David Bowie - the Icon

David Bowie - the Icon

If you haven't checked out the latest "David Bowie Is" installation at the MCA, make the time to find your way to downtown Chicago to experience this opportunity first hand. Bowie is known as one of the worlds most influential and pioneering performing artists of his time. I say performing artists because of the fact that much of what Bowie did was not just in music, but in the stage act he portrayed to his audience. It was an art form, much like what we see with performers like Lady Gaga today. He created a personality for himself that was unmatched at the time and has influenced a broader creative audience, not only within music, but also within design, art and theater.

Organized chronologically, David Bowie Is traces the artist’s evolution from his years as a teenager in the 1950s to the early 2000s when he retired from touring. Before the surprise release of the 2013 album The Next Day, Bowie had not released an album since Reality in 2003. On display are more than sixty stage costumes including the Ziggy Stardust bodysuits (1972), designed by Freddie Burretti; Kansai Yamamoto’s flamboyant creations for the Aladdin Sane tour (1973); and the Union Jack coat designed by Bowie and Alexander McQueen for the Earthling album cover (1997). Bowie’s many personae are amply documented through photography, graphic designs, models of concert sets, visual excerpts from films, and live performances.

Photography by: Dwight Bejec

If you are a Bowie fan, definitely check out the "David Bowie Treasures by: Mike Evans. It's a beautifully curated hardcover text that is sure to inspire and invigorate the visual artist in you.  David Bowie Treasures, through beautiful photographs and unique memorabilia, illustrates Bowie's journey from humble beginnings to world superstardom. It contains beautiful reproduction of show fliers, concert stubs and posters. You can pick up a copy here.

Tickets on sale now for the Bowie Is exhibition!
Individual tickets are $25 for adults and teens, $10 children (age 7–12), and free for children 6 and under. Price includes museum admission.

Admission to the museum without David Bowie Is access is $7 (free for children 6 and under).

The big Chinese debate (UPDATED 3 - final take)

The big Chinese debate (UPDATED 3 - final take)

UPDATED 3 - final take

It was a contest between two Chinese parties for the support of  their community in a country where they are the minority. That's the bare fact which no one should dispute.


Soi Lek - He appeared to be more blunt by telling the Chinese of the dangers they face if they abandon MCA and give their full support to DAP which is an ally of Pas, an Islamic hardline Malay-based party.
However, I believe what he was really trying to tell the Chinese audience is that, DAP may win their votes but its Pakatan allies will lose, and therefore Pakatan will not win the general election to protect Chinese interests as promised by DAP.
This raise a real possibility of BN being in power without much representation from MCA and the coalition forming a government dominated by right-wing Umno which will be even less sympathetic towards Chinese interests.

Guan Eng - He tried to play the Chinese hero character and projected an image of a crusader against a corrupt and evil BN government. It's part of the usual tactic of running down the rival MCA by insinuating it as being an Umno stooge who failed to protect the interests of the Chinese despite the party being part of the government. He also stressed that DAP are more capable of standing up to its Malay allies in Pas and PKR.

Who wins?
   I think Guan Eng succeeded more in asserting the DAP's Chinese character. The fact that he was the one who insisted for the debate to be held in Mandarin makes him the winner from the start on this count. However, this will have a far reaching negative implications as far as Pakatan as a whole is concerned. They will lose even more votes of the Malays and other races.
   Soi Lek, in a way succeeded in this debate for being able to draw DAP into an open fight. MCA has now shown Malaysians, and especially the Chinese that they are not a totally a spent force and still needed by the community to protect their interests in this Malay-majority country.    


UPDATED 2

Been searching for new thing to update this posting.
Got all excited over The Star headline just now -

Forum kicks off with a bang

By ISABELLE LAI

The report starts promisingly -

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Chinese at a Political Crossroads forum kicked off with a bang Saturday as MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek brought down the housewith his fiery opening speech.
Dr Chua appeared to be metaphorically rolling up his sleeves in preparation for his debate with political opponent, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng in the evening.

And then, this is all the quote that was taken from the big bang.

"He (Lim) is more interested in issuing countless statements to condemn or challenge others, behaving like a true street fighter. He has forgotten that he has a state to look after," said Dr Chua to tumultous applause.

Yup, that's all. The rest are just the usual background stuff. Chey,  what la you all Star people. So really anti-climax leh..

I think better just wait for the debate.

UPDATED

Apparently, it was DAP's Lim Guan Eng who requested for the debate to be conducted in Mandarin.

Here is an excerpt of today's report by pro-Pakatan Malaysian Insider -

“There is nothing racial about it; it’s a national conference consisting of many topics and issues that cover all ethnic groups,” Asian Strategic Leadership Institute (ASLI) director Datuk Michael Yeoh said at a press conference here.
“It (the conference) looks at [the changing of our political structure] and concerns all issues ... (that) every Malaysian should be concerned about,” he added.
Yeoh said the debate, themed “Chinese at a Crossroads. Is the 2 Party System Becoming a 2 Race System?”, was originally to be conducted in English, but was changed to Mandarin following Lim’s request.
“Guan Eng asked, why is a Chinese topic not conducted in [Mandarin]? So we have decided the whole debate will be in [Mandarin],” Asli senior vice-president Ng Yeen Seen explained.
“The (rest of the) conference will be conducted in English, but if the floor wishes to ask questions in [Mandarin], then the speakers will use Mandarin to answer,” she added, saying that most speakers are bilingual.


ORIGINAL POSTING

As far as I am concerned, MCA macho man Dr Chua Soi Lek had already won the tommorrow's debate against DAP handsome boy Lim Guan Eng.

Why? Because Guan Eng, in his unbridled enthusiasm, had in the first place agreed for the debate being in Mandarin, which to me is a big mistake for him.

To me, he had fell into the trap of acknowledging that DAP is a Chinese party and not a multi-racial one as claimed. Soi Lek on the other hand should be ok with the language being used as MCA has no problem of itself being a Chinese-based party in a multi-racial BN coalition.

Ok, just look at the topic they are going to debate on - “Is the two-party system becoming a two-race system?”. What la Guan Eng, you want to debate on something like that in Mandrin? You sure lose one on the perception front.

Trust me, the Chinese do not want a two-race system and that is exactly why the smart MCA PR people choose the subject. In all probability, the two-race system is what we will have in this country after the next general election. The Bumiputera (and other races) on one side and the Chinese on the other. It is already happening in Sarawak, and that is exactly what DAP is banking on to win more parliamentary seats, especially in Johor. The Chinese will be at the losing end in such a system. 

Guan Eng , you should had at least insisted for the debate to be in Bahasa Kebangsaan. Now you are reduced to promoting and defending the Chineseness of DAP. Very damaging liao....especially for your Pakatan friends.

Despite this debate being the hotest topic among the Chinese community at the moment, the other Malaysians do not seems to be really interested in it. It has become a Chinese thingy. They will say "Ya la, MCA are Chinese, DAP also Chinese. Let them kung fu each other lah."

Yup, just look at the way the Chinese papers and Chinese-owned Star promoting the debate and then just look at how the Malay and other English papers covering it. Very contrast.

Guan Eng cannot carrying around bluffing people that DAP is a multi-racial party anymore after this debate. That I am sure, especially as far as the non-Chinese are concerned. I know that Guan Eng is a bit childish and not so smart, but to fall into Soi Lek's trap like that, I actually feel a bit sympathetic towards him. Really, I am not kidding you.

Probably Guan Eng has now realised his mistake. That is why he has been calling for follow-up debates with Soi Lek in Bahasa Malaysia and English after this. But really la Guan Eng, it's too late already. Finish the tomorrow's debate first ok?, then talk about trying to get another date with Soi Lek for damage control. Hopefully Soi Lek will be merciful and let Guan Eng have another go.

Oh, btw, I also think Soi Lek will make minch meat out of Guan Eng at the debate. Being a more seasoned politician who knows his stuff very well, Soi Lek will be too much of an opponent for Guan Eng. Well, the last big debate Guan Eng had was with the jaded Gerakan's Koh Tsu Koon and it was more or less a draw. Koh is not even in the same league as Soi Lek. If Soi Lek can survive the sex video scandal, what lah Guan Eng  to him.

The weird EDL toll

The weird EDL toll

Today there is going to be a small demo by JB MCA and Gerakan youths over the toll charges at the newly completed Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) of MRCB.



This is a hot issue here....eerrr, among those who frequently travel to Singapore. The Pakatan people have been going to town about it. Make it as if the evil BN government is sucking the rakyat's blood again.

Now MCA and Gerakan also joined the fray. Well, never mind lah. The more the merrier.

These people said they don't like the toll charges as they are imposed at the CIQ of the Causeway. Meaning that those coming in and out of Singapore will have to pay it even if they do not use the EDL after leaving the CIQ, such as going to the Inner Ring Road or Stulang.

What they want is for the toll charges to be imposed only on those who use the EDL, and not on those going in and out of Singapore but choose to use other routes.

As it is today, the EDL is free for those who use it, unless they go to or coming in from Singapore.

Personally, I prefer the way it is now. I know, not seems to be fair to those who drives to Singapore and of course Singaporeans coming here la...but, aiya, those who drives to Singapore are rich la, and the Singaporeans are even richer. A bit a bit leeching on them cannot ka?

Hmmm...if cannot, never mind lah. MCA is going all out on this issue. Dr Chua Soi Lek, their president said the other day that the government had agreed to review the matter....so, actually no need to demo demo. Bising kacau orang saja la itu.

BTW, most Malaysians working in Singapore and living in JB go there by motorcycle or bus. No need to pay toll. Bus fare probably a few sen more expensive. That's all.

Here is a bit on EDL, courtesy of Wikipedia -

JB Eastern Dispersal Link (also known as Johor Bahru Eastern Dispersal Scheme) is a new expressway in Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia. The 8.1 km (5.0 mi) expressway will connect the end of North-South Expressway Southern Route at Pandan to the new Sultan Iskandar Building CIQ Complex in the city centre. It will act as bypass to CIQ complex without using Tebrau Highway (Federal Route Jkr-ft3.png) to the city centre.

What Johor DAP really want

What Johor DAP really want

Last night MCA president Dr Chua Soi Lek told Chinese Johoreans that they should not vote for Pakatan because if the State falls to those people, they will have a Pas MB.

He said a State government in Johor led by Pas will be disastrous to Chinese interests, particularly their businesses as Pas is only interested in their Islamic agenda.

He was attending the Gelang Patah MCA CNY celebration at a Chinese School in Skudai, a hotbed of DAP.

Hmmm.... fine, but I think Dr Chua need to be more "deep" than that in convincing the Chinese not to fall for DAP tricks.

First of all, Pakatan will never be able to win in Johor in the next general election.

Even the most fanatical Johor DAP people know this.

They know that their Malay allies in Pas and PKR would not make that much impact on the Malay Johoreans (unless of course if the Umno people sabotage each others like what they did in Sungai Abong and Maharani in 2008 la).

Therefore, what Johor DAP really want are more parliamentary seats. State seats are just bonus to them.

They themselves do not want a Pas MB as they know that Johor Pas are led by not so bright Malays. Really, can you name a bright Pas fella in Johor?  Mazlan Aliman? Please don't make me laugh.

Ok, now they are talking about Salahudin Ayub. Come on lah, if the guy is so good, why the hell he went all the way to Kelantan in the first place? Remember arr, he was the Pas campaign director during the Tenang by-election. See, what happened? The husband of the Pas candidate went and faked his MC also he cannot handle. Like that also cannot handle, how to become MB lah? The most he can be is something like that stupid dum dum Nizar of Perak whose balls are in the pockets of cousins Ngah and Ngeh.

Honestly la, DAP knows Johor will not survive a Pas MB. They know the Chinese in Johor do not want that to happen too.

All they want from Pas is for them to break up the Malay votes so that they can win parliamentary seats such as in Gelang Patah and Kulai. That is all.

Johor DAP will try to tell the fence sitters among the Chinese not to worry about Pas. They will stress on them to just give them their votes for parliamentary seats. They will still have the BN wakil rakyat in the State to do the donkey works while having a Chinese DAP rep in parliament to bolster the DAP strength in the event Pakatan takes over Putrajaya.

This will exactly happened in places like Tebrau. Halim Sulaiman of Puteri Wangsa need to buck up. DAP have been pumping more than 3,000 new Chinese voters who are their supporters into his area since early last year. Stop kacau-ing Maulizan and MB and do your work lah? You don't want to be wakil rakyat tell early lah. Can put someone else there to do the work. Save the crap until after the election, can or not?

Errr, ok lah, back to Soi Lek....please uncle arrr, tell Jason of Gelang Patah to be more handsome handsome. Maybe he can takes on Dr Boo in Skudai. The boy got great potentials but everyone thinks he is a bit of a gangster. Need to be refined a bit eh. The rest you know what to do lah. Push a bit la uncle, don't wait until the Umno guys having to go to all the temples and Chinese schools before you all like in Bakri. Can arrr?

Dr Chua must lead from the frontline up north

Dr Chua must lead from the frontline up north

 Dr Chua Soi Lek is definitely a brave man. Call him what you may, but a coward he is not by any long shot.

The way he handled his sex video scandal was the most cool act which I think no other Malaysian politician could ever emulate.

The fact that he actually could bounced back from a sure political death was simply amazing.

Many are still harping on his "tainted" record but the MCA president seems to be oblivious of all that.

Refusing to be distracted, he seems to be focused on his job and going all out to revive the much battered BN component party.

It's not an easy job as MCA is arguably at its weakest moment now. Dr Chua have to personally go on the ground to marshal his people who are still shell shocked by the mauling of the 2008 GE.

Now comes another challenge - where he will place himself for the coming GE, which is just around the corner.

The way I see it, Dr Chua need to do something extraordinary - he must lead the charge from the frontline.

He had proven himself to be a brave man in the past and I am sure he would not dissapoint his people in MCA and friends in BN for this one.

My bet is, he will not choose to contest in a safe area while his troop are facing the heavy artillery of DAP.

The recent invitations to contest from his home state Johor as well as Negeri Sembilan and Perak is a chance for him to prove his leadership qualities.

My opinion is, Dr Chua must choose Perak, where he is needed most compared to the other States,  to rally the MCA troops there.

Afterall, he has his son holding the MCA fort in Johor while Negeri Sembilan MCA had reportedly improved a lot of late.

I will be cheering Dr Chua if he choose to go deep into enemy territory to recapture MCA's lost ground up north and win back the Chinese votes for BN.