what's with East Timor

I came across a subject about East Timor from an unexpected article.  I have been reading articles about the Cold War, and there, just like popping from mid-air, the situation of East Timor was mentioned.  What I knew about the country before was that it is a former Portuguese colony, and Indonesian forces invaded it during the time of Indonesian president Suharto.  So it appeared to me that the situation in East Timor was another case of annexation, which is usually associated with economic interests; thus, something not right was going on.  Furthermore, it occurred during problematic times in Portugal leading to its decolonization, so it made me think that the Indonesian government during that time might be taking the opportunity to invade the colony.

The Cold War articles revealed interesting logical connections with the East Timor invasion.  It also revealed that my knowledge about the invasion was very limited.  Yes, it is related to the Cold War in many probable connections such as the case of what has been a fragile relationship between UDT and Fretilin - the two leading nationalist movements aiming for East Timor independence.  UDT is essentially democratic, as the name says; while Fretilin has a program considered to gear towards the left wing (read "East Timor Revisited" for more details).  Fretilin, however, is known to have the greatest public support.

Articles that I have read about the Cold War showed situations wherein superpowers tend to take sides in favor of movements in a foreign country that hold the same ideology as theirs.  Ultimately, they get direct involvement when the clash of ideologies went worse into a war situation, e.g. civil war.  Little did I know that the case with East Timor is somewhat related to the case of Vietnam War, Korean War, Cuba, and Afghanistan.  I think you might be familiar with the scenarios in those countries, and superpowers such as USSR and/or US are visibly involved.  In the case of East Timor, you might be interested to read an article by the Sydney Morning Herald.  Think about how Vietnam was divided into North and South, whereas Korea is until now divided into North and South.  These situations demonstrate acute cases of clashing ideologies.  Afghanistan, on the other hand, has its own Soviet regime when the communist forces prevailed in that country sometime in its history.  A more popular case is Cuba.  As you might have known, the world was almost brought into nuclear war mainly between US and the former USSR because of the situation in Cuba.  That was the Cold War, and it is a heavy subject matter.

I don't know a lot of things about East Timor so I think it is worth to explore some things about this young independent state.  

East Timor is located in the island of Timor in the archipelago of Indonesia (see map below).  It's a small country that comprises approximately half of Timor, and it was colonized by Portugal in the 16th century.  It became a sovereign state in 2002, but prior to that, the country declared its independence in 1975.  In that same year, however, Indonesia launched its invasion of the territory in December.  The history leading to its independence is bloody, and until now, peace and order is still prone to disturbances.  Its capital and largest city is Dili.  It has two official languages: Portuguese and Tetum, and in distinction to its largely Islamic neighbor Indonesia, majority of the people in East Timor are Christians by affiliation.  It is home to two Nobel Peace Prize laureates: Jose Ramon-Horta and Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo.

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Time will come for a more peaceful Repúblika Demokrátika Timór-Leste.

Matthew Winterburn

Janina Pawelz

青函トンネル, Channel, and Берингов пролив

Seikan Tunnel, Channel, and Bering Strait

While browsing for some information about the Caspian Sea, I find the oil pipeline system remarkable.  The system would go for miles in order to reach their country or region of destination; they originate from areas near or within the Caspian Sea.  Thinking about the pipelines made me think about tunnels and eventually about the ambitious tunnel projects that mankind has undertaken.  Somewhere at the top of the list are the two longest undersea tunnels in the world: Seikan tunnel in Japan and Channel tunnel between Great Britain and France.  Seikan tunnel is the longest and the deepest undersea tunnel in the world running for 53.85 km and 140 m below seabed and 240 m below sea level.  It connects the Honshu and Hokkaido islands in Japan and allows train travel between the two islands.  It crosses the Tsugaru Strait.  Similarly, the Channel tunnel allows train travel between the island of Great Britain and continental Europe through France.  It connects Folkestone, Kent in United Kingdom and Coquelles, Pas-de-Calais in France.  It is 50.5 km long and 75 m deep at its lowest point.  Seikan tunnel opened in 1988 (construction started in 1971) while Channel tunnel opened in 1994 (construction started in 1988).

Seikan Tunnel Location:


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Channel Tunnel Location:


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For a developing country like the Philippines, these projects are totally not feasible in the economic perspective.  In fact, at first impression, one may find these projects unbelievable to exist in reality given the engineering challenges and the project cost.  It costs $3.6 billion in 1980's prices to build the Seikan tunnel while it costs around £4.7 billion in 1985 prices to build the Channel tunnel.  Huge projects indeed; however, many years from now, the records established by these tunnels will be surpassed by a proposed project in Bering Strait that was already given a go signal by the Russian government.

The proposed tunnel project in Bering Strait is estimated to cost up to $30 billion (according to interbering.com) while the railway constructions in Russia, US, and Canada leading to the tunnel are estimated to cost up to $70 billion.  Think about spending for a connection by land going to North America or going to Asia - soon to be a link between two of the largest economies of the world and a major link between two of the biggest continents.  The significance can be comparable to that of the Suez Canal or the Panama Canal.  The tunnel will link Siberia in Russia and Alaska in the United States.  The map below shows the locations.  Of course, what goes together with the project are the engineering challenges, and perhaps a big challenge there is how they are going to deal with the seismic activities in the area.  Let's just hope that it is not going to lead into any major disaster brought about by unforeseen factors and consequences.

The length of the tunnel will be around 103 km or 64 miles, and it may take up to 10-15 years to complete.

Bering Strait:


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A press release of the project is found here.  Although additional figures can be found here.  For Russia, creating a tunnel in the Bering Strait means more infrastructure projects such as railway systems in a relatively "infrastructure-deprived" Northern Siberia where the temperature can drop to as low as -50 degrees Celsius.  Russia plans to extend rail lines to the northeastern part of Siberia, which is expected to be completed by 2030.

This project is not really new for it has a long history in its planning and proposal.  It dates back in 1905 from the idea of Tsar Nicholas II.

Around Caspian Sea

Caspian Sea / Xəzər dənizi   / Каспийское море / Каспий теңізі / Hazar deňizi /
دریای کاسپین /دریای مازندران /دریای خزر


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Speaking of lakes, one may recognize the unique designation of Caspian Sea.  From the looks of it, it is essentially a lake, but no, it is a full-fledged sea.  So what's the largest lake in the world in terms of area?  According to a scholarly source (take a look at their Editorial Board here), it is Caspian Sea; besides, is there a real contradiction between a lake and a sea? It's the largest inland body of water on Earth, and it's salty with salinity levels ranging from 1.0 to 13.5 parts per thousand (north to south region salinity levels; sea facts found here).

Another interesting thing about Caspian Sea is that it is surrounded by five countries: Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan; therefore, one may wonder if ever there are some sort of demarcation issues in the body of water like that of the South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea.  In fact, there is; given that it is known to be rich in hydrocarbon resources, it must have been difficult to settle the issue.  As far as I have known, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan already made some agreements when it comes to their sectors.  Turkmenistan, on the other hand, seems passive; and I think Iran is pushing for equal division of the sea among the five countries although the extent of the coast line of each country varies considerably.  There is a disputed region between Azerbaijan and Iran, and this is one of the major concerns in the area.  Setting the issue aside, there are many amazing small things and big things in Caspian Sea; and it is charming in many perspectives.  The sea itself seems peaceful.

I did some little research, and I have some small things featuring some big and small things from Caspian Sea.  Not just things, but also the life in there.

Turkmenistan:

Peretz Partensky                Turkmenbashi, Turkmenistan

Shown in the picture above is a port in Turkmenistan, which is considered to be the only sea link to the West (which refers to West Asia and Europe).  The city is situated in a region that contains petroleum and gas reserves, and in fact it contains the largest oil refinery in Turkmenistan.

Kazakhstan:

Mouser Williams                A view from Aktau, Kazakhstan

The second image is a perspective of Caspian Sea from a city in Kazakhstan.  It's the sole seaport of Kazakhstan in Caspian Sea.  The two cities so far seemed not so densely populated, but I think I found one when I came across Baku, Azerbaijan (see image below).  It is the capital city of Azerbaijan.  The areas seem sparsely vegetated, which is usually evident in regions with large reserves of hydrocarbon resources (take for example the desert of Saudi Arabia).

Azerbaijan:

David Davidson                Baku, Azerbaijan 

Perspectives taken from Russia and Iran are shown below.

Russia:

   

Bolshakov              View of the sea from Dagestan

   

Ekaterina Didkovskaya    Derbent, Russia (in Dagestan)

Iran:

Mohammad Emdadi      Caspian Sea view from Iran

Ninara              A boat in Mazandaran province in Iran

Mohammad Emdadi    Fereydūn Kenār, Iran (in Mazandaran)   

Looking at the images, I think Caspian Sea can be a place not just for oil explorations and fishing, but for photography as well.  Onward for a peaceful Caspian Sea.

Россия through о́зеро Байка́л

Russia through "Ozero Baykal" (Lake Baikal)

fennU2 (flickr user)                 Lake Baikal

With the sudden interest in the deepest lake in the world, I encountered the following railway systems: Trans-Baikal, Circum-Baikal, and Trans-Siberian.  Interesting.  It made me curious on how to get there; it is one of the lesser known places in the world.  Russia is a fascinating country, and I thought I knew many things about it until I looked closer on the Siberian portion of the country where Lake Baikal is situated.  The rest has been like a chain reaction, and things went from Baikal, then to Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Novosibirsk, and then Yekaterinburg, all the way to Moscow.  The places sound Greek to me; but err, no, they sound Russian.  That happens if you end up tracing the Trans-Siberian railway, the longest continuous railway in the world; and I think that the train ride would be such an adventure, speaking of traveling for almost a week from Vladivostok to Moscow.  I would like to share a nice and vivid account of a journey across Russia:

"Adventure Before Dementia" by Ian and Jean Morrison

It is such a good read.

Going back to Lake Baikal, I never thought that it is one of the more impressive lakes in terms of sceneries.  The lake is part of an active continental rift zone, which will eventually become an oceanic rift if the geologic activity continues.  Here are some pics:

Vera & Jean-Christophe

Sergei Ozerov

Sergei Ozerov

Tammisto

Jim Linwood

Fedor Stroganov

Not bad.  Really not bad to look at.  Spring, Summer, Winter... Winter can be bitter in Siberia though.

connect the dots

A strange problem was given to a group of 10 scientists in a research institute; an earth-shaking solution means $$$. It goes this way:

Input: hypothetical points d_s and d_t

Output: set L of functions such that d_s is connected to d_t.

Task: come up with a set of function(s) L to solve the problem

scientist 1:  It's simple; on a Cartesian coordinate system, construct a line between d_s and d_t. That should have solved the problem. I'd rather not waste a lot of time on this ambiguous problem.

scientist 2:  I would rather have the 3D version of your solution, Dr. 1. That's going to be another publication for me.

scientist 3:  I'll do it in 4D, 5D, til nD. Case closed.

scientist 4:  The problem is too simple, but since there's no specific coordinate system, it would be interesting if I have it this way: hypothetical point d_s is in the Cartesian coordinate system while a hypothetical point d_t is in the polar coordinate system.  Then, somewhere in the middle should be a sort of warping region to connect the two coordinate systems.  So my solution will be an equation expressed in a new universal coordinate system that unifies all coordinate systems.  This coordinate system of mine will soon appear in a high-impact journal.

scientist 5:  Hmm, you're idea is interesting, Dr. 4, but I would rather set up a wormhole between the two coordinate systems.  Then, I'll conduct experiments on that wormhole.  I'll aim for the Noble prize and other prestigious awards.

scientist 6:  O come on, a black hole solves the problem through some form of magnetic force.

scientist 7:  All of you gave boring solutions.  The two points can be connected with the most complex fractal known to man.  Conduct a simulation in a high performance computing platform; modify the visualization by coloring the different segments.  From there you'll see the wonders of science just from the two points.

scientist 8:  Guys, the answer is infinity; and 1,000 years from now, the paper that I will write will be recognized by the whole world for its significance.

scientist 9:  I would rather find a way to reach the aliens so that I can hand in the problem for them to solve.

scientist 10:  Brilliant idea Dr. 9! That would be interesting enough to attract some collaborators.

scientist 9:  Hmm, Dr. 10., I am thinking of the ghostbusters and the avengers for that matter.

the serious and the not so serious

Got some quotes from the animated films...

photo credit: Isaac Mao

the serious:
 
"I know this sounds insane, but... Well, the truth sounds insane sometimes. But that doesn't mean it's not the truth." 
-- Linguini (Ratatouille)

"When you first become an artist, you’re like that rock. You’re in a raw, unnatural state, with hidden gems inside.  You need to dig down deep and find the emeralds tucked away inside you.  And that’s just the beginning. Once you’ve found your gems, you have to polish them. It takes a lot of hard work." 
-- Nishi (Whisper of the Heart)

"I'm such a big coward, all I do is hide. All of this magic is to keep everybody away. I can't stand how scared I am." 
-- Howl (Howl's Moving Castle)

 "With this hand I will lift your sorrows. Your cup will never be empty, for I will be your wine. With this candle, I will light your way into darkness. With this ring, I ask you to be mine." 
-- Victor (Corpse Bride)

"In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau's famous motto: Anyone can cook. But I realize, only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere..." 
-- Anton Ego (Ratatouille)

"But no matter what you do, that seed will grow to be a peach tree. You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will get a peach." 
-- Oogway (Kung Fu Panda)

"Nothing that happens is ever forgotten, even if you can't remember it." 
-- Zeniba (Spirited Away)


the not so serious:
 
Ginger: "Listen. We'll either die free chickens or we die trying."
Babs: "Are those the only choices?" 
(Chicken Run)

Mr. Incredible: "No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved! You know, for a little bit? I feel like the maid; I just cleaned up this mess! Can we keep it clean for... for ten minutes!"  
(The Incredibles)

[a dragon has a crush on Donkey]
Donkey: "I don't want to rush into a... physical relationship... I'm not that emotionally ready for a... uh... commitment of this... uh... magnitude! Really, that's the word I'm looking for, magnitude... Huh! Hey, that is unwanted physical contact! Hey! What're you doing? Okay, okay, okay... let's just back up a little and take this one step at a time... I mean, we should really get to know each other first, you know, as friends or maybe even as pen pals, you know, coz I'm on the road a lot, but I just love to get a card... Hey, hey, hey, don't do that, that's my TAIL, that's my personal tail, you gonna tear it off! I don't give permission to... Hey, what're you gonna do with that? Oh, no, no, no, no... no!" 
(Shrek)

photo credit: Damien du Toit

Pumbaa: "Hey, Timon, ever wonder what those sparkly dots are up there?"
Timon: "Pumbaa, I don't wonder; I know."
Pumbaa: "Oh. What are they?"
Timon: "They're fireflies. Fireflies that, uh... got stuck up on that big bluish-black thing."
Pumbaa: "Oh, gee. I always thought they were balls of gas burning billions of miles away."
Timon: "Pumbaa, with you, everything's gas."
 (The Lion King)

the train

Watch out for the train; who's the train?      (photo credit: Michal)

Sometime in the past I might have discovered my interest in traveling; so I usually enjoy long bus rides especially on cases that allow me to appreciate the expanse of the blue sea or the green plains in combination with some notable topographical features.  Of course, the experience is always better if you have good company on these travels regardless of the travel medium: bus, plane, ship, train, or maybe in the near or far future, a spaceship.  However, riding on a train is a unique experience for me, maybe because of the movies.  Perhaps movies with train ride shots that I have seen are movies with good directors.  I would like to mention some of those that have given some good impressions: Gandhi, Whisper of the Heart, and The Polar Express.  Maybe many train routes are long enough to give you variety in terms of scenery to enjoy.  However, this is not true in some cases especially during the time when I rode a train that takes a purely underground route (for obvious reasons, I prefer an elevated railway system than an underground one).  Another example, is a train ride in a metro rail transit system that have high probabilities of being jam-packed.  So what's the best train ride experience? Hmmm, maybe a cross-country train ride on an ultra-fast train, or some would prefer the leisurely one.
 

photo credit: Devon D'Ewart

Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, 

at the huge waves of the sea, 

at the long courses of the rivers, 

at the vast compass of the ocean, 

at the circular motions of the stars, 

and they pass by themselves without wondering.

                                    -- Augustine of Hippo (Saint Augustine)

on machines and finding purpose

photo credit: Davide Dellacasa

     This is a quote from the child protagonist of the movie "Hugo".  It's simple, but striking enough to make a person think about purpose.


     I'd imagine the whole world was one big machine.  Machines never come with any extra parts, you know.  They always come with the exact amount they need.  So I figured, if the entire world was one big machine, I couldn't be an extra part.  I had to be here for some reason.
     -- Hugo Cabret (from the film "Hugo" by Martin Scorsese)


     The machines being referred to here are machines with lots of gears in the early 20th century.  The setting is Paris, France after World War I.  The film "Hugo" is visually remarkable, and it makes use of the 3D well in the artistic sense.  It is essentially a tribute to the early days of cinema, so I think this can get a lot of attention from organizations dedicated to film-making.

photo credit: Alessandro Prada

machines from the first half of the 20th century vs. machines from the second half of the 20th century -- this is an example of what we call as big difference

almost randomly picked between '90 and '09: a commentary of some songs from the movies of the last two decades

photo credit: Enrique Leyva

     Movies can indeed be a good source of some of the most memorable songs of every generation.  A theme song, in particular, plays a comfortable position of highlighting and summing up the story of a movie.  If a movie is very popular, one can expect that the theme song can be heard from a radio station somewhere, or sometimes, it feels like hearing it everywhere.  However, we should face the fact that this does not necessarily reflect the technical quality of the song, but still we should also be aware that song appreciation also depends on the "ear" of the beholder.  So I think that there's no such a thing as "best" even in the science behind it because even experts in music may have varying opinions about a particular song, but I think that there's a thing called "remarkable".  Something technically "remarkable" exists in a sense that experts may unanimously agree that a particular song is above average.  From that "remarkable" point of view, there are songs that can be considered timeless based on their musical arrangement.  We can in a way determine something that is timeless because we have examples of music tracks that survived after hundreds of years, which opinions of experts from different generations agree that these are good.  If you listen to many of these songs, one will notice that they have similarities.  In fact, there are classic music tracks that I can't find a strong clue why they are considered good.  Well, I still have lots of things to learn, but it's obvious that the scientific approach is not the best paradigm of learning in this discipline. 

     Early in the 1990's, there's a song entitled "Beauty and the Beast".  The widely dispersed version is of course the pop version, but I think the better version of the song is the one sang by a character called Mrs. Potts.  The opening sequence is impressive with the piano, woodwind work, and additional strings, and the song ends like a great bedtime story.  Many soundtrack reviewers consider this as a masterpiece, and I myself, a common listener, agree with them.  The genius lies not only in the score, but also in the lyrics.  Consider these lines:

Alan Menken as a "Disney Legend" (photo credit: Loren Javier)

Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong
Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme...     

     
     

     
     There are many popular songs from the animated films of the 90's, but maybe I can talk about them some time in the future.  However, I would like to mention another song from an animated film: "Go the Distance" from the movie "Hercules".  I think that in this song it is the singer's interpretation that gave the most impact here.  Of course, we cannot ignore the musical composition because it's one of the most inspiring tunes around.  Consider the heroic sequence that delivered a compelling message of aspiration.

     In interpreting a particular song, a composer may have designed it to be performed as a duet.  There are lots of good duets in the 90's, and one of the classic ones is the "The Prayer".  It is one of those challenging songs for singers.  This is probably the reason why many great singers of our time take turns to sing this song.  Other notable duets include "Beauty and the Beast" and "A Whole New World".  Well, they're both from Disney.
     
     Sometime in the late 1990's is a popular song, and it's called "My Heart Will Go On".  As we all know it came from one of the highest grossing movies of all time in the world.  You might have hated it because it was very popular, but setting the handicap aside, it's a good song.  A friend of mine finds the song cheesy.  Well, I think that the context in which it was sang is in a way cheesy (of course, you can disagree), but hey, setting this aside, I still hold to the point that the song arrangement is really good.  Think about the woodwind sequence minus the memories of something that pertains to the sinking ship inside your heads when the song is being played.  It can be cheesy, but it's like a good idea being said over and over again such that it already hurts the degree of its goodness.  The lyrics can be average, but the melody is not your ordinary musical composition (if one can't stand the original, try an instrumental version).

     The songs mentioned do not really represent the 90's well, but since there's something from "Titanic", you can at least say, "yeah, he's trying hard to talk about the 1990's; and now, he's in trouble trying to talk about the 2000's".

Howard Shore of "The Lord of the Rings" and Orchestra (photo credit: Henry Burrows)

      

     In the early 2000's, there's the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.  Well, the trilogy produced three good songs, and one of them is a "weird" song.  You may have remembered "May It Be" and "Into the West", but maybe you have also remembered the "Gollum's Song" from the second movie of the trilogy.  "May It Be" and "Into the West" are two of the most inspiring compositions around.  They can be considered as songs of hope, while the "Gollum's Song" is a song of despair.  Since they are theme songs, you can actually say that the trilogy is moving along this path: hope --> despair --> hope.  Well the second "hope" is hope in a triumphant sense; but hey it can be: hope --> despair --> triumph.  Well, the three songs are good enough to represent the journey being told in the three movies.  Also take note of the lyrics of "Into the West"; it's kinda genius.

Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova of "Once" (photo credit: Vince Kmeron)

     Apart from something big as "Lord of the Rings" comes the songs from the "smaller" movies.  Two songs worth mentioning are "Falling Slowly" from "Once" and "In the Deep" from "Crash".  They can be categorized under the "easy listening" genre especially "In the Deep".  "Falling Slowly" sounds a little bit conventional because it sounds like the usual guitar song, but if you'll focus on the lyrics and the harmony of guitar and violin, you can say that this is not just an ordinary love song.  Speaking of this genre, there's a song that I haven't really paid much attention because it sounds rather conventional (plus it was played during an amusing portion of the movie).  However, paying more attention the second time around, you can say that it's amusing enough to be part of the movie.  The title of the song is "Accidentally in Love".

     There's a unique entry in the 2000's and it's called the "Slumdog Millionaire".  There are several songs in that film, and I would like to note that "O... Saya" and "Jai Ho" (not the altered pop version) are the most remarkable ones.  The impressive instrumentation in both songs can catch the attention of somebody who is searching for something that has unique cultural undertones.  I have searched for the English translation of the Hindi portions, and I think "Jai Ho" represented the movie better.  The vibrant instrumentations are brainy enough such that one can't simply categorize them as ordinary pop songs.

Conclusion: These are some of the songs from the movies in the last two decades that can be considered remarkable. 

"I have heard some of these, and they're indeed remarkable because they did hurt my ears."

space between the notes: some of the notable film music of the last two decades

Below is my pick of film music within this span of 20 years: 1990-2009.   I haven't watched all films in the list, but I did at least hear the music from the soundtracks.  At least they already sound great given that they were played outside the context of the film, so I think that they will in a way work well in context (all of those that I have heard in context are really good).  The list may not include the other so-called critically acclaimed original scores since my scope is way more limited than that of the critics.  Basically, these are the scores that I think will stand the test of time (arranged in chronological order).


1990s:

Beauty and the Beast
The 1990's is the decade where Disney animations have many memorable songs and original scores (especially songs).  Well, I consider film music from this one to be the most remarkable among the Disney/Pixar line so far.

Schindler's List
This is an outstanding example of a mournful score whether it is the version of the strings or the piano.  One thing stands out: a heavy heart is involved here.

The Lion King
Speaking of African music and its contribution to the field of music, this film has made use of the African element very well.  A lot of nice "folk things" can be classic enough.  

Braveheart
It's the good old Celtic thing.  Think about the flute and the strings and how they can pull some heart strings and brain strings.

Il Postino
This is a very good example of film music that was given an integral role in the film.  If you talk about the "space between the notes", the composer indeed knew how to use this important "musical note".

Sense and Sensibility
There's not much variation in the music, but this exhibits good use of stringed instruments.  It's a score, but one might like to call it "poetic".

Shakespeare in Love
It's Shakespeare so one might expect some heavy blow of romance and drama in the music, but the score in a way defies the Shakespearean atmosphere; maybe it represents the whimsical side of Shakespeare.  Overall, it is a light-hearted and inspiring composition, in which one of the "Shakespearean" detractors might say, "I like this side of Shakespeare".


2000s:

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
This is one of those mournful film music played using the violin.  It's a slow movement that has the capability to keep the listener engaged.  It can also help you appreciate the Chinese culture together with its striking simplicity.

Gladiator
If you like something heroic, then try listening to this score.  There is "new age" element in the music, and it can indeed bring you to the days of the Roman Empire.  Amidst the action-packed musical ride is a nice flute sequence that lightens the heavy atmosphere of the battle.

A.I.: Artificial Intelligence
The odd combination of something mechanical and organic is well done here.  Just the notion of combining both mechanical and organic into a harmonious musical sequence is remarkable enough to consider the composer kinda genius to "meddle" with "too many notes".

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Three things that will remind me of the score -- the flute, the strings, and the voices.  This is a good example of a score with multiple themes but unified successfully by the composer a la "one ring to bind them all".

Babel
This is guitar in one of its finest moments.  Listening to this is like subjecting your mind into seemingly endless anticipation.  Of course, it's a good form of anticipation that doesn't disappoint.  It can actually motivate you to embark on taking guitar plucking seriously if you think that plucking per se hates you as a "guitarist".

Pan's Labyrinth
There have been many lullabies, but this one has some eerie feeling added to it.  That's lullaby, fairy tale, and some kind of horror combined into one original film music -- that's simply not your ordinary lullaby.

Atonement
If you talk about mystery, then this is a slow mystery score.  The music gives off melancholic atmosphere when played from start to finish; in fact, there are moments that can be considered "heartbreaking".  Similar to the other remarkable compositions, silence has been used well in the arrangement.


I would like to mention original scores in 2010 that I consider to be more or less in the same level of regard as the ones I mentioned above:

The King's Speech
One thing is remarkable about the original portion of the score: it sounds like the music from one of the classical composers, which is really job well done.

The Social Network
It is most of the time mentally engaging, and the thing that I will remember most about the score is its hi-tech character.  A lot of technical things are working for this score.


A lot of creativity is involved in these compositions, so what's next? 
Maybe in the future a composer might think about including some awkward sequences, e.g. stuttering a la "The King's Speech" -- that can be challenging enough to gain some recognition.

from 0 to infinity

     An entity is composed of molecules governed by the laws of nature.  One might wonder about the essence of the laws of nature.  Do they exist to prevent an entity from becoming a free entity? Or do they exist in order to be in harmony with the other entities of the universe?  In the age of liberalism, something that defies the laws of nature is fascinating, but does this something that defy the laws of nature really exist?  Or is it simply just an undiscovered phenomenon not yet articulated by the abstraction of the human mind?  If one would say that something defies the laws of nature, is somebody sure that these laws of nature have been completely defined by the means of abstraction employed under the natural sciences?  Is the scientific thought able to define every phenomena through its limited language so that it deserves the right to be the last stand when it comes to the proclamation of the "natural truth"?  If one believes the notion that there is a higher form of abstraction than what the human mind is capable of, then the scientific thought can never attain the fullness of natural truth because it is a bounded or limited form of abstraction.  It is a form of abstraction that is confined to what phenomena were observed so far.  
     
     However, there is something good in the scientific thought that enabled us to appreciate the essence of the natural law.  It may not be able to discover everything, but it can help us appreciate that the existence of this world is real; and in order to exist in accordance to the "rules of the game", one must appreciate the reality in its simplest form through the so-called "little things" of everyday life.  This talk about abstraction can go on and on like from number 0 to positive infinity.  If it is overwhelming, then one can always turn around and find number 0 again; then proceed to negative infinity.  One can always move that way entangled in the infinite loop, and miss everything in his/her bounded duration of existence in this world.

 

[thoughts to think about, but don't forget that there is something higher than the natural law]

i walked a path

a trail on a fort

a thing that pertains to a path is sublime
probably it's the world's favorite metaphor
refer to it as a road, a trail, or a line
life is such a journey, requiring some valor

i walked on a paved sidewalk
i walked on a pebbled trail
i walked on a muddy riverbank
just to follow the ocean's tail

i walked on the shoulders of the giants
i walked on the sequence of thoughts of mankind
i walked as fast as the speed of light
just to trace the footsteps of a brilliant mind

i walked on the depth of the colors
i walked emulating the brushstroke streaks
i walked in the midst of the undertones
just to reflect on what the artist seeks

i walked on the lines of the grand staff
i walked through the tune of a plucked string
i walked side by side with the stream of notes
just to find a good song to sing

i walked hearing the sound of laughter
i walked together as not to fall apart
i walked with known and unknown people along the way
just to be in sync with the beat of my heart
  
i walked, you walked, we walked
walked together amidst the shifting sand
somewhere, sometime, our paths cross, our paths diverge
despite these, it's possible to walk together hand in hand

[crude verse 2012 by gertics11]