The RIDGE - August 2013 Issue by The Ridge

THE RIDGE MAGA ZINE

THE RIDGE MAGAZINE - A NUSSU PUBLICATION AUGUST 2013 Find THE RIDGE on Facebook facebook.com/NussuTHERIDGE

Follow THE RIDGE on Twitter twitter.com/NussuTHERIDGE issuu.com/NussuTHERIDGE

Revisit our past issues Reach us online studentry.sg

CONTENTS NEWS 06 OPERATION ORION 07 NUS SSWS: PROJECT PLAY 08 NUS RED CROSS YOUTH CHAPTER 09 YALE- NUS EXPECTATION

OPINION 10 RAG EXPERIENCE 12 STEREOTYPES IN NUS 14 LAW-MED GAMES

ENTERTAINMENT 22 CINEPHILE 24 BOOKWORM ADVENTURES + SONIC BOOM 26 TV JUNKIE + VIDEO CHAT

16 MDA REGULATIONS 18 BELL CURVE SATIRE 27 DANCE DIGEST: DANCING UNDER THE STARS 28 BUZZ SESSIONS: INTERVIEW WITH VIDDSEE 29 BUZZ SESSIONS: INTERVIEW WITH EBI SHANKARA

LIFESTYLE 36 BEAT THOSE BLUES 37 START FRESH, START STYLISH 38 LOVE LETTER FROM PHILADELPHIA 40 THRIFT SHOPPING IN SINGAPORE 42 A RUN-DOWN OF HARDCORE STUDY SPOTS IN NUS 44 BLAST FROM THE PAST 46 BEERS AND FEARS

WIRED 48 GAMING ON THE GO 50 PROTECTING YOUR DIGITAL LIFE 52 YOU SHOULD BE REWARDED FOR SHOPPING

SPORTS 56 NUS CANOE POLO TEAM 57 MISMATCH AT THE ROLAND GARROS 58 IPL (CRICKET) 60 PACER’S [PAUL GEORGE) 62 THE WINNER FAKES IT ALL

04 EDITOR’S NOTE

EDITOR’S NOTE fter years, The Ridge has grown into the largest student publication in NUS. It is not easy to manage such a huge responsibility but, thankfully, the outgoing Editorin-Chief, Augustin Chiam, was most helpful in patiently answering my never-ending questions and helping out in many things. That is, I’d like to take this opportunity to thank him for his dedication and help. And, finally, here we are. The new editorial board is formed and the magazine is distributed. We meant to start fresh. We intend to keep the legacy alive and innovate. We make some changes, invent new sections but our aim remains the same. The Ridge is here to be a platform for you to read and share stories, to connect you to strange faces you saw in the hallways, to inspire and be inspired. Our goal is to let your voice be heard. That is, do not hesitate to share us your stories, achievements or opinions.

It may well be a source of inspiration to others. To begin with, in this issue, our six different desks will present a spectrum of thoughts and experiences around NUS. Do you think that altruism is dead among us? NUS Red Cross Youth Chapter proves it wrong with their actions and innovations (p. 8). Opinion Desk comes up with a more light-hearted yet cynical piece of satire in response to the regime of Bell Curve (p. 18). Do you feel the same as Derek? Share us your opinion. In this month of August, we totally understand that moving on can be hard, especially when you have to leave your summer routines for endless lectures, sectionals and project meetings. To keep you refresh during the first few weeks of school, check out our line-up of movie reviews that suit every mood (p. 22). Consider watching Little Miss Sunshine and let yourself bewitched by the zany tone

of the movie. For those who are ready for some long and serious thinking, The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a must watch whereas if you are lovesick because of the notorious long distance relationship, we highly recommend Like Crazy. Read some tips on how to beat those summer blues on page 36 and try to find the silver linings of going back to school. For instance, you finally find an excuse to upgrade your wardrobe and do some retail therapy. Check out page 52 and get yourself rewarded for window shopping or (even better) shopping. Rebecca Seow, one of NUS Canoe Polo Team members, shares her experience in joining the team which emerged as the runner up and second place in last year’s Canoe Polo Championship (p. 56). All in all, we sincerely hope that we can carry on facilitating everyone to speak up. To achieve this, last year we started a Rotation Curation Project. Through this project,

you can sign up as a curator and share your NUS experience to a bigger audience, not just your circle of followers. Each curator is free to tweet using @ridgefolks account for one week and interact with the followers. Find out more and sign up at studentry.sg/ the-ridge-rotation-curationproject. If you need more than 140 characters, do join us as a writer. We want you. Yes, you. Be part of The Ridge today, be it as writers, designers, illustrators, webmasters, or simply our avid readers. Drop us an e-mail at theridge. chiefeditor@nussu.org.sg. Whether you are convinced or not, let’s begin our journey. Flip the pages and learn something new today.

Teresa Widodo, Chief Editor theridge.chiefeditor@nussu.org.sg

EDITORIAL TEAM 05

EDITORIAL BOARD Chief Editor Teresa Widodo theridge.chiefeditor@nussu.org.sg Deputy Chief/Entertainment Desk Editor Loh Kai Ying theridge.depchiefeditor@nussu.org.sg Creative Director Patricia Jonatan theridge.creative@nussu.org.sg Head Designer Lim Min Er theridge.headdesigner@nussu.org.sg News Desk Editors Velda Wong theridge.news@nussu.org.sg Opinion Desk Editor Debra Chua theridge.opinion@nussu.org.sg Entertainment Desk Editor Rachel Phua theridge.entertainment@nussu.org.sg Lifestyle Desk Editor Sharifah Nursyafiqah theridge.lifestyle@nussu.org.sg Sports Desk Editor Ashwathaman Muruganandan & Ong Hua Han theridge.sports@nussu.org.sg Wired Desk Editor Lim Wei Di theridge.wired@nussu.org.sg Copy Editor Samantha Wong theridge.copyeditor@nussu.org.sg

CONTRIBUTORS News Desk Rohini Samtani Opinion Desk Ng Jian Gang Yveena Mariel Augustin Chiam Entertainment Desk Melissa Yasmin Stewart Anupama Hegde Valerie Lim Lifestyle Desk Clare Loh Choi Yik Heng Chan Yiwen Candice Chua Goh Yan Peng Wired Desk Neethu Krishna M Sports Desk Goh Yan Peng Rebecca Seow (From NUS Canoe Polo) Rishian Balaskanda Yang Kaiyuan Designers Ye Zichen Zheng Yuan Ningxin Yang Cheryl Low Xue Er Social Media Manager Lim Wei Di Online Copy Edit Ryann Stephanie Kwan a0083092@nus.edu.sg a0083092@nus.edu.sg a0105632@nus.edu.sg zhengyuan@nus.edu.sg ningxin.y@gmail.com cheryl.low@nus.edu.sg a0070089@nus.edu.sg yangkaiyuan@nus.edu.sg gohyanpeng@nus.edu.sg a0088126@nus.edu.sg a0089241@nus.edu.sg clare.loh@nus.edu.sg choiyikheng@nus.edu.sg chanyiwen@nus.edu.sg a0077257@nus.edu.sg a0085070@nus.edu.sg a0083677@nus.edu.sg A0078256@nus.edu.sg valerie_lim@nus.edu.sg nguijiangang@nus.edu.sg a0083312@nus.edu.sg augustin@nus.edu.sg rohini@nus.edu.sg

NUS STUDENTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; UNION NUSSU Communications Secretary Gladys Yeo commsec@nussu.org.sg

NEWS

OPERATION ORION A LEGACY SPANNING OVER A DECADE Eu Yan Lin

Chicken farm built by students during Operation Orion 2012. Photo courtesy of Operation Orion

e it the Overseas Community Involvement Programs (OCIP) or Youth Expedition Programs (YEP), NUS has a large variety of them. Any freshman who has walked through Matriculation Fair would have heard enough praises sang about each and every one of these projects to last a lifetime. Yet, allow me to earnestly introduce another project to you - one which involves the story of the longest running (and probably first) YEP in NUS. Started in the year 2000 by a group of students from Civil Engineering, Operation Orion has since visited various locations around the world every December without fail; it aims to broaden the horizons of its members through meaningful volunteerism. In recognition of the work that Operation Orion has done continuously over a decade, the group was awarded the Student

Achievement Award this year - for the second year running. As an organisation endorsed by the Civil Engineering Club, Operation Orion aims to provide sustainable assistance to the places it visits through the construction of permanent infrastructures. Last year, the team went to the village Mae Lod in Thailand, Chiangmai to build a chicken farm for the village school. The chickens to be reared on the farm would become a sustainable food source for the students. What makes Operation Orion unique is its commitment to developing the hands-on skills of its members. Students from the engineering faculty are able to hone their skills outside of the classroom environment by participating in the engineering of the infrastructures from the planning stages all the way to the

end of construction. Members from other faculties are able to shine as well with activities such as fundraising and publicity. There are also opportunities to participate in the planning of educational workshops with both the local and overseas beneficiaries. While building a chicken farm for the village school, last year’s members also conducted English and Mathematics lessons with the school’s students. Our members imparted what they learnt in school while the villagers in turn taught us a different culture, a different lifestyle, and an appreciation for the simpler things in life. In fact it is much more appropriate to call them partners instead of beneficiaries, for it definitely seemed as though the members had benefited just as much, if not even more, from the trip.

This year, carrying on Operation Orion’s mission for the 14th year running, the team has chosen our next destination to be Ban Nam Tong Primary School in Laos. As the current school building is in shambles, the team will be participating in the construction of a new school compound. Updates such as the upcoming welcome tea and recruitment drive will be posted on the project website so keep checking back for more information. As the team embarks upon a new journey, it sincerely welcomes all kindred spirits with a passion for volunteerism to the big family of Operation Orion. Want to know more about Operation Orion? Visit us at www.operationorion.ceclub. sg/ or www.facebook.com/ OperationOrionNUS. The

NEWS

PROJECT PLAY NUS Society of Social Work Students

overty is more than meets the eyes. It all began with a

hidden amongst the sprawling Housing Development Board any ordinary visit. We brought our lens of stereotypes of poverty only to have them deconstructed. Contrary to stereotypes that low-income families do not work hard enough, we saw how these families often face multitudinous stressors relating to employment, health and issues that are intergenerational, hence deterring them from breaking out of the poverty cycle. Despite their inherent strengths and determination to break out of the cycle.

It is thus our sincere hope that at the end of the day, we can change the perspective of Singaporeans, and transform sympathy into empathy. Through Project PLAY, we hope that the audience will walk in X and come out Y. Through a devised theatre production and exhibition, we hope that the audience will walk away with a greater insight to the lives of the disadvantaged and reconstruct their perceptions of the poor. Furthermore, in the process of creating the devised piece through interactions with living conditions of the poor and rehearsals, the cast and production team would gain a living in poverty. Magdalene Fong and Clarice Lee, year 3 Social Work Major, proposed the project.

Project PLAY is a student-initiated project that aims to: 1. Raising the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s awareness and understanding of the hidden poor in Singapore and to provide people with the knowledge/ information to render their services. 2. Reducing the stigmatization of the poor who are seen as troublemakers, indolent and taking up resources.

So when is it going to happen? Where will it be held?? Find out more about Project PLAY at facebook.com/pages/ProjectPLAY/422668797823799?frefa=ts

You may contact us at nusprojectplay@gmail.com

NEWS

RED CROSS YOUTH (NUS CHAPTER) Photo from facebook.com/NUSRedCross Velda Wong

ambhrama Somashekhar, President of The Red Cross Youth (NUS Chapter) shares her insight on volunteering through The Red Cross Youth. What are the niche areas of the Red Cross Youth NUS Chapter? Other than local and overseas Community Involvement Projects, the Red Cross Youth (NUS Chapter) specialises in Disaster management and Blood Donation and Donor Recruitment. Disaster management is something that is very unique to Red Cross. The vision of our Disaster Management Group is to cultivate a Disaster-Prepared community in NUS campus. To achieve the vision, they provide free Standard First Aid training to their members and conduct First Aid Familiarisation Workshops for NUS students. They also provide first aid coverage to many NUS events like the Career fair, Matriculation fair, Camps, Concerts and so many more. They actively provide community first aid as well under a project called ‘ First Aider on Wheels’. It is a weekly programme at East Coast Park that sees the first aiders of Singapore Red Cross’s patrolling the park to render first aid to anyone who needs it. Since the start of this programme in February 2012, their team of first aiders have tended to more than 1000 casualties, ranging from

light injuries such as abrasions to fractures and jellyfish stings. Blood Donation and Donor Recruitment (BDDR) is another niche area in the Red Cross Youth (NUS Chapter). The Singapore Red Cross was appointed the role of the National Blood Donor Recruiter in 2001 to work in partnership with the Blood Services Group of the Health Sciences Authority to ensure an adequate supply of safe blood to meet the daily transfusion needs of all hospitals in Singapore. The Singapore Red Cross and the Blood Services Group of the Health Sciences Authority are partners in the National Blood Programme. Their present BDDR team is currently working closely with other halls and societies to ensure that there is a smooth flow in the publicity of the event in order to promote awareness about the benefits of blood donation. They will be holding a blood drive from the 3rd to 5th September 2013. Do help to spread the word! What are the various volunteering opportunities Red Cross Youth (NUS Chapter) provides and what can freshmen expect from Red Cross Youth? Some of the many projects that students can look forward to participating includes: Overseas Community Involvement Projects: NUS Red

Cross is responsible for organizing humanitarian missions locally in Singapore for several beneficiaries of different sectors during term as well as reaching out to foreign regions such as Myanmar and Cambodia. This December, they will be sending their team to Maparat, Compostela Valley and the Philippines. Category 5 Typhoon Bopha was formed on 25 September 2012 and dissipated on 9 December 2012. Their team will therefore be helping to reconstructing the homes of those affected. Project SMILES: A regular volunteering programme, through which they hope to bring smiles not only to the beneficiaries’ faces but also to the beloved volunteers as well. They visit the Red Cross Home for the Disabled (RCHD) every alternate Saturday to interact with the residents. Some activities include showering the 7 Days of Happiness: “The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up”, said Mark Twain. More often than not, we tend to underestimate the power of a simple act of kindness to bring joy into someone else’s life. Through this project, they hope to encourage people to appreciate each other and be kind to one another. This is a fun project that sees free Hi-5s being given out, motivational quotes being hung around campus, and gifts being presented to show appreciation to the unsung heroes of NUS like

the bus drivers, canteen cleaners and others who may appear less significant in society. First Aid Training, seminars and coverage: The Standard First Aid comprises of an in-depth approach to performing critical emergency interventions while equipping participants with the practical and theoretical skills to perform effective CPR on adult victims. Participants will learn how to react accordingly in various emergency situations, while maintaining self-confidence, composure and assurance to others. Blood Donation Drive: A 4 Day blood drive, one of the largest and longest in campus, is religiously organized by the NUS chapter every semester to meet the steadily growing demand of blood in Singapore. It aims to recruit first time donors and provide a convenient avenue for regular donors. For more information on Red Cross Youth (NUS Chapter), you can also visit the following websites: http://www.nussu.org.sg/openday/ student-life/clubs-and-societies?id=79 https://sites.google.com/site/rcynus/ https://www.facebook.com/ pages/Red-Cross-Youth-NUSChapter/582201371796505

NEWS

and the Expectations that come with it

Yale-NUS the other hand, the residential commitment for USP students is two years. “I chose to pursue the DDP here because of the unique perspective it would give me as a lawyer. I think a liberal arts education will give me the ability to look at issues trained-lawyer and believe this can be of great value to future employers” says Walter Yeo, a student from the upcoming batch of the Yale-NUS Double Degree Law program. Moreover, the students will be staying in RC4 in UTown’s modern atmosphere, right next to the College classrooms, ensuring that the campus integrates living and learning. Professors will be staying in the same residential college to ensure constant contact between professors and students, thereby deepening the intellectual experience. “I strongly believe that studying and living together terms of personal development because school is more than just academic. Personal growth and independence should be an important part of college education,” Walter Yeo agrees. In addition, the program promotes the free expression of ideas in all forms. To ensure this, it begins with a clean slate for its extra-curricular activities. This means that Yale-NUS College students have a remarkable opportunity to initiate any organization or interest-groups based on their passion.

Rohini Samtani

coveted Yale-NUS College matriculates this August. The curriculum of the program, which has been worked on since 2009, engages broadbased, multidisciplinary learning along with a depth of study, all within an intimate community environment, nestled one corner of University Town (UTown). The

Photo from yalenusblog.com

serve as intimate communities within the larger College. At the same time, it is important to ensure that the program does not detach completely from the main NUS campus. Current NUS students are disillusioned by the various NUS, citing it as “unfair”.

kind in Singapore, Yale-NUS expectations.

is unlike any other in NUS. According to the program’s website, Yale-NUS College requires students to pursue a major, which typically comprises up to a third of the curriculum. Students are not the end of their second year. In comparison, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences insists on the major being two-thirds of the curriculum, and requires the major to be declared by Yale-NUS College is a fully residential program spanning four years of college life. On

Photo from nus.edu.sg

and unnerving at the same time. We have the very unique opportunity to shape a brand new college culture from scratch but with a whole lot of uncertainty.” The program thus aims to have its own athletic, dramatic, intellectual, and social traditions –colleges will

OPINION

LOVE OUT LOUD: MY Jeremiah James Pereira

“5

,6,7,8,1,2…BREAK!”. I glanced around the dance studio, expecting to be greeted with trays of saliva inducing chicken wings and pitchers of ice cool lemonade. Instead, my fellow dancers have eagerly separated into their respective dance groups, chattering busily about the intricacies of the new choreography that had been furiously ladled on us. Anxious to mask my confusion, I scurried hurriedly after my group. This was definitely not how I imagined my inaugural dance rehearsal for Rag 2013 to be. The first few days of dance practice were rather lonely since I was the sole representative from my House. However, it was not long before my dance partners started to include me in their conversations, enabling me to feel less isolated from the group. By the end of the first week, a spirit of camaraderie had developed between us as we shared tantalizing gossip and moaned about our throbbing muscles. Before learning our individual segments, our choreographers sat us down to explain the thematic inspiration behind our Rag

performance: “Love Out Loud”. This was to be fleshed out through the protagonist, an overworked middle-aged professional, rediscovering his childhood joys through the metaphor of toys. Initially, I was somewhat

as the storyline illuminated how even simple joys can bring the greatest love. Furthermore, the theme appeared to take a life of its own as it mirrored the sense of community being built between the dancers. All the dancers felt

In addition to my responsibilities as a dancer, I was assigned to a “base team” as part of the stunts component of our Rag performance. The stunts were meant to stun the audience as the “flier”, the person being lifted into the air in seeming defiance of gravity, executed dramatic poses while above ground. My base team comprised of two “lifters”, both of whom lift the flier into the air, and a “spotter” who counts both the lifters and fliers into the stunts. After 2 weeks of increasingly intensive rehearsals, my fellow dancers and I came dangerously close to breaking point during an especially stressful stunts practice. My base team was rehearsing a stunt called a lotus which called for the flier to execute a 180° turn while being hoisted into the air. However, I was having troubles gripping onto my flier’s foot during the turn. So instead of being elegantly raised into the air, my flier was tumbling ungainly back down onto the practice mat. Frustration was rapidly upsetting my basic lifting technique and soon enough, my flier suffered another hard fall onto her front.

Photo from nus.edu.sg

critical of whether simply reliving childhood joys would adequately capture the spirit of loving out loud. However, these niggling qualms were quashed

(and indeed, contributed to) a palpable air of care and concern for each other as the demands of the practices exhausted us.

OPINION

MY RAG EXPERIENCE The remaining duration of the practice was passed with excruciating sluggishness. I was frustrated with my choreographers for assigning me such taxing stunts and doubtful that my base team would ever successfully execute them. Most of all, I was angry at myself and disillusioned with my abilities, having been thoroughly disabused of the belief that I could successfully carry out the stunts after multiple failed attempts. Consequently, I was surprised when our choreographers thanked us for our dedication and hard work at the end of this discouraging stunts practice. They revealed an emphatic understanding of both our frustrations and doubts by recounting their own personal difficulties during last year’s Rag. Still, they had persevered to put on a Rag performance that spotlighted their pride in being part of the medical faculty. To the dismay of my aching muscles however, they took pains to emphasise that practices would only get tougher from here on out as we strived to incorporate the stunts into a seamless, uninterrupted routine complete with dance and music. The revelation of our choreographers’ shared experiences helped put our frustrations and doubts into perspective; these were normal reactions to the challenges we were encountering. It also helped to humanize the seemingly insurmountable setbacks that we were facing. More importantly, their sharing tremendously hospitable and acutely keen to learn more about my vastly different experiences studying in an international school. Thus, I was overwhelmingly thankful that my housemates accepted me despite my differences. My Rag experience has helped me understand that the journey of love is not meant to be easy. Perhaps that is what it means to “Love Out Loud”: to pursue love

“

PERHAPS THAT IS WHAT IT MEANS TO “LOVE OUT LOUD”: TO PURSUE LOVE WITH AN UNADULTERATED PASSION DESPITE THE ONEROUS CHALLENGES. ” with an unadulterated passion despite the onerous challenges. I keenly look forward to finally unveiling all the effort we have invested in our performance on Rag Day. I sincerely hope that it will be a fitting reciprocation for the warm love that my housemates, seniors and faculty have shown me.

was a poignant reminder of why I had joined Rag: to express my gratitude at being so willingly embraced by my faculty. Coming from an international school, I had deep-seated fears that I would not fit in with my peers, most of whom had come from local tertiary institutions. My biggest reservation was being labelled aloof because of my liberal mindset—a stark contrast to the relative conservatism of the majority of students who had attended local schools. However, my housemates were

OPINION

STUDENT STEREOTYPES IN NUS Derek Wong

N U S T O H I M /H E R I S… Effortless. Just another inconsequential stepping stone in the bed of roses that is her life. FAVOU R I T E F O OD Whatever it is, it will be eaten with a silver spoon. What is more certain however, is that those around her will be eating her dust. MOST LI K E LY T O B E C AUG H T...

On stage receiving her scholarship/academic award/ community service recognition/ sportswoman of the year/pageant queen crown. All the world’s her stage, and all of us merely her players! L I K E LY SEAT I N T H E LT Wherever those trying to get a whiff of her perfection are gathered around. L I K E LY C A P

5.0 (but did S/U one mod “to see what it’s like”) M O S T L I K E LY QU I P While batting her perfectly coiffed eyelashes, “I have no secret to doing well one la haha!” P L AC E ON C A M P U S MO S T L I K E LY T O BE F OU N D Dean’s List. Also, in the heart of every male student she comes within breathing distance of.

N U S T O H I M /H E R I S… Where her parents wanted her to go. FAVOU R I T E F O OD Packed food made with mummy’s love.. MOST LI K E LY T O B E C AUG H T... In campus or at home. Everywhere

else is off-limits, subject to gaining mummy’s permission. L I K E LY SEAT I N T H E LT Next to her one and only female BFF since 3000BC, aka her surrogate mother on campus. L I K E LY C A P

M O S T L I K E LY QU I P While whipping out her GPStracking enabled cellphone, “I need to ask mummy for permission first.” P L AC E ON C A M P U S MO S T L I K E LY T O BE F OU N D Most likely to be found lost.

2.0-4.0, depending on how smart her BFF is.

N U S T O H I M /H E R I S… A place to break records and compete in inter-varsity sports competitions. FAVOU R I T E F O OD

during 2.4km run. L I K E LY SEAT I N T H E LT Back row, having come in late from morning training. L I K E LY C A P

boyfriend across her shoulders, “Hey sorry man, got to go for training already. Now competition period.” P L AC E ON C A M P U S MO S T L I K E LY T O BE F OU N D Any conceivable sports facility. Her competitors, on the other hand, are usually found wanting.

A varied diet of protein shake, egg whites, chicken breast meat. The order varies. MOST LI K E LY T O B E C AUG H T... By none of the male students

No one really knows, because no one really sees her in school. M O S T L I K E LY QU I P While slinging her tennis bag/ canoe paddle/floorball stick/

OPINION

N U S T O H I M /H E R I S… Brimming with business opportunities and potential partners/customers. FAVOU R I T E F O OD A larger share of the economic pie. MOST LI K E LY T O B E C AUG H T... Joining entrepreneurship

networks/business case competitions/investment societies. Or peddling his notes/textbooks to wide-eyed juniors. L I K E LY SEAT I N T H E LT Hardly seated, because he spends most of his time receiving business calls outside the LT. L I K E LY C A P CAPitalism.

M O S T L I K E LY QU I P While professionally whipping out his namecard, “Hey bro you interested in this venture?” P L AC E ON C A M P U S MO S T L I K E LY T O BE F OU N D On your Facebook newsfeed promoting his business.

N U S T O H I M /H E R I S… A new opportunity to gain some cred after years of being bullied/ being a nerd. FAVOU R I T E F O OD Loves to eat cream of the crop, but most of the time has to settle for humble pie instead because of limited resources, intellectual or otherwise. MOST LI K E LY T O B E C AUG H T... Being a fake freshie at FOC trying to hoodwink innocent freshies,

but ends up being seen through half an hour into the camp L I K E LY SEAT I N T H E LT At the back trying to look like he can do well without studying, but does not do well in the end anyway. L I K E LY C A P 3.0-4.0, usually because “this prof don’t like me” or “actually I can study harder one but…” M O S T L I K E LY QU I P While attempting to flip his

“volcanic ash brownish grey” hair like a Korean popstar but instead looking like he’s having a spasm, “Aiya this one no problem one, steady steady.” (On the sidelines, his groupmates frantically try to save their project/presentation from academic doom.) P L AC E ON C A M P U S MO S T L I K E LY T O BE F OU N D Some corner smoking, like a true rebel. (Because everyone knows healthy lungs are for suckers.)

N U S T O H I M /H E R I S… Brimming with ‘business’ opportunities and potential partners. FAVOU R I T E F O OD Chicks on campus, but not exactly ayam penyet. MOST LI K E LY T O B E C AUG H T... With his pants down.

L I K E LY SEAT I N T H E LT Right behind you. Especially if you happen to be an attractive, bright-eyed female freshie. L I K E LY C A P CAPitulation. M O S T L I K E LY QU I P While smiling a wee bit suggestively, lust oozing out of his pores, “How you doing?” à la Joey Tribbiani from Friends.

P L AC E ON C A M P U S MO S T L I K E LY T O BE F OU N D UTown’s Guardian, where soldiers get their helmets.

Photo c

OPINION

Photo courtesy of Law-Med 2013

LAW-MED GAMES: HAVE THEY BECOME ELITE AND UNCARING? Augustin Chiam

s early as 1981, the “MedicoLegal Debate” had already been a fixture. The February 1982 issue of “Vagus”, the then-Medical Society newsletter, depicts a young Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, now Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, participating

in the Law-Med Debates held in December 1981. Later iterations of the Law-Med Debates continue to feature bright young minds, some of whom would eventually go on to become professors in NUS. The nature of the debates has

changed over the years. Earlier debates had rather serious motions such as “The Life Of Minimally Functioning Patients Should Not Be Prolonged By Artificial Means” (1981), “Selfishness Is Ultimately The Driving Force Behind Every Human Thought And Action”

(1985), while recent debates have been more light-hearted, with motions such as “This House Believes That Doctors Are More Attractive Than Lawyers” (2010) and “This House Believes That Doctors Make Better Spouses Than Lawyers” (2012). Traditionally, the

OPINION

adjudication panel for the debates has included one representative from law, one representative from medicine, and one from a neutral party. The debates in the 1980s and 1990s were meant to build a sense of camaraderie among the Medicine and Law faculty students, given the small student population at the time in comparison to the other faculties. In spite of this rich heritage, accusations of elitism have surfaced in recent times. According to Eugene Chiong, a Year 3 Computing major, sentiments on the ground have been one of dissatisfaction. Some students have registered their concerns that the resumption of the Law-Med Games reinforces the impression that these two faculties are an exclusive clique, particularly in light of the presence of the annual InterFaculty Games (IFG). Dr Paul Ananth Tambyah, an associate professor at the Faculty of Medicine who participated in the Law-Med debates in the 1980s, said that such accusations of elitism were not common in the past, speculating that it could be because “Singapore in the 1980s was a lot more egalitarian … I also think that there were many bilateral or multilateral events that were going on at the time so the Law-Med debates did not appear high on the radar screen.” The Law-Med Games were reinstituted in 2008 by Professor Tan Cheng Han, then-Dean of the Law Faculty and Professor John Wong, then-Dean of the Medicine faculty. Today, the Law-Med Games feature sporting events such as floorball, touch rugby and

football, with the debate held as a finale event for the entire Games. Professor Tan Cheng Han, who was Dean of the Law Faculty when the Law-Med Games were first revived, said that one of the reasons why the Games were revived was because “the law school is in a different campus and the Games would ensure that participating law students and their supporters would occasionally have to go to the main campus as well as have students from that campus come to the Bukit Timah campus; it would help to maintain a link between both campuses.” Certainly the Law-Med Games are not intended to eclipse or replace IFG. Both faculties continue to participate actively in the IFG, fielding strong teams. In 2011, Medicine was even crowned as IFG champions. I think it boils down to a matter of perception. Dr Tambyah alludes to a pertinent point about how the demographics of the student population at each faculty have changed. While the exact numbers are not certain, it will come as no surprise that the Medicine and Law faculty consists largely of students from the top junior colleges in Singapore. The angst directed at the ‘exclusivity’ of the Law-Med Games must be situated within the larger context of the perceived inequality in our education system and society at large, in which certain professions are considered more prestigious and sought-after than others. The question then becomes: can both faculties do more to change this perception? I think they can. I know the Medicine Faculty already has collaborations with

other faculties such as Dentistry and Pharmacy to hold health screenings. In 2012, some effort was also made to include social work majors from the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. However, as of yet I am not aware of any collaboration between the Law Faculty and other NUS Faculties, but that could be because of the distance between the two separate campuses. Nevertheless, the hard truth is that if both faculties care about how the larger NUS community perceives them, then they must do more to collaborate outside of this Law-Medicine tradition. On the same note, there is nothing to stop other faculties from developing bilateral traditions. For instance, the Faculty of Engineering and the School of Design and Environment are directly adjacent to each other, so physical proximity can hardly be said to be a stumbling block in holding joint events. Professor Tan suggests that such interfaculty collaboration can be a positive step, saying, “I can see that it may be a good thing for two neighbouring schools to have such a regular competition given that their students are likely to run into each other in corridors and the canteens. More friendships can be developed this way. I would urge students not just to be unhappy but to do something about it – start your own tradition.” While inter-faculty sports and games are an excellent way to promote a sense of espirit de corps, the lingering fear is that it could also be rife with identity politics, descending into a “war” by proxy through non-violent means. It does not have to come down to that.

OPINION

WHY FREEDOM OF T ANTITHETICAL TO ST GOVERNANCE AND C Debra Chua

he introduction of the MDA’s new licensing framework was mired in controversy and met with vociferous opposition from the online community and civil society groups. Under the updated regulatory framework, news sites that report regularly on Singapore and have significant traffic from locals will have to apply for a license in which they have to put up a $50,000 performance bond and take down content deemed objectionable by the MDA within 24 hours. Various government spokespersons have taken pains to stress that it is not an attempt to clamp down on the freedom of expression, reiterating the importance of having a public space online where people can openly air their views, critical or not, about the government. The ostensible justification given for these new regulations is to ensure factual accuracy and

responsible journalism, and by doing so, achieving parity between traditional print media and online news sites. Further clarifications given by the MDA that socio-political blogs would not be affected by the new regulations, and assurances that The Online Citizen (a prominent political website known for its socio-political commentaries that has submitted evidence of its meeting the MDA’s licensing criteria) will not come under the new regulations at present, did little to assuage the grievances of the online community. This may be attributed in part to the fact that these caveats do not make themselves manifest in the actual wording of the legislation, leaving the applicability of the regulations largely to the discretion of the MDA, who it should be said, has indeed lived up to its promise to be judicious in its approach since the initial introduction of the class licensing scheme in 1996—thus

far it has only clamped down on sites with content which is pornographic in nature, related to prostitution, or offensive to religious sensibilities. Nevertheless, given the existence of the Sedition Act and the Maintenance of Religious Harmony Act which already arms the government with sweeping authority to act swiftly and decisively against acts, speeches and publications which are racially and religiously inflammatory or “excite disaffection against the government”, one might be led to wonder what potentially volatile acts the new regulations are meant to deal with, which had hitherto not been possible under existing laws. Some commentators have pointed out that the achievement of parity with the mainstream print media swings both ways, and that the regulations for the print media could be lessened to put it on an ‘equal’ footing with the online news sites. In many of these critical commentaries of the new regulatory framework, a common underlying assumption can be perceived—namely, that it is naturally in the incumbent party’s best interests to maintain a regime in which, if not overtly coercive towards a free press, then at least facilitative of an atmosphere of uncertainty which

may incline people towards selfcensorship. I argue that this pro tanto truism, while applicable in other authoritarian or illiberal democratic countries, is not true for Singapore. Aside from racially or religiously oriented content restrictions, which are not in contention for the vast majority of Singaporeans, allowing journalists to write freely and accurately about socio-political issues, government policies, and political players, regardless of whether it casts them in a favourable light or not, will ultimately not diminish the authority of the government and on the contrary, would buttress it. The ruling party has long prided itself on delivering good governance and indeed, has a proven track record in providing economic growth, stability, and peace, with a relatively corruption-free administration. It is therefore precisely the government which has the most to lose by curbing freedom of expression in the mainstream media. A more liberalised mainstream media would be able to dispel the perception that it serves as a mere mouthpiece for the government, a perception which is increasingly prevalent amongst disenchanted members of the public, some of whom have, perhaps unfairly,

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LIFESTYLE

OF THE PRESS IS NOT O STABLE POLITICAL D CONFUCIAN VALUES taken to calling the main English language broadsheet a “PAP newsletter”. It would also become much harder for critics to cast aspersions on the positive publicity that the government garners in the mainstream media for its policies and programmes, since a mainstream media without external restrictions would be at liberty to provide reporting which is reflective of the ground sentiments of the relevant parties involved. Enabling critical and constructive commentaries on complex socio-political issues would also present different and fresh perspectives on possible shortcomings and highlight areas of improvement, which also has the effect of stemming the radicalisation of political views brought on by the alternative media; if a more balanced, evenkeeled discourse is to be had in the mainstream media, citizens will feel less compelled to turn to online media to seek alternative narratives which may be factually misinformed. Furthermore, the mainstream media is in a much stronger position, in terms of access to information, and financial and human resources, than the online media to correct rumours and misconceptions, and will not have to resort to the needless speculation that arises due to the paucity of available information. Concerns over certain elements in the press having vested interests in particular issues can be counterbalanced by two factors—a self-regulating press with a strict adherence to a journalistic code of ethics and conduct, and the maturity of the readership. It is in the institution’s rational selfinterests to maintain a consistently high standard of journalistic reporting and factual accuracy, both moral and commercial. If it consistently fails to produce a nuanced and balanced perspective on current affairs, not only does it risk tarnishing its journalistic integrity, but it also risks an erosion of credibility and in the long run, losing public confidence and its readership. Additionally, in contrast to the past, the local population is increasingly welleducated, media-literate, and have greater exposure to different cultures and ideologies. This makes them well placed to discern whether the writers are being disingenuous and deliberately misleading, and acts as a safety barrier from them slavishly imitating ideological trends. Lastly, I don’t think that having a free press is diametrically opposed to the Confucian value of showing deference to authority when one examines the sociohistorical and philosophical context in which these values are embedded in. In the Analects,

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much is made of the common people showing deference and obedience to their leaders, who are all 君子 (junzi) – literally translated as gentlemen, but when philosophically translated can be taken to mean exemplary moral agents. Due to the socio-historical circumstances of the time, the common people were primarily concerned with maintaining their livelihood, leaving matters of governance and socio-political issues to the landed gentry, who had the time and resources to engage in these activities. It would therefore have been impractical and exceedingly ill-advised for all the laws and policies of the ruling classes to be subjected to public scrutiny by these commoners, on account of their dearth of knowledge, education, and resources. This can hardly be said to be the same for a meritocratic country in which social mobility in all echelons of society is in principle at least, possible. Moreover, it may be instructive to

consider the writings of Xunzi, a prominent Chinese philosopher in the Confucian tradition, on one of the cardinal virtues—filial piety. (In Confucian texts, the ruler-subject relationship is often characterised as a parentchild relationship.) For Xunzi, filial piety is not demonstrated though blind obedience to one’s parents to the exclusion of all other considerations. Rather, it is being “careful about the cases in which one obeys another” that is considered genuine filial piety. It can be inferred that being “careful” requires an examination of whether an action that appears prima facie filial does not in actuality undermine the very justification for according filial piety the status of a moral virtue in the first place. In the same way, true deference for authority can only be grounded when there is free and open discourse on sociopolitical issues and affairs of state. This, I feel, is best achieved when there is press freedom.

OPINION: SATIRE

SHOULD NUS R BELL CURVE Derek Wong

otherwise,” groused a secondyear Communications and Media major, Hartkor Gamur, from behind his oily dishevelled fringe, and en route to his daily threeminute shower break from World of Warcraft. When this writer was unable to halt the rise of his eyebrows from incredulity, Gamur responded defensively, “No choice have to chiong leh, if not later my level 90 tauren paladin kena demoted in the guild then how?” Indeed, virtual life to Hartkor is a relentless chase for excellence, and one should never blur the lines between reality and the virtual world. It would be foolish to exert the same amount of effort in the real world, wouldn’t it? Especially if it concerned your examination grades and your future. Pfft, who has time to strive for that? It appears this resentment against the bell curve system is shared by other students as well, even reasonable and sensible individuals like Ting Tong Belle - President, Resident Conductor, Composer Emeritus and Honorary Secretary of the NUS Handbell Society. “Musically speaking, from a musical perspective, I think that the bell curve system is very inappropriately named and has

brought our most revered musical instrument into great disrepute. Bells should only be heard, and not feared! In addition, the bell curve system is stifling and does not allow for the freedom of expression of each individual, which is especially important for musically-inclined people like me. All academic efforts are made only with reference to getting ahead of the bell curve, and not for the love of learning! It’s like… you’re enclosed in a… GIANT BELL!” lamented Ting Tong between sobs, while her twin sister Ting Ke Belle nodded rhythmically by her side and harmonised with each of her words under her breath. This writer agrees profusely with Ting Tong Belle and her sister, and believes that along with the abolishment of the bell curve system, NUS should also install a nudist beach at UTown and introduce a more liberating Freshmen Exposure Module— FHM1101E. All strictly for the

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here has been much ado about the bell curve system NUS utilises for examination grades. This is a system where the grades of students are moderated according to how they have fared in relation to their classmates. Students have complained that it heaps unnecessary pressure upon them to outperform their peers. Additionally, it has resulted in selfish behaviour on the part of students as they are afraid that any help rendered to fellow students might be to their

academic detriment. “Ya la, of course must be selfish what! You lend people your notes then they score better than you, skew the bell curve against you, then how? But yes, actually this system is very unhealthy and should be removed. It forces students to become increasingly obsessed with their studies while neglecting the more important things in life, such as spending quality time with friends and family, virtual or

“

STUDENTS HAVE COMPLAINED THAT IT HEAPS UNNECESSARY PRESSURE UPON THEM TO OUTPERFORM THEIR PEERS”

OPINION: SATIRE

NUS REVISE THE RVE SYSTEM? sake of freedom of expression, of course. One student, however, departed from the majority’s opinion, and believed that the death knell should not sound for the bell curve system just yet. Choosing to remain anonymous but specifying that we used his moniker “PunishmentOfGod91”, he murderously muttered in raspy breaths while dragging a suspicious-looking body bag in tow. “The bell curve system is fair. It. Is. Fair. Very. Fair. Society is naturally segregated. Students have to learn to exterminate, sorry, I mean, excel, in the midst of competition. Instead of abolishing the system, why not just abolish people? Oops sorry, sorry, I meant “apple polish” people. These are essential life skills… or rather, life and death skills. Sometimes losing out marginally by a decimal point makes you dismal. In such cases, one must learn to decimate, sorry, I mean, dissimilate him or herself. Take a breather, engage in plenty of slaughter. Aiya, I mean laughter! Hahaha!” Seizing up this writer with a predatory glint in his eyes, he threatened menacingly, “If you have any disagreements with me, email me

“

at kkk.hitlerfanboy@hotmail.com. I will lay you to rest.” Spotting this writer’s apprehensive look, he hastens to add, “—and your concerns of course, haha!”

THE BELL MAY CONTINUE TO TOLL, BUT LET IT NOT TAKE ITS TOLL”

Perhaps then, the system inevitably results in cutthroat competition. Nevertheless, it does appear that the teaching staff is in no hurry to remove the bell curve system as well. According to Associate Professor Nobell Nohunny from the Department of Biological Sciences, the bell curve system is effective in bringing out the very best in students and the only available means through which their potential can be maximised. “Yes… the bell curve system… it’s been under some fire hasn’t it? But I am all for it. Back in the day when I was an undergraduate without the bell curve system, everybody was getting As! The only way to distinguish yourself from a “no bell curve system” was to win a Nobel Prize. So I think the bell curve system is very good, and is in accordance with Darwin’s Theory of Natural

Selection, the survival of the fittest. We want only the cream of the crop to emerge. Yes, we might have students die from the stress and pressure (“I’m kidding! I’m kidding!”). Some students might begin to suffer from social anxiety disorder due to the prolonged lack of social interaction. And male students might develop the ability to lactate because of their continued persistence in milking whatever marks they can get from their examinations. Nature truly works in mysterious and wonderful ways,” he enthused, whilst casting a furtive glance in the direction of his shirt pocket (“Sweat, this one. Hot day today.”). As it stands then, it seems that the bell curve system is here to stay for the foreseeable future. Nonetheless, arguments against the system will continue to ring incessantly in our ears. Yet like an errant fire alarm bell, no substantive remedy action will probably ever be taken to address them. As much as the system continues to be a killjoy for the likes of Hartkor and stifle expressive individuals such as Ting Tong, it will at the same time be the only means through which to stretch our evolutionary capabilities to become better, faster, stronger and potentially more capable of producing lactose

–an increasingly necessary trait in a world devoid of the milk of human kindness. Of course, it is always lamentable when things reach murderous proportions. Therefore, it might be useful to put to death our desire to abolish the system and think about how we can collectively and humanely transcend the system instead - as in opening lines of John Donne’s poem. “For Whom The Bell Tolls”: No man is an island, Entire of itself. Each is a piece of the continent, A part of the main. We are all a part of the greater whole, and kindness and the willingness to build each other up should not be contingent on an implemented system. Bell curve system or not, one thing is for sure – the death bell eventually tolls for you and me, so let us make the most of our time here in NUS; not by griping, but by gripping firmly to each opportunity to edify each other. The bell may continue to toll, but let it not take its toll.

About Internships@Gov

POWER INTERN Learning was not restricted to working in EMA’s office. I also took part in... A site visit to the National Research Foundation’s really cool CREATE lab in University Town. I also attended a Futures Planning event organised by the Public Service Division, where I participated in discussions about strategic planning with officers from other agencies. My coursework in NUS helped to ease my learning curve as... Political Science modules helped me understand the key aspects to look out for in policy analysis, while studying Business made me appreciate how certain policies, like EMA’s new Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) receiving terminal, can both serve Singapore’s needs and stimulate LNG-related business opportunities.

Internships@Gov is a premium programme administered by Public Service Division. Intended for Singaporean/PR undergraduates from local and overseas universities, the programme lets you: ▶ Gain first-hand experience in the Public Service ▶ Learn from senior leaders through dialogue & networking sessions ▶ Gain insights into the operation of public agencies If you prove to be outstanding and are found suitable, you may get a job offer too! Visit www.internships.gov.sg for more details or follow us on www.facebook.com/careersgov for regular updates. Internship Duration Our structured internship programme spans 8 weeks from May to August. It comprises 2 runs: Run 1: Late May – mid July Run 2: Late June – mid August You may choose to take part in either run and extend the duration if you wish. How to Join? The universities nominate their students to participate in this programme. Contact your Career Centre to find out more!

harlene Ng is a third year NUS student pursuing double majors in Political Science and Business. For her internship, she was attached to the Energy Planning and Development Division in the Energy Market Authority (EMA) from 13 May to 26 July. Charlene was involved in numerous policy planning activities, including organising a focus group to engage youths on energy issues. Her proactive spirit, resourcefulness and commitment won her the Best Intern Award. We spoke to Charlene to find out what made her internship tick. I was attracted to the Internships@ Gov programme because... I’m interested in economic policy and fascinated with the use of advanced technology. I also wanted a handson experience, so an internship where I could directly contribute to the organisation’s mission was very appealing. It was also a good opportunity to find out about working in the Public Service and see if I could start my career there after I graduate.

My most unforgettable moment for this internship was when... I mistook the Assistant CEO for a Deputy Director and asked if he would be hosting any interns in his department. It turned out that I was the This internship was meaningful for intern in his department! He was really me as... nice about it though. I was doing something that has a real impact on society. That dawned My advice to future applicants would on me while I was writing my report be to... on the focus group study I helped to Start your internship with a humble conduct. Even though I was just an mindset. Whatever position you’re intern, my work made a difference. By in, you can make a difference if you highlighting the perspectives of youths have the heart for it. Remember that on Singapore’s energy challenges and it’s a huge privilege to be able to work future, I could contribute (even in a on such important projects that will small way) to policymaking. eventually affect people’s lives.

ENTERTAINMENT

CINEPHILE - BITE-SIZED REVIEWS -

/ / LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE Rachel Phua

“

Celebrate the misfits!” It’s easy to do that now, what with turning oddballs and nerds into lovable stereotypes in a clichéd movie about discovering yourself. The premise of Little Miss Sunshine seems destined for that. We start off with introductions of a dysfunctional family- a dad who doesn’t practice what he (wishes to) preach (Greg Kinnear), an overstressed mom (Toni Collete), a potty-mouthed, heroin-addicted grandfather (Alan Arkin), a gay and depressed Proust scholar (Steve Carell), a just-as-depressed son who has taken a vow of silence (Paul Dano), and a cute but plain daughter who harbours dreams of becoming Miss America one day (Abigail Breslin). They are all headed for a faraway county on an old minivan, together. Yet, Little Miss Sunshine doesn’t make you retch; it stays

short on self-pity and epiphanies, while managing to fill stonecold hearts with empathy. Its characters are lovable – and the more peculiar they are, the more you’ll love them. Besides a wellwritten script and your typical indie-cinema cinematography, what stands out from Little Miss Sunshine is its wisecracking cast. Each actor holds their character to absurdity with their kooky behaviour and sudden outbursts. Carell and Arkin are the exceptional comics, the former playing his afflicted soul with terrific deadpan delivery, the latter amping it up with his eccentric diva-ness. Think your life is horrible? You won’t change your mind after this, but hopefully you’ll feel better about being that woebegone kid.

Photo caption from impawards.com

STARRING: ABIGAIL BRESLIN, TONI COLLETE, STEVE CARELL, GREG KINNEAR, ALAN ARKIN, PAUL DANO DATE RELEASED: 20 JANUARY 2006

ENTERTAINMENT

/ / THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST Anupama Hegde

STARRING: RIZ AHMED, KATE HUDSON, LIVE SCHREIBER, KEIFER SUTHERLAND, OM PURI DATE RELEASED: 01 AUGUST 2013 The Reluctant Fundamentalist (TRF) is not a movie you would put in your summer blockbuster bill. Relying more on its story and less on style, TRF centers around the topic of terrorism and has a nail-biting ending you think will end the movie badly. Yet, it makes for a riveting watch. It is one of those movies that will leave you thinking long and hard even when it ends. Based on a novel of the same name by Moshin Hamid, the movie’s protagonist is a Pakistani man named Changez who got embroiled in a terrorist plot to kidnap a professor. Essentially, the movie tells the story of Changez’s life – from his meteoric rise in an American consulting firm to the racial profiling he underwent post-9/11. This story is being recounted to an American writer, Bobby, in a tea house in Lahore – with constant echoes of gun shots and student protests in the background to remind us of his tribulation. We learn that Changez had big dreams to change the world, all the while living out his own American dream. We are there when his own father thought he had become an American stereotype and forgotten his roots. We see the hostility that he meets with after 9/11 and the humiliating cavity search he had to undergo at the airport just because of his last name. And of course, we are witness to Changez’s romance

Photo caption from aceshowbiz.com

with an American girl called Erica, who is beset with her own identity conflicts and demons. At the end of it, we are rooting for Changez – we don’t want him to be involved in terrorism as we wait and hope for his inner goodness to pull through. Even after all the misery Changez is put through, the story may yet be over. Bobby might not be an innocent author merely interested in Changez’s story. He has his own agenda – one that could put Changez in danger, once again because of his last name,

religious identity and appearance. What makes The Reluctant Fundamentalist such a great movie is its difference from the countless terrorism-related movies released in waves, post-9/11. Instead, the director, Mira Nair, tells a human story full of heart, rather than covert sleeper cells and blown up buildings. Maybe you should check this into your summer blockbuster bill.

/ / LIKE CRAZY Melissa Yasmin Stewart

They say ´absence makes the heart grow fonder´, but can love really stand the test of time and prolonged separation? Like Crazy, directed by Drake Doremus, brings this question to the surface. It tells the story of Anna, a British student in the United States, who falls in love with American student Jacob. Having overstayed her visa, Anna is subsequently banned from entering the US and seeing her lover. This sends the young couple down a tumultuous road in their relationship. What made this film stand out

was how raw and real it was. It did not sugar coat what love and relationships are about; instead, it told a story of pain, hurt and desire through a realistic picture of a modern day couple. Adding to that, an admirable fact about the film is that it was filmed without a script; hence, most of the dialogue was improvised. We tend to judge a film by how emotionally involved we are while watching it, and as viewers, it would be impossible not to get sucked into the drama of Anna and Jacob´s relationship.

Like Crazy will also linger through your mind, provoking your thoughts long after the credits roll. Without revealing too much information, the ending of Like Crazy is self-interpretative, as we wonder what the future for the couple would be. In a sum, it’s easy to fall (like) crazy in love with this movie. It is undeniably a breath of fresh air from sappy love stories.

Photo caption from en.wikipedia.com

STARRING: ANTON YELCHIN, FELICITY JONES, JENNIFER LAWRENCE DATE RELEASED: 27 JANUARY 2012

ENTERTAINMENT

BOOKWORM ADVENTURES Teresa Widodo

f you expect Coelho’s Manuscript Found in Accra to be just another ordinary parable by one of the most celebrated authors in the world, you will get it wrong. Instead of being conventional fiction, the book is bounded together by a series of Q&A segments where questions serves as titles. As the title suggests, Manuscript Found in Accra is supposed to be a transcribed version of a manuscript found in the city of Accra written on the eve of the Crusaders’ invasion, but really, it is essentially a self-help book filled by Coelho’s enlightening musings

on love, solitude, success and loyalty. Despite its unfit superstructure, the book manages to proves Coelho’s brilliance; his words of wisdom stays convincing and relatable. His provoking thoughts about life’s issues remain encouraging and impactful to readers, especially to those souls soon-to-be devoid of all hope. For the many stressed out souls floating around the university, we hope you find a sanctuary in these beautifully carved words from the book:

“SUCCESS COMES TO THOSE WHO DO NOT WASTE TIME COMPARING WHAT THEY ARE DOING WITH WHAT OTHERS ARE DOING; IT ENTERS THE HOUSE OF THE PERSON WHO SAYS ‘I WILL DO MY BEST’ EVERY DAY.”

ENTERTAINMENT

SONIC BOOM Rachel Phua

Backstreet Boys- In a World Like This

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros- Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros

Jamie Cullen- Momentum

Pet Shop Boys- Electric

Pond- Hobo Rocket

Guy Clark- My favourite picture of you

The Civil Wars- The Civil Wars

ENTERTAINMENT

TV JUNKIE Rachel Phua

ur dearly missed show is back! Though only ten episodes short, elated fans were heard planning dinner parties for its premiere (no less with a post-“Scenes from a Hat” game) on the 16th of July. No other improvisational comedy show can beat WLIIA, even after several

meaning attempts like 2011’s Improv-A-Ganza. WLIIA is even pretty TV-culture significant, since it brought to prominence improv comedy, hilarious comedians, and Colin Mochrie’s bald head. And we saw no less of that in the premiere. While singing gleefully with Kevin McHale and cast ready to pack some punches (sans Drew Carey, sadly) and a great new host, Aisha Tyler, guests were the main features each episode, in hopes to draw younger crowds, let’s hope CW will give the main stars and other guest comedians their rightful chance to shine. The new season will and Jonathan Mangum. So here’re cheers to a renewed WLIIA, and hopefully, a new line of seasons to come.

Photo from netdna-cdn.com

Whose Line Is It Anyway? Starring: Aisha Tyler, Ryan Stiles, Colin Mochrie, Wayne Brady

VIDEO CHAT

Photo from youtube.com

Cumberbatch’s lightsaber impression Video uploader: Christian Kimbell

Unaired SNL sketch: Song for Daddy Video uploader: NewsHunter29

umberb****es, stand your guard! There will be more Bs stealing your spot to become our Sherlock/Khan’s next girl after this video (if they haven’t watched it already). Who knew the Benedict who often appears onscreen unsmiling is actually such an unabashed geek in real life?

umour, not sadness, can come from the “greatest train wreck in history”. Watch how everything that can go wrong with a comedy sketch happens, and that includes having an unfunny Justin Bieber in it.

ENTERTAINMENT

Valerie Lim

DANCING UNDER THE STARS choreograph a three to five minute piece for the purpose of rallying new freshmen to join NUS Dance Synergy. And that was all I had to begin with! After letting the dancers pick a song they wanted to dance to (yes I let them choose the music), I listened intently to the lyrics of Taylor Swift’s “Safe and Sound” and painted a mental picture of the story as it unfolded. The added dimension of lyrics contributes to the audience’s understanding of the dance; any piece of choreography that is accompanied with lyrical music cannot be too detached from the meanings of the words. This particular song sings of hope and the promise of a sanctuary in the aftermath of whatever struggles we may be facing now. I hope that the audience will be able to see that vision coming to life in the dance. What were some problems you faced? As always, time is a constraint, which means that something definitely has to be compromised. Do I sacrifice technicality or creativity? These are problems that I believe every choreographer faces. Any interesting incidents? Many people have expressed that tMany people have expressed that they found the colour combination of the costumes beautiful and that it added aesthetic depth. Truth is, I never intended for the costume to be pink! I had originally requested for my dancers to buy white dresses but unfortunately white was not in vogue that season. What do you think can and should be done for Singapore’s arts scene to flourish? I think the approach has to be on a macro level where our society as a whole has to reject the notion of art as a luxury or simply an alternative form of entertainment. The day Singapore decides that artists are professionals in their own right and should be respected as such, art will not just be a form of entertainment but an important part of society and daily life. Only then will the arts scene flourish on its own without any additional help. Lydia Lam: Why did you choose to dance in Morning Light? I have always loved Samantha’s beautiful choreography and I jumped at the wonderful opportunity to dance in this lovely piece together with my dance friends. Further, it would be a great pleasure and honor to represent NUS Dance Synergy in such a prestigious dance event. Does this dance have a special meaning to you? I hold firm to the message of the dance – that as long as we set our eyes on hope, it will take us through the hardships and ordeals we face. Rather than focusing on the problem, turning to a higher power such as God who is, for me, that beacon of light at the end of my tunnel gives me the strength to continue. Do you think this event helps make ballet more accessible in Singapore? Considering the low prices of the tickets and the concessions available, the event definitely opens doors to people who would otherwise shun the usual highpriced tickets of ballets. Moreover, Ballet Under the Stars has been very consistent in its performance venue and dates, making it easier for people invite their friends and ensure they are available! Do you think more of such events should be held? Yes, definitely! The outdoor concept makes it cozier and more family friendly than the conventional theatre where strict decorum has to be observed. What else do you think can and should be done for Singapore’s arts scene to flourish? More needs to be done to reach out to people who haven’t yet cultivated that appreciation for the arts! Exposure is important; I suggest more public performances and exhibitions especially so in areas such as the heartlands rather than the usual venues where the audience mostly comprise of people who are already artsliterate. To catch more works by the NUS Dance Synergy, don’t forget to get tickets for their upcoming 35th Anniversary Concert: THROUGH The Looking Glass held in October! Photo from NUS Dance Synergy

ith an invitation to the Singapore Dance Theatre’s annual Ballet Under the Stars, nine dancers from NUS Dance Synergy took to the stage with their piece Morning Light this July. Before they graced the limelight at Fort Canning Park and did us proud, we spoke to student choreographer, Samantha Eva Ho, and dancer, Lydia Lam about their dedication to hustles, boogies and leaps. When it comes to choreography, Samantha is definitely no stranger. Choreographing since she was in secondary school, the year four Accountancy major has ten pieces of Choreography under her belt (even with her tiny waistline).

Samantha Eva Ho: How would you describe your style of choreography? My pieces reflect the genre of dance I am most involved with at the moment. So my first and second works were largely ballet. Third, jazz. Fourth, ballet (and en pointe too!). From the fifth onwards, they were largely contemporary. However, owing to my classical training, you will notice that I still place much emphasis on technicality no matter which dance style. Substance over form - I always say! What was your inspiration and how did you conceive Morning Light? I was given three dancers to work with and ‘commissioned’ to

ENTERTAINMENT

TALK: VIDDSEE Rachel Phua Viddsee founders. Photo from popcultureonline.net

ilms; without it, how would we have imagined what other realms and creatures look like? Or have shown the people of Cannes and Venice what local fire-eaters (My Magic), Kampongs (Homerun) and Singlish (any Singaporean film) are? With films becoming indispensable to our lives and a pool of Singaporean filmmakers growing, it’s only timely that a stage to showcase the sweat, dedication and talent that went into making stories and images come to life has emerged. Introducing Viddsee, a website created by NUS alumni Ho Jia Jian and Derek Tan that screens short films from around the region; films that would otherwise be overlooked and never given the acclaim they deserve. We speak to the two budding entrepreneurscum-filmmakers about their bold step into breathing life to the undiscovered and underground. As graduates of NUS, how do you feel your time at the university built your love for film and TV? We were both part of a student film group under Centre for the Arts (CFA), called nuSTUDIOS Film Productions. Having the privilege and opportunity to run nuSTUDIOS, we ran filmmaking workshops, film screenings and also made several short films ourselves under nuSTUDIOS. Some parts of Viddsee today has been inspired by the way we ran

nuSTUDIOS. When did you realise you wanted to pursue your passion for film? We both had passion for film and production even before entering university, and during university, meeting like-minded people grew our passion for film. Where our passion lies is at the cross junction of film and technology. It has always been a conscious effort to ensure we are in a position where it involves the both. As filmmakers yourself, what are some of the things you have learnt making films? The process of filmmaking is like starting up a new business. Every film that is produced starts from scratch; it is conceptualised, built, marketed, its reception measured and its techniques reiterated or translated in the next film. Also, we learnt how important teamwork is. A film is not made by just a director but very importantly the various crews and cast that make up the film too. This translate to our vision for Viddsee as well; it’s about building the community of filmmakers, audience and brands that grows the micro-cinema industry. Personally, what do you look out for when watching films and curating Viddsee?

We look at the stories when curating Viddsee. How did the idea of creating such a specific platform for Southeast Asian short films come about? We had one of our short film, Cashless, tour numerous film festivals and we were planning to release it up online. Some of the options were to have it up on YouTube or Vimeo. However, we realised that our content would be drowning in the midst of a sea of user-generated content, including cat videos. At the same time, we had watched many good short films around Southeast Asia, but we found it hard to find them online. This led us to conceptualise a place that could allow all to easily find a collection of good short films to watch. t’s pretty risky to dive into a new venture, especially film, known in Singapore to be a difficult area to thrive in. How did you guys pucker up the courage to do so! Having being in the TV and mobile business, we saw opportunities between content and technology and how short films are the movies of the Internet today. I guess the marriage of both our passions in technology and film also gave us courage to take the leap of faith into this journey of Viddsee. Rather than watching others make

things happen, we wanted to be the ones making things happen too! You guys seem to be pretty successful not just in Singapore, but in other parts of SEA too. What are some of the encouraging words the industry leaders have said so far? They had seen the gap where upcoming and also awardwinning short films were shot but couldn’t be publicly featured, so it further encouraged us when well known directors and producers validated that our platform was an essential one. What are some of the feedback you’ve gotten from your audience so far? Films that our audience have been waiting for years to watch can finally be easily accessed. We have heard various exciting stories of how Viddsee has been used. For instance, we heard that teachers are using our films as a resource to reach out and discuss culture and also social issues. Another example is seeing our friends’ parents who previously had no access to short films discovering a whole new dimension of local content and filmmakers.

ENTERTAINMENT

INTERVIEW WITH EBI SHANKARA Rachel Phua

Photo courtesy of Army Daze

bi Shankara, winner of Vasantham Star 2007 and who plays Krishna in Army Daze*, talks about his past, present and future as an actor. When was the first time you caught the acting bug? Back when I was in secondary school. My first year in secondary school was when we participated in the Singapore Youth Festival (SYF). I was the understudy for the lead and had a minor role. But the amount of effort and time I put into it saw me falling in love with acting. Sec 3 was when I played Hamlet and won Gold for SYF and that sealed my love for acting and performing. Why did you decide to pursue acting? When I was 15, I worked professionally for the first time with WildRice! in their pantomime, Cinderal-lah!. At the end of every show we received a standing ovation. That feeling, cannot be explained in words and that’s when I knew that, this is what I wanna be doing for the rest

of my life. (smiles) Army Daze is a Singaporean classic. How did you react when you first got the news of your casting? I was really excited at the prospect of acting in a true blue Singaporean classic. I think my mother was more excited then me actually. She was going on and on about it to her friends. Days leading up to the rehearsal were filled with sleepless nights thinking how I can play Krishna. How has it been like working with the cast and the crew? It’s been the best experience in a long time honestly. The cast is filled with actors who help and motivate each other. We are more like brothers honestly. To top that we have a fantastic director who gives us freedom to explore and keeps us in check when we go crazy. And of course the brilliant and lovely Mr Michael Chiang. We are one big family really.

What’s next on your plate? I will be heading down to London for a year to do Masters in Classical Theatre at the London Academy Of Music and Dramatic Arts. And back to Singapore for more great theatre. *Army Daze was first released as a play in 1987, then a movie in 1996, and had a recent rerun from 19-28 July 2013.

Photo courtesy of Army Daze

ENTERTAINMENT

Indeed A People’s Stravinsky This ground-breaking local adaptation of Igor Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring culturally reinterprets the Russian pagan ritual of child sacrifice and presents the ancient Chinese custom of child brides (still practiced today in certain regions). Not just a clarion call for social justice, The Rite of Spring: A People’s Stravinsky also affects change by uniting the creative energies of people from the local community in an exciting inter-disciplinary and multi-generational artistic endeavour. Rite of Spring. Photo by Guek Peng Siong Valerie Lim

remiering at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées on 29 May 1913, the avant-garde music by Igor Stravinsky and choreography by Vaslav Nijinsky incited a riot. Widely regarded as a seminal work of modernism, “The Rite of Spring” has since shaped the way we understand music and dance. The original ballet tells a savage tale of the abduction of a virgin girl as a sacrificial offering, in order to placate the divine and fertilise the earth. Now, a century later on 22 June 2013, The Rite of Spring: A People’s Stravinsky, was adapted and staged at the Esplanade Concert Hall. Jointly presented by Singapore’s Philharmonic Orchestra and The ARTS FISSION Company, A People’s Stravinsky is a modern parallel of the ancient Russian blood-rite and calls our attention to the tribal custom of child-brides that is still practiced today—and whose injustices are perhaps still deeply embedded in our culture. The mark of great art is when a piece transcends both space and time. And here

were people from Singapore not just channelling, but also recreating, reinterpreting and infusing the 100 yearold ballet with their own nuances. Despite the spatial and temporal distance, stage director and choreographer, Angela Ling, felt that she managed to “poke” Stravinsky across space and time. A People’s Stravinsky was made relevant to our community by drawing from it. The adaptation understood that communities are located in history, in temporality, and are living in the world—not just abstract concepts of demos, much like the timeless original work that did away with aristocratic fantasies but instead celebrated the ordinary. Truly a ‘people’s’ Stravinsky, it thrusts the spotlight on our local community by bringing together people from all walks of life here: seamstresses, photographers who documented the process, as well as children, volunteers and seniors from heartland homes and activity centres. The latter were featured in the performance alongside professional dancers and

musicians. As such, the piece connected at a deeper and more personal level to both the performers and the audience. Moreover, it did not remain a static work of art that called for change but instead embodied change, itself incorporating the community in its artistic creation. The piece debunks the notion that high art is reserved for and performed by the elites. The low prices of the tickets made the performance very accessible; it was unsurprising yet pleasant to see people of all ages gathered in the hall, including many seniors — an otherwise uncommon sight. Indeed, this performance is an exemplar of how the arts can bring together people of ages in significant and meaningful ways. One of Ling’s goals of actively involving the elderly was to alter society’s current perspective of them as old, frail and unseen. In The Rite of Spring, they are presented as a council of wise and venerable elders who have earned their place as leaders in their community—something which

resonates profoundly with our roots. A People’s Stravinsky is indeed a timely work of art, as it gives perspective on the ongoing discussion of Singapore’s ageing population. In the producers’ interactions with the seniors, the team saw their desire to be recognised as useful, contributing members of society, offering their most valuable assets: their, though perhaps not a century old, stories and experiences. The seniors have also expressed that they enjoyed the experience so much that they would like to do it again the next year; we are once again reminded that age is no excuse to stop learning. It is indeed a rare to see a collaboration between a contemporary dance company and a full orchestra in Singapore; in the midst of the rousing applause, (perhaps like some members of the 1913 audience) one would undeniably feel as if he or she had just witnessed a revolutionary event.

ENTERTAINMENT

KARDASHIAN KRAZINESS Anupama Hegde

ere’s a quick (kwik?) disclaimer: TV shows about people who think directions make for suitable baby names are injurious to health, both mental and physical…you have been duly warned. In the past seven months, no starlet has procured as many trashy tabloid covers as Kim ‘I’m curvy and I know it’ Kardashian. And then her pregnancy came to add to her (what kind of?!) appeal and no tabloid has given us respite from her and her large clan, all of whom are adorned with ‘K’ appellations. One week she’s having twins, the next she’s actually faking her pregnancy. In February she was so in love with Kanye West that she was planning a wedding - the fact that she was still married to failed basketball player Kris Humphries at this time is irrelevant in tabloid-world. But in March, she was convinced that Kanye was cheating on her and/or gay. I really didn’t know how to keep up – all these mixed signals were too much to handle. I mean, I agree that ignoring the very existence of tabloids would have solved this problem…but how could I do that? They’re so glossy and shiny!

With all this hoopla surrounding Kim Kardashian and her unborn fetus, the other members of her Klan have had to make do with less media attention than usual. I really feel sorry for them, because the last time a Kardashian did anything without a camera stuck in his/her face was 1866. Still, season 8 of ‘Keeping Up with the Kardashians’ commenced in June, chronicling the lives of people we don’t really care about but are somehow weirdly drawn to watching. And the stories this time are wildly fascinating. Scott Disick wants to be a car racer, but then he can’t because he has social anxiety and hates people. Kris and Bruce Jenner lived apart for a while, but then they move back in together. Kendall and Kylie fight because they want to be supermodels, but then they make up. Khloe…gets a dog. In short, you may be tired of the Kardashians but they are everywhere. On the magazine covers in the supermarket. On your TV set. On the internet where you spend 90% of your time. So if you start spelling every word that begins with ‘c’ with a ‘k’ in your next college essay, or you feel you need therapy to block Kris Jenner’s over-botoxed, plastic-enhanced face from your mind, I don’t blame you. The Kardashians have made us all krazy.

Kim Kardashian. from justjared.com

“

CHRONICLING THE LIVES OF PEOPLE WE DON’T REALLY CARE ABOUT”

Keeping Up with the Kardashians. Photos from fanpop.com & babble.com

ENTERTAINMENT

I’M NOT A HIPSTER. I DON’T HAVE MENT. Photo from trashiness.com Rachel Phua

an Harmon, the creator of the hit sitcom Community, hilariously and most aptly made fun of the most recent subculture to emerge recently. This would upset any ironic-tee-shirt-wearing, vintage-camera-owning youth, but it’s time for a wake up call to these quacks. Now, before you get too defensive, let me clear the air by saying that not all lads who swing their Holgas around should be talking about Singaporeans who try to be unique for the sake

any cooler or superior to others. Instead, if you consciously told yourself to dislike "Viva La Vida", you are the worst insult any youth can get - a poseur.

to Orchard Road the next day. He would take photos in black and white because it makes artistic sense, not because he thinks it women’s rights, because he knows it will make the world and our

Starbucks, think again. Is it because you are against the capitalism that Starbucks embodies, that you genuinely because every Tom, Dick and Harry drinks Starbucks? Be mindful and grow up, oh you iPhone-and-Mac patron.

mainstream. Being a hipster is being part of a subculture, already a sign that it a group movement, rather than what these hipsters think it is made up of - the lone individual. While taitais shop at Gucci and have tea at 4pm, hipsters in Singapore wear impractical pullovers and upload photos on Instagram. Since the word ‘hipster’ developed from the ‘60s hippie movement, if you honestly think you emulate a bohemian, you couldn’t care less about what people thought about you. You wouldn’t need to be a and appraisal from your 200 followers. A real hipster wouldn’t do that. A real hipster would wear what he wore the previous night to sleep

every liberal-minded American is doing that. Unfortunately for these masters of mimicry, this entire subculture is still ironically controlled by the mainstream. As hipsters continuously try to deviate away from the norm and profess themselves as weirdos (they don’t truly want to be known as that), the core idea behind each new trend they create is determined by what is currently the convention is. Often times too, these trends eventually become ubiquitous, new things and activities to consume in order to redeem their individuality, succumbing to the inevitable movement of the world. So the next time you criticize

of such public platform-seeking people around than we think we you could be one of thet too. I castigate this movement so strongly because it isn’t just a

because you like Fleet Foxes more than Coldplay (the writer is a fan of both) does not make you

LIFESTYLE

Beat Those Blues Clare Loh

he calendar is flipped to the month of August and that means that most of us are facing a massive case of back-to-school blues: the dread of sticking our noses back in the grind after a long holiday and the distaste of going back to scheduling our lives around modules – the inertia from the lazy summer can be hard to shake off. We just wish it was June again so we could escape back into the blissfulness of doing nothing. But a new semester is a fresh start and a chance to relook how you approach school. Starting school on the right note can mean the difference between a blah semester and a great one. So here are some tips to get over your summer and ease yourself back into school life: 1. HAVE A SCHEDULE (AND STICK TO IT) This may sound simple enough. We often start a new semester with the good intentions of completing our readings as planned. Yet when the exams come around, we find ourselves facing a mountain of notes with very little time. Here’s when having a schedule would help. For the first few weeks, plan out when you would need to finish certain tasks and stick to the timeline you set. This will help you get back into the routine of being in school and definitely banish that feeling of being overwhelmed when midterms come round. Photo from cristinapurice.files.wordpress.com

fewer calories throughout the day. So make the time for breakfast, even if it means preparing something to take with you the night before.

4. RESET YOUR BODY CLOCKS Sleeping late and waking up when we please is no longer an option if we have an 8 a.m. class every Monday. It might be a good idea to start getting used to an earlier bedtime to avoid feeling cranky and groggy when we have to set the alarm for a 6 a.m. wakeup call. Our bodies need a minimum of 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night. Any less than that and our moods, performance and alertness would be affected.

5. FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT It’s natural to feel reluctant towards the return to school. However, having a positive perspective can really make a difference. So take a deep breath and get yourself excited for a new beginning. Even small things like a new notebook or a new outfit to wear can go a long way to helping you look forward to the start of the semester.

Photo from pickyeaterblog.com

2. MAKE AN EFFORT TO TRY SOMETHING NEW Just because the holidays are over does not mean that we still can’t have fun. Set aside some time each week to meet with friends and do something different. For instance, explore a part of Singapore you’ve never been to or pick up a new sport or activity you have always wanted to try. As clichéd as it sounds, variety is

the spice of life. 3. START THE DAY RIGHT We have all heard this at one point or another: “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day” – and for good reason. It has been proven that breakfast helps with the ability to concentrate, to be creative and generally to just perform better. Plus, breakfast eaters are also more likely to consume

LIFESTYLE 37

START FRESH,START STYLISH A new school year is the perfect excuse for a wardrobe update. Get the scoop on these campus-friendly trends, fresh off the runway. Candice Chua

P U M P U P T H E VOLU M E

TA RT Y TA RTA N he fashion mavens have spoken – good ol’ tartan is the print of the season. If Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel designed a collection around it and Phoebe Philo of Céline featured it in sizable amounts for fall, you know it’s something worth paying attention to. The thing about tartan is that it goes with almost everything – tartan with florals, tartan with solids, tartan with stripes and heck, even tartan on tartan – the possibilities are literally endless. The classic tartan shirt is also incredibly versatile. Instead of wearing it like a shirt, try it as outerwear over a band t-shirt or over flirty, sweet dresses à la Yves Saint Laurent (YSL). You could even tie the shirt around your waist for that classic 80s to 90s grunge look. Don’t just limit tartan to flannel shirts though, for designers have used tartan on skirts, trousers, blazers, jackets, caps and even floor-length couture dresses. If you don’t already have tartan in your wardrobe, now is probably a good time to go around hunting for this classic staple.

B L A S T F ROM T H E PA S T he latter decades of the 20th century seem to be the main source of inspiration for designers this season. The flared trousers and balloon blouses at Rachel Zoe, the wide-brimmed hats, billowy bohemian dresses and fringe at Yves Saint Laurent and the modstyle dresses that Marc Jacobs sent down the runway for both his eponymous label and Louis Vuitton – it’s all about paying homage to the fashions of the yesteryear. Draw inspiration from the likes of Twiggy, Jane Birkin, Brigitte Bardot and John Travolta in Grease – style icons of the days gone by who still remain very relevant today. Throw on a varsity bomber jacket over a fitting t-shirt and high rise ankle grazers for a look that is reminiscent of James

rom oversized jackets to too-big sweaters, voluminous skirts to perfectly-roomy trousers – this season is all about exaggerated volumes in all the right places. The trick to look haute and not sloppy is balance. Pair up voluminous pieces with streamlined, tailored ones – an oversized denim jacket with a body-con mid-calf maxi dress, an oversized blazer with tailored shorts, or an oversized sweater with skinny pants or tapered trousers. You want people to wonder if you’re wearing clothes that are three sizes too big – that’s exactly the point of the look.

Dean in Rebel Without A Cause. Or go full-on dapper like Frank Sinatra with double-breasted blazers instead of regular ones, complete with pocket squares and a debonair smile. For the ladies, go graceful with mid-calf dresses that come with full skirts for a look that is very Audrey Hepburn (in almost every movie she made in her 20s), or go hippie with floppy hats and loose fitting longsleeved maxi dresses – bell sleeves optional but preferred. Since this trend is all about digging up from fashion archives, you could save yourself some money by doing your own digging through thrift store bins or even your parents’ wardrobe – who knows what treasures you’ll find in there!

Photo from stockholm-streetstyle.com

Photo from fashiongonerouge.com

Photo from style.com

LIFESTYLE

LOVE LETTER TO PHILADELPHIA Chan Yi Wen

Philly, Someday in between Winter & Fall, brief intimate moments before sunset, I realized the smell of old books and petrichor dancing in the air; then somewhere along the windswept paths of Locust walk, I stopped short in my tracks -felt an intense moment of euphoria and almost decided to stay forever.

he story begins with me leaving Singapore for Philadelphia near the end of the hot, sweltering summer in August 2012 for a yearlong Entrepreneurship-focused exchange program at the University of Pennsylvania. Wait, actually, let’s backtrack to the glorious summer of 2011 to understand my story better. I’d spent that summer in New

York, taking writing classes at New York University. The news and journalism industry have always compelled me in a very profound way, and while I was pursuing a Business major, I knew that journalism would always be something that would linger at the back of my mind. I wanted to find a way to combine them both, or if they were mutually exclusive, I wanted to see which one I was going to pursue.

I knew I couldn’t pursue journalism in a country with a government-controlled media. It was also a nation that was economically successful, disasterfree, though over-protected by the government. As a middlechild born into a stereotypical upper middle-class Asian family, I wasn’t going through any said “real world pains” that could potentially mellow me into a better writer. Perspective-wise, I felt myopic and was hungry for more. I was in thirsty-need to broaden my perspectives. I applied to NYU on my own accord, without going through NUS’s International Relations Office; and then in May, I was truly in New York by myself. And it was exactly how I thought an exchange program should be structured. Not flying zillions of miles to spend 24/7 in a foreign country with your fellow countrymen. Rather ironic. Beyond the dazzling city of bright lights, Lower Manhattan, was my city of ‘firsts’. It was the first time I was in The City, the first time traveling as a vagabond, the first time sampling American tertiary education, and the first time I was devastated to leave a city. For three months, I’d scoured every corner of Lower Manhattan. I remember talking to Holocaust survivors in the subway, I remember Matt and Michael and the guitars, I remember getting lost in Brooklyn and spending the last of my money on ice

cream, I remember sitting in a café in Williamsburg and hearing Neutral Milk Hotel for the first time… and at the end of July, my departure from New York felt abrupt, surreal, unnatural, and I felt that I had unfinished business in the East Coast. I remember assuring myself that I’d be back, and reassuring myself I’d be back soon enough. Post-Manhattan, the world tilted slightly. Manhattan had provided me with a different outlook in life, but in retrospect, “it’s not an adult life if your parents still pay for your (iPhone).” I hadn’t really gotten the fullblown Manhattan experience – suffering from youth unemployment for half a year because you just can’t land that job at The New Yorker, and finally succumbing to earning minimum wage at the neighbourhood burrito chain and then going home at the end of a long taco-filled day to the shoebox apartment you share with three strangers at the dodgy side of Queens (because you couldn’t afford that apartment in Manhattan). I wanted to go back to validate my hasty assumption that a summer exchange in New York City was as glorified an experience as making a living there. Also, the deep appreciation for the American culture I’d developed throughout a lifetime of exposure to Western media was blown up with my visit to New York. Everyone I’d come across was passionate

Photoception at a company visit to Gettysburg to shoot a video for our Kickstarter campaign. Photo by Chan Yi Wen

LIFESTYLE

about something. I wanted to go back and develop a deeper understanding of what exactly it was that made Americans tick; and hopefully apply it back in a Singaporean context. I applied to the NOC program, got accepted in April, and by August, I was back in the East Coast, but only this time, in Philadelphia. It took me a while to fall in love with Philly because I’d been expecting some version of Manhattan and was feeling strong status quo bias. But today, Philadelphia is perfect in her own imperfections. Under the NOC dual-track yearlong program, I interned at Shenandoah Studio, a game development company that specializes in bringing traditional board games onto iOS platforms, took Engineering Entrepreneurship classes at the University of Pennsylvania, and wrote for Penn’s daily independent student-run newspapers, The Daily Pennsylvanian. I worked 32-40 hours a week. Shenandoah Studio’s flagship game, Battle of the Bulge, was launched in December 2012 on the Apple App Store. Bulge is based on the bloodiest American battle in World War II – not a dieting game; a deep strategy game that’s considered a novelty in the iOS wargaming category. Bulge was a hit success in its niche category of war strategy board games. Despite my noninvolvement in the technical aspect of the business, it was an incredibly encouraging experience, to witness an indie success firsthand (most indie companies flop and perish). At Shenandoah, I always felt

like I was entering a new world as I walked into the office in the mornings (almost like Dorothy entering the colourful Land of Oz). It was a strong, wonderful feeling that washed through me each time I walked through the front doors – a year in, it still never got old. It’s the everyday conversations we have in the office – that goes beyond Shenandoah’s niche of strategy war games, to incorporate a broad range of subjects ranging from baseball to God that make me look forward to going to work everyday. I think a lot of making a place fun to work is in the little day-to-day stuff; being willing to joke around at the office, not being afraid to show your sense of humor, and not being afraid that the casualness of the office interactions will lead to complacency. Over the past year at Shenandoah, I have learnt the true meaning of indie and entrepreneurial, and learnt that it’s okay to be both. But I have noted that there’s a fine line between being indie and being completely laid back and floozy. Indie comes from the word “independent”. It means that Shenandoah Studio is not part of any major game publishers, which gives them complete liberty to create their own games. Being indie means going all out to pursue your passions, and at times staying nonchalant even if naysayers abound. When I wasn’t working, I was studying. At Penn, I was learning from students younger and more capable than I was. The Daily Pennsylvanian’s Editor-in-Chief is Jennifer Sun, a rising senior at the Wharton School of Business and an aspiring journalist. Jen said that it is at these intersections – in her case,

the crossroads of Business and Journalism – where she believes innovation occurs. Despite the sunset nature of the journalism industry, with once-behemoth media empires facing bankruptcy and ceasing operations, Jen still wants to soldier down this path and revolutionize and revive the world of journalism – I’m sure she will. My stint at The Daily Pennsylvanian (DP) has reinforced my desire to become a journalist. Over the year, through the stories I have covered for the DP, I have heard heartfelt tributes to American heartland rocker, Bruce Springsteen, interviewed Kinko’s founder, Paul Orfalea, attended undergraduate research symposiums, and listened to poetry slams about love and the Latino identity. Through my diverse experiences (it was the only way), I have learned to handle personal setbacks better, have become a better listener, and have quit trying to dabble with a zillion and one things and am learning to focus on making a few things good. NOC is not your typical study abroad program, which are

often sad excuses for college students to spend taxpayers’ money to become tourists. These days, study abroad has been oversold to college students as an experience that will open their eyes to cross-cultural interactions and a whole other perspective of life – but in reality, most students pay tens of thousands of dollars to fly across half the globe and blitz through Europe with their fellow exchange students. NOC goes a step further. It extracts students from their comfort zones and immerses them straight into the heart of another place through its work-study program. In 2011, dazzled by the bright lights, Manhattan had lifted me off the ground but Philadelphia yanked me back to Earth in 2013, just to a better spot than I was before. I’ll be back in Singapore soon, back with the humidity, and the family, and equipped with the “battle scars” of my year in Philadelphia. It’s been quite a year, and my perspectives have shifted again; as I’m sure they will continue to do so in the years to come. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the story unfolds.

With Team Sikhara, after a case competition in Riga, Latvia. Photo by Chan Yi Wen

LIFESTYLE

THRIFT SHOPPING I Choi Yik Heng

hopping in Singapore has gotten rather expensive, not just with the slew of foreign luxury brands conquering similar icons of “modernity” in fresh-faced supermalls, but also because of the ironically expensive platter of supposedly “indie/street” fashion students are accustomed to. The famous city of cheap shopping, Bangkok, is only available during summer/winter breaks – so what can we do besides settling for severely overpriced “blogshop” clothes online?

Praiseheaven Family Megastore (The Salvation Army) 500 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Opens Monday - Friday, 9am 5pm Tel: 6349 5312 If you’re looking for a legitimate experience of thrift shopping, this Salvation Army store is the one to go to! However since it is called a “megastore”, you might get distracted by a ton of other things like soft toys and furniture. Especially hot amongst regulars are Jim Thompson household items!

Shop@REDCROSS 62 Jalan Khairuddin (Opera Estate), Opens every Friday, 10.30am-3.30pm Tel: 6664 0500 Besides Salvation Army, check out the Singapore Red Cross’s charity store for surprising finds! Like the former, this charity store also offers a wide range of items from household appliances to apparel. You can also bring down donations to pass to volunteers on duty.

New2U 96 Waterloo St (www.scwo.org.sg). Opens Monday-Friday 10.30am-2.30pm This thrift store is run by the Singapore’s Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO), which is also where all the proceeds from sales go to. Look out for their daily themed sales with items of the day going from $1 – like T-shirt Mondays, Skirt/Trousers Wednesdays and Shoes Thursdays. They are well known for hiding great high fashion bargains so it might be the best place to hunt for second-hand clothes.

HYPEd UP! Flea market @ *SCAPE from theurbanwire.com

LIFESTYLE

NG IN SINGAPORE 04

Haji Lane While famous for housing local independent labels, this quirky street also offers cheaper alternatives like MarkedDownMarket and Blogshopping. These stores bring in trendy apparel from Bangkok and sell it at a much cheaper price than what is offered online.

Bugis Street/ Bugis Village 4 New Bugis St. MRT: Bugis. Daily 10am-10pm. Before *SCAPE, there was Bugis Street. Move past the ground level filled with souvenirs to the upper levels where you will find quaint stores selling a variety of apparel and accessories. Prices are notoriously cheap here and are a favourite amongst the K-pop/J-pop female crowd.

*SCAPE Flea Market *SCAPE, located behind Orchard Cineleisure, has long been a weekend hangout for teenagers in Singapore. It regularly hosts fleas over the weekend (Friday to Sunday, 2-9pm), be it at their indoor or outdoor spaces. Their main flea organiser http://whattheflea.com, also hosts fleas in several other locations, so you might want to check their website/Facebook out. Most of the flea booths are small online set-ups, unlike in previous years whereby majority sold second-hand clothes. These apparel and accessories are mainly thrifted from places all around the world like Bangkok and China, and are affordably priced and well on trend.

The Editor’s Market #03-06A Cineleisure Orchard and #04-08/09 Orchard Central, Opens Sunday-Thursday Noon-10pm; Friday-Saturday Noon1am. The outlet at Orchard Central is more expensive but offers higher quality and more unique pieces. Both stores operate by the concept of wholesale, so if you buy items in bulk it would be cheaper. This is also available on their online store: www.theeditorsmarket.com. Compared to other stores that sell “blogshop” clothes, Editor’s Market is wellknown for being the most trendy.

Far East Plaza Far East Plaza is definitely a hotspot for Singaporean youths and the lower floors offers many cheap bargains, all neatly arranged in racks (unlike charity stores, albeit pricier). One example would be Blogshopping, which gathers popular pieces from a select of blogshops and sells it at their store.

While prices may be cheap, it is important to check the clothes for defects like wear and tear, especially with charity shops. Cotton clothes are very susceptible to being worn out and stretched over time, while white apparel are also prone to discolouring. Also, loose thread seem to be a common occurrence with blogshop apparel, with details like beading and embroidery that may also require a more thorough check before buying!

LIFESTYLE

A RUN-DOWN OF HARD-CORE STUDY SPOTS IN NUS Samantha Wong Photo from studyprof.com

T H E L I BR A R I E S 1. Central Library (CL)

are not business students and want a change. 4. Medical Library

noteworthy - an update on the gloomy gothic look. Etiquette Note: Some of the libraries have sealed rooms for group discussion. Use them. Even so, these are not completely sound proof, so observe moderate volumes. If you are going to have a shouting match, we recommend outdoors, for example, at t he lovely (though bug infested) garden nestled bet ween Central and Computing. Unless otherwise stated, lonely and quiet people have precedence on the st udy tables/benches.

This chic multi-storey behemoth serves as a meeting place for many cross-faculty exchanges. You’ll probably find a good reason to be around the Central Library when you take an Arts GEM. Some people find it too crowded, and often infested with way-too-loud study groups, but explore a little further on the upper or lower levels and you’ll find a place to call your study (or snooze) spot. 2. Science Library (SL) Older than CL, it is still a good spot to get some serious work done. Heavy science textbooks, if not found at CL, are found here. 3. Hon Sui Sen Memorial Library Conscientious business students will recall this library fondly. Tucked away in the sprawling business campus, it’s a refreshing change of scenery for those who

We’ve never been - but we hear there’s a 24-hour reading room. Possibly with hand sanitizers, but we can’t be sure. Yes - welcome to hard work, dear friends. 5. Music Library A smaller library, but delightfully equipped with sections such as “Miniature/Oversized Scores”. We suspect it is regularly deserted, which is understandable since it lives on the edge of campus at Yong Siew Toh Conservatory. 6. CJ Koh Law Library Unless you are a law student, or have a class at the Bukit Timah Campus, you will not likely find yourself here. With its white walls, second floor terraces that give way to soaring ceilings, and luxurious windows (by luxurious we mean huge) - the architecture alone is

and less cosy than libraries, but sometimes you need to get some heavy-duty computer work done, and the line at CL is just way too long; these places serve to offload some of the midday printing frenzy. The Mac Commons and PC Commons at University Town (UTown) are the newest kids on the block, but unless you have a lecture at Stephen Riady or a three/four hour block to spare, it can be quite a way off (not that it takes two hours to get there, but it could take a good half hour). These locales tend to be very heavily populated at night though, due to their close proximity to the UTown colleges and 24-hour card access. ST U DY RO OM S Besides the ones in the libraries, the major study rooms can be found in YIH and UTown. Pet Peeve(s) : We can’t decide what we hate more. People

COM PU T I NG C LUST E R S There is usually at least one within each library, proportionate to library size. There is also the Computer Center along the way from Central Library to the Engineering block. Finally there are two at Yusof Ishak House (YIH). We think computing clusters are slightly more dull,

LIFESTYLE

who put mugs and other personal items on a st udy carrel, essentially colonizing it during high- demand periods like midterm or finals week; or people who leave st udy debris (read: used Starbucks coffee cups, various junk foods and stacks of dust y paper) behind, either for others to clean up after them, or maybe as a desperate means to “chope” a st udy desk for a few hours while they go do something else. The former is at least a cceptable if there are many other carrels available, but t he

latter is a complete no- no. Etiquette Note: Apart from leaving large items, people also tend to leave bits of themselves behind. Yes! We’ve seen used tissue paper, hair, and other unmentionables. We may share a desk, but we don’t have to share DNA. OU T D O OR SPAC E S Besides the traditional dark wood benches that line the walkways all over NUS, some prefer lounging

over a cuppa at Humble Origins, Spinelli or Cedele. Canteens, during off-peak hours, also work well, and make the afternoon snack easily available. #Senior Tip: The Central Forum, just underneath the Central Library, is a great space for project work. It’s sheltered but breezy, and has a full regiment of tables and benches, although not enough power points, so charge up. That’s it! There are plenty of

outdoor spaces, lawns, tables and benches to settle in over the course of the term, and you’ll probably find the one that works best for you, and your friends eventually. Outdoor spaces are more casual and group-study/project-work friendly. If the heat gets to you, you may have to find an indoor, but casual space. Some have even developed an art to occupying tutorial and discussion rooms by monitoring the room schedule. Have fun and all the best for the semester!

Hon Sui Sen Memorial Library from nus.edu.sg

LIFESTYLE

; TEA E L TO BB R BU ATION E.” O R R O AG GENE ERTS A S O ER SS ANGOUNG AL DE M T C NO T THE Y AL LO S ’ T E N “I WA AT R WE W WH KNO

BLAST FROM

Goh Yan Peng “It’s not mango sago or bubble tea; we want the younger generation to know what real local desserts are,” said Joann, one of the founders behind Sinpopo Brand. This explains why walking into the brightly-coloured shop felt more like entering a museum instead of an eatery. I was immediately greeted by traditional mosaic tiles and Khong Guan biscuit tins at the entrance. The pièce de résistance was a vintage Sharp television that a ton of customers Instagram-ed to death (myself included). The inside of the shop keeps to the retro theme as well. Food is served in old-fashioned rooster plates and large posters drawn in authentic 1960s style are plastered across the walls. My photographer and I first tried two traditional drinks – Sng Muay Pop ($3.90) and Fake Bird’s Nest ($1.90). While the latter seemed rather tasteless to us, the Sng Muay Pop was a party in my mouth. ȱ ¢ is sour plum in Hokkien, but the drink is bound to appeal even to those who avoid sour tastes. The plums are coated with soft ice balls and served in Sprite. The ice balls were surprisingly chewy and the drink is a perfectly refreshing combination that repels the summer heat. Joann then introduced to us three of the most popular dishes at Sinpopo. First was Kato Rice ($8.90), which was a savoury dish consisting of scissorsȬcut rice, curry chicken, pork chop, cabbage with vermicelli and egg. My first question to her was this: What exactly is so special about scissorsȬcut rice? Joann replied that it was particularly soft, and she was right. The curry that accompanies the rice is milky and fragrant, giving the whole dish a smooth texture. The curry chicken was so soft that I had no difficulty

SINPOPO BRAND is located at 458 Joo Chiat Road Singapore 427671 Tel: 6354 5034

LIFESTYLE

OM THE PAST

“THE

SHO PLAC P HAS A C E FO R FA TUALLY B MILIE E S TO COME A BON D.”

pulling meat from its bone. The pork chop was crispy but not oily and gave the dish some bite. The Ngoh Hiang ($7.90) was extra crunchy and juicy. While the rest of the elements in this dish were not particularly special, the sauce that goes with it was phenomenal. It looks like chilli sauce at first glance, but was actually sweet and sour, with a spicy kick as aftertaste. I suggested to Joann that she should sell this sauce by the bottle, and went on to dip everything in it. Similarly, the Sinpopo Nasi Lemak ($8.90) is served with the shop’s homemade chilli sauce. Huge, crispy pieces of anchovies, or ȱ – is mixed with the sauce, giving it a more holistic taste. This goes well with the creamy texture of the rice and the aromatic coconut scent that surrounds the dish. Sinpopo also serves a wide array of local desserts, some of which have gone extinct for quite some time. The Gula Melaka Soft Jelly ($4.90) is a treat for the sweet-toothed (and no-toothed) due to its smoothness. The coconut paste that tops the dessert gives the dish a rich flavour that is thoroughly enjoyable. I particularly liked the Ais Bor ($3.90) because Sinpopo has reinvented this simple, traditional treat to give it a full-bodied taste. This Ais Bor is not just dipped in colourful syrup, but is packed with atap chee, lychee pop, grass jelly and red bean on the inside. The peanuts sprinkled at the top made sure that the dish is not overwhelming sweet but has a savoury dimension. Joann recounted how a customer had brought his young children to the shop and introduced them to the dessert. He wanted to give them a taste of how he used to eat in the past, so he requested for the girls to eat out of a plastic bag instead of a bowl. “The shop has actually become a place for families to bond,” she said. Instead of simply functioning as a place to eat, Sinpopo has evolved into a social space. It not only allows people to communicate among themselves through reminiscing, but to also interact with a page from Singapore’s history book. After all, it is located at Joo Chiat, the one place that boasts Singapore’s best food stalls some 40 years ago. There is a certain meaning and integrity in rooting an eatery that celebrates traditional local cuisine there. With food this good and an immersive atmosphere like this, I believe Sinpopo is on its way to achieve what it was created for.

AND is cated at at Road e 427671 354 5034

Photo

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Tan

46 LIFESTYLE

BEERS AND FEARS

Sharifah Nursyafiqah

quick trip through your Facebook or Instagram timeline might reveal glimpses into the lives and times of yourself or your friends – nights of heady excitement and “you-only-liveonce” moments. Being the legal, card-carrying adults that we are today, such occasions may include mixes of alcoholic beverages poured in tandem to pulsing club beats, or rounds of chilled beer glasses accompanying late-night conversations with friends. Yet, festive merriment of loosened inhibitions aside, it is always wise being in control of your alcohol consumption – lest a fun night turns into a drunken blur that is of detriment to your mental and physical well-being (not to mention the possible embarrassment of drunken Snapchats you may have sent your crush). At its worst, alcohol excess leads to alcohol poisoning, affecting the brain, breathing and circulation, and may even lead to death. Research previously conducted have also shown that those who have started drinking from a young age may experience long-term negative effects on their memory, concentration, visuospatial skills, reasoning, planning and goal-directed behaviours – all skills you need to stay afloat in the collegiate academic rat-race.

Photo from huffpost.com

Here are a few tips from the Health Promotion Board (HPB), on keeping track of your sobriety, so you can have fun and be safe – because we like having you around. Keep track of how many drinks you have had. If you have a tendency to lose count, get a friend to help you. It also helps if you set a limit for yourself and stick to it. For example, you can make a pact with your friend not to exceed more than two drinks a night. (Binge drinking starts at having more than three standard alcoholic drinks on one occasion for women or more than four for men.) Know what you are drinking and control who gets to refill your drink: it’s either you or a friend you trust to look out for you. You’d want to keep track of what goes in your system – a standard alcoholic drink contains 10 grams of alcohol, and this can be estimated to be one can (330 ml) of regular

beer with 5% alcohol content, or half glass (175 ml) of wine with 15% alcohol content, or a shot (35 ml) of spirits with 40% alcohol content. Work that drink. Move around, dance or mingle with people instead of sitting down and just drinking. It takes longer to drink beer or sip wine than gulp down a shot of hard liquor. But slowing down the intake of alcohol by mixing different alcoholic drinks does not help one recover or stay sober longer. According to Dr. K Vijaya, Director of HPB’s Youth Health Division, regardless of type and volume, a standard drink of beer, wine, or spirits contains equivalent amounts of alcohol, and it is the level of alcohol in one’s blood that determines a person’s likelihood to get drunk. Drink slowly, and have a “spacer” by alternating between non-alcoholic and

alcoholic drinks. If you are thirsty and need a quencher, drink water to prevent dehydration, or something non-alcoholic at least. “It’s just like beer, but doesn’t have the ingredient in it that makes you drunk.” – Freaks and Geeks Avoid playing drinking games. But, if you decide to take the risk, be sharp – stay within your limit and bow out when you need to. Be assertive – don’t let anyone make you drink more than your limit.Eat before and during drinking, but avoid eating salty food like salted chips, fries, or sly bowls of complimentary peanuts in bars that make you thirsty.

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Photographers & Illustrators

Be part of the largest publication in NUS Email Position Recruitment - Your Name with a portfolio of your work to: theridge.creative@nussu.org.sg

WIRED

Gaming on the Go: No Lester Hio

s the new school year rolls around, Wired traditionally takes a look at the apps for iOS that will streamline your efficiency and make you a conscientious student. While productivity apps like iStudiez Pro, Evernote, Wunderlist and GoodReader might be helpful over the course of the semester, what happens when you inevitably get… bored in school? Gaming has come a long way on iOS since the days of the Angry Birds craze. Now the iOS platform is not merely for ‘casual’ gamers - there are now games out there that will draw you in and engage you on more fundamental level than propelling peeved-off birds across the screen.

Photo from itunes.apple.com

Infinity Blade II (iOS, US$6.99) Voted as one of the best games for the iPad, Infinity Blade II is an action role-playing game that fulfills traditional fantasy RPG elements: an engaging storyline, stunning visuals, and an epic quest. But it’s the gameplay and combat that really stands out in Infinity Blade II. Combat is intuitive and easy to pick up, yet as the game progresses, you’ll need to be faster and more precise in order to land your strikes. The hack-nslash elements of combat merely require a swipe of your finger or an on-screen tap, but with a variety of play styles that is up to your fancy, each Infinity Blade experience will be different for any player. Couple that with in-depth character customization in terms of items, weapons and gems, and Infinity Blade II will be a huge aid in your quest to kill off boredom.

Photo from boingboing.net

WIRED

Not so casual anymore

Photo from itunes.apple.com

Final Fantasy remakes (iOS, price varies) The Final Fantasy series have effectively become synonymous with Japanese RPG, big swords, and awesome hair in gaming, but that doesn’t change the fact that these are some of the most engaging, enjoyable, and nostalgic games in the history of gaming. Square Enix’s decision to port over some of the older Final Fantasy titles means that gamers can either recover the nostalgia or experience the series for the first time for themselves. Final Fantasy I through V, as well as the spinoff series Final Fantasy Tactics, are definitely worth a playthrough. In the interest of time, however, the better titles in the series that are really worth checking out would be Final Fantasy IV, V, III, and Final Fantasy Tactics: War of the Lions. These are faithful adaptations of the originals, so you’ll be getting turnbased combat, character management, wonderful storylines, and, of course, the quintessential RPG element that defines Final Fantasy.

Minecraft Pocket Edition (iOS/Android, US$6.99) It’s Minecraft. That you can carry around. If you have yet to be addicted to building sprawling castles or towering skyscrapers, or felt the rush of panic as a Creeper threatens to blow up hours of your painfully-crafted handiwork, then this is a good place to start. However, some liberties have to be taken for the pocket edition. So gone are the enemies, the health and hunger bars, and the crafting and resource-gathering. Instead, you get only the full-fledged building experience. With unlimited blocks that span 27 different materials, the world really is your oyster - one that you create, tear down, improve, and generally let your creativity take over. It’s Lego for the digital, mobile generation, except that its infinite in scope and the possibilities are limited only by your imagination. Gamers who need a goal or love a storyline probably won’t enjoy it. Gamers who want to create, roam, and generally have infinite control, however, will love it. And now you can carry that world everywhere you go, and escape into it anytime school gets dull - nothing beats that!

WIRED

Protecting you Siddharth Saoji

very one of us has at least 3 to 10 active accounts on web services like Facebook, Gmail, Linkedin, etc. If maintaining different passwords for multiple accounts is not tedious enough, IVLE makes us change our password every three months. Consequently, people end up using one simple (easy to remember) password for all their web services. Using one password across all accounts puts your digital life – and I’m not exaggerating.

Once one of your password is cracked, the hacker basically has a free pass to wreck havoc on your online identity. This can happen to anyone, even the most tech-savy people. Matt Honan, senior writer for Wired’s "Gadget Lab"'s digital life fell like a deck of cards when hackers managed to hack into his Google account.

• Don’t be obvious. The first thing to remember is not to keep passwords that can be guessed or searched easilyǰ like the name of your child or the birthday of your spouse. • Choosing the right password recovery question is also important. Use questions

memorable. If you really want to make it tough for the bad guys, you can start using non-dictionary words in the passphrases to further deter dictionary-based brute force attacks. An example of this would be “Nexus<<4rockz>>with2gígpro zexor”. (Convoluted, ain’t it?)

Don’t worry though, there are a few easy steps that you can take to better manage your passwords.

“

Using one password across all accounts puts your digital life in danger ”

with answers that aren’t as straightforward or easily googled.

Photo from itespresso.fr

• Use a two-step authentication process. Many of you might have heard about the two-step • Password hints are also as authentication introduced by important as the passwords Google. It double-protects your themselves. Instead of putting account by requiring an additional obvious hints, put misleading ones pin to login. This pin is texted with relevance only meaningful to your phone, or generated to you. through an app. Other services like Facebook and Dropbox also • Use passphrases. For a long provide this option. Check all the time, complex passwords – services you use for this option passwords containing numbers, and get it activated for a more small, capital letters and symbols secure authentication process. – was highly advocated for online identity security. • Alternatively, one can consider hardware-based However, these passwords are tokens as a second-step identity often difficult to remember. authentication. A good example Instead, we could use passphrases of such tokens is Yubikey. The – a string of words meaningful hardware tokens are more secure to the user – for example, as they would be harder to “Nexus4rockswith2gigprocessor”. tamper with, as compared to their This not only makes the password software counterparts, like the more resilient to brute force Google Authenticator app. attacks, but also likely to be more

WIRED

your digital life • One should also set up another email account specifically for password recovery. In many scenarios, your hacked email account is the hacker’s base to recover passwords for your other accounts. Hence, it is important that you have a separate account for password recovery. • Always change default passwords and delete emails from service providers that come with explicit mention of your passwords. • Lastly, stay informed of the latest security breaches. Read tech news regularly to keep an eye out to check if your web service has been hacked and if you need to take any measures to ensure the safety of your information. authentication. Some initial effort from your side can be the difference between you enjoying a nice movie with your girlfriend or her chastising you for the release of certain photos due to a compromised Picasa account.

Special Mention: Password Managers This article wouldn’t be complete without the mention of password managers, a popular form of password management these days. Password managers do provide a mentally relieving automated alternative to the users. These, as the name suggests, manage all passwords to your web services. They generate, store and deploy complex alphanumeric-symbolic passwords, which you don’t even Photo from sodahead.com need to know. The only password you do need to remember is the master password to unlock the manager itself. Some of the popular password managers include Lastpass or Keypass. softwares, and this means that they can be hacked like any other web service.

At the end of the day, do keep in mind that password managers are

These methods may seem cumbersome to start with, but once in practice they provide a streamlined and hygienic approach to your digital

WIRED

YOU SHOULD BE RE SHOPPI Lim Wei Di

ttention Ȉ hopaholicsȈ! You can now get rewarded for shopping! What? Someone who finally understands… and who would have thought that it would be three boys.

Created by Rainmakers Lab, the three founders – Alex Leong, Andrew Wong and Neo Zhi Zhong (our very own NUS graduate) – have created a product that nails it right at the heart of the Singaporean lifestyle – shopping and freebies! ShopG uru, their brainchild, is a loyalty scheme app that rewards you for simply going shopping! Available on the Apple App Store and the Google Playstore, simply download it onto your smartphone and let it run when you go shopping. Their proprietary iSenze technology detects the app once you enter one of their participating stores, and reward points are immediately given to your account.

Photos from shopguru.sg

WIRED

BE REWARDED FOR OPPING

Photo from shopguru.sg

What if you are too broke to go shopping? Good news for you then! You don’t have to buy anything to get rewarded. Simply stepping into the shop would earn you between 25-35 points on your account. The accumulated points can be exchanged for a host of rewards, carefully tailored to your shopping preferences. These include exclusive ShopG uru-only deals with partner-retailers, shopping vouchers, free coffee, and even donations to charity organisations. Oh wait, did I miss out tickets to Universal Studios Singapore? ShopG uru currently has 55 retail partners, from clothing stores like Springfield, Tracyeinny, True Religion, blackmarket, to IT retailers like EpiLife and sports gear stores like World of Sports. They are also in the talks with food and beverage (F&B) merchants and supermarkets. T he first wave of F&B partners will be rolled out later this year. Better yet, NUS students, staff and alumni will also be entitled to 400 reward points upon registration, with the special referral code, “DEAL”. With more than 10 000 people already on Shopguru, you would be silly to miss this out!

SPORTS

NUS CANOE POLO TEAM Rebecca Seow

Women’s IVP Team displaying their unwavering spirit in the 2012 National Championships by Rebecca Seow

eard of a water contact sport that combines aggressiveness and strength, hand tackling and jostling? Canoe polo incorporates all of these, and as can be determined from the name, it is a combination of water polo, kayaking and basketball in one. In this intensive, fast-paced sport, we see players sprinting across the ends of the playing court on kayaks, passing or dribbling a water polo ball with the intention of putting it into the overhead goalpost two metres above water. It is no doubt an exciting game of two short seven or ten minute halves, nearly always leaving spectators craving for more. Played in a swimming pool, reservoir or lake, it is not uncommon to question the size of the playing court that seems too small. This only promises more exciting clashes and contact amongst players that define the energy of the sport itself. The Singapore canoe polo community participates in several competitions organised all year

round. Singapore has warmed up to the introduction of this newly developed sport, and this is the 15th year the Singapore Canoe Federation (SCF) will be organising the National Canoe Polo Championship 2013 which falls on the weekends of 27th July to 11th August this year. The public and spectators from the institutions alike are all openly invited to join in the hyped-up atmosphere where we will witness the annual battle for this most coveted championship trophy at Pandan Reservoir. Competition is exceptionally great amongst teams in the community, where players seasoned and new alike can compete on the same playing field. Players therefore train at least three times a week, clocking about 12 hours of training each week to match up to the high standards set by experienced teams. It is by sheer determination and training that even some new players gain the qualifications to compete in world canoe polo championships hosted

overseas with the national team. In other words, the sport gives athletes the chance to excel on many platforms, and not just the veterans. The NUS canoe polo men’s and women’s teams have done NUS proud by clinching both the second runner-up positions in the inter-tertiary categories during the last National Championship in 2012. The women’s team also clinched the second runnerup spot in the women’s open category to finish with a double victory. In the recent canoe polo opens championship organised by Singapore Polytechnic in March 2013, the NUS women’s team outdid itself by achieving a podium finish for the first time in the last three years. We are optimistic about both teams’ aims to hit greater heights this season by bettering their achievements. However, canoe polo is not just about rigorous training and competition. Players can expect lots of fun learning and mastering

a variety of boat skills such as the “bow over”, “stern dip” and the “eskimo roll” that is widely used when kayaking in the open sea. Paddle skills are also crucial to ball passing and dribbling of the ball on water. If you are a canoeist or kayaking enthusiast who has prior interest in kayaking, you would definitely have an edge in the maneuvering aspect of the game. Nevertheless, newcomers will often be drawn into this sport with a passion like no other. To be part of the canoe polo experience first-hand either as a spectator or a player, do come down to the Sports and Recreation Centre (Men: Mondays and Wednesdays, Women: Tuesdays and Thursdays; 8:45 – 10:45pm) to get involved in the NUS training scene. The public is welcome as well to be part of the crowd during the most coveted National Canoe Polo Championship 2013 at Pandan Reservoir (more information can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/ sgcpnc2013/ where live screening of matches can be viewed, as well as score sheets and more live updates). For more information about TeamNUS canoe polo and our 2013 recruitment drive, please visit the webpage (sites.google.com/site/ nuswcp/). Alternatively, you may contact Wan Yu (women’s captain) at 9768 6463 or Daowei (men’s captain) at 9382 6680.

Men’s team doing NUS proud with the third place finish in the 2012 National Championships IVP by Rebecca Seow

SPORTS

Rishian Balaskanda

MISMATCH AT THE ROLAND GARROS their domination is not likely to end given the longevity players are showing these days. Just a few days before the final, world number one Djokovic had been almost cruelly drawn against Nadal in the semi - finals. Nadal’s injuries over the past year had seen him drop down the ATP world rankings. As a result, when seeding was carried out for the French Open, the clay court specialist Nadal was drawn in the represented an excellent chance for the great Swiss maestro Roger Federer to make it into the final of the French Open. While Federer had finally won the French Open in 2009, the one year Rafael Nadal had failed to make the final, his weakness on clay had always been his Achilles’ heel, preventing him from becoming the most complete tennis player of the modern era. However, he was knocked out in the quarter finals by the muscular Frenchmen Jo - Wilfried Tsonga in comes after the 2012 edition where she bowed out in the very first round; a shocking upset marking the first time she had ever fallen in the very first round in a grand slam. This prompted some soul searching for Williams but in winning her second French Open after 11 years, Serena Williams capped off a remarkable return to form. She is currently the world number one, reigning champion at Wimbledon and the US Open as well as winner of two gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics. Despite the continuing success of women’s tennis, the debate of equal prize money continues to rage on. Yet another grand slam final has gone by with less than three sets being played and while the ladies gracing the tennis courts have never been more glamourous or athletic, it does not change the fact that women’s tennis matches are far shorter than those played by the men. While this author is all for equal treatment and equal remuneration, such a policy would only be appropriate if both parties were playing the same five set game.* Although we may never hear the end of this debate, the 112th edition of the French Open can be considered a great success with record attendance figures, an ever increasing global viewership and quality tennis for all to enjoy. We look forward to an exciting tennis season to follow with more thrills, spills and champions to be crowned.

ummer may have come late in Europe this year but by late May, the weather in Paris was absolutely perfect for the 112th edition of the French Open. Roland Garros is named after a famous World War I aviator who used to play tennis regularly at the tennis court. For two weeks, the best in the world rallied on the red clay of Roland Garros with some truly sumptuous tennis before the women’s and men’s finals on the 8th and 9th of June respectively. In the men’s division an all Spanish matchup had been assured with seven-time French Open winner Rafael Nadal lining up against the seasoned David Ferrer. Nadal reaching the final of the French Open represented a massive turnaround for the Spaniard who had struggled for most of 2012 with injury, but since the beginning of the 2013 season, had been showing truly imperious form, raking up over 40 victories on tour with two losses. For aficionados of the game it was unfortunately a mismatched final with Nadal romping to victory in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3. Having won his record breaking eighth title, Rafael Nadal is now the most decorated player in the French Open’s illustrious history. No disrespect intended towards Ferrer and his success over the years but he does not belong to the Big Four. The rivalry between Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal has led to the sport’s growing popularity around the world. This quartet has ruled the roost in tennis for several years now and

David Ferrer vs Rafa Nadal from uk.eurosport.yahoo.com

Serena Williams vs. Maria Sharapova from livetennisguide.com

same half as the Serbian Djokovic. What followed was an epic five set encounter which lasted for nearly five hours with Djokovic pushed to the brink and coming back from the edge of death on numerous occasions. It would not be enough to deny Nadal, the king of clay. The match finished with a final scoreline of 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7, 9-7. In the end Nadal simply wore Djokovic down although this match truly was worthy of the final. With both Nadal and Djokovic on one side of the draw, this

a thrilling 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 encounter. Tsonga, however failed to make it past David Ferrer in the semi finals losing 6-1, 7-6, 7-3, 6-2, thus forcing the French to continue their 30 year wait for their 1st Roland Garros Champion. Not since Yannick Noah surprised everyone in 1983 has any Frenchmen gotten close to the elusive title. Over on the women’s side of things, Serena Williams redeemed herself by overpowering Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-4 in another very one sided women’s final. This

SPORTS

SPICY CRICKET C INDIAN PREMIE Ashwathaman Muruganandan

icture this scene: a bustling sea of sport fans at the stadium, pulsating waves of overwhelming passion and emotion, and sheer love for the game practically bursting out into the field. Such scenes are common on television and indeed also synonymous with English Premier League (EPL) sport matches. Nevertheless, we witness such scenes in the relatively new Indian Premiere League (IPL) too - a mega cricket event sparked by India’s victory in the T20 World Cup, which has given the Indian cricket devotees reason to rejoice. Although IPL is rather new in the world of cricket, it has already

generated an overwhelming craze amongst cricket lovers in India and other cricket-playing nations abroad. Target Rating Points (TRPs) have been peaking new highs and until the last season in 2012, was only second to the EPL, even though the IPL is only just into its sixth season. The brand value of the two-month cricket league is 17 million SGD and this amount keeps increasing every year as the league grows in popularity and expands its audience. For those who may not know the IPL well, this iconic cricket tournament is a battle between nine teams, with each team named

Cheer Leaders from dansyncentertainment.com

after its state. The Chennai Super Kings, the Mumbai Indians, the Kolkata Knight Riders, the Delhi Daredevils, Kings XI Punjab, the Rajasthan Royals, the Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Sun

Risers Hyderabad and the Pune Warriors battle each other in hopes of emerging tops. The inaugural IPL held a grand opening ceremony at the Navi Mumbai stadium on April 17, 2008. The stadium was jam-packed with performances from Oscar award music director A.R. Rahman, Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan as well as other celebrities, who

“ Gayle and Kohli. Photo from timesofindia.indiatimes.com

THE IPL IS CELEBRATED NATIONWIDE AS A GRAND SUMMER FESTIVAL AND AS SUCH, SINCE ITS INAUGURATION UNTIL TODAY, IS ALWAYS COUPLED WITH MANY WONDERFUL STAR-STUDDED PERFORMANCES ”

SPORTS

ET COMBO – THE EMIER LEAGUE performed in show of support for their home teams. The IPL is celebrated nationwide as a grand summer festival and as such, from its inauguration until today, is always coupled with many wonderful star-studded performances. Many companies, recognising the wide reach of the IPL, jumped on the bandwagon to make use of the IPL to boost their businesses. IPL-edition products are rolled out every season of game. For instance, German carmaker Volkswagen introduced its IPL Edition Vento and telecommunications giant Vodafone rolled out innovative advertisements through IPLcentric “Zoo Zoo Dolls”. Even as the IPL is newly inaugurated in the “family of Leagues”, hype over the IPL, as much as it is contagious, can already be found across the entire Indian nation. For every single sixes and fours cricket hit by the players, the fans show their uncontainable excitement by screaming wildly, dancing, and even performing the Mexican wave. Spectators in their homes get a taste of such a bustling atmosphere too as they listen to interesting comments by a team of unique commentators. Such commentators include Ravi Shastri and Danny Morrison – two of the most entertaining commentators of the IPL. Morrison nicknames players in style, for instance “The Huss Master” for Chennai Super Kings Opener Mike Hussey. growing popularity of the IPL, audiences and avid cricket fans can be sure of much more good cricket action to come. competition. Nevertheless, such an award is a new sight on the sports field – winning teams are rewarded with money and recognition, with integrity and sportsmanship deemed to be an unspoken given. It is perhaps important that other leagues look at the IPL and consider the option of having similar awards to the Fair Play Award, so as to encourage proper play on the field and the right sporting values.

Photo from 9cric.com

Moving on to the crowned champions of the six seasons played so far, we have the Rajasthan Royals, champions in 2008, the Deccan Chargers in 2009, the Chennai Super Kings in 2010 and 2011, the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012 and the newly-minted victors Mumbai Indians in the 2013 IPL cricket season. The Chennai Super Kings, IPL champions of 2010 and 2011, can be considered one of the most successful teams so far as they managed to reach five finals and one semi-final in all six seasons. Nevertheless, no one team has been crowned champion for more than two consecutive years. Therefore, the entire IPL scene is still hot with excitement and tension with so many likely contenders for the top spot every season. Coupled together with the

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One extremely interesting and unique part of the IPL worth talking about goes beyond mere financial rewards. An additional

FOR EVERY SINGLE SIXES AND FOURS HIT BY THE PLAYERS, FANS OF ALL AGE GROUPS SHOW THEIR SUPPORT BY SCREAMING THEIR LUNGS OUT, DANCING AND EVEN PERFORMING THE MEXICAN WAVE”

award which recognizes players’ integrity in the game, the Fair Play Award encourages sportsmanship and fair play on the field. Such an award is crucial to upholding the core values of sport and

SPORTS

Pacer’s rising superstar Paul George displaying his dunking skills Photo from facebook.com

PACERS’ PAUL GEORGE A budding super-star? More like a hard-working blue-collar team

SPORTS

Yang Kaiyuan

re you excited that the Los Angeles Lakers have made it into the NBA finals this year? Well, you shouldn’t be. Because the Lakers did not make it into the final this year. In fact, it was knocked out of the first round in the play-off. But chances are you probably (pretend to) know more about the entertainmentdriven Lakers and its superstar Kobe Bryant than what is done on both ends of the floor to make the Indiana Pacers the number one defensive team in the NBA. Fact is, Jeremy Lim, despite being a marginally average point guard in the league, has his face on every single Gatorade sports drink bottle sold in China for reasons none other than that he is an AsianAmerican and not camera shy. And that is why when Roy Hibbert was asked during the post epic Eastern Final Game Six press conference for what reasons he only finished tenth in the NBA Defensive Player of the Year voting, given he had such a solid post-season defense, he candidly and earnestly remarked, “You know what, because y’all m************ don’t watch us play throughout the year, to tell you the truth. That’s fine. I’m going to be real with you. And I don’t care if I get fined. You know what, we play, we’re not on TV all the time. Reporters are the ones that are voting. And it is what it is. If I don’t make it, that’s fine. I’m still going to do what I have to do.” “Well said,” Paul George added. Well said.

The Indiana Pacers finished the regular season as Central Division Champions, ranked first in the Defensive Rating, holding off opponent teams to score an average of only 90.7 per game (the best offensive team scored

106.2 per game). Yet almost no major reporters or critics had any hope for the Pacers advancing past even the Eastern Semi-Final. People were slightly surprised to see the Pacers beating the Hawks in six games, quite shocked to see they finish off the Knicks to advance to the Eastern Final, and very taken aback to find them forcing a Game Seven with reigning champions, Miami Heat.

free himself up for wide-open easy shots most of the time. In this play-off season, he stepped up more in offense with more driving to the basket to absorb the defense for his teammates. How does it work? Since he is primarily a shooting guard, when he gets a screen and an open look at the basket - if he is shooting well that night, that will be Pacers’ offence for the night. But it is almost impossible for a team or player People soon reduced the entire to be consistent in the offense, Indiana Pacers to budding so he has to get his teammates superstar Paul George. But involved (and also because he is let’s not forget that he has been no Kobe Bryant). When he gets a consistent throughout the past one screen and an open look at high season and in fact, is the winner of post, he now does a shot fake and this year's NBA Most Improved drives to the basket for a layup or Player award. He is quickly a wide pass to open teammates on ascending into the A team, about to the perimeter. His ball handling cash in on his sudden stardom. really needs improvement and he is only second tier when playing But he won’t. Because he is born isolation. Having said that, he to be in a blue-collar team like the moves fast and is quick in his Indiana Pacers. hands, and is thus known as one of the most formidable defenders There’s no arguing over how in the league. good Paul is. At 2.04 m tall, he is a dominant shooting guard for any But ultimately what makes the team. He is extremely athletic and Pacers such a critically acclaimed diligent on the floor. His skill set team is not Paul George. It is the is still limited, but what he lacks blue-collar work ethic and team in skills he makes up for with effort. The Pacers’ defense is tophis efforts. Currently, his most rated in NBA because the players

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lethal offensive tool is his jumper. Paul George has stepped up to take over more roles in offense following the absence of Danny Granger. He has a wide shooting range and a good sense of spacing on the floor, allowing him to

do not stop fighting. They fight for every possession of the ball, communicate with each other to adjust, and basically go all out to be very physical and tough. Roy Hibbert and Paul George may be speaking more after the game so people get the impression that it is their team. But it is not. It is everyone’s team. Everyone is working hard taking away passes, always staying in a good position to box out opponents, and fighting for every rebound on both ends of the floor. No team ever dribbles with ease on the Pacers’ floor because they put pressure on ball handlers every time. In transition, you will always see all five Pacers players run back with everything they’ve got to set up defensive positions (only a handful of teams do that in NBA). It is fairly difficult for a team to stay consistent offensively, and ultimately it is a team’s defense that determines how far a team will go. I doubt the Pacers will have a major roster change next season, and their captain and best offensive player on the perimeter Danny Granger will return, too. Their core players are very young, with Paul George and Lance Stephenson being only 23. This is a tough, driven and focused team with a blue-collar mindset. The Pacers are the team to watch for the next season. I guarantee you will be surprised.

HE IS BORN TO BE IN A BLUECOLLAR TEAM LIKE INDIANA PACERS. ”

SPORTS

the winner fakes it all? Goh Yan Peng

Mahmood Al Zarooni faces a possible life ban from telegraph.co.uk

ust as the revelation of Lance Armstrong’s doping habits barely slipped out of our minds, another drug scandal has shaken the world of sports. The Godolphin scandal involved Mahmood Al Zarooni doping at least seven winning race horses with performanceenhancing steroids. Although the two cases are similar, the former seems to have caused much more of an outrage. This is probably because Lance Armstrong has always been seen as an inspirational philanthropist and champion, the paragon of a winner. Although Zarooni’s crime has received much less public attention, it seems a lot more serious – it has an extra element that was absent in Armstrong’s case – the violation of animal rights. This point is recognized by various animal rights groups around the world. Some of these organisations have made use of the scandal to hold protests against horse racing altogether. PETA, for one, did so against Kentucky Derby in the United States, far away from Godolphin stables in England. These objections

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point to one thing - the stables have failed to address one very important, international and powerful target group.

THE DISGRACED TRAINER WAS SENTENCED TO AN EIGHT YEAR BAN FROM THE SPORT A FEW WEEKS AFTER THE SCANDAL BROKE OUT”

year ban from horse-riding a few weeks after the scandal broke out. He had publicly apologized for his “catastrophic error”. Even the horse racing regulations in Dubai, where Godolphin is owned and managed, were immediately reviewed because of this incident. All of these were wise decisions to tackle the scandal and appease the public. However, they are evidently insufficient. It may be that the Mahmood’s eight year ban was lenient, and perhaps the fact that he cheated seemed more important that his violation of animal rights. It could also be because his forceful doping of these race horses is presented to be too leniently dealt with.

Nevertheless, the fact that animal groups are still heavily protesting against horse racing after all these measures and punishments have been rolled out has to be addressed. Those in charge of Godolphin have to also find out and manage this powerful target group before the situation spirals out of control. Unfortunately, these measures may still be inadequate. After all, this scandal is merely one out of several other doping cases in horse-riding history. Mahmood’s apology is not enough to guarantee that similar incidents will not happen in the future. Animal rights groups, along with concerned individuals, look for long-term solutions and solid promises that such incidents will not recur. This Godolphin scandal may be astounding and terrible, but it does at least one good thing. It serves as a cautionary tale to warn the horse-riding industry of the alarming consequences doping brings. Hopefully Mahmood will be the last of such rogue trainers.

PETA and other smaller animal rights groups and individuals have always been considered nuisances in other fields. The farming and fashion industries, for example, are one of their biggest targets of protest. The sporting industry is barely under fire, with disputed sports like bullfighting and cock fighting as the exception. Now, however, the horseracing industry is under increasing pressure from these groups because of the doping scandal. Indeed, the investigation and prosecution of Mahmood Al Zarooni was swift. The disgraced trainer was sentenced to an eight

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THE GODOLPHIN SCANDAL INVOLVED MAHMOOD AL-ZAROONI DOPING AT LEAST 7 WINNING RACE HORSES WITH PERFORMANCE ENHANCING STEROIDS”

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