tnppostwoman.com archives

Jeanmarie Says: So the Academy Awards are over, after months of speculation whether the granddaddy of awards shows would even take place. Ironically however, Oscar wasn’t scoring any gold last weekend. According to Nielsen Media Research, last Sunday’s three-hour-long ceremony averaged only 32 million viewers. That is the lowest since ratings began in 1974.

So what’s wrong, Oscar?

Perhaps we can blame the prolonged writer’s strike which crippled Hollywood for months. The writers made it back in time for the ceremony but the jokes were hardly inspiring. And who really cared much about this year’s nominees - No Country For Old Men, There Will Be Blood, Michael Clayton, La Vie En Rose. Yawn! Did anybody even catch them and did we even want to? I yearn for the days when Oscars were about big stars and big box office favourites. Films like Lord Of The Rings: Return Of The King, Titanic, Braveheart and even Shakespeare In Love.

So how do we fix the Oscars? I say, let’s bring back hosts Whoopi Goldberg and Steve Martin who are actually funny and can carry a decent show. And forget Jon Stewart. He’s lame, his jokes fall flat and he’s not well-known in Asia. Or better yet, let’s just force Brangelina to turn up every year. That’ll guarantee billions of eyeballs (even in Africa) turning in.

Tell Us: Why do you think the Oscars are not bringing in eyeballs anymore? And if you could, how would you fix it?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

Raven Says: Is it just me, or does the hot top celebrity platter seem to be getting more and more ethnically mixed?

Cameron Diaz is Cuban-American/Anglo-German, Johnny Depp is Cherokee Indian/Irish/German, Rosario Dawson is Puerto Rican/Afro-Cuban/Irish/Native American, Halle Berry is African American/English, rising superstar Maggie Q is Vietnamese/French/Irish/Polish and popular newcomer supermodel Chanel Iman is Korean/African-American. And that’s just to name a few.

A lot of the hotties at the top seem to be mixed these days, whether in blood or nationality. This, in my eyes, along with the not-altogether-unexpected vanguard of Asians in Gucci and Chanel’s international campaigns seems a prophecy of things to come; we’ve reached the tipping point of globalisation. From this point on, borders will blur more than ever, our screens and advertisements will be filled with ethnically ambiguous characters, and more than anything we’ll have highlighted the fact that the world really is smaller than it was ten years ago.

Tell Us: What do you think of these ethnically-mixed celebrities?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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LETTERS VIA E-MAIL

This new trend isn’t groundbreaking in any sense.  Globalization has
been a regular phenomenon since the dawn of time. From international super powers such as the US to an emerging tiny red dot like Singapore, we are all countries of immigrants. When there is such racial and social integration, inter-racial marriages are going to be the norm.

There is a Chinese saying which goes ” It doesn’t matter if the cat
has fair or dark fur, it’s a good cat as long as it’s capable of
catching rats.” I believe the same goes for ethically-mixed
celebrities and and non-mixed celebrities alike. If they are good
enough, they will be popular.Ethically-mixed celebrities are just a
tiny subset of all the mixed races folks around.I don’t see Lunzahovic Alfonso the Russian Spanish bread seller making a name for himself despite his heritage. The only reasons why celebrities are popular and prominent are the fact that they possess tremendous talents,the abilities to build up rapport and to strike up a chord with the community, not because of their skin color.

To put things into perspective, Johnny Depp is immensely popular and sort after not because he is a Cherokee Indian/Irish/German. He is sort after because he has the flexibility to take on different roles in different movie genres.He can play a quirky villain or a twisted hero equally well. Who can forget his morbid take of Sweeney Todd the blood thirsty revenger or his breath taking performance as Captain Jack sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbeans?

As long as quality productions are churned out as regularly as
chocolate bars from Willy Wonka’s Chocolate factory,i wouldn’t care less whatever nationality and ethnic group the talents hail from. Would you?

Peng Tie Lun

May Choon Says: What a week it has been, what with Lydia Sum’s death and Edison Chen finally returning to face the music.

So what’s next for the man in the middle of Hong Kong’s hottest sex scandal? Edison has declared he will “step away” from the Hong Kong entertainment scene “indefinitely”. But can he really stay away?

Word is that he’ll try his luck in Hollywood. It probably isn’t such a long shot. After all, don’t forget, this guy was born and bred in Vancouver, Canada and speaks English with an American accent. And he’s got those boyish looks and cute, lopsided smile - a surefire winner in Tinseltown. Don’t forget, People magazine once listed him on their annual Top 50 list of Beautiful People.

But can he make it in Hollywood? The Grudge 2 was no show-stopper and his minor role in the next Batman instalment, The Dark Knight, seems to be up in the air. And well, he’s really done nothing else over there.

Maybe his “I quit” statement was just a desperate effort to win public sympathy. Netizens and fellow showbiz personalities had labelled his act of fleeing the country after the scandal broke as irresponsible, so announcing his departure from the scene seems to have been the right thing to do.

Tell Us: Is it over for Edison Chen’s career? Do you think he can make it in Hollywood? And does him quitting Hong Kong showbiz get your sympathy?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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LETTERS VIA E-MAIL

No, in a business where scandals are a dime a dozen, I doubt this one’s going to have any permanent effect on Edison’s career - or the careers of the women involved -probably just the career of the guy who put the pictures out. The public is very fickle; they forget very quickly. So they are not going to hold this against him for long, if they ever were. Anyway, morally, the public does not expect much of showbiz personalities.

Let’s see how long Edison stays out of Hong Kong showbiz. In showbiz, where there’s no such thing as bad publicity, Edison seems to be making the most of this situation by being melodramatic, first appearing to be the victim and claiming he needs to be `healed’ (what a copycat - Mel Gibson came up with that one), then announcing he will quit. No apparent concern for the women in the photos. So, no, he does not have my sympathy. And no, I don’t think this melodrama would get him a role in a daytime soap in Hollywood either.

Sui Yin

Based on those movies he acted, he didn’t seem to have a lead role but I do feel he does has the potential in acting even with the recent sex scandal which has portrayed him as a “bad guy”.

Pursing his career in Hollywood may not seems to be a wise choice but it definitely not a bad choice either. His image in Asian’s eyes may take a roller-coater period to heal. But I hope he’ll survive in the show buzz business and grow even better and stronger. After all, I do not think he should be the blame for the sex scandal.

Shirley Ng

I foresee him lying low for a significant amount of time.He will probably make a come back of sorts when the storm has died down,however the entertainment scene is very volatile and the only constant element is change.By the time the scandal is done and dusted, his prominence will have suffered a severe dip and he may be at a point of no return.

I don’t see him doing well in Hollywood either, Asian actors are still a relative minority. The only male leads who have done well are world renowned martial artists.Edison is clearly no push over but he is neither Jet Lee nor Jackie Chan. The novelty of being an Asian artiste will soon die down and Tinseltown will realize that he’s virtually forced there beyond his own free will. His promiscuous lifestyle isn’t likely to change and he may be hanging out with third rated starlets instead of acting up a storm in a movie studio. Scoring on that front hardly constitutes any kind of success as a self-respecting artiste.

I don’t think he ‘quited’ to gather sympathy. He is a multi-millionaire who can afford to instantly retire and engage in a life of luxury, even at this tender age. I believe he left because he doesn’t want to face the music for a prolonged period and is keen to leave the moment investigations are over. He probably returned to HK to fulfill his judicial obligations and his ‘confession’ is just a marriage of convenience.

It’s his prerogative to have one night stands, as a man he will be able to ride out the storm eventually. My heart goes out to the ladies who may have a hard time facing the public again.We’re an Asian society after all.Who says life is fair?

Peng Tie Lun

I personally don’t think that it will be the end of Edison’s career. The nude photos’ incident can only proof that he has a special “hobby” if the girls in the photos took them willingly,and yes, Edison is a playboy,but he had never tried to present a holy and innocent image to the public from the very first day when he was introduced to the public.He can only be blamed for being careless and too naive to trust the outsiders’moral. Or maybe there are some darker side hiden that will cause misfortune if being exposed,and this we will not know.But just for the photos and videos,the Hollywood side will only consider him as a playboy, and it’s not a big deal in there, just like the actor who had some indecent deal with a prostitute in a car,and the actor still made big in the showbiz industry nowadays. Edison can still try to go into the Hollywood and Japan industry. His company can even produce shows to! gether with different countries showbiz companies so that Edison can still go back to Hong Kong to promote himself as a guest,anyway human being tend to be forgetful and will go on seeking something new.But hope that Edison really repent on causing so much hurt to the girls in the photos.

Josephine Koh

Avis Says: For Hong Kong entertainment, last week marked the end of an era with the passing of much-loved comedienne Lydia Sum.

As one of the showbusiness pioneers, she practically “grew up” with the Hong Kong audience. With over 70 movies and TVB shows under her belt over a span of 47 years, she is best remembered for being a bubbly host and a comic actress. And in an industry where looks is paramount, Fei Fei had no qualms laughing at her figure and and making fun of her weight. Singaporeans will also remember Lydia during her stint here in the Channel 5 sit-com Living With Lydia. Her effusive personality, enthusiasm for life and food, and infectious laughter were the trademarks of one of Hong Kong’s greatest celebrities.

But in sickness, another side of Lydia surfaced. She shunned the media, choosing to maintain her privacy and dignity by moving to a service apartment and lashed out when the Hong Kong paparazzi published unflattering photographs of her. Even her last swansong won’t be for the benefit of the media glare. Lydia’s last wish was to be buried in Vancouver in a private ceremony on 1 Mar. A public memorial will be held the following day in Hong Kong.

Her message to her fans seems to be this: Remember me as the happy, bubbly personality. Not the gaunt, sickly wheelchair-bound picture of a woman past her prime.

Tell Us: What are your fondest memories of Lydia Sum?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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LETTERS VIA E-MAIL

As Fei Fei belongs in 60’s era consists of good looking hunks Tse Yin and Lui Kei, she is able to steal lime light from them in the shows that include babes like Siu Fong Fong, Chan Poh Chee and Sit Kar Yin.

As an actress, Fei Fei best remembered for comical roles that also spoof characters from other movies.Examples like as fat version of pretty ghost Nie Xiao Chien of Chinese ghost Story, Wonder Woman, Lady Black rose and so forth.

As a talk show host, Fe Fei is able to converse with guests whether they have any issues with her or controversies from the past.Example is debut episode with her ex-husband Adam Cheng.

As a compere in charity shows, Fei Fei can convince public to donate more money and at the same time get the best out of performing artistes in order to attract more donors.It is Fei Fei’s sincerity like giving thanks to donor in their native Shanghainese language is one of the reasons why repetitve donors keep on giving generously in charity shows which she host.

Fei Fei’s laughter together with her frankness, sincerity, kindness and the joy she brings to people around her will be sadly missed.

Chester Low

What I remember about Lydia … well, really not much, but her death did strike me somehow. That’s because I was on set with her on episode 13, Season 2 of “Living with Lydia”.

That episode was about some school PTA, and Lydia brought along some fishballs … there was commotion and then FOOD FIGHT!! … I remember when she arrived on set … she had that presence about her … those dark plastic-frame glasses and large hairdo! She was very relaxed .. very professional about it … there were several takes, but she just went on and delivered her lines so well.

I was only metres away from her, but there was fun and cheers in the air … the mood on set was warm and she even gave some ideas how certain things could be done. I remember the director was Irani (or something) — she was the neighbour in “Under One Roof”. It was about the closest I got, but that experience was memorable.

Even though I did not know her personally, and also because I seldom watch chinese programmes, Lydia left us too suddenly. She had a lot of hurt inside of her but yet she pushed through. She loved her daughter very much (she accompanied Mommy on set too!).

I have lots of admiration for her, and her professionalism. She will be dearly missed.

Colin Yeo

Sheela Says: Add the CString to the list of loopy lingerie along with the crotchless underwear or the bumless panties.

In case you don’t know what it is, it’s the latest thing to hit the US and Europe. Made out of a plastic frame with fabric sewn over it, it’s like wearing a sanitary pad instead of a pair of panties. Its maker claims it’s like you’re wearing nothing at all and it will get rid of that visible panty line syndrome that fashionistas hate, as well as remove unsightly tan lines when you don it while baking under the sun.

Frankly, I don’t think Olympic swim teams will be taking this on as official competition wear anytime soon. After all, there is no place to put their countries’ flags. But what about sun worshippers here?

While I can imagine it would work well for a nudist beach in Europe or South America, it would be a scandal of an Edison Chen proportion if a woman wore it on Palawan beach or at the poolside of her Hougang condominium. It will just be courting an indecency charge and much public outcry, no matter how hot you look.

Tell us: Is the CString too much? Do you think it is sexy? Would you dare to wear it as a swimsuit?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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LETTERS VIA E-MAIL

The CString seems like a perfectly reasonable piece of lingerie when it is worn as it’s intended to be, as an underwear. I have no qualms for fashionistas to embrace this new innovation, all the power to them if it reduces unsightly panty lines while they are dressed to kill.

It is clearly designed as a competitor to g-strings due to their similarity in aesthetics and functionality. If g-strings had gained worldwide acceptance, one less string isn’t going to make the CString talk of the town just because it is marginally sexier and skimpier .

It is indeed very sensual and can make folks drop to their knees in awe when worn by a shapely person. But what about plus sized folks?Only small and medium sizes are available on sale and that already filters out a good percentage of their potential target audience.Are they saying that only the slim and svelte should use this product?I believe that it would have been a far superior marketing move to make them available in all sizes from the word ‘go’ . The manufacturers has the right to choose their target audience, but antagonizing masses of folks shouldn’t be the way to go. Imagine a plus sized lady who finds the concept of Cstring fascinating, only to be bitterly disappointed as she has a few extra pounds?

Singapore may have frequently been depicted as a succicent blend of the east and the west,however i feel that we are not quite as liberal as it seems. It would be pure insanity to wear it as a swim suit as it is. However, under the sheets in the privacy of the room. It will be up to my whims and fancies.

Peng Tie Lun

It looks ugly and uncomfortable: that’s enough to put anyone off even thinking about trying or buying it. One of the main reasons the G string is as popular as it is that it looks sexy even though it may not feel entirely comfortable. Ditto for stilettos. This C string on the other hand looks purely functional - though I have my doubts about its usefulness. Then there’s the psychological barrier of the fear of it falling off. I don’t think it will take off here. VPL isn’t a frequent problem here considering the puffy skirt fad hasn’t yet deflated. Skimpy isnt’t the norm on beaches here either. And what do you do with it when you need to go to the toilet? Women usually have enough in their hands and around their shoulders; they don’t need a garment that requires an extra pair of hands to handle when in the toilet.

Josephine Low

Whether the Cstring is going to be accepted in the public eye is a controversial topic. It may be a hit in the US and Europe however, the chances of it being a hit in Singapore are slim. The Cstrings’ only difference to G-string is that there is no band connecting the front and the back of the lingerie. We have to be contemplative and think about whether this is going to be a good or a bad thing.

No doubt, it would help solve the problem of women who want to wear tight pants and and look good without having to worry about people gawking at their panty line however,it is disconcerting that there will always be people, teenagers, youths who tend to take things to the next level and cause a big mayhem about the Cstring. There are bound to be youths who will openly wear the Cstring in public and this might cause a big ‘hoo-ha’ and result in even more media coverage on the topic of the Cstring. Singapore has always been known as a society which is considered ‘closed’ to indecency in the public eye and the Cstring happens to fall under the category of ‘indecency’.

To wear the Cstring as a swimsuit would be over the top and would cause a stir amongst the people. This might even ‘help’ Singaporeans to ‘conquer’ their fear of being in the public nude and this might encourage them to bare more and wear less which might even lead to rape and/or molest cases which whould just make things even more chaotic. Even if it helps get an even tan line which is attractive for women who likes getting an even tan, even if they are to wear it in the comfort of their private swimming pool or tanning areas to bask in the open, there would always be those indecent people who would take candid shots of them and post it on the net without them realising and the next thing they know, they’re on the front page.

Therefore, i feel that Cstring, like G-string, should be banned from being worn in public without any clothing covering it as it would just lead to more cases which violates Singapore laws.

It is considered a sexy piece of lingerie which would stir up interest in women but it only comes in small and medium sizes which would no doubt, offend those who happen to be plumer but a bit and even in Singapore, the rate of obesity are rather high although it can’t be compared to the US but there are always the plumer ones whom already have taken much ridicule from ther fellow classmates, friends or collegues but if they happen to take interest in this uncomfortable looking, funny shaped piece of undergarment only to realise it doesn’t come in thier size it would bruise their ego even more.

In my opinion, Cstring is just going to cause more problems for the Singapore’s society.

Tan Hui Zhen

Wendy Says: You’ve been constantly reading about them. You’ve probably seen their pictures too, most of them unfortunately explicit.

Actresses like Gillian Chung, Cecilia Cheung, Bobo Chan, Vincy Yeung and perhaps Maggie Q have found their names dragged into mud with the onslaught of the various nude pictures released from what was obviously a private collection of Edison Chen.

Gillian and Bobo had their virginal image smashed to smithereens instantly with the release of the photos. Cecilia’s marriage to Nicholas Tse is on the rocks, thanks to the untimely scandal. Not only did the photos shock us, it also served as proof that some past rumours about so-and-so dalliances were actually true after all.

Tell Us: Now that the actresses’ private bits are being discussed and scrutinised by netizens worldwide, how can they survive the humiliation?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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LETTERS VIA E-MAIL

The stars can reverse, or at least avoid negative publicity by either hiding away or appearing bravely.

Cecilia Cheung should stay out of the limelight and sort out her
crumbling marriage with Nicholas Tse. She is apparently nursing her second child anyway, and could use some peace.Talk about good timings.

Bobo Chan has been out of the spotlight for ages, her fame coming from the fact that she was once an item with Edison. Now that this fame has turned to notoriety, she should just shy away from public appearances and eventually she will be a no body once again.

Gillian Chung has lost her virginal image and can’t do anything about it.Since she can’t hide it, she might as well flaunt it. Her next album will be boosted by an influx of interest and maybe Ang Lee can keep her in mind when he decides to direct another sensual flick.She might want to consider releasing a photography collection of herself while she’s at it. Nothing about her is sacred anymore.

Vincy Yeung can burrow a hole in the ground and hide until the cows come home but that wouldn’t change the fact that she may be investigated alongside Edison for her dubious, possibly under aged showering photographs. Hence she might as well try to work things out with Edison.

Maybe Vincy, Edison, Cecilia and Nicholas can book in a holiday chalet and attempt to thrash things out, couple to couple. Actually considering Nichola’s hot temper and wild Testosterone levels,it may not be a good idea unless we fancy seeing Edison getting a bloody nose.

Maggie Q can happily flaunt her sexy photographs as it is, she’s in the clean anyway.. for now.

With luck and the right cause of action,maybe their stardom will rise instead of fall,Shuqi or an infamous Taiwanese Minister anyone?

Peng Tie Lun

Can the celebrities survive the humiliation? I believe that the celebrites will still survive despite the photos of them and Edsion Chen having sex is leaked out in internet and almost everyone knew about it. As long as they dare to face up to the world, know that this is what they have done and caused for themselves. Maybe they took the photo because they are too ‘ high ‘ at that point of them, but what done cannot be undone. They must think of the consequences if the photo ever exposed in the public. Survive or not depends on the strong thinking in their mind, if they still thinks that the humiliation had destroyed their life, they will never recover from the sudden attack of the leaking of photos which started in around January 26, 2008.

Is this the end of thier careers? There will always be a boss of the careers, why d! o the boss want to cancel all the performance and etc when this humiliation for them started? Because their fame had been destroyed? Because everyone is commenting about them? Because afraid of the company being pulled down by them? How selfish can the company be to actually ‘throw’ them out of the company because of this incident. Didn’t they have sex before but just difference by not taking any photos while having it. And obviously from the photo, Edison were the one who took the photos of their sex process and their nude photos, why blame the girls? Due to the company of respective celebrities were being selfish, that’s why this will be the end of their careers. Maybe the celebrites will lose their fame, but they can rebuild it. Just like how did they become of famous from a small actress and slowly to be the main actress of the movie.

Kheo Yan Shan

Over the past wks, we have seen news and articles via media reporting pics of Edison Chen and various female artists being published.

I would like to comment that those ppl who did those acts, have they ever respect others privacy? Ever wonder that the victim might be you? (Be it if you are an artist or a commoner?) With all the pics widely and wildly cirrculated? Havin to face all the comments passed around the world?

I juz hope that the law gets into the hands of this ppl who published them out and compensate Edison and the affect artists.

Davine Low

Raven Says: Okay, Valentine’s Day is on 14 Feb. So let’s talk about love. But can you give your partner too much love?

I mean, as women we all know about self-sacrifice and wanting to make our mate happy, but where do we draw the line? Is it when friends and family start asking about our relationship, with concerns that it’s ‘one sided’? Is it when you realise that they’ve made an effort to change but still stay out way too late when you’ve already made dinner? Or is it merely a bad joke while out at a nice restaurant together?

Somehow, suddenly, we realize we’ve given them too much love; our eyes open to the fact that our niceties are taken for granted and our little gifts unwrapped with expectation instead of excitement. And then what? What recourse do we have in this negative stream of our own creation? I think that realisation is the first step: realising that you’re giving too much and being appreciated too little.

At the end of the day, we must acknowledge and remember that to spoil someone is exactly that- spoiling the person that we fell in love with by drowning them in affection; like a fruit left to soak in water over time.

Tell Us: Is it possible to love someone too much? When is it just enough or when does it become excessive? Has it happened to you before?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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LETTERS VIA E-MAIL

Firstly, to love somebody means that you are willing to make sacrifices for the person you love and you are willing to try all means to make that person happy. Yes, it is possible to love someone too much, but it should be done by the right way. For example, if you love a person so much, you will be willing to do anything for the person to make him or her happy. When the person is happy, you will be happy as well. If it is done the wrong way, then the relationship may become excessive or one-sided. An excessive relationship occurs when one party is too anxious about the other party that he or she keeps wanting to know where the other party is. It will lead the person to feel really insecure and the person may find him or her a nuisance. It will lead to a bad relationship and a break-up seems inevitable. A one-sided relationship occurs when only one party loves another party. It will lead to the person keep bothering the other person, doing things for him or her which the oth! er person may not like it, and finds it irritating. In conclusion, in order to have a healthy relationship, there must be adequate trust and understanding between both parties. This will also avoid jealousy and hatred from occuring.

Ivan Tan Yee Shu

Love is one of the first emotions known to humanity and it has stemmed uncountable pieces of literature due to it’s profound and diversified nature. First loves,initial eye contacts and fatal attractions are all events that are irreversible and unforgettable in the hearts and minds of people. Why is this emotion so wide ranging and powerful?

It can grab hold of our senses and turn normally unflappable personalities into forlorn love addicts. It gives us a high not unlike any other mind numbing activities.
Whether it is possible to love too much depends on one’s perspective of love. One man’s meat is another man’s poison. One lover may likes to spoil his sweetheart rotten while another may feel that due restraint is the way to go. I personally do not think it is possible to love too much. I define love as a bottomless pit of affection and desires which is at times without due consideration of other factors.

It is very difficult to be objective when one is head over heels in love with another. One shouldn’t have too much of a good thing, let lone too much love. If i can’t give my all for someone, i do not consider myself to be truly in love.

That definition of love may not be inherently healthy.When someone is totally in love, he loses all senses of logic. At that point his love had become excessive. His feels as if his blood beats in the pulse of his lover and does everything possible to please her. He may become selfish to other people and situations. He may be a great lover but a terrible friend and son.That does not bode well for the health of his inter-personal relationships.

Hence I believe that ideally , one must not lose his senses while in love, even if it means not being totally submerged within. If a man can defy all that he holds true and relinquishes all his good sense and direction in the name of love, it is simply too much.

I haven’t loved anyone to the extent of losing my senses. For the sanity of everyone, i hope that never happens.

Peng Tie Lun

Would like to comment on the question wondered by Ms Raven Hanson: Can you love someone too much? When does a relationship become excessive or one sided? Can you love someone too much? Yes. Looking at my past(i was with another guy for more than 6yrs) before i married my husband, he’s really a gem!

He doesnt bring up my past during our little arguments, even though i do. For this fact, I do love him too much!
When does a relationship become excessive or one sided?
Usually relationship in love has to be of common level. Both need to grow to love each other equally knowing each other’s character very well. It become excessive or one sided when one refuse to communicate on same level of love language due to various reasons, then the other one will get ignored and feel lonely even when he/she has so much love for her/him. Usually the relationship turns sour due to reasons for eg, suspicious over partner, lack of spending time with each other due to other heavy commitment or loose interest in life due to other problems.

When such situation arise, it is best for the couple to spend some time alone and talk to each other to get their relationship back to track for a happier life.

R Krishnakumari

A relationship takes two hands to clap. It is not possible to love your other half too much, unless his or her love is not reciprocated. With that, by showering someone with too much love, it becomes excessive and the relationship ends up being one-sided. There’s no such thing as loving someone too much. There is such a thing, though, as too much smothering. And smothering can definitely scare someone away. When you love someone, you want what’s best for the person. In contrast, when you smother, you prioritize your own needs for closeness or connection, as opposed to what the other person wants or needs. Therefore, making the other half retreat.

When someone distance themself from the relationship, the other party would either try means and ways to mend the widening gap or go cold and give up. In both ways, it would occur to them that they had put in much effort but yet having received no attention. In fact, it does not strike them that they had in fact been smothering and not loving. They then end up with the conclusion that they had loved too much. Those who hang on dearly to the relationship would become what the society define as ‘desperate’. From that point on, a relationship will go downhill, becoming overly excessively and leading it towards being one-sided.

Love is equal. Without gaining a basic balance in a relationship, both parties will not get to enjoy the tender affection and boundless joy love can give. Loving is not to suffer, loving is not a chore, loving is to give and receive.

Jodi Eng

Raven Says: Tomorrow is Chinese New Year, and I wait with bated breath to find out if it will be all that we’ve hoped for. Something tells me that it will be… but then again I get that feeling every Chinese New Year. There’s something so NEW about it, so pristine and clean; you can’t help but love it all over again, forgiving the previous year for whatever it faltered in, and wishing wide eyed for dreams to be delivered by the animal guardian of the new days.

I read my Chinese horoscope last year and it was SO spot on that I’ve been hooked ever since. This year’s has been released and I’ve greedily sucked it up, finding an alarming amount of comfort in the vague shadows of prophesy.

But I’ve had crappy experiences in the past with other methods of fortune telling; being told I’ll land a job that I interviewed for but it falls through, being warned about joys to come that never arrive, money potential that stays in the distance.

I don’t go to find my horoscope any more, and only read one from the newspaper, but I do wonder whether knowing your fortune in some way changes it. If we think that something is a sure thing, do we make less of an effort? May we unintentionally ruin our own chances?

Nonetheless I’m super excited about the impending new year, and wish you the very best for the vast new Year of The Rat! May all your dreams be realised and if they are not, then may you have an amazing journey chasing them.

Tell us: Have your Chinese zodiac horoscopes and other methods of fortune-telling been spot on so far - and do you believe in them? What does the Year of the Rat bode for you?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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LETTERS VIA E-MAIL

Horoscopes or horrorscopes, you would choose to call it depending on the day, month of annual forecast of each individual. I have to admit the horoscope is one of the pages I thumbed through the first when I get my copy of must-read magazines and newspapers. It’s intriguing and with the insatiable curiosity of humans, having your fortune told beforehand (plus with some lucky numbers and colours thrown in) never hurts.

Still, many a times, it’s one ear in and one ear out (or, should I say one look and forget the book). I take them with a pinch of salt, not point pulling sulking the whole year if one’s predicted fortune look less rosy than other, you are inevitably allowing the prediction to come true yourself.

Well, I hope the Rat year will be a healthy, busy and prosperous year for me and my love ones and friends are happy and safe. Okay, now I need to buy my 6 given lucky numbers for the upcoming TOTO draw. Rats, where did I leave my mag?

Cheryl Sng

Raven Says: Call me a prude, old-fashioned or uptight, but I’ve always believed that there are a few basic guidelines to having a vagina.

1. Don’t walk around in public with your vagina hanging out

2. Don’t sit on anything sharp

3. Don’t photograph your vagina.

This third rule is the most relevant at the moment, and since there are obviously women out there who are unaware of the reason for the rule, we shall clarify the reason that this particular rule makes the list.

If vaginas were meant to be photographed, they’d have teeth and smile for family photos.

It is very unfortunate that the beautiful Ms Cecilia Cheung and the prettier-but-obviously-dafter Twin, Ms Gillian Chung, did not know these basic laws. They appear to be in a spot of trouble because of it. So, I urge you to learn from their mistakes: never ever date Edison Chen, never let the guy keep the film, and remember the Vagina Laws, always.

Tell us: Do you think these female celebs have been victimised? Or do you think they got what they deserved and shouldn’t have taken explicit pictures of themselves (or with Edison Chen) in the first place?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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LETTER VIA E-MAIL

This issue is multi faceted and encompasses multiple issues. Yes, the ladies were victimised. When they were engaging in carnal activities, I bet they never imagined that images of their indiscretion would be plastered all over tabloids for the world to peruse.

Those pictures were certainly not meant for public consumption and they were also victims. However they have an equal share of the blame for the situation they have landed themselves in.

Cecilia is supposedly happily married with pop prince Nichola Tse and this situation has definitely strained their relationship.
Gillian was always perceived to be a wholesome pop star and now her reputation is in tatters.

We are still an Asian society and we may not be as accepting as the American public towards similar scandals. High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens got away with it but I am not sure if Cecilia and Gillian will.
This may leave an eternal black mark on their personal lives from now on.
Let this be a lesson to us all, the global village we are living in is too well connected for us to hide our dirty linens for long.

Peng Tie Lun, 27,Tutor