Bryan Huang @bryan-huang - Tumblr Blog

Posts

Test 2

testing

test

Bii test

Testing

Aaron Kwok is married

Aaron Kwok and Moka Fang tied the knot this week.

PHOTOS: Cosplayers spotted on Day 1 of STGCC 2016

It was a colourful spectacle as the annual Singapore Toy, Games, and Comic Convention (STGCC) opened to the public on Saturday (10 September).

Held at Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre, STGCC once again drew crowds of cosplayers, from anime and manga to American comics and even some popular games.

Here are some of the costumes seen on Day 1 on the convention floor.

(Photo: Yahoo Singapore/Bryan Huang)

#slideshow #movies #stgcc #stgcc2016

PHOTOS: Korean girl group GFriend delights fans in Singapore

Korean girl group GFriend was in Singapore on Saturday (3 September) for a meet-and-greet session with fans.

At the GFriend L.O.L Singapore Showcase 2016 at the Megabox Convention Centre, the six-member group performed several of their songs for their fandom, known as “Buddy”.

Sowon, Yerin, Eunha, Yuju, SinB and Umji also took turns to answer a range of questions, much to the delight of the gathered audience.

(Photo: Yahoo Singapore/Bryan Huang)

#slideshow #style #kwave

4 inspirational sports movies for your post-Olympics fix

The Rio Olympics might be over, but that doesn’t mean your dose of sports inspiration has to stop.

Whether you’re training yourself to be the next Joseph Schooling or you just want to feel as good as the Tongan flag bearer, here are some sports movies guaranteed to make you feel like you can handle any problem.

Friday Night Lights (2004)

(Photo: IMDB)

This 2004 film focuses on a high school football team called the Permian Panthers, which hails from Odessa, Texas, during a time when racism and other social issues are still very evident in the society.

Coach Gary Gaines (Billy Bob Thornton) struggles to get his team winning games during their season, while at the same time being a sort of father-figure to some of his players who have their own troubles at home.

The Mighty Ducks (1992)

(Photo: IMDB)

If you’re looking for some laughs and a Cinderella story, “The Mighty Ducks” might just be your cup of tea. The film is centred around Gordon Bombay (Emilio Estevez), a powerful lawyer who gets arrested and later sentenced to community service, which involves him coaching the local kid’s hockey team, the Ducks.

Bombay himself was a former star player in his youth (for the Ducks’ local rivals), but the team he’s sentenced to coach doesn’t even have its own facilities or equipment. It’s an uphill battle as he works to form the Ducks into a force to be reckoned with.

Rocky (1976)

(Photo: IMDB)

It would be sacrilege to talk about inspirational sports movies without mentioning “Rocky”, the film that made Sylvester Stallone into the star that he is today. The movie tells the story of a small-time boxer and debt collector as he makes a name for himself, eventually getting a match with the reigning heavyweight champion.

The film would go on to spawn a franchise, including 2015’s “Creed”. In addition to the movies, let’s not forget “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor, which was the main theme of “Rocky III” and also a mainstay in workout playlists everywhere.

Cool Runnings (1993)

(Photo: IMDB)

Years before lightning took human form in the body of a certain Usain Bolt, Jamaica was already making Olympic history… at the Winter Olympics.

“Cool Runnings” is loosely-based upon the Jamaican national bobsleigh team’s first Winter Olympics, which is notable because Jamaica isn’t exactly a place you would normally associate with winter.

While the film does take creative liberties with some aspects of the story, it’s still a heartwarming affair that will appeal to all ages.

#sports #olympics #movies #_uuid:4dc32c44-b94c-3e4c-a856-c0fa892305c9 #_wp:90025

Supercars on display at SIA Light Up the Night carnival

Race cars were out in force on Saturday (20 Aug) at the Singapore Airlines Light Up the Night carnival, an event leading up to the 2016 Formula 1 Singapore Grand Prix, which will take place from 16 - 18 Sept.

Here is a look at some of the flashy supercars that were on display for members of the public.

(Photo: Yahoo Singapore Newsroom)

#slideshow

How Pokemon Go could be central to a movie plot

(Photo: Reuters)

With the recent release of Pokemon Go, potential trainers all around Singapore, Malaysia and Philippines have been flocking to different locations as they attempt to catch them all.

Organisations like those of the Singapore Armed Forces and even the Wildlife Reserves Singapore have taken to social media to address the craze, giving tips about dos and don’ts within their premises.

It probably won’t be long before the Pokemon Go makes its way into pop-culture, but it did get us wondering -- what if it wasn’t just a passing reference but key to the entire plot of the movie?

Here are several ways Niantic and Nintendo’s newest creation could be part of your next blockbuster.

The horror movie:

Still image from “Lights Out”. (Photo: Warner Bros)

This one probably won’t take long, especially with it also being the Seventh month of the Lunar calendar and the Hungry Ghost Festival around the corner. Some of you will probably have friends on social media who have joked about catching more than just virtual Pokemon in the game.

Add to that the Asian-style of horror, and you could have the story of a vengeful spirit who either terrorises players or leads them to a horror film-worthy death through the Augmented Reality of the app. Or, in a plot twist, it turns out to be a real person manipulating the data to take revenge for some reason or another.

The mystery thriller:

Still image from “Inferno”, the latest movie based on Dan Brown’s novels. (Photo: Sony)

Most of you will have at least heard of the Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code and other stories involving its protagonist, Robert Langdon (played by Tom Hanks in the movie). Langdon is always looking for clues hidden in plain sight that point towards his next step or goal.

Imagine a scenario where a similar protagonist has to use a mix of cryptic references to Pokemon and locations, and using the Augmented Reality, find hidden clues at landmarks while trying to capture Pokemon in a certain direction or at a specific time.

Maybe the light only falls on that stone pedestal at fifteen minutes past noon, when the touch of Zeus meets the Yellow River or something (that was a reference to a Pikachu, by the way). Of course, the stakes will have to be high, so a man-made catastrophe might affect our heroic protagonist’s pokeball throwing skills somewhat.

The conspiracy:

(Photo: Getty Images)

When Pokemon Go launched earlier in July, there was a huge outcry among some quarters over the data it was pulling from your Google account. While that has since been addressed, it hasn’t stopped those worried that the big corporations and/or various governments are using the data to track players’ every move.

And what if their fears were to be realised? Perhaps the data is used unscrupulously by corporations planning to topple legitimate governments. Maybe the players are used as decoys or as part of elaborate espionage plans to steal sensitive data from organisations that have ties to other nations. Maybe a hacker discovers that the Pokemon craze is being used as a cover-up for a shadow organisation to move something even more terrifying in plain sight.

The alien invasion:

Still image from “Independence Day: Resurgence”. (Photo: 20th Century Fox)

Of course, no movie list would be complete without an alien race being involved in some way or another. Humans can be ingenious at times, as the numerous workarounds to getting Pokemon Go to work when not available in the country have shown. There’s also the matter of being able to track which Pokestops are the most visited and which players have the dedication to catch them all.

An alien race might tap on this data to find subjects for experimentation, or perhaps to release a bioweapon against the human race. Alternatively, they could also be using the data to create an app that distract humanity for their own nefarious purposes, such as abducting all our cows or mining all our chocolate. Hey, no one said an alien movie can’t be a comedy.

The documentary:

Pokemon Go becomes a huge success. Niantic and Nintendo have a falling out over profits and the hoard of user information they've accumulated. Corporate back-stabbing ensues. The lead actors/actresses go on to be a part of superhero movie universes.

The romance movie:

Okay this one should be pretty obvious. Two people find true love playing Pokemon Go. Then the world gets destroyed by a meteor or something.

Regardless of whether a Pokemon Go-centric movie does get made, it's no doubt that the app has changed the way we interact with technology yet again. Who knows what this will mean for future franchises?

#movies #pokemon go

Heroes we really want to see have a cameo in Justice League

With “Suicide Squad” opening last week (4 Aug) and the recent “Justice League” footage from Comic Con (not to mention “Wonder Woman”), DC fans everywhere must be excited that it’s finally time for their favourite characters to shine in the spotlight that Marvel has hogged for so long.

We already know Barry Allen/The Flash (Ezra Miller), Aquaman (Jason Momoa) and Cyborg (Ray Fisher) will be joining up with Bruce Wayne/Batman (Ben Affleck) and Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot), and quite possibly the other guy (spoiler warning, just in case you haven’t watched “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice”).

But of course, the Justice League is home to many amazing characters, and everyone has his or her favourite character who isn’t going to play a main role in the movie. Still, that doesn’t mean that they can’t be teased in one way or another. Here is a list of our favourites that we hope to see on the big screen.

Green Lantern (Hal Jordan version)

(Photo via The Wrap)

If you’re familiar with TV network The CW’s “Arrow” and “The Flash”, you may already know that the character of Hal Jordan has been teased several times.

If not, you may have remembered the role being played by Ryan Reynolds, who probably realised green wasn’t his colour and didn’t show off his not-as-powerful-as-Chris-Evan’s ass.

Long story short, Hal Jordan is a fighter pilot who comes into possession of a ring (that doesn’t need to be destroyed to save the world). The ring gives him power as a member The Green Lantern Corp, a sorta galactic peacekeeping corp. Using willpower, he can create constructs, fly, and basically cost the film a fair bit for computer graphics.

Why he’s needed: Marvel is pushing ahead with their galactic offerings in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2″ and “Captain Marvel”, not to mention the Thor movies and the hotly anticipated Avengers: Infinity War.

DC needs a bit of catch-up in this department to expand their universe beyond Earth, and The Green Lantern would be perfect for this role. Plus, he’s an original member of the Justice League. And someone needs to redeem that role after Reynolds redeemed himself in “Deadpool”.

Martian Manhunter

(Photo via ComicBook.com)

J'onn J'onzz is well-known to many DC fans, as well as those who’ve watched the Supergirl television series. He’s very obviously alien, has telepathic abilities, has most of Superman’s powers, and can shapeshift. Basically, he’s been termed the Swiss Army Knife of superheroes, and it’s hard not to see why.

Because of DC’s somewhat messy continuity, the Martian Manhunter’s backstory differs slightly depending on which universe you’re looking at. In a nutshell, he was born on Mars when Mars was still a thriving civilisation way ahead of Earth. J’onn’s race was destroyed, in some storylines, after a civil war between green-skinned and white-skinned Martians, leaving him as the last of his kind.

While on Earth, he often shapeshifts into a form that is said to be neither completely Martian nor human, but a compromise in between. He often finds work as a detective (a Manhunter was basically a Martian policeman), before joining up with the Justice League.

Why he’s needed: there are several reasons why the Martian Manhunter would be great for DC’s film universe, most notably because Superman is, well, Superman. And Superman may one day get too big for his own movie.

Think about how Marvel has moved towards introducing the less popular and prominent members of the Avengers in their own movies, while established ones like Iron Man start integrating into the universe as a whole.

There’s basically only that much of Superman we can take in a single sitting. Even the original Man of Steel 2 project was changed into the “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” that exists today.

Additionally, having the Martian Manhunter opens up other options for DC films, much like how “Wonder Woman” tells the backstory of Diana. Let’s also not forget that, like the Green Lantern, the Manhunter is a founding member of the original Justice League.

The Green Arrow and the Black Canary

Stephen Amell as the Green Arrow on “Arrow”. (Photo via ET Online)

Oliver Queen and Laurel Lance will be familiar names to anyone who has spent enough time watching CW’s “Arrow” series, and their inclusion in a film universe might be shaky because of their prominence on the TV screen, but that hasn’t stopped a Barry Allen (played by Grant Gustin on TV) from appearing, of course.

The Green Arrow is a vigilante like Batman, relying on his skills and tech to combat his opponents, instead of any special superhuman powers.

The origin story for the Green Arrow is also somewhat similar to Batman’s — Oliver Queen is a playboy billionaire who got stranded on a deserted island where he learnt survival skills that helped him to be the crime-fighter he is today.

Katie Cassidy as Laurel Lance/The Black Canary on “Arrow”. (Photo via TVLine)

Black Canary’s is a little more complicated (thanks again to DC’s changes), so her iconic Canary Cry, using sonic waves, is either a product of technology, a metahuman gene, or being cursed by a wizard (yes, really).

The two generally come as a pair (they’re usually lovers) and fight crime in Star City, but they have also themed up with the Justice League on many occasions.

Why they’re needed: having the Green Arrow around will definitely give Batfleck some solace at not being the only non-super-powered guy in the bunch, while the Black Canary would most definitely please those who’d like to see more female superheroes on the big screen.

Besides, the Avengers have Hawkeye, who has never gotten his own movie either, so they could slot Oliver Queen in nicely without having to worry too much about fleshing out his backstory.

Or they could just grab Stephen Amell and Katie Cassidy (who play the Green Arrow and the Black Canary on TV) from the CW and bring them over to the movie universe.

Zatanna

(Photo via Comic Vine)

The DC film universe hasn’t really ventured into the realm of the occult and magic yet, but fans of the Justice League will definitely recognise the name Zatanna.

One of the DC universe’s greatest magic-users, Zatanna isn’t just a superhero mage, she’s also a prominent stage performer.

She comes from a great lineage of magicians (in the DC universe anyway), which includes Leonardo da Vinci, and counts among them an ancestor from Atlantis (Aquaman’s home), which just basically means she’s very powerful.

In addition to controlling all the elements, she can also move things with her mind, teleport and travel through dimensions. All that while looking cooler than the Four Horsemen from “Now You See Me”.

Why she’s needed: Marvel is already touching upon magic with the introduction of Benedict Cumberbatch’s Doctor Strange, and they’ve explored other aspects of the occult in Netflix’s “Daredevil”, which remains connected to the Marvel Cinematic Universe despite the lack of cameos.

Sure, the upcoming “Suicide Squad” might add a bit of depth to that with the introduction of the Enchantress, but surely a full-fledged magic-using member of the Justice League would be much higher profile.

Additionally, she’d probably be a better option than Doctor Fate (another sorcerer in the DC universe), even if it was just to avoid comparisons with “Doctor Strange”.

The Wonder Twins

Those of a certain generation will remember the Wonder Twins Zan and Jayna. Together with their space monkey, Gleek, they appeared on the Superfriends TV series in the 70s and 80s, along with famous names like Superman, Batman, Aquaman and Wonder Woman.

The twins have some interesting powers, with Jayna being able to transform into any animal (regardless of whether it’s an actual creature or a mythological ones), while Zan can become water in any form and also absorb the water in the surrounding area. Which basically means he can become a typhoon or a bucket of water.

To activate their powers, they need to touch each other and speak the magic phrase “Wonder Twin powers activate”. If they can’t touch each other, no fancy transformation.

Why they’re needed: Look, Marvel made an awesome movie with a talking raccoon and a tree-alien that says five words. There’s no better way to prove that DC is capable of catering to similar audiences than a pair of alien twins with a space monkey.

(Photo: Hanna-Barbera via Youtube)

It’s understandable, of course, that this list won’t please everyone. There’s always someone out there who likes another character or doesn’t like one of those listed, or basically knows the DC universe better than we do.

However, it may seem a bit greedy to hope for a massive influx of Justice League characters at this stage of the DC film universe’s life.

Maybe one day we’ll get to see Hawkgirl and Hawkman, Supergirl, Batgirl, Atom and Firestorm, among others, on the big screen. But for now, we’ll just have to settle for “Suicide Squad”.

#movies #justice league #suicide squad

Why we're doomed if zombies invaded the MRT in Singapore

The latest blockbuster out of Korea is the zombie flick Train to Busan, focusing on the passengers on board a high-speed train travelling from Seoul to Busan (hence the name) during a zombie outbreak.

While Singapore is nowhere as large as South Korea (or our trains as fast in the show), it did get us wondering — what if a zombie outbreak were to happen on our own MRT systems? Here are some of the more likely scenarios.

1) We’d all get eaten because of track faults

(Photo: Yahoo Newsroom)

It’s hard to think any commuter would be able to escape from a horde of zombies, given the frequency of track faults that bring the MRT to a delay or even a crippling halt.

With track faults becoming so common that news agencies have pretty much given up on reporting them, it seems a pretty likely scenario. And in a zombie apocalypse, if you’re not moving, you’re a sitting 10-course meal.

Let’s not even talk about the crowd that will form outside the station looking for alternative transport.

2) We’d all get swarmed because there are too many people

(Photo: AFP)

Even without track faults, some of our MRT stations are just so crowded that a horde of zombies would look upon us like all-you-can-eat buffets.

Just imagine the crowd at Bishan (“Train to Bishan” would be a short and pretty depressing movie) during peak hour, where people change from the North-South Line to the Circle Line, or Dhoby Ghaut, where the NSL, the CCL and the North-East Line converge.

With enough people, you don’t even need a track fault to cause a delay. Bon appetit, zombies.

3) Zombies would break through the trains as there are no doors in between cabins

(Photo: E27)

Now, let’s just say somehow, there are no track faults and the swarm of people at the stations somehow manages to fend off the zombies in an orderly fashion, allowing people to board the trains to safety.

Well, guess what, you’re probably not in the clear yet. The zombies look to be pretty capable of breaking into trains (a guy with a fire-extinguisher can easily break a window), and our MRT system has no doors in between the cabins to halt the zombie onslaught.

Sadly, looks like we’d still be on the menu.

4) You might get drenched and fall sick

(Photo: Thinkstock)

Remember that video about commuters getting drenched on an MRT when the aircon leaked all over them?

Well, imagine that situation in a zombie apocalypse, when medical supplies are scarce and medical care even rarer.

It may take a while, but people will fall sick, and without medication, you’re pretty much guaranteed someone will kick the bucket sooner or later.

However, dying from some disease may give you a fighting chance at not becoming a zombie in the afterlife (unless you’re in The Walking Dead), so there’s some bonus there.

5) We’d all survive, because we’re generally quite lifeless on the MRT anyway

(Photo: Yahoo Newsroom)

With a bit of luck, not all these outcomes will result in the annihilation of us unfortunate MRT-taking unwashed masses (we still remember you, Anton Casey).

In most zombie flicks, it does seem like one zombie isn’t going to attack another (presumably because zombies taste like rotten, partially-digested sea slugs and humans taste like wagyu beef).

However, given the lifeless state of most commuters on the MRT, there’s a slim possibility the zombies will just overlook us and move along.

#movies #style

Bourne vs Bond: Who is the better spy?

With “Jason Bourne” opening in cinemas this week (28 July) and the hunt going on for the next James Bond, you’ve got to ask yourself, who would win in a spy versus spy fight? The British MI6 spy, or the rogue CIA operative?

Well, Yahoo Movies Singapore is here to break it down for you.

1) Gadgets

The Aston Martin DB10, seen in “Spectre”. (Photo: AFP)

Every spy needs an arsenal of high-tech accessories and other toys to do their job, but without a doubt, James Bond would have this round.

Fancy cars aside, Bond always seems to have the most sophisticated tech around, whether it’s a watch with a laser to cut through class or a clamshell phone that’s smarter than a smartphone.

Bourne, on the other hand, relies a lot more on what he has at hand - cheap mobile phones, a pen, his bare hands etc. Need to break a voice-activated safe? Bourne could do it for under $30 with a voice recorder. We’re not saying that doesn’t have its benefits, but this is about the gadgets, after all.

Winner: Bond, James Bond.

2) Style

Daniel Craig, who starred as James Bond in “Spectre” . (Photo: AFP)

Now that our spies have their toys out of the way, what about the manner in which they appear on screen?

Again, Bond runs away with this one. 007 is usually seen in his fitting suit, perfectly-placed tie, well-polished shoes, sipping a weaksauce martini and chatting up women who usually try to shoot him.

Matt Damon as Jason Bourne. (Photo: Universal)

The closest we’ve seen Bourne in a suit is the wetsuit from the first show. He’s generally wearing hoodies or jackets or something that helps him to blend in. And he never orders anything fancy.

As this is the style category, Bond will probably win it, short of Colin Firth’s character from “Kingsmen” taking Jason Bourne to get a bespoke suit.

Winner: Bond, again.

3) Lethality

Matt Damon (right) and Tommy Lee Jones (left) in “Jason Bourne”. (Photo: AP)

A good spy usually tries not to get caught, but there are times when circumstances dictate that someone has to get killed.

This might be a hard one to call, but I’m leaning towards Bourne this time around. Sure, 007 has a licence to kill, but Jason Bourne is the black ops of the black ops. His sole purpose for several missions was to assassinate targets the US government couldn’t legally assassinate. In short, he doesn’t care if he has or needs a licence to kill.

Bond has a higher kill count per movie, for sure, but Bourne has killed four Treadstone assassins (basically, his peers in the black ops). Surely, a single Treadstone assassin is the equivalent of fifteen normal random people who get shot by Bond, right?

Winner: Matt Da… I mean, Jason Bourne.

4) Actual spy skills (excluding killing people)

Daniel Craig in “Spectre”. (Photo: AP)

We’ve seen how they compare in quite a few aspects, but what about being a spy? All that espionage stuff like blending in with their surroundings and not drawing attention to themselves.

James Bond has travelled around the world and gets himself into many different locations with ease, but you know his problem? He always introduces himself as “Bond. James Bond”. You’ve gotta think that that’s going to catch on with the bad guys after a while.

Bourne, on the other hand never introduces himself as Bourne unless he’s talking to the head of the CIA black ops programme he’s trying to entrap. He speaks different languages when needed, and it’s usually people who see him on cameras who go “**** it’s Jason Bourne!” rather than the other way around. I think Bourne takes this one.

Also, with Brexit, Bond is in a rather sticky situation in Europe. Just saying.

Winner: Bourne. You’ll never see him coming, while you’d probably smell Bond from half a mile away.

5) Leading ladies

Eva Green as Vesper Lynd in 2006′s “Casino Royale”. (Photo: MGM/Columbia Pictures)

Well, if this is a count for impressing the ladies, then Bond would be so far ahead our amnesiac assassin would never catch up. However, Bond’s loves never seem to stick around for very long (or survive very long, for that matter), which severely counts against the MI6 agent.

Bourne, on the other hand found true love, albeit briefly. Granted, Marie Kreutz didn’t last very long into the second Bourne film either, but there was a moment of peace and tranquility. Seems like a lifetime compared to Bond’s tendency to sleep with women who want to kill him one way or another.

Winner: Bourne.

So there you have it, folks. Jason Bourne is our unofficial winner in this nowhere near-scientific match-up of the Hollywood spies. His latest outing, “Jason Bourne”, is currently in cinemas.

#movies #style #Jason bourne #James Bond

Asian female warriors whose exploits match Wonder Woman’s

Wonder Woman poster. (Photo: Warner Bros via Uproxx)

Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman was one of the highlights of “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice”, and her own standalone trailer blazed a new path for superheroines at Comic-Con.

Diana of Themyscira, daughter of Zeus and warrior princess of the Amazons from Greek mythology, is a familiar face to many comicbook fans. But did you know that our own part of the world in Asia is home to many legendary female warriors, whose supposed real-life exploits more than match the fictional character? Here are some of them.

Yuenü, China

Photo illustration of a Chinese swordswoman (Photo: Getty Images)

Yuenü, as she is known, was a swordswoman from the state of Yue during the 5th century BC who had a huge influence on Chinese martial arts.

But she just wasn’t a swordswoman, she also started learning archery from a young age from her father, and her skills were so renowned that the king of the time invited her to the court. During this time, the state of Yue was at war with the state of Wu, and the king was desperately looking for military geniuses to help him with the war.

At the court, the swordswoman wowed the king with her abilities and her thoughts on using the sword that she was given the title “Lady of Yue”, or “Lady of the Southern Forest” and tasked with teaching the king’s army. Her skills were supposedly simple but powerful, and she showed the ability to take on several opponents at a single time. She said her abilities were developed to protect the forest she stayed.

Her skills and her training would continue to influence Chinese martial arts for centuries to come, which means all those wuxia novels and the choreography from every Chinese martial arts movie owe much to her.

Khutulun, Mongolia

Claudia Kim as Khutulun on Netflix’s “Marco Polo”. (Photo: Netflix)

Khutulun was the daughter of Kaidu, a Khan of Mongolia, as well as the niece of Kublai Khan, who at the time had already established the Yuan Dynasty in China. You might recognise her if you’ve watched Netflix’s Marco Polo, where she’s played by South Korean actress Claudia Kim.

In one of the more popular stories about Khutulun, the Mongolian princess said that any man who wanted to marry her had to defeat her in a wrestling match. Of course, she also demanded their horses as forfeit if they lost, and she managed to obtain a respectable 10,000 horses from this.

Khutulun was her father’s favourite child and advisor. According to some sources, he wanted to name her as his successor, but her male relatives blocked that.

Khutulun helped her father win many battles, including against her cousin’s Yuan Dynasty, and her constant defeating of suitors meant she didn’t marry for a long while, leading to her enemies accusing her of having an incestuous relationship with her father. She eventually married one of her father’s men to stop the rumours.

Empress Jingū, Japan

A Tsukioka Yoshitoshi from 1880 depicting Empress Jingū landing in Korea. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

Jingū was a consort to the Japanese Emperor who took over as ruler when he died until the time of her son’s ascension to the throne almost 70 years later. While some historians decided that she wasn’t really an empress and more like a regent, let’s hear about some of her deeds before you decide if you want to let her be the empress or not.

Jingū was born Okinagatarashi-hime (Hime means “princess” in Japanese), so she clearly was no stranger to being royalty. After her husband died, Jingū took over the Chrysanthemum throne in year 201 and decided to take over Korea.

Legend says she did it with the help of tide-controlling divine jewels without shedding a drop of blood, but you generally don’t get pictured with a naginata (Japanese polearm) and sword and labelled an onna bugeisha (female master of martial arts) by using gem magic to win battles.

While her Korean exploits are generally rejected (because there’s not much evidence of Japanese rule in Korea during that time period), Jingū still left enough of an impression on Japanese culture. She was the first woman featured on a Japanese banknote (although because cameras didn’t exist back then it wasn’t an exact replica), and she got her own official tomb in Nara despite the fact that no one knows where she’s actually buried.

Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi, Java

A Majapahit temple in East Java. (Photo: Jakarta Post Travel)

Tribhuwana Wijayatunggadewi was a princess of the Rajasa dynasty, the daughter of Raden Wijaya of Majapahit. She ascended to the throne after her half-brother Jayanegara died, with the support of her mother, Gayatri Rajapatni.

As political intrigue is not limited to any one part of the world or George R R Martin's Game of Thrones, some theorise that Tribhuwana’s half-brother’s death had been orchestrated by her loyal advisor, Gajah Mada (Jayanegara’s reign wasn’t a very popular one, by the way). She appointed Gajah Mada as prime minister after her ascension, and like any good queen from that era, set out to expand her empire.

Her expansion of Majapahit lands extended the empire to Bali and parts of the Melayu kingdom (present day Malaysia), and was continued under the reign of her soon, whom she had to abdicate to after the death of her mother.

Tribhuwana’s role, however, wasn’t limited to asking people to fight her battles. While she had capable generals, Tribhuwana also led the army herself on several occasions on the battlefield, crushing rebellions in Sadeng and Keta herself.

Suriyothai, Thailand

ML Piyapas Bhirombhakdi as Queen Suriyothai in the 2001 Thai movie “The Legend of Suriyothai”. (Photo: YouTube screengrab)

Suriyothai was a Siamese queen in the 16th century. Not much about her is known from records, but she was married to Prince Tien of the Ayutthaya kingdom before he became King Maha Chakkraphat.

Six months into Maha Chakkraphat’s reign, the kingdom was invaded by neighbouring Burma. The size of the Burmese force was much larger than the Siamese border guards, so they basically steamrolled them until the king mobilised his forces at a town just outside the capitol of Ayutthaya.

Suriyothai accompanied her husband into battle on a smaller war elephant (because horses weren’t really common in the region), dressed in male military attire. The King and a viceroy of the Burmese army engaged in single combat, which was pretty much cut short when the King’s elephant decided it wasn’t having any of it and charged away from the viceroy.

Of course, the viceroy gave chase, and Suriyothai decided to charge her elephant to save her husband’s life. The Burmese viceroy, unaware that he was fighting a woman, cut her down together with her daughter who was behind her. While Suriyothai died in that battle, her sacrifice drove her sons to ward off the viceroy, while their father the king rallied the army and managed to retreat from certain doom.

Her story was made into a 2001 Thai movie (with much creative discretion), “The Legend of Suriyothai”.

#movies #style

5 Star Trek characters' alternative Singaporean careers

Captain James T. Kirk, portrayed by Chris Pine. (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

Starfleet's a huge name in the space exploration business in the Star Trek universe, but there comes a time when even the best of employees may wonder what they could've achieved in another life in another industry. With the release of “Star Trek: Beyond” this week, let's take a look at some of the Enterprise's leading characters and what some of their alternative Singaporean careers might have been in a different world.

James T. Kirk, the national football coach

The reboot’s Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) is brash, impulsive, amorous and quite straight to the point. Despite his flaws, he’s also loyal and steadfast (refusing to let Spock die on Nibiru and violating the Prime Directive in the process) and has a knack of somehow getting himself out of messy situations. He doesn’t believe in no-win situations and will use whatever means he has to attempt to achieve victory.

You know who needs those qualities that Kirk displays? Our national football team coach. Singapore facing off against an Asian powerhouse? No problem, Kirk will play some unorthodox formation and come away with a win (or at least a respectable draw). Media attention getting to the team? Coach Kirk will charm all the reporters with his honeyed words and a wink. Lions underperforming? Kirk will probably take to the field and show them how to get things done.

“Bones” McCoy (Karl Urban) and Spock (Zachary Quinto). (Photo: Paramount Pictures via AP)

Spock, the transport "fixer"

The half-Vulcan, half-human Spock (Zachary Quinto) exhibits cold, rational logic, but at times can be capable of passion and, well, rage. Often the voice of reason, Spock’s intellect makes him more than capable of handling any number of roles -- programming the Kobayashi Maru, being second-in-command, bloodying Benedict Cumberbatch’s glorious mug, etc.

But for Star Trek’s space elf, there’s one role in Singapore which he could so entirely thrive in, and it’s something which is much needed. Yep, Spock would be the perfect transport fixer. Train breakdowns? Spock’s logic will get to the bottom of it, probably in the process eliminating several other potential issues before they have even surfaced. Problems getting all parties to see eye-to-eye and in the same direction? Vulcan mind meld. Someone still annoyingly refusing to see reason? Vulcan nerve pinch.

Leonard "Bones" McCoy, the post-graduate lecturer

Ah, good old Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Karl Urban). The Chief Medical Officer of the Enterprise is a loyal friend, a bit melodramatic at times, but ultimately a good guy. He might not have backed Kirk publicly when Spock was acting captain on the Enterprise in the first film, but knew well enough to voice his displeasure in private. He’s also got an unorthodox streak in him, willing to break protocol for the greater good.

Sure, McCoy would make a good doctor, but his calling has to go beyond that. Professional expertise aside, McCoy has the tempering of a great educator and mentor, which is why he’d probably feel at home among as a lecturer to post-graduate students. Plus, he delivers the best one-liners amongst the Enterprise crew, so he’s also perfect viral video material.

Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana) and Hikaru Sulu (John Cho). (Photo: Paramount Pictures via AP)

Nyota Uhura, the journalist

Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana) serves as the Enterprise’s communications officer and specialises in xenolinguistics. She can differentiate between two similar-sounding languages (Romulan and Vulcan), she can speak calmly in a foreign language when facing impending doom. She's also got a knack of getting her way, like when she got her assignment to the Enterprise or when she talked Kirk into letting her attempt to negotiate with the Klingons on Qo'noS.

Her skills would make her excellent in any communications field, but there's perhaps one where her willingness to stand up to bureaucratic red tape would stand out -- journalism. Uhura already has an advantage in linguistics (she could surely have easily translated all those Thai newspaper reports about the Stanchart robbery suspect), she knows when to use the facts at hand to support a conclusion, and she's not afraid to let people know when they're in the wrong.

Hikaru Sulu, radio DJ/host

Hikaru Sulu's (John Cho) progressive role in the Star Trek universe aside, the helmsman of the Enterprise has many endearing qualities. He's a skilled fencer, he's more than capable of delivering some Game of Thrones-esque monologues about destroying people, and he's willing to voice an opinion, even an unpopular one, when it's the right thing to do (such as when he backed Kirk up as acting first officer in the first Star Trek movie).

Sure, he did start off by forgetting to remove the dampeners, but that might have ultimately saved the Enterprise from the fate suffered by the rest of Starfleet's armada (getting destroyed by the Romulans), so he's got a bit of luck on his side too. Sulu's skills would make him excellent in several departments, but surely his ability to maintain his cool under pressure would be perfect for being on the air in a radio station. Since most radio personalities in Singapore double up as events hosts ever so often, Sulu shouldn't be the exception. And if there's fan trouble or an emergency, you can count on him to say the right things or even lend a helping hand.

“Star Trek Beyond” is currently playing in cinemas around Singapore.

#movies #star trek beyond

Yaacob: Internet curbs for public servants not popular, but right

File photo: Yahoo SIngapore

The government has a duty to protect the data that it possesses, particularly when personal information of citizens is concerned, Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim said on Monday (11 July).

He was defending in Parliament the government’s announcement last month to restrict access to the Internet for all public servants, who will require a separate device to access the web by May 2017.

“IDA’s (Infocomm Development Authority) decision may not be popular, but it is ultimately the right decision,” Yaacob said, responding to questions asked by Marsiling-Yew GRC Member-of-Parliament Alex Yam and Non-Constituency MP Daniel Goh.

Yaacob said that the government had considered other options before making the decision to limit internet access. He added that the one-year transition period to implement the policy will give agencies enough time to adjust their processes.

“There is no reason to believe the effectiveness of agencies will be adversely affected,” Yaacob said.

On whether the restriction would impact Singapore’s Smart Nation goal, the minister said it was “far from affecting” the initiative, as a “strong cybersecurity provides a strong foundation”.

“In fact, other countries have expressed interest in learning from our experience,” Yaacob said.

The minister also clarified that this move would not resolve all the cybersecurity threats faced by the government.

“As a policy, the government has adopted this as the best way forward for us to ensure that we do not have any more attacks. At the same time, you and I know I cannot promise that… Attackers are becoming more sophisticated, new tools are being developed from the dark side… It’s always very difficult for us to keep ahead.”

#singapore

Trending Blogs

Recently Viewed Blogs

Bryan Huang