Mosaics

Season 8 of 24 was dark.  Darker themes, darker characters than the 7th.  Not just about stopping terror, defusing bombs, interrogating terrorists that kinda stuff, but really a darker introspection of the human nature and the consequences of human actions.  

Day after tomorrow is the first day of work in 2011, and frankly I don’t know what to expect.  I’m kinda over the hope thing, but instead, I’ll try my best to make sure that 2011 won’t be as screwed up like 2010.  

The reply came.  Feel all the more tempted to visit Japan.  Maybe alone and not just Tokyo, but all the different provinces/prefectures.  

Watching 24 made me realize the humans are weakest at the time where we have to make tough choices.  It is the time when we are the most vulnerable.  

Still thinking about Japan.  Language would obviously be a barrier.  I wonder if there’s an app for that.  

Why is MM Lee visiting primary schools?

From today’s Channel News Asia online article

I imagine it’s not just a whim or fancy, but a deep psychological yearning to go through the stages of life as a Singaporean, starting with primary school, secondary school, JC/Poly/ITE, NS, university, and then maybe one or two state owned enterprises to experience the working life of an adult Singaporean

Then he will decide whether Singapore is in safe hands, and whether it is time for him to board the Train for the Next Great Adventure that lies ahead. 

Scattered Thoughts on His Dark Materials

Finished reading all three books of His Dark Materials, close to three years after I bought the book.  

• The part where Dust stopped flowing out of the mulefa world and started collecting on Will and Lyra was disappointing.  Deus ex machina dude.  Not cool at all.  
• Subtle Knife was kinda short I thought, but more boring compared to Golden Compass and Amber Spyglass, so probably it can’t be lengthened any more without making the reader fall asleep reading it.  
• No one could have imagined and elaborated on the very natural links between physics and philosophy the way Pullman did.  Fascinating.  
• The part where Will and Lyra were forced to part was very very sad.  Perhaps one of the saddest paragraphs I have ever had to read.