http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20081128/tap-947-singaporean-held-hostage-mumbais-231650b.html
I'm shocked. When I first heard the news about a Singaporean being held hostage on Thursday afternoon, my first thoughts were, 'you must be kidding!' Usually the Caucasions are the target, not Asians! Quickly I made a prayer for her, that she would just live through this scare. However, she did get killed after all. How sad! This event really underscores the brutality of lawlessness and rage, and how some things are just not within our control.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Time of your life
People say that college days are the time of your life. It's true, I guess. You work hard, you play hard. Party, drink, date and fall in love. And then out of love. You are always on the ball of your feet, looking out for the 'what's next', getting worried even when your schedule is not as packed as you wish it. Never more in your life have you cared about the way people see you. Looks climb up the ranks of priority and suddenly you realise, everything seems to be a game and yet, it really isn't.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Survivor Gabon
I usually don't watch Survivor, hardly actually. But for the latest 17th [17th?!?!] season, Survivor Gabon, romantically called Earth's last Eden, episode 10 was mind-blowing. I accidentally watched the first episode and since then, I've watched sporadically. Therefore, I'm a little more familiar who the contestants were.
If you don't watch it, let me give you a quick synopsis of Episode 10, meaning 30 days have passed. Randy, who is a really grumpy and mean person, got blindsided in such a sly way. Bob, the quirky physics teacher, made a fake immunity idol [many say that it looks more real than the real idol] and willingly gave it to Randy when asked, as he was supposed to be in alliance with Randy (& Corrine). RANDY then went around and said the meanest things about people, particularly about Susie, so that he could become their target for the next tribal council. [If you have no idea what a tribal council means in Survivor, you can stop reading this.] Randy's plan was to get people to vote for him, while his alliance voted for Susie, only to flash out his idol in the last minute to protect himself. BAD PLAN, since the idol was, duh, fake.
Interestingly it was Sugar, a pin up model, who instigated Bob to hand Randy the fake idol. Sugar has the face of an innocent angel and is always smiling. She seems to play this whole game as if it's really fun. I don't know.. She's hard to read. The usual cunning people behave more evil-ly.
Back to Bob, at tribal council, he did look a little guilty for blindsiding Randy, maybe mostly for betraying the trust of his alliance. All this for a million dollars.
If you don't watch it, let me give you a quick synopsis of Episode 10, meaning 30 days have passed. Randy, who is a really grumpy and mean person, got blindsided in such a sly way. Bob, the quirky physics teacher, made a fake immunity idol [many say that it looks more real than the real idol] and willingly gave it to Randy when asked, as he was supposed to be in alliance with Randy (& Corrine). RANDY then went around and said the meanest things about people, particularly about Susie, so that he could become their target for the next tribal council. [If you have no idea what a tribal council means in Survivor, you can stop reading this.] Randy's plan was to get people to vote for him, while his alliance voted for Susie, only to flash out his idol in the last minute to protect himself. BAD PLAN, since the idol was, duh, fake.
Interestingly it was Sugar, a pin up model, who instigated Bob to hand Randy the fake idol. Sugar has the face of an innocent angel and is always smiling. She seems to play this whole game as if it's really fun. I don't know.. She's hard to read. The usual cunning people behave more evil-ly.
Back to Bob, at tribal council, he did look a little guilty for blindsiding Randy, maybe mostly for betraying the trust of his alliance. All this for a million dollars.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Madagascar 2
Slightly predictable, funny, no-brainer, same old themes of love and friendship. I expected these things from Madagascar already and I think it's perfectly fine to watch what you're expecting.
The story opens with Alex and his gang going back to New York, or trying to. They landed in Africa, right in one of those large reserves for animals. There, the New Yorker animals find their roots and are settling down just comfortably when trouble happens.
I'd recommend the movie if you like non-violent, loving, brightly-coloured animation. You either hate or love the exaggerated characters. The jokes are first class, though you must have a quick ear to catch them, meaning it's pretty American humour. I love hearing Melman, the giraffe, speak cos it's David Schwimmer's voice! He's Ross Geller in Friends and I miss Ross Geller! [Get the link?]
Oh tickets at Cathay cinemas are selling at $6! That's from Mon to Thurs. Well, the highest I've had to pay was at the mall at Pasir Ris, I've forgotten it's name, I paid 10 bucks! So $6 suited me real fine. I had to ask the cashier twice to clarify if it was really $6, ha, I'm such an idiot.
The story opens with Alex and his gang going back to New York, or trying to. They landed in Africa, right in one of those large reserves for animals. There, the New Yorker animals find their roots and are settling down just comfortably when trouble happens.
I'd recommend the movie if you like non-violent, loving, brightly-coloured animation. You either hate or love the exaggerated characters. The jokes are first class, though you must have a quick ear to catch them, meaning it's pretty American humour. I love hearing Melman, the giraffe, speak cos it's David Schwimmer's voice! He's Ross Geller in Friends and I miss Ross Geller! [Get the link?]
Oh tickets at Cathay cinemas are selling at $6! That's from Mon to Thurs. Well, the highest I've had to pay was at the mall at Pasir Ris, I've forgotten it's name, I paid 10 bucks! So $6 suited me real fine. I had to ask the cashier twice to clarify if it was really $6, ha, I'm such an idiot.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Lady Wisdom
The moment I woke up, God told me to read Proverbs.
Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts
At the town center she makes her speech
In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand
At the busiest corner she calls out
"Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance?
Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism?
Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn?
About face! I can revise your life.
Look, I'm ready to pour out my spirit on you,
I'm ready to tel you all I know.
As it is, I've called, but you've turned a deaf ear
I've reached out to you, but you've ignored me.
-Prov 1:20-24
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
You'll have come upon the Knowledge of God
And here's why: God gives out Wisdom free,
is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding
He's a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well,
a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere.
He keeps his eye on all who live honestly,
and pays special attenting to his loyally committed ones.
-Prov 2:5-8
Trust God from the bottom of your heart,
don't try to figure out everything on your own [emphasis added]
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track
Don't assume that you know it all
Run to God! Run from evil!
You body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
Give him the first and the best.
Yours barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over
But don't, dear friends, resent God's discipline;
It's the child he loves that God corrects
a father's delight is behind all this.
-Prov 3:5-12, THE MESSAGE by Eugene Peterson
Lady Wisdom goes out in the street and shouts
At the town center she makes her speech
In the middle of the traffic she takes her stand
At the busiest corner she calls out
"Simpletons! How long will you wallow in ignorance?
Cynics! How long will you feed your cynicism?
Idiots! How long will you refuse to learn?
About face! I can revise your life.
Look, I'm ready to pour out my spirit on you,
I'm ready to tel you all I know.
As it is, I've called, but you've turned a deaf ear
I've reached out to you, but you've ignored me.
-Prov 1:20-24
Believe me, before you know it Fear-of-God will be yours;
You'll have come upon the Knowledge of God
And here's why: God gives out Wisdom free,
is plainspoken in Knowledge and Understanding
He's a rich mine of Common Sense for those who live well,
a personal bodyguard to the candid and sincere.
He keeps his eye on all who live honestly,
and pays special attenting to his loyally committed ones.
-Prov 2:5-8
Trust God from the bottom of your heart,
don't try to figure out everything on your own [emphasis added]
Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he's the one who will keep you on track
Don't assume that you know it all
Run to God! Run from evil!
You body will glow with health,
your very bones will vibrate with life!
Honor God with everything you own;
Give him the first and the best.
Yours barns will burst,
your wine vats will brim over
But don't, dear friends, resent God's discipline;
It's the child he loves that God corrects
a father's delight is behind all this.
-Prov 3:5-12, THE MESSAGE by Eugene Peterson
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Crossroads
Ever felt like you were at a crossroads, given choices to make? You see the path that everyone expects you to take and just as you are about to move on, like a robot, to embrace that so-called destiny, you hold back and say, 'Wait a minute, let me re-evaluate.'
That's a pretty big hint about my state of confusion now. All the values I've grown up with, from church sermons and leader's talks, are being challenged greatly now. All my old views on clubbing, drinking and relationships are being thrown out of the window, or on the verge of being thrown, I guess. And I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. Gold has to be refined through fire before it can be pure.
That's a pretty big hint about my state of confusion now. All the values I've grown up with, from church sermons and leader's talks, are being challenged greatly now. All my old views on clubbing, drinking and relationships are being thrown out of the window, or on the verge of being thrown, I guess. And I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing. Gold has to be refined through fire before it can be pure.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Sleep deficit
On Tues night, I stayed in school til 12am (that's Wed already) It was so sick; the thought of staying so late in school is disgusting. Do other university students do that? I was preparing for my Business Law presentation and, at the same time, finishing up the report for Technology and World Change (TWC). For the TWC report, my group mate, Richard, took forever to send me his part. Did I forget to mention that I'm the collater? That means, the Sai Kang Warrior.
So at 12.15am, I boarded the bus with Rich and his friends, and of all things, we missed our stop. Imagine, it's probably 12.45 already and we're shagged. Missing the bus stop was so 'suay'! Thank God for Mummy who picked me up at the Eunos MRT, so I didn't have to change bus to go home. I'm so blessed!
So on Wednesday morning, 1.00 am, I started working on my Biz law report, interchangeably with TWC report. TWC report was due at 8.15am. Biz Law presentation and report was due 3.30pm. MAN, was I stressed! Since 13 weeks in SMU, that particular night, sitting all alone in my living room, knowing that everyone else is asleep except me, was my lowest point. If I thought week 12 was crazy, I was kidding. Amanda was also online at that time, in fact, she's in my group for Biz Law. She worked on the ppt while I worked on the report. Checking my MSN window, I saw my group mates online too. Richard, whom I had to work with to rush out the report, was on internet call with me. Apparently, he was too lazy to type. [Lately, I've been leveraging on the use of Internet phone calls. It's free and hands-free. haha.]
3am.. 4am.. 5am.. 5.30am. Finally I got my TWC report printed at 6am. I slept at 6.15am. Woke up at 6.45am. Surprisingly, throughout the day, in my demeanor, I was pretty upbeat. Looking back, I think I was just too stunned to be feel dead. My brain had already mentally forced more adrenaline into my blood, so despite the severe lack of sleep, I appeared in tip-top shape.
2 hours before my Biz Law presentation at 3.30pm, my group mates and I were going crazy. Our No.1 problem: Unpreparedness. Nevermind the report which had many conflicting answers, presenting live to a class, a LAW class mind you, is way different. So during presentation, I put on my best possible smile and cheerful face. Thank you, Amanda, for preparing the powerpoint and being the clicker! Even though I did not know what my next slides were, I just acted as if I knew the case like the back of my hand. Haha, this is called smoking/fluffing! I hate to call it smoking though, it's really about believing what you're presenting. After all, what's the point of presenting something you're not sure of?
Big thanks to Rong Hua for bringing me MacDonald's at 11.30 pm on Tuesday! That was uber-encouraging and helped in saving my sanity.
Last night, I slept for 6.5 hours. Usually I sleep about 6-7 hrs a day. Right now, I have a sleep deficit of 6 hours. :(
So at 12.15am, I boarded the bus with Rich and his friends, and of all things, we missed our stop. Imagine, it's probably 12.45 already and we're shagged. Missing the bus stop was so 'suay'! Thank God for Mummy who picked me up at the Eunos MRT, so I didn't have to change bus to go home. I'm so blessed!
So on Wednesday morning, 1.00 am, I started working on my Biz law report, interchangeably with TWC report. TWC report was due at 8.15am. Biz Law presentation and report was due 3.30pm. MAN, was I stressed! Since 13 weeks in SMU, that particular night, sitting all alone in my living room, knowing that everyone else is asleep except me, was my lowest point. If I thought week 12 was crazy, I was kidding. Amanda was also online at that time, in fact, she's in my group for Biz Law. She worked on the ppt while I worked on the report. Checking my MSN window, I saw my group mates online too. Richard, whom I had to work with to rush out the report, was on internet call with me. Apparently, he was too lazy to type. [Lately, I've been leveraging on the use of Internet phone calls. It's free and hands-free. haha.]
3am.. 4am.. 5am.. 5.30am. Finally I got my TWC report printed at 6am. I slept at 6.15am. Woke up at 6.45am. Surprisingly, throughout the day, in my demeanor, I was pretty upbeat. Looking back, I think I was just too stunned to be feel dead. My brain had already mentally forced more adrenaline into my blood, so despite the severe lack of sleep, I appeared in tip-top shape.
2 hours before my Biz Law presentation at 3.30pm, my group mates and I were going crazy. Our No.1 problem: Unpreparedness. Nevermind the report which had many conflicting answers, presenting live to a class, a LAW class mind you, is way different. So during presentation, I put on my best possible smile and cheerful face. Thank you, Amanda, for preparing the powerpoint and being the clicker! Even though I did not know what my next slides were, I just acted as if I knew the case like the back of my hand. Haha, this is called smoking/fluffing! I hate to call it smoking though, it's really about believing what you're presenting. After all, what's the point of presenting something you're not sure of?
Big thanks to Rong Hua for bringing me MacDonald's at 11.30 pm on Tuesday! That was uber-encouraging and helped in saving my sanity.
Last night, I slept for 6.5 hours. Usually I sleep about 6-7 hrs a day. Right now, I have a sleep deficit of 6 hours. :(
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Winter/Summer fling
I think Amanda and I are going crazy. While preparing for our Biz Law presentation, I said 'I want a boyfriend!' Surprisingly, she said the same. 'I want one for the four weeks break during December, then break up as Term 2 starts. Then get another one for Summer holidays,' said I. 'Cool, that's one winter fling and one summer fling. Brilliant idea.' Replied Amanda.
Disclaimer: We felt depressed trying to solve the question. Hence, the spouting of nonsense. :D
Disclaimer: We felt depressed trying to solve the question. Hence, the spouting of nonsense. :D
Friday, November 7, 2008
Rare bribery
Where I am now: Sitting at the bench just beside Mr Bean which is located at School of Economics, eating Tao Huey. I forgot to bring my laptop charger, so it's dying by the minute. Also, I'll be here in school til 9 plus in the evening.
Read the article: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20081106/tap-998-senior-ica-officer-charged-accep-231650b.html
I was quite shock to read such a high profile case of corruption, especially one that implicates a government official. An aquaintance I know told me of how she used to receive movie premiere tickets from a certain man representing his organization. In doing so, he hoped to gain favours. Movie premiere tickets are one thing but $140 k? Now, that's really bad.
My GP tutor says that once the first generation of government people are gone, the second generation will tend to be more corrupt as the ideals get eroded. Has Singapore reached such a line? I've always considered the possibility of being in the public service, suppose one day, I get bribed and bribed real good, would I hold on the seemingly silly ideals of honesty and cleanness and forgo certain opportunities?
Singapore has always projected the good image of a clean country, one with minimal corruption. Time and time again, we've amazed so many top world leaders out there. Others try to emulate us, wondering what's this secret formula we have.
So I pray that let this one bribery be rare, and not one in many.
[p.s. what the heck. I'm all buried under a pile of work in SMU. Let me get this mini world of mine be ordered before I check out others.]
Read the article: http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20081106/tap-998-senior-ica-officer-charged-accep-231650b.html
I was quite shock to read such a high profile case of corruption, especially one that implicates a government official. An aquaintance I know told me of how she used to receive movie premiere tickets from a certain man representing his organization. In doing so, he hoped to gain favours. Movie premiere tickets are one thing but $140 k? Now, that's really bad.
My GP tutor says that once the first generation of government people are gone, the second generation will tend to be more corrupt as the ideals get eroded. Has Singapore reached such a line? I've always considered the possibility of being in the public service, suppose one day, I get bribed and bribed real good, would I hold on the seemingly silly ideals of honesty and cleanness and forgo certain opportunities?
Singapore has always projected the good image of a clean country, one with minimal corruption. Time and time again, we've amazed so many top world leaders out there. Others try to emulate us, wondering what's this secret formula we have.
So I pray that let this one bribery be rare, and not one in many.
[p.s. what the heck. I'm all buried under a pile of work in SMU. Let me get this mini world of mine be ordered before I check out others.]
Monday, November 3, 2008
Adios nonino
In this tango choir song, I have to sing 'pa' 24 times before I sing anything else. Beautiful song.
I have 2 presentations this week, both on the same day.
rarrr...
Plans for December holidays.. KL trip, Zone camp, read, catch up on exercising [must do remedial exercise to make up for time lost during school], meet up with friends, choir, roller blade, driving lessons
What I'm not going to do.. watch movies [unless there are really good ones], holiday overseas [exclude KL], play Word Challenge, worry about next term, making Christmas cards
What I may do.. WORK. [the thought of it is dreadful though..]
I have 2 presentations this week, both on the same day.
rarrr...
Plans for December holidays.. KL trip, Zone camp, read, catch up on exercising [must do remedial exercise to make up for time lost during school], meet up with friends, choir, roller blade, driving lessons
What I'm not going to do.. watch movies [unless there are really good ones], holiday overseas [exclude KL], play Word Challenge, worry about next term, making Christmas cards
What I may do.. WORK. [the thought of it is dreadful though..]
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