Oh Merlin.

After 5 years, Merlin concluded it's run on the 24th December 2012. I started watching Merlin because I have always been interested in the Arthurian legends. Another factor is that it involves magic. I'm a sucker for any narrative that includes magic, especially when the world it inhabits is rich with characters and conflicts that I am invested in. Which is why it pains me to know that there will never be any new Merlin episodes with the cast and characters that I have grown to love.

Throughout its run, I have occasionally been let down and was upset with the show. I ultimately forgave it and trusted that the writers knew what they were doing. However, this changed. Drastically. After watching the finale episode I'm left with a very bitter feeling. I have never been so upset with a final episode than I have "The Diamond of the Day". The episode came in two parts, and it's the second part that makes me very close to regret ever watching Merlin.

Hence, the remainder of this post will be full of rants that I need to let out.

= WARNING, SPOILERS AHEAD!! =

The battle that was constantly spoken of throughout the season finally occurred and man did I love the resolution of it. Merlin appeared (as an old man) and defeated the Saxons with lighting. That's right, lighting. He killed everyone in the vicinity of Arthur, and ordered the dragon away. It was epic, and nearly everything I imagined and wanted. If only he got Mordred... but then the prophecy wouldn't have been fulfilled.

Speaking of Mordred, he was a character who's role in Arthur's death was so hyped that when the reason behind his motivation was revealed, it felt quite weak. It was too sudden and all because of a girl? Sigh. If only Mordred witnessed Arthur's leniency and his offer to allow Kara to save herself. Arthur shouldn't be blamed for her death, she chose it after all. As for Arthur and Mordred's battle... it was such a disappointment. The only thing I can say is at least Mordred died. So much wasted potential when it came to Mordred and his character development was so so weak.

[I was also expecting Kilgharrah (Great Dragon) and Aithusa to battle it out, like the legends. But that never happened.]

Merlin: Why do  you want to do this?
Gwaine: Same reason as you. To help a friend.
Merlin: Arthur's lucky to have us.
Gwaine: Not Arthur.

A character that I quite liked died in this episode, for no apparent really except to add onto the pain. Gwaine was a great character and I loved him the minute he was introduced. He and Merlin hit it off immediately and remained quite close throughout the series.  I always felt that he was supposed to have a more important and prominent role in Merlin's life, but he was regulated to being just a Camelot knight. He was like a replacement for Lancelot, who sacrificed himself for Merlin (I cry inside because of Lancelot's death. HE DIDN'T HAVE TO DIE YOU STUPID WRITERS!!). I thought that Merlin was supposed to share with Gwaine his secret, but it never happened. Not only because they were close, but because of Gwaine's knowledge of magic. He would've been a fine confidant who would've accepted Merlin's magic quite easily. What a waste of potential...not to mention the waste of potential bromance.

Back to the  point, why on earth did Gwaine have to die? His death was due to his desire to kill Morgana, but was killed instead. As the scene unfolded before my eyes, I just couldn't stop thinking how stupid it all was. Gwaine isn't stupid. He knows that Morgana is a powerful sorceress. So what chance of survival did he have against her? I reckon that this was just the writer's way to let Morgana know where Arthur is. It's just too contrived to believe that Gwaine would be stupid enough to track down Morgana. Also, for Gwaine to die believing that he failed Merlin and Arthur? That's just horrible.

Now Morgana. How anti-climatic was her death? Killed by the sword forged from a dragon's breath. For 3 seasons, Morgana has managed to evade death. Her magic has gotten so powerful that she is acknowledged as a High Priestess and yet she was killed so simply and easily. If she was going to die by a sword, why didn't it happen earlier? Because we were expecting a full blown magical battle between her and Merlin! To finally settle who is the strongest and will be the last to survive (like Harry Potter and Voldemort!) I was also expecting a heated conversation between the two, but no. I got nothing. Like I said, very very anti-climatic.

Arthur: Why are you doing this? Why are you still behaving like a servant?
Merlin: It's my destiny. As it has been since the day we met. I do this, because of who  you are. Without you, Camelot's nothing.
Arthur: There was a time when that was true. Not now.
Merlin: There will never be another like you Arthur. I also do this, because you're my friend and I don't want to lose you.

Throughout the series, we are repeatedly reminded that Merlin's destiny is to serve and aid Arthur to unite the Five Kingdoms to become Albion. It is implied that magic will be able to roam free and be accepted once more. BUT THE SHOW F**KING KILLS ARTHUR OFF. HE DIES. SO YEAH. ALL THAT IS GONE. I feel so cheated because Arthur's death marks the end to any of the "prophecies" that's been foretold ever happening. Especially because throughout the years, I've been waiting for the day Arthur and Merlin unite the lands and for him to accept Merlin's magic. For Merlin to finally be recognised for what he is and live without fear of being persecuted. For Merlin to officially be Arthur's advisor and fulfil the other stories part of the Arthurian legends.

Consequently, I'm supposed to believe that the unification and acceptance of magic occurs off screen (through Gwen and probably Gaius). WELL SCREW YOU SHOW.  Which just reminds me, I only found out that Merlin was ending at season 5 half way through the show. After the news, I was seriously upset at the show because it had wasted episodes on stupid, meaningless stories. Who cares about Gwen turning evil for four freaking episodes when there's limited time to explore Merlin and Arthur's friendship when tested with the truth? Bromance over romance any day, especially when I dislike the romance to begin with. (It was seriously out of no where, and I thought they were like brother and sister more than lovers.)

But really, did Arthur really have to die (how the hell did a fragment of Mordred's sword manage to snap off and embed itself in Arthur's chest)? Was travelling to Avalon the only way to save him?  There have been objects introduced such as "The Cup of Life" that triumphs death. Or the healing powers of a dragon's breath, which was demonstrated in the final episode of season 4. Oh hell, couldn't Merlin use his magic? He IS the "most powerful sorcerer to ever live". How can a sword, even if forged from a dragon's breath, be a trial for Merlin? He's saved others from worse and dire fates than that! Also, if Avalon really was the only way to save Arthur's wound, couldn't Merlin have called for Kilgharrah (Great Dragon) to fly them  there and save time? He is a Dragonlord after all. Another mystery is why Kilgharrah placed Merlin and Arthur at the edge of Avalon, COULDN'T HE BLOODY PLACED THEM AT AVALON?! AND NOT TALK JUST SO MERLIN CAN DO HIS MAGIC?! ARGGGHHH. THEY NEVER WANTED ARTHUR TO LIVE!!

Anyway. the only scenes that redeems the show are those between Merlin and Arthur. They were poignant and beautiful, and I couldn't ask for more. Arthur's reaction to learning of Merlin's magic was realistic, and watching him accept and be thankful for it was wonderful. To watch him see what Merlin does for him on a daily basis was heart wrenching, especially when he realised just how important it really was. See, this is what I wanted more of. More time spent on Arthur's acceptance of Merlin's magic and one day bringing magic back to Camelot. But no, the stupid show only gave me 30 minutes worth of it.

Finally, the last few minutes of the episode really pained me to watch. To see Merlin as an old man, probably more than a thousand years old, roaming around waiting for Arthur's return was just heartbreaking. By then, he would've lost his best friend, his mentor and anyone he cared for. Since he is magic itself, it's not hard to believe that he is immortal. But with immortality comes the pain of living and losing all your dear ones. I just don't want to believe that Merlin's had to endure that by himself, waiting for someone who will probably never come. I hate you writers. (I also thought the scene was stupid and unnecessary the more I thought about it...)

Also, did Merlin ever return to Camelot? His friend is gone and there really isn't anything holding him there anymore. He might have travelled back to say farewell to Gaius and Gwen, but Camelot holds no meaning to him without Arthur. *cries* My poor heart. I can't take this anymore.

Another thing I keep wondering is just how powerful is Merlin? Touted as the most powerful sorcerer to ever live, I was never quite sure of his magical capabilities. It frustrated me to no end when he could do some healing spells in one episode but disregard them in another. It just made me believe that the writers purpose of doing that is so that any human that finds out about Merlin's magic can conveniently die. Also, can't Merlin like...apparate? Sorry, Harry Potter term. Um, can't Merlin disappear and appear in any location he desires? Seriously, what kind of powers does Merlin have?!

I chalk up all my frustration to the writers for their inconsistencies (seriously, what I've listed are but a few ways that Arthur's life could be save) and decision to ignore simple logic. Such bad, crappy writing. Another quibble I have with the writers is that they've deviated from the Arthurian legends for so long, why chose to follow it for the finale? WHY BITCHES WHY!?! Why not make another season to tie up all the loose ends and give me more Merlin and Arthur? BBC even offered you a sixth season but you declined, saying that you know how the end will unfold. BUT YOU DIDN'T, DID YOU?! Hardly any storyline was tied up and everything was rushed! I'm making sure to steer clear from this writing team from now on. I can't live through another messed up nearly perfect show like Merlin ever again. I just can't.

In another life

Recently watching The Notebook and Pride and Prejudice made me yearn for what they had. I wish that I lived in a time where we can dance as a source of enjoyment. Where we can dress up for a night in lovely dresses with ribbons or maybe some lace. Where we savour every conversation, every touch and every whisper. Where we can dream and become that much closer to our chosen partner.

The act of dancing seems so pure yet so exhilarating as you steal some precious time and converse secretly with your partner. I wonder if females were able to decline a man's request for a dance. If so, they must have a lot of courage, or confidence, to ask a woman to dance. For some reason, this reminds me of teenage movies where a dance is segregated into female or male sections.

It saddens me to think that the modern equivalent is clubbing.

First love

I know it's very unlikely, but I wish my first love will be my last.
I want it to last forever.

Train ride home

On the 16th of May, I caught the train home with my friend Tina Luu. We decided to skip Anatomy because we had more urgent matters to attend to. Plus, it's a subject that's more beneficial when you listen to the lecture at your own leisure since you have the opportunity to go over everything! Lecturers try to cram in everything as fast as possible, and as a consequence, you're bombarded with so much information that you tend to miss out on important details since you're so busy trying to keep up.

On this very day, we met a peculiar woman. After she got onto the train, she was banging on the windows, trying to get the attention of her friend, who happened to be on the next platform. I do not know if she managed to succeed in her plan, but she surely had the attention of every passenger on the carriage. She was apologetic when she realised what she had done. From this, she stuck up a conversation with us.

For the reminder of the trip, she was constantly admiring how "gorgeous" we were. After the initial praise and compliments, she started to share some details about her life. Like how she nearly died giving birth to her youngest daughter. How her son has a girlfriend that resembles me. How her father used to call her baby cheeks, which was what she was calling us. As my friend and I stood up to leave, she told us to stay together, to look after one another and know what's truly important.

From what I can remember, she carried alcohol (probably wine) in her bag. Her hair was a mess and her skin was dry and pale. I remember thinking that she looked as if life had dealt her a bad set of cards, but she's done everything to her abilities to deal with it. She's had a harsh life but her genuine love for her children, which seems to be the only thing that's keeping her alive, was palpable.

I hope that this lady has found peace in her life and is truly happy. I would also like to thank her for sharing a bit of herself to random strangers. There are many reasons why she struck a conversation with my friend and I. She may have been lonely and needed to talk to someone or she was just very open about herself. Either way, I admire her for sharing such intimite details about her life. It takes such courage to share something about yourself without worrying about other people's opinion.

Biochemistry

At the time I started writing this post, I am 5 hours and 23 minutes away from my biochemistry exam. I have officially given up any hope in passing this subject and pretty content with repeating it next semester. Although I have tried to study for this subject with the limited time that I have, I realised during the study session that there is no way I can pass. Its impossible to remember half the semester content in one day and two nights.

I regret taking the "advice" to complete the three hardest subject in one semester so that they can be out of the way. All three subjects - Anatomy, Human Physiology and Biochemistry - are very very demanding subjects. The amount of memorisation that goes into each subject is terrifying. I've been able to manage both Anatomy and Human Physiology because there are constant assessments which motivates me to keep on track. Furthermore, they tend to cross over. So while I'm learning about the different organs that make up our gastrointestinal tract, I'll also be learning about the different functions and the pathways which they use to achieve filtration and reabsorption in the kidneys.

On a larger scale, Biochemistry does not inter-relate like Anatomy and Human Physiology does. While I do learn the different chemical pathways that bring about the physiological pathways that functions our organs, it is not as harmonic and the odd one out. Furthermore, I don't have constant assessments that help motivate me to keep up with my study and it is quite a dry subject. Not to mention that there are a few lecturers that could put you to sleep. Unfortunately, I also thought one of my lecturers sounded condescending and hence, tuned out to most of his lecture content.

So yes, I admit to being quite laid-back and lazy with this subject. Which is why I've come to terms with failing this subject and repeating it next semester. I've learnt a valuable lesson (NEVER DO BIOCHEMISTRY WITH TWO OTHER HARDCORE SUBJECTS) and I'll be wiser for next semester. I guess this also gives me a head start to focus on the other half of the lectures I could not memorise in time.

And while it isn't important to note, I do fair better in my studies when I am studying a subject I have interest in. In VCE, I achieved my highest study score of 45 thanks to Information Technology. It was a subject I loved and was quite passionate about. In my first year of university, the subjects I did best in revolved around Physics. By then I've realised I hate subjects that required me to memorise textbook after textbook (like Biology and to an extent, Chemistry).

I'm much more of a practical person - which probably explains why I always did better in laboratory work for Chemistry and Biology. It's so much easier to understand a concept when you've had some experience in seeing how it works in real life. Guess that means I'm more of a visual person too.

Considering how I'm going to fail Biochemistry, I came to realise that it is one of the prerequisite subjects needed to get into Optometry and other medical fields. If I have no interests in any of the subjects required of me, what does that exactly say about the path I'm trying to take? Does this mean that the path I'm trying to pursue is not suited for me? Or does it mean that despite it being required knowledge, I won't have to rely on it to much? Should I pursue a career that's more involved in the laboratory instead?

I'm still very confused about my future.

So yeah, thanks biochem. I'll see you next semester!

confessions of a teenage shopaholic

Growing up, I never did a lot of shopping. The most I ever did was once in a couple of months, with the exceptions of major sales time such as Boxing Day and End of Financial Year. Other than that, my cousin would always give my sister and I clothes that she didn't want anymore. Funnily enough, quite a lot of them had tags still on them.

I used to go shopping with my family a lot. Mum would always pay and Dad and my brother would just linger around - sometimes managing to buy something. My mum always bought more stuff compared to my sister and I. But that's nothing unusual, I remember she used to have a phase of buying perfume - tonnes and tonnes of them.

Now-a-days though, I go shopping by myself. I don't like going with anyone. Just myself is fine. Though on rare occasions I do find myself tagging along as someone else shops. But mainly, I like going by myself.

I treat shopping as the time where I can relax a little and just have fun, especially since I do most of my shopping after uni. It's like a stress-reliever - I can forget about all the crap that I have to do for uni and for an hour an a bit, I can enjoy doing nothing (not that I don't do that at home...)

I never had to worry about clothes back in high school. I just had to rock up with my uniform - nothing less, nothing more. But now that I'm in uni, I'm faced with the challenge of having to pick outfits every single day. I'm starting to get the hang of it, but it's still quite difficult.

I think this is mainly due to the fact that I'm not a very 'fashionable' person. My main goal is to feel comfortable in my clothes while at the same time not stick out as a sore thumb. I don't necessarily know what looks good with each other and 'balance' my clothes out with contrasts in colour and what-not, but hey, at least I care about what I wear.

friends.

I've been meaning to post about this subject a long long time ago, but I never felt the urge to write it down.

Anyways, I know this person who doesn't believe in the notion of friends. His belief stems down to an incident that occurred in his childhood. His family was betrayed by their "friend". This betrayal could have resulted to the loss of his family's life, including his own. Therefore, growing up, he didn't believe in the connection that is labeled 'friendship'. Any emotion or feelings he had for this relationship has been severed.

My friend does have friends. But they're only people who he hangs out with to have a good time. People who he socialises with. People who he works with. By the sound of it, no one has ever been able to break down the wall he has erected. And to this day, he is still very cautious with his relationship with others.

After learning all of this about him, I took a look at my own relationships.

In many ways, I think my relationship with people are like that. I have people who I can hang out with but never truly call them my friend. I have people who I can spend time with but it wouldn't matter to me if I don't speak with them for long periods of time. Then there are people who are in my 'friendship circle' - people who I usually go out with. And then there are people who I would consider 'close friends'.

But within all these categories, with all the friends that I may have, I don't think I'm really open with any of them. Even with Kim and Anna.

Sigh, I don't know how to continue this post. Probably because I don't really know what I'm trying to say after what I wrote.

My thoughts contradict me sometimes. When I'm with my friends, I don't really think about this stuff. I usually think - 'it's great to have friends, to share with them this moment in time, to be with someone that makes me feel comfortable and allows me to be free and fun'. However, when I'm alone without being in contact with anyone, this is what I think - 'I'm a loner and I can function as one.'

And here's the thing, I don't think I'm a great friend to begin with.

GO GO GO!!

It’s 1.26PM right now and I’m sitting on the Cranbourne train. I wanted to write everything that’s currently on my mind at this very moment. At exactly...1.27PM.

I used to be a very strong swimmer. In primary school, when everyone was split up into groups according to their swimming abilities, I was always put in the top 3. Of course, I learnt too late that the beginners got more fun. They weren’t pushed as hard and weren’t thrown to the deep end for no apparent reason. The sheer horror I got when I was expected to swim laps from the shallow to deep end is indescribable. Not to mention the endless bellyflops.

I’m short. It’s the truth. But back then, I was even shorter. So it’s safe to say that I’m not as scared of the deep end now that I’m a bit taller and older. WRONG. Now, my fear for that depth of water has increased by multitudes. By pure stupidly I found this out when I did a lap in the swimming pool. Everything was going alright until I realised I had reached the 1.8end point. I freaked. I cried. I swam to the edge and clung on for dear life. I am so not going to repeat that anytime soon.
After some consideration I’ve realised that the reason why I’m a lot more terrified of the water now than I was as a kid is because I haven’t swam in a very, very long time. Back when I was in year 1&2 my uncle would take my sister and I to the swimming pool about once every two months. Sometimes even twice! When we moved to Albany, that increased to about once every fortnight. Naturally, living so close to the beach I also took advantage of that.

So yeah, even though I never did laps or anything, I was always in the water. The idea never scared or bothered me. In fact, I always looked forward to it. I didn’t think that my blissful memories would fail me at 18. But sadly, the moment I got into the pool I was petrified and was wondering “WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING?!” After I calmed down, and since I was already in the water, I did a lap. Got half way, realised I got to the 1.8m point and panicked.

It’s like there’s this bomb in my head that explodes whenever I see “1.8m” when I’m in the water. If it wasn’t for that, I would’ve been able to overtake the person in front of me and continued on, for about another lap, HAHA. Sadly, I am doomed. Doomed to never enjoy the water. Doomed to be stuck on land.

However, I want to change my damnation. I want to be able to swim confidently again, or at least not freak out like a kid. So, today I managed 1.5laps (1 lap = going from one end and back again). By this time next year, I want to be able to do 3 laps.
GO GO GOOOO!! :D

JYJ - In Heaven

I'm planning on buying this album for my love of one song - In Heaven. It's so beautiful and amazing. I'm definitely forever in awe of Jaejoong's composition skills. It's such a lovely song and it's made even more heart-breaking when I think of his reasoning for this song. (It's a song written for his deceased actor friend Park Yong Ha)

I'm so proud whenever I think of the obstacles they've had to go through to get to this stage. To the point where they can finally release an album in their own country and the high possibility that they'll actually be able to perform live. If they do, I swear I will watch EVERY.SINGLE.PERFORMANCE. Who knows when something might happen and they won't be able to perform again?

Also, because this shows just how much they've grown during their time apart from SM Entertainment. Comparing it to their compositions in The Beginning and Their Room, you can tell that they've taken the knowledge and experience they've gained and created something even better. I think they've finally been able to use their strengths to the fullest and worked out how to fully compliment their compositions to their vocal abilities. I've only really heard two songs, so I can't be confident that they've nailed it, but they've got time to and progress has already started.

While I've been spazzing over the potential possibility that I will pre-order this, I've started questioning why I wasn't this enthusiastic about HoMin's album. Why didn't I feel this urge to buy their album too. Sure, Junsu is my bias but I love every member. My answer is that because I've been given a chance to listen to their released album, I've realised that despite how much I may like them, the material they released doesn't feel... right. I felt as if they're still experimenting and getting used to the fact that they're a duo now. When you've been working as a group of 5 and suddenly you're only left with 2, everything changes. The dynamics, the distribution of lyrics and of the notes. The album doesn't sound right which is probably why I never felt the urge to buy the album. I liked a couple of songs but they weren't what I needed them to be so that I would spend $50 bucks on it.

It's been pretty much 2 years since the lawsuit fiasco hit. And after everything that has happened, I truly believe (and hope) that JYJ is getting the most out of this. Sure, they've lost the backing of one of the most powerful music houses in Korea, but they might've lost this after returning from the military anyway. They've even lost their right to claim the songs that they've sung throughout the years - let me tell you, that's ALOT of songs. JYJ has lost their roots and history. But in exchange, they're given creative freedom and the freedom to do what they truly want. You should never underestimate this creative freedom - it's the driving force why JYJ has been able to (and continue to) grow as artists. Following this trajectory, they'll (probably) be able to have a lasting career in the music industry. If not as singers then as composers, lyricists, songwriters etc. The point being is that they have a career in music after their life as idols end because they've taken a major risk. They're essentially starting their careers again, only differently. And this is what I'm most excited to see - how they're changing kpop history. One step at a time. Painful as it may be, but the rewards that they can reap is profound.

I don't think the same can be said for HoMin. They may occasionally be given the opportunity to participate in their songs, but it's not to the same degree as JYJ. What will happen to them when they come back from the military? Will SM Entertainment still be backing them if the DBSK name is not as profitable as it once was? I don't know the answer to any of these questions but there's something I know very well. The life of an idol is short. So far, the only idols that are still promoting after their military service are some members of the legendary kpop idol groups (ie. Kangta, Minwoo etc.) Even with their fanbase in Korea, they're still not making much of an impact on the charts like they used to and honestly, the general international kpop population could care less. I'm scared that this is the fate for HoMin. I'm worried that when they do return they'll no longer have a place in the music industry - after all, the music scene moves fast and makes no apologies for any casualties. Case in point, BoA's comeback for her 10th year in the music industry.

Sigh, I think I've written about stuff that's really not even related to what I wanted to say in the first place. Anyway, another reason why it's taken so long for me to actually pre-order this CD is because I'm not exactly sure which cover I should buy (blue, red or brown) and where. I want my purchase of this CD to C-O-U-N-T. I want it to effect the music charts, I want it to help JYJ get the recognition they deserve. I want this album to be one of the contenders for The Album of the Year award. I want it to matter. I already know that they'll benefit from the money I'm spending on them - afterall, they're able to purchase these gorgeous houses/apartments with their activities as JYJ - but I need to know that my purchase will aid their way to performing freely in their own country.

Also, it pains me to think of the monetary gains they're making as JYJ. I have this feeling that they're earned more promoting as JYJ in this short amount of time compared to the years spent as DBSK. I know they got paid working as DBSK, but was it a fair and just amount? Especially for the amount of time and suffering they had to exchange it with. I just hope that HoMin is getting a more just wage for the hard work they're putting in.

I would like to end with a quote from the blog - callmepatrica. I find that she's able to eloquently express everything that I can't. A lot of what she writes has been a thought of mine but I was never able to coherently express it.

To be honest, I think that the only ones who will emerge victorious from this ordeal is Jaejoong, Yoochun, and Junsu – because they risked it all to pursue their dreams of being artists, not idols. They realized the power of time and popularity working against them, and they decided to fight for what they loved. And right now, they’re succeeding.

I spent nearly 2 hours writing this =="

too messed up

F**K YOU
FAMILY
POLITICS

So I was on a HP fever...

Just looking though my tumblr and thought I'll do a repost :D

… LOLS.

One of the things I dislike about Twilight is that girls that I’ve meant dream and wish for their very own Edward. They live their fantasies by re-reading the Twilight saga and the things that they do just scream UNHEALTHY to me. They live in their dreams and forget reality, forgetting to live.

I’m not sure how to word this properly, but Twilight isn’t inferior because the idea came from a dream. Dreams can be catalysts for great things…its just that Twilight effects individuals in a way that they begin to dwell on their dreams of this perfect guy coming along to swoop them up and begin their happily ever after. And well, there’s a lot more to “happily ever after” than just having a perfect guy.

Yellowface.

credit: Gene Luen Yang @ http://www.geneyang.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry090128-131008

The Last Airbender

Rathbone told MTV News earlier this month that, "I think it's one of those things where I pull my hair up, shave the sides, and I definitely need a tan. It's one of those things where, hopefully, the audience will suspend disbelief a little bit."

Yes, because doing all the things above will help you achieve the "Asian look". Don't forget the sticky tape so that you'll achieve the slanty eyes!

Via CARTOON BREW, comic book artist Derek Kirk Kim is protesting as well: [AVATAR is] wholly and inarguably built around Asian (and Inuit) culture. Everything from to the costume designs, to the written language, to the landscapes, to martial arts, to philosophy, to spirituality, to eating utensils! -- It’s all an evocative, but thinly veiled, re-imagining of ancient Asia."

He continues, "Imagine if someone had made a “fantasy” movie in which the entire world was built around African culture. Everyone is wearing ancient African clothes, African hats, eating traditional African food, writing in an African language, living in African homes, all encompassed in an African landscape...but everyone is white. How offensive, insulting, and disrespectful would that be toward Africans and African Americans? How much more offensive would it be if only the heroes were white and all the villians [sic] and background characters were African American?

"My top choices for Aang were all young Asian-American actors. All of them had more talent and experience than Noah Ringer. But, Aibel and the producers had the final word. I am very disappointed with the cast that was chosen. My daughter hates me, now that her only hero (Katara) will not be an actress with a complexion close to our own. Mike and Bryan are also disappointed and feel that all the blood and sweat developing the Asian heroes was for nothing."

SOURCE: http://www.awn.com/news/films/avatar-last-airbender-casting-controversy-continues


Here is the original casting calls for The Last Airbender. I doubt they had any real intentions of casting any Asians for the lead roles. And well, I feel quite sorry for people who are aspiring to be actors, but aren't physically attractive enough :/

AANG: 12-15 years-old, Male, Caucasian or any other ethnicity. We are looking for a young man to play the lead role in a motion picture franchise. He must be athletic and graceful with an ability in Martial Arts (not necessarily extensive experience, but at least an aptitude for it). Kids with experience in gymnastics, dance, or sports could also be good. He is a young adventurer and should seem like the type of young man who will grow up to be heroic.

KATARA: 14-17 years-old, Female, Caucasian or any other ethnicity. She is Sokka’s younger sister. She is a headstrong and determined girl with a real sense of idealism. She believes in herself and feels that she can play on the same team as the boys. She is beautiful, intelligent, passionate, feisty, and has a real sense of adventure.

SOKKA: 16-20 years-old, Male, Caucasian or any other ethnicity. He is Katara's older brother. He is intelligent but awkward, and very funny (although not necessarily intentionally so). He aspires to greatness, but he tends to doubt himself. He is always one to be swayed by a pretty girl.

ZUKO: 16-20 years-old, Male, Caucasian or any other ethnicity. He is a brooding, intense young man who wrestles - not always successfully - with being good. Regaining his honor is a driving impetus for him. He is extremely handsome and is the type of dangerous boy every girl falls in love with. Athletic and/or martial arts experience is a plus.

There is no way I can word my feelings towards this subject better than Derek Kim has done above. I feel uneasy when I watch a film that has been adapted from a story where the characters are Asian but are replaced by Caucasian actors.

To constantly have Asians being denied the chance to play a role which are "designed" for them is just upsetting. There are many Asians out there who could play these roles, but instead, they are offered to Caucasian actors. Maybe its because the producers believe that Asian actors aren't box office draws or because they don't have the experience...but that's just because they're constantly denied any work. The only place where Asian actors can shine is in martial arts films or as the antagonist. And honestly, we're more diverse than that. Not every Asian is awesome at martial arts and we aren't all planning on ruling the world.

The main reason why I dislike whitewashing is that it underlies the notion of white/Caucasians being morally superior, or just superior in general, compared to people who are coloured. Well, that's what I get out of it anyway, not sure about anyone else.

Now, if I can make a tangent...let's talk about Avatar. The storyline of Avatar is similar to many events throughout history, where European colonizers are determined to obtain certain valuables or resources from the land in which indigenous people inhabit. So, it's not surprising that the notion also applies to Avatar. It takes a Caucasian male to save an entire civilisation, an entire nation if you will.

So, I'll just end this with something I found a while ago.

A good read about this topic from Derek Kim's blog: http://derekkirkkim.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-day-in-politics-same-old-racist.html and http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/01/28/DDMU15ICE4.DTL
Below are just some quotes that I wanted to highlight for myself...so take no notice of this :D

Or even worse, having our hearts broken over and over going after roles that specifically call for Asian Americans like "Avatar, The Last Airbender" only to see them go to white actors.

Back in my Drama days in high school, I used to dream of being white so I could pursue acting.

"The Last Airbender" has the potential to be something like "Star Wars"—something with lasting value that could give new heroes to your average household in America. And to have something for Asian American kids, and ethnic kids in general, to look up to. To let them know heroes can also look like them and speak fluent English like them.

African Americans kids can finally, realistically dream of being president one day. Can't Asian American kids—perhaps my kids—at least dream of being something as relatively insignificant as central characters in some escapist Hollywood movie where everything is stolen from their heritage?




"What frustrates us most is that you had this amazing opportunity - you've got a nation of fans who love this quintessentially Asian story," Kim says. "This could have broken down every barrier in the business, proving you can have an all-Asian cast and score three blockbuster successes. Instead, we just get three more chances to cringe."

South Korea and Homosexuality

Union of mothers create anti-gay ad because of drama “Life Is Beautiful”

With SBS’s drama, “Life Is Beautiful“, showing a gay couple as part of the story plot, mothers worried about the futures of their children, created a union and released a newspaper ad on September 29th through Chosun Journal.

The ad stated, “If my son becomes gay and dies from Aids after watching ‘Life Is Beautiful’, SBS must take responsibility!”

The union that released the ad stated, “‘Life Is Beautiful’ has glamorized the culture of gays against what is realistically, healthy and proper for the citizens of Korea.”

The ad became highly controversial immediately after its release, and more so after tweets by popular gay TV star, Hong Seok Cheon.

On the afternoon of the 29th, he tweeted, “‘Take responsibility for my son becoming gay because of the drama?’ What a funny ad, but also quite disappointing. Soon they will be putting out an ad saying don’t hang out with Hong Seok Cheon if you don’t want to be gay. This was the exact reason I was fired from ‘BboBboBbo‘ 10 years ago when I first came out. All of those calls made to the broadcast company asking to take me off the show. If such logic was true, all of those children that were on a part of the show with me should be gay by now, but they aren’t.”

He went on to write, “The gay couple that is shown on ‘Life Is Beautiful’ is so beautifully and realistically drawn. If there really is a son out there that becomes gay after watching the drama, it is not because he became gay but because he actually was gay and finally earned enough confidence to come out. It could be the drama that gave him that strength to come out to his parents and ask for understanding. How unfortunate for the children that live under the parents that put out such a trashy advertisement. Aids is not a disease specific to gays. How is it that I found out that I was gay 25 years before I saw the drama ‘Life Is Beautiful?’ What kind of dramas did the gays in the 50s, 60s, and 70s watch in order to become gay? Being gay is not a contagious disease, you fools.”

Hong concluded his series of tweets by stating, “The people that put out this ad not only demolished the human rights of gays but of Aids patients as well. This is such an amazing country, allowing such ads to be put out. This ad being released is a more severe problem than the fact that gays are shown on a public broadcast drama. Anything can be released as long as money is involved, I suppose.”

He received much support for his tweets and stated again on the 30th, “I thank everyone that has sent me support mail. Compared to the hate mail I received 10 years ago, there is so much support that has made me cry and feel endlessly thankful. I feel as if my loneliness and sorrow during the past 10 years has finally been delivered. I’ve now earned the confidence to live on even harder for the next 10 years. I’ll become a Hong Seok Cheon that satisfies everyone not only as a businessman but as an actor as well. Thank you.”

Hong was one of the first celebrities in the Korean entertainment industry to come out 10 years ago and is now the father of two adopted children.

source: allkpop

[10.10.02] Dongwan’s memolog: The view towards homosexuality [Selfishness of the majority]

This is probably the typical Korean “My child is precious” syndrome.

Homosexuals are also children of parents.

There isn’t any life that isn’t precious.

This advertisement is as good as using a knife to stab the parents of homosexuals who are somewhere out there,
As good as driving the homosexuals, who want to be under daylight, towards darkness.

I’m heterosexual and can’t fully understand homosexuality.
But I know for sure homosexuality is not an illness, nor is it toxic.
It does not need treatment or medication.
Homosexuals are people who, since they were born, have been living difficult lives that others cannot understand.

What we should do is not to persecute or drive them out,
But to help them not to live the wrong way in darkness, and to give them our understanding.

The problem with this incident is not the union’s ignorance,
Just like what the writer Kim Soo Hyun said
The problem lies with the media, where even major newspapers can accept absurd advertisements as long as they are paid.
As always…

Credits: Dongwan’s Naver blog + Absolut Shinhwa

Dongwan, one of my favourites in SHINHWA. See, I always knew thew there was a reason why he was near the top of the list. Putting aside his adorableness and bromance with Minwoo, I love reading his blog entries. I feel as if I know him better than the other members because of it. But what I really admire is that he isn't afraid to state his opinion. He's a celebrity, an idol. He's actions are scrutinsed. So, for Dongwan to have the courage to openly express his opinins, which is quite unpopular, to a society like South Korea...

...

He's perfect a good man. I'm proud of my fondness for him :D

He's got my love, support and respect.

But honestly, I want to find a guy like Dongwan.

triple s

TRIPLE S....501!

Haha, sorry...that's really lame T_T"

So yeah, this post is dedicated to two people - Anna and Kim. This picture doesn't even begin to describe just how crazy, mental and weird we are.

Sigh...Anna really does love Sonny Jr too much T_T

My hair = Anna's future wig ;D

I don't think I'll ever forget the day I met Anna. I was in year 6 and we met during orientation day. She called me Sapphire...and I've never gotten over it XD I think what bonded us together in the beginning was anime and manga. Chobits to be more precise. Funny how it hasn't really changed. But instead of Chobits, we're all over Skip Beat (REN ♥).

Don't really know how we became close. I do remember sitting next to Anna for a period of time. Man was that fun/awesome. Since its been so long, I can't remember much...but it was how I began calling her "Queen Bee" and pestered her with " where is your King Bee?" Our lockers were next to each other too....HAHAHA. Anna couldn't escape from me even if she wanted too XD

I remember sticking really close to her in year 8. Whenever I wanted to go somewhere, whenever I wanted to do something, she's the first one I ask. We went to all sorts of places... but because of our great sense of direction, we ended up lost somehow. We always managed to find our way back, but it doesn't change the fact that we pressed all the buttons at the crossing and followed the path where the green man lighted up first. From that, we got awesome coffee, the memory of a reindeer with its tongue sticking out and heaps more.

YES. KIM IS CRAZY!!!

Just look at that...stupid big eyes and eyeliner.

I've always remembered Kim as "the one who's always late." Sure, she was only late during the first day of school, but its forever burned into memory. Funny how by mid-year, Kim and I were always at school at around 7.30am. I still remember how crazy my mum thought I was. Imagine what she'll think if she knew Kim was with me. Two crazy idiots together.

We bonded over Harry Potter ♥ She ended up being Harry Potter's sister. The idiot somehow scratched herself and left a mark in the shape of a lightning bolt. HAHA. Where are your round cellotaped glasses Kim?! :D She started sitting next to me in Science after the Year 7 Orientation Camp. I had grown distant with my ex-"best friend". After that, it was history. We became awesome friends and still are.

Although we went through a rough patch in year 8, all is fine and well now. Year 9 was probably the year I stuck really close to her. We were in the same homeroom...so we naturally sat next to each other. Whenever there was a task that needed us to pair up, we immediately knew who our partner was with a single nodge as a signal.

Year 9 was also the year when I was the most...craziest over DBSK. I think Kim dealt with this obessession the most compared to everyone else. Even when she was overseas, she couldn't escape. HAHA. She came back with this big massive huggable pig. It was so big I could hardly fit it into my bag and just carried it home. I used to use it as a punching bag when I was upset...but its just in my cupboard now.

I think this represents us as a whole. LOLS.
Anna is stonned. Kim is crazy. And I'm the spoilt brat :D


We all look crazy. Enough said.

I think we're really simple. We're friends who have been tied together since year 7. That's about 5 years of history. We've had our highs and our lows, but in the end, we're still together. And I think that's what truly counts.

I find it awesome how we've lasted for so long. What's even more awesome is that we compliment each other. What one of us lacks, another makes up for it. For example, Kim is really knowledgable in social studies thanks to HHD, Legal and wikipedia-ing. It makes up for my lack of knowledge in the area because I'm more focused on Mathematics and Science.

We have fun at school whilst all the serious business are reserved for outings.

We became sisters who started recruiting brothers.

We each had our own name.

Sakii

Sushi (Sissy)

Shoharu.


We are TRIPLE S

I wrote this really late...so I'll come back and edit in the future. Maybe add a bit more stuff..I don't know yet. All I know is that I want to sleep~~

My Sister ♥

Because our birthdays were always so close, we tend to celebrate it together. Look at me, trying to cut the cake while she's just licking off the cream. Hehe, but I'm the princess with the crown :D


I'm not gonna lie here, I look really really freaky. Dunno what on Earth I was doing or thinking. My sister looks as cute as ever in that oversized jumper that she's in. As weird as her expression may be, she's still adorable to me~ Haha, never knew I was such a girl. Guess that's why Daddy wanted me to start wearing more girly clothes now...

My little sister. The one's who born 10 days before my birthday. We're only separated by 355 days. Every year, we're the same age for 10 days. She's taller than me now. But I've gotten much louder than her. I think I've always been the louder one. But she's always been the prettier and cuter one.

When asked who my best/closest friend is, my instant reply would be my sister. There's no denying that we're close. When we're outside together, people would think that we're really close friends. They never guessed that we were related, let alone being sisters. Funny how we used to be mistaken as twins when we were younger...not so much anymore.

She's been apart of my life for the longest time. Even from my earliest memory, it's with her. I tell her everything. Anything that's on my mind. Whenever something is troubling me. When I need to make a decision. She's who I turn to. It's habitual and it'll never change.

We've been through everything together. It's natural for me to go home and see her at the end of the day and just relax. She's a source of comfort for me and I know that I am for her too.

There's so much history between us that I hope I'll never forget it. I know that I have lost quite a lot of the childhood memories that we've made together, but at least I have vague recollections.

I'll always remember how we were at a Springvale, and some little boy decided to pick on her. Before he could do anything to her again, I punched him and proceeded with a kick. I felt proud of myself because I could protect her. I was able to protect something very dear and important to me. I swore from that day on, I wouldn't let anyone hurt her...physically.

But my dear sister, the one who always lends me her ear, who never fails to make me laugh, you make my day. My day feels incomplete without you in it. When you leave for camp, I have to remind myself that you're coming back. I love to annoy the heck out of you. I love to see your expressions. I love to be of support for you. I love you ♥