Thursday, November 27, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Saturday, November 22, 2008
The drama started this morning. As i stayed out the night, i made my way back home around 11am. It started with me having to do a run to catch the bus. And speaking of which, the short distance although didn't cause me to pant like a dog, but i can feel that my legs are not running as fast as my mind and body wished to. Time to seriously lose some weight and get back in shape.
And so i went downstairs and sat near the playground looking at the familar kitchen windows and only myself to blame for forgetting my keys. Unsure how long my wait will be, i took a slow walk and got myself the papers and went back to the bench and start reading every single article that interests me.
As i repeatedly attempt to call home, hoping for my parents to pick up if they're back and staring most of the time at the windows, i start recalling the last time i had the same situation. Guess that was probably many years back when i was in secondary days. I remembered i had few lock out in my primary days as well. And for the record, today wasn't the longest at 5hours+, i think i had a record still standing at 6hours plus. That was alot worse too, for that i didn't have the luxury of having my lunch and playing my portable console game.
Call me a library idiot, but seriously, i think the layout despite being more modern, it's quite hard to get what i want, and... i just don't understand why there's an Indian studying corner. Call me "R...ist", but i'm just wondering how and why is there a need for such segmentation.
Define ill fate and i will show you what it means.
Back to school stuff. Monday's my first paper, and i haven't got the thought of touching it yet. Maybe it's open book and it's business communication, so the preparation work isn't alot. But if you ask me, like i always say, examinations: A test of brain memory and if coupled with good command of English, you are able to crap your A out.
What? Me being negative and labelling examinations as something not desirable? Yes. I am. I don't care how much you wanna argue with me that studying without tests and exams ain't gonna work, for you will never know how well one has managed to comprehend the ideas taught, or apply it in the correct perspective.
Now you tell me, is education a medium whereby we start becoming 'racist' to individuals' intellectual growth or capabilities?
In this world of extremes, where there are categories/stereotypes of hell and heaven, kind and evil, ugly and pretty, police and thief, tall and short, fat and slim, rich and poor, famous and anonymous...
Tell me is it a choice for us to choose where we fall under? Along the way in life, yes, maybe we can choose to be ugly, choose to poor, fat... choose to be all the negative craps no one desires. But choosing to be rich, pretty, slim, famous... is it alot easier and attainable? You tell me.
Till then.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Exactly 2 more months down the road, we would have reach the day many call for celebration, X'mas. And what does this mean, it means i'm 3 weeks away from my major project submission and 6 weeks away from my examinations. So time flies once again, and another semester is just about to end.
Probably not gonna touch on too much about studies. I guess the only real thing i can find in university nowadays is that i see muggers and proactive students will tonnes of questions in tutorial and some of the questions are just questioned to portray their intelligence and the extra effort reading up on texts and articles.
Yeah, well done all the top notch students, you earn yourself a great future to come. Only if you are more aware of the fact that you bought yourself a ticket to a possible good prospect/career, but you may not have the other social elements in dealing people, interacting with others, be less outspoken when necessary and be less selfish by not doing a great of work and deliberately give the impression that no work is done. Whether its just competitive nature or not, what's your point?
I think i sound pissed with hardworking and smart students, maybe i am just another typical loser who whines at someone's success, but i guess my point is that i just dislike the very fact that in this dog eat dog world, we are judged by our academic grades more than anything else. Never mind the fact that you're a guy who opens all the doors for strangers, helping every single elderly across the busy roads, for you're just the average Joe if you don't have a colorful resume that are filled with stacks of certificates and letter of recommendations.
So i was reading the yahoo news earlier and i have to quote this out. Extracted from the article, "MM Lee says world economy will be restored in 3 to 5 years", our MM Lee touched on a topic that says, "assortive mating", that is, finding a spouse at your level — something he strongly believes in.
He said: "I have explained this. I think I lost votes after I explained the awful truth. Nobody believed it, but slowly it dawned on them, especially the graduates, that yes, you marry a non—graduate, then you worry about whether or not your son or daughter is going to make it to the university."
So even the government is stressing the importance of qualification of your spouse when you are looking to settle down and start a family. Thus, this topic brings me to another article, also extracted from yahoo news, "Singapore gets top marks in UN World’s Cities Report", in short the UN has lauded the 43—year—old city state as a model city. However, experts cautioned that as all cities progress, they will no longer be measured just by their level of economic, social and environmental progress.
Cities like Singapore will also have to look at its inclusiveness and its quality of life. Related to this, the report said cultural assets too should be protected to nurture the soul of the city.
Quality of life. So i guess living in first class world, we are clouded by all the things that revolves around money. We worry about not getting a job that pays well enough to own a car, a house and support our parents and maybe kids. Maybe, because, with the financial burden piling, you just have to think how much a kid cost you now, instead of the upbringing.
Another thing about being a scholar, or a high flyer in many aspects, is that you are more hated by others rather than gaining respect. Some weeks back, there was this casual conversation with my project team mate and that he was saying he respect a well-doing person more if he/she don tattoos. Well-doing in the sense if he/she is academic high flyer, and is somewhat a pleasant person.
So i offered myself as an example and suggested that what if i'm covered in tattoos, he said he will salute and give me 100% of his respect. So i guess Scofield's role in Prison Break would easily earn a 101% respect from him. But, the big but, does the society accept one who dons a body of tattoos with first class honours, a graduate from Harvard for example?
A 99% no-no, for that the social stigma we have is that one shouldn't smoke, drink or party excessively, and tattoos are just not presentable in the business context.
Coming to the end for this post, just some food for thought, what kind of lifestyle, what kind of academic standings and what kind of family do you see yourself in right now?
I have no clue who's reading this, so i can't really give you my 5 cents worth of opinions regarding you, but for myself, i think i'm in a lifestyle whereby i may be slightly envy by a few, just a few, but i don't enjoy being who i am.
My academic standings is nowhere near excellence and fortunately nowhere near the pit. So i guess i'm just contented with my current grades? And what kind of family do i see myself in? I've seen some friends of mine with slightly less complete family; single family or parents not in speaking terms. So i would say, mine's somewhere in the middle; in terms of income, in terms of unity, in terms of completeness.
So having all the average "rankings" for my life, how good is my quality of life? Personally i like to procrastinate, until when it hits the crunch time, then i'll go into full gear. Bet many of us is just like that. For this, you can probably say that i created my life the way i wanted it to be.
I do love to have lotsa of things for sure, like becoming a self-made billionaire, owning a mansion that has a 5 minutes driveway to my 2 storey doors, drive a ferrari, have a blissful family, but when i have the big word "reality" smack at me, i have to wake up and feel sorry that i don't have the brains, the right ideas nor the right opportunity to make it come true. For now at least.
Seek as i may, i just hope that even when someday i have all the material stuff i yearn to, my soul is still intact. What about you?
Monday, September 15, 2008
Do you guys ever observe the small little things around your life, either complain about it, or get disgusted by it, followed by putting yourself into the shoe of that person or into the act by someone and try to comprehend it in another way, lastly end off by learning a lesson?
If you're one aggressive guy, you probably will shut the other person up, but deep down you know you may be wrong on some points. Likewise, if you're the soft-spoken one, you probably keep your say and opinions closer to your heart, and let the other party get the "win" in the verbal exchange, knowing he/she is just too blind to see or accept the facts.
Till then
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Once again, it's been a month since my last update. Time flies, i'm coming to the end of week 5 for the current semester. In short, it's another $3k gone to NUS, another 7 weeks from exams, another semester gone with ever increasing desire to burn the books and just enjoy and party everyday.
Speaking about total random, i lodged a police report today by making a call earlier during the day. In short, i was waiting for bus and i saw a guy behaving rather weird. Call it my gut instinct or whatsoever, when i saw a malay male approached him, and that the guy, call him A, reached into this groin area to take out something, i just have to think that it wasn't just simply the uncivilised act.
He saw me looking towards his direction and he keep looking. So tell me, unless you're doing something wrong, why would you stare back at a person looking from afar, when someone in front of you is speaking to you. As i hesitate to make a police call, i kept my sight on him. Good thing my bus didn't come fast enough.
Anyway, part of the reason for my hesitation, was that i'm thinking which number to dail, the triple, or the toll free 1800. I was thinking of calling the nearest police centre, but... who knows their number? Frankly i have no clue.
So after some thoughts, i decided to be good citizen for once, and i dialed the toll free 1800. Triple number will probably overkill the gut feeling i have. Don't think it's something worth their trouble. Anyway, the almost 40s of call waiting almost made me hung up the call, talk about efficiency, guess if i'm making a serious urgent report, "nasi lemak" would have hailed a cab, waved back at me, and disappear into corners before someone picks up, for me to either stare in disbelief while holding the phone or comtemplate hanging up and avoid being accused of making false alarm.
Actual call content shall not be discussed here. So as i was standing waiting for bus, keeping my sight with him as he was walking around the entire void deck, AIA called me. While trying to comprehend the conversation, i was half the time thinking when will the guys in blue appear, whether A has gone, and keeping in mind i have a bus to catch.
Just as i was about to end the call by throwing the disgusted reply of, "can i get back to you", from the corner of my eye, i saw a group of people, and i turned to my right. So guess what? It's a scene of 7-8 men in blue, walking towards and calling out to A, who tried walking off calmly near towards the bus stop.
Not alot of action, for A stopped after repeated calls and follow the "blues" back to the void deck. My bus came, and i left. Not exactly dramatic enough, and i didn't get any follow up call from them, so i guess either he's clean or they did their job and so my job as a "good citizen" ends.
Anyway for now, i'm looking forward to Friday. Probably the night i can slack more, for that the past 5 weeks i don't remember letting my hair down.
One last note before i leave. This is something i keep complaining and experiencing it day to day. The EQ of Singaporeans, NUS students, lecturers and more specific, human race.
Let me elaborate in details. I'm not sure how many reading this are public commuters, but i have to say, those taking MRT or bus are either too self-centred, or possess the infamous "kiasuism". Let's start with MRT, i hate to say, i simple don't understand people who like to crowd at the pole at middle of entrances. All will try to have a piece of the cold metal. Are they just simply too cautious not to fall, or they just want to have a touch of it since everyone is trying to do so.
For f sake, move in, especially to the center of the car or the other entrance where the doors are not opening. There's like ZILLION of space there. Worse situation is when you transit from Raffles towards Boon Lay. I know many office workers are desperate to get in for just 1-2 stops, so they will just squeeze and push their way in, and when they are in, they want to crowd at the direct opposite doors. Leaving another zillion space at the center of the car. Why?
Because they want to be the first to leave the train, hopefully be the first to step on the escalator, and be the first to step in the office and proclaim to be diligent worker who never fails to come work on time.
Now bus. I'm sure i don't have to touch on the part we as proud Singaporean, never wants to be the last, unless there's seat behind, many won't want to enter the "forbidden" zone, which happens to be the back of the bus. Even if they does, they want the passengers sitting down facing their back, to know that they got big branded bags, maybe i should call them luggages. For that "show-off" they again took up another person's standing spot. Why not right? Since they already paid for their ride, getting another free space is definitely a good bargain.
And guess what? The bus simply won't move even it's already full, with passengers almost like sardines. Now what? Oh, cause the kind driver wants more to be able to get on the bus and not be late. How nice of him.
So for f sake, if you're those trying super hard to get up when it's already packed, just back off and ask the driver to move on will ya? You are just delaying the 60 others who already got in. I just don't understand this part. Be considerate when others aren't considerate to you. For once, you will definitely be the one either in the bus or outside. Either way, be considerate and move on!
Now come the best part. Lecturers. I'm not even going to say it's just NUS lecturers, but you guys should know, lecturers as general. Yeah i know, some are real good ones, but you see, there's many i have encountered during my short 2 and a 1/2 semesters, who never fail to give the impression they are super busy to either not release lecture materials, or tutorials earlier.
Keep talking about all the big bullshit about time management, work hard, work consistently, when it comes to throwing us projects/assignment with a timeline to it. So why don't you lecturers start doing you all have been preaching?
What's the big deal about releasing notes at least few days in advance, instead of uploading materials 2am in the morning when the lecture is 12pm on the same day, or maybe have the decency to realise that there are different tutorial days, and that it's not fair for those having it on Mondays, while uploading materials on Friday which need preparations. But who can blame them? They are just humans with doctorates to their names. Simply permanent head damage (PhD).
It's late now, i guess that's all. Thanks for reading. Enjoy the new song. And remember, what's taught in classes are simply a test of memory, what's not taught in classroom, are what you see in your daily life. Either you learn it and be a better man, or you are simply one who slogs hard just to see yourself behave like a jerk.
Till then.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Another 4 more days to the start of a new fresh academic year, incidentally, if all goes well, my last academic year in NUS. Probably the heaviest 2 semesters coming up, in terms of workload, just hope to be able to get them completed as required, graduate, and dive into the working life, ending the 17 years of education right from Kindergarden.
Can't think of more to add, shall end here for now. Enjoy the weekends! Happy National Day in advance.
Tuesday, July 08, 2008
So last Saturday, i managed to catch the NDP parade, though not the actual one, live for the first time in my past 23 years.
2 things about the parade brought me a trip back to the memory lane: the formal guard of honour parade, and the black knights performance.
Needless to say, the parade reminds me about my commissioning parade back in Dec 2006. Recalling how excited we were on the parade day itself, how we finally gonna put on our infamous "one chocolate bar". So i was telling my gal, at least for my commissioning parade, the rehearsals and long period of standing was worth it, as compared to those in the marching contingents for NDP. For they are just serving NS and probably just a little of pride to have been in part of the NDP show.
Come to think about it, i'm fortunate and glad to be selected to undergo OCS, of course minus the fact that i have extra few more years of reservist to do as an officer?
The second thing was the spectacular performance by the Black Knights; the only aerobatics flying team in Singapore. As i'm explaining to my gal about how it seems so fun watching them doing all the dangerous stunts and maneuvers, the pilot in the cockpit has to fight G-force and keep a cool head. Of course, i'm just speaking as an amateur used-to-be pilot trainee with 10 flying hours.
Looking at how they display their skills in the few stunts, i can't help think what would it be if i have passed my airgrading back in my airforce days. So i guess the best thing for me now, is to just share some of the things i do know about being a fighter pilot.
Back in the days when i was at AirForce school waiting for my trip to Australia for Airgrading, we had lessons and sharing by seniors. One of the seniors actually got back from his advance flying course as a fighter plane trainee. He blacked out during one of his solo sortie (a training flight in flying terms), and almost crashed head on.
He managed to recover about seconds from crashing and pulled some 3-4G, and safety pulled the aircraft back up. I can't recall why he suffered blackout, probably due to skipping his breakfast just before that day's sortie or badly countering the G-Force, but just hearing how he relate his personal experience was freaky enough. Not just that, i think he was removed from fighter course and put into rotatory course; helicopter pilot, after that mistake he committed.
So a blackout can happen to a pilot when he's flying upwards or making a sharp turns, and what he experience is G-force, 1G is 1 times your body weight. So when your blood from your head gets push down, you blackout and lose consciousness. What the pilot has to do is to perform counter G-force maneuvers, some kind actions whereby you flex the body muscles, especially in the abdominal muscles, to prevent the blood from all rushing to the lower half of the body.
Another kind is Redout, usually when you nose dive at a high speed. Then in this case you will suffer red vision as all the blood is rush up to your head. Similarly it will cause you to lose consciousness, and probably causing damage to your brain.
Also the term spatial disorientation, whereby a pilot loses his orientation usually during night sortie when vision is low. I have heard stories about pilot thinking that his plane is on the right side up, and pull his plane up, only to find himself crashing into the land, for that he's actually inverted, facing the land.
And also, if you guys have watched Tom Cruise's Top Gun, a scene whereby he "busted" the airport tower by flying low and near it, and powering his afterburner, causing a cool thundering sound and some shakes, some pilots in Singapore actually do dangerous low flying of the aircraft too. Especially near Sentosa and those nearby small islands. Well, no prizes for being caught, as a matter of fact, AirForce pilots in Singapore can get de-winged for bad conduct and doing stupid things.
So much about my walk back to the memory lane, i think this year's NDP wasn't that bad. Probably the Black Knights performance interest me alot. Of course the accompany makes alot of difference too.
Alright, that's all i have to share. All personal, so if anything i mentioned is inaccurate or unjustified, please do not hestitate to close this window. Lastly, big thank you. for those who are still viewing my blog. Guess my blog has to live over his 5th year. Stay tune for more updates.
Till then.
Thursday, July 03, 2008
It's been 2 months since i last posted, and since i'm still brightly awake, i guess it's time to pen down some thoughts once again. I was blog-hopping a moment ago, and i was tempted to change to a new blogskin, but.. guess i'll do that some other time. For i usually have a hard time finding a theme which suits my blogging style, and part of my character.
Once again, many thoughts before start this post and i have no idea where i'll be heading after i start typing. So just bear with me, and if you can, try relating to some of the thoughts i wrote. My memory hasn't been that great lately, so i'll just post stuff that's more current and slowly go back in time.
Just last weekends, i did a 3-day stint part time job over at Suntec Convention. Working for Hasbro at the Toys & Comic Exhibition event. If you guys were there, the Star Wars booth was the one i'm in-charge, together with Derrick.
Here are the photos i took and i guess it's better to post some photos in a post, else it's going to be super boring, especially so for my blog.
Anyways, the pay wasn't that bad, minus the long hours i had to stand, and coping with empty stomach for most of the time. Saw a couple of familar faces during the 3 days, from my men, OCS coursemate, to my OCS instructor, poly and secondary friends. Managed to exchange some words while distributing the flyers to the booth, and somehow it brought me back memories about army, poly and secondary days.
Carefree, less stress and probably more healthy physically and mentally.
With a blink of an eye, i'm left with one month more to another brand new academic year. Seriously i think studying is no longer my cup of tea yet i can't imagine myself diving into the working society with my current status. I have to question myself what do i wish to be working as and whether i can face the reality of not getting paid close to what's ideal for me.
Going on to my entertainment during the holidays, they were Mahjong, prawning, texas poker, Dota, Prison break, Discovery, and psp sessions. Quoting a tagline from 'Mythbusters' telecasting over Discovery channel, i just wanna say "I reject reality and substitute my own." to all the uncertainties for what's to come in the near future. Maybe there will be a glorified pathway for me, so let's just keep the fingers crossed.
Suddenly mind blank yet again, guess it's time to wrap up again. Before i do so, just like to post 2 questions for you guys reading this:
1. Am i constantly giving this impression that what i think or do is always right? For example the way i put across my thoughts forever seem to be overwhelming and strong, to the extend that i refuse to accept a wiser and clearer opinions from the rest or individual?
2. Who are still reading my blog? Leave your name if you wish do, cause i'm thinking of packing up my blog once again. By the way, this is post #299 for my blog which will be celebrating its 5th year birthday next month.
That's all folks. New MV for my blog. No smart guess, but you probably know what i chose to put up that song. Meaningful that is.
Till then.
Friday, May 02, 2008
And so i got a gift to strike off my second item in my wishlist. It's from someone very unexpected, my sister. Honestly speaking when i posted the wishlist and i linked the item to the official site, i didn't even realised there's a product item id at the bottom of the image. I was wondering how come my sister managed to know which one i like. So i went to check my link and back to the official site and of cause the price tag also shocked me. A hefty $202/-!
I wanted to post up more items in my wishlist, but i guess not for now. The latest 2 addition items to my personal material collection are already good enough i guess. Hope the next one will be good CAP score for my current semester.
Thanks sis. Really appreciate it.