[OP-ED] Plastic Surgery

I've seen and heard many commenting on people, who went for plastic surgery,
in a derogatory manner.

So here I am, to share my viewpoint on this issue.

Firstly, I don't find opting for plastic surgery wrong.
People just want to make themselves look pretty, that's all.
Everyone wants to be prettier right?
This explains makeup.

Look at all the cosmetic products lying on the shelves in every drugstore.
You have everything for every part of your face.
Glance through all the labels on various products and you will find the same things,
"Bigger eyes", "healthier glow", "smaller face",
and you see tons of women flocking over to these products, to make themselves look better.
Not just makeup alone, but things like skincare products, clothes, fashion,
these are proofs showing that humans just want to look prettier.
And plastic surgery, is just a permanent form of makeup.

So if makeup is socially acceptable, why can't PS be, as well?

Next, taking a look at the common targets of "plastic" accusations- stars. Specifically, Kpop stars.
Comments on Yahoo! or youtube often consist of "plastic", "fake"
and people seem to use this as a reason for not liking them.
Somehow "plastic"="fake"="no talent". ="shallow"
Let's take a look at the first part of the expression.
Permanent cosmetic is just a way to improve one's looks.
One can still be nice with good character despite going for PS.
Especially Kpop idols. They went through tough training at a very young age.
They are people with determination, patience and passion.
So much better than those people commenting, those who only know how to criticise someone's looks behind the screens of their computers, WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING THE TRUTH.

Predebut/ childhood photos.
Take Girls' Generation for example. They look just the same as their childhood photos.
Yes sure there are some photos floating around. But who doesn't have unglam pictures?
When choosing a profile picture for your Facebook or Twitter account, why don't you just put any photo of yours? Why bother choosing? Aren't they all you? Won't they all look the same?
We ALL KNOW the answer. Even several photos taken at the same time can look different at different angles. So it is no surprise there are unglam/ "ugly" predebut photos floating around.
For those who DID PS, it is not a "transformation". They were pretty last time, too. They did this to make YOU happy. Because, well, I bet the same group of people who despise and label those who went for PS "plastics" will go on and call those who are not that pretty "ugly" as well.
And we must not forget the existence of makeup.
Makeup can make people look nicer.
Puberty too.
So please stop using commenting "plastic" on every single KPOP MV, or KPOP related news.
Not just kpop but EVERYONE AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
Is that the only thing you can say?
Are they so perfect in every other way that the only excuse you can find for yourself to make your pathetic little selves feel better is to say that others are "fake" and you are not, when it is not even confirmed?
What a wonderful method of self-delusion.

Lastly, the ones who criticise. (This is kinda overlapped from the previous two points but,)
I find that you guys are insecure and jealous.
And
沒有人家那麽勇敢還坐在那邊 笑 批評
很 方便hor? What a convenient way!

And there you are acting all gracious and noble by saying like looks doesn't matter.
Then what's with "fake"? It is implying that if they are naturally pretty it is okay.
Now who is the shallow one?
Who is the one judging people on their looks?

In fact I admire those who did, they are so freaking brave!!
Then again, I AM NOT advocating plastic surgery.
If you are happy with your looks, there is no reasons for you to go for PS.
There are risks involved as well.

However, truthfully, if it is painless and free of side effects, and cheaper,
I may seriously consider.

All other arguments are invalid!

一天

喜歡 坐巴士看窗外 一切景物 的感覺

早上 清晰 很有家 的味道
下午 窩心 是我認爲 最有存在感的時段
晚上 就截然不同

街燈的光 與夜晚的黑暗 同時照射在 回家的人群
感覺 非常 空虛 非常 surreal
突然會覺得 自己很渺小 渺小到 自己好像根本 沒有存在過 一樣

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

很久没有在书房读书或用电脑了
真的 很久

就连几天没有踏进书房 都這麽想念 捨不得
更何况是搬家呢?

风水轮流转

When reality hits you in the face. Hard. Harder than anything else had ever did. For someone like me who often take the easy way out. It is harsh. 它 是 无情的。

[OP-ED] Gangnam Style- A catalyst for K-Pop?

Guess everyone knows about the recent hit, "Gangnam Style" now.


However, some of you who are new to Kpop may be curious-
what are kpoppers' views on the song, and the GNS phenomenon?

As a kpopper, I am proud that this song has made this far.
Though some SONEs are upset that GNS has overtaken Girls' Generation (SNSD)'s Gee,
as Gee had been the highest viewed Kpop Music Video of all time, with 85million views as of now,
I have to admit that GNS has opened more doors for Kpop.
After PSY's tweet on Gdragon's new release "One of a Kind", it entered the top100 MV charts in iTunes.
More people are now watching other Kpop MVs because they found out about Kpop through PSY.
So we really have to thank him for that.

(Well, regarding Gee, it is not a fair comparison to begin with in the first place. Gee was released in early 2009, when the 2nd Hallyu wave initiated by Kpop was not that big and widespread yet. Late 2009 and 2010 was the start of the Kpop boom. Also, the current Gee MV on SMTOWN's Youtube channel was uploaded about 5months after Gee was released. Will the Gangnam Style hype last for 5months? I am not sure about this. )
That being said, we, as Kpop fans, have to work hard during this period while it is still hot from the oven, when everyone is still crazy over the song, to introduce Kpop to more people. To bring OUR idols to the world stage.
So yups, I/we really have to be thankful for this Gangnam Style craze.

But here comes the truth from (most) Kpop fans. From friends around me whom I know.
During the first week of the release, when it wasn't viral yet,
we found the video quite epicly made. But that was all.
The sudden hype was something unexpected from Kpop fans.

To see our friends and strangers who didn't really like Kpop
dance, sing and go crazy over the song is something,
rather awkward.

Maybe to us, we feel that there are much more nicer songs in Kpop,
and, what made this song popular, is its catchy tune and dance movements, and the weird MV,
yet infectious melodies and dance choreographies are something we Kpoppers are used to already.

So as a summary, despite feeling awkward and finding it weird that GNS would be so famous and liked worldwide, I feel really proud and happy to see the Youtube viewcount increase daily, and more people taking notice of Kpop.

This, may be the catalyst for Kpop.

If the history and success of Hallyu were to be translated into a graph, it will be rising steadily with a rapid increase in 2012 due to GNS, as it brings it to a new peak. Who knows what future holds? World, be prepared for THE HALLYU WAVE!

P.S. It is "Oppan gangnam style" NOT "Oppa gangnam style". It is kinda annoying to see the wrong thing trend and everyone singing/typing the wrong lyrics.


Gangnam Style and PSY's achievements so far. (List not exhaustive. As of 15 Sept 2012)
168,000,000 views on Youtube, most probably over 170mil when y'all are reading this.
Overtook Girls' Generation's Gee to be the most viewed Kpop MV onYoutube
Overtook LMFAO to be the most liked video on Youtube

Featured on CNN
Featured on LA Times
Featured on The Wall Street Journal
Featured on ABC News
Mentioned by Tom Cruise, Ryan Seacrest, Jay Leno
Interactions with Britney Spears, Taylor Swift, Chris Brown

VIP guest and Presenter at VMA 2012
Best dressed by Billboards for VMA 2012
Performed with The Wanted and Kevin Hart
Brought highest viewership rating for Ellen DeGeneres Show
Signed with Justin Bieber's company for management except for in Korea

憑什麼姐

I know this is a little bit late cuz the hype over her has died down.
But after watching a few videos of her being interviewed on TV made me want to express my views on this issue. So here I am.

I admire her courage.
Who doesn't like money?
Who doesn't like free stuff?
She is just being vocal about it.

Next, she didn't even ask for it.
People gave it to her willingly.
Or maybe I should type this post in Chinese.
This is a case of 一个愿打 一个愿挨。
她其实也没有做错什么。
不然大家说说看 到底要她怎么反应才不会被大家批评得那么惨。
如果换作是你呢?

而且 凭什么 这个名词 也说明了 批评她的人 的心态。
所以 她再美就 可以接受了吗?
是不是 自己没有 这样好的遭遇 所以 才气她?

社会上有很多 像她这样 甚至 还去偷 去骗
凭什么姐 她都没有偷 没骗 没抢
没叫你给她
是愿者上钩 给他的人 又没说什么

再看看 节目上 说的非常激动的女人
都一直嚷嚷 那我回家也要试试
这很明显的 是嫉妒。

End of rant.
Im not supporting her, nor am I promoting this sort of behaviour,
but I feel like I just have to say something for her after watching the videos of her appearing on programmes and being attacked by so many self-righteous people.

She is cool by keeping calm with those malicious comments coming at her.

文青？眾人皆醉我獨醒

watching 大學生了没 as usual.
it is a nice programme cuz:
-explores many interesting topics, that are relevant to today's society
-provides a perspective that is relatable, from the undergrads,
-shows you alternative pov
-often has great insights and comments
etc.
(why does this feel like a pw analysis? ==)
anw i find watching this programme beneficial.

so, today's topic is about 文青, a name for teenagers who are "artistic" in the sense that they are often into the humans area.

my take:

真文藝 還是追時尚的另一個 名稱而已？
節目提到的幾個現象 真的很貼切
我身旁的很多朋友也這樣
逛ikea 誠品 無印良品 喜歡不花花綠綠 以素面爲主 比較有質感
問題是 真的嗎？ 爲何？
我覺得 這好像是追逐名牌的 另一種表現。

(lol why am i wasting time on this, when im not taking chinese anymore?
isnt promos more important?
but i enjoy this more, and i find it more enriching.)

Miracle of Han River 汉江奇迹

Just watched a documentary on kpop, the miracle of hallyu.

It is a documentary produced by China, and broadcasted by CCTV.

Title of the documentary is Miracle of Han River 汉江奇迹.

Here's the link to it. (embedding is disabled)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hy047dmIRlA&list=ULhy047dmIRlA


I teared up at the end of the documentary.

This, is a global cultural phenomenon.
Whether you like it or not, you cannot deny the fact that it is rising.
Korean culture, is starting to gain recognition in all parts of the world.
This is something that would be considered impossible, maybe, 20 or 30 years ago.
If you were to state then, that an Asian force would rise and win the hearts of people of different races, especially those in the West, and that this force is not from the big countries like China and India, not many people are gonna believe it.

But look, today millions are fans of kpop.
And the idols have gone a long way.
They deserve this fame, and love.

To all, please,
please open your hearts and minds.
Stop discrediting them.
Stop shooting off unfair comments before even understanding the situation.
Thank you.