Writing every step of the way

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Canadian Indie-rock band Metric who are recognized for the depth of their lyrics and catharsis in their sounds have taken their trademark up a notch by driving down a new funky metal road in this album. Unlike Fantasies (2008), Metric’s latest album “Synthetica” is composed of singer-songwriter Emily Haines experimenting with synthesis and styles. Their first single “Youth without Youth” aurally stirs the mind to indulge in its meaning with its more aggressive digit-all metal sound. The effect is deliberate according to Emily. In an open-letter to fans, Emily writes “It’s about what is real versus what is artificial” which is a common argument in many forms of art. She challenges the common idea of originality while brilliantly deconstructing how the human experience is changes with technology. The conclusion is anything but simple but you’re welcome to indulge at your own risk.

Published 3:49 AM

Monday, March 7, 2011

Kings,

His knight stands tall. His pawn moves forward cautious with every step, he thought he knew the pieces he was dealing with.

For years and years the bishop said never forget all the lives at hand. Only a noble King will do His best to leave them spared. Lies.

Knights, Bishops, Rooks, pawns, move strategically in unified motion on the game-board fighting for His survival. But out of all, it is the Queen who is the strongest through leaps and bounds she is able to protect the king and his allies. And as the battle go, one by one they begin to fall. When the queen collapses, it gets worse.

Two Knights is all he has. Several pawns. The loss of his bishops and rooks render him defenseless.

The King moves a step at a time every time an enemy approaches. With every such restricted mobility, comes a violent spectacle of another life slayed.

The King continues to live. What mistake can he make?

If Kings were truly noble, there will be no reason to carry on. Kings hide behind a facade of blue blood and expensive frocks. Inside he is weak, defenseless and inferior. Without his Queen and his allies, he is nothing more than human.

Until there is nothing left to sacrifice in exchange for His survival, his opponent is triumphant. When all is gone, blame this king. A kingdom lost. An entire nation under siege. Too late.

Checkmate.

Originally written in April 2009

Published 3:21 AM

Prior Work Experience

Tutor – Contemporary Television Studies, July 2010-November 2010. Monash University, School of the Arts and Social Sciences, Sunway Campus, Malaysia, 2010.

Education

Bachelor of Communication (Honours), 2010 [Final result pending, expected March] Monash University –
• Sunway Campus, Malaysia, 2010 (On Monash University Scholarship)

Bachelor of Communication, Graduated 2009
Monash University –
• Gippsland (Semester 1) / Caulfield (Semester 2) Campus, Australia, 2009 on the Study Abroad program.
• Sunway Campus, Malaysia, 2007-2008,

Major: Communication
Minor: Journalism, International Studies
Additional Modules Taken: Film and Television Studies and Sociology.

Monash University Foundation Year (MUFY), Graduated in Dec 2006 Sunway College Johor Bahru, Malaysia
• Equivalent to Australian Year 12 education.

Language and Communication Skills

• Fluent in both written and spoken English and Malay.
• Conversational Mandarin with a smack of Hokkien.
• Studied abroad in Australia and possess experience of cross-cultural communication.
• Good communication, interpersonal and social skills.
• Good creative English writing skills.
• Able to think critically in presenting results of cultural and social research.
• Resourceful and able to generate practical solutions and a team player.

Computer Skills

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office
• Basic HTML.
• Familiar with online blogging tools and SNS such as Blogger, Tumblr, Twitter and Facebook.
• Basic Knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro for video editing.
• Basic Knowledge of Adobe Photoshop for photo editing.

Extracurricular Activities • Active member of the English Language Society of Sultan Ibrahim Girl’s School (SIGS) (Year 2001-2005).
• Participated in an Inter-School English Drama Competition, SIGS 3rd Place (Year 2001).
• Active Member of the SIGS Music Club (Year 2001-2003).
• Participated in a study trip to Sumatera organized by the SIGS Music club (Year 2002).
• Active Member of the SIGS Interact Club (Year 2002-2005). Posts held—Funding Director (Year 2004) & Vice-president (Year 2005).
• Participated in the COM QUIZ 2004 organized by The Star, INTI and The Education Ministry.
• Participated in the Maxis Cyberlinq Project as a Web Builder (Year 2004).
• English Editor of the SIGS Evergreen Magazine (Year 2005).
• Volunteered in the Sunway College as Student Ambassador helping the student body with events (Year 2006)
• Active Badminton Club Member in Monash Gippsland (Year 2009)
• Active International Students Association (ISA) member in Monash Gippsland (Year 2009)
• Student helper for Monash Open day (Year 2010).
• Blog Sub-editor of the Monash School of Arts and Social Sciences Chiang Mai Study Trip Blog (July 2010).
• Participated in the KL 48 hour Film Project 2010 as an Assistant Producer of the team (Year 2010).
• Participated in the Monash Alumni documentary production (Year 2011).

Miscellaneous

• Interests: Film and TV (particularly American, Korean, Malaysian and Singaporean popular culture), Advertising, Music, Writing, Reading, Travelling, Fashion, Malaysian subaltern cultures, female welfare, arts and current affairs.