THE RIDGE - February 2012 by The Ridge

THE RIDGE MAGAZINE A NUSSU PUBLICATION FEBRUARY 2012 Find THE RIDGE on Facebook facebook.com/NussuTHERIDGE

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Happy

Valentine’s Day

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EDITOR’S NOTE 03

EDITOR’S NOTE T

he Chinese New Year just flew by, and the last thing we need is another excuse to dig in to more food. I, for one, am still trying to lose all the weight I gained over the span of four short days! But with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, that excuse is coming sooner than you think. In line with tradition, we’ve prepared a spread of stories to help you get in the mood for love. Yes, let’s face it - this is a highly commercialised occasion, and businesses are determined to cash in with gravity-defying prices and outrages mark-ups. So loosen up a little and check out some of the best places to spend your money (p. 46)! And there’s nothing worse than turning up for a first date dressed in something unpresentable, so be sure to

explore some of your sartorial options (p. 49). We also attempt to look at Valentine’s Day from another angle, and explore the love lives of three well-known politicians (p. 18). What should come as less of a surprise is the fame of couples in sports (p. 56). These have even achieved celebrity status in their respective fields, and if you call yourself a sports fan, there’s no excuse not to know any of them! On a more serious note, we delve into several important issues, including the necessity of career preparation workshops (p. 24), and the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act (p. 52). Now, I’ve also got a big announcement to make. You’ve been reading the magazine for

more than a semester now, and must be wondering why such a wonderful editorial team doesn’t have an online presence (Excuse the selfpraise). I’m happy to say we’re currently working on a full-fledged online publication for readers to access wherever they go. More details to come further down the road! Happy February!

Raymond, Chief Editor theridge.chiefeditor@nussu.org.sg

CONTENTS NEWS

OPINION

ENTERTAINMENT

06 THE RUNDOWN

18 LOVING POLITICS — THE STORY OF POLITICIANS MAKING LOVE, NOT WAR

28 A REVIEW OF WHITE COLLAR

07 THIRD RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE IN UTOWN TO BE OPENED COMING AUGUST 08 KEIO-NUS COLLABORATION HOLDS FLAGSHIP EVENT

29 BOOKS, MOVIES, MUSIC REVIEWS 20 BILINGUALISM: CLICHÉ OR TRUTH? 21 ARE YOU AN UNPAID INTERN?

32 AN EXCITING RANGE OF OFFERINGS FROM NAF 2012

22 THE FUTILITY OF EMPTY APOLOGIES

34 THE SINGAPORE STORY

24 SHOULD CAREER WORKSHOPS BE COMPULSORY?

35 THE GRACE OF ASIA

09 A FORGOTTEN CITY 12 STUDENT DESIGNS TO RESHAPE SCHOOL LANDSCAPE

26 LIVING HOPE CHILDREN’S HOME: ONE STEP IS ALL IT TAKES

14 OPINION PIECE ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM SPARKS FLURRY OF REPLIES

36 CLASSIC JAZZ REPERTOIRE: FRENCH RENDITION, ARTS HOUSE 37 BE SPELLBOUND THIS FEBRUARY

16 THE ACCIDENTAL STORYTELLER

38 BACK TO THE VERY BASICS

LIFESTYLE

WIRED

SPORTS

40 YOU MEAN THEY DO THAT DURING A WEDDING?

51 BYTE-SIZED

56 SPORTS STARS IN LOVE

42 A DATE WITH FATE… OR NOT

52 SOPATHETIC

58 RETURN OF THE TITANS

44 ABCS OF BALI

54 EBOOK READERS

60 NUS WATER POLO CHALLENGE 2012

46 V-DAY’S DINING ESCAPADES 48 EVENTS 49 FIRST DATE NO-NOS 50 NOTES FROM A QUIET ROOM

EDITORIAL TEAM

EDITORIAL BOARD

CONTRIBUTORS

Chief Editor Raymond Lau theridge.chiefeditor@nussu.org.sg

News Desk

Deputy Chief Editors Meera Nair & Vani Goyal theridge.depchiefeditor@nussu.org.sg Creative Director Caryn Quek theridge.creative@nussu.org.sg

Goh Ruoyi

shermanpun@nus.edu.sg

Phyllis Tay Hui Shan

a0073629@nus.edu.sg

Gerrard Lai

a0080961@nus.edu.sg

Gerald Chew

geraldchewyk@nus.edu.sg

Opinion Desk Elliot Tan

elliot.tan@nus.edu.sg

Debra Chua

a0088025@nus.edu.sg

Abhinav Deshmukh

abhinav.deshmukh@nus.edu.sg

Entertainment Desk

Head Designer Nguyen Son Tra theridge.headdesigner@nussu.org.sg News Desk Editors Luke Vijay & Yeo Shang Long theridge.news@nussu.org.sg Opinion Desk Editor Augustin Chiam theridge.opinion@nussu.org.sg Lifestyle Desk Editor Bridget Tan theridge.lifestyle@nussu.org.sg Entertainment Desk Editors Nicole Kang & Divya Gundlapalli theridge.entertainment@nussu.org.sg Sports Desk Editor Prateek Sinha theridge.sports@nussu.org.sg Wired Desk Editor Shanmugam MPL theridge.wired@nussu.org.sg Copy Editor Ngui Jian Gang theridge.copyeditor@nussu.org.sg

Charlyn Ang

charlyn@nus.edu.sg

Anupama Hegde

a0078256@nus.edu.sg

Divya Gundlapalli

divya.divya10@nus.edu.sg

Saheli Roy Choudhury

saheli.rc@nus.edu.sg

Vanessa Anne Nunis

u0802563@nus.edu.sg

Nurshahiylia Erdina

nurshahiylia@nus.edu.sg

Jane Antony

janeantony@nus.edu.sg

Yveena Mariel

a0083312@nus.edu.sg

Lifestyle Desk Chan Yi Wen

chanyiwen@nus.edu.sg

Goh Bang Rui

bang@nus.edu.sg

Wong Kar Mun Shermaine

wong.karmun.shermaine@nus.edu.sg

Teresa Widodo

teresa.widodo@nus.edu.sg

Wilson Lim

a0072651@nus.edu.sg

Rachel Ong

rachel.ong@nus.edu.sg

Wired Desk Lester Hio

a0072480@nus.edu.sg

Lam Woon Cherk

u080380@nus.edu.sg

Arnab Ghosh

a_g16@nus.edu.sg

Sports Desk Rishian Balaskanda

a0070089@nus.edu.sg

Naveen Prakash

naveen.prakash@nus.edu.sg

Layout Designers Wan Munirah

u0807616@nus.edu.sg

Patricia Natalia Jonatan

patriciajonatan@nus.edu.sg

Andrew Fong Jia Ping

fongjiaping@nus.edu.sg

Photographers

Financial Secretary Arnab Ghosh theridge.finsec@nussu.org.sg

NUS STUDENTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; UNION NUSSU Publications Secretary Tan Heng Wee pubsec@nussu.org.sg

Muhammad Nasri Bin Ibrahim

a0067091@nus.edu.sg

NEWS

THE RUNDOWN Yeo Shang Long & Luke Vijay

THIRD RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE TO OPEN IN AUGUST

Angsana College,

the third residential college in the University Town, is set to welcome its first batch in August, which includes 500-600 freshmen, seniors and exchange students

Residents will be offered junior seminars and two senior seminars each semester. Those who complete their senior seminar can apply for a Capstone module, which involves collaboration with an external organisation for hands-on learning and community involvement Source: National University of Singapore

Turn to page 07 for the full story>>

YALE DAILY OPINION PIECE SPARKS DEBATE ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM

In an opinion piece on the Yale Daily News website, UNCNUS student Walker Vincoli lamented the lack of academic freedom in NUS, sparking numerous responses from both local and international students

“Yale’s apparent focus on the faculty and not the student overlooks the academic culture at NUS. Students change arguments, button their lips and absorb opinions from on high. Singapore is not a free country and NUS is not a free university.” - UNC-NUS student Walker Vincoli, in an opinion article published on the Yale Daily News website

“Vincoli’s portrayal of Singapore and NUS relies on merely a surface reading of Singaporean state and society... Singaporean students I talked to when I studied at NUS never said they felt unduly restricted or pressured in their speech or votes.” - UNC-NUS student Joseph Daniels, rebutting Vincoli’s claims in another article Source: Yale Daily News

Turn to page 14 for the full story>> NUS LAW SCHOOL REVIEWS ADMISSION PROCESS

The NUS law faculty is reviewing its admission process to ensure greater diversity in the backgrounds, abilities and interests of its students

“Inevitably, our students will be interacting with classmates from similar backgrounds and who come from the same schools. But to be good lawyers, it is essential that the students learn how to understand different people from a wide range of backgrounds. We want to broaden the experience of our students.” - NUS Law faculty Dean Simon Chesterman, in an interview with The Straits Times

“The NUS law faculty’s move to review admission procedures to have more students from lesserknown JCs - in the name of greater diversity - is flawed. It discriminates against those who work hard to study in good schools and later graduate to top junior colleges... Students from top JCs come from diverse backgrounds, just as students from lesser-known JCs.” - A nthony Leong, in a letter to The Straits Times Forum

Source: The Straits Times

NEWS

THIRD RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE IN UTOWN TO BE OPENED COMING AUGUST

[Photo by Muhammad Nasri bin Ibrahim]

Goh Ruoyi

amed after trees indigenous to where the University Town (UTown) is located, Angsana College, the third of Utown’s four planned residential colleges, is set to welcome its first batch of residents this August. This batch will include a mixture of 500-600 freshmen, seniors and exchange students. The college’s residents can choose between living in a single room or sharing a six-bedroom suite. With College Rector Mr. J.Y Pillay and Master Adeline Seow of the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health as its core leaders, Angsana College will seek to promote active citizenship and community engagement through

its curriculum.

Sharon Tan, a first-year student from the Faculty of Engineering Residents will be offered a range said, “I would think that Angsana of junior seminar modules and College is a good alternative to two senior seminar modules each the halls for on-campus living, semester, with the senior semibut I don’t quite see how the Capnars emphasising content related stone module actually works for to Singapore and its neighbouring us because I can engage in similar countries. activities by joining CSC and NVAC.” These seminars will see a maximum of 15 students per class, I GUESS IT WOULD, IN each led by fellows of the College. ONE WAY OR ANOTHIn addition, residents who complete their senior seminar can apply for the Capstone module that will allow a possible collaboration with an external organisation to actualise practical hands-on learning and community involvement.

ER, ENCOURAGE US TO MAKE A POSITIVE CONTRIBUTION TO SOCIETY

But Huang Si Hui, a fourthyear student from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS) thought otherwise.

Huang explained, “Angsana College seems pretty attractive, especially with the implementation of the Capstone module. I guess it would, in one way or another, encourage us to make a positive contribution to society. I like the idea of doing meaningful things together with a group of friends.” Application to Angsana College will start on 21 February 2012 and end on 5 March 2012 for existing students. All candidates are required to submit an essay or a personal statement as part of the application process.

NEWS

KEIO-NUS COLLABORATION HOLDS FLAGSHIP EVENT

[cutemirai.org]

Phyllis Tay

he Keio-NUS Connective Ubiquitous Technology for Embodiments (CUTE) Center will be holding its flagship event, MIRAI: The Story of Cute, on Friday, 2 March to Sunday, 4 March.

computing, utilising networks and trends in digital content and Asian pop culture.

MIRAI: The Story of Cute will take place in The Arts House, located along Old Parliament Lane. A total of five guests will The public is invited to participate speak at the technical forum in its programme line-up, which on Friday, 2 March. These are ranges from a technical forum to individuals involved in areas an exhibition and a public talk. of cutting-edge technological research. They are Daniel J. Established in 2009, the CUTE Sandin, a video and computer Center is a partnership between graphics artist/researcher, Horst the Keio University of Japan Hörtner, a director and senior and the National University of executive developer at the AEC Singapore. With bases in both Futurelab, William Uricchio, the institutions, the lab focuses director of the MIT Comparative its research on themes related Media Studies Programme, to lifestyle media and global Norbert Streitz, the founder

of the Smart Future Initiative, which was launched in 2009, and Don Marinelli, a tenured professor at Carnegie Mellon University and the executive producer of the Entertainment Technology Center. Meanwhile, the exhibition and public talk will span the weekend on Saturday, 3 March to Sunday, 4 March. Attendees at the exhibition can expect a chance to experience media technology that promises to “shape your community, touch your loved ones and revolutionise communications in ways you dream about.” These exhibits will project the possibilities of the future and the public is invited to

engage in first-hand interactions with them. Among these are Ambikraf, a new colour-changing textile display material with the ability to be programmed by designers and manufacturers, Lovotics, a exhibit featuring robots designed to express and receive love, Liquid Interfaces, a tangible, malleable 3D user interface, and Taste Communication, which makes use of a technology that simulates taste sensations digitally on the human tongue.

NEWS*PHOTOSTORY

A FORGOTTEN CITY Photos by Gerald Chew

Turn the page for the photostory >>

NEWS*PHOTOSTORY

A FORGOTTEN CITY

Street photographer Gerald Chew documents the stranger side of Singapore, as a part of a new ongoing feature in THE RIDGE. This month, he turns his lens to the last days of the Victoria Street Wholesale Centre, a relic of a bygone time.

n recent months, stories of the closure of some historic and iconic Singaporean spaces dominated our newspapers. For example, the impending closure of Rochor Centre received much attention in the later half of 2011. Amateur photographers and photojournalists alike have flocked there to capture fleeting moments of daily life before it is gone for good. However, I discovered that there was another slightly more unknown icon that was due for closure. This place is the Victoria Street Wholesale Centre, just a few blocks away from Rochor Centre. It is set to relocate in April. The Centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tenants mainly sold dried goods such as preserved fish and canned abalone. The fading advertisements on the wall seemed to echo the growing antiquity of the place. As with anything old in Singapore, it makes way for the new. I decided to document the final days of the centre because something about its story struck a chord with me. We will be the last generation that remembers the sights and smells of the privately owned shop. Our children will not share these experiences. Places like this hold the soon-to-be-lost history of Singapore, a history written in the smell of salted fish and freshly ground coffee. (Photo by Gerald Chew)

These things will soon be gone, replaced by the sterility

and gleaming plastics of the supermarket. I made two separate trips in December and in January to capture the festive spirit leading up to Chinese New Year and how the wholesale centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elderly but noisy shopkeepers intended to celebrate their final months in Victoria Street. In December, many were still cheerful as they looked forward to a new beginning elsewhere. However, there was also resignation in the air that things would no longer be the same with the change in environment. A man selling common housewares shared that he no longer felt relevant in this age of megamalls and online stores. His children were grown and he felt he had little left to contribute to society. With a sigh, he chalked it up to fate and fell silent as he thought about the days ahead. When I returned in January, many shops were already shuttered with more following suit. The gentle old shopkeeper could no longer be found. With the progress of our modern society, it seems that not everyone can keep up or benefit from its changes. As we mature as adults and take our turn at molding society, let us remember the contributions and sacrifices that the past generation have made as well. Without an appreciation for the past, we one day also run the risk of becoming outdated and forgotten.

NEWS

[photos by 40spaces]

STUDENT DESIGNS TO RE SHAPE SCHOOL LANDSCAPE

NEWS

Gerrard Lai

f you think Lover’s Park needs a facelift, rejoice - it might really be revamped soon. It was one of about 20 spaces identified and re-conceptualised by a group of 16 architecture students from the School of Design and Environment (SDE). It was the first time that students were given the opportunity to design and reshape the main Kent Ridge campus. They were tasked, as part of a project proposal by the University Campus Infrastructure (UCI), to identify and improve pockets of spaces around campus where the student population can work, gather or just hang out. The project - named 40 Spaces – was incorporated into a core design module, of which the designs that the students drew up would be graded. The lecturer for the module, Professor Tan Beng Kiang, said that as it was basically a “project by students for students” – student-proposed designs would be relevant to the student population. Besides, it was a learning experience for students to shape their own learning environment. Said Professor Tan, “It was a real project, there are real sites, there are real people for students to deal with and it’s on campus, so it’s easier for them to communicate and do research on what the students want.”

Indeed, the first task the students undertook was to gather comments and feedback from the student population on which spaces they would like transformed. When term started, both a Facebook group and blog were set-up, while QR code posters were placed around campus space to gather feedback. The better half of the semester was spent surveying students and carrying out observation studies before data was consolidated and analysed. Eventually, of the spaces identified, the students focused only on 20, which included, for instance, Engineering faculty’s rooftop and Science faculty’s bike park. Time was a major constraint, as the students had to complete the designs within the semester all while juggling other modules. Professor Tan regretted that the students could not have spent more time engaging the student population to obtain feedback on what they wanted. “Students will feel more ownership if it’s designed by students for students, and if the students are participating in the process of the design, then they would feel it’s really their space, and it’s not something that’s just done by the university and given to them,” she explained. Ultimately, the feedback obtained was primarily from NUSSU, which although is a representative body, may not be

entirely reflective of the student population. Another major challenge that second-year architecture student Lina Heng identified was budgetary limitations. Their tutors, however, were much less concerned with the budget than the freshness in ideas that the students could come up with. While feasibility and budget had to be considered, both the tutors and UCI did not want such restrictions to bog the students down and constrict their ideas. The final designs of the 20 spaces for critique were presented to UCI last November. However, for them to be implemented, UCI would have to hire professional architects to resolve the student proposals into implementable designs, said Professor Tan. She added that although the student designs may not be directly implementable, they helped provide other students with a visual impression of how a particular space can be transformed. As Heng put it, “As students, we are able to relate to what our peers want. And as designers, we’re given the chance to propose possible changes to create a campus that is seen not just as a place for getting a degree but one where people can enjoy learning and interacting with others.”

NEWS

OPINION PIECE ON ACADEMIC FREEDOM SPARKS FLURRY OF REPLIES Yeo Shang Long

recent opinion article lamenting the lack of academic freedom in NUS has sparked off major debates about the issue. The article, which was written by Walker Vincoli, a student enrolled in a joint degree programme between the University of North Carolina and NUS, was posted on the Yale Daily News website on 26 January. It alluded to a culture of self-censorship in NUS, where “students change arguments,

button their lips and absorb opinions from on high.”

worried my paper broke the law against scandalising the court.”

“Singapore is not a free country and NUS is not a free university,” Vincoli wrote. He recalled a political science class where his professor recounted being told to lower criticism of the People’s Action Party and to reduce coverage of opposition parties.

Since it was published, Vincoli’s article has prompted many students to come to NUS’s defence.

Vincoli himself also toned down criticism of Singapore’s courts in a midterm paper, he wrote, “partly due to a fear of retaliatory grading and partly because I

In another opinion piece published on the Yale Daily News website several days later, UNCNUS student Joseph Daniels rebutted Vincoli’s claims, stating that they relied on “a surface reading of Singaporean state and society.”

“Singaporean students I talked to when I studied at NUS never said they felt unduly restricted or pressured in their speech or votes,” Daniels recounted, noting that professors and students expressed a variety of political views in class. “Though the state sometimes pushes back against unorthodox ideas, that does not mean that professors and students lack freedom or that this freedom is not evolving on a daily basis,” he wrote.

NEWS Speaking to THE RIDGE, Daniels said he wrote his piece because he felt that academic freedom was “alive and well” in NUS. “There of course was always discussion about what the government would think, but this never stopped someone from voicing an opinion,” he said. “I just felt that the Singapore depicted was not the Singapore I knew. It relied on stereotypes and tropes that were at best misleading.” Joshua Gill, another UNCNUS student, also disagreed with Vincoli’s claims. Gill wrote in a Facebook note, “From my year-long experience in Singapore, I would say that the political science students at NUS are the most outspoken and politically engaged people I ever encountered in the country.” Having been in Singapore during the recent General Elections, Gill recounted numerous debates among his political science friends about the merits of different political parties. “I felt that [Vincoli’s] perspective was not the only one that should be heard,” Gill told THE RIDGE. “I had a completely positive experience at NUS, and I did not want the ‘face’ of NUS, so to speak, to be that of an intellectual prison.” Local students have responded as well – for instance, history student Bernard Chen wrote an open letter to Yale Daily News, detailing his objections to Vincoli. Chen, who is a Workers’ Party activist, stated that he was not marked down for nonestablishment views in NUS, and was even allowed to drop all of his modules a week before the

examinations in order to support the Workers’ Party in the recent General Elections. In response to the claims about self-censorship, Chen wrote: “Ask any of my friends in NUS and they will tell you that I continually stand up and express my own views freely in a rational, responsible and constructive manner, true to the academic requirements that NUS expects of their students. Thus far, I have not been discouraged from doing so by anyone from any department in NUS.” When contacted by THE RIDGE about this issue, NUS Provost and Deputy President (Academic Affairs) Professor Tan Eng Chye said that NUS faculty and students were “free to publish their results, teach, and express themselves, within the accepted scholarly and professional standards,” and have in fact done so in many areas, including controversial ones. “As Provost of NUS, it is heartening to see that many local students as well as international exchange students, including some American students who have studied at NUS, have stepped forward to cite their own positive experiences with academic freedom here in many of the online forums,” he said. Noting that NUS students are taught to critically assess issues from different perspectives and are free to express themselves in classes, Professor Tan said: “What we are firm about is that all views expressed by our students – indeed by any member of the NUS community – are done in a manner that is respectful and in the spirit of academic inquiry, regardless of their individual political, cultural or religious affiliation.”

“Within our student body, we have some students who are members of the ruling party’s youth wing, and some who are active in the opposition parties,” he said. “We believe that students who are engaged citizens can only be to the benefit of Singapore.” Speaking to THE RIDGE about the numerous student responses to his article, Vincoli said that he was encouraged by the discussion generated in both Yale and NUS, but disappointed with some of the personal attacks directed against him. “In my opinion, such personal responses ultimately discourage future students from raising what may be constructive, yet uncomfortable, issues,” he said. “I want to assure all my friends and colleagues at NUS that my sole intent was to start a dialogue on what I, and others, obviously feel is an important issue,” Vincoli said. “I hope it’s a debate that can be engaged with the level of decorum that Mr. Daniels, Mr. Gill, Mr. Chen and some others have shown, so that Yale and NUS strengthen student freedom.”

“Students change arguments, button their lips and absorb opinions from on high. Singapore is not a free country and NUS is not a free university.” - UNC-NUS student Walker Vincoli, in an opinion piece on the Yale Daily News website

“Singaporean students I talked to when I studied at NUS never said they felt unduly restricted or pressured in their speech or votes.” - UNC-NUS student Joseph Daniels, in another opinion piece rebutting Vincoli’s claims

“...it is heartening to see that many local students as well as international exchange students... have stepped forward to cite their own positive experiences with academic freedom here in many of the online forums.” - NUS Provost and Deputy President (Academic Affairs) Professor Tan Eng Chye, in response to THE RIDGE’s queries

INTERVIEW

THE ACCIDENTAL STORYTELLER This month, THE RIDGE speaks to Andrew Loh, one of the citizen journalists who started The Online Citizen and the founder of publichouse.sg, about the future of citizen journalism in Singapore and the heavy responsibility of bringing a voice to the voiceless through alternative media.

Luke Vijay

ndrew Loh believes something has been lost in paradise.

(Photos courtesy of Andrew Loh)

Loh hopes that the site will become a platform for a more moderate voice, a space for Singaporeans to create something “There’s a missing element in organic for themselves. To Singapore, a missing space so to this end, he plans to feature speak, where you are able to speak articles on a variety of aspects of your mind and tell the stories you Singapore culture, such as the want to tell,” he says. local music scene. He speaks of finding stories that speak to the “This is a vacuum that should be soul of the nation – the stories filled,” he adds firmly. that make Singaporean feel Singaporean. Loh is not going to leave this task to the next generation. The It is clear that stories are 46-year-old has taken it upon something important to Loh. himself to build these spaces from scratch. Although he has “I love to write, I love to meet had no professional training people and hear their stories,” he in journalism, the former admits. restaurateur was one of the founders of The Online Citizen. Perhaps it is usually then, that In addition, he has recently when he started The Online launched a new online citizen Citizen after the 2006 General journalism magazine. Dubbed Elections, he had not written publichouse.sg, the site hopes anything in his life. to be an online space where Singaporeans can gather and “I am an accidental citizen share the stories of the day. journalist,” he quips.

INTERVIEW

Loh volunteered with the Workers’ Party as a member during the 2006 general elections. Shocked by the way the mainstream media had covered events, he started looking for an alternative. It was in this way that he stumbled cross blogging, essentially a means of creating a virtual space for the voices he could not find in the world of Singapore’s printed publications.

article, I couldn’t sleep that night. When people criticize you, you feel bad for the rest of the day. Of course, when they praise you, you feel good. In the beginning, it’s a bit like a rollercoaster. But after a while though, you get used to it, and you reach a state of equilibrium. You stop worrying about the critics and start focusing on substance and the quality of what you do.”

He laughs as he recounts his first experiences with citizen journalism.

This meticulous attention to quality reporting is obvious in the fearlessness of Loh’s work. To Loh, breaking a story is a rigorous process.

“I didn’t know much about sociopolitical issues, or even blogging. I wasn’t even aware there was this thing called HTML. But you just have to jump right in, get your feet wet. Practice, I’ve found, makes perfect. The more you write, the more confident you become.” He adds, “When I wrote my first

First you have to meet people and hear their stories.Then you have to put in the research, familiarize yourself with the key issues.You also have to contact the relevant authorities to see what has been done. Of course, above all else, you have to make sure that your facts are correct.

“If you know your issues and have your facts right, you have nothing to fear.”

the powers at its disposal against citizens. I don’t think this should be allowed.”

Loh speaks from experience both The Online Citizen and publichouse.sg have broken stories that would leave even the most experienced mainstream journalist jealous. In 2009, The Online Citizen published a weeks worth of reports on the 22 young social workers accused of being Marxists conspirators and arrested under the Internal Security Act.

In this we see the types of reports that form the core of Loh’s work. He’s a man driven to tell the stories of the invisible people of Singapore – to give a voice to the voiceless.

“In my five years of work, I am most proud of these. It was very hard to do, and very frightening. Some in the editorial team raised concerns about how the articles would be received but we knew this was something we needed to do. I wouldn’t call it exciting, but it was important. It’s not just about human rights, or truth. It’s about how a government can use

To Andrew Loh, this is more important that just reporting the news. He says, “It’s about highlighting issues. The things your fellow man is going through. Some of them have nowhere to turn, or don’t know where to turn. As citizens we have a responsibility to do this. It may be just one person you meet who has a problem, but behind him there may be many more in the same situation. By highlighting the issue you might be able to help a lot of people.”

OPINION

LOVING POLITICS The Story of Politicians Making Love, Not War

Elliot Tan

he world of politics is a rather loveless one. A politician’s life is at the mercy of the public through constant scrutiny, and coupled with the critics waiting with their two cents at every action. It is no wonder the political arena is so often perceived as a cold and somber environment. And yet, it is in these most unlikely of places that we find some of the most poignant love stories of our day. Three political couples have our vote: Mr. and Mrs. Lee Kuan Yew, Mr. and Mrs. Chiam See Tong, and Mr. and Mrs. Barack Obama.

“SHE PROVIDED THE EMOTIONAL AND INTELLECTUAL SUPPORT” For one who has been wellestablished in history as a man of

pragmatism, directness and, at times, a streak of ruthlessness, it would surprise many to hear of the extent of Mr. Lee’s affections towards his late wife, Mdm. Kwa Geok Choo. Describing her as his “source of strength”, his “intellectual equal” and his “powerful critic and helper”, Mr. Lee is full of praise for his spouse. He spares little expense in describing how she provided the emotional and intellectual support for him throughout his time in political office. It is quite apparent that Mr. Lee holds his wife in high regard from the way he recounts the memories of how, as early as 1950, she had taken it upon herself to proofread and correct his speeches. These lavish praises are indeed appropriate. Despite being without an official political title or role, Mrs. Lee played a

significant role in drafting the party constitution with Mr. Lee. Mr Lee’s affections for Mrs. Lee extended deep into their years of marriage. When Mrs. Lee suffered her first stroke, he took it upon himself to avail time for her despite his hectic schedule. Even when two more strokes left Mrs. Lee unable to move or speak, Mr. Lee would spend time sitting beside her, reading her her favorite poems. What we find here is a beautiful picture of love demonstrated with deep commitment and dedication, in actions and in deeds.

“MOST LOYAL AIDE AND SUPPORTER” AND “GREATEST PROPAGANDIST” As the longest-serving opposition Member of Parliament (MP), Mr. Chiam is no unfamiliar

face, not least to the residents of Potong Pasir. However, few know about the pillar of support that Mr. Chiam insists has seen him through all his 27 years of leadership — his wife and political partner, Mdm. Lina Loh. Mr. Chiam spares little praise for his wife, calling her his “most loyal aide and supporter” and his “greatest propagandist”. Indeed, back in the early days of his campaigning, while Mr. Chiam was out working on party matters, Mrs. Chiam would juggle taking care of the children and supporting the party’s efforts through sewing their political banners. No political welterweight herself, Mrs. Chiam took on a more active role in politics after Mr. Chiam’s stroke in 2008, stepping up as the Vice-Chairman of the Singapore People’s Party (SPP) whilst taking care of her husband

OPINION

(sin.stb.s-msn.com, straitstimes.com, i.telegraph.co.uk)

in his illness. The curious listener would be able to catch the glimmer in Mrs. Chiam’s eyes as she spoke about the early days of their romance. Joking animatedly about how “any other romantic girl would not think about marrying him” and breaking into a little nostalgic smile, she recounts an incident when Mr. Chiam brought home a bouquet of carnations for her — only to tell her that he would not have bought it if not for the lady below the block selling them for charity. So comfortable are the two with each other that one cannot help but feel wholeheartedly for the endearing couple and their powerful partnership.

BOND BETWEEN THE TWO, ALMOST “TELEPATHIC” The Obamas have been called,

amongst a host of other things, the most collaborative, intelligent and well-matched couple in the White House to date. Described as a formidable intellectual sparring partner, it has been said that U.S. President Obama prepares for his debates by going through them with his wife Michelle. The bond between the two has been described by some to be almost “telepathic”, one knowing the thoughts of the other even before mentioning it. Overt public displays of affection abound in the Obama’s relationship, seen in the oftpublicised dates that the pair still goes on, displaying a resilient romance that has survived intense media scrutiny. That the Obama’s marriage not only persisted and has, indeed, flourished since Barack Obama’s presidency is testament to the idea that

romance and politics need not be two ideologically opposed parties wrestling for primacy in the lives of their candidates. There exists a central commonality between the narratives of the three politicians — their wives were their partner in every sense of the word. All three involved themselves in the political matters that concerned their spouses; from bannermaking to script-proofing and debate preparation, constant cooperation was ever present. All three couples grappled with tough decisions and circumstances that threaten the sustainability of the relationship. Emotional partnership was without a doubt one of the primary factors that sustained each politician through his term. Indeed, if one were to count the

number of times the phrase “pillar of support” appears, it would be possible to construct a veritable array of colonnades that stands testament to the commitment and strength of each of their relationships. In the open, public world of politics, the sense of love and security borne out of their marriages allows for a safe haven of sorts to exist — a place where each politician is able to wrestle with the difficulties and challenges of holding office with his confidant and partner. Having heard these stories of partnership and trust, it does seem that perhaps politics is not the barren emotional desert some purport it to be; you just need to keep an eye out for where the oases of love lie.

OPINION

BILINGUALISM: CLICHÉ OR TRUTH? Is bilingualism just something that we take for granted? Are we truly nurturing people to speak two languages effectively or is it something we like to claim without actually being successful at it?

Ngui Jian Gang

ne of the milestones of the Singaporean education system has been to advocate bilingualism from young. From their pre-school years onwards, Singaporean children have been taught both English as well as their mother tongues. The official stand is that English, having a global reach, acts as a common language platform locally and internationally. More importantly, it facilitates business dealings with foreigners, especially Westerners. At the same time, educating our young in their mother tongues helps them understand and preserve their ethnicity and culture. Ideally, it should also help with foreign business dealings. Just as English is used to communicate with Westerners, our mother tongues

should be used to communicate with the respective Asian countries. For example, the rise of China as a global economic power highlights the importance of learning Mandarin, since it will give speakers an edge when it comes to business negotiations with the mainland Chinese. The question is, are Singaporeans really any good at it? If we had to limit ourselves to using only English in a conversation, most would probably be able to hold their own, but if we were to converse strictly in our mother tongues, would we be able to omit using English entirely? Personally, I doubt that can happen. Most young students these days are facing problems learning their mother tongues due

to limited exposure and infrequent usage. There are few who can confidently claim to be effectively bilingual. For those who dispute this, as a quick riposte, consider this: can you make a 20-minute presentation in your mother tongue? Even for the more proficient among us, it is likely that fluent usage of their mother tongues is limited to a friendly chit-chat session between friends. I dare say many will find themselves floundering in a business negotiation, because it entails knowing the technical terms in that language, which is not something one would likely pick up in the context of a school curriculum. It has to be learnt and acquired through experience or from prolonged immersion in the culture.

If so, does this mean that it is time to re-think whether schools are teaching or using language in a way that is in line with the government’s policy? Are we really nurturing bilinguals who have a mastery of both English and their mother tongues? Even our esteemed Ex-Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew has admitted that the government needs to restructure the bilingual policy, indicating that perhaps Singapore still has a long way to go in terms of language education. Singapore’s bilingual policy is definitely viable. However, it needs to pay a lot more attention to the pedagogical methods in order for it to match up to the government’s lofty ideals of nurturing citizens who are effectively bilingual.

ENGLISH OR MOTHER TONGUE?

OPINION

ARE YOU AN

UNPAID INTERN?

Augustin Chiam

t is not uncommon for university students to look for internship opportunities during the winter or summer breaks. Internship opportunities certainly come in many shapes and sizes – some are long-term, some short-term; some are trivial, some involve real work. However, what really disturbs me is the growing trend of unpaid internships. According to an article from the Guardian titled “Students: can you afford to be interns?”, there seems to be an increasing number of companies unwilling to pay their interns (presumably in Britain). This compelled me to question whether the same situation will arise in progress-obsessed Singapore. After all, there are plenty of tertiary students just hungry for internships, all in search of the ‘Holy Grail’ – the perfect curriculum vitae (CV). This number is not likely to decrease insofar as competition gets tougher, descending into an arms race of sorts. It is simple economics really. As the supply of willing interns begins to increase exponentially and the

demand for interns continues to lag behind, companies become less willing to compensate interns when they can get an intern willing to work for lower stipends (or worse still, free) and ready to fill in the gap.

for 22 days (excluding 8 weekend days), that would come to a n approximate sum of $600 a month. Anybody interning for less than $600 a month should really re-consider and re-evaluate I am not, of course, talking about their expectations of their respecprofessional internships; as in the tive internships. case of interning at a law firm or a hospital. These internships tend We must remember that an into pay their interns a pittance be- ternship is a two-way process of cause there is the expectation that mutual benefit – you are not the it leads to a greater chance of actu- only one benefitting from the ‘job ally working as a lawyer or a doc- experience’; the company stands tor with all its financial perks. to gain from productive work and fresh perspectives. Every poThis means that if you have no tential intern has a significant part expectation of ever getting em- to play. ployed after your internship, you should demand to be paid a decent The more that students are willing stipend. Even part-time workers to work for decreasing stipends, get paid for their time, why should the lower stipends will go. Let us interns receive any less? The de- hope that we will not see the day mands on an intern would be even come when interns are exploited greater than a part-time worker by companies who are only too and should, therefore, receive its happy to profit from unsuspecting due reward. and earnest university students. What is a due reward? Let me So do your part – demand your suggest a benchmark. At $3.50 rightful keep. an hour (a conservative amount, in my opinion), 8 hours a day (http://www.legaljuice.com)

OPINION

THE FUTILITY OF EMPTY APOLOGIES An opinion on whether apologies are necessary and constructive, or, for that matter, sufficient when given.

Debra Chua

t has probably not escaped anybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s notice that there has been a recent flurry of public apologies expressed by companies, showing their regret for all manners of things, ranging from ATM card fraud, train breakdowns, to insensitive remarks. An idealist would view it as a shift towards a more responsive and customer-oriented way of conducting business, but I think it would be pertinent to highlight the distinction between showing remorse for oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s failure, and actually pursuing concrete actions to rectify the situation. A charming and particularly convenient aspect of apologies is that in actuality, they require relatively little sacrifice on the part of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s side. As individuals, we sometimes find it difficult to apologise, whether it is because it wounds our pride, or because it is seen as an admission of incompetency or guilt to concede that we are in the wrong. It would however, be a mistake to ascribe this effect of apologies to the companies that make them.

As faceless entities, it does not take much nobility of character or moral fortitude, nor is it particularly humbling for companies to release apologetic press statements. Rather, it would appear that the companies of today cleverly wield apologies that doubly serve to placate public discontent, as well as to stave off some of the pressure for them to rectify the matter promptly and efficiently by appending on some vague promises of internal inquiries and better performance in the future, which may or may not translate into reality. In the case of the train breakdowns, a helpful comparison with the state of affairs of carefully chosen countries by means of a well placed forum letter or quote from someone outside the company will help remind Singaporean commuters of how fortunate they are to have trains that even run regularly, because naturally, it would be unreasonable to expect minimal service disruptions, not so long as there are frequent train breakdowns in other parts of the world.

OPINION

By brandishing their apologies in newspaper headlines, companies cleverly divert the raging bull of public discontent temporarily. When a company representative apologises so profusely to the public, people find it difficult to maintain their righteous anger at the perceived injustice dealt to them; after all, it would be in violation of basic social etiquette and almost petty to not at least have some of their initial anger dissipated. This is particularly salient for companies which enjoy a large market share by being one of the few providers of essential services. Because aggrieved customers have no viable alternative to turn to, these companies have, to a certain extent, these customers at their mercy. The public may complain to customer feedback departments and write in to the papers, but ultimately, they are impotent and cannot effect real change without the compliance and cooperation of these companies. Dominant firms see little need to respond to market signals because they simply have no incentive to.

It would be prudent at this juncture for me to point out a caveat in my statement in the preceding paragraphs. There are times when an apology is necessary and unavoidable. Allegedly racist remarks made by MP Seng Han Thong that were purported to be alluding to the linguistic deficiencies of Malay and Indian service staff have drawn widespread criticism and eventually led to the issuance of a public apology by the MP. In his official apology, the MP maintained that his comment was misconstrued and taken out of context, leading some commentators to criticise the insincerity of his apology, believing it to be motivated by interests of being politically correct, rather than that of remorse. I believe that regardless of the earnestness of his apology, or whether his conspicuous choice of words (or lack thereof) in the allegedly racist remarks had some deeper meaning behind it, his apology was both necessary and constructive. Although sincerity is desired, the most important issue

at hand is that the offender publicly acknowledges that the offence caused by his or her remarks is inexcusable in any context, thus maintaining the ideological framework of the prevailing social paradigm – that discrimination is not to be tolerated.

deal with. That the frequency of flash floods should be reduced, and quickly, is a given. The torrent of public discontent, on the other hand, will continue to rage on unless public servants learn to express sincerity in their apologies.

Unfortunately, apologies can fail spectacularly as in the case of the Public Utilities Board (PUB). Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Vivian Balakrishnan’s enlightening explication about spades and floods; sometimes the boundary between pond and flood must be blurred, and the balance between tact and truth must be upheld in order to sustain the social fabric of the nation. Regardless of whether it is “ponding” or “flooding”, the frequency of flash floods in Singapore for the past two years speaks volumes about the failures of the ministry. An apology in which one shirks responsibility and attempts to reduce liability through a ‘clever’ play of words is essentially a ‘non-apology’. The minister has larger problems to

What I wish to point out is that companies should make sincere apologies and admit their failings where appropriate. However, apologies are by themselves are insufficient when responding to mishaps or disruptions in service. It would not be presumptuous to say that Singaporeans are largely utilitarian, and will not harbour deep-seated grievances for want of an apology, so long as the problem is resolved without delay, and life grinds on with the same level of efficacy.

OPINION

SHOULD CAREER WORKSHOPS

BE COMPULSORY?

Abhinav Deshmukh

iven the prevalence of the ‘kiasu’ culture in Singapore, it is but natural to assume that any event even remotely concerning career activities would be oversubscribed to. However, the recent blog post by the NUS provost notes that this is sadly not the case. The provost mentions that a mere 320 students completed all five workshops – Career Planning, Resume Writing, Interview Skills, Networking Skills, and Business Etiquette and Corporate Dressing – offered by the NUS Career Centre; this figure is dismal given the diverse undergraduate population of 25,000 which NUS caters to.

fee lest other engagements crop up. This concern is now negated by the decision – as reported by the provost – to offer career workshops free-of-charge. While a nominal fee to prevent irresponsible registration is justified, the cost may also prove to be a deterrent to freshmen international students who are still adjusting to a new life and tend to get deterred by the steep exchange rates.

The argument could be made that students do not want to commit It is also possible that freshmen themselves to a particular time ignore emails from the Career slot and risk losing the enrollment Centre, mistakenly assuming that

This, coupled with the optin system proposed for the graduating cohort constitute proactive measures that could ensure an increase in attendance statistics. However, as long as the attendees remain unconvinced of the benefits of attending such correspondence only concerns workshops it will be difficult to graduating students. Most convince them. freshmen also do not consider it necessary to attend career While easing the process workshops in their initial year. In of registration may increase fact, many mistakenly believe that attendance, the success of serious career planning should such workshops hinges on the only begin in their penultimate perception amongst the student year. This results in the deletion of population. Workshops on emails announcing registrations etiquette, networking and career for the career workshops. The planning are often perceived as university’s proposal to assign the unnecessary by the inexperienced workshops to incoming freshmen freshman. Indeed, it is rather – assuming it is synced with the disheartening to consider how CORS timetable – would counter one’s career prospects may this problem. be influenced by one’s dining (http://www.thekingdomgroup.net)

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must not lose sight of the fact that learning is anything but a coercive process. Mastering the nuances of effective career preparation is not something which can be achieved in a two-hour workshop; it can only provide a starting point. It is up to the student to put it into practice. It is the university’s responsibility to ensure that no one is denied an opportunity and that it is convenient for all students to attend the workshop; however the final decision should be left in In my first year, I attended the hands of mature students who a recruitment talk organised are capable of deciding what is in by a popular multi-national their best interests. corporation (MNC). The person in charge of campus recruitment The trick is to persuade students laid emphasis on the importance that attending a workshop of a well-formatted resume with gives them an edge over other action verbs sprinkled all over. The competition. Making an effort to emphasis on the format of a resume register for a career workshop is a so that one might be offered an natural progression once students opportunity to interview with are convinced that it helps their the company seemed absurd for career prospects. Students might this unassuming freshman. A be convinced to attend the certain degree of conditioning is workshop if someone in their necessary before one can accept social network has had a positive the importance of building strong experience. One way to do that contacts, being a good salesman might be to improve the publicity of one’s skills and planning one’s of these career networks on social career well in advance. In the media platforms such as Twitter absence of this conditioning, or Facebook. compelling students to attend workshops will be of little gain. The university has a duty to act as an effective facilitator of The proof of the pudding is in knowledge sharing, and it is the the eating, and a good first-hand student’s duty and responsibility sampling experience will ensure to learn in a manner which that students come back for more. seems most conducive for their If the only way to convert a cynic advancement. The current set who turns his back on the doctrine of measures proposed by the of ‘career preparation’ is to get him university adheres strictly to this to attend a single workshop, then principle leaving the final decision making one workshop compulsory in the hands of the student. This may prima facie appear to be arrangement is one fuelled by justified. While the intention mutual respect; introducing a behind making the workshops compulsory component may compulsory may be noble – after indicate lack of the same. all it does concern one’s career – we

etiquette and one’s networking skills. Merit being the sole criterion for being admitted into NUS, one would naturally assume that a good academic performance accompanied by active cocurricular activity (CCA) participation should guarantee a good job. Many believe that their innate skills should suffice and fail to appreciate the nuances of presenting and selling one’s skills in the job market.

COMPULSORY?

OPINION

LIVING HOPE CHILDRENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HOME: ONE STEP IS ALL IT TAKES Yogaananthan S/O Theva

olunteerism, the act of selfless giving, is not a new concept to NUS. Indeed, donation drives and fund-raising campaigns are a common sight in the NUS campus. Often, students walk past booths asking for donations without much regard, accepting appeals for donations as the norm. Yet, it is this very practice which has sustained non-governmental organisations and other independent welfare associations in developing countries in India. Seeing and treating such appeals as the norm and exercising compassion fatigue have very real effects on the lives of the underprivileged.

Such a reality was made clear to me when I embarked on a Youth Expedition Program expedition to Bangalore in India, with a team comprising of diverse individuals, all of whom were keen on lending what little assistance they could provide to the underprivileged children at the Living Hope Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hhome (LHCH) of R.T Nagar District, Bangalore. Aside from providing shelter, LHCH provides the children of migrant workers with food, health care and education.

can only afford to visit once a year due to the migratory nature of their work and the high cost of travelling. At the LHCH, these kids live with the most basic of necessities. Given the lack of funding, the children and staff have to make do with limited facilities. For example, five to six children are packed onto a single mattress on a double-decker bed housed in a concrete room with barely any ventilation. Furthermore, 125 children have to share two toilets barely equipped with any water for shower. In such conditions, Most of the children are homeless comfort is an experience orphans. For others, the parents unknown to these children.

Amidst such shortcomings, LHCH tries very hard to provide a safe haven for these children. Through the education provided, the children are given an opportunity to better themselves and improve their lives through education. More importantly, the dedicated and compassionate staff members exist as role models and surrogate parents for the children. Initially, I was skeptical about the degree of change YEP expeditions such as the one I embarked on can actually achieve. Filled with doubt, I set foot in the home for the first time, uncertain of the change I

OPINION

could possibly bring into these childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives. However, the truth is that the kids, who have barely anything to call their own, are fervently passionate about life and are driven to succeed. I still marvel incessantly at their cheerfulness and their determination to learn. Playful and mischievous as children often are, their antics make teaching a joy. Though young, they are aware of the importance of education. All of them strive to achieve their ambitions of being educators, lawyers and even doctors. Such a magnanimous display of maturity truly humbles me. I believe the children have given me more than I can possibly provide them with. Their sheer will to survive, learn and succeed inspire me greatly. For example, there is Dhanaraj, an inhabitant of the LHCH since 2000. His parents and siblings live in a tent along a main road of the city. Truly the underdog, he has overcome the odds by making it to college. Dhanaraj is one of the many young and spirited souls, whom the LHCH is trying to push to greater heights. I have

learnt that for them, success is not an option - it is necessary for survival. Indeed, their thirst for knowledge reminds me that education is not a right, but rather a privilege that we fortunate Singaporeans often take for granted. LHCH has come a long way since it first started in 2000. The staff has indeed laboured for countless hours to provide a safe haven for these children. One such individual is the selfless visionary, Pastor John. He is not a rich philanthropist; rather, he is a simple man who just wanted to help the children. He barely had any financial backing for what he envisioned and he still does not have it. However, he is far from discouraged. He continues to fight an ongoing struggle to garner financial support to run the home. According to Pastor John, one of the barriers to social service is the fear of failure. It is a potent fear driven by the constant lack of funding. The key to overcoming such a fear is to believe in the cause of your actions and having

the will to persevere. A cause to better society remains the vital precondition to social action - all others should be made secondary. It is impossible for all the factors such as funding, housing and volunteers to be in abundance. Quantity is not a pre-requisite for action; it is but a poor excuse for indifference. In retrospect, as clichĂŠ as it may sound, the YEP at LHCH has indeed altered my perspective of life. I came with the hope of inspiring change. Yet the change that the people of LHCH have inspired in me goes beyond anything I can possibly give them. I am reminded that life transcends academic and materialistic pursuits. Indeed, as Gandhi himself said, the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others. For more information about The Living Hope Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home, please visit the following website: http://www.livinghope.org.in/

ENTERTAINMENT

A REVIEW OF WHITE COLLAR

Vanessa Anne Nunis

eing just months away from graduation, the title of the play ‘White Collar’ caught my eye immediately. I thought to myself, “how wonderful it would be to watch a play that would attempt to look into the crystal ball of my all-too-near future.” As it turned out, ‘White Collar’ proved to be a wonderful reality check and writer Ng Yin Ling most accurately nailed the aspirations and, more importantly, the fears of those flying head-first into the white collar future. For all its funny bits, by the end of the play, I had my fingers crossed and my mind chanting “let that never be me.” The play centres on the character, Kiat, played by Alfred Wan. He is married to a smart, ambitious and efficient lady, played by Danielle Sim, who juggles parental duties and work with intimidating diligence. Kiat, on the other hand, is much less efficient and a far less dominant character. His wife calls all the shots in their strictly -scheduled life, from pushing him to move up in his career, to

listening to a parents-teachers meeting through the phone as Kiat, physically there, acts as a sort of secretary to his wife, all the way down to when they get to have sex. Frankly, they have a miserable, depressing relationship and on this note, Ng’s intention to “strike a chord, whether it be a character, a situation or a line” hits home. We first meet Kiat rushing home from the office with the sound of a ticking clock and rushed traffic in the background. It’s practically the constant theme song in every Singaporeans head – the ticking clock. When he reaches home, his wife couldn’t care less about him. And then of course comes his sad attempts to look appealing on their bed. The scene then shifts to the office where we find a rather plastic boss, gossipy colleagues, a resident flirt, and (oh the horror!) female competition for a promotion Kiat is lusting after.

few ticks of the clock, would switch positions and freezeframe a typical office scene. The resident flirt, Agnes, acted by Wong Enxin, was fantastically portrayed. Perhaps ‘resident flirt’ would be the wrong title given that all her antics were aimed at the very much married Kiat. Ladies, note to self, if you are going to cook lunch for your husband (because, of course, he’s incapable of cooking for himself), make sure you give him good food lest an Agnes comes along with bigger fish than yours. Literally.

It is a scary crystal ball for any ambitious woman. Having said that, it is also an intimidating future for any man to contend - to fail repeatedly in marital, familial and office relations. Kiat is seemingly emasculated at every turn, with no woman giving him any leeway. I found myself sympathising with him. For all his inabilities and misfortunes, especially when he got caught on The office was cleverly crafted. the wave of office gossip about his I particularly enjoyed the scene competition, Julie, he really tried where the chorus, after every to make things work both at the

office and at home. Here’s where it gets truly pathetic. Even the maid seems to voice a similar opinion (to his parentin-laws) when Kiat asks her for advice. “Men don’t care. Men bully others … ma’am will like.” was her response. At first I was slightly sceptical about the message conveyed. Surely, women do not prefer a man who bullies others? Watching Kiat, however, if a pushover was the alternative, one could not blame his wife. Or could we? That really was the most striking thing about the play – the relationship between Kiat and his wife. It touched on the sensitive stereotype of Singaporean women being too materialistic. I was quite disgusted with how quickly she switched from moody “mam” to sweet and simpering wife when she learns of Kiat’s promotion. Ng’s play left me feeling quite uncomfortable. As an undergraduate on the verge of entering the real world and getting a job, one would not want to be as lost as Kiat seemed to be in the office scene. And then there’s the question of marriage and compatibility. Kiat’s wife was far more ambitious than he was. They weren’t good for each other, yet Kiat tries his best to make the relationship work and his wife, emotionally, did not. It was a realistic play and a hairraising possibility of the future. I, for one, would not want to be any one of those characters and pray that will never be me.

ENTERTAINMENT

BOOK REVIEWS THE MONK: A ROMANCE MATTHEW GREGORY LEWIS Reviewer: Meera Nair

ost of us would have heard of the January 2012 release of Dominik Moll’s 2011 film, THE MONK, in Singapore cinemas. But how many know where the novel was adapted from? The Monk: A Romance was published in 1796, and was the most successful novel of English novelist and dramatist Matthew Lewis. Written in just 10 weeks when the author was 19, it attracted much attention because of his position at the British Embassy at The Hague. It is an intriguing read more because of these circumstances than its plot.

Ambrosio, a devout monk who was left abandoned on an abbey doorstep as a baby, is tempted to sin by Mathilda, an agent of the devil. He succumbs, after which he turns his attention to Antonia, a 15-year-old girl who ironically admires him for his piety. Instigated and aided by Mathilda, he tries to satiate his lust for Antonia, only to turn murderer, rapist and guilty of incest. While this Faustian plot presents nothing extraordinary, the actions of Mother St. Agatha, the prioress at the convent of St. Clare, offers some scope for thought through a secondary plot that involves her imprisoning

and torturing a pregnant nun to protect the honour of the convent. The prioress herself meets with a violent end when an angry crowd finds out about it, forcing us to question the extent to which religious anger is justified, and if not, how it should be rectified. Despite the lucid writing, The Monk: A Romance is not a book for everybody. Some parts tend towards extreme absurdity, while other parts may strike the reader as being needlessly graphic. Nevertheless, the atmosphere of gothic horror is achieved well.

THE WOMAN IN BLACK SUSAN HILL Reviewer: Nurshahiylia Erdina

he book opens with a disarmingly cosy setting of Arthur Kipps nestled in front of a fireplace with his family indulging in merry cheer as they celebrate Christmas Eve. The mood is ruined for Arthur, however, when the light-hearted talk shifts towards a joking discussion of ghost stories among his young sons. They remind him of a past event that still haunts him to this very day, one that eventually urges him to put pen to paper and recount it for the readers - his meeting with the “Woman in Black”. Arthur was once an up-andcoming London solicitor, charged

with a seemingly harmless task that had sent him to attend a funeral in the faraway town of Crythin Gifford. There, he was to settle the affairs of the recently bereaved client Mrs. Alice Drablow, a solitary widow who owns an even more solitary house by the name of Eel Marsh. Located beyond the windswept reaches of the salt marsh, where the land and the sea bleed into each another, it is this very house which continues to plague Arthur. The atmospheric setting of Eel Marsh in all its isolated and melancholic glory is what allows this horror novel to succeed so

well. Susan Hill frequently evokes settings that manage to be both achingly beautiful and eerie at the same time. Instead of turning to crass descriptions of blood and shrieking spectres, she allows our imagination to take flight, teasing us with subtle hints and glimpses of the disturbing hauntings that cloak Eel Marsh and the Woman in Black who is at the centre of it all. Terror unfurls slowly in Arthur’s heart as the story unfolds. The Woman In Black is a novel that succeeds very well in doing the same to the readers.

30 ENTERTAINMENT

EXPLOSIVE EIGHTEEN JANET EVANOVICH Reviewer: Divya Gundlapalli

his review is quite timely, given that the Stephanie Plum adventure series has just been made into a movie starring Katherine Heigl titled ONE FOR THE MONEY. If you liked the movie, you might want to check out the books. For anyone who has no idea who Stephanie Plum is, here’s a sneak peek:

media.gumboot.co.nz

In the novel Explosive Eighteen, bounty hunter Stephanie Plum’s life has already turned upside down, even before she can set foot in Hawaii for her dream vacation. When an international murder hits town, her dream vacation turns into a nightmare. Her partner never returned to

the plane after their L.A job; he’s lying dead in a garbage can with an important photograph that has now gone missing. Everyone’s after this photograph - the FBI and even the Thugs! Unsurprisingly, the only other person who has seen the missing photograph is Stephanie Plum. She becomes the target of her partner’s killer. Plum teams up with the FBI to re-create the photo; she will do anything to stay alive. Unfortunately, the sketch is nothing close to the photograph and until Plum gets the details right, she has to watch her back. Up till now, the book seems like

any other Hollywood action movie and is very predictable. But I was proven wrong because author Jane Evanovich switches the plot up with a lot of interesting surprises. I’ll give you a tiny sneek peak here. For instance, Stephanie’s wheelman (her driver in get-away situations), Lula, falls in love, creating a lot of issues for Plum. What’s worse? Her arch nemesis Joyce Barnhardt moves into her apartment! And yet, the only question that’s on every one’s mind is, “What really happened in Hawaii?” The only thing Plum says is …. “It’s complicated!”

MOVIE REVIEW THE IRON LADY MERYL STREEP, JIM BROADBENT, RICHARD E. GRANT FEBRUARY 16, 2012 Reviewer: Anupama Hegde

ward season is finally here, and I will surely be tuned into the Oscars next month. As I haven’t seen most of the movies being nominated, I am embarrassed to admit that I often devour the telecasts of these events! But all that is going to change this year, because ‘The Iron Lady’ is releasing in Singapore on 16 February, just in time for the Oscars and, conveniently, recess week! So all you history buffs can begin your

countdown: Margaret Thatcher is coming soon to a theatre near you – bomb blasts, wars, political struggles and power disputes in tow! No one can dispute the fact that Meryl Streep is quite the Hollywood powerhouse. Just when you think she cannot possibly top the role she last played, she portrays (and resembles uncannily!) possibly one of the most influential

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political figures of the twentieth century – Margaret Thatcher. ‘The Iron Lady’ begins with an aging, worn-out Thatcher talking to her long-dead husband (Jim Broadbent, another prolific Oscar winner) as if he were present. Thus begins her reminiscing of the past – and what a past it was! ‘The Iron Lady’ chronicles the entire trajectory of Thatcher’s controversial career, one that met its untimely end in a forced resignation from power. From her friendship with like-minded US President Ronald Reagan to the game-changing Falklands War, this biopic covers it all. Most of us are aware of Margaret Thatcher’s political life, but ‘The Iron Lady’ gives us a rare glimpse into her personal domain. Whether it’s watching her buy milk as an old lady succumbing to dementia, glimpsing her interactions with her worried daughter Carol, or cheering as she makes her mark in a testosteronedominated government - this movie depicts Thatcher like never before. So if you’re game for more than just a history lesson – go catch ‘The Iron Lady’ and watch as an intimate, engaging saga enfolds. From playing Anne Hathaway’s fashionable boss-from-hell to a less-than-fashionable, firm-fisted British leader, it is no surprise that Meryl Streep is tagged as one of the most versatile actresses around!

WHAT’S IN MY IPOD? Nurshahiylia Erdina

Andrew in Drag The Magnetic Fields

The Cigarette Duet Princess Chelsea

Into Giants Patrick Watson

Remembrance of Things to Come Princeton

Stars The Indelicates

Baby, You Ain’t Looking Right Powersolo

Your Darkest Thoughts Will Shine We Can’t Enjoy Ourselves

Enough Young Man

Know No Violence Spanish Prisoners

musicthatsnu2me.com, princesschelsea.lilchiefrecords.com, theirbatedbreath.wordpress.com, soundcloud.com, digsproject.wordpress.com, tumblr.com, wecantenjoyourselves.bandcamp.com, streetdate.radio. com, spanishprisoners.com

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AN EXCITING RANGE OF OFFERINGS FROM NAF 2012

NAF 2012

Saheli Roy Choudhury

US Arts Festival (NAF) returns this March with an impressive lineup of collaborative works between talented members of the university and seasoned art practitioners. Each year, NAF explores the cultural, historical and contemporary issues of modern Asia through a variety of performance platforms that include, but are not limited to, music, dance and drama. This year, with a central theme of Asian Cities, NAF offers an assortment of shows (including 24 of them with free-entries)

exploring the City Centre, the Inner City and the Heartlands of Asia. Aside from the collaborative features of the main festival, NAF is also lining up an exciting group of live gigs, film screenings as well as selected free workshops and installations.

views the narrative of Singapore’s history through the lens of the rasas and is told through music. Rasas, Sanskrit for the essential mental and emotional state, capture the raw and vivid emotions behind the historic struggles that remain unique to Singapore. The festival is The festival opens with the world set to close on a poignant note, premiere of ‘The Singapore Story’, with dancers from NUS Dance composed by the internationally- Synergy paying tribute to the renowned Indian violinist and victims and survivors of the composer, Dr. L Subramaniam, earthquake and subsequent for the NUS Indian Instrument tsunami that hit Japan last Ensemble. The composition year. ‘Hereafter’, directed by

(Photos by Matthew G. Johnson, JK Light Capture)

NUS Dance Synergy’s Resident Choreographer Fan Dong Kai, expresses solidarity with the affected through dance, showing how the strength of community and memory can offer hope in the darkest of hours. With so many exciting offerings at this year’s NAF, it’s hard to pick and choose. THE RIDGE looks at some of the other promising highlights on the calendar.

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CITY NIGHT SONGS

GODEATGOD 2012

CHECKPOINT THEATRE WITH NUS STAGE

THE NECESSARY STAGE DATE | 24, 25 MARCH 2012 VENUE | UNIVERSITY CULTURAL CENTRE (UCC) THEATRE ADMISSION | $23, $16

DATE | 10, 11 MARCH 2012 VENUE | UNIVERSITY CULTURAL CENTRE (UCC) THEATRE ADMISSION | $23, $16 Bringing to life a series of untold tales from the hidden crevices of the Asian metropolis, NUS Stage teams up with Checkpoint Theatre for collaboration under the mentorship and direction of Huzir Sulaiman. An ensemble of interlinked stories and

songs, performed by a cast of professional actors and NUS students, promises to take you on a journey through the glowing streets of the City, uncovering the spark, the energy and a deep sense of longing within.

SOIRÉE 2012

Staged by NUS Alumni Alvin Tan and Haresh Sharma, founders of The Necessary Stage, ‘godeatgod 2012’ responds to the aftermath of 9/11 and the post-traumatic world we inhabit; riddled with dishonesties, power struggles, corruption and ego.

The play also explores the role and place of censorship in the context of art in an intimate, personal and funny exposition on the notion of wanting to get a better life.

HEREAFTER

NUS HARMONICA ORCHESTRA

NUS DANCE SYNERGY DATE | 25 MARCH 2012 VENUE | UNIVERSITY CULTURAL CENTRE (UCC) HALL ADMISSION | $19, $16

DATE | 16 MARCH 2012 VENUE | UNIVERSITY CULTURAL CENTRE (UCC) HALL ADMISSION | $19, $16

Interpreting Giacomo Puccini’s tragic opera, ‘Madama Butterfly’, arranged especially for NUS Harmonica Orchestra, this performance explores the cultural clashes between the East and the West that eventually ends in tragedy. ‘Madama Butterfly’ tells the forbidden and obsessive

love story between a Japanese geisha and an American soldier, Lieutenant Pinkerton. The tragedy of ‘Madama Butterfly’ is complemented by the more uplifting performances of ‘Voice of Spring’ by Johann Strauss and Leonard Bernstein’s ‘West Side Story’.

In its first foray into dance theatre, the NUS Dance Synergy recreates the experiences of the immediate aftermath of the tsunami disaster that wreaked havoc in Japan last year. The choreography promises to capture the panic, the desperation and the desolation experienced by

the survivors and show how they attained closure through a sense of community and togetherness in their darkest hours.

Want to win a pair of tickets to Hereafter? Just answer this question: Who is the artistic director in this production, ‘Hereafter’, by NUS Dance Synergy? Check out the Fest website for the answer! E-mail your answer to theridge.entertainment@nussu.org.sg with your Name/Contact/I/C Number. The first three correct answers will each win a pair of tickets to watch ‘Hereafter’.

(Photos by Memphis West Pictures, JK Light Capture, Jasmine How Photography)

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NAF 2012

THE SINGAPORE STORY Powerful stories evoke deep emotions. Ever heard of portraying a story through emotions? Join NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble at the NUS Arts Festival 2012 for a poignant journey through Singapore’s history through the medium of Rasas… or emotions. Jane Antony

ome March and the University turns into a mosaic of cultural activity with the Arts Festival. This year it takes flight with the world premiere of ‘The Singapore Story’. Written and directed by the eminent Indian violinist and composer, Dr. L. Subramaniam, this original composition comes to life with the NUS Indian Instrumental Ensemble (NUS IIE). The maestro and his son Ambi Subramaniam are performing alongside NUS IIE as guest violinists. Dr. L. Subramaniam is India’s violin icon, “The Pagnini of Indian and Classical music” and “The God of Indian Violin”. He has charmed audiences from Singapore to Paris, from Delhi to Los Angeles, with his diverse repertoire, numerous collaborations and masterful techniques.

(Photos by Abishek Balasubram)

‘The Singapore Story’ paints a rich and enchanting landscape of Singapore’s history with the rasas setting the tone of the various chapters and the music forming the words. ‘Rasa’ is the Sanskrit word for a mental or emotional state. A work of art dominated by a rasa tries to evoke that particular emotion from the person who encounters it. In Indian aesthetic theory, there are a total of nine such emotional states or Nava-rasa. Through historical instances of its struggles unique to Singapore, the emotions behind these can be universally experienced through the music. NUS IIE President, Vishnu Vardhan says, “This experience has given all of us a deeper appreciation of the concept of ‘bhaavam’, or emotions associated with music. To elicit various emotions, it is essential that we

immerse ourselves in the music.” Lakshmi Narasimhan, an NUS IIE member who has been playing the violin for the last eight years adds, “Working with a legend like Dr. Subramaniam is an opportunity I will always cherish. There is a sense of anticipation that is growing, and the event is something I am looking forward to with a tad bit of nervousness and a great deal of excitement!” Sunethra Sukumar, Advisory President of NUS IIE shares her opinion. “With the passing of every academic year, the group has explored several unique thematic productions that have stood true to the objectives of promoting traditional Indian classical music. It has been an interesting experience so far. I am very glad the team got to work with Dr. Subramaniam on its

25th birthday - a milestone year from any point of view!” Our history forms an integral part of our sense of belonging. It evokes feelings of pride and respect that mirror the love we feel for our land. Emotions are the essence of human expression and music rules the hearts of all those who fall prey to the lure of its seductive perfection or chaos. We live our lives to the fullest when we write our stories and sing our emotions simply because nothing less justifies this life. Something tells me when I’m seated at University Cultural Centre on 9 March, at the first stroke of the baton, I will cease to be just a part of the audience.

ENTERTAINMENT

NAF 2012

THE GRACE OF ASIA Yveena Mariel

collaboration with CFA, Solo/Duet is an exciting new step for T.H.E. Dance Company where it will feature the works of three different choreographers from different countries. The three choreographers are Wu Yi San, Hong Kong-based Taiwanese; Davit, Indonesian, principal dancer and assistant to renowned choreographer Boi Sakit; and Singaporean Jefferey Tan, former dancer and resident choreographer with Singapore Dance Theatre. The dance hopes to offer us a reflection of Asia and the life of its people, drawing from both common daily experiences and also key events like the Japanese earthquake and the tsunami.

The dancers working with the choreographer have been in the respective cities with them and I’m guessing that’s to allow them to better channel the cities’ unique personalities better. I’m really looking forward to this. From a foreigner’s eyes, a country’s quirks stand out more, making me curious what they can show us about the Asian experience unique to each country, especially Singapore. We are all aware of Singapore’s quirks where words like ‘kiasu’ (afraid to lose), ‘studious’ and ‘competitive’ come to mind. I’m intrigued about how they’ll portray these emotions through their grace, strength and technique.

If you hail from Hong Kong, Indonesia or Singapore, the dancers will help see your countries in a new light, and perhaps give you a taste of home. If you’ve ever visited these countries, the choreography will remind you of their unique aspects and even highlight things you’ve missed. If you’ve never set foot onto these lands, then this is a wonderful chance to get a taste of it and learn more. This is a performance that will certainly appeal to people from all walks of life. One might reminisce with the graceful movements of their home or take heart learning more about the distinctive identities of the region. A common identity as Asians and yet with nuanced differences in

our shades of life. T.H.E. stands for The Human Expression and the dance company’s aim is to reflect and personify the many facets of man and humanity with their dance and art. An evening of Solo/Duet is sure to be both fascinating and provoking, taking you through an array of emotions. T.H.E. Dance Company has performed at major local arts festivals and toured cities such as Paris and Dubai. While boasting a strong cohesive company of eight, they have always managed to showcase each dancer’s individuality and uniqueness to complement each other wonderfully. With their wonderful track record, this one will likely be as tantalising. (Photos by Matthew G. Johnson)

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CLASSIC JAZZ REPERTOIRE:

FRENCH RENDITION, ARTS HOUSE Charlyn Ang

erforming for the third time at The Arts House, Andayoma and Bevlyn Khoo collaborated to give the audience an auditory treat to remember. Andayoma started out with a few pieces, enchanting all present in the room with her velvety voice and enrapturing those who understood Creole with her original translations. Bevlyn was not any less impressive, charming everyone with her graceful French and strong vocals. Bevlyn, an NUS alumnus, is the first Asian to release an allFrench album titled ‘A Bistro Affair’. She has performed in countries like Taiwan and the Netherlands, and is a multilingual singer-songwriter with a particular interest in French

chansons. Her passion for singing is evident throughout the repertoire, where Bevlyn’s effervescence shines through when singing. During her cover of the classic ‘La dernière Valse’ (The Last Waltz), she injects liveliness into her performance, charming us listeners into a rhythmic subconscious swaying of our heads. The following songs did Bevlyn’s study of the French language proud, with evergreen catchy tunes like ‘Ces Bottes Sont Faites pour Marcher’ (These Boots Are Made for Walkin’) and ‘Sympathique’ (by Pink Martini) being sung impeccably. Likewise, Andayoma’s sophistication oozes through her songs, crooning numbers like ‘La Valse des Lilas’ (Once Upon

a Summertime) and ‘The Man I Love’, tuning them into the soothing lullabies we all heard. In contrast, she also has a playful side where light songs such as ‘Vous Qui Passez Sans Me Voir’ and ‘I Just Wanna Be’ (which she translated into Creole) were reinterpreted and peppered with upbeat notes. With her contagious spontaneity, the room was much livelier than one would expect from a classic Jazz repertoire – even the pianist sang a few lines in French while playing his piece! Unsurprisingly, Andayoma and Bevlyn’s different styles of singing melded and complemented each others’. In the first duet, ‘La Belle Vie’ (The Good Life), Bevlyn first

opened with the original version in French, and Andayoma took the stage after her with her own translation of it in Creole. The other two duets, ‘La Vie en Rose’ and ‘Sympathique’ showcased their abilities at harmonising on the go, giving the songs a very pleasant vibe. Strong and airy mixes with husky and soft, an admittedly good combination indeed. It was a great set list, and I’m very sure anyone who enjoys classic French or Jazz music would applaud the evening, which was (if I may), splendide!

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BE SPELLBOUND THIS FEBRUARY Nicole Kang

ynopsis: Adventure, romance and magic come together in this year’s iteration of Kent Ridge Hall’s annual musical. When Maddy struggles to find a way to win back the love of her life after a painful breakup, she turns to Cat, the ‘greatest wizard in the world’ - according to his webpage - and his two partners, the witches Abby and Debby. However, something goes terribly wrong with the love spell they cast, and the four awake to find themselves in a very strange asylum. Stranded and powerless, they’ll have to use whatever means they can find to escape - at least, before it’s too late and they lose themselves in the zany world of the asylum. Whenever I see the words ‘adventure’, ‘romance’ and ‘magic’ stringed together in the same sentence, I can’t help but think of ‘Cinderella’ and other Disney films. Lots of colour and imagine Amy Adams singing in the fields (or was it Julie Andrews in ‘The Sound of Music’?). The director, Tan Chun Wui, is also quite optimistic about the musical: “It’s quite interesting directing a musical for hall simply because it’s taking a pool of raw talent without little or no prior experience, and creating something as polished as you can out of them. It’s simultaneously exciting and tiring to train the performers

in dance, acting and singing all within the short span of three months. I’m surethe experience shall be immensely rewarding after watching the growth in all the cast members. We are creating a varsity production after all and just watching the learning process of the performers teaches you much about your own limitations as well. I have no doubt the show on the 15th will be a testimony to the talent I have been so fortunate to be able to work with.” Coinciding with the period of Valentines’ Day this year (February 15), Kent Ridge Hall presents ‘Magic: The Musical’ to the UCC stage with high spirit. Personally, I’m quite skeptical about the musical. However, I am rebuffed by the interesting postmodern themes that are infused in the play. Instead of the stereotypical turn of landing in the Disney utopia, our protagonist lands in “a very strange asylum.” Such realism would perhaps give it an interesting twist and ground it in, not to mention that we university students need to escape into the safe asylum of the theatre once in awhile. If this is not enough to convince you, I have learnt that more than 60 of Kent Ridge Hall’s residents have been drawing on their creative, artistic and magical stores for the past four months to bring to you this musical. Know any friends in Kent Ridge Hall? I’m sure the binds of friendship

should persuade you to watch ‘Magic: The Musical’! ‘Magic: The Musical’ is a truly authentic Kent Ridge Hall Musical. All 12 songs that span the two-hour long production are entirely original, written and composed by Kent Ridgeans! The script was also contributed by a member of the Kent Ridge Hall esteemed alumni. Indeed it is a Kent Ridge musical by Kent Ridgeans, especially for you. So bring your date or a friend for a post-Vday outing!

If you would like to catch Magic: The Musical, here is more information: Date | 15 February 2012 Time | 7.30 p.m. Venue | University Cultural Centre Hall, NUS Official website: http:// kentridge.nus.edu.sg/hallprod1112/ (Tickets can be purchased via the website) Tickets are priced at $19 and $23.

ENTERTAINMENT

BACK TO THE VERY BASICS Boey Ying and Judy Ao

“Shoo dooby dooby dooby doo da…”

BACK TO BASICS Date | 24 February 2012, Friday Time | 7:30 p.m. Venue | University Cultural Centre Theatre Price | $ 15

t was 1969. Ella Fitzgerald was scat singing in the piece ‘One Note Samba’. It is mesmerising to see her close her eyes, feel the music and enjoy a musical freefall. Every improvised note was a welcome surprise, falling in graceful harmony with the instrumentals. Together they produced an incredible sound. A new golden tune was born during each of her improvisations, and people’s hearts danced with her voice. Such was the sound of a jazz giant.

For ticketing enquiries contact us at backtobasics.tickets@gmail. com.

Iskandar Ismail, a Cultural Medallion Award recipient, we experiment with a wide spectrum of jazz arrangement and styles, ranging from traditional swing to contemporary funk. Our band is notable for its numerous alumni including Adi & Shi Li, Sarah Cheng-De Winne, Rani Singham, Norman Seck and Meryl Joan Lee.

To get updates from NUS Jazz Band, check us out on: (NUS Jazz Band)

We have held a series of sold out performances at the NUS Arts Festival: Irresistibly Yours, Soul Our website | http://nusjazzband. Remedy, Treat Her Like A Lady! tumblr.com We have also performed at public Twitter | https://twitter.com/#!/ events such as the CHIJMES nusjazzband Jazz Festival in 2006 and the Asia Facebook | https:// Youth Games in 2009. www.facebook.com/ groups/2373108300/ The NUS Jazz Band strives to Youtube | http://www.youtube. spread the jazz sound far and com/user/nusjazzband wide to all corners of the local community. We are also very dedicated to jazz education and have conducted jazz workshops ABOUT NUS JAZZ BAND for the public.

styles and genres of swing, latin, bossa and fusion, from classic jazz While her music is still loved standards like ‘There Will Never today, her legacy may not last Be Another You’, once sung by long. Most young people today Frank Sinatra, to more modern are not well-acquainted with jazz. songs like ‘Me and Mrs. Jones’, It is a genre often drowned out by notably sung by Michael Bublé. the noise from mainstream genres Come celebrate the jazz fireworks such as pop and rock. Some as our talented musicians and reject jazz due to their stubborn vocalists pay homage to jazz association of the genre with the giants like Chet Baker, Glenn clichéd scenery of smoky lounges Miller, Duke Ellington and many and quiet romances. Skilled others who shape jazz into what Formed in 1994, the NUS Jazz crooners and musicians including it is today. Band is an eclectic mix of music Fitzgerald may have also made enthusiasts united by a common jazz sound too effortless and Enjoy the multiple facets of the passion for jazz. We serve up a easy. Misconceptions of jazz are timeless genre of jazz. You’ll be potent brew of lush and inviting indeed prevalent. Of course, as entranced by the mellow voices jazz music – bossa, blues, swing, the resident jazz band of NUS, of the vocalists, or teetering at bebop, fusion, ragtime, soul, and we hope to present you jazz in its the edge of your seat and tapping arrangements from the traditional most original form. along to the infectious rhythm of to the contemporary. We are the the music. May the adventurous only full-fledged tertiary big jazz In February comes Back to and magical sounds of our jazz band, with around 50 members Basics, an unforgettable showcase music inspire you and brighten performing together. Smaller of jazz by the NUS Jazz Band. your night. ensembles are also formed We’ll revisit the golden sounds of within the band for external the Roaring Twenties and trace performances. the musical trail to the modern jazz scene. Explore the various Under the direction of Mr.

As the song goes, “It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.” Life just can’t go on without the groove of jazz. We most graciously invite you to enjoy the sound of jazz in Back to Basics.

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NAF 2012

(Photos by JK Light Capture, Tan Jian Xiong, the Picturehouse)

LIFESTYLE

Goh Bang Rui

he February issue of THE RIDGE brings you right into the mood of Valentine’s Day as the much anticipated day of the year approaches with speedy vigour. Some say that love ends when marriage starts or it may just be the opposite. Either way, let THE RIDGE bring you across the straits and past the vast oceans to open your eyes to wedding cultures you may find uncommon, strange or even outrageous.

YOU MEAN THE DURING A WE You may not have noticed this before but the Scottish people are no different from your average Europeans except for a few notable quirks. Sheep entrails are one of their favourite dishes; they wear skirts regardless of sex and instead of rice, stinking crud like eggs and sauces are thrown over the brides for an extra pinch of good luck.

1 KOREA: CARVING WEDDING DUCKS (KIREOJI) Of course, some of you out there may be well versed in Korean cultures based on the plethora of dramas and shows which you have watched over the past few years. Indeed, modern weddings in South Korea have been on the rise but there are still ancient traditions to be followed for weddings. Many young Korean couples are known to marry in western style first nowadays, but later trade in their suit and dress for the traditional costumes and ceremonies afterwards.

What are wedding ducks, you wonder? They are an important symbol to signify a happy and lasting marriage. In Korea, it is customary for grooms to request that their successfully married friends carve them wooden ducks. The ducks represent a token of marital bliss. This may have been evolved in a parallel tradition similar to Chinese customs where ducks are often symbols of marital fidelity and joy. It is often believed that Mandarin ducks mate for life and representing them as wooden figurines is another way to bless the newly-wedded couple as well.

Something of interest is that the female carved duck usually has cords wrapped around her beak to signify that she should be the silent partner in the marriage. In a traditional Korean wedding, which is often held in the bride’s house, the first act of the bridegroom after his arrival at the bride’s abode is to offer a woody duck to the bride’s family as a token of lifelong fidelity. This signifies the start of the wedding ceremony. During the wedding, the wooden duck will be tossed to the bride in an inverted bouquet and garter deal similar to the Western bouquet throw. Catching the duck means that the first child will be a son and missing the throw means a daughter which is traditionally less desirable. After the wedding ceremony, the pair of wooden ducks is carried to the new bridal pair’s house and displayed in a prominent position within the house. If the ducks are facing each other, all is well within the household. If they are facing the other way, well, you most probably can guess the symbolism.

(http://blog.bridalexpochicago.com)

crud may range from anything such as curdled milk, rotten eggs, spoiled curry, stinking fish sauces, molasses, mud, flour, syrups and feathers. The key is to find anything disgusting to add to the already disgusting potpourri.

Surprisingly, the bride and/or the bridegroom are mentally prepared and they will not run or hide while Yes, that’s right. This custom is their friends sloshed them with known as the ‘blackening of the their special concoctions. bride’. This quirky tradition has been passed from a generation After being blackened, the bride to the next for a very long time and/or the bridegroom will either and surprisingly, it is held before be tied to a tree or be paraded the wedding itself. Traditionally, through the local streets and only the bride is blackened by her the regular pubs. Meanwhile, friends but nowadays, the bridal their friends, satisfied with their pair can be a target for blackening. workmanship, will be clanging Of course, if you expect to be their pots and pans and making blackened, you most probably a din to announce the wedding can prepare for the shock and to the world. The Scots believe the curdling smell. Maybe a peg that this form of humiliation helps in keeping those stenches will prepare them to face the away. However, more often than humiliations and difficulties in not, the couple has no idea and their later life journeys since they is taken by surprise when gross have already faced the worst. crud is sloshed over them. The

2 SCOTLAND: BLACKENING OF THE BRIDE

(http://www.travelvivi.com)

LIFESTYLE

N THEY DO THAT A WEDDING?

This has been an age-old tradition passed by generations of Romanians. In this particular culture, they actually skip the romantic nonsense of dating and fast forward from ‘total strangers’ straight to ‘married couple’ through this criminal activity – kidnapping. In most parts of the world, this tradition has been essentially outlawed due to the act being illegal but it is still practiced among Romanian communities around the globe.

3 MALAYSIA: KEEP IT ALL IN Well, have you ever had the experience of having to keep it all in? When I say it, it means your daily excretion. It may be irritating at first, then painful and there will come a time where perhaps even the language has lost the word to describe your sensation. For the members of Tidong community in Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia, this is actually part of their centuryold tradition that the newlyweds have to endure after their wedding. They are not allowed to visit the washroom for exactly 3 days and 3 nights. Failure to do so means that they will have bad luck in their marriage lives. To be specific, their bad luck entails divorce, death of children and even infertility. Who do you imagine ensures the policing of their behaviours while they are enduring the trials? The tradition police are none other than their relatives who stand

4 INDIA: MARRYING AN ANIMAL (BriceFr )

The Romanians, more favourably known as gypsies, believe that if you manage to forcefully kidnap by the bridal pair’s house and a girl and keep her by your side ensure no one leaves the house for around two to three days, she during this period. Given that officially becomes your wife. If they cannot visit the washroom during the crucial period, they are literally starved and given little nourishment to ensure that they keep to these traditions. The members of Tidong community believe that if the newlywed couple suffers this form of torture, they will be rewarded with an abundance of fertility as well as the assurance that none of their offspring will suffer the fate of premature death. The couple will understand this tribulation as perhaps the hardship that they will have to face in the future as man and wife since the pain of not being able to excrete or urinate can be comparable to that of future hardships.

you put yourself in their shoes, long ago, this may have made sense since you save quite a bit buying your prospective wife off her parents since you do have to pay a bridal price. In fact, in this present day and age, the Romanian culture still adheres to this tradition and it isn’t strange to find it still happening now. To end it off, ladies, if you are going to areas where there may be a Romanian community, you may have to contend with the fact that the overweight guy, who cornered you with a bottle of chloroform in the McDonald’s washroom, may just be the future love of your life.

5 ROMANIA: KIDNAP THE BRIDE

The image on the left features the hands of an Indian lady. Her hands are intricately drawn with designs of Henna Mehndi. These are often features of a married Indian lady when they dressed up as part of the traditions for the happiness of (http://77z3-fx.com) their husbands. However, before they are married, some of these Indian ladies may have to suffer the fate of marrying to an animal. In fact, they are coerced into marrying animals. The reason lies in the belief that spirits of the dead can inhabit certain human beings in the world. In particular, girls who are born with a baby tooth already sprouted in their gums are believed to have been affected by these ghostly apparitions.

Ugly girls and girls who are born with certain degrees of facial disfiguration are also considered possessed by these wraiths. The only way to exorcise these spirits is for these girls to marry animals, usually either goats or dogs. The wedding ceremony is a lavish one complete with wild dancing and plenty of alcohol. However, the bride can breathe a sigh of relief. She is not expected to consummate the wedding with the ANIMAL! After this wedding, the Indian lady is free to remarry again – to a man this time. However, the condition is to ensure that the spirits have been rid first. (http://upload.wikimedia.org)

LIFESTYLE

A DATE WITH FATE … OR NOT Wong Kar Mun Shermaine

e’ve all had our moments. The romantic ones, the sweet ones or the downright horrific ones. This month, THE RIDGE goes around campus in search of the most memorable love stories from our fellow students. Here’s what they have to say…

Stuffed Up “I

was with my then-boyfriend of only a couple of months and it was the first Valentine’s Day I had with an actual boyfriend so I was really excited. He asked me out and I had images of flowers and a candlelit dinner. What happened was a rude awakening from my fairytale imagination.

WHEN WE MET UP, HE PASSED ME A STUFFED CHIPMUNK (EITHER CHIP OR DALE), AND TOLD ME HE GOT IT FOR ME BECAUSE I LOOKED LIKE ONE – NOTE THAT THIS WAS BEFORE THE BRACES. STRIKE 1. SO MUCH FOR THE FLOWERS.

held in... (drum rolls)... KOPITIAM! Yes, the food court. Strike 2. After that night, all romantic aspirations I had for the guy disappeared. So much for knights in shining armor! The good thing is, the guy has since grown into a gentleman, and although we’re no longer together, it pleases me to see that he’s not buying girls stuffed animals he thinks they resemble.” ~ Lifestyle Editor

MapleScary! “I played MapleStory when I was in Secondary 3 and had a Maple girlfriend with whom I got along well for about three years. I always tried to ask her out in real life but she always refused, saying that she was shy. I added her on Facebook when I was in army; she didn’t put up her photos so I decided to find out more about her friends on Facebook. She said she had two sisters and as she often played with her sisters’ accounts, I knew their names as well. One day, I was looking at her Facebook account to find out what she really looked like. As usual I couldn’t find any photos of her. But I saw her sisters’ profiles and decided

Then it was dinner time and the special Valentine’s Day dinner was

(Chipmunk Plush/disneystore.com)

to look at their profiles in hope of finding my Maple girlfriend’s face. I finally struck gold when I saw a family photo which consisted of two girls, a guy and their parents. I was bored in camp so I told my friend to pose as an insurance agent and call the number she gave to me.

THANKFULLY, IT WAS A LADY WHO PICKED UP BUT IT ALSO MEANT THAT MY MAPLE GIRLFRIEND IS ALREADY A MOTHER OF THREE.” ~ Morgan Chew, Business Year 1

LIFESTYLE

P.S. I Love You “He mentioned previously that PS Cafe has a nice ambience and that he will bring me there next time. He finally did on 30 August 2011. When we met at Somerset, he told me that he needed to meet his friend at Dhoby Ghaut and suggested that we walk there.

me under an umbrella. We walked to a park and I was led in neverending circles because he said “it is still setting up”. Finally “it” was ready and my blindfold was taken off.

THERE WERE TEA CANDLES ON THE GROUND WHICH SPELLED OUT “JOLENE I LOVE U”

When we were by the roadside, he suddenly asked me, “Do you trust me?” and instinctively I said “Yes.” He then wanted to blindfold me. Initially I refused, but He then asked me if I wanted to he insisted so I agreed to being be his girlfriend and I agreed.” blindfolded and was led across ~ Jolene Lim, many traffic lights. Suddenly it Environmental Studies Year 1 started raining so he sheltered

Soaring to Great Heights “During my first official date with my girlfriend, we went to Universal Studios Singapore. That was the very first time I went on all the rides because I have a slight fear of heights. So I really had to muster up all my courage that day as I accompanied her on all of them.

Food for Love The last ride at the end of the day was the Battlestar Galactica. It was an awesome ride but my hands were actually trembling when I got off the rollercoaster which made her realise that I had a fear of heights.

SHE WAS TOUCHED THAT I ACCOMPANIED HER THROUGHOUT THE RIDES DESPITE MY FEAR OF HEIGHTS.” ~ Lee Yong Sheng, Science Year 1

(Photo courtesy of Lee Yong Sheng)

(Photo courtesy of Jolene Lim)

“We had a Vietnamese dinner in Orchard Central on a beautiful rooftop which has lovely artefacts and scenery.

THE FOOD WE HAD WAS SPECIAL AS WE HAD TO PREPARE IT OURSELVES BY WRAPPING SEABASS AND OTHER DELICIOUS FARE TOGETHER. IT WAS FUN AS WE FELT LIKE KIDS PLAYING WITH FOOD. Moreover I always feel that it is romantic and special when I spend quality time alone with someone I really love and cherish; the place doesn’t matter when you’re with your loved one!” ~ Oswald Lee, Science Year 1

(nuoc.com.sg)

LIFESTYLE

ABCs OF BALI Teresa Widodo

he month of love has finally arrived! Instead of the usual candlelit dinners and walks on a debris-filled beach, take your loved one on a surprise trip to Bali instead! With its crystal clear waters and pristine beaches, this favourite holiday destination is only a stone’s throw away, so it’s light on the pocket and travelling time. Ever wondered why people like Paris Hilton, Nick Jonas, Lily Allen, and not to mention the controversial couple, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, chose Bali as their rendezvous? As an island, Bali is a complete package, from majestic mountains to sandy seashores. But all things aside, the

beaches are probably the most re- more timid people, banana boatmarkable feature of Bali. ing and snorkelling are safer options. You can also visit the prominent marine park, Turtle Island, where sea turtles are conserved Adrenaline Rushes and protected. Besides basking in the sun’s glory, another must-try beach activity The prices vary between US$30 to is marine sports. You can fly up US$40 and there are several local to seven meters above the ocean providers that come up with the while tightly grasping an inflat- particular water sport equipment able rubber board in the Flying (they even provides underwater Fish ride. camera rental!). All you need is some courage and a moderate If you still want to fly higher (about amount of money! 85 meters above the sea level!), feel the flying-without-wings experi- Tips: Go straight to Tanjung Benoa ence through parasailing. The two to enjoy the rides of complete adrenawater sports mentioned above are line rush! not for the faint-hearted. For the

Bewitched by the Beach Each beach in Bali has its own uniqueness. From the popular Kuta beach to the exclusive and prestigious Nusa Dua and Jimbaran area, or the traditional Candidasa beach with rice fields and temples. There is also a widerange of accommodation options (from backpacker hostels to Ritz Carlton) coupled with various restaurants. Additionally, make sure you have enough money to fulfil your craving for shopping in countless shops along the roads to the beaches. Some of the shops – es-

LIFESTYLE

(Potato Head Beach Club/ptthead.com)

(Parasailing)

(Kuta Beach)

To-Do List:

(Flying Fish)

Five most happening clubbing spots

pecially Roxy, Quicksilver, and Friends – are quite often well-decorated by some everything-mustgo discount banners.

Ku De Ta Bali – Seminyak

Club Hopping

Musro – Kuta (the only club with live cabaret show!)

Nothing is better than spending the day at the beach and the night in the club! Some nightlife venues in Bali start breathing at 10 p.m. (right after you enjoy an amazing sunset view and head back to the hotel for a shower and dinner) while some come alive with the stroke of midnight.

Potato Head Beach Club – Seminyak (this quirky, vintage-looking beach club, widely known as PoHe, also features film festivals and organic food markets). Hard Rock Café Bali – Kuta (comes along with Hard Rock Hotel!) Hu’u Bar – Seminyak

Which beach? Some destinations such as Bali have more than one beach. Some beaches are so ‘new’ and pristine that few people are even aware of the place. Of course, it will be fun to have a huge, semi-private space in that beach (free of plastic bags and other waste). However, be aware that you might need to bring some drinks or chips just in case there is limited food available at the newer beaches. However, if you enjoy being in the crowd, going to the more popular overcrowded beaches will not be a problem. You can mingle and feast on the eye candy or simply enjoy the sunny and happy atmosphere.

headed for, the more things you should carry along. Once there, quickly ‘chope’ the ‘best’ place before setting up – you don’t want to squeeze into that overcrowded area with lots of ‘leftovers’ like coke cans and plastic bags (and no, a tissue packet does not work in Bali). Plus, watch out for the water mark that indicates high tides. Comfy beachwear, chic cover-ups plus a flip flop will complete your day at the beach. And… cross out Crocs! The sand will easily sneak into it and stay there so you’ll have to carry a Croc-ful of sand back home.

Prior to the trip, write down a list Also, look up local rules, either of stuff you will need (down to the the written or the unwritten nitty-gritty details!). ones. For example, in Bali, you will find some tiny offerings in You don’t have to bring every- almost every place you go, and thing listed since you can buy stepping on it is a big no-no. some of them from the conve- Some information from your nience stores. The more remote friends or from the internet may and reserved the beach you are also be helpful. (Photos courtesy of Teresa Widodo)

LIFESTYLE

V-DAY’S DINING ESCAPADES Wilson Lim

alentine’s Day this year falls on a Tuesday of Week 5. There will probably be readings to do, tutorials to prepare for and maybe even the first draft of your group project due. What’s worse, Valentine’s

Day on a budget is a virtually non-existent concept. On this highly-commercialised occasion, roses cost about one-and-a-half times more than regular prices and restaurants roll out speciallydesigned menus with speciallydesigned prices. An elaborate yet

AERIN’S CAFÉ & ESPRESSO BAR

(Squid Ink Pasta/Courtesy of Aerin’s Café & Espresso Bar)

Conveniently located at Raffles City Shopping Centre, Aerin’s has created a very affordable three-course Valentine’s Day Set Menu ranging from $25++ to $30++ for each person, depending on the main course chosen. The meal starts with a salad of smoked duck dressed in sesame plum and is fragrantly accompanied with pine nuts and orange. Pasta lovers would be delighted at the following choice of Squid Ink Linguine ($25) with crispy whitebait, asparagus and sun-dried tomato sauce. Meat lovers are not forgotten with the Grilled Australia Ribeye Steak ($30) drenched in pommery mustard sauce. Aerin’s chef has also created the Manjari Chocolate Cake, a layered chocolate cake served with Earl Grey sorbet to sweeten the deal. Apart from its affordable menu, the main attraction of Aerin’s is the front-row view of the water fountain. This remarkable water fountain is designed by the same people who fashioned the iconic fountainscape of the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas to entertain diners enjoying a delectable meal with the choreographed water jets. Address: 252, North Bridge Road, Raffles City Shopping Centre, B1-11/12

affordable date (think appearing at her doorstep with a bouquet of roses, blindfolding her and bringing her to East Coast Park to have her stand inside a heart lined with candles) would be a challenge, to say the least.

Since most undergraduates these days have tight schedules, perhaps loosening the purse strings for that perfect date at our recommended dining venues might not be a bad idea after all.

COFFEE LOUNGE, GOODWORK PARK HOTEL

(The Regal yet Minimalist Interior/Goodwood Park Hotel)

For Valentine’s Day, Coffee Lounge has designed an exquisite five-course meal of local and Asian favourites that allow guests to enjoy dining in a heritage building dating back to the 1900s. The interior combines the regal sophistication of a heritage structure with a mix of minimalist styles to provide guests with an intimate and elegant dining experience. At $148 per couple, the meal consists of Golden Egg Tofu, Chicken Floss and Wasabi Mayonnaise; Baked Norwegian Salmon Fillet with Fruity Sauce; Butternut Pumpkin Velouté, Tea-Smoked Duck and Coriander and Soy-glazed Farm Chicken and Crispy Prawn with Fragrant Rice. Additionally, two flutes of champagne served will certainly help couples settle into the romantic mood. Saving the best for last, couples will then be treated to a specially-catered Valentine Dessert Buffet. With a full stomach, a satiated sweet tooth and a wonderful dining atmosphere, this Valentine’s date promises to be an unforgettable one.

Address: Goodwood Park Hotel, 22 Scotts Road

LIFESTYLE

(The Panini/The Rotisserie)

(Dining in a Chapel/The White Rabbit)

THE ROTISSERIE

Italian which is made with salami, picnic ham, provolone cheese Who says a Valentine’s Date has and basil pesto dressed in mayonto be over dinner? Why not try naise, and the Chicken BBQ a breakfast date? The Rotisserie Panini that has tender roasted opens at 7:30 a.m. and the break- chicken chunks slathered with fast menu is served till 10:30 a.m.. barbecue sauce and layered with Famed for its Italian sandwiches caramelised onions and melted which are usually served toasted Swiss cheese. For the health conor pressed, the Panini ($9 each) scious, there is the Mediterranean comes in a wide assortment of Panini which comprises of grilled fillings. Favourites include the slices of eggplant, zucchini,

THE WHITE RABBIT This is a place where you will never imagine having meals in - a chapel. The White Rabbit is located off the popular belt of Dempsey and is housed in an impeccably-restored chapel replete with signature stained glass windows featuring Christian symbols. This year, The White Rabbit has

TANJONG BEACH CLUB Dinner by the beach, enough said. Nothing is more romantic than coastal dining. With beautiful white sands, a twinkling blanket of stars and the rhythmic splashes of gentle waves against the shore, the atmosphere is all set. Enjoy this intimate setting with a

roasted red peppers and seasoned with mozzarella and pesto sauce. Other interesting breakfast eats include the Breakfast Rosti ($9) served with sausage bacon, fried eggs and sour cream, and the Aussie Breakfast ($9) that boasts of a tasty choice of vegetables including mushrooms and grilled tomatoes.

(Coastal Dining/Tanjong Beach Club)

at China Square Food Centre in Raffles Place, students will still have time to make it for their first class at 9:00 a.m. after a hearty and romantic breakfast. Address: 51 Telok Ayer Street, #01-01 China Square Food Centre

Located in the heart of the CBD

devised a unique couple’s menu with a “His and Hers” five-course meal ($108++ per person). The gentlemen can tuck into Oyster with Ikura, Beef Consomme with Edamame, Foie Gras Raviolo topped with chicken mousse, duxelles and truffle cream, and Char-grilled Angus Striploin drenched in port wine sauce and accompanied with Truffle Mashed Potatoes and Baby Vegetables. The ladies will enjoy

Oyster with Tobiko, Tomato Consomme with Tian of Crab, Lobster Raviolo paired with tomato, fresh herbs and lobster bisque and Pan-roasted Chilean Seabass accompanied with Olive Mashed Potatoes, Baby Vegetables and Organe Fennel Confit. The “Ours” portion of the meal is the dessert - a good assortment of Strawberry Short Cake, Dark Chocolate Tart, Sake Jelly with Fresh Berries and Caramel

Profiteroles.

scrumptious, four-course seafood meal for $108++ per person. Appetisers include Alaskan King Crab seasoned with Black Truffle Vinaigrette and Seared Bay Scallops seasoned with Carrot-Coriander Vinaigrette. For the mains, diners anticipating a change can choose the Prime New York Strip Steak accompanied with Roasted King Oyster Mushrooms, or seafood faithfuls can stick with the Atlantic Striped Bass. Finally, it

is time to cleanse the palate with some desserts, including choices such as Chocolate Ganache Tart topped with Salted Candied Hazelnuts, Butterscotch Sauce and Vanilla Bean Ice-cream, or Warm Banana Cake with Caramalised Walnuts and Crème Anglaise.

a whole new level of four-course indulgence. With this option, couples will literally get to enjoy a meal by the sea and under the stars - definitely one dreamy and memorable Valentine’s Date for the books.

To up the game, couples can choose to dine at their own private table by the water’s edge for $488+ per couple, which includes

This cleverly-devised menu provides the most value for money because you basically get to try a total of eight delectable dishes! Furthermore, the romantic novelty of this dining place is another attractive selling point for Valentine’s Day. Address: Tanglin Village 39C Harding Road

Address: Sentosa Island 120 Tanjong Beach Walk

LIFESTYLE

EVENTS Rachel Ong

SINGAPORE AIRSHOW

SPRING AWAKENING

Date: 18 - 19 February 2012 Time: 9.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Venue: Changi Exhibition Centre

Date: 3 - 6 February 2012 Venue: Drama Centre Theatre

The public is invited to attend the annual Singapore Airshow in the final two days of its six-day run. Aside from sensational aerial displays and interactive exhibits put up by the Republic of Singapore Air Force, visitors can expect musical performances as well as booths dishing up food and official Airshow merchandise. Be prepared to spend most of the day under the sun, so don’t forget your to dress lightly and carry sunglasses!

THE GREATEST HITS TOUR: Blue, A1, and Jeff Simmons from 98 Degrees Date: 28 February 2012 Time: 8 p.m. Venue: Singapore Indoor Stadium Three of the boy bands that dominated our early teenage years are joining forces to put up a concert that is sure to send every fan on a nostalgic frenzy down memory lane. Get ready to be serenaded by these masters of pop and R&B with their chart-topping hits from back in the day, like ‘Take On Me’, ‘All Rise’ and ‘My Everything’.

Tony Award-winning musical Spring Awakening is famed for being witty, moving and provocative all at once. Its Singapore premiere features a local cast portraying a motley crew of teenagers, each facing various psychological and emotional struggles en route their journey to self-discovery. Tickets and more information are available from www.sistic.com.sg. Students can register at pml.com.sg/springawakening/ to receive a 2-for-1 promotion on tickets.

DICKENS FILM FESTIVAL 2012 Date: 16 February 3 March 2012 Venue: The Arts House (Screening Room) The film adaptations of various literary classics by Charles Dickens - arguably one of the greatest authors in history - will be screened in commemoration of the bi-centennial anniversary of his birth. These include Great Expectations, A Tale of Two Cities and David Copperfield. Visit civiclife.sg/writingthecity/dickens-2012/ for more details on timings. Admission is free.

Tickets are available from Sistic, starting at $88. (singaporeairshow.com, pml.com.sg/springawakening, feveravenue.com, visitlondon.com)

LIFESTYLE

FIRST DATE NO-NOs Rachel Ong

h, Valentines Day. The one day of the year that everyone either loves or hates - depending on whether they will be spending it with someone special or alone. For those who have been longing to make the first move on the object of their affection, perhaps this is the one day that will give you the final burst of courage to do so. If you come under this category, or are on the receiving end of someone’s fondness, then one of the most pressing tasks at hand is likely to be choosing the right outfit for the special occasion.

Not a fan of dresses or skirts? Don’t wear them just to appear ladylike. You can still put a feminine spin on pants by combining leggings or skinny jeans with a cute top. If pumps are your comfort zone, don’t attempt to wear a pair of stilettos. You might be scaling new heights (pun intended) in the fashion department, but the last thing you want is to do is trip and fall over. Even if that doesn’t happen, there’s still a good chance you’ll spend the night struggling to keep your balance. Don’t forget, awkwardness is contagious. If you appear to be ill at ease because of your clothes, your date will likely be able to sense it - not quite the best impression to leave him or her with!

The clothes and accessories you wear are an embodiment of your personality. As much as we would love to think that outward appearances shouldn’t matter, how you dress will give your date important clues about your personality #2: LEAVE YOUR SHORTS AND and intentions. Here are some tips FLIP FLOPS AT HOME. on how to pick an outfit that will send the right signals about your- Boys, listen up! There is no fashself, and hopefully make your big ion crime more heinous than day the first of many dates! looking like you just rolled out of bed. If you dress as though you’re #1: DON’T WEAR CLOTHES YOU spending the day at the beach or DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE IN. lounging around at home, you are signalling to your date that Naturally, you might feel the de- you don’t have much regard for sire to dress to impress on the first the importance of the occasion. date. But this does not translate to You can retain a casual element the need to wear something you in your look while appearing to normally would avoid. Nothing have put effort into your dressing makes you look more attractive by simply swapping your shorts than confidence, and that can only for a pair of jeans and your slipbe achieved when you’re comfort- pers for some sneakers. Girls are able with the clothes you wear. generally less likely to fall into the trap of under-dressing than their

male counterparts, but the same restrictions apply!

#4: DON’T GO OVERBOARD WITH YOUR MAKEUP!

On the flipside, steer clear of garish, over-the-top outfits that will only make you look out of place. Wearing something exceptionally formal might intimidate your date, especially if your plans for the day involve don’t require you to be dressed that way. Keep things simple but classy. Consider where you will be going and how others who go there might dress.

On the first date, let your natural beauty speak for itself as much as possible. Go for an understated look that will enhance your features without giving away the fact that you cheated by using makeup. Unless you are intentionally channelling the geisha look, don’t bury your eyes in layer upon layer of eye shadow and liner, and keep foundation and blusher to a minimum.

#3: DISASTER-PROOF YOUR OUTFIT.

#5: CHOOSE YOUR ACCESSORIES WISELY.

Before you walk out the door, take one long hard look at yourself in the mirror. Girls, to ensure your modesty will remain intact throughout your first date, ask yourself - is your top too sheer? When you bend over, will your gaping neckline reveal more than you want others to see? Does your skirt look like the seams are on the edge of splitting? As for guys, don’t forget to make sure that your zipper is up, and that your pants aren’t hanging too low. Nothing will jeopardise your chances of getting a second date more than over-exposing your behind.

Accessories can make or break any outfit. For girls, the right necklace can elevate a basic tank top to being first date-worthy. For guys, a wrist watch can put an extra touch of masculinity in your look. However, exercise some restraint when selecting accessories to complement your clothes or you may risk looking gaudy. In addition, don’t be too trigger-happy when putting on perfume. You wouldn’t want to intoxicate your date with too heady a scent - and everyone else around you for that matter!

Also, since first dates usually involve having at least one meal together, avoid wearing anything overly tight. That way, you won’t have to worry about getting suffocated when your belly expands from all that food!

Remember, the first impression you construct should be consistent with your usual self. If you present yourself as someone you are not, you are only allowing your date to create expectations that you might fail to live up to later on. Dress comfortably, be confident and most importantly, have fun!

(marieclaire.com, definitivetouch.com, andhranews.net)

LIFESTYLE

NOTES FROM A QUIET ROOM Chan Yi Wen

hortly after my mother crossed the hill at age 50, she fell victim to a mid-life crisis and was suddenly overwhelmed with a strong conviction that she couldn’t stick to the status quo and something drastic needed to be done to improve her quality of life. First, she got her hair cut coconut-style and then expressed an incomprehensible desire to backpack across Europe. To me, her life was perfect just the way it was. Homemaker and mother of three – nothing seemed inadequate or appeared out of place. Then on New Year’s Eve 2011, for no reason in particular, I woke up in the middle of the night with a strange inclination to drop out of college and join the Peace Corps, save the world and shock my family. I couldn’t fall back to sleep. Tossing and turning that night, I realised I wasn’t living the story I wanted to live. I was slightly slightly worried that if this current progression in life continued, 50 years later, I was going to end up in the middle of nowhere, living with farm animals. And just like that, I was experiencing my own quarter-life crisis. Heaven’s doors opened, the generation gap narrowed, and I could roughly understand what my mother was going through.

still feel almost exactly the same as I did when I was 13 and harboured vague ideas of what I wanted to be when I grow up graduated. In August 2010, the New York Times published an article, ‘What Is It About 20-Somethings’, which revolved around finding out why people in their 20s, the boomerang generation, are taking so long to grow up. To sum it up briefly, unlike the previous generation who sat through the roller coaster ride of the industrial period where cases of rags to riches were rampant, Gen-Ys in the first world are characterised by over-consumption and under-contribution, with far too many disposable hours for identity exploration, and have yet to witness real world pains.

My sister, Eileen, is going to work in a bank after she finally graduates this year with a Bachelor in Economics. While I’m happy for her, I cannot picture myself in her shoes. I may not have any concrete or practical long-term goals but I’m certain that I will simply cease to exist if I had to maintain a nine-to-five job in stiff office clothes. My father says that when he was my age, white collar jobs were scarce and things like job preference didn’t exist, indicating that homo-sapiens are habitual creatures for whom everything is I used to have the misconception a matter of getting used to. As I that people in their 20s had life all zoom out of my mundane, shelfigured out, but after turning 21, I tered life and obtain a bird’s eye

view of bigger world problems – the African Food Crisis, Iraq after war, economies collapsing, global warming, self-serving politicians, and the gradual dissolution of innovation and progression, I realise how disgustingly frivolous my problems are. And I need to, for at least the rest of 2012, stop blaming all my life problems on the incumbent government.

sponded along the lines of, “Life is not something you possess – it’s not yours to take. Life is something you partake in.” In order for me and you to have come into existence, the past 13 billion years of this universe had to have unfolded in such an absurdly precise way, that to throw it all away would be a grave insult to the notion of life itself.

So hey you, yes you! The clown who wants to be taken seriously for once, the sensitive romantic who just got dumped very publicly on cyberspace, the old man watching the slow sunset across the vast horizon, the depressed Otaku torn between World of Warcraft and reality, the alcoholic who just woke up nude in a strange hotel room with a pounding headache and a fresh tattoo, the non-conformist with a strong desire to go mainstream, the ex-convict in the wrong place at the wrong time, the Samaritan who took one wrong turn and ended up creating collateral damage, the lonely vagabond at a crossroad – you’re not alone. You really aren’t.

So which is the right way to live? To be a Specialist or a Generalist (God knows it’s impossible to excel at both), to build a strong, solid foundation for the future or to live for the moment, to settle down or to soldier on? What is it that makes one so happy? In all our confusions and our struggles to create meaningful experiences in life, in just this general regard, we’re all joined together in this mad, mad world. And like the UN and Middle East peace, I have no answers for the great unanswered questions of life. But at times when you find the world as you know it collapsing around you, when all else fails and you find yourself seemingly at the point of no return, remember this: to be My friend told me about a come- strict on yourself and kind to othdian, Louie CK, who has a TV ers, be confident and humble, to show called ‘Louie’ that portrays live, laugh, and love more. his mundane, daily and often dark life in New York. There was an And remember that you probepisode recently which involved ably won’t find the answers you’re an old friend of his threatening looking for on Facebook. to kill himself. To this, Louie re(favim.com)

ource)

WIRED

BYTE-SIZED Lam Woon Cherk

WATCH OUT FOR NOKIA LUMIA 900

f you have not heard about Windows Phone, you should really check out Nokia Lumia 900. The Lumia 900, which has been regarded as the best phone at the recently-held CES (Consumer Electronics Show), is the new flagship product from Nokia which will be powered by Windows Phone. Featuring a 4.3” ClearBlack AMOLED, a 1-megapixel front-facing camera and a 12-megapixel rear,

(zdnet.com)

NUS’S KISSENGER ALLOWS REMOTE KISSING

f you have had a long-distance relationship before, you will know the inability to kiss your loved one is a very sad thing. The problem is now solved by NUS’ very own researcher Hooman Aghaebrahimi Samani, who has created a machine consisting of a pair of spherical robots which can be used to transfer kisses remotely. According to Samani, “…the system takes the form of

expectations for the phone are certainly high.

an artificial mouth that provides the convincing properties of the real kiss.”

(kissenger.lovotics.com)

MAJORITY OF FACEBOOK USERS DISLIKE TIMELINE

y now, you should have heard As a Facebook user, do you like of Facebook’s much talkedthe new Timeline feature? about new feature – Timeline. While it represents a new and innovative way to showcase your profile, not every Facebook user is happy about it. In a recent poll carried out by opinion website SodaHead, around 70 per cent of respondents are not happy with the new feature. (v3im.com)

WIRED

SOPATH Arnab Ghosh

(9gag.com)

nless you’ve been living under the metaphorical rock, you should have heard of the SOPA/PIPA debacle by now. News articles, videos, countless memes, Twitter jokes, and an actual blackout by our best source of information yet have done

wonders to the popularity of an otherwise rather dreary debate over implementation of legislative laws in the US parliament. So here’s the lowdown: The Protect IP Act (PIPA) is a U.S. Senate bill introduced

by Senator Patrick Leahy on May 11th 2011. Along with its House counterpart Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) sponsored by the now-infamous Lamar Smith, the bills are designed to provide the government and copyright holders with powers to

block access to “rogue websites dedicated to infringing or counterfeit goods” especially those registered outside the United States. Supporters of the bill say it protects the intellectual property market and corresponding industry, jobs

WIRED

PATHETIC and revenue, and is necessary to bolster enforcement of copyright laws, especially against foreign websites. Claiming flaws in present laws that do not cover foreign owned and operated sites, and citing examples of “active promotion of rogue websites” by U.S. search engines, proponents say stronger enforcement tools are needed.

Digg.com, Youtube.com, internet hosting companies, small websites, newspaper websites, Flickr.com, Wikipedia.org, etc could get into trouble for having copyrighted materials. Due to its loose phrasing, proponents of the Internet felt that the words could be loosely placed to strangle any and all flow of free information available on the World Wide Web. It is essentially a backdoor The idea behind these bills sounds that could allow the government reasonable. They came about in to censor all of the Internet. order to try and snuff out piracy online, as the entertainment It’s a relief that the bills industry is obviously not eventually didn’t get passed. excited that many people are Although this may mean that downloading their products the Internet, a crucial part of our without payment or permission. lives now, may have been rescued The issue is, however, that it from coming under lockdown, doesn’t really matter whether the issue of IP infringement is you’re in support of piracy, real and one that can affect any of against it, or just don’t care. The us. Otherwise, there is nothing methods are ineffective. to fear about the Internet. It’s still a child who’s growing up, The proposed bill has been met filled with immense potential to by opposition from various digital enhance our lives. A particular rights activists and bloggers meme put it brilliantly - “You for its encroachment in online Don’t Get To Destroy The activities protected under the first Internet Because It Doesn’t Fit amendment of free speech. One Your Business Model.” particular article positioned the essence of the issue as follows “It will allow the US government to take down any website at its discretion for any copyright violations.” The problem is that often it is hard to know whether certain content is copyrighted or not. Sites like Reddit.com,

In short: • SOPA - Stop Online Piracy Act • PIPA - Protect Intellectual Property Act • Why it matters - It was wrongly understood as a move by the US government to shut any and all free content on the internet.

WIRED

EBOOK READERS O

n January 19, Apple announced iBooks 2 for the iPad, which features the iBook Textbook, a modern-day, digitalage re-interpretation of the textbook that we students are so used to. Given that so many of our notes and readings are often uploaded to IVLE or found in the e-reserves, one has to ask: Is there a way to read all of this without spending excessive time and money hovering over the printer, waiting for physical copies of our notes? The answer may lie in the various e-book readers that are currently out in the market. They can double as handy entertainment devices for the bookworms out there, and all of them are capable of storing and displaying PDF files - the common format for most school notes and reading. Lester Hio

Barnes and Noble Nook Simple Touch (from US$99)

(metromedia.com, amazon.com, paidcontent.org)

The Nook remains the main competitor to the Kindle, and honestly, there’s not much difference between the two other than branding, size, and your personal choice of book carrier. Barnes and Noble’s online store tends towards the more literary, but if you source your books from elsewhere, that’s a minor concern. The ‘basic’ Nook is the Nook Touch, a touchscreen reader that has a 6-inch display encased within a squarish-looking plastic casing. It’s aesthetically less pleasing than the Kindle, personally, but the comfort and form factor is noticeable, especially after an extended reading period. It uses the same e-ink technology and has internal 2GB of memory, but comes with an external microSD slot up to 32GB, which translates to possibly an entire library within the palm of your hand. Unfortunately, the Nook does not support direct support for Word documents and text files, but you can use a convertor program to convert them into Nook-readable formats such as epub.

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Amazon Kindle/ Kindle Touch (from US$79 for an ad-supported Kindle; US$99 for a Kindle Touch)

Apple iPad (starts from S$668)

The most popular e-book reader currently on the market, the latest Kindle is a reader that has all the features that made previous versions of the Kindle popular - e-ink technology, a lean, portable size, and ease of use with regards to syncing and reading. Amazon has done a pretty good job keeping the Kindle focused on what it sets out to do. You won’t find anything fancy with the Kindle, but if you want to get reading done, the Kindle is simply brilliant because of how easy it is to just sit and read on the device.

Yes, it’s not an e-book reader per se, but Apple’s real game-changer came in the form of its latest iBooks 2 app. The iPad remains excellent as an all-around tablet, but the biggest complaint of it as an e-book reader lies in the strain it can cause on the eyes because of its LCD screen. Yet, the iBooks app remains a convenient way to search and download books, and the ability of the iPad to display colour and multimedia makes it useful for periodicals and textbooks, though you’re better off with e-ink for ‘traditional’ books.

E-ink means that your eyes don’t tire, even after long hours of reading, as they will with LCD screens like the one that iPad sports. A built-in dictionary is nifty for looking up terms and words on the fly, without requiring any Internet access whatsoever. The Kindle automatically reads PDFs, text files, and Word documents, and you’ll be able to find free, public domain textbooks and books in various ebook-reader formats that you can simply drag into the Kindle. With 2GB of memory, it can hold a ton of books - and by that I mean somewhere in the hundreds, if not low thousands. Battery life remains impressive - it can last for up to 2 months on a single charge. The fourth-generation Kindle has eschewed the physical keyboard of the third-generation Kindle (which I honestly much prefer) for an on-screen cursor and keypad.

With iBooks 2, though, the iPad will be pretty killer in the textbooks department - think engineering or math or biology textbooks. Full multimedia functionality will be available, such as images that turn into slideshows, links that direct to a relevant portion of the textbook, or direct access to glossaries and dictionary definitions. Users will also be able to highlight on the fly, which will be instantly collated into study notes for ease of usage.

The Kindle Touch is slightly more expensive, but you get the coolness of swiping around on your screen. Smudges remain a concern, but the matte display does a wonderful job of not being a fingerprint magnet. Functionally, it remains the same as any other Kindle. A big plus of the Kindle is the availability of e-books one can purchase on the Amazon market; being one of the largest distributors of online texts, you can be sure you can find almost any book you want to be sent directly to your Kindle.

Read lots of black/white notes, and/or books? A traditional reader- like the Kindle, Nook, or others such as the Sony Reader and Borders Kobo - does the job well, and ensures you don’t get distracted halfway through by other features of the device. If, however, you require more features (such as pictures, video or diagrams), especially if you’re a non-arts student, then an iPad or another tablet might be more your thing.

iBooks 2 isn’t fully up for Singapore yet, so you might want to hang on, but keep an eye for it, especially if the textbook usage appeals to you. Apple claims that textbooks will be substantially cheaper for the iPad, but we’ll still have to wait and see.

SPORTS

SPORTS STARS IN LOVE Naveen Prakash

David & Victoria Beckham How it happened: When their paths first crossed in November 1996 in a Manchester United friendly, there was an immediate chemistry between the Man U ace David Beckham and the pouting, mysterious Spice Girl - Victoria Adams. He is: Arguably the most famous soccer player in the world, even if his best days are behind him. She is: Is an English singer-songwriter, dancer, model, actress, fashion designer and businesswoman (phew!!) - also recognised as Posh Spice in the strange phenomenon that was the Spice Girls.

(Beckhams / tqn.com)

What now: The couple has four children namely Brooklyn Joseph Beckham, Romeo James, Cruz David and a daughter Harper Seven who was born just last year. The Beckham family is one of the most loved families in England and arguably the whole world.

Laird Hamilton & Gabrielle Reece How it happened: Reece sampled everything from motorcycle drag racing to barefoot water skiing but none of those thrills got the ex-model and pro volleyball starâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heart pumping like a November 1995 ride through the Hawaiian surf with world-renowned big-wave rider Laird Hamilton. He is: An American big-wave surfer, co-inventor of tow-in surfing, windsurfer and an occasional fashion and action-sports model. She is: An American professional volleyball player, sports announcer, fashion model and actress.

(Lairds / fisslerfoodies.blogspot.com)

What now: Married in November 1997 in a canoe on the Hanalei River in Kauai, Hawaii, the couple spend a third of the year living in a three-bedroom rented stilt house deep in the jungle along the Hanalei. During the summer the couple moves to a 10,000-sq.-ft. Mediterranean-style home in Malibu so Reece can compete in professional beach volleyball.

SPORTS

Jeff Gordon & Ingrid Vandebosch How it happened: Gordon was introduced to Ingrid Vandebosch through a mutual friend in 2002, but they did not begin dating until 2004. Jeff announced their engagement on June 24, 2006, at a croquet event at Meadowood Resort in St. Helena, California. He is: A professional NASCAR driver, a four-time Sprint Cup Series champion and a three-time Daytona 500 winner. He is third on the all-time wins list with 85 career wins and has the most wins in NASCAR’s modern era. She is: A model and actress who won the Elite Look of the Year Award in 1990. What now: With Ella Sofia Gordon (5) born in New York City, on August 9 2010, Vandebosch delivered their son, Leo Benjamin Gordon. Gordon even had Scott Pruett ready to step into his car at Watkins Glen because his wife was due to give birth!

(Gordon / moono.com)

Tom Brady & Gisele Bundchen How it happened: The couple started dating in December 2006, after Brady had recently split from his girlfriend, Bridget Moynahan. Brady proposed to Gisele during a private plane trip, decked out with white roses and champagne in February 2009 with her parents looking on. (Bradys / modelinia.com)

Andre Agassi & Steffi Graf How it happened: The couple won many titles together on the tennis court. However it wasn’t until 1999, when they both won the French Open and shared the traditional Champions dance, that they started dating. The couple was married on October 22nd 2001.

He is: An American football quarterback for the New England Patriots and the highest paid player of the National Football League (NFL) with a $72 million contract extension. She is: The 31-year-old supermodel, recently landing fourth on the Forbes list of the World’s Most Powerful Women and on her way to becoming the first supermodel billionaire. What now: In the process of building a $20 million dream mansion in Los Angeles with their two-year-old son, Benjamin and four-year-old John from Brady’s previous girlfriend.

He is: A retired American professional tennis player who was once ranked No. 1 in the world among men. She is: A retired German professional tennis player who was once ranked No. 1 in the world among Women and holds the record for the longest stay at the No. 1 spot - having held it for a total of 377 weeks. What now: The couple has two children together - a son, Jaden Gil and daughter, Jaz Elle, born in the October of 2003. Currently, the couple has their home in Las Vegas.

(Agassis / delfi.ee)

SPORTS

RETURN OF TH Rishian Balaskanda

he beginning of 2012 has seen the remarkable return of two football legends considered past their prime. Thierry Henry, Arsenalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all-time highest goal scorer returned to the club on a two-month loan from the Major League Soccer side - the New York Red Bulls - with many skeptics doubting his capabilities only to be proven wrong in the FA cup tie with Leeds United. He gracefully rolled back the years to score the winning goals putting Arsenal through to the next round. With an old nemesis back on the pitch, Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes came out of retirement to score against Bolton at Old Trafford on the 14th of January as they won 3-0. One can only wonder if their returns will prove a homecoming to remember or if their impressive performances in the early weeks of January were merely one-offs. In this edition of THE RIDGE, we look back at some of the greatest sporting comebacks in recent history, as well as some not-so-memorable ones as we try to gauge if these sporting greats really have something left to give back to the sport and enhance their legends, or if their returns merely sully their positions in the pantheon of sports.

(guim.co.uk)

(monacoeye.com)

(phillysportsdaily.com)

1. Kim Clijsters

2. Lance Armstrong

3. Michael Jordan

In the summer of 2007, the Belgian tennis player decided to call it quits on her illustrious tennis career which had seen her win the US Open once in addition to reaching the Wimbledon and French Open finals. In 2008, she had a daughter and many assumed she was done with the world of professional tennis. Surprisingly, in 2009, she announced her comeback to tennis and requested for a wildcard entry into the US Open. She won the tournament that year, becoming the first wildcard winner and first mother since 1980 to clinch the tournament. She has since won the US Open for the third time in 2010 and added the 2011 Australian Open to her list of Grand Slam titles. In February 2011, she regained the world number one ranking, nearly five years after she last held that spot.

In 1996, Lance Armstrong was a young up-and-coming road racing cyclist. At the age of 25, he was about to reach his prime and a bright career lay ahead until he was diagnosed with stage 3 testicular cancer which would go on to spread to his lungs, brain and abdomen; he was only given a 40% chance of survival. Extensive surgeries to remove tumors and long bouts of chemotherapy however would go on to save his life. Having beaten the odds, he returned to cycling, going on to win the Tour de France a record seven times in a row from 1999 to 2005 before retiring, securing his legacy in the sports hall of fame. He returned in 2009 to much fanfare and showed his famous grit to come in third in the Tour de France against much younger competitors. While putting together several solid performances worthy of a champion, he realised that he was past his prime and called it quits for good in 2011.

In 1993, Michael Jordan decided to call time on his illustrious career with the Chicago Red Bulls after having won the NBA championship three times in a row from 1991 to 1993. The tragic murder of his father, the subsequent loss of interest in the game and the price of his celebrity status made him turn his back on the sport. Surprisingly, he later opted to play baseball for the Chicago White Sox to fulfill his fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dream; however his career never took off. Without Michael, the Red Bulls suffered. It was then in 1995, that he decided to come out of retirement and help save the team he loved. The Red Bulls never looked back and with Michael leading the charge, they won the 1996, 1997 and 1998 NBA championships. He called time on his career with the Chicago Red Bulls in 1999. He is credited with popularising the NBA around the world. In September of 2001 however, he announced his return to professional basketball with the Washington Wizards. While still

SPORTS

OF THE TITANS an excellent player, this was not the same Michael Jordan from five years ago and he never made it into the NBA playoffs with them. In 2003, he retired for good. While his second return from retirement was not deemed a success, this did not stop him from being inducted into the NBA hall of fame in 2009.

later in 1991. Using an outdated wooden racket against modern graphite ones, he lost all of his 12 competitive matches, never making it past the first round. He ended his comeback in 1993. Although it will be remembered for all the wrong reasons, do not feel too bad for the Swede as he capitalised on his fame to create the second best-selling undergarment label in Sweden.

die with retirement and in 2009 he returned to F1, driving for Mercedes at the age of 41. In the two seasons since, the great man has been a shadow of his former self and it pains most fans to see him languishing in the middle order. He has failed to make the podium in his 38 races so far, and with the new season underway soon, we can only hope he returns to form and to the podium. Why do these great athletes return to sport? Do they feel as if they still have something to prove despite all their past accolades? Is it for the love of being a celebrity and always being in the limelight? Perhaps they are driven by financial motivations? Or is it simply for the love of the gameâ&#x20AC;Ś

(tennisquotes.com)

(firstnews.co.uk)

4. BjĂśrn Borg

5. Michael Schumacher

At the age of 26 when BjĂśrn Borg announced his retirement, he had already won five Wimbledon titles and the French Open a record six times. His retirement saddened the tennis fraternity as many felt he was the best player of his generation and that he was prematurely ending what was already a remarkable career. The first rockstar of tennis with his long, blond ponytail however attempted a comeback eight years

At the end of the 2006 season, Michael Schumacher called time on a Formula 1 racing career of more than 15 years. In that time, he had become arguably the greatest driver to ever get behind the wheel of an F1 car and statistically, the greatest. He had won a record seven world championships, five of them with Ferrari, and held the record for most wins and pole positions. His hunger for racing however did not

SPORTS

NUS WATER POLO CH Prateek Sinha

(NUS men’s in blue / NUS Water Polo team)

ater polo is possibly one of the most physically demanding sports around. Players require bucket-loads of stamina, speed and agility as well as strength to compete in this sport, which can be likened to a sort of aquatic handball. For the uninitiated, water polo has seven players a side – six field players and a goalie. Each quarter of the match lasts eight minutes during which the players try to score as many goals as they can. The NUS Water Polo Challenge 2012 culminated with the men’s finals being held on the 21st of January between NUS and Ngee Ann Polytechnic (NP) prior to which the Singapore Management University (SMU)

had secured the third spot. The match began with NUS getting hold of the ball first who showed why they were the defending champions by applying pressure on their opponents for the better part of the first minute before they eventually scored. Both teams hit the post one after the other before NUS number 9, Marcus Goh capitalised on a break opportunity with an accurate long pass. Long passes on breaks are the most effective form of attack. Goh found himself free a little later before being overpowered by two NP players; Yip Kang of NUS took advantage of the confusion to score. The physicality of the sport was evident with the number of

fouls committed. It was a relaxing quarter for the NUS goalie, Ken Chou, and ended with NUS, the clearly dominant side, leading 4-0. The second quarter saw NP take control of the ball at the start and launch the first attack which was saved by the NUS goalie. After a couple of attempts by both sides, NP launched an effective counter-attack and scored through Tobias Zhang, coming out of the break with renewed vigor and looking the stronger side. Amidst a lot of jostling for the ball and a lot of fouls, NP was awarded a penalty but it was saved by the NUS goalie. NP had another opportunity to score when the NUS goalie mistimed

his jump to catch the ball, but the defenders came to his rescue. This was followed by a flurry of goals with both NUS and NP scoring two apiece to take the score to 6-3. NP had another chance with a two-on-one on attack but it was wasted with the attempt being wide of the goal. NUS scored again after a timeout through Teo Kai Min but NP came right back to take the score to 7-4. NP players clearly had shed their nervousness and were playing well; the defending champions had a game on their hands. The third quarter began with the teams switching ends. Both teams had close man-to-man marking. NP attacked the NUS goal immediately after a timeout but

SPORTS

LO CHALLENGE 2012

Top scorer: M - Marcus Goh (NUS) W - Tan Su-lynn (NTU) Top keeper: M - Ken Chou (NUS) W - Seet Teng (NUS)

one with the NP goalie, Cedric Lim, who managed a great save. Another NUS try saw the post deflect the ball away. Finally, after over six minutes of play in the quarter, NUS scored and then held on to finish the quarter 8-4, largely dull and lacking the pace and intensity visible in the first half. Hopefully, the game would pick up for a photo-finish in the final period.

This was NUS’ fifth consecutive title at the event but the champions remained circumspect. As one player observed, “All of us know this marks the beginning of our title defense in the following year. The journey never stops. Our legacy must continue.”

On the women’s side, NUS defeated NTU to clinch the title with Singapore Polytechnic taking the third spot.

Most Valuable Player:

The last quarter saw NP win the ball in the swimoff. NUS scored in the start but NP followed suit M - Lim Wen Xin (SP) immediately. NUS earned an advantage when NP’s Lim Fang W - Loh Zhi Zhi (SMU) Yan was excluded for 20 seconds the shot was saved by the NUS but they were unable to score. NP goalie. The next period of play however did not miss out when saw several fouls being committed NUS’ Kai Min was sent off to and both teams lost the flow and take the score to 9-6. The last flair they had displayed at the minute saw multiple attempts by start of the match. NUS managed NP but NUS held on strong and to find themselves in a one-onsuccessfully clinched the title.

(SMU women’s in blue)

(SP women’s in white)

(NP men’s in blue)

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