The RIDGE - January 2013 by The Ridge

mica (p) 113/10/2012

THE RIDGE MAGA ZINE

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CONTENTS NEWS

OPINION

ENTERTAINMENT

05 WIRELESS PREDICAMENT IN UTOWN

13 THE ART OF SMALL TALK

27 MOVIE PREVIEW + BOOK REVIEWS + WHAT’S IN MY IPOD

06 NUSSU ASKS FOR CHEAPER TRAVEL CONCESSIONS FOR TERTIARY STUDENTS

14 RELIGION, SCIENCE AND RATIONALITY

07 LACK OF HALAL OPTIONS A CONCERN, SAYS MUSLIM STUDENTS IN NUS

INTERVIEW

16 (IR)RELIGIOUS CURIOUSITY

30 ENTERTAINING YOURSELF IN THE GREAT WHITE NORTH

18 THE GROWING PAINS OF STUDENT JOURNALISM IN NUS

32 IN HOPE OF A LOCAL SOUND – STRAIT GROOVE

22 “FOLLOW YOUR PASSION” IS UNSOUND ADVICE

34 PLAY(S) ON!

08 NOT FOR FAME OR GLORY 24 SINGAPORE WITHOUT HEELS 11 THE BIGHEARTED

LIFESTYLE

WIRED

SPORTS

36 COOL CASH

48 HANDY DEVICE FOR ALL STUDENTS!

56 HI, TECH!

38 JAN 2013 EVENTS

50 FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT FINDMORE@NUSL

58 RED BULL FLUGTAG SINGAPORE 2012

40 A CONFESSION FROM AN ONLINE SHOPPING CONVERT

60 WATER IS GREAT 52 FIVE COOL THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR ANDROID DEVICE

42 HAUTE HOLIDAYS 54 NEXUS 4: THIS SHIP AIN’T FLAGGING 44 NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS: MENDING THE BROKEN ONES 45 THE BUSY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO FAST (HOME-COOKED) FOOD

62 LIONEL MESSI

EDITOR’S NOTE

EDITOR’S NOTE F

reedom. That’s what we live for. In the midst of a number of defamation lawsuits and the eternal battle between authorities and media-types, there tends to be a fear of speaking up. I want to categorically state that here at The RIDGE, we are unashamed of tackling sensitive issues if we need to. We do not apologise for raising issues that affect significant, if not the whole, student population and we are equally unapologetic about challenging stereotypes and norms. There are no canonical societal rules which dictate that “thou shalt not criticise”. We are certainly not here to engage in meaningless speculation and every effort will be made to ensure that all of our student writers will have done the necessary research to substantiate their opinions, backed up by the review process of our editorial team. With this in mind, we bring you a line-up of articles that

promises to challenge your pre-conceived notions of how things ought to be. News Desk brings you news of the troubles with Wi-Fi that some students staying on campus are facing (p. 5). We also have a profile piece of the NUSSU President, an office which is not always well understood (p. 8). Regardless of your opinions about religion and its place in NUS, Opinion Desk writer, Vanessa’s article about interfaith dialogue will certainly give you pause (p. 16). If you think that News and Opinion Desks are the only two desks where we have the space and opportunity to challenge stereotypes? Wrong again. Entertainment Desk Editor, Nicole, will hope to change your mind about going to unfancied Canada for a SEP with her piece on the entertainment scene in Calgary (p. 30). Lifestyle Desk

writer, Candice, used to be a fan of old-school brickand-mortar physical shops but the myriad options that online shopping presents was too much to resist (p. 39). Over at the Wired Desk, Wei Di unpacks the unexpected and surprisingly handy feature launched by the NUS Libraries (p. 50). And the Sports desk rounds it up with a neat exposé on the forgotten qualities of water that will make you think twice before reaching for that well-packaged sports drink (p. 60). My assurance to our readers is that we will be tireless in our quest to dispel the myth of the boring university publication. With every issue, we want to raise the level of discussion, challenge our readers to move outside of their comfort zone and open your eyes to realms of possibilities that you might not have considered. Sometimes we will be right, and sometimes we will be wrong.

But I believe that speaking up is, more often, the better option. J.S. Mill, the 19th Century British thinker is said to have called the suppression of opinions, a “peculiar evil” – yes, even opinions that were later proven to be false. As long as there is a rumour out there waiting to be clarified, an issue out there waiting to be debated, a stereotype waiting to be debunked, we will never rest. Even before the nefarious Road Runner can make his signature “meep-meep” cry, you can be sure that we’ll be off to formulate an opinion on it.

Augustin Chiam, Chief Editor theridge.chiefeditor@nussu.org.sg

EDITORIAL TEAM

EDITORIAL BOARD

CONTRIBUTORS

Chief Editor Augustin Chiam theridge.chiefeditor@nussu.org.sg

News Desk Lee Miao Qian

a0083537@nus.edu.sg

Opinion Desk

Deputy Chief/Entertainment Desk Editor Nicole Kang theridge.depchiefeditor@nussu.org.sg Creative Director Nguyen Son Tra theridge.creative@nussu.org.sg Head Designer Patricia Natalia Jonatan theridge.headdesigner@nussu.org.sg News Desk Editors Gerrard Lai theridge.news@nussu.org.sg Opinion Desk Editor Elliot Tan theridge.opinion@nussu.org.sg Lifestyle Desk Editor Rachel Ong theridge.lifestyle@nussu.org.sg Sports Desk Editor Prateek Sinha theridge.sports@nussu.org.sg

Debra Chua

cyr.debra@nus.edu.sg

Malavika Venugopal

a0088620@nus.edu.sg

Liu Xinying Vanessa

u0908787@nus.edu.sg

Entertainment Desk Jennifer Kwan

a0100235@nus.edu.sg

Tay Dixin

a0073243@nus.edu.sg

Melissa Yasmin Hafidz Stewart

a0083677@nus.edu.sg

Anupama Hegde

a0078256@nus.edu.sg

Lifestyle Desk Teresa Widodo

teresa.widodo @nus.edu.sg

Choi Yik Heng

choiyikheng@nus.edu.sg

Sharifah Nursyafiqah

a0083099@nus.edu.sg

Candice Chua

a0077257@nus.edu.sg

Wired Desk Michelle Teo

a0101515@nus.edu.sg

Lim Wei Di

a0083092@nus.edu.sg

Siddharth Saoji

siddharth.saoji@nus.edu.sg

Sports Desk Goh Yan Peng

a0085070@nus.edu.sg

Naveen Prakash

naveen.prakash@nus.edu.sg

Li ZhengRong Eric

ericli@nus.edu.sg

Ong Hua Han

a0103446@nus.edu.sg

Designers

Wired Desk Editor Lester Hio theridge.wired@nussu.org.sg Copy Editor Samantha Wong theridge.copyeditor@nussu.org.sg

Ye Zichen

zichen@nus.edu.sg

Liu Jiahui

a0091723@nus.edu.sg

Min Er

a0099181@nus.edu.sg

Ningxin Yang

ningxin.y@nus.edu.sg

Veena Salim

veena_salim@nus.edu.sg

Social Media Manager Lim Wei Di

NUS STUDENTSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; UNION

Online Copy Editor Ryann Stephanie Kwan

NUSSU Communications Secretary Gladys Yeo commsec@nussu.org.sg

a0083092@nus.edu.sg

a0105010@nus.edu.sg

Guest Writer Solange Harpham

s.harpham10@eabjm.org

NEWS

WIRELESS PREDICAMENT IN UTOWN Gerrard Lai

IT Acceptable Use Policy in NUS from bammm.wordpress.com

f you live on campus and are contemplating plugging that wireless router into the Internet cable, you should think twice. According to NUS’ Acceptable Use Policy for IT resources, “setting up such devices without prior approval” could lead to “penalties ranging from fines to other more serious disciplinary actions”. In a circular dated 17 September 2012, NUS Computer Centre reminded UTown residents of their stance against the unauthorized use of networking devices like the Wi-Fi router. The Service Delivery Manager of NUS Computer Centre’s IT Care, Pradap Mohan, enumerated certain concerns that may inconvenience both the router user and others around. Chief among them was that connecting incorrectly configured Wi-Fi routers could “trigger builtin network security measures that prevent service disruption to other users”. Additionally, unsecured wireless signals run the risk of cyber-hackers preying on students’ credentials and identity data, thereby compromising their

privacy. One Cinnamon resident, who spoke on conditions of anonymity, expressed his concern as he relied heavily on the router he installed. The Year 2 Life Science student, who possesses at least five portable digital devices, on top of a printer, had to rely on the wireless router to maintain an internet connection. His room layout did not allow him to access the Local Area Network (LAN) port from his desk. “These devices would be pretty much useless otherwise, since I cannot connect to the NUS wireless [network] from my $2,800-a-semester room,” he explained. Room rates for Tembusu, Cinnamon and Angsana Residential colleges range from about $2,000 to $2,400 per semester without meal plans. He added that although he was aware of the policy, he had to continue using the wireless router for his schoolwork. “The wording is up to interpretation and to my understanding, I am not breaching it,” he explained. However, he said

that he will discontinue using the router if ordered to do so. In a snap poll done with 15 Tembusu residents yesterday, more than two-thirds of them expressed their unawareness of the policy against using network devices like the Wi-Fi router. The management committees of Cinnamon, Angsana and Tembusu Colleges have drafted a letter to the NUS Computer Centre on behalf of their residents to protest the current stance. Currently, many UTown residents use wireless routers in their rooms for their tablets and smartphones to access the Wi-Fi service. This is as wireless coverage from the NUS network does not extend beyond the lounges on each level of their Residences. According to the Computer Centre’s website, there are currently 1,000 wireless access points in Kent Ridge campus, which has provided almost full wireless coverage throughout the campus. The combined student committee

objected to Computer Centre’s stand against using wireless routers as they felt that this practice was “neither clearly expressed nor expressly covered” by the Acceptable Use Policy. They took issue with an article in the policy which stated that “Users shall not tamper with network points in any way, such as extending the cable to relocate the point to another room or open area temporarily or permanently, thereby blocking it from access by other Users”, but had no clear guidelines on the use of routers. The Director of the Computer Centre had replied to the letter to clarify the Computer Centre’s concerns about the use of wireless routers as “signal interface, mis-configured [sic] routers and security exposure”. He also expressed the intention to meet with the Residences’ committee leaders to work out the issue. There was however no given timeline as to how long they will take to resolve the issue.

NEWS

NUSSU ASKS FOR CHEAPER TRAVEL CONCESSIONS FOR TERTIARY STUDENTS Lee Miao Qian

he National University of Singapore Students’ Union (NUSSU) recently submitted a proposal to the Public Transport Council (PTC) to request that the transport authorities make two changes to the Tertiary Student Concession Card scheme. They are asking for a 20 percent or more decrease in the prices of monthly passes and a cost cap for single trips. Currently, card holders can choose from three concession schemes — $45 for up to four train trips per day (Train Concession Pass), $52 for unlimited bus rides (Bus Concession Pass) and $97 for a combination of both (Hybrid Concession Pass).

NUSSU president Goh Ren Kai said the union is targeting the price of the hybrid pass as not many students make enough trips to reap significant cost savings. After the 20 percent cut, hybrid passes will cost $77.60 instead of $97. NUSSU argues that monthly passes can be cheaper without the public transport operators having to shift the cost to other groups of commuters. According to the proposal, the price cut will instead encourage students to take public transport more frequently. Similarly, the cost cap on single trips will make traveling more affordable for students who

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Email Position Recruitment - Your Name with a portfolio of your work to: theridge.chiefeditor@nussu.org.sg theridge.headdesigner@nussu.org.sg

Writer Designer

One of the buses that ply the NUS route, from bammm.wordpress.com

frequently embark on long trips. NUSSU’s proposal came after the PTC approached them for feedback. They seized the opportunity to engage the PTC as public transport pricing is a concern of many tertiary students. On Sept. 8 and 9, the union conducted an online student survey and found that 83 percent of the respondents felt the hybrid pass is unreasonably priced.

The National Technological University and the Singapore Management University have endorsed the proposal. Goh said the proposal would be disseminated to NUS students after NUSSU receives a reply from the PTC. “We will look into the sort of data we can get from students after PTC replies,” he added.

NEWS

LACK OF HALAL OPTIONS A CONCERN, SAYS MUSLIM STUDENTS IN NUS Muslim Stall at The Deck by Augustin Chiam Augustin Chiam

In November 2012, an online petition1 made its rounds on the Internet recently, asking for “one more halal certified muslim stall at the arts canteen at nus [sic]”. “The Deck”, the canteen situated in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences (FASS), currently has only one Halal-certified stall, not including fast food stalls and the upper “Deck”. ‘Halal’ means “lawful and allowable” and certification has important consequences on the dining options available to Muslims. NUS is no stranger to the Halal requirements with every canteen and food court in NUS having separate tray-clearing facilities for Halal and non-Halal food. The problem is that for the Muslim student in FASS, there are basically only two choices: eat at the Muslim stall, which serves the usual fare of mainly Nasi Padang, or eat fast food.

Medicine) explained that, “we’re [the Muslim students] not asking for 10 Halal stalls, just maybe more than 1 so that we will have options, and hopefully healthy and affordable options.” The creators of the petitions are Tehreem (Yr 3, Communications and New Media) and Mohd Ilham Firdaus (Yr 2, Social Work). Both of them emphasized that this was a petition that was “peaceful” and they were seeking merely to “gather responses from both the Muslim and non-Muslim community.” “We, the creators, hoped that this peaceful petition could enable the authorities to know that the issue of food choice is significantly important to the student body, and it would be constructively addressed. We also seek to collaborate and cooperate in any suitable means that could benefit this process,” said Ilham.

This is also a problem at the other faculties, albeit a lesser one. “The Frontier”, the Science Faculty’s canteen, only has two stalls certified Halal. One is the “Indonesian Panggang” stall and the other sells Nasi Padang.

“We hope that the existing stalls could apply for Halal certification in order to enable Muslim students to have an additional choice in affordable canteen food,” they added.

Amelina Abdul Ghani (Yr 3,

According to Tehreem and Ilham,

the desire for such a petition arose when the new Western stall that opened in The Deck was not certified Halal. There might be a misconception that only traditional Malay food can be certified Halal but there is actually a wide range of food, including fast food, that can be certified Halal without affecting the quality, taste and appeal of the food. As of 6th November, the poll has garnered 248 supporters (both Muslims and non-Muslims) for more Halal stalls in The Deck. It is not known how many of those polled are against the proposal or whether this will extend to the other canteens around campus. Clovis Tan (Yr 3, Computing), current Welfare Secretary of the 34th NUSSU Exco, assured the creators of the petition that Ms. Jeslin Pang, Senior Manager (Retail & Dining Services), from the Office of Estate and Development (OED) has already been informed. “We [NUSSU, in conjunction with OED] will take their needs into consideration when Arts canteen goes for renewal and retendering,” he added.

As far as The RIDGE understands, OED has attempted to convince stalls to apply for Halal certification and to invite Halal stalls to set up in The Deck without much success. Sources say that one complication could be the increase in prices if a stall applies for Halal certification. Despite these failures, OED is alleged to have assured the creators of the petition that there will be a minimum of 2 Halal stalls at The Deck come June 2013 and at least 2 Halal stalls in the new cafeteria in UTown. Separately, dining options seem to be limited for vegetarians as well. The key for all the stakeholders involved is to try and balance affordability, variety and quality. Thus far, it is not an easy balance to maintain. Nevertheless, Singapore is a multiracial society and Muslims are an integral part of that society. If we consider NUS to be a microcosm of that society, it would be remiss not to at least consider the problems faced by fellow students in our community. https://docs.google.com/ spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=d DhZbkVhTXp6b1c5Tl90MUtaVmd NNkE6MQ

I NTERVIEWS

not for fame or glory Augustin Chiam

Photo by Kwok Jiaxin

eated across me, in his berms and flip-flops, one would hardly guess that this is Goh Ren Kai, 34th NUSSU President. The 3rd year Economics major describes himself as an “on-theground” kind of President, someone who would be more comfortable talking to fellow students than attending countless meetings and making grand speeches. As the President of NUSSU, Goh has to deal with many controversial issues and make difficult decisions. He is expected to be formal, strict and assertive. But Goh defies all the stereotypes. “I want people to see me as approachable. When I address students, I do it as a student.

It is from a student to another student. Why should it be very formal? But in front of the University Administration, that is a different story … of course I have to be formal then.” “In fact, my secondary school friends are teasing me every day. We have this Whatsapp group and they named it “Mr President”. Goh is adamant that he is just a text message, a call away from discussing issues with ordinary students. He already has plans to casually approach groups of students to talk about the things that students are most concerned about. If students are not coming to NUSSU, he is determined to bring NUSSU to them.

Goh candidly shares that he feels like he has never been a “normal student” in NUS. His whole university life has been filled with leadership posts, a trend that started even while he was studying at Nanyang Junior College, where he served in the student council. According to Goh, it was not always this way. He says that he used to be pessimistic and introverted but attending a camp in JC really changed his outlook in life.

“If you ask me what the motivation for becoming the NUSSU President is ... it is probably the unique experiences that will come my way – definitely not fame and glory. Maybe in JC, I would have answered fame and glory but not now.”

I believe him when he asserts that it is not for the fame and glory. Goh can walk through the Central Library with nary a flicker of recognition from any of the students there. How “Attending this camp, a group many of us even know who our of facilitators helped me faculty club presidents are? realised that I can decide the Being the President is often a path I want to take and decide thankless job. Yet, things could the things I want to do. As a have turned out very differently result, I became more active in student activities, including setting up an Alumni Club at Kranji Secondary School.”

INTERVIEWS

if Goh did not decide to run for office. He only submitted his nomination documents at the very last minute, only one or two weeks before the deadline closed. “I was in NUSSU for two years and I got very jaded … I didn’t quite enjoy my time in the 33rd NUSSU Exco.” The problem was that even within NUSSU, not everyone contributed equally and often, personal agendas even among the smaller constituent groups or committees, triumphed over the larger student interest that the Union was supposed to represent. Goh admitted that as a freshman in NUSSU Bizcom, the Union’s marketing committee, he too, only felt strongly about how to expand Bizcom’s role but was not too cognisant of the “bigger picture” to advance student’s interest. It was only after he elected into the 33rd NUSSU Exco that he “saw the greater relevance of Bizcom in the Union.” From his perspective, each constituency in NUSSU has diverse interest and trying to get everyone on the same page is like “mending a shattered piece of glass”. Goh says that the short 1-year term is one major challenge for the NUSSU Exco. Good ideas are aplenty but they often require more than one year’s worth of deliberation and action. Another challenge is that not all of NUSSU student leaders necessarily know the full extent of their job scope and once they realised what they signed up for, it is often too late to back out. It can quickly get very exasperating when not everyone in NUSSU works

towards what the Union was created to achieve – furthering students’ interest. Yet, he eventually changed his mind and overcame that disillusionment. He cites his girlfriend’s decision to also run for an Exco position as one of the reasons why he changed his mind. Cassandra Soh is currently the Financial Secretary in the 34th NUSSU Exco. Will there be a conflict of interest? Goh assures me that there are plenty of institutional check and balances in place to ensure that no abuses of power will occur. For example, all of NUSSU’s expenditure is ultimately subjected to approval by the Office of Financial Services. Instead, Goh explains that Cassandra is a pillar of strength and support for him during this, understandably, stressful period. Still, that was not the only factor that changed his mind. He says that the other thing that caused a change of heart was the personal realization that he would regret it if he had the opportunity to change things but did not take it.

“

I DON’T WANT TO REGRET... SEEING THE ORGANISATION FAIL. [FOR LACK OF LEADERSHIP)”

Now that Goh is the president, fundamental reforms are in order. Although there was a constitutional review last year, Goh says that there was no “fundamental change”, only “an update of the language”. So this semester, the whole system of student governance

Photo by Kwok Jiaxin

with all the electoral processes and guidelines will continue to be reviewed and recommendations will be made. Although Goh is not optimistic about actually instituting any change in his term, he is satisfied with “simply starting that review [process]” and getting people to think about questions like “what exactly is the student government that we desire?” Goh believes that even if the recommendations are radical, NUSSU must not be hesitant to take action. “If the conclusion [of the review committee] is that there is no need for a student government in our current context, then so be it. We will draft the appropriate recommendations, whether it is scaling down the union, closing it down or having it in another

form.” Expectations are high and members of the student population have already asked for change. Bernard Chen, a final-year History Major, wrote in a Facebook note dated Nov 11, 2012 that “The time for a fundamental reform of the Union is upon us and it is with great hope that the Union and student body itself will initiate this process of reform and change, and restore the rightful place of the Union in the governance and polity of this nation.” That the Union is in need of reform is not often disputed but what form and to what extent this reform should take is a subject of countless discussion, both within and without the Union Exco and associated bodies.

INTERVIEWS

Photo by Bailey Chua

NUS used to be a hotbed of student activism but Goh personally believes that, in the current context, the Union should be apolitical because being political means necessarily “excluding certain parties” but he fully supports NUS students being more aware of policies that affect them and to “dare to question”. “I’m not in favour of protest … voicing out of concerns is fine but not to the extent of protest, especially violent ones, because it is counterproductive.” Goh says that there are sufficient channels for students to voice their concerns. For example, NUSSU recently submitted a proposal to the Public Transport Council (PTC) to reduce fares for tertiary students. Although there are feedback channels, the problem of student apathy remains a challenging one. He cites an example of an email that he sent to the approximately 29,000-strong student population, asking for feedback on issues that NUSSU had raised to the Senior Administration, but received no response at all. “I think some students are apathetic not because they really don’t care but because some of the things we [NUSSU] do may not be relevant to them. For example, we can say

that we give out welfare packs but if the students do not care about welfare packs then it is our fault because we fail to meet their needs.” Given the on-going debates, ‘Rag and Flag’ seems to be the one event that is immune from the epidemic of apathy. It is an issue that remains deeply divisive with students sometimes holding very divergent views. Some see it as a waste of time and resources while others think it is a useful avenue for student bonding. Goh was unequivocal about the fact that “Rag must continue” but he also conceded that it could be “marketed” better. The meaning of Rag and Flag remains vague and murky although attempts have been made to clarify it such as the documentary titled “Rag to Riches” (http://www. youtube.com/watch?v=2u0uOPQQMo). During his term, Goh has already had long meetings with heads of all the participating bodies to distil Rag and Flag into three main objectives. Firstly, Rag and Flag should be sustained as an important part of the NUS tradition and heritage. It is an event that started all the way back in 1959. “It’s the only thing that links generations of NUS students together … most of the

NUS alumni look back and remember Rag and Flag the most.” Secondly, Rag and Flag is also about giving back to the community, both NUS, as well as, the beneficiaries. There will be measures put in place to get the beneficiaries to be more involved as well as for the participating bodies to be “more involved” with the beneficiaries. Thirdly, Rag and Flag is also about the “bonding and the student involvement”. Every year, about 8000 NUS students come together to witness a showcase of creativity and energy. The process of putting those objectives into practice and figuring out ways to ensure long-term sustainability remains a key priority for the 34th NUSSU Council. This semester, Goh is also on a Leave of Absence (LOA) so as to run NUSSU Enterprise. The business wing of the Union is not well-known and barely operational. However, it is not uncommon for student unions, both abroad and locally, to run business operations, such as merchandise or printing services, so as to generate a steady revenue stream for union activities and to provide essential student services at discounted prices. Not many are aware that NUSSU funds many student activities such as the entire student lounge

operation at Yusof Ishak Hall, including utilities, as well as various camps. Corporate sponsorships are often unpredictable and that is the reason why the Union must persist in finding alternative streams of revenue. Goh believes that having a healthy business operation that provides income for the Union is the “key to our future”. During his year of absence, he will run NUSSU Enterprise full-time. The LOA will give him time to focus solely on the business operations without having to worry about the impact on his studies and grades. Pressed for his plans, he suggests that the company will continue selling the popular NUSSU IFG bears, possibly collaborate with a partner to set up a flower service and, perhaps, to have a large-format printing service. With his promise to be “onthe-ground”, dealing with controversies that routinely spring up and running a business operation, Mr President has a lot on his hands. In fact, I believe that the decisions that he will make during his term will have important ramifications for successive generations of NUS student leaders, not least the redefining of ‘Rag and Flag’. The question is, at the end of his term, will he be seen as sinner or saint?

INTERVIEW

THE BIGHEARTED Lee Miao Qian

“I forgive him,” Ong said. “You have to walk the talk when you say your mission in life is to help others. How can you be helping others if you hate them and want them dead?” he added. The 63-year-old is the vice president of National University of Singapore Society, a non-profit graduate society. Over lunch, Ong shared stories of his charitable works and his attempts to change the “hunky dory” attitude of the NUS community, starting with a newly initiated Community Involvement Programme (CIP) for the undergraduate community.

Archie Ong on his rounds distributing food to the underprivileged by Archie Ong

n August 1997, Archie Ong, then a volunteer at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), was sued for defamation by the NKF as a result of a casual comment he made during a “coffee-shop talk” with another volunteer, Alwyn Lim. Ong said then that the Chief Executive Officer T. T. Durai “squandered monies” and “jets about here and there in first

class.” Lim reported the incident to Durai, leaving Ong to pay a five-figure sum in damages and legal costs. He was vindicated only when a similar defamation suit against Singapore Press Holdings collapsed in 2005 and Durai’s mismanagement of the NKF’s financial resources was subsequently brought to light.

“If you ask for funding, people are very willing to sponsor. But if you ask them to get involved and go down on their hands and knees to help, you will find that they are not very willing to do so,” Ong remarked about his difficulties as the chairperson of Community Care. His biggest challenge? Apathetic university graduates who have no interest in giving back to the larger community. Ong believes that a mandatory CIP will improve this situation. Earlier this year, he suggested to the NUS administration that the university should have a CIP, beginning with a pilot in Angsana College. Ong trusts that the programme will eventually be extended to the

larger undergraduate community starting from the next cohort of freshmen. His eyes glinted with enthusiasm as he talked about his special calling to minister to others’ needs. With his iPad, Ong showed me photographs of the underprivileged people he met during his experiences. “You should use this photograph (see photo attached to this article) to wake the young people up. Show them that things like this are happening!” he exclaimed.

“

HOW CAN YOU BE HELPING OTHERS IF YOU HATE THEM AND WANT THEM TO DEAD?”

Three years ago, Ong was asked to stand for elections for the NUSS Management Committee due to his experience as a region chairman in the Lion’s Club, an organisation that initiates several community service and volunteerdriven projects. One of those who strongly encouraged him to stand for the elections was his long-time friend, Lawrence Lim, who works in the NUS Office of Admissions. “When he took over Community Care—my goodness—it was like

INTERVIEW

a tsunami sweeping through the committee, all the ideas started to come in,” Lim said, praising Ong as the “best man for the job.” Alluding to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s recent National Day Rally speech on building a more inclusive nation, Ong aims to position NUSS as a society that cares. His stance is that as a graduate community, NUSS has the responsibility to give back to society. “One lesson my late father taught me—the only time you ever look down on anybody is when you are bending down to pick him up,” he said, offering his thoughts on why he started community work. “In my growing years, Singapore was not what it is today. You could see many underprivileged people rummaging in the rubbish dumps. It got me wondering why I am not helping,” he added. Ong started doing community service at the age of 17 when he was studying in Anglo-Chinese School (Independent). He set up the Civics Club, which was an informal group of people who visited children’s homes weekly.

He then enrolled at NUS as a law student, but transferred to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences to study Political Science and Sociology when he figured out law was “not for him”. A member of the Class of 1972, Ong cheekily spoke of being on the Dean’s List, except it was the Dean’s “other” list of troublemakers.

“

THE ONLY TIME YOU EVER LOOK DOWN ON ANYBODY IS WHEN YOU ARE BENDING DOWN TO PICK HIM UP”

Ong has two hobbies: playing music and intensive cycling, both of which he uses to make people happy. Currently involved in two bands that perform mostly for charity, Ong revealed that he never had formal musical training. Despite this, he plays the drums, guitar and keyboard, sings and has even produced charity music compact discs for his bands. “It’s a special gift,” he said while chuckling.

Ong has also been cycling for more than 10 years. He participates in charity rides across countries to raise money for beneficiaries at least twice a year. He recalled the most significant ride to be the Thailand-Singapore one in 2002, in which he cycled from Thailand to Singapore with 25 others in seven days and raised about $386,000 for the Children’s Cancer Foundation. To ensure he is physically fit, he adheres to a regime. “I work out for an hour at 6 a.m. every weekday without fail and do my rides that range from 80 to 120 km on weekends. This has been going on for years. Come rain, come shine, I’ll just come through,” he said. When asked to describe himself, Ong uttered the word “humbled” in a comical tone and broke out into a hearty laugh. He explained that in the hierarchy of the graduate community, many are more qualified than he. Ong has a lot to prove to others so as to gain their respect.

humorous character is what she likes about him. “Archie is a lifeline. Everywhere he goes, he takes a lot of jokes with him and says a lot of funny things, making people laugh. There was once we were at a solemn funeral and when he turned up, he made it look like a party!” Siok said. Making people happy gives Ong great satisfaction. His experiences helping the underprivileged are those that he treasures deeply, earnestly shares and vividly describes. “Whatever you do in life must never be for selfglorification but always ensure that you are making a difference for a person,” he said.

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WHATEVER YOU DO IN LIFE MUST NEVER BE FOR SELF-GLORIFICATION BUT ALWAYS ENSURE THAT YOU ARE MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR A PERSON”

Pauline Siok, Ong’s associate from the Lion’s Club, revealed that his

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THE ART OF SMALL TALK Malavika Venugopal

riday afternoon. I had just ended a three-hour lab session, and was travelling by the green line to dinner. As I had not had the chance to interact with anyone for the past four hours, I was looking around the MRT for some friendly faces, eager to strike up a conversation. To my surprise, there was none that I could find. Everyone was completely engrossed in their little handheld gadgets. With earphones digging deep into their ears and music playing loud enough to render the world inaudible, technology managed to keep everyone engaged with themselves rather than with the other human beings around them. If it wasn’t the music, there were apps like Whatsapp, Facebook and a whole host of handheld mobile phone games to ensure that each person was engaged and entertained. With Facebook, Whatsapp, and Viber just a click away, we manage to keep in contact with far-away friends, but ignore the people close by who are accessible for small talk. These gadgets have led us to lose the art of engaging in small talk— focusing on and communicating with the people around us, rather than being absorbed in our own world. Communication has fallen to such a state that we have started erroneously believing that listening involves waiting for the other person to stop talking. It is easy to dismiss small talk as idle chit-chat, superficial or

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pointless, and claim to only be interested in “real” conversation. But how else would you get to the point of having a deeper conversation with someone in the first place? Someone you just met might think it awkward if you walked up to them and suddenly asked, “Why do you think God

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THOSE WHO HAD THE ABILITY TO FREELY CONVERSE WITH OTHERS WERE MORE SUCCESSFUL IN THEIR CAREERS THAN THE ONES WITH HIGHER GRADE AVERAGES”

allows bad things to happen to only good people?” Conversation is a ladder, with small talk serving as the first few rungs. You could leap-frog up the ladder, but that would be like trying to sprint

before warming up or giving an examination without preparing well. Franklin Roosevelt believed that most people were poor listeners, especially when it came to making small talk. Every so often, to prove his point and amuse himself, he would greet houseguests with, “I murdered my grand-mother this morning.” The usual response was a puzzled yet polite nod of approval. However, one evening a guest greatly impressed him when she smiled and said, “I’m sure she had it coming.” Small talk is especially critical for other shy people who look for a “green light” or extra encouragement before they even consider participating in a conversation. When you make casual conversation, other shy people will conclude that you are a person with whom they can easily converse. A study was undertaken by

Stanford University of MBA graduates, ten years after they graduated. The aim of the study is to assess the impact of the grade points awarded during their studies on their career. Interestingly enough, those who had the ability to freely converse with others were more successful in their careers than the ones with higher grade averages. Making small talk is not only an easy way to get to know someone, it also creates a positive first impression and helps us gain self-confidence which correlates with doing well in the marketplace. Let us make a promise to ourselves to eliminate the multitude of distractions in life and focus on our surroundings, and to involve ourselves in those activities that make a difference in the way we go about our daily travels. So stack your phones away for a day and look around to engage those around you in a little small talk. Maybe you could even celebrate a “no-gadgets” day. Who knows? It might just be worth a try.

OPINION

RELIGION, SCIENCE AND RATIONALITY Debra Chua

t is a well-documented phenomenon that in times of socio-economic uncertainty and hardship, religious institutions enjoy a surge of popularity. In a somewhat surprising turn of events, partly in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks conducted in the name of religious extremism, and partly due to certain U.S. states’ attempts to eliminate the teaching of the theory of evolution in schools, history has seen a shift in the cultural zeitgeist. The rise of a wave of new atheism is often said to have been ushered in by the four horsemen of the apocalypse- Sam Harris, Daniel Dennett, Richard Dawkins, and the late Christopher Hitchens, all of them writers of popular atheistic literature that has topped bestselling charts. This new wave of atheism primarily takes religious claims to fall within the boundaries of science, and hence the “God hypothesis” is treated as one which can be subject to the empirical inquiry characteristic of the scientific method. The conclusion drawn by Dawkins in The God Delusion is that the theory of evolution and modern cosmological theories satisfies, or shows the potential of satisfying, the existence of humankind and the universe, thereby eliminating the necessity of belief in an omnipotent, supernatural creator.

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Readers get the impression that holding religious beliefs is incompatible with accepting the existing body of scientific knowledge and the scientific method. But is this really the case? It is certainly true that religious texts do make claims on the natural world, claims that can justifiably be put to empirical testing. However, in most cases such claims do not factor into the theist’s practice of the religion. This of course, excludes fundamentalists who interpret religious texts literally, such as the Creationists who believe that the Earth is only 6000 years old despite overwhelming scientific evidence to the contrary. (I should note here the religious people referred to throughout this article are moderate theists, not fundamentalists.) For moderate theists, the discrepancies between claims in religious texts and accepted scientific theories are not resolved by rejecting the scientific theories, but rather by taking a moral, spiritual or rhetorical reading of the passage in question, as opposed to a naturalistic one. Hence holding religious beliefs does not preclude one from accepting current scientific knowledge. Nevertheless, I argue that there is

a certain incompatibility of science and religion, but only insofar as it pertains to the standards of evaluation used. It is this incompatibility, I suspect, that have led many atheists of the new wave to dismiss religious beliefs as irrational. This claim is misguided, for the inability of religious beliefs to hold up under scientific methods of inquiry does not necessarily imply that such beliefs are irrational. The rapid progress and universally acknowledged efficacy of science, along with all the fruits of its discoveries, has led people to hold these standards of evaluation, which have served us so well in science, to be the golden standard of rationality. However, because of the very nature of religious beliefs, they cannot be evaluated by scientific standards of evaluation. In particular, I wish to single out the criterion of falsification of theories, which requires that theories can be empirically proven wrong. That a theory can be falsified is one of the essential components required of a scientific theory, but such a criterion cannot, and should not be applied to religious beliefs.

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THERE IS A CERTAIN INCOMPATIBILITY OF SCIENCE AND RELIGION”

Take for example the key religious tenet shared by most major monotheistic religions— the existence of an omniscient, omnipotent and benevolent god. In a hypothetical scenario, a young patient has a life-threatening disease and is predicted to meet his/her imminent death by the doctors, if he/she does not undergo a risky surgical procedure which has a low success rate. The parents of this young patient are devout believers and pray for his/her successful surgery and recovery. There are two possible outcomes. First, the patient has a successful surgery and recovers, and goes on to lead a healthy, fulfilling life. The parents’ prayers are considered to have been answered by God, and thus their faith in the existence of an omniscient, omnipotent, and benevolent God is affirmed and strengthened. Second, the surgery fails, and the young patient eventually passes away. Since the requests of their prayer have not been met, does their child’s death then serve as disconfirming evidence for the existence of a benevolent God for the devout parents? In the overwhelming majority of cases, it does not. The parents are consoled by the belief that their child’s death is part of a larger plan set out by God, and that their child has gone on to heaven—an eminently more

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desirable place to live than earth. The purpose of this hypothetical scenario is to show that religious beliefs, by virtue of their origins and subject matter, cannot be falsified. Scientific theories only pass muster if they make predictions which can serve as disconfirming instances of the theory itself, but it is irrelevant whether or not religious claims can be falsified. This is because for the overwhelming majority, the origins of their religious beliefs do not arise out of rational argumentation; it is not solely because theists are convinced of the arguments for God’s existence—the ontological, cosmological, and teleological arguments, for instance—that they come to hold the beliefs that they do. More often than not, beliefs are formed by a combination of other factors such as the sociocultural context that the individual is raised in, or through religious experiences. Furthermore, the nature of religious beliefs is such that it allows for skeptical theism. According to skeptical theism, it

is reasonable and even expected that humans, with our limited epistemic abilities, are unable to comprehend why an omniscient, omnipotent and benevolent God would permit apparently gratuitous suffering, precisely because we lack the knowledge which only an omniscient being would possess. This forbearance, perhaps most aptly summed up by the oft quoted maxim that “God works in mysterious ways”, effectively places the purported effects of God on the natural world, such as the effects of intercessory prayer on sick patients, beyond the scrutiny of scientific investigation and evaluation. It is only in this sense that I argue that science is incompatible with religion, while claiming that this does not make religious beliefs irrational. That science and religion are incompatible with regards to their standards of evaluation raises interesting questions as to precisely what standards should be adopted for religious beliefs given the plurality of religions—most of

which make conflicting claims— and the justification behind the conversion of some theists to atheism. These questions may appear to be abstract ruminations, but they have significant moral and ethical implications. Regardless of the views that one has towards religion, it is imperative that one applies the principle of charity; to give the strongest, most rational interpretation of the other party’s argument before evaluating it. Constructing straw man arguments against the other party, a commonplace phenomenon on the internet, is unproductive and merely generates unnecessary disrespect, contempt and animosity. Snide remarks about theists not having outgrown their imaginary friend, or likening belief in God to belief in the tooth fairy, or characterising atheists as immoral, ignorant fools serves no useful purpose in rational discourse. This problem is exacerbated by how content providers increasingly harness

more sophisticated methods of customizing content based on what we have previously watched or read. This serves to reinforce pre-existing beliefs while simultaneously reducing exposure to alternative views, thereby resulting in the increasing polarisation between atheists and theists, as well as between theists of different faiths. But maybe I am preaching to the choir. It is perhaps an inevitable, but nonetheless desired side-effect of the sustained efforts of the government and major religious and educational establishments in Singapore to cultivate multiracial harmony that civil discourse amongst different religious groups has been consistently achieved. The secular foundations of the state have also provided a basis of policy-making that privileges neither religious belief, nor any attendant moral judgments, of any one religious group.

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(ir)rel igious curiousity Liu Xinying Vanessa

hen the Chief Editor of The RIDGE approached me to write about the array of religious activities on campus as my maiden assignment with the campus publication, my initial response was one mixed with feelings of disgruntlement and apprehension. For the record, the internal grumble was not because I was averse to writing about religious issues, but because of what I saw as his implicit assumption (and the stereotypical notion) that Philosophy majors ought to be acquainted with the sphere of religion by default. The feelings of apprehension, on the other hand, subsided as the implications of the word “religious” hit me. Discussing religion, as I had drawn from my own limited experiences, was akin to taking a walk in a minefield—every tread had the potential to blow up in your face if you weren’t careful enough. To write about it in a campus newsletter thus seemed fairly suicidal to me, despite my article’s lack of intention to deliberately stoke controversy. These early preoccupations of mine had led me to wonder if those anxieties were the reasons why discourse about

religion rarely occurs outside the classroom on campus. Do people refrain from talking about religious issues because they fear to offend? Or are they apathetic towards such issues in general? I do not presuppose to speak on behalf of the general population, and neither would I invoke the use of dubious statistics of whose origins I know naught of. My inferences are drawn largely from inferences based on observations of the interactions within my limited social circle, where discourse about religion or pertinent religious issues take place once in a blue moon, or are avoided altogether in some groups. Despite their humble origins, the implications of these observations are worthy of consideration. Within the university classroom walls, I’ve many a time borne witness to fiery dialectics on controversial religious issues by feisty, outspoken individuals with vastly different views, all in the spirit of academic learning. These individuals appeared to be well-read, coherent and passionate, and their arguments were well supported by reason and literature. Of

course, the abovementioned individuals engaged in weekly verbal sparring were in the minority (who got ‘A’s for their class participation grades, obviously). In every classroom, there also exists the inevitable

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IN A RELIGIOUSLY DIVERSE SOCIETY LIKE OURS, RELIGIOUS HARMONY IS ESSENTIAL AND SHOULD NOT BE ERRONEOUSLY EQUATED WITH RELIGIOUS INDIFFERENCE.”

silent majority who ‘just sits and listens and has no opinions of their own whatsoever’. Perhaps it’s been the silent majority I’ve been hanging out with all my life. There are three reasons I can think of to explain why some people care not to indulge in religious debates. For one, some individuals might take religious beliefs to be deeply personal and might not be open to discussing it in the public sphere. Others might avoid treading on these topics for fear of offending

sensitivities. The last reason, which I see as a worrying issue, is apathy. It follows that a few amongst us simply do not care enough to know more. While I respect the fact that individuals have varying interests and different things they’re ultimately concerned about, I worry about this state of apathy regarding religious discourse, and wonder exactly how many amongst us feel this way towards religion. A friend of mine once pointed out that religion is rather similar to soccer in some ways. In the world of soccer, there exist many different football clubs and affiliations. If you are into soccer, it is highly probable that you also support a certain club. And then there are the opposing clubs that have their fans tearing each other’s throats out at matches—just take any Manchester United and Liverpool FC match, for instance. There are also those who would watch the matches, but who do not support any particular club, as well as those who hold absolutely no interest in the sport at all. Drawing a parallel between the two, it would seem excusable that those amongst us who do

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not have a religious affiliation adopt an indifferent attitude towards religion. But the truth is religion isn’t anything like soccer. Sure, the world has an array of religions not unlike the multitude of football clubs, but that’s where the similarities end. One’s faith affects one’s worldviews and fundamental beliefs about life. The last time I checked, soccer did nothing of the sort. For many religious adherents, the teachings of their religion permeate several aspects of their life and serve to guide their motivations and behavior. To quote Muhammad Haziq Bin Jani, President of the NUS Muslim Society, “Personally, Islam is more than just a set of moral guidelines and is a way of life. It is part of me, my culture, community, society and history. A space can only be called “secular”, but it is filled with people with their own personal beliefs”. If we were to truly understand and respect the people around us, we could try to know more about their faiths for a start. To love thy neighbor would be to know thy neighbor first. Moreover, in a religiously diverse society like ours, religious harmony is essential and should not be erroneously equated with religious indifference. Practicing apathy and withholding one’s opinions with respect to controversial religious issues can hardly be said to be contributing to religious harmony. We bear the responsibility of educating ourselves properly about other faiths and to be involved in issues that would concern

them and thus the society at large.

promote harmony between faith communities”.

One group on campus that has been working hard in educating the NUS community on the diverse faiths in Singapore is the NUS Interfaith Interest Group. The relatively young interest group has been taking the lead in promoting interfaith understanding in the NUS community by organizing a series of discussion sessions designed to share introductory level knowledge about different religions, known as “Faith Firsts”. These sessions, including one on secular humanism, had audiences learning more about faiths such as Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity, amongst others.

Other religious clubs and societies on campus have not taken a backseat in promoting interfaith harmony either. The NUS Muslim Society, for one, was engaged in an interfaith dialogue session with the NUS Varsity Christian Fellowship in 2012. The topic of discussion was the role of religion in the life of a university student.

In addition to organizing interfaith dialogues between the different religious groups on campus including the NUS Catholic Society and the NUS Buddhist Society, the group also played a crucial role in bringing these religious clubs and societies on campus together at the Interfaith Student Congress held in 2012, putting in the spotlight possibilities of future collaborations amongst the various religious groups as well as discussing other interfaith issues. Anjana Ramkumar, CoPresident of the NUS Interfaith Interest Group, states, “It’s dangerous when youths don’t understand the religions practiced in their own backyards, and today even a flippant blog post about religion can threaten to destabilize societal fault lines. We need better understanding about faith in order to address potential misconceptions, and

As Kwan Qi Xiang, Chairperson of the NUS Varsity Christian Fellowship puts it, “I think that the religious groups have done a good job in taking the lead to try to discuss how the different religious groups interact with each other in a way that promotes mutual understanding and peace. Despite us having different ways of articulating why we think living peacefully with one another is important, and [have] different motivations for our public involvement, I think we do have a common desire to live peacefully and bring as much good as we can to society.” In response to the question of how faith and religion fit in a secular institution like NUS, Ms. Ramkumar replies, “The environment of NUS is secular but not atheistic, and the religious beliefs of students should be respected and valued.” Indeed, the strong presence of a diversified range of religious groups on campus gives us an idea of the important role religion plays in an individual’s life. Leong Chao Yang, President of NUS Buddhist Society, also shares his view on the matter. “NUS students often have to

juggle between the rigour of school work, co-curricular activities, familial and personal commitments, as well as spiritual attainment for some. Faith on campus can provide a channel for helping students to learn how to achieve work-life balance while driving towards their own personal goals.” Religious groups on campus also play an important role in providing a voice for their members and working with the relevant authorities to address pertinent issues. Mr Haziq says, “We deal with many religious issues every day. We are currently discussing issues of Halal food options in school with many factors to consider: being imposing on the student population, effects on the capital of existing Halal food vendors in school, alternatives, student sentiments, whether it is an issue of non-issue… It gives people an idea as to the amount of consideration involved in any policy or action”. In February this year, the NUS Muslim Society and the NUS Varsity Christian Fellowship will be involved in NUS’s inaugural symposium on diversity, harmony and national integration in Singapore. The event will shed light on interfaith issues and bear testimony to the brilliant mix of cultures and religions in the country. If you’d like to start finding out more about other faiths, this would be a good place to start. I know I will be there.

OPINION

THE GROWING PAINS OF STUD Augustin Chiam

“Join for what?” “Nobody reads it one lah.” These were the kind of remarks, which I heard repeatedly, when I first joined The RIDGE as an innocent freshman in August 2010. I soon realised that being part of student journalism in NUS was more than just about the writing. I heard from several students that there was a major reshuffling of personnel within the editorial board in 2009, the year before I matriculated. With that in mind, I went to dig up the archives and speak to journalists from the past. What I found was that the history of the RIDGE, and student journalism in NUS, is one that was filled with more ups and downs than a Universal Studio rollercoaster ride. While most of the NUS undergraduate population now see The RIDGE magazine as a 64page magazine, which is generally praised as “professional”, few have been around long enough to remember some of the darker parts of its history. It is not often that organisations are willing to be transparent about their controversial past but I am convinced that a certain degree of transparency is important for every organisation. Contrary to popular belief, hindsight is not always 20/20. It is always coloured

by bias, post-hoc rationalisation and, as history majors will fully empathise, a difficulty to retell events as it is. But I will try my best, not just to recount the history of The RIDGE but raise the

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magazine, saying, “I do come across The Ridge now and then and while it has evolved into a more professional publication it is very much in the spirit of what I envisaged.” The RIDGE was probably the first of its kind but that would eventually change, with other student publications, independent of NUSSU, springing up spontaneously.

THE RIDGE HAS ALWAYS HAD TO DEAL WITH THE STIGMA THAT IT IS MERELY A MOUTHPIECE The Rise of “Alternative OF NUSSU DESPITE Media” THE FACT THAT WE DO PRINT ARTICLES The RIDGE has always had to CRITICAL OF NUSSU deal with the stigma that it is AND ITS CONSTITU- merely a mouthpiece of NUSSU ENT BODIES” despite the fact that we do print

issues that have afflicted student journalism in NUS. My investigations took me to the very beginning where it all started. The year was 1984 (all semblances to creepy authoritarian worlds are purely coincidental). Then NUSSU Publications Secretary Tan Cheng Han started The RIDGE with the idea that it was a “good idea to have more of a newspaper type publication on campus.” The RIDGE eventually evolved into the more polished magazine it is today with more varied content. Still, Tan, who later became the Dean of the NUS Law Faculty, applauded the progress of the

articles critical of NUSSU and its constituent bodies. Nevertheless, students are entitled to question our independence given our financial reliance on NUSSU to print copies of the magazine for campus-wide distribution. For this reason, it is unsurprising that over the years, alternative news sources have arisen. Today, there are two relatively well-known independent student groups which cover campus news, albeit with a different emphasis: Kent Ridge Common (KRC) and The Campus Observer (TCO). KRC was set up by Lester Lim, then a Philosophy major, in January 2009. At the time of writing, I was unable to contact

him for discussion. Instead, I met up with the current KRC editorial team, Salima (Year 4, Theatre Studies), Xiang Yeow (Year 3, Chemistry) and Anidrudh (Year 2, Economics & Political Science). I was pleasantly surprised by how much KRC has in common with The RIDGE. Both groups want to give students a platform to air their views, both want to develop the writing ability of student contributors through constructive feedback from the editors. What distinguished us and KRC was that they have a “flatter hierarchy”. Unlike The RIDGE, KRC does not have “desk editors” or “copyeditors”. Instead, they depend on freelance submissions; anything and everything that students are interested in writing about can be submitted to KRC. According to their website, “students write about anything they want, anytime they want.” It is this free spirit which has seen KRC’s website popularity skyrocket. Topics range from campus news to political commentary about Singapore. Some of their articles get thousands of page-views which is remarkable for a small student-run website. The Campus Observer (TCO) was founded in August 2006 and has a slightly different mission from KRC and The RIDGE. They focus mainly on breaking

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STUDENT JOURNALISM IN NUS news and emphasize accuracy and fairness. According to their website (http://campus-observer. org), they are “committed to the expression of diverse viewpoints, to being a top source for indepth and comprehensive news and features.” Kelly Ng (Yr 4, Communications & New Media), is one of the editor-writers for TCO. Ng says that TCO did not have much of a hierarchy, similar to KRC, and members of the editorial team edit each other’s work. The team of writers used to be drawn from the NM4211 (Online Journalism) module but in recent times, they have also taken in writers from various faculties. Ng says that one of the major challenges of being a student news journalist is juggling academic commitments, timeliness of the news as well as making sure that the writing is up to standard. Joel Chow, who was managing editor of Campus Observer in AY10/11, says, “We try our best to get direct quotes and primary sources, so it really is time-consuming, and without any tangible immediate payoff, there is little incentive to produce good work.” He added that they also had to kill some stories because the paper has a policy of naming all its sources but sources preferred to remain anonymous. From my understanding, TCO is struggling to maintain a stable

team of journalists. Ultimately, Ng said, “there needs to be a balance between getting news out and making sure it’s well written.” There will always be people who will doubt The RIDGE’s impartiality but it is perhaps too simplistic a view. Every organisation has to deal with and balance the power interests and agendas of various stakeholders, even the independent student publications. Regardless, there is definitely a space for all of us to exist on campus. Each student publication fulfils a different niche on campus and appeals to different audience. I believe that we spur each other on to be better. The more pertinent question to ask is: are we doing enough to encourage a vibrant scene for student journalism? I believe the answer is no. Take a look at the editorial boards of all three publications; there are barely any Communications & New Media (CNM) majors. Something is desperately wrong with the system if the very people who are learning about the rules governing the media and the various news writing styles are not the people running the major student publications. If American universities such as Yale and Harvard have vibrant student publications (see: Yale Daily News and The Harvard

Crimson), I believe that NUS, which prides itself as being a world-class university, should endeavour to do the same. It will be a shame if we have to wait for the setting up of Yale-NUS College before students take more interest in journalism and general freedom of expression on campus.

The Spectre of Censorship On 20 January 2008, the Singapore Democratic Party (SDP) held a public forum discussing the need for electoral reform. While The RIDGE published an article about the forum in both its

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online and print version, the SDP later published an article on its website on 3 April 2008, accusing the magazine of censoring an interview conducted with Dr. Chee Soon Juan, SDP’s secretarygeneral. In response, the RIDGE’s editorial team defended its decision by claiming that the interview was merely “part of the research process” and that it is “not a mouthpiece of the SDP”. According to the follow-up article posted on the website of the SDP on 8 April 2008, the SDP asserted that “the overall climate of fear in Singapore, including the universities, it is hard to believe that censorship, imposed or otherwise, does not play a role when it comes to reporting on politics.” Kelvin Lim, the writer at the middle of the controversy, said “I was genuinely irritated by their [SDP] response. I thought it would have been wiser to actually hold back and do some basic fact finding before announcing so reactively.” “[But] I believe that students should have the freedom to publish interviews, regardless of the political views that the interviewees espouse. Universities are the ideal place for ideas to be exchanged. Censorship in any form only leaves everyone poorer and more close-minded,” he added. I was unable to contact the editors involved for comment.

Nevertheless, the spectre of censorship looms large in NUS. I am sure many students wonder whether they are indeed free to write as they please. It is precisely because of this fear that alternative student publications claiming to be “independent” have grown. What we have to understand is that the NUSSU of the past is not the NUSSU of the present, organisations evolve over time. In my opinion, in the age of mass media, the days of heavyhanded and overt censorship are over. Even the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) has changed. When contacted, A/P Tan Teck Koon, Dean of Students, agreed that policies have changed. He said that in the past, the Student Liaison Office (Office of Student Affairs’ predecessor), used to vet every single student publication but he assured me that this was no longer the case. However, he did mention a few guidelines that might be of note to student publications. Firstly, all articles must contain the full name of the author (note: the RIDGE and other student publications have made exceptions). Secondly, the student publications must allow for the “right of response”. Thirdly, there is a need to observe prudence in matters about race, religion and politics. He added that not being “partisan” means to allow a “balanced” view from all parties and not just singular viewpoints. I think ultimately, it is important to remain as objective

and as thorough in our research as possible. For aspiring journalists, C. P. Scott’s remark in 1921 still reads like a commandment, “comments are free, but facts are sacred.” It is not the opinions but the facts that will determine the worth of an article.

Newsworthy or Mere Sensationalism In February 2008, the RIDGE published an article about safe sex and sex education, using the results of a survey as a basis for discussion. Unfortunately, the survey only had 56 respondents with unequal representation from each faculty; a survey that was statistically insignificant. When the article was published, it created a huge uproar. An online commenter named “Alvin” said about the survey, “the sampling looks like it was haphazardly done, with no sampling frame and all the random selection.” Another commenter, who remained anonymous, said “Poor research man!! Seriously are you an arts undergrad?? Defame my fac & uni!! [sic]” It did not help matters that a mainstream newspaper picked up the article and ran with the headline “64% of NUS undergraduates have sex”. In response, the writer of the article and then Chief Editor Nurhayati Khan responded online saying, “I regret to say that the original article has failed in its attempt

to highlight a major issue in the sexual practices of some NUS students; not the sex itself, but the lack of protection used.” Because of a lack of rigour in her survey methodology coupled with the controversial subject at hand, readers were not so much concerned about her message of promoting safe sex but ended up focusing on her mistakes. Eisen Teo, then a third year History student at NUS and previous News Editor of The RIDGE, wrote an article published in The Straits Times (21 April 2008) and remarked that, “If one student survey cannot be handled properly, how can student journalism be taken seriously and be tasked to delve into more serious issues?” The black-cover issue of The RIDGE, which was printed in February 2009, represented another low point in the history of The RIDGE. The issue published a double-whammy of an interview with a sex-worker by writers Brittany Hardin and Chinmaya Joshi as well as a feature by writer Nathanael PS, on Sasha Grey, an international adult-film actress. Some students I spoke to said that they saw nothing wrong with that, with the caveat that the articles had to be well-written and they should raise pertinent points of discussion. Having read both articles, I argue that the articles fall short of either one of the criteria. The interview with the sex worker raised the very relevant issue of human

OPINION

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trafficking but was often garbled and largely inconclusive. The feature on Sasha Grey was wellwritten, in the sense that it was largely coherent but it is unclear why the writer chose to write about her and it merely ends up reading like the aim of the article was merely to shamelessly rake in readership with the mantra: “sex sells”. Regardless of where you stand on this issue, it caused a huge uproar and the entire editorial team was sacked after the issue was published. Had there been active intervention in the content of the magazine, such a debacle could have been avoided. In 28 May 2012, Koh Choon Hwee, then a final year Philosophy student at NUS, wrote an article for Kent Ridge Common with the headline “Cyberbullying in NUS” (http://kentridgecommon. com/?p=15519). In the article, she detailed how Keira Chen, then a third year History student, was ridiculed in a private Facebook group of USP students. Although Koh wrote, “I would like to remind readers here, however, that it was only a minority of USP students who had engaged in making vicious comments, and there remain wonderful aspects of the USP,” she also wrote that “Apart from the largely online negative reactions from USP students, it was demoralizing too to find out that USP staff also engaged, however unintentionally, in perpetuating negative stereotypes about us.” Since the mainstream media picked up

the article, many members of the public begun to criticise the USP and labeled it “elitist”. I personally felt that Koh was using an isolated incident to cast aspersions on the larger USP community (You can read my full response: http://studentry.sg/2012/05/29/aresponse-to-kent-ridge-commonscyberbullying-in-nus/” http:// studentry.sg/2012/05/29/aresponse-to-kent-ridge-commonscyberbullying-in-nus/). Another article published in The RIDGE’s March 2012 print magazine also stirred up a lot of mixed feelings. The article titled “Poor Sportsmanship?” (http:// issuu.com/nussutheridge/docs/ march_2012/55) was published anonymously to the annoyance of Eusoff Hall. The writer, who remained anonymous despite calls for his identity to be revealed, wrote about what he/she deemed to be poor sportsmanship on the part of Eusoff Hall after winning the Inter-hall Games (IHG) 2012. The writer argues that “Eusoff Hall has been guilty of going overboard with its victory celebrations so much so that it bothers on utter disrespect for their opponents.” Not surprisingly, Eusoff Hall demanded an apology from The RIDGE but no apology was given as the editorial board felt that the article was justified and the necessary fact-checking had been done. How much of these articles are sensationalism and showboating

and how much of it provides a balanced and well-substantiated argument that needs to be made? It is difficult to make a judgement as many of our judgements will inevitably be subjective. One point I definitely agree on is that as student journalists, we must strive to uphold journalistic integrity. Our youth and inexperience is no good excuse to misrepresent the facts and dramatise the situation. At the same time, I think it is important to apply the ‘principle of charity’ to some of these writers. I doubt that any of these writers, Koh included, deliberately intended to sensationalise the issue, instead it is also important for readers to learn how to judge articles not just based on their “sensation” value but also on the strength of their argument and its basis in facts.

Where Do We Go From Here? Suhas Bhat, ex-Chief editor of the RIDGE, puts it this way, “when it comes to journalism within NUS, a Catch-22 paradox exists whereby journalism will be in vogue once there’s good journalism present but that won’t happen if we don’t recruit good journalists in the first place!” I think it is fair to say that a vibrant group of student publications should exist in NUS. To achieve that, all of the stakeholders need to play their part. More students need to

step forward to write insightful commentary and report on the daily activities happening on campus. School administration needs to continue loosening up

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THE JOURNEY TOWARDS A STRONGER SCENE FOR STUDENT JOURNALISM IN NUS HAS NOT BEEN SMOOTH AND THERE WILL BE MORE PAINFUL AND CONTROVERSIAL MOMENTS ALONG THE WAY”

the regulations that stifle freedom of expression and be more forthcoming with information that would concern students. Readers need to be more willing to interact with student journalists, creating a constant dialogue about policies that affect students, which would benefit everyone in the long-run. The journey towards a stronger scene for student journalism in NUS has not been smooth and there will be more painful and controversial moments along the way; but isn’t that all part of growing up?

OPINION

“FOLLOW YOUR UNSOUND Elliot Tan

he advice to “follow your passion” has long persisted over the years. While usually wellintentioned, it is more often than not counter-productive counsel. Such a claim undoubtedly raises some eyebrows, for what could be wrong with seeking to do that which you love? Indeed, the topic begs deeper exploration, particularly at a period such as college where students are inundated with choices—choices that each individual believes to be of such gravity as to be futuredefining. From decisions such as which university to apply to, to the course that one should take (should one read a subject in which feels he already has some talent, or that which he has a relative weakness but a profound interest?), none seems any less weighty to the frazzled student. The problem I have with the advice to pursue what you are passionate about is twofold. Firstly, contrary to what we might expect, the vast majority of people have yet to discover something that they can say they feel that strongly for. It could be that it is too early a stage in their life to tell. Perhaps they have yet to collect sufficient experience to draw upon or it may be due to reasons more personal and particular. Secondly, the advice contains

within it an innocuous little claim with big implications, and the claim goes something like this: all you need to do is find what you are passionate about, and all will be well—job satisfaction necessarily follows if you do what you harbor a deep interest in. The trouble with this claim is that it conjures an illusion by inflating the importance of inherent affinity. The idea of finding that “perfect job” or “perfect course” is misguided at best. It is almost as if there exists some predetermined destiny that you should be following, and suggests that if you should deviate from that singular path, you would be living a substandard life. This cultivates a response motivated by fear of disappointment and almost guarantees that you will

be dissatisfied with your life situation, as you would always be left wondering if you were “meant” to do something else. Cal Newport argues in his recently-published book, “So Good They Can’t Ignore You—

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THE IDEA OF FINDING THAT “PERFECT JOB” OR “PERFECT COURSE” IS MISGUIDED AT BEST.”

Why Skills Trump Passion In The Quest For Work You Love”, for something he calls the passion trap. He describes it most elegantly: “The more emphasis you place on finding work you love, the more unhappy you

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become when you don’t love every minute of the work you have.” Here, Newport does not mean that we should abandon the search for finding enjoyable work, but rather that an overemphasis on the romanticized notion of the “perfect job” renders it an ultimately unattainable ideal. Instead, Newport forwards the concept of the Career Craftsman, based on the underlying premise that compelling careers are not to be serendipitously discovered, but deliberately crafted. As Newport explains, “basic economic theory tells us that if you want something that’s both rare and valuable, you need something rare and valuable to offer in return—this is Supply and Demand 101. It follows that if you want a great job, you need something of great value to offer in return.” Newport therefore argues that we should endeavor to improve our skills to a point of competence and even expertise; satisfaction then follows as a result of the autonomy, impact and recognition gained from contributing the valuable skills that one has. It is critical to our understanding of Newport’s contribution to discussions of passion and practicality that we do not view the situation as an exercise in binary selection. I do not believe

OPINION

OUR PASSION” IS ND ADVICE

that we need to choose between what we are passionate about and what we deem to be practical. The two are not mutually exclusive. I personally know a number of individuals who have chosen to change to a diametrically different course in their second year of university, and who are both enjoying themselves more and doing significantly better as a result. Some individuals are blessed

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I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN WHAT WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT AND WHAT WE DEEM TO BE PRACTICAL.”

with both the fortune of knowing with great certainty where their passions lie, and the associated ability in that field. The majority

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of us however, lie somewhere along the spectrum of passion and ability. Perhaps you don’t yet know what you might be passionate about. Perhaps what you now enjoy may not be what you are good at. The bottom line, however, is this: satisfaction and meaning are yours to create. Much of the beauty of man’s existence resides in human agency and the individual’s ability to influence his or her situation for the better. The means by which you achieve

this can vary—hard work at developing a skill could be one route, yet pursuing pre-existing inclinations is another that should neither be totally discounted. Most importantly however, is the adoption of a mindset that embraces each person’s ability to craft desirable outcomes, for this frees one from the paralyzing worry of finding that one dream job/passion/pursuit that would ostensibly bring fulfillment.

OPINION

SINGAPORE WITHOUT HEELS

According to the Singapore Tourism Board, more than every month. Within this torrent of tourists, from the f Po[1] student arrives to attend the Model Asia-Europe Solange Harpham gives her impressions of her two-w

Solange Harpham

my Singaporean friends qualified as “boring”, the place which they sought to escape by studying abroad? The common refrain that “there is nothing to do in Singapore” didn’t deter me from running down escalators, jumping in MRTs, hailing taxis, always moving, always eating, always talking–sometimes all three at the same time–and probably making a spectacle of myself. But I was in a foreign place, surrounded by friends and enjoying all that could be enjoyed in the fifteen days I had decided to spend in Singapore.

“Y

Enjoying Singapore’s Food by Solange Harpham

ou’re too tall!” protests my Singaporean friend when she tries to hug me and finds my waist. And I am. I gave up on heels after I arrived on the 21st of June; no girl likes to tower over everyone else in clubs, or stand out in the crowd when crossing the street. A French student on holiday, I only started “living la

vida loca” once I had done away with those stilettos. This was my second time flying fourteen hours in a cramped plane to the city-state–why? Why was I always coming back to Singapore when there were more affordable trips to be made in Europe? Why come to the place which most of

For the first part of my holiday, I resided in a small bungalow near the Botanic Gardens. The heavy grey sky, the still palm trees lining the road, and the clinging humidity were constant reminders of where I was. “Singapore at last!” I told myself as I tugged on my luggage. My new home was more or less at the edge of a jungle-like forest, populated with various beasts unknown to me. I got to fight against ants scouring my apartment in search of food and, to my utter city-girl horror, I once woke up to find myself face to face with a huge lizard. The heat, lizards, mosquitoes and bugs were things I would gradually get used to. Almost as soon as I landed, I took off on a major trip to do what every tourist

should do: consume, consume, consume. Those two weeks made me more than broke–my account was in the red when I finally found myself jet-lagged back in France. “You want, you will find” could be a Singaporean motto –the hundreds of brands side by side in those mammoth shopping malls you find at every MRT station are something of a dream come true. Paris has few of these shopping malls–at least size-wise–and most of them deal with luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Chanel or Dior. Orchard Road became a sinful pleasure on its own as I went from shop to shop, through the shining corridors, wielding huge bags of clothes from Orchard Ion and Wheelock Place to the four-stories-high Forever 21 store at Somerset.

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FOOD IS EVERYWHERE, HOWEVER AND WHENEVER YOU WANT IT.”

Oh, and don’t even get me started on the food! Food is everywhere, however and whenever you want it. I got to taste local delicacies, exotic dishes and even century eggs. “A long time ago, these eggs were made by having horses piss over them,” a friend told me in his raw Singaporean accent. He and

OPINION

EELS – LIVING LA VIDA LOCA

Board, more than a million visitors land in the city-state ourists, from the far away land of France, a Sciences del Asia-Europe Meeting Summit 2012 hosted by NUS. sions of her two-week stay in the bustling Singapore.

his parents, who kindly agreed to host me after the bungalow experience, nodded happily as I looked at the eggs from a new perspective. After clubbing all night in Zouk, we went to have oily glistening egg (orluat), cheese pratas and ice milo at five in the morning. Living in Singapore means eating whatever you want, whenever you want, whether day or night. Having so much choice at so cheap a price is more or less impossible in Europe. *** I eventually had the chance to attend a Malay wedding. It was an invitation from a friend to her uncle’s wedding. There I went, all dressed up in the Malay traditional costume, covered from head to toe, with long sleeves and a skirt down to my ankles, feeling increasingly sweaty and uncomfortable. An exchange of gifts took place and we carried the presents carefully. I was in charge of a pair of high heels (why these things keep haunting me I have no idea). At the end of the ceremony, the “tok kadi” handed out business cards to other families that might have a son or daughter ready to marry. Unimaginable for a

European used to marriage in a church or at city hall–would the preacher start handing out advertisements for his services? I have trouble picturing it, and yet I liked the sharp, no-nonsense voice of the kadi and his reassuring tones when talking to the future husband or wife: he understood what a stressful experience it would be for both of them. My Malay friend and I watched from afar, but I knew she was paying close attention to every detail: one day, this might be her marriage.

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THE SPONTANEOUS KINDNESS OF SINGAPOREANS ASTONISHES ME ONCE AGAIN.”

I even experienced the Singaporean storm during my short stay here. As a European used to the occasional drip-drop of French rain, I did not think that I would need an umbrella and ended up completely drenched. Rain comes down in waves here; torrents of rain pushed in by billowing clouds. But here comes a man out of the rain who hands me an umbrella; the spontaneous kindness of Singaporeans astonishes me once again. He accompanies me until the MRT, chatting about being an air force engineer. I thank him profusely and off I am again, towards

Holland Village where my friends await me. ***

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SINGAPORE IS DEFINITELY WORTH THROWING AWAY A PAIR OF HEELS FOR.”

“So what do you like about Singapore?” asked the tall gangly youth holding a microphone as I come out of the Model AsiaEurope Meeting Summit 2012 conference as the Myanmar representative. After a bit of chitchat about Paris (“yes, beautiful city”) and what I had learned from the conference (“it was difficult making compromises between personal interests and the common good”), here I was, facing a question I should have expected.

I painstakingly wrote here are mere images, a few of my strongest impressions. How does one explain how alive one feels in the growl of the city’s traffic, how one can hop from culture to culture through friends and acquaintances? How my two weeks, although seen as “much too long” , were barely enough to discover all that I wanted to discover? I can only tell you this: Singapore is definitely worth throwing away a pair of heels for.

Above me towered the gigantic brainwashing letters spelling “CREATE” and farther along the skyline, “ENTERPRISE”, “INNOVATION” and “RESEARCH”. Thoughts and ideas jumbled themselves in my head until I reached that peculiar blank state which came from fatigue and a lack of interest. “Well, I like the food,” I said rather lamely. He smiled in a tight, bored kind of way. I tried again: “I guess it’s full of movement?”

[1] ‘Sciences Po’ refers to the Paris Institute of Political Studies.

There are no words to explain exactly why I took a liking to this place. I just love Singapore because it is Singapore, in all its singularity. Even the words

ENTERTAINMENT

MOVIE P(REVIEW) Hyde Park on Hudson Release Date: February 21, 2012 Starring: Bill Murray, Laura Linney, Samuel West, Olivia Colman, Elizabeth Marvel, Olivia Williams

Anupama Hegde

Photo from rushmoreacademy.com

f you like historical dramas that are not just, well, history but have an engaging story as well, HYDE PARK ON HUDSON is for you. If you like period films where the costumes are just as interesting as the dialogue, this movie –replete with polka-dotted dresses and bowler hats – will not disappoint you. And if you (like everyone else in the world) simply cannot resist a good British accent, there’s plenty of that in the movie with both the King and the Queen of England playing central roles! It’s 1939, and the world is on the brink of World War II, the most destructive war mankind would ever witness. But at Hyde Park on Hudson – President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s quiet New York retreat – a face-off of a different kind is taking place. The King and Queen of England are coming to New York for the weekend to visit FDR and his wife, marking the very first visit of a reigning British monarch to America. But the royals are in New York to see the Statue of Liberty or watch a Broadway show. The purpose of their visit is far more serious – and pivotal to the very survival of Britain. The royals want US support in the impending war, and what better way to get that support than to drink cocktails with Franklin D Roosevelt (FDR) at his sprawling country home?

HYDE PARK ON HUDSON deals with all-powerful historical figures but manages to present them in such a way that you cannot help but relate to them. So you have scenes in which FDR and the King of England bond over their (lack of) popularity with the masses. You get to see the Queen of England looking alarmed at the plebian hotdogs she is served at a weekend lunch. But the person you can relate to the most has to be Daisy (who narrates the entire story), FDR’s confidante, neighbor and, of course, secret mistress. She knows FDR inside-out, and makes certain that by the end of the movie, you do too! We’ve all seen war movies where stuff is blown up and soldiers are brutally killed. But this is not one of them. Instead, you are privy to the diplomacy that goes on behind the scenes, the human relations that are submerged under the bombs and the guns. FDR, at one point in the movie, reflects on this momentous weekend by musing that they could have “sold tickets for it” and “made themselves a pile of money”. Well, on February 21, 2013, you can – by buying a (movie) ticket! – be a guest a HYDE PARK ON HUDSON too!

ENTERTAINMENT

BOOK REVIEWS Norwegian Wood

The Gods of Gotham

by Haruki Murakami

by Timeri N. Murari

Jennifer Kwan

Anupama Hegde

orwegian Wood, first published in Japan in 1987, is one of Haruki Murakami’s most well-known novels, narrating the story of a youth called Watanabe and the complex love story he shares with a girl called Naoko. Though at its heart, Norwegian Wood can be called a Romance, expect Murakami’s quirky writing to guide you into a world of fascinating and unique characters. Steeped in maturity and intrigue, this novel expresses both the wholeness and ‘twisted’-ness of human nature. Murakami captures the many odd habits of his characters in a disturbingly unforgettable way, and I feel that its motley crew of characters is one of the strongest points of this novel. The plot is flimsy at best. Rather, Watanabe and the array of people he meets in university are what tie the story together. Outrageous and explicit, the mysterious Naoko, whimsical Midori, wise Reiko and arrogant Nagasawa all end up charming you in their own ways. It is because of this that Norwegian Wood becomes more than just a simple love story. The dialogue in Norwegian Wood is another outstanding factor for me. As I read the book, I was greeted by surprising situations, engaging conversations, and slowly learned to expect the unexpected from Norwegian Wood (ironically). The novel engages one with its setting as well, framed in the late 1950s during the Japanese student movement. Murakami comments on the political landscape of Japan through Watanabe’s experiences and thoughts. Watanabe’s student life is also brought to life in a forgotten bookshop, a mental rehabilitation sanctuary in the countryside, and the narcotic haze of drinking bars and love hotels. In an attempt to sum my thoughts up, I feel that Norwegian Wood shines by presenting a haunting coming-of-age narrative of powerful, all-consuming love, insanity and dead people.

hile some people like fantasy and others enjoy romance, I have always enjoyed sinking my teeth into a good old saga set in a war-torn land (the pickings in this genre are, predictably, slim). So it is no surprise that The Taliban Cricket Club by Timeri N. Murari is my reading material of choice this winter! Rukhsana – the protagonist of this book - is one of the few female journalists left in an oppressive, Taliban-occupied Kabul. She lives dayto-day, unsure of her career’s fate, and her ability to survive. Her fears are not unfounded – she is soon summoned by the notorious Zorak Wahidi to the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice (This institution really exists, I am not making it up). Certain that her time is up, Rukhsana is shocked when Wahidi offers her an escape proposition instead of the death sentence she was intensely dreading. Wahidi informs Rukhsana that the victorious team of a cricket tournament (of which Rukhsana is the organizer) will be sent to Pakistan for an international level match. Rukhsana’s only means of leaving Afghanistan lies in that cricket team. But Wahidi – the enabler of her covert plan –soon poses a thorn in it. He wants to do more that just help Rukhsana – he wishes to marry her. Will Rukhsana succeed in finding a safe haven in Pakistan? Will she transform from pathbreaking female journalist to Wahidi’s submissive wife? And what about her first love, the handsome Indian man she fell for in Delhi? Rukhsana’s adventure-filled, love-torn life may be hard to empathize with, but Murari tells her story in such a relatable way that you feel like you are having a conversation with one of your best friends. And by the end of the book, Rukhsana does become your best friend. The great thing about The Taliban Cricket Club is that you don’t have to be obsessed with The Kite Runner-esque, Taliban-centric stories (like I admittedly am!) to enjoy it. After all, at its heart, it is simply the tale of a young girl who is desperately trying to escape her own personal hell when all the odds are stacked against her.

ENTERTAINMENT

WHAT’S IN Honour by Paulo Coelho

MY IPOD Tay Dixin

Samskeyti

by Sigur Rós

Melissa Yasmin Stewart

s with other books by Paulo Coelho, The Zahir is simply another stroke of his brilliance. Bringing the reader on the discovery of love, loss and marriage, Coelho tells the story of an author, enjoying the fame and success that his books bring, whose world suddenly comes crashing down with the mysterious disappearance of his wife, Esther. Confused and lost as to why she would leave him, the protagonist is forced to confront his reality, and with the help of an epileptic named Mikhail, begins on a journey of self-discovery.

Ariel

by Pleasantry

If there is anything that can garner my attention, it has to be books about love. In his book, Coelho brings his reader through the process of discovering what love really means, away from the typical stereotypes of what a marriage should be like. When the protagonist loses his wife, he begins to uncover the cracks in their marriage, allowing him to question his role as a husband. The story not only touched my heart, but also brought me to a point of enlightenment. Don’t get me wrong though, Coelho does not only tell a sappy love story, he speaks to his readers about life in general, and this made me fall in love with the novel. Through the protagonist, Coelho forces the reader to question what it really means to be happy, and what it really means to be content with life. This novel is certainly for those who are on a journey of self-discovery; so have your Kleenex at hand, if you are easily moved to tears like me!

Feels Like We Only Go Backwards by Tame Impala

Firewood

Lilies

Regina Spektor

Bat for Lashes

Stay Useless

Common Equation

I shall end this off with one of my favourite quotes from the book:

Cloud Nothings

Cashew Chemists

“If there is suffering, then it’s best to accept it, because it won’t go away just because you pretend it’s not there. If there is joy, then it’s best to accept that too, even though you’re afraid it might end one day.”

Stray

Asleep

Wild Beasts

The Smiths

Hopeless Wanderer Mumford and Sons

ENTERTAINMENT

entertaining yourself in th Nicole Kang

very NUS student on exchange enjoys a good jaunt into the next town, state or country (Isn’t that why we go on exchange?). However, not all students can afford to gallivant around the country, let alone the globe. Some of us have to work on a shoe string budget, which clearly does not afford us the luxury of travelling around too much. If you have decided or are deciding whether to go to Canada for exchange this is a spot you might like to visit. Calgary is a sprawled-out city with a population of 1.5 million people. It is also home to the Rockies, the mountains in Western Canada that has largely defined the city’s landscape. Most of us often desire to go to the big cities, but I chose a place which some people may describe as a “backwater” (It’s still pretty technologically-advanced!). However, “backwater” is not another word for “boring”. Rather, if you seek little thrills and entertaining spots or like exploring nooks and crannies, you are likely to uncover some surprising treasures. Who says Singaporeans can’t have fun in a small city?

Historical Village Heritage Park

realistic, every staff member was in costume although it was a hot summer’s day and remained very cheerful despite their layers of stuffy clothing! Indeed, that was no mean feat! The staff was also approachable and very knowledgeable about how

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IF YOU HAVE DECIDED OR ARE DECIDING WHETHER TO GO TO CANADA FOR EXCHANGE THIS IS A SPOT YOU MIGHT LIKE TO VISIT”

This quaint village is an area in Calgary that has been preserved to remind visitors of what the town was like in the 1800-1900s. Perhaps that statement alone makes it sound boring. It is, however, a very popular destination for Calgarians. As the name suggests, it is a historical village, so it has kept all the shops, the local graveyard, Mounties Office and even the printing press intact! This is definitely a place to visit if you want to know more about the history of the city. To make the scene even more

the different offices used to function, as if they had come from the era themselves. One day is definitely not sufficient to explore the whole of Historical Village Heritage Park. With so much to see, it will surely appeal to the vintagelover in anyone.

The Comedy Cave Looking for a stand-up comedian? The Comedy Cave provides affordable comedy at $10 per person. Every week, they invite a different stand-up comedian, most of who reside

along the Canada-US border. Many of their comedians do excellent impersonations of our favourite celebrities or familiar childhood stars (like The Muppets or Sesame Street) and did not fail to tickle my funny bone. Though most of their jokes are meant to appeal to the North American ear, I could still appreciate the humour. Given the popularity of North American television, a lot of the jokes will not escape you either. Trust me, you will definitely need some humour to light up your life in a place where the average temperature is perpetually below zero for most of the year. For more information, you can refer to The Comedy Cave website (https://www. comedycave.com/) which gives you more information about their stand-up comedians.

Jubilations Dinner Theatre What is a dinner theatre? As the name suggests, you get dinner and a show.

ENTERTAINMENT

in the Great White North The Jubilations Dinner Theatre changes its theme every 2-3 months, which means that you will never be bored.

would be hobbling up to your table and back to the kitchen, all while keeping a straight face.

Not only do you get a fourcourse meal and three-act

Vertigo Theatre Although most of the theatres in Calgary are student-friendly, the Vertigo Theatre is perhaps especially so with its very student-friendly prices. If you arrive about thirty minutes before a show, simply flash your student ID and they will offer you a student rush ticket which is about a third of the original ticket price. Of course, one runs the risk of not getting any tickets at all. Photos by Nicole Kang

musical comedy, but you are also treated to a wonderful cast of waiters and waitresses who dress and act according to the theme! The theme in October last year was Jailhouse Rock. Naturally, the waiters and waitresses dressed up as jail convicts and grooved to the music. I was really quite impressed with the effort they put in to stay in character, even as they were serving you your dinner. One

The Vertigo Mystery Theatre is an especially thrilling series to follow. In fall, they were staging “It Could Be Anyone of Us” (Alan Ayckborn), a mystery-comedy that parodies elements of the detective genre by pointing out a different murderer every night. While it shows the plasticity of the genre, the presence of a bumbling detective makes for a good show, at a cheap price.

Calgary Shooting Range Guys who have gone through

national service will probably not find this all that thrilling, or entertaining, especially since it harkens back to dark, dark days that they have little desire to repeat. However, for this thrill-deprived girl, there was much enjoyment to be had at this shooting range. In light of the recent Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings, learning how to shoot guns may not appeal to you, but the “gun-guides” teach you how to shoot guns

responsibly while having fun. Gun-shooting was not at all like what I expected it to be. In fact, it was a lot scarier than Hollywood portrays. Watching multiple re-runs of The Mummy did not prepare me for the long bangs and BOOM!s. Although it is a slightly more pricey pastime, doing it once or twice would hardly cost you anything over two hundred dollars!

ENTERTAINMENT

IN HOPE OF A LO – STRAIT G Augustin Chiam

ome say that imitation is the best form of flattery but this group of music-makers does not intend to flatter anyone. Other bands copy foreign styles, but Strait Groove is dead set on sticking with local sounds. It is a bit like Singlish – sometimes it sounds kind of awkward, other times it feels unpolished but always, always, it will fill you

with a knowing warm feeling that you’re right at home. The band name “Strait Groove” exudes a local flavour (‘Strait’ refer to Singapore’s history as part of the Straits Settlements) – a much better choice, in my opinion, compared to the names they previously considered such as “The Clementi Collective” and

“Heng Mui Keng Rock Band”. The group started off with Ming Tuan, Greg, Zhenghong and another member who eventually dropped out before Ben and Dannel came on board. They are all part of Sheares Band at Sheares Hall where they all currently reside. Besides their place of residence, there are many things that bond the group together, a common love for music and – surprisingly –a love for food. As Ben puts it, “music is like food, it feeds me.” If music be the food of love, play on… But it is not all food and play for this home-grown band. Songwriting is perhaps the most challenging part of the process, especially because they are all students with other commitments. The band only meets for two to three hours, once or twice a week. But most of their frustration stems from the creative process.

L-R: Dannel, Ben, Greg, Ming Tuan, Zhenghong Photo from Strait Groove

“Sometimes during the songwriting process, things don’t really come together because we all have different ideas about how the song should sound like but when the song comes together, that’s when it feels good,” said Dannel.

Zhenghong, who writes most of the lyrics, said that he is inspired by the “drama” that he sees in the hospital as a Medical student as well as the travel experiences of the band members, although he emphasized that the lyrics were not overtly narrative.

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IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE, PLAY ON…”

“And we also write about girls… mainly girls,” Greg added, to the amusement of the all-male band. The band does everything on their own, from the singing to the recording and producing, in a little studio at Sheares Hall – a place they affectionately call their “home ground”. It is a place where they feel safe enough to experiment and be creative. Apparently, Ben once put bread on the drums to get a better tone. Even the photography and designs for the album is all done in-house. Without a professional band manager and a proper studio, it feels more than a bit indie. “I guess this is the unique selling of the band because everything is so “D.I.Y” but at the same time it does not affect the quality of our music … the software we use is not very high-end but it gets the job done,” said Greg.

ENTERTAINMENT

A LOCAL SOUND

IT GROOVE

The band has already played a few gigs, notably at the indie arts festival “Seed Festival Singapore” in December 2011 as well as at popular bar and nightspot, Timbre. Despite modest success in the local scene, the band is not looking for fame or fortune, only hope that their music will inspire more local bands to stay local.

Photo from Strait Groove

In December 2011, their debut album “In Stock Now” was launched. Interestingly, the name of the album was partially a wordplay on the fact that Ming Tuan was in Stockholm for an exchange programme soon after the album was launched. 300 physical copies were sold out for $5 each but digital copies are also available for free download at their Bandcamp profile page. Zhenghong said that the launch of their album was not for making a profit. “In fact, after we got all our earnings, we invited all the Sheares band people for a celebration and spent all of it,” added Zhenghong. Since then, the group has started on their second album which promises new surprises for fans of Strait Groove. Not content to rest on their laurels, the band

is experimenting with new arrangements and sounds for this next album. “If you listened to the first album and then listened to the second album, you would think that we just went on a big, crazy adventure … the first album was very simple, no frills but the second album is more complex,” said Greg.

“I’m envisioning a day when Singaporeans are in Singapore, they can just imagine certain songs from local bands - one day when you’re walking along the Singapore River and you remember a local song - that’s what I feel is the beginnings of a culture. Singaporean artistes must start by being true to themselves and create music that reflects their local surroundings instead of imitating foreign styles. They might sound right but they won’t

remind you of local places.” Just like the river which brings us life, let the sounds of “Strait Groove” take you back home.

Zhenghong (Yr 5, Medicine) plays the acoustic guitar and is the lead singer. Ming Tuan (Yr 3, Arts) and Dannel (Yr 2, Arts) play the electric guitar. Ben Lim (Yr 2, Engineering) plays the drums. Greg (Yr 3, Arts) plays the bass and ukulele. Bandcamp profile page: http://straitgroove.bandcamp.com

“There’s more collaboration … this album is more ‘democratic’, we will try to bring the song forward not just through our own parts but by critiquing other people’s parts” added Ming Tuan. Their second album is scheduled to be launched in mid to end January 2013. The band hopes that the song “Time Train”, for which the album is also named after, will be a runaway hit.

The band with Master Gary Tan of Sheares Hall and Ms Betty Goh Alumni Relations Officer of Sheares Hall. Photo from Strait Groove

ENTERTAINMENT

PLAY(S) ON! Nicole Kang and CFA

he term, “school blues”, is a familiar cliché in the average student’s vocabulary, but it is true that no one starts the semester feeling optimistic about lectures, tutorials, mid-terms, assignments and exams. Even though the holidays have finally come to an end, but that does not necessarily mark the end of your concert-attending days! Over the years, the Centre for the Arts (CFA) has offered impressive event lineups for NUS students and the public alike. Having attended some of their events, I can honestly vouch for the quality of these performances. If you are either graduating this semester or just starting out in school, CFA events are a great way to get acquainted with the Arts scene in

Singapore. So why not take advantage of the NUS student discounted tickets (or sometimes free tickets) to help you get back into the groove of things? THE RIDGE has created a list of performances for the next two months that you may be interested in watching over the semester. To add onto the arts buzz in NUS, we will be running ticket contests (sponsored by CFA) for the NUS Arts Festival (NAF) performances on our website (http://studentry.sg) over the next few weeks, so be sure to look out for them on our Facebook or Twitter page.

Soul of Spain Photo by CFA

By Flamenco Sin Fronteras Wed 23 Jan, 8pm UCC Theatre

Little Treats For Everyone

FLAMENCO SIN FRONTERAS ...dance without borders, brings an unforgettable evening of dance and music evoking the Soul of Spain. Enjoy the traditional repertoire of flamenco and classical Spanish dances, such as Manuel de Falla’s Danza de Fuego and a series of flamenco group and solo numbers in a spectacular choreographic presentation. The power of masculine dexterity and rapid fire footwork will be contrasted against the grace and beauty of the feminine form, with singers and guitarists providing the musical background. Catch a flamenco dance and drama theatrical interpretation of The House of Bernanda Alba, where flamenco is taken out of its typical confines, and a new experimental work, Chi Flamenco, artistic director Antonio Vargas uses the similarity of the chi or vital energy that is also prevalent in Chinese taichi, martial arts and flamenco, to embody the duality of nature.

Photo by CFA

By NUS Wind Symphony Fri 25 Jan, 12pm Town Plaza, University Town (UTown), NUS Standing room only

Bringing you little musical bites of familiar tunes ranging from pop to classical to jazz, performed by the NUS Wind Symphony’s very own small instrumental ensembles. Take a break on this enjoyable evening and indulge your inner musician with the exciting colours and sounds we have lined up. A sure treat for everyone! Don’t just go to support your friend, but to immerse yourself in some meditative jazz music – after all, relaxation is good for the weary soul.

ENTERTAINMENT

Photo by CFA

Photo by Back Alley Creations

The One Left Behind

Dance Is _____

By nuSTUDIOS Film Productions Wed 30 Jan, 8pm UCC Theatre

By NUS Dance Blast! Wed & Thu, 6 & 7 Feb, 8pm UCC Theatre

An exclusive screening of five unique short films by nuSTUDIOS members and alumni puts forth portraits of the aftermath for individuals who have been left behind to fend for themselves in some way or other. The One Left Behind challenges its audience to consider the degeneration and re-establishment of bonds within their family and community, and attain enlightened perspectives into family, friendship, love and community.

Choreographers take a shot at exploring their inner selves, exploring the various reasons that revolutionized their lives. The show title sets up a life-sized canvas for dancers and choreographers of NUS Dance Blast! to portray what dance really means to them, no holds barred. Don’t miss this vibrant and energetic performance!

If this synopsis is not enough to tempt you, perhaps the free admission will change your mind! I reckon it to be quite a good deal, considering that it is five films for nothing at all. If you are feeling free before the Chinese New Year holidays, perhaps you may like to consider attending this movie screening!

Even if dance is not your ‘thing’, the NUS Dance Blast! will be putting up a contemporary performance that promises not to be too edgy or atas for your tastes.

Photo by Zhou Shuo

A Comedy Of Sex and Politics 《一妇五夫?! 》 By KEVII Hall Chinese Drama Wed & Thu, 20 & 21 Feb, 8pm UCC Theatre A Comedy of Sex and Politics is adapted by awardwinning Taiwan-based director Stan Lai from Carlo Goldoni’s 1751 Italian play, The Mistress of the Inn (La locandiera). The boss of an inn, Meranto is the most charming lady in town who is wooed by many rich nobles. Although she treats every man with hearty enthusiasm, none win her favour. One day, two of Meranto’s suitors, a wealthy businessman and a self-glorifying earl, introduce an aloof and proud colonel to her. To Meranto’s surprise, the colonel is not impressed by her and laughs at her two admirers instead. Stung by his reaction, Meranto launched a plan to seduce the haughty colonel. Look forward to a comedy filled with sex, politics, love and gourmet at this romantic but absurd inn. I cannot claim to be a fluent Chinese speaker, but even this synopsis is enough to intrigue this English major. Be sure to refer to the CFA website for more details on ticket prices!

LIFESTYLE

COOL C

Unveiling The Secret of Money-m

Teresa Widodo

e all have heard about how much passion matters in determining our happiness and success but can we make money out of our passion? If you are still unsure of how to turn your hobbies into money-making ventures, take a few tips from Ivan Ho, one of the authors of the book, Cool Cash. Ivan is currently a final year NUS student. “I’ve been calling NUS Business School home for 4 years now,” he says, “and yes, you can already tell, my academic interests tend towards the business sides of things.” The generous writer also dished out some useful tips on how to have a “hobby job”. A “hobby job”, according to Ivan, is a job in an area that you are passionate about and can be done during your free time. TR: Which one is better: staying in our comfort zone or taking risks and doing what we love? IH: Both options has its pros and cons. Yes, staying in our comfort zone has its advantages and it is what most people do instinctively-which to me is perfectly fine. However, if you want to reach another level in terms of job success and find happiness, you

have got to take some risks in life. If possible, really find something that you love doing. I have friends in the banking industry that have put up with a job that they disliked for almost 10 years and not quit, simply because the pay is decent and stable. Many of them have looked back at the 10 years and realize that they should have done something more fun and more meaningful, instead of letting something as trivial as a stable job be a dead anchor in their career path. Now finding something that you really love can be really hard for some people, sometimes we just do not know what we love, hence taking risks can do you some real good. If you learn to take some calculated risks in school, you tend to do that later on later in life, so start taking some calculated risk now, as early as possible, come out of your comfort zone and try new things because you’ll never know what these new things might do for you.

turning your professional stalking into something creative 2) Modelling 3) Teaching people specialized dancing 4) Speech coach 5) Festive Arbitrageur Follow these 3 simple steps: Step 1: It depends very much on whether that uncommon hobby has ‘value’ to it. Value here means that the hobby provides a useful service or product to people. Many of the hobby jobbers--people who managed to turn their hobbies into

money making ventures--whom I’ve interviewed over the past 2 years had very odd interests to begin with. Many of them did not make it into the book, because their business or small venture was not successful. This was due to the very fact that their product/ service provided little or no value to the consumer. I met a 35 year old women who has an odd hobby of collecting human and animal teeth and making miniature figurines out of them. The act of collecting teeth is, in my opinion, a bit gross. Hence, her blog shop did not work out so well. You can create value in your

TR: If someone has an uncommon hobby, could he/she make money from it? How? IH: Definitely. My top 5 favourite hobby jobs are: 1) Facebook content manager;

Photo from blogspot.sg

LIFESTYLE

OL CASH

et of Money-making Hobbies

hobby by investing a lot of time in it and or finding a niche. People pay good buck if you’re really good at something that adds value to them. Step 2: Plan. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. It’s as simple as that. In every business no matter how small, it’s good to have at least a vision for it. Next, plan the steps you want to take in order to achieve that vision. Who among your network of friends can help you turn your hobby into a money making venture? Do they have resources/ their own network to help you? How much is your start-up capital? What is the cost of your monthly operation? How do you keep them low? All these require planning. For most hobby jobbers, it is not a must to have a strict long solid business plan before you launch your services. A simple one will do, which includes vision, mission, objectives, cost listing. Step 3: Marketing. Now that you have ensured that your hobby has value to it and a good business plan to support it, the next step is marketing. To me, marketing

is simply making people and potential customers aware of your existence and your hobby job. There are many marketing books that can give a more detailed explaining on how to do it. But for some quick marketing tips designed for hobby jobbers, focus on cheaper options like social media, blogging, Facebook, LinkedIn or popular online forums like hardwarezone.com. TR: Do you have any personal experiences in making money from your hobby? If yes, could you tell us more about that? What challenges did you face? How did you fare in it? IH: Yes. During my polytechnic days, I taught swimming to working adults who were too shy to learn the skill in a public pool. I had to find a place that provided privacy to my customers; luckily my friend was so kind enough to open his home pool for the fulfilment of my first hobby job. My next hobby job was teaching the drums, I specialized in teaching children. I branded myself that way, because it was hard for any music school to take in any inexperienced & young music teacher such as myself. I marketed myself as having experience playing in church as

a drummer and my CCA as a Japanese Daiko drummer in poly for 3 years. The private music school that hired me paid me quite well. TR: If you had a chance to be anything, what or who would you like to be? IH: I would like to be a successful stand-up comedian. Ellen DeGeneres, my all-time favourite comedian and TV talk host has taught me much through her popular TV shows and stand up comedies. My local favourite is Judee Tan from The Noose. Making people laugh, but not at the expense of others, is to me one of the hardest yet most fulfilling skills you can have. Laughing bring joys to people, adding value to them after a hard days of work. And to top it off, you get paid good bucks for it if you’re really good.

Short Bio: Ivan Ho is currently a final year student pursuing honours and specializing in Finance in NUS Business School. Besides being an undergraduate, Ivan is also one of the owners of UrbanR, a small but fast growing family business in India that specializes in modifying cars. Beside spending hours studying for exams or finishing up projects, he likes to hunt for gems in the stock market and find companies that are undervalued to invest in. He also takes part in business competitions such as the next fund manager, CFA and SIM business simulation game, to keep the competitive spirit in him burning.

LIFESTYLE

JAN 2013 EVENTS Candice Chua

The start of a new year heralds in new beginnings and unfortunately for tertiary students, a new semester of seemingly endless projects, tests and readings. But before resigning to fate and allowing school to rob us of our lives and sanity in the months to come, why not take a little time out while we still can? Candice Chua unearths some events that you might want to check out before the craziness ensues.

BUT IS THE BOOK BETTER? Venue: The Arts House @ The Old Parliament Date: 14 – 20 January

Admission: Free (!!) but on first-come-first-served basis, so come early!

Time: Check out http://www. theartshouse.com.sg/ for movie screening schedules

Started a year ago by the good people at The Arts House, But Is The Book Better? is a film series that features a selection of book-to-film adaptations according to a monthly theme.

S T. J E ROM E ’S L A N E WAY F E S T I VA L 2013

Check out: http://singapore. lanewayfestival.com.au/

Venue: The Meadow @ Gardens By The Bay

The biggest indie music festival to hit our shores is back again with a brand new lineup and a new location. Taking place at the scenic Gardens By The Bay, this year’s installment features Grammy-award nominees Gotye and Kimbra

Date: 26 January Time: 12:00 PM Admission: $145 for a standard ticket and $350 for VIP ticket

J E R SE Y B OYS Venue: Sands Theatre @ Marina Bay Sands Date: Last show on 17 February 2013 Admission: From $55 - $230 and can be purchased through http://sistic.com.sg

If you are big fan of Broadway musicals, Jersey Boys is one show that needs to be on your musical bucket list. Winner of four Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album, Jersey Boys has grown to become the quintessential American musical since its debut in 2004. Still running on Broadway after 8 years, Jersey Boys tells the story of the rise and fall of American rock

Alice in Wonderland, this month “Fantastique Lit” explores the fantasy genre of dream-like imagery and plots beyond our everyday reality. Other films to be screened this month include film classic Wizard of Oz, Stardust and What Dreams May Come.

(known for their chart topping Somebody That I Used To Know, Icelandic band Of Monsters and Men, Norwegian duo Kings Of Convenience, British quartet Alt-J and many spectacular others, both known and unknown. Indie fans, I hope you’ve already gotten your tickets. If you haven’t, get down to it!

‘n’roll quartet The Four Seasons through comedy, drama and four charismatic lads decked in matching suits while crooning to hits like “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” Regardless of whether you’re a musical theatre fan or not, or whether you recognise the songs at all, Jersey Boys is bound to leave your feet tapping and body moving to the beat by the end of the first act.

LIFESTYLE

a confession from an online shopping convert Candice Chua

Photo from mosnarcommunications.com

have never been a fan of online shopping. In fact, when my friends were raving about eBay back in the early 2000s, I can safely say that I hated it. I have always preferred the brick and mortar shops, where I can feel the fabric, see the cut and colour, and try the fit. To me, shopping is a social experience. I enjoy meeting up with friends to catch up over an afternoon of retail therapy or interacting with the sales personnel to find out their opinions and recommendations. Online shopping just seemed like a diluted version of the physical shopping experience. Yet, recently, I have found myself drawn to online

shopping and I am definitely not alone. A PayPal survey in November 2012 found that 66% of Singaporeans preferred to do their shopping on websites. Maybe it’s because you can shop anywhere, anytime online. Maybe it’s because you can often find better deals online. Or maybe it’s because you can avoid the perpetual crowds of people in shopping centres, especially in Singapore. I know that for me, the game changer was the fact that more overseas brands were shipping their products to Singapore, allowing me to find items that were traditionally hard to get here.

Whatever it is, online shopping sites have upped their game, offering a more personalised shopping experience that is easy and convenient with extra services thrown in – like the free shipping and the ‘no questions asked’ return policy that asos. com offers. This, coupled with the easy availability of product reviews online--from bloggers offering their two cents, to communities like makeupalley. com allowing their members to chime in or even on shopping sites themselves like amazon. com, where those who have actually purchased the product from the site give their opinions on service and quality of the product--allows us to navigate the treacherous waters of online shopping more

smoothly. Here in Singapore, besides the physical shops offering online sites for shopping, online blog shops have also sprung up with sites like thescarletroom. com and feistheist.com offering more unique options to the ubiquitous local online offerings sourced from Thailand and Korea. Being a newbie to online shopping, there have been times when it all seems a little overwhelming. So I’ve asked around for some tips from seasoned pros that we should keep in mind when making purchases online.

LIFESTYLE

Tip #1: Always protect your cash

Tip #2: Documentation is key

Established sites like ASOS or topshop.com (which has recently started shipping to Singapore) have a security icon, often a padlock located at the bottom of your browser, which verifies that the site is safe. This is especially important when paying with your credit card, to protect yourself from fraud or identity theft. You can also consider using PayPal, a more secure alternative, as it protects your financial information and offers ‘buyer protection’ against lost or defective items purchased.

Always obtain and keep documentation to prove that payment has been made. Receipts from ATM transfers, the payment method of choice for most blog shops, are important in ensuring that you do not get scammed by sellers. With international sites, a receipt is usually generated after payment. Save that receipt and for added assurance, you can take a screenshot of your browser when the payment is being made.

Tip #3: Read the exchange and refund policies very carefully Not all online sites have generous exchange and refund policies like ASOS. A ‘no exchange and no refund’ policy is the norm for most blog shops. To avoid disappointment and heartache, make sure you read these policies carefully before clicking ‘add to cart’.

With blog shops, never pay via methods like ‘concealed cash’ or ‘mailed cash’, which is essentially you putting money into an envelope and mailing it to the seller. This brings us to tip number 2.

Photo from halifaxshoppingcentre.com

Tip #4: Wait for seasonal sales and shop smart Sales like the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales in the US and the Boxing Day sales in the UK are the best times to get deals on items you have been eyeing. Besides these, most retailers also offer special online deals from time to time. A good way to make sure you don’t miss out is to subscribe to a mailing list or follow the brand on Facebook and Twitter. Brands often give special discounts or privileges to members so try and sign up for membership where possible. Moreover, most blog shops host special ‘like and share’ contests on these social media platforms where you can win items by liking and sharing the images with your friends.

LIFESTYLE

Tip #5: Customer reviews are your friend

Tip #6: Sharing saves money

It’s best to do some research on the product and the seller before making an online purchase. Getting on Google and looking for customer feedback about a particular product or about an online retailer’s customer service is an easy way to avoid having a bad online experience. Especially so with online blog shops where customer feedback is your primary tool to differentiate the gems from the duds. Multiple bad reviews are a clear indication that you should steer clear and spend your precious monies elsewhere.

When shipping orders from overseas retailers, it’s always good if you can find a friend or two who is also looking to make a purchase there. That way, you can pool the order and split the cost of shipping. This is also a great way of saving money even if you are not ordering from the same retailer because you can split the cost of a concierge or forwarding service like vPOST or Borderlinx, which allows you to combine different orders into one large shipment. Locally, sites like theeditorsmarket.com allow you to create baskets that you can share with friends to cut costs as the price of each item goes down with the more items you place in the basket.

Photo from sync-blog.com

Ultimately, having a great experience shopping online has a lot to do with trusting your own intuition and instincts. Always remember that there are many alternatives online – so if you don’t feel happy at one shop, move on. Happy shopping!

LIFESTYLE

HAUTE HOLIDAYS Choi Yik Heng

s the new year begins, gear up for the season of festive merrymaking as New Year’s Eve beckons. Start tapping on those fashion hats now and get VOGUE. Fret not, boys, your interests have also been included here! The perfect New Year dinner party dress is entitled to transcend boundaries of the Little Black Dress. Nevertheless, the timelessly classy dress is elegant in length and neckline, with just the right pop of bling, as seen here in a tasteful reprieve from Zara. It will carry you through the night effortlessly.

Pair this stunning dress with plain black platform heels; or ankle-strap minimalist heels for an understated look, or silver heels with silver arm jewelry for accents of futuristic cool.

For a serious pop of colours to welcome 2013, how about full skirts and dresses for indoor parties? Ankle grazing skirts with lots of volume are perfect for every body shape: belted high-waist ones will flatter curvy girls most. Besides neon colours and floral prints, opt for fierce photographic prints and embellishments to create that 3D impression. If midis are too formal for you, above-the-knee full skirts are great supplements!

LIFESTYLE

What is a fabulous festive night without the glitter? Time to wear those shiny sequin skirts as you dance the last night of 2012 away!

Ditch the short minis for the after-party and swish with class.

Even if dresses aren’t your thing, look for the most flattering pair of graphic jeans - maybe a black one with subtle, black floral patterns or polka-dots. Top these patterned and colourful bottoms with a contrasting—and preferably structured—top. Try peplum tops for an elegant style. Collared shirts, especially sleeveless mandarin collared ones, are great complements. Sweaters also make great basic pieces to go along with these pants. Accessories will do wonders in transforming your outfit into one suitable for grown-up merrymaking! Just chuck those chunky, decorative necklaces, earrings and bangles into your clutch. Statement heels, as opposed to day flats or minimalist heels, are also staple additions to dancing gears.

And girls, what is the perfect outfit without manicured nails? Why not have glow-in-the-dark nails by American Apparel?

FOR THE

MEN

Last but not the least! Guys, if you have outdone the customary flannel shirt, denim skinny jeans and Dr Martens boots and need a serious dose of fresh threads for the New Year, how about three-piece suits? Also experiment with different materials, like faded distressed denim. Satin shirts and pants are great for classy accents. Try pairing your tops and bottoms in contrasting materials to achieve a combination like sleek/rough. Alas, fare thee well! I hope you celebrate the New Year with your best smile and have a fabulous season of merry-making!

LIFESTYLE

NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS: MENDING THE BROKEN ONES Photo from benoitpaille.deviantart.com

Teresa Widodo

irst of all, congratulations on surviving the apocalypse! Considering we all get the chance to celebrate another new year, you might want to consider this as a pivotal point for a change. As cliché as it sounds, leaping into a brand new year is commonly associated with making promises to ourselves for the new year. I started writing my New Year’s promises when I was 12. Only recently did I realize our spirit in sticking to our resolutions was similar to our spirits in doing our best during the academic years. Most of us start week 1 with excessive enthusiasm. We make promises to ourselves that there

will be no more slacking off and that we will increase our level of kiasu-ness. As the weeks pass, we will start rewarding ourselves by hours (and more hours) of browsing or retail therapy. Finally, when we reach the end of the semester, we will start recounting all the empty promises we made. Eventually, some of us will realize this cycle and stop making promises at all. We become tired and discouraged eventually. Have you ever experienced such broken New Year’s resolutions? The Ridge has come up with several tips on how to set resolutions--and make them happen.

1. We always live in two worlds: the ideal world and the real one. It is not a sin to aim as high as the seventh sky, as long as we keep our feet on the ground. In other words, try to set our goals as high as possible but do evaluate them. Is it possible to fulfil them in one year’s time? Or should it be a long term goal, accomplished over the next few years? 2. Being extremely specific will encourage you to fulfil your goal without ‘cheating’. For instance, instead of putting down ‘being healthier’ as one of your resolutions, you might want to write down ‘walk from Kent Ridge MRT to the Science building instead of taking the bus’. 3. Don’t just write down the changes you want to make. You should also list down the ways to make those changes. Let’s say you are a heavy smoker who smokes more than one pack of cigarettes per day. Your goal is to quit smoking at all. You might want to set monthly goals to achieve zero cigarettes per day. 4. Most importantly, determination and consistency are the keys. In order to remind yourself about your resolutions, you can start by writing down your resolutions in your diary or sticking it on visible places that you can see daily or even hourly. To keep your determination, you might want to add some motivating quotes along with the list. Pro tips: write them down using bright-coloured inks.

LIFESTYLE

THE BUSY STUDENT’S GUIDE TO FAST (HOME-COOKED) FOOD Rachel Ong

emember the days when you were half the height you are now, where meal times included bratty complaints about your mother’s cooking and banishing your greens to the distant corners of your plate where they would be left untouched until someone in authority forced you to eat them up? Well fast forward approximately ten years and here we are, all in college, where home cooked food is a prized privilege that rolls around only a few times a week, particularly so for dorm dwellers. While the kitchen may have once been unfamiliar territory, the lack of parental provisions may have compelled you to finally stand before the stove and learn the culinary ropes. But cooking doesn’t necessarily have to be as time-consuming and fear inducing as people often perceive. In this 3 part series, The Ridge will provide you with a few quick and easy recipes that are also pocket friendly—perfect even for the most helpless kitchen amateurs. P.S. For those unfamiliar with metric measurements, ‘cup’ in these recipes refers to measuring cups commonly used in baking, which can be substituted by your standard drinking cup.

• 1 small onion, diced • Salt and pepper • 1/2 teaspoon cumin • Splash of white cooking wine or chicken stock

RECIPE #1: QUICK CHILLI

• 1/4 cup water • 200 grams chopped tomatoes • Grated Cheddar cheese, for serving DIRECTIONS

Photo from siftingandsowing.com

Trust the Domestic Goddess Nigella Lawson to have fast but indulgent recipes nailed—she is the inspiration for this Americanstyle chili that is arguably one of the best comfort foods every student can turn to in times of gastronomic need. The cozy aroma, coupled with the satisfying earthiness of the minced meat is a one-way ticket to heaven that your stomach will surely thank you for.

Great on its own and even better with some garlic bread.

Recipe adapted from Nigella Lawson, serves 2 INGREDIENTS • 2 slices bacon, chopped • 250 grams beef/lamb/chicken mince

1. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a saucepan, fry the bacon and onions until bacon is crisp and onions translucent and slightly browned. 2. Add the cumin and mince, breaking it up with a fork. Add the white whine or stock, tomatoes and water and bring the pan to a boil. 3. Put the lid on and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper, then serve with grated cheddar.

LIFESTYLE

RECIPE #2: CHEESY CHICKEN & BROCCOLI RICE

Photo from fabulesslyfrugal.com

Baked rice: one of those dishes that everyone loves, but only when someone else is doing the cooking—the name of the dish itself might as well be synonymous with the words ‘difficult’ and ‘inconvenient’. But baked rice just got more accessible, with this version that slashes off half the time necessary but retains all the creamy and cheesy goodness of traditional baked rice.

Adapted from Annie’s Eats, serves 2

INGREDIENTS • ½ cup white rice, washed • 1 cup broccoli florets • 2 tablespoons butter • 2 tablespoons flour • 1 shallot, diced • 1 cup milk • 1 clove garlic • 1 teaspoon mustard • Salt and pepper • ½ cup cheddar cheese, grated • 1 chicken breast, sliced thinly

DIRECTIONS 1. Cook rice according to package directions. Place broccoli in saucepan with 2 tablespoons water, cover and boil for 2-3 minutes. Drain broccoli and set aside. 2. For the cheese sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan and whisk in flour, shallot, garlic and mustard. Whisk for a minute. Slowly stir in milk and add chicken slices. Allow the sauce to simmer until thickened, stirring frequently for 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked.

3. Turn off the heat and stir in cheddar. Season with salt and pepper, then add in cooked rice and broccoli. Stir to combine. At this point, you can sprinkle more cheese on top and bake in an oven-proof dish for 10 minutes in a 200˚C oven. But fortunately for those without an oven or are just plain lazy…your meal is all ready to be gobbled down, even sans baking.

LIFESTYLE

RECIPE #3: GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH (WITH A TWIST) Photo from cookingclassy.com

Grilled cheese sandwiches are the ultimate symbol of culinary convenience, but can be cloyingly heavy and greasy. This recipe tosses the typical version up with bacon for extra crunch, and apple slices that lend an unusual but wholesome touch of sweetness to the salty affair.

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

• 4 slices white bread

1. To assemble sandwich, spread mustard on two slices of bread and top with cheddar, 3 strips of bacon and apple slices. Place the remaining bread on top and spread outsides with butter.

Adapted from Tyler Florence/Food Network, serves 2

• ½ green apple, thinly sliced

• 170 grams cheddar, sliced • 2 tablespoons butter • 6 strips bacon, fried till crisp

• Dijon mustard (optional)

2. Heat frying pan. Cook on both sides until cheese is melted and bread is brown and toasted.

There you have it: 3 easy recipes that will yield impressive results even if you have never tried your hand at cooking. These dishes look and taste like they took a lot of time slogging away in the kitchen to make—except they didn’t. The next time the craving for home cooked food kicks in, be sure to answer with these recipes, and watch this space for more to follow!

WIRED

HANDY DEVICE FOR ALL STUDENTS! Ultra-Slim Business Note Writer, Premium Pro Edition [FG-3001CB]

Michelle Teo

Photo from lifetrons.ch

WIRED

“ “

THIS DEVICE IS IDEAL FOR STUDENTS AS IT IS CONVENIENT AND ALLOWS THEM TO TAKE NOTES IN CLASSES QUICKLY. ” (IT) RECOGNIZES HANDWRITTEN NOTES IN MULTIPLE LANGUAGES AND TRANSFORMS THESE HANDWRITTEN NOTES TO DIGITIZED TEXT. ”

quipped with a wireless pen and receiver, this is a handy device for any university student or professional, and definitely one that all students should consider getting. Despite costing a fairly huge sum of around $221, this device is ideal for students as it is convenient and allows them to take notes in classes quickly. This product is so ideal that it has even been awarded the iF Product Design Award 2012 - Gold. Your reporter gives you the latest scoop on this useful product for all students:

USAGE

FEATURES

Users can record up to 190 pages worth of handwritten notes, diagrams and sketches, just by using the wireless pen on any ordinary paper up to your standard A4 size. All the user has to do is clip the receiver to the top of the paper he or she is writing on, and then all is ready to go. Everything that is written will be recorded by the receiver, which can be uploaded to the user’s iPhone, iPad or computer by connecting the devices using the USB cable. Aside from that, students can also edit their notes or sketches either on their mobile device or computer. This can be done virtually at anytime and anyplace, and allows students to add new materials or make corrections to existing notes. These notes can then be printed or shared as images.

This product is sleek and slim, the receiver being only 7.9mm thick. The different components of this product include the following:

There is also an additional “MyScript Studio” handwriting recognition software that is included in the Premium Pro edition, which recognizes handwritten notes in multiple languages and transforms these handwritten notes to digitized text. These texts can then be cut and pasted into Microsoft Word or any other word processing software. A highly effective tool for organizing notes efficiently and sharing them with others, this is definitely a device that all students should consider obtaining to aid them in their studies.

• Receiver • Wireless Pen • USB Connecting Cable • Leather storage pouch • USB flash drive with software • 2 standard D1 ink refills • 4 SR41 button batteries • User guide The software “Note Manager” for Microsoft Windows OS or “NoteTaker” for MAC OS, which is used to store and edit the images transferred from the receiver, can be downloaded at http://www. lifetrons.ch/.

PRICE AND LOCATION Sold at $221, this device can be bought inflight on many airlines, or bought online at http://www.lifetrons.ch/. A one-year international warranty is also included for all devices.

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finding out more about Lim Wei Di

t’s probably too early to worry about term papers but here’s a piece of good news! NUS Library has recently launched FindMore@NUSL, their brand new search engine, which will make writing our term papers and lab reports a whole lot easier. Writing a term paper is a long and labourious process, involving detailed research using academic sources from all over. Do you start with books

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IT PROMISES A LESS PAINFUL RESEARCH PROCESS THROUGH THE INTEGRATION OF EXISTING LIBRARY SOURCES”

available in the NUS library or do you start with the online journals and newspapers that NUS subscribes to? If it’s the latter, which one? Having heard enough complaints from students every semester, NUS Library was inspired to come up with FindMore@NUSL. It promises a less painful research process through the integration of existing library sources, our

institutional repository, and the online journal and newspapers that NUS subscribes to into one super search engine. Simply put, it saves us the hassle of manually searching through ScholarBank@NUS for masters, PHD theses and dissertations written by NUS students and the other 160 million journal and newspaper articles that we have access to. It is no wonder that this was the 2nd most requested feature in the 2007 survey on the functionalities of the library catalogue. In addition, FindMore@

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THE TEAM BEHIND FINDMORE@NUSL HAS THOUGHTFULLY CRAFTED UP REALLY USEFUL FILTERS, THROUGH ANALYZING COMMON USER BEHAVIOR AND PREFERENCES”

NUSL also boasts a search response faster than Google, a remarkable improvement from its popular precursor, InfoGate. An obvious downside to integrating such a huge

Findmore@NUSL

amount of sources into one search engine is the colossal amount of search results it generates. The team behind FindMore@NUSL has thoughtfully crafted up really useful filters, through analyzing common user behavior and preferences, to help us narrow down the search results into a more manageable size. Need only peer-review journal articles? Simply check the box. Want only articles with full-text available online? Here you go. Lastly, for the special group of muddleheads who forget their sources after happily using

WIRED

bout Findmore@NUSL

libportal.nus.edu.sg

them, FindMore@NUSLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brand new Match Full-Text in Book function is your saviour. Instead of frantically going through all your sources again two hours before the dateline, you can simply key in the exact phrase or sentence into FindMore@ NUSL and it would run a search

through its entire print and e-book collection to give you the exact source down to the page number. No more excuses for sloppy citations! The system is not perfect yet and given the relatively new technology adopted and the

size of data involved, there are bound to be certain flaws here and there. NUS libraries will continue to enhance FindMore@NUSL and smooth out the kinks and knots along the way. To better the service, they would love to hear more from us â&#x20AC;&#x201C; because it is after all

designed for us.

WIRED

FIVE COOL THINGS YOU ANDROID D Siddharth Saoji

e all use our Android phones to call friends, send text messages, log on to Facebook and check our e-mail. But the Android mobile device is capable of far more. With features like GPS, accelerometer, and compass, your phone can be used for things you would not have imagined. Here I have assembled the list of five such things which would make you look at your Android device in a whole new light.

Heart rate monitor – Yes it’s true - you can actually measure your heart rate using your phone. There are a number of apps in Google Play (an Android app store) that measure your heart rate; one of the popular ones you could check out is Instant Heart Rate by Azumio Inc. What these apps do essentially is set the camera flash in your phone to maximum intensity and then have you put your finger on the camera lens (which is just below the flash bulb). The lens detects the hue of your finger, which changes due to the constant blood flow. A (very complex) formula then computes the beats per minute of your heart based on the rate of change of the colouration of your finger. This, of course, will not give the most accurate measurement of your heart rate, but the value is a close enough approximate for you to know when you are stressing out.

Photo from azumio.com

Mosquito Repellent – The speaker in your Android is not just for playing your favourite song; it also has the capability to produce ultrasound (high frequency sound). Though these high frequency sounds are not audible to human ears, they can be heard by mosquitoes that confuse the sound emitted with the presence of a predatory insect like a dragonfly. This causes them to flee the area, resulting in a mosquito free environment. Again, there are tons of apps on Google Play that provide this functionality. On a warning note, cats and dogs also have the ability to hear ultrasounds and these apps can cause them irritation; so make sure your pet is not around when you use them.

Photo from drlisatabrizind.wordpress.com

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YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR OID DEVICE 03

WiFi Kill – Now this one is a little geeky and would require you to root the Android device. We (well, most of us) know that our Android phone can be used as a WiFi hotspot; thus enabling Internet sharing or even ad-hoc communication with other mobile devices. But this app takes this feature one step further. WiFi Kill makes all other devices in the LAN (local area network) believe that your device is the WiFi access point; thus making them connect to your phone rather than the actual WiFi access point. It then drops all the packets it receives from these connections. To the other devices, it still seems that they are connected to the access point with an unbelievably slow connection. This app can be used to stop your friends from hogging bandwidth, but it can also be used for not-so-angelic purposes and has thus been banned from Google Play. If you really are an angel, though, you can get this app on the XDA developers forum.

Sky Map – Ever stared at the night sky and wished you knew what the bright glowing thing you were looking at was? Well, stop wishing and install Google’s Sky Map. It’s an application that identifies constellations, planets, grids, and deep sky objects by simply pointing your Android at them. It uses Android’s built-in compass, GPS, and clock (though not the phone camera) to display an annotated Sky Map of the area it is facing. The map adjusts as the user moves the device. Users can also determine the locations of planets and stars relative to their own current locations with the search function. Inputting the name of a planet or star will direct users towards the object.

Call Recorder – How many times have you forgotten the name of a YouTube video your friend told you about, or a recipe your mom gave you, or a task your boss asked you to do? Many times, I’ll bet. To-do lists are good, but they require you to manually write reminders for yourself. If only we could just record the conversations we had on our phones and use them as audio notes for reference later. As it turns out, we can record incoming and outgoing calls on our Android phones and store them as audio files in the phone’s memory card. Check this out for a trial.

Worthy Mentions – Apart from the five mentioned above, there are a few other apps which deserve mention, but were excluded from the list for one reason or another. Busybox – A package stuffed with most of the Linux utilities. It can be used for shell scripting in Android. Ubuntu – You can install an Ubuntu desktop environment on your Android phone to retain the desktop experience. Tasker – It can be used to automate tasks on Android; it works similarly to Automator in Mac or task scheduler in Windows.

Photo from homeschool.com

With the advent of hardware technology and the increasingly unique imaginations of Android developers, the sky is the limit for what an Android phone could do.

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NEXUS 4: THIS SHIP A Siddharth Saoji

Photo from digitaltrends.com

n November last year, Google released the fourth edition of its flagship Nexus phone series. After partnering with HTC and Samsung for the first 3 editions, LG was handed the manufacturing duties this time around. There was a time when Nexus phones were considered devices for developers only but that is no longer true. Now the Nexus series is up there with the best and the

brightest. The Nexus 4 continues that trend, boasting of some very impressive software upgrades including the Swype keyboard and Photo Sphere, as well as hardware upgrades like an 8 MP camera, Bluetooth 4.0 and Corning Gorilla Glass 2. This is besides the usual feature list smartphones have these days, such as a quadcore 1.5 Ghz processor and a True HD touchscreen. The real question is why someone

would consider Nexus 4 when there is a barrage of awesome Android phones in the market today? The answer is simple. When the people who make the software monitor the hardware it will run on, a coherent device is produced. What that means is that the Nexus 4, which is already sporting the newest Android 4.2 Jelly Bean operating system, will be the first one to receive the latest updates before they reach any other Android powered

device. It means that you will get an experience of Android as it was intended by Google, without unwanted modifications and apps from OEMs1 (even LG) or carriers. It also means that you will not be tied down by service provider contracts that are detrimental to your pocket. Lastly it means that you will get an opportunity for deeper customization and development on your Android with a pre-unlocked bootloader.

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IP AINâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T FLAGGING

If the aforementioned points are not enough to inspire a betrayal of your favorite brand (assuming it is not the Google Nexus), here are some other tempters: the Nexus 4 runs on a whooping 1.5 GHz quad-core processor with 2 GB of RAM. It has a 4.7 inch True HD IPS Plus capacitive screen with a pixel density of 318 PPI. It is also capable of wireless inductive charging and wireless display to external monitors based on Miracast standards.

Photo From wired.com

Photo from anandtech.com

Photo from tested.com

But all is not sunny in Nexus4ville. The biggest dampener (or so people say) is no support for 4G LTE2 technology. Many argue that HSPA3 is fast enough for most people and Google justifies the omission by claiming that LTEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s need to support multiple networks would deteriorate battery life. In Singapore it should not be a concern for the immediate future, as there is currently a lack of pervasive LTE coverage. Other missing elements are the absence

of a removable back cover (thus an inability to replace battery) and no card slot to change/ expand storage. Although most smartphones nowadays come this way, an option to use multiple SD cards would have been nice.

market for an unlocked, contractless smartphone, and your eyes are not transfixed by a half-eaten apple, the Nexus 4 is a superb bet. It is truly flying the flag of the Google ship high (pun very much intended here).

Nevertheless, you can condone a few shortcomings of Nexus 4 due to its shockingly low price of USD$299 for the 8 GB versions and USD$349 for the 16 GB versions. All and all, if you are in the

Original Equipment Manufacturers

Long-Term Evolution

High Speed Packet Access

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HI, TECH! Goh Yan Peng

Stars connecting with the audience via Twitter from theuksportsnetwork.com

echnology – all of us have something to say about it, but most of it seems to edge on the Dark Side. Is its progress as bad as how our GP essays and doomsday prophecies make it out to be? For sports, the answer is a resounding ‘NO’. Advancements in communication have given both the players and the viewers, many new vistas to enjoy sports. We might not be able to see it because we grew up with this transformation but that does not discount how massive its effect on sports has been.

Just take a look at the recent AFF Suzuki Cup finals. Even though the widely anticipated match was held in Bangkok, we could watch it at home in Singapore and, in fact, anywhere else in Asia, and perhaps the world. Even before it started, the match had already been discussed endlessly on various social media platforms. And later, it would have been possible to not watch it at all and yet know every minute detail. This demonstrates how the availability of regional and international broadcasting has

made it ‘2013’ times easier to be an avid spectator. Local matches are often available on free-to-air channels while international matches of major sports can be watched on cable channels like ESPN. The ease of accessing online streaming sites also means that there are more people who can watch live sports events now than ever before. This is a great step forward for the world of sports because it can capture a substantially larger fan base. On a pragmatic note, more fans would mean

that it would be easier to gain sponsorships from businesses. Even though sports should ideally be free from corporate ties, it is quite impossible and this would be beneficial in creating better quality, more entertaining and frequent sports action for fans like us.

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THIS HUMANIZES THE STARS WE ALL ADMIRE”

Likewise, we have become closer to our fellow fans and even our sports heroes thanks to prolific

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The victorious Singaporean Team from asianfootballfeast.com

social media sites. Twitter is the best example of that because it lets us keep in touch with stars like Kobe Bryant, Kaka, Serena Williams and Tom Daley daily. To me, this creates a new sense of involvement that was otherwise absent in international sports, which felt distant and a little too serious. This humanizes the stars we all admire and is a great way for us to have front row seats to their thoughts about the matches which they participated in and almost everything else. No interview can access so many private details in such a consistent

manner. The interaction does not stop here. Games like the Fantasy Premier League and the NBA 2K series are allowing enthusiasts to live out the life of a coach or player. Of course, this should not replace actual dabbling in sports but who would not want to have the experience of being a professional once in a while? These games bring a whole new dimension to watching sports and are yet another example of how such an experience has gone through a rebirth.

Undoubtedly, there are negative repercussions to the tie-in between tech and sports. The most obvious one appears to be that gambling over sports is probably at an all-time high. Accessibility to â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;liveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; matches has increased since public places such as McDonaldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and kopitiams provide televisions to broadcast them. Soccer, both international and regional, may be one of the sports that gets implicated in illegal betting syndicates, but other sports may gain prominence soon too. I have no solutions on how to

prevent this trend from exploding, but I do think that it is not a setback to this happy marriage of technology and sports. My one and only (admittedly, rather impossible) hope now would be for the invention of a time machine thingy that will allow me to watch the 2014 FIFA World Cup without having to wake up at three in the morning.

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Red Bull Flugtag Singapore 2012 Naveen Prakash

Redbull Flugtag Overview by Redbull

th October 2012 marked another milestone in Singapore’s tourism calendar as the the madcap wackiness of 1st ever Red Bull Flugtag Singapore finally crashed into the shores of Siloso Beach Sentosa! For people who are wondering what the fuss is all about, here is a small introduction. Red Bull Flugtag (pronounced as Floog Tug – which means “Flying Day” in German) pushes the envelope of humanpowered flight and challenges the brave and brainy to design, build and pilot home-made, wacky flying machines off a 6 metre high flight deck in hopes of soaring into the wild blue yonder--more often that not, plunging into the lagoon below instead. Teams of 4 are judged not only by flight distance, but also showmanship (explaining the dance performance of teams before their flights) as well as creativity of the aircraft

(resulting in this year’s flying durian and prawns). Since the first Red Bull Flugtag took place in Vienna, Austria, in 1992, more than 100 Flugtags have been held around the globe, attracting up to 300,000 spectators for a single event. This is its debut run in Southeast Asia making Singapore a part of the 20-year history. Red Bull Flugtag teams spent weeks toiling over their manmade aircrafts in an attempt to put Singapore on the world map for creativity. A total of 38 teams attempted, amidst cheers from a 35,000 strong crowd braving the scorching heat, to witness the aeronautical prowess and mayhem of the teams battling it out to break the 69.79m record set in Mainz, Germany earlier this year. After a 30-second pre-take off performance, each team’s

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WIND BECAME SUCH A HEADY ISSUE THAT THE LAST 12 TEAMS HAD TO TAKE ON THE COURSE WITHOUT A PILOT DUE TO SAFETY MATTERS”

homemade flying craft manned by an intrepid pilot was launched off the deck into the open waters. Not only did the teams have to impress the judges and rouse the crowd in their 3-minute flight to fame, they also had to navigate natural obstacles like headwind. Wind became such a heady issue that the last 12 teams had to take on the course without a pilot due to safety matters. Windy or not, most teams hammed it up for the cameras with their off-kilter flying contraptions which included a smattering of home-grown

inspired flights of fancy such as ERP gantries, MRT cabins, Durians, Chili Crabs, Kueh Lapis and Char Siew Paus also took the skies, albeit briefly, before making a huge splash in the water below. There was even a Batmobile and a giant Anvil, though I was not sure how the latter could take to the skies. A judging panel made up of 7 notable public figures (Paul Foster, Georgina Chang, Aide Iskandar, Rosalyn Lee, Felix Huang, Bobby Tonelli and Dee Kosh) dished out scores that suspiciously seemed like 4-D tips, a local flavor which was not missed by a couple of curious on-looking seniors who took down the numerical sequences. While talking with one of the teams which dubbed itself, Kings of Fruit and had put together a craft that resembled a half-durian with wings, Mr. Nigel Zee mentioned that they

by Redbull

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had approached Nippon Paints for sponsorship and it has agreed to pay 2500SGD to a local charity for every 1000 likes on the team’s Facebook page. A quick check the next day showed that the page had garnered 951 “likes’’. But while others barely made it off the platform, Team Amphibious Dragonfly Drone took the prize for furthest flight, (clocking in a distance of 18.2 meters to nick the prize of driving a Mini for 18 days). Team Wheeee...Whooshima had styled their craft around the Marina Bay Sands integrated resort and team members sported costumes based on local icons, such as the Merlion and the Singapore Flyer.

The event even attracted many people from the aviation industry. Temasek and Singapore Polytechnic each fielded a team of aerospace students. Team members of the Super Sevens were formerly from the aviation industry. Three of them served as commercial pilots, while their craft’s pilot Ms Cordelia Low, 24, was an air stewardess for two years. The Super Sevens swept the grand prize, with their glider landing with barely a splash. The team bagged a trip to Red Bull’s Hangar-7 in Austria, with Ms Low winning the chance to skydive as well. The second prize was awarded to ‘Team Riff Raff Rubber Ruckus’ (a serious rubber

ducky theme going on here…) winning flights to any destination in Europe for every member of the team and the third to MRT cabin inspired ‘Team Flurry Express’ who won a tandem skydive experience outside of Singapore skies. In the much coveted Wackiest Team Performance category, ‘Team Serial Flyers’ with their samba performance and intricate costumes including feather head dresses and a clattering Cereal Prawn craft were triumphant after stiff competition from the likes of hot crowd favourite ‘Team ERP’ (boy, don’t we like a little antiestablishment gesture) and the Power Ranger spectacle created by the youths in ‘Team

Mega Aero Zoid’, winning a bungee jumping experience for each team member. The day’s prize winners were announced by Red Bull Flugtag hosts, 98.7 FM’s Justin Ang and Vernon A. a.k.a The Muttons and each winning team was presented with their prizes atop the ramp. We just cannot wait for the next edition of this ridiculously entertaining event and hopefully there will not be any more crustacean designed crafts, corny quips and chubby middle-aged folks pulling off Gangnam style moves next year.

Redbull Flugtag Top 3 Prize Winners by Redbull

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WATER IS G Li ZhengRong Eric

ID YOU KNOW that by the time you feel thirsty, you are already 2% dehydrated? Okay, I know what you are thinking. “Doesn’t it mean that I just have to drink more water?” Well, yes – and no. While the most effective way to hydrate yourself is to drink water, doing it only when you are thirsty will lead you to suffer from chronic mild dehydration. Its effects may range from impaired mental performance to increased risk of kidney stones and urinary tract cancers. As water accounts for 50% to 70% of our body weight, an adult is advised to consume 8 to 10 glasses of water (about 2 litres) a day to maintain optimum bodily functions. Furthermore, given that 80% of our brains are formed of water, regular selfhydration is absolutely essential. Now, for a country like Singapore, where its tap water has been chemically treated to be safe for consumption and drinking water is readily available, you would assume that hydration is not a problem, right? But think about when was the last time while having savoury meal, you felt

thirsty and reached for a drink? Was it water? Statistically speaking, that is rather unlikely. A Students’ Health Survey conducted by the Health Promotion Board (HPB) in 2009 showed that 43% of students in secondary schools, junior colleges and central institutes consume sugary drinks daily. So when you’re having lunch the next time, look to the table on your left and right; odds are, half of them are not drinking plain water. While such frightening statistics may be attributed to the endless waves of marketing influences from beverage conglomerates and also the convenient nature of their purchase, the habit also appears to be cultivated when students were younger. Another HPB survey conducted among parents and caregivers between 2008 and 2009 showed that 28% provided sugary drinks more than once a week to their children between the ages 4 - 9. In an effort to curb the growing appetite for sugary drinks among children and teenagers, HPB has launched Singapore’s first

“Let’s Drink Water” campaign. It will highlight the importance of plain water consumption and aims to gradually reduce the sugary drinks intake of students from pre-schools to Post-secondary Education Institutions. In addition, under HPB’s Championing Efforts Resulting in Improved School Health (CHERISH) framework, these learning institutions are encouraged to make water coolers available around their premises and provide adequate water

breaks throughout the day. By 2015, HPB aims to have 500 preschools certified as CHERISH Junior pre-schools; where children will have regular water breaks, have water with every meal, and be taught the benefits of water over sugary drinks. For most of us, we may not be tempted to consume sugary drinks simply to quench our thirst. However, there lies a group of individuals who may be consuming such drinks without

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R IS GREAT

being fully aware of their effects: sportsmen and athletes. “On occasions like competitions or marathons, I hydrate myself with a chilled 500ml bottle of 100 Plus. It gives a refreshing and cooling effect that plain water doesn’t have.” says Eden Seah, the vicechairman of the NUS Canoeing Club who is also an avid marathon runner. Indeed, sports drinks may appear as better hydration fluids for endurance sports or highintensity activities. These specially formulated beverages provide the carbohydrates needed to fuel the mind and working muscles. In addition, they provide small amounts of sodium (salt) to enhance water absorption and retention. But is there more to it than meets the eye? What exactly is in that bottle you are holding? To put it into perspective, a 500 ml bottle of 100 Plus contains almost as many calories and sugar as a can of Coke. As per their daily requirement, a man and a woman needs only about 2000 and 1600 kilocalories (kcal) respectively.

Sure, a sports drink may seem like a small fraction of your recommended calorie intake, but it will have a counterproductive effect on your physical activity. For a measure of what 100 calories is worth to your physical activity, the table below shares its equivalence to some common physical activities: For physical activities lasting less than an hour, your body is not in an urgent need to replenish itself with the electrolytes or carbohydrates it may have lost during the workout. During such activities, hydration regimes with plain water are the most effective for your body to perform optimally since plain water is calorie-free and does not contain any additives. More importantly, you should consume as much fluid as you have lost during the physical session. But just how much is enough? Well, here’s a tip: weigh yourself before and one hour into your regular training. The difference in weight will reflect the amount of water you lost during the session. In your next training session, hydrate yourself adequately throughout the session to replace the water lost through sweat. By drinking

water at regular intervals during the physical activity itself, your body temperature will be regulated and metabolism sped up. “I know that I should be drinking plain water, but I don’t like it because it is, well, plain.” This thought must have been running through your minds constantly while reading this article. Flavour is all a matter of tricking your taste buds, and you could do that by adding sliced citrus fruit or a splash of pomegranate juice to your plain water. Want tasty yet chilled plain water? Simply make ice cubes from 100 per cent fruit juice and add two to a glass of

water. Remember that famous quote from the movie “Jerry Maguire”? “You complete me.” Well, so does water! Whether you’re an athlete or not, water is vital and good for your body. Feeling parched just reading this article? Skip that favourite beverage of yours and have some plain water. You can get the hot and cold variants at nearly 140 water coolers just around the corner in NUS! Why wait? Hydrate!

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LIONEL M Ong Hua Han

tanding at a mere 1.69m tall, Lionel Andres Messi does not feel like your average imposing striker. He isn’t, and “average” surely cannot be used to describe this Argentine phenomenon. Deployed as a ‘false number 9’ for both club and country, Messi imposes not by his frame, but by his skills which are arguably the best of this generation. While rival Cristiano Ronaldo has his tricks, flicks and his famed stepovers, Messi keeps the ball close to his feet and weaves his

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the two historic goals scored by Maradona against England in the 1986 World Cup. The goals shall remain etched in history for their controversy as well as the audacious skills that made them happen. “I have seen the player who will inherit my place in Argentine football and his name is Messi. Messi is a genius and he can become an even better player.” says Diego Maradona, Argentine football legend

MESSI IMPOSES NOT BY HIS FRAME, BUT BY HIS SKILLS WHICH ARE ARGUABLY THE BEST OF THIS GENERATION.”

Lionel Messi-Player of the Year 2011 from wikipedia.org

magic. While it may be unfair to compare players of different generations, a more natural comparison is often made between him and another Argentine legend. From the similarities in their special dribbling abilities and skill to their height and stature, Messi and Diego Maradona will draw inevitable comparisons between themselves. Even their goals have uncanny similarities. Messi’s ‘Hand of God’ goal against Espanyol and the mazy solo goal inflicted upon Getafe in the Spanish La Liga bore striking resemblances to

2012 was a standout year for the Argentine star who scored 91 goals to break the long-standing record for the most number of goals scored in a year set by Gerd Muller. Voted Argentine Sports Personality of the year in 2011, and the winner of three Ballon d’Ors (with a fourth on the way), Messi has just about won every individual accolade and several team awards that most players can only dream of. Comparisons are always going to be made between him and the Portugese and Real Madrid hotshot Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as great players

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EL MESSI before him, but Messi may quite possibly be the best in the world, of all time. Incredible success in football can have unwelcome side-effects. Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho’s partying tendencies harmed his career, while the late George Best had been plagued by alcoholism till his last breath. However, Messi has remained humble throughout his career. His feet have remained firmly on the ground while his fame has soared. This might be the reason why Messi has managed to maintain his game at the highest level for so long, and is also a testament to his maturity. His humility might be a product of his childhood. Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency when he was eleven.

On making it through the trials, Barcelona offered to sponsor Messi and pay for his medical treatment. As a result, Messi took the opportunity to move to Europe and join the famed Barcelona academy which consisted of current crop of Barcelona players like Gerard Pique and Cesc Fabregas. Being schooled at the La Masia helped Messi’s overall development and Messi knows that he is indebted to the club. He has also arguably repaid the Barcelona’s faith and investment in full by becoming the player he is today. Having seemingly accomplished all there is to achieve, one wonders what’s next for the young Leo Messi. By playing as the ‘false number 9’ after successful experimentations by ex-Barcelona

Maradona & Pele from wikipedia.org

MOVE OVER, GUYS.

manager Pep Guardiola, Messi has also revolutionised the striker’s role. However, critics will be quick to point out that Messi has not achieved success with his country. While he has won an incredible five La Ligas, three Champions League titles and every other available title with FC Barcelona, the same cannot be said of his exploits with the national team. The 2008 Olympics Gold Medal is the single significant prize he has won with the Argentinean senior team. It is argued that Messi is unable to carry his national team like he is at Barcelona. With the Catalans, Messi has the luxury of being in the company of talented players like Xavi, Iniesta and Fabregas. These are footballers able to feed him a consistent supply of defence-splitting passes. He is part of the Barcelona dream team, and unfortunately those players mentioned above are also the footballing maestros leading the dominant Spanish team. If Messi greatly desires glory with the Albicelestes, he is perhaps unfortunate to be facing the world-beaters in Spain, a side comprising the very players who have assisted him in his European domination. As a result, it will be challenging for Messi to win the World Cup in the white

and blue. Elusive International honours continue to be the only obstacle in achieving greatness. If he does win the World Cup, Messi will complete his illustrious footballing journey and be eternally idolised as arguably the world’s best player of all time. At just 25 years of age, it is almost unreal to realise that Messi has unquestionably achieved legendary status. He has the luxury of time to settle the debate as to who really is the best footballer of all time. And we have the luxury of enjoying his sublime skills in the years to come.

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