Politics

Ever since Labor ousted Kevin Rudd as PM several weeks ago (more like back-stabbed and executed) Aussizens slowly came to realize that another election hangs looming in the air.

On one side, we have the Labor Party with Julia Gillard as their captian; an unmarried, atheist with no children. Not to mention, they formed ties with the Greens (boo, Greens).

On the other, we have the Coalition (a merger between the Nationals and the Liberals); lead by Tony Abbott, sly, male chauvinist and former Catholic-priest-in-training(?!)

Easy choice? No! It's a matter of choosing which one we hate the least.

It was only inevitable as Australians sat glued to their TVs on Saturday evening, waiting and watching to see  the end to the election campaign and the beginning of a new government. Alas, both of them couldn't get the 76-seat majority, both are stuck with 71/72 seats. Now the power is in the hands of several independent MPs. Let it be a race to the finish! GILLArd and Abbott have got some bribing/persuading/sucking-up to do int he next few days.

A hung government is good. I like that. You get the best of both parties. Though the 'best' don't amount to much. Oh well, everything's in God's hands. We shall see.

The opposite of homosexuality is NOT heterosexuality

A very interesting article I'd like to share. Haven't you noticed? There are so much more talks and debates going on about gay marriage, gay rights etc etc leading up to the elections. In a society so focused on being politically correct, I am always at a lost as to how I should approach this looming issue as a Christian. Most the time I try to avoid it.

Many Christians I know suggest the 'loving the sinner, hating the sin' approach and that we are to just love them and let them be because they 'can't help it'; a view which I supported...until now...

This article by a former homosexual and is by no means trying to get Christians to hate homosexuals nor is it accepting of homosexuality BUT it serves as a 'wake-up' call for us Christians of what we and the Church should be doing.

Anyway, I encourage you all to read the article in its entirety!

http://christiananswers.net/q-cross/cross-gaychange.html

Phantom of the Opera Movie

I think I'm in love with it now... so in love with it I start bursting out in song every now and then! With my own lyrics of course. LOL!

It all started last Thursday evening when me and Mark went to Esther's school production: The Sound of Musicals. It was my first time attending a school production and I am impressed. Impressed by the many many budding, young talents in singing, dancing and acting! Most of the students in the production are about Esther's age! 15!

As the name suggests, it's a production about a production. As we sat in our extremely uncomfortable blue plastic chairs, various actors and singers sang us through the behind-the-scenes of making a production. My, oh my, how much effort is needed to produce a 3.5 hour long production that runs for 3-4 days in a row...

Interspersed between some scenes were random 'fillers' which made no sense at all and only served one purpose: to fill time, to allow the crew to prepare the next scene. One particular filler was some guy in a hooded robe wearing a mask, posing like some demonic beast complete with dramatic lights, music and all slowly rising up from the floor (?) It was the Phantom of the Opera! The dramatic music from Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera musical.

That was the start of my curiosity. I've heard about POTO before but was never drawn to its story or its characters. Frankly I'd say I was a 'katak di bawah tempurung'. Shame of me! That very night after production (which ended at an unearthly hour of 11pm), I decided to watch the movie version which a dear friend gave me a year or so before, asking me to watch it. So watch it I did. I fell in love with it; fell in love with the characters, the story and the songs!

POTO: Music of the Night

One of my favourite songs from the movie.

Some might argue that Michael Crawford's (guy playing the Phantom from the original London cast) rendition is the best. But Gerard Butler portrays the Phantom better. Even though Gerry ain't a trained singer and his vocals aren't perfect but he pulled off a spectacular Phantom. A  Phantom who's solitude, sadness and anger at the world is conveyed so strongly in Gerry's singing. I love his rough, sometimes bad, singing, it gives the Phantom more dimension to his character! I mean, the Phantom is supposed to be an angry, obsessive person, shunned and rejected by the world so you can't expect him to sing so angelically right? That's just my opinion...

POTO: No One Would Listen (excluded scene)

Can't believe they removed this scene. It's one of the more emotionally touching ones...people would've showed more compassion to the Phantom (even though he's a deranged, obsessive murderer) But see how nice the songs are and why I love it so much?! Andrew Lloyd Webber is a genius!

POTO: Masquerade/Why So Silent (Part 1)

*sings: "Masquerade! Paper faces on parade. Masquerade! Hide your face so the world will never find you..."* 

POTO: Masquerade/Why so silent (Part 2)

Love this bit :D

Conclusion: GO WATCH THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY! Or am I the only one who's been so behind...haha! I wanna watch Love Never Dies now...