如果說，一個號稱歷史長達一百多年的大學沒有校訓的話，你會相信嗎？
我本來也是不信的，但是新加坡國立大學就是這麼活生生的一個例子。
有一次和國大辯論隊的同學們到中國打友誼賽兼旅遊的時候，到了當地其中一個大學，主持人在台上介紹作為來賓的我們，說新國大多好多好云云，其中還提到了我們的校訓是“xxxx”。
當時我和台下的隊友的第一個反應是互相對望了一眼，然後小聲地說一聲，“我們有校訓咩？”
現實就是這樣，我們沒有校訓，我們也似乎從來沒有在意我們沒有校訓這回事。
但是停下來想一想，一個歷史這麼悠久的大學怎麼可能沒有校訓呢？如果我說在歐美國家哪個古老的名牌大學沒有校訓的話，你會相信嗎？聽起來太荒謬了吧？
順便在這裡談一談國大的歷史吧。
1905年，海峽殖民地及馬來亞聯邦州政府醫學學校（Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States Government Medical School）成立，後來改名為愛德華七世醫學院（King Edward VII Medical School）。國大的歷史也是從1905年開始算起。
1928年，萊佛士學院（Raffles College）成立。
1949年，這兩間學院合併為馬來亞大學。
1955年，南洋大學成立。
1962年，馬來亞大學新加坡校區改名為新加坡大學。
1980年，新加坡大學與南洋大學合併為新加坡國立大學，也就是今天的NUS。
這一路走來，其中的歷史大部分學生其實都不知道。今天很多學生都不知道國大本為馬大分校；也沒聽說過南大被合併的故事，甚至會以為此南大即為彼南大，個中歷史緣由也不敢在此贅述。
不過，個人總覺得這都是和國大似乎缺乏一種“身份認同”（identity），其中沒有校訓就是很關鍵的一點。
馬大的校訓“Ilmu Punca Kemajuan”，譯為中文就是“知識乃成功之本”；南大的校訓是“自強不息，力求上進”，怎麼到了國大就沒有校訓了呢？
在寫本文之前，為了證實國大沒有校訓，我上網努力搜索了好久，也沒有找到；甚至在百度知道看到以前有人和我問過一樣的問題，得到的答案是國大沒有校訓，只有願景。
國大的網站寫的是國大有的“vision”，就是“A leading global university centred in Asia, influencing the future”，我姑且譯為“一所以亞洲為中心，影響著未來的國際領先大學”。
好吧，我不知道有多少國大生會看到這個願景然後有一種身份認同或是自豪感。如果你有的話，不好意思，那是我失敬了。
前些天看到港大慶祝一百週年的音樂視頻，找了港大校友許冠傑作曲，林夕作詞，謝安琪等人唱了一首歌，慶祝港大一百校慶，“明德格物”一直在唱，看了我都覺得港大真的令人嚮往。
只是很突然的，有時也會希望我身邊可以看到更多的文化人和知識分子。
國大最近幾年還新創了一個新的概念，前校長特別喜歡用鮭魚（三文魚）的例子，說鮭魚都會回到它們出生的地方繁殖產卵，希望畢業生也會多多回饋母校。最近學校建築和周邊產品都多了很多以鮭魚為主題的設計。
但我每次聽到這個故事的時候，我總是想到的是，鮭魚回到出生地產卵後就會死去，這點幹嘛忽略掉呢？對不起，那麼我寧願不要做這個鮭魚。
開開玩笑，各位看官別當真，有機會還是應該多多回饋母校的。
只不過，就覺得沒有校訓，不懂校史，這個學校總是感覺缺乏一種歷史的底蘊、那古老的韻味和那種讓人很自豪地說我們成立了多少年的感覺。那些畢業自歷史悠久中學的人，就應該可以明白我想表達的意思。
所以國大生，下次要是有人問起，我們的校訓是什麼的時候，請你們回答說：
對不起，我們沒有校訓。
2012年1月5日星期四
明年复明年
新的一年又來了，如常地看到很多人都為新的一年立下了新願景、目標和願望；但我似乎沒看到多少人在反省、回顧與比較去年的目標的。
最近看到一個台灣報章報導台灣選舉新聞，其中有一則談起馬英九，說他在執政三年多的任期內，僅完成了他自己政見的43.9％。
這個數據是通過羅列馬英九在前次競選時所提的政見中，比對其成功達成的事項；而報導認為馬英九任期已過了五分之四，政見完成率卻連一半也不到，可見他的政績單不及格。
姑且不論這個數據的算法是否科學，也不去探討一個政治人物可以達成政見的43.9％，到底是“僅能”還是“竟然能”，或是這個報章是否傾向蔡英文。
這則報導也讓我想到周圍朋友的新年願望和目標，要是大家也把去年的目標和願望羅列出來，在這份成績單上，到底又有多少人能夠及格呢？當然，這個目標必須是很實際的，最好是可以量化的，這樣也比較容易衡量和比較。
若是在一個個目標旁邊，打勾的是佔大多數，那麼恭喜你，你達到了大部分的目標，今年也請你繼續努力加油，維持這份得來不易的“及格成績單”。
然而，倘若你的一個個目標旁邊都是打叉或是問號（你竟然不記得你去年定下的目標？！）的話，那麼或許你是時候順著這份清單，一條條地去反省了。
到底是目標立得太高了嗎？太多了？還是自己沒有去堅持？還是目標立得太籠統了，說得容易，做起來很難呢？
我不及格，我反省了，所以這篇文章才會出現。
以古為鏡，可以知興替，此言誠然不假。只有在比較過後，才知道自己失敗在哪裡，曾向自己許下了多少不能兌現的逾期空頭支票。誇張者甚至乎可以從多年的目標在新的一年裡又重新循環使用，在新的一年裡又只陶醉在那新氣象裡，說出心中豪語壯志，過去的事又何必再管他呢？
伊索寓言裡面有一個關於螞蟻與蚱蜢的寓言，蚱蜢因為在冬天來臨前只顧著玩耍與享樂，沒有儲存食物，最後在冬天餓死了；但我覺得這只蚱蜢要是僥倖冬天沒餓死的話，說不定明年也會繼續玩樂，這次冬天也許就沒這麼好運氣了。
不要明年复明年，明年何其多了。說不定，我們真的沒有明年了。
祝大家新年快樂。
最近看到一個台灣報章報導台灣選舉新聞，其中有一則談起馬英九，說他在執政三年多的任期內，僅完成了他自己政見的43.9％。
這個數據是通過羅列馬英九在前次競選時所提的政見中，比對其成功達成的事項；而報導認為馬英九任期已過了五分之四，政見完成率卻連一半也不到，可見他的政績單不及格。
姑且不論這個數據的算法是否科學，也不去探討一個政治人物可以達成政見的43.9％，到底是“僅能”還是“竟然能”，或是這個報章是否傾向蔡英文。
這則報導也讓我想到周圍朋友的新年願望和目標，要是大家也把去年的目標和願望羅列出來，在這份成績單上，到底又有多少人能夠及格呢？當然，這個目標必須是很實際的，最好是可以量化的，這樣也比較容易衡量和比較。
若是在一個個目標旁邊，打勾的是佔大多數，那麼恭喜你，你達到了大部分的目標，今年也請你繼續努力加油，維持這份得來不易的“及格成績單”。
然而，倘若你的一個個目標旁邊都是打叉或是問號（你竟然不記得你去年定下的目標？！）的話，那麼或許你是時候順著這份清單，一條條地去反省了。
到底是目標立得太高了嗎？太多了？還是自己沒有去堅持？還是目標立得太籠統了，說得容易，做起來很難呢？
我不及格，我反省了，所以這篇文章才會出現。
以古為鏡，可以知興替，此言誠然不假。只有在比較過後，才知道自己失敗在哪裡，曾向自己許下了多少不能兌現的逾期空頭支票。誇張者甚至乎可以從多年的目標在新的一年裡又重新循環使用，在新的一年裡又只陶醉在那新氣象裡，說出心中豪語壯志，過去的事又何必再管他呢？
伊索寓言裡面有一個關於螞蟻與蚱蜢的寓言，蚱蜢因為在冬天來臨前只顧著玩耍與享樂，沒有儲存食物，最後在冬天餓死了；但我覺得這只蚱蜢要是僥倖冬天沒餓死的話，說不定明年也會繼續玩樂，這次冬天也許就沒這麼好運氣了。
不要明年复明年，明年何其多了。說不定，我們真的沒有明年了。
祝大家新年快樂。
2011年8月9日星期二
Google translate blunder AGAIN~
I am sure most Malaysians who are active in Facebook has seen this one.. Google translate's been having some bug.. But I just checked just now, and it has been fixed..
Well, I was actually more curious than just "copy" n "paste" like everyone else on Facebook.. So I checked and realised there was a bug that changed all the countries' names to translate into "Malaysia".. I wonder which smart guy did that.... Great bug...
Well, I was actually more curious than just "copy" n "paste" like everyone else on Facebook.. So I checked and realised there was a bug that changed all the countries' names to translate into "Malaysia".. I wonder which smart guy did that.... Great bug...
2011年7月5日星期二
My Favourite Comic Book Writer-Artist: Frank Miller
I really fell in love with Frank Miller's work recently. Not that I have never read his stuff before, maybe because I was too young to understand and appreciate a lot of it. So much depth, so much content, and yet so much space left for wonder and thoughts that linger after you finish reading them. I'm telling you, his work is really unlike the "normal" typical superhero comics that we are familiar with, a.k.a some guy got powers - decides to make a difference - beats a bad guy - makes the world a better place - goes home with the girl, that kind of comics.
No, his work has so much more complexity to it, that his take on certain characters and message that he implies often arose controversies, like his writing of "The Dark Knight Strikes Again" and "All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder". His comics often has a "darker side", dealing with deeper political and social issues, which is possibly why it really attracts adult audience and not just simple minded kids. I mean if you read some (if not most) comic books on the market, you probably can flip through the book in a matter of minutes, quick browse at the cheesy content and the photoshop-coloured pictures that all look so similar. Fast-food type of stuff.
Frank Miller's stories? A totally different story. He is the type of comic book writer that will make you think you are really reading mainstream literature. Serious literature. The suspense in the story line, the dialogues, the building up of the characters, the depth in the background story, the not-so-happy endings etc. Great stories that will leave you thinking, not just waiting for the next issue.
Move on about his drawing, his drawing style is so distinctively different from other artists that I can spot his work right among other artists' artwork. I think he is really good with lines and shadows, which is great for black and white comics, or just with simpler colours. Not those photoshop stuff you see everyday. Real art, real drawing. His style also gives a darker feeling to the tone, which suits his story really really well.
I mean think about it, how many good comic book writers these days can draw? Great and good writers like Alan Moore, Jeph Loeb, Geoff Johns, Brian Vaughan, Greg Rucka, Grant Morrison all don't draw their own comic books. Even Stan Lee doesn't draw his own comics. I can only think of Frank Miller and Mike Mignola (Hellboy writer-artist) and maybe a couple few more in this era that can both write and draw very very well. (Lets not include Japanese writers/artists in this discussion.) With all due respect, I am too young to appreciate the works of Jack Kirby and Will Eisner, which is why I said in this era, this unique talent is really really rare.
By the way I really like the movies 300 and Sin City. Did real justice to the original work. Its like watching a story in a story. His comic book is like a movie. His movie is like a comic book.
I think there are two types of people in this world. People who loves Frank Miller's work, or people who have yet to grab a copy of Frank Miller's work. Go grab your copy of Ronin, 300, Sin City, The Dark Knight Returns now! Haha!
His artwork is really breathtaking, which is why I decided to share a few of my favourites here with you.
Taken from 300. Like I said, good with the simple lines and shadows, along with the simple colours, just great stuff.
Cover art for Batman Black and White.
Taken from The Dark Knight Returns. Notice how he draws the shape of the cape without really drawing a cape.
Artwork for Hellboy. Though he never draws for Hellboy, but his gritty style seems to fit with the Hellboy's mood and image very well.
From Sin City. Look at the four faces. Same face, same position, but the different shades of shadow seems to animate the face with a grim expression.
From Sin City as well. This is his typical style in the Sin City series, the art style is dark and strong. So distinctive. It is really amazing how he seems to put so much "motion" in a figure that is preparing to leap out from the dark with such simple lines of black and white.
Oh this is simply my favourite. The silhouette of Marv in the rain. Just a lot of white lines in a black background. The way the rain drops hit his coat makes him look so lonely. Like a warrior heading to his death. Lonely and sad.
No, his work has so much more complexity to it, that his take on certain characters and message that he implies often arose controversies, like his writing of "The Dark Knight Strikes Again" and "All Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder". His comics often has a "darker side", dealing with deeper political and social issues, which is possibly why it really attracts adult audience and not just simple minded kids. I mean if you read some (if not most) comic books on the market, you probably can flip through the book in a matter of minutes, quick browse at the cheesy content and the photoshop-coloured pictures that all look so similar. Fast-food type of stuff.
Frank Miller's stories? A totally different story. He is the type of comic book writer that will make you think you are really reading mainstream literature. Serious literature. The suspense in the story line, the dialogues, the building up of the characters, the depth in the background story, the not-so-happy endings etc. Great stories that will leave you thinking, not just waiting for the next issue.
Move on about his drawing, his drawing style is so distinctively different from other artists that I can spot his work right among other artists' artwork. I think he is really good with lines and shadows, which is great for black and white comics, or just with simpler colours. Not those photoshop stuff you see everyday. Real art, real drawing. His style also gives a darker feeling to the tone, which suits his story really really well.
I mean think about it, how many good comic book writers these days can draw? Great and good writers like Alan Moore, Jeph Loeb, Geoff Johns, Brian Vaughan, Greg Rucka, Grant Morrison all don't draw their own comic books. Even Stan Lee doesn't draw his own comics. I can only think of Frank Miller and Mike Mignola (Hellboy writer-artist) and maybe a couple few more in this era that can both write and draw very very well. (Lets not include Japanese writers/artists in this discussion.) With all due respect, I am too young to appreciate the works of Jack Kirby and Will Eisner, which is why I said in this era, this unique talent is really really rare.
By the way I really like the movies 300 and Sin City. Did real justice to the original work. Its like watching a story in a story. His comic book is like a movie. His movie is like a comic book.
I think there are two types of people in this world. People who loves Frank Miller's work, or people who have yet to grab a copy of Frank Miller's work. Go grab your copy of Ronin, 300, Sin City, The Dark Knight Returns now! Haha!
His artwork is really breathtaking, which is why I decided to share a few of my favourites here with you.
Taken from 300. Like I said, good with the simple lines and shadows, along with the simple colours, just great stuff.
Cover art for Batman Black and White.
Taken from The Dark Knight Returns. Notice how he draws the shape of the cape without really drawing a cape.
Artwork for Hellboy. Though he never draws for Hellboy, but his gritty style seems to fit with the Hellboy's mood and image very well.
From Sin City. Look at the four faces. Same face, same position, but the different shades of shadow seems to animate the face with a grim expression.
From Sin City as well. This is his typical style in the Sin City series, the art style is dark and strong. So distinctive. It is really amazing how he seems to put so much "motion" in a figure that is preparing to leap out from the dark with such simple lines of black and white.
Oh this is simply my favourite. The silhouette of Marv in the rain. Just a lot of white lines in a black background. The way the rain drops hit his coat makes him look so lonely. Like a warrior heading to his death. Lonely and sad.
2011年7月1日星期五
Google translate: Tim Drake
Apparently DC Comics uses Google translate too.. HAHA.. LMAO!! ROFL!!
Tim Drake = 蒂姆公鴨
p.s.: drake [noun] - a male duck
Taken from Red Robin issue 17, published Jan 2011.
Tim Drake = 蒂姆公鴨
p.s.: drake [noun] - a male duck
Taken from Red Robin issue 17, published Jan 2011.
2011年5月25日星期三
Gmail is SMART!!
I think Google Mail is DAMN SMART!!! This thing really helps.. Stops me from accidentally sending email without actually attaching the files I wanted to send..
Kudos Gmail! Sorry Yahoo! and Hotmail.. I have given up on you guys long ago..
Kudos Gmail! Sorry Yahoo! and Hotmail.. I have given up on you guys long ago..
2011年5月4日星期三
kj picture of the day 04/05/11
Taken: 03/05/11
Camera: Nokia 5530
Studying at Mc'D NUS for my final finals.. Probably the last time I am gonna study overnight here... Bye bye NUS..
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