Entry #5- Chexting

You might like texting, frown upon sexting, but now comes 'chexting' - and it can lead to big trouble. I think Tiger Woods and Jesse James would be able to relate to this rather well.

Golf superstar Woods and TV celebrity Jesse James, who is married to Oscar-winning actress Sandra Bullock, have seen their lives unravel amid revelations of cheating on their spouses, in part by arranging liaisons via text messages.

Their affairs have spawned a new word in pop culture, 'chexting'.

In today's digital age, mobile phones have proven to be the best form of fast and effective communication. Our phones have become miniature mobile computers where we are able to serve the net and communicate with just about anyone, anywhere.

Cell phones come equipped with their own typing keyboards separate from the number pads, texting has become more popular than e-mailing for some, and sending a text from a small phone can be done almost anywhere. It is instant gratification and contact, but for those who have a hard time staying faithful, such forms of Computer mediated communication tools have become a become medium to facilitate their cheating.

One cannot deny the fact that CMC has invaded almost every facet of human activities. How we gather information, who we socialize with and even even turn to them for entertainment. It affects not only how we communicate but what we communicate as well.

More and more divorce cases involving spouses being unfaithful through technology - including Internet chat rooms, instant messages and texts have arisen.

However, Is it all bad? There are always two sides of the argument.

Our 3G phones and technological advancements made to our computers have definitely enabled better and faster communication. Social networking websites such as Facebook, Twitter and even Blogs have all hopped into the bandwagon in enabling people to stay communicated with each other. For those of us Facebook fanatics, wouldn't you agree that it has definitely enabled us to communicate with our past and present friends and even provided some form of entertainment to our lives? I even check my Facebook account first before my Hotmail account, and I believe that many people echo my view.

The rise of Computer Mediated Communication has also proved advantageous for people of any age. Many elderly people, businessmen and even laypeople have started appreciating the usefulness of such forms of communication. New applications such as Skype have been made very user friendly for even the technological dinosaur to use and communicate with their loved ones anywhere.

The technology has been provided to us. How we use it and what we use if for is solely dependent on us.

Use it to bind relationships and not to break them.

Entry #4: Coca-colonization

Coca cola- The world's favorite soft drink, was an American-born product. Today, it represents the epitome of the American cultural imperialism. Back in the 1970's this ad cleverly incorporated the use of people from many different nationalities to show their acceptance of Coke being the 'Real thing'.

This commercial illustrates an attempt to portray U.S. goods as a product capable of transcending political, ethnic, religious, social, and economic differences to unite the world.

(This entry is not about Coke, however)

Just like this coke advertisement, we still see the diffusion of the westernized (mainly American) cultures to many countries across the globe. Be it movies, lingo, songs, beliefs and even traditions, this proliferation of American 'products' across the globe is more than mere accident.... It is meant to Americanize you.

A very current example would be MTV and how it has successfully adapted this strategy by integrating many different Americanized cultures into one unbelievably influential American network.

It has over 280 million subscribers worldwide and out of the 26,700 middle-class teens in forty-five countries surveyed, 85 percent watch MTV every day. These teens absorb what MTV intends to show as a diverse mix of cultural influences but is really nothing more than manufactured stars singing in English to appeal to American popular taste.

The role of MEDIA has definitely served the United States well in infiltrating it's influence.

We cannot deny the fact that most of our favorite stars, Hollywood actors, musicians and idols come from the US. We delight in feeding our ourselves with information about them and even try to subscribe to their way of life.

In a country that encompasses a good mix of East and West such as Singapore, it is undeniable that US media is prevalent.

Despite this, however many still hold strong to the belief that no matter how strong the influence of the American media, it cannot completely revolutionize our relatively conservative culture.

Do you stand by this? Is the American cultural revolution still relevant and in Singapore?

Entry # 3: So go ahead, Take it all.

Luisa Del Forno, beloved wife of Italian Movie director sensation, Guido Contini, stole my heart with this extremely emotional number during the latest movie/musical: Nine.

Marion Cotillard-Luisa Del Forno plays victim of Guido's fugitive heart.
Forgiving all these years, even after discovering relational challenges of deception in their marriage (the secret love affair between Guido and his mistress: Carla) Luisa finally loses it during an audition screening she attends: "thank you for reminding me that I'm not special".

The differences in personality goals are crucial reasons for the dissolution of the relationship.
Luisa is focused on saving the marriage. She centers her time and attention towards providing emotional support to her husband. She wants to identifies with the 'WE'.

Guido on the other hand, is focused on his work needs and pleasures. He identifies only with the "I"

She displays through song, her unfulfilled relational needs and that Guido's self centered nature is the 'conflict' in their relationship. He wants it all.

With the Equity theory in mind, there is no balance to maintain the long term viability and vitality of the relationship.

"You grabbed for everything my friend,
but don't you see that in the end,
there will be nothing left of me"

And clearly indicates her interest in disengaging the relationship:

" It's time to leave, If I'm to live"

If you haven't caught the show, I hope you find the opportunity to do so. Although the movie was titled NINE, it highlights his interpersonal relationships with SEVEN significant women.

It was only titled NINE because the movie was centered around a significant number of events that took place during this age, which attributed to his continued immoral social life.

At a point of the movie, there is a final life-saving interruption—-from his nine year old self, in which the young Guido points out it is time to move on. To grow up.
It's taking a lot of me to abstain from feminist comments, so do give me some credit for it.

Entry #2: 'I Will'-Take time to listen to what is being said without words.

The Singapore Air show is one of the World's top three air Shows and Asia's largest aerospace and defence exhibition. I'm sure many of you are aware that the exhibition kick started on 2nd Feb and will run till this Sunday, 7th Feb.

This international biennial (once every two years) event serves as a global market place and networking powerhouse for the world's aviation community. The air show features a series of high level conferences dedicated to leading players such as the 'Singapore Aviation leadership Summit'.

You don't have to be an aviation enthusiast to spend the day amid one of the world's best aircraft display at the sprawling purpose built centre located at Changi.

But why are such events organized for us?

Surely the Aviation Authority of Singapore (AAS), a statutory board under the Ministry of Transport, did not plan and spend millions for such an event, solely for our viewing pleasure?

Do we appreciate, or even understand the purpose it plans to serve?

For a start, let me organize your perception based on the concept of Proximity. In understanding that we commemorate 'Total Defence Day' on the 15th of Feb; the very day that we fell to the Japanese 48 years ago, we can obviously draw the link that both events (Total Defense and The Airshow) were meant to complement each other.

One of the aspects of Total defense is 'Military Defense', but the airshow encompasses another undercurrent aspect: Psychological defence; to develop loyalty, pride and trust among Singaporeans for their country. Why is this important?

In the context of the world today, vulnerability does not equate to size, however, our sizable 'disadvantage' does motivate the aggressors of world peace to consider shaking our grounds. We have seen such attempts of attack in the past. However psychologically, our Military forces have assured us, through their vigilant strategies that they'd always remain ahead of the game.

The Air show exhibition serves as a networking hub, where various power nations across the board secure partnerships in the Asia Pacific region and exchange thought-innovations with aviation's finest minds.
In doing so, Singapore portrays its keen interest in military empowerment and remaining tech-savvy, ultimately for security purposes. The exhibition is also the best time for strengthening confidence among Singaporeans. We are awe-struck by the fine display of our pilots, are we not?

There is reason for every doing.

Therefore, in organizing such events, the 'Singapore Airshow & Events Pte Ltd' (SAe), have made their rationale 'heard'. Through the use of non-verbal communication, the extremely impressive display of technological architecture contains intentional symbolic agenda, disseminating highly influential sources of meaning.

This is deliberately sent in the way mentioned above so that people within a certain group (Singaporeans) and out of it (other nations and potential aggressors) will be able to perceive and recognize this consensual meaning made:

"Don't underestimate our ability to make you shit yourself".

Ok I'm just kidding.
"Think before you mess with us. Seriously."

"I Will" is the theme for this year's Total Defence Day. So the next time you're lucky enough to visit the airshow exhibition, just like me, appreciate the subtle message transmitted through the noise in the skies.

Word Count: 531

Entry #1: Girl Molested On New Year's Party

For simplicity sake, let's just go with the assumption that the unidentified 'victim' is a woman, contrary to what many of you might have seen or heard from various channels.

For those of you who are clueless, here's a brief overview of the incident.

Quote: Onlookers watched, but no one came to her rescue. Unquote. Most were busy taking videos of what was happening on the podium. A group of four men openly molested a girl at the New Year's count down party at Siloso beach. There was an outcry among Singaporeans on the issue and a poll was done on facebook to gather the numbers in support of those who thought that she deserved it and those who felt sorry for her.

I find the topic of debate extremely insignificant. Did she deserve it? Ha.

We live in a relatively conservative society and many Singaporeans who were interviewed didn't condoned to the behavior of the 4 men. However, under such circumstances, can we really blame them for their actions? Did she not, through her body language and gestures, transmit a certain message to the people around her which then provided a platform for such acts to be carried out on her?

Let's look at what she did that screamed for the wrong attention:

She clearly indicated her intentions (or lack of it) when she paraded in her, not-bikini but PINK Lingerie (how is that even sexy? It's a beach party for crying our loud) at Siloso beach. What was worst, she appeared to be tipsy and in the company of equally tipsy, unreliable girlfriends who were incapable of hurting a fly. I'm not making assumptions here, but such actions clearly showed that she didn't mind being taken advantage of. How?

Did she retaliate? There were no 'violent' objections on her part, (trust me, women know how to get very violent) but she appeared rather comfortable while her breast continuously needed to be supported by a random stranger. She was obviously not drunk because she still had control of her footing, but not 'sane' enough to do something about the situation.
It's almost like she WANTED it.

We still feel sorry for her?

Scantily clad, extremely tipsy, girls are easy prey for men seeking out such parties to get some 'sugar'. Why else would guys go to such parties? (Don't get all self-righteous on me boys, the ugly truth is out)

We have become a cosmopolitan society, simulating western culture. Such parties are not new to our young anymore. We know the dangers of such parties and yet we still go for them. We all have our different reasons but we take precaution. When you put yourself under such a compromise, things ARE going to get ugly, especially so if you are a female.

In relation to the above mentioned, What you wear, how you walk and what you drink, speaks volumes of you. So even if you've not said a thing, you've said it all.

Word Count: 496