S
Written on 2:42 PM by c meridian
"Doodle Doodie"
JKT
Written on 10:26 PM by c meridian
"Jakarta"
The famous Bundaran HI (pronounced ha-ee) in Central Jakarta. One of the
most famous landmarks in Jakarta and plenty of TV shows/movies establish the
Jakarta scene with a shot of this roundabout. By the way, "bundaran" is the
bahasa Indonesia word for roundabout. Situated right in front of Plaza
Indonesia mall and the very grand Grand Hyatt hotel, the monument in the
middle of the roundabout is surrounded by a fountain. If you're tired of
visiting the tough slums and "hoods" in Jakarta... it's nice to come back to
a facet of Jakarta that is clean, safe and convenient. The surrounding area
has plenty of food, shopping (ranging from high fashion to cheap
streetwear), hotels and cafes.
Chinatown
Written on 2:40 AM by c meridian
"The Cleanest Chinatown In The Whole Wide World"
And that's a bad thing. I've never been fond of satay burgers, kung pow chicken pizza, chinese food without pork, hawker food without MSG, New York without yellow cabs and surely nota big fan of Chinatown without its rustic flavor and slightly filthy environment. Look at Hong Kong's Mongkok, Temple Street and Ladies Market... proof that you can move these traditional areas into the 21st century without diluting its personality and authenticity. Singapore's Chinatown is the sanitized, repackaged tourist trap that's quite unlike any other in the world. Perhaps that's their bid to be "Uniquely Singapore".
Iron Man
Written on 7:05 PM by c meridian
"Tony Spark Was Here"
This is my homage to the best movie of 2008 so far.
Stay In School, Kids
Written on 11:41 AM by c meridian
"The Job Your Parents Warned You About"
But then again, if there are no SPM failures... there wouldn't be any good
trishaw peddlers.
Chill
Written on 12:55 PM by c meridian
"Take A Chill Pill"
After the previous post. I just need to calm down and... relax a little. Get
focused on the job search again.
GEOX SINGAPORE SUCKS
Written on 4:43 AM by c meridian
"Geoxy-moronic"So I went for my second interview with Geox in Singapore today. The first interview was with a lady called "Miss C". Nice lady, it was pretty much a regular interview with her. No drama. It went well for both parties, from my point of view. The person who interviewed me the second time was a pompous prick, a person who seems to have sentiments that Malaysians are lesser beings. This 'director', let's give him the name "Mr G" (is a fool by any other name btw). Conducts the interview in a brash, partisan tone. I am a mature, I would say pretty intelligible person. I know how the world works. I know that the world isn't always nice. I understand it's not your duty to make interviews pleasant, but you didn't have to be condescending and disrespectful. As an interview is a perfect opportunity for a person to know your company better, and for the interviewer to find out more about the candidate - a mutual discovery of each other, it never pays to play the "superiority" card. And what I've gathered here is that Geox Singapore or Opticsflair (the holding company) is led by a closed minded, prejudiced and shameful bunch of bigots in shirts and ties.I would hate to transcribe the exact 40-mins interview into a long, long post. But here are some of the abridged examples of what went on...Pompous Director: So do you have any retail experience?Kenny T: As I have explained to Miss C before. I had some retail experience on an ad hoc basis in the past. I've worked in *** and *** and *** company during the holidays when I was studying... Pompous Director: *raised eyebrow* *laugh* *shaking his head* That must have been like what 10 years ago?!!Kenny T: ... in college. Yea, I suppose you can say about 8 years ago. (he laughed in my face, discounting the fact that I have a bachelor's degree and other skills to offer)Pompous Director: *shakes his head* *looks at me in a patronizing manner* We don't consider that experience.Kenny T: Mmm. Ok.Pompous Director: So what kind of articles do you write for the magazine? Kenny T: I write mainly articles relating to technology, driving and sometimes lifestyle articles that touch on fashion, travel, food or entertainment.Pompous Director: ...and this is all in Malaysia? *smirk*Kenny T: Yes.Pompous Director: Why don't you write for Singaporean publications? Kenny T: Because I am currently looking to start a career in marketing instead of publishing. I think it's time for me to make the next step and move away from writing because my true passion is in marketing and fashion.Pompous Director: *looking disinterested* Kenny T: ??? All this is hard to explain in a dialogue because not everything happens in a turn-to-turn basis. But his expression was really awkward throughout the interview. He spoke in a condescending tone. Showed facial expressions that borders on disbelief and disinterested. At some point during the interview, I had to explain why I couldn't write as much articles when I am in Singapore. Duh, I am not physically in KL. So I gave the example of the Accor group contacting me recently about the possibility of a hospitality review. He asked me "Accor who?". I was thinking like you know Accor Hotels? Hello?! Mercure? Sofitel? Ibis? Novotel? Club Med? After I explained that it was a hotel chain... he still didn't know what Accor was. What a complete... He then went on to ask question that seemed to verify the authenticity of my history. Peppering the interview with questions that backtrack to information I've said before and asking "I thought you said...such and such?" "I thought you have close family friends here?"... "Who are they?"... "I thought you had family friends here, why are you staying with a friend?" It's like I came from my mum womb, do you think I should climb back in there? Can't a man live anywhere he wants? I don't react adversely to these questions, I am quite indifferent with any of the personal questions in an interview... but if you think I am a Malaysian, therefore I am a liar... then you must really have serious issues.Kenny T: If I may ask, what are my career advancement opportunities within the company, should I accept this job?Pompous Director: We are not the civil service. We don't offer a clear hierarchy. Firstly you must be willing to do bla bla bla... We do not offer job advancements but you must first prove your worth before we can further add responsibilities to your job scope. (FYI, Mr G, added responsibilities is not a career advancement)Kenny T: Ok. I see. I do belief that every job or every task needs to have somewhat of a destination. In case I was driving, I would also need to know roughly where the destination is, so I can put down the speed of which to drive and what to expect from the journey. I think it's important for a person to have goals and ambitions within a company. The reason I asked is because I was wondering what is the outline of a brand executive's potential achievements, within the company?Pompous Director: We can't just simply promote you. And the speed of promotion depends on how well you contribute to the company... bla bla bla. Kenny T: Oh, the speed I mentioned was metaphorically speaking. But what I meant to ask was, what exactly will I be looking at potentially achieving, optimistically, in say 10 years time.Pompous Director: Perhaps, if you do your job well... assistant brand manager. And consequently brand manager.Kenny T: (this information I could only obtain after her went rhetoric for 10 mins) Ok... At a different point of the interview, I asked Mr G what was the common problem related to the retail side of the business because he said that I will be handling the problems at the stores... I asked him "is one of the problems - store theft?" He looked at me puzzled and laughed like I was asking an idiotic question. He later answered the question but not without making me feel like a fool. Was that necessary? Really. Kenny T: I believe this job requires a fair bit of traveling between stores and etc. Will there be any transportation allowance provided by the company?Pompous Director: Nope. Basically the package is it. That's all you get.Kenny T: ???Ok, so this is a job with very little career advancement opportunity. I get it, it's a dead end job. I had a problem with this interview at various points because :1. The pay is going to be peanuts. 2. No transportation allowance at all? Even if I were to be extra super duper frugal, I would still need to take the MRT to get to the stores everyday? 3. No career advancement opportunities4. The director whom the Brand Executive reports to is a dick5. Misleading advertisingThe other problem I have with this company is that it advertised that it was looking for Brand Executives. You see, from his explanation during the interview, they are actually looking for someone who can work at the Geox stores nationwide in Singapore after 4:30pm and the peak hours during weekends. Mr G said "you can't just visit the stores for 30 minutes. You have to be at the floor selling the product with the sales assistants. And help out during the crucial hours of closing time. You need to be at the shops selling the shoes too". That plus, doing stock count at the warehouse and the stores. Inventory checks, sales projections, making sure the products arrive on time and handling complaints. I have no problem with stress, tight deadlines and crazy hours ( I did work as an account executive at an ad agency before) but GEOX is looking for a store supervisor, not a Brand Executive. They have knowingly and with intent to mislead, embellished the job title! Even Miss C admitted that they are looking for someone to fulfill the responsibilities of a store supervisor. Then why the hell glam it up to Brand Executive? This falls under MISLEADING (recruitment) advertising! The other question is... Do you think nobody would notice when they come for the interview? The 5 GEOX boutiques in Singapore do not have store supervisors. They do however ask the current 2 "Brand Executives" to go around the stores to manage them on a day-to-day basis. They are looking to add one more, which is where my interview comes in. Yea, if I knew you were looking for a retail supervisor, I wouldn't have applied, you dum-dum! Geez, I hate misleading ads. Not only have you wasted my time... I gave you my time so you can ridicule me. WTF! And to add salt to the injury, he seems to have undermined all my "Malaysian" work experience and achievements as frivolous and unworthy of his Singaporean presence.I am not an egomaniac or arrogant prick, I always enter an interview room with a smile, humility, honesty and positive attitude. I don't think interviews are fun, nor are they meant to be... but I understand that we must both get comfortable quickly and have a healthy discourse if we are to truly uncover whether the potential employer and employee are a good fit for each other. It's unfortunate that this interviewer does not understand the concept. Note: I can't believe I rushed back from my Jakarta trip for this.
Posted in
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Comment Now!
OMG!
Written on 5:16 PM by c meridian
"Doodle"
I got bored. Decided to doodle. It was decent at first.. and then... Well,
men think about sex every 7 seconds, right?
Rubbish
Written on 4:04 PM by c meridian
"Rubbish"
Ever since I've been dabbling with Lomo cameras, I've read so much in the
forums about how lomographers think that their photos are much better than
digital pictures. That digital cameras are boring and worthless in the face
of their LC-A or whatever nots. I'm just wondering how much do these happy
snappy lomographers actually know about photography in the first place for
them to pass judgements about both technologies, new and old.
Let's get this clear first, Lomographic photographs are interesting and
generates lots of quirky moody photos. They give the average person a slice
of the happiness one would find when he/she wins a lottery. In fact, lomo
photos are lotteries. You'll never know what you are going to get because of
the extremely low-tech camera system (almost toy-like even) flawed optics
that causes vignetting, fixed focus elements... and in some lomo cameras,
light leaks that creates photos in professional photography circle would
have been deemed damaged or unusable. There are patches of red or accidental
exposure on the film that is not within the control of the photographer.
In the spirit of lomography, one shoots without thinking (too much) and then
crosses his or her fingers that the cross-processing of slide films will
result in an explosion of wacky colors that captures an artistic "mood".
Before I get flaming comments from Lomo-fans, I must say that the results
could possibly be beautiful and imaginative. But it qualifies as art as much as a toddler's
doodle is a masterpiece. There is so much of an element of luck involved
that one cannot actually give the photographer more credit than to say "oh,
you pressed the shutter button well". Ok, you get a few credits for
composition and finding a remotely interesting subject... but the rest of
the art is actually in the qualities of the slide film, cross processing
wonders and plenty of luck. Don't agree? C'mon, any form of photography that
doesn't involve looking through a viewfinder is a result of a big dose of
chance.
If I'm a pilot and without much input on the controls, miraculously landed a
plane... don't you think I don't deserve all the credit for saving all the
lives? If I am a musician and I happen to slam the piano, and it made an
interesting "artistic" sound which I sample into my hit single.. am I a
talented singer? Maybe more of a one hit wonder... but talented or gifted?
No.
The real experts are those pilots who land the planes and actually know what
they are doing. Those musicians who know what tune turns people on and
resonates well in people's minds and ears. Artists who know painting
techniques and possess an original style they can replicate again and again
in different artworks. A fashion designer who makes collections of clothes
based on dressmaking skills, vision of beauty and understanding of textile.
Same to photographers... it is nice to chance upon artistic and queer
results from a "point-and-shoot" Lomo camera but please don't consider this
more artistic than people who shoot digital or film SLR.
Since young, my dad's interest in photography has cultivated a sense of
curiosity in me. I've since inherited his old cameras and have done some
pretty wacky film SLR photography of my own in college. I used the Nikon
FE2, Nikon FA and Canon EOS 1000. I have shown an exhibition
in the presence of the National Unity and Social Development Minister
during the 2001 Celebrate Life campaign it in aid of the Malaysian
Humanitarian Foundation (MHf).
I have some understanding of the concept of aperture, shutter speed, film
ASA, depth of field, rule of thirds and lighting. I don't claim to be an
expert and besides, I haven't touched the manual SLR in some time, so I am
pretty rusty at it.
But I seriously do not see why digital photography and lomography (or other
types of film photography) can't co-exist together and be considered
superior in their own ways. Lomography is best considered a hobby/happy
snappy activity. You really can't take it beyond shooting pavements, pets,
old junk and the occasional portraits. Digital photography (those that are
beyond the IXUS and Cybershot point-and-shoots) require skill to harness its
true capability. Those prosumer or more advanced digital cameras give the
photographer the chance to tweak white balances, color warmth, noise levels
and ASA levels on the fly. Heck you can even focus properly... unlike the
Lomo LC-A. Where I am left taking only 4 types of photos... 0.8m, 1.5m, 3m
or scenery shots (infinity focus).
Haven't lomographers seen incredible photos taken on digital cameras? Or
35mm SLR cameras, where the photographers actually understand the lighting
so well that they adjusted to the desired aperture, shutter speed and lens
properties that they caught an award winning photo, based on skill. Yes, of
course, Mike Yamashita would still need luck to get that photo of Vietnamese
warzone and survive it. As does Steven Meisel would need luck to capture a
portrait of Madonna in a priceless expression. But all these photographers
have the knowledge, skill, talent, experience and artful eye that enables
them to control every possible element of photography while waiting for the
"picture perfect moment" to arrive.
Even if a photo is digitally tweaked, it is still art. Because the artist
behind the computer would still need the eye for aesthetics and talent
beyond cognitive linearity to perfect a "bad photo". You don't just press
one button and the computer takes care of the cropping, composition,
contrast and etc etc... It's no luck. It's still a skill, an art. There is
no "lucky" filter in photoshop... or one button to surprise yourself with
unexpected colors and claims of pseudo-art... your passport to instant
artistic echelon. A great example would be the legendary David LaChapelle. The maestro whose works have brought pop art and tastes for commercial photography to a different galaxy. Nay. a different dimension.
Think Pierre and Gilles, the two world renowned contemporary French artists with their ethereal surrealism and play on flamboyant style. You might have seen their recent work for Piaget watches commercial. The ad features an enchanted luminous floral décor, amidst a kaleidoscope of form and colour, sylph-like young ladies, ethereally backlit, emerge from the décor in a Klimt-like manner modelling a watch and jewellery. Artists like Pierre and Gilles have the precedence over their work and show that good art is not accidental.
Digital cameras are great in a way that it is cheaper to shoot with... with
endless possibilities, provides instant review and can be as artistic as you
want it to be. You just have to study the manual, buy the right camera/lens
and know a bit of photoshop.
Hey and you know what, everyone can still do lomography... as you can see
that I'm hooked on it too... but please, respect other forms of photography.
We can all co-exist. Just because your photos come out wacky... doesn't mean
you're more artistic than everyone else. If anything, I would give a lot of
credit to the film and the person cross processing your film. Shooting with
Lomo is fun... but I wouldn't consider myself a good photographer, if Lomo
is all I do. It's too much of a hobbyist culture. It's the very essence of
convenience, accessibility to the so-called art, shooting without thinking
and fluke factor... that goes against the essence of photography. Lomo
photos are still photography... and appreciated for its eccentricities, but
it's hardly serious art.
And if I ever again hear someone say... "Lomography is better than digital
photography"... I might just whip out my 4R photo album and start
paper-cutting the person's flesh... and then flash his eyes with a Canon
Speedlite flash. It's the most predictably self-absorbed and obtuse thing
that a photographic celebutard can say.
One last thing... think of the biggest day of your life. Then imagine if you
had one device to capture that beautiful memory for ever... so that one day
your grandson or 80 year old spouse can reminisce of the once-in-a-lifetime
moment.... what would it be? A lomo or a digital camera?
As much as you shouldn't take lomography seriously (since there are no rules
to lomography). Those who claim that digital photography "sucks", can't be
serious.
Note: I found this profound article to shed similar light on the "Lomography
vs Art" topic. http://cameras.alfredklomp.com/lomography/
Deity
Written on 1:17 PM by c meridian
"Deity"
What are they but mere decorations today. Photo taken in Asia Grand
restaurant, next to Bras Basah Complex. Probably my second favorite chinese
food place. My most favorite is Imperial Treasure Nan Bei restaurant in Ngee
Ann city (Takashimaya) building. The absolute best roast pork, dumplings,
roast duck, fatty pork belly and xiao long bao in Singapore.
i Tunes
Written on 4:12 PM by c meridian
"My Current Playlist"
They say you can tell how a person is feeling by the music they play. So...
based on this playlist, I must be feeling... SHA LA LA?
POP-explosion? Pop-tart?
Note: Favorite song of the moment - Mercy by Duffy. Weird name, nice song.
Rice Terrace
Written on 4:06 PM by c meridian
"What Are We To Do With The Rice Prices?"
Just sit on it.
Bali Hai
Written on 2:03 PM by c meridian
"Bali Hai"
The mysterious yet beautiful beaches of Bali. Beaches
Reflection
Written on 10:22 PM by c meridian
"Reflections"
This wasn't taken on the Lomo LC-A. Photo taken in Bali with Panasonic LX 1.
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