Category Archives: history

Vintage Pilot pen (circa 1940) and a glimpse at a dark past

Posted on August 17, 2009 by

As you can see from the pictures this vintage Pilot eyedropper isn’t in good condition. The once-translucent barrel has ambered so badly that I can’t tell what colour it used to be. There’s also a line that spirals around the … Continue reading →

Posted in history, pens | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Maude Hutchins

Posted on August 27, 2008 by

Maude [Hutchins] is best known for her novel “Victorine,” which the New York Review of Books Classics series is reissuing in August. The catalogue copy says it all: “Hutchins had one theme—sex—which she explored with an extravagant, needling, disconcerting genius.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, history | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

An evolution: Japanese language and “connectivity”

Posted on June 30, 2008 by

Looking forward from a point in time: not too long ago, people used to think of that the Japanese had extremely advanced and sophisticated mobile device networks and habits, but not as advanced internet tools e.g. they paid their bills … Continue reading →

Posted in fonts, history, Japan | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What happens after the movie is made?

Posted on March 11, 2008 by

Radio Station Forgot To Play My Favourite Song is a documentary on Singapore rock circa 2003, shot as a final year project. It’s up on the internet now — available for all to see. Part I: (To be honest, I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in film industry, filmmaking, history, Singapore, YouTube | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Randomness #785D

Posted on March 5, 2008 by

R.I.P. Gary Gygax. Found out from, of all places, How The World Works: In the deep structure of ancient Internet culture, where the same computer programmers who helped build the Net often spent their leisure time pretending to be online … Continue reading →

Posted in China, games, history, pens, random | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

What happened to our National Day Songs?

Posted on August 20, 2007 by

This year’s National Day Song, like its recent predecessors, is forgettable. (What’s it called? Uhh… “There’s No Place I’d Rather Be”). As if admitting its own absence of originality, the lyrics and arrangement both sound like a bowdlerised “Home“.The only … Continue reading →

Posted in history, identity, nostalgia, Singapore, society, Uncategorized, YouTube | Leave a comment

Morinaga caramels

Posted on August 16, 2007 by

I’d never seen these before, but I really like the antiquated aesthetics: the box illustration, colours, type and the old Morinaga logo. ‘ Only $1.20 a box, so I got two: traditional milk caramels on the left, more modern green … Continue reading →

Posted in design, food, fun, history, Japan, nostalgia, typography | 3 Comments

“Leila Majnum” – earliest film to be made in S’pore?

Posted on August 3, 2007 by

I don’t understand why this article needed a near-gloating tone though: Though Indian filmmakers have repeatedly been criticised for lifting storylines straight from Hollywood, India has nonetheless inspired Singapore’s film industry. One of the earliest films made in the island … Continue reading →

Posted in film, history, Singapore | Leave a comment

The Last Wayang – 31 Aug

Posted on July 26, 2007 by

Was browsing the pamphlet for the upcoming Singapore Art Show (which btw comes with special post-its attached) when this event caught my eye: The Last Wayang Situated at the disused Capitol Theatre, The Last Wayang provokes a reflection on Singapore’s … Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, art, film, film industry, filmmaking, history, inspiration, media, myth, nostalgia, Singapore | 1 Comment

Invisible City （备忘录）

Posted on July 25, 2007 by

Clever advertising for Invisible City at the Arts House — except that if you were already there then there was a good chance you were already going to watch it, like the Better Half and I. Still, great concept (probably … Continue reading →

Posted in documentary, film, history, inspiration, marketing, nostalgia, Singapore | Leave a comment