I know i'm a little late, but better late than never and yes i caught this movie today thanks to the technology that is DVD, which has aided in immortalizing movies. Watched it at GV Home after watching a bit of it at James' place. I guess the draw of the movie is the fact that it's based in a terminal, a place where many have been to before, but few have truly ventured into. And it shows a side of us, a side that is so used to the routine, that is so efficient that every person passing through becomes just another part of that routine. And yet, beneath that impersonal side of us, we are capable of compassion and breaking down walls. It's a really good movie with a nice plot yah. And Steven Spielberg works his magic as usual.

*

"Are you okay?"

I think one of the trickiest questions in life is not those deeply questioning ones that aims to find out more about life or solve life's complex issues, but one that we use very so often - "Are you okay?" And by convention, there are only two possible answers to that question, a yes or a no.

The one questioning, what answer do you hope to get? On one hand, you hope that your friend is feeling fine, that he/she is not having a very great problem, and hence you hope the answer would be a resounding "yes". But when your friend says "yes", you begin to question the authenticity of the answer and you being to ask whether he/she is saying so just to dismiss your question, just to get you to change the topic and of course, the asymmetry of information here means that you can only take your friend's word for it.

As the person answering, we are often so inclined to just say "yes", even when we're not feeling ok, perhaps because you don't feel like sharing or perhaps you want help, but you are hesitant, knowing that saying "no" will cause the questioner to worry. Perhaps all you want is someone to help solve the problem and not share it.

*

I read in Reader's Digest that many studies have shown that coffee can have a positive effect on the brain, possibly preventing Alzheimer's disease and other degenerative illnesses of the brain. Yet, we often know of how madly addicted some coffee addicts can be, so much so that they cannot function properly if they haven't had their coffee for the day. And it's amazing how such a bitter drink like coffee (and another bitter drink, beer) can become arguably the most drank beverage in the world. Perhaps its something to do with showing you have class and status. But for many of our younger selfs, the moment where we are "allowed" to sample coffee makes us feel like a grown up. Perhaps coffee is drank as a rite of passage from young to old, a measure of a person's maturity.

And the appeal of coffee may rest in the fact that we're eager to "grow up". Yet, ironically, we're fighting a battle with time everyday. While we are eager to grow up in our younger days, adults would go on to lament the passing of time, the demise of their youth - be it in terms of looks, heart or spirit. Truly, age is something that defies the laws of gravity. Perhaps life is just that one great irony.

Personally, i like coffee, although i cannot fathom why i have not been put off by its bitter taste. However, i'm also no great coffee conoisseur or addict, i just enjoy it for the drink it is. Do i feel more grown up drinking it? Sometimes. But coffee truly rocks, when its cold and you have endured 2 hours of training like on Saturday. Never mind that it felt very construction worker-like to be drinking coffee while working.

And be warned, the horrors of Nescafe Gold coffee.

Anyway, anyone wanna catch the Lakehouse?