﬁed by 28/8. details

Prizes courtesy of

Contes t ends 2 7/8.

SOME SEXUAL REFERENCES

sports

AU G US T 2 5, 20 0 8

T H E NA N YA NG C H RON IC L E

epl talk

The audacity of Hull As the Barclay Premier League kicks oﬀ its latest season, Rikesh Primalani ﬁnds that there is more to life than watching the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool WHAT a difference four years make. From being stragglers in the old Division Three, the lowest tier of English football, Hull City now find themselves in the spotlights of the Barclays Premier League (BPL). While the attention of the footballing world was focused on the opening-day performance of the Big Four teams, fans of the Tigers packed the KC Stadium to welcome Fulham. After conceding an early goal, it would be reasonable for one to assume the worst for Hull, after Derby County’s abysmal record last season. With the past two play-off final winners, Watford in 2007 and Derby in 2008, finishing bottom of the league, Hull seemed certain to follow in the footsteps of its predecessors. However, there was a twist in the tale, and with virtually the last kick of the game, Caleb Folan sealed his place in Hull’s folklore with a dramatic winner. Hull City 2 Fulham 1. That’s right. Hull City, who for the first time in their 104year histor y are playing topflight football, had just won their opening game. It is all the more shocking as this is a team that has been marked for instant relegation.

Upon closer examination, it is clear that this is a club that should not be written off so easily. One reason is the presence of former England international and Liverpool forward Nick Barmby. This local lad turned down more lucrative offers to join Hull City in 2004. Barmby’s experience helped Hull gain promotion from League One in his first season at the club with nine goals, the second successive promotion that the Tigers enjoyed. A nother Hull-born player, Dean Windass, returned to the club last season and scored the fairytale goal that clinched their promotion in the Championship play-off final.

What these players lack in skill and speed, they deﬁnitely make up with heart. At 39, Windass is the oldest player in the BPL. But lest you think Windass is over the hill, keep in mind that he scored 15 goals last season. He may not have the legs of a younger player, but his experience could prove crucial to securing survival. With the presence of these two players forming the spine of the team, and genuine match winners li ke t he merc u r ia l Bra zi lia n Geovanni, the squad is not as lousy as people make out to be. But the big question is if these players can compete with the Ronaldos and Torres of the BPL

and survive the season. Not only do they have to play well, but they also have to guide their younger teammates. What these players lack in skill and speed, they definitely make up with heart. Against Fulham, the players never gave up even after going a goal down. Their fitness levels in the second half were impressive as well. Ma nage r Ph i l Brow n ha s acknowledged the enormous task ahead of his team this season. He helped them overcome relegation in his fi rst season as manager and guided them to promotion in the next. Now, against the odds, Brown hopes to establish Hull City as a top-flight team. Brown has instilled in his team a sense of self-belief that they can beat anyone. Hopefully, the players, especially those who are playing in the BPL for the first time, will not get carried away. They have to stay grounded and take it one game at a time. Hull City has announced its entrance into the BPL with style. They will definitely hope to spring a few more surprises and show that they can mix with the best. Here is a team that plays slightly differently from the rest. This team has heart. A nd they had the guts to gatecrash the opening party of the BPL. Look out big boys, or you may just be next. After all, Hull is now the only club in England that can boast a record of being unbeaten in the BPL and Wembley stadium. In this time of inflated salaries and mercenary footballers involved in scandals, Hull has certainly given fans of the underdogs the audacity of hope.

CAN MIRACLES HAPPEN?: Hull City local lads Nick Barmby and Dean Windass will likely settle for survival in the highly competitive Premier League, but there is no harm in aiming high. GRAPHIC | MICHELLE HENG

sports proﬁle

New award to recognise bicultural students REGRET: A gold medal was scant consolation to Ang, who lost his chance at representating the country due to injury. PHOTO | PRAYUDI UTOMO

NTU rugby captain’s national dreams dashed NG JIA MIN AFTER leading the NTU team to a gold in the recent Rugby 7s Tour nament in Selangor, Malaysia, captain Ang Tze Shien had to give up the opportunity to don the national colours due to a knee injury. A week before the tournament which was held from July 24 to 28, the 24-year-old learnt that he was selected to be part of the National Development Team, where players train to eventually become national players. However, he tore his anterior cruciate ligament during the tournament, and had to give up the opportunity. “I would really love to play for the country again so it was like a dream dashed, but that’s life,” he said. Ang played for Singapore for the first time in the World Cup Under-19 Asia Qualifiers in mid2004, where the team emerged fifth. He represented Singapore again six months later in the Under-23 team, playing against Hong Kong in a friendly match. Hav i ng tor n t he sa me ligament on his right knee twice, the former captain has decided to quit the rugby team. “Since I can no longer lead the team on the field, I feel that it would serve the team better if I stepped down and let a new captain take over,” he said. “Of course it saddens me that I have to quit, but it’s my second injury on the same spot and I doubt if I would ever go back to rugby again.” H i s f i r s t l i ga me nt te a r occurred three years ago during the Institute-Varsity-Polytechnic season, where he played for Temasek Polytechnic. Despite the doctor’s advice to stop playing rugby after his first injury, he went back to the sport six to nine months later after returning to match fitness.

Even though he is not as agile and fast as before due to weight gain from the recovery process, the experience with the injury helped him in some ways. “After the injury, I know my limits better and am now more aware of my own body,” said the third-year Business student. “I have also learnt to use my mass to my advantage such as to protect myself on the field.” Gene Tong, 24, the coach of the NTU rugby team, has known Ang since his St. Andrew’s days, where Ang fi rst started playing rugby in primary three. He described Ang as someone with a good moral compass, and is both humble and downto-earth. Ang is also well-liked by his teammates in NTU, both as a friend and as a captain. Sidney Kumar, 22, who took over Ang as captain, sees Ang as a leader. “He settles a lot of admin and logistics work on his own,” said the second-year NIE student. “He also puts the team before ever y thing he does and he will never expect the team to do anything he himself can’t do. This is something that I would like to learn from him as captain.” To Yik Thai Hoe, 24, Ang is a natural leader whom he looks up to a lot. “Tze Shien is usually nice and friendly, but he can get very serious on the field and somehow, people just want to listen to him,” said the vicecaptain of the team. “I hope to become like him one day.” Despite his passion for the sport, Ang is planning to give up rugby for good. “I don’t think I will go back to rugby again because it really takes a lot of determination and hard work to get back to original state. After the operation, my knee hurts a lot every time it buckles,” he said.

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AU G US T 2 5, 20 0 8

T h e na n ya ng c h ron ic l e

NTU athletes look forward to play YOG hosts Zakaria Zainal NTU Athletes are excited at the prospect of hosting and being involved with the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in 2010. Besides enhancing t he u n i v e r s it y ’s i nte r n at ion a l em i nence, at h letes cited t he opportunity to learn from different training cultures and also raising the sporting culture within the university. Recently, the Singapore Youth Ol y m pic G a me s O r ga n i s i n g Committee (SYOGOC) announced that the Youth Olympic Village (YOV) will be relocated from t he $50 0 -m i l lion Un iver sit y Town in NUS to the NTU Yunnan Campus. This announcement was greeted warmly by the N T U spor ting fraternity. “I was already very happy that Singapore is hosting the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) and the relocation of the Games to NTU just made me more excited and also proud that our school can be directly involved in this international event,” said Belicia Loh, second-year Accountancy undergraduate and member of NTU women’s basketball team. Chia Jin Hon, captain of NTU’s men football team shared the same sentiment. “I feel a sense of pride that we will be given this honour of hosting the YOG athletes.” Chia, a third-year Mechanical Engineering undergraduate, feels that the YOG is a great opportunity for NTU to experience cultures from all over the world. He also mentioned the chance to help with their training preparations and “opposition of this level does not come by very often”. “It would be very interesting

A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME?: It is hoped that the hosting of the YOG athletes will encourage more NTU students to pick up and play more sports. PHOTOS | FILE

to meet people from countries that you hardly know about or have not heard before,” he added. And this cultural exchange, especially with regards to sports and training culture, is something third-year Business undergraduate

Lim Jian Liang is looking forward to. The 23-year-old, who is also part of NTU men’s basketball team, is interested to know more about overseas athletes and their season and off-season training routines.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME: IOC President Dr Jacques Rogge was evidently impressed by the hall rooms he visited in April.

Based from his interaction with a Canadian exchange student, he finds that athletes overseas train just as hard during both offseason and when preparing for competition. “They train four times a week during off-season as compared to us, once a week,” he said. Moreover, hosting the games will mean having a good chance to watch the games, training sessions and their organisation in preparing for an Olympic meet said secondyear Business undergraduate Henry Seah. The former national youth table tennis player also added that not everyone will have this opportunity. Besides observing the athletes and their training sessions, Lim hopes that the YOG will “bring our sporting culture to another level.” Though he feels that the YOG will simply be a temporary buzz to NTU’s sporting culture. “I feel that NTU’s sporting culture needs improving. There are hardly any supporters during competitions, and the different sports teams hardly interact with one another,” added Chia, 23, who hopes that the YOG would “improve the situation somehow.” However, Loh feels the efforts in organising the Inter-Hall and Inter-School Games and students’ active participation indicates a

strong sporting culture within NTU. “The YOG will encourage more people to join and play more sports therefore strengthening our school’s sporting culture.” An NTU spokesman said that will definitely help create buzz, interest and awareness amongst our students on the value of sports participation and an appreciation of the Olympic spirit—which is Excellence, Friendship & Respect.

“It would be very interesting to meet people from countries that you hardly know about or have not heard before.” Chia Jin Hon, 23 NTU Football Captain

In addition, the improved facilities at NTU will also be an added welcome in the promotion of sports, and it will benefit student life on campus too.

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T H E NA N YA NG C H RON IC L E

A tee with friends LIYANA LOW FAIR weather and scenic views welcomed the change in venue for the NTU President Golf Challenge, held on August 13. T h is yea r, t he orga n iser s decided to change the venue from Seletar Country Club to Raffles Country Club to make it more competitive for golfers. “This year’s golf course is def initely more cha llenging, especially for inexperienced golfers like me. But I’m just in it for fun,” said John Foo, an NTU alumnus who graduated in 1992. “The course this time around is very beautiful. I’m really enjoying myself here,” said Marina TanHarper, Director Development, Development Office. A ll 36 groups planned by the organisers were f illed up quickly by people from the NTU community. There were also more women taking part in this year’s Golf Challenge, with an all-women’s team giving the men a run for their money.

When asked why the organizers decided to choose golf again this time around, Khoo said: “Golf is a sport where people are able to network easily. That’s why we decided to stick to golf this year as well.” The event was organised to create networking opportunities for NTU students, staff, alumni, university partners and major companies who have links with the school. “I joined this event for fun as well, and mostly because I wanted to meet other golfers,” added Seow Peng, another NTU alumnus. One company who gamely signed up for the event was CPG Consultants, a firm in charge of the designs of new buildings in NTU. “The event was smooth, and the quiet environment conducive for golf ing,” said one of t he representatives from CPG. In addition, there were two Toyota hybrid cars up for grabs for golfers who could shoot a hole in one into two of their chosen holes. Although nobody managed the feat, Nicklaus D’Cruz, an avid golfer who also won the prize for

they said that? A lot of yam, banana and dumplings produce top three! Gold medallist Ann Fraser reveals the secret of Jamaican sprinters’ diet after they took the top three spot in the women’s 100m race.

Is it a trophy to ﬁnish 12th and win the Carling Cup? The real quality of a big club is to ﬁght for the championship. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is bullish about his side’s chances for the title this season, even throwing in a not so subtle dig at derby rivals Tottenham Hotspurs. READY, SET, PUTT: A golfer lines up his shot as NTU President Su Guaning looks on. PHOTO | AHMAD ISKANDAR

the longest putt, emerged the top golfer for the challenge. Nonetheless, it proved to be

a field day for NTU, as it gave participants ample opportunities for interaction and bonding.

NTU Wushu pugilists bring home the medals TAN JINHE SPORTS EDITOR

MEMBERS of the NTU Wushu team fared well in the recently concluded National Wushu & Sanshou Championship held from August 12 to 17, bagging a total of four medals for the school. Fourth-year Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering student Teo Kia Meng, 26, beat his opponents in the Men’s Open Traditional Nanquan category with a score of 8.43, giving the university its only gold medal in the competition.

I feel that the most important thing is to do the best we can, because that is the best way to repay our mentors for their guidance. Thien Qi Yun, 20 Second-year Business student

T he for mer national team member beat the second-placed representative from Long Kun Xing Shi Wushu Centre by 0.07 points with his routine, nan quan yi lu.

READY TO EXPLODE: Teo maintains a meticulous stance en route to clinching a gold medal at the recent National Wushu Championship. PHOTO | KUAN JIE WEI

Although the video review of his performance showed no signs of error, Teo said he had a “minor slip-up” during his routine, but added that it was “just a small mistake” unnoticeable to the audience. S e v e n y e a r s of t r a i n i n g experience in the national team has helped Teo understand his psyche better. He has also learnt to condition his body and mentality for competitions. “I wou ld con su me food that gives me energ y for my performance, such as bananas or 100 Plus,” he said. “During the competition, I focus on every

movement and think of how to execute the next move well. If I make a mistake, I don’t panic and carry on steadily.” The disciplined veteran is an inspiration and a fine example to teammate Jacqualine Tan, 23, who garnered two bronze medals in the Women’s Open Double Weapons and Traditional Nanquan categories. Tan felt t hat Teo is more experienced than her in terms of competition. He did the same routine as her this time and felt that his style was more competitive ( jing sai) than traditional (chuan tong) in

nature, which is faster and more flamboyant. She added that she would try to incorporate his style into her routine. Before her turn to compete, Tan sat at one side and did not look at her opponents as they took the stage. She said watching others would make her too excited and forget her routine. “It has act ually happened before,” she said. “Now I would close my mind and just concentrate on visualising the routine in my head.” She scored 8.13 in the Nanquan category, but lost to gold medalist Lina Monica A li (8.30 ) f rom Bishan/Toa Payoh North Wushu & Lion Dance Troupe. Lina Monica also triumphed over second-year Business student Thien Qi Yun, 20, who had to settle for silver in the Traditional Changquan categor y with her routine, fan zi quan. “I already had an idea of Monica’s capabilities through networking,” said Thien. “She is very good.” A lt houg h T h ien put up a splendid display this time, she valued the road to achievement more. “Winning something gives you recognition for your effort. But I feel that the most important thing is to do the best we can, because that is the best way to repay our mentors for their guidance,” she said.

GRAPHIC | JANELL HOONG

We felt it was something appropriate and that it would be interpreted as an aﬀectionate gesture. Spanish basketballer Jose Manuel Calderon (above) defends that infamous “slitty eyed” photo.

I ve won a lot in my career. He has won a Super Cup and another little cup. Probably he needs to change mentality but maybe he is too old to do it. Inter manager Jose Mourinho is off to conquer Italy, starting with this little crack on Juventus’ Claudio Ranieri.

Sports

A hole in one? To find out, swing along to Page 35

Beijing Olympics: Ups & Downs The greatest sporting event in the world has had its fair share of thrills and spills. Farah Elias looks back at eight epic moments that will go down in the history books for their sheer drama.

UPS

Jamaica’s Lightning Bolt

China’s Redeem Team Combining raw power and grace, the Chinese men’s gymnastics team delivered a stunning performance before of a largely Chinese crowd. Chen Yibing and Li Xiaopeng earned high points on the rings and vault with 16.575 and 16.775 respectively, racking up a total of 286.125 points. Winning gold on home soil certainly put their 2004 disappointment in Athens behind them. The Chinese gymnasts won seven out of the eight possible golds, displaying total domination in the gymnastics arena.

Usain Bolt brought the 91,000-strong crowd to its feet in the 100m finals as he cruised his way to a new world record of 9.69s. No one came close as he led the last 30m with a twometre margin, finishing in style as he thumped his chest in triumph. It was a similar story in the 200m finals, as he won comfortably with a world record time of 19.30s, becoming the first man to conquer the sprint double world record since 1976.

End of a 48-year drought

Episode 8 of the Michael Phelps Show After his spectacular win in the 100m butterf ly by a mere hundredth of a second, the ‘Baltimore Bullet’ created history in his final event, the men’s 4 x 100m medley relay. USA edged out second place Australia in a world record time of 3min 29.34s. Phelps got his coveted eighth gold, beating Mark Spitz’s record of seven in a single Olympics. If Phelps was a country, he would be in the top ten of the medal table; with seven new world records and one Olympic record. His remarkable achievement has cemented his status as one of the greatest athletes of all time.

DOWNS

Undelivered promise

Cracked and fled The pressure to defend her title and win the inaugural event of the Games proved too much for Du Li as she lost her nerve and finished a disappointing fifth in the 10m air rifle event. As Czech’s Katerina Emmons shot her way to the first gold in Beijing, the Chinese shooter left the shooting hall in tears and refused to talk to the media. With the spotlight still on her, Du Li fought and redeemed herself with a gold medal in the 50m air rifle event.

They boldly predicted a clean sweep of the shot put medals at the Olympics—a feat unachieved in 28 years. Cantwell was the indoor world champion in 2008, Hoffa the 2007 outdoor world champion, and Nelson, a two-time Olympic silver medallist. The Americans entered as the most decorated shot putters among their competitors but fell short of their aim. Only Cantwell won a silver with a throw of 69ft, 2½in (4ft off his personal best) while compatriots Hoffa and Nelson were way off the mark. The gold was won by Poland’s Tomasz Majewski with a throw of 70ft 7in.

The Singapore paddlers had to fight hard against a determined South Korean team in the semi-finals. After a few tense moments when it appeared that the match was slipping away, Feng Tianwei finally clinched victory after a marathon session that captured the attention of the Singapore public. Despite going all out in the finals and displaying moments of brilliance, Singapore lost 3-0 to a superior Chinese team and had to settle for silver. Even so, this was Singapore’s first Olympic medal since its independence in 1965, and the 48 year wait is finally over. What an achievement.

A shining star limps out

Swiss ace’s dethronement Roger Federer’s hopes of a comeback after a lacklustre season were dashed as he went down 4-6, 6-7 to James Blake, a player he has never lost to. Federer was nowhere near his best as he struggled against the world number seven, who took advantage of Federer’s poor form. There were glimpses of the Swiss’s prowess as he took the second set to a tie-break but it was a little too late as the American won in straight sets. Federer’s consolation prize came in the form of a gold in the doubles event while rival Rafael Nadal claimed the more prestigious singles’ gold, as well as his world number one crown.

A deafening silence reverberated through the stadium as China’s defending champion winced in pain and limped off the track after a false start in the last 110m hurdles heat. Liu Xiang, the man China and the rest of the world had been waiting to watch, could not deliver as a longstanding injury to his Achilles heel flared up. Unable to compete, Liu disappeared back into the tunnel as the remaining runners completed the race without him. Liu’s premature exit dashed the hopes of 1.3 billion people who believed in him, and effectively ended Chinese hopes for an athletics medal.