Evan

This was brilliantly executed by BBDO New York. I won't add any further commentary to this but take a look for yourself if you haven't checked it out already. 

The Present

Absolutely love this powerful short animation. 


The Present from Jacob Frey on Vimeo.

Lots o' Love, Linda 

What If Feelings Had Feelings?

The most anticipated Pixar film this year is Inside Out! I really wasn't expecting much from this film at all but I was immediately impressed after watching it. 

Even days after, I was still reflecting, watching clips, reading and discussing this film with peers because it really got me deep into thoughts. It triggered all emotions and made me think about the process and significance of our emotions, memories, imagination, childhood (and adult) experiences as well as mental health. 

I was really amazed at how Pete Docter (Monsters, Inc and Up) and his team created this world inside the human brain and managed to pull this off so brilliantly. 

Without giving too much away, I can say that one of the most important lessons I've learned from this was the importance of empathy and emotional intelligence. 

There's also an extra key character that has stolen my heart but has been deliberately excluded from all of the marketing ahead of the movie release. I would say this was a very intelligent move on their part which led to a very delightful surprise indeed. 

Thank you Pete Docter and the Pixar team for creating this wonderful masterpiece! This will go down as one of my top favourite Pixar films of all time. It's a MUST SEE! 

Lots o' Love, Linda

Journey to Freedom

Flags at Cabramatta: Australia and South Vietnam, 2015

30 April, 2015: Today marks 40 years since the end of the controversial Vietnam War that ended in 1975. To some, it may be a day of celebration as some would call it "Reunification Day" as South and North Vietnam were on its way to unify and become one. 

Among many others like my family, it's a day to commemorate the Fall of Saigon. What was then the capital city of South Vietnam, Saigon, was then re-named to Ho Chi Minh City as it fell over to the communist regime of North Vietnam. This regime was what the South Vietnamese fought hard against for decades, but unfortunately left defeated. 

As a result of this, was a large diaspora of the Vietnamese people around the world. The influx of refugees did not only come from Vietnam, but also included other Indo-Chinese countries such as Laos and Cambodia when times were also turbulent. 

These people had lost faith in their homeland and risked their lives as they began their journey to freedom in foreign land. Most of them traveled by small overcrowded fishing boats. They weren't exactly sure where they were going and making it out on the other side alive was not guaranteed, but they took the risk anyway. 

Among these "boat people", was my mother. She managed to flee Vietnam and eventually resettle into Australia after staying in a refugee camp with one of her sisters and one niece.  

And then I was born. I was the first person in my family to be born and grow up in a country outside Vietnam. There's no reason why I shouldn't feel fortunate and grateful to be born and experience the comforts of growing up in Australia. 

One of the real heroes at the time was the late Malcolm Fraser who played a key role in having a big enough heart to open the doors for the Indo-Chinese refugees into Australia. If it wasn't for him, the descendants of Vietnamese refugees just like myself wouldn't even be here today, literally. So, for that, I'm forever thankful. 

My mum doesn't really talk about this stuff in detail with me about the Vietnam War and her journey to Australia, so she may think I'm oblivious to these important events. Although, I may have taken it forgranted growing up not fully understanding the circumstances on where my mother came from and why so many films, literature and highschool studies had so much emphasis on the Vietnam War and the extent of controversy it caused.

Now that I'm older and continue to grow, I make time to continue to learn and understand more about my roots while learning to have more compassion about world issues, especially when the asylum seeker issue still applies today. 

The Vietnamese or Indo-Chinese community experienced a lot of struggle and hardship, meanwhile copping criticism. Especially at one point when we were perceived as a nuisance "swamping Australia with Asians" who have "their own culture and religion, form ghettos and do not assimilate". So, I'm proud to see how far we came as a community to help transform Australia into the diverse country it is today. 

Having discussions with a lot of my Vietnamese friends from my generation made me realise how very few knew anything about the Vietnam War. I find it as an insult to those who risked (and lost) their lives fighting for freedom by not understanding or appreciating a little bit of our history. I may not be fully knowledgeable but neither am I too ignorant. And, that's the least I can do for mine and the next generation. 

Forty years since the Fall of Saigon, and people outside the country are still fighting against the current government in favour for democracy in Vietnam. You will never see the yellow flag with red stripes which represents South Vietnam in Vietnam anymore but we still like to rep it around the world with pride. And, Ho Chi Minh City will always be Saigon to us. 

Anyway, be thankful with where you are now but never forget where you came from and how far you have come, especially for your parents. 

Lots o' Love, Linda 

My mother (L) with fellow protesters making noises against the communist government of Vietnam in Canberra (30 April, 2011). 

I Stand For Mercy

Illustration by John Shakespeare via Sydney Morning Herald 

It was in the year 2005 when we lost our fellow Australian, Van Tuong Nguyen to the death penalty in Singapore as a result of drug trafficking. Now, in less than 24 hours, the world could lose two more Australians facing with the same fate in Indonesia. 

It's hard to believe that currently in the year 2015, there are still countries around the world which still implement this form of punishment. Naturally, this issue of capital punishment has got the world divided on whether its morally right or wrong. I personally think it's socially, ethically and morally wrong and very inhumane in every sense. Of course, not everyone will agree with me on this one. 

However, over the years, I have come to realisation that there are probably two kinds of offences (and only two offences) why I may actually support the death penalty, and these are; serial murderers and sex offenders. Other than those, I support the complete removal of the death penalty in all countries worldwide. 

Yes, I'm aware that Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan should've known better, and that they are paying the ultimate price for their mistake of supporting the illegal drug industry. And, they may have also shown complete disregard for the welfare of its addicts and victims who pay the even more ultimate price. However, I believe in being compassionate to make the world a better place, and hope for their lives to be spared.

These Bali Nine leaders were only in their 20's when it happened, hence they were still young and naive. And, have we forgotten that they have already lost their freedom for nearly 10 years? So, what was the point of having them imprisoned for that long, only to be executed at the end? I hardly think these men are the same two men when they first entered those jail cells. They have changed, learned and grown. If anything, they could possibly represent strength and successful rehabilitation and become full contributing citizens for society. 

Regardless of how you feel, whether you're for or against, please spare a thought for these two (and others currently on death row) and their loved ones. 

Lots o' Love, Linda