Monday, May 29, 2006
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Busy Planning Invasion
Taking advantage at a lull at work and the planning of a city finished to blog.
Things are looking up since my last, depressing entry. At least my parents hvn't kicked me out of the house, and I'm trying to hang out with them as much as I can. Later we going for lunch to celebrate brother's birthday. Yay.
Been too busy to sleep, much less blog. Although work is 4 out of every 6 days, the 3rd & 4th shifts, like now, is actually a night shift which lasts until the next day morning, so technically this is my 5th day at work out of 6 days. After every shift I'm so tired I just want to bathe and sleep, after watching 1-2 episodes of desperate housewives. 6 hrs a night is considered good. Needless to say, I'm not performing very well at work. hahah
Whatever waking time I have left goes to planning my itinerary, buying stuff I need, making errands. going to hospital and bank. And still trying to run at least once a week, which i just barely manage to fulfil.
Besides work, keeping fit, packing and planning (only planned 2 out of 5 cities assigned to me so far. I don't think I can finish before we leave.), there's campus interviews this coming tuesday and thursday. I need time to prepare and research the companies, etc. but also, I won't be around for any follow up interviews and may not be able to work for another 5 mths... so it's low priority. But still, after my disasterous last interview, I wanna redeem myself. May go still...
So, fuck everything else. It's time for another adventure. and maybe a few interviews.
Things are looking up since my last, depressing entry. At least my parents hvn't kicked me out of the house, and I'm trying to hang out with them as much as I can. Later we going for lunch to celebrate brother's birthday. Yay.
Been too busy to sleep, much less blog. Although work is 4 out of every 6 days, the 3rd & 4th shifts, like now, is actually a night shift which lasts until the next day morning, so technically this is my 5th day at work out of 6 days. After every shift I'm so tired I just want to bathe and sleep, after watching 1-2 episodes of desperate housewives. 6 hrs a night is considered good. Needless to say, I'm not performing very well at work. hahah
Whatever waking time I have left goes to planning my itinerary, buying stuff I need, making errands. going to hospital and bank. And still trying to run at least once a week, which i just barely manage to fulfil.
Besides work, keeping fit, packing and planning (only planned 2 out of 5 cities assigned to me so far. I don't think I can finish before we leave.), there's campus interviews this coming tuesday and thursday. I need time to prepare and research the companies, etc. but also, I won't be around for any follow up interviews and may not be able to work for another 5 mths... so it's low priority. But still, after my disasterous last interview, I wanna redeem myself. May go still...
So, fuck everything else. It's time for another adventure. and maybe a few interviews.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Feeling
DespairGuiltDefianceDisappointmentDisdainPainFutilityAngerLoathingDisgustHatredMurderousRegretDoubtUndeserving
why
do i go
how can i go
how can i leave
when will it ever come
how long how far how come
it all
why
do i go
how can i go
how can i leave
when will it ever come
how long how far how come
it all
Friday, May 12, 2006
Loop
"The road goes ever on and on,
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the road has gone,
And I must follow if I can..."
- Gandalf the Grey
Only I didn't forsee that the road I'm taking is actually a loop.
Now I'm right back where I started. Everything's still as I remember it, albeit a little older.
I know I went somewhere. But I don't know what good it did me.
The more things change, the more they remain the same.
"I'm old, Gandalf. I know I don't look it, but I'm beginning to feel it in
my heart. I feel... thin... sort of stretched, like... butter, scraped over
too much bread. I need a holiday... a very long holiday..."
-Bilbo Baggins
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Holiday
The internet is truly wonderful; so much info. without it, i wldn't hv realised to what extent the media is controlled.
Is it me, or have the pappies become more arrogant, more tactless, and less mindful? and the hatchet is unsheathed, the knuckle duster is out once again, just waiting to meet in the cul-de-sac.
Maybe because now, there is more potential in a contender, and they're peeing in their pants. So in their panic, they fumble.
If they pull no punches, everyone will suffer from it. Pappies will hv an even worse image problem, contender will attract less candidates, and public only gets to choose lesser of 2 evils.
I do not expect the well-off, the content and the awe-struck to want to change the status-quo. it is up to the disgruntled, the oppressed and the idealists to wake up. and the not-so-apathetic will watch, while the truly-apathetic live their lives as usual.
You only see what you want to see.
Is it me, or have the pappies become more arrogant, more tactless, and less mindful? and the hatchet is unsheathed, the knuckle duster is out once again, just waiting to meet in the cul-de-sac.
Maybe because now, there is more potential in a contender, and they're peeing in their pants. So in their panic, they fumble.
If they pull no punches, everyone will suffer from it. Pappies will hv an even worse image problem, contender will attract less candidates, and public only gets to choose lesser of 2 evils.
I do not expect the well-off, the content and the awe-struck to want to change the status-quo. it is up to the disgruntled, the oppressed and the idealists to wake up. and the not-so-apathetic will watch, while the truly-apathetic live their lives as usual.
You only see what you want to see.
"Can I get another amen? (amen)
There's a flag wrapped around a score of men.
A gag, a plastic bag on monument...
I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies
This is the dawning of the rest of our lives
On holiday"
- Green Day, "Holiday" from the album American Idiot
PS. yup. I saw what i wanted to see. that's y my GE prediction so off. hahah
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Elections 2006
I can't help it. I wanted to refrain but I just have to. Anyway, how many ppl are going to read this before polling?
Been surfing a bit. Many, many blogs speaking out against ruling party. BUT. this may be bcoz their supporters are heeding balaji's warnings, or although we are an advanced nation, the majority do not have much to do with the internet, much less blogs. so the wave of support for opposition might not be as big as it seems.
Same for rallies. Many, many people go turn up to watch. but how many are there for the show? how many are like me, a non-voter, just there to see for themselves? knowing singaporeans, most wld hv a good laugh and play on the safe side, vote ruling party as usual.
My stand? ruling party has done a VERY good job thus far, but the way they do some things is unpalatable. like:
- HUGE, HUGE GRCs sheltering homogenous bureaucrats. shd be limited to 4 member GRCs
- tagging upgrading to votes. flats shd be upgraded according to age, not wards.
- putting down opposing contenders arrogantly. must be gentleman mah, like low thia khiang
- controlling the media so obviously that it sickens me. at least be more discreet, can?
My hope? ruling party in power with 1/3-1/4 of good opposition members. i believe a similar number in the ruling party are kinda redundant anyway. backbenchers sleeping on the back benches. at least liddat, on their toes, no time to sleep.
my guess? 2 SMCs, 1 GRC in opposition. hopefully even 3 SMCs.
today will be an exciting day. I wish all candidates all the best, esp those brave souls on the WP and SDA slates.
Been surfing a bit. Many, many blogs speaking out against ruling party. BUT. this may be bcoz their supporters are heeding balaji's warnings, or although we are an advanced nation, the majority do not have much to do with the internet, much less blogs. so the wave of support for opposition might not be as big as it seems.
Same for rallies. Many, many people go turn up to watch. but how many are there for the show? how many are like me, a non-voter, just there to see for themselves? knowing singaporeans, most wld hv a good laugh and play on the safe side, vote ruling party as usual.
My stand? ruling party has done a VERY good job thus far, but the way they do some things is unpalatable. like:
- HUGE, HUGE GRCs sheltering homogenous bureaucrats. shd be limited to 4 member GRCs
- tagging upgrading to votes. flats shd be upgraded according to age, not wards.
- putting down opposing contenders arrogantly. must be gentleman mah, like low thia khiang
- controlling the media so obviously that it sickens me. at least be more discreet, can?
My hope? ruling party in power with 1/3-1/4 of good opposition members. i believe a similar number in the ruling party are kinda redundant anyway. backbenchers sleeping on the back benches. at least liddat, on their toes, no time to sleep.
my guess? 2 SMCs, 1 GRC in opposition. hopefully even 3 SMCs.
today will be an exciting day. I wish all candidates all the best, esp those brave souls on the WP and SDA slates.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
I Tried.
didn't u see? can't u understand that different people have different capabilities? woe is me, my strengths are heavily unrecgonised, and all everyone can see are what i can't do.
I tried. i really did. the key difference is i had confidence this time round, until i saw what those academic bastards put there. i guess understanding is not enuff. need tips. need to regurgitate what is readily available.
i cannot just sit on my hands for 6 mths just to wait for one paper. i needed to add value to myself. i wanted to feel useful. i wanted to remain sane. i guess i hv to sit for 6mths after all.
how to live with myself rotting in my room all day for months? how to stay sane with just one fucking paper in mind?
i don't want to lose myself. i don't want to lose who i am. but this system doesn't hv a place for me.
those academic bastards. i want to stab them. and again. and again. and again. think they so fucking smart? i'm take a hammer and smash their brains out, to see what they're really made of.
i want to get out
i want to get out
i want to get out
i want to get out
i want to get out
i want to get out
i want to get out
i want to get out
i want to finally have a real life. i want to be free. i want to be me.
I tried. i really did. the key difference is i had confidence this time round, until i saw what those academic bastards put there. i guess understanding is not enuff. need tips. need to regurgitate what is readily available.
i cannot just sit on my hands for 6 mths just to wait for one paper. i needed to add value to myself. i wanted to feel useful. i wanted to remain sane. i guess i hv to sit for 6mths after all.
how to live with myself rotting in my room all day for months? how to stay sane with just one fucking paper in mind?
i don't want to lose myself. i don't want to lose who i am. but this system doesn't hv a place for me.
those academic bastards. i want to stab them. and again. and again. and again. think they so fucking smart? i'm take a hammer and smash their brains out, to see what they're really made of.
i want to get out
i want to get out
i want to get out
i want to get out
i want to get out
i want to get out
i want to get out
i want to get out
i want to finally have a real life. i want to be free. i want to be me.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Happy Ending Dream
I had a happy ending dream again this morning.
I dunno where I was, seemed like a school, or some kind of sports complex.
I was escorting her to the toilet, with my arm around her back and hers around my waist. She was about half a head shorter than me, wearing a ponytail, with a DAMN SOLID figure. and we parted outside the female toilet door - i didn't really see her face, but i knew she was smiling. coz i was smiling too.
Those kind of "...and they lived happily ever after" kinda smiles.
I hate these dreams. I wake up all smiley and feeling loved and in love without knowing who the hell she is/was; i.e. for no reason at all.
And they are just that. Dreams.
Blardy Happy Ending Dreams.
I dunno where I was, seemed like a school, or some kind of sports complex.
I was escorting her to the toilet, with my arm around her back and hers around my waist. She was about half a head shorter than me, wearing a ponytail, with a DAMN SOLID figure. and we parted outside the female toilet door - i didn't really see her face, but i knew she was smiling. coz i was smiling too.
Those kind of "...and they lived happily ever after" kinda smiles.
I hate these dreams. I wake up all smiley and feeling loved and in love without knowing who the hell she is/was; i.e. for no reason at all.
And they are just that. Dreams.
Blardy Happy Ending Dreams.
Monday, April 24, 2006
Bus Encounter
3 guys board the bus and sit across the aisle from me. They start talking loudly about TVs so I hear every word of it. Not TV programmes. TVs. Sharp, Sony, Philips, Samsung.
Philips is quite good.
Sharp came up with the technology first, then Sony also used it.
Sharp still better, but not many people buy.
More buy Sony, the brand got history, like Nokia like that. Sharp no history.
I look at them. All 3 are wearing jeans, sport shoes, and neatly tucked-in polo t-shirts, with handphones sticking onto their belts just below the t-shirts, 5pm on a weekday.
Engineers.
I'd jump off a building if I'd ever become one of them.
And after finding out what a sucky engineer I am, the hiring manager would probably go to the roof and jump off too.
Of coz, I wouldn't tell him how high I'd be jumping off. Probably just high enough to break a leg and get 1 mth MC + all hospital fees paid by the company before quitting.
Philips is quite good.
Sharp came up with the technology first, then Sony also used it.
Sharp still better, but not many people buy.
More buy Sony, the brand got history, like Nokia like that. Sharp no history.
I look at them. All 3 are wearing jeans, sport shoes, and neatly tucked-in polo t-shirts, with handphones sticking onto their belts just below the t-shirts, 5pm on a weekday.
Engineers.
I'd jump off a building if I'd ever become one of them.
And after finding out what a sucky engineer I am, the hiring manager would probably go to the roof and jump off too.
Of coz, I wouldn't tell him how high I'd be jumping off. Probably just high enough to break a leg and get 1 mth MC + all hospital fees paid by the company before quitting.
Many Thoughts Part 2
After a "super" of laughs, i drove some of them home. and got into a debate with one of them, which i always enjoy. but unfortunately she hates debating anything with me coz i always reject views that are contrary to mine, seemingly without wanting to understand. well... that may be true, but not always. i hope. but anyway, kinda disappointed coz she didn't like interacting with me although i like interacting with her. maybe that's why we hvn't argued for so long. hahah.
i mean, disappointing rite? eg. the person u like hanging out with doesn't like to hang out with u? but anyway, although i'm a bit affected... i don't think i'll change that much. maybe put in more effort to understand where the other person is coming from, but there won't be any radical changes. coz
a) no offense, but i only make effort to change if i realise i really do need it to be the person i wanna be.
b) if i'm such a pushover, then i'm not my own person.
c) and when i do change, it's either from my own realisation or coz of someone very, very impt to me.
d) wat's the fun in arguing when the ppl u argue with agree? hahah. arguing is fun in a way coz i get to cross intellectual swords and spar verbally. i like to do that with intelligent, thoughtful ppl. that's why during NS i always followed orders, nv argued.
but thinking of these things plus sleepiness made me run thru a red light. i'm not sure with the white streak i saw was a redlight camera. oh well... i can afford some demerits anyway... since it's already done, no point harping over it.
anyway, over these 2 days, i felt a lot of weight on my shoulders over the 4-5 issues. i had to complete them all in those 2 days, and didn't really have anyone to unburden anything to. not to discredit anyone but sometimes things just don't go the way they should if someone else reluctantly takes up the burden. in fact just recently i experienced an incident which drove home the point "if u want things done right, do it urself."
so am i such a close-minded, distrusting person who wants things his way? my defense is that i am no pushover, i am my own person, and there are some things i can do better, or choose to put in more effort, than others. and of coz there are some tasks i choose to take on so i know wat's going on, learnt from the disasterous trip to thailand in 2001.
that said, i do love my group of best frens - it felt almost like a family supper, coz we're all so close. 1 small table, 7 ppl, and 3 conversations across the table simultaneously. u gotta love that. and i appreciate those frens who have been around me, helped me with stuff, and those who i'm doing stuff for, in these 2 days. maybe that's why i choose to take up the burdens as well; so that they are not disappointed.
well i shall not be bothering about these issues much anymore... job application done, no more gatherings until after exams, just left with one more city booking. all that is left for me to do these 1 1/2 wks is to study and keep fit. and maybe ask someone out for coffee. ;-)
i mean, disappointing rite? eg. the person u like hanging out with doesn't like to hang out with u? but anyway, although i'm a bit affected... i don't think i'll change that much. maybe put in more effort to understand where the other person is coming from, but there won't be any radical changes. coz
a) no offense, but i only make effort to change if i realise i really do need it to be the person i wanna be.
b) if i'm such a pushover, then i'm not my own person.
c) and when i do change, it's either from my own realisation or coz of someone very, very impt to me.
d) wat's the fun in arguing when the ppl u argue with agree? hahah. arguing is fun in a way coz i get to cross intellectual swords and spar verbally. i like to do that with intelligent, thoughtful ppl. that's why during NS i always followed orders, nv argued.
but thinking of these things plus sleepiness made me run thru a red light. i'm not sure with the white streak i saw was a redlight camera. oh well... i can afford some demerits anyway... since it's already done, no point harping over it.
anyway, over these 2 days, i felt a lot of weight on my shoulders over the 4-5 issues. i had to complete them all in those 2 days, and didn't really have anyone to unburden anything to. not to discredit anyone but sometimes things just don't go the way they should if someone else reluctantly takes up the burden. in fact just recently i experienced an incident which drove home the point "if u want things done right, do it urself."
so am i such a close-minded, distrusting person who wants things his way? my defense is that i am no pushover, i am my own person, and there are some things i can do better, or choose to put in more effort, than others. and of coz there are some tasks i choose to take on so i know wat's going on, learnt from the disasterous trip to thailand in 2001.
that said, i do love my group of best frens - it felt almost like a family supper, coz we're all so close. 1 small table, 7 ppl, and 3 conversations across the table simultaneously. u gotta love that. and i appreciate those frens who have been around me, helped me with stuff, and those who i'm doing stuff for, in these 2 days. maybe that's why i choose to take up the burdens as well; so that they are not disappointed.
well i shall not be bothering about these issues much anymore... job application done, no more gatherings until after exams, just left with one more city booking. all that is left for me to do these 1 1/2 wks is to study and keep fit. and maybe ask someone out for coffee. ;-)
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Many Thoughts
Just have to blog.
Past 2 days been hectic, stressful until i got inconsiderate towards my family. i know i'm horrible, but right now i have to concentrate on me... i will make amends after exams. but i hope i will have enuff time to do so.
main issues occupying the last 2 days were
a) job application
b) europe hostel bookings
c) getting myself to go for a jog
d) 2 very impt social engagements
with studying always at the back of my mind. All these pressing issues on my shoulders. maybe they don't seem overwhelming, but they are when they all hv to be done within 2 days.
job application screwed up when i overlooked an essential form. slept only at 6am last night because of that. hostel bookings involved sourcing a hostel, comparing prices of the same hostel from different sites, comparing their best price with the best price of other hostels, convincing myself i was choosing the right place. repeat procedure for another 4 countries. but all done liao, except for one city.
the last time i had a jog was a mth ago. same for the previous time too. working really saps energy out - the remaining of / subsequent day is always spent resting. and i know i really cannot stay this way if i am to go on a 49 day trip. and end of year i wanna join stanchart again. initial plan was to add 1km to my runs every month. i think i added only 500m since jan. atrocious.
luckily, got trip-mate to schedule runs with me. twice every week from after my exams to before we fly off. that's settled too. oh yes, i did make myself jog earlier this evening after all, but at the cost of being inconsiderate to my family.
social engagements dun mean just turning up. not for one of them anyway. the 1st one was at least simple enough. 2nd one (a birthday) as usual, i had to galvanise everyone up for the event. with few favourable responses, i had to rush to buy a cake and make pick up arrangements. was wondering why it is usually me who rouses everyone, that if i didn't do anything, the birthday would just pass by. most of the time, i'm usually the one who pulls us all together, always makes arrangements for us to meet up. not easy most of the time, even for a group of only 9. got a bit frustrated, a bit disappointed.
but when all of us are together, all these thoughts just vanish. i mostly remember we were laughing a lot 3-4hrs ago, but about wat i have no idea. always so fun being with them, and feel so close to them. can almost see them as family liao. maybe that's why i keep arranging gatherings, coz i don't want to lose them.
sleepy. 5am liao. last nite only slept from 6am to 10am. maybe i blog more tml. i had more to write and a point to all this, but sleep is preventing me from deciphering what it is.
Past 2 days been hectic, stressful until i got inconsiderate towards my family. i know i'm horrible, but right now i have to concentrate on me... i will make amends after exams. but i hope i will have enuff time to do so.
main issues occupying the last 2 days were
a) job application
b) europe hostel bookings
c) getting myself to go for a jog
d) 2 very impt social engagements
with studying always at the back of my mind. All these pressing issues on my shoulders. maybe they don't seem overwhelming, but they are when they all hv to be done within 2 days.
job application screwed up when i overlooked an essential form. slept only at 6am last night because of that. hostel bookings involved sourcing a hostel, comparing prices of the same hostel from different sites, comparing their best price with the best price of other hostels, convincing myself i was choosing the right place. repeat procedure for another 4 countries. but all done liao, except for one city.
the last time i had a jog was a mth ago. same for the previous time too. working really saps energy out - the remaining of / subsequent day is always spent resting. and i know i really cannot stay this way if i am to go on a 49 day trip. and end of year i wanna join stanchart again. initial plan was to add 1km to my runs every month. i think i added only 500m since jan. atrocious.
luckily, got trip-mate to schedule runs with me. twice every week from after my exams to before we fly off. that's settled too. oh yes, i did make myself jog earlier this evening after all, but at the cost of being inconsiderate to my family.
social engagements dun mean just turning up. not for one of them anyway. the 1st one was at least simple enough. 2nd one (a birthday) as usual, i had to galvanise everyone up for the event. with few favourable responses, i had to rush to buy a cake and make pick up arrangements. was wondering why it is usually me who rouses everyone, that if i didn't do anything, the birthday would just pass by. most of the time, i'm usually the one who pulls us all together, always makes arrangements for us to meet up. not easy most of the time, even for a group of only 9. got a bit frustrated, a bit disappointed.
but when all of us are together, all these thoughts just vanish. i mostly remember we were laughing a lot 3-4hrs ago, but about wat i have no idea. always so fun being with them, and feel so close to them. can almost see them as family liao. maybe that's why i keep arranging gatherings, coz i don't want to lose them.
sleepy. 5am liao. last nite only slept from 6am to 10am. maybe i blog more tml. i had more to write and a point to all this, but sleep is preventing me from deciphering what it is.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Lack of Entries
Been wanting to blog. Got ideas and thots to blog out. Especially with elections coming.
But somehow Life, in it's usual irritating fashion, manages to get in the way.
Just some quick updates:
now til 3rd May: studying for paper on 3rd May
4th - 25th May: will be working, planning and preparing for Rockie's Invasion of Europe. Plan of Attack: Hit-and-Ru(i)n
26th May to 14th Jul: Check out http://rockies-roamings.blogspot.com for updates
Those 3 sentences summarise my next 3 mths. Boring hor? hahahah... If you sian, go attend rally lor...
But somehow Life, in it's usual irritating fashion, manages to get in the way.
Just some quick updates:
now til 3rd May: studying for paper on 3rd May
4th - 25th May: will be working, planning and preparing for Rockie's Invasion of Europe. Plan of Attack: Hit-and-Ru(i)n
26th May to 14th Jul: Check out http://rockies-roamings.blogspot.com for updates
Those 3 sentences summarise my next 3 mths. Boring hor? hahahah... If you sian, go attend rally lor...
Sunday, April 16, 2006
Funny
Funny how 8 digits can still make me forget that i hvn't had dinner, and put a silly smile on my face for 2 hours.
Out of all the possible thousand negative scenarios, i see the single positive one. That's funny too.
Out of all the possible thousand negative scenarios, i see the single positive one. That's funny too.
Friday, April 14, 2006
Happiness Is...
...finding out that the name on the Nestle Crunch you'd been eyeing in the fridge belongs to a guest who checked out 3 days ago for Australia.
As i bite into it and type this, there's some kind of guilty pleasure in it. kinda like i know it's wrong, but somehow that's why it tastes better. forbidden chocolate probably always does.
Mmmmm...... -D
As i bite into it and type this, there's some kind of guilty pleasure in it. kinda like i know it's wrong, but somehow that's why it tastes better. forbidden chocolate probably always does.
Mmmmm...... -D
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Blading 2
My previous entry was warning enough.
Went blading with misa again on sunday, with disastrous results. Well ok, it would have been disastrous if I actually DID blade. But I was supposed to work the next day, so I didn't think being warded would be a fantastic idea.
It started well enough... meeting 1 of 2 of misa's frens who were blading as well, but we went to a different blade rental from last week, the one nearest to fort road. Their blades... well.. weren't suitable for me, to put it diplomatically. 1st pair were too big, my fault, so i had them changed. 2nd pair squeaked in agony when i stood up, and my legs just couldn't straighten, and i had such a hard time just reaching the track, i was a perfect match with my squeaking blades.
I had enough. i ripped them off and asked for a refund, of coz which, none was given. the uncle said an exchange for bike rental could be given instead, but i told him it was ok, coz i wasn't going back.
So i went to the blade rental i was at last week, but the earlier experience was traumatising enuff. i couldn't even stand properly, let alone move forward. and I already saw money fly off, really spoilt the eagerness. and there were just too many people zooming around. Even though I was looking fwd to blading, I just didn't feel good enuff to blade anymore.
then misa's other friend came, and tried to solve the problem of me not blading and hindering misa and fren no.1 from blading by lending me her blades. by this time almost an hour had passed and they hadn't really bladed yet, which was the scenario i hate most; me being the deadweight. so i wanted to stop and go home, and just let 3 of them have fun. but fren no.2 insisted she was tired, so... ok, i'll give it another shot.
fren no.2 also suggested blading on the pedestrian walkway since i not zai... but i thot that why its for pedestrians, isn't it? to keep hazards like me away from innocent bystanders.
so i put the blades and safety gear on. then fren no.2 casually mentioned that beginners might find her blades tricky coz the wheels are so smooth, literally no friction, she remarked proudly. Well thank you so much there, fren no.2. I'm sure you will appear pretty often when my life flashes before my eyes.
so i gingerly stood up with the help of a railing, and stumbled to the track, almost falling once every metre. joined the lane, immediately came wheel-to-hump, and stopped dead in my tracks. i couldn't get enuff FRICTION to push myself up and over. then wat could've happened miraculously didn't.
a swarm of bladers behind started to stream around me. those on the right cut into the oncoming lane, where 2-3 bicycles and 3-4 bladers reached me just about the same time. they swerved and siam-ed, and wonder of wonders, no one fell and broke an elbow. I nearly caused an accident. confirm, chop + guarantee road hazard. I was a lady driver on blades.
so i decided enough was enuff. i was slowing my fren and her fren down, and likely to be sent to hospital, and maybe send someone with me. so i ripped off the blades again and gave fren no.2's blades to fren no.1.
so i decided to be nice to fren no.2, who had been so nice by lending me her blades, and go accompany her by the beach somewhere. maybe make some polite conversation, which i did with fren no.1. but no, there was no chance. fren no.2 apparently wanted to be by herself, so although she graciously relented to my request to join her, that was the only semblence of conversation we had. she amused herself with her hp, i with mine. i noticed that she turned slightly away from me, and appeared to be in deep thought.
well maybe she was waiting for me to say something, but seriously, me? everyone knows i suck at meeting strange new ppl. can never think of anything intelligent to say. so probably after 5-10 mins (hey it felt longer kae!) of the suspense, seeing that i made for such mind-blowing company, i took my leave on grounds that i wanted to look for my parents. the vibes i was getting from fren no.2 weren't exactly welcoming anyway, with her parting shot "you're not coming back right?" being so sweet. but i guess i can't blame her. i also wouldn't talk to anyone who crushed my blades with their weight-of-too-many-suppers and refused to listen to my repeated advice on blading on pedestrian walkways.
Dad & Mum WERE somewhere around, and we had met earlier, thankfully NOT when i was blading. after getting to them, 3 of us getting amused by loud scoldings by an indian lady to her young son, misa called and summoned my return to join them for dinner. thankfully she hadn't realised that dinner would be more fun without me.
After dinner we parted, and i went to look for mum and dad at marine parade, and we went shopping for groceries. Kinda boring, but somehow rather fun. Rephrase: it wasn't exciting, but it was comfortable.
So fortunately, for her that is, misa won't be free on subsequent saturdays and i have refused to blade on crowded sundays. i guess ally will have to suffer my company from now on. wish him luck, everyone.
Went blading with misa again on sunday, with disastrous results. Well ok, it would have been disastrous if I actually DID blade. But I was supposed to work the next day, so I didn't think being warded would be a fantastic idea.
It started well enough... meeting 1 of 2 of misa's frens who were blading as well, but we went to a different blade rental from last week, the one nearest to fort road. Their blades... well.. weren't suitable for me, to put it diplomatically. 1st pair were too big, my fault, so i had them changed. 2nd pair squeaked in agony when i stood up, and my legs just couldn't straighten, and i had such a hard time just reaching the track, i was a perfect match with my squeaking blades.
I had enough. i ripped them off and asked for a refund, of coz which, none was given. the uncle said an exchange for bike rental could be given instead, but i told him it was ok, coz i wasn't going back.
So i went to the blade rental i was at last week, but the earlier experience was traumatising enuff. i couldn't even stand properly, let alone move forward. and I already saw money fly off, really spoilt the eagerness. and there were just too many people zooming around. Even though I was looking fwd to blading, I just didn't feel good enuff to blade anymore.
then misa's other friend came, and tried to solve the problem of me not blading and hindering misa and fren no.1 from blading by lending me her blades. by this time almost an hour had passed and they hadn't really bladed yet, which was the scenario i hate most; me being the deadweight. so i wanted to stop and go home, and just let 3 of them have fun. but fren no.2 insisted she was tired, so... ok, i'll give it another shot.
fren no.2 also suggested blading on the pedestrian walkway since i not zai... but i thot that why its for pedestrians, isn't it? to keep hazards like me away from innocent bystanders.
so i put the blades and safety gear on. then fren no.2 casually mentioned that beginners might find her blades tricky coz the wheels are so smooth, literally no friction, she remarked proudly. Well thank you so much there, fren no.2. I'm sure you will appear pretty often when my life flashes before my eyes.
so i gingerly stood up with the help of a railing, and stumbled to the track, almost falling once every metre. joined the lane, immediately came wheel-to-hump, and stopped dead in my tracks. i couldn't get enuff FRICTION to push myself up and over. then wat could've happened miraculously didn't.
a swarm of bladers behind started to stream around me. those on the right cut into the oncoming lane, where 2-3 bicycles and 3-4 bladers reached me just about the same time. they swerved and siam-ed, and wonder of wonders, no one fell and broke an elbow. I nearly caused an accident. confirm, chop + guarantee road hazard. I was a lady driver on blades.
so i decided enough was enuff. i was slowing my fren and her fren down, and likely to be sent to hospital, and maybe send someone with me. so i ripped off the blades again and gave fren no.2's blades to fren no.1.
so i decided to be nice to fren no.2, who had been so nice by lending me her blades, and go accompany her by the beach somewhere. maybe make some polite conversation, which i did with fren no.1. but no, there was no chance. fren no.2 apparently wanted to be by herself, so although she graciously relented to my request to join her, that was the only semblence of conversation we had. she amused herself with her hp, i with mine. i noticed that she turned slightly away from me, and appeared to be in deep thought.
well maybe she was waiting for me to say something, but seriously, me? everyone knows i suck at meeting strange new ppl. can never think of anything intelligent to say. so probably after 5-10 mins (hey it felt longer kae!) of the suspense, seeing that i made for such mind-blowing company, i took my leave on grounds that i wanted to look for my parents. the vibes i was getting from fren no.2 weren't exactly welcoming anyway, with her parting shot "you're not coming back right?" being so sweet. but i guess i can't blame her. i also wouldn't talk to anyone who crushed my blades with their weight-of-too-many-suppers and refused to listen to my repeated advice on blading on pedestrian walkways.
Dad & Mum WERE somewhere around, and we had met earlier, thankfully NOT when i was blading. after getting to them, 3 of us getting amused by loud scoldings by an indian lady to her young son, misa called and summoned my return to join them for dinner. thankfully she hadn't realised that dinner would be more fun without me.
After dinner we parted, and i went to look for mum and dad at marine parade, and we went shopping for groceries. Kinda boring, but somehow rather fun. Rephrase: it wasn't exciting, but it was comfortable.
So fortunately, for her that is, misa won't be free on subsequent saturdays and i have refused to blade on crowded sundays. i guess ally will have to suffer my company from now on. wish him luck, everyone.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
Blading
If you were among the lucky 61% of the 35,834 ppl at ECP today who happened to see a guy in sweat-soaked brown t-shirt and grey berms, with legs trying helplessly to keep upright on blades, and arms flailing about like he was being attacked by a horde of bees, terrorising other bladers and cyclists, then congratulations; you have bear witness to Embarassing Moments of My Life #267: Blading for the 2nd Time. If u thot I did well going forward, all i was actually doing was stumbling one foot in front of the other to keep my face away from the road.
Well at least comparing the distance covered, i had proportionally less falls than the 1st time i attempt blading 3 yrs ago... which caught me on my back at least 7 times... and i was so traumatised i didn't turn up for the 2nd day of the course. hahah...
i fell badly only 3 times:
1) going down a hump
2) getting viciously rammed by misa
3) going over hardened, smooth, dry mud which i thot was still squishy
other times i held the road away with my hands and crawled hands and knees to
a) the nearest grass patch or
b) until i could get myself upright again
at least the blading started pleasantly enuff: i dunno how misa convinced me to put on the blades and start trying, but once i did, it was fun!! barring the embarassing jerky limb movements. only thing is, the only place that got tanned was probably the back of my neck, since i spent most of the time using eye power to keep the road stable...
and on the way back... had a pleasant yet embarassing surprise. intrigued by my laughable attempts at making way, zo caught up from behind and turned around.. and confirmed her terrible suspicions: the blading buffoon was me!! heng i kena unwanted hp call... so can act busy so that she didn't manage to ask any difficult questions. hahahah
but trouble started on the way back as well... calves, thighs, and lower back started aching like crazy... not used to (my) blading posture i guess... then slowed down misa's getting back... think the distance she went back and forth while waiting for me was probably made up half her total... hahahah really paiseh abt making her and her relatives wait... and didn't feel comfortable being the odd one out. and also most imptly, i had to be at work again in 2hrs.
so stinky and tired, and finally free of those treacherous blades, i stumbled/dragged myself back home with a big gulp to keep me company. usually to me $1.70 for water wld be extravagant, in this instance it was absolutely necessary.
but overall, it was really fun, and i've been meaning to learn blading anyway. so i'll be looking fwd til the next time, if misa ever dares to blade w me again. ;)
and if any of u readers want a free clown act, jio me for blading.
PS: funniest part of the day - not by me, but misa's sleepy mumblings on the phone... *impossible to put it down in alphabet* hahahah watever little image there was, gone liao lah!!
Well at least comparing the distance covered, i had proportionally less falls than the 1st time i attempt blading 3 yrs ago... which caught me on my back at least 7 times... and i was so traumatised i didn't turn up for the 2nd day of the course. hahah...
i fell badly only 3 times:
1) going down a hump
2) getting viciously rammed by misa
3) going over hardened, smooth, dry mud which i thot was still squishy
other times i held the road away with my hands and crawled hands and knees to
a) the nearest grass patch or
b) until i could get myself upright again
at least the blading started pleasantly enuff: i dunno how misa convinced me to put on the blades and start trying, but once i did, it was fun!! barring the embarassing jerky limb movements. only thing is, the only place that got tanned was probably the back of my neck, since i spent most of the time using eye power to keep the road stable...
and on the way back... had a pleasant yet embarassing surprise. intrigued by my laughable attempts at making way, zo caught up from behind and turned around.. and confirmed her terrible suspicions: the blading buffoon was me!! heng i kena unwanted hp call... so can act busy so that she didn't manage to ask any difficult questions. hahahah
but trouble started on the way back as well... calves, thighs, and lower back started aching like crazy... not used to (my) blading posture i guess... then slowed down misa's getting back... think the distance she went back and forth while waiting for me was probably made up half her total... hahahah really paiseh abt making her and her relatives wait... and didn't feel comfortable being the odd one out. and also most imptly, i had to be at work again in 2hrs.
so stinky and tired, and finally free of those treacherous blades, i stumbled/dragged myself back home with a big gulp to keep me company. usually to me $1.70 for water wld be extravagant, in this instance it was absolutely necessary.
but overall, it was really fun, and i've been meaning to learn blading anyway. so i'll be looking fwd til the next time, if misa ever dares to blade w me again. ;)
and if any of u readers want a free clown act, jio me for blading.
PS: funniest part of the day - not by me, but misa's sleepy mumblings on the phone... *impossible to put it down in alphabet* hahahah watever little image there was, gone liao lah!!
Friday, March 31, 2006
Acherly I Think Be Contractor Oso Quite Goot Lah
Currently Playing : Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous
Acherly hor, i tink i heck care my useless Chinaman Technicians' University degree and become contractor... oso quite goot lah.
Becoz why? becoz nowsaday hor, just walk-walk abit from M-R-le-T, i will pass by THREE construction sites leh! 1 at the M-R-le-T station itself, they dunno building wat. then across the road in under HBD block, they hacking up old but still can use walkway... i mean, walkway as long as no big big lobang, no earthquake, peepur can walk, can liao mah! so the bad thing is peepur dunno the cemen wet, then step step... now the walkway kena sai lor!
then walk somemore, another 5 min, got empty field kena dig up, flattened, and they leave one square square lobang, at first i thot why swimming pool so small? put koi let old peepur feed ah? then one day i pass by, i saw one those type of plastic plastic prayground cha down there with sand... so orh.... it's prayground and park lah. even got those ah pek stone benches around... only thing no grass only.
then ah pek stone benches are just purfect for writing poems or leaving numbers on them... good to play cander also!! wat wat cander? tsk, cander lah! u know the one... on top got fire cha the cake sing happie birthday one... cander lah!!
yah lor... see now contractor business so good... think i fark care engineer, become contractor! i plan liao! 1st 2 yr i work as kah kia lah, like the bhangera and thai... whole day just hold the stop-go sign by the road... so senang! then next 2 yr get promotion become supervisor, jaga how they work, learn wat to do. then by the 5th yr, can set up my own business liao!!
5 yrs goot leh... coz i notice hor, every 5 yr got construction business boom one. u see the 5th yr, the old old ah pek flat, hwa, suddenly got estra lift one leh! then suddenly got roof from bus stop to HBD block one! new praygrounds... new ah pek bench... so i will be just in time for the boom lor!
then hor, during the 5th yr, also got a lot of Meet The Rite Peepur sessions. goot lah... i heard hor, always got this guy, wear white shirt white pants, give contractor a lot of work during the boom. maybe he is a Rite Person lah, so can go meet him, give name card, get his business.
think that time can work until tan chia for another 4 yrs ah!! can stay home shake leg liao!! then when no more money, then the 5th yr come out again, go Meet The Rite Peepur. work 1 yr rest 4 yr ah!! so shiok, who do'wan?
yah.... i think be contractor, oso quite goot lah.
Acherly hor, i tink i heck care my useless Chinaman Technicians' University degree and become contractor... oso quite goot lah.
Becoz why? becoz nowsaday hor, just walk-walk abit from M-R-le-T, i will pass by THREE construction sites leh! 1 at the M-R-le-T station itself, they dunno building wat. then across the road in under HBD block, they hacking up old but still can use walkway... i mean, walkway as long as no big big lobang, no earthquake, peepur can walk, can liao mah! so the bad thing is peepur dunno the cemen wet, then step step... now the walkway kena sai lor!
then walk somemore, another 5 min, got empty field kena dig up, flattened, and they leave one square square lobang, at first i thot why swimming pool so small? put koi let old peepur feed ah? then one day i pass by, i saw one those type of plastic plastic prayground cha down there with sand... so orh.... it's prayground and park lah. even got those ah pek stone benches around... only thing no grass only.
then ah pek stone benches are just purfect for writing poems or leaving numbers on them... good to play cander also!! wat wat cander? tsk, cander lah! u know the one... on top got fire cha the cake sing happie birthday one... cander lah!!
yah lor... see now contractor business so good... think i fark care engineer, become contractor! i plan liao! 1st 2 yr i work as kah kia lah, like the bhangera and thai... whole day just hold the stop-go sign by the road... so senang! then next 2 yr get promotion become supervisor, jaga how they work, learn wat to do. then by the 5th yr, can set up my own business liao!!
5 yrs goot leh... coz i notice hor, every 5 yr got construction business boom one. u see the 5th yr, the old old ah pek flat, hwa, suddenly got estra lift one leh! then suddenly got roof from bus stop to HBD block one! new praygrounds... new ah pek bench... so i will be just in time for the boom lor!
then hor, during the 5th yr, also got a lot of Meet The Rite Peepur sessions. goot lah... i heard hor, always got this guy, wear white shirt white pants, give contractor a lot of work during the boom. maybe he is a Rite Person lah, so can go meet him, give name card, get his business.
think that time can work until tan chia for another 4 yrs ah!! can stay home shake leg liao!! then when no more money, then the 5th yr come out again, go Meet The Rite Peepur. work 1 yr rest 4 yr ah!! so shiok, who do'wan?
yah.... i think be contractor, oso quite goot lah.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Slingshots
Uncle farkers who use slingshots to shoot down colugos and other small wild animals shd be tied to trees by their limbs, 5m above ground, and subjected to slingshot attacks carried out by indignant nature lovers.
All 52,918 of us.
(estimated number)
All 52,918 of us.
(estimated number)
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Poor Gary Goh!
Currently Playing: Holiday by Green Day
On the previous Monday. 2nd yr MPE student from NTU Gary Goh sent a mass email to 8,000 students about wanting to form a committee to deal with problems he felt that were plaguing the university, which the staff of NTU do nothing about, and to supplement the almost useless students' union.
This, in the wake of full-page advertisements in newspapers encouraging "A" level sch leavers to join NTU with positive, albeit ambiguous statements like "I can enrich the world with my creativity", "I can change the world with innovation" and "I can bring the world to speed" fronted by smiling, good looking young ppl in lab coats and business suits. (i must add that to their credit, they found a really chio female model)
On Thursday, 23 March, TNP ran "Protest at NTU? What for? - Most students ignore undergrad's call to fight for their rights". It started with
On the same day, ST ran the more objective "Foreign lecturers' English riles NTU student". ST actually put in enough effort to track down and interview Goh himself, with quotes from 2 students who agree with him, and 2 students who don't. for good measure, the president of the students' union was reported to have said something to the gist of
but still, the article ends with someone from the union saying that the Speak Good English Problem "...has become a non-existent issue. It even helps when I go overseas on attachment programmes to multinational firms." So it helps that students have experience not understanding foreign accents?
In response, a vice-dean from NTU wrote a letter to ST Forum published on Saturday, 25 March, "Constant tabs kept on language proficiency" which I summarise below:
1st paragraph: NTU embraces a globalised world, and has multi-culturalism and has a multi-linguistic environment.
2nd paragraph: Students should go thru "chain of command" when complaining. (sound familiar, guys?)
3rd paragraph: there is also a white elephant tramping around campus named "students' union", which "...was already working with the university administration on ways to improve the situation." (there's that statement again! always a work-in-progress. so is he admitting the situation needs improving?)
4th & 5th paragraph: how lecturers are hired, eg. interviews, presentations, peer feedback, assessments, orientation blah blah blah
6th paragraph: students do nominate foreigners for "best teacher awards"
7th paragraph: there are measures in place to monitor the spoken english and presentation skills of staff.
8th paragraph: what some of these measures are
9th paragraph: "Finally, the matter should not be blown out of proportion as most lecturers are fine. For the small number who need assistance, there are faculty development programmes."
So, let me summarise:
1) Gary Goh is moved to action, and he calls on other idealistic fellow-students to come together and change the environment for the better. He does not hide behind the computer screen, as his name and contact number are found in the email. Now his photo is on ST as well.
2) Newspapers follow up. One tries to be objective, another mocks his efforts.
3) As always, the students' union jumps in and says they knew abt the problem and are currently in talks with the administration in dealing with the matter. Of coz, they will be in talks until the whole thing blows over. perfect example of NATO.
4) Meanwhile, Goh gets some supporters, some detractors, and many, many others who talk about it but take a wait-and-see approach. (NATO again!)
5) The administration, responses with a perfect TYS model answer letter:
a) give the larger picture in positive light
b) mention procedures that are in place
c) give assurance that complainants do have a say in things
d) acknowledge that there MAY be some situations which are not up to par, but there ARE measures in place, and anyway, whatever problems there may be, they are small compared to the vast majority who are hardworking/talented/doing a good job/etc.
e) ask everyone involved to go past the issue and "move on" (hahah ok i added that myself)
The state of affairs seems to be that if there is a problem, let those higher up the ivory tower know, they will deal with it eventually, or sit on it until the problem goes away. If you do bring it out to public, you will be ridiculed by the media and we, high on the ivory tower, will say "look at the big picture! this little runt is just making a mountain of a molehill".
So now u know why so difficult for opposition to get good candidates for GE all these years? Coz those higher up always stifle dissenting voices. So much so that there are those who have become adverse to dissenting voices, that have the mindset that those above are always right. There are also those who watch these episodes unfurl and tell themselves to conform, and stay out of trouble. And of coz there are those so intent on living out their silly little lives that they pay no attention to the comings and goings outside their hobbitons.
Such are Singapore's instituitions of higher learning.
===================================================================
On a related note: during the Speak Good English Campaign some years back, then PM Goh sent Phua Chu Kang for BEST English Lessons. so shdn't NTU follow the example, and get the dean to send those lecturers who need it for BEST English Lessons as well? Or does the Speak Good English Campaign only apply to native Singaporeans and our native Singlish? An extension of the Foreign Talent (ie. Foreign? must be Talent!) Scheme
Why, oh why do we always belittle what little heritage, what little naturally-evolved cultural practices we have? Must our natural-born flavours always be hidden behind hideous, manufactured, meaningless hybrids like the Merlion?
===================================================================
Personal Thots: Gary Goh has my respect for trying to change things for the better. Idealistic, perhaps... but at least he has enough drive to be moved into action. I hope he does eventually make things better, and can take personal pride in it. At the very least, I hope his flame does not get extinguished by the drowning of official voices.
Gary, if I would have joined you, had I more time in NTU. I wish you all the best.
On the previous Monday. 2nd yr MPE student from NTU Gary Goh sent a mass email to 8,000 students about wanting to form a committee to deal with problems he felt that were plaguing the university, which the staff of NTU do nothing about, and to supplement the almost useless students' union.
This, in the wake of full-page advertisements in newspapers encouraging "A" level sch leavers to join NTU with positive, albeit ambiguous statements like "I can enrich the world with my creativity", "I can change the world with innovation" and "I can bring the world to speed" fronted by smiling, good looking young ppl in lab coats and business suits. (i must add that to their credit, they found a really chio female model)
On Thursday, 23 March, TNP ran "Protest at NTU? What for? - Most students ignore undergrad's call to fight for their rights". It started with
"His lone call for students to get together and "fight" for their "rights" looksand ended with a student saying
doomed to fail"
"Singaporean students will not bother and foreign students are too busywhich kinda summarises the dismissive, even scornful tone of the article at Goh's actions. Students were quoted as saying Goh was "brash, like he was ranting", "trying to hide behind the computer screen" and "The way... is rude and wrong".
studying. We are all apathetic."
On the same day, ST ran the more objective "Foreign lecturers' English riles NTU student". ST actually put in enough effort to track down and interview Goh himself, with quotes from 2 students who agree with him, and 2 students who don't. for good measure, the president of the students' union was reported to have said something to the gist of
"...acknowledged that there have been complaints. But it was not true thathmm. where have i heard that before, again and again?
nothing had been done to address the issue. The union met the administration
last month and was assured that the matter would be looked into."
but still, the article ends with someone from the union saying that the Speak Good English Problem "...has become a non-existent issue. It even helps when I go overseas on attachment programmes to multinational firms." So it helps that students have experience not understanding foreign accents?
In response, a vice-dean from NTU wrote a letter to ST Forum published on Saturday, 25 March, "Constant tabs kept on language proficiency" which I summarise below:
1st paragraph: NTU embraces a globalised world, and has multi-culturalism and has a multi-linguistic environment.
2nd paragraph: Students should go thru "chain of command" when complaining. (sound familiar, guys?)
3rd paragraph: there is also a white elephant tramping around campus named "students' union", which "...was already working with the university administration on ways to improve the situation." (there's that statement again! always a work-in-progress. so is he admitting the situation needs improving?)
4th & 5th paragraph: how lecturers are hired, eg. interviews, presentations, peer feedback, assessments, orientation blah blah blah
6th paragraph: students do nominate foreigners for "best teacher awards"
7th paragraph: there are measures in place to monitor the spoken english and presentation skills of staff.
8th paragraph: what some of these measures are
9th paragraph: "Finally, the matter should not be blown out of proportion as most lecturers are fine. For the small number who need assistance, there are faculty development programmes."
So, let me summarise:
1) Gary Goh is moved to action, and he calls on other idealistic fellow-students to come together and change the environment for the better. He does not hide behind the computer screen, as his name and contact number are found in the email. Now his photo is on ST as well.
2) Newspapers follow up. One tries to be objective, another mocks his efforts.
3) As always, the students' union jumps in and says they knew abt the problem and are currently in talks with the administration in dealing with the matter. Of coz, they will be in talks until the whole thing blows over. perfect example of NATO.
4) Meanwhile, Goh gets some supporters, some detractors, and many, many others who talk about it but take a wait-and-see approach. (NATO again!)
5) The administration, responses with a perfect TYS model answer letter:
a) give the larger picture in positive light
b) mention procedures that are in place
c) give assurance that complainants do have a say in things
d) acknowledge that there MAY be some situations which are not up to par, but there ARE measures in place, and anyway, whatever problems there may be, they are small compared to the vast majority who are hardworking/talented/doing a good job/etc.
e) ask everyone involved to go past the issue and "move on" (hahah ok i added that myself)
The state of affairs seems to be that if there is a problem, let those higher up the ivory tower know, they will deal with it eventually, or sit on it until the problem goes away. If you do bring it out to public, you will be ridiculed by the media and we, high on the ivory tower, will say "look at the big picture! this little runt is just making a mountain of a molehill".
So now u know why so difficult for opposition to get good candidates for GE all these years? Coz those higher up always stifle dissenting voices. So much so that there are those who have become adverse to dissenting voices, that have the mindset that those above are always right. There are also those who watch these episodes unfurl and tell themselves to conform, and stay out of trouble. And of coz there are those so intent on living out their silly little lives that they pay no attention to the comings and goings outside their hobbitons.
Such are Singapore's instituitions of higher learning.
===================================================================
On a related note: during the Speak Good English Campaign some years back, then PM Goh sent Phua Chu Kang for BEST English Lessons. so shdn't NTU follow the example, and get the dean to send those lecturers who need it for BEST English Lessons as well? Or does the Speak Good English Campaign only apply to native Singaporeans and our native Singlish? An extension of the Foreign Talent (ie. Foreign? must be Talent!) Scheme
Why, oh why do we always belittle what little heritage, what little naturally-evolved cultural practices we have? Must our natural-born flavours always be hidden behind hideous, manufactured, meaningless hybrids like the Merlion?
===================================================================
Personal Thots: Gary Goh has my respect for trying to change things for the better. Idealistic, perhaps... but at least he has enough drive to be moved into action. I hope he does eventually make things better, and can take personal pride in it. At the very least, I hope his flame does not get extinguished by the drowning of official voices.
Gary, if I would have joined you, had I more time in NTU. I wish you all the best.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Watch Out, Europe!
Currently Playing: Holiday by Green Day
well the song doesn't exactly fit... if u know wat's the song abt. i like it so much, i might post the lyrics up at a good time.
i tokked abt going to NZ last yr, but it didn't happen. so when i tokked abt going europe this yr, i was thinking maybe it wldn't happen too. maybe bird flu wld get worse and i wld go NZ after all, finally another solo again. then the fren i'm going with also started to hv doubts...
so it wasn't really until i was in natas this afternoon, hammering out the flight itinerary with a very harried STA staff who had to cope with our many changes and constant enquiries from his colleagues, when it hit me. soon after he handed me a piece of paper which i summarise below:
26 May Fri
SINGAPORE-BANGKOK TG402
BANGKOK-FRANKFURT TG922
13 Jul Thu
FRANKFURT-BANGKOK TG921
14 Jul Fri
BANGKOK-SINGAPORE TG403
then it hit me just like when u accidentally bite into a previously undiscovered tiny piece of chilli padi amongst ur beehoon soup. (i.e. "!!!!!!!!!!")
I'M GOING TO EUROPE!! WOOHOO!!!
thereafter, i was thoroughly drowning in that adrenaline and excitement only an upcoming adventure can bring. rushing from place to place at top walking speed, sending sms-es furiously. making urgent, urgent calls to check on the status of dinner at home. i was high.
yup, I'M GOING TO EUROPE!! WOOHOO!!!
another adventure coming up. :) i can't wait.
well the song doesn't exactly fit... if u know wat's the song abt. i like it so much, i might post the lyrics up at a good time.
i tokked abt going to NZ last yr, but it didn't happen. so when i tokked abt going europe this yr, i was thinking maybe it wldn't happen too. maybe bird flu wld get worse and i wld go NZ after all, finally another solo again. then the fren i'm going with also started to hv doubts...
so it wasn't really until i was in natas this afternoon, hammering out the flight itinerary with a very harried STA staff who had to cope with our many changes and constant enquiries from his colleagues, when it hit me. soon after he handed me a piece of paper which i summarise below:
26 May Fri
SINGAPORE-BANGKOK TG402
BANGKOK-FRANKFURT TG922
13 Jul Thu
FRANKFURT-BANGKOK TG921
14 Jul Fri
BANGKOK-SINGAPORE TG403
then it hit me just like when u accidentally bite into a previously undiscovered tiny piece of chilli padi amongst ur beehoon soup. (i.e. "!!!!!!!!!!")
I'M GOING TO EUROPE!! WOOHOO!!!
thereafter, i was thoroughly drowning in that adrenaline and excitement only an upcoming adventure can bring. rushing from place to place at top walking speed, sending sms-es furiously. making urgent, urgent calls to check on the status of dinner at home. i was high.
yup, I'M GOING TO EUROPE!! WOOHOO!!!
another adventure coming up. :) i can't wait.
