Born to die. That's basically what Christmas is all about besides the season of giving thingy. The baby in the manger is here to die for everyone of us. That's his ultimate purpose. I can never ever fathom how Jesus might have actually felt and i dont think i ever deserved that kind of grace.
Will I ever be commited or convicted enough to die for someone? Die for my country? Die for a cause? Will that kind of situation ever occur and if it does, will i ever make that sacrifice?
Enough of the pessimism for now. Watched Chronicles of Narnia recently. Loved the book when i was young and the movie remained true to the actual book. I liked it. Had a short conversation with this guy called Ken during dinner about movies, songs with double meanings. To some people, The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe is just another fantasy movie but to people who realise it, the movie is a parable of the gospel story. Aslan = Jesus, Witch = Devil, Four kids = Us.
'Diamonds are forever, the rock is still alive whenever i rhyme.' Kanye West-Diamonds are Forever
Double lyrics in the meaning if u can get it. If u dont, it's just another song. I'm not trying to preach here but it's just quite interesting to hear the subtle references and double meanings there are nowadays in songs, movies etc etc
Monday, December 26
Thursday, December 22
Tick Tock
Christmas is round the corner! Yup i'm a free man this christmas... unlike the past two years. In addition to a great holiday/long weekend, it's the birth of Christ. Enough to get people like me thinking and reflecting.
On another note... My father took a picture with David Beckham. Yup u heard me right. But the only problem is that the picture was so badly taken that i could only see the side and back of Beckham. At first i couldnt even recognize who that was until my father told me it was Beckham. Upon further scrutiny then i concluded that it was the midfielder. i.e Flamboyant clothes, blonde hair, shiny bling bling earrings, slightly unshaven even though he is sponsered by Gilette... haha. I think the picture was taken when he was over here in singapore promoting the London Olympics thingy. When i told my father that i couldnt even see beckham's face clearly, he just replied 'what's most important is that my face appeared clearly' hahaha
Have i met and shook hands with any famous people before? hmmm i highly doubt so. I would definitely wanna shake these people's hands and have a photo taken with them if i ever have a chance.
1) Paolo Maldini
2) Johnny Depp
3) Michael Jordan
4) David Ginola
yeah most of them were my childhood idols. The talent and never-say-die attitude of Jordan, the eccentricity and good looks of Depp, the respect and influence Maldini commanded, the charisma and the magic Ginola weaved... All the qualities that i wished i would one day possess when i grew older. Boyhood dreams that never materialised. oh well nobody's perfect i guess.
2 or 3 more days before i'm done with work. this weekend is looking good. Then i can start my holidays officially. I need my break. Thank goodness i'm a student and i have this insane 3 months break! woohoo! sorry working folks.
On another note... My father took a picture with David Beckham. Yup u heard me right. But the only problem is that the picture was so badly taken that i could only see the side and back of Beckham. At first i couldnt even recognize who that was until my father told me it was Beckham. Upon further scrutiny then i concluded that it was the midfielder. i.e Flamboyant clothes, blonde hair, shiny bling bling earrings, slightly unshaven even though he is sponsered by Gilette... haha. I think the picture was taken when he was over here in singapore promoting the London Olympics thingy. When i told my father that i couldnt even see beckham's face clearly, he just replied 'what's most important is that my face appeared clearly' hahaha
Have i met and shook hands with any famous people before? hmmm i highly doubt so. I would definitely wanna shake these people's hands and have a photo taken with them if i ever have a chance.
1) Paolo Maldini
2) Johnny Depp
3) Michael Jordan
4) David Ginola
yeah most of them were my childhood idols. The talent and never-say-die attitude of Jordan, the eccentricity and good looks of Depp, the respect and influence Maldini commanded, the charisma and the magic Ginola weaved... All the qualities that i wished i would one day possess when i grew older. Boyhood dreams that never materialised. oh well nobody's perfect i guess.
2 or 3 more days before i'm done with work. this weekend is looking good. Then i can start my holidays officially. I need my break. Thank goodness i'm a student and i have this insane 3 months break! woohoo! sorry working folks.
Friday, December 16
Tru n fro
Yeah i've become a stay out personel. Get to go to and back from camp everyday!
and 14 more days left! with 3 days of leave! My christmas pressie is my newfound freedom!....... again
'You're the last person that will ever sign on!' That's what my friend told me. I consider that a great compliment... hahahaha
One of the things i realised over the past few weeks is that the sacarsm is back... Being 'kaopeh', 'niao' etc etc like i've never been this past year in Aussie. Guys should know what i mean. Thankfully, some people will never be able to see that part of me.
and 14 more days left! with 3 days of leave! My christmas pressie is my newfound freedom!....... again
'You're the last person that will ever sign on!' That's what my friend told me. I consider that a great compliment... hahahaha
One of the things i realised over the past few weeks is that the sacarsm is back... Being 'kaopeh', 'niao' etc etc like i've never been this past year in Aussie. Guys should know what i mean. Thankfully, some people will never be able to see that part of me.
Sunday, December 11
Down Memory Lane
Pre warning: Army post below. stop now if u do not want to read
I still remember the fateful day on the 24th Jan 03, when i first stepped in to the world of army. The torrid of emotions, with uncertainty being the predominant emotion. I see the same in the recruits that in my battalion now. They got enlisted on the 9th Dec while me on the hand will be leaving on the 30th Dec. woohooo! suckers
But jokes aside, i have to take my hats off to all my friends/buddies in army. These are the dudes that really make a big big difference in all the ups and downs in 42 SAR.
All the events that occured, waiting for the "LULL" period which never came...
Brunei, AOH 04, ATEC, 2/4 NTM etc etc the list goes on and on.
Fellow specs Alvin, Jeremy 'leader', Hian Ping, Xueyong, Xingfei, Mike, KS, Yanhao, Joey, Edmond etc etc... You guys were the only good thing that Lion Company ever had, in my opinion. Lion company just isnt the same anymore.
I'm glad that we are done and over with 42. I seriously wish u guys all the best, if i havent did that yet.
I still remember the fateful day on the 24th Jan 03, when i first stepped in to the world of army. The torrid of emotions, with uncertainty being the predominant emotion. I see the same in the recruits that in my battalion now. They got enlisted on the 9th Dec while me on the hand will be leaving on the 30th Dec. woohooo! suckers
But jokes aside, i have to take my hats off to all my friends/buddies in army. These are the dudes that really make a big big difference in all the ups and downs in 42 SAR.
All the events that occured, waiting for the "LULL" period which never came...
Brunei, AOH 04, ATEC, 2/4 NTM etc etc the list goes on and on.
Fellow specs Alvin, Jeremy 'leader', Hian Ping, Xueyong, Xingfei, Mike, KS, Yanhao, Joey, Edmond etc etc... You guys were the only good thing that Lion Company ever had, in my opinion. Lion company just isnt the same anymore.
I'm glad that we are done and over with 42. I seriously wish u guys all the best, if i havent did that yet.
Sunday, December 4
Death Sentences
The vietnamese/australian dude was hanged here in sg a few days ago, sparking off a heated debate and boycott against sg back in aussie.
All i can say is: Get on with life. To each man his own.
I dont wanna deal with the reprecussions when i get back.
All i can say is: Get on with life. To each man his own.
I dont wanna deal with the reprecussions when i get back.
5 random things
5 random facts about me. hmmmm was told to do this.
1. I'm single
2. I used to like techno/trance music... maybe still abit now.
3. I saved someone from drowning once... but i sometimes i think i should have let that guy drown.
4. I'm probably taller than you.
5. I'm obnoxious, yes i know that. Thank you very much
haha ok now that was random
1. I'm single
2. I used to like techno/trance music... maybe still abit now.
3. I saved someone from drowning once... but i sometimes i think i should have let that guy drown.
4. I'm probably taller than you.
5. I'm obnoxious, yes i know that. Thank you very much
haha ok now that was random
Reminiscence
Growing old is a pain. University is the last stretch in my life when i can truly enjoy up to 3 months worth of holidays/break. Sure studying can be a pain sometimes, but i really appreciate the given chance to study. This short stint in the army really reminds me of that fact. Nothing beats being a student!
Life is fleeting. Soon i'll be working and working just signifies the beginning of the end of life. Bills to pay, mouths to feed. That's life for ya. But that's another chapter of life i've yet to reach yet.
Just more army rants from me for now:
Army is really different without the friends. Army buddies really made a difference in the total NS experience. Friends that went through thick and thin with me. Especially all the bad times there were in 42. Now we can just look back and laugh at it. Doing my short stint in army alone really sucks. Not knowing anyone or having gd friends in camp bores the hell out of me.
I'm starting to be afraid of growing old.
Everyone gets on with their own lives. Everything becomes memories eventually. That's the way it works i guess so cherish the times now.
Merry merry christmas, lonely lonely christmas.... again
Life is fleeting. Soon i'll be working and working just signifies the beginning of the end of life. Bills to pay, mouths to feed. That's life for ya. But that's another chapter of life i've yet to reach yet.
Just more army rants from me for now:
Army is really different without the friends. Army buddies really made a difference in the total NS experience. Friends that went through thick and thin with me. Especially all the bad times there were in 42. Now we can just look back and laugh at it. Doing my short stint in army alone really sucks. Not knowing anyone or having gd friends in camp bores the hell out of me.
I'm starting to be afraid of growing old.
Everyone gets on with their own lives. Everything becomes memories eventually. That's the way it works i guess so cherish the times now.
Merry merry christmas, lonely lonely christmas.... again
Saturday, November 26
Thursday, November 24
In Limbo
Have u ever felt this way?
That you are in a place so familiar... yet you dont feel like you belong there at all. Like you are stuck in twilight zone. I know this place so well but i don't belong here at all. That's what I felt this whole morning when i returned to 42. The place is just a shadow of its former self. The place was literally turned inside out. Lion Coy is no longer Lion Coy... gone are the colourful walls. The whole battalion looks like a hospital now. Walls painted in white, beige and the dullest colours you can ever find. And the place is feeling like a mental hospital.
I'm grateful that i'm a student now. After just a day of being a soldier again, i felt like one whole clusters of brain cells just died. You just become more stupid in army. There is mental deteoriation occuring in camp nowadays.
I went back to camp early in the morning to report and they were surprised that i turned up and didnt even know what to do with me. I am sort of like a Pseudo Soldier now. Enlisted but still with my pink IC, not that i want my 11B back of course. I'm like this passing ghost that exists in camp only this month. Not that im complaining but it really bores the crap out of me. I understand why now i hated it so much back then. My mind just took a backward step. Rotting away in camp. Had lunch at 1100am after that i rotted in bunk. Furthermore most of the things I get to do in army is just a chore, an irritation, not much thinking required. That is why so many army people use their brain cells to think of how to malinger and escape the system. Work in army is just literally called "shit work" in hokkien. You know how army commercials always potray a very fun and exciting picture of army? That's fake. Period. Not the best way to spend my holidays... ARGH
Bottomline: I HATE THE SAF haha
That you are in a place so familiar... yet you dont feel like you belong there at all. Like you are stuck in twilight zone. I know this place so well but i don't belong here at all. That's what I felt this whole morning when i returned to 42. The place is just a shadow of its former self. The place was literally turned inside out. Lion Coy is no longer Lion Coy... gone are the colourful walls. The whole battalion looks like a hospital now. Walls painted in white, beige and the dullest colours you can ever find. And the place is feeling like a mental hospital.
I'm grateful that i'm a student now. After just a day of being a soldier again, i felt like one whole clusters of brain cells just died. You just become more stupid in army. There is mental deteoriation occuring in camp nowadays.
I went back to camp early in the morning to report and they were surprised that i turned up and didnt even know what to do with me. I am sort of like a Pseudo Soldier now. Enlisted but still with my pink IC, not that i want my 11B back of course. I'm like this passing ghost that exists in camp only this month. Not that im complaining but it really bores the crap out of me. I understand why now i hated it so much back then. My mind just took a backward step. Rotting away in camp. Had lunch at 1100am after that i rotted in bunk. Furthermore most of the things I get to do in army is just a chore, an irritation, not much thinking required. That is why so many army people use their brain cells to think of how to malinger and escape the system. Work in army is just literally called "shit work" in hokkien. You know how army commercials always potray a very fun and exciting picture of army? That's fake. Period. Not the best way to spend my holidays... ARGH
Bottomline: I HATE THE SAF haha
Wednesday, November 23
Becoz Of You
The more things change, the more things stay the same.
Despite of talk about sg changing, the TV still sucks here. Seriously lack of gd TV shows. The only exceptions are a few foreign dramas i.e korean/japanese. For English programmes, Aussie beats sg hands down... Numb3rs, House MD, Lost, Grey's Anatomy, Rove Live etc etc. The Chinese drama serials are just plain disgusting... I fall in love with you, I backstab you, I try to harm you, I cheat you, I get revenge. You catch my drift? Why do most Chinese dramas have this scheming and plotting nonsense? There's more than one way to create a plot twist. Chinese drama serial (Local ones) become so predictable sometimes.
Onto more rants: why do TV hosts always wanna act cute? Is this what the general audience wants? It's really quite sad to come back after a while and still find Fiona Xie acting cute. Give her a better identity instead of this cutiepie nonsense. It's lost its novelty. Simply no change. You know how people and things improve, evolve into something better? It apparently doesnt occur here. Rather there seems to be a case of degeneracy (pardon the science terms). Personally i would rather see Lisa Ang host than Fiona Xie host. There was this other not so manly host on TV who seriously needed some testosterone stuffed down his throat. Urgh... Now Channel NewsAsia has become my new favourite channel. Simply because its more professional. Or i prefer to turn off my TV and not to be forcefed the nonsense that appears on screen nowadays.
Anyway, I thinked i might have gone slightly crazy... Before my flight back, I was at the newstand trying to figure out what to buy and read. None of the books really interested me so i went to the magazine stands. FHM, Ralph, Gamepro etc etc... I dont know what really possessed me to do it but i actually bought New Scientist and boarded the plane with it. Lo and behold, i am really on my way to becoming a full time geek/nerd. I actually understood most of the articles in the mag and found it intersting (spent 2 hours reading new scientist on the flight)... haha shock and horror. And in my past few days in sg, i went to most MPH, Popular and realised something: There's not a single science mag on sale. That's quite saddening. Maybe i should go down to borders to check it out. OR maybe i've gone slightly insane... haha
Yup in a few hours i will be back at the Doghouse... the army camp called 42. No idea what they are goin 2 throw at me this time. Hopefully i will get it over and done with and i can kiss all my liabilities in sg gdbye. Never wanna have anything to do with the SAF anymore. I should really get an Aus PR or citizen as a gf, marry her and become a PR myself... Get a job in some foreign country hahaha no more reservist then !
Despite of talk about sg changing, the TV still sucks here. Seriously lack of gd TV shows. The only exceptions are a few foreign dramas i.e korean/japanese. For English programmes, Aussie beats sg hands down... Numb3rs, House MD, Lost, Grey's Anatomy, Rove Live etc etc. The Chinese drama serials are just plain disgusting... I fall in love with you, I backstab you, I try to harm you, I cheat you, I get revenge. You catch my drift? Why do most Chinese dramas have this scheming and plotting nonsense? There's more than one way to create a plot twist. Chinese drama serial (Local ones) become so predictable sometimes.
Onto more rants: why do TV hosts always wanna act cute? Is this what the general audience wants? It's really quite sad to come back after a while and still find Fiona Xie acting cute. Give her a better identity instead of this cutiepie nonsense. It's lost its novelty. Simply no change. You know how people and things improve, evolve into something better? It apparently doesnt occur here. Rather there seems to be a case of degeneracy (pardon the science terms). Personally i would rather see Lisa Ang host than Fiona Xie host. There was this other not so manly host on TV who seriously needed some testosterone stuffed down his throat. Urgh... Now Channel NewsAsia has become my new favourite channel. Simply because its more professional. Or i prefer to turn off my TV and not to be forcefed the nonsense that appears on screen nowadays.
Anyway, I thinked i might have gone slightly crazy... Before my flight back, I was at the newstand trying to figure out what to buy and read. None of the books really interested me so i went to the magazine stands. FHM, Ralph, Gamepro etc etc... I dont know what really possessed me to do it but i actually bought New Scientist and boarded the plane with it. Lo and behold, i am really on my way to becoming a full time geek/nerd. I actually understood most of the articles in the mag and found it intersting (spent 2 hours reading new scientist on the flight)... haha shock and horror. And in my past few days in sg, i went to most MPH, Popular and realised something: There's not a single science mag on sale. That's quite saddening. Maybe i should go down to borders to check it out. OR maybe i've gone slightly insane... haha
Yup in a few hours i will be back at the Doghouse... the army camp called 42. No idea what they are goin 2 throw at me this time. Hopefully i will get it over and done with and i can kiss all my liabilities in sg gdbye. Never wanna have anything to do with the SAF anymore. I should really get an Aus PR or citizen as a gf, marry her and become a PR myself... Get a job in some foreign country hahaha no more reservist then !
Sunday, November 20
Home Sweet Home?
Yup i'm back on sunny island after a year.
First of all, its hot and HUMID here... i can literally smell the water vapour around me and i'm feel like i'm swimming in gaseous H2O. The sweat doesnt really help too.
My dad went to England and bought me an Arsenal Shirt. Rather 3 Arsenal shirts. Oh man... the irony of it all. I've got Man U, Arsenal but no tottenham shirts/jersey. but i gotta admit: the nike material is really gd and im seriously tempted to wear the stupid t-shirt out. after all, its only a piece of clothing.
And someone really cleaned up Singapore when i was gone. Couldnt find any pirated joints in any nearby neighbourhoods. That seriously sucks.
Went to the new big library in SG. Nice building, stupid place. Nothing really interesting in the library. 4 levels worth of references you CANT borrow home; references that can be easily found in any uni library i think. NO STUDYING in the reference section of the library. Then as expected, the reference section was EMPTY except for a few souls... even though its the exam period here. the only place you can borrow books is at the basement. The place is really a joke.
That's all that's happen so far here. Place has changed quite a bit...
First of all, its hot and HUMID here... i can literally smell the water vapour around me and i'm feel like i'm swimming in gaseous H2O. The sweat doesnt really help too.
My dad went to England and bought me an Arsenal Shirt. Rather 3 Arsenal shirts. Oh man... the irony of it all. I've got Man U, Arsenal but no tottenham shirts/jersey. but i gotta admit: the nike material is really gd and im seriously tempted to wear the stupid t-shirt out. after all, its only a piece of clothing.
And someone really cleaned up Singapore when i was gone. Couldnt find any pirated joints in any nearby neighbourhoods. That seriously sucks.
Went to the new big library in SG. Nice building, stupid place. Nothing really interesting in the library. 4 levels worth of references you CANT borrow home; references that can be easily found in any uni library i think. NO STUDYING in the reference section of the library. Then as expected, the reference section was EMPTY except for a few souls... even though its the exam period here. the only place you can borrow books is at the basement. The place is really a joke.
That's all that's happen so far here. Place has changed quite a bit...
Thursday, November 17
Golden and Green
The gold and green jersey is flying high today.
Australia is in the world cup finals~! Man was it crazy when they won the qualifier against Uruaguay. The streets just erupted... Cars were just honking away the whole night. Interesting... gives me a new team to support in the following world cup. Better than forever waiting for sg. The joker Kewell proved my wrong today. He's still got something in him after all that injury problems.
So what else is happening?
Well i'm heading back to sg this weekend. Mixed feelings on going back. If it aint for the cheap cheap cheap food that exists in sg, and the family and friends that i wanna catch up with, i wouldnt even step a foot on that island.
In the mean time, here's just some photos of my frens in Melbourne
The brothers.........don't ask about the buns man.
Me... and i swear that is Nick's favourite pose. I always see him do that.
Melongaster, Alan and Seth
Charlie's Angels
ok that's enough for now. will try to pass u guys the pics soon.
Australia is in the world cup finals~! Man was it crazy when they won the qualifier against Uruaguay. The streets just erupted... Cars were just honking away the whole night. Interesting... gives me a new team to support in the following world cup. Better than forever waiting for sg. The joker Kewell proved my wrong today. He's still got something in him after all that injury problems.
So what else is happening?
Well i'm heading back to sg this weekend. Mixed feelings on going back. If it aint for the cheap cheap cheap food that exists in sg, and the family and friends that i wanna catch up with, i wouldnt even step a foot on that island.
In the mean time, here's just some photos of my frens in Melbourne
The brothers.........don't ask about the buns man.
Me... and i swear that is Nick's favourite pose. I always see him do that.
Melongaster, Alan and Seth
Charlie's Angels
ok that's enough for now. will try to pass u guys the pics soon.
Wednesday, November 9
The game has changed
Couldnt resist the urge just to blabber a few comments, even when im like right smack in between preparations for papers.
First of all, bio was bad. The difficulty of the paper was definitely upped a few notces, which bodes ill for me. I don't usually complain about papers but when i do... it's serious. The last time i complained and whined, i ended up failing. I'm not some typical singaporean student that whines and moans after every single paper i take. The people who whine most normally do the best in my opinion.
This bio paper is the welcome to the real biomed i guess.
Now onto my last physics exam of my life i hope.
One last time, and i kiss goodbye to physics.
It's not over till i say it's over.
First of all, bio was bad. The difficulty of the paper was definitely upped a few notces, which bodes ill for me. I don't usually complain about papers but when i do... it's serious. The last time i complained and whined, i ended up failing. I'm not some typical singaporean student that whines and moans after every single paper i take. The people who whine most normally do the best in my opinion.
This bio paper is the welcome to the real biomed i guess.
Now onto my last physics exam of my life i hope.
One last time, and i kiss goodbye to physics.
It's not over till i say it's over.
Sunday, November 6
Final Wishes
Yeah on final post before the exams come around this Tuesday.
Feeling uncertain as usual.
Random thoughts of the day:
Sometimes i just wish i can take away people's worries, fears and sadness.
but then again, im no Santa Claus.
'It's your life, choose what you want to do with it.'
I choose to surpass you.
Oh well... here's to a excellent week ahead. Cheers guys!
Feeling uncertain as usual.
Random thoughts of the day:
Sometimes i just wish i can take away people's worries, fears and sadness.
but then again, im no Santa Claus.
'It's your life, choose what you want to do with it.'
I choose to surpass you.
Oh well... here's to a excellent week ahead. Cheers guys!
Wednesday, November 2
Tuesday, November 1
Midnight Express
It's 4am... yar i'm done for the day/night whatever.
I hope its gonna be a beautiful day later.
at least keep the weather nice as i try my best to figure a way out of this exam mess
I hope its gonna be a beautiful day later.
at least keep the weather nice as i try my best to figure a way out of this exam mess
Saturday, October 29
6th Avenue Heartache
Last day of school. Exams are around the corner.
I dont even know should i post this : Be thankful for your exams. There are alot of people who can't afford education at all.
How so very true that statement is. There are worse things than exams I guess.
Back in army, I often moaned about how life sucks and wished to go to uni and study.
Now that i'm out and actually studying in uni, I guess that I should be thankful in a way... despite exams and stuff.
I guess that most people are never grateful with what they already have, and i'm guilty of that too.
I dont even know should i post this : Be thankful for your exams. There are alot of people who can't afford education at all.
How so very true that statement is. There are worse things than exams I guess.
Back in army, I often moaned about how life sucks and wished to go to uni and study.
Now that i'm out and actually studying in uni, I guess that I should be thankful in a way... despite exams and stuff.
I guess that most people are never grateful with what they already have, and i'm guilty of that too.
Friday, October 28
Absolutely Lovely
Had a absolutely wonderful evening.
Nice parties... and
It's just pleasant to have an intelligent conversation with people sometimes, regardless of the time.
Nice parties... and
It's just pleasant to have an intelligent conversation with people sometimes, regardless of the time.
Wednesday, October 26
CAPITAL PUNSIHMENT
A follow up from a last post...
Take some time off to read it and think about it, guess we'll never see these sort of reports back home.
The article does not represent my views on the incident.
(Brings back the GP memories)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Australian heroin mule Nguyen Tuong Van will be hanged in Singapore using a method devised in 19th-century Britain, writes Nick Cater
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 26, 2005
THE hangman's craft calls for a good stout rope with enough tensile strength to withstand a force of about 570kg, which is sufficient to snap the neck of a condemned prisoner, putting them in a coma for the six minutes or so it takes the brain to shut down.
If the pressure on the side of the neck from the noose is less than 570kg when the body's fall is arrested, the prisoner will probably suffer prolonged death by strangulation.
Should the hangman miscalculate the length of the rope, allowing the body to fall too far, the force will be too great and, unless the rope snaps, death will be by decapitation.
Hanging grew in popularity from the 5th century onwards in Europe as a means of execution, partly because it provided a spectacle. The body of a murderer, witch or thief was strung high above the crowd, giving everyone a perfect view.
But judicial hanging is never tidy, even when professionally executed, and these days in pristine Singapore executions are carried out quietly, with a minimum of publicity, behind the walls of the rebuilt Changi Prison.
The Singapore Government stopped announcing executions five years ago and refuses to give out any information about life on death row. Although it is happy to publicise the death penalty in abstraction, believing its existence to be a deterrent to drug traffickers, the details of the execution, using a method devised in 19th-century Britain, are never officially discussed.
Nevertheless it is possible to piece together a detailed picture of how convicted Australian heroin trafficker Nguyen Tuong Van's life will end, using accounts obtained from relatives of prisoners by Amnesty International and from a rare interview I conducted in 1996 with the Malaysian hangman who executed Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers, also for heroin trafficking.
Before their post-colonial separation in 1965, Singapore and Malaysia had a joint prisons department and, despite their technological advances in many other areas, the Singaporeans have been unable to improve on the long-drop execution technique introduced to British prisons in 1872. The mechanics and rituals of this macabre colonial legacy have barely altered since the mother country hanged its last prisoner 41 years ago.
A week or so before the twin trap doors open beneath her son's feet, Kim Nguyen can expect to receive a terse letter from the superintendent of Changi Prison. "You are advised to make the necessary funeral arrangements," the letter will say. "If you are unable to do so, cremation will be carried out by the state."
Nguyen Tuong Van was about to fly to Melbourne when he was caught in transit at Changi airport in December 2002 with almost 400g of heroin strapped to his body and in his hand luggage. He said he had been pressured by loan sharks to act as a drug mule to help pay off his twin brother Khoa's legal debts of $25,000. The sales executive from Glen Waverley, a middle-class suburb east of Melbourne, has no previous criminal record. He was sentenced to death in March last year. After Singapore's President S.R. Nathan refused his clemency petition last Friday, Nguyen is set to become the first Australian to be executed in 12 years, since Sydney barman Michael McAuliffe was hanged in Malaysia in 1993 for heroin trafficking.
Nguyen, 25, will spend the final days of his short life in an isolation cell approximately 3mx3m, furnished with a toilet and a bed mat but no bedding.
In Nguyen's final few days, the regulation restricting family visiting time to 20 minutes a week will be relaxed, although physical contact will be strictly forbidden.
Nguyen is also allowed a television in his cell to receive the sanitised entertainment provided by Singapore's Channel Five English-language service.
Finally, on the night before his execution, he will be allowed to eat a takeaway meal of his choice, within the prison's budget.
Earlier that day Nguyen will meet his executioner, who will weigh him and examine his physique. After subtracting 6.3kg from the body weight, the notional weight of the head, the executioner will consult the Official Table of Drops, last revised in 1913, to calculate the length of the rope.
British Home Office regulations, adopted by Singapore, stipulate that the drop will be between 1.83m and 2.44m. For a condemned man weighing 66kg, for example, the rope should be 2.03m, with an additional 33cm added for the circumference of the neck.
Before Britain abolished the death penalty in 1964, the rope was specially made at a factory in Wellington, Somerset, woven from Italian silk hemp, chosen because it did not stretch. Elasticity in a rope reduces the deceleration force on the victim's neck, making death more painful. Today the favoured rope is made of Terylene, the least elastic of all the synthetic fibres used in rope making.
Friday is execution day at Changi, and before the sun rises, the hangman and
his assistant will test the lever operating the twin trap doors and recheck the measurement of the rope.
Once the prisoner is collected from his cell shortly before 6am, speed is of the essence. The longer it takes, the greater the opportunity for panic and struggle.
A hood is placed over the prisoner's head and his hands are pinioned behind his back, usually with handcuffs. His legs are bound together with wire to prevent him kicking out and catching them against the sides of the trapdoor. The rope, attached to a concealed beam, is positioned around the neck and the trapdoor lever on the execution platform is pulled. The clunk of the wooden doors echoes around the chamber. Before the prison was modernised, the sound could be clearly heard by other prisoners on death row. If everything goes to plan, the strike force of the noose will dislocate
the neck at the second and third cervical vertebrae, the classic hangman's fracture. The prisoner will enter complete neurogenic shock, unable to process pain, although electrical activity may continue in the brain for several minutes after the spinal cord is cut.
The body is left for 30 minutes. A doctor will perform an autopsy and issue a death certificate. By mid-morning the cadaver is ready for collection by relatives.
When prime minister Goh Chok Tong was asked in a BBC interview two years ago if he knew the precise number of people executed in 2003, he replied dismissively: "I've got more important issues to worry about."
Amnesty International claims more than 400 prisoners were hanged in Singapore from 1991 to 2003, the highest per capita rate of executions in the world by a considerable margin. More than half of those executed were drug traffickers.
In Singapore the issue is rarely debated, the country's low crime rate being
seen as sufficient justification for capital punishment. Abolition, it is said, would send the wrong message to criminals who may interpret it as an indication that the Government is going soft on crime.
Albert Pierrepoint, Britain's hangman for 25 years, saw things somewhat differently in his 1974 autobiography. "All the men and women whom I have faced at that final moment convince me that in what I have done, I have not prevented a single murder," he confessed. "I do not now believe that any one of the hundreds of executions I carried out has in any way acted as a deterrent against future murder. Capital punishment, in my view, achieved nothing except revenge."
Nick Cater is The Australian's assistant editor (news) and a former News Limited Asia correspondent.
Take some time off to read it and think about it, guess we'll never see these sort of reports back home.
The article does not represent my views on the incident.
(Brings back the GP memories)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Australian heroin mule Nguyen Tuong Van will be hanged in Singapore using a method devised in 19th-century Britain, writes Nick Cater
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 26, 2005
THE hangman's craft calls for a good stout rope with enough tensile strength to withstand a force of about 570kg, which is sufficient to snap the neck of a condemned prisoner, putting them in a coma for the six minutes or so it takes the brain to shut down.
If the pressure on the side of the neck from the noose is less than 570kg when the body's fall is arrested, the prisoner will probably suffer prolonged death by strangulation.
Should the hangman miscalculate the length of the rope, allowing the body to fall too far, the force will be too great and, unless the rope snaps, death will be by decapitation.
Hanging grew in popularity from the 5th century onwards in Europe as a means of execution, partly because it provided a spectacle. The body of a murderer, witch or thief was strung high above the crowd, giving everyone a perfect view.
But judicial hanging is never tidy, even when professionally executed, and these days in pristine Singapore executions are carried out quietly, with a minimum of publicity, behind the walls of the rebuilt Changi Prison.
The Singapore Government stopped announcing executions five years ago and refuses to give out any information about life on death row. Although it is happy to publicise the death penalty in abstraction, believing its existence to be a deterrent to drug traffickers, the details of the execution, using a method devised in 19th-century Britain, are never officially discussed.
Nevertheless it is possible to piece together a detailed picture of how convicted Australian heroin trafficker Nguyen Tuong Van's life will end, using accounts obtained from relatives of prisoners by Amnesty International and from a rare interview I conducted in 1996 with the Malaysian hangman who executed Kevin Barlow and Brian Chambers, also for heroin trafficking.
Before their post-colonial separation in 1965, Singapore and Malaysia had a joint prisons department and, despite their technological advances in many other areas, the Singaporeans have been unable to improve on the long-drop execution technique introduced to British prisons in 1872. The mechanics and rituals of this macabre colonial legacy have barely altered since the mother country hanged its last prisoner 41 years ago.
A week or so before the twin trap doors open beneath her son's feet, Kim Nguyen can expect to receive a terse letter from the superintendent of Changi Prison. "You are advised to make the necessary funeral arrangements," the letter will say. "If you are unable to do so, cremation will be carried out by the state."
Nguyen Tuong Van was about to fly to Melbourne when he was caught in transit at Changi airport in December 2002 with almost 400g of heroin strapped to his body and in his hand luggage. He said he had been pressured by loan sharks to act as a drug mule to help pay off his twin brother Khoa's legal debts of $25,000. The sales executive from Glen Waverley, a middle-class suburb east of Melbourne, has no previous criminal record. He was sentenced to death in March last year. After Singapore's President S.R. Nathan refused his clemency petition last Friday, Nguyen is set to become the first Australian to be executed in 12 years, since Sydney barman Michael McAuliffe was hanged in Malaysia in 1993 for heroin trafficking.
Nguyen, 25, will spend the final days of his short life in an isolation cell approximately 3mx3m, furnished with a toilet and a bed mat but no bedding.
In Nguyen's final few days, the regulation restricting family visiting time to 20 minutes a week will be relaxed, although physical contact will be strictly forbidden.
Nguyen is also allowed a television in his cell to receive the sanitised entertainment provided by Singapore's Channel Five English-language service.
Finally, on the night before his execution, he will be allowed to eat a takeaway meal of his choice, within the prison's budget.
Earlier that day Nguyen will meet his executioner, who will weigh him and examine his physique. After subtracting 6.3kg from the body weight, the notional weight of the head, the executioner will consult the Official Table of Drops, last revised in 1913, to calculate the length of the rope.
British Home Office regulations, adopted by Singapore, stipulate that the drop will be between 1.83m and 2.44m. For a condemned man weighing 66kg, for example, the rope should be 2.03m, with an additional 33cm added for the circumference of the neck.
Before Britain abolished the death penalty in 1964, the rope was specially made at a factory in Wellington, Somerset, woven from Italian silk hemp, chosen because it did not stretch. Elasticity in a rope reduces the deceleration force on the victim's neck, making death more painful. Today the favoured rope is made of Terylene, the least elastic of all the synthetic fibres used in rope making.
Friday is execution day at Changi, and before the sun rises, the hangman and
his assistant will test the lever operating the twin trap doors and recheck the measurement of the rope.
Once the prisoner is collected from his cell shortly before 6am, speed is of the essence. The longer it takes, the greater the opportunity for panic and struggle.
A hood is placed over the prisoner's head and his hands are pinioned behind his back, usually with handcuffs. His legs are bound together with wire to prevent him kicking out and catching them against the sides of the trapdoor. The rope, attached to a concealed beam, is positioned around the neck and the trapdoor lever on the execution platform is pulled. The clunk of the wooden doors echoes around the chamber. Before the prison was modernised, the sound could be clearly heard by other prisoners on death row. If everything goes to plan, the strike force of the noose will dislocate
the neck at the second and third cervical vertebrae, the classic hangman's fracture. The prisoner will enter complete neurogenic shock, unable to process pain, although electrical activity may continue in the brain for several minutes after the spinal cord is cut.
The body is left for 30 minutes. A doctor will perform an autopsy and issue a death certificate. By mid-morning the cadaver is ready for collection by relatives.
When prime minister Goh Chok Tong was asked in a BBC interview two years ago if he knew the precise number of people executed in 2003, he replied dismissively: "I've got more important issues to worry about."
Amnesty International claims more than 400 prisoners were hanged in Singapore from 1991 to 2003, the highest per capita rate of executions in the world by a considerable margin. More than half of those executed were drug traffickers.
In Singapore the issue is rarely debated, the country's low crime rate being
seen as sufficient justification for capital punishment. Abolition, it is said, would send the wrong message to criminals who may interpret it as an indication that the Government is going soft on crime.
Albert Pierrepoint, Britain's hangman for 25 years, saw things somewhat differently in his 1974 autobiography. "All the men and women whom I have faced at that final moment convince me that in what I have done, I have not prevented a single murder," he confessed. "I do not now believe that any one of the hundreds of executions I carried out has in any way acted as a deterrent against future murder. Capital punishment, in my view, achieved nothing except revenge."
Nick Cater is The Australian's assistant editor (news) and a former News Limited Asia correspondent.
LOSERS ALERT
All right people listen up
The LOSER'S CLUB will be back in function on 20th Nov.
Yes you heard it right... the LOSER'S CLUB ALUMNI member will be back in town this summer.
Unfortunately, there hasnt been any decrease in membership. and thankfully there's no increase in membership too.
This time around, the loserish activities include
- Watching soccer at Irish Pubs
- Driniking beer
- Beach Volleyball
- Food food and more food
- Partying
- Fishing?
- Gym
Incoming chairman Li pls prepare the beer, outgoing chairman Goh please prepare the stories.... haha
Sounds interesting? Unfortunately is exclusively only for the biggest losers around.
Wanna know if you qualify? Take the loser test below!
1)Have you been exploited endlessly by other people during work?
2)Have you been backstabbed so many times that you can't remember who backstabbed you?
3)Do you have no life?
4)Are you not attached?
5)Have you been rejected so many times but yet you still try?
6)Have you absolutely no luck?
If you answered yes to all the above questions, you only qualify HALF WAY~!
well you're almost there. Now for the most important criteria. Just come for an interview with your biggest, most loserish story you have and share it with us! If it's actually so loser that we laugh at it, bingo! You're in the LOSERS CLUB!
sounds easy eh? You bet it is~!
So why not? Stop brooding around like a loser and come join us and we'll compound your loserism with our loser activities and stories... HAHA
The LOSER'S CLUB will be back in function on 20th Nov.
Yes you heard it right... the LOSER'S CLUB ALUMNI member will be back in town this summer.
Unfortunately, there hasnt been any decrease in membership. and thankfully there's no increase in membership too.
This time around, the loserish activities include
- Watching soccer at Irish Pubs
- Driniking beer
- Beach Volleyball
- Food food and more food
- Partying
- Fishing?
- Gym
Incoming chairman Li pls prepare the beer, outgoing chairman Goh please prepare the stories.... haha
Sounds interesting? Unfortunately is exclusively only for the biggest losers around.
Wanna know if you qualify? Take the loser test below!
1)Have you been exploited endlessly by other people during work?
2)Have you been backstabbed so many times that you can't remember who backstabbed you?
3)Do you have no life?
4)Are you not attached?
5)Have you been rejected so many times but yet you still try?
6)Have you absolutely no luck?
If you answered yes to all the above questions, you only qualify HALF WAY~!
well you're almost there. Now for the most important criteria. Just come for an interview with your biggest, most loserish story you have and share it with us! If it's actually so loser that we laugh at it, bingo! You're in the LOSERS CLUB!
sounds easy eh? You bet it is~!
So why not? Stop brooding around like a loser and come join us and we'll compound your loserism with our loser activities and stories... HAHA
Monday, October 24
What are the odds?
Read this from the newspaper:
Some Aus chap of Asian ethnicity got arrested by the Singapore government in 2002 for trying to traffic 398g of heroin out of Singapore to Melbourne. Now he faces the death penalty in Singapore....
Now they are appealing for clemency for this poor chap. Of course it's just interesting how the papers here potray him totally as a victim of circumstances, not a criminal by choice. I would really like to look at the other side of the coin, the other part of the story. But sadly i couldnt find anything from Channel Newsaia Online.
Oh well... Hope there wont be any serious reprucussions regardless of the decisions made. Btw, if he's gonna get executed, he's just the 4th Australian to be punished by the death sentence overseas. Wow way to go SG, in the headlines for the wrong reasons... again :)
Some Aus chap of Asian ethnicity got arrested by the Singapore government in 2002 for trying to traffic 398g of heroin out of Singapore to Melbourne. Now he faces the death penalty in Singapore....
Now they are appealing for clemency for this poor chap. Of course it's just interesting how the papers here potray him totally as a victim of circumstances, not a criminal by choice. I would really like to look at the other side of the coin, the other part of the story. But sadly i couldnt find anything from Channel Newsaia Online.
Oh well... Hope there wont be any serious reprucussions regardless of the decisions made. Btw, if he's gonna get executed, he's just the 4th Australian to be punished by the death sentence overseas. Wow way to go SG, in the headlines for the wrong reasons... again :)
Sunday, October 23
Return
Made a fatal mistake.
NS Resumption date : 23 Nov - 30 Dec
42 SAR PTP intake : 9 Dec
For once in a long while... I swore big time. Just goes to show how much i hate army.
For those who dont know what the above info means, Just put it simply... i'm goin back to army in a shitty time. And my unit isn't really the best place to be in. Anyone who was inside can vouch for that. Get to see the worst side of me again... absolutely lovely
and people for those who dont know, i'm not a really a big fan of sunny island.
namely because of education sys and ns... I'm escaping from sg for now in other words. Hopefully things change, otherwise i'll juz raise a family somewhere else... if i can...
NS Resumption date : 23 Nov - 30 Dec
42 SAR PTP intake : 9 Dec
For once in a long while... I swore big time. Just goes to show how much i hate army.
For those who dont know what the above info means, Just put it simply... i'm goin back to army in a shitty time. And my unit isn't really the best place to be in. Anyone who was inside can vouch for that. Get to see the worst side of me again... absolutely lovely
and people for those who dont know, i'm not a really a big fan of sunny island.
namely because of education sys and ns... I'm escaping from sg for now in other words. Hopefully things change, otherwise i'll juz raise a family somewhere else... if i can...
Saturday, October 22
Science Freak Show
I am starting to feel more and more like a science freak i.e Peter Parker, Reed Richards, Ben Grimm...
Yeah i was actually interested in stuff that appeared in today's bio lecture about the genome mapping and sequencing stuff. Despite only having 2 hours of sleep, my interest and attention level still remained high.
It's funny for me to say things like this but im starting to see the beauty of science and i sort of can understand why some people are so passionate about their scientific work.
Anyway as the most cliche saying goes , "Knowledge is Power"... Manipulating the basic hereditary units of life. Playing with cloning and embryonic stem cells. Sometimes i just wonder how much further will the limits be pushed. The Science vs Spirituality debate will never end. Keep it that way. We need both to make this world work. When will we finish discovering all that is there to discover? I guess that will never happen eh.
For me and for now, it's just about appreciating and making sense of what's around me.
Yeah i was actually interested in stuff that appeared in today's bio lecture about the genome mapping and sequencing stuff. Despite only having 2 hours of sleep, my interest and attention level still remained high.
It's funny for me to say things like this but im starting to see the beauty of science and i sort of can understand why some people are so passionate about their scientific work.
Anyway as the most cliche saying goes , "Knowledge is Power"... Manipulating the basic hereditary units of life. Playing with cloning and embryonic stem cells. Sometimes i just wonder how much further will the limits be pushed. The Science vs Spirituality debate will never end. Keep it that way. We need both to make this world work. When will we finish discovering all that is there to discover? I guess that will never happen eh.
For me and for now, it's just about appreciating and making sense of what's around me.
Friday, October 21
Once more, from the top
Managed to tweak the blog abit. New layout, and i think a working tagboard. Yeah if there's anything that's not working properly, just leave a message.
I've been taking it easy for the past day or so... not studying as hard as before the physics test. Will pick up the pace once the weekend arrives. hopefully :) Been looking at the subjects available for next year. All the streams just look equally unappealing/appealing to me. I was interested in stem cell research initially but now i'm more interested in genetics, especially the mutation of a particular fibrillin gene in humans. hmmm and this weird and suicidal part of me feels like doing physics, since there's gonna be a whole load of bio and chem people out in the workplace when i graduate. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Whatever i choose, i'll still end up as a lab rat. Absolutely lovely.
You know how people look deceptively tall when they're on stage?
There was this dancer on stage during Jazz night who i thought was quite tall. but i saw her on the streets again and found out i was wrong. Dont even think she hit 1.7. Slightly disappointed? yeah but oh well... that was just the random thought of the day. Maybe i should get my eyes checked.
I've been taking it easy for the past day or so... not studying as hard as before the physics test. Will pick up the pace once the weekend arrives. hopefully :) Been looking at the subjects available for next year. All the streams just look equally unappealing/appealing to me. I was interested in stem cell research initially but now i'm more interested in genetics, especially the mutation of a particular fibrillin gene in humans. hmmm and this weird and suicidal part of me feels like doing physics, since there's gonna be a whole load of bio and chem people out in the workplace when i graduate. Decisions, decisions, decisions. Whatever i choose, i'll still end up as a lab rat. Absolutely lovely.
You know how people look deceptively tall when they're on stage?
There was this dancer on stage during Jazz night who i thought was quite tall. but i saw her on the streets again and found out i was wrong. Dont even think she hit 1.7. Slightly disappointed? yeah but oh well... that was just the random thought of the day. Maybe i should get my eyes checked.
Tuesday, October 18
Worlds Apart
So steal my heart and take the pain
And wash the feet and cleanse my pride
Take the selfish, take the weak,
And all the things I cannot hide
Take the beauty, take my tears
The sin soaked heart and make it yours
And serve the ones that I despise
Speak the words I can't deny
Watch the world I used to love
Fall to dust and thrown away
Take my world apart.
And wash the feet and cleanse my pride
Take the selfish, take the weak,
And all the things I cannot hide
Take the beauty, take my tears
The sin soaked heart and make it yours
And serve the ones that I despise
Speak the words I can't deny
Watch the world I used to love
Fall to dust and thrown away
Take my world apart.
Monday, October 17
Trouble Sleeping
FLARE~! Limelight was good... Yeah the only reason i attended was because Jo asked all of us to go and she didnt disappoint. Jo was good :) Great to see someone use her talent. There was also this Rob Scholten lookalike doing a Michael Jackson impersonation and he was pretty successful... haha. Other than that, there was a tad too much hip hop items i reckon. But i guess that's the trend nowadays. Oh yeah and there were plenty of ah-lians that night. urgh
Took a break from work on Saturday. Stuffed myself silly with food. Gelati, laksa and even more food at home cell :) Happiness
Took a break from work on Saturday. Stuffed myself silly with food. Gelati, laksa and even more food at home cell :) Happiness
Friday, October 14
The undeniable truth
Peace is nothing but a result of war.
Wars take many lives away. Humans never forget the grief, but they also never stop the fighting. Streams of blood and tears are only an ornament for their destructive ritual."
Wars take many lives away. Humans never forget the grief, but they also never stop the fighting. Streams of blood and tears are only an ornament for their destructive ritual."
What's in a name?
Jonathan - Hebrew for 'God has given'
Ironically my other name means 'Giver of grace'.
Don't really know whether my parents planned this. Being given to being a giver. Being blessed to become a blessing to others. Maybe that's what they hope for me.
Ironically my other name means 'Giver of grace'.
Don't really know whether my parents planned this. Being given to being a giver. Being blessed to become a blessing to others. Maybe that's what they hope for me.
Sunday, October 9
Never meant to belong
It's lonely, living in the shadows.
Depressing isnt it? without ever hearing a word of affirmation.
Wandering endlessly, always pondering about who you can really trust and more importantly, who trusts you.
People are envious about the thing that is goin to bring about your death. The irony of it all...
At the end of the day, people just remember you by only your physcial attributes, not what you have left in their lives.... Saddening isn't it.
Always a face in the crowd, that's all. Nothing more, nothing less.
Depressing isnt it? without ever hearing a word of affirmation.
Wandering endlessly, always pondering about who you can really trust and more importantly, who trusts you.
People are envious about the thing that is goin to bring about your death. The irony of it all...
At the end of the day, people just remember you by only your physcial attributes, not what you have left in their lives.... Saddening isn't it.
Always a face in the crowd, that's all. Nothing more, nothing less.
Saturday, October 8
Wednesday, October 5
There was this documentary on TV just now about how lung cancer can be treated now without surgery. Yep no doctors, no knives. Just the patient and one gigantic smart machine that apparently kills the tumour with radiation. The tumours are marked with metal particles and the metal apparently acts as the guide for the machine. About 2-5 treatements needed. Interesting stuff... How they manage 2 kill the tumour only and not other cells i dont really know.
ok that was really random.
Anyway been feeling disturbed and tired because of school. Time really catches up. One year is almost gone and i'm left staring at my 2nd sem exams. The fight for survival starts again.
Just celebrated Ravind's birthday. The first part of a 4 day celebration. haha... Typical blokes celebration at KEC (Keith entertainment Centre) minus the booze of course. It's only Wednesday night :) haha just a simple time of relaxation and destress...
Anyway i wanna thank Jo-ann and Jessie for just talking to me on Tuesday. One during lunch before prac and one after prac. Made my freaking lousy day better somehow. I like talking to the small one... she's like a innocent child. Watching her rant about plants and stuff just made me chuckle. Joann's doing some genetic experiment on surprise surprise the drosophilla fly.... haha every geneticist's favourite animal in the whole wide world. Anyway they both study science, makes it easier to talk to and understand.
Shall go back to genetic problems. It's kinda interesting deducing how a single stupid protein sequence can actually muck up alot of stuff in the body. absolutely lovely...
ok that was really random.
Anyway been feeling disturbed and tired because of school. Time really catches up. One year is almost gone and i'm left staring at my 2nd sem exams. The fight for survival starts again.
Just celebrated Ravind's birthday. The first part of a 4 day celebration. haha... Typical blokes celebration at KEC (Keith entertainment Centre) minus the booze of course. It's only Wednesday night :) haha just a simple time of relaxation and destress...
Anyway i wanna thank Jo-ann and Jessie for just talking to me on Tuesday. One during lunch before prac and one after prac. Made my freaking lousy day better somehow. I like talking to the small one... she's like a innocent child. Watching her rant about plants and stuff just made me chuckle. Joann's doing some genetic experiment on surprise surprise the drosophilla fly.... haha every geneticist's favourite animal in the whole wide world. Anyway they both study science, makes it easier to talk to and understand.
Shall go back to genetic problems. It's kinda interesting deducing how a single stupid protein sequence can actually muck up alot of stuff in the body. absolutely lovely...
Thursday, September 29
Impending doom
Yes... i can feel it. 4 weeks to end of semester. then its exams.
The feeling of doom.
The feeling of doom.
Sunday, September 25
Will of the heart
Jazz night came and went. It was pretty successful i guess. Quite a large crowd turned out. The event was pretty gd i guess but i was still hungry after it... urgh
Yeah on to the event itself.
Pretty nice program lineup: nice jazz music, pretty girls dancing, thought provoking skit, beautiful singing and an interesting magic show.
Yup i'm always intrigued by magic tricks. Unlike others i cant really be bothered by figuring out how the trick works. It takes the fun out of magic. I just like to be amazed by the tricks itself... on how gullible the human perception can be. Anyway i had a friend who once showed some me some magic tricks. It aint easy to be a magician. It's amazing how fast their hands move... and for all those wondering : "If the you thought an object disappeared, it wasnt there in the first place."
Onto the skit... Krystin really looked like a maniac bent on suicide. Scary. Anyway my thoughts on the story... It just echoes my pov on life. Sometimes it is how we respond to circumstances in life that really matters. Circumstances and situations can bring out the best and worst in people. I'm guilty of that. I've seen a worst side of myself over the past 2 years. Maybe i could have been a better person over the last 2 years, i'll never know. Sometimes i blame my position and situation i was in. But at the end of the day, I know that only I myself can determine how i act and respond.... Oh well
Jazz night's over. And i feel the need after such a 'social event' just to isolate myself and hide away. That's why i chose to go to the earlier service on Sunday... Just to escape the crowd.
Sometimes when it's all over, when all the lights go out, when all the people leave, the feeling of loneliness sets in. Yeah you might think that i'm weird. I feel lonely yet i wanna isolate myself furthermore. I just wanna spend time alone to think. thinking about stuff. I dont want 2 deal with people. Heck i dont even feel like continuing a conversation. It drains me sometimes.
Yeah on to the event itself.
Pretty nice program lineup: nice jazz music, pretty girls dancing, thought provoking skit, beautiful singing and an interesting magic show.
Yup i'm always intrigued by magic tricks. Unlike others i cant really be bothered by figuring out how the trick works. It takes the fun out of magic. I just like to be amazed by the tricks itself... on how gullible the human perception can be. Anyway i had a friend who once showed some me some magic tricks. It aint easy to be a magician. It's amazing how fast their hands move... and for all those wondering : "If the you thought an object disappeared, it wasnt there in the first place."
Onto the skit... Krystin really looked like a maniac bent on suicide. Scary. Anyway my thoughts on the story... It just echoes my pov on life. Sometimes it is how we respond to circumstances in life that really matters. Circumstances and situations can bring out the best and worst in people. I'm guilty of that. I've seen a worst side of myself over the past 2 years. Maybe i could have been a better person over the last 2 years, i'll never know. Sometimes i blame my position and situation i was in. But at the end of the day, I know that only I myself can determine how i act and respond.... Oh well
Jazz night's over. And i feel the need after such a 'social event' just to isolate myself and hide away. That's why i chose to go to the earlier service on Sunday... Just to escape the crowd.
Sometimes when it's all over, when all the lights go out, when all the people leave, the feeling of loneliness sets in. Yeah you might think that i'm weird. I feel lonely yet i wanna isolate myself furthermore. I just wanna spend time alone to think. thinking about stuff. I dont want 2 deal with people. Heck i dont even feel like continuing a conversation. It drains me sometimes.
Wednesday, September 21
Lasting impressions
There's something special about you that i can't put my finger on.
and it aint killing me inside
and it aint killing me inside
Regrets
Depression, anger, rage.
What's the point of the above? To get attention? To gain sympathy? To make people around you feel responsible for you? To transfer the hurt you feel to another? To make a statement to a world which you think owes you something? To get back something you can never have?
Immature...
Selfish...
Self Destruction...
Your life is your own responsibility.
Your circumstances might cause you hurt, but it's your choice on how to react to it.
Dont blame others around you, ultimately it's still your life.
Nobody owes you anything. Stop thinking that your foolish behaviour will make people guilty about you. Only a child acts that way.
You say u are hopeless? Perhaps u have been looking for hope in the wrong place?
Think about that carefully.
What do you live for?
Pick youself up, get your act together.
What's the point of the above? To get attention? To gain sympathy? To make people around you feel responsible for you? To transfer the hurt you feel to another? To make a statement to a world which you think owes you something? To get back something you can never have?
Immature...
Selfish...
Self Destruction...
Your life is your own responsibility.
Your circumstances might cause you hurt, but it's your choice on how to react to it.
Dont blame others around you, ultimately it's still your life.
Nobody owes you anything. Stop thinking that your foolish behaviour will make people guilty about you. Only a child acts that way.
You say u are hopeless? Perhaps u have been looking for hope in the wrong place?
Think about that carefully.
What do you live for?
Pick youself up, get your act together.
Tuesday, September 20
Reprive
Finally the holidays are here. Some sort of time-out before the semesters goes into the final phase, full steam. Another period of stress and challenge coming up. Oh well... time to put in my best and leave the rest up to God.
Sunday, September 18
Saturday, September 17
Character Profile I
KKK
Silent but deadly signifies this man. With a intelligence greater than any normal man, his gift of knowledge is often rumoured to be obtained supernaturally whilst he is sleeping. Quiet and soft spoken, KKK prefers a silencer as his weapon. Small yet frighteningly effective. It is often rumoured that the last thing people see after being shot by KKK is his trademark grin.
Friday, September 16
The beginning... haha
"IT's a fake, a dupe! Oh crap~!" Wuong exclaimed to the rest of us as he took a closer look at the prize.
"All right old man, enough games! I'm sick of your trickery." Rav grabbed the shrunken old sage above the ground, attempting to squeeze the life out of the ancient one.
"IT really exists, I saw IT, I even had witnesses! They can confirm it for you! You can ask them!" Even on the brink of being suffocated, the sage still stuck to his story with such conviction. Maybe the legend wasn't a myth after all. I started to have second thoughts... and my head started to spin and throb painfully.
"ARRRGGHHH, what's with the music in this place~!?? It's worse than a Mujaldi scream!" KLowd clutched his head and screamed.
Trapped like rats. It was all to easy... too easy to be true. Such a legendary prize could never be obtained so easily i guess. We always had to pay our dues. There's no such thing as a free lunch in today's world.
Even as the inhumane noise assaulted our ears, i could still make out the chattering in the background. I could never mistake that all familiar chattering. It NEVER stops.
"WONGKIES!" K-LOWd shouted. Wongkies were all around, slowly creeping towards us, like predators that cornered the prey. Wongkies... cowardly weak creatures with a bark worse than its bite but always attacked in big groups, always ready to take advantage of a situation, like now.
A shot rang out. The body of a wongkie slumped to ground instantly. There was only one person who could have pulled off a shot like that.
KKK, silent but deadly.
I smiled and look at the rest. At that moment, cigarette butts were thrown on the floor, hair was flung back, weapons were drawn, battle auras released. It all started again, right at that moment. In our quest for that elusive prize, it always becomes the 5 of us versus the world, with the odds stacked up against us, but we wouldn't want it any other way...
"All right old man, enough games! I'm sick of your trickery." Rav grabbed the shrunken old sage above the ground, attempting to squeeze the life out of the ancient one.
"IT really exists, I saw IT, I even had witnesses! They can confirm it for you! You can ask them!" Even on the brink of being suffocated, the sage still stuck to his story with such conviction. Maybe the legend wasn't a myth after all. I started to have second thoughts... and my head started to spin and throb painfully.
"ARRRGGHHH, what's with the music in this place~!?? It's worse than a Mujaldi scream!" KLowd clutched his head and screamed.
Trapped like rats. It was all to easy... too easy to be true. Such a legendary prize could never be obtained so easily i guess. We always had to pay our dues. There's no such thing as a free lunch in today's world.
Even as the inhumane noise assaulted our ears, i could still make out the chattering in the background. I could never mistake that all familiar chattering. It NEVER stops.
"WONGKIES!" K-LOWd shouted. Wongkies were all around, slowly creeping towards us, like predators that cornered the prey. Wongkies... cowardly weak creatures with a bark worse than its bite but always attacked in big groups, always ready to take advantage of a situation, like now.
A shot rang out. The body of a wongkie slumped to ground instantly. There was only one person who could have pulled off a shot like that.
KKK, silent but deadly.
I smiled and look at the rest. At that moment, cigarette butts were thrown on the floor, hair was flung back, weapons were drawn, battle auras released. It all started again, right at that moment. In our quest for that elusive prize, it always becomes the 5 of us versus the world, with the odds stacked up against us, but we wouldn't want it any other way...
There nothing that isnt important
Advent children is out. Watched it twice in a single day. It's good... damn good
Thursday, September 15
I don't know... I really don't know
Why do you even compare yourself with others?
Just because you are young doesnt mean you have to feel inferior.
Who measures spiritual maturity anyway? It isnt how fast, it's how deep you've grown
Be so very thankful that you are normal.
Be thankful that you are alive no matter how bad the day is.
Whatever doesnt kill you makes you stronger.
Preserverance brings hope and hope produces character.
Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.
You were blessed with your own beauty and gifts. Use them wisely.
Use them to the fullest, your greatest blessings in fact are your greatest responsiblities.
Never put your hope in something fallible because
Sometimes the things you hope and expect to happen might not be the best.
Don't bother living up to the expectations of everyone. You'll kill yourself.
Pray. I'm praying for you.
Just because you are young doesnt mean you have to feel inferior.
Who measures spiritual maturity anyway? It isnt how fast, it's how deep you've grown
Be so very thankful that you are normal.
Be thankful that you are alive no matter how bad the day is.
Whatever doesnt kill you makes you stronger.
Preserverance brings hope and hope produces character.
Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.
You were blessed with your own beauty and gifts. Use them wisely.
Use them to the fullest, your greatest blessings in fact are your greatest responsiblities.
Never put your hope in something fallible because
Sometimes the things you hope and expect to happen might not be the best.
Don't bother living up to the expectations of everyone. You'll kill yourself.
Pray. I'm praying for you.
Weirdest Dreams
Took a nap just now. Dreamt that i was back in singapore during chinese new year and the weirdest part was that OGL was a father to be in my dream.
Shocked, i woke up, glad that the air was still cold meaning i was still in Melbourne.
Shocked, i woke up, glad that the air was still cold meaning i was still in Melbourne.
Monday, September 12
What goes around comes around
Mid Semester was here and it was gone. The last 2 weeks was just full of tests, schoolwork and more stuff. Man i havent watched night TV for the past 2 weeks. No house, grey's anatomy, numbers... missed all the good shows just to prepare for tests and all that preparation wasnt even enough, especially for physics. Oh well what can i say, this semester aint no walk in the park anymore... and i like it that way better.
Ok sometimes i just think that my 2 years in the hellhole has really warped me. I think that somewhere deep inside me there's just this sick perverted part that relishes working under extreme stress, pushing my body and mind to the limits, depriving myself of sleep, being a workaholic... Sometimes i really just wonder what kind of person i have become after the 2 years. Despite of how i loathe pushing, depriving, overworking myself, somehow some part of me just silently likes to do the above mentioned. I really don't know...
On to something else. I cant sympathize. I just cant sympathize with someone who i dont have same experiences with. I can LISTEN but i cant sympathize. I'm sorry but i think that if u claim that you sympathise with someone but you havent experienced the same hurt and hardships that person went through, youre just a plain hypocrite.
"I understand how you're feeling now... I understand what you're going through right now." If you havent had any similar experiences. Please dont ever use the above phrases. I went for a PR course once and i know that people dont like hearing the above phrases. If you weren't ever in the person's shoes, you can NEVER understand how he/she is feeling.
Ethics. Do you live by your own set of ethics? What are you living by? My friend once said that live by a weird set of ethics and principles... Courtesy of a mix of Christian teachings and chinese culture and principles i guess. I say that its better to have some prinicples and ethics in my life rather than living life like it was out of control much less letting my emotions and circumstances control my life.
Ok that ends this weekend's post. Just wanted to get some stuff of my chest... Impressions changed, respect lost. Despite the amount of negativity in this post, i've had a great weekend thanks to my family and friends. I'm doing fine... i guess :)
Ok sometimes i just think that my 2 years in the hellhole has really warped me. I think that somewhere deep inside me there's just this sick perverted part that relishes working under extreme stress, pushing my body and mind to the limits, depriving myself of sleep, being a workaholic... Sometimes i really just wonder what kind of person i have become after the 2 years. Despite of how i loathe pushing, depriving, overworking myself, somehow some part of me just silently likes to do the above mentioned. I really don't know...
On to something else. I cant sympathize. I just cant sympathize with someone who i dont have same experiences with. I can LISTEN but i cant sympathize. I'm sorry but i think that if u claim that you sympathise with someone but you havent experienced the same hurt and hardships that person went through, youre just a plain hypocrite.
"I understand how you're feeling now... I understand what you're going through right now." If you havent had any similar experiences. Please dont ever use the above phrases. I went for a PR course once and i know that people dont like hearing the above phrases. If you weren't ever in the person's shoes, you can NEVER understand how he/she is feeling.
Ethics. Do you live by your own set of ethics? What are you living by? My friend once said that live by a weird set of ethics and principles... Courtesy of a mix of Christian teachings and chinese culture and principles i guess. I say that its better to have some prinicples and ethics in my life rather than living life like it was out of control much less letting my emotions and circumstances control my life.
Ok that ends this weekend's post. Just wanted to get some stuff of my chest... Impressions changed, respect lost. Despite the amount of negativity in this post, i've had a great weekend thanks to my family and friends. I'm doing fine... i guess :)
Wednesday, September 7
The View From Up Here
The point of view from my height? Alot of hair and other interesting stuff
Besides being able to spot stuff from a further distance than normal people do, most of the time i just look down (pardon the pun) literally on people's scalp and hair hence i can tell who's been washing their hair and who's not. Thankfully most of my friends do.
It's interesting to see the whole variety of stuff people do to their hair.
I remembered when i attended this wedding when i was really young. The bride was really shorter than the groom and when the part that goes 'You may kiss the bride', the happily married couple looked awkward just kissing due to the height difference. The pastor even joked about getting a stool for the poor gal. I laughed my head off... Everyone laughed..
Now on the flip side, i think REALISTICALLY, that might happen to me IF i do ever make it to the altar. yar guys you have the permission to laugh at me when that happens.... go ahead
Yar that's just a side note...
Here's just some DOTA stuff i ripped of the net for Rav
Ranged: These heroes shoot from some distance and are therefore, safer to use for beginners.
Melee: A lot of strong heroes belong in this category, but they are generally harder to use because of the close combat style which makes you vulnerable to enemy heroes’ attacks.
Agility: These are the weaklings from the start of the game. Low HP and low damage, they are usually the targets of other enemy heroes right from the start. They only bloom in late game and become real dangerous later on. A melee agility hero in the hands of a beginner is usually free frag for the enemies.
Intelligence: These heroes are the earlier killers. Equipped with strong damaging spells right from the start, these heroes can usually own others in early game to make up for their weakness in the long run. Poor speed and HP makes them vulnerable, but intelligence heroes are usually ranged.
Strength: These heroes are late bloomers too and have high HP and damage levels. The only drawback is that they are usually melee attackers.
There are several types of game play that go well with certain heroes. For the sake of beginners, you only need to know 3.
Pushers/tankers: These heroes are the ones who can burrow through ranks of creeps without dying. This kind of game play requires high HP, good farming skills and usually high HP regeneration.
Hero Killers: These heroes are the ones equipped with high physical or magical damage. These are the ones who can suddenly appear beside you and deal you a critical blow. Usually called hero killers or assassins. This kind of game play requires constant upgrading of damage levels, good positioning instinct and micromanagement.
Support: These heroes are the versatile ones, able to help in pushing or giving support for other heroes and killing enemy heroes also. These heroes usually have a variety of skills from stunning, disabling or mass damage skills.
Besides being able to spot stuff from a further distance than normal people do, most of the time i just look down (pardon the pun) literally on people's scalp and hair hence i can tell who's been washing their hair and who's not. Thankfully most of my friends do.
It's interesting to see the whole variety of stuff people do to their hair.
I remembered when i attended this wedding when i was really young. The bride was really shorter than the groom and when the part that goes 'You may kiss the bride', the happily married couple looked awkward just kissing due to the height difference. The pastor even joked about getting a stool for the poor gal. I laughed my head off... Everyone laughed..
Now on the flip side, i think REALISTICALLY, that might happen to me IF i do ever make it to the altar. yar guys you have the permission to laugh at me when that happens.... go ahead
Yar that's just a side note...
Here's just some DOTA stuff i ripped of the net for Rav
Ranged: These heroes shoot from some distance and are therefore, safer to use for beginners.
Melee: A lot of strong heroes belong in this category, but they are generally harder to use because of the close combat style which makes you vulnerable to enemy heroes’ attacks.
Agility: These are the weaklings from the start of the game. Low HP and low damage, they are usually the targets of other enemy heroes right from the start. They only bloom in late game and become real dangerous later on. A melee agility hero in the hands of a beginner is usually free frag for the enemies.
Intelligence: These heroes are the earlier killers. Equipped with strong damaging spells right from the start, these heroes can usually own others in early game to make up for their weakness in the long run. Poor speed and HP makes them vulnerable, but intelligence heroes are usually ranged.
Strength: These heroes are late bloomers too and have high HP and damage levels. The only drawback is that they are usually melee attackers.
There are several types of game play that go well with certain heroes. For the sake of beginners, you only need to know 3.
Pushers/tankers: These heroes are the ones who can burrow through ranks of creeps without dying. This kind of game play requires high HP, good farming skills and usually high HP regeneration.
Hero Killers: These heroes are the ones equipped with high physical or magical damage. These are the ones who can suddenly appear beside you and deal you a critical blow. Usually called hero killers or assassins. This kind of game play requires constant upgrading of damage levels, good positioning instinct and micromanagement.
Support: These heroes are the versatile ones, able to help in pushing or giving support for other heroes and killing enemy heroes also. These heroes usually have a variety of skills from stunning, disabling or mass damage skills.
Monday, August 29
The more things change
Yeah... that's so me.
Got my mid sems coming up over the next few weeks in addition to the usual workload that just keeps snowballing. Furthermore, really bothered by some unsettled stuff... That's life 4 ya.
Saturday, August 27
Endless Waltz
History is like an Endless Waltz in three-four time.
The Never-Ending steps of War, Peace and Revolution.
That is so true...
The Never-Ending steps of War, Peace and Revolution.
That is so true...
Monday, August 22
More About Myself... Part 1
I'm tall. And Skinny
yup and God made me that way. of which i have no complaints :)
now to the fun part. Over the recent years of being tall i.e 1992 till now, i have been asked many questions regarding to my height by a whole assortment of people. Of which some questions have been REPEATED so often that i can come up with the answer b4 the question even comes out from ur mouth...
Heck ive even decided to rank the questions and give my typical cynical comments, for general amusement of course. Now onto the countdown :)
oh yeah before i start, let me make myself clear: i take no offence in anybody asking me the questions below. I'm used to it remember? All in good fun eh
NO. 4
"Do you have to bend down taking public transport?"
Yup, this is actually in my opinion quite a good question. If u ask this, that means you are quite observant about the public transport system. Well done. Being observant is a plus point for me.
Yeah i do have to bend down when i have to take some public transport such as the SINGAPORE bus, and SINGAPORE MRT. Notice the country reference? Apparently i dont have much problems here in Melbourne. The Singapore bus was fine until they started to build 'Super Buses' with cushions on the ceilings. Yeah u heard me right... Cushions on the ceiling... What the? it's a pain to stand in those buses. The MRT (Train) doors are at least a head's length lower than me. I can live with the doors but not e buses man...
NO. 3
"Are your parents tall?"
Hmmm... A good question if i may say. A small amount of scientific knowledge MIGHT be present in your brain to ask this question. Notice MIGHT. Unfortunately, to some people's disappoinment, my parents aint that tall. Sorry folks that's my answer.
Here comes the killer, " then why are you so tall?"
This is when i go speechless. I have no freaking idea. Ask God. Tall parents doesnt GUARANTEE tall children. Likewise if you are dead gorgeous it doesnt mean ur offspring are DEFINITELY gonna highlight the catwalks and runways. I would love to go into genetics, mutations of genes, reccessive and dominant traits, but i wont. That's why i'm always honest. I dont know.
NO. 2
"Do you play basketball?"
Depending on who's asking this question, my answer will vary coz the definition of play is very subjective. Personal reasons. On another note, NOBODY has ever asked me this question:
"Do you play volleyball?"
True, tall people play basketball (that's where you get your inference from) but the last time i watched sports on SBS, dont tall and skinny people play volleyball too? If one can make the basketball relation, i dont understand why no one can make the volleyball inference. That is why i cannot fathom why nobody has asked me that volleybal question before. NEVER ever before. Maybe volleyball isnt that popular? I dont know man.
Finally, NO. 1
"What do you eat to make you grow so tall?"
Erm guys i have no idea. You can observe my every meal if you want. If i had any slight idea of what food caused my growth spurt of 1.62m to 1.82m, i would have definitely patented that particular food , mass produced it into a drug and sold it to the general population; at the same time earning billions of dollars coz i think alot of people would want that certain drug... Well for starters, if u really wanna know how to grow taller, u could start by being as sacarstic and obnoxious as me. hehz
Oh well, that ends the countdown :) yeah i totally understand people who ask me such questions have good intentions in mind or are just making conversation. And i have no qualms about people asking that. It's just that ive got so much of the questions above that sometimes it amuses me. yeah but it's all in good fun as i said. insight into my life. It's my blog after all. haha
yup and God made me that way. of which i have no complaints :)
now to the fun part. Over the recent years of being tall i.e 1992 till now, i have been asked many questions regarding to my height by a whole assortment of people. Of which some questions have been REPEATED so often that i can come up with the answer b4 the question even comes out from ur mouth...
Heck ive even decided to rank the questions and give my typical cynical comments, for general amusement of course. Now onto the countdown :)
oh yeah before i start, let me make myself clear: i take no offence in anybody asking me the questions below. I'm used to it remember? All in good fun eh
NO. 4
"Do you have to bend down taking public transport?"
Yup, this is actually in my opinion quite a good question. If u ask this, that means you are quite observant about the public transport system. Well done. Being observant is a plus point for me.
Yeah i do have to bend down when i have to take some public transport such as the SINGAPORE bus, and SINGAPORE MRT. Notice the country reference? Apparently i dont have much problems here in Melbourne. The Singapore bus was fine until they started to build 'Super Buses' with cushions on the ceilings. Yeah u heard me right... Cushions on the ceiling... What the? it's a pain to stand in those buses. The MRT (Train) doors are at least a head's length lower than me. I can live with the doors but not e buses man...
NO. 3
"Are your parents tall?"
Hmmm... A good question if i may say. A small amount of scientific knowledge MIGHT be present in your brain to ask this question. Notice MIGHT. Unfortunately, to some people's disappoinment, my parents aint that tall. Sorry folks that's my answer.
Here comes the killer, " then why are you so tall?"
This is when i go speechless. I have no freaking idea. Ask God. Tall parents doesnt GUARANTEE tall children. Likewise if you are dead gorgeous it doesnt mean ur offspring are DEFINITELY gonna highlight the catwalks and runways. I would love to go into genetics, mutations of genes, reccessive and dominant traits, but i wont. That's why i'm always honest. I dont know.
NO. 2
"Do you play basketball?"
Depending on who's asking this question, my answer will vary coz the definition of play is very subjective. Personal reasons. On another note, NOBODY has ever asked me this question:
"Do you play volleyball?"
True, tall people play basketball (that's where you get your inference from) but the last time i watched sports on SBS, dont tall and skinny people play volleyball too? If one can make the basketball relation, i dont understand why no one can make the volleyball inference. That is why i cannot fathom why nobody has asked me that volleybal question before. NEVER ever before. Maybe volleyball isnt that popular? I dont know man.
Finally, NO. 1
"What do you eat to make you grow so tall?"
Erm guys i have no idea. You can observe my every meal if you want. If i had any slight idea of what food caused my growth spurt of 1.62m to 1.82m, i would have definitely patented that particular food , mass produced it into a drug and sold it to the general population; at the same time earning billions of dollars coz i think alot of people would want that certain drug... Well for starters, if u really wanna know how to grow taller, u could start by being as sacarstic and obnoxious as me. hehz
Oh well, that ends the countdown :) yeah i totally understand people who ask me such questions have good intentions in mind or are just making conversation. And i have no qualms about people asking that. It's just that ive got so much of the questions above that sometimes it amuses me. yeah but it's all in good fun as i said. insight into my life. It's my blog after all. haha
Sunday, August 21
Diversity and ignorance
1st of all just wanna say how widely unread i am. There was this interesting discussion at lunch today about current affairs, philosophy and stuff. Well i was just making a fool of myself during lunch as usual, yep i am a completely ignorant fool and not to mention a boring person to converse with. Yar im no doctor, lawyer or architect but just a science student afterall... plain, boring, geek. hehz
Well, on a serious note, ignorance for me is: not finishing your antibiotics. so kids eat ur medicine when u're told to. haha
Well, on a serious note, ignorance for me is: not finishing your antibiotics. so kids eat ur medicine when u're told to. haha
Thursday, August 18
Final Fantasy
What a week. No pracs this week... in other words i had 17 hours of school this week. Still more than the freaking commerce students but i aint complaining man. 17 beats 28 any time... Had this fluids physics test which i think i wrote more words than i did calculations with numbers. 'You must grasp the concept' that's what they say hence the deal with writing out concepts n stuff in physics test i guess.
Yeah had a game of DOTA (my first one in a long time) after the physics test. haha. yeah man really brings back the memories of 'Team Lion'i.e poonz xf, xy nuah ed and me. Nights off to Ginza plaza to play Lan, Saturday nights challenging random bozos n sometimes Jaguar Coy people.
yeah on to the topic of the thread. FF 7. Downloaded the trailers for advent children and boy does it bring back the memories. FF7 was one of my first and the most definitive RPGs i have ever played. The storyline, music, characters were all fantastic. Cloud was so real that you could identify with him. And who can ever forget Sephiroth, the greatest video game villian of all time. I could hate this guy with a vengeance man. Remeber when he came down from the sky and pierced Aeris's heart with his sword? yeah and that's Aeris (photo above), the flower gal. yeah she was brutally murdered. The music for FF7 is great on top of that. Nobuo Uematsu, the composer is a genius.
Now there's a movie for FF7 and judging by the trailers, it should be one hell of a show... If you played the game, you would understand why i am raving on and on about it. If you haven't played this game at all, just go and try it!
Yeah had a game of DOTA (my first one in a long time) after the physics test. haha. yeah man really brings back the memories of 'Team Lion'i.e poonz xf, xy nuah ed and me. Nights off to Ginza plaza to play Lan, Saturday nights challenging random bozos n sometimes Jaguar Coy people.
yeah on to the topic of the thread. FF 7. Downloaded the trailers for advent children and boy does it bring back the memories. FF7 was one of my first and the most definitive RPGs i have ever played. The storyline, music, characters were all fantastic. Cloud was so real that you could identify with him. And who can ever forget Sephiroth, the greatest video game villian of all time. I could hate this guy with a vengeance man. Remeber when he came down from the sky and pierced Aeris's heart with his sword? yeah and that's Aeris (photo above), the flower gal. yeah she was brutally murdered. The music for FF7 is great on top of that. Nobuo Uematsu, the composer is a genius.
Now there's a movie for FF7 and judging by the trailers, it should be one hell of a show... If you played the game, you would understand why i am raving on and on about it. If you haven't played this game at all, just go and try it!
Tuesday, August 16
Of Broken Noses, chem tutorials and basketball finals
Its amazing sometimes, how a single, simple most undeliberate action can catch one's attention, cause someone's heart to skip a beat, change another's perspective, make someone take a second look, mean nothing to someone yet etch a lasting impression on another.
OR it could just do the exact opposite :)
OR it could just do the exact opposite :)
Tuesday, August 9
'The struggle for existence' : Darwin predicted gradual variation to occur in every species of which rapid change in variation would be also known as mutation. Variations less well adapted to survive would be left behind, in the 'struggle for existence'. Not every variation in a species will survive. Survival of the fittest. Natural Selection.
It is commonly believed that evolution is moving forward, each successive generation an improvement upon the last. Natural selection has nothing to do with evolutionary direction, species progress or intelligence. Evolution simple means to adapt. Adapt or Die.
It cant be just about survival. Life must mean much more. It can't be only about survival of the meanest and strongest. We consider ourselves to be the 'evolved' inheritors of the earth, we imagine we deserve this planet above all.
It's science versus the human need to believe in more than science. Logic rising from the shadows of mysticism versus emotion and spirituality. As if the two are mutually exclusive. Are they? I would have to say 'no'. There is room in our world for both. A need in our world for both. Nature may guide us in directions of its choosing with pheromones, jealousy, rage or similarities of design but our brain, minds and our hearts allow us to learn from life and alter those decisions for the greater good of all. Moral and spiritual choices in opposition to physical drives.
--- ~adapted
It is commonly believed that evolution is moving forward, each successive generation an improvement upon the last. Natural selection has nothing to do with evolutionary direction, species progress or intelligence. Evolution simple means to adapt. Adapt or Die.
It cant be just about survival. Life must mean much more. It can't be only about survival of the meanest and strongest. We consider ourselves to be the 'evolved' inheritors of the earth, we imagine we deserve this planet above all.
It's science versus the human need to believe in more than science. Logic rising from the shadows of mysticism versus emotion and spirituality. As if the two are mutually exclusive. Are they? I would have to say 'no'. There is room in our world for both. A need in our world for both. Nature may guide us in directions of its choosing with pheromones, jealousy, rage or similarities of design but our brain, minds and our hearts allow us to learn from life and alter those decisions for the greater good of all. Moral and spiritual choices in opposition to physical drives.
--- ~adapted
Sunday, August 7
Fly me to the moon...
What a weekend... I think it was quite a fruitful wkend. Participated in the ISM (International Student Ministry) Welcome Night at church on Saturday night. I felt that it was really awesome! God was definitely doing a wonderful work in that place. Great event, great drama and great testimonies. Hat's off to Wen Wen for being honest in sharing. Respect.
40 days of purpose is starting next week. Rather it starts today. Another amazing work of God. The response is overwhelming to say the least. Emily's cell nearly tripled in size. Looking forward to see what happens this wkend.
Now to the topic of acting... haha seriously all sg guys shld win an Oscar for acting. NS is where guys hone their acting skills man. You want reality tv, you want top notch acting, send the camera crews to any army camp n u will get that 24/7...
-It's amazing to see how a perfectly fit guy can act like he's dying of some terminal illness the next moment
-a totally unhappy employee who actually hates his boss to the core can smile, have lunch with the boss and act like they're on the best of terms
-a guy who just had a totally lousiest, crappiest, hellacious week in camp can go home to his parents n gf and act as if nothing happened during the wk.
Well with that said, at one pt of time i was at least one of the above... or even more... so that explains the acting guys :)
40 days of purpose is starting next week. Rather it starts today. Another amazing work of God. The response is overwhelming to say the least. Emily's cell nearly tripled in size. Looking forward to see what happens this wkend.
Now to the topic of acting... haha seriously all sg guys shld win an Oscar for acting. NS is where guys hone their acting skills man. You want reality tv, you want top notch acting, send the camera crews to any army camp n u will get that 24/7...
-It's amazing to see how a perfectly fit guy can act like he's dying of some terminal illness the next moment
-a totally unhappy employee who actually hates his boss to the core can smile, have lunch with the boss and act like they're on the best of terms
-a guy who just had a totally lousiest, crappiest, hellacious week in camp can go home to his parents n gf and act as if nothing happened during the wk.
Well with that said, at one pt of time i was at least one of the above... or even more... so that explains the acting guys :)
Thursday, August 4
First timer
yup there's a first time for everything... and i decided to have my own blog. dont even know why i wanna put down my really random ramblings but oh well.. whatever.. it's a good outlet anyway. Even the title of my blog is totally random... dont ask me what it means. i just find the song really nice. One of my favs... yup i will try 2 further personalise this blog even though i seriously doubt so... haha
sch's started and things are looking bleak... urgh.. Really getting annoyed and bored by fungi and bacteria, fluids and whatever... a bad start to the semester.. dont really know how 2 get past this one. somehow me n ravind were discussing on how this sem is totally different... like the fire for studies has somewhat been put out abruptly. hope things turn out for the better.
was struggling thru my tut at night when suddenly ended up talking to some old church friends on msn. it was quite pleasant... always great to catch up with old friends :) yar vivien's done some meaningful stuff in China and zhiern's well getting ready for sch again... haha really miss all e old friends back in sg.
in case some people wanna know.. i only miss the food n people(family n frens) back home... other than that, i dont think im really fond of anything else in sg. haha that's y i left in the first place man... just wish i brought more photos of some people i know back in sg here... oh well
it's like freaking 1am here and im trying to figure out whether cutting a hole in a floating object will make it float more or less... physics is a pain...
sch's started and things are looking bleak... urgh.. Really getting annoyed and bored by fungi and bacteria, fluids and whatever... a bad start to the semester.. dont really know how 2 get past this one. somehow me n ravind were discussing on how this sem is totally different... like the fire for studies has somewhat been put out abruptly. hope things turn out for the better.
was struggling thru my tut at night when suddenly ended up talking to some old church friends on msn. it was quite pleasant... always great to catch up with old friends :) yar vivien's done some meaningful stuff in China and zhiern's well getting ready for sch again... haha really miss all e old friends back in sg.
in case some people wanna know.. i only miss the food n people(family n frens) back home... other than that, i dont think im really fond of anything else in sg. haha that's y i left in the first place man... just wish i brought more photos of some people i know back in sg here... oh well
it's like freaking 1am here and im trying to figure out whether cutting a hole in a floating object will make it float more or less... physics is a pain...