One thing I never did was to mistake 'moving on' for a virtue. 

If I did, that would only makes me little more than a self-negating hologrammatic projection of the billboards of the day.  Do you discard the memories or perspectives of yesterday just because it is a feature of the past.  If we thrived from the nutrition of yesterday, do we not replicate or incorporate it into the diet of today.  Same thing mate, when it comes to the 80s.  It's experimental and critical aspects, it's non-arrogant fun-loving spirit, it's 'I ain't gonna be sucked up by the social machinery flamboyant attitudes, perspective and fashions (various aspects of which were more a feature of the 60s and 70s), etc, etc, is the kind of perspectival nutrition that enables me to become more of a Renaissance Man than I might otherwise be - one of the reasons why I have spent some perspectival time in the 70s, 60s, 50s, and in various periods of history throughout the world through history, cultural studies, philosophy, etc, etc. So nay, I say, to The Retards who are 'held back' by the present that they can't do as much tomorrow because they have made a virtue out of 'moving on' and hence discarded the perspectival nutrition of the past.

Damn!  I love this song!  Bespeaks of innocence and simplicity.  People laugh at 'kitsch', the 'backward' effects of past music videos, films, etc,....I relish in its simplicity.

Heaven is closer now today
The sound is in my ears
I can't believe the things you say
They echo what I fear
Twisting the bones until they snap
I scream but no one knows
You say I'm familiar cold to touch
And then you turn and go

Feels like heaven...

See how we planned for saddened eyes
And tears to pave the way
I fought the fever as I knew
My hair returned to grey
Study your face and fade the frame
Too close for comfort now
We can recall the harmony
That lingered but turned sour

Feels like heaven...

You wanted all I had to give
See me I feel, see me I live

ed

Insects

Well, I do for one.  Stamps to me, is a little perforated fragment of history, that is not only a little piece of art in itself, but also provides insights into culture(ways of seeing things).  Pretty little unobtrusive things that serves as a subtle reminder that there is more to life than being an 'employee'.  I place these little reminders all around my home - gold records, toys, music instruments(have a drumset, a fender guitar, a keyboard, didgeridoo, violin, tabla, flute), art pieces, etc,....and stamps too.  Unlike the telly, and other forms of visually and aurally epileptic media that doesn't give one much time to think, these things allow you some semblance of control over what you view due to its largely sedentary nature ,and feeds on and enhances the reflective aspect of the human persona.

 
Well, i love the stamps here in the UK.  Here are some of my latest purchases I made online (yesterday).  And the best part about it is that they do international deliveries as well.  I thought of bringing it over to singapore to sell it, but knowing the singapore of today, generally, if it ain't 'singaporean'/chinese/lauded by the american media, then they're not going to go for it.  Never mind, allowing singapore to underdevelop my persona was something I never countenanced.

I remember back in the 80s, my very good friend - Yeo Hong Ho - and myself used to meet up on Saturdays evenings after we booked out of our camps (military).  He would pop by to my place on his motobike half and hour too early, and fuss over my coming down late when I come down on time.  Anyway, we would go downtown to 'see girls', chat, have dinner whilst watching a chinese movie in a cheap coffeeshop, and then check out stamps and other strange trinkets in nearby shops.  Two decades later, he still drops by to see me about once a month, and every now and then, he would bring down his stamp/coin collection, USSR badges, picture cards, and other trinkets, and we'll pore over it.  More aesthetically fruitful a pastime than PSP-ing all the time I think.  Well, I got him the set above.  Sure he'll like it when I give it to him when I get back next week (for a while).

If you want to check out other stamps in the UK, or buy them, you can go to -

http://www.royalmail.com/portal/stamps/home.

Some of those that I purchased....i especially like the 'cathedral' series :

ed

Cathedrals 1

Cathedrals 2

York n Lancaster 1

York n Lancaster 2

Wembley 2007

A design I created some time ago when the contest to find an alternative to the fragmented logo created by some design company was held. The year 2012 is depicted as 20:12 to relate it to 'tube'(trains in the london 'underground') times.

London2012

Not too long ago, I brought a couple Filipinas (female form of 'Filipino'...from the Philippines) for a job interview.  After spending much time filling in the application form and awaiting their turn, they finally went in for what might amount to the shortest interview listed in the guinness book of world records.  When I asked them what happened, they said they were simply asked, 'Do you speak Mandarin?', which they did not.

Well, this is my take on 'speaking Mandarin'. 

As far as the official first language studied in schools is English and the first language is English, that ought to be the only requirement for all jobs. If it is to be the requirement for some jobs, than all races ought to be allowed equal access to it.  That comprises, in part, the notion of Equality of Opportunity mate.  Anything short of this risks forwarding the status quo as 'instituational racism' (sociological term). 

As for those who are not versed in English, they ought to avail themselves of a good mandarin-to-english dictionary or be accompanied by a translator.  Why?  To cater to linguistic deficiencies amongst the populace is to render entire races whom are not allowed to study 'other' languages deficient.  This can only relegate them to the socio-economic second class and eventually raise the linguistically 'endowed'(mandarin speakers) as the preferred group.

Perhaps, much of this 'do you speak Mandarin' nonsense is to cater to, or being further reinforced by, the need to cater to the increasing influx of China citizens into the country whom are not conversant enough in English to even ask for directions to the beach.  I personally encounter many of them who work at local coffeeshops - though I am quite popular amongst them.  Additionally, the past creation of a Chinese elite via SAP schools (Special Assistance Plan..went on for a few decades); the promotion of the 'mother-tongue' policy whereby one's ethnic heritage determines what language one is allowed to study in school; the grossly bigoted 'mandarin is cool' and 'speak mandarin, it's an advantage' campaigns (going on for more than a decade), amongst others, basically tends to equate biological race with a 'preferred' language and raise one race above another in terms of preferred-status, and with inevitable knock-on effects on, amongst others, the socio-economic experience of non-chinese. 
(note: The elevation of one culture above others in a multicultural nation basically leads to self-segregation amongst the 'preferred group' and marginalisation of 'others' as the 'cultural comfort zone' is gradually contracted to include what one is familiar with and what one has been taught to view as preferred.  Once this impacts on the economic front, the consequences become real and observable over time as underdevelopment of 'others' result due to the contraction of opportunities.)

Like in the UK, proficiency in English ought to be one of the main qualifiers for acquiring a work permit or PR status as the influx of non-English speakers will eventually lead to the creation of ethnic enclaves and impact on the evolution of criterion for jobs to cater to their comfort zones and linguistic deficiencies.  As for the 'mother-tongue' policy, this ought to be thrown out the window unless it can be shown that the Chinese in China aren't willing to do business with mandarin speakers unless they are also Chinese.  There is no reason whatsoever why Indians and Malays can't study mandarin in schools and 'do business in China'.

For the purpose of cultural integration - NOT assimilation or marginalisation - English ought to be the only 'cool' and 'advantageous' language in a multicultural nation.  Personally, I do speak Mandarin, but when asked if I did so by past potential employers, I would not be disinclined to ask why that ought to matter.  And if told that some customers might not be able to speak English, I would suggest that they get a translator to accompany them or learn to speak English.  Why should I be marginalised to accomodate the linguistic deficiency of another?  Does it not further reinforce their deficiency?  And if done so long enough, elevate their deficiency as a proficiency and all other races as deficient?  That is a question any Singaporean who does not pay more than lip service to racial equality ought to ask themselves.  *I believe in a singular race of citizens based on nationality and not race - a perspective many singaporeans would be well advised to incorporate into their perspectival arsenal for their own developmental good.

As for the 2 Filipinas who were turned away, they brushed their experience aside with a, 'never mind, it's a Chinese country...so of course they will ask that'.  And I've personally encountered a few Chinese from China who refused to believe that I'm a singaporean because of my rich colour and sharp features.  Now what i find interesting is what Singaporeans might have done to promote such a notion amongst these foreigners that makes foreigners out of locals.

ed

*I believe in a singular race based on nationality as a preparatory prelude towards developing a singular race based on a nation of humanity that incorporates the entire globe.

TowerBridge

...said a bloke and his girlfriend (not the couple next to me in the pic) from Brazil(the girl's name is Pruna...forgot the bloke's name though...ahem) whilst I was sitting and sipping a mocha at the cafe in the background.(the roofed building on the right.)  They are here on a working visa or something and he was hoping to become a pro photographer. We chatted for a while - in the course of which I introduced him to vox to host his photographs.  Anyway, I never say, 'Thank you', when anyone exclaims, "hey, nice camera/lens", since just about anyone with the money or inclination would be able to acquire one.  The credit goes to Nikon.  So my usual response is, "yeah, Nikon is quite good with cameras/lenses".  Anyway, I got more than a few looks whilst there.  The eastern europeans were especially blatant in their looks. And more than a few could be seen constantly looking at me and chattering away about the bald monstrosity seated a fag-flick away.  Then there was this one bloke of w.european origins, with a few bulky lenses, and who looked as if he was a 'pro', who came up to me and asked if he could take a few shots of me.  Perhaps I should set up a booth with a sign 'unofficial tourist attraction'.  Well, being an unashamed exhibitionistic slut, I agreed, and he proceeded to adopt a few 'pro poses' as he began to fire away at me through the gaping eye of his camera whilst I couldn't help wondering which seedy magazine I might be featured in.  Hmm...so that's how models feel.  Hard work huh.  Yeah right!  Anyway, that frequently happens in singapore too, especially with tourists from China.  I think I ought to be funded by the STPB (singapore tourist promotion board) to keep me bald, shiny and new.
 

What I find refreshing is the absence of laughter from observers (except some eastern europeans) - which is a frequent occurrence in singapore (people whom are unaccustomed to difference, or the mindless fad-imbibing variety who only value individuality when it is fronted by pop-stars/actors/'whites, tend to do that).  As for the reaction of the general observable and observing British public, I only get interested looks - and the girls tend to react very 'positively' too;).  No, as I said earlier, I don't get any ego-boosts from it.  The difference in reactions between singapore and the UK is most interesting though.  What I always found most interesting is that being moi-self in singapore and the UK elicits diametrically opposite reactions and consequences.  Here in the UK, I'm generally perceived by my acquaintances and people-i-just-met as 'confident', 'interesting', 'intelligent', whereas in 'good' ole singapore, i'm perceived as 'arrogant', 'boring' and 'talk/think too much'.  I get good reception in terms of customer service at pubs, restaurants, members of the general public, etc, etc, whilst it is the inverse in singapore.  In singapore, i'm generally ignored or laughed at, whilst here, i'm looked/smiled at and served most politely.  Most interesting...sociologically speaking. 

All in all, as it was back in the 90s when I was studying here, I'd say that civility, difference, personality, and intelligence are quite valued social commodities.  I always get a sense that the people here in the UK are quite 'retro' (70s, 80s) in their perspectives.  Listening to 80s music here doesn't seem to be an out-of-place thing to do here - as it is in singapore. Hey! They still play 80s stuff in some pubs here!  The perspectival climate and the music, methinks, are quite congruent bedfellows.  Many i've encountered or observed on the telly, ads, etc, still exhibit vibrancy, curiosity in the face of novelty, openness to ideas, and the critical spirit reminiscent of 'retro'-years - where much of the world is fast becoming little more than hologrammatic projections of american-powered billboards.  I won't say that there aren't disconcerting and increasing instances of americanisation here.  But, thankfully, it is not at quick a pace as it is back 'home' and other countries I have hung out in.

ed

Well, it's been a decade since I've been in the UK, And thankfully, just as it was the first time, it was like coming home...(breathes a sigh of extreme relief).

Uk

Can you believe it?  The first time I came here for uni(1994-1999), I was surprised that I experienced no 'culture shock'.  It was like stepping into a pair of well-worn suede shoes that I had not slipped into since a previous life.  I got on very well with the 'Brits' in my halls of residence, and had, surprisingly, their deferential respect even!  I'd often wondered how I'd feel when or if I finally got back to the UK in the course of the past 10 years in singapore, and, thankfully, it is not unlike the first time.  Do I miss 'home' (singapore)?  Hell no!  For the first time in a decade, I can wake up, or walk the streets, or switch on the telly, or interact with people, or go to bed in the night, without feeling pissed off. 

UK vs SG

In the UK, as V too observed, you get all variations of people playing prominent roles in the media, ads, etc - chinese, indians, 'whites', 'blacks', thin, fat, young, old, etc, etc.  You get a real sense of cosmopolitanism here instead of the lip service type. And when you switch on the telly, or walk the streets, you are constantly reminded to 'get involved' in social problems all over the world or in the UK via posters, speeches, demonstrations, ads, etc. It really helps in nurturing one's faith in humanity.  The internet connection here, as it was when I was living in HK, is obviously quicker even though the stipulated speed is the same as my connection in Singapore. You get more than a couple of dozen channels on the telly with all types of programmes that nurtures all types of inclinations.  And can you believe it, I can cross the road and expect cars to slow down instead of accelerating.  And 'Meritocracy' here in the UK largely means being able to do the job and not being of a particular 'race', 'age', or 'mandarin speaker'.  You get free medical at most times, and schooling till secondary level is compulsory and therefore free.  And when you speak to people or ask them questions, you know, unlike SG, they are not ignoring the novel in your statements and queries and simply regurgitating that which they are used to saying or taught to say.  People are civil to you no matter how you look, and I must say that I get more than a few admiring and interested looks from 'white' girls in a day than I might elicit in a year in singapore.  (Nope, it doesn't do my ego any good, but it does remind me that difference, personality, individuality and intelligence is a quite the valued socio-economic commodity here.)  And what I especially love about the UK is that people fight against discrimination of all sorts even though they or their 'race', 'age', 'etc', are not personally afflicted(i use the word 'race' in a broad sense meaning those who are perceived to be part of another group physically).  In other words, discrimination is recognised in all forms even if it doesn't happen to the majority.  The 'majority' in this country is not appreciated, generally, in 'racial' terms but in terms of citizenship.  A high level of empathy eh Watson!  I cannot help but feel that my future is safe in such empathetic hands.

Well, I could go on and on.  But the point here is not simply that UK is ‘better’ or more conducive than SG for developing the mind or the more developed mind, but that it strives to be that.  That, I dare say, is something worth emulating.  Mind you, I do not expect perfection, but do, by George's silk underpants, expect a society to strive towards it.  I have a visa to stay in the UK for 5 years (and hopefully apply for a ‘PR’ thereafter) but I have to get back to SG shortly to complete a particular project that might last a couple of years - but I will be back here every now and then for a couple of months.  But this return to what has strangely always felt like my home has significantly done my faith in humanity much good.  Incidentally, the first and best conversation I've had in a decade was with the cab driver who took me from the airport to my house (in the UK…Essex, Harlow).  Let’s see, we spoke about cosmopolitanism, politics, the labour party, juvenile delinquency, the weather, discrimination, pop culture, the significance of hip hop, music, etc, etc, during the 1 hour ride.  (I've learnt not to expect a tenth as much from the ‘grads’ I know back in SG) Now a people amongst whom ‘an opinion’ is not confined to food, shopping and pop, is a people who bode well for the progressive development of humanity and the human within us don’t you think?  The weather is truly crap here though, but the cultural and perspectival climate is most warming.

Just wish i'd brought my tripod and other lenses.  My digital camera is not functioning at present unfortunately. But, never mind, I'll be back!
(Pictures courtesy of V via her Ricoh GX100. Camera used by self in the pic - Nikon F6, 70-200mm VR.  My Fuji Reala 100 is about 3x the price here!)

TowerBridge

Ed'sperience 2008 -

Singapore - 18:19 - 20:19

For the 200th Anniversary of Singapore's 'founding' by 'sir' Stamford Raffles. 

First shot taken at 6:19pm; second shot(multiple exposure) taken at 6:19pm and 8:19pm. 

Idea conceived and photographed by Edwin S Anthony (using a Mamiya 7II and a ton and a half of patience and perseverance).

dedicated to parents, v & God

ed'sperience

Keep moving.....in consideration of....and despite the times...the ed-anthem

Blow By Blow - Constipated Duck

Jeff Beck

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Guitar Shop - Where Were You

Jeff Beck

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Is depression good for you?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/ma...

The fact it has survived so long - and not been eradicated by evolution - indicates it has helped the human race become stronger.

“The fact it has survived so long - and not been eradicated by evolution - indicates it has helped the human race become stronger.”

So, the common cold, cancer, greed, aggression, etc, etc, etc, has helped the human race become stronger I suppose. 

“"I have received e-mails from ex-sufferers saying in retrospect it probably did help them because they changed direction, a new career for example, and as a result they're more content day-to-day than before the depression."”

So, I wonder, did he not receive any emails to the contrary by those who decided to shuffle off their mortal coils because they couldn’t take it anymore?

If we were to take the researchers’ logic seriously, then we ought to be glad of all the evils that humanity is encumbered with since evolution didn’t eradicate it, and it must therefore help ‘the human race become stronger’. 

I must also add that just because it ‘has survived so long = positive’, is a grossly asinine view.  You see, such a perspective cannot be founded on anything but the ridiculous notion that we are now at ‘modern times’ and that all that is experienced or suffered by most is a good thing simply because it has lasted from time immemorial to the present and is a condition of a significant proportion of the global mass. 

The difference between evolutionists and revolutionists is that the former justify the present by its being a legacy of the past, whilst the latter visualize an alternative future that is justified by the potential of the human will to make a break from the past.

Evolutionists are also likely to justify an inequitable, discriminatory or injudicious status quo by arguing that just because it has served some function in the past, it must be a condition worth keeping.  But these are the very clowns who will be running helter skelter when the walls come a-tumbling down when the consequences of such a status quo, which is also a legacy of the evolutionary past, emerges in evolutionarily predictable ways and forms as a response to their evolutionary traditional ways. 

Whilst I do not disagree that depression can be quite a boon – as it has been to myself for the past 2 decades – it can only be an advantage if we have yet to seek less self-destructive ways to be inspired.  Till we rid ourselves of this ‘boon’, we are not going to find a better alternative are we.  And let's not forget that for every hundred that might turn a disadvantage into an advantage, there might very well be a hundred times more who fall prey to it - just as behind every rags-to-riches story that reduces success to nothing but the exertion of human will, lies a multitude of others who tried even harder but failed.  I suppose in an injudicious status quo, we tend to justify its many evils by attention to the few who used it as a stepping stone whilst self-servingly ignoring it serving as a gravestone to many, many more.

ed’sperience 

(logo design by edsperience.  Wheelchair integrated with the human eye indicating perspectival disability.)

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