I feel that commecialism has somewhat underminded the importance of Einstein's work. With titles like "Buy Einstein's Mozart for your baby now!" really makes my head spin.

Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.

Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater.

that's something to be said of that man.

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Today i woke up fairly early, thanks to my dad's loud voice and all. and stoned at the sofa reading a govermental yearly report. it's rather boring, talking about statistics and awards.

while giving the awards section a cursory glance, i felt nothing. like people put that in so that we can awe at the successes of the, say, organisation right?usually when i read about other awards, i will awe but why not this organisation?

is it because i know that in singapore especially, we work towards it. instead of letting the award come to us?

don't understand?

let me explain. say that you are running an organisation and you do it well. Without you knowing, some other body have nominated you for an award. that's what i'm talking about. not like syf where you work towards an award.

then some people may argue - where is the motivation to work then?

that's where you may be mistaken. You don't need awards to feel satisfied with your work. i think that as long as you do someting you like and you're in a friendly environment where you know your work wil benefit someone - that itself, is the inherent motivation i want. There's no need to slog all the way just to get some certificate that proves your worth. If you are of that worth, that it will come naturally to you. If it doesn't, it means tht you're not yet good enough right?

I was watching this advertisement. It was broadcasting the top asian attractions. so number 1 was sentosa, number 2 is the 4D theatre IN SENTOSA etc etc. I was a little skeptical towards the bold statement of TOP ASIAN ATTRACTIONS. why? because things like the Taj Mahal, Taipei 101, the great wall of china...guilin don't match up to sentosa?not that i'm looking down at my country. but from my recent trip to sentosa, there's really not much there anymore. I used to remember it as a very pleasurable place to be - free entrances to the musical fountain now costs $8. THAT turns ppl off.

In any case, the end of the advertisement they put up the credits of sponsors and supporters. I was even more digusted when i saw it. "Proudly supported by Sentosa. Main Sponsors [shows logo of the top 5 attractions mentioned earlier]"

What. The. Hell.

Hard sell? I think it should be called Desperate Sell.

Now you understand why this "working towards an award" thing doesn't appeal to me?

Although, i do agree that some industries, working towards a standard is inevitable. Without this standard, we may never have clean processed food or safe beverages right? Even so, everything even competition, must have a limit.

I believe that we should all come to a realisation that we should work for what we're passionate in. To be involved in your beliefs and dreams and never to give up on them.

Valarie:

It seems strange that my life should end in such a terrible place, but for three years I had roses and apologized to no one.

I shall die here. Every inch of me shall perish. Every inch, but one.

An inch. It is small and it is fragile and it is the only thing in the world worth having.

We must never lose it or give it away. We must NEVER let them take it from us. I hope that whoever you are, you escape this place. I hope that the worlds turns, and that things get better.

But what I hope most of all is that you understand what I mean when I tell you that, even though I do not know you, and even though I may never meet you, laugh with you, cry with you, or kiss you, I love you. With all my heart, I love you. Valerie.

This excerpt from the script holds a very special place in my heart...

it's strange how 1 film can influence your mind. No wonder censorship was popular with the USSR under Stalin.