Hiatus

Hi guys, many of you already know about this but to those who wandering souls out there, we are moving to .com instead of .wordpress.com

Check your mail dudes for the latest updates. See ya!

People’s Choice Awards 2011

“I throw my hands up in the air sometimes / Saying AYO! / Gotta let go! / I wanna celebrate and live my life / Saying AYO! / Baby, let’s go!” – Taio Cruz’ Dynamite

This year’s People’s Choice Awards (PCA) was undoubtedly lit up like a dynamite. Queen Latifah did Cruz’s cover in the opning act and like every single member in the audience, I threw up hands in the air. Neil Patrick Harris gave Latifah a solid ‘B+’ for her hosting but I felt that it was a solid ‘A’ like she admitted. She held our enthusiasm throughout the show and it was just amazing how the Queen was able to transmit that energy through the screen. Thumbs up my gal!

Anyway, we are here to review the best dressed and the most memorable moments so here goes. Johnny Depp won Best Actor and Kristen Stewart was the lady of the night. Her show Twilight Saga: Eclipse also won the biggest spoils Best Movie. Katy Perry and Taylor Swift also took away the music awards and the most unexpected award goes to Lisa Edelstein (Cuddy in House) for Best Actress in a Television Series.

Best Dressed

Kristen Stewart in a Reem Acra RTW 2011 S/S dress and Jimmy Choo heels

This mini-dress is well-picked and Stewart rocked the look on the show and during the after-party. This was the exact same look like that on the Reem Acra RTW 2011 runway and Stewart pulled it off better than the model. Best dressed of the show. Best dressed of the week.

 

Most Boring

Taylor Swift in J.Mendel and Louboutin Pumps

Taylor Swift nailed this look but it sooo boring. It looks as though she has only one look in her closet and she just recycled her dressed for different red carpet events. PCA 2011 has a blue carpet and her beach J. Mendel was contrasted pretty well but Swift, add some style!

 

If you haven’t watched the PCA 2011, check local listings and just spend 2 hours right in front of your TV to be entertained! What a blast to the New Year!

 

NY-VV

Anonymity

This is a modern world of free speech yet many people are found hiding behind their laptops, sharing their views in anonymity. This column is a fine example of this fact. Are we timid writers or are we just people who would like more security?

We are walking into the second decade of the 21st century and yet, free speech is not recognized throughout the world. People constantly live in fear that their words may be used against them. I am one of them who decided to join this anonymous group of violent vocalists. Then again, I can justify my stand for I am a whole new person when I am behind the screen. I am able to develop much more creative thoughts and perceptions as I type through my laptop. Being anonymous gives me a new found freedom that I can enjoy.

What determines free speech? What cultivates free speech? Context, plain and simple. If you were in China, I’m quite sure an typical citizen would be living in fear, fear of being caught criticizing the PRC government. Having a blog is simply impossible. If you were in Europe, especially the Scandinavian countries, I can see a much higher possibility of people writing and even demonstrating, some even willing to jeopardize their jobs in protest against the government’s new laws.

Anonymity is hardly a bad thing. You just don’t get to meet the author in person. In the mean time, you get to hear his deepest thoughts on the issues that most affect him. You get to hear J, for example, sharing his views on Tony Blair. You get to hear a disgruntled New Yorker sharing his life experiences. You get to hear from my friend in Boston, a unique and emotionally reflective Christmas and New Year message. Trust me, these people wouldn’t share such views in real life. They, like me, are introverts at heart. Anonymity gives us the platform to share our thoughts and our feelings.

I get to explore the emotions that are held within me. I get to explore an entirely new character beneath that appearance that I put up at work. Just try to write like us, be an anonymous writer for a week and you shall understand the true meaning.

B-VV

Pampered or Powerful?

Reader warning: The author would like to emphasize that the following information is fictional and is only for reading pleasure.

The word ‘no’ was never in my dictionary. I never accepted denial and friends described me as this headstrong, stubborn kid.

At the age of 4, I was living in a material world – my childhood was filled with material needs and little parental concern. I could get any toy off the shelf. I could go to any toy shop and demand for attention. I was the center of attention at parties by the age of 8. Mom’s friends even complimented me by saying that I was a better conversation-ist than the host. Despite the lack of attention from my parents, I equipped myself with the skill of conversing with other people and the ability to demand for something that I want most dear. People always gave in to my requests and when they don’t they will be at the receiving end of my wrath and sublime outrage.

This characteristic was developed as I was mostly on the phone when my parents weren’t around. I was conversing with my parents’ friends and relatives who seem to have a much lax working life than my parents. Just to give you some background, my parents were working at insane hours. They put me on the bus to kindergarten at 7.30 and won’t be back at 12 am. BOTH OF THEM. If I desired for a cake, I would call up delivery. If I wanted a present, I’ll always call my parents’ friends. If I wanted parties, I would call my relatives to arrange for a date with my cousins so that I could have some fun. When I was mad, I would be this bossy bitch at home. At age 5, I even managed to lock my aunt out of the house. I enjoyed people’s hysteria as she tried to get through the gate, panicking and fearful that mom and dad found out how she mistreated me. I was the most powerful prince you could ever find. I created a name for myself as the young master of the street and when rumors spread, neighbors heard of my bizarre actions and demands when I was at home. Actually, it was hardly a home – an empty palace-like jail that locked me up for a good ten years.

Things started to change in middle school and I have deliberately erased this segment of experiences from my memory. It was my practice to keep what is only memorable and to throw the less than memorable experiences into the thrash.

Then came high school – what I used to describe as heaven. It was my playing field as I can now apply the developed old self and ways in this entire new platform. High school friends were gossipy and resourceful. Some became close friends, others remained as unknown people who I do not want to ever associate myself with. My closest friends knew nothing about and up till this date, no one ever found out my true identity. The school administration though kept a thorough record and some middle-school friends who I once again met in high school knew this fact: I was the heir of a large real estate business, 3 publishing firms, 2 other large businesses, and a gold mine.

This background was not known to teachers and close friends, and enemies feared to leak out this information for I will be treated with propriety in school and will be able to gain such an advantage. Lucky for them, my family banned me from sharing this information with anyone ever since they found out that I spread this information to some friends in middle school. I was operating under the shadows of the teachers’ eye. I was never the brightest apple, my essays were always seen as inferior to those rich and famous people’s sons and daughters. At the end of high school, I realized that my parents wanted me to have a normal life in high school following my famous/ infamous childhood.

Then again, when I disliked a teacher, there were serious effects. I managed to get the school to sack a teacher; I called up another teacher’s superior and complained, resulting in that particular teacher’s demotion and a cut in annual bonus; I also made another phone call to ensure that another teacher was never promoted/given a substantial annual bonus for 2 years. This was reminiscent of my childhood years and instead of just playing with power, I managed to be rid of those who only feed off private education’s money and are useless to this system.

In my last few years in high school, i went through a series of ups and downs. Having been at the helm of power, I was overshadowed by those who I like and adored. I never wanted my close friends to know my family background for some might not act like true friends. They would always be willing to help but sometimes, it was not at their greatest pleasure. When they found an opportunity to have some time away from me, they would do so. More importantly, sometimes, i just gave them an option to say no. I invited them to parties and given their nature, I knew that I shouldn’t make it such a compulsory event for they have their commitments and had their busy schedule. But when I start seeing that photos on facebook of them partying elsewhere, it just dawned upon me that I was treated with propriety like I used to have enjoyed in my childhood years.

These days, as I work and slog like a normal New Yorker on Wall street, I’m just stunned at how I have aged. Every morning, as I stare myself in the mirror, I feel that if only people knew the real me, I could have been much younger. I could have lived an innocent childhood my entire life but that would be at the same time more dangerous for I would have more enemies and would be more susceptible.

NY-VV

Letter from the Editor

Dear friends,

We are in the second month of violent vocalist and our pool of writers have grown with authors residing in Princeton, Boston, Cambridge, New York and Asia and a wide coverage on issues like British history and politics, life, society, and fashion. We would like to thank our readers and hope that you have enjoyed a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

This week’s highlights:

-A Journey – Part 1: Reflections on Tony Blair’s memoirs

-Resort 2011: a unique New Year resolution

-Fruit for thought: the finest: a column on choices for the New Year

-The Broken Blade has been Remade: our columnists talk about how one shall attempt a comeback this season.

More to come in the coming week and weeks.

The Editor

A Journey – Part 1

Prologue

This particular section is a twice-a-week exclusive from our dear friend in Asia. This will be the first part to a series of responses to the bestselling autobiography by British ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair – A Journey.

Chapter 1 titled High Expectations sums up the basis of Tony Blair’s governmental campaign. Blair was no doubt the most successful Labour leader and 1997′s landslide victory was reminiscence of Labour Party’s 1945 victory. Unlike what many political scientist and modern British historians have suggested, Blair was hardly soaking up the mood, the euphoria.

It is common knowledge that parties come to power when the people support them. In this modern world, the mood of the society determines the downfall of empires and can even cause a revolution. Chinese Emperor Liu Che once feared such mood and talk that he sought advice from the greatest advisers to find a way to control such a mood, only to realize that such a mood cannot be controlled but encouraged.

In his first chapter, Blair admits that the mood was essential to New Labour’s rise to power and this helped his party to bring an end to Tories’ 18-year reign in politics. Euphoria, hope, satisfaction in 1997 Britian was similar to that of Obama’s rising in the United States of America. There was a sense of sublime freedom, happiness, some feeling that was indescribable as people finally saw a something that was similar to that of a revolution. As New Labour came to power, there was this sense that there will be undercurrent so strong that will soon dominate British politics (and it certainly did so for more than 10 years).

Evidently, such moods are a two-edged sword. Just in the opening chapter, there is a hint of Blair’s fears that these moods may ultimately lead to his downfall. He knew very well that the New Labour Manifesto sweung the mood to his favour but admits that it may not be enough to govern the country. Such an observation may suggest that Blair was a wise leader who saw the pit holes right before him. But one must question if he truly realised this fact when he came to power.

This memoir certainly suggests so as Blair indicated that having not been government, there was a sense of anticipation, fear and some sense of loss. He knew that these moods that he created via his rhetoric (which he didn’t mention) and the idealistic Labour Manifesto, combined with the fact that declarations from the left were hopeful, led to the rise in expectations – “high expectation” that he may not be able to satisfy but he so crucially needed right before election. (Blair: 2010, 5-6)

When Blair entered Number 10 Downing Street, he could feel the burden on his shoulders for he was riding on the waves of moods and was at the very peak when he came to power but this wave could swallow him if he would not maintain control and keep his balance. In his latest autobiography, Blair admits that, “The pent-up expectations of a generation were vested in me.” (Blair: 2010, 14)

He knows that such a mood is dangerous and detrimental if not used wisely. He admits the necessity to “capture it, tame it and harness it because its very independence is leading the public to an impossible sense of expectation”. (Blair: 2010, 15) Expectations of this nature cannot be met and any leader willing to take the risk will be held accountable by the end of his reign. This echoes the very story of Barack Obama as disgruntled citizens forced Obama to lose control of his house. A Journey from 1997-2007 in the UK echoes the recent US political history.

The electorate can be easily convinced by the words of politicians, the rhetoric and the style. Yet, the citizens will not be so easiliy satisfied by the mere papers that parliaments or senates churn out every session. Reforms via paper will not satisfy the public, they want to hear what they like to hear and at the same time, they would also like to feel and receive what they demand. The latter is much harder to achieve when a government is in power. The modern world demands a great deal from any modern government. An old government like that of the Tories will certainly not be able to govern effectively and thus Britain saw the rise of New Labour. Blair to a certain extent modernized British politics through his theme of modernization via New Labour. New Labour was in no doubt a vehicle for him to implement change. Some criticize Blair for being Britain’s President and some evidence lies in his actions to make Jonathan Powell, his close electoral aide Britain’s 1st de facto Chief of Staff – a position that was non-existent on Downing Street. There was some American blood in him as he was a spin-doctor and dealt with the media pretty well, especially under the influence of ‘crazy’ Alastair Campbell as the head of communcations.

Most strikingly, every leader must realise that there is a ‘daunting revelation fo gap between saying and doing’, as observed by Tony Blair. (Blair: 2010, 18) Blair had moderinzed the ways of government via ‘delivery and project management” (Blair: 2010, 18-19) and in this modern world, the intrusion of media shapes perceptions, and plays an important role in determining moods.

Side Comment: Some governments have been able to tame the power of media and the government becomes much less questionable. Okay I digressed. But if we were to study the US and the UK, we will soon realise that the power of media is important in determining the strength of moods and thus, the extent of downfalls and uprisings as we have seen with Blair in Britain and Obama in the United States.

In short, despite the high expectation, Blair achieved substantial achievements just in the month of May. He changed the government, he changed the governing structure in his 1st 100 days and was undoubtedly productive and successful.

Blair opened his book by saying that “On 2 May 1997, I walked into Downing Street as prime minister for the first time. i had never held office, not even as the most junior of junior ministers. It was my first and only job in government.” (pg. 1, opening lines) Did he manage to deal with the high expectations – he certainly tried to do so. Was he successful – in my opinion, it was in his early months in power. Did he leave a legacy – I felt that he did.

It was a pleasurable read and Chapter 1 sets the groundwork for more interpretations.

Hope you enjoyed this. More to come in the coming weeks.

J-VV

Resort 2011

My dear friends have covered some typical Christmas, New Year and column-like articles and have urged me to do so but I shall give you an uncommon, most surprising column-like post. I’m really reluctant to type because it’s freezing here at 37 degrees but I shall oblige the requests that have been made.

So here I am. Sitting before my laptop, with a book right beside me as I feel my desserts and those fats flowing through the skin. The smell of Starbucks coffee is only able to accentuate that sense of sinfulness. Why have been so conscious of my weight? Just one slice of NY Cheesecake and a large bowl of Manhattan Clam Chowder for lunch isn’t going to make me grow fat. Then again, I’ll never be able to reach a size 2 by June. That was my new year resolution, to fit into those pretty dresses that M (ignorant fools: that is my boyfriend) is going to buy for me when the S/S 2011 collezioni arrives. But my other resolution is to have a fruitful and enjoyable year ahead. That can’t go without the much needed or should I say tempting food.

Happiness. Ultimate elation. Eventual satisfaction. That doesn’t come without a price these days. Dresses don’t fit you nowadays. You have to fit the dress. That explains why many of my friends and colleagues have found the will to eat nothing and have a liquid-only diet and when they feel that they are about to faint, they will pop a cube of cheese. Needless to say, these anorexic bitches are size 0 and I’m a size 6.

As I walked through the Met today, I just can’t imagine how doing nothing is doing something. The curator was talking about this concept about those Egyptian Goddesses and how they were able to achieve eternal beauty by doing nothing. Just because there’s inner beauty, one can’t achieve such nonsense in the 21st century. Even with R&D, the trends of the second decade shall be similar to that of the first and of the 30s, 40s and 50s. Beauty can only be seen and not felt. If you ignore something, someone will make you realise that you have ignored that particular thing. If you have ignored your health, someone will attempt to tell you so. If you ignore your diet, societal pressures will correct such an error.

The society corrects such behavior and fits them into social norms. In an experiment by the Boston technical team, they identified certain wordpress blogs that have been ignored for over a month and this new program comments via this account on those blogs, encouraging them to have new posts. Out of 1000, 670 blogs saw new posts after a hiatus of one month. That is the fact of life. People hardly ignore societal criticisms and they will want to fit into the craziest societal expectations.

To my fellow new yorkers, even our schools are keeping up with societal trends with the newest implementation of ipads as learning tools. Even Letterman has dedicated part of his monologue to the news of the week. For an entire month, the Mexican miners were part of his jokes for the show. Worst of all, my trip to New Jersey required X-Ray scans for my hand luggage and the Mayor is suggesting that airports should implement full-body scans. Will I even have any privacy? These people want to have a look at my crotch? That is the world today. When one X-ray scan becomes trendy, people want X-Ray scan for everything.

Whilst the snow has cleared and 37 degrees is some freezing temperature to operate in, people continue to queue for Broadway tickets on 5th Ave. Just to fit into the higher social hierarchy, people are willing to freeze their fingers and toes for cheap tickets so that they can enjoy a pretty date night. The crowds are just amazing and from my view at Starbucks at 5th Ave, there is some crazy, tense action going on right across the street. Would you be like those people queuing for cheap tickets? Would you like to suffer for eventual happiness?

I certainly have. Instead of buying myself a new watch this year, I bought a new dress just for tonight’s opera at Lincoln Center. Will your resort be like mine? Are you willing to make those ridiculous sacrifices? What will your s/s be like this year? Shall it be determined by the early days of 2011?

It is your decision, your choice, your destiny. No problems of human destiny is beyond human destiny.

From the streets of New York,

XOXO

NY-VV