THE RIDGE MAGAZINE A NUSSU PUBLICATION APRIL 2011 mica (p) 207/11/2009
BLACK AND WHITE*
BULLET POINTS
from cover to cover so your eyes are not strained, saving your eyes for studying. Plus it looks cool.
for most articles so you don’t have to read entire pieces freeing up time for you to burn that midnight oil.
11238AIA_NUS the ridge_OL.indd 1
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DATE : 11.03.2011
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M
Y
18 23
CONTENTS NEWS
OPINION
LIFESTYLE
06 NUS FLASH
17 MATHS AND SCIENCES – NOT A WOMAN’S CUP OF TEA?
23 SNAG THAT JOB/INTERNSHIP!
08 PHOTOSTORY: FLY ON THE WALL
26 LOW DOWN ON STIMULANTS 18 JUST WHO IS XXCUTEGER91XX EXACTLY?
09 NUS CAREER CENTRE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUTLOOK FOR FRESH GRADS 12 SINGAPORE’S FIRST WATER RIGHTS CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF IN NUS
19 LET JUSTICE BE SERVED
27 WARDROBE ESSENTIAL(S) BAGPACKS BACKPACKS?
20 WHY YOUR VOTE MATTERS
28 FASHION SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY!
21 ARE WE PURSUING THE RIGHT THINGS IN LIFE?
30 JOHN GALLIANO… WHO?
14 SAVING SINGAPORE MONKEYS FROM EXTINCTION
32 ONCE OVER ON AWFW
16 IVLE APP FOR IPHONE AND WINDOWS PHONE RELEASED
33 INSPIRE LOVE IN 2011 34 ACADEMY AWARDS 2011
35
52
ENTERTAINMENT
SPORTS
WIRED
35 SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER SEASON 2011
46 THE LEGACY OF PELE AND CANTONA
54 GAME REVIEW: DRAGON AGE II
37 THE GOTAN PROJECT: TAKING TANGO TO THE NEXT LEVEL
48 THE SEA GAMES SAGA CONTINUES...
56 APPLE AND GOOGLE TOPS FORTUNE’S MOST ADMIRED LIST
51 NUS CHEERLEADERS, FIGHT AND WIN 38 REMEMBER MY MUSIC: SIXX
58 BOOST YOUR PRODUCTIVITY 52 SPORT OF THE MONTH: AQUATHLON
40 TRAVELLING THESPIS STYLE 42 WORDS IN PICTURES 44 BOOK REVIEWS + WHAT’S IN MY IPOD
59 BYTE-SIZED
02
Ed EDITOR’S NOTE
I
t’s that time of the semester again when students start camping out in the libraries, furiously stabbing at their notes as they convert lengthy readings into bite-sized bullet points, which they read right before their exams in a desperate attempt to jog their memories. It’s a good practice, doubtless effective too, given that the tradition has lasted all these years. But why not do the same for your entertainment? That is exactly what THE RIDGE Lite attempts to do with its exam inspired layout.
(page 58), and burn the midnight oil with the right drinks (page 26), taken in moderation, of course. •
Graduating students will be interested to know what their job prospects are (page 9), and students seeking internships or full-time jobs may wish to look into the dos and don’ts of securing that elusive job (page 23).
•
No holidays will be complete without fun, so check out the movies on offer (page 35), the books you should read (page 44) and the games you could play (page 54) after crossing the hurdles of the upcoming exams. Fancy a challenge? Then read about aquathlons, straight from the horse’s mouth (page 52).
•
Lastly, all of us at THE RIDGE would like to wish every one of our readers the very best in your exams, but we can’t help but wonder why we get so worked up about it (page 21).
With black and white pages reminiscent of those dreary days spent doing nothing but readings, and bullet points to boot, THE RIDGE Lite shows you how you can still have fun while studying for your exams. For the time-pressed, skip the articles altogether and attack those bullet points! In just five points, we’ve summed up the longer articles for you. We recommend, naturally, that you return to the full articles after your exams have finished. So without taking up any more of your time, here is a quick summary of what you will find in this issue: •
•
The popularity of causes in this era is highlighted with trend of eco-fashion (page 28). Closer to home, undergraduates initiate a water rights campaign (page 12), and a primate conservation campaign (page 14). Make your school life easier with the right websites
Cheers,
Meera Nair Chief Editor theridge.chiefeditor@nussu.org.sg
THE RIDGE THANKS YOU. THE RIDGE is the oldest publication on campus and part of the National University of Singapore’s Students’ Union (NUSSU) family. Over the years, we have evolved from a newsletter of a few pages to a magazine that boasts content that satisfies the varied interests of the student population. The publication has gone through a complete makeover with a professional image, a far cry from its humble beginnings. However, THE RIDGE’s purpose remains the same - to deliver relevant information to the university through quality journalism, creative design and pure passion. We are thankful for the support the University has shown to the publication. Slowly but surely, THE RIDGE has gained a sizable following - the magazine is usually snapped up in a week. We promise to keep improving on our content and design to bring you the best journalism we can provide and we are always looking out for fresh talent to fulfil this promise.
JOIN US TODAY. JOIN US TODAY no matter where your interests lie. We are always looking out for talent as our family continues to grow. Writers, designers, photographers, web administrators, marketing executives and events organizers are all highly valued in our organization. Contact us today to inquire. theridge.recruitment@nussu.org.sg
04 EDITORIAL TEAM
EDITORIAL BOARD
OPERATIONS BOARD
Chief Editor Meera Nair theridge.chiefeditor@nussu.org.sg
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Chief Social Media Manager Worapol Ratanapan & Melissa Tan theridge.chiefsocial@nussu.org.sg
News Desk Editor Chua Ai Ni theridge.news@nussu.org.sg
Chief Publicity Designer Serene Chua & Tay Yang Shun theridge.chiefpubdesigner@nussu.org.sg
Opinion Desk Editor Augustin Chiam theridge.opinion@nussu.org.sg
Director of Events Wai Yan Yip & Nitya Padmanabhan theridge.events@nussu.org.sg
Lifestyle Desk Editor Tamara Kisha Tan theridge.lifestyle@nussu.org.sg
Financial Secretary Arnab Ghosh theridge.finsec@nussu.org.sg
Entertainment Desk Editor Saheli Roy Choudhury theridge.entertainment@nussu.org.sg
Human Resource Manager Shruthi Suresh theridge.recruitment@nussu.org.sg
Sports Desk Editor Herngyih Tan theridge.sports@nussu.org.sg
Orientation Camp Project Directors Raghav Shankar, Er Cai Fang & Hang Liting theridge.orientation@nussu.org.sg
Wired Desk Editor Shanmugam MPL theridge.wired@nussu.org.sg
NUS STUDENTS’ UNION
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CONTRIBUTORS WRITERS
05
CREATIVE TEAM
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Opinion Desk Heng Mingfong
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Vibha Ghariwala
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Photographers Stephanie Lim
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OPERATIONS DIVISIONS Lifestyle Desk Vanessa Tan
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Jasmine Teo
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Tan Yuh Ting
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Entertainment Desk
Marketing Team
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Sports Desk
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06
NEWS
NUSFLASH NUS COUNTED AMONG REPUTABLE UNIVERSITIES IN THE WORLD CHUA AI NI
N
US emerged the third best university in Asia and 27th best in the world in the 2011 World Reputation Rankings. The worldwide survey examines the reputations of institutions based on their performance in teaching and research.
ranking was an affirmation from the international academic community of the world-class quality of education and research at the university.
Over 13,000 academics participated in the ranking survey.
“We are today a leading global university centred in Asia, and will continue to develop high quality education and research programmes that will contribute to Singapore, to Asia and to the world,” he said.
NUS President, Professor Tan Chorh Chuan said the
Nanyang Technological University was the other
university from Singapore to feature in the survey, coming in the 91-100 band. In the results published by Britain’s Times Higher Education magazine on March 10, Harvard University secured the top spot while the Massachusetts Institute of Technology claimed second place. The two Asian universities ahead of Singapore were Japan’s Tokyo University and Kyoto University, ranked 8th and 18th respectively.
NEW ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES DEGREE TO START IN AUGUST SHARON ROZARIO
T
he first Environmental Studies programme in NUS will be launched in the next academic year. It will be the university’s first-ever interdisciplinary undergraduate degree programme. NUS President Professor Tan Chorh Chuan said of the new programme, “It is the first undergraduate course that draws on expertise from eight faculties in NUS, making full use of the comprehensive strengths of our university.”
The four-year direct Honours degree programme will see students undergoing a broadbased curriculum in their first two years and specialising in either Environmental Biology, hosted by the Faculty of Science, or Environmental Geography, hosted by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, in their third and fourth year of studies. The modules will be taught by professors from eight different faculties, including the medicine and business schools, to help develop expertise in the complex
environmental issues in the world. Students can look forward to field courses in the region to conduct in-depth, hands-on research and hone their investigative skills, as well as internship opportunities in environmental agencies and research institutes, and roundtable discussions with top policymakers and industry captains on critical environmental issues.
NEWS
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NUS SETS UP SEVENTH OVERSEAS COLLEGE IN ISRAEL SHARON ROZARIO
S
tudents intending to participate in the NUS Overseas College programme will have another option to choose from when NUS sets up its seventh overseas college in Israel. Ten students will be selected as part of the Israel programme. They will intern either at a small and medium enterprise, a venture
capital firm or a tech start-up for six months and attend courses in entrepreneurship.
are in Beijing, Shanghai, India, Stockholm, Bio Valley and Silicon Valley.
The overseas colleges are located in global entrepreneurial hubs, in line with the university’s programme to promote entrepreneurship.
The director of NOC, Associate Professor Teo Chee Leong, told The Straits Times why Israel was picked. He cited reasons such as the high density of tech start-ups in Israel and the country having more companies listed on the
The other six overseas colleges
Nasdaq than any country outside the US. The first batch of students will start their internship in Israel from July to December this year. Before they leave, the university will conduct a series of workshops to prepare students for the experience of living and working overseas in Israel.
NUS STUDENTS RECOGNISED FOR CONTRIBUTIONS TO UNIVERSITY GOH RUOYI
E
leven individuals and 22 student groups were honoured at the annual NUS Student Achievement Awards (SAA) held at the University Cultural Centre this year. The award ceremony on February 25 was attended by over 450 students, parents and NUS staff. Organised by the Office of Student Affairs, the awards were
divided into four categories, namely the Arts and Culture, Competitions, Community Projects and Distinguished Leadership. They were given out to recognise individuals and student groups who have done the university proud in areas beyond their academic pursuit, for example, through participation in cocurricular activities, involvement
in the arts and community service, and leadership abilities. “The SAA reflects our belief that the goal of a university education is not just about producing brilliant academic results. It is also about transforming individuals and helping to shape society,” NUS President, Professor Tan Chorh Chuan said.
were also presented to the NUS Students’ Union and the 17 participating bodies of Rag & Flag 2010. Certificates of appreciation were also awarded to 118 active student organisations as acknowledgement for their contributions and commitment to the vast range of activities on campus.
Special commendation awards
NEW ONLINE RESOURCE PORTAL SHOWCASES SINGAPORE RESEARCH DAWN TAN
T
he Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences launched an online portal “Singapore Research Nexus” on March 1 that would be accessible to academics, policymakers, students and the general public. Covering the research of the 15 departments in the arts faculty, the portal aims to feature past, current and future humanities and social sciences research on
issues affecting Singapore. At the ceremony to launch the initiative, guest-of-honour, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports Vivien Balakrishnan lauded the portal for its ability to offer a repository of evidence made available on an open platform which would help to encourage interdisciplinary research.
Currently, the online portal contains over 7,000 academic publications by NUS academic staff. These publications include postgraduate theses and doctoral dissertation, some of which date back to 1940s. There are also plans to expand the research database to include creative works such as novels, poems, plays and short films.
FASS Dean Professor Brenda Yeoh said, “As Singapore has grown in world stature, interest in our nation, our economy and our society has also risen, and increasingly, our local research findings have wider global implications. From our history to our environment, from our public policy to our culture and from our economy to our society, people are genuinely interested in the story of what has made Singapore.”
08
NEWS*PHOTOSTORY
FLY ON THE WALL 8
.55 a.m. on a Monday morning and I was waiting at the campus bus stop, absolutely convinced that I would begin my week by entering a lecture half an hour late. Resigned to my fate, I cast my eyes around and saw walls covered from top to bottom with colourful posters of all shapes, sizes and colours. One urged me to become spiritual by attending a Dharma workshop, while the one next to it promoted the NUSSU bash. Flyers announced the visit of
the President of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and made rental offers in the same breath. An outdated flyer wished me “Happy Valentine’s Day” whilst touting cheap bouquets for sale, and its newly-mounted neighbour promoted a theatre remake of the classic Sholay. Big and small occurrences on campus, all proudly displayed. As another semester draws to an end, these posters will soon offer enticing commencement gift deals, or advertise
AUTHOR SRIHARSHA BHAT + PHOTOGRAPHER CHUA AI NI
getaways for the summer— from the icy peaks of the Himalayas to the sun-drenched beaches of Mauritius. Sure enough, some of us will visit these places during our threemonth break. These promotional leaflets are really the best chronicle of events that happened during our school lives. They are given so little credit yet made to weather the sun and rain, with just scotch-tape or blue tack. Besides the bus stops, they are also located in other places we
visit frequently like the library, or along corridors. But often, we are in too much of a hurry to pause for a while and fully appreciate them and what they are trying to tell us. We can start by scrutinising these flyers, perhaps even as a form of art. After all, they are often painstakingly designed by the students themselves. It might just let you view campus life in NUS in a different light.
NEWS
J
ust a few short years ago, the world was rocked by what many economists consider to be the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. At that time, prospects for fresh graduates looked dim. Recently, however, the job market has been picking up and estimates from NUS Career Centre have predicted that students graduating this year will have good employment prospects. A survey conducted on over 80 employers by the Career Centre showed that almost 92 per cent intend to hire fresh graduates this year. Over 20 per cent of the employers surveyed indicated that they would each recruit more than 20 fresh graduates this year. Initiatives organised by the career centre have shown encouraging signs. According to the career centre, a total of 145 companies from both the public and private sector participated in the career fair this year and are expected to offer at
NUS CAREER CENTRE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT OUTLOOK FOR FRESH GRADS least 4,200 jobs. This is up from the 3,500 jobs that were offered in 2010. Venetia Ng, a manager at the NUS Career Centre said that this increase is an indication that the market is improving. Apart from the NUS Career Fair, the NUS Career Centre has also
organised more targeted mini career fairs this academic year. Many of these companies who took part in these career fairs were not at the NUS Career Fair.
09
Illumina. Ng said that in addition to the fairs, the NUS Career Centre is also organising the inaugural NUS GradHunt 2011 which is an on-campus interview event that offers over 800 job opportunities with more than 40 participating employers. Fresh graduates may not only look to career opportunities locally. More and more companies from other countries have made contact with the career centre to recruit students. Examples include Japanese companies such as Takeda and Uniqlo, as well as American ones such Microsoft and Apple.
Despite a generally positive outlook, the market remains a competitive one. Ng said, “This year is better than 2009 Some examples of companies who and 2010 but students should participated in these mini-fairs not be complacent as they will are BYME Construction, Keppel face competition from their Engineering, AMD, Dupont, peers, both in NUS and other Leica, Lucasfilm, Microsoft and universities.�
AUTHOR LUKE VIJAY + PHOTOGRAPH NUSCAREERCENTRE.BLOGSPOT AUTHOR LUKE VIJAY
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ADVERTORIAL
“At my workplace, I am empowered to make key decisions for the benefit of the company for areas within my control.”
to the biomedical sciences or the banking industry. However, there are vast job opportunities for many as the maritime industry is constantly growing in breadth and depth. Around 90% of world trade today is carried by the international shipping industry.” She also emphasized that the maritime industry features a myriad of exciting career opportunities and that many of them do not require employees to hold specialised maritime degrees.
WORKING IN A SEA OF OPPORTUNITIES STORY & PHOTOGRAPH BY YEO SHANG LONG
A
t a young age, Shu Lim had already set her sights on being part of the Singapore’s maritime industry. The colourful history of Singapore’s humble beginning as an entrepot, painted by her textbooks, aroused her interest to find out more about the maritime industry. “Singapore’s growth and development from entrepot to its current prominence as an international maritime centre did not happen by chance. I knew I really can’t go wrong in choosing a career in the maritime industry,” she explained. Shu was right. As a significant player in the global maritime industry, Singapore is home to 5,000 maritime-related companies which employ more than 170,000 people and contribute about 7.5 per cent to Singapore’s Gross Domestic
Product (GDP). Currently working as an Assistant Manager at A.P. Moller Singapore Pte. Ltd., the Singapore-based shipowning arm of the A.P. Moller - Maersk Group, Shu had nothing but praises when The RIDGE asked her to share on her working experience in the maritime industry. “Often, people have the misconception that the maritime industry is one that is male-dominated. I beg to differ as I do know many females who are working in the industry and are doing well in the industry. At my workplace, I am empowered to make key decisions for the benefit of the company for areas within my control. Gender bias is relatively unheard of at the workplace,” Shu said. Shu’s job scope involves handling newly built vessels
and registrating these vessels under the Singapore Registry of Shipping as well as sale and purchase of vessels. She has also been tasked to handle the corporate social responsibility portfolio for A.P. MollerSingapore, to look into finding worthy charitable causes to support. Despite having a seemingly 9-5 desk job, it is obvious that Shu truly enjoys her work. “One aspect that I like about my job is the fact that I am always on the move to meet different people in the maritime industry. For instance, when I work alongside with brokers to sell and purchase vessels, I get to interact with lawyers, notaries and representatives from the various embassies.” Shu has been in her job for less than a year, but has already been sent to Hong Kong to learn from her counterparts there on ways to optimise and streamline the newbuilding and Vessel Sale and Purchase processes. To those who think that the maritime industry is a sunset industry, Shu contended, “The maritime industry may not be seen as ‘sexy’ as compared
Shu shared, “I have friends, who graduated with degrees in engineering, working in the sales line. There is no hard and fast rule to this. For instance, graduates from any discipline can take up jobs in Operations, if they possess excellent coordination and multi-tasking skills, or in Corporate Communications, if they have a flair for writing.” Shu’s own career path is a proof to this point. Upon graduation with a bachelor degree in Computing Information Systems from the National University of Singapore in 2004, she joined the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) as a Systems Analyst, but in subsequent years, took on manpower policy planning and promotional positions there as well. In this respect, she advised all graduates to “capitalize on their ‘fresh’ status and not shut themselves out entirely from the maritime industry.” For those who are keen to find out more about educational and career opportunities in the maritime sector, visit www.maritimecareers.com.sg.
BANKER
170,000
12
NEWS
SINGAPORE’S FIRST WATER RIGH
T
he first water rights campaign in Singapore was launched at the National University of Singapore with a photo exhibition.
Cheryl Ng, Eileen Seah, Joycelyn Yeo and Yu Qinyan, a group of final-year students from the NTU Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.
Held from March 3 to March 4 at the Science faculty, the event attracted over 200 people, with more than half pledging their support for the right to clean water.
The Blue Right aims to raise awareness of water issues faced by Asia’s developing communities and drive home the message that access to clean water is a human right.
Known as The Blue Right, the campaign is spearheaded by
“It is a different take on the usual water campaigns in Singapore
AUTHOR CHUA AI NI
which generally focus on domestic water issues like water conservation. We want to show the other side of the story, the side where people do not even have clean water to use,” Yu said. Earlier this year in January the team visited China and Vietnam to find out more about the water-related problems in these countries and the measures taken by Environmental Endeavour 2, a partnership between NTU and Lien Foundation.
They documented their experiences through photographs and videos, which culminated in the exhibition. Ng said of their experience, “When we were there, I was shocked to see that despite living on the same planet, our lives could be so different. These people have to climb up and down the mountain just to collect a few buckets of water but in Singapore, clean water is so accessible that we take it for granted.”
NEWS
13
HTS CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF IN NUS The team hopes that by reaching out to undergraduates through the photo exhibition, students here can learn more about the water problems faced in other countries and make a difference in the lives of these people. One of the students present at the exhibition, Lee Lai Peng, a fourth-year economics major said, “The photo exhibition makes it easy to relate to the people as it is not just words. I used to work in a preschool so seeing the faces of children through these pictures makes their plight even more real for me.”
bringing the photo exhibition to Singapore Management University and Nanyang Technological University where they will attempt to create Singapore’s first giant water mosaic with 15,000 cups of coloured water to symbolise the water problems in less-developed Asia. For more details of the campaign, visit the official website (http://www.theblueright.com) or Facebook page (http://www. facebook.com/pages/The-BlueRight/103987543008962).
Another student present, Adriana Paz, a fourth-year Science exchange student from Mexico said, “My favourite picture is that of a tap covered by layers of plastic. From it, I can tell that the people there are trying very hard to preserve their source of water. I believe that everyone has the right to clean water.” After the National University of Singapore, the team will be • First water rights campaign in Singapore launched at NUS • Held on March 3 and 4 • Attracted over 200 people • Aim to reinforce access to clean water as a human right • Draw attention to water issues in Asia’s developing communities
PHOTOGRAPH THEBLUERIGHT.COM
14
NEWS
SAVING SINGAPORE MONKEYS FROM EXTINCTION • NUS students running Singapore’s first primate conservation campaign • Title of campaign: Close to Man. Closer to Extinction • Aim: To save the banded leaf monkeys from becoming extinct • Fewer than 40 left in the world • Banded leaf monkeys: subspecies of monkeys native to Singapore
To raise awareness of the plight of the monkeys, Huang, along with six fellow students from the Communications and New Media department, organised Singapore’s first primate conservation campaign which is in line with the 2011 United Nation’s focus on “Biodiversity and Forests”, an extension of 2010’s International Year of Biodiversity.
itself, because the countless life forms found there are interdependent in ways we do not yet fully understand,” she said.
It also introduced the legacy of Dr Jane Goodall and her commitment to sustainable living.
NatSteel, Wildlife Reserves Singapore, NParks, Pink Elephant Labs, Tom’s Palette, Cathay Cineplex, and the National Youth Council are supporters of the campaign.
Dr Goodall, world-renowned primatologist and founder of the even final-year NUS students Jane Goodall Institute, believes are running Singapore’s first that the degradation of biodiverprimate conservation campaign sity leaves negative impacts on to save the banded leaf monkeys, health, wealth and most ima subspecies of monkeys native portantly the ecosystems which to Singapore, from becoming sustain lives. extinct. “Biodiversity must be preserved Currently, there are fewer than if we are to ensure the health and 40 of the banded leaf monkeys, long-term survival of the forest known scientifically as Presbytis femoralis femoralis, left in the world.
S
Campaign director, Nadya Huang said, “The fact that there are fewer than 40 banded leaf monkeys left is a symbol of how quickly we are losing Singapore’s rich biodiversity.” These monkeys can only be found in forest habitats in the Central Catchment Nature Reserve in Singapore now. AUTHOR CHIN MEI KUAN
The campaign is also part of the team’s final-year advanced communication campaigns module, where they had to plan and execute a campaign from scratch over two semesters.
Titled ‘Close to Man. Closer to Extinction’, the campaign aims to raise awareness amongst the NUS community through a series of unconventional promotional methods. One of those was a three-day monkey mascot walkabout on
campus where students were invited to submit suggestions on Facebook and Twitter, where the campaign has garnered 404 ‘likes’ and 105 followers respectively, about the lectures they would like the mascot to visit. The mascot would then turn up to spread awareness about the campaign. The monkey mascot also made an appearance at the 2011 NUS Open House. To encourage students to support the event, free ice-cream and movie tickets were given out as well. There were also lucky draws and rap contests that students could take part in. Lin Huiying, a fourth-year Design and Environment student who attended the event and had seen the gorilla mascot around the school, found the campaign’s outreach efforts “a great and fun initiative to save the endangered banded leaf monkey.” Besides increasing their knowledge about the plight of the banded leaf monkeys, Huang said NUS students can do more. “We can’t go into the forest ourselves to help them repopulate, but with the combined efforts of our support to facilitate Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) in this, we can achieve a lot,” Huang said.
NEWS
“People can help save these monkeys through research and donations,” she added. Interested volunteers can also join conservation programmes organized by the Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore) to contribute towards the environment or pledge to use products from companies that use sustainable palm oil as its cultivating methods do not lead to negative impacts on people and the environment.
Event attendee, first-year Computing student Chin Yong Wei agreed that the campaign is a step in the right direction. “It may be considered a small campaign, but to all of us who had attended the campaign, or met the gorilla and the team, we now know there is a species of monkey in Singapore that needs saving. This in itself should be considered a step taken to saving these monkeys.”
The ‘Close to Man. Closer to Extinction’ campaign was featured on Youth.sg where the team shared their experiences of organising the campaign and the learning points they had gained. The plight of the monkeys was also reported on Shin Min Daily, which helped spread their message to more people. A volunteer for the campaign, Wesker Ling Jew Chow, 23, said that it is time everyone starts
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thinking about how to care for the environment and animals living in them. “Every action and decision that we make might endanger their lives and our environment permanently,” he said. For more details of the campaign, visit the official website (www. savetheblm.org) or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/savetheblm).
PHOTOGRAPH ANDIE ANG, SHANE KOH, CAPE COMMUNICATIONS
16
NEWS
IVLE APP FOR IPHONE AND WINDOWS PHONE RELEASED • Mobile application for stumodule discussion forums, as dents to access IVLE released well as retrieve information about module texts and readings. • Suitable for the Apple iPhone and the Windows A representative from CIT Phone said that mobile devices like the iPhone would “eventually • Allows students to access be the first choice for students IVLE directly in accessing the Internet,” so it was “only natural that the IVLE • Application developed by also has to follow this important the Centre for Instructional trend.” Technology While the current application • Free download at Apple App includes only some features of Store and Windows MarketIVLE, the Centre will look into place adding more features, as well as the possibility of integration with mobile application for other mobile applications like students to access the Android within a year or two. Integrated Virtual Learning Environment (IVLE) has been It has chosen to target iPhone released for the Apple iPhone and users first because of the huge the Windows Phone. user base the phone has.
A
IVLE, an e-learning platform which supports teaching and learning in the National University of Singapore through features such as online folders and module announcements, was previously accessible only through a web browser. The new application, developed by the Centre for Instructional Technology (CIT), allows students to access IVLE directly with their iPhones or Windows Phones instead. The application features many but not all of IVLE’s web-based features. The current version of the application will allow students to view module announcements, access files in the online workbin, view and create new posts in
Students were divided in their views about the application. Dwight Tan, a first-year student at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, thought that the iPhone application was convenient, but did not use it often because he usually only used IVLE to check for module readings. “Push notifications that inform me when there are new readings will be a good addition to this application,” he said. In contrast, Tinsley Tan, a firstyear student at the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, felt that the Windows Phone application was too slow. “The loading time is too long for it to be used on the go,” he said.
AUTHOR YEO SHANG LONG + PHOTOGRAPH CENTRE FOR INSTRUCTIONAL TECHNOLOGY
A competition for students to program a better IVLE application is also in the works for June this year. “Students have many new, creative and innovative ideas, and now they can put all these ideas into action,” the CIT representative of the competition said. CIT will release the application programme interface (API) for IVLE, which will give students the flexibility to program and design their own IVLE applications. Students will be able to vote to select the winning application. The IVLE applications for the iPhone and Windows Phone can be downloaded for free at the Apple App Store and the Windows Marketplace respectively.
OPINION
17
MATHS AND SCIENCES – NOT A WOMAN’S CUP OF TEA?
M
arie Curie bagged not just one but two Nobel prizes for her contributions in both physics and chemistry in 1903 and 1911 respectively. In fact, just two years ago Ada E. Yonath was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, and Elizabeth H. Blackburn and Carol W. Greider, a shared award in Physiology/ Medicine, making it the sixteenth award to women in recognition of contributions to the sciences. This just proves one thing – women do excel at maths and science. Why, then, do gender stereotypes that women are inferior to men in maths and sciences exist? Some studies have tried to explain that these stereotypes start from the cradle. A recent study showed that mothers are more likely to
have different types of talks with their female and their male babies - they tend to have more scientific talks with the latter. Such formative experiences could have developmental implications which result in certain biases toward particular disciplines depending on ‘gendered’ experiences their parents have exposed them to. In fact, several other studies have shown that parents challenge and explain more to boys than girls, perhaps driving them to reflect more deeply and logically. But this may not always be true. Although maths and the sciences are male-dominated arenas, stereotypes that label these subjects as ‘manly’ are nothing short of a self-fulfilling prophecy. Nina Byers, a theoretical
•
Sixteen Nobel Prizes went to women for their scientific contributions
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‘Gendered’ childhood experiences may predispose boys to maths and science
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Labelling the sciences as ‘manly’ and not suitable for women is a self-fulfilling prophecy
•
Increased enrolment of females in traditionally ‘masculine’ fields of study predispose boys to maths and science
•
Interest and passion are more important than the gender of an individual
physicist and a Professor of Physics emeritus at UCLA notes that before 1976, fundamental contributions of women to physics were rarely acknowledged. But the course of time has caused this to change. But was it too late by then? Perhaps the seeds of gender bias in this arena had already been sown. In Singapore’s context, this stereotype falls flat on its face. In 2005, Singstat reported 55% females in Natural, Physical, Chemical and Mathematical Sciences with 45% males while male domains were Engineering Sciences and Information Technology. Several other universities note a marked increase in female enrolments in the sciences and maths. In fact, half of all MIT undergraduates are female!
Here, I speak not from the perspective of a woman, but from the perspective of a rational human being. Anyone can be a scientist, engineer or mathematician if they have the passion, interest, determination and possess an innate talent. If fewer women pursue these fields, it is not a lack of knowledge or capability, but a matter of interest. Girls may be on par with or even better than their gender counterparts at maths and sciences in high school and college, but more men than women tend to choose to pursue long term careers in these fields. It is thus not a dispute between innate capabilities; it is a matter of choice.
AUTHOR VIBHA GHARIWALA + PHOTOGRAPH DAILYGUMBOOT.CA
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OPINION
JUST WHO IS XXCUTEGER91XX EXACTLY?
“LOSING MY ANONYMITY IN THIS WORLD I THINK IS SOMETHING THAT I FIND TERRIFYING.” - ALEX O’LOUGHLIN
A
ny user of the Internet would know it is the perfect veil of anonymity – you can pretend to be anyone, anywhere, anyhow. This is especially so on any massively multiplayer online (MMO) game, and that has always been a troubling thought. Most MMO games require you to key in your personal particulars when you register, but there is neither any obligation nor incentive to give away your real particulars. I am willing to bet that most of you will not. Few people would voluntarily divulge their real address, age, name or even gender. The disturbing problem is that some people take it one step further by deliberately creating multiple online personas. Let’s take a look at one such hypothetical person: Mr. A is a bored 30-year-old male office worker who is married – that is his reality. However, he might
have one account portraying himself as a mischievous 12-yearold boy, another as a vulnerable teenage girl (aptly named ‘xXcuteger91Xx’) and perhaps even one more as a single and desperate 23-year-old woman. It would not be all that hard to play those roles convincingly; he would just need a little imagination and some ‘Googling’ skills. Why do people pretend to be someone they are not? Frankly, it is because anonymity can be a liberating experience. Hidden safely behind the computer screen, there is no need for social civilities, no need to feel burdened by responsibilities, no judgment of character.
novel Lord of the Flies, anarchy leads to chaos. The liberation from the restrictive nature of social norms can bring out the worst in people. On the flip side, anonymity is something that we all treasure. After all, nobody is willing to give up their right to privacy. You have the right to visit your favourite websites or talk to your friends about whatever you want without the whole world knowing about it. The prospect of complete transparency is, as Alex O’Loughlin succinctly put it, honestly terrifying.
Unfortunately, there are people who are out to abuse anonymity, so the need for censorship, and monitoring of Internet Let us call it what it is. The activity to a certain extent, is Internet is anarchic. And just understandable. Most of it, like the group of boys left to their however, is still an unsupervised own devices in William Golding’s free-for-all.
AUTHOR NGUI JIAN GANG + PHOTOGRAPHER STEPHANIE LIM
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It is very easy to be anonymous on the internet.
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MMOs, in particular, are full of these shady characters.
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People abuse the right to privacy in the anarchic internet.
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We all treasure our right to privacy.
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Be careful who you talk to on the internet.
There are many like Mr. A, out there in the wilderness of the Internet – people who pose as someone else, imagined or otherwise. Some of them are doing it out of a childish impulse, others have darker motives. So tread carefully; ‘xXcuteger91Xx’ may not be who you believe she is.
OPINION
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LET JUSTICE BE SERVED IS IT TIME TO GET RID OF DIPLOMATIC IMMUNITY?
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Raymond Davis, CIA gunman, shot and killed two Pakistanis.
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Diplomatic immunity was first introduced in 1961.
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Diplomatic immunity is based on mutual reciprocity.
•
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Several cases of abuses of diplomatic immunity have occured. Nobody should be above the rule of law.
T
he recent court hearing of Raymond Davis, who shot and killed two Pakistanis in Lahore, has brought the issue of diplomatic immunity back to the forefront. The American authorities have repeatedly claimed that Davis enjoys diplomatic immunity as a staff of
the American embassy in Lahore and should not be brought to trial in Pakistan. Can we, the international community, afford to remain silent on the issue after innocent lives have been lost? The answer should be a resounding no. Diplomatic immunity was first formalised into international law in 1961. It was designed to smooth the process of diplomatic relations and allow for the execution of diplomacy without the constant fear of judicial action. It might sound silly but the crux of the system lies with the idea of mutual reciprocity – that is, that countries respect diplomatic immunity because they know that their own diplomats’ immunity would be respected in other countries regardless of the circumstances. In some respect, it is a brilliant idea which allows for soft diplomacy to take place in spite of
rising tensions. However, it is perhaps inevitable that a system like that should be subject to abuse considering the state of anarchy within the international system. Even mutual reciprocity has a limit when the system is subjected to abuse, of which there have been many since 1961. In these cases of abuses, one question lingers on: is justice being served? Closer to home, former Romanian diplomat in Silviu Ionescu has been alleged to be involved in a hit-and-run case that occurred in December 2009. He left the country shortly after the incident and has refused to return to Singapore since then. Whether Ionescu currently still enjoys diplomatic immunity remains unclear. However, Singapore’s respect for his status as a diplomat when the incident occurred meant that he was able
to leave the country without having to cooperate with the local police. It is not my position to judge whether Ionescu is guilty or not, but his lack of cooperation is worrying and raises the issue of the continued relevance of diplomatic immunity. Is diplomatic immunity still an important institution to preserve, or has it overstayed its welcome? In my opinion, the whole institution of diplomatic immunity should be overhauled. Whether it should be completely abolished is subject to further debate. In the short term, there should be a review of the convention to look into more rigorous checks and balances as well as more substantial punitive measures in the case of abuse. At the end of the day, no one should be above the rule of law and justice must be served.
AUTHOR AUGUSTIN CHIAM + PHOTOGRAPH CTEMPLOYMENTLAWBLOG.COM
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OPINION
WHY YOUR VOTE MATTERS •
The many walkovers in past elections have generated apathy.
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Liberalisation creates an unprecedented opportunity to make a difference.
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We have a duty as both stakeholders and citizens to vote.
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The ability to vote is a great social leveller.
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Power to decide our nation’s future through the ballot box.
THE NEED TO SHED APATHY IN POLITICS
G
eneral Elections (GE) in Singapore over the past years have been, for the most part, walkovers. The People’s Action Party (PAP) has dominated past elections with the same ease with which Apple dominates the smartphone industry. This is the cause for much apathy, especially among the youth.
citizenry.
Singapore, the opposition parties have been organising rapidly to As citizens with a say, we are target key Group Representation capable of directly contributing Still not convinced? There is equal Constituencies (GRCs) and to the welfare of our country and power in every vote, regardless of Single Member Constituencies the way to do that is to be keenly race, wealth or power – no vote (SMCs), displaying a strong aware of the different national counts more than any other. ambition to have greater presence issues that affect us. Apathy could within Parliament – exemplified very easily cause us to lose all that As the political action heats up by politicians such as Worker we have achieved as a nation over all over Singapore, it appears Party’s Low Thia Khiang, who the decades. After all, this is our that this coming GE might be an signalled his intention to compete nation – we need to be mindful extremely interesting one in many and win the East Coast GRC. Contrary to popular opinion, of our future here and develop a respects. For one, the race has our vote carries considerable keen sense of ownership. been thrown wide open by the With all that, the responsibility weight. Through the decades, opposition parties’ declaration to on us as voters weighs more our government has slowly but How can we fulfil our role contest every ward. heavily on our shoulders. The steadily dropped the iron chains as a citizen? The vote is our consequences are potentially that bound our freedom of contribution to this nation, Additionally, the PAP looks to far-reaching. Democracy is expression, especially in the area our opportunity to elect the be fielding a line-up composed dēmokratía in Greek, which of politics and the media; we are politicians who will best represent largely of new faces, eager to literally means ‘power of the looking more and more like a our interests. It makes sense that connect with the people and people’. You have the power full-fledged pluralistic democracy. if we want our nation to achieve propagate their opinion among to decide – the nation’s future Such freedom naturally demands progress, we need to ponder our the masses. With the new depends on it. much responsibility from the choices in voting carefully. The boundary lines drawn across AUTHOR DANIEL TAY + PHOTOGRAPH EMCOUNCILS.GOV.UK
future of Singapore lies in our hands, literally.
OPINION
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ARE WE PURSUING THE RIGHT THINGS IN ?
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The pursuit of academic success is quite commonplace.
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There is a notion that academics are necessary for success.
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The perception leads to more people getting educated and getting degrees.
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This leads to greater income and social inequality.
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Follow your passions to distinguish yourself.
A
s project assignments and term paper submissions draw near, it is common to hear students complain about the massive workload and the stresses of academic life. Everybody wants to do well and succeed in life, and obtaining
good grades seems like the best and fastest route to success. Undeniably, there is an element of truth in it. But what if you did not do well in your studies? Does that mean that you are doomed for failure? Now, let’s take one step back and think about how our educational system is gearing us up for the future. It teaches us the basics of our academic field and allows us to develop critical thinking skills for use in our daily lives. This educational system is in place to encourage learning and exploration. The system itself aims to benefit the students, but no longer does learning come unbundled with additional worries such as whether taking certain modules would pull down our C.A.P. scores. Learning has become a commodity full of costs and benefits that we aim to minimise and maximise respectively.
A Hindi movie, “3 Idiots”, epitomises this perspective well with a quote: “No degree meant no plum job, no pretty wife, no credit card, and no social status.”
the beginning of history. What the future generations would experience is academic inflation - Bachelor’s degrees would be the norm.
What we are creating for ourselves out of this educational system is a fear for learning. Mistakes are being stigmatised and we are effectively educating ourselves out of our creative capacities. As a renowned education advisor Sir Ken Robinson puts it, “If you are not prepared to be wrong, you will never come up with anything original.”
Does that mean that in order to succeed, a continual paper chase is required? What about the projected hike in educational fees? Does it mean that the world is going to be more unfair as only those who can afford it can have a place in society? As society advances, why does it seem like minds are being closed?
Are you just pursuing a degree or the joy of learning? As all It was mentioned that the whole great successful people always system of public education around say, passion is the key to success. the world is a protracted process Find your passion and grow leading to university entrance. In your niche, that way you can the next 30 years, according to always distinguish yourself from the United Nations Educational, the race. Intelligence is diverse, Scientific and Cultural dynamic and distinct, and your Organisation, more people education should not limit that. worldwide would be graduating through education than since AUTHOR HENG MING FONG + PHOTOGRAPH ER STEPHANIE LIM
LIFESTYLE
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/
SNAG THAT JOB
• Always deliver an outstanding cover letter.
• Keep your CV short, succinct and systematic.
INTERNSHIP!
W
ith a plethora of jobs out there and more than enough competitors vying for each position, you might just want to take a step back and opt for an internship instead. I know, earning real dollars is pretty important, but for those without prior industry experience, an internship is a really good start.
• Your interview is your one chance to make an impression - use it to the fullest!
The process of snagging a job is pretty much the same as snagging an internship, so here’s some tips (from real experiences) on how to approach both:
• Flaunt your knowledge and keenness through the final question
COVER UP!
• Don’t force a final question if you truly can’t think of one.
I mean this in more ways than one. Apart from the very obvious fact of not flaunting your Godgiven assets, prepare a cover letter that stands out from the crowd. Any employer would have seen a
whole variation of “I should get this job because I’m what you’re looking for,” and would really be bored to see it for the 67894th time. Think about starting your cover letter with a catchy line or two which would leave an impression (please, please be tasteful). Then proceed to give an introduction of yourself, revealing just the bare essentials – your interest in the job, what your graduating qualification is, and why you’d be worth hiring. Include facts about yourself that you believe will differentiate you from a fellow applicant. Do give it some creative thought before penning it down – the way you write is just as important as what you write.
AUTHOR BRIDGET TAN + PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS SOURCES ON THE INTERNET
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LIFESTYLE
Finally, prod your prospective employers gently to check out your Curriculum Vitae (CV) – where your entire life’s achievements will be flaunted. Pick a few key highlights and do not make the mistake of writing a novel full of things that is already in your CV. Don’t make your potential employer compelled to click the delete button and dismiss you as an ‘overly-chatty applicant’. Your CV is there for a reason – do not, I repeat, do not over-emphasise its contents. Always remember that skilful persuasion (as opposed to the in-your-face kind) is paramount. Convinced by the cover letter, a potential employer will move on to your CV, which means you’re
that much nearer to landing an interview in the ever-arduous process that is securing a job.
HAVE AN A+ CV An ‘A’ represents excellence and the all-round goodness of the piece of work. Unfortunately, this doesn’t end after graduation – everyone wants to read a cover letter or CV that has valuable elements of goodness in it. The CV has to be systematic in the presentation of your qualifications as well as things that help define you as a person. Ensure that your most impressive achievements are located more at the top, in the event that your employer has to rush off for an
event, or to pick up the kid from school.
(not the ones taken for six dollars at the instant photo machine at Central Forum). Take time to get Attributes that you think are a proper one done at a profesmost relevant to the job should, of sional photo studio. It costs about course, be placed at the top. But $18 at Clementi, and they give don’t discard the rest that ‘don’t you the digital version of their seem to fit’ – put them under work, which you can use again Personal Achievements. Say, you in the future, so do consider this joined a pageant and won – put investment! that in too; there is no harm. Community service, likewise, IMPRESS AT THE says something about the kind of INTERVIEW person you are, so don’t forget to include that. If you’re really into team sports (soccer, basketball Sad but true: society will always etc.) put that in too: it strongly be hung up about exterior appearsuggests that you’re open to work- ances. There are many arguments ing in a team-based environment. against this, but more often than not, looking decent and wellRemember to attach a well-taken groomed reflects on how you are passport-sized picture of yourself as a person. A dishevelled suit at
LIFESTYLE
an interview suggests that you were too lazy to iron your suit; you do not respect the interviewer and you do not respect the opportunity to be interviewed for the job or internship position.
I don’t mean questions like, “What if I can’t start on this date?” or “Will I have to do overtime?” This question is usually a prompt for you to ask them questions that can convey your interest in the job and your keenness to Nonetheless, you need not learn. However, if you really can’t resemble the likes of Robert Pat- think of anything, don’t force it. tinson or Megan Fox, unless of Just politely decline the prompt, course you’re auditing for a role in by saying, “No, I’m good,” and the next Hollywood hit. A good finish it off with a smile and image begets trust and it gives the sincere eye contact. prospective employer something to ‘hang onto’ and ‘keep in mind’ I have experienced the utter before they make the next few embarrassment of churning out important decisions about you. a nonsensical question simply to First impressions are formed in fulfil the ‘ask a question’ criteria. the first 5 to 10 seconds of meetNot an experience I ever repeated, ing you so it’s important to be that’s for sure (still haunts me crisp, subtle and engaging from sometimes, but serves as a good the get-go. There is no time for lesson, no doubt). you to sit there and ‘warm up’. Be forthcoming and responsive the Right then, good luck, dear moment you begin the interview. Graduates. You can do it! Stop thinking you’re awkward because more often than not, you make it a self-fulfilling prophecy! Maintain eye contact at least 70% of the time, and if you need to look ‘elsewhere’ (because staring at the interviewer 100% of the time is also a bit creepy), do not look down or at the ceiling. The former makes you look meek and unconfident and the latter suggests a lack of focus. When you need to, glance at the area around the interviewers shoulder or the area directly around the interviewers head.
“DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?” The answer must always be a resounding “Yes.”
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LIFESTYLE
LOW DOWN ON
STIMULANTS
Stim·u·lant noun.
a student’s saviour to an all-nighter when he/she ‘chiongs’ his/her assignments or study for his/her exams.
While definitely not a healthy option for surviving university – ideally we should be completing our essays a week before the deadline and sleeping nine hours before our exam days – to err is human, and we sometimes need a lifeline. Here’s a quick low-down on affordable anti-sleep drinks that are accessible to all!
1. Naughty G
2. Red Bull
3. Classic black coffee
The first ever of its kind, it is an energy drink that claims to boost vitality and improve body performance. Apparently one of its ingredients, Horny Goat Weed – a natural herb found in the Asian and Mediterranean region – is an aphrodisiac (everyone, say “Oooo” now!). If you fancy trying this, it is available at major supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies and a variety of restaurants and nightclubs. Retails at $3.10.
Like Naughty G, this is produced in Austria (notice a trend?). While it is very, very effective for most, this drink actually poses a lot of health risks post-consumption. A study showed that ingesting one 250ml can of Red Bull can have immediate detrimental effects on both endothelial functions and normal blood coagulation. This temporarily raises the corresponding cardiovascular risk to a level comparable to that of an individual with coronary artery disease. But then again, there are articles that claim that Red Bull is safe in controlled amounts – why else would they allow it to be sold throughout Sunny Singapore, right? The decision is yours! (Price varies between $2-3.80)
Surely the healthiest option amongst this short list, and possibly the cheapest too, if I do say so myself. Coffee’s health benefits if taken in moderation include a reduction in the risk of getting Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease and cancer, as well as antioxidant action. Aromatic, stimulating and delicious as black coffee may be, some people find it excessively bitter. Many people opt for ‘alternatives’ like latte, mochachino, and blended coffee – depending on how much your body needs, buy your drink accordingly. Prices for coffee can start from $2, depending on where you buy it.
Ingredients : Horny Goat Weed, ‘Miracle Molecule’ L-Arginine, Ginkgo Biloba, Korean Ginseng, Tribulus Terrestri
Ingredients: taurine, glucuronolactone, caffeine, B-vitamins, sucrose and glucose
AUTHOR TAN YUH TING + PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS SOURCES ON THE INTERNET
LIFESTYLE
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WARDROBE ESSENTIAL(S) BAGPACKS BACKPACKS? 3. BAGGU (PRICED AT $42) The Baggu backpack emobodies the ‘simple, yet sophisticated’ type of rucksacks. Despite its minimalist design, it comes in a wide range of colours, from nutmeg to fuchsia, catering to almost anyone from low-profilers to those that just want to see and be seen. Find it at Rock Star by Soon Lee, Orchard Cineleisure.
4. LONGCHAMP LE PLIAGE (RANGING FROM $42 TO $125) This is the backpack version of the ever popular Le Pliage tote bag. It comes in two colours and can be zipped shut or loosely drawstringed (for those who’d like to expend less energy). Lightweight and stylish, the Le Pliage design is a versatile choice for the ladies. Find it in Longchamp boutiques.
1. YAK PAK X TERRACYCLE (PRICED FROM $65) The Yak Pak x Terracycle collaboration has released a collection of backpacks that are made from recycled materials. Strong and roomy, this backpack is ideal for everyday use, and one also gets to minimise the world’s waste at the same time. Find it at Spin the Bottle, The Heeren.
2. TAGGER (PRICED AT $69.90 FOR THE ONES WITHOUT SIDE POCKETS AND $79.90 FOR THE ONES WITH SIDE POCKETS) For those who get bored of using the same bag everyday, this one is specially crafted for you! With its interchangeable front cover, Tagger allows you to change the design of your bag whenever you feel like it. You can also mix-andmatch the different parts of the bag when you purchase it. Find it at Spin the Bottle, The Heeren.
AUTHOR VANESSA TAN + PHOTOGRAPH BAGGUBAG.COM, LONGCHAMP.COM, TAGGERBAGS.COM, SPINTHEBOTTLESTORE.COM
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FASHION SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY! • Corporate Social Responsibility now applies to fashion too • Emma Watson: new face for fair trade clothing • Brands to consider: Anjelika Dreams Organic (A.D.O), Feng Ho, JUJUBE Ecological Apparel and Etrican • Eco-friendly clothes don’t just come in boring colours • Possible hiccups of FSR: COST
C
orporate Social Responsibility (CSR), where companies produce in accordance with codes of ethics, has extended its reach beyond previously defined borders, and is now drawing in other facets of society. One industry that now finds itself in the thick of it all is the transient and harsh world of Fashion.
accessories that come under this category vouch that their products go through stringent processes to assure that quality without compromising on the
environment. A noted individual who has been the forerunner for this up and coming trend is Emma Watson.
So how does the fashion industry belt out their cause for society at large? You guessed it: they GO GREEN. Fashion social responsibility (FSR – we came up with this term) goes by many names: eco-fashion, ethical fashion or organic fashion. FSR promotes ‘healthy green fashion’ that says “NO!” to exploitative sweatshops and animal testing in the production of cosmetic products. Companies whose clothes and WRITER JASMINE TEO + PHOTOGRAPH TEEN.COM, THEETHICALFASHION.COM, CRUELTYFREEPRODUCTREVIEWS.COM
Apart from pursuing an education at Brown, Watson dabbles in creating beautiful, eco-friendly fabrics. She has designed a few pieces in Alberta Ferretti’s green collection and launched three collected works in her own ethical fashion line.
ECO FASHION AT HOME Ferina Natasya, a journalist for various magazine publications in Asia and the web-creator for ethical fashion (http://www. theethicalfashion.com) highly recommends Anjelika Dreams Organic (A.D.O) because she feels that they have “really great stuff.” She also suggests we check out Feng Ho, JUJUBE Ecological Apparel and Etrican. Ferina has worked on her ethical
LIFESTYLE
fashion website for about six months, including planning, designing and executing the site. She traces the beginnings of her work on this website to her exposure to the gruesome and unethical production processes that go on behind the scenes at some major fashion and cosmetic corporations. She had the opportunity to be ‘enlightened’ (so to speak) during her stint at the Asian Geographic Magazines and Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (ACRES). Immediately after, she started replacing her cosmetic product choices with more eco-friendly brands and started advocating them to her friends. The associates in question felt that they benefitted from her recommendations and soon enough, she discovered her unbound passion for the world of ethical products, be it for the fashion or cosmetics industry.
ceptions about the eco-fashion trend.
ETHICAL FASHION CAN BE EXPENSIVE? TRUE / FALSE The reality is that prices can pose a huge drawback to the ecologically conscious fashion industry. In the usual industry, there is a large demand for conventional non-organic clothes and cosmetic products. Coupled with a large supply, the cost price goes down and that adequately explains the $5-8 clothes you can buy along Bugis Street.
On the contrary, the production of organic clothes relies on a plant that produces limited quantities of the relevant resources. Besides, there isn’t enough exposure and awareness about FSR as yet, leading to a low demand, the result of which is that such clothes remain rare and expensive. As such, She strove to make others see that the whole deal just seems to be eco-friendly clothes did not look another superficial fad for those like ‘hippie clothing’ that only with deep pockets. came in shades of neutral white to creamy beige and accents of Ferina acknowledges this costlibrown. Ferina is a classic example ness, admitting that at the end of a community-conscious indiof the day, it is a personal choice. vidual who took it upon herself to Nevertheless, she hopes that her spread the word about a worthy efforts can encourage consumcause, as well as to dispel miscon- ers to seriously consider taking a
step towards more positive action for the environment at large by being responsible about fashion. “Think about what [you are] buying,” because it’s true that with conscious effort, “one can be fashionable, [and] beautiful without perpetuating the unfair trade, animal cruelty and environmental damage it may cause.” After all, organic and eco-friendly fashion is going to get cheaper only if we support it.
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KEEP A LOOKOUT FOR THIS:
You heard it! So go out there and get your first responsible piece of clothing!
“LEAPINGBUNNY” LOGO = CERTIFICATION THAT NO ANIMAL TESTING WAS DONE ON THE PRODUCT.
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LIFESTYLE
JOHN GALLIANO...W >Head Designer at Dior Fashion House fired after Anti-Semitic rant. >End of his fifteen year run at the French couture house. >The fashion world has a responsibility to be ethical owing to its undeniable influence over opinions. >Anti-Semitism is still prevalent in the 21st Century. >The Fashion Industry needs to take a united stand against such incidents.
AUTHOR GRACE CARTER = PHOTOGRAPH MYJOURNEYWITHJUDY.BLOGSPOT.COM
LIFESTYLE
WHO? F
ashion – love it or hate it – is a continually revolving industry: trends, colour cycles, designer names… The majority’s fashion consciousness is accustomed to hearing of new upand-coming people who mould the face of fashion. Less familiar however, are the big names that disappear. But they do. And when it happens, the fashion world erupts into a furore.
him at a French café in Paris in late February 2011. Recorded for the world to see, he unabashedly said: “I love Hitler,” and “People like you should be dead. Your mothers, your forefathers, should all be f****** gassed,” and ended with the bold flourish “I am John Galliano.” Everyone – fashion conscious or not – gasped, and the seemingly untouchable designer fell with a heavy thud from his impenetrable bubble onto the hard concrete streets of reality. After all, having the name John Galliano, being a visionary genius and having an illustrious career to boot doesn’t give anyone the right to say whatever they want. Galliano’s highflying friends also didn’t serve to protect him from the damage of his words: he was dismissed almost immediately from Dior, despite it being days away from the Paris Fashion Week.
Currently awaiting trial for allegations of “public insults based on origin, religious affiliation, race or ethnicity,” Galliano met with fierce criticism from those who New media has helped to make had, at one point, been his closest the fashion industry increasingly allies. 29-year-old Israel-born actransparent, with updates being tress and face of a Dior perfume, instantly disseminated around Natalie Portman, deliberately the globe. Unsurprisingly then, abstained from wearing her cusit didn’t take long for the world tomary Dior gown to the Oscars, to hear of John Galliano’s recent denouncing the designer just display of disgraceful and inexhours before his dismissal, calling cusable behaviour. the video “disgusting,” and saying The eccentric head designer of the in a press statement: Dior fashion house, who joined “In light of this video, and as an in 1996, embarked on a tirade of individual who is proud to be repulsive anti-Semitic words to Jewish, I will not be associated an Italian couple sitting next to
with Mr Galliano in any way. I hope at the very least these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful.” The Chief Executive of Dior, Sidney Toledano was thoroughly ashamed of Galliano’s behaviour as well, because he “totally contradicts” the values always defended by Christian Dior.
DEFENCE? Unlike a usual ‘villain’, there are some who stood up for Galliano at his darkest hour. Despite being from an industry fixated on beauty, these people stress on his past laurels and contributions. To them, Galliano’s multi-ethnicinspired work of 15 years with Dior had proven him not to be a racist. Patricia Field, the fashion designer of Sex and the City, claims his act was “theatre; a farce; but people in fashion don’t recognise the farce in it, [and] all of a sudden they don’t know him.” This divided response from fashion’s ‘yes-men’ is worrying. Bringing embarrassment to the name of Dior is sad, yes. But words of such volatile anti-Semitism are also unexcusable. Galliano has a wide-reaching impact, and whatever he says and does as a fashion representative has an inevitable spillover effect into society – a society, one may correctly point out, that
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is currently witnessing a rise in anti-Semitism. When we look at the video that is spreading like wildfire across the world, we see a drunken 50-yearold man slurring his words, and inciting hatred towards those next to him. Henry David Thoreau once said: “The question is not what you look at, but what you see,” and this is precisely what the world needs to do from now on. What we see, when we look beneath the surface and famous facade, is a genuine ugliness. Repugnant, in fact! It carries a message that can sway the easily-influenced into inciting violence and hatred against innocent people. This needs to be stopped, now. Fashion may be seen as frivolous, but there definitely is always time and room for ‘Fashion with responsibility’.
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LIFESTYLE
AUTHOR HOW SHU HUI
LIFESTYLE
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INSPIRE LOVE IN 2011
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arch was the time for love. The love of womanhood, that is. This year marks the 100th year of ‘International Women’s Day’ and March has long been commemorated by America as ‘Women’s History Month’. Women in Asia are advancing in society and the celebration of women is slowly being adopted, seeping into our Asian culture and showing its head more prominently. NUS organized a ‘Purple Day’, in line with the purple-based theme of WorldMUN Singapore 2011 (which we had the honour of hosting this year) and International Women’s Day. Who could have missed the free purple balloons given out along our very own AS1 walkway near Central Library on the 8th and 9th of March to spread our love for womankind? The LASALLE College of the
Arts also organized an open music concert dubbed ‘Love-In 2011’ in keeping with this theme of women’s empowerment, and to create an idea of how people can help. Held on the 6th of March at Hong Lim Park, the concert helped spread the message of peace, and helped create a stand against domestic violence. It was conceptualized by Heiwa, a group of six graduating students of the LASALLE Arts Management Programme in partnership with UNIFEM Singapore.
Etc and Basement In My Loft coupled with individual performers like Sean Harrison and Zahidah.
Inspired by outdoor music performances during the social activism period of the 1960s like Woodstock and Glastonbury, Love-In featured a gamut of home-grown musicians with distinct sounds, all of whom came together to spread awareness to the masses through music. The performers included groups like King Kong Jane, TypeWriter, The Pinholes, For This Cycle by Ryan Chang,
The National Committee for UN Women Singapore, of which UNIFEM is a part, has also launched ‘Project Inspire: 5 Minutes to Change the World’. The social media-oriented initiative encourages people to share and implement their revolutionary ideas for empowering women and children in the Asia Pacific, Middle Eastern and African regions.
Apart from the uplifting musical festivities, there were a whole host of stalls pandering to the needs of women. Booths like the Eclectic Box boasted of a variety of handcrafted jewellery studded with semi-precious stones, while the Cute & Cosy corner sold handmade dolls and accessories made from natural fabric.
UN Women Singapore has also steered the anti-sex trafficking public education initiative by working in partnership with The Body Shop STOP campaign as well as the Humanitarian Organization for Migration Economics (HOME). They will continue to raise awareness and funds for the welfare of womankind through programmes for the general public and youth groups. One such youth group includes the UNIFEM Singapore Youth Team, which aims to unite and empower members between 15 and 25 years of age. If you’re interested in joining, please email youthteam@unifem. org.sg or visit their website at www.unifem.org.sg. International Women’s Day was first celebrated in 1911 by Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland.
AUTHOR VANI GOYAL + PHOTOGRAPH DBHKER//FLICKR.COM
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LIFESTYLE
ACADEMY AWARDS 2011 01
• • • • •
02 02
James Franco was probably expecting Anne Hathaway to flash him King’s speech, the biggest winner of the night Natalie Portman still as stunning with a baby bump Colin Firth could not stop stammering for 2 months after filming King’s speech Natalie Portman achieved near 0 percent body fats in Black Swan
01 Co-host of the ceremony,
James Franco was quite a bore on the awards night and had it not been for the charms of the lovely Anne Hathaway by his side, everyone observing would have fallen asleep. Kudos to her for the wonderful hosting! (By the way, anyone watch Love and Other Drugs? She was just as good in that, hot, if I may say so myself. It is such a pity RomComs do not usually make the cut for the Oscars …)
02 Given the technicality of
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his role in The King’s Speech, Colin Firth’s win was a given. He admitted that he could not stop stammering for two months after playing the role of King George IV in the movie. Hat’s off to you, Colin.
better than Best Actress? Because she would deserve it! Like the overachiever she is (I mean this in a good way), she also shot No Strings Attached with Ashton Kutcher, AND is also expecting a bundle of joy.
03 Prior to the filming of
04 Dark and brooding
Black Swan, where she portrays a ballerina, Natalie Portman was exercising 5 to 8 hours a day; and during it, she followed a strict regime of waking up at 5am to exercise before heading to the studios for a good 12 hours of shooting before returning to exercise again. Is there an award
director Darren Aronofsky is the man behind the success of Black Swan. His movies, often intense and consuming, might not typically appeal to the palate of most people. Love him or loathe him, he is directing Wolverine 2, for which I cannot wait, and will claw anyone who tries to prevent
me from watching it.
05 The Coen brothers are
about the most amazing directors cum producers of our time. Although True Grit was snubbed at this year’s Oscars despite several nominations, it is still a great show to catch. Keep up the Oscar-worthy consistency, boys!
AUTHOR TAN HERNG YIH + PHOTOGRAPH LELALUXE.ONSUGAR.COM, SHOP.BOBER.COM, BLOG.SYRACUSE.COM, THIRDAGE.COM, SOUNDONSIGHT.ORG
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SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER SEASON 2011 B
ook adaptations are all the rage this summer blockbuster season, judging from the line-up of films yet to be released. From superheroes to magical beings, studios offer you the opportunity to let loose your imagination and immerse yourselves in a world so strikingly different from your own!
Jack’s back as pirates take over the helm with Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides. Director Rob Marshall takes over from Gore Verbinski and strips the Pirates franchise into its barest essentials, washing out all characters except for the memorable Captain Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa. With a plot
X-Men: First Class Adapted from: Uncanny X-Men by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby Release date: 2 June 2011
Thor Adapted from: Thor by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber and Jack Kirby Release date: 28 April 2011
Starting the line-up is Thor, directed by Kenneth Branagh. After being sent to Earth as a punishment for re-igniting an ancient war on the mythical realm of Asgard, Thor, the Norse god of thunder, is put to the test when a dangerous villain from his homeland turns his attention to Earth. Even the divine presence of Thor, Loki and Odin could not save the film from a rough start, however. The film reportedly took close to 14 years to materialise and faced numerous rejections along the way. AUTHOR MEERA NAIR
that centers around the search for the fabled Fountain of Youth, this movie seems set on course to reminding us of the success of its early days. Not that this success will go uncontested, if the mutants from X-Men: First Class have a say. A prequel to the X-Men series, this movie follows the story of Charles Xavier and Eric Lensherr, who are now better known as Professor X and Magneto. Matthew Vaughn helms this movie, which is also the fifth in
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II Adapted from: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J. K. Rowling Release date: 14 July 2011
the X-Men series. Mutants will have to scour to find the Green Lantern while exploring what it takes to be a real superhero. Test pilot Hal Jordan is the first human ever
to be selected as a member of the Green Lantern Corps – a brotherhood of warriors sworn to keep intergalactic order. Directed by Martin Campbell, this film, like any other comic adaptation, introduces an evil villain,
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Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Adapted from: On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers Release date: 19 May 2011
Parallax, whom Jordan must destroy to be the greatest Green Lantern ever. Speaking of evil and magic, another much-touted flick will
Voldemort. Directed by David Yates, this film is perhaps the most anticipated one of the year, and will spell the ultimate windfall for Warner Bros. Pecunia totalum!
The First Avenger: Captain America Adapted from: Captain America by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby Release date: 4 August 2011
the red, white and blue-clad superhero. Directed by Joe Johnson, Captain America looks set to stay on screen for some time, this being the first movie in a series of nine.
list on blockbusters will be complete without a mention of Transformers: Dark of the Moon, which is based on the wildly-successful Transformers toy line.
If these movies haven’t got you gallopin’ around screamin’ “Yee Haw!” already, the Cowboys & Aliens are here to lasso you in with their unconventional appeal. Rounding up the list of book adaptations this season, this film pits a lone man, Jake Lonergan,
Cowboys & Aliens Adapted from: Cowboys & Aliens by Scott Mitchell Rosenberg Release date: 18 August 2011
return for its final and most awaited instalment: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part II. Picking up from where Part I left off, Harry, Ron and Hermione find and destroy the remaining Horcruxes, and have a final showdown with the Lord
The First Avenger: Captain America steps up to the frontline next with its patriotic defence of American ideals. Deemed unfit for military service, Steve Rogers volunteers for a top-secret research project that transforms him into Captain America,
Green Lantern Adapted from: Green Lantern by Bill Finger, Martin Nodell, John Broome and Gil Kane Release date: 16 June 2011
who finds himself in the desert town of Absolution with no memories, but with a mysterious shackle around his wrist, against monsters from space who attack Absolution. Book adaptations aside, no
For those who prefer alternatives to blockbusters, try The Hangover 2, Kung Foo Panda: The Kaboom of Doom, and Water for Elephants (which, incidentally, is also a book adaptation), amongst others that are worth checking out!
PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS SOURCES ON THE INTERNET
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THE GOTAN PROJECT: TAKING TANGO TO THE NEXT LEVEL A
flawless blend of tango and house music is somewhat of a rarity these days, especially when mainstream music is producing so many one-dimensional singers – singers whom you can’t even make fun of without feeling a tinge of guilt; after all, they are so young. I’m talking about the likes of Justin Bieber, Willow Smith and new YouTube sensation Rebecca Black, whose single ‘Friday’ is drawing attention for all the wrong reasons. Enough about mainstream – let’s go back to this smooth mixture of tango and house music, better known as the band Gotan Project. The Paris and Buenos Aires based Gotan Project was here, in Singapore, as part of the on-going Mosaic Music Festival and played a sold- (violin and trumpet) and Lalo out concert on 20th March, 2011 Zanelli (piano). The interesting at the Esplanade Theatre. thing about them is the origin of the band’s name: Gotan Project is Formed in 1999, the original Gotan based on a wordplay of the Tango Project consisted of Philippe Solal Project, a famous compilation of (from France), Eduardo Makaroff tangos put together by the trio (from Argentina) and Christoph of Solal, Makaroff and Muller, Muller (from Switzerland). On featuring several American stage, they were easily identifiable classical musicians in 1982, and since all three of them wore dark includes one of the most famous fedoras along with their three- tango songs, ‘Por Una Cabeza’ piece suits. For the performance, (by a head [of a horse]), by Carlos they were joined by Claudia Gardel and Alfredo La Pera. If Pannone (vocals), Facundo Torres you re-arrange the word Tango, (bandoneon), Ananta Roosens you’ll get Gotan, and voila! You have the Gotan Project!
• Gotan Project: blending tango and house music on a whole new level • Based in Paris and Buenos Aires • Performed as part of the Mosaic Music Festival to a sold out Esplanade Theatre • Their first concert in Singapore • Their music has found its way to mainstream, providing soundtracks for many hit US TV shows visuals projected on a transparent screen which lent the backdrop of the stage – not to mention the flawless execution of the stage lighting which created the sense of being in a nightclub. The band performed mostly from their latest album Tango 3.0 which was released last April – some of their more famous numbers included a duet between Claudia Pannone and Facundo Torres, ‘Tu Misterio’ (your mystery), ‘Panamericana’ (a journey across the American continents), and the one that really got the audience to their feet, ‘Peligro’ (danger). They also did a number paying tribute to, according to Makaroff, “the best city in the world,” Buenos Aires. They rounded off the concert with one of their new numbers, ‘Immigrante’; a definitely catchy and fast paced tune that was hard not to enjoy.
performing in front to a sold out crowd filled with an enthusiastic and responsive audience, I’d say the concert was a blasting success!
Gotan Project’s music has found its way to the mainstream as well – it has been featured in several high profile US TV shows like ‘Nip/ Tuck’, ‘Sex and the City’, ‘Brothers & Sisters’ and ‘Chuck’. One of their most famous songs, ‘Santa Maria (del Buen Ayre)’ from their album La Revancha del Tango was the featured music for the main dance sequence between Jennifer Lopez and Richard Gere in the film ‘Shall We Dance?’ (2004). Most of their numbers are music-only, and a few have vocals which are mostly sung in Spanish but the beauty of Gotan Project is that you don’t need to know the slightest bit of Spanish to enjoy their music. Like all good music, it transcends language barriers For their first concert in Singapore, and simply flows. Effortlessly.
Their musical focus is mostly tango but you can find a good blend of Electronica, Nu Jazz and Dub. It was catchy and within the first 15 minutes, they had the audience at the Esplanade grooving to their tunes. What was more impressive were the accompanying and engrossing AUTHOR SAHELI ROY CHOUDHURY + PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS SOURCES ON THE INTERNET
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REMEMBER MY MUSIC: SIXX D
on’t be too alarmed if, sometime in the near future when you’re minding your own business in a crowded MRT, nine strangers pull out instruments and start belting out some funky R&B and hip-hop tunes. It’s probably the band Sixx (which is a bit of a misnomer for a ninemember band).
poignant poetry of their songs, dressed in quirky metaphors, provide food for thought; a refreshing reprieve from the lovey-dovey clichés and ‘sweaton-the-dance-floor’ rambles that ride the airwaves these days.
Sixx was started three years ago by rapper, Kevin Lester (of Youtube ‘Rockstar’ fame) and bassist Tim De Cotta. The band has been making waves in the local music scene with their unique brand of hip-hop – an amalgamation of the various musical influences brought forth by each member of the band.
of them have given up lucrative corporate careers to pursue this musical dream. The rest comprise full-time university students, a corporate lawyer at A&G and a civil servant in the Prime Minister’s Office, all of whom struggle to dedicate time to their passion for music.
Naysayers who have cast doubts on their strange musical mix (which includes the trumpet, saxophone and electronic effects) have been proven wrong. The sound of Sixx is like an audio fiesta: loud and lively. Yet, there is no worry about getting lost in a hip-hop haze as the funk, soul, jazz and R&B melodies provide a pleasing contrast to the hard beats. To top it all off, the AUTHOR DARIUS SIT
• Sixx was started three years ago by rapper Kevin Lester • Their music is a mix of hip-hop, funk, soul, jazz and R&B (Rhythm and blues) • All nine members of the band have held lucrative corporate jobs or are full-time university students • They are bound by their common passion for music • Head down to one of their gigs and be blown away by their loud and lively tunes
It is the music that drives all nine members of the band. Four
As an individual who feels the weight of Singaporean pragmatism and insecurities about career and finances, I can’t help but feel a tinge of sadness when someone proclaims, “You cannot survive on love and passion.” I found myself captivated by the heart-felt enthusiasm and excitement in their personal stories. “There is a window of
opportunity for you to create something that is truly yours and you need to make a choice to do it,” says lead guitarist, Kelvin, who recently left his job as a financial advisor. “There’s this stereotype of the glitz and glam of being a
‘bandboy’. People think we’re lazy just because we’re doing something we enjoy but it really boils down to a lot of hard work and dedication to achieve something in this industry. And we are striving to make our mark and to do something really special,” says drummer, Joe, a
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veteran in the local music scene. Although Sixx is well aware of the slippery commercial slope in the music business, their genuine love of music shines through in their work. They are dedicated to a responsibility to bring their unique sound to the masses and not to be satisfied
my music to be something that continues to inspire and bring joy. It shouldn’t be just about me or the band; it should really be about the music.” Kevin, the ‘Lion City Boy’, is proud of being a homegrown rapper, but the Singapore scene has not been entirely kind. Sixx
• Band members: Kevin Lester (rapper), Aarika Lee (vocalist), Tim De Cotta (bass), Kelvin Ang (guitar), Joseph Saleem (Drums), Shaun Khiu (electronics & percussions), Daniel Chia (Saxophone), Kelvin Kong (Trumpet). • Band Website: www.weareSixx.com • Twitter – weareSixx • Bookings - syaheed@bedsty.com
Singfest was to be a milestone event for the band. They were understandably disappointed at being marginalised by the local organizers.
with just something that sells. Underlying many of their catchy tunes are lyrics about having the courage to be your own person and doing something that makes a difference. In the words of Kevin Lester, “Ten years down the road, I want
has faced significant setbacks in their campaign to share their music, the most prominent of which was the Singfest debacle in 2010, where the band was denied an opportunity to perform due to the unnecessarily long sound checks for foreign superstars. Performing at
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be sure that we’ll bring something fresh to the stage.”
Having heard Sixx’s music, despite not being a hip-hop fan myself, I am thoroughly Yet the band remains optimistic convinced of the band’s wide in spite of such difficulties. With appeal. The group also stands enough drive and ingenuity, they out at live performances; seven hope to scale the brick wall in the fantastic musicians fronted by local music scene, to spread their charismatic rapper Kevin Lester sound as far and wide as possible and vocalist Aarika Lee, who for as long as possible. They are has a stunningly soothing voice looking forward to upcoming gigs and (if I may say) is easy on at the Mosaic Music Festival and the eyes as well. Above all, the the School Invasion Tour, and are quality of their lyrics and modern on the verge of launching their blend of melodies makes Sixx an EP album of seven original songs. endearing and entertaining act. Head down to one of their gigs “This is just the start,” says and let the music speak for itself. Kelvin. “We don’t want to think that we’ve already ‘arrived’ even though we’ve tasted some success. We know we’ve got something good and we can take it much further. With such a diverse range of influences in the band, our sound is constantly evolving. And even when we’ve revised a certain song a million times, we’re always open to something new. So our audience can always PHOTOGRAPH SIXX
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TRAVELLING THESPIS STYLE O
n Saturday, March 12, I dropped by the Alumni House to catch a glimpse of one of the many performances that will be taking place during the upcoming Singapore Arts Festival. This particular production put together by Thespis (a team of NUS Theatre Studies graduates), entitled ‘Re: Almost Left Behind’ by Thespis is part of the Singapore Arts Festival Platform Campus initiative. It took on a very interesting presentation style, apt for their theme, Journey, where the audience was allowed to roam around from one performance space to another, as the thirteen cast members took ownership of their individual spaces and quite literally engulfed the audience into their own world.
platform and a distinct audience, as well as more interactive forms of theatre where every single member of the audience experienced a distinctive aspect of their creatively improvised performances. Personally, I found the whole atmosphere rather therapeutic and calming. Many of the acts went beyond gaining the empathetic voice of the audience, allowing them the space to detach from oppressive realities and allow for self exploration.
One could spend hours at a production like this. The Thespis cast presented both the usual stage style of performers on a
I did, however, manage to have a chat with one of the directors, Tan Liting, and a few performers after the production and this will
AUTHOR VANESSA NUNIS
I’m honestly dying to elaborate because this preview has left me looking forward to the fully developed production which will take place at The Substation once the Singapore Arts Festival begins – but I’m not going to spoil it for you.
• Thespis: a team of NUS Theatre Studies graduates • An unique type of performance, where the audience is more involved than usual • Close interaction between performers and the audience • “We kind of like to look at ourselves as helping amateur artists” – Liting, Director, Thespis • Catch them live at the Singapore Arts Festival
give you a gist of the adventure in store for you: THE RIDGE: Can you tell us more about Thespis and its direction as a stage group? Why the name ‘Thespis’ by the way, given he’s known as the founder of tragic drama? Director, Tan Liting: We actually inherited the name more than naming it ourselves. The direction we are looking for is a fresh look at theatre and drama outside the campus as well as in the professional world. We like to look at ourselves as helping amateur artists find a platform to present their work in a way that is safe. We’re trying to influence the movement in a direction where theatre isn’t merely restricted to an experience where everyone’s seated in a dark hall
and observing but not engaging. The audience should be part of it. They have a part to play in the experience. THE RIDGE: The presentation form you chose is really interesting. Is there a particular significance in allowing the audience the freedom to choose a route of viewing the various performances? Liting: Other than just a matter of choice, it’s about the idea of travelling. When you travel, you go to a country where you’ll spend only three days or maybe a week. You won’t see everything it has to offer. We approach it metaphorically as well – the clichéd journey through life. More generally, the idea came from the fact that you can’t see everything when you’re travelling
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myself as well? Kind of like having all these amazing memories associated with different things but a reluctance to explore them or even go near them, ultimately retreating back into what is comfortable and safe. Not because anyone tells me to but because I tell myself.
and you have the right to choose what you want to see. Each individual makes decisions, whether consciously or not, based on who one is and where one comes from and I think it’s important that we include that in the audience experience. THE RIDGE: Preparation for this started in September 2010 with expressing your most important travel memory. Can you tell us more about the preparation process and how your performances developed from these memories? Performer, Pamela Tham: I was at a stage where I returned after four years and was experiencing a strange sense where I couldn’t
be the same person here as I had been earlier. I wondered why because nothing about me was supposed to have changed and I should not be changing much because of the environment. Wondering and wanting to explore why I changed, I reached a point where I opened my shoe cupboard one day to realise that I had only worn one single pair of shoes every single day for the eight months that I had been in Singapore and I was wondering, “WHY?” It’s not that my identity changes when I come here, it’s more like self-limiting. It’s a very easy thing to complain that I don’t believe I can do whatever I want here, but it’s a lot harder to admit that nobody’s stopping me other than myself.
Performer, Lynn Yang: Coming back was interesting and it’s always difficult in a different environment that you have to adjust to, but for me it’s not so much self-censorship and selfperception. I spent my whole life in Singapore so this is my template that I have in Singapore, the comfort zone I fall into. Sometimes one fights against it, and sometimes one seeks comfort in it. THE RIDGE: What do you hope the audience gets from this performance? Performer, Pamela Tham: I wanted my audience to feel a bit frustrated with me because I guess that’s how I feel about
Performer, Esther Ng: I wanted to present myself as a wanderer trying to find the perfect place. If the audience interacts with me, I won’t speak to them - just show them the way or something.
‘Re: Almost Left Behind’ by Thespis promises to bring you to that place where one wonders “what’s next?” to give you that shove in that direction that only lands you at crossroads. They help you remember those precious moments that make you who you are and slam down the foundations of the steps which make your life’s journey unique. The 13 travelers are wondering and contemplating with you, and it is at The Substation where you will find that space to discover what’s next or at the very least, appreciate what is.
PHOTOGRAPHER YVONNE
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WORDS IN PICTURES • Everyone knows their Supermans and Batmans • Comics are more than just superheroes in tight spandex • The pillars of the genre are Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman series, Ellis and Robertson’s Transmetropolitan and the on-going series Fables • A common misconception is that all comics are supposed to be funny, like Archie and Tintin • For the lazy: skip over to the list of recommendations on the next page
W
hen you think of comic books, it’s always the ‘Wham! Bam! Thank You, Ma’am!’ genre of superhero comics that come to mind first. While Christopher Nolan’s silver screen adaptation on the caped crusader brought him much acclaim and commercial success, it is a shame that the best stories told through comics have scarcely been heard from. Upcoming films adapted from The Avengers, Thor, Green Lantern, Captain America and Iron Man, and the continuation of the X-Men, Spiderman and Superman franchises also indicate that characters in spandex are still top draws for movie-going audiences.
said “the book is better than the film” at least once in your life. The same old adage applies to the esoteric and unconventional comics which go a lot deeper, in terms of character development and plot. They are a refreshing mesh of ideas, drawn from a myriad of sources that only seasoned readers can appreciate.
However, in the world of comics, superheroes form only one, albeit very significant, faction – there is plenty of other material to explore. I’m sure you must have
Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman series, in collaboration with Todd Klein & Dave McKean, was the first real comic book series to grab the attention of literary
AUTHOR SUHAS BHAT
Comic books are also wonderful to read because there is a beautiful combination of visual art and literary merit. If you find what you’re looking for, a comic book series can be like a really long, extended version of your favourite movie that runs on for years.
enthusiasts across the world in the 1990s. Based on the enigmatic, aloof and quietly tragic persona of Dream, Gaiman’s 75-issue comic book series is nothing short of a well-planned and beautifully designed autobiography. We see Morpheus (one of Dream’s many other names) escape from a prison at the beginning of the series, and by the end, we get a full panoramic view of his immortal life and his raison d’être. While Dream exudes class, Spider Jerusalem, the protagonist of Transmetropolitan by Warren Ellis & Darick Robertson is infamous for his tirades of outright blasphemy. The artists behind Spider pay homage to Hunter S. Thompson, a journalist in the 1970s known for hating Nixon and for his brand of ‘gonzo journalism’ where the writer is as much a part of the story as the politicians themselves. Loud, arrogant, self-centred,
self-righteous but yet a seeker of absolute truth and justice, Spider is a journalist in the 3rd millennium who returns to the City in order to complete his publishing contract but ends up becoming famous through his weekly columns entitled ‘I Hate It Here’ (“if you loved me, you’d all kill yourselves today”). Spider exposes the hypocrisies and the corruption of government while wielding dangerous bowel
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inspirational. A role model for journalists everywhere, Spider Jerusalem’s adventures in a futuristic world is well-worth the read.
disruptors, yet he also points out social problems in the most thought-provoking manner. His passion for truth and justice leads him to try and bring down a president through the mere power of his words; the comic book series is both hilarious yet
Now ask yourself how the world would be if Prince Charming, Goldilocks, the Big Bad Wolf, Jack of the Beanstalk and Mowgli were all alive and kicking and imagine a story that brings them all together. Fables, by Bill Willingham, Mark Buckingham and Todd Klein is however better understood as the story of a persecuted and transported community as our much beloved
fairytale characters escape their magical lands, fleeing from an evil villain called The Adversary, and land in downtown New York. Willingham’s modern and intriguing take on characters so familiar to us all, and their struggles to adapt to a foreign land has kept this an interesting read every month for over 103 issues (as of March 2011). However, what really got me started in this medium was a recommendation by TIME magazine in 2005 on the best graphic novels of all time, which, by the way, was totally rubbish!
The only decent one on that list was Blankets by Craig Thompson which, to this day, remains the most hauntingly romantic and depressing love story that I have ever read. If you’re interested in exploring a new and mesmerising form of literature then be sure to get the collected volumes of the three comic book series. And if you are curious about superhero stories but don’t know where to start here’s a list of story arcs that are worth checking out:
• Superman: The Red Son (a world where Superman is born in the USSR) • Batman: The Long Halloween (when a murderer who kills exclusively on holidays baffles the great detective) • Batman: Hush (the Dark Knight faces a manipulative enemy who knows his secrets) • Batman: Year One (the origins of Batman) • Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War (Geoff Johns basically resurrected the GL franchise’s popularity with this saga) • Silver Surfer (a personal favourite although he’s a tad dramatic for a hero) • X-Men: The Dark Phoenix Saga (the most famous X-Men story arc) • Other honourable mentions: Bone, Preacher, Y: The Last Man & Lucifer
PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS SOURCES ON THE INTERNET
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ENTERTAINMENT
BOOK REVIEW • Title: The Know-It-All
• Title: Danny Boyle: In
• Author: A.J. Jacobs
His Own Words
• Reviewer: Retna Devi
• Author: Amy Raphael • Reviewer: Divya Gundlapalli
A
ccording to A. J. Jacobs, working in the entertainment industry has plenty of occupational hazards; worryingly, one of them being that a person becomes progressively dumber. As the editor of Esquire, he confesses that he, too, has fallen victim to this affliction. He laments that this is especially horrifying for him because he used to be a smart student, coming from a family of intellectual hotshots. Therefore, Jacobs feels that the only rational way he can regain his intelligence is to read the entire abridged set of Encyclopaedia Britannica in a year. The Know-It-All is a memoir that will have you laughing from the beginning to the end. The alphabetical arrangement of the book allows you to learn new facts about the world. Did you know a dragonfly can eat its own weight in thirty minutes? However, what really makes this book an excellent read is that
despite its comical narration, there is a strong personal element to it. While learning about a host of random information, Jacobs deals with personal issues like paternity problems, marital problems and even about the complicated relationship with his own father. He juxtaposes these serious issues with his madcap attempts at showing off his new found intelligence at dinner parties, family gatherings, and even by participating in ‘Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’! A refreshing change from the usual dramatic novels and psychological thrillers that fill the bookshelves, Jacobs’ sardonic wit makes this book not only entertaining but very hilarious as well.
AUTHOR RETNA DEVI, DIVYA GUNDLAPALLI, NICOLE KANG
O
n a trip to the bookstore, one particular book caught my eyes from its place on the stands. Glancing somewhere outside the frame, on the cover, was the Oscar winning director Danny Boyle! It took me only two seconds to saunter over and pick it up. With the success of his film ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ (that won eight Oscars in 2008), everybody knows Danny Boyle. Well, I said ‘knows’ but what do I really know about him? The only thing I know was that he directed the film which took the world by storm. There must be more to him than that; when I saw him on the cover of that book, I knew the opportunity to get inside Danny’s head had finally arrived! This book begins by directing you to his early life where he grew up in a working-class family in Lancashire in the 1950s. It then takes you on a journey from his career highs and lows to his current fame. Did you know he
actually begun by working in the theatre, then at BBC, while producing dramas at Belfast, like Alan Clarke’s ‘Elephant’? While Slumdog was a handsome addition to his repertoire, he has directed other critically acclaimed films like ‘Trainspotting’, ‘A Life Less Ordinary’, and Leonardo DiCaprio’s ‘The Beach’. His films touch on topics not often explored by mainstream cinema. This book’s central narrative is Boyle’s own, since it contains mostly excerpts from his interviews. The Boyle that readers get to meet through the pages is funny, charming and truly inspiring! There is a whole lot more to Danny Boyle than meets the eyes. For all those out there that want a quick read to tide over the exam stress or gear up for the exams, Boyle will inspire you and perhaps, it’ll happen in under 127 Hours!
ENTERTAINMENT
• Title: The Guernsey
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WHAT’S IN MY IPOD?
Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society • Authors: Mary Ann
B
orn This Way – Lady Gaga
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et It Right – Glee Cast
Shaffer and Annie Barrows • Reviewer: Nicole Kang
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**k You (Forget You) – Cee Lo
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.T. – Katy Perry feat. Kanye West
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eading good books ruins you for enjoying bad booksIsola Pribby (P. 53). Amen to that! This may sound rather presumptuous but I can, perhaps boldly, add that this novel does ruin you for future ‘bad books’. Set in the post-World War II period, this epistolary novel is based on an exchange of a series of letters between the writerjournalist, Juliet Ashton, and her new friends from the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. After receiving a letter from an inhabitant of Guernsey Island about Charles Lamb, Juliet strikes a personal connection and friendship amidst the chaotic mess in London. Unlike typical war novels of action and lost love, this novel closely resembles Jane Austen’s early novella, Lady Susan, and invokes as much interest in the subject matter as that of war novels. Part of its appeal lies in its allusions to other literary works, which greatly enhanced the
reading experience. If you don’t exercise partiality towards that, perhaps you may be enticed by the mystery cleverly interweaved into the narrative. Indeed, the book shows that the classics are not merely for the literary elite but have a perennial appeal. The long title may be a mouthful; however, I pray it will not put you off reading this novel!
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oser Like Me – Glee Cast
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& M – Rihanna
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low – Ke$ha
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n The Floor – Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull
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ore – Usher
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oming Home – Diddy (Dirty Money feat. Skylar Grey)
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oment 4 Life – Nicki Minaj feat. Drake
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own On Me – Jeremih feat. 50 Cent
PHOTOGRAPH AMAZON.COM, GEEKREADS.COM, TLCBOOKTOURS.COM, POP-YOUR-LIFE.BLOGSPOT.COM
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SPORTS
THE LEGACY OF PELE AND CA AS MANY OF YOU MIGHT BE AWARE, TWO OF SOCCER’S GREATEST LEGENDS RECENTLY GRACED OUR LITTLE ISLAND TO WITNESS A LOCAL SOCCER MATCH. THE RIDGE PAYS TRIBUTE TO THESE TWO LEGENDS.
Pele and Cantona vi Singapore
THE RIDGE pays trib soccer legends
Pele’s 22 year caree 1281 goals in 1363 g holds the record for the most career title
Pele now a UNICEF goodwill ambassado
Cantona is the Manc player of the century
PELÉ
E
dison ‘Edson’ Arantes do Nascimento or popularly known as Pelé is arguably the greatest player to have graced the football field. Pele’s supreme footballing skills propelled him from rags to riches. His prodigious talent, hard work and his love for “o Jogo bonito” or “the beautiful game” won him a record of three World Cups in 1958, 1962 and 1970 along with numerous other accolades hailing him as the ‘Athlete of the Century’ and ‘Footballer of the Century’. “I was born for soccer, just as
Beethoven was born for music”. Pele’s agility, strength and vision made him the scourge of defences worldwide. A wizard with the ball, his deft touches, insightful passes, skilful dribbles, confident headers and powerful shots have left the opposition in shambles. A member of the legendary Brazilian squad of his era, Pele was the greatest of them all, overshadowing legends like Garrincha and Jairzinho with his flair and prowess. From a teenage prodigy to a superstar, Pele’s illustrious career spanned 22 years in which he amassed
a record of 1281 goals in 1363 games. He also holds the record for the player with the most career titles. Since hanging his boots in 1977, Pele is most notable for his ambassadorial work. He has held the posts of UN ambassador for Ecology and the Environment, and was an ambassador for UNICEF and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. The Brazilian President appointed him to the position of ‘Extraordinary Minister for Sport’ in 1995. He has also starred in several documentaries
AUTHOR PRATEEK SINHA + PHOTOGRAPH SPORTSCHAMPON. BLOGSPOT.COM, DAILYMAIL.CO.UK
and semi-documentaries. Currently he is the Honorary President of a revived New York Cosmos in Major League Soccer in USA.
SPORT
47
ANTONA
isits fans in
bute to the two
er saw him net goals; he also the player with
and UNESCO or
chester United y
ERIC CANTONA
O
ne of the most spirited players to have taken up the game of soccer, Eric Cantona is best known for his illustrious yet turbulent stint at Manchester United. He made his professional debut for Auxerre in 1983, following it with disastrous stints at several other French Clubs including Marseille. He was also part of the French national team, although his differences in opinions with the officials led to an irregular presence on the national side.
which ultimately lead to the French Football Association banning him for two months in 1991. This prompted him to retire from the sport.
Never one to back down, he was frequently involved in altercations
His arsenal of tricks left opponents spellbound. Well-
Cantona however decided to come out of retirement and move to England to join Leeds United. His fabulous skills took Leeds to the league title. When he moved to Manchester United in November 1992, he had a seismic impact on not only Manchester United, but on the league as well.
orchestrated attacks, precise passes, and deft finishes earned him the nickname of ‘King Eric’.
After his retirement in 1997, Cantona has primarily been active in cinema. He has acted in several movies including the English He was picked as the ‘Manchester film ‘Elizabeth’ and even directed United’s Player of the Century’ a French short film, ‘Apportefor his role in Manchester moi ton amour’. He is also the United’s numerous successful manager and a member of the campaigns in the 1990s. One French national beach football breakout moment of his career team. He was recently appointed at Manchester United was as the Director of Soccer for the an off the pitch incident – he New York Cosmos. landed a ‘Kung Fu’ kick on a fan after being sent off against Crystal Palace. Despite his hotheadedness, fans of Manchester United worship Cantona till this day. PHOTOGRAPH CONNECT.IN.COM, BESTFOOTBALLERS.NET
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SPORTS
THE GAMES CONTIN T
he Southeast Asian Games or the SEA games, owes its origins to the Southeast Peninsular Games or SEAP games. In a nutshell, the SEAP Games were conceptualised as a regional sporting event that encouraged cooperation and enhanced relationships among countries in the region. Since its inception 23 years ago, the SEA games have been facing a credibility issue – a recurrent fault that has persisted until today. It has often been observed that local officials are biased towards their own athletes. Moreover, the choices of sport offered by the host nation inevitably works to their advantage. Throughout the history of the games, this strategy of tweaking the number of events and adding core domestic sports which are not popular amongst the other countries have been a contentious issue. For example, in the 2005 SEA Games, the Philippines added 14 sets of medals for stick martial arts of which they won 13 sets. Similarly, at the 2007 SEA Games, Thailand won nearly all the medals from Sepak Takraw, a sport which they introduced. The saga continued when Minister of Youth and Sport of Indonesia, Andi Mallarangeng requested that the Indonesian SEA Games Organizing Committee reduce the proposed 577 events for the games. Recently, at a meeting of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), the Indonesian Football Federation announced that the upcoming SEA Games would not have women’s football because Indonesia lacks the standardized stadiums. However, men’s football was continued despite the similar arrangement. Furthermore, Indonesia has decided to remove some events from cue sports, shooting, aerobics, petanque and table tennis to be replaced by those that seemed to particularly favour the host nation. AUTHOR SAHFAHRI SUPAR + PHOTOGRAPH HAIRULOVCHESSMANIAC.COM
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The SEA Games have s controversies from host and exclude selected ev discretion.
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In fact, member countri to do that but never rev as it has always been tr nations to offer sports t organise.
Consequences of such top athletes from perfor and raise questions on games.
Member countries must create a new system of sportsmen to compete potential on a regional b
SPORTS
49
E SEA S SAGA NUES...
seen their fair share of t nations who include vents at their own
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These included entirely new disciplines, some of them even considered unpopular among other participating countries; examples include contract bridge, parachuting, roller sports, wall climbing and vovinam. Not surprisingly, these games gave Indonesia the extra advantage, given that they constituted nearly 60 sets of medals which they could leverage on. Negative repercussions of such strategies have been felt as the decisions have sparked a huge outcry by countries such as Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. One such instance would be the exclusion of Malaysia’s top athletes from the 26th SEA Games in Palembang, Indonesia when Malaysia announced that it is allowing only its second-string athletes to participate in the games.
Is it really fair? When the SEA Games were first held in 1959, its organisers held a grand belief that the games could serve as a springboard for producing world champions. 40 years down the road, the quest for many Southeast Asian athletes to develop themselves through the games may be far from ideal considering the controversies surrounding the games. The true spirit of fairness can never really be achieved with the inclusion of sports that are only able to benefit the host country. Ironically, few voices of discomfiture with the state of regional sports are ever heard. In addition, sporting delegates of member nations expect that the SEA Games would naturally favour the host nation as they have always given in to the latter’s rules; in other words, this practice is accepted as a norm. How can it be truly be fair when only the host country can selectively pick and choose sports that benefit their own medal tally?
50
SPORTS
Deeper probing reveals that social pressures on the athletes from the host nations to perform might be an explanation for such rampant practices. Many of these athletes are subject to public scrutiny if they lose on home grounds. Accusations of host countries taking advantage of home turf have also been revealed by many athletes from various sources. Closer to home, accusations of our foreign talent recruitment policies are constantly criticised. Most of the criticism here focuses of the fact that the development of local talent is forsaken in the pursuit of winning medals. Should this social pressure for winning medals instead be directed towards a fairer system where everyone has a level playing field?
Lack of stature as world-class athletes In past SEA Games, there has been a notable failure to produce world-class sportsmen and sportswomen in the arenas of athletics and swimming. The inferiority of the state of regional sports is striking, considering top standards in athletics are far from Asian Games standards. The inclusion and exclusion of sports in each edition of the games will only serve to deprive talented, top quality athletes from fielding themselves consistently at a truly competitive level to prepare for the Asian Games. Few will ever have the opportunity to pit themselves against better competitors if they are not given the chance to play the sport at even the regional level.
Lack of Credibility in the SEA Games The lack of integrity in these games is stark and its persistence will eventually lead the games to no longer be recognised or accepted by the sporting community. Can there be a better way to allow the inclusion of sports that may benefit not only the host nation but the regional
athletes as well?
Following the Olympics For an event that has existed for decades, the Olympics can serve as the best benchmark to restructure how sports are managed from the sporting calendar. Traditionally, the inclusion of sports into the Olympic calendar has always been done through a simple majority vote by the members of Olympic committee. Dropping sports from the games is not necessarily easy as there need to be exceptional circumstances for a core competition to be dropped, which include drug scandals, corruption or a massive drop in popularity for the particular game. I believe much autonomy lies in the hands of the SEA games committee to reorganise the inclusion of these sports into the region’s top sporting stage. But much of this relies on the member countries to commit to a new system, and allow the region to benefit from the revamping of the system. In all fairness, let us bring back the games with the true spirit that it began with, and bring athletes in Southeast Asia together to compete fairly. Hopefully this ideal will not be too elusive if Singapore takes up the baton in the next leg of the SEA Games.
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NUS CHEERLEADERS, FIGHT AND WIN Big haul for NUS in the 2nd national cheerleading championship KR steppers won second place in Biggest the cheerleading Open team event category in Singapore sports history Temasek Hall’s Twisters won a medal in the All Females Group Stunts category Alpha Verve won a medal in the Prtner PartnerStunts category Stunts category KR Steppers won second place in the Open category
D
uring the second Singapore National Cheerleading Championships held on the weekend of March 19 and 20, 2011, at the Jurong East Sports Hall, the three NUS representatives for the tournament garnered a significant haul of podium finishes. While Temasek Hall‘s Twisters won a medal in the All Females Group Stunts category and Alpha Verve collected another in the Partner Stunts category, the main highlight of NUS’ campaign was Kent Ridge Hall’s KR Steppers’ valiant second place to Wildcards Cheerleading in the Open Team Category. Spanning over two days, the competition was touted as one of the biggest cheerleading events in the Singapore sports history. With more teams entering into
categories ranging from the primary school team event to the main prizes in the High School (polytechnics and ITE) and Open (varsity and open teams) categories, the stage was set for two superb days of high-flying stunts and unbridled passion by cheerleaders from different institutions. In a groundbreaking first, Starhub rode on the increasing popularity of cheerleading among the youths in Singapore by offering exclusive broadcast of the competition on its cable TV platforms. Apart from a guest appearance by the Thai national cheerleading team which invited infectious cheers from the crowd with their energetic performance, the main highlight of the Sunday afternoon was the Open category which was graced by guest-of-
honour, Ms Grace Fu (Senior Minister of State, Ministry of National Development and Ministry of Education). The event was contended between the university teams comprising undergraduates, and open teams which have a diverse range of members ranging from students to NSFs and working adults. All eyes were on the two NUS teams – KR Steppers and Alpha Verve – as they pitted against NTU’s Aces and the open trio of Wildcards, Denver’s and Legacy All Stars cheerleading teams. An intensely close competition raged among the teams and their high-octane and quality stuntfilled routines, a testament to their professional approach to cheerleading training despite the hectic schedule of many of their members.
In the end, the KR Steppers were defeated by the Wildcards, from the under the auspices of the People’s Association Youth Movement (PAYM), Ulu Pandan branch. Yet it was not just the routines that wowed the crowd. Time and again during the prize presentation ceremony, members of seemingly rival teams were seen hugging each other as they came up on stage, a testimony to the tightly-knitted friendships borne from training exchanges and a shared conquest of sprained ankles and hard falls sustained during their respective trainings. It was the refreshing show of sportsmanship that brought forth an aspect of the game so different from the much-sought-for victory.
AUTHOR + PHOTOGRAPHER JOSEPH CHIN
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SPORTS
SPORT OF Equipment needed: 1. A pair of swimming trunks and goggles 2. Running singlet and shoes 3. Determination, Endurance and Passion. Loads of it.
An Olympic Distance Biathlon consists of a 1.5km swim and a 10km run. A Sprint distance race is half the distance – 750m swim and 5km run. Ironman – 3.8km swim, 180km bike, 42km run (there are half-ironman races in Singapore but not the full distance). Swimming in open waters is a very different experience from a pool swim – boundless, with the the waves waves andand hundreds hundreds other other racers racers kicking kicking you. NUS Aquathlon has won the IVP for the last four years and was awarded the President’s Sports Award, Sports Team of the Year for both Men and Women in 2009. The team has participated and excelled in both national and international open races.
PLAYER PROFILE: JONATHAN MA - MORE THAN JUST A PRETTY FACE
T
wo years ago on August 23, 2009, the Arts Bash was held at Zouk. On stage, Jonathan lifted his shirt to give the supporters a peek at his lean abs and flashed his boyish smile. He won over the votes of the judges and was crowned ‘Arts King’. Jonathan Ma is a third-year undergraduate majoring in sociology at the National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Beneath his lean physique and coy smiles is also an iron man. Even today, Jonathan is still recognised as the Arts King. While he does not hate the attention, he thinks of the experience as a bit of a conversation starter and something to look back upon and laugh about. Behind Jonathan’s bronze tan and lean figure is a story of dedication and discipline. Sometimes, Jonathan feels more like a “fulltime athlete, part-time student.” Jonathan is a member of the NUS Aquathlon team. While the team trains for four to five days a week, Jonathan only rests one day a week. Commonly known as biathlon, Aquathlon involves only swimming and running. Jonathan sacrifices his beauty sleep to
AUTHOR CHOW YONG JUN + PHOTOGRAPHER DAVID TAY
wake up in the wee hours of the morning and hit the roads on his bicycle when the roads are safer with little traffic. In addition to the evening sessions with the team, he puts in extra hours in the pool, on his bicycle or on the track in the mornings. Jonathan shared that on average, he “swims 15km, cycles 200km and runs 40km a week.” Dex Cheong, captain of the NUS Aquathlon team said, “Jonathan is one of the most balanced and all-rounded triathletes about.” Having been a triathlete for approximately three years, Jonathan achieved a new milestone last July, 2010, by completing the Ironman, Frankfurt race. He had his training schedule planned out for an entire year, and it took him immense discipline to stick through it. His efforts paid off – Jonathan finished a 3.8km swim, 180km bike lap and a 42km marathon in less than 11 hours. A very respectable timing indeed! Jonathan admitted it was his “best racing experience.” In addition to his great performance, the race atmosphere was exhilarating with the locals lining the race course, supporting every single athlete
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53
THE MONTH
in their feat of extraordinary strength and endurance. The Ironman race is to a triathlete what Mecca is to a pilgrim. “When I crossed the finish line, I was on the verge of tears,” Jonathan said, recollecting his emotions upon completing the race. However, Jonathan’s journey has not always been smooth sailing. With a demanding training regime, Jonathan has been prone to injuries. Previously still new and green to the sport, he had believed that all it took was sheer endurance and grit. He pushed his body beyond its limits and suffered shin splints, which took nearly a year to recover from. He learnt to listen to his body the
hard way. 2010 had been a rollercoaster ride for Jonathan: having fought hard to recover from his shin splints, he suffered another major setback at the Singapore Biathlon. He got off to a flying start at East Coast Park but had to be pulled out of the sea after being stung in the neck by a jellyfish. At the medical tent, he was diagnosed to be allergic to the jellyfish venom and was in anaphylactic shock. Jonathan is thankful to the medical staff that helped him survive the episode. Despite the setback, he is not ready to give up the sport. Jason Yip, teammate of Jonathan for three years, said, “Jon’s
mental tenacity and undying perseverance is what makes him such an amazing athlete and a wonderful inspiration to his teammates and friends.” Jonathan’s race does not end here – one day, he aims to race amongst the elites in the Ford
Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii – the birthplace of the Ironman for which tens of thousands of triathletes across the world try, but only 1,800 of whom qualify.
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WIRED
GAME REVIEW: DRAGON AGE II FORGET THE EXAMS, KIRKWALL NEEDS YOU AS A CHAMPION.
E
xams coming up? Studying hard? Good, good. Now take all that and throw it out the window, because Bioware is back with a new game that will suck you in and take up valuable studying time.
“But surely,” you say, “I can do with some destressing.” Then by all means, go for it, but anyone who has played a Bioware RPG knows just how immersive and life-consuming an experience it can be.
Dragon Age II, the long-awaited sequel to Bioware’s II00 smash RPG hit Dragon Age: Origins, was released on Mar 8. For those who played it early and completed it before the exam period, good for you; that’s one less distraction. For those who didn’t and are thinking of getting into it right now… I really suggest not doing it now unless you want your CAP to drop faster than the health of a squishy mage being attacked.
On this level, Dragon Age II delivers. Bioware has made sure Dragon Age II will be a tremendous time sink, as any decent RPG should. As an RPG, Dragon Age II will feel very familiar, yet slightly striking, to those who have played the original Dragon Age as well as Bioware’s other RPG series, Mass Effect. Dragon Age II feels like a happy union between the lore and mythology of the Dragon
AUTHOR LESTER HIO + PHOTOGRAPH GEEKY-GADGETS.COM, REVIEWS.MMASER.COM
Age franchise with the technical prowess and voice acting. Dragon Age II retains the three classes of fantasy lore – spellslinging mages, backstabbing rogues, and armour-plated warriors – but you can only play as a human (unlike the dwarves or elves of Origins). You start out as the gender-ambiguous Hawke, and you can sculpt him/her to any appearance you like. Dragon Age II’s main point of deviation lies in the conversation wheel, familiar to those who have been in Commander Shepard’s shoes, or rather, boots, in Mass Effect. Gone is your voiceless main character; Hawke is finally
voiced and the game does a damn good job at it. Bioware retains its traditional morality speech options: conversation choices you pick can give you the moral high or low ground, depending on your slant. Character customization is a huge part of the game, with varied skills and spell choices you can choose despite whichever class you play. No one game will play like another – the deviations you take in terms of appearance, skill build and moral choices will change the game in every play through. Dragon Age II’s storyline is a little… strange. Without giving
WIRED
away too much, let’s just say it is not as epic as Dragon Age: Origins’. Sure, you have a very strong storyline, but there’s not much in terms of plot, or what keeps the storyline going. In Origins, as a Grey Warden, there is an immediate sense of epic-ness in recruiting armies to face the upcoming Blight.
changing around you with the passage of time, and choices made previously will come back to haunt you. Still fun, but not as much.
your game, and I went with the tried-and-tested warrior/rogue/ two mages composite, with a tank to absorb damage, mage and rogue to dish out damage, and the other mage to heal. You will get Combat is changed, too. Gone to pick up a range of characters are the tactical edges you have in with their own idiosyncrasies Origins: combat is more frenetic, and side-quests, but somehow, more hack-and-slash, than the they feel a little empty, especially pause-cast spell-attack-repeat given the depth of character in In Dragon Age II, there is tactical approach Origins took. Origins. I felt oddly disconnected just one city, Kirkwall, and It’s sharply polarizing and takes with them, something I never the internal politics that are some time to get used to, but it felt in Origins; they were just less manifesting in the area. The game makes the combat visuals that engaging than before. is told as a frame narrative over much more appealing. a ten-year period in Kirkwall. Ultimately, Dragon Age II is Instead of a linear, temporal And of course, the ubiquitous worth playing through, but the position, Dragon Age II plays party system makes its changes and a slightly sub-par out more on a spatial dimension, appearance. A well-built team storyline will be a disappointment as you see the city and people is the lifeblood to the success of for those who expected
55
something as good as Bioware’s previous games like Origins or Mass Effect II. It seems that Dragon Age II is a Dragon Age game only in name, for it feels and plays very differently than what we’re used to. Dragon Age II is available for Windows and Mac PCs, Xbox 360 and Playstation 3.
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APPLE AND
TOPS FORTU ADMIRE
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top 50 most
admired companies
E
arly last month, Fortune magazine released their list of Top 50 Most Admired Companies for the year 2011, and Apple tops the list for the fourth consecutive year. Other technology companies in the Top 10 are Google (No. 2), Amazon.com (No. 7), and Microsoft (No. 9). The phrase ‘technology company’ is used casually in this case, as Fortune has its own system of classification for all the various companies. Apple, for example, tops the ‘Computers’ category, while Google holds the crown in ‘Internet Service and Retailing’. Say what you about the Cupertino-based company. Apple has indeed exceeded expectations in its sales figures quarter after quarter, nearly doubling its quarterly profits from a year ago. The company’s clockwork-like schedule for product releases have also left competitors scrambling to catch up. The launch of the iPad a year ago, the iPad 2 just a few days ago, and strong rumours of an iPad 3 in September 2011 indicate that the company has no intentions of slowing down, despite CEO Steve Jobs’ ill health. First runner-up Google continues its reign as the top
AUTHOR RAYMOND LAU + PHOTOGRAPH BMSHANKAR.BLOGSPOT.COM
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D GOOGLE UNE’S MOST ED LIST
GOONDU (WWW.TECHGOONDU.COM), PMENTS IN SINGAPORE. TECHGOONDU GETS TO THEIR LOYAL READERS – JUST DESIRE HD, LADY GAGA HEADPHONES ACEBOOK (WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/ NDU)TODAY!
Internet company in the world. It’s easy to see why: the search giant pervades every aspect of our lives, from productivity to funny cat videos. Google’s mobile operating system Android also holds the largest market share in the world, activating more than 10 million devices every day, which feeds more users into its web services ecosystem. With a leadership shuffle earlier this year, the company looks poised to continue pushing its vision of a 100% web-based world. Trailing close behind Google is online retail giant Amazon. com, which snagged a seventh position overall. No longer just a simple buy-and-sell site, Amazon has diversified its business to include the immensely popular Kindle e-reader and free movie streaming for Amazon Prime customers. The company also has plans for an Android app store, which could hint at an upcoming tablet device, possibly carrying on the Kindle brand. With Amazon’s global distribution power, a Kindle tablet could finally prove to be an iPad killer. Of course, no list would be complete without the largest software maker in the world: Microsoft. The company has released strong products in 2010 — Windows 7 has sold more than 300 million copies to date, sales of the
Xbox with Kinect surpassed eight million units during the holiday season alone, and Bing is slowly (very slowly) eating into the global search market share. Improvements to their Windows Live offerings have also been made. Although Microsoft has been criticised for moving too slowly into the smartphone and tablet markets, don’t count them out just yet. CEO Steve Ballmer has called the next release of Windows the company’s “riskiest product bet,” and it’s rumoured to have a unified interface for both traditional laptops and tablet computers. Definitely something to look forward to. Bonus for Singapore readers: national carrier Singapore Airlines made it into the Most Admired list as well, with an overall position of 18! The airline recently started supporting PayPal payments, and is expected to roll out in-flight WiFi for passengers this year.
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BOOST YOUR PRODUCTIVITY T
ime is a fast traveller. What seemed like just the start of a new year has turned out to be the last leg of the semester already, and before you know it, the dreaded exams are upon us. With the addition of CCA commitments in the bag, it seems rightly so that studies have become more of a part-time activity. Well, have no fear! The Wired team is here! We at Wired are students too, and in this issue we’ve gathered a few quintessential links to services that can, at the very least, save you some precious time and leave more of your hair on your head. The following services will help you get your work done faster and better in one way or the other.
01 TIDY UP! [HTTP://MOREGANIZE. COM] “Stay Organized” - such is this website’s slogan and they do live up to it. From scheduling important group meetings to taking polls and surveys for assignments or simply making a user-friendly to-do list, this website has got it all.
02 CALCULATIONS MADE EASY: WOLFRAM ALPHA [HTTP://WWW. WOLFRAMALPHA.COM] This is a God-gifted website for those who need to perform calculations of any kind, from simple linear functions to calculus. You can even find Wikipedia-like knowledge from the search results! Its simple and intuitive user interface puts this website as one of the contenders for a life-saver to work out complicated equations. If only we were allowed internet access during an exam...
AUTHOR ARNAB GHOSH + PHOTOGRAPH VARIOUS SOURCES ON THE INTERNET
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ONLINE COLLABORATION ON PROJECTS; TUTORIALS.
POWERPOINT PRESENTATIONS. REVOLUTIONISED.
[DOCS.GOOGLE. COM ; HTTP://OFFICE. MICROSOFT.COM/ENUS/WEB-APPS/]
[WWW.PREZI.COM]
There is little left to be said about Google Docs that you don’t already know. Still, for those who have been living under the metaphorical rock, Google Docs is the MS Office of the Internet. And it’s not alone anymore. Microsoft has released its own version - Office Web Apps. Both offer the standard Word, Excel and Powerpoint applications which can be shared and edited online – ideal for completing those last few essays and project reports. Google Docs works even if you don’t have a Gmail ID. Take your pick!
Watch presentations like never before. Dazzle your audience, group and teachers with amazing presentations. With seemingly intricate designs available so easily, there is no more excuse for making those sloppy Powerpoint slides. Lecturers, take note as well. Here’s a new way to present your material for the next semester!
WIRED
/ IPAD 2 LAUNCHES TO HIGH ANTICIPATION The launch of the iPad 2 earlier this month was one of the biggest launches of the month. Inheriting the popularity of its predecessor, the iPad 2 is loaded with a faster processor, and is thinner and lighter than the iPad. It features a dual-core A5 chip and significantly improved graphics performance. Official statistics put it twice as fast in usage and nine times faster with graphics than the original iPad. Despite improvements with speed and size, the iPad still maintains a 10-hour battery life. It has two cameras – a front camera for FaceTime and a rear HD Video camera. The reviews for still-photos have not been great but it takes good HD Video. iPad 2 was available in the US on 11th March but there has been no official release date for Singapore.
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/ NEW MACBOOK PRO NOW EVEN FASTER The new Macbook Pro was released on 24th February and boasts quite a number of improved features. It has the upgraded processors with the 13-inch model featuring a 2.3GHz Intel Core i5 or the 2.7GHz Intel Core i7. These enhancements make it up to 2 times faster than the previous generation. The 13-inch model has the Intel integrated graphics for daily usage. The 15 and 17-inch models feature AMD Radeon Graphics with up to 1GB of GDDR5 memory. The other notable feature is the Thunderbolt I/Oan interface port that is 20 times faster than the USB 2.0.
BYTE-SIZED / WATCH OUT, IPAD! THE MOTOROLA XOOM IS HERE A 10.1 inch Android tablet from Motorola, the Xoom is one of the most highly anticipated tablets since the iPad. It features an nVidia Tegra 1GHz dual-core processor and runs the latest Android 3.0 Honeycomb. It has two cameras, a 5MP rear and 2MP front. This is perhaps the only tablet in the market that can compete with the iPad 2. It has a better display with 150 pixels per inch as compared to the iPad 2 which has 132 pixels per inch. The only factor limiting it is the starting price of US$599 for the base model, but with such great specs, we say go for it!
/ NINTENDO 3DS The wait is over: the Nintendo 3DS finally launched in Japan on 26th February. It produces 3D effects without the need for any special glasses. For backward compatibility, the console has a slider button that lets you turn off the 3D effect. It has two cameras - one front-facing and one rear-facing. The rear-facing camera takes images that are viewable as 3D on the console. All in all, this device is definitely a go for the portable games lover.
AUTHOR ANGAD SINGH
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NUSTYLE
FOOD AND BEVERAGE Donut Factory - Buy 8 Assorted Donut - Get 4 MORE FREE for $ 11.20 only Grill-Out! -15% off all ala-carte food and drinks selections at Sunset Way outlet - 10% off all special set or special menu on promotion Loving Hut - 5% off dine-in or take-away items ordered at Parklane Shopping Mall and Suntec City Mall outlets
- 10% off all regular priced items purchased in West Coast Plaza branch Tom’s Palette - 10% off regular priced items purchased in the outlet Wah Lian Amusement Company (Private) Limited - Special rate of $ 2.50 on weekdays and $3.50 for weekends for computer gaming - 10% off Ala carte food menu in Chef Daniel’s Kitchen
Novotel - Room privileges, F&B privileges - Exclusive discounts at Clarke Quay. Urban Cuts - 20% off men’s cut, ladies’ cut and all chemical services - 10% off products
RETAIL Ambient Lounge - 10% off all regular priced items purchased
BEAUTY Krishnan Holdings - 15% discount on ala carte orders at Krish Restaurant and The Green House Bar
Pedro Group - 10% off all regular priced items purchased - Free lifetime membership card upon purchases of $160 and above
Oishi Pizza - 1 complimentary set of Tempura Fish or Seafood Tofu with every $25 spent
Fabulous Group - 1st trial Indoor tanning at $15 - 1st Teeth whitening treatment at $499 - 1st trial Brazilian waxing at $30 for girl / $45 for guy - 1st trial Detox session at $35
Professor Brawn Cafe - A free single scoop of New Zealand Natural Ice-cream with every purchase of a main ala carte meal from our menu. (this does not include set meals)
Renewal Day Spa -30% discount on organic line of treatments and products for 1st visit - 10% discount for subsequent visits - 5% discount off all retail products
Red Mango -15% off all regular priced items purchased, except at SCAPE outlet -Free upsize everyday during birthday month
LIFESTYLE
INSURANCE
Compass Hospitality - 10% off best selling Internet Rate for Various Hotels
American International Assurance Company - 25% discount for Travel Guard and 15% discount for the Overseas Student Assist Travel Insurance - 10% discount for Motor Insurance - Purchased from www.yourinsurance.com.sg
Simply Shiok - 10% off all regular priced items purchased Superdog - 10% discount off our regular items The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
De-coders’ Cafe - 10% discount IGARD - Special Eye-Care Programme & Optical Benefits (by appointment only)
Peek - 10 % discount off all cameras purchased Schu - 10% discount off regular items What He Wants Grooming - 10% off regular priced items
NUSTYLE
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Bondi Beach Sydney, Australia
Just a little longer and you’ll be free. Until then, The Ridge wishes you all the best in your examinations.