My MSN nick now is ahhhh. sorry i just checked. it's not ahhhh. its ahhhhh. Count the no. of hs. Ok sorry I'm lame. Must be the chem lecturer spreading the infection of lameness.
Anyway, why ahhhhh?
1. ah can mean I understand, as in, nodding my head and saying ah.
2. ah can mean I am super sick and frustrated with this world, and I need to scream!
3. ah can mean relieve. As in ah after drinking a super nice cup of hot honey.
I think the women in my family are a bit siao. Crazy. Last night I went with my parents to NTUC and my mum was super slow as usual. I wonder how my dad can stand her. I share the same policy as my dad, which is, pick and go. But my mum, she's crazy. When buying light bulbs she spent 15 min choosing, and in the end my dad came and decided in 1 min. And I just stoned there with the cart.
Then we went over to buy some towels (all inside one gigantic NTUC). My mum spent another 5 min choosing 3 towels that cost $1 each. She had to examine that every individual thread of the towel must be intact. Then in the end my dad came over and pointed out there's an offer and another brand of towels cost $1.60 for 3. So my mum spent another 5 min putting back her original 3 towels and chose another 3 towels. And I just stoned there with the cart.
And my sis and my mum are crazy. This morning after breakfast they were arguing about my sis coming home late last night at 2.30 and not calling back to tell my mum, argue argue so much for so long, then my mum say that recently some girls were raped and those kinda news which she memorises from reading too much New Paper and the Chinese tabloids, then my sis was like "....", each dot representing some profound female language. Then now, after the argument came to no conclusion because i am pretty sure my sister will come home after 12 next friday, they suddenly became best friends again and now they are looking at my sister's clothes and talking about going shopping on labour day. I am like what the hell. What kind of diplomacy textbook do you use man? Should seriously recommend to Bush and the Iranian president and Kim Jung Il.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
3-2 Wayne Rooney Manchester United vs AC Milan 24/04/07
OMG. Look at that. Look at that. Ole ole ole. Oh ya babe!
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Really random.
I am sick. Physically. My body feels weak. Super weak.
Just realised that SIA captains, probably one of the most underpaid pilots flying around, earn up to $327,865 a year for a B777 and $350,635 for a A340. Damn. And they get to travel for free. And flirt with the flight attendants. Damn.
I think I am stupid. Very stupid. A bloody fool. A complete idiot.
Kremlin announced that former Russian President Boris Yeltsin has died.
Man Utd Milan in 7 hours. Better win. Treble season AGAIN.
PFA Premier League team of the year: CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?
Van der Sar (MU), Gary Neville (MU), Nemanja Vidic (MU), Rio Ferdinand (MU), Patrice Evra (MU), Ryan Giggs (MU), Paul Scholes (MU), Cristiano Ronaldo (MU), Gerrard (LIV), Drogba (CHE), Berbatov (Spurs).
8/11 players from MU. Imba.
Just realised that SIA captains, probably one of the most underpaid pilots flying around, earn up to $327,865 a year for a B777 and $350,635 for a A340. Damn. And they get to travel for free. And flirt with the flight attendants. Damn.
I think I am stupid. Very stupid. A bloody fool. A complete idiot.
Kremlin announced that former Russian President Boris Yeltsin has died.
Man Utd Milan in 7 hours. Better win. Treble season AGAIN.
PFA Premier League team of the year: CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?
Van der Sar (MU), Gary Neville (MU), Nemanja Vidic (MU), Rio Ferdinand (MU), Patrice Evra (MU), Ryan Giggs (MU), Paul Scholes (MU), Cristiano Ronaldo (MU), Gerrard (LIV), Drogba (CHE), Berbatov (Spurs).
8/11 players from MU. Imba.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Photos. We all love them.
Decided to post some photos today. Today BB won i chess and weiqi. I played for BB yea! Though i was quite noob lah. My skills were all rusty since I last layed i chess 1.5 years ago, in the USA. Won 3 lost 2 today. My play was far too aggressive, resulting in a loss due to counter attack by my opponents or a so called 'raping' of my opponents. Must not neglect my defence next time.
Anyway, some photos for you to enjoy. Shot with a Canon A400 PowerShot. ISO 400 max, no image stabiliser, no tripod, optical zoom only 2.2x, thus requiring plenty of skill and craft from the photographer himself.
Anyway, some photos for you to enjoy. Shot with a Canon A400 PowerShot. ISO 400 max, no image stabiliser, no tripod, optical zoom only 2.2x, thus requiring plenty of skill and craft from the photographer himself.
Lorong How Sun, S'pore: My neighbour doing his routine skateboard jumps.
Wan Chai, Hong Kong: Overlooking the entire stretch of Kowloon Island over at the other bank.
San Diego, USA: Geography rocks. It's when you travel and experience the world then you realise the beauty of this Earth and you start to appreciate the marvels of nature.
San Diego, CA, USA: It's only when the giant swash crashes onto the breakwater when you realise the serenity of the distant ocean. The Pacific rests for the night.
Thursday, April 19, 2007
A special day
2 years ago, my grandmother passed away on 19/4.
I should not be sad because my ah ma has indeed led a very meaningful life. As principal of Zhong Hua Girls High School back in the 70s/80s, she helped shape the characters of many. She was firm when it came to school matters, and it was her strong will that allowed her to fight the widespread communist situation back then, as most of the Chinese schools were the local base for spreading this warped ideology. She was almost had the communist leaders splash acid on her face before, but she held on to her beliefs and never weakened in the face of adversity. She was very well-respected by her colleagues and students. Decades after retiring as principal, the students and teachers, with grey hair, still come regularly to visit her. During the funeral, it was the alumni of the school that sang the departing songs. It was then that my heart cried. It was then that my father cried. He broke down. I have never seen him cry before. Not once. But on that day, the tears just came out. It poured out.
Walking around my house, one would easily identify the numeral accolades and medals and tokens of appreciation that my ah ma has received. One picture shows her shaking hands with Yusof bin Ishak. Another, with Benjamin Sheares. Many certificates, signed by Wong Kan Seng and Teo Chee Hean and Lee Kuan Yew.
I should not be sad because my ah ma passed away in the most peaceful way possible. She departed this world in her sleep, in her home. She did not suffer, she did not struggle. She died of old age.
But I will be sad. Sad because maybe I took her for granted when she was alive. As I grew older and got more tied-down by work commitments, I spent less time talking to my ah ma, despite the fact that her room was just beside mine. In the past it was hours in her room, asking her questions and bothering her with pranks and childish acts. Then it was 40 mins. Then 20 mins. Then it was just a greeting "I have reached home", a response to her question, which was," have you eaten?"and I would say, "Yes."
The day that she passed away, I had 3 tests in school. Normal class tests. I did very well.
The next day, 20th April 2005, it was RICO's SYF. and I would never be able to repeat my performance ever again. It was my best performance ever.
In school, I appear cheery and live seems to go on as normal. But at night, in my dreams, a wise, gracious figure approaches me and tells me to be a good person, to do the right thing and to appreciate and love the people around you.
I should not be sad because my ah ma has indeed led a very meaningful life. As principal of Zhong Hua Girls High School back in the 70s/80s, she helped shape the characters of many. She was firm when it came to school matters, and it was her strong will that allowed her to fight the widespread communist situation back then, as most of the Chinese schools were the local base for spreading this warped ideology. She was almost had the communist leaders splash acid on her face before, but she held on to her beliefs and never weakened in the face of adversity. She was very well-respected by her colleagues and students. Decades after retiring as principal, the students and teachers, with grey hair, still come regularly to visit her. During the funeral, it was the alumni of the school that sang the departing songs. It was then that my heart cried. It was then that my father cried. He broke down. I have never seen him cry before. Not once. But on that day, the tears just came out. It poured out.
Walking around my house, one would easily identify the numeral accolades and medals and tokens of appreciation that my ah ma has received. One picture shows her shaking hands with Yusof bin Ishak. Another, with Benjamin Sheares. Many certificates, signed by Wong Kan Seng and Teo Chee Hean and Lee Kuan Yew.
I should not be sad because my ah ma passed away in the most peaceful way possible. She departed this world in her sleep, in her home. She did not suffer, she did not struggle. She died of old age.
But I will be sad. Sad because maybe I took her for granted when she was alive. As I grew older and got more tied-down by work commitments, I spent less time talking to my ah ma, despite the fact that her room was just beside mine. In the past it was hours in her room, asking her questions and bothering her with pranks and childish acts. Then it was 40 mins. Then 20 mins. Then it was just a greeting "I have reached home", a response to her question, which was," have you eaten?"and I would say, "Yes."
The day that she passed away, I had 3 tests in school. Normal class tests. I did very well.
The next day, 20th April 2005, it was RICO's SYF. and I would never be able to repeat my performance ever again. It was my best performance ever.
In school, I appear cheery and live seems to go on as normal. But at night, in my dreams, a wise, gracious figure approaches me and tells me to be a good person, to do the right thing and to appreciate and love the people around you.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
One of my passions - Aviation
Why do I love planes?
I really don't know. I love commercial planes. Just love them. and airports too.
I really don't know. I love commercial planes. Just love them. and airports too.
SIA Boeing 747-400 taking-off at Changi Airport. With the arrival of the Airbus 380-800s, SIA may slowly retire their fleet of 747s (Megatops). The 747-400s have served the airline for many decades, and it will surely be missed.
One of the most amazing airports on Earth, in the Caribbean. The runway is just metres away from the beach, so if you're standing on the beach, you better protect your ears! The Princess Juliana International airport serves the island Saint Maarten in Netherlands Antilles. Seen above is a magnificient Air France 747-200 (coming from Paris Charles de Gualle) about to land.
Seen here is a beauty of the new fleet of Boeing 777-300 ERs (extended range) of SIA, this one is just taking off from the snowy Zurich airport on its way back to Singapore Changi Airport. The B777s are my favourite plane around, and SIA is the largest operator of 777s in the world. What's so amazing about the triple 7s? Well, back in the 1980s, Boeing needed a new plane to fit between the long-range 747 and the short-range 767s/757s to cater to middle-haul/regional flights. So the engineers used a computer system to entirely design the 777. Using a computer system to design such a complex machine, truly amazing.
A breathtaking shot of a KLM Royal Dutch B747-400 landing in St Maartens again, from another angle.
All photos are taken from jetphotos.net
Sunday, April 15, 2007
I've got a feeling this is the time
I 've got a feeling that this is the time. A surge of happiness crept around me, slowly but definitely showing its effects. The smile just wouldn't disappear now. It came from my heart, out of nowhere, slowly engulfing me from within. Ecstasy. Pure jubilation. Sheer joy.
It appeared suddenly, but I should have known it was coming for months now. The signs were there, evidently in place. I should have known. I should have read the signs earlier, but I am just equally pleased that I know it now. I wasn't that sure in the past, but now I know. For sure.
So this is happiness. It's overwhelming me.
It has been more than a simple love affair. More than an infatuation. It has been a romance.
Man Utd bet Watford 4-1 this morning. The treble might be just come to us again. This is the time when all United fans will unite and pray, in perhaps a hundred different languages, that the Premiership title returns to Old Trafford, after a two-year abduction. That the FA Cup is lifted by dear old Gary in the Wembley Stadium after defeating the Blues. And finally, in Greece, a victory to assure us of our place in the history of European football.
Rooney has regained his magical touch.
Ronaldo has just signed a contract extension.
Neville and O'Shea are coming back for us.
Solskjaer. Magic.
Scholes and Carrick has been fantastic; their differences subtle, their chemistry perfect.
Giggs. What a legend, orchestrating the attacks. Just look at what he against the Italians.
Park Ji Sung, the unsung hero.
Smith, proving his worth after 17 months of absence.
Evra, Brown and Heinze, anchoring the defence.
Van der Sar, the jolly green giant.
Fletcher, Scotland's pride.
Richardson, England's future.
The smile just wouldn't go.
It appeared suddenly, but I should have known it was coming for months now. The signs were there, evidently in place. I should have known. I should have read the signs earlier, but I am just equally pleased that I know it now. I wasn't that sure in the past, but now I know. For sure.
So this is happiness. It's overwhelming me.
It has been more than a simple love affair. More than an infatuation. It has been a romance.
Man Utd bet Watford 4-1 this morning. The treble might be just come to us again. This is the time when all United fans will unite and pray, in perhaps a hundred different languages, that the Premiership title returns to Old Trafford, after a two-year abduction. That the FA Cup is lifted by dear old Gary in the Wembley Stadium after defeating the Blues. And finally, in Greece, a victory to assure us of our place in the history of European football.
Rooney has regained his magical touch.
Ronaldo has just signed a contract extension.
Neville and O'Shea are coming back for us.
Solskjaer. Magic.
Scholes and Carrick has been fantastic; their differences subtle, their chemistry perfect.
Giggs. What a legend, orchestrating the attacks. Just look at what he against the Italians.
Park Ji Sung, the unsung hero.
Smith, proving his worth after 17 months of absence.
Evra, Brown and Heinze, anchoring the defence.
Van der Sar, the jolly green giant.
Fletcher, Scotland's pride.
Richardson, England's future.
The smile just wouldn't go.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
ISSUE XIIII: Ministerial Pay Rise
Veritas Post is sorry for not being able to offer comments on this SENSITIVE issue.
After all, anything that we report will not matter. Anything that the people say will not, in any way, influence the top-down DEMOCRATIC process anyway. What's the point of having a discussion? Like it or not, we can't do a s___ to change things. And that's the fact.
You don't want a casino but can you stop it from being built? You don't want tax to be increased but can you do a s___? Come on lah, even MPs can't do that, what do you think you can achieve?
Ah, so you write a letter to a PARTICULAR forum in a PARTICULAR newspaper and you think you belong in a DEMOCRATIC process. You feel powerful. You feel active. So what?
After all that discussion, all it takes is a 2 hour speech and you can be assured that all matters are WRAPPED UP. SETTLED. CONFIRMED. So if you miss all the parliamentary debates, don;t worry. I can sum it up for you in one sentence:
Minsters' salary up again, after intense debates produced no evident results in influencing initial decisions.
In fact, I can sum it up further:
INITIAL DECISION= FINAL DECISION.
Remember, you can't do a s___.
After all, anything that we report will not matter. Anything that the people say will not, in any way, influence the top-down DEMOCRATIC process anyway. What's the point of having a discussion? Like it or not, we can't do a s___ to change things. And that's the fact.
You don't want a casino but can you stop it from being built? You don't want tax to be increased but can you do a s___? Come on lah, even MPs can't do that, what do you think you can achieve?
Ah, so you write a letter to a PARTICULAR forum in a PARTICULAR newspaper and you think you belong in a DEMOCRATIC process. You feel powerful. You feel active. So what?
After all that discussion, all it takes is a 2 hour speech and you can be assured that all matters are WRAPPED UP. SETTLED. CONFIRMED. So if you miss all the parliamentary debates, don;t worry. I can sum it up for you in one sentence:
Minsters' salary up again, after intense debates produced no evident results in influencing initial decisions.
In fact, I can sum it up further:
INITIAL DECISION= FINAL DECISION.
Remember, you can't do a s___.
Life's getting ... but wait... Summer's coming!!!
Sigh...
Sometimes I really hope time would slow down, sometimes I hope time would quicken its pace. I need time, I really need some time now. I have so many unread artcles, unread books, unread magazines.
Yet at the same time, I want school to end. Not looking forward to end of years, but rather looking forward to NS days and uni days and working days... Well, not exactly working days. Many people say I should treasure JC life more. More than the extent which I am treasuring it now. I am not exactly treasuring what I have now. Really.
For the past four years I woke up with a 'just another day attitude'. I went to school thinking that i was just another day. Another day of meeting people in white. Another day of sitting there in an air-conned classroom listening and writing and reading and stoning. Another day of projects and group assignments and graded essays and tests and '15 min 10 mark' quizzes and talking cock with friends.
Now that I have graduated from that place I called 2nd home for 4 years, I miss it. I miss HCL lessons. Honestly. I miss the times when Ms Yong actually suanned me and lixing. We suffered the most suans. I miss the times when Dr 'TC' Chionh scolds me for talking in class. And the times in the morning when we speculate if a certain personality would be ponning flag-raising. I miss walking down the fat corridor between senior block and the admin block when going to the stinkest toilet in the entire world. I miss the freedom to strip in class, on the 6th floor. I miss the CTs. Even the CTs. Yes. Even the CTs.
So maybe I should treasure my JC life more. No longer waking up with the 'another mundane day' attitude. No longer going to school for the sake of going to school attitude.
Anyway, looking forward to a few dates. Dates as in dates on the calendar, not dates as in the romantic ones.
1. 1st May- Spiderman 3. Venom and sandman appears. Spidey battles his darker side.
2. MAY 24TH- PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END.
3. 31st May- Shrek 3. Can't wait for eddie murphy and mike myers to strut their stuff.
4. June 14- Fantastic 4. Jessica Alba!!!
5. June 28- Die Hard 4.o. John McCane. Bald.
6. July 21st- Harry Potter 7. The book. Not the movie.
Other big stuff: Harry Potter 5 (movie), Simpsons movie...
Now you know why I want time to pass quickly.
Sometimes I really hope time would slow down, sometimes I hope time would quicken its pace. I need time, I really need some time now. I have so many unread artcles, unread books, unread magazines.
Yet at the same time, I want school to end. Not looking forward to end of years, but rather looking forward to NS days and uni days and working days... Well, not exactly working days. Many people say I should treasure JC life more. More than the extent which I am treasuring it now. I am not exactly treasuring what I have now. Really.
For the past four years I woke up with a 'just another day attitude'. I went to school thinking that i was just another day. Another day of meeting people in white. Another day of sitting there in an air-conned classroom listening and writing and reading and stoning. Another day of projects and group assignments and graded essays and tests and '15 min 10 mark' quizzes and talking cock with friends.
Now that I have graduated from that place I called 2nd home for 4 years, I miss it. I miss HCL lessons. Honestly. I miss the times when Ms Yong actually suanned me and lixing. We suffered the most suans. I miss the times when Dr 'TC' Chionh scolds me for talking in class. And the times in the morning when we speculate if a certain personality would be ponning flag-raising. I miss walking down the fat corridor between senior block and the admin block when going to the stinkest toilet in the entire world. I miss the freedom to strip in class, on the 6th floor. I miss the CTs. Even the CTs. Yes. Even the CTs.
So maybe I should treasure my JC life more. No longer waking up with the 'another mundane day' attitude. No longer going to school for the sake of going to school attitude.
Anyway, looking forward to a few dates. Dates as in dates on the calendar, not dates as in the romantic ones.
1. 1st May- Spiderman 3. Venom and sandman appears. Spidey battles his darker side.
2. MAY 24TH- PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN: AT WORLD'S END.
3. 31st May- Shrek 3. Can't wait for eddie murphy and mike myers to strut their stuff.
4. June 14- Fantastic 4. Jessica Alba!!!
5. June 28- Die Hard 4.o. John McCane. Bald.
6. July 21st- Harry Potter 7. The book. Not the movie.
Other big stuff: Harry Potter 5 (movie), Simpsons movie...
Now you know why I want time to pass quickly.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Meta-cognition I
Areas in which I really suck in:
1. Psychology- The human mind is so freakingly complex, how on earth do you expect me to read the minds of others?
2. Literature- Ok so I nearly failed my lower sec lit. Just couldn't read beyond the surface of the prose or poetry or whatever form of text they gave me. What's the use of being so profound? Life is simple.
3. Personal grooming- So what if I come to school looking like I've just woken up? So what if I last touched a comb more than 100 years ago? So what if my bathroom mirror is under-used? At least I'm not a metrosexual...
4. Fashion sense- So what if the only apparel shop I have been into alone is Bibi and Baba? Since I don't go how often, what's the use of buying expensive clothes?
5. Appearing to be serious. Not that i am not serious. It's just that I appear not to be.
6. Drawing.
7. Killing cockroaches. I just let a big ugly roach escape through my roll of newspapers. Damn.
1. Psychology- The human mind is so freakingly complex, how on earth do you expect me to read the minds of others?
2. Literature- Ok so I nearly failed my lower sec lit. Just couldn't read beyond the surface of the prose or poetry or whatever form of text they gave me. What's the use of being so profound? Life is simple.
3. Personal grooming- So what if I come to school looking like I've just woken up? So what if I last touched a comb more than 100 years ago? So what if my bathroom mirror is under-used? At least I'm not a metrosexual...
4. Fashion sense- So what if the only apparel shop I have been into alone is Bibi and Baba? Since I don't go how often, what's the use of buying expensive clothes?
5. Appearing to be serious. Not that i am not serious. It's just that I appear not to be.
6. Drawing.
7. Killing cockroaches. I just let a big ugly roach escape through my roll of newspapers. Damn.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Sunday, April 8, 2007
Random
I don't if I would ever cycle on the road again- This morning, the car which I was riding in almost collided into an arrogant cyclist. For the cyclist, he was lucky, for he almost, single-handedly, caused a car (which had to swerve to avoid him) to collide into a bus.
Jerome told me a story in six words: For sale, babies shoes, never worn.
Lets say a beggar goes begging. Taking out a mat, he sits and starts to shake his tin can. 50 people walk pass him in one minute, for it is a very busy street. 50% of the people are feeling generous, and they throw in something. Let's assume, that the average amount given per generous person is $0.25. That means that 25 people will give him a total of $6.25 per minute. For every hour he sits, the beggar's tin can accumulates a sum of $375. The beggar sits for 10 hours. At the end of the day, he has earned $3750. Newspapers report that Nina Wang, Asia's richest woman, spends $528 a month. The beggar has just secured his living for the next 7 months.
Jerome told me a story in six words: For sale, babies shoes, never worn.
Lets say a beggar goes begging. Taking out a mat, he sits and starts to shake his tin can. 50 people walk pass him in one minute, for it is a very busy street. 50% of the people are feeling generous, and they throw in something. Let's assume, that the average amount given per generous person is $0.25. That means that 25 people will give him a total of $6.25 per minute. For every hour he sits, the beggar's tin can accumulates a sum of $375. The beggar sits for 10 hours. At the end of the day, he has earned $3750. Newspapers report that Nina Wang, Asia's richest woman, spends $528 a month. The beggar has just secured his living for the next 7 months.
Qing Ming Festival
For many Christians around the world, this long weekend is significant because in the year 33AD, Jesus Christ, Iesos Christos Theou Huios Soter, was crucified on the Passover. Pardon me if my re-enactment of the actual event bares any inaccuracies, for I am not a Christian; i merely did some simple research on the crucifixion.
Anyway, the issue here that i want to blog about is not about Jesus or Good Friday, but rather, the Qing Ming Festival. For a very comprehensive guide to the Qing Ming Festival, please direct yourselves to this wonderful website, created by a bunch of Sec 4 kids from RI and HCI in the year 2006. It was designed by the marvellous ThinkQuest team comprising Nick Tong, Fung Shing, Darren Tan, Melvin, Yu Guang, and myself. More info regarding the team can be fond in the wensite itself.
http://nick.02raffles.net/tq
The Chinese have a firm tradition in giving respects to one's ancestors. Therefore, for many Chinese around the world, the Qing Ming Festival is viewed as an important one.
This morning, I went to offer my respects to my great-grandfather at the Chua Chu Kang Chinese Cemetery. Waking up at 5am, my entire family went down to the cemetery. Fortunately for us, the traffic was good. For me especially, it was an extremely nostalgic experience. It was the simple things that touched me. So many families, on a non-mandatory, non-obligatory contract, made the trip in the wee hours of the morning, bringing along torches, offerings and their sincere hearts. They were bound by tradition, by practicing such procedures, they were actually preserving the customs of the Chinese culture and passing down the tradition to the following generations.
It was the simple things that touched me. (This is not a mistake, I am purposely typing it again) It was sharing conversations with the elders of my family, in simple Teochew dialect, that touched me. It was cleaning the tomb of my great-grandfather, who passed away in 1977, that touched me. It was lighting the joss-sticks in the dark and offering a simple prayer to my ancestors that touched me. It was burning the hell-bank notes that touched me. It was helping my family members to lay out the offerings on the tomb that touched me.
I have no idea for how many years more can these practices be sustained. The Urban Redevelopment Agency has already announced that tombs in the Cemeteries will be exhumed soon for homes to be built. If that happens, the next generations will have nice homes to live in. They will also, most probably, watch cartoons on a Sunday morning during the Qing Ming period.
Anyway, the issue here that i want to blog about is not about Jesus or Good Friday, but rather, the Qing Ming Festival. For a very comprehensive guide to the Qing Ming Festival, please direct yourselves to this wonderful website, created by a bunch of Sec 4 kids from RI and HCI in the year 2006. It was designed by the marvellous ThinkQuest team comprising Nick Tong, Fung Shing, Darren Tan, Melvin, Yu Guang, and myself. More info regarding the team can be fond in the wensite itself.
http://nick.02raffles.net/tq
The Chinese have a firm tradition in giving respects to one's ancestors. Therefore, for many Chinese around the world, the Qing Ming Festival is viewed as an important one.
This morning, I went to offer my respects to my great-grandfather at the Chua Chu Kang Chinese Cemetery. Waking up at 5am, my entire family went down to the cemetery. Fortunately for us, the traffic was good. For me especially, it was an extremely nostalgic experience. It was the simple things that touched me. So many families, on a non-mandatory, non-obligatory contract, made the trip in the wee hours of the morning, bringing along torches, offerings and their sincere hearts. They were bound by tradition, by practicing such procedures, they were actually preserving the customs of the Chinese culture and passing down the tradition to the following generations.
It was the simple things that touched me. (This is not a mistake, I am purposely typing it again) It was sharing conversations with the elders of my family, in simple Teochew dialect, that touched me. It was cleaning the tomb of my great-grandfather, who passed away in 1977, that touched me. It was lighting the joss-sticks in the dark and offering a simple prayer to my ancestors that touched me. It was burning the hell-bank notes that touched me. It was helping my family members to lay out the offerings on the tomb that touched me.
I have no idea for how many years more can these practices be sustained. The Urban Redevelopment Agency has already announced that tombs in the Cemeteries will be exhumed soon for homes to be built. If that happens, the next generations will have nice homes to live in. They will also, most probably, watch cartoons on a Sunday morning during the Qing Ming period.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
This is for you, Mr. Yeo!
Yesterday, RICO went down to the Singapore Conference Hall for their 2007 SYF Central Judging competition. The Gold Award had eluded the orchestra since 1997, and the orchestra has been setting its sights on, though in vain, the pursuit of that gold award. Yesterday, under the baton of their new conductor Mr Lim Kiong Pin, the orchestra managed to wrestle the award back from the depths of uncertainty.
This example goes to show that impossible is nothing, if and only if, we set our sights on our goals. The signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the freedom of the black man in the US goes all out to prove this point. The abolishment of apartheid and the implementation of universal suffrage in South Africa also galvanises the fact that impossible is nothing.
One reason why RICO was able to get gold this year, apart from the fact that the judges were being lenient, was Mr Yeo. Mr Yeo was a good conductor, and an amazingly great person, and I am sure that while the orchestra was performing, they were motivated to achieve the gold for Mr Yeo. I, along with all the alumni of RICO, fervently hope to see him combat his malady and return as a stronger person. Remember, impossible is nothing.
This example goes to show that impossible is nothing, if and only if, we set our sights on our goals. The signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and the freedom of the black man in the US goes all out to prove this point. The abolishment of apartheid and the implementation of universal suffrage in South Africa also galvanises the fact that impossible is nothing.
One reason why RICO was able to get gold this year, apart from the fact that the judges were being lenient, was Mr Yeo. Mr Yeo was a good conductor, and an amazingly great person, and I am sure that while the orchestra was performing, they were motivated to achieve the gold for Mr Yeo. I, along with all the alumni of RICO, fervently hope to see him combat his malady and return as a stronger person. Remember, impossible is nothing.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Internet tests
Try this test out at http://www.princetonreview.com/cte/quiz/career_quiz1.asp
People with green Interests like job responsibilities and occupations that involve persuasion, sales, promotions, and group or personal contact. People with green Interests enjoy activities that include: motivating, mediating, selling, influencing, consensus building, persuading, delegating authority, entertaining, and lobbying. These Interests often lead to work in marketing, advertising, training, therapy, consulting, teaching, law, and public relations.
People with yellow styles perform their job responsibilities in a manner that is orderly and planned to meet a known schedule. They prefer to work where things get done with a minimum of interpretation and unexpected change. People with a yellow style tend to be orderly, cautious, structured, loyal, systematic, solitary, methodical, and organized, and usually thrive in a research-oriented, predictable, established, controlled, measurable, orderly environment. You will want to choose a work environment or career path in which your style is welcomed and produces results.
People with green Interests like job responsibilities and occupations that involve persuasion, sales, promotions, and group or personal contact. People with green Interests enjoy activities that include: motivating, mediating, selling, influencing, consensus building, persuading, delegating authority, entertaining, and lobbying. These Interests often lead to work in marketing, advertising, training, therapy, consulting, teaching, law, and public relations.
People with yellow styles perform their job responsibilities in a manner that is orderly and planned to meet a known schedule. They prefer to work where things get done with a minimum of interpretation and unexpected change. People with a yellow style tend to be orderly, cautious, structured, loyal, systematic, solitary, methodical, and organized, and usually thrive in a research-oriented, predictable, established, controlled, measurable, orderly environment. You will want to choose a work environment or career path in which your style is welcomed and produces results.
Sunday, April 1, 2007
Back from bridge camp
April fools!
Bridge camp was FUN! It was a nice get-away from school, and it was definitely better than the typical weekend i would have spent if I had not gone for the camp.
On the first day, we played duplicates bridge. After day 1 of action, Team 10 comprising Kiat Wee/Leon, YJ/me finished off ranked as 6th of out 10 teams. Not too good, but there is the 2nd day. after dinner that night, we watched a horror flick-Shutter. Not very scary but YJ and I were freaked out nevertheless. It's amazing what we can say when we scared to our balls. YJ started to make all the confessions he would never make when he was sober, but during the movie, all his inner-most feelings leaked out. After the movie, we went for a night walk. The entire school was quite dark by then- it was past 11pm. I went with Kiat Wee and Joshua. I hated the female toilet. we have to walk through this female toilet in the dark and the walls of the toilet were smeared with blood. The basins were filled with sick stuff, and the mirrors were freaky. If someone was hiding in the cubicle and jumped out when I was walking past, I would have died. seriously.
After the nightwalk, Muhd, Morgan, Alvin and I played hearts like crazy. We wanted to go all the way to 1000 points (shoot moon 40 times can already) , but we stopped at 3.30am. In the end, they were sabo-ing me like crazy. Unfair.
The next morning there was this treasure hunt thingy. Quite cool and very fun. The stations were all very creative and the route was well-planned. After lunch we played the second session of duplicates bridge. YJ and I were very inspired and we played amazing well, moving the team up 2 ranks and propelling the team to the semi-finals. We made some very lucky contracts and 3NT turned out to be our saviour! WOO HOO!
Then in the semis, we faced a strong team which has a J2 pair, Emm and Pet. Our strategy was to let Leon and Kiat Wee do the defending against the J2 pair while Yj and I do the aggressive attacking against the pair of J1 girls. We played well. In terms of points, Yj and I made 200 points while Emm and Pet only made 100. But in terms of IMPs, we lost by 2 IMPs. So we missed out on a top2 finishing. Kudos to Leon and Kiat wee for playing well and staying composed against the J2s. well done also to my partner Yj for remaining focused despite the distractions. Rite, YJ?
Sat night was station games. Marco and sky Koh were super funny during the robot man challenge, OMG! The charades station was also super entertaining. After station games, Muhd Alvin and woonie played hearts. Initially we wanted to play through the night, but we succumbed to exhaustion and went to sleep.
After breaking camp on Sun morning, I went home immediately. Was too tired. Then, while climbing the fence on my way out of the school compound, I lost grip and fell on top of the fence. OUCH! Luckily I used my thighs to break the fall and did not expose the crucial organs to the sharp parts on top of the fence.
After reaching home i slept from 10am to 5pm. Upon waking up, I realised that I have won a pair of movie tickets for having my book review published by the YC sections of the Sunday Times. Who should I go watch movie with? haha, I think i donate to my sister lah...
Bridge camp was FUN! It was a nice get-away from school, and it was definitely better than the typical weekend i would have spent if I had not gone for the camp.
On the first day, we played duplicates bridge. After day 1 of action, Team 10 comprising Kiat Wee/Leon, YJ/me finished off ranked as 6th of out 10 teams. Not too good, but there is the 2nd day. after dinner that night, we watched a horror flick-Shutter. Not very scary but YJ and I were freaked out nevertheless. It's amazing what we can say when we scared to our balls. YJ started to make all the confessions he would never make when he was sober, but during the movie, all his inner-most feelings leaked out. After the movie, we went for a night walk. The entire school was quite dark by then- it was past 11pm. I went with Kiat Wee and Joshua. I hated the female toilet. we have to walk through this female toilet in the dark and the walls of the toilet were smeared with blood. The basins were filled with sick stuff, and the mirrors were freaky. If someone was hiding in the cubicle and jumped out when I was walking past, I would have died. seriously.
After the nightwalk, Muhd, Morgan, Alvin and I played hearts like crazy. We wanted to go all the way to 1000 points (shoot moon 40 times can already) , but we stopped at 3.30am. In the end, they were sabo-ing me like crazy. Unfair.
The next morning there was this treasure hunt thingy. Quite cool and very fun. The stations were all very creative and the route was well-planned. After lunch we played the second session of duplicates bridge. YJ and I were very inspired and we played amazing well, moving the team up 2 ranks and propelling the team to the semi-finals. We made some very lucky contracts and 3NT turned out to be our saviour! WOO HOO!
Then in the semis, we faced a strong team which has a J2 pair, Emm and Pet. Our strategy was to let Leon and Kiat Wee do the defending against the J2 pair while Yj and I do the aggressive attacking against the pair of J1 girls. We played well. In terms of points, Yj and I made 200 points while Emm and Pet only made 100. But in terms of IMPs, we lost by 2 IMPs. So we missed out on a top2 finishing. Kudos to Leon and Kiat wee for playing well and staying composed against the J2s. well done also to my partner Yj for remaining focused despite the distractions. Rite, YJ?
Sat night was station games. Marco and sky Koh were super funny during the robot man challenge, OMG! The charades station was also super entertaining. After station games, Muhd Alvin and woonie played hearts. Initially we wanted to play through the night, but we succumbed to exhaustion and went to sleep.
After breaking camp on Sun morning, I went home immediately. Was too tired. Then, while climbing the fence on my way out of the school compound, I lost grip and fell on top of the fence. OUCH! Luckily I used my thighs to break the fall and did not expose the crucial organs to the sharp parts on top of the fence.
After reaching home i slept from 10am to 5pm. Upon waking up, I realised that I have won a pair of movie tickets for having my book review published by the YC sections of the Sunday Times. Who should I go watch movie with? haha, I think i donate to my sister lah...
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