The Last Samurai
Some reviews from Gaozi.
Sorry if you haven't watch it.
But i won't review too much of the storyline here.
It is a movie worth watching.
The 2 things that really touched me was
1. The spirit of the Samurai.
侍"Shi" which means to serve.
A thousand year of Samurai history, warriors born to serve the Emperor of Japan.
Fighting for their master, laying their lives for the one who calls upon them. Fearless, brave, commitment, discipline, excellence. This is somewhat the "code" of the samurai.
Captain Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) was right about something, we are amazed by the discipline that Japanese warriors have. They wake up at 6 every morning, and start doing wat each and every of them are supposed to do, with diligence, with commitment. Everyone have their roles, and everyone abides by their roles. Cos not all times it's like that, but that's the general picture we have about them. Quoting from the official website www.lastsamurai.com, "Algren finds himself unexpectedly impressed and influenced by his encounters with the Samurai. Their powerful convictions remind him of the man he once was."
This desire to follow their beliefs really impressed me too.
2. The respect that they had
Now this is harder to know by just looking at my heading. If you watched the show, at the ending part, where Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe) and Nathan holds the line and charges into the Japanese conscript regiments, and gets gunned down by machine guns, Nathan and Katsumoto supports each other up in a last effort, Katsumoto said to Nathan, something like "you will have your honour still, let me have mine" and then he picks up his sword, and with Nathan's assist, performs the hari-kari,cutting his abdomen. Samurais only have 2 ways of dying, to be killed in battle by his enemies, or kill himself (they can't be shamed). The captain of the Jap Regiment, the one who ordered the cease fire of the machine guns, couldn't control his tears anymore, he takes down his cap, and kneels down, bows his head all the way down, Jap style... and you see ALL the jap soldiers doing the same thing.
We can never understand this. Samurais were the top class warriors of the country, commading the most respect. Even though now these new commoners turn soldiers have superior gunpower and have gunned down the samurais, they can't help but feel respect for their enemies. But what are enemies that have protected the country for the past 1000 years in Japan? Katsumoto is a hero.
Other parts of the movie, the soundtrack,... was fabulous, the prep for war scenes, and actual war was accompanied by excellent music from Hans Zimmer.
The show had wonderful characters, Taka, Katsumoto, Ujio (Katsumoto's trusted deputy).
most of all... Katsumoto. Ken Watanabe breathed life into the character. Katsumoto was simply mesmerising. 不怒而威. This air of dignity, this air of leadership, it's like what you would find with Viggo Mortersen in LOTR, a natural leader of man, and simply charimastic figure.
There are little little not so good parts about the movie... but i'm not the type to remember bad things about stuff i like. So sorry. A must catch show if you are a legend fanatic like me.
stomach flu-ed
dear gaozi is down.
started on first day of CNY, and got worse on 2nd day.
wooh... wat a way to celebrate CNY.
how sad it is to see everyone having fun, and you are there staring at them, feeling a little giddhy, a little nauseous, a little belchy (when you belch, you "burp"), and a little weak.
i gave up trying to cure myself and went to see a doc this morning,
confirmed that it's stomach flu, and now i've got medicine and needs lots of rest, and refrain from dairy products, chilli, oily stuff, coffee and tea. Remind me if you see me taking that ... ha.
It's not that I couldn't treat myself, cos usually that's what i do, but i know too self treatment take longer, and i dun want this to drag. This week i should be picking up on my training.
There was this point that i linked my sickness to being too heaty, as chinese like to say, and for my case, that was most prob caused by sleeping too late and having irregular meals. As this moment, i immediately linked it with the 3 weeks i spent on the website, and seriously thought of condemning the project, thinking that hey, i put in so much effort, and you caused me to fall sick during the festival. LOGICALLY, i didn't, cause i know it's me who didn't take care of myself. It's just that i couldn't help but feel traumatic about those late nights i spend on the website.
i hope everyone's had a good new year.
here some advice on stomach flu, it might help you if you have it. or for general info.
(found it off web searches, sometimes the internet is just so beautiful isn't it? ha)
Stomach Flu
This information is about stomach flu. You'll learn what it is, what its symptoms are, and how to deal with it.
Stomach flu is often called "intestinal flu." It's an illness caused by a virus, and it can produce different symptoms in different people. Some people develop a sore throat, cough, and nasal congestion similar to a common cold. This may be what's called "upper respiratory flu."
What people call stomach flu is usually marked by nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and a general sick feeling.
Here's how to treat stomach flu. First, you need to understand that antibiotics such as penicillin don't work on flu because they kill only bacteria. The flu is caused by a virus. Your body's defenses do the best job in fighting the illness themselves.
You can help your body fight flu by getting as much rest as possible. Do light activities if you have to, but rest as soon as you get tired. Stay home from work, unless your symptoms are mild. You'll recover faster that way, and you won't risk infecting others at work.
You should also drink adequate fluids to avoid dehydration -- but that will take some care when your symptoms are nausea and diarrhea. So let's cover what you can do to relieve these symptoms.
When your stomach is upset, the last thing it needs is food. If you feel nauseated, give your stomach a rest. Don't eat or drink anything for about two hours. If you are vomiting, don't eat or drink anything for four hours. Then begin taking small sips of water and gradually work up to small amounts -- half a cup or less -- of Seven-Up, ginger ale, or Jell-O. Do this for four to eight hours. If you feel like it, try eating saltine crackers or dry toast. Don't start to eat other solid foods for at least 24 hours. Doing this could make you nauseated again.
You can also try taking the anti-nausea drug called Dramamine if you are sure that you are not pregnant. Dramamine is not safe to take during pregnancy. This non-prescription medication is available at drug stores, and can be used as directed. If these measures don't control your nausea, you should contact your health care provider. You should also call if you are taking daily medication for any chronic medical condition and nausea prevents you from doing this.
Another common symptom of stomach flu is diarrhea. If you develop diarrhea, don't eat or drink anything for four hours. Then start with sips of water and work up gradually, over several hours, to small amounts of Seven-Up, ginger ale, Jell-O, or bouillon. Again, you can also try saltines or dry toast. But don't eat other solid foods for 24 to 48 hours. These foods will just stimulate the diarrhea. Sometimes dairy products may also stimulate diarrhea after the initial flu, and therefore, it may be wise to stay away from dairy products for a few weeks.
After the first 24 to 48 hours, gradually resume eating solid foods. Meanwhile, you can use the non-prescription medication Donagel or Kaopectate, as directed on the label, to help control diarrhea.
With diarrhea, you should call if you don't improve after three days -- or if the diarrhea gets worse. Also call if your diarrhea is bloody, if you have severe abdominal cramps associated with nausea, vomiting and fever, or if you are ill after having recently returned from a trip to another country.
Please remember these key points:
Stomach flu can have different symptoms, but the common ones are nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Only your body can cure this condition, but you can help it do the job by getting plenty of rest.
For nausea and vomiting, stop eating for two to four hours, then gradually introduce small amounts of water and other fluids. Avoid most solid foods for 24 hours.
For diarrhea, don't eat or drink for four hours; then gradually increase your intake of fluids. Avoid most solid foods for 24 to 48 hours.
If your symptoms are severe, unusual, or persistent, call your health care provider for further advice.
courtesy
http://www.the-health-pages.com/education/stomache_flu.html
know Gao Zi better
so u can better cope with me
hongyong sent me this email, when i finally decide to look at it seriously, i am shocked to find out that it is very true about me...
if you are interested also... can ask me for that email...
BLOOD GROUP B
In a nutshell
Cannot take orders easily
Basic Behavior
Make decisions fast
Can be flexible
Do not care about rules
Respect scientific and practical findings
Tolerance
Maintain the longest interest in what they do
Seem impatient
Dislike repetitious work
How do they see their future and past?
Hard to forget recent affairs, but able to forget past and memories
How do they express their emotions?
Expressive
Cool and objective
Although joke a lot, could actually be very shy
Change moods like the weather
Cannot stop complaining when they are upset
How do they work?
Creative and possess new ideas
Cannot differentiate between work and hobby
Cannot take orders
Do not hesitate to introduce innovative changes and are not worried about theirs criticisms
If you know me well enough, you will be able to share how true this applies to me
so be more tactful when you handle me? ha
prep for biathlon
haven't sign up for it yet... but i would be
Guoxiong asked me why i even bother to join
i replied... i've got a point to prove...
to who?
myself...
dunno why i am so headstrong, or just stubborn.
For glory, for recognition, for praise, for watever, i just want to try out the biathlon when i'm still fit, when i still have the desire to try out new things. Want to prove that i have more potential for many more things.
I can achieve more... sounds like an evil success hungry guy dun i?
now that my website is half up, i have more time to train this week, though it's chinese new year week.
Ran around all the blocks that starts with 8 today, so from 801 to 899 i mean. Took a cool half an hour, 13 more min then the usual 17 min i clocked for normal runs, which means if my normal runs were at least 3.5 to 4 km, then today i might have run 5.5 to 6 km. Not bad, cause clocking mileage helps, and i have to build up endurance also. now i need to sustain this distance for a few more nights, so that i get comfortable with the distance, then i shall running every night next week.
Probably something worrying is that i felt the familiar tingling sensations in my right ankle again. It's the place i had a stress injury due to training for AHM 02. Yes you can say it goes away, that happens, when i cannot feel my legs anymore after 12 km... now i just hope it doesn't come back, if not it will be really troublesome.
Anyone interested in the 800m swim, 5km run (NUS Biathlon) pls inform me. I am currently still joining this alone. ha.
dropping a huge burden
the moment i have been waiting for
it IS one big burden off my chest...
the swaps website is finally out and uploaded.
my dear child project, which i devoted so much effort and time into
www24.brinkster.com/nusswaps
(oh... can visit and leave some comments on how i can improve it!)
and hey... thanks to all those who gave me compliments for the site.
but more importantly, thanks to those who gave me encouragement when i was struggling with the site.
Without all those encouragement, I really might have lost my sense of direction.
This site is all the more important to me because of the way i had gone about doing it.
Stress that i am a first timer on web desigining, when i seeked help for guidance on how to start, met with a lot of negative stuff. Formed a web team to help me, but they dunno how to do also, and they were fleeting, hard to find. I've tried 3 to 4 thick books to start, but they were not relevant, cos too pro to follow.
Stubborn. I am really stubborn, i refuse to seek help from those who didn't help me in the first place. I have a point to prove.
I planned the site with Gene, i learned web basics from Aaron, and off i go to work on the site. Reaching home early on first week, about 7.30, and sit at the computer desk, hacking away at my notebook till 2.30am for close to 15 days liao. Not forgetting enduring the quarrels with my sis for monopolising the notebook, and my mum for refusing to sleep early.
I am one stressed geek for 3 weeks.
One damn pissed geek, barking away at any attempts to undermine my devotions and craze for this site.
I am not devoted to the club or wat, just devoted to my task, my ambitions, my efforts.
So now, it's not all done, tedious job following, for optimizing hundreds or thousands of photos for the gallery. but i shall not give up. Sincere thanks to Gene for planning the site with me, showing me examples, analysing with me what was desirable for a site.
And of cos Aaron , who showed a lot of cool tricks, and how to actually pull them off! and for teaching me how to survive dreamweaver in such a cool way.
Yah, many others came along the way, but i can't recall all. just thanks.
Hope you all enjoy my child project. Cheers.
~ kind of occupied
the new academic year has already begun
often i would ask myself... why are others enjoying themselves.. while i am working down my throat?
i really feel bad... but i'm that kind who though i feel lousy... i would still do the job for you... that you can be sure...
but sorry i'll avoid you next time... or be critical... or play taiji (with your arrows)
i know i'll be very tired for this whole month.
but i'm happy in the sense also
i dunno ... at least i know my friends are supporting me.
i am presently rushing the SWAPS website... i would say 30% completed? cos the photo gallery really need alot alot alot of time...
but at least i did it all by myself.. from someone who can't design a web thingy to someone who can present a proper looking website... i am satisfied liao
though i would really really hope for people to help me. Esp Javen...
wish he could just help take care of Pubs stuff for the moment...
at least help me monitor the proj... dun make me more worried... and have to spare more thoughts to keep track of the pubs plan... i would really appreciate that...
i'm not doing nothing...
i come home earlier everyday... then sit in front of the computer till 2 am every night ...
eh friend... it is very tiring loh... tweaking the site ... tweaking the site...
when i tell people how bad it is .. and they say aiya no need so nice lah...
-stare- hey... not to mention that i'm almost a perfectionist liao... is that your way of encouraging me... asking me to bang zhang a bit... or just making irrelevant comments cos it sounds applicable to the topic... please man ... please
coming month... i want to join the NUS Biathlon. Well i have never done a biathlon.
Precisely that's why i want to join... try out something that i've never done before...
i know i'm going to be tired.... but why not? just for this month...
i'm going to skip Wushu trg for this month... cos wushu over-strains my legs... so i can't run .. or swim ... that means ... I CAN'T TRAIN!!!!
so sacrifice lah...
will be tiring.... but i have two huge goals for this month...
that's keeps me going... yeah ~~
gambatte!
You represent... naivete.
So innocent and trusting... you can be very shy at
times, but it's only because you're not sure
how to act. You give off that "I need to
be protected vibe." Remember that not all
people are good. Being too trusting will get
you easily hurt.
What feeling do you represent?
brought to you by Quizilla
You're Frodo!
Not always sure of how to do it, but you know what
you want to achieve.
--What Lord of the Rings character are you?--
brought to you by Quizilla
~ 再见 2003 ~
不要问，不要说，一切竟在不言中。。。
这一刻，围着烛光让我们静静的度过。。。
2003 went by like a breeze.
For one thing, it will always be remembered as the year 3 gems of Hong Kong passed away.
哥哥 张国荣 | 小黑 柯受良 | 梅姑 梅艳芳
一颗一颗星星的陨落竟是如不羁
生命就是这么的脆弱
但愿他们无悔于人世。
I was proudly commissioned as an Officer of the Singapore Armed Forces on the 5 Apr 03 this year. A proud moment for me... after i didn't expect to get into OCS as a recourse liao mid of july during 2002. This ten months was a period i was forced to mature very fast; to judge things more critically; to be more decisive. I am glad to have learnt so much from OCS. Though tough and crazy, it was all worth it in the end wasn't it?
That moment when the emcee announces, "We present to you, the newly commissioned officer of the Singapore Armed Forces", and the whole parade square throws their peak cap sky high, and rejoices in a common happiness, knowing that all the hardship over the past year was worth this moment, where grudges and difference are put aside for the time being and just anyone, everyone rejoices together. For me, that moment was immortalised in my brain. The photo i still proudly display on my desk, the family photo of us during that commissioning day, my parents smile on their face, i know they are proud of me. Thank you Lord for helping me to give them that moment of pride.
At the start of this year too, on 6 Jan, I went to Brunei for JCC. Jungle Confidence Course, that's the full name. Lucky or unlucky to go there, time proves. I am back now as a stronger individual. Those days brought out the best and worst within each of us. We all know the days there were not good, thank you Lord for helping all of us to survive that. Really glad that my team never gave up. Simon, John Chua, Clement, Peng Leong, Zhihong, and really you, Clement. I am really glad to be with all of you. Since ROC. Brunei has been the ultimate test for all of us, i know we couldn't have done it without each other. The JCC badge seats proudly on all of us. Cos we know, during Ex Nomad, where the 3rd day noon was the deadline to reach back, and by 6am in the morning we have only completed 1 out of 5 checkpoints. Every single one thought it was a miracle that we completed 4 checkpoints in 4 hours. But we were lucky. and we had time to sit by the river to watch fishes. Ha, me peng leong and john.
And Simon and Clement and Zhihong can still clean rifle. Ha. wat a joke. But we were adventurous, we were determined, that's why we chose to finish all our food on Mt Biang, that's why we can wade in the waters of Sungei Biang etc for 2 days, that's why we chose to go down the cliff face that was this steep --> \ (and yes it was this steep), where we know one wrong step we will fall badly cos the landing area is some 500 m down, and clement you scared us a lot of time by nearly slipping a couple of times. I was glad we did it. That moment we heard the sound of motor boat, while wading in the river. We were so excited we were hopping around. Ha.
You must be in that position to understand how we had felt.
This is the year i was posted back to BMTC. Somewhere i would have a lot of affinity with, cos on Apr 2001, when i left Tekong after one week of PES E induction course, I once looked back and said to Tekong, I will be back. Yes i was back, for BMT, for OCS course, and finally back as an Instructor in Bravo coy.
This is the year where i went to studying. Dear NUS. dear? bleh.
It's somewhere new, a new start, definitely.
Glad to have SWAPS to guide me along the way, i think they gave me a lot of help, considering a freshie like me. I have settled in quite well thanks to them.
The power of the family of SWAPS.
The ultimate 4 months of relentless studying, where i don't know where my motivation came from, but i just know i want to do well. Duno why.
Got to know a great group of friends.
Got to be more confident in watever i was doing in NUS, to try more new things.
Got to know and be part of this group of Bread Clan.
Year 2003, you have left me with great memories. There are countless others, but i shall not be able to list all of them out. But i will definitely remember all these great events i listed above, and many many more. Thanks.