It's 2007 in 3 days time. How about some resolutions to launch the year with?
1. Update the blog, blockhead!
Hai.... Yes... I know. Number 1 resolution should be updating blogs. What can I say... I am busy. How do people do this everyday?? Limited time is spent on either living life, or writing about living life. You need 2 hours of the experience of living life in order to write about that 2 hours of living life. You probably need another 1 hour to write about that 2 hours of life. So there is some cheem formula here...
Live life... No time to write.
Write.... No time to live life.
Ok... I am being too extreme... but you get my point.
So the best time for me to write, draw and write songs is when I am feeling sad, depressed and unable to live life fully. So
happy TWeaK = no-updates TWeaK
Back to the resolutions.
2. Get back in shape
I feel bloated now. I feel fat and lazy. My digestive system had been giving me problems since just before the Cameron Highlands trip. Not going to the toilet often enough.
Too many wedding dinners, family dinners at Cameron Highlands and other miscellaneous celebrations combined with too little exercise got me to where I am now.
I have been giving myself the excuse of having a bad back problem for too long. Now I am recovered. Have to start getting my act together!!!
Started on the rebounder, since it had been raining this whole period. Starting to feel good again. Cutting on carbohydrates intake, upping my greens.
3. Using spare time wisely
Someone once said or written that businesses are made after working hours. What we do with the times we are off working for money makes all the difference whether we work for money for the rest of our lives.
Ashamedly, I have not been following this advice. I have been watching too much Boston Legal, and not spending time learning Internet Marketing or the Stock Market.
Again... no excuse. It's time to restart my engine again.
4. Stop talking, take action.
'nuff said. Action.
Now ar? No lah... Of course sleep first lah... Its late.
(Here we go again.)
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
A late Christmas post... Warm Story
A late Christmas post.
Ok... I've even passed Boxing Day... So this post is beri beri late... But aiyah... good story so must share right?
Its borrowed from an email from Robert G. Allen and Mark Victor Hansen's EWI, Enlightened Wealth Institute. It talks about Enlightened Giving, and if you read the books by the authors, you will see why. And people from EMC would understand why this story means so much to me. Hmm... its also a little biased towards Christianity, but I think the story is warm just the same.
How much am I giving? I think it's a question I need to answer myself.
------------------------
Ok... I've even passed Boxing Day... So this post is beri beri late... But aiyah... good story so must share right?
Its borrowed from an email from Robert G. Allen and Mark Victor Hansen's EWI, Enlightened Wealth Institute. It talks about Enlightened Giving, and if you read the books by the authors, you will see why. And people from EMC would understand why this story means so much to me. Hmm... its also a little biased towards Christianity, but I think the story is warm just the same.
How much am I giving? I think it's a question I need to answer myself.
------------------------
Adventure With Grandma
I remember my first Christmas adventure with Grandma. I was just a kid. I remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big sister dropped the bomb:
"There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even dummies know that!"
My Grandma was not the gushy kind, never had been. I fled to her that day because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot easier when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns. I knew they were world-famous, because Grandma said so. It had to be true.
Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told her everything. She was ready for me. "No Santa Claus!" she snorted. "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That rumor has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain mad. Now, put on your coat, and let’s go."
"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second world-famous, cinnamon bun. "Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, “and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.
I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten- dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.
I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, and the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class.
Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out for recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough, and he didn't have a coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!
I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes," I replied shyly. "It's....for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas.
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it -- Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers. General Store, the one store in town that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those days. "Take this money," she said, “and buy something for someone who needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked out of Kerby's.
I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother, but never had I shopped for anything all by myself. The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there, confused, clutching that ten- dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and who on earth to buy it for.
I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbors, the kids at school, and the people who went to my church. I was just about thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobby Decker. He was a kid with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs. Pollock's grade-two class.
Bobby Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went out for recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note, telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that Bobby Decker didn't have a cough, and he didn't have a coat. I fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy Bobby Decker a coat!
I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real warm, and he would like that. "Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down. "Yes," I replied shyly. "It's....for Bobby." The nice lady smiled at me. I didn't get any change, but she put the coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas.
That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and ribbons (a little tag fell out of the coat, and Grandma tucked it in her Bible) and wrote, "To Bobby, From Santa Claus" on it -- Grandma said that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to Bobby Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and forever officially one of Santa's helpers.
Grandma parked down the street from Bobby's house, and she and I crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk. Then Grandma gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."
I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present down on his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood Bobby.
Fifty years haven’t dimmed the thrill of those moments spent shivering, beside my Grandma, in Bobby Decker's bushes. That night, I realized that those awful rumors about Santa Claus were just what Grandma said they were: ridiculous.
Santa was alive and well, and we were on his team. I still have the Bible, with the tag tucked inside: $19.95.
---
"He who has no Christmas in his heart will never find Christmas under a tree."
-author unknown-
---
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Cameron Highlands Day One
We woke up early in the morning at 5am. Hwei min and I were the first to wake up, very gan cheong, I think we were both too excited in anticipation of the trip.
Checked the webcam for the traffic condition, found Tuas to be relatively lighter. Anyway, that was nearer to 8U’s (8th Uncle, dad’s younger brother) place. So we waited for his car and left in convoy. It is the same usual group this time, 8U, 8A, their daughters Wan Ying and Wan Mei, my 2A(2nd Aunt, dad’s elder sister) and my own family of five. We would be joined by my 1A(1st Aunt, dad’s eldest sister) and 1AU(1st Uncle, Aunt’s husband) when we reach their place later.
The first place we aimed for was Yong Peng. A quick stop here, mainly for breakfast. Ah…. if you have never tried, must try sai doh (Chinese literal translation : West Sword, don’t ask me why…) fish balls. Fish balls made from fresh sai doh fish. Their fish cakes are delicious too.
The trip did not start well for me actually. I had a bad digestion problem throughout the trip. Felt bloated. Had to clear my bowels, but I could not release unless I was very comfortable with the toilet. Thankfully the toilet at the said oh place was clean…
I ran into the toilet the moment I stepped into my 1A’s place. This might sound strange, but though it was a different physical place from the one I visited two years ago (they moved to a new home), the place smelled familiar. Strange hor? To think that I remember how places smell, and my body automatically feels comfortable.
It's scary how fast we ... Grow. My little nephew, Ken Li, grew up. Last time we spent hours playing toy cars with Ken, now we spent hours playing toy cars with his little sis, Rou Ting, no doubt influenced by her brother.
My dear aunts are visibly aging as well. More wrinkles... They were the happy kind of wrinkles near their eyes and their mouths because they laugh a lot.
Funny how its acceptable socially to tell someone :-
'Oh, boy boy has grown taller hor?' when they are from 0 to 18, then …
'Oh, ah girl so pretty' or 'ah boy so handsome' till they are about 25,
Then … silence from the years on.
Never 'Oh, auntie has new wrinkles just above your eyes now, ooh... you look very wise lei.' Or in my case, ‘Auntie, you have happy wrinkles. You are aging gracefully, and I want to be like you when I grow old.’
I mean it. And I have told Hwei Min as well… If we can live our golden years half as happy as my aunts are, we will be so fortunate.
What else had changed? There is one additional new member of the family since I last visited, a friendly and handsome Doberman pup. He’s a friendly puppy almost as tall as an adult when walking on hind legs. Very powerful dog that takes my uncle for a walk rather than the other way around.
I can no longer get away with sleeping in the living room like I used to anymore... Like some ancient rite of passage, I get the honour of having a room all to ourselves together with Hwei Min.
Predictably, my 1AU brought us out a grand tze char dinner, offering the best that KL can offer, and we spent the rest of the night, the younger kids playing Uno, the older kids playing gin rummy, a recent Tham family vacation tradition. That was what the trip was about, a fine predictable vacation, with family.
Checked the webcam for the traffic condition, found Tuas to be relatively lighter. Anyway, that was nearer to 8U’s (8th Uncle, dad’s younger brother) place. So we waited for his car and left in convoy. It is the same usual group this time, 8U, 8A, their daughters Wan Ying and Wan Mei, my 2A(2nd Aunt, dad’s elder sister) and my own family of five. We would be joined by my 1A(1st Aunt, dad’s eldest sister) and 1AU(1st Uncle, Aunt’s husband) when we reach their place later.
The first place we aimed for was Yong Peng. A quick stop here, mainly for breakfast. Ah…. if you have never tried, must try sai doh (Chinese literal translation : West Sword, don’t ask me why…) fish balls. Fish balls made from fresh sai doh fish. Their fish cakes are delicious too.
The trip did not start well for me actually. I had a bad digestion problem throughout the trip. Felt bloated. Had to clear my bowels, but I could not release unless I was very comfortable with the toilet. Thankfully the toilet at the said oh place was clean…
I ran into the toilet the moment I stepped into my 1A’s place. This might sound strange, but though it was a different physical place from the one I visited two years ago (they moved to a new home), the place smelled familiar. Strange hor? To think that I remember how places smell, and my body automatically feels comfortable.
It's scary how fast we ... Grow. My little nephew, Ken Li, grew up. Last time we spent hours playing toy cars with Ken, now we spent hours playing toy cars with his little sis, Rou Ting, no doubt influenced by her brother.
My dear aunts are visibly aging as well. More wrinkles... They were the happy kind of wrinkles near their eyes and their mouths because they laugh a lot.
Funny how its acceptable socially to tell someone :-
'Oh, boy boy has grown taller hor?' when they are from 0 to 18, then …
'Oh, ah girl so pretty' or 'ah boy so handsome' till they are about 25,
Then … silence from the years on.
Never 'Oh, auntie has new wrinkles just above your eyes now, ooh... you look very wise lei.' Or in my case, ‘Auntie, you have happy wrinkles. You are aging gracefully, and I want to be like you when I grow old.’
I mean it. And I have told Hwei Min as well… If we can live our golden years half as happy as my aunts are, we will be so fortunate.
What else had changed? There is one additional new member of the family since I last visited, a friendly and handsome Doberman pup. He’s a friendly puppy almost as tall as an adult when walking on hind legs. Very powerful dog that takes my uncle for a walk rather than the other way around.
I can no longer get away with sleeping in the living room like I used to anymore... Like some ancient rite of passage, I get the honour of having a room all to ourselves together with Hwei Min.
Predictably, my 1AU brought us out a grand tze char dinner, offering the best that KL can offer, and we spent the rest of the night, the younger kids playing Uno, the older kids playing gin rummy, a recent Tham family vacation tradition. That was what the trip was about, a fine predictable vacation, with family.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Eragon ... Movie Review
"Eragon" is based on a novel by Christopher Paolini. The story's about this young farmer boy by the name of Eragon. Grew up with his uncle, lost both his parents somehow. Found some special powers, uncle dies. Swears revenge... Old mysterious man becomes his mentor. Saves a beautiful girl. Fights an incredible evil king who has a mysterious magic wielding henchman.
Do I have to Force the imagery further?
You want to try harder? There is no try... only do or do not...
Ok ok... you get the point already.
Good? OK lar...
Worth
S$6.00 (mostly for the visual effects)
Movies in Singapore are from a range of S$6.50 to S$9.00 depending on the day and time you watch it on.
There have been many comparisons made between Eragon and Star Wars (for the plot), Lord Of the Rings (for the fantasy world) and even Harry Potter (for the popularity)... I don't know if I am affected by all these reviews... I probably am. I could not help sniggering when I saw a scene of Eragon in the setting sun sitting by a field, orchestra music playing in the background.
Still... Keeping my mind open, I thought that the movie lacked depth. Running less than 2 hours, the movie tried to do too many things in too little time, sometimes making ridiculous shortcuts just to smoothen the plot. There was not enough time to develop the wide array of characters in the plot, Eragon (Ed Speeler), his mentor, Brom(Jeremy Irons), his dragon Saphira (Rachel Weisz), his future love interest (Sienna Guillory), two antagonists King Galbatorix(John Malkovich) and Durza (Robert Carlyle) and additional characters like Murtagh etc...
Though the cast included some great actors, they were not really allowed to shine... with some corny lines, especially from John Malkovich,
"As long as I am King... Disloyalty will be punishable... by
DEATH..."
and lousy plots, for example, Murtagh was imprisoned for being suspicious one moment, and 15 minutes of running movie time later, he gets accepted as a comrade??? Its these kinds of shortcuts that were a little hard to swallow.
For the recent Harry Potter movies, I was able to appreciate the movie a little better even though it felt like there was a lot crammed in as well. That was because I read the Harry Potter books, so I was able to take the movie as a short visual tour of what I got from the book. It probably felt empty for someone who hadn't read the book too.
Regardless, as a movie, I felt that the directors and script writers could have done better to keep the pace going while giving a reasonable amount of coverage for the wide array of characters. I think Peter Jackson and his team did a fairly good job with LOTR. Thus I was quite amused to read an interview of the director Stefen Fangmeier, where he commented that he felt frustrated that the last episode of the LOTR trilogy took too long to end. Well... I think with his visual effects expertise, he would go far if he just learnt a little from Peter's story telling.
So the saving point? The wonderful visual effects. Of course, the director is the expert. (He comes with experience from ILM with a string of movies under his belt as the visual effects sups). Saphira the dragon was wonderfully rendered. The interplay between life action and effects had been merged so seamlessly I did not stop to wonder how they did it.
But why did they have to waste Rachel Weisz as only a voice actress!??
Interesting blog
Should read this blog by this guy, Shaon.
Advanced blogger... in terms of usage of technology. Like his profile pic, for example. How does he just crop a pic without editing it, so that when you click on the pic, you get to see the full pic!? I'm looking at the html, but don't understand at all. :P
http://fmshaon.blogspot.com/
I found this guy while looking for... erm... some ways... to get around some... things. :P
Try out the Qwerty Warriors game he recommends. A fun way to waste your time..
Sentosa... NPCC Gathering...
Lots have happened yesterday. Went to Sentosa with Hwei Min for my company's Family Day celebrations. Then went for her boss's pre-Christmas party, and her ex Secondary NPCC schoolmates' gathering.
Yes... I have taken some pics, but I am now facing a serious problem of 'not enough time'. I am taking more pictures than I am able to edit.
Hwei Min ... keep on reminding me about the Hong Kong trip photos taken in March. Hahah....
Yes... I have taken some pics, but I am now facing a serious problem of 'not enough time'. I am taking more pictures than I am able to edit.
Hwei Min ... keep on reminding me about the Hong Kong trip photos taken in March. Hahah....
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Let me rest my tired feet, oh ... let me rest...
Phew...
Feel like I've been all around the world and back now. Just got back home yesterday night at 9.30 pm. After discovering that the two fridges at home have been off throughout the duration of our trip because of a power trip, Hwei Min and I slept early to wake up in the morning to bring away all the bad food.
So I woke up early this morning... 5.30 a.m.
Left for work, and immediately after reaching office, I was told that we had to go off to site. I shall not mention where it is, but believe me... it was darn far.
Work dragged on to 6.30p.m, and I had to drive back to office to return the company car. By the time I left office, it was 7.30p.m. and I have yet to have had my dinner. Received an SMS from my parents and my sis who just got back from KL today, saying they were going to attend a wake service for my half uncle, so after grabbing a quick bite, I took off again to Bedok to attend the service.
Just left the place and so here I am... right where I started, promising updates from my trip, but too darn shag to do anything, except maybe just share one pic I took when I was in Cameron Highlands, when I was more relaxed.
Ah... I miss my holidays already.
Feel like I've been all around the world and back now. Just got back home yesterday night at 9.30 pm. After discovering that the two fridges at home have been off throughout the duration of our trip because of a power trip, Hwei Min and I slept early to wake up in the morning to bring away all the bad food.
So I woke up early this morning... 5.30 a.m.
Left for work, and immediately after reaching office, I was told that we had to go off to site. I shall not mention where it is, but believe me... it was darn far.
Work dragged on to 6.30p.m, and I had to drive back to office to return the company car. By the time I left office, it was 7.30p.m. and I have yet to have had my dinner. Received an SMS from my parents and my sis who just got back from KL today, saying they were going to attend a wake service for my half uncle, so after grabbing a quick bite, I took off again to Bedok to attend the service.
Just left the place and so here I am... right where I started, promising updates from my trip, but too darn shag to do anything, except maybe just share one pic I took when I was in Cameron Highlands, when I was more relaxed.
Ah... I miss my holidays already.
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Success! T&M's wedding
Did not write in yesterday because I was dead tired.
In fact, I still am, but I thought I would write in a little something just before I leave for Cameron Highlands later today.
Yup... Going to Cameron Highlands for a short trip with family, and will be back next Wednesday night.
I just realised... all the pictures I took for the wedding two days ago are at SMALL RES!!! ARGH!!! But I took mostly videos anyway, since I have given up taken photos indoors most of the time. Anyway, most of what I took are rejected... so I have nothing to show for it... crap happens...
Ok. Got to go and sleep now. Have a pleasant holidays my friends, good nite!
In fact, I still am, but I thought I would write in a little something just before I leave for Cameron Highlands later today.
Yup... Going to Cameron Highlands for a short trip with family, and will be back next Wednesday night.
I just realised... all the pictures I took for the wedding two days ago are at SMALL RES!!! ARGH!!! But I took mostly videos anyway, since I have given up taken photos indoors most of the time. Anyway, most of what I took are rejected... so I have nothing to show for it... crap happens...
Ok. Got to go and sleep now. Have a pleasant holidays my friends, good nite!
Monday, December 04, 2006
Tony and Madeline's Wedding Video
Yup... quick update.
Spent 3 days working on it. Last bit that I am still working on now. Almost complete. I've only got two more renders left to do, one without, and one with subtitling.
It's been extremely fun. As I was telling Hwei Min, I have put in everything I have learnt from sound engineering, video editing, photo editing, photography and videography into this short 8 mins clip. It's been a rewarding experience...
I hope for nothing less than tear drops from the audience this Thursday!!!
Will check with the couple if they mind me sharing their video here. Hopefully they don't. I don't mind some teardrops from you either.
:P
Spent 3 days working on it. Last bit that I am still working on now. Almost complete. I've only got two more renders left to do, one without, and one with subtitling.
It's been extremely fun. As I was telling Hwei Min, I have put in everything I have learnt from sound engineering, video editing, photo editing, photography and videography into this short 8 mins clip. It's been a rewarding experience...
I hope for nothing less than tear drops from the audience this Thursday!!!
Will check with the couple if they mind me sharing their video here. Hopefully they don't. I don't mind some teardrops from you either.
:P
Destin And Jessie's Wedding Photos
As promised, I have uploaded some pics at Flickr, and more at Shutterfly.
Take a look. What you see here are the 'not-so-sucky' pics. After taking a look at the professional photographer's photos... I'm having second thoughts about sharing these... :P
I have dumped a lot into the recycle bin because they were badly taken. There are a lot more which I have not put up, so be sure to call me or email me if you need them. Those that I am sharing could be at lower res, as well, I am not too sure about Shutterfly.
You'll notice that I did not take much shots indoors. My built in flash unit sucks!
Really wonder if I should get a slave flash unit for my camera. Taking indoor shots are a pain...
Take a look. What you see here are the 'not-so-sucky' pics. After taking a look at the professional photographer's photos... I'm having second thoughts about sharing these... :P
I have dumped a lot into the recycle bin because they were badly taken. There are a lot more which I have not put up, so be sure to call me or email me if you need them. Those that I am sharing could be at lower res, as well, I am not too sure about Shutterfly.
You'll notice that I did not take much shots indoors. My built in flash unit sucks!
Really wonder if I should get a slave flash unit for my camera. Taking indoor shots are a pain...
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
In the name of competition...
Now countless pleas have gone unheeded. It's an argument that is old, but yet unanswered.
Is the privatisation of public transportation really for the good of Singapore?
The situation now is the rising prices for taking public transport. Now i'll just list down some of my observations.
What they say :
- Rising oil prices and other operation costs.
- Duplication of resources. An MRT engineer at SMRT does almost exactly the same thing as an SBSTransit engineer.
- Wasteful 'competition'.
- A free shuttle service is provided for commuters between dhoby ghaut, little india and chinatown.
- The route is already provided for by SBSTransit's north east line. Thus, adding a free shuttle service is a wasteful cost to SMRT.
- Introducing more than one service provider introduces competition, thereby forcing existing providers to become more efficient, and provide a greater level of service.
- Unique routes. To get from point to point, there are not really a lot of real alternatives to take. Hence, each company has a monopoly on their individual routes, so there really is no real incentive to improve efficincies.
- This is a point I will not be able to prove. As a commuter, I see no tangible improvement in the service provided by either company. The grumpy impatient driver driving the bus I have take ten years ago is the same grumpy, impatient driver that he is, only a little grumpier and a little older. Previously, he was a TransIsland driver. Now, he's an SMRT driver. Same difference...
Before you think that I am blaming the 'gahmen' for wasting money etc... Let me try to balance the argument up a little.
The short term suffering of the middle to lower income aside, our 'gahmen' is once again guilty of nothing more than the usual foresight at 'doing what's best for the nation'.
Privatisation allows the companies to venture out of our tiny red dot, to do business.
Profit-motivated companies will face less restrictions at venturing than a stat board would. SingTel is doing this. SPServices is doing the same. DelGro Corporation, the parent company of SBS Transit is actively doing business overseas as well.
So, don't expect the gahmen to Nationalize (define :- Opposite of Privatize) our public transport companies, ever.
In the end, "LPPL"... Logic still works out for the greater good of singapore. Aiyah, poor people in Singapore, work harder la. Don't take bus lor, walk lah... GST increase? Work harder la. Don't eat lor. Charge us for air? Don't breathe lor.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Update
It's been almost three weeks since i've written in, and what an eventful three weeks it had been.
Helped out at Destin and Jessie's wedding, project deadlines, begin helping out with Tony and Madeline's wedding. Wow... It's been fun, but tiring.
Did not realise that a wedding could be so complex. Most of D&J's wedding had run smoothly enough because it was relatively simple and also due to their excellent planning. T&M's would be tougher but more interesting as well. From their plans, there would be more chinese customs, stuff like getting a 'tong zhi' (young boy) to jump on their bridal bed, pee into a traditional urinal bowl with an egg inside, and eat that egg all for the belief that it would make the couple conceive early.
Hmm... He will receive an ang bao... But even a thousand dollars would not be enough for me to even consider eating an egg half cooked by my own urine!
If I get no objections, I would place some of the photos I've taken from D&J's wedding soon. So stay with me for a bit.
And dear readers... what spurs me on to write is the fact that I know there are friends out there reading. Thank you very much for reading! I will try my best to carry on writing.
Helped out at Destin and Jessie's wedding, project deadlines, begin helping out with Tony and Madeline's wedding. Wow... It's been fun, but tiring.
Did not realise that a wedding could be so complex. Most of D&J's wedding had run smoothly enough because it was relatively simple and also due to their excellent planning. T&M's would be tougher but more interesting as well. From their plans, there would be more chinese customs, stuff like getting a 'tong zhi' (young boy) to jump on their bridal bed, pee into a traditional urinal bowl with an egg inside, and eat that egg all for the belief that it would make the couple conceive early.
Hmm... He will receive an ang bao... But even a thousand dollars would not be enough for me to even consider eating an egg half cooked by my own urine!
If I get no objections, I would place some of the photos I've taken from D&J's wedding soon. So stay with me for a bit.
And dear readers... what spurs me on to write is the fact that I know there are friends out there reading. Thank you very much for reading! I will try my best to carry on writing.
Friday, November 03, 2006
ICT Day Seven - Ten : Out Pro lor!
Finally out processed today. The hardest day to get through by far. Back hurts like hell today. Spent the entire morning playing 'bluff'. Tricked Michael Thiam like crazy.
Questions :-
1) Why did the entire battalion have to play cohesion games at the very last hour of the very last day of ICT, when the rest of the day was spent doing nothing?
For cohesion. Depends on what cohesion means. The entire bunch of reservists felt cohesive enough. As I was f**king out loud about the inefficiency of the out process. Someone from another company, another platoon whom I have never seen before told me to "relax... last day liao. Just tong finish this stupid thing, and get out."
2) Why were meals indented for the entire battalion for the entire ICT when we could have left early for most of the days?
Must be because SFI kao bei that they waste resources and earn too little, since most reservist personnels do not want their food. "Right hand pocket, put to the left hand pocket"
3) Why survey is done before out processing?
Because out processing is the most time consuming, and has the most inefficiency.
4) Video cameras and phones are really banned in camps because of security meh? In out ICT camp, need security one meh?
No.
SAF Spent a lot of money on these series of commercials to make soldiers look damn garang...
some bloody idiots make stupid video clips... makes soldiers look damn gu niang...
Aiyah... whatever it is... its over. Now its time to focus back on work. and focusing on getting my back healed by Monday.
Questions :-
1) Why did the entire battalion have to play cohesion games at the very last hour of the very last day of ICT, when the rest of the day was spent doing nothing?
For cohesion. Depends on what cohesion means. The entire bunch of reservists felt cohesive enough. As I was f**king out loud about the inefficiency of the out process. Someone from another company, another platoon whom I have never seen before told me to "relax... last day liao. Just tong finish this stupid thing, and get out."
2) Why were meals indented for the entire battalion for the entire ICT when we could have left early for most of the days?
Must be because SFI kao bei that they waste resources and earn too little, since most reservist personnels do not want their food. "Right hand pocket, put to the left hand pocket"
3) Why survey is done before out processing?
Because out processing is the most time consuming, and has the most inefficiency.
4) Video cameras and phones are really banned in camps because of security meh? In out ICT camp, need security one meh?
No.
SAF Spent a lot of money on these series of commercials to make soldiers look damn garang...
some bloody idiots make stupid video clips... makes soldiers look damn gu niang...
Aiyah... whatever it is... its over. Now its time to focus back on work. and focusing on getting my back healed by Monday.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
ICT Day Six : Report Sick
Nothing much to say. Except that in one day, I managed to read half of the book I had started one week ago. "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" by John Gray.
I stayed overnight in bunk on Sunday. Reported sick on Monday. I must say that the waiting time at the Medical Centre had shortened tremendously.
I used to complain to anyone who would listen about my bad experience with the medical centre last year. The system at the medical centre in camp was extremely inefficient. I had reported sick last ICT in the morning at 8.30a.m, and only received my status printout and medication at 3p.m. in the afternoon. By 10a.m. I had seen the MO, and was waiting for the results. Having waited an hour, I asked the medic on duty periodically for the results, starting from 11a.m.
By the fourth time I asked, at around 12.30p.m. The medic told me that everyone went for lunch. (Including the medic who was around at 12p.m. whom I was checking with constantly) Somehow, he, and the others who was there, neglected to tell me. I was waiting like a idiot for so long, and they happily went for lunch without telling the supposedly sick patient. (I had a fever, by the way.)
Anyway, this time round, the whole process at the medical centre took less than one hour. I got my "Attend C" status (can go home) and some medication by 9.30 a.m.
But why could I finish half a book, you ask?
This time it is the procedure of my unit that is the problem. Since my company is off for exercise, I come under the jurisdiction of the ME Platoon for that day. However, the ME Platoon was leaving in the afternoon, they were handing over the 'sick party' (the lost and wounded) to a Warrant Officer in charge of the ICT unit.
Thus "the sick" were told to wait for instructions as we were to have a briefing with him. Estimated time of arrival? 11.30 a.m.
I was told, "Why don't you sit around the office, and relax? We will be leaving at noon, then the warrant officer would brief all of you."
The time was 9.45a.m. when he said that. 2 hours away from time of arrival of the esteemed warrant O'. Of course I didn't wait. I went to bunk to finish half of my book, had a short nap, and still made it in time to meet my guardian for the next 3 days.
At the office, the warrant officer basically said that, since the rest of the unit is out for exercise, we cannot possibly join them. However, we cannot possibly "zhuo bor lan" (his exact words) either.
I am not sure if he got confused over our medical status, or whether he was genuinely being nice to us sick folks. In the end, he allowed the "Attend C" to go home and report to him after their "Attend C" status is over, but asked those on other excuse to report to him thrice per day, although meals were not provided.
Whatever, I was just happy to leave. My back was killing me, I was coughing pretty badly, and the MO gave me lozenges and gargling solution for it. Up till today, the medical centre still maintain the policy of 'no antibiotics'.
I am staring to sound like a old lady. (Literally...)
I stayed overnight in bunk on Sunday. Reported sick on Monday. I must say that the waiting time at the Medical Centre had shortened tremendously.
I used to complain to anyone who would listen about my bad experience with the medical centre last year. The system at the medical centre in camp was extremely inefficient. I had reported sick last ICT in the morning at 8.30a.m, and only received my status printout and medication at 3p.m. in the afternoon. By 10a.m. I had seen the MO, and was waiting for the results. Having waited an hour, I asked the medic on duty periodically for the results, starting from 11a.m.
By the fourth time I asked, at around 12.30p.m. The medic told me that everyone went for lunch. (Including the medic who was around at 12p.m. whom I was checking with constantly) Somehow, he, and the others who was there, neglected to tell me. I was waiting like a idiot for so long, and they happily went for lunch without telling the supposedly sick patient. (I had a fever, by the way.)
Anyway, this time round, the whole process at the medical centre took less than one hour. I got my "Attend C" status (can go home) and some medication by 9.30 a.m.
But why could I finish half a book, you ask?
This time it is the procedure of my unit that is the problem. Since my company is off for exercise, I come under the jurisdiction of the ME Platoon for that day. However, the ME Platoon was leaving in the afternoon, they were handing over the 'sick party' (the lost and wounded) to a Warrant Officer in charge of the ICT unit.
Thus "the sick" were told to wait for instructions as we were to have a briefing with him. Estimated time of arrival? 11.30 a.m.
I was told, "Why don't you sit around the office, and relax? We will be leaving at noon, then the warrant officer would brief all of you."
The time was 9.45a.m. when he said that. 2 hours away from time of arrival of the esteemed warrant O'. Of course I didn't wait. I went to bunk to finish half of my book, had a short nap, and still made it in time to meet my guardian for the next 3 days.
At the office, the warrant officer basically said that, since the rest of the unit is out for exercise, we cannot possibly join them. However, we cannot possibly "zhuo bor lan" (his exact words) either.
I am not sure if he got confused over our medical status, or whether he was genuinely being nice to us sick folks. In the end, he allowed the "Attend C" to go home and report to him after their "Attend C" status is over, but asked those on other excuse to report to him thrice per day, although meals were not provided.
Whatever, I was just happy to leave. My back was killing me, I was coughing pretty badly, and the MO gave me lozenges and gargling solution for it. Up till today, the medical centre still maintain the policy of 'no antibiotics'.
I am staring to sound like a old lady. (Literally...)
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Hope in Fear?
Now I am sitting in front of my computer, I feel tired, but cannot sleep. That's because when I lie down, I feel nerve firings through my legs, my neck, my hands randomly.
The worst attack I have ever had was when I twisted in my sleep. An intense shot of pain shot through my nerves in my body, and no matter what position I lie in, I feel the pain. Hwei Min was there and I was literally screaming, and sobbing, not knowing what to do.
Whenever I lie down and I feel an ache in my back sometimes, I feel an overwhelming sense of fear rush over me. I start to imagine the worst, I start visualizing what is causing the pain in my spine. I start to imagine what will happen if i lose my ability to move my limbs. I think of the consequences to my family.
Knowing what I learnt from "The Secret", I know I should not focus on it too much, and instead, look forward to a full recovery. But lying down, feeling and jolting at every single tingle of my nerves, it's hard, you know?
So I am sitting in front of the pc... googling for information about my injury. I came to looking for news about Michael J. Fox, and somehow found some inspiration from watching an interview of him on Youtube.
The worst attack I have ever had was when I twisted in my sleep. An intense shot of pain shot through my nerves in my body, and no matter what position I lie in, I feel the pain. Hwei Min was there and I was literally screaming, and sobbing, not knowing what to do.
Whenever I lie down and I feel an ache in my back sometimes, I feel an overwhelming sense of fear rush over me. I start to imagine the worst, I start visualizing what is causing the pain in my spine. I start to imagine what will happen if i lose my ability to move my limbs. I think of the consequences to my family.
Knowing what I learnt from "The Secret", I know I should not focus on it too much, and instead, look forward to a full recovery. But lying down, feeling and jolting at every single tingle of my nerves, it's hard, you know?
So I am sitting in front of the pc... googling for information about my injury. I came to looking for news about Michael J. Fox, and somehow found some inspiration from watching an interview of him on Youtube.
ICT Day Five : Back Problem
Supposed to go back tonight, and be staying overnight in camp before going out field for exercise tomorrow.
My back problem is worsening. Last few days, I just felt a slight backache. Today, I start feeling muscular and nervous spasms all over my body when I lie down. Not good.
I think I will have to report sick. Don't think I want to go out field. Don't feel good dropping out like a loser, but I don't want to injure myself for life over a few days of maintaining my ego.
My back problem is worsening. Last few days, I just felt a slight backache. Today, I start feeling muscular and nervous spasms all over my body when I lie down. Not good.
I think I will have to report sick. Don't think I want to go out field. Don't feel good dropping out like a loser, but I don't want to injure myself for life over a few days of maintaining my ego.
ICT Day Three/Four : Training - Appreciation
Past two days were spent doing basic engineering tasks. Not too bad, mainly refreshers, we forgot most of the procedures but our past knowledge kicked in shortly after 'hands on'.
As usual, though, lots of time spent waiting. The standard SAF motto, "Rush to wait, wait to rush" applies all the time. It seems no matter how much planning you put into arranging your tasks, so as to speed things up, SAF just seems to break everything back down and slow you down. It's very interesting, you know?
Once you put on the uniform, you suddenly become a little more stupid, and time seems to flow slower.
However, someone put things into a very positive perspective yesterday.
We were in a training shed, and it just happened to be breezy. That guy (i can't remember who) said that he treated ICTs like a retreat, a time to reflect. It's true... The training shed we were in was in the middle of a field, and when I heard that observation, the trees, the grass, the breeze quite suddenly become quite surreal.
After being introduced to it by Kok Boon, I watched a movie called "The Secret" not too long ago. (www.thesecret.tv) It describes the secret to success. I shall not reveal too much, you can take a look at the video at youtube, but having watched the movie, I found that ICT served another purpose.
The Secret
ICT takes away things I take for granted. Things like freedom of time, ability to keep clean, having a nicely cooked meal and all the other comforts of modern life, but much more importantly, time with family.
It is a part of human nature that we take things for granted after having it for a while. From what I recall from studying psychology, that's how our brain functions. Our thoughts and sensations being 'electrical signals' in the brain... after many times of repetitive 'signals' of the same kind, our brain builds a huge trunking line between the parts of the brain that are involved in that signal. This is so to make our brain process this information faster, and allow more of the adaptive parts of our brain to take in new information.
In short, we are wired to just accept certain sensations as the norm, after repeating it too many times.
The problem with that is that we tend to forget what we already have, and we tend to focus on things that we do not want. We then complain about things that are now not going on too well in our lives.
The more we focus on the things we DO NOT want, the unhappier we become, and the more the things we do not want become a reality.
To me, we need to constantly remind ourselves of the things we already have, the things that are going on well, and have been going on well. We are thus, training our minds to become in-tuned with the things that we DO want.
Sounds cheem? I think not. Think about it and I think you can find dozen examples of people who are unhappier and unhappier, and are thus becoming unhappier and unhappier still. Nothing mystical about that!
As usual, though, lots of time spent waiting. The standard SAF motto, "Rush to wait, wait to rush" applies all the time. It seems no matter how much planning you put into arranging your tasks, so as to speed things up, SAF just seems to break everything back down and slow you down. It's very interesting, you know?
Once you put on the uniform, you suddenly become a little more stupid, and time seems to flow slower.
However, someone put things into a very positive perspective yesterday.
We were in a training shed, and it just happened to be breezy. That guy (i can't remember who) said that he treated ICTs like a retreat, a time to reflect. It's true... The training shed we were in was in the middle of a field, and when I heard that observation, the trees, the grass, the breeze quite suddenly become quite surreal.
After being introduced to it by Kok Boon, I watched a movie called "The Secret" not too long ago. (www.thesecret.tv) It describes the secret to success. I shall not reveal too much, you can take a look at the video at youtube, but having watched the movie, I found that ICT served another purpose.
The Secret
ICT takes away things I take for granted. Things like freedom of time, ability to keep clean, having a nicely cooked meal and all the other comforts of modern life, but much more importantly, time with family.
It is a part of human nature that we take things for granted after having it for a while. From what I recall from studying psychology, that's how our brain functions. Our thoughts and sensations being 'electrical signals' in the brain... after many times of repetitive 'signals' of the same kind, our brain builds a huge trunking line between the parts of the brain that are involved in that signal. This is so to make our brain process this information faster, and allow more of the adaptive parts of our brain to take in new information.
In short, we are wired to just accept certain sensations as the norm, after repeating it too many times.
The problem with that is that we tend to forget what we already have, and we tend to focus on things that we do not want. We then complain about things that are now not going on too well in our lives.
The more we focus on the things we DO NOT want, the unhappier we become, and the more the things we do not want become a reality.
To me, we need to constantly remind ourselves of the things we already have, the things that are going on well, and have been going on well. We are thus, training our minds to become in-tuned with the things that we DO want.
Sounds cheem? I think not. Think about it and I think you can find dozen examples of people who are unhappier and unhappier, and are thus becoming unhappier and unhappier still. Nothing mystical about that!
Thursday, October 26, 2006
ICT Day Two : Day at the Range, Leadership in the SAF
Spent the whole day at the range.
Interesting new format now, makes the whole shoot feel more like an arcade game. It just got harder to get Marksman now.
Anyway, got a call from Chye Kwang to tell me everything is smooth in office. Glad to know that everything is ok, even though Teck Yew is on leave too.
Just got home. Its 10.30pm by the time I reached. I stay within 15 mins bus ride away from the camp. I can't imagine the others.
Tomorrow book in again at 7.00 a.m.
Anyway, I noticed something in the range opposite to ours today. Another company was having a shoot. A 2LT officer was arguing with a Staff Sergeant over something to do with ops.
Watching from a distance, of course, I could not really figure out what they were talking about. However, this triggered an insight I got from watching commanders lead in my years of the NS experience. Being of the rank of a corporal, I could, obviously, watch everything, and just pass judgement... but I have seen some really bad commanders in my NS cycle.
The kind of commander that totally sucks is a combination of
So? Complete failure...
Of course, in the Army, subordinates cannot leave his charge so easily, neither could they disobey his orders directly, so things would go on looking fine on the surface.
In the long run, the net result would be inefficiency. You would have people who cannot lead at all, in leadership positions. These people would not leave, since they know that they are inefficient, and would not survive in the real world. Instead, they would serve long and well in their positions and depend on their ranks to lead.
Result?
Inefficient SAF.
Fucked up person who will be ill equipped for the real world when age finally catches up and he has to leave the forces. His only skill? Managing people, which we know he can't do very well anyway.
By the way, I am not really passing any judgement on such leaders. By the sixth one I meet, I have already gone past that. I just find it kind of sad?
There are a lot of personnel stuck in these kinds of position. The whole problem is... many of them might not even realise the truth, since they are sheltered by the system.
Thankfully its not like I am in the Army. It is much better in the 'real world'.
Interesting new format now, makes the whole shoot feel more like an arcade game. It just got harder to get Marksman now.
Anyway, got a call from Chye Kwang to tell me everything is smooth in office. Glad to know that everything is ok, even though Teck Yew is on leave too.
Just got home. Its 10.30pm by the time I reached. I stay within 15 mins bus ride away from the camp. I can't imagine the others.
Tomorrow book in again at 7.00 a.m.
Anyway, I noticed something in the range opposite to ours today. Another company was having a shoot. A 2LT officer was arguing with a Staff Sergeant over something to do with ops.
Watching from a distance, of course, I could not really figure out what they were talking about. However, this triggered an insight I got from watching commanders lead in my years of the NS experience. Being of the rank of a corporal, I could, obviously, watch everything, and just pass judgement... but I have seen some really bad commanders in my NS cycle.
The kind of commander that totally sucks is a combination of
- one who cannot say no to the superiors, and is "super siao on" at trying to impress
- one who cannot admit that he does not have as much experience in certain areas as, say, a NCO, who could have been in service for more years than he, and could have a better approach to do things, or have an insight on situations.
So? Complete failure...
Of course, in the Army, subordinates cannot leave his charge so easily, neither could they disobey his orders directly, so things would go on looking fine on the surface.
In the long run, the net result would be inefficiency. You would have people who cannot lead at all, in leadership positions. These people would not leave, since they know that they are inefficient, and would not survive in the real world. Instead, they would serve long and well in their positions and depend on their ranks to lead.
Result?
Inefficient SAF.
Fucked up person who will be ill equipped for the real world when age finally catches up and he has to leave the forces. His only skill? Managing people, which we know he can't do very well anyway.
By the way, I am not really passing any judgement on such leaders. By the sixth one I meet, I have already gone past that. I just find it kind of sad?
There are a lot of personnel stuck in these kinds of position. The whole problem is... many of them might not even realise the truth, since they are sheltered by the system.
Thankfully its not like I am in the Army. It is much better in the 'real world'.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
"The Departed" VS "Infernal Affairs"
VS
Infernal Affairs
On its own,
S$8.00
Movies in Singapore are from a range of S$6.50 to S$9.00 depending on the day and time you watch it on.
Leonardo DiCaprio plays Billy Costigan, an Irish American who goes undercover into the Boston mob.
Matt Damon plays Colin Sullivan, groomed by Jack Nicholson's Frank Costello into becoming an informer for him.
Nicholson is a contained nuclear reactor as Costello. On the verge of blowing up, keeping the audience guessing as to when he is going to blow. This relationship keeps the tension on Costigan as he goes through close shave after close shave. Reminds me of The Joker in the original Batman movie.
In comparison with the Hong Kong original,
Leonardo DiCaprio was great at portraying the role of Costigan. Always in constant danger, his internal conflicts are barely below the surface. However at times, I am a little lost on what drives Costigan. Tony Leung's character, the undercover cop, wants to be a cop... and faces an identity crisis, and internal conflict for not being able to say that he is one. He's been in the triads for 9 years. And there are plenty of opportunities for him to show that he really wants to be a cop. Costigan has been undercover in the mafia, for over 2 years? And he wants to quit the force after that. It is a little difficult to empathise with Costigan's pain.
Similarly for the role of the informer. I felt that the motives for Sullivan were too vaguely shown, and hence I could not really feel for the character. Matt Damon did a good job at whatever material he had, playing the two-faced character pretty well. But what the movie lacked, again, was what drives Sullivan? Andy Lau's character was more well developed in that as the audience, throughout the film, you understand that he really wants to be a 'good guy' too, and had been forced to be in the position he is in.
It could be due to a difference between the American and Asian culture, but I would say that I derived more tension from Scorsese's
Andrew Lau's "Infernal Affairs" portrayed a less gritty Hong Kong, the locations and sets are cleaner, neater. The costumes and make up for the actors also leave a clean, cool feel on screen.
In my opinion, the latter allows the story to be told, whereas I found the grittiness a distraction in the former, especially in the dealing of the movie's main characters.
It is just interesting that the same plot (most of the plot keypoints are there) can be treated with such a vast difference. So what we have here are essentially two movies, both great, and both worth watching for different reasons, however, if I have to make a choice, it will have to be "Infernal Affairs" on any given day.
ICT Day One
1313 hrs
Just hours into my ICT, and I remember why I hate this so much. Procedures and protocol... Time-wasting... Procedures and protocol... Time-wasting...
Very annoying.
I guess I will not be able to furnish too much details about my training, but i'll do my best to give sketchy details without sensitive information.
Oh, and I might not be able to bring my pda into camp, so I don't even know if I can even blog.
1922 hrs
Confirmed. Though the official word is sketchy at best, and the only certain order is that no CAMERA phones are allowed. In general, everyone gets jittery when I bring a pda into camp.
Bah... I shall do without one then. I shall do things the old way… pen and paper.
Anyway... long day tomorrow...
Range.
Just hours into my ICT, and I remember why I hate this so much. Procedures and protocol... Time-wasting... Procedures and protocol... Time-wasting...
Very annoying.
I guess I will not be able to furnish too much details about my training, but i'll do my best to give sketchy details without sensitive information.
Oh, and I might not be able to bring my pda into camp, so I don't even know if I can even blog.
1922 hrs
Confirmed. Though the official word is sketchy at best, and the only certain order is that no CAMERA phones are allowed. In general, everyone gets jittery when I bring a pda into camp.
Bah... I shall do without one then. I shall do things the old way… pen and paper.
Anyway... long day tomorrow...
Range.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Death Note Movie Review
Good? Quite...
Worth
S$9.00
Movies in Singapore are from a range of S$6.50 to S$9.00 depending on the day and time you watch it on.
In order to enjoy this movie, you have to suspend your logic, and just enjoy the plot.
The story, in a nutshell, is about a note book, labelled 'Death Note'. Death Notes (I can only assume there are many) are used by Death Gods (Shinigamis) (again, I assume there are more than one). If a name is written on it, the person whose name is on it shall die. The 'Death Note', comes with instructions rules on how to use it... in English...
Ermm... (like I said... suspend your logic...)
The book was dropped by a Shinigami, Ryuk, and intended for Raito (Light) Yagami to pick it up. He was skeptical about the book, but eventually uses it to start on a mission to cleanse all evil from the world as Kira, his alter-ego on the Internet.
L (Eru), an eccentric, top rated detective is the one who was tasked on the job to find Kira. There are other characters that come into the plot, like Light's father, who happens to be the captain of the investigative team looking for Kira, Light's girlfriend, L's helper, and a cute teenage TV starlet Misa Amane, whom I suspect will have a major role in the following sequels.
Because I have not read the manga series, I am unable to compare between the two mediums, but I say that as a movie, Death Note was well made.
The movie starts with a high tempo, showing one mysterious death after another, then explaining the reason in flashbacks. The pacing for the plot was good, giving enough time for character building, and tension building. The use of silence
A sidenote... but I think
Without revealing the plot too much, I think the movie was very well made to have made me change allegiance within the duration of the movie.
The end of the movie is but the beginning of the next. So don't expect the story to end with this one... this is only part one.
But I can't wait for part two. It is slated to be released in November of this year. Don't know when it will be released to Singapore, since the first one took 4 months to come, but I can't wait... :)
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Incredible Weekend
Pic from Far East WebsiteSpent an incredible weekend with Hwei Min at the Far East Plaza Service Apartments.
Madeline and Tony came over to join us for a game of Cashflow 101. Tony chose to sit out of the game. While Madeline played with us, he took a nap. We played a standard two hour game, first half, and second half. Tried to explain the game mechanics, and the underlying implications to our everyday lives. I think she understands a little, but not too sure if she really got it.
Madeline said that we were two friends that Tony ‘approved’ of, and was willing to join us for a get-together. Quite a nice feeling, that.
I sincerely hope, and Hwei Min does too… that Tony would eventually be able to listen to some of the financial literacy stuff that we are talking about, and Madeline is just getting the hang of now. I think it is great that Madeline wants to find out, but it will be great if the both of them are in this together.
That’s one big reason why I love Hwei Min so much. She has her faults, she might falter a little in our path, heck, I do too sometimes. But we are both on the same path, and if what our friends say is true, this kind of partnership is worth millions.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
The haze... Do we have a right to blame?
Just a quick note after such a long time of not posting.Been busy lately, and really pushing myself to write down my thoughts before I lose them.
Anyway, the stupid haze had been coming back and forth for weeks now. Who is to blame for this? The Indonesian government? The farmers?
I don't know. But I was downright dissapointed with Singaporeans who added to the problem. Last Friday was the Chinese Lantern Festival. Was at West Coast Park with a couple of friends for a barbeque.
Saw some people throwing sparkling fireworks onto trees. It had not been raining for days now.
Dry trees + Sparklers
=
Fire + Smoke + Burnt Tree
Wah lau... I mean, at least when Indonesian farmers are doing the burning, it is for a reason, right? They want to clear the land for their crops, right?
What's with these Singaporeans? Do it because they damn bor liao or what? The funny thing is ... these are probably the people who kao beh about the haze ... and the loudest lor...
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Firstly...
This being my first post, I should introduce myself.
I am ...
an E going to S, to B and to I,
a PE,
a non-traditional Budhist philosopher,
a trained Software Engineer,
aspiring artist,
aspiring musician,
aspiring photographer,
a Martian...
and the list goes on.
Who am I?
Who really understands who I am anyway? Me? My wife? My close friends? My parents? I guess the question is who are you? Whoever the reader is would understand whoever I am.
Thus this blog.. Random rantings about everything under the sun, hopefully it can help me define who I am, and help my friends and family understand the different perspectives that form up the whole of me, TWeaK.
I am ...
an E going to S, to B and to I,
a PE,
a non-traditional Budhist philosopher,
a trained Software Engineer,
aspiring artist,
aspiring musician,
aspiring photographer,
a Martian...
and the list goes on.
Who am I?
Who really understands who I am anyway? Me? My wife? My close friends? My parents? I guess the question is who are you? Whoever the reader is would understand whoever I am.
Thus this blog.. Random rantings about everything under the sun, hopefully it can help me define who I am, and help my friends and family understand the different perspectives that form up the whole of me, TWeaK.
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