Sooo.. 2008 is over.

and admittedly, i am quite happy.

its been a long year, and i've learnt much about myself.

Had a great birthday with great friends. I cannot understate my thankfulness any further.
Many presents. A beautiful way to the end the year indeed.

I think i've discovered my philosophy - "Life goes on."
Whatever happens, never forget who are, and what your morals and principles are.

Enough of emotional melodrama, I shall commence my time-honored tradition of looking at the bests of the previous year.

Movie of the year - It has to be Dark Knight, no joke there. Speed Racer and Wall-E come joint second best, with Tropic Thunder and Iron Man coming close.

Album of the Year - I think there are too many contenders for this title. I'll just name the ones that I loved this year.
1) Waiting for my Rocket to Come Home (Jason Mraz)
2) CoCo (Colbie Calliat)
3) Graduation (Kanye West)
4) Dreaming Out Loud (OneRepublic)
5) Good Girl Gone Bad (Rihanna)
6) Exclusive (Chris Brown)
7) I am... Sasha Fierce (Beyonce)
8) Riot! (Paramore) - ok, this one really rocked.
9) A Twist in my Story (Secondhand Serenade)
10) Hard Candy (Madonna) - Second-best.

Hmm, how about picture of the year.


Down & Dirty.

Happy New Year to all.

I spent the whole of last night watching Gossip Girls, and in one episode, Dan wishes for nothing more than a white Christmas, and get his wish granted.
New York looked wondrous in white, so it made me wonder how our own city metropolis would look if it snowed.

And, interestingly, its been a very wet Christmas Eve today.

With chills floating through and the constant rain blotting out the sky, slumber-land welcomes with open arms.
Actually, it forcefully drags you in, keeping you unaware of the ticking-clock.
Even friendly thumps meant to wake you up fails.

I should know best. I overslept on Christmas Eve.

In camp.

Who is Abhisit’s true love?

December 11th, 2008 by Andrew Walker ·

(from http://rspas.anu.edu.au/rmap/newmandala/)

On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me a coup against my arch enemy.

On the second day of Christmas my true love sent to me a party dissolution and a coup against my arch enemy.

On the third day of Christmas my true love sent to me a brand new constitution, a party dissolution and a coup against my arch enemy.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love sent to me a farcical referendum, a brand new constitution, a party dissolution and a coup against my arch enemy.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love sent me to Samak Sundaravej. A farcical referendum, a brand new constitution, a party dissolution and a coup against my arch enemy.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love sent to me one in three MPs and Samak Sundaravej. A farcical referendum, a brand new constitution, a party dissolution and a coup against my arch enemy.

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me PAD attacking, one in three MPs and Samak Sundaravej. A farcical referendum, a brand new constitution, a party dissolution and a coup against my arch enemy.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love sent to me some right royal backing, PAD attacking, one in three MPs and Samak Sundaravej. A farcical referendum, a brand new constitution, a party dissolution and a coup against my arch enemy.

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love sent to me a cook-show PM sacking, right royal backing, PAD attacking, one in three MPs and Somchai Wongsawat. A farcical referendum, a brand new constitution, a party dissolution and a coup against my arch enemy.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love sent to me an airport occupation, a cook-show PM sacking, right royal backing, PAD attacking, one in three MPs and Somchai Wongsawat. A farcical referendum, a brand new constitution, a party dissolution and a coup against my arch enemy.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love sent to me PPP’s destruction, an airport occupation, a cook-show PM sacking, right royal backing, PAD attacking, one in three MPs and my new best friend Newin. A farcical referendum, a brand new constitution, a party dissolution and a coup against my arch enemy.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love sent to me 80 MP’s seduction, PPP’s destruction, an airport occupation, a cook-show PM sacking, right royal backing, PAD attacking, 243 MPs and my new best friend Newin. A farcical referendum, a brand new constitution, a party dissolution and a coup against my arch enemy.

-------------------------------------

"With the assistance of a militray coup, two party dissoulutions, royal-backing, an ultra-nationalist crisis, six months of escalating street provocation, military insubordination, and an economically disastrous airport shutdown, the Democrat Party now seems to be within striking distance of forming Thailand's next government."

-------------------------

I believe that the current political situation in Thailand will be a significant moment in contemporary South-east Asian history.

An all-out, barely disguised, class war has emerged.

If you take away all the nationalist/royalist, pro-Thaksin/anti-Thaksin, democratic/representative-democracy hullaboo from the ongoing civil unrest, one can see clearly that it is simply the rich versus the poor.
Thailand is in a unique situation where democracy has taken power away from the elites. In Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and to a certain extent, the Philippines, democracy has not taken power away from the elites of the society. And the elites are obviously loath to let go the reins of power.

Despite the PAD's aggressive and provocative actions (like sitting in the airport), their leaders have escaped any legal or judicial backlash. And they seem to be very well-funded, with armed thugs, excellent organisation of the service-support of the protestors, etc. Obviously, they have powerful backing. The insubordination of the Army and the cowardice and cautiousness of the police only serves to give weight to this theory. Furthermore, the Thai King's silence and the Queen's appearance at PAD supporter's funeral appear to give tacit approval to the PAD.

Thaksin, however corrupt or evil or anti-royalist he might be, has become the chosen (if not accidental hero) of the poor peoples of the rural North-East Thailand. And being a rags-to-riches business man, he is obviously an outsider to the high and snooty of the Thai upper-class. He must stepped on many toes, and tipped the scales of power to the poor.

To put it simply, he broke the status quo.

And as can be seen from the above poem, the anti-Thaksin forces will do nothing to keep him and his supporters out of power. However, I feel that it will all be futile, because things will never be the same again. The status quo has been broken. If Abhisit Vejjajiva, the current blue-eyed boy of the elite, returns back to the old-school style of Thai politics where the poor are side-lined, there will be another simmering confrontation. I would not rule out a civil war.

However, on more sombre and cynical note, the victory of the Democrat Party reminds of a sad truth - the rich always win.

Life is unfair.

However fascinating this situation might be, my highly-anticipated Bangkok trip is now cancelled. My friends have backed out due to parental concerns.

Life is unfair.

Indeed.