readalvin.

Money makes the world go bonkers.

2009-09-21T02:28:00.013+08:00

You'd probably have heard of the saying, "Money isn't everything", and I'm sure you'd have said it at least once in your life. It's often debatable since it's probably just one person's point of view on money, and there are as many point of views that could then be derived from this single point of view, so here's mine.

I'd probably say it's a shit world we live in, not because I'm in the lower half on Forbes' list of the richest 6,706,993,152 people in this world, but because of the way the world works, whatever happened to the little toddler who would smile at every clown face made, and the delight when being cuddled. Yes, you may say that all that kid's problems are being taken care of by his parents who are probably thinking why didn't they have more money, well, that's our world, and someone has still got to be at the bottom of that list, I can't tell you why (which explains the shit world claim), but I can tell you, with lots of money, the problems count would definitely take a steep dive, but does happiness ensue?

My answer, no, but for those who disagree, I won't start the old age argument with you, because if money makes you happy (like you think it could buy you love, health, dreams), then you probably should start thinking of how to make lots of money, and I'd be happy for you if it makes you happy. Now, back to the point, where money doesn't buy you happiness, but it does take away the problems, I won't disagree, because sometimes I feel that way too, but most times, I've told/taught myself, it's just plain comparison, it's just who you put yourself beside with, at those sometimes, when I'd put myself beside my idols, be it Steven Gerrard, Fernando Torres, or Travis Barker (and the many many more), I'd always grumble and wished maybe I'd wake up the next morning being them. But on the streets, on television, there are so many people who would be so happy just to be me, I'd always remind myself that.

For an instance, one of the countless that I could mention, I watched a programme on tele a couple of days back about a twin boys who were born with cerebral palsy, the older of them had to walk on crutches, he's like what, 6 years old. His younger brother had his brain damaged far worse that he was developing way slower, he couldn't even walk, and it still pains me when I recall this one scene (inside their home) where his elder brother was walking (in crutches) and he was beside him, crawling on the ground in tears shouting, "I walk!, I walk!". The programme was about him getting surgery so that his muscles could be properly treated (like his brother. His was delayed because he's underdeveloped and the risk were much higher) so that he would ever have the chance of walking, and just for the record, they were brought up by a single mum, you could see the joy on her face when he took his first steps, and yes, for them, money bought them happiness, and I'm happy for them.

It may be totally irrelevant to you, but I've asked myself this question, maybe you should too, what are my problems that money can solve, or even simply, what are my problems? I'd probably be too embarrassed to even type it out, not that they aren't problems anymore, but because they're ant-size compared to theirs, and I believe the people who are able to read this, which means you have the privilege of using a computer (if you still remember it's a privilege), your situation couldn't be too worse off.

We all want what we can't get, myself included, it's something we can't change, and you're never going to not want anything more, which further explains my shit world claim, but like I said, and would say again, someone has still got to be at the bottom of the list, and the saying, "Money isn't everything", probably means that with money, you're definitely going to be happier, but it doesn't mean without money, you cannot be happy, so all in all, it still comes down to the only question I've always been asking people, "What makes you happy?"

As always I would say, I'm not being critical, and not directly this at anyone, and not even saying I'm right. It's a point of view, so I wouldn't hate you for disagreeing with me, and I hope you wouldn't if there's a conflict of thoughts. Because sometimes, money makes us lose our way, and maybe all it takes is just another point of view to set you straight again.

Comments:
anon: money doesn't solve everything but having no money will not solve anything (:

If by no money, you mean without a cent, then yes. But we're are only saying that because we giving examples of others, probably to us, our problems aren't that big at all. You're probably justifying your claim because money solved other peoples problem, but if everyone thinks in a point of view of themselves, like if the family I mentioned above comparing themselves with like a family with a stillborn child, then the mother would already be happy because both her children are at least alive, even if she doesn't have the money to treat their legs. It's like the chicken-or-egg-first cycle, there's no end to it, it's only up to you to choose who you compare yourself with. =D

Don't you wipe that smile away.

2009-09-15T02:27:00.027+08:00

I used to always have entries about being happy, the countless attempts to make people see that in life, there are many things that could make you sad, but there are also just about as many happy things too. Amongst the times that I've tried, be it on my blog or messenger, I'd ask myself this question, "How hard is it to make someone happy?" and for you readers, what makes you happy?

I wrote something sometime back, two entries back actually, I'd just re-quote to save you the hassle and it'd probably fit better into this entry anyway, here goes, "I would always see people being sad, crying for people they care for, for people who obviously don't give a shit in return, when really, you should be smiling right at the person who's trying to comfort you, because obviously, they are the people who cares, and you probably just need to open your eyes to know that." With that said, I'd probably never understand what the definition of love is, and I don't mean just boyfriends/girlfriends, family and friends too, because so many times when I thought I had it all figured out, something somewhere would pop up and would deny every one of those answers that I'd come out with.

Of course, there are people who appreciates every bit of effort when you try to cheer them up, and there are also those who never really bothered about you, and sometimes, it makes you question yourself if it's actually you that's not doing enough to cheer them up. Often, I'd get confused when that happens, because when a friend is sad, do you do away with all the smiles, and just do a straight-on talk, or do you try and make up as many jokes to cheer them up, laughing as hard yourself hoping that he/she would take bite a bite of happiness off you.

But I guess if you're caught in such a scene, when that someone just doesn't try to break a smile, or even listen to you, it's probably not your fault, though it's always the norm to place it in yourself, because you'd never want to accept that the friend you care about, the one you're trying to cheer up, doesn't care for you just the same.

As a friend, you'd always understand that sometimes it's just too hard for him/her to break a smile, or to listen to you. I'm really going around in circles because I know I'd never be able to put that feeling on paper, because it never made any sense to me, the closest answer I could give if I had to give one, is that always being there almost never means you'd always be noticed.

A couple of days back, I watched the movie, "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past", in it was a phrase that goes, "Someone once told me that the power in all relationships lies with whoever cares less, and he was right. But power isn't happiness, and I think that maybe happiness comes from caring more about people rather than less." Then again, at times it doesn't seem that people want happiness that much too.

Fortunately, if you didn't catch a single word I'm saying, there's a track by Good Charlotte that you might want to listen to. It's titled, "Break Apart Her Heart", as much I hate the song, since it's probably at the other extreme of all my thoughts and belief, it's sad for me to say, sometimes I think that's just the way this world is.

"Maybe if people could see their relations using gauges like the ones in The Sims, they'll probably know who are the ones who really cares."

We, the citizen of Singapore.

2009-09-12T01:26:00.012+08:00

I realized my new template isn't going as soon as I thought it would be (as usual), as I've have a couple of commitments that takes priority over the blog template, plus after five redesigns, I've fallen into a cycle of designing, falling asleep, waking up hating what I'd designed the night before. But don't be mistaken, I think this blog is totally cool, just that I happened to construct it with too much emphasis on the design rather than it's contents, making it user-unfriendly as a blog. I've re-uploaded my templates picture with a more appropriate host after Photobucket so kindly compressed them. So here I am again, after creativity lost the war to my army of thoughts.

I've been working these past two days, and will be for the next two, it has been horrid and would've been even more if not for the great company, and by that I don't mean the company I'm working for but the new friends (and a couple of old ones) that I've been working with. But that, of course isn't what's hogging my mind, what is though, probably something that everyone would've noticed if you've been taking the trains recently, they decided to ditch the "Please give up your seat to those who need it more." stickers, replacing them with the new "Reserved Seats" stickers on every corner seat. It's almost like them saying, "We're giving up on educating the people on being gracious, let's just make it a rule for the people to give up their seat for those who need it more.", with an attempt to "encourage" the people by accompanying it with a campaign by the Singapore Kindness Movement featuring Phua Chu Kang and Rosie, which you probably would've seen on the trains and buses. Yes, people were giving up the reserved seats, in fact, everyone were avoiding it because of the ugly stares that accompanied, and by sitting, it would probably give an impression that you don't care about the movement, but what caught me was that during the peak hours for two consecutive days, the reserved seats are the ONLY seats that you would see catch an elderly, with a couple of exceptions nevertheless. So I figured the people might not be giving up their non-reserved-seats because all that's in their minds is that the-guy-on-the-reserved-seat are the ones obliged to give them up.

Maybe I'm the only one thinking in this direction, however narrow-minded I am, it kind of bothers me, that are we, the people, really that ungracious and self-centered, so much that we really can't put ourselves in the shoes of others, yes maybe we've worked ourselves out the entire working day and everywhere's aching, but for them elderly, they're probably aching at every moment in time, we're going to get there someday, and when we ourselves become old and frail, would the next generation just be an exact reflection of us, probably. I'm surprised that I have so many words for something that's just simply common sense, don't get me wrong though, I'm not being critical, I'm not directing it at anyone, or even trying to show that I'm extremely gracious, I'd be damned if you still feel that way. I just don't want to grow old and someday walk into a train (or whatever we're going to be moving around in in the future) and witness or be caught in the scenario that I've experienced these past two days knowing that maybe by writing this, I could change someone's mind, even just one.

"To put it simply, it's like plastering the "Reserved Seat" stickers on every seat in contrary to not pasting a single one at all, seems like only with the former (or with a 6-months pregnant women standing in front of them) will the common sense of people kick in."

Something in the making.

2009-08-14T23:17:00.002+08:00

Forgive the ugly picture, forgive the inactivity, and this might come as a surprise, but I'm making a new template. So please be patient with me.

"Miluju tebe".

2009-07-13T03:48:00.011+08:00

And I know that in the morning,
I'll have to let you go,
and you'll be just a woman
once I used to know.
-
The Swell Season has managed to get their music stuck in my head, and set my heart off thinking. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova, the people behind these tracks on my playlist, wrote them for this brilliant little movie, Once, which both of them also starred in. They're in my head only because every word they say, or sing, comes from the heart, where it means just as much to them as to their script or lyrics, and it moved me in every way.

I truly admire Glen Hansard, and would like very much to be him, because of the way he's able to bring across emotions, put in into lyrics, and sing it with every bit of his heart. And for the record, both of them aren't professional actors, but musicians, at times, they improvised the script on set, played roles of themselves, and fell in love for real.

Just like in life, when we try so hard to be someone we're not, in the end, it's still our heart, and nothing else, that will touch the people around us. With that said, it's not that easy to be ourselves either, because most of us will feel inferior at a certain point in time, and it's a funny feeling when we think about it, and realise that no one in this world puts us first in their heart, that we're always second string to someone else. And what's more hilarious is that it's not a matter of how much care you really give, but just how they judge you, in whatever ways they like.

I will always see people being sad, crying for people they care for, for people who obviously don't give a shit in return, when really, you should be smiling right at the person who's trying to comfort you, because obviously, they are the people who cares, and you probably just need to open your eyes to know that.

On a side note, I'm contemplating on carrying on writing entries, probably because the few people who really read what I've written, are the people who are close enough to understand and I already know that they think the same way as me, and for the other few people who stumbled across this blog, they just seems to get carried away by my design, well, I'm not saying I'm not happy that people like my design, but I would rather them take something else away when they leave here.

going nowhere/doing nothing.

2009-06-30T22:06:00.010+08:00

Would you rather wake up the most perfect person in this world, or right beside someone who love you for just who you are. At this point in time, maybe you'd already have an answer, and it's no surprise since this question is like our primary school's moral education "What would you do if you found a hundred dollar bill on the floor." kind of question. It's still a multiple choice question, just that it's without question marks or silly brackets for you to fill in your answer. So you might as well just take all the time in the world.
-
Apologies for my inactivity, a sentence you would have read countless times if you followed my previous weblogs. I've reasoned before that I wouldn't write about my everyday as I would never find meaning in such entries, but that of course, is with the exception of happenings out of the blue, no offense though.

What I do like to write about, is people, regardless if it's those on your big television screen, or just those scrolling down your sidewalk. But for the past weeks, I have been going nowhere/doing nothing but the ordinary, and frequent headaches of mine have been stealing my thoughts away.

I hope I'll be writing again soon, and I hope you'll be still hanging around when I do.

On a side note, those websites about browser friendly fonts have been lying to me about having Gill Sans as one of them, so if you don't see an awesomely cool title header, or know that you don't have this font, please leave me word. Thank you.

even if i die, i’ll die loving you.

2009-06-02T22:17:00.002+08:00

All the thoughts circling my head now aren’t derived from any reality, they’re in fact, from a fiction, a TV series, namely PrisonBreak.

Now I know you may think it’s dumb, but aside from all the action and prison breaks, you will see that life is never about power or money, but about family, love and friendship. And it’s heart warming to see the things that he’d do just to make everything alright, when every decision he makes is never for himself, but for the people he love, so that one day there will be a smile on every one of their faces, even if he won’t be around when that day comes.

I know that this is a storyline that everyone would deem predictable, but this series brought it out ever so well, that I’m puzzled why Heroes has a higher viewership that this. Maybe it’s because we’ve all heard it a million times, that there isn’t one time you stop to think, to start treasuring and protecting the ones you love, because losing power or money will never hurt as much as losing someone you love, because the people around you are worth way more than anything in this world.

And I’m not even saying about sacrificing for the ones you love, but we all seem to already forget even the simplest of words, or the little things we do that will put a smile on their faces, and for that, there are already people who’d give their life just to be able to do that every single day to the ones they love.

“Because we spent so much of our lives, not saying the things we want to say, the things we should say. We speak in code, we send little messages, origami. So now, plainly, simply, I want to say that I love you both, very much.“
– Micheal J. Scofield.

Farewell, Sami.

2009-05-26T23:50:00.018+08:00

Ten years ago, a kid little known to anyone stepped into Anfield only with an assurance from the club's TV cameraman.

On the 24th of May 2009, after ten years, five days, sixteen hours, and ninety-four minutes to be calculative, the number four brightly lit the board of the fourth official for the last time, the last time he will make an entrance in Liverpool's color, with the captain's armband tightly wrapped around his arm by Steven Gerrard himself, on an occasion of mixed feelings, mostly happiness, and a pinch of sadness. Happy, for the success of this player, for the memories that brought joy to the Kop, for a leader that led Liverpool to our historic treble, and the born of a legend. Sad, for we must and will be, to see such a fine player leave.

He will be back, everyone knows, once he decides to hang up his boots, and no one will blame him for wanting to play the game, as it would do him no justice to stay, and remain as Benitez's fourth choice centre-back. And on this day, chants of his name rung throughout the stadium, with his flag flying high, and his name spelled out on the Kop. For this someone is no longer a kid, or a man, but a legend, and a part of this big family, wherever he will be. This someone is Sami Hyypia.

And let Liverpool be known of it's history, not of medals or trophies, but of the players, the fans, and this place that will and always be, home.

All I wanted was a cooler match ticket.

2009-05-23T14:01:00.014+08:00

I got the tickets to the Liverpool v Singapore game. Didn't get the stand we wanted though, and I would blame it on poor management. We went to Raffles Adidas Originals, to be directed to Citylink Adidas, then be told that the store only sells north stand tickets, and random person told us that Funan Courts sells east stand tickets, so we hurried there only to find out they opened at 10am for ticket sales and the east stand tickets were all sold out, and all this happened in an hour including waiting time for the respective stores to open, we were running around like mad people, in the end, we had to settle for north stand tickets. Then again, maybe it just might have a better view.

Anyway, the tickets were darn ugly, as you can see from this entry's picture. So, I decided to design my own version of the tickets just for the fun of it. Click for larger.

readalvin.

2009-05-21T04:28:00.012+08:00

Hello you, it's been awhile since I blogged, or had a blog. It's been way overdue and boy I'm glad it's done now, just for the record, it's been over a year since I promised a new template, and never got about finishing it. I discarded three other designs before settling with this, with a little of every design carried over. But all in all I would have to say it's the codes that have been hindering my progress. It's almost like a final year project but the only difference is that there's no deadline, and you'd know what that means.

It's five in the morning, and my head's spinning, so forgive me if all that I've said don't make any sense. I think I'll be better off in bed now. I'll appreciate if you'd comment my template, leave one if you find any bugs or irregularity, or just to say hello. And goodbye.