veritas post

Morality?

2009-07-02T22:07:00.000-07:00

The very idea of utilitarianism probably justifies all my actions.

I have never paid much attention to philosophical teachings anyway.

Thieves

2009-07-02T10:26:00.000-07:00

I hate people who use backdoors.

As my fav Chinese teacher, Ms. Yong CM, used to say:

有前门不用, 用后门的人, 都是贼!

Thieves! Thieves who steal the opportunities of true talent.

WTF

2009-06-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

When i was in OCS, there were many WTF moments which kept us going. Whenever we saw something WTF, whether in facebook, or in civilian life, or elsewhere, we would share these experiences with our section and platoon mates, and talk about these WTF moments outfield, or during free time, etc.

These WTF moments were what kept my section going during tough times. We would, if we could, shout in unison, "WTF" out loud together. These WTF moments united us. These WTF moments bonded us. These WTF moments made us realise how lucky we were to have each other.

I shared this WTF moment with my section. I found it on facebook, the discussion topic was: First reaction on getting in (to NUS Med). Some spoilt female brat wrote this:

I was in Shanghai when the package came.

My dad called to say "My darling girl... The NUS letter says: We regret to inform you that we are not able to offer you a place in YYLSoM."

"WHAT?! You mean I'm stuck with being a lawyer for the rest of my life? WHAT?! Are you serious..........? *tears start welling up in my eyes already*

"HAHAHAH. YOU GOT IN LAAAAAAAAAA"

"ARE YOU SERIOUS? ARE YOU LYING AGAIN!?"

"Nono. You're gonna be Dr. Han in 5 years time!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" I was at Grand Hyatt. I jumped, screamed and burst out in tears on the spot. And the Jap waiter came to give me many many napkins >.<

The Battle

2009-06-28T08:05:00.000-07:00

If there is a General who needs soldiers for a fight,

here is a warrior who will accompany him to victory.

2009-04-12T03:06:00.000-07:00

even if i leave, i will return.

This is my land!

2008-12-28T08:09:00.000-08:00

Note: I have many friends, and many of them from countries all across ASEAN and all over the world. I have a diverse range of friends of all skin colours and all nationalities, perhaps much more diverse than an average 18 year old. I've met them during conferences, during ceremonies, during field trips and programmes, and I'm proud to have such great friends. This note obviously is not directed to any of my friends, and bears no malicious intent to their honourable countrymen.

* * *

I know the importance of the SAF and NS. I am Singaporean and I'm proud to be part of this island state. My parents were born here, in this very land. I was born here, in this very land. I am proud of the history and culture of this land. I am proud of our leaders (raja, LKY, marshall, GCT etc. ) and I am proud of our success. We are Singaporeans and we stand proud and tall.

But a week ago I realised that perhaps Singaporeans, the rightful owners of this land, are being trampled upon in our very own soil. My very own uncle, who lives just 50 m from where I am seated right now, was insulted and assaulted by a bunch of foreigners in his very own home. Uneducated, uncivilised foreigners who claim to arrive from the "most civilised" country in the world - australia. (note how I use my punctuation)

On the stroke of midnight this bunch of unruly aussies were making a din at the pool side at my uncle's condo. They were drunk (not suprised, really), and making loud noises at the pool. My uncle's apartment was just beside the pool. He has a family, as all of us Singaporeans do, a young kid and an venerable mother (my grandma duh). He has work the next day, to contribute to the economic success of our motherland (unlike those bitches who drink whole day). The family has to sleep.

He went down to the guards to tell them abt the situation at the pool. The guards came, and told the aussies to leave. They did. But not for long. After 15 minutes, they returned. This time louder, wilder, and more disrespectful and unaware of their environment. They continued to party, to create a din, and make noise. My uncle was calm. He observed this quietly and went down to the guards post to make another complaint. The guard arrived, and told the hooligans to leave. The party did not move. Instead, they confronted my uncle, who was present at the pool.

My uncle told them to leave, as he had work the next day. The gangsters then launched a barrage of verbal attacks against him. A girl, reeking of alcohol (not surprised, really), confronted him, and insulted him repeatedly. "What rights do you have to ask us to leave?" "I dare you to hit me, come on, hit me!"She challenged my uncle.

Insults after insults, my uncle swallowed them all with bated breath.

Then came the final insult, the last straw, the tsunami of all provocations - the phrase "fucking Chinese" was used. Following that, the aussies started to attack my uncle. They took a goblet and smashed it against the railing, causing one of the glass fragments to penetrate my uncle's soles. They hit him on the head, and on the body. They never stopped with their attacks - both verbal and physical.

By this time the noise has attracted the neighbours to the scene. All Singaporean. All stood tall and proud, and united by justice and civility. One threatened to call the Police, the Home Team. The aussies were afraid that the iron grip of justice would subdue them, finally. They only had themselves, and we had the Police, the Courts of Justice, we had 4 million other Singaporeans behind us. If they were caught, they would be sent to the Police Station with nothing but their bikini and boxers on. They backed down. They apologised to my uncle, and never returned to make a scene.

My family has never been afraid to use legal action against these uneducated, uncivilised hooligans. We have lawyers in the family, and we are not short of the financial resources to file a civil case. We have each other, generations of family members, living here, and we have the best minds in the nation in each other for counsel, for advice, and for support. We are educated, we are sound, and we have committed no wrongs.

But this matter is not about winning a court case. There is no kick in that. This episode serves as a reminder to us all: That if Singaporeans allow foreigners to trample over us, they will do so. They are racist, and they think they are the elite, because of the colour of their skin. They have no respect for us: Chinese or Malay, Indian or any other Singaporean, they look down on us. In their eyes, they are supreme.

So we will fight. We will fight to remind them of their place in this land, OUR LAND. We will use rhetoric, we will use our brains, we will use pure intellect to remind them that we are the owners of this land. We will not resort to violence, like them, for violence is the first refuge of the incompetent. But in times of need, we have the military might to take them down.

We are holders of that red passport, and we will fight to protect that right. That is the reason why I am going to Tekong next week, and that is the reason why thousands of mothers, fathers, sisters, girlfriends and even wives will see their beloved 18 year old boy shave bald every year. Singaporeans, we live on this island, and we welcome foreigners to our small nation with open arms. But we must not allow them to trample over us. They have no links with this country, they can leave anytime. But we can't. We have to fight for our rights to live on this island.

This is my land, and these are my countrymen. You may be kings in your kingdom or shell, but over here, we are kings. And we will not hesitate to remind you of your place in this land.

World in Anarchy

2008-11-28T09:25:00.000-08:00

I have been in a philosophical mood all week long. I have been eating out everysingleday since the end of A levels. I am broke. I am tired. I am not prepared for NS. I am happy. I am sad. I am touched. I am lost. I am alive. Movies, pool, dinners, bicycle, cage@ kallang, going for a talk with johncheo, wedding dinners, internship, lunches, hospital, telephone, bbq. I am busy. Or am I?

-

Have you ever met someone for only a few days but felt as if you've met the person for your entire life? Have you ever met someone and have conversations so lengthy and so deep and so beautiful and so relaxing, that despite the short duration since your first meeting, you realise that you know more of that person than the people whom you see everysingleday for the past 2, 6, or 12 years?

-

Our world is in chaos. Mumbai, Somalia, Bangkok. Flip through yesteryear's newsapers. WTC, Paris, London, Aceh, Madrid. Politics, terrorism, anger-inducing rhetoric, cowards who mis-interpret their spiritual texts to support their own bloody vendetta, nationalism, hate, suffering, disease, corruption, natural hazards, mfkers, banks failing, stocks crashing. 'Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent' -Asimov.

We are all living in an ivory tower. Bloody hell you're not gonna realise how big, how complex, how insane this world is till you travel and read. Travel and read.

-

Yesterday I was thinking about how our society is being engineered so well, so perfectly, so seamlessly, that all Singaporeans view economic assets as their everything. Today I realised that working till you die for the sake of petty cash is not a purpose in my life.

The Principle of Conservation of Happiness - A concise introduction

2008-09-20T09:30:00.000-07:00

Published by: H C, University of Life, Faculty of Logic, Department of Common Sense

Abstract: The universal laws of Physics state that the total amount of energy of the universe is fixed at any one instant. Energy cannot be destroyed, but it can be stored, and converted from one form to another. Einstein also proved that energy can be converted from mass, and vice versa. This paper argues on the same basis as the Principle of Conservation of Energy. It proposes that the total amount of happiness on Earth is fixed at any one point of time, and that mankind is not the only bearer of happiness, if happiness can be 'beared'. This means that if the global human population increases, the amount of happiness per capita will be reduced proportionately. The consequence of this is that a Malthusian perspective must be applied towards population growth. In order to secure the happiness of posterity, there is a moral imperative for mankind to work towards zero population growth today. Traditional ideas of the Vatican and contemporary ideas of certain governments must be abolished with immediate effect.

The global human population has been increasing throughout the years. The species homo sapiens first appeared in Africa in 7000BC, and its population stands at over 6 billion today. Despite technological breakthroughs and increased standard of living, the total amount happiness or quality of life may not have improved over this 9000 years. This is because the total amount of happiness of all living things on Earth is fixed. Happiness cannot be created, or destroyed, but it can be converted from one form to another.

Consider this: University applications, relationships between the sexes, elections. Whats the similarity between all 3 'systems'? IF we consider them to be isolated systems, they all contain a fixed amount of happiness within them. University applications? The people who are accepted by their dream schools are happy. Very happy. The people who are rejected will be unhappy. The sum of their happiness and unhappiness will equal a fixed amount of happiness. Relationships? For every couple who gets together, they will be happy, but only at that point in time. But across the world, for every couple that gets together, the happiness that they possess will be negated by the unhappiness that divorces, breakups and arguments are creating unhappiness at that point in time. In politics? The same argument applies. When Bush won, sure, the republicans celebrated, but their happiness was negated by the unhappiness that the democrats bore. Note that Al Gore actually won the popular vote. This means that a significant amount of unhappiness was present at that point in time. As time passes, the republican's joy died down, but the democrat's unhappiness also eased.

The amount of happiness at any one point in time is fixed.

[to be continued]

2008-07-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

today during geog he gave a description of one of my dream jobs... to be able to work across political boundaries, for humankind, beside greats like jeffrey sachs, would be a dream come true...

The person or team who/which can come up with solutions to combat extreme population growth, develop viable alternative energies, mitigate/predict natural hazards, eradicate extreme poverty, and prevent epidemics/pandemics, will be the ones who change the world.

It has been a long time...

2008-06-27T09:19:00.000-07:00

It has been 3 months since I last blogged. I even almost forgot my password to this account.

It has been 3 short months of ups and downs. Of memories and events. Of transitions and continuations. Of hardwork. Of despair. Moments of joy. Lots of toil. Of swears. Of cheers. Of anguish. Of celebrations. Of politiking. Of good and bad.

Of understanding some people more. Friendships have been forged, established, and anchored more deeply than ever. But at the same time, this period of time has also seen the manifestation of differences. Geographic differences. Cultural differences. Philosophical and ideological differences. In other words, rifting has also occurred simultaneously.

Throughout these 1 and a 1/2 years, I have been observing and learning a lot. I have gained a better understanding of how society functions, of how dirty the game of politics can be played, of how lovers come and part, of how detructive complacency can be, of how powerful humility can be, of how criminal people can become.

I have noted how Singaporeans behave, sometimes by critically examining myself, and sometimes by allowing myself to be critically (but thankfully not harshly) examined by teachers. I have become more open to criticisms.

In the following part of this post, I will examine in depth (provided I have the stamina to continue writing) several events (or observations) which I feel were significant (to me) during the past 3 months. I shall be open, be critical and be honest.

1. The SLA Spatial Challenge
It wasn't easy. But I've learnt a lot. It was immediately after Ct1, it was sacrifice after sacrifice, sleepless nights, time spent browsing the library shelves for boring academic journals*, it was another PW all over again, albeit slightly more interesting to me.

*seriously, academic journals are not fun stuff. more on that next time

Imagine trying to get Russia and the United States to co-operate with each other during the height of the Cold War. That was the fundamental challenge to RJC Team 1.

To be brutally honest I shall say
a) certain team-mates were never the best of friends to start off with. b) the team lacked motivation to really work hard. c) not everyone contributed in equal amounts, yet everyone was there to busk themselves in the spotlight of honour and glory and credit.

That, I've learnt, is the nature of man.

When I saw how united the other teams from other schools are, I was envious of them. There was this bond present in them that wasn't with the Rafflesians. Maybe we highly-driven Raffesians couldn't care about anything else other than the prize at stake. Maybe that's the reason why we miss out on the intangibles of life.

2. MaPhiSing's Reunion
It would be apt at this point of time to explain and introduce MaPhiSing. MaPhiSing stands for Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore for short. MaPhiSing was a band of three friends who met each other during November last year, when they spent a week together in Germany studying environmentalism, under the annual "Bayer Young Environmental Envoy" "Field Trip to Germany" programme.

Somehow, these three young boys from South East Asia just had a special bond with each other, a bond which cannot be explained. The friendship which I share with Anthony from Malaysia and Renzo from the Philippines are what I call the intangibles of my life.

I realised that these two bright young international friends of mine were slightly different from my other Singaporean friends in terms of lifestyle, perspectives, mannerisms and attitudes.

Anthony Leong Zi Ping, 21, is a veterinary student from University Putra Malaysia. He is a top student in his form, and a very passionate animal lover. Despite the quotas and the explicit discriminatory bias admission policies of his nation's tertiary education system, he managed to secure a place in a Malaysian state university, and hence prove to the world that meritocracy still has its place in the rapidly-industrialising nation of Malaysia. Anthony is fluent in a plethora of languages, including English, Chinese, Bahasa Malaysia, and Cantonese. He is the only son, and has 5 other siblings. Early this year, he led a team of like-minded friends and peers in organising the inaugural "A Week of Endangered Species" in his univeristy, which sucessfully engaged the student population there and brought to attention the plight of animals in this greed-infested world.

Ramon Lorenzo Luis Rosa Guinto, who recently celebrated his 20th birthday, is a cheerful extrovert. He is a medical student at the University of the Philippines Manila under the accelerated liberal arts/medicine degrees programme, which only admits the top 50 scorers at the university's entrance exams. Renzo could have pursued his education at Harvard or Yale, yet he chose to remain in the Philippines to fufill his ambitions to be a doctor. Renzo is currently serving as the vice-chairperson of his college's student council, and has organised festivals, staged musicals, cheorograhed dance, composed music and held talks for his peers. Renzo's ambition may to be a doctor, but he also aspires to be the president of Philippines in order to erradicate graft and improve the standard of living of millions of his countrymen. He has promised to employ HC to be his chief advisor for national issues should he be elected president.

After their farewell in Cologne, Germany, the trio remained friends, often communicating through email and chat, and even sms. During the last week of May, Maphising decided to meet again, this time in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, for a short week of reunion and holiday.

We visited attractions like Malaysia's Batu Caves (a solid example of a limestone cave, which is highly relevant to the Cambridge A level Physical Geography Syllabus), Kuala Selangor (one of only 2 places in the entire world to have natural fireflies amassed in significant numbers), and of course classic sites and sights like Melaka and the Petronas Towers. We met up with Ms Mei Choo from Bayer Malaysia and Ms Nisha from the New Straits Times (both of whom travelled together with us to Germany last year) for a wonderful Italian lunch.

We took a coach to Singapore, where the Singapore Zoo and Night Safari were must-see attractions. A tour of the city and Orchard followed, together with a day at Sentosa. We also met up with Ms Adelina and Ms Dorothy from Bayer Singapore (whom we also know), who treated us to a hearty seafood dinner.

And what have I learnt from this reunion/travel?

I've learnt that Singaporeans should do some soul-searching. I have observed that many Singaporeans, especially youth, are taking things for granted and getting complacent, cocky, arrogant, and sigh, disgusting. Let's note here that I am also Singaporean, that the previous statement came from me more as a form of admission rather than criticism.

Singaporeans should travel and read more. Singaporeans should develop a broader sense of the world. The world does not consist of only Singapore and Singaporeans. Why do I say this? I realised that many Singaporeans youths are very single-minded, and look down upon people from other nationalities. Walk past RJ, and you'll hear people critisizing workers from Bangladesh (calling them names like 'Bangla') and laughing at Filippino domestic workers (making fun of some maids here that do not look at the camera whike taking photos). This, in my opinion, only reflects on how immature and unworldly some Singaporeans are. Having travelled sparsely, read little, and having had little interactions with people from other nationalities (do you have a real friend from South america? What about a friend from Africa? From Europe?), some Singaporeans are just spoilt and overly proud. If Renzo and Anthony represent the youth in their countries, I will say that their countries have a more undertanding and more humble culture.

Singaporeans are becoming more complacent. Young or old, or whether you work for a certain Ministry which has recently had a hat-trick of falters or not. Singaporeans are takig things for granted, assuming that everything will be taken care of for them. I compare once again to my friends from Malaysia and Philippines. They are aware of the need to work hard for themselves, and for their futures. They hence have a spirit of tenacity in them, a fighting spirit, and a genuine care for the future of their countries. Some Singaporeans, on the other hand, believe their responsibilities end at the ballot box or the tax-forms. Singaporean youths indulge in political apathy, thinking it's cool to be so. Why even read the newspapers, some retort.

Singaporeans also are very boring people (as compared, once again, to my two friends). Everything is a routine for them: Primary school, do well in PSLE, Secondary school, JC or Poly, then Uni, then get a very secure 9 to 5 job. Retire at 60 plus, collect CPF, and enjoy life. Weekends? Either shopping or movies or go Sentosa play beach volleyball or do homework or do undone office work, or worse still, go clubbing, which I feel is a stupid activity altogether, because you pay money for noise and liver damage. This is the reason why Singaporeans lack creativity. Are we to be forever on the receiving end of trends? Are we not capable of producing new stuff? Look at our shops! They're all selling foreign products, designed by foreigners! And brainless teenage followers only know how to follow brands and trends. When will we ever be selling an idea to the world? Even newater isnt entirely created by Singaporeans, it's created by the more creative expats who reside in Singapore. We Singaporeans perhaps need to learn something from our foreigns friends, people who have imagination and creativity and who are not afraid to pursue their dreams.

We need change. We need Kennedys and Obamas, and we need them quick. We need to learn the strengths of our friends, just like how they would learn from us. But please, spare us the Chees.

2008-03-25T08:51:00.000-07:00

see that?

2008-03-24T02:49:00.000-07:00

pwned.

but winners never give up hope.

some reflections

2008-03-21T11:32:00.000-07:00

Just decided to share this video with you guys.

Last night my dad cried. he cried over this video. at first he came into my room and muttered something which sounded incoherent to me.

i was thinking, dad can you go away, i'm listening to barack obama on youtube.

then he started to get emotional. he said he watched some video and he cried over it. then he started to explain to me what the video is all about but i couldnt get him cos he was speaking real soft and i was only listening with one ear with the other ear (in earphones) analysing the words of obama.

but he started to get emotional i was a bit worried. in fact quite worried. but couldnt do anything abt it.

i've only seen my dad cry once before in my whole entire life. that was at my grandma's funeral. dominant male type. 'crying are for wimps' type of male creature. so when he started to get soggy and red in the sockets i was worried.

i'm the type of person who gets freaked out when someone gets emotional. which i why i freaked out when i read about myself somewhere. i freaked out when my sis cried. or when my mum cries. or when my friend cries. damn freaked out. can't we laugh instead?

so that's the video which made my dad cry. well, i would say the video is not bad.
1.can you imagine yourself when you're like old? and then probably you'll forget your wonderful friends who you have around you now? You wun meet them everyday anymore. There will be no more school, each of you will walk different paths.

2.the video is quite good in the sense that it's quite real. one construction worker, one chef, one henpecked husband and the main character finally meeting after so long. shit it's really quite touching la.

3. my dad probably cried cos he was once a musician and he probably misses his old friends. well dad, go call them up and ask them out for a drink or smthg.

4.I really cannot imagine a reunion in 15 years time. but i am not going to live in the future, or the past. i'm loving the present and everyone should too.

--------

Anyway just now had a good chat with a few friends online. Havent been online since dunno when. But feels so good to see the orange light blinking furiously at the bottom of the screen. hahaha. and feels good to have good convos :)

Not going to talk much. Just remember - be it 15 years, 30 years whatever, we will always be good friends... and we will have a reunion. many reunions of course.

In my predictions i did not predict my own future. Gen sam, with his usual authority, questioned:

Gen sam: why didnt you? If you cant predict yourself how can you predict your own future?
HC: cos i can observe others but i cant observe myself you _____head
Gen sam: -.-' you fackier
HC: you expect me to observe myself in the mirror all day long meh? you ___ head.

Sometimes I ask myself why i have a friend like samuel soh chih yuan. Since the day i met him i tot he had some circuits wrong up there. But honestly speaking i think he is a good man, just like all my buddies.

I wrote that samuel will be a henpecked husband but i actually meant that he will be a doting husband and loving father. hahahah. sounds incredible at this moment. He may be rude most of the time, and also quite slack at most times, and so obsessed with gym and reproduction that sometimes he's quite irritating. he's also very liberal with his language and his hand gestures. soemtimes i wish i could gag samuel and tie yix up. those 2 can drive you nuts.

but look at what he has done for the people around him.

for me, he took up thingsyoucando public relations which was the most demanding job in my opinion. he sacrificed.

he bakes cakes. some girls these days cant even enter the kitchen without contributing massively to global warming yet our dear samuel, aspiring general of the armed forces of the republic of singapore bakes cakes.

he does not boast. other than boasting about the size of his organs (which is still unprovened), he does not boast. quite amazing for a man.

he has the ability to make ppl around him happy. not many ppl can. ppl either emo to you or look gloomy all day long or appear too serious all too often but dear samuel acts stupid all day long to make ppl smile.

he is not overly competitive. in rj, we all too often see ppl being too competitive, setting high expectations of themselves and wanting to win win win. in the end, they just lose out, even if they win. samuel just wants to be himself. thats why i love playing risk with samuel. he never suans me if i am losing. he just asks me to do soemthing obscene that's all. he'll never go suanning ppl over how little soldiers you have left.

anway, nice convo with you samuel. good night, and good luck. and you're welcome.

What Chewy said

2008-03-20T10:36:00.000-07:00

2 weeks ago, chewy told me something. Apparently he is a love guru or some sort. and he spends lots of time observing couples. He like some database for couples in RJ. He claims to know most RJ J2 couples.

And he told me very interestingly over dinner, that for most RJ couples, the girl is better looking than the guy. Key word here is most.

Now of course this may sound insulting to the guys and flattering to the girls. Hahahah. But being the impartial newpaper that prides itsef on searching for the deeper secret behind trends, Veritas Post brings you an exclusive interview with GU, a well-known sociologist to some. HC reports.

VP: Does the statement hold any truth at all?
GU: Apparently, it is true to some extent... I would say around 70% of couples can be classified under this statement. Of the remaining 30%, 15% would be that the guy is hotter, and the last 15% would be that the couple is generally recognised as being of equal hotness, so to speak.

VP: Wow... that clearly means something. Is this trend only applicable to RJC?
GU: Well, I cannot comment on this because of lack of observation of other couples outside RJ.

VP: Can you provide us with some explantion behind this mind-baffling trend?
GU: Well, let's assume that there are 100 students in RJ. Of which there are 50 guys and 50 girls. Let's split each gender into 5 categories, namely, scalding hot, warm, average, cold and freezing. What I suppose is happening in RJ is that the scalding hot girl pairs up with a warm guy, or say, a warm girl pairs up with an average guy. we seldom see a scalding hot girl pairing up with a freezing guy. So this means that the difference is quite subtle, and there is nothing to be worried about. The girls are not disadvantaged in any way.

VP: Well, why can't the scalding hot girls get the scalding hot guys then?
GU: One word... security. Girls prefer to be secure. Hence they would rather hook up with a less hot guy, so as to ensure the full fidelity of the guy towards her.

VP: Why are the hot guys able to attract the scalding hot girls then?
GU: Guys tend to look on the outside (physical). They are slightly more superficial. Girls, meanwhile, find themselves undeniably attracted to the other points of the guys, which might be humour, coolness, intelligence, style, rebelliousness, those kinda stuff, etc.

VP: Are you saying that girls don't have these values?
GU: Hold it man, I am not sexist! Girls have different values of course. E.g. politeness, courteousy, smartness, etc. But the problem lies with that guys tend to look more to the physical.

VP: If your explanation is true, does this mean that the freezing girls are doomed to a lifetime of singlehood?
GU: Of course not. Some guys like to look towards the inner beauty. But of course, the freezing girls shouldnt expect to hook up with a scalding hot guy.

VP: What about the scalding hot guys? Do they stand a chance with the girls since very few of the girls would dare to hook up with them?
GU: Well... They obviously will score with any girls that they want. Imagine you are a warm or scalding hot girl. If a scalding hot guy is interested in you, you'll not resist him right? Hence you'll feel flattered, and secure.In this case the guy will be able to score the girl. If, however, the scalding hot guy does not do the approach, it may be difficult for him, because most girls would not dare to approach him.

VP: I see. Thank you, professor, for your enlightening words of wisdom. Any last words?
GU: You're welcome. I would advise students to study hard and not engage themselves in these things all day long. Just mind your own business.

As the famed sociologist has said, it's good to mind our own business. No examples have been used.

HC's predictions

2008-03-20T07:50:00.000-07:00

while I was taking my shower, i thought of something to blog about.

I'm gonna predict what my classmates and some of my friends will be in 15 years time. Why 15 years? cos one of my teachers recently told me to meet him/her in 15 years time... so i'm using 15 years.

In 15 years time, i can imagine ___ to be____ (please do not take this too personally or seriously, it's just for fun)

(in order of class photo)
1. Siti - director of some voluntary welfare organisation
2. navene - siti's colleague
3. wang jue - renowned food critique
4. jukhuan - high ranking civil servant
5. kristle - golf coach
6. grace - chemistry teacher
7. parvati - lawyer
8. goh tian - human rights think-tank researcher
9. lei ping - manager
10. joanne - full-time mother
11. chia ying - accountant
12. jayne - prada fashion designer
13. xue wei - magazine editor
14. wei xian - assessment book writer
15. ronald - politician
16.HC - ( )
17. mark yeow - dentist
18. muhd - police detective
19. sam yong - sports coach
20. yix - population planner
21. sam soh - henpecked stay-at-home dad (part-time fhm magazine contributor)
22. nigel - stock investor
23. gabby - history teacher
24. yong jing - dating agency director
25. zhuang - manager or bartender
26. fransisco - urban planner
27. jerome - poet
28. clara - tai tai or engineer

phew

2008-03-20T06:59:00.000-07:00

wah shiok.

finally after one week of sitting at my desk, feeding myself to female mozzies lusting after my fresh blood, finally the JC2 CT1 is over!

Immediately after the stupid physics paper i went to j8 to have a good meal with gabby, with the rest of the boys staying back in school to gym. -.-"

after lunch straight away went home to slack... first thing i did was of course to turn on my comp and open my flight sim X dexule edition and start playing.

at first I got a shock of my life, cos my $65 joystick wasnt working... Barely 8 months with me then spoil already? Wa lao, sian man. Went to my shelf and ransacked it, finding the stupid invoice which had the retailer's number on it. Then went to find for the stupid phone which was missing!?!? thats the problem with cordless phones.

After all that trouble, i decided (very smartly) unplug the hardware and reinsert it back into the usb... then it worked! Yea man! Although i felt very stupid going through the trouble but in the end, what matters is that i can finally play my flight sim X DE.

Hahahhah!

So, I tried out a couple of missions, which included one which i proudly did using a learjet at Sydney. The graphics quite realistic, of course, since FSX takes up 15gb ofspace, and I could see the famous monuments of the australian city immediately. Sydney Opera House and the bridge adjacent to it, and many towers of the city. Of course Captian Hu Ching flying the learjet completed the mission, managing land safely at Kingsford Smith Intl Airport with plenty of room left on the runway.

Hehehe... havent lost my touch after abstaining from playing for months! Absence certainly makes the heart grow fonder...

After sydney (which of course will be having earth hour in one weeks time, everyone please support this small act of symbolism, turn off your lights and all other electrical appliance on next saturday's night), i took some flights at my favourite airport in Hong Kong, one of my favourite cities, then at Hawaii, before trying out a helicopter mission and failing it... stupid helicopters... damn difficult to fly.

Anyway back to some reflections on the CTs... today during physics could not concentrate much at all... firstly because I was sitting right at the back of the sem room, and the teachers like to take strolls there... you think their footprints are very light is it?

secondly, there is the construction of the mrt or whatever going on near the sem room, making hell lot of noise, distracting everyone.

thirdly, i was fascinated by TGF, his antics seriously amazes me, and i spent at least 3 minutes looking at him. Even when i'm trying to recall some equations i will look up and see him. Funny guy.

fourth, was listening to the muttons of 987 last night, and unfortunately the song 'me love' by sean kingston kept running around my head.

fifth, the stupid lift makes a lot of noise.

sixth, the door keep opening and closing.

anyway, no use complaining. cos even with these kind of distractions, ronald chan will still own it (he's in the same room), so it's the person that counts. i'm noob, yea, so what huh?

going to blog more later... most likely not going to sleep much... got many ideas to blog about tonight... so stay tuned (if you're tuned in in the first place)

got some RJ stories to publish, and got some theories to share, and of course, some personal thoughts to tell you guys!

March hols

2008-03-09T22:00:00.000-07:00

is not really a holiday for J2s.

Am now eating lunch, taking a break from notes.

I dun really hate mugging or school, just that i question the fundamental purpose behind this.

I am going to found a new branch of academic study called social logic when i am of age.

And i recently thought of some new ideas, which I am going to put into my new books 'The Intangibles of Life' and 'Student Politics'. (probably to be written during NS days).

Ok just finished lunch.

Back to the notes.

Do you why Marx wrote what he wrote?

2008-02-24T08:28:00.000-08:00

because we live in a world that is truly unfair.

midnights with HC will take place during one earth camp, specially for j1s only.

Busy week ahead.

A New Year, A New Record

2008-01-09T08:35:00.000-08:00

"Our publicity worked. No spammage of black and white posters hanging around the school. No waste of paper. Just recycling bins and toilet posters reminding ppl to swtich off the lights when they are done."

The Chairperson of Raffles One Earth has just informed Veritas Post that One Earth has recruited 127 new j1s this year, and 3 new j2s, bring the total strength of One Earth to 127 + 29 = 156 total members.

Sending a resounding statement to news agencies including Veritas Post, the Chairperson of Raffles One Earth, HC, also mentioned that One Earth's "unique publicity turned out extremely well. We have proceeded from eradicating ignorance of the student population to generating support and enthusiasm from students and teachers."

"We pasted our logo on recycling bins. We pasted about 100 A3 sized posters in the toilet, without even mentioning our club's name. We put 3 huge recycling bins right smack in the canteen. Who on Earth will ever do that if we don't?"

Indeed, HC's bold rhetoric cannot be considered as sweeping claims. Back by testimonials from teachers and students alike, indeed, we can see that Raffles One Earth is in the midst of gaining more recognition and prominence within and outside RJC, indicating a sign of good things to come. Within RJC, we hear the Dean of Student Development expressing her "pleasant surprise" when she saw the toilet light posters.

Very soon, the massive campaign ThingsYouCanDo will also bring the attention of environmental issues to secondary school students all around Singapore. From Dunman High School to Boon Lay Secondary, tens of thousands of youths around Singapore will join hands and be empowered to protect Mother Earth through '7 Easy Green Habits'.

Nevertheless, HC expressed much frustration when confronted with news that even SOME (next issue: Why are some teachers still ignorant of popular trends? Are they truly so deeply engaded in their textbooks that they cannot seem to absorb social happenings? A Professor speaks to us) teachers (supposedly spreaders of knowledge, professors of wisdom) were not even aware that Raffles One Earth exists. HC says, in a defiant yet calm manner,"It is not our fault that ignorance still exists in the far corners of society. We believe that what we are doing will convert even the most thick headed skulls into greener beings. We are eradicating ignorance here." HC added that he will be meeting this particular teacher over coffee to have a chat.

HC added that he wishes to thank all his friends for their support. His friends who are OGLs brought their J1s to his booth, while some of his friends and EXCO helped out in the preparation of the booth. "Everyone chipped in in one way or another, and for that Raffles One Earth is deeply grateful for", HC said.

HC ended with one last statement to all of us. Speaking with a hoarse voice after an exhasutive day with his usual passion, the fiery youth expressed his views firmly, "The time for environmental issues has come. It's time for competent leadership to rise."

Next issue: Check out HC's views, frustrations and optism for the future of RJC and One Earth. Exclusively on Veritas Post.

Today

2008-01-03T07:19:00.000-08:00

Station games with siang huat was fun... i always feel confortable talking to large groups of people... maybe it's a gift... maybe it's a curse

After school Alex and I did some very daring and bold. There is a rationale behind our actions and we had to take the calculated risk.

Thanks Fransisco once again for your time and dedication.

On the plane

2007-12-30T09:32:00.000-08:00

During these 2 months I spent about 45 hours in the air, taking 9 different flights on 3 different airlines.

My first flight was on a KLM B777 (thank goodness for B777s) from Singapore Changi Airport to Amsterdam Schipol Airport, which was a very beautiful airport with lots of shops selling lots of goods which I could not afford. Chocolates - 10 EURO. Parker pens. Cheese. Wooden Clogs. Salami. Cameras. DVDs. Expensive European newspapers (why buy when you can get it on the plane?).

My second was on a KLM Fokker 50 (which seats 50 passengers in a single class) from Amsterdam to Koln-Bonn Airport. The Fokker 50 was a propeller plane with 2 prop jets on its wings. When I embarked the plane, the temp was 0 degrees C. I was freezing, yet the pilot said on the PA, I'm sorry that our heaters are malfunctioning today. We will turn on the engines to keep the temperature comfortable. And so he revved up the propellers, and i smelled kerosene. Was frankly a bit worried but I told myself, it's KLM. Royal Dutch Airline. It's safe. And off we went to Cologne!

When I arrivded at Cologne, I found out my passport was missing! I put it in my back jeans pocket but it's not there anymore! OMG. Was terrified. I searched high and low, checked my pullover pockets, my jeans, my bag, no where to be found! Thankfully I stood up and found out I have been sitting on it all along! Relief man!

My third flight was the same KLM Fokker 50 back to Amsterdam. Watched the beautiful sunset from 20,000 feet. Was gorgeous i tell you. The guy beside me was irritating tho. he was doing something on his laptop and was probably racist.

My fourth was a KLM B777 back to Singapore from Holland. Because I did not sleep the previous night and had a pretty long day (flight's at 9pm), i slep throuhout the flight depsite having a world class entertainment system in front of me. The KLM entertainment is not bad, with good songs and up to date movies (I watched Simpsons and 2 episodes of Heros and lots of comedies on the way to Holland). but due to sheer exhaustion, I just slept. Until the fat flight attendent in the KLM Blue uniform came and put a tray of breakfast in front of me... I ate some breakfast (no mood really, cos I was very very sad that I had to leave my friends from around the world after a week of joy and fun)... and listened to classic Elvis songs. Cant help falling in love, in the ghetto and Bridge over troubled water moved me to tears (well, nearly)... I wanted to whip out my camera to see the photos all over again which was in my jeans pocket but I couldnt... I had to stand up to loosen the pocket and i did not want to stand up because i was sitting right smack in the middle of the centre.

My fifth was a JAL B777 (thnak goodness for B777s, I just love the plane).. I sat beside a Japanese dude who kept asking fro Bi-ru bi-ru from the flight attendent... Luckily he's quite nice to me, and the best thing was that I had the window on the B777! Hahhaah.... 2 noisy Singaporean kids were seated behind me, so I had to adjust the volume of my Die Hard 4.0 movie to ultra loud... Food was good, completely own the KLM food.

no.6 was back from Narita Airport on a JAL b747. Sat on the last last row of the B747 (thankfully window seat again), and the view was fantastic. Food was good, movie was good (Bourne Ultimatum), service was good. Absolutely perfect except that the trip was over :(

I was apprehensive about flight number 7, a Garuda Indonesia B737 flight from Singapore to Jakarta. But the food was good (or I was just extremely hungry)... Turbulent flight but it was quite okish... The couple from France behind me kept talking and talking, but i'm ok... Was thinking about what to present in the conference to eavesdrop...

Number 8- Garuda 747 from Jakarta to Bali. Btw, did I mention that Indonesian Airports are quite cool? Jakarta has this kampong roof like structure which was culturally appealing to me. I slept during the 2 hour transit in Jakarta on the seats... too tired...

Number 9- Garuda 737 from Bali back to Singapore.. Also did not sleep much the night before. Was sitting at the emrgency exit, i read the emergency operating manual at leats 5 times, I could memorise it already. The pkane kept bouncing up and down throughout the flight, and I kept looking out of the window...saw nothing but clouds. Beautiful. Did not eat the food served on board cos I full from the big mac meal which i ate in Denpasar Airport. There was a taiwanese couple (who apprently are Singapore citizens) sitting in front of me and I could sense that there maariage was on the rocks man. Their son is some snobby dude who is only 13, and so the flight attendent told him not to seat at the emergency exit where only 15 year olds and above could be seated at. So he took his ipod from the baggage compartment above and scooted to the bakc of the plane to sit, leaving his parents at the seat in front of me. The father is some grumpy idiot who is very typical Singaporean and likes to complain here complain there. Not cool. Not cool. His wife is ok, luckily did not lie back and give my legs a hard time. Behind me was a bunch of crazy British talkative tourists who keep thinking Batam was Singapore. And the british woman behind me keep pushing against my seat, i wanted to turn around and say something but decided to give Singapore a god image. Aiyah, tolerate a bit and let the Singapore tourism prosper more lor. After all, if I turn back and say something, the women will not come back to Singapore, so whats the point?

So after my 3 trips, I returned (for good) to my bed in my home. Home Sweet Home. I love my home, and my room and my bed.

No hotel can beat my home. No hotel bed can beat my bed.

My mum also came back from Taiwan on Xmas eve, and my sis from Kathmandu, Nepal, more recently. My sister kept her poor father and mother and brother waiting outside for her while she shops for perfumes and cosmetics inside! We waited 2 hours already for you cos your flight was delayed! Thankfully she bought lots of stuff for me so i'm not complaining:)

What a long post... Sigh.. I better go plant trees to offset my carbon emissions already...

2007

2007-12-30T01:12:00.000-08:00

I had wanted to write a long long post about 2007, but decided otherwise.

If you want to hear about issues, go yahoo and search bush, iran, iraq, saddam, terrorists, nuclear, natural disasters, ... or you may just type shit and all these stuff will appear immediately.

Of course, there's a lot to talk about climate change as well, but well, international herald tribute writes better than me.

2007 for me was a good year. and I will tell you why. now.

Because in 2007, i gained something very extremely important and valuable... and that's perspective.

Yea, i know, you must be thinking, what the hell is this idiot writing here? What is perspective?

Yea yea yea, you'ld rather think about that cute boy or cute girl in the opposite class... Oh I saw him this morning! ooh ohh!

Yea yea yea, you'ld rather think about Jay Chou is coming to town! And pawn off your mother's wedding ring to afford the tickets to his show...

Yea yea yea, some say Halo 3 is the most important thing in 2007. Or cry over Vista...

And of corse, there are some real important decisions to make throughout the year... Should I watch Book of Secrets or I Am Legend? Oh my... what an important decision.

Of course, none of the above matter much to me. For me, it's How on Earth did Man Utd lose to West Ham last night? And how on Earth did Ronald miss that penalty? And why on Earth did Fergie play Flectcher instead of Anderson?

And tyco chelsea just won against newcastle. crap.

Anyway, there's so much to cheer about in 2007!

Firstly, I was kicked out of ISLE back at the start of the year. Thank you hor, Mr Seah, for kicking me out of your prestigious prgramme. I am eternally grateful to you for giving me the chance to go to Germany (where I met great friends from around the world, 16 other countries, to be exact), to go to Japan (where I made friends with RJC students and managed to catch an idea of what university life overseas is about, and visit Disneyland (for the fifth time i am saying OMG that place is just fantastic, and i just love disneyland), and to go to Bali for an evironmental conference where i made more friends from around South East Asia. Of course, Germany and Bali really motivated me and gave me resolve.

So Thank you for kicking me out of your wonderful programme! (no offence to students to participated, just that sometimes, the adults p*** me off.)

And of course I am very very grateful to the wonderful (this time, I actually mean it) corporations, organisations, government and indviduals who nominated, recommended, selected, and sponsored me to go for these trips! Without these 3 trips, I would probably not gained the most important thing this year, which is 'perspective'.

Secondly, I found out that RJC is not as bad as it seems afterall...

The percentage of irritating people as cmpared to the entire student population is merely about 50%, which was way-off the initial estimation by me (80%)...

and although the school is really an institute where time-wasting, useless protocol observance and bureaucratic measures rank really really high (perhaps second only to governments), there is also lots of good stuff in the school. Stuff like what?

1. RISK, where i always enjoy seeing myself get thrashed or thrashing others
2. Drama and gossip(not performed by Raffles Players)
3. Celebrations (there's always something to celebrate, no matter what)
4. Sleeping during lectures (which I will try to not practice next year, it's one of my resolutions)
5. PW (it's finally over!)
6. Ice tea (better not be affected by inflation, i'm warning you, stall 2 auntie)
7. Opportunities (Ok this one's really true, this school is a place of opportunities)

As I flip back my calender before recycling it, there's actually not much stuff la... sometimes there are tests, sometimes SPA, sometimes Inter House Championship stuff, and a whole lot of events and celebrations.

But there's one thing that p*** me off. Mr Hodge said, guys, we want you to help the poorer students in the school who cannot afford the school fees. Yes sir! THEN WHY ON EARTH ARE YOU WILLING TO SPEND $30,000 ON NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS? AND OH YA, BEFORE I FORGET, THERE'S ALSO TAKE 5! Oh my oh my? Where is the love, indeed...

Ok, Mr Hodge, you are a good principal and I will miss you, but i still cannot understand why are you willing to spend spend spend like that? Do you know that 30,000 means you can give 1,000 bucks to 30 deserving students?

But no, you choose instead to entrust the tax money of my papa and mama to a group of wise leaders called student councilors (no offence, really) to blow it away! In 3 hours, the money is gone! Oh....my.....money!

Yes yes, the performance was good. take 5 was wonderful. But to students who need to give tuition after school to pay for their lunch the next day, 1,000 bucks is better.

Which is why One Earth is commited to helping these folks. the proceeds of our MEGA jumble sale will be 100% directed to helping RJC students in need. We believe in social responsibility, heljng not just to protect Earth and it's finite resources, but making sure that people benefit from it as well.

Happy 2008! (Note, there's free breakfast on the first day of school! )

I am very much grateful to all of you

2007-12-22T00:16:00.000-08:00

Things are turning out fine for me. Slowly but surely, there is progress. With response from schools getting better and Samuel working harder than ever to pull in more schools, I am quietly confident that Thingsyoucando! will create history in Singapore as the first youth-led major initiative that advocates action and awareness at the same time. Even Primary Schools and Special Schools are joining hands with us to make this project a success.

Yesterday was a tiring day. Together with Zi Jian (Film Soc vice chair) and Ming Quan (Alchemy Club chair) we worked 7 hours straight, skipping lunch, and pausing only for toilet breaks and the occasional chat, to produce the backbone of the Thingsyoucando slides and the complete production of the trailer. The trailer has been a long story. When I flew back from Bali, I immediately sent an email to Zi Jian, persuading him to produce the trailer for Thingsyoucando!... I alone cannot do much... But Thingsyoucando is a beauty in itself. With zero funding (as yet), minimal advice from RJC, we still managed to pull through to today. Why?

The answer is... friends.

Without friends I am nothing. I am useless. But with the support of Alex Goh and his talented team of artists, we produced the posters. With the support of Zi Jian, we produced the trailer. With the help of Samuel, we managed to contact all the schools in Singapore. With the support of Calvin, we will produce the video. With the support of Arun, Ming Quan, Muhd, Nick, Thingsyoucando held firm. With the support of WWF (Singapore), NEA, SEC, ECO, and even CNA we found support and advice. With the support of an MP, Dr. Fatimah Lateef, we found hope. With the support of my overseas friends, in particular Renzo and Anthony, I found encouragement. With the support of my family members, I found strength.

Without the support of my friends, Thingsyoucando would never have been born.

The Thingsyoucando! report, Conversation for Conversation pre-planning report and the Hu Ching 2007 Year End Review will be published next week on my blog.

Thank you so much. Hu Ching is not perfect, and never will be, but he loves all his friends.

And he is grateful to all.

RJC is indeed a place of talents.

Announcement

2007-12-07T08:43:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, gals, everyone who knows me.

Just wanna inform you that I am still alive and that this blog is still functioning. I seriously dun know if anyone still reads this blog but I really dun have time to blog these days.

I just came back from 2 overseas trips, where I had a lot of fun and thoroughly had so much fun and learnt so much. I will be going overseas again next week from sunday 9th to wed 12th, this time to Bali, Indonesia, where I'll be a delegate for Singapore for the South East Asian Youth Environmental Network (SEA YEN) held in conjunction with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UN FCCC). This time this trip is very formal, very serious and I am excited. We're going to attend 3 full days of discussion and conference with youth delegates from South East Asia and we will produce a charter to be presented at the Framework Convention through United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

I have recently posted photos of my Germany and Japan trip on my facebook, please click on the link you see on the link list if you want to see more.

I am also very occupied with Things You Can Do!, which is, as you know, my environmental project. In addition, I am also planning ahead for One Earth activities which are the putting up of school toilet posters in partnership with council, the setting up of 11 more recycling bins around the school in partnership with Estate office, giving advice to IHC games next year, the planning of Conversation for Conservation, and the Jumble Sale and Earth Week.

As you can see I am very busy, I havent touched my homework and I'm a bit worried that I may have to spend Christmas stuck at my desk, alone, studying and revising and doing all these stuff.

I am afraid that I have no time to be an OGL. I have decided that should I become OGL, I would be a burden to my fellow OGLs which is why i rejected the offer. I hope you undertand you know who you are. On the other hand I will still perform my duties as a registration officer for Oteam because this is my responsibility and I will not run away. Even if I have to hide alone next year along school term to mug in the toilet I will not run away from the things I should do.

This is also the reason why I had to disappoint my juniors for declining your invitation for me to perform for that special concert. I simply had no time but I will still attend the concert as an audience because I would like to clap for you guys.

After returning from Bali I will focus on my One Earth stuff and my academic work, which remain my main priorities.

Thank you for staying with me if you're still reading this.

See you soon :)

2007-11-25T01:27:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone!

I just got back from Germnay yesterday but unfortunately will not be able to distribute the gifts and share the phots now cos I'll be flying off again tml, this time to Japan....

I met lots of ppl there and miss them very much now....

Everyone is so friendly!

See you soon guys and gals in Singapore! I will be back soon...! I will miss you'all!

Hello from Cologne, Germany!

2007-11-18T03:01:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

Here is Germany, after 14 hours of flight.

I'm safe and sound, the keyboard is very hard to type cos its for german users! Look at this ÄÄÖÖÖ cool huh?

Time to go...

2007-11-16T06:15:00.000-08:00

I'm leaving for a week to Cologne and Leverkusen, Germany, then will be back for a weekend, before flying off to Tokyo, Japan.

During this time from 17th to 24th, then 26th to 3rd, I will be away, but there will be internet where I am going so communications should not be a problem, just perhaps a little slow. Email me: fabienrules@hotmail.com.

I have already informed samuel, ming quan, alex, muhd and kephren of ECO about thingsyoucando! and I trust them fully to handle everything better than me.

I am very sorry that I was unable to help out the j1 booklet team because of my schedule and some unexpected events but please understand the former was the reason why I chose programmes and why I wanted registration.

Everything is in place now, finally, and I can leave without worries.

The environment

2007-11-15T07:24:00.000-08:00

The press these days have been focusing a lot on the environment. It is indeed comforting that more people are being more aware of the climate change crisis and global warming.

Just a few hours it was reported in the news that Police officers in Thailand have embarked on a new plan to recycle used cooking oil. By handing out tanks to hawkers, restuarants and households, used cooking oil will then be collected and recycled into fuel for powering Police cars. A simple project that saves up to SGD$10,000,000 (ok i think its the figure. I heard it in the Chinese news and I'm not very sure I caught the figure properly but i think its S$1o million. Anyway the thing is they saved a lot of money, and conserved a precious resource - fuel)

It was reported in time a few months ago that Sultana High School in San Bernardino, California, USA, managed to cut its annual energy bill by US$100,000 by promoting basic conservation techniques like shutting off lights and equipment when not in use. Imagine, how many flag days is needed to raise this figure? How many fund raising items need to be sold to raise this figure? How many busking days are needed to raise this figure?

WILL HUMANS BE ENLIGHTENED?

RJC is a large consumer of energy and electricity. Here we are, organising so many fund raising events, CIP activities, so many fund raising here and there, but do you realise that by closing the doors and windows when air con is on, setting it to more than 25 degree Celsius, turning off toilet lights, switching off classroom lights, you save possibly much much more than you can raise?

Imagine that we can save SGD$50,000 a year at RJC. It is not impossible you know.

Can you imagine how much more money the school can give your CCA or you? Can you imagine giving this money to financially deserving students?

Can you imagine that we can actually give this money to build your so called student's den or to fund your national day ceremony at school?

Raffles One Earth does not have many fund raising activities. But we urge people to conserve, and by conserving, we save!

Currently, Raffles One Earth has partnered the 27th Students' Council to bring forth the environmental message in school. Very soon, you will see posters appearing behind the door of every single toilet in school to remind you to switch off the lights after use. Toilet lights (and fans) can be switched off anytime, especially during after school hours. We made sure that the posters are of the highest aesthetic standards and quality.

We are working very hard, negotiating with the estate office and a private company to bring more recycling bins to school, especially in the canteen. A metal can recycled saves the energy required to light a lamp for 3.5 hours. Recycling trays meant specially for paper will be placed in every tutorial room, and they will be cleared frequently.

When the new principal comes into office, I will try to push environmental issues in school up her agenda. With the support of the school administration, i believe that RJ can and will become a greener institution.

We are also planning an IHC game next year. A special committee of dedicated members have been selected to plan and organise the IHC game. I cannot disclose much but I can say that it's gonna be quite BIG, definitely.

Thingsyoucando! will bring forth the environmental message to over 100,000 youths next year. The speakers have been set, the PR department is working very hard (right samuel?) together with ECO Singapore's PR side, the Slides and Scripts are planning the content of the talks, the Research and Design team are working very creatively on their posters, the trailer crew, thinking of ideas and putting them into film.

Earth Week next year will be something BIG as well. In fact, if the council admin and teacher do not disrupt our plans, you will see a major coordinated effort to tie in the IHC game together with Earth Week.

Also, a major conference will be held next year5 in RJC as well, brigning together the leadership of green clubs all over singapore. These youths leaders will come together to share ideas on how to make this isalnd even greener. I believe that if adults do not wish to take the lead, we youths have to step up and take the initiative to show that how things should be done. Conversation for Conservation will be held on April 22nd.

EC networking session will also be continued next year, in partnership with NEA. The J1s will be responsible for EC networking.

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Yes indeed environmentalist/environmental activists/campaigners face a hell lot of setbacks and challenges. In my school alone the pressure to deliver is mounting. Some teachers dun even know that an environmental club exists. If I call them ignorant, would I be rude or honest? Some CCALs have no respect for us. If I dish out some justice, would I be ungentlemenly or valiant? It's time to shout out loud!

And we face a hell of bureaucratic challenges. The authorities who disapprove something so simple, something so beneficial, something so clear, because of... politics? Dammit I'm sick sick sick of politics. Paperwork, totally redundant and time consuming.

Once I remembered li jian and I attended this FOSL workshop and there was a point in time during the workshop when the entire class was listening to me and the teacher mr k debating abt the environmental movement in RJC. Come on man, it's not as if I'm the principal la. Please la... please wake up. You think it's so easy why dun you be an environmentalist yourself? Take some initiative la...

I hate people who argue with me for the sake of arguing. Bloody hell.

It is indeed disappointing to see all these happening but if I were to give up now, or anytime soon, would I be proud to call myself son of my father, father of my sons?

The going is tough but we will not give up.

The nature with most environmentalists are that they are soft hearted, kind and gentle. People tend to exploit these characteristics. I am none of the above. If anyone dares exploit me, hohoho...

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Environmental concerns are for real. Global warming is for real. You think your oil can burn forever? You think the snows on the Swiss Alps will forever be there for you to ski? You think polar bears can swim forever? They need icebergs to rest on. And ice bergs are melting...

Act now. Start with the 7 Easy Green Habits:

1. Reject Plastic Bags. Tell the person behind the counter, "no thank you!"

2. Recycle Paper. Print both sides. Dun throw away paper, put in a tray and recycle the stack of waste paper. Use paper that has already been printed on to do your physics practice.

3. Reusable Stationery. I use only refills.

4. Open that window and use a fan instead of an aircon. If you turn the aircon on, set it at above 25 degree celsius

5. Do not leave the heater on for too long before you take a shower.

6. Turn off your TVs, PCs after use. Standby mode sucks energy from the mains, and money from your pockets. Make sure that little red LED light is not lighted on.

7. Public transport. You only need 45cents for a trip.

Also fill up a 500ml bottle with water and put it into the water tank behind your toilet bowl. It saves you 500ml of water everytime you flush.

It is this simple.

Poster design: Fransisco Chandra, another talented member of 08SO6Q and thingsyoucando!

2007-11-14T07:53:00.000-08:00

They say absence make the heart fonder.

Very true indeed.

After close to one year since I left Chinese Orchestral music, I miss it a lot.

I think perhaps I would be unable to perform now, given that I havent touched the zhongruan or sanxian for close to a year already.

Those times...

from sec 1, playing with that tennis ball...

wise words from seniors

mr yeo

malaysia-penang

concerts

syf

malaysia-melaka

bad performances

good performances

sightreading when coming late for practice

getting scolded a million times

talking back to ___

practising till the finger skin turns red and peels

coming back from breaks wet and sweaty

AWOL for CO camp after getting through the bloody auditions (one of the biggest regrets in my life, only 2 people know the true story)

the backstage of SCH

the performing stage of SCH

Practice, diligence, hard work, is key to a successful performance.

December 14th concert: a tribute to mr yeo.

Arrival hall

2007-11-13T08:42:00.000-08:00

trying to look retarded...
skinny gangster...lol
Yix, satay please...
at the arrival hall...

And samuel, Head, Public Relations, Thingsyoucando! campaign, at the headquarters of ECO in Bugis, being very professional in an important phone call with a school official.

2007-11-10T07:07:00.000-08:00

This is not emo, but rather reflective.

_____

Being introduced to the theories of Malthus and Structuralist Geography (opposing theories) have perhaps been my most enjoyable experience in academics this year. I have always believed that Structuralist Geography, coupled with enlightened political leadership, education and human ingenuity will one day relieve, and heal the world of pressing issues, which, in my humble opinion, are environmental problems, poverty, disease, and an unequal playing field.

____

In hindsight, I am also grateful of the 2 opportunities which I was given.

____

I also took the personality test, and I can testify that it is very true. My personality type comprises only 3% of the entire human population, they said. Recommended career choices came as a pleasant surprise.

____

I am off to watch Castaway, one of my favourite movies of all time now. It's a fantastic film which showcases the purest essence of human society and love. A classic.

2007-11-10T06:27:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone,

Just to inform everyone that I am still in Singapore and that this blog is not out of service. I have enjoyed the class chalet thoroughly despite having to leave at 6 30 with yix the following morning.

I will continue to blog after I become less busy, calm down and recover my emotional health.

Till then,

Thanks everyone for your care and concern.

If I appear quiet or distant or unfriendly or unable to reproduce my humour, may I ask for your understanding and forgiveness.

I have many things on my mind right now. I need to spend more time with my family also.

Some unexpected events have rocked my life but I am positive that Hu Ching will be back.

(:

2007-10-30T08:51:00.000-07:00

As Dad said to me, "it's just another day of my life".

And I agree.

albeit a (: one

:) :D ;) :]

this weekend has made me think

2007-10-28T06:56:00.000-07:00

The purpose of this entry is to allow me to look back in perhaps 9 months time when I need to make a crucial decision. This entry is meant for myself, so i will only record the event that took place. the (extremely private) details will be archived in my head.

The places where i've visited this weekend, the ppl whom i've met made me reflect a little bit.

1. on fri, during the dinner.

2. on sat, when i went down to bayer offices.

3. when i met jia wei, the phD whiz.

4. when i went to lunch with previous batches byees.

5. when my mum told me what my teachers said of me.

6. when i went down for the branch event at SBWR.

7. when we rushed back to launch the counter strike.

8. when i was talking to _____ & dr._____

9. when i spoke to anandraj from nus about uni research.

10. when i went for ecoguide briefing.

lessons from a board game

2007-10-24T08:15:00.000-07:00

today while playing risk,

i learnt the importance of winning with humility, losing with graciousness, and fighting with determination.

i also learnt that all's fair in love and war is not true.

i also learnt that you do not need to spend money to get fun, laugher, and joy.

i also learnt that arrogance is the most worthless thing on Earth.

i also learnt the significance of teamwork.

i also learnt that pride goes before a fall.

i also learnt that you should listen to only your mind, not to your heart and not to your balls.

i finally learnt that victory is sweet.

a follow-up

2007-10-22T08:46:00.000-07:00

After talking to cheang mun yoong on msn, i realise something. that he had tried his best for his students, although that fact alone cannot cover his incompetencies as a teacher.

A nice person he may be, a smart student he may be, he is not a good teacher. He lacks the basic qualities of a teacher, and that is understanding, patience and firm-ness when required.

He has given me the permission to say what I wish to say about him, and I will. I cannot blame him, as I have mentioned earlier. But if I could, I would wish to slap him.
3 hard times.

When I went back to him for consultation furing the Septemer holidays, I brought along a thick file of chem notes, filled with post-it notes. Siti and Jukie can testify for me. I went to him, humbled myself, asked him desperately to explain some important terms and concepts to me.

HC: Hey, can you please explain this for me?
CMY: no.

At that point of time, what else could I do? I was like a beggar, begging him for enlightenment, of which he dispensed little to me.

Compare that to Mr Koh, who patiently explained the questions to me when i went back for consultation before the CTs.

It is not his fault. He arranged for extra lessons, he tried to be serious, he spammed emails with notes, he planned extra questions, he bought chocolates. Maybe his style did not suit me or my class.

The bottomline is: I screwed my chemistry, a subject which I have absolutely no passion for, big time, and CMY is just coincidentally my chem teacher.

Wrecked

2007-10-22T07:27:00.000-07:00

After a day of thinking, talking to friends, discussing about life, arguing with my parents, listening to music, walking around in my small room, playing some guitar, looking out of the window, and staring into space, it is now time to write.

I have let down a lot of people. Teachers, yes. Friends, yes. Parents, yes. And most importantly, myself, yes.

Why and how did this happen, i know. I know exactly the reasons. I can only blame myself. Not any teachers. Not any lecturers. Not the heavens. Only myself.

Only I can say whether I did well or not. And i am saying right here, right now, that i did not do well. I did not perform to my capacity. I did not fufill my expectations. And this feeling sucks.

Who knows what I have been through? On the very first day of the week-long examinations, I return home, only to realise that I have defined ageism as ageing population. I held the dictionary in my hands, my feet shaking, my body trembling, my mind trying to stay calm. I knew i was in deep shit. There was no way i could pass my GP essay. I have let Ms Chan down deeply. I do not really know what her expectations for me were, but I was on form for my essays in term 3 and 4. And on that monday afternoon, I had lost it all.

I was heavily demoralised, but what was I to do? What was over was over, and I was to pay for my fatal mistake. It took a hell lot of resolve to get back into studying. If there was something I could learn from this experience, it was resolve and determination. It was picking yourself up after a setback and fighting hard again. I can tell you that although I may not be the toughest fighter out there, I may not be the smartest student, or the most hardworking, but having been exposed to so much shit since young, I am one of the most adaptable.

I felt that I have not reached my expectations of all my subjects. This is really disappointing. I think many people are feeling the same way about their respective marks.

What exactly went wrong?

Inadequate preparation, yes. I started studying 3 weeks before the start of promos. A fatal mistake. I had to read all the notes from scratch, because I had not been paying attention during tutorials and lectures. I slept in class. I talked in class. The 3 weeks were hardcore, but they were not enough. Consistency is far more important. I started far too late.

Like what KK said, many people spent too much time in front of the computer. I cannot agree more.

Complacency did also play a part. Especially for guys, whose egos are ususally bigger.

Ego. What a word. I admit that I indeed have a huge one. It is good, at times. It gives you self-confidence. It makes you walk straight, with your back straight, with your eyes looking up, not at your shoes. It gives you style. Posture. Charisma.

But it is also bad. Very bad. My geog teacher said, he doesnt want to give my essays any more marks for fear of inflating my ego. wth. But i shall accept it, as i have done so with all the shit my short life have presented to me so far.

I suddenly feel very tired. I do not feel like writing this piece anymore. When I make a comment, some people think that i am full of shit.

These people are immature. They havent seen half the world out there.

I only speak the truth. My comments, if you like it, fine. If you do not like it, fine too. I do not have to listen to these people.

Since young, when my dad brings me out to meet those old lawyer dudes and business people at those social parties, I have been listening. And I have been listening hard. And one evening with these people can change your perspective on life.

For me, they have. My outlook on life is therefore different from most teenage boys.

Why did the Greeks execute Socrates in 77BC?

If you know the answer, you will accept my words.

On this rainy evening of doom and gloom,
I fare you well upon a journey of hell.

I only have a message for my detractors:

I may be defeated, but I will be back.

RISK

2007-10-17T06:45:00.000-07:00

Risk is a really educational game. Other than learning abt geography (which is very very important), we learn about risk taking, stragetic planning, alliance forming, dice rolling, etc.

I played 3 games today. Wild boar, after beating me during the first game and forcing me to concede the 2nd (since it was time for physics lecture) decided (wisely) to not play the 3rd game. Instead, Gabby and Muhd entered the fray against my blue troops.

The 1st game with wild boar was not good. I started quite well, managing to invade the Dark Continent (Africa) and Latin Amercia, before conquering Europe and attacking North America. However, with some really good dice rolling, the wild boar attacked (hard) and whacked my troops into dispair. We had to seek refuge in Harry Truman's land.

My blue troops were severly outnumbered. wild boar had achieved domination of Asia, Oceania, Africa and South Amercia. With his stronghold in Venezuela and Iceland, I could not fight back.

Second game was a tough and very even fight between wild boar and me. Using key places like Middle East, Egpyt and Northern Africa, the fight was difficult. My europe was under attack. (See the video above). Wild boar and his advisor.

Third game was longest and arguably the most exciting. Started off with gabby muhd and I.

Using Australia to back my Siam troops, I defended Asia from Gabby's green army. Using also Southern Europe to attack Africa, I expanded my blue troops into Africa. The blue empire strtched across South Asia all the way to Europe. We are strong. (see above)

The muhd and gabby decided to form an alliance against me! Fine. The brave and gallant blue troops fought hard, just like the Spartans in the Battle of Thermopalae (spelling not sure) when King Leonidius's (spelling not sure) 300 spartans soldiers fought against Xerxes' many many Persian soldiers. With Gabby attacking from Greenland, Afghanisation and Ural, and muhd attacking from the South, my troops could not withstand such heavy fire.

hahah Risk is such a fun game.

SIAN

2007-10-16T07:43:00.000-07:00

omg school is so sian these days

the lectures are so freaking longgg. Cant take it already. Actually they should just return the promos lor, so that those who did badly will pay more attention, and those who did well will also pay attention (cos they're already hardcore muggers by nature). 1.5 hours of maths or physics or chem or even even geog just bores me like siao.

boring. boring. boring.

Welcome tourist!

2007-10-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Singapore!

We shall start our tour at Raffles Junior College, where you will see young kids rehearse hard for their Project Work Oral Presentations.

After that, we head down to J8 for lunch!

Very soon, your tour guides will arrive. Oh, they're soaked in the rain! hahah.

We shall shop around j8 for about 1 hour, then take the train down to Orchard. At this point, please be reminded to bring along your NETs or Credit Card, for its extremely vital to have either one in your wallet before you head for orchard!

Once at Orchard, follow Tour Guide Zhuang and Banker Samuel around. They're very very exprienced shoppers, although their taste may be weird at times. Samuel is especially fond of military colours (freak!) and black/grey/brown and thick jackets. Zhuang's taste is quite good, I have to say. If you like Polo tees, stripes, and jeans, short pants, all kinds of tshirts, sunglasses, caps, flip flops, shoes, baiscally everything, you can follow these 2 ppl around.

We will pass through all the major shopping centres all the way from orchard to somerset. It's a long tiring journey, so make sure you're in comfortable shoes!

After dinner, we head for more shopping! Shop shop shop. Havent got enough cash? Try window shopping (the zhuang way). If you're evil like samuel, you can go shop to shop and try on their newest clothes, then just return the clothes after trying and leave the shop.

Pictures!

2007-10-15T07:35:00.000-07:00

Mark & I: PW!
Mark, Fransisco and Clara: Guess where's Yix?
Zhuang (Special Tour Guide) and Samuel (Banker): Shopping at Orchard
Handsome, handsomer, handsomest!

me again!

2007-10-14T08:19:00.000-07:00

after going back to school for 5 days (despite it being a 2 day week), I pulled and dragged my tried self into the weekend.

Shouldnt talk about work, should talk more abt my life. Yea. My life is brilliant.

Friday night, jonny and melvin supposed to come over for some cards, but for some reason or another jonny said, i'm outside having dinner, then, i'm still outside, then, I'm home, buti'm tired, so instead, went over to mel's house to watch GOAL on his ultra large screen TV. Quite a good movie, inspiring no doubt, but quite lame.

Saturday afternoon, went out with mum to get my phone! oh yea finally, after a long wait, after so much time on researching, looking thru my past bills to find the mobile plan that would suit me best, after going thru the SE website to compare so many phones and prices, talking to ppl abt their models, finally got my phone. I only use Sony Ericsson. I Sony Ericsson. And I paid for my phone! Feels good to be financially independent.

Next up will be the new bike and clothes!

Sunday morning went to botanical gardens with li jian, samuel and the bayer ppl, had to film a video. Whoa freak, I had to be the first to be filmed. Havent memorised the script yet and I had to go first. Luckily the director was quite patient and funny. If having a camera staring at you isnt bad enough, try the public's attention. Thanks lah. I know you ppl want to look at me, but then hor, I doing video leh, it's already hard to concentrate.

After 3 hours of filming, went to have lunch with li jian at some cafe that tze wei recommended, since we were already at coro. (samuel that ri boy went to macs at king albert's instead). Had a really good talk with li jian over an hour long lunch. And it's super value for money. Have to bring your friend there if you're at coro. Its called Prince Coffee House or something like that, students meal onyl at $6 (choice of chicken/pork/steak + soup +free flow of soft drinks). Ambience was ok too, tho it's a bit dark...

After reaching home and napping for i dunno how long, went to play soccer at the field. Havent been there for months! Glad to see all the old faces there. Things are still the same. The muddy pitch, the usual boys stuff, spitting freely as and when you wish, yelling at each other, then going to uncle joe's for drinks.

whataweek

2007-10-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

man i'm exhausted. but happy. cos i had a busy but meaningful week.

my dream

2007-10-10T06:14:00.000-07:00

sorry friends, the past few days was quite busy, did not blog.

Hmm, today i shall talk abt my dream.

I dreamt that I was having this journal. And i was passing it around to frens, asking them to write something in it. all the messages were short. and then, as i was flipping thru the pages, i noticed that somebod wrote something quite long. a few paragraphs. this somebody said that i had a problem. then i was asking what problem what problem?? then the person say you seriously have a problem, without telling me what problem exactly.

i was puzzled.

when i went to school, i really wanted to ask this person, so what's the problem? but then i know, it's a dream. if i ask the person, the person will just think i'm crazy.

Scary

2007-10-06T09:11:00.000-07:00

i find myself on the verge of imminent insanity.

I am now unable to differentiate the real life and my dreaming life.

Since the end of promos, i find myself being subconsciously unaware of the 2 separate universes.

My dreams, of that i'm certain, is informing me of something. The question i must answer is, what thing?

I am tempted to re-open my secondary school philosophy journals and start reading through what I've written about dreams. I am tempted to do some research on Sigmund Freud. In 1900 he published his landmark work The Interpretation of Dreams, in which he argued that dreams are disguised manisfestations of repressed sexual desires. hahahahahahah. what a joker. lol.

anyway, what's so scary about my dreams is not about sexual desires, but rather about whether or not something has occured in real life or in dreamland for me. I am confused.

One last post for tonight

2007-10-05T08:12:00.000-07:00

See that?

That is a beauty. So divinely glorious. A brand new Boeing 777-300ER (extended range) from Cathay Pacific. Note the brand new paint job. Look at the swept-back wings without winglets. Wings that can withstand a elastic limit of 35 degrees. This means that the turbulence can practically throw the wings up and down with the fuselage remaining at the same altitude (remember Newton's 1st law: a body moving in a linear blah blah law of inertia whatever cos physics is freaking tough). Ok, the wind can throw the wings up and down while the body remains at the same position, and the wings can be pushed up 35 freaking degrees. OMG. a piece of genius really...

With the arrival of the b777s, Cathay can now specialise into its long haul operations, hence being able to compete with the likes of my beloved SIA and other long haul operators like United, Lufthansa, British Airways, etc. But seriously, i think the only airline that SIA should fear is Cathay. and perhaps Emirates. But i'm not too concerned about Emirates tho. Emirates is not established through hard work, it just has rich owners pumping money into it. It's just like Chelsea. SIA is like Man Utd. Cathay, perhaps Real Madrid. and British Airways? maybe Liverpool. Chelsea is good, but once Jose leaves, ohhh, GG. So SIA go go go, I will always support you. Just dun increase fuel surcharge too much.

But at the same time, the jet is perhaps one of the most pollutive machines on Earth. How ah? I also dunno leh. I am facing a dilemma. But actually, there's a solution to this. The answers lies in politics (aka Structuralist Geography). Politics? How the hell is it even related? Let me slowly explain...

The reason why jets consume so much fuel is because they are unable to take the shortest route to their destinations. Some countries refuse to open their air space, resulting in airlines having to plan their flights around a certain country. So, if the politicians open up their airspace, we can save a lot of oil. Simple? yea.

And add that to human ingenuity. Jet designers are now able to use composite materials to build more efficient jets, hence consuming less fuel.

Ok, enough of talking. My keyboard just told me it's getting tired.

Sigh... I shall end now with a wishlist. I wish, i had S$1,000 now. For what? For:

1. A good bicycle with front suspension, shimano click gears, shimanov-brakes and titanium frame. Actually aluminium alloy frame will suffice. Cost? $400

2. A nice sony ericsson 3.2 megapixel cam new phone. cost? dunno leh. should be around $300 (sign contract lor)

3. A model 15:1 scale full metal 747 Cathay, 777 singapore airlines and concorde British Air planes from takashimaya. $1,00.

4. Free cash so that i can go borders and spend $pend $$$$pend. One full day at borders, cost $2,00.

That should settle it. Crap. Why am I sounding like sis ah? so spendthrift-.- Heck. My sis is one happy person, and the reason behind her smile is not a fat bankbook. It's cos she buys happiness (literally)

Some thoughts

2007-10-05T07:48:00.000-07:00

oh crap...

was feelin sleepy, decided to go sleep, then suddenly, my dad say go pour him a drink. So i went to the fridge, took out the jug of ice cold water, and poured him a cup, and decided to pour myself a cup, then after drinking it, turned awake again. crap. so decided to blog somemore since my comp is still on.

1. If i screw up my a level, I am going to enrol myself into flight school IMMEDIATELY.

2. If no airline wanna employ me, I am gonna join the crew of some racing yacht.

3. If no skipper wanna take me, I am gonna join the crew of the Royal National Geographic Society, hopefully some seasoned geaographer will take me as his/her apprentice on some assignments.

4. If seriously seriously all options fail, then i'm gonna open an adventure school (in dunno where, but definitely not in Singapore)

5. If seriously the tsunami of dread does not recede, then i gonna be a tour guide/broker (not the stock broker of course, the kind of broker that brokers real deals like in John Grisham's "The Broker"). No choice liao.

6. Worse come to worse then at most invest in currencies and stocks from home lor.

So, whats the big deal? Life has so many billion trillion zillion options, it's just whether we wanna take it or not...

Btw, jenny by the click five is a good song. so is i'm yours by jason mraz.

Some comments

2007-10-05T07:04:00.000-07:00

I got a few comments to make today...

1. Whats wrong with jay chou man? yesterday i watched secret with a few frens at yix's, and seriously jay chou has a few problems... (SPOILER ALERT!)

a. he dao the chio girl in his class who actually likes him for a less chio 'ghost'. man he needs glasses.

b. he actually damaged his bicycle when going back to school during the last scene.

c. he dunno how to even ask the construction ppl to stop work when he went back to the piano room, and in the end killed himself for his foolishness.

anyway, i seriously think the long hair pony tail girl in the movie chio-er than the one jay chou like, so MARK and GABBY if you're reading this, you cant whack me with the cushion now. hahahahahah.

anway, away from soapy lovey dopey dovey movie stuff, here are some comments on open house:

a. i seriously think open house is a good way to network, socialise and make new frens and get to know old ones better.

b. we transformed our booth in 1.5 hours. i myself cant believe it but here it goes proving that teamwork, planning, innovation and on-the-spot improvisation is so dam crucial to doing something well.

c. li qian and nai chien are seriously dam smart. The only ppl who answered 5 quiz qn correctly.

d. some people seriously cant read. throw paper into metal recycling box.

Some other comments:
a. PW is stupid.

b. i need to kick around some soccer ball in a real match real soon, if not i will go crazy

c. i am super tired now.

2007-10-04T08:35:00.000-07:00

sigh...

did not want to go back to school today... and did not. Why should we? Prepare for open house? nah.

yesterday we did up our one earth booth board, and when i went home and thought over it, decided that it was not up to standards. Not up to our standards. People do not set us standards; we set the standards for ourselves. People do not judge us; we judge ourselves. The only judgement that should affect you should come from yourself. Not from others.

Anyway, no choice. Have to go down to school tml early to re-do it.

The reason why we did not really do a really nice board was not because we could not, but we did not wish to. Why then, did we did not wish too?

1. Our booth is on second storey. Who on this Earth will come?

2. We have to focus on other things too. Other than the booth, we have recycling boxes and the quiz to prepare for... and perhaps we are the only one with nice prizes to give out... Dun anyone dare kao pei me and say that the effort is not there because the effort is THERE! In order to secure the prizes, I had to correspond with the NEA officials since 2,3 months ago, and in order to prepare the quiz questions, we had to bloody brainstorm for so long.

3. The booth. Many CCAs spam their booths with info. We choose not to. Is that a problem? You see, the difference between us and the rest is simple: we think from the point of view of the VISITOR. The visitor will want something interesting to do on the spot, and who on earth will wanna read tons of info on the board??????

Nevermind. We shall do our best. Our board will be good. The reason for doing it well is not to please anyone, but to live up to ourselves. Remember, I dun do things to bloody please others, I do it answer to myself. Call this ego if you want, I call it my guiding principle.

3 hours of wiki

2007-10-03T10:31:00.000-07:00

Napped at 6.
woke up at 7.30
Dinner at 7.30
turned on the comp at 8.
By 8.30, finish checking inbox.
By 8.45, finished printing necessary stuff
By 9, could not think of an essay to write in response to one of my mail. decided to do another day. (guiding principle: "you cant force an essay, you invite it onto your paper." You must seduce it, tempt it and slowly translate your ideas into prose. Have you seen the Thai ladies making silk? They slowly pull out the silk from the cocoons. Similarly, for words too.)
By 9.15, finished bowl of (extremely sour) fruits.
By 9.30, sent out a couple of emails.
By 10, decided to head for my fav site, wiki.org

Here are some interesting stuff from wiki.org:
-Haneda Airport in Tokyo is 4th busiest in the world, despite serving only 2 (yes, read:2) international locations). Comparatively, Changi is 23. Sian, still long way to go to the top.

-"Homo" in homo sapien means "man". "Homo" in "homosexual" means "same". Like homogenous. Why? Because homo is both Greek and Latin. In the 2 languages, it shares different meanings.

- "The lives of many historical figures including Socrates, Alexander the Great, Lord Byron, Edward II, Hadrian, Julius Caesar, Michelangelo, Donatello and Christopher Marlowe included or were centered upon love and sexual relationships with people of their own sex. Terms such as gay or bisexual have been applied to them" (from wiki). Alexander the Great, ruthless conqueror, was gay? Julius Caesar (et tu brute?), unifer of Rome, was gay? Socrates, mentor of Plato, was gay? Donatello (not the turtle), ingenius artist, was gay? Michelango (not the turtle), famous sulptor, was gay?

- Physiological differences in gay men and lesbians:
Recent studies have found notable differences between the physiology of gay people and straight people. There is evidence that:

-The functioning of the inner ear and the central auditory system in lesbians and bisexual women are more like the functional properties found in men than in straight women (the researchers argued this finding was consistent with the prenatal hormonal theory of sexual orientation.[84]
-The startle response (eyeblink following a loud sound) is similarly masculinized in lesbians and bisexual women.[85]
-Three regions of the brain (medial prefrontal cortex, left hippocampus, and right amygdala) are more active in gay men than straight men when exposed to sexually arousing material.[86]
-Gay and straight people emit different armpit odors.[87]
-Gay men have, on an average, slightly longer and thicker penises than straight men.[91]
-Finger length ratios between the index and ring fingers may be different between straight and lesbian women.[92][93][84][94][95][96]

and more:

Cognitive differences in gay men and lesbians
Likewise, recent studies have found notable differences between the cognitive features of gay people and straight people. There is evidence that:
Gay men and lesbians are significantly more likely to be left-handed or ambidextrous than straight men and women;[97][98][99] Simon LeVay argues that because "[h]and preference is observable before birth[100]... [t]he observation of increased non-right-handness in gay people is therefore consistent with the idea that sexual orientation is influenced by prenatal processes."[81]
Gay men and lesbians are more verbally fluent than heterosexuals of the same gender[101][102] (but two studies did not find this result[103][104]).
Gay men are better than straight men at object location memory (no difference was found between lesbians and straight women).[105]

Startling.....................

2007-10-02T07:06:00.000-07:00

Alex Goh is in a class of his own.

J1s, Sec 4s, All are welcome to visit us. For some great prizes. Hesitate. no. more.

my mum's worst fears about her son

2007-10-02T02:26:00.000-07:00

1. that he will go crazy

2. that he will be killed while riding his bicycle

3. that he will be killed while crossing the road

4. that he, when he grows older, instead of settling down with a girl, goes to tibet to seek enlightenment from the dalai lama.

5. that he will leave home for 1 year to fufill his childhood dream of cycling from singapore to paris.

i think that's all. Just now i said i was tired, and i was, so i went to brush my teeth, but then the energy came back.

note: the timing for this post is accurate it is 2.26 am tuesday oct 2nd now.

at 2am

2007-10-01T10:51:00.000-07:00

"When you're dead during the day, you become alive at night."

another quote from me. Anyway, today i was sleeping at the beach the entire morning, hence i am wide awake now. i tried lying down on my bed but my mind started wandering about.

the time now, according to my baby g made in thailand watch, is 1.53 am. wow. and somemore tml (i mean later on today) i'm going back to school for a meeting.

anyway, i just wanna write down a few things lest i forget them, which i dun want to.

1. "Why do you want to change nature?" (dad to remy)
"Change is part of nature" (remy to dad)

Of the entire movie ratatouille (correct spelling rite?) I can only remember this line. I like this line. Classic. I remember 2 years ago, in a gloomy RI classroom, Mrs Kua MK was having chemistry lessons with 3F. And she emphasised the concept of 'change'. Back then i didnt know the importance of change, but now i do. I finally do. Thank you mrs kua for that valuable lesson.

2. my mum. ever since the end of promos i have been stoning in my room, doing nothing but playing fm, flight sim, surfing the net and reading. My mum had hoped that i would help out with some housework. I did not. sorry. But i will do so soon.

So what did my mum want me to do?
1. Trim the tree. She wants me to take the saw, climb up the ladder and trim off a top branch of her precious bouganvillae (spelling not sure) plant. The plant, fyi, is 3 metres tall and by climbing up to that branch i am risking my life cos:

a. I might fall into the drain that is directly below
b. In the process of falling, slice off my throat with that dangerous saw
c. Get pricked by the stupid thorns of the plant (have you ever seen those thorns before? they're like rhino horns sticking out and boy they're sharp)

2. Change the light bulb. Not just any light. its the tallest light in the house, and to reach it, its almost impossible. I have to spread out the ladder carefully between each steps of the staircase and position it so that it remians in equilibrium while I climb up 2 metres to reach the light which my sister blew.

And my dad?
3. wants me to pack up my room. Ironically, my room is already the neatest around here.

Ok,enough of complaining.

i feel tired already.

On gays in society

2007-10-01T06:53:00.000-07:00

I am angry.

Angry that the media is targeting a man, a brilliant teacher, a humble educator, for admitting that he is gay.

That teacher is Mr. Otto Fong, and he taught me science during sec 1 and 2. And he was the one who developed my liking for physics. It was he who showed me encouragement whenever my form dipped. It was he who showered praise whenever my form peaked. And he, I can safely say, is one of the best teachers in the whole of Raffles Institution.

Never once did he display any act of indecency. Never once.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being gay, as long as the subject behaves properly. I have always felt that a homosexual is born homosexual. Don't bring me the religious point of view. I will not argue against it but i will not accept it. Think about it. Ask yourself, are you a homosexual? If your answer is no, do you think you will become a homosexual one day? Obviously not. If you are born not gay, you will not turn gay. Simple as that. If you are born gay, you can't change it. You can force yourself to act not gay but you won't be happy.

If I can remember my biology properly, i would say that there is a homosexual gene. And most likely this gene is recessive, for homosexuals belong to the minority. It is therefore, not influenced by external conditions/variations. A gay is born gay, not made gay.

Of course there are some sick, perverted people who display extreme acts of homosexuality. These people are mostly despotic females who think that being lesbian and kissing each other is hot. It is not. It makes my insides turn upside down. If we must discriminate, let us discriminate against these sick people. These people do not deserve our respect.

We live in a society that does not discriminate against race, language or religion. This society, then, should not discriminate against sexual orientation. It is not their fault that thay are born this way.

I feel that Mr Fong did the right thing in admitting that he is gay, because there is nothing wrong with being honest. He did not want to deceive the people around him. Maybe he heard the people arounf him cracking jokes about homosexuals. Is it his fault if he wanted to put an end to that? By admitting he is gay, he will no longer have to suffer by hearing such jokes. I guess that it must be really painful to force yourself to laugh to such jokes all the time in order to create the impression to others that you are not gay.

I am glad that Headmaster Koh has showed decisive leadership in terminating his suspension. Mr Fong, in my opinion, should not be sacked.

Words

2007-10-01T06:07:00.000-07:00

I have been compiling my self-thought quotes and theories over this past year. Some are good, some are stupid, some are (i hope) wise, but all are original. They were hatched in the simple mind of HC.

Today i shall share a few with you readers.

Quotes
"We are not rebels. We are revolutionaries."

"Courage manifests itself discreetly. "
(Courage shows its face at the least expected places. Most of the time it appears as moral courage, which is easy to identify, and easy to forget, yet hard to achieve)

"Bold acts without thinking are not acts of courage. They are, in fact, acts of mere foolishness."

Theories

I have many theories. Yet i feel that these theories, mostly theories regarding human nature, may appear offensive. I have discussed many of these theories with my friends, and it is best for these theories to remain where they currently belong - in the minds of these friends.

Your face would be -.- by now. hahah. lame. crap.

However, in order to remember these theories, I must record them down. Hence I shall only publish the titles of my theories today.

theory 1- Indicators for losers (whoa, sounds rude)

theory 2- On the relationship between being pretty and being slutty (whoa, highly offensive but accurate)

theory 3- Reasons why people tend to become screwed up (whoa, sounds dangerous)

War's over

2007-09-28T21:11:00.000-07:00

A Progress Report

by Gen. HC

Mr. President,

I present to you my thorough report of the war that we engaged in during the past week.

The war was inevitable from the start. There was no escape from it.

But now the war's over, and we celebrate our independence, our dignity, our honour, and our right to live free.

It was a non-violent engagement. Not a single drop of blood was shed.

Yet tears fell, often after difficult battles that tested the extremes of human capacity.

The war took place in terrible conditions.

We suffered harsh conditions, especially during the last battle (the battle of Geography and History), whether extreme low temperatures tested the endurance of our soldiers. Many soldiers who did not bring their bullet-proof vests (jackets) were vulnerable from the low energy air molecules that sucked thermal energy from their bodies. Even those who wore jackets and sweaters were not adequately protected. The cold was the enemy's perfect weapon.

Let me provide you a summary of the resources which we consumed over the past week:

1. Paper

In order to produce the paper that was used over the past week, we estimate that almost 100 trees were chopped down. During the preparation period, we used up even more paper, estimated to be around 100 sheets per soldier.

2. Ink

A hell lot. We estimate 1 entire pen-ful of ink per soldier.

3. Fuel

Battery power that provided energy for the tanks (GCs).

4. Ginseng Tea

3 cups per day for 3 weeks.

Now that the war's over, the soldiers celebrate. They have secured their basic right to live with independence, away from the tyrannical grip of dictators.

At 1730h yesterday, the soldiers dropped their weapons, their hands trembling from the cold and the enormous amount of work done during the 3 hour long battle.

Earlier on yesterday, shouts of anger were heard all over the battlefield as the soldiers took on the chemical warfare. Using despicable techniques such as ammonia gas and hydochloric acid, the enemy shocked our allied troops, who were definitely not well-prepared for the test. The person in charge of training the troops for the chemical warfare was Colonel Cheang.M.Y. We shall speak to him over the next few weeks.

On thursday, we launched into a battle of wits. Using complex mathematical symbols, the enemy attempted to induce our troops into a state of confusion and panic.

On wednesday, we encountered a physical battle in the morning, which was an extremely tough fight. Newtonian physics is not as simple as it looks. In the afternoon, the skills of our medics were tested.

On tuesday, our bankers worked hard, pitting themselves against an economic recession.

I shall not disclose what happened on monday, for it was disappointing defeat for me.

Next monday, some men and women shall seek to restore the rhetoric glory of the country. We wish them luck in their quest.

Over the next 2 weeks, we shall give out the medals of honour to those who have served well, fought smart, and prepared hard. Those who have done well will be rewarded.

With that, I shall conclude my report. The war is over, but we anticipate a greater challenge next year. We must seek to improve ourselves.

We also pray fervently for the countrymen of Myanmar, who face a much greater challenge in their lives today. We pray that they can find a peaceful resolution to their conflicts.

Preparing for War

2007-09-03T06:21:00.001-07:00

Latest MSN nick from me.
Let me tell you why it's there...

The weapon.

Sleek, sexy and resilient, this PILOT G-2 is the mightiest weapon ever brought out to war.

The ammo.

One weakness of the PILOT G-2 is that it hardly lasts one 3 hour long Geography Paper.

It needs ammunition.

The soldier.

This soldier is one tough warrior. A veteran of many wars, this soldier has been in reciept of countless medal of honours.

The battlefield.

Where the real war begins.

The tank.

Supports the infantry. Virtually invincible, but infamous for its risk of back-firing.

More pictures to come.

I hate war, but this one doesn't have fighting.

It has pride, might, fear and glory.

Do you know Winston Churchill was a wartime correspondent?

happy happy day

2007-08-29T07:24:00.000-07:00

I am sooo touched and hapy today. So this entry is gonna be very detailed. I am write down every single detail so that i will never forget this wonderful day:)

i love my OG

My og is super evil, especially towards innocent people like me! When I went to school this morning, was feeling kinda sian cos of geog test. Then I went to the lodge, everything was looking normal as usual, didnt suspect a single thing. Lester doing his math or chem, evonna stoning, hilary doing tutorials, alex just talking around, doing nothing.

The Evonna started asking me questions about geog test. So i tried my best to answer lah. The Hilary was like, does anyone has a phone to lend me? Evonna started to (pretend to) search her bag. I was like, hmmm, ok, I lend you my phone! Took the phone out and then hilary went away. Well, according to alex, she was hiding behind the pillar all the time. Then slowly, the og ppl started coming. I mean like, ppl starting coming, and they havent came for a long time, so if they start appearing it must be something wrong rite? Yea. Ok, then i realised something was wrong.

They were waiting for cara, the most evil of the all to come. I really love my OGLs, they are having prelims now and dun really need to come to school cos they dun have h3, but cara came down! Shaf told me she would come down too, but she had to go airport and send her sister off or something, so she couldnt come! But anyways, thank you OGLs, though you are evil, you rock!

When they prepared eveything, they told me to close my eyes. So I did. Didnt want to spoil the surprise! When I heard val giggle i knew it was something evil liao.

Then Alex came and led me to the grass patch. Oh no. Alex said, on the count of 1 to 3, open your eyes. Oh no. 1,2,3! Oh no. Cold Cold. Packets of water bombs came crashing down on my vulnerable body. Even for a victim, I have to admit that it was fun:) Then alex brought me towel and a change of clothes. Thank you OG!

I love my class.

Physics was normal as usual, Mr se as usual arrowing me, but it doesnt matter. Then came the break. Oops.

For what happened at the parade square, we shall watch a video. However, the video is with gen sam. I was telling gen sam, his phone is so precious with all the videos and unforgettable memories, the band of brothers must ensure that it is never lost. After 2 years of JC, we must compile a video of all the videos we took in school, and we will cry in memory of the good times. Yix gaying, the geog guys dancing and singing in the lt, tricks of opening the toilet, and so many pcitures.

What happened next really really reallyyyyy touched me, I cant say in adequately in words. Perfect ten was paying friends forever just now, and i really must say, i love my love love my class! The girls made a birthday corner for me:) Sam Soh baked a cake! And the class lit up the cake with so many candles, it was so pretty!

After day we went back to class and took a class photo, with my face still covered with chocolate cake! Mr Lim was walking past and he helped take the class photo and he said to ms chan, this class doesnt seem to be in the promo mood. hmmmm, we are taking a break, mr lim! We wun disappoint you in promos:) And thank you all the teachers who wished me happy birthday- mrs cheang, ms chan, mr lim, mr (sexy baby) cheang, and mr se (mr se got a not huh? nvm, you rock too)

I love my frens, my brothers, my homies.

Thanks muhd for the frisbee and the ball. Thanks homies for the ball tshirt. It was really thoughtful of you guys. Although you guys have jacked, screwed, suanned, poked fun and did almost every terrible to me, we will still be homies forever. And thanks everyone who smsed me. Muhd, nick, yu jun, qi han, shi da, hilary, kevin "the rat" (the world became a better place 17 years ago, yea!), adrian (who suggested a cake but whose idea was rejected by the evil og that prefered water bombs - good luck for your german prelims!), shaf, ben, chong min - i hope i didnt forget anyone! And also thanks everyone who wished me while walking past - i cant remember all. I remember Arvind, the 4F ppl, the One Earth ppl, and so many other ppl who i just happen to know. And thanks y sum for the card.

And thanks mum and dad. Mum for giving birth to me, and dad for playing a part in the process. And sis too, i know you took care of me for 17 years.

Today was a good day.

Geog test finally over. Got into Oteam, but zhuang didnt get in, man its really unfair and wasted. Physics wasnt that bad, muhd got 25/25 imba please?

I felt the same way when isle results came out, was really sad and even angry. But it doesnt matter. We here with you zhuang. Joanne lei and myself got it for 6Q. When i felt the full brunt of injustice, I came out with my initiative for a self-initiated isle to Nepal and I bet its gonna be better than the boring ones that the school has been doing for years. Yawn. Nepal rox. Now I'm working with Ms Lim to design the programme, and I am gonna to only accept the isle rejects. So when we face injustice, the trick is not to feel sorry for yourself, but to fight back and show others what we are capable of! Yea. Life is unfair, but we can correct it. If Gandhi did it, why not me? moi? wo? watashi? Yes yes yes. 17 years and I have learnt much. Still much to learn though.

Tml got math test but i am hecking it. I still havent bathed and its 2310h. Yea, after school went for pastamania and swensens with yu jun, joel, zhuang and gen sam. And after that met up with alex and jason, went to somerset to meet with wilson for things you can do! This campaign is gonna rock some socks man. we are gonna help change the world for the better, no matter how small our difference!

Then after that went for dinner with mum dad and sis. I love you mum dad and sis. Sis drive the car back and mum and dad were having heart attacks. She just passed like 4 weeks ago and the standard of singapore drivers is really bad. I'm a cyclist and I know.

I feel happy and touched.

Smiles :)

pokemon

2007-08-28T07:33:00.000-07:00

the last week of every term is always the most hectic.

Anyway, mood has been improving, which is always good. On sun went to Ben's church on his invitation, though i have no religion, and understood a little bit more about the world. I'm always open. It's always good to see old friends. Met Chinks and Khar Suan there too, Singapore is amazingly small.

Sunday night watched man utd play spurs. frightening game, really. Was really hoping for a victory for the red devils, and we really did. Amazing goal from nani, robinson touched the ball but couldnt direct it away due to the sheer power of the shot.

Mum and Dad went to the wake of the SAF Capt today, apparently the Capt's dad is my dad's client. Makes me wonder (again and again), why is life so short?

When i saw charmander outside the canteen today, I thought about my primary school days when i was playing pokemon. whenever i play pokemon red version, i will always start with charmander. It seems that fire suits me the most. Arguably, squirtle the water guy is the strongest amongst the three, and bulbasaur the weakest. I still remember those days man.

5 years on, I hope I can look back and view my JC days with the same wonderful memories. Hmmm, I think I will:)

Of thoughts

2007-08-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

i realised that my blog is quite different from other ppl's. I dun record daily events in my life in my blog. There is one reason for this: I am too lazy.

But there is one advantage of being lazy. When you laze around on the couch, you are practically doing nothing. So you get to think. And that was how the ancient Greeks became masters of geographic thought without even leaving their country. They sat around and thought. And thus, knowledge.

During physics lecture today,something strange happened. I fell alsleep, a really really deep sleep, and i dreamt abt physics. I ususally dun dream when i sleep, and when i dream, i usually dun dream of physics. But this time, I felt that a divine intervention is happening. Someone is trying to tell me something. Like trying to warn me that i am gonna die soon or something. Or someone close to me is gonna to die. So the divine soul is trying to tell me to do something to prevent a calamity.

I realised that I am stupid. Stupid because i dun even know that boy A liked girl B, even tho everyone around me knows. Btw, A and B are frens. But I dun even know. And that was back in Feb. And just now, on msn, one of my brotheres just told me that he confessed to his crush, but i realise i didnt know about it till 5 months later. And he said that everyone else knew. So, I suspect that there might be a problem with me somewhere. This problems prevents me from knowing obvious happenings.

Let's analyse the problem. Possibe factors:
1. I am blind, which i am not.
2. i am deaf, which i am not.
3. i am stupid, which i may be, but i would wish that i am not.
4. i am oblivious to happenings.

whoa, serious problem with my internal programming. Am I too technical, so technical that i am like a computer, unable to sense emotions around me. Am I too empirical, so empirical that I cant sense emotions. Am i too rational, so rational that I cant read ppl's minds? Am I so stupid, so stupid that I cant link premises to come forth with a conclusion? Am i so detached from the world?

oh crap. I think i am.

a few good men to overthrow the tyrants

2007-08-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

In this world, there are 3 types of men:

1. the extraordinary. People I respect.

2. the normal. People I like.

3. the cynical bastards. People I detest, hate, dislike, despise and have absolutely no respect for.

In my school, no doubt there are cocky people, people who are self-confident, sometimes overly confident. It doesnt matter to me. Cos whatever they do, they show me the respect i deserve. I always believe in having respect.

I am a very simple person. If you respect me, I will respect you. Simple.

However, some people are just over the limit, their arrogance simply exceeding the threshold of my tolerance. To be honest, I am already extremely tolerant. This is because my sister is a very good tester of one's tolerance with her antics. But I have respect for my sister, because she has respect for me, and I know it. But thats another story.

Today, I wanna talk about the third group of men. Being CCALs in a reputable institution of academic learning, some people's bloody ego is so freaking huge that i am amazed that their necks can even support their heads! What the hell? Absolute disrespect, i can take it. Its not as if I respect you. But you dun bloody hell go and complain about your winey whinny trivial shit in front of me. If you are capable, go and solve it. If you are not happy about being a CCAL, then bloody hell quit. If you feel that you have too much work, then bloody hell quit.

You like to talk so much, then go ahead. But not in front of me.

I am not going to insult your CCA, because I have friends in there. I am going to insult you.

You think you are damn funny, damn popular with girls. Screw off man. You are nothing. It's not as if you are so powerful. Let me tell you, i am not scared of you or your words or your shit.

Today was just a war of words. Today I was just defending, hence I wasnt on the offensive. But you better watch it, cos once I rally my troops, I swear you're gonna get it hard.

Come on, let's see how many gay fags can you rally on. Because once the real war begins, you are gonna learn a lesson. A lesson from me, called respect.

And you better learn it, before more people show you this: ..!..

RECRUITMENT OF SPEAKERS

2007-08-16T07:09:00.000-07:00

Dear reader,

If you are:
1. A good speaker who can connect to a large audience of est. 1000-2000 secondary schools students

AND

2. Aware of environmental issues and would like to do your part for action against climate change in Singapore

YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN A SPECIAL TEAM OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION CAMPAIGNERS - 'THINGS YOU CAN DO!' environmental campaign for schools.

What will you be doing?
You will be going down to secondary schools all around Singapore to give a 45 min talk on environmental protection in Singapore. The talk will be done during their assembly period, so the entire school will be listening to you. This also means that you will be given excuse to miss school.

What will I get/receive from this?
1. Free transport (taxi) fares from school to school.

2. CIP hours (for each school, 2 hours will be awarded, so if say, you deliver 5 talks at 5 schools, you will get 10 hours of CIP.

3. You will be paid. $4-5 per talk, courtesy of sponsors.

4. No added work is required except for attending a compulsory training after promos (one day professional training workshop on 6/10/2007 (sat)). The slides are already designed by the research and design committee, and contents of the talks are already prepared. Speakers are of course at full liberty to modify their scripts to fit their styles.

5. Recognition by the government. YES. Due to the campaign's large scale, the press will be covering it. This campaign is recognised by the NEA, a stat board under the ministry.

6. Most importantly, you will receive an once-in-a-lifetime experience, speaking to so many people at one time. And you are championing a worhty cause.

When will this be?
The talks will be conducted from 8oct to 2nov. Which means after promos.

Will be PW be affected?
No. It will not be affected in any way.

How many schools will you be doing?
It depends on you and your schedule. You can do as little as 1, or as many as 20, if your schedule permits you to do so.

How many schools will be the entire campaign be targetting?
80 secondary schools. Which translates to around 100,000 students.

OK, THIS SOUNDS EXCITING. WHAT SHOULD I DO NOW?
You will need to send an email to fabienrules@hotmail.com. Include your name, class, i/c no., contact no.

Trojan Horse

2007-08-10T23:16:00.000-07:00

My comp is infected by a trojan. So now it will auotmatically, without me knowing, send a folder to everyone on my msn contact list.

A freaking trojan works using the same principle as a trojan horse. It will disguise itself as something harmless, like a picture file, to tempt people into downloading it. Pretty smart tactic.

If you receive anything like that, do not download it. If you already have, here are some mitigation measures i have thought up:
1. file the trojan file or folder and delete it manually. then empty your recycle bin.
2. immediately run a check using your anti-virus software.
3. using a cd or thumbdrive, backup all your important files on your comp.
4. if possible, you may want to reformat your entire drive.

I suspect that this trojan will not harm your comp too much. it just wants to spam everyone and irritate people.

I am so sorry if i had infected anyone with this trojan. i too, was infected with this unknowingly by my neighbour jonny, via msn.

This world is full of geniuses. Like the creator of this trojan, who has nothing else better to do. Thats why MIT needs to have an ethic and moral and civics course. Immoral geniuses are worse than saddistic retards.

ubin

2007-08-09T07:45:00.000-07:00

never trust anything. not even your handphone's alarm function.

cos it screwed up big time today.

was supposed to meet at 10am at ferry pt today, in the end, woke up at 1115h. WTF. immediately i used my very commonly practised brush-strip-change-pee technique and left the house in 5 mins time. This technique has been used dunno how many times by me already, since i am a notorious late-waker. last year play soccer at zhuang's was the same, meet friends also the same. next time got important appointment in the morning must set 5 alarm clocks at least.
last night i had a dream. i dreamt that there were 2 snakes in my house. or was it in school. one was a cobra. i killed it with a steel chair. the other snake killed me. it was a python. i think i am going crazy.

so we met at changi pt at 1215h- zhuang muhd and i. went for lunch then ubin. sorry zhuang for being late =(

never expected to go back to ubin so soon. after all, class adventure camp was just 2 weeks ago.

the shops scammed us. rised the bloody price for rental of bikes. +_)*&^$@@#$&.

today only cycled about 25 km. but it was fun.

came back, watched a bit of parade. the commandos, navy and air force looked good. especially the navy in their all whites. suai man. classy. smooth.

cos the sea tests the man.

i am learning sailing end of this year, after promos. not joking ah.

for my country

2007-08-08T09:51:00.001-07:00

ok i may not be some history professor, or some experienced political analyst, but let me tell you, proudly, that 42 years ago my country broke free from foreign rule and stood for itself.

i may not be lky's most fervent supporter, but let me tell you, for a man to do what he did, i must salute him. At that time, we had nothing. no money, no resources, not a very educated nation, but we had courage. not the courage to fight. as Asimov said, and i must repeat, violence is the first refuge of the incompetent. we had the courage to stand up when the time is right.

this is my country, and i will never ever let it down. i will never turn my back on this island. if one day any country attacks my nation, i will not hesitate to strap myself into a cockpit of a F-16 and tear the shreds out of the enemy. or arm myself with a SAR-21 and blow the bits out of the enemy. because on this island resides my sis, my mum and my dad. and if you dare hurt them, i will make you bleed.

and if anyone dares insult my country, i will insult your country back 20 times.

for the sovereignty of my country, i will fight.

for the people of my country, i will fight.

for the honour of my country, i will fight.

for my country, i will fight.

but of course diplomacy comes first. the pen before the sword.

victory is sweet

2007-08-08T03:44:00.001-07:00

Man Utd won. Buckle buckley won. what else do i have to say? happy birthday singapore =)

National day

2007-08-08T02:36:00.001-07:00

lol, today i woke up at 1.30pm, so i couldnt go out to orchard with the class. sorry dudes =/

anyway, i think i made a right decision 2 days ago, by not going for pulau sibu yet. cos if i went, i would have missed this 5 day break and i would have gg-ed myself. beautiful.

yesterday was quite fun, even though me mark and yix had to cheong out the final formatting for pw wr 1st draft. After that, the whole bunch of us went around the school doing fun stuff. raffles believe it or not, food, ihc matches, staff pictionary, walking around the school joking and laughing, nice.

just now i went for the most screwed up cycling trip in my life. first, i wanted to cycle to bishan library because i found out that i owe the national library 2 books. halfway, the crank detached itself from my freaking screwed up bike. ok fine, its not too hard to repair. after all, i had no spanner, no hammer. then after that, after cycling every 100m or so, i had to disembark and repair the stupid crank. my both hands were black like tar. when i (finally reach bishan j8), and was parking the bike, i realised that i left the key of my lock behind. so i had to cycle back to braddell road and retrieve the stupid key. the journey back was even worse. for a trip that would normally take me 45 min, i took 2 hours. might as well walk.

last night i tried playing fm with my tottenham team, but kept losing to middlesbrough. then i tried playing flight sim, but failed my hawaiian checkout mission because i misread the altimeter. after flying for 45 min to reach the freaking destination, i CRASHED!!! fish.

Mum

2007-08-05T08:24:00.000-07:00

Time is tight. Very tight. But i still wanna blog a bit. The freaking geog term paper is freaking tedious. AND UN website stinks. And I am not doing Japan cos All the freaking Jap websites are in Jap and I obviously cant read Jap!!!!

Anyway, yestersay went back to school for scholarship day. Actually there's not much point really, cos my reasoning is, if someone doesn't like a particular schoarship/career path, one day aint gonna change his/her mind. Note that i included a her this time cos i dun want anyone to say I'm a MCP, though i am a fervent supporter of the theory that promotes the fact that males have superior (physical and other) abilities as compared to their female counterparts.

I think my mum is more enthu than me when it comes to schoarships and stuff. dad too, but he was overseas yesterday. My mum was like cheonging all the booths. Lukily I didnt follow her around - she went with her friend. So i was like with ronald, then jing zhou, then bing liang, then deshawn, then aiyah cant say all, too many liao.

Anyway I think I made my mum cry, when I told her I may consider being a fighter pilot. Yesterday the captain told me that RSAF pilots can transit to SIA after the 10 year bond period, and be a SIA captain straight-away. and SIA pilots can fly till 62 years old. 62 years old!!! thats amazing!!!

I'm sorry mum, but can you see that I wun appreciate a nice 9am- 8pm desk bound job, unlike you and dad? I cant stand seeing numbers, accounts, words, proposals, documents every single day - I'll go crazy. You cant expect me to wear black leather shoes, black socks, black pants, black belt, long sleeve shirt, comb my hair neatly every day. I cant have this kinda job. Even if I have a job that requires me holding a pen daily, I want to travel overseas every once in a while. i want to go US for a conference this week, then to the middle east for a meeting the week after, and to europe for a presentation the month after.

When I grow up i may have to leave the country more often than you think, mum. I'ld want to go overseas for undergrad studies, thats for sure. Its not that I dun want to stay at home everyday, but I want to see the world. I'm born to travel. You passed on these travelling genes to me, they belonged to grand-dad, but were not present in you. Thats why I love geog so much.

I cant keep still, mum. I need to ride my bike, fly my kite, kayak, hike every once in a while. I need expeditions to keep myself alive.

Mum you dun have to worry that I will leave you alone when you're old, cos i wun ever do that. And besides, Sis will be in Singapore. She aint the travelling type. She likes the notion of a home. If I'm away, she can keep you company. And you'll have dad beside you. and besides again, you and dad can go on romantic holidays when both of you have retired. Enjoy the cottages of Wales, the castles of Germany, the beaches of Spain, the temples of Greece, the mountains in China, the pyramids of Eygpt. That time, when you travel, I'll pay.

2007-07-29T07:06:00.000-07:00

Logo copyright Fransisco Chandra, a member of the R & D comm. This logo will will used for primary schools.

Things You Can Do!

2007-07-28T09:14:00.001-07:00

This is a nation-wide, large-scale, conservation camapaign.

Current stage- recruitment.

Places in Research & Design (headed by Alex) are filled, but anyone who is creative/artistic/talented/keen for research is still free to join in! [note that slash means OR, which means you just need to be either creative or artistic or talented or like to research, dun have to be all 4]

Places in follow-up comm (headed by Muhd) are plentiful. If you're interested in planning a major conference next year (called CONVERSATION FOR CONVERSATION), you can join follow-up comm. If you like working with primary school kids and secondary school students, you can join follow-up comm. If you like doing something for RJC, you can join the follow-up comm.

If you are a good, charismatic speaker who feels you can give Al Gore some competition when it comes to speaking about climate change, you can join the Speaking comm. (most likely headed by the legendary Arun Vinesh). You will head down to primary or secondary schools to give a talk to thousands of young minds.

Ppl who are good in Public relations may wish to join Samuel Soh, our schools coordinator. This is a very behind the scenes tasks, but nevertheless, very important.

I need commited people. People who care. Involvement won't be too intensive, dun worry. You dun have to be in raffles One Earth to join this worthy cause. All RJC students are welcome.

We have partners on the large scale. Local NGOs like ECO and SEC. The famous Mr Wilson Ang will personally provide mentorship. Even stat boards like NEA (national Environment Agency) are helping out. Of course, I'm not saying that the minster for environment himself will know of this, but hey, anything might be possible. Right now the important ppl from the school are aware. I've spoken to the dean of SD abt this, and have spent hours discussing this with my teacher mentor.

The logo is out. It's still raw, but definitely looks nice. The head of R & D, Alex, with brilliant input from Jean, came up with this:

Tml the logo for primary schools will be published here once fransisco sends me the designs.

Thats it for now. Watch this space. The posters will be unveiled for RJ Open House.

Class camp

2007-07-28T09:06:00.000-07:00

Wow... haven't blogged for 2 weeks. Didnt realise it was this long. Hmmm, guess I was busy... i hate that word.

Anyway, just came back from class camp. It was quite fun, though hiking and hiking and hiking seems boring... The fun starts at dusk on the first day. The midnight sharing session was simply spontaneuous and to my surprise, amazingly open. Still, some ppl dare not confess and open their hearts. Well, let's just say... it's alright. It lasted for 5 hours? omg amazing...

Samuel that wild boar was idiotic. We agreed to walk around the island under the moonlight at 530am, so we set our alarms. And when the handphone started ringing, that ass was sleeping his guts off. WTH.

I was afraid that the wild dogs would come sniffing. They never did, thankfully. The bright green light falling from the sky remains unexplained... What was it?

Watching airplanes fly on the beach at night was nice. Real nice.

The 2 days were funny. and funny days are well-spent.

The sleep inside the tent-like device on the morning of the second day wasn't exactly what was planned, but it certainly was not too bad.

I will come back to Ubin one day. It will be this year=)

2007-07-14T21:46:00.000-07:00

From now on, I shall not comment.

That, however, does not mean that I will shut up.

I love listening to academics speak. They make you think. After I think, then I can speak.

I am not afraid. The men who were afraid, were the people who feared the truth. Ideas are dangerous tools.

The death of Socrates proved that. The Burning of the books by the Qin emperor, and the anti-communist witch hunt in America after WWII proved that. Destroying ideas is destroying opposition.

I have no political views. Zero.

I just merely have some views on society. And our society is 99% political.

2007-07-14T09:23:00.000-07:00

technology will move man, but education makes technology. Without education, all is useless. Education is the only way forward.

Life goes on.

2007-07-12T07:08:00.000-07:00

H3 geog started today. Aiming at NUS modules man.

Talked to LSH today. She wants me to find sponsors for the tribute concert. No problem, I'll do it. Darn but I dun think I will be in S'pore during the first 2 weeks of Dec.

Talked to Melvin today. Life has changed for the both of us. The street is much quieter now.

2007-07-11T10:13:00.000-07:00

stop being rich, bill gates.

stop being sad, hu ching.

Leann Rimes - Amazing Grace

2007-07-11T10:12:00.001-07:00

they sing this at the funeral.

2007-07-11T10:03:00.000-07:00

the air smells especially fresh tonight.

2007-07-11T10:02:00.000-07:00

Elie Wiesel:
The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference.
The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference.
The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference.
And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference.
(Oct. 1986)

2007-07-11T09:58:00.002-07:00

sis just came home. she said mr yeo looked young in the pic. i told her, he is young.

2007-07-11T09:58:00.001-07:00

dad was right. life is short.

2007-07-11T09:57:00.000-07:00

i need a break

2007-07-11T09:52:00.000-07:00

Anais Nin:
People living deeply have no fear of death.

mr yeo was courageous.

2007-07-11T09:51:00.000-07:00

i wonder if NUS philo professors are free for coffee and a chat. I need to ask them some questions.

2007-07-11T09:50:00.001-07:00

after staring at the ceiling for a long long time, i realised it is white

2007-07-11T09:49:00.000-07:00

i wonder why people bite their fingernails?

2007-07-11T09:47:00.000-07:00

i love R & B. rhythm and blues.

2007-07-11T09:45:00.000-07:00

on friday, i'm going to the wake with seniors and friends.

2007-07-11T09:44:00.000-07:00

the street is dark. there a lamp-post right in front of my window. but the street is dark.

2007-07-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

i'm waiting for my sis to come home. the house is quiet.

2007-07-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

If i see any healthy person attempting to commit suicide, I will give him/her one hard punch.

reflections

2007-07-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

花开堪折直需折,莫待无花空折枝.

Dad told me this phrase just now, sounds cheem. It roughly means treasure the things you have now, with you, today, or you 'll regret it.

Ok, from now on, no more lies. No more secrets. No more taking things for granted. No more getting angry over minor things. No more cursing the people that I love (yes i admit sometimes i curse my parents, but who doesn't do that when they angry?). I'll try my best. No more does not mean no more. It is impossible to have no more lies, no more secrets. I'll just try my best to cut them down.

I think tonight I'll dream about Mr Yeo. Then I'll see his smile one last time. Like the smile that ah-mah gave me when she bid me one final farewell 2 years ago. And like the nod of assurance that gong-gong gave me when he passed away. And like the look of humility that my grand-aunt gave when she departed the world.

I think doctors are truly important people. For all my schoolmates aspiring to be doctors, best of luck, for you will be making a difference in the lives of many in the future. Promise me at least one of you will develop new weapons in the fight against cancer and all other diseases. The enemy has taken too many lives. If we want war, we have it. The war now is against diseases.

Death is no longer taboo. It has finally revealed itself.

I am going to sleep with a notebook and pencil beside me, so that when I wake up tomorrow, I can sketch mr yeo's last smile.

And he will tell me, 'it's okay', like he has always done.

i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo. i am not emo.

No number of As will bring back mr yeo, or ah mah, or gong gong, or grand-aunt. Counting As and Bs, pretending it is life and death. HOW STUPID.

:(

2007-07-11T02:12:00.000-07:00

News. Ignorance is bliss. Sometimes the truth hurts. Like this one.

When i got home today, i received a call from Bing Liang. He told me that our ex-conductor of RICO, Mr. Yeo, had passed away this morning. Mr. Yeo had been a great mentor to all of us. He had a heart of gold. He was patient, kind, understanding and never once scolded us. Discipline, in his opinion, came from the heart, not from harsh words. We will miss him bad :(

Words. Can't express a thing.

2007-07-10T02:36:00.000-07:00

Quotes:

Never has there been a good war or a bad peace. Benjamin Franklin

Lee Harvey Oswald, shooting from the top floor of the Book Depository was able to take 3 shots from an old Italian bolt action rifle. From a distance of over 258 feet and shooting at a moving target he was able to score 2 hits including a headshot. Now does anybody know where he learned to shoot like this? In the Marine Corps ladies! (Full Metal Jacket)

Violence is the first refuge of the incompetent. Issac Asimov

"If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you." Winnie the Pooh

To know is to know that you know nothing. Thats is the true meaning of knowledge . Confucious.

They deem him their worst enemy who tells them the truth. Plato.

A love affair with knowledge will never end in heartbreak. Michael Garrett Marino.

An empty stomach is not a good political adviser. albert einstein.

"As a young man, my fondest dream was to become a geographer. However, while working in the Customs Office, I thought deeply about the matter and concluded that it was far too difficult a subject. With some reluctance, I then turned to physics as an alternative."
Did einstein say this? Apparently it remains unknown.

weekend

2007-07-08T07:45:00.000-07:00

that sums up term 3 week 2. pretty fast, i dare say.

Arm getting better, thanks everyone for your concern!

Health is truly the most important thing. Nick is down with chicken pox. Man I hate chicken pox. Took out my entire sec one end of year hols. So i couldn't bring my cousins fro the States around S'pore when they were visiting. When you get sick or injured, you can't do anything. So health is very very^n, n represents infinite, important.

Weekend spent slacking away. Saturday woke up at noon, went borders, went to see the chinese physician again, night BBoO match. Gone. Sunday woke up at 0530h (I couldn't keep myself awake the whole night), went east coast to help out with some saucony run thingy, slept the entire afternoon, watched the core. Gone.

Have to go now. Bye! (i swear this s the lamest ending i ever written)

right arm hurts

2007-07-06T05:34:00.000-07:00

This morning was unlike other mornings. I woke up with an excruciating pain searing through my entire right arm. The pain was beyond description. It woke me up immediately, functioning better than any alarm clock on Earth. In the darkness, I tried to stay calm. I had experienced no such pain before, but I was quite sure it will go away.

It was a terrible mis-judgement on my part. The pain subsided a little, but never left my right arm. I couldn't use it to brush my teeth. I couldn't use it in the toilet. I couldn't use it to do the so many little things it had executed so humbly, without complaint, over the years. My right arm was my best friend, and it was going to die.

I thought of all my dreams, perhaps going down the drain because my right arm couldn't perform its functions. Cycling to Paris, the KL ex, the aviation dream... Was this the end of things?

Well, obviously my right arm has returned to life. I went to see my old friend, a Chinese physician immediately after school. This guy was the guy who healed my fractured index finger 2 years ago. This guy was the guy who brought my sister's knees back into action after a sport injury.

Using herbs and heat, he treated my arm, slowly bending the injured nerves back into position. I trust his unorthodox methods more than western medicine. It was worth the long wait I had to endure before my turn.

today is the 4th of july

2007-07-04T07:54:00.000-07:00

Independence day. a team of brave men risked everything to fight for the rights which they believed in. They fought for a better life, a better future, for self, for country, for posterity. Led by Thomas Jefferson, these men left their signatures on a piece of paper called the declaration of independence. The United states would finally break free from foreign rule.

There are a lot of things I would like to complain about, but i will not. To complain without taking any action to rectify the problem is merely a sign of despair, a sign of weakness, a sign which manifests itself in the shape of an L. I will take steps to change the problem. I shall speak to Ms M Lim. Then we'll talk things through.

Sam, let's do it.

recurring nightmares

2007-07-01T07:45:00.000-07:00

I have been replaying the album minutes to midnight by linkin park for days already, ever since I watched transformers.

last night, while I was on the train back home at around 10.03, I looked around at my fellow singaporeans. Different races, different ages, different education levels. Then i imagined what if a bomb just exploded right here, right in front of me. Try reading this while you play hands held high (found in the video below). Then feel it. Feel the song while you think of war and chaos.

Many people never seen people die before. Die right in front of them. Me too. and precisely because of that, they make stupid decisions. Now, please note that countries have a ministry/department of defence, but never a ministry of offence. Countries should never engage in warfare unless they are attacked. So was the US right in going to war? Maybe. maybe they were right. They were attacked. But the problem is, are they retaliating correctly? are they fighting the right people? at times, I hate Bush. at times, I pity him. Because if he doesnt do anything, people will find him a coward. a coward that refuses to fight back after 911. But he has done something, and the people are cursing him. Either way, he had no choice.

Back to the MRT. There are many people. People minding their own business. a couple perhaps getting to close for comfort. many asleep on the seats. many talking. just minding their own business. Now, shoud a bomb blow up, can you imagine the chaos? I couldn't. I didn't dare to.

I was having recurring nightmares. It was freaky. A few months ago, I had a nightmare. it involved a ghost, a girl who was raped, and a man and a dog. And I was the investigator. Oh now i remember when exactly did i have this nightmare. It was after watching 956 (korean horror flick) with muhd and tze. anyway, i just forgot about this stupid nightmare.

But today, it replayed again, exactly the same thing. There were 2 sisters. Very pretty girls. But i didnt have a good look at their faces. the dream was happening too fast. They met this (rich) man. This man is wicked. He raped one of them. The other sister doesnt know what happened. she continued to be friendly with the man. Meanwhile, the man killed the boyfriend of the sister. the boyfriend became a dog, and came back to warn the other sister about the man. Then there was a ghost. This ghost could change faces. Then I woke up. The scene where the dog came to find the sister was too long. It took up too much time. I could not sustain sleep until the story ended. But I was freaked out. And in between the dream, H3 popped out. You know, H3 for a levels?

Although i was having this dream in bright daylight at home, i was still scared. Firstly, because the dream happened before. Secondly, there are construction works happening nearby my house, and strange noises keep coming from it. Thirdly, there were dog barking. There are a lot of dogs in my neighbourhood. fourthly, there's this gaint poster of a jack sparrow in black clothes, surrounded by mist, at the foot of my bed, and the first thing which I saw when i woke up were his long hair. I was so scared, i woke drenched with sweat, despite the fan blowing directly at me. I wanted to take off my clothes and squeeze out the sweat (not joking), then I remembered from a russell lee book that spirits like to attack bare bodies first. I didnt dare to remove my tshirt. I was so scared, I lied on my bed for 10 minutes, shivering. The whole house was quiet, sis sleeping, door locked. mum downstairs, not making a sound. dad out. for once, I missed noise.

I wanted to fall asleep again, so that the story can continue and i can find out what happened next (I forgot the ending from the same dream from last year).But i couldnt. Maybe later, when i sleep, the dream will come back.

shopping

2007-06-30T09:17:00.000-07:00

this word was once condemned from the walls of my mind. But today i did something unprecedented by me. I went to orchard twice in a day. boy was it tiring.

it turns out that the general needed some fashion advice. His usual advisor, zhuang, couldnt really offer him that cos that skinnyboy never(seldom lah actually) wear long sleeved shirts. and furthermore skinnyboy needed someone to give him some advice too. So, i went back to orchard.

the difference between me and them is that throughout the 2 hours, I didnt spend a single cent on clothes. But i still spent a lot today. spent a lot on food. bought a book by khoo swee chiow. bought a magazine. spent about $50.

I am going into libernate for the next few days, preparing to face civilisation on monday again. Libernate is not hibernate. Libernate means going into reading mood.

Minutes to midnight is a good album, i realised, after listening to it a few times. I particularly like the track hands held high. Listen to it. Pretty obvious referring to a screwed up war happening today. As i was listening it on the ipod and rapping it on the mrt, apparently, a few tot i was crazy. Musicians have the power to influence minds. Oh ya and watch out for 070707 LiveEarth.

Good video too ya? As i say again and again, war is bad. War is terrible. Bush went to iraq to settle his daddy's vendetta with saddam. After elections 08, the world will become a better place.

SAT

2007-06-30T02:49:00.000-07:00

SAT stands for saturday, not the reasoning test.

Saturday started with me talking to a couple of drunk guys about planes, the future, and some sick stuff on msn. One very vibrant convo I must add. Sam told me about some US spy plane called the Lockheed SR 71 blackbird. apparently, the blackbird can sustain flights at 3.3 mach!!!!!!! According to wiki, The aircraft's defense was its high speed and operating altitude; if a surface-to-air missile launch was detected, the standard evasive action was to simply accelerate. Simply accelerate. I wonder if the pilots of this plane age less quickly than other people cos if they travel so fast, time slows for them right? Relativity.

Yesterday I cycled to Macritchie from my home. I learnt 2 things:
1. Lim Bo Seng, the war hero, was already a major general at age 35 when he was killed by the Jap forces. That's quite pro. I paid my respects to him at his memorial at the reservior. He was a brave man, a true Rafflesian.

2. Some Singaporean drivers just deserve some fist cake. Especially women drivers who DON'T KNOW HOW TO STEER and male drivers who DON'T KNOW HOW TO BRAKE!!!! Singapore roads are a hazard to all cyclists out there, regardless of age, experience or skill. Of course, not all drivers are lousy. I said some.

Just came back from somerset. Then my mum called me from orchard. Then sam soh and zhuang called me from orchard. I just came back dudes. Need some rest.

Titanic

2007-06-28T22:24:00.000-07:00

wow.

I love the feeling of being able to slack and feel lazy. It's as if time has slowed for you. This morning, for the first time since a long long time, i woke up at around noon. But it seems that the more you sleep, the lazier and less energetic you feel. And there's something strange about my sleeping habits. I've not had a dream in a long long time. The reason might be that my brain is too lazy to operate after sleep commences. Maybe I should listen more to zhuang singing than I will get some nightmares. Afterall, nightmares are a category of dreams too right?

Anyway, the title of this post is called titanic. I am in a mood for some history now. There are some periods when I dun really feel like talking about history, like after a CT paper. I always tell others not to discuss CT questions with me cos I hate the feeling of feeling demoralised after realising that you're losing precious marks. I always say,"discuss for what? What is over is over... Look to the future (i.e. preparing for the next paper)"

But now feel I like discussing history, or rather, sharing history. Last night I was reading one of my favourite books again- 'Events that changed the World' by Rodney Castleden. The reason why i was reading instead of doing other activities was because I was too lay to put the DVD into the DVD player. Actually I was thinking of doing a movie marathon. And for your information, Mr Castleden is not American, which is precisely why his book presents facts whihc are largely accurate.

Anyway, the book had this chapter on the sinking of titanic. The reason why it was considered an event that changed the world was because, according to the writer, it "marked the end if a period of Victorian and Edwardian complacency, the beginning of a period of a century of doubt and scepticism." True. And it also revolutionalised the way of maritime safety procedures. Emergency lifeboat drills are now mandatory before a ship can set sail, so that passengers can familiarise themselves with steps that can save their lives in case of emergency. This is why before you can set sail in the superstar virgo, you have to do the drill thingy.

Back to my main point. After watching the movie titanic with the jack and rose (yawn) story, I thought that the titanic affair was just a story about one man who made a wrong decision. well, actually, that is not the case. The tragic sinking of titanic was a story of 3 skippers - one wise but selfish, one arrogant but foolish, and another brave and heroic.

On 15 April 1912, the skipper of the titanic , Captain Smith commited a grave mistake, a foolish act beyond my comprehension as to why an experienced seaman like him would ever commit. Capt smith was propelling the ship forward at 22 knots -far too fast- through seas notoriously strewn with icebergs. After titanic hit the iceberg, it's watertight bulkheads gave it a few hours before it sank. During this time, Capt Smith sent out distress signals.

One distress signal was white rockets. Obviously, rockets come in different colours. My grandfather, who was one a sailor with a cargo vessel, told me that. White represents HELP! Just 5-10 miles away from the scene of sinking, the Californian was anchored for the night. The man at the helm on board this ship was the wise but selfish Capt Lord. Lord was a great sailor who had the basic intelligence to stop his ship for the night, knowing that the route in front of him was a hazardous one. Only with the help of the sun can one navigate a ship through such a sea. Capt Lord knew about the white rockets, but was selfish. He did not steer his ship over to the titanic. Acedemics now speculate that should the California have went over to pick up the passengers of titanic, it would had saved all the lives. Instead, Lord decided that the sightings of white rockets should not disturb his slumber.

Another disress signal was the wireless. The titanic sent out a wireless for help, which wa spicked out by another vessel, Carpathia, skippered by the heroic Capt. Rostron. After picking up the message, Capt Rostron acted exactly as we would all expect a ship's captain to act; he dropped everything, changed course and without regard for anything else at all he raced to the scene of disaster to offer help. He was the opposite of Capt. lord, who had ample evidence that a ship nearby was in deep trouble and did nothing whatever to help - and he was close enough to have saved everyone.

Now of course the man of the hour was Capt Rostron. But the main fault lies with Capt Smith. He was a very experienced skipper, and due to retire after this prestigious final vovage on the titanic. With his vast experience and fatherly figure, he looked like a safe pair of hands. He wasn't. He was a dangerous driver, a captain who liked to sail in style, make a big entrance or a swaggering exit. He sailed in and out of harbours far too fast. On the night in question, he was as usual going too fast in relations to the conditions. Whatever we say about capt Lord, the seflish one, he had the capacity beneath his cranium to heave to when there was so much ice about. capt smith went full steam ahead - into the icebergs.

Men (and women if I were to add, I am not to be accused of being a male chauvinist here) of great power have a heavy burden -responsibility. The 3 skippers were men of great power- they had the power over the lives of people. And in this case, Capt. Smith failed in his primary responsibility.