Expect the Worst

Sometimes we have to expect the worst so when

things turn out better, we might not

be disappointed.

Upcoming Movie: Left Behind

New 'Left Behind' movie will present the rapture with 'clarity;' new trailer released

Producer and writer Paul Lalonde said film will be 'bigger and better' than the last.

Published 06 August 2014 | Brownie Marie

A new trailer was released for the October 3 "Left Behind" film, the latest in a series of movies about the rapture.

This fall's film stars Nicolas Cage and Chad Michael Murray in a more blockbuster version of the popular Christian film series, The Blaze reports.

"A small group of survivors are left behind after millions of people suddenly vanish and the world is plunged into chaos and destruction," the film's synopsis reads on its IMDB page.

The sudden disappearance is the calling of Christians to heaven to be with the Lord, while those left behind face confusion and havoc.

Nicholas Cage plays a pilot, and Chad Michael Murray a journalist who must come to grips with life on Earth after the rapture. "Left Behind" also stars Lea Thompson, Nicky Whelan, Jordin Sparks, Quinton Aaron, and others.

The newest "Left Behind" installment is quite different from the original Kirk Cameron release 14 years ago.

"The reason to bring 'Left Behind' back is [two-fold]: one is to make it bigger and better, so that we can have a broader reach and a shot at a broader audience," producer and writer Paul Lalonde told The Blaze in April. "The first time we did it it was a straight to DVD production."

Religion films, and the rapture, are popular topics in the mainstream media as of late.

HBO series "The Leftovers" follows the lives of people in a fictional New York town who are left behind after their loved ones disappear. The cause for the disappearance is unknown, although the series' premise is similar to "Left Behind".

"The Leftovers" does not have a faith-based approach, however. Some children and pastors remain while other, more unsavory characters, have been taken in the "Sudden Departure".  Families are splintered and mankind becomes increasingly carnal.

Lalonde said the new "Left Behind" film will meet Christian audiences' approval, however.

"I think a lot of the core Christian audience, I think they're going to be surprised at the clarity with which we presented the rapture," he said. "I think people are expecting it to be completely buried and barely mentioned."

Watch the newly released extended trailer for "Left Behind" below.

Humanitarian Aid to Gaza

Before we are too quick to judge, know the other side of the story ...

Despite Ongoing Rocket Fire, Israel Transfers Aid to Gaza

Israel allows hundreds of trucks of food and supplies into Gaza to avert humanitarian crisis, as Hamas uses human shields.

By Yosef Berger
First Publish: 7/10/2014, 2:29 PM

Despite the ongoing rocket fire by Gaza terrorists, Israel has not halted the entry of trucks into Gaza – and on Thursday, some 200 trucks carrying food and “basic supplies” entered Gaza. The government said that the trucks were allowed to pass through for “humanitarian purposes,” and were inspected and found not to be carrying any items or equipment that could be used to attack Israel.

The trucks are said to be carrying a greater than normal supply of food, officials said. According to sources, the IDF and Defense Ministry officials urged the government's Coordinator of Government Activities in Judea, Samaria and Gaza, Yoav Mordechai, to allow an increased amount of supplies into Gaza, so that residents would have enough to eat in case the IDF begins a ground assault against Hamas.

The trucks enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, which is often targeted by Gaza terrorists for missile attacks. The workers at the crossing are all Israeli, and have been given special safety instructions by the Home Front Command, officials said. It should be noted that one of the terror tunnels destroyed by the IDF several days ago was located right next to the Crossing.

With that, officials said, the IDF has pulled two “gestures” granted after the conclusion of Operation Pillar of Defense in 2012. Palestinian Arab farmers have been banned from tending to their fields which abut the security fence around Gaza, and cannot approach within more than a few hundred meters of the fence. In addition, fishing boats have been restricted to within three kilometers of the Gaza coast.

The IDF has also allowed 240 Palestinians with foreign citizenship to leave Gaza, at the request of their governments. Among them are citizens of the US, Sweden, Greece, Romania, and Serbia. They will be allowed to leave the country, or to travel to Palestinian Authority-controlled areas of Judea and Samaria.

It goes without saying that the IDF has not taken steps to cut off Gaza's electricity, which is supplied by Israel, as numerous ministers and MKs have demanded. IDF officials said that among the reasons for allowing the shipments to continue and the power to flow was to prevent Hamas from painting a picture of a “humanitarian crisis” in Gaza, in which people have no food, water, or power.

In contrast to the IDF's concern for the well-being of civilians in Gaza, Hamas, the Islamist group which controls the territory, has urged residents to act as human shields, placing them directly in harm's way - sometimes with tragic results.

On Wednesday night, Hamas spokesman took to Gaza-controlled TV to openly admit that the group is using civilians as human shields, and encouraged more Gazans to act as such.

Tainted

At this point of my life, anything that I write is likely to be tainted with some negativity because things haven't been going smoothly for me. So bear with me while I struggle to make ends meet.

Bouncing Back

At the age of 22, Oprah Winfrey was fired from her first television job as co-anchor for weekday news on one of Baltimore’s stations because she was deemed “unfit for TV” after the show received low ratings. Winfrey called it the “first and worst failure of her TV career.” But she rebounded and became the undisputed queen of television talk shows before amassing a media empire, according to articles at BusinessInsider.com.

Stories of failures to success fascinate many people, and we sometimes wish we are like the heroes of such stories. At the core of these stories, however, is the question all of us must answer, “Do we get back up stronger after we encounter setbacks?”

Not all of us are quick to recover from a setback. Some of us might find it too difficult to continue or call it quits. Of the many attributes rebounders are expected to have are the ability to accept failure, desire to take action, open mind for new ideas, ability to be comfortable with discomfort, and motivating passion, according to an article at USAToday.com.

Do we recover quickly after a setback or do we find it difficult to get back on our feet after a failure? Are we fearful of more setbacks awaiting us? Do we give up easily or do we shine taking up new challenges? Are we growing stronger and wiser learning from our past mistakes?

Failures and setbacks in life are lessons we learn and accept along our journey moving forward, so there’s no need for us to be surprised. With fervent passion, learn to buildup and grow our bouncebackability, so we might not quit easily. Find comfort amid discomfort and derive satisfaction within challenges. Open up to new ideas for action without confining to conventional ways or thoughts.

Voted Off

When the corporation I worked for failed to reach its targeted revenue for the year, it was announced the CEO would be leaving because of personal reasons, although everyone knew he was voted off the island.

As employees, many of us are also vulnerable to be voted off whenever a business or corporation restructures or fails to perform well. Sometimes we might be selected for layoff because of ‘personal reasons’ like our lack of exceptional performance, and at times because we outperformed our superiors or specially valued peers.

Are we upset or unhappy because we have been voted off the island? Are we feeling bitter or unjustified because of layoffs for the wrong reasons, such as outperforming or unwittingly crossing a person?

If we are, let’s not and let go. It’s not worth losing our head or heart over what’s gone. There’s no need for us to feel ashamed if we are asked to go for whatever the reason because with every closed door is another door waiting to be discovered. Stay upbeat for new challenges ahead.

Gossip Mill

Caitlin had always been happy at school with many friends. But when she was 9, Jenna, a classmate who was jealous of Caitlin's popularity, began waging a campaign to turn Caitlin's friends against her. Jenna took a girl’s purse and claimed Caitlin had stolen it. She falsely confided to another that Caitlin had been talking behind her back. Jenna convinced Caitlin's friends that Caitlin was a ‘loser’ because she was neither slim nor fashion-conscious. Consequently, they stopped inviting Caitlin to sleepovers.

The story of Caitlin was told by Elizabeth Hartley-Brewer in her article ‘Surviving the Rumor Mill’ at Scholastic.com. Hartley said it is important not to underestimate the havoc reported rumors or gossip could wreak, especially those in their tween years—however unlikely, untrue or trivial they may seem. Fortunately for Caitlin, she was able to make new and more reliable friends.

“Tweens are trying to make their mark, and there is often a constant undercurrent of competition as they attempt to be top dog,” Hartley wrote. “It's no secret that children can be mean, especially those whose own painful experiences make them more inclined to strike out at others.”

The statement made by Hartley, in actuality, applies to people of all ages. During times of uncertainty, the gossip mill turns faster than ever in environments beyond the schools and campuses to workplaces and businesses, often contributing to lower productivity and affecting relationships.

A good way to deal with the gossip or rumor mill is to stay away from it, and when falsely accused to keep silent if we are not ready or unable to make our defense. Badmouthing to position ourselves above others or to hide our own misgivings breaks trust and reaps bitterness. Spreading rumors and premeditating steps to another person’s fall are uncivil and unethical. Like Caitlin, we can make new and more reliable friends.

Are we falsely accused by others for something we did not do or are we among those who talk behind people’s back and spread rumors or gossips about others? Do we make attempts when falsely accused to find out why our accuser is doing it? Could our accuser’s past or painful experiences be an opening for us to understand and help? Are we the accused or the accuser?

Digital Detox

“Social media is great ... but there are times when social media can get in the way of the real world,” said the voiceover narrator. “That's why we develop the social media guard. It takes the social out of the media and puts it back into your life.”

A cone collar similar to Elizabethan collar or E-collar was next shown onscreen. With the guard worn around the necks, men and women were prevented from reading or viewing their electronic devices. Compelled to redirect their attention to the people around them, they made eye contact.

That was a video created by Coca-Cola for humor. In a sense, a cone collar guard might be a good way to help solve the problem of social media addiction and get people back to social interaction in the real world. However, for practical reasons, we wouldn’t wear such a guard just to disconnect to connect, unplug, and detox to avoid addiction or obsession. What we need is a solution that helps us break free from our dependency and regain control.

Too often, we have been guilty of spending too much time staying digitally connected, listening, reading, viewing, writing or updating  our various social network accounts. We woo people to like, follow, and join our social media pages, blogs and sites, and to add us as friends. We post videos, pictures and text to attract attention and to draw the crowd.

Spending time online is nothing wrong, but spending too much of our time online is. If we are neglecting or missing out the more important things in life because of time spent online, we need help. Whether we are using a computer, laptop, tablet, smartphone or another device to connect to the Internet, we need to stamp down addiction or obsession. A good practice and alternative solution to the collar guard is to regularly take time off to eschew digital activity and use that time for more meaningful social interaction with our loved ones, friends and others.

Are we finding ourselves hooked for extended hours online? Are we oblivious to our surroundings at times when connected to the digital world? Do we feel restless without our smartphone or digital device in hand? If our answer to these questions is affirmative, it means it is time for us to go on a digital detox.

Is this Us?

Social media is great, but sometimes ...

by Brian McFadden in The Nib

We need to disconnect ourselves from the digital world
and connect back to the real world!

Wi-Fi Trivial

My wife and I visited the Holy Land in December 2013. Among the first things we observed about the people in the group we were traveling with was whenever we arrived at the hotel, a number of them would immediately ask about the availability of Wi-Fi. Depending on the revelation, we would hear sighs of relief or disappointment. Thankfully, most of the hotels we stayed in had Wi-Fi. During the few days of snow storm, many of us depended on the Wi-Fi to help us pass the time. Not all the hotels we stayed in, however, had Wi-Fi in the rooms. When that happened, we would hear grumblings and on occasions observe some expressions of unhappiness. On a day when the Wi-Fi signal was weak, we would also hear conversations about the problem during dinnertime.

In an affluent society, we sometimes tend to take for granted what we have and complain about things that are trivial. We are unhappy when our laptop or computer hangs on us. We are unhappy when Wi-Fi is not available at a time we need it. We are unhappy when something we wish to purchase is sold out or taken off the shelf. We are unhappy to have to wait in line or for the traffic signal to turn green. We are unhappy our goals are taking longer to achieve than we expect. We are unhappy with many things and with people who keep us in check.

Some time ago, a charitable organization, Water is Life, featured in an ad campaign, Haitian children and adults reading the ‘complaints’ of first world problems.

“I hate when I tell them no pickles, and they still give me pickles,” said a boy standing among pigs and chickens.

“I hate it when my house is so big, I need two wireless routers,” said a man standing in front of a dilapidated house.

Nearing the end of the one-minute video entitled ‘First World Problems Anthem,’ a message in text was displayed: #FirstWorldProblems Are Not Problems.

Are we among those who grumble and complain about trivial problems, such as the inconveniences in life? Do we ever give some thought to the needs of the people around us or to those in the third world? Are we thankful and grateful for the things we have?

Decisions Determine Destination

Life is like taking a bus at the interchange ... 

the decision we make and the path we

take to reach our planned goals 

depend on our choices.

A Cure for Social Media Addiction?

Do you know social media can kill relationships?

Here's taking a look at how we can improve our relationships offline.

Final Trailer: The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Upcoming Marvel Movies

Mar 27, 2014


May 1, 2014


May 23, 2014

At the Crossroads Again

Back to my nature walks waiting at the crossroads

of something familiar and endless possibilities.

Illustration n Thought

Ottawa is somewhere familiar to me, 

but what lies ahead is the challenge

of unknown possibilities like

the Bermuda Triangle

Happy Valentine's Day 2014

To All My Blog Friends and Fans ...

Lunar New Year 2014

Wishing All of You ...

Avatar 2, 3 and 4 to screen from 2016

Avatar 2 is set for release in 2016, Avatar 3 in 2017 and Avatar 4 in 2018. The three movies will be shot back-to-back over the course of about a year, with filming set to begin on Avatar 2 in October 2014, according to ScreenRant.com.

Zoe Saldana & Sam Worthington Confirmed for Three ‘Avatar’ Sequels’
by H. Shaw-Williams

The movie release schedule for 2015 is already staggering under the weight of a number of huge sequels, from The Avengers: Age of Ultron to Star Wars: Episode VII, so it’s something of a relief that the master of box office profit, James Cameron, is saving the follow-up to his sci-fi magnum opus Avatar until 2016.

Because over four years have passed since the release of Avatar, it’s probably necessary to reaffirm a few details about the sequels, even the ones that seem obvious. Twentieth Century Fox has done just that with the announcement that Zoe Saldana and Sam Worthington will reprise their roles as Neytiri and Jake Sully in the three upcoming Avatar sequels.

Both Worthington and Saldana, who weren’t too well-known prior to their casting in Avatar, have enjoyed healthy careers since its release. Saldana has seen a little more of the spotlight and is currently involved in two additional franchises, starring as Uhura in J.J. Abrams’ rebooted Star Trek universe and as Gamora in James Gunn’s upcoming Marvel movie Guardians of the Galaxy. Meanwhile, Worthington has played the lead in both Clash of the Titans and Wrath of the Titans. Since Avatar remains the highest-grossing film of all time, however, it’s doubtful that either actor would be hesitant to get back into the franchise.

Despite the long wait for Avatar 2, these three sequels are currently set to release in quick succession. Avatar 2 will be released in 2016, Avatar 3 in 2017 and Avatar 4 in 2018, and the three movies will be shot back-to-back over the course of about a year, with filming set to begin on Avatar 2 in October of this year.

Even if you’re not a fan of Avatar, there’s no denying that Cameron pushed visual effects forward massively during the making of it. His technique of using a boom-mounted camera to capture the actors’ facial expressions for animators to use later has since been widely popularized in movies like Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and also in the video game industry with recent releases like The Last of Us and Beyond: Two Souls.

With that in mind, it will be interesting to see how Cameron handles Avatar 2, which is said to be set largely in the oceans of Pandora and will almost certainly push the envelope when it comes to creating visual effects for underwater worlds.

_____

Avatar 2 is scheduled for release in December 2016, Avatar 3 in December 2017, and Avatar 4 lastly in December 2018.

Source: Twentieth Century Fox

Feelings of Melancholy

Those who play Jewels Star on the smartphone would understand the feeling I am talking about in this entry.

When we think we have done better than before, we often find that it is not good enough. When we perform exceptionally well, it gets tougher. The struggles are always present and our desires are never reaching.

Life's a challenge, and we know we can seldom reach what we hope to have or to achieve. Just when we think we are about done, things get tougher and the only choice for us seems to look upward for a better future beyond the grave.

Lost Past or Promising Future?

When I reported to the police about the loss of my smartphone and several credit and rebate cards recently, I was told to check back with the Found and Unclaimed Property Office after a week on the status and follow-up from there. The officer said even if the police post where I reported was to receive the found items from someone, I would not be informed about the status and the items would still be delivered to the Found and Unclaimed Property Office.

Such a practice, to me, is very strange. No wonder the department is known as Found and Unclaimed Property.

After more than a week, I have finally given up the hope of recovering the lost items. The year is brand new, but what I've lost in the year before is more than just the items I reported to the police.

What about you? Have you much to celebrate for the new year with a memorable last year or are you leaving behind some regrets as you look ahead of what's to come?

Happy New Year 2014

Wishing You a ...

Have a fruitful year ahead with pleasant dreams
come true for you and your loved ones!
God bless. 

Online Resolution

Christmas is a time for family warmth and home coming, but for some people, it is the season of much stress with traveling, spending, preparing, among other reasons. Thankfully, these days, keeping in touch is no longer limited to a telephone call or occasional meeting up. We can stay connected with our loved ones and friends through channels such as the social media or online video calling. We can also communicate, share text, photos, videos, music and other media files with just about everybody around the world using mobile phones, digital tablets, or computers.

Nevertheless, when we share about our private lives to the public, we need always to be careful because such sharing can affect others and how they think of us. Our bosses, colleagues, relatives, and friends, for example, might see us as weak or ill-mannered reading some of our status update on social networks. Leaks through words of mouth by people sharing what they read from our social media postings and blogs can also spread and cause damage to relationships.

When I first started a blog, it was not something I wanted to do, but because I was assigned as a journalist by my editor to write an article on blogging and to interview people to find out their thoughts on the subject. A number of people I interviewed gave their reason for blogging as wanting to make friends who share similar interests, while some said they blog to de-stress or fight for a cause.

“Of course, we run the risk of facing ridicule and criticism from people posting their comments,” said an ardent blogger. “But we can deal with it.”

Like many bloggers, I frequently offload my burdens writing about the things that happened in my life. Many people came to know me and my innermost thoughts reading my blog. Today, my life is an open book, found within the pages of my writings. Blogging is my medium of choice to reach out to the masses in the world. With my blog linked to various social network communities, every blog entry I post gets to reach out to the masses and the targeted people.

Of course, once in a while, I would receive some argumentative or negative comments at my blog or social network pages. Thankfully, those were dealt with without quarrel or hurtful feelings.

What about the rest of us? How do we participate online?

As we prepare ourselves for the coming year, let's remember not to let negative words proceed from us, for such can hurt others and expose us to ridicule.  Whether we are conversing, sharing videos, images, music or other types of media files, let's share only whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, or praiseworthy.

Merry Christmas 2013

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father.

Lost and Not Yet Found

Ten years ago, I have the confidence that if I dropped something without knowing, someone behind me who saw it would pick it up and give it back to me or at least inform me I've dropped something. Today, I cannot say the same would happen in this nation-state.

Just yesterday, I unknowingly dropped a fanny pack. After walking more than 50 meters, I realized it was lost and quickly walked back the trail to search. I also went to where I suspect I dropped the fanny pack as I felt then something came loose.

Unfortunately, nothing was found. I've lost my ATM/Debit card, driving licence, Android phone, and a few other items. A police report was filed and I am praying that some kind soul would return the items to a police station.

It was a sad day for me after canceling my debit card and obtaining a replacement SIM card. Till now, I am still hoping that I don't have to do the same for my driving licence and a few other cards.

What do you think? Is it possible there is still some redeeming grace for the people living in this nation to do the right thing?

Happy Thanksgiving 2013

Celebrity Living

Paparazzi seem to be the name of the game with the famous even though they have come under constant fire for invasion of privacy. In an article by Orthry Torres at Voices.Yahoo.com some years ago, the author questioned the reason for the inordinate attention and negative talk about those who make celebrities famous by the publicity they gave them. Should not celebrities expect being famous is accepting both their personal and professional lives will be watched and criticized from the media? If celebrities feel the paparazzi make them feel as if they are being stalked, is it fair to say they only mind being stalked when they have a book, movie, or album they need help in promoting?

Getting the publicity one desires and losing one’s privacy are two sides of the same coin when it comes to celebrity living. On the one hand it is a way of getting famous, on the other it may be deemed as invading private lives.

Today, many of us in a sense are celebrities online. Whether it is peer pressure or the need to stay in touch, we join social networks and leave behind trails of digital footprints of what we do and where we visit on the Internet. Our movements are tracked down by our followers and we are ‘stalked’ by different kinds of people. If we leave trails because we desire attention or to be followed, we might just get our reward or lose our credibility in full, depending on how well we handle our online activities and behavior. If we do not do well, our sin will find us out. If we blabber or share about the things we do in our private lives on the social networks, we should not expect to live our lives with absolute privacy.

Are we feeling we are under the scrutiny of the public eye? Are we making ourselves famous for the wrong reasons or are we doing it out of concern for others? Not all things in life can be done in secret, so we need not hide what must be done even in public. Our intent is what is important—are we doing it to show off or to care?

Christmas Up North

Christmas is coming!

Here's looking at Causeway Point's
Christmas decoration.

Are you feeling the Christmas mood yet? (",)

Christmas is Coming

Christmas is around the corner.

Here's taking a look at one of the more
interesting Christmas decoration at JEM.

Are you feeling the Christmas mood yet?

SpideY n Venom Web Designers

"It’s hard to get any work done with these two hanging around."

Source: BuzzFeed.com

Halloween Scare

The party's about to begin, and the scariest of all the Halloween decorated houses thus far appears to be the one with a lifelike zombie crawling out from the ground with arms stretched out, ready to grab any passerby. The zombie, dressed in military uniform with a skull for his face, seems to be like one coming out from the movie, World War Z. Among the many other houses in the area, there are also those with pumpkin faces and heads, screaming ghost masks, cheese cloth ghosts, and cobwebs sprayed on gates.

It's like the Western version of the lunar calendar seventh month celebration—Festival of the Hungry Ghost. I sometimes wonder how many of us really know the origin of Halloween, and whether we should be involved in such a celebration. Here's taking a look at an extract from the article 'Should Christians Celebrate Halloween?' by Elliott Watson at CBN.com.

The origins of Halloween are Celtic in tradition and have to do with observing the end of summer sacrifices to gods in Druidic tradition. In what is now Britain and France, it was the beginning of the Celtic year, and they believed Samhain, the lord of death, sent evil spirits abroad to attack humans, who could escape only by assuming disguises and looking like evil spirits themselves. The waning of the sun and the approach of dark winter made the evil spirits rejoice and play nasty tricks. Believe it or not, most of our Halloween practices can be traced back to these old pagan rites and superstitions.

But what about today? Perhaps we can still learn from history. In the fourth century, Christians attempted to co-opt the holiday by celebrating the lives of faithful Christian saints the day before Halloween. This was a conscious attempt to provide an alternative and re-focus the day away from ghouls, goblins, ghosts, witches and other “haunted” experiences. Since that time many Christians have decided to allow their children to dress in more “innocent” costumes of pumpkins, princesses, Superman or as a cowboy. Part of this is due to the simple reality that in today’s Western culture it is nearly impossible to “avoid” Halloween.

As Christians you and I are placed in this world to be a light in a world of darkness. There is no lasting benefit to ignore a holiday that exists around us, but it also does harm to celebrate Halloween as it has originated and grown over the centuries.

My suggestion? Christians should be teaching their children (age appropriately) that:

• there is a spiritual world filled with goodness from God and evil from Satan (Eph. 2:1-10);
• life with Christ has power over darkness (I John 4:4); and
• those who celebrate Halloween either are unaware of its roots, or are intentionally promoting a world where evil is lauded and viewed as an ultimate power.

To counter the evil influence of Halloween, we need to join together and celebrate the reality of the heroic efforts of Christian saints over the evil in their day. Many leaders in the past—and present—have fulfilled the mandate of destroying the works of the devil through their sacrificial commitment to Christ and His Kingdom.

Too, rather than “hide” in the face of evil, we should unabashedly and boldly create an alternative that is positive and uplifting; that celebrates good over evil and the triumph of God over Satan. We need to provide an environment that also makes room for heaps of fun while using the day as a “teachable moment” to celebrate God’s protection, provision and purpose for our lives.

Halloween came from the word Hallowe'en which is a contraction of "All Hallows' Eve" or the day before All Saints Day. All Saints Day is the day dedicated to the remembrance of the saints (hallows) and martyrs of the faith.

So what do you think? Should you celebrate Halloween with the occult or do away with Halloween altogether or just the devilish decoration and masquerade?

A Soulless Nation-State

In retrospect ten to twenty years ago, I must admit that today I no longer have that sense of belonging which I used to have in the past. My sentiments tend to agree with the people who deem us a soulless nation-state which has lost its identity.

Taking an extract from the article 'The End of Identity' by Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh, I can comprehend what he meant when he wrote:

Put another way, Singapore is possibly the only country in the world where there are more migrants — including temporary workers, permanent residents and foreign-born citizens — than native-born people. Some like to call the US a country of migrants. Singapore is much more — it is a country for migrants.

While diversity must be cheered, it would be callous to ignore immigration’s impact on feelings of identity and belonging. Singaporeans welcomed “Others” when they were a small minority; now that “Others” are flooding in, completely dissolving native-born Singaporeans in places such as Marina Bay, the core feels vulnerable.

“My Singaporean Chinese friends used to speak only English to me,” says Farouk Khan, a Singaporean who lives in Kuala Lumpur. “Now whenever we meet, they are always trying to litter their conversation with Malay words and phrases. They are trying to show that they are local Chinese, different from the Mainland Chinese.”

Some suggest that when Singaporean Chinese try to differentiate themselves from Mainland Chinese — or, for that matter, Singapore Indians from India Indians — it is because of classism or racism or some other prejudice. While perhaps true in some instances, the most basic instinct that is driving these actions is the loss of identity. Singaporeans are desperately clawing onto any vestiges of Singaporeanness.

The pro-migration camp does not seem to understand these grumblings. The common refrain is that many countries welcome migrants, and so Singapore should be no different. But this harks back to the earlier point about magnitude. While migration does occur globally, no other country has enacted such dramatic demographic change.

If you are a native born Singaporean, share with me your thoughts on this. How do you feel as the minority in this nation-state?

Iron Man 3 beats The Avengers

‘Iron Man 3′ Beats ‘Avengers’ International Box Office Numbers

Marvel Studios’international marketing strategy is paying off and the cast and crew of Iron Man 3 can feel happy knowing their time investment required to conduct a comprehensive world press tour leading up to the theatrical release of the first post-Avengers production was worthwhile.
Where last summer’s The Avengers broke not only the domestic opening weekend record, but in a dozen international markets, Iron Man 3 is already beating it out with $195.3M at the international box office.
Disney and Marvel Studios are happily sharing Iron Man 3′s impressive overseas box office numbers before the weekend’s out, emphasizing the importance of the summer-start release date and Robert Downey Jr. as the quintessential face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Here are the highlights Disney noted:
International Highlights

• Biggest opening weekend ever in: Argentina, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore
• Biggest opening day ever in: Taiwan, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia
• Biggest Marvel opening weekend in: Australia, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Finland, Hungary, Romania, New Zealand, Argentina, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Philippines and Malaysia
• #1 film in every market and is the biggest opening weekend of all time in Asia Pacific and Latin America

The $195.3 million estimated haul beats out The Avengers international opening of $185.1 million and is a sign of things to come. The biggest highlight we’re noting is that the film hasn’t even opened in China, Germany or Russia yet and that’s crucial because Disney and Marvel are banking hard in the Chinese box office with their partnership with Beijing-based DMG Entertainment to make Iron Man 3 a co-production. China is even getting a slightly different version of the film with added footage.

• UK – $21.5M
• Korea - $19.2M
• Australia - $18.4M
• Mexico - $16.1M
• France - $14.7M
• Brazil - $12.3M
• Italy - $11.2M
• Taiwan – $8.4M
• Philippines – $7.4M
• Japan - $5.4M
• India - $5.2M
• Spain - $5.0M
• HK - $4.9M
• Malaysia - $4.6M
• Indonesia - $4.5M
• Other - $36.5M
• Total - $195.3M

Iron Man 3 of course hits its biggest market (North America) next Friday and as of last week, MovieTickets.com claimed opening day sales already had more than 400 theaters sold out. That was then. The increased buzz since and closer proximity to its release will increase demand of opening weekend pre-sales even further. Iron Man 2, the last non-3D title from Marvel Studios had a domestic opening of $128,122,480 and the 3D-boosted openings of Captain America and Thor couldn’t compare. It wasn’t until The Avengers brought back Robert Downey Jr. and everyone else together for the record-breaking $207,438,708 domestic opening (the biggest domestic opening of all-time). According to The Wrap last week (before the international numbers came in), Iron Man 3 was tracking for a $160 million U.S. opening which is a safe bet considering the success of Iron Man 2, the international numbers, the post-Avengers boost and the early positive reviews.

It’s safe to say Iron Man 3 will cross the billion dollar mark, justifying its role as the first chapter of Phase Two of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It also raises expectations for Thor: The Dark Worldand Captain America: The Winter Soldier, while also emphasizing the importance of Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow and Don Cheadle, all of whom have contracts ending with this film. As RDJ is acutely aware, he and his agent are in the best position in Hollywood and were smart to wait for the film to open before renegotiating contract extensions. For the Disney camp, like Johnny Depp with Pirates of the Caribbean, RDJ is crucial to the future of the franchise and they will need to sign him for The Avengers 2 and possibly even Iron Man 4. The film’s domestic performance will be very telling and may alter the course of the future of the franchise.
Iron Man 3 is directed by Shane Black based off of his and Drew Pearce’s screenplay, and stars Robert Downey Jr., Ben Kingsley, Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow, Guy Pearce, Stephanie Szostak, Jon Favreau, Rebecca Hall, William Sadler, James Badge Dale and the voice of Paul Bettany.
Iron Man 3 releases May 3, 2013, Thor: The Dark World on November 8, 2013, Captain America: The Winter Soldier on April 4, 2014, Guardians of the Galaxy on August 1, 2014, The Avengers 2 on May 1, 2015, Ant-Man on November 6, 2015, and Doctor Strange sometime after that.
Let me know on Twitter @rob_keyes your box office predictions for Iron Man 3!
Sources: Disney, The Wrap

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