Examination results

Mark my words, I didn't expect to receive the news that my results are out today. Always thought that it would come out only tomorrow. But a dear friend (pang) dropped me a message that it was out. This news was later confirmed by a senior. I swear my fingers were shaking as I clicked on the relevant links. Time seem to pass ever so slowly. The Internet betgan to lag. Looks like the NTU server was going to explode...The links are coming out all garbled. Can't find the correct tab. Help! Finally, my mouse found the link I was looking for and the results splash on the screen. Wondered deep in my heart if there was going to be a bloodbath and whether I needed a pail to contain all the blood. Scanning through, the first letter to catch my eye was my Calculus which scored a B+. Can't say I didn't expect it after hearing from friends that one needed to score at least 90 marks in order to score an A. With my mediocre mid-term, I could only hope for a A- at best and the B+ was probably fair. Scored a A+ for econs. Absolutely ecstatic about it as I was expecting an A and this was a bonus. A- for C++ was pure luck as I thought I made quite serious errors during the final-term. Finally, A- for FOM was also satisfactory since I didn't do that well for the quizzes. Satisfactory for my one and only S/U subject topped it of.

Here's my results at a glance:

• HE 191 Principle of Economics A+
• MAS 110 Intro to C++ A-
• MAS 111 FOM A-
• MAS 112 Calculus B+
• MS 2006 Thermodynamics S

Avg GPA: 4.5

Satisfied? Quite all right. Need to maintain this or even improve on this. On the bright side, I managed to secure my min GPA set by my future paymasters. On the flip side, I could probably do better and would need to continue the work I put in.

Till next time, may the winds of change bring the turn of fortune as the wheel of fate spins.

Merry Christmas!

Please see the title! Hope you all enjoy this wonderful day! Looking forward to the various outings planned after this joyous occasion. Really miss the kurtites! :-)

Not much to blog about at the moment. Just the lull period. Looking forward (or backwards) to school. Hope my results turn out well. (praying praying) Till next time, may the reindeers fly higher than ever and Santa to take a long break after today!

IHG Carrom

I was busy the last two days because of IHG carrom. Can't do much about it since I'm one of the managers. Blogging about the events now implies that we did not get into the semi-finals but that's all right. Here's the summary for the two days of competition:

Day 1
We went into the competition filled with anticipation and excitement. Nerves had a part to play but that's to be expected since most of us are freshies and this was our 1st time experiencing the tension and stress that comes with any kind of competitive games.

Our first stop early in the morning was unsurprisingly Canteen 2 for breakfast. A great way to relieve some of the tension and I detect a much lighter atmosphere after breakfast.
Then we were moving to the arena which was Hall 8. I was quite taken aback by the number of people there even though I should have expected it. The various hall tees stood out, providing a myraid of colours which added to the backdrop of the arena. Our first match was against Hall 13 which finished 2nd last year.

I was given scouting duties for this first round and here's where we encountered our first setback. We had too many capped players. Shakira, Benson and Ernest were all considered to be capped. Only two out of the three could play. Fortunately, we were able to play all three just for the 1st round as we were ignorant to this rule and the organizers were lenient.
If I recall, the line-up was:
Male singles: Calwin
Female singles: Shakira
Male doubles: Benson and Bharath
Female doubles: Shu Fang and Zhen Hui
Mixed doubles: Ernest and Fei Quan
Despite our valiant efforts, we were not able to perform a David versus Goliath as were were ruthlessly brushed aside by a better opposition. Still I was very proud of them as it was plain for everyone to see that they gave everything they got.

Heads were down for a while. I managed to scout Hall 5 and relayed what I thought to the team. I told them Hall 5 were a decent side but not beyond us. Belief was renewed and I could feel the overall team morale was improving. It did help that we had a team which really hate to be beaten.
The line-up was as follows (as far as I can remember) :
Male singles: Calwin
Female singles: Shakira
Male doubles: Bharath and I
Female doubles: Shu Fang and Zhen Hui
Mixed doubles: Ernest and Fei Quan
With no disrespect to Hall 5, we did beat them 5-0. Ecstatic was one of the milder words to describe how we felt especially after the 1st match. It was the perfect medicine to ease our pain of defeat. Armed with this result, we felt we could go all the way......

The next opposition was Hall 10. I was warned about the potential of the men doubles player who was also the captain of the hall. Surely after coming so far, we could only get better?
Again, here's the line-up in my memory:
Male singles: Calwin
Female singles: Shakira
Male doubles: Kai Hong and I
Female doubles: Shu Fang and Swee Ching (or Zhen Hui)
Mixed doubles: Benson and Fei Quan
We were almost taught a lesson of humility as it was a close match and we merely edged them out. It was a win nonetheless and it gave us even more confidence to proceed to the next match.

Hall 6 looked like a daunting prospect. With their results (I believe they had already won all 3 matches) , we were definitely the underdogs. Maybe there was still room for a silver lining?
Line-up from my bad memory:
Male singles: Calwin
Female singles: Shakira
Male doubles: Bharath and I
Female doubles: Shu Fang and Swee Ching
Mixed doubles: Ernest and Fei Quan
Well, we lost a match that many expected us to lose. Still, in my opinion, all the matches were close and the scoreline of 4 1/2 : 1/2 flattered them. All the boards were competitive and we gave as good as we got. Some players were feeling disheartened after the match as it meant we were no longer in the running for a semi-final spot with Hall 1, 6 and 13 contesting for the 2 spots. I tried to lift their spirits during the debrief at the end of the day but wasn't sure if it worked at all. Fatigue was the key word of the day as most of us could barely stand and almost all of the female players had to play all 4 rounds that day. Quickly, we dismissed them so that they could get a good rest.

The end of round 4 signalled our chance of a semis spot but all's not lost. If we can secure our quarters position, we would still have exceeded all expectations. It's something we can fight for and with this goal, we were going to give everything we got......

Day 2

Bright and early, we headed to the same place for breakfast. Our squad depth improved with the addition of Shee Yin (I hope I spelt your name correctly). I had discussed the possible line-up with Benson the previous day while mulling it over with Ernest over breakfast. The crucial match was against Hall 1 and we were figuring out how to get the best out of our team. In my mind, I was trying to think of a way to up the the enthusiasm of the team. After breakfast, we moved on to Hall 8, the venue for breaking hearts and achieving glory.

Hall 11 was our 1st opposition of the day. We wanted to send out a signal to the rest of the halls in our group that we were here to compete.
Line-up by memory:
Male singles: Calwin
Female singles: Shakira
Male doubles: Kai Hong and I
Female doubles: Shu Fang and Zhen Hui
Mixed doubles: Benson and Fei Quan
Another tough opposition but win we did. A perfect start for our day and gave us the extra legs we would surely need to last the race. Ernest was on scouting duty on Hall 1 as we improvised our strategy to tackle the frontrunners of our group.

The must-win tie of the group as the win will secure our quarters place and create a mad scramble for the top 2 spots. If we ain't going to get that two places, the least we could do was to make it interesting for the rest. It didn't hurt that we had the added incentive to get 3rd in our group. However, there was no pressure as we know where we stand and we just needed to put in our 100%.
Line-up from memory:
Male singles: Ernest
Female singles: Shee Yin
Male doubles: Kai Hong and I
Female doubles: Shu Fang and Zhen Hui
Mixed doubles: Benson and Fei Quan
We had to sacrifice Shakira in the female singles as we attempted a brave strategy which entails putting bothe Benson and Ernest into the fold in the bid to try to secure two boards. My heartfelt thanks goes to Shakira for her understanding and also to Shee Yin who we had to throw her into the fray without giving her the necessary preparations. To Shee Yin: I hope you enjoy the game and sincerely wish to see you at our practices later on next sem. Although it was an intense battle as carrom strikers went zipping around on the board and seeds flying into the various pockets (some had a tendency of trying to escape the board :-) ), there would be no fairytale ending for us as we were beaten. It was a great battle and I really appreciate the efforts put in by the entire team, those playing as well as those giving support.

The last match was Hall 4. It was still a must-win since we didn't win Hall 1. We knew that Hall 4 were one of the halls in our group without a single win but there was a danger of complacency. We wanted to secure the win so we adopted a similar strategy as the match against Hall 1.
Line-up:
Male singles: Ernest
Female singles: Swee Ching
Male doubles: Kai Hong and Bharath
Female doubles: Shu Fang and Shee Yin
Mixed doubles: Benson and Fei Quan
I'm very proud of all of you. All of you turned in a fantastic performance to close out your matches and provided a magnificent curtain call to our tounament. The final result was that we secured 4th in our group which is a definite improvement on last year!

My reflections:

We exceeded expectations. I think that speaks volumes. I'm so proud of all of you!! For me, it was a harrowing adventure full of twists and turns, a rollercoaster of emotions and pride for being given the opportunity to represent the hall.
In addition, my thanks go out to the following in no particular order:

1. Ernest: Thank you for squatting for our hall. We respect you both as our captain and mentor. We will remember what you have taught us and hope to see you during our training sessions in the new sem. (Please leave all the thrash talk to me okay? :-) I'll try to convince Lawrence to give you his laptop so that you can stay in our hall. :-) )
2. Benson: Our very own cap player! Thanks for coming back to represent us and provide valuable information with regards to the competition itself. We hope you will come back and represent us again. (I'll even play doubles with you! )
3. Calwin: My other manager! I apologize for letting you shoulder all the work since I always come from home. Don't worry about your losses. We all have to taste the feeling of defeat in order to improve! Good luck in training to become the ultimate singles carrom machine!
4. Bharath: Despite your striker problems, I really respect the way you play your carrom. Your almost effortless way of hitting the seeds in is pure poetry in motion. Keep up the good work! Hope to see you at our training sessions!
5. Kai Hong: My bro! Love our chemistry! Doubles with you was very fun! You really displayed your form during the competition and I hope you had a fantastic time during the tounament! (I still want you to teach me tennis soon! )
6. Fei Quan: Our VP! The first female player to grace our very team. Despite your repeated threats on my life (no hard feelings?) because of my thrash level, I must say you have improved tramendously from last year and this is not only in my opinion. (cue Benson and Ernest) Thanks for your commitment even though you had other equally important commitments.
7. Shakira: Our very own sharpshooter! Thank you again for your understanding at being left out for the two matches! It wasn't an easy decision for Ernest either. Again your commitment to our team is beyond any shadow of a doubt. Hope to have you squatting for us next year!
8. Shu Fang: I'm so sorry I got you scolded by your friends! Thank you for being there when we really needed you! The poise and confidence you no doubt had, helped the female doubles pull through! Hope to see you next year!
9. Zhen Hui: Your teamwork with Shu Fang provided the artillery we needed to blitz the other halls. I knew you also had other sporting commitments yet you came down and played for us. For that alone, my heartfelt thanks go out to you! Again, I hope to see you with us next year!
10. Swee Ching: Thank you for being so adapatable in playing both singles and doubles. Just found out that this is your last year here in NTU and I really appreciate that you chose to represent us in carrom again this year! I wish you all the best in your studies and in your futsal!
11. Shee Yin: Thank you for coming down on the second day and I'm really sorry for throwing you right into a match without the proper preparations. You did a remarkable job and I stand by my view that with the proper training, you could be one of the stars of our team. Hope to see youo for our training next sem!
12. Francis: Your organizational skills and logistical support was an invaluable help in our journey. Every good team must have a fantastic support team and you were a part of it. You ensured that we were well taken cared of and for that I cannot thank you enough. Hope to work with you again!
13. Lawrence: Our beloved rec sec! Although we don't see eye-to-eye in most cases (face-to-face most of the time), I believe we have more in common. As the leader of the support team, the welfare of our team was never compromised. Your comaraderie with the players was a sign that your spirit was with us when we were playing and even though you could not do battle with us you were alongside us.

Other people I would like to thank are: Stanley who came down on the first day to support us; Amanda our president who bought waffles and teh bing for us; Kelvin, Chin Leng, Yi Heng, Hong Wen and Hui Ning who came down for our training sessions, as well as everyone who have helped us in one way or another. (I sincerely apologize if I have left anyone out.)

That's today's super-long entry of what I've been doing the last two days. Good luck for the rest of Hall 7 during IHG! Let's be number 1 in both rect and sports!

Till next time, may I wake up from this neverending dream that last a lifetime.

Training training...

Lots and lots of training. Strikers moving in, moving out. The dull chinks as the carrom board attempts to sustain the blows that are repeatedly dished out by the relentless players. The only respite is when the carrom seed glides into the hole like a ballerina. Even then, there are moments in which ballet turns to more like a rock concert as the seeds smash their way into the pockets. There are only two sides: black or white (with no relation to a certain King of Pop). The prize? The queen of course in all her splendid auburn glory. It is said that the true winner is the one who can lay claim to Her Highness. It is also at this stage that the two sides get stuck as frustration sets in. A win is declared to the side with the most prisoners-of-war should the queen escape unscathed. Each battle can only last 35 mins. (again not related to the popular MLTR song which is actually 25mins) The war rages on as the best-of-three decides the ultimate victor. Cries of anguish fill the air with a malaise which is unlike the plague...

Till next time, may I be able to attend the various outings that are already planned for and may Hall 7 carrom team triumph even in the face of adversity!

IHG IHG !!!

It's coming and you know it. The time when titans clash and bloodletting is but the norm. Lightning blaze the skies as the reddish sky oozes its own sparkling ruby. Magic fills the air with mystery as fantasy comes to life. Dragons rule the skies, giants roam the earth while serpentines dominate the high seas. Yes, the annual IHG (Infernal hellfire games) is almost upon us. There's no room for mercy as gladiators suit up and prepare for battle. The prize? The bragging rights to call ourselves the best in NTU (at least for the rest of the year). The sweat amidst the hard work, a necessary sacrifice for the ultimate glory. In fact, it's probably THE EVENT OF THE YEAR.

Anyway, on a lighter note, I'm wondering when VJ starts their carolling. It's pretty sad since as a senior I have already lost touch of the comings and goings of my almunus. How I wished we could go back in time where we were all together and singing in one voice. The memory would forever be etched in my memories and there it will always remain.

And on another note, just when I'm wondering when we're going to have a class outing, the answer was immediately answered. Thanks a lot jonah! Hopefully we can have more outings since the impending results may turn joy for the festive season to something less joyous.

Till next time, may the winds of change bring with it both happy times and tough times!

Holidays

My weeks long hiatus is officially over. No more books until the new year. No more calculus, FOM, Thermo (hopefully ever again), Econs and C++. The time for intensive readings has long gone. I'll miss those times...then again maybe not since I'll get to go through those torrid times again. Seriously, it's time to sit back and enjoy a little. Time passes so fast these days that it only takes a blink of the eye for change to occur. Poof! IHG is almost here already. Sigh...I was looking forward to some mj sessions, maybe some outings...Now I got to schedule my appointments properly. To make the most of today is what brings joy tomorrow. I'll not say too much lest people say I'm heartless to forget those still in the midst of the E Monster. Never fear! It'll all be over soon and we'll all survive. Cause we are who we are. Gambatte people!!!

Yume - Dreams

I recently read that my hall's Prometheus is asking for ideas for their script. Well, I feel that a play on dreams would be nice. It's something that many people can relate to because we all have dreams. Whether they are realistic or not we all have them. In fact, it doesn't matter even if we have realised them or not. If we have, a pat on our back. If not, we now have a goal to strive for. Anyway back to the ideas.

The story goes like this: There's a boy and a girl who have contrasting backgrounds. The boy has a tough life where he's being constantly reminded that he's not good enough, that he has not met his potential. His dream was to become a rockstar but because of family pressure, he was studying medicine instead.
The girl is really fortunate as she's studying what she really wanted to do: to become a teacher. Currently, she's taking mathematics but is on track to become a teacher. Her family is really supportive, giving both moral and financial support to put her through university.
Boy meets girl and Providence strikes. The girl counsels the boy and shows him what to do to achieve his dream. In addition, he learns the importance of having dreams. As time passes, the friendship blooms. (cue romance)
The ending becomes obvious but there's a twist in the end. The girl dies of a horrific accident. The boy grieves for her and meets her in a dream. (cue fantasy element) He remembers her pearls of wisdom and promises to teach others about it. (cue education hehe)

Okay that's it.Very vague yet the vagueness gives room for creative expression. There's no point if it's the finished article because then there is only the end.

Till next time, may you have a nice dream every night!

An update...

Well, I didn't get into the Prometheus committee. The wait was filled with anticipation yet knowledge that there exist only a very slim chance of getting in due to the sheer volume of applicants. Still, I hope to play some role in the event as I still stand by my view that I may learn something from it. Another point to note is that I was also roped in to be a psuedo programmer for FOC. Again I'll relish the chance to learn something new and maybe make more friends along the way. Carrom has a new coach. A pretty strong player from what I gather. However, there are still not enough players to form a team. Specifically, we don't have a girls team. Hopefully, this can be resolved soon.

Exams are coming. Quizzes next week. Brother Wu's one looks set to be the killer especially when the topic is on set theory and all the various methods of approaching it eg. membership method, Boolean algebra...Econs is MCQ but it can be misleading. Pang once said that MCQ may even be more dificult than open-end and I am inclined to agree. So study hard everyone!

Till next time, may the voice of reason sing its melodies so that anger will not dominate your actions.

Ef - A tale of memories

I just started watching this wonderful anime called Ef - A tale of memories. From the first 5 episodes, I must say I'm very impressed with the graphics. The backdrop uses choice colours which portrays the artisitic impressions of the manga artist. I can't count the number of times the shades keep changing and the movement flowc onstantly producing different effects. The story is mainly about a boy and a girl and how romance develops. The side characters take turns to step up to the stage creating many different stories interwoven together. The supernatural element comes about with a girl that keeps appearing but disappears the next instant. Basically, there is a boy who only knew loneliness. There are also a pair of twins who befriended him. One thing led to the next, resulting in a horrific accident to one of the twins and she suffered amnesia which meant that she could only remember things that happened only in the last 13 hours. The other twin falls for the boy and I'll let you go catch the anime for yourselves.

Economics

What with the dire straits of the world economy, what does it mean to us? Are our deposits safe in the banks? Well, they should be. As long as the banks in question do not collapse. Consumer confidence is low. Cash is king. So should we hide our money underneath our pillows. Inflation erodes our money value. Even if we do keep them under our pillow, we are still losing. So how to win? Is it possible to do so? And if there's a way, how? As the market turns into one fierce grizzly, the honey may run out. Pray for the worst to be over but be aware that it's just getting started.

Till next time, may the Spanish take over the market.

The walls of pressure

Everyone wants to do well. That's one of the reason why we put in the extra effort in order to achieve our targets. This is also when the walls of pressure start to come up. I don't know about you but I must admit I'm a little claustrophobic. When walls come up, fear starts to slip in. Fear is a mortal enemy. It slowly erodes your confidence and self-belief and creating an illusion of helplessness. It freezes the blood and prevents action. Some people perceive fear as a weakness. Whatever the case, fear is a great cause for worry. Now examine the walls that come up. It tends to block your view, of what your real goal is. The only thing that you need to know is that you need to work hard. Buckle down, bite the bit, pull up your socks and work. There may come a time when the burden becomes too great to support and starts weighing you down. There may even be a danger of being squashed. When that time comes, take a deep breath, put down whatever you are doing and take a break. Maybe have a Kit-kat or something. Re-evaluate what you have done and how far you are form your target. When you feel well-rested then pick up the same load and finish the race. It's never wrong to set high expectations but do also know your limits and rest when required.

Till next time, may the mid-terms not come back and haunt me. Just in case, I'll eat more garlic and carry a wooden stake.

When the road is unclear...

A thick smog covers the road ahead. Should I turn left or right? Is there even a right or left? Instead, should the question be to go forward or backward? Upwards or downwards? Does it even matter? Maybe the correct decision would be to stay stock-still? Unfortunately, I'm not one to stay still. I'll definitely keep moving forward. The time for self-introspection is long gone. Action speaks louder than words. The fear threatens to overcome me but resolve strengthens me. The uncertainty is certainly temporary.The sun will shine through eventually and pave the path in its yellowish golden warmth. Birds will chirp their sweet melodies as the summer wind blows. The smell of ripe apples will fill the air. Oh how I long for those days that seem eons ago! But never to worry, time brings with it both joy and sorrow. It's an everlasting cycle that has already been imprinted since the beginning of time.

Till next time, may tomorrow yield better results amid the torturous times!

Slackness

Probably defined as the lack of tension. Can't believe I'm just lazing around during this week despite the fact that my tests are all rolling in one after another after this honeymoon period. Sigh! I'm already considered lucky as I only take 5 modules this sem. If I can't even handle 5, how am I going to take 6 or 7 next sem. Although I know this for a fact, I can't seem to find the inspiration to buckle down and study hard. Things can't remain status quo or I might find myself lagging too far behind the dust. The thing is I can already see the dust which already speaks volumes of my current untenable position. Still I must persevere. For the sake of all the things I want to do in life, this feeling must be transitory. Got to find tension now.

Till next time, tension and stress, the double-edged sword, come to me and I'll make myself the master!

Recess Week

What is recess week? Maybe we should break it down further. Let's try "recess" then "week".
What is the definition of "recess"? According to www.dictionary.com , it is cessation of normal activities. Since university students study, I guess it means to temporarily stop studying. Citing the same source, other synonyms include rest, vacation and respite. Yet, ask the common university student and the answer would be vastly different from what you would expect. The so-called "recess" is used explicitly for 'mugging' or studying if you are a layman. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but this does sound like a contradiction. Why would students be studying during recess week? Actually the answer is pretty simple. There are actually tests after this week! Astounding isn't it? So very few people are actually able to enjoy this recess week because they have to prepare for the tests. There are 2 solutions to this. One way is to rename it as study break. Now no one can misunderstand this term. After all, a study break is a break from lessons in order to study right? Another solution would be to split the week up nicely such that you would have enough time to study and to recess. Actually, I'm in favour of this particular way since we get the best of both worlds. After all, according to the old adage: "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy." I doubt I need to bother to explain what a week is since most already know it stands for 7 days. (Though the recess week is more accurately 9 days if you count the weekend before it starts.)

Till next time, may the recess week be renamed "recess a la study week"!

Logic

What is logic? Logic is a deduction, proposition, argument, statement...When something is illogical, it isn't really. It's just adding an inverter in front. Some people call it negation. Contrapositives are actually logical except if the statement has a negative connotation to it, it helps to put a more positive spin to it. Never confuse contrapositives with the inverse or the converse. Or is used very loosely here because it has the inclusive feel to it. Either this or that. "But" and "and" can be used interchangeably. If...then...What's a canonical disjunctive normal form? Write in Boolean operator or something? What's the logic behind electrical circuits and logic tables? Confusion and logic seem to be the different sides of the same coin.

Remind me why I'm taking math! But the choice has been made and regrets are for those who waver. Determination will see me through no matter the results!

Till next time, may logic always appeal to the brain and not the emotional state.

Sleep

Zzzz...Tired. Sleepy. Exhausted. Double-eyed pandas. Yawns. All of us need it. It's one of the elixirs of life and most people don't have enough of. Sleeping is one of the defense mechanisms designed by the body for the body. During this period, the body attempts to regenerate cells and create new cells to replace dead ones. Sleeping also aids in digestion. Something to do with the body processes going into passive mode. Muscles are also build during this time. This is one of the reasons why we feel so tired after strenuous exercises. Apparently, it helps the mind too. Having sufficient rest helps to clear the mind and let the day's worries and unhappiness slip away. It's both physically and mentally invigorating. Even as I list down all the positives about having enough sleep, most of us do not have enough of it. There's a general guideline that we should have at least 7 hours of uninterrupted sleep but rarely do we achieve that. The amount of sleep we have is so pathetic that it's the greatest miracle of all that we have survived till now. When I hear people who say they have only 4-5 hours of sleep it never cease to amaze me. They may argue that their body only needs that amount, I say just wait until the 'debt' has to be repaid. We all incur a 'sleep debt' when our body fails to have enough sleep. When's it's time to collect, you will know it. The exhaustion will be tenfold and you will be concussed for quite a long time. My advice: Sleep enough. Work can never be completed even if we burn the midnight, the 1am or even the 2am oil. Having sufficient rest means an increase in your efficiency for the next day as compared to half the efficiency when you do not have enough rest.

Till next time let sleep be your best buddy! Don't fight it. Get to know it better and embrace it. Miracles are there to be discovered!

Human Jukebox

I really love music. Admittedly, I'm still pretty much fussy when it comes to what kind of music I like. For example, I'm not a great fan of rap. Rock and roll is a transition that I need to go through. Soft rock is pretty okay, just not ready to embrace hard rock. Besides that, all other genres are generally on my playlist. I love ballads. It really tests the singer's vocal range and quality. Pop is the generation that I grew up listening to along with the many boybands and girlbands. At the beginning, I only listen to english songs but due to cultural influences, (my bro and sis) I can proudly count some of the Japanese and Chinese songs as my favourites. Anyway, back to topic...

What I would like to talk about is the human jukebox. For the sake of the uninitiated, a human jukebox is basically someone who sings random songs at random times and mostly without knowing it. Unfortunately, I'm a prime example of having such an ailment. Often when I hear a song, the song gets stuck in my head and I'll attempt to sound like a broken recorder and sing the same tune over and over again. Of course, this tune must resonate with me personally before this happens. But like what I say above, most tunes do get thrown in my playlist and therefore my memory so this happens very frequently. Many people can testify for these since they probably hear this 'jukebox' spin out the hits. I think the song of the day must be "No Man Is An Island". It's our choir anthem so it's an appropriate song. Just imagine being around me when I listen to "Umbrella" by Rihanna.

Till next time, may the music never stop. Life without music is like a life without colours - dull shades of grey, mundane and prosaic.

Hall Life

It's the time of year when I can blog about my short stay here in hall. Hall life in general is pretty different from home. Here, there's more freedom to do what you want to do. For example, sleeping late becomes a norm since the 'night life' in hall is quite vibrant. Pandan bread for breakfast with the occasional peanut butter or tuna is also a staple. Switching on the laptop is also so natural. Though freedom seems like aplenty, in actual fact too much freedom can also be a chore. Time management becomes a very useful skill. What to do and when to do will lead to some tough decisions. Still, it's a new experience and I'm glad that I have such a great opportunity to enjoy it. And yes, just in case you are asking, there's plenty to study and focus seem to be a prime commidity. Sigh, no news about my softball trials...Maybe there is a deeper problem than not having enough gloves and bats. Even so, there's nothing much I can do about it so I'll just sit tight. The dates for my mid-term are streaming in.


MAS110 4th Oct 0930-1030 LKC

MAS111 12th Sept 1700-1730 LT23

HE191 23rd Oct 1530-1630 TR22

MS2006 3rd Oct 0830-0930 LT3

Stay tune for the rest of the TOTO results...

SPMS

What does it stand for? It's actually the new school for physical education. School of Physical and Mental Sports is what it really stands for. The requirement for entering this school is to have strong foundations of angles so you would know what to do in order to get the least amount of work done. Also, the study of the human anatomy would be useful since the physical limits (to infinity actually) can be calculated. Remember to eat more Calcium (Ca) to build up strong bones in order to withstand the physical exertions. Iron (Fe) would also help I think. When the adrenaline gets excreted, lactic acid would be formed. Do take note of that. Under mental sports we have truth tables which really test that part of the brain in a more competitive environment. Never has logic and common sense be so illogical and uncommon. When the competition starts, you would be amazed at how few people actually excelled.

Okay, that has been a very apt description of my school. Hopefully you all may one day have a chance to experience the vigour and excitement of such an environment! (Personally, I wouldn't even wish it on my worst enemy. :p)

When body and mind are worlds apart

Ever felt like you had an out of the body experience? It feels like your body wouldn't obey your mind. When you want to run, your body walks. When you want to study, the brain starts to shut down. Well, this is what you get when you fall sick. Everything's happening in slow motion. Can't seem to raise my enthusiasm to accomplish anything. Sadly, this really impedes my development. To make things worse, I have no medicine to help my pitiful white blood cells who are frankly fighting a losing battle. (hang in there guys!) It feels very helpless and I feel very weak. Even staying awake during tutorials and lectures become as difficult as climbing Mount Everest. It's even a miracle that I can type proper words coherently. (thanks to spellcheck)

Attended the rec games today. Tried darts and I must say it was pretty difficult to control the direction of the dart after release. I'll stick to carrom anytime where I have better control. Unfortunately I didn't get the opportunity to test my skills against the hall reps for carrom who I heard are very good at it. Hopefully I'll get the chance to do so in the near future. Lots of my OG people are running for JCRC and I wish them all the best of luck and I'll definitely vote for them! Go Gusta!!

Till next time when I'm going home, to the place where I belong. I'm going home...

New day, new laptop

Finally my baby is back. After enduring a torrid time at the Company which must not be named, it's finally back home and enjoying some TLC. So I'm spending some time with my baby now. No more off-coloured pixels! Finally a chance to use it! You must really go through what I've gone through to understand how I felt when I was left drifting at sea with no life vest at all. Communication was at a bare minimum and it really felt like living in a well. News can't filter in and I only know what the small community namely my school is doing. But all's well that ends well. Time to kick off my shoes and hit the bed. Ain't feeling too well today.

Headaches

My head hurts. Really it does. Can't think straight at the moment. Too many things to remember and my brain is taking a beating. Not enough RAM. Knew I should have upgraded to 8GB RAM. My SATA HDD also obsolete. The world seem to be spinning, spinning and spinning. Now I know why they call the world a globe. This is because it does spin on its axis. Movement becomes hard to discern since the world is also moving with the flip-flops of my head. When colours combine to produce a hue which isn't necessary vibrant and resplendent, you know there's trouble to be get. As usual, didn't bring many tutorials home. Lab 4 isn't out yet much to my chagrin. Going to conk out soon.

Your beloved blogger signing out!

D & D

It's the very first time I attended a D&D. (I missed my JC one due to some unforseen personal reasons.) The price was pretty reasonable since the venue was Chijmes. The main hall is very beautiful and one can really tell that the previous establishment was a church. But back to the D&D. The theme was Halloween and almost everyone was dressed for the occasion. We had a range of characters like Captain Hook, witches, magicians, ghosts, pharoahs and even Ju-on. This ensemble already raise the excitement level of the crowd. Also, our hall pageant was held as part of tradition. Our OG representatives didn't win but nevertheless put in a sparkling performance and did our OG proud! The food was all right though some people complained that it was not enough...

Anyway, my laptop is still AWOL. Monday must check status. Heard that there may be a need to register for the game fiesta next week. Sad cause I didn't know about it. Still will ask around and see if i can crash the games. Night cycling on Friday? Not sure yet cause my softball trials may be on Saturday.

Till next time, please don't telecast Li Jiawei matches on television! She may actually win because of that!

Once in a while...

Once in a while, I'll like to stop. I'll like to just cease whatever I'm doing and closely investigate all that I've been doing. Have I done it right? Are there any possibilities for more? Am I happy with it? Pressing the stop button on the recorder of my life, I would like to look around and appreciate what people have done for me and what I've done for others. Even the smallest things can have great impact on other people's lives. It never fails to amaze me that every action can change my surroundings and the people around me. This world was build by the people for the people. Day-to-day interactions are but a must in this technological world we live in today. Just examine all the modes of communications IRC, MSN and now even Skype, have all played their roles in improving the levels of communications. Soon, our mobile phones would be able to transmit our thought energies even without speech...

The ideas of the people are the foundations for the inventions of the future. Let us embrace these ideas and help to make them a reality.

Till next time, may the creative juices flow over the capacity of our glasses.

72 hours

That's exactly 3 days. And also happen to be the name of the play which I attended as part of hall 7. Boy was I treated to a magnificent display of artistry on the stage...

I have attended my fair share of plays and though I'm no expert, I can probably understand a little on how difficult to stage a production. The many auditions for the different parts, the scripting, the rehearsals, and generally all the effort put in by those involved requires a lot of commitment and passion. Without these attributes, the production would not be a success. Imagine the logistics involved in searching for a proper location, the marketing of the play and searching for the props. These are by no means an easy feat.

Anyway, more about the play. I loved the interlude music as they complement very well with the atmosphere and direction of the play. The actors and actresses were very good! They entered into their character zones naturally and brought out the unique characteristics of each individual character. Frankly, I felt the chemistry was there between the people on stage which was the primary reason that they slip into character mode pretty easily.
Kuodos to the production crew who coordinated the whole thing very well. The stage manager must have had a busy time. The make-up was great too. It helped bring out the features of the people on stage. The props crew also played an important part, bringing in and out all the props in the short time given. The storyline was engrossing and had a certain sort of appeal, bringing all the important things of uni life as well as incorporating the importance of forgiveness as an underlying theme. The lighting was spot-on, and I was amazed at the different effects they could come out with for example the lighting coming out of grilled windows as well as the night sky. I felt the colour tones were well-matched to the scenes.
Overall, congratulations to Prometheus 2008! Well done people!! Hall 7 rox!!!
Hope I have a chance to be involved in such a production lol.

Till next time, may hall 7 rock on! :-)

The value of Commitments

I'm pretty sure many of us have made certain commitments to people around us. A commitment is like a promise to do something or accomplish certain objectives. Some people view it more seriously and liken it to a vow which is a promise that should never be broken. So what is the value of commitments. Should it come with strings attached like for example the task to be completed or even the person you make the commitment to? If the task is not easily completed, will you 'forget' about it? If the person is 'not as important', will you cast the commitment to the back of your mind? Many different people place different values on different things. A certain item can have various valuations. Then what about an intangible like a commitment?

In my humble opinion, once a commitment is made, there should be no compromise. Do your best and never look back. It doesn't matter however 'unimportant' the commitment may be or even if the commitment is made to yourself (which is even more important), once you do commit, do not give up half-way. The real impact of your actions can never be truly measured as it is wide-ranging, possibly even affecting people who are not even related to you. One of the most important commitments you may make in your entire life would be that of marriage. It is what is sometimes known as the lifetime commitment as it is supposed to last throughout your life. Sharing your life, your personal space, your innermost secrets, these are part of the sacred marriage vows. But what's happening? Divorce rates have never been higher and the reasons given are not always infidelity. What happened to the commitment?

Anyway, enough of my ranting. My roomie and pseudo roomie bugging me to blog so it is really their effort that i came up with this post. Thanks guys!

Till next time, may you revaluate the commitments in your life!

1st Week

The first week is always the most interesting. In this case, it's my first week in hall 7. I noticed a lot about my block. There seems to be no activities whatsoever! Eveyone just minds their own business and there is little or no interaction. What happened to good old 'neighbourliness'? Guessed no one really supports it. In general, hall interaction is pretty minimal though that may not be a bad thing. I have a very good roomie! Wake up same time as me even though my lesson start earlier. Another thing is he's very hardworking! Surely my slackness will disappear when he's around.

Now to lessons. Only had lectures this week. Most lectures will still manageable. Some were pretty hard to understand, others were impossible to make out. Still plow through I must even when I received bad news that I may have to take 4+2 physics modules. (That's technically 1 more module than a minor) The most important word of the day in NTU is 'walk'. We really do a lot of walking since the shuttle service only takes us to the outskirts of the campus. The fastest way to get from north spine to south spine would be to exercise those calf muscles.

Given a pile of lectures to complete. Argh! But do them I will. (Yoda speak seems the way to go)
To infinity and beyond! Till next time, may I get my laptop ASAP because I can't stand being disconnected with the rest of the world.

The First Chapter

Just like holding a new book in my hands, I can't wait to start reading the first chapter. Going into university is just like that. The excitement building, the andrenaline rush and the growing feeling of anticipation of what awaits me are akin to reading the first chapter of a favourite book. What will the characters be like? How will the plot develop? And most important of them all, how will the story end?
Nothing much to report except I'm pretty pumped up! A little bit sad that I didn't manage to complete the hall camp with my hall mates but at least we went through initiation together! :-)
Went to K yesterday. Throat a little sore. Sad that my fellow kurtites are all in NUS. Hope to meet them often!

Till next time, may I have more things to talk about since nothing's happening today!

Hall7

A rustic place. An old place. A derelict place. My home away from home for the next year at least! Attended the hall orientation camp. Had a lot of fun. Though the place is 'ulu', it's near my school. Though the place doesn't have a canteen, transportation is very convenient. Though this place is a little old, there's a spirit and culture among the residents that outshine the physical conditions of the hall. That is why I'll not regret living in hall 7. I personally feel the benefits far outweigh the limitations. Now all I need to do is move in. The plan is to do so by Sunday. Tomorrow will be the time to stock up on the stuff I'm going to bring to my new home.

Till next time, may hall 7 win the IH olympiad!

Camp

We have all been through many camps, just like the one I'm 1 hr away from. Most camps are fun, the activities silly, the people great and the organizers deserve a pat on the back. Actually, I feel that how successful the camp is comes down to the logistics, the different personalities of the organizers as well as the participants.
Logistics, because there is a lot of leg-work and research to be done to come up with the list of activities that everyone will enjoy. It's no mean feat as the participants are all different resulting in different likes and dislikes. That said, it's not possible to accomodate all of them. It's more possible to cater to most of them. That might be one of the reasons that the activities end up being pretty common and generic. The onus is on the team to come up with new and creative activities and therein lies the challenge.
The different personalities of the organizers i.e CLs also play a part in the success of the camp. Whether they are enthusiastic, humourous, outgoing etc. will directly affect the flow and outcome of the activities planned. The traits I mentioned earlier are those that I feel are pretty important to the camp though some may beg to differ.
Then we come to the last but ultimately probably the most important factor which is the particiapants. Again, enthusiasm is a must for if someone doesn't share the same enthusiasm as the others, it would affect the general mood of the other group participants. Since we use the word participants maximum participation with minimum fuss is always the great hope. Even slightly less may result in a less than satifactory experience for the CLs as well as the participants.

On a more personal note, I'm feeling pretty good vibes for the camp I'm going to. Hopefully, it would be an enjoyable one for all of us. After all, we are going to see each other at least for the next 1 yr! Till next time, may the invitation for our parents to attend the cermony come early because my parents are feeling a little worried. :-)

Lifebook - Fujitsu?

I'm really not talking about the Fujitsu Lifebook. Really. Though I don't mind a Fujitsu laptop, it's all a misunderstanding if you really thought the topic of the day was about a laptop. So without further ado, here's the topic of the day...

Our lifestory. How is it like? Will it be fruitful? Will it bring you tears of sorrow or tears of joy? Will it be interesting? Or will it be dull as grey? Questions like these can't be so easily answered. This is because our lifestory only has one author - ourselves. Our lives can be viewed as a story, one in which we get to decide what to put in it. We may choose to add a little comedy in it by adding some jokes that made everyone laugh. We may choose to make it heartwarming by including all the good family events in it. In short, we have all the power. Chapters will flow just like water, characters will rotate in and out of our lives, the good times will linger, the bad times will change, the book will be completed. What kind of book do you want your lifestory to be like?

University life is a new chapter in my life. I'm fortunate enough to be able to experience it. A new flavour beckons. A place where I will spend the best part of 4 years is bound to give me an exhilarating time. Looking forward to all the friends I will make, as well as all the fun I'll have.

Till next time, may everyone always have fun in their live! We can't be serious all the time right? :-)

Goals

How I wish I was talking about soccer. Then I can tell you about Ian Rush who has scored some spectacular goals for Liverpool one of which was a running volley which bulged the net. Or I could tell you about the time Diego Maradona dribbled half the pitch, beating half a dozen defenders to score one of the goals of all time. Alas, that's not really the topic of the day. In fact, the goals I'm talking about is centered on something on a different plane.

Here we go! This whole entry was triggered by a not so coincidental meeting with CL. We were actually going for a book fair organized by NLB at Expo. After making our purchases, we settled down at BK just to talk. The subjects were varied but with purpose. One of the subjects is the setting of goals. It's a real wonder then that we all have goals. But the extent of putting thoughts into action can be quite different. Goals are set because we believe in them. We believe that through our hard work and perseverance, we would achieve them. They represent our idea of limits. In a way, they are there as an aid to break through our limits. My OBS friends would probably know that I'm a process person so whether we get there is not as important as the process of getting there. If the process is right, then the product will arise eventually. This is where WL's view of the PPP model sets in. The people, process, product is actually 1 single entity rather than 3 different ones. We need all of them. We start with the best people we can find, then we get the correct process and the product will be what we want it to be. It's a step-by-step process. Anyway, back to goals. I realised we shared the same goals. But to be honest, the determination that came with CL's goals far exceeded mine. Yes, as you all have probably guessed, determination can come out of the act of setting goals. This made me think where I could get the same determination. CL went on to explain something so simple that it evaded my common sense completely: You have got to believe in it first. It is the manifestation of thought(CL thank you!) into action that will bring about the consequence. Believing whole-heartedly in your goals can give you that upsurge of power that you badly need to start off the day. After no small amount of thinking, I figured that I did not yet have the same amount of belief that CL has. Hopefully time will fill the void that I currently have.

Though CL and I disagreed on a number of subjects (sorry bro!) I felt that I have definitely gained something from our meeting. I'm exceedingly glad that you are my roomie! By sharing this little bit of information, I hope that you, the reader, have also gained something.

Till next time, may it please not rain on a day when I planned to go out! Though I do so love the purity of rain, it's quite a bother if I plan to go out and not sleep in. Thor if you are listening to my request thank you! One more hour to the meeting...

A story...

Once upon a time, there was a boy. Now he was not some ordinary boy but a very special one. He was destined to become the greatest magician of all time. No, his name isn't Tom, Dick or Harry. It's not even Merlin. His name was Cogiz. Cogiz had no parents, nor was him born with any. No one really knew where he came from except that he was found by some villagers as a tiny little toddler in the woods. Many people marvelled that he was able to survive in the wild for so long and claimed that he was a miracle baby. 'Cogiz' was his first words and it stuck. He was known as Cogiz thereafter. His journey would prove to be the start of a legacy...

It's not easy to write a story. The above few words already stretched my limits. That's why let me take this opportunity to congratulate relf on his story! It's really interesting and for those who have not read it yet, here's the link: http://thelegendofdoria.blogspot.com/
Highly recommended!! From the above, I guess that most of you already figured out that I love to read. From my younger days (now I'm feeling all of my age) I started with Enid Blyton and her Famous Five and Secret Seven. Graduated to reading The Hardy Boys by Franklin W. Dixon in upper primary and also R.L Stine's Goosebumps series. At this juncture, I also liked game books especially from The Lone Wolf series by Joe Dever. This carried on to secondary school where I continued to read. At this stage, I was probably adopting the wrong way of reading, speed-reading by taking in all content and minimal language. Let me just make it clear that this isn't the right way because the author took great pains to use wonderful language as well as content in his story. Then I started to move into adult fiction like Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple series of mystery books. Read a few books by Jeffery Deaver and quite liked his The Eleventh Commandment. Went into courtroom books by John Grisham who was the author that gave me my first taste of the drama that exists in the judicial system. As I read his books, I was even thinking of studying law since it seemed so interesting. Lee Child came along armed with the charismatic hero Jack Reacher. An Army MP and decorated serviceman, his knowledge of the weaknesses of the human anatomy and the different arms never cease to amaze me. His ability to remain invisible in a city, only bringing along the clothes he was wearing and a toothbrush, would definitely be a great ability to have for secret agents. The list goes on as I strive to satisfy my craving for books...

The legacy was fulfilled. Cogiz became the greatest magician since Merlin to ever live. He never misused his powers and worked together hand-in-hand with the king to ensure peace and prosperity in the land. And so, the world was at peace once again, the magic balancing the sword, showing the world that 2 powers can coexist side by side and even support each other. It's a lesson well-learnt and passed down from generation to generation. The story of a magician and his king that evoked a million feelings, would forever remain in the chapters of history.

THE END

Lazing around

I'm pretty sure that many people have done it before. The sun is up at its glorious best, while there are no deadlines to meet, no projects to complete and best of all no exams to study for. So what do we do then? We laze around. Well some poeple do stare at the clouds. Clouds are really special. They are so white and fluffy, sort of like wool. Changing shapes at will, sometimes they adopt human-like shapes, other times they look like trees...But before I get too carried away with my cloud-watching, other people tend to just lie flat on the bed and inspect their eyelids. Maybe take a nap or something. It's something I don't generally do because I don't really have the habit of it unless I played a round of overnight mahjong the previous day...Some people define lazing around as doing something fun without dealing with the stress of everyday life. An advocate of this particular form of lazing around, I highly recommend chatting with friends, going out for a meal or movie or even just playing board games. No effective work is really done except to have fun. After all, all work and no play makes Jack(or Jill) a dull boy(girl). While lazing around is fun and all, do remember that there's a limit to all these activities. When the time comes, it's back to work and the books especially for those studying.

I'm trying pretty hard to brush up on my english. That is why I accept any comments or corrections on my grammer and spelling. After all, it has been some time since I've been using proper english. (most times I use the SMS shorthand to chat with people so please forgive my indiscretion :-) )

Till next time, may the clouds represent our lives - ever-changing and vibrant in every aspect!

Economical?

I used to think that the word economical had something to do with economics and the economy and it did! Wonders! Then I thought maybe I could go 2 for 2 and say it's related to the environment since it does seem to have a prefix 'eco'. Guessed I should have stayed at 1 guess. What is economical is something that many people in the world curently mull over. Is it more economical to drive a car or take public transport? With the recent talk on introducing lower prices for transfers for buses, public transport seem the way to go. Indeed having a gridlock on the business destrict will certainly cause ceaseless complaints from the public which was why the introduction of many new gantries. Now people are complaining about something totally different...Let's continue with the theme of things. Oil prices are skyrocketing. US$140 plus per barrel was the highest recorded I believe. With it comes another set of questions on economy. Oil is a very precious resource since it is finite. Tough though that it's controlled by a powerful conglomerate. Anyway, oil affects us in ways that we haven't even imagined. The most immediate concern is transport since they do run on petrol or diesel which is a derivative from crude. So sales of vehicles have crashed a little. General Motors was the latest to have reported losses. Sports utility vehicles are really using too much petrol which was one of the given reason for the poor performance. There are other reasons but would not be mentioned here. Food has also taken a hit with rising oil prices. The percentage leap can be quite astounding if you do bother going to calculate. Seldom does it reflect the percentage jump in oil since like my friend WL likes to point out, prices try to jump minimum 50 cents since no one likes 1 cents and 5 cents. So then maybe we should all eat 'economical rice' at home since it's the cheapest? YF told me my paragraphing is a little haywire but then maybe I can say I was economical in the usage of space. :p

Anyways, that's the end of my entry. All good things must come to an end for I believe that the end is just the start of a brand new beginning of a good thing. Loops right? Till next time, may the economy stage a fightback and change the grizzly to a metador!

Happiness

A milkshake. A painting. A game. Seemingly unrelated, but nevertheless share a certain trait. They are capable of giving happiness. Let's take the simple case of milkshake. Picture a sweltering day, the temperature is in the high 40s, and you are typically stuck outdoors. Being able to enjoy an ice-cool milkshake will bring about a bounty of happiness.
Second case, a painting. I must stick a disclaimer that not everyone is able to appreciate a good painting but I'll try with the description. An aquamarine lake shimmers with the crescent moon. The reflection actually looks like a treasure chest full of gold coins. Weeping willows sway in the gentle breeze and appear to beckon you towards their secrets. The contrast of the twinkling stars on the backdrop of bleck velvet are just like diamonds basking in their glory. The picture is completed with a pair of wolves running into the forest. Their vigour and enthusiasm brings out all the regal qualities of these majestic animals and made them worthy creatures of the night. A painting can also give the art lover plenty of joy.
The third case I'll use soccer then. Soccer may be a mindless game of 22 people chasing after a ball for some, but for others it's more than life and death. (see Bill Shankley) Soccer can bring plenty of excitement and satifaction, but it is also equally able to bring sadness and misery. But let's not dwell on this since it's pretty unrelated. Watching how skillful players employ the 'samba' to beat each other, how they are able to manipulate the ball just like an extended limb and more importantly how they are able to call out to the ball so that it acts under their directions, what's not to like about soccer? Soccer lovers can empathize. Need I say more?
In short, what I'm trying to say is that happiness comes in many forms. (though admittedly my examples are pretty one-dimensional) Even the smallest things can bring with it a large amount of happiness. It's hard to quantify happiness but nevertheless there should be a gauge on how happy you are. The key idea is not to let all the unhappy things weigh you down. Life is too short to mull over your failures and disappointments. Seize the moment and experience all the happiness that you want to. Cliches are always useful in this juncture: You only live life once so go LIVE it!!
Okay, this is the end of a rather short post. (actually I do have shorter ones :p) Till next time, may the higher powers bestow their blessing on this fragile world we are living in!

Distant Friends

Have you ever felt like it's difficult to make friends? I do admit I suffer from this affliction as I appear to be hostile and cold on the outside. However, just like the M&M advertisement, I do melt pretty easily on the inside. Once people get to know me, they will find another side of me. The great big problem is how to get past the first step. This step is always the hardest and also the most necessary. Just as much as I would like to make more friends, it is just as hard for me to open up. One reason could be I'm more of an introvert kind of person. I go green with envy at those people who effortlessly go up to strangers and have a conversation with them. There's a place in my heart where I hope to emulate them and be as outgoing. It's omething I'm trying desparately to change even though I know it's not going to be easy. This happens to be part 1 of my entry. Part 2 is probably more important...

Friends are people who you know to certain extents. These extents determine what kind of friend he or she is to you. One group of people who almost always end up as your friends is your classmates. They are the people who you see every day in school. In other words, they could be the group who spend the most time with you. (maybe apart from your family) Friendships would have been established quickly as they share weal and woe with you. They are the support when you feel like giving up; they will be there at the finish line cheering you on; they are the the ones who eat lunch with you at the canteen; they are the ones who you find to have fun with...the list goes on and on. Everyone has positive memories about their classmates. This is also the time when the bonds are the tightest. The problem only comes when everyone graduates. This is the most crucial time in my opinion. If contact is lost at this point, the bridge will fall no matter how stable the foundation was. It breaks my heart that something so special can be easily defeated by a lapse of concentration from both parties. Although it is saddening, it happens more often than I wish. It takes 2 hands to clap and so it does. People deal with graduations differently. Some find it the end of an old life while some treat it like the prologue of a book. Effort is needed to maintain contact with peopl who you care for as well as people who care. Even if it is one-sided, have faith that it can change and be satisfied that at least you have done your part to keep the flame burning.

I have experienced my fair share of disapointments. While I'm no expert at keeping contact, I have resolved to change this. The first step in doing so is to recognize that there's a problem. What comes after that is courage, will and determination. Nil Sine Labore.

Till next time, please give me your support so that I can change for the better. Honesty is the best policy and friends should not lie just because the truth may hurt. The intention to really help is what a true friend should do. :)

Influence

What is this entity that seeks to permeate every corner of our lives? Can it even be classified as a thing? In our lives, there will be instances when people have influenced you or that you have influenced others knowingly or unknowingly. Nevertheless, how powerful is influence?
Let's talk about bad influences first. Most of these bad influences actually come from the people around you. There is definitely a higher possibility of a person taking drugs or smoking if his friends are all doing the same thing. This is popularly known as peer pressure. The person will be goaded into doing illegal things in order to get in his friends' good books. Unfortunately for him, his life was left in tatters the moment he succumbed to the poison apple. Lots of people understimate the power of peer pressure. People who do not have the opportunity to grow up in a nromal family are particularly susceptible to this kind of peer pressure. When there's no one to turn to, when your family doesn't show enough concern over your well-being, when you are at the age of rebellion, the heart is more likely to accept the darkness around. If you do know about people like this, lend a hand. Pull ther person before he drops into the abyss. A new-found friend can do wonders for anybody.
Next up are positive influences. They can come from anybody or anything for that matters. Self-help books are considered positive influences to some extent since they help you become a better person. Teachers are also a very good source of positive influences. They shape character and also play the role model. In fact, they are probably one of the most important people in your life. Teachers is a term I would use loosely. That is because anyone can be a teacher. What does a teacher do? He or she teaches and is the vessel of knowledge transfer. Teachers recount experience so that the student can learn and not repeat the same mistakes that were made. Teachers educate about morals so that the student can decide for himself in the later part of his life what to do and what not to do. Teachers offer possibilities and choices but they do not compel. At least, that is my view on teachers. Beacons of light that shine in the fierce seas, guiding trapped ships to safe harbor. Teachers are really quite similar to lighthouses if you think about it.
So a follow-up question: Is it better to influence or be influenced? Would it be all right to influence others to let then see your point of view? Or is better to listen what others have to say? Life is not about extremes so let me qualify the question. Which option, in your opinion, is more important in your life?
Till next time, when the start sparkle in the sky, the moon hanging in the sky like a medallion, and the clouds forming a picturesque background to the vibrant surroundings.

First Meetings

First meeting are always happy moments. Sure, there may be awkward moments but eventually they become joyous moments. The sense of excitement that builds up just before meeting someone new, gives a thrill which is not unlike riding a roller-coaster in a theme park. There would be this picture that in your mind that brings out all the positive attributes of the person you are going to meet, a beautiful portrait that would be worth a fortune. There is this sense of knowledge that the person would ake a perfect friend, one that is trustworthy and loyal. He would be prepared to jump through fire for you, offer you comfort when you are sad or depressed, celebrate with you when there's a joyful occasion and basically stand by you through the fiercest storms and cheering you on when faced with challenges. Then you meet the person and you realise that he far exceeded your expectations. Bonds are forged and a new friend is made. First meetings are beautiful and offers boundless opportunities. A chance, a sliver of hope, a breakthorough, I believe in all these things. Friendships all start with the first meeting and so they should be.
Till next time, always believe in the positives of life. May your first meetings always bring you the dreams that come true and the meeting of your guardian angels.

El Nino

Yar I know this entry is coming pretty late considering the result has already been announced worldwide. But Spain won the EUROS!!! My prediction (or you can say my biasness) that Spain will emerge victorious came true. Now if only I can strike the Singapore Sweep that would be nice...
Let's talk about the new European Champions. Oozing with confidence, playing with both style and substance yet still finding it in them to dig deep when needed, it would be hard-press for anyone to deny that Spain deserved to win this one. Let's look at the heroes. In goal, we have who many people claim to have the safest pair of hands Casillas. In front of him is the ever-reliable Puyol and the sturdy Machena. On the wing-backs, we have the Man U target Ramos and on the other the bombarding Capdevillea. Protecting the back four is the strong and courageous Senna. The magical trio of Xavi, Iniesta and Silva produced one of the greatest sorceries of all time, weaving in and out, interchanging flanks, producing breathtaking skills and to put it simply, was the major force behind Spain's triumph. In attack we have Kop hero Torres and Euro's Golden Boot David Villa. With such a team of talented individuals playing together in harmony, it is little wonder the result.
Okay, that's enough for this post. Spain for World Cup 2010? The world is waiting with bated breath. :-)

Limits...Sum to infinity?

Don't worry too much about the title. The topic today has little to do with mathematics. Rather, it's an exploration of the broad term 'limits'. We all have different limits for different things. For example, we have an anger limit. This is basically an accumulation of things that cause you to become angry. How much you can take is your limit. I do recall an interesting programme on MTV (yes, the one and the same channel which brings to you music among other things) called Boiling Point where a situation is set up such that the producers try to instigate unsuspecting contestants to blow their top within a certain time frame. Those that don't get to win a prize. I find it amusing sometimes at how easily we lose our temper. Thinking back, I also realise that I do have a short fuse though it also depends on the situation.
Then we have another different kind of limit. Endurance limit is another thing which I like to explore. When we are working, there will come a time that our body won't be able to take the work and shut-down as a defense mechanism. So what is this limit? How long can you stay awake studying?
The number of limits to explore are endless. So are these limits fixed? Can they be changed? Common sense suggest that they can. Physical conditioning can improve endurance. Anger management can maybe increase your tolerance level. The leading question would be which can be changed? Which can't? That's probably why I say that limits do have a sum to infinity. Identifying and analysing them would take an eternity.
Enough of all these introspective views. On a lighter note, can Spain lift the Euro 2008 cup? Definitely. Stay tune for results. Till next time, can lies exist in truths? Can truth exist in lies?

Slow-mo

Everything seems to be in slow-motion these days. the days seem to pass fast yet they do not. Time no longer seem to follow its rules. The clock on the wall seem to be moving at a snail's pace and yet the next time i blink, it is already tomorrow. My concept of time seem warp most of the times. I'm bored yet feel that there is a lack of time. Thoughts are jumbled and they are barely coherent in my mind. There's this vast ocean in my mind now and it seems to be swallowing up whatever thoughts I have. I am relaxed yet I am stressed up. Contradiction seem to exist at every corner. The thin line between fast and slow is very blur. Hopefully I can get out of this rut soon. University life beckons. Will I be able to enjoy the life I have now? It is slow-paced and relaxing. Or do I have to participate in the rat race in a bid to make my mark in this world. Is it all right to achieve the same thing without the cutthroat vision that I have? Or will I fall into the pit that already threaten to swallow many people? I wait with anticipation yet a sense of dread. If I'm not making any sense it's all right. Because now I am relaxing and complicated things become more complicated if I think about it.
Till next time when I'm more able to express myself then! Hope and peace are the only things that stand in the way of war.

Fear

Yes, I'm talking about the immense discomfort people experience that may cause temporary paralysis of the body. Sometimes body-numbing, other times mind-numbing, it can cause involuntary shivers down the spine. The heart starts working overtime, and the blood freezes. There are also times that it strikes the heart like a thunderbolt. So what is fear? If the above doesn't explain it, I'm not sure how to. There are many causes for fear. When people do something wrong or illegal, they tend to nurture this feeling. Well, it is perfectly reasonable in this way. Try not to do any of these things so that this feeling has no chance of growing in your heart. There other types of fear. Some people are claustrophobic which is the fear of enclosed places. Xenophobic tends to affect the more introverted group. While these are medical conditions, they are also a type of fear. How do we understand it? Sometimes, these fears are triggered by an event that happened in the past. Maybe the fear of water can be attributed to an incident when the person almost drowned. Again these are only possibilities. I doubt that even the medical specialists can accurately diagnose the reasons for fear. Can we overcome it? It is possible of course. It depends on how strong-willed the person is and how badly he or she is affected by the fear.

Anyway, till next time for more serious topics. I do hope Spain win the Euros. If Holland wins it's ok too I guess! :-)

What if...

Everybody wonders about things that could happen. There's this perfect world that exists in everyone. In this world, everything goes according to plan. The day will be sunny when you are going out for a picnic. The tests that you need to take will turn out with distinctions. The choices and decisions that you have to make will all turn out right for you. There's nothing really wrong by fantasizing about the best case scenarios and maybe indulging in a little escapism. But do not immerse yourself into the 'what if' world. The reality tends to be harsher than that 'world'. It's only human to wonder what would happen if that particular thing didn't stop you from winning. Going a little off tangent is also acceptable. However, the fact is that you didn't win or that you did not get that favourable result. It takes a certain courage to be able to face it. Defeat is not the end but a new beginning. A cliche it maybe, but who cares if it is appropriate? Reality is what we have to face and to do so head-on may yet be the best way to approach it. So the nex time you wonder 'what if', wouldn't it be better to ask, "How can I improve?"

Till next time, let time not taint beauty but groom it!

Driving

I think I have motor skills problem. I don't seem to have the ability to coordinate my hands, eyes and legs. Always worrying about the clutch cause me to forget about the foot brake. Looking at the mirror cause me to forget that I'm in the wrong gear. Everything is not smooth at all. This lead me to recall an advertisement by Gold 90.5FM about only hearing the good stuff. In the advert, the girl apparently cannot drive but only listens to all the 'good stuff' while blocking off the reality. Well, for me, I don't have the ability to shut thing out though the instructor never really criticise me badly, just said I needed practice. Still I feel I ought to do better. It's pretty frustrating when you want to practice but there is a lcak of opportunity. Anyway, on to the next relevant sub-topic.
Are cars really needed in Singapore? Without touching on pollution, whcih by the way is a serious threat to the environment, the transport system in Singapore is pretty good. Despite the spiking of prices for taxis and less recently, buses, most Singaporeans will agree that public transport is affordable and efficient. The fact that Singapore is not really a big country probably contributes to the efficiency. MRTs can take you almost everywhere without the hassle of traffic jams. Buses have bus lanes during the peak hours. Taxis bring you to the doorstep of your destination. Overall, I must say that public transport is a very good option for travelling. Yet, many people in Singapore still purchase cars. Some buy them because everyone has one. Not a good reason. Others buy them so that they do need to rely on publi transport. Better, but due to the efficiency of public transport therefore still lacking. Another group buy them because they have a family. This is probably the only good reason I can think of when buying a car. It's definitely a plus when you have a family since public transport may pose a problem due to family size. That's all I have to say for today. Till next time may brilliance arrive to those who seek it!

Gambling

Most of us do gamble. Be it buying 4D, TOTO, horse racing, SCORE, poker, mahjong...I guess most of us do indulge in it once in a while though for some, it's pretty often. My guess is that because money is involved, and the thrill involved when you win is more than enough to get people hook. Just like casinos, which glamourise gambling by offering a wide array of 'test your wheel of fortune' kind of games, there are many forms of gambling. However, one important thing to note is that it is normal that the casinos always win. Even in jackpot machines there are programs to ensure that the house always win. 4D and TOTO are purely about the odds. While they are considered legalised gambling, the odds of winning are heavily stacked against the gambler. Horse racing and SCORE have in recent years been associated with the syndicates who are prepared to shell out a fortune to bribe and fix races and matches respectively. If you are lucky then well you will make a pile. If not, the losses will pile up. Now poker and mahjong involve a little more of skill. Poker requires guts and a 'poker face' that gives out no emotions. Mahjong requires the memory of the tiles that have been played and making intellectual guess on what to hit. But to sum it all out, gambling requires a fair bit of luck and should only be persued within one's abilities. Staking the family jewels on gambling is one sure way of losing everything. Gambling addiction is a real threat in society and one that cannot be ignored. You have been warned.

Though forewarned, this blogger often indulges in mahjong. The only redeeming factor is that he refuses to play large stakes as he is in it only for the fun! :p

Debate

Watched The Arena yesterday and was pretty impressed by the various debaters. If I recalled quite carefully, the two schools were Nanyang Girls and RI. Was actually rooting for Nanyang but felt that RI probably deserved to win mainly because they set up devious traps which the girls fell into. (My opinion so please note that) Still, the highlight of the debate was the last speaker. Nanyang's last speaker and RI's last speaker displayed distinctive styles in their debate. While Nanyang was full of information and rushing to give their argument a firm structure, I could hardly understand what she was talking about. My parents like to say I merge two words into one so they don't understand, she was probably combining 3 words or more into one. I must say I'm very impressed the judges could understand her at all. The RI speaker used a very calm and measured tone to bring his point across, sacrificing content for clarity. If I could choose which style I like more, the Rafflesian will get the nod. He's what I thought a debater should be like despite his occasional stumble over words. The result wasn't what I would like to be but hey, the best team won!
Till next time then, remember to speak clearly and bring your point across!

Charity

Charity begins at home. That's what some people may say. If you are not willing to spend for the family, why should you use this money for others? In a way, the statement is not wrong. Family comes first. Blood is thicker than water as the Chinese like to say. However, it is also good to share the wealth as long as it is within the person's ability. Helping others is a joy. You may not see the immediate benefits as they are intangible but they are present nonetheless. The people who you have helped will not forget your act of kindness though they may not know who you are.

Then we have the various charity shows that are shown on television. Various local celebrities risk injury in order for more donations to be made. Prizes are dangled as carrots so that donations can increase with some people hoping to 'invest' their money. Questions have been raised on what is the true meaning of charity. Philantrophists will tell you that the heart has to be in it before the donations can mean anything. It is the willingness and the sincerity of the doners that really bring about the spirit of charity. There is no need to go to such great lengths in order to garner more money for charity. In fact, even if no money is involved, helping out in homes, hospices and orphanages is a good form of charity work. In fact, I feel many people have forgotten what it means to give and how good it feels to do so.
Till next time, remember helping others is a good deed and good karma is never enough. ;)

American Idol Season 7

The results are out and David Cook is the winner. The other David wasn't bad, though he probably more suited for slow ballads. Felt Cook had the greater potential as his husky voice means he is suited to sing rock and if needed soul music. I realise that these people have a special quality which is hard to describe. It has to do with their voice. Their voice is very different from the masses with a certain lyrical musicality if there is such a term. I can only say I'm green with envy. Don't think I can even come close to them in terms of singing though I would like to do so very much. I do love to sing but am confined to bathroom singing. Sigh. These people have something called talent which unfortunately for me, I am found wanting. Still, it ain't difficult to appreciate these people for music is special. Listening to the right music at the right time is a source of pleasure. Without these people, there will be no music and no enjoyment. Kudos to David Cook! Well done! And to all the previous idols too! I certainly hope that the pool of talent continue to grow even if I do have my selfish reasons hehe.

Acts of God

Hurricane Katrina was very real, the damage wide-spread. The effects are still felt today. Cue the Bali tsunami. A torrent of water so tall and so menacing, capable of taking lives in an instant and claim it did. With no disregard to the economic impact, the human impact was by far the most devastating. These are all recent history and I must say there have always been natural disasters since the day the Earth was created.

Time flies but it never forgets. The recent earthquake in Sichuan, China not only shook the ground, but also triggered a vortex of anguish and helplessness. Many lives were snuffed out in an instant while countless lie in hospitals all over China. The state flag was at half-mast representing a nation in mourning. Questions no doubt run through people's minds. Why did this happen? Why did it have to happen now? Why did it happen to us? Unfortunately, there is no answer to that. If there was a simple answer to give, it would be that it was an act of God. Nature can be giving, yet in the whole cycle of life, humans are insignificant in the face of Mother Gaia. So what can we do?

There are things we can do. Sending aid is just one of them. Many have lost their homes, their livelihood and loved ones. Necessities can be taken care of at least as much as possible but no one can replace human life. Mourn for them, but never give up. They would want their loved ones to be strong and live on. It isn't easy but on one ever said it was. Know that they would be there looking out for you so carry on and live your lives to the fullest. Pretty words they may be, but there is some logic in this.

Until next time, may peace be with those who have lost loved ones in the earthquake.

Animania (Anime Mania)

Don't think there's such a word of course. I do so adore animes. Not sure what is/are the reason(s) but the characters and how they are portrayed do appeal to me. Often with big doe eyes, colourful hair and flawless beauty, they are so unbelievable that they strike a chord. That most animes do have a credible storyline helps in many ways. In Japan, anime has reached an unprecedented high and has achieved cult status. There are even people who indulge in cosplay (costume play) just to make them feel closer to the anime characters. Truth be told, some of them do look like the characters they are trying to imitate. Although Japan is seemingly the place to look to for anime, there are some people who feel Korea might have something to say about it.
Anyway, animes are usually derived from manga, another product of Japan. Without manga, there's no anime simple as that. I personally have read some manga and I must say they are pretty interesting. Back to animes, I have lost count on the number of animes I have watched already. While some can wind up like soap operas (see Desparate Housewives) with countless episodes, most are actually pretty manageable, around 26 to 50 episodes per season. The range of genres are also astounding, comparable to books! Romance, mystery, comedy, action, fantasy, school life...the list goes on and on. What I'm trying to say is that if you do have some time, try watching some of them. You may actually like them even though they are in their native language. (Japanese but with subtitles) Just contact me if you want any recommendations!
Till next time, ciao!

Books

A source of knowledge. A source of inspiration. A source of pleasure. Books are all this and more. Many a times when boredom attempted to overwhelm, books became the sight for sore eyes. We read books for a variety of reasons, one of which is because there are writers writing them. Though this may sound a little weird, it isn't so if you think a little more. It is actually the writers, with their creativity, knowledge and finesse that allows books to take on a deeper meaning, that makes them come alive. In my limited experience, it is not easy to become a writer. A writer is tasked to convey certain meanings and facts to the reader in the mere form of words. It is a profession worthy of praise as books are known to take quite some time in order to be published. But enough about the writers. The topic after all is books. I love books. They can come in different packages: paperback, hardcover or pocketbooks just to name a few. Different genres too like romance, fantasy, thrillers, mystery and short stories. Much like my love for music, I also read quite widely at least in terms of the different genres. For me, books are like a timely oasis before I reach dehydration. The silver lining after a torrential rain. They do not provide any pressure, just a promise of company when loneliness threaten to creep in. It's fun to read books and I highly recommend my friends to read. Because you never know where books can really take us unless we flip the first page!

Contact tracing

I'm in the midst of contact tracing. So if possible msn me ur blog addresses if you want them linked. Amidst the changes, peace will reign. (Hopefully !)

I Have Moved

No longer at Journalhome! :)