Of swines and maggots

Welcome to the Real World

2009-04-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

Even if you're a hater, just forward it to around 5:30.

It's like unicorns and leprechauns: unbelievable

Welcome to the Fallout

2009-03-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

These days, our lives are moving at such lightning speeds, it's no wonder the answer to "the meaning of life" becomes more and more elusive and enigmatic.

Case in point, computing and society tutorial on tuesday. The main part of the discussion was on foreign students and whether we (referring to the locals) accept/welcome their presence. For the uninitiated, the issues that usually attach themselves to foreign students are whether they are limiting the chances given to Singaporeans, them leaving for greener pastures once they have finished grazing ours, them having to reap the rewards of our country without the responsibilities... you get the picture. Anyway, staying true to the politically correct era, all the volunteers in class gave probable reasons for the situation and possible views of the general public, but no one took a stand. Can't risk being a bigot or a hypocrite, and I don't blame them, 'cos I would have done the same. If i even bothered to participate.

That aside, there are really a ton of reasons not to welcome foreign students, solely from a student's point of view. Firstly, they are mostly on scholarships and you can be sure where the bulk of the A's go to (it is a bell curve system after all). Secondly, the scholarship would require them to be bonded locally for a period of time, a simple translation of which means less job vacancies for those "left behind". I'm not going to bother to discuss the "big picture", where these foreign students will eventually be big players in our economy, bringing Singapore forward into the future. This is for the simple fact that the average Singaporean student do not think of such noble things. Starting salaries and employment opportunities hit closer to home on that count.

Amidst the furore over the education system's injustice towards Singapore's own youth, the recent suicides involving foreign students didn't help much in the foreign students' bid to salvage their shredded reputation. For a moment, it seemed that not only do we have to lay out the red carpet for them, but have to clean up their mess as well. Bitterness and anger ensued, with a majority of the local strugglers clenching their teeth in silence, and a minority lashing it out behind their computer screens, more of a release than a petition.

Out of the chaos and unrest, appears event X*. Event X involves a foreign student, typically bright and brilliant. Her grades often placed her in the top 5% of her cohort, and you would think she's "one of those" who spends her time holed up in her room, burying her head in books every waking moment. That mould casted by our unfair impressions, sometimes referred to as stereotyping, was broken by her. She set aside time for various campus activities, and even held leadership positions in some. Her resume is set to look like that of a potential elite's, giving her the perfect opportunity to help her parents break out of the poverty cycle.

Then the cruel twist, the fallout of our corrupt world, hit.

Leukemia may be recognised as a diagnosis to others, but to her, it's the destroyer of hopes and dreams. Only minimally covered by insurance, far away from her loved ones, she who seemed to have everything going for her suddenly found herself in a dark hole with a whopping S$400,000 medical bill and more importantly, her life to worry about.

At this very moment, you start to wonder how is she doing. Will she pull through? Are her parents coping with the news? Will she be able to raise the $400,000? You're no longer thinking of her as one less competitor in the job market. You don't start to eye the A+ or A- spot she has just vacated. Goodness, no. You just.. don't. Because all these things just seem so minute in the scheme of things. The big picture referred to here not Singapore's future, but humanity.

Event X is Perspective.

Two eyes, one tongue. We're all the same essentially, and it's a pity sometimes it takes a tragedy/near-tragedy to release us from the trance society has us in. The rat race has all of us becoming heartless creatures with hidden knives, ready to plunge it to the backs of anybody in our way. However, it's no longer about saving a job or recouping losses in the financial market. Those are things that can be gained back, and even so, will eventually rot and rust. A life, a soul, you can't tell me those aren't more important. Not with Perspective being put out into plain words for you to see.

Donating to Zhang Xiaoou has more implications than just the act of giving money to someone who needs it more than you do. It implies that love has a chance in this world. It's about not wanting to lose the common ground we have with each other, with the whole world upside-down. And above all, it's about saving a life.

If you're more of a visual person, here's the summary to the post. At around 2:53, but don't skip it! Both the song and music video's really good

The world is flawed
But these scars will heal
(Eventually)

*for more information: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=54674177849&ref=nf

My B-b-b-b-Benzedrine Now

2009-03-11T05:52:00.000-07:00

I caught whiff of a few movie trailers that are now sitting pretty on top of my must watch list:

Sunshine cleaning. I've watched this 2 or 3 times, and it always looks like a good show. or maybe it's just the whole idea of Amy Adams and Emily Blunt in the same show.

(500) days of summer. I'm damn girl, you say? Come on, give me a break. I didn't bite into the whole Marley & Me crap, so let this one slide

Inglorious Basterds. If the senseless violence doesn't appeal to you, i'm sure Brad Pitt's pornstache will. Err... right.

When It Rains, Will You Always Find An Escape Just Running Away

2009-02-10T08:15:00.000-08:00

And when it rains
Will you always find an escape
Just running away
(Or) Spend all your time waiting
For that second chance
For a break that would make it okay

(Just a) scared little [runaway],
[Holding] fast to the break of day.
(You are) screaming inside,
but you can't be heard

You got to get yourself together
Now you're stuck in a moment
And you can't get out of it

All of the wasted time,
The hours that were left behind
The answers that'll [you'll] never find
Throw it away
Forget yesterday
We'll make the great escape

The falling sky and the rain?
I want to know that [your] heart's still beating
I want to write [your] name in the sky
Gonna free fall out into nothin'
[You're] awakening

Ok, i admit, i thought i had a flash of brilliance and decided to do a mash up of lyrics from the songs in my (currently) short playlist of 12 songs, and write out a poem (of sorts). Epic fail. I probably look like one of them amatuer photographers, armed with a DSLR and a flurry of different lenses, trying to make an empty coke can on the side of the road look as deep as a Rembrandt. To my defense, i had only 12 songs to choose from.

I shall try to master this in time to come 'cos i still think it's an excellent idea. Maybe i need to be a 'mo cos it seems to be the mojo factor in good poets these days. Just no slashing of wrists for me, please.

We're All Right Where We're Supposed To Be

2009-02-01T10:13:00.000-08:00

As I've repeated so many times, the internet is a smorgasboard of all sorts of information, this always being more of an understatement than an overstatement. And like any weapon that can be used to kill the enemy, the guns can be easily turned on you, so to speak.

Apparently, this obscure blog can be found with google, which can never be good especially since i'm gonna start on a job hunt. Rewind this to roughly 4 years ago, with the whole sheares hall debaucle. Of 'cos, i've got to add that the whole matter is just childishness on the committee's part and cheekiness on mine (i've got to take my own side, no?), but that aside, it's kindof scary how this blog got dug up just like that. Technology is really a double edged sword.

Hence, i've taken precautionary measures to ensure that history doesn't repeat itself by censoring my own entries. Turns out, quite a good number of them looked potentially damaging and wound up on my chopping board. Not chopped off entirely, but safe in storage. Most of them came from the army era, me being the atypical NSF, just full of complaints. Others, well, let's just say i'm not taking any chances especially in our wounded economic situation that gaurantees no jobs.

There's a fine line between fighting for your freedom rights, and plain stupidity. Especially politically charged blogs. I'm not gonna start on blog entries on racial and religion issues 'cos that's just asking to be thrown in the slammer, on top of being rude. For the slew of local blogs slamming the local government, all i can say is, just don't leave your namecard behind. You never know who's reading (*takes a peek behind shoulder)

We're All Right Where We're Supposed To Be

2009-01-22T09:53:00.000-08:00

Indie rock has always intrigued me in more ways than one, both music-wise and the social consequences and/or behavourial patterns attached to it.

First off, reason for bringing this up is that i recently picked up (not literally, if you catch my drift *wink wink) the soundtrack to nick and norah's infinite playlist, which, if you haven't figured it out yet, is a mixtape (in the spirit of the movie, for those who caught it) of contemporary indie rock bands. And i must say, it's definitely worth a listen even for those who aren't into indie rock. And especially if you've watched the movie, 'cos the use of the soundtrack throughtout the show was absolutely brilliant. I mean, that should be expected given the title of the movie yea? And you won't be disappointed.

Indie rock is a genre which definition i'm still utterly confused by. To some, the genre inclusions are as narrow as bands in the underground scene playing a certain style of rock, a la those New York-based bands such as Modest Mouse, We are Scientists. To others, post punk bands like the Killers are considered indie as well. There are even some who dispute that indie rock isn't a genre. It just refers to bands under independent record labels, who play rock, just that they all happen to play the same style of rock.

Whatever your definition of indie rock is, here comes the social enigma which i find so strongly attached to indie rock: the whole idea, or many might even suggest "ideal", of individuality. In fact, "ideal" sounds more fitting here, since i'm going to drive home the point that indie rock has been robbed of its essence, and that is individuality.

Confused? (Note: the following is just my hypothesis) Well, indie rock bands are independent in the first place for a reason, making music the mainstream won't appreciate. Which might be the reason why no major label is signing them. I'm talking about years ago, before the 80s when a certain Mr Cobain introduced garage rock to the mainstream world, before putting a bullet at the back of his head, further cementing garage rock into the annals of music history. So, before indie rock become more mainstream, people who actually followed indie rock bands, i might go out on a limb to say this, truly followed a band because of personal taste.

Fastforward to the 21st Century PC (post-Cobain), individuality in indie rock has taken a different turn. Now pardon me, i'm not assuming that there aren't people who followed indie bands cos their good. No, no.. definitely not with the slew of talented indie bands out there, that would be a really unfair and sweeping statement. And neither am I saying that listening to indie bands = having tons of individuality. But how many times have you come across people around you naming obscure bands during conversations, knowing that they have a miley cyrus shrine hidden at the back of their closets? They might have diverse tastes in music, but if that's the case, why don't you ever hear them speak about the new jonas brudders single?

Individuality in music has always been about listening to whatever you like. However, this has evolved into a mindset that individuality is listening to something that everyone else hasn't heard before. There are people who listen to bands not because they sound good, but because a little knowledge of these bands and a little name-dropping during conversations will up their individuality factor. I've hung around the local music forums and it's qutie amusing to see so many locals slamming mainstream music, example "we play indie rock/emo/metal, not lame pop music". Yes, different strokes for different folks, but that shouldn't be used as ammunition to slam someone else's music tastes.

I could go on about the ridiculous views on individuality and music some (or even most) kids have these days. Listening to the Decemberists doesn't make me any more an individual than my 13 year old neighbour listening to britney. (By the way, i don't listen to the decemberists, and i don't have a 13 year old neighbour. Just an example.) I think everyone should just be proud of what they listen to, though it is hard with all the haters out there. shrug

Anyway, here's my (not-so) infinite playlist. Not exactly the soundtrack of my life. Which is a very interesting idea. Everyone should have a soundtrack of their lives! To whomever reading this, whether i know you or don't, let's post it up and send me a link somewhere. I'm always game for a good song!

Without further ado:
After Hours, Impatience - We Are Scientists
Last Words - The Real Tuesday Weld
Middle Management - Bishop Allen
Nick & Norah's Theme - Mark Mothersbaugh (great, potentially loopable material)

PS, i'm on an indie rock kick, so no mainstream stuff. but i'm not embarassed to say i do like mainstream stuff, just as long as they're catchy. That's all i ask for.

Slow Dancing In A Burning Room

2008-12-10T11:26:00.000-08:00

A few pre-Uni, NS guys have asked me the simple question of "how is engineering?"

"sucks. damn hard to study, and you don't score unless you're really smart. or you intend to bury your head in your books 24/7. are you actually interested in engineering?"

"don't know lei. actually, i got nowhere else to go"

Utter. Rubbish.

That's what i thought too. I have to debunk this myth, so i've come up with a little test. A gauge of which faculty you should plant your backside firmly in come the start of your respective academic semesters.

Of course, if you're swearing by this test at the end of this entry, how you are able to get a place in uni with your intelligence level... is of extremely high suspect

If at any point of the video, you actually nodded your head and go "absolutely brilliant" or "pure genius", shedding a tear in between applauds, join the queue that says "ARTS"

"You can actually program this on a home PC? And it's considered a module? COOL!" Yes, it's called ee2007. Do note, the end product might look really good, but the process can give you grey hair. Electrical Engineering for you

Mechanical engineering

If you find yourself kneeling on the floor kowtowing, as an automatic reflex, the moment Warren Bufett's mug flashed across the screen, Business. The kowtowing is good practice to help you do well in the course as well.

So, there.

We're Forever Young

2008-12-01T09:06:00.000-08:00

My playlist that's tiding me through the tedious exams. this time round, oddly, i'm not stressed, just irritated.

Sarah Mclachlan. Angel. Need i comment any more than that?

A catchy pop/punk song i dug up randomly. Ironically the song is about dying together via jumping. Punk version of sweet, go figure.

Don't bother with the american idol version. It probably got jeff flipping in his grave. Can't top his intepretation of the song

Soppy country song + 70s rock band = woot.

How can you pass on a song with the line "good shoes won't save you this time"?

it's all about the hair

Just The Sound Of Resplendent

2008-11-12T06:31:00.002-08:00

this, CANNOT be counted as an impulse buy. may 3rd, was my post of intention on buying. 6 whole months, or half of a whole year, that's a mighty long time. how can it be considered impulse?

however, repeated attempts of self-justification, topped off with a self-doubting question... OF COURSE IT'S AN IMPULSE BUY!

but i don't care. it's gonna look (without doubt) and sound (this, hopefully) really really good.

Dream of Ways, To Throw It All Away

2008-11-02T19:19:00.000-08:00

makeshift choir at ard 4mins. and a pretty good one at that

So What So I've Got A Smile On

2008-10-28T10:33:00.000-07:00

after the shadows, we talk about smiles, wat say ya?

You know what to do

So what so i've got a smile on

We Are Crooked Souls Trying To Stay Up Straight

2008-10-25T11:05:00.000-07:00

Cannot sleep once again. Got myself to blame this time, had plenty of sleep the night before but took another 1 and half hour nap in the afternoon. My eyes were a bit sore, so i convinced myself nothing a short (relative term here) nap cannot cure. Remedy for sore eyes or just being a pure bum, i think it's a mixture of both.

And the consequence of which... is i'm typing this now at 2am, and i got to be up by 9 tmrw. Deja vu.

So, to pass the time, surprise surprise, random entry.

Before i start, using Christian terminology and switching/turning you, the audience (yes, all 2 of you), off, do give this a read as i think it will at the very least give you an insight to the age old question of:

"If God is so good, why is He doing all these bad things (i.e. boy/girlfriend broke up with you, lousy test results... you get the picture) to me?"

Recently I stumbled across this Switchfoot song "The shadow proves the sunshine" and i thought it to be lyrically beautiful and profound. And no, this isn't the arty-farty-pretender from engineering speaking, it's just that the nature of the lyrics is such that i immediately drew parallels of it to my own struggles when i first heard it. And no, it's not like some nonsense fallout boy lyrics where one line can mean a million different things to the same person.

The "storyline" of the whole song is basically about a guy/girl, or maybe even a pair, who's facing various difficulties in life, i.e. facing the "shadow" in their lives. The first verse tells of how their hearts are "frozen" and "darken", and the second about how "storm clouds" are gathering beside them, and crying for God not to "forsake" them or to "look away", and them feeling that God is "far away". The chorus becomes like a beacon of hope to these people facing a valley in their lives, that although they are jaded with things, it encourages them to "hold fast to the brink of day", and climaxes at the interlude with the sunshine "shining on them". I'm taking the sunshine here as a parallel to God, just to make things clear.

So... if God is so good, how can he do such nasty things to us? (Btw, I shan't go into the "big" perspective of why are there famines in the world, 'cos that question's a bit different.) I think we got to remember that we're all living in a fallen world where many things can just... happen. People steal, lie, cheat and kill. (See ** for my take on it. I think i'll digress) We face difficulties, and we question God most on the times based on our feelings. 'cos if we know (as a fact) that God is for us, we know that trials are part of His plan, but we feel otherwise, cos we are facing the problem which doesn't make us feel good, hence we can see whether we are using our knowledge of God or "at-the-moment" feelings to face our problems.

In this respect, we often face the "shadows" in our lives, not bothering to look behind us, which is where the sunshine is. This makes God seem so far away and turning His back to us, but in actual fact, He's always there, jsut that WE have turned our backs against Him. The shadow is just there, and it might seem so often that it is created by the sunshine (God) specifically for the sake of creating difficulties for us (see ** for further exp.), but... look who's in the way, creating this shadow. Us. We sinned in the first place, which caused this world to be fallen. The shadow is what it is... lack of sunshine. lack of God. The world has to follow a certain set of physical rules, and still in the imagery of the song, the physics of light, travelling in a straight line, forming shadows when blocked by a non-translucent object.

Not to stretch this imagery too far ('cos after all, it is an analogy to prove a specific point), i think the main thing i got out of it is trials will always be there, maybe sometimes because God wants to test our faith in Him, or maybe sometimes it's just the fallen nature of this world. Just to spell it out, maybe your bf broke up with you because God wanted to see how much you can trust in Him in this, or maybe it's just because you said something nasty and broke his heart, and he broke up with you because, that's just how it works in this world. It's how we face it, whether we want to continue to face our shadows with fear, hatred and bitterness, thinking God is just so far away, or to just simply turn around, facing God and trusting Him to take care of the shadows behind you. And hey, these trials, they are to prove that God is always there!

Just to clarify, I'm explaining this using the song, but of course (hopefully) in line with the bible. Song's pretty much there for poetic reasons and of course the thing which provoked these thoughts in me in the first place. Well, don't take what i say as the truth! Do email me if you have any questions/grievances, and we'll discuss! Sounds cool... at least to me. And yes, my email should be at the bottom... i just realised that. explains the spam i've been receiving all these years. *slaps forehead*

**Briefly: We weren't meant be like that, God made us perfect, in the image of him, but we messed it up at the very beginning (Adam and Eve) and hence, became part of this fallen world. God didn't create evil, neither did he create temptations per se, because He is perfect. So how? Contradiction? Nay... Being created perfect in his image, God knows that we have to have certain virtues, and innocence isn't one of them. Innocence surviving temptations, that's the key thing that God wants us to achieve. The tree wasn't planted in the garden of Eden for men to screw up, but for us to survive temptation and to show spiritual maturity and having God's perspective in our lives. It's not "what" that was created that mattered, but "why".

We, really, are crooked souls trying to stay up straight, but just remember that the shadows we see everyday, they just prove that the sunshine is always there.

So Go On Baby, Make Your Little Getaway. My Pride Will Be My Company

2008-10-16T11:26:00.000-07:00

after such a long hiatus, i'm back... only because i feel it's my duty to list out what i've been listening to (and hence, what you should be listening to). This is in anticipation of the queen of clowns, better known to some of you as britney spears.

avoid her, shun her album... please, just do something more worthwhile with your money, like stuffing it into your ears everytime her music plays on the radio.

All things ASH -
Polaris
You Can't Have It All
Blacklisted
Princess Six
Girl From Mars
Orpheus
Twilight of the Innocents

A 'lil John Mayer. yea, he talks way too much nonsense, but got to love the music -
I'm Gonna Find Another You
Gravity
Slow Dancing In A Burning Room

And the rest -

Great DJ
Be The One
That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings

4:12
Head Over Heels (In This Life)
The Shadow Proves the Sunshine - Switchfoot

Oil and Water
Diamonds and Coal - Incubus

Oh Yeah - The Subways
Can't Catch Tomorrow (Good Shoes Won't Save You This Time) - Lostprophets
Sometimes When We Touch - Olivia ong
Whatever You Like - TI
Hallelujah - Paramore
Stolen - Dashboard Confessional

Did You Sail Across the Sun?

2008-05-07T06:43:00.000-07:00

Exams ended with the customary messed up final paper.

But i no longer care.

No nus for the next month or so. No lectures which i don't understand due to the content or lecturer's accent or worse, both.

No climbing endless stairs and slopes in the kent ridge campus, no walking/bussing from kent vale to almost everywhere else.

No rude admin staff, no project frustrations/anxiety, no deadline stress.

So many plans for the months ahead, so little time!

*whiff* ahhh..... The smell of holidays... i'm off to a good start already

Rock And Roll Honey, Don't You Know Baby, We're All Alone Now, I Need Something To Sing About

2008-05-03T11:10:00.000-07:00

Examination stress does weird things to me.

Doing things on impulse might be part of my anatomy, but really doing things on impulse, now, that's the examination stress talking.

I can already ~~smell~~hear it

Borders? I'll Wipe 'Em Out

2008-04-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

Go for freedom. Go for love. Go for fight.

I've already regretted starting this entry off with a cheesy movie tagline with bastardised English, but... I guess I already did. "Go" is a Japanese movie which is part of my intro to japanese studies exam, which i'm totally not complaing about. How often can you kick back, relax, watch a movie and claim that, no, KNOW that you're studying for an upcoming exam? The last time that happened was intro to Literature, where I decided to skip reading "the Great Gatsby", tried to watch the movie but was too painful to watch to the end, and ended up reading the book anyways.

Anyway, I haven't mentioned it yet, but the show was brilliant. It's basically a coming-of-age movie about a japanese born korean, who looked like any other Japanese ('cos they mostly came from Korea, ironically) but is discriminated for having "dirty blood". Baffles the mind, but not hard to imagine. So the movie carries on about his struggles, him falling in love with a Japanese girl and her coming to terms with his race/nationality etc. It isn't a weepy drama, but more of a part dark humoured comedy, part drama genre. I never knew the discrimination against Koreans was this jialat though.

Before I reveal anything else, i say, go watch it.

After the movie, I decided to take a break from the "gruelling" 2 hour "studying" marathon (not too subtle with the inverted commas eh?) and take in a game of facebook texas hold 'em.

Not to my surprise, as I raised wildly on first hands, there was a white guy who got pretty pissed and started calling me racist names, the usual "chink", and a new one for me, "donkey". I almost never get pissed by insults online (sidenote: only occasionally in dota, hence the deleting of the game) and this time wasn't different either. I simply replied him something along the lines of "my money, my rules, bugger off", which he eventually did 'cos i won the hand with 4 of a kind aces. This was followed by a psuedo apology from mr racist, who went "fairplay. nh (nice hand)". I ignored. Want to apologise, do it properly, don't give me a DPM*.

At this point, surprise surprise, another guy entered the table, another Chinese, and pumped in 7k on the first hand on a 25/50 blinds table. For 2 rounds in succession. I mean, that's just asking for it. Even i was pretty irritated. At the 3rd round, as he pulled off his retarded-under-the-thin-guise-of-being-fearless stunt, mr racist just typed out "you're screwed. this round's mine". Which he did win, by the skin of his teeth, effectively bankrupting mr crazy bidder. Being more irritated with mr crazy bidder than mr racist, i typed out "stu, as much as i hate racists, nice one". The nice surprise was that he actually went "thanks. hey, sorry about the racist remarks before", in a MPD* manner.

Now that got me thinking quite a bit. The little experience made the show Go so much more brilliant, 'cos the racism in the movie is portrayed exactly as what it is in real life. I'm not talking about the extreme race hating groups like the KKK, but about general racism in society. Not everyone is a true blue racist at heart, but with society telling us very subtley certain races are "bad" as we grow up, it's hard not to have racist feelings against other races sometimes. As much as our lovely, proud to be succesfully multi-racial country hates to admit it, i can say the majority of us are racists not by choice, but by nature. Put aside the politically correct front for a while people and think about it, how many times have we not secretly stereotyped people of having certain characteristics due to their race/nationality? I'm not slamming anyone. I know I have, just look at my previous entries.

I've got to say, stereotyping people before knowing them is certainly unfair, but that doesn't mean that they are a total myth, and no one of a certain race can have that characteristic. That's bullshit. Certain racial stereotypes do hold, and in my experience in engineering, it holds frequently. But we're so hung about being politically correct that it's more important not to verbally or explicitly stereotype people than to actually admit their stereotypical characteristics, if present, and come to accept them as they are. It takes 2 hands to clap sometimes. Have we ever thought that maybe our silent apathy towards certain races might have actually fuelled them to take on these characteristics, just because "everyone thinks i'm like that, so i'll just be like that"?

The little moment from mr "racist" probably points toward a change in our generation at least. He makes racist remarks without understanding the severity of it, but is big enough to apologise for it. Realistically, it'll be hard to eradicate such feelings overnight. I don't have any experience in sociology, psychology what-not, but maybe acceptance is key. What we're doing now is making it taboo to talk about stereotypes, sweep it under the rug and only discuss it among people of the same race/nationality. That's the perfect formula for a ticking social time bomb.

And i'm not going to blame the government for it, 'cos it's obviously an extremely sensitive topic that can swing votes easily in the next election. My solution for it?

Go watch "Go".

*: Doing a DPM is making an apology in a manner which... ahh... i shall not fully explain. I've got enough parking fines to worry about, won't want a lawsuit coming my way. Big Daddy's watching.

Go watch the last in parliamant episode regarding a certain escape, watch out for the apology (if you can actually catch the blink-and-you'll-miss-it moment) and you'll see what i mean.

And a MPD is simply... opposite, if you haven't already figured that one out.

With My Dead Beat Sky

2008-03-31T07:20:00.000-07:00

Engineers. You got to love 'em.

I entered my signals classroom earlier today, unaware that classes were cancelled.

As I was waiting, it dawned upon me that the lecturer mentioned something about a cancellation. I was probably in ~~my drugged state~~ a daze then, so i leaned forward to this other fella and asked him.

Not a smart move in the first place, given that if he was there, he was probably as confused as me.

Anyway,

Me: "Excuse me. Are you in the signals class?"

Him: "Mm" *staring intently at his computer*

Me: "Do you have any idea whether classes are cancelled today? I remembered the lecturer
saying somethign about him being away"

Him: "Dunno."

Me: "Ok, thanks anyway"

Him: *stares at his computer, without a reply, and without flinching*

I leaned over his shoulder, and with his blank yet intent stare towards his laptop screen, i half expected to see a webbie of computer cheats for geeks or maybe even a half naked anime chick (he was this close to having drool fall out of his mouth).

Surprise, surprise, it was just his notes.

This is the perfect model of an engineer. Seriously, i'm not slagging him off. Firstly, he has mastered the art of concentration, i.e. oblivious to your surroundings, level 99 blank stare passive spell. You don't need to be aware of your environment, it's you and the computer screen. I bet if I was a leggy, hot babe, the reaction wouldn't have been different. He'll just go: "Me = dorky engineer. Hot babe = HOT BABE. Me + hot babe = calculation error. Therefore, Me + computer = best friends."

What have I signed myself up for?

Bag of Crap

2008-03-23T08:16:00.000-07:00

The word of the day is douchebag.

It means a bagful of douche. I don't know what a douche is. Actually i'm just making up the meaning.

Douchebag rolls off the tongue pretty nicely.

You lose an all-in hand at texas hold 'em, you shout "douchebag".

ronal-"smelliest-douchebag-of-all"-do scores another goal, you scold him "douchebag".

The auntie puts hum in your char kway tiao when you clearly ordered "no hum"... douchebag.

If "cellar door" is supposed to be the nicest sounding term in the English language, douchebag, er, bags the awards for the dodgiest sounding one.

Try it

Douchebag saying douchebag. How douchebag is that.

Save Your Sympathy... Now You Welcome Me To A Town Called Hypocrisy

2008-03-20T11:04:00.000-07:00

I finally received my letter for appeal against a traffic fine issued to me 2 months ago. Background: Apparently, i parked my car within 3 metres of a hydrant, outside a friend's house. I thought it was maybe 2.5m, but not close until i was blocking the damn thing.

Needless to say, it got rejected. First of all, the letter is 2 months late, meaning the money we pay, or people who do pay taxes, has an effeciency rate of 2 months to a simple complaint letter. Also, it was a lost cause the moment my car's license plate number got punched into the system of those conniving ticket aunties/uncles, simply because, traffic tickets probably has a significant input to our nation's overgrowing wealth. Of course, i'm not going to touch on how our nation is able to boast that we can self sustain for the next 10 years totally independently, but fail to feed the poor auntie, who has to climb 4 flights of stairs everyday cos "no money" to upgrade 1 room hdb flats.

And yes, i'm extremely pissed off.

Not only due to the GIVEN fact that all appeals are rejected, but in the manner it was rejected. I shall paraphrase the letter from the ~~thieves~~ "the company".

Says here, they have "reviewed" my case, and have deemed that "the offence had been correctly reported". Yea, by whom? The ticket auntie/uncle with a measuring tape, measuring distance of my car from hydrant? Please.

" 'The Company' takes stringent enforcement action on illegal parking at the location." No shit.

"As such, we regret to inform you that your appeal is not accepted". And you expect me to believe you regret taking free money from me? You schmuck.

"A fresh Notice of Traffic Offence will be issued to you in due course". I can be sure that it'll come faster than 2 months.

"We would like to urge you to make a conscious effort to comply with all the traffic rules and regulations which are made for your own safety and that of other road users". And to cross our greedy palms with money. Thanks in advance for next month's paycheck.

Urge me to make a conscious effort not to break the law? Bollocks i tell you. It's all about the money, never about justice, so don't give me this politically correct bs when you're dipping into my pockets and taking my money, just because the "law" allows you to.

These rejection letters could go as simple as:

"Dear Sir/Madam,

We rejected your appeal, 'cos when there's money to take, who won't take it? I'm sure you understand us as a business organisation, and money comes first before the people.

We appreciate your understanding in the matter, and if you don't, tough.

Cash all checks to the company name above.

It's a pleasure doing business with you, and though we urge you to make a conscious effort to comply with traffic rules, the money's better for us actually. Just don't kill/maim anyone, and we're good.

Your$ Faithfully,
MoneyBag$
"

It's easier for justice to take our money when she's blindfolded

Grace Makes Beauty Out Of Ugly Things

2008-02-15T10:42:00.000-08:00

It's been hard to find anything to write about recently. Having already established my stand on blogging about my personal life (which is a nono, and i wun bother to explain the utter supidity of doing so), i took cue from the millions of blogs out there and flipped open the trusty, topic-loaded straits times for "inspiration".

It seems these days, the graceful society our government has so longed for us to become since a decade ago, has been the topic of dis"grace" for us locals, pardon the pun. We've all heard it before, be it the common "pretend-to-be-sleeping-so-that-you-don't-have-to-give-up-your-seat-to-the-pregnant-woman" routine, or the rare, but not surprising, case of the foreigner who got scratched and beaten by a supermarket auntie and her daughter, for accidentally bumping into her. The proverbial "oi, diao simi diao. buay song ah?" ah beng story we hear all the time, for the less initiated.

Anyway, many non-Singaporeans have written in to complain, for nothing but personal vengeance upon the ugly Singaporean society. That might sound unfair, but think about it. They write such a long letter to the papers, with their flowery words, which can be generally summed up in 2 words: We(Singaporeans) suck. Yes, that's their intent compressed in a 1000 word essay written in the context of our politically correct era we're living in today.

First off, the explanation of the life-long question on why GENERALLY (not all, mind you) Singaporeans are so rude. If you've ever been to a certain country, self proclaimed to be in "the middle of the world", you'll be experiencing people bumping into you in narrow walkways, intentionally and rather viciously. And no, you don't get a "sorry", or "excuse me". And i'm saying this from experience, given that i'm studying in an environment where majority of the students are from the country that apparently sits in the middle of the world. Self acclaimed, i re-emphasise.

Initially, you can say i was heck-pissed with that sort of attitude, but i've have recently come to realised that it's just part of their culture. In fact, this "rudeness" is probably in their DNA already. So in a sense, we can't really impose our social rules on them, 'cos they just can't help it. Just like if you're a short person, born like that, wat to do?

As for Singaporeans, we can easily give the excuse that we're mostly decendants of people from this central country. Now that would be a cheap excuse. But i'm going to use it anyway. Not to be anti-climatic, i'll also add in the fact that if you look at it from the overall perspective, no country is perfect. We all have our flaws, and ours happen to be in the graciousness category. See, China have their brashness, Singapore their disregard to social graces, and America... well.. the guy who started a certain war in eye-rack. So lanlan, give and take, that's wat i say.

Of course, back to the topic of people actually complaining of our lack of social graces. I have no idea how you're gonna improve on that. No amount of courtesy campaigns, no matter how cute the mascot is, or "hao gong ming" lessons in primary school is going to help the situation, as proven over the past decade. What to do? As for me, I'll just do my part to be nice, and leave the whiners be.

And i also find it appropriate when our PM says "Singaporeans need grace".

'Cos seriously, grace is not, in any direct manner, about smiling to everyone you meet on the streets, or helping the old lady cross the road. The answer to a more "graceful" society we want to achieve, which will eventually seem such a minute matter in the scheme of things, lies in a higher grace than all these things. Grace that can be summed up by one word: love.

Living in the shadows that bind
Wherever we run
Why do we choose to hide from the sunshine
From the ever-present, ever-shining sun

It's Beating, I'm Bleeding

2008-01-31T10:19:00.000-08:00

Absolutely awesome show. Kicks matt bellamy and gang off top spot on my list.

Do The Stars Gaze Back? Now That's The Question...

2008-01-28T09:45:00.000-08:00

Having re-read my last post, I do find I'm a little harsh on local dramas.

No, don't get me wrong here. I still think most of the present day actors stink. Not all, most. The new 9pm and current 7pm dramas have only reinforced my view on this, speaking of which, the 7pm one really had me in stitches a week ago. There was a rather serious scene with the young male actor (presumably one of the leading actors) lashing out on another guy, and it was just plain funny cos he was blurting out line after line of half-baked chinese, his eyes, telling of a fresh actor struggling to remember his lines and his face, contorted in a miserable attempt to suggest anger, however, resembled more of a monkey making faces in a zoo.

Argh, there I go again, over-criticising young local actors. But I can't help it! It just kills me that I actually find a drama funny, when it's supposed to be dead serious.

Anyway, as I was saying, I am thankful, maybe in the littlest way possible, for today's local dramas. Just because... they make any and every other film/television show look so damn good. And if these movies/shows were already good to begin with, you'd be tagging these movies as epics, must watch shows of our generation, labelled deservingly as a "classic" etc. I was mighty glad i sat through a whole 5 minutes of that 7pm show (as mentioned 2 paragraphs ago), 'cos to erase the painful yet ironically laughable experience, I decided to finally watch Stardust after procrastinating since December. I tell you, it is now easily one of my alltime favourite movies. Good acting became masterclass performances, the great screenplay became one of absolute brilliance and beauty and the overall experience, from wonderful to breath-taking. All easily done with just 5 minutes (which might seem an eternity to some) of our locally produced drama. Relativity can be such a wonderful thing when you work it in your favour.

I wonder how I'll rate Pluto Nash after sitting through a full hour of that 7pm show.

Pretty darn good, i'm assuming.

Hurry Up And Get Here

2008-01-21T08:22:00.000-08:00

I caught the last episode of the (warning: overstretched adjective-fest to follow) 9pm channel 8 local chinese drama serial.

Prior to the finale, i did catch 1 or 2 episodes way back when it first aired on tv. I got to tell ya, it looked promising with a somewhat refreshing plot. Of course, i'm saying this in relation to other local dramas.

But as always, mediacorp stayed true to its rep (at least for me) by screwing up the last episode. Ok, so i didn't follow the series but it's not hard to make out what happened the past month or so. Hey, it's a local drama serial, just plot a few points and extrapolate. Why do you think our local screen writers aren't going on strike? Other than the fact that uncle lee runs a tight ship, of cos.

So, how did the last episode end? The main characters died, and the rest of the family lived ever after. That's right, no "happily" or "sadly" before the ever after, because that's just it! It was im-friggin-possible to infer whether it was a sad or happy ending. If it's supposed to be a melodramatic ending, i.e. the typical korean drama, then i've got to say the screen writers got to go back to writing school. Somewhere between primary 5 & 6, where lessons on basic plots are being taught to 11 and 12 year olds. If it's to have the "life goes on" sort of effect... surprise, surprise... just like NUS, it still sucks! Ok, i take that back... i mean, nothing sucks like NUS... what was i thinking? If NUS, no, i correct myself, "nus", in lowercase letters, had a module, NU1101, module description "introduction to the many ways nus suck", i'll probably hand in a 5000 word essay on the first week.

But i digress, on my favourite topic, no less. Yea, the ending to the show was horrible! I might sound like a meanie who despises local productions (which i don't. I just despise the lack of innovation), but you got to really check out the show and i'll be shocked if you don't agree with me.

That aside, switchfoot next week! Exciting stuff... a non-emo, non-punk pop/rock act that is just pure alt rock! With a touch of powerpop. Yea!

maybe forgiveness is right where you fell

think about it

We're Going Down Down, In An Earlier Round

2007-11-21T21:57:00.000-08:00

Yes, it's official. England sucks.

All the talent available, and nothing to show for it. Same old, same old.

To think i stayed up all the way to 6 in the morning just to watch a comeback in the works from 2-0 down. It almost did happen, not that England deserved the short-lived comeback, but it seemed fairytale-like especially with the equaliser provided by Becks, who was incidentally the hero a couple of years back with that famous "save-England's-blushes" free-kick against Greece. But some things are never meant to be, innit? Aside from Scott Carson, Wayne Bridge's mistakes at left-back, Micah Richard's consistent fouling... basically, the entire back 4 and the keeper's incompetency, i thought everyone else did pretty well. It's just Steve Mclaren who did a rotten job at formulating the winning strategy. Ok, so he did in the past few games prior to the Russian crash-and-burn disaster a week ago, but that was really against lesser teams. The real test was against Russia and Croatia, who turned out to be top 2 of the group, and Mclaren failed TERRIBLY. The obviously glaring mistake was fielding Scott Carson. So maybe nobody would have thought he would have made his blunders, but unlucky for Mclaren, the blame has to rest on him for his high-profile replacement of Robinson. Lanlan. And after claiming to show no favouritism whatsoever, he reverted back to his old ways of trying to fit Lampard and Gerrard in central midfield. The second goal was exposed by this combination, if i didn't remember wrongly, the attack went past Barry with Lampard and Gerrard positioned further up the fail, leaving a foolish-looking Lescott and the blistering snail pace of Campbell to protect Carson's goal. Tactics? Rubbish i tell you. Croatia was away from home, had absolutely nothing to play for, other than the satisfaction of knocking out one of the world's "soccer greats" nation.

It's seriously a pain to be an England fan. Currently, the consolation i can think of is to see Mclaren's head roll (metophorically. i'm not psycho or sadistic) in a couple of hours' time. The bugger still can say "I should remain as Enlgand coach". What rubbish. Sack him and exile him from the football world i say. Or better yet, let him succeed Fergie's throne. After what he did to England and Middlesborough, i'm convinced he has the death touch, i.e. that goth-looking, decay-loving, vampire-like chick from Elektra.

On other news, the writers of america are still on strike, effectively cutting short the heroes and prison break season. Now, personally i don't really know how much these people are earning and want to earn, neither do i care. All i know is that the countdown to the next prison break episode stands at 53 days, and the last episode was a cliff-hanger too. That's an absolute kick in the nuts. The next thing you know, the lighting crew and the makeup artistes will follow suit, and we'll have to content with darker sets and ghastly-looking actors on tv.

Downloading re-runs looks to be the trend for the Christmas season. Ah.. the ironies of piracy.

Something's Just About To Break

2007-11-11T18:44:00.000-08:00

Right now, i'm stashed away in a random Engine classroom, in a bid to do a study marathon from 9am to 6pm. Everything went pretty well until this project group decided to pick a classroom to hold their discussions instead of the benches outside. I can overlook serious group discussions just because everyone here pays school fees and hey, they have a right to the facilities just as much as i do. However, brainless banter about things from soccer to relationships, that one i buay tahan. It's true, the classroom is rather soundproof... meaning the sound gets CONTAINED in the room, something which they fail to observe judging by their raised voices. Loud tapping of my pencil, constant blank staring at them from time to time, very apparently, has no effect on this group of... of... idiots. Rectification method used: ~~screamed at them until they got freaked out enough to leave the room~~ changed my playlist from whimsy musical-music to louder stuff, from "softer" stuff like Muse, to The Union Underground, Story of the Year and Rage Against the Machines. I'm not even in the mood for these songs, but they work so well. The only positive thing is, that these people are locals. If they were PRCs (which the probability of that occuring is 60% in engineering), it's like a 100W amp with max gain and max volume. Modded too. Seriously. I'm quite sure the pure Chinese gene causes swelled up vocal chords and windpipes the size of a panda bear's.

And you ask me why I'll only work as an engineer only if it's the last job available.

Defying Gravity

2007-11-06T09:53:00.000-08:00

Every semester, there's always a dreaded period of frantic cramming, where i'll take on the seemingly impossible task of squeezing 3 months worth of lectures and tutorials into a couple of days' worth of learning. Talk about bending space/time continuum, this is probably the closest i'll ever get in reality.

The task gets more impossible when you factor in my short attention span. After 10 mins or so, i'll get distracted by something, the bed, the television, youtube... anything to "rest", in inverted commas because really, the extended periods of "rest" are more like "laze-around-extensively time".

Only solution is to go to school to study, which i will be doing tomorrow. 6 hours time actually, which effectively means i'll be doing the "wake-up-early-to-go-to-school-even-though-i-have-no-morning-classes" thing, which means i'm in second gear. I'll only put the pedal to the metal the day before my paper. That's the way it has worked, and will always no matter how hard i try to study earlier. All the nice studying time-tables leading up to my exams, never goes to plan, never works.

Anyway, enought about studying. Prior to exams, i'll always have this list of things that pop up in my head periodically. The to-do list for my free time after exams. So far, i've got a couple of things to be done during this short holidays, and of course the long one next year, and the one i look forward to next next year, which i will cover later *claps in exitement*.

This hollis:
1) Watch as many movies as i can. I feel so deprived now. Hopefully stardust will still be in theatres then. Hopefully. Also other movies i've been wanting to watch, but don't have the time, Minority Report, Les Miserables, Resident Evil 1&2 (haven't watched 1, forgot how 2 went).
2) Learn to play the songs from Wicked: the musical. They're nice! Seriously, no sarcasm there at all. Hey, i've already established the fact that i'm a fan of musicals, no?
3) Pedal modding, as mentioned before. Melting stuff = neverending fun.
4) Hellgate: London. Looks to be a solid game, and to be honest, i haven't played a solid game ever since i picked up Dota, which i'm still clean from fyi. 5+ months now.

Next hollis:
1) Unfortunately, to lighten my load from the normal school semester, i'll have to attend 6 weeks of "summer school", to clear 2 modules. Hey, this beats 12 weeks of vaction internship program. 3 months of working, 8 to 5. No thanks man, i'd rather study.
2) Probably going to France to visit moi sister. Hopefully i'll be able to convince my family to take short trip to England, where there should be more interesting stuff and the people speak funny but are understandable. Interesting, referring to the soccer stadiums and West End of course. Too bad the soccer season's over then. West End should be interesting though. I'm aiming for Wicked and Les Miserables, and if there's time, the Phantom's always there. Wicked looks really cool! I caught the short version of it in Japan Universal Studios, and though the whole thing was in Japanese, i enjoyed it a lot! Think about it, if it's in English, 100 times the fun.

As for France, probably the places of interest, which won't be interested in for long given my fore-mentioned baby-like attention span. Bonjour, merci, madamsoille, monsiuer, and that is the full summary of my French vocabulary. Of course there's that naughty line from Lady Marmalade, but i'm not counting in a statement that'll get me slapped in public.

June 2009
Yes, this is THE holidays to look forward to. No numbering of to-do's like above, just one huge thing to do: AMERICA!!!!! Yup, our cell group's planning a trip to the US of A for some Disneyland fun. There's a million and one things to look forward to. Disneyland, theme parks, music equipment.... EVERYTHING! And if someone's with me on this, i will also want to make a trip down to NY. Yup, broadway! And also, there's just this certain magic to the city. I've been there twice before actually, and i can attest to the notion put across by so many Americans, that the city is indeed MAGICAL. There's just this movie-like feel to the place, probably because there are thousands of films based in NY. From the rooftops, to the back alleys reminiscent of West Side story, to the famous places like Times Square, Broadway, etc. The urban feel to the place, is just so... ok, i'll stop gushing about it before i start to sound like a girl. In short, *puts on non-chalant look* it's cool.

So many things to look forward to! But currently my worry should be, just like the slogan on this particular shirt worn by all the PRCs and Indian scholars in NUS, "i'll graduate on time no matter what it takes". Yes, i'm serious, they wear that. And my friend WW, who apparently shares a common taste with scholars. I think you can fill in your own punchlines in here, i'll leave the final blow to you =)

Back to study. My, that was a long break.

Resident Milla

2007-10-28T10:34:00.001-07:00

I caught Resident Evil Extinction on Thursday. 2 words: Milla Jovovich, which should be made synonymous with kick ass by now. Oh, yes... the movie was pretty good too.

Prior to the movie, i was running late and had to rush down to Plaza Sing from school. Late, nothing new really. Now, when i'm late for appointments, i don't take it too seriously. I think that sort of pisses off the punctual pple whom i'm supposed to meet, but for my more familiar circle of friends, that isn't much of an issue. Not because they're more understanding, but they're ALWAYS later than me. We have pretty much the same sense of timing, the "i-can-reach-anywhere-in-Singapore-within-5-mins" attitude, only difference is i actually BOTHER (er.. to a certain extent la) to rush and try to be as un-late as possible. For them, late is late, so doesn't really matter how late. So, relatively, i'm not that bad after all eh? heh

But i digress. As i was saying, i was running late, dun usually take it too seriously blah blah blah... but this time i was hitting it on the roads trying to make it on time, cos i really didn't want to be late. I DIDN'T WANT to be late, just to highlight that part. Ok, hitting it", that make me sound too much of a hot-rodder, got to rephrase... "driving as fast as i could and the law would allow me to". Seriously, i'm damn law-abiding when i'm driving, never speed before, beat red light etc. But when my car is stationary, read: parking, i'm one wreckless idiot. All my parking fines add up to quite a bit... which is quite retarded really, dun ask how or why i do illegal parking.

And i digress some more. Quick recap: late for appointment, dun usually care much, but this time's different, therefore i drove faster but in a safe manner....

Partly due to the fact that i organised the movie outing and am the latest, and should feel that it's my responsibility to reach ASAP. Maybe 20%. the other 80's so that.... i won't miss the start of the movie. hurhur... shameless, aren't I?

I'm not your regular hardcore resident evil fan, but you could say i'm a milla fan, which might be quite an understatement, given what i'm about to write in my next paragraph. I think ultraviolet rocks, which i'm sure a lot of people will despise me for. I think everyone should watch ultraviolet 'cos milla was just too damn cool in it. Probably cooler than she was in resident evil apocalypse, but definitely not resident evil extinction. Hey, chicks with guns is one thing... kukhri knives? That's a whole new level man.

And yes, it's official: Milla Jovovich is the new Jessica Alba. Alba's passe, and her movies being highly flop-potential (ay, let's not talk about ultraviolet here, cos i tot it was pretty damn good), doesn't add up. If you're still not convinced...

Now, how can you, you with a sound mind, tell me that just doesn't have kick ass written all over it?

And the kukhri knives, when was the last time you saw Alba like that? Only thing she has so far is her cowboy ropes in Sin City and extremely weird looking pose as Sue Storm. Kukhri knives does it, i tell you, kukhri knives

I'm So Tired, But I Can't Sleep

2007-10-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

I figured it's time for my monthly update. Obviously not to please the throngs of fans who visit my blog daily (something which i can continue to claim shamelessly, as long as i don't install one of those blog counter things.), but, yes, to have that "october 2007" on my archives list. Ridiculous, but soothing to know that though NUS officially OWNS me, i've got something to account for in the 4 years bound by the cursed (business) organisation.

Speaking of which, lately, a lot of my time has been spent on my ee3001 report/project, and i say this in a pull-hair manner mind you. Miscellaneous, off-the-top-of-my-head rantings sounds like a good idea right now, just so to counter balance any form of organisation that might have developed in me. Rather impossible, judging by the state of my room right now, books, clothes, everything everywhere... but hey, why take chances?

1) Music. Lots of Phantom of The Opera. The soundtrack. Yup, you heard me right... I'm a fan of TPOTO. Watched it 4 times, Singapore twice, Broadway once, West End once... and counting. Musically, artistically, poetically etc., it's pure genius.

Just to list some other songs i've pulled out from the 90's: I will remember you (mirrorball vers) - Sarah Mclachlan, Semi-Charmed life - Third Eye Blind.
And the more recent stuff: Boys Like Girls, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus... yea, i'm feeling emo-ish/punk pop.

2) Prison Break and Heroes. Weekly scramble to download it and catch it half a year before the mainstream crowd in Singapore. Yes, that's probably how long Mediacorp will take to bring the series in. Even the 56kbps users can download it more than 10 times over in this time.

3) Pedal Modding! Seems like fun to me. Gonna try my hand on it this holidays. Given that i've only done simple soldering, and have only tried it on a PCB once (so far), i'll have to work progressively. Currently on the list: Monte Allums MT-2 mod and EHX Small Stone Univibe mod. I can't wait. Until then, i got to be more confident of soldering on a PCB and get some diazepem... stupid shaky hands.

4) Soccer watching-wise, it has been a huge pain supporting England. Not that they play badly, though they do very often actually, but everything going on off and on the pitch gets pretty frustrating. Number 1, the English fans. I have never seen supporters boo their players before, other than the English national squad. It's highly retarded, given that they do it when England's cruising to a win. If you ask me, it's just plain arrogance. Number 2, and this one i'm gonna agree with the English fans for once, sack Mclaren already. Tactically, he's plain rubbish. Just look at the match against Russia. Some times it feels like he has 10 different strategies which he randomly picks 10 minutes before kickoff. It's laughable stuff really, to a point i actually cheered when Russia scored the second goal against England. This is one seriously jaded fan here.

5) I need to sleep. Now. Got to wake up in 5 hours' time, plus it's a long day tmrw. Lectures, project meetings, VCF, Resident Evil:Extinction (*cough cough* Milla Jovovich *cough*)

Until next month

2007-09-13T20:31:00.000-07:00

I don't usually write in the morning, neither do i appreciate getting woken up when in my groggy state, i've already decided to skip classes and sleep in today.

But this time it's different.

It's here!!!! 1997 Gibson Thunderbird, Sunburst, and all that hyped slimness and sleekness... all true! This one's a bit scratched up, but from a small distance still looks really good. A very light fret buzz on th E string though. THINNEST neck i've ever played with, besides Ibanezes. All the crap about it being heavy and also neck-heavy, nonsense. If you're used to 5 string basses, this one's light in comparison.

You know wat? The best thing is i have yet to plug it in. Not much of a point since my amp's half blown.

All in all, as said time and time again, i don't really care how it sounds. How bad can it be? My sansamp will take care of that. That's besides the point, cos it's a Gibson for crying out loud. And it looks good. Period.

I'll worry about what i have to sell later

For the moment, after 2 and a half years of indecision, i'm a proud owner of a Gibson Thunderbird.

And i've reached choking point. Now we'll see which one will have to go first

Cos You're Everything, Whoa Oh Oh

2007-09-13T10:03:00.000-07:00

Yes yes, i can't sleep once again. This really sucks. Random thoughts to follow:

1) It being a thursday night, i caught the last episode of stories of love, and it was a good thing i did! Last week's one was sorely disappointing. Au contraire to what i said earlier, the show failed to live up to its hype. Great lead actor & actress, but want me to believe that there can be something going on with a 60 yr old man (lim kay tong) and a woman (yu something something) in her early 30s, that's way over my limit of imagination. Anyway, yes, this week's episode. It was arguably the best episode, with the vietnamese bride one running a close second.

I was actually rather surprised to see Nat Ho on the cast. Not the "huh? simi-lai-eh?" surprise, fyi, but the pleasant surprise sort. The last time i saw the bugger was in the flop sequal to Chase, and last heard he was in some Channel 8 SAF-inspired production.

No, i'm not in love with him. Neither am I a die-hard-camp-outside-caldecott-hill-just-for-a-glimpse fan.

You see, i used to sleep with Nat Ho...

....in the same room....

....with 10 other guys...

....on separate beds. you sick puppy you, wat were you thinking?

Anyway, yes, we used to be section-mates in BMT. Last time i met him was during his Singapore Idol stint, but pretty much lost contact after that. Yes yes, you want the dirt right? Not that I would dish out the dirt on him, even if i wanted to in the first place, but this bugger is pretty much the image he portrays himself as, clean cut, Mr sunshine, sincere, and he's a really nice guy to boot.

Anyway, back to the show. Yea, i tot both the leads did really well. After his dull role in the chase sequal, i must say i was impressed by nat's acting abilities. I mean come on, you would have doubts and maybe a guilty-until-proven sortof attitude for singers crossing into the acting scene yea? Or is it just cynical me... anwyay, he did a great job. Good for you bro!

Moving on, and please take note, the above is to be read very objectively, otherwise i realised it may look like i'm some ditzy schoolgirl gushing over an actor. Ay, i'm not. Seriously, what's wrong with you people?

2) Ahem... the Thunderbird has landed. In Singapore. Stay Tuned. You won't regret it.
At the moment, the way the demeter is prices, it's outta the question. Looks like the dynamics and mojo's gonna have to come from the fingers.

3) Busy weekend ahead. Sian. Gotta do some housekeeping and probably a time trim, bits here and there. Metophorically of course, i don't see how u can read it literally.

4) Currently listening a lot to Hinder's Lips Of an Angel. I like the words in the chorus, one of many songs that has lyrics which makes me go "whoa, if only i came up with that." Of course, me saying that has zero credibility, given that i do not, or more precisely cannot, write songs, period.

5) 'Tis the season to be TV watching, falalalalala.
Prison break 3, September 17th. Heroes Season 2, September 24th.
All downloadable online, not because i'm a pirate (well, technically i am), but mediacorp's not shelling out enough to get it onto our screens quick enough.
That aside, woohoo.

6) I'm going to sleep.

'Cos you're everything, whoa oh oh

Just ask the axis

Or just press play in the box 2 posts before this one.

2007-09-08T11:05:00.001-07:00

Liiiittttlllleeee teaser

2 weeks

=)

Enter Sandman

2007-09-05T11:06:00.000-07:00

Cannot... sleep...

i'm beginning to see a trend here. When i can't sleep, i write/type. Besides, i got to chalk up an entry for september. And it is good practice too, considering all i write nowadays are equations and... actually, pretty much that, equations. You have no idea how engineering can dull the "literary/arts" part of your brain. The other day i was just sitting down with Cho, and we were both trying to figure out what the leaflets they hand out in church on Sundays are called. Eventually we did (actually he did) dig up the elusive term, "bulletin", after which, Cho just shook his head and said "must be army. destroys brain cells". I had no excuse, so i just let the "man-that-made-me-look-real-dumb" moment pass, which happens rather often if you must know. Hurhur

Ok, i'm still wide awake. Shall pen down random happenings, in no particular order of importance:

1) No $1600 white thunderbird, then let slip a $1600 black thunderbird, and most recently, a $1400(!!!) sunburst thunderbird. All includes shipping to my doorstep mind you. Too bad my emails and purchase requests gets ignored by the ishibashi staff... looks like i'll be camping at their site for quite a while

2) Demeter Compulator, should be in my grubby digits by this week. Which will form the "big three" in my signal chain, the demeter, xotic bass bb preamp and the EHX Lil big muff pi. Meaning... i might be potentially be getting rid of my ibanez ts-9dx, subdecay noisebox, EHX small clone, boss geb-7 & oc-2 and definitely the mxr supercomp. Shall keep the sansamp for my passive pbass... for now.
Don't mind me, just writing this down for recording purposes, not to show off muh gear. Well... maybe just a little. Who am i kidding? =)

3) Gear aside... School. Waaaaay behind in work. Shall catch up by next week. Same old story every semester... always playing catching.

4) Cooking movies are the in thing man! Wanna watch rattatoohowtheheckdoyouspellit and the other cooking show with aaron eckhart and catherine zeta jones. Man... i'm real bad at remembering details. Nothing new here

5) Stories of love on channel 5! I can't believe i'm saying this, i'm actually looking forward to a locally produced television show. Well, can you blame me after having to swallow down "after hours" and "my sassy neighbour"? Just when it seems the only quality shows Singapore are able to produce are documentaries (think "get real"), they come up with something original.

Tomorrow's one looks really good, with lim kay tong/siu (one of 'em. told you i'm bad with details...) and err... some other actress. The storyline looks very promising, given that last week's one was pretty well written in my opinion. And the acting's pretty good too actually. Never seen any of them before(ay, what's up mediacorp? can you pls give actors who can actually act more gigs?), but the guy with the disability, if he doesn't actually have it, potrayed the character pretty well! And the vietnamese actress was pretty good too. In fact, mediacorp should just import her over. Even if she speaks broken english, her acting more than makes up for it. And she looks good to boot. Maybe there is hope for local tv after all...

6) Baybeats 2008! Ok, it seems pretty impossible having listened to the likes of vertical rush, WGB, allura etc. but i'll be hitting myself years from now if i don't even try. At least i get to be stamped "lousy" by the baybeats committee. Ok, nvm, but consolation point. To sum up, in the words of my ex-dota kakhi WW, "hood ah!"

7) Speaking of which, i've deleted dota. It has been a month. I still break into cold sweat when i hear the terms "ownage" and "noob" which, unfortunately, are very widely incorporated into the daily vocabulary of any given engineering student. Apart from breaking into occasional fits, i'm coping.

8) Currently listening to:
We've Got a Big Mess On Our Hands - The Academy Is...
Face Down - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
The Great Escape - Boys Like Girls
Walk Away - Funeral For a Friend
We Are One Tonight - Switchfoot
Read My Mind - The Killers
Sunday Morning - Maroon 5
DKNY - West Grand Boulevard (Thank goodness they got rid of daphne khoo... *phew*)

Ok, i'm feeling drowsy (finally). Until next month, or not

2007-08-28T11:45:00.000-07:00

Time for my monthly update. I think i mentioned before that i would like to see a longer archive listing, hence the minimal update once a month. But this time it's totally incindental, really. Just wanna put my thoughts to paper(harddisk/internet/whatever).

I've just read a blog belonging to a friend's friend, and it was thought provoking. There are a few things in life which would garner interest, both in the positive and negative sense, from the general crowd. Take politics for example. Everyone has their stand of whether they support the PAP or EEP (Everyone Else Party). Sure, some of you might be saying "but... i dun really care who's in charge of the country, just as long as they do it right". Ahh.... but think back and you'll probably remember a time when you cursed the guhmen for the 7% GST hike, or when you have just enlisted and are about to get your precious locks shaved by the menacing barber. Politics, at some point when something happens which will affect you, even indirectly, a personal opinion will arise.

The other "hot" topic, so to speak, is religion. And this is where the meat of this entry comes in, and Christianity, to be more specific. From the neutral point of view, there are many issues which Christians have caused for others to raise questions about. There's the philosophical questions, i.e. if God is so powerful, can He create something so big that He Himself couldn't carry. Also, the moral issues, i.e. why can't a Christian hold joss sticks as a sign of respect to their elders?** I shall provide my take on these questions (since i've raised them up) at the end of the blog, but i'm here to talk about other things.

Mega churches have been questioned on their existence, whether they are brainwashing their congregation, and the full blown article in the Straits Times years ago, doesn't make things easier either. On a more personal note, some people might find Christianity to be a load of crap. The hypocrisy of Christians is a major turn off, example, the boss who attends church every week but raises hell among his workers during the rest of the week. So many examples, so little space, so i'll just sum it up as, Christians don't seem to be nicer people, even with God in their lives.

A "easy-way-out" answer would be simply, Christians are human too and are imperfect, or if we were perfect, then we wouldn't need God. Valid reasons, but it may seem more like an excuse more than an answer. We are supposed to be "better" people, very generally speaking. Better in the sense we should love one another more, along the lines of this. For those who don't, hey, that's really between that person and God.

The blog i read was also pretty condemning. Nothing wrong with that if we're talking about personal opinions here. However, a lot of times, i feel people don't really have a full understanding of what Christianity is all about. They take shots at the faith from their limited knowledge, for whatever reason, be it just dislike for Christians in general, or to feel good that they are in the know of something seriously flawed that millions of Christians around the world are unaware of. To illustrate, I got back from a trip to Japan a couple of weeks ago, and the customer service there was excellent. The salespeople there really wait on you hand and foot, and if you end up leaving the shop without buying anything, no worries, they're still all smiles. Now, in Singapore, we have quite a different story. Just this morning, I had one such experience. I bought myself a cup of coffee from the NUS engine coffee shop and proceeded to pay for it. Unfortunately, i was left with a $50 note and got this major scolding from the auntie selling it, just because she had to walk half a metre away from the main counter to the cash register to extract more change. She even ended up saying that if the coffee wasn't already brewed/mixed, she would have refused to sell it to me. Now... imagine if a Japanese, who has never been to Singapore before, decided to buy a cup of coffee from this stall upon touch down in Singapore. If i were him/her, i would probably make the assumption that Singaporeans are all rude. I think you can draw the parallels of this yourself.

All that being said, my intention of this entry really isn;t to protect Christians and justify all their actions. Apart from merely pointing out that sometimes some people lack the full knowledge of Christianity and thus make assumptions, i would jsut like to mention the heart of this matter, and why it's bothering me at 3 am in the morning when i have school at 9am. Why do Christians want others to become Christians? Is it so that they can build a large enough army to conquer the world? So that you will think like them and be "brainwashed"? Or is it so that we can supposedly "force" you to give 10 percent of your income for the riches of Christian leaders (We don't actually, for the record.)? Why do we do so many of these things for a God whom we cannot see? Well... if you're able to sweep aside all prejudices for Christian people for a moment, the main reason behind it all is simply.. God.

The existence of God is something which i know of and don't follow blindly. For me to say why, will take me hours to type out. And if there IS a God, wouldn't He want you to be on His side? Initially, we are all condemned to die because we are imperfect, i.e. we have sinned, both Christians and non-Christians alike. To start off, no one is better off than the other person, from the nice guy who donates to the poor regularly to Marilyn Manson. Imperfection is just one sin away from perfection. Yet, He loved us so that He sent Jesus Christ to die for our sins, so that we may not be condemned to eternal death. What we got to do? Simply believe in Him and follow Him.

Having written so much, i think visuals will explain more clearly, and more simply of what Christianity is all about, stripping away all the "controversies" and issues:

Yup, God sees past our imperfections and our "bad-ness" and is always there to pick us up, for Christians and non-Christians alike. He is ALWAYS there, and no matter how badly you have led your life before, it doesn't matter to Him. Simply put, all you got to do is reach out to Him...

** will update tmrw or something. =)

Post Music Post

2007-07-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

I remember back in secondary school, music was just music. Be it Green Day or the Backstreet Boys, they all just did MUSIC generally, no genres whatsoever. That's in my own little world of course.

Then as my knowledge of music expanded, and as i listened to different bands, I discovered music could be categorised into genres, loyal to the compulsive nature of man to categorise almost everything in the world. Basically, whatever sounds "nice" and "wuss" goes under the pop category. Add electric guitar to a "nice and wussy" sounding song, and it's called pop rock. Anything with bite and kick it in, it's thrown into rock. Anything else that cannot be categorised in this 3 groups, alternative. Of course, note, 1) I'm excluding dance/hiphop/r&b from this particular post for simplicity's sake, 2) categorising is still done in my own little world at this point.

Life was simple, up to the point when i realised all these things can be sub categorised in millions of other categories, i.e. grunge, punk, ska, hardcore, funk, and the list goes on.

The genre which interest me most was post punk and post hardcore. Not that i'm a huge fan, but more of the name of the genre fascinates me. Btw, Fascinate = dunnoe wth it is.

So i did a little reading up on wikipedia (wat else?) and jsut to share a bit on my findings, little history lesson for those as puzzled as me:

Punk rock saw a great following in the mid-1970s, where bands like the Ramones, The Clash, The Sexpistols and many many others reigned in the music scene. Punk pride itself in its simple chord progressions and melodic tunes, something which was challenged in the late 1970s, hence the rise of the post punk era. Post punk can be described as "synthesised", "new wave", where synthesisers and sythensised drumbeats can be heard often. Classic example of a post punk band is Joy Division, the guys who came up with Bizarre Love Triangle and Krafty.

Note, within post punk itself, there are subcategories (surprise surprise) such as new wave, alternative, hardcore etc. Hardcore, a post punk genre, is basically very passionate, or emo as the kids call it these days, songs about political stuff, i.e. Black Flag. Alternative, this is one huge subcategory, so i'[m not gonna talk about it.

The punk rock bands whom we're more familiar with today, Green Day, The Offsrping, are part of the punk revival in the early 90s. And the post punk revival, brought about bands like the New York outfits Interpol and The Killers and Britain's Franz Ferdinand.

Post hardcore are sung in extremes, either whispers, intense loud singing or even screaming. What differentiates it from its parent is that it is sung intensely, yet there's a unique controlled release of tension, that sort of feel to it. Rather than the mai-tu-liao-ji-tao-hood appraoch of hardcore. And yes, this brought about screamo too. Anyway, an example of post hardcore, Thrice and Funeral For A Friend.

There are really much much more to talk about, you should go check out wikipedia on the history of music. Very interesting.

Lastly, i just want to point out, My Chemical Romance IS NOT gothic rock. They're just pop rock. Ok, maybe alternative rock. For the deprived kids out there with black eye liners going around claiming they are "emo", a.k.a Paul Twohill, go get yourself a ticket to the Cure concert, and only then you can claim to be a gothic rock fan. MCR, puhleeze

You too?

2007-07-03T10:21:00.001-07:00

Probably the only rockstar who can pull this off

You're Damn Right I Got The Gear

2007-06-06T17:26:00.000-07:00

Okok, time to take stock of what i have, and maybe flaunt it a little. Might not be the baddest rig you've ever seen, but it's worth checkin' out.

BASSES

Fender American Jazz Bass V, '96-97

Fender American Precision Bass, '62 Reissue

Fender Warmoth V, stocked with MEC pickups & preamp

Now for the fun part...
PEDALS (Both sold and owned)

Top Row(From left):
Boss ME-50B Multi Fx
Ibanez Tube King Compressor TK999
Sansamp Bass Driver DI
Aguilar DB924

Second Row:
Boss FV-50L MIT
Line6 Echopark
MXR Supercomp
Boss GE-7 MIJ
Boss ODB-3 MIT
EHX Big Muff Pi
Jim Dunlop JH-1 Wah

Third Row:
Boss PSM-5 MIJ
Boss CE-3 MIJ
Boss DD-2 MIJ
Boss GEB-7 MIT
Boss HM-2 MIT
Boss NS-2 MIJ
Boss BD-2 MIT

EHX Little Big Muff Pi
EHX Small Clone
Boss OC-2 MIT

Boss CS-3 MIT

Digitech Bass Synth Wah

Jim Dunlop Bass Wah

Anyway, a portion of the pedals have been sold. But still, this makes for quite an ownage setup of gear. And if you're wondering whether i'm done, well.... NEVER!

Less is more

But more is still more

2007-05-24T12:56:00.000-07:00

It's been a month since my last update. I guess when you're cooped up in your room being forced to study (no longer by your parents but by circumstances), updating this takes away some of the pain. Anyway, exams are sorta over, sorta because results are due tmrw, and it's never over until it's really over, results and all. Trust a student on this one.

So... what have i been up to? Well... i cleaned up my room, but somehow got it messy again. I'm back to the principle of "if it's gonna get messy again, why bother cleaning it up", the nightmare of every sane mother.

Music gear wise, clearing some of my excess pedals, contemplating a sale of my warmoth, trying to rid the idea of a gibson Tbird and make do with an Epiphone, then it's the question of the mahogany goth or alder standard, sent my Jazz bass for a setup, trying to set the Pbass up on my own, and yea, actually playing the instruments in between. hurhur

Some dota... lots of that 70s show, which is really good stuff if you like stupid funny. If you like retarded funny, think Joey from friends, then this will crack you up, gauranteed. It gets kindof scary for my family, especially when i'm in front of the computer with my earphones plugged in, and occasionally will burst out laughin in a retarded way. Yes, you even luff retardedly when you watch it. Puts a whole new meaning in "laughing with them, not at them".

Some excerpts:

Kelso: Fez, the foundation of every good relationship is 3 words. "I don't know"
"Where are you going?" "I don't know"
"What are you thinking about?" "I don't know"
"Who's that under you?" (shocked face) "I don't know"
See? It's bulletproof!

Kelso: I'm now shallow. I just judge woman on their looks.

Kelso: It turns out, the key to winning Jackie's heart was in the last place i thought to look - my own brain.

Red: Kelso, you make eric look like Einstein
Eric: Gee, thank you daddy
Kelso: "thank you"? Einstein was ugly

'Nuff said. Do yourself a favour, get all 8 seasons of that 70s show, then, you can, my friend, burn it for me. Thank you very much

For Your Viewing/Listening Pleasure

2007-04-23T10:52:00.000-07:00

7 hours to my first paper. I'll make this a quick one.

The newest sith lord apprentice, darth scooter. *yoda voice* Began, the canine wars has.

Currently listening to (meaning, you should go take a listen too)

With Legs Like That - Zebrahead
WWE Maria's entry theme. I think i said enough to have half the guys reading this to go check it out.

From here on, it's pretty much all local stuff. Please don't get irked by the "made in da Singapura" tag and check it out. Supporters of local music are probably familiar with the following, and skeptics, try it. You won't believe all these bands are home-bred.

Love In New Wave - Electrico
Rocking in the red, the white, but without the blue. If you know what i mean.

Now We Will - West Grand Boulevard
Probably the best song WGB has ever written... in their pre-Daphne Khoo days, mind you. No nasal whining for me, please.

Girl On Queen Street - Plain Sunset
Solid indie rock stuff. Damn tight band. Saw them jamming some 7 years back and it's inspiring stuff man.

Siti - Force Vomit
My favourite song. Go to any Force Vomit gig and you'll always have at least one kuku shouting "siti! siti!" And for good reason too. This one can be the anthem to the 90s Singapore Music Scene.

Now go... find the songs, listen, and be awed with our local products.

Holiday Resolutions

2007-04-19T12:47:00.000-07:00

It's that time of the year again, the frantic mugging period. As of now, i've caught up with 2 modules (more or less), 1 left a bit more, 1 more half done (meaning haven't touch since mid terms), another one never-paidmuch-attention-to-it-cos-i-SU-ed-it, and another one haven't touched since... ermm... in fact, it's haven't touched, period.

6 modules can be a killer, but somehow i'm quite calm about the preparations, despite it being 4-5 days to exam day. I'm not dead calm, but unusually calm, that it kindof scares me. Must be numb to the pain already. I'm just waiting for the realisation that i'm actually pretty screwed, which would most probably hit me around 6-7 hours before my first paper. And yes, i don't usually sleep before every paper. There goes the theory on "you remember things better after you have slept on it", out the window. Win some, lose some.

And like any exam preparation period, the breaks in between studying is spent on "what should i do after exams". It's probably the only thing that keeps us students sane amidst the last minute attempts to squeeze a semester's work into our heads in a matter of weeks, no, days.

Anwyay, here's my list, for the moment:

1) Dissect the bassline of every Bon Jovi song on the crossroads album. Then move on to John Mayer Trio, Pino Palladino stuff. Every year keep saying want to level up, now must make that resolution, and be more specific.

2) Learn Pachelbel Canon, on... ermm.. piano. It's kindof embarrasing that i've taken piano lessons in my younger days, and when someone asks me to play a classic, all i can whip out is chopsticks. Gone, shall be the days of being ridiculed that my piano grade 6 cert is a cheap counterfeit bought from Indonesia.

3) Sell off all my excess stuff in my room, actually mainly pedals which are obviously bought on impulse. Proceeds will go to my thunderbird fund, which is not an impulse, cos i'm actually saving up for it. i think. i shall go ponder over whether it's excessive, after my exams of course.

4) Do something worthwhile. Point to remember for personal reference.

5) Run/exercise/workout/anything/everything. Need to clear IPPT in June. Now even physcial fitness test also last minute got to cram. I think i've reached the peak of procrastination mastery.

So little time, so much to do. Especially, knowing myself, the sofa and a televsion before me are 2 good enough reasons for me to forget such resolutions. Such is the enthusiasm and energy of the youths today.

Hi, My Name Is Bob Nakumara. Save da Cheerleader, Save da World

2007-04-04T09:23:00.000-07:00

Seperated at birth

Tune In For Your Music Fix, right here on WCKRZ

2007-04-02T08:37:00.000-07:00

Alrighty. Music for the music lurvers.

For the haters, don't knock it till you've tried it

Spitalfield - I Loved the way she said L.A.
Pop/rock(ish). My favourite pop/rock bassist. nice bass tone with cutting mids, a slight bass drive, and anticipating notes which you rarely hear that fits so sweeetly. Time to get my Pbass fixed up....
In all, a catchy song which you would want to sing along to, except when you're in the library studying, for obvious reasons.

Speaking of which, OT a bit, got to watch this: http://youtube.com/watch?v=NvMfJ6O97bA
You might want to turn the volume if you're using your home PC. =P

blink-182 - The Rock Show
Hey hey hey. Hard to believe, but it's quite a cool love song! Serious. No really. Go listen to it

John Mayer - Split Screen Sadness
Ok, this one's REALLY a cool love/on-the-verge-of-break-up song. John Mayer's an artist with words man.. a modern day poet in his own right.

Fallout Boy - Thriller
Fallout Boy + Jay-Z. 2 words. kick ass

Lostprophets - Everyday Combat
Solid song. The only metal band i'm listening to at the moment.

Daughtry - Used To
Nice song, very nice vocals. If you somehow didn't like daughtry's first single, this is the one that will make you a fan.

Suspension - Mae
This one has stayed in my playlist for a pretty long time. So do yourself a favour and check this song out.

Wait a Minute - Pussycat Dolls feat. Timbaland
Nicole Scherzinger. woot. But other than that, it's really quite a good song. Really.

Turn Me On - Norah Jones
A nice touch of jazz, to end off a list of (imho) must listen to songs.

So i've covered pop, rock, metal, jazz... quite diverse la. In a mainstream sort of way.

Guts and Gory

2007-04-01T20:30:00.000-07:00

Have you watched any TV recently? It's becoming a gore-fest out there. i'm convinced kids should stay away from the telly and stick to barney and spongebob squarebutt.

Nonono. I'm not talking about CSI. Have you seen the latest anti-smoking campaign ads? Gross stuff. I don't flinch (much) even when watching band of brothers, but when i first saw this ad, I got friggidy friggin freaked out. And sadly, it wasn't because of the "dangers of smoking", but more like... "ZOMBIE ZOMBIE!"

There is nooooo way at all, a person who looks so freakishly ghoulish and can barely talk through her chapped (and i do mean CHAPPED) lips would want to come on TV to do this ad. Of course, it was obviously an actress but i was so shocked i needed that fact to be pointed out to me.

First gross pictures on ciggy boxes. That one's fine for me. You wanna smoke, you endure the pictures. Now on television? Ay, cannot la.

Besides, fear has already been did and overdone with regards to all this guts and gore. Decaying lungs, rotting mouth.... try something different la, something more effective. Like...

Smoking causes impotence.

i think if any smoker who comes by this page and only reads the words in bold, he'll be gauranteed smoke free. You see, smoking can destroy your lungs, your heart... whatever. Most smokers don't really give much of a damn. But their manhood?

Ah.... jackpot. Uncle Lee, you listening?

Can you take me higher

2007-01-07T09:52:00.000-08:00

Christmas/New Year season's over and i'm rather glad it is. Well, simply because Christmas/New Year is just another excuse for the "happening" pple in Singapore to party, party and party. Start of exams, end of exams, start of school... any reason to party, just whack. Heck, i won't be surprised if MOS has a big banner at its entrance tmrw nite (yes, a Monday night) that reads "Happy January 8th!!!".

Anwyay, with increased parties, come increased idiots on the roads. Which explains the random road blocks/checks just outside katong shopping centre. I'm reaaally interested what's their criteria to stop a car randomly... simply because i got stopped two outta two times. I mean... i don't exactly have a drunk face going on for me. Err.. at least i dun think so. I guess they'll just about stop anyone who looks young enough to be an irresponsible drunk driver. And somehow i fall into that category. Pui. So the standard procedure goes something like:
1. I spot road block
2. Widen my eyes to look more alert, cut the smile so as not to look like crazy drunk (not that i smile to myself alone in my car... erm.. regularly) and to avoid being stopped -> precious seconds for me to rush home to watch soccer.
3. Still get stopped. Pui.
4. "Sir, where did you just come from?"
5. Facing the road which leads to town, i reply "Takashimaya"
Or I wish i did.
"Siglap"
6. Police officer puts face close enuff to mine, probably to check for hints of alcohol, and asks " Do you have any alcoholic drinks with you?"
7. "Yup, i have a trunk load full of 'em. Had, sorry. Just remembered i finished 2 bottles a while ago. *hic*"
But of course that was jsut in my head.
"NO"
8. And off i go.

Not too bad, from having my ID checked going into an NC-16 movie, to being stopped for suspicion of drunk driving. I must look older now! Maybe can pass off as a 18 year old now... wat an improvement.

Die, you worm

2006-11-30T09:41:00.000-08:00

It puzzles me how centipedes are able to come out from the toilet drains. I mean, the drains are supposed to be filled with water, right? And last i checked, those buggers (literally) aren't able to last 5 minutes in my toiletbowl, maybe even less than that. I tend to overkill household bugs.

Anyway, i happened to spot one last nite in the toilet, unfortunate for it, fortunate for me. Immediately, i whipped out my trusty Baygon and fired a shot at the bugger. Like the cockroach, it started to run around the bathroom like a worm on steroids. I watched and waited for it to wriggle and coil up like a spring.

Never happened.

As it wriggled towards me, i totally went trigger happy on it. Almost blew it to the other end of the toilet.

But still, it was alive. Looking at my Baygon can, with pictures of cockroaches and flies, i just concluded that the thing killed 6-legged insects and not... multi-legged ones.

Then i decided to suffocate it. I took a bottle of dettol handwash and squirted a "warning drop" on the worm. Immediately, it just curled up and dropped dead.

Dettol handwash. Scary mary. Next time i wash my hands with that before dinner, think i got to wash it again with ordinary soap. Wouldn't want any of that insect killer in my stomach. I got to start an Anarchy's cookbook for killing insects man... "101 ways to rid your houesehold pests with everyday items." Shiok rite?

Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head.. .lalalal

2006-11-03T10:02:00.000-08:00

It's 2 am in the morning. I'm sniffling every 2 seconds to keep my watery mucus in my nose (and sometimes down my throat... accidentally) and yet i'm still awake and worse, online. Au contraire to the thoughts that i've overstudied and have become nuts, it's really just a bad combination of decisions that has led to my current pathetic state. I'll try to briefly sum it up... here goes:

1. Decide to take in an ownage game of dota despite the fact that it was 1 am and i had to be awake 6 hours after.

2. Match ended after 1 hour plus, which left me with roughly 4 hours + of sleep. Did i mention i'm the guy who averages 11 hours sleep per day during the holidays?

3. Got caught in the rain in the afternoon, cos i had to be at science to study.

4. Studied in med library which was close to an arctic blast. Froze my brains out. I suspect this was when i got the flu bag. yes, ironically at medicine library.

5. Started sniffling at night, so abandoned plans to stay in school till the wee hours of the morning.

6. Right now, trying to get some rest, but body clock can't adjust to going to bed early. Tossed and turned for a good hour before coming online.

Well, i'm feeling a little drowsy now.

So before i crawl back to bed, the moral of the story is:(in c++ psuedo code, no less)
CODE:
#include

int main(){

int Getting_caught_in_rain_and_freezing_in_med_library, game_of_dota_late_at_night;
bool Thing_that_caused_pathetic_state;

cout << "Rate stupidity factor of getting caught in the rain then freezing in med library: ";
cin >> Getting_caught_in_rain_and_ freezing_in_med_library;

cout << "Rate stupidity factor of losing sleep because of dota: ";
cin >> game_of_dota_late_at_night;

if (Getting_caught_in_rain_and_ freezing_in_med_library > game_of_dota_late_at_night)
Thing_that_caused_pathetic_state = true;
else
Thing_that_caused_pathetic_state = false;

Root_of_all_evil = Thing_that_caused_pathatic_ state;

cout << "the root of all evil is " ;

if(!Thing_that_caused_pathetic_state)
cout << "dota" << endl;
else
cout << "stupidly running through the run and choosing to study in the cold med library" << endl;

return 0;
}

SAMPLE INPUT:
Rate stupidity factor of getting caught in the rain then freezing in med library: 9
Rate stupidity factor of losing sleep because of dota: 10

SAMPLE OUTPUT:
the root of all evil is dota

ok, i think i'm really nuts now

X Marks The Spot

2006-09-04T09:14:00.001-07:00

Lately, my weapon of choice to combat boredom has been comics. Cliched guy thing as it can be, i haven't picked up the habit until last year. But when i did, i was hooked man.

And what better comics are there than the X-men one's out there? Ok, maybe there are fans of the Dark Knight, Superman and maybe even Spidey out there furiously protesting with me, but face it, X-men, as childish as I'm going to sound: roxxorz. Even DC embraced the concept of a whole organisation of superheroes banding together, hence the Justice League.

As i said, i wasn't a comic fan until mid-late last year. But wen i was young, i was very intrigued with the cartoons of such superheroes. Spiderman, Batman, X-men... every Saturday morning never fail, i'll be up and about in the morning to catch it. Still remember i even had a small tape collection on a season of x-men... ahh... those were the days.

It was only years after, when i was in primary 6, i decided to purchase my first comic, just to satisfy my curiosity of how pictures and words will match up to the small screen. An issue of Cable, and i was rather unimpressed, just because i was extremely lost. Plus, it took me 15 minutes to devour the issue, something really not worth it considering i was getting 50 cents a day during my primary school days. That meant i had to live on bread and water for more than a week for that 15 minutes of pleasure. I abandoned the idea of comic books and stuck to TV.

Hanging out with Gao and Guang ~~can be~~ a good thing ~~at times.~~ Some time last year, i picked up 1602 which was strongly reccomanded by guang. Hooked man, i tell you. Hooked.

Comics are still painful on the wallet, costing 30 to 40 bucks for a compiled series of 12 issues or so. Ahh... and there's where bittorrent comes in. Unethical, but my argument is... ermm... actually there's no argument.

Comic-reading have always been labelled as a given attribute of guys. Not that girls don;t read 'em, but most of 'em just don't understand how a atory of a bunch of muscled, underwear-donning men and scantily-clad women saving the world from pending doom can intrigue guys so much.

The hints of hero-ism imbued within us guys, I believe it to be something which God did when he made Adam. As every girl has the desire to look/feel beautiful, every guy has the desire to be the hero. No? Maybe i'm just weird, but don't you picture yourself sometimes as the hero saving the world sometimes? When Cyclops killed off Pheonix, don't you feel his pain and dilenma? Or the sense of pride and courage with a touch of romance when Gambit kamikaze-ed Khan who killed Rogue? If you tell me you can't identify with all these... 3 words for you: you weird freak.

A good comic and my La-Z Boy, the simple recipe to happiness nowadays. It's bad, but i do enjoy an occasional indulgence in escapism.

Please Don't Put Your Life In The Hands Of My Rock And Roll Band

2006-08-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

I am very proud to announce that I've finally found the cure to "music cancer" (read: Singapore Idol).... ROCKSTAR SUPERNOVA!

And the brilliant concept behind this TV show that kicks SI's ass ten times over? Well, SI producers, if you're reading this: a music competition which involves music. Fools.

Anyway, the final 6 of ROCKSTAR SUPERNOVA certainly kick ass! All of 'em. Rocked out versions of Bring Me To Life, Clocks etc. And i DO mean ROCK. Pure, unadulterated, hardcore rock. Pardon my sensitivty, but rock is a big issue to me ever since Joakim killed it single-handedly by dishing out his rendition of "I'm a believer", believing that wuss-ified song is a rock song. *shudder*

And I can just imagine Dick Lee making comments about the rockstars in supernova: "The performance was a bit pitchy... blah blah blah"

6 words for you Dick (pardon the pun)

Who cares? It's rock and roll.

2006-08-12T10:02:00.000-07:00

It was just another Thursday afternoon. Sick of dota, expired WOW account, i did what any other 22 year old SIngaporean would on a lazy afternoon... channel surf. Plus the fact that my dad signed up for some random Starhub programme which benefits includes ALL Starhub TV channels (please, i'm not one of them pirates who uses a hackbox to watch cable), the temptation consumed me like a vortex.

Some Champions League re-run... Johnny bravo... programmes which would normally keep me entertained for the better half of the afternoon failed to capture my attention, for some reason. I was looking for something more intelligent and... bingo. channel 58, Star Movies, "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind". I think i've raved on about the show about a year back, but having just watched it again for the gazillionth time, i reiterate my advice to every single person reading this right now: DO yourself a favour and go watch it!

The screenplay is simply amazing. The gist of the story is basically a boring yet artistic guy and a impulsive, loud girl falling in love with each other. One day, they had a mighty spat, and the girl, being the impulsive one, decided to erase her memories of the guy via some high-tech machine, which is obviously fictitious... at least at the moment. So, the guy finds out, gets pissed off, and decides to do the same.

The story starts to get interesting during the guy's process of "forgetting". The "forgetting" process is such that the patient will be sent to lala-land (read: put to deep sleep), his brain will get literally damaged to some extent, then he wakes up, with completely zilch memories of whatever he ordered from the doc to get rid of. So, the movie brings us through his memories of him and her as it gets erased one by one. As more and more happy memories flashed by, the guy suddenly realised he doesn't want to forget her. He tries to "fight" the erasing process in his subconsciousness, but of course, to no avail.

There's a scene showing the 2 of them in bed under the covers, just talking, and the guy was just telling her that she meant the world to him. At that point of time, she just disappeared (because this memory was also being erased.. remember?) and as he frantically searches for her under the covers, he desperately cries out "just let me keep this one memory... just this one."

You got to agree with me to a certain extent the statement "Bad deeds will always leave a deeper impression than good ones". Ok, maybe not always, but it happens often enough. The guy who sat next to you in class will never be remembered as the guy who does his homework diligently or the guy who abided to the many school rules, but probably as the guy who once sweared at a teacher who actually wrongly accused him.

How many couples have filed for divorces, broke up, just because he wouldn't do the dishes and she wouldn't let him have his boy's night out? Cherish your loved ones, 'cos regret is a repercussion of neglect and forget. Personally, i've never believed in "the one", where God has made just that someone who is perfectly fit to be your life partner. Ok, many of you are going to throw me the whole thing on God's will, but let me explain. I'm just saying, the person whom I'm going to be with for the rest of my life IS created by God (that's a redundant statement cos everything is made by God... but nmind) but not in such a way that all our characteristics match each other perfectly. So, if i happen to marry a girl who's loud and extremely extroverted, doesn't mean i screwed up on finding "the one". Wat i believe is that in every relationship, both parties have to put in the effort to make the relationship work, regardless of how "compatible" they are. I'm suure you heard this before, just thought i'll put it out into words, for... err... future reference.

Heard that the film and history module did this movie a while back, which is a pity! I could easily write a hundred pages (no gaurantees whether all of it would be valid.... heh) on the movie! And before you idiots pass me off as another gaming geek with no other hobbies, fyi, i scored an a1 for my lit for my 'o's, thank you very much. It was the only subject i studied for voluntarily, in my entire life. And so you know, i would have taken up literature in JC, only if they had a Physics, double maths & Lit combi then. Or if i haven't been pressurised by my parents/the world to go with the science flow.

Wake me up when July ends

2006-07-29T09:16:00.001-07:00

Yup, it's the last day of July. And i figured i should sneak in a post, just so that my blog history will have an additional "July 2006" hyperlink. Hey, more is better... no?

Just some random thoughts:

1) Guess i'm still blogging, not so much for the purpose of being an attention whore (ok, i admit, that was the purpose before... heh), neither is it for the world to read up on my sorrows (where you'd blog about private stuff, expecting pple to return some consolations in your comment boxes... wat's up with that?) but just because i kindof enjoy reading my old entries. Basically the thoughts (interesting albeit screwed up.. ) that run thru my head at that juncture of my life is a good reminder of who i am and things that i've gone through. Ok, and maybe attention's a minor reason. Let's be honest pple... there's a little attention-seeker inside all of us... =)

2) Would have travelled to Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia during this 3 months by Tuesday. Quite an impressive run considering my last official overseas holiday was in 2001.

3) Year 2 Sem 1 is officially going to suck. 21 MCs... core modules alone. Good thing's that i dun have to touch the much feared CORS system which every year 1 student is probably jamming up right now. *whistles* always look at the bright side of life...

4) Songs that i would love to jam RIGHT NOW: Suspension Mae, Stars Switchfoot, Last Train Home LostProphets.

Songs that i would love to jam RIGHT NOW (but can't play at the moment): Tell Me Baby RHCP

Well... think that's enuff for one post.

Until next time.

When i decide it's time for another entry.

Probably on the last day of August.

Why am i pressing enter twice after every sentence?

Wake me up when July ends

2006-07-29T09:16:00.000-07:00

WHAT?????

2006-06-30T11:34:00.000-07:00

I've just watched probably the most ridiculous match of my life. I AM pretty pissed that the lousier team won, not because i dumped my savings on Argentina, but because the stupid match was screwed up by the ref again. And what better way to vent my frustrations... in words. Hey, better than me going down to the kopitiam with a baseball bat, thrashing all those in german jerseys eh? Anyway, here are the turning points in the match:

3rd minute: The game started in a very fast-paced and aggressive manner. Lukas Podolski was shown the yellow card, to the displeasure of the tens of thousands of german fans in the stadium. The first mistake by the Slovakian ref, Lubos Michel, whom at the heat of the moment, probably forgot about the thousands of euros Jurgen Klinsmann had promised him to swing the match in the german's favour. Good thing it was still early in the match... more than enough time to undo the damage.

49th minute: Ayala scores a magnificent goal from a well taken corner from Riquelme. Jens Lehmann dropped to his left, but all he got in his palms was German soil. (Sucker.) 1-0. All German eyes on the ref, reminding him that it was either a german win, or world war 3. "Hey, we started 2 wars, we can always do it again". Money was no longer the ref's concern... now, his life was.

62nd minute: David Odonker comes on for Schneider, a brilliant move by the German coach. Yes yes, i know Odonker STUNK. He made quite a number of runs, and only less than a handful got him past his marker, and ALL his final crosses FLOPPED. But the move was brilliant cos Odonker proved to be one heck of an obnoxious player. Practically complaining about everything, from "fouls" to throw-ins... I was just waiting for Maradona and his gangster posse to go onto the pitch and give him one good one on the face.

71st minute: Injury to the Argentinian keeper, forcing a substitution to bring on Leo Franco. Key event, because...

80th minute: Goal by Miroslav Klose. Header. Wasn't very weak, but still dun understand how the keeper didn't keep it out. My neighbour's chihuahua, yes, with it's cute tiny little paws, could have done better than that. 1-1. *Pui*

88th minute: German defender Philip Lahm made a rash sliding challenge on Maxi Rodriquez jsut inside the penalty box. Took out the Argentinian without winning the ball. Clear penalty, clear decision by the referee... yellow card for Rodriguez, for simulation. Clear decision? OF COURSE! GERMANS ARE PAYING THE REF MONEY, HOW MUCH CLEARER A DECISION CAN THAT BE???? I have to applaud the ref though, it was brilliant acting from him. The yellow card was flashing so instantly, it really looked like the dude was actually convinced it was a dive. Anyway, as the ref ran over to Rodriguez, Luhm gave the ref a thumbs up sign, and probably said something like "Good one. i'll put in a good word for you and see whether they might raise the bribe." Scoreline still 1-1. Germany + a Slovakian 1, Argentina 1.

Anyway, the match was too disgraceful for me to speak of now. You can be sure that all the Germans in the world plus one Slovakian who's laughing his way to the bank are partying through the night.

FIFA has already sent out so many under-performing-almost-to-the-point-of-corruption refs, that it makes me think that it's a conspiracy. Whether it's to boost the host nation's chances, or for money, the refs have had so many disappointing performances, it's almost time they had a good one. Statistically it HAS to happen. Unless Germany still has the resources to keep FIFA and its referee's wallets' fat and healthy.

So now, we'll just wait for Italy to beat Ukraine, irritate the germans with their boring tactics, beat them, then we'll have a remake of the 94 World Cup... Italy VS Brazil. Unless England does something drastic to improve their game.

Back

2006-01-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

Realised it has been 3 months since i've touched this blog.

Also realised I dun have anything witty to blog about these days. Besides, blogs are nothing but trouble. Especially the not-so-smart-ones who blog about their everyday lives. It's like a public data-base to gather information about you, and you can take my word for that. Rewind this blog to about 6 months ago, and you'll see that this is blog is the reason why i'm not staying in a hall right now. And on a random note, if you walk pass Sheares Hall these days, you'll see a big SH on a banner hung proudly above the block nearer to the Kent Ridge Hall. SH? Yup, Shit Happens. Heh, got to give me credit for that one.

2005-10-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

Apparently i got tagged. It's 2am now, so i'll make this quick.

Instructions of the tag: Given a topic, you are to write down your answers in your blog, and then send the same topic to 5 other people. Write down the names of these 5 people and link to them on your blog. Go visit their blogs to notify them that they are tagged. The 5 people who are tagged should, in their own blogs, write down the name and the link of the person who tagged them, answer the same topic, and send it to another 5 people, etc.

Topic: 5 Quirks

1) Impulse buys. Definitely not the case of thinking of buying something today, and gettting it the next.... nooooo. It's more like thinking of getting something today, handing out cash to the cashier the next hour. You can ask Joel and Daryl about KOTOR and Guild Wars. I'm a salesman's dreams come true.

2) I've got an attention span of a baby's. This is bad especially during lectures, but worse when i'm talking to people. So the next time you might when to shoot questions at me to check whether i'm listening. Wait... why am i shooting myself on the foot here?

3) I'm nonsense at remembering names. Which is always a potential banana peel when you have to refer to that person's name later in the conversation. It's like.... when someone introduces his/her name, at that very moment my mind will have this mental block that totally filters the name out of my system. It's a little voice in my head that goes "Dun need to listen to this part of the conversation. You'll forget the name anyway." So, the introduction actually goes like this in my head: "Nice to meet you! My name is *mentalllllll blllooooccccckkkk*. And you are?"

That's when i put on my innocent eyes and sweet smile and go "sorry. i din catch your name just now. What is it again?"

Only to forget it again after he/she repeats it.

4) When someone offers me something to eat by surprise, my initial reponse will be "no thanks", although the biscuit or sweet looks reaaaaaally tempting. So next time i say no, ask me a second time. I really mean yes. Damn chinese genes....

5) I rarely reply my SMSes. Especially those which requires an answer and i haven't made the decision yet. Usually i'll just stare at the msg, think "wah lau... nmind. shall reply later. Maybe an answer will just hit me." then my handphone will go back to my pocket, and the message eventually deleted when there isn;t enuff space in my phone. Quite a process eh?

That's about it. tag 5 pple? hmmm... No need hyperlink la. Eyes half closed already....

My entrepenuer friend back from the days we sold... ermm.. RAM chips and processors. Weiwen.

The gangster of arts fac NUS, the godfather himself Wongcheok.

The fren traitor person who owes me a Hong Kong trip, JJ.

The man with a million quirks (it's hard, but pick your top 5.), Gao.

Murphy's Law himself, packed with a beatles haircut, Guang.

Good night folks... zzzZZzzz

Helping The Needy

2005-10-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

With the recent uproar on the whole NKF issue, many Singaporeans have decided to stop donating to charities altoghether. Well, that's the wrong attitude to take. There are many more credible charitable organisations in Singapore to donate to.

And if you're still uncomfortable with donating money through organisations, there are many more ways to help the needy. Like this:

I just received an email from an unfortunate soul, pleading for another chance in life. Apparently, he's parentless, and his uncle is after his life. And you thought your mum nagging at you is a family problem eh? His letter goes like this:

" Assalamualaikum, from Usman Kamara

It is my pleasure to write you after much consideration for your assistance to transfer the sum of usd9.M to your bank account in your country.

I am the only Son of late Mr and Mrs Mohammed Kamara. My father was avery wealthy Gold Merchant in Monrovia the Gold Capital city of republic of Liberia all in West Africa my father was poisoned by his business associates while my mother died when i am little and my father took me so specialbecause I am his only son. Before the death of my father on 4th November 2004 in a hospital here in Cote D'ivoire, he secretly called me and told methat he has the sum of usd9 .M (Nine Million United States Dollars )which he deposited with a bank here in Cote D'ivoire.

He also made me understand that it was because of this money he waspoisoned by his business associates while on a business trip with themand he instructed me to look for a foreign partner who will help me transferthis money out of this Cote Divoire and invest it for me, my purpose of contacting you is for you to help transfer this money to your country beforethis peoples who killed my father will kill me too, I' am now hiding in a localplace here and I will compensate you with 20% of this money if you help me on the followings:

1) To transfer this money to your own account.
2) To make arrangement for me to come to your country to continue my education.
3) To utilize this money by investing it in good busness

.l plead for your good considerations, because this money is my only hopein this life as i am left with no parents alive and my uncle is chasing after meto kill so that he take all of my inheritance.

I am waiting to hear from you

Usman Kamara."

*tears*

I replied him:

"Dear Kamara,

I am indeed very sorry for what has happened to your father. And a pox on your uncle for trying to slit your throat. I believe my country will help you as we are a very friendly and just nation. I have forwarded your mail to the national security department and i'm sure they are more than willing to help u. I totally understand if you are not able to tell us your current location, but i'm sure the interpol will be able to track you down and provide you with aid. Oh yes, i've forwarded a mail to them. You dun mind, do you? Dun worry, they're the good guys.

As I am very ineffecient in administration matters, I'm afraid i can't solve your education problems. I am a student myself, and i'm not earning any money. However, i pledge US$10 to your cause. You can collect it any time you drop by in Singapore. Just drop me a mail. Or you have a paypal account?

As for investment of money, i've forwarded your mail to a talented investor whom I met a few years back. I can't really remember his name, but he is very credible. He's worked with a famous investor by the name of Nick Leeson. Not really well-informed in the world of investment but i believe he worked in a rather huge bank before.... Barings bank i presume? You can trust the guy with your money.

And no need to thank me, i'm doing what i can for the needy. I hope you'll get past this difficult period, and if you ever do think of committing suicide... don't. You can always call my country's suicide hotline at 1800-221-4444. I'm not sure whether you have to put a +65 before the number. I haven't called a toll free line overseas before.

All the best.

Rgds,
WC"

And this is charity my friends.

Bob the Builder

2005-08-16T10:54:00.000-07:00

Was just reading Bob's blog: http://bobochen.blogspot.com

And obviously the blog was written by me. Tho' there's only 2 entries... i got to say this... it was pretty good! haha, seriously, reading the blog again, I think my blog writing skills have deteriorated tremendously.

So now i finally claim Bob's blog as mine. Comfort myself... that i was that good, at least once, some time ago.

Google Me

2005-08-15T09:39:00.000-07:00

For those who know me, you've probably heard this phrase at least once, if not, i'm saying this now: "Google is damn powerful!" Most reactions i get are blank stares and "huh? search engine is search engine wat... wat's the big deal?"

Frens, frens.... you dunnoe what you're missing out on. Well, google has served me faithfully for the past few years, now it's time to return the favour... Google tutorial time!

Google is super powerful.... for searching people on the net. Especially their blogs. heh.

First off... the 2 most important functions of Google. Doing a search of a specific phrase and doing a search in a particular website. Simple... to do a search on let's say... a name. let's say... Jack Lee. Typing in purely those 2 words will give you sites like "Lee Ming jacks his friend..." (okok, bad example... but it's JUST an example.) Which is something you want to avoid. How? Simple. Include inverted commas, like so: "Jack Lee".

For specific site search, for example, you want to search for Jack Lee in blogspot.com. It's useful cos if the person you're searching for has the same name as some bigshot in a multimillion firm, you're gonna get a whole load of useless sites that includes financial bullcrap sites. So the search will go something like this: "jack lee" site:blogspot.com

If by some reason you still don't get this, follow these steps:
1) Remove brains from your buttocks.
2) Put it back where it should be. (*hint* it's supposed to be in your head)
3) Go to Google.com and click advanced search. It's fool-proof. Yup... fool proof, so if you still can't figure it out, you're a FOOL

There.

Now, you can search for anyone's blog, if they do have one. Usually not all blogs will be shown, but by typing the person's name, it'll probably link up to their fren's blog, then you can slowly link your way back to the particular person! It works more than half the time... at least for me.

On the contrary to what people say, that this is a invasion of privacy, or what they call as blog perving, i think otherwise. With very good reason. I mean... you post your stuff on the internet.... wat the heck? What you expect! Everything accessible on the net is for others to read right? If you do type out your personal thoughts and feelings on your blogs with the intention of personal reflection and not for people to read... do what i do, along with the smarter people on earth.... all 37 of them.... keep a diary for goodness' sake.

Which is why you'll only get nonsense in this blog. At least it's funny nonsense... ermm... right?

*BONUS: How popular is thy blog?

http://www.technorati.com/

Type in your blog's link in the search bar, and you;'ll see how many websites are linked to yours!

This is indeed an educational blog. And in the interest of attention whor-ing, you can thank me in my chatbox beside this entry.

Thank you.

Photos Photos Photos

2005-08-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

Just a couple of funny pictures i came across online. Enjoy:

Ah-meng joins al-qaeda in search of revenge for his captivity in the Singapore Zoo. "Breakfast with Ah-meng"... the zoo keepers are going to pay for their insolence.

For you DoTA people out there, just picture this: the cheese is a goblin techie with 20 health left, the mouse-trap, a dozen remote mines, and the 5 rats... 5 over-eager sentinel heroes with extreme kio-sai/kill-steal tendencies. Suckers.

Lionel, THIS is why you should stop getting drunk.
Yes, yes, i know you don't have a sister. But you do have a brother right? Hmm...

Movie piracy by vcd burning... caveman style.

Speechless. World class prank. Hats off to the prankster.

We, the pple of Singapore.....

2005-08-04T12:39:00.000-07:00

A couple of days back, on another slow and hot afternoon, i was surfing through cable tv channels in search of a good afternoon show. MTV, E! Entertainment, Channel 5.... wait, what's this? Hmmm.... the new MTV for the NDP theme song, "Reach out for the skies"

Just like every year, Singapore will pick it's "hottest" star of the year, and for this year, it happened to be none other than, surprise surprise, Taufik and ~~Ruin~~ Rui 'En. So the Mtv basically is about these 2 singers(?) dancing about in different parts of Singapore, with school kids, office go-ers etc., not forgetting the multiple wardrobe changes.

Anyway, cutting to the chase, my 2 cents worth:

I still think Taufik can sing for nuts. Ok, maybe he's not that bad, bad it's just his wannabe style that puts me off. So he dresses like Usher, but can he sing and dance like him? Ahhh... before you die-hard Taufik fans answer my question, take a lis... heck, i'll answer it for you. NO! Ok, given the guy won Singapore Idol, he's got to be not that bad right? I mean, take a look at his competition. Sylvester Sim? Have you heard his rendition of Bon Jovi's It's My Life? Quite.... pitiful, really. And to quote Glenn Ong, he's just another chao ah beng. Olinda Cho? Ok la, must admit she sings quite well, but you must be kidding me... look at what she reduced herself to... Slimming ads. Slimming ads are for aging old actresses who want to revive wat's left of their careers and to put food on the table, not for some fat thunder-thighed singer who's hungry for some attention. Who needs that slimming centre anyway? The advertisement itself made me lose my appetite for a couple of days. Me and 100,000 other guys in Singapore.

And the song itself... reach out for the skies? Huh? Unless it's a message to the people, for us to stop slacking and do something to boost our economy, then i dun really understand the song. Give me "Home" anytime. We should use that song again, not because it is that good, but this year's song is that bad. Just take a look at the Mtv, the song isn't for national day 2005... it's for the careers of 2 singers!

Where's Kit Chan when you need her?

MADtriculation

2005-07-28T11:37:00.000-07:00

matriculation was.... mad. Never in my life have i queued up so long, not even for sales or freebies. The queue was worse than any Mcdonald's Hello Kitty queue you've ever seen. And the worse part, everyone was queueing up... nope, not for a 70 percent discount on some Levi's jeans or for a complimentary 2 days 1 night stay at Shangri-La when you sign up with UOB credit cards, but to.... *gasp*.... study.

Everyone was queueing up to study.

The statment alone sounds.... morally wrong.

Queues queues and more queues. Queue up oustisde the recreational hall, to join another queue in it. To join another long queue for laptops, and then another queue to pay for the laptop, followed by yet another queue to collect the laptop, and last but not least, the one hour queue to set up the laptop.

After that, visited Zeming at his hall. Pretty nice place, didn't see any wanted posters with my disfigured photoshopped face, didn't get stoned.... yeah, so i guess it's cool. For those of you who still want to stone me, i've made my peace on the previous post, can't control wat you guys (and girls?) think and feel. So yeah, just do me one small favour, try not to hit me on the face. It'll take pretty damn long for me to explain a shiner to my mum.

Other than that, my life thus far:

1) Came back from the China trip which was really really good! Many many stories... The country's good, the people's good, the weather's good, the food's good, God's good... all is good! Except the toilets... not so good.

2) Passed my driving test! And i've come to realise taxi drivers are.... swines. I used to get a kick when the taxi i'm in is going at ridiculously high speeds, but now i know it's at whose expense. Taxi drivers really dun give chance to noobs like me... everytime try to overtake they speed up. May you all have no passengers going to Changi airport.

pretty much it. Guess the highlight of the month is that school's starting. No more waking up whenever i want to, no more endless dota games, and certainly no more blogging at 330am in the morning.

2 and 1/2 years ago, my life was sold to the guhmen, for them to torture and overwork me as they please. 2 months ago, this life was returned to me, only to be sold once again to another mercenary, ermm... institution.

Save me.

Currently listening to Planetshakers, Blondie, Lost Prophets and Bon Jovi. A good mixture of pop, rock and metal.

Mahjulah Singapura, God Save the Queen, Stars whatever banner

2005-06-22T13:08:00.000-07:00

Yes, that's right.

Like every country has their anthems, every band should have their own anthem too.

Check out Last Train Home by Lost Prophets.

I'm in desperate need to play heavier songs.

The closest i can get to this is Creed's Higher.

What happened to the crunch man?

*hint hint*

Wongcheok, i sense much anger in you

2005-06-05T12:26:00.000-07:00

Wongcheok, much fear, i sense in you.

Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate.... leads to... suffering.

Yes, you may have turned to the dark side, a Sith lord you may be.

But... Wongcheok...

You were the Chosen One! You were supposed to destroy the Sith, not join them. You were supposed to bring balance to the force, not leave it in darkness!

You were my brother Wongcheok! I loved you!

So, i shall visit every tagbaord you may visit, and for every egoistical comment you make, i shall counter it.

I will bring back balance to the force.

The shroud of the dark side has fallen, begun the tagboard war has.

Orchard Road mamasan

2005-06-05T09:27:00.000-07:00

Went to watch Hitchhiker's Guide 2 The Galaxy and i give it a....6.5/10. Pretty alright, dun see the big deal and hype about it... so, there. That's all i got to say about the movie.

Anyway, while i was walking back from Cine to the 14 bus-stop near Rouge, i spotted this old "tai tai", in a gawdy pink spaghetti-strap top, black skirt bordered with shiny frilly things, a shawl across her neck and with really heavy make-up sitting on a stone bench outside the DUCK & HIPPO tours building. (Before i go further, in my defense, i really can't remember what she was wearing exactly. I'm really making up part of her outfit. It's for story-telling purposes. I wasn't staring at her so intensely that the image of her and what she was wearing still burns in my mind right now. Really.)

ANYWAY, as i walked by her, i made a mistake. I made eye contact with her, and no, sparks didn't fly, flowers didn't start blooming, the world didn't stop turning and all that nonsense... we just made eye contact. Nothing else to it. Period.

As I was saying, i made eye contact with her, and immediately, with her sensor-like reflexes, she immediately said "Young man, I'm selling young ladies..."

So, i looked around, and everywhere was deserted. If there were no young ladies around... i was just picturing her unwrapping her shawl to unveal young ladies in the inner layer of her shawl. If you dun get wat i mean, picture a drug dealer showing his customer his goods stashed in the inner pockets of his trench coat.

My reaction? I continued walking and pretended nothing happened. I was rather taken by surprised.... that came out from nowhere. Either this, or that "tai tai" was a basketcase.

And for all you know, if anyone does "buy" a young lady from her, that poor sod could very well be led into the dark alley of emerald hills and be.. ermm... forced on.

Mamasans in Orchard Road? Maybe in Orchard Towers.... but right smack in the heart of Orchard Road?

Next thing you noe, they'll start going from door-to-door. Moral degradation has arrived in our country pple. First the casinos, now this. Even my once frenly neighbourhood road in joo chiat is now infested with illegal China immigrant prostitutes.

Oh well.... there's a lesson to be learnt here... so listen up.

If the mamasan think's i'm old enuff to be a customer, i guess i should be happy at least someone out there thinks i'm as old as i should look right?

Which is 21 years old of course, not 16, if you didn't know by now.

Musical..... B-b-b-baton?

2005-05-24T10:37:00.000-07:00

For one, i dun really understand this musical baton whatever, but if it gives me an opportunity to write up an entry on muzak, why not?

And... Musical Baton? Wat's this? Musical chairs? Come on Wong... I'm sure you can do better than that. At least have something cool like a... Musical Stun Baton! Or a musical axe!

Anyways... here 's my list. I've seperated them into genres, but you'll see a trend in the songs a listen to. Check this out:

POP
Michelle Branch - All You Wanted
My Happy Ending - Avril Lavigne
Your Song - Ewan Mcgregor
Beautiful, The Voice Within - Christina Aguilera
I Will Remember You - Sarah Mclachlan

Hey... come on... you can be the cool "i-only-listen-to-hard-rock" whatsoever dude, and luff at this insanely corny list, but hey, easy listening sometimes is good for the ears! Don't knock it till you've tried it.

POP/ROCK
Adrienne - The Calling
Blinded - Third Eye Blind
Evening News - Lo
I Want You, Runaway - Electrico
Zhong Jie Gu Dan, Wen Rou - May Day
Black Balloon, Iris, Slide - Goo Goo Dolls
California - Phantom Planet
Swing, Swing - All-American Rejects

PUNK, POP/PUNK
Dammit, The Rock Show - Blink182
Lifestyles Of the Rich And Famous, Hold On - Good Charlotte
Basketcase, When I Come Around, Castaway - Green Day
Addicted, Don't Wanna Think About You - Simple Plan
99 Red Balloons - Goldfinger, 7 Seconds

Catchy tunes... nice melodies... What's there not to like? Other than the fact they are mainstream? Hey, dun bother that. It's always about the muzak.

ROCK, ALTERNATIVE/ROCK, ALTERNATIVE
World At Large - Modest Mouse
Unwell, Bright Lights, If You're Gone, Time After Time (acoustic) - Matchbox Twenty
Drive, Certain Chade Of Green, Wish You Were Here - Incubus
Bizarre Love Triangle, Krafty - New Order
All My Life, Learn to Fly - Foo Fighters
Fresh Feeling - Eels
Don't Look Back In Anger, Wonderwall, She's Electric, Whatever, Live Forever - Oasis
Dakota, Have A Nice Day - Stereophonics
Closing Time - Semisonic
Beautiful Ones - Suede
Burn Baby Burn - Ash
Mr Brightside - The Killers
Reptilia - The Strokes
Ride With Me - The Vines
The Middle - Jimmy Eats World
Spirit Dreams Inside, Blurry Eyes, Stay Away - L'Arc~En Ciel
Broken - Seether feat. Amy Lee

SKA/ROCK
Sunday Morning, New, Don't Speak, Bathwater, Don't Let Me Down, Spiderwebs, Oi To The World, In My Head - No Doubt

Less mainstream, but still somewhat mainstream. If you get what i mean. But again, it's always about the msic baby.

EMO PUNK
Way Away, Only One, Ocean Avenue, Gifts And Curses - Yellowcard
Stare At The Sun - Thrice
Until The Day I Die, Sidewalks - Story Of The Year

Your daily dose of emo punk. But... after a while, most emo punk bands sound alike. Emo punk is probably the flavour of the month, or at best year.

ROCK & ROLL
Growing On Me - The Darkness
Sweet Child O Mine, November Rain, Knockin' On Heaven's Door - Guns N Roses
Keep The Faith, Always, Living' On A Prayer, Bad Medicine - Bon Jovi
Start Me Up, Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones

Ahhhh.... Good ol' Rock And Roll. Here to stay forever.

BLUES ROCK
Sultans of Swing - Dire Straits
Tears In Heaven, Wonderful Tonight - Eric Clapton

Ol' Slowhand and gang. Classics.

FUNK/ROCK
Californication, Can't Stop, Right on Time, Otherside, Scar Tissue - RHCP

Flea's the king. 'Nuff said.

Well, you probably see a trend on my song list. Pretty mainstream, but that's what i like about it!

But i prefer listening to "live" tracks. I really appreciate it when bands can perform on stage with the same sound quality (or close) as their cds. And value added stuff... extra improvised riffs etc. .... woohoo.
And the bands who does good "live" shows are:
No Doubt
Yellowcard
Simple Plan
Red Hot Chili Peppers
All Rock and Rollers
Story Of The Year
Matchbox Twenty
Incubus

If you got anymore reccomandations, drop me a msg on my tag-board. Will appreciate it.

Anyway, this is my chopped list. Missed out on some other songs, but i guess it's time to pass the baton back to wongcheok cos:
1. I'm freaking tired and still have 200 minutes of driving in Yio Chu Kang to complete in about 10 hours time.
2. Maybe it's Star Wars: Knights Of The Old Republic, but i would appreciate it if you could pass me a musical stun baton the next time round. (*ahem* advertisement time. Go get the game if you like the Fallout and Baldur's Gate series)
3. I'm gonna luffed at for my musical taste anyhow. Geez, what's with the total rejection of mainstream songs? They are played mainstream for a reason you know.

That's it for now. Friggin tired. Played The Sims before? You know, when your character gets so tired, yet you force him to do stuff like take out the rubbish or clean the dishes? He'll just end up sleeping in the kitchen, the dining room floor or wherever you left him to do that extra work. I feel exactly like that now, so got to go sleep. Shutting down the computer... oh no... eyes, too heavy. Can't... seem... to shut down computer.... before i shut down.... losing control... one more button left... *grunt*... come on....

*plonk*

ZzzzZZZzzzzZZzzzz

At the Movies With WC

2005-05-20T11:24:00.000-07:00

*SCROLLING MATINEE* INTRODUCING THE MOVIE OF THE YEAR... STAR WARS EPISODE III: REVENGE OF THE SITH

Ladies and gentlemen, though we're not even halfway through 2005, i shall make this bold statement, Episode III IS the movie to catch. But, one man's meat is another man's poison, so if you dun like the movie.... YOU CAN SMACK YOURSELF IN THE HEAD, BEND OVER AND KICK YOURSELF OVER TO A GALAXY FAR FAR AWAY! There's no not liking this movie man.

THIS MOVIE IS SO DAMN GOOD, I'M GONNA SACRIFICE VIEWERSHIP OF MY BLOG FOR IT!!!

WARRRRRRRRRRRRRNNNNNNNNNIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!

POTENTIAL SPOILLLLLLLLEEEEEEERRRRRSSSSSS AHEAD!!!!!!!!

Anyway, basically the story is a link-up between episodes I,II and epidodes IV,V,VI. So, basically the story just yaps on the necessary, for closure of the 6 episodes... right?

WROONNNGGG! It's more than that!

Check out the first light sabre battle between Anakin, Obi-Wan and Count Dooku. Can't get any better.

The music? Lagi best. But i really dun mean that you should rush out to buy the OST, pop it into your cd player in your car, and listen to it in the middle of a Monday morning rush hour. I mean some pple do, but i really just mean that the mood of the music, fitted into the entire movie... perfectly! Magnifique~~

And my favourite line from the movie: (Obi-Wan Kenobi screaming painfully at Anakin after defeating him at the final battle scene.)

"You were the Chosen One! It was said that you would destroy the Sith, not join them! It was you who would bring balance to the Force, not leave it in Darkness!"

Classic.

Frens, you will hear me repeat it over and over again, that i promise you.

Anyway, as i always say, but this time i really do mean it.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR AND CATCH THIS SHOW! DUN BE A.... LOSER!

I'll be off now. Gonna go find some ways to get episodes 1,2,4,5,6, and the cartoon clone wars, and have a mini star wars marathon. In the mean time.... may the force be with... Darth Vader. With all that 1st degree burns, he'll need all the help he can get.

New Addition to my Arsenal

2005-04-27T06:30:00.000-07:00

I figured pictures keep a blog interesting.

Anyway, let me introduce to you, the Fender 62's Pbass Reissue, with vintage split single coil pbass pickups, and.... it's mine!!!!

At least not yet. Until tomorrow. Just imagine the body in vintage white, or more commonly known as creamy yellow.

Swwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeetttt.

Just dun tell mum.

At the Movies with WC

2005-04-24T10:28:00.000-07:00

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to another episode of "At The Movies with WC". Tonight, we're going to give you an exclusive review on the movie "Infection", and remember, you heard it first, here on "At the Movies with WC"

Infection is about a run-down hospital, somewhere in Japan, that is haunted. Actually, the hospital looks more like a sleazy geylang 20 dollar a night hotel. Not that i've been to one before. Or even know the price of a room. ANYWAY.... the hospital is on the verge of closing down and is seriously understaffed. Dr Akiba, Dr Auzomi, a few other doctors and a small crew of nurses are what's left of the hospital staff. The crew has decided to push on until the last of its patients are discharged.

So, one fateful night, an emergency operation/procedure/whatever was carried out on a burnt patient, who is wrapped up in bandages and has been recuperating or in a coma for some time in the hospital. Apparently he fell out of the bed and was on the verge of death. Then, the cock-up occured. A nurse put in sodium chlorate in one of his tubes instead of sodium chloride (Puts a whole new meaning to adding salt to the wound. *Canned laughter*). The guy dies. After discussing it for a while, they decided to cover up the murder. That's when the fun starts. I mean for the audience.

Weird stuff started to happen. Basically, the victim of this "so-called" infection acts crazy, his organs will then liquefy into a green mess, and eventually he'll die. So the infection hits everyone in the hospital and everyone dies. Oops, did i forget to add in a "Warning: spoilers ahead!" at the front of this entry?

Anyway, up to this point, i'm not even sorry for not putting up the warning. I'm probably doing you a favour. In plain, this show sucked. It sucked so bad, i'd rather watch a steven stegal show... twice over. It was promising at the start, but i got totally lost in the middle, and the ending... just didn't tie up the loose ends.

Was it scary? Let's just say, i slept peacefully on that very night. Gao may disagree with me. In his words, I "grabbed his arm like his ex-girlfren did to him at horror movies". Well, I was actually trying to keep the both of us awake. And the sudden jerks, it was my head nodding. And yes, it coincidentally happened during the scary parts. Really.All in all, i give this show 0.5 teletubby out of 5 teletubbies. 0.5 out of 5, cos the show just sucked so much, and teletubbies, cos just like the show, my rating shouldn't make any sense.

Now for the top 3 movies of the month!

At no. 3, we have Be Cool, a comedy starring John Travolta, Uma Thurman and a slew of cameo appearances by the likes of the Black Eyed Peas, Andre Benjamin and Mr Fred Durst. Yes, the frontman of Lame Biscuit. You probably didn't realise cos he didn't have lines. And an amazing 3 seconds screen time. *Applauds*

No.2 is the up and rising Intepreter. Not that I have actually watched it, but Nicole Kidman looks pretty damn good. Er... I mean the show looks pretty damn good! Yeah.. .that's it.

At No.1, is the 2004 flick Garden State. I have watched it, and Natalie Portman is pretty damn good. Er... I mean the show is pretty damn good! The show's about.... argh, go read it yourself: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0333766/
But do yourself a favour and go download it. Download it cos the DVD is a whopping $52.95. And yes, it's pple like me who causes ticket prices to hit the roof. *snigger*

So, that's it for another edition of "At the Movies with WC". Remember to tune in next week, same time same channel for all your... movie goodness. Good Night.

Island Life

2005-04-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

The week's over and it has been pretty interesting, especially saturday where a couple of the YAG guys (and a girl) and I went down to St. John's island to do a recce of the island, basically to check out the living conditions of our holiday camp, or what i'd rather call a dorm.

The boat ride from Sentosa itself was an hour to 1 1/2 hours, which was pretty un-nerving. Cos it was obviously going to be a 2 way trip. Which means travel time = 2 - 3 hours. The return trip was just ridiculously long as all of us skipped lunch and some even breakfast, and we were dying to return to shore. Martin and I slept through the trip, Terence was awake cos he slept for the entire morning on the island, Joel was fidgeting about, Tai Vie tinkering with his GPS, and Sharon, trying.. not to get sea-sick.

Ok, i'll stop myself here before i even continue to tell you what the place was like. This entry will become too normal for my blog.

Here goes.... As i was stuck on St John's Island from 1130am to 0245pm (the only 2 timings for transport, i.e. the boat), i was thinking of the famous, ridiculously, over-used, and yet somehow practical question at that very moment.... "If you were stranded on an island, and you're able to choose 3 things or people to bring along with you, what would it be?"

I did a little survey on some of my victi... FRENS!! i mean frens (*phew*) and here are the results:
Jue Ke: A babe, a tent, a lighter
JJ: A girl, a jungle knife, waterproof matches
Zeming: Clothes, food, water
Ian: A babe, a lighter, a jungle knife
Kabu: Yexin, a jet, a dog
Evil Mok: An ally, an enemy(both gays... dun ask, beats me too), a gf
GuangZheng: Entire CD collection, his mum, all his frens
Grace: Handphone, male friend, change of warm clothes.
Lionel: A jet, a pilot, a camera

Evaluation time!!!!
Jue Ke, JJ, Ian, Evil Mok: Typical hot-blooded males. Thinks of female companionship over things like survival in terms of food and shelter. Usually unattached in real life, and would very much like female companionship. Minus Evil Mok, well, he's just plain weird.
Zeming: Quite a shocking answer, as i guess a normal person would imagine they could live on coconut juice and wild boars.
Someone who worries about the bare necessities of life. A careful person who doesn't like slip-ups in their planned out life.
Lionel, Kabu: Smart answers! Practical people who immediately attack the root of the problem. To clear the air, Kabu would want Yexin for his doctoral and jungle survival skills. Nothing else. Really.
Guangzheng: The classic "bring-canned-food-but-got-no-can-opener". Bring entire cd collection, but no cd player!!! Wahaha. Hmm... someone who values his prized possesion and people around him.

Now to the fun part. Extracts of the more interesting parts of my conversations:

JJ:

jj says:
why.. nv heard of robinson crusoe?... can start a whole new life there.. a new community... tho might involve quite a bit of incest

------------------ says:
well, you win some, you lose some

jj says:
the knife is a universal choice... when u are desperate... u can even build a shopping mall on a deserted island with a swiss knife...

------------------ says:
true... then you can sell stuff in the mall. To your son, and your son's wife, who's incidentally your daughter too. Hmmm... i think we're on to something here

jj says:
err...

(Never vote us for president if you love your country)

Kabu:

heh heh says:
i need self-reliant, entertaining people around me

heh heh says:
i will pick yexin

heh heh says:
coz he's good at knots

heh heh says:
coz he's a doctor (to be)

heh heh says:
in case i get sick

heh heh says:
coz he's good at chopping trees

heh heh says:
coz he can be entertaining once in a blue moon

(Yexin's your "Swiss army man"? Multi-purpose sia....)

Evil Mok:

------------------ says:
hit me with 3 answers man

simba my supplier i finish 28 liao. 29? says:
an enemy, an ally both gays. and a gf

------------------ says:
you're weird

simba my supplier i finish 28 liao. 29? says:
i knw

(Weird.... WEIRD!!!!!)

Guangzheng:

------------------ says:
so you have

------------------ says:
1. entire cd collection

------------------ says:
2. your mum

------------------ says:
3. all your frens

------------------ says:
and no cd player

------------------ says:
brilliant

(Ermmm...Guang... STUPPPPIIIDDDDD!!!!! haha)

Grace:

your sunshine girl. no es amor! says:
1. a friend

------------------ says:
male female?

your sunshine girl. no es amor! says:
female.

------------------ says:
whatever for?

your sunshine girl. no es amor! says:
so keep me company

------------------ says:
2 females stuck on an island

your sunshine girl. no es amor! says:
hahah!

------------------ says:
when pms strikes

------------------ says:
that's it

your sunshine girl. no es amor! says:
oKAY FINE I CHANGE

your sunshine girl. no es amor! says:
1. a male friend

(Even girls themselves know that the time of the month can be destructive.)

So that about concludes the twisted but fun (at least to me) Singapore version of Robinson Crusoe. To the pple i mentioned above... please dun hit me when i see you.

That Thing I Do

2005-04-07T11:01:00.000-07:00

With all the time in the world (not all, but at least 3 months), i figured it's probably the only time in my life, besides pre-enlistment days, i'm free from most responsibilities and able to do the things i really really wanna do. Wait, that'll be to slack everyday. Okok, I'll rephrase: To do the things and achieve goals i'll be satisfied with. Bollocks, that's still to slack. Anyhow, i've come out with a list of potential goals, or plain time killers for the holidays. Here goes:

1. Driving.
Good because.... Ermm... pretty obvious eh? I can pretty much go anywhere i want to anytime. No more crowded buses during rush hour, no more irritating Singaporeans in MRT stations who refuse to wait behind the yellow line to let passengers alight from the train first before entering, just... no more walking! Oh yes, and mum won't be nagging me to get my license after half a year of procrastinating.

Bad because.... $$$$$. Petrol. Driving lessons/test. ERP. And err... parking tickets. 'Nuff said.

Verdict: Hmm... the last point on the "Good because" part is enough to bao ga liao (sum it all up). So i guess no choice... it's off to SSDC!

2. Work.
Good because.... For work experience, so that i'll have something to add on to my resume in future..... BOLLOCKS. It's always because of the money. $$$$$$$

Bad because..... W-O-R-K.
W: Waste of time. I mean, the money we earn versus the total time spent to do stupid stuff like telemarketing, roadshows, gophering in offices etc. (side note: Did you know why it's called a gopher? Gopher sounds like "go for", i.e. "Go for a coffee" "Go for my photo-stated documents". ) (side-side-note: There's actually some value add to my blog... not bad eh?) ANYWAY, W=Waste of time.

R: Rather do things i enjoy. Yes, after 2 years of work work work, working in all kinds of environment, from the muddy densely vegetated areas in Marsiling to the air-conditioned offices of Khatib Camp, why put myself through more work during my hard-earned holidays?

K: KRAZY*.

O: OVER MY DEAD BODY.

Verdict: Hmm... actually, this might be a tough call. Despite the scales tipping towards not working as mentioned above, $$$$, can actually bao ga liao. I've been thinking of getting a 4 string bass, which will set me back... quite a lot actually. Hmmm... i'll have to think hard about this.

3. Study.

Good because.... Just ask any sane parent with kids what's good about studying, you'll confirm, i stress confirm, get the answer "for the future, so they can earn a lot of money and lead a comfortable life!" Ermm... right. Well, after 2 years of brain damaging activities, i got to get the old noggin back into shape again. Just check out my spelling above (See *).

Bad because.... Just ask any sane kid with parents what's bad about studying, you'll confirm, i stress confirm, get the answer "Waste my time! I'd rather play/go out/sleep/ whatever!" Ermm.... right.

Verdict: I believe i'll actually enjoy studying without having to stress myself out over examinations. I believe it'll do me a world of good for my upcoming course in NUS. I believe it'll make me... a new me! Disciplined and mature.
And i also believe i'll procrastinate.

4. Music.

Good because.... I need to improve a lot more. Guess i'll be playing more gigs in the future, so i'd think now's the time to brush up on my bass!

Bad because.... Hmmm... NIL.

Verdict: If you have at least half a brain, conclude yourself. If not, click here: http://www.brain-surgery.com/

I guess that's about everything that there is to accomplish from now till august. And to update this blog a bit more. Just for the fans. All 3 of you.

P.S. Check out Bobo's blog: http://bobochen.blogspot.com
Hasn't been update too often recently, but he promises at the very least a weekly update starting from next week. The kung fu hamster returns!

MMMMMMMonster Kill!

2005-04-05T02:17:00.000-07:00

mmmmmmon•ster kill /mmmmmnst(r) kl/ ; AmE mn-/
noun
1 (in DotA and Unreal Tournament) a term for 7 kills by an individual hero or player in a single game.
2 a phrase used by an individual in a euphoric mood. Applies mostly to ORD or ORD-ing personnel.

Yes my friends, my life is back on track again. I'm only one pink i/c away from becoming a complete civilian, but other than that, more or less one already.

The things they don't teach you in school

2005-01-21T01:35:00.000-08:00

They say you get stupid after going through 2 years of army. They say after 1 year of mundane routines requiring the use of every part of your body except the brain, brain damage kicks in. I say.... we learn things you don't get to learn in school. Check this out:

1. Every Cloud Has its Silver Lining.
A classic proverb, but now with a little twist to it. Instead of interpreting this as the light at the end of the tunnel, see it more in the context of the old chinese story of the son who breaks his feet while riding a horse, and turns out has saved himself from enlisting into China's mighty army. In modern context, getting a fever and getting medical leave from school. Well, previously i reluctantly promised my soul brudder Sid to conduct SOC next tuesday. It's gonna be messy as it's in another camp, so preparation will be a bitch. HOWEVER, turns out everything has been done, except minor stuff like recce-ing the ground etc., and i get to skip the 100 km training the same day! If you know me, there's nothing i hate more than running. Other than duties. And work. And my boss. So... *tada*, every cloud has its silver lining.

2. Nice Guys Finish Last.
Either an old pessimistic saying, or a green day song. Anyway, this should be the quote of the day EVERYDAY in every SAF battlion's Routine Orders. Just an advice to pre-enlistees, trainees, kids and whosoever will be crossing the path of the dreaded army: never, ever, ever, ever (x infinity to the power of infinity), make yourself indispensable to your superiors. Simply put, just an example, one of my specs self proclaimed to possess substantial knowledge on Adobe Photoshop. Bad move. Now everybody in the battalion throws him assignments and work which requires photoshop. Personally, i think i've experienced some crap like this too. I believe i'm a nice guy (really), and i've always helped everyone whenever i can. So, there's this guy in the Bn whom i've helped, i would say quite a lot, with regards to the mess and other misc. stuff. Just yesterday evening while i was at home, he called and require something from me. Something which i didn't have and the way he say macam i must give birth to it before he'll let me off. Finally, he ORDERED me to go back to camp to find it for him. yes, when i'm alrady back home, you want me to travel an hour back to camp, so that you can keep your job, and i can fulfil YOUR responsibilty, yeah? Maybe it wasn't your responsibility, but it isn't mine neither. That's the problem.... this guy, instead of solving the problem, just grabs the nearest NSF to shift the blame. You know something? Screw you. I didn't go back to camp anyway, i just turned off my phone and let him drown in his own blood. Besides, my handphone's for my personal use, not the army's. You can call my housephone if you want to. Anyway, to the piece of crap, if you're reading this, hencefortgh, i'm avoiding you like the plague.

3. Shit Flows Downwards.
First heard from Kabu, the grand master of anything nonsensical. Anyway, i think it's self explanatory. The majors and colonels are the ground shakers, the work providers. The captains, and other regulars, are the middle men, or so called postmen. They receive the work, and re-allocates it to the NSFs. Cheap labour. Did i mention to whom the credit goes to?

But just like school, army sucks, only a lot more. 3+ months to clear leave, 6 months to ORD. It's a jail sentence the way everyone counts down to their ORD date. Actually.... IT IS! So to those who are going to enter the army, me and my pink IC will be luffing at you, waving to you goodbye as you take that ferry ride to eternal (ok, not eternal but 2 years) doom-dem, in a hellish place we call Tekong. Not being sarcastic, (mabe a little) all the best to ya!

In One Breath, One Last Breath

2004-11-10T10:02:00.000-08:00

You see the kid with his school bag. It probably weighs a lot less than your laptop or your briefcase, but to the small guy, it's a ton. Spelling tests, the multiplication table, all he stares at everyday. His goal? To score 10 out of 10 in all his tests so he can go out and play.

You see the teenager with his sling bag. It probably weighs a little heavier than the kid's schoolbag, might be 'cos the books are thicker and deeper. O Levels, A Levels, CCAs, all he faces everyday. His goal? To get good results so Mummy won't throw a fit and Daddy will buy him that shiny BMX he always wanted.

You see the soldier with his Full Battle Order. It weighs a hell lot more than the teenager's sling bag, definitely because of the extra clothes, extra water bottles etc. he's carrying. SOC, IPPT, Route marches, all he experiences everyday. His goal? To ORD and continue with the life that the government has put on hiatus.

You see the young businessman with his briefcase. It weighs a lot less than the soldier's field pack, but the responsibilities he shoulders should more or less make up for that loss. Bills to pay, kids to feed, Bosses to please, all he expects everyday. His goal? To make enough moolah to bring him through his golden years.

You see the old retiree with his golf bag. It weighs much heavier than the businessman's briefcase, but it doesn't really matter 'cos the caddy whom he paid handsomely is carrying it. Hole-in-ones, decisions on the next holiday destination, all he does everyday. His goal? To live life to the absolute fullest.

You see the wrinkled man in his coffin. He's.... dead.

One moment you're leading your life, doing the things you deem fit to complete a goal, next moment, you're an object.

If Elvis was brought back to life now, what will he exactly be doing?

Well, scratching the cover of his coffin.

Jeux d'enfants

2004-11-05T09:13:00.000-08:00

I'm currently on some movie marathon thingy. Of course i download 'em, dvds are just too overpriced. For all you movie-goers out there, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a definite must watch! And if you actually missed it, doubt you can call yourself a movie-goer. Anyway, it's definitely a sure-stay on my favourite movies list. Please please please, do yourself a favour and download it or buy the dvd. You wun regret it.

Eternal Sunshine... really makes you think. All those couples out there bickering bout this and that, breaking up like their relationship isn't worth a thing. It's a "don't go about wishing for things, your wish might just come true" kind of movie. Like the dude in the movie, wanted to erase his ex from his mind, and when he comes to realise the reality, implications and effects of such a process, he begs to keep even one memory of his ex. It's only, when you really lose something, that you realise the positive side of it. Wah... i feel so... wise. Haha.

Last week's theme was violence. Caught Fight Club and Bowling for Columbine. This week's romance. Done with Eternal Sunshine and Love Me if You Dare (some french show which is pretty good actually). Next up is Amelie (Another french show. Apperently the french are the so-called most romantic pple on earth, so i don't see how wrong i'll go with romantic french movies....) and Virgin Suicides. If anyone has any good shows to reccomand, pls pls pls, mail me or something. And no, Rocky and Rambo are not good shows.

Think the theme currently for my movie-watching list will remain as romance. I'm a hopeless romantic. really.

------------

2004-10-16T08:11:00.000-07:00

It's funny how, work, or in this case, national service, is able to screw up your thoughts and reactions on certain events. This is what i mean:

Thursday. Routine return from Hangar to camp. Somehow i got pushed to sit at the back of the 5 ton with the rest of the NSmen (cos Lazy and The Cow rushed for the front seats. Swines....) It was just like any other ordinary ride, until the traffic lights just outside camp. For some reason, the driver slammed the e-brake and everyone... yes, that includes me, in the 5 ton were sent flying. Imagine, sitting in a car with the e-brakes jammed. Now imagine it in a 5 ton, 10 times heavier, which means 10 times more inertia and momentum. Anyway, it was a super brief moment, those sort of "blink of the eye" speed moments. As i was sliding, floating, flying or whatever, to the front side of the tonner, i wasn't thinking "Am i going to injure myself?" Funny, my reaction was "alamak... please don't make me investigating officer" Writing reports is damn dreaded. And my reaction really makes it seem like i would rather die in the accident than to survive and write a report. Which is absolutely not true. Really.

Bringing this entry to a totally different issue (which is why i din include a title for this entry), i just watched bowling for columbine and i thought it was pretty good. The NRA (national rifle assoc.) president really throw face man, show up just a week after the columbine and buell shootings in their towns and give pro gun rallies. Macam Freedom fighter of america, but in the end when kena interviewed by Michael Moore and thrown some hard to answer question, he just walk away. Ultimate throw face.

One thing i find damn funny. America allows guns for hunting animals, sport hunting as they call it. Back here in sunny Singapore, even in a military setting, when we shoot live rounds, it's always conducted in ranges, emphasise a lot on safety etc. Don't talk about commandos la, they have all sorts of training, not including dunking and killing soldiers during peacetime. By right. But that's another issue. Psychotic military personnel who deserve to be hung aside, our live firings are controlled for simple reason, prevention of misfirings and crossfires. Americans, if they go hunting in the woods anytime they want, what if 2 hunters aimed at each other unkowingly then fired off? I mean, in the forests, vegetation decreases visibility, how come we don't hear cases of hunters killing other pple by mistake? Either the hunters are damn alert and damn zhun, or America learning from SAF, cover up this sort of deaths. Wah, and hunters from NRA killing each other.... ultimate fratricide.

Next movie on my list is Farenheit 911. I'm going to be watching a lot of movies man. Other than jamming, the other kids are rather busy recently. Ducky's busy with his youth group stuff, his health, but that's nothing new. Kabu, well, he just got a girlfren, so putting it nicely he has other commitments, but tries his best to make time for his old fren here. In truth, just plain bang seh. Grace, well, without Kabu or Ducky, i dun usually go out with her. Frens like Roy, Ian and Brutus, just faded away during NS. My mates in camp... well, let's just say i see them 5 days a week, and that's already quite a overkill. Ii'll most likely end up discussing work stuff anyway. Quite pathetic. Really. Nnot that i don't enjoy going out, but i guess staying at home, lazing the day away, sounds good to me.

YawN

2004-09-04T13:32:00.000-07:00

It really beats the shit outta me why people actually bother to travel all the way to a secluded corner of Singapore, with minimal transport convenience, $4 Nasi Lemak and hundreds of stinky young adults wearing green, just to fool around with display weapons and awe at the incredible machines, which we, the NSFs of Singapore play around with every day of our miserable 2 1/4 years in the army. Actually, it's 2 1/6 months now. Anyway, amidst manning the booth senselessly and answering questions by some old geezers (which i conveniently smoked my way through... Singapore did acquire the attack helicopters last year, did it? Hmm... oh well, doubt the old buggers recognise me anymore.) I've decided to analyse the behavioural patterns of the typical Singaporean and pick out the typical AOH-goers:

1. The NSF.
Yes, the easiest to spot, with or without uniform. Making up the bulk of the crowd, the NSF is usually forced to attend this yearly event to make up the numbers. We can't have weeks of planning and preperation go down the drain can we? Forced may be too strong a word. It's probably more of, the NSF given 2 choices: the devil or the deep blue sea. Yeessssiiirreee, either return to camp on saturday to run, do area cleaning and other misc. sai kang (translate: shit work), or attend the damn event and book out from there altogether. The popular choice is rather obvious.

2. The Laojiao Uncle.
The laojiao uncle is usually 40 years and above. With or without his wife tagging along, the laojiao uncle most likely served his NS under the old school SAF, and usually starts his army stories with "Hai ya... you NSFs have it good now. Why, i remember back in my time, i used to ______" (Fill in blanks with anything that has the severeness between being burnt alive and being impaled by a rusty blunt sword.) The laojiao uncle is armed with 1001 questions for the unexpecting NSF manning any booth. May it be the apaches, or the matadors, usually, he will ask questions which he already knows. This is in hope of getting a wrong answer from the under-knowleadged (which is the result of being under-paid) NSF, cornering the poor bastard, and achieving satisfaction that a 40 year old balding, tubby civilian is more well-versed in the SAF's equipment than, ahem, the dude personally using that equipment to defend the dumbass laojiao uncle.

3. The Big Family
AOH is another event for family outings where the parents can bring the grandparents and the children too, without worrying too much about entertainment for the WHOLE family. The kids will have their balloons, which they often conveniently let go of in the middle of the auditorium .(which justifies my popular belief that kids nowadays are born with holes in their hands) The grandparents get to see the fruits of their labour from their early contribution to the country, or at least they can claim so and look good. The father and mother can enjoy seeing their parents and kids having fun. Of course, that's the perfect picture. Often left out is the extremely hot weather, the crying and screaming cos the kids lost their balloons and want another one, the grandparents needing to stop pretty often as one attraction is ridculously far from the other, and of course, the classic call of nature when you're really far away from the next toilet, which is already packed. Yes, that's the big picture.

4. The Young Couple.
The Young Couple can be categorised further into different sub-categories. Firstly, the couple with the macho guy who has ORD-ed. He is very likely to put on his old GUARDS or MAKANDO, err i mean COMMANDO, unit polo shirt, usually with sunglasses posuer-ishly on the back of his neck or on his head. This is a good opportunity for the guy to give the girl a first hand experience of his army life, of course after going through 1000x exeggeration, to be more macho. (a la the laojiao uncle) The girl will be awed, hook up with the guy for a couple more months, then break up cos the relationship is dysfunctional to begin with and cos she found a more macho guy. But i digress. Anyway, the next young couple will be the Recently Got-together couple. As the 2 have just met, other than the typical things Singaporeans do, i.e. shopping, movies, the guy is running out of ideas and that's where AOH comes in. He may or may not realise that this event actually sux but definitely realises that he will lose the girl if he doesn't organise a more interesting date. So, he cooks up this story on how AOH is going to be oh so fun, and tada, a date that looks like the guy has put in effort to organise. It really doesn't matter if AOH turns out to be boring, it's the effort that counts. Really. The guy is in the safe zone... for now.

4. The "Going After The Guy In Green" Gal.
Heyheyhey! Yeah! Kabu, this one's for you my esteemed pal. The gal who is interested in the guy in green. Ok, maybe i should include the guy-watching gal wh adores men in green, but that's not my interest. It's the gal who has a SPECIFIC motive, a SPECIFIC guy, heh.... you catch my drift. It's part of the chasing game. Whether she likes you or not pal, i really don't know. But think about it, a gal, who has definitely something better to do on s saturday evening, DRAGGING her fren along... TO ATTEND AOH! Brother brother brother, that to me, is jackpot. Cute.

That's the list of majorities in an AOH crowd on any given day. The minorities will include the middle-aged dude with no where else to go, foreign visitors, and ahem, foreign spies.

Let's see, 430 am, need to wake up 1200 tmrw. 7 1/2 hours sleep... damn, missed on my minimum 8 hours sleep on a weekend day routine again.